Original post by jammy4041First Round Big Board
Quarterbacks:
1. Marcus Mariota.
2. Jameis Winston.
Winston is hands down the best QB, but with a second woman linked with him and the rape allegations, he slides, even considering Mariota's lack of experience playing under center.
Wide Recievers:
1. Amari Cooper
2. Kevin White
3. Devante Parker
4. Jalean Strong
5. Nelson Agholor
6. Phillip Dorsett.
It's a great WR class, and almost every team needs a WR, and it's possible all of these will be taken in the first round. I don't quite understand how Devante Parker has seperated so much from Jaelen Strong. Strong is a ferocious blocker, and has the size, speed and hands to be a difference maker, and as such, is a first round talent. Agholor is a very nice route runner, and has great hands and speed, but I see him and Dorsett as fast risers. Dorsett is an excellent route runner.
Running Backs:
1. Todd Gurley
2. Melvin Gordon
3. Jay Ajayi
I'd happily take all three running backs in the first round. Jay Ajayi has comparisons with Lynch for a reason, and he's well built, and can catch the ball well.
Offensive Tackles:
1. Andrus Peat
2. Ereck Flowers
3. La'el Collins
4. DJ Humphries
5. Cedric Ogbuehi
6. Jake Fisher
7. TJ Clemmings
Offensive Guards:
1. Brandon Scherff
2. La'el Collins.
Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle
1. Leonard Williams
2. Danny Shelton
3. Malcom Smith
4. Eddie Goldman
4. Jordan Phillips
Eddie Goldman and Jordan Phillips represent the prototypical nose tackle, and have excellent athleticism for the position, especially considering their size.
3-4 Outside Linebackers:
1. Vic Beasley
2. Shane Ray
3. Dante Fowler Jr.
4. Bud Dupree
5. Eli Harold
=6. Randy Gregory
=6. Danielle Hunter
Vic Beasley is a great player. Shane Ray has an explosive first step, which is very important for a pass rusher, and is a plus athlete for the position. After those two, a lot of the players are raw. Dante Fowler Jr. and Bud Dupree have both been used in the 'joker' role, but have the size and the athleticism to do well enough as a 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 end. Eli Harold should be a first round pick, especially with a lot of teams in play for an OLB at that stage, and has proven to be a compentent pass rusher in college. Randy Gregory, once a top-5 pick will be lucky to stay in the first round, but a team in need of pass rusher will take a chance in the first. Danielle Hunter, has great length, good size, and elite athleticism, but, although he shows a nose to get to the football, he needs a lot of work on his first step. Still, he can go anywhere from the late first to the middle of the second.
3-4 Defensive Ends
1. Leonard Williams
2. Mario Edwards Jr.
3. Marcus Hardison
Mario Edwards Jr. should still be a first rounder. He played heavier in college and has slimmed down, but after Leonard Williams, a team which needs a 3-4 end, would do well to consider him. He's probably a little undersized now, but he has the ability to fill out his frame, and has had a great career for FSU. I like Marcus Hardison a lot as a player, and he is very much in the same mould as Leonard Williams. He'll probably be taken in the second round, but he has the talent and elite athleticism to be taken earlier. Looking at some of his tape, he only made play-after-play for Arizona State.
4-3 Defensive Ends
1. Dante Fowler Jr.
2. Bud Dupree
3. Mario Edwards Jr.
Cornerbacks:
1. Trae Waynes
=2. Jalen Collins
=2. Marcus Peters
4. Kevin Johnson
5. Ronald Darby
6. Eric Rowe
Marcus Peters had a good enough combine, and is a top-ten pick on talent alone. However, he does have off field issues and needs to be kept emotionally in check. Most of them do seem to be arising from a poor relationship with Chris Petersen however. Jalen Collins has limited experience at cornerback, but he's a plus athlete. Kevin Johnson was one of the better corners in the ACC, and had enough size and length that teams look for in the position, so I think he has done enough to solidify his first round status. Ronald Darby had a great combine. He's not as good on the field as PJ Williams, but he's a physical corner, and was a perfect complement to PJ Williams. Eric Rowe is the top FS prospect, in my opinion, but he should also be in play for teams looking at a cornerback, as he has great size for the position.
PJ Williams drops out of this conversation due to his DUI arrest. Teams will put him under the microscope, and they won't like what they find off field. That's a shame, because he's a big, physical corner (even too physical) with excellent instincts, the desired size and length for the position. Now, like Gregory, he'll slide.
Safeties:
1. Landon Collins
2. Eric Rowe
3. Shaq Thompson
I see Shaq Thompson more as a SS, than a 4-3 OLB, and he does have excellent athleticism. A team could take him to be a 4-3 OLB, but he's undersized to be a linebacker.