The 2017 NFL Draft cycle is now underway. All underclassmen have declared. The NFLPA, East-West Shrine and Senior Bowl practices/game are the first step in the evaluation process followed by the combine in early March and Pro Days that will take place in March to early April.
As is usual the number of underclassmen who declare is overwhelmingly black and dilutes the talent pool. NFL teams will take many of these bums before they dare draft a white athlete. A total of 93 underclassmen have declared - 24 of which are WRs (Chad Hansen is the only white WR to declare early). I find this to be somewhat troubling as we have as deep a pool of talented white WRs that I can recall eligible for the 2017 draft. The underclass QBs that have declared are a majority black as well which is never good news. The silver lining is that Junior QB Mitch Trubisky has become the top QB prospect in this class when he declared. He follows in the foot steps of Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch and Blake Bortles as relative unknown QBs to emerge as elite talents and first round picks. The TE position is supposedly much more "athletic" than it has been (because the "experts" are desperate to fill the TE ranks with blacks which they equate with athletcism).
Quarterbacks
Where to begin? I stated in my initial write up prior to the season that this was as muddled a QB class as I can remember. Mitch Trubisky ends up being the dark horse to emerge out of obscurity and is now viewed as the top rated passer for the 2017 draft. After that it was a disappointing season for a few guys I was high on - CJ Beathard and Chad Kelly. Beathard struggled in the Iowa offense after WR Matt VanDenberg was lost for the season. Chad Kelly was great on the field until he tore his ACL in early November and also had a few stupid mistakes - running onto the field at his brothers game and a picture emerging with him and friends and some pot. Seth Russell had a pretty solid year before getting injured again which will be a red flag in the draft process. Davis Webb, CJ Beathard and Nathan Peterman are the three able bodied senior QBs that I am most interested to see at the Senior Bowl. I think Webb and Peterman have the best chance to rise and Beathard can do some damage control on his subpar senior season.
The rest of the class is made up of interesting QBs - Rush and Terrell were two of the best QBs in the MAC over the course of their careers but will have to answer the critics who question their arm strength. Wes Lunt and Gunner Kiel are interesting cases of underachieving - Lunt played at Ok St. prior to transferring to Illinois where he played well but was tormented by WR drops in 2015 and than played for the inept Hatie Smiff in 2016. He is an intriguing developmental prospect. Kiel was one of the most highly touted recruits who went from LSU to Notre Dame before ending up at Cincinatti and putting up some huge numbers - however injuries, turnovers and Tuberville refusing to play him all have dropped his stock - he will need to check out medically and perform well at Shrine practices, combine and pro day. Higgins out of La Tech is really intriguing, a dual threat talent who put up huge numbers as a one year starter for La Tech - could be a potential riser. Nick Mullens is somewhat undersized QB but had a prolific career at Southern Miss. Brady Gustafson and Alek Torgensen are two small school (FBS) QBs that may generate some buzz. It sounds like Torgensen may be primed for a climb up the QB rankings from what I have read about him so far.
QBs
Mitch Trubisky UNC
Davis Webb California - Senior Bowl
C.J. Beathard Iowa - Senior Bowl
Chad Kelly Ole Miss - Senior Bowl - INJ
Nathan Peterman Pitt - Senior Bowl
Seth Russell Baylor - Senior Bowl - INJ
Cooper Rush Central Michigan - East-West Shrine
Zach Terrell Western Michigan - East-West Shrine
Ryan Higgins - La Tech - NFLPA Bowl
Nick Mullens Southern Miss - East-West Shrine
Brady Gustafson Montana (FCS) - NFLPA Bowl
Wes Lunt Illinois - East-West Shrine
Gunner Kiel Cincinatti - East-West Shrine
Alek Torgensen Penn - East-West Shrine
Mitch Leidner Minnesota - NFLPA Bowl
Taysom Hill BYU (Potential position change)
Trevor Knight Texas A&M (Potential position change)
Running Backs
This year it is all about Christian McCaffrey. One of the most electric, athletic RBs in the college game over the past three seasons. He could be a huge caste buster for us. Kade Harrington and Derrick Craine are two FBS RBs that may garner some attention either late in the draft or as UDFAs. Sam Rogers is a do it all RB out of Va Tech who reminds me a little of Jacob Hester.
RBs
Christian McCaffrey Stanford
Kade Harrington Lamar
Sam Rogers Va Tech
Derrick Craine UT Chatanooga
Wide Receivers
The 2017 draft class probably boasts the largest number of white WRs I can recall over my 13 years following the draft. There are a ton of productive, talented white athletes that will participate in this draft cycle. So far many of them have been ignored by the post season all star games and will probably receive the same caste treatment and not get combine invites. This will leave pro days for these players to leave their mark. I don't expext any of these guys to be fairly assessed and their skin color will be used against them during the whole process but hopefully they all slip through the caste system and onto NFL rosters. Hansen is the closest thing to Jordy I have seen since Jordy. I have not seen Kupp live but his highlight and production are amazing. Trent Taylor and Switzer are dynamic talents - I was surprised to see how powerful Taylor was when watching him and Switzer can do it all - slot, outside WR and return man.
WRs
Cooper Kupp Eastern Washington - Senior Bowl
Trent Taylor La Tech - Senior Bowl
Jordan Westerkamp Nebraska - Shrine Game - INJ
Ryan Switzer UNC - Senior Bowl
Chad Hansen Cal
Tanner Gentry Wyoming
Drew Morgan Arkansas - Shrine Game
Thomas Sperbeck Boise St
Brandon Reily Nebraska
Kenny Buyers North Texas (athlete)
Jake Maulhardt Wyoming
Gehrig Dieter Alabama - Shrine Game
Tight End
All of the "experts" have been creaming in their panties over the supposed "athleticism" with this years TE class since it has been missing over the past few drafts apparently. When I see through all of that nonsense this class of TEs is not the best but it does look to have some promise. Jake Butt is the most complete TE to come out in a while and although he suffered a knee injury in the bowl game he should still be a 2nd round pick. One player poised to make a move is Eric Saubert out of Drake - it sounds like a buzz is starting to build around him.
TEs
Jake Butt Michigan - INJ
Eric Saubert Drake - Shrine Game
Blake Jarwin Okla St - Shrine Game
Billy Freeman San Jose St
Taylor McNamara USC - Shrine Game
George Kittle Iowa
Josiah Price Michigan St
Colin Jeter LSU - Shrine Game
Antony Auclair Laval - Shrine Game
Evan Bayliss Oregon
Johnny Mundt Oregon
O-Line
The early entries of Garrett Bolles and Ryan Ramczyk give a shot in the arm to the OT class as a whole. Both are projected as 1st round picks. WKU OT Forrest Lamp may be another draft day riser as he has been one of the more impressive linemen and garnered positive ratings for his performance vs. Alabama this season. Chad Wheeler, Connor McDermot and Adam Bisnowaty are also very solid senior tackles.
OT
Ryan Ramczyk Wisconsin
Garrett Bolles Utah
Chad Wheeler USC
Conor McDermot UCLA - Senior Bowl
Adam Bisnowaty Pitt - Senior Bowl
Andreas Knappe UCONN - NFLPA game
Erik Magnuson Michigan - Shrine Game
Dan Skipper Arkansas - Shrine Game
John Heck UNC
Corey Levin UT-Chatanooga (FCS) - NFLPA Game
Storm Norton Toledo - Shrine Game
Erik Austell Charleston Southern - Shrine Game
Jonah Pirsig Minnesota - NFLPA game
Jake Simonich Utah St.- NFLPA game
Robert Leff Auburn
Will Holden Vanderbilt - Shrine Game
OG
Dan Feeney Indiana - Senhor Bowl
Ben Braden Michigan - NFLPA Game
Kyle Kalis Michigan - Shrine Game
Alex Kozan Auburn - Shrine Game
Forrest Lamp Western Kentucky - Senior Bowl
Gavin Andrews Oregon St - Shrine Game
Chase Roullier Wyoming - Shrine Game
Zach Johnson NDSU - Shrine Game
Geoff Gray Manitoba - Shrine Game
Caleb Peterson UNC
C
Ethan Pocic LSU - Senior Bowl
Pat Elflein Ohio State
Tyler Orlosky West Virginia - Senior Bowl
Jon Toth Kentucky - Senior Bowl
Joe Scelfo NC State - Shrine Game
Lucas Crowley UNC - Shrine Game
Defensive Line
Defensive End
This year there are more than a handful of talented DEs that will hopefully get drafted. Of course this year DE is magically very deep according to the "experts" with all the affletic talent. Let's not forget how Joey Bosa emerged this year living up to his sta.tus as the first overall pick. The media is reluctant to give much notoriety or exposure to many of the talented DEs in this year's draft. Trey Hendrickson has been a dominant pass rushing talent and become an expert at blocking kicks yet is getting next to no attention. Hunter Dmick out of Utah was 2nd in the nation with 14.5 sacks and 29.5 sacks over his career. Last year he did not have the production and all of the "experts" said it was due to Nate Orchard leaving for the NFL however in 2016 he bounced back with his largest sack total (the aforementioned 14.5). He did not receive a senior bowl invite but undersized one year wonder Carroll Phillips from Illinois did because of his skin color. Karter Schult and Dylan Donahue are a couple of smaller school pass rushers that have some buzz around them going into the draft process.
DE
Hunter Dimick Utah - Shrine Game
Trey Hendrickson FAU - Shrine Game
Pat O'Connor EMU - NFLPA
Karter Schult Northern Iowa - Shrine Game
Dylan Donahue West Georgia - NFLPA
Garret Sickels PSU
Evan Schwan PSU
Kyle Kelly San Diego State
Mikey Bart UNC
Defensive Tackle
DT again has some "depth" to it for our guys for the second year in a row. I use the term depth loosely but having 9 guys listed is pretty good. Jake Repogle has been noticeably absent from any of the all star bowl games for draft prospects. He fought through injuries this year but Pro Football Focus graded him out highly and he was one of their all americans. Ryan Glasgow was a stout presence in the middle for Michigan this year and should solidifiy his stock as a 3rd/4th rounder. Bevins is a dominant division 2 prospect that had buzz going into the 2016 season. This will hopefully bode well for him.
Ryan Glasgow Michigan - Senior Bowl
Jake Repogle Purdue
Joey Ivie Florida - Shrine Game
Matt Godin Michigan - Shrine Game
Collin Bevins NW Missouri State (D-II) - NFLPA
Truman Gutapfel Boston College
Danny O'Brien Tennessee
A.J. Wolf Duke
Cole Langer SDSU
Linebacker
Linebacker will once again have some very good depth to it. With the early entry TJ Watt entering his name into the draft the OLB class became much more intriguing. He is the little brother of JJ Watt and should wreak similar havoc in NFL backfields next year. His running mate Vince Biegel is another solid Wiscon LB that should cement himself as a mid round guy. Calvin Munson was one of the best LBs in the nation and is among the best athletes at the position, I figure he will be a riser come draft time. Ben Boulware was uber productive and a playmaker at Clemson but I worry he will get the Scooby Wright treatment unless he runs fast in a straight line. Richie Brown is a solid all around LB and would be an asset to any team.
LBs
TJ Watt Wisconsin
Vince Biegel Wisconsin - Senior Bowl
Alex Anzalone Florida - Senior Bowl
Connor Harris Lindenwood - Senior Bowl
Matt Milano Boston College
Calvin Munson SDSU - Shrine Game
Richie Brown Miss St - Shrine Game
Jackson Dillon Memphis
Ben Boulware Clemson - Senior Bowl
Riley Bullough Mich State - NFLPA Game
Brooks Ellis Arkansas - Shrine Game
Ben Gedeon Michigan - Senior Bowl
Chase Allen Southern Illinois - NFLPA
Lucas Wacha - NFLPA
Michael Sherer Missouri
Tanner Vallejo Boise St
Ben Weaver Boise St
Matt Galambos Pitt
Defensive Back
The NFL has done a great job keeping whites out of the CB position for years. It is the only coal position in the league and looks to remain that way. At safety however there are quite a few players that can play in the NFL if allowed. Nate Gerry and Weston Steelhammer are two of the most productive safeties in the class with great size and production. Leo Musso was very productive and knocked a few RBs out of games this season. Two Stanford DBs Dallas Lloyd and Zach Hoffpauir have been ignored so far with no invites to the all star bowl games. Hoffpauir would be a great nickelback as he played the pass quite a bit at Stanford but was also an excellent tackler. It looks again like the NFL will do what it can to keep from any sort of white depth accumulate at the position. Hopefully some of these guys break through just based on the decent number who are draft eligibile.
Safety
Nate Gerry Nebraska - Senior Bowl
Weston Steelhammer Air Force - Shrine Game
Tony Annese Central Michgan
Dylan Haines Texas
Dallas Lloyd Stanford
Zach Hoffpauir Stanford
Taylor Barton Illinois
Leo Musso Wisconsin
Anthony Cioffi Rutgers
Tony Pauline @TonyPauline 2h2 hours ago
