2017 Draft Prospect Thread

See above post for a link to Bruce Feldman's annual 'freaks' list.

10 more who just missed out on the Freaks list.

Top 10 biggest snubs from our 2016 'Freaks' list

One guy I've got my eye on:

Jalen Hurd, Tennessee, RB
A huge 242-pound back who moves like he’s 200, Hurd was on the Freaks list last year, when he squatted 605 and ran a speedy 4.02 pro agility shuttle. He also does some stuff like where he jumps on a treadmill going over 23 miles per hour and has the wheels to maintain it. Like Wilkins, I should’ve bumped some other newcomers off the list for Hurd.

One guy I like early is UCLA OT Conor McDermott. He's a tall (6'8") and athletic LT - a former TE. There's a good write up on him:

Possibly one of the most impressive parts of his game to me is his football IQ and vision. I have seen lifelong offensive lineman that cannot pick up a stunt, but after about two years McDermott consistently recognizes stunts and blitzes. Not only does he pick up stunts, but he does an excellent job of helping his guard when the defense runs a stunt.

Click to expand...

Prospect Preview: Conor McDermott - The Draftster

McDermott is my #1 tackle next year, based on my preliminary research. He reminds me a lot of Solder, but steadier. Incredible movement skills, and still learning the position / getting stronger. I don't think he'll be available where we pick, which is unfortunate. I'd like to see him here.

Bruce Feldman runs down the 10 best RB groups in CFB. There's some real talent there. Also includes a LaDanian Tomlinson comp for McCaffrey.

The Top 10 running back groups in college football

Saquon Barkley of Penn State, who isn't draft eligible will be a name to hang on too. Feldman says he's the best RB at Penn State in years and I've previously seen a "better than Ezekiel Elliot" comp for him too.

Doubt BB wanna use a 1 round pick on a RB and can't see McCaffrey last mush longer. Good Rbs gonna fall so BB probably wait to late day 2 by picking a RB...

Donno why, but I think they draft a OT first next year.

Just saw this quote about Florida LB, Jarrad Davis:

Gators LB coach Randy Shannon said Davis has the competitiveness of Jon Vilma, the athleticism of Jon Beason and the football knowledge of Ray Lewis. DC Geoff Collins told me that Davis' "desire, drive and willpower are at the highest levels there is. Every rep he takes at practice or in a walkthrough is at a game-level focus. He's as intense of an individual as I've ever been around and one of the highest character kids as well."

Click to expand...

If one of Hightower or Collins hasn't re-signed by the time the draft rolls around this guy has to be a possibility. Linebackers look really interesting for the next draft.

Luxusdk said:

Doubt BB wanna use a 1 round pick on a RB and can't see McCaffrey last mush longer. Good Rbs gonna fall so BB probably wait to late day 2 by picking a RB...

Donno why, but I think they draft a OT first next year.

Click to expand...

Depending on what happens with contracts, I'd say LB, OT or TE in next years first.

In my mind, we have a chance to draft two monsters at ot.

In the first round is the mountain lot from ucla. Very good in the zone blocking scheme.

• In the second round the monster rot from Arkansas, he is a run blocking beast with the feet to be good in pass protection.

Ochmed Jones said:

In my mind, we have a chance to draft two monsters at ot.

In the first round is the mountain lot from ucla. Very good in the zone blocking scheme.

• In the second round the monster rot from Arkansas, he is a run blocking beast with the feet to be good in pass protection.

Click to expand...

I certainly think this is the draft to address the OL and the running game, the two bigget weaknesses (an perhaps only weaknesses) on the team.

Ochmed Jones said:

In my mind, we have a chance to draft two monsters at ot.

In the first round is the mountain lot from ucla. Very good in the zone blocking scheme.

• In the second round the monster rot from Arkansas, he is a run blocking beast with the feet to be good in pass protection.

Click to expand...

I was looking the other day and there are a bunch of enormous guys at T this year. Really huge.

I've b

manxman2601 said:

I certainly think this is the draft to address the OL and the running game, the two bigget weaknesses (an perhaps only weaknesses) on the team.

Click to expand...

I've been looking at 2017 for months lol. It's shaping up as a great draft imo. I'm not sure there's a T worthy where we'll be picking.

RB however is pretty stacked Gallman and CM would be great choices imo.

BaconGrundleCandy said:

I've b



I've been looking at 2017 for months lol. It's shaping up as a great draft imo. I'm not sure there's a T worthy where we'll be picking.

RB however is pretty stacked Gallman and CM would be great choices imo.

Click to expand...

I think it's too early to make determinations about who'll be available where we pick. These things change dramatically between now and next April. I agree with you that this draft has tremendous potential and I think it excels at potential positions of need: OT, RB, TE, LB (hopefully not on the latter).

One guy that has really got me interested early is Indiana RT Dimitric Camiel. 6'7", 310lbs and looks like he might have bigger than 34" arms. He's a really smooth mover for a big guy. Sounds like they're keeping him at RT this year at Indiana but I think he has LT upside. Looking forward to watching him this year - could be a bit of a sleeper.

A very early 'intrigued by value' list:

RB:

Kalen Ballage, Arizona St.
Jalen Hurd, Tennessee
Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee

TE/FB

Jaylen Samuels, N Carolina St.


OL:

Dimitric Camiel, Indiana
Forrest Lamp, W Kentucky
Adam Bisnowaty, Pittsburgh
Conor McDermott, UCLA


DE:

Deatrich Wise, Arkansas
Dawuane Smoot, Illinois


CB:

Sidney Jones, Washington
Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan

By no means is this meant to be a list of all the players I like. These are just some guys that might have mid-late round value that I've become intrigued by at this early stage.

manxman2601 said:

One guy that has really got me interested early is Indiana RT Dimitric Camiel. 6'7", 310lbs and looks like he might have bigger than 34" arms. He's a really smooth mover for a big guy. Sounds like they're keeping him at RT this year at Indiana but I think he has LT upside. Looking forward to watching him this year - could be a bit of a sleeper.

Click to expand...

Wow! Just watched some tape. Really good mover. Not the most devestating run blocker I've ever seen, but he's quite solid. Buttery smooth in pass pro, and I'm really impressed by how well he moved on screens and downfield blocking. Looks more like a TE than an OT. Great find. He's got to be at the top of my list now in terms of value -- the other OTs I like next year will likely be gone when we pick.

Manx with the sneaky good scouting again this year.

reamer said:

Wow! Just watched some tape. Really good mover. Not the most devestating run blocker I've ever seen, but he's quite solid. Buttery smooth in pass pro, and I'm really impressed by how well he moved on screens and downfield blocking. Looks more like a TE than an OT. Great find. He's got to be at the top of my list now in terms of value -- the other OTs I like next year will likely be gone when we pick.

Manx with the sneaky good scouting again this year.

Click to expand...

I see him more as a future LT guy than a plug in RT immediately. Fits really nicely into a ZBS though.

Way too early dream scenario:

Offensive Tackle and RB are the two positions I think we'll target and if Jimmy G can look pretty in his 4 starts hopefully a QB needy team (KC, San Francisco, Cleveland, Arizona?) will make a move for him. Pats move up to 12 overall (Trading our 2nd rounder and a low 20's pick (from Jimmy G trade) to grab Fournette and use 32nd on Roederick Johnson from FSU.

TriplecHamp said:

Way too early dream scenario:

Offensive Tackle and RB are the two positions I think we'll target and if Jimmy G can look pretty in his 4 starts hopefully a QB needy team (KC, San Francisco, Cleveland, Arizona?) will make a move for him. Pats move up to 12 overall (Trading our 2nd rounder and a low 20's pick (from Jimmy G trade) to grab Fournette and use 32nd on Roederick Johnson from FSU.

Click to expand...

Can I ask why we'd want to use such a high pick on RB in the deepest draft for RBs we've seen in probably a decade? Just curious. I do like Fournette, and think he'll be a great back for a long time, but I'm not convinced that he's so much better than his competition that it's worth moving up that far in the draft.

If we're going to pick an OT (seems likely) then I think there are many solid prospects in later rounds.