NFL Draft 2017: Updated Selection Order and Prospects to Watch in 1st Round

As we draw closer to the start of the 2017 NFL draft, we're beginning to get a better idea about which prospects are legitimate first-round candidates.

Players like Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas seem to be obvious early Round 1 targets. However, there are plenty of questions surrounding prospects who could go later on opening night. How early will quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky go? When will the first offensive lineman hear his name called? Who will it be? Which team is going to pull the trigger on Leonard Fournette?

The answers to questions like these could heavily impact the way the rest of the opening round unfolds. A run on quarterbacks or running backs in the opening round could, for example, leave a lot of defensive talent on the board for Round 2. This, in turn, could prompt some teams to grab a different position in the first round while hoping a quality edge-rusher or defensive back is available later.

With all of this in mind, let's take a look at some players who will be worth watching and how they might alter the first round of the draft. We'll also run down the current draft order.

2017 NFL Draft Order

Pick	NFL Team
1	Cleveland Browns
2	San Francisco 49ers
3	Chicago Bears
4	Jacksonville Jaguars
5	Tennessee Titans (from LAR)
6	New York Jets
7	Los Angeles Chargers
8	Carolina Panthers
9	Cincinnati Bengals
10	Buffalo Bills
11	New Orleans Saints
12	Cleveland Browns (from PHI)
13	Arizona Cardinals
14	Philadelphia Eagles (from MIN)
15	Indianapolis Colts
16	Baltimore Ravens
17	Washington Redskins
18	Tennessee Titans
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20	Denver Broncos
21	Detroit Lions
22	Miami Dolphins
23	New York Giants
24	Oakland Raiders
52	Houston Texans
26	Seattle Seahawks
27	Kansas City Chiefs
28	Dallas Cowboys
29	Green Bay Packers
30	Pittsburgh Steelers
31	Atlanta Falcons
32	New Orleans Saints (form NE)

Prospects to Watch

Jamal Adams, S, LSU

Former LSU safety Jamal Adams is likely to hear his name called pretty early on opening night. Just how early he goes could impact a draft that is deep with pass-rush and cornerback talent but not quite as deep at the safety position.

Adams and Ohio State product Malik Hooker are considered the top two safeties in the draft. They might end up as the only two safeties to go in the opening round, though Michigan hybrid safety-linebacker Jabrill Peppers is also in the conversation.

If Adams goes in the first few picks, it could cause a team to trade up for Hooker or Peppers. It could also push down talented cornerbacks, edge defenders and skill-position players. With Adams' stock rising, there's a chance he does go early.

At 6'1" and 213 pounds, Adams has plenty of size for the position, and while some view him only as a box safety, Adams' athleticism suggests otherwise. He showed off that athleticism at LSU's pro day:

"

The final numbers for Jamal Adams from LSU Pro Day pic.twitter.com/s251mKgNsz

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 5, 2017"

With 4.33 speed, Adams has more than enough quickness to drop into coverage and chase the ball-carrier with equal success. A team drafting him could use him in a manner similar to the way the Pittsburgh Steelers used longtime safety Troy Polamalu.

This isn't to suggest that Adams will be another Polamalu, but to suggest the type of impact he could have. Would a team draft that kind of impact early? Absolutely.

Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Adams' former teammate Leonard Fournette is easily one of the most intriguing offensive prospects in this draft. While he appears to be a one-dimensional player—meaning he is a ball-carrier, not a receiver or returner—he is extremely good at what he does.

What Fournette does is inflict pain on opposing defenses while chowing down yards on the ground. Injuries limited him to just 129 carries in 2016, but he still managed to average 6.5 yards per carry on the season. In 2015, Fournette rushed for 1,953 yards.

"Fournette is special. He is an old-school runner with strength and power," one NFC scout told NFL Media's Bucky Brooks. "He runs through contact but also shows exceptional balance. Defenders have a tough time knocking him off his pins. ... I think he is the perfect grinder to feature in a power offense."

Fournette looks to be a slam-dunk selection for a team looking for a hard-nosed runner. Teams seeking a more versatile back, though, could prefer Stanford's Christian McCaffrey or Florida State's Dalvin Cook, though.

It will be worth watching Fournette to see just how early in the draft he goes and if he is indeed the first back off the board. If he is drafted, say, in the top five, he might raise the demand for McCaffrey and Cook and might possibly even drive another back into the first round.

Jabrill Peppers

We mentioned Peppers earlier as a potential option for teams needing safety help. However, Peppers could also be an option for teams looking to add a linebacker. This is because Peppers was a hybrid defender at Michigan—he also returned kicks and played on offense—who never seemed to spend extensive time at one defined position.

Peppers is interesting for the first round because his stock largely depends on how teams view him. He should hold more value as a safety, but how many teams believe he can have early success at the position?

"He's so versatile, you have to make your decisions," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said of Peppers, per Bleacher Report's Doug Farrar. "Some teams will look at him differently than others."

If there are enough concerns about Peppers' ability to play a defined role—or about his one career interception—he could be pushed to the bottom of the first round or even out of it entirely. If, however, teams view him as a safe bet at safety, he could be taken higher.

A lot will depend on how early Adams and Hooker go in the draft, particularly Adams. Hooker projects as more of a free safety.

It's not crazy to think a team could pull the trigger on Peppers within the first 15 picks—especially if that team desperately wanted Adams and traded down once he was off the board.