With the NFL draft now just eight days away, and the Bilo College Football Report's NFL Draft Prospectus now complete, it's time to take a closer look at who some of my favorite players are in this draft, and who I see as potential busts. It's also time to take a peek at who I believe are underrated diamonds in the rough for this class as well. Here are my lists...
Bilo's Top Ten Favorite Players
1. CB Adoree' Jackson, USC: He gives you value in all three phases of the game, and can change the flow of the game. Few players in this draft give you more bang for the buck.
2. OJ Howard, TE, Alabama: Howard is the highest rated offensive player in this draft, and for good reason. He plays TE like a WR, and he is a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses. Wind him up and watch him go.
3. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee: The Vols have been a mess for a bit now, but Barnett was one of the most complete players for this program, and across the nation, defensively. His across the board numbers were better than Myles Garrett.
4. Jamal Adams, SS, LSU: Game changing safeties who are equally adept at stopping the run as they are covering the deep pass are a rare beast. Adams could be one of the best players available in this draft, and should be an easy top five pick.
5. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin: The top rated lineman in this draft, Ramczyk is a run block specialist who can also pass protect like a pro. Of all of the linemen in this class, he is the most game ready.
6. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Williams can be a dynamic receiver when healthy, and he seems healthy heading into this draft. He is a game changing receiver who is tough as nails in coverage, and he should be the most sought after receiver in this draft.
7. Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt: Cunningham is the most complete Linebacker in this draft, and is not being given enough of a look for teams drafting earlier. I can see him going in the later first round, and falling to the Texans, if they know what they are doing here. He fits what they need perfectly.
8. Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah: He is aggressive and nasty, and looks to rip heads off on every snap. I love his mental approach to the game, and he just looks great on film. He is ready to start at RT now, and move to the left side in the next few seasons.
9. Takkarist McKinely, OLB, UCLA
McKinley is a rush end specialist who is massively productive behind the line of scrimmage. He was a bright spot on an otherwise dull Bruin defense last season, and has come a very long way in a short time. He is just coming into his own, and could be as good as Anthony Barr.
10. Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
He is massive, and he is athletic, and he is one hell of a football player. The best D2 prospect in the draft is screaming up draft boards. Once scouts get a look at him, they cannot look away. He is a fleet footed TE in a lineman's body.
Bilo's Top Ten Bust Potential Players
1. Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State: People got caught up with his one year as a starter and what he did in that one season. I am not buying in just yet. He is lacking in overall technique, and may be in over his head, but his potential buy in gets him drafted early.
2. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Fournette really fell off of my radar in 2016, as I felt that he really mailed in the season with the NFL draft approaching, and then he completely mailed it in for the bowl game. I don't know about his focus, and although he certainly is loaded with talent, where is his head?
3. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama: He is already falling off of draft boards across the league, as there is concern with an arm injury that has popped up. He got kicked out of the combine because of a well publicized spat with the medical staff there, and that is a problem for me as well.
4. All of the Quarterbacks: There is not one QB in this class that I would spend a first round pick on, and considering that as many as three or four may be taken, I see all of those (Mitch Trubisky, DeShaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, Deshone Kizer) will all be in line to fail. Not one of these guys are game ready, and if they go in the first, they will be asked to be, and that will not be setting anyone up for success.
5. Haason Reddick, LB, Temple: He has never played linebacker in his life. It is the only defensive position that he has not played. He was a high school safety who moved to DE at Temple, and now will be asked to be a LB because of size deficiencies. I just don't see it working.
6. Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan: He is really good at a lot of things, but not great at any one thing. He played his best at LB, but at his size, he will never be a LB in the NFL. He has the athleticism, but can he fit just one mold? That is a well debated question.
7. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State: Someone is going to take him in the first round in all likelihood, but I am not certain as to why. His overall passion for the game, or the lack thereof, has been well publicized, and he just does not seem to want this like he should. That is a huge problem for me, and for several scouts as well.
8. TJ Watt, LB, Wisconsin: I am certain that he has the drive to succeed, but his name alone may be getting him the attention that he is getting. This is a weak class, and in a better year, he is certainly not rated as highly die to lacking athleticism.
9. Tim Williams, OLB/DE, Alabama: Multiple positive drug tests at Alabama, and was never even suspended one time. I see this as a continuing problem in the league once he has more cash on hand. I would stay well clear of this player.
10. Duke Riley, LB, LSU: Riley is rated much too highly on major draft boards that I have seen. He is not a second round pick, but a seventh round flyer. Anything higher than that is a joke. He was just not productive enough to warrant this much in the way of expectation.
Bilo's Top Ten Diamonds in the Rough Picks
1. Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh: The Patriots are talking to him, so that's saying something. Peterman is more advanced than one would think, and he would get all the time he needs to develop in a place like New England.
2. D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas: He ran for over 2000 yards last season on a bad team. He only had one year of that kind of production, but he seems to be just coming into his own at the right time, and there are signs that he is ready to explode.
3. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington: Kupp is not really all that unknown, but he is an FCS candidate, and it can be tough for these guys to make it. Kupp should not be that guy. He is Ed McAffrey with even more skill. His production has been through the ceiling, and nobody has ever been able to contain him.
4. Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama: Highly productive and underexposed. He is ready to make a name for himself on the next level, and I am usually right about this kind of thing. Everett is going to be some QB's best friend.
5. Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell: He is another FCS prospect with low exposure, but he is a guy who is flying up some boards, and with some time, has the ability to explode onto the scene. He is one dark horse prospect.
6. Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova: Highly productive FCS prospect who checks out on almost every box. He will be a mid round draft pick, and will play well above where he is taken.
7. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic: Hendrickson has 23 sacks over the last two seasons. He is an underrated edge rusher who needs to get after the quarterback, and there will be several teams that will take a swing at him, and it will pay off.
8. Elijah Lee, LB, Kansas State: Nothing about him stands out in a huge way, but he is my gamble pick as a diamond in the rough, and he could be someone who has enough edge and gumption to push him over the top on the next level.
9. Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State: One hell of a ball hawk, and was one of the most incredible INT specialists in college football over the last couple of seasons. Kazee is underrated for all the wrong reasons, and should be a starter somewhere in the league.
10. Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Williams could go as high as the second round, but wherever he goes, he checks all the boxes except for size. If you underestimate him on size alone, you miss out. Williams has starter potential, and he could be a good one at that.
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