Jump to content

Pro comparisons for 33 top draft prospects


Recommended Posts

 

Quote

 

2017 NFL Draft: Pro comparisons for 33 top prospects

2012_Jeremiah-65x90.jpg
Daniel Jeremiah
NFL Media analyst | NFL.com
Share

Mitchell Trubisky and Trent Green. Christian McCaffrey and Devonta Freeman. Daniel Jeremiah goes through some of this year's top prospects and compares them to past and present NFL players. Find out whose games match up.

 

 
  • Mitchell Trubisky, quarterback, North Carolina 33

    NFL.com Illustration

    Mitchell Trubisky, quarterback, North Carolina

    NFL comparison: Trent Green

    They have a similar body type, and both players are above-average athletes at the quarterback position.

  • DeShone Kizer, quarterback, Notre Dame 32

    NFL.com Illustration

    DeShone Kizer, quarterback, Notre Dame

    NFL comparison: Carson Palmer

    I don't believe Kizer will be the No. 1 overall pick like Palmer was in 2003, but Kizer (6-foot-4, 233 pounds) and Palmer (6-5, 235) are similar in size and arm talent.

  • Brad Kaaya, quarterback, Miami 31

    NFL.com Illustration

    Brad Kaaya, quarterback, Miami

    NFL comparison: Cody Kessler

    These two are great decision-makers and efficient players, but lack premier skill sets.

  • Dalvin Cook, running back, Florida State 30

    NFL.com Illustration

    Dalvin Cook, running back, Florida State

    NFL comparison: Jamaal Charles

    They have electric speed and are capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.

  • Christian McCaffrey, running back, Stanford 29

    NFL.com Illustration

    Christian McCaffrey, running back, Stanford

    NFL comparison: Devonta Freeman

    They don't have the same body type, but versatility is their calling card. Atlanta used Freeman in both the run and the pass, and I envision McCaffrey being used in a similar way.

  • Joe Mixon, running back, Oklahoma 28

    NFL.com Illustration

    Joe Mixon, running back, Oklahoma

    NFL comparison: David Johnson

    They are big, tall, athletic running backs who expand a team's playbook because of their special talents.

  • D'Onta Foreman, running back, Texas 27

    NFL.com Illustration

    D'Onta Foreman, running back, Texas

    NFL comparison: LeGarrette Blount

    Foreman (6-foot, 233 pounds) and Blount (6-foot, 250 pounds) are big power backs who excel in short-yardage and end-of-game situations.

  • Corey Davis, wide receiver, Western Michigan 26

    NFL.com Illustration

    Corey Davis, wide receiver, Western Michigan

    NFL comparison: Terrell Owens

    Davis has almost an identical build to Owens. They are very explosive as route runners and when the ball is in their hands.

  • Curtis Samuel, running back/wide receiver, Ohio State 25

    NFL.com Illustration

    Curtis Samuel, running back/wide receiver, Ohio State

    NFL comparison: Reggie Bush

    Both lack ideal size for the running back position, but they can be major weapons out of the backfield in the pass game.

  • Evan Engram, tight end, Mississippi 24

    NFL.com Illustration

    Evan Engram, tight end, Mississippi

    NFL comparison: Jordan Reed

    Engram (6-3, 234 pounds) and Reed (6-2, 246 pounds) are small tight ends/big receivers, creating major mismatches for linebackers and safeties. We've already seen the headaches Reed gives opponents.

  • O.J. Howard, tight end, Alabama 23

    NFL.com Illustration

    O.J. Howard, tight end, Alabama

    NFL comparison: Greg Olsen

    These guys are tall, long athletes who can stretch the seam in the passing game. One of their best attributes is they are quality run blockers.

  • Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, Alabama 22

    NFL.com Illustration

    Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, Alabama

    NFL comparison: Andre Smith

    They are big and physical run blockers. Smith has played his best football on the right side of the offensive line, and that's where Robinson is best suited.

  • Forrest Lamp, interior offensive lineman, Western Kentucky 21

    NFL.com Illustration

    Forrest Lamp, interior offensive lineman, Western Kentucky

    NFL comparison: Cody Whitehair

    Lamp and Whitehair played tackle in college, but Whitehair has since exceled as an interior O-lineman with the Bears. Lamp is likely to see the same sort of success with the same move.

  • Ethan Pocic, interior offensive lineman, LSU 20

    NFL.com Illustration

    Ethan Pocic, interior offensive lineman, LSU

    NFL comparison: Max Unger

    Tall, long center prospects are few and far between, but Unger has carved out a nice career for himself in Seattle and New Orleans. I envision Pocic to follow in Unger's footsteps as a solid center in the years to come.

  • Myles Garrett, defensive end, Texas A&M 19

    NFL.com Illustration

    Myles Garrett, defensive end, Texas A&M

    NFL comparison: Julius Peppers

    These two are rare athletes with special traits capable of taking over football games.

  • Derek Barnett, defensive end, Tennessee 18

    NFL.com Illustration

    Derek Barnett, defensive end, Tennessee

    NFL comparison: Shaq Lawson

    Although they might not have ideal quickness, both players are very productive pass rushers who play with a relentless motor.

  • Charles Harris, defensive end, Missouri 17

    NFL.com Illustration

    Charles Harris, defensive end, Missouri

    NFL comparison: Justin Houston

    They’re both skilled pass rushers with the flexibility and athleticism to drop in coverage if needed.

  • DeMarcus Walker, defensive end, Florida State 16

    NFL.com Illustration

    DeMarcus Walker, defensive end, Florida State

    NFL comparison: Derrick Morgan

    Both are skilled pass rushers who win matchups more on technique than on rare athleticism.

  • Malik McDowell, defensive tackle, Michigan State 15

    NFL.com Illustration

    Malik McDowell, defensive tackle, Michigan State

    NFL comparison: Malik Jackson

    They are athletic defenders with inside-outside versatility. It took a while for Jackson to reach his potential, and I see McDowell developing over time at the pro level.

  • Carlos Watkins, defensive tackle, Clemson 14

    NFL.com Illustration

    Carlos Watkins, defensive tackle, Clemson

    NFL comparison: Corey Liuget

    Watkins (6-3, 309 pounds) and Liuget (6-2, 300 pounds) possess similar builds and are rock-solid, consistent players on tape capable of playing all three downs.

  • Takkarist McKinley, outside linebacker, UCLA 13

    NFL.com Illustration

    Takkarist McKinley, outside linebacker, UCLA

    NFL comparison: Bruce Irvin

    Their games are predicated on pure speed. There will be debate in some rooms as to whether McKinley should be put at linebacker or defensive end -- the same conversations have surrounded Irvin.

  • Tim Williams, defensive end, Alabama 12

    NFL.com Illustration

    Tim Williams, defensive end, Alabama

    NFL comparison: Everson Griffen

    Like Griffen was, Williams is a raw, explosive, twitched-up edge rusher who was inconsistent in college but possesses tremendous potential at the next level. Griffen has been a force in the last three seasons, with his best performance coming in his fifth NFL season (12 sacks).

  • Ryan Anderson, outside linebacker, Alabama 11

    NFL.com Illustration

    Ryan Anderson, outside linebacker, Alabama

    NFL comparison: Markus Golden

    Like Golden, Anderson is a strong, physical edge rusher with underrated pass-rush skills coming out of college. Golden has been more productive in the NFL than he was at the college level, and I think we'll see the same is true with Anderson.

  • Reuben Foster, inside linebacker, Alabama 10

    NFL.com Illustration

    Reuben Foster, inside linebacker, Alabama

    NFL comparison: Bobby Wagner

    Foster and Wagner are rare talents. Both are ultra-fast, athletic and explosive linebackers who can play all three downs.

  • Justin Evans, safety, Texas A&M 9

    NFL.com Illustration

    Justin Evans, safety, Texas A&M

    NFL comparison: Marlon McCree

    Evans (6-foot, 199 pounds) and McCree (5-11, 204 pounds) have good size and are impact tacklers with a lot of explosion on contact.

  • Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Alabama 8

    NFL.com Illustration

    Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Alabama

    NFL comparison: Xavier Rhodes

    Like Rhodes was, Humphrey is a tall, long, athletic corner who needs a little development coming out of college. Rhodes has improved in each of his four NFL seasons, and Humphrey will experience that same upswing with the right coaching.

  • Desmond King, defensive back, Iowa 7

    NFL.com Illustration

    Desmond King, defensive back, Iowa

    NFL comparison: Glover Quin

    Quin was a cornerback in college, and there was debate about which position would best suit him at the pro level. Since then, he's blossomed into one of the league's top safeties, and I'm predicting King will have a similar career path.

  • Marshon Lattimore, cornerback, Ohio State 6

    NFL.com Illustration

    Marshon Lattimore, cornerback, Ohio State

    NFL comparison: Janoris Jenkins

    They are ultra smooth, fluid and instinctive in coverage. A huge plus: neither Lattimore nor Jenkins have physical limitations.

  • Cameron Sutton, cornerback, Tennessee 5

    NFL.com Illustration

    Cameron Sutton, cornerback, Tennessee

    NFL comparison: Darius Butler

    These are versatile players who can do a bit of everything -- play cornerback, safety or nickel. Sutton also has the ability to contribute in the return game.

  • Quincy Wilson, cornerback, Florida 4

    NFL.com Illustration

    Quincy Wilson, cornerback, Florida

    NFL comparison: Aqib Talib

    These tall, fluid corners are ideally suited for matching up with bigger, more physical receivers -- and there are plenty of those in the league. Wilson and Talib possess outstanding ball skills in coverage.

  • Jamal Adams, safety, LSU 3

    NFL.com Illustration

    Jamal Adams, safety, LSU

    NFL comparison: Troy Polamalu

    These two can take over a football game from the safety position, and we don't see that often. You never know where these tone-setting players will line up.

  • Marcus Maye, safety, Florida 2

    NFL.com Illustration

    Marcus Maye, safety, Florida

    NFL comparison: Keanu Neal

    Ironically, they played together at Florida in 2015. They are rangy, fast and physical safety prospects. Neal took his game to another level as a rookie in Atlanta, and whoever drafts Maye will hope to get the same type of production early on.

  • Jabrill Peppers, safety, Michigan 1

    NFL.com Illustration

    Jabrill Peppers, safety, Michigan

    NFL comparison: Devin McCourty

    Like McCourty did, Peppers has positional flexibility coming out of college. They're twitched-up, explosive and fast. McCourty has settled in as a Pro Bowl safety, and Peppers has similar upside.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...