Are you ready for the NFL Draft?
2017 NFL Draft: Second Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 26, 2017
33. Cleveland Browns - Joe Mixon, 6'1", 226lbs, RB, Oklahoma, RS Soph.
04/15/17 - Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
03/28/17 - Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
Paul DePodesta brought his "Moneyball" philosophy to football and he's going to think outside the box to find the competitive edge. There's no guarantee the Browns will select a QB in the 2017 draft. Keep in mind, Brock Osweiler is still on the roster; there are questions about all of the QB's in this year's draft; and next year's draft will likely have USC's Sam Darnold, UCLA's Josh Rosen and Wyoming's Josh Allen, all of whom are better prospects than any of the QB's in this year's draft. Think about the running game, where Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson have split time in the backfield. Crowell nearly reached the 1,000-yard plateau, but he's a free agent after the season and Duke Johnson is best suited as a 3rd down back who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Mixon is one of the most polarizing prospects in this year's draft. He was suspended by the Sooners for the entire 2014 season after he punched a female student at a restaurant just off campus. Mixon's immaturity was further on display this past season after he was suspended for a game for tearing up a parking ticket in front of a parking attendant. On the field, Mixon could be the perfect blend of power and speed to be a factor at the next level. While Mixon was banned from the Combine for the off-field issues, he turned heads at Oklahoma's Pro Day, running a 4.43 40 time at 6'1" and 226 pounds, which would have been 4th fastest among RB's at the Combine. Mixon shared the backfield with fellow draft prospect Samaje Perine throughout his career with the sooner, but still rushed for 1,274 yards with 10 TD in 2016. Mixon shows off power between the tackles, running through arm tackles while lowering his pad level to run over defenders. He does a good job pressing the line of scrimmage, has excellent vision to see cutback lanes and attacks the hole, making a quick jump cut in the hole to make defenders miss. Mixon is also dynamic in space, showing off sudden moves to make defenders miss. He can juke defenders in the open field with a head-and-shoulder fake, will use a stutter to freeze the defender before making a cut and will change speeds to set up blocks down the field. Mixon is also a tremendous receiver, having hauled in 69 passes with 9 TD in just two seasons with the Sooners. He runs crisp routes, does a goo job locating the ball in the air and has soft hands to haul in and get upfield without losing speed. Mixon has also proven to go up and high point a pass along the sideline on a wheel route and will hurdle a defender after catching a shovel pass. One thing is for sure, Mixon will continue to keep his legs churning to fight for extra yards, often delivering a final blow before going down. If it hadn't been for the off-field issues, Mixon would be given consideration as a top-15 pick. The comparisons to Tyreek Hill will be there. Hill was dismissed from Oklahoma State following a domestic violence charge in 2014, but was a 5th Round pick a season ago following his final season at West Alabama. Hill went on to have an All-Pro rookie season for the Chiefs. Like Hill's situation, teams will have to decide whether drafting Mixon is worth the risk. If DePodesta and Company look at the talent and production, he may very well be worth the risk.
34. San Francisco 49ers - Obi Melifonwu, 6'4", 220lbs, S, Connecticut
04/15/17 - Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
03/28/17 - Deshone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Niners GM John Lynch has a difficult decision to make at the QB position as he must find the QB of the future after moving on from Colin Kaepernick. If you watch what he and Kyle Shanahan are doing this offseason, you'll quickly see they are completely overhauling a roster that was desperate for talent. Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley are veterans who aren't the long-term answers at QB, but both have starting experience and I don't get the feeling the Niners will rush to take a QB. The Niners need to address their secondary. Trumaine Brock was released following the domestic arrest, so Jimmie Ward may not be moving to safety after all. Yet, the Strong Safety position must be addressed and Melifonwu's freakish athleticism shot him up draft boards, giving him a shot at the 1st Round. Not many people got to see Melifonwu play for a UConn team that struggled mightily throughout his career, but he put everyone on notice at the Combine that he's one of the top athletes in this year's draft. Melifonwu showed why he looks the part, measuring in at 6'4" and 220 pounds, then ran a 4.4 40 time and jumped out of the building with a 44-inch vertical leap. However, Melifonwu is also a productive football player at the safety position, as he has the size to play in the box against the run, but also has the range to play over the top versus the pass. Melifonwu led the Huskies with 128 tackles in 2016 and had seven games with double-digit tackles. He has also picked off 8 passes and broken up 16 passes in his collegiate career. Adding him to the roster gives the Niners some flexibility with both Ward and Melifonwu possessing the athleticism and skills to play both corner and Safety.
35. Jacksonville Jaguars - Evan Engram, 6'3", 234lbs, TE, Mississippi
04/15/17 - Evan Engram, TE, Mississippi
03/28/17 - Evan Engram, TE, Mississippi
The Jags traded Julius Thomas, their primary pass-catching threat at TE, while the production of the aging Marcedes Lewis has continued to decline over the last few seasons. Engram is a versatile threat wherever you line him up, whether it's outside, in the slot, on the line at TE or even in the backfield at the H-back position. He was Ole Miss's leading receiver in 2016 with 65 receptions for 926 yards and 8 TD. The Mackey Award finalist then posted a blazing 4.42 40 time at the Combine, which would have tied him for 5th fastest among WR's. Engram is quick out of his break to create separation and was a constant threat in the slot for the Rebels. Adding Engram to the passing attack would put added stress vertically, which should help free up WR's on the outside.
36. Chicago Bears - Marlon Humphrey, 6'0", 197lbs, CB, Alabama, RS Soph.
04/22/17 - Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
04/15/17 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
03/28/17 - Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
Chicago has a hole at the Safety position and if Jamal Adams isn't taken with the 3rd overall pick, Obi Melifonwu or Washington's Budda Baker might be the pick at the top of the 2nd Round. Another need area is the corner position as the Bears are sorely lacking a playmaker on the outside. Chicago has managed to pick off only eight passes in each of the last two seasons, which put them 31st in the league for both seasons. Marlon Humphrey burst onto the scene as a freshman, starting all 15 games for the vaunted Bama defense, picking off 3 Int. and breaking up another 8 passes. Pro Football Focus noted he gave up 31 receptions on 62 passes thrown his way for 539 yards and 2 TD, but over the last five games, held receivers to just 80 total yards. Humphrey does a good job getting over the top of routes and utilizing his length to get a hand in to knock the ball away. He does a good job driving on the ball and isn't afraid to deliver a blow when he gets there. Humphrey also has NFL bloodlines, as he's the son of former RB Bobby Humphrey. A glaring weakness that is keeping Humphrey from 1st Round consideration is the stiffness in his hips. He struggles to get out of his back pedal to turn and run with the WR. Humphrey's aggressiveness also gets the better of him as he'll bite on fakes. However, when he's in position, he can make a WR really work hard to make the catch and can play in the perimeter, which is just what the Bears need.
37. Los Angeles Rams - Zay Jones, 6'2", 202lbs, WR, East Carolina
04/15/17 - Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
03/28/17 - Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
The Rams are without a 1st Round pick after trading up to select Jared Goff with the 1st overall selection last year, so the Sean McVay era begins in the 2nd Round. New defensive coordinator is bringing his vaunted 34 defense to Los Angeles.
Connor Barwin was brought in to play opposite Robert Quinn, but don't rule out the possibility of Alabama's Tim Williams here. Williams is one of this draft's top pass rushers, but off-field issues and an inability to consistently play the run might push him into the 2nd Round, making him a potential target for the Rams. Corner may be a bigger area of need, especially if they trade Trumaine Johnson, who received the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. If they decide to go CB, I expect the Rams to look in their own backyard and take former USC Trojan Adoree' Jackson, who would not only provide depth at CB, but is also explosive in the return game, which would take pressure off Tavon Austin, who has largely struggled to make plays. However, this pick has to be used on the offensive side of the ball as Goff needs more weapons. Adding veteran Robert Woods is a good start, but with Austin primarily in the slot, they need a playmaker on the outside. While USC's JuJu Smith-Schuster may also be a factor, Zay Jones has been rising up draft boards following a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl. He showcased straight-line speed, excellent route running, an ability to high point and attack the ball in the air and the body control to make the circus catch. Jones seemed to catch everything thrown his way, setting an FBS record for career receptions with 399 and his 158 catches in 2016 is the single-season record. Jones showed on numerous occasions he can get vertical and elevate over defenders down the field. He does a really good job sinking his hips and exploding out of breaks to create separation. Jones has exceptional hands and extends his arms in front of him to make the catch away from his body so the defender can't make a play on the ball. He also has a high football IQ with NFL bloodlines as his father is former NFL LB Robert Jones. Jones' stock is continuing to rise to a point where I wouldn't be surprised if he's off the board before this pick.
38. Los Angeles Chargers - JuJu Smith-Schuster, 6'1", 215lbs, WR, USC, Jr.
04/15/17 - Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
03/28/17 - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
The Chargers may still look for the heir apparent to Philip Rivers and Patrick Mahomes makes the most sense, but adding a WR makes even more sense, especially with Keenan Allen struggling to stay healthy. Tyrell Williams was a 1,000-yard receiver last season and Dontrelle Inman and Travis Benjamin were very productive, but the Bolts lacked that threat down the field with Allen out. Smith-Schuster is a playmaker on the outside, displaying a knack for going up and getting the ball while using his body to shield the ball from defenders. He has good body control and strong hands to make the difficult catch look easy. Smith-Schuster does not possess elite vertical speed, but his 4.54 40 time was much quicker than expected. He gets most of his separation late, using his physicality to put distance between himself and the defender. And Smith-Schuster can make plays after the catch, making the first defender miss with quick feet, offering a powerful stiff arm to get by then running through tackles for extra yards. He may also be the toughest WR in this year'd draft. In 2015, Smith-Schuster broke his hand midway through the season against Cal and it was reported that he was out indefinitely. However, he had surgery the following Tuesday, placing screws and a metal plate in his hand. Smith-Schuster didn't miss any time, not only taking the field on Saturday against Arizona, but also caught 8 passes for 138 yards and 1 TD in the game. Then as a junior, Smith-Schuster had to deal with back spasms and a hip flexor injury throughout the majority of the year. Yet his competitive fire and love of the game wouldn't let him sit. He'd take the field, make a play then have a hard time getting up before being taken to the sideline. A few plays later, sure enough, Juju was back on the field. There is much talk about USC WR's and their lack of success at the next level in recent years, but I believe JuJu is a different type of player.
39. New York Jets - Quincy Wilson, 6'1", 211lbs, CB, Florida, Jr.
04/22/17 - Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
04/15/17 - Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
03/28/17 - Carl Lawson, DE/OLB, Auburn
The Jets must find a replacement for Darrelle Revis at some point in this draft and if they don't land Marshon Lattimore in Round One, they could opt for another redshirt sophomore early on Day 2. Wilson proved at Florida he can be a lock-down press corner on the perimeter. He's physical off the snap, getting his hands quickly on the WR to jam him and throw him off his route. He does a good job running in phase with the receiver down the field, gets his head around to quickly locate the ball in the air, then times his jump well to make a play. Wilson has the ball skills to make a play in the ball, finishing with 6 Int. in his career, and his 14 pass breakups proves he can use his length to his advantage when the ball is in the air. Wilson shows good instincts and route recognition in coverage, getting over the top of the routes down the field and undercutting routes underneath.
40. Carolina Panthers - Antonio Garcia, 6'6", 302lbs, OT/OG, Troy
04/15/17 - Antonio Garcia, OT/OG, Troy
03/28/17 - Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
Carolina needed to fill a hole at LT and signed oft-injured Matt Kalil, who has struggled mightily even when he was healthy. The Panthers could be on the market for an insurance policy. Antonio Garcia is one of the better OT's in this draft, but he didn't receive much hype while playing at Troy. Garcia dominated in pass protection, not giving up a sack in over 900 snaps. He is very quick out of his stance and his light on his feet, easily kick sliding to keep his man in front. He beats the DE to the edge and does a good job riding him away from the pocket. Garcia can also get dirty and plays with a bit of a mean streak. You see the punch at the point of attack and you can bet he'll sustain his block to the whistle. In the run game, Garcia has the hips to quickly turn and seal off his man and is agile to climb to the second level to make blocks. There has been concerns with Garcia's weight, as he fluctuated between 280 and 290 pounds, but he tipped the scales at 302 pounds, showing his body can hold the weight necessary to play OT in the NFL. There were also concerns about his length as some talked of Garcia possibly kicking inside to OG, but his arm length measured in at 33 3/8 inches, which is adequate for the OT position. I think if Garcia is picked here, he'll be starting in place of Kalil before the season is over.
41. Cincinnati Bengals - Tyus Bowser, 6'3", 247lbs, OLB, Houston
04/15/17 - Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston
03/28/17 - Raekwon McMillan, MLB, Ohio State
The Bengals are in the midst of a change at the LB position after signing Kevin Minter and subsequently releasing Rey Maualuga to man the middle of the defense. However, Minter was only signed to a one-year deal, so Cincy is likely still looking for their future at the position. Reuben Foster will get a long look on Day One with the 9th overall pick and you can expect Raekwon McMillan of Ohio State to be on the Bengals' radar at No. 41. I think Cincy does go LB here, but there's a chance the signing of Miller will allow the focus to shift outside. Vontaze Burfict is entrenched as a starter, but they can use an upgrade over safety/linebacker hybrid Marquis Flowers. Bowser is a quick-twitch athlete who bends well around the edge often getting under the OT's pad level to turn the corner. He also shows active hands, often slapping the OT's hands aside to allow him to get to the edge. Bowser missed four games this past season following a broken orbital bone he received in a fight with a teammate, but still managed to register 8.5 sacks in just eight games played. Bowser showed he can set the edge against the run and stays at home on the backside. He even displayed athleticism in space against the pass at the Combine, showing speed to get to the edge to bring down RB De'Veon Smith on a swing pass after just a short gain. While OL and WR will garner serious consideration here, they can still find value for each in later rounds, while the drop-off at LB into the 3rd Round will make it easy for Cincy to take Bowser here as he'd be able to add to the Bengal pass rush and improve their athleticism at the LB position.
42. New Orleans Saints - Chris Godwin, 6'1", 209lbs, WR, Penn State, Jr.
04/15/17 - Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
03/28./17 - Tarell Basham, DE, Ohio
The Saints traded away their top receiver in Brandin Cooks and while they signed veteran Ted Ginn, Jr. to be a vertical threat, he's not going to replace Cooks' production. The Saints hit a home run in the 2nd Round of last year's draft when they drafted Michael Thomas, who has the makings of a legitimate No. 1 WR in the league. However, with Ginn, Jr. manning the slot and Willie Snead is versatile and can play in a lot of different spots on the field, but he's entering the final year of his contract and is not a legitimate starter on the outside. Drew Brees spreads the ball around, completing at least 20 passes to eight different players in 2016, so drafting another WR makes sense. Godwin has the size to play on the outside and the speed to be a deep threat. Godwin finished his career with 2421 yards and 18 TD, but he entered the draft following the show he put on in the epic Rose Bowl against USC. Godwin finished with 9 receptions for 187 yards and 2 TD while repeatedly turning Adoree' Jackson around and getting vertical to beat the Trojans deep. Godwin can stretch defenses, as his 4.42 40 time at the Combine will attest. He's a sharp route runner with quick cuts to create separation, has tremendous body control and has a large catch radius. Godwin isn't as talked about as some of the top WR's, but he has the ability to make plays on the outside and would fit well with what New Orleans is trying to do on offense.
43. Philadelphia Eagles - Chidobe Awuzie, 6'0", 202lbs, CB, Colorado
04/22/17 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
04/15/17 - Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
03/28/17 - Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
The Eagles lost both starting CB's from a year ago as Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll signed elsewhere in free agency. While Patrick Robinson was signed, Philly still needs a boundary corner and Chidobe Awuzie has a chance to compete with Jalen Mills and Ron Brooks for a starting spot early in his career. Awuzie is a veteran CB who filled the stat sheet in his four years with the Buffaloes. Awuzie registeted 265 tackles, 25 of which were behind the line, 9 sacks, 3 Int., 25 pass breakups, 6 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. His instincts are evident as he does a tremendous job reading the route and puts himself in position to make a play. He does a tremendous job trusting his eyes, breaking quickly on the ball to undercut the route. He also reads throws in front of him in zone coverage, allowing him to drive quickly on the ball before wrapping up the receiver in the open field. Awuzie also has experience at corner, nickel and safety, which will make him a valuable commodity at the next level.
44. Buffalo Bills - Teez Tabor, 6'0", 199lbs, CB, Florida, Jr.
04/22/17 - Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
04/15/17 - Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
03/28/17 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
The Bills have a clear need at CB now that Stephone Gilmore has left and with the only move this offseason was bringing in Leonard Johnson from Carolina, it's clear Buffalo intends to find depth and starter potential through the draft. Tabor is a 1st Round talent who has amassed 8 Int. and 18 pass breakups in just three seasons with the Gators. He emerged on everyone's draft radar after largely outplaying eventual 1st Round pick Vernon Hargreaves III as a sophomore in 2015. Tabor is a ballhawk with good length and closing speed. He has good feet, fluid hips and is in phase down the field, putting him in position to make a play on the football. Tabor is a bit of a handful off the field and his draft stock took a hit at the Combine following a disappointing 4.62 40 time and was said to have run slower at his pro day, though Tabor insists he has been dealing with hamstring issues. However, Tabor is a pure cover corner who can make plays and could wind up being a steal.
45. Arizona Cardinals - Cordrea Tankersley, 6'1", 199lbs, CB, Clemson, Jr.
04/15/17 - Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
03/28/17 - Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
Arizona is looking for depth at the CB position and someone who can play on the outside opposite All-Pro Patrick Peterson. Marcus Cooper left in free agency, Justin Bethel is more of a return specialist and Brandon Williams ha his share of struggles when trying to take over the stating spot. Tankersley has good size for the position and is very fluid in his transitions when he turns to run with the WR. He shows off good ball skills in coverage and uses his length to get a hand in to make a play. Tankersley hauled in 9 Int. and knocked away another 20 passes in the last two seasons. He also proved he can line up against bigger WR's, as he held the 6'6" Bucky Hodges of Virginia Tech to just one reception when they went head-to-head in the ACC Championship. Tankersley does need to work on his tackling in space and too often played too far off the line in off coverage, which allowed easy receptions in front of him.
46. Indianapolis Colts - Dorian Johnson, 6'5", 300lbs, OG, Pittsburgh
04/15/17 - Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
03/28/17 - Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
If the Colts pass on Forrest Lamp in Round One, you can expect this pick to be used on an OG to help protect Andrew Luck and help improve a running game that finished 23rd in the league a season ago. Johnson was a fixture at the LG position for the Panthers, finishing his career with 39 consecutive starts. He was a key part of an O-line that gave up just nine sacks in 2016, which was 3rd fewest in the FBS. The All-ACC OG is very agile, showing the athleticism to pull in the running game as a lead blocker and can climb to the second level under control. He has power in his hands to provide a jolting punch at the point and he'll lock out his 35-inch arms to keep his man in front of him. Johnson also has good balance with an ability to anchor. Johnson will be a starter for a long time and should be in the lineup Week One.
47. Baltimore Ravens - Tim Williams, 6'3", 244lbs, OLB, Alabama, Jr.
04/15/17 - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
03/28/17 - Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
If the Ravens go receiver with their 1st pick, you have to expect No. 47 overall will be used on pass rush help. There's no doubt that Williams is one of the premier pass rushers in this year's draft as few players have his first-step quickness. Williams was tremendously productive rushing the passer for the Tide, recording 18.5 sacks in the last two seasons. He does a good job using his hands quickly to get off blocks and can redirect without any wasted movement. There are concerns about Williams' ability to play the run. He even came back for his senior season to prove he's more than just a pass-rush specialist. While Williams showed an ability to set the edge and can pursue the ball in space, he struggled with any consistency and was ultimately used almost exclusively on passing downs. Williams did not drop in coverage often for Bama, finishing without an Int. and just 3 pass breakups in his career. Williams also admitted to failing multiple drug tests while at Alabama, so off-field concerns will also drive him down in the draft. However, he's being brought in to get after the passer and there are few players better in this draft to do that.
48. Minnesota Vikings - Dion Dawkins, 6'4", 314lbs, OG/OT, Temple
04/15/17 - Dorian Johnson, OG, Pittsburgh
03/28/17 - Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
With word that Teddy Bridgewater will likely miss the 2017 season as well, it is critical the Vikings protect Sam Bradford if they want to challenge for the NFC North title. Minnesota continues its overhaul of its offensive line after signing Mike Remmers and Riley Reiff to take over at OT. Temple's Dion Dawkins was a three-year starter and an All-AAC selection at LT. While he showed decent feet in space as a pass protector, he'll be better suited inside in short areas where he can take advantage of his power. Dawkins is physical at the point of attack, has a violet punch at the point of attack to get his man off balance and has the wide base and leg drive to generate movement in the run game. Dawkins was able to cave in the left side of the line and can also stand up his man at the point of attack with leverage and hand placement under the defender's pad level. He'd be a perfect fit at RG and could even fill in at RT in a pinch.
49. Washington Redskins - Alvin Kamara, 5'10", 214lbs, RB, Tennessee, Jr.
04/15/17 - Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
03/28/17 - Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
Alvin Kamara has a legitimate shot at the 1st Round, but expect the Redskins to pounce on him should he be available at this point on Day 2. Rob Kelley is at the top of the depth chart, and while he filled in well after Matt Jones struggled to hold onto the ball, he's not the versatile back that Kamara is. Kamara began his career with Alabama, but a knee injury and a traffic arrest led to a season at Hutchinson Community College before coming to Knoxville, where he shared time in the backfield with Jalen Hurd for the bulk of the last two seasons. Hurd ultimately suffered a knee injury and left the team, which thrusted Kamara into the spotlight. Kamara ran a 4.56 40 time at the Combine, which was somewhat disappointing, but he also showcased lower-body explosiveness as he led all RB's with his 39-inch vertical leap and jumping 10 feet, 11 inches in the broad jump. While Kamara never carried the ball more than 20 times in his career, he proved to be a three-down back for the Vols. Kamara does a good job pressing the hole before a quick lateral cut allows him to shoot the gap to get to the second level. He does a good job cutting off blocks without losing speed and has the acceleration to get to the second level in a hurry. Kamara may be an even better receiver, having caught 74 passes with 7 TD in just two seasons. He had 14 games with at least 3 receptions in his career, including 3 games with at least 7 receptions in 2016. He has tremendous hands and is a solid route runner, showing an ability to get inside the LB to make a play on the football. Kamara may be a smooth athlete, but he also fumbled the ball five times in 11 games as a junior, so he must work on securing the ball by keeping it high and tight. Kamara has the versatility required of an every-down back and would be expected to take over the starting spot in training camp.
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jabrill Peppers, 5'11", 213lbs, S, Michigan, Jr.
04/15/17 - Jabril Peppers, S, Michigan
03/28/17 - Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
After starting the likes of Chris Conte, Bradley McDougald and Keith Tandy at Safety, you can expect Tampa to be upgrading the position this offseason. J.J. Wilcox was brought in from Dallas in free agency, but the Bucs need an impact safety from the draft. Peppers was the ultimate Swiss Army knife for the Wolverines, having played 11 different positions in 2016. Peppers is a sideline-to-sideline player against the run and often uses his speed to outflank blockers and get to the edge. He does a good job diagnosing run plays and knifes downhill with quick acceleration to make a play in the backfield. Peppers also has cover skills, showing he can line up WR's in the slot and can handle TE's. He does a good job redirecting receivers. He also showed off some return ability, showing a good feel for cutting back against the pursuit. However, while Peppers lined up at so many positions, he was not a master of any. While Peppers was a Bednarik ward finalist, the production didn't back it up. He did make 13 tackles for loss, but only dropped the QB 3 times and recorded just 1 Int. As a sophomore, where he was primarily lined up at Safety, Peppers did break up 10 passes, but failed to pick off a pass. Peppers struggled with reading plays and was often a step slow to react. The aggressiveness that gives him success in the run game hurts him against the pass, often getting out of position. That's why he's no longer receiving much 1st Round consideration. But, it would be interesting to see what Peppers can do when he's focused on only one position.
51. Denver Broncos - Jarrad Davis, 6'1", 238lbs, LB, Florida
04/15/17 - Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
03/28/17 - Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
While undrafted free agent Todd Davis filled in admirably starting at ILB next to Brandon Marshall, he's more of a role player, which means the Broncos will be on the market for an inside backer early in this year's draft. If Jarrad Davis were healthy during his entire career at Florida, he'd likely be in the 1st Round discussion. However, a torn meniscus and an ankle sprain held him out of action in 2014 and 2016. During his only full season on the field with the Gators, Davis did not disappoint, registering 94 tackles, 11 for loss, 3 sacks, an Int. and 4 pass breakups in 14 games. He played both the MIKE and the WILL in college, giving him some versatility at the next level. He's instinctive with sideline-to-sideline range. He quickly diagnoses run plays then shoots gaps downhill to the ball carrier. Davis is also a big hitter, laying the lumber while also wrapping up with textbook form. Davis does a good job getting depth in coverage and reads the QB's eyes to take him to the football. He's extremely active along the inside of a defense, something Denver has been lacking.
52. Cleveland Browns (from Tennessee) - Cooper Kupp, 6'2", 204lbs, WR, Eastern Washington
04/15/17 - JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
03/28/17 - JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
If Cleveland expects to improve upon the 30th-ranked offense, they'll have to bring in weapons for whoever plays QB. Terrelle Pryor was surprisingly the top target for the Browns' QB-by-committee of a season ago and promptly moved on to Washington after recording a 1,000-yard season. The next three leading receivers were TE Gary Barnidge and RB's Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell. Corey Coleman was drafted in the 1st Round a year ago, but injuries slowed his development and he only saw action in 10 games as a rookie. Coleman will be expected to have a breakout year in 2017, while the team did bring in Kenny Britt, who had his most productive year a season ago, the Browns will have to add another wideout at some point on Day 2. Adding Kupp here would give the Browns a complementary receiver who has the versatility to make plays all over the field. Kupp is the all-time leading WR in FCS history, hauling in 428 passes for 6,464 yards and 73 TD for Eastern Washington. To put the numbers in perspective, he finished with four straight seasons of 1400+ yards and fell just 7 receptions shy his freshman year from having four consecutive seasons with 100+ TD. He also had at least 16 TD in every season with the Eagles. Want more numbers? Kupp had 16 games with double-digit receptions, 31 games of 100+ yards receiving, 6 games with over 200 yards receiving and 24 games with multiple receiving TD. But what Kupp do against FBS competition? In four games against Pac-12 schools (Oregon State, Washington, Oregon and Washington State), Kupp caught 40 passes for 716 yards and 11 TD. Kupp is very sudden off the line to get a clean release, often using a jab step or a stutter at the snap before getting by his man. He is a polished route runner, sinking his hips to quickly get out of cuts to generate separation. Kupp has a tremendous feel for where the DB is on the field, using his body to shield the defender from the ball. He's not afraid to go over the middle, finds soft spots in zone coverage and times his jumps well to high point passes up the sideline. He can adjust to the ball in the air and has exceptional body control along the sideline to get both feet inbounds. Kupp has a huge catch radius, attacking the ball in the air and plucking it with his hands away from his body. Kupp's 4.62 40 at the Combine won't turn heads, but he proved to have deceptive speed at the Combine, consistently beating corners on the outside.
53. Detroit Lions - Ahkello Witherspoon, 6'3", 198lbs, CB, Colorado
04/15/17 - Cordrea, Tankersley, CB, Clemson
03/28/17 - Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
This pick could easily be used on a WR as Anquan Boldin is a free agent and while he might be back, he's not there long term and depth is a huge concern behind Golden Tate and Marvin Jones. However, I think this is a reach for the likes of Louisiana Tech's Carlos Henderson. LB is another need area because even though Paul Worrilow was brought in, they still need someone who can make plays. Florida's Alex Anzalone should get a look from Detroit because of his versatility, but I think this would be a round too soon. The secondary has been an area that always seems to be talked about as a need area for the Lions and this year is no exception. Detroit has Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson on the outside, Quandre Diggs in the slot while D.J. Hayden, who arrived after struggling in Oakland, can play both positions. Of the four, only Slay is at least six feet in height, so you can expect Detroit will be looking for a bigger corner to battle Lawson and Hayden for the starting spot opposite Slay. While much of the focus was on Chidobe Awuzie in Boulder, Witherspoon was quietly putting together a monster season with an FBS-best 22 pass breakups. At 6'3", Witherspoon has rare size for the CB position. He uses his length to his advantage to not only get his hands quickly on the WR off the snap, but to also get a hand in to make a play on the football. There were questions about his speed because of his height, but he answered those by running a 4.46 40 time, which is solid for a prospect his size. His change of direction skills were also given a plus after running a 4.15 short shuttle, a time that was good for 8th among DB's. Witherspoon positions his body well up the sideline with inside leverage, squeezing the WR to the sideline. He also does a good job reading the QB's eyes, trusting what he sees and drives quickly on the ball to make a play. Witherspoon is one of the more underrated prospects in this year's draft and I wouldn't be surprised if he takes over a starting spot early in his career.
54. Miami Dolphins - Raekwon McMillan, 6'2", 240lbs MLB, Ohio State, Jr.
04/15/17 - Raekwon McMillan, MLB, Ohio State
03/28/17 - Dorian Johnson, OG, Pittsburgh
Cameron Wake had double-digit sacks a season ago for the fifth time in his career, but he's going to need help putting pressure on the QB. Andre Branch, who had 5.5 sacks last year, is back and the Fins signed William Hayes, who averaged just over 5 sacks in his five seasons with the Rams. The Dolphins need another pass rusher, so don't rule out Ohio's Tarell Basham here. However, the LB posiotion may be a bigger need. Yes, Lawrence Timmons was brought in to likely start as the SAM backer, but the incumbent in the middle, Kiko Alonso, will likely be moved to the WILL. While the moves upgrade the position over Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins, they need to find someone to patrol the middle of that defense. Raekwon McMillan was the leader of the Ohio State defense, manning the middle of the defense for the better part of three years for the Buckeyes. He has a nose for the football with the ability to diagnose plays and quickly react to what he sees. McMillan fills holes downhill and has enough speed to chase down ball carriers to the perimeter. He flows well to the ball laterally and uses his hands well in traffic to get off blocks. McMillan finished with back-to-back seasons with over 100 tackles, leading the Buckeyes in both seasons. He's also an effective blitzer, showing good timing and a knack for reading QB movements to quickly affect the pass. McMillan may have some limitations in space, but he does a good job reading the QB's eyes in coverage and knows how to make a play on the ball, having recorded 10 career pass breakups. Questions swirl about his athleticism. The Combine proved McMillan has straight-line speed, as his 4.61 40 time was third fastest among LB's. However, his 7.15 time in the 3-cone drill was 13th among the 17 LB's that chose to run the drill, which furthers questions about his lateral agility. Teams should focus on the game tape, which showed McMillan is instinctive with a nose for the ball and can be a three-down LB at the next level.
55. New York Giants - Malik McDowell, 6'6", 295lbs, DT, Michigan State, Jr.
04/15/17 - Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
03/28/17 - Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
The Giants are expected to address the interior of the defensive line now that Johnathan Hankins is a free agent and is likely out the door. McDowell is one of the more physically-imposing figures in this year's draft. When he gets off the bus, he absolutely looks the part. However, questions abound whether there's a desire to play the game that runs deep. McDowell is a force when lined up one-on-one, using quickness off the ball and power at the point of attack to beat his man and penetrate the line of scrimmage. He has proven he can dominate the point of attack when his motor is running hot. However, too often his pad level will get too high, stifling his pass rush, but you don't see the consistent effort to pursue the ball. McDowell burst on the scene as a sophomore in 2015, finishing with 4.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Big things were expected from him as a junior and while injuries did slow some of his production, he made fewer plays behind the line of scrimmage. What's odd is that while McDowell has a long wingspan, he has yet to get his hand up in the passing lane to break up a single pass in his career. However, if the Giants can get him to play with consistent effort, he may be a steal on Day 2.
56. Oakland Raiders - Caleb Brantley, 6'3", 307lbs, DT, Florida, Jr.
04/15/17 - Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
03/28/17 - Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Charlotte
The Raiders finished the season with a league-low 25 sacks despite having the preeminent edge rusher in Khalil Mack. Oakland needs to address the pass rush along the interior of the defensive front and Brantley is disruptive enough to plug in along the interior. Brantley is known for his explosive first step off the ball. He shoots the gap right off the snap and has active hands to quickly get off blocks to penetrate the line of scrimmage. He does a good job transitioning speed to power to drive his man into the backfield. Brantley isn't as effective when his pad level gets too high. He has a tendency to stand straight up off the snap, which could leave him exposed to be stood up and his momentum completely stifled. Brantley did make a lot of plays behind the line, finishing with 29.5 stops behind the line and 5.5 sacks in his Gaotr career. He could bring some much-needed quickness to the interior of the Raider D-line.
57. Houston Texans - Patrick Mahomes, 6'2", 225lbs, QB, Texas Tech, Jr.
04/15/17 - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
03/28/17 - Duke Riley, ILB, LSU
Houston ended the disaster of Brock Osweiler at QB when they traded him to Cleveland this offseason. That move left Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden as the only QB's o the roster. Speculation swirled that Tony Romo would be headed to Houston, but he chose a broadcast career at CBS instead. GM Rick Smith has not drafted a QB in the first three rounds since coming to the Texans, but that will have to change. I do think the Texans will be patient and select the right QB at the right time. That guy just might be Patrick Mahomes, a gunslinger who has all of the physical talent but plays with a backyard football mentality and doesn't always play within the confines of an offense. Mahomes put up video game-type numbers in Texas Tech's air raid offense, throwing for over 11,000 yards and 93 TD in 32 games. Mahomes has a rocket for an arm, which allows him to place the ball in tight windows, often splitting defenders to hit a WR breaking free in stride. He has good pocket presence, feeling the rush and then using his mobility to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes down the field. Mahomes will often change his arm angle on the run, even bringing the ball down to his hip, to get the needed velocity to throw an accurate pass down the football field. It doesn't matter if he's standing in the pocket, rolling left or right, moving toward the line or throwing off his back foot, he'll get the ball to his WR and often puts the ball where only his WR can make a play. However, Mahomes is also a work in progress. QB's in the air raid offense don't usually translate well to the next level. Mahomes seemed to thrive when plays broke down, but many throws were made without setting his feet and he had a habit of throwing late across his body, often into coverage. Too often he'd either get bailed out by his WR or by a DB that got lost in coverage. Mahomes needs to harness the gunslinger mentality a bit, but he has an elite arm, easily the best in the draft, and the athleticism to be the standout of this QB class. Plus, the Texans land an in-state product, which would be great for its fan base.
58. Seattle Seahawks - Taylor Moton, 6'5", 319lbs, OT, Western Michigan
04/15/17 - Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan
03/28/17 - Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan
Seattle gave up 42 sacks in 2016, which was the 6th highest total in the league, a statistic that is not all that surprising considering their starting OT's in the playoffs were George Fant and Garry Gilliam. Luke Joeckel, former No. 2 overall pick of the Jaguars, has been brought in to protect Russell Wilson's blindside, but there is still a hole at RT. Enter Western Michigan's Taylor Moton. The four-year starter with the Broncos who has experience at both RT and RG plays with tremendous power, which allows him to dominate the point of attack. He engages his man quickly off the ball using his length, driving into his man and then finishing the block by sending his man to the ground. Moton can play with good leverage in the run game, getting underneath the defender's pad level to stand him up and drive him back. Moton is not always that quick out of his stance and tends to lunge, which causes him to bend at his waist, but he has the lateral quickness to recover and once he gets his hands on his man, he's not going anywhere. Many have Moton pegged as an OG at the next level, but his performance at the Combine proved he has the movement skills to line up at RT. He showed good feet laterally, stayed square on the kick slide drill and was very smooth in the mirror drill. He'd fit into what Seattle is looking for up front.
59. Kansas City Chiefs - Zach Cunningham, 6'3", 234lbs, ILB, Vanderbilt, Jr.
04/15/17 - Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
03/28/17 - Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
Enter Zach Cunningham, who was a tackling machine for the Commodores. He finished his career with 256 tackles, including an SEC-best 125 in 2016. Cunningham has tremendous range sideline to sideline, often running down ball carriers from the opposite side of the field. He has a nose for the ball, diagnosing plays quickly, and is able to use his length to stack and shed linemen to wrap up the ball carrier. Cunningham does a good job shooting gaps into the backfield, having recorded 36 tackles for loss in his career. He also has a knack for making plays on the football with 6 forced fumbles while recovering also recovering 7. What's concerning is the fact that he has yet to register a sack in his career and while he broke up 6 passes, did not record a single Int. Cunningham will be seen as a two-down defender until he can prove he can make a consistent impact against the pass.
60. Dallas Cowboys - Budda Baker, 5'10", 195lbs, SS, Washington, Jr.
04/15/17 - Budda Baker, S, Washington
03/28/17 - Budda Baker, S, Washington
Expect the Cowboys to focus on a pass defense that finished last season giving up over 260 yards per game, a mark that was 26th in the league. Barry Church left in free agency to Jacksonville, which means SS is a need, especially considering Jeff Heath is not a starter. Dallas already has one Safety who can play all over the field in Byron Jones, who is able to line up against TE's and slot WR's. Adding Baker to the fold, a heat-seeking missile with tremendous flexibility and range, would give the Cowboys two instinctive athletes in the back end of their defense that can make plays all over the field. Baker has incredible instincts in coverage, reading QB eyes and quickly making a break on the ball. He filled up the stat line as a junior with 70 tackles, 9.5 of those went for a loss, 3 sacks, 2 Int. and 5 pass breakups. Combining Baker with Jones in the back end of the defense will give the Cowboys a pair of versatile safeties who can cover a lot of ground.Baker has incredible instincts in coverage, reading QB eyes and quickly making a break on the ball. He filled up the stat line as a junior with 70 tackles, 9.5 of those went for a loss, 3 sacks, 2 Int. and 5 pass breakups. Combining Baker with Jones in the back end of the defense will give the Cowboys a pair of versatile safeties who can cover a lot of ground.
61. Green Bay Packers - Fabian Moreau, 6'0", 206lbs, CB, UCLA
04/15/17 - Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
03/28/17 - Marlon Humprhey, CB, Alabama
Green Bay will be looking for a boundary corner to play opposite Davon House, which would allow Damarious Randall and Ladarius Gunter to line up in the slot. Moreau is a fluid athlete who is able to easily turn his hips and run with the wideout. He does a great job pinning the WR to the sideline and gets his head around quickly to locate the ball. Moreau isn't easily fooled, showing discipline by not going for QB pump fakes. He has the speed and change of direction skills to drive quickly on the ball in off coverage. Moreau is very patient when the ball is in the air, making plays on the ball look easily. He only managed 3 Int., but did break up 21 passes in his career with the Bruins. Moreau tore his pectoral muscle during the bench press at UCLA's pro day, but he is expected to be ready to by training camp.
62. Pittsburgh Steelers - Derek Rivers, DE/OLB, 6'4", 248lbs, Youngstown State
04/15/17 - Derek Rivers, DE/OLB, Youngstown State
03/28/17 - Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston
James Harrison may be 38 years old, but the ageless wonder is still under contract for the next two years, which means now is the time to find his future replacement to play opposite Bud Dupree in Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme. Few pass rushers in this year's draft had the success of Youngstown State's Derek Rivers who finished with 38.5 sacks and another 48 hits on the QB. He's a twitchy athlete off the edge, using speed to get to the QB. His 56.5 career tackles for loss is further proof that Rivers knows how to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He combines an explosive first step with the hip flexibility to bend and run the arc quickly and excellent hand play to get off blocks to shoot into backfields in a hurry to put pressure on the QB. Rivers is relentless in his pursuit of the QB, as he keeps working to the outside and back up the field to make a pay on the ball. He showed he could set the edge against the run, not allowing the RB to get outside him due to his lateral quickness outside. Rivers has the ability to be an elite pass rusher at the next level.
63. Atlanta Falcons - Tarell Basham, 6'4", 269lbs, DE, Ohio
04/15/17 - Tarell Basham, DE, Ohio
03/28/17 - Derek Rivers, DE/OLB, Youngstown State
Dan Quinn wants to put pressure on the QB with his front four, but after Brooks Reed, Ra'Shede Hageman and Adrian Clayborn struggled to get after the QB a season ago, he'll want to use one of his first two picks on an edge rusher.
Ohio's Tarell Basham may not be a name the casual football fan is familiar with, but he's one of the more accomplished pass rushers in this year's draft, having recorded 27 sacks in his career. Basham pairs a quick first step with violent hands to convert speed to power to explode off the edge. He uses his hands well to club and rip to quickly get by the OT at the point of attack and has the burst to quickly close on the QB. Basham uses a variety of moves to get off blocks and is relentless in his pursuit of the football. He can also set the edge against the run and takes good angles to the ball carrier. Atlanta could use a high-energy player like Basham. Don't be surprised if he's starting before the year is out.
64. Carolina Panthers (from New England) - Curtis Samuel, 5'11", 196lbs, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
04/15/17 - Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech
03/28/17 - Antonio Garcia, OT/OG, Troy
Cam Newton has big weapons to throw to in Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funches and TE Greg Olsen, but Ted Ginn, Jr. left in free agency, meaning the Panthers need to replace their speed at wideout and their vertical threat may come in the form of Ohio State's Curtis Samuel, who put up a blazing 4.31 40 time at the Combine, second among WR's only to John Ross' record-setting 4.22. He was an electric playmaker for the Buckeyes, both through the air and on the ground. 2016 was a breakout year for Samuel, where he finished with 865 receiving yards and 771 yards on the ground, making him the only FBS player to have over 700 yards in both categories. He also leaves as the only player at Ohio State with over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards. He's also electric in space, using a suddenness to juke defenders in the open field. Samuel would give the Browns a versatile threat in the mold of Percy Harvin, something they currently do not have on their roster.