PFF ranks 2017 SEC Draft Prospects

1. Myles Garrett, OLB, Texas A&M (Top 5 Pick)
The first explosive edge rusher is off the board in Garrett, whose two-year production has been outstanding. His +49.7 pass rush grade ranked second in the nation in 2014 as a true freshman and a +42.4 mark ranked fourth in 2015. He continues to improve against the run, and with his frame, burst and production, Garrett looks like a top-5 lock heading into the season.

2. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee (Top 5 Pick)
Barnett brings a different style from Garrett, but he’s nearly matched his on-field production with a No. 30 national ranking as a true freshman in 2014 and a No. 2 finish at +54.7 last season. He stepped into the SEC as an excellent run defender as a freshman, then took his pass rushing to a new level as a sophomore with 62 pressures that ranked fifth in the nation.

3. Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida (Top 5 Pick)
While teammate Vernon Hargreaves was a first-rounder this year, Tabor outplayed him last fall and that has put him on the NFL’s first-round radar. Tabor’s +12.7 coverage grade ranked 13th in the country and quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 33.0 into his coverage, fifth-best in the FBS. Tabor’s size, speed, and production should land him in the first round.

4. Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn (Top 10 pick)
Hindered by injury the last two seasons, Lawson opted to come back to college and a strong full season should put him squarely in the first-round mix. He looked nothing like a freshman in 2013 during Auburn’s near-championship run and after missing the entire 2014 season, Lawson posted a strong +14.1 grade on 416 snaps last season. His quick burst and strong hands should lead to a monster grade and first-round hype next season.

5. Charles Harris, DE, Missouri (Top 10 Pick)
Harris ranks sixth among returning edge defenders with a +30.1 pass rush grade. He rushes the passer with a variety of moves, including an effective swim move, and he improved his work against the run after a lackluster freshman season.

6. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU (Early-Mid 1st)
Fournette is combination of speed, power, and quickness in the draft, and he’s coming off an outstanding 2015 that saw him lead the nation with a +30.8 run grade. After a freshman season in which he looked more like a straight-line runner, Fournette added some wiggle to his game as a sophomore, so if he has any more improvements in store for 2016 – such as his work in the passing game – he becomes even scarier.

7. Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama (Early-Mid 1st)
Allen returned to school for another year after picking up 13 sacks, six QB hits, and 17 hurries on only 258 rushes and he’s posted an absurd +57.3 overall grade on 903 snaps the last two years. Expect him to see more time on early downs next season which should increase his draft stock.

8. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama (Early-Mid 1st)
There’s some projection to this pick as Robinson has the size, look, and flashes of on-field dominance, but the consistency has been lacking in his first two seasons. He was banged up for much of last season, but he played much better down the stretch. It’s also hard to overlook Robinson’s performance his freshman year against Florida, as he handled eventual first-round pick Dante Fowler in pass protection and he showed the ability to make every block in the run game. That Robinson has to show up in 2016 to warrant the first-round selection.

9. Deatrich Wise Jr, DE, Arkansas (Mid-Late 1st)
A late riser in 2015, Wise put on a show down the stretch, finishing with a +18.8 pass rush grade on only 258 rushes (10 sacks, 12 QB hits, 21 hurries). Wise is an athletic 6-foot-6, 272-pounder with the frame to grow into a classic 3-4 defensive end and interior disruptor at the next level.

10. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia (Mid-Late 1st)
Coming off a knee injury, Chubb’s freshman season was as good as anyone in the class as his elusive rating of 108.5 ranked third in the nation. He was off to another strong start before going own to injury after only 183 snaps last season. Chubb’s running style reminds of Maurice Jones-Drew and if he can regain his form, he’ll be yet another first-round hopeful at running back.

11. Cam Sutton, CB, Tennessee (Mid-Late 1st)
After a strong 2014 that saw him post the second-best coverage grade of the returnees, Sutton took a step back in 2015. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he has the size that the NFL will covet, but he has to return to his 2014 ways when he allowed only 43.3 percent of targets to be completed and his 10 passes defensed tied for 10th in the nation.

12. Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama (Late 1st)
Jackson started his career at cornerback, but the move to free safety as a true sophomore worked out well for him, as his +8.9 coverage grade ranks second among returnees. Given his background at corner, he adds versatility to the back end of a defense, capable of playing deep coverage or manning up on receivers if necessary.

13. Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama (Late 1st)
A pass-rush specialist, Williams has pressured the quarterback at an incredible rate over the last two years. He picked up 52 total pressures (11 sacks, 8 QB hits, 33 hurries) on only 147 rushes in 2015, good for a pass rush productivity of 28.4 that lead the nation. While he’s only played 256 total snaps the last two seasons, only 47 of which have been against the run. Williams’ explosiveness off the edge makes him a first-round candidate, although gaining experience on early downs this fall can only help his cause.

14. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama (Late 1st)
He’s been underused in Alabama’s system to this point, but he’s a strong receiving threat and a more featured role this fall will showcase his first-round ability.