2017 NFL Draft: Draft Radar Heading into NFL Week 5
It was another wild week in college football. Two heavyweight quarterbacks did not disappoint as Clemson took down Louisville. Deshaun Watson reminded the world his Clemson Tigers are still a top program, and his draft stock could be back on the rise.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has yet another halfback running wild in the Big Ten. The Washington Huskies defense continues to live up to its reputation as it steamrolled Stanford on Friday night.
In the NFL world, the gap in the standings is finally beginning to widen. The last-place teams always need help, and it's time to mock-draft for them. Meanwhile, I took to the road this weekend to watch Notre Dame-Syracuse live at MetLife Stadium for some on-site scouting notes.
Stock Up
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Curtis Samuel, RB, Ohio State
The Buckeyes running back continues to show he is one of the most versatile, do-it-all halfbacks in the nation. He rushed for 68 yards on nine carries while also hauling in seven receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown on Saturday against Rutgers. Samuel is averaging nearly six catches per game and eight yards per carry this year. He doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
After a poor Week 4 performance against Baylor, Rudolph bounced back with a huge game against Texas. His inconsistencies are frustrating, but his big frame (6'5", 235 lbs) and strong arm boost his upside. He finished Saturday 19-of-28 passing for 392 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
As the weeks pass by, Jones is proving to be the next great shutdown corner from Washington. In a blowout win over Stanford on Friday evening, he was not even targeted. At 6'1", he possesses great length to be physical at the line and continues to stay stride-for-stride with whomever he's matched up with. Jones has high-end Round 1 potential.
Stock Down
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Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama
Williams had a fantastic game against Kentucky on Saturday, but his arrest two days earlier will be a giant red flag for NFL franchises. In a deep edge-rusher class, the competition to separate from the pack will be extremely tight. Williams is extremely talented and constantly disruptive on the field; he just needs to minimize the question marks he raises off the gridiron.
Brian Allen, G, Michigan State
It has been an ugly few weeks for Michigan State, which suffered a loss to Indiana on Saturday. While they've received little from the quarterback position, the pass protection has really suffered. Allen, the junior starter, surrendered a sack and three total pressures this weekend. He'll need to be more consistent as a pass-blocker if he plans on declaring for the draft, but his best bet is to return to school for his senior season.
Jalen Hurd, RB, Tennessee
Hurd's embarrassing fumble was obviously the biggest lowlight of his weekend, but the issues run deeper than that. After a 10-carry, 43-yard rushing performance, Hurd is only averaging four yards per carry this season. In a running back class that is as talented as we've seen over the last decade, that is not good enough to enter the top-five conversation.
Eye-Popping Prospect Numbers of the Week
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Alabama edge-rusher Ryan Anderson continued to be a nightmare to deal with in pass protection, registering three quarterback hits and four total pressures in just 17 pass-rushing attempts on Saturday against Kentucky.
As previously mentioned, Washington cornerback Sidney Jones was not targeted on Friday night against Stanford. His partner in crime, Husky corner Kevin King, allowed only two catches on three targets for 12 total yards. That's a lights-out duo.
The Wisconsin defense was short-handed against Michigan this weekend, playing without star linebacker Vince Biegel. Even though the Badgers suffered a close loss, linebacker Jack Cichy stepped up by generating two sacks and six total pressures on Saturday.
Myles Garrett deservingly gets the spotlight for the Texas A&M defense, but his counterpart, Daeshon Hall, has put on quite the pass-rushing show as well. With Garrett out on Monday, Hall had two sacks and seven total pressures. At 6'6", 260 pounds, he'll generate a lot of interest next spring.
It had been a slow start to Clemson running back Wayne Gallman's season, but he stepped up in a gigantic win over Louisville. He generated six missed tackles in the run game, which is one more than his entire total in his previous four games.
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Quarterback Spotlight: Clemson's Deshaun Watson
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215 lbs
Class: Junior
Strengths
Watson has the required size, arm talent and playmaking ability every team looks for in a first-round quarterback. He is extremely effective at recognizing the blitz and throwing when the heat is on. He has a 95.5 QB rating when blitzed through five games in 2016 (five touchdowns, one interception). His ability to thrive in the intermediate passing game, especially on the move, is advanced for an underclassman quarterback.
Weaknesses
There is no denying Watson's play has dropped off a bit his junior season. While his supporting cast hasn't helped him (his skill players have dropped 11 passes, and the Tigers line has not performed well), his ball placement has been off more than his sophomore year. As his team has not played as well overall (although still undefeated), he has overcompensated by holding on to the ball long and looking to make the big play.
Outlook and Projection
There will be questions about Watson's transition to the pro game, but I see a Round 1 quarterback who can be molded into a long-term, high-end starter. His ability to bounce through congestion in the pocket is reminiscent of Russell Wilson, and he has plenty of arm talent to succeed as a pocket passer.
On-Site Scouting Notes: Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
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This week, I made my first on-site scouting appearance of the year with a local opportunity as Notre Dame took on Syracuse at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While neither program is having a standout season, there were plenty of prospects to keep an eye on. Here are my key notes from the game.
Syracuse wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo continued his stellar senior season hauling in seven catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. He's gone over 100 receiving yards in all five games this season and even surpassed 200 yards in two of them. His route running, timing and ability to make a play after the catch consistently stood out on Saturday.
The left side of Notre Dame's offensive line has plenty of promise in terms of NFL talent. Tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Quenton Nelson generate a lot of push in the run game and only allowed one quarterback pressure between them on Saturday. In what is certainly a weak offensive tackle class, McGlinchey has a chance to be selected in the first round.
As expected, the star of the day was Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer. He certainly had a few hiccups (took a bad sack before halftime and an interception), but all of the skills that make him an exciting pro prospect were on display: top-tier arm strength, subtle athleticism while working in and out of the pocket to scan the field, and the ability to pick up key yards with his legs. With 471 passing yards and four total touchdowns, he was the star of a game that featured little from each defense.
Mock-Drafting for Each Last-Place AFC Team
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Miami Dolphins: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
The Dolphins need to add a big, physical cover corner to their secondary. Offseason acquisition Byron Maxwell was benched this week, and they have a huge hole at their top corner spot. Jones is a stud and could help from day one.
Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Yes, this is becoming a bit boring at this point, but can you make a different argument? Myles Garrett might be the best player this draft, but Browns head coach Hue Jackson needs to build the foundation of his offense with a potential franchise quarterback. Kizer has all the tools to be molded into a top-10 signal-caller by Jackson, it's a good fit and reasonable value at what might be the first overall selection.
Indianapolis Colts: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Quarterback Andrew Luck has done everything he can to keep the Colts in games, but they need to develop a power running game as he enters his prime. Getting a running back with star talent such as Fournette would solve a question mark as Frank Gore nears the end of a superb career. Offensive line would be ideal, but the (lack of) value in this class does not add up here.
San Diego Chargers: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
I'm not giving up on Keenan Allen, but with his injury history, the Chargers need to round out their wide receiving corps. Williams might be the best this class has to offer and gives quarterback Philip Rivers a new No. 1 target.
Mock-Drafting for Each Last-Place NFC Team
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Washington Redskins: Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State
The Redskins have to get better up front, and McDowell is a complete defender on the defensive line. His combination of athleticism and relentlessness when rushing the quarterback is exactly what the Redskins need up front, while his ability to play the run will only help.
Detroit Lions: Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida
The Lions need to add attitude to their secondary, and Tabor plays with as much energy as any defender in college football. Pairing Tabor with Darius Slay would put together a shutdown tandem that can help the Lions compete in the always-tough NFC North.
New Orleans Saints: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M
Garrett might just be the draft's best overall player—the biggest question is if the Saints will be bad enough to land him. They need to build a consistent pass rush up front, and Garrett is a one-man wrecking machine. Finding a franchise quarterback to take over for Brees eventually will be a priority, but they aren't expected to have the opportunity to land one of the top two.
Arizona Cardinals: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
The Cardinals, much like the Saints, have to think about quarterback sooner than later. Much like the Saints, though, they aren't expected to be bad enough to be in contention for a top signal-calling prospect. Foster would give Arizona a smashmouth defender for the middle of its defense who possesses excellent sideline-to-sideline speed.
Advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
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