Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: 5 players who could be selected in 2017 NFL Draft

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 28, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the NFL seal logo during the NFL Annual Meetings at the Biltmore Resort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the NFL seal logo during the NFL Annual Meetings at the Biltmore Resort. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois defensive end Dawuane Smoot speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois defensive end Dawuane Smoot speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Dawuane Smoot

One of the great defensive linemen for the Illinois football team last season was Dawuane Smoot. He wowed on the football field despite the overall record not showing his greatness.

Right now, Smoot is projected to go in the third-to-fourth round. That is a solid draft position and an area that many teams look to get a value pick.

Smoot is going into this draft as a defensive end like he played in college. There are many teams that need help at that position as well.

The three teams that I could see drafting Smoot at this point in the draft are the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. There is a multitude of teams who could draft him, but these three are in need of more defensive end depth.

The Redskins starting defensive ends are two players they signed in the free agent market. They always need help on defense and Smoot would fit in well.

Dallas is projected to start two players they drafted in 2012 and 2014 around the same rounds that Smoot is projected to go. They could always add more depth considering they don’t have much behind these two.

Denver has been a great defense over the last few season, but they are weak on one side of the defensive line now. I feel comfortable with Derek Wolfe being solid, but their other defensive end was a free agent signing in the offseason. I wouldn’t doubt if the Broncos picked up another defensive end in this draft.

Home/Illinois Football