After the dust settled from one of the wildest first rounds in NFL Draft history, there was a common sentiment across the football world: How did he fall to the second round?
Wait, who's "he"?
"He" could be one of more than a dozen players expected to go in the top 32 picks, or at least receive serious consideration to hear their name called on Friday night. And at least seven of those players who fell to Friday were once considered can't-miss, top-10 prospects over the last year, if not the last few weeks.
As you take a deep breath and ready yourselves for more chaos, here are seven players who went from top-tier prospect to second-round steals.
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Dalvin Cook – RB, Florida State
Dalvin Cook rushed for 38 touchdowns and more than 3,400 yards the last two seasons, during which he was dubbed a top-10 talent. Even after the season, when he officially entered the draft, Cook made routine appearances in the top 10 — and top five if the Jacksonville Jaguars picked him over Leonard Fournette.
He's been knocked for off-the-field issues and durability and ball security concerns, but there's no denying his elusiveness and versatility. Someone is getting a day-one starting running back in the second round.
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Cam Robinson – OT, Alabama
Analysts have never been to agree on Cam Robinson's draft stock, partly because no one can agree on his position. Will he remain a tackle in the NFL or move inside to guard? If he's a guard, he can't go in the top 10, right?
Last May, CBS Sports predicted the Bucs would take Robinson at No. 6. A year later, the dominating run-blocker is just hoping for a second-round selection.
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Juju Smith-Schuster – WR, USC
Had you been told one year ago that three receivers would be taken in the top 10 of the 2017 NFL Draft but none were Juju Smith-Schuster, you would've laughed hysterically. Not only was the Trojans' wideout not selected in the top 10, as expected when he entered the 2016 season as the top receiver in college football, he could fall to the late second round.
His drop appears to be more a product of other receivers having monster seasons than him doing anything wrong.
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DeShone Kizer – QB, Notre Dame
DeShone Kizer's draft stock has fluctuated as much as any player in the class.
As recently as late last year, the Notre Dame quarterback was considered a candidate for a top-five selection. Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated had the San Francisco 49ers selecting him with the the second-overall pick in his October mock draft.
The only quarterback invited to Philadelphia who did not get selected in the first round, Kizer remains available on Friday.
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Tim Williams – LB, Alabama
Tim Williams returned to Alabama for his senior season and while he didn't play poorly (16 tackles for loss, nine sacks), his draft stock plummeted from top-five prospect to a likely second-rounder.
Once dubbed the most efficient pass-rusher in college football by Pro Football Focus, Williams failed multiple drug tests in Tuscaloosa and was arrested on a misdemeanor gun charge.
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Teez Tabor – CB, Florida
In Todd McShay's Feb. 8 mock draft, Teez Tabor was the 14th-overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles. And that was after he started falling. In the preceding months, Florida's outspoken and oft-suspended cornerback was a top-10 talent.
In May, Pro Football Focus slotted him at No. 5, ahead of Leonard Fournette, Mike Williams and others.
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Desmond King – CB, Iowa
Desmond King says he has "no regrets" for returning to Iowa for his senior season, where he saw his draft stock drop from top-10 prospect to second-day pick. Still, it's hard not to wonder what could've been had King left after a 72-tackle, eight-interception 2015 season.
Widely considered, along with Tabor, to be among the two or three best corners in the 2016 class, King has fallen dramatically.
