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...)

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




Safeties


I’ll do my best to distinguish if a player is a Free Safety or Strong Safety. It’s kind of hard to really classify guys because most of them are so versatile that they can play both spots. That being said, I’ll toss out what I think they should be primarily based of what they played in college.

1) HaHa Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama
Clinton-Dix has a good combination of size and speed. He covers a lot of ground in a short period of time, can play deep coverage very well and is a sure tackler. His ball skills are solid and he can bang with the big receivers and keep up with the speedsters. There were some off the field issues but they were minor and stupid (took a loan from an assistant coach) so no character concerns here in my opinion. Little PS for anyone who isn’t aware, his name is Ha’Sean but he goes by HaHa (or Ha Ha, idk, I’ve seen it with and without the space, I think HaHa is the best).

2) Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville
I like Pryor a lot for a number of reasons. He’s a very hard hitting safety with great size and very deceptive speed. Guys his size shouldn’t be able to move the way they do lol. Anyway, he’s got decent ball skills, solid in coverage and as I already said, a massive hitter. Good in run defense and he’s not going to let you get away if he has his hands on you.

3) Dion Bailey, SS, USC
Bailey has switched between OLB and SS twice now (I believe twice, someone correct me if I’m wrong please). He’s quick with good instincts. Not the strongest of guys so he could definitely help himself by bulking up a bit but he’s solid in pass and run defense. I know he’s played at OLB before but he definitely needs to enter the NFL as a safety (which I believe he is, don’t quote me on that but he’d be silly not to).

4) Deone Bucannon, SS, Washington State
Bucannon is a good combination of size and speed. He’s got the all-around skill set you want to see too. Can drop into coverage, can come up for run support, can make plays on the ball and can tackle. Does it all well, nothing great though. Definitely a guy worth drafting on day 2 though.

5) Craig Loston, SS, LSU
LSU has recently produced a lot of quality defensive backs. Well, Loston is good, but he’s nowhere near what has come out of LSU the past few years. But, he’s got a lot of potential. A little thin, could stand to bulk up some but he plays the ball well in the air, is decent in coverage and run support, not the strongest tackler but no push over either. Loston is over a few other prospects on potential alone.

6) Tre Boston, FS, North Carolina
Boston will probably rise up some draft boards because of his versatility. A lot of corners can play safety, but you don’t find many safeties that can play corner (or, play it well at least). Boston can play them both, very well actually. I can’t decide if Boston should be a corner or safety so he’ll be in both rankings. Fast, athletic, good ball skills, good in coverage and run support, good tackler, just good all around. Not excelling in any one particular area, but doesn’t fall short anywhere either. Gun to my head, I’d say put him at safety for what it’s worth.

7) Antone Exum, FS, Virginia Tech
Exum falls into that same category as Boston, can play corner or safety effectively and will be in both of my rankings for the two positions. Difference is, with Boston I say play him at safety, Exum, play him at corner. We didn’t get to see much of Exum this past season because of an ankle injury so until he shows what he can do at the combine, he’ll be lower on most lists. He does have a lot of talent though, can cover, help in run defense, tackle, make a play with the ball in his hands and is a solid combination of size and speed.

8) Ty Zimmerman, FS, Kansas State
Zimmerman is one of those guys who’s not the elite physical freak, not the shutdown defender, not best at anything but is reliable, plays with heart and gives you everything he has. He’s smart and has very good instincts and is always making plays around the ball. He’ll be that guy who has a long and productive career without ever getting the recognition he deserves.

9) Hakeem Smith, SS, Louisville
A lot like his teammate Pryor, I like Smith a lot. The biggest knock on Smith is that he’s slim. He’s listed at 6’1’’, 187 and that looks a little generous on the weight and it just doesn’t look like an NFL safety. I’d say move him to corner but he’s not good enough in coverage to do that so that leaves him in the middle of the pack. He is a good tackler and has a nose for the football but I only ever really see him flash in run defense. He’s serviceable in pass coverage but he’s not great. He needs to work on his ball skills, pass coverage and bulk up some. Shit, if the numbers are right, he’s only 1 pound heavier than Mathieu and 4 inches taller without the tenacity Honey Badger has (I’ve been comparing all the smaller DBs with him since I know him better than a lot of other smaller DBs in the NFL).

10) Ahmad Dixon, SS, Baylor
Dixon is a physical guy who plays to his strengths. He’s instinctive but lacks some intelligence in the game. In the NFL the refs are going to have a field day flagging his ass but he can learn. His natural ability and physicality will land him a spot on an NFL roster for sure.

11) Nickoe Whitley, FS, Mississippi State
Whitley is one of my sleepers. He has a natural ability to create turnovers and has a knack for finding the ball. He may not be the star on the field but he’s the kind of guy you need on the field. He’s solid in coverage and good in run defense. He can play the ball well but as I said, he’s just never going to be that star. He’ll always be a reliable role player and that’s it. Not a bad thing at all, as I said, you need these guys, can’t be paying everyone those big dollars, need to fill the roster with other guys that still have talent.

12) Terrence Brooks, FS, Florida State
Brooks is not ready to face NFL offenses yet, but the kid is filled with potential. He has great instincts and a knack for always being around the ball. The talent is there, but he just needs some time to get up to speed with the NFL in my opinion.

13) Alden Darby, SS, Arizona State
Darby, like a lot of the guys at this point on the list, has potential but never completely played up to that potential. Don’t get me wrong, he played very well, but many feel he could be better. He does have some top end speed so just a few short years ago he could bank on a contract from the Raiders, now, while the speed is still a good quality to have, it doesn’t guarantee you a couple million dollars to play in Oakland for a few years.

14) Sean Parker, SS, Washington
Parker is a bit undersized but he can be serviceable in certain packages and a great special teamer. That’s about it, sums it all up as far as I know. Washington buzzins feel free to comment.

15) Isaiah Lewis, SS, Michigan State
Full disclosure, these last three guys (Lewis, Ladler, Johnson) I know little about. I wasn’t really ready to do a full safety list yet but since it was requested, I did it. Anyway, what I can tell from the little bit of Lewis I have seen is that he’s short but pretty built and physical for his height. Doesn’t have elite speed but has enough to be a solid contributor on special teams.

16) Kenny Ladler, FS, Vanderbilt
Ladler looks like he’ll rise up draft boards after the combine in my opinion. He didn’t wow me, but something about him says NFL safety to me. Solid overall size and speed, looks to be instinctive and willing to do whatever it takes to make plays on the field.

17) Isaiah Johnson, SS, Georgia Tech
Johnson is on the bigger size when it comes to DBs but he has speed to go along with his size. He didn’t play last year so if he wants to be drafted he’s really going to need to show off at the combine.




Previous 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


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:
WR: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69871600&f=204
TE:
OT:
OG:
C: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69891036&f=204

4-3 DE:
3-4 DE:
DT:
4-3 OLB:
3-4 OLB:
ILB: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=69882592&f=204
CB:
S:
K/P:


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

No Joyner? He might be my 2nd favorite FS after Dix. I guess he's in as a CB.

I liked what I saw of Exum too, though I thought he was a CB. Him and Fuller I both liked actually for their coverage skills. You can't go wrong with any DB out of VT for the past 10 years or so, it seems.

i call safeties after every time i fart.

Honestly, kind of just spaced totally lol. I have him in my corner list, not safety so he'll be in with them.

Any requests for today?

DT

CB or TE

Cornerback

1) Diamondbacks
2) Rest




Bu not doing corners until I have a day to sit down for at least an hour and do them, there's a lot of them.

Seems like corner is a position every year just LOADED with talent. Where some of the most raw athletes are on the field so if you show any glimpse of potential in college it's worth taking a shot in the NFL. There are some great safety prospects this year too, gotta be much more consistent and trustworthy at the safety spot though.

Well yeah, think about it. You're a receiver who can't catch? Try corner. You're a qb who can't do it in the nfl, try receiver or corner. You're just fast as fuck? Try corner. Athletic in general? Try corner lol.