The top-10 picks if college football used a draft system

It's draft time in the football world, with the eligible stars of the college game headed to the NFL at the end of April.

Since the NCAA relies on a recruitment system, college teams aren't subject to a drafting system. But what if that rule changed and ahead of the 2016 season, teams could draft new players?

Here's a hypothetical top-10 of the first college football draft in history.

1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson

The last game Clemson's Deshaun Watson played was ridiculous. Four-hundred and five yards passing and four touchdowns, plus 73 yards on the ground against the nation's top defense. He accounted for 47 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign, passing for 4,104 and rushing for 1,105. Don't be shocked if Watson is also the first pick taken in the 2017 NFL Draft.

2. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

The nation tuned in for the Rose Bowl last year, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey went bananas and Twitter exploded. Three-hundred and sixty-eight all-purpose yards later, Stanford had a 45-16 win, and McCaffrey had a performance for the ages.

The NCAA record-holder for most all-purpose yards in a season affects the game in so many ways, whether it be rushing, receiving, or returning. That diverse skill set puts him slightly ahead of Leonard Fournette.

3. Leonard Fournette, LSU

LSU's stud running back almost seems like a steal at the third spot in the draft. Despite a rough last month of the season, Fournette still finished with an absurd 1,953 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. Getting the standout junior away from the rigid offensive plan that Les Miles employs at LSU might be a breath of fresh air.

4. Dalvin Cook, Florida State

While the NFL devalues the running back position, the college world strongly emphasizes it. With that idea in mind, Florida State's Dalvin Cook is the third straight rusher taken in the draft. The junior standout averages 7.4 yards every time he's handed the ball. Cook rushed the ball for 1,691 yards last year despite carrying the ball 71 times fewer than Fournette.

5. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Oklahoma's gun-slinging quarterback Baker Mayfield is the second quarterback off the board. The Sooners' dual-threat passer leads one of the country's most electrifying offenses, but his skill set would make any program's offense better. His addition immediately guarantees a team will be able to put points on the board.

6. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

What's one way to slow down today's high-scoring college offenses? Don't let the quarterback throw the ball. Texas A&M has implemented that plan with the pass-rushing demon known as Myles Garrett. He's the first defensive player taken in the draft, and will immediately set up shop in the opposition's backfield wherever he goes.

7. Chad Kelly, Ole Miss

Chad "Swag" Kelly of Ole Miss is the third quarterback off the board and will certainly bring attitude to whichever team picks him. On a Rebels team featuring Laquon Treadwell, Laremy Tunsil, and Robert Nkemdiche, Kelly somehow flew under the radar despite accounting for 41 touchdowns through the air and on the ground last season.

8. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Perhaps the nation's most versatile defensive player is the No. 8 pick. Flying around like a heat-seeking missile, Michigan's Jabrill Peppers immediately bolsters anyone's defense. Losing him would almost certainly make Jim Harbaugh angry, which certainly leads to something funny happening.

9. Juju Smith-Schuster, USC

We could spend 100 words describing why USC receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is a beast and should be drafted here. In this case, a visual description is probably best.

10. Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech

With 4,653 yards last season, Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes is the nation's most prolific returning passer. Playing in Kliff Kingsbury's offense certainly helps the Red Raiders pivot, but his skill set is transferable anywhere. He also is probably the best no-look passer not named Aaron Rodgers.

Sleeper

O.J. Howard, Alabama

O.J. Howard was the breakout star in Alabama's national championship win over Clemson. The lightly used tight end erupted for 208 yards receiving and two touchdowns, on just five catches. That's 41.6 yards per catch for those keeping track at home, which is certifiably ridiculous. Other than the national title game though, his career has largely been underwhelming. For that reason he's likely still available in later rounds.