NFL Draft 2016: Underrated Talents That Will Improve Their Stock

Believe it or not, the NFL and scouts around the world are already hard at work on the 2016 NFL draft.

Many started preliminary work before this past week's event in Chicago because of the overkill lead-up to each draft. With more time than usual before each draft nowadays, it's better for teams to start looking ahead than to overthink the whole process and make mistakes in the current class.

To be blunt, the 2016 class is much, much better than 2015 in most spots. There are potential franchise quarterbacks such as Cardale Jones and Christian Hackenberg, there's another deep wideout class and depth all over the defense.

Here's an early look at underrated prospects—from the NFL's standpoint—who are sure to change minds over the course of the next season.

Underrated Talents Sure to Rise

Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh 

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Early mock drafts have Pittsburgh wideout Tyler Boyd all over the place.

There's a consensus already, though, that Auburn's D'haquille Williams, Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell and LSU's Travin Dural are the top of the class.

Those are elite talents, sure, but Boyd has what it takes to pass them all and be the first wideout off the board.

Boyd stands at 6'2" and 190 pounds and is an elite collegiate producer through two seasons:

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	TD
2014	78	1261	16.2	8
2013	85	1174	13.8	7

Forget the production, and realize Boyd has everything the NFL wants. There's room for him to fill in the frame, he touts sure hands and smooth routes, and he can create separation at the line of scrimmage.

There's little doubt Boyd will capture the attention of the globe despite his team, so look for him to ascend rankings in a hurry.

Cody Kessler, QB, USC

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See, USC's Cody Kessler isn't underrated from a collegiate standpoint, but as a pro prospect he's missing a few ingredients.

Some he can't help. He's only 6'1" and 210 pounds, although the NFL is willing to overlook a lack of height if the talent is there. It is, but as CBSSports.com's Rob Rang writes, he "struggles to push the ball downfield on throws longer than 15 yards. Many of his passes are underneath routes or dump-offs to running backs."

As NFL.com's Bryan Fischer notes, recent trends aren't great, either:

Now for the good news. Kessler is a proven producer one year removed from throwing for 3,826 yards and 39 scores to five picks on a 69.7 completion percentage. Arm strength is something he can improve before the draft, too.

Another year of development under coach Steve Sarkisian will help Kessler's stock in a big way, too.

Names such as Jones, Hackenberg and Connor Cook dominate the 2016 class, but Kessler can put himself in the conversation with another strong year showcasing he's ironing out weaknesses.

Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia

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If Keith Marshall can stay healthy, the 2016 running back class had better watch out. 

Right now, 2016 chatter centers on Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott and Alabama's Derrick Henry, as it should.

But Marshall is a prototypical pro running back if he can just stay healthy. He only appeared in five games in 2013 before a torn ACL and then just three games in 2014.

Free from the shadow of Todd Gurley, Marshall can put medical concerns behind him and force the NFL to look his way with a full season of work. Back in 2012 as a freshman, he offered a brief sampling and exploded for 759 yards and eight scores on just 117 carries, good for a 6.5 per-carry average.

Listed at 5'11" and 212 pounds, Marshall can bruise between the tackles, but his elite vision and speed make him a home run threat, too.

While Nick Chubb stands to steal some playing time next season, it's clear Marshall doesn't need a full workload to make an impression.

Su'a Cravens, S, USC

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Things are rough for the safety position in the NFL right now, and it doesn't help Alabama's Landon Collins just fell to the second round. 

Su'a Cravens may tout the talent and versatility to turn the tide, though. He's a linebacker-safety hybrid who can play all over the field, and it's hard to imagine the globe has seen anything close to his best.

Standing at 6'1" and 225 pounds, there's a big role in the NFL for Cravens if he puts together a strong season and plays better in coverage. He's great against the run, sets the tone for the defense and can blitz well, but he's not an adept center fielder just yet.

The mold is there for Cravens to break into the first round, though, which would be a breakthrough for traditional safeties at this point.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.