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[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

2014 NFL Draft: AJ McCarron more than a game manager

Pat Kirwan

Excerpt:

Safe picksThe draft process to drawing to a close and there are a number of players I call "safe" -- what you see is what you get and these guys are the whole package. They have talent, technique, work ethic and look like guys who understand how to handle themselves as pros.

I have interviewed well over 100 of the top picks and watched all of them on tape. Here are my top 10 safe picks and there are no quarterbacks in the group:

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
Zach Martin OT, Notre Dame
Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford
Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin
Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
Tre Mason, RB, Auburn
 
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A look at ten years of booms and busts. Tony Villiotti

April 16 2014

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Ranking-first-round-draft-classes.html

A few articles ago, I wrote about variability among draft classes in an article entitled “How Deep is a Draft”. A reader asked whether I had ever been looked at variability for first round selections only. I had not previously done that, so it sounded like a good idea for an article. I reviewed first round selections from two perspectives. First, the classes were reviewed for variability, as suggested by the reader. Second, I thought it would be fun to also rank the draft classes from best to worst.

But why the 1999 through 2008 draft classes? My thought was that I wanted to include the number of five-year starters because I think it is one of the most important metrics in evaluating draft success. In order to include five-year starters, and consistent with past articles, it made sense to end the study with the 2008 draft class. This allows a player six years to achieve five-year starter status. So, if I wanted to use a 10-year study period, 1999 to 2008 was it.

Six metrics were considered both in the review of the variability and the ranking of the draft classes. A table at the end of this articles shows the metrics for each draft class.The metrics used were:

-The number of draftees that played five or more years

-The number of draftees that started for three or more years

-This means a player started at eight games in each of at least three seasons

-The number of draftees that started for five or more years

-The number of games started by the draft class, as adjusted for two circumstances

-One adjustment was for the number of selections in the round (some years only had 31)

-The second, and more significant, adjustment was for differences in the number of years since the draft class was selected

-For example, history tells us that about 72% of the starts in a draft class occur by the end of the seventh season, so the actual number of starts by the 2007 class had to be divided by .72 to calculate the number of adjusted starts.

-The number of draftees selected for at least one Pro Bowl

-The number of draftees selected as an All Pro at least once

My conclusion regarding variability among the first-round classes is that, while there are year-to-year fluctuations, the overall degree of variability is pretty modest. As would be expected, there is more variation for the metrics that are most difficult to attain (e.g., All Pro selection), with some that difference due to “outliers”. Comments on each metric are as follows:

Play five or more years

-High was 32 (2006 draft class) and low was 26 (1999 and 2000, years with 31 selections)

-Six of the 10 classes had either 26 or 27 players with careers of five years or more

Start three years or more

-High was 27 (2004) and low was 21 (2008)

-Six of the 10 classes had 23-25 players start three or more years

Start five years or more

-High was 23 (2006) and low was 14 (2008)

-It is highly likely that the 2008 class will add one or more five-year starters as careers progress

-If 2007 and 2008 are excluded the range is 18-23

-Five of the 10 classes had 20-22 five-year starters

Adjusted starts

-High was 3416 (2001) and low was 2643 (1999)

-There are significant projections used in the later draft classes to arrive at the adjusted starts, so that is something that must be considered

-Seven of the 10 classes were within 10% of the average number of adjusted starts

Pro Bowl Selections

-High was 15 (2001) and low was 9 (2008)

-It is possible that the more recent draft classes will add to their totals

-Six of the ten draft classes had 10-12 Pro Bowl selections and eight had at least 10 players selected to a Pro Bowl

All Pro Selections

-High was 8 (1999, 2003 and 2007) and low was 3 (2004)

-Eight of the 10 classes had 6-8 All Pro Selections

The relatively low level of variability for the draft classes makes it difficult to rank them. Even under the best of circumstances, a ranking is difficult because it depends on whether the person doing the ranking places a higher value on post-season honors, the number of five-year starters or the depth of the class. The table at the end of this article shows the metrics plus my judgment regarding the best and worst selection in each draft class.

I considered all of the metrics and ranked the classes in the following order: 2001, 2006, 2005, 2007, 2004, 2002, 2003, 2008, 1999, 2000. How much do your rankings vary from mine?

My rationale for the top three selections is as follows:

-The 2001 draft class has (1) the highest number of starts (nearly all of which were “real” and not projected), (2) the most players selected to a Pro Bowl and (3) 29 of the 31 draftees played five years or more

-The downside of this class is that it did not rank at the top in starters

-The 2006 draft class had all of its 32 members play at least five years, had the most five-year starters, produced the second highest number of projected starts and had the second highest number of All Pro selections

-The 2005 draft class ranked high in pretty much all of the metrics except for number of adjusted starts.
 
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2014 NFL Draft: AJ McCarron more than a game manager

Pat Kirwan

Excerpt:

Safe picksThe draft process to drawing to a close and there are a number of players I call "safe" -- what you see is what you get and these guys are the whole package. They have talent, technique, work ethic and look like guys who understand how to handle themselves as pros.

I have interviewed well over 100 of the top picks and watched all of them on tape. Here are my top 10 safe picks and there are no quarterbacks in the group:

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

Zach Martin OT, Notre Dame

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

Odell Beckham, WR, LSU

Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford

Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin

Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt

Tre Mason, RB, Auburn
AJ Hawk was a can't miss propsect too. He can't hit either.

 
Scout's Take Blog: Draft observations by an ex-NFL player, scout

By Bucky Brooks

(click on the linked article to see the comparison tables)

Excerpts:

Thomas is draft's most intriguing developmental QB optionPosted: April 23, 2014 at 11:15 a.m.

If I had to pick a mid-to-late round quarterback prospect to draft and develop, I would invest my time and effort into Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas.

Now, I know there are plenty of skeptics who believe the former Hokie is better suited for a position change at the next level, but I believe Thomas offers more upside than nearly all of the quarterbacks being discussed as developmental prospects in this year's class. In fact, I would take Thomas over Pittsburgh's Tom Savage and SMU's Garrett Gilbert because he is more talented, athletic and experienced than those players, who are two of the fastest risers on the board at the position.

Of course, the naysayers will point to Thomas' maddeningly inconsistent tape and scattershot accuracy as reasons for bypassing the Virginia Tech standout, but I would point out that the NFL is a developmental league. Thus, I'm more concerned with Thomas' natural talent, athleticism and football IQ as a possible late-round pick. Measuring 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete with physical traits that are comparable to 2011 No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton.
I'm not suggesting Thomas is a playmaker of Newton's caliber, but it's important to note that several observers viewed the Virginia Tech standout as a first-round talent after his sensational sophomore year that saw him pass for 3,000-plus yards with a 19:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while tallying 11 rushing touchdowns. The big-bodied playmaker was so impressive guiding the Hokies' offense during the season that most expected him to challenge for the top overall spot in the 2013 draft, if he played up to his potential as a junior.

Although Thomas didn't match the production or performance of his breakout season in subsequent years, he isn't a throwaway at the position based on his arm talent, athleticism and developmental potential. He flashed promise running a more traditional offense in 2013, exhibiting improved pocket presence and anticipation directing a vertical passing attack. Sure, there were plenty of questionable decisions and inaccurate throws, but every quarterback viewed as a Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) prospect has warts on their respective games. Thus, a patient quarterback coach adept at polishing footwork and fundamentals could clean up Thomas' game and help the big-bodied playmaker develop into a quality starter down the road.

This is the same argument supporters of Savage and Gilbert are making in discussions with NFL executives; it's one that Thomas' team should pitch to teams looking for an athletic backup prospect with the potential to run an offense that features zone-read concepts, traditional play-action vertical routes and movement-based passes like bootlegs and sprint outs.

Watching Thomas work throughout the week at the Reese's Senior Bowl, I believed he possessed enough talent to convince a team in need of a developmental prospect to take a chance on him. He showed the biggest arm of any quarterback in attendance, and flashed the ability to string together completions in 7-on-7 and team drills when he trusted his reads and progressions.

After witnessing his significant improvement as a passer under the watchful eye of an NFL staff, I consulted with noted QB guru George Whitfield, Jr. about how Thomas' talent compared to some of his former pupils, including Newton and Ben Roethlisberger. He told me the Virginia Tech standout was on par with the Pro Bowlers from a physical standpoint and just needed some seasoning to become a viable option as a quarterback at the next level.

Looking at potential situations that would fit Thomas' skills and potential, I believe San Francisco, Carolina, Kansas City and Philadelphia would be ideal spots based on their experience developing young, athletic quarterbacks.

Although those aforementioned teams aren't in need of a quarterback, the opportunity to bring along an intriguing developmental prospect in a low-pressure environment could pay huge dividends down the road.

Oh, I know there has been a lot of interest and speculation about Thomas switching to tight end as a pro. Although Thomas was rated as the No. 1 tight end prospect coming out of high school in 2009, it's tough to make a position change at the NFL level. First, Thomas must fully embrace making a position change and diligently work to master the nuances of a new position on the practice field. While Thomas certainly possesses the athletic attributes to thrive at the position, he hasn't expressed a desire to make a move to tight end nor has he worked out as a tight end in public workouts. Thus, any team considering Thomas as a tight end prospect must vet the prospect to see if he would enthusiastically make the change before pulling the trigger on the Virginia Tech standout with a late-round selection.
 
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Rotoworld:

"There's a lot of excitement over" Clemson QB Tajh Boyd right now, writes NFL.com's Gil Brandt.
Boyd (6-foot 3/4, 221 pounds) looked spectacular at his pro day exhibition, leading to a renewed interest in his gifts. "I'm not sure he's put himself in the second day, but definitely in the third day, and he could go as high as the fourth round," wrote Brandt. Boyd worked with QB coach Ken Mastrole and NFL great Dan Marino this offseason in an attempt to adopt a more pro-style passing motion.

Source: NFL.com
ESPN's Mel Kiper projects Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas to go late in Round 2, or early in Round 3.
On the "First Draft" podcast, Kiper and Todd McShay discussed how the three highest-rising QBs during the process -- Derek Carr, Tom Savage and Zach Mettenberger, in their estimation -- all had huge arms, and Kiper brought up perhaps the toolsiest prospect, Thomas. The Hokies' star is strangely rarely discussed despite the NFL's obsession with size, speed and arm strength. This kid has those attributes in spades: At 6-foot-6, 250-pounds, Thomas had the fastest QB forty (4.61) at the NFL Combine, the best vertical (35.5''), the best broad-jump (9'10''), and the best throwing velocity at 60 mph (Savage finished second at 57). Thomas might be able to shift to TE if the light never comes on as a signal-caller. Kiper's prediction passes the smell taste, even if many don't think the bulb works.

Source: ESPN's First Draft Podcast
NFL Network's Albert Breer reports that Georgia QB Aaron Murray met with six NFL teams at his pro day.
"Among the teams that have met with Georgia QB Aaron Murray: Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, Browns, Titans, Rams. Had his Pro Day yesterday," Breer tweeted. Murray has generated some nice buzz for himself as of late. The Bulldogs signal caller does lack ideal size and arm strength, but makes up for it with his intangibles, experience and accuracy with the football. Evaluators are now starting to believe that Murray could go anywhere from the end of the second round to the third round in this years draft.

Source: Albert Breer on Twitter
San Jose State WR Chandler Jones blazed forties of 4.34 and 4.37 seconds at San Jose State’s pro day last month.
Jones was considered one of the biggest snubs left off the invitation list for the NFL Combine, so this was his time to shine. He logged a 33 1/2-inch vertical jump, 9-foot-9 broad jump, a 4.37 second short shuttle and did the three-cone drill in 6.78 seconds. Jones' hands measured size-8, which is small. He did display strong, sticky mitts in college, however. Jones is coming off a huge season in which he recorded seven 100-yard receiving games and totaled 79 catches for 1,356 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Source: NFL.com
San Jose State QB David Fales is merely a seventh-round pick or priority undrafted free agent in the eyes of NFL.com's Gil Brandt.
Coming into the 2013 season, Fales' draft stock was essentially what Jimmy Garoppolo's is right now: He was a small school chain-mover who didn't impress with arm strength but had great accuracy, rhythm and timing. As scouts broke down his tape, however, they became even less impressed by Fales' arm, and he's no longer even discussed with the intriguing developmental QB prospects.

Source: NFL.com
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are intrigued by Miami QB Stephen Morris.
With a huge 2013, Morris could have shot up draft boards with his big arm and ability to throw the long ball with touch. Unfortunately, he flopped. And then kept flopping, with scouts at the Senior Bowl calling him "Tin Cup" due to his ease at making difficult throws and his struggles with executing routine passes. He may not be drafted, but keep on an eye on the in-state Dolphins and Jaguars in Rounds 6-7. Jacksonville OC Jedd Fisch was Morris' OC for two seasons in college, while the Herald reported Morris has "impressed" several people within the Dolphins.

Source: Miami Herald
Ball State QB Keith Wenning "is drawing a good amount of interest from teams," according to draft insider Tony Pauline.
Wenning has had eight visits and another eight workouts, according to Pauline. He's been hosted by the Vikings, Packers, Ravens, Rams and Patriots, and performed a private workout for the Browns. Wenning has career backup upside, but has a decent probability of sticking on a roster, which is why he'll probably go in Round 6 or 7.

Source: TFY Draft Insider
Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson reports that the Baltimore Ravens have interest in Clemson WR Martavis Bryant.
"Although the Ravens aren't among Bryant's 22 combined visits and private workouts, a source says they've maintained interest in him throughout the draft process and conducted a meeting with him at the NFL scouting combine," Wilson wrote on Saturday. Bryant has already visited the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steeelers, Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound wideout could hear his name called in the second round of the draft.

Source: The Baltimore Sun
If Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas falls to Day 3, he will be a "low risk, very high reward" pick, according to ESPN's Louis Riddick.
"Unknown as to if Logan Thomas will ever fix his inconsistencies," Riddick wrote as a preface. The analyst added that Thomas and Aaron Murray had the "two best QB combine interviews as far as how positively authentic they seemed." Thomas' absurd physical gifts show up on the tape just as clearly as his aforementioned inconsistencies: The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder had the fastest QB forty (4.61) at the NFL Combine, the best vertical (35.5''), the best broad-jump (9'10''), and the best throwing velocity at 60 mph (Pitt's Tom Savage finished second at 57).

Source: Louis Riddick on Twitter
Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl identified Alabama WR Kevin Norwood as "one of my favorite prospects" and a Day 3 sleeper.
Weidl knows why Norwood isn't being discussed more, mentioning the prospect's lack of "elite explosiveness on tape" which renders him "a possession-type receiver." However, the analyst loves Norwood's hands and his willingness to go over the middle. "Norwood is still growing into his frame and must continue to develop his overall strength," Weidl wrote. "However, he should be one of the wide receiver prospects teams could get great value for in the fourth-round range because of the unusual depth of this year's receiver class. Norwood will be a strong fit for teams like the Broncos or Patriots, who rely on their receivers' timing and reading coverages on the fly."

Source: ESPN Insider
 
Rotoworld:

Colorado WR Paul Richardson will meet with the Jets this week, reports draft insider Tony Pauline.
"Second-round target?" Pauline wonders. Richardson's wiry frame (6'0/175 pounds) makes blocking and getting past press coverage a chore, but he's dynamite in the open field. "Uses the sidelines well, possesses good eye-hand coordination, and consistently makes catches away from his frame," Pauline writes in a scouting report. "Gets up in a crowd and fights to come away with the ball. Runs crisp routes, separates from defenders, and comes back into the clearing to make himself an available target. Plays with quickness and can run to the deep throw. A big-play receiver with a consistent game."

Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter
The Cardinals are "sweet on a couple of quarterbacks," namely Derek Carr and AJ McCarron, according to the MMQB's Peter King.
"With coach Bruce Arians’ love of the deep ball, McCarron in round two seems a bit of a reach," King writes. "I will say this about McCarron: He doesn’t have a great deep arm by any standard, but he’s an accurate deep-ball thrower when he does air it out." According to Rotoworld's Greg Peshek, McCarron had the worst adjusted completion percentage (43.24) of passes that traveled 20-plus yards downfield among nine quarterbacks charted. Carr was second worst at 44.23 percent.

Source: The MMQB
The Steelers like LSU WR Odell Beckham Jr. and Oregon State's Brandin Cooks, according to The MMQB's Peter King.
King believes one or both will be available at pick No. 15. We think Cooks is far more likely to still be on the board, although a mid-first-round pick is a high price to pay for that kind of talent.

Source: The MMQB
Iowa TE C.J. Fiedorowicz visited the 49ers on Monday.
Fiedorowicz has already met with the Lions, Bucs, Falcons, Patriots and Jets. In college, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Fiedorowicz was a tenacious blocker and an effective safety valve in a mediocre passing attack. Some believe there is a lot of untapped potential in Fiedorowicz's receiving game, and he has the athleticism to make it happen. "I can show teams I'm a blocker, but I can also stretch the field," Fiedorowicz said. "I can take the top off the defense and be a dual-threat tight end. The NFL has a lot of tight ends who can only block or only be a receiver, but I was able to do both at Iowa." Fiedorowicz has a similar build to Patriots' TE Rob Gronkowski. "I love watching him," Fiedorowicz said. "He's a guy who can do both. He can block defensive ends and linebackers and also make plays in the passing game."

Source: National Football Post
ESPN's Mel Kiper ranked Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks over LSU's Odell Beckham Jr.
The margin is slim, with Cooks ranked at No. 12 and Beckham Jr. coming in one spot behind, but the veteran draft analyst is in the minority with this opinion. "Athletically, he's a mirror of Tavon Austin from last season, and he's a little bigger. Super productive," Kiper writes.

Source: ESPN
The Patriots have been "closely inspecting tight ends" and draft insider Tony Pauline urges fans of the team to "keep an eye on" Cal's Richard Rodgers.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior is a finesse, pass-catching TE. Interestingly, prior to the 2012 season, then-Cal HC Jeff Tedford picked the brain of Patriots HC Bill Belichick about how to better utilize his tight ends corps fronted by Rodgers. Rodgers' blend of athleticism and receiving skills has him ranked in the second tier of TE prospects behind Eric Ebron (North Carolina), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Washington) and Jace Amaro (Texas Tech).

Source: TFY Draft Insider
The MMQB's Peter King believes Georgia QB Aaron Murray "looks like a Day 2 pick."
Murray displayed "good mobility and the passable arm strength NFL teams expected" at his pro day last Wednesday, according to King. "I think I showed these teams they don’t have to worry about my knee, they don’t have to worry about someone who’s not going to be able to participate in the preseason," Murray said. The exhibition occurred less than five months after the Bulldogs' star tore his ACL. King also reported that the Rams' will take a QB in the first two days of May's draft, and we already know that Murray intrigues them.

Source: Monday Morning Quarterback


ESPN's Todd McShay suggested that Alabama WR Kevin Norwood could help the Patriots right away on the "First Draft" podcast.
Norwood (6-foot-2, 198 pounds) isn't necessarily explosive, but he's willing to block, he's technically proficient, and he isn't slow, despite the "possession receiver" label he's been stuck with. Norwood ran a 4.48 second forty in Indy. He runs good routes, plays hard, plucks balls away from his body and can win in contested situations. The Patriots have met with Norwood.

Source: ESPN's First Draft Podcast
 
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Casserly: Michael Vick had higher grade than Johnny ManzielBy Daniel Kim NFL.com

Many would argue that former Auburn star Greg Robinson is the best offensive tackle in this year's draft. But how would he stack up against the best in the NFL?

NFL Media's Charley Casserly offered a glimpse into Robinson's upside Friday on "NFL AM," comparing him with the Redskins' Trent Williams. The No. 4 overall draft pick in 2010, Williams is regarded as one of the top left tackles in the league and has been named to the last two Pro Bowls. Casserly said he actually has Robinson rated higher than Williams at the same point in their college career.

"He reminds me of Williams because both of them are top-rated tackles in the draft," Casserly said. "Williams was a more accomplished pass blocker -- smoother, more athletic, farther along in his ability to protect the quarterback at the left tackle position. Robinson is bigger, more physical, stronger, a better run blocker. Clear edge for Robinson there.

"Even though Robinson is behind Williams as a pass blocker, I think Robinson still has the ability to pass block right now and probably has a bigger upside because of his size and strength."

That combination of run-blocking ability and upside is a big reason why NFL Media's Bucky Brooks has compared Robinson to another Pro Bowl left tackle in Ryan Clady. It's also why Robinson is projected to go as high as No. 2 to the St. Louis Rams in the latest NFL.com mock drafts.

Casserly offered comparisons for three other stars in the 2014 draft:

Johnny Manziel vs. Michael Vick: "We have to remember: What was Vick like when he came out? Vick had a stronger arm, and he had a cannon for an arm -- a quick release -- and we know he had great speed and running ability. Manziel grades pretty high in those things, but Vick was higher in all of them. Manziel is probably a little more instinctive and has been exposed to a very pro-passing attack. But at the point that they each came out of the draft, I would have had Vick rated higher."

Blake Bortles vs. Ryan Tannehill: "Both of them were reaches to get into the top 10. Both are athletic, both were somewhat raw coming out of college. But I had Tannehill rated higher. I think Tannehill has a stronger arm, can make more of the big-time throws, and is a more accurate passer. ... Both are more prospects than top-10 picks, but I had Tannehill rated higher at the same point in their college career."

Sammy Watkins vs. A.J. Green: "This is a tough one because they're top players. I like Watkins as far as his separation ability, his abilty to run after the catch, I think he's outstanding in both of them and probably has a little bit of an edge over Green. But I'm going to go for Green, not because of what he's done, but what I thought he was going to do. Green, to me, was the best player in that draft. ... Green's edge is in size and more consistency in catching the football, even though Watkins has good hands."
 
Faust said:
Rotoworld:

"There's a lot of excitement over" Clemson QB Tajh Boyd right now, writes NFL.com's Gil Brandt.
Boyd (6-foot 3/4, 221 pounds) looked spectacular at his pro day exhibition, leading to a renewed interest in his gifts. "I'm not sure he's put himself in the second day, but definitely in the third day, and he could go as high as the fourth round," wrote Brandt. Boyd worked with QB coach Ken Mastrole and NFL great Dan Marino this offseason in an attempt to adopt a more pro-style passing motion.

Source: NFL.com
Everyone please reset your draft hype meters. We are starting over again at August, 2013.

 
Jeremy Hill, Carlos Hyde have met with the Atlanta FalconsBy Mike Huguenin

College Football 24/7 writer

The Atlanta Falcons had the fewest rushing attempts in the league last season, putting too much pressure on quarterback Matt Ryan and the passing attack.

Maybe that's why the Falcons seem interested in running backs Jeremy Hill of LSU and Carlos Hyde of Ohio State. Both are physical, downhill runners, and they generally are considered the top two backs in the draft.

Hill (6-foot-1, 233 pounds) is considered a character risk by some, though NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport has reported that teams he has spoken with have no issues. No one doubts Hill's talent. While he can turn the corner, he is at his best rampaging between the tackles. Hill ran for 1,401 yards and 16 TDs in 2013, when he had seven 100-yard games; he ran for 184 yards and three TDs in a win over Auburn. Hill also showed an ability to be an effective receiver in '13, but his blocking needs work.

As with Hill, Hyde (6-0, 230) is at his best between the tackles. Hyde rushed for 1,521 yards and 15 TDs in 2013, when he became the first-ever Urban Meyer-coached running back to crack the 1,000-yard barrier. He rushed for 100 yards in each of Ohio State's final nine games and had two 200-yard outings, including a monster 246-yard, four-TD performance against Illinois in which he averaged 10.3 yards per carry. Hyde has had success in a one-back offense and shown he can handle a heavy workload. His receiving ability looks OK and he is a good blocker.

Conventional wisdom has teams bypassing running backs in the first round for the second year in a row, but Hill and Hyde could be enticing enough to be selected late in the first round.

Atlanta picks No. 6 in the first round, but is not taking a running back at that spot. The Falcons pick fifth in the second round (37th overall) and definitely could be interested in Hill or Hyde then; the potential also exists for Atlanta trying to trade into the first round to get their man, especially if the Falcons think someone is interested enough late in the round to grab one of the backs.

The Falcons have Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers at running back, but Jackson turns 31 in July and clearly is slowing down and Rodgers is not an every-down back. Getting a back who can handle 15-plus carries a game -- and be productive doing so -- likely is important for the Falcons in this draft. Jackson averaged 13 carries per game last season, at 3.5 yards per pop.

Atlanta also brought in Towson running back Terrance West (5-9, 224), who set FCS single-season records for rushing yards (2,509) and total touchdowns (42). West lacks elite speed, but he was clocked in 4.54 seconds in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine and has patience and good vision. He has quick feet and is a tough, powerful downhill runner who is right at home working between the tackles. He also was a workhorse, averaging 260 carries per season in his three-year college career (he averaged 26.1 carries per game in 2013).

West seemingly is moving up on draft boards and could go as early as the third round. The Falcons pick fourth in the third round (68th overall) and also have two fourth-round picks.

Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
 
2014 NFL Draft: AJ McCarron more than a game manager

Pat Kirwan

Excerpt:

Safe picksThe draft process to drawing to a close and there are a number of players I call "safe" -- what you see is what you get and these guys are the whole package. They have talent, technique, work ethic and look like guys who understand how to handle themselves as pros.

I have interviewed well over 100 of the top picks and watched all of them on tape. Here are my top 10 safe picks and there are no quarterbacks in the group:

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo

Zach Martin OT, Notre Dame

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

Odell Beckham, WR, LSU

Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford

Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin

Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt

Tre Mason, RB, Auburn
I love the safe pick articles. If I were the GM, I probable will take the safe pick for my first round pick.

 
I wouldn't be shocked with the Vikings and the Cardinals selecting a QB in the draft's early rounds next month, so it is logical that they would be downplaying the entire 2014 QB draft class, and not giving a clear indication of who they are actually starting to warm up to.
Some kind of Smokescreen. What incentive do they have to share this opinion--if it was indeed true? I can't think of any.

 
Hot 100 + 25: Johnny Manziel, Jadeveon Clowney lead draft class

By Gil Brandt

NFL Media senior analyst

Gil Brandt's draft board 1.0 | 2.0With the draft officially two weeks away, I've updated my list of this year's top prospects to include 75 more names, from Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron to Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp at No. 125.

Several names that had previously dropped out of my top 50 make a reappearance on the bigger list, obviously. You'll also notice that the player I listed as my draft wildcard in my previous rankings has now cracked the top 25.

Here's take three of my prospect rankings, otherwise known as my Hot 100 plus 25.

1. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Manziel (5-foot-11 3/4, 205 pounds) is a unique athlete who produced 10,000 yards of offense in two seasons with the Aggies. I had his 40 timed at 4.56 seconds at the combine. He's a very smart player and has great vision at quarterback.

2. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Clowney (6-foot-5 1/4, 266 pounds) did not play well in his last season, but he has great talent and is an outstanding athlete with speed -- he was clocked at 4.47 seconds (hand-timed) in his combine 40.

3. Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
Mack (6-foot-2 5/8, 251 pounds) is the real deal. He broke Kansas City Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson's NCAA career record for forced fumbles. In 2013, he had 10.5 sacks and three interceptions and was especially impressive against Ohio State in the season opener, posting nine tackles and 2.5 sacks. He ran a hand-timed 4.62-second 40 at the combine and posted a 40-inch vertical.

4. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
A third-year player, Robinson (6-foot-5, 332 pounds) played guard in high school in Louisiana and redshirted in 2011 before starting 24 games the past two years. He ran the 40 in 4.84 seconds (hand-timed) and had 32 reps in the bench press.

5. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Matthews (6-foot-5 1/2, 308 pounds) stayed in school for his fourth year and learned the left tackle position. He can also play guard or tackle and is a good pass blocker. At the combine, he ran a hand-timed 4.91-second 40 and had 24 reps on the bench press.

6. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
Watkins (6-0 3/4, 202 pounds) is a very strong receiver with great speed -- he ran a hand-timed 4.34-second 40 at the combine. He had a great first year in 2011, when he had 82 catches and 12 TDs and averaged 25 yards per kickoff return, then missed three games in an up-and-down sophomore season. The highlight of his 2013 campaign -- in which he had 101 catches and 12 touchdowns -- was a 16-catch, 227-yard performance against Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. He finished his college career with 240 catches.

7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
Evans (6-foot-4 3/4, 231 pounds) is a mismatch for cornerbacks. Watch his game against Auburn, in which he had 11 catches for 287 yards and four touchdowns. He's a very good athlete who played basketball in high school. He has outstanding hands and great upside. He needs to work on his route running, and I believe he'll learn.

8. Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
Bortles (6-foot-5, 232 pounds) has emerged as a top QB prospect after receiving only two offers out of high school, including one from Purdue, which recruited him as a tight end. He completed 68 percent of his passes last season, with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has great upside but needs to work on his footwork and mechanics.

9. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
A fifth-year player, Lewan (6-foot-7 1/8, 309 pounds) didn't play as well in 2013 as he did in the 2012 season, which ended with him holding his own against Jadeveon Clowney in the Outback Bowl. He does things very easy and has the strength to play left tackle, but he's a better run blocker than pass protector. He ran a 4.85-second hand-timed 40 at the combine.

10. Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA
Like his father (former Notre Dame player Tony Brooks), Barr (6-foot-4 7/8, 255 pounds) is a former running back. He had 23.5 sacks over two seasons and can rush as well as play in space. Barr ran two 40s at UCLA's pro day timed under 4.50: 4.41 and 4.49 seconds. He also had 19 reps in the bench press.

11. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
At 6-0 1/2, 205 pounds, Gilbert is a big corner but also a very fast one who can flip his hips to run with fast receivers. He ran a hand-timed 4.35-second 40 at the combine. He played better in 2013 than in 2012, posting seven interceptions. He averaged close to 26 yards per kickoff return last season.

12. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
Ebron (6-foot-4 1/8, 250 pounds) has outstanding athletic ability and ran a hand-timed 4.50-second 40 at the combine. He's more of a receiver than a blocker and broke Vernon Davis' single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end in the ACC, with 973 yards on 62 catches. He played some defensive end in 2012 and can line up in the slot.

13. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
In two seasons, Bridgewater (6-foot-2 1/8, 214 pounds) had 58 TD passes and only 12 interceptions and a completion percentage of nearly 70 percent. He had a less-than-great pro day, but it was better than most people think. He ran the 40 once, clocking 4.79 seconds on a surface that wasn't as fast as the softer FieldTurf used at the combine. He needs to work out again, this time with gloves and also out of the shotgun. His thin frame remains a concern; at his pro day, he weighed 208 pounds.

14. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
Martin (6-foot-4, 308 pounds) was the MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers. He has good athletic ability and plays left tackle, but his best position as a pro might be at guard.

15. Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
Beckham (5-foot-11 1/4, 198 pounds) will be a star in the NFL both catching passes and returning kicks. He won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player last season. At the combine, he ran a hand-timed 4.31-second in the 40, 3.94 in the short shuttle, and 6.69 in the three-cone drill.

16. Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
Cooks (5-foot-9 3/4, 189 pounds) is short but is a great athlete with excellent hands and toughness. He was one of the fastest guys at the combine, running a hand-timed 4.30 in the 40, 3.81 in the short shuttle and 6.76 in the three-cone drill.

17. Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Donald (6-foot 3/4, 285 pounds) never stops working and has great quickness. He had 28.5 tackles for loss in 2013, best in college football. You wish he were a little taller, but he has good arm length (32 5/8 inches). He ran the 40 in a hand-held time of 4.65 seconds at the combine.

18. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
Clinton-Dix (6-foot-1 3/8, 208 pounds) has very good ball skills and reminds some people of Chiefs safety Eric Berry. He was a two-year starter at safety, acting as the quarterback for Alabama's defensive backs. He has long, 32-inch-plus arms and ran a hand-timed 4.50-second 40 at the combine.

19. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
Shazier (6-foot-1 1/2, 227 pounds) lacks size for the position but makes plays all over the field, totaling 258 tackles in his junior and sophomore seasons. He can also play in space.

20. Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Lee (5-foot-11 3/4, 192 pounds) is an outstanding athlete who ran a hand-timed 4.44 40 at the combine and had a 38-inch vertical. He also ran a sub-7.00 three-cone drill at his pro day. He isn't the most advanced route runner. A knee injury and inconsistent QB play held him back last season, but he finished with a big game in the Vegas Bowl. In three seasons at USC he had 248 catches and 29 touchdowns.

21. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
Previous rank: 21
Pryor (5-foot-11 1/8, 207 pounds) is a big hitter who is smart, tough and physical. He ran a hand-held 4.60-second 40 at the combine and improved his three-cone time to 6.98 at his pro day on a slower turf. He had 175 tackles, five interceptions and nine forced fumbles in three years at Louisville.

22. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
Ealy (6-foot-4, 273 pounds) is a very athletic player with great quickness and a lot of upside. He came to Mizzou at 217 pounds; at his pro day he weighed 265. A two-year starter, Ealy had one good year, in 2013, which included a great game against Auburn: two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss. He ran the 40 in 4.69 seconds at his pro day.

23. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
Mosley (6-foot-2, 234 pounds) does everything you want on the field out of a linebacker. He plays all downs and is good in pass coverage. His knee injury is a concern. He didn't run at the combine, but posted 40 times of 4.62 and 4.66 seconds at his pro day.

24. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
Measured 6-foot-7 and 321 pounds at his pro day, and ran 5.42 and 5.53 seconds in the 40. Some issues remain concerning Kouandjio's knee, but Dr. James Andrews, the renown orthopedic surgeon, tried to alleviate them with a letter he sent to all 32 teams, explaining how many years he expected the tackle to be able to play. Kouandjio needs work on his pass protection vs. speed rushers, but is still a good player. If you have any doubt, put on the LSU tape from last year; he was dominating. He had 25 lifts at his pro day but was only credited with 21 because he didn't "lock out" on four attempts. I could see him going as high as 20th overall in the draft. Could be a perfect pick for a team like the Seahawks at the back end of the first round.

25. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Fuller (5-foot-11, 3/4, 190 pounds) has good man coverage ability, which he showed off vs. Alabama's Amari Cooper in Week 1, and is also good playing the run. He put up impressive numbers at the combine: a 4.40-second hand-timed 40 with a 1.50 10-yard split; a 38 1/2-inch vertical; and a 6.90 three-cone drill.

26. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Carr (6-foot-2 3/8, 214 pounds) is the type of player a team might trade up to get if he drops to the bottom of Round 1. He has a very strong arm, which is a plus if you play outdoors in cold-weather cities late in the year. In the past two years he had 87 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions, with a 67 percent completion rate. He ran the 40 in 4.65 seconds at the combine and had a very good pro day in March.

27. Xavier Su'a-Filo, OL, UCLA
Su'a-Filo (6-foot-4 1/8, 307 pounds) played some left tackle in 2013, but his best NFL position will be guard. He did not play football in 2010-11 because he was serving on a Mormon mission, but he started all 14 games as a true freshman. He ran the 40 in 4.90 seconds (hand-held) and had 25 strength lifts at the combine.

28. Stephon Tuitt, DT, Notre Dame
Tuitt (6-foot-5 1/2, 304 pounds) could be a real steal in the draft. He wasn't as good in 2013 as he was in 2012, but he plays the run well, is athletic and can play end in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. He has 34 3/4-inch arms and had 31 reps in the bench press at the combine.

29. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Hageman (6-foot-5 7/8, 310 pounds) has size, power and explosion but lacks consistency, otherwise he would be ranked higher. He might be too tall to play defensive tackle in the NFL but is good enough to convert to end. At the combine, he ran the 40 in a hand-timed 4.97 seconds. He has 34 1/4-inch arms and posted 32 reps in the bench press.

30. Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia
There are some questions about Moses' work habits and toughness, but he has outstanding size for the position (6-foot-6, 314 pounds) and very long arms (35 3/8 inches). He played right tackle before moving to the left side in 2013.

31. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
A three-year player, Jernigan (6-foot-1 5/8, 299 pounds) played as a true freshman in 2011 and started two games in 2012. His quickness allows him to be a very disruptive player, although he is better vs. the run. His hand-held 40 times at the combine were 4.93 and 5.09 seconds.

32. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Dennard (5-foot-10 7/8, 199 pounds) is very well coached and thrives in playing press coverage. He has good instincts and is a playmaker, with seven interceptions the past two years. He showed good speed at the combine, running the 40 in a hand-timed 4.42 seconds.

33. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
Benjamin (6-foot-5, 240 pounds) is a big target with very good hands, but his attitude is a question. At one of his workouts, he told a coach who had just arrived that he was too tired to work out. He played only two years with Florida State after redshirting in 2011. He ran the 40 in a hand-held time of 4.53 seconds at the combine.

34. Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
Nix (6-foot-2 3/8, 331 pounds) missed much of last season with a torn meniscus and finished with only 27 tackles; he had 50 in 2012. He looks the part of a defensive tackle, with good size, quickness and lateral movement. He ran the 40 in a hand-timed 5.35 seconds at the combine and had 24 bench-press reps at his pro day.

35. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State
Roby (5-foot-11 1/4, 194 pounds) has good size and speed -- he ran the 40 in 4.40 at the combine -- but he was much better in 2012 than he was in 2013; he didn't play up to his potential last season and was beaten a lot in coverage. He's likely to be picked in the No. 25-40 range.

36. Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
Ford (6-foot-2 1/8, 252 pounds) is an edge rusher who has speed and quickness but isn't big enough to be a 4-3 DE. He weighed 244 pounds at Auburn's pro day, where he put up good numbers, including a hand-timed 4.59-second 40. He had an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl, otherwise he would not be ranked this high.

37. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Garoppolo (6-foot-2 1/4, 226 pounds) had 53 touchdown passes in 2013. He has good arm strength to go with good accuracy and vision. He's also a very hard worker who is tough -- he played linebacker in high school.

38. Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada
Bitonio (6-foot-4 1/2, 302 pounds) ran a hand-timed 4.91-second 40 at the combine. He's a good athlete who played tackle at Nevada, but he might be better at guard. He needs to get stronger, and if he does I think he'll play a long time in the NFL.

39. Ja'Wuan James, OT, Tennessee
Not many true freshman start in the SEC, but James did, starting 49 consecutive games at right tackle for Tennessee. I think he can start as a rookie in the NFL. He's a good run blocker who plays hard every down, and he played well against Jadeveon Clowney when they were matched up.

40. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
Verrett (5-foot-9 1/2, 189 pounds) has very good cover skills and recorded eight interceptions in the past two years, but he's small for the position; I think he could work as a slot receiver. He posted a 40 time of 4.41 (hand-timed) at the combine.

41. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh
Savage (6-foot-3 7/8, 228 pounds) is a good leader and throws a lot like Troy Aikman. He has a very strong arm and will put it where the receiver can catch it. If he had played four years at one school, he might have been projected to get drafted in the top half of the first round.

42. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
Matthews (6-foot-3 1/8, 212 pounds) had 206 receptions for 2,800 yards over the past two years. He has great ball skills and should catch a lot of passes to move the chains, and no one will outwork him. He ran the 40 in a hand-held time of 4.40 seconds at the combine.

43. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State
Hyde (5-foot-11 7/8, 230 pounds) ran for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He's a power runner who has the quickness needed to be successful in the NFL. He ran the 40 in a hand-timed 4.62 seconds at the combine and had 19 bench-press reps.

44. Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
Ward (5-foot-10 5/8, 197 pounds) has everything you want in a safety except size. He isn't big, but he's a tough player with very good instincts. At his pro day, he posted a 4.47-second 40, 38-inch vertical and 6.89 three-cone drill.

45. Ego Ferguson, DT, LSU
Ferguson (6-foot-2 7/8, 302 pounds) most likely would have been a first-round pick if he stayed in school for his final year. He's a very athletic lineman who is strong at the point of attack. He'll be a starter in his second year and play in the NFL for a long time.

46. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington
Seferian-Jenkins (6-foot-5 1/2, 262 pounds) is still recovering from a foot injury and has not run or jumped for teams yet. The Huskies ran more in 2013, which contributed to him catching only 36 passes for eight touchdowns. He can and will block. He served a one-week suspension last season after a DUI arrest in the spring.

47. Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU
Hill (6-0 5/8, 233 pounds) is a big back with speed, quickness and power. He worked out very well at his pro day, catching the ball well and running the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds. He's had some off-the-field troubles, but his coaches say he's a good young man.

48. Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford
Fleming (6-foot-4 7/8, 323 pounds) is a right tackle and a very good run blocker. He left school one year early, but started for three years. I think he will play this position for a lot of years. He needs to improve as a pass blocker, and I believe he will.

49. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State
Robinson (6-foot-2 5/8, 207 pounds) played as a true freshman and totaled 174 catches the past two years. He's a great leaper, a skill he showed off when he made a big catch late in the fourth quarter against Michigan last season. He improved on his combine 40 at his pro day, running a 4.49.

50. Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech
Amaro (6-foot-5 3/8, 265 pounds) will be a tough matchup in the NFL. He caught 106 passes and seven touchdowns last year. He wasn't asked to block a lot at Tech and will need work in that area. At the combine, he ran a hand-timed 4.63 seconds in the 40, but his stock dropped a bit after he interviewed poorly. He also has had some off-field problems in the past.

51. Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington
Sankey (5-foot-9 1/2, 209 pounds) has good quickness and running skills and will work hard on every play. He ranked No. 1 in the nation last year at breaking tackles. He has good hands and can be an every-down back. At the combine, he posted a hand-timed 4.45-second 40 and 41 1/2-inch vertical.

52. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama
McCarron (6-foot-3 1/4, 220 pounds) led Alabama to two national championships and completed 67 percent of his passes over two years (2012-13) with 58 TDs and 10 interceptions. He's a very smart player with slightly above-average arm strength, and ran a 4.91-second 40.

53. Deone Bucannon, DB, Washington State
Bucannon (6-foot 7/8, 211 pounds) has above-average ball skills for a safety and provides good support against the run, with 13 interceptions and 300 tackles in three years. He's a physical player with 4.5 speed, and should also be good on special teams.

54. Keith McGill, CB, Utah
In addition to his height, McGill (6-foot-3 1/8, 213 pounds) has long arms (33 inches) and big hands (10 inches). He had 37 tackles and 12 pass breakups in 2013 and played well at the Senior Bowl. One question for him is why he didn't have more interceptions at Utah (one in two seasons).

55. Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech
Attaochu (6-foot-3 3/8, 249 pounds) has long, 34 1/4-inch arms and is Georgia Tech's all-time sacks leader. Last year he had 12.5 sacks to go with 16 tackles for loss. He played outside linebacker before this year, and it's not clear what his best position will be in the pros. He ran a 4.57-second 40 at his pro day.

56. Carl Bradford, LB, Arizona State
Bradford (6-foot-1 1/8, 251 pounds) had 27 sacks in three years. He can play in space or rush the passer and play the run. His best position is strong-side linebacker. He ran a 4.72-second 40 at his pro day.

57. Trent Murphy, LB, Stanford
Murphy (6-foot-5 5/8, 260 pounds) led the nation in sacks in 2013 with 15 after having 16.5 the previous two years. He'll be a good NFL player for many years, but it's uncertain whether he'll be a defensive end or a strong-side linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He ran a 4.82-second 40 at his pro day.

58. Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana
Latimer (6-foot-2 5/8, 215 pounds) is a big receiver with outstanding hands, along with 4.44 speed and a 39-inch vertical. A three-year player, he'll need time, but this is a player who can be very good.

59. Cyril Richardson, OL, Baylor
Richardson (6-foot-4 1/4, 333 pounds) has 34 3/8-inch arms and put up 30 bench-press reps at his pro day. He didn't play as well in 2013 as he did the previous season and might have been too heavy at around 345 pounds. A four-year starter, he's a good run blocker and pass protector.

60. Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame
Niklas (6-foot-6 1/2, 268 pounds) is a three-year player who played linebacker in 2011 as a true freshman. He can block and catch (32 receptions, 498 yards, five TDs in 2013) and is very athletic. He has not run for teams after having double-hernia surgery in March.

61. Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
Crichton (6-foot-2 7/8, 273 pounds) isn't a great athlete but plays hard every down. He had 22.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in three years as a starter. He ran the 40 in a hand-timed 4.78 seconds at the combine.

62. Tre Mason, RB, Auburn
Mason (5-foot-8 1/2 207 pounds) has outstanding quickness for his position; that was the trait that made Tony Dorsett so good. Mason gained 2,818 yards the past two years and scored 31 TDs. The only question is whether he can be effective on blitz protection. At the combine he ran a hand-timed 4.4-second 40 and 38 1/2-inch vertical.

63. Dion Bailey, S, USC
Bailey (5-foot-11 5/8, 211 pounds) ran a hand-timed 4.68-second 40 at the combine but was 10 pounds heavier at his pro day. He played weak-side linebacker in 2012 and showed very good ball skills while playing safety in 2013 with five interceptions.

64. Dominique Easley, DT, Florida
Easley (6-foot-1 5/8, 285 pounds) played as a true freshman in 2010 and gives excellent effort with good leverage. He has had ACL surgery on both knees and has not run for teams yet. If he checks out medically -- and he is said to be OK -- this is a very good player who can be a disruptive presence when healthy. I think defensive end is his best position.

65. Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
Jones (6-foot-3 5/8, 239 pounds) played a lot of defensive end in 2013, but he can play in space, and his best position is linebacker. He's a very good athlete (hand-timed 4.6-second 40 at combine) who played well in big games vs. Auburn and Clemson.

66. Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina (6-foot-5 3/4, 270 pounds, 4.68 40)
67. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State (6-foot-3 3/4, 304 pounds, 5.07 40)
68. Marcus Martin, C, USC (6-foot-3 1/8, 318 pounds, 5.22 40)
69. Ed Reynolds, S, Stanford (6-foot 7/8, 206 pounds, 4.51 40)
70. Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida (6-foot 1/4, 191 pounds, 4.59 40)

71. Donte Moncrief, WR, Mississippi (6-foot-2, 198 pounds, 4.39 40)
72. Jack Mewhort, OL, Ohio State (6-foot-6, 315 pounds, 5.19 40)
73. Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin (5-foot-11 1/2, 247 pounds, 4.81 40)
74. Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU (6-foot-3 1/4, 246 pounds, 4.60 40)
75. Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson (6-foot-4, 217 pounds, 4.34 40)
76. Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado (6-foot, 175 pounds, 4.34 40)
77. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas (6-foot-5, 312 pounds, 5.16 40)
78. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska (6-foot-2 5/8, 218 pounds, 4.53 40)
79. Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State (6-foot-1, 215 pounds, 4.50 40)
80. Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville (6-foot-3 3/8, 253 pounds, 4.63 40)

81. DaQuan Jones, DL, Penn State (6-foot-3 3/4, 322 pounds, 5.28 40)
82. Michael Schofield, OL, Michigan (6-foot-6 1/4, 305 pounds, 4.90 40)
83. Anthony Johnson, DL, LSU (6-foot-2 1/8, 311 pounds, 5.25 40)
84. Andre Williams, RB, Boston College (5-foot-11 1/2, 230 pounds, 4.54 40)
85. Chris Smith, DE/LB, Arkansas (6-foot-1, 266 pounds, 4.60 40)
86. Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona (5-foot-9 1/4, 209 pounds, 4.72 40)
87. Brock Vereen, DB, Minnesota (5-foot-11 5/8, 197 pounds, 4.42 40)
88. Marqueston Huff, DB, Wyoming (5-foot-11 1/8, 195 pounds, 4.47 40)
89. Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina (5-foot-9 3/8, 197 pounds, 4.31 40)
90. Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State (6-foot-4 7/8, 315 pounds, 5.06 40)

91. Terrance West, RB, Towson (5-foot-9 1/8, 225 pounds, 4.56 40)
92. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia (6-foot 1/2, 207 pounds, did not run)
93. Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU (6-foot-4 7/8, 224 pounds, did not run)
94. Trai Turner, OL, LSU (6-foot-2 5/8, 310 pounds, 4.84 40)
95. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa (6-foot-5 1/2, 265 pounds, 4.80 40)
96. Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State (6-foot-3 1/2, 224 pounds, 4.41 40)
97. Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida (5-foot-11 5/8, 191 pounds, 4.63 40)
98. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas (6-foot-3, 247 pounds, 4.60 40)
99. Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson (5-foot-11 3/8, 188 pounds, 4.58 40)
100. Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU (5-foot-11 5/8, 196 pounds, 4.61 40)

101. David Yankey, OL, Stanford (6-foot-6, 317 pounds, 5.50 40)
102. Phillip Gaines, CB, Rice (6-foot 1/8, 191 pounds, 4.34 40)
103. Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia (6-foot 1/8, 214 pounds, 4.47 40)
104. Gabe Jackson, OL, Mississippi State (6-foot-3 1/4, 339 pounds, 5.43 40)
105. Anthony Steen, OL, Alabama (6-foot-3 5/8, 310 pounds, 5.33 40)
106. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee (6-foot-6 7/8, 348 pounds, 5.30 40)
107. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, 4.44 40)
108. Craig Loston, DB, LSU (6-foot 5/8, 217 pounds, 4.59 40)
109. Terrence Brooks, DB, Florida State (5-foot-10 7/8, 198 pounds, 4.41 40)
110. Dri Archer, RB, Kent State (5-foot-7 3/4, 176 pounds, 4.28 40)

111. Deandre Coleman, DT, California (6-foot-5, 315 pounds, 5.06 40)
112. Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty (6-foot 5/8, 203 pounds, 4.49 40)
113. Dez Southward, DB, Wisconsin (6-foot 7/8, 212 pounds, 4.38 40)
114. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor (5-foot-9 1/8, 199 pounds, 4.37 40)
115. Crockett Gillmore, TE, Colorado State (6-foot-5 3/4, 260 pounds, 4.80 40)
116. Devonta Freeman, RB, Florida State (5-foot-8 3/8, 205 pounds, 4.50 40)
117. Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida State (5-foot-8, 181 pounds, 4.52 40)
118. Antonio Richardson, OL, Tennessee (6-foot-5 7/8, 326 pounds, 5.34 40)
119. Ahmad Dixon, DB, Baylor (5-foot-11 5/8, 213 pounds, 4.48 40)
120. Justin Ellis, DL, Louisiana Tech (6-foot-1 1/2, 342 pounds, 5.12 40)

121. Caraun Reid, DL, Princeton (6-foot-2, 305 pounds, 4.85 40)
122. Trevor Reilly, LB, Utah (6-foot-4 1/2, 244 pounds, 4.66 40)
123. Robert Herron, WR, Wyoming (5-foot-9 1/8, 193 pounds, 4.45 40)
124. Gabe Ikard, OL, Oklahoma (6-foot-3 5/8, 301 pounds, 5.09 40)
125. Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana (6-foot-2 3/4, 235 pounds, 4.58 40)

Wildcard: Seantrel Henderson, OL, Miami
In my previous prospect rankings, I listed Cyrus Kouandjio as my draft wildcard; I've moved him up to No. 24 in the Hot 100 plus 25. Henderson (6-foot-7 1/8, 331 pounds) takes Kouandjio's place as my new wildcard. I think his draft position could be anywhere from 97th overall to undrafted.

Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter @Gil_Brandt.
 
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Rotoworld:

Clemson WR Martavis Bryant visited and worked out for the Bucs, according to Aaron Wilson.
"Bryant has a combined total of 22 visits and private workouts, including visits with the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions," according to Wilson, who added the receiver privately worked out for the Rams. Bryant had a high drop rate of 12.5 percent, according to Greg Peshek, but he has plenty of vertical speed.

Source: National Football Post


NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports that the Falcons will head to Columbia, SC to work out South Carolina WR Bruce Ellington.
"Falcons brass is heading to Columbia, SC tomorrow to work out fast-rising Gamecocks WR Bruce Ellington. They hosted his buddy Clowney Wed," Rapoport tweeted. The 5-foot-9 receiver is one of the more intriguing slot receiver/return specialists in the crop of prospects. Ellington isn't as polished when it comes to running routes as teams would like him to be, but he plays tough and has the ability to beat man on a consistent basis with his great burst. Ellington brings a ton of raw athleticism to the table, and has great vision in the open field as a ball carrier. The Falcons could be looking for a slot receiver who can stretch the field vertically, that also can contribute on special teams, like Ellington can. The South Carolina prospect could have his name called in the middle rounds of the draft.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
The Patriots, Packers and Chiefs put Mississippi State QB Tyler Russell through a workout on campus.
Russell's senior season was wrecked by an early concussion and then a torn labrum late in the season. The 6-foot-4, 221-pounder has intriguing tools, however, and has a fan in draft insider Tony Pauline: "Russell was underrated coming into this season before injuries derailed his development. He possesses the size and arm strength to play at the next level and at the same time shows good wherewithal for the position. He's a practice-squad prospect that could compete for a job in the NFL if healthy."

Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter
 
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AUBURN, Ala. — Mel Kiper wasn't asked to give a comparison for Tre Mason on Wednesday.

But ESPN's noted NFL draft guru offered one up, anyway.

"He's a Ray Rice-type runner, I believe," Kiper said. "I would say third round for him."

And it's easy to see where the crux of Kiper's comparison comes from: The two running backs are nearly identical in size. Rice is 5-foot-8 and 212 pounds; at Auburn's pro day in March, Mason came in at 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds.

Rice has been the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens since 2009. In four of the past five seasons, Rice has run for more than 1,100 yards. He's also proven to be a threat out of the backfield, catching at least 58 passes each of the last five years.

After breaking Bo Jackson's single-season school rushing record last season with 1,816 yards, there are no questions about Mason's ability to carry the ball. The same can't be said about his pass catching. Blame the Tigers' run-heavy offense, which ranked 116th (out of 123 FBS teams) in pass attempts last season. In 14 games last season, Mason had 12 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown.

Kiper, however, had no reservations about Mason, believing he can develop into an effective all-around player in the pros.

"I know his blocking needs to improve, but he caught the ball better," Kiper said. "He's an excellent runner".

 
Faust said:
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says no QB this year stands out

Vikings GM Rick Spielman suggests QBs not first-round worthy

Smokescreens or not?

I wouldn't be shocked with the Vikings and the Cardinals selecting a QB in the draft's early rounds next month, so it is logical that they would be downplaying the entire 2014 QB draft class, and not giving a clear indication of who they are actually starting to warm up to.
Totally smokescreens. Both teams desperately need a QB and 2 weeks from the draft, I'm guessing nearly every quote is opposite of the truth.

 
Faust said:
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says no QB this year stands out

Vikings GM Rick Spielman suggests QBs not first-round worthy

Smokescreens or not?

I wouldn't be shocked with the Vikings and the Cardinals selecting a QB in the draft's early rounds next month, so it is logical that they would be downplaying the entire 2014 QB draft class, and not giving a clear indication of who they are actually starting to warm up to.
Totally smokescreens. Both teams desperately need a QB and 2 weeks from the draft, I'm guessing nearly every quote is opposite of the truth.
...and if they didn't want a QB they'd be talking them up hoping some one moves up ahead of them to grab one so that another player falls to them.

 
NFL Draft News & Notes: Week of April 21st

Tony Pauline

April 25th: Tajh Boyd a New York Jet?

As posted yesterday, the New York Jets traveled to Clemson and worked out quarterback Tajh Boyd, running back Roderick McDowell and linebacker Quandon Christian as well as tight end Brandon Ford from the 2013 draft class. I’m told the Jets sent their quarterback coach to the workout for Boyd. For weeks I’ve been alerted that the Jets, specifically head coach Rex Ryan, really likes Boyd. In fact Ryan told Boyd during Clemson’s pro-day he would try and find a way to pick him up during the draft. With three compensatory picks in the sixth round its easy to see Boyd being selected by the franchise.

Keep an eye on Quandon Christian. Prior to the season I thought highly of the linebacker and stamped him as a potential 7th round prospect. He seemed to fall out of favor in 2013 and won’t get drafted but has skills and is the type of player that will surprise everyone in camp this summer.

Finally from Clemson, I’m told there is already a lot of blowback from the Brandon Thomas injury with agents picking and choosing which individual workouts their players will take part in. Its understandable as Thomas has no means to recoup his losses as there are presently no policies in place to reimburse draftable prospects who are injured during pro-day or individual workouts, as infrequent as it happens. Thankfully for Thomas his representatives purchased a health policy to cover medical costs but I’m told there’s nothing to reimburse him for rehabilitation costs or the income he’ll lose by being selected later in the draft. Look for changes moving forward.

Quarterback Tyler Russell put on a passing clinic for the Patriots, Packers and Chiefs yesterday during his workout at Mississippi State. His deep passes were on the money and Russell was also accurate with short and intermediate throws. One beneficiary of yesterday’s workout was running back LaDarius Perkins, who really impressed scouts with his pass catching skills.

Mississippi State defensive lineman Denico Autry has made official visits to see the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots.

Staying with the Detroit Lions, they also brought in wide receiver/return specialist Erik Lora of Eastern Illinois who’ll likely slide into the later rounds.

I’m told the San Diego Chargers rank center Corey Linsley higher than most other teams and could use a middle round pick to acquire the Ohio State product.

More and more teams are looking to plug traditional 4-3 outside linebackers on the inside of a 3-4 alignment. As posted on Twitter earlier, the Philadelphia Eagles visited Christian Kirksey earlier this week with designs on using him at ILB in their system. Arizona State outside linebacker Carl Bradford is getting the same consideration as is Kyle Van-Noy of BYU, the highest rated of the three. Van Noy looks like a solid second round choice in two weeks and is receiving the greatest amount of interest from the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens. Half those teams project Van Noy to the inside.

Though I stamped him with a third round grade trusted sources tell me Demarcus Lawrence won’t get out of the second frame. They point to his natural pass rushing skills and the ability to play standing up over tackle or with his hand in the dirt, as well as the fact the talent at pass rusher really falls off after the second round. I personally disagree with the last part and feel Prince Shembo, Ronald Powell, Devon Kennard and Kasim Edebali are last day prospects who can fill the pass rushing role as well as small school free agent types such as Colton Underwood and Anthony Larry.April 24th

Contrary to recent published reports I’ve been informed Cyrus Kouandjio is not a first round target for Miami Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey. In fact I was told the team won’t consider him in the first frame due to medical red-flags. It seems Zack Martin is the object of their desire but the team does not expect the Notre Dame product to be available when they are called to the clock in round one. Who then? Sources seem to think Hickey will attempt to trade down if the opportunity arises. If they are able to trade down Joel Bitonio, a name that keeps popping up in the late first/early second round area, is a player they like. The Dolphins did hold a private workout with Bitonio.

No defensive lineman has moved up draft boards faster than Aaron Donald of Pittsburgh. So the question is where will Donald end up? I’m told the talented lineman could be selected as early as the 6th pick or as late as the 16th choice. The Atlanta Falcons own the sixth selection and the feeling is if the quarterbacks fall and none of the top offensive tackles or pass rushers are available at the selection they could look in Donald’s direction. I’m told the New York Giants will consider Donald at 12 as will the Chicago Bears at 14. If Donald somehow lasts to the 16th pick it will be manna from heaven for the Dallas Cowboys. I was told weeks ago Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli expressed to Donald the desire to draft him during combine interviews. There are many reasons for Donald’s rise but as one source pointed out none are greater than the interior pass rush he brings to the field.

Tomorrow, Friday the 25th, at least 23 teams will travel to Bloomington, Indiana for the on campus workout of receiver Cody Latimer. At least twelve wide receiver coaches are expected to be on hand as will Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Pat Shurmur, the teams offensive coordinator. Latimer was recently worked out by Carolina Panthers receiver coach Ricky Proehl. There’s little debate that Latimer is the fastest riser at the receiver position. I’ve spoken with several sources who tell me he won’t get out of round two and could surprise late in round one. There are a number of reasons for his ascent but the two things I continue to hear as the biggest factors are 1) his 4.43s forty time at pro-day and 2) the way Latimer consistently wins out for contested passes.

April 23rd

As posted earlier on twitter, for a second time the Carolina Panthers will be working out Fresno State receiver Davante Adams. I’m told the top two receiver targets for the Panthers are Brandin Cooks of Oregon State and Marqise Lee of USC but it’s unlikely either will be available when they are called to the clock in round one. Adams has also made visits to see the Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons besides working out for the Tennessee Titans.

Last week I mentioned Morgan Moses as a possibility for the Panthers in round one. I’ve been alerted the team is also very high on Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio, whom they’ve traveled to visit on two separate occasions.

Would they take Bitonio in round one? The senior has been gaining momentum in scouting circles as teams feel he can start at both tackle or guard positions from the early stages of his NFL career and there’s a good possibility he’s off the board early in round two at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also enamored with his skills.

One of the forgotten and underrated defensive line prospects in this year’s draft is Oregon’s Taylor Hart, whom we project as a fourth round choice. Hart is returning to Indianapolis on Friday for the combine recheck so doctors can re-examine his previously injured foot, which I’m told is fine. The teams showing the most interest in Hart are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles with Philly being his only visit to date. Sources characterize Hart as a plug and play type of defensive lineman, which I would agree with and while a coupling with former Ducks head coach Chip Kelly in Philadelphia is intriguing, he seems like a natural fit for the Steelers. Hart is not a prospect that wows you on film but a player who will be a coaches favorite at the next level based on his intelligent, disciplined style.

Speaking of the Indianapolis Colts, the team brought in Wisconsin safety Dezmen Southward for a visit. The Washington Redskins also brought Southward in.

April 21st

The talk of the quarterback position the past few weeks has centered around Tom Savage of Pittsburgh. So what’s the inside story? Ever since the combine I’ve known the New England Patriots have been incredibly high on Savage and will consider using a pick to acquire the signal caller during the draft. Some in the organization are now referring to Savage as “Tom #2”, with Tom #1 of course being Tom Brady. I’m told Savage impressed the franchise during combine interviews, especially when former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano was on hand. Evidently Savage took responsibility for the 2011 situation when he left the Rutgers football program, which was then headed by Schiano.

Both the Patriots and Schiano were impressed by Savage’s maturity in discussing his departure. Teams who’ve studied tape on Savage from last season broke it into halves and feel the second half of the campaign, when the signal caller lessened his mistakes and improved his accuracy, is the next level prospect they can build upon.

The New England Patriots have been closely inspecting tight ends in the lead up to the draft and a name fans of the team should keep an eye on is Richard Rodgers. The Cal tight end has worked out for the Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders. Teams are using Rodgers father, Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers Sr., as a source of information on the tight end prospect.

Staying in the PAC 12, I’m told linebacker Shayne Skov struggled to break 5.2-seconds in the forty when he ran for scouts, further angering people. Skov did not participate in the Senior Bowl, combine or Stanford’s pro-day due to reported injury, and scouts were forced to make a special trip to watch him run/workout. One scout commented Skov would’ve been better off had he not run at all.

I’m told the way it stands now, today’s trip to see the Cleveland Browns is the final official visit for Blake Bortles.
 
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Faust said:
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says no QB this year stands out

Vikings GM Rick Spielman suggests QBs not first-round worthy

Smokescreens or not?

I wouldn't be shocked with the Vikings and the Cardinals selecting a QB in the draft's early rounds next month, so it is logical that they would be downplaying the entire 2014 QB draft class, and not giving a clear indication of who they are actually starting to warm up to.
Totally smokescreens. Both teams desperately need a QB and 2 weeks from the draft, I'm guessing nearly every quote is opposite of the truth.
...and if they didn't want a QB they'd be talking them up hoping some one moves up ahead of them to grab one so that another player falls to them.
I wonder why they would even bother to attempt to lay these smokescreens down then, as they are so easily seen through by the general public, so clearly they wouldn't be fooling any professional NFL front office then, correct?

 
In deep WR class, gap between Watkins and rest not as big as advertisedJason La Canfora

There are certain ideas that become truisms during draft season. It gets written about enough and put in enough drafts and eventually it's cemented in the pubic perception and becomes more or less accepted, regardless of whether it actually plays out that way when the draft actually begins.

There's no shortage of them this year, what with the draft being pushed back two weeks, and with teams only really now embedded deeply in pre-draft meetings. All this additional time to fill in the 24/7 "news" cycle leading up to the three-day extravaganza only leads to more bluster. And while one would have to agree with some of those seemingly widely held assumptions -- like the idea that this draft, loaded with underclassmen, is deep at the receiver position -- I'm more than willing to play contrarian on a few others pertaining to those who will be catching footballs for a living in the NFL.

It's become more or less accepted that Clemson's Sammy Watkins, for instance, is unquestionably the first receiver who will come off the board. Quite likely it will be within the top five picks, with perhaps someone moving up to land him. And while I believe Watkins is a potential star, and I'm a big fan of his talent, and I believe there ain't no way he falls out of the top 10, the reality is the gap between Watkins and Texas A&M's Mike Evans is not nearly the gulf that some present it as when you talk to scouts and evaluators. And in the eyes of some personnel men I truly respect, LSU's Odell Beckham or Oregon State's Brandin Cooks might actually end up being the best of the entire bunch when we reflect back on their careers.

As always this time of year, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and different prospects appeal to certain schemes and certain coaches. Measureables like height will carry more significance in some organizations than others. Things are rarely as cut and dry in the scouting world as they are portrayed among the media and fans. That's obvious after talking to a host of scouts about the top of this receiver class. And I intentionally focused on individuals who had spent considerable time on the position group but whose teams are not expecting to take a receiver high in the draft and thus don't really have much to gain one way or the other by being candid about their thoughts.

I intentionally stayed away from guys picking in the top 10 for that reason, and, after a few days of phone calls I came away certain that while Watkins is certainly an elite prospect, he isn't a lock to be the first off the board. Evans is seen by several teams as his equal and in some cases, would be the pick in the event of a virtual tie based on his superior height. In fact, if I was doing a mock right now, I'd have Evans to Tampa Bay at seven, and I would probably put Watkins to Buffalo at nine or Detroit at 10. And if he does in fact get out of the top five, of any team, I could see Detroit possibly moving up a few spots to land him (the Lions have been exhaustive in their pre-draft analysis of Watkins).

I had more than one person tell me Beckham, who comes from a family of athletes and has a strong track background as well, is their top-rated receiver, and scouts love his route-running acumen, his ability to separate, how smooth he is, as well as his metrics. I'm telling you, the chasm is not as great as many would present it as being. Watkins and Evans are generally seen as best in breed, but are much closer on many boards than I've seen written.

"Would I be surprised if Evans ended up going before Watkins?" said one evaluator whose team could take a receiver later in the first round. "No, I wouldn't. But we do think there is a drop-off after those two, and we know they won't be there when we pick."

Several evaluators I spoke to believe that with Tampa Bay, specifically, Evans may be the better fit to replace the recently traded Mike Williams and be another big target for new quarterback Josh McCown. As one scout who worked previously with Tampa coach Lovie Smith put it -- "Lovie loves the kids from Texas and he saw what McCown was able to do in Chicago with two big targets (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery). I could see them wanting to duplicate that even if Watkins was on the board."

Another evaluator who knows Smith well agreed: "I think Evans could be the better fit there. Sammy is a great receiver -- no one can dispute that based on what he did in college -- but will all that flash translate? Is he more of a run after the catch guy? I don't see him like I see a A.J. (Green) or Calvin (Johnson). To me there has been a lot of media hype with him -- and he is a good receiver, don't get me wrong -- but I don't see him as that same sport of prospect."

Another team I spoke to said their grades on Watkins would translate with other top-of-the-draft receivers from recent years. As always, opinions vary, but I would in general caution you from swallowing all of the "truisms" that come along this time of year, because ultimately it's hard to discern exactly how some of them began, and many of them don't actually play out.

Recently, more has been made by the lack of relative success by receivers drafted in the first round who are under 6-foot-3, and Watkins obviously lacks that sort of size. Regardless, there is too much talent to see a true slip here, and I can't fathom a scenario where he gets out of the top 10, but he just might not be the first receiver taken. There are no guarantees.

"Wide receivers get over–valued and miss-evaluated," as one exec put it. "I like Watkins a lot, but he's never really seen press man coverage and he gets a free release. There is a lot to like, for sure, but in two years do I think Brandin Cooks (Oregon State) could be as good as him? I do. Absolutely. Evans has the size and he has the jumpball thing, and Beckham is just a very, very good all-around receiver, but he doesn't have the same kind of size. There are plenty of them out there."

On that, we can all agree.

Whatever you are looking for, at this position, it is there. And many of them are quite young. There is clay to be molded.

Ultimately, I believe six may end up going in the first 32 picks, depending on how soon the run starts at the top. If the Bucs end up taking a quarterback, for instance, and Watkins still ends up going around 10, then perhaps it's more like five who go overall. For all the talk about how quarterbacks are going to be dropping -- another draft "truism" that I'd caution against -- in the end, with so much depth at receiver and so much variety, might that end up pushing them down a little deeper into the second day? Could be.

I don't see any way guys like Beckham and USC's Marqise Lee make it past the late teens, with teams like Pittsburgh, Baltimore, the Jets, all considering them strongly according to multiple sources. Teams like the Panthers and Patriots have spent a lot of time on Cooks, the kind of individual off the field who teams just fall in love with and who I believe is off the board somewhere in the bottom third of the first-round. Kelvin Benjamin (Florida State) could end up a late first rounder, too, and if Seattle ended the first round by selecting Allen Robinson of Penn State, I wouldn't be surprised at all. If Robinson makes it to the second round, Houston, coached by Bill O'Brien, who coached Robinson in Happy Valley, might have to consider him as well; had O'Brien stayed at the school, I'm told, so too would have Robinson.

If the Ravens do not go receiver in the first round, South Carolina's Bruce Ellington would be someone maybe they'd have to move up to get in the second round, and on the second day of the draft there could be some jostling for Jordan Matthews of Vanderbilt, while I continue to hear that relatively unknown receivers Robert Herron (Wyoming) and Paul Richardson (Colorado) are going to end up going higher than where most would have projected them when this process began before the combine.

There will be plenty of them coming off the board and look for there to be a big run on Friday, for sure, after the top half dozen or so get selected on Thursday. And don't be surprised if they don't go in the order most would project.
 
Faust said:
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says no QB this year stands out

Vikings GM Rick Spielman suggests QBs not first-round worthy

Smokescreens or not?

I wouldn't be shocked with the Vikings and the Cardinals selecting a QB in the draft's early rounds next month, so it is logical that they would be downplaying the entire 2014 QB draft class, and not giving a clear indication of who they are actually starting to warm up to.
Totally smokescreens. Both teams desperately need a QB and 2 weeks from the draft, I'm guessing nearly every quote is opposite of the truth.
...and if they didn't want a QB they'd be talking them up hoping some one moves up ahead of them to grab one so that another player falls to them.
I wonder why they would even bother to attempt to lay these smokescreens down then, as they are so easily seen through by the general public, so clearly they wouldn't be fooling any professional NFL front office then, correct?
Because nobody can be 100% certain. If team A is hyping a player with no intention of drafting them and team B really wants that player, team B probably won't want to risk it and will move up. In other words, it can't hurt to try the smokescreen tactic.

 
Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet

Combine exams revealed #Auburn RB Tre Mason had a bone in his wrist that wasn’t healing properly. Needs surgery, knocks him out of OTAs, etc
Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet

Per @MoveTheSticks, #Auburn RB @TreMason21’s wrist ailment discovered at Combine shouldn’t affect his stock. Still mid-to-late 2nd rounder.
Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet

The surgery teams have been informed Tre Mason needs is to fuse a bone in his wrist that hasn’t healed properly.
 
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