- Revised 10.20.10
It?s still fairly early in the process and this list will change from week to week, which is why NFL teams don?t formulate lists like this for months. These are my opinions metered against the opinions of some scouts and other draftniks that I trust.
Some prominent underclassmen are included without regard for any intention of declaration for the draft. They are predominantly at positions where most elite players do leave early: RB, QB, WR, DE, CB.
1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. Spotlight: Will be the highest rated QB I?ve seen in my seven years of scouting.
2. Patrick Peterson, CB/RS, LSU
3. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
4. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
5. Cameron Heyward, DT, Ohio State. Spotlight: Ideally suited to play 3-4 RDE. Very similar style to Richard Seymour, a rock against the run that can collapse the pocket.
6. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. Soaring up.
7. DaQuan Bowers, DE, Clemson
8. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
9. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
10. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Spotlight: Has the physical tools of Larry Fitzgerald but is always battling a random injury, and his line release isn?t always fast.
11. Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
12. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
13. Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
14. Anthony Costanzo, T, Boston College
15. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
16. Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State. Moving up.
17. Marcel Darreus, DT, Alabama
18. Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
19. Nate Solder, T, Colorado
20. Allen Bailey, DE, Miami FL
21. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. Spotlight: Led the nation in sacks as a junior but has been bothered by injury this year. That has a silver lining--his run defense and field awareness have improved.
22. Derrick Sherrod, T, Mississippi State. Moving up.
23. Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
24. Cameron Jordan, DE, California. Moving up.
25. Rodney Hudson, C/G, Florida State
26. DeMarcus Love, T, Arkansas
27. Rahim Moore, S, UCLA. Spotlight: Great centerfielder-type safety with strong intangibles, but his tackling needs a lot of work.
28. Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
29. Nick Fairly, DT, Auburn
30. Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
31. Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
32. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame. Injury hurts.
33. Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh. Moving down.
34. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
35. Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State. Spotlight: Moved to guard this year but will be a center in the NFL in the mold of Kevin Mawae, a heady, tough brawler.
36. Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
37. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
38. Dontay Moch, LB, Nevada
39. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami FL
40. Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma
41. Jacquizz Rogers, RB, Oregon State
42. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Spotlight: JUCO transfer has exploded on the scene with his incredible athleticism and strong arm, but his experience is scant and the offense is completely geared to his skills.
43. Matt Reynolds, T, BYU
44. Shane Vereen, RB, California
45. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida. Moving down.
46. JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Moving up.
47. James Brewer, T, Indiana
48. Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama
49. Jurrell Casey, DT, USC. Spotlight: Will move up if he can show more consistent ability to get off blocks, but his interior quickness is impressive for a big man.
50. Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
51. Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh
52. Dwayne Harris, WR, East Carolina. Moving up.
53. Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska
54. Chris Rucker, CB, Michigan State. Moving up.
55. Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
56. Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton. Spotlight: Don?t let the small school fool you, the beefy Ellis would be a force at any BCS school. Level of competition still weighs him down though.
57. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
58. DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
59. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
60. Jason Pinkston, T, Pittsburgh
61. Mason Foster, LB, Washington. Moving up.
62. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
63. Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy. Spotlight: Cat-quick former QB has some serious short-area quickness but also has great long speed.
64. Ben Ijalana, G, Villanova
65. Lance Kendricks, TE, Wisconsin. Moving up.
66. Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
67. Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State. Moving down.
68. Marcus Cannon, G/T, TCU. Spotlight: Massive brawler has handled his business at tackle, but he will make a much better NFL RG.
69. Mark Barron, S, Alabama
70. Michael Leshoure, RB, Illinois
71. Jeff Fuller, WR, Texas A&M
72. Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
73. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
74. Jerrell Powe, DT, Ole Miss. Moving down.
75. Ahmad Black, S, Florida
76. John Clay, RB, Wisconsin. Spotlight: The bruising big man can be a very effective power back behind a good OL. Behind a poor OL he?s not even a poor man?s Ron Dayne.
77. Tyron Smith, T, USC
78. Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
79. Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
80. Austin Pettis, WR, Boise State
81. K.J. Wright, LB, Mississippi State
82. Eric Hagg, S, Nebraska
83. Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
84. Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
85. Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford. Moving up.
86. Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida
87. Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech. Spotlight: Has the blazing speed and fluid athleticism scouts love, but needs work on playing fundamentals.
88. Deandre McDaniel, S, Clemson. Moving down.
89. Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
90. Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU
91. Clint Boling, G, Georgia
92. Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College. Spotlight: Cancer survivor has lost the athleticism that made him special, but still a very sound football player and great presence.
93. Ian Williams, DT, Notre Dame
94. Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky
95. Kevin Kowalski, C, Toledo
96. Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
97. Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
98. Sione Fua, DT, Stanford. Moving up.
99. Chris Culliver, CB, South Carolina
100. D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas
101. Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin. Moving down.
102. Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina
103. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia. Spotlight: Few runners are more gifted at going east/west, but the NFL is a north/south league, and he has struggled to do that.
Draft - Football Wiretap
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