I'm going to rank and give a quick analysis of some of the top talents per position in this year's draft. I am going to make a new thread for each position and will keep old threads listed in each new thread.

Keep in mind, this is purely my opinions. I am not saying this will be the order, this will be how players turn out or anything along those lines, it's just simply my own personal thoughts.

If you'd like a specific position to be done next, feel free to post, I don't mind jumping around. If not, I'll go in order (QB, WR, RB, TE, OT, etc...)

If you ever notice a player not in my list, it's either because I have them at a different position and/or they have not declared yet. I am trying not to put anyone in these lists who has not declared for the draft yet.

Anyway, as always, rate, hate and critique your hearts out.



Side note, I've got some real life shit going on at the moment, busy and what not so might not get these out daily but I'll try.



4-3 Outside Linebacker

1) Anthony Barr, OLB/DE, UCLA
Anthony Barr is my #1 overall player in this draft (spoiler alert for my top 100 lol). He’s got the size, speed, strength, athleticism, intelligence, everything you want in your pass rusher. He’s #2 here because he really needs to be an OLB in a 3-4 (or he can be a Von Miller type guy in a 4-3) but being a 4-3 DE is a possibility too. Barr is explosive with a very quick first step and can drop into coverage as well. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.

2) C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
Mosley has size, speed, athleticism, ball skills, coverage skills, pass rushing ability, run stuffing skills, he has it all. He plays physical and fast. He’s a dominate tackler and is overall one of the best players in this draft. Last year he was a top 10-15 player before he went back to school. This year I have him ranked in the top 5, most have him in the top 10 so he only got better overall.

3) Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
Shazier is probably going to be best suited to play on the outside (weakside most likely) in a 4-3. But the guy is definitely talented enough to make the transition into the inside in a 3-4. The size, incredible burst, speed and instincts make Shazier a first round talent who’s being overlooked right now in my opinion.

4) Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Mack will be a dominate OLB in a 3-4 but he’s shown some solid coverage skills and ability to play in a 4-3 as well. He’s got the size, strength, speed and athleticism to be a constant disturbance in the back field. If he does wind up in a 4-3, he’s going to be used much like Denver uses Von Miller, no one thought that could work but it’s worked better than even the Broncos’ could have expected.

5) Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
Christian Jones is very versatile. He can play all 3 LB spots in a 4-3 and all 4 spots in a 3-4 lol. He’ll be best suited inside in a 3-4 or anywhere in a 4-3. He’s the prototypical LB that a lot of teams are looking for now. Big, fast, athletic, sure tackler, good in coverage, pass rush and run defense. I am very high on Christian Jones this year.

6) Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU
Van Noy didn’t have the year many expected (I think too many were expecting the next Ezekiel Ansah here) but he’s got a very explosive first step, good strength and overall speed. He has big time potential but that’s what the majority of Van Noy is, potential. I actually think I like Van Noy in a 4-3 more than I do for a 3-4.

7) Carl Bradford, OLB, Arizona State
Bradford has the tools you want to see. Strength, speed, coverage skills, good play recognition, the only problem is he’s a little short. At 6’1’’ (and that seems a little generous) he’s not fitting the mold of the prototypical taller LB you’re seeing nowadays. He’s still a great talent and should be snatched sometime on day 2.

8) Michael Sam, DE/OLB, Missouri
Sam is my biggest sleeper as a pass rusher. He’s best fit for a 3-4 OLB spot (could manage a 4-3 OLB spot too) but will do well in a 4-3 DE spot as well. He’s a great pass rusher but only average in his coverage ability. If he can show some more dependable coverage skills he could very easily be a 3 down LB. That’s not so much of a concern if whoever drafts him plans on using him as a DE but it is what it is.

9) Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State
Lawrence is simple. He’s not the strongest guy out there, I’ve seen him get blown up by some blockers a few times, but he’s very solid in his coverage skills. I think he’s the perfect fit for a 4-3 scheme where he’s not going to be relied on to be a constant pass rushing threat.

10) Jeremiah Attaochu, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech
Attaochu is another guy who should be playing OLB in a 3-4 but can play DE if needed. Regardless, he’s a fast speed rusher who has good size and strength to go with that speed. He’s also a reliable tackler, if he gets his hands on you, you’re going down.

11) Jordan Zumwalt, LB, UCLA
I’m a pretty big Zumwalt fan. I like his combination of size and quickness. He doesn’t exactly have high top end speed but he has quick feet and moves well for his size. He could stand to bulk up some but I feel he’ll fit in very well at any spot in a 4-3.

12) Jonathan Brown, OLB, Illinois
There’s one word to describe Brown, dependable. He’s not spectacular, he’s not going to make you sit up and say wow. He’s not going to get tons of sacks or deflections or interceptions but he will rack up the tackles and be a constant force on any defense. If he goes to a team running a 3-4, he’s probably going to have to move inside.

13) Marcus Smith, OLB, Louisville
I don’t think Smith has the coverage skills to be a 3 down LB in the NFL and he doesn’t have the weight to be a DE in a 4-3 so he’s going to be stuck as a situational guy. Could be majorly wrong there though because he does have some good raw talent, he just hasn’t played to his fullest yet. I’m curious to see how he transitions to the NFL.

14) Trevor Reilly, DE/OLB, Utah
Reilly is the size and speed to play DE or OLB in the NFL. I like him for a DE. He’s quicker than he looks but can back up that speed with some very deceiving strength as well. He’s not the most agile or athletic guy in the world but he can get the job done.

15) Morgan Breslin, DE/OLB, USC
Breslin doesn’t really fit well at OLB or DE so he’ll probably be stuck as a situational guy but that doesn’t mean he isn’t talented and couldn’t emerge as an every down guy. He’s got good strength and very good speed to go with it. I’m curious to see where he goes and how they’ll use him.

16) Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn
Ford has a very explosive first step and can top that off with some nice speed. He could stand to add a few lbs onto his frame but he definitely isn’t big enough to continue to play DE so he’ll have to stand up. I didn’t really get to see him do too much in coverage so we’ll have to see if he has any skill there during the combine.

17) Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama
Hubbard has great size, quickness and physicality. He has a lot of upside but he hasn’t exactly done anything noteworthy thus far. He’s had moments, but not anything that makes you say wow. He’s going to be drafted for sure, might even be converted to DE, but he’s most likely going to be a special teamer and situational guy but he’s definitely worth a day 2 selection for his size alone.

18) Lamin Barrow, LB, LSU
Barrow is a tweener guy, not really fit to be an inside or outside LB but he could sway to either spot eventually. He has potential, is great in run defense but kind of blows in coverage. He played well against some of the weaker competition he faced but struggled at times against better teams (Bama).

19) Ron Powell, DE/OLB, Florida
Powell is coming off of some injuries and a lackluster year. He can play DE or OLB and will probably be best suited in a 3-4 playing OLB, roaming the field and lining up all over the place. He has great size, speed and strength and if he can show that he’s back to his 2011 form, he could quickly rise up draft boards.

20) Denicos Allen, OLB, Michigan State
This little fuck is fast and furious lol. He’s pretty small for a LB (5’11, 225) but he makes up for it with his speed and tenacity. Reminds me of Tyrann Mathieu in that sense. Allen might want to consider possibly making the switch to safety for the NFL though. If not, he’ll fit into a 4-3 scheme well.




This Year's Mocks:

2014 v1.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68890136&f=204
2014 v2.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68924563&f=204
2014 v3.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68967249&f=204
2014 v4.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69010879&f=204
2014 v5.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69056177&f=204
2014 v6.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69101987&f=204
2014 v7.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69165845&f=204
2014 v8.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69235121&f=204
2014 v9.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69285391&f=204
2014 v10.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69468393&f=204
2014 v11.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69541086&f=204
2014 v12.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69649564&f=204
2014 v13.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69715922&f=204
2014 v14.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69804282&f=204
2014 v15.0: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69884204&f=204


2014 Mid-Season Big Board: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69198359&f=204


2014 Position Rankings Pre-Combine:

QB: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69847793&f=204
HB: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69861320&f=204
FB: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69913671&f=204
WR: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69871600&f=204
TE: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69931929&f=204
OT: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69949549&f=204
OG: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69967274&f=204
C: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69891036&f=204

4-3 DE: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69974520&f=204
3-4 DE: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69985919&f=204
DT/NT: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69919859&f=204
4-3 OLB: Coming to you soon!!!
3-4 OLB: Coming to you soon!!!
ILB: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69882592&f=204
CB: Coming to you soon!!!
S: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69902916&f=204
K/P: Coming to you soon!!!


Previous Year Mocks:

2013 Final Mock: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=67113792&f=204
2013 Draft Analysis: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=67228920&f=204

2012 Draft Analysis: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=62247355&f=204

can't wait when i need to take shit

So many LB I want

why does anthony barr at #1 say hes #2 here

suprised you dont have max bullah on there

Because I copy pastad from my DE rankings lol

Funny thing is... KVN is easily better than ziggy. He's much more disruptive. Even when they played together, he got into the backfield more often and did better in screen recognition / pass coverage.

Where KVN hurt himself this year was. It finishing plays. He got into the back field a ton but his tackles weren't as sure so he didn't have the sack/tfl numbers.

The only thing that makes ziggy a better prospect is his size and raw talent.

This post was edited by Kazium on Jan 23 2014 10:11am