For the first time ever, PFF has released a preseason Draft Guide highlighting all of the draft-eligible names to know heading into the 2017 season. Here is a sneak peek at the guide as we rank the top five draft-eligible players by position. The PFF Draft Guide is available as part of PFF Edge, along with our award-winning fantasy football analysis, NFL Player Grades, and much more.
Edge Defender
Harold Landry, Boston College
The Good: Ranked third in the draft class with a pass rush productivity (PRP) with 18 sacks, seven QB hits and 44 hurries on only 322 rushes.
Room to Improve: Did most of his pass-rushing damage against lesser right tackles. Posted a PRP of 19.8 from the left side and 11.8 from the right side (defense’s view).
Arden Key, LSU
The Good: Explosive pass-rusher who ranked fourth in the draft class with a pass-rush productivity of 15.5 last season.
Room to Improve: Only 3.7 percent of pressures came on bull rushes, below the draft class average of 6.4 percent.
Bradley Chubb, NC State
The Good: Strong run defender finished with the sixth-highest percentage of positively-graded plays against the run in the draft class last season.
Room to Improve: Can improve his ability to challenge offensive tackles to the outside where he picked up a pressure every 17 rushes, 23rd in the draft class.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
The Good: Led all draft-eligible pass-rushers with a pass rush productivity of 18.6 with nine sacks, 14 QB hits, and 36 hurries on his 262 rushes last season.
Room to Improve: Needs to do a better job of finishing plays as he’s missed 14 of his 78 career tackle attempts.
Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
The Good: Powerful. Picked up a bullrush pressure once every 18.0 rushes, best in the draft class, and his 13.3 overall pass rush productivity ranked eighth in the class.
Room to Improve: Solid run defender, but can do a better job of finishing plays as his run stop percentage of 5.8 percent ranked 66th in the draft class last season.
Defensive Interior
Maurice Hurst, Michigan
The Good: Has the quickness and power to rush the passer and his 15.3 pass-rush productivity led all interior defensive linemen in the draft class.
Room to Improve: Only seven of 64 career pressures have been sacks, can he finish more consistently?
Vita Vea, Washington
The Good: Outstanding strength allows him to pick up a bullrush pressure every 20.2 rushes, second-best in the class. Had the second highest percentage of positively-graded plays against the run in the draft class in 2016.
Room to Improve: Picked up a pressure to blocker’s outside shoulder once every 55.3 snaps, only 78th in the draft class.
Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
The Good: Against the run, had the eighth highest percentage of positively-graded plays and the lowest percentage of negatively-graded plays in the draft class.
Room to Improve: Picked up a high percentage of his rushes via the bullrush and has to diversify his pass-rush arsenal in order to take his game to the next level.
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
The Good: Played out of position on the edge in 2016, but still held his own with the ninth-best grade against the run at 84.7 while leading the nation with nine batted passes.
Room to Improve: Has work to do as a pass-rusher where he has six sacks, 13 QB hits and 37 hurries on 610 career rushes.
Steven Richardson, Minnesota
The Good: Pass rush productivity of 8.5 ranked 16th among interior defensive linemen and had the third-highest percentage of positively-graded plays against the run in the draft class.
Room to Improve: Needs to finish more plays against the run where his run stop percentage of 5.8 percent ranked 101st in the draft class last season.
Linebacker
Jerome Baker, Ohio State
The Good: Strong 81.7 coverage grade in 2016 as he has good range and also has the athleticism to stick with tight ends and running backs.
Room to Improve: Undersized and can get locked up by offensive linemen and tight ends in the run game. Finished with a run stop percentage of 7.6 percent, only 95th in the draft class.
Stacy Thomas, Louisville
The Good: Had the third highest percentage of positively-graded plays against the run and ranked eighth in the draft class with a run stop percentage of 12.5 percent.
Room to Improve: Can do a better job of tackling as he’s missed 18 of his 112 career tackle opportunities.
Jack Cichy, Wisconsin
The Good: Quick to the ball in the run game and has made strong contributions against the pass with six career pass breakups on only 25 targets to go with nine sacks, seven QB hits and 12 hurries on 115 career rushes.
Room to Improve: Can get engulfed by blocks in the run game, losing his gap and leading to big plays.
Shaquem Griffin, UCF
The Good: Speed is evident on film as he flies to the ball and can cover ground in zone coverage where his six pass breakups tied for second in the nation.
Room to Improve: Missed 14 of his 86 tackle attempts in 2016. Is an exceptional and inspirational player given that he has only one hand, but still has to improve his tackling for the next level.
Roquan Smith, Georgia
The Good: Solid zone defender who closes quickly on the ball and makes the plays in front of him. Allowed a first down on only 16.7 percent of his targets, sixth best in the draft class.
Room to Improve: Missed 12 of his 97 tackle attempts in 2016 and with only 697 career snaps, it’s crucial that he puts together another strong season in 2017.
Cornerback
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
The Good: Has the size and movement skills to cover both outside and in the slot. Allowed a passer rating of only 37.8 into his coverage, second in the nation among corners with at least 60 targets.
Room to Improve: Can get stuck at the top of routes and has allowed six touchdowns into his coverage in his two years.
Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
The Good: Good size and played more press coverage than any draft-eligible cornerback (55.0 percent). Has the skills to make plays on the ball and finished with eight interceptions and seven pass breakups in 2016.
Room to Improve: Can get lost at times in coverage and gave up far too many big plays (15.4 yards per reception and seven touchdowns in 2016).
Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
The Good: Good size and athleticism allow him to play the deep ball well where he finished with the No. 11 grade in the nation on passes thrown 20-plus yards down the field.
Room to Improve: Can get grabby on horizontal routes and finished with a below-average grade on slants, ins, and outs in 2016.
Jaire Alexander, Louisville
The Good: Did not give up many plays down the field, finished with the No. 8 grade in the nation on deep (20-plus yard) passes and third in the nation on passes to the intermediate (10-19 yard) level.
Room to Improve: Can get outmuscled against bigger receivers and must do a better job of tackling where he missed eight of his 60 tackle attempts over the last two years.
Quenton Meeks, Stanford
The Good: Good size to potentially play press coverage, but looks most comfortable in “off” coverage. Has five interceptions and five pass breakups on 105 career targets.
Room to Improve: Has to cut down on the big plays as he surrendered 15.3 yards/reception and four touchdowns in 2016.
Safety
Derwin James, Florida State
The Good: Can make plays from a variety of positions and finished as the nation’s top-graded safety in 2015 at 91.0 overall, including the No. 4 grade against the run (84.7) and No. 2 grade as a pass-rusher (78.0).
Room to Improve: Can take a step forward in both man and zone coverage where he allowed 14.3 yards per reception in 2015.
Adarius Pickett, UCLA
The Good: Ranked seventh among safeties with an 88.4 coverage grade and missed only one of his 31 tackle attempts in the pass game, tied for seventh best.
Room to Improve: Can get lost at times in underneath coverage and surrendered three touchdowns into his coverage in 2016, two in man coverage and one while playing deep zone.
Quin Blanding, Virginia
The Good: Works downhill well in the run game where his 30 defensive run stops ranked second among draft-eligible safeties in 2016.
Room to Improve: Very aggressive breaking on underneath passes and can be susceptible to double moves, leading to big plays.
Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
The Good: Excellent zone defender breaks quickly on the ball and has seven pass breakups and four interceptions in his career.
Room to Improve: Struggles to match up with shiftier slot receivers. Allowed 1.51 yards/cover snap, good for 200th in the nation.
Kris Weatherspoon, Troy
The Good: Good length allows him to make plays on the ball. Forced an incompletion on 24.4 percent of his targets, best among draft-eligible safeties with at least 40 targets in 2016.
Room to Improve: Missed one out of every 4.6 tackle attempts, ranking 228th in the nation last season.
Armani Watts, Texas A&M
The Good: Playmaker against the run and pass, tied for 17th in the nation with 30 stops last season and has six interceptions and six pass breakups in his career.
Room to Improve: Must improve as a tackler where he missed 15 of his 70 attempts in 2016 and 40 of his 264 attempts in his career.
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