ZWK
Footballguy
Greg Peshek charted broken tackles & yards after contact for Lache Seastrunk, Melvin Gordon, and Bishop Sankey so far this season. Seastrunk and Gordon have excellent elusiveness numbers; Sankey is just average.
Should be one of the better drafts in the last few years. Probably looking at something like 3-4 first round QBs, 1-2 first round RBs, 3-5 first round WRs, and 1-2 first round TEs. Good depth at WR.It might be to early to tell but how does this FF draft class compare to the draft classes of the past 3-4 years?
Former Eagles scout John Middlekauff would be "shocked" if Fresno State senior QB Derek Carr is not a top-10 selection in May.
Middlekauff believes Carr has the "best pure passing arm" in the class and adds David's younger brother will rise from January to May. Carr will almost certainly be invited to the Senior Bowl, which will put him on an even playing field with other top senior passers. We like that he is not falling away from pressure as much as last season, but Carr isn't traditional from a footwork standpoint.
Source: John Middlekauff on Twitter
Fresno State senior Derek Carr has "everything you want from your quarterback from a character standpoint," according to one NFL executive.
"He's a two-time elected captain at Fresno State," The executive told NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah. "He has done a ton of community work, he's a man of faith and his family is very important to him. He has always shown resilience in crunch time on the football field. We expect off-field impact to factor into the decision making process more than ever this season, and Carr should impress the national media in the same way during the Senior Bowl and Combine.
Source: NFL.com
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah spoke with one NFL executive who believes Miami senior QB Stephen Morris has some of the most impressive intangibles in this year's draft class.
"He's the face of the program," the executive said. "He is very bright. He already has his degree. He's a big-time leader. He's not a great player, but I wouldn't bet against him because of his intangibles." The last point is important, as Morris has shown very little consistency this season despite having plenty of talent.
Source: NFL.com
Virginia Tech senior QB Logan Thomas "has been extremely sharp in his past three games," according to NFL.com's Mike Huguenin.
Thomas struggled earlier this season -- and was outright dreadful against Alabama -- but has picked up his play during the Hokies' current three-game ACC winning streak, completing 65.5 percent of his passes with a 5/0 TD/INT ratio. Huguenin notes that Thomas continues to be "one of the most polarizing draft prospects in the nation," writing that the 6-foot-6, 257-pounder's supporters view him as a "sort of poor man's Cam Newton," while detractors need only point to two stats -- 55.1 career completion percentage with a 46/32 TD/INT ratio -- in order to prove that Thomas' accuracy and decision-making aren't NFL-starter material.
Source: NFL.com
Washington coach Steve Sarkisian described junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins' play as "just a little bit out of sync, a little bit out of sorts."
"It hasn't been without trying," Sarkisian said on Tuesday. "I think Austin is working extremely hard." Sarkisian complimented Seferian-Jenkins' blocking, an improvement to his game that should aid his draft stock. "He is becoming more of an overall complete football player," Sarkisian said. "But believe me, we'd like to get him the football more that he has gotten the ball in his hands because he is a very good weapon for us." The 6-foot-6, 276 pound tight end is one of the most physically gifted players in college football, but Seferian-Jenkins has ceded "his title as the top tight end in college football to Eric Ebron of North Carolina," according to NFL.com writer Dan Greenspan, due to a "combination of his offseason DUI arrest and lack of production on the field."
Source: NFL.com
Matt MillerVerified account@nfldraftscout
Breaking: Multiple sources, including law enforcement, tell me that former #Oregon TE Colt Lyerla was arrested this evening. Details coming
Matt MillerVerified account@nfldraftscout
I've spoken several times with Lane County (Oregon) officials tonight. They'll be releasing information shortly RE: Lyerla.
IMHO, the next 2-3 drafts will have some of the most gifted, talented and best skills players we've seen in a long time in EVERY skilled position.It might be to early to tell but how does this FF draft class compare to the draft classes of the past 3-4 years?
Unfortunately, not surprised he got arrested even if it was a traffic ticket.Matt MillerVerified account@nfldraftscout
Breaking: Multiple sources, including law enforcement, tell me that former #Oregon TE Colt Lyerla was arrested this evening. Details comingMatt MillerVerified account@nfldraftscout
I've spoken several times with Lane County (Oregon) officials tonight. They'll be releasing information shortly RE: Lyerla.
This is very fascinating and thank you for posting. I've watched only a few of Gordon and Sankey's game but at least a dozen or so of Seastrunk the "men in the box" is an interesting metrix so I'll go back a look at some of his games. The fact that he only faced 7 men in the box on 18% of his carries is not a large enough same size for me to really judge. He also omitted the percent that Sanky and Gordon faced 7 men in the box. It would have also been important if he had given the percentages in all his data were possible not just some to give us a better perspective of the athlete.Greg Peshek charted broken tackles & yards after contact for Lache Seastrunk, Melvin Gordon, and Bishop Sankey so far this season. Seastrunk and Gordon have excellent elusiveness numbers; Sankey is just average.
I like your description of Gordon as a "glider". He runs a bit upright and reminds me some of a less powerful McFadden. I think I prefer Seastrunk too at this point. For me its Seastrunk, Watkins, Lee in their own tier at this point. Will try and look at some other rb/wr's soon to get a feel.Right now I've got Seastrunk as the #1 guy there. Fairly high on him. The production is beyond reproach and he looks the part from an athletic standpoint. Compact, explosive, and fast. He's got good quickness and he can make cuts that few backs can make. As far as weaknesses go, despite being a solid guy he doesn't run with a great deal of power or break many tackles with strength. He's a pure speed/finesse player. I think that's fine for today's NFL. I'd stop short of calling him a slam dunk lock, but there's enough here that I'd feel pretty good about taking him with a top 3 rookie pick in a PPR league.Great post, thanks! Any initial thoughts about the top 5 draft eligible rb's?
I've tentatively got Gordon as the #2 back. He's different style of player. A little bit taller and leaner. He's got some quickness, but he's more of a glider compared to the jitterbug Seastrunk. As with Seastrunk, there are going to be question marks about whether or not his production has been inflated by his college scheme. I think the answer is obviously yes, but that doesn't mean he isn't a good player. He's got more power than you might think looking at his listed dimensions and his strides are really deadly. He chews up ground in a hurry and is hard to catch from behind. Personally, I'm a little more comfortable trusting the compact slasher types like Seastrunk compared to the speed backs like Gordon. He's probably not going to be a must-draft player for me, but on the other hand I don't hate his game and will probably rank wherever his NFL draft position dictates, which will be pretty high.
I think there might be a little bit of a dropoff after those two. My next group is pretty fluid, but I've tentatively got Jeremy Hill, Bishop Sankey, Devonta Freeman, and Michael Dyer in the next tier. I've said quite a bit about most of those guys already in this thread, so I'll keep it pretty brief:
Jeremy Hill - An old-fashioned power back. Doesn't have that "wow" kind of explosiveness, but he's compact and strong with good feet. Severe character red flags could limit his draft stock and interfere with his pro potential. If he stays focused, I don't see why he can't be a solid mid-level NFL starter.
Bishop Sankey - Good production. Good combination of size and quick feet. Questionable athletic ability. The combine will be important for him.
Devonta Freeman - A north-south power runner with the right kind of frame for the NFL. His game lacks flash and he's not the most elusive guy, so his ceiling probably isn't enormous, but he should be a serviceable pro back out of the middle rounds of the NFL draft (3rd-4th IMO).
Michael Dyer - Probably the biggest wild card in the RB class. Had he been able to go pro after his first two years at Auburn, he might have been a 1st round pick. His career has stalled out a little bit since then and he's not getting enough carries this season to really show what he's about. All of that points to a big drop in the draft if he decides to declare, but at some point the talent will win out and someone will take a chance on him. He's a bit like Freeman in style. More of a downhill north-south runner than a juker. Not really a make-you-miss kind of guy. He's faster than Freeman though and has a pretty rare combination of bulk and sheer speed. I've compared him to Bryce Brown and Christine Michael because, despite the rocky road he has taken, at the end of the day he's probably just too talented not to become some kind of a factor in the NFL. He's never going to be a great receiver and his game has some limitations, but he'll make it work.
After those guys, I also think Ameer Abdullah is a pretty good back and Ka'Deem Carey has a chance to be a fairly high pick.
Overall though, if I were forced to draft rookies tomorrow I would probably have Seastrunk as a top 2-3 pick and Gordon as a top 5 pick with the rest of these guys as clear second tier prospects. I think this draft is a little stronger at WR than RB. There could be 5 first round WRs when all is said and done. Probably only 1-2 RBs.
Matt MillerVerified account@nfldraftscout
Lane County (Oregon) officials confirm Colt Lyerla arrested for Unlawful Possession of Cocaine and Interfering with a Police Officer.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.Matt Miller @nfldraftscoutnow
Colt Lyerla's mugshot, courtesy of Lane County Sheriff's Dept. Arrested on charges of Unlawful Possession of Cocaine. pic.twitter.com/6Trat5A3Jk
He was never on my board anyway, too many red flags.Matt MillerVerified account@nfldraftscout
Lane County (Oregon) officials confirm Colt Lyerla arrested for Unlawful Possession of Cocaine and Interfering with a Police Officer.Cocaine is a hell of a drug.Matt Miller @nfldraftscoutnow
Colt Lyerla's mugshot, courtesy of Lane County Sheriff's Dept. Arrested on charges of Unlawful Possession of Cocaine. pic.twitter.com/6Trat5A3Jk
You're telling me, Tex. I'm 0-7 with a rebuild, and I'm pretty much a lock for the #1 rookie and #1 Devy picks. I'm excited just thinking about my options.IMHO, the next 2-3 drafts will have some of the most gifted, talented and best skills players we've seen in a long time in EVERY skilled position.It might be to early to tell but how does this FF draft class compare to the draft classes of the past 3-4 years?
QBs being the deepest, WRs next the RBs and TEs but more TEs drafted higher then we've ever seen.
I don't think I've ever been this excited about the next few draft classes.
Tex
Each of the 3 RBs had better YPC to the outside. Gordon is averaging 7 YPC when he does run up the middle. Imagine Gordon in that Baylor offense where the linemen have much larger gaps between them.This is very fascinating and thank you for posting. I've watched only a few of Gordon and Sankey's game but at least a dozen or so of Seastrunk the "men in the box" is an interesting metrix so I'll go back a look at some of his games. The fact that he only faced 7 men in the box on 18% of his carries is not a large enough same size for me to really judge. He also omitted the percent that Sanky and Gordon faced 7 men in the box. It would have also been important if he had given the percentages in all his data were possible not just some to give us a better perspective of the athlete.Greg Peshek charted broken tackles & yards after contact for Lache Seastrunk, Melvin Gordon, and Bishop Sankey so far this season. Seastrunk and Gordon have excellent elusiveness numbers; Sankey is just average.
The number of runs Gordon makes to the outside does concern me a bit because that's not going to work in the NFL, he must run between the tackles which Seastrunk doesn't have a problem doing. Very interesting information.
Tex
To be fair, yes, Baylor spreads defenses out like no other for Seastrunk. But you're comparing this to a school known for their OL's and for their superior run blocking/blocking schemes as well in Wisconsin.So let's not pretend that they don't both have their own sets of advantages over some RB's in other programs.Each of the 3 RBs had better YPC to the outside. Gordon is averaging 7 YPC when he does run up the middle. Imagine Gordon in that Baylor offense where the linemen have much larger gaps between them.This is very fascinating and thank you for posting. I've watched only a few of Gordon and Sankey's game but at least a dozen or so of Seastrunk the "men in the box" is an interesting metrix so I'll go back a look at some of his games. The fact that he only faced 7 men in the box on 18% of his carries is not a large enough same size for me to really judge. He also omitted the percent that Sanky and Gordon faced 7 men in the box. It would have also been important if he had given the percentages in all his data were possible not just some to give us a better perspective of the athlete.Greg Peshek charted broken tackles & yards after contact for Lache Seastrunk, Melvin Gordon, and Bishop Sankey so far this season. Seastrunk and Gordon have excellent elusiveness numbers; Sankey is just average.
The number of runs Gordon makes to the outside does concern me a bit because that's not going to work in the NFL, he must run between the tackles which Seastrunk doesn't have a problem doing. Very interesting information.
Tex
I'm in no way saying Gordon is a bad or horrible back, only that he runs outside too much for my liking. I'd like to see him run up the middle more often. The truth of the matter is we have absolutely no idea what Gordon would or could do at Baylor we only speculate and I'm not into that. I'm more of a numbers, visual, analytical type of person and I selected Seatrunk in my Devy league for several reason but mainly because he passed the eye ball test and the wow factor for me and I wouldn't trade him for Gordon today and Gordon may end up being the better back at the next level but I'm happy with my selection.Each of the 3 RBs had better YPC to the outside. Gordon is averaging 7 YPC when he does run up the middle. Imagine Gordon in that Baylor offense where the linemen have much larger gaps between them.This is very fascinating and thank you for posting. I've watched only a few of Gordon and Sankey's game but at least a dozen or so of Seastrunk the "men in the box" is an interesting metrix so I'll go back a look at some of his games. The fact that he only faced 7 men in the box on 18% of his carries is not a large enough same size for me to really judge. He also omitted the percent that Sanky and Gordon faced 7 men in the box. It would have also been important if he had given the percentages in all his data were possible not just some to give us a better perspective of the athlete.Greg Peshek charted broken tackles & yards after contact for Lache Seastrunk, Melvin Gordon, and Bishop Sankey so far this season. Seastrunk and Gordon have excellent elusiveness numbers; Sankey is just average.
The number of runs Gordon makes to the outside does concern me a bit because that's not going to work in the NFL, he must run between the tackles which Seastrunk doesn't have a problem doing. Very interesting information.
Tex
Well said, the more I've watched Sea over the last two years the more I've realized that it's not just the system which at first that's what I thought but as I watched my vids to look at Williams, Wright and Ganaway (RBIII was a given) this kid Sea was the one really getting my attention the most even in limited action and he truly is something special.To be fair, yes, Baylor spreads defenses out like no other for Seastrunk. But you're comparing this to a school known for their OL's and for their superior run blocking/blocking schemes as well in Wisconsin.So let's not pretend that they don't both have their own sets of advantages over some RB's in other programs.Each of the 3 RBs had better YPC to the outside. Gordon is averaging 7 YPC when he does run up the middle. Imagine Gordon in that Baylor offense where the linemen have much larger gaps between them.This is very fascinating and thank you for posting. I've watched only a few of Gordon and Sankey's game but at least a dozen or so of Seastrunk the "men in the box" is an interesting metrix so I'll go back a look at some of his games. The fact that he only faced 7 men in the box on 18% of his carries is not a large enough same size for me to really judge. He also omitted the percent that Sanky and Gordon faced 7 men in the box. It would have also been important if he had given the percentages in all his data were possible not just some to give us a better perspective of the athlete.Greg Peshek charted broken tackles & yards after contact for Lache Seastrunk, Melvin Gordon, and Bishop Sankey so far this season. Seastrunk and Gordon have excellent elusiveness numbers; Sankey is just average.
The number of runs Gordon makes to the outside does concern me a bit because that's not going to work in the NFL, he must run between the tackles which Seastrunk doesn't have a problem doing. Very interesting information.
Tex
Then you will have some great picks so choose wisely.You're telling me, Tex. I'm 0-7 with a rebuild, and I'm pretty much a lock for the #1 rookie and #1 Devy picks. I'm excited just thinking about my options.IMHO, the next 2-3 drafts will have some of the most gifted, talented and best skills players we've seen in a long time in EVERY skilled position.It might be to early to tell but how does this FF draft class compare to the draft classes of the past 3-4 years?
QBs being the deepest, WRs next the RBs and TEs but more TEs drafted higher then we've ever seen.
I don't think I've ever been this excited about the next few draft classes.
Tex
You took the words right out of my mouth. He reminds me of M. Lattimore from that perspective with the volume of carries at times he was getting some of his numbers. I'm not saying the are built the same, have the same style or anything like that only the looking at the volume of carries.I've been souring on Sankey a bit, he seems like a volume back that needs 25+ carries to produce, I don't think he's good enough to see the number of touches he'll need to really suceed at the next level
I think he's a first round NFL pick, but probably not a top 10 overall pick. He's a supreme athlete though and IMO passes the eyeball test. So for me, he's closer to a can't-miss prospect than the typical first rounder. The only major asterisk being that he probably doesn't have that super elite WR1 ceiling of a Julio/Thomas/Dez. I see him settling in as more of a really good FF WR2 who should at least be a top 15-20 FF WR and could potentially sneak into the back half of top 10 dynasty WRs if it all breaks right for him. He's his own player and no one single comparison will capture what he can do, but at turns he reminds me of Justin Blackmon, Greg Jennings, Santonio Holmes, and Percy Harvin. Those are four very different WRs, but they each have qualities that remind me of Lee. He can line up in the slot and terrorize the middle of the field ala Harvin/Blackmon, but he also has the ability to go long ala Jennings/Holmes.So I'm curious. What does everyone consider Marquise Lee's value to be right now in a devy league?
He's relatively sure to be one of the first 2 or 3 picks in any PPR league next year, so how does his value compare to top 10 or 20 WRs today? Or top QBs? Or top RBs?
I'm torn on it - I own him in one league and have a real chance to win it all this year, and he's the guy everyone wants from me.... for obvious reasons.
He actually might slide a little bit deeper in rookie drafts than people expect depending on what happens with guys like Gordon, Seastrunk, Evans, and Watkins at the combine/draft. His rookie ADP could be anywhere from 1-5. Add it all up and his market value is probably the #3 rookie pick.
In terms of where I'd take him in dynasty, that's going to depend a bit on my roster. For a generic startup, I tend to put a premium on youth. That means I'm going to roll the dice on Lee ahead of aging stars like Andre, Fitz, and VJax. These are the guys I would definitely take ahead of Lee:
Calvin
Julio
Green
Demaryius
Dez
Blackmon
It starts to become more interesting with these guys and I could see myself being tempted by Lee, but I probably still stick with the veteran:
Harvin
Cobb
Cruz
Crabtree
Gordon
I'd probably stick Marshall in there as well, but he's not going to appeal to every type of roster because of his age.
After those guys, I think it starts to become more of a coin flip with these players:
Torrey
Shorts
Hopkins
Jordy
Wallace
And maybe a few others that I'm forgetting.
I think you can make a decent case that Lee is the best pure talent of that lot, but it's hard to turn down immediately useful production.
Would I take Lee over them? Considering that his dynasty ADP would probably be lower than most of that group, the correct answer is probably that I'd rather have Lee + extras than any one of those individual receivers.
Good list. I might put Blackmon at the top of the next tier and move Crabtree down a tier. Also I would put Keenan Allen somewhere in that last tier, prefer him to HopkinsI think he's a first round NFL pick, but probably not a top 10 overall pick. He's a supreme athlete though and IMO passes the eyeball test. So for me, he's closer to a can't-miss prospect than the typical first rounder. The only major asterisk being that he probably doesn't have that super elite WR1 ceiling of a Julio/Thomas/Dez. I see him settling in as more of a really good FF WR2 who should at least be a top 15-20 FF WR and could potentially sneak into the back half of top 10 dynasty WRs if it all breaks right for him. He's his own player and no one single comparison will capture what he can do, but at turns he reminds me of Justin Blackmon, Greg Jennings, Santonio Holmes, and Percy Harvin. Those are four very different WRs, but they each have qualities that remind me of Lee. He can line up in the slot and terrorize the middle of the field ala Harvin/Blackmon, but he also has the ability to go long ala Jennings/Holmes.So I'm curious. What does everyone consider Marquise Lee's value to be right now in a devy league?
He's relatively sure to be one of the first 2 or 3 picks in any PPR league next year, so how does his value compare to top 10 or 20 WRs today? Or top QBs? Or top RBs?
I'm torn on it - I own him in one league and have a real chance to win it all this year, and he's the guy everyone wants from me.... for obvious reasons.
He actually might slide a little bit deeper in rookie drafts than people expect depending on what happens with guys like Gordon, Seastrunk, Evans, and Watkins at the combine/draft. His rookie ADP could be anywhere from 1-5. Add it all up and his market value is probably the #3 rookie pick.
In terms of where I'd take him in dynasty, that's going to depend a bit on my roster. For a generic startup, I tend to put a premium on youth. That means I'm going to roll the dice on Lee ahead of aging stars like Andre, Fitz, and VJax. These are the guys I would definitely take ahead of Lee:
Calvin
Julio
Green
Demaryius
Dez
Blackmon
It starts to become more interesting with these guys and I could see myself being tempted by Lee, but I probably still stick with the veteran:
Harvin
Cobb
Cruz
Crabtree
Gordon
I'd probably stick Marshall in there as well, but he's not going to appeal to every type of roster because of his age.
After those guys, I think it starts to become more of a coin flip with these players:
Torrey
Shorts
Hopkins
Jordy
Wallace
And maybe a few others that I'm forgetting.
I think you can make a decent case that Lee is the best pure talent of that lot, but it's hard to turn down immediately useful production.
Would I take Lee over them? Considering that his dynasty ADP would probably be lower than most of that group, the correct answer is probably that I'd rather have Lee + extras than any one of those individual receivers.
Even with 6 pts per passing TD, I would pass on QBs early in a 1QB league unless I was 95% sure I was getting a star. Too little demand in 1 QB leagues to make the position that valuable. I like this QB class, but don't think any single prospect there is a slam dunk, so that means I'd be focusing on RB/WR/TE. My top 6-7 would probably look like this:EBF if the rookie draft was today what should the first 6-7 picks look like in a PPR 1qb-2rb-3wr-1flex-1te 6pt passing TD dynasty league look like iyo?
You can always trade up too. If most people value the top 5 players pretty evenly and you only like one of them, it makes sense to move up for your guy.Nice. Thanks EBF.
That sucks. I was hoping Seastrunk would fall.......This is my first dynasty league and I have 3 picks in the first round (I know nobody cares lol) but my first pick might be the third pick. So I have little shot at Seastrunk. I guess I would be super happy with Lee, Gordon, and Sankey though.
UCLA redshirt sophomore QB Brett Hundley dropped to No. 14 on Mel Kiper's updated big board.
Hundley was previously listed at No. 8 overall. "Hundley struggled with ball placement against Stanford last week, but he's close," Kiper writes. "Hundley is supremely gifted when it comes to raw tools -- his arm strength is obvious, and he might be ahead of schedule in terms of his ability to make plays when a play falls apart." The Bruins, with a diminished offensive line, take on a talented Oreogn defense this weekend.
Source: ESPN
Todd Gurley is my favorite RB prospect in some time. At least on par with Trent (at the time). Add Cooper, Davis, Yeldon, Drake, etc, and I do think 2015 is stronger. At least more top heavy.Is there a general consensus that 2015 represents a stronger class than 2014?
If so, is that a top to bottom difference (e.g. A deeper class) or at the top (e.g. Better early picks as compared to this year) or both? And are there a handful of identifiable players on the horizon that are future studs -- maybe Yeldon and/or Gurly?
Landry is a solid WR but I don't see much that stands out.Give me Landry over Beckham all day.
I think a lot of people would say that 2015 is stronger, but I don't know if that's actually true.Is there a general consensus that 2015 represents a stronger class than 2014?
If so, is that a top to bottom difference (e.g. A deeper class) or at the top (e.g. Better early picks as compared to this year) or both? And are there a handful of identifiable players on the horizon that are future studs -- maybe Yeldon and/or Gurly?
Trying to gauge which up and coming draft class is better than the other is difficult because 9 times out of 10 the Jrs that declare are better than the Srs. So it depends on the Jrs and redshirt sophs that declare for the draft but both classes seem to be strong today. Another thing that takes place that you absolutely can't account for are those players that pop out of nowhere and produce outstanding numbers.Is there a general consensus that 2015 represents a stronger class than 2014?
If so, is that a top to bottom difference (e.g. A deeper class) or at the top (e.g. Better early picks as compared to this year) or both? And are there a handful of identifiable players on the horizon that are future studs -- maybe Yeldon and/or Gurly?
The highly anticipated head-to-head matchups in several marquee games last weekend led to significant reshuffling of the Big Board, with two talented but inconsistent quarterbacks taking a tumble.
One can't blame NFL scouts for falling in love with the guts and athleticism of UCLA's Brett Hundley and Clemson's Tajh Boyd, but both struggled in critical conference showdowns, raising questions about their NFL readiness.
While two of the nation's most prominent passers struggled, terrific performances from several others, including top-ranked prospect Jadeveon Clowney, Florida State offensive tackle Cameron Erving and Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans, has their stock skyrocketing at the midway point of the season.
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 32 best prospects potentially eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.
1. Jadeveon Clowney*, DE, South Carolina (6-6, 268): Clowney has failed to live up to our astronomical expectations, but scouts aren't as concerned about his mediocre production as the media seems to be. When on the field, Clowney remains a dominant presence capable of making game-changing plays on each snap of the ball. He produced his best game of 2013 in a highly anticipated rematch with Tennessee left tackle Antonio Richardson.
2. Teddy Bridgewater*, QB, Louisville (6-3, 220): In an era in which college quarterbacks' numbers are often inflated by short passes and relatively simplistic schemes, Bridgewater's sparkling production is due to Pro Bowl-caliber accuracy. His success (72 percent completion rate with 20 touchdowns against just two interceptions) comes out of a pro-style offense that forces him to make tough throws. Bridgewater's slight frame and level of competition are concerns.
3. Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA (6-4, 238): A running back until last season, Barr exploded in 2012 to the tune of 21½ tackles for loss and 13½ sacks. He has been equally dominant this year (34 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles in six games) but was largely held in check by Stanford's Andrus Peat. He faces a different kind of challenge this week traveling to Eugene to face Marcus Mariota and the ultra-athletic Oregon offense.
4. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M (6-5, 305): Any question about Matthews' ability to hold up at left tackle may have been answered with a dominating performances against Arkansas' speedy Chris Smith and Mississippi's powerful Robert Nkemdiche this season. The son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, Jake proves the cliché -- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
5. Marcus Mariota*, QB, Oregon (6-3, 214): In completing a season-high 77.4 percent of his passes against a talented Washington defense in Seattle two weeks ago, Mariota demonstrated great accuracy and poise. Moments after the loss, Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian assessed the redshirt quarterback as a "top-five pick." Couldn't agree more, coach.
6. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan (6-7, 310): With an incredible combination of size and athletic ability, Lewan has earned comparisons to former Michigan standout Jake Long throughout his career with the Wolverines. Lewan has been the obvious bright spot up front for Michigan, which has struggled with injuries and penalties.
7. Sammy Watkins*, WR, Clemson (6-1, 200): Watkins was one of the few Clemson players who appeared unfazed by Florida State's speed. Watkins accounted for nearly double the all-purpose yardage of any other Tiger against the Seminoles, demonstrating the explosiveness and soft, reliable hands that help him project as a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
8. 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.
9. Eric Ebron*, TE, North Carolina (6-4, 245): Ebron doesn't get nearly the national attention of Washington's Austin Seferian-Jenkins or other highly regarded tight ends, but scouts are fascinated with his rare combination of size and speed. The UNC staff was so enamored with Ebron's athleticism and physicality that they lined him at defensive end at times last season. The junior needs polish, but is precisely the type of physical mismatch the NFL is looking for in today's tight end.
10. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo (6-3, 248): With an eye-popping 56 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and 11 forced fumbles already on his résumé entering the 2013 season, rest assured that scouts knew Mack well. The best player outside of BCS schools, he stepped up with dominating efforts against Ohio State and Connecticut this year to establish himself as a legitimate top-20 prospect.
11. Cameron Erving*, OT, Florida State (6-5, 310): Erving played in 13 games as a redshirt freshman defensive tackle but looked like a natural when moved to left tackle a season ago. Long, balanced and athletic, he's a hidden factor in the dynamic play of freshman quarterback Jameis Winston. On Saturday, Erving erased Clemson's Vic Beasley, who entered the big ACC matchup leading the country with eight sacks.
12. Johnny Manziel*, QB, Texas A&M (5-11, 210): After the season scouts will poke holes in Manziel's grade due to less-than-ideal size and the distraction he may prove to be off the field. During the season, however, it is impossible not to simply marvel at his magical ability. Showing the same remarkable elusiveness as a year ago and improved arm strength, Manziel is a first-round pick whenever he elects to leave College Station.
13. Brett Hundley*, QB, UCLA (6-3, 227): Another of the extraordinary redshirt sophomore class of quarterbacks, Hundley has an ideal blend of size, athleticism and arm talent. He's a fluid athlete with an easy throwing motion whose success comes from a pro-style attack, making him an easy projection to the NFL. While scouts love Hundley's upside, he struggled against Stanford, missing several open targets in the loss.
14. Mike Evans*, WR, Texas A&M (6-5, 225): Like his famous quarterback, Evans is just a redshirt sophomore, but he could have quite the decision to make after the season if he continues to dominate the SEC. Deceptively fast with great body control as well as timing, Evans is an exciting split end prospect who reminds scouts of Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Vincent Jackson.
15. Antonio Richardson*, OT, Tennessee (6-6, 332): Boasting an exciting combination of size, athleticism and power, "Tiny" looks like the second coming of former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl tackle Erik Williams. After containing Clowney a year ago, however, Richardson struggled in his rematch with the South Carolina star, consistently getting beaten off the snap.
16. Cyrus Kouandjio*, OT, Alabama (6-5, 312): Some questioned the wisdom of moving Barrett Jones from left tackle (where he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC's best lineman) to center in 2012. The reason for the switch was Kouandjio, a physically blessed athlete who some have compared to former Redskins Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels, the No. 3 overall pick out of Alabama in 2000.
17. Marqise Lee*, WR, Southern Cal (6-0, 195): Lee has been hampered by a knee injury and unsteady play at quarterback this season, but he has also dropped too many passes. A year after scoring 14 touchdowns as part of a Biletnikoff-winning campaign, Lee only has one this year. Further, he missed USC's Oct. 12 win over Arizona and didn't play in the second half of an Oct. 19 loss to Notre Dame due to a knee injury.
18. Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor (6-5, 335): A dominating drive blocker who projects best at guard but spent the 2011 season protecting Robert Griffin III at left tackle, Richardson is massive, powerful and shockingly athletic. Scouts love Richardson's talent, but the extended splits in Art Briles' scheme fooled us before with former first-round picks Jason Smith (No. 2 overall in 2009) and Danny Watkins (No. 23 in 2011).
19. Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford (6-6, 261): A true outside linebacker in Stanford's 3-4 scheme, Murphy is asked to not only rush the passer but also drop into coverage. While an impressive athlete for his size, Murphy's future likely lies as a 4-3 defensive end. He recorded two sacks in tough matchups against Washington and UCLA.
20. 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. The Buckeyes' leading tackler and most consistent defender, Shazier stood out in a comeback win against Iowa.
21. Cedric Ogbuehi*, OT, Texas A&M (6-5, 300): Overshadowed by the other talent on the Aggies' roster, Ogbuehi is an exciting prospect in his own right. A standout at right guard a year ago, Ogbuehi (pronounced ah-BOO-hee) stands to make a lot of money if he continues his stellar play at right tackle.
22. Vic Beasley*, OLB, Clemson (6-3, 235): Beasley led Clemson with eight sacks in limited duty as a sophomore and already has nine through seven games in 2013. Like most of the Tigers, Beasley struggled against Florida State, recording just two tackles. Beasley is similar to surprise 2012 first-round pick Bruce Irvin with his slim frame and explosive burst, but Beasley also flashes rather than dominates.
23. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix*, FS, Alabama (6-1, 208): Death, taxes and a Nick Saban-coached defensive back earning first-round grades from NFL scouts are among the sure things in life. Clinton-Dix has an exciting combination of athleticism and instincts. He quickly proved back to his playmaking ways following a two-week suspension for accepting a loan from an Alabama coach by logging five tackles and recording his first interception of the season against Arkansas.
24. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson (6-1, 225): Boyd's stout frame, toughness and dual-threat capabilities have earned him comparisons to Russell Wilson and the late Steve McNair, but he sure didn't look the part of a future NFL star against Florida State's speedy defense. Boyd appeared flustered and misfired on multiple occasions. He also turned the ball over three times (two interceptions, fumble).
25. Louis Nix III*, DT, Notre Dame (6-3, 326): With broad shoulders, a thick lower half and surprisingly quick feet, Nix III is a classic run-stuffer with enough burst and determination to also threaten the pocket. The junior hasn't been as dominant in 2013 as he was a year ago, but remains a standout in a less-than-inspiring crop of defensive tackles.
26. 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. His stellar coverage (six tackles, two passes broken up) against Oklahoma on Oct. 5 made him the top prospect of Week 6.
27. Stephon Tuitt*, DL, Notre Dame (6-5, 303): Offseason sports hernia surgery may have played a role in Tuitt adding 20 pounds this season, and early on the extra weight seemed to be slowing him. He has played much better of late, however, and is simply too gifted to fall far on draft day should the junior elect to leave South Bend early.
28. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU (6-3, 235): While Ziggy Ansah received most of the hype at BYU, Van Noy was far and away the Cougars' more consistent defender, registering an eye-popping 22 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions and two blocked kicks in 2013. Van Noy isn't as physically dominating as his former teammate, but his instincts and agility make him a playmaker, nonetheless.
29. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State (6-3, 333): Jones was the Nittany Lions' most dominant player in an instant classic four-overtime victory against Michigan. Stout but athletic enough to handle duties all over Penn State's defensive line, Jones' strength and quickness is tough to handle.
30. Bishop Sankey*, RB, Washington (5-10, 203): Sankey is winning over scouts with his vision, balance and surprising combination of power and speed. He has proven his toughness against Stanford's physical defense and his big-play ability against Oregon's speed, and is a true three-down back due to excellent hands and awareness in pass protection.
31. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota (6-6, 311): Penn State's Jones may be the Big Ten's most impressive defensive lineman but Hageman may be its most gifted. The Golden Gopher's length and athleticism make him a schematic fit in the 3-4 and 4-3. He flashes dominant ability but has struggled with consistency.
32. Austin Seferian-Jenkins*, TE, Washington (6-6, 267): His unique combination of size, body control and soft hands made him an immediate standout in each of his two seasons at Washington. However, an offseason arrest for DUI and broken pinkie served as an inauspicious start to Seferian-Jenkins' junior year and the Huskies have featured other playmakers thus far in 2013.
Just missed the cutLache Seastrunk*, RB, Baylor
Kevin Hogan*, QB, Stanford
David Yankey, OG, Stanford
Jordan Matthews, WR, South Carolina
Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Denzel Perryman*, OLB, Miami
Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
I just have a feeling the measurables aren't going to back up what some people see in him. Me, I haven't decided either way yet.It's good to see someone else sees Sankey as the top back in this draft. I think it's close between him and Seastrunk. I just loved some of the inside runs I saw him make against Oregon.
Player Btk% YaC CappedMelvin Gordon 12.5% 2.95Antonio Andrews 8.7% 2.92KaDeem Carey 6.7% 2.88Lache Seastrunk 11.1% 2.74Bishop Sankey 7.0% 2.48
I just have a feeling the measurables aren't going to back up what some people see in him. Me, I haven't decided either way yet.It's good to see someone else sees Sankey as the top back in this draft. I think it's close between him and Seastrunk. I just loved some of the inside runs I saw him make against Oregon.
No way I could see myself drafting Sankey over Seastrunk or Gordan at this time. My opinion might change between now and August but right now I couldn't pull the trigger on him as the 1st or 2nd RB.It's good to see someone else sees Sankey as the top back in this draft. I think it's close between him and Seastrunk. I just loved some of the inside runs I saw him make against Oregon.
Seastrunk reminds me of McCoy with his ability to plant his foot and change direction. He cuts on a dime while maintaining good power to break tackles. In the offseason there were reports about Seastrunk really taking things seriously in terms of discipline and training, and he put on a lot of muscle without it slowing him down a bit. I think all of this is extremely positive and I can't see anyone knocking him out of the #1 spot.who is a good comp for seastrunk...
I see a lot of McCoy comparisons for Seastrunk, but they are totally different builds. This isn't meant to be a slight, but, in terms of build and movement skills, Seastrunk reminds mostly of Jerome Harrison and JJ Arrington.who is a good comp for seastrunk...
and how does mike evans game compare to that of alshon jeffery...
similar size, sounds like he will test slower, interested in movement skills...
Not really sure what you mean, but Seastrunk is built pretty thickly, pretty low to the ground. Good weight distribution IMO, he's bottom heavy.I see a lot of McCoy comparisons for Seastrunk, but they are totally different builds. This isn't meant to be a slight, but, in terms of build and movement skills, Seastrunk reminds mostly of Jerome Harrison and JJ Arrington.who is a good comp for seastrunk...
and how does mike evans game compare to that of alshon jeffery...
similar size, sounds like he will test slower, interested in movement skills...
Evans reminds me of a taller Michael Floyd. He doesn't look any slower than Jeffery, though, who looks lumbering at times and rarely "separates" 1-on-1.
Exactly !!!Not really sure what you mean, but Seastrunk is built pretty thickly, pretty low to the ground. Good weight distribution IMO, he's bottom heavy.I see a lot of McCoy comparisons for Seastrunk, but they are totally different builds. This isn't meant to be a slight, but, in terms of build and movement skills, Seastrunk reminds mostly of Jerome Harrison and JJ Arrington.who is a good comp for seastrunk...
and how does mike evans game compare to that of alshon jeffery...
similar size, sounds like he will test slower, interested in movement skills...
Evans reminds me of a taller Michael Floyd. He doesn't look any slower than Jeffery, though, who looks lumbering at times and rarely "separates" 1-on-1.