By Jeff Risdon/RealGM
I’ve had the chance to watch a lot more games and a lot more players over the last month. This has produced some fairly significant movement in my personal ratings.
These rankings are my own and do not in any way intend to predict actual draft order.
Underclassmen are included here unless they have specifically stated they are returning to school. Even though I don’t necessarily believe them, I will support their pretense and exclude guys like Jace Amaro, Kasen Williams and Cedric Ogbuehi. Amaro would have been the top tight end and a top 20 talent.
Players are only listed if I’ve seen at least two of their performances in 2013. You can find the initial Top 103 here.
1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina--Clowney is learning how to make an impact even while being the focal point of the blocking. The numbers might be down, but dealing with the notoriety and constant extra attention on the field should only make him even better once he gets to the NFL.
2. Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M--One of the keys to being a great left tackle is having quick feet and excellent balance. Matthews has better of both than any of the three tackles taken in the top-4 last year.
3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville--As I said last time, his ability to throw accurately from the pocket as well as being a great athlete separate him from a crowded QB pack. I still like him more than I liked Andrew Luck.
4. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon--I love how he grows as a passer every week. All the physical tools are present, and his mental game is catching up quickly. Still riskier than Bridgewater but could be better long-term. Will need a veteran backup/mentor and a creative coach to maximize his potential, especially if he comes out this year.
5. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo--Mack is a do-it-all defender who can make an impact as a rusher, a run stuffer, or in coverage. He transcends his lower conference competition.
6. Anthony Barr, OLB/DE, UCLA--The converted RB is a speed demon around the corner, with athletic potential that doesn’t come along very often. He’s fairly one-dimensional at this point, but that one dimension is a very important one.
7. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama--Mosley is not a dynamic pass rusher like most linebackers found in the first round, and I suspect he won’t get drafted near this high. But he’s a rock-solid, instinctive defender with loads of big game experience and versatility.
8. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota--Hageman essentially beat Northwestern all by himself, and he hasn’t let down since then. His heavy punch keeps blockers at bay very effectively in the trenches.
9. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State--If you are looking for a rangy, attacking linebacker who can blitz up the gut, Shazier is for you. He’s a stouter, sturdier version of Arthur Brown from last year.
10. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M--The player Evans reminds me of most is Alshon Jeffery, who is emerging as a great receiver in his second season. Evans has the size, strength, and fearlessness to make a major impact.
11. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
12. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State. Falling but stabilizing.
13. Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
14. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson. Falling just a bit.
15. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. Spotlight: One of the more improved players in all of college football. His consistency and release from the line are the biggest reasons.
16. Marqise Lee, WR, USC. Potential to rise now that he’s healthy
17. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State. Spotlight: He will not be for everyone, but defenses that use press man coverage will go gaga for Dennard. He’s got a lot of Charles Tillman to his game.
18. Cameron Erving, T, Florida State
19. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
20. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
21. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech. Spotlight: Fuller has an inherent stickiness in coverage, blessed with quick feet and good instincts. He’s also shown the ability to blitz off the corner. Injury muddies his stock.
22. Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State. Rising quickly.
23. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU
24. Cyrus Kouandjio, T, Alabama
25. Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU. Spotlight: He makes his receivers work too hard at times, but the arm strength, pocket presence and quick reading ability are all good enough to start in the NFL.
26. Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State
27. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
28. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State. Rising quickly.
29. Dominique Easley, DE, Florida
30. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M. Spotlight: My take on Johnny Football has changed because he has changed. Vastly improved passer and better decision-maker from his Heisman year. His immaturity and lack of field vision still scare me though.
31. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
32. Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame
33. Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington. Rising.
34. Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
35. Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida State
36. Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State. Spotlight: I’ve done a 180 on Sutton. His lack of height and arm length are real concerns, but his eyes, feet, and hands all tell me he’s going to overcome those and make a good interior pass rusher.
37. Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
38. Antonio Richardson, T, Tennessee
39. Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor. Spotlight: He’s a key cog in the high-flying Bears offense, a nasty steamroller of a run blocker. Richardson will be highly coveted by teams looking for power over agility up front, but that doesn’t mean he’s immobile.
40. Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State
41. Michael Sam, DE, Missouri. Spotlight: I was ignorant on Missouri players until recently. Love his burst off the snap and ability to set up moves, and his finishing speed is very good.
42. Carl Bradford, OLB, Arizona State
43. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington
44. Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor. Spotlight: He covers with swagger and has a real savvy sense of his role in the defense. Similar to Kenny Vaccaro from last year, can play in the slot.
45. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
46. Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida
47. Shaquil Barrett, LB, Colorado State. Rising.
48. Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame. Spotlight: Plays tackle for the Irish but fits the profile of a NFL guard, with the chance to be a very good one in pass protection.
49. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
50. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State. Rising.
51. Yawin Smallwood, LB, UConn
52. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor. Falling some.
53. Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford
54. Seantrel Henderson, T, Miami FL. Spotlight: He’s often the best player on the field, but the frequency he plays that well is an open question.
55. Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers
56. Gabe Ikard, C, Oklahoma
57. Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
58. JaWuan James, T, Tennessee. Rising.
59. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA. Spotlight: He’s fallen considerably in my ratings. Why? I’ve seen more of Hundley, notably games vs. Oregon and Stanford, and he’s less NFL ready than I thought. Still a lot of potential, but he needs to stay in school.
60. James Hurst, T, North Carolina
61. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State. Rising.
62. Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech
63. David Yankey, G, Stanford
64. Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State. Spotlight: He’s a fleet hybrid safety/linebacker, a role that is increasingly coming into vogue at the next level.
65. Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford. Rising thanks to good health.
66. Marion Grice, RB, Arizona State
67. Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU
68. Hroniss Grasu, C, Oregon
69. Sean Parker, S, Washington. Spotlight: Parker reminds me a great deal of Lions safety Louis Delmas, a hard-hitting and rangy playmaker with some issues on taking angles and keeping plays in front of him.
70. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska
71. Andre Williams, RB, Boston College
72. Brandon Scherff, T, Iowa. Spotlight: I just recently started working on Scherff, and he’s got potential to move way up based on the two games I’ve watched.
73. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State
74. Travis Sawnson, C, Arkansas
75. La’El Collins, T, LSU
76. Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
77. Christian Jones, LB, Florida State
78. Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan. Playing his way up a bit.
79. Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn
80. Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke
81. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington. Spotlight: Shelton might be the best natural nose tackle in this draft. Great base strength with a good nose for the ball and high motor. Sneaky quickness to get outside the tackle box on screens & stretch runs too.
82. Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss
83. Jack Mewhort, T, Ohio State
84. Andre Hal, CB , Vanderbilt
85. James Wilder Jr., RB, Florida State. Spotlight: Bruising inside/out runner with relatively low mileage on his legs, which is important for his style.
86. Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State
87. Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU
88. Xavier Su’a-Filo, G, UCLA
89. Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas
90. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia. Spotlight: Murray brings veteran savvy and loads of intangibles to the table. He’s also got some impressive tangibles, though some will question his ceiling. At worst he should be a solid backup quarterback for a long time.
91. Louichez Purifoy, CB, Florida
92. Craig Loston, S, LSU
93. Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin
94. Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh. Spotlight: He has excellent, strong hands and good body control over the middle. Has the makings of a zone-killing No. 2 wideout at the next level.
95. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee
96. Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois
97. De’Anthony Thomas, OW, Oregon. Spotlight: DAT is one of the quickest players I’ve ever scouted, and he has a good grasp of how to properly utilize that open field elusiveness. His ability to line up in the backfield, the slot, or even outside, as well as his return skills, make him a very dangerous weapon.
98. Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia
99. Dion Bailey, S, USC
100. Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma
101. Josh Huff, WR, Oregon
102. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
103. Keith McGill, CB, Utah. Spotlight: Has great size and a good field awareness to fit in zone coverage. Not afraid to tackle either.
Football Wiretap RSS Feed