NFL Draft 2017: 1st-Round Order and Projections for Underrated Prospects

Underrated prospects always make or break a team’s draft class.

Lesser-known players make up the majority of draft classes, hence fans’ frequent head-scratching during the draft—and even in the first round. But these players always make up the majority of teams and can often become starters if picked near the first round.

This time of year, the underrated prospects still have plenty of time to grab national attention and higher stock. For now, they rest behind others at their positions and lower on boards than they should for various reasons. 

After a look at an updated mock, let’s examine a few key underrated prospects to watch as the draft process begins. 

2017 NFL Mock Draft

Philadelphia and Indianapolis will flip a coin for No. 14 and No. 15 at the NFL combine.

Projections for Underrated Prospects 12. Cleveland Browns (from PHI): Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami

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Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya has already fallen behind names such as North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky.

So it goes, really—quarterbacks seem to toss the top slot around like a hot potato these days until the draft itself.

The draft process will do Kaaya well. He has ideal size at 6’4″ and 215 pounds and had a stellar junior season, completing 62 percent of his passes for 3,532 yards and 27 touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Now a three-year starter as he heads to the NFL, Kaaya seems to rank all over the place. On CBSSports.com’s big board, he’s the fourth-rated quarterback and 68th player overall.

Decision-making comes up often as a problem for the junior, yet Hurricanes coach Mark Richt made an important point recently, as captured by the team’s official Twitter account:

“He’s got the best peripheral vision I’ve been around. He sees things and recalls things that I might not have seen” CMR on Brad Kaaya

— Canes …

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