PFF Mock Draft 2017: Three Michigan Defenders in First Round

Submitted by jimmyshi03 on

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/05/03/draft-deshaun-watson-g…

Pro Football Focus's 2017 mock draft has three Michigan players in their first round. I've been surprised as to the number of these Jourdan Lewis doesn't appear on, and PFF has him going highest of the Michigan players. FWIW, Malik McDowell goes in their Top 10, with Corey Davis from Western joining him there.

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens: Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan

Our top-graded cornerback from 2015, Lewis was targeted often with little to show for it. Of his 90 targets, only 33 were completed (36.7 percent) and he tied for the national lead with 15 passes defensed to go with two interceptions. At a listed 5-foot-10, Lewis will battle the NFL’s preference for bigger cornerbacks, but another playmaking season like 2015 should put him right into the first-round mix.

Then we get the usual suspect:

  1. Indianapolis Colts: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

While Peppers may be moving to linebacker on Michigan’s depth chart this fall, he’s the athletic hybrid player for which the NFL is looking. Peppers was strong against the run (+8.3) and in coverage (+6.5) and he has the athleticism to play near the line of scrimmage while matching up with slot receivers and tight ends.

 

And then the surprise :

  1. Minnesota Vikings: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

The third Michigan defender in the last five picks, Hurst fires off the ball and his +38.0 overall grade ranks third among returning interior defensive linemen despite playing only 418 snaps in 2015. Hurst shows the power to push the pocket and disrupt in the backfield, though he does need to do a better job of handling double teams and finishing plays.

Bambi

May 3rd, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^

Hunter Henry was the 4th pick in the second round this year. Henry is listed as 6'5 250, Butt as 6'6 248 on Wikipedia. Size wise they're the same, and they had the same production this year stats wise.

I don't know much about blocking comparisons or measureables, but just based on that I feel like Butt would have gone 2nd rounds this year. If he breaks out even more this year, I don't think first round is out of the question.

Magnus

May 3rd, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^

The NFL looks for athletic freaks at TE in round one. Butt is a very good tight end, but he's not going to stretch defenses vertically or be a huge catch-and-run guy in the NFL. I could see him slipping into the end of the first round for a well established team that's looking to fill a hole, but he's more of a safe pick than the game-changer type that teams want in round one.

Lanknows

May 3rd, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

Wormley, Glasgow, Charlton will all get drafted.  Hurst won't play enough to leave early unless he has off-field reasons we don't know about.

I'd bet that at least 2 out of Stribling, Clark, Hill and Thomas get drafted too.  Thomas is all but a lock.  Clark's athleticism will be tantelizing.  NFL teams love big corners like Stribling and space players like Hill.  All 4 could get drafted and I wouldn't be shocked.

Given how loaded this D is I think you'll see Gedeon have a big season statistically and maybe find himself drafted late.  He's a good athlete with good size.

That's just on defense.  I think Butt and Chesson will be interesting to see who gets taken first.

Ziff72

May 3rd, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^

A. Peppers and Wormley were in the 1st rd of the Bleacher Report draft.

B. Lewis, Peppers and Hurst are in the in the PFF 1st rd.

C. Mone was rated the #3 player on the team prior to injury last year.

D. Brian has Glasgow as the #1 dlineman on the team.

 

This is all very confusing.   If I may do my best Will Hunting.

 

A+B+C+D=NC

 

nb

May 3rd, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^

I like Wormley much better in the NFL because he can play multiple positions based on down and distance, and 3-4 or 4-3 schemes. His height, long arms and vision at the point of attack remind me of Richard Seymour.



Don't sleep on Glasgow as a nose tackle in the NFL. As Vince Wilfork showed on the pats, a two gap nose tackle is a critical piece for any stout run defense.



As far as a benchmark, Willie Henry didn't quite have Hurst's first step, but was a much more well rounded player. In fact, Hurst may not start this year with Glasgow, Mone and Wormley taking the 1,3 and 5 techniques inside.



Hurst is built like a fire hydrant but he is a one trick pony at this point TFL or gash. He can be a top penetrating 3 technique this year with a quick first step, but in the NFL he will need to get better holding slower leverage tight to the hole, and maintaining his run discipline against lateral plays. While he may make some TFLs, if he gets out of his gap in a Nickel scheme (60% of NFL snaps) the RBs could be out the gate for a 10-20 yard gain before a safety can make a play.

bacon

May 3rd, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^

Different draft prediction, but it's funny to see how right/wrong some of these guys are in retrospect. Mel Kiper had Hackenberg at 11 and Connor cook at 15. Yet, I think Robert Nkemdiche at 4 was the biggest miss.

Perkis-Size Me

May 3rd, 2016 at 1:42 PM ^

Hurst? I mean maybe if he has a monster year and just becomes an absolute space eater on the line, but right now I didn't have him pegged anywhere near round 1. Of course I'd love to be wrong though. 

Peppers and Lewis make sense, but I think Butt could sneak into the first round if he has another great year. Probably more likely an early Day 2 kind of pick, but first round isn't out of the question. 

WholeMilk

May 3rd, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^

Is Jabrill on track to graduate next year? I know in the past he's said he was going to stay to get his degree.

I definitely won't hold it against him if he leaves, but I think he could go higher if he stays another year. But he could also have a monster year this upcoming season and move up.

I'm just going to go ahead and pretend like this is his last year in A2, so I'm not disappointed. And if he returns? A cause for celebration indeed.

PopeLando

May 3rd, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^

+1 for your user name.

I will never, ever, fault any athlete for leaving school early to become a millionaire. School will be there when you're retired or during the off season. Your ACL might not always be in good shape...

But I hope Peppers sticks around. It's always sad to see talent like that depart early, even if he deserves it.

ScruffyTheJanitor

May 3rd, 2016 at 2:56 PM ^

He's a 300 LB athletic dynamo. I think he's going to bust out in a big way and get drafted in the first round. I have him, Peppers, Lewis, and Butt as 1st rounders-- and I actually think that Peppers has the best chance of falling to the 2nd. And, since I am a renown draft guru, he should really just stay his senior year. 

MVO

May 4th, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

I just don't see it... Regardless of his size the kid is going to be an animal this year on defense. Not only will it show on tape, he will test out of this world at the combine. Top 15 next year & if he returns for his Senior Year we will be talking Heisman votes & Top 10 draft prospect.

Avon Barksdale

May 4th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

I actually think Hurst could be a monster this year, but I hope he sees the Henry late 4th round debacle and sticks around. I've said it a few times: if Wormley can stay healthy and put up another 7-8 sack season, at 6'5, 300 pounds, he is going to be a late 1, early 2. He is Robert Nkemdiche (without the issues).