The NFL draft isn’t over, but teams have a chance to reshape their rosters in Round 3 and beyond. With the first two rounds going by in a blur, the third round offers plenty of excitement.
The Patriots are looking for some juice up front, and Nolen fits the bill. He has explosiveness and length to be a versatile 3- and 5-technique in New England’s system, with a potential to develop into a starting defensive lineman.
Barrow’s quickness and motor are enough to earn a shot as a backup interior pass-rusher, but his physical limitations will cap his ceiling. He needs to play with better leverage and focus on developing his pass-rush moves if he wants to make a bigger impact.
Shedeur Sanders might not have the size to be a primary receiver in the NFL, but he can fill some roles with his speed and route running skills. He’ll excel in an offense that maximizes yards after the catch and has the ability to create mismatches in single coverage.
The Bengals traded their second-round pick in the prior draft to move up and grab Byron Murphy, but still have plenty of issues at corner. Johnson has the size, instincts and ball skills to be an effective starter in a zone-heavy defense. His short-area speed and willingness to tackle could also make him a good fit for the slot. The rangy Huzzie has plenty of potential as an edge player with his length and natural power, but he needs to improve his pass rush moves and finish.