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VanS 2018 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


VanS

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Well evaluating the prospects in this year's draft was fun.  So many good players at almost every position group.  I know this might sound hyperbolic right now, but I truly believe that the 2018 NFL Draft has a chance to be one of the best in NFL history.  I thought last year's draft class was incredible,  this year's class blows it out of the water at almost every position group.  There are so many great prospects this year that I had a hard time ranking guys against one another so I had to constantly go back to the tape to try and distinguish between players I really liked.  So without further ado, here it goes:

Grading System
Top 5 grade = Perennial All-Pro
Top 10 grade = Potential All-Pro
1st round grade = Pro-Bowl caliber player
2nd round grade = Instant NFL starter with the chance to become a Pro-Bowl caliber player
3rd round grade = Chance to become NFL starter
4th round grade = NFL backup or special teams player
5th-7th round grade = 50/50 chance to make NFL roster


Quarterbacks: (Position Grade = A+)
1. Josh Allen (Wyoming) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Dan Marino with mobility
2. Lamar Jackson (Louisville) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Michael Vick
3. Sam Darnold (USC) - 1st round grade......NFL comp: Matt Stafford with less arm strength
4. Josh Rosen (UCLA) - 1st round grade......NFL comp: Eli Manning with durability concerns
5. Kyle Lauletta (Richmond) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Alex Smith
6. Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Rex Grossman
7. Riley Ferguson (Memphis) - 3rd round grade
8. Mike White (Western Kentucky) - 4th round grade
9. Kurt Benkert (Virginia) - 4th round grade
10 (tie). Luke Falk (Washington St.) - 4th round grade......NFL comp: Landry Jones
10 (tie). Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma St.) - 4th round grade

The 2018 QB class has a chance to go down (alongside the 1983 and 2004 QB classes) as one of greatest QB drafts in NFL history.  I believe there are 4 bonafide franchise QBs in this class:  Josh Allen (Wyoming), Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Sam Darnold (USC), and Josh Rosen (UCLA).  Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson stand out as the best QBs in this class because of their high ceilings.  Both have a chance to be among the best players to ever play in the NFL because of their freakish athletic ability.  Josh Allen has arguably the most talented arm in NFL history.  While Lamar Jackson is arguably the most athletic QB in NFL history.  There are very few QBs in NFL history with their level of talent.  And even if they don't reach their full potential, Allen and Jackson can still be high level starters in the NFL.  With regard to Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen, I like both QBs a lot.  In any other year, they would both be slam dunk #1 overall picks.  Both should be high level starters in the NFL.  The only reason I have them ranked lower than Allen and Jackson is because they lack the ability to carry a team on their back the way Allen and Jackson can because of their superior physical gifts.  After the top 4 QBs, I like Kyle Lauletta (Richmond) as my Day 2 sleeper.  I believe that he has the best chance of the rest of the QBs in this draft to be develop into a solid starter in the league.  As you can see from my rankings, I'm not that high on Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma).  I honestly don't get the hype surrouding him.  I know he was a successful college QB, but college and the NFL are two different things.  I'm not even that hung up on his off-field issues (which are a concern).  My main issue with him is on-field ability.  I don't think he has the physical skill set to be great QB in the NFL.  His size is a concern.  And unlike Russell Wilson (who Mayfield has unfairly been compared to) he lacks the elite athleticism to make up for his stature.  The offense he came out of is also a concern.  There is very little in the form of NFL throws from Mayfield's college tape.  More than any other QB in this class, Baker Mayfield is a complete projection because there is little to take from his success in college that translates to the NFL.  I don't get why people are ignoring these concerns but in my opinion he's the riskiest QB prospect in this class.  There are too many questions surrounding him for me to use a 1st or 2nd round pick on him.  I believe he's the most likely bust in this QB class.  With regard to the rest of the QB class, I believe it is filled with QBs who can be decent backups and spot starters in the NFL.  Of those, I like Mike White (Western Kentucky).  I doubt he'll ever be a consistent starter.  However, he can be a very valuable backup QB.


Running Backs: (Position Grade = A+)
1. Saquon Barkley (Penn State) - Top 5 grade.....NFL comp: Fred Taylor
2. Rashaad Penny (San Diego St.) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Curtis Martin
3. Mark Walton (Miami) - 1st round grade
4 (tie). Ronald Jones II (USC) - 1st round grade.......NFL comp: Jamaal Charles
4 (tie). John Kelly (Tennessee) - 1st round grade.......NFL comp: Priest Holmes
6. Sony Michel (Georgia) - 2nd round grade
7. Royce Freeman (Oregon) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Carlos Hyde
8. Nick Chubb (Georgia) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Jonathan Stewart
9. Kerryon Johnson (Auburn) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: DeMarco Murray
10. Derrius Guice (LSU) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Doug Martin
11. Kallen Ballage (Arizona St.) - 3rd round grade
12. Bo Scarbrough (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
13. Justin Jackson (Northwestern) - 3rd round grade
14. Akrum Wadley (Iowa) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Theo Riddick
15. Josh Adams (Notre Dame) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Chris Brown

Simply put, the 2018 RB class is the greatest RB class in NFL history.  I have not seen this much talent at the RB position in one draft class before.  As long as these guys can stay relatively healthy, I'm sure they will break many records when it comes to accomplishments by a RB class.  I wouldn't be surprised if they go down like the 1996 WR class when it comes to impact by a position group from a single draft class.   There are 5 bonafide SUPERSTARS in this class (Barkley, Penny, Walton, Jones II, and Kelly) as well as another 5 that will make huge impacts in the league (Michel, Freeman, Chubb, Johnson, and Guice).  Last year's RB class was good.  This year's class blows it out of the water.  And leading the pack is Saquon Barkley (Penn State).  There is no doubt in my mind that he will be the best RB in the NFL the second he steps foot on the field this fall.  His talent level is that elite.  And after him, there should many others that will make huge impacts.  Don't be surprised if Rashaad Penny (San Diego St.) follows Kareem Hunt as a mid-round RB who ends up leading the league in rushing as a rookie.


Wide Receivers: (Position Grade = A-)
1. Antonio Callaway (Florida) - Top 5 grade.....NFL comp: Sterling Sharpe
2. Anthony Miller (Memphis) - 1st round grade.....NFL comp: Antonio Brown-lite
3. Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame) - 1st round grade
4. Cedrick Wilson (Boise St.) - 1st round grade....NFL comp: Michael Thomas
5. DJ Moore (Maryland) - 1st round grade......NFL comp: Percy Harvin
6. Michael Gallup (Colorado St.) - 2nd round grade
7. J'Mon Moore (Missouri) - 2nd round grade......NFL comp: Joe Horn
8. Allen Lazard (Iowa St.) - 2nd round grade
9. Jordan Lasley (UCLA) - 2nd round grade
10. Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Golden Tate
11. Deon Cain (Clemson) - 3rd round grade
12. James Washington (Oklahoma St.) - 3rd round grade....NFL comp: Chris Chambers
13. Courtland Sutton (SMU) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: J.J. Stokes
14. Calvin Ridley (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). DJ Chark (LSU) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Kevin Dyson
15 (tie). Dante Pettis (Washington) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Doug Baldwin

This is a very underrated position group in this year's draft in my opinion.  As you can see, I'm not high on the prospects currently projected to be drafted the highest (i.e. Calvin Ridley and Courland Sutton), however, I am high on quite a few other guys who are currently undervalued but I believe will be huge stars in the NFL.  Starting it off is Antonio Callaway (Florida).  I have been a huge fan of this guy since I first saw him play as a true freshmen.  The kid has SUPERSTAR written all over him.  His movements on the field are so fluid.  His hands are natural.  He runs crisp routes.  Antonio Callaway just knows how to play football.  There is no doubt in my mind that as long as he stays out of trouble (which I believe he can do because he's a good kid) he will be a perenial All-Pro in the NFL.  He has a good chance to develop into the best WR in the NFL.  His talent is that elite.  After Callaway, I love Anthony Miller (Memphis).  I know its crazy to compare anyone to Antonio Brown, but its hard for me to watch his film and not see a mini-version of Antonio Brown.  Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame) and Cedrick Wilson (Boise St.) are big athletic wide receivers that have the size and speed to develop into true #1 outside receivers.  DJ Moore (Maryland) is a versatile player who can play in the slot and the outside.  He could even line up at RB.  I'm also a big fan of Michael Gallup (Colorado St.), J'Mon Moore (Missouri), Allen Lazard (Iowa St.), and Jordan Lasley (UCLA).  They should all make noise in the league.  This receiver class has elite talent at the top and depth throughout.  I have a feeling that people will look back at this class more fondly than they look at it right now.


Tight Ends: (Position Grade = C)
1. Dallas Goedert (South Dakota St.) - 1st round grade....NFL comp: Travis Kelce
2. Ian Thomas (Indiana) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Julius Thomas
3. Mike Gesiki (Penn State) - 2nd round grade
4. Mark Andrews (Oklahoma) - 2nd round grade
5. Jaylen Samuels (NC State) - 3rd round grade
6. Christopher Herndon (Miami) - 3rd round grade
7. Hayden Hurst (South Carolina) - 3rd round grade
8. Troy Fumagalli (Wisconsin) - 3rd round grade
9. Ethan Wolfe (Tennessee) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Gary Barnidge
10. Jordan Thomas (Mississippi St.) - 4th round grade

The 2018 tight end class is rather average.  My favorite prospect in the group is Dallas Goedert (South Dakota St.).  He has the best chance in this group to develop into a pro-bowl caliber player.  He reminds me a lot of Travis Kelce in terms of size and athelticism.  After him, I also like Ian Thomas (Indiana).  He's very big and athletic.  Reminds me a lot of Julius Thomas.  Mike Gesiki (Penn State) is a freak athlete with the potential to be a dangerous receiver in the redzone.  I grouped Jaylen Samuels (NC State) with the tight ends because that is where he was placed for the combine workouts.  However, in the NFL, I would imagine his role will be more that of a halfback.  He's the classic guy without a natural position but is good at many different things.  I could see a team like New England utlizing his skill set to make him a dangerous offensive weapon.


Offensive Line: (Position Grade = B-)
1. Frank Ragnow (Arkansas) - Top 10 grade
2. Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame) - Top 10 grade....NFL comp: Zach Martin
3. Will Hernandez (UTEP) - 1st round grade
4. Isaiah Wynn (Georgia) - 1st round grade
5. James Daniels (Iowa) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Damien Woody
6. Kolton Miller (UCLA) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Nate Solder
7. Connor Williams (Texas) - 2nd round grade
8. Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame) - 3rd round grade
9. Tyrell Crosby (Oregon) - 3rd round grade......NFL comp: Chris Williams
10 (tie). Brian O'Neal (Pittsburgh) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Jamarco Jones (Ohio St.) - 3rd round grade

While the overall offensive line class isn't that great this year, the interior offensive line talent in this year's draft is ELITE.  All 4 of my projected 1st rounders in this group are interior offensive lineman.  However, since the class of offensive tackles is once again very weak, the overall grade of the position group is a B-.  Let me start off with what should get the most attention: How is Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame) not #1?  First, let me say that I like Quenton Nelson.  As you can see, I believe he will be an All-Pro caliber player and I have compared him to Zach Martin (arguably the best interior lineman in the NFL right now).  I just like Frank Ragnow (Arkansas) more.  In terms of tape, I believe they are both exceptional.  I give the edge to Ragnow because of his superior athleticism.  Quenton Nelson is strong and powerful but he isn't exactly an elite athlete for the position.  Frank Ragnow, on the other hand, is an elite athlete for his position hence why he's in the top spot.  After those two, I really like Will Hernandez (UTEP) and Isaiah Wynn (Georgia).  Both should be Pro Bowl caliber players in the NFL.  The offensive tackles as a group are very weak, however, one or two of them should develop into solid starters.  Of those, I like Kolton Miller (UCLA).  He tested as the best athlete among the tackles at the combine.  And offensive line is one of the position groups where athletic testing at the combine correlate the most to NFL success.


Edge Rushers: (Position Grade = A-)
1. Marcus Davenport (UTSA) - Top 10 grade.....NFL comp: Jason Taylor
2. Bradley Chubb (NC State) - Top 10 grade.......NFL comp: Peter Boulware
3. Arden Key (LSU) - Top 10 grade.......NFL comp: Simeon Rice
4. Harold Landry (Boston College) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Anthony Barr
5. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Oklahoma) - 2nd round grade......NFL comp: mini Justin Houston
6. Uchenna Nwosu (USC) - 2nd round grade
7. Jeff Holland (Auburn) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Melvin Ingram
8. Sam Hubbard (Ohio St.) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Chris Long
9. Josh Sweat (Florida St.) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Jadeveon Clowney-lite
10. Tyquan Lewis (Ohio St.) - 2nd round grade
11. Dorance Armstrong Jr. (Kansas) - 3rd round grade
12. Lorenzo Carter (Georgia) - 3rd round grade
13. Kemoko Turay (Rutgers) - 3rd round grade
14. Jayln Holmes (Ohio St.) - 3rd round grade
15. Kylie Fitts (Utah) - 3rd round grade

This year's edge rusher class is getting maligned and I don't know why.  I believe that there are 3 elite edge rushing prospects in this year's draft (Marcus Davenport, Bradley Chubb, and Arden Key) while there was only 1 in last year's draft (Myles Garrett).  Of the three, Marcus Davenport (UTSA) is the most physically gifted.  He reminds me a lot of Hall of Fame DE Jason Taylor in terms of size, athletic ability, and playing style.  Now I do think it'll take him a few years to develop (in relation to someone like Bradley Chubb who is more polished right now), but when he does, he should be a dominant player in the NFL.  Bradley Chubb (NC State) is the most ready to dominate right away.  He's my favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year next season.  Arden Key (LSU) was spectacular as a sophomore but really regressed this past season with off-field issues and poor play on the field (primarily because of weight issues).  He also performed very poorly in terms of athletic testing during the pre-draft period.  This has knocked him down from a top 10 overall pick before the season to probably a 2nd round pick now.  Nonetheless, I'm still a believer in his talent and NFL potential.  His sophomore tape was just too good to forget.  In terms of pro comparisons, Arden Key reminds me a lot of Simeon Rice in terms of size, length, and playing style.  Hopefully he can stay out of trouble and play up to his potential.  The rest of the group has a lot of talented players that should be solid starters.  There is not only elite talent at the top of this edge rusher class but also some good depth throughout.  Like the wide receiver class, this group will be more well-thought of in a few years than they are right now.


Defensive Tackles: (Position Grade = B+)
1. Tim Settle (Virginia Tech) - Top 10 grade.....NFL comp: Cortez Kennedy
2. Vita Vea (Washington) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Haloti Ngata
3. Taven Bryan (Florida) - 1st round grade
4. Da'Ron Payne (Alabama) - 2nd round grade
5. Harrison Phillips (Stanford) - 2nd round grade
6. Rasheem Green (USC) - 3rd round grade
7. Nathan Shepard (Fort Valley St.) - 3rd round grade
8. Maurice Hurst (Michigan) - 3rd round grade
9. Trenton Thompson (Georgia) - 3rd round grade
10. Kahlil McKenzie (Tennessee) - 3rd round grade
11. BJ Hill (NC State) - 3rd round grade
12. Kendal Vickers (Tennessee) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Ray McDonald
13. PJ Hall (Sam Houston St.) - 3rd round grade
14. Andrew Brown (Virginia) - 4th round grade
15. Da'Shawn Hand (Alabama) - 4th round grade

This year's defensive tackle class is very talented.  Leading the way is the freakishly talented Tim Settle (Virginia Tech).  I know he's not projected to be drafted in the 1st round but I believe in due time he will develop into the best interior defensive lineman from this class.  A man his size should not move the way he does.  Tim Settle is the size of a nose tackle but has the first step explosion of a 3-technique the size of Aaron Donald.  He has some baby fat he needs to lose.  But once he does, he should be a dominant force in the NFL like Cortez Kennedy.  After Settle, I also like Vita Vea (Washington).  He reminds me a lot of Haloti Ngata.  He should be a dominant run stopper in the NFL.  He's behind Settle only because he doesn't provide as much potential as a pass rusher.  Taven Bryan (Florida) is third on my list because he might be the best interior pass rusher in this class.  His first step explosion and power is incredible.  I also high on Da'Ron Payne (Alabama) and Harrison Phillips (Stanford).  The only reason they are not first rounders in my opinion is because they lack the athleticism of the three guys ahead of them.  However, they should be very good players in the NFL.  After the top five, there is still a lot of talent in this class.  Guys like Trenton Thompson (Georgia) and Kahlil McKenzie (Tennessee) were highly recruited out of high school and while they never lived up to that star ranking in college, they have the athletic ability to be solid starters in the NFL.


Linebackers: (Position Grade = B+)
1. Leighton Vander Esch (Boise St.) - Top 5 grade......NFL comp: Jack Lambert
2. Fred Warner (BYU) - Top 10 grade
3. Micah Kiser (Virginia) - 1st round grade.....NFL comp: poor man's Ray Lewis
4. Rashaan Evans (Alabama) - 2nd round grade
5. Roquan Smith (Georgia) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Keith Rivers
6. Tremaine Edmunds (Virginia Tech) - 2nd round grade
7. Daruis Leonard (South Carolina St.) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Telvin Smith
8. Matthew Thomas (Florida St.) - 3rd round grade
9. Skai Moore (South Carolina) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Josy Jewell (Iowa) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Jerome Baker (Ohio St.) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Malik Jefferson (Texas) - 3rd round grade

I like this year's LB class, though I'm not quite as high on the same guys as everyone else.  First, let me address the elephant in the room: Why so low on Roquan Smith (Georgia) and Tremaine Edmunds (Virginia Tech)?  They are after all the consensus top 2 linebackers in this year's class.  While I do like Edmunds athletic ability, I am very concerned with his instincts.  Far too many times he's shown poor recognition and reaction time to quick developing plays.  In the NFL, where everyone is fast, the difference in being an average player and an elite player are instincts.  And I'm very concerned about Edmunds instincts.  Edumunds is also not great at taking on blockers.  I've seen him get easily blocked way too many times.  Sure his highight tape look great and he does have prototypical measureables, I'm not confident he'll be able to play up to that physical potential given his subpar instincts.  While Roquan Smith does not have poor instincts, what he does lack is prototypical size for an inside linebacker and the ability take on blockers.  At Georgia, most of his plays were made down the field when no one got a hand on him.  When there were plays run right at him, he did not show the ability to shed blocks.  My favorite linebacker in this class is Leighton Vander Esch (Boise St.) by a wide margin.  He's got the measureables and athleticism of Tremaine Edmunds but also elite instincts and the ability to take on and shed blockers.  I believe he has a chance to become the best middle linebacker in the NFL.  He's that talented.  Not too far behind Vander Esch is another small school product, Fred Warner (BYU) that I'm high on.  I got on him late in the process and was shocked there was not much hype about him.  He's fast, athletic, and makes plays all over the field.  Plus he's not exactly a small guy.  He's not as big as Vander Esch but he has the measureables to be a Bobby Wagner-esque linebacker in the NFL.  My third favorite linebacker in this class is another lightly regarded prospect, Micah Kiser (Virginia).  I know some of you will lose your minds at the thought of someone being compared to Ray Lewis, but I couldn't help seeing the similarities between Kiser and Ray Lewis while watching his tape.  They have similar measureables and movements.  Now I'm not saying Kiser can be as good as Ray Lewis.  He definitely doesn't have the athletic ability of a young Ray Lewis.  But he does look and move very similar to Ray Lewis in his early 30s.  And even at that age Ray Lewis was still a very good player which I believe Kiser can become.  He was very productive in college and the biggest question on him was athleticism.  However, at the combine he tested as a decent athlete so I don't know why people aren't higher on him.  I see a very productive, talented, and better than expected athlete.


Cornerbacks: (Position Grade = A)
1. Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) - Top 5 grade......NFL comp: Rod Woodson
2. Brandon Facyson (Virginia Tech) - Top 10 grade.....NFL comp: Antonio Cromartie
3. Jaire Alexander (Louisville) - 1st round grade
4. Carlton Davis (Auburn) - 1st round grade
5. Donte Jackson (LSU) - 2nd round grade......NFL comp: Mike Jenkins
6. Mike Hughes (UCF) - 2nd round grade.......NFL comp: Orlando Scandrick
7. Denzel Ward (Ohio St.) - 2nd round grade
8. Rashaan Gaulden (Tennessee) - 2nd round grade
9. JaMarcus King (South Carolina) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Al Harris
10. M.J. Stewart (North Carolina) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: R.W. McQuarters
11. D.J. Reed (Kansas St.) - 2nd round grade
12. Josh Jackson (Iowa) - 3rd round grade
13. Isaiah Oliver (Colorado) - 3rd round grade
14. Parry Nickerson (Tulane) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). Anthony Averett (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). Holton Hill (Texas) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). Nick Nelson (Wisconsin) - 3rd round grade

This is another position group where I disagree with the consensus.  My top CB is Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama).  I don't understand why some many people are saying he's a safety.  He rarely played that in college.  And its not like he doesn't have the skill set to be a dominant outside CB.  In my opinion this talk of him being a safety is silly.  He's a #1 CB in this draft and a future All-Pro at the position.  He reminds me a lot of Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.  Both were ball-hawks who also were very physical against the run.  Minkah Fitzpatrick should immediately be one of the best players in the NFL at his position.  The biggest relevation for me during this whole draft evaluation period was Brandon Facyson (Virginia Tech).  I'm honestly shocked that he isn't more highly regarded.  He looks like the perfect press outside corner in a Cover 2 or Cover 3 scheme.  He would be perfect for a team like the Seattle Seahawks.  He's tall, long, extremely physical, and athletic.  Not to mention very smart and hard-working.  This kid checks so many boxes.  I don't know when he'll be drafted, but whoever gets him will be getting a huge steal.  He's got All-Pro potential.  After Fitzpatrick and Facyson, I also like Jaire Alexander (Louisville) and Carlton Davis (Auburn).  Alexander is versatile enough to play both in the slot and on the outside.  He's also a dangerous returner.  He exudes the sort of confidence that elite #1 corners in the NFL exude.  He should be a big-time star in the league.  Carlton Davis is a lot like Brandon Facyson.  He's a big physical corner with very good athelticism.  He should also excel as a press corner in a cover 2 or cover 3 scheme.  With regard to Denzel Ward (Ohio St.) who almost everyone else has as the #1 cornerback in this class, all I have to say is that he's a good player, I just prefer the guys I have ranked ahead of him more.  My concerns with Denzel Ward are related to his size and lack of awareness and ball skills.  While Ward possess elite atheliticism, far too many times he loses track of the ball and guys get catches on him when he is in good enough position to break it up.  He also gets beat pretty easily by the bigger more physical WRs that can use their bodies to shield him off.  He also has a tendency to get grabby with receivers down the field.  Plays that aren't called interference in college will turn into flags in the NFL.  Josh Jackson (Iowa) is a solid player who should start in the NFL, however, I have questions regarding his athletic ability to play man coverage.  He can be a decent zone corner but he will need to be drafted to the right team to be successful.  Overall, this is a very good class of cornerbacks.  I was not high on the class initially because I started off my evaluations with the likes of Denzel Ward and Josh Jackson (who were the top rated prospects at the position according to most).  However, as I discovered prospects like Brandon Facyson and Carlton Davis, my views on this year's cornerback class improved immensely.


Safeties: (Position Grade = C+)
1. Derwin James (Florida St.) - Top 5 grade......NFL comp: Steve Atwater
2. Terrell Edmunds (Virginia Tech) - 2nd round grade
3. Justin Reid (Stanford) - 2nd round grade
4. Dominick Sanders (Georgia) - 2nd round grade
5. Ronnie Harrison (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
6. Jessie Bates III (Wake Forest) - 3rd round grade....NFL comp: Thomas DeCoud
7. Terrell Williams (Houston) - 3rd round grade
8. Armani Watts (Texas A&M) - 3rd round grade
9. Tarvarius Moore (Southern Miss) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Marcus Allen (Penn State) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Dane Cruikshank (Arizona) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Deshon Elliott (Texas) - 3rd round grade

This year's safety class is definitely not as deep as last year's class.  However, it is more talented at the very top.  Derwin James (Florida St.) is the best safety prospect to enter the NFL since Eric Berry and Earl Thomas in 2010.  He reminds me a lot of former Broncos All-Pro from the 1990s Steve Atwater.  He's big, physical, fast, and instinctive.  He can play both in the box as a strong safety but also as a single-high free safety in the middle of the field.  He should develop into the best safety in the NFL.  He's that good.  After Derwin, this safety class is kinda thin.  I like the potential of Terrell Edmunds (Virginia Tech).  In many ways, I believe he's a better NFL prospect than his brother Tremaine.  Justin Reid (Stanford) is another good safety prospect in this year's class.  He's extremely athletic and can play not only free safety but nickel corner as well.  Dominick Sanders (Georgia) is my sleeper candidate in this position.  I have no idea when he will be drafted and I'm honestly surprised he doesn't have more buzz.  He's played a lot of football in college and he did it at a high level at a big-time program like Georgia.  I believe he's the all-time leader in interceptions in school history.  And everytime I watched him play, he was making plays.  I believe he has a chance to be a very good player in the NFL.


Top 50 Players

(All-Pro Caliber Players)

1. RB Saquon Barkley (Penn State)
2. QB Josh Allen (Wyoming)
3. WR Antonio Callaway (Florida)
4. CB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)
5. QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
6. LB Leighton Vander Esch (Boise St.)
7. S Derwin James (Florida St.)
8. DE Marcus Davenport (UTSA)
9. DE Bradley Chubb (NC State)
10. RB Rashaad Penny (San Diego St.)
11. DT Tim Settle (Virginia Tech)
12. DT Vita Vea (Washington)
13. DE Arden Key (LSU)
14. CB Brandon Facyson (Virginia Tech)
15. LB Fred Warner (BYU)
16. C Frank Ragnow (Arkansas)
17. G Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame)

(Pro Bowl Caliber Players)

18. RB Mark Walton (Miami)
19. WR Anthony Miller (Memphis)
20. WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame)
21. RB Ronald Jones II (USC)
22. RB John Kelly (Tennessee)
23. QB Sam Darnold (USC)
24. QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
25. G Will Hernandez (UTEP)
26. CB Jaire Alexander (Louisville)
27. CB Carlton Davis (Auburn)
28. WR Cedrick Wilson (Boise St.)
29. G Isaiah Wynn (Georgia)
30. WR DJ Moore (Maryland)
31. DT Taven Bryan (Florida)
32. TE Dallas Goedert (South Dakota St.)
33. LB Micah Kiser (Virginia)

(Solid Starters)

34. CB Donte Jackson (LSU)
35. LB Rashaan Evans (Alabama)
36. WR Michael Gallup (Colorado St.)
37. WR J'Mon Moore (Missouri)
38. DT Da'Ron Payne (Alabama)
39. DT Harrison Phillips (Stanford)
40. RB Sony Michel (Georgia)
41. CB Mike Hughes (UCF)
42. LB Harold Landry (Boston College)
43. WR Allen Lazard (Iowa St.)
44. WR Jordan Lasley (UCLA)
45. CB Denzel Ward (Ohio St.)
46. RB Royce Freeman (Oregon)
47. RB Nick Chubb (Georgia)
48. S Terrell Edmunds (Virginia Tech)
49. RB Kerryon Johnson (Aurburn)
50. RB Derrius Guice (LSU)

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23 minutes ago, VanS said:


3. Mark Walton (Miami) - 1st round grade

Dang it this is the one guy I wanted to see a Pro Comparison on and there is none :( . Overall, pretty wild rankings. I don't mean that as offensive, it's just that everything is really, really against the grain. I mean, Brandon Facyson an All-Pro ability CB? I'd never heard of the guy to be honest :P . I like some of them, i.e. Walton as a Pro Bowl RB, Jaire Alexander as a top CB, etc. but some of the rankings are not what I would say lol. 

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1 hour ago, AlNFL19 said:

Dang it this is the one guy I wanted to see a Pro Comparison on and there is none :( . Overall, pretty wild rankings. I don't mean that as offensive, it's just that everything is really, really against the grain. I mean, Brandon Facyson an All-Pro ability CB? I'd never heard of the guy to be honest :P . I like some of them, i.e. Walton as a Pro Bowl RB, Jaire Alexander as a top CB, etc. but some of the rankings are not what I would say lol. 

xD   You know what's funny, I kept asking myself, am I really gonna rank a guy who I just heard of today as a future All-Pro when I started watching Brandon Facyson's tape the other day?

Brandon Facyson is actually a very interesting story.  I only got to him in the last few days.  I was just looking up players that participated at the combine that tested well that I may have missed during my initial review of their tape.  Facyson quickly jumped out to me cause he ran a decent 40 for his size.  At first, I thought I would just put him in near the bottom of my CB rankings as a 3rd round prospect.  But as I kept watching, he kept flashing.  And I kept saying to myself he can't be this good.  So I tried to find holes in his game.  I mean the guy looked spectacular to me on tape and I thought maybe I'm missing some glaring flaw that the NFL scouts know that I don't know.

So this is what I found out.  First of all, Brandon Facyson is the all-time leader in pass break-ups in Virginia-Tech history.  That's pretty impressive when you consider the caliber of defensive backs Virginia Tech has put out over the last 20 years (i.e. DeAngelo Hall, Kam Chancellor, and the Fuller bros).  He was also a Freshmen All-American in 2013 as a true freshmen.  He injured his leg the following year which slowed him down going into 2015.  He was back to his old self in 2016 and most of 2017 before another injury ended his season this past year.  He looks to be fully healthy now heading into the draft.  While watching one of his games on YouTube, I saw a stat flash on the screen that read that he had given up the lowest completion % in the ACC when QBs threw to his side over the last 2 seasons.  That got my attention cause it showed me that the flashes of brilliance I saw weren't just flashes but what he's been doing consistently locking down receivers when targeted.  Then I did a little research into his background and found out that he's highly respected by his coaches and teammates for his work ethic.  He's a kid who came back to school for his senior year this season so he could complete his degree in preparation for applying for medical school after football.  His parents are also teachers who taught abroad in Dubai.

This kid just checked all the boxes for me when it comes to what I look for in a prospect.  He's physically talented, played well in college, well respected by his peers and coaches, and has the sort of intangibles and work ethic that make it likely he reaches his full potential as a football player.  As you can see, I don't just pull these rankings out of my behind.  I do my research and if I'm going to go against the grain, I try to be as sure as possible.  As long as Brandon Facyson can stay healthy, I believe he can be an elite player in the NFL as a press corner in a cover 2 or cover 3 scheme.

 

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5 minutes ago, VanS said:

xD   You know what's funny, I kept asking myself, am I really gonna rank a guy who I just heard of today as a future All-Pro when I started watching Brandon Facyson's tape the other day?

Brandon Facyson is actually a very interesting story.  I only got to him in the last few days.  I was just looking up players that participated at the combine that tested well that I may have missed during my initial review of their tape.  Facyson quickly jumped out to me cause he ran a decent 40 for his size.  At first, I thought I would just put him in near the bottom of my CB rankings as a 3rd round prospect with the chance to develop into a starter.  But as I kept watching, he kept flashing.  And I kept saying to myself he can't be this good.  So I tried to find holes in his game.  I mean the guy looked spectacular to me on tape and I thought maybe I'm missing some glaring flaw that the NFL scouts know that I don't know.

So this is what I found out.  First of all, Brandon Facyson is the all-time leader in pass break-ups in Virginia-Tech history.  That's pretty impressive when you consider the caliber of defensive backs Virginia Tech has put out over the last 20 years (i.e. DeAngelo Hall, Kam Chancellor, and the Fuller bros).  He was also a Freshmen All-American in 2013 as a true freshmen.  He injured his leg the following year which slowed him down going into 2015.  He was back to his old self in 2016 and most of 2017 before another injury ended his season this past year.  He looks to be fully healthy now heading into the draft.  While watching one of his games on YouTube, I saw a stat flash on the screen that read that he had given up the lowest completion % in the ACC when QBs threw to his side over the last 2 seasons.  That got my attention cause it showed me that the flashes of brilliance I saw weren't just flashes but what he's been doing consistently locking down receivers when targeted.  Then I did a little research into his background and found out that he's highly respected by his coaches and teammates for his work ethic.  He's a kid who came back to school for his senior year this season so he could complete his degree in preparation for applying for medical school after football.  His parents are also teachers who taught abroad in Dubai.

This kid just checked all the boxes for me when it comes to what I look for in a prospect.  He's physically talented, played well in college, well respected by his peers and coaches, and has the sort of intangibles and work ethic that make it likely he reaches his full potential as a football player.  As you can see, I don't just pull these rankings out of my behind.  I do my research and if I'm going to go against the grain, I try to be as sure as possible.  As long as Brandon Facyson can stay healthy, I believe he can be an elite player in the NFL as a press corner in a cover 2 or cover 3 scheme.

 

I would take a look at the guy now but I just finished my prospect rankings thread and I'm lazy :P . Maybe I'll look at him before the draft if I get time.

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On 4/23/2018 at 4:05 PM, VanS said:

Just a few questions and things regarding my curiosity, not intended to be hostile:

Grading System
Top 5 grade = Perennial All-Pro
Top 10 grade = Potential All-Pro
1st round grade = Pro-Bowl caliber player
2nd round grade = Instant NFL starter with the chance to become a Pro-Bowl caliber player
3rd round grade = Chance to become NFL starter
4th round grade = NFL backup or special teams player
5th-7th round grade = 50/50 chance to make NFL roster


Quarterbacks: (Position Grade = A+)
1. Josh Allen (Wyoming) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Dan Marino with mobility
2. Lamar Jackson (Louisville) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Michael Vick
3. Sam Darnold (USC) - 1st round grade......NFL comp: Matt Stafford with less arm strength
4. Josh Rosen (UCLA) - 1st round grade......NFL comp: Eli Manning with durability concerns
5. Kyle Lauletta (Richmond) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Alex Smith
6. Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Rex Grossman
7. Riley Ferguson (Memphis) - 3rd round grade
8. Mike White (Western Kentucky) - 4th round grade
9. Kurt Benkert (Virginia) - 4th round grade
10 (tie). Luke Falk (Washington St.) - 4th round grade......NFL comp: Landry Jones
10 (tie). Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma St.) - 4th round grade

-> You say Mayfield is the biggest projection in the draft because of his system concerns, but have Josh Allen ranked first. Can you explain why you don't see Allen as a projection coming out of Wyoming with less than a 60% completion percentage?

-> Why specifically do you think Lauletta has the best chance to be a 5-10 guy on your rankings to be a solid NFL starter?

 


Running Backs: (Position Grade = A+)
1. Saquon Barkley (Penn State) - Top 5 grade.....NFL comp: Fred Taylor
2. Rashaad Penny (San Diego St.) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Curtis Martin
3. Mark Walton (Miami) - 1st round grade -> :):):) 
4 (tie). Ronald Jones II (USC) - 1st round grade.......NFL comp: Jamaal Charles
4 (tie). John Kelly (Tennessee) - 1st round grade.......NFL comp: Priest Holmes
6. Sony Michel (Georgia) - 2nd round grade
7. Royce Freeman (Oregon) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Carlos Hyde
8. Nick Chubb (Georgia) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Jonathan Stewart
9. Kerryon Johnson (Auburn) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: DeMarco Murray
10. Derrius Guice (LSU) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Doug Martin
11. Kallen Ballage (Arizona St.) - 3rd round grade
12. Bo Scarbrough (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
13. Justin Jackson (Northwestern) - 3rd round grade
14. Akrum Wadley (Iowa) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Theo Riddick
15. Josh Adams (Notre Dame) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Chris Brown

-> Why do you prefer Royce Freeman to Nick Chubb?

-> Why do you see Penny as a Potential All-Pro RB and "superstar" as you say in your explanation? I don't see much that's special about Penny - he doesn't have track speed or electric quickness or anything despite pretty good vision to me. A lot of his tape made him out to look like a one-cut guy to me, not a Curtis Martin kind of guy.

 


Wide Receivers: (Position Grade = A-)
1. Antonio Callaway (Florida) - Top 5 grade.....NFL comp: Sterling Sharpe
2. Anthony Miller (Memphis) - 1st round grade.....NFL comp: Antonio Brown-lite
3. Equanimeous St. Brown (Notre Dame) - 1st round grade
4. Cedrick Wilson (Boise St.) - 1st round grade....NFL comp: Michael Thomas
5. DJ Moore (Maryland) - 1st round grade......NFL comp: Percy Harvin
6. Michael Gallup (Colorado St.) - 2nd round grade
7. J'Mon Moore (Missouri) - 2nd round grade......NFL comp: Joe Horn
8. Allen Lazard (Iowa St.) - 2nd round grade
9. Jordan Lasley (UCLA) - 2nd round grade
10. Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Golden Tate
11. Deon Cain (Clemson) - 3rd round grade
12. James Washington (Oklahoma St.) - 3rd round grade....NFL comp: Chris Chambers
13. Courtland Sutton (SMU) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: J.J. Stokes
14. Calvin Ridley (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). DJ Chark (LSU) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Kevin Dyson
15 (tie). Dante Pettis (Washington) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Doug Baldwin

-> I agree with the low grade relatively on Sutton, but what makes you think Ridley is the 14th best receiver in the class? I think he's right at the top and is an electric athlete with a lot going for him.

-> Why do you have guys like James Washington, Deion Cain, and Jordan Lasley, who are mostly deep-ball specialists, over Ridley, the consensus No. 1?

 


Tight Ends: (Position Grade = C)
1. Dallas Goedert (South Dakota St.) - 1st round grade....NFL comp: Travis Kelce
2. Ian Thomas (Indiana) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Julius Thomas
3. Mike Gesiki (Penn State) - 2nd round grade
4. Mark Andrews (Oklahoma) - 2nd round grade
5. Jaylen Samuels (NC State) - 3rd round grade
6. Christopher Herndon (Miami) - 3rd round grade
7. Hayden Hurst (South Carolina) - 3rd round grade
8. Troy Fumagalli (Wisconsin) - 3rd round grade
9. Ethan Wolfe (Tennessee) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Gary Barnidge
10. Jordan Thomas (Mississippi St.) - 4th round grade

--> Why is the tight end class "very average?" Not every TE class has potentially 4 guys who could be Day 1 picks. 

-> I agree with most of the other placements - Goedert is my No. 1, I have Andrews highly rated and Hurst not as much, etc. I think Andrews could be a solid tight end who plays essentially like a big slot receiver. I don't want to link him to anyone really bad characteristically, but he could carve out a role like Aaron Hernandez would have if he didn't... you know.


Offensive Line: (Position Grade = B-)
1. Frank Ragnow (Arkansas) - Top 10 grade
2. Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame) - Top 10 grade....NFL comp: Zach Martin
3. Will Hernandez (UTEP) - 1st round grade
4. Isaiah Wynn (Georgia) - 1st round grade
5. James Daniels (Iowa) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Damien Woody
6. Kolton Miller (UCLA) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Nate Solder
7. Connor Williams (Texas) - 2nd round grade
8. Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame) - 3rd round grade
9. Tyrell Crosby (Oregon) - 3rd round grade......NFL comp: Chris Williams
10 (tie). Brian O'Neal (Pittsburgh) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Jamarco Jones (Ohio St.) - 3rd round grade

-> Yes, Ragnow might be more athletic, but Nelson is almost technically flawless! I've seen accounts saying he might step in and be the NFL's best guard from the get-go. I'm not really seeing it with Ragnow above him despite your explanation.

-> I disagree with Kolton Miller over Connor Williams. Yes, Miller's a phenomenal athlete, but he's somewhat of a project in terms of technique. I don't think Williams is - he's got pretty good technique already. Williams is also a solid athlete - he did a good job in the explosion drills at the Combine. I would put Williams over Miller because of his combination of technique and athleticism instead of Miller's raw athleticism.

 


Edge Rushers: (Position Grade = A-)
1. Marcus Davenport (UTSA) - Top 10 grade.....NFL comp: Jason Taylor
2. Bradley Chubb (NC State) - Top 10 grade.......NFL comp: Peter Boulware
3. Arden Key (LSU) - Top 10 grade.......NFL comp: Simeon Rice
4. Harold Landry (Boston College) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Anthony Barr
5. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Oklahoma) - 2nd round grade......NFL comp: mini Justin Houston
6. Uchenna Nwosu (USC) - 2nd round grade
7. Jeff Holland (Auburn) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Melvin Ingram
8. Sam Hubbard (Ohio St.) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Chris Long
9. Josh Sweat (Florida St.) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Jadeveon Clowney-lite
10. Tyquan Lewis (Ohio St.) - 2nd round grade
11. Dorance Armstrong Jr. (Kansas) - 3rd round grade
12. Lorenzo Carter (Georgia) - 3rd round grade
13. Kemoko Turay (Rutgers) - 3rd round grade
14. Jayln Holmes (Ohio St.) - 3rd round grade
15. Kylie Fitts (Utah) - 3rd round grade

-> Why do you have an All-Pro grade on Arden Key? Sure his tape from last year was pretty good, but he didn't look impressive to me at all this year and I think there are too many problems to fix with him, off the field and on it. I don't see the explosiveness of a top edge-rusher anymore and I doubt he has the work ethic to get there and sustain it. Speaking of guys with phenomenal 2016-17 tape, Harold Landry: why is it so far of a drop from Key to him in your opinion?

-> I actually really like Carter, I think he's a great prospect who will carve out a role like Jamie Collins. Why is he so low on your rankings?

 


Defensive Tackles: (Position Grade = B+)
1. Tim Settle (Virginia Tech) - Top 10 grade.....NFL comp: Cortez Kennedy
2. Vita Vea (Washington) - Top 10 grade......NFL comp: Haloti Ngata
3. Taven Bryan (Florida) - 1st round grade
4. Da'Ron Payne (Alabama) - 2nd round grade
5. Harrison Phillips (Stanford) - 2nd round grade
6. Rasheem Green (USC) - 3rd round grade
7. Nathan Shepard (Fort Valley St.) - 3rd round grade
8. Maurice Hurst (Michigan) - 3rd round grade
9. Trenton Thompson (Georgia) - 3rd round grade
10. Kahlil McKenzie (Tennessee) - 3rd round grade
11. BJ Hill (NC State) - 3rd round grade
12. Kendal Vickers (Tennessee) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Ray McDonald
13. PJ Hall (Sam Houston St.) - 3rd round grade
14. Andrew Brown (Virginia) - 4th round grade
15. Da'Shawn Hand (Alabama) - 4th round grade

 

 


Linebackers: (Position Grade = B+)
1. Leighton Vander Esch (Boise St.) - Top 5 grade......NFL comp: Jack Lambert
2. Fred Warner (BYU) - Top 10 grade
3. Micah Kiser (Virginia) - 1st round grade.....NFL comp: poor man's Ray Lewis
4. Rashaan Evans (Alabama) - 2nd round grade
5. Roquan Smith (Georgia) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: Keith Rivers
6. Tremaine Edmunds (Virginia Tech) - 2nd round grade
7. Daruis Leonard (South Carolina St.) - 3rd round grade.....NFL comp: Telvin Smith
8. Matthew Thomas (Florida St.) - 3rd round grade
9. Skai Moore (South Carolina) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Josy Jewell (Iowa) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Jerome Baker (Ohio St.) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Malik Jefferson (Texas) - 3rd round grade

-> Are you concerned at all about the neck brace LVE wears?

-> I'm not sold on the athletic abilities of Warner and Kiser to be such great prospects. Why are you?

-> I have Roquan Smith as the best prospect in the draft (tied with Barkley), but at weakside linebacker. I agree with your assessment that he won't be your MLB, but I think he's still far better than a Day 2 pick!


Cornerbacks: (Position Grade = A)
1. Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) - Top 5 grade......NFL comp: Rod Woodson
2. Brandon Facyson (Virginia Tech) - Top 10 grade.....NFL comp: Antonio Cromartie
3. Jaire Alexander (Louisville) - 1st round grade
4. Carlton Davis (Auburn) - 1st round grade
5. Donte Jackson (LSU) - 2nd round grade......NFL comp: Mike Jenkins
6. Mike Hughes (UCF) - 2nd round grade.......NFL comp: Orlando Scandrick
7. Denzel Ward (Ohio St.) - 2nd round grade
8. Rashaan Gaulden (Tennessee) - 2nd round grade
9. JaMarcus King (South Carolina) - 2nd round grade.....NFL comp: Al Harris
10. M.J. Stewart (North Carolina) - 2nd round grade....NFL comp: R.W. McQuarters
11. D.J. Reed (Kansas St.) - 2nd round grade
12. Josh Jackson (Iowa) - 3rd round grade
13. Isaiah Oliver (Colorado) - 3rd round grade
14. Parry Nickerson (Tulane) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). Anthony Averett (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). Holton Hill (Texas) - 3rd round grade
15 (tie). Nick Nelson (Wisconsin) - 3rd round grade

-> Denzel Ward - "lack of awareness and ball skills?" That's not really close to my assessment of the guy. Even though he's probably a slot corner, so are most of these guys. I'd take him early Day 1.

 


Safeties: (Position Grade = C+)
1. Derwin James (Florida St.) - Top 5 grade......NFL comp: Steve Atwater
2. Terrell Edmunds (Virginia Tech) - 2nd round grade
3. Justin Reid (Stanford) - 2nd round grade
4. Dominick Sanders (Georgia) - 2nd round grade
5. Ronnie Harrison (Alabama) - 3rd round grade
6. Jessie Bates III (Wake Forest) - 3rd round grade....NFL comp: Thomas DeCoud
7. Terrell Williams (Houston) - 3rd round grade
8. Armani Watts (Texas A&M) - 3rd round grade
9. Tarvarius Moore (Southern Miss) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Marcus Allen (Penn State) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Dane Cruikshank (Arizona) - 3rd round grade
10 (tie). Deshon Elliott (Texas) - 3rd round grade

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, sammymvpknight said:

A+ for originality 

I try my best to just go with what I see and not let the opinions of others (in particular the so-called "experts") sway me one way or the other.  If everyone loves a prospect, I'm not gonna automatically like him too.  Or in the opposite direction, if I see a guy who I think looks awesome that everyone else is saying is a Day 3 pick, I'm not gonna say well he can't be as good as I think he is simply because everyone else doesn't think so.

There are busts and steals every year for a reason.  The consensus is not always right.

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1 hour ago, reamer said:

I enjoy this parody account. :)

Just ask yourself this, has there ever been a draft where the order the players are selected reflected the order the players actually turned out to be in the NFL?

I'm not trying to rate players so that they are in accordance with what the so-called "experts" are saying.  I'm just looking at it fresh with no regard for what the consensus says.  So for example, if everyone and their mother loves Roquan Smith and thinks he'll be a star, I have no problem saying I found him to not be very impressive.  Conversely, I have no problem in rating Brandon Facyson (a guy who might go in Day 3) as a top 15 player overall and the #2 CB in this class. 

I will say the only impact the consensus has on my opinion is it does make me give guys like Roquan the benefit of the doubt when I watch their tape and it does make me look for flaws in guys like Brandon Facyson.  So if anything, I'm trying to confirm what everyone else is seeing in these guys but sometimes I just can't go along which is when I diverge. 

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8 minutes ago, jarren said:

What are your thoughts on Tarvarius Moore? He's the most underrated player in the draft imo. 

I haven't studied him in depth.  I got to him very late in the process after someone mentioned he could end up being a top 50 pick.  So I wanted to have a look for myself to see if he was a guy who immediately jumps off the screen as a potentially big-time player.    I will admit from the little I've seen (I only watched cut-ups of him against Tennessee and Florida St.) he does look the part of a prototypical NFL safety.  He's very long and athletic.  He also tested well at his Pro Day.  However, I just didn't see him flash enough in those games to think he'll be a major impact player in the NFL.  He should definitely make a team and will have a chance to develop into a starter.  I just didn't see enough in terms of instincts and plays on the ball to say conclusively that he will be a star player in the league.  From the little I saw, he seemed a step late (mentally) and not involved in the action as much as I would have liked to see.

 

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1 hour ago, VanS said:

I try my best to just go with what I see and not let the opinions of others (in particular the so-called "experts") sway me one way or the other.  If everyone loves a prospect, I'm not gonna automatically like him too.  Or in the opposite direction, if I see a guy who I think looks awesome that everyone else is saying is a Day 3 pick, I'm not gonna say well he can't be as good as I think he is simply because everyone else doesn't think so.

There are busts and steals every year for a reason.  The consensus is not always right.

Oh...I agree. You were dead right last year on Kamara, so I’m not blowing you off. 

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4 hours ago, VanS said:

xD   You know what's funny, I kept asking myself, am I really gonna rank a guy who I just heard of today as a future All-Pro when I started watching Brandon Facyson's tape the other day?

Brandon Facyson is actually a very interesting story.  I only got to him in the last few days.  I was just looking up players that participated at the combine that tested well that I may have missed during my initial review of their tape.  Facyson quickly jumped out to me cause he ran a decent 40 for his size.  At first, I thought I would just put him in near the bottom of my CB rankings as a 3rd round prospect.  But as I kept watching, he kept flashing.  And I kept saying to myself he can't be this good.  So I tried to find holes in his game.  I mean the guy looked spectacular to me on tape and I thought maybe I'm missing some glaring flaw that the NFL scouts know that I don't know.

So this is what I found out.  First of all, Brandon Facyson is the all-time leader in pass break-ups in Virginia-Tech history.  That's pretty impressive when you consider the caliber of defensive backs Virginia Tech has put out over the last 20 years (i.e. DeAngelo Hall, Kam Chancellor, and the Fuller bros).  He was also a Freshmen All-American in 2013 as a true freshmen.  He injured his leg the following year which slowed him down going into 2015.  He was back to his old self in 2016 and most of 2017 before another injury ended his season this past year.  He looks to be fully healthy now heading into the draft.  While watching one of his games on YouTube, I saw a stat flash on the screen that read that he had given up the lowest completion % in the ACC when QBs threw to his side over the last 2 seasons.  That got my attention cause it showed me that the flashes of brilliance I saw weren't just flashes but what he's been doing consistently locking down receivers when targeted.  Then I did a little research into his background and found out that he's highly respected by his coaches and teammates for his work ethic.  He's a kid who came back to school for his senior year this season so he could complete his degree in preparation for applying for medical school after football.  His parents are also teachers who taught abroad in Dubai.

This kid just checked all the boxes for me when it comes to what I look for in a prospect.  He's physically talented, played well in college, well respected by his peers and coaches, and has the sort of intangibles and work ethic that make it likely he reaches his full potential as a football player.  As you can see, I don't just pull these rankings out of my behind.  I do my research and if I'm going to go against the grain, I try to be as sure as possible.  As long as Brandon Facyson can stay healthy, I believe he can be an elite player in the NFL as a press corner in a cover 2 or cover 3 scheme.

 

Hard for me to give the kid a chance after I saw Zay Jones giving him the business last year (before he left the game with what I assume was an injury).

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I've gotta say, you definitely put in a ton of work on this. Agree or disagree, it's nice to see someone doing their own thing instead of the standard cut-and-paste rankings.

Now onto a few notes:

The Mayfield-Grossman comp is interesting. Mayfield is a much better athlete than Rex was. What are you seeing to compare them with? And saying he's unfairly compared to Wilson while saying Jackson is the most athletic QB in history with a Mike Vick comparison? Ballsy, but hey, you do you. 

Why so low on Falk and Rudolph but high on Benkert and Ferguson? I'm a huge Ferguson fan, so I really want your take on him. 

Freeman over Chubb and Guice is...different. And I like it. I think Freeman's stock took a hit with the poor supporting cast around him. I personally have him as my 2-B behind Barkley and Jones but just a shade ahead of Michel and Penny. I'm intrigued by your grade on Walton-  I like him a lot, but not sure I'd give him a 1st round grade. What's your take on him?

I'm glad someone else agrees that Ridley isn't a 1st round WR. I also really like the Pettis-Baldwin comp. My sleeper for a late round flyer is Darren Carrington. Late round for the obvious reasons. But as he's not on your list (which only goes to round 3 for WRs), what's your take on him?

Phillips over Hurst? Not that I personally disagree, but why?

I back you wholeheartedly on Facyson. Someone is going to get a steal with that kid. 

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