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NFL Draft 2017: On Pro Day, DeShone Kizer Needs to Improve His Standing Among NFL Teams

Recent survey reveals the former Notre Dame player isn’t the favorite QB of any of those NFL teams questioned

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BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State v Notre Dame Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

DeShone Kizer is not the favorite quarterback of any of the 22 NFL clubs recently surveyed by NFL.com.

Charlie Casserly, a former general manager now working for the league’s website, said nine club representatives liked the Clemson TigersDeshaun Watson the best. Eight liked North Carolina Tar HeelsMitch Trubisky. Two picked Texas Tech Red Raiders’ signalcaller Patrick Mahomes and three said they did not have a favorite.

Mock draft analysts appear to be taking note of the perception of the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback and adjusting their first round predictions accordingly. We analyzed mock drafts put out by 152 different people and Kizer isn’t a first rounder in 40 percent of them now.

We’re now 35 days until the NFL Draft commences in Philadelphia, which is prime time for each college’s Pro Day — a way to highlight their talent being considered for the professional ranks.

Seventy-five representatives of NFL teams watched Trubisky work out at North Carolina’s Pro Day on Tuesday. There were more than 100 who went to Clemson’s event March 16 and saw Watson throw. It’ll be interesting to see which clubs come to Notre Dame at noon today -- and which opt to stay at home.

The Cleveland Browns — who have two first round picks — skipped Trubisky’s Pro Day. That would seem suspicious for a team in need of a quarterback, except that Trubisky is reportedly going to work out for the club in a private setting.

SB Nation’s Jon Benne predicted Tuesday that the Browns will ultimately select Watson with the 12th overall pick.

Cleveland is the second-favorite destination for Kizer of the 89 mock draft analysts who think he’s going in the first round. The Browns were the pick of 22 of those individuals, while the Arizona Cardinals — who hold pick #13 — were chosen by 23 analysts.

While about half of 49 mock drafts released in the last 7 days don’t think Kizer will be among the first 32 picks, Arizona is the second most-popular option. Ten individuals slotted him at #13.

“CONNECTED” EXPERTS EVEN MORE BEARISH

While anyone can make a mock draft and publish it online, there are only a few individuals who are talking regularly to decision makers on NFL teams.

These are the “connected” guys, who usually work for major sports networks or publications. To find them, we used Twitter and picked the top 20 most followed draft experts. The list includes ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay; NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Lance Zierlein and Casserly; CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, Dane Brugler and Will Brinson and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller.

In that group of 20, 12 experts think Kizer won’t be picked on Day 1. Of the eight believers, Kizer’s matches are the Cardinals (Brugler, ClevelandBrowns.com’s Nathan Zegura and ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi), Buffalo Bills (Casserly), Browns (FOX Sports’ Pete Schrager), Houston Texans (Rotoworld’s Josh Norris and Miller of Bleacher Report) and Kansas City Chiefs (WKBW-TV’s Joe Buscaglia).

(SB Nation’s Benne who, to my knowledge, doesn’t publish a mock draft, predicts the Texans will sign former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.)

The number of Twitter followers is an imperfect science, so we decided to also consider the ratio of followers to those the analyst was following. (We’re calling it the “listener ratio.”) This subset features many of the same “connected” guys, but also includes Advance Media’s Chris Fedor, SEC County’s Connor Reilly, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar and CBS Sports’ Rob Rang.

Of this group of 20, 10 think Kizer won’t be picked in the first round. The ten believers have Kizer going to the Bills, Cardinals, Chiefs and Texans.

Both Miller and Jeremiah spoke to MMQB recently about the somewhat confusing popularity of mock drafts. Miller told the publication that “his rankings are his eyes and his mock drafts are his ears.” Jeremiah echoed that, saying, “Mock drafts, for me, are solely based off what I am hearing.”

DeShone Kizer’s Position in Mock Drafts

Draft analyst Publication Date of Mock Kizer at... Team
Draft analyst Publication Date of Mock Kizer at... Team
Aaron Wilson Houston Chronicle 3/18/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Adam Gorney Rivals 3/11/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Adam Kurkjian Athlon Sports 2/20/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Andre Simone BSN Denver 2/28/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Andrew Gribble ClevelandBrowns.com 3/07/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Andrew Juge This Given Sunday 3/21/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com 3/05/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Anthony Broome 247 Sports 3/07/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Anthony Messina Sports Blog 3/10/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Art Stapleton The Record (N.J.) 3/03/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Ben Standig CSN Mid-Atlantic 3/21/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Bob McManaman The Arizona Republic 2/16/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Brad Weiss FanSided 3/22/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Brennan Smith The Salt Lake Tribune 3/20/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Brent Sobleski Bleacher Report 3/21/2017 34 San Francisco 49ers
Brian Johannes NFL Draft Geek 2/01/2017 2 San Francisco 49ers
Brian Mazique Forbes 3/21/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Bryan Luis INSC Magazine 3/13/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Bucky Brooks NFL.com 3/20/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Carl Cockerham With the First Pick 3/17/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Chad Reuter NFL.com 3/15/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Charean Williams Fort Worth Star-Telegram 3/13/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Charley Casserly NFL.com 3/07/2017 31 Buffalo Bills
Charlie Campbell WalterFootball 3/20/2017 34 San Francisco 49ers
Chris Burke Sports Illustrated 3/22/2017 29 San Francisco 49ers
Chris Fedor Advance Media (Cleveland) 3/08/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Chris Ransom Draft Utopia 3/14/2017 2 San Francisco 49ers
Chris Roling Bleacher Report 3/18/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Cole Thompson The Draft Wire 3/07/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Connor Hughes NJ.com 2/28/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Connor Reilly SEC Country 3/12/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
D. Orlando Ledbetter Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2/27/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Dan Bilicki Toronto Sun 3/01/2017 3 Chicago Bears
Dan Duggan NJ Advance Media 3/13/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Dan Kadar SB Nation 3/20/2017 25 Houston Texans
Dan Schmelzer NFL Spin Zone 2/27/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Dan Wilkins The Score 3/07/2017 6 New York Jets
Dane Brugler CBS Sports 3/21/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Daniel Jeremiah NFL.com 3/13/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Danny Kelly The Ringer 3/14/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
DaRon Frost Pro Players Insider 2/26/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press 3/15/2017 10 Buffalo Bills
David Harrison The Pewter Plank 3/03/2017 25 Houston Texans
David McCracken Bleacher Report 2/21/2017 20 Denver Broncos
David Wyatt Gang Green Nation 2/16/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Dieter Kurtenbach Fox Sports 3/16/2017 25 Houston Texans
Eddie Brown San Diego Union-Tribune 3/10/2017 25 Houston Texans
Eliot Shorr-Parks NJ Advance Media 2/23/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Emily Kaplan MMQB 3/07/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Eric Edholm Yahoo! 2/10/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Eric Galko The Sporting News 3/13/2017 57 Houston Texans
Erik Lambert NFL Mocks 3/06/2017 25 Houston Texans
George Stockburger NFL Mocks 3/10/2017 25 Houston Texans
Jacob Loque Baltimore Beatdown 3/08/2017 Not in the first round n/a
James Kratch NJ Advance Media 2/20/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Jared Dubin CBS Sports 3/21/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Jared Sherman CSNPhilly.com 3/20/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Jason B. Hirschhorn Sports on Earth 3/08/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Jason Lieser Palm Beach Post 3/15/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Jay Skurski The Buffalo News 1/29/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Jayson Braddock Scout 3/22/2017 32 Cleveland Browns
Jeff Mullen NFL Draft Geeks 3/15/2017 25 Houston Texans
Jeff Risdon RealGM 2/10/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Joe Buscaglia WKBW-TV (Buffalo) 3/07/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Malfa Turn on the Jets 2/28/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Joe Redemann numberFire 3/03/2017 6 New York Jets
John Harris Washington Post 3/21/2017 Not in the first round n/a
John Manuel Fanspeak 3/22/2017 Not in the first round n/a
John McClain Houston Chronicle 3/18/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Jon Dove With the First Pick 3/11/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Jonathan K. Henson Revenge of the Birds 3/20/2017 57 Houston Texans
Jonathan Valencia Breaking Football 1/25/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Joseph Zucker Bleacher Report 3/06/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Josh Norris Rotoworld 3/13/2017 25 Houston Texans
Justin Bales FF Today 3/06/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Rogers The Detroit News 3/21/2017 Not in the first round
Justis Mosqueda Bleacher Report 1/23/2017 2 San Francisco 49ers
Keet Bailey Breaking Football 3/17/2017 57 Houston Texans
Keith Mullins Cowboys Wire 2/28/2017 3 Chicago Bears
Kevin Hansen Eat Drink and Sleep Football 3/03/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Kristopher Knox Bleacher Report 3/22/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Kyle Crabbs FanRag Sports 3/06/2017 2 San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Davis With the First Pick 3/09/2017 25 Houston Texans
Lance Zierlein NFL.com 2/22/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Lou Pickney DraftKing.com 3/09/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Luke Easterling The Draft Wire 3/16/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Mark Easson MyNFLDraft.com 3/08/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Mark Eckel NJ Advance Media 3/20/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Matt Burke Metro.us 2/27/2017 34 San Francisco 49ers
Matt Falk Draftseason 3/20/2017 25 Houston Texans
Matt Lombardo NJ Advance Media 3/06/2017 10 Buffalo Bills
Matt Miller Bleacher Report 3/07/2017 25 Houston Texans
Matthew Olson Real Sport 3/10/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Matthew Urben SideLion Report 3/21/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Maurice Moton Bleacher Report 3/09/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Max Himelstein NFL Draft Blitz 3/03/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN 3/22/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Michael Pallas The Jet Express 2/06/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Michelle Bruton Bleacher Report 3/21/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Micky McKeon Mockout 3/13/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Mike Farrell Rivals 3/11/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Mike Kaye First Coast News 2/09/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Nate Davis USA Today 3/07/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Nathan Zegura ClevelandBrowns.com 3/07/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Nicholas Goss NESN 3/07/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Nick Klopsis Newsday 2/27/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Nick Rodriguez Endzone Score 3/14/2017 17 Washington Redskins
Nora Princiotti The Washington Times 3/20/2017 32 New Orleans Saints
Oliver Connolly All 22 3/01/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Patrick Maks ClevelandBrowns.com 3/07/2017 3 Chicago Bears
Paul Banks The Sports Bank 3/08/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Paul Hudrick CSNPhilly.com 2/05/2017 10 Buffalo Bills
Pete Prisco CBS Sports 3/15/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Peter Schrager Fox Sports 3/21/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Randy Gurzi NFL Spin Zone 3/09/2017 77 Arizona Cardinals
Richard Sena Vavel 2/27/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Rob Rang CBS Sports 3/20/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Rob Staton Seahawks Draft Blog 3/16/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Robert Davis Football is Future 2/22/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Russell Brown NFL Mocks 3/06/2017 27 Kansas City Chiefs
Ryan Griffith Breaking Football 2/25/2017 3 Chicago Bears
Ryan McCrystal DraftAce 2/17/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Ryan Wilson CBS Sports 3/22/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Sam Farmer Los Angeles Times 3/02/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Samuel Fuller FullerMetrics 3/06/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Scott Krinch CSN Chicago 2/07/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Scott Polacek Bleacher Report 3/06/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Staff DraftSite.com 3/21/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Staff DraftTek 3/22/2017 36 Chicago Bears
Staff DraftBlaster.com 3/13/2017 105 Pittsburgh Steelers
Staff Fantasy Football Prophet 2/28/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Staff NFLMock 3/17/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Stephen Cohen Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/16/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Steve Palazzolo Pro Football Focus 3/16/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Steve Serby NY Post 2/25/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Steve Shoup Fanspeak 3/21/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Steve Silverrman Bleacher Report 2/27/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Steven Petrella Land of 10 3/22/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Steven Ruiz For the Win/USA Today 3/07/2017 25 Houston Texans
Tab Bamford Daily Chicago Sports Tab 3/11/2017 2 San Francisco 49ers
Terez A. Paylor Kansas City Star 3/17/2017 25 Houston Texans
Tim Campbell Live 4 Sport Network 3/17/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Todd McShay ESPN 3/15/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Tom Downey Chat Sports 3/09/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Tony Grossi ESPN Cleveland 3/13/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Vasilis Lericos Baltimore Beatdown 3/07/2017 25 Houston Texans
Vinnie Iyer Sporting News 2/21/2017 12 Cleveland Browns
Walter Cherepinsky WalterFootball 3/21/2017 38 Los Angeles Chargers
Will Brinson CBS Sports 3/16/2017 Not in the first round n/a
Will Carroll ALL 22 1/24/2017 2 San Francisco 49ers
Xavier Cromartie College Football Metrics 2/23/2017 13 Arizona Cardinals
Zach Goodall Big Cat Country 3/13/2017 25 Houston Texans
Mock drafts, as of March 22 @andrewwinn