- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
NFL Draft 2017: Known Order and Top Prospects Before Week 17
- Updated: January 1, 2017
The 2017 NFL draft, which is slated to begin April 27, seems like a lifetime away. The NFL playoffs have yet to begin, and we haven’t even finished the college bowl season. If there’s one thing that never seems too far off to scrutinize, though, it’s the NFL draft.
This year’s draft should be an interesting one. While the crop of quarterbacks appears relatively lackluster right now, there seem to be several defenders, running backs and pass-catchers in the group. The ability to snag elite prospects, of course, depends very much on draft positioning.
As of this week, either the Cleveland Browns or the San Francisco 49ers are going to end up with the first overall pick—though a trade out of the spot could certainly occur over the next few months. The one-win Browns currently hold the “honor” of selecting first overall, but a win Sunday coupled with a 49ers loss would give San Francisco the top pick.
Today, we’re going to run down the entire draft order as it stands today. We’ll also take a look at some of the latest buzz surrounding some of the top prospects in the class. Draft order is based on records, strength of schedule and projected playoff seeding.
Current Draft Order
Prospects to Watch
Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Tar Heels
We mentioned this year’s draft doesn’t appear to be particularly strong at the quarterback position. However, there is one intriguing prospect who could be worth first-round consideration if he decides to declare.
That prospect is North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky. Though he has just one year of starting experience, Trubisky seems to have the size, arm strength and leadership skills NFL teams look for.
The 6’3″, 220-pound signal-caller racked up 3,748 yards passing with 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions in his lone year as a starter. The question NFL teams will have to ask is whether that one year provides enough to make a judgment.
Trubisky is coming off a fairly unimpressive appearance (280 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) in the Sun Bowl against the Stanford Cardinal, however, so his last on-field impression of the season wasn’t a stellar one. Whether teams really hold that against him is a matter for NFL decision-makers.
One NFL executive recently told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that the Browns should snag Trubisky with that first overall pick:
One top #NFL personnel man who has a good QB and no shot at Trubisky recently told me: “Browns should take Trubisky No. 1 overall”
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 30, 2016
Of course, Cleveland won’t have the opportunity if …
