This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2017 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2017 NFL Draft Stock Up
Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina There have been reports that Cleveland is debating between taking Trubisky or Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the No. 1-overallpick. Obviously, the Browns are desperate at quarterback, but most projections have had Trubisky going later. In speaking with teams picking late in the top 10, they believe that Trubisky will go higher and won’t get to their pick. Teams in the teens could also trade up to get him in the top 10. With the demand for quarterbacks being so high, and Trubisky being the consensus No. 1 quarterback, he shouldn’t have a long wait come draft night.
Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Jones is an interesting prospect who scouts from a lot of teams like. Sources from multiple teams believe that Jones has a shot at being a late first-round pick. Many teams feel that the polished and versatile Jones is an ideal No. 2 receiver. Many similar players have been late first-rounders in years past, and the aforementioned sources think that Jones could sneak into Thursday night of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Tyus Bowser, LB, Houston Bowser has made this list for the second straight week as there are teams that believe that he won’t get out of the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. During pre-draft workouts, Bowser impressed teams with his speed and athleticism. Pass-rushing linebackers are always in demand, and Bowser would be a nice fit in a 3-4 defense. Some teams feel that he shouldn’t go that high, but they agree that he easily could get selected in the second round because of the demand and how he worked out this spring.
Josh Jones, S, N.C. State One of the players generating a lot of interest in the pre-draft visit circuit is Jones. He is traveling to visit a lot of teams, and clearly, there is a lot of interest in him. He has a good skill and went under the radar with how well he played for N.C. State the past few seasons. Some team sources say that Jones has a shot to go in the second round of the 2017 NFL Drat, and they think he won’t get out of the third round.
Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Williams is the consensus top wide receiver for the 2017 NFL Draft, yet he is an interesting prospect as some evaluators feel that he shouldn’t go in the top 10 and is an appropriate value in the teens. However, I spoke with teams in the top 10 over Easter weekend, and Williams is in the running for their pick. He is a mismatch weapon for the passing-driven NFL and can bail out his quarterback, teams feel he is a legit No. 1 receiver in the mold of Mike Evans. When covered, Williams uses his size and leaping ability to make catches and move the chains. With teams needing to help young quarterbacks, Williams definitely could go in the top 10.
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama I spoke with some team sources over Easter weekend and learned that there are teams picking in the top 10 that have Howard in the mix for their selection. Teams feel he is that good of a prospect as not only is he a freak athlete, but he is a safe pick to become a good starting tight end. I know of some teams picking in the top five that have Howard in the running to the their pick. Entering the final days before the 2017 NFL Draft, Howard looks like a lock for the top 16.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Awuzie was able to make this list for the second straight week following conversations I had over the weekend with teams picking in the middle of the first round. Sources with some of those teams say that Awuzie is in the running for their pick.
Awuzie is very much a love-hate prospect across the league, but there are enough teams that like him, that he could end up being an early round selection. WalterFootball.com knows some scouts who graded Awuzie well into Day 3 of the 2017 NFL Draft, and don’t think highly of his play. However, there are teams in the middle of the first round that are thinking of taking Awuzie with their picks.
2017 NFL Draft Stock Down
Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama There are some teams in the league that think Foster could slide to the mid- to late teens in the 2017 NFL Draft. The reason for that is in the team draft meetings with coaches and doctors getting involved, Foster will get dinged on his medical report and how he fits in teams’ locker rooms. Some team sources say the medical report wasn’t that bad, but other teams say their doctors had some cause for concern. There are still a lot of teams picking in the No. 10-20 range that could be a fit for Foster; however, he may not go quite as high as some projections.
Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama There has been talk that Allen could slide in the draft because of concerns about his shoulders in the long term. In speaking with some team sources, they weren’t worried about the shoulder issue. They did say, however, that Allen’s workout numbers were underwhelming and he hasn’t been impressive in pre-draft workouts. Allen isn’t a player who excels in shorts, but rather is a player who stands out in games. Around this time of year, scouts say that some teams can get caught up in the workouts and forget about the tape. With that being the case for some teams, Allen may not go in the top three but is still safe in the top 10, as WalterFootball.com knows some teams picking late in the top 10 that would take Allen if he gets to them.
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Cook makes this list for the second straight week as it appears that he seriously could slip out of the top-16 picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has been knocked by some teams for off-the-field concerns around the entourage that he hangs out with and some concerns about a shoulder. Still, even if he slides out of the top 10, WalterFootball.com believes that there are some teams picking late in the top 20 that wouldn’t pass on Cook. There is talk that running back-needy teams picking in the top 16 would prefer Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey over Cook.
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