Detroit Lions 2017 NFL Draft Watchlist: Stanford at Notre Dame

The Detroit Lions will be keeping an eye on several 2017 NFL Draft prospects during Stanford at Notre Dame, including Christian McCaffrey.

It’s never too early to be looking ahead to next year’s NFL Draft. In this weekly piece, I’ll examine players from a marquee game, who could be potential draft targets of the Detroit Lions. At the beginning of the college football season, I targeted players, teams, and match-ups that I thought would both entertaining and informative about the upcoming 2017 draft class.

This week’s feature game

Stanford (3-2) at Notre Dame (2-4)
When: Saturday, October 15th
Time: 7:30
Network: NBC

In the last two weeks Stanford has lost games to Washington and Washington State, and they’ve dropped out of the college football rankings. Notre Dame fell out of the rankings three weeks ago.

While these teams have taken some of the excitement out of this game from a college football perspective, they still feature several players that will be in the NFL one day.

Click through the pages to see the players that would fill a need for the Detroit Lions in 2017.

Christian McCaffrey
Junior
# 5
Running Back
5’11 1/2″, 202

Early Draft Projection = 1st

NFL Comparison: Brian Westbrook

With NFL blood lines (father Ed) and an above-average athletic profile, McCaffrey contributed in all three phases from his first day on campus. His sophomore campaign was one for the record books, with some of his 2015 accolades listed below.

• NCAA single season all-purpose yards record holder (3,864)
• Heisman Trophy runner-up
• Associated Press player of the year
• Hornung Award winner (Most versatile player)

His junior season has recently seen its struggles, as his rebuilt offensive line has been dominated in the last two weeks. To make things worse, he suffered an undisclosed injury in the second half of last weeks game and did not return because of a lopsided score. Keep an eye on the injury report, as it appears he’s headed for a game time decision.

Biggest Strengths:

• Decision making
• Elusiveness
• Burst
• Elite receiving option

Biggest Weaknesses:

• Not a prototype lead running back
• Pass protection
• Power drive

NFL Future

There is no doubt that McCaffrey is one of the most dynamic players in college football but the question will be: Does his game translate to the NFL?

NFL Networks Bucky Brooks had this to say:

"Considering McCaffrey’s explosive talents as a runner-receiver-returner, I could see an NFL team using the Westbrook blueprint to help the Stanford star maximize his skills as a pro. Scouts frequently discuss prospects’ roles during the pre-draft process and lay out their vision for utilizing a player’s skills. If I was presenting McCaffrey’s case before a general manager or head coach, I would certainly use the former Eagles standout as an example of his potential impact as a pro."

McCaffrey would be a luxury pick for the Lions. There is no doubting any team in the league would covet his skills, but at what cost? On the surface he appears to be a first round lock. But, in order for him to be drafted in the first round, a general manager must be comfortable in two areas: 1) they believe in his value; and 2) their team is strong enough to use a high pick on a player who will likely be a gadget player his first year in the league.

He’d look great in Honolulu Blue, but I don’t think the Lions will be his team.

Soloman Thomas
Redshirt Sophomore
#90
Defensive End
6’2″, 275

Early Draft Projection = Top 100

Even though Soloman Thomas is just a redshirt sophomore, he’s proved he’s as NFL ready as any player on Stanford’s defense. Stanford likes to switch up its fronts, featuring both three and four-man defensive lineman. This plays into Thomas’s strength, which his versatility: he’s lined up at defensive end, five-technique, 3-technique, and nose tackle.

Thomas has an above-average burst and power to overwhelm an offensive lineman. But he can also beat them with finesse and leverage by attacking a blocker’s balance. While his game is still raw and developing, his ability to be disruptive has stood out this season.

PFF has called him a player to watch this week:

"Thomas has been one of the lone bright spots on Stanford’s defense and he has the No. 10 grade against the run among the nation’s interior defensive linemen while also getting after the quarterback with four sacks, six QB hits, and 14 hurries."

There is no doubt Thomas is a Top 100 player in the 2017, if he declares. But Stanford has a history of graduating players before they move on in their careers. It’s possible Thomas is ready to graduate early or willing to bypass graduation for now to pursue the NFL. But, the early smart money is on him returning to Palo Alto for his redshirt junior year.

Day Three Seniors

Johnny Caspers (#57, Guard, 6’3″, 296) is in his third year as Stanford’s starting right guard. He went into the season with high hopes, even getting some first round hype. That hype has slowed down quite a bit after Stanford’s offensive line has been dominated the last two weeks. He is the best player on this page, and could slip into day two, but he’s needs to stop the bleeding quickly.

Caspers biggest asset to NFL teams will be his experience and position flexibility. He had been a fixture at right guard but has left guard movement. He has also filled in at center, which some analysts see as his best position in the NFL. Caspers is quick off the snap and uses his aggressiveness to attack defensive tackles, but needs to play under control.

Wide receiver Francis Owusu (#6, 6’2″, 223) took a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit in week four and suffered a concussion. Lingering effects have kept him off the field the last two weeks. This is a shame because he’s trying to work his way onto a senior all-star game

Safeties, Zach Hoffpauir (#10, 6’0″, 197) and Dallas Lloyd (#29, 6’2″, 213) are interesting names to watch. Neither have a draftable grade right now but Hoffpauir’s name was on NFL watch lists in 2014. After stepping away from football in 2015 to pursue a baseball career, Hoffpauir has returned to the gridiron and is hoping to get noticed again.

Day Three Redshirt Juniors

Peter Kalambayi (#34, 6’2″, 245) is listed as an outside linebacker but is more of an “Edge defender” in Stanford’s hybrid scheme. He has lined up both as a linebacker and defensive end throughout his career. Kalambayi has a high motor and uses it to offset his limited pass rushing technique. He has NFL skills, but right now he’s better moving forwards rather than backwards.

Michael Rector (#3, 6’0″, 185) almost declared for the NFL last season but decide to return for his redshirt junior year. Rector’s game is as a vertical threat and he defiantly has NFL skills, but an undisclosed suspension in 2015 will draw some attention from the NFL.

DeShone Kizer
Redshirt Sophomore
#14
Quarterback
6’4″, 230

Early Draft Projection = Top 10

DeShone Kizer entered the season in a quarterback battle, but it didn’t take long for him to separate himself from Malik Zaire. No draft-eligible player has seen their draft stock rise like Kizer, who now considered one of the top talents in the draft.

As a redshirt sophomore, it’s not clear if Kizer will enter the NFL draft. But with his current projection being at an elite level, it seems inevitable. There are plenty of draft analysts writing glowing reviews of Kizer:

• NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’ compares him to Steve McNair
• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller projected him to go first overall in his latest mock draft
• CBS Sports Dane Brugler also has him going first overall in his latest mock draft
• Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling thinks he’s the best quarterback in the 2017 class

And while those articles are fun reads for NFL draft fans, they won’t be necessary reads for Lions faithful. With Matthew Stafford the clear face of the franchise, and Kizer expected to be a high pick, he will only be mentioned by local sports radio talk show hosts and angry fans.

Mike McGlinchey
Redshirt Junior
#68
Left Tackle
6’7″, 310

Early Draft Projection = Round 2

Mike McGlinchey was relegated to right tackle duties last year because 2016 sixth overall pick Ronnie Stanley manned the left side. After making the switch to left tackle this season, McGlinchey has shown he has a bright NFL future in front of him.

Aggressive initial action off of the snap, has allowed McGlinchey to be first to contact on most snaps. He keeps his space with a solid punch and has a solid base. Named offensive team captain for 2016, McGlinchey has also taken on a new leadership role. He is still developing footwork movement and staying low in his base, but he has shown steady improvement.

In what is looking like a weak offensive tackle class, McGlinchey will have a shot as being one of the top players drafted at the position. While he has publicaly stated that he plans on returning to Notre Dame for his senior season, don’t be surprised if when analysts start floating him as a player who could be selected in the first round, he changes his mind.

If the Lions move on from Riley Reiff, and McGlinchey elects to declare early, he would be a name to watch. If he’s there in the second round, he would be an adequate replacement for Reiff. Additionally, the Lions offensive line is already very young, so, I’m not convinced Bob Quinn will go into the draft looking to add another starter.

Even though on paper McGlinchey to the Lions looks like a nice fit, there are too many factors working against this union.

Jarron Jones
Senior
#94
Nose Tackle
6’5″, 315

Early Draft Projection = Top 100

Jarron Jones is an incredible athlete, but two bad injuries have caused analysts to pump the brakes on his potential. In 2014, a mid-season Lisfranc (foot) injury forced him to miss the remaining three games of the season. In 2015, an MCL injury caused him to miss every regular season game. He rehabbed during the 2015 season, and was able to return for their bowl game only to re-injure his foot.

His power, length, and flexibility are rare for a man his size. He uses excellent timing to sniff out screens and knock down passes. He also has four blocked kicks on special teams. Jones has the skill set to step in day one and start on most NFL teams.

He has the upside to outperform former Notre Dame defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt (second round pick) and Sheldon Day (fourth round pick), but he will need to stay healthy to do it. Because of his injury history, he’s likely going to fall somewhere in-between their draft spots. His medical check at the combine will be highly scrutinized and will play a big factor in deciding his future.

Three year starters

Isaac Rochell (#90, 6’3″, 290) is a veteran presence (team captain) on the Irish defense. A defensive end who can push inside on passing downs, Rochell’s versatility is his best asset. With length and strength, he can set the edge, while also working through traffic. But, his limited range will likely keep him on day three on most draft boards.

After stepping up as a sophomore, Cole Luke (#36, 6’0″, 193) took a step back as a junior. A player who many considered to have day two potential, he hasn’t improved enough during his senior season to justify a pick that early. Experience and intelligence will help Luke’s game, but he needs to turn things around quickly. A cornerback who has a “grabby” label, and gives up too many big plays isn’t going to have a lot of NFL suitors.

Return to School

Wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr (#16, 6’0″, 195) will be an interesting story to follow. A two sport player (no surprise, the other sport is baseball), Hunter is the Irish’s most versatile offensive skill player. He was recently drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Angles, but they have allowed him to still play football. Still a redshirt junior, Hunter may elect to return for his senior year, test the NFL market, or leave to play baseball. Lots of options.

Running back Tarean Folston (#25, 5’9″, 215) has seen his draft stock take a massive hit over the last month of the season. Coming off a 2015 ending ACL, Folston was being touted as a potential Top 50 player. Instead, as Tony Pauline notes, “His return has been a struggle and Folston has been relegated to rotational duty rather than being the feature ball handler at Notre Dame.” A return to South Bend for his redshirt senior season seems likely in his future.

Dismissed

The only thing worse that watching a player’s draft stock plummet is watching it disappear completely. This is what we may be witnessing with Former-Notre Dame strong safety Max Redfield, who was dismissed after multiple off the field incidents. A player with day two potential, he now looks entirely undraftable because of his character.

Next: Top 2017 NFL Draft Prospects from Michigan

Bob Quinn has proved that when it comes to the draft process, he is extremely thorough. He spent last offseason installing his approach to the draft and has set his expectations high. Because this is such a high-profile game, you can bet he will be assigning scouts to watch these players closely.

Previous Watchlists:

Alabama vs USC
Tennessee vs Virginia Tech
Ohio State vs Oklahoma
Georgia vs Ole Miss
Western Michigan vs Central Michigan
Washington vs Oregon