4/24/2017 football Edit

USC's NFL draft predictions

Chris Swanson • TrojanSports

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With the 2017 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, TrojanSports.com caught up with analyst Adam Gorney to get his takes on USC's draft-eligible players. We also offer a prediction for what round each Trojan will be drafted.

1. LOCKS

Gorney’s Take: "I think the concern is his mobility as an offensive tackle in the NFL. His size is definitely the upside. But if he can't deal with edge rushers, I think he struggles a little bit, through the postseason and that kind of stuff. I think it would be a later round where he would go. But I think he needs to show better feet and develop that way for him to be on an NFL roster."

Predicted Round: 4

Gorney’s Take: "Obviously his athleticism, we have seen for years. It's just dynamic. It separates him from pretty much everybody else in this class. He can play multiple positions if needed, which can be good for him. He can be a special teams superstar. He can move to offense where I think he's probably most dynamic. I think at the NFL level, concern over his size will be a problem at cornerback. But he'll probably get a shot there because he's an athletic kid that can go up and get the ball and he's a playmaker who can make plays all over the field. I wouldn't be shocked if some team took a shot on him late first round but probably much more of a second-round guy."

Predicted Round: 2

Gorney’s Take: "His speed at the combine was shockingly slow. I know speed isn't going to be a major factor when team's are drafting offensive guards but it does speak to his athleticism and his burst off the line. I think he's a tremendous interior offensive linemen, an physical kid who can get after it. So I think that's going to be a good thing for him. But I wouldn't imagine him until the later rounds, with him being drafted."

Predicted Round: 6

Note: John Smith became known as JuJu Smith at USC before changing his last name to Smith-Schuster in honor of his stepfather.

Gorney’s Take: "He's a kid who had been considered one of the top receivers in the draft. I think (Western Michigan receiver) Corey Davis, (Washington receiver) John Ross, (Clemson receiver) Mike Williams have really taken over those top three spots. And those will probably be the first three wide receivers off the board. I think his ability to separate is going to be called into question on the NFL level. But there's no doubt he's a kid with a big body who can make a lot of plays and move the ball down the field. So I don't think he's a first round kid any longer but definitely, I think somewhere in the second round. The fourth or fifth wide receiver taken will be JuJu.

Predicted Round: 2

Gorney’s Take: "In terms of his physicality, there's no question. In terms of his production, I don't think there's any question. But probably a kid in the later rounds."

Predicted Round: 6

Note: Wheeler played left tackle at USC.

Gorney’s Take: "That's a kid who's going to be a late round kid, if at all. He'll probably get some looks from NFL teams, no matter what, because of his size. But I think he needs to be a more physical kid. He weight lifted pretty poorly, bench pressed poorly and that's going to be something that they're going to look at. If they're going to take a guy that they want in the later rounds or take a shot on to bring in, kind of as an undrafted free agent or whatever, they're going to have to put up big numbers and intrigue you in some way. I'm not so certain that he's done that and that's kind of where he stands right now."

Predicted Round: 5

2. MAYBES

Gorney’s Take: "That's a kid who I've always liked. USC had Ronald Jones blow out and have a great season but Davis has always been a solid, tough runner, who bounces off people. And so I don't think he's going to be one of the first running backs taken with (LSU back Leonard) Fournette, (Florida State back Dalvin) Cook, (Stanford back Christian) McCaffrey, even (Oklahoma back Joe) Mixon, (Tennessee back) Alvin Kamara. There's a whole wide range and group of running backs, it's a tough class. It's especially tough for Davis because the class is so deep. But he's going to be a kid, who I think in the NFL can have career because he's a tough runner who can bounce off a people."

Predicted Round: undrafted

Gorney’s Take: "Now that's a kid who I was not ever really high on coming out of high school, honestly. But he has proven me wrong at USC. Good hands, I thought he had shaky hands in high school. But he's proved to be a good catcher with a big frame, kind of a big catch radius. Again, he's not going to be a top ten, twelve, receiver kind of guy. But he's a guy who could make an NFL roster and be productive because he can stretch the field but he can also be kind of that third down receiver, where, if you need three or four yards and you can throw him the ball, he can be your guy. But if JuJu isn't a first round pick, if he's a mid-second round pick, then Rogers is way down the line there."

Predicted Round: undrafted

3. PROJECTED UDFAs

WR De’Quan Hampton, TE Taylor McNamara, S Leon McQuay, LB Quinton Powell, OL Jordan Simmons and WR Isaac Whitney. (LB Michael Hutchings retired from football to pursue a career in real estate.)