Quenton Nelson - G - Fighting Irish Notre Dame redshirt junior G Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame senior T Mike McGlinchey and Texas senior T Connor Williams could all land in the top 10 or 15 picks, according to Albert Breer.
Again, we are so early in the process, but Breer is certainly clued into NFL thinking and what names might be at the top of positions of need. Teams are always looking to shore up their front five, but it is clear those picks aren't as "safe" as once thought. Source: SI.com Dec 13 - 10:19 AM SI's Albert Breer would be surprised if Louisville junior QB Lamar Jackson is selected in the first round.
Breer insinuates the NFL views Jackson as the same player now as he was going into 2016. The questions include anticipation, process a pro offense and the belief Jackson is "more thrower than passer." This topic will be discussed throughout the entire draft process. What we do know is Jackson is one of the top playmakers at his position in years.
Will Grier - QB - Mountaineers West Virginia redshirt junior QB Will Grier announced that he'll return for his senior season in 2018.
This is the right decision, as Grier would have likely been a Day 3 afterthought had he declared. Grier (6'2/215) could improve his draft stock with a big senior season. And while he won't magically be bigger this time next year, he could cut down on some mistakes and dispel lingering decision-making concerns. He was outstanding in his first year as the Mountaineers quarterback, going 250-of-388 for 3,490 yards and a 34/12 TD/INT rate. For that, he was named the 2017 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Unfortunately, we likely won't see him again this year. Grier broke the middle finger of his throwing hand in gruesome fashion against Texas almost a month ago. He's unlikely to be active for the Mountaineers’ bowl game.
Courtland Sutton - WR - Mustangs SMU redshirt junior WR Courtland Sutton will play in the DXL Frisco Bowl against Louisiana Tech on Wednesday.
Sutton (6'4/214) will have one last fling with the Mustangs before he moves on to preparation for the 2018 NFL Draft. He's a probable Day 1 selection and it's not out of the question that the wideout could hear his name called within the top-10 picks, if not soon after. Walter Football's Charlie Campbell sees some of Mike Williams and Mike Evans in the big receiver's game. He should receive red zone opportunities early in his NFL career.
Vita Vea - DL - Huskies Washington redshirt junior DL Vita Vea will not make a decision as to the 2018 NFL Draft until after the Fiesta Bowl.
Washington will be tangoing with Penn State in the Fiest Bowl on Dec. 30. Vea (6'5/332) has had his consistency questioned at times by scouts and evaluators, but offers an enticing versatility and pure athleticism quotient, too. He's a likely Day 1 pick for the draft if he declares -- Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline, among others, believes he'll throw his hat into the ring -- and could rise as high as a top-10 selection.
Josh Jackson - DB - Hawkeyes Iowa redshirt junior CB Josh Jackson has not yet determined whether he will declare for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Jackson (6'2/192) plans on making his decision following Iowa's Pinstripe Bowl date with Boston College on Dec. 27. Named the conference's Tatum Woodson Defensive Back of the Year following the close of the regular season, the redshirt junior has registered 47 tackles, 18 pass breakups and a stellar seven interceptions -- two of which he returned for touchdowns -- this year. Pro Football Focus views Jackson as a first-round talent should he declare. He has prototypical size at corner.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that UCLA junior QB Josh Rosen would be "hesitant" to declare for the 2018 NFL Draft if he knew the Cleveland Browns would take him with the No. 1 overall selection.
Rosen would favor landing with the New York Giants, with Schefter explaining that "[h]e has expressed concern about winding up in Cleveland and would rather be with a more stable franchise." Earlier this month, the junior quarterback took to Twitter to vehemently insist that he has not yet made a decision on the draft. Stay or go, Rosen will wait until after the Cactus Bowl on Dec. 26 to have what he called a "serious conversation" with his parents regarding his future playing plans. It was more or less a foregone conclusion that the top-tier quarterback prospect would declare, but Schefter's report now has us in a holding pattern. The Browns can clinch the No. 1 draft pick on Sunday if they lose to the Bears or the Giants beat the Cardinals. Source: ESPN.comDec 24 - 12:04 PM
Smart man...
Tanner Lee - QB - Cornhuskers Nebraska redshirt junior QB Tanner Lee will enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
Lee made his announcement on Twitter, thanking his coaches and the Nebraska fans while declaring. He finished the year with 3,143 yards passing and 23 touchdowns, but also threw 16 interceptions and with a 57.6 completion percentage. He's currently projected as a late-round pick, but with his arm strength, he could see that stock rise if he tests well and performs in his pro day.
Bryce Love - RB - Cardinal Stanford redshirt junior RB Bryce Love rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in Thursday's 39-37 loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl.
Freshly-adorned Doak Walker winner Love put in a 15-yard touchdown run to open the game's scoring midway through the first quarter. That was just the table-setter for what was to come, as the 5-foot-10, 184-pounder later broke through for one his patented long bolts to glory, this one coming from 69 yards out early in the third quarter. He could have had an even bigger game, but suffered a thumb injury -- one which ESPN says required stitches -- in the fourth quarter which required an extended stay in the medical tent. Love finishes the season having rushed for a Stanford-record 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns, breaking Christian McCaffrey's record set just three seasons ago. Should he declare for the draft, he's a tough back with speed to burn, stellar vision and an underrated strength component to his game. Size and a lack of experience as a pass-catcher could potentially cause some NFL teams to shy off, but he's likely an early Day 2 selection at worst, one with late Day 1 upside.
Can't find this anywhere, but I saw on the crawl of the VaTech game that Saquon Barkley might wait until the last day to decide whether or not to turn pro...
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