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2017 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Draft Rumors: Mixon, Quarterbacks, Lamp

January 20th, 2017 at 9:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Earlier today, the NFL announced 103 underclassmen have officially declared for the 2017 NFL draft. While that figure represents a small decrease from 2016, the fact remains that a decent number of those prospects won’t get selected in April. If recent trends hold, roughly 30% of underclassmen will go undrafted this year, meaning that ~30 collegiate players will need to rely on UDFA contracts this spring, as Joel Corry of CBSSports.com tweets.

Here’s more on the draft:

  • Although he considered returning to Oklahoma after a video surfaced of him striking a female, running back Joe Mixon officially declared for the draft earlier this month. While some personnel men believe Mixon won’t be drafted, other scouts tell Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports otherwise. One executive called Mixon the third-best back in the draft and predicted that he will be chosen, while another evaluator summed up the paradox of a player like Mixon: “It’s still a bottom-line business. It’s people saying, ‘I’m paid to win games. Either I take Mixon or someone else takes him and beats me with him.’ That’s the business. I know people don’t want to hear that, but it’s how some guys get drafted.”
  • Scouts continue to believe the 2017 crop of quarterbacks is one of the worst in recent memory, as one personnel director tells Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that the scribe has “way too many” quarterbacks (three) in his top-30 overall players. Similarly, an AFC executive tells Bucky Brooks of NFL.com that he’s “scared to death” by this year’s signal-callers. “They have talent and upside, but there aren’t any sure things in this [draft] class,” said the VP of player personnel.
  • Western Kentucky guard Forrest Lamp could soon become a household name, as one scout compared to him to the Cowboys’ Zack Martin, one of the best interior lineman in the NFL, according to Miller. Lamp, who, like Martin, played tackle in college but will shift inside once he reaches the pros, graded as one of the best offensive lineman in 2015 per Pro Football Focus‘ metrics, and should have only improved since.

103 Underclassmen Enter 2017 NFL Draft

January 20th, 2017 at 6:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

95 underclassmen who met the NFL’s three-year eligibility rule and formally applied to enter the 2017 draft have been granted special eligibility, the league announced today. In addition to those 95, another eight players who have graduated with college football eligibility remaining have also entered this year’s draft class.

This year’s total of 103 early entrants is a step down from last year’s record — in 2016, 96 underclassmen were granted special eligibility and 11 more were eligible after graduating early, for a total of 107.

Here’s the full list of underclassmen eligible for the 2017 draft, in alphabetical order:

  1. Jamal Adams, DB (LSU)
  2. Alex Anzalone, LB (Florida)
  3. Budda Baker, DB (Washington)
  4. Derek Barnett, DE (Tennessee)
  5. Garett Bolles, T (Utah)
  6. Caleb Brantley, DT (Florida)
  7. Noah Brown, WR (Ohio State)
  8. KD Cannon, WR (Baylor)
  9. Devin Childress, WR (North Park)
  10. Michael Clark, WR (Marshall)
  11. Gareon Conley, DB, Ohio State
  12. James Conner, RB (Pittsburgh)
  13. Dalvin Cook, RB (Florida State)
  14. Zach Cunningham, LB (Vanderbilt)
  15. Malachi Dupre, WR (LSU)
  16. Jerod Evans, QB (Virginia Tech)
  17. Jeremy Faulk, DT (Garden City Community College)
  18. Tarean Folston, RB (Notre Dame)
  19. Isaiah Ford, WR (Virginia Tech)
  20. D’Onta Foreman, RB (Texas)
  21. Leonard Fournette, RB (LSU)
  22. Wayne Gallman, RB, (Clemson)
  23. Myles Garrett, DE (Texas A&M)
  24. Shelton Gibson, WR (West Virginia)
  25. Davon Godchaux, DT (LSU)
  26. Chris Godwin, WR (Penn State)
  27. Isaiah Golden, DT (McNeese State)
  28. Jermaine Grace, LB (Miami)
  29. Derrick Griffin, WR (Texas Southern)
  30. Chad Hansen, WR (Clemson)
  31. Charles Harris, DE (Missouri)
  32. Carlos Henderson, WR (Louisiana Tech)
  33. Brian Hill, RB (Wyoming)
  34. Bucky Hodges, TE (Virginia Tech)
  35. Elijah Hood, RB (North Carolina)
  36. Malik Hooker, S (Ohio State)
  37. Titus Howard, DB (Slippery Rock)
  38. Marlon Humphrey, DB (Alabama)
  39. Adoree’ Jackson, DB (USC)
  40. Roderick Johnson, T (Florida State)
  41. Aaron Jones, RB (Texas-El Paso)
  42. Josh Jones, DB (North Carolina State)
  43. Nazair Jones, DT (North Carolina)
  44. Sidney Jones, DB (Washington)
  45. Brad Kaaya, QB (Miami)
  46. Alvin Kamara, RB (Tennessee)
  47. Tim Kimbrough, LB (Georgia)
  48. DeShone Kizer, QB (Notre Dame)
  49. Jerome Lane, WR (Akron)
  50. Marshon Lattimore, DB (Ohio State)
  51. Carl Lawson, DE (Auburn)
  52. Elijah Lee, LB (Kansas State)
  53. Keevan Lucas, WR (Tulsa)
  54. Marlon Mack, RB (USF)
  55. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Texas Tech)
  56. Josh Malone, WR (Tennessee)
  57. Damien Mama, G (USC)
  58. Christian McCaffrey, RB (Stanford)
  59. Malik McDowell, DT (Michigan State)
  60. Isaiah McKenzie, WR (Georgia)
  61. Deon-Tay McManus, WR (Marshall)
  62. Raekwon McMillan, LB (Ohio State)
  63. Jeremy McNichols, RB (Boise State)
  64. Joe Mixon, RB (Oklahoma)
  65. Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE (Miami)
  66. Montae Nicholson, DB (Michigan State)
  67. David Njoku, TE (Miami)
  68. Speedy Noil, WR (Texas A&M)
  69. Marcus Oliver, LB (Indiana)
  70. Aaron Peak, DB (Butler County Community College)
  71. Jabrill Peppers, LB (Michigan)
  72. Samaje Perine, RB (Oklahoma)
  73. Elijah Qualls, DT (Washington)
  74. Devine Redding, RB (Indiana)
  75. Cam Robinson, T (Alabama)
  76. John Ross, WR (Washington)
  77. Travis Rudolph, WR (Florida State)
  78. Curtis Samuel, WR (Ohio State)
  79. Artavis Scott, WR (Clemson)
  80. Ricky Seals-Jones, WR (Texas A&M)
  81. Adam Shaheen, TE (Ashland)
  82. David Sharpe, OL (Florida)
  83. Garrett Sickels, DE (Penn State)
  84. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR (USC)
  85. ArDarius Stewart, WR (Alabama)
  86. Damore’ea Stringfellow, WR (Ole Miss)
  87. Teez Tabor, CB (Florida)
  88. Vincent Taylor, DT (Oklahoma State)
  89. Solomon Thomas, DL (Stanford)
  90. Mitch Trubisky, QB (North Carolina)
  91. Darius Victor, RB (Towson)
  92. Khari Waithe-Alexander, DE (Southern Illnois)
  93. Anthony Walker, LB (Northwestern)
  94. Charles Walker, DL (Oklahoma)
  95. Deshaun Watson, QB(Clemson)
  96. T.J. Watt, LB (Wisconsin)
  97. Marcus Williams, S (Utah)
  98. Mike Williams, WR (Clemson)
  99. Stanley Williams, RB (Kentucky)
  100. Howard Wilson, CB (Houston)
  101. Quincy Wilson, CB (Florida)
  102. Joe Yearby, RB (Miami)
  103. Ishmael Zamora, WR (Baylor)

Miller’s Latest: Bears, M. Williams, Peppers

January 15th, 2017 at 7:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As our list of important 2017 NFL offseason dates shows, NCAA underclassmen have until tomorrow to announce their intent to enter this year’s draft. One first-round prospect, Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham, did just that yesterday, and a few more names could trickle in before Monday’s deadline. The draft itself is still months away, but Matt Miller of Bleacher Report is in touch with scouts and has presented the latest on several collegiate players in his latest notebook (which, as always, is worth a full read).

Here’s the latest from Miller:

  • One scout tells Miller that Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster has a “perfect grade” on his board. Foster, who posted 115 tackles and five sacks during the 2016 season, is considered the best off-ball linebacker available in this draft and should be selected in the first round.
  • Another Alabama defender, Jonathan Allen, is viewed as an even better prospect than Foster, and as one of the best edge players in the 2017 class, could go off the board in the top 10 picks. However, an AFC personnel director believes that Allen’s shoulder injuries could present a problem come draft day, and thinks that Allen may have had an additional surgery that went unreported.
  • Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams squared off against Foster, Allen, and the rest of the Crimson Tide defense when the Tigers faced Alabama in the National Championship Game, and Miller favorably compares Williams to Bengals pass-catcher A.J. Green. “Best player on the field. Period,” a scouting director said of Williams.
  • The Bears are showing strong interest in this year’s crop of quarterbacks, rival evaluators tell Miller. Chicago is expected to move on from veteran signal-caller Jay Cutler, and could look to find their quarterback of the future on Day 1 or 2. Back in November, Miller reported the Bears were researching Miami QB Brad Kaaya, who could be drafted in the Round 2 range.
  • Based on his discussions with scouts, Miller believes that Michigan S/LB Jabrill Peppers is currently overrated on media boards, potentially putting him in line for a draft day fall. Typically regarded as a first-round pick, Peppers announced last week that he would skip his final two NCAA seasons to enter the NFL.
  • At least one NFL offensive line coach believes Utah left tackle Garett Bolles is going to “shoot up” draft boards, according to Miller.

Vanderbilt LB Zach Cunningham Enters Draft

January 14th, 2017 at 7:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham announced tonight that he’s declaring for the 2017 NFL draft, as Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio tweets.Zach Cunningham (Vertical)

[RELATED: Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers Declares For Draft]

Cunningham, 22, has played in 32 games for the Commodores over the past three seasons, and has been a tackling machine during that time. He’s racked up 256 tackles — including 36 for a loss — along with six sacks, seven forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries during his Vanberbilt career. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com recently ranked Cunningham as the No. 3 inside linebacker in 2017 class, behind Alabama’s Reuben Foster and Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan.

Given that NCAA underclassmen only have until Sunday to declare for the 2017 draft, Cunningham’s announcement tonight means he’s one of the latest early entrants this year, leading Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) to ask a scout why Cunningham had waited on his decision. “We’re not in love with him,” said the scout, predicting that Cunningham will be selected in Round 2 or 3. “Needs to gain strength, make more tackles.”

Draft Notes: QBs, Browns, Alabama

January 13th, 2017 at 6:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thanks in part to his heroics this past Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, outgoing Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s draft stock is soaring, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. After Watson completed 36 of 56 passes for 420 yards and four touchdowns (one rushing) in Clemson’s 35-31 win over Alabama, two NFL personnel directors and one general manager informed Schefter that the 21-year-old will go in the top half of the first round this spring. All regard Watson as a soon-to-be top 10 pick, and it’s possible he’ll go to the Browns at No. 1 overall.

“He struggled some in midseason, so everyone got off him,” said a personnel director. “But these last couple of weeks, he’s skyrocketing up to the top 10 picks, with the two playoff game wins. Now people are going to say, ‘Wait a minutes, he’s played Alabama the past couple of years really well, he won a national championship, he can be a Mariota, he can be a [Dak] Prescott, great character, great kid.’ People will not want to miss him. I think he’s definitely going in the top 10.”

A bit more on Cleveland and the draft:

  • While the Browns also own the 12th pick in the draft, odds are they’ll have to take a quarterback at No. 1 – be it Watson, North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky or Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer – if they like him enough, several draft experts and talent evaluators told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “A lot of teams need quarterbacks and they will overvalue them and reach,” an NFL personnel executive said. In assessing the three signal-callers, a talent evaluator opined, “[Watson] was very impressive in that game and has a special skill set. Accuracy is always a concern. His body of work makes him safer than Trubisky, but Trubisky has a big upside. Kizer is solid, but I don’t think he’s ready to play right away. Watson appears to be the only one who could hold his own right now.” The Browns reportedly “love” Trubisky, but taking him, Watson or Kizer would mean passing on Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett – with whom they’re also smitten.
  • Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, wide receiver ArDarius Stewart and cornerback Marlon Humphrey each declared for the draft Friday. CBS Sports ranks Robinson as the 12th-best player in this year’s class and the top tackle in a weak crop. Humphrey isn’t far behind (No. 15), while the outlet projects Stewart to go in the second round.
  • Another Alabama product, edge rusher Tim Williams, is likely to slip out of the first round because of Randy Gregory-esque issues with substances (marijuana, to be exact), according to Charlie Champbell of WalterFootball.com. Like Gregory, whom the NFL handed a one-year suspension earlier this month (already the third ban of his two-year career), Williams has several failed drug tests to his name. Williams picked up 18.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss during his final two years at Alabama, but similarly excellent college production wasn’t enough for Gregory (16.5 sacks, 26.5 TFL) to go in Round 1 in 2015. It seems Williams’ case will be a repeat this year.

Michigan LB Jabrill Peppers To Enter NFL Draft

January 10th, 2017 at 2:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers has declared for the NFL draft, as Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated writes. Peppers, a safety and return specialist, is widely projected as a first-round prospect. Jabrill Peppers (vertical)

[RELATED: UNC QB Mitch Trubisky To Enter NFL Draft]

“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Peppers said of the decision. “I’m choosing between cementing my legacy as a college player and starting my pro legacy. It’s something you dream of when you were a kid. I was torn between the two.”

Peppers’ versatility should increase his stock as the draft approaches. This year, he lined up in 15 different positions on his 933 snaps, including some plays at quarterback, tailback, and receiver. On defense, he saw time at nickelback, safety, linebacker, and cornerback. Teams looking for a swiss army knife of a player similar to the Redskins’ Su’a Cravens will be salivating over the possibilities with Peppers.

Recently, two NFL teams told Matt Miller of Bleacher Report that the Wolverine will be a top-10 pick in the spring. If he can run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash as Jim Harbaugh has predicted, he’ll be an absolute lock for the top of the draft.

UNC QB Mitch Trubisky To Enter NFL Draft

January 9th, 2017 at 8:15am CST by Zachary Links

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky announced that he is declaring for the NFL Draft. In a piece on The Players Tribune, Trubisky bid farewell to Chapel Hill: Mitch Trubisky (vertical)

[RELATED: 2017 NFL Draft Order]

“After a lot of prayer and thought, I have decided to forgo my senior year and enter the NFL draft. This has been the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. But no matter what happens next, I know I’ll never experience something as special as being a Tar Heel,” Trubisky wrote.

This year’s class of quarterbacks is underwhelming, but Trubisky seems to be universally considered as the top signal caller in the crop. Reportedly, he is the only QB that is a first-round lock whereas others like Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer are marked for Day 2.

The Browns, who pick No. 1 overall, reportedly “love” the 22-year-old. The Jets, at No. 6, also like the UNC standout, but the 49ers and Bears hold picks in the top five and could target a quarterback.

Extra Points: Stafford, Boldin, Tice, McCoy

January 8th, 2017 at 12:41pm CST by Rory Parks

As the Dolphins and Steelers do battle, let’s take a look at some notes from around the league:

  • Lions quarterback Matt Stafford will not need surgery on his injured right middle finger, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes. Stafford was excellent for much of the season, but he completed just 58.6% of his passes for four touchdowns and five interceptions after the injury, and he could get nothing going in a frustrating season-ending loss to Seattle last night.
  • Lions WR Anquan Boldin had a nice first season in Detroit, and the 36-year-old wideout, who posted 67 catches for 584 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns, plans to return for his 15th season in the league in 2017, according to Nate Atkins of MLive.com.
  • The contract for Raiders O-line coach Mike Tice is up, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, but Oakland has prioritized bringing him back. That makes sense, as the team is sending three offensive linemen to the Pro Bowl this year.
  • Former Chargers head coach Mike McCoy will apparently not be unemployed for long. Rapoport tweets that McCoy is largely considered the top offensive coordinator available and has been mentioned as many teams’ offensive coordinator of choice.
  • Even if the Dolphins were to pull off the upset in Pittsburgh this afternoon, the team is not counting on Ryan Tannehill to return next week, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). Tannehill was, at least, able to practice on Friday.
  • Ohio State WR Noah Brown will enter the NFL draft, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). The 6-2, 218-pound wideout had a breakout year for the Buckeyes, and is currently projected to be selected in the second or third round of the draft.
  • In a series of articles, OverTheCap.com offers a preview of the strongest and weakest offensive positions in this year’s free agent class, examines which linebackers could become cap casualties, and projects the 2017 compensatory picks.

JuJu Smith-Schuster To Enter NFL Draft

January 8th, 2017 at 10:53am CST by Rory Parks

USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will forego his final year of collegiate eligibility and enter the NFL draft, according to Kyle Bonagura of ESPN.com.

Oct 15, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) runs for a touchdown after making a catch against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half at Arizona Stadium. The Trojans won 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Smith-Schuster is going out on top, as he caught seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in last week’s thrilling Rose Bowl, which ended in a 52-49 USC victory. He was a three-year starter for the Trojans, amassing 213 receptions for 3,092 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The 6-2, 220-pound wideout is the fourth-best receiver in this year’s draft class, according to ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. (Insider subscription required), and he is expected to be selected in the second half of the first round.

Smith-Schuster issued a statement on his Twitter account, which included the following:

“This was a very difficult decision to make. I have loved my time at USC and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Playing for USC was truly a dream come true, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish in three years.”

This year’s Rose Bowl champs have already seen guard Damien Mama declare for the draft, and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson may follow suit.

Joe Mixon Declares For NFL Draft

January 5th, 2017 at 6:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Controversial Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon will forgo his senior season and enter this year’s NFL draft, he announced Thursday. While Mixon will be one of the most talented rushers available this spring, a slew of teams will keep him off their boards because of his off-field history, tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report.

Joe Mixon (vertical)

The reason Mixon’s draft stock is in question stems from a disturbing July 2014 physical altercation that led Oklahoma to redshirt him that season. Mixon was caught on video striking a fellow student, Alicia Molitor, who he claims used a racial slur and spit in his face. As a result, Mixon was placed on probation for one year and ordered to release the video. After making the footage public last month, Mixon’s attorney, Blake Johnson, issued a written apology on his client’s behalf.

“Mr. Mixon asked us to once again say he is sorry for the way he reacted that night. He has apologized publicly to Ms. Molitor, her friends, his family, teammates and the University,” Johnson wrote. “He hopes that his voluntary release of these recordings will help put this matter to rest.”

Mixon, who debuted with the Sooners in 2015, was a highly productive member of their offense in two seasons. The soon-to-be 21-year-old averaged 6.7 yards per carry on 301 attempts and piled up 26 touchdowns (17 rushing, nine receiving). He’s coming off a season in which he ran for 1,274 yards, scored 15 times (10 on the ground, five through the air) and caught 37 passes.

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