NFL Draft 2017: Which Players Are Worth Reaching For?

In the NFL draft, "reaches" happen all the time. Each NFL team's draft board is different, with far greater deviations than those who cover the draft in the media. 

Sometimes, NFL teams will draft players whom they know other teams don't value nearly as high as they do. And while they may be able to trade down and secure that player, or wait until the following round to select him, NFL teams at times "reach" for players whom they feel they can't risk missing out on.

These 10 prospects are players that NFL teams may value highly and take earlier than many outside the NFL expect. And while they may not be "reaches" on their eventual drafting team's board, they'll likely draw odd looks and remarks during draft weekend.

These 10 players are sorted in order of where I expect them to be drafted.

David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL)

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Based on his athletic testing and tremendous flashes while at Miami (FL), David Njoku shouldn't be a surprising pick for a team picking in the top 20 overall picks. But he's not quite a finished product, and in one of the better draft classes at pass-rusher, cornerback, safety and running back, it's easy to see why Njoku will likely slide toward the end of the first round.

But Njoku's body type and upside fit the bill of a prospect that teams usually "reach" for. And in a receiver class that doesn't offer any clear offense-shaping talents, Njoku may join O.J. Howard as the first two pass-catchers off the board on draft day.

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

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After months of excitement building his draft stock, Patrick Mahomes has emerged as not only a viable first-round quarterback, but an expected top-20 draft pick. But is a quarterback who won just five games this year and has substantial footwork and scheme-transition question marks worthy of that high of a draft grade?

Yes he is. Mahomes' arm talent is on the same level as Matt Stafford and prime Brett Favre. If there's one skill set NFL teams have shown a persistent desire to reach on, it's arm strength. In a 2017 quarterback class that is far from clear cut, NFL teams may prefer the passer with the elite upside skill set that Mahomes offers.

John Ross, WR, Washington

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After his 4.22 island-deserving 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine, John Ross all but solidified his first-round projection for NFL teams and put him in the top-20 discussion.

A top-ranked receiver before his 40-time, Ross solidified his grade at the NFL combine as a receiver who not only has tremendous open-field ability as a runner, but the speed to be valued just as highly as Will Fuller, a top-25 pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

Ross' injury history, including surgery on both knees and a left ACL injury in 2015, may give teams pause when considering him early in Round 1. But he's shown no signs of lingering injury concerns in 2016, and his 4.22 40 time proves that his top-level speed hasn't wavered at all since his injuries.

Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State

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Despite producing at a high level throughout his college career in the Big 12 and offering an NFL-ready skill set as an edge-rusher, Jordan Willis has had a relatively quiet NFL draft process. Willis didn't enter the Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine with first-round respect as a prospect.

But after an impressive all-star game and an NFL combine performance of nearly identical numbers to Jadeveon Clowney, Willis deserves mid- to late-first-round consideration. He’s a plug-and-play strong-side defensive end with the ideal polish and body type to trust early on as a rookie, and the athletic testing numbers to be a high-level NFL starter in time.

Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU

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In today's NFL, teams have shown a substantial preference toward size and length at the cornerback position. For a sub-6'0" cornerback like Tre'Davious White, he has to be a nearly flawless prospect to earn top-20 consideration in the NFL draft.

Thankfully for White, he’s about as refined and NFL-ready a cornerback prospect as any we've seen in the last few years. Not unlike Vernon Hargreaves in his physicality and ability to take on bigger receivers, White may actually be better than last year's 11th overall pick in terms of timing, anticipation and ball skills against multiple types of receivers.

While he may not go in the top-20 picks this year, he deserves to, and he will make some team in the late-first or early-second round very happy.

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

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Hailing from the Alabama defense known for pumping out quality NFL prospects, Marlon Humphrey has gone under-appreciated this draft season with the rise of both Ohio State cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, and the depth and quality of the 2017 class at the cornerback position.

But despite the struggles of Alabama cornerbacks, like Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner, Humphrey doesn't deserve to be dragged down by recent history. Humphrey is a plus athlete who isn't far away from being an NFL-ready cornerback. And while the cornerback class may have players with higher upside or a clearer projection to the NFL, Humphrey is a first-round-worthy cornerback who should be considered a top-20 prospect.

Jalen Tabor, CB/SAF, Florida

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Jalen Tabor entered the 2016 season with first-round expectations and was projected to be a better prospect than his former teammate and 2016 11th overall pick Vernon Hargreaves. But after a good, not stellar season and a poor NFL combine and pro day 40 time, Tabor has fallen out of favor as a first-round prospect.

While his vertical speed has never been his strong suit, Tabor has shown tremendous physicality and engagement throughout his career. Tabor won't be a fit for many teams because of his speed numbers, but Tabor can be a perfect fit for teams that run primarily Cover 2.

Additionally, his transition to safety could restore some of his value. With the type of highly impressive film that he's put together over the last two years, he's worth taking early in the second round despite poor testing numbers.

Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M

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Playing second fiddle to Myles Garrett for the last three seasons, Daeshon Hall has flown under-appreciated as a pass-rusher in this draft class. Despite being a well-built, long and athletic former basketball playing-prospect, Hall hasn't generated interest as a top-40 draft pick, though his size and length indicate he should absolutely be considered there.

Mediocre production and a still developing skill set has caused him to be considered more of a mid-round prospect, but Hall has the upside to consider reaching on early in the second round. For teams like the Titans, Saints and Dolphins, Hall would be a reach worth taking.

Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech

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Isaiah Ford hasn't received much discussion in what is a deep receiver class, but he’s one of the more NFL-ready and efficient receiver prospects in the 2017 draft. After running a 4.61 at the NFL combine (and just a 4.58 at his pro day), Ford doesn't fit the type of receiver that usually goes in the first two rounds of the draft.

But Ford, who reminds a lot of Stefon Diggs as a prospect, shouldn't fall on draft day. One of the better mid-field route runners and efficient receivers after the catch in the class, Ford's film speaks volumes for his NFL projection, and he's worth grabbing in Round 2 despite his lackluster NFL combine numbers, and he'll make his future NFL team happy they passed on a first-round receiver in favor of Ford.

Josh Harvey-Clemons, SAF, Louisville

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A former highly prized recruit for the Georgia Bulldogs, character issues forced him to transfer to Louisville, where he thrived as a hybrid safety prospect with a linebacker body. While he's built like Kam Chancellor, he's shown the versatility to play both safety spots and should project as a multi-use defensive back at the next level.

Injuries have made him unable to impress athletically during the NFL draft process, and his film shows plenty of areas the safety has to work on. But his length, body type and film flashes speak to his upside to be one of the best safeties in this loaded class in time. If he's available by the end of the third round, he's a talent worth taking a chance on thanks to his awesome upside.