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2017 NFL Draft Prospects

Looking at all these highlights and film cut-ups, I just want us to trade up for Leonard Fournette and be done with it. Bring in the beef and pound people with Jay, Leonard, and Jarvis.
 
OLB Zach Cunningham Vanderbilt 6-3 234

[video=youtube;5lLuxlKhfUk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lLuxlKhfUk[/video]

Combine Results:
Height:6'3"
Weight:234
Arm:34 3/8
Hand:9 1/4
40 Yard Official:4.67
Bench:15
Vertical:35
Broad:125
3-Cone:
S. Shuttle:
60 Yard Shuttle:

STRENGTHS: Now a chiseled 6-3, 230 pounds, Cunningham looks more like an outside linebacker for a 4-3 alignment than a traditional inside linebacker for a 3-4 scheme. The time spent inside, however, has honed Cunningham's instincts and ability to fight through blocks. He attacks oncoming blockers with an aggressive and powerful initial punch, quickly disengaging on his way to the ball.
Unlike most linebackers with his length, Cunningham shows good recognition and body control to slip cut blocks, as well, sprawling to maintain his balance and rarely losing sight of the ball. Cunningham is able to convert speed to power as a tackler, showing no hesitancy in the hole against big (or small) runners and ripping at the ball, when possible.
Cunningham's future in the NFL could be on the outside as he possesses the range and body control to excel in space. He changes direction well for a man of his size, showing light feet and loose hips. He possesses the range to beat backs to the edge, as well as exciting closing speed while in pursuit and coverage.
Cunningham shows good awareness of passing lanes, as well as the body control and long arms to contort in space to knock down throws.
WEAKNESSES: While Cunningham's size, athleticism and awareness are certainly appealing, there is room for improvement, including in the most important area for any linebacker - tackling.
In part because of Cunningham's relatively lanky frame, his pad level is often higher while tackling then preferred. Cunningham often wrestles runners to the ground with his upper-body strength rather than consistently driving them back through his hips. This can leave Cunningham a little off-balance at the point of attack, leading to his catching runners and pulling them down (after surrendering another yard after contact) or, occasionally, missing them altogether.
Cunningham could also improve as a pass rusher, too often relying on a quick hand slap, bull rush or his speed (rather than refined technique) to defeat blocks.
IN OUR VIEW: Cunningham exploded onto the scene in 2015, earning First Team all-conference honors from rival SEC coaches. Opponents will be much more aware of him this season, however. If he can duplicate his breakout sophomore campaign, Cunningham could be the first Commodore defender to hear his name called in the first round since the Colts made cornerback Leonard Coleman the eighth overall pick back in 1984.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079823/zach-cunningham
 
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OLB Tim Williams Alabama 6-3 252

[video=youtube;QF0AXmZ2lFc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0AXmZ2lFc[/video]

Pro-Day Results: Did not participate
Height:
Weight:
Arm:
Hand:
40 Yard Official:
Bench:
Vertical:
Broad:
3-Cone:
S. Shuttle:
60 Yard Shuttle:

STRENGTHS: In terms of pure explosiveness off the edge, Williams has few (if any) peers in college football. Giving up over 50 pounds to virtually every offensive linemen he faces, Williams is reliant on his initial burst off the ball. Fortunately (at least for him and the Tide), Williams excels here, showing the quick twitch and snap anticipation to easily cross the face of would-be blockers. Williams isn't just quick, he's flexible, dipping under the reach of tackles to turn the corner and closing quickly. Williams is also surprisingly powerful, generating good push on simple bull rushes because he keeps his pad level down and has excellent leg drive, as evidenced by his 555 pound squat. Williams has developed into a professional pass rusher, incorporating active, powerful hands and a deadly spin move back inside to complement his speed rush.
WEAKNESSES: Williams is essentially a pass rush specialist, at this time. For such a specialized role, Williams needs to show greater awareness, giving up opportunities to swipe at the football as he tracks down unsuspecting ball-carriers. Williams was part of a heavy rotation at Alabama and has limited snaps against the run. He needs to do a better job of holding up at the point of attack, failing to set the edge consistently to funnel ball-carriers back inside. He has limited experience dropping back into coverage, as well. He also comes with significant off-field concerns, following an arrest in Tuscaloosa involving a gun (for which Williams had a receipt but not a permit for), as well as marijuana.
IN OUR VIEW: Williams' off-field issues and inability to remain on the field as a full-time defender warrant a careful review but he may just be the most explosive edge rusher in the 2017 draft. Further, with experience rushing out of both the two and three point stances, Williams offers schematic versatility.
COMPARES TO: Bruce Irvin, Oakland Raiders: Williams possesses a similar frame and explosiveness off the edge as the Raiders' pricey 2016 free agent acquisition (from Seattle). Like Irvin, he is a bit of a one-trick pony as an edge rusher. Disruptive pass rushers rank second only to quarterbacks, themselves, in the current NFL priority list so if Williams can convince a team to look past his admittedly alarming off-field issues (like Irvin did), he could wind up being a much more productive player in the NFL than he ever was for the Crimson Tide.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2082733/tim-williams
 
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FS Budda Baker Washington 5-10 195

[video=youtube;MF6Lt6UfBuU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF6Lt6UfBuU[/video]

Pro-Day Results: March 11
Height:5'10"
Weight:195
Arm:30 5/8
Hand:9
40 Yard Official:4.45
Bench:15
Vertical:32.5
Broad:114
3-Cone:6.76
S. Shuttle:4.08
60 Yard Shuttle:

STRENGTHS: His fluidity change of direction and quick acceleration stand out on tape, complementing the awareness critical to playing the last line of defense. Baker's range makes him a legitimate centerfielder type at free safety, capable of shutting down opposing vertical attacks.
While lacking ideal size, Baker is a reliable open-field tackler who isn't afraid of contact. He typically takes out ballcarriers with accurate shots to the legs, using his arms to wrap securely for the efficient take-down. Baker generates impressive pop for his size, as well. He locates the ball quickly, shows excellent timing on his leaps and possesses the body control and soft hands to win 50-50 balls.
WEAKNESSES: The knock on Baker to this point has been his lack of ideal size. He arrived at UW weighing just 167 pounds and played much of 2015 at 174. Baker reportedly gained 18 pounds entering fall camp, checking in at a much more defined 192 pounds. Scouts are eager to see if Baker retains his easy athleticism at the new weight.
Even with the additional weight, Baker is smaller than ideal, which could result in some scouts projecting him to cornerback at the next level. Baker missed the better part of three games in 2015 with a concussion and ankle injuries. Needless to say, the hope at Washington is that the added weight will make Baker better suited to handling the rigors of the season. Baker did not suffer any serious injuries during his prep career.
Given the success of other, smaller defensive backs in the NFL over the past several seasons (like Seattle's Earl Thomas, Arizona's Tyrann Mathieu and Green Bay's Damarious Randall), scouts may be more willing to overlook Baker's smallish frame. In today's pass-happy NFL, coverage skills trump size.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2139625/budda-baker
 
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CB Jalen "Teez" Tabor Florida 6-0 199

[video=youtube;HkvcHbwdCRI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkvcHbwdCRI[/video]

Combine Results:
Height:6'0"
Weight:199
Arm:32 1/4
Hand:9 1/8
40 Yard Official:4.62
Bench:9
Vertical:31
Broad:120
3-Cone:
S. Shuttle:
60 Yard Shuttle:

STRENGTHS: Tabor sports an athletic v-shaped frame with good overall weight distribution, broad shoulders and long limbs. He has loose hips and light feet, which allow him to remain balanced while changing directions easily and without sacrificing speed. Like Hargreaves, Tabor's quick acceleration and fluidity help him remain in the hip pocket of receivers while locked up in press coverage and he offers better size than his and patience than his former teammate, helping him contest throws to bigger receivers. Tabor's size and route anticipation show up while in off-man coverage, where his ability to sneak peeks back at the quarterback and quick closing speed helped pad his PBU numbers. Tabor appears confident with the ball in the air, locating it quickly and showing good timing and explosiveness when leaping to compete on jump balls. Further, he times his collisions with receivers well to break up passes and shows good hands for the interception, including the ability to extend and pluck outside of his frame.
WEAKNESSES: A good athlete but Tabor appears to be quicker than fast and may not possess elite straight-line speed. Further, Tabor needs to show greater awareness of blockers in the running game and on quick screens, too often getting tied up or even knocked off his feet. He is generally a reliable wrap-up tackler but will duck his head and attempt to lasso the knees of bigger ball-carriers, leaving him lunging and occasionally whiffing. He comes with a troubling track record off the field, including twice being suspended from the team. He was suspended for the 2016 season opener following a fight with a teammate. Also was suspended a year earlier for declining to take a drug test and then sharing his disappointment on social media, tweeting that the Florida athletic department "sucks." Tabor also made headlines when he tweeted that college football is a "modern form of slavery." He later deleted the tweet and apologized, saying he "went too far."
IN OUR VIEW: Tabor has excellent size for the position and plays relaxed in coverage, trusting his skills and feel for the game. He is patient and balanced in press with quick footwork to mirror and ride routes vertically and has the ballskills to force quarterbacks to think twice before challenging him.
COMPARES TO: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals: Though not quite as big as the Cardinals' Pro Bowler (and certainly less reliable off the field), Tabor boasts a similar brand of pure athleticism, seamlessly changing directions and accelerating to shadow receivers in much the same that Peterson has since being selected No. 5 overall back in 2011.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2131575/teez-tabor
 
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DKphin said:
OLB Zach Cunningham Vanderbilt 6-3 230

[video=youtube;5lLuxlKhfUk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lLuxlKhfUk[/video]

Combine Results:
Coming

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079823/zach-cunningham
Click to expand...

Can someone explain to me why Cunningham is so hyped? He looks totally pedestrian in every video I see of him. He looks like he's just trotting along, and that all of his "tackles" are just guys falling down near him. I have never seen him make explosive or impact plays like Reuben Foster et al. He looks like a ragdoll with his body flopping around on every assignment and every tackle. It looks like he's good at wrapping up and then flopping down to make a tackle. I have never seen him blow someone up though. That's concerning, especially since they've never played any particularly good teams. I fear that he'll get wrecked in the NFL.
 
MP-Omnis said:
Can someone explain to me why Cunningham is so hyped? He looks totally pedestrian in every video I see of him. He looks like he's just trotting along, and that all of his "tackles" are just guys falling down near him. I have never seen him make explosive or impact plays like Reuben Foster et al. He looks like a ragdoll with his body flopping around on every assignment and every tackle. It looks like he's good at wrapping up and then flopping down to make a tackle. I have never seen him blow someone up though. That's concerning, especially since they've never played any particularly good teams. I fear that he'll get wrecked in the NFL.
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I'm curious as well, night and day difference between him and Foster imo
 
I read somewhere that Tim Williams has failed multiple drug tests and is flirting with Randy Gregory territory
 
jlfin said:
I read somewhere that Tim Williams has failed multiple drug tests and is flirting with Randy Gregory territory
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Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tim Williams was arrested Thursday morning by campus police on a misdemeanor charge of carrying a pistol without a permit.
According to the Associated Press, the University of Alabama Police Department incident report shows that Williams was arrested at about 1 a.m. Thursday in his vehicle.
Coach Nick Saban said in a statement, "This kind of behavior is not condoned in our program. We are currently in the process of reviewing all of the information.
"Once we have a complete understanding of the situation, we will determine what we need to do in terms of the appropriate discipline."
The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Louisiana native came on strong as a junior in 2015, getting 10.5 sacks sacks despite not starting a game.
He is the second Alabama player who has been arrested for a charge involving a gun this year. Offensive tackle Cam Robinson faced felony gun charges in Louisiana during the offseason, but a district attorney declined to prosecute.
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http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...mson-tide-lb-tim-williams-arrested-gun-charge

In late September, Williams had an arrest for carrying a pistol without a permit. Alabama suspended him for the first half of the game against Kentucky as a result, but he was fortunate to avoid other suspensions, as sources say he failed many drug tests. That leads teams to have concerns that he will land repeated suspensions in the NFL like Gregory.
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Read more at http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftrumormill#UWYsBBHLzTbG5gkp.99
 
Simply carrying a gun, unless it's stolen, shouldn't be a crime. Especially when it's just in your car.

He may be worth picking up in the 7th round though if teams are unwilling to even sniff guys with criminal rainclouds overhead.
 
QB Chad Kelly Mississippi 6-2 224

[video=youtube;i6uCZEcrWKA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6uCZEcrWKA[/video]

[video=youtube;yLnlxzkxBrQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLnlxzkxBrQ[/video]

Pro-Day Results:Hurt
Height:6'1"
Weight:224
Arm:
Hand:
40 Yard Official:
Bench:
Vertical:
Broad:
3-Cone:
S. Shuttle:
60 Yard Shuttle:

STRENGTHS: Top-shelf arm strength and spins a pretty ball with unforced velocity. Adequate height with a well-built frame. Quick feet to move in the pocket and find better throwing platforms. Functional athleticism to extend plays and pick up chunk yards (almost 1,000 rushing yards over 22 career collegiate starts). Flashes impressive anticipation to deliver before receivers are out of their breaks - will give his receivers a chance to make plays. Experienced throwing the full route tree and making whole field reads. Very confident thrower and not shy about letting it loose. Willing learner and work ethic isn't a concern. Physically and mentally. Highly productive in the SEC (14-8 record career win-loss record), leaving Ole Miss No. 3 on the all-time passing yards list (6,856). NFL bloodlines as the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, who played 11 seasons for the Buffalo Bills.
WEAKNESSES: Frenetic footwork and weight distribution in his release, relying on his arm. Stubborn decision-maker and has the bad habit of pre-determining his throws, staring down targets and not making the correct post-snap reads. Excessively confident in his arm strength and too willing to force passes into heavy coverage. Hot/cold pocket awareness, leading to panic moments. Has torn the ACL in his right knee twice, first while at Clemson during the spring game (April 2013) and then as a senior at Ole Miss (Nov. 2016) - also underwent sports hernia surgery (April 2016) prior to his senior year. Diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder) and the verbiage was made easier in the Ole Miss offense to accommodate, something that could be a "challenge" with a NFL playbook, according to Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze. History of run-ins with coaches, which led to several suspensions in high school and his dismissal from Clemson. Laundry list of off-field red flags that will concern NFL teams about his maturity and decision-making -- was arrested shortly after committing to Ole Miss (Dec. 2014) where he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after he was kicked out of a Buffalo nightclub and told police: "I'm going to go to my car and get my AK-47 and spray this place" while resisting arrest. A few incidents popped up during his senior season, including while at a high school game during the Ole Miss off-weekend (Oct. 2016) where he had to be restrained from storming the field after an on-field incident involving his younger brother. A photo also surfaced (Nov. 2016) of him allegedly rolling a marijuana blunt with friends, but there hasn't been confirmation of how old the picture is.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1983522/chad-kelly
 
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RB Joe Mixon Oklahoma 6-1 226

[video=youtube;CQor_C1-5X0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQor_C1-5X0[/video]

Pro-Day Results:
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 228
40 Yrd Dash: 4.45
20 Yrd Dash: 2.62
10 Yrd Dash: 1.51
Bench: 21
Vertical Jump: 35
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.27
3-Cone Drill: 7.10


Joe Mixon is one of the best game breaking backs in the nation. An explosive athlete, he takes shorter strides than you'd expect from a taller runner but his turnover allows him to get up to top speed quickly to exploit open lanes and creases
Mixon is at his best when he is able to hit a seam and get going downhill, although he will bounce outside on occasion in an effort to use his speed. He runs with good velocity in between the tackles and finishes runs aggressively, but will need to fill out his 6'2, 195-pound frame due to his slender build in order for that attribute to fully translate to the college level. While the power element of his game is still evolving, the main ingredient of his skill set (and what has attracted such an impressive amount of suitors) is his ability to consistently win footraces in the open field.
A player who is more fast than quick, Mixon doesn't use a vast assortment of moves, but shows the ability the make tacklers miss with subtle changes of direction when operating in space. Primarily, he is the type of runner you'd like to see use one cut and get going downhill, making use of his acceleration.
In the pass game Mixon appears to have good hands but his most impressive attribute might be his route running ability. On tape he runs a nice assortment of patterns, but what really stands out is his ability to sell his routes and create separation from linebackers after inducing them to lose leverage.
Ultimately, Mixon is a national recruit at the running back position with his frame and long speed. He eventually projects to top out at around 215 pounds with the ability to retain his big play ability. Getting on the field early should be no problem and will likely operate in a rotation or as a complimentary back during the early stages of his career, with the upside to be an All-Conference type of feature back in either his second or third year on campus.
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http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...on-recruit-scouting-report-elite-running-back
usatsi_9670796.jpg


Report: NFL GMs think Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon is undraftable
Nov 12, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) is seen on the field before action against the Baylor Bears prior to the game at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

According to Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com, NFL general managers think that Mixon isn’t just undraftable, but that he might have a tough time getting a deal as an undrafted free agent:
Since the release of the video, general managers around the league have told those close to Mixon he won’t get drafted, there’s a possibility he won’t be signed as a free agent and he may not even receive an invitation to the combine should he declare for the draft.
Based on just his on-field talent, Mixon would likely be considered a first-round prospect were he to declare for the 2017 draft, but it’s obviously not that simple. The NFL has dealt with multiple domestic violence issues with players in recent years, and teams appear to be more unwilling than ever to risk bringing in a player with this time of incident on their record.
That said, it only takes one team to view the potential reward as greater than the risk, hoping a player can turn over a new leaf and stay out of trouble. It will be interesting to see if Mixon chooses to return to Oklahoma, or takes a chance by making the jump to the pros this offseason.
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http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2016/12/20/report-nfl-gms-think-oklahoma-rb-joe-mixon-is-undraftable/
 
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WR John Ross Washington 5-11 195

[video=youtube;XMjjAxYs8DU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMjjAxYs8DU[/video]

Combine Results:
Height:5'10"
Weight:188
Arm:31 1/2
Hand:8 3/4
40 Yard Official:4.22
Bench:
Vertical:37
Broad:133
3-Cone:
S. Shuttle:
60 Yard Shuttle:

STRENGTHS: As a proven playmaker when healthy, seeing time at wide receiver and cornerback in additional to punt and kick returns. The first thing that jumps out about Ross is his straight-line speed. He accelerates in a flash, easily outracing pursuit angles. Ross also possesses great vision to set up his blocks, as well as the ankle flexion and balance to elude defenders in tight quarters.
WEAKNESSES: Significant durability concerns following a torn ACL in his left knee and a torn meniscus in his right. Ross needs to continue to work on his route-running, too often relying upon his straight-line speed to force defenders back. He's gained strength and technique in fighting through press coverage by battling against Washington's talented secondary each day in practice, but can stand to improve in this area, as well as his consistency as a route-runner.
IN OUR VIEW: Ross is not as polished as some of the other top receivers in college football, and obviously NFL teams will want to do their own investigating of his health whenever Ross makes himself eligible. The first-round selections spent on fellow speedsters Phillip Dorsett (Indianapolis) and Will Fuller (Houston) in recent years, however, prove that teams are willing to gamble on dynamic playmakers, making Ross (and the Huskies, as a whole) one to watch this season.
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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2079710/john-ross
 
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