Heading into the third and final day of the 2017 NFL Draft, there are still some very good players to be had. Some teams may look to hit the proverbial single with a relatively safer pick, while others may swing for the fences and target upside.
Here are my top 10 players still on the board.
Desmond King, DB | Highlights
Iowa
King still being on the board after three rounds is a big surprise to me. The 2015 Thorpe Award winner, King is physical, has the versatility to play corner, safety or nickel, arguably has the best ball skills and instincts in this class, and his explosiveness is better than many give him credit for.
He isn't as long and doesn't have the top-end speed of some of the corners at the top of the draft, and that has likely caused him to slide to day three.[divider]
Carl Lawson, OLB/DE | Highlights
Auburn
Lawson showed on tape that he has first round talent. He doesn't have the length of some of the edge rushers selected ahead of him, and he may have slid a bit due to some injury concerns as well. Entering the fourth round, he's a player to pound the table for as long as his medical checks out.[divider]
Bucky Hodges, TE | Highlights
Virginia Tech
Hodges is unproven as a blocker, but has the frame, hands and athletic ability to be a matchup nightmare at the next level.[divider]
George Kittle, TE | Highlights
Iowa
I've been a believer in Kittle since the beginning of the pre-draft process. He's easily the best run blocker in this class of tight ends, and brings much more to the table in the passing game than he gets credit for.[divider]
Jake Butt, TE | Highlights
Michigan
Butt has a similar size and skillset to O.J. Howard, but tore his ACL in the Orange Bowl in late December, which has certainly caused him to slide in the draft. While it's up in the air how much a team will get from him in 2017, he may prove to be a steal for a team that believes in his ability to come back better than ever and takes him on day three.[divider]
Ryan Glasgow, DT | Highlights
Michigan
If you like watching a player with an outstanding motor, Glasgow is your guy. But he isn't just a try-hard — this guy can play. I like his explosiveness, power and knee bend as a 4-3 defensive tackle.[divider]
Jehu Chesson, WR | Highlights
Michigan
Chesson is another high-upside pick on day three. Comparing his 2015 tape to his 2016 tape, his explosiveness and top end speed weren't quite as good his senior year in Ann Arbor, which is why I think he slipped to day three. But when you factor in the fact that he tore the PCL in his knee on New Year's Day of 2016 and wasn't fully cleared to practice until August of 2016, the slight regression in 2016 makes sense.
As he progresses further and further away from that injury and his explosiveness and top end speed return, he could be a steal on day three.[divider]
Jaleel Johnson, DT | Highlights
Iowa
When Johnson cranks it up, he shows flashes of first round talent both against the run and the pass, but his motor is a little inconsistent at this point. If he can land with a coaching staff and a group of veterans on defense that can get the best out of him, he could provide great value on day three.[divider]
Dede Westbrook, WR | Highlights
Oklahoma
Westbrook's ability to create separation and stretch a defense are difficult to match, and he should also be a day one punt returner in the NFL. He's a second round talent in my book, but has likely slipped due to some off-field issues.[divider]
Elijah Qualls, DT | Highlights
Washington
Similar to Jaleel Johnson, Qualls is another defensive tackle that shows flashes of first round talent, but isn't consistent enough at this point. Again, if he can land in the right system with coaches and defensive veterans that can help him reach his full potential, he would be another great value pick on day three.
