Detroit Lions 2017 NFL Draft Watchlist: Louisville vs Houston

College Quarterback to NFL Skill Player

Greg Ward Jr. (#1, 5’10”, 185) is an excellent dual threat college quarterback. Recently, PFF listed Ward as the third best quarterback in college football:

"Ward finished 2015 with the No. 1 rushing grade among all quarterbacks, but while he has again been effective as a runner this season – he has forced 32 missed tackles on his way to 567 yards and eight touchdowns – it’s his play as a passer that has him this high up on this list. He ranks second in PFF grades at 92.5, and his adjusted completion rate of 75.6 percent ranks 11th in the country. His matchup against Louisville and Jackson on Thursday should be excellent."

Many will sight Russell Wilson‘s success as a reason for Ward to possibly stay at quarterback in the NFL. But, the Houston offensive scheme is designed to feature his athleticism and get the ball out of his hands quickly. While he is very accurate, averaging only eight yards per passing attempt won’t help his case with NFL scouts.

Ward will likely need to make a position switch in the NFL, likely to slot wide receiver (which he has experience playing early in his career) or a running back role. Look for Ward to try to make a Denard Robinson-like switch during the All-Star Bowl games. If he can showcase his speed and elusiveness, he’ll have a chance to get drafted sometime on day three.

Triple Threat Athlete

Brandon Wilson (Senior, #26, 5’11”, 200), is Houston’s top cornerback, but he’s also an elite kick returner, and can play running back in a pinch. In 2015, he was the only player to score multiple touchdowns on offense (2), defense (2) and special teams (2). In 2016, he scored a touchdown in the opener, on a missed field goal which he returned 100+ yards for the score (pictured).

Jeff Risdon talked about his athleticism:

"The one prominent player in the secondary who returns is Brandon Wilson, and his athletic metrics (documented 4.36 40, 40” vertical, 11’2” broad jump) make him an intriguing prospect. He’s also a return specialist extraordinaire, a nice fallback for a 5’11” corner who needs to develop better field awareness."

While Wilson currently carries an “Undraftable” grade by CBS Sports, the athletic markers Jeff listed will definitely draw the attention of scouts. If he can catch a team’s eye this draft season, he could easily find his name called late on day three.

Next: NFL Draft 2017 Top Prospects From Michigan

Lions Approach

Bob Quinn has proved that when it comes to the draft process, he is extremely thorough. He spent last off-season 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
Stanford vs Notre Dame
Texas A&M at Alabama
Clemson vs Florida State