The 2016 NFL Draft is done and rookies are already making their impressions and signing contracts. But it’s never too early to look ahead to the 2017 NFL Draft. Here are the top five prospects at defensive end.

RELATED: Top 5 QBs for 2017 | Top 5 RBs | Top 5 WRs | Top 5 OL | Top 32 prospects

Recruiting: The top-rated weak-side defensive end and second-best player in the 2014 class committed to Texas A&M in October over Alabama, Ohio State, TCU, Florida State and others.

Stats: Garrett finished fifth on the Aggies with 59 tackles including 19.5 for loss and 12.5 sacks, both team highs. The former five-star also had an interception, 10 quarterback hurries and five forced fumbles.

Farrell’s take: The end-of-the-year debate between Garrett and our eventual No. 1 overall, Da’Shawn Hand, was a heated one. Hand won out, but just barely. Obviously it looks like Garrett should have been the guy. He’s talented enough to be the No. 1 pick in the draft if he continues to develop. The freakish athleticism to go along with that length and quickness we saw in high school has obviously translated well to college.

Recruiting: The five-star named Alabama his favorite in February and in May decided to pull the trigger for the Crimson Tide. Florida, USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State and many others were in the running for the Mid-Atlantic standout, but from early on Alabama seemed to be a team to beat.

Stats: Allen only had 36 total tackles this past season, but led the Crimson Tide in tackles for loss with 14.5 and sacks with 12. The former five-star also recorded six quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

Farrell’s take: As a five-star and No. 11 player in the 2013 class, it was clear that I loved Allen as a player. He was big, intense, ran everything down and could either go around you or bull rush you into the quarterback’s comfort zone. He played end and tackle in high school and couldn’t be stopped at either position. He projects as a scheme-versatile guy at the next level as well.

Recruiting: Barnett committed to Tennessee midway through his senior season, but he apparently made his mind up much earlier than that. According to reports, after he saw the Volunteers play for the first time during his freshman season of high school against LSU, Barnett said he knew he’d end up playing there. LSU, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Ohio State and others were involved, but Tennessee always seemed to be out front.

Stats: Barnett was third on the team with 69 tackles, including 12.5 for loss. The former four-star led Tennessee with 10 sacks and he also had seven quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Farrell’s take: Some guys do a lot of developing between the time they sign and when they arrive on campus, and Barnett is clearly one of those players. We liked him obviously based on his top-175 ranking, but did we see his massive impact on the SEC so early in his first two years? Nope, we didn't. He is exceeding our expectations by quite a bit and has become stronger and faster earlier than projected, much to the delight of Vols fans.

Recruiting: Harris was a two-star prospect and little was known about him coming out of Kansas City (Mo.) Lincoln College Prep. He recorded 60 tackles, including 12 sacks in his senior season, and Missouri is listed as his lone offer.

Stats: Harris recorded 56 tackles, including a team-high 18.5 stops for loss. He was tied for the team lead with seven sacks. Harris also finished with 10 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

Farrell’s take: This was a kid we didn’t get to evaluate much at all because he emerged for Missouri so late and didn’t have film prior to his senior year. He's a great example of a prospect who just started to get really elite after he left high school and great scouting by the Mizzou staff.

Recruiting: Lawson committed to Auburn in March of his junior year and the pledge stuck, but it was not easy down the stretch toward National Signing Day. Clemson and Tennessee among others were pushing late, but the former five-star decided to stick with the Tigers.

Stats: In only seven games, Lawson finished with 17 tackles, including three for loss, and one sack. The former five-star had 11 quarterback hurries, good for second on the team, but injuries have been a concern the last two seasons.

Farrell’s take: Lawson was simply unstoppable on his meteoric rise to near the top of the rankings in 2013 and only a couple of inches in height separated him and Robert Nkemdiche when it came to who was No. 1 in the state and the country. He's in very good company at the top of the rankings in what is turning out to be one of the most talented five-star classes we've ever had, as fellow top-10 prospects in 2013 Nkemdiche, Vernon Hargreaves III, Laquon Treadwell and Jalen Ramsey were first-rounders last year and Jaylon Smith would have been barring his injury. Lawson could shoot up this list if he can stay healthy.