2017 NFL Draft: Prospects Still Being Underrated Only Weeks from Draft
We're just a couple of weeks out from the 2017 NFL draft, and the predraft hype machine is in high gear.
Draftniks far and wide have extolled the virtues of players such as Texas A&M edge-rusher Myles Garrett, Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas and LSU safety Jamal Adams. All three are considered locks to be among the first five picks April 27.
However, there are more than a few young players who aren't getting their due.
For some, it's a matter of perceived flaws in their games. There's no point in the NFL calendar more chock-full of nitpicking than the weeks leading up to the draft.
Others battled injuries in college. Or played at a school some people have never heard of. Or got in the sort of off-field dust-ups that raise the dreaded red flags.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of young stars in the making who are still being underrated. Players such as the following.
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
1 of 10
Whether it's Dak Prescott a year ago or that Tom Brady fella back in 2000, there's no more coveted pick in the draft than the quarterback who goes from Day 3 pick to playoff starter.
This year, one of the leading candidates to be that sort of surprise star is Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs, who passed for 2,946 yards and 27 scores for the Volunteers in 2016.
Dobbs certainly has the brains to play football at the highest level—he was an aerospace engineering major in Knoxville.
The wheels are there too. In addition to throwing for nearly 3,000 yards, Dobbs topped 800 yards on the ground for the Vols in 2016, scoring a dozen touchdowns.
One AFC college scouting director told Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com that despite an uneven 2016 throwing the ball that included 12 interceptions, he's convinced Dobbs has the potential to start in the NFL:
"Dobbs definitely has the tools to be a solid player in the league. He's smart, tough and athletic. Plus, he showed at the Senior Bowl that he could adapt to a pro-style offense. ... I'm not saying he is a Day 1 guy, but I would certainly take a chance on him as a developmental player. He's a much better player than people think.
"
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who coached Dobbs in that Mobile, Alabama, game agrees.
"I thought he ran the offense, moved the ball and did the things we thought we could do," Jackson told NFL Network (h/t Shehan Jeyarajah of SEC Country). "He did a good job."
For his part, Dobbs told David Cobb of the Times Free Press that he's aware of the questions surrounding his accuracy. He also has every intention of proving those doubters wrong:
"I don't need validation. It's about time, honestly. But I don't need validation. I know my skills and abilities. I've shown it throughout my career opportunities and during this draft process. People are entitled to their opinions, but it doesn't meant they're right at the end of the day.
To be able to put my undivided attention into football and perfecting my craft for opportunities like this, it's been great. I'm excited to see what the future holds when I'm able to just be a professional football player.
"
The 6'3", 216-pounder is by no means a sure thing. Like Prescott and Brady, Dobbs is going to be a Day 3 pick. And he's going to need more of that time he mentioned to hone his craft before taking the reins.
But Dobbs also has something that can be hard to come by on the third day of the draft, especially at football's most important position: upside.
Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming
2 of 10
This year's draft class at the running back position is loaded. Teams don't have to go all that far to find players more than capable of handling an every-down role.
The depth of the class also means there are potential jackpot picks buried deeper than usual—the proverbial golden nuggets below the surface.
Nuggets like Wyoming's Brian Hill.
Had this year's class not been so deep, we'd be hearing more about Hill. The 6'1", 219-pounder has the frame NFL scouts covet in the backfield. The productivity was there as well—only two tailbacks in the FBS had more rushing yards than Hill's 1,860 in 2016.
It was the second straight season Hill topped 1,600 yards on the ground.
Hill peeled off a solid 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, but a poor showing in the bench press (15 reps) raised questions about his upper-body strength and ability to pass protect.
However, as Hill told Eric Galko of Sporting News, he believes his blocking ability is one of the strengths of his game:
"I take pride in blocking. I know that the quarterback is what makes the offense go most of the time, and that was the case at Wyoming, too. We had a great quarterback in Josh Allen, and when he passed the ball my main focus was to keep him upright. I didn’t want him to take too many hits.
Also, I don't have any one style as a runner. I don't try to emulate any one running back when I run the ball. I always looked up to LaDainian Tomlinson, especially because he always ran with his style and in a lot of different ways.
"
Just being an average blocker would put Hill ahead of the pack. It's not a skill many young backs are asked to refine in college.
There is plenty of tape that shows Hill's ability to explode through holes. There's tape that shows his decisive running style and ability to bounce off would-be tacklers and pick up tough yardage for a surprisingly successful Wyoming team in 2016.
And there's tape that shows a talented young ball-carrier capable of making an impact early in his NFL career.
Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
3 of 10
Like the running backs, this year's crop of pass-catchers is deep and talented. In fact, that's become something of an annual tradition at the wide receiver position.
However, when the names of potential first-round picks is rattled off, the same trio comes up. Clemson's Mike Williams, Corey Davis of Western Michigan and Washington burner John Ross are usually mentioned in some order. Occasionally, Ohio State's Curtis Samuel (a converted tailback) gets added to the mix.
Penn State's Chris Godwin deserves to be mentioned among that company.
Godwin, who came up just short of 1,000 yards with 11 scores for the Nittany Lions in 2016, showed off his speed in Indianapolis with a 4.42 second 40-yard dash time. But as Matt Harmon wrote for the Fantasy Footballers, it's Godwin's refined route-running skills and ability to catch the ball in traffic that stand out on tape:
"At just 21 years old, Chris Godwin already shows plenty of polish and seasoning for a young player who may have even more room to grow. He's a player that comes with a complete skill set as a separator in addition to his work in the contested-catch game with the best conversion rate in Reception Perception college history.
"
Godwin, who decimated USC for 187 yards and two scores in his last game for Penn State, the 2017 Rose Bowl, told John McGonigal of the Centre Daily Times that he prides himself on his ability to win battles for the football.
"I definitely feel that's one of the best parts of my game," Godwin said. "Not everything's going to be perfect, and it's rare that you'll be wide-open. To be able to make contested catches, it's an important trait as a receiver, so I take a lot of pride in that."
Frankly, we've seen this movie before.
Back in 2014, Allen Robinson was a second-round pick in the draft after a standout career for the Nittany Lions. Like Godwin, Robinson was known for his abilities as a route-runner and for his skill at high-pointing the ball.
Robinson has quickly become one of the best wideouts in the NFL, with nearly 2,300 receiving yards and 20 scores over his last two seasons.
Godwin might not match those gaudy numbers early in his NFL career. Robinson's 2015 stats are a hard bar to clear. But the team that spends a Day 2 pick on Godwin isn't going to be disappointed.
.jpg?w=256 "Bills Broncos Football")
Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson
4 of 10
Many young players develop nicknames while in college. Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett probably wishes he hadn't.
After a career at Clemson marked with equal parts athleticism and inconsistency, the 6'5", 258-pounder earned the moniker "Lazy Leggett."
In fact, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com reported in his scouting profile for Leggett that he admitted to being lazy in the past. Leggett told Dan Hope of the Independent Mail that whether he's blocking or running routes, he's going to have to up his effort level and consistency to succeed in the NFL:
"I had to block guys like Shaq Lawson and Vic Beasley [at Clemson], but now I got to go up there and block guys like Shaq Lawson and Vic Beasley every day and every game. There’ [are] no easy games in the NFL...so just honestly, all aspects of my game got to get better for me to be able to hold up on that next level.
"
However, in some ways this could be a blessing in disguise for Leggett's NFL team. He seemed to save his best efforts for the biggest contests in college. If he's serious about there being "no easy games" in the NFL, then some lucky team could be getting a steal.
Were it not for those effort questions—were we talking solely about talent and potential—Leggett wouldn't be included here because he'd be a Day 1 pick.
He has the combination of size, length and speed that makes NFL teams drool, and he can play both on the line of scrimmage and split out wide. CBSSports.com's Jamie Newberg compared Leggett's skill set to that of Washington's Jordan Reed.
Newberg said: "Reed, like Leggett, played a former position [quarterback] in high school and had to transform himself into a tight end. The two are athletically very similar as well."
The number of NFL teams looking for the next Reed sits at 31. Actually, make that 32. Even Washington would like another Reed.
Aviante Collins, OT, TCU
5 of 10
It might not even be entirely accurate to call TCU's Aviante Collins an underrated tackle prospect at this point in the predraft process. He's been climbing more than a few draft boards steadily since February's combine.
That's what happens when you lead all offensive linemen in Indianapolis in the 40-yard dash (4.81 seconds at 294 pounds) and finish second in the bench press, with 34 reps.
However, as Zierlein wrote in his scouting report of Collins, the problem is that while his athleticism isn't in question, Collins' length and measurables are:
"The more you watch of Collins, the more you like. His athleticism is the first thing you will notice, but his toughness and determination to stay tied to his blocks are what will start to win you over. Finding the right fit will be the problem. He lacks size and length as a tackle and his below average hand usage will get him in trouble against bull rushers if he moves to guard. Collins is a talented move blocker, but he may need a year or two to get stronger and to tighten up some technique issues.
"
Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com echoed Zierlein's sentiments after watching Collins at the Horned Frogs' pro day:
"Starting all 13 games at right tackle in 2016, Collins comes from a track family, which he showed with his 40-yard dash time, but his straight-line speed is more impressive than his game film. He needs to work on his posture, technique and discipline issues to see significant snaps in the NFL. However, he looked great on Friday going through the positional drills and has some interesting traits that could make him a pet project for an offensive line coach, projecting best in a zone scheme.
"
Is Collins going to be a Week 1 starter at tackle for an NFL team? Probably not.
In a weak class at the position, it's entirely possible there isn't an off-the-get starter in the whole lot—especially on the left side.
But outside of less than ideal arm length, Collins has everything you want in a tackle prospect. Athleticism to spare. Strength. And a nice little mean streak that shows up on tape.
Given a little time, Collins has the potential to be an above-average starter in the NFL.
One who will likely be available on Day 3.
Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Charlotte
6 of 10
It's not often in this day and age that a player can say he was on the field for every game of a program's history. However, that's the case for Larry Ogunjobi, a four-year starter at defensive tackle for the Charlotte 49ers.
Still, despite a wildly productive collegiate career that saw Ojungobi lead the team in tackles for loss all four years, at least one NFC scouting director told Zierlein that he just wasn't moved by the 6'3", 304-pounder.
"I went just to see what he looked like on the hoof and I wasn't all that impressed," the scouting director said. "He's a solid player, but I just don't know whether he's got the size to be really good. I didn't like his Louisville tape."
It's true there are flaws in Ogunjobi's game. He may have played a ton in college, but Ogunjobi didn't even take up football until his sophomore year of high school. He has a lot left to learn about the game and his technique, with Zierlein writing that "watching Ogunjobi play is like watching a more raw version of Sheldon Rankins and with a little less efficiency of movement."
However, Ogunjobi has been making a late push up draft boards after solid performances at both the Senior Bowl and the combine. Just before the latter event Mike Mayock of the NFL Network (via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer) said that he could see Ojungobi sneaking into the second round of this year's draft.
"He's a guy not many people know about," Mayock said. "I think he's a talented guy, and he's probably a second-round pick, and he's got some real quick one-gap possibilities."
Given that assessment—one Mayock is far from alone in—you may be wondering why Ogunjobi is even included here.
Hold on. I'm getting to it. Jeez.
As you can see from that NFC scout's lukewarm "endorsement," it's far from a sure bet that Ogunjobi will be that Round 2 pick. Or even a Day 2 pick.
And if a team gets him anywhere outside the top 50, they'll be getting a steal.
Yes, his technique needs some work, especially where his pass-rushing moves are concerned. In college, he relied more on brute strength to just push linemen back toward the passer.
That's far from unusual for young players, though. Ogunjobi has a ton of potential. His moves can be coached up. His athleticism and motor cannot.
He'll start early in the NFL.
Derek Rivers, EDGE, Youngstown State
7 of 10
Not everyone is still underrating Youngstown State edge-rusher Derek Rivers. Bleacher Report's Charles McDonald thinks Rivers might be the biggest surprise of April 27 (h/t Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News).
"I wouldn't be surprised to see Derek Rivers go in like the top 40 or even slide into the back half of the first round, just because he has all of the things you look for except for the brand name from the school," McDonald said.
That Rivers is generating that kind of buzz a couple weeks ahead of the NFL draft shows just how good a draft season the 6'4", 248-pounder has had.
First, Rivers starred at the East-West Shrine Game, which garnered him a late invitation to the Senior Bowl. Rivers also shone in Mobile, Alabama, but it was at the combine where Rivers kicked things into high gear.
Whether it was a 4.61-second 40 time, an impressive 30 reps on the bench press or his 35-inch vertical leap, Rivers finished at or near the top of his position group in a handful of drills.
It was that performance that got McDonald to beating the drum for Rivers on the Ringer NFL Show with Robert Mays:
"That dude is just, he's a freak. ... He tested in at least the 80th percentile for almost all of the critical tests, you know, 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone. When you watch him at Youngstown State, obviously the level of competition is a little bit down, but you can see, OK, this guys athletically, has the potential to be an elite NFL pass rusher just from an athletic standpoint. You look at how he plays the run, his technique is really good, his hand placement is really good, he's a really refined player.
"
As McDonald said, Rivers' numbers came against FCS competition. But Rivers wasn't just good for the Penguins (yes, the Penguins) or even great. He was dominant.
Over his past three seasons in Youngstown, Rivers piled up 36 sacks, including 14 in 2016. That ranked second in the nation among FCS players.
Given that production and the growing buzz around Rivers, you might be wondering how anyone could call Rivers "underrated."
Simple. Rivers is CBSSports.com's ninth-ranked defensive end, behind the likes of Kansas State's Jordan Willis and Ohio's Tarell Basham.
With all due respect to those young pass-rushers, I'd take Rivers' athleticism, upside and sky-high ceiling over both.
Vince Biegel, OLB, Wisconsin
8 of 10
All the way back in November, Bleacher Report NFL draft guru Matt Miller listed Vince Biegel of Wisconsin as a "hidden gem" among this year's linebacker corps:
"Biegel, who should have become a household name this season, was slowed by a foot injury while being overshadowed by the power of the Watt family in the form of playmaking linebacker T.J. Watt. But Biegel is still playing at the high level he showed last season, and he has the tools to be a Day 2 pick when healthy.
"
Biegel is the archetypal Wisconsin linebacker in that what he lacks in speed and athleticism, he makes up for with instincts and hard-nosed play. He's played outside in both four- and three-man fronts during his time at Madison, and he told Don Dahlke of FanSided that he's open to kicking inside at the NFL level as well.
"That is something I'm pretty comfortable with as well," Biegel said. "As a former Wisconsin linebacker, we pride ourselves in being versatile and being hard workers and able to adapt to anything being asked of us. We're smart, tough and dependable players."
It may well be that Biegel has to do that in the pros. He has many assets, but he isn't super quick off the edge or especially strong. If he's going to remain outside (especially in a 3-4), he's going to need to add some bulk to avoid getting swallowed up at the point of attack.
The general consensus (one shared by Dane Brugler and Rob Rang at CBSSports.com) appears to be that Biegel is going to be drafted early on Day 3—long after Watt has come off the board.
If that's the case, while Watt may be the better player, it's Biegel who will be the better value.
They aren't necessarily similar players, but when I look at Biegel, I see a lot of Chris Borland. A few years ago the ex-Badger entered the NFL hearing the same sorts of criticisms.
He's too slow. He's too small. His eyes don't sparkle when the light hits them.
OK, maybe not that last one. But you get my meaning.
Like Borland, Biegel is another player whose whole is greater than the sum of his parts. He's more than a 40 time and measurables. Things like instinct and passion can't be calculated anyway.
If he lands in the right spot, Biegel is a player we'll look back on three years from now and wonder how he ever fell as far as he did on draft day.
Brendan Langley, CB, Lamar
9 of 10
We're going deep on this one. Like seventh-round pick from a school you've never heard of deep.
There was a time that Brendan Langley was one of the nation's top cornerback prospects.
However, after Langley signed to play at Georgia, the team moved the 6'0", 201-pounder to receiver. After a couple seasons spent mostly watching from the bench, Langley transferred to the football powerhouse that is Lamar University.
It's in Beaumont, Texas. I had to look it up.
However, despite toiling in collegiate obscurity, Langley, who was an all-conference performer as a cornerback and punt returner in 2016, told KBMT that he's happy just to be getting the opportunity to continue playing football as a professional.
"If I could sum this up into one word, it's 'surreal.' As an athlete, I always believed in myself that I would have an opportunity but for it to actually be here and to be working out in front of scouts is surreal. This is a blessing. If I'm fortunate enough to hear my name called the only thing running through my mind will be getting to work.
"
Langley was invited to participate in the Senior Bowl, where an NFC scout told Zierlein one thing became painfully evident. Langley's got a great blend of size and speed, but his coverage technique is rawer than a chunk of frozen chuck roast.
"Personally, I wouldn't kill the guy," the scout said. "They ran like two coverages, and he's still learning how to play after being a receiver. He's got size and speed, and I think he can be coached up to be way better that what you saw in Mobile."
After struggling in press coverage and getting beaten repeatedly in drills in Mobile, Langley badly needed a solid showing in drills at the combine.
He still had ups and downs in the positional drills, but a 4.43-second 40, 22 reps in the bench press and nice shuttle times were just what the doctor ordered.
No one is questioning that Langley is a project type. Frankly, he's the sort of player who is probably headed for a rookie year spent on the practice squad.
But players with this much athletic upside aren't usually available late on Day 3.
If Langley is available, the team that gambles on his potential won't regret it—and not just because, at that point in the draft, they would have nothing to lose.
Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech
10 of 10
It's a great year to be a safety in the NFL draft. LSU's Jamal Adams has a good shot at being the highest-drafted safety since Eric Turner went at No. 2 overall over 25 years ago. Connecticut's Obi Melifonwu (a safety built like a linebacker who runs like a corner) is shooting up draft boards like a rocket.
Given that, it isn't a huge surprise that Xavier Woods of Louisiana Tech is getting lost in the shuffle a bit.
Woods doesn't have the speed or size of Melifonwu or Adams' pedigree. He ran a rather disappointing 4.54-second 40 at the combine, although he was able to shave that down to 4.46 at Tech's pro day. And at 5'11" and 197 pounds, Woods is on the small side for a strong safety.
Woods told Jim Kleinpeter of the New Orleans Times-Picayune at that pro day that he's eager to show NFL teams he's faster than his timed runs.
"I wanted to run faster," Woods said. "I wanted to show them I have great hips, smooth in my drills, I get in and out of breaks and have great hands. It's also important to be good in the meetings, conversations with coaches."
He also maintained that he's more than capable of adding some weight without losing any of that quickness.
"I'm going to put the weight back on," he said. "I want the NFL to see that I'm not just a middle-field safety, a nickel guy or a box safety. I can play anywhere, and I have the work ethic to do so."
I'm not going to sit here and say that Woods is a prospect on par with those aforementioned first-round safeties. That would be kooky.
But pop in tape of Woods in the secondary, and it won't take long for you to see him make a play.
That's all he did for the Bulldogs.
Three times Woods was a first-team All-Conference USA performer. In 2016, he piled up almost 90 tackles, five interceptions and three sacks.
It's those picks that were Woods' specialty. A former wide receiver, Woods often exhibited superior ball skills in college, snagging 14 interceptions over the past three years.
Woods was something of a gambler in Ruston, and he'll need to play with more discipline if he's to start in the NFL.
But NFL teams are always on the lookout for defensive players with a nose for the football.
Woods has one.
.jpg?w=480 "Bills Broncos Football")
