[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (2 Viewers)

[Faust]

Mailbag: Sorting out the WR class in the NFL Draft

Bruce Feldman

Excerpt:

Here is this week's mailbag. As always, send questions to me via Twitter to @BFeldmanCBS:

From @JasonMcIntyre: if you're a GM & Watkins is off the board, and you NEED a WR, rank these: Evans, Matthews, Lee, Benjamin, Beckham, A Rob, Adams

I think this is a really intriguing crop of receivers for the 2014 Draft with an interesting mix of big, raw "freaky" talents and smaller, more polished playmakers in addition to the dynamic Sammy Watkins. The WR I suspect will emerge as the top overall prospect is the guy who would be at the No. 1 wideout on my board: Texas A&M's Mike Evans. I must preface this by saying that I've spent the most time around Evans because my new Quarterback book project has enabled me to be a fly-on-the-wall around him a lot at A&M and also here in Southern California where he's training with a great that includes Johnny Manziel and Logan Thomas.

Evans has great size at 6-4, 232 and underrated athleticism. He should vertical around 37-38 inches and clock in the high 4.4s, if not faster. He also has fantastic hands and toughness. He also was a dominant player in the toughest conference in college football. Evans, though, is still raw as a route runner. After all he was really just a basketball player till his senior year of high school. He is getting some expert coaching right now while doing one-on-one training with Hall of Famer James Lofton. Another thing to keep in mind: Evans is still only 20 and won't turn 21 till late August.

I'd rank Evans above Marqise Lee, who I also believe will be a terrific NFL player. Lee plays bigger than his actual size. He's only around 6-0, 195 and he plays faster too. He's also good in the return game. I just think NFL teams want to be wowed by a wideout's physical presence in either size or speed to consider taking them in the Top 10. It'll be fun to see whether Lee proves to be a better NFL player than Odell Beckham, who I think is underrated at least when I look at some of these mock drafts out there.

Beckham is a fantastic athlete. You're talking about a guy who is really explosive; could've been an elite soccer player, can throw the ball very well with either hand; has excellent return skills and some of the best hands in the Draft. The coaches I know at LSU say he could've played any position in their secondary and been a star there too. Brandin Cooks is another similarly sized, playmaker I'd put in this group, probably a hair behind Beckham and Lee.

I also like Vandy's Jordan Matthews quite a bit. He's got good size and decent speed, but don't think he has the burst of Lee or Beckham but I love that he makes big catches, and remember, this is a guy who was always being marked since he was clearly his team's top guy and he didn't have an NFL QB throwing him the ball like everyone else up here. I think Matthews is smoother than Allen Robinson.

The other WR who'll bring the Freak tag is FSU's Kelvin Benjamin, who is even taller than Evans. Benjamin will make personnel folks' chins hit the floor when they first see him. Thing is, he's even more raw than Evans and it took him a while to get a sense of FSU's routes/offense and he seems like more of a project. To me, he more boom-or-bust than any WR in the draft. For that, I'd be more leery.

Fresno's Davante Adams also came out early to get in this draft and he certainly is talented. He played in a system that threw more bubbles than probably anyone. Among this group I'd have him behind the others.

Three other receivers I think are being undervalued when I look at some mock drafts: Wisconsin's Jared Abrederris, who I bet plays 10 years in the NFL and catches at least 400 passes; Jarvis Landry who is like a shorter, faster Anquan Boldin in terms of his toughness and ball skills; and Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro who has good quickness and outstanding hands.

Ranking the guys you listed, I'd go: Evans, Beckham, Lee, Matthews, Benjamin, A Rob and Adams.

 

[Brewtown]

Twitter:

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris

RT @NU_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery RB

Hill doesn't surprise me. He has periods in which he goes down too easily. Hyde surprises me though.

Rotoworld take:

Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill, according to Greg Peshek.

Peshek adds Seastrunk is a "slippery back." Hill and Hyde are both widely viewed as backs who consistently break first contact, and we would give the latter the edge in the regard, but Seastrunk likely avoids tackles in a somewhat different way. The Baylor back only recorded nine catches during his time at Baylor, which will be a major question during the draft process.

Source: Greg Peshek on Twitter

That is interesting information. Taken at face value one might say he is just as good at breaking tackles as Hyde and Hill. Someone could also say that he dances around and breaks a lot of tackles while running east/west when he should be running north/south? Looking forward to seeing him at the combine and when he gets selected by a team. He could be the 1st RB selected or the 8th...

 

[MattFancy]

Twitter:

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris

RT @NU_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery RB

Hill doesn't surprise me. He has periods in which he goes down too easily. Hyde surprises me though.

Rotoworld take:

Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill, according to Greg Peshek.

Peshek adds Seastrunk is a "slippery back." Hill and Hyde are both widely viewed as backs who consistently break first contact, and we would give the latter the edge in the regard, but Seastrunk likely avoids tackles in a somewhat different way. The Baylor back only recorded nine catches during his time at Baylor, which will be a major question during the draft process.

Source: Greg Peshek on Twitter

That is interesting information. Taken at face value one might say he is just as good at breaking tackles as Hyde and Hill. Someone could also say that he dances around and breaks a lot of tackles while running east/west when he should be running north/south? Looking forward to seeing him at the combine and when he gets selected by a team. He could be the 1st RB selected or the 8th...

I just traded for Seastrunk in a devy league. I'm nervous because I agree with you on where he could go. I think his speed will show at the combine though and that will move him up some draft boards.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Twitter:

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris

RT @NU_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery RB

Hill doesn't surprise me. He has periods in which he goes down too easily. Hyde surprises me though.

Rotoworld take:

Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill, according to Greg Peshek.

Peshek adds Seastrunk is a "slippery back." Hill and Hyde are both widely viewed as backs who consistently break first contact, and we would give the latter the edge in the regard, but Seastrunk likely avoids tackles in a somewhat different way. The Baylor back only recorded nine catches during his time at Baylor, which will be a major question during the draft process.

Source: Greg Peshek on Twitter

That is interesting information. Taken at face value one might say he is just as good at breaking tackles as Hyde and Hill. Someone could also say that he dances around and breaks a lot of tackles while running east/west when he should be running north/south? Looking forward to seeing him at the combine and when he gets selected by a team. He could be the 1st RB selected or the 8th...

I just traded for Seastrunk in a devy league. I'm nervous because I agree with you on where he could go. I think his speed will show at the combine though and that will move him up some draft boards.

Idk, anyone who isn't already factoring in the likelihood that Seastrunk's going to make the combine his ##### in his ranking is clearly not paying attention.

 

[Faust]

James White gets advice from Giovani Bernard, Montee Ball

 

[Whitney26]

Twitter:

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris

RT @NU_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery RB

Hill doesn't surprise me. He has periods in which he goes down too easily. Hyde surprises me though.

Rotoworld take:

Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill, according to Greg Peshek.

Peshek adds Seastrunk is a "slippery back." Hill and Hyde are both widely viewed as backs who consistently break first contact, and we would give the latter the edge in the regard, but Seastrunk likely avoids tackles in a somewhat different way. The Baylor back only recorded nine catches during his time at Baylor, which will be a major question during the draft process.


Source: Greg Peshek on Twitter

I'm not sure if I buy this. I don't have the data for Hill yet, but Seastrunk didn't break near as many tackles as Hyde did. In this particular comparison, 6 backs are used....Sankey, Hyde, Seastrunk, Carey, Mason and Sims. From a % basis, Seastrunk actually had the lowest rate of broken tackles at 13.61% (20 MT on 147 carries). Hyde finished the season at 29.53% (57 MT on 193).

Perhaps they're only using a few games. I don't know.

FWIW, I've attached the 2013 stats for the 6 RBs mentioned in a google document. When I find the time, I'll add the other top RBs to the table.

RB Comparison Stats - 2013

 

[ZWK]

Twitter:

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris

RT @NU_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery RB

Hill doesn't surprise me. He has periods in which he goes down too easily. Hyde surprises me though.

Rotoworld take:

Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill, according to Greg Peshek.

Peshek adds Seastrunk is a "slippery back." Hill and Hyde are both widely viewed as backs who consistently break first contact, and we would give the latter the edge in the regard, but Seastrunk likely avoids tackles in a somewhat different way. The Baylor back only recorded nine catches during his time at Baylor, which will be a major question during the draft process.


Source: Greg Peshek on Twitter

I'm not sure if I buy this. I don't have the data for Hill yet, but Seastrunk didn't break near as many tackles as Hyde did. In this particular comparison, 6 backs are used....Sankey, Hyde, Seastrunk, Carey, Mason and Sims. From a % basis, Seastrunk actually had the lowest rate of broken tackles at 13.61% (20 MT on 147 carries). Hyde finished the season at 29.53% (57 MT on 193).

Perhaps they're only using a few games. I don't know.

FWIW, I've attached the 2013 stats for the 6 RBs mentioned in a google document. When I find the time, I'll add the other top RBs to the table.

RB Comparison Stats - 2013

It looks like you're counting multiple-tackled runs rather than missed tackles: "MT indicates times runner was tackled by more than one defender." So if the runner runs directly into 2 defenders at the line of scrimmage and is taken down for no gain, that counts as a MT. And if the runner breaks a tackle at the line of scrimmage and then gets taken down 20 yards later by the safety, that does not count as a MT. Correct?

I track missed tackles, which I define as times when a defender had a shot at the runner but the runner got past him (while retaining his balance & staying in bounds). I have Seastrunk first in missed tackle rate (although he benefits from getting a lot of one-on-ones with defenders in space; in your multiple-tackled numbers that hurts him).

 

[Whitney26]

Twitter:

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris

RT @NU_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery RB

Hill doesn't surprise me. He has periods in which he goes down too easily. Hyde surprises me though.

Rotoworld take:

Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill, according to Greg Peshek.

Peshek adds Seastrunk is a "slippery back." Hill and Hyde are both widely viewed as backs who consistently break first contact, and we would give the latter the edge in the regard, but Seastrunk likely avoids tackles in a somewhat different way. The Baylor back only recorded nine catches during his time at Baylor, which will be a major question during the draft process.


Source: Greg Peshek on Twitter

I'm not sure if I buy this. I don't have the data for Hill yet, but Seastrunk didn't break near as many tackles as Hyde did. In this particular comparison, 6 backs are used....Sankey, Hyde, Seastrunk, Carey, Mason and Sims. From a % basis, Seastrunk actually had the lowest rate of broken tackles at 13.61% (20 MT on 147 carries). Hyde finished the season at 29.53% (57 MT on 193).

Perhaps they're only using a few games. I don't know.

FWIW, I've attached the 2013 stats for the 6 RBs mentioned in a google document. When I find the time, I'll add the other top RBs to the table.

RB Comparison Stats - 2013

It looks like you're counting multiple-tackled runs rather than missed tackles: "MT indicates times runner was tackled by more than one defender." So if the runner runs directly into 2 defenders at the line of scrimmage and is taken down for no gain, that counts as a MT. And if the runner breaks a tackle at the line of scrimmage and then gets taken down 20 yards later by the safety, that does not count as a MT. Correct?

I track missed tackles, which I define as times when a defender had a shot at the runner but the runner got past him (while retaining his balance & staying in bounds). I have Seastrunk first in missed tackle rate (although he benefits from getting a lot of one-on-ones with defenders in space; in your multiple-tackled numbers that hurts him).

I'm actually not sure. That's something I thought about in the past few minutes. I assume there isn't a universal standard in identifying a MT which is probably the case here. As far as the statistics I posted, I didn't do the report. It came from an actual team scout. The report is so damn long I just cut that part out to shorten it up. I'm going to ask him the next time we speak....something I'm curious in knowing. I've always assumed a MT was from a ankle breaking "Shady" McCoy style juke or a Adrian Peterson power run "over" a defender. I didn't know they were viewed differently. I appreciate it.

 

[Whitney26]

I track missed tackles, which I define as times when a defender had a shot at the runner but the runner got past him (while retaining his balance & staying in bounds). I have Seastrunk first in missed tackle rate (although he benefits from getting a lot of one-on-ones with defenders in space; in your multiple-tackled numbers that hurts him).

If I happened to chart it myself, this is how I'd do it too.

 

[Faust]

Derek Carr taught to read NFL defenses by older brother David

 

[MAC_32]

Derek Carr taught to read NFL defenses by older brother David

ummmmmmm

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Derek Carr taught to read NFL defenses by older brother David

Insert 's here

 

[coolnerd]

Derek Carr taught to read NFL defenses by older brother David

Insert 's here

From the above link

He (David) says, 'What's the coverage? How many are coming? Who's coming?' I'm 11 years old, I don't know. I don't know who's coming, who's rushing. He goes, 'All right, you're sacked.' We did this for a half-hour. My brother stops the tape and says you've been sacked 25 times, probably fumbles 15 times. You can't play."

The younger Carr relayed to Burmeister the value of that training during the Reese's Senior Bowl, saying, "The No. 1 thing I have learned and I know better than everyone else (is) protections because I have been doing this since I was 12 years old."

------

there is some proverb about a wise man learning from the mistakes of others or something like that

 

[Brewtown]

Q&A with Bishop Sankey

Posted by Adam Jude

Former Washington great Greg Lewis took the stage Wednesday night at Benaroya Hall to help present the Male Sports Star of the Year award, for which Bishop Sankey was a finalist.

The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson won the award, but not before Lewis proclaimed to the crowd that Sankey had proved himself last season as the best running back in UW history.

“But,” Lewis added, “I’m still the best looking.”

Sankey looked sharp Wednesday in a crisp gray suit. He was back in town for the show after spending the past couple weeks training in San Diego, six days a week, with Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey and Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, among others, as they prepare for next month’s NFL Combine and look ahead to May’s NFL Draft.

More from Sankey before the show:

What does it mean to be nominated for this award in Seattle? “It feels good to be back for the awards ceremony. It’s just an honor to be considered with these other great athletes here, and I’m just taking it all in, really.”

What have you been up to since the Fight Hunger Bowl and since you announced you’d be turning pro? “I’ve been down in San Diego training with a few other guys. It’s going good so far as far as the transition, but at the same time I’m just learning as much as I can each and every day and trying to get better each and every day. That’s really where I’m at right now.”

It’s still early in the process, but what are you learning about the process and what kind of feedback are you getting? “Right now, my main focus is the combine and the pro day — just getting physically prepared as well as mentally prepared for those two things. Really just trying to take everything in. Meeting new people, learning new stuff. It is a process, but it’s been a good one so far. … It’s been fun. I’m not on a team or anything yet, so I’m just focusing on me and trying to get better.”

One of the knocks I’ve heard about you is (lack of) “breakaway speed.” What have you heard from scouts, and is that one thing you feel you need to improve? “Yeah, that’s one thing I’ve been focusing on, really showing that I can run fast and run a great 40 (-yard dash). Also the agility tests and three-cone (drill) and the shuttle — all those things, I’m just trying to sharpen each of them up. But everybody knows the big thing is the 40 and everybody wants to run a fast 40. I’ve been getting better each day and getting faster, especially with the technique stuff. People don’t realize there’s a lot of technique that goes into the 40; it’s not just getting out there and running.

Is there a 40 time you’re shooting for? Shoot, I’m shooting for the stars, so I’m trying for a 4.4. I hit that time when I was at UW my freshman year.

You not only set a school record in rushing yards this season but also in carries — and yet you seemed to hold up remarkably well. Did that surprise you? “That’s one of the things being a running back, we have a lot of carries and take a lot of hits. But I’m feeling good right now. It’s just a blessing that I feel so good at the end of the year. Nothing serious has happened. I couldn’t be more thankful than that.

 

[Penguin]

Eric Galko @OptimumScouting

Rank Name Pos College
1 . Jadeveon Clowney - DE - South Carolina
2 . Greg Robinson - OT - Auburn
3 . Anthony Barr - OLB - UCLA
4 . Khalil Mack - OLB - Buffalo
5 . Jake Matthews - OT - Texas A&M
6 . Darqueze Dennard - CB - Michigan State
7 . CJ Mosley - ILB - Alabama
8 . Sammy Watkins - WR - Clemson
9 . Eric Ebron - TE - North Carolina
10 . Taylor Lewan - OT - Michigan
11 . Aaron Donald - DT - Pittsburgh
12 . Kony Ealy - DE - Missouri
13 . Louis Nix - DT - Notre Dame
14 . Jace Amaro - TE - Texas Tech
15 . Marqise Lee - WR - USC
16 . Allen Robinson - WR - Penn State
17 . Kyle Van Noy - OLB - BYU
18 . Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix - SAF - Alabama
19 . Jeremiah Attaochu - OLB - Georgia Tech
20 . Zach Martin - OT - Notre Dame
21 . Ra'Shede Hageman - DT - Minnesota
22 . Jimmie Ward - SAF - Northern Illinois
23 . Odell Beckham - WR - LSU
24 . Jarvis Landry - WR - LSU
25 . Calvin Pryor - SAF - Louisville
26 . Brandin Cooks - WR - Oregon State
27 . Mike Evans - WR - Texas A&M
28 . Xavier Su'a-Filo - OG - UCLA
29 . David Yankey - OG - Stanford
30 . Charles Sims - RB - West Virginia
31 . Will Sutton - DT - Arizona State
32 . Dominique Easley - DT - Florida
33 . Dee Ford - OLB - Auburn
34 . Marcus Smith - DE - Louisville
35 . Kyle Fuller - CB - Virginia Tech
36 . Justin Gilbert - CB - Oklahoma State
37 . Timmy Jernigan - DT - Florida State
38 . Tre Mason - RB - Auburn
39 . Dion Bailey - SAF - USC
40 . Bradley Roby - CB - Ohio State
41 . Cameron Fleming - OT - Stanford
42 . Cyrus Kouandjio - OT - Alabama
43 . Ryan Shazier - OLB - Ohio State
44 . Carl Bradford - OLB - Arizona State
45 . Pierre Desir - CB - Lindenwood
46 . Scott Crichton - DE - Oregon State
47 . Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Florida State
48 . Davante Adams - WR - Fresno State
49 . Troy Niklas - TE - Notre Dame
50 . Travis Swanson - OC - Arkansas
51 . Austin Serefin-Jenkins - TE - Washington
52 . Jason Verrett - CB - TCU
53 . Carlos Hyde - RB - Ohio State
54 . Jared Abbrederis - WR - Wisconsin
55 . Gabe Jackson - OG - Mississippi State
56 . Trent Murphy - DE - Stanford
57 . Shayne Skov - ILB - Stanford
58 . Kadeem Carey - RB - Arizona
59 . Bishop Sankey - RB - Washington
60 . Antonio Richardson - OT - Tennessee
61 . Aaron Lynch - DE - South Florida
62 . Lamarcus Joyner - SAF - Florida State
63 . Lache Seastrunk - RB - Baylor
64 . Sentreal Henderson - OT - Miami (FL)
65 . Chris Smith - DE - Arkansas
66 . Stanley Jean-Baptiste - CB - Nebraska
67 . Billy Turner - OT - North Dakota State
68 . Jack Mewhort - OT - Ohio State
69 . Jon Halapio - OG - Florida
70 . Weston Richburg - OC - Colorado State
71 . Anthony Johnson - DT - LSU
72 . Ed Stinson - DE - Alabama
73 . Stephen Tuitt - DE - Notre Dame
74 . Robert Herron - WR - Wyoming
75 . Ed Reynolds - SAF - Stanford
76 . Brandon Coleman - WR - Rutgers
77 . Jordan Matthews - WR - Vanderbilt
78 . Devonta Freeman - RB - Florida State
79 . CJ Fiedorowicz - TE - Iowa
80 . George Uko - DT - USC
81 . Yawin Smallwood - ILB - Uconn
82 . Ja'Waun James - OT - Tennessee
83 . Brandon Thomas - OT - Clemson
84 . Cyril Richardson - OG - Baylor
85 . Chris Borland - ILB - Wisconsin
86 . Taylor Hart - DE - Oregon
87 . Deone Buchannon - SAF - Washington State
88 . Bruce Ellington - WR - South Carolina
89 . Ego Ferguson - DT - LSU
90 . Storm Johnson - RB - UCF
91 . Caraun Reid - DT - Princeton
92 . Josh Huff - WR - Oregon
93 . Isaiah Crowell - RB - Alabama State
94 . Daniel McCullers - DT - Tennessee
95 . Mike Davis - WR - Texas
96 . Justin Ellis - DT - Louisiana Tech
97 . Demarcus Lawrence - OLB - Boise State
98 . Kapri Bibbs - RB - Colorado State
99 . Jaylen Watkins - CB - Florida
100 . Walt Aikins - CB - Liberty

 

[DexterDew]

i'm confused... no QB's in the Top 100?

 

[Bronx Bomber]

More of those tweets on Seastruck:

. @nu_Gap: Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery back


. @nu_Gap: Seen Seastrunk pegged as an one-dimensional type, outside speed player - 62% of his runs were inside the tackles, averaging 6.44 YPC


. @nu_Gap: If you're nitpicking at Seastrunk, biggest concern is that he faced more men in the box than blockers nearly 20% less than other RBs



. @nu_Gap: 70% of runs were even 1:1 blocker to defender ratio. On plays where there was +1 defenders over blockers, his YPC was 4.8

 

[JFS171]

Mailbag: Sorting out the WR class in the NFL Draft

Bruce Feldman

Excerpt:

Here is this week's mailbag. As always, send questions to me via Twitter to @BFeldmanCBS:

From @JasonMcIntyre: if you're a GM & Watkins is off the board, and you NEED a WR, rank these: Evans, Matthews, Lee, Benjamin, Beckham, A Rob, Adams

I think this is a really intriguing crop of receivers for the 2014 Draft with an interesting mix of big, raw "freaky" talents and smaller, more polished playmakers in addition to the dynamic Sammy Watkins. The WR I suspect will emerge as the top overall prospect is the guy who would be at the No. 1 wideout on my board: Texas A&M's Mike Evans. I must preface this by saying that I've spent the most time around Evans because my new Quarterback book project has enabled me to be a fly-on-the-wall around him a lot at A&M and also here in Southern California where he's training with a great that includes Johnny Manziel and Logan Thomas.

Evans has great size at 6-4, 232 and underrated athleticism. He should vertical around 37-38 inches and clock in the high 4.4s, if not faster. He also has fantastic hands and toughness. He also was a dominant player in the toughest conference in college football. Evans, though, is still raw as a route runner. After all he was really just a basketball player till his senior year of high school. He is getting some expert coaching right now while doing one-on-one training with Hall of Famer James Lofton. Another thing to keep in mind: Evans is still only 20 and won't turn 21 till late August.

I'd rank Evans above Marqise Lee, who I also believe will be a terrific NFL player. Lee plays bigger than his actual size. He's only around 6-0, 195 and he plays faster too. He's also good in the return game. I just think NFL teams want to be wowed by a wideout's physical presence in either size or speed to consider taking them in the Top 10. It'll be fun to see whether Lee proves to be a better NFL player than Odell Beckham, who I think is underrated at least when I look at some of these mock drafts out there.

Beckham is a fantastic athlete. You're talking about a guy who is really explosive; could've been an elite soccer player, can throw the ball very well with either hand; has excellent return skills and some of the best hands in the Draft. The coaches I know at LSU say he could've played any position in their secondary and been a star there too. Brandin Cooks is another similarly sized, playmaker I'd put in this group, probably a hair behind Beckham and Lee.

I also like Vandy's Jordan Matthews quite a bit. He's got good size and decent speed, but don't think he has the burst of Lee or Beckham but I love that he makes big catches, and remember, this is a guy who was always being marked since he was clearly his team's top guy and he didn't have an NFL QB throwing him the ball like everyone else up here. I think Matthews is smoother than Allen Robinson.

The other WR who'll bring the Freak tag is FSU's Kelvin Benjamin, who is even taller than Evans. Benjamin will make personnel folks' chins hit the floor when they first see him. Thing is, he's even more raw than Evans and it took him a while to get a sense of FSU's routes/offense and he seems like more of a project. To me, he more boom-or-bust than any WR in the draft. For that, I'd be more leery.

Fresno's Davante Adams also came out early to get in this draft and he certainly is talented. He played in a system that threw more bubbles than probably anyone. Among this group I'd have him behind the others.

Three other receivers I think are being undervalued when I look at some mock drafts: Wisconsin's Jared Abrederris, who I bet plays 10 years in the NFL and catches at least 400 passes; Jarvis Landry who is like a shorter, faster Anquan Boldin in terms of his toughness and ball skills; and Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro who has good quickness and outstanding hands.

Ranking the guys you listed, I'd go: Evans, Beckham, Lee, Matthews, Benjamin, A Rob and Adams.

This would be nice to see, honestly. I'm on the fence on Evans -- he can win a jump ball, but I'm not sold on his athleticism. I think if he comes out and jumps 38+ inches and runs a 4.4, he's going to make himself some money...

 

[Faust]

Peshek: WR Metrics 2.0

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench was impressed with Washington junior RB Bishop Sankey's ability to change direction and vision.

Muench, however, did call Sankey's top end speed average on film. The Washington product produced at a high level this season, but we see him as a third day pick rather than landing in the second- or third-round.


Source: Steve Muench on Twitter

Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl tweeted his comfort level with UCF QB Blake Bortles' evaluation is growing.

"The more I watch and hear about Bortles makeup, the more comfortable I feel about being able to build around him at the next level," Weidl writes. Our own Josh Norris continues to say that Bortles looks like a poor man's Andrew Luck in terms of strong pocket movement and touch. We are still in the dark as to why Bortles' velocity dropped compared to the 2012 season. He has a real shot to be the first quarterback off the board.


Source: Kevin Weidl on Twitter

LSU QB Zach Mettenberger will begin throwing while standing at some point next week, according to the school's trainer Jack Marucci.

Mettenberger has already begun working on his footwork and drop-backs, but has only thrown from a sitting position up until this point. The quarterback's recovery from knee surgery appears to be on track. Marcci adds Mettenberger has dropped about 10 pounds since the season, down to around 220-225. "I don't think it's going to be an issue because he's not a runner," Marucci said of the injury. "They just need to see him progress. The good news is that he didn't have any cartilage damage. It's like treating a severe ankle sprain for us."


Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

 

[coolnerd]

Mailbag: Sorting out the WR class in the NFL Draft

Bruce Feldman

Excerpt:

Here is this week's mailbag. As always, send questions to me via Twitter to @BFeldmanCBS:

From @JasonMcIntyre: if you're a GM & Watkins is off the board, and you NEED a WR, rank these: Evans, Matthews, Lee, Benjamin, Beckham, A Rob, Adams

I think this is a really intriguing crop of receivers for the 2014 Draft with an interesting mix of big, raw "freaky" talents and smaller, more polished playmakers in addition to the dynamic Sammy Watkins. The WR I suspect will emerge as the top overall prospect is the guy who would be at the No. 1 wideout on my board: Texas A&M's Mike Evans. I must preface this by saying that I've spent the most time around Evans because my new Quarterback book project has enabled me to be a fly-on-the-wall around him a lot at A&M and also here in Southern California where he's training with a great that includes Johnny Manziel and Logan Thomas.

Evans has great size at 6-4, 232 and underrated athleticism. He should vertical around 37-38 inches and clock in the high 4.4s, if not faster. He also has fantastic hands and toughness. He also was a dominant player in the toughest conference in college football. Evans, though, is still raw as a route runner. After all he was really just a basketball player till his senior year of high school. He is getting some expert coaching right now while doing one-on-one training with Hall of Famer James Lofton. Another thing to keep in mind: Evans is still only 20 and won't turn 21 till late August.

I'd rank Evans above Marqise Lee, who I also believe will be a terrific NFL player. Lee plays bigger than his actual size. He's only around 6-0, 195 and he plays faster too. He's also good in the return game. I just think NFL teams want to be wowed by a wideout's physical presence in either size or speed to consider taking them in the Top 10. It'll be fun to see whether Lee proves to be a better NFL player than Odell Beckham, who I think is underrated at least when I look at some of these mock drafts out there.

Beckham is a fantastic athlete. You're talking about a guy who is really explosive; could've been an elite soccer player, can throw the ball very well with either hand; has excellent return skills and some of the best hands in the Draft. The coaches I know at LSU say he could've played any position in their secondary and been a star there too. Brandin Cooks is another similarly sized, playmaker I'd put in this group, probably a hair behind Beckham and Lee.

I also like Vandy's Jordan Matthews quite a bit. He's got good size and decent speed, but don't think he has the burst of Lee or Beckham but I love that he makes big catches, and remember, this is a guy who was always being marked since he was clearly his team's top guy and he didn't have an NFL QB throwing him the ball like everyone else up here. I think Matthews is smoother than Allen Robinson.

The other WR who'll bring the Freak tag is FSU's Kelvin Benjamin, who is even taller than Evans. Benjamin will make personnel folks' chins hit the floor when they first see him. Thing is, he's even more raw than Evans and it took him a while to get a sense of FSU's routes/offense and he seems like more of a project. To me, he more boom-or-bust than any WR in the draft. For that, I'd be more leery.

Fresno's Davante Adams also came out early to get in this draft and he certainly is talented. He played in a system that threw more bubbles than probably anyone. Among this group I'd have him behind the others.

Three other receivers I think are being undervalued when I look at some mock drafts: Wisconsin's Jared Abrederris, who I bet plays 10 years in the NFL and catches at least 400 passes; Jarvis Landry who is like a shorter, faster Anquan Boldin in terms of his toughness and ball skills; and Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro who has good quickness and outstanding hands.

Ranking the guys you listed, I'd go: Evans, Beckham, Lee, Matthews, Benjamin, A Rob and Adams.

This would be nice to see, honestly. I'm on the fence on Evans -- he can win a jump ball, but I'm not sold on his athleticism. I think if he comes out and jumps 38+ inches and runs a 4.4, he's going to make himself some money...

Evans was one of those players that when he broke free no one seemed to catch nor even gain ground on him so his pure measurable should be very good in my mind. I actually want to see his fluidity of movement, comes off as stiff. That said, he if he turns out to be so big, fast and strong it might not matter at all.

 

[coolnerd]

I never thought Mettenberger would be down graded by anyone because of his injury. I am not sold him, but I still think if he graded as 1st rounded for some team that he is still going to be drafted there. If his grade was always lower then he will still be drafted in the same area.

 

[Faust]

I never thought Mettenberger would be down graded by anyone because of his injury. I am not sold him, but I still think if he graded as 1st rounded for some team that he is still going to be drafted there. If his grade was always lower then he will still be drafted in the same area.

2014 NFL Draft: Torn ACL could push Mettenberger into second day

NFL Draft: 2014 QB Class Taking Shape

Excerpt:

Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, Seniors, Georgia and LSU respectively: Both of these SEC senior studs tore ACLs and aren’t going to be able to work out much for teams in the pre-draft process. Murray has a lot of detractors but he finally looked to have turned a corner this year and had played like an NFL QB at times. He was probably a 2nd-3rd round pick before, but he’ll need to interview well and explain his inconsistent play in a positive manner since that’s all NFL teams will be able to do with him from an evaluation standpoint.

Mettenberger will have a harder time holding onto his high draft stock (late 1st to 2nd round prospect) because he has had some off-field issues in his career that are sure to be brought up pre-draft. He’s drawn some comparisons to Ryan Mallett, the former Arkansas product who had a 1st round arm but slipped to round 3 over off field concerns. I think Mettenberger might fall all the way out of Day 2 if his interviews aren’t great.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft Underclassmen Tracker

January 14th, 2014 Excerpt:

DraftBrowns.com Staff Writer: Justin Higdon

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and with bowl matchups set, formal announcements (well, formal-ish announcements in some cases) have begin to trickle out. Here is a look at those players who have decided to turn pro thus far. (Note: Originally published on December 18, 2013, this post will be updated periodically)

(Updated 1/14/2014)

Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M 6’0” 210 (Added 12/30/2013) – On the eve of the Aggies’ bowl game against Duke, NFL analyst Gil Brandt reported that it would be Manziel’s final game as a collegian. The news comes as no surprise, as the redshirt sophomore has seemingly had one foot out the door since winning the 2012 Heisman Trophy. Despite a two season run of dominance in the SEC, Manziel still has his doubters in the draft community, but he is an exceptional athlete and a fiery competitor who is sure to win over more than a few NFL personnel people. Manziel’s arm strength and accuracy improved between his freshman and sophomore seasons, and he remained impressive while battling through knee and thumb injuries. Likely to measure at or slightly under six feet tall, Manziel lacks prototypical size for the quarterback position, but he has the talent and personality to be a star. He will almost certainly be drafted within the top five picks this May.

Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville 6’3” 205 (Added 1/3/2014) – Bridgewater’s declaration seemed like a foregone conclusion, but until the last minute rumors persisted that the Louisville star would prefer to return to school for one final season. Then Bridgewater went out and punctuated a phenomenal junior season with a 447 yard, three touchdown performance in a bowl win over his hometown Miami Hurricanes. With seemingly nothing left to prove at the collegiate level, a degree in hand, and a chance to be drafted within the first three picks of the draft, the 21 year old quarterback practically had to make the jump. He’ll be scrutinized for his down field accuracy, quiet demeanor, and thin frame, but his delivery and poise should help him overcome those questions. Bridgewater once appeared to be a lock for number one overall, and that no longer appears to be the case. But with several quarterback-needy teams at the top of the draft, he won’t have to wait long to hear his name called on draft night.

Blake Bortles QB Central Florida 6’3”230 (Added 1/6/2014) – When the 2013 season began, Bortles was a dark horse to declare for the NFL Draft. Fast forward to present day, and the fourth-year junior from Central Florida is a potential number one pick. Bortles is coming off of a strong season in which he passed for 3581 yards, completed 67.8% of his passes, and averaged a strong 9.4 yards per pass attempt. He finished the year with a win in the Fiesta Bowl, and he was named the game’s MVP. Bortles has prototypical size, a strong arm and good mobility, but he lacks the polish of Bridgewater and the dazzling athleticism of Manziel. To think he could be drafted before one or both of those quarterbacks is somewhat surprising. Still, Bortles’ decision to enter the draft is well-timed, as he currently appears to at least be a lock for the top ten.

Brett Smith QB Wyoming 6’2” 206 (Added 12/30/2013) – Smith has gone from two star recruit to drawing favorable comparisons to Johnny Manziel after three seasons at Wyoming. He announced his presence as a dual-threat immediately with 2622 yards and 20 touchdowns passing, and 710 yards and 10 TDs on the ground during his freshman season. As a junior in 2013, the 21-year old Smith passed for a career-best 3375 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding 571 rushing yards. He leaves school as the Cowboys’ all-time leader in total offense. Smith performed admirably despite a below average supporting cast, but coming from the Mountain West Conference he’ll face the usual scrutiny over the level of his competition as well. Perhaps more concerning will be Smith’s medical file – one that includes at least one known concussion, and maybe more. If teams are satisfied with Smith’s health, and he impresses in workouts and interviews, some analysts believe he could be drafted in the second round. But needless to say, not everyone is buying those Manziel comparisons.

Ka’Deem Carey RB Arizona 5’10” 207 (Added 1/13/2014) – Arizona rode Carey for 652 rushing attempts and 62 receptions over the past two seasons, so the junior running back likely thought it best to enter the NFL Draft while his legs were still fresh. Carey ran for 1929 yards and 23 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012, and added 1885 yards and 19 scores on the ground this past season. He enters a deep running back class, and will face scrutiny not only for his workload, but also for the domestic violence incident that resulted in a one game suspension to start the 2013 season. While charges were dropped, questions will remain, and Carey may find his name crossed off a few teams’ draft boards.

Jeremy Hill RB LSU 6’1” 235 (Added 1/13/2014) – Hill began the year by serving a one-game suspension after being charged with battery for a sucker punch he delivered in the aftermath of a bar fight. He returned to rush for 1401 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season, including 216 yards and a pair of scores in the Tigers’ bowl game win over Iowa. A rare “true” sophomore who is draft-eligible, Hill spent a year in prep school before enrolling in classes at LSU. Now three years out of high school, he was free to turn pro.

Alfred Blue RB LSU 6’1” 222 (Added 1/14/2014) – Blue is leaving LSU despite recently being granted an extra year of eligibility. He rushed for 1253 yards and 11 touchdowns, and averaged six yards per carry during his 41 game college career.

Devonta Freeman RB Florida State 5’8” 203 (Added 1/12/2014) - Despite sharing the load in the running game this past season, Freeman became the Seminoles’ first 1000 yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry, added 22 catches for 278 yards through the air, and scored a total of 15 touchdowns. Freeman reportedly received a third round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee.

Tre Mason RB Auburn 5’9” 205 (Added 1/9/2014) – Mason earned a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist after rushing for 304 yards on 46 carries in the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers rode their junior running back over the final six games of the season as he took 188 handoffs for 1063 yards and 14 touchdowns. Those numbers exceeded his totals from his entire sophomore season, when he became the first non-QB to lead Auburn in total offense since Bo Jackson. Mason has drawn comparisons to Trent Richardson, which may no longer be a compliment. After seeing Richardson struggle during his first two professional seasons, scouts may wonder of Mason is a product of outstanding run blocking at the collegiate level. Mason occasionally approaches the line of scrimmage with caution, and does not have the vision his numbers suggest. Still, he is a tough runner who fights through contact, and has speed to break away in the open field. Mason also has experience as a kick return man, so he is likely to contribute early one way or another. He is expected to be drafted in the second or third round this May.

George Atkinson III RB Notre Dame 6’1” 220 (Added 1/9/2014) – Atkinson is the son of former NFL defensive back George Atkinson Jr. The younger Atkinson immediately stepped in as Notre Dame’s primary kickoff return man as a freshman in 2011, and took two kicks to the house while averaging 26.1 yards per return. Over the past two seasons he saw his role on offense grow, but he still only carried the ball 153 times during his college career. Atkinson was suspended for the team’s bowl game, and seemed to find the punishment to be rather harsh relative to the offense. Perhaps the incident hastened his departure to the NFL.

James Wilder Jr RB Florida State 6’2” 229 (Added 1/8/2014) – The son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer James Wilder, the junior running back was a five star recruit out of high school in 2011. In three years Wilder Jr. produced 22 total touchdowns and averaged six yards per carry in a backfield-by-committee. But he was limited by a series of injuries (including a concussion) during Florida State’s championship season, and that could drop him into the late rounds of the draft.

Lache Seastrunk RB Baylor 5’9” 210 (Added 1/8/2014) – Seastrunk was a very highly touted recruit who originally chose to attend Oregon out of high school in 2010. After finding himself at the center of a recruiting scandal, he opted to transfer to Baylor where he could be closer to his family. In two seasons for the Bears, Seastrunk rushed for 2189 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 7.6 yards per carry, but NFL teams will wonder if he is more than a product of his college system. They’ll also be curious to find out if Seastrunk can catch, after he went through the entire 2013 season without a reception.

Henry Josey RB Missouri 5’10” 190 (Added 1/8/2014) – This season Josey finally made it all the way back from a gruesome knee injury that cut short a promising 2011 season and kept him on the shelf throughout 2012. He finished the year with 1166 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, and seems to have regained the burst he’d shown as a sophomore two years ago. Josey was reportedly given a fourth round grade by the NFL Draft Advisory Committee.

Storm Johnson RB Central Florida 6’0” 216 (Added 1/7/2014) – Johnson originally committed to Miami, where he played in ten games as a freshman in 2010. But the Hurricanes’ backfield was too crowded for his liking, so he transferred to UCF. There, Johnson ceded to Latavius Murray in 2012, before finally becoming a go-to guy for the Knights this past season. Johnson ran for 1139 yards and 14 touchdowns, and added 260 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. He punctuated his college performance with 124 yards and three TDs in the bowl win over Baylor. Johnson is a tough runner, and solid all-around performer who should find his way into the fourth or fifth round.

Terrance West RB Towson 5’11” 223 (Added 1/7/2014) – West burst onto the scene with over 1200 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns as a freshman in 2011. After another 1000 yard season as a sophomore, West has dominated the FCS ranks in 2013 by piling up 2509 yards and 41 TDs (forty-one touchdowns!) on the ground, and another 258 yards and a score through the air. All told, West scored 86 touchdowns in 37 games for the Tigers. He’s is a powerful runner who keeps his legs under his body, gets his pads low, and pushes the pile. His value as a receiver makes him that much more valuable. West closed his career with over 800 carries in three seasons, so the timing of his decision to turn pro makes sense, and he couldn’t have asked for a better closing season.

Darrin Reaves RB Alabama-Birmingham 5’10” 210 (Added 1/7/2014) – One of the more unexpected early entrants, Reaves reportedly received a fourth round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee. He rushed for 1965 yards and 25 touchdowns, and caught 70 passes for 596 yards and three scores over the past two seasons.

De’Anthony Thomas RB Oregon 5’9” 170 (Added 1/6/2014) – Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Thomas famously played in Snoop Dogg’s youth football league, where the speedy young running back first earned the nickname “Black Mamba.” Thomas went on to become a five star recruit, and chose to attend Oregon in 2011. As a freshman, he seemed poised to become a super star. He ran for 595 yards while averaging nearly 11 yards per carry. He finished with 1200 yards from scrimmage, 2235 all purpose yards, and 18 total touchdowns. As a sophomore, Thomas’ production dipped a bit, but he still managed 18 total TDs. He began his junior year with back-to-back 100 yard rushing performances, but later missed most of four straight games with an ankle injury. Still Thomas averaged a touchdown per game, and finished his college career with 46 scores in 37 games. The diminutive all-purpose back has blazing speed and quickness, but is rail-thin by NFL standards. Still, it’s curious to see him projected as a late round pick a year after West Virginia’s Tavon Austin was drafted in the top ten. While Thomas’ role is not clear cut, at least one team is still likely to fall in love with his game-breaking potential, and select him in the third or fourth round at the latest.

Bishop Sankey RB Washington 5’10” 203 (Updated 12/30/2013) – ESPN’s Joe Schad reported that Washington’s junior running back will forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. Sankey finished third in the nation with 1870 yards rushing, scored 21 total touchdowns, and added 28 receptions for 304 yards for the Huskies in 2013. Though he may have been able to improve on the third round grade given to him by the NFL Draft Advisory Board, Sankey has already logged 644 collegiate carries and opted against further wear and tear. He should hear his name called on Day Two of the draft, and has potential to develop into a three down back at the NFL level.

Kapri Bibbs RB Colorado State 5’11” 203 (Added 12/30/2013) – Hailing from the Chicago area, Bibbs spent two years in the junior college ranks before enrolling at Colorado State. In his lone college season, he rushed for 1741 yards and a staggering 31 touchdowns. He picked up points for toughness by gutting his way through a leg injury to run for 169 yards and three TDs in the Rams’ bowl win over Air Force. Bibbs, who turns 21 years old next month, had apparently discussed turning pro with some teammates, so his decision did not come as a surprise.

Jerome Smith RB Syracuse 6’0” 226 (Added 12/21/2013) – Syracuse Head Coach Scott Shafer recently announced that Smith was set to graduate and ready to turn pro after the team’s bowl game against Minnesota. The running back appeared in two games as a freshman in 2010 before a shoulder injury ended his season. As a redshirt the following year Smith saw action in every game and scored the first touchdown of his college career against Pitt. As a sophomore, he topped 1100 yards rushing for the season, and he followed with 840 yards and 11 touchdowns as a fourth-year junior this past season. Smith is a bruising back who picks up tough yardage by keeping his legs underneath his body and pushing the pile. He’s been part of a tandem and has rarely been used as a receiver (only 16 career receptions) so teams will be interested to see this offseason if he can be effective in the passing game.

Isaiah Crowell RB Alabama State 5’11” 190 – A former five star recruit, Crowell burst onto the scene with 850 rushing yards and six total touchdowns for Georgia in 2011. But he was promptly dismissed from the program after an arrest for carrying a concealed handgun. Crowell landed at Alabama State in time for the 2012 season, and rushed for 1963 yards, averaged six yards per carry, and scored 30 touchdowns in 23 games for the Hornets. He’s a talented runner, and his entry into the draft comes as no surprise, but Crowell will have to overcome questions about his off the field issues. He’s likely a late round pick who will have a chance to move up if he is able to impress in workouts and interviews.

Adam Muema RB San Diego State 5’10” 205 – Whoops, maybe the Aztecs’ running back didn’t mean to tweet out his intentions before the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, but it sounds like that will be his last game as an amateur. The fourth-year junior has rushed for 2473 yards and 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and is only the fourth San Diego State runner to top 1000 rushing yards twice in his career.

Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State 6’5” 234 (Added 1/11/2014) – After big-bodied receivers like Josh Gordon and Alshon Jeffery emerged as major NFL weapons this past season, Benjamin appears to be entering the draft at the ideal time. He had a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore and helped lead the Seminoles to a National Championship. Benjamin ended the year with 54 receptions for 1011 yards and 15 touchdowns, and made a number of highlight-reel catches. While he won’t run a sub-4.4 second forty like Calvin Johnson did, Benjamin has good speed for a big man and will win battles down the field with his strength and leaping ability. Though he showed flashes of brilliance, Benjamin never really dominated the way his size and skill set would suggest. He’s also on the old side for an underclassman – he turns 23 years old next month. Still, the potential he displayed during the 2013 season will almost certainly get him drafted within the first two rounds.

Sammy Watkins WR Clemson 6’1” 205 (Added 1/5/2014) – Watkins has been a blue-chipper from the get go. A five star recruit for Clemson in 2011, he caught 83 passes for 1225 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, and was immediately projected as a future high first round draft pick. The following May, Watkins was arrested for marijuana possession and subsequently suspended for the first two games of the season. The rest of the 2012 season was one to forget. He missed the Boston College game with a virus, and was carted off the field early in the bowl game against LSU. Though he finished the year with just 805 total yards and four touchdowns from scrimmage, the talent was still evident. Watkins bounced back to catch 101 passes and score 12 TDs as a junior, and he closed his career with a 16-227-2 line in the Orange Bowl victory over Ohio State. Watkins possesses outstanding strength for a receiver his size, allowing him to beat press coverage and to fight for catches in traffic. His huge hands and leaping ability allow him to make plays usually reserved for larger receivers. As long as NFL teams are convinced that he will have no further off the field troubles, Watkins remains a good bet to be drafted early in the first round.

Martavis Bryant WR Clemson 6’4” 200 (Added 1/6/2014) – Bryant is a bit of a one-year wonder – he caught just 19 passes prior to 2013 – but those 19 catches averaged 27.7 yards, and he found the end zone six times. With Nuk Hopkins gone to NFL, Bryant was ready for a bigger role in 2013. He caught 47 passes for 828 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior, and proved to be a dangerous red zone threat. With his combination of height and speed he’ll have chance to move up for teams willing to bet on his long-term potential.

Jarvis Landry WR LSU 6’0” 195 (Added 1/6/2014) – Landry stayed close to home as a five star recruit out of high school in Lutcher, Louisiana. He finished his freshman season with only four catches, but as a sophomore he began to show signs that he could become a go-to guy for the Tigers despite relatively modest numbers (56 catches for 573 yards and five touchdowns). Landry thrived as a junior in 2013, finishing the season with 77 catches for 1193 yards and ten TDs. He teamed with Odell Beckham to form a dynamic one-two punch. Landry runs well and attacks the ball in the air. He was trusted to outfight defenders for jump balls, and made some of the most acrobatic and jaw-dropping catches in recent memory. If Landry were two or three inches taller he’d be in more first round conversations, but as it stands now he still may sneak in to the latter third of Day One.

Odell Beckham Jr WR LSU 5’11” 193 (Added 1/6/2014) - Beckham quietly put together solid seasons as a freshman and junior despite poor quarterback play. Still, he entered the 2013 season as a potential game-breaking return man, and an under-appreciated wide receiver. As LSU Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron opened things up for quarterback Zach Mettenberger, Beckham saw more opportunities. He routinely displayed terrific hands, strength and the ability to pick up extra yards. He made a number of circus catches on the season, and was fearless over the middle. Beckham plays bigger than his listed size and his experience on special teams adds to his value. He is now expected to be selected in the first or second round this May.

Cody Latimer WR Indiana 6’2” 215 (Added 1/6/2014) - The 21-year old Latimer is a surprise inclusion on the early entrant list this year. The junior caught 123 passes for 1801 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Hoosiers over the past two seasons, including 72-1096-9 this past year. Latimer’s performance earned him a Second Team All-Big Ten nod from the media. Still, in a wide receiver class that is getting deeper by the day, he may have a difficult time cracking the top four rounds or so.

Donte Moncrief WR Ole Miss 6’2” 226 (Added 1/5/2014) - In three seasons with the Rebels, Moncrief caught 156 passes for 2371 yards and 20 touchdowns in 38 games. His leap to the pros had been the subject of rumblings since November, so the declaration comes as no surprise. Moncrief’s combination of size, strength and run after the catch ability produced moments of brilliance, but he never quite seemed like true number one receiver. Still, he’s only 20 years old, and won’t turn 21 until August. His athleticism and potential alone should get him a look on Day Two of the draft.

Marqise Lee WR USC 6’0” 195 (Added 1/4/2014) – After a sophomore season in which he caught 118 passes for 1721 yards and 14 touchdowns, Lee’s production dipped in 2013 as he battled through a knee injury and shaky quarterback play. The junior receiver finished with career lows across the board, and as a result, some analysts have bumped him into the second round of mock drafts. Lee does not possess imposing size, and his strength against press coverage has drawn criticism, but he is still dangerous in the open field. Lee has reliable hands and speed to beat defenses over the top. He may indeed drop into the second round, but it will have more to do with team preferences that with Lee’s talent.

Bruce Ellington WR South Carolina 5’9” 197 (Added 1/4/2014) – Ellington was a two sport star in high school who came to South Carolina to play wide receiver for the football team and point guard for the basketballers. In 2010, Ellington redshirted from the football team, but played in 30 games and averaged 12.8 points on the hardwood. Since then, Ellington has become more prominent on the gridiron, and is ultimately giving up basketball for a shot at the NFL. The redshirt junior receiver had his best season in 2013, with 49 catches for 775 yards and eight touchdowns, and is coming off a terrific performance in the Gamecocks’ bowl win over Wisconsin. His quickness in the open field, ability to play bigger than his listed size, and added value as a return man should help him land somewhere in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft.

Allen Robinson WR Penn State 6’3” 210 (Added 1/3/2014) – Robinson became Penn State’s primary target in 2012 after a number of players defected amid the sanctions levied by the NCAA. He finished his sophomore year with 77 catches for 1013 yards and 11 touchdowns. This past season he caught 97 passes and finished third in the FBS with 1432 receiving yards. Robinson has excellent size and should time well. He has also become more reliable in terms of hands and route running. Robinson should come off the board early on the second day of the draft, and if his postseason goes well, he might even sneak into the latter third of the first round.

Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State 5’10” 186 (Added 1/3/2014) – Cooks leaves school after leading the nation with 1730 receiving yards; and finishing second in the FBS in receptions (128) and receiving touchdowns (16). Only a few months into his 20s, Cooks will be among the youngest players available in the upcoming draft, and should hear his name called sometime on Day Two.

Mike Evans WR Texas A&M 6’5” 225 – Veteran NFL analyst Gil Brandt reported that Evans and his teammate Johnny Manziel would be leaving for the pros as many pundits had expected. Over the past two seasons, Evans has teamed with his quarterback to amass 147 receptions for 2427 yards and 17 touchdowns. This past season, the redshirt sophomore averaged an eye-popping 20.3 yards per reception – nearly seven yards more than he had as a freshman. Evans is a huge target with strong hands who excels at coming up with contested catches. He is likely to be one of the first receivers drafted this May.

Davante Adams WR Fresno State 6’2” 216 (Added 12/26/2013) – Derek Carr’s favorite target, Adams caught 131 passes for 1719 yards and 24 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore this past season. In 26 games over the past two seasons, Adams amassed 233 receptions for 3031 yards and 38 TDs. The numbers are staggering, but like Carr, Adams was a beneficiary of some awful Mountain West Conference defenses. Still, the 21-year old receiver is a talented athlete with good hands and a basketball background that shines through in his game. He should come off the board by Day Two of the draft, and could rise with a faster-than-expected 40-yard dash time.

Chris Boyd WR Vanderbilt 6’4” 205 – Boyd caught 50 passes for 774 yards and five touchdowns for the Commodores as a third-year sophomore in 2012, but was dismissed from the team before the 2013 season for his role in helping to cover up a sexual assault. Boyd recently decided to hire an agent a turn pro rather than try to rebuild his reputation at another school next season. Combine missing a season with a character flag, and Boyd faces an uphill climb just to get drafted next May.

Paul Richardson WR Colorado 6’1” 170 – Richardson’s prospect profile with game notes can be found right here.

Brandon Coleman WR Rutgers 6’6” 220 – Like the Rutgers alumni and fan base, Coleman was the victim of some epically poor quarterback play. The fourth-year junior began the season with nine catches for 94 yards and two TDs in his first game, but managed just 23 catches for 379 yards and one score the rest of the way. As a sophomore Coleman caught 43 passes for 718 yards and ten TDs, and figured to build on his success, but his development seemed to stall. Still, big targets are all the rage in the NFL, so the move to go pro should serve Coleman well financially.

Austin Franklin WR New Mexico State 6’0” 184 – Franklin piled up 1245 yards and nine touchdowns as a true sophomore in 2012. Then last summer he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2013 season – apparently for failing to achieve a 1.9 cumulative grade point average. At the time, Aggies’ Head Coach Doug Martin said of Franklin, “He needs to mature, he needs to grow up.” It was later revealed that Franklin’s academic struggles occurred in the fall of 2012, so he was reinstated after serving a four game suspension. He finished the season with 52 receptions for 670 yards and seven touchdowns, with 34-407-4 coming during one three game stretch. Franklin and the Aggies are home for the season after a 2-10 finish, so he has no doubt begun his preparations for the draft.

Josh Stewart WR Oklahoma State 5’10” 185 (Added 1/8/2014) – After catching 101 passes for 1210 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012, Stewart’s production tailed off this past season as he battled through ankle and foot injuries. He’s a quick, slot receiver type who adds value as a punt returner. He took two punts to the house for scores in 2013 for the Cowboys.

Willie Snead WR Ball State 5’11 193 (Added 1/8/2014) – Snead leaves Ball State after setting school single season records with 106 receptions, 1516 yards, and 15 touchdowns. He is expected to be a late round draft pick or priority free agent.

Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame 6’6” 270 (Added 1/10/2014) – Niklas played offensive and defensive line in high school before moving to linebacker as a freshman at Notre Dame. In 2012 he moved to tight end, where he caught five passes in 13 games while Tyler Eifert did the heavy lifting. As a junior this past season, Niklas caught 32 passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns, and seems to have found a position that best utilizes his athletic abilities. He has reportedly received a draft grade in the second to fourth round range.

Xavier Grimble TE USC 6’5” 255 (Added 1/8/2014) – Rivals rated Grimble as the top tight end recruit in the country out of high school in 2010. He redshirted during his first year on campus for the Trojans, and was a part time starter for the past three seasons. The junior closes his college career with 69 catches for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns in 35 games. Grimble was initially leaning toward returning for his senior season, and reportedly did not seek an evaluation from the NFL before changing course and declaring for the 2014 draft.

Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech 6’5” 257 (Added 1/2/2014) – Amaro’s first two years at Tech were clouded by on and off the field incidents. He was arrested in March of 2012 for use of a fake ID and another player’s credit card, but was ultimately not charged. Then he closed out the 2012 season by being ejected from the bowl game for fighting. Amaro vowed to overcome the mistakes of his youth, and went on to complete the 2013 season without incident. Along the way, he caught 106 passes for 1352 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. Amaro plays the game like a big wide receiver – a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coaches – but has the size and strength to develop into an effective blocker if he works at it. He seemed to waver on his decision throughout the season, but in the end opted to move onto the pros.

Austin Sefarian-Jenkins TE Washington 6’6” 276 (Added 12/30/2013) - Aside from catching a career-high eight touchdowns this past season, ASJ’s numbers dipped significantly. But despite his modest receiving totals, he won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end. At the NFL level, Sefarian-Jenkins will serve more of a traditional role than than oversized receiver-types like Jimmy Graham and Jordan Cameron. He has reportedly been given a second round grade by the NFL Draft Advisory committee, but teams will want to be sure that his March 2013 DUI arrest is a mere blip on the radar before spending a high pick on him. For more on ASJ click here.

Jake Murphy TE Utah 6’4” 252 (Added 12/30/2013) – The son of former Major League Baseball great Dale Murphy, the younger Murphy originally signed on to play at BYU. However, upon returning from a Mormon mission in 2010, BYU no longer had a scholarship available for him. Rather than delay the start to his college football career further, Murphy opted to attend Utah and play immediately. In three seasons for the Utes he caught 63 passes for 830 yards and ten touchdowns. He missed time this past season with a broken wrist, but closed out the year with his best two games as a collegian. Murphy’s decision to turn pro was likely driven by the fact that he will turn 25 years old next September. He is not expected to be an early pick but could still work his way into the later rounds with strong pre-draft showing.

Richard Rodgers TE California 6’4” 245 (Added 12/26/2013) – After tipping the scales at 278 pounds while recovering from injuries this past offseason, Rodgers became the target of some…well, tough love from Cal Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin. According to the coach, “I told (Rodgers) you will not play a down if you don’t (lose weight) because you’re slow and fat and out of shape and you can’t play.” Rodgers cut candy out of his diet, dropped 30 pounds, and became a slot receiver in the Golden Bears’ offense. He finished his junior season with 39 catches for 608 yards and a touchdown. Rodgers decision may come as a slight surprise, but he likely received some solid advice, including from his father, who works as the Carolina Panthers’ special teams coach. Draft insider Tony Pauline tweeted that some evaluators have second round grades on Rodgers, and that the tight end prospect has been compared to Antonio Gates. Not too shabby.

Colt Lyerla TE Oregon 6’5” 245 – Lyerla’s name has been in the draft since he left Oregon early in the season. From November: “Former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla presents the most interesting case. He raised a slew of questions when he left Oregon, and details of a troubled past began to emerge. Then, just a few weeks later, Lyerla was arrested for possession of cocaine. He has already hired an agent, so there is no question he will enter the draft, but Lyerla will face a barrage of questions about drug use and his desire to play football from the few teams that haven’t already erased his name from their draft boards. Lyerla needs to prove that he is contrite, motivated, and clean if he hopes to be drafted in May, and his handlers will be faced with a daunting sales job.”

Eric Ebron TE North Carolina 6’4” 245 – Ebron has a chance to be the first tight end drafted next spring after catching 95 passes for 1520 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons. Ebron finished the regular season with a five-catch 121-yard performance, just days after making his NFL intentions known. He’ll have one more chance to impress against Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl.

A.C. Leonard TE Tennessee State 6’4” 245 – Just days after committing to the Florida Gators, Leonard, a four star tight end recruit, was suspended for the remainder of his senior season for fighting. Once in college, Leonard left Florida prior to his sophomore season after pleading no contest to a battery charge that stemmed from an ugly domestic altercation with his girlfriend. Leonard landed at Tennessee State where he caught 85 passes for 1174 yards and 11 touchdowns in 22 games. He is reportedly considered a mid round talent by some scouts, but Leonard’s off the field issues will likely push him into the late rounds or priority free agency.

Mike Flacco TE New Haven 6’5” 245 (Added 1/8/2014) – Flacco played minor league baseball for several seaons before retiring in 2012. He is a 26-year old sophomore tight end who caught 30 passes for 591 yards and nine touchdowns in 2013. And yes, he is the brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Nic Jacobs TE McNeese State 6’5” 260 (Added 1/11/2014) – The 22-year old Jacobs is a fourth-year junior who began his college career at LSU. After redshirting in 2010, he managed just five catches in 19 games over the next two years, and ended the 2012 season by serving a four game suspension. Jacobs left Baton Rouge in January 2013 and landed at McNeese State, where he caught 32 passes for 453 yards and four TDs in 12 games. He reportedly received a favorable draft grade, and is currently in Arizona prepping for the NFL combine.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

I hope Boyd washes out. He covered up a rape and got to keep his freedom and scholarship.

 

[Faust]

QB David Fales tops Tajh Boyd in accuracy challenge

 

[Penguin]

i'm confused... no QB's in the Top 100?

Not sure why he didn't include the QB's in his top 100 list. Here are his QB rankings...

Possible Pro Bowler/Good NFL Starter

1) Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

Eventual NFL Starter, System Pending

2) Blake Bortles, UCF

3) Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois

4) Dereck Carr, Fresno St.

5) Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

6) Zach Mettenberger, LSU

Developmental/Fringe Starter

7) Logan Thomas, Virgina Tech

8) AJ McCarron, Alabama

9) Brett Smith, Wyoming

Developmental Starter/NFL Back-Up

10) David Fales, San Jose St.

11) Tajh Boyd, Clemson

12) Stephen Morris, Miami (Fla)

13) Aaron Murray, Georgia

14) Jeff Matthews, Cornell

Possible Possible 1. Teddy BridgeT

 

[EBF]

Mailbag: Sorting out the WR class in the NFL Draft

Bruce Feldman

Excerpt:

Here is this week's mailbag. As always, send questions to me via Twitter to @BFeldmanCBS:

From @JasonMcIntyre: if you're a GM & Watkins is off the board, and you NEED a WR, rank these: Evans, Matthews, Lee, Benjamin, Beckham, A Rob, Adams

I think this is a really intriguing crop of receivers for the 2014 Draft with an interesting mix of big, raw "freaky" talents and smaller, more polished playmakers in addition to the dynamic Sammy Watkins. The WR I suspect will emerge as the top overall prospect is the guy who would be at the No. 1 wideout on my board: Texas A&M's Mike Evans. I must preface this by saying that I've spent the most time around Evans because my new Quarterback book project has enabled me to be a fly-on-the-wall around him a lot at A&M and also here in Southern California where he's training with a great that includes Johnny Manziel and Logan Thomas.

Evans has great size at 6-4, 232 and underrated athleticism. He should vertical around 37-38 inches and clock in the high 4.4s, if not faster. He also has fantastic hands and toughness. He also was a dominant player in the toughest conference in college football. Evans, though, is still raw as a route runner. After all he was really just a basketball player till his senior year of high school. He is getting some expert coaching right now while doing one-on-one training with Hall of Famer James Lofton. Another thing to keep in mind: Evans is still only 20 and won't turn 21 till late August.

I'd rank Evans above Marqise Lee, who I also believe will be a terrific NFL player. Lee plays bigger than his actual size. He's only around 6-0, 195 and he plays faster too. He's also good in the return game. I just think NFL teams want to be wowed by a wideout's physical presence in either size or speed to consider taking them in the Top 10. It'll be fun to see whether Lee proves to be a better NFL player than Odell Beckham, who I think is underrated at least when I look at some of these mock drafts out there.

Beckham is a fantastic athlete. You're talking about a guy who is really explosive; could've been an elite soccer player, can throw the ball very well with either hand; has excellent return skills and some of the best hands in the Draft. The coaches I know at LSU say he could've played any position in their secondary and been a star there too. Brandin Cooks is another similarly sized, playmaker I'd put in this group, probably a hair behind Beckham and Lee.

I also like Vandy's Jordan Matthews quite a bit. He's got good size and decent speed, but don't think he has the burst of Lee or Beckham but I love that he makes big catches, and remember, this is a guy who was always being marked since he was clearly his team's top guy and he didn't have an NFL QB throwing him the ball like everyone else up here. I think Matthews is smoother than Allen Robinson.

The other WR who'll bring the Freak tag is FSU's Kelvin Benjamin, who is even taller than Evans. Benjamin will make personnel folks' chins hit the floor when they first see him. Thing is, he's even more raw than Evans and it took him a while to get a sense of FSU's routes/offense and he seems like more of a project. To me, he more boom-or-bust than any WR in the draft. For that, I'd be more leery.

Fresno's Davante Adams also came out early to get in this draft and he certainly is talented. He played in a system that threw more bubbles than probably anyone. Among this group I'd have him behind the others.

Three other receivers I think are being undervalued when I look at some mock drafts: Wisconsin's Jared Abrederris, who I bet plays 10 years in the NFL and catches at least 400 passes; Jarvis Landry who is like a shorter, faster Anquan Boldin in terms of his toughness and ball skills; and Wake Forest's Mike Campanaro who has good quickness and outstanding hands.

Ranking the guys you listed, I'd go: Evans, Beckham, Lee, Matthews, Benjamin, A Rob and Adams.

This would be nice to see, honestly. I'm on the fence on Evans -- he can win a jump ball, but I'm not sold on his athleticism. I think if he comes out and jumps 38+ inches and runs a 4.4, he's going to make himself some money...

I think he'll run a decent time. Questions mainly about agility/first step quickness. We'll see how he looks.

I think he's one of the toughest players at the top of the draft to evaluate.

 

[Faust]

NFL Prospect Focus: Storm Johnson and Terrance West

 

[Black]

Frank Coyle's Top 50

21. * Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Florida St.

Not that I'm an expert by any means, but Kelvin Benjamin at 21 seems assinine. There are at least 3 other WRs I'd rather have, in addition to Watkins, Lee, and Evans.

Wondering this also. I was not impressed with Benjamin, at least what I saw in the Nat'l Championship game. Feels like a RedZone guy only.

 

[Brewtown]

Evans has great size at 6-4, 232 and underrated athleticism. He should vertical around 37-38 inches and clock in the high 4.4s, if not faster. He also has fantastic hands and toughness. He also was a dominant player in the toughest conference in college football. Evans, though, is still raw as a route runner. After all he was really just a basketball player till his senior year of high school. He is getting some expert coaching right now while doing one-on-one training with Hall of Famer James Lofton. Another thing to keep in mind: Evans is still only 20 and won't turn 21 till late August.

EBF - curious to your thoughts on Evans running in the 4.4s....

 

[EBF]

Speed is less important than quickness and acceleration for a WR. Jon Baldwin has decent wheels, but he can't explode out of his breaks. Hence he can't get open in the NFL. The 40 time will get a lot of play for Evans, but that won't really say much about his quickness one way or the other.

 

[beef]

Speed is less important than quickness and acceleration for a WR. Jon Baldwin has decent wheels, but he can't explode out of his breaks. Hence he can't get open in the NFL. The 40 time will get a lot of play for Evans, but that won't really say much about his quickness one way or the other.

Nice to see you're learning.

 

[Faust]

Alabama QB AJ McCarron thinks his athleticism will surprise

 

[Brewtown]

Speed is less important than quickness and acceleration for a WR. Jon Baldwin has decent wheels, but he can't explode out of his breaks. Hence he can't get open in the NFL. The 40 time will get a lot of play for Evans, but that won't really say much about his quickness one way or the other.

I think if he runs a 4.4 he will be the first or 2nd WR taken. We should not let Jon Baldwin cloud reality...

If he runs a 4.4 he is going to be dominant!

Will he run in the 4.4s though.... I am skeptical...

 

[coolnerd]

Alabama QB AJ McCarron thinks his athleticism will surprise

He does not use any unexpected athleticism on the field, so I am not sure his running in the 4.7s or anything really matters.

 

[coolnerd]

I never thought Mettenberger would be down graded by anyone because of his injury. I am not sold him, but I still think if he graded as 1st rounded for some team that he is still going to be drafted there. If his grade was always lower then he will still be drafted in the same area.

2014 NFL Draft: Torn ACL could push Mettenberger into second day

NFL Draft: 2014 QB Class Taking Shape

Excerpt:

Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, Seniors, Georgia and LSU respectively: Both of these SEC senior studs tore ACLs and aren’t going to be able to work out much for teams in the pre-draft process. Murray has a lot of detractors but he finally looked to have turned a corner this year and had played like an NFL QB at times. He was probably a 2nd-3rd round pick before, but he’ll need to interview well and explain his inconsistent play in a positive manner since that’s all NFL teams will be able to do with him from an evaluation standpoint.

Mettenberger will have a harder time holding onto his high draft stock (late 1st to 2nd round prospect) because he has had some off-field issues in his career that are sure to be brought up pre-draft. He’s drawn some comparisons to Ryan Mallett, the former Arkansas product who had a 1st round arm but slipped to round 3 over off field concerns. I think Mettenberger might fall all the way out of Day 2 if his interviews aren’t great.

my point if anything.. the downgrade comes from draftnik speculation versus teams who have not even placed final grades on players. If he is already close to throwing, mettenberger won't make the combine, but probably will be to do something for scouts before the draft. his biggest problem will be a career that he was inconsistent until this past season and those off the field issues.

 

[cloppbeast]

Brandin Cooks is underrated.

I've heard he could go on the second day. Whichever NFL team drafts him in the second round will get one hell of a deal.

Check out his reaction time at 7:35. http://draftbreakdown.com/video/brandin-cooks-vs-hawaii-utah-2013/

While not as fast, Cooks has comparable quickness to Tavon Austin. Also like Austin, some question his size. Whatever.

Unlike Austin, Cooks has some receiving ability - like running routes and catching.

 

[GeeYouknit]

Peshek: WR Metrics 2.0

I have been slowly dropping Jordan Matthews in my rankings due to what I've recently been reading about some of the other prospects. This one really stood out to me to jump both Odell beckham and Jarvis Landry above him. I still think Matthews is very solid but it's hard for me to rank him higher than a lot of these prospects.

 

[Gandalf]

Does it really matter where a WR catches the ball? To say that a player caught more screens because that's how they were used does not mean that they cannot catch passes from anywhere on the field. It just means that was how their college offense used them. Seems like Peshek is suggesting that we drop Watkins and Matthews in the rankings because of this being a red flag. Are there data to support this? In the past have WRs who catch more screens busted more in the NFL? Seriously asking.

 

[Concept Coop]

Does it really matter where a WR catches the ball? To say that a player caught more screens because that's how they were used does not mean that they cannot catch passes from anywhere on the field. It just means that was how their college offense used them. Seems like Peshek is suggesting that we drop Watkins and Matthews in the rankings because of this being a red flag. Are there data to support this? In the past have WRs who catch more screens busted more in the NFL? Seriously asking.

The metric is pretty silly if used to predict NFL success. I don't think they are doing that, however. It might be useful for owners who haven't had a chance to see these guys play.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

Brandin Cooks is underrated.

I've heard he could go on the second day. Whichever NFL team drafts him in the second round will get one hell of a deal.

Check out his reaction time at 7:35. http://draftbreakdown.com/video/brandin-cooks-vs-hawaii-utah-2013/

While not as fast, Cooks has comparable quickness to Tavon Austin. Also like Austin, some question his size. Whatever.

Unlike Austin, Cooks has some receiving ability - like running routes and catching.

Do you think GMs across the league are saying to themselves "What this team needs is the next Tavon Austin"?

 

[Concept Coop]

Do you think GMs across the league are saying to themselves "What this team needs is the next Tavon Austin"?

Sure. I don't think one player's slow start is going to affect the average GM's actions.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Does it really matter where a WR catches the ball? To say that a player caught more screens because that's how they were used does not mean that they cannot catch passes from anywhere on the field. It just means that was how their college offense used them. Seems like Peshek is suggesting that we drop Watkins and Matthews in the rankings because of this being a red flag. Are there data to support this? In the past have WRs who catch more screens busted more in the NFL? Seriously asking.

I don't know, but I agree that "he catches lots of screens so he's a worse prospect than someone who didn't" is not very well thought out.

What did Watkins actually do with the non-screen passes he caught? How do the results of Watkins' screens stack up with screen plays to other WRs? Those would be very interesting things to look at.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay ranks Fresno State WR Davante Adams as the No. 30 overall prospect.

"If Adams were just a little bit faster, he'd be several spots higher in this ranking," McShay writes. "Outside of elite speed, he has everything you look for in a receiver prospect, with really good hands, good size and strength, and good run-after-catch abilities." This places Adams over the likes of Brandin Cooks, Kelvin Benjamin, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., among others.


Source: ESPN

TCU beat writer Mac Engel has been told by multiple NFL sources that QB Casey Pachall has not been invited to the Combine.

"There is a chance, however slim, Pachall may still score an invite but it's a long shot," Engel writes. The quarterback showed promise back in 2011, but missed a majority of the 2012 season due to off-field issues. He had a down senior year and injuries did not help his case.


Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, Alabama QB AJ McCarron said he is unsure if he will throw at the NFL Combine.

McCarron briefly cited a lack of timing with receivers at the event. After skipping the Senior Bowl and telling reporters he would prove doubters and evaluators wrong, we are somewhat surprised McCarron would not firmly say he will participate in the throwing portion of drills. His evaluation does not place him in the first-round, and his pre-draft process has not changed that.


Source: Josh Norris on Twitter

 

[ZWK]

I think that catching a lot of screen passes is generally a good sign about a player, since it indicates that the offense sees him as a weapon and wants to get the ball into his hands.

The thing to be careful with is when you're looking at players' yards after catch numbers. Running a lot of screens will inflate a player's YAC, so you have to try to adjust for that.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

McCarron is approaching this pre-draft process like someone terrified of being exposed.

 

[Faust]

Big Board: Rise of linebacker Mack reaches No. 5 -- or maybe No. 1

by Rob Rang | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

Jan. 30, 2014 12:58 PM ET

January is a chaotic month for scouts. They spend the month traveling to senior All-Star games, all while attempting to catch up with the ever-growing number of underclassmen making themselves available for the upcoming draft.

February brings clarity and relative calm; scouts can finally assess the totality of the draft class.

What they're discovering is just how much improved the 2014 group is compared to last year, including at some of the game's most critical positions -- quarterback and pass rusher.

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

* denotes underclassman

1. DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina (6-6, 268, 4.65)*: There is no denying that Clowney failed to live up to expectations statistically-speaking. He also inflamed concerns about his maturity with two speeding tickets before the Gamecocks' bowl game. Clowney's red flags are real, but so is his talent. Imposing, explosive and more technically sound than many realize, Clowney competes only with former No. 2 overall pick Julius Peppers (2002) as the most gifted defensive end prospect I have ever seen.

2. OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M (6-5, 305, 5.14): The son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, Jake proves the cliché' true -- the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He has played well at left tackle this season after starring at right tackle over his first three years. Matthews is a terrific football player, demonstrating impressive technique, strength and consistency. He is not, however, an elite athlete and some view his future back on the right side in the NFL.

3. OT Greg Robinson, Auburn, (6-5, 320, 5.38)*: Redshirt offensive linemen rarely earn more than a whisper in scouting circles, but the buzz generating around the Tigers' star left tackle is starting to become deafening. Physical and tenacious, Robinson is a grizzly bear in the running game, mauling opponents with an exciting blend of size (6-5, 320 pounds), strength and athleticism. Auburn's reliance on the running game, however, has given Robinson few opportunities in pass protection, meaning he could struggle initially in this role. Robinson isn't as polished as Matthews, which is why he ranks behind the Aggies' star for me, but the redshirt sophomore possesses an extraordinary upside that could lead to his earning a higher selection come draft day.

4. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville (6-3, 220, 4.65)*: In an era in which college quarterbacks' numbers are often inflated by short passes and relatively simplistic schemes, Bridgewater's sparkling production is due to Pro Bowl-caliber accuracy. His success (71 percent completion rate with 31 touchdowns against just four interceptions) comes out of a pro-style offense that requires him to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage and complete NFL throws. Those traits make Bridgewater an ideal fit in new Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien's offense, making him the safest candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft.

5. OLB Khalil Mack, Buffalo (6-3, 248, 4.66): With an FBS-record 16 career forced fumbles and record-tying 75 career tackles for loss, Mack's statistics jump off the page. Against the most gifted opponents he faced this year (Ohio State, Baylor, Connecticut), it was his game that jumped off the screen. His size, instincts and agility as an edge rusher make him equally intriguing to teams operating out of a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment. Versatility could land him a spot in the top five. Some even view him as a dark horse candidate for the Texans at No. 1 overall.

6. WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson (6-1, 200, 4.49)*: NFL scouts love players who rise to the occasion in big games, and no one played better under the bright lights of bowl mania than Watkins, whose 16 catches for 227 yards and two scores guided Clemson to a 40-35 victory over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. Watkins is an explosive athlete whose instant acceleration, impressive body control and natural hands to pluck the ball should earn him Pro Bowl consideration early in his NFL career.

7. OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA (6-4, 238, 4.73): Barr's emergence as one of the nation's elite NFL prospects after languishing as a running back early in his career has been well documented. Barr exploded in 2012 in his first season on the defensive side of the ball and backed it up with another spectacular campaign in 2013, including 65 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and five forced fumbles, earning him the Lott IMPACT Trophy. His burst off the snap is exciting but he flashes rather than dominates and is not as polished as his hype may lead you to believe.

8. QB Blake Bortles, Central Florida (6-3, 230, 4.78)*: A prototypically-built pocket passer with good awareness, athleticism and arm talent, Bortles looks the part of an NFL starting quarterback. He is methodical in his set up and delivery of the ball and is a bit inconsistent with his accuracy, but the mettle he showed in guiding UCF to several comeback victories in 2013 has scouts buzzing. Bortles isn't as polished as Bridgewater, but he may possess an even higher upside. A top 10 pick is likely and it isn't out of the question that he'll rank as the best quarterback for some, potentially including new Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, whose Penn State team was beaten by Bortles' UCF team in 2013.

9. OLB C.J. Mosley, Alabama (6-2, 232, 4.56): While a bit undersized, Mosley might be the best pound-for-pound player in the country. Athletic and instinctive, he is a true three-down linebacker capable of making plays against the run and pass. Mosley lacks the bulk scouts want in a pass rusher but his awareness in coverage is special. While the tape is phenomenal, Mosley has undergone multiple surgeries (knee, shoulder) over his career and could be the latest Alabama player to receive medical red flags from some evaluators.

10. WR Marqise Lee, Southern Cal (6-0, 195, 4.51)*: A nagging left knee injury hampered Lee for much of the 2013 season, robbing the 2012 Biletnikoff Award winner of his trademark elusiveness and acceleration. Finally healthy in the Las Vegas Bowl against Fresno State, however, Lee showed off his playmaking ability, hauling in seven passes for 118 yards and two scores. Lee's relatively slight frame could lead to durability issues in the NFL, but his first round skill set is undeniable.

11. CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State (5-11, 197, 4.52): Quick feet, loose hips and a fluid turning motion make Dennard a classic cover corner capable of shutting down half the field. Dennard allowed only three completions in 31 passes of 15-plus yards targeted against him this season. His ability in coverage played a huge role in the Spartans' run to a Rose Bowl victory, and was recognized with Dennard winning the Thorpe Award as the nation's elite defensive back. The only factor keeping Dennard from a selection in the top half of the first round is the question about his straight-line speed.

12. TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina (6-4, 245, 4.67)*: Ebron possesses a jaw-dropping combination of size and athleticism that has earned comparisons to 49ers star Vernon Davis. Like Davis, however, Ebron struggles with consistency, relying too much on his athleticism rather than dedicating himself to learning the finer techniques of the position.

13. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (5-11, 210, 4.45)*: Manziel's vision, elusiveness and accuracy while on the move make him a mesmerizing prospect who will almost surely be drafted earlier than I rank him. While dynamic throughout his career -- including in the Aggies' thrilling comeback over Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl -- red flags were raised with mediocre performances against LSU and Missouri to end the regular season. Bottled in the pocket by both, Manziel was unable to throw his receivers open and he struggled. The NFL rule books have never been more accommodating to dual-threat passers, but consistent accuracy from the pocket remains the most critical element to quarterback play at the next level.

14. DL Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame (6-5, 303, 4.89)*: Clowney isn't the only highly regarded defensive lineman who struggled under the burden of monstrous expectations in 2013. After dominating as a sophomore, Tuitt began his junior campaign out of shape (after missing spring due to hernia surgery) and struggled with consistency all season. Highly athletic and possessing the frame to star as either a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end, Tuitt's upside is just too tantalizing to ignore. Tuitt is earning comparisons to Richard Seymour from some scouts.

15. OL Zach Martin, Notre Dame (6-4, 308, 5.15): The vast majority of Martin's school record 52 career starts came at left tackle but his square-ish frame and 32 1/4" arms will earn him a projection inside to guard for many. Regardless of where he lines up, Martin plays with the controlled aggression I love along the offensive line, latching on and controlling opponents with excellent strength. Martin was the best player on the field in Mobile.

16. OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan (6-7, 310, 5.04): Possessing an impressive combination of size, strength and toughness, Lewan has earned comparisons to former Michigan standout Jake Long throughout his career with the Wolverines. Lewan was one of the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing 2013 campaign in Ann Arbor. Before drafting him, however, NFL teams will want to investigate Lewan's role -- if any -- in an alleged assault on an Ohio State fan following this year's Big Game.

17. WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M (6-5, 225, 4.58)*: Like his former teammate Manziel, Evans is just a redshirt sophomore, but he has shown star ability in dominating the SEC. Evans reminds scouts of Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Vincent Jackson in that he uses his size and physicality to win contested passes. It is worth noting, however, that Evans struggled against defenses that matched his physicality and made most of his big plays on relatively simple vertical routes.

18. OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama (6-5, 312, 5.12)*: Nick Saban questioned draft analysts for pegging Kouandjio as a first-round talent before the season, but given the junior left tackle's exciting skill set, the projection has been an easy one. Long-armed, athletic and aggressive, Kouandjio boasts many of the traits scouts are looking for in a potential Pro Bowl offensive tackle. However, a lack of elite foot quickness was exposed by the Oklahoma Sooners pass rush in their Sugar Bowl upset win over the Tide.

19. TE Jace Amaro, Texas Tech (6-5, 260, 4.67)*: The NFL is looking for seam threats rather than extra blockers at tight end in today's game and there wasn't a more impressive prospect in the country in 2013 in this role than Amaro, who finished the regular season with 106 catches for 1,352 yards -- the most ever from a tight end in FBS history. Despite Amaro's size, he doesn't provide much as a blocker as he was split out wide as a glorified slot receiver throughout most of his collegiate career. In this role he has proven to be a Jimmy Graham-like matchup nightmare for defenders.

20. QB Derek Carr, Fresno State (6-2, 215, 4.78): Carr's staggering production (68.2 completion percentage, 50 TDs, 8 INTs) was certainly inflated by head coach Tim DeRuyter's QB-friendly spread attack and legitimately talented receiving corps, but any questions about his talent were put to rest with a stellar week in Mobile. While no one questions Carr's arm, some wonder if he has the grit to hold up as the leader of an NFL huddle.

21. CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (6-0, 200, 4.52): In terms of size, agility and speed, no cornerback offers a more intriguing skill set than the Cowboys' star. Gilbert, a Thorpe Award finalist, led the Big 12 with six interceptions this season and has returned just as many kickoffs for touchdowns during his time in Stillwater.

22. FS Calvin Pryor, Louisville (6-2, 208, 4.55)*: With all of the focus on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Pryor was overshadowed a bit with the Cardinals but his stock will climb once scouts turn their attention to the instinctive and hard-hitting defender. Boasting the size, agility and physicality that every team is looking for to lead the deep patrol, Pryor is my top-rated safety of the 2014 draft class and projects as a first round pick if he can assure scouts of his straight-line speed.

23. DT Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota (6-6, 318, 4.95): Just as he did at times during his career with the Golden Gophers, Hagemen flashed a dominating combination of size, strength and athleticism at the Senior Bowl. Scouts wish he was more consistent, but given his position and scheme versatility, Hageman is a first round gamble worth taking.

24. DE/OLB Dee Ford, Auburn (6-2, 243, 4.67): Ford's dominating performance at the Senior Bowl caught my attention and the film study I've done since confirm the exciting improvement he showed in 2013 -- his second season as a starter for the Tigers. Improving his burst, power and fluidity when dropping into coverage, the question is rapidly not if Ford will earn a selection in the top 32 but how high his rapidly escalating stock can take him.

25. DT Timmy Jernigan, Florida State (6-2, 298, 4.98)*: Jernigan played a critical role in the Seminoles' rise to the BCS Championship, showing a unique burst to penetrate gaps as well as the leverage and strength to hold up against the run. His upside is undeniable and could earn him a significantly higher grade for some. The fact that he's started just one year at the collegiate level and was clearly gassed against Auburn raises red-flags about his readiness for the NFL, however.

26. DE Kony Ealy, Missouri (6-5, 275, 4.77)*: While teammate Michael Sam garnered more hype, scouts are increasingly intrigued by Ealy due to his impressive combination of size and athleticism. A highly versatile defender with experience inside and out for the Tigers, Ealy projects nicely to both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments and the first-team All-SEC pick is just scratching the surface of his potential.

27. OLB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State (6-2, 226, 4.58)*: Shazier may be 10-15 pounds lighter than scouts would prefer but his instincts, speed and bone-jarring hits make him a fearful defender that offenses must account for on every snap. Statistics don't always tell the story, but they do with Shazier, whose 143 tackles, including an eye-popping 22.5 tackles for loss, not only led the Big Ten this season, they combine to rank among the best seasons from any Buckeye defender over the past quarter century.

28. CB Jason Verrett, TCU (5-10, 182, 4.49): Verrett lacks the size so en vogue in today's NFL, but agility and ball-skills never go out of style for cornerbacks. Verrett led the Big 12 with 22 passes defended and six interceptions in 2012. Through the end of the 2013 regular season he led again in pass deflections (16) while recording two pass thefts. While light, Verrett is scrappy and tenacious, making him an ideal nickel corner with the tackling ability to threaten on an occasional blitz.

29. DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh (6-1, 288, 4.90): Donald was arguably the Senior Bowl's MVP throughout the first three days of practice, routinely penetrating to make big plays behind the line of scrimmage in the same fashion that led to his earning CBSSports.com's Defensive Player of the Year, along with a host of other awards. Scouts wonder if he can hold up to the size and power of the NFL as a full-time defender, but given his burst, 8-10 sacks a year as a pass-rush specialist three-technique defensive tackle deserves late first round consideration for me.

30. OLB Kyle Van Noy, BYU (6-3, 244, 4.70): Van Noy may not be the most physical linebacker in the draft but he's might just be the most efficient. As he demonstrated throughout a spectacular career in Provo and again in Mobile, he's just as slippery and savvy in attacking the line of scrimmage as he is in dropping back into coverage.

31. CB Marcus Roberson, Florida (6-0, 195, 4.52)*: Limited to just seven games (including only four starts) in 2013 due to a knee injury and one-game suspension for violation of team rules, Roberson surprised many with his decision to leave early for the NFL. While his knack for sustaining injuries (he also missed three games in 2011 with a neck strain) is certainly cause for concern, Roberson started 18 games over his career and his fluidity, awareness and competitiveness at the catch-point are obvious. If team doctors clear him at the combine, expect Roberson's stock to steadily rise as the draft approaches.

32. FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama* (6-1, 208, 4.54)*: It has seemingly become an annual rite of passage for a Nick Saban-coached defensive back to earn a selection in the first round, and Clinton-Dix possesses the fluidity in coverage, ball skills (seven interceptions in 19 career starts) and flashes of physicality to continue this trend in 2014. A relatively weak class of safeties could push Clinton-Dix up the board. It is worth nothing, however, how few of Saban's former pupils have played up to their lofty pre-draft billing once in the NFL, which is among the reasons why Clinton-Dix ranks as a borderline first-round pick rather than a sure-fire star.

Just missed the cut:

RB Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona*
DE Scott Crichton, Oregon State*
CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State*
TE Troy Niklas, Notre Dame*
OG Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA*
WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State*
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington*
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon State*
OT Morgan Moses, Virginia
RB Tre Mason, Auburn*
DT Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina*
WR Jarvis Landry, LSU*
OLB Marcus Smith, Louisville
OC Marcus Martin, Southern California*
OG David Yankey, Stanford*
DT William Sutton, Arizona State
WR Davante Adams, Fresno State*

Rob Rang (@RobRang) is a senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com

 

[Faust]

Twitter:

@JoshNorris

I don't judge or factor it in, but will be interested in the buzz around Jace Amaro's medicals at the Combine.

 

[Faust]

‘14 NFL Draft: Grading the WR’s/TE’s