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[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

Cody Latimer, Tom Savage among 10 draft sleepers to watch

By Bucky Brooks

NFL Media analyst

The 2014 NFL Draft is as deep and talented as any collection of prospects that I've evaluated in my 20-plus years around the league.

Although the conversation centers around the top prospects on the board, it's the unheralded players surging up the charts that will shape the opinions of evaluators when they reflect back on the class in a few years. Thus, it's important to know the sleeper picks that scouts are buzzing about behind closed doors to get a better perspective of how things will play out on draft day.

After conducting a few conversations with scouts and decision-makers around the league, here are 10 under-the-radar players to remember heading into the draft:

1. Terrance West, RB, TowsonWest has been quietly touted as the draft's best running back in some meeting rooms around the league due to his powerful running style and impeccable instincts. He has a natural feel for finding creases in the middle, yet is quick enough to bounce around the corner for big gains. Some skeptics will question his skills due to his status as a small-school standout, but the film doesn't lie, which is why I'm going all in on West's potential as a feature back.

2. Cody Latimer, WR, IndianaThe dynamic pass catcher created a buzz in scouting circles with a spectacular performance at his pro day, even though he wasn't able to do a full workout as he recovered from a broken foot that kept him sidelined at the NFL Scouting Combine. Latimer surprised scouts with his overall athleticism and explosiveness, while confirming his solid skills as a big-bodied receiver. Although Latimer is still rough around the edges as a route runner, his explosiveness as an athlete and playmaker has teams salivating about his potential at the next level.

3. Tom Savage, QB, PittsburghAfter taking a long, hard look at Savage earlier this week, I'm convinced NFL coaches will come away smitten with his prototypical size and arm talent. He looks like a franchise quarterback and evaluators will view him as a potential starter despite his limited experience as a full-time starter. Given the question marks that surround every quarterback in the 2014 class, it is quite possible that Savage ranks higher on draft boards than most expect based on his performance last fall.

4. Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia TechAttaochu is a powerful edge player with outstanding first-step quickness. He explodes off the line of scrimmage on passing downs, exhibiting terrific snap-count anticipation. Attaochu shows good balance and body control turning the corner to hit the quarterback on rush attempts. He complements his speed rush with an explosive bull-rush maneuver that overwhelms blockers. While Attaochu needs to refine his hand skills and learn how to set up his rush moves, he is a high-motor player who has the potential to develop into a legitimate pass-rushing threat with repetitions and coaching.

5. Yawin Smallwood, OLB, ConnecticutSmallwood is an active linebacker with terrific instincts and awareness. He has a strong nose for the ball and attacks runners in the hole. Scouts ding him for his perceived lack of physicality, but his exceptional production over a three-year career suggests that he is an impact defender despite being a grab-and-drag tackler. It's even more important that Smallwood is a versatile three-down linebacker capable of staying on the field in every situation.

6. Kadeem Edwards, OG, Tennessee StateSmall-school standouts must dominate their college competition to earn high marks from NFL evaluators. Edwards played up to that standard during his time at Tennessee State, and he validated his pro potential with a solid week of practice at the Reese's Senior Bowl. Edwards also checked off all of the boxes at the combine with a strong showing on the field and in interviews with team officials. The thorough domination of the pre-draft process by Edwards will likely push him up the board and make him a likely first-year starter as a pro.

7. Terrence Brooks, S, Florida StateEvery defensive coordinator in the NFL covets a swing defender in the back end with the athleticism and cover skills to play a variety of spots in sub packages. Brooks fits the bill as a hybrid safety with the physicality and toughness to play in the box, and the instincts to float over the top as a deep-middle defender. With Brooks also capable of playing on the outside in spots, the Florida State standout should be a prized commodity on draft day.

8. Marcus Smith, DE, LouisvilleThe former quarterback is still transitioning to a new position, but shows tremendous potential as a pass rusher. He recorded 14.5 sacks as a senior, displaying explosive first-step quickness and closing burst. In addition, Smith flashed quick hands and slithery agility coming off the edge. Although his game is still evolving at this stage of his career, it's quite possible that he could develop into a double-digit sack artist early in his career.

9. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn StateThe Big Ten receiving leader has received little fanfare this offseason despite ranking as one of the top pass catchers and athletes in the draft class. The buzz is starting to build, however, after Robinson put up remarkable numbers at a pro-day workout that suggests he is far more explosive than scouts expected after studying his tape.

10. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, NebraskaThe NFL's sudden fascination with "big" cornerbacks will make Jean-Baptiste a highly coveted pick in the draft. Scouts are fascinated by his size-speed combination, while coaches are encouraged by his quick development as a cornerback after spending his first two seasons at Nebraska playing wide receiver. With Richard Sherman and several other "big" cornerbacks successfully pulling off similar conversions as collegians, Jean-Baptiste will come off the board much sooner than most observers expect.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
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Brandin Cooks leads list of 2014 NFL draft's top shorter WRs

By Charles Davis

NFL Media analyst

We're hearing a lot of buzz about the tall trees at wide receiver in this year's draft. Texas A&M's Mike Evans (6-foot-5 ) could go in the top 10 and Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin (6-5) is a likely first-rounder.

There are quite a few members of the 5-foot-10-and-under crowd in this year's receiver class, though, and there are some very intriguing talents in the bunch. Here's a look at five of the top shorter wide receivers available in 2014, led by a likely first-rounder:

Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, 5-9 3/4Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver, isn't just one of the top shorter receivers in the draft -- he's one of the very best prospects at the position, regardless of size. Some people view him as a pure slot receiver, but I think he can play inside and outside, although he'll likely do the most damage in the slot. A lot of times you hear slot receivers described as quicker than fast. Cooks is quick and fast. He might not have great size, but he's a first-round talent.

Oklahoma State's Josh Stewart, 5-9 7/8Stewart really intrigues me. While he had a better season in 2012 than he did in '13 (he battled injury in '13), he was a very exciting player during his college career. Stewart has the potential to be a dynamic slot receiver and kick returner at the next level. He goes up and competes for the ball downfield. He's a likely third-day pick (Rounds 5-7) that bears watching.

Wyoming's Robert Herron, 5-9 1/8Herron can flat-out fly. He's a compact guy who had good production at Wyoming (932 yards and nine touchdowns last season) catching passes from quarterback Brett Smith, who I think is an intriguing third-day prospect that hasn't been getting the attention he warrants (Smith wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine). Herron will be a vertical threat in the slot with great speed. My biggest concern with him is he looks a little bit more like a body catcher than a hands catcher.

Oklahoma's Jalen Saunders, 5-8 7/8Saunders, a Fresno State transfer who used to catch passes from Derek Carr, is the smallest of the guys on this list, but he can make some big plays. He has lined up in the slot and outside, but I think he'll make a living in the slot at the next level. He's a tough guy with explosive kick-return ability and good hands. Saunders has a slight build, but he's shifty.

Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro, 5-9 3/8Campanaro, Wake Forest's all-time leader in receptions (229), has struggled with injuries, but he's not really a brittle guy. When healthy, he's been very productive. He's a crafty player. Campanaro doesn't run great routes -- he'll freelance at times. He has always been a No. 1 threat and he's been very skillful about finding ways to get open. He reminds me a little bit of Packers wide receiver Randle Cobb. He's not as physically gifted as Cobb, but knows how to get open and can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. Cobb was a second-round pick, but Campanaro will likely be picked on Day 3.

Follow Charles Davis on Twitter @CFD22.
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Faust said:
Brandin Cooks leads list of 2014 NFL draft's top shorter WRs

By Charles Davis

NFL Media analyst

We're hearing a lot of buzz about the tall trees at wide receiver in this year's draft. Texas A&M's Mike Evans (6-foot-5 ) could go in the top 10 and Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin (6-5) is a likely first-rounder.

There are quite a few members of the 5-foot-10-and-under crowd in this year's receiver class, though, and there are some very intriguing talents in the bunch. Here's a look at five of the top shorter wide receivers available in 2014, led by a likely first-rounder:

Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, 5-9 3/4Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver, isn't just one of the top shorter receivers in the draft -- he's one of the very best prospects at the position, regardless of size. Some people view him as a pure slot receiver, but I think he can play inside and outside, although he'll likely do the most damage in the slot. A lot of times you hear slot receivers described as quicker than fast. Cooks is quick and fast. He might not have great size, but he's a first-round talent.

Oklahoma State's Josh Stewart, 5-9 7/8Stewart really intrigues me. While he had a better season in 2012 than he did in '13 (he battled injury in '13), he was a very exciting player during his college career. Stewart has the potential to be a dynamic slot receiver and kick returner at the next level. He goes up and competes for the ball downfield. He's a likely third-day pick (Rounds 5-7) that bears watching.

Wyoming's Robert Herron, 5-9 1/8Herron can flat-out fly. He's a compact guy who had good production at Wyoming (932 yards and nine touchdowns last season) catching passes from quarterback Brett Smith, who I think is an intriguing third-day prospect that hasn't been getting the attention he warrants (Smith wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine). Herron will be a vertical threat in the slot with great speed. My biggest concern with him is he looks a little bit more like a body catcher than a hands catcher.

Oklahoma's Jalen Saunders, 5-8 7/8Saunders, a Fresno State transfer who used to catch passes from Derek Carr, is the smallest of the guys on this list, but he can make some big plays. He has lined up in the slot and outside, but I think he'll make a living in the slot at the next level. He's a tough guy with explosive kick-return ability and good hands. Saunders has a slight build, but he's shifty.

Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro, 5-9 3/8Campanaro, Wake Forest's all-time leader in receptions (229), has struggled with injuries, but he's not really a brittle guy. When healthy, he's been very productive. He's a crafty player. Campanaro doesn't run great routes -- he'll freelance at times. He has always been a No. 1 threat and he's been very skillful about finding ways to get open. He reminds me a little bit of Packers wide receiver Randle Cobb. He's not as physically gifted as Cobb, but knows how to get open and can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. Cobb was a second-round pick, but Campanaro will likely be picked on Day 3.

Follow Charles Davis on Twitter @CFD22.
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Add Bruce Ellington to that list.

Better prospect than Stewart, Herron, Saunders, or Campanaro.

 
EBF said:
Faust said:
Brandin Cooks leads list of 2014 NFL draft's top shorter WRs

By Charles Davis

NFL Media analyst

We're hearing a lot of buzz about the tall trees at wide receiver in this year's draft. Texas A&M's Mike Evans (6-foot-5 ) could go in the top 10 and Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin (6-5) is a likely first-rounder.

There are quite a few members of the 5-foot-10-and-under crowd in this year's receiver class, though, and there are some very intriguing talents in the bunch. Here's a look at five of the top shorter wide receivers available in 2014, led by a likely first-rounder:

Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, 5-9 3/4Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver, isn't just one of the top shorter receivers in the draft -- he's one of the very best prospects at the position, regardless of size. Some people view him as a pure slot receiver, but I think he can play inside and outside, although he'll likely do the most damage in the slot. A lot of times you hear slot receivers described as quicker than fast. Cooks is quick and fast. He might not have great size, but he's a first-round talent.

Oklahoma State's Josh Stewart, 5-9 7/8Stewart really intrigues me. While he had a better season in 2012 than he did in '13 (he battled injury in '13), he was a very exciting player during his college career. Stewart has the potential to be a dynamic slot receiver and kick returner at the next level. He goes up and competes for the ball downfield. He's a likely third-day pick (Rounds 5-7) that bears watching.

Wyoming's Robert Herron, 5-9 1/8Herron can flat-out fly. He's a compact guy who had good production at Wyoming (932 yards and nine touchdowns last season) catching passes from quarterback Brett Smith, who I think is an intriguing third-day prospect that hasn't been getting the attention he warrants (Smith wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine). Herron will be a vertical threat in the slot with great speed. My biggest concern with him is he looks a little bit more like a body catcher than a hands catcher.

Oklahoma's Jalen Saunders, 5-8 7/8Saunders, a Fresno State transfer who used to catch passes from Derek Carr, is the smallest of the guys on this list, but he can make some big plays. He has lined up in the slot and outside, but I think he'll make a living in the slot at the next level. He's a tough guy with explosive kick-return ability and good hands. Saunders has a slight build, but he's shifty.

Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro, 5-9 3/8Campanaro, Wake Forest's all-time leader in receptions (229), has struggled with injuries, but he's not really a brittle guy. When healthy, he's been very productive. He's a crafty player. Campanaro doesn't run great routes -- he'll freelance at times. He has always been a No. 1 threat and he's been very skillful about finding ways to get open. He reminds me a little bit of Packers wide receiver Randle Cobb. He's not as physically gifted as Cobb, but knows how to get open and can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. Cobb was a second-round pick, but Campanaro will likely be picked on Day 3.

Follow Charles Davis on Twitter @CFD22.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Add Bruce Ellington to that list.

Better prospect than Stewart, Herron, Saunders, or Campanaro.
Click to expand...
:thumbup:

See post #3772 in this thread

 
EBF said:
Faust said:
Brandin Cooks leads list of 2014 NFL draft's top shorter WRs

By Charles Davis

NFL Media analyst

We're hearing a lot of buzz about the tall trees at wide receiver in this year's draft. Texas A&M's Mike Evans (6-foot-5 ) could go in the top 10 and Florida State's Kelvin Benjamin (6-5) is a likely first-rounder.

There are quite a few members of the 5-foot-10-and-under crowd in this year's receiver class, though, and there are some very intriguing talents in the bunch. Here's a look at five of the top shorter wide receivers available in 2014, led by a likely first-rounder:

Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, 5-9 3/4Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver, isn't just one of the top shorter receivers in the draft -- he's one of the very best prospects at the position, regardless of size. Some people view him as a pure slot receiver, but I think he can play inside and outside, although he'll likely do the most damage in the slot. A lot of times you hear slot receivers described as quicker than fast. Cooks is quick and fast. He might not have great size, but he's a first-round talent.

Oklahoma State's Josh Stewart, 5-9 7/8Stewart really intrigues me. While he had a better season in 2012 than he did in '13 (he battled injury in '13), he was a very exciting player during his college career. Stewart has the potential to be a dynamic slot receiver and kick returner at the next level. He goes up and competes for the ball downfield. He's a likely third-day pick (Rounds 5-7) that bears watching.

Wyoming's Robert Herron, 5-9 1/8Herron can flat-out fly. He's a compact guy who had good production at Wyoming (932 yards and nine touchdowns last season) catching passes from quarterback Brett Smith, who I think is an intriguing third-day prospect that hasn't been getting the attention he warrants (Smith wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine). Herron will be a vertical threat in the slot with great speed. My biggest concern with him is he looks a little bit more like a body catcher than a hands catcher.

Oklahoma's Jalen Saunders, 5-8 7/8Saunders, a Fresno State transfer who used to catch passes from Derek Carr, is the smallest of the guys on this list, but he can make some big plays. He has lined up in the slot and outside, but I think he'll make a living in the slot at the next level. He's a tough guy with explosive kick-return ability and good hands. Saunders has a slight build, but he's shifty.

Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro, 5-9 3/8Campanaro, Wake Forest's all-time leader in receptions (229), has struggled with injuries, but he's not really a brittle guy. When healthy, he's been very productive. He's a crafty player. Campanaro doesn't run great routes -- he'll freelance at times. He has always been a No. 1 threat and he's been very skillful about finding ways to get open. He reminds me a little bit of Packers wide receiver Randle Cobb. He's not as physically gifted as Cobb, but knows how to get open and can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. Cobb was a second-round pick, but Campanaro will likely be picked on Day 3.

Follow Charles Davis on Twitter @CFD22.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Add Bruce Ellington to that list.

Better prospect than Stewart, Herron, Saunders, or Campanaro.
Click to expand...
Ellington is clearly better than Stewart and Campanaro. I wouldn't put him above Herron and Saunders.

 
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Casserly: Seven QBs in 2014 NFL Draft rate ahead of EJ ManuelBy Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

Heading into the 2013 NFL Draft, most thought there were not going to be a ton of quarterbacks taken in the first round. Those low expectations didn't lessen the surprise any when the only quarterback taken in the first round wound up being EJ Manuel, who the Buffalo Bills traded back to get in the middle of the round.

While most consider the 2014 class of quarterbacks to be much stronger than a year ago, how much so might raise a few eyebrows. Former NFL general manager and current NFL Media analyst Charley Casserly revealed just how much more he likes this year's crop of signal-callers over last year's on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft".

"I've got a lot of guys rated ahead of (Manuel) based on their college career and based on Manuel's college career," Casserly said. "[Teddy] Bridgewater, [blake] Bortles, [Johnny] Manziel, [Derek] Carr, [Jimmy] Garoppolo and [AJ] McCarron -- I've got them all rated ahead of EJ Manuel coming out a year ago. And you know what, LSU quarterback [Zach] Mettenberger, I've got him ahead of Manuel, too."

Seven quarterbacks ahead of last year's only first rounder? Not exactly the news you want to hear if you're a Buffalo Bills fan.

To be fair, the jury is still out on Manuel as an NFL starter after he missed a little less than half the season as a rookie due to knee issues. On top of missing games, that's a lot of missed practice time, too.

The Bills obviously thought enough of him coming out of Florida State last year to take him in the first round (over somebody like Geno Smith), but perhaps it's the fact that they grabbed him where they did instead of the second round that is contributing to high expectations.

"He gained momentum because he had a terrific Senior Bowl and, like his teammate Christian Ponder, rose in the draft. I think that was a bit unexpected," Charles Davis said on "Path to the Draft". "When I look at this year's quarterbacks, I'm seeing a lot of them that might eventually go in the second round, where we probably thought E.J. Manuel would go last year. So I compare him a little more favorably than Charley does.

"With EJ Manuel's arm talent and stature, I think he rates right in there with that group we're going to talk about this year."

Manuel has admitted the difference in terms of pressure is huge for quarterbacks going in the first round versus those that go later in the draft. He might have be rated as more of a second round player but he'll still have to live up to expectations as being the 16th overall pick. Such is life in today's win-now NFL.

Between one and four quarterbacks could go in the first round in the 2014 NFL Draft, but we're sure some agents are already sending out Casserly's quote about who he has rated ahead of Manuel in hopes of boosting some player's stock. After all, there are a number of teams who could be looking to grab a signal-caller early in the draft.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
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Davis: Aaron Murray hype machine gets in gear after pro dayBy Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

The hot quarterback prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft this week is Zach Mettenberger. He had his pro day on Wednesday and impressed scouts in attendance by throwing the ball well for the first time in public since ACL surgery.

It wasn't a perfect workout for Mettenberger, but more than anything he showed he was healthy. That's huge for the former Tigers star because he could see his name called in the second round of the draft, a stark rise compared to where he was in NFL circles a year ago.

Though he's not mentioned in the same vein, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray actually beat Metteneberger out for the starting job with the Bulldogs a few years ago and is also coming off the same injury during his senior year. His pro day will also offer an opportunity to show he's healthy and if that's the case, like Mettenberger, could wind up boosting his stock to the point where he's a second-round pick.

"I'm calling my shot like Babe Ruth," NFL Media analyst Charles Davis said on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft". "After Aaron Murray's pro day next week, his name is going to blow up and we're going to be talking about him in the second round mix."

Murray is the SEC's record-holder for touchdown passes and holds a host of school passing records at Georgia. Coming off an ACL tear will give some teams pause, but he is mostly knocked by NFL scouts for his shorter-than-average height (6-foot-1) for a pro quarterback. If teams are willing to overlook that, he has a quick release and and has proven he can make good decisions against tough defenses in college. Still, he faces an uphill battle to be labeled as one of the better quarterbacks in the draft.

At this point in the pre-draft process, quarterbacks Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr have separated themselves from a number of others and are likely to go in the first round of the draft. Others are nipping at their heels as second day choices however, including Murray, Mettenberger, Jimmy Garoppolo and AJ McCarron.

"We have all those quarterbacks and (Murray) might be the best one out of them," Davis said. "In fact, I believe he is the best one out of him."

That's high praise, especially when you add in Tony Dungy's observation that Murray will be like Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson.

At least a dozen teams are reportedly interested in the Georgia signal-caller so if Davis and others are to be believed, Murray might just end up being a draft steal for one of them down the road.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
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2014 NFL Draft: Draft Board 3.0

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

Each draft season, I do four draft boards: one after the Senior Bowl, one post-Combine, one after most pro days and then a final one in the days leading up to the draft in May. The first two draft boards were both top-50, but the final two will expand to my top-100 prospects in this class.

Now under a month to go until the 2014 NFL Draft, the draft board expands to my top-100 prospects in this year's group. There isn't much movement among the top-25 (the order of my top seven prospects hasn't changed since December), but a few prospects have slowly worked their way up the board like Northern Illinois DB Jimmie Ward (No. 20) and Boise State DE Demarcus Lawrence (No. 24), two of my favorites in this year's class.

Top-100 Draft Board 3.0

1. Teddy Bridgewater QB, Louisville (6-2, 214, 4.67, JR)

Although his pro day was "average" according to those in attendance, Bridgewater remains at No. 1 on my draft board. His natural passing talent and ability to digest and process information above the neck are the reasons he is still my top prospect in this draft class.

2. Jadeveon Clowney DE, South Carolina (6-5, 266, 4.53, JR)

With a 4.53 40-yard dash and 37.5” vertical, Clowney confirmed what we already knew – he's a freak athlete. But the football character concerns are still there and while he has immense potential, does he have the motivation to reach his NFL ceiling?

3. Gregory Robinson OT, Auburn (6-5, 332, 4.92, rSO)

While we expected good numbers from the athletic marvel, Robinson impressed us all with a 4.92 40-yard dash, showing off his strength as well with 32 reps on the bench press. Yes, he's still developing in pass protection, but his athletic upside is awesome.

4. Khalil Mack OLB, Buffalo (6-3, 251, 4.65, rSR)

A versatile, relentless pass rusher, Mack was extremely productive in college and holds several career NCAA records, including forced fumbles (16) and tackles for loss (75). He is always around the ball with his combination of speed, power and awareness.

5. Jake Matthews OT, Texas A&M (6-5, 308, 5.07, SR)

Probably the “safest” prospect in this class, Matthews started three seasons at right tackle before moving to the left side in 2013. He had a solid performance at the Combine, which confirmed his athleticism, fundamentally-sound technique and high football character.

6. Anthony Barr OLB, UCLA (6-5, 255, 4.66, 4SR)

A former running back, Barr moved pass rusher last season and excelled at backer for the Bruins, totaling 41.5 tackles for loss the past two seasons. He needs to refine some technical aspects of his game, but his speed/strength off the edge is exciting.

7. Sammy Watkins WR, Clemson (6-1, 211, 4.43, JR)

With a 4.43 40-yard dash, Watkins showed off his athleticism at the Combine and backed up what his tape tells us as well. He needs some polish in a few areas, but he has above average vision and acceleration and projects as a borderline WR1/WR2 in the NFL.

8. Mike Evans WR, Texas A&M (6-5, 231, 4.53, rSO)

A physical, imposing target, Evans was Johnny Football's No. 1 target and safety valve in College Station the past two seasons. He isn't the fastest or most fluid athlete, but he boxes out defenders and has a large catching radius to dominate at the catch point.

9. Blake Bortles QB, UCF (6-5, 232, 4.93, rJR)

With the other top quarterbacks choosing not to throw, Bortles took advantage of the big stage in Indianapolis and performed well, tossing strikes and looking comfortable doing so. He is the top quarterback in this draft according to many around the league.

10. Eric Ebron TE, North Carolina (6-4, 250, 4.60, JR)

A wide receiver in a tight end's body, Ebron is a freakish athlete with the ability to make highlight-reel catches look easy. He is a work-in-progress as a blocker and will drop some easy ones, but his fluid athleticism and playmaking ability at the position are near elite.

11. Taylor Lewan OT, Michigan (6-7, 309, 4.87, rSR)

While he shows his light feet on tape, Lewan backed it up at the Combine with excellent numbers in the agility and positional drills. He needs to keep his emotions under control on the football field and play with more consistency, but he has all the tools to start at left tackle in the NFL.

12. Louis Nix DT, Notre Dame (6-2, 331, 5.42, rJR)

An athletic nose tackle, Nix has monster ability, consistently making plays behind, up and down the line of scrimmage. A knee injury contributed to an up-and-down 2013 season, but he is very active for his size and a double-team magnet – impact doesn't always show in the box score.

13. Calvin Pryor FS, Louisville (5-11, 207, 4.58, JR)

A heat-seeking missile in the secondary, Pryor has physical take-on strength and wraps and drives through his target with violence. He will freelance too much at times, but he displays the athleticism and fluid change of motion to hold up in the deep half of the field.

14. CJ Mosley OLB/ILB, Alabama (6-2, 234, 4.65, SR)

Mosley is a smart, assignment sound player who was the leader of the Alabama defense. He doesn't play a sexy position, but has an accurate first step with a consistently disciplined approach to the game, playing at the same speed and temperament on each snap.

15. Zack Martin OG, Notre Dame (6-4, 308, 5.22, rSR)

The top prospect in Mobile this year, Martin manned the left tackle spot the last four years at Notre Dame, but he projects best inside where he could be a future Pro Bowler. Martin keeps his frame square and low with the foot quickness to mirror and strong hands to punch.

16. Aaron Donald DT, Pittsburgh (6-1, 285, 4.68, SR)

While Clowney received most of the publicity, Donald had the best Combine performance among the defensive linemen with a 4.68 40-yard dash, 32” vertical jump and 35 reps on the bench press. He lacks ideal size, but uses his natural leverage to his advantage.

17. Brandin Cooks WR, Oregon State (5-10, 189, 4.33, JR)

A receiver with joystick athleticism, Cooks has lightning-fast feet and jitterbug quickness to create separation and do something after the catch. He'll have some drops with his smaller hands, but Cooks seems to be moving at a different speed than everyone else on the field.

18. Darqueze Dennard CB, Michigan State (5-11, 199, 4.52, SR)

The 2013 winner of the Thorpe Award, Dennard has average speed and size for the position, but he is smart, competitive and confident. If he can cut down on the downfield contact, Dennard has a chance to be a very good cover man in the NFL for a long time.

19. Kyle Fuller CB, Virginia Tech (6-0, 190, 4.49, SR)

A versatile defensive back, Fuller is aggressive and smart and the game appears to come natural to him. He is an inconsistent tackler and needs to stay healthy, but he has the smooth hips, transition skills and ballskills to be a NFL starter at cornerback.

20. Jimmie Ward SS, Northern Illinois (5-11, 193, 4.59, SR)

The top senior safety on the board, Ward is a versatile defensive back with cornerback movement skills and the physical mentality of a safety. He takes aggressive, confident angles in zone, but also shows the feet and athleticism to play tight in man coverage.

21. Jason Verrett CB, TCU (5-9, 189, 4.38, SR)

Although undersized with only good, not great, speed (plays more like 4.5, not 4.3), Verrett is a feisty and physical player with ballhawking read/react quickness. He is ideally suited to be an inside corner with his swivel hips and physical nature to cover the slot and be reliable vs. the run.

22. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix FS, Alabama (6-1, 208, 4.58, JR)

A rangy, fluid athlete, Clinton-Dix covers a lot of ground against both the pass and the run and projects to either free or strong safety. He has the aggressive nature to attack ballcarriers and shows the read/react quickness to diagnose and take accurate angles in coverage.

23. Xavier Su'a-Filo OG, UCLA (6-4, 307, 5.04, JR)

Su'a-Filo lined up at left guard and left tackle this past season for the Bruins and played consistently well for the Bruins productive offense. He gets himself in trouble when he overextends himself, but he is an easy bender with a strong base to engage at the point of attack.

24. Demarcus Lawrence DE, Boise State (6-3, 251, 4.80, JR)

An athletic, fierce pass rusher, Lawrence has the get-off burst and smooth acceleration to get past blocks and finish in the backfield. He is still raw in several areas, but pass rushers with his ability are hot commodities on draft weekend.

25. Ryan Shazier OLB, Ohio State (6-1, 2367 4.58, JR)

One of the few bright spots on an inconsistent Ohio State defense, Shazier finished his 2013 season with 143 total tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss. He lacks ideal bulk and has some discipline issues, but his blend of explosive quickness and initial strength is awesome.

26. Jace Amaro TE, Texas Tech (6-5, 265, 4.74, JR)

Amaro played more of a slot receiver position in college and projects as a joker tight end at the next level. He has room to get stronger and mature both physically and emotionally, but his speed and toughness project well to the next level.

27. Scott Crichton DE, Oregon State (6-3, 273, 4.84, rJR)

Crichton has a powerful first step with impressive initial momentum to attack blockers and bully them backwards like a battering ram. He lacks ideal fluidity, but has some lower body explosion with a nonstop relentless motor to finish plays with hustle and motivation.

28. Carl Bradford OLB, Arizona State (6-1, 250, 4.76, rJR)

The top defender from an underrated Sun Devil defense, Bradford is an intense and energetic rusher who finds a way to get to the quarterback. He has some tweener traits and won't fit every defense, but he has the initial quickness and power to be effective as a stand-up rusher.

29. Kony Ealy DE, Missouri (6-4, 273, 4.92, rJR)

A good-sized athlete with plus length, Ealy displays smooth acceleration off the edge and bends the arc very well. He is still a tad raw with ball awareness, but he is a forceful striker with the NFL tools to line up inside or outside at the next level.

30. Marquise Lee WR, USC (6-0, 192, 4.52, JR)

Lee set several program records for the Trojans over his career and is a fun player to watch with the ball. He does have some medical concerns with his knee and will have his share of drops, but Lee has cat-like quickness to get open and create as a ballcarrier.

31. Marcus Roberson CB, Florida (6-0, 191, 4.61, JR)

A fearless, confident cover corner, Roberson battled through several injuries in 2013, most notably a left knee issue. But when healthy, he has the footwork, movement skills and competitive nature to blanket receivers along with the instincts to make plays on the ball.

32. Derek Carr QB, Fresno State (6-2, 214, 4.69, rSR)

David Carr's little brother, Carr has top-shelf arm strength with the ability to make every NFL throw needed. His issues with pressure and footwork are easy to see, but he is ultracompetitive with enough size and mobility to start at the NFL level.

33. Johnny Manziel QB, Texas A&M (6-0, 207, 4.68, rSO)

A magician at the quarterback position, Manziel has the arm strength, competitive spirit and natural instincts that make him an exciting football player. But his decision-making and durability are strong questions marks, making his transition to the NFL difficult to predict.

34. Cyrus Kouandijio OT, Alabama (6-5, 322, 5.59, JR)

With some lingering durability concerns regarding his knees, Kouandjio's draft stock is in flux right now as teams figure out the truth behind his past injuries. But if he's healthy, Kouandjio has the athletic and natural upside to start at the next level.

35. Kyle Van Noy OLB, BYU (6-3, 243, 4.71, SR)

The type of player who scratches and crawls his way to the ballcarrier, Van Noy is twitchy off the snap with smooth hips and footwork in space. He needs to get stronger and continue to develop his pass rush moves, but he can do a lot of things, not just rush the pocket.

36. Jeremiah Attaochu OLB, Georgia Tech (6-3, 252, 4.68, SR)

A productive collegiate player, Attaochu has seen time at defensive end and linebacker at Georgia Tech, but projects best as a stand up rusher in a 3-4 defense. He has the athleticism and determination to make an instant impact.

37. Billy Turner OG, North Dakota State (6-5, 315, 5.16, rSR)

The starting left tackle for three-time FCS Champions, Turner has quick feet and natural body control to hold his own in space and combo blocks. If he can learn to sink his hips and not bend so much at the waist, he has Pro Bowls in his future, probably best inside at guard.

38. Dee Ford DE, Auburn (6-2, 252, 4.67, SR)

An athletic edge rusher, Ford has explosive quickness with natural bend, acceleration and flexibility to get around blockers with natural speed. He didn't participate at the Combine due to a few injury concerns, but is expected to be healthy for Auburn's pro day.

39. Jimmy Garoppolo QB, Eastern Illinois (6-2, 226, 4.97, SR)

Although he struggles with pressure, Garoppolo has the quick process needed to get the ball out in a hurry with a snap release and strong understanding of the offense. He wins with his intelligence to retain and digest information with ease and execute on the field.

40. Justin Gilbert CB, Oklahoma State (6-0, 202, 4.37, SR)

Gilbert had an excellent Combine, highlighted by a 4.37 40-yard dash, which will likely move him up draft boards, possibly into the top-10. However, he still has questions with his footwork and technique to be a consistent cover man up and down the field.

41. Allen Robinson WR, Penn State (6-2, 220, 4.60, JR)

A fluid, flexible athlete for his larger frame, Robinson was extremely productive the past two seasons and leaves Penn State with several school receiving records. He needs to eliminate the drops, but he is physical with deceiving acceleration to be a dangerous catch-and-go target.

42. Jarvis Landry WR, LSU (5-11, 205, 4.77, JR)

A pair of the strongest hands in the draft, Landry has big mitts to secure grabs and make the tough catches look easy. He's not an elite size/speed athlete, which was evident at the Combine, but he is a disciplined route runner with above average body control, ballskills and competitiveness.

43. Dominique Easley DT, Florida (6-2, 288, 4.93, SR)

Easley has battled several injuries over his career, most recently an ACL that sidelined him for most of 2013. But when healthy, he has a sudden first step to attack gaps before blockers can set up with the natural athleticism to track and finish at the ballcarrier.

44. Odell Beckham WR, LSU (5-11, 198, 4.43, JR)

An impact return man on special teams, Beckham is a speedy, smooth athlete who has improved his hands and route running since he arrived in Baton Rouge. He shows very good shake-and-burst out of his cuts with a large catching radius to elevate and attack the ball.

45. Troy Niklas TE, Notre Dame (6-6, 270, 4.84, JR)

The best blocking tight end in this class, Niklas is a former defensive lineman who is still developing on offense. He is a long, lumbering athlete in the Kyle Rudolph mold, but still has room to develop as a receiver with his route running and ballskills.

46. Bradley Roby CB, Ohio State (5-11, 194, 4.39, rJR)

Despite a forgettable 2013 season, Roby has the impressive speed and swivel hips that can't be taught. But his lack of height and length along with streaky technique and awareness makes him a work in progress and a player in need of hard-nosed defensive coaching.

47. Antonio Richardson OT, Tennessee (6-6, 336, 5.30, JR)

A heavy waist bender who gets lazy at times, Richardson has exciting potential because of his wide base, stout frame and vines for arms. His inconsistent technique makes it tough for him to sustain, but if he irons out the wrinkles, Richardson has a high NFL ceiling.

48. Cody Latimer WR, Indiana (6-3, 215, 4.45, JR)

A former basketball stand-out, Latimer has transitioned very well to the football field and his athleticism makes his NFL ceiling a hot topic in NFL circles. He is still unpolished, but the potential will land him on the draft's second day.

49. Timmy Jernigan DT, Florida State (6-2, 299, 5.06, JR)

Jernigan is a flexible, bendy athlete for an interior lineman who is a tough guy to slow down when he wins off the snap. He needs to improve his hand use to shed and combat blockers, but when all the cylinders are firing, Jernigan can be tough to handle.

50. LaMarcus Joyner FS, Florida State (5-8, 184, 4.55, SR)

Despite his short stature, Joyner is the type of player who is impossible to ignore because of the way he jumps off the tape. His lack of size will show up in man coverage and run support, but he plays fast and decisive with violent attitude, projecting him to a nickel role.

51. Morgan Moses OT, Virginia (6-6, 314, 5.35, SR)

52. Gabe Jackson OG, Mississippi State (6-3, 336, 5.51, SR)

53. Davante Adams WR, Fresno State (6-1, 212, 4.56, rSO)

54. Carlos Hyde RB, Ohio State (6-0, 230, 4.66, SR)

55. Dakota Dozier OG, Furman (6-4, 313, 5.42, rSR)

56. Terrence Brooks S, Florida State (5-11, 198, 4.42, SR)

57. Marcus Smith OLB, Louisville (6-3, 251, 4.68, SR)

58. Jaylen Watkins CB, Florida (6-0, 194, 4.41, SR)

59. Donte Moncrief WR, Mississippi (6-2, 221, 4.40, JR)

60. Kelvin Benjamin WR, Florida State (6-5, 240, 4.61, rSO)

61. Phillip Gaines CB, Rice (6-0, 193, 4.38, rSR)

62. Marcus Martin C, USC (6-3, 320, 5.28, JR)

63. Kelcy Quarles DT, South Carolina (6-4, 297, 5.03, JR)

64. Bashaud Breeland CB, Clemson (5-11, 197, 4.62, rJR)

65. Bruce Ellington WR, South Carolina (5-9, 197, 4.45, rJR)

66. Ego Ferguson DT, LSU (6-3, 315, 4.98, rJR)

67. Jordan Matthews WR, Vanderbilt (6-3, 212, 4.46, SR)

68. Stephon Tuitt DL, Notre Dame (6-6, 304, 4.92, JR)

69. Joel Bitonio OG, Nevada (6-4, 302, 4.97, rSR)

70. DaQuan Jones DT, Penn State ((6-4, 322, 5.35, SR)

71. Pierre Desir CB, Lindenwood (6-1, 198, 4.59, rSR)

72. Tre Mason RB, Auburn (5-9, 207, 4.50, JR)

73. Jack Mewhort OT, Ohio State (6-6, 309, 5.37, rSR)

74. Taylor Hart DL, Oregon (6-6, 281, 4.86, rSR)

75. Ra'Shede Hageman DT, Minnesota (6-6, 310, 5.02, rSR)

76. Brett Smith QB, Wyoming (6-2, 206, 4.83, JR)

77. Jeremy Hill RB, LSU (6-1, 233, 4.66, rSO)

78. Weston Richburg C, Colorado State (6-3, 298, 5.10, SR)

79. Kareem Martin DE, North Carolina (6-6, 272, 4.72, SR)

80. Rashaad Reynolds CB, Oregon State (5-10, 189, 4.51, rSR)

81. Aaron Murray QB, Georgia (6-1, 207, 4.84, rSR)

82. Martavis Bryant WR, Clemson 6-4, 211, 4.42, JR)

83. Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE, Washington (6-6, 262, 4.75, JR)

84. Telvin Smith OLB, Florida State (6-3, 218, 4.52, SR)

85. Jared Abbrederis WR, Wisconsin (6-1, 195, 4.50, rSR)

86. Will Clarke DE, West Virginia (6-6, 271, 4.77, rSR)

87. Dion Bailey S, USC (6-0, 201, 4.66, rJR)

88. Ja'Wuan James OT, Tennessee (6-6, 311, 5.34, SR)

89. Jemea Thomas S, Georgia Tech (5-9, 192, 4.55, rSR)

90. Terrance West RB, Towson (5-9, 225, 4.54, JR)

91. Devonta Freeman RB, Florida State (5-8, 206, 4.58, JR)

92. Robert Herron WR, Wyoming (5-9, 193, 4.48, SR)

93. C.J. Fiedorowicz TE, Iowa (6-6, 265, 4.76, SR)

94. Charles Leno OT, Boise State (6-4, 303, 5.28, rSR)

95. Aaron Lynch OLB, South Florida (6-5, 249, 4.69, JR)

96. Chris Smith DE, Arkansas (6-1, 266, 4.71, SR)

97. Will Sutton DT, Arizona State (6-1, 303, 5.36, rSR)

98. Caraun Reid DT, Princeton (6-2, 302, 4.91, rSR)

99. Chris Borland MLB, Wisconsin (6-0, 248, 4.83, rSR)

100. Antone Exum CB, Virginia Tech (6-0, 213, 4.59, rSR)
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Rotoworld:

NFL Films' Greg Cosell believes Pitt QB Tom Savage commits the cardinal sin of "backing up in the face pressure."
"But his arm talent and the ability to snap it off, and he also played in an NFL type offense, is very impressive," Cosell said. The NFL Films producer called Savage a "late-round guy" and said the quarterback has the look of a conventional, prototypical pocket passer. The buzz is trending towards Savage being selected in the second-round, which is a bit unbelievable, but the NFL does obsess over big bodied, big armed, quarterbacks who have dropped from center.

Source: Philadelphia Eagles
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NFL.com's Gil Brandt wrote "I'm taking" Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "and I'm taking him in the second round because he likely won't be there in the third."
The long-time Cowboys' executive speaks from experience in this example of how a player can jump up a round or two. And, at this point, it would almost be an upset if Savage is on the board when Round 3 kicks off. "His lack of experience, not his ability, could hinder him early," Brandt said when suggesting his drafting team have another option in 2014. "He only played in 28 college games with three different schools -- Rutgers, Arizona and Pittsburgh. However, you saw progress in his final season at Pitt when he threw nine interceptions but only three in the final nine games. He has a gun for an arm that was tough to show off with little talent around him. I think that Savage will be selected in the top half of the second round."

Source: NFL.com
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Pitt QB Tom Savage went at the top of the second round, No. 33 overall, to the Texans in ESPN analyst Todd McShay's newest mock draft.
McShay slotted South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney to Houston at No. 1, a scenario that would scream for a QB at the top of the second. Enter Savage, the fastest rising prospect in the draft. "This pick is made based on the premise that the Texans wouldn't need him to play right away," McShay wrote. "Savage has very good arm strength, but Bill O'Brien would need to work with him on getting the ball out quicker and improving his footwork."

Source: ESPN Insider
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ESPN's Todd McShay writes that if the Raiders select a QB at No. 5, it will be UCF QB Blake Bortles.
In other words, if Bortles is selected in the top four, Oakland will wait on a signal-caller. In McShay's mock, the Raiders select WR Sammy Watkins. "They need help at wide receiver, and Watkins has an elite skill set with excellent acceleration as a vertical route runner and after the catch," McShay wrote. "He also has great competitiveness and body control on contested catches that allow him to play bigger than his 6-1, 211-pound frame."

Source: ESPN Insider
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Wyoming WR Robert Herron's visit with the Saints, which began Wednesday, will bleed into Thursday.
Drew Brees will appreciate the wheels on this burner. Herron recorded a low 4.3 forty sprint at his pro day workout, proving what most already knew: He can take the top off any defense. He's also a nice fit for New Orleans in that he's extremely difficult to jam at the line against man coverage.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
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Faust said:
Casserly: Seven QBs in 2014 NFL Draft rate ahead of EJ Manuel

By Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

"I've got a lot of guys rated ahead of (Manuel) based on their college career and based on Manuel's college career," Casserly said. "[Teddy] Bridgewater, [blake] Bortles, [Johnny] Manziel, [Derek] Carr, [Jimmy] Garoppolo and [AJ] McCarron -- I've got them all rated ahead of EJ Manuel coming out a year ago. And you know what, LSU quarterback [Zach] Mettenberger, I've got him ahead of Manuel, too."
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Wouldn't Matt Leinart trump all these guys except for Manziel based on college career? I not sure how any of this adds to the evaluation of the QBs this year. I still think Manuel will be a very good NFL QB. I can't believe how often people quote Casserly like he is a QB guru. His analysis here is just embarrassing.

 
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Faust said:
NFL Draft Cheatsheet: QBs
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Who is the most underrated?LSU QB Zach Mettenberger.

At 6’5’, 230 pounds, Mettenberger looks like he was genetically engineered by the same Russian team responsible for Ivan Drago, except instead of being asked to win the cold war, Mettenberger was tasked with playing quarterback in the NFL.
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This is hilarious.

Edited to add:

BTW, does anyone remember Josh McCown when he entered the league. Cardinal fans routinely called him Ivan Drago for several reasons. First, he kinda looks like Dolph Lungren and McCown's combine numbers were off the charts for a QB http://www.nfldrafts...=2002&genpos=QB. Second, McCown played behind arguably the worst offensive line in the league. He would get the crap beat out of him each and every game. It was amazing the amount of punishment he took in those early years yet he always managed to play though it.

 
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State of the Draft: Browns Quarterback dilemma, Garoppolo/McCarron value, Mike Evans projection and more

Eric Galko

We’re a little less than a month away from the draft, but there’s still quite a bit teams need to gather about the prospects they’re considering drafting in early May. Private workouts are finishing up, final scouting reports are being reviewed and team-by-team draft projections are being finalized for every NFL franchise.

Where the quarterbacks land on draft day is still to-be-determined, but how teams view these passers is becoming clearer as the process continues. Could the Browns have a split in the decision making when it comes to which passer they want? How do teams view AJ McCarron? What will the Jaguars do at #3 overall? And which two defensive lineman are highly viewed by NFL teams.

That and more in this edition of State of the Draft.

January 29th State of the Draft
February 26th State of the Draft
April 9th Mock Draft

-We’ll start with the quarterbacks, because that’s where most draft discussion starts. I’ve heard teams expect Blake Bortles to impress during private workouts thanks to his skill-set and ideal size as a quarterback. Drafting a quarterback with clear developmental needs is concerning, but getting the chance to see them up close (and having your quarterback coach meet with him) could work to ease teams’ minds about how far away he really is.

-Dane Bruglar of CBS Sports echoed these thoughts on Wednesday too, but Jimmy Garoppolo is a coveted man, and likely won’t last far into the second round if he gets there at all. After speaking with him, his coaches and teammates from his time in college and at all-star events, it’s clear he’s a highly intelligent quarterback with legitimate leadership capabilities. More importantly, he’s a guy that his teammates truly respect and will “go to war with”. That may seem minor, but having a guy who can foster confidence in himself through the locker room isn’t easy to find and could pay huge dividends. Just ask scouts how Joey Harrington and Blaine Gabbert’s lack of locker room confidence affected their development.

-Even before the story on AJ McCarron having his wedding to Katherine Webb be made into a TV show came out, teams had concerns about his ability to fit as a quarterback in an NFL locker room. He hasn’t drawn rave reviews from teams as it relates to his character, and at least one team has dropped him significantly after meeting with him. Football IQ-wise, he may be the second most pro-ready quarterback in this class (behind Teddy Bridgewater), but teams may opt for upside over McCarron.

-The Cleveland Browns are going to draft a quarterback someplace in the top-40 picks. That seems clear. Which one they might target? That’s less clear. From what I’ve heard, the scouting staff may prefer Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, both 26th or 35th overall targets. However, new head coach Mike Pettine and owner Jim Haslam reportedly are excited about the potential of landing Johnny Manziel. I’ve long put Manziel at the Browns pick at number 26 overall, because of these rumors and that I simply can’t find a team fit for Manziel in the first round.

-The Vikings have been most frequently linked to Zach Mettenberger in round two, but they’ll strongly consider Derek Carr if he’s available at #8 overall. Don’t be surprised if Carr goes above Manziel, and potentially is the first quarterback taken.

-Jaguars are going to be a fun team to follow on draft day, both because they have a host of picks and they could go in so many directions. But at number three overall, they could go a number of different ways. First off, if Jadeveon Clowney is there, he’ll be the pick. After him, both Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins are strong possibilities at third overall. I still think they consider a quarterback (Bridgewater has been their man since mid-season, but that can change based on their recent private workouts) at 3rd overall, but it wouldn’t shock me if they pass on a quarterback in the first for Garoppolo in the second.

-Jadeveon Clowney is by far the favorite to be the first overall pick, whether it’s the Texans or Falcons selecting. We could see Houston wait to be on the clock before pulling the trigger, hoping to garner as much trade interest as possible.

-A Ryan Mallett trade isn’t dead…yet. The most likely scenario as of now is if the Texans miss out on their second-round quarterback target and instead opt to trade for him. Still, it seems unlikely.

-Prime trade-up candidates (including into the top-10 picks): New York Giants (Greg Robinson, Mike Evans), Baltimore Ravens (Taylor Lewan, Mike Evans, Ra’Shede Hageman), Miami Dolphins (Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews), Arizona Cardinals (Anthony Barr, Taylor Lewan), Philadelphia Eagles (Odell Beckham, Anthony Barr) and the San Francisco 49ers (Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, Justin Gilbert).

-Injury concerns every year drop players further than the media expects. Austin Seferian-Jenkins and CJ Mosley are both contenders to slip a bit on draft day, especially ASJ.

-Mike Evans and Anthony Barr aren’t easy to peg as to where they land on draft day, but they seem to be the trendy “best player available” for teams that maybe miss on their ideal draft picks. Evans could go as high as 4th overall to the Browns, while Barr has suitors at 7 (Bucs), 8 (Vikings), 11 (Titans), and 12 (Giants). The Jets could be a team to trade up if he starts to slip.

-Ra’Shede Hageman and Kony Ealy both seem to be highly coveted, and both seem like strong top-20 possibilities. Hageman could go to the Titans and Giants, and I doubt he slips past the Steelers at 15. Ealy could have the Titans and Giants as suitors too, but the Cowboys and Cardinals are likely his two most likely options.

-Despite being under-sized and having more than few teams remove him from their first-round discussion, Jason Verrett may have an outside shot at going in the first round. Denver looks like an intriguing target. If cornerbacks go early in the draft (three went in the top-15 in my recent mock draft), he’ll have some options in the 25-35 range.
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Jimmy Garoppolo working out for Vikings on FridayPosted by Josh Alper on April 11, 2014, 11:33 AM EDT

The Vikings are expected to come away from the draft with a new quarterback and they’ll be taking a look at a candidate for the job on Friday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the team is taking in a private workout by Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The Vikings, like all teams looking for a starting quarterback and a few teams already set at that position, have been busy in recent weeks looking at the top prospects at the position while Garoppolo has also been making the rounds.

Garoppolo probably isn’t in the mix for the Vikings’ eighth overall pick as he is widely considered to be a prospect who will come off the board on the second day of the draft. The same is true of LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who the Vikings met with this week, and targeting one of those players would allow the Vikings to fill another hole early before turning their attention to their need at quarterback.

There are several other options available and, with seven teams selecting before them on May 8, the Vikings will be considering all of them as they try to find the right person for offensive coordinator Norv Turner to mold into a starter.
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Beefeaters said:
Interesting... only 4 RB's in the top 100. None of which are in the top 50. And Sankey doesn't make the cut.
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This is a pretty bad RB group.

Not everyone is very high on Sankey. I saw where he was ranked in the message board rookie poll here (1.03) and thought he was pretty overrated there.

There are 10+ WRs rated with a higher overall grade than Sankey on NFL.com.

And 8 WRs have higher ratings than the #2 RB on their list (Jeremy Hill). Hyde is their #1 RB.

I think it's fair to say that you're probably going to be picking anything other than a RB this year if you're a true "best player available" drafter.

 
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EBF said:
Beefeaters said:
Interesting... only 4 RB's in the top 100. None of which are in the top 50. And Sankey doesn't make the cut.
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This is a pretty bad RB group.

Not everyone is very high on Sankey. I saw where he was ranked in the message board rookie poll here (1.03) and thought he was pretty overrated there.

There are 10+ WRs rated with a higher overall grade than Sankey on NFL.com.

And 8 WRs have higher ratings than the #2 RB on their list (Jeremy Hill). Hyde is their #1 RB.

I think it's fair to say that you're probably going to be picking anything other than a RB this year if you're a true "best player available" drafter.
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Couldn't disagree with you more on the RB talent in this draft!It is a stacked class!

 
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EBF said:
Beefeaters said:
Interesting... only 4 RB's in the top 100. None of which are in the top 50. And Sankey doesn't make the cut.
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This is a pretty bad RB group.

Not everyone is very high on Sankey. I saw where he was ranked in the message board rookie poll here (1.03) and thought he was pretty overrated there.

There are 10+ WRs rated with a higher overall grade than Sankey on NFL.com.

And 8 WRs have higher ratings than the #2 RB on their list (Jeremy Hill). Hyde is their #1 RB.

I think it's fair to say that you're probably going to be picking anything other than a RB this year if you're a true "best player available" drafter.
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Hyde is pretty underrated because he ran poorly at the combine. His FF value could be higher than all but 3 or 4 rookie WR this year depending on where he goes.

I'm wondering if we are going to see less and less dynamic athletes who decide to play the RB position. You would think they would decide to play other positions because of the shelf life of a typical RB is lower than other positions. Also the position continues to be devalued. This in turn is lowering the compensation received to play the position.

Take a player like LB Ryan Shazier for instance. He's an amazing athlete. 6'1 almost 240 pounds. Ran a 4.36 40 at his pro day. Sound's like some beastly RB numbers to me. Why would he play RB? Even if he could? He will make more money and typically have a longer career playing OLB in a 3-4. I'm sure some of the younger better HS athletes playing football are shying away from the position. Which will make the Adrian Peterson level RB's even more rare.

 
Milkman said:
I'm wondering if we are going to see less and less dynamic athletes who decide to play the RB position. You would think they would decide to play other positions because of the shelf life of a typical RB is lower than other positions. Also the position continues to be devalued. This in turn is lowering the compensation received to play the position.
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I have talked a lot about this, but I don't think the position has been devalued very much in the past 10 years or so. It hasn't been a glamor position in the NFL for a long time. The reason why this crop and the last crop will fail to produce a first round back mainly comes down to the lack of talent.

If a guy with special talent and a clean track record was out there, he would still be a first round pick.

It's mostly just random variance. There were five RBs picked in the first round in 2008. Was that because the league suddenly started valuing RBs highly or was that because that group had an inordinate amount of great prospects? Definitely the latter. There is no Chris Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, or Rashard Mendenhall in this draft. There is nobody with special explosiveness or a special height/weight speed combo. Thus there will be no first round backs.

 
Milkman said:
EBF said:
Beefeaters said:
Interesting... only 4 RB's in the top 100. None of which are in the top 50. And Sankey doesn't make the cut.
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This is a pretty bad RB group.

Not everyone is very high on Sankey. I saw where he was ranked in the message board rookie poll here (1.03) and thought he was pretty overrated there.

There are 10+ WRs rated with a higher overall grade than Sankey on NFL.com.

And 8 WRs have higher ratings than the #2 RB on their list (Jeremy Hill). Hyde is their #1 RB.

I think it's fair to say that you're probably going to be picking anything other than a RB this year if you're a true "best player available" drafter.
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Hyde is pretty underrated because he ran poorly at the combine. His FF value could be higher than all but 3 or 4 rookie WR this year depending on where he goes.

I'm wondering if we are going to see less and less dynamic athletes who decide to play the RB position. You would think they would decide to play other positions because of the shelf life of a typical RB is lower than other positions. Also the position continues to be devalued. This in turn is lowering the compensation received to play the position.

Take a player like LB Ryan Shazier for instance. He's an amazing athlete. 6'1 almost 240 pounds. Ran a 4.36 40 at his pro day. Sound's like some beastly RB numbers to me. Why would he play RB? Even if he could? He will make more money and typically have a longer career playing OLB in a 3-4. I'm sure some of the younger better HS athletes playing football are shying away from the position. Which will make the Adrian Peterson level RB's even more rare.
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That could be an indirect reason for the wave of passing offenses in the league as well as the rule changes too.
 
Workout warriors come and go

Lots amount to nothing

On-the-field producers, though,

Usually are something,

Qualitative, quantitative

Which are you to choose?

Trust your eyes is good advice

Don't, and you will lose

 
EBF said:
Milkman said:
I'm wondering if we are going to see less and less dynamic athletes who decide to play the RB position. You would think they would decide to play other positions because of the shelf life of a typical RB is lower than other positions. Also the position continues to be devalued. This in turn is lowering the compensation received to play the position.
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I have talked a lot about this, but I don't think the position has been devalued very much in the past 10 years or so. It hasn't been a glamor position in the NFL for a long time. The reason why this crop and the last crop will fail to produce a first round back mainly comes down to the lack of talent.

If a guy with special talent and a clean track record was out there, he would still be a first round pick.

It's mostly just random variance. There were five RBs picked in the first round in 2008. Was that because the league suddenly started valuing RBs highly or was that because that group had an inordinate amount of great prospects? Definitely the latter. There is no Chris Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, or Rashard Mendenhall in this draft. There is nobody with special explosiveness or a special height/weight speed combo. Thus there will be no first round backs.
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Mendenhall was never a 1st round talent.

I think the reason there were 5 RB drafted in the 1st round of that draft class has more to do with a lack of talent at other positions causing the RB to be higher picks than the talent of these RBs.

2014 there is a lot more talent at other positions thus driving draft position for RB down. Not because of the lack of talent at the RB position.

 
I don't know about everybody, but I never thought Mendy was worth a first rounder.

RB has been devalued in recent years. There is no way around that. The draft, FA market and pay for RBs the past few years has been a clear reflection of that.

 
duaneok66 said:
Virtually everyone had Mendenhall in the first round.
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Maybe I am alone on that one.

Considering his career and early retirement I don't think he lived up to the draft position.

As a prospect I don't see him as any better than than many of the RB available in 2014.

 
Biabreakable said:
duaneok66 said:
Virtually everyone had Mendenhall in the first round.
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Maybe I am alone on that one.

Considering his career and early retirement I don't think he lived up to the draft position.

As a prospect I don't see him as any better than than many of the RB available in 2014.
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You're not alone. As I recall, many didn't like him but when he was drafted by Pitt (a well run organization) people kind of assumed they were wrong about him. Because lord knows Pitt couldn't have been.
 
you are comparing a guy AFTER his career is over vs. what he looked like as a draft prospect (six?) years ago.

Apples and Oranges.

 
Biabreakable said:
EBF said:
Milkman said:
I'm wondering if we are going to see less and less dynamic athletes who decide to play the RB position. You would think they would decide to play other positions because of the shelf life of a typical RB is lower than other positions. Also the position continues to be devalued. This in turn is lowering the compensation received to play the position.
Click to expand...
I have talked a lot about this, but I don't think the position has been devalued very much in the past 10 years or so. It hasn't been a glamor position in the NFL for a long time. The reason why this crop and the last crop will fail to produce a first round back mainly comes down to the lack of talent.

If a guy with special talent and a clean track record was out there, he would still be a first round pick.

It's mostly just random variance. There were five RBs picked in the first round in 2008. Was that because the league suddenly started valuing RBs highly or was that because that group had an inordinate amount of great prospects? Definitely the latter. There is no Chris Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, or Rashard Mendenhall in this draft. There is nobody with special explosiveness or a special height/weight speed combo. Thus there will be no first round backs.
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Mendenhall was never a 1st round talent.

I think the reason there were 5 RB drafted in the 1st round of that draft class has more to do with a lack of talent at other positions causing the RB to be higher picks than the talent of these RBs.

2014 there is a lot more talent at other positions thus driving draft position for RB down. Not because of the lack of talent at the RB position.
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I think it was all about the talent.

Look at DMC and Chris Johnson. ELITE speed. Excellent college production.

Look at Mendenhall and Jonathan Stewart. ELITE size/speed combos. Excellent college production.

Felix Jones was kind of a questionable pick in hindsight, but the other four all had the right kind of skill set and production to go that high.

Where are the 4.2-4.3 burners with excellent production or the 220+ pound backs with 4.4 speed in this draft? Pretty much nonexistent.

It's as simple as that.

 
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And maybe why RB has been devalued. Where any of these guys worth a 1st round draft pick. Chris Johnson is the closest and he is now in the FA line. Do you not expect more than that out of a 1st rounder. The rest have all disappointed while Arian Foster and Alfred Morris and such have come out of nowhere to be top dogs.

 
Crippler said:
And maybe why RB has been devalued. Where any of these guys worth a 1st round draft pick. Chris Johnson is the closest and he is now in the FA line. Do you not expect more than that out of a 1st rounder. The rest have all disappointed while Arian Foster and Alfred Morris and such have come out of nowhere to be top dogs.
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I think if you're an NFL team you'd probably feel a lot better rolling with a patchwork unit at RB than somewhere like QB, OT, CB, or DE.

Much easier to plug in a day three guy and get serviceable production at the RB spot.

But this is nothing new. It has been this way for as long as I've followed the draft.

There are basically three "types" of RBs who get picked in the first round.

1. ~220 pound backs with rare burst/explosiveness relative to their size (Mathews, Mendenhall, Stewart, Martin).

2. Undersized backs with elite speed (Spiller, Johnson, Bush).

3. Massive producers at big name schools with mediocre measurables (Benson, Moreno, Ingram).

And for all three groups, it's usually necessary to have at least one season of awesome college production. If you have a guy with the physical tools, but without the production, he probably won't go quite that high (i.e. Christine Michael).

Now ask yourself which prospects from the last couple draft classes fit this mold. The big guys this year are either slow/unexplosive (Hyde, Hill) or painfully one-dimensional (Andre Williams). The lighter guys did not run fast at the combine (Seastrunk, Mason). A guy like Sankey doesn't fit into either group, as he's neither especially big nor especially fast. So who's left? Jerick McKinnon? Small school. Converted QB. Not that big. Yea, he's not going in the first.

Same deal last year. Lacy? Slow. Bell? Weak combine. Ball? Not huge. Weak combine. Bernard? 4.50 speed at ~200 pounds. Knile and Michael fit the height/weight/speed mold, but each was coming into the league with injury questions on the back of a nightmare season. No momentum.

You could argue that someone like Lacy or Hyde fits into group three, but then that group is the weakest of the three anyway and the least deserving. You could argue that a team has to make a mistake to take a group 3 back in the first round, whereas some of the group 1 and group 2 guys actually repay the investment.

The media narrative will say the league is devaluing first round backs, but there's no real evidence of that. If someone like Todd Gurley rushed for 1400 yards next season, weighed 230, ran 4.4X at the combine, and STILL wasn't a first round pick, THEN you'd actually have a point that the league is devaluing the position. As of right now, it's more accurate to say that it takes an exceptional RB prospect to get picked in the first round and that the 2013 and 2014 classes just haven't yielded an exceptional RB prospect. Has nothing to do with changes in how the league views the position and everything to do with the players available.

We're looking at a little bit of a drought in terms of top shelf RB talent. That won't last forever.

 
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EBF said:
Crippler said:
And maybe why RB has been devalued. Where any of these guys worth a 1st round draft pick. Chris Johnson is the closest and he is now in the FA line. Do you not expect more than that out of a 1st rounder. The rest have all disappointed while Arian Foster and Alfred Morris and such have come out of nowhere to be top dogs.
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I think if you're an NFL team you'd probably feel a lot better rolling with a patchwork unit at RB than somewhere like QB, OT, CB, or DE.

Much easier to plug in a day three guy and get serviceable production at the RB spot.

But this is nothing new. It has been this way for as long as I've followed the draft.

There are basically three "types" of RBs who get picked in the first round.

1. ~220 pound backs with rare burst/explosiveness relative to their size (Mathews, Mendenhall, Stewart, Martin).

2. Undersized backs with elite speed (Spiller, Johnson, Bush).

3. Massive producers at big name schools with mediocre measurables (Benson, Moreno, Ingram).

And for all three groups, it's usually necessary to have at least one season of awesome college production. If you have a guy with the physical tools, but without the production, he probably won't go quite that high (i.e. Christine Michael).

Now ask yourself which prospects from the last couple draft classes fit this mold. The big guys this year are either slow/unexplosive (Hyde, Hill) or painfully one-dimensional (Andre Williams). The lighter guys did not run fast at the combine (Seastrunk, Mason). A guy like Sankey doesn't fit into either group, as he's neither especially big nor especially fast. So who's left? Jerick McKinnon? Small school. Converted QB. Not that big. Yea, he's not going in the first.

Same deal last year. Lacy? Slow. Bell? Weak combine. Ball? Not huge. Weak combine. Bernard? 4.50 speed at ~200 pounds. Knile and Michael fit the height/weight/speed guy, but each was coming into the league with injury questions on the back of a nightmare season. No momentum.

You could argue that someone like Lacy or Hyde fits into group three, but then that group is the weakest of the three anyway and the least deserving. You could argue that a team has to make a mistake to take a group 3 back in the first round, whereas some of the group 1 and group 2 guys actually repay the investment.

The media narrative will say the league is devaluing first round backs, but there's no real evidence of that. If someone like Todd Gurley rushed for 1400 yards next season, weighed 230, ran 4.4X at the combine, and STILL wasn't a first round pick, THEN you'd actually have a point that the league is devaluing the position. As of right now, it's more accurate to say that it takes an exceptional RB prospect to get picked in the first round and that the 2013 and 2014 classes just haven't yielded an exceptional RB prospect. Has nothing to do with changes in how the league views the position and everything to do with the players available.

We're looking at a little bit of a drought in terms of top shelf RB talent. That won't last forever.
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Even your so called "Top Shelf" talent can get easily hurt and out for a years time or more on any single running play. This is part of the reason that NFL GMs are devaluing the RB position both in the draft and in the contracts they give out.

9 out of 10 Doctors agree - the running back position has devalued over the last 5 years.

 
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This may have been posted already, but just in case:

Packers draft outlook

Bob McGinn

Feb 22, 2014

Based on interviews with executives in personnel for five teams, it is possible to narrow down just a little bit the pool of players that might be considered by the Green Bay Packers regardless of position if they exercise their current 21st selection in the first round of the NFL draft May 8.

Prospects are conservatively divided into three categories: As Good As Gone — barring negative developments, these players have no chance of reaching No. 21; Probably Gone — players who appear to have no better than a 50-50 chance of remaining on the board at No. 21; and The Next Level — players who figure to fall next.

The Packers have their own selection in each round. In addition, they are likely to be awarded at least one compensatory pick for the losses of WR Greg Jennings (Minnesota) and OLB Erik Walden (Indianapolis) last spring in unrestricted free agency.

Here's an early look at 50 players who figure to fit into these layers of the draft (underclassmen are denoted by asterisk).

AS GOOD AS GONE (8)Sammy Watkins*, WR, Clemson: 6 feet 1 inch, 211 pounds. In what might become an all-time class of wide receivers, he stands as the best entering the draft. "He can pretty much do everything," one scout said. "He's fast. He makes plays. Catches the hell out of the ball. Knows how to play." Caught 240 passes (101 in 2013) for 3,391 yards (14.1-yard average) and 27 touchdowns. "He'll be a great kickoff return guy, too," another scout said. "But he won't do that very long. Not real tall but he's thick. He looks like a running back more than a wide receiver."

Greg Robinson*, T, Auburn: 6-5, 332. Redshirt sophomore started two years at LT. "He's phenomenal," one scout said. "He's the most talented of all of them...the most upside." Long arms (35). Bench-pressed 32 times. Ran a fast 40-yard dash of 4.92 seconds Saturday at the combine. Ability to drive block is what excites some scouts. "He'll mash you," said another. "He needs work in pass protection but he can pass protect. You see his punch. And he comes off the ball."

Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M: 6-41/2, 308. Started 46 of 49 games, playing RT from 2010-'12 before moving to LT in '13 as the replacement for Luke Joeckel. "You can't go wrong with him," one scout said. "You just take him and you don't worry about anything. He's probably the most solid of the tackles." Average size, arm length (333/8), hand size (97/8) and strength (24 reps on the bench). Good speed (5.07). Cousin of Green Bay OLB Clay Matthews. "Really good technician," said another scout. "Good, not great athlete. He's a little soft. Not that he won't be a very good player. He gives great effort."

Johnny Manziel*, QB, Texas A&M: 5-11½, 207. Third-year sophomore and two-year starter. Won Heisman Trophy in 2012. "Hit or miss? What the hell are they talking about?" one scout said. "He's a better passer than the guy (Russell Wilson) who won the Super Bowl, and he's got a better arm. Here comes the pressure, a guy breaks open and he finds the receiver. Does he have a gun? No. But he doesn't have a bad arm at all." Has had a colorful if not controversial career off the field. Nicknamed "Johnny Football." Said another personnel man with more than 15 years of NFL scouting experience: "I'm fine with him on the field. He's probably the most unique guy I've done at that position. Just the way he kind of controls the game when he's on. But it's the other stuff. He's not a worker. He doesn't show up. He does what he wants to do. They need him. Everybody just kind of shrugs it off. You try to pull some of the stuff he does in an NFL locker room and it's just not going to work."

Blake Bortles*, QB, Central Florida: 6-5, 232. Fourth-year junior. "He's either the first or second quarterback (drafted)," one scout said. "Really good athlete. Great size. Above average to very good arm strength. Tough. Poised. Very productive in his last year." Completed 65.7% of his passes and started two years. "He's actually more of a runner," another scout said. "They ran him a lot and roll him out. He's raw. If somebody takes him and thinks he's going to be their franchise guy, they're going to get burned. He's not very accurate, and guys that are inaccurate don't really become that accurate. You can depend on him. He works his (expletive) off. He's a leader. He's won. He kind of raised the program. But I'm shaky with him."

Jadeveon Clowney*, DE, South Carolina: 6-5, 266. Often compared to Mario Williams and Julius Peppers. "I don't know where people say he didn't play hard this year," one scout said. "Not in the games I watched. They hold him. Somebody asked if he could play linebacker. He'd be a great linebacker. He stands up now sometimes." Third-year junior and probable top-five pick. "I would not put my job on the line for that guy," another scout said. "Who has a profile like that that's been successful in the NFL? Lazy. Not playing hard....I think his physical talent is being overblown. At what point in his life has he had to push himself? Now you're going to give him this money and say, 'Do something you're never done in your life before. Against guys you just can't run over.' I would not do it."

Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo: 6-2½, 251. "He's the real deal," one scout said. "He can rush the passer. He kicks (expletive). Tough guy. Got interceptions and forced fumbles. Great kid. It wouldn't even be a discussion taking him over Clowney." Was skinny coming out of high school and lightly recruited. "You put on the Ohio State game, he dominated like a quarter," another scout said. "That tackle (Jack Mewhort) who is supposed to be a good player, he just tore him up. Then he disappeared for a quarter. He can play off the ball, too, if you wanted him to. But I don't know if you want to do that, because he's going to be a big-play guy and rush the passer."

Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: 6-5, 255. Senior. "Really athletic," one scout said. "He's got pass-rush ability. The guy was a running back until two years ago, so he's got hands. Some of the toughness is still not there, but he's a great kid. Great effort. Top 10." Long, fast and productive on the rush. "Looks the part athletically but is not a football player at this point," another scout said. "More developmental. He'll get overdrafted."

PROBABLY GONE (10)Marqise Lee*, WR, Southern California: 6-0, 192. Played through nagging injuries in 2013. "He's a dynamic, smaller guy," one scout said. "Rough year this year because their quarterback was so terrible. Last year with (Matt) Barkley his stats were really good. But as far as athletic ability, quickness, speed, he's pretty special. He can play on the outside. He's so fast and runs by people." Had 118 receptions in 2012, 57 in '13. "He's a top-15 pick," another scout said. "Can take the ball and score."

Kelvin Benjamin*, WR, Florida State: 6-5, 240. Third-year sophomore for the national champion Seminoles. "He can take over a game," one scout said. "Pretty special talent. Just not as consistent as (Mike) Evans. He was a first-time starter this year. He's got a little off-field shadow. Can disappear in games." Some scouts say he could have really used another season. Had 84 catches in two years. "He'll go 12 to 20," said a second scout. "He really came on the scene this year. He can extend to make a lot of grabs. His route-running is raw."

Eric Ebron*, TE, North Carolina: 6-4, 250. Third-year junior. "He can probably do a little bit more than Tyler Eifert (last year)," one scout said. "He's athletic. He can challenge deep. He's not a great bulky guy but he'll block. Watch him against Clowney. He didn't win but he wasn't afraid. He's (Rob) Gronkowski-like, but he's a lot smoother than Gronkowski." Improved each year, finishing with 112 receptions. "The way they used him this year was almost like a glorified slot receiver," another scout said. "Good feel for it. Not a great blocker." Led TEs in the 40 with 4.60 clocking.

Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan: 6-6½, 309. Spent five years in Ann Arbor, starting the last four at LT. "He's one of those guys that's pristine," one scout said. "Takes care of himself. Watches what he eats. They had no quarterback there. You can't protect forever. Big, tall guy. It's hard to get leverage, but he can bend his knees." Has a penchant for taking dumb penalties. "I'm not sold on him," said another scout. "I don't really like his whole makeup. He's kind of a fake tough guy. Not an elite left-tackle athlete and not a tough (expletive) right tackle. Somebody will take him just because he's Michigan and got size and a good enough athlete." Ran an exceptional 40 (4.87).

Cyrus Kouandjio*, T, Alabama: 6-7, 322. Third-year junior and two-year starter at LT. "Talented guy but still very raw," one scout said. "Still makes raw mistakes. He's got more up side than Matthews. I think he is smart. Just doesn't have much football background." Blew out his ACL as true freshman in '11. Ran poorly (5.59) and bench-pressed poorly (21). Long arms (355/8). "Outstanding pass protector," a second scout said. "You're talking about a left tackle for a long, long time."

Teddy Bridgewater*, QB, Louisville: 6-2, 214. Three-year starter. "Louisville's success is because of Teddy Bridgewater," one scout said. "He's calm and composed, like you want in a quarterback. I'm not real crazy about his build. He has a linear build. I can't say he's a better scrambler than Russell Wilson, but he's not a statue, OK?" Ranked fifth in NCAA passer efficiency in 2013. Career completion mark of 68.4%. "I think you can win with him," another scout said. "He's not an elite talent but he's got a good enough arm, he's a good enough athlete and he's a leader. The big thing is his intangibles. He wins. He's clutch."

Stephon Tuitt*, DE, Notre Dame: 6-5, 304. Third-year junior with 12 sacks in 2012. "He's a 3-4 end all the way," one scout said. "He'll be on the field all the time. He's too big, too athletic and has been productive." Underwent hernia surgery in 2012. Long arms (34¾). "Just kind of up and down," another scout said. "Came in the year overweight. There are stretches of games where he doesn't really do anything. He will turn it on some plays and show his strength. He's a risk."

Louis Nix*, NT, Notre Dame: 6-2, 331. Fourth-year junior. "At 345 this guy can move," one scout said. "He's faster than (B.J.) Raji and he can be better (than Raji). A lot of people will get off him and say, 'Well, he's not into football as much.' But where do you find guys that big that can do that? He hasn't had a lot of sacks but he's been double-teamed a lot. Look at it this way. Notre Dame's linebackers aren't even going to the combine. That's how bad they were." One of the few legitimate nose tackles this year. "He's just a hold-the-point nose tackle," a scout for a 4-3 team said. "He doesn't fit us, but for the 3-4 teams there's a lot of value."

C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama: 6-2½, 234. Senior. "He can fit any defense," one scout said. "Very fast and athletic. Never comes off the field. Team leader. An all-intangible type kid. He's all about football." Long arms (333/8) and enormous hands (10¾). Undersized, which showed at times against the interior run. "He's not like (Luke) Kuechly," another scout said. "Sometimes his lack of size shows up tackling. He lacks tackling bulk. Sometimes he gets out-sized by linemen. Sometimes he'll hit 'em and they don't fall down. Good player. Very instinctive. Good pass defender. Just not the biggest."

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix*, S, Alabama: 6-0, 210. Third-year junior. "He's the real deal," one scout said. "He'll go middle of the first. If he's there at 21 (for Green Bay), it'd be a no-brainer. They'd be running to the podium if that happened. He's pretty much the most complete guy that I've done (at safety)." Another scout pegged him going between 15 and 25. "He's interesting," said another scout. "Pretty good player. He has good range and hands. He's pretty smart. He'll tackle."

THE NEXT LEVEL (32)Mike Evans*, WR, Texas A&M: 6-5, 231. Redshirt sophomore. "He's safer than Benjamin," one scout said. "He's just a big, strong guy. You just throw it up to him and he'll make plays. He's a big dude that plays big." Ad-libbed a lot with Manziel. Caught 151 passes in two seasons. "Little stiff," another scout said. "He's dropped some balls." Arms measured a long, long 351/8 inches.

Odell Beckham*, WR, Louisiana State: 5-11, 198. Third-year junior. "He's not fast like Lee or Watkins but he's fast enough," said one scout. "He's a great route runner, hands, body control. He's got the return stuff that brings value, too. He's pretty damn good." Caught more than 40 passes all three seasons. "He goes 20 to 32," another scout said. "Excellent hands and very good route runner. Average size. Very productive. Is going to play early in his career."

Allen Robinson*, WR, Penn State: 6-2, 220. Third-year junior. "He can get in the bottom of the first (round)," one scout said. "He's just a natural receiver. Strong. Catches the ball. Knows how to play. He's not as spectacular as the other (top) guys but he's real solid." Two-year starter with 177 receptions. "Not polished as a route runner," a second scout said. "Very good hands. Should be a starter in a short amount of time."

Brandin Cooks*, WR, Oregon State: 5-10, 189. Third-year junior. "He's quicker than fast," one scout said. "Little guy with tons of production. But he's not DeSean Jackson, not a special guy in terms of blowing the top off (the defense). He's not a big-play guy." Had 128 catches in 2013 and 226 in all. "He goes 20 to 32," another scout said. "Very fast and explosive."

Davante Adams*, WR, Fresno State: 6-1, 212. Redshirt sophomore. "I'd have a hard time taking him in the first," one scout said. "He's a really good catcher and really athletic, but he's not a speed guy." Teamed with QB Derek Carr, he had 102 receptions in 2012 and 131 in '13. "Will need to develop his game in a more pro-style offense," another scout said. "Good hands. Mid-second-rounder. Should develop into a starter."

Martavis Bryant*, WR, Clemson: 6-4, 211. Junior played second fiddle behind Watkins at Clemson this year and both Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins in '12. "He's got talent," one scout said. "He's had some drops and he's a little bit of a knucklehead, but he can make all the catches. He's a build-to-speed guy. Would I draft him in the first round? No. Does he have first-round talent? Pretty close." Just 61 receptions for 1,354 yards (22.2) and 13 TDs. "If he blows it out at the combine, somebody might take a (first-round) flier on him," another scout said.

Jarvis Landry*, WR, Louisiana State: 5-11, 205. His 40-yard dash time Sunday will go a long way to determine his draft fate. "He's such a good receiver, but there's so many fast guys in this draft that he'll get pushed down if he runs slow, which he may," one scout said. "He's a lot like Beckham. Excellent hands. Very good routes. Not as fast as Beckham, not nearly the playmaker, but a very polished receiver."

Jace Amaro*, TE, Texas Tech: 6-51/2, 265. Third-year junior. "On 99% of the snaps he lines up in the slot," one scout said. "He makes a killing doing that. (Jermichael) Finley is a faster down-the-field guy. This guy is an underneath guy, like the way the Cowboys use (Jason) Witten. He just turns around and he's so damn big they just throw him the ball and he can catch it." Exploded for 106 catches in 2013 after having just 32 in his first two seasons. "He should be better than he is," another scout said. "He's got excellent hands but he doesn't run after the catch. He's a stalk blocker." Led TEs on the bench press with 28 reps.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins*, TE, Washington: 6-5, 262. Third-year junior. "He's going to be close to Gronkowski talent-wise," one scout said. "Now he's lazy and a (expletive). It's all kinds of just minor stuff. There's always something wrong with him." Had 146 receptions in three seasons. Played some basketball for Huskies. "I think he's a pretender," another scout said. "Not really a football player. The hype is big, but he don't want to block and he is kind of half-(expletive) in everything he does. Inconsistent and unreliable."

Zack Martin, T-G, Notre Dame: 6-4, 308. Started 50 games at LT and two at RT. "I love him," one scout said. "He's not real big. All I know is he's got a great jam. He can punch the hell out of you. Nobody beats him. He's just not a real bulky guy. Everybody keeps wanting to move him inside. You better have somebody that can block those outside pass rushers." Scored 21 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. "He's the guard that I like," another scout said. "He's athletic and strong. He understands the game." Arms were only 327/8, hands just 9½.

Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State: 6-3½, 336. Often compared to Lions RG Larry Warford, a third-round pick from Kentucky in '13 who had a strong rookie season. "He's big, in the Warford class," one scout said. "He moves better than Warford. He has second-round ability. My issue is if he can pass block." Experienced road grader. Ran just 5.51. "He's big and he plays big," another scout said. "If you're in his area, he's going to dominate you. Obviously, the speed and the range will never be his strength. But if you use him for what he does (best), he's pretty good."

Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State: 6-2½, 214. Broke all kinds of records in a spread offense. "Threw the ball 50, 60 times a game," one scout said. "Put up a ton of yards but has average size. He can start, no question. I thought he played well in the Senior Bowl." Career completion mark of 66.6%. Older brother David was top pick in 2002 draft by Houston and coach Dom Capers. "I don't trust him," said another scout. "In that system and against bad teams he can light it up. He's almost similar to his brother, where when things aren't going his way he just kind of folds." Wonderlic of 20.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois: 6-2, 226. Four-year player at the same lower-level school that spawned Tony Romo. "He's an interesting cat," one scout said. "Gets the ball out very well. He's sort of like Carr. He doesn't have the same arm but he's got great feet, a quick release and he's accurate. He played with some very pedestrian football players." Played well in the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. "This guy has everything you're looking for," said another scout. "(A.J.) McCarron isn't even comparable." Wonderlic of 24.

Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State: 5-11½, 230. Production improved each year during five years in Columbus. "He could be late first (round)," one scout said. "It's just if he clears through the personal stuff, the off-field. Because he's a big dude and he runs big. He's just a power back." Wonderlic score was merely 9. "I don't know if that makes a difference at running back," another scout said, referring to the Wonderlic. "Good player. Just the stuff they tell you about him, you worry about his work ethic. He had some stuff off the field."

Tre Mason*, RB, Auburn: 5-8, 207. Catapulted into prominence in 2013 with 317 carries for 1,816 yards (5.7) and 23 TDs. "Had probably the best games of his career in the last two or three," one scout said. "Speed is not great but good enough. Good vision. Doesn't wear down." Has a reputation for fumbling. Just 19 receptions. "He maximized all the talent he's got," another scout said. "He runs hard. Gives you everything he's got. Not going to look good at the combine as far as the 40, height and all that. But the guy knows how to run and is productive."

Jeremy Hill*, RB, Louisiana State: 6-1, 233. Third-year sophomore. "I see him as the first back to go," one scout said. "He's talented. Can catch the ball, run the ball. He can stay on the field all three downs. He's just got a few off-the-field issues." Has been arrested twice for unrelated incidents. "I don't like his makeup," another scout said. "I don't like the way he runs. He's soft for a big guy. Some people say he's strong. He's not at all. He's got athletic talent and he's big but he's a soft runner."

Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: 6-6, 310. Fifth-year senior. "He's unique," one scout said. "He's big and long, and when he wants to play he can play. He has an unusual ability of batting balls down. He does play (high). He does a lot of things you don't like. But when he doesn't want to be shoved, around they can't shove him." Wonderlic of 13. Regarded as somewhat hard to coach. "For the one or two plays a game he plays good, he's a first-rounder," another scout said. "For the other 30 when he's out of the game, or the other 20 when he doesn't do anything, then he's a free agent. It all depends how you value the kid."

Kony Ealy*, DE, Missouri: 6-4, 273. Fourth-year junior. "He really came on," one scout said. "Late first or early second. Got really good size. Can play in multiple schemes. He can be an outside backer or a DE." Scouts say he sucked up the double-teams away from fellow DE Michael Sam, who had 11½ sacks. "He's big, fast, strong," another scout said. "Got a lot of up side. He's not Justin Tuck."

Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh: 6-0½, 285. Undersized three-technique in a 4-3 scheme. "He was the most valuable player in the Senior Bowl, not Dee Ford," one scout said. "He's a good player if you can get by with his size. He reminds me of the guy from Iowa who plays for the Falcons (DT Jonathan Babineaux)." Also regarded as a better prospect than Green Bay DT Mike Daniels, another ex-Hawkeye. "He's productive as hell," one scout said. "He'll get his (expletive) kicked for 10 straight plays and then he'll make a sack. It's the damndest thing. But down in and down out, playing the run, it's going to be hard."

Dee Ford, DE-OLB, Auburn: 6-2, 252. Fifth-year senior. MVP of the Senior Bowl with multiple sacks and pressures. "Second round," one scout said. "He'd be best as a 3-4 outside backer. He does get a lot of offsides penalties but then he got a lot of sacks that way, too. He's got really good timing on that. I don't think he'll be a great rusher but I think he'll be pretty solid. Everybody needs rushers." Not all scouts think he's athletic enough to stand up. "Just a little guy that's not a special pass rusher," another scout said.

Timmy Jernigan*, DT, Florida State: 6-2, 299. Third-year junior. "Late first, early second," said one scout. "Very strong inside player. Short but very strong." Probably best as a cocked nose tackle or three-technique in a 4-3. "Those little guys get swallowed up and haven't been very effective," another scout said.

Trent Murphy, DE-OLB, Stanford: 6-5½, 250. Fifth-year senior with meat hooks for hands (111/8). "Little bit of an enigma for me," one scout said. "He's got all that stat production, but when you watch him, he's not really tough or strong. I don't know where to play him. 3-4 backer probably is the best fit, but I don't think he's that great of an athlete. He's not really a true edge guy."

Demarcus Lawrence*, DE-OLB, Boise State: 6-3, 251. Fourth-year junior. "He can fit anywhere," one scout said. "He's athletic enough to play outside linebacker. He's long enough to play an edge 4-3 rusher like Seattle uses. Worker. Good athlete. Second round." Was suspended three times for team violations.

Ryan Shazier*, LB, Ohio State: 6-1, 237. Third-year junior. "He can really run," one scout said. "I don't think he's as tough as (Tampa Bay's) Lavonte David, but he's faster. He runs like a deer. You'd have to think about him over Mosley." Should be taken in the first round. "He's little but, damn, he's the most explosive guy on the field," another scout said. "He goes in the 20s."

Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin: 5-11½, 248. Fifth-year senior. "I love him...love him," said one scout. "Only thing that gets him in trouble is his length (29¼ arms). I made a mistake on a guy named Sam Mills, OK? And this guy is (taller) than Sam Mills. He is better than Chris Spielman coming out. That running back from Ohio State (Carlos Hyde), he jacked him up twice on the goal line. My problem with him is his hamstring and groin problem. He has had those. Is height going to be an issue? Yes, but this guy has great instincts. For a linebacker, that's what you have to have." Scored 32 on the Wonderlic. "He's a hell of a college football player, and some guys think he can be a good pro," another scout said. "Some don't. He's short and has short (expletive) arms. He's instinctive as hell. He plays his (expletive) off. But what's his pro up side?"

Bradley Roby*, CB, Ohio State: 5-10, 190. Fourth-year junior. "He or (Darqueze) Dennard go first," one scout said, referring to the cornerbacks. "I question a little bit his stuff off the field. You've got to do more homework on him. But he's an explosive, fast player." Character questions cloud his status. "He's the most talented (cornerback) but he's totally undependable for me," said another scout. "Something's missing with him. When you talk about quickness, speed, athletic ability, change of direction, he's got all that. Then he just gets beat every game. It's mental. Some guys just don't have a feel for it. He just plays that way."

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State: 5-11, 190. Senior. "He knows how to play," one scout said. "He's a good player and Roby's not. Roby's a better athlete. Dennard will get overdrafted, because he's not a true cover guy. He grabs and holds all the time. I'm not sure he's going to be able to get away with that." Played almost exclusively press-man coverage. "He has great ball skills," another scout said. "I'm worried about two things: durability and how fast he is. He's had some concussions and shoulder problems, and that affects his tackling sometimes."

Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State: 5-11½, 195. Senior. "He's very perplexing to me," said one scout. "Big knock on him is ball skills. He's a big, long athlete that can run. He didn't play real well last year. They were even going to bench him because of inconsistent play. I just don't think he sees the ball real well. He has first-round talent but he's just up and down." The track record of Oklahoma State CBs in the NFL isn't stellar. "Gilbert gets beat all the time," a second scout said. "He's got some interception production, but when you see the picks they're not really legitimate ones."

Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: 5-111/2, 189. Senior. "He's the best pure cover corner," said one scout. "He'll hit you and plays tough. He's had a history of injuries." Missed about a month with a groin injury late last season. "Little thin but a good football player," another scout said. "Second round."

Jason Verrett, CB, Texas Christian: 5-9½, 175. Senior. "I love him but I'm just worried about his size," one scout said. "Hell of a player. He's been healthy. Tough. He's a little bit like the guy from Connecticut (Darius Butler) that the Patriots took, but he's tougher than Butler. I saw some bigger guys run by him deep. Just out-sized him. Hell of a kid. Everything's positive about him. He has first-round talent but there's no way I would draft him there."

Bashaud Breeland*, CB, Clemson: 6-0, 190. Fourth-year junior. "Second round," said one scout. "Good size. Long arms. Good speed. A still-developing type player with starter-type ability." Added another scout: "Kind of a raw speed guy. Second or third (round)."

Calvin Pryor*, S, Louisville: 6-1, 210. Third-year junior. "He'll go in the same range as Clinton-Dix — 15 to 25," one scout said. "Some will like Pryor better. Little bit more physical than Clinton-Dix. Really good athlete. Solid smarts. He'll run 4.55. There's really two good safeties. The rest could play, but they're just down the line." Another scout agreed that Clinton-Dix and Pryor were the top two safeties but said drafting Pryor at 21 would be a reach. "He's like a tough guy, box safety, hitter," the second scout said. "Coverage is a little suspect. Misses a lot of tackles."
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EBF said:
Biabreakable said:
EBF said:
Milkman said:
I'm wondering if we are going to see less and less dynamic athletes who decide to play the RB position. You would think they would decide to play other positions because of the shelf life of a typical RB is lower than other positions. Also the position continues to be devalued. This in turn is lowering the compensation received to play the position.
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I have talked a lot about this, but I don't think the position has been devalued very much in the past 10 years or so. It hasn't been a glamor position in the NFL for a long time. The reason why this crop and the last crop will fail to produce a first round back mainly comes down to the lack of talent.

If a guy with special talent and a clean track record was out there, he would still be a first round pick.

It's mostly just random variance. There were five RBs picked in the first round in 2008. Was that because the league suddenly started valuing RBs highly or was that because that group had an inordinate amount of great prospects? Definitely the latter. There is no Chris Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, or Rashard Mendenhall in this draft. There is nobody with special explosiveness or a special height/weight speed combo. Thus there will be no first round backs.
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Mendenhall was never a 1st round talent.

I think the reason there were 5 RB drafted in the 1st round of that draft class has more to do with a lack of talent at other positions causing the RB to be higher picks than the talent of these RBs.

2014 there is a lot more talent at other positions thus driving draft position for RB down. Not because of the lack of talent at the RB position.
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I think it was all about the talent.

Look at DMC and Chris Johnson. ELITE speed. Excellent college production.

Look at Mendenhall and Jonathan Stewart. ELITE size/speed combos. Excellent college production.

Felix Jones was kind of a questionable pick in hindsight, but the other four all had the right kind of skill set and production to go that high.

Where are the 4.2-4.3 burners with excellent production or the 220+ pound backs with 4.4 speed in this draft? Pretty much nonexistent.

It's as simple as that.
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Well it isn't as simple as that in my opinion because I never wanted any parts of McFadden or Stewart and not really impressed with Mendenhall either.

I was also skeptical of Chris Johnson as a glorified Trung Canidate.

The RB I did like from 2008 were Ray RIce and Matt Forte. I was wrong about Jamal Charles considering him similar to Chris Johnson.

I have never been very big on pure straight line speed from 40 times the way you and others seem to be. I also do not see much difference in a player being 220lbs compared to 210.

So the abilities you are calling elite do not seem to translate into performance.

The draft class was very good for RB. Touted as one of the best RB draft classes post 2000. But these top players did not really pan out. The second and third round RB outperformed the 1st rounders.

I am kind of busy right now, but I think it is an interesting conversation worth having. So when I get more time I think it would be good to evaluate the 2008 draft class as a whole.

In 2008 ZERO WR were drafted in the 1st round. So that shows right there that the 2008 was weak at that position and therefore pushed the value of the RB up.

 
Biabreakable said:
Well it isn't as simple as that in my opinion because I never wanted any parts of McFadden or Stewart and not really impressed with Mendenhall either.

I was also skeptical of Chris Johnson as a glorified Trung Canidate.

The RB I did like from 2008 were Ray RIce and Matt Forte. I was wrong about Jamal Charles considering him similar to Chris Johnson.

I have never been very big on pure straight line speed from 40 times the way you and others seem to be. I also do not see much difference in a player being 220lbs compared to 210.

So the abilities you are calling elite do not seem to translate into performance.

The draft class was very good for RB. Touted as one of the best RB draft classes post 2000. But these top players did not really pan out. The second and third round RB outperformed the 1st rounders.

I am kind of busy right now, but I think it is an interesting conversation worth having. So when I get more time I think it would be good to evaluate the 2008 draft class as a whole.

In 2008 ZERO WR were drafted in the 1st round. So that shows right there that the 2008 was weak at that position and therefore pushed the value of the RB up.
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There are a couple different conversations here.

What makes a great NFL RB?

What makes a first round RB prospect?

McFadden is a great example. I thought he was pretty overrated and destined to disappoint. But...I don't find it the least bit surprising that he was a first round pick. Given his monstrous college production and his elite wheels at a relatively high weight (even though he's bone thin, he still weighs 210+), it's pretty obvious why he went that high. Similar story with Mendenhall and Ronnie Brown. You can say "I never liked them." It doesn't really matter. A 220+ pound back with ~4.40 speed and promising production in a major conference should always be a good candidate to get picked in the first round.

The league clearly puts a premium on guys who have great production and special qualities in terms of height/weight/speed/explosiveness.

Saying "I never liked Jonathan Stewart" or "I never liked Darren McFadden" is irrelevant since this conversation isn't about individual taste.

 
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Kind of agree with EBF. The RB prospects in the last couple drafts just haven't been top notch 1st round prospects. If we had another 2008 RB type class a few of them would still be going in the 1st.

As far as the FA's signing for less, none were very good and the big name guys are all past their prime. McCoy got signed for huge money a couple years ago, a young elite RB is still going to get a big contract.

Next year Gurley and maybe a couple more will go in the 1st, just like elite prospects of the past.

Elite rookie RB's will still get drafted in the 1st round, elite vet young RB's signing long term deals will still get big contracts. It's just a coincidence the RB crop hasn't had top notch prospects lately.

There is some devaluation on the position, but no where near to the extent people are making it out to be.

 
I think the talent is lacking too. And there is a 70% bust rate at a position in the first round despite it being a young man's position. These players just haven't been very good. Only 3 of the last 10 first round backs have been non-busts. And that's including Moreno. But then 3 of the 5 backs taken in the second round last year look pretty good. I can't blame GMs for staying away in round one.

 
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