Draft Notes: Kizer, Buccaneers, Dolphins

While some scouts believe the 2017 quarterbacks class is “one of the worst in recent memory,” Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com believes one prospect has the potential and skill to be the first pick in the draft.

“DeShone Kizer, I went to see his first game against Texas, and this looked like a potential first-overall pick,” Jeremiah said of the Notre Dame quarterback. “He’s big, he’s physical, he can make every throw. He can move around, he’s got 18 rushing touchdowns over the last couple of years. His play, along with Notre Dame’s, kind of tailed off at the end of the year.”

Ultimately, Jeremiah had Kizer going to the Jets at the sixth pick.

Let’s take a look at some other rumblings pertaining to the NFL draft…

• Several draft analysists have the Buccaneers taking a defensive player with their first-round pick, and Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com generally agrees with that logic. Prolific pass rushers like Michigan defensive end Taco Charlton and Missouri defensive end Charles Harris would only be available in the first round. While the team could certainly use some reinforcement on offense, Cummings points out that the team could snag a wide receiver or running back in the later rounds.
• The Dolphins could use some depth at tight end, and head coach Adam Gase has had success when featuring tight ends in his offense (like Martellus Bennett in Chicago and Julius Thomas in Denver). Fortunately, this year’s draft will be particularly deep at that position, and ESPN.com’s James Walker notes that the Dolphins could snag a tight end in the second round or later.
• Walker also passes along quotes from draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who explains the types of tight ends the team could expect to take in the later rounds. “You got to take advantage of the depth at that spot,” Kiper said. “A kid I think can be really good is Cole Hikutini out of Louisville. If you can get Hikutini in the third or fourth round, I think that will make a lot of sense… They can get the linebacking help and they can get the tight-end help in this draft.”