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McShay's Top 32: Michigan's Jabrill Peppers continues his rise

Michigan's Jabrill Peppers and Clemson's Mike Williams continue to climb up Todd McShay's board. ESPN Illustration

Here, we'll look at which players have moved up and down our Top 32, drawing on the same scouting reports as before and making changes only where necessary.

We'll continue to update our board as we get closer to the 2017 NFL draft. While it's a given that some players will move into the rankings and others will drop out, this provides a good snapshot of which players currently have the most NFL potential based on our evaluations.

Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.


1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU*

Grade: 95

Fournette has sat out two of LSU's past four games with a nagging ankle injury. Resting until he's right will be the best thing for his long-term future. After logging 513 total touches in his previous two seasons, Fournette has little left to prove to NFL scouts. He has a rare combination of size, power, agility and speed for the position. Fournette runs angry and violent, consistently initiating contact with defenders.

2. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M*

Grade: 94

With 28 sacks and 26 QB hurries in 29 career games, Garrett is the real deal. He added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and it shows. He's stronger setting the edge in the running game, and as a pass-rusher, he has a lethal combination of first-step quickness, bend, power and hand-to-hand combat skills.

3. Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama

Grade: 93

Allen hasn't shown any signs of letting up after a breakout 2015 season. He's a true game-plan wrecker, with four sacks, four QB hurries, a blocked field goal and a defensive touchdown in Alabama's first five games. With an excellent combination of quickness and power, Allen constantly pushes the pocket. He's one of the best interior pass-rushers we've studied in this draft class.

4. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan*

Grade: 93

Peppers continues to impress with a versatile skill set and rare playmaking ability. Lining up as a hybrid LB/DB, he has 9.5 tackles for loss (fourth in the FBS), two sacks, four QB hurries and a forced fumble. He also has a punt return TD. Peppers is an elite athlete, and his potential is off the charts.

5. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State*

Grade: 92

You have to watch the film to truly appreciate McDowell. He gives really good effort, despite facing what seems like constant double teams. An elite athlete, McDowell can play all over Michigan State's defensive front, and he shows very good range for his position, closing on the quarterback in a flash.

6. Jamal Adams, S, LSU*

Grade: 92

Adams leads the Tigers with 19 solo tackles, proving to be a difference-maker in the box as a physical run defender. Even though he has room to improve his technique in coverage, he showed his raw ability with two pass breakups versus Missouri last week. Adams has an excellent blend of size, length and athleticism.

7. Devonte Fields, OLB, Louisville

Grade: 92

Fields has shown tremendous potential as a pass-rusher. After finishing 2015 with 11 sacks, he has two sacks and two QB hurries in 2016, showing excellent first-step quickness and bend around the edge. But he comes with some character red flags: Fields struggled to stay out of trouble at TCU and was dismissed from the program after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend (the charge was eventually dropped).

8. Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama

Grade: 91

Foster is a key cog in Alabama's third-ranked run defense, with a team-leading 18 solo tackles this season. With a good combination of agility and speed for a 240-pounder, he gets downhill in a hurry and is an explosive and impactful tackler. One area I'd like to see Foster improve? His instincts and recognition skills.

9. Jordan Thomas, CB, Oklahoma*

Grade: 91

Thomas tracks the ball well and routinely comes down with 50-50 balls. He has three pass breakups in his past two games, and last season he had five interceptions. He projects as an early-round pick because of his combination of size (6-foot, 192 pounds), athletic ability and instincts. But Thomas' off-field decision-making, including two suspensions in 2015 and an arrest, deserves attention from teams.

10. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State*

Grade: 90

Cook took a little heat after gaining just 62 yards from scrimmage against Louisville. But he proved over his next two games that he has all the tools to be a three-down back in the NFL: 329 total yards vs. South Florida and 246 against North Carolina. Cook isn't an ankle-breaker, but he makes defenders miss with subtle changes in direction, and he doesn't need much of a crease to explode through the hole.

11. Dawaune Smoot, DE, Illinois

Grade: 90

Smoot was one of the lone bright spots for the Fighting Illini's defense against Nebraska last week, finishing with 1.5 tackles for loss and a QB hurry. A gifted pass-rusher with an explosive first step, Smoot keeps offensive tackles on their heels with his ability to win with speed, power and redirection quickness.

12. Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

Grade: 90

Williams had his best game of this season against Kentucky last week, when he had a strip sack. He had been M.I.A. prior to that. His recent arrest on a misdemeanor gun charge doesn't help matters. Williams needs to work on his technique a bit, but he has a very high ceiling as a pass-rusher.

13. Charles Harris, DE, Missouri*

Grade: 90

Harris led the SEC with 18.5 tackles for loss last season, and he has followed that nicely in 2016 with 3.5 sacks and four QB hurries. He has a ton of potential as a pass-rusher, thanks to his relentless motor, quickness and athleticism. If Harris adds some bulk to his frame, watch out.

14. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson*

Grade: 89

Williams has shown good versatility this season, winning across the middle for a TD against Louisville and climbing the ladder to snag a score vs. Georgia Tech. After suffering a scary, season-ending neck injury early last season, Williams (6-3) has again proved to be a terrific deep-ball threat. He averages nearly 17 yards per catch for his career.

15. Jarrad Davis, OLB, Florida

Grade: 89

Davis ranks sixth in the SEC with 40 total tackles, and he has shown improvement as a pass-rusher, with two sacks and two QB hurries. He reminds me a little of Bucs OLB Kwon Alexander, because he's an explosive athlete and a high-impact tackler. Davis has excellent range and a relentless motor and brings added value on special teams.

16. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee*

Grade: 89

With 5.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks, in his past two games, Barnett is very efficient keeping blockers off his frame. He plays with very good discipline, a consistent motor and impressive physicality. A true junior, he also has quality versatility, with the ability to line up at both DE spots and reduce inside on pass-rushing downs.

17. Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida*

Grade: 89

With two tackles for loss, including one sack, so far this season, Brantley has the combination of quickness and functional strength to excel as an interior player at the next level. When he's at his best -- like against Alabama in the SEC championship game last season -- Brantley is a disruptive run defender up front.

18. Teez Tabor, CB, Florida*

Grade: 89

Tabor has some of the best ball skills among CBs in this draft class. He already has three interceptions this season, including one last week vs. Vanderbilt when he showed good instincts jumping a route. His technique still has some room to grow, but it's hard to ignore Tabor's elite production, including five interceptions and 22 pass breakups in his previous two seasons.

19. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama*

Grade: 89

An elite run-blocker, Robinson consistently drives defenders off the ball when he's playing with leverage. Teams will need to investigate Robinson's character after an arrest in May 2016 for possession of marijuana and illegal possession of a stolen firearm, though charges were eventually dropped.

20. Charles Walker, DT, Oklahoma*

Grade: 89

With two tackles for loss and two QB hurries so far this season, Walker has the quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt run plays in the backfield when he kicks inside. His lower-body strength gives Walker a lot of upside as a pass-rusher.

21. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford*

Grade: 89

Coaches and teammates rave about McCaffrey's work ethic and tireless motor. He practices as hard as he plays, and it shows in his sheer stamina on Saturdays. From rushing to receiving to returning, McCaffrey is asked to do a ton for the Cardinal, and he delivers with a rare combination of vision, lateral agility and acceleration.

22. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC*

Grade: 88

After getting off to a slow start this season, Smith-Schuster flashed his big-play potential against Arizona State last week, posting 17.6 yards per catch and three TDs. Smith-Schuster shows the ability to create late separation when the ball is in the air, and he does a good job weaving through traffic in the open field.

23. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame*

Grade: 88

Kizer threw for the three largest yardage totals of his career the past three weeks, as he has been forced to carry a Notre Dame team that's struggling on defense. At 6-4, 230 pounds, Kizer is a big, highly intelligent player whose raw tools translate nicely to the next level. His 14 passing TDs rank fourth in the FBS, and while Kizer's accuracy from inside the pocket could improve, he should continue to get better with more snaps.

24. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Grade: 88

McGlinchey is long enough to protect the edge against most speed rushers when his footwork is sound. With that said, he's best suited to initially play on the right side in the NFL. He flashes a nasty disposition and gets under defenders' skin.

25. Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame*

Grade: 87

Nelson has established himself as one of the best guards in the country. He shows good effort, toughness and technique in the running game. At 6-5 and 325 pounds, it's tough for pass-rushers to get around him. Nelson projects as a Day 1 NFL starter.

26. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB, Tennessee

Grade: 87

Reeves-Maybin suffered a sprained shoulder against Ohio in Week 3 and has missed the majority of the Vols' last two games. When healthy, he plays with elite sideline-to-sideline ability and good instincts. Reeves-Maybin reminds me a little bit of the Bucs' Lavonte David and the Jets' Darron Lee.

27. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Grade: 87

Alabama hasn't used Howard much as a field-stretcher this season, targeting him on just four passes of 20 yards or more downfield. But turn on last year's College Football Playoff National Championship, and it won't take long to see Howard's big-play ability (208 receiving yards, two TDs). He has rare top-end speed for the position.

28. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson*

Grade: 87

Watson hasn't been as consistent this season as you'd hope, including five TDs and three interceptions against Louisville last week, but he has the ability to throw from the pocket and extend plays with his mobility. If he's able to adjust to a pro-style system, Watson has the tools to develop into a good starter in the NFL.

29. Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn*

Grade: 87

Lawson has taken off as a pass-rusher this season, with four sacks and 10 QB hurries in five games. He was already an elite run defender with a powerful upper body and heavy hands. Lawson has the skill set of a potential first-rounder, but his previous injuries, including a torn ACL in 2014 and a hip injury in 2015, will need to be checked out.

30. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami*

Grade: 87

Kaaya has shown very good accuracy on short-to-intermediate throws, completing 78.3 percent of his passes of 10 yards or less downfield this season (10th in the FBS). He has the ability to really excel in a precision/timing-based offense in the NFL. Kaaya will need to add some bulk and strength to his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, but he consistently makes good presnap decisions.

31. Desmond King, CB, Iowa

Grade: 87

You won't see many players in this draft with more live-game reps than King, who has started 44 games for the Hawkeyes. His experience shows on this field: King is very adept at reading the quarterback's eyes and making a play on the ball (eight interceptions in 2015). King can play in the slot and on the perimeter and has made his impact felt as a run defender this season (14 solo tackles) as opponents have mostly shied away from targeting him in coverage.

32. Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State*

Grade: 87

Johnson has the quickness and length to protect the edge at the NFL level with improved technique. Showing good effort and blocking to the whistle, Johnson flashes the potential to develop into a franchise left tackle, but he has yet to reach his considerable potential.