2017 NFL Draft: Draft Radar Heading into NFL Week 4

We are officially four weeks into the college football season, and plenty of NFL prospects have made their case as potential high selections for next spring's draft. 

After a relatively slow start by his standards, Florida State's Dalvin Cook put on a show against South Florida. Meanwhile in Virginia Tech, a speedy wideout continues to be the model of consistency that many teams at the next level are searching for.

Florida came out hot in Tennessee, but an awful second half was a huge opportunity for the Volunteers defense to make their case as an NFL talent pool (hello, Derek Barnett). 

Meanwhile, the talent gap is starting to get a bit wider. Some teams are off to disappointing 0-3 starts, while others look as if they need little help from this upcoming class. Let's break down the best of the week.

Stock Up

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Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

The Dalvin Cook the nation has been expecting showed up Saturday against South Florida, slicing and dicing his way to 267 rushing yards on 28 carries with two touchdowns. He also displayed excellent receiving ability, hauling in four catches for 62 yards.

The key for him is proving to the NFL he can create on his own, as he showed Saturday by forcing eight missed tackles. If Cook can stay healthy, he’ll be one of the first three running backs selected in what is a superb class. 

Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech

The speedy Ford had another weekend of showing off his big-play ability with a 45-yard grab and another 24-yard grab that went for a touchdown.

He’s compiled over 375 receiving yards in four games this year with four touchdowns, displaying a model of consistency that many in this 2017 receiving class have not. If he can maintain that pace, he has a good chance of being one of the first receivers off the board next spring.

Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

In one of Tennessee’s bigger wins in recent memory, Barnett was a star when it mattered most. He had two sacks in a huge second-half comeback for the Volunteers, displaying that consistent pass-rush force he was expected to be.

He’s in a battle with a good edge class and needs to make as much noise as possible. His performance against Florida is a great start to stay with the pack in this draft class. He now has 20 total quarterback pressures through four games in 2016.

Stock Down

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LSU’s WR Tandem of Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural 

Yes, the ending to Saturday’s game was heartbreaking for LSU. Even if the refs had upheld the touchdown, the two wide receivers on LSU’s offense have not helped themselves at all four games into the 2016 season.

There were big expectations for Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural, but on top of the Tigers’ quarterback issues, each player has struggled to make big plays. Neither has reached 60 receiving yards in a game this season, and together they’ve combined for one total touchdown.

Adoree' Jackson, CB/KR, USC

USC do-it-all athlete Adoree' Jackson is electric on the field (as seen on his 100-yard kick return Friday night), but he has a lot of work to do as a cornerback. He surrendered eight catches on 13 targets for 121 yards and a touchdown versus Utah this weekend.

Jackson is a premier athlete in college football, but his lack of size (5'11", 185 lbs) and technique will have the NFL concerned about his ability to be a starting outside corner at the next level. The question might turn from "can he develop as a defensive back?" to "should we make him a full-time wide receiver?" 

Mitch Leidner, QB, Minnesota

Coming into this season, Mitch Leidner had preseason hype as a potential first-round selection next spring. Unfortunately for the senior quarterback, none of his tape through four games suggests he’s deserving of that praise.

Minnesota pulled off a close win over Colorado State on Saturday, but it was another unimpressive performance from Leidner. He went 16-of-20 but threw for only 174 yards (an average of 7.6 yards per attempt), zero touchdowns and one interception.

He has the size (6'4", 230 lbs) and raw tools to develop at the next level, but like much of this senior quarterback class, he’s an underwhelming NFL prospect.

Eye-Popping Prospect Numbers from Week 4

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Washington cornerback Sidney Jones was targeted two times Saturday evening in the Huskies’ overtime win against Arizona. On those two targets, the star corner allowed only one catch for eight yards. He continues to be lights out in 2016.

Wisconsin’s defense demolished Michigan State this weekend, and much of that was thanks to linebacker Vince Biegel. The 6'4", 245-pound senior had 12 total quarterback pressures on just 28 pass-rush attempts. That’s jaw-dropping production, as he was getting in the pocket on nearly half of his attempts. 

He’s not draft-eligible, but Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson has been too good to overlook in this week’s draft radar. Through just four games, he’s totaled 25 touchdowns on his own this year.

Missouri edge-rusher Charles Harris had only 16 pass-rush attempts this weekend, but he still tallied five quarterback pressures. That’s now 13 in the past two games (including three sacks), helping him join the impressive group of pass-rushers in the 2017 class.

The Great Debate: Will Any Team Pass on Myles Garrett to Take a Quarterback?

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Texas A&M pass-rusher Myles Garrett has been a terror since stepping on the field for the Aggies. After accumulating double-digit sack totals in each of his first two seasons, he’s off to an incredible start in 2016 with three sacks and 26 total quarterback pressures in four games.

Keep in mind Garrett is tallying that kind of production while facing consistent double- and triple-teams. At 6'5", 270 pounds with plenty of speed and power, the junior is the prototype as an NFL pass-rusher. So how can any NFL team pass on him if given the opportunity to add him to the front seven?

Similar to last year, even if the top quarterback is not the best player in the draft, at least one team will try to climb to the top to have a chance at bagging a potential franchise signal-caller.

Keep in mind that the Cleveland Browns, who seem to be the favorites for the No. 1 selection, will need a quarterback to develop long term under Hue Jackson. DeShone Kizer would make a lot of sense there, but passing up on Garrett will be hard for any franchise.

Dream Fits: Pairing Prospects with Their Best NFL Landing Spot

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Deshaun Watson to the 49ers with Chip Kelly

San Francisco 49ers fans deserve better than the Blaine Gabbert show, and that change needs to happen as soon as possible. It will be interesting to see if Collin Kaepernick gets on the field this season, but his future is unclear, as his guaranteed money decreases in 2017, per Spotrac.

Deshaun Watson has struggled this year, but he has plenty of arm talent and above-average mobility that can help him excel under Kelly. With a running game already in place in San Francisco powered by Carlos Hyde, this could be a good match for all parties involved.

Christian McCaffrey to the Jets with Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey

The New York Jets had a miserable offensive performance in Kansas City this weekend in large part due to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, but they still need to add speed to their offense. McCaffrey is much more than a running back, as he splits out wide and is also a superb returner.

It’s hard to imagine the Jets being bad enough to be in position to land one of the top quarterbacks, but getting younger and faster on offense by drafting McCaffrey is a great consolation prize.

Marlon Humphrey to the Raiders with Jack Del Rio

The Oakland Raiders finally got the performance they were looking for from their defense this weekend against the Tennessee Titans, but they still need to solidify their secondary. The Sean Smith signing has not panned out as they expected so far (it’s still early), and adding a physical, ball-hawking corner would be a huge get for them.

Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey has great size (6'1", 198 lbs) and man-coverage ability. He’s only a redshirt sophomore, but if he declares, he’ll be one of the first corners taken and for good reason: He’s a superb talent.

Underclassman Phenom of the Week: Penn State RB Saquon Barkley

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Height: 5'11"
Weight: 223 pounds
Class: Sophomore

It has been a miserable year for Penn State football under head coach James Franklin, but one bright spot continues to be sophomore running back Saquon Barkley. It was hard for the Nittany Lions to get anything going this weekend against Michigan, but he still compiled 136 yards from scrimmage.

The young star now has 317 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns this season through four games, coming off a freshman year when he totaled 1,076 rushing yards on just 182 attempts (5.9 yards per carry). 

Barkley's blend of power, speed, vision and great feet will have him in the conversation as the top running back prospect in the 2018 class. He's the rare three-down halfback who would rarely have to come off the field and looks to be a future NFL workhorse. 

Stacking a Historic Running Back Class

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It's no secret the 2017 running back class has a chance to be the best of this last decade. While there is plenty of time for players to stand out from the pack, how does it stack up right now? Here's how I have it:

1. Leonard Fournette, LSU: Fournette's power is rare and allows him to create something out of nothing on any given play. He's playing in an LSU offense that has struggled to get anything going in the passing attack, allowing opposing defenses to sell out on the run game. He's still put up 386 rushing yards on 67 attempts, which is good for 5.8 yards per carry. Last season he averaged 6.5 yards per carry for nearly 2,000 yards.

2. Dalvin Cook, FSU: As previously mentioned, Cook finally had the game of the 2016 season everyone had been waiting for. When he gets into the open field, he can make people miss and turn on a special gear. That big-play ability is rare and always coveted at the next level.

3. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford: McCaffrey has better size than often credited for at 6'0", 205 pounds, but his versatility is what will make him a dynamite weapon in the NFL. Offenses that prefer to spread personnel out and get the running back heavily involved in the passing game will be all over this Heisman contender.

4. Nick Chubb, Georgia: Chubb has impressed in his return from a serious knee injury, displaying power and vision well beyond his years. While he seems "far" down this list, he still looks like a first-round prospect as long as he can stay healthy.

5. Royce Freeman, Oregon: Freeman's ability to stay light on his feet is superb for a 230-pound running back. He's been banged up by injuries throughout college, but his talent is undeniable. In a normal running back class, he'd be in the conversation for the top three. Unfortunately, he's been slept on quite a bit this year. 

Honorable mentions: Joe Mixon, Oklahoma; Samaje Perine, Oklahoma; Elijah Hood, North Carolina; Wayne Gallman, Clemson; James Conner, Pittsburgh

Mock Drafting for the 0-3 Teams

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Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

Even though it's only September, this pick is starting to feel like a layup in the mock draft world. Hue Jackson needs to find his franchise quarterback of the future. Until Carson Wentz struggles, the Browns will be mocked all year about passing up on him in the 2016 draft.

The Robert Griffin III experiment looks like a failure, as he can never stay healthy. Kizer has an incredible skill set and will be in an offense in Cleveland with talented playmakers. The franchise needs a foundation in place to build around for the future, and that piece is Kizer.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Jaguars can't be bad enough to land Garrett, right? As of now, although it is quite early, there is a chance. They need more pass-rushing help and, more importantly, the most talented player available. Garrett is a future staple for an NFL front seven whom the opposition will have to game-plan around.

Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

This pick might not seem sexy to Bears fans, but they would be getting a top talent in the senior out of Alabama. Allen is a complete player whose motor always runs high while getting after the quarterback, and he's also a building block whom opposing offenses run away from. If the Bears aren't bad enough to land a top quarterback or Myles Garrett, it's hard to have any gripes with landing Allen.

Unless otherwise noted, all advanced stats are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.