[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

Cornell's Jeff Mathews, UNC's Bryn Renner and West Texas A&M's Dustin Vaughan will be the three throwing QBs at the NFL Combine.

Including these three, 19 quarterbacks will be in Indianapolis for the Combine. Mathews attended the East-West Shrine game and had a good showing, but his play regressed in 2013 thanks to poor pocket movement combined with bad offensive line. Renner injured his shoulder and was forced to undergo surgery, ending his season early. He must be back to full health.


Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

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Faust said:

Rotoworld:

Cornell's Jeff Mathews, UNC's Bryn Renner and West Texas A&M's Dustin Vaughan will be the three throwing QBs at the NFL Combine.

Including these three, 19 quarterbacks will be in Indianapolis for the Combine. Mathews attended the East-West Shrine game and had a good showing, but his play regressed in 2013 thanks to poor pocket movement combined with bad offensive line. Renner injured his shoulder and was forced to undergo surgery, ending his season early. He must be back to full health.


Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

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@MattWaldman

Ka'Deem Carey vs. USC 21 carries, 10 first downs, 11 broken tackles, 8 carries where he avoid penetration into backfield & created + yds.

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@evansilva

RE: James White. Disciplined RB with + vision, light feet. Strong pass pro. Not v explosive/powerful but polished. Great footwork in trash.

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We’ve spoken with various league sources throughout the season about the 2014 NFL draft, and with the Senior Bowl in the rearview mirror and the scouting combine close enough to sniff, we thought we’d take our first crack at a list of the top 50 draft prospects.

This obviously will change in the coming months, with key interview, medical and workout information that will come out in Indianapolis, in players’ pro days and during private workouts and visits.

But for now, here’s how we see things standing in terms of overall talent (different from league value), regardless of position and taking no consideration for where teams pick in the draft. This is not a mock draft, but rather a more clear indication of the prospects’ overall grades.

1. Clemson WR Sammy Watkins — No major holes in his game. Projected as a future No. 1 "X" receiver.
2. Auburn OT Greg Robinson — The best run blocker in the draft. Has the feet to play left tackle.
3. Texas A&M OT Jake Matthews — Some feel he has higher upside than ex-Aggie Luke Joeckel.
4. South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney — From a talent perspective, none better. Motivation questions persist.
5. Buffalo DE-OLB Khalil Mack — Turn on the Ohio State tape: a glimpse of future dominance.
6. Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel — Size, character and durability are major worries, but best playmaker in draft.
7. Central Florida QB Blake Bortles — Candidate to go No. 1 with size, toughness, smarts and upside.
8. Alabama LB C.J. Mosley — His position will push him lower than this, but a pure all-around player.
9. Texas A&M WR Mike Evans — Don’t worry about the speed; he gains separation and makes huge plays.
10. Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater — No glaring weakness but perhaps no true “wow” factor.
11. Michigan State CB Darqueze Dennard — Physical, confident corner who plays with chip on his shoulder.
12. Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald — We suspect, like it is with Geno Atkins and Jurrell Casey, Donald’s size won’t be an issue.
13. UCLA DE-OLB Anthony Barr — Physically speaking, few are more impressive, but production dip is concerning.
14. Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro — Big, fluid and dangerous down the seam. A Day 1 impact player.
15. Fresno State QB Derek Carr — Wants to be great and has arm strength, commitment to get there.
16. Notre Dame OT-OG Zach Martin — Short arms but technically sharp with possible left-tackle potential.
17. North Carolina TE Eric Ebron — Lithe, athletic difference maker in the slot who can carry safeties.
18. Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier — Best comparison I have heard is to the Buccaneers’ Lavonte David.
19. Missouri DE-OLB Kony Ealy — Filled a highlight reel this season but still has room to round out his game.
20. Auburn DE-OLB Dee Ford — Not a fit for every scheme, but a cannon-shot edge rusher in Robert Mathis/Bruce Irvin mold.
21. USC WR Marqise Lee — Enigmatic talent still has sky-high upside to put 2013 behind him.
22. Louisville S Calvin Pryor — Has some similarities to George Wilson and T.J. Ward, but taller and perhaps rangier.
23. Florida State DT Timmy Jernigan — Inside penetrator who could thrive in one-gap scheme.
24. Notre Dame NT Louis Nix III — The 2013 tape wasn’t pretty with injury, but top nose tackle available.
25. Minnesota DT-DE Ra’Shede Hageman — A monster who is a better player than his stats suggest.
26. Michigan OT Taylor Lewan — Aggressive, defensive mentality but could be best on right side.
27. Alabama S Hasean “Ha Ha” Clinton-Dix — Is he a true difference maker? Versatility makes him attractive.

28. Florida State S-CB Lamarcus Joyner — Outstanding football player with instincts, guts who lacks size.
29. LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr. — Wasn’t asked to run full route tree in college but could become more diverse pro.
30. Florida State WR Kelvin Benjamin — Older prospect in need of polish but has big frame, intriguing skills.
31. Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde — Scouts see some Eddie Lacy in him; can catch the ball, too.
32. Penn State WR Allen Robinson — Not fast, but a fluid glider with sound hands and good catching radius.
33. Florida CB Marcus Roberson — Not all agree he’s this good, and he must add weight, but climbing fast.
34. Arizona State DT Will Sutton — This year’s most divisive prospect. Too heavy but finds ways to disrupt.
35. BYU LB Kyle Van Noy — Jack of all trades has a little K.J. Wright and Karlos Dansby in him, with plus coverage ability.
36. Virginia OT Morgan Moses — Ford told me that Moses was his toughest matchup at the Senior Bowl.
37. Oklahoma State CB Justin Gilbert — Not as good as he thinks he is, but fluid with kick-return ability.
38. Washington TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins — Massive mover whose commitment to the game is sometimes questioned.
39. Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks — Has a little DeSean Jackson in him, with a touch of Steve Smith.
40. Florida DT Dominique Easley — ACL injury knocked him off course, but a top-20 talent when healthy.
41. Alabama OT Cyrus Kouandjio — Upside should land him higher, but technical work is much needed.
42. Notre Dame DE-DT Stephon Tuitt — Dominant bowl game, flexibility will have scouts reevaluating 2012 tape.

43. Georgia Tech DE-OLB Jeremiah Attaochu — Like Ford, a scheme-fit square peg who can scream off the edge.
44. Ohio State CB Bradley Roby — Got off to poor start with suspension, Wisconsin game struggles.
45. Stanford OG David Yankey — NFL-ready, tough, battle-tested competitor who can pull and mash.
46. Northern Illinois S Jimmie Ward — Smart, fluid, competitive safety who can play up or back.
47. Auburn RB Tre Mason — Handled massive workload, showed toughness and quickness in brilliant season.
48. Vanderbilt WR Jordan Matthews — Expected more from him at Senior Bowl but solid all-around game.
49. UCLA OG Xavier Su’a-Filo — Quick, agile lineman who has handled multiple positions ably.
50. TCU CB Jason Verrett — Playmaker who finds his way to the ball, but might be a slot corner only.

Just missed the cut: LSU WR Jarvis Landry, Oregon State DE Scott Chrichton, Washington State S Deone Bucannon, Wisconsin LB Chris Borland, Stanford DE-OLB Trent Murphy, Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

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Rhythmdoctor said:

As I don't watch college ball, I just got around to watching some highlights of the top 7 or so WRs. To my eyes (I have good eyes), here's my top 3 in order:

1a) Allen Robinson - Dare I put him on top? I did. It's a tough call between him and Lee, imo but this guy has everything if you ask me. Prototypical size and everything else. He sees lanes that most don't and to my eyes, he looks special.

1b) Marquise Lee - Only his size (compared to Robinson) matters here. This is a 1a, 1b situ, folks. Lee is so fluid, so quick. I'm not sure of his rout running in college, but he appears to me to have all the tools to be supreme at route running. Despite his measurements of 6-0/195, he looks strong to me. He's not lean, more like a Pierre Garcon build.

3a) Sammy Watkins - He looks good. It just seems, from the highlights I saw, the other two guys had more moves, more juking ability, more power and smoother in changing directions. Watkins seems to be limited to straight line speed.

3b) Mike Evans - I liked what I saw from Evans. I watched him a few times before he grew on me. He looks a little lumbering to me but what I liked most is his drive to get to the house. He's almost Jimmy Grahamesque in a way. So much larger than everyone but wins jump balls and body positioning. I like his fiery attitude.

Again, I've only watched highlights and I know that puts me near the bottom compared to most of you who watch games several times. I do, however, have a good eye for talent. I will be paying closely to the combine and the draft to finalize thoughts. I'm just excited I've finally watched some of these guys after months of reading about them. Can't wait for the combine.

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ZWK said:

My current RB ranking (previous post here). I'm not very confident about the rankings within tiers:

Probably:

Lache Seastrunk

Carlos Hyde

Jeremy Hill

Maybe:

Devonta Freeman (I'd like to see more of him)

Antonio Andrews

James Wilder, Jr.

Tre Mason

Henry Josey ? (I'd like to see more of him)

Ka'Deem Carey

Charles Sims

Isaiah Crowell ?? (I'd like to see more of him)

Probably not:

James White

Bishop Sankey

Andre Williams

Marion Grice

There is also an asterisk group of RBs who could be a "maybe" if they look good as a receiver and seem to be headed towards the right role:

Dri Archer

De'Anthony Thomas

Robert Godhigh ? (I'd like to see more of him)

At WR, the guys who currently look the best by my numbers are Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson, Mike Evans, Marqise Lee, Jordan Matthews, and Brandin Cooks.

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In the notoriously copycat style of the NFL, teams will closely analyze how the Seattle Seahawks built their Super Bowl roster and how they may adapt some of those principles in their offseason plans. A dual-threat quarterback, fluid and physical secondary and the combination of speed and length along the defensive line are key characteristics that helped Seattle earn its first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Fortunately for the other 31 teams in the NFL, the 2014 draft boasts a number of prospects who fit into this new template.

The Big Board isn't a mock draft. There is no attention given to team needs or the projected selection order. It is simply a ranking of the 50 best prospects potentially eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.

* denotes underclassman

1. Jadeveon Clowney*, DE, South Carolina (6-feet-6, 268 pounds): There is no question Clowney failed to live up to expectations in 2013 from a statistical standpoint, but upon closer review it was clear that opponents made stopping him their top priority, often assigning multiple blockers to slow him down. Boasting a once-in-a-generation combination of size and explosiveness, Clowney offers immediate impact ability at a premium position. He's a virtual guarantee to be the first defender selected and remains the favorite to go No. 1 overall simply because he is unquestionably the most talented player in the draft.

2. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M (6-5, 305): The son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, Jake proves the cliche true -- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He has played well at left tackle this season after starring at right tackle over his first three years. Matthews is a terrific football player, demonstrating impressive technique, strength and consistency. He is not, however, an elite athlete and some view his future back on the right side or even at center in the NFL.

3. Greg Robinson*, OT, Auburn (6-5, 320): Redshirt offensive linemen rarely earn more than a whisper in scouting circles, but the buzz generating around the Tigers' star left tackle is venturing into deafening. Physical and tenacious, Robinson is a grizzly bear in the running game, mauling opponents with an exciting blend of size (6-5, 320 pounds), strength and athleticism. Auburn's reliance on the running game, however, has given Robinson few opportunities in pass protection, meaning he could struggle initially in this role. Robinson isn't as polished as Matthews, which is why he ranks behind the Aggies' star for me, but the redshirt sophomore possesses an extraordinary upside which could lead to his earning a higher selection come draft day.

4. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo (6-3, 248): With an FBS-record 16 career forced fumbles and record-tying 75 career tackles for loss, Mack's statistics jump off the page. Against the most gifted opponents he faced this year (Ohio State, Baylor, Connecticut), it was his game that jumped off the screen. His size, instincts and agility as an edge rusher make him equally intriguing to teams operating out of a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment. That versatility could land him a spot in the top five. Some, in fact, view him as a darkhorse candidate for the Texans at No. 1 overall.

5. Sammy Watkins*, WR, Clemson (6-1, 200): Watkins doesn't possess the elite size that helped A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson earn top six selections since 2007, but he does possess virtually everything else -- including instant acceleration, impressive body control and the natural hands to pluck the ball outside of his frame. Watkins could go as high as No. 2 to the St. Louis Rams.

6. Teddy Bridgewater*, QB, Louisville (6-3, 210): In an era in which college quarterbacks' numbers are often inflated by short passes and relatively simplistic schemes, Bridgewater's sparkling production was due to Pro Bowl-caliber accuracy in the critical short to intermediate levels. His success (71 percent completion rate with 31 touchdowns against just four interceptions) comes out of a pro-style offense that requires him to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage and complete NFL throws. His slight frame is a legitimate concern and he's not an elite deep ball passer, but he has shown great toughness over his career and is a better athlete than many realize.

7. Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA (6-4, 238): Barr's emergence as one of the nation's elite NFL prospects after languishing as a running back early in his career has been well documented. Barr exploded in 2012 in his first season on the defensive side of the ball and backed it up with another spectacular campaign in 2013, including 65 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and five forced fumbles, earning him the Lott IMPACT Trophy. His burst off the snap is exciting but he flashes rather than dominates and is not as polished as his hype may lead you to believe.

8. Blake Bortles*, QB, Central Florida (6-3, 230): A prototypically built pocket passer with good awareness, athleticism and arm talent, Bortles looks the part of an NFL starting quarterback. He is methodical in his set-up and delivery of the ball and is a bit inconsistent with his accuracy, but the mettle he showed in guiding UCF to several comeback victories in 2013 has scouts buzzing. Bortles isn't as polished as Bridgewater, but he may possess an even higher upside. A top 10 pick is likely and it isn't out of the question that he'll rank as the best quarterback for some, potentially including new Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, who Bortles' UCF team beat in 2013.

9. C.J. Mosley, OLB, Alabama (6-2, 232): While a bit undersized, Mosley might be the best pound-for-pound player in the country. Athletic and instinctive, he is a true three-down linebacker capable of making plays against the run and pass. Mosley lacks the bulk scouts want in a pass rusher but his awareness in coverage is special. While the tape is phenomenal, Mosley has undergone multiple surgeries (knee, shoulder) over his career and could be the latest Alabama player to receive medical red-flags from some evaluators.

10. Marqise Lee*, WR, Southern Cal (6-0, 195): A nagging left knee injury hampered Lee for much of the 2013 season, robbing the 2012 Biletnikoff Award winner of his trademark elusiveness and acceleration. Finally healthy in the Las Vegas Bowl against Fresno State, however, Lee showed off his playmaking ability, hauling in seven passes for 118 yards and two scores. Lee's relatively slight frame could lead to durability issues in the NFL, but his first round skill-set is undeniable.

11. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State (5-11, 197): Quick feet, loose hips and a fluid turning motion make Dennard a classic cover corner capable of shutting down half the field. Dennard allowed only three completions in 31 passes of 15-plus yards targeted against him this season. His ability in coverage played a huge role in the Spartans' run to a Rose Bowl victory, and was recognized with Dennard winning the Thorpe Award as the nation's elite defensive back. The only factor keeping Dennard from a selection in the top half of the first round is the question about his straight-line speed.

12. Eric Ebron*, TE, North Carolina (6-4, 245): Ebron has a jaw-dropping combination of size and athleticism that has earned comparisons to 49ers star Vernon Davis. Like Davis, however, Ebron struggles with consistency, relying too much on his athleticism rather than dedicating himself to learning the finer techniques of the position. Ebron is expected to be one of the stars of the Scouting Combine workouts.

13. Johnny Manziel*, QB, Texas A&M (5-11, 210): Manziel's vision, elusiveness and accuracy while on the move make him a mesmerizing prospect who will almost surely be drafted earlier than I rank him. While dynamic throughout his career -- including in the Aggies' thrilling comeback over Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl -- red flags were raised with mediocre performances against LSU and Missouri to end the regular season. Bottled in the pocket by both, Manziel was unable to throw his receivers open and he struggled. The NFL rule books have never been more accommodating to dual-threat passers, but consistent accuracy from the pocket remains the most critical element to quarterback play at the next level.

14. Stephon Tuitt*, DL, Notre Dame (6-5, 303): Clowney isn't the only highly regarded defensive lineman who struggled under the burden of monstrous expectations in 2013. After dominating as a sophomore, Tuitt began his junior campaign out of shape (after missing spring due to hernia surgery) and struggled with consistency all season. Highly athletic and possessing the frame to star as either a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end, Tuitt's upside is just too tantalizing to ignore. Tuitt is earning comparisons to Richard Seymour from some scouts.

15. Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame (6-4, 308): The vast majority of Martin's school record 52 career starts came at left tackle but his square-ish frame and 32¼-inch arms will earn him a projection inside to guard for many. Regardless of where he lines up, Martin plays with the controlled aggression I love along the offensive line, latching on and controlling opponents with excellent strength. Martin was the best player on the field in Mobile.

16. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan (6-7, 310): The perception among many in the media is that Lewan's stock has fluctuated over the past two seasons, but among scouts he remains one of the more polished linemen in the draft. There is some debate as to whether he possesses the light feet to remain at left tackle against NFL speed rushers, but his length, power and nastiness make him an easy projection to the NFL.

17. Mike Evans*, WR, Texas A&M (6-5, 225): In dominating SEC competition the past two seasons, Evans has earned comparisons to Tampa Bay Bucs star Vincent Jackson, exhibiting a shocking combination of size, strength and deceptive speed. He is a nightmare to defend in jump-ball situations, a trait teams are finding increasingly valuable with the size of cornerbacks growing throughout the NFL.

18. Cyrus Kouandjio*, OT, Alabama (6-5, 312): Nick Saban questioned draft analysts for pegging Kouandjio as a first-round talent before the season, but given the junior left tackle's exciting skill set the projection has been an easy one. Long-armed, athletic and aggressive, Kouandjio boasts many of the traits scouts are looking for in a potential Pro Bowl offensive tackle. However, a lack of elite foot quickness was exposed by the Oklahoma Sooners pass rush in their Sugar Bowl upset win over the Tide.

19. Dee Ford, DE/OLB, Auburn (6-2, 243): Ford's dominating performance at the Senior Bowl caught my attention and the film study I've done since confirm the exciting improvement he showed in 2013 -- his second season as a starter for the Tigers. Improving his burst, power and fluidity when dropping into coverage, the question is rapidly not if Ford will earn a selection in the top 32 but how high his rapidly escalating stock can take him.

20. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State (6-2, 215): Carr's staggering production (68.2 completion percentage, 50 TDs, 8 INTs) was certainly inflated by head coach Tim DeRuyter's QB-friendly spread attack and legitimately talented receiving corps, but any questions about his talent were put to rest with a stellar week in Mobile. While no one questions Carr's arm, some wonder if he has the grit to hold up as the leader of an NFL huddle.

21. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State (6-0, 200): In terms of size, agility and speed, no cornerback offers a more intriguing skill-set than the Cowboys' star. Gilbert, a Thorpe Award finalist, led the Big 12 with six interceptions this season and has returned just as many kickoffs for touchdowns during his time in Stillwater.

22. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota (6-6, 318): Just as he did at times during his career with the Golden Gophers, Hagemen flashed a dominating combination of size, strength and athleticism at the Senior Bowl. Scouts wish he was more consistent but given his position and scheme versatility, Hageman is a first round gamble worth taking.

23. Timmy Jernigan*, DT, Florida State (6-2, 298): Jernigan played a critical role in the Seminoles' rise to the BCS championship, showing a unique burst to penetrate gaps as well as the leverage and strength to hold up against the run. His upside is undeniable and could earn him a significantly higher grade for some. The fact that he's started just one year at the collegiate level and was clearly gassed against Auburn raises red-flags about his readiness for the NFL, however.

24. Ryan Shazier*, OLB, Ohio State (6-2, 226): Shazier may be 10-15 pounds lighter than scouts would prefer but his instincts, speed and bone-jarring hits make him a fearful defender that offenses must account for on every snap. Statistics don't always tell the story, but they do with Shazier, whose 143 tackles, including an eye-popping 22½ tackles for loss, not only led the Big Ten this season, they combine to rank among the best seasons from any Buckeye defender over the past quarter century.

25. Kony Ealy*, DE, Missouri (6-5, 275): While teammate Michael Sam garnered more hype, scouts are increasingly intrigued by Ealy due to his impressive combination of size and athleticism. A highly versatile defender with experience inside and out for the Tigers, Ealy projects nicely to both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments and the first-team All-SEC pick is just scratching the surface of his potential.

26. Calvin Pryor*, FS, Louisville (6-2, 208): With all of the focus on QB Teddy Bridgewater, Pryor was overshadowed a bit with the Cardinals but his stock will climb once scouts turn their attention to the instinctive and hard-hitting defender. Boasting the size, agility and physicality that every team is looking for to lead the deep patrol, Pryor is my top-rated safety of the 2014 draft class and projects as a first round pick if he can assure scouts of his straight-line speed.

27. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU (5-10, 182): Verrett lacks the size so en vogue in today's NFL, but agility and ball-skills never go out of style for cornerbacks. Verrett led the Big 12 with 22 passes defended and six interceptions in 2012. Through the end of the 2013 regular season he led again in pass deflections (16) while recording two pass thefts. While light, Verrett is scrappy and tenacious, making him an ideal nickel corner with the tackling ability to threaten on an occasional blitz.

28. Hasean Clinton-Dix*, FS, Alabama (6-1, 208): Seattle All-Pro Earl Thomas has emerged as the new prototype free safety due to his remarkable speed and ball-skills, virtually eliminating opponents' ability to throw deep against the Seahawks. Clinton-Dix possesses the fluidity in coverage, instincts (seven interceptions in 19 career starts) and physicality to take advantage of teams' eagerness to find a Thomas-like weapon in the deep patrol.

29. Jace Amaro*, TE, Texas Tech (6-5, 260): The NFL is looking for seam threats rather than extra blockers at tight end in today's game and there wasn't a more impressive prospect in the country in 2013 in this role than Amaro, who finished the regular season with 106 catches for 1,352 yards -- the most ever from a tight end in FBS history. Comparisons to New Orleans star Jimmy Graham are common. They are warranted not only due to the problems he poses for defenses as a receiver but unfortunately also for his lack of overall physicality.

30. Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh (6-1, 288): Donald was arguably the Senior Bowl's MVP throughout the first three days of practice, routinely penetrating to make big plays behind the line of scrimmage in the same fashion that led to his earning CBSSports.com's Defensive Player of the Year, along with a host of other awards. Scouts wonder if he can hold up to the size and power of the NFL as a full-time defender but given his burst, 8-10 sacks a year as a pass-rush specialist three-technique defensive tackle deserves late first round consideration for me.

31. Marcus Roberson*, CB, Florida (6-0, 195): Limited to just seven games (including only four starts) in 2013 due to a knee injury and one-game suspension for violation of team rules, Roberson surprised many with his decision to leave early for the NFL. While his knack for sustaining injuries (he also missed three games in 2011 with a neck strain) is certainly cause for concern, Roberson started 18 games over his career and his fluidity, awareness and competitiveness at the catch-point are obvious. If team doctors clear him at the Combine, expect Roberson's stock to steadily rise as the draft approaches.

32. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU (6-3, 244): Van Noy may not be the most physical linebacker in the draft but he's might just be the most efficient. As he demonstrated throughout a spectacular career in Provo and again in Mobile, he's just as slippery and savvy in attacking the line of scrimmage as he is in dropping back into coverage.

Just missed the cutKa'Deem Carey*, RB, Arizona
Scott Crichton*, DE, Oregon State
Bradley Roby*, CB, Ohio State
Troy Niklas*, TE, Notre Dame
Xavier Su'a-Filo*, OG, UCLA
Kelvin Benjamin*, WR, Florida State
Austin Seferian-Jenkins*, TE, Washington
Brandin Cooks*, WR, Oregon State
Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
Kelcy Quarles*, DT, South Carolina
Jarvis Landry*, WR, LSU
Jeremy Hill*, RB, LSU
Marcus Smith, OLB, Louisville
Marcus Martin*, C, Southern California
Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State
Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State
Davante Adams*, WR, Fresno State

Jimmie Ward, FS, Northern Illinois

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cloppbeast said:

2014 is a good year to have a late pick in a dynasty rookie draft. If I had a top 5 selection, I'd look to find a possible suitor to trade down.

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cloppbeast said:

2014 is a good year to have a late pick in a dynasty rookie draft. If I had a top 5 selection, I'd look to find a possible suitor to trade down.

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lsutigers said:

cloppbeast said:

2014 is a good year to have a late pick in a dynasty rookie draft. If I had a top 5 selection, I'd look to find a possible suitor to trade down.

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Couldn't disagree more. Loaded, deep draft but why wouldn't you rather a likely stud. Early in process and without knowing destinations of course.

Had 1.04, 1.09, 1.10 and 1.12. Just traded 1.09 and 1.12 for 1.05 and now will have the inside track to some combo of the top 5 rb or wr.

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LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron credited QB Zach Mettenberger's altered mechanics as a reason for his continued development in 2013.

"I watched his lower body and he was, basically, a little too elongated. He'd overstride. We worked on getting his feet up underneath of him and make everything he was doing more compact. What happened is that he got better balance," Cameron said. "We had him flex his knees a little more... He was more accurate. The ball came out quicker. He could move in the pocket better with the subtle movements you need. Everything was just streamlined." Mettenberger's development did start the previous season, but a perfect combination of great receivers, a balanced offense, and time in the pocket certainly helped. Fit will be an important part of Mettenberger's success at the NFL level.


Source: Shreveport Times

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CBS Sports' Dane Brugler considers Arizona State RB Marion Grice more of a later round target than second day option.

"Grice would receive an UDFA grade from me, but his receiving ability is his saving grace," Brugler tweeted. Grice is frequently mentioned among the top-10 running backs in this class, but our own Josh Norris does not see it. Receiving ability is important in the NFL, but it frequently goes hand in hand with pass protection


Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

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CBS Sports' Dane Brugler does not consider Baylor's Lache Seastrunk to be a top-7 RB in the class.
"Seastrunk can be a blur (with) the ball in his hands but needs space and is unproven as a receiver and blocker," Brugler writes. Seastrunk does not break tackles in a similar fashion as Carlos Hyde or Jeremy Hill, but we think the Baylor ball carrier is slippery to beat the first defender. Pass protection and receiving ability is a big question, however.

Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

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Former NFL scout Russ Lande believes Georgia's Aaron Murray could be a second day QB option for the Jaguars.
"General Manager David Caldwell learned under Bill Polian and Thomas Dimitroff, who both place a ton of emphasis on film evaluation and college production," Lande writes. GM Dave Caldwell noted the team has a pretty good idea of who their top 5 prospects will be, but he is open to trading away form the No. 3 pick. Lande adds "there is some sentiment around the league that the Jaguars would prefer to select a pass rusher in the first round," leading to a quarterback selection on the second day. The Seattle Seahawks recently took the same strategy, but it is not a common practice.

Source: Sports on Earth

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lsutigers said:

Couldn't disagree more. Loaded, deep draft but why wouldn't you rather a likely stud. Early in process and without knowing destinations of course.

Had 1.04, 1.09, 1.10 and 1.12. Just traded 1.09 and 1.12 for 1.05 and now will have the inside track to some combo of the top 5 rb or wr.

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Fresno State QB Derek Carr is unsure if he will throw at the NFL Combine.

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff astutely pointed out that Carr's older brother, David, did not throw at his Combine either. Derek has been working closely with David throughout his draft process. The Fresno State product said he will know for sure closer to the event, after he talks with his agent and those close with him.


Source: 95.7 The Game

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32 Counter Pass said:

I have heard Pat Kirwin and Bill Polian, among others, say that front office people really frown upon players that skip the combine. It gives the impression that the player does not like to compete.

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Brewtown said:

Opinions are like ******** - everybody's got one.

Here are two more that are fairly well produced - Enjoy:

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ZWK said:

cloppbeast said:

jeter23 said:

ZWK said:

I could share my spreadsheet of stats for this year's WR class, but I'll need to do a bit of reformatting first.

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I'd love to check out your work.

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Here is my data spreadsheet with the 2013 receiving stats for this draft class's WR prospects (along with a bunch of other WRs). It should include all the numbers needed for something like my Benjamin vs. Beckham vs. Evans comparison, including yards per target, yards per target minus team yards per attempt, yards per team pass attempt, percent of team's offensive touchdowns, and number of 40+ yard receptions. Yards per target currently does not include bowl games, and drop rate & yards after catch are only available for the receivers that Greg Peshek has charted.

The next-to-last column, which I'm calling "production score" is basically an attempt to combine all of the other numbers into a single number representing a player's 2013 production. It is something like a weighted average of the other numbers, though the formula is a bit more complicated than that. It's similar to the score that I calculated in this thread about last year's receiving class (unfortunately, all of the tables in that thread have gotten messed up).

The data is sorted by the last column, overall rating. It is calculated by a formula which combines this year's production score with previous years' production scores, height, weight, and estimated 40 time.

I do something similar with RBs (as I described last year in this thread), but I don't have that data ready to share at this point.

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LSU QB Zach Mettenberger had to wait until early January to have his ACL repaired after suffering the injury on November 29.

Mettenberger also tore his MCL, for which doctors had to wait to heal before putting him through the knee reconstruction. "I fully anticipate to be good enough to go and do a five- and seven-step drop for scouts," Mettenberger insisted, referring to pre-draft workouts. "I’ve been pushing myself really hard. I’m expecting to be fully healthy in the 4-5 month range." Mettenberger was seen as a fringe first-round prospect before the ligament tears.


Source: Shreveport Times

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NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah has been impressed with Towson junior RB Terrance West's tape.

"Really like what I've seen from... West," Jeremiah begins, saying the running back has "excellent lateral quickness, balance and vision. Has value as a pass catcher too." West is is thicker ball carrier, likely standing around 5'11/223 pounds, but he is a talented runner who could be a late second to early third day pick.


Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

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Keith Price tweeted last week that he feels "disrespected" that he wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.

"Feeling disrespected," Price wrote on the social networking site. "Note to self: Tune it out and keep your focus. #ambitious #positivevibes." Price (6-foot-1, 202 pounds) threw for 8,921 yards, 75 TDs and 30 interceptions, and completed 63.9 percent of his passes during three years as Washington's starting quarterback. He probably won't be drafted, but Price will undoubtedly be a priority free agent after the selection process.


Source: Keith Price on Twitter

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Former North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron's rare athletic ability has made him one of the most-anticipated attractions at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, and evaluators might be a little surprised when they see him at the event.

Ebron, who declared for the draft a year early, has put on "some significant weight since his junior season in an effort to be a better blocker," according to Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei. Pompei cites a "veteran front-office man," who said Ebron "isn't as fast as he was." However, the source also said "he still is pretty special."

So, Ebron is apparently bigger, slower and still really good.

Listed by North Carolina at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Ebron is considered the No. 1 tight end prospect in this year's NFL Draft and is ranked 11th on NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah's list of the draft's top 50 prospects.

It's Ebron's receiving ability, not his blocking skills, that have made him such an intriguing prospect (NFL Media's Bucky Brooks said during the 2013 season that Ebron is "a functional blocker"). It's admirable for him to show the desire to improve as a blocker, but if it ultimately makes him less desirable as a pass-catching weapon because he's not as quick, it might not have been the wisest move.

Given the lack of specifics in the story about the amount of weight Ebron has gained and just how much speed he might have lost, it's too soon to say if the reported significant weight gain will have any impact on how NFL teams view Ebron. It will certainly bear watching at the combine, though.

As long as Ebron doesn't start taking training tips from Jared Lorenzen, he'll probably be fine.

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UCF quarterback Blake Bortles will make "a game-time decision" on whether he will throw at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month, his father said.

Blake Bortles, who is in play to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, is in San Diego at an EXOS facility preparing for the combine and other pre-draft evaluations. Rob Bortles told the Orlando Sentinel that his son will make a final decision on what he will do at the combine shortly before he heads to Indianapolis. Quarterbacks work out at the combine Feb. 23.

"If they choose not to [throw], they choose not to, but he'll be prepared," Rob Bortles said. "It'll be a game-time decision. If you're not prepared, then you can't throw, so he's preparing for it in case they decide to."

Bortles was listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds by UCF, but the Sentinel reported that he is 6-5½ and 235 pounds.

Houston owns the No. 1 pick in the draft, and new Texans coach Bill O'Brien saw Bortles first-hand in the 2013 season. Bortles led the Knights to a 34-31 victory at Penn State on Sept. 14; he threw for 288 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. O'Brien also is close to UCF coach George O'Leary, who is one of his mentors: O'Brien worked for eight seasons under O'Leary at Georgia Tech. In addition, the Texans' new quarterback coach is George Godsey, who had been on the New England Patriots' staff; Godsey was UCF's running backs coach in 2010, when Bortles redshirted as a true freshman.

Of the top three quarterbacks available in the draft -- Bortles, Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel -- Bortles best fits the mold of a prototypical pocket passer, which is the type of offense O'Brien ran at Penn State and the type of offense he oversaw when he was the Patriots' offensive coordinator.

Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.

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Faust said:

Bortles was listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds by UCF, but the Sentinel reported that he is 6-5½ and 235 pounds.

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Faust said:

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah has been impressed with Towson junior RB Terrance West's tape.

"Really like what I've seen from... West," Jeremiah begins, saying the running back has "excellent lateral quickness, balance and vision. Has value as a pass catcher too." West is is thicker ball carrier, likely standing around 5'11/223 pounds, but he is a talented runner who could be a late second to early third day pick.


Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

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Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks

@McShay13 I need to get more tape on this Towson RB…have you watched him yet? Interesting dude

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Steve Muench ‏@MuenchESPN

@MoveTheSticks @McShay13 saw Towson RB Terrance West play UCONN and walked away impressed with his power and determination

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cloppbeast said:

When scouts say a reciever is 'stiff', what exactly are they saying?

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cloppbeast said:

When scouts say a reciever is 'stiff', what exactly are they saying?

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