Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Can Anyone Unseat the Patriots in 2017-18?

The New England Patriots are in the driver's seat in the NFL, and as usual, everyone else is chasing them. This week I asked a number of NFL executives and scouts if there is any roster in the AFC built to compete with the Patriots. In fact, I asked them all if the Oakland Raiders are the AFC's second-best team, given that was the expected answer. The replies weren't what I expected. 

"The Steelers are, but the Raiders are up there," said one executive. Another scout added, "I'd still go Pittsburgh at No. 2 given Oakland's glaring hole at inside linebacker." 

It would turn out that every scout or executive replying felt the same: Pittsburgh, not Oakland, is the second-best team in the AFC. "Having a veteran quarterback and a head coach who've been there and done it already gives the Steelers the edge," said another executive of Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin. 

Another thing that surprised me is not one person asked said his own team would be one of the clubs competing with New England for an AFC title. With the return of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick plus additions such as Brandin Cooks and a healthy Rob Gronkowski, New England is expected to be back on top of the hill again in 2017.  

Here's what else is going on this week:

• The new kings of the AFC South
• A dark-horse DROY candidate
• A top college QB transfers
• The 2018 draft's best pass-rusher returns

The Scout's Report

—LSU pass-rusher Arden Key stepped away from the team in February for an undisclosed reason, which concerned many scouts given his status as the top returning edge-defender in college. Key is back at LSU after shoulder surgery that was not listed as the reason for his departure. With 12 sacks last season, Key is a top-10 player for next year's class.

—Former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire has transferred to Florida, where he's eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer. It's expected that Zaire, who won the job over DeShone Kizer at Notre Dame in 2015, will be the day-one starter for the Gators.

—The Baltimore Ravens selected Marlon Humphrey, Tyus Bowser, Chris Wormley and Tim Williams with four straight picks in the 2017 draft, but it's Williams I'm told is impressing coaches in OTAs. Said one source with the Ravens, "Williams will be Defensive Rookie of the Year."

—Two injuries to watch as training camp nears—Nick Fairley's heart condition and Taylor Decker's shoulder surgery. Fairley, with the Saints, was red-flagged as a draft prospect due to the condition, which should give the team hope he'll be able to return, given that it hasn't stopped him since he was drafted in the first round of the 2011 class.

—Purely speculation here, but if a healthy Marcus Mariota continues to improve, the Tennessee Titans are a nice sleeper pick in the AFC South. Behind a solid offensive line and with a defense that's improving, Mariota is set up for a nice year in a division that's still undefined.

—Keep an eye on Vanderbilt's Ralph Webb at running back. With so many well-known backs already being watched for next year's draft, Webb has slid under the radar but has the hands, burst and balance of an NFL three-down back.

—The No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Mike Williams, is out for the rest of training camp with the Los Angeles Chargers after suffering a herniated disk in his back. Williams won't have surgery, but this is a situation to monitor.

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

5 Names to Know

5. Chad Williams, Wide Receiver (Arizona Cardinals) 

Larry Fitzgerald will eventually retire, we think, and when he does the Cardinals will lack a receiver with the size and skill of a No. 1. That might change with former Grambling receiver Chad Williams on the roster. Williams has the size (6'1", 204 lbs) and skill to stretch the field. Replacing Fitzgerald will likely take more than one player, but Williams is one to watch in 2017 and beyond.

4. Vince Biegel, Linebacker (Green Bay Packers)

Vince Biegel didn't have to move far from Madison, Wisconsin, to Green Bay when the Packers drafted him in the fourth round. They now have another versatile linebacker with experience playing both inside and outside positions. It'll be tough for Biegel to crack the starting 11, but he can definitely get on the field right away as a sub-package rusher. 

3. Joe Williams, Running Back (San Francisco 49ers)

Joe Williams is an ideal fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense, given his speed and surprising power that make him a very good one-cut runner. In a zone running scheme, like the one the 49ers will deploy this year, Williams' game-breaking speed will make him a hard player to keep on the bench.

2. Desmond King, Defensive Back (Los Angeles Chargers)

Desmond King was one of the best defensive backs in college football over the last two seasons, but he fell in the draft after concerns about size, speed and the position he'd play in the NFL. The Chargers stole him in Round 5 and will let him loose at both safety and cornerback. King's leadership and toughness will also show up on special teams.

1. Jehu Chesson, Wide Receiver (Kansas City Chiefs)

Jeremy Maclin is out, and the Chiefs are going young at wide receiver. Jehu Chesson is a strong possession receiver with the route-running skills Andy Reid's offense utilizes well. Chesson won't push Tyreek Hill, but don't be surprised if he works his way among the top four wide receivers in Kansas City.

Parting Shots

I'll answer three questions to kick off the parting shots this week and finish with a few other thoughts to close things out.  

For building an NFL defense, I'd want the following:

DL: Ed Oliver, Houston. He's the closest thing I've seen to Ndamukong Suh as a college player. Oliver is a dynamic pass-rusher with speed, power, moves and ideal instincts. And he's only a sophomore.

LB: Malik Jefferson, Texas. Jefferson hasn't put it all together yet on the field, but his raw tools are the best in college football at the linebacker position. He can also play inside or outside linebacker and has the speed to cover, take on the run or rush the quarterback.

DB: Derwin James, Florida State. I'm betting hard on upside with all three players, and James could end up the best of them all. His freshman tape was unreal, and he has the size (6'3", 211 lbs) and speed to have scouts talking about him as a top-five pick after he missed all but six quarters of last season.

There is an incredible amount of running back talent in the 2017 class from a potential standpoint. But the 2016 draft was billed as the best back class ever from scouts I talked to, and there were only two drafted in the first round—albeit likely because of off-field concerns for Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon. 

I see Saquon Barkley (Penn State) as a lock Round 1 pick next year. Derrius Guice (LSU) has shown the skills of one, too. After that we run into guys like Ronald Jones (USC), Mike Weber (Ohio State), Sony Michel (Georgia), Royce Freeman (Oregon) and Nick Chubb (Georgia) who have the talent but need to either prove healthy or capable for another season.

Right now, two running backs in Round 1 looks like a safer, more likely bet.

I actually loved that the 49ers didn't panic and draft Mitchell Trubisky at No. 2 or Kizer in the second round. This is still a team that I believe will go all-in to get Kirk Cousins as a free agent next summer. And even if the 49ers don't get Cousins, the 2018 quarterback class is better from an early look than the 2017 class was.  

2. The NFL has the option to keep the draft in Philadelphia for another year, but my read on the situation is that the annual party will move to The Star in Frisco, Texas, next season. 

The Dallas Cowboys built The Star to serve as the headquarters for the team. The practice facility is there and the team offices are, too, but there's also the Ford Center that can host events and includes an Omni hotel and restaurants. It's pretty intense, with 12,000 seats. 

Jerry Jones is the most powerful man in the NFL, and if he wants the draft held at his Star, it'll be there sooner than later.

1. Stick to Football Episode 8 is out with guest Jason Kander, the former Secretary of State for Missouri and current president of Let America Vote. We talk to Jason about Kansas City barbecue, what his plans are long term and how you respond to President Obama's naming you as part of the future of Democratic politics. Co-host Connor Rogers and I also talk to NFL Draft 400 scout Marshal Miller about the 2018 quarterback class and whether Josh Rosen, Josh Allen or Sam Darnold is the top QB.

Matt Miller covers the NFL and NFL draft for Bleacher Report.