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| |  Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:31 AM | |
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Last Login: Saturday, May 10, 2008 1:02 PM
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| I thought I'd post my personal top 32. There are a few surprises to be sure, but overall it's not totally against the grain. I'm ranking based on potential to excel at the NFL level and value of their position. So basically QBs, CBs, Left OTs and pass rushers get a plus and guards, centers, ILBs, safeties get a minus. This is not a mock so it's not a guess where they will be drafted but a ranking as to when their value should put them. Team draft position and team needs where not considered at all.
1. Chris Long, DE, Virginia- While he is not the perfect first pick, he's the best this year. He's the one player in this draft at a premium position that has no weaknesses on or off the field. He has an NFL body, tested well, is an every down DE, was productive in college, no major injury issues, no character issues, and of course his bloodlines are top notch. He may never turn into his dad, but seems a lock for a long and productive career in the NFL. No one wants to blow the first pick, Chris Long is the best bet.
2. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU- Injury concerns are the only thing that kept Dorsey from the top spot. I'll be shocked if he lasted past the first 3 picks.
3. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon- My first and biggest surprise. I know almost everyone else has him later, but I have to trust my eyes and everytime I see him run he looks like a great NFL RB.
4. Jake Long, OT, Michigan- An excellent prospect, but perhaps a slightly lower ceiling than the top 3. I'd not be surprised if he goes first overall to Miami. He a LT they could plug in for 12-15 years and that's certainly very appealing to a team trying to rebuild.
5. Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida- Here's my other big surprise. Jenkins is easily the best CB in this draft and one of the best over the last 4 years. By Saturday, I expect him to be a top 10 pick and anything later than that would be a steal. The masses aren't giving this guy enough credit.
6. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas- Huge potential, but while he had some monster games, he also disappeared at times in college. Also, his height/weight ratio is outside the norm for NFL RB prospects. That's a slight concern.
7. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State- Another guy the Dolphins could take first overall, but I'm not convinced he is top 5.
8. Keith Rivers, OLB, SoCal- Complete LB that is not only the top OLB, he's the only one I give a first round grade. That could push him up even a bit higher come draft day.
9. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College- Strong arm and leadership skills. The WRs at Boston College were pretty bad, he might be better than I think and was just making magic with what he had.
10. Sedrick Ellis, DT, SoCal- Rock solid DT prospect than could play in a 4-3 or 3-4. If he slips out of the top 15 someone is getting a steal.
11. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinios- I know that 3 RBs in the top 11 might seem a stretch but I think all 3 deserve the rankings.
12. Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State- If this guy played at a bigger school he'd be right up there with Jake Long.
13. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida- Could have been top 10 if his college production was more reflective of his physical skills.
14. Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma- This will shock some people. But watching tape the guy just looks better than the other WRs. But not by much, as you'll soon see.
15. Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State- Lot of upside and will likely be the first WR taken.
16. Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt- He's climbing on some mocks, but this should be right around where he goes. He's an excellent prospect, but not quite in the Long/Clady class.
17. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy- He benefits a little from Talib's off field issues, but he's a top 20 guy on his own.
18. Kenny Phillips, S, Miami- Just the latest S out of the Miami factory. I've seen some Mocks listing him as late as the early second round but come draft day he'll have the last laugh with a top 25 selection, or maybe top 26. 
19. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville- Much like Kenny Phillips the mocks are wrong about Brian's potential and where he'll be drafted. The kid can play and come draft day we'll see that the NFL knows this.
20. Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson- Injury concerns limit his ranking some, but not enough to miss the top 20.
21. James Hardy, WR, Indiana- If you are thinking that I seem to be WR happy, you ain't seen nothing yet. Hardy is tall, big, fast and fluid; and judging by some mocks I've seen might be a steal.
22. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas- There was a time when I thought he might push the top 10. But after looking at more tape I feel more comforatable with him mid-to-late first round.
23. Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt- a good first round prospect but I'm not totally sold on his feet.
24. Early Doucet III, WR, LSU- At some point it seems that people forgot that he is good. I've seen a lot of mocks that him going much later, but he's an easy first rounder in my book.
25. Dominque Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tenn State- This guy was a big climber and many have him going top 10. I don't see it. The potential is certainly there and I obviously agree that he's a first rounder, but he's very rough and needs to add weight. There are too many question for me to rank him higher than 25.
26. Brandon Albert, OG, Virginia- I've seen him going as soon as 5th in some mocks but I don't agree. Some say he can play tackle in the NFL and I'm not seeing that either. He the best of a weak group of guards and that's about it. That said, I'm almost sure he'll be the guy I miss by the most spots on saturday as some people see a lot more potential.
27. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami- Tall, fast, strong; loads of potential not much production. He could end up an All Pro or a bust. But there's too much potential to let him drop out of the first round.
28. Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware- This guy looks amazing on tape. Once Brohm goes someone is going to trade up for him.
29. Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona- a solid performer who might have pushed the top 15 with a faster time. As it is, someone will get a player late in the first.
30. Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas- Explosive back, but might be best suited to duty as part of an RBBC.
31. Dan Connor, ILB, Penn State- Another over-hyped Penn State LB? Maybe, but the guy can tackle and there's a severe lack of LBs early in this draft.
32. Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas- might be the second best CB in the draft but off field issues drop him on my board to 32. It's not that I mind him smoking, I'm more concerned that he was dumb enough to get catch multiple times.
Best of the rest: Gosder Cherilus, Quentin Groves, Chad Henne, Jerod Mayo, Andre Caldwell
| "We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents!" -Bob Ross |
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| | | Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:49 AM | |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:43 PM
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| | I can see having Devin Thomas in the Top 32, but not the other 3 WRs you have included in your list. |
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| | | Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2008 6:16 AM | |
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Saturday, May 10, 2008 1:02 PM
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| Stigma (4/22/2008)
I can see having Devin Thomas in the Top 32, but not the other 3 WRs you have included in your list.
I actually have 5 WRs in the top 32. I know that's contrary to the norm, but I think this class of WRs is better than advertised. Come Saturday I seriously doubt that 5 will go in the first round as few teams have strong need at WR. But, I do expect that the WRs will go off the board quicker than most are predicting in mocks currently. By pick 50 I bet at least 5 and as many as 7 could be gone.
| "We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents!" -Bob Ross |
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