Risen Star
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http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/s...-2017-nfl-draft-prospects-rankings-mock-draft
1. Is this draft better on offense or defense?
Kiper: This is a defensive draft. It's incredibly strong there -- 15 of my top 25 prospects are defenders, including eight of the top 10. And it's deep too, with pass-rushers and defensive backs galore. On offense, this draft is lacking in premier talent at positions that are usually picked in the top five: offensive tackles and quarterbacks. There just isn't much there.
2. Who are the quarterbacks we'll be talking about on the first night of the draft?
Kiper: There's really only one guy right now, and he might not even enter the draft. That's North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky, a fourth-year junior who is in his first season as the starter. Trubisky has thrown 28 touchdown passes to only four interceptions, but he's still green -- with another year of seasoning, he could be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. He's not ready to play right away in the NFL.
I don't see any other first-rounders in the group. Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, a third-year sophomore, has to go back to school. Clemson's Deshaun Watson has taken a step back this season. Underclassmen Luke Falk and Patrick Mahomes could use another year in school, and they don't project as first-rounders.
I wouldn't say it's likely, but there's a chance no quarterback goes in the first round. The last time that happened was 1996.
3. Would you go so far as to call this a bad QB class, Todd?
McShay: I'll say this: It's not a great year to be drafting early and needing a quarterback. There's some depth (depending on how many underclassmen declare), but I don't see any elite prospects among those I've reviewed so far. My top five quarterbacks are all underclassmen -- and I hope most of them return to school (Watson, my No. 2 QB, has already declared). Mel is right, Kizer needs another year. Trubisky has only 12 starts. Miami's Brad Kaaya can continue to get bigger/stronger. Falk comes with too many questions ranging from system to frame.
4. Which prospect-to-player comparison do you think is most spot-on?
McShay: Dalvin Cook and Chris Johnson. The Florida State RB has the speed, suddenness and big-play ability that Johnson had when he was still in his prime. Cook has 15 touches of 25 yards or more this season, tied for second among Power 5 running backs.
5. If you had to put your money behind one guy from this class to be the NFL's next great pass-rusher, who would it be?
Kiper: There's no question it's Texas A&M's Myles Garrett, who is No. 1 on my Big Board. He has everything teams want in a premier edge rusher. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he's going to be a star. Others to keep an eye on: Alabama's Tim Williams and UCLA's Takkarist McKinley. All could go in the top 10.
6. What should the Browns do with the first pick: best player or best QB?
Kiper: The Browns have too many needs. It has to be the best player, and as I mentioned above, there's no surefire top quarterback in this class. Cleveland needs everything. No way should the Browns reach for a quarterback in this draft.
7. Dallas hit a home run last April -- how do they hit another one next April?
McShay: Not sure it's possible for the Cowboys to have a draft that's anywhere near comparable to last year. They'll be selecting in the latter half of the first round as opposed to No. 4 overall -- and they found a fourth-round quarterback who's currently 11-1. If they could find one difference-making edge rusher, that'd be a win for Dallas.
8. By the time it's April, Mel, who are people going to be saying, "Oh, Kiper loves that guy!"
Kiper: It's Alabama's Reuben Foster. He could be the best of the stellar group of Crimson Tide inside linebackers to be picked in the first round recently (Rolando McClain, Dont'a Hightower and C.J. Mosley). Foster is a complete player. Top five isn't out of the question, which is rare for an ILB. He's that good.
9. How about you, Todd?
McShay: LSU safety Jamal Adams. He hasn't gotten a ton of love nationally, but he's one of the most complete players in this draft class. He has everything you want -- intelligence, toughness, ball skills and explosive tackling ability. Plus, he's a really good leader.
10. Which prospect has helped his stock the most this season?
Kiper: McKinley has gone from just a guy to a potential top-10 pick, and it's all because of his ability to rush the quarterback. The former junior college transfer had 10 sacks for the Bruins this season after just seven in his first two years. He's not huge (6-foot-2, 240 pounds), but his speed off the ball is fun to watch.
11. Which prospect has hurt his stock the most this season?
McShay: This is a tough one. Oklahoma cornerback Jordan Thomas really struggled at times in coverage this season, and Georgia running back Nick Chubb wasn't himself coming off his season-ending injury in 2015. Chubb had a solid final few weeks to the regular season, but his best performance since his 222-yard opener against UNC was against Louisiana-Lafayette (108 yards on 16 carries). It will be interesting to see if Chubb returns to school or if he makes the leap, despite his struggles this season. Thomas should absolutely return to school.
12. If my team needs a ______, we're in luck in this draft.
Kiper: Pass-rusher. The class is littered with talented rushers -- for both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme. The next-deepest positions: tight end and center.
13. What about offensive line: Is there a cornerstone blindside protector in this draft?
McShay: This is not a great offensive tackle class. Alabama's Cam Robinson is my top-ranked offensive tackle (No. 15 overall), but I wouldn't classify him as a cornerstone blindside protector. There are more right tackles and offensive guards -- such as Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Western Kentucky's Forrest Lamp -- in this class than there are true left tackles.
1. Is this draft better on offense or defense?
Kiper: This is a defensive draft. It's incredibly strong there -- 15 of my top 25 prospects are defenders, including eight of the top 10. And it's deep too, with pass-rushers and defensive backs galore. On offense, this draft is lacking in premier talent at positions that are usually picked in the top five: offensive tackles and quarterbacks. There just isn't much there.
2. Who are the quarterbacks we'll be talking about on the first night of the draft?
Kiper: There's really only one guy right now, and he might not even enter the draft. That's North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky, a fourth-year junior who is in his first season as the starter. Trubisky has thrown 28 touchdown passes to only four interceptions, but he's still green -- with another year of seasoning, he could be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft. He's not ready to play right away in the NFL.
I don't see any other first-rounders in the group. Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, a third-year sophomore, has to go back to school. Clemson's Deshaun Watson has taken a step back this season. Underclassmen Luke Falk and Patrick Mahomes could use another year in school, and they don't project as first-rounders.
I wouldn't say it's likely, but there's a chance no quarterback goes in the first round. The last time that happened was 1996.
3. Would you go so far as to call this a bad QB class, Todd?
McShay: I'll say this: It's not a great year to be drafting early and needing a quarterback. There's some depth (depending on how many underclassmen declare), but I don't see any elite prospects among those I've reviewed so far. My top five quarterbacks are all underclassmen -- and I hope most of them return to school (Watson, my No. 2 QB, has already declared). Mel is right, Kizer needs another year. Trubisky has only 12 starts. Miami's Brad Kaaya can continue to get bigger/stronger. Falk comes with too many questions ranging from system to frame.
4. Which prospect-to-player comparison do you think is most spot-on?
McShay: Dalvin Cook and Chris Johnson. The Florida State RB has the speed, suddenness and big-play ability that Johnson had when he was still in his prime. Cook has 15 touches of 25 yards or more this season, tied for second among Power 5 running backs.
5. If you had to put your money behind one guy from this class to be the NFL's next great pass-rusher, who would it be?
Kiper: There's no question it's Texas A&M's Myles Garrett, who is No. 1 on my Big Board. He has everything teams want in a premier edge rusher. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he's going to be a star. Others to keep an eye on: Alabama's Tim Williams and UCLA's Takkarist McKinley. All could go in the top 10.
6. What should the Browns do with the first pick: best player or best QB?
Kiper: The Browns have too many needs. It has to be the best player, and as I mentioned above, there's no surefire top quarterback in this class. Cleveland needs everything. No way should the Browns reach for a quarterback in this draft.
7. Dallas hit a home run last April -- how do they hit another one next April?
McShay: Not sure it's possible for the Cowboys to have a draft that's anywhere near comparable to last year. They'll be selecting in the latter half of the first round as opposed to No. 4 overall -- and they found a fourth-round quarterback who's currently 11-1. If they could find one difference-making edge rusher, that'd be a win for Dallas.
8. By the time it's April, Mel, who are people going to be saying, "Oh, Kiper loves that guy!"
Kiper: It's Alabama's Reuben Foster. He could be the best of the stellar group of Crimson Tide inside linebackers to be picked in the first round recently (Rolando McClain, Dont'a Hightower and C.J. Mosley). Foster is a complete player. Top five isn't out of the question, which is rare for an ILB. He's that good.
9. How about you, Todd?
McShay: LSU safety Jamal Adams. He hasn't gotten a ton of love nationally, but he's one of the most complete players in this draft class. He has everything you want -- intelligence, toughness, ball skills and explosive tackling ability. Plus, he's a really good leader.
10. Which prospect has helped his stock the most this season?
Kiper: McKinley has gone from just a guy to a potential top-10 pick, and it's all because of his ability to rush the quarterback. The former junior college transfer had 10 sacks for the Bruins this season after just seven in his first two years. He's not huge (6-foot-2, 240 pounds), but his speed off the ball is fun to watch.
11. Which prospect has hurt his stock the most this season?
McShay: This is a tough one. Oklahoma cornerback Jordan Thomas really struggled at times in coverage this season, and Georgia running back Nick Chubb wasn't himself coming off his season-ending injury in 2015. Chubb had a solid final few weeks to the regular season, but his best performance since his 222-yard opener against UNC was against Louisiana-Lafayette (108 yards on 16 carries). It will be interesting to see if Chubb returns to school or if he makes the leap, despite his struggles this season. Thomas should absolutely return to school.
12. If my team needs a ______, we're in luck in this draft.
Kiper: Pass-rusher. The class is littered with talented rushers -- for both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme. The next-deepest positions: tight end and center.
13. What about offensive line: Is there a cornerstone blindside protector in this draft?
McShay: This is not a great offensive tackle class. Alabama's Cam Robinson is my top-ranked offensive tackle (No. 15 overall), but I wouldn't classify him as a cornerstone blindside protector. There are more right tackles and offensive guards -- such as Wisconsin's Ryan Ramczyk and Western Kentucky's Forrest Lamp -- in this class than there are true left tackles.
