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My 2008 NFL Draft Positional Rankings - Offense (1 Viewer)

Jeff Haseley

Jeff Haseley

Moderator
My 2008 NFL Draft positional rankings (Offense) - comments on QB, RB, WR

2/10/08

Please feel free to comment or debate as I may have some unconventional rankings in some areas.

Quarterback

1. Brian Brohm, Louisville - He's more efficient than Matt Ryan, has a stronger arm and he's done more in his time. He's my #1 QB pick this year

2. Matt Ryan, Boston College - IMO, if he's that good, he should've done more at BC. He's a good leader and that will take him far

3. Chad Henne, Michigan - Henne may be taken too early, then again, he does have some great tools and he's smart and knows the game well

4. Josh Johnson, San Diego - 70 TD passes and only 13 INTs in his last two years

5. Andre Woodson, Kentucky - The second coming of Byron Leftwich whatever that means

6. Dennis Dixon, Oregon - Vince Young Lite. Will need time to recover from his ACL injury

7a. Joe Flacco, Delaware - Rising up the charts, but his value may have reached a plateau

7b. Erik Ainge, Tennessee - Similar to Flacco, but he competed in the SEC conference. I'm 7a and 7b with these two right now, but they could flip flop

8. John David Booty, USC - I don't think he has the drive or the mental ability needed to be a good pro QB. Just a hunch

9. Colt Brennan, Hawaii - Product of the Hawaii system. Had some off-field problems prior. IMO, lacks leadership, but not ability. He knows he has ability

10. Kevin O'Connell, San Diego State - A 6'6 QB who can pass and run. Keep an eye on this guy

Running Back

1. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois - IMO, the total package. Has the size to sustain 20 carries/gm and the quickness to be effective.

2. Felix Jones, Arkansas - IMO, Jones is a better all-around back than his teammate McFadden. He has breakaway speed and the moves to be an elite back

3. Ray Rice, Rutgers - Can handle 20+ carries a game. Has great rushing instincts and is only lacking as a pass catcher to be the whole package

4. Darren McFadden, Arkansas - There's Not many tall upright running RBs that are elite in the NFL. Will he be the next Eric Dickerson or Chris Brown?

5. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon - In a deep RB draft, Stewart is the best of the big backs who will be more like Jerome Bettis than TJ Duckett, but smaller, quicker backs seem to be the new trend

6. Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech - Rising up the charts thanks to a strong Senior Bowl

7. Justin Forsett, California - Another back I am really starting to be high on. His skills and size remind me of Ahmad Bradshaw, only better

8. Mike Hart, Michigan - Great mind for the game. His stock could rise as the draft gets closer. Has speed and size to be a feature back

9. Chris Johnson, Eastern Carolina - Super quick 4.20 40-time is unreal. Some have him higher. I need to see more

10. Matt Forte, Tulane - Another candidate to move up in the ranks as the draft approaches in this RB heavy draft

Wide Receiver

1. DeSean Jackson, California - Think Reggie Bush, if Reggie was strictly a receiver. Strong return skills too. Has gears others don't have

2. Mario Manningham, Michigan - The next great NFL WR from a strong WR school

3. Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma - If he is in the low 4.4s at the combine, his stock will rise more. Some have him as the best WR in the draft

4. Early Doucet, LSU - IMO, his stock is slipping. He was a highly touted recruit, but he hasn't put it all together yet

5. Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State - Climbing up the charts. I would not be surprised to see his stock really rise as the draft approaches

6. Limas Sweed, Texas - Lacking breakaway speed and from the games I've seen him in, he's lacking in separation skills. Great possession guy for his height

7. James Hardy, Indiana - Hardy is 6'7 and is known as a possession WR! If he has a strong combine, his stock could rise too. Still likely a second rounder

8. Devin Thomas, Michigan State - Has the right tools to be a good NFL WR, but he doesn't have a lot of experience as a premier target

9. Lavelle Hawkins, California - Can be a possession WR that will really benefit from the slot. His value is rising

10. Donnie Avery, Houston - Speed guy sub 4.30 40-time. Known more for his return skills, but could turn into an NFL WR

Tight End

1. Fred Davis, USC

2. Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M

3. John Carlson, Notre Dame - Rising up the charts in a fairly deep draft for TEs

4. Martin Rucker, Missouri

5. Jermichael Finley, Texas

6. Dustin Keller, Purdue - Could be a top 3 TE pick come June

7. Brad Cottam, Tennessee

8. Jacob Tamme, Kentucky

9. Kellen Davis, Michigan State

10. Craig Stevens, California

Offensive Tackle

1. Jake Long, Michigan

2. Ryan Clady, Boise State

3. Sam Baker, USC

4. Chris Williams, Vanderbilt

5. Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh

6. Gosder Cherilus, Boston College

7. Carl Nicks, Nebraska

8. Anthony Collins, Kansas

9. Barry Richardson, Clemson

10. Tony Hills, Texas

Offensive Guard

1. Chilo Rachal, USC

2. Brandon Albert, Virginia

3. Drew Radovich, USC

4. Roy Schuening, Oregon State

5. Robert Felton, Arkansas

6. Donald Thomas, Connecticut

7. Kirk Elder, Texas A&M

8. Eric Young, Tennessee

9. Shannon Tevaga, UCLA

10. Adam Kraus, Michigan

Center

1. Steve Justice, Wake Forest

2. Mike Pollak, Arizona State

3. Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green

4. John Sullivan, Notre Dame

5. Adam Spieker, Missouri

6. Cody Wallace, Texas A&M

7. Doug Legursky, Marshall

8. Drew Miller, Florida

9. Fernando Velasco, Georgia

10. Jeff Cavender, Boise State

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jeff Haseley said:
1. DeSean Jackson, California - Think Reggie Bush, if Reggie was strictly a receiver. Strong return skills too. Has gears others don't have
Click to expand...
:goodposting: The same owners who pushed Ginn to the 3rd-round of rookie FF drafts last year will give many the same opportunity with DJaxII this year.
 
Jeff Haseley said:
Running Back

1. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois - IMO, the total package. Has the size to sustain 20 carries/gm and the quickness to be effective.

2. Felix Jones, Arkansas - IMO, Jones is a better all-around back than his teammate McFadden. He has breakaway speed and the moves to be an elite back

3. Ray Rice, Rutgers - Can handle 20+ carries a game. Has great rushing instincts and is only lacking as a pass catcher to be the whole package

4. Darren McFadden, Arkansas - There's Not many tall upright running RBs are elite in the NFL. Will he be the next Eric Dickerson or Chris Brown?

5. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon - In a deep RB draft, Stewart is the best of the big backs who will be more like Jerome Bettis than TJ Duckett, but smaller, quicker backs seem to be the new trend
Click to expand...
I agree with your top five, but not necessarily the order. Mendenhall certainly looks the part of a pro RB. He is built like a tank with an excellent combination of speed, power, and quickness. He is undoubtedly a top 3 RB in this class and when all is said and done, might be the best of the bunch. His ceiling is Joseph Addai. His floor is Julius Jones.

I'm also in that camp that thinks McFadden is overrated. He's a smooth runner with excellent deep speed, but his slight build and straight-line running style make him a bigger bust risk than his press clippings would indicate. He makes his living on sweeps and runs to the corner, which probably won't be very effective at the pro level. If he's going to succeed in the NFL, he'll have to be able to make people miss. Is that something he can do? I have my doubts. I'm having a tough time deciding where to put him in my rankings. He's not a perfect prospect and he's not worthy of the Bush and Peterson comparisons. At the same time, it's important not to outsmart ourselves here. The NFL scouts seem to like him and that has value in my eyes.

I might be with you on Felix Jones being better than McFadden. Jones is the kind of jitterbug back who has had a lot of success in the NFL lately. But before I get too excited about him, I'll need to see how heavy he is at the combine and how well he does in the drills. I need to decide if he's a featured back or merely a RBBC guy. He definitely jumped out at me more than McFadden when I watched Arkansas last year.

I think you're sleeping on Jonathan Stewart a bit. At worst he is a top 3 RB in this class and at best he is the top RB in this class. I don't think the Duckett or Bettis comparisons are very accurate. Stewart is only listed at 5'11" and 230 pounds. I don't think he qualifies as a "big back." He looked like a man among boys in his bowl game and he seems like a safe bet to become a productive pro. I think his floor is as a decent RB2 like Rudi Johnson. His ceiling is top 5-6 in the NFL.

I like Ray Rice. He's built low to the ground with the kind of shifty, slippery lateral running style that translates very well to the NFL level. At the very least I think he's going to be a solid backup in the NFL. He's a low risk prospect. The negative with him is that he doesn't really have the special burst that you often find in an elite pro RB prospect. He projects more as a grinder than a gamebreaker. I would say his ceiling is Frank Gore. His floor is Ahmad Bradshaw.

 
EBF said:
Jeff Haseley said:
Running Back

1. Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois - IMO, the total package. Has the size to sustain 20 carries/gm and the quickness to be effective.

2. Felix Jones, Arkansas - IMO, Jones is a better all-around back than his teammate McFadden. He has breakaway speed and the moves to be an elite back

3. Ray Rice, Rutgers - Can handle 20+ carries a game. Has great rushing instincts and is only lacking as a pass catcher to be the whole package

4. Darren McFadden, Arkansas - There's Not many tall upright running RBs are elite in the NFL. Will he be the next Eric Dickerson or Chris Brown?

5. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon - In a deep RB draft, Stewart is the best of the big backs who will be more like Jerome Bettis than TJ Duckett, but smaller, quicker backs seem to be the new trend
Click to expand...
I agree with your top five, but not necessarily the order. Mendenhall certainly looks the part of a pro RB. He is built like a tank with an excellent combination of speed, power, and quickness. He is undoubtedly a top 3 RB in this class and when all is said and done, might be the best of the bunch. His ceiling is Joseph Addai. His floor is Julius Jones.

I'm also in that camp that thinks McFadden is overrated. He's a smooth runner with excellent deep speed, but his slight build and straight-line running style make him a bigger bust risk than his press clippings would indicate. He makes his living on sweeps and runs to the corner, which probably won't be very effective at the pro level. If he's going to succeed in the NFL, he'll have to be able to make people miss. Is that something he can do? I have my doubts. I'm having a tough time deciding where to put him in my rankings. He's not a perfect prospect and he's not worthy of the Bush and Peterson comparisons. At the same time, it's important not to outsmart ourselves here. The NFL scouts seem to like him and that has value in my eyes.

I might be with you on Felix Jones being better than McFadden. Jones is the kind of jitterbug back who has had a lot of success in the NFL lately. But before I get too excited about him, I'll need to see how heavy he is at the combine and how well he does in the drills. I need to decide if he's a featured back or merely a RBBC guy. He definitely jumped out at me more than McFadden when I watched Arkansas last year.

I think you're sleeping on Jonathan Stewart a bit. At worst he is a top 3 RB in this class and at best he is the top RB in this class. I don't think the Duckett or Bettis comparisons are very accurate. Stewart is only listed at 5'11" and 230 pounds. I don't think he qualifies as a "big back." He looked like a man among boys in his bowl game and he seems like a safe bet to become a productive pro. I think his floor is as a decent RB2 like Rudi Johnson. His ceiling is top 5-6 in the NFL.

I like Ray Rice. He's built low to the ground with the kind of shifty, slippery lateral running style that translates very well to the NFL level. At the very least I think he's going to be a solid backup in the NFL. He's a low risk prospect. The negative with him is that he doesn't really have the special burst that you often find in an elite pro RB prospect. He projects more as a grinder than a gamebreaker. I would say his ceiling is Frank Gore. His floor is Ahmad Bradshaw.
Click to expand...
Great posting. I limited my speech in my comments, but you and I are coaching from the same sidelines in several areas here. Great points that hopefully will be followed by others sharing their opinions. I think Mendenhall's best chance to succeed is if Seattle drafts him at 1.25. There are going to be a few 3rd and even 4th round RBs that will make an impact in the league next year or a few years down the road. This is a strong class for RBs.
 
Jeff Haseley said:
I think Mendenhall's best chance to succeed is if Seattle drafts him at 1.25. There are going to be a few 3rd and even 4th round RBs that will make an impact in the league next year or a few years down the road. This is a strong class for RBs.
Click to expand...
Seattle and Houston are prime spots for both Mendenhall and Stewart. Whoever steps into those situations is going to have a good chance to make an early impact. I think we could also see the Cardinals pull one of these guys off the board in the first round. When all is said and done, there could be three RBs chosen in the top 20 this year.
 
Jeff Haseley said:
My 2008 NFL Draft positional rankings (Offense) - comments on QB, RB, WR

2/10/08

Please feel free to comment or debate as I may have some unconventional rankings in some areas.

Quarterback

1. Brian Brohm, Louisville - He's more efficient than Matt Ryan, has a stronger arm and he's done more in his time. He's my #1 QB pick this year

2. Matt Ryan, Boston College - IMO, if he's that good, he should've done more at BC. He's a good leader and that will take him far
Click to expand...
I'm not completely sold on Brian Brohm. Great passer, but I question his mechanics because he's played in a spread offense almost his entire life, and how well can he become a drop back passer? I can't say enough Matt Ryan had above average talent surrounding him.

 
FTRWRTR said:
:hophead: no charles among the top ten rbs?
Click to expand...
LOL, I don't have Kevin Smith in the Top 10 either. FWIW, Charles is #11. From what I saw of him (which quite honestly was only a few games) I wasn't that impressed. OF course that may change in the coming months as the combine completes and the draft approaches.
 
Kudos for putting your list "out there". I disagree in some areas, but not a lot.

It does seem like it's common now to drop McFadden ever since Mayock's picks and points. I heard very few picking RB's ahead of McFadden before that point. Maybe EBF only.

 
B Maverick said:
Irish said:
B Maverick said:
8. Mike Hart, Michigan - Great mind for the game. His stock could rise as the draft gets closer. Has speed and size to be a feature back
Click to expand...
:unsure: 5-9, 196 is NFL sized?
Click to expand...
He also is very slow by NFL standards and has been injury prone in college.
Click to expand...
He also put on a ton of wear and tear in college reducing his NFL life expectancy. I dont rank him very high as an NFL back.
Click to expand...
He's got heart and vision. I like him
 
I like the back and forth chatter. The bottom line is - nobody knows who's going to pan out and if so, to what degree. It's the opinions that back up your beliefs that I enjoy. Keep 'em coming.

 
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