NFL 2017 Draft Preview
Training camp has arrived that that means another NFL season is right around the corner. Not only will fans and others get a glimpse at how their teams will look come September and beyond but training camp will also allow rookies to showcase their skills for the first time on the main stage. Even though the 2016 season has not even begun it’s never too early to take a look at the 2017 NFL Draft. Yes, the 2017 NFL Draft. Some may think it is absurd to even consider next year’s draft considering this year’s class has not even played a down in the NFL but it’s not absurd in the slightest. The draft is all about the future and how teams build for the future and how can one do that if they do not look at the prospects in the coming years?
Over the last few years, the NFL Draft has seemed to grow in terms of available talent and that trend is continuing with this year’s class as well. In the 2016 NFL Draft the top two picks were once again quarterbacks (Jared Goff and Carson Wentz) and there was even a running back drafted in the top 5 (Ezekiel Elliott). In the past it seemed like the first two rounds were the most important rounds to draft talent but in recent years’ teams are able to acquire late round players who have a chance to land starting roles. The 2017 draft seems to be no different and the amount of talent and potential in next year’s draft looks promising.
The top prospect that will garner the most attention as the football year commences in a few short months is Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Heisman Trophy finalist is seen as a favorite for the top pick in 2017 but is not the only quarterback with potential in this class. Miami’s Brad Kaaya is the other top quarterback prospect who has the skills necessary to be a great NFL quarterback and could land himself in the top 5 assuming he has a good season. While the quarterback position is arguably the most important position in football, one position that is a debatable draft topic is running back. Many believe that the running back position is no longer a priority in the first round of the draft but that trend could change due to the recent success of Ram’s running back Todd Gurley and Cowboy’s Ezekiel Elliott likely to follow. 2017 may be the year where three or four running backs have the potential to be first round picks including LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and Georgia’s Nick Chubb.
While there are many prospects along the offensive side of the ball that seem to be NFL ready players, there are also many defensive prospects that look to have a big impact this year in college football. Like the 2016 draft the defensive line and pass rushing specialists look to take over the 2017 draft led by Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett, Alabama’s Tim Williams and Jonathan Allen and Tennessee’s Derek Barnett. These are just four of the many defensive prospects that will be key contributors on their teams and will likely land in the first round. There are also several defensive backs that will receive a great amount of attention including Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers amongst others as the NFL seems to be trending towards a more pass heavy league.
The biggest thing to consider this year in college football is not only the big name prospects but players who come from colleges that do not receive the same media attention as schools like Alabama and Ohio State. NFL players like David Johnson, Carson Wentz, Colin Kaepernick and Doug Martin all came from lesser known colleges yet have turned shown they can be solid NFL players now and in the future. Thomas Rawls and Derek Carr all came from smaller school. Each year the NFL Draft seems to get bigger and better and the 2017 draft looks to continue that trend with an excellent amount of star caliber prospects.