Pre-Combine Draft Projections for FSU Players

Draft season can be a fun time of the year if one takes much of what they hear with a grain of salt. Generally, the top prospects are known, and while it might be a mystery where many are picked, rarely do players slide too far out of their projected round altogether. Florida State is familiar with the process, as evidenced by the litany of players to enter professional football. The 2017 NFL Draft is no different.

There are about five players from FSU who will almost assuredly get selected in the draft, barring any injuries or surprising news of failed drug tests/legal trouble/etc. Everyone knows running back Dalvin Cook is going in the first round for instance. But where will players like Travis Rudolph go? It’s hard to keep track of all the players and where their stock is at any given moment.

Luckily for those people, The Daily Nole has you covered. Below are the seven major draft prospects from FSU and where they are likely to be picked. The range is limited to three rounds at the most, and these predictions are before the NFL Combine and any of the major draft season ceremonies begin.

Dalvin Cook (RB) – First Round

The only debate about Dalvin Cook in the draft is whether or not he goes top 10 or top 20. After an electrifying 2016 season, Cook has cemented himself as one of the top two (if not the No. 1) running back prospects in the nation. Speed, cutting ability, vision, catching, whatever a team needs a running back to do, Cook can do it. Over the next few months, there will need to be storylines written to fill up web pages. Fans will likely hear about fumbles, or injury concerns, or off-the-field red flags. Unless something unknown appears, it will all be smokescreens.

Roderick Johnson (OT) – Second to Third Round

Some were confused by Johnson’s decision to enter the draft. Many believed that he could use one more year of development, and the added benefit of continuity on the FSU offensive line would be good for the team. While both are true, his choice was still probably the right one. This year’s offensive line class is unusually weak, and this is especially true for the offensive tackle prospects. There is a clear No. 1 in Cam Robinson out of Alabama. Behind him is a free for all. Johnson was a favorite before the season started, and while he still might be the favorite, his stock has taken a little hit due to a bad start to the year. He was once considered a fringe first-rounder, but now he has likely fallen out of first round consideration altogether. But Johnson still possesses qualities that any NFL evaluator would covet. Size and physical qualities are all there, but consistency is still an issue. Johnson definitely favors pass-blocking more than run-blocking, and any team will have to factor this into whenever they select him. He could be a quality starter in the NFL. He’ll just have to be developed.

DeMarcus Walker (DE) – Second to Fourth Round

If draft position was based solely on production, Walker would be undisputed first round material. His 67 total tackles and 16 sacks would make any evaluator’s eyes pop. The issue with Walker is that he seems to have maxed out his body. Compared to players like Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett or Jonathan Allen from Alabama, Walker’s ceiling is fairly low. But don’t be fooled; the way he uses his 6-4 and 280-pound frame will get him drafted in the early rounds. He shows great push off the line and rarely gets moved backwards. Walker has also showcased fairly impressive pass-rush moves, so he already knows that technique will be what helps him succeed in the NFL. He’s decent in the run game, but getting to the quarterback is clearly his strong suit. He will probably never be an every-down defensive end, but he has serious upside as a situational player. Depending on how he tests out at the combine, he could fall to the fourth round if teams aren’t convinced he has enough potential for a long future in the league.

Travis Rudolph (WR) – Third to Fifth Round

Rudolph never seemed to fully embrace his role as the No. 1 receiver for the Seminoles. In fairness, he was never built to be that. He came in as a very polished route-runner with good speed and good hands, but didn’t necessarily “excel” in other physical areas. This held true for the three years he was at Florida State. Despite such limitations, Rudolph still managed to rack up two seasons of 800-plus receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Oddly enough, Rudolph could become an instance of a receiver succeeding in the NFL more than college (think Anquan Boldin). He’s likely reached his ceiling when it comes to maxing out his measurables, but the same football IQ that allowed him to play early at FSU will impress some NFL teams. His lack of future potential means he probably won’t be drafted early on, but he could become a valuable player in the middle rounds.

Marquez White (CB) - Third to Fifth Round

The numbers White gave up were comparatively worse in 2016 than they were 2015, and the FSU secondary’s weak performances at the beginning of the year took their toll on White’s stock. But there were still positives from this last season: mainly that White proved he could match up against bigger receivers and hold his ground. When it comes to length and physicality, White fits all the requirements for a future in the league. The issue still exists however that college receivers require less strength to combat than NFL receivers, and that factor will weigh heavily on teams who witnessed White struggle early in the season. For this reason, he likely won’t be going any higher than the third round. If he goes to the right team however, White will be a solid starter.

Kermit Whitfield (WR) - Sixth to Undrafted

It’s a shame that Whitfield was not invited to the NFL Combine, because he was likely going to break speed records in a couple of events. However, it’s obvious that he’s going to have a hard time fitting his way into the draft. Whitfield is a very small receiver that never produced all that much on the college level, even though some of that might be due to the quarterbacks under center during his prime seasons. He still has incredible speed and sharp route-running skills, which will ultimately allow him to at least make it on a roster. He could end up being a steal as a slot receiver.

Jesus Wilson (WR) – Sixth to Undrafted

It’s unfortunate that in the midst of a career-year, Jesus Wilson sustained a injury which kept him out for the second half of the season. He’s a lot like Whitfield in that he’s way too small to become a No. 1 (or even No. 2) receiver in the NFL. Wilson still has good quickness and has greatly improved his hands and route-running, but he doesn’t have the top-end speed that his fellow wide receiver prospect does. If he impresses in workouts, all it takes is one team to pull the trigger. But there’s a long way to go for Wilson if he wants to play on Sundays.