Kiper's 2018 Big Board/Top 10 Rankings

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
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Use this thread for all of Mel's stuff....

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Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.

1. *Saquon Barkley RB Penn St.
2. *Josh Rosen QB UCLA
3. **Derwin James S Florida St.
4. *Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama
5. **Sam Darnold QB USC

6. *Josh Allen QB Wyoming
7. Bradley Chubb DE North Carolina St.
8. *Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame
9. *Arden Key OLB LSU
10. Harold Landry OLB Boston College

11. **Clelin Ferrell DE Clemson
12. *Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
13. *Tremaine Edmunds OLB Virginia Tech
14. *Rashaan Evans ILB Alabama
15. *Denzel Ward CB Ohio St.

16. Mike McGlinchey T Notre Dame
17. *Orlando Brown T Oklahoma
18. *Connor Williams T Texas
19. *Christian Wilkins DL Clemson
20. *Josh Jackson CB Iowa

21. *Vita Vea DT Washington
22. *Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
23. Maurice Hurst DT Michigan
24. *Da'Ron Payne DT Alabama
25. Dallas Goedert TE South Dakota St.

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Quarterbacks
1. *Josh Rosen, UCLA
2. **Sam Darnold, USC
3. *Josh Allen, Wyoming
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
6. *Ryan Finley, NC State
7. *Lamar Jackson, Louisville
8. Luke Falk, Washington State
9. *Drew Lock, Missouri
10. Mike White, Western Kentucky

Running backs
1. *Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. *Ronald Jones II, USC
3. *Derrius Guice, LSU
4. *Bryce Love, Stanford
5. *Damien Harris, Alabama
6. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
7. Royce Freeman, Oregon
8. *Kerryon Johnson, Auburn
9. *Josh Adams, Notre Dame
10. Nick Chubb, Georgia

Fullbacks
1. Jaylen Samuels, NC State
2. Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
3. Nick Bawden, San Diego State
4. Khalid Hill, Michigan
5. *Winston Dimel, Kansas State
6. Austin Ramesh, Wisconsin
7. Daniel Marx, Stanford
8. Garrett Dickerson, Northwestern
9. J.D. Moore, LSU
10. *Alec Ingold, Wisconsin

Wide receivers
1. *Calvin Ridley, Alabama
2. *D.J. Moore, Maryland
3. *Courtland Sutton, SMU
4. Anthony Miller, Memphis
5. *Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
6. *Jordan Lasley, UCLA
7. James Washington, Oklahoma State
8. Michael Gallup, Colorado State
9. *Deon Cain, Clemson
10. Dante Pettis, Washington

Tight ends
1. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
2. *Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
3. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
4. Ian Thomas, Indiana
5. *Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
6. Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
7. Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
8. Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan
9. *C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
10. Christopher Herndon IV, Miami (Fla.)

Offensive tackles
1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
2. *Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
3. *Connor Williams, Texas
4. Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
5. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
6. Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
7. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
8. Zachary Crabtree, Oklahoma State
9. Brandon Parker, NC A&T
10. Jamarco Jones, Ohio State

Offensive guards
1. *Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. Braden Smith, Auburn
3. Will Hernandez, UTEP
4. Cody O'Connell, Washington State
5. *Sam Jones, Arizona State
6. Brendan Mahon, Penn State
7. Austin Corbett, Nevada
8. KC McDermott, Miami (Fla.)
9. Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech
10. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia

Centers
1. Billy Price, Ohio State
2. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
3. *James Daniels, Iowa
4. *Will Clapp, LSU
5. Mason Cole, Michigan
6. *Alec Eberle, Florida State
7. Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
8. *Sam Mustipher, Notre Dame
9. Brian Allen, Michigan State
10. Austin Schlottmann, TCU

Defensive ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
2. **Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
3. *Ben Banogu, TCU
4. *Rasheem Green, USC
5. *Austin Bryant, Clemson
6. *Jalen Jelks, Oregon
7. *Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
8. Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest
9. Marcus Davenport, Texas (San Antonio)
10. *Josh Sweat, Florida State

Defensive tackles
1. *Christian Wilkins, Clemson
2. *Vita Vea, Washington
3. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
4. Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
5. *Harrison Phillips, Stanford
6. *Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
7. **Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State
8. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
9. *Taven Bryan, Florida
10. Josh Fatu, USC

Inside linebackers
1. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
2. *Roquan Smith, Georgia
3. Josey Jewell, Iowa
4. Micah Kiser, Virginia
5. *Cameron Smith, USC
6. Chris Worley, Ohio State
7. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
8. *Josh Watson, Colorado State
9. Nyles Morgan, Notre Dame
10. *T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin

Outside linebackers
1. *Arden Key, LSU
2. Harold Landry, Boston College
3. *Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
4. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
5. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
6. Uchenna Nwosu, USC
7. *Jerome Baker, Ohio State
8. *Malik Jefferson, Texas
9. *Jeff Holland, Auburn
10. Matthew Thomas, Florida State

Cornerbacks
1. *Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. *Joshua Jackson, Iowa
3. *Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
4. *Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
5. M.J. Stewart, North Carolina
6. *Carlton Davis, Auburn
7. *Jaire Alexander, Louisville
8. Anthony Averett, Alabama
9. *Donte Jackson, LSU
10. Darius Phillips, Western Michigan

Safeties
1. **Derwin James, Florida State
2. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
3. *Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
4. *Justin Reid, Stanford
5. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
6. Kyzir White, West Virginia
7. Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama
8. Quin Blanding, Virginia
9. *Jaquan Johnson, Miami (Fla.)
10. Marcell Harris, Florida

Kickers and punters
1. Johnny Townsend, Florida (P)
2. JK Scott, Alabama (P)
3. *Michael Dickson, Texas (P)
4. Shane Tripucka, Texas A&M (P)
5. Daniel Carlson, Auburn (PK)
6. *Bryce Crawford, San Jose State (PK)
7. Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (P)
8. *Matt Gay, Utah (PK)
9. *Jake Bailey, Stanford (P)
10. Joe Davidson, Bowling Green (P)
 

boozeman

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An asterisk denotes a prospect who is an underclassmen, and I have 24 of them here, which means there are only eight seniors. The position split for the first round here is 15 on offense and 17 on defense.

1. Cleveland Browns - *Josh Allen QB Wyoming
2. New York Giants - *Josh Rosen QB UCLA
3. Indianapolis Colts - Bradley Chubb DE North Carolina St.
4. Cleveland Browns (Houston) - *Saquon Barkley RB Penn St.
5. Denver Broncos - *Sam Darnold QB USC
6. New York Jets - *Minkah Fitzpatrick CB Alabama
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - *Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame
8. Chicago Bears - *Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
9. San Francisco 49ers - *Denzel Ward CB Ohio St.
10. Oakland Raiders - *Roquan Smith ILB Georgia
11. Miami Dolphins - Mike McGlinchey T Notre Dame
12. Cincinnati Bengals - *Tremaine Edmunds LB Virginia Tech
13. Washington Redskins - Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma
14. Green Bay Packers - Marcus Davenport DE UT San Antonio
15. Arizona Cardinals - *Josh Jackson CB Iowa
16. Baltimore Ravens - *Brian O'Neill T Pittsburgh
17. Los Angeles Chargers - *Da'Ron Payne DT Alabama
18. Seattle Seahawks - *Derwin James S Florida St.

19. Dallas Cowboys - *Vita Vea DT Washington
The Cowboys took a step backward in 2017, and it was a regression across the board. Receiver could be a target here, along with offensive tackle. But what's tough to find on the free-agent market is a disruptive defensive tackle, which Dallas just didn't have. Vea is a freakish talent at 6-4, 346 pounds who can be a three-down player and add an interior pass-rush presence.

20. Detroit Lions - *Sam Hubbard DE Ohio St.
21. Buffalo Bills - *Mike Hughes CB Central Florida
22. Buffalo Bills (Kansas City) - Maurice Hurst DT Michigan
23. Los Angeles Rams - *Carlton Davis CB Auburn
24. Carolina Panthers - Billy Price C/G Ohio St.
25. Tennessee Titans - Harold Landry OLB Boston College
26. Atlanta Falcons - *Christian Kirk WR Texas A&M
27. New Orleans Saints - *Courtland Sutton WR SMU
28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Rashaan Evans ILB Alabama
29. Jacksonville Jaguars - *Mark Andrews TE Oklahoma
30. Philadelphia Eagles - *Kolton Miller T UCLA
31. Minnesota Vikings - *Connor Williams T Texas
32. New England Patriots - *Rasheem Green DE USC
 

Simpleton

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I really like Rasheem Green, probably not a great fit for us given our roster right now though.
 

bbgun

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makes sense. we desperately need a Fletcher Cox/Snacks Harrison type clogging up the middle. Irving is a tease who's always missing time due to injuries or suspensions. like Lee, we can't count on 16 games from him next year.
 

boozeman

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-

Big Board

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/i...-nfl-draft-big-board-top-25-prospects-ranking

Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.

1. *Saquon Barkley RB Penn St.
2. Bradley Chubb DE North Carolina St.
3. *Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama
4. *Josh Allen QB Wyoming
5. *Josh Rosen QB UCLA

6. **Sam Darnold QB USC
7. *Roquan Smith ILB Georgia
8. *Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame
9. *Denzel Ward CB Ohio St.
10. *Tremaine Edmunds OLB Virginia Tech

11. **Derwin James S Florida St.
12. *Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
13. Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma
14. *Rashaan Evans ILB Alabama
15. Marcus Davenport DE UT San Antonio

16. Mike McGlinchey T Notre Dame
17. *Da'Ron Payne DT Alabama
18. Billy Price C/G Ohio St.
19. *Vita Vea DT Washington
20. *Josh Jackson CB Iowa

21. *Brian O'Neill T Pittsburgh
22. *Mike Hughes CB Central Florida
23. Maurice Hurst DT Michigan
24. Mark Andrews TE Oklahoma
25. *Kolton Miller T UCLA

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Top 10 by Position

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/i...ft-big-board-top-25-prospects-ranking#PosRank

Quarterbacks
1. *Josh Allen, Wyoming
2. *Josh Rosen, UCLA
3. **Sam Darnold, USC
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
6. *Lamar Jackson, Louisville
7. Mike White, Western Kentucky
8. Luke Falk, Washington State
9. Kurt Benkert, Virginia
10. Riley Ferguson, Memphis

Running backs
1. *Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. Sony Michel, Georgia
3. *Derrius Guice, LSU
4. *Ronald Jones II, USC
5. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia
7. *Mark Walton, Miami (Fla.)
8. Royce Freeman, Oregon
9. *Josh Adams, Notre Dame
10. *Kerryon Johnson, Auburn

Fullbacks/H-backs
1. Jaylen Samuels, NC State
2. Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
3. DeAndre Goolsby, Florida
4. Nick Bawden, San Diego State
5. Khalid Hill, Michigan
6. Austin Ramesh, Wisconsin
7. Daniel Marx, Stanford
8. Deon Yelder, Western Kentucky
9. Garrett Dickerson, Northwestern
10. J.D. Moore, LSU

Wide receivers
1. *Calvin Ridley, Alabama
2. *Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
3. *Courtland Sutton, SMU
4. *Jordan Lasley, UCLA
5. *D.J. Moore, Maryland
6. James Washington, Oklahoma State
7. *Keke Coutee, Texas Tech
8. Anthony Miller, Memphis
9. Michael Gallup, Colorado State
10. *Simmie Cobbs, Indiana

Tight ends
1. *Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
2. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
3. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
4. Ian Thomas, Indiana
5. *Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
6. Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
7. *Ryan Izzo, Florida State
8. Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
9. Christopher Herndon, Miami (Fla.)
10. Jordan Akins, Central Florida

Offensive tackles
1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
2. *Brian O'Neill, Pitt
3. *Kolton Miller, UCLA
4. *Connor Williams, Texas
5. *Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
6. Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
7. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
8. Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
9. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
10. *Will Richardson, NC State

Offensive guards
1. *Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. Austin Corbett, Nevada
3. Will Hernandez, UTEP
4. Braden Smith, Auburn
5. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
6. Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech
7. Cody O'Connell, Washington State
8. *Sam Jones, Arizona State
9. Sean Welsh, Iowa
10. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State

Centers
1. Billy Price, Ohio State
2. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
3. *James Daniels, Iowa
4. *Will Clapp, LSU
5. Mason Cole, Michigan
6. Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
7. Coleman Shelton, Washington
8. Jake Bennett, Colorado State
9. Brian Allen, Michigan State
10. Brad Lundblade, Oklahoma State

Defensive ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
2. Marcus Davenport, UT San Antonio
3. *Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
4. *Rasheem Green, USC
5. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
6. *Arden Key, LSU
7. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
8. Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest
9. *Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
10. Justin Lawler, SMU

Defensive tackles
1. *Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
2. *Vita Vea, Washington
3. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
4. *Harrison Phillips, Stanford
5. *Taven Bryan, Florida
6. *Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
7. *RJ McIntosh, Miami (Fla.)
8. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
9. Deadrin Senat, South Florida
10. Folorunso Fatukasi, Connecticut

Inside linebackers
1. *Roquan Smith, Georgia
2. *Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
4. Josey Jewell, Iowa
5. Micah Kiser, Virginia
6. Skai Moore, South Carolina
7. Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State
8. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
9. Mike McCray, Michigan
10. Jason Cabinda, Penn State

Outside linebackers
1. Harold Landry, Boston College
2. *Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas
3. Uchenna Nwosu, USC
4. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
5. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
6. *Jeff Holland, Auburn
7. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
8. *Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
9. *Jerome Baker, Ohio State
10. *Malik Jefferson, Texas

Cornerbacks
1. *Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. *Joshua Jackson, Iowa
3. *Mike Hughes, Central Florida
4. *Carlton Davis, Auburn
5. *Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
6. *Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
7. *Jaire Alexander, Louisville
8. M.J. Stewart, North Carolina
9. Anthony Averett, Alabama
10. *Nick Nelson, Wisconsin

Safeties
1. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. **Derwin James, Florida State
3. *Justin Reid, Stanford
4. *Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
5. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
6. Kyzir White, West Virginia
7. *DeShon Elliott, Texas
8. Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama
9. Quin Blanding, Virginia
10. Marcus Allen, Penn State

Punters/Kickers
1. Johnny Townsend, Florida (P)
2. JK Scott, Alabama (P)
3. *Michael Dickson, Texas (P)
4. Shane Tripucka, Texas A&M (P)
5. Daniel Carlson, Auburn (K)
6. Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (P)
7. *Eddy Pineiro, Florida (PK)
8. Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green (P)
9. Matthew McCrane, Kansas State (K)
10. Michael Badgley, Miami (Fla.) (K)
 

Simpleton

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Love Davenport, he's one of the "freakiest" athletes in the draft along with Edmunds, who also produces on tape. I'm guessing a huge Senior Bowl week will skyrocket him past our pick but if he's there I can't see many scenarios where I'd pass him up.
 

boozeman

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Love Davenport, he's one of the "freakiest" athletes in the draft along with Edmunds, who also produces on tape. I'm guessing a huge Senior Bowl week will skyrocket him past our pick but if he's there I can't see many scenarios where I'd pass him up.
Kiper has him ranked right where I would, right behind Chubb and well ahead of overrated players like Arden Key.
 

Simpleton

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Kiper has him ranked right where I would, right behind Chubb and well ahead of overrated players like Arden Key.
Yea, I could see him working his way to the 7-12ish range with a nice Senior Bowl week.

Fuck Key though, I wouldn't take him until maybe the 3rd.
 

Cowboysrock55

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makes sense. we desperately need a Fletcher Cox/Snacks Harrison type clogging up the middle. Irving is a tease who's always missing time due to injuries or suspensions. like Lee, we can't count on 16 games from him next year.
Fletcher Cox and Snacks Harrison couldn't be more different styles of DT.
 

bbgun

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Fletcher Cox and Snacks Harrison couldn't be more different styles of DT.
true, Cox can actually get to the qb, but both are big 4-3 DT's, and both could start for Dallas, so any college prospect who resembled either one of them would make sense.
 

Cowboysrock55

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true, Cox can actually get to the qb, but both are big 4-3 DT's, and both could start for Dallas, so any college prospect who resembled either one of them would make sense.
Cox is more like Irving and Snacks is more like Vea.

But I agree, I would love to put a really talented guy next to David Irving in the middle of the D-line. It would cause all kinds of problems for offenses.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Mel Kiper's Big Board and position rankings: Top 2018 NFL draft prospects


Mel Kiper Jr.
Football analyst

We're without football now until training camps begin in late July. But that means it's NFL draft season. I've released my first Mock Draft before the Senior Bowl, and version 2.0 will be out next week.

Below is my updated Big Board (ranking of the top 25 prospects for the Class of 2018) and position rankings (my top 10 prospects for the 2018 Class at every position).

A reminder about my Big Board:

I'm projecting to the NFL. This is about much more than stats. My projections are based on size, athletic ability, statistics and what I hear from people around the league.

Speaking of size, what's listed here is provided by the schools in most cases, unless they were at the Senior Bowl. These numbers could vary greatly when players show up at the NFL combine. True height and weight matter a lot for almost every position.

Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.



1. *Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Previous rank: 1

Barkley is a lights-out athlete with tremendous balance, a great lower body and quick feet. He's a stellar runner -- both inside and outside the tackles -- and he showed in 2017 that he's a true three-down back. He had 54 catches after having 48 combined in his first two seasons at Penn State. I think Barkley will run under a 4.4 40-yard dash and test well at the combine at 5-foot-11, 230 pounds. Is he likely to go No. 1 overall in April? Probably not. But he could be a top-five pick, and he has an elite grade from me.


2. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Previous rank: 3

Fitzpatrick (6-1, 203) has played corner and safety at Alabama, and he could play either position at the next level. The versatility is a huge plus. Fitzpatrick is really a defensive coordinator's dream: a modern-day big corner who plays safety. He's versatile enough to line up in the slot and lock down receivers, but he also can be a center fielder. Fitzpatrick had nine career interceptions (including four that were returned for touchdowns), so he has elite ball skills. He isn't afraid to make a tackle, either, which is why I think he'll be a top-five pick in April.



3. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Previous rank: 2

Chubb could have entered the 2017 draft and been in the first-round discussion. He was dominant early in the season against Florida State with two sacks and a forced fumble. At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, he shows good takeoff from the edge as a pass-rusher, and he has an excellent mix of speed and power. Chubb had 10 sacks and 25 tackles for loss (tied for second in the FBS) in 2017 and had 10 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2016. He is the top-ranked pass-rusher in this class, and it's not close at this point.


4. *Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Previous rank: 8

Nelson and Mike McGlinchey formed the best left side of an O-line in college football. Both could be top-15 picks. At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, Nelson causes destruction in the interior. I wrote last year that he was entertaining to watch, and you just don't say that about guards. He is a dominant run-blocker who is powerful at the point of attack and athletic enough to pull and get into space.


5. *Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Previous rank: 4

Allen (6-5, 237) is super raw, but he can really sling it. There's a reason he went No. 1 in my Mock Draft 1.0. He got better every day at Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama, where he was on the same team as Baker Mayfield. His numbers weren't great in 2016 (28 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions while completing 56 percent of his passes), and his numbers weren't great in 2017 (16 touchdown passes, six interceptions while completing 56.3 percent of his passes), but NFL teams will take into account the talent around him. The Wyoming offense lost 47 touchdowns from last season's team, along with its center. I think Allen's numbers will be much better in an NFL offense with NFL players. He put some strong film together in the Cowboys' bowl win, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half, even while recovering from a shoulder injury.


6. **Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California
Previous rank: 6

Darnold played better down the stretch, but he had an up-and-down season. He finished with 13 interceptions and nine lost fumbles. His 22 turnovers were tied for most in the FBS. He had an outstanding 2016 season but didn't match it, which makes his evaluation difficult. Now, I think Darnold has a chance to be special, and I believe in his talent long term. Darnold has a big frame (6-4, 225), makes quick decisions and is an accurate, natural passer. He completed 67.2 percent of his passes last season and ranked second in the nation in Total QBR (86.8), but he finished at 63.1 percent and 74.6 in 2017.


7. *Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Previous rank: 5

Coming off a stellar freshman season in 2015, Rosen struggled in 2016 and made only six starts before injuring his shoulder. He had a great start to the 2017 season and finished with 26 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He missed a game because of a concussion late in the season, however, and was pulled in the second half of UCLA's win over Cal "for precautionary reasons" after taking a few big hits and was held out of the Bruins' bowl game. The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder throws a great ball and has rare arm talent. There aren't many quarterbacks who can make the throws he does. He went No. 2 overall in my first Mock Draft. The combine is an important step to see how he performs against the other top guys.


8. *Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech
Previous rank: 10

At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Edmunds is a gifted athlete and physical specimen, and he lives in the backfield. A year after recording 106 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, he had 109 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season. Edmunds isn't a traditional linebacker; he could play inside in a pinch and disrupt some throwing lanes, and he also could play outside and pressure quarterbacks. He even does a good job covering pass-catchers out of the backfield. He's an impressive athlete, and you could make a case that Edmunds has the most upside of any linebacker in this class. Check out the recognition to get to the quarterback in the video clip above.


9. *Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia
Previous rank: 7

At 6-foot-1, 225, Smith is an extremely athletic linebacker. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry. A season after having 95 total tackles and five tackles for loss, Smith had 137 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2017. He can blitz up the middle or off the edge, and I think he could play inside or outside linebacker. He's just a fun player to watch, and he was one of the best players on the field in both of the Bulldogs' College Football Playoff matchups. He's not a huge linebacker, and I want to see what he measures in at the combine in Indianapolis.


10. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Previous rank: 13

As I wrote in December, Mayfield is one of the most difficult evaluations in this class. I love him on the field -- he's not afraid to take shots downfield, has an underrated arm, and he has won a ton of games. He measured in a 6-foot-0 at the Senior Bowl, and there isn't much history of 6-0 quarterbacks having success in the NFL. Is Mayfield a similar athlete to Russell Wilson? No, he's not. That's why it's important for Mayfield to get in front of scouts and interview, like he did at the Senior Bowl. And he'll get the opportunity again at the combine. The Heisman Trophy winner put up huge numbers the past three seasons, and he completed better than 70 percent of his passes since the beginning of the 2016 season. He had 83 touchdown passes and only 14 interceptions over that span.


11. *Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Previous rank: 9

I said before the season that I think Ward has a chance to be the next great Ohio State cover corner and first-round pick. He's polished. He didn't have an interception last season, but he plays the ball well and showed good instincts in coverage, as proved by his nine pass breakups. He had two interceptions this season, as well as 15 more pass breakups. Listed at 5-foot-10, 191 pounds, Ward plays bigger than that. I really liked what I saw on his 2016 tape, even as the Buckeyes had two other corners who went in the first round of the 2017 draft. He has a good chance to be the top corner picked in 2018, as Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore was in 2017.


12. Marcus Davenport, DE, UT San Antonio
Previous rank: 15

Scouts have been buzzing about Davenport, and it didn't stop after Senior Bowl practices. He's one of the best pure pass-rushers in this class, even if he hasn't developed an arsenal of moves yet. At 6-foot-6, 259 pounds, Davenport is a quick-twitch athlete who can play on his feet or with his hand in the dirt. He had 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season, and he had 6.5 sacks in 2016.


13. *Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
Previous rank: 25


Miller reminds me of Patriots left tackle Nate Solder, who went in the middle of the first round in 2011. They both have huge 6-foot-8 frames, and they have great feet. Miller was an under-the-radar prospect coming into the season because of a foot injury that forced him to miss most of 2016. But he came into his own this season, and he has a high ceiling. This offensive tackle class is fluid, and Miller has moved atop my board.


14. *Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Previous rank: 12

Ridley is the 2018 draft's clear No. 1 receiver right now. What I really like about him is his competitiveness. He's a nightmare to try to tackle in the open field. Ridley (6-foot-1, 188 pounds) had 63 catches for 967 yards and five touchdowns in 2017, including touchdowns in both of the Crimson Tide's College Football Playoff games. He averaged 15.3 yards per catch with inconsistent quarterback play. He has been one of the nation's top wide receivers since he stepped onto the field as a freshman in 2015 -- he had 161 catches and 14 touchdown receptions in his first two collegiate seasons.


15. *Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Previous rank: 20

Jackson was the best corner in college football in 2017, and he showed it by picking off Ohio State's J.T. Barrett three times in an upset win. He was phenomenal and showed off stellar hands. Jackson had eight total interceptions and broke up 18 passes in 2017, his first season as a starter. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has also pitched in on punt returns, though he didn't break off any big returns.


16. *Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Previous rank: NR

I wrote about Brown earlier in the 2017 season, when the 6-foot-8, 345-pound left tackle was outstanding in the Sooners' win at Ohio State. He helped protect OU quarterback Baker Mayfield from a defense that is loaded with future NFL talent. Brown is nimble for a big man, getting to the second level with ease. He has great feet and can easily slide outside to pick up blitzing linebackers. Brown might have to move over to the right side at the next level, but I think he'll get a shot at left tackle to start his career.


17. *Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
Previous rank: 14

Finally healthy after being hampered by a groin injury, Evans stood out on a defense loaded with NFL talent. He played outside early in his career at Alabama, and the versatility will help at the next level. Evans (6-foot-3, 234 pounds) also can rush the passer; he had 15 career sacks. He finished the 2017 season with 13 tackles for loss, too. The Crimson Tide have a long history of producing talented linebackers, including Reuben Foster in the 2017 draft, and Evans is next up.


18. **Derwin James, S, Florida State
Previous rank: 11

James is a tough evaluation because he just hasn't played many games. The former five-star recruit was terrific as a freshman for the Seminoles in 2015, with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. But he played only two games in 2016 after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 6-foot-3, 211-pounder came back healthy in 2017 and finished with two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 84 total tackles. James just doesn't have much tape, and scouts want to see how he tests at the combine.


19. *Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Previous rank: 22

Hughes emerged as a shutdown corner in his lone season at Central Florida, showing good anticipation in coverage and playing the run well, too. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Hughes has good size, and he's exceptionally fast. He had four interceptions this season, including one pick-six, and added 11 pass breakups. Hughes is also a phenomenal punt and kick returner -- he had three more touchdowns on returns. The arrow is pointing way up on Hughes, who really came out of nowhere after playing at North Carolina in 2015 and a junior college in 2016.


20. *Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Previous rank: 17

Payne (6-2, 319) is a reliable presence for the Crimson Tide, and he might have had his best two games in the College Football Playoff. Georgia couldn't block him in the title game, especially in the first quarter. Payne isn't going to put up huge numbers on the stat sheet -- he had only three career sacks -- but he consistently beats interior offensive linemen and gets good push, and he's a solid prospect with some upside. Check out the athleticism on his interception and return against Clemson in the video clip above.


21. *Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Previous rank: 19

At 6-foot-4, 346 pounds, Vea is more than a space-eater. He has some explosion and quickness off the ball and can penetrate along the interior. He had five sacks and 39 total tackles in 2016, and he had 3.5 sacks in 2017. I think Vea can be an every-down player in the NFL, not just a two-down tackle. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata, who had three consecutive NFL seasons with at least five sacks.


22. *Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Previous rank: NR

After picking up a nagging knee injury early this season, Guice broke out with a 276-yard rushing performance in the Tigers' win at Ole Miss. He isn't the athletic specimen Leonard Fournette is, but I liked everything I saw from him last season, too. Guice rushed for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns -- and averaged 7.6 yards per carry -- while Fournette battled injuries. Guice (5-foot-11, 218 pounds) showed good burst running between and outside the tackles, and he's a physical runner. The LSU offense doesn't use its backs much in the passing game, so that's one area in which Guice is behind Barkley and other backs in this class.


23. *James Daniels, C, Iowa
Previous rank: NR

This is a great group of centers at the top. Daniels or Ohio State's Billy Price could be first-round picks, depending on how teams value centers. We've seen in recent years that first-round centers can turn out well (Travis Frederick is the most recent example). Daniels (6-foot-4, 296 pounds) is an athletic and talented interior lineman. He can move his feet and get to the second level, and he is perfect as an anchor for today's NFL. Iowa has produced some great linemen under coach Kirk Ferentz, and Daniels could join that list.


24. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Previous rank: 16

McGlinchey is a massive athlete (6-foot-8, 315 pounds) who looks like a tight end with pads on. He was dominant from the left side in the rout of USC in October. He plays with solid technique, and he can get to the second level for combo blocks, all while driving defenders off the ball in the running game. He played right tackle in 2015, then replaced first-round pick Ronnie Stanley on the left side in 2016, and he has stayed at left tackle in 2017. The versatility will help McGlinchey in the NFL.


25. Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College
Previous rank: NR


After leading the nation in sacks (16.5) last season, Landry could have been a late first- or early second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 draft. He also had 22 tackles for loss. There is value in the places he could line up. The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Landry can play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or end in a 4-3. He missed the Eagles' last five games of the season with an ankle injury, but he had five sacks -- including three in a tough loss to Virginia Tech -- and 8.5 tackles for loss in eight games.

Quarterbacks
1. *Josh Allen, Wyoming
2. **Sam Darnold, USC
3. *Josh Rosen, UCLA
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
5. *Lamar Jackson, Louisville
6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
7. Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
8. Luke Falk, Washington State
9. Mike White, Western Kentucky
10. *Chase Litton, Marshall

Running backs
1. *Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. *Derrius Guice, LSU
3. Sony Michel, Georgia
4. *Ronald Jones II, USC
5. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia
7. *Nyheim Hines, NC State
8. *Mark Walton, Miami (Fla.)
9. *Kerryon Johnson, Auburn
10. Royce Freeman, Oregon

Fullbacks/H-backs
1. Jaylen Samuels, NC State
2. Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
3. Nick Bawden, San Diego State
4. DeAndre Goolsby, Florida
5. Khalid Hill, Michigan
6. Austin Ramesh, Wisconsin
7. Deon Yelder, Western Kentucky
8. Daniel Marx, Stanford
9. Marcus Martin, Slippery Rock
10. Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan

Wide receivers
1. *Calvin Ridley, Alabama
2. *Jordan Lasley, UCLA
3. James Washington, Oklahoma State
4. *Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
5. *D.J. Moore, Maryland
6. *Courtland Sutton, SMU
7. Dante Pettis, Washington
8. D.J. Chark, LSU
9. DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State
10. Michael Gallup, Colorado State

Tight ends
1. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
2. *Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
3. *Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
4. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
5. *Jordan Akins, Central Florida
6. Ian Thomas, Indiana
7. Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
8. *Ryan Izzo, Florida State
9. Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
10. Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan

Offensive tackles
1. *Kolton Miller, UCLA
2. *Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
3. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
4. *Connor Williams, Texas
5. *Geron Christian, Louisville
6. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
7. Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
8. *Brian O'Neill, Pitt
9. Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
10. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon

Offensive guards
1. *Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
3. Austin Corbett, Nevada
4. Will Hernandez, UTEP
5. Braden Smith, Auburn
6. *Sam Jones, Arizona State
7. Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech
8. Cole Madison, Washington State
9. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State
10. Sean Welsh, Iowa

Centers
1. *James Daniels, Iowa
2. Billy Price, Ohio State
3. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
4. Mason Cole, Michigan
5. *Will Clapp, LSU
6. Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
7. Coleman Shelton, Washington
8. Jake Bennett, Colorado State
9. Brian Allen, Michigan State
10. Bradley Bozeman, Alabama

Defensive ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
2. Marcus Davenport, Texas (San Antonio)
3. *Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
4. *Rasheem Green, USC
5. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
6. Andrew Brown, Virginia
7. *Arden Key, LSU
8. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
9. *Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
10. Chad Thomas, Miami (Fla.)

Defensive tackles
1. *Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
2. *Vita Vea, Washington
3. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
4. *Taven Bryan, Florida
5. *Harrison Phillips, Stanford
6. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
7. *Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
8. *R.J. McIntosh, Miami (Fla.)
9. Deadrin Senat, South Florida
10. Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State

Inside linebackers
1. *Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
2. *Roquan Smith, Georgia
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
4. Josey Jewell, Iowa
5. Micah Kiser, Virginia
6. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State
7. Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State
8. Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
9. Skai Moore, South Carolina
10. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama

Outside linebackers
1. Harold Landry, Boston College
2. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
3. Uchenna Nwosu, USC
4. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
5. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
6. *Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
7. *Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas
8. *Jeff Holland, Auburn
9. *Jerome Baker, Ohio State
10. *Malik Jefferson, Texas

Cornerbacks
1. *Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. *Josh Jackson, Iowa
3. *Mike Hughes, Central Florida
4. M.J. Stewart, North Carolina
5. *Donte Jackson, LSU
6. *Carlton Davis, Auburn
7. *Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
8. *Jaire Alexander, Louisville
9. *Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
10. Anthony Averett, Alabama

Safeties
1. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. **Derwin James, Florida State
3. *Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
4. *Justin Reid, Stanford
5. *Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech
6. *DeShon Elliott, Texas
7. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
8. Kyzir White, West Virginia
9. **Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
10. Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama

Kickers, punters and long-snappers
1. Johnny Townsend, Florida (P)
2. JK Scott, Alabama (P)
3. Daniel Carlson, Auburn (K)
4. *Eddy Pineiro, Florida (K)
5. *Michael Dickson, Texas (P)
6. Shane Tripucka, Texas A&M (P)
7. Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (P)
8. Ryan Winslow, Pitt (P)
9. Drew Brown, Nebraska (K)
10. Tanner Carew, Oregon (LS)

________________________________

Kiper really likes Lasley. And sometimes Kiper does this thing where he evaluates based purely on talent without taking into consideration attitude and off the field issues. I really like the way Lasley plays at WR. But I also have no idea what those other issues are and they are clearly knocking the guy way down on other people's boards.
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,709
Payne higher than Vea? Get out of my face with that shit.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
52,463
Payne higher than Vea? Get out of my face with that shit.
I agree, I view Payne as more of a second rounder personally after watching more of him. I think I'd rather just wait on NT if it isn't Vea.
 

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
121,746
Payne higher than Vea? Get out of my face with that shit.
They aren't even close IMO. Payne gets lost and plays too high. He did have a fine postseason, but still.
 

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
121,746
Kiper really likes Lasley. And sometimes Kiper does this thing where he evaluates based purely on talent without taking into consideration attitude and off the field issues. I really like the way Lasley plays at WR. But I also have no idea what those other issues are and they are clearly knocking the guy way down on other people's boards.
He really likes him. Suddenly.

A month and a half ago, he wasn't even in his top 10. Then he jumps to four a month ago. Now he is second.

His agent's check must have cleared.
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
52,463
He really likes him. Suddenly.

A month and a half ago, he wasn't even in his top 10. Then he jumps to four a month ago. Now he is second.

His agent's check must have cleared.
Yeah I can't really explain the massive jump. Other than what you said. Or he finally got around to watching film.
 
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