[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

[BigTex]

Melvin Gordon announces he's returning to school for his junior year.

http://host.madison.com/sports/college/football/badgers-football-tailback-melvin-gordon-announces-he-will-return-for/article_cdf3a954-89eb-54bc-b880-7fccddfd9206.html

Wow

 

[Denver724]

Looking forward to Carr and Adams vs USC today

Thoughts? Probably Carr's worst game of the season.

 

[EBF]

RB Brandon Oliver at 5:30 ESPN - Potato Bowl.

114 yards on 28 carries. Finishes his career at Buffalo with over 4000 rushing yards.

It will be interesting to see what happens with him. We've seen it go both ways for other short/stocky RBs in recent years with MJD/Ray Rice going in the 2nd round while Dion Lewis/Quizz Rodgers fell into the 5th. Dennis Johnson was a similar type of guy and he went completely undrafted, so you never know. I wouldn't bet on Oliver being a high pick, but he certainly has some qualities that I like. I'm very curious to see if NFL teams rate him at all. He's been really, really productive the last few years and yet you just don't see his name anywhere.

 

[MAC_32]

Looking forward to Carr and Adams vs USC today

Thoughts? Probably Carr's worst game of the season.

disappointed, hoped he handled inside pressure better than he did. Seemed to develop yips screwing up his footwork causing way too many over throws.

 

[lod01]

RB Brandon Oliver at 5:30 ESPN - Potato Bowl.

114 yards on 28 carries. Finishes his career at Buffalo with over 4000 rushing yards.

It will be interesting to see what happens with him. We've seen it go both ways for other short/stocky RBs in recent years with MJD/Ray Rice going in the 2nd round while Dion Lewis/Quizz Rodgers fell into the 5th. Dennis Johnson was a similar type of guy and he went completely undrafted, so you never know. I wouldn't bet on Oliver being a high pick, but he certainly has some qualities that I like. I'm very curious to see if NFL teams rate him at all. He's been really, really productive the last few years and yet you just don't see his name anywhere.

No but a guy to watch in dynasty. Will need to get an opportunity.

 

[MAC_32]

Oliver will be a third on the depth chart type, not the type I'm crazy about in dynasty unless I have his teams starter. Waiver wire watch type in redraft though. He can shoulder the load in small doses. Not a feature guy though.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Oliver will be a third on the depth chart type, not the type I'm crazy about in dynasty unless I have his teams starter. Waiver wire watch type in redraft though. He can shoulder the load in small doses. Not a feature guy though.

Lot of cliches being thrown around in this post.

Why do you see it this way?

 

[Faust]

Looking forward to Carr and Adams vs USC today

Thoughts? Probably Carr's worst game of the season.

disappointed, hoped he handled inside pressure better than he did. Seemed to develop yips screwing up his footwork causing way too many over throws.

2014 NFL Draft: Fresno's Derek Carr stalls in Vegas Bowl loss to USC

By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

December 21, 2013 7:26 pm ET

With three full seasons as Fresno State's starting quarterback, Derek Carr entered Saturday's Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl matchup against the USC Trojans already boasting plenty of quality tape for NFL scouts to evaluate.

Due to the quality of his opponent and the inherent pressure of this being his final game leading the Bulldogs, however, Saturday's matchup with the Trojans was as important to his final evaluation as any game over his career.

While the outcome is always important, scouts won't knock Carr for the Bulldogs losing 45-20 to a USC squad clearly holding an advantage in talent.

He certainly won't quiet critics, however, with a final performance that raised more questions than provided answers - including in two areas critical for success at the next level.

Maintain Composure Against the Rush

Fresno State entered this game having surrendered just 11 sacks in 12 games so scouts wanted to see how Carr would handle a defensive front that would put pressure on him immediately. The talented Trojans happily obliged, with defensive linemen Leonard Williams and George Uko frequently crashing through the line of scrimmage and former NFL defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergrast hurling various exotic blitzes at the Bulldogs' overmatched offensive line.

Despite taking virtually every snap out of the shotgun, Carr frequently was forced to roll to his right to avoid pressure. Though he wasn't sacked in this contest, Carr was consistently harassed. He showcased the ability to square his shoulders and fire passes with velocity and accuracy but could not break free to gain yardage on his own.

He absorbed a significant hit in the second quarter that caused him to get up holding his left shoulder in obvious pain. Carr got back up to make one of his most impressive throws of the game (rolling right to hit a quick out) but the pressure clearly had an effect on Carr, who seemed as uncomfortable in the pocket as he's been all year long. Carr rushed several passes, frequently staring down and overthrowing targets. This was the case on his third quarter interception in which he forced a throw into the left corner of the end zone towards Adams and saw it picked off by USC's talented defensive back, Josh Shaw.

Carr threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns against one interception on the day. His numbers look better on paper, however, than they were in reality. Carr attempted 55 passes on the afternoon, averaging just 3.9 yards per completion. USC's Cody Kessler, on the other hand, averaged 11.1 over his 31 attempts and threw four touchdowns. The Bulldogs converted just 2/13 third downs and were 1/3 on fourth down.

Complete NFL-caliber throws

Carr entered this game leading the country with 4,866 passing yards and 48 touchdowns but there is no question that his statistics are inflated by Fresno State's pass-happy spread attack. While the screen passes Carr often throws in this scheme are becoming increasingly en vogue in today's NFL, scouts wanted to see the 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback attempt and complete NFL-caliber throws against this talented defense.

Carr showed off his arm talent early, lofting a beautiful fade over the right shoulder of his favorite target, redshirt sophomore Davante Adams, for a gain of 14 yards on his first attempt of the game. A few plays later, Carr showed off the fastball to go along with his changeup, drilling a quick slant to Isaiah Burse for an 8-yard touchdown to tie the game. His second touchdown of the game - a 23-yard fade to Adams in the third quarter - was accurate but effective in part due to his wideout making a nice adjustment to the ball.

While Carr teased with some impressive throws, he also misfired several occasions, including on two potential touchdowns. Each were overthrows against man coverage; the first missing a wide-open Burse in the right corner of the end zone one play before hitting him on the slant for the score. Carr also led Adams too far in the second and third quarters. In each case, Adams had broken free with a terrific combo routes.

Carr's brilliant senior campaign was the primary reason for Fresno State winning the Mountain West title and earning the Vegas Bowl berth.

To earn a spot in the first round, as Dane Brugler and I currently project, however, Carr will need a more impressive performance in Mobile, Ala. in the Senior Bowl.

Rotoworld:

Fresno State senior QB Derek Carr completed 29 of 54 attempts for 217 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the school's 45-20 loss to USC.
Carr succeeds and fails by his arm, and even though most of his season resulted in positive play, Saturday's bowl game was a different story. Carr does not always rely on a balanced base, which can lead to erratic placement. Carr missed some wide open receivers for big plays in this game, and it doesn't help that all the focus was on the senior quarterback in this one. We still think Carr will tear up Mobile in January.

One NFL scout believes Fresno State senior QB Derek Carr is "tougher than his brother" David.
"Pretty athletic. Great arm talent," the scout told Packers beat writer Bob McGinn. "Even though he hasn't thrown many interceptions he's a little erratic in his decision-making." There have already been some rumblings of evaluators wanting to knock Carr just because he is David's brother. We think this is lazy, and it is always worthwhile to evaluate a talent in a vacuum in relation to things they cannot change.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

An AFC general manager said that Fresno State senior QB Derek Carr has a "good arm, accurate, quick release, but he's not in a pro offense."
"He's at a lower level of competition, and he needs to develop better awareness, anticipation and pocket presence," the GM said. "He can help himself in the bowl game and Senior Bowl." Carr threw for 4,866 yards, 48 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games this year. His last chance to impress scouts will come Saturday afternoon against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. An NFC personnel executive said of Carr, "I like him, but he's not a first-round talent. His athletic ability and arm strength ... he's just not dynamic."

Source: NFL.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

One NFL scout believes Washington junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is close to Rob Gronkowski from a talent perspective.
"Now he's lazy," the scout added. "Like there's always something with him. But he can be on the line and block." Seferian-Jenkins reportedly received a second-round tag from the Draft Advisory Board, and that projection will likely land him in the top-40 in May.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Washington junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins received a second-round projection from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, according to Fox Sports' Ross Jones.
Expect Seferian-Jenkins to leave following this season. The second-round projection is not a surprise, as Seferian-Jenkins might not have the flash of Eric Ebron or Jace Amaro, but he can be a very solid player in the NFL.

Source: Fox Sports

USC junior WR Marqise Lee caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the school's 45-20 win over Fresno State.
Lee told reporters he was as close to 100 percent in this game as possible. Lee made a 40-plus yard grab on a crossing route that finished in a score. The junior apparently did not request an evaluation from the NFL, leading us to believe he is set on declaring for May's draft. A top-40 selection is in his future.

One NFL scout believes USC junior WR Marqise Lee remains a first-round pick.
"Teams are really going to like the person when they talk to him," the anonymous scout said. "He's had enough tape over the last couple of years where you can see the talent. He's an impressive player. He's got some savvy to him." Our own Josh Norris has compared Lee's game to Reggie Wayne, and a late first-round selection is a definite possibility. The Trojans play Fresno State on Saturday.

Source: LA Times

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes UCF redshirt junior QB Blake Bortles is a borderline first-round pick at this point in the process.
"When a scout is placing a grade on a prospect, he must take that potential into account, and I can't place a top-10 grade on a quarterback that is good, not great, at this time," Brooks writes. Bortles "can start and win games in the NFL, but he will need some time to develop in the right system to become an impact player as a pro." There have been some questions surrounding Teddy Bridgewater's and Derek Carr is the emerging talent at the position, but Bortles will likely land in the top three at the position if he declares.

Source: NFL.com

Louisville junior WR DeVante Parker will likely return to school if he does not receive an evaluation in the first-round range, according to his grandfather Willie.
"If they're not projecting him near the first round, he's definitely going to be back for his senior year," Willie Parker said. The junior has some talent, most notably in red zone situations, and he has become Teddy Bridgewater's favorite target. He does not matchup up with other top prospects at the position, however.

Source: Courier Journal

Five LSU prospects are leaning towards entering the draft, including WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, DTs Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson and T La'El Collins, according to Rand Getlin.
Getlin adds Ferguson, Johnson, Landry, Beckham and Collins have all held meetings with potential representatives. There is an outside chance Landry does return, the report states. We would add redshirt sophomore RB Jeremy Hill to the list of possible declarations.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Syracuse junior RB Jerome Smith will enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
"He just felt it was his time," head coach Scott Shafer said. "He's all set to graduate, all set with school. He felt like he finished school and there wasn't any reason to hang around anymore." Smith has carried the "power rusher" label and tallied 840 yards and 11 touchdowns this season on 4.6 yards per carry. He has been the Orange's starter for the last two seasons.

Source: Syracuse.com

 

[Faust]

USC's Marqise Lee outshines Derek Carr in Las Vegas Bowl

 

[MAC_32]

Oliver will be a third on the depth chart type, not the type I'm crazy about in dynasty unless I have his teams starter. Waiver wire watch type in redraft though. He can shoulder the load in small doses. Not a feature guy though.

Lot of cliches being thrown around in this post.Why do you see it this way?

bg alum, follow a lot of mac football, a lot of exposure to Oliver. He's nothing special, doesn't take over games, which I'd expect at this level if he were anything better than the above. Travis Greene is better and I doubt he is anything more than the fringe roster type either.

 

[Concept Coop]

Rotoworld:

One NFL scout believes Washington junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is close to Rob Gronkowski from a talent perspective.
"Now he's lazy," the scout added. "Like there's always something with him. But he can be on the line and block." Seferian-Jenkins reportedly received a second-round tag from the Draft Advisory Board, and that projection will likely land him in the top-40 in May.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

​

Gronk has always been my comp. As a potential, if not likely owner, I'm very happy about him slipping a bit. He's still my favorite TE prospect in this draft.

 

[JFS171]

Rotoworld:

One NFL scout believes Washington junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is close to Rob Gronkowski from a talent perspective.
"Now he's lazy," the scout added. "Like there's always something with him. But he can be on the line and block." Seferian-Jenkins reportedly received a second-round tag from the Draft Advisory Board, and that projection will likely land him in the top-40 in May.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

​

Gronk has always been my comp. As a potential, if not likely owner, I'm very happy about him slipping a bit. He's still my favorite TE prospect in this draft.

I think all three of the top TE prospects have a chance to be quite special. Ebron, ASJ, and Amaro can all be top producers at the position, so for me it's going to come down to situation quite a bit. Perhaps we're just reaching that point in general with TEs.

For example, is Housler any LESS talented than Jordan Cameron, or did Housler just end up on a team with multiple WRs and a coaching staff that largely ignores the TE, while Cameron ended up with the TE gurus of the NFL? I know one of the hallmark tenets of dynasty football is drafting talent over situation, but I'm not 100% sure it's going to fully apply to these TEs in this next draft. I could see any one of them being the class of this draft… may all depend on where they land.

 

[EBF]

ASJ is nothing like Gronk tbh. Gronk is a big dude with surprising straight line speed who makes a living by catching the ball and rumbling for extra yardage. ASJ doesn't have that YAC ability. He's an efficient route runner, but more similar to Kyle Rudolph in style. Big frame with soft hands. Maybe a little more dynamic than Rudolph, but not really an explosive guy. I'd say his range of potential outcomes is something like Kyle Rudolph-Jason Witten. I have some optimism and would take him if the price was right. The lack of great fast-twitch athleticism is something that prevents him from being a total slam dunk prospect though.

 

[jurb26]

I don't see Gronk with ASJ, either. On top of what EBF said I don't think he has nearly as good of hands and doesn't catch the ball consistently enough to be in Gronks class.

 

[Concept Coop]

ASJ is nothing like Gronk tbh. Gronk is a big dude with surprising straight line speed who makes a living by catching the ball and rumbling for extra yardage. ASJ doesn't have that YAC ability. He's an efficient route runner, but more similar to Kyle Rudolph in style. Big frame with soft hands. Maybe a little more dynamic than Rudolph, but not really an explosive guy. I'd say his range of potential outcomes is something like Kyle Rudolph-Jason Witten. I have some optimism and would take him if the price was right. The lack of great fast-twitch athleticism is something that prevents him from being a total slam dunk prospect though.

He's a hell of lot closer to Gronk than Witten. The Gronk comp is a no-brainer for me when watching him, and I've seen it elsewhere, too, prior to this scout. Gronk is more explosive, ASJ more fluid - but no comp is 100%. And I don't see a lack of athleticism, taking his size into account. Quite the opposite, actually, especially in his routes.

 

[Concept Coop]

I don't see Gronk with ASJ, either. On top of what EBF said I don't think he has nearly as good of hands and doesn't catch the ball consistently enough to be in Gronks class.

First time I recall anyone question his hands; they've always been mentioned as a positive. And while Gronk has great hands for a TE - it's not what I point to when I think about the qualities that make him the player he is.

 

[Concept Coop]

FWIW, Google their names and, at the very least, you'll see I'm far from alone in my comparison. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a close 2nd, actually.

 

[jurb26]

I liken him more to Martellus Bennett right now. That's not a flashy enough name to be thrown around on websites and such, though.

Apparently auto spell doesn't like the name Martellus...

 

[EBF]

ASJ is nothing like Gronk tbh. Gronk is a big dude with surprising straight line speed who makes a living by catching the ball and rumbling for extra yardage. ASJ doesn't have that YAC ability. He's an efficient route runner, but more similar to Kyle Rudolph in style. Big frame with soft hands. Maybe a little more dynamic than Rudolph, but not really an explosive guy. I'd say his range of potential outcomes is something like Kyle Rudolph-Jason Witten. I have some optimism and would take him if the price was right. The lack of great fast-twitch athleticism is something that prevents him from being a total slam dunk prospect though.

He's a hell of lot closer to Gronk than Witten. The Gronk comp is a no-brainer for me when watching him, and I've seen it elsewhere, too, prior to this scout. Gronk is more explosive, ASJ more fluid - but no comp is 100%. And I don't see a lack of athleticism, taking his size into account. Quite the opposite, actually, especially in his routes.

I think of Gronk as being kind of a lanky/high-cut guy without great fluidity who excels because he can run fast and he's difficult to tackle/cover because of his size and momentum. I think of ASJ as being a big bodied crafty route runner with soft hands who lacks explosiveness. That description is a lot closer to guys like Gates/Witten than Gronk. Witten is a pretty big guy. Over 6'5" and 264 pounds. Not really a speed merchant, but sneaky athletic. Same with Gates. The "bad" version of that is a guy like Kyle Rudolph. Someone who can run basic routes and catch the ball in traffic, but who doesn't offer much beyond that. I see ASJ falling somewhere in the middle between those two poles. And to be fair, I was saying all this stuff back in January-February when people were still talking about him as if he were some kind of a slam dunk mega talent. He's very good, but he was never the player pundits talked him up to be, mainly because he doesn't have the "wow" level fast twitch explosiveness of Graham/Gonzo etc. I still think he will be an NFL starter and maybe a very good one. I just don't think the pundits have been very accurate with their assessments/comparisons.

That is pretty common. A lot of these casual draft pundits are prone to making lazy comparisons. For example, I've seen a lot of scatback types compared to Darren Sproles because they're short and they catch passes. That includes players like Tavon Austin and Dri Archer who have none of the thickness or lower body strength that help define Sproles. Now I'm seeing Eric Ebron compared to Vernon Davis even though he's less of a weight/speed freak and more of a gifted hands catcher. A lot of these observers don't put enough thought into their comparisons to really capture the essence of what a player does. They just put him in a rough mold (i.e. scat back) and then match him up with the first name that comes to mind from that mold (i.e. Darren Sproles). So you get Eric Ebron put into the "athletic TE" bucket and matched up with "Vernon Davis" when that comparison is actually pretty off. And you get ASJ put into the "big body TE" bucket and matched up with "Jimmy Graham" or "Rob Gronkowski" when in reality he has very little in common with those guys besides his height/weight.

 

[Concept Coop]

I think of Gronk as being kind of a lanky/high-cut guy without great fluidity who excels because he can run fast and he's difficult to tackle/cover because of his size and momentum. I think of ASJ as being a big bodied crafty route runner with soft hands who lacks explosiveness. That description is a lot closer to guys like Gates/Witten than Gronk. Witten is a pretty big guy. Over 6'5" and 264 pounds. Not really a speed merchant, but sneaky athletic. Same with Gates. The "bad" version of that is a guy like Kyle Rudolph. Someone who can run basic routes and catch the ball in traffic, but who doesn't offer much beyond that. I see ASJ falling somewhere in the middle between those two poles. And to be fair, I was saying all this stuff back in January-February when people were still talking about him as if he were some kind of a slam dunk mega talent. He's very good, but he was never the player pundits talked him up to be, mainly because he doesn't have the "wow" level fast twitch explosiveness of Graham/Gonzo etc. I still think he will be an NFL starter and maybe a very good one. I just don't think the pundits have been very accurate with their assessments/comparisons.

Gronk is one of the best Redzone targets in NFL history. His body control, size, length, strength, and quickness make him impossible to defend one-on-one. That's what makes him who he is, and that's what I see in ASJ. Gronk is not a speed guy, despite being fast enough. His YAC ability is great, more so in churning out extra yards here and there, rather than breaking long ones and taking it to the house.

Witten doesn't play his length or size, except as a blocker. He gets open and catches the ball. His TD ratio supports this. I don't see how anyone can write off the Gronk comp in favor for Witten.

We'll have to agree not to on all 3 guys; we don't seem to get the same thing when watching Gronk, ASJ, or Witten.

And I seem to remember you questioning Gronks fast-twich when comparing him to Graham, and arguing against Gronk being an elite NFL player. Things change?

 

[Concept Coop]

Also, Gronk's deep% (% of targets > 15 yards) is crazy high for a TE (almost double Witten's). He's clearly making a living outside of his YAC/catch and run ability.

 

[EBF]

And I seem to remember you questioning Gronks fast-twich when comparing him to Graham, and arguing against Gronk being an elite NFL player. Things change?

Gronk is a shadow of the athlete that Graham is, but clearly he's a great NFL player when healthy. He isn't as explosive as Graham and he isn't as fluid, but his combination of size, strength, and playing speed makes him a load to cope with when healthy. I think ASJ is a more economical and nimble athlete than Gronk, but he doesn't have the seam busting or YAC ability. Style-wise, they are almost opposite. Gronk being explosive without great fluidity and ASJ being fluid without great explosiveness.

I don't expect ASJ to match Gronk's 4.68 40 time. Moreover, if you look at their college stats you will see some support for what I'm saying about their playing styles. ASJ's average yards per catch in his three seasons was 13.1, 12.3, and 12.5. In his two years at Arizona, Gronk averaged 14.3 and 18.8. There were additional hints of his playmaking/red zone ability. Gronk had 16 TDs on 76 catches compared to 20 TDs on 143 catches for ASJ. Overall, the numbers point towards ASJ being a high volume, low yards, low explosiveness kind of receiver. That aligns pretty well with my subjective take.

As far as this rookie class goes, Ebron clearly looks like the most explosive TE to my eyes and the numbers support that conclusion. 16.4 career YPR for Eric compared to 12.6 for ASJ and 13.1 for Amaro. The one thing missing with Ebron is the TDs. So there's a hint that maybe he'll end up being a high yardage receiver in the NFL who has comparatively mediocre impact in the red zone.

 

[Concept Coop]

As far as this rookie class goes, Ebron clearly looks like the most explosive TE to my eyes and the numbers support that conclusion. 16.4 career YPR for Eric compared to 12.6 for ASJ and 13.1 for Amaro. The one thing missing with Ebron is the TDs. So there's a hint that maybe he'll end up being a high yardage receiver in the NFL who has comparatively mediocre impact in the red zone.

Moving past ASJ, I'd agree that Ebron is in a class of his own, in terms of athletic ability in this class. He also carries the most risk, imo, compared to the other two top prospects.

 

[Faust]

Fresno State's Derek Carr can undo Las Vegas Bowl damage

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Dan Greenspan writes that Oregon State junior WR Brandin Cooks has "a chance to leave a lasting last impression before deciding whether to enter the 2014 NFL Draft" in Tuesday's Hawaii Bowl against Boise State.
Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's most outstanding wide receiver, has hauled in 120 receptions for 1,670 yards and 13 touchdowns this year. "Cooks (5-foot-10, 186 pounds) is electric with the ball in his hands, excelling on fly sweep runs and after the catch," wrote Greenspan. "He's a smooth route runner, too. Broncos cornerbacks Dante Deayon (5-9, 151) and Bryan Douglas (5-9, 178) are likely to find it nearly impossible to keep up with Cooks, even after combining for nine interceptions and 17 pass breakups this season."

Source: NFL.com

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly requested a draft evaluation for junior RB George Atkinson.
It isn't surprising that Kelly sought counsel for both TE Troy Niklas and DL Stephon Tuitt, but it's a tad perplexing that Atkinson would consider jumping to the pros early. The junior back leads the Irish with 6.0 yards per carry, but he hasn't touched the ball more than eight times in a game since Notre Dame took on Arizona State. He'd be a nice niche back to have off the bench at the next level, but Atkinson isn't likely to ever start long-term in the NFL. He'd be best served returning to campus for his senior season.

Source: IrishIllustrated.com

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told the media that he requested a draft evaluation for junior TE Troy Niklas.
"Definitely some key takeaways, what they think I need to improve in my game," Niklas said of the evaluation process. "Definitely some good things to work on in the off-season. Just having a little bit of information at the next level so you're not going into it next year kind of clueless." Niklas, a Mackey Award semifinalist, caught 28 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns this season. At 6-foot-7, 270 pounds, he's the type of huge athlete that the NFL now covets. "I'm pretty sure I'm coming back," Niklas said. "Unless there's a really good reason for me not to."

Source: IrishIllustrated.com

Washington junior RB Bishop Sankey received a third-round projection from the NFL Draft Advisory Board.
"It’s pretty much what I expected," Sankey said. "I’m going to talk to coach (Chris) Petersen and to my family after the bowl game and make a decision." With Melvin Gordon III staying in school, many backs have an argument for being the top running back in the class, Sankey included.

Source: The Seattle Times

 

[Faust]

Updated 2014 NFL Mock Drafts (NFLDraftScout.com)

 

[Gottabesweet]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

 

[loose circuits]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

Bernard and Lacy were battling for #1 rb position. The other 2 had holes

 

[EBF]

One little interesting ASJ note: He recently won the Mackey Award as the best TE in college football. He was also just named as a third team AP All-American behind Amaro and Ebron.

However, he was not even first team Pac-12 this year! That honor fell to Chris Coyle of Arizona State. So the Pac-12 coaches who watch these guys play every week did not vote him as the best TE in the conference, yet somehow he won a major national award for being the best player at his position in the country. Kind of odd. Shows you how there can be a disconnect between local and national media. Also underscores the extent to which a player's name and reputation can influence perception of his performance. I actually like ASJ somewhat, but I also wonder if the people voting for these honors really watched a lot of games. I don't think he was the best TE in college football this year. Certainly not if you're emphasizing receiving production over blocking. Amaro had more yards. Funchess and Ebron were a lot more dynamic.

 

[Milkman]

When I watch Ebron I see an elite athlete. Big, explosive, fluid athlete with good hands. He looks like a big WR out there running around. I'm not sure why he hasn't been a better redzone weapon. They played him at DE in a game against NC State. That tells me he is a natural athlete. I'm not sure why Coop thinks he's the biggest risk at TE out of the three top TEs? I think he has a high floor but his ceiling might be a little lower then the other two because he is not the big time redzone target they are........

 

[EBF]

I think he's a pretty safe prospect myself. Big athlete with WR-like mobility who's projected in the first round of every mock. TE is one position that NFL teams rarely miss on. Look at the TEs drafted in the first round in the past 15 years. There are some disappointments to be sure, but not a lot of outright busts. Even a lot of the misses are solid NFL contributors like Gresham, Pettigrew, H Miller, and Lewis. That's not an exciting prognosis for FF purposes, but my take is that Ebron is a better pure receiver than any of those guys. I don't think he has a Jimmy Graham ceiling, but I actually view him as being pretty close to a can't-miss prospect. He'll drop a pass here and there. The only other real risk I see is that his frame might be a little skinny and that his playing style might expose his lower body to a lot of violent hits. Those two things in combination could make him an above average injury threat, but in this case it's not something that would cause me to significantly downgrade him. I think he's probably a top 6-8 dynasty TE out of the box. I would say Amaro has a much bigger chance to be an outright flop. He's more of a system player. Not as athletic. Compiles a lot of catches on sheer volume, but doesn't make a lot of wow plays.

 

[aggs]

Do any of these guys make it out of the first round of rookie drafts? TE position in NFL is reasonably deep and I can see the majority of WRs taking up first round spots.

 

[EBF]

Do any of these guys make it out of the first round of rookie drafts? TE position in NFL is reasonably deep and I can see the majority of WRs taking up first round spots.

Yea, I think it's very likely that at least one of those three TEs will have an ADP outside the top 12. This is a pretty deep rookie class. Check the latest Draft Scout mock. Watkins, Evans, Lee, and Robinson are in the first round of both mocks. Benjamin is in the first round of one of the two mocks. I've seen other players like Cooks and Matthews mocked in the first round (though I personally sort of doubt it). One way or another we might see 4-5 first round WRs and another 3-5 second rounders. Gotta figure Seastrunk will be a top 6-7 rookie pick (if not higher) and a couple of the middle tier RB prospects will land on good teams ala Bell/Ball/Lacy and get picked high. That's already 10-11 spots right there. Add in a TE and maybe a QB, and you've got your top 12.

I think ASJ has the potential to run pretty slow 40 times. Something in the high 4.7-4.8 range could bump him down to the 2nd round of the NFL draft, which would almost certainly push him out of the first round of a typical rookie draft. I've never seen a 2nd round TE get picked in the 1st round of a rookie draft in my standard leagues. Even a lot of the 1st round NFL picks slide to the 2nd of rookie drafts.

 

[Xue]

https://twitter.com/JFowlerCBS/status/415606460056223744

#FresnoState expecting WR Davante Adams to declare for NFL draft. Told team official he's leaning that way. http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jeremy-fowler/24387082/fresno-state-wr-davante-adams-leaning-toward-nfl-draft …

 

[aggs]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Tony Pauline give Adams a sixth round grade...

 

[Xue]

One little interesting ASJ note: He recently won the Mackey Award as the best TE in college football. He was also just named as a third team AP All-American behind Amaro and Ebron.

However, he was not even first team Pac-12 this year! That honor fell to Chris Coyle of Arizona State. So the Pac-12 coaches who watch these guys play every week did not vote him as the best TE in the conference, yet somehow he won a major national award for being the best player at his position in the country. Kind of odd. Shows you how there can be a disconnect between local and national media. Also underscores the extent to which a player's name and reputation can influence perception of his performance. I actually like ASJ somewhat, but I also wonder if the people voting for these honors really watched a lot of games. I don't think he was the best TE in college football this year. Certainly not if you're emphasizing receiving production over blocking. Amaro had more yards. Funchess and Ebron were a lot more dynamic.

I would have voted for Devin Funchess, OJ Howard, or Troy Niklas over ASJ. Awards are almost meaningless in regards to assessing talent.

Another one I didn't understand was Tre Mason has a Heisman finalist but wasn't a Doak Walker finalist. Also, Ka'Deem Carey a Heisman finalist, but not Bishop Sankey.

 

[domvin]

Rotoworld:

One NFL scout believes Washington junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is close to Rob Gronkowski from a talent perspective.

"Now he's lazy," the scout added. "Like there's always something with him. But he can be on the line and block." Seferian-Jenkins reportedly received a second-round tag from the Draft Advisory Board, and that projection will likely land him in the top-40 in May.

Ditto. Seems more explosive as an athlete compared to ebron and amaro

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Gronk has always been my comp. As a potential, if not likely owner, I'm very happy about him slipping a bit. He's still my favorite TE prospect in this draft.

 

[EBF]

Sleeper WR to watch:

Eric Thomas, Troy State

- 6' 209

- 66 catches for 993 yards and 12 TDs this season

- Beast in the open field: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9813536

Currently rated as the 77th best WR by Draft Scout. Some chance he ends up being a Darius Reynaud (i.e. hyper athletic guy with no real position), but my hunch is that you might see this guy get a combine invite and soar up the boards into the 3rd-5th round before it's all said and done.

 

[Xue]

Davante Adams news

https://twitter.com/TonyPauline/status/416374307267162114

I can confirm Davante Adams/WR/Fresno State has signed with an agent and will enter the 2014 NFL Draft..

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jeremy-fowler/24387922/fresno-state-wr-davante-adams-declaring-for-nfl-draft

Fresno State wide receiver Davante Adams is declaring for the NFL draft, according to a source. He plans to improve on his third-round grade from the NFL draft advisory board.

Cal TE/WR Richard Rodgers (rSO) is declaring:

https://twitter.com/TonyPauline/status/416376978569039872

I can also confirm Richard Rodgers/TE/Cal has also signed with an agent and is in the 2014 NFL Draft...

https://twitter.com/TonyPauline/status/416381384173711360

I'm told Richard Rodgers/TE/Cal has received some second round grades- athletically being compared to Antonio Gates..

 

[EBF]

Jeff Tedford (former Cal coach) said before the 2012 season that Rodgers was the best TE in the country. I didn't believe him for a second, but that got my attention.

 

[steelcityman]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

Bernard and Lacy were battling for #1 rb position. The other 2 had holes

I just found out when our dynasty league ended and all the dust cleared, I have the #1 pick next year via a trade I made last year.

I will obviously wait and see who goes where, but I dont like the RB prospects. I doubt there is a Lacy or Bell to be found, I just hope there is one guy that stands out, otherwise I will trade down.

 

[loose circuits]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

Bernard and Lacy were battling for #1 rb position. The other 2 had holes

I just found out when our dynasty league ended and all the dust cleared, I have the #1 pick next year via a trade I made last year.I will obviously wait and see who goes where, but I dont like the RB prospects. I doubt there is a Lacy or Bell to be found, I just hope there is one guy that stands out, otherwise I will trade down.

a year ago nobody liked the RB's either. If you are in ppr I'm sure you could trade the pick for a RB and then some considering Watkins

 

[Andrew74]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

Bernard and Lacy were battling for #1 rb position. The other 2 had holes

I just found out when our dynasty league ended and all the dust cleared, I have the #1 pick next year via a trade I made last year.I will obviously wait and see who goes where, but I dont like the RB prospects. I doubt there is a Lacy or Bell to be found, I just hope there is one guy that stands out, otherwise I will trade down.

I'm in the same boat and am just going BPA, which seems to be Watkins at this point.

 

[lod01]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

Bernard and Lacy were battling for #1 rb position. The other 2 had holes

I just found out when our dynasty league ended and all the dust cleared, I have the #1 pick next year via a trade I made last year.I will obviously wait and see who goes where, but I dont like the RB prospects. I doubt there is a Lacy or Bell to be found, I just hope there is one guy that stands out, otherwise I will trade down.

I'm in the same boat and am just going BPA, which seems to be Watkins at this point.

Got a backup plan? the Jets could easily take Watkins.

 

[Andrew74]

Not a good year for RBs, where was Benard, Ball and Bell thought of this time last year?

Bernard and Lacy were battling for #1 rb position. The other 2 had holes

I just found out when our dynasty league ended and all the dust cleared, I have the #1 pick next year via a trade I made last year.I will obviously wait and see who goes where, but I dont like the RB prospects. I doubt there is a Lacy or Bell to be found, I just hope there is one guy that stands out, otherwise I will trade down.

I'm in the same boat and am just going BPA, which seems to be Watkins at this point.

Got a backup plan? the Jets could easily take Watkins.

In the clock now, I'd take Seastrunk.

 

[Milkman]

Lee is every bit as good as Watkins. If you are thinking about Watkins at #1 trading down a couple spots, picking up an additional draft pick, and drafting Lee is the optimal play.

 

[steelcityman]

If I can trade down, get a Rb or WR, and maybe around pick 8 still get a guy I might be considering at 2-3, that would be nice.

I need RB, either draft or trade.

I have 6 picks in first 4 rds. so I have ammo to trade with. Also want to trade Stafford. I have had enough of his INTs.

Long time to go yet. I kind of like the RB from Wiscon, if he comes out.

 

[pghrob]

Rotoworld:

One NFL scout believes Washington junior TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is close to Rob Gronkowski from a talent perspective.
"Now he's lazy," the scout added. "Like there's always something with him. But he can be on the line and block." Seferian-Jenkins reportedly received a second-round tag from the Draft Advisory Board, and that projection will likely land him in the top-40 in May.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

​

Gronk has always been my comp. As a potential, if not likely owner, I'm very happy about him slipping a bit. He's still my favorite TE prospect in this draft.

I think all three of the top TE prospects have a chance to be quite special. Ebron, ASJ, and Amaro can all be top producers at the position, so for me it's going to come down to situation quite a bit. Perhaps we're just reaching that point in general with TEs.

For example, is Housler any LESS talented than Jordan Cameron, or did Housler just end up on a team with multiple WRs and a coaching staff that largely ignores the TE, while Cameron ended up with the TE gurus of the NFL? I know one of the hallmark tenets of dynasty football is drafting talent over situation, but I'm not 100% sure it's going to fully apply to these TEs in this next draft. I could see any one of them being the class of this draft… may all depend on where they land.

Where would Travis Kelce rank amongst these 2014 prospects if he were coming out this year instead of last year?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Where would Travis Kelce rank amongst these 2014 prospects if he were coming out this year instead of last year?

Given the character and injury questions he had coming into the league I think IR + microfracture surgery are just about the worst things that could have happened this year. I wouldn't own him at this point -- let alone pay anything to do it.