2017 NFL Draft: Draft Radar Heading into NFL Week 3
It was a big week in college football as a full slate of intriguing games was featured. On the other side of things, the NFL wrapped up its second weekend of the 2016 season, and while some teams are off and running, others are trying to land that elusive first win.
Who jumped on the scene after a slow start? Who needs to figure it out quickly before we blink and it's already draft season?
The NFL is always searching for two things: franchise quarterbacks and players who can disrupt franchise quarterbacks. Fortunately, the 2017 class should have both of those. Now what teams will be fortunate enough to land that help? Let's break it all down.
Stock Up
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Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan
The do-it-all Michigan Wolverine has been an absolute stud on defense for Jim Harbaugh this year through three games. His best performance came Saturday against Colorado where he made six solo stops and tallied three quarterback pressures (including a sack).
The biggest question surrounding Peppers and his transition to the NFL appears to be: where will he play? There is no need to overanalyze a great football player. A smart defensive coach will find a role for him to flourish in, and my bet is as a hybrid safety.
He is skilled enough to cover as a big nickel out of the slot but his ability to read and react from the back end combined with his speed separates him from the pack. This is a Round 1 prospect who will be a hot commodity come spring 2017.
Davis Webb, QB, California
The Senior quarterback led Cal to a huge win over Texas Saturday evening with a fantastic performance. Webb was 27-of-40 for 396 yards and five total touchdowns.
At 6'5", 230 pounds—and possessing beautiful placement on his throws—Webb is making his way into the upper-tier quarterback conversation. It’s hard to envision him on the same level as DeShone Kizer or Deshaun Watson, and the offense Cal runs always raises questions, but he’s off to a big-time start in September.
Noah Brown, WR, Ohio State
The redshirt sophomore is back from a leg injury that kept him out for all of 2015, and he’s wasted little time taking over in the Buckeyes offense. Brown hauled in four touchdowns on Saturday against Oklahoma, one of which might have already handed him catch of the year honors.
He’s listed at 6'2", 218 pounds, but Brown looks much bigger than that. He’s a dominant red-zone threat in the mold of Alshon Jeffery (h/t to Bleacher Report Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller for that one), and if he opts to leave for the draft, he could be a top-five wideout to come off the board.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
Awuzie continues to build off of a strong 2015 campaign as a signature piece of the improved Colorado defense.
He’s yet to surrender a touchdown through three games in 2016 and was a lockdown corner on Saturday at Michigan. He only allowed two catches on five targets along with a pass deflection and a sack. At 6'0", 205 pounds with extremely solid coverage ability, Awuzie is looking like a Day 2 pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Stock Down
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Cole Luke, CB, Notre Dame
The senior corner for the Irish had a brutal evening against Michigan State on Saturday. He surrendered five catches on six targets for 90 yards and a touchdown as Notre Dame suffered its second loss of the season. His worst moment came when he had a very easy potential interception ripped out of his hands.
Notre Dame’s secondary has been extremely disappointing in 2016, but Luke was not expected to be a weakness. The 5'11", 195-pound cornerback needs to avoid allowing receivers to get over the top of him before he can even be considered a draftable player in the 2017 class.
Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson
Clemson dominated this weekend, beating South Carolina State 59-0, leading to only 16 snaps for starting running back Wayne Gallman. Unfortunately for his draft stock, the Tigers tailback has had little opportunity to stay in the conversation with the top runners in a loaded class.
Per attempt, Gallman was productive on Saturday, rushing seven times for 40 yards, but did not force any missed tackles after a week against Troy where he only managed 34 yards on nine carries. It’s not that Gallman has been bad, he’s just in a difficult situation where it’s nearly impossible for him to be mentioned as a top-five running back prospect in the 2017 class.
If his production (and opportunity) continues to underwhelm, he’ll be fighting to be one of the first 10 running backs selected in the spring. The talent is there, but he’s quickly becoming the forgotten man in a loaded class.
Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU
Dupre’s stock drop this week is more from a combination of terrible quarterback play and an extremely underwhelming three-game stretch to kick off the 2016 season.
While hauling in four catches on seven targets for 54 yards is improvement, the overall season numbers are ugly: Twenty-two targets, seven catches, 78 yards, zero touchdowns, three drops and two interceptions when targeted.
There were expectations for Dupre to be a game-changing wideout entering his junior year. The 6'4", 195-pounder has yet to take over even a drive. While a lot of that is a product of what’s around him (including the coaching staff), it will undoubtedly hurt his draft stock.
Eye-Popping Prospect Numbers from Week 3
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Tennessee pass-rusher Derek Barnett registered three quarterback hits and nine hurries; totaling 12 pressures on 43 pass-rush attempts. That’s a disruptive outing.
Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer was 5-of-7 on passes 20 yards or more on Saturday against Michigan State. Those completions added up to 185 of his 344 passing yards. He’s an excellent downfield thrower.
North Texas wanted little to do with Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor this weekend. The star DB had two passes come his way: one he broke up; the other a 25-yard completion.
Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey forced six missed tackles on 34 touches (combined rushing attempts and receptions) Saturday against USC. It will be hard for him to top his absurd number of 85 total missed tackles forced from 2015, but he’s as elusive as they come in the open field.
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Dynamite Triple Threat: Washington Huskies Secondary
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You might have heard all about Alabama’s defense being an NFL Draft gold mine this week, but the Washington Huskies secondary isn’t a bad place to look for help either. Here are three players making a name for themselves early in the prospect landscape:
Kevin King, CB
One of two very solid corner prospects in the Washington secondary, King has excellent length, measuring in at 6'3". He understands how to limit receivers to minimal gains, which he put on full display in the 2016 opener: surrendering seven catches against Rutgers but only 24 yards (3.4 yards per catch).
As he masters jamming at the line and filling out a 192-pound frame, he can develop into a complete corner. Right now the physicality, especially against the run, is a work in progress. That being said, the NFL will view King as a prospect that can be molded into a solid starting outside cornerback.
Sidney Jones, CB
The other Huskies corner in Sidney Jones looks like an absolute stud. He led the Pac-12 with 14 passes defended in 2015 (with four interceptions as well) and his momentum has carried into the start of the 2016 season.
Jones' film has a similar feel to former Huskies cornerback Marcus Peters, a first-round pick in the 2015 draft. He’s physical at the line and understands when to take a gamble on the ball.
Much like Peters as well, opposing teams have little interest in targeting him anymore. Through three games in 2016, he’s allowed three catches on six targets for 12 yards. That adds up to a 16.7 NFL QB rating. The questions of Jones being a top-five corner prospect in 2017 have now shifted to: Is he the best corner?
Budda Baker, S
What makes two impressive corners even better? A playmaking safety running around behind them of course. Baker is a bit undersized at 5'10", 192 pounds, but his tenacity and nose for the ball make him a lights-out defender.
He’s smooth in coverage and his range against the run is extremely apparent sideline to sideline. With plenty of talented NFL defenses using hybrid defenders to counter high-octane passing attacks, Baker will find a home and should not wait very long to hear his name called in the spring.
Wreaking Havoc: Is 2017 Class the Return of the Edge-Rusher?
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Every NFL team is looking for their own Von Miller, and to be quite honest, that’s just not realistic anymore. Now can they find something close in the 2017 draft? It’s not as unrealistic as it sounds.
This class could be loaded with versatile pass-rushing talent. Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett has been a quarterback’s nightmare since stepping foot on the college football landscape. He now has 23.5 sacks in 26 games and is extremely disruptive even when he doesn’t entirely finish the play. His blend of size, athleticism and power should make him a top-10 pick.
Then there’s Michigan State’s Malik McDowell, who is another "big edge" at 6'6", 276 pounds (Garrett is listed at 6'5", 270). His athleticism was on full display against a very good Notre Dame offensive line on Saturday evening. He has a relentless motor and can play in multiple alignments, and his ability to bend off the edge makes him a lethal weapon for Michigan State’s front seven.
Auburn’s Carl Lawson doesn’t possess the flashy box-score numbers, but he’s extremely productive in disrupting the pocket. He has powerful hands that drive offensive linemen backward (or even to the ground at times). His lack of length won’t stack up compared to Garrett and McDowell, but that shouldn’t matter as he is a really impressive, Round 1-type talent.
Alabama packs an impressive duo off the edge between Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. Williams has been held without a sack this year, but he’s still getting to the quarterback as he’s registered 12 total pressures in just three games. Anderson (2.5 sacks) has closing speed that makes him a terror when given any space to work with.
It’s not too unrealistic to expect an usually high number of pass-rushers, especially guys that win from the edge, to come off the board in Round 1 this spring.
Quarterback Spotlight: Brad Kaaya, Miami
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Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215 lbs
Class: Junior
Projected 40-yard dash: 4.84
Pros
The third-year starter has been the Hurricanes signal-caller since he stepped on campus as a freshman in the 2014 season. Kaaya is an intelligent quarterback who takes care of the ball but lacks a high-end raw skill set.
He has smooth feet with a quick release that allows him to control drives as a rhythm thrower, capitalizing primarily off the short and intermediate passing attack. His ability to work through multiple reads while constantly scanning the field will help him acclimate to an NFL offense quicker.
Cons
Kaaya will need to add more mass to his frame to remain durable at the next level. He possesses a mediocre arm and his deep passes tend to die, limiting the amount of shots he takes down the field.
When the pressure is on, he has a bad habit of retreating backward, rather than working up and through the pocket. His accuracy wavers, especially when rattled from early pressure, which is something to keep an eye on throughout his junior season.
Overview
It’s hard to view Kaaya in the upper level of quarterback prospects in the 2017 class, such as DeShone Kizer or Deshaun Watson. In the right system, he can find success operating an offense fixated on getting the ball out quickly and working the intermediate passing game.
The lack of arm strength is a big concern, but after turning 21 this month he still has potential to grow into an average NFL thrower. Right now he projects as a late Day 2/early Day 3 pick with the ceiling of a game-managing starter (think Alex Smith). His best bet will most likely be to return to Miami for his senior season and work in Mark Richt’s pro-style offense for a second season.
Underclassman Phenom of the Week: Michigan State RB LJ Scott
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Height: 6'1"
Weight: 230 lbs
Class: Sophomore
This section could go to Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson every single week, but Scott is deserving of recognition after being a huge addition to the Michigan State backfield.
The bruising halfback rushed for 699 yards on 146 attempts (4.8 yards per carry) as a true freshman in 2015, punching in an impressive 11 touchdowns while forcing 38 missed tackles.
Scott is picking up right where he left off in 2016, with 203 yards on 46 attempts (4.4 yards per carry), two touchdowns and seven missed tackles forced. He was a key factor in Saturday’s victory over Notre Dame (98 yards on 22 carries), using his bruising running style to wear down the Irish defense.
The sophomore runner always seems to fall forward, and all it takes is one look at his numbers to see a model of week-by-week consistency. He’s got a great build for the NFL and is a key name to watch for the 2019 NFL draft.
Get Them Help: Giving the 0-2 Starters the Perfect Prospect
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Indianapolis Colts: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Andrew Luck needs a consistent go-to threat in the Colts backfield. Fournette wears down defenses with some of the best power college football has seen in the past decade. Build a rushing attack, open up the pass game and get the Colts offense back as a top unit in the league.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
Dante Fowler got things going this weekend, recording two sacks in what was a brutal blowout loss for the Jaguars. They need to continue building their pass rush, no matter how many pieces it takes. Garrett is a constant threat that wreaks havoc from all over.
Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
If the Pegulas are truly committed to Rex Ryan, he’ll need as much star talent in his front seven as possible. Allen is an absolute stud who gets after the quarterback but also shuts down the run. His versatility also makes him a good match for Ryan’s defense, which used Muhammad Wilkerson in a wide range of alignments with the Jets.
Even if Ryan were let go after this season, the Bills would be getting a reliable star player to build around in their defense.
Miami Dolphins: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
The Dolphins have to not only build depth in their secondary, but also find a true No. 1 corner for their defense. Byron Maxwell is not the answer, and the other wide array of corners they are putting on the field are struggling. Jones can be a Marcus Peters-type man-coverage corner and would be a great building block.
Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Hue Jackson needs his franchise signal-caller. Kizer has an incredible skill set and the right demeanor to lead an offense. He would be able to push the ball down the field to a group of skill players that have a bright future.
Washington Redskins: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Yes, it’s early, but the Redskins did not give Kirk Cousins a long-term deal for a reason. His struggles have been magnified early this season and it is fair to question if he is Jay Gruden’s quarterback of the future. Watson has much more promise and would step into an offense that has plenty of talented pieces to work with.
New Orleans Saints: Malik McDowell, EDGE, Michigan State
The loss of Hau'oli Kikaha was devastating to a Saints defense that needs to get younger and faster. McDowell would bring a pass-rushing threat they don’t have anything close to.
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