First 50 profiles

Guys these aren't the actual top 50, these are just the top 50 on someone else's list that I've started working on. These rankings are NOT final and neither are their grades or profiles in general. These are initial grades. There are players who I have initially ranked higher that aren't on the list yet. Something to look at a few weeks before the draft though.

1.       Myles Garrett, DE Texas A&M 97

a.       Simply the best player in this draft class. Garrett is a smooth and electric pass rusher with a bevy of moves and styles. He can lull you to sleep off the line at times and then run through you. His ability to convert speed to power and bulrush is as good as any player I’ve scouted. The reason he’s the best player in this class though is that not only can he be a game wrecker getting after the quarterback, but he is very solid against the run. Garrett can set the edge on first and second down and then make game changing plays on third down. His comparison in the NFL is Von Miller, although I think Miller was a bit more explosive rushing the passer and not quite as good against the run.

2.       Malik Hooker – S, Ohio State 94

a.       There’s reason personnel person and Buckeye fans call this kid Malik the Freak. He’s an extremely enticing blend of size and speed at 6’2 and 210 pounds, and a tremendous closing burst. Hooker doesn’t always take the best angle but his unique athleticism and ball skills make up for that. Hooker attacks the football like a wide receiver too, giving him a chance to make more interceptions than what a normal player would or could make. He’s very raw in his experience though, only playing one full season for the Buckeyes. While he has the size to play in the box, he isn’t a super gifted tackler, and his form tackling leaves something to be desired, so I think Hooker will likely need to play in a high-safety look to take advantage of his skill set. You’ll have to be patient with Hooker, as there’s a decent chance he’ll struggle as a rookie, you just can’t be a star in the NFL right away with so little experience. Even with that he’ll make his share of splash plays as he’s just simply always around the ball. By the end of his first contract he’ll be a Pro-Bowl caliber player, he’ll earn the nickname the Freak if you have the patience to just let him learn on the job.

3.       Jamal Adams – S, LSU 94

a.       Likely the safest player in the entire 2017 NFL Draft is Jamal Adams from LSU. He’s a guy who shows great versatility in the back end, with the ability to play single high 20 yards deep, or up in the box as a big hitting, sure tackling strong safety. Most people are going to want to line him up deep and let him roam around and make plays but I think I’d like him in the versatile role. A notoriously hard worker, Adams is also highly respected among all his coaches and teammates, so there are zero red flags there. To me he can play anywhere on the field, is a solid tackler, and takes tremendous routes to the football when he gets to play centerfield. His comparison is simple, this is Eric Berry 2.0, so take him in the top 5 and get a guaranteed hit and a Pro-Bowler eraser on your defense for the next 10 years.

4.       Jonathan Allen – DL, Alabama 94

a.       This kid was the best overall player in the country this year for the Crimson Tide and should have probably been invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony. You don’t see interior players make the kind of impact plays that Allen made consistently this season. He is a guy who can play 34 defensive end, or 43 defensive tackle as the 3 technique and be a difference maker wherever you want to play him. I think at 6’3 and 295 pounds, with his ability to move is pretty rare. I have no idea who I’d compare him to in the NFL, but he can play all 3 downs immediately and create mismatches against whomever he goes against.

5.       Leonard Fournette – RB, LSU 94

a.       This kid is as good of a running back prospect in terms of simply running the football that has come out since Adrian Peterson. In my rankings I do typically take position into account in some small way so that’s why Fournette isn’t ranked number one, although he might be the best player in the entire class. He runs with a  violence that I haven’t seen since Adrian Peterson, and his combination of size and speed is terrifying to watch. Fournette has been knicked up a bit in his college career which also dips his value a point or two. That being said, he was the entire focus of opposing defenses the second he stepped onto campus at Baton Rouge and he still had almost 4000 rushing yards and 40 TD in his college career in the SEC. He wasn’t used a ton in the passing game but he shows promise there too. I’m not a big proponent of drafting a running back super early in the draft, but Fournette is an exception. He could be a game changing weapon for an NFL offense. I do have him graded out 1 point below Elliott from last year because Elliot’s ability to block and receive were truly elite and Fournette hasn’t shown he’s quite as good in those areas as Zeke was last season.

6.       Reuben Foster – LB, Alabama 93

a.       This kid is a ball player. If Adams is the safest player in the 2017 NFL Draft then Foster is a very close second. He is a rock solid 6’1 240 pounds and he can really run sideline to sideline. Foster is a monster hitter who is one of the surest tacklers in the entire class. The reason I have Foster rated so high though is that as good as he is against the run he’s almost equal as a pass defender. Foster closes extremely hard on running backs in the flat and can run up the seam with any tight end I’ve scouted. It’s rare to see a linebacker that’s as aggressive as he is miss so few tackles as well, as he simply closes on the football and players go down. I think he’s probably better in man to man against the pass than he is in zone but he’s very good either way as a linebacker. When he blitzes he’s effective as well, as you’ve seen inside linebackers cause more havoc as blitzers this season I believe than in the past, see Benardrick McKinney and Bobby Wagner. Foster can change a defense the minute he walks in the door and he is easily a first half of the first round type player. Obviously the combine situation where he was asked to league is a red-flag but it seems to be an outlier so I’m not dropping him on my board much.

7.       Soloman Thomas, DE Stanford 92

a.       Thomas was as disruptive as any player in the country this season and it’s not a surprise to wonder why his draft stock is rising in the scouting community. Thomas has a bit of a strange frame, so it’s tough to try to figure out where you’d want to play him in the NFL. At 6’1 and around 285 pounds he doesn’t really project as a prototypical anything. With that being said his ability to create leverage and a non-stop motor combined with very good heavy hands makes him very difficult to contain. He’s very stout against the run on the outside and may be the best player in this draft at collapsing the pocket. In longer plays he just doesn’t stay engaged with blockers, his hands and feet make it extremely difficult to stop for very long. When you combine that with his motor, this is a guy that will get you coverage sacks consistently. He may have the most pass rush moves in this class as well, giving you an inside spin, a bulrush, and a rip move consecutively means he sets you up as the game wears on. I worry a bit about where to play him as I don’t really know what to do with him. I think he projects best as a 34 defensive end who moves inside when teams go 4 man fronts on sub packages. I really want to know what his arm length will be at the combine as well. I also hate that he guesses at the snap count so much, he had 7 offsides just this season, and that will need to get cleaned up. Overall, he’s a superb player who will help any defense he goes to, and as a Stanford kid you know he’s very bright. Someone will draft him, figure out where to play him, and watch him wreak havoc.

8.       Dalvin Cook – RB, Florida State 91

a.       If you want a home-run hitter in your backfield, look no further than Tallahassee and Dalvin Cook. Cook is a truly explosive running back prospects and the comparison I keep hearing is of Jamaal Charles and I absolutely love the comp. I believe that Cook is a better flexed out route runner than Charles was coming out of school though. One of the things I love about Cook is simply his ability to put defensive players on skates when he gets them in space in passing routes. His inside running is better than most people give him credit for as the average fan only sees him busting big runs and not the ones that he turns from 2 yard runs into 4 and 5 yard carries. His explosive speed and ability to make people miss in space is truly dynamic. That being said there are still warts here that keep him from being a better prospect than Fournette. Cook has had numerous run-ins with the law and you have to worry about whether he can truly grow up and become an adult when he gets that first paycheck. The other issue that I think a lot of people overlook is that there is a history of fumbles here as well, and he’s not a terrific blocker at under 210 pounds. His explosiveness will make someone fall in love with him, but 13 career fumbles and off-the field issues would make the interview process with him extremely important. Read two different people compare him to Marshall Faulk.. if he can become anywhere between Faulk and Charles a team would be ecstatic.

9.       Derek Barnett – DE, Tennessee 90

a.       Barnett is a dynamic pass rusher with ideal size as a 43 defensive end. Barnett has been extremely productive for the Volunteers in his three-seasons and is equally efficient against the run and the pass. When he sets the edge he can get lineman on their heels’ forcing running backs to give up ground to not get engulfed at the line. I love his ability to get upfield and get tackles to guess at what he’s going to do. He doesn’t have elite level quickness but he times the snap count very well and uses his strength to push the pocket. Barnett has the power to move inside on pass rush downs and create problems in pushing the pocket which gives him the added versatility that some scouts, myself included fall in love with. I think he doesn’t have great feet and so quicker offensive tackles and people who cut block him can have success. That said I think Barnett is going to be a guy who threatens double digit sacks consistently and will be a plus edge defender against the run. If your team needs an edge guy, I wouldn’t hesitate to take Barnett early on day one.

10.   O.J. Howard, TE Alabama 90

a.       Howard was criminally under-utilized for the Crimson Tide in his career but was tremendous in the two games he played in the National Championship. When given the opportunity to make plays in the passing game Howard shows rare athletic ability for a man his size. At 6’6 250 pounds he runs extremely well and does a nice job of high pointing the football when the ball is in the air. He’s not a great route runner at this point, which to me is actually exciting. When he can figure out how to create separation with his route running, his athleticism will make him  a Pro-Bowl caliber player. The reason I give Howard such a high grade though is that he is also a very capable and quality run blocker at the point of attack. He’s not going to maul you there but he can create some movement, particularly when he is down-blocking. I think there is room for improvement as a blocker too, he’s not elite there but does a good enough job for the most part. Most scouts don’t grade him as a great blocker, but I think with time given his arm length and athletic ability he could turn into a very quality in-line blocker. Overall though, the kid is a matchup nightmare who can turn short throws into big gains. Could be special.

11.   Jabrill Peppers, S Michigan  90

a.       Peppers is one of the most athletic players in this entire class. He was a jack-of-all-trades for the Wolverines, playing linebacker, safety, slot corner, returning kicks, and even being their wildcat quarterback and occasional best running back. I believe if he had simply just played safety and showed everyone what he could do he would have found his way into the top ten in this draft. That being said he isn’t the most technically sound football player in this class and therefore he isn’t nearly as polished as someone like Jamal Adams. However, Peppers projects to me as a nickel linebacker and a base strong safety. He’s a good tackler, takes solid angles, and is particularly deft when asked to play zone coverage, where he can simply read and react. When he’s in man he’s not as sticky as you’d like in coverage, but he’s still above average, particularly when asked to defend tight ends. To me he’s a really nice player who gives you versatility, athleticism, and a guy who can match up with a lot of guys who are difficult to cover in the league. He’s not perfect by any means, but he’s a good football player who every single team in the league could find a spot for.

12.   Haason Reddick, LB Temple 89

a.       This kid is an absolute beast of a football player. He has tremendous explosion running a 4.52 40 despite playing most of his career for the Owls with his hand in the dirt. Weighing in around 235-240 pounds is okay in today’s NFL as Reddick likely will play a 43 will or an inside linebacker spot in a 34 defense. He wasn’t asked to cover often at Temple but watching him at the Senior Bowl he looked so smooth and easy dropping into passing lanes and manning up backs and tight ends it was like he had done it his whole life. Reddick did come into Temple as an oversized safety so he does have some experience there though. He can absolutely run sideline to sideline, is a tremendous blitzer due to his tenure at Temple, and is still raw and rising as a stand-up guy. He’s not huge and can get dwarfed when he gets engaged, and he can miss tackles occasionally too. Overall though I think someone with his size and speed along with instincts that he has means the kid could end up being a really good NFL player. I think he shouldn’t get out of round one.

13.   Sidney Jones – Washington 89

a.       I really like Jones’ ability to cover on the outside, and he has the best eyes of any corner in this entire draft class. He’s an aggressive corner when the ball is in the air and attacks it with a vengeance. Jones has either deflected or intercepted over 20% of the balls thrown his way the past two seasons which is exceptionally elite. I love his height at 6’1 and he’s got long arms, which help him a lot when he walks down and plays press. Despite only weighing around 170 pounds, Jones gives a really good punch off the line and does an excellent job rerouting receivers. He’s very solid in man but I believe he could be a really good off man or zone corner as well because of his aggressive behavior and ability to trust his eyes. His lack of an ideal frame and being so light is going to end up being a problem in the league as bigger receivers can get off his jam and use their bodies to catch the ball in traffic. He does a good job mirroring, but 220 pound receivers are going to give him problems. Jones also isn’t terrible against the run but bigger backs are going to give him fits and he doesn’t do a great job getting off blocks. For the long-term approach for Jones I think he’s got the highest upside in this draft in terms of being a true cover corner. He’s a playmaker on the backend who can start immediately getting in the league. I worry about his size and being decent but not great against the run. Overall he’s a top flight corner prospect who will likely go in the first half of the first round.

14.   Marshon Lattimore – Ohio State 88

a.       A tremendous athlete with limited experience and good size, Lattimore has a ton of potential to be a stud corner in the NFL. Lattimore had injuries derail the first couple seasons of his career but came back and played exceptionally well in 2016. I love his hip turn and his ability to turn and run with someone is as good as any player in this year’s class. He’s excellent in press coverage but I think quicker receivers off the line can beat him particularly inside. Slants are not his specialty in coverage and therefore inside releases make him look a little vulnerable. Teams can’t beat him on deep routes though. His ball skills are good but he sometimes forgets to find the ball down the field and instead tries to time it up. In college against mediocre receivers that’s fine but big time NFL guys will make contested catches against him. Overall though this kid is a very good player with tremendous upside. He’s still a tad raw which means his ceiling is very high. I truly believe he has the highest ceiling of all the corners in this class. You have to worry slightly about his injury history and lack of playing time to temper expectations, but he’s a first round player.

15.   Evan Engram, TE Ole Miss 88

a.       This kid is going to catch a lot of passes in the NFL. At 6’3 235 pounds and running a very smooth 4.42 Engram is a dynamic combination of size and speed. While Engram is a well below average blocker at the position you have to understand essentially you’re getting him as a passing game weapon in a very similar situation to Jimmy Graham or even to a certain extent Eric Ebron coming in to the NFL. He’s got fairly long arms for the position at almost 34 inch reach and a 36 inch vertical giving him a very nice catch radius. Engram doesn’t have tremendous feel for zone coverage yet, but that will be remedied early in the NFL and I believe this guy can be an 80 catch per season guy in the NFL perhaps as early as his second season. I understand that he’s essentially a move tight end who can’t block but so is Jordan Reed who is my comparison. To me if I need a weapon toward the end of round one I’m grabbing Engram.

16.   Forrest Lamp, G/T Western Kentucky 88

a.       A kid who is simply a really good football player. I think he could potentially play any of the five offensive line spots in the NFL and be an above average to good starter at any of them. I really wish I could have seen him play some at center because he has potential to be a really good player at that spot. Everyone always worries about how these kids from small schools transition to the NFL, but if you watch how Lamp simply dominated the Alabama front seven in that matchup, you shouldn’t have any more questions. He’s got short arms which means he’ll likely move inside to guard at the NFL level but with good movement skills, power, and a really good anchor the kid will be a quality starter at that spot in the league. It’s impossible to not compare him to Zach Martin, because it’s just too easy to see the comparisons. I stud tackle in college without adequate length but good power, and very tactically sound. I don’t think he’ll be quite as good as Martin, but even if he’s 80% as good, that makes him a top 6-8 guard in the league. Really good player.

17.   Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan 87

a.       Davis is the most productive receiver in the history of Division 1 wide receivers. When you start off a draft profile that has to be what you start with in this case. At 6’3 and around 215 pounds, you have a guy who gives you prototype size and a fantastic route tree. Davis gives you something at all 3 levels, consistently beating corners and safeties with a bevy of moves and soft reliable hands. His underneath routes aren’t as crisp as the routes to the outside, but he can get corners on their toes early and then he creates easy separation at times. He’s a monster in the red-zone, and his ability on third down is elite. I think what makes him so difficult to defend is that it seems like he has three or four different gears which allows him to create so much hesitation with corners that he destroys them. He can turn it into a fourth gear when tracking a deep ball or drift slowly and burst through on intermediate routes, where he excels. He’s not a terrific blocker, and he did have 16 drops over the past 3 seasons, which isn’t bad considering he had around 280 catches. The level of competition is a tiny bit of a concern, but not enough to warrant much from hesitation from me. If Davis runs 4.50 or below at the combine, he’s my number one wide receiver in 2017.

18.   Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsin 87

a.       A former D3 tackled turned All American for the Badgers, Ramczyk was one of the most polished and solid tackles in the country this season. He’s an extremely athletic tackle which means that he is going to be able to handle speed rushers at the next level without much problem. Ramczyk gets to the second level well and does an exceptional job blocking down and even doing reach blocks to help create a hole in the running game. He’s the smartest tackle in this class likely in terms of learning NFL X’s and O’s and his ability to recognize blitzes and games off the edge is elite. I worry a touch about the fact he plays a little too straight up and down at times which means people can get into his body. He also isn’t super long so his measurements might not be great, with arm length being of huge import when he goes to the combine. Overall I believe this kid played the best of any offensive lineman in college football in 2017, whether you’re judging that by sabermetrics or simply by the eye test. I worry a bit about the post-season surgeries, which knock him down a touch. If his arm length is close to prototype the kid will likely be the first lineman off the board, and he would go first on my board if his medicals and reach are okay. He’s athletic, solid, and will play left tackle in the league for a decade.

19.   Mike Williams, WR Clemson 87

a.       Williams is a big physical receiver who will give small corners nightmares in the NFL. Williams tracks the football as well as anyone in this class and does a really nice job of high pointing the football and creating small separation on contested catches. At 6’3 and 225 pounds he sets up as a prototype number one wideout in the NFL. He’s fantastic on contested catches, is tough over the middle, and is a good and reliable blocker. His hands are above average and he can make a lot of tough catches, but at times he does have the rare concentration lapse. Williams isn’t sudden or overly fast and therefore he struggles to gain consistent separation from corners, but his toughness and physicality give him an edge when he doesn’t create much distance. To me he reminds me somewhere between Deandre Hopkins, who consistently struggles to separate in the NFL,  but makes tough catches, and Davante Adams. His speed at the combine is going to be big for his draft stock. Ultimately Williams lack of quickness and speed will make it a tough first year or two but when he develops a more diverse route running repertoire he is going to be a really nice piece. I also worry about that nasty neck injury he suffered in 2015, when you draft someone that high you have to have some concern about an injury that serious. I think at worst Williams ends up a high end number two receiver with the upside of a solid number one. He’s a good player.

20.   Quincy Wilson – Florida 87

a.       This kid is arguably the best cornerback in the entire 2017 NFL Draft. He has elite size and speed combination at 6’1 and 213 pounds. He’s an exceptional cover corner who does an excellent job in coverage, allowing fewer than 40 percent of the passes thrown at him to be complete. Some people worry about his footwork, particularly his backpedal but I love the way he turns his hips to run. He is probably the best cornerback in this class while the ball is in the air, always finding it and attacking the football. He’s not great against the run but he wants to attack the ball carrier and goes hard into the flats. He misses a lot of tackles but he’s tough and wants to be good in that area so I believe eventually he’ll continue to improve in that area. His 40 time at the combine and showing a bit of stiffness in his hips lowered his grade a touch for me but ultimately he’s a first round guy.

21.   Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford 87

a.       I know people are going to wonder where you’re going to play this kid and my answer is simple: everywhere. He would return kicks and punts for me, play slot receiver, and get 6-10 carries every single game. He’s an absolutely dynamic player who can do everything you’d want in a football player. Some people wonder if he can hold up as a full time running back but I have zero worry about that situation. He’s got quite a bit of wear on the tires due to a ton of touches for the Cardinal but he can touch the ball 250-300 times per year without any issue. He’s a very good route runner, and I think he may even project better as a slot receiver than as a running back prospect solely, where he would be at worst a 2^nd round pick if he played that position only. His ability to run between the tackles, one-cut run, catch the ball out of the backfield, and be a dynamic kick returner means he is without question a first round selection.

22.   Garrett Bolles, OT Utah 87

a.       This guy has the highest upside of any offensive lineman in this entire draft. Bolles has tremendous athleticism which means he has the potential to be a left tackle from his opening snap in the NFL. Bolles has seriously unreal athleticism, for a guy at 6’5 and 300 pounds to move his feet like he does is out of this world. It’s rare to find someone who can move and misses so rarely in the open field and at the second level. A team who runs a lot of zone concept would clearly have him as the top tackle on its board. Speed rushers, stunts, and games are not going to give him a problem. That being said he only has one season of FBS football under his belt which means you are doing a wide speculation projection for Bolles at the next level. He also has a narrow frame and definitely needs to get stronger. If he gets off the ball a millisecond late, strong edge rushers can get into his numbers and drive him back. I also think at times as a pass protector maybe he gets too deep and players can convert speed to power into his chest. Overall though zone heavy teams will have him as the top tackle on their board while typical power run and base teams will probably like Ramcyzk and even potentially Robinson ahead of him. Schematic fit and if he can add strength will determine how he does in the league. Tons of talent and upside here.

23.   John Ross, WR Washington 87

a.       Everyone likens him to Brandin Cooks and it’s a very easy comparison. Ross is a little bit taller and the fastest player in combine history at a ridiculous 4.22, but the knee injury history and smaller stature definitely means his value is down just a bit. I ranked Cooks at 88 and I’m going to give Ross a tiny bit lower grade simply because of the knee stuff. He’s the best deep threat in this class by a very long way, as he’s the only receiver in the top 50 players with any type of really deep stretching ability. Williams and Davis are excellent players and Kupp is a nice piece but Ross is dynamic and someone who needs this type of guy is likely going to take him in the middle of the first round. The thing with Ross that makes him different than the other players who are simply burners is that Ross is quick as well as fast, can run nice routes, and he has really nice red-zone skills for a player that small. To me if he didn’t have the knee scare situation he would without a doubt be a top 10 guy in this class.

24.   Tre’davious White – LSU 87

a.       White is a really good cover corner who can play inside or outside from the minute he walks in the door. He’s not great against the run but he does his part and at times he can close down on the flats as hard as any player at the position. I love how patient he is and very rarely commits early on into a route, letting his quickness and footwork do the work for him. I also love how explosive he is as a punt returner, as he gets to top speed very quickly and has enough shimmy to make people miss in a phone booth. I don’t think I’d love to take him if I had a zone heavy scheme as he doesn’t love contact and his size being as light as he is might not work exactly as you’d want. At 5’11 and 190 pounds he doesn’t exactly scream cover 2 corner so some teams might think he isn’t the right fit for what they like to do. That being said he’s a very good cover guy and he’s arguably the best slot corner in this class. White has very quick feet and can mirror almost every receiver he plays against, rarely panicking and using his hands and leverage well. To me he’s a solid long-time starter for a team that plays a majority of man to man coverage. His punt return abilities and special teams prowess definitely adds to his appeal as well.  Also coaches raved about him and his character is extremely high, so little risk when it comes to that.

25.   Fabian Moreau, CB UCLA 87

a.       I have the highest grade on Moreau of anyone I’ve seen so far and the reasons are many. Number one the kid is 6’0 and 205 pounds at corner which is nice size but he’s extremely explosive. The kid runs a 4.35, and  has a 38 inch vertical meaning he can absolutely keep up with anyone in the league. Moreau missed a lot of time in 2015 with a Lisfranc injury or else he’d be much further along in his career. He switched over from offense to defense when he came in to UCLA so there’s still a bit of rawness to his game but when he plays he can flat out cover. He’s strong so press man or some sort of cover1/3 look makes the most sense for him. He lacks ball production which some teams view as an absolute and it does knock his grade a couple of points. Overall watching his tape, knowing he’s still raw to the position, and watching him absolutely dominate the East-West Shrine game as by far the best player there got me intrigued. His tape is very good, he’s strong and fast, with good length and explosiveness. To me he’s a good starting press corner in the NFL and he’s a first round guy.

26.   Cam Robinson, OT Alabama 86

a.       Robinson was a highly decorated high school recruit when he signed with the Tide. Three years later on most draft boards Robinson is the highest rated tackle in the 2017 NFL Draft class. At 6’6 and around 315 pounds, Robinson has the size and length to play left tackle in the NFL which instantly increases his draft stock. Left tackles are increasingly hard to find in the league and Robinson possesses the quickness, length and size to play the spot. I love the power and punch that Robinson has and for someone who could potentially play on the blindside you don’t typically see his ability to drive defenders off the ball in the run game. He’s got good quickness and has great knee bend, rarely getting himself bullrushed and he doesn’t lose a lot when he gets off the ball on time. I worry a bit about his ability to get off the ball at times though as it seems his timing of the snap count is a tick late sometimes. He was protected somewhat given Alabama’s max protect schemes too, so you don’t see him in a lot of speed rusher one on one situations. While athletic and fairly quick he misses some blocks at the second level, particularly in the screen game where quick linebackers give him fits. He also doesn’t recover as well as I’d like when going against speed. He’s a good player, and a guy who definitely projects as a quality starter on the offensive line, he may be better suited to play as a right tackle given his power. You also have to be aware of some off the field red flags that could hurt his stock. That being said in a weak tackle class, it’s very unlikely he gets out of the top 25.

27.   David Njoku, TE Miami 86

a.       Njoku is an exceptionally athletic flex tight end who projects as a matchup nightmare in the NFL. At 6’4 and 245 pounds he has good size for a tight end and excellent tackle like length at 35 inch reach. You couple that with the fact that he jumped 7 feet in the high jump in high school and a 37.5 inch vertical a the combine and you have an excellent red zone threat. I was disappointed in his 4.64 at the combine as he looked like potentially a mid 4.5 guy on tape. Some people think his run blocking is going to improve, and it might but watching him against strong edge setters on tape, mainly the Pitt film, he got eaten alive. He works hard in the run game but simply doesn’t have the functional strength and poor technique as an-inline blocker at this point. I also worry a bit about dropped passes, I’ve seen a couple of people say he had 8 drops, and a few others say it was 11. That means his drop rate was somewhere between 11 and 15 percent, which is really high. He also is raw as a route runner and while he’s athletic and sometimes faster than his defenders he doesn’t set his routes up well. To me the kid is going to be a really nice flex tight end who can eventually turn into a decent blocker because he puts in good effort there. I can’t rank him as high as Engram who was much more productive and was much faster, but he’s still a nice player who could find his way at the end of the first round or the beginning of round 2 which is where I’d look to snag him. He’ll be better in years 2 and 3 without question than he will be as a rookie. His talent is All-Pro so if you can get a good tight end coach the kid could be Travis Kelce/Greg Olsen type player.

28.   Adoree Jackson, CB USC 86

a.       A smaller corner at around 5’10 and 185 pounds, Jackson is an absolute freak athlete with elite speed and return ability. The reason Jackson shouldn’t fall out of the top 50 picks is because of his ball skills and return ability, the kid simply makes game-changing plays on a frequent basis. Jackson is arguably the best return man in this entire draft, which gives him a huge leg up and an enormous value boost if he was only a returner. That being said he shows good ball skills, runs a 10.4 100 meter, and is a fluid quick athlete. He’s small for an outside corner so there’s a chance he is limited to nickel or perhaps outside against quicker receivers. He also is mediocre in the run game and bigger receivers simply post him up to gain position. He also didn’t really use his safeties as well as you’d like, sometimes looking like he was excepting help when there wasn’t any or if there was he didn’t utilize them. I think these are things a top tier defensive coach can help fix but they are problems currently. Overall I think he’s a player who could go anywhere from 25-40 in this draft and someone will get a player who with 8 career return touchdowns is a true playmaker. I’m a fan, but his limited size means he has somewhat limited upside as a corner, but as a punt returner he’s truly elite.

29.   Obi Melifonwu, S UCONN 86

a.       If you’ve watched all four seasons of his tape at UCONN Melifonwu has improved every single season. His combine was literally one of the most insane things I’ve ever watched in my entire life. At 6’4 and 225 pounds he looks like a tight end or something and yet he plays a hybrid safety spot and runs a 4.40 40. He also jumped a stupid 44 inches in the vertical, and a 11’9 in the broad jump and actually looked disappointed in both scores when he finished. He’s a good tackler who likes to play downhill, and ended his senior season with almost 120 tackles. While he’s not great with the ball in the air on the deep ball, and I don’t think I’d want him to play free a lot of the time for me, he has improved in that area. To me I’m not sure exactly what he’ll be in the NFL and I don’t know with his overall lack of ball awareness and not ideal feel for the game if I could take him in round one. That being said damn the upside is through the roof, you just don’t see athletes like this guy come around often. His continued improvement means that even though he’s gotten better, he hasn’t come close to his ceiling yet.

30.   Malik McDowell, DL Michigan State 86

a.       McDowell might actually be the most talented player in this entire class. His physical tools are completely unbelievable. At 6’6 and around 285 pounds, McDowell played defensive tackle for Sparty but it sure seems like he’d be ideal at the 5 technique 34 defensive end spot. Despite his height, he typically plays with pretty good leverage and rarely gets above his pads. At times though he can struggle a touch with squattier offensive lineman and can get pushed back when he stops being disciplined and gets too high. He can play with a crazy amount of power and push when his motor is running hot and his Indiana film was absolutely insane, he completely dominated that game. His motor does run a bit hot and cold, which is troublesome but not all together unheard of when talking about true 5 star blue chip caliber players. He also typically is limited in his pass rush moves, using one on the outside and one on the inside and rarely goes with any counter moves. Overall the kid could turn out to be the best player in this draft, or depending on whether he goes to a good defensive coach who can help him out and keep him motivated, maybe he’d be an average starter. I could see someone falling in love with him in the top 10. That being said though he supposedly had literally the worst interviews at the entire combine, which means he drops out of round 1 for me. Talent wise he’s top 5, head and motor wise he’s round 4.

31.   Alvin Kamara, RB Tennessee 86

a.       A superb athlete with great measurable and high football IQ, Kamara leapt up the draft board throughout the pre-draft process. The guy is now firmly in the late first round discussion, despite only 8 career starts at the running back position. I actually love the fact he has so little wear on the tires, because it means he’ll still be in his prime by the end of his rookie contract, which isn’t a guarantee with running backs currently. Kamara seems to have a tremendous grasp of pass game concepts as well, showing good hands, great pass protection skills, and a nice feel for getting open in the pass game. As a running back he shows good balance and burst, and ends up using good vision to hit the hole hard. Kamara looks like he might be the best in some sort of a zone running scheme but uses a nice burst and explosiveness to get to the second level well. I’m worried about the fact that he doesn’t fall forward or run with as much power as I’d like for someone his size, but it’s not that he goes down easily, he just doesn’t push the pile as well as I’d like. His acceleration from zero to full speed is a step below elite. Overall the guy is a number one running back and will definitely be in the discussion at the end of round one. He could start right away and the low number of carries means he can play for a long time.

32.   Zach Cunningham, LB Vanderbilt 86

a.       This dude was built for today’s NFL. A fast, sideline to sideline linebacker who makes plays all over the field, Cunningham is going to be in the conversation in the first half of the first round. An extremely intelligent football player who understands schemes and angles, Cunnigham amassed almost 300 tackles in his career, playing with below average talent in front of him to keep him clean. He’s a guy who will be able to digest complex defensive schemes quickly, and therefore he can play and contribute as a top end player immediately in the league. I worry about a couple of things with Cunningham, however. One is he’s not the biggest inside linebacker in the world, weighing in around 225-230 pounds. If his combine numbers are closer to 235-240 it would certainly help his stock. I believe it is due to his lack of prototype size and aggressive nature that causes him to miss so many tackles, this season alone it was written he missed 19 tackles, the most in the entire country. Now some of this is attributed to the fact he’s around the football all the time, but the lack of consistency in tackling has to be a major cause for concern for some teams. Cunningham is very solid in the passing game, using quickness and smarts to matchup very well with virtually anyone on the opposing team. To me he looks like a 43 Will linebacker or a middle linebacker in a 34 for a team that is okay with a smaller, faster Mike. To me I like him in the back half of round one. He’s a good smart player but the missed tackles drove me nuts when I watched his tape.

33.   Jourdan Lewis – Michigan 86

a.       This kid is a football player, and one way or another I’d love to have him on my team. He might not be that ideal H/W/S combination at 5’10 and around 185 pounds but the kid is an excellent football player. He is extremely difficult to disengage with and is really good when he’s playing on the inside. He was an extremely productive player and he has over 40 career passes defended. He doesn’t have the size to play reliably against everybody on the outside so he’ll likely be an inside guy from the outset. He was an excellent gunner on special teams too which definitely increases his ability. He kind of reminds me a bit of Jason Verrett in that if he were 6’ and 200 pounds he’d likely be my number one rated corner in this class but being undersized will likely drop him out of round one. If he’s there at the beginning of round two I’d jump at the opportunity to get this guy on my team. He’s my stand on the table and make a case for him on draft day if he’s around in round 2.

34.   Mitch Trubisky, QB North Carolina 85

a.       Trubisky will get you a wide variety of opinions in scouting circles. There are some things that are going to concern everyone, mainly the fact that Trubisky was only a one year starter in Chapel Hill. That means that virtually everything you get with him is going to translate into projection only territory. That’s always exceptionally worrying when you’re going to take a quarterback with your first round pick, because if you miss on him, you likely won’t have a job in two seasons. The other issue that he has is when pressured sometimes he’ll throw totally off platform which gives you a little bit of pause. When he does have to toss and not get his feet set he has a tendency to miss a couple of throws high. In college this seasons they didn’t hurt him but in projecting him to the next level that could cost him some first downs and interceptions. In the positives, you can definitely see why there are a lot of people thinking he could go as high as number two overall in the draft. He has excellent feet and mobility and uses them to escape pressure in the pocket or step up and make plays. Trubisky has a tight compact release that lets him get the ball out quickly, particularly when he’s rolling out of the pocket. He’s an accurate passer for the most part, but his receivers had the lowest drop rate in the NCAA this season, and the team threw a lot of bubble and tunnel screens. I think his arm strength is above average and he can make some really impressive throws at times. In a couple of the films I watched on him, Florida State and Stanford, he had two guys running across the field to his right and they opened up completely for him and he missed them wide. The Stanford tape showed some inadequacy in reading coverage, as the Cardinal mixed up looks giving him fits. I think Trubisky is a nice player, and he could project to be a quality tier starter in the NFL, but at this point you’re projecting him completely. His mobility, arm strength, size, and compact delivery give him a chance to be good, but it’d be very difficult for me to take him in the top 10 based on talent alone. I just wish I had more than one year sample size.

35.   Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson 85

a.       I actually like Watson probably more than most scouts, simply based on the fact that the kid is an absolute gamer. Watson won a ton of games for the Tigers, a lot of them simply because of blood and guts and he’s a guy you would absolutely love going to war with. He is extremely mobile, using both power and quickness in the run game to make plays with his legs. I think his arm is better than most scouts want to admit, and he drives his hips through the throw for the most part, being able to drive the ball at least at an average NFL quarterback rate. He has good pocket awareness, being sacked just 32 times in almost 1200 drop backs. He’ll stand in and take shots as well, waiting to allow receivers to gain separation. All of that being said there are a number of things that create cause for concern, including mediocre accuracy, which is a major problem. This past season he tried to do a bit too much early in the season, forcing too many throws into coverage. The turnovers this season are a problem, because if he does that against ACC defenses, only reading half the field, he’s going to have more turnovers at the next level. His deep ball accuracy is borderline as well. Watson’s frame is a bit more wiry than I’d like but that’s not a deal breaker for me because he can spin the football. To me it’d be tough to take Watson in the top 10 of this draft simply because there are a decent amount of question marks and there are pretty darn good players in this draft. That being said, he is a football and preparation junky, an exceptional leader, and he steps up against big time competition. If I needed a quarterback in the back half of round one, or with my second first round pick i.e. Cleveland, I would be willing to take a chance on Watson.

36.   Budda Baker, S Washington 85

Baker is a really good overall football player who is going to be a nice player in the NFL. Everyone worries about the kid’s size based on the fact that he essentially was an in-the-box safety with the Huskies. At 5’10 and about 190 pounds there are some real limitations there as well considering he’s going to be asked to cover 6’4 tight ends consistently in the NFL and to me that means you simply can’t take him in the first round. That being said, Baker running a 4.45 40 as a safety means that the kid can cover slot receivers in the league, which is a huge boon to get for a box safety. Baker is a nice cover guy for slot guys as well as he mirrors much better than most safeties in this class so you can play him in centerfield or roll him down in 3 and 4 wide to cover shifty slot guys. The kid’s versatility and instincts, along with being highly coachable and competitive means he’s easily a round 2 guy for me. He doesn’t drive through guys as a tackler but he competes hard and doesn’t miss too many guys. His size is a factor but he’s a damn good overall player with good speed and instincts. His size means I simply can’t take him in round one because I worry about his ability to stay healthy and cover tight ends but I’d love him as my second selection in a draft class.

37.   Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech 84

Easy to call this kid a gunslinger and his tape will drive you nuts because he ALWAYS wants to go for the big play. That being said damn there is a lot to work with here. He’s got a gigantic arm and when he sees a big play down the field he’ll hang right in the pocket and deliver a strike. Mahomes doesn’t have perfect size at only 6’2 but he’s got a really good frame so I think he’ll hold up without any problem in the NFL. He’s got really good mobility and can threaten the defense with his ability to run and to throw. He’s definitely a street ball kid so a team that wants its quarterback to play within the system the kid simply isn’t going to be that guy. He’s quicker than fast, but at 4.80 the kid has decent speed, but mostly he makes people miss in the open field which is a nice trait for a guy who can move. He has a lightning quick release as well. That being said he’s going to have a HUGE learning curve going to the NFL as the Texas Tech offense is truly a spread game that doesn’t translate into the NFL. I really want the kid to figure out how to check it down and make the easy play more, because defenses gave him underneath throws at times and Mahomes simply said fuck it and tried to fit the ball into tight windows. There is so much talent here, and the kid plays with the most confidence of any player in this entire draft. Not the most confidence of the quarterbacks, I mean the most confidence of any PLAYER, which I love. That being said tons of talent, but he either needs to conform or a coach needs to let him go for it to work. I can’t tie my career to him as my first pick in a draft but if I’m a quarterback needy team in round two I wouldn’t hesitate to grab Mahomes and see if I couldn’t hit a homerun.

38.   Gerald Everett, TE South Alabama

Super sleeper in this class who has really great potential to be one of the better tight ends in the league. He’s a 6’3 and 240 pounds and runs a really solid 4.6 40. He can create immediate separation the pass game and very rarely fights the football. He caught 90 passes the past two seasons. Everett is pretty good after the catch as well, giving him even more upside as a pass catcher. What I really like about Everett though is that the kid really blocks with violence. His technique isn’t good when he’s doing it yet, but he puts in a ton of effort and can create movement in the run game. Two major issues with Everett though is that he doesn’t run good routes or have good feel for the zone coverage yet. He also has really small hands at only 8.5” which means there could be some issues with catching in bad weather and fumbles.

39.   Marlon Humphrey – Alabama 84

Humphrey is a prototype cornerback at 6’1, 200 pounds, and very solid top end speed. He has tremendous upside because you simply can’t teach his H/W/S combination. He’s a strong physical corner who attacks the flats and the apex of the route very well. Humphrey plays well in the run game, and ultimately might be the best corner in this draft playing the run and the flats, which could make him a really good zone corner in the league. My issues with Humphrey come more from poor footwork and inability to consistently locate the ball when it’s in the air. He gave up almost 20 yards per completion the past two seasons and didn’t have nearly the productivity you’d think, particularly with a front seven getting as much pressure as the Tide did. The kid is tough, fast, and athletic, and someone is going to pull the trigger on him very early because of those things. I completely understand why someone would want to do that, but if it were me, I think he really needs to hone in his technique or he’ll get picked on when he’s first getting into the league.

40.   Taco Charlton, DE Michigan 84

A supremely talented but uneven player, Charlton is going to have someone fall in love with him during the draft process. He has prototypical size, length, and speed, making him an extremely attractive prospect. My issues with Charlton are the fact that his tapes are so difficult to digest because he can dominate at times and at other times on the same tape he can be blocked easily one on one, sometimes by a tight end. While he is explosive when blocked by mediocre offensive tackles, good players can get into his body and control him without much resistance. Some people think he can kick inside on pass rushing downs or play a 5 technique but he simply doesn’t play with a strong enough base to hold up full time in that role. To me he’s a 43 defensive end only, which to me limits what his upside is and what types of teams could take him in the draft. Now as a 43 defensive end he has great flexibility and his ability to drive through blockers and dip his shoulder to get the edge are as good as anyone’s in this entire draft class. Charlton has a nice counter move when he goes from rips and power to a spin move that he hasn’t quite perfected yet but could turn into a Freeney-esque move. There is a lot of potential here with Charlton, but if I’m an NFL GM there is simply no way that I could risk my job on him in the top 10-15 picks of this draft. I think the risk for him becomes good when he’s outside the top 20, but only if you need a 43 defensive end. Someone is going to take him early because of the talent, but likely he’d be too rich for me come draft day.

41.   Deshone Kizer, QB Notre Dame 83

I think this kid is clearly the most talented quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. He also may be the most pro ready, coming from a hybrid but mostly NFL system for the Golden Domers. At 6’4 and 235 pounds he has ideal size for an NFL quarterback and a very plus arm. Kizer can absolutely do everything you’d want in a prototype quarter back for an NFL franchise. He seems to be a bright kid and when he gets time and into a rhythm he can really make plays. Kizer is also very mobile and a true dual threat particularly in the red zone where he posted 18 rushing scores the past two seasons. All of that sounds great but you have some real red flags when you watch his tape. Primarily he’s inconsistent with accuracy and decision making, those are major problems that just jump off the screen. He throws too many interceptions, misses too many anticipation throws, and will drop his eyes which just drives me nuts. When he gets rhythm and gets the ball out on his first read Kizer is electric, but he gets “stuck” really often. The Stanford tape was so bad for this, Stanford, which runs a complex defensive NFL type scheme against pro-style system just gave him fits. That tape dropped him a lot on my board. Overall the kid has every athletic and size trait you’d want in an NFL guy, but the lack of  consistent accuracy and forcing throws to his firs tread means I simply couldn’t take him with my first pick. As a second round guy though there is so much to work with here that you could find a high upside guy in a couple of years.

42.   Cordrea Tankersley – Clemson 83

Tankersley is a really nice football player who does a lot of things well. He’s got pretty good size at over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. Tankersley has tremendous ball skills and showed a ton of production the past two seasons getting 9 interceptions and 21 pass break ups. He isn’t great in the run game and misses some tackles at times particularly in space. He does a decent job keeping contain though on the outside when in the run game. He’s a bit stiff when he plays bail technique, and it leads to him giving up a number of underneath throws. He doesn’t panic a ton but I think when he gets beat he doesn’t recover as well as some others and therefore he’ll have his share of penalties. Tankersley is particularly weak when trying to defend in-breaking routes, and mesh or drag routes cause him trouble. However on outside routes he might be the best corner in this draft, and I believe he does a well above average job on getting into the right spot in zone. He’s a complete player against the pass in that he can play both man and zone. Most people who are analytics junkies are going to really like Tankersley, as he typically has very good grades with those scouts. For me I believe he is an outside corner who projects likely more as a number 2 corner in the NFL with an ability to play both man and zone. He’s a day 2 guy and a really solid player.

43.   Jarrad Davis, LB Florida 83

There is a lot of things to like about Jarrad Davis but there are some issues that have him ranked lower than where most other scouts have him. Yes the kid can absolutely run and make plays but I’m a bit worried about some things that are going to be problematic in the NFL. He’s a good athlete, although you have to worry about how he’ll bounce back from his injury this season. Davis is good enough of an athlete that the Gators used him primarily as a spy when they wanted to rush and his ability to close on the ball carrier is as good as any linebacker in this draft. All of that said, he takes really bad angles at times to the ball getting himself out of position really often. He also just takes on blockers instead of trying to slip them, and at 235 pounds you simply can’t do that. The Alabama tape just had guys engulfing him and moving him out of the way. He attacks too hard downhill and while it looks like he’ll read the hole correctly, he attacks so hard that running backs can get behind him quickly. He simply fires his gun too early when asked to scrape down the line. Early in his career at Florida he was an elite special teams player and I believe he’ll do that role early in his NFL career as well.  I love the kid, the leadership sounds like he’s spectacular in that regard but there are some holes here. I think he’s a 43 will, 34 ILB, but more likely a nickel linebacker who needs some clean up to his game. I like the kid, but he’s not a first rounder to me.

44.   Takkarist McKinley, Edge UCLA 83

A non polished good athlete at defensive end. McKinley gives you great effort on each snap and absolutely comes after you every single snap. He has really good length at almost 35 inch arm length and with sub 4.6 speed the kid gives you a lot of tools in the toolbox with which to work. He has very few counter moves in terms of being a pass rusher and as a rookie almost all of his production is going to come against below average tackles and tight ends or with hustle sacks. He’s extremely raw in terms of hand placement and technique as a pass rusher. That being said his pure speed and length is going to create some problems once he gets coached up at the NFL level and he could turn into a plus pass rusher at times. His length and work ethic makes him decent against the run already as well. At around 250 pounds he projects much better as a 34 OLB or a pass rush specialist in nickel situations in a 3 point stance. He lacks ideal bend too so there are a couple of things that would worry you. To me the kid is a second round pass rusher with a good work ethic and tools to develop. I like him but can’t take him on day one in this draft.

45.   Gareon Conley – Ohio State 83

A height weight speed prototype cornerback at 6’1 and 200 pounds running likely in the mid 4.4 range. Conley is exactly what you’re looking for when you draw up a cornerback prospect. Conley loves playing press coverage and his trail technique with length makes him and ideal bump and run corner. He struggles a bit in off coverage as even though he’s extremely athletic I think he’s a bit rough in his transitions. I struggle at times watching him because while he looks good in zone coverage, when he’s off the ball in man he can get caught looking or get caught flat footed. I like his eye discipline for the most part and he gets deep enough in zones to cause problems for quarterbacks. The major issue I have with Conley though is there are teams that will definitely take him off their boards because he struggles in off man and he’s well below average against the run. His Michigan tape wasn’t very good, as Darboh got a ton of inside releases on him and the crossing routes gave him problems. If he’s stuck on an island and is asked to just play bump and run with trail he’s as good as anyone in this class but he needs help with technique and has to get stronger against the run. To me he’s a day 2 corner.

46.   Tim Williams, Edge Alabama 83

It’s not that I don’t like Tim Williams, I really do when he’s asked to do one thing, go get the quarterback. I think other than Garrett and Barnett he’s arguably the third best edge rusher in this entire draft class. My issue with Williams is that he doesn’t really do anything else at an NFL caliber level. He’s not strong enough against the run, but if he adds too much weight to stop the run I think he’ll lose his best asset which is his quick twitch and ability to make tackles swing and miss. His pass rush technique I think is pretty high level and he can use counter moves to set up tackles all game. Now I thought he was going to explode and be a top 10 guy this year when he came back and now there’s no way I can take him in round one. He’s got 32 inch reach and at a light 244 pounds decent size offensive tackles can move him and engulf him. That being said the kid is a premier situational pass rusher, those people don’t escape the second round and I needed one I’d grab him in round two.

47.   Teez Tabor – Florida 82

A  nice player and potentially a first round cornerback. Tabor has really good size at 6’0 and 201 pounds. He looks much more confident playing off, and it seems like he has some fear in terms of getting beat over the top. Due to that he can definitely give up the underneath throws at time which is a bit frustrating but he does seem to understand down and distance fairly well. This became much more obvious at the combine when he ran a 4.63 40, showing he simply didn’t trust his speed. He has the quickness to run the underneath routes and can definitely high/low in coverage. He is not good in the run game and doesn’t show a great willingness to mix it up. He’s definitely quicker than fast so he may need to start his career on the inside for year one or two until he can get acclimated to the speed of the game. Overall though he’s a really good cover corner who has a borderline first round talent. He also has some character questions and you hear consistent things about those issues. In this year I think Tabor is a second round prospect mostly due to his fear of getting beat over the top, lack of straight line speed, and character issues. Being poor in the run game isn’t a deal breaker for me at this specific position.

48.   T.J. Watt, OLB Wisconsin 82

I like T.J. Watt, but not nearly as much as other people do. I don’t get how people can take him in round one as their first pick in a draft when he simply doesn’t have that much tape or anything that really jumps out to you when you watch is film. He’s got good length and is strong at the point of attack but I’m not really sure where I’d like to play him. He’s around 255 pounds and 6’4 so I’m guessing maybe base end in a 43 defense because he plays so hard at the snap that he could potentially hold up against the run. I almost think he’s kind of a tweener in the NFL meaning maybe you’d move him to defensive end in sub packages and then 43 stand up linebacker in a base. Overall the kid is really solid, he can do a lot of things pretty well and nothing exceptionally well. I think he’s a guy who could play as a nice piece for a long time but very little star potential here. A solid starter who can cover a bit, can tackle well, and is a nice pass rusher. None of those things jumps off the screen but if you want a solid guy who can do a little bit of everything and will work his ass off, I’d take Watt on day 2 and watch him be a quality starter.

49.   Caleb Brantley, DT Florida 80

Some people really like Caleb Brantley, I just simply don’t see how someone could take him in the first round. The Alabama tape was not good, he got beat up by those linemen. His chase-down effort wasn’t great, effort on double teams is good but he’s not great at holding up in that scenario. Brantley can get washed out against a decent double team, allowing athletic lineman to get to the next level. Good initial quickness and strong punch. I know other people love him, I’m not that high on him. I think he’s got that nice quickness but damn he didn’t play many snaps, doesn’t kill against double teams, and doesn’t have a ton of production. There’s talent here but I wouldn’t take him in round one. He’s more of a projection than anything else with one really nice trait, interior pass rush quickness. Somewhere on day 2.

50.   Charles Harris, DE Missouri 80

Most everyone sees Harris as a first round pass rusher, grabbing 9 sacks this past season for a bad Missouri team. For me I just don’t see it, the guy doesn’t have long arms and can get engulfed by decent sized offensive tackles or even decent tight ends. He’s okay against the run but simply doesn’t get off blocks well enough consistently against the run. Harris does a nice job converted speed to power early in a snap and can use a couple of inside counters when quarterbacks step up in the pocket. A number of his sacks were simply effort plays or pocket collapsing plays where he closed. I don’t see him killing people off the edge, particularly in the NFL. Harris can be a nice edge player in the league but so much of it depends on just allowing him to penetrate and not to set the edge or keep his gap. In 2016 when he was asked to not just get up the field his tape was not first day tape, not even second round tape. Scheme is very important. The kid might be pretty good, but right now I simply can’t take him anywhere in the top 40.