Big Board 3.0

2016 NFL BIG BOARD 3.0

This Big Board is going to be a bit more in depth than my last one which was essentially a guessing game. This time I have way more tape under my belt, and I definitely have a better idea of what these guys are and how their stock is rising. These rankings are after the Senior Bowl and before the combine. For me I don’t necessarily care where other pundits have people ranked, because they are wrong as often if not more so than I am. This time I’m going to give a short blurb about each guy but I won’t give grades yet as I’m still probably ten weeks from getting that far. Hope you enjoy, and these are definitely subject to change.

1.                        Joey Bosa, DE Ohio State 

Bosa is simply the best overall player in this draft class. What I  see is prototypical power and speed. He gives tremendous effort, can play in both even and odd man fronts, and is a tremendous overall player. He’s simply the best football player in this class.

2.                        Jalen Ramsey, DB Florida State 

Ramsey is fantastic in coverage and doesn’t back down from anyone. A guy who can play both corner and safety and dominate, he’s an instinctive guy who gives defense immediate versatility.

3.                        Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss 

Far from a finished product, Tunsil has tremendous upside. I love his feet and his ability to mirror and anchor is elite. He’s got some technique issues and may not be great as a rookie, but his upside is potentially as the best player in this draft.

4.                        Carson Wentz, QB North Dakota State 

I knew Wentz’s stock was going to rise, I just had no idea how much. I’ve watched enough tape on him to know he can make every throw, he’s extremely athletic, and he has tremendous poise. While there will be questions about the jump to the NFL, all the tools are there for Wentz, and his intangibles scream star. He could go second overall.

5.                        Jaylon Smith, LB Notre Dame 

Smith was my number one rated overall player before he tore up his knee at the end of the season. While he may have a late start to his career, if he can come back full strength Smith is a true impact player. He can rush the passer, drop into coverage, and can get off blocks to make tackles all over the field. He’s the total package, the injury is the only thing that drops his stock.

6.                        Vernon Hargreaves, CB Florida 

Perhaps the best pure cover corner in this draft. Hargreaves can play any style of defense and be a true number one corner. He’s aggressive and attacks the football. I’m not sure his size or his speed are going to be elite at the combine, but his pure cover skills are elite.

7.                        Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame 

I heard a comparison to Ryan Clady and loved it. If someone takes him in the top 10, they are likely getting a solid franchise left tackle.

8.                        Ezekial Elliot, RB Ohio State 

I think Elliot is a fantastic football player. He reminds me a lot of Edgerrin James. He’s a slasher, who has good vision and finishes runs hard. While he is likely a perennially 1000 yard per season guy as a runner, he’s actually better as a receiver, and he may be the best blocking running back I’ve ever watched. I don’t love taking running backs in the first round, but this draft is weak and Elliot could be a difference maker from day one.

9.                        DeForest Buckner, DL Oregon 

I thought Buckner may have been a bit overrated until the last half of this season. Buckner was a complete monster the second half of this year. He could be a dominating 5 technique at the next level. Buckner can rush the passer from the interior or outside and is punishing as a run defender. Huge potential.

10.                      Jared Goff, QB Cal 

There are things about Goff that I’m not in love with, but there are way more traits to his game that scream stud. He has tremendous arm talent, with an ability to make any throw with any trajectory. Goff carried a bad Cal team to good success and ridiculous numbers. While he may not always make great decisions behind center, and at times forced the ball into windows that weren’t there, Goff can put up huge points. I heard a comparison to Jay Cutler and didn’t hate it, but I think Goff’s demeanor and knowledge of the game gives him an advantage over Cutler.

11.                      A’Shawn Robinson, DT Alabama 

Robinson can really move for a guy his size. This is a great crop of defensive tackles and Robinson could be the best of the bunch. He has a great combination of height, weight, and speed, and his ability to play the nose or any spot on a three man front gives him great versatility.

12.                      Sheldon Rankins, DT Louisville 

I thought he was the best non-quarterback at the Senior Bowl. Rankins reminded me of a poor man’s Aaron Donald . He might not have the best size for a defensive tackle and he certainly couldn’t play a zero technique, but Rankins is so fast off the ball he kills slower interior lineman. Could be a major force as a pass rusher from the inside.

13.                      Reggie Ragland, LB Alabama 

Ragland can play inside or outside as a linebacker. I think his best spot would be as a middle linebacker on early downs and as either a blitzing inside guy on third down or you could shift him to a 43 defensive end or 34 outside linebacker. That versatility makes him a possibility in the top half of the first round.

14.                      Jarran Reid, DT Alabama 

Reid is extremely tough to move off his spot. He can be a difference maker as a penetrator or simply as a run stuff and block eater. He moves extremely well for his size and I see a bit of Gerald McCoy in him, while he’s not that good of a prospect, if he can be 80% of what McCoy is every team would take it in a heartbeat.

15.                      LaQuan Treadwell, WR Ole Miss 

I really like Treadwell as a receiver prospect. While I don’t think he’s going to end up being a top 5 guy in the NFL there is a complete chance he ends up as a team’s number one. I think his ability to run different routes and go deep down the field gives him an opportunity to play in any scheme. I could see him going in the top 10 and he is almost certainly going to be the first receiver off the board.

16.                      Adolphus Washington, DT Ohio State 

There are serious questions about Washington’s overall character. He was suspended for use of ecstacy and kicked out of the Big 10. While this is a major red flag, his ability to dominate as an interior pass rusher isn’t something that’s up for debate. Washington was simply unblockable during the week of the Senior Bowl and his quickness and size is extremely enticing. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him go in the top 10 overall or at pick 60, his off the field questions are going to be extremely important.

17.                      Robert Nkemdiche, DT Ole Miss 

Nkemdiche was the top guy on my board headed into this season. The kid was the number one player in his recruiting class and at times was absolutely dominant during his tenure with the Rebels. Then there were times where he looked blockable and of course his off the field issues this past season sent up an enormous amount of red flags. I think Nkemdiche is perhaps the best combination of power and speed in this entire class, but his desire and love of football, as well as his ability to keep his nose clean has to be a question for NFL personnel people.

18.                      Myles Jack, LB UCLA 

Jack is the new age of NFL linebackers. He has the size of an NFL safety but the physicality and downhill style of a linebacker. Someone compared him to Deone Buccannon recently, but I think he has better size and attack the flats harder. Jack is an exceptional cover guy, perhaps the best in the nation as a linebacker. He would be a top 5 prospect had he not had a major injury. If his medical comes back good before the draft he could shoot up the board. He’s got some Lavonte David/Buccannon in him for sure.

19.                      Mackenzie Alexander, CB Clemson 

Alexander is a stud. While he may not be nearly as refined as Hargreaves or Ramsey, he plays with the confidence and swagger of a number one corner. Alexander plays with physicality and can play press or off man. I’m not sure he’s going to be a perfect zone corner right away but I think his instincts and recognition will improve, and his physicality and downhill style means he could develop into a great zone guy.

20.                      Paxton Lynch, QB Memphis 

Lynch was all the way up in the top ten for me earlier in the year. He has all the tools to become a very good NFL quarterback. He has good size and a really plus arm with well above average mobility. I think his accuracy is good, and he shows good overall touch and trajectory on the football. The game can come a bit fast for him at times though and he can make some head scratching throws in terms of accuracy and decision making. While he should definitely go in the first round, to me he’s the third guy in this class.

21.                      Taylor Decker, OT Ohio State 

I’m not completely in love with Decker as a prospect but there is an opportunity for him to develop into a really nice player. He’s got good length and power in the run game especially. He’s not a perfect pass protector but he projects as a quality left tackle, which is worth a lot in the NFL draft. I think the back end of the first round would be appropriate for Decker, although him falling to perhaps the first part of the second round wouldn’t surprise me at all.

22.                      Noah Spence, DE Eastern Kentucky 

A risk reward guy for NFL evaluators. Spence is probably the best edge rusher in this entire draft class in terms of just talent. Spence can absolutely put tackles on skates with his leverage and speed to power moves. He can also blow by guys who don’t bend their knees enough, giving him a great combination of pass rushing moves. I do worry a lot about his off the field issues after he was kicked off of Ohio State’s team and had to play a year at EKU. It seems like he’s matured though according to sources and his risk could be well worth the double digit sack reward.

23.                      Shaq Lawson, DE Clemson 

Lawson is a really good football player. While he doesn’t have the pure quickness or explosiveness as last year’s first round pick Vic Beasley, Lawson can play the run a bit better than Beasley could. While Beasley’s ceiling is higher than Lawson’s, he can still really play. He plays with good leverage, understands assignments, and has enough explosiveness and power to make a lot of big plays.

24.                      Jack Conklin, OT Michigan State 

Conklin may not be a perfect left tackle prospect, and there is a chance he falls to round two in the actual draft. That being said, he has good length and power, plays with a chip on his shoulder and is a very solid run blocker. He gives up more pressure than you’d like because he’s not the quickest guy at the position but he does a good job of reanchoring when he does get beat, and rarely panics. I think he could end up being a good right tackle in the league and he reminds me a bit of Riley Reiff.

25.                      Braxton Miller, ATH Ohio State 

Miller is far from a finished product but his athleticism and ability to make people miss is rare. He is perhaps the most explosive player in this entire draft. While Miller still has a ways to go as a route runner, his ability to pick up offense quickly and his better than expected hands means he could be an extremely tough cover out of the slot. I think playing him at running back, flanker, out of the slot, the wildcat, and as a returner means he could be a guy who produces double digit touchdowns as early as his rookie season.

26.                      Emmanual Ogbah, OLB Oklahoma State 

Ogbah is a really good pass rusher but his lack of size worries me a bit about being an every down player. I think it may take him a year or two to develop into someone that can play on first and second down but his ability to get after the quarterback with his speed and length reminds me a bit of a poor man’s Aldon Smith. Ogbah can be a really good player as a designated pass rusher early in his rookie season.

27.                      Su’a Cravens, OLB/S USC 

Cravens is a lot like Myles Jack but a notch below on all the traits. He’s the new sideline to sideline linebacker who may end up being a nickel linebacker or a strong safety on early downs. I’m not sure he’s good enough or strong enough to hold up against the run when there is a strong box but he can be that guy who covers the other team’s tight end and that gives good overall value. I think he’s somewhere between Calvin Pryor and Deone Buccannon if you want a recent comparison.

28.                      Cody Whitehair, G Kansas State 

Whitehair probably won’t ever be a truly dominant guard in any phase of the game but this kid is as solid as it gets for an interior offensive lineman. Whitehair is widely considered the best interior lineman in this year’s draft although Zach Martin’s little brother Nick is closing the gap in a hurry. Whitehair played all over the offensive line including left tackle his senior season. He’s clearly a guard at the next level but it’s a huge boon to know he can play anywhere in a pinch, with versatility at a premium in the NFL. I just think drafting him is almost a guaranteed hit, which is so difficult to find. I think he’s a ten year starter in the league.

29.                      Nick Martin, C/G Notre Dame 

Whitehair has more of a track record and probably played a bit more consistently but Martin wasn’t very far behind. Martin projects as a really good center at the next level. He moves well, shows a bit of power in the run game and never panics in pass protection. I think Martin isn’t quite as good as his brother was coming out but he’s a damn good football player. A first round selection on Martin would likely yield a terrific player for a  long time. I think his ceiling is higher than Whitehair’s.

30.                      Darron Lee, LB Ohio State 

I really like Darron Lee as a football player. He shows a nice combination of instincts, range, speed, and power for a guy who can probably do a lot of things for an NFL team. Lee is a fluid athlete who can turn and run with tight ends and running backs in coverage. Lee is an above average blitzer and finds holes like a running back. While I’m not sure he has a really high ceiling, his floor is good and his versatility and athleticism means he could end up a first round pick.

31.                      Ryan Kelly, C Alabama 

Kelly is a terrific football player. While he can overextend at times and get going downhill too fast and miss sometimes, he has tremendous instincts and football IQ. Kelly is a very good run blocker from the inside and is athletic for his size. I question whether he can get great movement from the inside at 297 pounds, but if you put him in a zone blocking scheme or pull him around he could pay major dividends. Where Kelly separates himself from other centers though is his ability to pick up different blitzes, call out protections, and anchor in pass protection. I’ve seen three different reports saying he never gave up a sack in a one on one situation in the past two seasons. That’s unreal for an SEC guy.

32.                      Joshua Perry, LB Ohio State 

Look in all honesty I’m not sure Perry deserves to be a first round pick but the guy’s character and tackling ability make me want to reach on him. Perry isn’t nearly as athletic as Darron Lee is but his tackling ability is literally the best in the nation, as he finished with the lowest missed tackle rate in all of college football. Perry had unofficially 105 tackles with just 5 missed his entire season. Perry is praised by teammates and coaches as being one of the better teammates on the entire roster and his work ethic is tremendous. While he likely would only be a guy who plays on run downs, his ability to get off blocks and makes tackles means he could be really valuable to a team that needs to improve against the run. I’m thinking someone like Cleveland at the beginning of round two could be a perfect fit for the Buckeye alum.