This year I rated 406 prospects overall. The complete list can be found here.

The lists are broken down into five different categories this year: Quarterbacks/Running backs, Receivers/Tight ends, Offensive line (T/G/C), Defensive front (DE/DT) and Defensive back (LB/CB/S). It’s important to note these are my personal rankings after months of evaluation. To be rated I need to have seen at least two full games of a player, preferably more. This is not in any way indicative of anticipated draft order.

As a general rule of thumb, I am more wary of injuries and age as negatives than most evaluators. Character concerns are tricky because much of the information is one-sided. Convictions speak a lot louder than allegations.

Wide Receivers

Last year’s class was often cited as one of the best ever, and they backed it up with some outstanding rookie seasons. This year’s class grades out even better in my book, with 14 players in the top 100 and two players just outside that range who are in everyone else’s top 100.

There is ample variety across this class. Teams will be able to find deep burners, nifty slot guys, physical possession receivers, solid all-around guys and return specialists who double as a depth receiver.

Skinny notes:

Cooper graded out higher than last year’s top wideout, Sammy Watkins. He ranks above average across the board and has proven he can produce with marginal QB play even when he’s the focus of some very good defenses.

Parker lacks great speed but is a monster on intermediate routes and in the red zone. He a zone killer with reliable hands and a veteran savviness to his game already.

I went back and forth between White and Dorsett as the next receiver. They are quite different players; White is a tall, physical, powerful receiver with the ball in the air, while Dorsett is a smaller speedster with elusiveness after the catch. White plays a similar style to Larry Fitzgerald, better with the ball in the air than before or after the catch. Dorsett is dynamite with the ball in his hands and a major vertical threat a la Desean Jackson without the crazy pills. Teams will preferential one or the other based on need.

Perriman is a real wild card. His 4.24 speed shows on the field, and he’s got moves to get open too. Unfortunately he doesn’t naturally track or catch the ball well. Most of the comparisons bandied about (Darrius Heyward-Bey, Stephen Hill) grossly undersell not only his upside but also his potential to achieve it.

Devin Smith is a downfield blazer, the nation’s leader in yards per reception (Dorsett finished 2^nd) with the speed to reliably get behind anyone. Coates is a deep threat (he finished 4^th in YPC) in a bigger frame, though he shares Perriman’s (he finished 6^th) battles with catching the pigskin. Going deeper, Smelter is another big (6’2”, 225) speedster but he might miss all of 2015 with a torn ACL. Montgomery is another vertical threat though his value is higher as a return specialist and gadget-play back. Conley set the Combine track ablaze but was never asked to do much at Georgia and is more of a project.

Looking for a bigger receiver? Lewis is every bit of 6’4” and physical both before and during the catch. Devante Davis and Deontay Greenberry are both giant targets with some explosive traits. Waller and Funchess are both essentially tight ends playing receiver because they can’t block well. Funchess could develop into something special in time but has a lower floor than commonly advertised. Kumerow is a lanky 6’5” small-schooler with pedigree and upside. Nigel King and Jordan Taylor are also big options.

Tyler Lockett is one of my favorite players in the draft and is the headliner of the slot guys. He’s also a huge return specialist weapon. Deon Long has never found a home but could inside in the NFL. Hardy put up monster numbers and projects as a better Jerricho Cotchery, who has played pretty well for over a decade. Sexton and Clay are also nifty slot options, though Clay is ranked here exclusively as a return man. 

Tight Ends 

One of the weakest of any positional group in the past few drafts, there just isn’t a lot of great potential here. Even the “upside” players are limited compared to other positions. It will be interesting to see if the paucity of talent creates a bump for the group or if teams decide to ignore it altogether and the entire class drops.

Skinny notes:

Williams is capable of the spectacular catch and can stretch the seam or even play outside. He’s more of a get-in-the-way blocker and doesn’t have a lot of wiggle to his game, but he has the swagger a la Jeremy Shockey that will endear him to many fans.

Walford would be ranked higher overall with more consistent hands. He did not fare well in interviews, which could cause him to drop farther than expected.

Bell and Heuerman are both athletic projects. Most fans know Bell from his days as The Belldozer, Oklahoma’s short-yardage and red-zone QB before moving to TE in 2014. Heuerman has battled injuries. Both are better athletes than football players at this point but have extenuating circumstances to justify taking a chance. 

The rest of the class all has warts. Boyle, Kroft and Pierce are all very average, secondary-type players. O’Leary is prominent for being Jack Nicklaus’ grandson but he’s a marginal athlete. Pruitt is intriguing with his speed and versatility, but he’s short at 6’2” and only runs in straight lines. Anderson teases with speed and YAC ability but has a lot of ugly tape too. Sifrin is overaged at 27. Tomlinson looks like an extra from “Vikings” and might be better converting to tackle.