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.
3-4 Outside Linebacker1) Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLAAnthony 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 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) Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB, South CarolinaI’m going to keep this short about Clowney. I think we’ve all heard about him, physical freak who’s been a phenom that everyone has talked about. Everyone is ready to give him the crown as top dog in this draft and yada yada yada, I get it and I don’t down play any of it, the kid is a freak of nature, one that I do not like. I think Clowney is going to be the next major bust. I hope I’m wrong, really I do because I would love to see him do what he has done in college at the NFL level, but I think this kid is going to get paid and go downhill. He got a major speeding ticket in December (like 105 in 70 if I recall correctly) and contemplated taking this past season off. I think this fool’s heart is not in football and once he gets paid, it’s over. He might do well his first few years, but once he commands that $100 million contract, my brain says bust. Again, I hope I’m wrong, but it’s just my feeling. If Clowney doesn’t bust then he’s going to be the cause of many QB’s nightmares for a long time. PS: Scumbag me said I'd keep it short and this was the longest description of all of them.
3) Trent Murphy, OLB/DE, StanfordTrent Murphy reminds me of what JJ Watt was coming out of college. Watt is bigger than Murphy but a long, powerful, quick but not fast, high football IQ, white (lol) pass rushing monster. Now of course I’m not saying Murphy is Watt or will ever be that level of elite player but that’s just who he reminds me of what was showing before he was drafted. Murphy will do best playing OLB in a 3-4 though.
4) Khalil Mack, OLB, BuffaloMack 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) Michael Sam, DE/OLB, MissouriSam is my biggest sleeper as a pass rusher. He’s best fit for a 3-4 OLB spot 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.
6) Jeremiah Attaochu, DE/OLB, Georgia TechAttaochu 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.
7) Scott Crichton, DE/OLB, Oregon StateCrichton is a nice combination of size, speed and athleticism. He was consistently in the back field for Oregon State. This is one of those cases where I do not believe the college measurements are accurate (see my OT rankings for more on this). He’s listed at 6’3’’, 260 and he does not look that big. If he really is that size, he can be a very good 4-3 DE, if he’s smaller (which I’d be willing to bet money he is) he’ll pretty much be forced to play OLB in a 3-4.
8) Kyle Van Noy, OLB/DE, BYUVan 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.
9) Carl Bradford, OLB, Arizona StateBradford 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.
10) Kareem Martin, DE/OLB, North CarolinaMartin has all of the tools, the size, strength, speed, quickness, first step, etc, but he has never fully played up to his potential. He can be the all around, 3 down defensive lineman in the NFL but he needs to just do his thing and give it his all every play.
11) Marcus Smith, DE/OLB, LouisvilleI 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.
12) Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise StateLawrence 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.
13) Trevor Reilly, DE/OLB, UtahReilly 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.
14) Adrian Hubbard, OLB, AlabamaHubbard 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.
15) Morgan Breslin, DE/OLB, USCBreslin 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, AuburnFord 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) Ron Powell, OLB, FloridaPowell 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.
18) Aaron Lynch, DE/OLB, South FloridaLynch was supposed to absolutely dominate this year in a weaker conference…..he didn’t. He looked fairly pedestrian out there. He’s got great size and speed and is a natural athlete. He’s worthy of a later round pick on potential alone and could, with the right mentoring, develop into an absolute stud and steal of this draft.
19) Prince Shembo, OLB, Notre DameShembo doesn’t really excel at anything. He is serviceable in pass rushing and coverage but he’s not an every down guy. He’s going to be a rotational guy and special teamer.
This Year's Mocks:
2014 v1.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68890136&f=2042014 v2.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68924563&f=2042014 v3.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68967249&f=2042014 v4.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69010879&f=2042014 v5.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69056177&f=2042014 v6.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69101987&f=2042014 v7.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69165845&f=2042014 v8.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69235121&f=2042014 v9.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69285391&f=2042014 v10.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69468393&f=2042014 v11.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69541086&f=2042014 v12.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69649564&f=2042014 v13.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69715922&f=2042014 v14.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69804282&f=2042014 v15.0:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69884204&f=2042014 Mid-Season Big Board:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69198359&f=2042014 Position Rankings Pre-Combine:
QB:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69847793&f=204HB:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69861320&f=204FB:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69913671&f=204WR:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69871600&f=204TE:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69931929&f=204OT:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69949549&f=204OG:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69967274&f=204C:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69891036&f=2044-3 DE:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69974520&f=2043-4 DE:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69985919&f=204DT/NT:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69919859&f=2044-3 OLB:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=70004254&f=2043-4 OLB: Coming to you soon!!!
ILB:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69882592&f=204CB: Coming to you soon!!!
S:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69902916&f=204K/P: Coming to you soon!!!
Previous Year Mocks:
2013 Final Mock:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=67113792&f=2042013 Draft Analysis:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=67228920&f=2042012 Draft Analysis:
http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=62247355&f=204