Top 20 NFL Prospects
Top Picks Jockey for Position…No One Wants to go to Glue Factory
Top 20 NFL Prospects
Friday, March 2, 2007
The one thing everyone seems to be able to agree on is that its virtually impossible to agree when it comes to ranking just about everything…unless of course you live in New York and haven’t been huffing glue your entire life, then you know the Yankees are the best. I am going to attempt to rank the top prospects available for April’s NFL Draft, starting with Number 20 and counting down to Number 1. I decided that the odds of my Top 32 all going in the First Round were slim to none. I also decided that I’d rather take up needlepoint than count down 40 college kids who are all going to end up getting paid lots of money to smoke dope, buy cars and occasionally play football. To that end, I’m counting down the Top 20 Prospects…as in the guys who are really good as of right now and should make an impact. When it comes time to doing my mock draft…well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
20) Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida: People have this guy all over the place, but the consensus is that he can play. Honestly, the guy is 6’6” 250 and can move. This draft looks like it could be DEEP with Defensive Linemen and he’s just one of a bunch of guys ready to make an impact.
19) Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC: At the beginning of the season, he might’ve been a Top 5 pick, but a lackluster season (Steve Smith was a better receiver for the Condoms) and what some folks might consider a chip on his shoulder has him sliding down draft boards faster than Christina Aguilera (Circa 2001) in a Men’s Room on the NJ Turnpike.
18) Leon Hall, CB, Michigan: The knock on most Secondary players in this draft aside from Landry is that either they’re fast but can’t cover guys or vice versa. Hall & Revis will both find their niche and although Hall was burned like a protesting Buddhist Monk against Ohio State he’s got good speed and should be able to get plugged in somewhere.
18) Darrelle Revis, CB, Pitt: Only time will tell whether he’s a better pick than Reggie Nelson, but for my money, I’d take Nelson. I have a lot of doubts as to the level of competition in the Big East. No knocking Larry Fitzgerald, but a case could be made for his not being as dynamic as people expected him to be…not to mention, he’s a little soft.
16) Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska: Like I said, lots of D-Line talent in this draft. I’m not as big on this guy as everyone else is, but I have been known to be wrong.
15) Reggie Nelson, S, Florida: I like a lot of these Florida guys. I think they’re going to make decent players…and even though Urban Meyer and Alex Smith are making a liar out of me I have more respect for Florida football than I do for Utah football.
14) Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State: He is ranked much lower by people who get paid to do this. Still, he’s a Butkus Award winner and plays with a ton of heart. If people slurped PSU the way they do Nebraska they’d be saying he was the next A.J. Hawk.
13) Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal: The only thing people seem to agree on (for the most part) is that he’s the second best RB in this Draft, after that it gets pretty hazy. Is he too small? Is he not committed? Does he listen to John Mayer too much? You name it. He might do a little sliding come draft day, but look for the Panthers or Giants to give him a pretty serious look.
12) Levi Brown, OT, Penn State: I actually like him better than Joe Thomas. He’s not taller, but he’s more massive and less likely to be tossed around by the likes of Strahan, Freeney, et al.
11) Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State: He’s still, by all accounts, a great WR. Not playing in the National Championship hurt him more than not doing anything at the Combine.
10) Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame: As far as I’m concerned, this spot is more generous than what the Academy did for Marty Scorsese on Sunday night.
9) Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas: He hasn’t really done a lot to lose his spot as the best D-End in the Draft, but Gaines Adams could be another Jevon Kearse and had an absolutely insane Combine (I’m only paying attention to Adams’ Shuttle Run and across the board scores, which were in the top three for all categories).
8) LaRon Landry, S, LSU: He might be the fastest guy in the draft (depending on which 40 time of Johnson’s you look at, or believe) and he’s got the ability to shut people down. Think of Bob Sanders and Ed Reed…Landry might be their baby.
7) Alan Branch, DT, Michigan: Some people are down on this guy, don’t ask me why. Aside from Okoye he’s one of the best interior D-Linemen available. Not to mention a beast at about 6’6” 320. This kid could plug big holes faster than Sigfreid…or is it Roy?
6) Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin: He’s big and strong and blah, blah, blah…I’m still not convinced that O-Linemen should ever be selected this high. See previous comment about swinging from dingleberries.
5) Amboi Okoye, DT, Louisville: This kid is only 19, which means he’s only going to get bigger and stronger. Scary thought considering he’s already about 6’2” and tips the scales at a muscular 310-pounds.
4) Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson: A lot of people have Joe Thomas in this spot, but I value defense more than offense. Remember the Ravens won a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer and the Colts offense never showed up for the Playoffs…although it does kill me to have a Clemson guy ranked this high.
3) JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU: So what he showed up out of shape to the Combine, what was he doing there besides talking to scouts and taking the Wonderlic? He could slip if he’s not in shape by the time LSU’s Pro Day rolls around, otherwise he stays right where he is.
2) Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma: He is, by leaps and bounds, the best RB in the draft and a player who can not only change a game but change a team for the better for many seasons to come. Then again, he could end up being the Boz, but it’s doubtful.
1) Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech: There seems little doubt in anyone’s mind that Johnson is not the best overall player in this draft. He’s big, he’s strong and his very, very fast and unlike J.J. Stokes (another big, strong, fast guy) he can actually catch the football. If the Raiders already had a decent QB, he’d be the pick at Number 1.
So there you have it. My Top 20 available players in April’s Draft. Obviously, they’re not going in order like that and obviously I reserve the right to say that I was only kidding if any of these guys (I’m looking at you Brady) turn out to be complete lemons.
Top 20 NFL Prospects
Friday, March 2, 2007
The one thing everyone seems to be able to agree on is that its virtually impossible to agree when it comes to ranking just about everything…unless of course you live in New York and haven’t been huffing glue your entire life, then you know the Yankees are the best. I am going to attempt to rank the top prospects available for April’s NFL Draft, starting with Number 20 and counting down to Number 1. I decided that the odds of my Top 32 all going in the First Round were slim to none. I also decided that I’d rather take up needlepoint than count down 40 college kids who are all going to end up getting paid lots of money to smoke dope, buy cars and occasionally play football. To that end, I’m counting down the Top 20 Prospects…as in the guys who are really good as of right now and should make an impact. When it comes time to doing my mock draft…well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
20) Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida: People have this guy all over the place, but the consensus is that he can play. Honestly, the guy is 6’6” 250 and can move. This draft looks like it could be DEEP with Defensive Linemen and he’s just one of a bunch of guys ready to make an impact.
19) Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC: At the beginning of the season, he might’ve been a Top 5 pick, but a lackluster season (Steve Smith was a better receiver for the Condoms) and what some folks might consider a chip on his shoulder has him sliding down draft boards faster than Christina Aguilera (Circa 2001) in a Men’s Room on the NJ Turnpike.
18) Leon Hall, CB, Michigan: The knock on most Secondary players in this draft aside from Landry is that either they’re fast but can’t cover guys or vice versa. Hall & Revis will both find their niche and although Hall was burned like a protesting Buddhist Monk against Ohio State he’s got good speed and should be able to get plugged in somewhere.
18) Darrelle Revis, CB, Pitt: Only time will tell whether he’s a better pick than Reggie Nelson, but for my money, I’d take Nelson. I have a lot of doubts as to the level of competition in the Big East. No knocking Larry Fitzgerald, but a case could be made for his not being as dynamic as people expected him to be…not to mention, he’s a little soft.
16) Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska: Like I said, lots of D-Line talent in this draft. I’m not as big on this guy as everyone else is, but I have been known to be wrong.
15) Reggie Nelson, S, Florida: I like a lot of these Florida guys. I think they’re going to make decent players…and even though Urban Meyer and Alex Smith are making a liar out of me I have more respect for Florida football than I do for Utah football.
14) Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State: He is ranked much lower by people who get paid to do this. Still, he’s a Butkus Award winner and plays with a ton of heart. If people slurped PSU the way they do Nebraska they’d be saying he was the next A.J. Hawk.
13) Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal: The only thing people seem to agree on (for the most part) is that he’s the second best RB in this Draft, after that it gets pretty hazy. Is he too small? Is he not committed? Does he listen to John Mayer too much? You name it. He might do a little sliding come draft day, but look for the Panthers or Giants to give him a pretty serious look.
12) Levi Brown, OT, Penn State: I actually like him better than Joe Thomas. He’s not taller, but he’s more massive and less likely to be tossed around by the likes of Strahan, Freeney, et al.
11) Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State: He’s still, by all accounts, a great WR. Not playing in the National Championship hurt him more than not doing anything at the Combine.
10) Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame: As far as I’m concerned, this spot is more generous than what the Academy did for Marty Scorsese on Sunday night.
9) Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas: He hasn’t really done a lot to lose his spot as the best D-End in the Draft, but Gaines Adams could be another Jevon Kearse and had an absolutely insane Combine (I’m only paying attention to Adams’ Shuttle Run and across the board scores, which were in the top three for all categories).
8) LaRon Landry, S, LSU: He might be the fastest guy in the draft (depending on which 40 time of Johnson’s you look at, or believe) and he’s got the ability to shut people down. Think of Bob Sanders and Ed Reed…Landry might be their baby.
7) Alan Branch, DT, Michigan: Some people are down on this guy, don’t ask me why. Aside from Okoye he’s one of the best interior D-Linemen available. Not to mention a beast at about 6’6” 320. This kid could plug big holes faster than Sigfreid…or is it Roy?
6) Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin: He’s big and strong and blah, blah, blah…I’m still not convinced that O-Linemen should ever be selected this high. See previous comment about swinging from dingleberries.
5) Amboi Okoye, DT, Louisville: This kid is only 19, which means he’s only going to get bigger and stronger. Scary thought considering he’s already about 6’2” and tips the scales at a muscular 310-pounds.
4) Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson: A lot of people have Joe Thomas in this spot, but I value defense more than offense. Remember the Ravens won a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer and the Colts offense never showed up for the Playoffs…although it does kill me to have a Clemson guy ranked this high.
3) JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU: So what he showed up out of shape to the Combine, what was he doing there besides talking to scouts and taking the Wonderlic? He could slip if he’s not in shape by the time LSU’s Pro Day rolls around, otherwise he stays right where he is.
2) Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma: He is, by leaps and bounds, the best RB in the draft and a player who can not only change a game but change a team for the better for many seasons to come. Then again, he could end up being the Boz, but it’s doubtful.
1) Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech: There seems little doubt in anyone’s mind that Johnson is not the best overall player in this draft. He’s big, he’s strong and his very, very fast and unlike J.J. Stokes (another big, strong, fast guy) he can actually catch the football. If the Raiders already had a decent QB, he’d be the pick at Number 1.
So there you have it. My Top 20 available players in April’s Draft. Obviously, they’re not going in order like that and obviously I reserve the right to say that I was only kidding if any of these guys (I’m looking at you Brady) turn out to be complete lemons.
posted by EMW at 11:53 PM
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