NFL Draft 2020: These prospects could tumble based on medical reports

One of the benefits -- perhaps, the only benefit -- of this unique NFL draft process is there have been no reports of injuries sustained during workouts involving any of the top prospects.

“This is a light year for injuries,” one high-ranking AFC executive told NBC Sports Bay Area. “Usually, one or two guys get hurt in workouts. This year, there were no workouts.”

Draft boards around the league are relatively clean of players whose draft stocks have dropped dramatically due to physical issues.

On Wednesday, Philadelphia radio 97.5 The Fanatic’s Natalie Egenolf and NBC Sports Philadelphia's Derrick Gunn reported a few teams were concerned with Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy's knee.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter later made reference to Jeudy’s “lingering knee issue.” Jeudy underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair meniscus in his left knee during the spring of 2018.

The executive said his team has not red-flagged Jeudy with any health issue. After all, Jeudy played two full seasons after the procedure on his knee and registered nearly 2,500 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns.

[49ERS INSIDER PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]

Here are some prospects the executive believes will be drafted lower than their talents would suggest due to medical concerns:

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

This long-time evaluator does not believe any team will select Tua Tagovailoa within the first 10 picks of the draft, in part, because of his hip and “overall durability.” Tagovailoa sustained a dislocated right hip in mid-November.

The scout has major questions about Tagovailoa as a prospect, period.

“He had four first-round receivers -- and when have you ever said that? -- and an NFL offensive line,” he said. “He’s a really good college distributor.

“I’ll make a wild prediction for you: He slides down toward (Bill) Belichick, and Belichick takes him.”

The New England Patriots have the No. 23 overall pick in the draft.

WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado

Laviska Shenault plays extremely hard -- along the lines of Deebo Samuel. But that has led to some injuries that forced him to miss a lot of practice time in college. Teams are concerned about a list of soft-tissue injuries.

He missed three games in 2018 with turf toe, which required surgery. He had offseason shoulder surgery a year ago that forced him out of spring practice. He missed practice time and a game with a core muscle injury, which required surgery in March.

“In a weak draft, he’s a first-round pick,” the scout said. “But, now, he’s going to fall into the second somewhere.”

WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina

Bryan Edwards (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) would have been a third-round pick. But after sustaining a broken foot (a Jones fracture) before the combine, the scout now envisions Edwards being available in the fourth or fifth round. He also missed the final two games of his college career with a knee injury.

He still finished his final season with 71 receptions for 816 yards and six touchdowns.

TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri

Albert Okwuegbunam (6-5, 258) dealt with numerous injury issues over his final two college seasons with a fractured shoulder blade, sprained knee and sprained shoulder. The scout believes with a clean bill of health, Okwuegbunam would have been a second-round pick.

Now, he’ll slide to the third or fourth.

Edge Terrell Lewis, Alabama

Terrell Lewis missed most of 2017 with an elbow injury. Then, he tore his right ACL in July 2018 and missed that season. He came back last season, but he was nowhere near as explosive and productive as K’Lavon Chaisson of LSU, who also returned from a torn ACL.

Pre-injuries, Lewis was a lock first-round draft pick, the scout said, and he’ll still go in the second round despite the injury concerns.

Edge Darrell Taylor, Tennessee

Darrell Taylor registered 16.5 sacks in the past two seasons and was a team captain. He played last season with a stress fracture in his foot. He would have been a first-round pick, the scout said.

But because of his foot, he will be selected on Day 2.

Edge Julian Okwara, Notre Dame

If Julian Okwara had a good offseason and tested well, he would have placed himself in the picture to be a first-round draft pick. But he missed the second half of his final college season with a broken leg, which required surgery. Because teams have not been able to keep tabs on him, as they would have in past years, he will still be available well into Day 2.

CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama

Any team that selects Trevon Diggs will be taking a chance because he opted to not run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He had foot issues during his college career, including a broken foot in October 2018 that required season-ending surgery.

“He would’ve been a first-round pick,” the scout said. “But with no 40, that probably pushes him into the second round. He can’t run. People are going to make a mistake if they draft him early."

Diggs could be an option for the 49ers or Raiders.

CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah

Jaylon Johnson has a history of shoulder injuries that dates back to high school. He is a first-round talent who will be available in the second round, though the scout views Johnson’s shoulder issues as “nothing significant."

[RELATED: Could 49ers surprise many, take Jefferson with No. 13 pick?]

FS Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota

Antonine Winfield (5-9, 203) was healthy as a redshirt sophomore and looked like a first-round draft pick. But he was limited to just four games apiece in 2017 and ’18 due to foot and hamstring injuries. At his size, there is concern how durable he can be at the NFL level.

“He’s healthy now, and he’s a really good player,” the scout said. “But that history is something to consider.”

FS Julian Blackmon, Utah

Julian Blackmon was tracking as a second-round draft pick. But after sustaining a torn ACL in the Pac-12 Championship Game, he might not be available for his rookie season. He could tumble to the fourth or fifth round.