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          Todd McShay's ultimate 2017 NFL draft preview

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          Mahomes' big arm makes him an intriguing prospect (1:47)

          Todd McShay, Mel Kiper Jr. and Phil Savage evaluate the pros and cons of former Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II's game. (1:47)

          • Todd McShayApr 25, 2017, 12:00 PM ET
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              Todd McShay is a senior NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting reports on the nation's top pro prospects. He also serves as a college football field analyst on Saturdays in the fall. Todd joined ESPN in 2006 and contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live, College Football Live and ESPN Radio. He is a Massachusetts native and was a backup quarterback at the University of Richmond. You can follow Todd on Twitter via @McShay13.
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          It's draft week. Finally. The evaluations are done. The rankings are set (more on those on Wednesday). Before the picks are made, let's take a comprehensive stroll through this draft class. Consider this my 2017 NFL Draft Awards, in which I highlight the best of the best in particular categories.

          We'll start broader, with categories that apply to all positions, before drilling down to specific skill sets that matter for each position group. If you'd like to skip forward to a particular position, click the links below.

          QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S

          ALL POSITIONS

          The All-Tape Team: Players I love watching the most

          Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
          James Conner, RB, Pitt
          Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech
          Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic
          Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina
          Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
          Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
          DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State

          McKinley is the captain of this team. He has the best motor of any defensive player I watched in this draft (see video below). He's not fully developed as a pass-rusher (he needs to learn how to use his hands better), but you know what you're getting from him in terms of effort on the field. Awuzie plays cornerback with the mentality of a linebacker. Conner is just so damn competitive; he runs with urgency and holds his teammates accountable. Henderson and Hendrickson both show a mean streak on the field: The WR relishes contact almost to a fault, while the DE never surrenders when teams run at him. Hollins shows great toughness making contested catches over the middle, and he clearly takes pride in being a standout member of the punt/kick coverage units. Lewis gave up less separation in coverage than any CB I watched all year. Walker is limited athletically, but he's a really smart player: He'd often know the offense's tendencies and how to exploit them because he studied up.

          Best fit for today's NFL

          1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
          2. Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
          3. Haason Reddick, ILB, Temple
          4. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
          5. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
          6. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
          7. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut

          One theme on this list: running backs who are great pass-catchers. That applies to McCaffrey, Cook and Kamara, giving them more value in what has become a pass-first league. Reddick is athletic enough to hang with shifty running backs and tight ends in coverage while also having some upside as a pass-rusher. Engram has the size/speed combination (6-3, 234, 4.42 40) to be a matchup piece in this era of shotgun-based spread offenses.

          Highest floor

          1. Jamal Adams, S, LSU
          2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
          3. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

          Adams has off-the-charts football character. He loves the game and plays with great instincts (see video below). McCaffrey's work ethic and stamina are second to none. Howard is one of the most complete TE prospects in years, with the ability to align as a tradition TE or split out wide.

          Highest ceiling overall

          1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
          2. David Njoku, TE, Miami (Fla.)
          3. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

          If Fournette can develop as a pass-catcher, watch out. He has all of the physical tools to be a special player for a long time. Njoku started just nine games in college, but he has the raw athleticism to produce big plays in the passing game. McDowell could easily go boom or bust. When he's right, he looks like the most talented interior rusher in this class. His motor ran way too hot and cold last season, though.

          Highest ceiling for developmental projects

          1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
          2. Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
          3. Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova

          Mahomes needs time and proper coaching to make the most of his elite arm talent. Witherspoon has a size/speed combination you can't teach (6-foot-3 and 4.45 40). He showed a lot of improvement as he got more experience. At nearly 6-foot-7 and 289 pounds, Kpassagnon has rare physical tools (see video below), but he's been playing football only since his junior year of high school.

          Helped the most by measurables

          1. Kevin King, CB, Washington
          2. Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
          3. Haason Reddick, ILB, Temple

          King had this year's best short-shuttle time (3.89 seconds) and best three-cone time (6.56) -- and he ran a 4.43-second 40. Those are crazy numbers for anyone, let alone a 6-foot-3 cornerback. Conley has the combination of length (33-inch arms) and straight-line speed (4.46 40) that NFL teams desire. Reddick's outstanding combine numbers show his ability to rush the passer and play in space (4.52 40 at 257 pounds; 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump).

          Hurt the most by measurables

          1. Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
          2. DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State
          3. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

          The 40-yard dash really matters for cornerbacks, and Tabor posted a red-flag number in Indianapolis (4.62). Walker lacks an explosive first step as a pass-rusher. Barnett's poor times in the 40 (4.88) and 10-yard split (1.69) will scare off some teams.

          Best steals by round

          Round 1: David Njoku, TE, Miami (Fla.)
          Round 2: Josh Jones, S, NC State
          Round 3: Duke Riley, ILB, LSU
          Round 4: Taywan Taylor, WR, Western Kentucky
          Round 5: Isaiah McKenzie, WR, Georgia
          Round 6: Michael Roberts, TE, Toledo
          Round 7: Avery Moss, DE, Youngstown State

          Jones has the size to hold up as a run defender in the box (6-1, 220) and the speed/fluidity to cover in the middle of the field. Riley is an active and athletic run defender. He'll continue to improve as he gets more experience. Taylor led all FBS players with 3,197 receiving yards and 34 TD catches the past two seasons. McKenzie ran a 4.42 40 at the combine and had six return TDs in college (see video below). He should make an impact on special teams from day one.

          Best athletes pound for pound

          1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
          2. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
          3. Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International
          4. Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
          5. Kevin King, CB, Washington

          Garrett was the first player since Mario Williams in 2000 to jump at least 40.5 inches in the vertical while weighing 270-plus pounds. Enough said. Measuring just shy of 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds, Melifonwu ran a 4.4 40 and jumped out of the gym (44-inch vertical and 11-foot, 9-inch broad jump). I could've chosen any number of TEs -- Howard, Njoku and Engram all have freakish measurables -- but I went with Smith because he combines outstanding speed (4.62) with great leaping ability (38-inch vertical).

          Players I like more than others

          1. Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
          2. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
          3. Dion Dawkins, G, Temple
          4. Adam Shaheen, TE Ashland

          Dobbs first jumped out at the Senior Bowl. On film, he shows a live arm and the ability to throw with anticipation. Dobbs is my fifth-ranked QB. Dawkins showed at the Senior Bowl that he can hold up at guard, and his 35-inch arms give him a chance to play right tackle, too. Shaheen has the size (6-6, 278) and speed (4.79) to play in-line and flexed out in the pros (see video below).

          Players I like less than others

          1. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
          2. Davis Webb, QB, Cal
          3. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
          4. Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech

          I have no doubt that Peppers will have success in this league; I just don't know if a team will get a first-round value as a defender. Yes, he'll make splash plays in all three phases, but I worry about his consistency. Webb has a huge arm and makes some big-time throws, but he's streaky. I worry about his transition from Cal's Air Raid system.

          Most physical players

          1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
          2. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
          3. Isaac Asiata, OG, Utah
          4. Jahu Chesson, WR, Michigan
          5. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

          The Fournette video below speaks for itself. He's a bulldozer when he gets a head of steam. At 6-foot-3, 323 pounds, Asiata, who posted 35 reps on the bench at the combine, welcomes a dogfight in the trenches. Chesson shows no fear going over the middle, and he busts his tail to get in position and sustain blocks.

          Top-50 players with character concerns

          1. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
          2. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
          3. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

          NFL evaluators have concerns with the people Cook and Foster surround themselves with off the field, and because of that, they're ranked lower than players of their skill set normally would be. The biggest questions surrounding McDowell are his on-field effort and work ethic.

          Top prospects with elite intangibles

          Jamal Adams, S, LSU
          Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
          Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida
          Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
          O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
          Dorian Johnson, G, Pitt
          Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky
          Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
          Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
          Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU

          These are the players who have great on- and off-field character. They play hard, they practice hard, they're leaders in the locker room, and, for many of them, that will be a big factor in their being selected in the first round.

          Most pro-ready from day one

          1. Jamal Adams, S, LSU
          2. Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
          3. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
          4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
          5. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
          6. Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
          7. DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State

          Allen and White started 38 and 47 games, respectively, in their college careers. They should both hit the ground running as rookies. Because of Foster's much-improved quickness and range, he should be a three-down player from the moment he steps on an NFL field.

          POSITION-BY-POSITION RANKINGS

          Who's the most accurate QB? Which RB runs with the most power? Which CB is the best in coverage? I get these kinds of questions all the time from fans, so I analyzed some position-specific skill sets. For some of the categories below, I'll provide a list, as I did above; for others, I'll simply name the winner. Let's dig in.

          Quarterback

          Best pocket presence/mobility

          Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina: Trubisky consistently feels pressure early, and he has the mobility to elude. He almost always keeps his eyes downfield, too.

          Most accurate

          Nathan Peterman, Pitt: Peterman throws with good timing/anticipation (see video below), and that's a big reason why he is the QB who's most ready to start from day one.

          Most efficient while under pressure

          Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee: This is where Dobbs' excellent mobility comes into play. He has the athleticism to extend plays as pass-rushers are breathing down his neck.

          Strongest arm

          Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech: Mahomes fits the ball into some ridiculously tight windows. He can snap his wrist and deliver a deep-out on a rope.

          Running back

          Best power/balance

          1. Leonard Fournette, LSU
          2. Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
          3. Kareem Hunt, Toledo

          At 233 pounds, Perine is a bulldozer when he gets his momentum going downhill. He had the most bench press reps (30) of any RB at the combine. Hunt occasionally gets tripped up from behind, but he mostly shows excellent balance through contact.

          Best agility/acceleration

          1. Dalvin Cook, Florida State
          2. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
          3. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

          Cook's combination of speed and shiftiness makes him very tough to corral (see video below). Kamara regularly makes defenders miss in the hole and in the open field.

          Best pass-catcher

          1. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
          2. Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
          3. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee

          McCaffrey is one of the most polished pass-catching RBs we've ever studied coming out of college. If not for Mixon's very troubling assault of a female student, he would likely come off the board in the first round. He's very reliable in the passing game.

          Best vision/patience

          1. Dalvin Cook, Florida State
          2. Samaje Perine, Oklahoma
          3. Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State

          This is Cook's best trait. He's decisive with his initial cut, and he displays the ability to quickly read the secondary on the fly. While Pumphrey reads his blockers well, he needs to do a better job of not being so quick to bounce runs outside.

          Wide receiver

          Best ball skills

          1. Darreus Rogers, USC
          2. Mike Williams, Clemson
          3. Zay Jones, East Carolina
          4. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
          5. Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech

          Rogers has massive hands (10-plus inches) and makes contested catches look easy. His 4.90 40 at USC's pro day could keep him from getting drafted, though. Williams' ball skills were on full display during the CFP National Championship (see video below). Jones consistently shows the ability to pluck the ball on the run, while Kupp tracks the ball well and has really soft, reliable hands.

          Best route runner

          Ryan Switzer, North Carolina: Switzer changes directions and speeds well enough to shake man coverage, and he shows a good feel for finding the open pockets against zone looks.

          Top big-play threat

          1. John Ross, Washington
          2. Shelton Gibson, West Virginia
          3. Josh Malone, Tennessee

          This is where Ross' 4.22 speed comes in handy (see video below). Gibson shows the acceleration to ruin pursuit angles in the open field, while Malone averaged 19.4 yards per catch last season, thanks to his 4.40 speed.

          Tight end

          Best ball skills

          Jake Butt, Michigan; O.J. Howard, Alabama (tied): Butt tore his ACL in Michigan's bowl game, which has hurt his stock a bit. When healthy, he's on Howard's level in terms of being able to pluck balls away from his frame in traffic.

          Best route runner

          Evan Engram, Ole Miss: Engram isn't just fast (4.42 speed), he also has an elite combination of fluidity and quickness, which shows up in his route-running. He particularly excels when working against zone coverage.

          Top big-play threat

          David Njoku, Miami (Fla.): Njoku flashes an extra gear when tracking the deep ball down the field. His length (35-inch arms) and leaping ability (40-inch vertical) come in handy inside the red zone.

          Offensive line

          Best pass-protector (tackle)

          Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin: Ramczyk's solid technique allows him to be an elite pass-blocker despite having below-average arm length (33¾ inches).

          Best pass-protector (guard/center)

          Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky: Lamp has good feet, and he's tough for defenders to shake once he locks on with his big hands (10½-plus inches).

          Best run-blocker (tackle)

          Cam Robinson, Alabama: When playing with leverage and in balance, Robinson can really drive and steer defenders off the ball.

          Best run-blocker (guard/center)

          Dorian Johnson, Pitt: Johnson profiles as a plug-and-play starter at guard. He fits best in a zone-blocking scheme. He fires off the ball and shows a good initial surge.

          Defensive line

          Best motor (early-round prospects)

          1. Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
          2. DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State
          3. Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn

          Walker displays excellent endurance. He played all 165 snaps against Clemson and Michigan, and there was no noticeable dip in his performance (see video below). Lawson was a tone setter for Auburn's defense, fighting through the whistle and giving quality effort in pursuit.

          Best motor (later-round prospects)

          1. Hunter Dimick, DE, Utah
          2. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic
          3. Ryan Glasgow, DE, Michigan

          Dimick has a chance to surprise. He's a grinder who shows good power/instincts as a pass-rusher. Glasgow, a former walk-on, is always battling through the whistle.

          Best pure pass-rusher

          1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
          2. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
          3. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

          Garrett has everything you look for in an elite pass-rusher: Great speed (4.64), long arms (35¼ inches) and off-the-chart explosion (40.5-inch vertical), along with the upper-body strength to push through contact (33 reps on the bench) and the flexibility to bend the edge. Barnett's elite hand usage helps him overcome his lack of ideal athleticism, while McDowell, when he's giving good effort, has the quickness and technique to cause a lot of problems for QBs in the NFL (see video below).

          Best run defender

          1. Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
          2. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Alabama
          3. Stevie Tu'Ikolovatu, DT, USC

          Allen is an explosive player at the point of attack. He uses his length (nearly 34-inch arms) to lock out blockers. Tomlinson flashes heavy hands and a powerful punch; he sheds blocks in a hurry. The 330-pound Tu'Ikolovatu rarely gives ground and consistently eats up double-teams.

          Most scheme-versatile (defensive line)

          1. Solomon Thomas, DT, Stanford
          2. Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
          3. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

          Thomas' outstanding combination of size (6-2⅝, 273), quickness and power allows him to be effective while playing all over the D-line (see video below). He has room to play around 290 pounds if his next team wants him to primarily play on the interior.

          Most scheme-versatile (edge defender)

          1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
          2. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
          3. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State

          Garrett is capable of lining up at both defensive end spots in a 4-3. He also has the athleticism to be a 3-4 outside linebacker. Willis lined up mostly with his hand in the dirt at Kansas State, but he can spot drop in underneath zone coverage if asked to make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker.

          Linebacker

          Best in coverage

          1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
          2. Duke Riley, LSU
          3. Blair Brown, Ohio

          Based solely on his tape, Foster is one of the five best football players in this draft. His ability cover at a high level is a big reason for that. Riley's elite short-area quickness allowed him to hang with smaller running backs in coverage.

          Best tackler

          1. Blair Brown, Ohio
          2. Reuben Foster, Alabama
          3. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State

          Brown has some sleeper potential because of his change-of-direction skills (4.18-second short shuttle, third among LBs) and his reliability as a tackler (see video below). McMillan closes quickly on the ball carrier and packs a punch.

          Best range versus the run

          1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
          2. Jarrad Davis, Florida
          3. Duke Riley, LSU

          Foster can get sideline-to-sideline in a hurry, and he has explosive tackling power for his size (229 pounds). Davis, who moves very well laterally, shows explosive closing speed once he gets pointed in the right direction.

          Best instincts

          1. Duke Riley, LSU
          2. Ben Gedeon, Michigan
          3. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee

          Riley started just one season but showed abnormal savvy for having such little experience. Gedeon locates the ball quickly and does not take many false steps. Reeves-Maybin shows good reaction skills as a run defender and when he sees a screen being set up.

          Cornerback

          Best pure cover skills

          Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State: Lattimore is a really twitchy athlete. He can flip his hips in a flash, which helps him give minimal separation when playing in man coverage.

          Best in run support

          1. Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado
          2. Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
          3. Jourdan Lewis, Michigan

          Awuzie flies all over the field and is a very reliable open-field tackler (see video below). Humphrey uses his length (32¼-inch arm) shed blocks, and he flashes the ability to deliver a heavy blow as a tackler. Lewis is on the smaller side (5-10¼, 188), but you'd never know it by watching him fill against the run.

          Here's a quick example of how Colorado CB Chidobe Awuzie plays the game.

          A post shared by Todd McShay (@tmcshay) on

          Most instinctive

          1. Jourdan Lewis, Michigan
          2. Tre'Davious White, LSU
          3. Sidney Jones, Washington (when healthy)

          Lewis is one of the most naturally instinctive cover corners I've studied in years. He has an uncanny ability to read receivers and anticipate their breaks. White rarely seems panicked on tape, while Jones does a very good job reading a QB's eyes and peeling off his receiver early to provide help.

          Safety

          Best in coverage

          Malik Hooker, Ohio State: All you need to watch is the video below. Hooker has a ridiculous combination of range and ball skills.

          Playmaker.

          A post shared by ESPN College Football (@espncfb) on

          Most instinctive

          1. Jamal Adams, LSU
          2. Budda Baker, Washington
          3. Marcus Maye, Florida

          Adams plays fast and with confidence, particularly against the run. Baker consistently diagnoses plays early, and he always seems to be around the ball. Maye shows good eye discipline while reading his keys and the quarterback's eyes.

          Best in run support

          1. Jamal Adams, LSU
          2. Josh Jones, NC State
          3. Marcus Maye, Florida

          Maye takes sound angles to the ball and has a knack for forcing fumbles once he gets there (seven in his Florida career).

          Defensive back

          Best ball skills overall

          1. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
          2. Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
          3. Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
          4. Jadar Johnson, S, Clemson
          5. Desmond King, CB, Iowa

          Hooker's seven picks last season tied for third overall in the FBS. Adoree' Jackson does a nice job of deciphering when to turn and play the ball and when to play the man. Eddie Jackson played WR in high school, and it shows in the way he plays the ball (seven career INTs). Johnson is effective at slapping the ball away at the last second without contacting the target. King finished his career with 33 pass breakups and 13 interceptions, consistently attacking the ball as if he were the intended target.