By Jeff Risdon
I sat down to concoct an initial mock draft, but between arguing with myself over which teams would pick in which slots and trying to project need, I decided to first create my big board. This is based on hours of evaluation of games from both 2012 and 2013.
You might notice a few popular names missing, among them Aaron Lynch, Timmy Jernigan, Gabe Jackson and Jeff Matthews. That’s because I’m only including players who I have seen play at least twice overall and at least once this year. Those gaps will fill in as the season progresses. This is still a very fluid situation, as there is a lot of football to be played.
1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina--No, he’s not having as dynamic a season as what many expected. Yes, he’s still the best defensive prospect in memory with the complete physical package and a high level of technical proficiency too. He’s still No. 1, just not with a bullet anymore.
2. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville--Here’s why he’s the best QB and why I think he’ll be a star in the NFL: he’s a polished pocket passer who happens to be able to run well, a la Andrew Luck. I like Bridgewater better than Luck at the same point in their careers.
3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon--This is the most speculative of the top 10 because Mariota still has two years of eligibility and is far from a finished product. He’s a more natural passer than RG3 at the same stage and just as electric with the ball in his hands as a runner. High risk but potentially a very high reward.
4. Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA--One of the traits scouts look for in pass rushers is the ablity to transform speed into power. Barr can do that very, very well. Could be the next Von Miller minus the off-field issues that mar the Broncos All-Pro.
5. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State--Roby is a legit shutdown man coverage corner at a program that produces those as well as any in the country. Plays bigger than his listed size and bigger when the games really matter.
6. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo--Impact player with great violence to his hands, a very desirable and uncommon trait for a natural 3-4 OLB. Don’t let the small school detract from his obvious talent; if he played at Ohio State--whom he dominated--he’d be a Top-8 talent on every draft board.
7. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama--Mosley is the kind of do-it-all linebacker that is becoming rarer in this age of defensive specialization. Fits best as a strongside 4-3 OLB on a team with an attacking style, but can play either inside or out in a 3-4.
8. Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M--Not quite the elite tackle prospect that we’ve seen in recent times, but his rock-solid technique and core strength are good enough to start and succeed right away in the NFL. Being from the most storied family in NFL history helps.
9. De’Anthony Thomas, OW, Oregon--OW means Offensive Weapon, and that’s exactly the right moniker for Thomas. He’s lightning quick but also fast, two traits which are not always found together, and he has exceptional field vision. He won’t be drafted this high, but he’s no less than Tavon Austin’s equal in terms of ability and quickness.
10. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA--The fastest-rising player I’ve seen this year, the redshirt sophomore should probably stick around another year and go No. 1 overall in 2015. I love how he improves every week.
11. Marqise Lee, WR, USC
12. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
13. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M. Rising quickly.
14. Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech. Spotlight: He is a physical dead ringer for a young Tony Gonzalez. Not quite as fast, but fast enough. If he keeps his head on straight he will live in Pro Bowls.
15. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
16. Colt Lyerla, TE/H-back. Oregon. Spotlight: He can line up all over the formation and is equally effective as a blocker and a seam-stretching receiver. Plays like Aaron Hernandez did in New England before he became a serial killer.
17. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
18. Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor
19. Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers
20. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
21. Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
22. Dominique Easley, DE, Florida. Spotlight: He tore his ACL this week, which significantly lowers his status; I would have had him no lower than 7th.
23. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin. Spotlight: Just so I’ve got it in writing, I’ve been comparing Gordon to Robert Smith for three weeks now. Remember that when Mike Mayock and Todd McDraftnik use that comparison next spring.
24. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
25. Cyrus Kouandjio, T, Alabama. Falling quickly.
26. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas
27. Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame. Falling.
28. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU
29. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State. Spotlight: For teams that favor physical press man covers, Dennard is the real deal. Far more instinctive in coverage than 2013 1st rounder Xavier Rhodes, though he has the same issue with holding too much.
30. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
31. Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State. Rising.
32. Louichez Purifoy, CB, Florida
33. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. Spotlight: High risk/reward, as Ebron has all the physical attributes you can ask for, but doesn’t always put it all together functionally. A faster young Brandon Pettigrew, for Lions' fans.
34. Adrian Hubbard, LB, Alabama
35. Dion Bailey, S, USC
36. Yawin Smallwood, LB, UConn. Rising.
37. Stephen Morris, QB, Miami FL
38. Cedric Ogbuehi, T, Texas A&M. Rising quickly.
39. Cameron Erving, T, Florida State
40. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington. Spotlight: He has failed to meet the preseason hype, as his ability to get separation is questionable and so is his blocking effort. Lots of room for movement in either direction here.
41. Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
42. Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida
43. Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss
44. Seantrel Henderson, T, Miami FL. Falling.
45. Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford
46. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon. Falling.
47. Antonio Richardson, T, Tennessee. Spotlight: At times he has looked like a surefire top 20 pick, but other times--notably vs. Florida--he was stiff and overmatched.
48. Anthony Steen, G, Alabama
49. Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina
50. Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
51. Zach Metternberger, QB, LSU. Rising quickly.
52. CJ Barnett, S, Ohio State
53. La’El Collins, T, LSU. Falling.
54. Antone Exum, CB, Virginia Tech
55. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State
56. Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas
57. Craig Loston, S, LSU. Spotlight: He’s not in the caliber of safeties expected from LSU, but Loston is a quick and instinctive player. He needs to clean up his pursuit angles, which are often ponderous.
58. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
59. Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt
60. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State. Rising.
61. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
62. Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington
63. Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame. Falling rapidly.
64. Andrew Jackson, LB, Western Kentucky
65. Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan. Spotlight: He continues to play his way down with every lethargic pass protection effort and uncoordinated lunge of a run block.
66. CJ Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa
67. Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor. Rising.
68. Ka’Deem Carey, RB, Arizona
69. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee. Falling.
70. Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma
71. Kasen Williams, WR, Washington. Spotlight: Very physical wideout has some off-field flags, but his play resembles Anquan Boldin.
72. Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech
73. Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia. Rising.
74. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
75. James Wilder Jr., RB, Florida State
76. Gabe Ikard, C, Oklahoma
77. Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh. Rising.
78. Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State
79. Tim Flanders, RB, Sam Houston State. Spotlight: The rest of the nation caught on when he lit up Texas A&M for over 160 yards, including two long TDs. Very reminiscent of a slightly slower Gio Bernard, the 1st RB taken in 2013.
80. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska. Rising quickly.
81. Tre Boston, S, North Carolina
82. David Yankey, G, Stanford
83. Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State. Falling.
84. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State
85. Trey Millard, RB, Oklahoma. Spotlight: The Sooners use him as a fullback, but he’s a terrible blocker. His role in the NFL is as a power back with nifty feet and great hands.
86. Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
87. Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford. Rising thanks to health.
88. Jack Mewhort, T, Ohio State
89. A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee
90. Bryan Stork, C, Florida State
91. Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
92. Zack Martin, T/G, Notre Dame
93. Hronnis Grassu, C, Oregon. Falling.
94. David Fales, QB, San Jose State
95. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington. Spotlight: Underrated talent not afraid to do the dirty work, but also shows a nose for the ball. Has potential as a 3-4 NT.
96. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State
97. Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin
98. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
99. Damian Swann, CB, Georgia. Rising.
100. Sean Parker, S, Washington
101. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin
102. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
103. James Hurst, T, North Carolina. Spotlight: Playing his way down the draft board with slow feet and poor anticipation, one of the bigger disappointments thus far.