Top 5 NFL Prospects at Each Position
Draft Week continues, and today we take a look at my Top 5 prospects at each position in the 2017 NFL Draft. I’m highlighting a favorite player in each group that I believe can and will develop into a star at the next level.
The talent levels at running back, tight end and corner back are very deep this year!
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
- Deshaun Watson, Clemson – Watson is a gamer. Forget the athletic ability, Watson has great football IQ and is the leader on the football field. He makes the difficult throws look easy but can make the easy ones look difficult. Has the most potential of any player in a weak QB class.
- Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
- Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech
- DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
- Davis Webb, California
Sleeper: Nathan Peterman, Pittsburgh
Running Backs
- Leonard Fournette, LSU
- Dalvin Cook, Florida St.
- Christian McCaffery, Stanford
- Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
- T-5. Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
- T-5. D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texas – Foreman came to Texas as the throw-in in the Foreman brothers recruiting package. He leaves as a man among boys on a team that rarely competed up to its abilities. Deceptive speed for a large back, he runs a 4.45 forty but will need to prove he can be a three-down player in the NFL.
Sleeper: Aaron Jones, UTEP
Wide Receivers
- Corey Davis, Western Michigan
- Mike Williams, Clemson
- John Ross, Washington
- Curtis Samuel, Ohio St.
- Zay Jones, East Carolina – Zay has great hands. His technique hauling in passes and snatching balls out of the air is tremendous. This central Texas product will need to show he can separate and get down field at the next level.
Sleeper: Chris Godwin, Penn State
Tight Ends
- O.J. Howard, Alabama – A dynamic talent who was held back by the limited role he was given at Alabama. Howard should blossom in the NFL and become the type of weapon Greg Olsen and Jordan Reed have been. His athletic ability is off the charts!
- David Njoku, Miami
- Evan Engram, Mississippi
- Gerald Everett, South Alabama
- Jordan Leggett, Clemson
Sleeper: Adam Shaheen, Ashland
Offensive Lineman
- Forrest Lamp, OT/OG, Western Kentucky – Lamp is a technician who does a great job of keeping his feet underneath him. He slides well and uses his hands effectively to engage rushers on the edge. He projects inside to guard in the NFL.
- Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
- Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
- Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
- Dion Dawkins, OT/OG, Temple
Sleeper: Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
DEFENSE
Defensive Lineman
- Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
- Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
- Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
- Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee – A great edge rusher who is more technique than flat-out athletic ability. Barnett is already at the next level with his hand technique as a pass rusher. He’s been an ultra productive sack artist who can also set the edge and be a factor against the run.
- Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA
Sleeper: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas St.
Linebackers
- Rueben Foster, LB, Alabama
- Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple – An explosive player who took his pass rushing skills to the next level in 2016. Reddick bends well and understands how to use leverage as an outside rusher. He arrives quickly and suddenly against the run and can make plays chasing from the backside. He has great instincts!
- Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida
- Tyus Bowser, LB, Houston
- T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
Sleeper: Anthony Walker, ILB, Northwestern
Cornerbacks
- Marshon Lattimore, Ohio St. – A fluid cover-man who makes it look easy at times. Lattimore only started one year but made the absolute most of it. He anticipates like a four-year player and only needs to avoid nagging injuries (hamstrings) to keep him from being a pro bowler.
- Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio St.
- Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
- Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
- Kevin King, CB, Washington
Sleeper: Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
Safeties
- Jamal Adams, SS, LSU
- Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio St.
- Budda Baker, FS, Washington – Short men unite! I love the attitude Baker brings to the game. He’s an ultra aggressive player on the field that is never afraid to stick his head into the mix. He’s a sideline-to-sideline player who does not get caught out of position in coverage much. A winner and solid character player.
- Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan
- Obi Melifonwu, FS, Connecticut
Sleeper: Montae Nicholson, SS, Michigan St.
Robert Garcia @TexasTrinity