2017 Big Board: Counting Down The Top 50 Players

Who do you think the best NFL draft prospects are? Here’s my 2017 big board of the top 50 prospects.

The standstill in the NFL news cycle is the best indication that we’ve entered full on draft season. For a ton of these prospects, this is as famous as they’ll be during their entire careers. The process really has taken on a life of its own by now.

We’ve all heard by now that the defensive talent in this class is loaded. There are potential starters deep into the middle rounds. There probably isn’t a franchise quarterback available. With a month left, here’s how the top guys stack up.

50.) Kevin King, CB, Washington

He’s a long, physical cornerback who’s great in press. However, he’s a little stiff and lack of ideal athleticism limits his ability as a cover corner.

49.) Howard Wilson, CB, Houston

Wilson is a super smooth cornerback ideally suited for a zone scheme. He’s got great ball skills, but lacks the physicality you’d like to see from him in press.

48.) Deshone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

Cuts the frame of what you’d like to see from a size and arm standpoint. Although he has some ability as a runner, he’s slow twitch in the pocket and has a labored delivery. His ball placement is awfully inconsistent.

47.) Davis Webb, QB, California

A clean-cut passer with great mechanics and a tight release. He throws a catchable ball, although his arm strength will limit his ceiling in the league.

46.) Zay Jones, WR, West Virginia

Big, twitched up receiver who has seen his stock soar throughout the draft process. He’ll need time to develop as a route runner in the league.

45.) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

Mahomes is the best pure thrower of the football in this class. However, he’s miles away mechanically and is a loose cannon at times. He’ll need a tight leash to grow into a pro quarterback.

44.) Garreon Conley, CB, Ohio State

A quality corner who can play inside and out. He’s solid in man coverage, but gets beat too often and lacks makeup speed. He tends to play undisciplined and over pursue more than you’d like.

43.) Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

A matchup piece designed for the modern NFL. He’s an excellent blank canvas that needs to be molded. Versatile guy who can play inside, off the edge, and even some nickel.  Reddick needs to be more consistent as a tackler.

42.) Takharist McKinley, EDGE, UCLA

Tall, standup edge rusher that’s as fast as anyone that you’ll see. He’s at his best on long, looping outside rushes. Needs to develop better play strength and finish more.

41.) Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State

He’s a one-speed outside receiver who makes a living through crisp breaks and coming down with contested catches. Godwin should make a living as a rock solid number two somewhere.

40.) Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami

Kaaya is a snappy, accurate passer with a lightning quick release. Although you have to be concerned about his pocket movement against pressure, he could direct a ball control West Coast type scheme.

39.) Chidobe Awuzi, CB, Colorado

An excellent zone corner with great instincts and movement skills who flies to the ball. Awuzi is a ball hawk who makes a living making plays on the air.

38.) Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky

Lamp is an old fashioned, big hog-moly with incredible play strength. He lacks the length and movement to play outside. He’s at his best powering down on gap blocking plays.

37.) Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina

This guy is a prototypical slot receiver. He’s a crafty route runner that treats each play like it has a life of his own. He’s never going to out athlete top tier corners, but in a defined role he can be a long-term starter.

36.) Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

A rhythm based thrower with electric athletic talent. He has enough arm strength to make all the throws and undeniable abilities in the clutch, but he turns the ball over far too much for a player of his style.

35.) John Ross, WR, Washington

You just don’t find speed like this. A fast, fluid athlete who puts cornerbacks on skates. He plays primarily from the slot and is a crafty route runner. He really struggles against press coverage.

34.) Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

A swiss army knife that will line up at high safety, nickel, linebacker, box safety, return kicks, and even play some running back. Although he’s hyper athletic, he’s too stiff to cover receivers at the next level.

33.) Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

Rangy sideline to sideline backer who flies around the field. He’s an excellent inside blitzer who hits another gear as he goes through the line. Needs to get off blocks better in the run game.

32.) Budda Baker, S, Washington

Versatile nickel cornerback. Can cover backs, tight ends, and recievers. He has outstanding instincts and excels on designed blitzes. Baker gives whatever defensive coordinator ends up with him ultimate matchup flexibility.

31.) TJ Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin

Undersized guy that’s built like a badger. Watt is a consistent tackler capable of delivering the big hit. He needs to win more one on one in the pass rush. He’s at his best on longer designed blitzes.

30.) Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

Feisty money backer with super long arms and good speed. His stop-start ability and alteral movement is off the charts. Pops out in pass coverage, but he’s a wildly consistent technically as a tackler. He’ll need a ton of coaching there.

29.) Garett Bolles, OT, Utah

A strong, easy tackle with the grown-man strength to outmuscle defenders. He moves well and locks guys up without a problem, although he can get overextended at times. His age and level of competition will be brought up plenty in meeting rooms.

28.) David Njoku, TE, Miami

This guy is a power forward cast into a tight-ends body. An ultra-twitched up guy who bullies smaller defenders. He’s as nuanced as a route runner as you’ll see in a tight end coming out of school.

27.) Christian McCaffrey, HB, Stanford

A swiss army knife for the creative offensive coordinator. He has excellent vision and body control, can stop and start on a dime, and might be as good of a pure receiver as anyone in this class. He’ll never be the kind of guy you can give the ball to 20 times a game between the tackles.

26.) Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington

A polished possession receiver ready to go from day one. He’s at his best on in-breaking routes and makes a living on contested catches. He seems to relish in the physical natural of the game.

25.) Charles Harris, EDGE, Missouri

Smooth, silky pass rusher with a top-heavy frame. Not an elite athlete, he wins through excellent lateral movement and great hand usage. He’s excellent on inside moves and is a high motor type of guy.

24.) Alvin Kamara, HB, Tennessee

Almost the forgotten man in this class, Kamara is a slashing downhill runner with absurd suddenness and change of direction. He’s a slippery kind of guy who excels in close spaces.

23.) Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

A cornerback ready made in the Seattle mold: a tall, physical guy with long arms. He gives receivers fits coming off the line. Although he’s not the fastest guy in the world, he makes up for it with great stop-start quickness.

22.) Jamal Adams, S, Michigan

Tone setting alpha dog who can play high, in the box, and in nickel. He’s a big hitter who wants to upend the ball carrier. Adams lacks the ideal athletic ability and is more stiff than you’d like to see. He tends to play undisciplined.

21.) Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama

Robinson is your classical big-bodied mauler, a powerhouse with rare strength. He lacks the foot quickness that you’d like to see in a left tackle, although he’s athletic enough to get to edge in a hurry on outside zone plays.

20.) Adoree Jackson, CB, USC

Athletically gifted cornerback with ideal size and great hips. He’ll need to be more consistent as a tackler at the next level. Adds value as a returner and even played some running back in college.

19.) Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama

A high floor stand up edge rusher who is undersized, average athletically, and lacks ideal strength. He’s great on inside rushes and stunts up the middle. Williams adds a ton of value in run defense as well.

18.) Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

A refined passer who can make plays inside and out of the pocket. He’s got a tight release and enough arm to throws darts from off platform. His limited experience obviously plays a role here. He’ll need time to mature into an NFL offense.

17.) O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

As pro ready of a move tight end as you’ll see. A big guy with the speed and hands of a receiver, he makes his living on seams, flats, quick outs, and digs. He’s a tough man to bring down after the catch.

16.) Derek Barnett, EDGE, Tennessee

Super smooth edge rusher with a large arsenal of moves at his disposal. He’s at his best on outside rushes where he displays excellent bend and flexibility. Has a knack for pass deflections. He’s a bit reckless in run defense and tends to get out of position.

15.) Joe Mixon, HB, Oklahoma

Mixon is a prototypically sized runner who pitterpatters his way down the field like a sandwhich bag caught in the wind. He displays excellent vision and patience behind the line. He’d be a great fit in an inside zone scheme.

14.) Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

An athletic marvel who will line up inside and out. He has one of the most explosive first steps I’ve ever seen. He faces dedicated double teams on almost every snap. Thomas arrives downhill like a freight train.

13.) Tre’Davius White, CB, LSU

Smooth, fluid, and effortless zone cornerback. He’s got a great pedal and transitions very smoothly. He identifies where the ball is going and gets there in a hurry. I’d like to see him have more aggressive hand usage at the line.

12.) Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

Power forward on the perimeter who bullies smaller defensive backs. He jumps off the screen on in-breaking routes. He needs some polish. He’s often sluggish coming off the line and needs to be more precise in his route running.

11.) Ryan Ramcyzk, OT, Wisconsin

Ramcyzk is the prototypical blindside protector with ideal size and length. He’s a true dancing bear on the edge who possesses good feet and slides easily. He rarely gets out of position in pass protection.

10.) Taco Charlton, EDGE, Michigan

Freaky athlete whose size, speed, and strength jumps off the film. His spin move looks like something out of Madden. He has great bend around the edge, although he needs to improve his balance.

9.) Leonard Fournette, HB, LSU

A freight train set loose on the football field. He’s bigger and faster than everyone else on the football field and wants to embrace the physical aspect of the game. He’s a non-factor in the passing game which will be brought up plenty in meeting rooms.

8.) Dalvin Cook, HB, Florida State

He’s a slippery east west runner made for the modern NFL. Cook is a freelancer with excellent instincts and home run speed. Lacks the power to run through arm tackles.

7.) Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

A twitched-up man to man corner who plays like his hair’s on fire. He excels in man coverage and makes receivers work to get off the line. Great ball skills. He’s a little more choppy than you’d like to see in his transitions and pedal.

6.) Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

The best route runner in the class, bar none. He sets up corners well and creates separation well on his breaks. Davis excels in small ball and runs like a punt returner after the catch.

5.) Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Lattimore is the prototypical outside cornerback who checks every box you could ask for. Mirrors receivers in man coverage like he’s running their routes for them. In zone, he slides seamlessly between receivers and has great instincts. Balls skills are insane.

4.) Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

A one step solution to your run stuffing and pass rushing woes. He lines up inside and out and has a first step like Aaron Donald. He faces double teams regularly and is nasty on inside stunts. There’s little to pick at here.

3.) Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State

Takes all the athletic prowess of a top-tier cornerback and molds it into the frame of a safety. He tracks deep balls like he’s out in centerfield. He flies downhill on designed blitzes and chases ball carriers like a wolf on the hunt.

2.) Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

An immediate game changer with elite speed and even better get off. He blitzes up the middle like he’s shot out of a cannon. Has a knack for the highlight reel hit. He’s excellent in coverage and can run with receivers down the field.

1.) Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M

What else is there to say at this point? If you were to draw up a pass rusher, he’d look a lot like this. Super long with arms like tree trunks and the speed of a sideline to sideline backer. This guy is a reliable headache who mandates double teams on every snap.