2017 NFL Draft: Big Ten’s All-Draft Team

Defensive End

1st Team: Taco Charlton, Michigan
1st Team: Chris Wormley, Michigan
2nd Team: Sam Hubbard, Ohio State (redshirt sophomore)
2nd Team: Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State (redshirt junior)
Honorable Mention: Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
Honorable Mention: Dawuane Smoot, Illinois

The narrative on Taco Charlton for the last two years has been that he’ll be a better NFL player than college. I completely buy into that line of thinking as his size/speed combo, length, and skill set project highly to the NFL game. He injured his ankle early in the season and his draft stock has steadily increased as he got healthy. He’s now considered a first round lock and could hear his name called in the first ten to fifteen picks.

On the opposite side of Michigan’s defensive line is Chris Wormley, a left defensive end, 5-technique, defensive tackle hybrid. How teams perceive Wormley’s future position will directly determine his value to their team. If a team likes him inside, he’ll likely end up as a day three pick on their board, but for a team who views him as a 5-technique or closed defensive end, he could get a day two grade.

Replacing Joey Bosa is a tall task, but Sam Hubbard did an admirable job this year. Hubbard is an emerging star but he is still a year away from being a highly sought after prospect. He has the skills are versatility to be a high pick in 2018, but he still has some work to do to make that happen.

On the opposite side of Ohio State’s defensive line is junior Tyquan Lewis, and like Hubbard he is a year away from being a much higher pick. But Lewis is older and his stock is at a high point right now, after being named the Big Ten’s defensive lineman of the year. Lewis may opt to leave while his stock is high because uber-athlete Nick Bosa will continue to demand more snaps and they will likely come at Lewis’s expense. His opportunity may be now.

Coming into this season, most thought Ifeadi Odenigbo would need a breakout season to be given draft consideration. After completing a 10 sack season, he’s got scout’s attention. While he is likely only viewed as a pass rushing specialist at the next level, he makes the most out of his opportunities. He should be in the late round conversation.

Dawuane Smoot is a name many Draftniks are familiar with as Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has been touting him all season.

But I am nowhere near as high on him as Miller. Smoot game play runs hot and cold. He will look explosive and athletic one week and then follow it up with a dud the next. He lacks the ability to anchor the edge and at the next level may be limited to pass rushing downs. The problem is he doesn’t produce sacks either (only three in 2016). He can create pressure which will get him drafted, but if he’s drafted before round six, he’s being overvalued.