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It's easy to value production and use the word "safe" when discussing prospects for the NFL draft. But NFL general managers keep their jobs and NFL scouts get promoted based on the upside prospects they advocate for during the draft.

The term upside is the embodiment of the "risk vs. reward" dynamic that is prevalent in all NFL war rooms. Teams get rewarded by the players with upside they draft that are successful in the NFL, and the 2017 NFL draft has a handful that are worth taking a risk on in the early rounds.

This list includes a prospect at every position that, while their path to NFL success isn't clear-cut, has the tools and developmental ceiling to be among the best players at their respective positions when we reflect on the 2017 draft.