Every Saturday gives us answers, but it also creates brand-new questions for the draft cycle. Welcome to the Tuesday Morning Heat Check, where we evaluate the tape from the weekend’s action—cutting through box-score hype to spotlight college prospects who elevated their draft stock against top-tier competition and those who took a hit.
Tuesday Morning Heat Check: Week 4 NFL Draft Stock Risers & Fallers
Stock Risers (The Heat Check)
1. Colin Simmons, EDGE — Texas
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Game/Opponent: at Tennessee
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Stat Line / Key Metric: 8 TCK (4 solo), 5 SCK, 1 FF
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The Film Take: A 15-yard penalty for pantomiming taking a piss on Tennessee aside. Simmons was unblockable. His speed off the edge, power, and counter moves were evident in his five-sack performance. Simmons showed everything you want in a potential top five pick.
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Draft Projection Impact:
Moving from: Top 10 ➔ Top 5
2. Chris Cole, LB — Georgia
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Game/Opponent: Oklahoma
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Stat Line / Key Metric: 8 TCK (7 solo), 1 SCK, 1 FR (85-yd TD)
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The Film Take: Chris Cole showed great range in coverage and good coverage skills. He flashed his athleticism and playmaking abilities on his 85-yard scoop-and-score TD.
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Draft Projection Impact:
Moving from: Early Day 2 ➔ Late 1st Round
Stock Fallers (Under the Microscope)
1. John Mateer, QB — Oklahoma
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Game/Opponent: at Georgia
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Stat Line / Key Metric: 25/34, 231 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
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The Film Take: Mateer continues to make too many mistakes. He has no consistency whatsoever. At one point, Mateer turned the ball over on 3 straight possessions.
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Draft Projection Impact:
Moving from: Early Day 3 ➔ Late Day 3/UDFA
2. Dante Moore, QB — Oregon
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Game/Opponent: at Southern Cal
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Stat Line / Key Metric: 8/10, 77 YDS; 1 ATT, 42 YDS, 1 TD
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The Film Take: Dante Moore is here through no fault of his own. He was stretchered off the field in the second quarter after a dirty hit on a slide by a Southern Cal defender. Moore was motionless for several minutes before regaining movement in his extremities. He was later diagnosed with a concussion and will now enter the protocol. There is currently no timetable for his return.
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Draft Projection Impact:
Moving from: Top 10 ➔ Wait and see
The Bottom Line
After focusing on six games in Week 4, we will evaluate another 6 games in Week 5 and add another group of risers and fallers.