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McShay's Top 32: Alabama's O.J. Howard rising fast

Alabama's O.J. Howard looks like a sure-fire first-round pick right now. Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports

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 where necessary.

We'll continue to update our board as we get closer to the 2017 NFL draft and complete our evaluations. Although 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. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M*

Grade: 95

Garrett is the best pure pass-rusher in the 2017 draft. He played through an ankle injury for much of this season and still finished tied for sixth in the SEC with 15.0 tackles for loss (including 8.5 sacks). He has a lethal combination of first-step quickness, bend, power and hand-to-hand combat skills. After adding 10 pounds of muscle last offseason, he has been stronger setting the edge in the running game.

2. Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama

Grade: 94

Allen had 8.5 tackles for loss in his final five games. He's a true game-wrecker, with 15 QB hurries and 10.5 sacks. Allen's excellent combination of quickness and power makes him one of the best interior pass-rushers we've studied in this draft class. He constantly pushes the pocket and brings tremendous experience to the table, with 56 games played.

3. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU*

Grade: 94

Fournette, who had a nagging ankle injury all season, finished with only 144 touches, far below the 319 he had the season before. That works to his benefit from a wear-and-tear standpoint. When fully healthy, Fournette is a big-play machine with a rare combination of size, power, agility and speed for the position. His angry running style is something at which to marvel, and it will translate well to the next level.

4. Jamal Adams, S, LSU*

Grade: 93

Adams is one of the most complete players in this class. He's a difference-maker as an in-the-box defender, racking up 7.0 tackles for loss in his last seven games. Adams has an excellent blend of size, length and athleticism, and it shows up on tape.

5. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford*

Grade: 93

Thomas' combination of quickness and power pops off the screen and helped make him one of the biggest draft risers this season. At 6-foot-3 and 273 pounds, he has good size and strength and he's stout against the run (15.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and seven QB hurries).

6. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State*

Grade: 92

Hooker confirmed that he had surgery this week on his labrum and for a hernia, and will miss the combine. That shouldn't affect his draft stock too much. Only two players in college football had more interceptions this season than Hooker's seven picks. In his first season as a starter in Columbus, Hooker showed great instincts and range in coverage. He always seems to be around the ball.

7. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State*

Grade: 92

A first-year starter, Lattimore is more naturally gifted than former Ohio State CB Eli Apple, who went No. 10 overall to the Giants in the 2016 draft. At 6-foot, 192 pounds, Lattimore has good length and fluid movement skills. He took full advantage of his spike in playing time, with four interceptions and nine pass breakups this season.

8. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State*

Grade: 92

Cook, who ranked second in the FBS with 2,253 total yards this season, can truly do it all. He makes defenders miss with subtle changes in direction, and he doesn't need much of a crease to rattle off a big play. At 5-11, 213 pounds, Cook is a big play waiting to happen (18 touches of 25 yards or more this season, tied for first among all Power 5 RBs).

9. Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama

Grade: 92

Foster is one of the better inside linebacker prospects in recent memory. He flies to the ball, and when he gets there, he shows explosive tackling ability. Foster had 11.5 tackles for loss in his last 10 games and 30 more total tackles this season than his next-best teammate. For a player his size (240 pounds), Foster shows a good combination of agility and speed.

10. Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

Grade: 91

Charlton finished the season on a tear, compiling 10 sacks in his final 10 games. He has always had the raw ability, but this past season he showed more consistency and refined technique. Charlton has the ability to be an edge defender in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme in the NFL.

11. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson*

Grade: 91

Williams physically dominated against Alabama in the CFP National Championship, winning on underneath routes and soaring over the top for a few big plays. He closed out his Clemson career with 11 touchdowns in his final 12 games and showed all the skills you look for in a legit No. 1 NFL wide receiver. He has an excellent ability to create late separation when the ball is in the air. At 6-3, Williams has a good size-speed combination.

12. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Grade: 91

Howard was the best player on the field all week at the Senior Bowl, showing great athleticism for a guy who measured just over 6-foot-5½ and 249 pounds. He has a lot of upside as a big-play threat in the NFL. Don't forget: This is the guy who lit up Clemson in two consecutive CFP National Championships (314 receiving yards and three TDs). He should thrive in a more pass-heavy NFL system.

13. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan*

Grade: 91

Peppers is a polarizing player because it's a little tricky to find a true position for him, but I see him as a great fit for the modern NFL. He has the speed and athleticism to thrive in space and the toughness to play bigger than his 205-pound frame. Think of Peppers as a hybrid player at the next level -- a Deone Bucannon-type -- who can help your team in a lot of ways (he finished the regular season with 15.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven QB hurries, three rushing TDs and one punt-return TD). The biggest concern for me is his lack of ball production at Michigan; he has only one career interception.

14. Teez Tabor, CB, Florida*

Grade: 90

Tabor has some of the best ball skills among cornerbacks in this draft class, with four interceptions, six pass breakups and a defensive TD in 12 games this past season. His technique still has some room to grow, but it's hard to ignore Tabor's natural anticipation and elite production, including five interceptions and 22 pass breakups in the two seasons before this one.

15. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin*

Grade: 90

Ramczyk transferred to Wisconsin after two seasons at UW-Stevens Points (Division III), and he was dominant this season. With an ideal frame (6-6, 314 pounds) and long arms, Ramczyk proved to be consistent as a run-blocker and in pass protection. He played through a hip injury this season that he eventually had surgery to repair on Jan. 5.

16. David Njoku, TE, Miami (Fla.)*

Grade: 90

Njoku was the biggest surprise of our early evaluations. A good college player who has the potential to develop into a better pro, Njoku is loaded with talent. He averaged 16.2 yards per reception and caught a TD once in every 5.4 receptions. He could be the first tight end off the board. At the very least, he's a clear-cut first-rounder from a talent perspective.

17. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee*

Grade: 90

Barnett led the SEC in both tackles for loss (19.0) and sacks (13.0). Perhaps more impressive, all but one of his sacks came against SEC opponents. Barnett is efficient at keeping blockers off his frame, and he plays with good discipline, a consistent motor and impressive physicality. He has terrific intangibles and finds a way to affect the game in multiple ways with his natural instincts.

18. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

Grade: 89

At 6-foot and 181 pounds, Jones is long and a smooth mover, but he needs to get stronger. He has shown the ability to play press coverage and is also adept at playing off-coverage. Jones -- who had three interceptions, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles this season -- is physical for a smaller-framed guy, too.

19. Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA

Grade: 89

McKinley has been one of this season's biggest draft risers. He parlayed his elite speed off the edge into 18.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks in 11 games (both of which finished second in the Pac-12). To put that in perspective, McKinley had 11.0 total TFLs and 7.0 sacks in his first two seasons combined. He brings a ton of upside to the table.

20. John Ross, WR, Washington

Grade: 89

Ross has always had great speed, but he improved his route running this season and saw immediate dividends with 17 touchdowns. His stock shot up after he showed the ability to handle physical coverage. If he runs as fast as expected at the NFL combine, Ross could very well be a first-rounder.

21. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Grade: 88

Davis stands 6-2, 205 pounds and can apparently run in the 4.4s. If he does so at the combine, he will probably be a first-round pick. Davis was hugely productive in college -- 332 catches, 5,285 yards, 15.9 yards per catch and 52 touchdowns. Plus, he had 73 yards and a TD against Wisconsin, the toughest competition he has faced.

22. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU

Grade: 88

White is one of the most experienced players in this class, having started 47 games in his LSU career. His elite football instincts and a good overall feel for route combinations were on full display last week at the Senior Bowl before he tweaked his ankle and missed the final day of practice and the game. White doesn't have great ball production (only six career interceptions), but he brings added value as a punt returner, scoring a return TD in each of the past three seasons.

23. Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

Grade: 88

Lamp also went down because of an ankle injury during last week's Senior Bowl practices. The measurables -- specifically his shorter arms (31 inches) -- confirmed that he's a guard in the NFL. Lamp started 51 total games for Western Kentucky, most of which were at left tackle. He's a smooth mover, an excellent athlete and his tape against Alabama (particularly Tim Williams) was awesome.

24. Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida*

Grade: 88

Brantley is more of a disruptor than someone who is going to put up eye-popping production. He has a good combination of quickness and functional strength to excel as an interior player at the next level. When at his best -- as he was in back-to-back games against LSU and Florida State (5.0 tackles for loss) -- Brantley can be a load to handle in the running game.

25. Jarrad Davis, OLB, Florida

Grade: 88

Davis was hampered by an ankle injury toward the end of the season, but when healthy, he finds so many ways to affect a game. He makes plays in the backfield (six tackles for loss and five QB hurries) and is athletic enough to hold up in coverage. Davis reminds me a little of Bucs OLB Kwon Alexander because of his excellent range and relentless motor.

26. Budda Baker, S, Washington*

Grade: 87

At 5-10 and 192 pounds, Baker is an undersized safety prospect, but when you watch the film, he's all over the field. A three-year starter, Baker was the only Pac-12 defensive back to finish this season with double-digit tackles for loss. He also had two interceptions and six pass breakups.

27. Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina*

Grade: 87

In his first year as a full-time starter, Trubisky showed good accuracy (68.0 completion percentage) and an ability to limit mistakes (only nine turnovers all season). Trubisky's 13 career starts are a bit concerning, as the history of quarterbacks leaving school early without a ton of game reps isn't great (just look at Mark Sanchez). But with the lack of top-end talent in this draft class -- and the number of teams drafting in the top 10 that need new blood at the position -- Trubisky could still be a top-10 pick come April.

28. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford*

Grade: 87

McCaffrey finished his Stanford career on a tear against some overmatched defenses (222.4 total yards per game and 12 TDs in his final five contests). From rushing to receiving to returning, McCaffrey was asked to do a ton for the Cardinal, and he delivered with a rare combination of vision, lateral agility and acceleration.

29. Charles Harris, DE, Missouri*

Grade: 87

Harris had 5.5 sacks, six QB hurries and a forced fumble in his final four games. That came after he led the SEC with 18.5 tackles for loss in 2015. A twitchy athlete off the edge, Harris is just scratching the surface as a pass-rusher. If he adds some bulk to his frame, watch out.

30. Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida*

Grade: 87

Some scouts I've talked to think Wilson's ceiling is higher than fellow Gators cornerback Teez Tabor (No. 14 on this list). At 6-1, Wilson has a good length/speed combination, and he's experienced, with 39 games played, including 24 starts.

31. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State*

Grade: 87

McDowell missed the regular season's final three games because of an ankle injury, and before that, his film and production (1.5 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss) had taken a dive from last season. He just isn't the consistent grinder who typically comes out of Michigan State. But McDowell has elite athleticism and can play multiple positions along the D-line at the next level.

32. Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

Grade: 87

Williams is another player who has dropped a little bit on my board because of some concerns about his consistency. He certainly made his fair share of smash plays -- 14.5 tackles for loss in his final 10 games -- but he also disappeared from stretches. While Williams has excellent first-step quickness, explosive power and a really high ceiling, teams will have to take into account his character. He was arrested earlier this season on a misdemeanor gun charge.