Top 5 2017 NFL Draft prospects by position Published: Jan 18, 2017 at 04:21 AM NFL.com Analyst With the 2017 season now under way, here's a look at the top five prospects at each position. Quarterbacks , Notre Dame , Clemson Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina , Miami , Texas Tech There aren't any sure-fire franchise quarterbacks in the 2017 cla s, but there are plenty of intriguing developmental candidates. Kizer has prototypical physical dimensions, arm talent and athleticism, but his inconsistent play during his final season will raise some concerns about his readine s for the pro game. Watson is a big-game player with a knack for delivering his best performances in his team's biggest games. Despite scouts' concerns about his turnover woes and inconsistent ball placement, he earns rave reviews for his leadership skills and unshakeable confidence. Trubisky is highly regarded in the scouting community as a big, athletic pa ser with impre sive pocket-pa sing skills. He lacks extensive playing experience, but his accuracy and arm talent makes him an enticing option as a QB1 candidate. Running backs , LSU , Florida State , Stanford , Texas5 (tie). , Tenne see5 (tie). , Oklahoma The 2017 running back cla s is as talented as any unit that we've seen in recent years. Fournette is a rugged runner with an old-school game that makes him an ideal workhorse in a power-based system. Mack Hollins Jersey Cook is a dynamic playmaker capable of delivering splash plays as a runner or receiver. Kamara isn't a household name, but teams looking for an electric pa s-catching threat to feature out of the backfield will be intrigued. Mixon is a polarizing prospect due , but he is arguably the most talented running back in the cla s. He's a transcendent playmaker capable of delivering splash plays as a runner/receiver, which will prompt decision makers to weigh the risk/reward Miles Sanders Jersey consequences of picking him. Wide receivers MikeWilliams, Clemson , Washington , Western Michigan , USC5 (tie). , Virginia Tech5 (tie). , Oklahoma Williams is a notch above the rest as a WR1 with an NFL body and a pro-ready game. Scouts expect him to shine as a dominant pa s-catcher from Day 1. Ro s and Davis are excellent complementary receivers with polished route-running skills and big-play ability. Westbrook might be the best route runner in the cla s, but his slender frame is a huge concern for scouts searching for bigger options to fill a WR2 role. Tight ends , Alabama , Michigan , Miami , Ole Mi s5 (tie). , Clemson5 (tie). , Virginia Tech The 2017 tight end cla s is loaded with athletic pa s-catchers with basketball-player-like bodies and the capacity to create mismatches on the perimeter with their combination of size, strength, and athleticism. Howard is an exceptional perimeter playmaker with solid blocking skills. He hasn't put up big numbers at Alabama, but scouts are intrigued with his potential as a traditional tight end. Butt suffered a torn ACL a few weeks ago in the Orange Bowl, but he remains one of the most complete tight end prospects in the cla s. He is a solid blocker at the point of attack and scouts rave about his ability to work the middle of the field. If he checks out medically during the proce s, he will remain a top prospect on the board. Engram, Leggett, and Hodges are new school tight ends capable of acting as "Jumbo" receivers on their perimeter. Each player is a potential matchup nightmare on the perimeter when used out wide or in the slot in a spread formation. Offensive tackles , Alabama , Wisconsin , Florida State , Utah , Temple Scouts have decried the lack of franchise offensive tackles in the 2017 cla s, but that won't stop them from taking a flier on a big, athletic blocker with a hint of agility, balance and body control. Robinson is the crown jewel of the cla s despite his reputation as a mauler/brawler on the edge. He is a monster in the running game but needs to refine his technique in pa s protection. Bolles intrigues some scouts as an athletic edge blocker with outstanding athleticism and agility. Offensive guards/centers , Indiana , LSU , Western Kentucky , Ohio State , Pittsburgh The scouting community is always looking for rugged interior blockers with size, strength, athleticism and nasty dispositions. The 2017 cla s certainly has a handful of "hard-hat-and-lunch-pail" guys capable of stepping in as Day 1 starters. Feeney headlines the group as a blue-collar blocker with a nasty game. He is a scheme-friendly player with the capacity to play in a zone or power-based scheme at the Brian Dawkins Jersey point of attack. Johnson flashes some power and pop as a mauler-type in a power-based scheme. Defensive ends , Texas AM , Alabama , Tenne see , Stanford , Michigan Pa s rushers are always coveted at a premium during draft season. The 2017 cla s features a number of marquee playmakers but Garrett is the crown jewel of the group. The freakishly athletic rusher displays exceptional first-step quickne s and burst as an edge rusher. Most importantly, he ama sed 32.5 sacks while showing outstanding skills as a closer. Thomas is a disruptive force as a pa s rusher. He flashes outstanding quickne s and violent hands as a versatile defender at the point of attack. Defensive tackles , Michigan State , Michigan , Florida , Clemson , Washington The 2017 defensive tackle cla s features a handful of blue-collar defenders with the size, strength, and power to control the line of scrimmage as run stoppers or pa s rushers. McDowell headlines the group as a long, rangy interior defender with disruptive potential as an inside rusher. Although questions about his motor will trouble scouts looking for a dominant player at the top of the board, he is certainly a player who flashes intriguing potential. Randall Cunningham Jersey Qualls is a fire hydrant at the line of scrimmage as an immovable run stopper with exceptional power. Outside linebackers , Alabama , UCLA , Vanderbilt , Alabama Devonte Fields, Louisville The NFL's move to more hybrid schemes has changed the job description of outside linebackers entering the league. Scouts are looking for versatile defenders capable of rushing off the edge or dropping into coverage in dynamic schemes. Williams is a shop wrecker off the edge with explosive first-step quickne s and burst. In addition, he shows the ability to turn speed into power as a bull rusher off the edge. Cunningham is a long, rangy athlete with the size and pop to set the edge or plug holes against the run. Inside linebackers , Alabama , Ohio State , Florida , LSU , Northwestern The 2017 cla s of inside linebackers features a number of hard-hitting traffic cops with sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability. Foster is the top dog of the group as a punishing defender with exceptional instincts, awarene s and physicality. McMillan and Davis are solid playmakers with excellent communication skills and outstanding athletic ability. Each prospect has the potential step in as a Day 1 starter in aggre sive schemes. Cornerbacks , Ohio State , Alabama , Washington , Florida , Florida The NFL scouting community loves long, rangy cornerbacks with versatile skills on the perimeter. The 2017 cla s is loaded with big corners capable of using pre s, bail or off technique in zone or man schemes. Lattimore is an explosive athlete with exceptional movement skills and instincts. He lacks the physicality that some coaches covet but there's no denying his cover skills, particularly in bump-and-run coverage. Tabor will intrigue scouts looking for a big, athletic pre s corner with the length to snuff out receivers at the line. Although his Cameron Johnston Jersey technique and backpedal needs some work, there is always a place for long corners in schemes that prominently feature bump-and-run coverage in the game plan. Safeties , Ohio State , LSU , Michigan MarcusWilliams, Utah , Texas AM There is a lot of excitement about the 2017 safety cla s in the NFL scouting community. Evaluators rave about the range and ball skills of the top centerfielder (Hooker) in the group. The Ohio State standout displays the speed and quickne s to cover from numbers-to-numbers on deep balls. Most importantly, Hooker is a sticky-handed ballhawk with a knack for generating turnovers. Peppers is a unique prospect with experience playing within the box or in the slot as a hybrid playmaker. He was a dynamic player at Michigan, but he lacks the turnover production to cement his reputation as a game-changing playmaker. This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.