The Surprise Risers
We’re just a little more than a month out from the first day of the 2017 NFL Draft and the chatter just gets louder and louder. Who’s rising up boards? Which players could slip into the late part of Round 1 or may unexpectedly end up in the very early part of the second frame? Here’s a list of five players who may end up being selected in the draft much earlier than anyone presently predicts.
1) Kevin King/CB/Washington: There are several reasons why King is moving up draft boards. First we must mention the recent injuries suffered by a pair of highly rated cornerbacks -- teammate Sidney Jones and Fabian Moreau of UCLA. This reduces the supply of top-rated corners, which makes the demand for players like King that much greater. And there’s no denying King has helped his own cause. First there was his combine workout when King timed 4.43s in the 40. It wasn’t super fast but was much better than the 4.55s scouts expected. His other marks from Indianapolis -- including 3.89s in the short shuttle and 6.56s in the three-cone -- were exceptional. Lost in the shuffle of the injury sustained by Jones during Washington’s pro day was how good King looked in position drills. As one scout at the workout stated, King “moves exceptionally well for a 200-plus pound athlete.” He is unlikely to make it out of the first round as teams around the league love big, fast corners who can cover. King already worked out for the Tampa Bay Bucs and has a workout as well as a visit scheduled with the New York Jets, who intend to shop the sixth pick of the draft.
2) Forrest Lamp/OL/Western Kentucky: The more I speak with people, the more it seems to be a forgone conclusion Lamp ends up in the bottom half of Round 1. The versatility to play either guard position along with center or left tackle in a pinch has teams salivating. When compared to the other highly rated offensive linemen, Lamp is viewed as the safest and surest of the bunch. He makes perfect sense for the Green Bay Packers in the late part of Round 1 considering the losses the team sustained on the offensive in free agency, and a source from the franchise told me there is interest. The Seattle Seahawks also think highly of Lamp as do the Minnesota Vikings, though Minnesota doesn’t own a first-round pick and would have to trade up to acquire him. Lamp has worked out for the Atlanta Falcons, who own pick No. 31, as well as the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.
3) Jordan Willis/DE/Kansas State: Teams love versatile athletes who can rush the passer. Willis proved he was the premiere athlete at the defensive end position during the combine when he timed 4.53s in the 40 and 6.85s in the short shuttle as well as touching 39 inches in the vertical jump after weighing in at 255 pounds. He then went on and showed his versatility at the Wildcats pro day, looking flawless in both defensive line and linebacker drills. I think it will be a stretch for Willis to end up in the late part of Round 1 but would expect him to be off the board during the top half of the second frame. Willis worked out for the Jacksonville Jaguars this week, will be working out for the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Bucsin the coming weeks and has a visit to Tampa Bay on his schedule. The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys are also showing a lot of interest in Willis.
4) Tarell Basham/DE/Ohio: Basham is another athletic pass rusher with versatility, but the big attraction here is growth potential. Just under 6-foot-4, the belief is Basham can pack on pounds while keeping his speed (4.7s in the 40 at the combine) and lateral quickness (4.35s in the short shuttle). As proven during Senior Bowl week, he can rush the quarterback out of a three-point stance or standing over tackle. Basham has already worked out with the New England Patriotsand has a workout with the Dallas Cowboysscheduled.
5) Josh Jones/S/North Carolina State: People seem to dismiss Jones when the conversation turns to the top safeties in the draft, though this is not true in the scouting community. He tested incredibly well at the combine and when teams went back and watched the film, they saw a potential top-50 pick. Jones has worked out for the Jacksonville Jaguars and will be working out for the Arizona Cardinals in future. His list of official visits includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
