Matt Miller’s Week 17 NFL Scouting Notebook

All season we’ve been looking for that sleeper quarterback, this year’s version of Carson Wentz or Dak Prescott. I’ve found one.

It isn’t Brad Kaaya—who dominated West Virginia in what might have been his final college game—or any of the other big names mentioned here this season, but a redshirt sophomore at little ol’ Wyoming. Josh Allen has the size (6’5″, 220 lbs), massive arm, mobility and gunslinger wiring to take the NFL draft world by storm if he declares for the 2017 draft.

Last week, I wrote about Allen in the “5 Names to Know” section, and this week he leads the article. What will Allen do regarding the 2017 draft? A Wyoming source told me he hasn’t yet submitted paperwork to the advisory committee but will meet with head coach Craig Bohls this week to talk about next season.

He has until January 16 to make that decision, but with other top arms (Luke Falk, Mason Rudolph) deciding to stay in school, the time might be perfect for Allen to make the leap.

What else is going on in the NFL draft world? A lot. This week’s column is a long one, packed full of NFL draft nuggets. 

The best tight end no one talks about Three NFL head coaching jobs open up An updated big board …and how many quarterbacks will go in the first round?

                                       

The Scout’s Report

—So many quarterbacks have held “QB1” status this season, but if Allen declares, it will be a three-man race between him, Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina) and DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame).

—Two months ago, I reported what multiple people had told me—that Washington State quarterback Luke Falk was leaning toward declaring for the draft. This week, Washington State coach Mike Leach said he believes Falk will return to school for the 2017 season. My information was wrong, or something changed. That happens in this business, especially when dealing with players in their early 20s who may be juggling their own wishes against the thoughts of parents, agents, coaches and teammates. Ultimately, this was Falk’s decision, and I see it as a good one for his draft stock.

—Looking ahead to next season, Falk will be in a rough competition. UCLA’s Josh Rosen is the clear-cut QB1 for the 2018 draft if he’s healthy. Others in consideration will be Sam Darnold (USC), Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Jake Browning (Washington), Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State), Kyle Allen (Houston) and potentially Josh Allen from Wyoming. Breaking the top five of that class will require a much better season from Falk.

—Oklahoma State stars Mason Rudolph and James Washington announced together this week that they will return for their senior seasons. Rudolph carried a Round 4 grade on my quarterback board, with Washington ranking as a third-round receiver in a weak class at the position.

—Are the New England Patriots asking for a first-rounder for Jimmy Garoppolo? They might be asking for more, according to an interview ESPN’s Adam Schefter gave to WEEI in Boston this week. Schefter stated the starting point in any trade talks would be first- and fourth-round compensation. That’s what the Minnesota Vikings gave up to get Sam Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles on a short-term rental.

—The 2017 tight end class is impressive and keeps gaining strength with more underclassmen entering the draft. Miami’s David Njoku, a redshirt sophomore, told the Miami Herald’s Susan Miller Degnan after the Hurricanes’ bowl win that he’ll enter the draft. Njoku is an impressive athlete with great size (6’4″, 245 lbs) and will potentially receive a top-50 grade from me.

—When updating my rankings this week in preparation for Monday morning’s seven-round mock draft, I noticed that Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers continues to fall down the board. I started him as a top-five player, then he fell to the top 10, then top 15, and now he sits around No. 20. Why the fall?

When watching Peppers play, I’m struck by how little he does on defense. He’s a great return man and a fun Wildcat quarterback, but as a linebacker/safety, he has little impact on the game. Part of scouting is being able to look at his traits and project those to an NFL defense; while Peppers is fast, agile and explosive, his production and impact aren’t that of a top-tier player.

—Good news for the East-West Shrine Game: NFL assistants will work the week of practices and coach the game. This will be great exposure for non-playoff assistants and a great chance for draft prospects to work with experts who can influence their draft stock and prepare them for pro-level coaching.

—Alabama edge-rusher Tim Williams is a top-10 talent on my board but too often is labeled as “only” a pass-rusher. That’s just not true. Turn on the tape and he is routinely setting the edge in the run game when he’s on the field. Yes, Alabama rotates the front seven often, but this idea that Williams can’t affect the run game is silly. It’s a case of what the team asks him to do versus what he can do. Williams can set the edge—he’s just not asked to do it often.

            

5 Names to Know

5. S John Johnson, Boston College

A versatile defensive back with the tools to play cornerback and free safety, John Johnson has …

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