HEADLINES

2017 NFL Draft

Poll: Who Will Be The Best Top Ten Pick?

June 24th, 2017 at 2:00pm CST by Zachary Links

This year’s draft took a number of unexpected twists and turns. The surprises started early and the top part of the draft shook out in a way that few expected. Now, we want to know who you think the best player to come out of the top 10 will be. Here’s a refresher on each pick, followed by a poll. We also encourage you to back up your selection in the comments.

  • Browns – Myles Garrett, DE (Texas A&M, No. 1 overall): Heading into the draft, Garrett seemed to be everyone’s consensus No. 1 talent. Despite some rumblings that the Browns could take a certain quarterback at the top of the draft, Cleveland went with convention and took the Texas A&M star. In three seasons in College Station, Garrett recorded 31 sacks and 47 tackles for loss. He also graded as a top-three edge defender during all three of his collegiate campaigns, per the advanced numbers at Pro Football Focus. Unfortunately, Garrett sprained his left foot during practice and that’s a bit worrisome since he had left ankle trouble last season. The good news is that he has been able to play through the pain before and doctors say he should be ready to go in time for training camp. Myles Garrett Browns
  • Bears – Mitch Trubisky, QB (North Carolina, No. 2 overall): Few people saw this one coming. Not only did the Bears take Trubisky without warning, but they moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in order to secure him. The pick also took free agent addition Mike Glennon by surprise since his $45MM deal led him to believe that he would be the man in Chicago for at least a couple of years. Some say that Trubisky has the potential to blossom into a star. Others say that Trubisky was merely the best signal caller in a class full of unimpressive QBs.
  • 49ers – Solomon Thomas, DT (Stanford, No. 3 overall): Thomas was among the top-ranked players on the 49ers’ board and they received extra draft compensation for taking him. You can’t argue with the value that San Francisco got in the draft night swap, but you’ll have to overlook the size concerns in order to vote for him as the best player to be drafted in the top 10. “Tweener” talk aside, Thomas had 61 total tackles last season – including 14 tackles for a loss – and 8.5 sacks. He now joins an up-and-coming defensive line in SF and the potential is there for him to do great things.
  • Jaguars – Leonard Fournette, RB (LSU, No. 4 overall): Fournette was widely regarded as the best running back in this year’s class and he silenced doubters at the combine with his faster-than-expected 40-yard-dash time. The 6’1″, 230-pound running back averaged an eye-popping 6.5 yards per carry in his final two seasons on campus, making evaluators around the league salivate at his potential.
  • Titans – Corey Davis, WR (Western Michigan, No. 5 overall): The buzz around Davis grew in the weeks leading up to the draft, but this pick still caught some by surprise. The Titans went with the Western Michigan standout with their top selection, even though he had ankle surgery in February. They believe that the 6’3″, 213-pounder will produce at the next level and it’s not hard to see why they have faith in him. Last year, he finished with personal highs in receptions (97), yards (1,500), and scores (19).
  • Jets – Jamal Adams, S (LSU, No. 6 overall): Early on in draft season, it seemed like a coin flip between Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker for the mantle of best safety in the draft. As late April approaches, more and more people in the football world went into Adams’ camp. The Jets had tons of needs on both sides of the ball, but they used the draft as an opportunity to revamp the safety position. Some say that it doesn’t make sense to take a safety early in the draft, but it seems like analysts everywhere are on board with the Jets’ pick.
  • Chargers – Mike Williams, WR (Clemson, No. 7 overall): The NFL now has another wide receiver named Mike Williams. The Bolts could have gone with a defensive upgrade with guys like Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore still on the board, but they chose instead to get Philip Rivers a big target to throw to on the outside. Williams has all the physical tools to succeed, but there are some concerns about his tendency to drop the occasional ball.
  • Panthers – Christian McCaffrey, RB (Stanford, No. 8 overall): Many saw the Panthers taking Fournette with this pick, but once he was off the board, they went to McCaffrey. McCaffrey battled through injury in his final year and still finished out with 1,639 rushing yards. The running back has the ability to make defenders miss and the field vision to break off big runs, but there are some concerns about whether he’ll be able to be an every-down back given his lack of size.
  • Bengals – John Ross, WR (Washington, No. 9 overall): Speed kills and it also pushes you up draft boards. Many expected Ross to be a first round pick, but his selection within the top 10 caught some by surprise. He can torch just about any defender you put in front of him, but it remains to be seen whether he can stay healthy. Ross has suffered a torn ACL and torn meniscus in the past. He also underwent labrum surgery after the combine. If those kinds of ailments are behind him, however, Ross could be a star as he lines up opposite of A.J. Green.
  • Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes, QB (Texas Tech, No. 10 overall): The Chiefs gave up quite a bit to get the No. 10 pick, so they obviously believe Mahomes can blossom into a top-tier quarterback. The former baseball pitcher has a naturally strong arm and also has the wheels to gain yards on the ground when needed.

When all is said and done, who do you think will be the best player out of this year’s top 10? Vote below and defend your pick in the comment section.

Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.

Saints Sign First-Round OT Ryan Ramczyk

June 22nd, 2017 at 5:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have agreed to terms with the last of their unsigned draft picks, as they’ve inked first-round tackle Ryan Ramczyk to a four-year deal, the club announced today.Ryan Ramczyk (Vertical)

Ramczyk, who had been one of only a dozen unsigned picks league-wide, had been battling a hip issue, leading to a delay in contract negotiation. Although the Saints drafted the Wisconsin product at No. 32 overall with an eye towards the future, Ramczyk may instead be called on to play immediately. Incumbent left tackle Terron Armstead recently suffered a labrum injury and will be sidelined 4-6 months, meaning Ramcyzk could start at left tackle from day one.

Like all first-round selections, Ramczyk will sign a four-year contract that comes with a fifth-year option (for the 2021 campaign) attached. In total, Ramczyk’s deal will be worth approximately $8.892MM, including a signing bonus of $4.607MM and 2017 cap charge of $1.617MM.

Here’s a complete overview of the Saints’ 2017 draft class:

Only 12 NFL Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

June 21st, 2017 at 7:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement’s language on draft pick contracts ensures that rookie signings are a breeze, so it’s no surprise that most clubs have already locked up their 2017 class. In fact, only 12 of 253 draft choices (roughly 4.7%) are still without a contract. Here’s a look at those players who remain unsigned:

First Round

Second Round

Third Round

Unsurprisingly, the majority of the unsigned draft picks are first-rounders. Players chosen within the top 32 selections, and especially those selected in the top 10, can often exert more leverage in negotiations in order to extricate more favorable terms. Offset language (or lack thereof) or the timing of signing bonus payment — the issue that held up Joey Bosa‘s talks with the Chargers in 2016 — could be on the table.

Other issues could be holding up negotiations between certain players. The Raiders, for example, haven’t signed any of their top three picks, which could indicate a specific contract sticking point that needs to be worked out. Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, meanwhile, is battling a hip issue, and New Orleans wants him to pass a physical before signing. Cornerbacks Gareon Conley (Raiders) and Jourdan Lewis (Cowboys) are each facing legal situations which could be holding up talks.

Rams Sign Five Rookies, Wrap Up Draft Class

June 20th, 2017 at 7:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams have become the latest club to lock up their 2017 draft class, as the team announced they’ve agreed to terms with fourth-round wide receiver Josh Reynolds, fourth-round linebacker Samson Ebukam, sixth-round defensive tackle Tanzel Smart, sixth-round fullback Sam Rogers, and seventh-round linebacker Ejuan Price.Josh Reynolds (Vertical)

Reynolds, who posted 1,039 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during his final season at Texas A&M, figures to see the most playing time of the rookies signed today. The 6’3″, 195-pounder — whom Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compares to NFLer Marvin Jones — will compete with fellow rookie Cooper Kupp for playing time behind Robert Woods and Tavon Austin.

Here’s a complete overview of the Rams’ 2017 rookie crop:

Lions Wrap Up Draft Class

June 19th, 2017 at 10:39am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed third-round wide receiver Kenny Golladay, according to a team announcement. With Golladay signed, the Lions now have all of their draft picks officially under contract.Kenny Golladay (vertical)

Golladay, who was taken with the No. 96 overall pick, will be competing with Jared Abbrederis, Jace Billingsley, and T.J. Jones for the No. 3 WR position. With defenses keying in on Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, there could be lots of opportunities for Golladay in the next spot.

At 6’4″, the Northern Illinois product should have the length to win jumpballs against most of his defenders. He has been knocked by some evaluators for his route running, but scouts fell in love with him for his height and speed leading up to the draft.

Here’s the complete rundown of the Lions’ 2017 class:

Jaguars Wrap Up Draft Class

June 16th, 2017 at 6:31pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Jaguars have signed their third-round pick, defensive end Dawuane Smoot, per a team announcement. The signing of Smoot means the Jaguars have locked up their entire seven-player draft class.

Dawuane Smoot

Smoot, the 68th overall selection, is coming off a four-year career at Illinois that saw him rack up 38.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. Now, the 6-foot-3, 264-pounder will act as depth as part of an impressive defensive end group that includes offseason signing Calais Campbell, Dante Fowler and Yannick Ngakoue, who combined for 20 sacks last year.

Here’s a look at the rest of Jacksonville’s 2017 draft class:

Seahawks Wrap Up Draft Class

June 15th, 2017 at 5:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have locked up the entirety of their 2017 draft class by signing third-round defensive backs Shaquill Griffin and Delano Hill, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link).Delano Hill (Vertical)

Griffin and Hill were selected within with five picks of each other, as Griffin — a UCF product — came off the board with the 90th overall selection while Hill, a Michigan alum, went at No. 95. Griffin, specifically, could see action early in his rookie campaign as incumbent corner DeShawn Shead recovers from a torn ACL. Hill, meanwhile, could act as insurance if Earl Thomas‘ rehab from a broken leg takes longer than expected.

Here’s an overview of Seattle’s entire 2017 rookie crop:

Giants Sign Evan Engram

June 15th, 2017 at 2:54pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Giants have signed their first-round pick, tight end Evan Engram, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (on Twitter). The team’s entire six-player draft class is now under contract.

Evan Engram

Engram, whom the Giants chose 23rd overall, played the previous four years at Ole Miss, where he combined for 162 receptions and 15 touchdowns. He pulled in career highs in catches (65), yards (926) and scores (eight) last year en route to First-Team All-America honors and a high selection in the draft. Now, the field-stretching Engram (6-foot-3, 234 pounds) should take over as the Giants’ top tight end, supplanting Will Tye, who caught 48 passes for a paltry 8.2 yards per reception last season.

Here’s a refresher on the rest of Big Blue’s picks:

Browns Sign David Njoku

June 15th, 2017 at 1:53pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Browns have announced the signing of first-round tight end David Njoku, the 29th pick in this year’s draft. His four-year deal is worth approximately $9.53MM, including a $5.07MM signing bonus.

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Njoku was the third tight end to come off the board this spring, going after the Buccaneers’ O.J. Howard and the Giants’ Evan Engram, and is coming off a breakout year at Miami. The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder hauled in 43 receptions for 698 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016 as a member of the Hurricanes, with whom he only played two seasons. The Greg Olsen comparable should step into the starting lineup right away for Cleveland, which immediately released veteran tight end Gary Barnidge after it drafted Njoku.

With Njoku under contract, the only unsigned player remaining in the Browns’ 10-player draft class is another of their first-rounders, safety Jabrill Peppers – the 25th pick. Cleveland had three No. 1s, including top overall selection Myles Garrett.

Steelers Sign First-Round Pick T.J. Watt

June 14th, 2017 at 12:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers signed first-round linebacker T.J. Watt, according to a team announcement. After also inking third-round cornerback Cameron Sutton this week, Pittsburgh has become the latest team to wrap up its 2017 draft class. T.J. Watt (vertical)

“T.J. is a rock solid young man who has a lot of upside,” said Coach Mike Tomlin in a press release. “He doesn’t have a lot of experience at the position, but at the same time we saw some things that were exciting to us. His hand usage in particular for a guy with his short resume at the position was exciting. His production speaks for itself. He’s just a quality guy and a quality pick for us. We’re excited about continuing his development not only as a football player, but as an outside linebacker. That’s probably the most exciting element of the T.J. discussion. We are excited about the potential upside and growth given the short length of time he’s played the position.”

Watt, a Wisconsin product, finished the 2016 season with 17 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks. Last year was his first campaign as a starter and just his second season playing defense after switching from tight end. But, of course, hard-nosed defense runs in Watt’s blood.

“I am a lunch pail kind of guy who yeah, I just got picked in the first round, but I am here to prove that I am worth that pick and I am worth much more than that as well,” said Watt, the younger brother of Texans superstar J.J. Watt. “I think some things come easy for me, like the transition over to defense. It came naturally to me, but at the same time there was so much work behind the scenes that no one ever saw. That’s what it’s so hard to put it into words. It is a lot of God-given ability, but it is so much work that no one will ever see. No one will ever know. It’s an insurmountable amount of work. That is how you get to places like this and get the opportunity to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It all pays off. It really does.”

Watt may wind up starting at one of the Steelers’ outside linebackers pots, putting him opposite of James Harrison with Ryan Shazier and Vince Williams in between. Former first-round pick Bud Dupree and Arthur Moats will also be pushing for playing time at OLB.

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