It's never too early (or too late) to talk about the NFL Draft, so as we enter June — why not talk about 2018?
In this instance, we're focusing on the talent-rich SEC West.
Top 2018 NFL Draft Prospects by Conference
SEC East | SEC West | ACC | Big Ten | Pac-12 | Big 12 | AAC | MAC | FCS
The site NFLDraftScout.com ranks 2018 prospects by position, even this early — though the site has not assigned an overall ranking just yet. So we take each player's position ranking and compared it to what happened late last month to give a ballpark of where a guy might land next year. It's not scientific, but it gives you an idea.
For example, LSU's Ed Paris is rated the No. 6 cornerback in the 2018 NFL Draft class (please note we're not including underclassmen yet, as nobody will officially declare until after the season). In the April 2017 NFL Draft, the No. 6 cornerback was selected No. 33 overall, an early second-rounder.
So let's take a look at the SEC West's 2018 prospects and where they might end up in the draft (again, all projections are using NFLDraftScout.com). Rankings used were as of May 28.
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DA'SHAWN HAND, DE – ALABAMA
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 1st round (rated No. 1 DE by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 44 tackles, 11 TFLs, 4 sacks
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D.J. CHARK, WR – LSU
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 1st round (rated No. 3 WR by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 26 receptions, 477 yards, 3 TDs (also 201 rushing yards, 3 TDs on only 12 attempts)
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ANTHONY AVERETT, CB – ALABAMA
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 1st round (rated No. 2 CB by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 50 tackles, 3 TFLs, 8 passes defensed
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TONY BROWN, CB – ALABAMA
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 1st round (rated No. 3 CB by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 57 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INTs
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MARQUIS HAYNES, OLB – OLE MISS
EARLY 2018 PROJECTION: 1st round (rated No. 2 OLB by NFLDraftScout.com)
CAREER STATS: 127 tackles, 24.5 sacks, 9 forced fumbles
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So how about the rest of the 2018 SEC West prospects, where would they fall in?
| RD | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POS | HGT | WGT | 40 | POS RK |
| 2 | Ed Paris | LSU | CB | 6/1 | 210 | 4.52 | 6 |
| 2 | Martinas Rankin | Mississippi State | OT | 6/5 | 302 | 5.26 | 3 |
| 2 | Armani Watts | Texas A&M | FS | 5/11 | 200 | 4.49 | 2 |
| 2 | Robert Foster | Alabama | WR | 6/1 | 196 | 4.54 | 5 |
| 2 | Shaun Dion Hamilton | Alabama | ILB | 6/1 | 233 | 4.79 | 3 |
| 2 | Braden Smith | Auburn | OG | 6/5 | 300 | 5.08 | 2 |
| 3 | Christian LaCouture | LSU | DT | 6/4 | 307 | 5.12 | 4 |
| 3 | Frank Ragnow | Arkansas | C | 6/5 | 319 | 5.28 | 2 |
| 4 | Frank Herron | LSU | DT | 6/4 | 290 | 4.94 | 10 |
| 5 | Priest Willis | Texas A&M | CB | 6/1 | 200 | 4.5 | 21 |
| 5 | Daniel Carlson | Auburn | K | 6/3 | 218 | 5.07 | 1 |
| 5 | Rashaan Evans | Alabama | ILB | 6/2 | 234 | 4.73 | 7 |
| 5 | Qualen Cunningham | Texas A&M | DE | 6/3 | 240 | 4.74 | 17 |
| 5 | Henre' Toliver | Arkansas | CB | 6/1 | 185 | 4.6 | 25 |
| 5 | Bradley Bozeman | Alabama | C | 6/5 | 314 | 5.37 | 4 |
| 5 | Darrel Williams | LSU | RB | 6/1 | 232 | 4.63 | 18 |
| 5 | Tre' Williams | Auburn | OLB | 6/2 | 240 | 4.74 | 16 |
| 5 | Tray Matthews | Auburn | SS | 6/1 | 207 | 4.65 | 9 |
| 6 | Joshua Frazier | Alabama | DT | 6/3 | 315 | 5.19 | 17 |
| 7 | Markell Pack | Ole Miss | WR | 6/2 | 184 | 4.49 | 28 |
| 7 | Hootie Jones | Alabama | SS | 6/1 | 215 | 4.63 | 11 |
| 7 | Zaycoven Henderson | Texas A&M | DT | 6/1 | 300 | 5.24 | 19 |
