Welcome to the list of Oregon State’s top 5 NFL Draft prospects!
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar, the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25-27, 2024. We take a look at the PAC-12 players, the class of 2024.
Obviously, every team in the country does not have five surefire draft picks. Some programs have more, and some have less. We also know that every year, there are late-round or undrafted players who become surprise success stories for teams. We aim to highlight five players from every program, whether they will be drafted or not.
Below is a look at the Oregon State Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects and how they project according to NFL Draft Buzz. We are projecting some players to enter the draft who have not officially declared and we will update this list if players decide to return.
Oregon State Top 5 NFL Draft Prospects
No. 1:
NAME: Taliese Fuaga (OT)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 1st Round
CAREER STATISTICS: In 2023, he gave up just 3 QB hurries, no QB hits, and no sacks while playing at right tackle.
THE SCOOP: It’s an easy pick for number one on the list of the Beavers’ top 5 NFL Draft prospects. Fuaga is a menace in the run game. He has a powerful lower body, which allows him to knock defenders back. His pass protection is good, thanks to his long arms, which can keep defenders out of his body. Fuaga’s size makes him tough to beat on a bull rush, and his hand placement makes it tricky for defenders to out-leverage him. Speed rushers can give him trouble as he can get beat around the edge, though it is something that scouts believe can be coached.
NO. 2: Joshua Gray (OT)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: 6th Round
CAREER STATISTICS: In 2023, he allowed 11 QB hurries, 6 QB hits, and no sacks while playing at left tackle.
THE SCOOP: The Beavers had a great pair of offensive tackles in 2023. While Fuaga will get most of the attention, don’t sleep on Gray being a quality late-round pickup for a team. He understands leverage and angles, allowing him to keep pass rushers off balance. Gray works best when he is a part of a compact line. His footwork is good but not great, making his blocking in space something to work on. Gray would work best for a run-heavy team where he can block downhill most of the time.
NO. 3: Silas Bolden (WR)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: 77 receptions, 1,048 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns, 202 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
THE SCOOP: Bolden was used almost exclusively as a deep threat. However, while most deep threats beat defenders with speed, Bolden uses his long arms to pluck the ball out of the air. His tracking of the ball 0n long throws is excellent, making him an ideal special teams player as well. Bolden’s skill set simply isn’t diverse enough to be a productive NFL receiver. He doesn’t do well against zone or press coverage and is a non-factor in the running game. Special teams are most likely the unit that he will find a home in the NFL if he can find his way onto a roster.
No. 4: Kitan Oladapo (S)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: 238 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 22 passes deflected, 2 forced fumbles
THE SCOOP: Oladapo is a two-time all-conference safety who is a tackling machine. He shows good instincts in tackling and takes good angles to wrap up ball carriers. He is not afraid to get involved in the play and has shown effectiveness in blitzing. Age is what is likely to keep Oladapo from getting a huge look. He has played a lot of football in college. Many teams in the later rounds would rather take a flyer on a younger prospect with fewer miles than one who has over 200 tackles in his career. On the flip side, a Super Bowl contender could want more veteran types on their team, making Oladapo an interesting prospect.
No. 5: Anthony Gould (WR)
NFL MOCK DRAFT DATABASE PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent
CAREER STATISTICS: 84 receptions, 1,360 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns, 83 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
THE SCOOP: Speed is the name of the game for Gould. He has game-changing speed, which is great for his receiving stats but also his effectiveness as a returner. He earned first-team All-American honors as a returner in 2022 when he led the country in punt yards per return. His size is going to be the biggest knock against him. Gould is essentially a gadget player who can only be brought in for certain plays or in certain situations. However, with the rise of more gadget-type plays, Gould might catch the eye of some offensive coach. For a team with struggling special teams, he could also provide a spark there.