2017 NFL Draft Stock Watch Week 1: Who’s Rising?

Which players are seeing their 2017 NFL draft stock rise after the first week of college football?

You should read this piece as if you were an investor in a hypothetical stock market looking for to stay ahead of the curve with your money. I’m going to recommend to you which “stocks” you should be buying into.

Mike Williams, WR Clemson. I said months ago that Williams was my top Wideout prospect. Now the world knows it, or should. Well, the draft world at least. Williams, if he can stay healthy, could be in the discuss in the top 10. My only concern is that the offense he plays in might stunt his route running development.

Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford. He should be a top 10 pick. He has NFL level quickness, speed and vision. And he’s the closest prospect I’ve seen to Le’Veon Bell. What puts him in this exalted company has nothing to do with his running back skills, it’s his route running. McCaffrey and Bell both are amazing in their route running and body control and could probably make a pro bowl as a wide receiver.

Nick Chubb, RB Georgia. He’s not 100% yet. He’s probably in the high 80s recovering from his knee injury. And he ripped up the UNC defense for 200+ yards to open the season. To be fair, he won’t always be facing the Tarheels but it looks like his knee injury won’t be as big an issue for him headed into the draft.

DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame. Kizer is what Deshaun Watson should be headed into the draft. He plays in a more pro style system and is clearly developing his passing skills to play in the pros. Go and watch the tape of Kizer just against the Texas’ blitz. He showed me enough for me to pour everything in my 401k in hypothetical Kizer draft stock. Meanwhile, Brian Kelly is seriously undecided on whether to start him or not.

Myles Garrett, DE Texas A&M. It seems hard for a prospect seen as a top 3 pick to see his stock rise but somehow Garrett pulled it off. He absolutely pulverized good UCLA offensive line. And what was most impressive to the scouts is that he didn’t just do it rushing around the edge. He moved around the defensive line, even lining up at tackle for a few plays. He rushed inside from the end spot, he rushed outside from the end spot. He used a wide variety of moves as well. I think he could be a top 2 pick and I really would like to hear the argument why he shouldn’t be the #1 pick.

Tim Williams, DE Alabama. If it wasn’t for Garrett, we’d be talking about Williams as the first defender off the board in the spring. Williams might be the odds for Alabama defenders. He has all the skills a team looks for in an edge rusher. But what made him so devastatingly good against Southern Cal is that he showed the scouts that he watches so much film that he knows the opposition’s playbook. Namely that he knew the snap counts so well that he could jump them. I counted 6 times when Williams went right at the snap count and was in the backfield before the the tackle knew what was happening.

Tre’Davious White, DB LSU. White was the reason that LSU had any shot vs Wisconsin. He had a pick-6 and then immediately followed it up with a forced fumble which he recovered. White decided to stay in school rather than try to fight for attention in a draft class full of corners. After 1 week, it looks like the right decision. White probably would have been a first round pick if he came out for the 2016 NFL draft, but he could be a top 10 pick if he play continues at this high level.