College football is almost upon us, which means the 2017 NFL draft will be here before you know it. Those of us at Scouts Inc. -- Kevin Weidl, Steve Muench and I -- spent the summer scouring tape and ranking the top players at each position from a draft perspective.
Here is our preseason evaluation of the best players at every position. Click the links below to jump ahead to a specific position.
Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.
QB | RB | WR | OL | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S
QUARTERBACK
1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson*
Grade: 88
A dynamic playmaker, Watson has the ability to throw from the pocket and extend plays with his mobility. He played his best football down the stretch of 2015, throwing for 405 yards and four touchdowns in Clemson's 45-40 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Watson lacks ideal size and will need to adjust to a pro-style system, but he has the tools to develop into a good starter in the NFL if developed and used properly.
2. Brad Kaaya, Miami*
Grade: 87
Kaaya is listed at 6-4, 215 pounds, so he'll need to add some bulk and strength to his frame. But he can really excel in a precision/timing-based offense. Decisive with his full-field reads, Kaaya showed very good accuracy on short-to-intermediate throws and consistently made good pre-snap decisions.
3. C.J. Beathard, Iowa
Grade: 75