2017 NFL Draft Big Board: Matt Miller's Updated Rankings

There are 460 players in my 2017 NFL draft database, including some underclassmen who may not declare and a lot of senior starters who will ultimately be deemed unworthy of the NFL. The job of narrowing down those 460 from the 750 players I started with has taken months. Now it's all about finding the top 300 prospects and getting them ranked in the right tiers. 

That's what this Big Board update is: putting players in the correct grouping and then breaking ties over the next four months as more information comes out.

Scouting is done in-season and with the advantage of viewing tape over multiple weeks if you want the best results. But when you're a one-man show, you do as much as you can and then catch up over the next five months. Because of that inevitable delay, these rankings will change; in some cases, dramatically. A good example of that is having D.J. Humphries as a late-rounder at this time two years ago before watching five to six more games and realizing he was a late first-rounder. 

A snapshot look at this class shows strength at running back, tight end, edge-rusher, cornerback and safety. That's bad news for many of the teams at the top of the draft (Cleveland, San Francisco, Chicago) needing help at quarterback or the Jacksonvilles of the world that badly need a left tackle.

A quarterback could still go No. 1 overall due to need, but you won't find one inside my top five, despite four making the top 40.

Top 50 Overall Players

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Here are the top 50 players for the 2017 NFL draft.

2017 Top 50 Players

Rank	Player	School	Pos.
1	Myles Garrett	Texas A&M	EDGE
2	Leonard Fournette	LSU	RB
3	Jonathan Allen	Alabama	DL
4	Jamal Adams	LSU	S
5	Reuben Foster	Alabama	LB
6	Tim Williams	Alabama	EDGE
7	Mike Williams	Clemson	WR
8	Dalvin Cook	FSU	RB
9	Mitch Trubisky	UNC	QB
10	Jabrill Peppers	Michigan	S
11	Quincy Wilson	Florida	CB
12	Corey Davis	Western Michigan	WR
13	Derek Barnett	Tennessee	EDGE
14	Gareon Conley	Ohio State	CB
15	O.J. Howard	Alabama	TE
16	Takkarist McKinley	UCLA	EDGE
17	John Ross	Washington	WR
18	Christian McCaffrey	Stanford	RB
19	Montravius Adams	Auburn	DL
20	Caleb Brantley	Florida	DL
21	Jalen Tabor	Florida	CB
22	Zach Cunningham	Vanderbilt	LB
23	Taco Charlton	Michigan	DL
24	D'Onta Foreman	Texas	RB
25	Marshon Lattimore	Ohio State	CB
26	Sidney Jones	Washington	CB
27	DeShone Kizer	Notre Dame	QB
28	Deshaun Watson	Clemson	QB
29	Jake Butt	Michigan	TE
30	Ryan Ramczyk	Wisconsin	T
31	Ryan Anderson	Alabama	EDGE
32	Bucky Hodges	Virginia Tech	TE
33	Charles Harris	Missouri	EDGE
34	Carl Lawson	Auburn	EDGE
35	Dawuane Smoot	Illinois	EDGE
36	Malik McDowell	Michigan State	DL
37	Dan Feeney	Indiana	OG
38	Brad Kaaya	Miami (Fla.)	QB
39	DeMarcus Walker	FSU	EDGE
40	Cam Robinson	Alabama	T
41	Justin Evans	Texas A&M	S
42	Desmond King	Iowa	CB
43	Cordrea Tankersley	Clemson	CB
44	Jarrad Davis	Florida	LB
45	Solomon Thomas	Stanford	EDGE
46	Marlon Humphrey	Alabama	CB
47	Raekwon McMillan	Ohio State	LB
48	JuJu Smith-Schuster	USC	WR
49	Jourdan Lewis	Michigan	CB
50	Budda Baker	Washington	S

Quarterbacks

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina

Biggest Faller: Chad Kelly, Ole Miss

Most NFL-Ready: Deshaun Watson, Clemson

Best Arm: Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech

Best Runner: Watson

Best Potential: DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame

Biggest Question Mark: Trubisky (inexperience)

Biggest Sleeper: Davis Webb, California

2017 Quarterback Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Mitch Trubisky	UNC
2	DeShone Kizer	Notre Dame
3	Deshaun Watson	Clemson
4	Brad Kaaya	Miami (Fla.)
5	Luke Falk	Washington State
6	Patrick Mahomes	Texas Tech
7	Davis Webb	California
8	Mason Rudolph	Oklahoma State
9	C.J. Beathard	Iowa
10	Cooper Rush	Central Michigan
11	Seth Russell	Baylor
12	Brady Gustafson	Montana
13	Mitch Leidner	Minnesota
14	Trevor Knight	Texas A&M
15	Chad Kelly	Ole Miss
16	Wes Lunt	Illinois
17	Joshua Dobbs	Tennessee

Running Backs

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Jamaal Williams, BYU

Biggest Faller: Corey Clement, Wisconsin

Most NFL-Ready: Leonard Fournette, LSU

Best Third-Down Back: Dalvin Cook, Florida State

Best Speed: Khalfani Muhammad, California

Best Power: Fournette

Best Potential: Fournette

Biggest Question Mark: Nick Chubb, Georgia

Biggest Sleeper: Brian Hill, Wyoming

2017 Running Back Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Leonard Fournette	LSU
2	Dalvin Cook	Florida State
3	Christian McCaffrey	Stanford
4	D'Onta Foreman	Texas
5	Joe Mixon	Oklahoma
6	Alvin Kamara	Tennessee
7	Jamaal Williams	BYU
8	Royce Freeman	Oregon
9	Nick Chubb	Georgia
10	Wayne Gallman	Clemson
11	Jeremy McNichols	Boise State
12	Samaje Perine	Oklahoma
13	Tarean Folston	Notre Dame
14	Corey Clement	Wisconsin
15	Donnel Pumphrey	SDSU
16	Elijah Hood	UNC
17	Kareem Hunt	Toledo
18	Joe Williams	Utah
19	Marlon Mack	South Florida
20	Brian Hill	Wyoming
21	Elijah McGuire	UL Lafayette
22	De'Veon Smith	Michigan
23	Matthew Dayes	NC State
24	Jahad Thomas	Temple
25	De'Angelo Henderson	Coastal Carolina
26	Justin Davis	USC

Wide Receivers

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Corey Davis, Western Michigan

Biggest Faller: Travin Dural, LSU

Most NFL-Ready: Mike Williams, Clemson

Best Boundary Receiver: Williams

Best Slot Receiver: John Ross, Washington

Best Hands: Zay Jones, East Carolina

Best Route-Runner: Davis

Best Potential: Davis

Biggest Question Mark: JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC (scheme)

Biggest Sleeper: Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington

2017 Wide Receiver Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Mike Williams	Clemson
2	Corey Davis	Western Michigan
3	John Ross	Washington
4	JuJu Smith-Schuster	USC
5	Dede Westbrook	Oklahoma
6	Isaiah Ford	Virginia Tech
7	Zay Jones	East Carolina
8	Jehu Chesson	Michigan
9	Amara Darboh	Michigan
10	Amba Etta-Tawo	Syracuse
11	Cooper Kupp	Eastern Washington
12	James Washington	Oklahoma State
13	Artavis Scott	Clemson
14	Fred Ross	Miss. State
15	Ryan Switzer	UNC
16	Travis Rudolph	FSU
17	Malachi Dupre	LSU
18	Darren Carrington II	Oregon
19	Stacy Coley	Miami (Fla.)
20	Trent Taylor	Louisiana Tech
21	James Quick	Louisville
22	Travin Dural	LSU
23	Damore'ea Stringfellow	Ole Miss
24	Taywan Taylor	Western Kentucky
25	Josh Reynolds	Texas A&M
26	Corey Smith	Ohio State
27	Billy Brown	Shepherd
28	Quincy Adeboyejo	Ole Miss
29	Kenny Golladay	Northern Illinois
30	Gabe Marks	Washington State
31	Zach Pascal	Old Dominion
32	Devonte Boyd	UNLV
33	Mack Hollins	UNC

Tight Ends

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: O.J. Howard, Alabama

Biggest Faller: Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas

Most NFL-Ready: Howard

Best Slot Tight End: Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech

Best Hands: Howard

Best Route-Runner: Hodges

Best Blocker: George Kittle, Iowa

Best Power: Jake Butt, Michigan

Biggest Question Mark: Gerald Everett, South Alabama

Biggest Sleeper: Cole Hikutini, Louisville

2017 Tight End Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	O.J. Howard	Alabama
2	Jake Butt	Michigan
3	Bucky Hodges	Virginia Tech
4	Evan Engram	Ole Miss
5	Jordan Leggett	Clemson
6	Cole Hikutini	Louisville
7	Jeremy Sprinkle	Arkansas
8	Gerald Everett	South Alabama
9	Blake Jarwin	Oklahoma State
10	Pharaoh Brown	Oregon
11	Josiah Price	Michigan State
12	Darrell Daniels	Washington
13	George Kittle	Iowa
14	Phazahn Odom	Fordham
15	Eric Saubert	Drake
16	Barrett Burns	Appalachian State
17	Jonnu Smith	Florida International

Offensive Tackles

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin

Biggest Faller: None

Most NFL-Ready: Ramczyk

Best Run-Blocker: Cam Robinson, Alabama

Best Pass-Blocker: Ramczyk

Best Potential: Ramczyk

Biggest Question Mark: Roderick Johnson, FSU

Biggest Sleeper: Taylor Moton, Western Michigan

2017 Offensive Tackle Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Ryan Ramczyk	Wisconsin
2	Cam Robinson	Alabama
3	Erik Magnuson	Michigan
4	Roderick Johnson	FSU
5	Chad Wheeler	USC
6	Adam Bisnowaty	Pitt
7	Taylor Moton	Western Michigan
8	Conor McDermott	UCLA
9	Avery Gennesy	Texas A&M
10	Dion Dawkins	Temple
11	Julie'n Davenport	Bucknell
12	J.J. Dielman	Utah
13	Dan Skipper	Arkansas
14	Jon Heck	North Carolina
15	Jonah Pirsig	Minnesota
16	Clint Van Horn	Marshall
17	Levon Myers	Northern Illinois
18	Cole Croston	Iowa
19	Andreas Knappe	Connecticut
20	Kent Perkins	Texas

Offensive Guards

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky

Biggest Faller: None

Most NFL-Ready: Dan Feeney, Indiana

Best Run-Blocker: Billy Price, Ohio State

Best Pass-Blocker: Feeney 

Best Potential: Feeney

Biggest Question Mark: Zach Banner, USC

Biggest Sleeper: Dorian Johnson, Pitt

2017 Offensive Guard Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Dan Feeney	Indiana
2	Quenton Nelson	Notre Dame
3	Forrest Lamp	Western Kentucky
4	Billy Price	Ohio State
5	Dorian Johnson	Pitt
6	Zach Banner	USC
7	Tyrone Crowder	Clemson
8	Johnny Caspers	Stanford
9	Damien Mama	USC
10	Nico Siragusa	SDSU
11	Greg Pyke	Georgia
12	Sean Harlow	Oregon State
13	Isaac Asiata	Utah
14	Jessamen Dunker	Tennessee State
15	Caleb Peterson	North Carolina
16	Kyle Kalis	Michigan
17	Danny Isidora	Miami (Fla.)
18	Cameron Lee	Illinois State
19	Chase Roullier	Wyoming

Centers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Most NFL-Ready: Ethan Pocic, LSU

Best Run-Blocker: Mason Cole, Michigan

Best Pass-Blocker: Pat Elflein, Ohio State 

Best Potential: Cole

Biggest Question Mark: Deyshawn Bond, Cincinnati

Biggest Sleeper: Tyler Orlosky, West Virginia

2017 Center Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Ethan Pocic	LSU
2	Pat Elflein	Ohio State
3	Mason Cole	Michigan
4	Tyler Orlosky	West Virginia
5	Kyle Fuller	Baylor
6	Deyshawn Bond	Cincinnati
7	Jon Toth	Kentucky
8	Cameron Tom	Southern Miss.
9	Lucas Crowley	North Carolina
10	Jay Guillermo	Clemson

Defensive Linemen

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Montravius Adams, Auburn

Biggest Faller: Charles Walker, Oklahoma

Most NFL-Ready: Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Best Run-Stopper: Allen

Best Nose Tackle: Elijah Qualls, Washington

Best 3-4 Defensive End: Allen

Best 3-Technique: Allen

Best Pass-Rusher: Allen

Best Potential: Malik McDowell, Michigan State

Biggest Question Mark: McDowell (effort)

Biggest Sleeper: Eddie Vanderdoes, UCLA

2017 Defensive Linemen Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Jonathan Allen	Alabama
2	Montravius Adams	Auburn
3	Caleb Brantley	Florida
4	Taco Charlton	Michigan
5	Malik McDowell	Michigan State
6	Vita Vea	Washington
7	Chris Wormley	Michigan
8	Elijah Qualls	Washington
9	Lowell Lotulelei	Utah
10	Carlos Watkins	Clemson
11	Charles Walker	Oklahoma
12	Jarron Jones	Notre Dame
13	Davon Godchaux	LSU
14	Jake Replogle	Purdue
15	Eddie Vanderdoes	UCLA
16	Jaleel Johnson	Iowa
17	Ryan Glasgow	Michigan
18	Derrick Nnadi	FSU
19	Larry Ogunjobi	Charlotte
20	D.J. Jones	Ole Miss
21	DeAngelo Brown	Louisville
22	Isaac Rochell	Notre Dame
23	Ralph Green III	Indiana
24	Tanoh Kpassagnon	Villanova
25	Tanzel Smart	Tulane
26	Treyvon Hester	Toledo
27	Chunky Clements	Illinois
28	Dalvin Tomlinson	Alabama
29	Josh Tupou	Colorado
30	Devaroe Lawrence	Auburn

Edge-Rushers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Tim Williams, Alabama

Biggest Faller: Dawuane Smoot, Illinois

Most NFL-Ready: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

Best Run-Stopper: Jordan Willis, Kansas State

Best 4-3 Defensive End: Garrett

Best 3-4 Outside Linebacker: Williams

Best Pass-Rusher: Garrett

Best Potential: Garrett

Biggest Question Mark: Carl Lawson, Auburn (health)

Biggest Sleeper: Jordan Willis, Kansas State

2017 Edge-Defender Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Myles Garrett	Texas A&M
2	Tim Williams	Alabama
3	Derek Barnett	Tennessee
4	Takkarist McKinley	UCLA
5	Ryan Anderson	Alabama
6	Charles Harris	Missouri
7	Carl Lawson	Auburn
8	Dawuane Smoot	Illinois
9	DeMarcus Walker	FSU
10	Solomon Thomas	Stanford
11	Devonte Fields	Louisville
12	Marquis Haynes	Ole Miss
13	Daeshon Hall	Texas A&M
14	Ejuan Price	Pittsburgh
15	Bryan Cox	Florida
16	Jordan Willis	Kansas State
17	Davin Bellamy	Georgia
18	Matt Milano	Boston College
19	Josh Carraway	TCU
20	Keionta Davis	Chattanooga
21	Dylan Cole	Missouri State
22	Joe Mathis	Washington
23	Derek Rivers	Youngstown State
24	James Onwualu	Notre Dame
25	Deatrich Wise Jr.	Arkansas
26	Tyus Bowser	Houston
27	Calvin Munson	San Diego State
30	Psalm Wooching	Washington
31	Noble Nwachukwu	West Virginia
32	Torrodney Prevot	Oregon
33	Lewis Neal	LSU
34	Joshua Posley	Ball State
35	Paul Magloire Jr.	Arizona
36	Deon Hollins	UCLA
37	Tarell Basham	Ohio
38	Kylie Fitts	Utah
39	Jordan Burton	Oklahoma State
40	Brandon Bell	Penn State
41	Ken Ekanem	Virginia Tech

Linebackers

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt

Biggest Faller: None

Most NFL-Ready: Reuben Foster, Alabama

Best Weak-Side Linebacker: Cunningham

Best Strong-Side Linebacker: Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State

Best Inside Linebacker: Foster

Best Run-Stopper: Foster

Best Pass-Rusher: Foster

Best Pass Coverage: Cunningham

Best Potential: Cunningham

Biggest Question Mark: Haason Reddick, Temple (size)

Biggest Sleeper: Duke Riley, LSU

2017 Linebacker Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Reuben Foster	Alabama
2	Zach Cunningham	Vanderbilt
3	Jarrad Davis	Florida
4	Raekwon McMillan	Ohio State
5	Anthony Walker Jr.	Northwestern
6	Haason Reddick	Temple
7	Jalen Reeves-Maybin	Tennessee
8	Vince Biegel	Wisconsin
9	Kendell Beckwith	LSU
10	Steven Taylor	Houston
11	Duke Riley	LSU
12	Nyeem Wartman-White	Penn State
13	Keith Kelsey	Louisville
14	Hardy Nickerson	Illinois
15	Riley Bullough	Michigan State
16	Tanner Vallejo	Boise State
17	Ben Boulware	Clemson
18	Connor Harris	Lindenwood
19	Kevin Davis	Colorado State

Cornerbacks

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Kevin King, Washington

Biggest Faller: Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma

Most NFL-Ready: Quincy Wilson, Florida

Best Slot Cornerback: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan

Best Man Coverage: Wilson

Best Zone Coverage: Desmond King, Iowa

Best Potential: Wilson

Biggest Question Mark: Adoree' Jackson, USC

Biggest Sleeper: Kevin King, Washington

2017 Cornerback Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Quincy Wilson	Florida
2	Gareon Conley	Ohio State
3	Jalen Tabor	Florida
4	Marshon Lattimore	Ohio State
5	Sidney Jones	Washington
6	Desmond King	Iowa
7	Cordrea Tankersley	Clemson
8	Marlon Humphrey	Alabama
9	Jourdan Lewis	Michigan
10	Corn Elder	Miami (Fla.)
11	Cameron Sutton	Tennessee
12	Adoree' Jackson	USC
13	Chidobe Awuzie	Colorado
14	Tre'Davious White	LSU
15	Rasul Douglas	West Virginia
16	Kevin King	Washington
17	Marquez White	FSU
18	Brandon Facyson	Virginia Tech
19	Jordan Thomas	Oklahoma
20	Cole Luke	Notre Dame
21	Ed Paris	LSU
22	Damontae Kazee	San Diego State
23	Channing Stribling	Michigan
24	Fabian Moreau	UCLA
25	Jalen Myrick	Minnesota
26	Des Lawrence	North Carolina
27	Jeremy Cutrer	Middle Tennessee
28	Ashton Lampkin	Oklahoma State
29	William Likely III	Maryland
30	Brendan Langley	Lamar (Texas)
31	Breon Borders	Duke
32	Brad Watson	Wake Forest
33	Ahkello Witherspoon	Colorado
34	Jack Tocho	NC State
35	Greg Mabin	Iowa
36	Treston Decoud	Oregon State
37	Sojourn Shelton	Wisconsin

Safeties

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Biggest Riser: Budda Baker, Washington

Most NFL-Ready: Jamal Adams, LSU

Best Coverage: Justin Evans, Texas A&M

Best Strong Safety: Adams

Best Free Safety: Evans

Best Hybrid Defender: Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Best Run-Stopper: Adams

Best Potential: Peppers

Biggest Question Mark: Eddie Jackson, Alabama (injury)

Biggest Sleeper: Tedric Thompson, Colorado

2017 Safety Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Jamal Adams	LSU
2	Jabrill Peppers	Michigan
3	Justin Evans	Texas A&M
4	Budda Baker	Washington
5	Marcus Allen	Penn State
6	Marcus Williams	Utah
7	Marcus Maye	Florida
8	Armani Watts	Texas A&M
9	Eddie Jackson	Alabama
10	Josh Harvey-Clemons	Louisville
11	Quin Blanding	Virginia
12	Lorenzo Jerome	Saint Francis (Pa.)
13	Tedric Thompson	Colorado
14	Johnathan Ford	Auburn
15	David Jones	Richmond
16	Tony Conner	Ole Miss
17	Nathan Gerry	Nebraska
18	John Johnson	Boston College
19	Xavier Woods	Louisiana Tech
20	Randall Goforth	UCLA
21	Demetrious Cox	Michigan State
22	Ahmad Thomas	Oklahoma
23	Dominick Sanders	Georgia
24	Nate Andrews	Florida State
25	Weston Steelhammer	Air Force
26	Orion Stewart	Baylor
27	Rayshawn Jenkins	Miami (Fla.)
28	Damarius Travis	Minnesota
29	Quincy Mauger	Georgia