2017 Draft Prospects Thread

[Douglar]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/i...695/mcshay-final-tier-rankings-2017-nfl-draft

Draft Tiers:

As the 2017 NFL draft draws closer, it's time to finalize our draft tier rankings, which uses our grades to separate prospects into segments. This is helpful when comparing players who are close to each other in the rankings. It also helps in predicting where players will come off the board during the first three rounds of the draft.

Here's the final version of our 2017 draft tiers, covering players with first-, second- and third-round grades (in parentheses next to each player's name). If you want to read our finalized reports for a player, click on the link tied to his name.

*Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk.

Tier 1

The elite class of the 2017 NFL draft. These players should be starters from Day 1 and project as perennial Pro Bowl players.

2017: 1 player | 2016: 0 players

1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M* (Grade: 95)

Garrett's production, tape and athletic upside put him on a different level compared to his peers. He's one of the elite pass-rushing prospects of the past decade and should be an easy choice for the Cleveland Browns with the No. 1 overall pick.

Tier 2

A notch below the elite class but still worthy of top-20 picks in most drafts. These picks are expected to be plug-and-play starters.

2017: 10 players | 2016: 8 players

1. Jamal Adams, S, LSU* (94)
2. Solomon Thomas, DT, Stanford* (94)
3. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU* (93)
4. Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama (93)
5. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State* (92)
6. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama (92)
7. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State* (92)
8. Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama (92)
9. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford* (92)
10. Haason Reddick, ILB, Temple (92)

Adams is a special player. He has the toughness to play near the line of scrimmage and the athleticism to cover wide receivers and tight ends in space. He's a more complete prospect than Hooker -- and he has a cleaner bill of health, with Hooker coming off multiple offseason surgeries. Howard is my highest-ranked tight end since I had Vernon Davis No. 6 overall in 2006. The Alabama product reminds me of Greg Olsen; they have very similar measurables, plus both bring value as big-play threats and blockers.

Tier 3

These players carry late first-round grades.

2017: 13 players | 2016: 14 players

1. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson* (91)
2. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee* (91)
3. David Njoku, TE, Miami (Fla.)* (91)
4. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky (90)
5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State* (90)
6. Charles Harris, OLB, Missouri* (90)
7. Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State* (90)
8. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan (90)
9. Garett Bolles, OT, Utah* (90)
10. John Ross, WR, Washington* (90)
11. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama* (90)
12. Evan Engram, TE, Mississippi (90)
13. Kevin King, CB, Washington (90)

In the previous 10 drafts, my highest-rated offensive lineman was ranked, on average, fourth overall. The 2017 class is especially weak in that regard, with Lamp at No. 15 being the best O-lineman on my board. McCaffrey's rare versatility -- he can run between the tackles, catch passes in the slot and contribute as a return specialist -- helped bump him up to Tier 2, while Cook stock has been affected by character/durability concerns.

Tier 4

Would rather not reach for these prospects late in the first round, but they're good value picks in the first half of Round 2.

2017: 22 players | 2016: 16 players

1. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama* (89)
2. Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA (89)
3. Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston (89)
4. Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida (89)
5. Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina* (89)
6. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU (89)
7. Adoree' Jackson, CB, Southern California* (89)
8. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson* (88)
9. Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida* (88)
10. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin* (88)
11. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State* (88)
12. Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan (87)
13. Marcus Maye, S, Florida (87)
14. T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin* (87)
15. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan (87)
16. Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina (87)
17. Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State* (86)
18. Budda Baker, S, Washington* (86)
19. Josh Jones, S, NC State* (86)
20. Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma* (85)
21. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut (85)
22. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan* (85)

That's right: The top-rated QB on my board (Trubisky) does not carry a first-round grade. Both he and Watson have the tools and mental makeup to eventually grow into good NFL starters, but neither are ready to start from Day 1. This tier is where the depth of the defensive back group starts to show: Fifteen of my top 46 players are cornerbacks or safeties. Good DBs will be available deep into Day 2.

Tier 5

These players are middle- or late-second-round prospects.

2017: 15 players | 2016: 20 players

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech* (84)
2. Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado (83)
3. Dion Dawkins, OG, Temple (83)
4. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame* (83)
5. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Southern California* (83)
6. Marcus Williams, S, Utah* (83)
7. Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt* (82)
8. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee* (82)
9. Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida* (81)
10. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State (81)
11. Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama (81)
12. Chris Wormley, DT, Michigan (80)
13. Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana (80)
14. Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland* (80)
15. Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama (80)

It's looking like Mahomes will be a first-round pick, despite carrying a mid-second-round grade. That's quarterbacks for ya. Smith-Schuster is a bit of a forgotten man in this wide receiver class, but I love his competitiveness and he'd be a good fit in a West-coast system because of his ability to make plays after the catch. This is around the spot on the board where the second tier of TEs pop up. Shaheen leads that group, with the size/speed combination to cause matchup problems in the NFL.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Joe Thomas continues to be a HOF tweeter

View: https://twitter.com/joethomas73/status/856870708244353025

Schwartz actually seems like a decent follow as well. As for JT -- best Browns draft pick since....?

Not only for his play on the field, but also because he seems just to be a great all-around guy. From fishing with his dad on draft day, right on through today.

Garrett seems like a great guy as well, so let's hope his play on the field matches up. Would be nice to actually hit on someone for a change.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I have him as a late first round, early second round grade at highest. I am guessing he is less of a risk than Mahomes, but has all the talent abilities of a would be NFL starter.

He's scary as hell in a way. How many college QB's had an impressive first thirteen starts, only to drift into draft irrelevancy by the time they were eligible? The talent may well be there, but those 13 starts are scary.

 

[sportscoach]

He's scary as hell in a way. How many college QB's had an impressive first thirteen starts, only to drift into draft irrelevancy by the time they were eligible? The talent may well be there, but those 13 starts are scary.

I think all the first four QBs are all gambles in different ways and if we truly go BPA, then Trubisky is not the pick at 1 or 12 for this organization. Wentz is a better QB than Trubisky without a doubt in my mind. 5 years from now we will know who is right about that, but if we skipped on Wentz at two, then we need to skip Trubisky as well.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

You want to see a shitty draft, look up the top 10 from the 2005 draft. Yuck!

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I think all the first four QBs are all gambles in different ways and if we truly go BPA, then Trubisky is not the pick at 1 or 12 for this organization. Wentz is a better QB than Trubisky without a doubt in my mind. 5 years from now we will know who is right about that, but if we skipped on Wentz at two, then we need to skip Trubisky as well.

I'd agree that Wentz was a better prospect than Trubisky, although Wentz at 2 may be just as much of an overdraft as Trubisky would be at 12. Time will tell, I suppose.

 

[Los216]

View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/856908202528714752


The only two players in the draft that have made statements like this are Watson and Garrett.

 

[sportscoach]

I'd agree that Wentz was a better prospect than Trubisky, although Wentz at 2 may be just as much of an overdraft as Trubisky would be at 12. Time will tell, I suppose.

I guess supposedly last year they had Wentz at number 20 from what I read on an article about Wentz when it came to the Browns perspective so Trubisky shouldn't be any higher than that to them since in no way is he a better prospect.

 

[DJTJ]

He's scary as hell in a way. How many college QB's had an impressive first thirteen starts, only to drift into draft irrelevancy by the time they were eligible? The talent may well be there, but those 13 starts are scary.

Tahj Boyd and Christian Hackenberg.

Had Trubisky stayed, I think he'd have negatively impacted his draft stock.

He's actually entirely off my own personal board. I think he's trash.

 

[Goodbyehorses]

I know this is out of left field, but Corey Davis is going to be a fucking beast. I know it wouldn't make a lot of sense, but if he is chilling there at 33 for some reason, I hope we pull trigger on him.
Gut feeling, he's the real deal at wr.

 

[sportscoach]

Tahj Boyd and Christian Hackenberg.

Had Trubisky stayed, I think he'd have negatively impacted his draft stock.

He's actually entirely off my own personal board. I think he's trash.

I think Watson personally will fail in the NFL, so we all have our trash prospects. I don't mind Trubisky, but I don't see him ever becoming an elite QB, I dont see any of those in this draft. Hence why I don't want a QB in round one. Like I wouldn't be mad if we decided to get him at 12, but I think we could get a better player at 12 that's still a need for this team

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I know this is out of left field, but Corey Davis is going to be a fucking beast. I know it wouldn't make a lot of sense, but if he is chilling there at 33 for some reason, I hope we pull trigger on him.
Gut feeling, he's the real deal at wr.

Can't go wrong going with your gut!

 

[Goodbyehorses]

Johnny fucking jizzface


Someone's gut was way off on that twat

 

[sportscoach]

I know this is out of left field, but Corey Davis is going to be a fucking beast. I know it wouldn't make a lot of sense, but if he is chilling there at 33 for some reason, I hope we pull trigger on him.
Gut feeling, he's the real deal at wr.

They will weigh their options, but we just have no clue where he ranks on their board. They could be targeting Ross at 12 and everything else is just them doing a smoke screen to make sure he falls. Part of me says their target isn't Trubisky, but someone else that is a top 10 guy and they are hoping he falls, but we will never know.

 

[sportscoach]

Can't go wrong going with your gut!

Well unless you ask AZ_ then anyone's gut feeling is irrelevant to him , but right now we can educate ourselves and then go with our guts or logic, but both are equally as right in the current moment