With the NFL draft now just a few days away, let’s examine what rounds former SU players are expected to be drafted.
Alton Robinson
Robinson will likely be the first Syracuse player off the board. Last season Robinson recorded 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.
Robinson has been thought to likely be drafted on Day 3 of the NFL Draft – around the fourth or fifth round – but he could sneak up into round 3. Both the Chiefs and the Rams have picks towards the end of the third round, but of course general managers will probably be trading up and down the draft board.
Kendall Coleman
Syracuse’s other turnstile inducing edge rusher’s draft stock has slipped over the year. Coleman was a four-year starter at SU, ending his senior season with just four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. That was coming off of a junior season where Coleman had 10 sacks, including two against Clemson’s talented offensive line.
Coleman is projected to go in the seventh round, or be scooped up in free agency after the draft. There’s always chatter whether it’s better to be drafted late or signed as a free agent. 
Trishton Jackson
Jackson decided to declare for the draft after his redshirt junior season, in one of the deepest wide receiver classes in years. But, it’s difficult to stay after as successful a season as Jackson had in 2019. The Michigan State transfer led SU in receiving yards with 1,023 and scored 11 touchdowns, earning second-team All-ACC honors.
Even though he wasn’t a burner – running a 4.5 40 yard dash – Jackson quickly blows past defenders on vertical routes. He needs to improve his tracking skills but is still fairly raw. Even though he’s quick, he’s strong and has the strength to shed tacklers.
Jackson is predicted to go in the third day of the draft, somewhere between rounds 4-6.
Sterling Hofrichter
Maybe the best punter in the draft, Hofrichter was a four-year starter for the Orange. His biggest weakness for the draft is that he’s undersized at just 5-foot-9. But he has a booming leg, leading to a 62 percent touchback rate over the past two seasons. Besides being short for the position, Hofrichter’s biggest weakness is that he’s a willing coverer and tackler on his punts. That’s not much of a weakness.
Hofrichter is projected to go in the seventh round or be signed as a high priority free agent. For a punter, having the ability to choose the team he signs with isn’t so bad. If he isn’t drafted, Hofrichter could choose a team where there may be more competition for a job.
