Believe it or not, the 2017 NFL Draft is well on its way, with the combine and pro days behind us. Like in prior years, I've put together a list of players who could be dressing up in the black and gold come the '17 season. These players are connected either through mock drafts (mainly Bleacher Report's Matt Miller), or Steelers visits. The profiles are summarized from NFL.com.
WR Josh Reynolds - Texas A&M (6'3", 194lbs)
2016: 2nd All-SEC, 61rec/1,039yds/12TDs
Combine: 4.52 40, 37in vert jump
Strengths: Vertical threat who can open his hips. As good as it gets as a ball tracker. Access to second gear when the ball is in the air, superior ball skills. Can easily win 50/50 balls. A red-zone threat. Works the middle regardless of traffic. Meets aggression with aggression as a blocker.
Weaknesses: Can be temporarily grounded in press coverage. Needs to improve initial footwork. Long strides with limitations in short-area quickness. Some trouble dropping down and digging out low throws.
Comp: Marvin Jones
Grade: 5.69 (backup/eventual starter)
C Kyle Fuller - Baylor (6'5", 307lbs)
2016: 1st All-B12
Combine: 5.24 40, 23reps, 26in vert jump
Strengths: Frame to counter big nose guards. Snaps and immediately broadens base in pass protection. Uses efficient path to punch with hands. Hips to create some initial pop at impact.
Weaknesses: Combination blocks are a struggle. Allows LBs to cross his face. Takes poor angles on second level. Needs guard help to generate push. Hands & feet are not synced.
Grade: 5.31 (backup/eventual starter)
RB Corey Clement - Wisconsin (5'10", 220lbs)
2016: 2nd All-B10, 314att/1,375yds/15TDs
Combine: 4.68 40, 19reps, 28.5in vert jump
Strengths: Utilizes explosive sudden jump-cut to bound from gap to gap. Combination of lower body power & balance. Able to elude defenders who bolt into the backfield. Has lateral quickness. Enough speed in the open field to hit the home run.
Weaknesses: Off-field issues. Monotonous approach as a runner. Lacks burst and drags feet through the hole. Impatient at times. Missing improv talent & finesse. Seems to wait for the next jump-cut rather than punching gas downhill. Rarely in obvious passing downs.
Comp: Peyton Barber
Grade: 5.24 (developmental/ special teams potential)
LB Tanner Vallejo - Boise St (6'1", 228lbs)
2016: Honorable All-Mountain West, 69tckls/6TFL
Combine: 4.67 40, 33.5in vert jump
Strengths: Takes aggressive contain angle when needed. Good feel for most efficient path to the ball. Plays with reactive athleticism to break down and quickly redirect his weight into runners trying to cut back. Good play speed with range to chase from sideline to sideline.
Weaknesses: Below average play strength. Could have issues leveraging the gap. Has issues sliding off of tackles. Some injury concerns. Will struggle to unlock from a strong punch and fight back into the play.
Comp: Dominique Alexander
Grade: 5.11 (back end of the roster)
QB Patrick Mahomes - Texas Tech (6'2", 225lbs)
2016: 2nd All-B12, 65.7 compl %, 5,052yds, 41TDs/10INTs
Combine: 4.80 40, 30in vert jump
Strengths: Accuracy improved each season. Comfortable challenging defenders in space. Can make deep, field side throws. Cranks up velocity to fit into tight windows. Expedites release when pressure is mounting into the pocket. Relaxed & effective when throwing on the move. A legit dual-threat, pocket mobility to extend plays. Hands are very strong.
Weaknesses: Needs to play inside of offense and show more discipline. Appetite for explosive play can bring unwanted trouble. Needs to improve anticipatory reads. Operates from a narrow base. Dip & wind-up in standard release. Some throws can sail on him. Impatient at times, can leave the pocket prematurely.
Comp: Jay Cutler
Grade: 5.87 (Could become early starter)
DE Takkarist McKinley - UCLA (6'2", 250lbs)
2016: 1st All-Pac12, 18TFL/10scks, 6PBUs
Combine: 4.59 40, 24reps, 33in vert jump
Strengths: Relentless worker on the field. Always charging towards the ball. Plus closing burst to sideline enables contain. Unusually adept at bouncing off of blocks. Good change of direction talent. Increased tackle radius. Consistently stuffs cut attempts. Pass rush counters fueled by lateral agility & effort.
Weaknesses: Hands skill & overall usage uncultivated. Lacks serviceable rip move. Punch has little force. Needs to get hands & feet in unison. Lacks bend around edge. Redirected too easily, needs to combine effort, rush talent, and functional power.
Comp: Tamba Hali
Grade: 6.21 (Chance to become a good starter)
QB Davis Webb - California (6'5", 229lbs)
2016: Honorable All-Pac12, 61.6 compl %, 4,295yds, 37TDs/12INTs
Combine: 4.79 40, 33in vert jump
Strengths: High release point, rhythm passer. Shows patience to allow crossing routes to clear traffic. Expedites release when blitzed. Slides to create cleaner platform to launch from when pocket gets noisy. Feet are good enough to operate in a boot-action passing attack.
Weaknesses: Robotic decision-making. Needs to get better at manipulating safeties. Inconsistent velocity to the sideline. Drives throws sometime sail. Lack of anticipation, accuracy issues on intermediate-deep throws. Not a factor as a scrambler. Touch & placement are an issue when forced to leave the pocket.
Comp: Brock Osweiler
Grade: 5.34 (backup/eventual starter)
WR Taywan Taylor - Western Kentucky (5'11", 203lbs)
2016: 1st All-CUSA, 98rec/1,730yds/17TDs
Combine: 4.50 40, 13reps, 33.5in vert jump
Strengths: Stutter-steps around press coverage. Creates discomfort in cover corners with changing route speeds. Easy strider, impressive plant & go separation explosion. Gets head around to QB immediately. Dynamic after the catch. Nifty near the sideline.
Weaknesses: Feasted on bubble screens, jet sweeps. NFL route work will have to be more focused. Occasional focus drops. Body catches could be an issue with contested catches.
Comp: Stefon Diggs
Grade: 5.69 (backup/eventual starter)
DT Jaleel Johnson - Iowa (6'3", 316lbs)
2016: 1st All-B10, 10TFL/7.5scks
Combine: 5.38 40, 19reps, 28in vert jump
Strengths: Good foot quickness, plus motor. Accelerates into blockers with a forceful punch. Generates a bull rush. Has loose hips & a flexible upper-body. Rushes with both effort & skill. Change of direction talent creates difficulties.
Weaknesses: Too upright at point of attack. Contact balance is below average. Unable to consistently fight back against quality down blocks. Can be a little slow to recognize screen passes.
Comp: Ziggy Hood
Grade: 5.62 (backup/eventual starter)
RB Dare Ogunbowale - Wisconsin (5'11", 213lbs)
2016: 91att/506yds/5TDs, 24rec/208yds/1TD
Combine: 4.65 40, 14reps, 35in vert jump
Strengths: Decent hips to cut & swerve away from tacklers or shake them off. Runs hard through contact. Good feel for stretch plays. Has good vision, soft hands. Can separate from LBs out of breaks. Willing to square up a blitzer.
Weaknesses: Runs with low knees. Run speed rarely varies. Not a dynamic runner. Doesn't have enough juice to accelerate to lateral escapes. Doesn't have much of a catch radius.
Grade: 5.14 (Back end of roster)
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