2017 NFL Draft projections: Where the Florida Gators’ players will land

By Adam Silverstein
April 26, 2017
2017 NFL Draft projections: Where the Florida Gators’ players will land
Football

Image Credit: ESPN Images

Despite being incredibly busy during the week of the 2017 NFL Draft, longtime analyst Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net sat down with OnlyGators.com for a wide-ranging look at the Florida Gators who could be selected Thursday-Saturday in Philadelphia.

Pauline evaluated most of Florida players available in the draft and even provided projections for each prospect who may be selected from April 27-29.

Linebacker Jarrad Davis
Projection: Round 1
Analysis: “I have him right now as the second overall linebacker. Right before this conversation, somebody told me he’s going top-20. He’s a terrific three-down linebacker. I am concerned by the fact that he’s only 6-foot-1-and-a-half. He plays sideline-to-sideline. He’s multi-purpose: You can put him inside, you can put him outside. I think the fact that Reuben Foster is dropping down draft boards is going to help his stock.”

Safety Marcus Maye
Projection: Round 2
Analysis: “Love him. Love him. I think he’s just so underrated, the way Keanu Neal was. I think he’s a terrific center fielder. Good size, better-than-average speed, better-than-credited ball skills. Tough run defender.”

Cornerback Quincy Wilson
Projection: Round 2
Analysis: “Real good player. Got good size. Got a lot of upside. I think he’s a solid prospect who can be a very good player down the road. When everyone was saying [Teez] Tabor was the top Florida cornerback, I had said — everyone told me that, down the road, Quincy Wilson was going to be a better pro.”

Defensive tackle Caleb Brantley
Projection: Rounds 2-?
Analysis: “I never graded him as a first-rounder. I always thought he was a second-rounder. He’s got size deficiencies. He’s a scheme-limited type of guy. If you watch him on film, he’s more of a three-technique tackle because he doesn’t have that great bulk, doesn’t have that great strength on the inside. He’s more of an explosive first-step type of guy. I thought the Oakland Raiders were going to take him in the second round. Obviously now, not only with the news but with the uncertainty of what’s going to happen, he’s probably going to fall to the third round. He could fall out of the second day of the draft and into the fourth round. … With Brantley, you remember La’el Collins a couple years ago; he was just being questioned for a murder — wasn’t being a suspect, was just being questioned. He went from being a second-round pick to falling out of the draft. When you have some of these uncertain things, it’s going to hurt him a lot.”

Linebacker Alex Anzalone
Projection: Round 3
Analysis: “Tough, hard-nosed guy. A little bit scheme-limited. Really best in the box moving forward. Not great coverage.”

Cornerback Jalen “Teez” Tabor
Projection: Rounds 3-4
Analysis: “Good guy. Plyamaker. Really killed himself in the offseason with the workouts. Not a fast guy. He’s going to be scheme-limited. Right now, I think he’s going to go closer towards the third round because cornerback is a priority position. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s a good football player. He’s going to be a good player. As far as a steal? I don’t know. He’s going to need to be put in a proper system where opponents can’t exploit his speed, where he’s going to have help over the top.”

Offensive lineman David Sharpe
Projection: Rounds 3-4
Analysis: “I think he’s a right-side guy. He’s really turned some heads in the offseason. A lot of people thought he made a mistake entering the draft, but he’s really boosted himself in the offseason. It’s a weak tackle draft, which helps him. Could wind up in the third round if somebody looks at his size, his athleticism, his upside and is willing to roll the dice on him.”

Defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr.
Projection: Rounds 6-7
Analysis: “Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. When he’s on top of his game, he can be a dominant force. Entered the season with a mid-round grade from scouts but fell off.”

Defensive lineman Joey Ivie
Projection: Undrafted free agent — signed
Analysis: “A guy who I think will somehow make a roster at the next level because of the way he plays, because of his intensity. He’s never going to be a starter — going to be a career backup but could be a backup for like eight years.”

Quarterback Austin Appleby
Projection: Undrafted free agent — signed
Analysis: “He’s got good size and a decent arm but has bounced around, shows a lot of indecision. He’s a practice-squad guy.”

Wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood
Projection: Undrafted free agent

Linebacker Daniel McMillian
Projection: Undrafted free agent

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