Risen Star
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http://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft20...nfl-prospects-2017-senior-bowl-draft-rankings
1. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 88
Howard, my top-ranked tight end, is the lone prospect at the Senior Bowl whom I have in the first round of my initial mock draft. With only seven touchdowns in four seasons for the Crimson Tide, he was underutilized. He could be a guy who has a better pro career than college career. Howard (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) could catch a lot of passes at the next level, and he's a solid blocker.
2. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 75
In a class loaded with pass-rushers, don't count Willis out as a potential first-round pick. He's really good. Willis (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) had 21 sacks for the Wildcats the past two seasons and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Consistency is what stands out -- you know what you'll get from Willis every play. He also holds up well against the run, which is important in the NFL. He's my No. 7 defensive end, but he could move up with a standout week of practices.
3. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 76
Lamp played left tackle for the Hilltoppers, but he projects as a right tackle or guard in the NFL. He could have a 12-year career because of his versatility. Lamp (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) has good feet, is a sound technician and is very alert, which means he sees blitzes and senses stunts ahead of time. These traits are why I think he's ready to play immediately in the NFL in 2017. Lamp is in the second-round range right now, and he's my top-ranked guard.
4. Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 22
You could make the case that Anderson was Alabama's defensive MVP in 2016 -- yes, over surefire first-round picks Reuben Foster and Jonathan Allen. He had nine sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception in his first season as a full-time starter. Anderson (6-foot-2, 255 pounds) is a steady, complete linebacker who always shows up around the ball. I think he'll play as a 3-4 outside linebacker, and he could contribute immediately.
5. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 18
White is another defender on the fringes of the first round; he's my No. 7 cornerback, and the six before him are all included in my initial mock draft. White (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) led the nation in pass breakups in 2016 (15), but he had only six interceptions in his four-year career. You'd like to see him catch a few more of those passes he broke up. White was LSU's punt returner (three career touchdown returns), and that helps his NFL stock.
6. Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 94
With 10.5 sacks, Watson had a huge senior season for the national champs. He had only 3.5 coming into 2016. Watkins has shown that he can rush the passer from the interior, and his frame (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) means he could put on some weight and play nose tackle in a 3-4. He might be better inside in a 4-3, though. He ranks as my No. 3 defensive tackle.
7. Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 43
Wormley is another pass-rusher who could be picked in the first three rounds. He didn't put up huge sack numbers -- 12.5 the past two seasons -- and he doesn't have the upside of teammate Taco Charlton, but Wormley is solid. At 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, he could play in multiple schemes. Wormley is my No. 9 defensive end.
8. Ethan Pocic, C, LSU
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 77
Pocic is the clear-cut best center in this draft, and he could have a long career anchoring a team's line. At 6-foot-7, 301 pounds, he doesn't look like a typical center. He could probably slide out to guard. I don't think he's a first-round guy like Ryan Kelly was last year, but he's a guy who could start immediately.
9. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 26
Lewis does everything NFL teams want from corners; he can turn his hips and run with any receiver, he has good ball skills (six picks in his career), and he has put up some good tape against talented receivers in the Big Ten. But size is an issue: He's only 5-foot-10 and 159 pounds. In a draft with big corners at the top, that's going to hurt his stock. I still see him as a Day 2 pick, though, because he can play the slot too.
10. Desmond King, CB, Iowa
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 14
A four-year starter for the Hawkeyes, King had an amazing 2015 season, with eight interceptions. He came back down to earth this season -- three interceptions -- and I have him in the second-round range. I want to see what he runs at the combine. I don't think he has elite speed. But he's a playmaker, and he has good size (5-foot-11, 185 pounds).
11. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 10
With 100 catches in each of the past three seasons -- and 93 as a freshman -- Kupp has been one of the most productive players in the country. He had 74 career touchdowns for the Eagles, working mainly from the slot. Kupp (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) has tremendous hands, is durable and consistently beats double-teams. I thought he could have entered the 2016 draft and been a midround pick, and he's in the Day 2 range this year.
12. Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 24
Like King, Kazee has put up some ridiculous numbers: He had 15 interceptions over his past two seasons. Pound for pound, Kazee (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) was one of the best defenders in the country. He has shown great instincts, and he could move up my rankings with a great week of practices in Mobile and a solid workout at the combine.
13. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 54
Tomlinson is a guy who has gone under the radar because of the talent around him on the Crimson Tide defense. At 6-foot-2, 310 pounds, he shows good explosiveness and strength, gets good leverage and plays through double-teams. The fifth-year senior finished the season with three sacks. Versatility is an important part of his pro future, as he could play in a 4-3 defense or even as a nose tackle in a 3-4.
14. Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 47
Vanderdoes is an intriguing guy who flashes first-round ability, but he doesn't have the production of a first-round pick. An ACL injury wiped out most of his 2015 season, and he had only 1.5 sacks in 2016. Vanderdoes' size (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) and athleticism jump off the tape. I'm interested in how he fares this week.
15. Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 91
With eight sacks in 2015, Smoot looked like a first-round pick in 2015, and he was on my Big Board headed into this season. But his production fell off (five sacks), and he didn't look like the same guy in 2016. That could be because he didn't have 2015 second-round pick Jihad Ward on the other side. At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Smoot plays the run well and has a high motor, but his 2016 numbers were concerning. He needs a big week to put him back into the discussion as a Day 1 pick.
1. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 88
Howard, my top-ranked tight end, is the lone prospect at the Senior Bowl whom I have in the first round of my initial mock draft. With only seven touchdowns in four seasons for the Crimson Tide, he was underutilized. He could be a guy who has a better pro career than college career. Howard (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) could catch a lot of passes at the next level, and he's a solid blocker.
2. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 75
In a class loaded with pass-rushers, don't count Willis out as a potential first-round pick. He's really good. Willis (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) had 21 sacks for the Wildcats the past two seasons and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Consistency is what stands out -- you know what you'll get from Willis every play. He also holds up well against the run, which is important in the NFL. He's my No. 7 defensive end, but he could move up with a standout week of practices.
3. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 76
Lamp played left tackle for the Hilltoppers, but he projects as a right tackle or guard in the NFL. He could have a 12-year career because of his versatility. Lamp (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) has good feet, is a sound technician and is very alert, which means he sees blitzes and senses stunts ahead of time. These traits are why I think he's ready to play immediately in the NFL in 2017. Lamp is in the second-round range right now, and he's my top-ranked guard.
4. Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 22
You could make the case that Anderson was Alabama's defensive MVP in 2016 -- yes, over surefire first-round picks Reuben Foster and Jonathan Allen. He had nine sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception in his first season as a full-time starter. Anderson (6-foot-2, 255 pounds) is a steady, complete linebacker who always shows up around the ball. I think he'll play as a 3-4 outside linebacker, and he could contribute immediately.
5. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 18
White is another defender on the fringes of the first round; he's my No. 7 cornerback, and the six before him are all included in my initial mock draft. White (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) led the nation in pass breakups in 2016 (15), but he had only six interceptions in his four-year career. You'd like to see him catch a few more of those passes he broke up. White was LSU's punt returner (three career touchdown returns), and that helps his NFL stock.
6. Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 94
With 10.5 sacks, Watson had a huge senior season for the national champs. He had only 3.5 coming into 2016. Watkins has shown that he can rush the passer from the interior, and his frame (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) means he could put on some weight and play nose tackle in a 3-4. He might be better inside in a 4-3, though. He ranks as my No. 3 defensive tackle.
7. Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 43
Wormley is another pass-rusher who could be picked in the first three rounds. He didn't put up huge sack numbers -- 12.5 the past two seasons -- and he doesn't have the upside of teammate Taco Charlton, but Wormley is solid. At 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, he could play in multiple schemes. Wormley is my No. 9 defensive end.
8. Ethan Pocic, C, LSU
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 77
Pocic is the clear-cut best center in this draft, and he could have a long career anchoring a team's line. At 6-foot-7, 301 pounds, he doesn't look like a typical center. He could probably slide out to guard. I don't think he's a first-round guy like Ryan Kelly was last year, but he's a guy who could start immediately.
9. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 26
Lewis does everything NFL teams want from corners; he can turn his hips and run with any receiver, he has good ball skills (six picks in his career), and he has put up some good tape against talented receivers in the Big Ten. But size is an issue: He's only 5-foot-10 and 159 pounds. In a draft with big corners at the top, that's going to hurt his stock. I still see him as a Day 2 pick, though, because he can play the slot too.
10. Desmond King, CB, Iowa
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 14
A four-year starter for the Hawkeyes, King had an amazing 2015 season, with eight interceptions. He came back down to earth this season -- three interceptions -- and I have him in the second-round range. I want to see what he runs at the combine. I don't think he has elite speed. But he's a playmaker, and he has good size (5-foot-11, 185 pounds).
11. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 10
With 100 catches in each of the past three seasons -- and 93 as a freshman -- Kupp has been one of the most productive players in the country. He had 74 career touchdowns for the Eagles, working mainly from the slot. Kupp (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) has tremendous hands, is durable and consistently beats double-teams. I thought he could have entered the 2016 draft and been a midround pick, and he's in the Day 2 range this year.
12. Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 24
Like King, Kazee has put up some ridiculous numbers: He had 15 interceptions over his past two seasons. Pound for pound, Kazee (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) was one of the best defenders in the country. He has shown great instincts, and he could move up my rankings with a great week of practices in Mobile and a solid workout at the combine.
13. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 54
Tomlinson is a guy who has gone under the radar because of the talent around him on the Crimson Tide defense. At 6-foot-2, 310 pounds, he shows good explosiveness and strength, gets good leverage and plays through double-teams. The fifth-year senior finished the season with three sacks. Versatility is an important part of his pro future, as he could play in a 4-3 defense or even as a nose tackle in a 3-4.
14. Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA
Senior Bowl team: South | Uniform number: 47
Vanderdoes is an intriguing guy who flashes first-round ability, but he doesn't have the production of a first-round pick. An ACL injury wiped out most of his 2015 season, and he had only 1.5 sacks in 2016. Vanderdoes' size (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) and athleticism jump off the tape. I'm interested in how he fares this week.
15. Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois
Senior Bowl team: North | Uniform number: 91
With eight sacks in 2015, Smoot looked like a first-round pick in 2015, and he was on my Big Board headed into this season. But his production fell off (five sacks), and he didn't look like the same guy in 2016. That could be because he didn't have 2015 second-round pick Jihad Ward on the other side. At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Smoot plays the run well and has a high motor, but his 2016 numbers were concerning. He needs a big week to put him back into the discussion as a Day 1 pick.
