Official 2018 Draft Thread- We Have the 17th Pick

[Formula 21]

[Panamamike]

Some of those games the TE was needed to stay home and block. We were starting a 7th rd rookie due to injury in the right side and playing some very good pass rushers. To a degree it was not done by choice but by necessity.

Ps. We have some of the best TE numbers in the league for years, so that theory does not really hold up IMO.

[Formula 21]

2018 NFL Draft top names to knowOFFENSE

@PFF_Jordan





@PFF_Steve


@PFF_Cam





@PFF_Jordan


@PFF_Steve

@PFF_Jordan


@PFF_Steve

It's early, but RB Penny, WR Scott and OT Crosby would look good in the Powder Blues.

[Formula 21]

It's hard to look at this guy and not see a productive NFL QB. He's accurate, elusive and he's a gamer.

Game Grade vs WVU: 83.4

[Panamamike]

Roquan Smith LB Georgia would B reallllllyyyy good in our d. Unreal speed

[OhioBolt]

Kyle Hick TCU RB might be someone you look at round 4 or 5 he had a better junior year, played through injuries this year

[Formula 21]

Roquan Smith LB Georgia would B reallllllyyyy good in our d. Unreal speed

The latest CBS mock has him going #2 overall. Yep, he's good.

[Formula 21]

The Elite Prospects of the 2018 NFL Draft

Updated Nov. 22, 2017
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

Every year in the NFL draft, there are a few elite prospects who stand out as true blue-chip talents - very rare and special prospects. In most years, that group is around five players give or take a little, and to find out who the elite prospects are for the 2018 NFL Draft, WalterFootball.com reached out to sources from across the league to see who the consensus elite prospects are for the 2018 NFL Draft. Here are the players sources were in near-unanimous agreement over:

• Penn State running back Saquon Barkley
• LSU defensive end Arden Key
• N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb
• Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson
• Florida State safety Derwin James
• Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick
• There were some evaluators who had minor criticisms of some of those players. One director of college scouting said they didn't think Chubb was elite and was more of an upgraded version of Derek Barnett, who the Philadelphia Eagles took in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
  
  One national scout, one area scout and one director of college scouting said that while they would include James in this group, they all felt independently that he has some problems in coverage as a deep center fielder. They questioned his ball skills and felt he had coverage limitations for the NFL. One thought James might grow into a linebacker and could end up being a taller, faster version of Mark Barron, a bust for Tampa Bay as a safety, but who has become a decent linebacker for the Rams.
  
  Everyone agreed that Nelson was elite. Because of his position, however, he may not go as high. Most teams value guards later. That being said, sources have said that Nelson has graded out higher than Logan Mankins or Brandon Scherff did. Mankins was a first-rounder back in the 2005 NFL Draft, while Scherff was a top-five pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. One longtime national scout said that Nelson was definitely the best guard he has ever scouted.
  
  There were also a few players who were suggested to be added into the elite group. One NFC general manager and one AFC general manager said they would include UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen among the elite prospects of the 2018 NFL Draft. They felt his arm talent, natural throwing motion, and pocket-passing skills were very rare and special.
  
  One college director said they would include Washington nose tackle Vita Vea in the elite group. They felt that he was elite and special as a nose tackle, but also has the length to play defensive end, similar to Haloti Ngata. They felt that Vea was better than Danny Shelton, but like guard, nose tackle gets downgraded, so Vea will go lower because of his position. Others including the AFC general manager said they would not include Vea as an elite prospect.
  
  As the draft process evolves, there could be players who are added or subtracted as consensus elite prospects. However as we near the end of college football's regular season, the above six players were considered to be the rare and special players according to our survey of area scouts, national scouts, directors of college scouting and some general managers.
  
  Read more at http://walterfootball.com/NFLHotPres...TATzCBthZI9.99

[Formula 21]

Two Small-School OTs Help Weak Class

Updated Nov. 8, 2017
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

A lot was made that offensive tackle was one of the weaker positions in the 2017 NFL Draft. Edge protectors are critical players in the NFL, and there are many teams across the league that are desperate for tackles who can help protect a franchise quarterback. That desperation was given further proof last week when the Seahawks shipped two second-day picks in the 2018 NFL Draft for a declining 32-year old left tackle in Duane Brown, whose best football is behind him. Looking at the 2018 NFL Draft class, however, one can understand why the Seahawks gave up a lot for Brown along with hoping he could help them compete for a championship this season and next year.

At the start of this season, there was reason for optimism that the 2018 class was going to be stronger at tackle. The advance scouting services partnered on by NFL Teams, National Scouting and Blesto, had three offensive tackles with high preseason grades on Washington's Trey Adams, Texas' Connor Williams and Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey. Of the trio, only McGlinchey remains as a top prospect for 2018 NFL Draft.

Adams tore an ACL and stated he plans to return to Washington. Williams played poorly before his own knee injury sidelined him, and his draft grades are poor - see below. Another bigger-name tackle prospect who has underwhelmed this year is Clemson's Mitch Hyatt - see further below. While that group disappointed, sources from multiple teams identified three tackles who have had breakout seasons to help the position. They didn't say this trio was first-round caliber, but they could be second-day picks who provide value.

Of this trio, the only one who plays at power-five school is Washington State left tackle Andre Dillard. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder and has some quickness with athletic ability to go with NFL size. He has been a good blind-side protector for Luke Falk and has impressed scouts this fall. Dillard could get second-day consideration in the 2018 NFL Draft if he decides to skip his senior year. Dillard might be better off returning, getting stronger and improving to hope that he flies up boards as a senior.

A player who has really created a nice buzz in the scouting community for his skill set is West Georgia left tackle Desmond Harrison. Sources say the 6-foot-7, 300-pounder has a first- or second-round skill set, but he won't go that high. Harrison started out his collegiate career at Texas before ending up leaving the program over some positive drug tests. Still, his impressive play and skill set are being discussed in scouting circles.

North Carolina A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker has also had some positive talk going around about him. The 6-foot-8, 310-pound giant has received some fourth-round grades. However, if he performs well at the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine, that grade could easily rise.

While these three are't seen as first-round talents, they could offer some values for Day 2 of the 2018 Draft and help shore up another weak class of offensive tackles. There will certainly be many tackle-needy teams in the 2018 NFL Draft hoping that they can land a diamond in the rough.

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/NFLHotPres...TATzCBthZI9.99



Connner Williams Receiving Mid-Round Grades

Updated Nov. 3, 2017
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

A few weeks ago, WalterFootball.com reported that Clemson left tackle Mitch Hyatt had disappointed scouts with his play this season and was receiving mid-round grades from area scouts. Hyatt isn't alone in the disappointment category, as the larger 2018 offensive tackle class has underwhelmed this season. Washington's Trey Adams went down with a season-ending injury and is likely to return to school rather than enter the 2018 NFL Draft. Another preseason first-rounder who has disappointed is Texas' Connor Williams. Williams was struggling before his injury, and like Hyatt, sources from multiple teams said they gave Williams a mid-round grade.

The main issue that sources say is hurting Williams (6-6, 290) is a lack of strength. One AFC team in need of tackle help said they had put a late third-round, early fourth-round grade on Williams. A NFC general manager said they thought Williams was a fourth-rounder after watching him in person early in the year. That general manager said Williams was overhyped and clearly needs to spend a lot of time in the weight room for the NFL. Against USC, Williams tore a knee meniscus and strained some other ligaments. He hasn't played since September 16th, but is supposedly getting close to returning to the field.

Team sources and those around the Texas program say that Williams is hoping to return to the field and produce some good tape during this season. He knows that his tape from early in the year wasn't impressive, and he wants to try to generate some positive buzz before the season ends. If Williams does that, sources say he would be inclined toward entering the 2018 NFL Draft. If he re-injures the knee or plays poorly, Williams will probably return to Texas next season. A lot hangs in the balance for Williams in the final weeks of the season, and he needs some big games to change the grades he's received from NFL teams this fall.

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/NFLHotPres...TATzCBthZI9.99

[Fleet]

I want to see Mayfield against this Clemson D.

[Steve]

Before anyone gets too excited about draft rankings at this point, there were scouts in the 49ers organization that had undraftable grades on Jerry Rice, at least according to their GM and HC Bill Walsh. If you really like someone, it's never too early to start raising red flags in hopes he falls to you.

As far as Williams, IMHO he was the best OL prospect among the top draft OT prospects. I still think he is, but there is no denying that he had a down senior year. I wouldn't say he is awful, but underwhelming. I don't know when Walter wrote the big above, but if Williams was hoping to add some really good film vs Texas Tech, he pretty much failed. Technically, he was OK as far as his technique went, but his fire and urgency during the game left me a little puzzled. I kinda felt like he could have really helped his team put TTU away, and he kept letting his guy get back into plays. The knee injury explains it some, but he does lack fire sometimes.

I've never really understood what people see in Mike McGlinchey. NFL body, but not the technique or ability to dominate you want to see in a top OL.

[Attack]

Dexter Lawrence on Clemson, if we could somehow draft him in 2019 (dreaming), would be our new Jamal Williams. I wonder how much Wilkins benefits from playing alongside Lawrence.

Harrison Phillips on Stanford is a high effort, very strong D-lineman that is impressive too.

What about Vita Vea on Washington's D-line? He's another massive player, but haven't seen much of him. He's projected to be a first round pick.