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Awesome.
I had time last year to run two sets of rookie polls with one prior to the NFL Draft and the second one just after the NFL Draft. I don't think I will have time to run those polls this year, so it would be appreciated if somebody was willing to take over this effort.
The consensus feeling among the NFL Draft community is that the 2015 class is weak, especially at the top. I agree and that is bad news for teams selecting in the top ten. With that said, there are plenty of players that are worthy of a first round selection. As it stands, I have 28 players graded in the first round although only one of those prospects carries a top ten grade and just another nine prospects have earned top 20 grades from me at this point in the process. With 18 players graded in the late first round area, that is the sweet spot of Day One.
Top 10 Grades
Leonard Williams, Southern Cal, DT – The best football player in this class, Williams has an incredible ability to disengage from blocks and make plays. With exceptional hand usage and functional strength, Williams dominates the line of scrimmage and can anchor the defensive interior.
Top 20 Grades
Alvin Dupree, Kentucky, EDGE – Dupree has already shown the ability to function in a hybrid role on the edge and is a fit for all schemes. A dynamic pass rusher who wins with twitch and explosive athletic ability off the snap, Dupree has tremendous upside.
Brandon Scherff, Iowa, OT – A dominant run blocker, Scherff is a powerful people-mover that generates significant movement off the ball. His aggressive demeanor, competitive nature and overall tenacity as a blocker are outstanding.
Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB – Winston represents the best opportunity to find a franchise quarterback in this class. He has excellent footwork and football instincts. If Winston can mature he can be special.
Kevin White, West Virginia, WR – White has the best ball skills in the class and that is why he is my top receiver. With his overall instincts at the catch point and competitive nature, White has number one receiver upside in the NFL.
Amari Cooper , Alabama, WR – A smooth and fluid athlete, Cooper is arguably the best route-runner in the class. His ability to find space and separate make him an intriguing option for a West Coast offense.
Trae Waynes, Michigan State, CB – Waynes is a physical and aggressive corner with great route anticipation in coverage. He locates and plays the ball well and naturally stays within the frame of his opponent.
Marcus Peters, Washington, CB – Peters has outstanding footwork and is one of the top overall athletes in this class. An outstanding pure cover corner, Peters has a chance to rise into the top 10 conversation once more information is available regarding his dismissal from the Washington program.
Dante Fowler, Florida State, EDGE – Fowler has a lethal combination of strength and length with a variety of translatable pass rush moves. He maintains separation from his blocker and uses his exceptional short-area burst to beat blocks and make plays.
Randy Gregory, Nebraska, EDGE – Gregory has improved significantly throughout his college career and came into his own as a senior. With terrific burst and bend off the edge, Gregory has tremendous upside as a pass rusher in the NFL.
Top 32 Grades
Malcom Brown, Texas, DT – Brown is a big-bodied, athletic interior defensive lineman who is stout against the run and is quick enough to make an impact as a pass rusher. Brown has an incredibly high ceiling.
Eric Kendricks, UCLA , LB – Kendricks is undoubtedly the most instinctive linebacker in this class. An all-around playmaker, Kendricks is excellent defending the pass and flies around making tackles everywhere against he run. His lack of size hurts his draft stock.
Danny Shelton, Washington, DT – Shelton is a massive interior presence who can anchor two gaps and eat up space in the middle of the defense. He is stout and has rare movement skills for a man of his size.
Landon Collins, Alabama, S – Collins flies all over the football field and is consistently around the ball. He has no issues coming into the box to defend the run and is an excellent tackler. He sees plays in front of him and naturally reacts while positioning himself to make plays. Despite some coverage lapses, Collins is the top safety in this class.
Ereck Flowers , Miami, OT – Flowers has the best footwork of any offensive lineman in this class and has left tackle upside the NFL. If Flowers can get stronger, he should have an outstanding professional career.
Nate Orchard, Utah , EDGE – One of my personal favorites, Orchard excels in nearly every area as an edge player. Orchard is a dynamic pass rusher with exceptional burst, bend, and hand usage while playing with a high attention to detail against the run.
Eli Harold, Virginia, EDGE – A disruptive pass rusher, Harold is consistently harassing the other teams quarterback. He has long arms and short area burst that allow him to dominate on passing downs.
Shane Ray, Missouri, EDGE – Ray is incredibly quick off the ball, and plays with great hand usage, while possessing a non-stop motor. He takes great angles to the quarterback and has good bend and burst off the edge.
Shaq Thompson, Washington, LB – Simply put, Thompson is a playmaker. He flies around the field and is a big play waiting to happen. His versatility to contribute in a variety of ways makes him an intriguing chess piece for an innovative coaching staff.
Eddie Goldman, Florida State, DT – Goldman is incredibly strong and stout against the run. He resets the line of scrimmage and anchors exceptionally well. His instincts and ability to disrupt make him an exciting prospect. I think he can develop as a pass rusher and become a late first round steal.
DeVante Parker, Louisville, WR – Parker has tremendous balance and body control that allows him to consistently make contested catches. He eats up ground with his long stride as a route runner and has terrific hands.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA, DE – Odighizuwa has an exceptional first step, burst and get off when rushing the passer. Combining that with his long arms, he can successfully reduce the surface area for blockers to get their hands on him and this allows him to pressure the quarterback consistently. An effective run defender, Odighizuwa is able to extend his arms and play with physical hand usage to maintain the edge and shed blockers.
Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB – Physically, Mariota is a gifted athlete, especially for his size. He has the needed arm strength to make any NFL throw; his accuracy is good but not great. A good decision-maker, Mariota generally makes proper reads and executes Oregon’s scheme perfectly. That said, coming from Oregon ‘s scheme will be a significant jump to the NFL.
TJ Clemmings, Pittsburgh, OT – A gifted athlete with quick feet, long arms and excellent strength, Clemmings might have the most upside of any offensive lineman in this class. Although he is still learning the nuances of the position after switching from the defensive line, Clemmings shows a strong ability to block in space and mirror pass rushers. His game tape is far better than what he displayed at the Senior Bowl. He bends and moves ideally for an NFL offensive tackle.
Vic Beasley, Clemson , EDGE – Beasley has an incredible first step and is a dynamic speed rusher. He is so good in that area that I can overlook his lack of ability to set the edge as a run defender and grade him in the first round.
Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma, DT – Phillips is massive, powerful and he can move. With that rare combination of traits, Phillips represents high upside late in the first round.
Carl Davis, Iowa, DT – The box score scouts will not be a fan of Davis but if “disruption is production”, Davis does just that as he penetrates, eats up blockers and wreaks havoc from the interior. For a man of his size, Davis plays with good leverage and has an apparent “suddenness” to his movements. Stout at the point of attack with the power to reset the line of scrimmage and play on the other side of the line, Davis should be an attractive piece for a team looking for a shade technique in an even front. Davis plays with good hand usage and violence to his punch. As a pass rusher, Davis has a strong bull rush while flashing the ability to utilize a club and dip and rip.
Todd Gurley, Georgia, RB – Gurley has a rare blend of size, speed and power. With excellent field vision, upfield burst and physicality, Gurley excels at both picking up chunks of yards on big plays and grinding out carries for tough yards.The physical style that Gurley runs with demands a host of defenders to bring him down, which easily wears down opposing defensive personnel. He runs behind his pads, falls forward and maximizes his carries by getting every yard available, even after contact. Combining these traits with his patience to utilize his blockers, Gurley is difficult to tackle.
Donte Fowler is a Gator, not a Nole.http://draftbreakdown.com/joe-marinos-2015-nfl-draft-pre-combine-first-round-grades/
The consensus feeling among the NFL Draft community is that the 2015 class is weak, especially at the top. I agree and that is bad news for teams selecting in the top ten. With that said, there are plenty of players that are worthy of a first round selection. As it stands, I have 28 players graded in the first round although only one of those prospects carries a top ten grade and just another nine prospects have earned top 20 grades from me at this point in the process. With 18 players graded in the late first round area, that is the sweet spot of Day One.
Top 10 Grades
Leonard Williams, Southern Cal, DT – The best football player in this class, Williams has an incredible ability to disengage from blocks and make plays. With exceptional hand usage and functional strength, Williams dominates the line of scrimmage and can anchor the defensive interior.
Top 20 Grades
Alvin Dupree, Kentucky, EDGE – Dupree has already shown the ability to function in a hybrid role on the edge and is a fit for all schemes. A dynamic pass rusher who wins with twitch and explosive athletic ability off the snap, Dupree has tremendous upside.
Brandon Scherff, Iowa, OT – A dominant run blocker, Scherff is a powerful people-mover that generates significant movement off the ball. His aggressive demeanor, competitive nature and overall tenacity as a blocker are outstanding.
Jameis Winston, Florida State, QB – Winston represents the best opportunity to find a franchise quarterback in this class. He has excellent footwork and football instincts. If Winston can mature he can be special.
Kevin White, West Virginia, WR – White has the best ball skills in the class and that is why he is my top receiver. With his overall instincts at the catch point and competitive nature, White has number one receiver upside in the NFL.
Amari Cooper , Alabama, WR – A smooth and fluid athlete, Cooper is arguably the best route-runner in the class. His ability to find space and separate make him an intriguing option for a West Coast offense.
Trae Waynes, Michigan State, CB – Waynes is a physical and aggressive corner with great route anticipation in coverage. He locates and plays the ball well and naturally stays within the frame of his opponent.
Marcus Peters, Washington, CB – Peters has outstanding footwork and is one of the top overall athletes in this class. An outstanding pure cover corner, Peters has a chance to rise into the top 10 conversation once more information is available regarding his dismissal from the Washington program.
Dante Fowler, Florida State, EDGE – Fowler has a lethal combination of strength and length with a variety of translatable pass rush moves. He maintains separation from his blocker and uses his exceptional short-area burst to beat blocks and make plays.
Randy Gregory, Nebraska, EDGE – Gregory has improved significantly throughout his college career and came into his own as a senior. With terrific burst and bend off the edge, Gregory has tremendous upside as a pass rusher in the NFL.
Top 32 Grades
Malcom Brown, Texas, DT – Brown is a big-bodied, athletic interior defensive lineman who is stout against the run and is quick enough to make an impact as a pass rusher. Brown has an incredibly high ceiling.
Eric Kendricks, UCLA , LB – Kendricks is undoubtedly the most instinctive linebacker in this class. An all-around playmaker, Kendricks is excellent defending the pass and flies around making tackles everywhere against he run. His lack of size hurts his draft stock.
Danny Shelton, Washington, DT – Shelton is a massive interior presence who can anchor two gaps and eat up space in the middle of the defense. He is stout and has rare movement skills for a man of his size.
Landon Collins, Alabama, S – Collins flies all over the football field and is consistently around the ball. He has no issues coming into the box to defend the run and is an excellent tackler. He sees plays in front of him and naturally reacts while positioning himself to make plays. Despite some coverage lapses, Collins is the top safety in this class.
Ereck Flowers , Miami, OT – Flowers has the best footwork of any offensive lineman in this class and has left tackle upside the NFL. If Flowers can get stronger, he should have an outstanding professional career.
Nate Orchard, Utah , EDGE – One of my personal favorites, Orchard excels in nearly every area as an edge player. Orchard is a dynamic pass rusher with exceptional burst, bend, and hand usage while playing with a high attention to detail against the run.
Eli Harold, Virginia, EDGE – A disruptive pass rusher, Harold is consistently harassing the other teams quarterback. He has long arms and short area burst that allow him to dominate on passing downs.
Shane Ray, Missouri, EDGE – Ray is incredibly quick off the ball, and plays with great hand usage, while possessing a non-stop motor. He takes great angles to the quarterback and has good bend and burst off the edge.
Shaq Thompson, Washington, LB – Simply put, Thompson is a playmaker. He flies around the field and is a big play waiting to happen. His versatility to contribute in a variety of ways makes him an intriguing chess piece for an innovative coaching staff.
Eddie Goldman, Florida State, DT – Goldman is incredibly strong and stout against the run. He resets the line of scrimmage and anchors exceptionally well. His instincts and ability to disrupt make him an exciting prospect. I think he can develop as a pass rusher and become a late first round steal.
DeVante Parker, Louisville, WR – Parker has tremendous balance and body control that allows him to consistently make contested catches. He eats up ground with his long stride as a route runner and has terrific hands.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA, DE – Odighizuwa has an exceptional first step, burst and get off when rushing the passer. Combining that with his long arms, he can successfully reduce the surface area for blockers to get their hands on him and this allows him to pressure the quarterback consistently. An effective run defender, Odighizuwa is able to extend his arms and play with physical hand usage to maintain the edge and shed blockers.
Marcus Mariota, Oregon, QB – Physically, Mariota is a gifted athlete, especially for his size. He has the needed arm strength to make any NFL throw; his accuracy is good but not great. A good decision-maker, Mariota generally makes proper reads and executes Oregon’s scheme perfectly. That said, coming from Oregon ‘s scheme will be a significant jump to the NFL.
TJ Clemmings, Pittsburgh, OT – A gifted athlete with quick feet, long arms and excellent strength, Clemmings might have the most upside of any offensive lineman in this class. Although he is still learning the nuances of the position after switching from the defensive line, Clemmings shows a strong ability to block in space and mirror pass rushers. His game tape is far better than what he displayed at the Senior Bowl. He bends and moves ideally for an NFL offensive tackle.
Vic Beasley, Clemson , EDGE – Beasley has an incredible first step and is a dynamic speed rusher. He is so good in that area that I can overlook his lack of ability to set the edge as a run defender and grade him in the first round.
Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma, DT – Phillips is massive, powerful and he can move. With that rare combination of traits, Phillips represents high upside late in the first round.
Carl Davis, Iowa, DT – The box score scouts will not be a fan of Davis but if “disruption is production”, Davis does just that as he penetrates, eats up blockers and wreaks havoc from the interior. For a man of his size, Davis plays with good leverage and has an apparent “suddenness” to his movements. Stout at the point of attack with the power to reset the line of scrimmage and play on the other side of the line, Davis should be an attractive piece for a team looking for a shade technique in an even front. Davis plays with good hand usage and violence to his punch. As a pass rusher, Davis has a strong bull rush while flashing the ability to utilize a club and dip and rip.
Todd Gurley, Georgia, RB – Gurley has a rare blend of size, speed and power. With excellent field vision, upfield burst and physicality, Gurley excels at both picking up chunks of yards on big plays and grinding out carries for tough yards.The physical style that Gurley runs with demands a host of defenders to bring him down, which easily wears down opposing defensive personnel. He runs behind his pads, falls forward and maximizes his carries by getting every yard available, even after contact. Combining these traits with his patience to utilize his blockers, Gurley is difficult to tackle.
Just want to point something out that has helped me in the past in regards to this. After the combine I classify some guys as "BUC" or Blew Up Combine. These guys usually tend to make my team in the 3rd and 4th round of rookie drafts and are my favorite type of flyers even though I tend to rely more on watching videos than metrics. So I guess you could say the first 2 rounds for me are who I see pop off the screen then take my metric guys in the later rounds to balance the scale ha.
This part of the article sure had me going
Ron Dayne? Not exactly one of the first guys I think of as examples of being athletic and flexible.
Count me lost too.This part of the article sure had me going
Ron Dayne? Not exactly one of the first guys I think of as examples of being athletic and flexible.
