2017 Official Draft Thread - Round 1

[zoom]

Anyone watched Davis Webb much? I have only seen one game and portions of others. Wondering what others, who have seen more of him, think.

[SDFan]

LOL he's definitely not a tackle we found that out in his first two years and now we are finding out he is not a good guard, he would be serviceable as a backup, too many penalties, and still not a good pass blocker to be a starter and inconsistent in his strong suit which is run blocking.

Man, you're dreaming. Look at the trash we've trotted out there as fill ins the last couple years and add that to the fact the OTs rated and selected ahead of Fluker have all flamed out and fared WORSE. Remember Lane Johnson & Luke Joeckel from that draft and how they can't miss? They were demoted from OT to OG and not setting the world on fire- some calling them Busts. Chance Warmack selected 3 spots above Fluker and rated the best RG in years? He called out his OL coach as unqualified and Tenn refused to pick up his 5th year option, but might consider taking him back and moving him to LG instead. Where's Tyronne Green, Porkchops and Watt? Look at how we overpaid for Franklin, and remember how Vasquez never developed or learned how to run block and we let him walk and was cut after his 2nd contract...

And you're complaining about a guy that could have eaten himself out of the league already but keeps doing everything possible to stay on the field with a great attitude and plays hurt and play multiple positions without complaining? Time to get real on this...

[Formula 21]

NFL Mock Draft 2017: First-round projections
Eddie BrownEddie Brown

The Cleveland Browns are the only NFL team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Don’t fret Dawg Pound. Over the next few weeks, you will surely be joined by other disappointed fans and together you can begin looking forward to the one thing that gives you hope: the NFL draft.

Bowl season arrives in less than a month, so we’re running out of opportunities to see the 2017 draft class perform on the field.

The dog and pony show begins after the games end, so lets enjoy it while we can.

The NFL Draft has become a nice appetizer before our main course in September. A mock version of said draft is meant to educate, and even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.

What follows is an early attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season's draft class, and which teams they'd match up well with considering the current draft order according to NFL.com.

Here's an updated version of my 2017 NFL Mock Draft:　

FIRST ROUND

1. Cleveland (0-11) — Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M, Jr.

Conventional wisdom would have the Browns take a quarterback here. I’ve learned not to group the words conventional, wisdom or Browns together. Remember, they did spend a third-round pick on Cody Kessler last year. Plus, Garrett is the best player in this draft and capable of being a dominant force as an edge rusher at the next level. Many like to compare him to Von Miller — same college and everything! — but that’s a little lazy. He’s bigger and stronger than Miller. An apt comparison could be Jevon Kearse. Top needs: QB, CB, ILB

2. San Francisco (1-9) — DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame, rSo.

It’s not a guarantee Kizer leaves school, and this potential QB class isn’t exactly setting the world on fire. Regardless, he has a rocket arm and can throw an accurate ball anywhere on the field, even under duress. He has prototypical size — 6-foot-4, 230 pounds — and can make plays with his legs, although he shows great poise inside a pocket. Top needs: QB, WR, ILB

3. Jacksonville (2-8) — Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama, Sr.

The Jaguars have invested heavily in their defensive line, but if head coach Gus Bradley learned anything in Seattle as a defensive coordinator, it’s you can never have enough defensive lineman. Allen would have been a first round selection had he entered the draft last year. He made the right choice staying in school because he’s developed into a one-man wrecking-crew who could find himself being drafted even higher than this on draft day. He’s even garnering Heisman attention. Top needs: OL, DT, S

4. Chicago (2-8) — Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina, rJr.

The Bears would be wise to invest in a long-term option at quarterback if a prospect like Trubisky is available. He has excellent size, is very athletic and has a very strong arm. My only concern is he could use a little seasoning and needs to be more consistent with his footwork. Top needs: QB, OT, DB

5. N.Y. Jets (3-7) — Jabrill Peppers, DB, Michigan, rSo.

Peppers is one of the best returners, weakside linebackers, safeties and potentially running backs at the college level — think a healthy, more explosive version of Myles Jack. It’ll take true creativity — something head coach Todd Bowles has — to get the most out of him because his value is his versatility and athleticism. Top needs: CB, OG, LB

6. Cincinnati (3-6-1) — Jamal Adams, SS, LSU, Jr.

The Bengals have obviously missed Reggie Nelson. It’s been four years since a safety has been selected in the top 10 picks of the NFL draft, but when you couple his instincts, size, and the aggressive nature in which he plays, there are not many defensive secondary prospects that look more NFL ready or worthy of such an accolade than Adams. Top needs: OG, S, DL

7. Carolina (4-6) — Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama, Jr.

The Panthers will only go as far as MVP quarterback Cam Newton takes them — which isn’t very far if he’s constantly being buried in the turf. It’s time they finally invest in his protection. Robinson has held his own against the best-of-the-best pass rushers this season: Texas A&M’s Garrett, Tennessee’s Derek Barnett and LSU’s speedy sophomore Arden Key. The only thing that could hold him back next April is his legitimate off-field concerns. He was arrested in May on guns and drug charges, but the charges were later dropped. Top needs: OT, RB, CB

8. Tennessee from Los Angeles (4-6) — Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama, rSo.

The son of former Alabama (and NFL) standout Bobby Humphrey, Marlon features a nice combination of size — 6-1, 205 pounds — athleticism and toughness. Top needs: CB, WR, LB

9. Green Bay (4-6) — Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU, Jr.

What type of dimension would a truly explosive running back like Fournette add to an already high octane passing game led by Aaron Rodgers? Fournette features a freakish combination of size, speed and power reminding many scouts of Adrian Peterson. Personally, he reminds me more of Bo Jackson. Awesome power and breakaway speed are the defining characteristics of both runners. Top needs: CB, OG, RB

10. New Orleans (4-6) — Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee, Jr.

The Saints need all the defensive help they can get. This season, we've seen the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Barnett change games as a pass rusher, beat double-teams, drop into coverage and play a solid run defense. Top needs: DL, LB, CB

11. San Diego (4-6) — Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida, Jr.

Perhaps concussions are starting to catch up to veteran Brandon Flowers. Regardless, pairing a healthy Jason Verrett with another dynamic corner could help this defense take a big step in becoming championship caliber. Tabor is arguably the best cornerback in this draft class because of his elite ball-skills and athleticism. Top needs: OT, WR, S

[CTrout]

Tabor is definitely talented but man he sure has some red flags.....

[OhioBolt]

Man, you're dreaming. Look at the trash we've trotted out there as fill ins the last couple years and add that to the fact the OTs rated and selected ahead of Fluker have all flamed out and fared WORSE. Remember Lane Johnson & Luke Joeckel from that draft and how they can't miss? They were demoted from OT to OG and not setting the world on fire- some calling them Busts. Chance Warmack selected 3 spots above Fluker and rated the best RG in years? He called out his OL coach as unqualified and Tenn refused to pick up his 5th year option, but might consider taking him back and moving him to LG instead. Where's Tyronne Green, Porkchops and Watt? Look at how we overpaid for Franklin, and remember how Vasquez never developed or learned how to run block and we let him walk and was cut after his 2nd contract...

And you're complaining about a guy that could have eaten himself out of the league already but keeps doing everything possible to stay on the field with a great attitude and plays hurt and play multiple positions without complaining? Time to get real on this...

Dude you on something for real, but then again you were the one that keep saying how we need Donald Brown. Fluker was the 11th pick of the draft that year and you make him out to be some Pro Bowler. Being picked at 11 you need more impact out of that player, and when Pulley was in for him we didn't see a big drop off and this is a player who wasn't even drafted. You are the same guy that goes through great links to defend Mante Teo, so your assessments of players are way off.

[Formula 21]

NFL execs tab Jamal Adams as 'safest' draft prospect
NFL talent evaluators love what they see from LSU safety Jamal Adams.

by Chance Linton Nov 23, 2016 • 1 min read Update Nov 23, 2016, 9:52pm

LSU safety Jamal Adams is the one of the top prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft and some talent evaluators also view him as the safest bet to find success in the league.

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah recently asked five NFL personnel executives for their opinion on which of the prospects they've studied this fall is the "safest," to which two responded with Adams.

Here's what they had to say, via NFL.com:

Executive 1: "Adams is an easy evaluation. He's big, fast, explosive, physical, great leader, has hips to cover and excellent football DNA."

Executive 2: "I love Jamal Adams. He has great intangibles. He's a leader. Father (George) was a first-round pick (of the Giants in 1985) and former player -- he understands the league. Tempo setter. Smart, makes all the calls. Solid tackler. Good ball skills."

In 10 games this season, Adams has tallied 65 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder also has one forced fumble and one recovery.

According to CBS Sports, Adams is the top safety prospect and No. 14 overall player in the 2017 NFL Draft.

....

Jamal Adams, SS
School: LSU | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Junior | Hometown: Carrollton, TX
Height/Weight: - / - lbs.
Projected Ranking
Overall Position Proj. Rnd.
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Player Lowdown
Combine Results
40 Yd 20 Yd 10 Yd 225 Bench Vertical jump Broad Shuttle 3-Cone Drill

Workout Results
40 Yd 20 Yd 10 Yd 225 Bench Vertical jump Broad Shuttle 3-Cone Drill
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Mock Draft Expert Analysis

Rang
Brugler
Prisco
Brinson
Dubin

No Analysis Available


Player Overview
The awareness, physicality, agility and natural playmaking skills are all there with Adams and - in part because of Mathieu - NFL teams are placing greater value on the position than ever before. It is possible that with another terrific season, Adams and not Leonard Fournette could wind up being the highest drafted player from LSU next spring - assuming, of course, the true juniors elect to enter the draft early as most anticipate.

The son of former New York Giants first-round pick George Adams (No. 19 overall, 1985) and a dynamic all-purpose threat in high school, Adams signed with LSU amid great fanfare. He only started two games for the Tigers in 2014, but he was a critical part of LSU's nickel package, seeing action in all 13 games. Adams finished the season with 66 tackles, including five tackles for loss (including a sack) and five pass breakups, earning Freshman All-American honors. Of these stops, 10 came on special teams.

Though his tackles numbers were similar as a sophomore (67), Adams emerged as a ballhawk, creating six turnovers with four interceptions and both a forced and recovered fumble. Adams also registered another five tackles for loss and six pass breakups.
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Bent at the knees and eagerly inching forward toward the line of scrimmage pre-snap similar to the way centerfielders on the baseball diamond anticipate the ball being hit, Adams shows rare key and diagnosis skills. He is hyper-aggressive in run support, flying upfield and slipping past blockers to provide the Tigers with almost another linebacker at the point of attack. Belying his lack of starting experience, Adams shows impressive awareness to sniff out misdirection and is a terrific open-field tackler.

Unlike most defenders with his seemingly reckless, kamikaze style of play, Adams never seems out of control. He plays on the balls of his feet and has the flexible joints to change directions and accelerate fluidly. Already possessing good size for the position, Adams plays even bigger than he looks, offering an explosive pop on contact with most of his stops. Better yet, he is also capable of dropping low to take out the legs of ballcarriers threatening to turn the corner. Put simply, Adams has a large strike zone and he doesn't miss often.

Adams is just as instinctive in coverage. His easy athleticism allows him to drop down and play nickel corner, covering slot receivers while keeping his eyes on the quarterback. Adams shows excellent route anticipation, breaking on underneath routes before some of the receivers he's tasked with covering. Quarterbacks rarely challenge him but Adams gets involved in plays anyway by dropping his primary coverage responsibilities once the pass is thrown in a mad (but controlled) dash toward the ball.

WEAKNESSES: Finding relative weaknesses to Adams' game is difficult. He is slightly smaller than scouts would prefer at the position and has been supported by quality cover corners on the outside throughout his time at LSU.

He shows great trust in his teammates, sacrificing himself to funnel ballcarriers back inside toward the rest of the defense rather than attempting to make every tackle on his own. In doing this, however, Adams appears to take very risky angles to the ball and can lose sight of it, at times. Often put in a position to "shadow" mobile quarterbacks, Adams can be a tick late in determining whether to rush upfield or drop back into coverage when they slide out of the pocket.

COMPARES TO: Tyrann Mathieu, FS, Cardinals - Adams is an instinctive and hard-hitting safety already drawing comparisons by some close to the program to another former LSU star. And while earning comparisons to the great Honey Badger is quite the compliment, frankly, it isn't enough. At 6-feet, 211 pounds, Adams is considerably bigger than the 5-9, 186-pound Arizona Cardinals standout and is a much cleaner prospect off the field than Mathieu was at LSU.

Whereas Mathieu's repeated failed drug tests led to his suspension from LSU and slip on draft day, the folks at LSU can't speak highly enough about Adams, who was the first player of the Les Miles era to ever be named a team captain for a game (Louisiana-Monroe) as a true freshman.

IN OUR VIEW: Adams' strengths far outweigh his weaknesses and had he been eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft, he would have been a surefire first-round selection, just like Leonard Fournette. Given that LSU has a new defensive coordinator this season (Dave Aranda), scouts will want to see how well Adams acclimates.

The smart money, though, is on Adams excelling once again and continuing LSU's remarkable run of defensive backs to the NFL via early picks.

[Formula 21]

Exec: Each player in 'Bama front 7 will be picked in Rounds 1 or 2
By Chase Goodbread

The Alabama front seven that has been swallowing opponents whole this season might not have a weak link anywhere.

An NFL personnel executive told NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah that he expects every player in the Crimson Tide's front seven to be selected in the draft's first or second round. That's a mouthful. But is it far-fetched?

Let's dive in first with the seniors who are certain to be available in the 2017 draft.

NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt expects DL Jonathan Allen to be a top-seven pick and sees LB Reuben Foster as a mid-to-late first-round selection. OLB Tim Williams said in January that his draft feedback was in the first- or second-round range, as well. LB Ryan Anderson leads the team in tackles for loss with 8.5, and at times can be just as effective as Williams as a pass rusher. Anderson gave some thought to entering the 2016 draft. Senior DE Dalvin Tomlinson's draft value isn't quite as clear, but he's a stout run-stopper at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, and is now in his third season as a significant contributor on the defensive line.
College Football 24/7 Hot Topics:

Exec: LSU's Adams is my favorite player
Tracking underclassmen intentions for draft
17 players accept Sr. Bowl invites
NFL team fits for top seniors

That leaves just two more in the group, both underclassmen:

LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, and nose tackle Da'Ron Payne.

Payne has been a wrecking ball on the interior of opposing offensive lines, showing impressive strength in shedding blockers, as evidenced here against Tennessee. As for Hamilton, he's only one tackle off the team lead, behind Foster, and already has made 7.5 tackles for loss. Payne is a true sophomore, while Hamilton is a junior.

With Payne not even eligible for the 2017 draft, it will be at least another year and a half, if not more, before the personnel executive's assessment can be fully judged. Regardless of whether they're all selected within two rounds, it's easy to see why the Crimson Tide defense is one of the nation's stingiest.

[SDFan]

Dude you on something for real, but then again you were the one that keep saying how we need Donald Brown. Fluker was the 11th pick of the draft that year and you make him out to be some Pro Bowler. Being picked at 11 you need more impact out of that player, and when Pulley was in for him we didn't see a big drop off and this is a player who wasn't even drafted. You are the same guy that goes through great links to defend Mante Teo, so your assessments of players are way off.

no, I kept explaining to you reasons why the TEAM said they kept Brown around because it wasn't penetrating your skull. Look at the 1st paragraph I wrote: ALL the OL guys rated and selected higher than Fluker in his draft haven't panned out either. That's not my assessment- its historical fact now. Another fact is there is no abundance of guys better than Fluker to replace him with and he plays multiple positions and has the tools and right attitude. You fantasy football kids crack me up always looking to make minute incremental upgrades on paper that don't translate to real world situations the Chargers face. I could be wrong, but I don't see the team creating a hole they don't need to trying to replace him with a questionable new player. IMO Franklin and BarksFail (maybe Dunlap too) should be worried about their jobs, but Fluker? Not so much. Hell if they REALLY are worried about his salary and cap # next year, it wouldn't surprise me 1 bit if they restructured and extended him a couple more years.

[Faded blues]

Best linemen we have in order


Slausen
Flukker
Franklin
Dunlap
The rest of the human population
Barksdale

[BoltBacker]

Best linemen we have in order


Slausen
Flukker
Franklin
Dunlap
The rest of the human population
Barksdale

Have to agree, for all the dumping on Fluker I would be in no rush to get rid of him.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

Pulley did well when he was playing, I'd have him above Franklin.

[Fleet]

Jamal Adams is definitely going to end up in my top 5 cluster. If we draft near 10.