Quarterback: This year's quarterback class has been labeled by some as being as bad as the 2013 draft class, but really it isn't that horrible. The two best quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky, each have their holes, but they are still first round locks and have good potential. While the top end talent is admittedly a little underwhelming, this class is deceptively deep. There are plenty of intelligent and athletic quarterbacks that could be starters in a few years.
Top Tier: Mitchell Trubisky (UNC) and Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
Second Tier: DeShone Kizer (Notre Dame), Pat Mahomes (Texas Tech)
Sleepers: Josh Dobbs (Tennessee), Alek Torgerson (Penn), Antonio Pipkin (Tiffin)
Conclusion: Deep but average
Running back: This running back class is deep and packed with talent. The big three running backs are Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey, and all three have All-Pro potential. There isn't a big talent drop off either. Multiple teams can get starting running backs as late as the fourth and fifth round.
Top Tier: Leonard Fournette (LSU), Dalvin Cook (Florida State), Christian McCaffrey (Stanford)
Second Tier: Alvin Kamara (Tennessee), D'Onta Foreman (Texas), Joe Mixon (Oklahoma), Kareem Hunt (Toledo)
Sleepers: James Connor (Pitt), Joe Williams (Utah), Matthew Dayes (NC State)
Talent Grade: Deep and full of starting talent
Wide Receiver: Some analysts are calling this receiver class weak, but I think it is just because we as football fans spoiled by the 2014 draft class and are still waiting for another one like it. This year's receiver class is actually fairly good. While many of the receivers are role players such as slot specialists and deep threats, there are well-rounded prospects in the first and second tier of talent. That second tier of talent is especially intriguing, because each player could immediately be a number 2 receiver as a rookie and each has the potential to be an eventual number 1 target.
Top Tier: Mike Williams (Clemson), Corey Davis (Western Michigan), John Ross (Washington)
Second Tier: Zay Jones (East Carolina), Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech), Taywan Taylor (Western Kentucky), Chris Godwin (Penn State), JuJu Smith-Schuester (USC)
Sleepers: Josh Reynolds (Texas A&M), Ryan Switzer (UNC), Gabe Marks (Washington State)
Talent Grade: Solid across the board
Tight End: Has there ever been a tight end class this good? This years class is full of freak athletes who can block and catch from both power-5 schools and tiny colleges nobody has ever heard of. Teams will be able to pick up players who can at least get some playing time in every round of the draft.
Top Tier: OJ Howard (Alabama), David Njoku (Miami), Evan Engram (Ole Miss),
Second Tier: Jordan Legget (Clemson), Adam Shaheen (Ashland), Jake Butt (Michigan), Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech)
Sleepers: George Kittle (Iowa), Cole Hikutini (Louisville), Eric Saubert (Drake)
Talent Grade: Potentially historic
Offensive Tackle: This year's class for offensive tackles is as bad as advertised. The top tier talent is good but nothing special, and nobody is going to sleep well drafting a tackle past day 1. This is a really bad year to need immediate starters at the tackle position
Top Tier: Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin), Garrett Bolles (Utah), Cam Robinson (Alabama)
Second Tier: Taylor Moton (Western Michigan), Antonio Garcia (Troy), Dion Dawkins (Temple), Adam Bisnowaty (Pitt)
Sleepers: Erik Magnuson (Michigan), David Sharpe (Florida), Julie'n Davenport (Bucknell)
Talent Grade: Top-heavy and extremely weak
Interior Offensive Line: The offensive lineman class gets better on the interior, but it is still far from strong. There are two home run guys at the guard position in Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney and two good center prospects in Ethan Pocic and Pat Elfein. Other than that, the talent is merely average.
Top Tier: Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky), Dan Feeney (Indiana)
Second Tier: Dorian Johnson (Pitt), Ethan Pocic (LSU), Pat Elfein (Ohio State)
Sleepers: Nico Siragusa (San Diego State), Tyler Orlosky (West Virginia), Sean Harlow (Oregon State)
Talent Grade: Top heavy and mostly average
Interior Defensive Line: The 2016 draft class was a great one for defensive lineman, and by comparison, 2017's class is much weaker. There is only one slam-dunk prospect in Jonathan Allen. Drafting anyone else is risky, but there is considerable upside to many of these prospects. The only problem is figuring out how to unleash it.
Top Tier: Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
Second Tier: Montravius Adams (Auburn), Malik McDowell (Michigan State), Caleb Brantley (Florida)
Sleepers: Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (USC), Jarron Jones (Notre Dame), Ryan Glasgow (Michigan)
Talent Grade: Full of potential vs risk prospects
EDGE Rushers: This is the best positional unit in the class. It has two great talents who could be future Hall of Famers in Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas. Beyond that, there is a seemingly endless amount of good prospects who can start for almost any team. This draft class is going to have a lot of Pro Bowlers.
Top Tier: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M), Solomon Thomas (Stanford)
Second Tier: Derek Barnett (Tennessee), Taco Charlton (Michigan), Charles Harris (Missouri), TJ Watt (Wisconsin), Carl Lawson (Auburn), Takk MicKinnely (UCLA), Jordan Willis (Kansas State), Tim Williams (Alabama), Ryan Anderson (Alabama)
Sleepers: Trey Hendrickson (FAU), Tanoh Kpassagnon (Villanova), Tarell Basham (Ohio)
Talent Grade: This could be just as good if not better than the 2011 draft class.
Linebackers: This offensive line group is very top heavy. There are five guys I would feel comfortable selecting in the first two rounds and they are all very good prospects with Pro-Bowl potential. Everybody else, however, has flaws that consist of either athleticism or injury. Overall, if a team needs a linebacker, they won't feel too nervous taking a player in this class.
Top Tier: Reuben Foster (Alabama)
Second Tier: Haason Reddick (Temple), Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt), Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State), Jarrad Davis (Flordia)
Sleepers: Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Tennessee), Paul Magloire (Arizona), Steven Taylor (Houston)
Talent Grade: Top heavy but risky
Cornerback: The cornerback position is arguably the second best group in this class and it isn't hard to see why. There could be double-digit corners taken in the first two rounds who are ready to start on day one. If your team doesn't draft a corner at some point this year, they are making a mistake.
Top Tier: Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State), Gareon Conley (Ohio State), Quincy Wilson (Florida), Marlon Humphrey (Alabama),
Second Tier: Desmond King (Iowa), Fabian Moreau (UCLA), Adoree' Jackson (USC), Tre'Davious White (LSU), Cordrea Tankersley (Clemson), Chidobe Awuzie (Colorado), Sidney Jones (Washington), Kevin King (Washington), Teez Tabor (Florida)
Sleepers: Cameron Sutton (Tennessee), Shaquill Griffin (UCF), Rasul Douglas (West Virginia)
Talent Grade: Extremely strong
Safety: This is the best safety class in years. What is normally a weak position is now one of the strongest. There is top ten talent and several hidden gems waiting for teams to dig them up. Teams can get starting safeties on every day of the draft.
Top Tier: Jamal Adams (LSU), Malik Hooker (Ohio State)
Second Tier: Budda Baker (Washington), Obi Melifonwu (UCONN), Marcus Maye (Florida), Desmond King (Iowa), Marcus Williams (Utah)
Sleepers: Montae Nicholson (Michigan State), Jonathan Ford (Auburn), John Johnson (Boston College)
Talent Grade: Extremely strong
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