04-30-2015, 04:25 PM
I attempted to do this earlier, but after getting almost half way through, my browser crashed without me having saved and I didn't have the heart to start over. This is how I would rate the players in each position group without regard to any team's needs or scheme. It's just what I assess their value to be given their abilities. Here goes attempt #2.
QB
1.) Jameis Winston - Number 1
2.) Marcus Mariota - Top 15
3.) Shane Carden - Fourth Round
4.) Brett Hundley - Fourth Round
5.) Sean Mannion - Fourth Round
6.) Brandon Bridge - Fourth Round
7.) Garrett Grayson - Seventh Round
8.) Bryce Petty - Seventh Round
9.) Jake Waters - Seventh Round
There isn't much quarterback depth in this year's draft. Winston, off-the-field issues aside, is an elite talent that did things the with the Seminoles that the previous two first round quarterbacks couldn't. Mariota has some accuracy issues, which were reinforced with his pro day. Carden reminds me a little of Drew Brees - although I question his decision making at times as he'll force balls. Hundley is similar to Mariota, except the accuracy issues are even more glaring and he will make some questionable decisions in the pocket. Mannion has inconsistent, but sometimes precision, ball placement. Athleticism in the pocket will be a problem for him and he even seems plodding when dropping back. Bridge is a stash and develop player with good athleticism and an elite arm where the balls just jump off his hand. Touch and the shorter routes are an issue for him. Garrett Grayson has just an average arm and often doesn't step into his throws which will lead to many interceptions at the pro level. Bryce Petty becomes rattled and erratic when pressured. He looks to escape the pocket before returning his eyes downfield. Waters throws well on the move and with good zip. He could do a better job of reading where to place the ball in 1 on 1 matchups, especially in the end zone.
RB
1.) Todd Gurley - Top 15
2.) Ameer Abdullah - First Round
3.) Melvin Gordon - Second Round
4.) Duke Johnson - Second Round
5.) Jay Ajayi - Second Round
6.) Zach Zenner - Third Round
7.) David Johnson - Third Round
8.) T.J. Yeldon - Fourth Round
9.) Tevin Coleman - Fourth Round
10.) Jeremy Langford - Fifth Round
This is the most depth a running back class has had in a while. Gurley breaks tackles like Beast Mode and has elite balance as well. Abdullah was a little disappointing with his 40, but he plays fast regardless. What drops Gordon below Abdullah is that his pass protection isn't very good and fumble problems don't help. Johnson is similar to Abdullah in style, but I feel Abdullah finishes his runs a little better. Ajayi relies on spinning off of tackles too often and lacks the speed to get going again after the move. He also has some minor character issues and pass protection issues. Zenner played against inferior competition, but did well against the big programs as well, including torching Nebraska. Zenner is a little stiff in the hips, but has great athleticism as a north/south runner with being able to plant and cut and bounce off tackles. Johnson is a very tall running back and has a weird running style where he will use his hands a whole lot. He has amazing 3rd down potential as a receiver and in pass protection. Yeldon struggled with injuries last year which probably prevented him from being considered a high pick on day two. He is a jack-of-all-trades type of player with an upright style which will lend itself to some problems in the NFL. Coleman is a player I don't see nearly as highly as many othres. Coleman had gaudy numbers, but when I watch him its mostly 2-3 yards and then him outrunning a defense that gets completely out of place. I don't see Coleman creating his own plays and breaking many tackles as he's often content to just missile into a mass of humanity and call it a play. Langford needs to go to the right system that can use him in space. He won't break many tackles or get extra yards, but he is dangerous with some room to work. There are probably another 10 backs that could easily get drafted including: Cameron Artis-Payne, Mike Davis, Buck Allen, David Cobb, and more.
WR
1a.) Amari Cooper - Top 5
1b.) Kevin White - Top 5
3.) Dorial Green-Beckham - First Round
4.) DeVante Parker - First Round
5.) Nelson Agholor - Second Round
6.) Jaelen Strong - Second Round
7.) Tyler Lockett - Third Round
8.) Devin Smith - Fourth Round
9.) Stefon Diggs - Fourth Round
10.) Justin Hardy - Fourth Round
This is a fairly deep wide receiver class - just a tad behind last year's. Cooper and White are too close to call. Amari Cooper is a smooth route runner with deceptive speed and a full range of routes. White is ultra athletic and one of the nastiest blockers I've seen from the receiver position in quite some time. DGB is raw and needs some time to develop, but once he does, he'll be a Calvin Johnsonesque mismatch for anyone. Agholor and Parker are similar athletically. Agholor is good at catching in traffic and YAC. Parker is very athletic and has an amazing jab step and cuts clean to go with being an able blocker. Parker's issue is that at times he's a lazy route runner and will round off routes or not come back for a ball. Strong is the best there is at catching back shoulder fades, but isn't aggressive enough fighting through contact. Strong also jogs his routes too often. Lockett is very athletic and gets a lot of separation on his routes, especially when coming back. Lockett doubles as a great return man, but the one issue for him is his size and being more of an inside/outside tweener. Smith is one of those players who isn't an every down's receiver, but you can scheme some big plays for him. Just don't expect him to ever catch more than 50 balls in a season. Diggs is more of a zone breaker with good feel on where to sit down in the zones and the athleticism to play along the sidelines. Diggs should probably be lower just based off character flags. Hardy is an experienced and heady slot receiver with some return ability. Other notable receivers include: Vince Mayle, Chris Conley, Sammie Coates, Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett, and Ty Mongomery.
TE
1.) Devin Funchess - Second Round
2.) Maxx Williams - Second Round
3.) Gerald Christian - Fourth Round
4.) Nick O'Leary - Fourth Round
5.) Clive Walford - Fourth Round
6.) Wes Saxton - Fifth Round
7.) Blake Bell - Fifth Round
8.) MyCole Pruitt - Seventh Round
9.) Busta Anderson - Seventh Round
The tight ends are a flawed bunch this season. Devin Funchess is a receiver who will likely make the conversion to tight end in the NFL. He has elite receiving skills, enough to where he could be drafted highly at receiver as well. Maxx Williams is a move tight end in the NFL, but he had limited production in college and with just slightly above average measurables/athleticism is a little bit of a project that will have to work hard on technique and feel. Gerald Christian transferred from UF to get more pass catching opportunities. He is a well-rounded tight end, but plays a little stiff in the hips which will hurt his ability to catch off-target balls. Nick O'Leary has below average athleticism and will have to rely on finding spots in zones. Clive Walford could easily be a late 1st or early 2nd and is great after the catch, but he has very unreliable hands and is a little bit of a jersey puller while run blocking. Wes Saxton is a pure move tight end with good hands that often snagged bullets thrown from Brandon Bridge. He has very little to no value as a blocker. Blake Bell is a very well-rounded tight end that converted from QB and has a lot of room for growth. He is improving as a blocker, but he is a bit of a plodder when he runs routes and will have to get thrown open as a receiver; he does have good hands. MyCole Pruitt is a move tight end who's measurables are more impressive than he displays on the field. He has good hands and I thought he was a willing, but below average blocker. Rory "Busta" Anderson is an intriguing player who plays with a bit of a mean streak. He wasn't featured very much and has dealt with various injuries throughout his college career, but he was a serious playmaker when called upon.
OT
1.) La'el Collins* - Top 15
2.) Andrus Peat - First Round
3.) Ereck Flowers - First Round
4.) T.J. Clemmings - First Round
5.) Brandon Scherff - Second Round
6.) Jake Fisher - Second Round
7.) Daryl Williams - Third Round
8.) Tyrus Thompson - Third Round
9.) D.J. Humphries - Fourth Round
10.) Cedric Ogbuehi - Fourth Round
I feel like a lot of these players will be playing in new positions in the NFL. I see a lot of LTs that are better fits as RTs. *This was written well before the ex-gf murder thing, but I'll leave it as is.* La'el Collins is a powerful run blocking LT that gives his QB a large pocket to throw from. He may be a better fit at LG or RT because of his short arms, but he can certainly play LT at a high level as well. Andrus is a very tall, well-rounded pass protector who is probably the only true LT. He is aggressive in the run game and finishes blocks. Ereck Flowers is similar to Collins, except he has a lot of work to do on his footwork at the next level - probably a better RT fit. T.J. Clemmings is a mauler RT or RG in the NFL. He is average at best in pass protection (being kind) and will not be confused with a LT. Scherff has been typecast as a big Iowa mauler, but he really isn't. He has excellent feet and movement skills and seems like a perfect fit as a LG in a zone scheme, but may struggle against NFL linemen with either exceptional speed or exceptional power in pass rush situations. Jake Fisher reminds me a lot of Luke Joeckel. He lacks the ability to stone pass rushers and the pocket shrinks on him a little, but he is surprisingly bullish in the run game. Daryl Williams is a prototype RT that played RT at Oklahoma. He is excellent in the run game and a solid pass protector. He lacks the athleticism to be used very creatively - lunch pale guy. Tyrus Thompson was the LT for Oklahoma and has incredible upside with great athleticism. Thompson's problem is the lack of effort combined with the need to learn the game as opposed to winning off just athleticism. D.J. Humphries plays like a 1st rounder for 90% of the game, but then he has like 4 or 5 plays where you are left scratching your head - I'm not sure how correctable that is. Cedric Ogbuehi has some of the most active feet I have ever seen for a tackle... which unfortunately led to very poor leverage and giving up a ton of ground while pass protecting. Combine his torn ACL in the 2nd half of his bowl game and seriously flawed fundementals and he'll see a tumble in the draft.
OG/C
1.) A.J. Cann - Second Round
2.) Cam Erving - Second Round
3.) Shaq Mason - Third Round
4.) Josue Matias - Fourth Round
5.) Laken Tomlinson - Fifth Round
6.) Tre Jackson - Fifth Round
7.) Reese Dismukes - Fifth Round
8.) Hroniss Grasu - Sixth Round
9.) Ali Marpet - Sixth Round
10.) Arie Kouandijo - Seventh Round
This a very week interior lineman class in my opinion so I combined center and guard. A.J. Cann is a very clean prospect. He is a high character player with no real flaws in his game. Good everywhere, but no single great trait to his game. Cam Erving is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the line. Erving can get overextended and beaten badly at times. Shaq Mason was hidden a bit at Georgia Tech, but he is a top talent that can play guard or tackle. He fires off the ball and was very impressive at the Senior Bowl proving that he can play in pro sets. Josue Matias is good when he isn't asked to pickup late rushers or stunts where he doesn't quite have the feet to do consistently. Laken Tomlinson falls off his blocks and will struggle with NFL linemen with active hands. His lack of athleticism is a concern because he may not be able to recover. Tre Jackson has to overextend into his blocks which won't fly at the next level. He is more lean than leverage. Reese Dismukes has issues when he stops moving his feet. Hroniss Grasu is elite getting to the second level and combo blocking, but he can't stand up to a 0 or 1 tech defensive tackle and gets blown back. He is a liability in short yardage and goaline. Admittedly, I'm projecting Marpet without ever having seen him play at Hobart. Based purely off his Senior Bowl and workouts, Marpet is a smart player with the talent to excel, but he needs a lot of fundamental work with his hips. Arie Kouandijo has terrible balance and loses battles against just air at times.
EDGE
1.) Vic Beasley - Top 5
2.) Randy Gregory - Top 15
3.) Dante Fowler Jr. - Top 15
4.) Arik Armstead - First Round
5.) Lorenzo Mauldin - First Round
6.) Owamagbe Odighizuwa - First Round
7.) Eli Harold - Second Round
8.) Shane Ray - Second Round
9.) Bud Dupree - Second Round
10.) Trey Flowers - Third Round
There is a lot of talent here, but tons of flags and question marks. Vic Beasley has elite pass rush ability and better than advertised strength to hold the edge. If you need someone to force the quarterback into mistakes, Beasley is your man. Randy Gregory is probably the only other elite pass rusher in the draft. He has a few off-the-field issues, namely the failed drug test, weight issues, and he needs to watch the hands to the face which will be called at the next level. Supposedly there is some deep, dark secret about him that is scaring GMs away. Dante Fowler is a jack-of-all-trades type player, but lacks the strength to beat larger, quality tackles in a 1 on 1 situation. Arik Armstead is your classic big end that can be downright disruptive. I doubt he has the speed to get home often, but he will disrupt a lot of plays, especially in the run game. Lorenzo Mauldin is a high character player with the ability to rush standing or with his hand in the dirt and can play either LEO or Otto. Owamagbe Odighizuwa is another big end. He has very little pass rush ability, but plays strong at the point of attack. Double hip surgery is a concern. Eli Harold is hard to get a good grasp on. He plays hard, fast, relentless and with surprising power... And then it looks like he wears down and just kind of disappears. Shane Ray has size and maturity issues. He is a high motor, fast, and relentless pass rusher, but if you can get your hands on him, he gets completely blocked out of a play. Bud Dupree is ultra athletic, but doesn't play like it. When the play is right in front of him he can blow it up, but he plays slow and unsure and isn't physical fighting through traffic. Trey Flowers is kind of the opposite of Bud Dupree. Flowers fights through contact and is good in traffic. He is all-around just a football player, but he lacks high end NFL athleticism. Honorable mention to Nate Orchard, Danielle Hunter, and Hau'oli Kikaha.
INTERIOR
1.) Leonard Williams - Top 15
2.) Danny Shelton - Top 15
3.) Jordan Phillips - Second Round
4.) Carl Davis - Second Round
5.) Malcom Brown - Second Round
6.) Eddie Goldman - Second Round
7.) Bobby Richardson - Second Round
8.) Gabe Wright - Third Round
9.) Michael Bennett - Fourth Round
10.) Marcus Hardison - Fourth Round
I don't see an absolutely dominant defensive tackle in the group, but I see some good depth. Leonard Williams is hard for me to figure out. He lacks the pass rush to be a 3 tech and seems a fit for 2 gapping and 5 tech, but he needs to put on some weight to fit there. He can go in either direction, but he needs to go in one once he's drafted. Danny Shelton is one of a few players who seem like the ultimate nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme, but he lacks the agility and length to get off blocks and make a play while 2 gapping. He is best when he is on the move into the backfield or scraping down the line of scrimmage where he is nearly impossible to stop - a wrecking ball. Jordan Phillips was a top high school recruit. He is a perfect fit at nose tackle and has the ability to play anywhere in the interior. He has a great swim move, but needs to work on his consistency throughout a game where he fades along with his technique. Carl Davis is one of the technically better defensive tackles. Davis displays an array of pass rush moves and a high motor that will allow him to be versatile on the line. He could work on his inconsistent first step. Malcom Brown is another player who could play several positions on the interior or as a 3-4 end. While he plays a little stronger than he measures, Brown still needs to hit the weight room a bit to be effective in the NFL. Eddie Goldman plays with excellent leverage and is great at disengaging blocks. He played both 3 and 5 tech, but is probably limited to 5 tech and 2 gapping in the NFL. He has a good swim move, but lacks any real burst. Bobby Richardson is either a big end or a 3 tech tackle. His best fit would probably be 3 tech, but he needs to add 15 pounds or so to his impressive frame. He is an impressive penetrator. Gabe Wright is another impressive penetrator for a 3 tech, but is an all or nothing type of player. Probably just a long yardage specialist until he cleans that up. Michael Bennett projects as a 3 tech. On passing downs he is disruptive in the backfield, but plays more reactive and gets driven back on run downs. His motor could be better. Marcus Hardison is a late bloomer, but has high level pass rush ability. He played well Senior Bowl week and instilled confidence that he was more than just a flash in the pan.
LB
1.) Stephone Anthony - First Round
2.) Denzel Perryman - Second Round
3.) Eric Kendricks - Second Round
4.) Taiwan Jones - Second Round
5.) Benardrick McKinney - Second Round
6.) Shaq Thompson - Second Round
7.) Kwon Alexander - Third Round
8.) Paul Dawson - Fourth Round
9.) Ben Heeney - Fifth Round
10.) Jordan Hicks - Fifth Round
The linebackers are filled mostly by inside linebackers and edge rushers this year. Stephone Anthony is a natural born playmaker. He was an intregal part of the nation's number one defense with his penetration and sideline to sideline movement. The one knock on Anthony is that he sometimes guesses a little too much. Denzel Perryman is an old-school thumper middle linebacker with average coverage ability. Eric Kendricks plays a little like Poz in that he is always around the ball, but he plays slow and won't impact the run game at or behind the line of scrimmage. Taiwan Jones is a very physical player who jolts offensive lineman and takes on the blocks, but will struggle if asked to drop into deeper zones. He can play Otto or middle linebacker in a 4-3, or maybe inside linebacker in a 3-4. Jones didn't test well at the combine, but on the field he plays at what he tests instead of below it. Benardrick McKinney would best be utilized as a 3-4 rush backer. He has very good speed, but lacks fluid hips to play in traffic or drop into coverage. Shaq Thompson is a versatile athlete that can play linebacker, safety, or running back. He is our first 4-3 outside linebacker on the list and would best fit in as a weak side backer. He has the knack for making big plays, but isn't very physical as he dances more than makes contact. Kwon Alexander is probably a 4-3 Will in the NFL. He has very active feet and makes it difficult for linemen to get a clean block on him. He is willing to take on linemen in the running game, but lacks any real power and doesn't possess the best instincts. Paul Dawson has personality issues. Dawson was ultra productive, but isn't strong enough to play inside in the NFL and tested poorly at the combine. Ben Heeney flows well to the ball, has good wrap-up technique when tackling, and is willing to take on blocks. He tested a little better than he shows on the field. Jordan Hicks is a high character, read and react linebacker, but struggles a little taking on blocks. He has prior injury concerns.
CB
1.) Trae Waynes - Second Round
2.) Marcus Peters - Second Round
3.) Byron Jones - Second Round
4.) Jalen Collins - Third Round
5.) PJ Williams - Third Round
6.) Kevin Johnson - Third Round
7.) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu - Third Round
8. Quinten Rollins - Third Round
9.) Quandre Diggs - Fourth Round
10.) Ronald Darby - Fourth Round
I don't see any true shut-down man coverage corners in this draft. Trae Waynes is an on-the-line bump corner. He relies on his speed a little too much and will get eaten by more accurate NFL quarterbacks if he gives the same space. He plays fast, but not as fast as his 4.31 would indicate. Marcus Peters is a physical, on-the-line corner that battles hard and can get inside a receiver's head. Watching him and Jaelen Strong battle looked like a UFC fight. He was kicked off the team for personality issues or he would be a likely 1st rounder. Byron Jones is the man who broke the world record long jump at the combine. He has the tools to play man or zone and gave very little space to receivers down the sideline. He was average against the run and needs work with being more physical at the line of scrimmage and downfield. He is a free safety candidate. Jalen Collins is a height/weight/speed guy with all the tools of a first rounder. However, he is still very raw and may have maturity issues with reports of multiple failed drug tests while at LSU. PJ Williams is solid in run support and can mix zone and man. He sometimes misses tackles when going for strips. He also needs to better funnel receivers to the sideline on 9's. Of concern is a recent DUI for Williams. Kevin Johnson is an off-corner. He gets a bit handsy, especially when beaten by a step. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is coming off a knee injury and already has questionable height and length. He takes a lot of risks and is always looking for the big play. He is adequate in run support and may be a free safety candidate in the league. Quinten Rollins is a quick twitch, instinctual corner who plays faster than he times. He will have issues on the line against bigger receivers where he struggles to disrupt and redirect. Quandre Diggs played mostly zone in the slot where he'll probably be limited to in the league. He is a good run supporter. Ronald Darby has elite speed, but below average size. While he struggles to get off blocks, he is a little better tackler than normally given credit for. Lacks to length to really contest vertical routes, even when the coverage is good.
S
1.) Landon Collins - First Round
2.) Eric Rowe - Second Round
3.) Damarious Randall - Second Round
4.) Jaquiski Tartt - Second Round
5.) Gerod Holliman - Third Round
6.) Derron Smith - Fourth Round
7.) Cody Prewitt - Fourth Round
8.) Adrian Amos - Fourth Round
9.) Anthony Harris - Fifth Round
10.) Durrell Eskridge - Sixth Round
The safeties this year lack a true stud or any real centerfielders without large question marks, but there is better than expected early depth here. Landon Collins is a FS/SS hybrid safety. He is probably more suited to play strong safety, as he doesn't have great range, but his coverage skills are above average. Eric Rowe is a free safety or corner. He is aggressive in run support and is best in zone facing the quarterback. Damarious Randall is a late riser. He measured well athletically, makes difficult tackles in open field, and is an ace special teamer. Randall could work on his physicality. Jaquiski Tartt should be an in-the-box strong safety with excellent size and physicality. He had excellent measurables and plays stronger than his bench reps suggest (probably the long arms.) Gerod Holliman is a centerfielder that is a bit of a gambler. He was the worst tackler in fbs football last year. Derron Smith would best fit as a tampa 2 safety. He has terrible length and will struggle against bigger receivers if left alone against them. He is coming off a hernia and hasn't worked out this draft season. Cody Prewitt is a slashing, mostly build-to-speed free safety. He lacks the hips to be left in coverage and the power to play in the box. His best fit would be a see-em-get-em type role or robber. Adrian Amos is a physical box safety that looks to thump. He is a low ceiling/high floor type of player that will likely have a full career in the league. Anthony Harris is a playmaking free safety with good length. He jumps routes well. Angle taking in the run game is an issue and well as falling off tackles against players with good balance as he's more of a momentum tackler where he'll swing off of the runner. Durrell Eskridge stands out on the field from an appearance standpoint. He is long and well built. He's a classic draft and develop prospect.
QB
1.) Jameis Winston - Number 1
2.) Marcus Mariota - Top 15
3.) Shane Carden - Fourth Round
4.) Brett Hundley - Fourth Round
5.) Sean Mannion - Fourth Round
6.) Brandon Bridge - Fourth Round
7.) Garrett Grayson - Seventh Round
8.) Bryce Petty - Seventh Round
9.) Jake Waters - Seventh Round
There isn't much quarterback depth in this year's draft. Winston, off-the-field issues aside, is an elite talent that did things the with the Seminoles that the previous two first round quarterbacks couldn't. Mariota has some accuracy issues, which were reinforced with his pro day. Carden reminds me a little of Drew Brees - although I question his decision making at times as he'll force balls. Hundley is similar to Mariota, except the accuracy issues are even more glaring and he will make some questionable decisions in the pocket. Mannion has inconsistent, but sometimes precision, ball placement. Athleticism in the pocket will be a problem for him and he even seems plodding when dropping back. Bridge is a stash and develop player with good athleticism and an elite arm where the balls just jump off his hand. Touch and the shorter routes are an issue for him. Garrett Grayson has just an average arm and often doesn't step into his throws which will lead to many interceptions at the pro level. Bryce Petty becomes rattled and erratic when pressured. He looks to escape the pocket before returning his eyes downfield. Waters throws well on the move and with good zip. He could do a better job of reading where to place the ball in 1 on 1 matchups, especially in the end zone.
RB
1.) Todd Gurley - Top 15
2.) Ameer Abdullah - First Round
3.) Melvin Gordon - Second Round
4.) Duke Johnson - Second Round
5.) Jay Ajayi - Second Round
6.) Zach Zenner - Third Round
7.) David Johnson - Third Round
8.) T.J. Yeldon - Fourth Round
9.) Tevin Coleman - Fourth Round
10.) Jeremy Langford - Fifth Round
This is the most depth a running back class has had in a while. Gurley breaks tackles like Beast Mode and has elite balance as well. Abdullah was a little disappointing with his 40, but he plays fast regardless. What drops Gordon below Abdullah is that his pass protection isn't very good and fumble problems don't help. Johnson is similar to Abdullah in style, but I feel Abdullah finishes his runs a little better. Ajayi relies on spinning off of tackles too often and lacks the speed to get going again after the move. He also has some minor character issues and pass protection issues. Zenner played against inferior competition, but did well against the big programs as well, including torching Nebraska. Zenner is a little stiff in the hips, but has great athleticism as a north/south runner with being able to plant and cut and bounce off tackles. Johnson is a very tall running back and has a weird running style where he will use his hands a whole lot. He has amazing 3rd down potential as a receiver and in pass protection. Yeldon struggled with injuries last year which probably prevented him from being considered a high pick on day two. He is a jack-of-all-trades type of player with an upright style which will lend itself to some problems in the NFL. Coleman is a player I don't see nearly as highly as many othres. Coleman had gaudy numbers, but when I watch him its mostly 2-3 yards and then him outrunning a defense that gets completely out of place. I don't see Coleman creating his own plays and breaking many tackles as he's often content to just missile into a mass of humanity and call it a play. Langford needs to go to the right system that can use him in space. He won't break many tackles or get extra yards, but he is dangerous with some room to work. There are probably another 10 backs that could easily get drafted including: Cameron Artis-Payne, Mike Davis, Buck Allen, David Cobb, and more.
WR
1a.) Amari Cooper - Top 5
1b.) Kevin White - Top 5
3.) Dorial Green-Beckham - First Round
4.) DeVante Parker - First Round
5.) Nelson Agholor - Second Round
6.) Jaelen Strong - Second Round
7.) Tyler Lockett - Third Round
8.) Devin Smith - Fourth Round
9.) Stefon Diggs - Fourth Round
10.) Justin Hardy - Fourth Round
This is a fairly deep wide receiver class - just a tad behind last year's. Cooper and White are too close to call. Amari Cooper is a smooth route runner with deceptive speed and a full range of routes. White is ultra athletic and one of the nastiest blockers I've seen from the receiver position in quite some time. DGB is raw and needs some time to develop, but once he does, he'll be a Calvin Johnsonesque mismatch for anyone. Agholor and Parker are similar athletically. Agholor is good at catching in traffic and YAC. Parker is very athletic and has an amazing jab step and cuts clean to go with being an able blocker. Parker's issue is that at times he's a lazy route runner and will round off routes or not come back for a ball. Strong is the best there is at catching back shoulder fades, but isn't aggressive enough fighting through contact. Strong also jogs his routes too often. Lockett is very athletic and gets a lot of separation on his routes, especially when coming back. Lockett doubles as a great return man, but the one issue for him is his size and being more of an inside/outside tweener. Smith is one of those players who isn't an every down's receiver, but you can scheme some big plays for him. Just don't expect him to ever catch more than 50 balls in a season. Diggs is more of a zone breaker with good feel on where to sit down in the zones and the athleticism to play along the sidelines. Diggs should probably be lower just based off character flags. Hardy is an experienced and heady slot receiver with some return ability. Other notable receivers include: Vince Mayle, Chris Conley, Sammie Coates, Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett, and Ty Mongomery.
TE
1.) Devin Funchess - Second Round
2.) Maxx Williams - Second Round
3.) Gerald Christian - Fourth Round
4.) Nick O'Leary - Fourth Round
5.) Clive Walford - Fourth Round
6.) Wes Saxton - Fifth Round
7.) Blake Bell - Fifth Round
8.) MyCole Pruitt - Seventh Round
9.) Busta Anderson - Seventh Round
The tight ends are a flawed bunch this season. Devin Funchess is a receiver who will likely make the conversion to tight end in the NFL. He has elite receiving skills, enough to where he could be drafted highly at receiver as well. Maxx Williams is a move tight end in the NFL, but he had limited production in college and with just slightly above average measurables/athleticism is a little bit of a project that will have to work hard on technique and feel. Gerald Christian transferred from UF to get more pass catching opportunities. He is a well-rounded tight end, but plays a little stiff in the hips which will hurt his ability to catch off-target balls. Nick O'Leary has below average athleticism and will have to rely on finding spots in zones. Clive Walford could easily be a late 1st or early 2nd and is great after the catch, but he has very unreliable hands and is a little bit of a jersey puller while run blocking. Wes Saxton is a pure move tight end with good hands that often snagged bullets thrown from Brandon Bridge. He has very little to no value as a blocker. Blake Bell is a very well-rounded tight end that converted from QB and has a lot of room for growth. He is improving as a blocker, but he is a bit of a plodder when he runs routes and will have to get thrown open as a receiver; he does have good hands. MyCole Pruitt is a move tight end who's measurables are more impressive than he displays on the field. He has good hands and I thought he was a willing, but below average blocker. Rory "Busta" Anderson is an intriguing player who plays with a bit of a mean streak. He wasn't featured very much and has dealt with various injuries throughout his college career, but he was a serious playmaker when called upon.
OT
1.) La'el Collins* - Top 15
2.) Andrus Peat - First Round
3.) Ereck Flowers - First Round
4.) T.J. Clemmings - First Round
5.) Brandon Scherff - Second Round
6.) Jake Fisher - Second Round
7.) Daryl Williams - Third Round
8.) Tyrus Thompson - Third Round
9.) D.J. Humphries - Fourth Round
10.) Cedric Ogbuehi - Fourth Round
I feel like a lot of these players will be playing in new positions in the NFL. I see a lot of LTs that are better fits as RTs. *This was written well before the ex-gf murder thing, but I'll leave it as is.* La'el Collins is a powerful run blocking LT that gives his QB a large pocket to throw from. He may be a better fit at LG or RT because of his short arms, but he can certainly play LT at a high level as well. Andrus is a very tall, well-rounded pass protector who is probably the only true LT. He is aggressive in the run game and finishes blocks. Ereck Flowers is similar to Collins, except he has a lot of work to do on his footwork at the next level - probably a better RT fit. T.J. Clemmings is a mauler RT or RG in the NFL. He is average at best in pass protection (being kind) and will not be confused with a LT. Scherff has been typecast as a big Iowa mauler, but he really isn't. He has excellent feet and movement skills and seems like a perfect fit as a LG in a zone scheme, but may struggle against NFL linemen with either exceptional speed or exceptional power in pass rush situations. Jake Fisher reminds me a lot of Luke Joeckel. He lacks the ability to stone pass rushers and the pocket shrinks on him a little, but he is surprisingly bullish in the run game. Daryl Williams is a prototype RT that played RT at Oklahoma. He is excellent in the run game and a solid pass protector. He lacks the athleticism to be used very creatively - lunch pale guy. Tyrus Thompson was the LT for Oklahoma and has incredible upside with great athleticism. Thompson's problem is the lack of effort combined with the need to learn the game as opposed to winning off just athleticism. D.J. Humphries plays like a 1st rounder for 90% of the game, but then he has like 4 or 5 plays where you are left scratching your head - I'm not sure how correctable that is. Cedric Ogbuehi has some of the most active feet I have ever seen for a tackle... which unfortunately led to very poor leverage and giving up a ton of ground while pass protecting. Combine his torn ACL in the 2nd half of his bowl game and seriously flawed fundementals and he'll see a tumble in the draft.
OG/C
1.) A.J. Cann - Second Round
2.) Cam Erving - Second Round
3.) Shaq Mason - Third Round
4.) Josue Matias - Fourth Round
5.) Laken Tomlinson - Fifth Round
6.) Tre Jackson - Fifth Round
7.) Reese Dismukes - Fifth Round
8.) Hroniss Grasu - Sixth Round
9.) Ali Marpet - Sixth Round
10.) Arie Kouandijo - Seventh Round
This a very week interior lineman class in my opinion so I combined center and guard. A.J. Cann is a very clean prospect. He is a high character player with no real flaws in his game. Good everywhere, but no single great trait to his game. Cam Erving is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the line. Erving can get overextended and beaten badly at times. Shaq Mason was hidden a bit at Georgia Tech, but he is a top talent that can play guard or tackle. He fires off the ball and was very impressive at the Senior Bowl proving that he can play in pro sets. Josue Matias is good when he isn't asked to pickup late rushers or stunts where he doesn't quite have the feet to do consistently. Laken Tomlinson falls off his blocks and will struggle with NFL linemen with active hands. His lack of athleticism is a concern because he may not be able to recover. Tre Jackson has to overextend into his blocks which won't fly at the next level. He is more lean than leverage. Reese Dismukes has issues when he stops moving his feet. Hroniss Grasu is elite getting to the second level and combo blocking, but he can't stand up to a 0 or 1 tech defensive tackle and gets blown back. He is a liability in short yardage and goaline. Admittedly, I'm projecting Marpet without ever having seen him play at Hobart. Based purely off his Senior Bowl and workouts, Marpet is a smart player with the talent to excel, but he needs a lot of fundamental work with his hips. Arie Kouandijo has terrible balance and loses battles against just air at times.
EDGE
1.) Vic Beasley - Top 5
2.) Randy Gregory - Top 15
3.) Dante Fowler Jr. - Top 15
4.) Arik Armstead - First Round
5.) Lorenzo Mauldin - First Round
6.) Owamagbe Odighizuwa - First Round
7.) Eli Harold - Second Round
8.) Shane Ray - Second Round
9.) Bud Dupree - Second Round
10.) Trey Flowers - Third Round
There is a lot of talent here, but tons of flags and question marks. Vic Beasley has elite pass rush ability and better than advertised strength to hold the edge. If you need someone to force the quarterback into mistakes, Beasley is your man. Randy Gregory is probably the only other elite pass rusher in the draft. He has a few off-the-field issues, namely the failed drug test, weight issues, and he needs to watch the hands to the face which will be called at the next level. Supposedly there is some deep, dark secret about him that is scaring GMs away. Dante Fowler is a jack-of-all-trades type player, but lacks the strength to beat larger, quality tackles in a 1 on 1 situation. Arik Armstead is your classic big end that can be downright disruptive. I doubt he has the speed to get home often, but he will disrupt a lot of plays, especially in the run game. Lorenzo Mauldin is a high character player with the ability to rush standing or with his hand in the dirt and can play either LEO or Otto. Owamagbe Odighizuwa is another big end. He has very little pass rush ability, but plays strong at the point of attack. Double hip surgery is a concern. Eli Harold is hard to get a good grasp on. He plays hard, fast, relentless and with surprising power... And then it looks like he wears down and just kind of disappears. Shane Ray has size and maturity issues. He is a high motor, fast, and relentless pass rusher, but if you can get your hands on him, he gets completely blocked out of a play. Bud Dupree is ultra athletic, but doesn't play like it. When the play is right in front of him he can blow it up, but he plays slow and unsure and isn't physical fighting through traffic. Trey Flowers is kind of the opposite of Bud Dupree. Flowers fights through contact and is good in traffic. He is all-around just a football player, but he lacks high end NFL athleticism. Honorable mention to Nate Orchard, Danielle Hunter, and Hau'oli Kikaha.
INTERIOR
1.) Leonard Williams - Top 15
2.) Danny Shelton - Top 15
3.) Jordan Phillips - Second Round
4.) Carl Davis - Second Round
5.) Malcom Brown - Second Round
6.) Eddie Goldman - Second Round
7.) Bobby Richardson - Second Round
8.) Gabe Wright - Third Round
9.) Michael Bennett - Fourth Round
10.) Marcus Hardison - Fourth Round
I don't see an absolutely dominant defensive tackle in the group, but I see some good depth. Leonard Williams is hard for me to figure out. He lacks the pass rush to be a 3 tech and seems a fit for 2 gapping and 5 tech, but he needs to put on some weight to fit there. He can go in either direction, but he needs to go in one once he's drafted. Danny Shelton is one of a few players who seem like the ultimate nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme, but he lacks the agility and length to get off blocks and make a play while 2 gapping. He is best when he is on the move into the backfield or scraping down the line of scrimmage where he is nearly impossible to stop - a wrecking ball. Jordan Phillips was a top high school recruit. He is a perfect fit at nose tackle and has the ability to play anywhere in the interior. He has a great swim move, but needs to work on his consistency throughout a game where he fades along with his technique. Carl Davis is one of the technically better defensive tackles. Davis displays an array of pass rush moves and a high motor that will allow him to be versatile on the line. He could work on his inconsistent first step. Malcom Brown is another player who could play several positions on the interior or as a 3-4 end. While he plays a little stronger than he measures, Brown still needs to hit the weight room a bit to be effective in the NFL. Eddie Goldman plays with excellent leverage and is great at disengaging blocks. He played both 3 and 5 tech, but is probably limited to 5 tech and 2 gapping in the NFL. He has a good swim move, but lacks any real burst. Bobby Richardson is either a big end or a 3 tech tackle. His best fit would probably be 3 tech, but he needs to add 15 pounds or so to his impressive frame. He is an impressive penetrator. Gabe Wright is another impressive penetrator for a 3 tech, but is an all or nothing type of player. Probably just a long yardage specialist until he cleans that up. Michael Bennett projects as a 3 tech. On passing downs he is disruptive in the backfield, but plays more reactive and gets driven back on run downs. His motor could be better. Marcus Hardison is a late bloomer, but has high level pass rush ability. He played well Senior Bowl week and instilled confidence that he was more than just a flash in the pan.
LB
1.) Stephone Anthony - First Round
2.) Denzel Perryman - Second Round
3.) Eric Kendricks - Second Round
4.) Taiwan Jones - Second Round
5.) Benardrick McKinney - Second Round
6.) Shaq Thompson - Second Round
7.) Kwon Alexander - Third Round
8.) Paul Dawson - Fourth Round
9.) Ben Heeney - Fifth Round
10.) Jordan Hicks - Fifth Round
The linebackers are filled mostly by inside linebackers and edge rushers this year. Stephone Anthony is a natural born playmaker. He was an intregal part of the nation's number one defense with his penetration and sideline to sideline movement. The one knock on Anthony is that he sometimes guesses a little too much. Denzel Perryman is an old-school thumper middle linebacker with average coverage ability. Eric Kendricks plays a little like Poz in that he is always around the ball, but he plays slow and won't impact the run game at or behind the line of scrimmage. Taiwan Jones is a very physical player who jolts offensive lineman and takes on the blocks, but will struggle if asked to drop into deeper zones. He can play Otto or middle linebacker in a 4-3, or maybe inside linebacker in a 3-4. Jones didn't test well at the combine, but on the field he plays at what he tests instead of below it. Benardrick McKinney would best be utilized as a 3-4 rush backer. He has very good speed, but lacks fluid hips to play in traffic or drop into coverage. Shaq Thompson is a versatile athlete that can play linebacker, safety, or running back. He is our first 4-3 outside linebacker on the list and would best fit in as a weak side backer. He has the knack for making big plays, but isn't very physical as he dances more than makes contact. Kwon Alexander is probably a 4-3 Will in the NFL. He has very active feet and makes it difficult for linemen to get a clean block on him. He is willing to take on linemen in the running game, but lacks any real power and doesn't possess the best instincts. Paul Dawson has personality issues. Dawson was ultra productive, but isn't strong enough to play inside in the NFL and tested poorly at the combine. Ben Heeney flows well to the ball, has good wrap-up technique when tackling, and is willing to take on blocks. He tested a little better than he shows on the field. Jordan Hicks is a high character, read and react linebacker, but struggles a little taking on blocks. He has prior injury concerns.
CB
1.) Trae Waynes - Second Round
2.) Marcus Peters - Second Round
3.) Byron Jones - Second Round
4.) Jalen Collins - Third Round
5.) PJ Williams - Third Round
6.) Kevin Johnson - Third Round
7.) Ifo Ekpre-Olomu - Third Round
8. Quinten Rollins - Third Round
9.) Quandre Diggs - Fourth Round
10.) Ronald Darby - Fourth Round
I don't see any true shut-down man coverage corners in this draft. Trae Waynes is an on-the-line bump corner. He relies on his speed a little too much and will get eaten by more accurate NFL quarterbacks if he gives the same space. He plays fast, but not as fast as his 4.31 would indicate. Marcus Peters is a physical, on-the-line corner that battles hard and can get inside a receiver's head. Watching him and Jaelen Strong battle looked like a UFC fight. He was kicked off the team for personality issues or he would be a likely 1st rounder. Byron Jones is the man who broke the world record long jump at the combine. He has the tools to play man or zone and gave very little space to receivers down the sideline. He was average against the run and needs work with being more physical at the line of scrimmage and downfield. He is a free safety candidate. Jalen Collins is a height/weight/speed guy with all the tools of a first rounder. However, he is still very raw and may have maturity issues with reports of multiple failed drug tests while at LSU. PJ Williams is solid in run support and can mix zone and man. He sometimes misses tackles when going for strips. He also needs to better funnel receivers to the sideline on 9's. Of concern is a recent DUI for Williams. Kevin Johnson is an off-corner. He gets a bit handsy, especially when beaten by a step. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is coming off a knee injury and already has questionable height and length. He takes a lot of risks and is always looking for the big play. He is adequate in run support and may be a free safety candidate in the league. Quinten Rollins is a quick twitch, instinctual corner who plays faster than he times. He will have issues on the line against bigger receivers where he struggles to disrupt and redirect. Quandre Diggs played mostly zone in the slot where he'll probably be limited to in the league. He is a good run supporter. Ronald Darby has elite speed, but below average size. While he struggles to get off blocks, he is a little better tackler than normally given credit for. Lacks to length to really contest vertical routes, even when the coverage is good.
S
1.) Landon Collins - First Round
2.) Eric Rowe - Second Round
3.) Damarious Randall - Second Round
4.) Jaquiski Tartt - Second Round
5.) Gerod Holliman - Third Round
6.) Derron Smith - Fourth Round
7.) Cody Prewitt - Fourth Round
8.) Adrian Amos - Fourth Round
9.) Anthony Harris - Fifth Round
10.) Durrell Eskridge - Sixth Round
The safeties this year lack a true stud or any real centerfielders without large question marks, but there is better than expected early depth here. Landon Collins is a FS/SS hybrid safety. He is probably more suited to play strong safety, as he doesn't have great range, but his coverage skills are above average. Eric Rowe is a free safety or corner. He is aggressive in run support and is best in zone facing the quarterback. Damarious Randall is a late riser. He measured well athletically, makes difficult tackles in open field, and is an ace special teamer. Randall could work on his physicality. Jaquiski Tartt should be an in-the-box strong safety with excellent size and physicality. He had excellent measurables and plays stronger than his bench reps suggest (probably the long arms.) Gerod Holliman is a centerfielder that is a bit of a gambler. He was the worst tackler in fbs football last year. Derron Smith would best fit as a tampa 2 safety. He has terrible length and will struggle against bigger receivers if left alone against them. He is coming off a hernia and hasn't worked out this draft season. Cody Prewitt is a slashing, mostly build-to-speed free safety. He lacks the hips to be left in coverage and the power to play in the box. His best fit would be a see-em-get-em type role or robber. Adrian Amos is a physical box safety that looks to thump. He is a low ceiling/high floor type of player that will likely have a full career in the league. Anthony Harris is a playmaking free safety with good length. He jumps routes well. Angle taking in the run game is an issue and well as falling off tackles against players with good balance as he's more of a momentum tackler where he'll swing off of the runner. Durrell Eskridge stands out on the field from an appearance standpoint. He is long and well built. He's a classic draft and develop prospect.