As the 2017 NFL draft draws closer, it's time to run through our draft tier rankings, which uses our grades to separate prospects into different segments. This is helpful when comparing players who are close to each other in the rankings. It also helps in predicting where players will come off the board during the first three rounds of the draft.
Here are our draft tiers for 2017, covering every prospect with a first-, second- or third-round grade. (I've put each player's grade in parentheses next to his name.)
Tier 1
The elite class of the 2017 NFL draft. These players should be starters from Day 1 and project as perennial Pro Bowl players.
2017: 1 player | 2016 (at this point in the process): 3 players
1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M (Grade: 95)*
Garrett has the top tier all to himself after shining during the pre-draft process. We already knew he had fantastic tape and production (48.5 tackles for loss, 32.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 36 starts), but he posted one of the best combine performances I've ever seen, just for good measure. At 6-foot-4½ and 272 pounds, he ran a 4.64 40 and jumped 41 inches in the vertical. The Browns should just turn in the card now. Garrett has to be the pick at No. 1 overall.
Tier 2
A notch below the elite class but still worthy of top-20 picks in most drafts. These picks are expected to be plug-and-play starters.
2017: 8 players | 2016: 8 players