Derek Rivers climbing quickly up 2017 NFL Draft boards

The 2017 NFL Draft is filled with intriguing defensive players, and Youngstown State’s Derek Rivers is no exception. How high can he climb up boards?

Youngstown State is a popular place leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft. After all, they boast two of the more interesting young pass rushers in this year’s class in Avery Moss (a former Nebraska transfer who followed Bo Pelini to Youngstown) and Derek Rivers, the subject of this piece.

Rivers is considered one of the best pass rushers in this year’s draft class, and the hype is only building the closer we get to draft night.

There are even some that feel Rivers — an FCS All-American this past season — has a chance to be a first round pick.

In all likelihood, Rivers will go sometime on day two, but he could very well climb into the first round discussion after what we saw from him at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine:

At 6-4, 248 pounds, Rivers could add some weight to his frame, but you would hate to mess around any with his athletic traits. Even at 248 pounds, this is a player that showed at Youngstown State an ability to hold up at the point of attack and win with his upper body as well as his (incredible) speed.

When I watch Rivers, I like him as an end with his hand in the dirt, but I love his potential standing up and coming off the edge even more. I think there will be potential for him to grow into his technique in setting the edge, but that’s definitely a work in progress, as you can see in some of his game tape.

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When you’re talking about guys in this year’s draft class that can step in and make an impact in the passing game immediately, this guy is near the top of the list. His quickness and speed off the edge resulted in 14 sacks this past season, as well as 19.5 tackles for loss. He seems to be a disciplined player against the run, but can at times struggle to get off of blocks.

Not that he’s required to make every play, but we’re nit-picking…

So just how high is Rivers ascending on draft boards? At the Youngstown State pro day, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers coach Joey Porter was in attendance. The Steelers pick near the bottom of the first and second round, and unless they plan on trading out of the first entirely or trading up in the second round, they might be willing to use a first rounder on him.

There are a number of teams in the first round that need pass rush help, and Rivers is a dynamic talent with elite athleticism. Quarterbacks are obviously the toughest position to find elite players in the draft, but pass rushers sometimes seem to be coming out of the woodwork, and they are just as valuable in today’s NFL.

Rivers showed out at the Combine and may have earned himself first round status.

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