Two likeable underdogs in search of a niche position after floundering in poorly suited roles, Kevin Malone and Gardner Minshew are a perfect pairing.
After a warehouse interview led to a long, unintended career in accounting, Kevin finally found his place as a bar owner, while Gardner Minshew traded a poor Group of Five program for a perfect marriage with Mike Leach at Washington State .
What are the other 'The Office" character comparisons for 2019 NFL Draft prospects?
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Andy Bernard: Byron Cowart
Andy scored 1220 on his SATs and attended Cornell, while Maryland defensive end Byron Cowart was a 6-foot-3, 250-pound high school player and the No. 1 recruit in the 2015 class.
Both transferred and have done enough to suggest the potential still exists if they find the right spot.
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Angela Martin: Marquise Brown
Angela Martin and Oklahoma receiver Marquise Brown are superb at specific jobs: Angela as a neurotic, obsessive and detail-oriented accountant, and Brown as a small, quick, lightning-fast receiver.
Both work better in space, away from people, though both carry red flags.
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Creed Bratton: Mac Loudermilk
UCF punter Mac Loudermilk won't get drafted but could land on an NFL roster. Like Creed, he's an eccentric, happy-go-lucky guy we rarely see, though he brings the boom and never disappoints when given an opportunity.
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Dwight Schrute: Devin White
Dwight and LSU linebacker Devin White are bursting with raw talent, drive and versatility. They'll do whatever it takes to close the deal and have some extra tricks up their respective sleeves, which makes up for the occasional recklessness.
As a fellow horse enthusiast, might White be interested in "Burger on the Go"?
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Jim Halpert: Kyler Murray
Nice, well-mannered, likeable guys bursting with potential.
They're multi-talented and pulled in different directions while maintaining a fall-back option: Scranton is Murray's baseball career, and Philadelphia (or New York) is football.
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Kelly Kapoor: Rock Ya-Sin
Kelly Kapoor was a little-used, soft-spoken character in the first season (and beyond) before breaking through as a reliable, feisty fireball.
Rock Ya-Sin, meanwhile, was a little-known FCS cornerback at Presbyterian before jumping to the FBS last season, where he performed well enough to earn an NFL shot. Like Kelly, you don't always notice Ya-Sin, but when you do notice the 6-foot, 190-pounder, it's a sight to behold.
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Meredith Palmer: Trevon Wesco
Meredith and West Virginia's fullback/tight end Trevon Wesco are the do-it-all, willing to try anything types who get into the weeds and flash versatility. They embrace the grittiness.
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Michael Scott: Ed Oliver
As David Wallace noted, Michael isn't Dunder Mifflin's most conventional manager, but the hometown guy gets the job done with results strong enough to overshadow transgressions.
At 6-foot-2, 285 pounds, Ed Oliver isn't a conventional defensive tackle, though his 53.5 tackles for loss over three seasons at his hometown school are enough to overshadow the overblown sideline incident.
MORE: Dream 1st-Round Picks
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Oscar Martinez: Nasir Adderley
Reliable big fish in small ponds, you know what you're getting with Oscar Martinez and Delaware cornerback Nasir Adderley. Now, like Oscar running for State Senate, it's time to see what Adderley can do in a bigger pond.
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Pam Beesly: David Sills V
Like Pam trapped in an unhealthy relationship, there was empathy for David Sills as the grade-school quarterback fielded scholarship offers. After some movement and failed efforts — Pam in art school and as a saleswoman, Sills as a college quarterback — both found comfortable spots to grow.
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Phyllis Vance: Dalton Risner
An underappreciated and likeable pair oozing with long-term value, Phyllis Vance and Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner are largely forgotten as they go about their day-to-day business, though they strike hard and fast when needed.
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Ryan Howard: Jachai Polite
Ryan Howard never delivered tangible results like Florida defensive end Jachai Polite (11 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss in 2018), but both he and Polite were dripping with potential and had bright futures.
Although Polite hasn't committed wire fraud, he has self-imploded during the pre-draft process and tumbled down draft boards.
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Stanley Hudson: Hunter Renfrow
Like Oscar and Nasir Adderley, you know exactly what you're getting with Stanley and Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow: Less-is-more people whose numbers speak for themselves.
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Toby Flenderson: Taylor Rapp
Toby Flenderson is the most underappreciated character in The Office.
Similar to Washington safety Taylor Rapp, Toby isn't for everyone, there are some limitations, and he doesn't fit nicely into one positional bucket, though the versatility and reliability are underrated.
