1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina 98
Some people may ask about his productivity or his work ethic but no one can question his talent. The former number one high school player in the country is now the number one draft prospect. He has a completely unique skill set at his size running a 4.5 40 with an 82 inch wingspan. He has a rare speed to power move that can absolutely dominate blockers. He has more much more speed than Mario Williams and more size than Dwight Freeney. A complete freak that can’t be stopped by double teams, he could be the best defensive player in the league within a year or two.
2. Greg Robinson, OT Auburn 98
People who are 332 pounds should not run 4.8 40’s. As much as Clowney is a physical anomaly so too is Robinson. He is one of the most dominating players at the point of attack that I’ve ever watched, and I’m not just talking about college players. He is a bit raw in his pass protection but he is the best run blocker I’ve ever scouted. He can maul you, get down field while rarely missing, and can open up holes that anyone could get through. A dominant player with potential as a top 2-3 tackle in the league, if not the best. Will continue to get better as his career progresses as well.
3. Khalil Mack, LB Buffalo 97
Mack can do everything, and he can do it well. He would have clearly been the number one pick coming out a year ago as his talent is very high. He excels when rushing the passer and has a bevy of pass rushing moves, including just a nasty speed rush. His initial burst is elite. Mack can drop into coverage and has better than average ball skills for an OLB. Tackling is not an issue as he projects to someone who could top 100 tackles a year in the league if needed. There is nothing he doesn’t do well and he could be a superstar from day one. It would not surprise me if Houston is seriously considering taking him at one.
4. Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson 97
Watkins has a rare blend of size and speed and looking back on my rankings I actually give him a slightly better grade than A.J. Green, making him my second best wide receiver prospect I’ve ever scouted behind only Megatron. Watkins runs exceptional routes and has very little trouble creating separation. He can get behind the defense for a quick score or take a three yard screen and turn it into a sixty yard touchdown. Watkins has very good hands and high points the football as well as anyone, but his major upside comes on intermediate routes which he runs with a fluidity I haven’t scouted before. All pro potential.
5. Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville 95
I know there are a lot of people who wonder about Bridgewater’s frame and whether he can hold up through an NFL season. I’ve heard the people comment on his subpar pro-day. I do not have those worries. Bridgewater has an incredible grasp of offense and his intellect protrudes onto the field. He throws with exceptional anticipation and he has very good accuracy. When I watch him on tape he can do everything you ask of a quarterback, his checks are quick and good, he takes what the defense gives him, he has patience, his arm strength is more than adequate, and he commands a huddle. On top of that he can pick up a first down with his legs and shows good pocket mobility. When watching him play I think he’s a mixture of Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, making him easily a top 5 pick and one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever scouted.
6. Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M 95
Matthews would have had the highest grade if he had come out a year ago. He has excellent footwork and shows good power at the point of attack. He is the most NFL ready prospect in this draft and could start right away at either tackle position. He moves very well and stays on his blocks for a long time. He excels at pushing speed rushers past the pocket and yet can move and get out in front of a screen. A very solid, extremely high floor pick. There would be no reservations about me taking Matthews as high as all the way up to number one if I were an NFL GM.
7. Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M 94
I have a grade on Evans somewhere between A.J. Green and Julio Jones. He reminds me somewhat of a better route running Alshon Jeffrey. Evans has a unique skill set when it comes to catching balls in traffic. He is the best prospect I’ve ever scouted at coming down with 50/50 balls. He has tremendous size and strength making it almost impossible to jam him at the line and yet he is better than he appears at making people miss. He is the new NFL prototype at wide receiver and he would instantly make any quarterback he played with better.
8. Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan 93
Lewan is a superb athlete who dominates in open space. I think he has the potential to be one of the best right tackles in the game and could start without any problem on the left side. He has tremendous short area quickness and can mirror pass rushers with ease. He doesn’t have the pure power that Matthews and Robinson have but he makes up for it with the elite ability to block in space. Starter from day one with very high potential. Just really good football player.
9. Eric Ebron, TE North Carolina 93
Ebron is the new tight end wide receiver hybrid that is sweeping the NFL. He doesn’t have the elite speed of someone like a Vernon Davis but he is much faster than most tight ends in the league. Ebron runs nice routes and uses his hands to catch the football instead of letting it get into his body like some tight ends. He is probably a better athlete than almost any tight end in the league and he would instantly provide a match up problem for any defense he goes against. He is a willing and able blocker as well and doesn’t shy away from zone blocking contact. Another plus is he will have instant impact in the league.
10. Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA 93
Barr is an athletic marvel. A former fullback turned outside linebacker, Barr is still trying to learn the position and at times he looks very raw. However, he does have a very good motor and has the speed and tenacity to play sideline to sideline as a run player, and get clean up effort sacks and chasedown plays that others might not be able. His main upside is getting after the quarterback. He doesn’t have a wide arrange of moves but with proper coaching and high athletic upside he could end up being a very productive player at the next level. He has Dion Jordan upside from last year’s draft, but he has the productivity to back it up.
11. C.J. Mosely, LB Alabama 93
The most complete inside linebacker in this draft. Mosely can tackle in space and he plays downhill. However, one of the things that Mosely does best is play the pass game. He can get deep down the middle in a Cover 2 look or he can man up on a tight end. I’ve even seen him defend the slot in certain instances. He can blitz and shows a good array of quickness and power pushing the pocket and reminds me a lot of Brian Cushing when you watch him play. No weaknesses in his game make him a top 10 talent.
12. Mike Martin, OL Notre Dame 92.
Martin can play any position along the offensive line and be a very good player. I think he would provide a solid starting tackle in the league on either side, probably above average at either of those slots. However, if you move him inside to center or guard he could be an All-Pro. It totally depends on what you value on your team and team need but that is the great thing about Martin, he provides perfect flexibility at all times. Martin doesn’t have great length but he has very strong hands and a good punch. He uses very nice technique and is never out of position. While he doesn’t dominate defenders he does a very nice job of getting them where he wants them to go and understands defenses as well as any lineman in this draft. He will be an instant impact guy with an extremely high floor. I hate saying can’t miss but I’ll say it with him.
13. Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State 91
Gilbert is an elite defensive back who shows the ability to not only cover in press man, but also in off man and zone. He has top tier closing speed and elite ball skills. He will occasionally allow separation underneath but his skills in the intermediate and deep passing game is as good as there is for a prospect. He’s got good size and doesn’t mind muscling up receivers at the point of attack. I’ve seen a bit of hit and miss when it comes to tackling and helping in the run game, sometimes he does it very well other times he seems disinterested, but overall he’s a number one corner prospect who can help right away.
14. Dri Archer, ATH Kent State 91
People are going to flip when they see where I have Archer pegged. I understand that he has size limitations and played against weak competition. However, if you have Tavon Austin slotted as a top ten pick how can you not have Archer with a 90+ grade as well. Archer has truly unique speed, running consistently in the 4.2 range. He can simply outrun every player on the field at any level and will always be the fastest guy out there. He shows tremendous balance and despite his diminutive stature does a good job of breaking arm tackles. Archer could be the best return man in the league from day one. What truly separates him from others though is his ability in the passing game. Archer could play in the slot right away and be virtually unstoppable, he runs very nice routes and could stretch the seam or destroy safeties and nickels underneath. A major threat everytime he touches the football to take it the distance.
15. Marquise Lee, WR USC 90
Lee was the most dynamic player in the country two seasons ago, but injuries and inconsistent quarterback play has hampered his development. At times Lee is completely unguardable. He runs exceptional routes and uses his hands to snatch the ball instead of letting the ball get into his body. Lee shows tremendous body control and tracks the ball very well. He doesn’t have a great frame and at times can get bullied by bigger defensive backs. Injury history and a bit of inconsistency game to game or even drive to drive drops him a touch, but his overall talent gives him the chance to be a very quality receiver in the league, perhaps even a pro-bowl caliber wideout.
16. Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh 90
Donald might not have prototypical size or frame for a defensive tackle, but he could be a dominant three technique. He has exceptional quickness for his size and uses his leverage extremely well, creating a very potent speed to power combination. He has an array of pass moves from the interior which gives him exceptional value. He holds up better than you’d think against a double team as well for his size. While his size does give him limitations for scheme, which knocks his grade down a point or two from the 90’s, if you put him in the right scheme for him he could be a force on the inside.
17. Jimmy Garappolo, QB Eastern Illinois 90
I think this kid has the chance to be the best quarterback in this draft. He has an extremely quick release and the ball explodes out o f his hand. I think his arm strength is more than adequate at the next level and he displays a very nice touch on the football as well. The way he manipulates a defense is incredible with pump fakes and his eyes, he rotates his hips, moves his feet and delivers strikes. I think he needs to be better coming off his initial read and finding a secondary receiver, especially when he throws to his left on a secondary read, which he really struggles doing. His feet aren’t elite, but they aren’t bad either and he can scramble a bit if you need him to. I think it’s absolutely critical that he gets a good quarterback coach at the next level and he would be much better off if he got a full year to sit. If he does I think there is no question he can be as good as any quarterback in the league if he goes to a system that uses his talent. His learning curve will be pretty steep though, patience is needed but you can be highly rewarded.
18. Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State 89
Jernigan and Donald are almost the exact same grade despite being very different players. Jernigan can provide a powerful interior player who can hold up on all three downs. He’s strong and instinctive and uses his hands with a violence. He has no issue taking on the double team at the point of attack, or getting downhill into the backfield to cause havoc. While he doesn’t have the pass rushing ability that Donald has, his ability against slants and double teams against the run is better. A very solid player who has very little downside. If you watch Florida State’s defense with him on the field versus when he goes off of it, it’s night and day, he made that team so much better when he was on it, and he could have that type of impact at the next level.
19. Blake Bortles, QB Central Florida 89
Bortles is the prototype quarterback you are looking for in today’s NFL. He has an above average arm and shows very good mobility. His 40 time at the combine was very confusing because when you watch him on tape he plays much faster than that. I’m saying his athleticism is somewhere between Jake Locker and Ben Roethlisberger. He shows good poise in the pocket and makes good reads for the most part. I question his intermediate and long accuracy at times and find him missing open receivers on occasion. That being said he has great size and is not an easy guy to put on the ground, meaning he could hold up against NFL competition. He seems to have some rawness to his game which shows potential upside, and Bortles can really spin it when he gets into a groove. Bortles winning percentage in close games is very high and he seems to display a bit of that clutch gene that everyone talks about. I think he’ll be a very solid starter in the league, and if you could afford to give him 1-2 years to develop he could be even better than that.
20. Marcus Martin, C USC 89
This kid is really good. I think there is virtually nothing he can’t do at a very high level. He seems to be comfortable making his checks at the line and directing an offensive line. I think his size is very good for the position and his power and movement skills are both elite for the position. He can block in space at an above average level, he understands schemes offensively. Against very good competition in Stanford and Notre Dame his film was exceptional. He’s a physical, intense player who fights until the echo of the whistle and will finish blocks. There aren’t a lot of guys who are this NFL ready as a center but he can come in and be an elite center from day one in the NFL. Super high on this kid. If you want to see serious potential, look at 13 minute mark in 2nd quarter against Louis Nix III of Notre Dame, a very high pick; Martin destroys him and then moves to the second level to knock a linebacker ten yards off the play.
21. Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State 88
Cooks has a small stature at just about 5’10, but he has blazing speed. He ran a 4.33 at the combine and it looked even faster than that live. Not only does he have terrific speed, Cooks also runs very precise routes and works back toward the football. Despite his size he wins a lot of 50/50 balls and seems to track the deep ball about as well as anyone in the draft. He’s very solid after the catch and shows some toughness and balance when he needs to. Cooks size does limit him somewhat in the draft as far as upside, but when people are comparing you to Steve Smith, you’re a keeper. Round one no problem here and a guy who could develop into a very good NFL player. Also has above average kick and punt return ability.
22. LaMarcus Joyner, S/CB Florida State 88
I think watching Joyner’s 2013 Clemson film might be one of the most impressive films I’ve watched this year. Wow can this kid make plays. I understand that he has major size limitations at 5’8 and about 185 pounds but he has the chance to potentially be one of the best slot corners in the NFL. He shows a great nose for the football and simply makes plays all over the field. Joyner is possibly the best blitzer off the slot that I’ve seen in this draft. Joyner just is a joy to watch play the game. You can tell he really loves the game and truly understands what his defense is trying to do and where he needs to be each play. Despite his size he tackles very well and uses his short area quickness to get off blocks and make plays. I don’t care about his size, he is a great player.
23. Demarcus Lawrence, OLB Boise State 88
The first two words I think of when I watch Lawrence play are long and violent. He has extremely long arms for an outside linebacker with huge hands and when he gets a hold of you, you go down. He brings the boom every single time he comes into the backfield and he closes with power. I think his closing speed is very good and he can eat up space on the backside. He controls his gap well on the backside and doesn’t panic and get himself out of position. I haven’t seen him drop into coverage in any of the films I’ve watched him play but I think with his length and athleticism covering underneath could possibly be a strength. He has some serious off the field issues and maturity is definitely a question mark, as he was suspended a couple of times at BSU. He uses a variety of pass rush moves, but mainly his long arms and punch coupled with his quickness gives him a chance to be an elite pass rusher. I really like this guy, character issues may drop him but I think he could end up being a steal in this draft. Football speed is better than stopwatch speed, as is his power.
24. Calvin Pryor, S Louisville 87
Pryor is a hitting machine, and when you watch him play you can’t help but think of Kam Chancellor. Standing at 6’2 and weighing in at 210 lbs Pryor is a monster in the middle. He plays free safety at Louisville, yet he comes downhill and hits like a truck. He closes the gap quickly and punishes people who come into his area. He isn’t a very good man to man cover guy but he does show a good ability when playing coverage in a zone, which means scheme is very important to his future success. Big plays were part of what he did on a regular basis coming up with almost one turnover every two games he played in his college career and ending up with over 200 tackles. Seems to be a guy you could plug in at starter from day one who could make plays.
25. Louis Nix III, DT Notre Dame 87
I think Nix has a skill set that not many other guys has, an ability to play the zero technique. While he’s best as a two gap player, his ability to line up over the center and hold his own against double teams is something that is coveted by almost every NFL team. For someone who is 330 lbs Nix shows very good short area quickness and can not only hold the point of attack, but can get that lineman two or three yards deep in the backfield. While he doesn’t have the pass rush skills of a Donald or Jernigan, he shows average to above average ability in pass rush skills from the interior. He works hard, but you have to wonder if his weight will creep up at the next level. Run down defensive lineman aren’t coveted as much as they used to be, much like running backs, Nix is the best two gap defensive tackle in this class and therefore you have to believe he’ll go somewhere in the middle to late first round.
26. Ra’shede Hageman, DT Minnesota 87
Hageman was a very solid player all year long for Minnesota. He plays a very tough style of football and is difficult to move even with a double team. I think he could probably play both the nose position in the 3-4 or one of the two tackle positions in the 4-3, which is probably what he is best suited for. Hageman shows a good burst of quickness from the snap and is very difficult to block in pass protection one on one. I think his upside is fairly high as well as his floor making him a very nice mid to late first round pick for any team in need of a strong interior presence.
27. David Yankey, G Stanford 87
Yankey is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft. He has phone booth type power, but has shown elite ability as a short pulling guard. While some are going to question his pass protection ability because of his work as a left offensive tackle, I view all of that as a positive. I think he was a well above average pass protector at LOT despite clearly being a guard. There are parts of game films where you get drawn to watching Yankey dominate at the point of attack, which is such a rarity for an inside offensive lineman. I think he lacks really good athleticism but his power and intellect puts him constantly in position to open huge holes. I think he might be the best run blocker for a guard in this draft and should clearly go in the top 2 rounds as a guard, which means he flashes pro-bowl ability at times. High floor.
28. Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M 87
Johnny Football is the player I am most torn about in this entire draft. While his playmaking ability and improvisation is undeniable, he also makes some very poor decisions. People love to watch him run but his true speed doesn’t really even put him into the elite category. He is similar in frame to Robert Griffin III, but he doesn’t have anywhere close to the true speed. Manziel shows terrific touch on the football and can make any throw you want him to make. He’s a terrific athlete and actually does do a pretty good job reading coverage. However, I worry about him getting injured at his size and propensity to run when a play begins to break down. You can’t compare him to Russell Wilson because he’s not that type of player. Manziel takes risks, can miss open guys at times, and is an injury threat. He also has a great arm, tremendous talent, and is extremely difficult to tackle in space. Talent level of a 97, size/style/decision making of a 72. I put him somewhere in the middle, I guess just hedging my bet.
29. Dee Ford, OLB/DE Auburn 87
Ford might have the quickest first step in this draft on the defensive side. He can get the edge on almost any offensive tackle. Ford doesn’t just use his quickness to disrupt five and seven step drops and force quarterbacks to the ground or to step up in the pocket. His rush defense isn’t exceptional at holding the edge or the point of attack, but when you want him to penetrate and make plays he causes problems with his first step. Ford seems to really be able to read offenses and the ways they are trying to attack him and block him. He can decipher differences between run and pass and gets his hands into passing lanes when needed. Ford doesn’t possess top end size for a defensive end and has some issues as a tweener between DE and OLB. However, his motor is exceptional and he plays hard on every single snap. Ford can play on my team any day. Ford can’t play 65 snaps a game but he could be an exceptional pass rusher in a rotational situation. Just a really good football player who plays hard, I’ll take that. Only 2 career forced fumbles does drop his ranking a point or two
30. Gabe Jackson, G Mississippi State 87
A lot of people have Jackson as the best guard in this draft and there are times when I completely agree. When players get off balance against Jackson he can absolutely dominate them. He has exceptional power at the point of attack and you can ask him to pull and get out and he can pancake guys at the second level. Can pull a long way to make a quality block downfield. I think, while he has room to grow as a pass blocker he can handle that responsibility. Can get pushed back in the pocket and gives some ground, but once he gets anchored he’s tough to move. High upside guy who will start right away and could develop into a high quality starter.
31. Ryan Shazier – OLB Ohio State. 87
Shazier is a very solid player who can contribute on all three downs as a 4-3 OLB. He shows a tremendous talent for running with tight ends and running backs and at Ohio State on blitz downs he at times was even asked to cover slot receivers. Supposedly ran a sub 4.4 40 in his pro day. He can rush the passer from the edge at an average NFL level. Size might be a bit of an issue as he isn’t a really big outside linebacker by NFL standards. However, Shazier was hugely productive at Ohio State and although at times he can take a mistake or a bad angle, overall he makes a lot of plays. Not a tier one attacking linebacker but a starter and a three down player from the minute he walks into your facility. High floor.
32. Xavier Su’a Filo, G UCLA 87
This kid works his tail off every single snap of every single game, and it seems like that work ethic is something that is echoed by his coaches. He has very nice power for someone who has that much athleticism. Su’a Filo played a fair amount of left tackle at UCLA and while that is a possibility at the next level he is a much better fit as a left guard. He is a good pass protector, and someone you would feel very comfortable with leaving one on one with a linebacker or a defensive tackle in pass protection. I haven’t found a huge weakness in his game, although he does struggle when defenses use different formations and pass rush schemes. He has great consistency and his power and movement skills are very good for his position. I think he could be one of the most consistent performers in this entire draft.
33. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama 86
Dix is a very solid safety and has been coached up very well by probably the best secondary coach in the nation in Alabama head coach Nick Saban. It seems like coach Saban always has NFL ready guys out of the secondary. Dix shows exceptional recognition skills in both man and zone and seems to be at his best when he’s playing centerfield and watching plays develop. Dix does a nice job playing the run and when he diagnosis plays he’s a good tackler. I think Dix struggles with his ball skills and playmaking ability on the backend. He doesn’t catch the ball naturally and at times struggles to high point the ball. However, he is a really good man to man defender for a safety and seems to not panic when he finds himself in a one on one against a quality receiver. I think he’s an above average starter at free safety in the NFL but I wouldn’t draft him expecting him to become a star.
34. Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU 86
Beckham shows elite speed and quickness. He can get over the top of a defense and make plays, although I’m not sure how well he does on adjusting to the deep ball or winning many 50/50 battles. At times he struggles to catch the ball in traffic, see A&M tape. I think he shows some rawness to his game and can need to push off to get open at times. He’s very dangerous when the ball is in his hands as he is quicker than he is fast, although he does show 4.43 speed. He has great ability in the return game and is a decent blocker, but not exceptional. Beckham can make some spectacular catches as well that not many other players can make. I like Beckham, he seems like a very quality person and player and can make some very nice catches. To me however, people seem to like his potential more than his production. That is fine in certain instances. To me, with a draft that has this deep of wide receiver depth perhaps we are overvaluing Beckham a touch. I think he’ll turn into a quality number two receiver in the league who can help make plays for your team, but won’t be a true number one, reminds me a bit of Torrey Smith.
35. Jason Verrett, CB TCU 86
This kid has some serious explosiveness as a cornerback. He runs a sub 4.4 40 and had the quickest ten yard split at the combine. He played very well against likely first round pick Odell Beckham during their matchup with LSU. Verrett doesn’t have very good size measuring around 5’9.5 but his athletic ability makes up for it. He plays bigger than his size in run support although don’t mistake him for a powerful run stopping cover 2 type corner. Verrett might be best utilized in the slot corner position at the first part of his career but he did play a lot outside at TCU. He has exceptional change of direction skills and without question could play zone without too much of a problem. Size at the NFL level will probably be somewhat of a problem. If he were 6’ he could be a top ten pick. Both Baylor and LSU film were very impressive. If he were 6 feet he’d be the best corner in this draft.
36. Stephon Tuitt, DE Notre Dame 86
I think Tuitt is a very interesting draft prospect. There are times where you watch him play and you think he’s a potential top ten pick and there are times when you wonder if he’s even draftable. That being said there are things that he does that NFL teams are really enamored with right now, especially his ability to pass rush from the interior. His ability to get off of blocks and get his hands on running backs is very good in the run game and something that he does better than most NFL 34 defensive ends. He has violent hands in pass rushing situations and seems to be quicker than you’d think that he is. I like him a lot as a player who has a bit of an unique skill set and those 34 defensive ends are becoming much more prevalent in the league. I think his work ethic isn’t as big of an issue as some people say it is and I think he’ll end up being a very productive NFL player.
37. WR Cody Latimer, WR Indiana 86
Latimer has shot up draft boards faster than anyone this season. There are some GM’s you’ve said they wouldn’t be surprised at all if he went ahead of Cooks, Lee, and Beckham and ended up in the first round. With Latimer you get a really nice complementary receiver. I think he could absolutely thrive in a west coast scheme as he does a good job of sitting down in zones, he can make plays after he catches the ball, and he’s a terrific blocker. He’s dynamic on slants and he doesn’t dance much, just gets upfield and picks up first downs. I worried a bit about his speed but I think it’s actually better than average. There really isn’t much not to like about Latimer. Latimer would be best as a number two in the NFL, and reminds me a ton of Roddy White. If he’s that good, he deserves to be in the first round consideration.
38. Darqueze Dennard, CB Michigan State 86
Dennard is someone I don’t have ranked as highly as other people do. I think he is a very good corner prospect, but I don’t think he’s elite as some other’s do; Scout’s Inc. (#14) Kiper (#19), Jeremiah (#20), all have him ranked higher than I do. I understand what they are saying in terms of his ability to mirror an opposing team’s number one wide receiver. He has a good idea of what the receiver is trying to do to him and it seems like he knows what routes they are running before they run them, which to me shows that he watches a lot of film (a sentiment that his coaches verify). I do think that he has a certain stiffness that people aren’t seeing. He has some explosiveness in a straight line but I wonder about his change of direction skills. He seems at times to panic a bit while the ball is in the air, i.e. the Notre Dame film, and doesn’t have elite ball skills. I do like his ability in the run game, as he is an aggressive downhill tackler. He has a chance to be a very good corner at the next level but I think most other scouts have him ranked too high.
39. Trai Turner, G LSU 86
The first play I watched Turner on film was against Texas A&M and he did an inside pull and absolutely destroyed a linebacker from A&M, did it later in the game as well. Turner gets a bit high at times in the run game but shows awesome recovery ability to continue his block or push the guy down the line more, almost like a tackle who gets his guy to run past the pocket. Turner is an excellent run blocker, some people worry about his angles or him being in space but I don’t. I think he does a nice job in that area but mainly his power is, while not quite elite, close to elite. He gets the guy off his space and moves him to where he wants him to go. Doesn’t need help from a center or tackle to get his guy moved. I think he may give a bit too much ground in the pass game but I watched him play three films in a row and never truly saw him get beat one on one in pass pro. Could use some help with overall technique as he gets high or loses balance at times, but he’s still young and raw, a good line coach could make this kid special. He’s a starter from day one, upside is there too. Also on a non-film note, Turner tested number one in 40 time, 10 split, and short shuttle at the combine for guards.
40. Kony Ealy, DE Missouri 85
Ealy has an awesome motor, and that thing runs hot. Ealy is one of the best 4-3 DE’s at playing the run in this draft, maybe the best after Clowney. He shows good size for a 4-3 defensive end at 6’5 276 pounds. Ealy has a good get off and can rush either toward the edge or on the interior. He moved inside at Missouri on 3rd down and long and showed an ability to use slants and stunts to get to the quarterback. He shows good hands and uses a very nice dip and rip move to his arsenal. He had good not great productivity at Missouri, but did benefit from having a very nice player in Michael Sam on the other side. I don’t know if he’s ever going to be a ten sack a year guy from the defensive end position but I think he could pick up a few sacks here in there while he does a solid job defending the run.
41. Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State 85
Roby is the ultimate risk reward player for a general manager. Overall Roby has immense talent and as far as talent goes he’s the 2nd best corner prospect in this draft. He also shows tremendous closing speed, burst, and acceleration. He was a very highly productive player at Ohio State registering 41pass breakups and scoring 5 touchdowns as a special teams player and corner. He can play man or zone and is always attacking the football or the flats. He doesn’t have perfect size but he’s got at least average size for an NFL defensive back and runs a sub 4.4 40. Roby also is a big hitter for a corner. All this being said he had some very inconsistent film, especially toward the beginning of the 2013 season. He was suspended for a game for an altercation at a bar, he even had issues walking away from a drill at the combine. Seems like he needs to grow up. I wonder about his desire to watch film and improve, gets beat by double moves, and at times seems like he’s totally guessing, always trying to make the big play. While his talent is very high, his motor, instincts, inconsistent play, and maturity are all major question marks. Tough call for general managers, I’d say he needs to go somewhere with a good locker room or this could blow up.
42. Dominique Easley, DT Florida 85
Easley was probably the defensive player of the year through the first few games in 2013 until he tore his ACL. He tore is ACL in his other knee earlier in his career at Florida, so obviously there are some serious red flags associated with drafting him. All that being said, Easley would have clearly been a top 15 pick before the injuries. He is perhaps a perfect three technique at the next level and probably could have transitioned into a 34 DE. Easley is the most explosive defensive tackle off the snap in this draft when healthy, and that includes Aaron Donald. He plays with an A+ motor and fights until the end of every single play. His run defending skills are a notch below elite, as he doesn’t quite have the size to anchor against double teams but he uses his leverage well in one on one situations. He will pursue plays to the backside. He has a top 15 grade when healthy but two knee issues drop him down in terms of value. 95 talent with 35 injury history….. .where do you take that risk?
43. Kareem Martin, DE North Carolina 85
Martin has freak athletic ability. He has a great speed to power combination and at times he can completely overwhelm mediocre offensive lineman. Against the run he works hard, not just a play the run on the way to a quarterback guy. Martin can get his pad level too high and can get pushed out of plays sometimes simply because he gets out of position. I think a good defensive line coach could do wonders for this kid because his athletic ability is undeniable. He has pretty slow reaction time off the snap at times, but when he gets off on the snap on time he’s tough to block. Martin has good production at UNC and although he may be a bit of a project, a good defensive coordinator and defensive line coach could make him into a very productive player at the next level.
44. Scott Chricton, DE Oregon State 85
Chricton was an excellent player at Oregon State from his freshman campaign on. He always seemed to be in the backfield, and even when he began to get double teamed toward the end of his sophomore season, he still managed to make plays in the backfield consistently. His motor never stops and he continues to battle while playing the majority of the snaps for the Beavers. He’s very solid against the run and does a good job holding the edge and maintaining his gap integrity. Chricton excels at getting strip sacks and can make big plays in big games. He doesn’t have the highest upside of a lot of the defensive ends in this draft, but like a lot of Mike Riley coached players, he’s ready to come into the league and contribute right away. A low risk high floor guy.
45. Joel Bitonio, OT Nevada 85
Bitonio provides an upside that most tackles don’t. He has very nice athleticism and overall speed. He played up to good competition and didn’t flinch an inch. His 40 time and 10 yard split were elite at the combine. He gets his body and hands in very good position and rarely panics even when facing a great speed rusher. His film against Lawrence from Boise State was very good. I think adding a few pounds to his frame would be beneficial as he could be susceptible to a speed to power bull rush at the next level. Overall though, this kid has very few weaknesses and I think not only could he start right now for a bunch of NFL teams, he could probably start on the left side and he will continue to get better. Whoever gets him gets a good one and he can play either side.
46. Pierre Desir, CB Lindenwood 85
One of my favorite players in this draft is Pierre Desir from Lindenwood. The kid has elite size for a cornerback registering at 6’1 with 33 inch arms. He has perhaps the best ball skills for any corner in the draft as well registering 52 pass breakups and 25 interceptions in a stellar 4 year division 2 career. He seems to work hard against the run as well, not being scared to put his helmet in there and make plays. Could be an awesome press corner, reminds me of a poor man’s Richard Sherman. He doesn’t back down, could play man or zone and shows the ability once he picks off a pass to take it the distance. His 40 speed is good enough to play in the league, showed good testable explosiveness with an 11’1 broad jump and 35 inch vert. He doesn’t have the loosest hips in the draft for a corner, but I think it’s good enough. I wonder if he has the quickness to play off man, but I’m guessing with his size he’ll be a cover 2 corner or press man guy at the next level.
47. Jimmie Ward, S Northern Illinois 84
I think Ward is fantastic in what he does and his playmaking ability is something you can’t deny. According to multiple sources, Ward’s maturity and off the field issues are in serious question, which may drop his draft stock a bit. I think he is a nice zone cover guy and does a good job tackling despite the fact that he isn’t the biggest guy for a safety. He’s a high volume tackler who ended up with over 300 in the past three seasons. I question his overall strength and ability to tackle bigger backs at the NFL level just a bit. He makes plays on the football although that’s not his biggest strength. I think he does everything pretty well, and he flashes elite potential as a cover guy. He’s a quality player who can play every snap from the beginning, but you really have to worry about his off field issues.
48. Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech 84
I think Fuller is very reliant on what scheme he gets drafted into. If he gets to go to a team that plays a zone heavy scheme or Tampa -2 would be ideal for him, he could end up being a very good zone corner, like an Alterraun Verner or Charles Tillman type player. However, if you ask Fuller to play a lot of man to man coverage I think his career might have a rocky path. He is a physical player who seems to understand what receivers are trying to do to him. He shows good awareness and is a very good tackler against receivers or running backs. He doesn’t show very good ball skills and thus won’t be a really big play guy for your team but he can make the routine play when necessary. I think he’s scheme reliant but could end up as a pro-bowler if he makes it in the right system. Great zone player, poor man corner.
49. Davante Adams, WR Fresno State 84
Adams was an extremely productive player in his career at Fresno State eclipsing over 240 catches and 3000 yards in just two seasons. He is coming out of school somewhat raw, in that Fresno State didn’t really run a lot of NFL caliber routes. However, when he does run routes he has good power with his drive and breaks down toward the football, showing his potential to be a good route runner is out there. Adams is excellent with the ball in his hands, and runs with both elusiveness and physicality. He has very good ball skills and I think he probably had fewer than half a dozen drops in his entire career. I like his overall size, but he doesn’t really have that burner speed that will help create space at the next level. Adams is very adept at catching jump balls and 50:50 passes, and tracks the ball well in the air. I think his lack of elite separation skills and speed will limit him to being a very good number two receiver in the league, not that there’s anything wrong with that. The more time he has to develop, the better he will get as well. An able and willing blocker. Based on what I heard I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in the first round and I wouldn’t even think it was a reach despite him being 84 on my board. Just a really deep draft.
50. Deone Bucannon, S Washington State 84
like Bucannon and think that he is a very quality player in both run and pass coverage. He can play a variety of spaces along your defense as he has good size at 6’1 and 211 pounds. Bucannon can play in the true free safety mode and has good range, if not elite and he shows good overall recognition skills, which is possibly the biggest key for a safety. His overall productivity and consistency at Wazzu is very impressive as he played in every game while he was there. I think Bucannon can make a lot of tackles at the next level but he does at times miss in space and can take a bad angle more often that I would like, see Oregon tape. I think because of his poor angles I doubt he’ll ever be elite, but he has a chance to be a really solid starter at the free or strong safety position which instantly bumps his grade due to versatility.
51. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Washington 84
I’ve watched a ton of film over the past couple of years on Jenkins and have seen him play in person twice. There are a few things that stand out to me with him when you watch him play. The first is that he could be an absolute beast, and he shows glimpses of that throughout his career at Washington. You would ask yourself multiple times through a game why isn’t Washington throwing him the football more and the reason is it seemed like his effort was very inconsistent. He is an above average blocker when he’s engages and he can separate from safeties or linebackers it seems like at will sometimes. However, other times you can go an entire half wondering if he’s even on the field. He’s a very smooth athlete who has elite ball skills for a tight end, and yet he ended up with 35 catches his senior season. I think he has the chance to be an absolute monster in the NFL his upside is as high as any tight end in this draft except Ebron of course. His downside is a career of mediocrity despite very high potential; I think we’re going to see a mix of the two throughout.
52. Charles Sims, RB West Virginia 84
Sims reminds me of Arian Foster when I watch him run. He has good size at 6’1 220 pounds and he seems to glide when he runs through the hole. He has elite short area quickness and can make defenders miss in the hole, getting himself to the second level and beyond when he gets one on one with a linebacker. He doesn’t have very good power, but he has above average balance and uses that to fall forward at times. The thing that separates Sims, however, is his ability in the passing game. Sims for his career caught over 200 passes for more than 2000 yards and shows nice potential as a blocker. He is the new breed of running backs in the NFL, and while he has a lot of wear on the tires, this kid could end up being an extremely quality player in the league.
53. Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB Georgia Tech 83
Attaochu is a very intriguing prospect, and one who is very difficult to grade. Attaochu is very quick off the snap and uses his short area quickness to bend and get around the edge on tackles. At Georgia Tech he showed good overall productivity in terms of sacks and pressures. However, his grade is somewhat difficult because against quality tackles he struggled to do a whole lot. It’s hard to teach his explosiveness off of the snap but his lack of countermoves other than the speed rush will limit his productivity at the next level. His ability to hold the edge against the run is pretty non-existent, and although I like what he can give you rushing the passer, I’m not sure he can actually drop into coverage at an effective level. This means that he would be a pass rushing specialist right now. I don’t believe he will develop a better feel for the game or recognition skills so his grade gets dropped as a one trick pony.
54. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT Alabama 83
Kuandijo’s stock at the beginning of the season was very high, up toward the top ten in this draft. Kuandijo shows glimpses of that ability throughout his season and his career at Alabama, but the consistency isn’t exactly what you’d like to see out of someone who you want to bookend your offensive line. The Virginia Tech and Oklahoma films were really disappointing in that edge rushers who were quick completely destroyed him. Kouandijo has very long arms and can absolutely blow you off the ball at the point of attack, but if you get him in space he’ll really struggle with anyone with quickness. He has very stiff hips and bends below average. I could see him getting into a situation where you’d rather move him to guard to take better advantage of his power. Seems much more like a right tackle, a run tackle, than a quick left tackle, a position I really think he would struggle with. I think he’s a guy who can make tremendous blocks and then get beat the next play, could be a very solid run tackle.
55. Donte Moncrief, WR Ole Miss 82
Someone is going to get a steal on draft day when they grab Donte Moncrief. The kid was considered a first round pick, and I don’t think he did anything to drop his ranking to outside the top 3 rounds, which is where a lot of analysts think he’s going to go. Now I don’t think Moncrief is a first round pick, but he definitely has first round talent. He has great size-speed combination as he’s 6’2.5 and 225 pounds and runs a legit 4.4 40. Moncrief can run by people as he’s a long strider who eats up ground quickly and can get on the toes of defensive backs. A couple of issues with Moncrief drop him in my rankings. Number one, he runs really poor routes and struggles to gain separation on underneath throws, therefore limiting his space on intermediate throws. He doesn’t have great ball skills and will occasionally drop a catchable ball as well. I think with a 40 inch vertical and 6’2.5 size he should be better at catching the ball in traffic. I would love to see Moncrief go to a team with a good receivers coach because he has the overall talent to be a stud. I think at worst he ends up being a number three who can be a good vertical threat. I think the potential reward is certainly worth what I see as a moderate risk.
56. Carlos Hyde, RB Ohio State 82
Hyde is a very big running back who runs with power and consistently falls forward. I think he shows good overall balance and agility for a guy who weighs 235 pounds. Hyde lacks elite speed running in the 4.65 range but his overall quickness isn’t bad for a guy is size. I think he can catch the ball fairly well, although I wouldn’t say that’s a strength of his game. His pass protection is below average to average, meaning he is probably a 2 down back. People want to compare him to Eddy Lacy from last year’s draft, but I think he’s much more like a Legarette Blount, in that he won’t make many people miss or run away from anyone but he has the power to pick up the dirty yards you need. I think his straight up running style will mean a shorter career than he could have if he would lower his pad level every once in a while. He has a chance to be a pretty good 2 down starter in the NFL, but his upside is limited. Off the field issues are serious, and something that really needs to be monitored, I would think he’d be off of some draft boards.
57. Jace Amaro, TE Texas Tech 82
To say that Amaro was productive at Texas Tech is a major understatement. Amaro set an FBS record for yards in a season by a tight end. He played almost his entire career as a slot receiver, but provides a major match up problem for guys attempting to guard him. He 6’5 265 pounds and has better than average speed and separation skills for a tight end. He has good arm length which creates a very solid catch radius. I think his overall ball skills aren’t great. Amaro is a big physical tight end who will create matchup problems for every team in the league.
58. Weston Richburg, C Colorado State 82
This kid absolutely shined at the Senior Bowl. There were some coaches who thought he was the best lineman there throughout the week. He anchored well and could drop his weight and handle speed or power rushers without much problem. While he doesn’t have tremendous power at just under 300 pounds, he shows terrific balance especially in space. Richburg very rarely “looks for work.” At center, being athletic has great importance and Richburg does a nice job in space. There was a screen play in the Alabama game where he was 20 yards downfield and made a very nice block on his feet against Clinton-Dix, a wow play. I’m not going to say he’ll be an elite center in the league because he does lack some power and phone booth movement skills, but he can start right away and be a factor for an NFL team. Good player.
59. Keith McGill, CB Utah 82
The first thing you think of when you think of Keith McGill is his size. He’s 6’3.5 and 215 pounds with 33 inch arms. His length is exceptional and now that the Seattle fad has taken the league with these gigantic corners McGill might become a very hot commodity in the 2014 draft. He shows some stiffness in the hits and at times he can give too much cushion allowing receivers to make easy catches in front of him. McGill showed good top end speed at the combine, and there are times on film where his recovery speed looks good as well. I think his quickness and ability to dial down and turns is tough on a big corner like that but if given a chance to play in a physical system he can cause problems. The kid has really high upside and while there is a chance his tightness can limit what he does, there is no doubt that you can’t teach 6’3.5 and a 4.51 40. His physical traits are going to make a team rise up into round 2 and take him I think. I could justify that spot for him.
60. Bashaud Breeland, CB Clemson 82
I’m really torn on Breeland as a next level cornerback and where he should fall in this draft with a number of solid corners. He’s got pretty good size at a shaded under 6 feet tall with long arms. I think he is a fluid athlete and he doesn’t show elite quickness but he comes out of his breaks pretty well. His straight line speed at the combine was average at best, but his speed on film is pretty darn good. Breelund is an aggressive corner, which means at times he can take risks and jump moves or guess a bit with a route and get beat. His ball skills are average for an NFL player and he showed pretty good productivity at Clemson. He works hard in run support and seems to know what his responsibilities are in that aspect. The thing I really like about Breeland is that I think he can be at least an average NFL starting cornerback at both zone and man defense. I’m not sure his speed will make him an elite corner at the next level, but his toughness, fluidity and versatility makes him a good bet to be a solid number 2 or an excellent number 3. He’s also a really good gunner on special teams.
61. Troy Niklas, TE Notre Dame 81
Niklas is the best overall blocking tight end in the 2014 draft. He has tackle length with a 4.75 40 time which allows him to get to whatever angle he wants and uses his long arms and strong punch to move defenders. He can pass protect as well as probably half the tackles at the next level as well, which is a rare talent for someone who is projected as a decent pass catching tight end. I think his overall ability is a bit raw because he has only played two years of college tight end, so his route running needs a lot of work. He doesn’t display nature pass catching ability and you can see him fighting the ball at times, dropping a few passes, and he tracks the ball at a below average level. Niklas doesn’t have great quickness but his speed is okay to stretch the seem. I think the longer he is in the NFL the better he will become and with his great size and blocking ability I see someone who could easily play ten years in the league. 6’6 270 pound guys who can run like this don’t come around a lot, and while his upside as a pass catcher is definitely limited, his blocking ability is a great asset to literally any team in the league.
62. Robert Herron, WR Wyoming 81
Herron was one of the guys who caught my eye watching Senior Bowl practices and drills. He just seemed to be open all the time. People had a lot of trouble covering him in one on one drills and showed some dirty moves in space, and then completed the plays making nice catches on poor throws. Herron shows the ability to adjust to poorly thrown footballs and seems like an ideal slot receiver at the next level. He has excellent quickness, but better than average straight line speed as well. I like the guy, and although I think at 5’9 he’s best suited for the slot, he could be a very nice player there for a long time.
63. Ja’waun James, OT Tennessee 80
James has good size and I think he has good overall ability as a pass protector. His feet are pretty good although he can set too high and a rusher who he can block while using his speed can get underneath his shoulders and drive him back into the pocket. I think some of it is laziness and not lack of talent or overall athleticism. James was a pretty consistent player and while he never really wows you on tape with anything that he does he’s slightly better than average at everything. James shows a good ability to get to the second level and move players out of the way. He doesn’t have great power but he can move those who don’t get good leverage on him. I think James seems like he’ll be an NFL starter although his upside as a star is definitely limited. Solid starter, limited upside.
64. Morgan Moses, OT Virginia 80
I think there are people who value four year starters at offensive line too much. That is the case with Moses. I can’t really see where he is the 15th ranked player in this class, but he’s got some talent and showed a lot of consistency at Virginia. I think he has a chance with good size at 6’6 316 to be a very solid right tackle in the NFL. His footwork is a bit shotty, and I think he needs a good offensive line coach to really develop. He gets himself in decent position as a run blocker but he doesn’t finish plays very well and lets guys slip off of his blocks as he doesn’t really lock up very often. The talent is there for Moses but I wonder about his footwork and overall power. My opinion is he is a better than average starting right tackle in the league but that might take a year or two.
65. Trent Murphy, DE/OLB Stanford 80
Murphy is a damn good football player. He might not show that elite quickness or speed to power moves that some elite defensive ends or pass rushers will give you but he simply makes plays. Murphy led the nation in sacks as a senior mainly because he doesn’t rely on a single move to get sacks, getting them with bend, power, speed, or hand fighting. He also has an elite motor, he works hard every single snap and gets a lot of his production simply from effort. I think he’s got decent size for a 43 DE or a 34 OLB, but he doesn’t have great movement skills so dropping him into coverage probably isn’t the best utilization of his skills. He struggles to disengage, and at times can get blocked one on one against the run and the pass when he’s across from a good tackle. Overall though, above averages run defender in a phone booth. However, he continues to fight and eventually figures out a way to get into the action on stunts or E/T games. I consider him a player who will give you effort as a rookie and can continue to develop. I think his skill set might limit what he does early in his career but he’ll get better and better as he gets his feet under him in the league.
66. Brandon Thomas, OL Clemson 80
The major question about Thomas is where is he going to play at the next level. Is he a guard or is he a tackle? I usually like to move my guys inside if there is a question as I value guards more than most scouts do, but he should play tackle. He’s not very tall but has good arm length at almost 35 inch arms, and despite what it looks like he’s probably a bit more polished as a pass blocker than a run blocker. He uses very good footwork to get himself into position and shows adequate quickness to mirror pass rushers. As a run blocker at times he can forget to engage and he looks more like he’s pushing defenders than locking up with them, especially in space. When he gets a guy off balance he will finish blocks and slam them to the ground. I think he has a really nice upside as a pass blocking guard or a solid pass blocking tackle. I had Thomas rated much higher until an ACL tear with a month until the draft. Major red flag injury there.
67. Daquan Jones, DT Penn State 80
Jones shows some versatility as a defensive tackle, playing both the zero and three technique at Penn State. From what I’ve read he seems to be a good guy who works hard at football. I think he shows pretty good quickness and power at the point. He’s a tick slow off of the ball at times which gets him out of position on occasion. His productivity from the interior wasn’t very good at Penn State where he didn’t really finish a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He shows good power when someone tries to block him too high and can push that pocket back into the quarterback’s lap. His Michigan film was pretty impressive with that. He’s a good player with limited upside.
68. Phillip Gaines, CB Rice 80
I’m not sure why people aren’t high on the productive corner from Rice. Gaines is an excellent combination of length and speed, measuring over 6’ and running a 4.38 40 at the combine. He’s not just straight-line fast either, as Gaines shows good hip turn, flexibility, and his three cone drill was among the top at the combine. He had 18 pass breakups in 2012, and followed that up with 17 in 2013 to go along with 5 picks this past season. Gaines is not a run defender and struggles in that he has a long frame, but he’s really thin and has little functional strength. If an NFL team can get him in the weight room he has potential to be a really good corner in the NFL. I think I have him rated higher than anyone else I’ve seen. I like his combination of productivity, length, and speed and am curious why others have him so low on their lists, must be something I haven’t been able to see on film.
69. Paul Richardson, WR Colorado 79
Richardson provides high level potential for whichever team drafts him. Richardson has excellent straight line speed running somewhere in the 4.39 range. If he gets a free release he can get by a lot of corners at the next level. People have to respect his speed making him get open fairly easily. He catches the ball pretty well, occasionally making it look easy and other times making it look very difficult. I think he needs to be open to make catches as his lanky frame means he lacks much strength. I wonder about his ability to run block down the field. His height at around 6’1 makes him an intriguing prospect. ACL injury his junior season definitely drops his stock. Route running is above average. See him as a nice deep threat that can make some intermediate catches.
70. Louchiez Purifoy, CB Florida 79
Purifoy was one of the guys who dropped the farthest in my preseason rankings until now. He had some off the field issues which dropped him a few spots, but mainly it’s a couple of glaring things I’ve seen on tape that were verified by his 40 time at the combine. His top end speed is definitely marginal and he can get beat over the top. A 4.61 40 is below average, and his 10 foot broad jump and 35 inch vertical definitely left something to be desired in terms of athleticism. I think he shows good instincts at corner, but you wonder if his lack of athleticism was one of the reasons he only had 2 picks in college. He seems like he is a good corner underneath and shows good size at a shade under 6 feet, but an up and down year, with games where he struggled against top competition drops him a bit more. I think he’s best suited as a 2nd corner, who might need some help from a safety against faster receivers. Purifoy can make plays on the underneath routes and shows good coverage when he can get his hands on you, but if he gets overpowered at the line or gives up a step on a double move, he lacks the recovery speed to make a play deep down the field.
71. Kyle Van Noy, OLB BYU 79
Van Noy is going to be a specialist in the NFL. He’s a pass rusher who is too thin to play defensive end against the run but his speed at times can cause serious problems for flat footed tackles. He shows good overall range against the run, but his power at the point of attack just simply isn’t good enough to play all three downs at the next level. That being said, nickel pass rushers are on the field more than half the time in today’s NFL and Van Noy shows good hands and the ability to speed rush off the edge at a high level. Can drop in coverage making him a versatile 34 OLB. Might be able to start on some teams, and could play nickel LB for all teams. Would think he could be a good special teams player as well.
72. Will Sutton, DT Arizona State 78
I think people are underestimating what Sutton is capable of as an NFL player. A year ago Sutton was in the discussion for defensive player of the year and now people think he’s a fourth round pick? I think the drop is too significant for how he played this past season. While he didn’t rack up the sack numbers he was coming off of injury, an injury that I think he’ll be fully recovered from in his first year in the league. When he drops down and plays closer to 300 pounds instead of 325 the guy has elite pass rushing skills from the interior. I think he fits best as a three technique in a four man front and eventually will work his way into a role as a really nice interior pass rusher. He’s not great against double teams but as a 3 he won’t face too many straight doubles and he can use his quickness to get into the backfield and make plays. Work ethic red flags a bit off the field.
73. Jordan Matthews, WR Vanderbilt 78
Matthews is a long extremely productive receiver who has produced at a very high level despite mediocre quarterback play. Matthews is the career receiving leader in the SEC despite being the number one option since his freshman year and having lower tier quarterbacks. He runs exceptional routes and uses his 6’3 frame and 33 inch arms to create a large catching radius. Matthews doesn’t have good speed but his size gives him a chance to make plays down the field and on intermediate routes. He does have sneaky speed though as he was 4th in the nations in YAC. I wonder a bit about his separation ability at the next level, but he somehow figured out how to get open against good corners in the SEC. He’s tough after the catch and while he won’t make many people miss he falls forward and turns and gets upfield for extra yards. He’s your prototypical number two wideout, with his floor being as a very good number three.
74. A.J. McCarron, QB Alabama 78
People who think McCarron is a game manager and that’s it haven’t watched much of his tape. McCarron has a pretty good arm and seems to really understand when to take chances and when to take the sure thing. He knows how to lead an offense and does a good job of getting his team into the correct plays. He limits mistakes, shows good accuracy at all three levels, and makes very few unwarranted throws. McCarron has some limit to his upside as his arm isn’t elite, his movement is good not great, and he played with immense overwhelming talent at Alabama, but his floor is very high. I think at worst he’s a quality backup and wouldn’t be surprised to see him being an adequate starter at some point in his career.
75. Bishop Sankey, RB Washington 78
One of the most productive players in college football, Sankey is a do everything back. I don’t think he’s a guy you would need to take off the field very often at the next level. His pass protection isn’t very good which gives you some concerns about third down capabilities, but he has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Sankey has excellent vision and balance but struggles with power at times and I think a few more pounds could really help him at the next level. He had a ton of carries at Washington so there’s some wear on the tires but he’s a good volume back who will help you move the chains. Good solid football player.
76. Chris Borland, ILB Wisconsin 77
I like Borland as a football player but there are some things there that put up a bit of a red flag for me. Primarily he’s a short guy with short arms trying to play inside linebacker. I think he can get eaten up by blockers at the next level and because he doesn’t have really good speed I wonder if he can get to the backs if he doesn’t take very wide long angles. Borland had a productive career at Wisconsin and seems to read his keys well, and understands what the offense is trying to do but diagnosing plays and have the raw talent to get to them is another question. I think he has very limited upside but his floor is pretty high because of his work ethic and the fact that he plays very hard, but I think he’s limited to being an average NFL starter as an inside linebacker, maybe a bit more. Pretty high floor, pretty low ceiling, but a glue guy who you’d want on your roster. I think he’d have serious problems matching up with NFL tight ends but in a zone scheme maybe he’d be okay.
77. Jarvis Landry, WR LSU 77
Landry is a tough physical receiver who draws comparisons to Anquan Boldin. I think Landry could end up being a poor man’s Boldin in that he does a great job of making catches in traffic. He has strong hands and fights for extra yards after making the catch. He seems like a player that will had a dimension of toughness to your team. His measurables are definitely a red flag however. Landry doesn’t have good size for a possession receiver, measuring under 6 feet and around 205 pounds. His 40 yard dash was very poor and after watching a couple more tapes on him from college I realize that while he does make a number of contested catches, it’s because he has major trouble separating. I think there is no doubt the kid is a tough football player, he’s a nice blocker, and plays very hard. However, his lack of quickness, speed, and size is going to be a real issue at the next level. I think draft him as a number three receiver and nothing more, but with his toughness maybe he can develop into a number 2, but I would seriously doubt it.
78. Russell Bodine, C North Carolina 77
The first couple of game tapes I watched on Bodine were both impressive. The kid shows good short area quickness and is quick off the line to make quick movements. He excels as a pulling player and uses angles well to get people to go where he wants. I think he lacks top tier talent in power but he shows a decent anchor. I worry about his ability to get bull rushed by really big defensive tackles. Might take him a year or two to really develop into someone you would want calling all your protections at the line. I think he would be just below elite in run blocking for a center and average to slightly below average as a pass blocker, but overall a nice player who can develop into a good starter.
79. Derek Carr, QB Fresno State 77
Carr has a lot of the qualities you would want in a quarterback. He shows great touch on the back shoulder throws, fades, and the deep ball. Carr has a very quick compact delivery, which allows him to get the ball out to his receivers and let them either make yards after the catch or score down in the redzone. He has a good if unspectacular arm, some people think his arm is very good, I think it’s an average NFL starter’s arm, which is fine. That all being said, Carr also doesn’t have tremendous size, has never really been asked to read a whole field on a consistent basis, and will force the ball when he feels pressure. The two games he played against athletic defenses were both really poor in USU and USC. I think he throws off of his back foot on way too many throws making his accuracy on intermediate passes not as good as it could be. He also has inflated accuracy numbers because of the immense number of throws he made right at the line of scrimmage. I think he shows a potential to be an NFL starter in the right system but I think there are some things he needs to improve upon to reach his full potential. West coast offense would be very important to his future success.
80. Nevin Lawson, CB Utah State 77
Lawson is a nickel corner prospect who has some upside. He can play either zone or man, which instantly bumps his grade up a bit. He’s got good speed at 4.48 and shows better than average quickness as well. His ball skills are pretty bad and at times he can mistimed his jump or try to go through a player to get a pass breakup. He’s a good tackler who will fight hard to help in run support. I think he flashes a little bit of ability as an edge blitzer as well. When you watch his tape it’s really impressive. He loses a bit of his grade because he would struggle to play outside due to 5’9 frame and lack of ball skills. Could be an excellent nickel though from day one.
81. Kelvin Benjamin, WR Florida State 77
Benjamin does some things that other receivers simply can’t do. He has elite size at 6’5 and uses his long arms and big body to shield defenders away from the ball to make catches. He wins most of his 50:50 balls, but I wouldn’t say he’s a great 50:50 receiver. Benjamin runs mediocre routes, and has trouble separating without using his hands to fight defenders off or using rubs to get open. Caught a lot of passes this season when lined up in the slot against teams nickel corner due to good scheme. I think he drops way too many passes and seems very stiff in his ability to make difficult catches that are away from his body. His ability to go over the top makes him an interesting target but his inability to separate with too much stiffness and below average hands drops him in the rankings, especially with so many good receivers in this draft. There are serious questions about his work ethic that drops him down on this list too. I could see him washing out, but his talent will make him enticing on draft day. He’d have to fall toward the middle of round three for me to justify the pick and I still think that might be too rich.
82. Kelcy Quarles, DT South Carolina 77
Quarles was the number one recipient of all the attention Jadeveon Clowney was getting from offensive coordinators this year. Quarles responded by notching 9.5 sacks, a huge number for a defensive tackle. He doesn’t beat you with quickness, but he has an exceptional punch that can get himself into the backfield. He’s good against the run as well, although definitely not elite. He’s not going to really win a bunch of battles by swim moves or an array of pass rushing skills but he’ll push the pocket at times and he has really good closing speed for a defensive tackle. Gets his hands up in passing lanes as well, and seems to have good overall awareness. I like his ability as a rotational defensive tackle in a 43 defense. I think he might even have the overall athleticism to play the 34 DE position in the 5 technique. A good player who probably can’t play 60 snaps a game, but in 30-40 snaps could be effective at the NFL level
83. Marcus Smith, OLB Louisville 76
Smith shows that he can do a lot of things well , but nothing exceptional and nothing poorly either. He has shown the ability to be productive standing up, ending up as his conferences defensive player of the year. Smith doesn’t show many pass rush moves and ends up getting a lot of his sacks on scheme and effort, not that there’s much wrong with that I just don’t see that happening as much at the next level. He works hard against the run and does a great job setting the edge although at times he can play a bit too high. I like that he can drop into coverage or spy and be effective at doing both, that’s something in versatility that a lot of 34 OLB can’t do, and Smith does both at a solid level. Seems to understand what offenses are doing as he was a quarterback coming into Louisville. I like him as a guy who can be in your front seven rotation at the next level and shows the potential to be pretty good on all three downs depending on how you want to use him. Solid mid round pick by whoever takes him.
84. Bruce Ellington, WR South Carolina 76
Ellington is going to be a nice number three receiver in the NFL. He has an exceptional work ethic and Steve Spurrier absolutely raved about him as a teammate. I think his upside is pretty high because of his work ethic and his superior athletic ability. Ellington ran a mid 4.4 40 and also had a 40 inch vertical at the combine. Not only does his athleticism show up there though, Ellington also showed elite separation skills at times when he was given a free release. A bit undersized for a wideout in the NFL but could end up showing that a bit and working underneath in the slot. He really shined when running digs or drags and in all the tape I watched on him never saw him shy away from contact. A good number three with the upside of a number two on some teams.
85. Logan Thomas, QB Virginia Tech 75
Thomas is the most physically gifted quarterback in this year’s draft class, and it’s not close. He has an elite arm that can make any throw he wants to make. Thomas has really good speed at a 4.6 40 and he can really move in the open field, leaving behind quality linebackers. He has great size at 6’6 250 pounds and never missed a start in his 40 career games at Virginia Tech. The thing that always worries you about Thomas is that he struggles to read defenses, can miss wide open receivers by several feet, and won’t come off of his initial read and just take the simple checkdown. He turns the football over too much and his accuracy never really improved, sitting at below average his entire career. Thomas has rare ability, and he seems to want to work hard, improve, and is one of the toughest players in the draft. If he can get a coach, who will give him time to develop and work with him, he has the chance to be special. It is a long term project that needs a few years and a lot of reps to see the payoff, but it could be worth it.
86. Zach Kerr, DT Delaware 75
Kerr was pretty unknown throughout much of the year but started to rise on draft boards throughout the season. Kerr is a pretty unique player in that he can truly play the zero technique or a two gap technique and hold up against NFL caliber lineman. He came from a small school so you wonder about his skill set against better competition but his size and power I think would hold up against any level. I think he has some ability in pass rushing situations because he’s got good strong hands, but really raw in that situation. He has excellent speed for someone his size as well, running a sub 5.1 at 325 pounds. Not a ton of tape on him but his motor looked good in the games I’ve seen, wonder about his conditioning though, probably a 25-35 snap a game guy. He could be a wonderful developmental pick on day 3 because his ability is awesome. One of my favorite sleepers in this class.
87. Jackson Jeffcoat, OLB Texas 74
Jeffcoat is an interesting mix of size and speed for an outside linebacker. He showed good productivity as a pass rusher and shows an array of moves and good short area quickness with closing burst. His run defense is a bit raw. Jeffcoat can get dominated at times by bigger offensive tackles and even at times by tight ends. He needs to use speed to get himself in position to make plays in the run game because he doesn’t have much of a speed to power move. He’s a good tackler in space, which leads me to believe he could end up playing outside linebacker in either scheme although he’s clearly best as a 34 OLB. Shows some ability to drop into coverage as well, although wasn’t utilized much in that role. I like his upside as a situational pass rusher and in a year or two I could see him as a starter in the league as well. Needs to play in space at the next level. Shows top notch motor.
88. Telvin Smith, OLB/S Florida State 74
Smith is too small to be an every down NFL linebacker, at just 218 pounds. However, Smith has elite speed for a linebacker, and actually above average speed for an NFL safety. Smith closes on ball carriers, and the flat with reckless abandon. He tackles low like a defensive back, but does an adequate job tackling in space. He’s so much quicker than offensive lineman that he can weave his way through traffic to make plays. A terrific guy in pass coverage for a linebacker, although he can get boxed out by tight ends. He’s a leader among men, and plays with tremendous effort. I think his lack of size means he’ll end up being a nickel linebacker or a 3rd safety, but regardless, this kid can just make plays. In a wide open NFL passing game these days, smaller faster flowing athletes regardless of position are going to start being the norm. I also think Smith could end up being a Pro-Bowl caliber special teams player.
89. Tre Mason, RB Auburn 74
Mason really helped his stock by having a very impressive combine. He ran an unofficial 4.44 and had a 10’6 broad jump and 38.5 inch vertical jump, showing he has nice athleticism. He’s not a big back but shows good overall patience and balance. Mason’s vision is not quite elite but close, and he uses that to find cutback lanes and gets to the second level. He’s quicker than fast and gets from 0-60 quicker than most backs. I think he’s limited in what he can be because he doesn’t have much power and he seems average at best in the passing game. I think he’s a solid number 2 back in a stable system, but he’s not an everydown back either.
90. Aaron Colvin, CB Oklahoma 74
Colvin is someone who plays hard each and every play, and never takes a snap off. He has played both corner and safety and therefore his versatility in a nickel or dime look makes him an interesting prospect. I think he’s best suited to play inside in a nickel or dime look and don’t think he’d be overwhelmed playing outside in a zone look or even as a number two corner. He is a fluid athlete and has pretty good top end speed. I think his ball skills are pretty limited and he can give up some catches when he finds himself in position, which is pretty frustrating, but overall I think he’ll end up being a nice player in the NFL. You have to mark down his stock quite a bit as he tore his ACL during the Senior Bowl. Could see him dropping toward the end of day 3, despite clearly being a day 2 talent.
91. Anthony Johnson, DT LSU 74
You’ll get a coach who will absolutely fall in love with Johnson during this draft process. I think he has the overall tools to be a potential late first or early second round pick. The issues with Johnson is that he could go an entire game without you noticing he’s on the field. Then there are three or four snaps where he simply can’t be blocked. He has really nice quickness for someone who weighs over 310 pounds and shows good overall closing burst when chasing down quarterbacks. He loses leverage way too often and he can’t play against double teams, well I think he can, he just doesn’t. Johnson should be taken on day 3 and he could either be a guy who ends up being a steal, or be out of the league in two years… tough call but his overall talent will have some D-Line coach screaming to get a chance with him come draft day.
92. Chris Smith, DE Arkansas 74
Smith is a good player who works hard but he has some deficiencies. He has good initial burst off the edge when he times the snap. Can get pushed inside against the run and lose his contain. I think his football strength is probably a bit below average. Somewhat of a tweener in that he’s too small to play defensive end, but I’m not sure he plays with quite enough speed or coverage ability to be a 34 OLB. Not really an array of passrushing moves but he likes to get upfield with a good get-off and then works his way back into the pocket. I think he’ll struggle to hold up against the run at the next level. I like his overall effort, and that will lead to effort sacks. Smith should probably play OLB in a 34 to be utilized to the best of his ability but I see him mostly as a rotational pass rusher in nickel and dime looks.
93. Terrance Brooks, S Florida State 74
He’s a guy I think could end up being a starting safety in the league but I’m guessing he’ll end up being more of a number three safety and a very good special teams player. Brooks has excellent speed and quickness for a safety. It shows up on tape and during testing. However, he’s a bit undersized and he seems somewhat underwhelming in the big play department, which is something I look for in a safety. Watching him at the combine he seems to be a terrific athlete, he’s very well built, athletic and smooth. He has erratic ball skills, to put it lightly, I’d say his ball skills are very poor actually. He is good in run support despite his size, and seems like a hard worker who was liked by Florida State coaches. Overall a good player and glue guy, but not an elite player.
94. Ryan Groy, G Wisconsin 74
I’ve fallen in love with Wisconsin offensive lineman in the past and they’ve all been decent but not great. I’m approaching Groy with a slight feeling of trepidation that I could repeat my mistakes. When I watched him on film I thought he was a really good player. He has good footwork, gets to the second level well, is excellent on traps and pulls and never looks for work. I think he’s a bit ahead in the run game versus what he does in pass protection and he’s not a great hand fighter but to me he seemed like a starting guard in the league. I’m going to give him that type of grade but with an asterisk because I’ve been burned before by Badger lineman.
95. Jeff Janis, WR Saginaw Valley 74
Janis almost a perfect prospect in terms of height/weight/speed measurables. He ran a sub 4.4 40 at the combine at 6’3 220 pounds and looked smooth in and out of breaks during the drills. Obviously he played against very low level talent but he did dominate at that level. Showed good explosiveness with 37 inch vertical and shows good separation skills. I question his hands as he fought the ball a lot at the combine and of course his numbers were overblown because of the level of competition. He reminds me a lot of Jacoby Jones coming out of school. So with that I’ll give him a grade accordingly. If you take him early he’s got to be developed, but if you can afford to give him some time to grow you simply can’t teach that combination of size and athleticism.
96. Billy Turner, OT North Dakota State 73
Turner is a small school stud who has a lot of great qualities for a tackle prospect. Turner has great size and length and uses his power well, especially in pass protection. He has raw footwork and although his quickness is pretty good his kick step is so small that people can get around him. Average get off as well, so guys can get a jump on him, could struggle with speed. He needs to play in a non-zone blocking scheme to best utilize his skills. He is great with power when he’s closed off but if you get him in space he struggles a bit, again mostly because of footwork. He has the potential to be a really good player, his length and punch is exceptional. A good line coach could make him a really quality starter on either side of the offensive line, worst case scenario as a swing tackle.
97. Devonta Freeman, RB Florida State 73
The first thing I notice when I scout Freeman is that he has good vision. He makes himself small and then shows a nice burst when he sees a seem, and gets those three or four yards right past the line of scrimmage very quickly. Needs to show a bit more patience because he wants to get upfield so quickly that sometimes he doesn’t wait for the hole to open up. Freeman has great short area quickness and he gets from 0-60 a notch below what an elite running back can do. He shows above average ability in the pass game as well, as although he doesn’t have the strength to anchor against pass rushers he seems to understand what his role is in picking up blitzes. He isn’t looking for work in pass protection, his Auburn tape is impressive in pass pro. He seems to catch the ball naturally as well. He’s quicker than fast, as his 40 time was average and he doesn’t have much power. I like him as a change of pace back who can get some reps but his lack of power or top end speed limits him to a nice backup. Could thrive in a one cut Andy Reid type system that values running backs in the passing game.
98. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB Nebraska 73
I remember watching him on a couple of tapes and thinking he was very raw, and now I know why. He’s a converted wide receiver and has only spent two seasons playing corner. Baptiste has elite size at 6’2.5 and 218 pounds. He has very long arms and his athletic ability is very intriguing as he had a 42 inch vertical at the combine while running in the 4.61 range. I think he has very stiff hips and needs a lot of coaching but I could see him getting drafted on day 2 because teams are trying so hard to emulate what the Seahawks were just able to do. I keep hearing that he could be a good cover 2 corner because of his size but he doesn’t really seem like he likes to tackle very much and really needs to play press to be successful. If you let this kid line up in off man or trail he’ll get eaten alive by NFL receivers. He is an intriguing player but will need to be developed. High ceiling guy, but a real risk.
99. Antonio Richardson, OT Tennessee 73
I would say other than maybe Johnny Manziel and Anthony Barr, the widest disparity of ratings for a player in this draft might come from Antonio Richardson. There were a lot of people who had a high first round grade on him at the start of the season, and many who still have a second round grade on him now. There are other scouts and even some GM’s , according to some sources, who say they wouldn’t even put a draftable grade on Richardson. I think I’m somewhere in between. Richardson is enormous and that is always something teams love. He can absolutely dominate you when he gets his hands on you, but speed rushers destroy him. If you have someone who can change direction quickly or stunts and end-tackle games he can get eaten up. I’d think Richardson actually translates better as a guard at the next level in a power blocking scheme. When he gets beat by speed he gets really grabby, which means that he’ll end up with a number of holding penalties. He’ll struggle at tackle but could be a dcent 6th lineman, swing tackle, or guard. Just don’t expect him to handle speed well at all, there isn’t much room for improvement there. Scheme is extremely important for his success, if he finds a team that will let him play in a phone booth and dominate without putting him in space he could be a good starter.
100. Caruan Reid, DT Princeton 73
Reid moves well for a man of 305 pounds. He shows good quickness and nice closing ability for a defensive tackle. I think his quickness could give some guards and centers problems in pass protection at the next level. Reid was impressive during the Senior Bowl and he looked like he carried his weight well during his weigh in. He seems to play with good overall leverage, and while he’s underwhelming in terms of being able to hold up against double teams, he does a good job in one on one situations. He lined up as a 34 DE a 34 NT and a 43 DT in a single series against Georgetown. I think he could probably play either the 3 or 5 technique at the next level. He’s got short arms but a good punch when he can get a hold of you and is a good hand fighter. I like his overall skill set, and think he flashes good upside as an interior pass rusher. He needs to add some strength in order to hold up against NFL competition but this kid can definitely play, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as a starter at some point in his career. At worst a rotational defensive lineman.
101. Ka’Deem Carey, RB Arizona 73
I like Carey as a day 3 running back prospect. He was insanely productive at Arizona and had a nice career in the Desert. Carey shows good vision and patience and sets up his blocks well, accelerating through them once they get set up. Lacks elite speed but above average quickness. He has below average power, and while he has good vision to pick up the occasional short yardage gain he doesn’t have the power to simply pick up that extra yard when needed. I think he’s really good in the passing game especially in the screen game where he excels. He is a good pass protector despite his 207 pounds but linebackers can push him over pretty easily. I think he’ll end up being a productive number 2 or 3 back in the NFL.
102. Cyril Richardson, G Baylor 72
Richardson was rated as a borderline first round guard for much of this past season. However, Richardson was exposed at the Senior Bowl as having slow feet and his hand fighting was poor. He has great size at 325 pounds, and he uses that to dominate in a phone booth. Power rushers really struggle against him because they can’t push him back into the pocket. He might be a top 2 or 3 anchor offensive lineman in this draft in that it’s very difficult to move him. Richardson really struggles with lateral mobility and when he is forced to read and react to stunts and zone blitzes he has a tough time with that. If you put Richardson on a team with short splits that wants to ram it down your throat he can have success but he has a lot of room to grow. He has a nice combination of talent and size but he’ll have to be developed, worth the risk on day 3 for him because he’s a hard worker as well. If you get off balance he will destroy you as well.
103. Christian Jones, LB Florida State 72
Jones is a good solid player who shows the versatility to do a little bit of everything. Played a lot of inside linebacker at Florida State, but translated much better to an outside linebacker in a 43. Jones looks comfortable dropping into zone coverage in the cover two or into the flats guarding backs coming out. He seems to do a pretty nice job blitzing, although he’s not terrific at that skill set yet. He’s got an adequate closing burst and at times can lower the boom. I think he’s pretty decent at taking on blockers and getting off the blocks to make plays. I wish he could be more productive because he seems to be a good player, just wish he’d make more plays. Can go quarter or two at a time without making any impact on the game. I think he could end up being a starter because he can play inside in a 34 or outside in a 43 and shows the ability to play all 3 downs.
104. Ego Ferguson, DT LSU 72
This is a kid who you would love to draft on day 3 because his upside is enormous. He is a good combination of size and speed but his technique is extremely raw. Ferguson has a nice motor and works his tail off but seems like he can get discouraged when he isn’t producing or getting penetration. He struggles against double teams and therefore needs to play in a 4 man front to be successful. Pass rushing skills for Ferguson are limited but I think with a good line coach he could end up being adequate in this situation. You see flashes of potential out of him and then quarters or halves of games where you wonder where he is. I wish he would have stayed in school another year because he has second round potential without question, more time and developmental coaches could make him a nice starter.
105. Chris Watt, G Notre Dame 72
Watt doesn’t have any ideal measurables and struggles against power on the interior. He needs to dig his heels in at times and doesn’t move many bigger defenders off their spot. What he does do well is pretty much everything else. He can play in any scheme you want him to play in. He has high football IQ. Watt picks up blitzes well and shows good overall mobility. He won’t have brain lapses and although he may struggle with really athletic or powerful interior guys you know he’ll be in the right spot and won’t give up any free rushers. Never looks for work. High floor.
106. Ross Cockrell, CB Duke 71
A tall corner from Duke, Cockrell is going to get some looks on draft day because of his size. He measures in at about 6 feet and has pretty nice athleticism. Some draft analysts will overvalue his size a bit because he has shorter arms, negating some of the positives his length give him. Very productive career at Duke with 12 INT and 42 pass breakups, showing a good knack for getting his hands on the ball. Well above average ball skills. He’s quicker than fast, and although he’s tall his lanky build means he’d most likely have to play off man at the next level. I think his skills currently means he’s a bit more NFL ready than a lot of corners and his good feel for the game means he could be pretty good in either man or zone. Better player than people think.
107. Allen Robinson, WR Penn State 71
Robinson had a rough combine and it drastically hurt his stock. This is something that happens every year and people usually overreact on a 40 time and some raw route running. Overall Robinson is highly productive, catching passes for over 2300 yards the past two seasons. His ball skills are pretty good, although he looked like he fought the ball a bit at the combine, on tape that doesn’t show up. I think his separation skills are limited; he takes too many false steps off the line, making him drop from a potential number one. He doesn’t have good speed and that does hurt his downfield ability but he can make some spectacular catches and does well on 50/50 balls. Robinson is more of a possession receiver who can be a good fit in a corps of receivers. He doesn’t seem too interested in selling his routes when he isn’t a primary guy and doesn’t work hard as a run blocker.
108. Marqueston Huff, DB Wyoming 71
I think this kid could end up being a steal in the draft. He’s super athletic and looks smooth on the back end. He played safety at Wyoming for the past season but I think he could play any spot on the back end in the NFL. He has poor ball skills which drop him down the list a bit but his upside is tangible. He plays hard against the run and attacks ball carriers. I believe Huff would be better suited playing free safety or as a dime back, but he could play right away. Might take him a while to establish himself but potential starting ability.
109. Tom Savage, QB Pittsburg 71
Savage has terrific arm talent, that’s something that can’t be denied. I wonder about his overall accuracy especially on the deep ball and his feet in the pocket. He has some toughness, and hangs in the pocket to deliver the ball, at times he waits too long. I think he has trouble diagnosing blitzes and seems to get hit from behind a lot. I wonder about his decision making ability and his ability to avoid the blitz, therefore despite his toughness and arm talent I think he’s more of a stop gap starter than a potential star. He reminds me a lot of Mike Glennon from last year’s draft. Could become better with more time on the bench and practice reps, but he needs grooming. Good coach could develop him because he has top tier arm talent, maybe a notch below elite but knocking on the door to elite.
110. Zach Mettenberger, QB LSU 71
There are a lot of people who have Mettenberger way down on their draft boards because without question there are some red flags. Mettenberger is coming off of ACL surgery, which people are concerned with, but to me the surgery doesn’t have nearly as much effect on him as it would other quarterbacks. He has virtually zero escapability and running ability so the lack of movement skills are going to be less of a detriment to him than most quarterbacks in this class. Another issue would be his arrest in his freshman season at Georgia when he was kicked off the team for an altercation at a bar with a woman. Clearly there are some issues to be considered, but his talent is impressive. Jaworksi has him as his number 2 quarterback and there are others who say he won’t escape the first round. Mettenberger is huge at 6’5 240 pounds and has the best arm in this draft class. He can make every NFL throw and he spins it at an elite level. His accuracy is hit and miss and sometimes he can miss wide open receivers, especially on intermediate throws. That being said he can also make throws that no one else in this class can make. When the pocket is collapsing he shows almost zero pocket awareness and will take sacks that he should get out of. I’m curious where he goes on draft day because his arm talent is elite but his pocket awareness, accuracy, and decision making are well below average.
111. Jared Abbrederis, WR Wisconsin 71
A shifty route runner who shows a bit more speed than you’d think. He could be a nice number three receiver in the NFL. Extremely productive, was the only option in his passing attack and still made a ton of catches. He runs great routes, and despite mediocre athleticism gets himself open a lot. Carves up zone coverages. He destroyed Bradley Roby in one on one situations early in the season for over 200 yards. I think he’s a capable number three receiver who will catch everything you throw to him, but he won’t get you much after the catch, and won’t stretch the defense.
112. Brock Vereen, S Minnesota 70
Vereen is a player with high football intelligence, who shows tremendous leadership ability. He led his teammates during summer drills and was the guy in charge of lining up the defense throughout the season. He played both corner and safety at Minnesota and even in Nickel defenses they’d bring in another safety having Vereen line up over the slot guy. Good at diagnosing route combinations. His run game skills are pretty average, he takes poor angles and struggles to get off of blocks. He’s strong for his frame though and is a decent tackler. He has short arms and the smallest hands of a defensive back in the draft, which might explain why he has only 4 career interceptions. I think he’s a cover safety who would look best in the dime look or over the top as a free safety in certain looks. His versatility is something that’s nice but I think he fits best as a 5th or 6th defensive back and special teams player. Work ethic and football intelligence means that he has a shot to be a long term roster guy in the league. Low risk.
113. James Gayle, DE/OLB Virginia Tech 70
There are some players who have the tweener label that simply won’t make it because they can’t convert to either position. Gayle can actually play both 34 OLB and 43 DE and would be effective at both, giving him tremendous scheme versatility. Gayle has excellent athleticism broad jumping over 10 feet, having a 37 inch vertical, and running a sub 4.7 40 all at around 259 pounds. That size and speed combination is pretty rare. Gayle was productive for three seasons at Va Tech, being named all ACC three different times. He looks slow and out of place in the backpedal and in coverage, but I think that’s due to lack of reps. He can get pushed down inside on run downs, and when he gets off balance he can get taken down easily by tackles. Played virtually every special teams snap for the past three seasons for a very demanding special teams coach. I wonder about his football IQ, recognition skills especially in coverage, and overall ability to make plays consistently. Hard worker who will make a roster without question because of H/W/S combination and motor, which is excellent.
114. Preston Brown ILB, Louisville 70
Brown looks to be someone who likes to play a bit more in a phone booth than a lot of linebackers in this class. He has really nice length for his position and gets off of blocks very well. I think his instincts in the run game are pretty good, which masks his overall poor range. Brown isn’t a smooth athlete and he has really tight hips meaning he’ll struggle to cover at the next level. His pass rushing skills are decent because he can get his hands on lineman before they get their hands on him. I see him as a run defending middle linebacker who would have to come off the field for the majority of passing downs. Might figure out a way into a starter’s role at some point, quality tackler with limited range.
115. Rashaad Reynolds, CB Oregon State 70
Reynolds is a risk taking corner with good size and a load of experience. Reynolds gets caught looking into the backfield too often and gets beat on double moves at times. He also has tremendous ball skills and makes a lot of difficult interceptions. Reynolds is a playmaker who works hard in run support and won’t back down from any receiver in the game. He’s a fluid athlete who has been coached well at Oregon State. Would like to see him add some strength and not take as many chances.
116. Daniel McCullers, DT Tennessee 69
McCullers is gigantic. He is 6’7 and over 350 pounds, and strangely enough he’s the first 350 pounder I’ve seen that actually carries his weight well. He has huge arms and is the ideal two gap defensive tackle. McCullers is limited completely in that he can’t rush the passer at all as, despite his huge size he has horrible footwork so he can’t move outside the pocket or get around anyone. He doesn’t really dominate the pocket by pushing It back as often as you’d like either. However, he can take on double teams at the point of attack with no problems at all and can tackle backs with one arm. His size is intriguing and I could see someone taking him on day 2, but he’s a run stopping specialist to me in a league that doesn’t run much anymore, losing him some value.
117. Ed Reynolds, S Stanford 69
I don’t care what any other expert says this kid can play and be a factor on Sundays. Reynolds isn’t a good man cover safety but does a good job in zone and tracks the football very well. He has great ball skills and has the ability to take it the distance whenever he gets his hands on the ball. He plays the run hard and attacks the flats. Some people question his overall recognition skills but I think they are at least average and can develop because he’s a smart guy. Would be good on special teams and as a quality third safety. Could end up being a nice player.
118. Jaylen Watkins, CB Florida 69
Watkins has pretty good size at a bit under 6’ and has a decent combination of quickness and straight line speed. Watkins didn’t show much productivity at Florida, finishing his career with just three interceptions and had zero his final season as a Gator. He works hard in run support, and although he lacks much power in the tackling department he attacks ball carriers, and shows an ability as a pretty decent hitter. He shows aggressiveness both in run support and in attacking the football. I wonder if he’ll get flagged a bit at the next level because he gets a bit grabby at times. I think he projects nicely as a nickel or dime corner. Could be a good gunner if needed as well. Plays with confidence, but lack of productivity, ball skills, and strength makes him a day 3 guy and someone who could be your 5th or 6th defensive back.
119. John Urschel, G Penn State 69
Urschel is a solid player who does a nice job both in pass protection and in run blocking. One of the rare guards who pass protects better than he run blocks, but shows a good ability to slide, mirror, and is never looking for work. Urschel is one of the smartest players in college football, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and it translates onto the football field. He has an extremely high football IQ and understands defensive schemes and diagnosis quickly. Urschel doesn’t have great power but he has good footwork and gets defenders off their spot. He’s not a great athlete and at times can get caught reaching for blocks on the second level or in pass protection. Needs to be a bit more patient on his blocks, you can see that in some of his tapes. Overall he’s a quality player who at worst will be a backup but I could see him ending up being a starter on a team in a couple of seasons. Would be a great locker room, high character guy, and is smart enough to eventually get a starting gig.
120. Adrian Hubbard, OLB Alabama 68
Hubbard doesn’t really stand out on film. He has great size at 6’6 260 pounds and runs a better than average 40 with long arms. He has a strong upper body and holds his own against the run but his pass rushing skills are below average for someone with his athleticism and size. His productivity at Alabama wasn’t very good and he doesn’t really show a propensity for making big plays. Hubbard is constantly in the right place on defense and works hard but seems to not really have a knack as a playmaker. I think he will be a guy who could provide quality depth as an OLB or even a 43 backup defensive end, but I don’t see him being a starter unless it’s as a run stopping OLB in a 34. His size and work ethic are enticing, but he has some deficiencies in productivity that make me think he’s more of a backup.
121. Aaron Murray, QB Georgia 68
Murray doesn’t have elite measurables and his draft grade reflects that to a point. What Murray does have is tremendous toughness, good football IQ, and above average accuracy. He has a ton of experience at Georgia playing in big games and has been extremely productive in his years there. He has good footwork in the pocket and understands defenses. I think his transition to the NFL would be smooth. Seems to take what the defense gives him, which is both good and bad. He lacks the arm strength to fit the ball in tight windows and was average to below average on NFL throws, opposite hash, deep digs, comebacks etc. I think he projects best as a quality backup or a game manager type quarterback in the league.
122. Brandon Linder, G Miami 68
Linder will have a career in the pros because of two reasons. Primarily, he’s a guy who has literally played every position you would want out of an offensive line prospect, center, guard, tackle, and even end at times. Secondly, he’s an extremely hard worker, team captain, and has an extremely high football IQ. I think Linder is an average athlete with good size who could probably play all three of the inside position on the line. He’s got decent movement skills but despite his length he can’t sustain his pass blocks for very long and struggles to get to the second level with consistency. I think he’s a backup offensive lineman in the league for quite a while because of versatility but I doubt he ever starts with regularity. Would be a great low risk draft pick on day 3.
123. Jordan Tripp, LB Montana 68
Tripp is an exceptionally quick linebacker who seems at ease dropping into coverage. Tripp can diagnose and attack downhill on passing routes. He doesn’t have long arms or good size so he can get overpowered by bigger offensive lineman and struggles to disengage when he’s blocked. He misses too many tackles because he fails to break down in space and you can see him whiff at times, you see it a couple of times on the Coastal Carolina tape. His closing speed and short area quickness is a notch below elite and I think he could end up being one of the better special teams players on a given team. Probably a nickel or dime linebacker who can make an instant impact on special teams.
124. Marcus Roberson, CB Florida 68
Roberson has good size for a corner at 6 feet and uses his long arms well. I think his speed is average to below average for a cornerback and his overall ability to cover is decent at the next level. He runs around a 4.6 40 but shows decent hips. He is at his best in trail technique, and shows limited ability to read and react in zone. Despite his size he can get overwhelmed by bigger receivers in the run game and doesn’t seem to be able to wrap up well. I think he’s a backup corner at the next level. Just not enough skill and major durability issues cause his stock to drop compared to most scouts. Film to watch: Texas A&M he got worked over by Mike Evans.
125. Antone Exum, CB Virginia Tech 68
Exum is a big physical corner, who weighs in at almost 215 pounds and looks like a safety when you first see him. He’s extremely aggressive in run support and will come up and hammer you in zones. He has decent long speed but his short area quickness and poor footwork are frustrating. Exum has average ball skills in terms of getting interceptions but he’ll manhandle receivers and rip the ball out before they can make catches. He’s got a ton of confidence and shows no fear of going up against anyone; made a few plays when lined up one on one against Sammy Watkins. If you play him in off technique or trail technique he struggles a bit as players who are quicker give him fits. I think he is a decent third option at corner but probably needs to play on the outside. Had some injury history and rumor is he’s not coachable so there’s some risk with the pick, which to me means he clearly should fall to the third day.
126. Vic Hampton, CB South Carolina 67
I think Hampton is best suited as a number three or four corner in the NFL. He has good quickness but is slow for a corner and I think if he gets beat he’ll have a difficult time recovering. He does a good job with zone but I think quicker receivers are going to create havoc for him at the next level. Hampton shows good aggressiveness to the ball but that aggressiveness at times in the next level is going to get some flags. Hampton simply doesn’t have enough straight line speed to play on the outside, and a shift to the inside in the NFL will be needed for him to be successful.
127. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE Iowa 67
Fiedorowicz is your typical number two tight end in the NFL. He shows average pass catching and productivity traits as a tight end, using his big frame to shield himself from defenders. However, he can’t run away from anyone and will have trouble separating at the next level. Isn’t going to make anyone miss and doesn’t show much short area quickness. Fiedorowicz is a pretty good run blocker and does a nice job in pass protection but I’d say he’s average to a bit above average for an NFL tight end in both categories. There’s nothing he does really well but there’s nothing he does poorly either. I wouldn’t use a pick in the first 2 days on him because there are a lot of players you can find that are like him but he does have a nice little floor.
128. Shayne Skov, LB Stanford 67
Skov is a better player in college than he will be in the NFL for a couple of reasons. Primarily his top end speed is below average and getting him to range to the sideline in the NFL game from the middle of the field will be tough for him. Secondly, because of that lack of speed I question his ability to play man or cover two because he wouldn’t be fast enough to get back into the middle of the field or to guard tight ends. I like his ability to tackle, in that he rarely misses. Seems to know his gap responsibility and does a good job when taking on lineman. A solid backup in the league who because of good effort might end up as a fringe starter down the line.
129. Tahj Boyd, QB Clemson 67
Boyd is a proven winner and a guy that a lot of coaches think they can win with. Boyd has some deficiencies in quarterbacking and has some inflated numbers because he’s had an exceptional supporting cast at Clemson throughout his career. Boyd projects as a backup who has the ability to step in and win a game or two in a good situation. He’s the rare player at the quarterback position who is actually a power runner as well. He can pick up the tough yard if you need him to and is a gamer. I question Boyd’s overall accuracy and at times he forces too many throws. That being said he’s a guy I would love to have as a backup and would feel comfortable if I had to give him the reigns for a game or two.
130. Brent Urban, DE/DT Virginia 67
Urban is a good player with some serious durability issues. He reminds me a lot of Jared Crick a few years ago in that he showed good overall talent but was coming off of a serious injury that caused him to drop in the draft. Urban is probably at his best as a 34 defensive end although he probably could move inside as a DT in a 43. Urban is a mediocre at best pass rusher accruing only 3 sacks In his entire career. He might not be good in pass defense but he had 10 batted passes as a senior. He’s a good run defender but lack of pass rush ability does limit his upside. Mid round pick due to front versatility.
131. Martavious Bryant, WR Clemson 67
Bryant is a nightmare for scouts for a number of reasons. Number one you simply can’t teach Bryant’s combination of elite size and speed. He is around 6’4 and runs a 4.42 40. You don’t see many players who are capable of putting that kind of 40 time with that type of size often in the draft. That being said there are so many issues with him as a player and character red flags that it makes figuring out where you’d take him a serious difficulty. Bryant can make some ridiculous catches but he drops way too many catchable passes, including 4 in a game at Georgia, all of which would have resulted in first downs. He has always had an elite receiver around him to leave him in one on one situations and he has yet to really show us any consistent productivity. He uses his body to catch almost every pass and at the NFL level that will simply lead to too many plays left on the field. Bryant was suspended for games at Clemson and there are rumors that they had to dumb down the playbook for him at Clemson because he couldn’t process enough information. I would say he should go somewhere in the 5-6 round range where the risk might be worth the reward, any higher than that especially in this draft you’re passing up a quality player for a flier on someone who could wash out.
132. Brandon Coleman, WR Rutgers 67
The new receiver in the NFL is a big guy with a big catch radius. That is exactly what Brandon Coleman is. Coleman has excellent size at around 6’6 and he seems to figure out where to sit down in the zone and gives his quarterback a huge target. He tracks the deep ball pretty well and has a little wiggle to his game to create separation at the next level. I wonder about his overall productivity as he never really had a big year at Rutgers. Some of that can definitely be attributed to having four offensive coordinators in four years, but some of it is simply that he’s not really quick. He seems to have good football speed and can stride away from defenders. I think he drops a few too many and needs help to separate via zone coverage or scheme, but his size makes him intriguing. I think he’s a number 4 or 5 receiver with number 3 upside at best and a red zone/possession threat.
133. Arthur Lynch, TE Georgia 67
I like Lynch more than any of the other rankings like him and there are a couple of reasons behind this. While he isn’t really strong he takes very good angles in the run game and can cut people off where other tight ends might not be able to get to that guy. I’m not sure I love his route running skills but he seems to get open somehow, I’m guessing scheme, and while his hands aren’t the most reliable he does show an ability to make really tough catches at times. I think he’ll end up being a quality number two tight end in the league and will surprise some people because he’ll continue to get better as his career wears on. High football IQ. Needs to get stronger, but that can be developed.
134. Shamarr Stephan, DT UCONN 67
This kid is an under the radar guy who could end up being a really nice player in the league. He isn’t a great pass rusher because he really doesn’t have any moves and his initial get off is below average. Stephan can play either the 43 DT spot or the 34 DE spot. He has really nice athleticism for his size and can get underneath offensive lineman and push them back. I think he does a decent job against the double team but would work best when singled up. A terrific run player who translates into someone who could eat up blockers and penetrate at times. Never recognizes screen and won’t be able to play on passing downs consistently until he gets a higher football IQ. Might take him a year or two to truly grasp the scheme.
135. Brian Stork, C Florida State 67
Stork doesn’t really have any quality that should make him a draftable prospect other than his toughness. He plays with a nasty streak and is one of the rare centers who will wear down an opposing defense. He leans on you throughout the game and because he has good power you can see how Florida State started to dominate late in games. He can make the calls at the line, which is the most important thing for a center and while he’s not elite in that level he’s well above average. He does miss blocks and is just average in pass protection, but somehow I could see this kid making it and even developing into a starter on a team at some point in his career.
136. Andre Williams, RB Boston College 66
Williams was an absolute workhorse at Boston College, at times carrying the team on his back. He has good power and shows decent burst and balance after contact. He doesn’t really have any wiggle and won’t make many people miss. He needs to have good blocking in order to be successful. He reminds me a bit of Lendale White in the way that he runs. He shows virtually no receiving skills and pretty much is what he is in terms of a running back. He will get you the yards you block for him and falls forward. A two down back who projects as a number three running back in the NFL, as a short yardage guy and occasional first two down back.
137. Travis Swanson, C Arkansas 66
Swanson isn’t very strong and can get dominated by bigger, more athletic defensive lineman. He struggles to anchor and had the lowest amount of reps in the combine for centers. Some people think he could be a potential second round pick, some people think he’s a 7th rounder. The reason for the differences in opinions on Swanson is because of scheme fit. Swanson is pretty athletic and has great football awareness. He understands every scheme and can call out protections right now. He’s started all 50 games in his career and his teammates voted him captain twice, the first time in team history. His lack of power and inability to anchor will scare away some teams but some zone teams he could end up being a productive starting center. Scheme is everything for his future success.
138. Storm Johnson, RB UCF 66
I’m a pretty big fan of Storm Johnson as a prospect. Johnson has great vision and has a nice feel for the running game. He seems to get to daylight when there doesn’t seem to be much there. Johnson doesn’t dance he just gets upfield and he will get you what you block for him. Johnson leans forward and has good power to pick up extra yards when you need them. He fumbles a bit too often for my liking and doesn’t have a lot of skill in the passing game. He doesn’t have good speed and struggles in pass protection. All that being said I like him as a backup running back who can get you a few yards when you need them because he won’t dance, gets his pads square, and gets north and south.
139. Josh Huff, WR Oregon 66
I think Huff is a fourth or five wide receiver option in the NFL. He has little experience running anything that resembles and NFL route and because he ran so many 9 routes and hitches in college you wonder how long it will take him to adjust to the NFL game. Ran a decent 4.51 40 but struggles at times to separate. Smaller hands and average leaper, needs separation to make catches, fights the ball at times. Didn’t get pressed much at Oregon and his lack of strength makes me wonder how he’ll get off the line at the next level. He shows good playmaking ability when the ball is in his hands, and can create for himself. He is an excellent blocker in the run game despite his limited strength because of great positioning and work ethic. Could see him being a pretty good special teams player. You put him in a scheme with a good quarterback that’s more wide open he could be successful. Hard worker, but a developmental pick.
140. Tyler Gaffney, RB Stanford 65
Gaffney was a highly productive player at Stanford and actually scored more touchdowns his senior year than he had carries for a loss. He always falls forward and shows great vision and patience as a runner. Gaffney is a terrific athlete who played professional baseball for a while before coming back to be a productive member of the Cardinal. Late round running backs are all very similar but Gaffney’s ability to run with toughness and grind out yards against a stacked box gives him an advantage over other players. His 4.49 40 at the combine raised some eyebrows as he doesn’t look that fast on film, that 40 got him into the draftable discussion for me.
141. De’Anthony Thomas, RB Oregon 65
Thomas has nice speed and quickness and uses it when he finds a seem. He’s a homerun threat out of the backfield, catching the football, or returning kicks. However, Thomas looks faster on film than he actually is, something that happens a lot when you see teams run the spread option. Thomas can catch the ball out of the backfield in a variety of ways, split out, in the slot, or out of the backfield which gives him some legitimate third down ability. He has serious durability questions at just 170 pounds and missed three games his senior season because of injury. He fumbles at an extremely high rate, about once every 35 times he touches the ball. Thomas has zero power and gets tackled via arm tackles consistently. I think Thomas projects as a pass catching third down back and kick returner, but he’ll be frustrating to watch at times because of the fumbles and lack of power. Ability to take it the distance versus legit maturity questions, and wonder if he cares about football that much.
142. David Fales, QB San Jose State 65
An under the radar guy who outdueled David Carr this past season, Fales shows some exceptional skills. A born leader with awesome touch and short area accuracy, Fales projects favorably as a West Coast quarterback. He has a below average arm and his throws hang in the air a little too long when he throws to the far hash or on the deep post. He really understands football and despite playing in a small school, it shouldn’t take him too long to pick up the NFL game. While he’s got average height weight and speed and a below average arm Fales should get picked by someone in the league. If you put him in the right system for him he could end up being a solid backup, and if his arm strength can develop as he goes ala Brady or Brees he could end up being a starter a few years down the line.
143. Kevin Norwood, WR Alabama 64
Norwood is a typical third day option at wide receiver. He has pretty good size at 6’2 but has a thin build and doesn’t have good strength. He works pretty hard as a run blocker but lacks the strength to maintain blocks down the field for a long duration. His hands are decent, but when he’s contested he doesn’t make a lot of plays. He has pretty good speed if you let him get off the jam or get a free release. I think he’s a normal number 4 or 5 receiver in the NFL without much upside.
144. Cody Hoffman, WR BYU 64
Hoffman may have trouble separating at the next level. He’s got good size and hands and was extremely productive in his career with the Cougars. He is a shade under 6’4 with pretty long arms but he’s not quick off the line. He runs decent routes but lacks much fluidity and despite understanding defenses and what the corner is trying to do to him it takes him a long time to power down and make a cut. He’s excellent against the zone though and can sit down in between the areas and shows toughness and great hands to hang onto almost everything thrown his way. I like him as a number three receiver and red zone guy who can help move the chains. Not fast enough to be a number one or number two but I like him as a piece in a receiving corps.
145. Carl Bradford, OLB Arizona State 64
Bradford is a pretty good football player. Nothing he does really stands out on film, he has good speed but not really an array of moves in a pass rush situation. He works pretty hard against the run and has decent range . I think most of his sacks in college came when he got schemed into an envious position of one on one with a linebacker or tackle/end games. I think he’s got a draftable grade but see him as an end of the draft prospect.
146. Jack Mewhort, OT Ohio State 64
Most scouts talk about his technique and hand placement. However, I simply see someone who really struggles against high levels of competition. While he started at left tackle at Ohio State, most coaches see him as a right tackle in the NFL. Watching him in the Senior Bowl and during the week most players who had good knee bend or had a good get off would absolutely blow by him. He may have good technique but he simply doesn’t have the athleticism to take on good rushers at the next level. Due to his lack of quickness he can quick step too far and lose balance getting bull rushed. I simply think he’s not good enough to play meaningful snaps for a contender. He’s a swing tackle at best.
147. Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB Coastal Carolina 64
Taliaferro stood out to me during the NFL combine a bit more than some of the other late round running backs. The main reason for this is that he was exceptional in pass protection during those drills and he could anchor and take on linebackers at a very high level. In watching a couple of his tapes he seemed to really understand his protection schemes and he is the best player in this draft at the chip block. Taliaferro is a power runner with above average vision who can find the hole and will pick up some tough yards for you. He doesn’t show much in terms of pass catching or breakout carries but he’s a good short yardage and pass protection back who could become a good special team’s player as well.
148. Marcel Jensen, TE Fresno State 64
Jensen is someone you’re going to need to take your time with, but he may be worth the wait. He doesn’t seem to have a good feel for the game and at times against the zone it’s frustrating to watch him not go to a wide open zone and instead sit down when teams go man. He’s got really nice size and is a long strider who has pretty good top end speed, but it takes him a while to get there. He’s got decent hands and his size gives him a good catch radius. I think he can develop into a really nice player, he has a ton of potential but because of his raw route running ability, and lack of understanding at the position, it may take him a while.
149. Andre Hal , CB Vanderbilt 64
I think this kid should find his way on a team. He plays hard and physical and doesn’t back down from a challenge. He is really good in trail technique but he has some stiffness in off man so he struggles a touch there. Plays the run hard, but not a very good tackler, especially in space. I think he could play a cover 2 type zone or with a press team. Just a guy I’ve watched that I like how he plays football despite his below average lack of NFL transferrable skills.
150. Lache Seastrunk, RB Baylor 63
Seastrunk was a guy who dropped like a rock on most boards because of an uninspiring 40 time at the combine (4.51). He’s another guy who appears faster on tape than in actuality because of the wide open system he plays in. What most people will say with someone like Seastrunk is to play him as a third down back because of his quickness, however he struggles in the passing game. He has virtually no feel for the screen game and was never asked to run routes at Baylor. I think he has good vision and his quickness with the ball in his hands is just a notch below elite. He’s a guy who should end up playing for a bit in the league, but for a guy reliant on speed to be dominant to show moderate speed means his stock justifiably dropped to a mid third day pick.
151. Craig Loston, S LSU 63
Loston is going to be a good special teams player in the NFL. I wonder about his overall ability to play safety at the next level due to lack of speed and tightness. He struggles at times to power down and make attacking adjustments on receivers. Does a nice job in run support. He works his tail off and shows good overall football IQ and have heard nothing but glowing things about his work ethic and love of football. Loston doesn’t have great ball skills though and at times can get beat by bigger receivers due to lack of athleticism. I could see him being a decent third safety but I think his skill set is ideal as a special teams player. He could contribute in that role right away but that is his upside. 3rd or 4th safety and ideal special teams player.
152. Dakota Dozier, G/T Furman 63
Dozier can play at the next level, just not at tackle. He’s got a nasty streak on the football field and if he gets you off balance he will finish you. He’s got really good size and carries his 315 pounds well. I think his footwork and overall technique are well below average. His kick step is pretty atrocious, at times even crossing his feet. You could see it at East-West Shrine week. I think he can play as a backup guard maybe a swing right tackle in an emergency though. His LSU tape was pretty darn impressive as well, meaning he flashes the ability at times to dominate. Good late round guy because I think he could stick to a roster because of toughness.
153. Jalen Saunders, WR Oklahoma 63
Saunders projects as a number five receiver and kick returner in the NFL. He’s quicker than fast and shows the toughness to play in the slot. He’s got a tiny catch radius as he’s only around 5’8 with small hands. He doesn’t catch the football naturally and fights it at times. I think his top end speed is average to a bit above average although his tape speed is better that combine speed. Not strong enough to be a consistent blocker. He does a good job in the return game and is shifty in the open field.
154. Chris Kirksey, LB Iowa 62
Kirksey is your typical undersized linebacker. He has good movement skills, but won’t wow you in that department. He shows a good grasp of zone coverage and did a nice job when lined up over the slot or tight ends. Kirksey is kind of a tweener in that he’s too small to be a linebacker but not fast enough to be a safety so he’s got an issue that he’ll have to work through at the next level. Although he was durable and made a lot of tackles at Iowa, he wasn’t a playmaker, not many sacks or INT’s in a full career. Guy who works hard but frame and speed simply aren’t good enough for him to find a recurring role with any team, but overall he’s a pretty good football player. Maybe a special teams guy, but a late round pick glue guy.
155. Jerick McKinnon, RB Georgia Southern 62
McKinnon is an interesting prospect in that he doesn’t have a position. He played cornerback, quarterback, and running back in the triple option Georgia Southern attack. The thing that McKinnon has that can’t be taught is exceptional athletic ability. He has tremendous explosion and very nice top end speed. He’s not shifty and has caught a grand total of ten passes in his career, so to say that he’s raw as a prospect would be an understatement, he may be the rawest talent in this draft. You can’t teach his athletic ability though, and while I’m not sure if he’ll play running back, return man, or defensive back in the pros you can play him as a special team’s player and then try to develop him at whichever position he shows the most aptitude. Play him on scout team and let him develop.
156. James Hurst, OT North Carolina 62
Hurst got on the national radar this year when he shut down Jadeveon Clowney in game one of the season. Hurst looked good using long arms and good mirror technique to nullify the nation’s best player in the season opener. Hurst got help at times in that game, which is something he’ll need in the NFL as he doesn’t have elite power or punch. He can get himself off balance far too often and his tape throughout the rest of his career is slightly above average. He shows good consistency and plays pretty hard, but lack of overall strength means he won’t wear down defenses like some power tackles. I think he projects as a nice swing tackle though, he steps up to competition.
157. Josh Brown, WR Pittsburg State 62
I have Brown listed as a wide receiver but he’s going to be a return specialist in the NFL. Brown has elite speed as a 4.34 40 and shows good elusiveness in the open field. He can really move and sees the lanes well and hits them at full speed. He is a small guy and absolutely can’t block a lick but if you can figure out a way to get the ball into his hands he can flip the field for you. Because he’s got small hands and is inconsistent in his ball skills his upside as a receiver is very limited but kick and punt returners who can take it the distance at any point are in high demand.
158. Michael Sam, DE/OLB Missouri 62
Some people might say he will drop in the draft because he came out as gay during the offseason and people won’t want to deal with the distraction. In actuality Sam dropped because he lacks much athleticism that will translate to the NFL. Same was highly productive in the SEC and is your common college star who will struggle to adapt to the speed and power of the NFL game. He shows a good ability to get after the quarterback but he lacks the strength to set the edge as a 43 End or the speed to string it out as a 34 OLB. I think he’s somewhat of a tweener who will get picked toward the end of day 3. Will need to contribute on special team’s to find a roster spot.
159. Ed Stinson, DE Alabama 61
StInson is a hard working run stopping 34 DE. He’ll be a rotational guy in the NFL but won’t get a full time gig because he couldn’t pass rush even in the SEC and it’ll be that much more difficult in the league. He has one of the best motors in this draft and plays to the echo of the whistle. He can hold up against pretty much anyone at the point of attack and does an excellent job keeping contain and stretching plays out. He’s not going to get you a lot of tackles because his lateral agility is below average but he’s strong and one of those guys willing to do the dirty work to win. Lunch pail guy, rounds 6-7.
160. Cameron Fleming, G/T Stanford 61
Fleming played tackle at Stanford but he translates much better as a guard, where I think he could end up benig a decent player. He has great power and can get people off the spot, especially when he has an angle on them like a trap play. He doesn’t have great athleticism and because of that he can try to get his hands on defenders too quickly and will reach, getting himself off balance. Overall his balance is well below average, which is why I’d like to slide him to the inside. You need to utilize his power as a run blocker in a base set and he’d be successful, if you try to make him your starting right tackle he’ll need a lot of help. Awareness is average. I’d say he’ll end up as a quality 6th or 7th lineman who could start for you in a pinch at RT or either guard spot.
161. Shaq Evans, WR UCLA 61
Evans is a possession receiver without much upside. He has a good feel for the passing game and will find spots in zone and figures out how to get open in the middle of the field or at the sticks. He has decent hands and pretty good size at about 6’1.5. Evans doesn’t have good speed and will be forced to stay inside or underneath to get his catches but I could see him ending up as a 4th or 5th wide receiver on someone’s team because he can get you a few first downs but his upside is pretty limited as he doesn’t make people miss after he catches the rock. Below average run blocker.
162. Jeremy Hill, RB LSU 60
Red flags galore with Hill, but he may be the most talented back in this draft. He’s been arrested twice and has been suspended for an entire season and is still on probation. On top of that he shows really poor patience and at times will press a hole that hasn’t opened up yet. Hill doesn’t have the ability to play third downs at the next level, and so the red flags continue. However, despite all of that Hill does run with violence and keeps his pad level low to churn out extra yards. He’s big at 233 pounds but has good feet and can show a nice bounce to get into the second level. I doubt he’ll ever be a feature back because he simply doesn’t have the speed or patience but he could be a really nice piece in a tandem backfield as the thunder back. When I do draft evaluations, however, running back is a position that is at the bottom of my list in terms of value. When a player comes out who isn’t a complete game changer and has this many red flags, especially at a position of minimal value, he drops like a rock in my rankings. Talent wise, he’s somewhere in the mid 80s but his grade is the lowest draftable grade I can give because the risk would have to be as minimal as can be for me to take him.
163. Mike Davis, WR Texas 60
Big play guy who can make plays down the field but highly inconsistent. I think Davis is going to get a look at the NFL level but I don’t know if he even improved in his time at Texas. He has bad hands and fights the ball more often that I’d like but then can make some of the most ridiculous catches you’ve ever seen. He’s got good speed and decent size but because he lacks the toughness to play on the inside at the NFL level he loses some versatility. I’d give the kid a shot late in the draft because he has some ability but his inconsistency might make him just a rookie contract guy. Projects as a #4 or #5 big play guy with potential, but I’m betting he doesn’t reach it.
164. Geoffrey Pagan, DE Alabama 60
Pagan is an average 34 defensive end prospect in the NFL. He has good size at 305 pounds and moves pretty well for a guy at that size. He doesn’t use that really well though, and although he has adequate strength to set the edge, he gets dominated by double teams. Not really much of a pass rusher although if he gets one on one with a finesse tackler he can push and collapse the pocket. Not a lot of upside, but if he’s willing to work and do his job against the run I could see him having a decent career as a roational 34 DE or 43 DT. Not much upside.
165. Taylor Hart, DE Oregon 60
Hart is a 34 run stopping defensive end. He doesn’t have great pass rush skills because of his shorter arms and lack of elite punch. Hart does a nice job against the run and works that 5 technique to stretch run plays out to allow lanes for his linebackers to make plays. Hart doesn’t have good upper body strength and ends up getting pushed back by double teams. He does a nice job keeping his lanes when he is singled up though. I think he’s a backup 34 defensive end who doesn’t really have much upside as a pass rusher and I think he would really struggle if he were asked to do anything other than be a run stopping 5 technique.
166. George Atkinson III,RB Notre Dame 60
This kid has the talent to be a really nice player one day but he’s going to need some development. Atkinson has nice size at 6’1 218 pounds and has been clocked as fast as 10.4 in the 100 meters. That size and speed combination for a running back should lead to some sort of dominance, but for GA3 it’s been moderate productivity. Atkinson has poor vision and despite his size he doesn’t break many tackles. You wonder about his overall running back ability but his kickoff ability is well above average. If you get him a hole he can take it the distance at any point. Needs to be developed but all running backs are interchangeable on the third day, Atkinson just has some skills that are above what other guys have, if you miss with him that’s okay but he could end up being a really nice piece.
167. Crockett Gilmore, TE Colorado State 60
Gilmore is a tough guy who should make it onto an NFL roster because he works hard. He’s a good pass blocker as a tight end and shows good size for the position. He’s got well below average quickness and although he shows decent hands he’s going to struggle to get open against any type of man defense. He works hard as a run blocker but doesn’t move guys off the spot well, but does okay as a base blocker. Gilmore has good size, reliable hands, and is an above average pass protector but his upside is virtually nothing, he is what he is which is a number 3 tight end.
168. Jacob Peterson, TE Wisconsin 60
I’m not sure why I like Pederson other than the fact that I like watching him play football. He’s not really fast enough or strong enough to be a draftable prospect to me, but he plays so hard. He gets himself in good position, makes the routine catch in the flat, and has played a lot of different positions. Pederson works hard as a blocker, an shows good recognition skills as a lead blocker. He doesn’t have the power to get you moved but he engages well despite small arms. I think Pederson will end up making a team and being valuable because he can play a variety of positions and works hard as a blocker, but it’s more of a gut feeling than anything I actually watch on tape.
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