The Official 2017 NFL Draft Thread

[South Paw]

Watching the 2014 first round Eagles pick

what about 2010?

 

[315]

 

[LEEeveryday]

So many smoke screens...

 

[315]

Interesting article
http://nypost.com/2017/04/22/studying-5-years-of-nfl-drafts-to-find-best-worst-teams-at-picking/

1. Vikings (3)
Pro Bowlers: 7
Best Pick: Harrison Smith (2012, first round)
Worst Pick: Sharrif Floyd (2013, first)

Minnesota has drafted more Pro Bowlers than any other team and has had very few misses in the premium rounds. Smith, Xavier Rhodes and Anthony Barr were home-run picks. Teddy Bridgewater looked like a great pick before his injury, too.

31. Broncos (15)
Pro Bowlers: 0
Best Pick: Malik Jackson (2012, fifth)
Worst Pick: Montee Ball (2013, second)

This may be surprising because John Elway deservedly has gotten a lot of praise for the Broncos’ recent success. But he has been living on free agency. After nailing his first draft in 2011, Elway has a lot of swings and misses and has not landed many impact players.

 

[Swagnificent]

I can't wait for this years draft. For the first time in a forever no one has any idea who is going in the top 5.

There are so many good players in this year's draft that we should expect a lot of surprises in round 1.

 

[FaTaL]

I can't wait for this years draft. For the first time in a forever no one has any idea who is going in the top 5.

There are so many good players in this year's draft that we should expect a lot of surprises in round 1.

I don't believe it, turbinsky isn't even a first round qb

I know Garrett sometimes doesn't play to his talent but I can't see sf passing on him

 

[PortCityProphet]

"Insiders" always hear a lot of things during this time but most of the time it's nothing.
Just ignore it and wait for something to come to fruition instead of clouding your brain with unnecessary "info"

 

[TUA TAGOVAILOA]

Villanova's Tanoh Kpassagnon making name for himself with NFL draft rise


Hope he goes Falcons or Raiders in 2nd round

 

[King P]

2017 NFL Draft Day-Two Values

In the recent weeks, there have been a lot of questions about who are my value picks in the 2017 NFL Draft class. A value or sleeper prospect is basically a player who gets drafted after the first round and proves to be a steal. The second day of the draft is where the men are separated from the boys among NFL general managers. All the players have strengths and flaws, but the top evaluators find future starters and team building blocks on Day 2. Every year, I pick my favorite second-day values. Here is a breakdown of a sleeper prospect at each position for the draft class. All the players will be prospects who are likely going on the second or third day of the 2017 NFL Draft. If a player is a possible late first-round pick, I generally don't include them as an option.

Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
Right off the bat, I'm breaking a guideline with a potential late first-round pick. The problem is there are only late first-round quarterbacks to pick from. I had a choice of Mahomes, DeShone Kizer, Davis Webb. Otherwise, I was going to say there is no quarterback value pick. Rather than not staking a claim on a player, I figured I would pick from these signal-callers. I do not think that Josh Dobbs, Nate Peterman, Brad Kaaya or Chad Kelly will turn into value picks. I could see Dobbs and Peterman making it as backups in the NFL, but backup quarterbacks are a dime a dozen. To be a real value, a player turns into a good starter.

Many would probably say I'm crazy, but I believe in Mahomes more than any quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has a cannon for an arm along with mobility and a propensity to make big plays for his team when nothing is open. Mahomes can create on his own via his physical tools that let him make amazing throws from a variety of platforms. He is also confident and a competitor who took the starting job away Webb from Texas Tech. Mahomes has the pedigree of a pro athlete with his father and godfather. Mahomes is a great kid off the field who studies a lot and wants to be a great player. He has an 'it factor,' and I think he can make the transition to a pro-style system.

Many teams have graded Mahomes on the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft, so while he might go in the first round, his consensus grade would put him as a potential value pick.

Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
This was a tough choice between Alvin Kamara and D'Onta Foreman. I automatically rule out Joe Mixon because of his off-the-field issues. Kamara is a lot like Jamaal Charles as a runner in that both are fast slashers who are built well with some power. Additionally, Kamara is a phenomenal receiver with great hands and the route-running to also be used as a slot receiver. He also is a dynamic returner on punts and kickoffs. Teams have concerns about Kamara being able to handle a heavy work load in the NFL, but I think he could surprise in that regard. Kamara is heavier than Charles and LeSean McCoy, so I think Kamara could end up being more sturdy than he's been given credit for.

Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama
Unlike last the two years, there were a lot of great options to pick from as top value pick at the tight end position. The 2017 NFL Draft is loaded at the tight end position. For me, this pick came down to Gerald Everett and Evan Engram, but as stated above, Everett stood out to me as the best value of all second-day value prospects.

For the NFL, Everett is a dynamite receiving weapon down the middle seam of the field. He is fast at running vertically down the field with speed, explosiveness and athleticism. Everett also is a very good route-runner who consistently gets separation. He is way too fast for linebackers and uses his size well against safeties. Everett often burns man coverage and is very adept at finding the soft spot in zone coverage. Everett repeatedly used his leaping ability frame and make catches over defenders as Everett plays bigger than his listed numbers. He is a dangerous run-after-the-catch receiver, too, possessing a second gear to run away from defenders and explode into the open field. He can flash some moves and strength as a runner.

As a pro, Everett could be a devastating mismatch weapon and one of the better receiving tight ends in the NFL. He should contribute some as a blocker, but he is a limited player in that regard. In the 2017 NFL Draft, he is my favorite value pick for Day 2.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
Smith-Schuster has been an underrated prospect in the leadup to the 2017 NFL Draft. For the next level, the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder is a big, strong, possession receiver. He routinely uses his size and strength to make catches over defensive backs for 50-50 passes. That makes Smith-Schuster very dangerous in the red zone. Even though he isn't very fast, Smith-Schuster has some excellent run-after-the-catch skills. He can pick up yards by getting North and South while also being tough to tackle in open field. On wide receiver screens, Smith-Schuster is dangerous, and he is a very good receiver for running quick slants, digs and crosses. Those are the basic routes of the west coast offense, and Smith-Schuster will be a good fit in that scheme. I think Smith-Schuster will be a very good No. 2 receiver in the NFL and could end up being a borderline No. 1.

Dan Feeney, G, Indiana
Feeney is a tough guard at the point of attack. The 6-foot-4, 304-pounder is strong to get movement in the ground game, yet retains the athleticism to pass block on the inside of the line. His senior year didn't go as planned as he dealt with injuries to himself and teammates that forced him to play some right tackle. That didn't help Feeney's draft grade, but at the Senior Bowl, he was impressive. I think he is going to end up being a really solid NFL guard. This isn't a good offensive line draft, and Feeney could be one of the only picks who becomes a good value after the first round.

Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
From an athletic skill-set perspective, McDowell is one of the stars of the 2017 NFL Draft class. In fact among the defensive line, I would say only Myles Garrett has a more freaky skill set. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound McDowell is extremely fast at the point of attack with natural size, length and strength.

In the pass rush, McDowell has a quick get-off with speed to close. He is faster than expected, and often his speed catches offensive linemen by surprise. He can use his speed to dart by guards, or fly around the corner to beat offensive tackles. McDowell has shocking speed for such a big defensive lineman. Even more shocking is his ability to bend and dip around the corner. Most tall defensive linemen aren't as agile as McDowell. On the other hand, he is raw as he needs to be taught technique and pass-rushing moves. The Michigan State coaching staff didn't teach McDowell well, and his lack of development is absurd given the immense physical talent those coaches had the good fortune of working with.

McDowell is also a tough run defender. He can use his his quickness to get upfield, or use his strength to get off a block and tackle the back close to the line of scrimmage. With his speed, McDowell can fire his gap and get penetration into the backfield. After getting by guards, McDowell has a nice ability to close.

The only thing that can stop McDowell is himself, and that is why he's projected to the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. Teams question his effort, work ethic, and football character. He is a young kid who could mature. If the light comes on, I think he could be one of the best five-technique 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL. He also will be very good in a 4-3. McDowell could be a mega-steal for some team.

Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
Most teams are projecting Cunningham to the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. Hence, I feel comfortable putting him in this article. Cunningham does everything well that the NFL could want, and there isn't a serious weakness to his game. In run defense, he defends sideline-to-sideline with the quickness to track down ball-carriers. Cunningham has very good instincts. He is very good at reading his keys and exploding through the scrum to take down running backs. Cunningham is also big enough to defend against downhill runs coming straight at him. In terms of getting off blocks though, Cunningham is a mixed story. There have been plays where he is very impassive to shed blocks and then make a tackle. Other times, he tries to run around blockers rather than taking them on. He needs to improve at more consistently taking on blocks in the NFL. Adding some more muscle to his lean frame could help him to execute that.

Cunningham is very well-suited to today's NFL in terms of pass coverage. As a professional, he could be an asset as a linebacker weapon to neutralize receiving threat tight ends in man-to-man coverage. Cunningham has good height and length to match up on tight ends with the speed to get down the seam. He was very good in coverage for Vanderbilt last season. For running backs out of the backfield, Cunningham is also able to blanket them. In zone coverage, Cunningham is skilled to pick up receivers coming into his area and keeping them from getting open. He also flashed as a blitzer when given the opportunity to rush the passer. Cunningham should be a true three-down defender in the NFL.

Akhello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
This was a tough choice between Witherspoon and Jalen Tabor. I chose Witherspoon because I think he has special cover skills, while Tabor has some limitations. Tabor has great instincts and is a ballhawk, but his issues with deep speed could be amplified in the NFL. I think Witherspoon could end up being a No. 1 cornerback who is adept at blanketing receivers and preventing separation.

At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, Witherspoon has great size to matchup on tall receivers. He also is very fast and showed the ability to run with speedy wideouts. Witherspoon is a fluid athlete with the looseness to turn and run, yet still use his size to win jump balls. Another thing that I love about Witherspoon is that he is a tremendous asset in the red zone. Teams went after him last year, and he was phenomenal at taking away precious downs to do his part to prevent touchdowns. Witherspoon is very smart and has a ton of athletic upside. I think he will be one of the steals of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Marcus Maye, S, Florida
This is a very good safety draft, so this was a tough call. My finalists were Maye and Utah's Marcus Williams. I chose Maye because he is bigger, stronger, and a better run defender. Hence, I think Maye is more versatile and well-rounded for the NFL.

In pass coverage, Maye has the potential to be a real asset in the NFL. He has the speed, size, and ball skills to be a single-high deep free safety. As the deep center fielder, he can break on the ball well and is dangerous to pick it off or slap it away. Maye is rangy, and is adept at making some big plays downfield because he is very instinctive. He covers a lot of ground in the deep part of the field, plus has the size to battle big wide receivers and tight ends. Maye also has some man-coverage ability to defend pass-receiving tight ends who cause mismatch problems for most teams.

In run defense, Maye can be a solid defender as he has the size to tackle and will make some clutch open-field stops. Maye may have sufficient flexiblity to play both strong and free safety in the NFL. He has the versatility to be an interchangeable safety that flips responsibilities pre-snap. Teams love that kind of safety.

Routinely, Maye makes some tremendous plays. Plays that make you say "Wow" and give him the look of a first-round pick. On the flip side, he has consistent hiccups that are extremely painful for his team. I think those mistakes can be reduced with good coaching to fix some vision and eye-discipline issues. If that happens, Maye could be a Pro Bowl player and one of the steals of the 2017 NFL Draft.

 

[King P]

2017 NFL Draft Day-Three Sleepers

Throughout NFL history, there have been steals in mid- to late rounds of the draft. Some of these players are backups for a few seasons before earning starting roles and excelling. This article picks out some potential sleepers for the third day of the NFL Draft who could be draft-day steals.

Javarius Leamon, OT, South Carolina State
Leamon really impressed scouts in 2016. Sources say that Leamon is athletic with an above-average ability to anchor against bull rushers. He is a little finesse and will need to improve his strength for the NFL, but team evaluators feel he has the potential to grow into starting left tackle. At 6-foot-7, 322 pounds with long arms, Leamon is a very good athlete with tons of developmental upside. He could be similar to Terron Armstead as a small-school player who ends up developing into a good NFL starter.

Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International
In a typical draft, Smith would probably be a third-round pick and one of the top receiving tight ends in the draft class. The 2017 class, however, is loaded with tight end talent, so Smith will probably slip to the third day. The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder is fast and athletic. He could be a real mismatch weapon against linebackers and safeties. Scouting sources from across the league have compared Smith to the Bills' Charles Clay. Thus, Smith could be a real steal on the final day of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Darius English, OLB, South Carolina
As a late-round sleeper pick, I think English could be a nice value as a DPR - designated pass rush - contributor in a 3-4 defense while playing outside linebacker. In 2016, English totaled 60 tackles with 13 for a loss, nine sacks, one pass batted and two forced fumbles. He has good length and can put pressure on the quarterback, but is undersized and lean for the NFL. If he develops in a NFL strength and conditioning program, he could be a nice value pick.

Brenden Langley, CB, Lamar
Langley really impressed me at the Senior Bowl with his size, speed and athleticism. In Mobile, he did an excellent job of running with receivers and preventing separation. Following that performance, he ran faster than expected at the combine with a time of 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Langley also put together an impressive senior season for Lamar with 43 tackles, seven passes broken up and six interceptions. He could sneak into the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft, but on Day 3, I think he could be a sleeper steal for some team.

Sojourn Shelton, CB, Wisconsin
Shelton (5-9, 178) is an undersized corner, yet he really does an excellent job of running with his receives and preventing separation. To close out his senior year, Shelton had a really nice game covering and limiting Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis. While Shelton doesn't have the size to be an outside corner, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a steal as a late-rounder or undrafted free agent who competes as a nickel cornerback.

Fish Smithson, S, Kansas
Smithson could slide late in the 2017 NFL Draft because he is undersized, but he has tremendous instincts and was an impressive defender on tape over the past two seasons. In 2016, Smithson totaled 93 tackles with seven passes broken up, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. He led the nation with 7.9 solo tackles per game in 2015 on 87 solo tackles. He totaled 111 stops with two interceptions, five passes broken up and one forced fumble on the year. I could see Smithson being a player who ends up being a steal because he is so instinctive that he makes up for a lesser skill set.

 

[King P]

 

[Thegospel]

And Marcus Maye (Florida). And Marcus Williams (Utah).

This might be the greatest safety class ever in terms of top-end talent and depth.

It's ridiculous how talented this class is at that position. 2017 class is stacked at a lot position. None moreso than safety.

I'm agreeing with you now . I said a week ago this safety class is what makes dbs so deep this year

 

[malbaker86]

Just saw this.

Its over for him.

fukk em

 

[malbaker86]

2017 NFL Draft Day-Two Values

Maye cant cover for shyt

 

[King P]

Quarterback in Play for Saints in First Round

Over the past few seasons, the New Orleans Saints have put in a lot of work on scouting the quarterbacks in each draft class. Head coach Sean Payton has always been focused on evaluating the quarterback talent and keeping on the lookout for the eventual replacement for Drew Brees. Thus, it isn't surprising that New Orleans put a lot of time into working out the top quarterback prospects in this draft class. Brees is 38 years old and will be a free agent after the 2018 season, so perhaps this is the year that New Orleans drafts his replacement.

Sources with the Saints tell WalterFootball.com that taking a quarterback with one of New Orleans first-round picks is possible.

The Saints have two first-round selections at picks 11 and 32 after trading wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Patriots. Sources say that Payton likes all four of the top quarterback prospects (check out our 2017 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospect Rankings.) While taking a quarterback is possible, it sounded as if it was more unlikely than likely. Many don't feel these quarterback prospects are worthy of being high first-rounders, and the Saints feel they are not far from being a playoff contender if the defense can quickly catch up to the offense.

The Saints could take another stab at making a run to the playoffs with Brees still playing at a high level. Using their early selections on defensive talent would certainly help Brees' chances of doing that. However, if the right quarterback is there, the Saints believe the importance of the quarterback position outweighs everything else and securing their long-term future at the most critical position could cause them to take a signal-caller in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Going into the draft, it sounds unlikely, but possible.