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http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2017/i...prospects-target-nfc-west-team-2017-nfl-draft
The NFL draft is less than two weeks away, and there's no better time than the present to take a closer look at which prospects make sense for each team.
We'll go through each division to pair prospects with each team on Days 1, 2 and 3 of the draft. (Even if a team does not have a pick on a given day -- for example, the Patriots on Day 1 -- we'll still recommend a player, as trades can always change the draft order.)
Important note: This is not a mock draft. We aren't predicting where players will land. Rather, we're identifying a few prospects who fill a need and/or fit what each team likes to do schematically.
Here's a breakdown of the NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals
Day 1 (pick No. 13): Kevin King, CB, Washington
The Cardinals need to find a starter opposite Patrick Peterson. Marcus Coopersigned with the Bears, Justin Bethel struggled at corner and Arizona reached for a developmental prospect last year, drafting third-round pick Brandon Williams. I've already said the Saints could target King at No. 11, but the Cardinals would do well to land him if he gets to 13. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with 32-inch arms and 4.43 speed, King has the tools to match up with bigger receivers on an island. His exceptional performance in the short-shuttle (3.98) and three-cone (6.56) show he's fluid enough to blanket receivers underneath, too.
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
Carson Palmer is 37 and backup Drew Stanton turns 33 in May. It wouldn't be a surprise to see GM Steve Keim trade back into Round 1 to draft either Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes or Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer if they start to fall, but Dobbs is an interesting option if Arizona can't move up. Dobbs' stock has steadily risen since the Senior Bowl, and he has the tools -- strong arm, good work ethic and high-level intelligence -- to succeed in head coach Bruce Arians' offense.
Day 3: Isaac Asiata, G, Utah
The Cardinals used five starters at right guard last year, Evan Mathis retired and Earl Watford, who started games at right guard and right tackle, signed with Jacksonville. Asiata, who's the younger brother of running back Matt Asiata and was a three-year starter at Utah, tied Auburn DE Carl Lawson for the best performance on the bench at the combine (35 reps). Asiata has the frame (6-foot-3, 323 pounds) to quickly develop into a starter.
Los Angeles Rams
Day 1 (No pick as of today): Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
The Rams placed the franchise tag on Trumaine Johnson for the second straight year, and there's no guarantee they'll be able to sign him to a long-term deal. E.J. Gaines, who is undersized at 5-foot-10 and had missed 21 games the past two seasons, is in a contract year. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips needs corners who can hold their own in man coverage. To that end, the Rams, who don't have a first-round pick, could trade up to get Humphrey late in the first. Humphrey is an instinctive cover corner with the size to press receivers and the speed to run with them downfield.
Day 2: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
Tyler Higbee (2016 fourth-rounder) has the potential to develop into a productive receiving tight end playing for new head coach and former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay. No offense got more yards from its tight ends than the Redskins last year. But the Rams need to get quarterback Jared Goff more weapons, so Higbee's presence shouldn't prevent Los Angeles from targeting Engram. He could easily be the best receiving option available at the top of the second round. Engram's versatility, size (6-3, 234) and speed (4.42) make him a nightmare matchup.
Day 3: Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State
Kenny Britt signed with Cleveland and Brian Quick bolted for Washington. Free-agent signing Robert Woods and Tavon Austin have the potential to be effective complementary receivers, but neither is a true No. 1. The problem is the Rams aren't in a position to land one of the top three receivers without giving up a lot. Davis is an intriguing Day 3 option. There are concerns about the level of competition he faced at Georgia State and he's a raw route runner, but he has a high ceiling thanks to his size-speed combination (4.44 40 at 6-2 and 219). Davis' ability to stretch the field would create space for the Rams' other receivers underneath and make it tougher for defenses to key on talented third-year running back Todd Gurley.
San Francisco 49ers
Day 1 (pick No. 2): Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has said that San Francisco will be patient addressing the quarterback position, and he will get the most out of free-agent signings Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. But Trubisky has the frame, accuracy, mobility and arm strength to be a franchise quarterback, and the presence of Hoyer would allow Shanahan to bring Trubisky along slowly. While the North Carolina product has a second-round grade on our board, he's the No. 1 QB prospect in this class. He'd be a great fit in Shanahan's scheme.
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
San Francisco released Tramaine Brock after he was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony domestic violence earlier this month. The 49ers also are reportedly considering moving Jimmie Ward to safety, where he's likely be a better fit considering new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is expected to favor bigger corners. Witherspoon, at 6-foot-2¾ and with 33-inch arms, has the frame and skill set to excel in Saleh's scheme.
Day 3: Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
Shanahan had a potent one-two punch in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Colemanin Atlanta. Both were Day 3 picks. Carlos Hyde is a talented back who averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year, but he has yet to play in all 16 games of a season and he's entering the last year of his rookie contract. The 220-pound Hunt, who reportedly ran in the mid-4.5s at his pro day, has the vision and power to help share the load as a rookie. He's also a reliable receiver who makes defenders miss after the catch, making him a good fit for Shanahan's scheme.
Seattle Seahawks
Day 1 (pick No. 26): Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Seattle GM John Schneider needs to improve the Seahawks' pass protection after allowing 42 sacks last year (27th in the NFL). Free-agent signee Luke Joeckel could line up at left tackle, but he's a better fit on the inside, where the Seahawks also need help. While there's a chance that all three of the top offensive tackles are gone by the time the Seahawks pick at No. 26, Schneider shouldn't hesitate to take Robinson if he's on the board. The Alabama product has the length (35½-inch arms) and flexibility to develop into a blindside pass-blocker. At 332 pounds, he's also a powerful run-blocker who can help a Seattle running game that went from third in rushing yards per game in 2015 to 25th last year.
Day 2: Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn
Seattle doesn't have great depth behind Jarran Reed (2016 second-rounder) and 30-year-old Ahtyba Rubin. Adams played much harder on his 2016 tape than he did in 2015 and there are concerns about him reverting to his old form once he signs an NFL contract, but his talent could make the risk worth the reward. At 304 pounds and slightly taller than 6-foot-3, Adams has an explosive first step and he ran a 4.87 40 at the combine.
Day 3: Brian Allen, CB, Utah
Seattle is entertaining trade offers for Richard Sherman and DeShawn Sheadtore an ACL in the playoffs. Free-agent signing Perrish Cox isn't likely to be the long-term answer. While this is a pressing need, Schneider hasn't drafted a corner earlier than the fourth round since taking over in 2010. Allen is raw but he has the frame (6-3, 215) and length (34-inch arms) to succeed in Seattle's scheme.
The NFL draft is less than two weeks away, and there's no better time than the present to take a closer look at which prospects make sense for each team.
We'll go through each division to pair prospects with each team on Days 1, 2 and 3 of the draft. (Even if a team does not have a pick on a given day -- for example, the Patriots on Day 1 -- we'll still recommend a player, as trades can always change the draft order.)
Important note: This is not a mock draft. We aren't predicting where players will land. Rather, we're identifying a few prospects who fill a need and/or fit what each team likes to do schematically.
Here's a breakdown of the NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals
Day 1 (pick No. 13): Kevin King, CB, Washington
The Cardinals need to find a starter opposite Patrick Peterson. Marcus Coopersigned with the Bears, Justin Bethel struggled at corner and Arizona reached for a developmental prospect last year, drafting third-round pick Brandon Williams. I've already said the Saints could target King at No. 11, but the Cardinals would do well to land him if he gets to 13. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with 32-inch arms and 4.43 speed, King has the tools to match up with bigger receivers on an island. His exceptional performance in the short-shuttle (3.98) and three-cone (6.56) show he's fluid enough to blanket receivers underneath, too.
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
Carson Palmer is 37 and backup Drew Stanton turns 33 in May. It wouldn't be a surprise to see GM Steve Keim trade back into Round 1 to draft either Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes or Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer if they start to fall, but Dobbs is an interesting option if Arizona can't move up. Dobbs' stock has steadily risen since the Senior Bowl, and he has the tools -- strong arm, good work ethic and high-level intelligence -- to succeed in head coach Bruce Arians' offense.
Day 3: Isaac Asiata, G, Utah
The Cardinals used five starters at right guard last year, Evan Mathis retired and Earl Watford, who started games at right guard and right tackle, signed with Jacksonville. Asiata, who's the younger brother of running back Matt Asiata and was a three-year starter at Utah, tied Auburn DE Carl Lawson for the best performance on the bench at the combine (35 reps). Asiata has the frame (6-foot-3, 323 pounds) to quickly develop into a starter.
Los Angeles Rams
Day 1 (No pick as of today): Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
The Rams placed the franchise tag on Trumaine Johnson for the second straight year, and there's no guarantee they'll be able to sign him to a long-term deal. E.J. Gaines, who is undersized at 5-foot-10 and had missed 21 games the past two seasons, is in a contract year. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips needs corners who can hold their own in man coverage. To that end, the Rams, who don't have a first-round pick, could trade up to get Humphrey late in the first. Humphrey is an instinctive cover corner with the size to press receivers and the speed to run with them downfield.
Day 2: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
Tyler Higbee (2016 fourth-rounder) has the potential to develop into a productive receiving tight end playing for new head coach and former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay. No offense got more yards from its tight ends than the Redskins last year. But the Rams need to get quarterback Jared Goff more weapons, so Higbee's presence shouldn't prevent Los Angeles from targeting Engram. He could easily be the best receiving option available at the top of the second round. Engram's versatility, size (6-3, 234) and speed (4.42) make him a nightmare matchup.
Day 3: Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State
Kenny Britt signed with Cleveland and Brian Quick bolted for Washington. Free-agent signing Robert Woods and Tavon Austin have the potential to be effective complementary receivers, but neither is a true No. 1. The problem is the Rams aren't in a position to land one of the top three receivers without giving up a lot. Davis is an intriguing Day 3 option. There are concerns about the level of competition he faced at Georgia State and he's a raw route runner, but he has a high ceiling thanks to his size-speed combination (4.44 40 at 6-2 and 219). Davis' ability to stretch the field would create space for the Rams' other receivers underneath and make it tougher for defenses to key on talented third-year running back Todd Gurley.
San Francisco 49ers
Day 1 (pick No. 2): Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has said that San Francisco will be patient addressing the quarterback position, and he will get the most out of free-agent signings Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. But Trubisky has the frame, accuracy, mobility and arm strength to be a franchise quarterback, and the presence of Hoyer would allow Shanahan to bring Trubisky along slowly. While the North Carolina product has a second-round grade on our board, he's the No. 1 QB prospect in this class. He'd be a great fit in Shanahan's scheme.
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB, Colorado
San Francisco released Tramaine Brock after he was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony domestic violence earlier this month. The 49ers also are reportedly considering moving Jimmie Ward to safety, where he's likely be a better fit considering new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is expected to favor bigger corners. Witherspoon, at 6-foot-2¾ and with 33-inch arms, has the frame and skill set to excel in Saleh's scheme.
Day 3: Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
Shanahan had a potent one-two punch in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Colemanin Atlanta. Both were Day 3 picks. Carlos Hyde is a talented back who averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year, but he has yet to play in all 16 games of a season and he's entering the last year of his rookie contract. The 220-pound Hunt, who reportedly ran in the mid-4.5s at his pro day, has the vision and power to help share the load as a rookie. He's also a reliable receiver who makes defenders miss after the catch, making him a good fit for Shanahan's scheme.
Seattle Seahawks
Day 1 (pick No. 26): Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Seattle GM John Schneider needs to improve the Seahawks' pass protection after allowing 42 sacks last year (27th in the NFL). Free-agent signee Luke Joeckel could line up at left tackle, but he's a better fit on the inside, where the Seahawks also need help. While there's a chance that all three of the top offensive tackles are gone by the time the Seahawks pick at No. 26, Schneider shouldn't hesitate to take Robinson if he's on the board. The Alabama product has the length (35½-inch arms) and flexibility to develop into a blindside pass-blocker. At 332 pounds, he's also a powerful run-blocker who can help a Seattle running game that went from third in rushing yards per game in 2015 to 25th last year.
Day 2: Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn
Seattle doesn't have great depth behind Jarran Reed (2016 second-rounder) and 30-year-old Ahtyba Rubin. Adams played much harder on his 2016 tape than he did in 2015 and there are concerns about him reverting to his old form once he signs an NFL contract, but his talent could make the risk worth the reward. At 304 pounds and slightly taller than 6-foot-3, Adams has an explosive first step and he ran a 4.87 40 at the combine.
Day 3: Brian Allen, CB, Utah
Seattle is entertaining trade offers for Richard Sherman and DeShawn Sheadtore an ACL in the playoffs. Free-agent signing Perrish Cox isn't likely to be the long-term answer. While this is a pressing need, Schneider hasn't drafted a corner earlier than the fourth round since taking over in 2010. Allen is raw but he has the frame (6-3, 215) and length (34-inch arms) to succeed in Seattle's scheme.
