Mike Mayock’s draft rankings have DeShone Kizer, Dalvin Cook atop QB, RB positions

NFL.com analyst Mike Mayock is thinking outside the box for his first pre-draft position rankings of 2017. While ESPN analysts have leaned hard on Mitch Trubisky and Deshaun Watson as the top passers jumping to the NFL this spring, Mayock is betting on a guy coming off a 4-8 season — Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.

Ranking Kizer No. 1 among eligible quarterbacks isn’t the only place were the longtime draft analyst is bucking the trend of recent evaluations. He’s also got Florida State workhorse Dalvin Cook listed as his top tailback, ahead of the more-hyped Leonard Fournette from LSU.

A look at Mayock’s rankings and those from ESPN expert Todd McShay showcases just how differently the two see the draft’s prospects before the NFL Combine takes place from Feb. 28 to March 6.

Quarterback is truly a three-man race at the top, with Kizer, Trubisky, and Watson standing as a consensus top three. Watson has the strongest résumé; his 420-yard, three-touchdown performance in the National Championship game capped off a stellar college career in which he lifted Clemson to new heights. Trubisky is a bit of a wild card whose mechanics and decision-making skills have helped assuage concerns he’s only been an NCAA starter for a single season.

Kizer actually took a step back after a breakout 2015 campaign, but may be the draft’s most athletic passer. He completed just 58 percent of his passes last fall for a four-win team, but has plenty of room to grow after stepping into Notre Dame’s starting role as a redshirt freshman two seasons ago.

SB Nation’s Dan Kadar is on McShay’s side of the argument. He has Trubisky being drafted second overall in his latest mock draft. Watson comes next at No. 6, then Kizer at No. 10.

Ranking Cook over Fournette isn’t as surprising. The Florida State tailback was a consistent snub among Heisman finalists en route to rewriting the Seminoles’ record books. The school’s all-time rushing leader ran for 4,464 yards and 44 touchdowns in just three seasons in Tallahassee. His counterpart, Fournette, may have been dinged in the rankings by his recent injury history — he played in just seven games last fall and rushed for a career-low 843 yards and eight touchdowns, albeit at an impressive 6.5 yards-per-carry pace.

A further look through Mayock’s rankings returns some familiar names to college football fans and a few unheralded gems who could shoot up draft boards with a big performance in Indianapolis.

1. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
2. Mike Williams, Clemson
3. John Ross, Washington
4. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
5. Zay Jones, East Carolina

Mayock’s list at wideout includes two players from teams in last year’s College Football Playoff and three from directional schools you may have forgotten about. Davis helped lead his Broncos to an undefeated regular season, a MAC title, and a spot in a New Year’s Day bowl. Kupp holds the Division I records for most career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Jones has the FBS record for most career receptions and had a season where he caught 158 passes.

There’s a lot to like if you’re an NFL team in need of an aerial playmaker this spring.

1. O.J. Howard, Alabama
2. David Njoku, Miami
3. Evan Engram, Ole Miss
4. Jake Butt, Michigan
5. Gerald Everett, South Alabama

The depth at wideout has bled into this year’s tight end crop. Howard is the clear leader thanks to his blend of size (6’6, 249 lbs) and athleticism, but it’s not difficult to envision any of Mayock’s top four prospects earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl. Engram was a mismatch machine for Ole Miss, breaking out for eight touchdowns and a 14.2 yards-per-catch average as a senior. Everett was a factor in South Alabama’s second-ever bowl appearance, catching 49 passes for 728 yards despite lackluster quarterback play.

1. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
2. Garett Bolles, Utah
3. Antonio Garcia, Troy
4. Roderick Johnson, Florida State
t-5. Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
t-5. Jermaine Eluemunor, Texas A&M

Ramczyk is on the verge of going from Division III starter to first-round draft pick. The former Wisconsin-Stevens Point standout transferred to the university’s flagship campus in 2015 and took over a starting role for the program last fall. He’ll have the opportunity to carry on a Badger-tinged tradition of NFL linemen that includes Joe Thomas, Travis Frederick, and Kevin Zeitler.

1. Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
2. Cam Robinson, Alabama
3. Dan Feeney, Indiana
4. Ethan Pocic, LSU
5. Dion Dawkins, Temple

Lamp’s ability to protect his quarterback helped the Hilltoppers develop into one of the FBS’s most dangerous passing attacks. Pocic, an All-American, can offer two-way blocking as either a guard or center. Robinson started at left tackle as a true freshman for Alabama, though Mayock may not be convinced of his ability to play on the corner of the line.

1. Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2. Caleb Brantley, Florida
3. Malik McDowell, Michigan State
4. Larry Ogunjobi, Charlotte
5. Chris Wormley, Michigan

Allen added 25 pounds to his 6’3 frame over the past year and now stands out as a powerful, space-absorbing lineman who can play multiple positions and work equally effectively against the run and as a pass rusher. Ogunjobi doesn’t have nearly the same kind of name recognition after playing for a program that didn’t exist in 2012 — he was part of the school’s first-ever recruiting class — but he’s a raw and talented nose tackle who has only been playing the game since he was a sophomore in high school. A big showing at the Combine could raise his stock even higher.

1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
2. Tim Williams, Alabama
3. Derek Barnett, Tennessee
4. Solomon Thomas, Stanford
5. Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

The draft is still more than two months away, but Garrett is looking more and more like the safe bet as the No. 1 overall pick. While the Browns could use help at nearly every position, his blend of speed, power, and athleticism makes him a disruptive pass rusher who can set the tone for an NFL defense. He leads an elite group of edge rushers this spring — expect every member of Mayock’s top five to wind up as first-day selections in the 2017 draft.

1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
2. Haason Reddick, Temple
3. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
4. Jarrad Davis, Florida
5. Alex Anzalone, Florida

The top of the linebacking depth chart for the 2017 NFL draft has a distinctly SEC tint. Reddick is the only player outside the south to crack Mayock’s top five, and for good reason. He had 22.5 tackles for loss after converting to linebacker after starting his career as a defensive back. That versatility could make him a first-round selection this April. Behind him is consensus All-American Cunningham, who could be Vanderbilt’s first first-round pick since Chris Williams in 2008.

1. Sidney Jones, Washington
2. Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
3. Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
4. Teez Tabor, Florida
5. Tre’Davious White, LSU

Teams in need of coverage help are in luck; this year’s cornerback corps is extremely deep. Jones leads a group of potential first-rounders that includes representatives from across FBS’s blue-blood programs. Other players like Adoree’ Jackson and Quincy Lewis could earn their spots in the top five with big performances at the Combine.

1. Malik Hooker, Ohio State
2. Jamal Adams, LSU
3. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
4. Budda Baker, Washington
5. Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut

Peppers may be the most athletic and versatile player in this year’s draft, but questions about his abilities in coverage have turned him from a potential top-five pick into a borderline first-round candidate. While he’s been a jack of all trades at Michigan, earning snaps on both sides of the ball and as a special teamer, pundits are concerned he’ll never be a master of one. His loss is rival Hooker’s gain, as the Ohio State standout has risen to the top of the safety rankings in his stead. Adams is a close second as Power 5 stalwarts rule Mayock’s secondary rankings in 2017.