BigBanger
09-09-2010, 05:27 PM
Round 1 Players
AJ Green, WR, Georgia, Jr.
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AJ Green is a special talent that the NFL draft only sees every handful of years. The last prospect that was as big and imposing as Green was Calvin Johnson, and before that, Andre Johnson and before that, Randy Moss. AJ Green is not quite in that elite, rare category of a once-in-a-decade type receiver prospect, but he's about as close as it gets. He's more in the Larry Fitzgerald and Dez Bryant range, which is still pretty damn good. With ridiculous size, great length, very good speed, excellent hands, great focus and concentration, Green routinely makes highlight reel catches, jumps over defenders and simply looks like a man amongst boys. An extremely productive player in the SEC for three years. Against the top competition, Green has shown an innate ability to adjust to poorly thrown balls, shield defenders with his big frame and make tough catches in traffic. Excellent body control and elite level ball skills. Really attacks the ball when its in the air. Vertical threat that is very dangerous and will keep defenses honest. A true #1 receiver prospect that has to be accounted for on almost every single play. Really opens things up for other players and makes everyone around him better, including his quarterback. Green is a good route runner and gets good separation. He lacks that elite quickness in and out of his breaks. He will be very productive at the next level and be a teams top receiving threat for years to come. Good character and very good work ethic. A smart player that has natural instincts for the position. Maybe the most talented player in the 2011 draft. Coming from a pro style offense and is familiar with the NFL route tree. Understands defenses and option routes. Isn't going to do a whole lot after the catch, but will be a dangerous deep threat and a big scoring threat. A safe player for a position that has produced a lot of draft busts. I think Green will be a major contributor for an NFL team and a future Pro Bowl player capable of really exploding. Could be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in three or four years. Rather thin frame, lanky. Will have to improve strength. Great competitor, focused. Terrific red zone threat. The best player in this draft.
Grade: Elite
Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama, Jr.
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Marcell Dareus is the cream of the crop when it comes to this heavy class of defensive linemen. At nearly 320 pounds and well over 6'3'' Dareus already has an NFL frame. With very good athletic ability and lateral quickness, Dareus can play over an offensive tackle, a guard or a center. Extremely versatile linemen with gaudy power. Reminds me of Cullen Jenkins, one of my favorite players in the NFL. Has a similar build as Jenkins (just bigger) coupled with similar athletic ability. Dareus battled through injuries his junior season and still managed to be a force that commanded constant double teams and extra attention. When healthy, Dareus flashed brilliance rarely seen from a defensive tackle. A hard nosed player with a great motor and physicality. Extremely heavy hands and great use of power and leverage. Generates the most force and momentum of any defensive linemen in this class. Incredibly strong and a has frame that is well built. Really explodes off the line of scrimmage and can penetrate the backfield by splitting linemen or powering through with a bullrush. Great balance with a great first step. A surprisingly good natural bender that can take a cut block and power through. Has experience all over the line and can play any defensive line position in a pinch. Best suited for a 34 defensive end role. The best natural 34 defensive end prospect in this draft (along with JJ Watt). Holds up incredibly well at the point of attack. Great leverage and power with a thick lower half that allows him to anchor against double teams. Has violent hands and excellent handwork. A rare defensive line prospect that can really rush the quarterback. Has experience playing 43 defensive end, where he was shockingly effective and explosive for such a big man. Versatile and can be utilized in a myriad of ways as a pass rusher. Was not as productive due to injuries and limited starting experience. Best days are ahead of his. A finisher that knows how to finish a play. Great motor. Relentless. Very smart and instinctive. Plays with his eyes up. Recognizes gadget plays, such as screens and reverses. Plays gap assignment. Very smart player. Great athlete. Exceptional body lean and footwork. A natural pass rusher with pass rushing instincts. Needs to improve with leverage against the run on a consistent basis, but his run stuffing ability is not on the same level as his pass rushing ability at this time. Can stack and shed defenders. Great ability to separate and gain outside leverage. Well coached. A complete player that is capable of dominating as a run defender and pass rusher. Very few flaws in his game. Stamina, fatigue and lack of starting experience are the only real negatives. Didn't put up great numbers in college. My third favorite interior defensive line prospect behind Ndamukong Suh and Haloti Ngata. Should be a dominating force that anchors a defensive front for the next 10 years.
Grade: Elite
Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU, Jr.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3598/patrickpeterson.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/i/patrickpeterson.jpg/)
Patrick Peterson is considered by many to be the "cleanest," best or most talented prospect in the 2011 Draft. With as much talent as any prospect in this draft, Peterson brings unparalleled size for the cornerback position. At 6'2'' and 220 pounds, Peterson has the size and strength few corners possess. Combine that rare size with blazing 4.3 speed and you have one of the biggest freak specimens any draft will ever offer. Peterson is coming off a very good junior season and brings versatility with the return game. With the size, speed and elite ball skills, Peterson could be an intriguing prospect as a free safety, where I think he would be extremely good, and maybe better at the next level. There are questions concerning his ability to drop deep into zones, make safety reads and take proper angles. Peterson will be used primarily as a cornerback once he enters the NFL, but a later transition could be very possible if he does not turn out to be the shutdown corner some expect him to be. Peterson has good hips and change of direction skills, showing fluidity in coverage although he does play a little too high on occasion. He does, however, struggle with footwork (at times) and takes false steps, which causes him to get beat quickly off the line of scrimmage. With as much speed as Peterson has, his burst is not at the same elite level and he will struggle covering quick-twitch receivers that can run short, underneath patterns in the middle of the field. Coverage skills were also exposed while in off coverage where quick posts and comebacks can cause Peterson to give up ground and easy receptions. He's much better in press coverage where he can use his excellent jam and length to hinder routes and timing with a wide receiver and quarterback. Will give up his fair share of receptions early in his career. He is not a shutdown cornerback prospect, and probably never will be, but he has the potential to be an elite player. Peterson does have incredible ball skills and excellent hands, which may be the best in this draft from any defensive back. Made some acrobatic interceptions and showed great ball skills and natural ability to undercut routes. An extremely tough and competitive player, and it shows on the field. A leader when on the field and has an aura about him that just oozes something special. Great tackler and does an excellent job in run support and making immediate tackles when giving up a reception. A tough competitor who never takes a play off and shows a great fiery motor. Likes to stick his nose in a run play and hit someone. A hard worker with virtually no character concerns to speak of. I don't think he'll ever be an elite, shutdown corner, but I do think he'll be a playmaker at the next level; unlike any cornerback we have ever seen. Tons of talent and still has upside to become a better pure cover corner. I do think he has more potential be an elite free safety, an extremely rare one, then an elite cornerback. Either way, I think this will be one of the best players in the NFL by year three.
Grade: Top 5
J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin, Jr.
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Watt is another first round caliber 34 defensive end to add to this incredibly deep class of five-techniques. Watt possess ideal size and great strength. A terrific motor and maybe the best character of any player in this years draft. A relentless player that constantly makes hustle plays. Never quits on a play. Very good athleticism and really performed much better in the Combine than most expected. Coming off a dominate junior season where he notched 21 tackles for loss. Incredibly stout at the point of attack and does a phenomenal job of relocating the line of scrimmage. Constantly lives in opposing teams backfields. Very strong, very long and does a really nice job of shedding blockers. Great hand placement and excellent length. Works better in traffic as opposed to further away from the ball in space. Quick enough to shoot gaps on a consistent basis and possess great balance to make plays in the backfield. Has excellent technique and plays with great leverage. Has a knack for keeping his eyes up when rushing the quarterback and getting his hands up into passing lanes, batting balls at the line of scrimmage. Great instincts and awareness. A very good pass rusher that has the potential to post double digit sack totals on a yearly basis. Is not special and will lack the explosion off the line of scrimmage to be an ideal fit in 43 fronts. If drafted by a 43 defense, he may never live up to his first round projection since he lacks the ability to be a constant pressure pass rusher, and would probably better suited as a 43 defensive tackle (where you really don't want to play and negate his strengths). Watt certainly isn't a flashy player and doesn't have a ton of upside, but he's a phenomenal leader, a high energy and high character guy that could ignite a defense. An extremely hard worker that is dedicated to the game. Focused and determined. Incredibly passionate. Ideal 34 defensive end and similar in a lot of ways to Aaron Smith coupled with Chris Long's athletic ability. He will be an excellent player for the next 10 years. One of the safest players in the draft, and much better than most consider. Could wind up being the best player from this entire draft if used properly.
Grade: Top 5
Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M, Sr.
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Miller is one of the few prospects in this draft that will garner an "elite" label from a good amount of people. Miller is, without question, the most proven pass rusher in this draft. With the most athleticism and speed as any pass rusher in this draft, Miller shows the ability to be a perennial double digit sack guy. Miller is a good fit for 34 schemes as a weak side backer. Really great competitor with a terrific motor. Miller plays hard against the run and gives maximum effort. Tremendous range and closing ability. Phenomenal burst. Terrific in pursuit and looks comfortable in space. Still lacks the instincts and awareness in pass coverage, dropping into zones and feeling receiving threats behind him. Miller is, however, not great against the run and may struggle with NFL tackles. His size is the only thing that keeps him from being an elite player on my board. At just 6'2'' and around 240 pounds, he will struggle with the strength of NFL offensive tackles. He does have extremely quick hands and tremendous footwork. Miller has one of the most explosive first steps I have ever seen. A tremendous advantage that allows him to set up offensive tackles. Has Derrick Brooks-like speed and quickness off the edge. The best jab step I've seen from a college player where he rushes up field and then quickly cuts inside and offensive tackle, gaining inside leverage. A Clay Matthews like jab step. Very strong punch and a solid bull rush that will improve with better strength. An energizer bunny. Terrific work ethic and top notch intangibles. For all the risk with pass rushers, especially in this draft, Miller has the least risk. A sure fire starter that will have Pro Bowl potential. Will need to develop his strength to become more of a complete player. Needs to develop more pass rushing moves (counter moves) and use his hands better to disengage from blockers, instead of relying on his speed and quickness. Will give up ground to get around a blocker instead of stacking and shedding with proper technique. Did disappear at times and his play wasn't always consistent. Miller is extremely productive and an incredible pass rusher. Great production: 27.5 sacks over the last two years with 39 tackles for loss. A naturally gifted pass rusher with tremendous body control, balance, athleticism, leverage and finishing ability. Good awareness and solid instincts. Tough. Leader. Minimal question marks. Will develop into one of the best pure pass rushers in the NFL. Relentless attitude. Incredibly quick. Elite natural ability and tremendous potential. Should be the prize pass rusher from this class.
Grade: Top 5
Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri, So. (Rs)
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Aldon Smith is a unique prospect with a unique skill set that I think makes him pretty special, but a little risky at the same time. Smith is a very tall and lanky player, but possess deceptive strength. A guy that you expect, just looking at his size and rather thin looking frame, to be a guy that uses speed and quickness to beat opposing players and be little more than a situational pass rusher. Smith is anything but a situational pass rusher and he's surprisingly stout at the point of attack despite playing with poor leverage. Smith does have unique quickness and athletic ability for a pass rushing defensive linemen, but his athleticism tends to get very overrated. Smith has the strength to kick inside and play over an offensive guard where he's usually at his best. Smith has a unique cutting ability that allows him to setup offensive linemen. He is able to fake to the outside and start upfield, and then quickly cut inside an offensive tackle, gain inside leverage and work towards the quarterback. Smith also displays a powerful swat move that he has perfected since his freshman year where he will swat a linemen's hands away and knock them off balance. Smith is a natural swatter that prefers to get inside an offensive linemen instead of running around an offensive linemen. Smith is able to time his swat perfectly. Just as a linemen is attempting to punch him, he swats their arms away, which causes them to drop their head, lose their balance, which gives Smith a free run at the quarterback. It's instant pressure and he uses violent hands and an incredible punch. Smith does struggle against the run and with his upright style of play, he will get blown off the line of scrimmage three to five yards down field. Smith attempts to just back peddle, and then throw a linemen off to the side, giving up several yards and allowing the offense to move the original line of scrimmage three yards into the teeth of the defense. Smith may struggle early against the run and will have to play with better technique in stopping the run. He is raw as a run defender and may never develop into anything more than a merely adequate run stopper. His lack of burst and speed to turn the corner makes me question if he's going to be the pass rusher some make him out to be. Very similar to Jason Pierre-Paul, but not as athletic or naturally gifted. He is a little stiff in his hips and struggles as a bender. Played through injuries as a junior and had a down season. Looked very slow and was mere shadow of himself. I don't know what kind of player Smith is and I don't know what kind of career he will have if he's not in an ideal situation. Still raw, but lacking great upside or potential. Should be able to produce early in his career. His power and strength will translate very well to the next level. He's about as NFL ready as any defensive player in this draft.
Grade: Top 5
Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue, Sr.
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Kerrigan is another top caliber Boilermaker defensive end that the program has been turning out in recent years. And like the previous three star defensive end prospects, Anthony Spencer / Ray Edwards / Shaun Philips, he will probably be underrated for a while, at the same time, outperforming numerous players that will go ahead of him. With more flashy and athletic speed rushers (with not nearly the all-around game that Kerrigan has) being the hot commodity, they will go much higher come draft day because of words like "potential" and "speed" and "size," or a combination of all three. Kerrigan isn't going to be a guy labeled as disappointing because he gets everything out of his talents. He has a phenomenal motor that never quits. He's a high character guy. Kerrigan plays the game with great discipline, incredible instincts and excellent technique. His great uses of leverage, his athleticism / flexibility, instincts and his football IQ are going to make him a successful defensive end at the next level. Kerrigan plays with heavy hands and great power in his upper body, really showing a natural ability to get under opposing offensive tackles and driving them back, getting them off balance and attacking the line of scrimmage. Does a great job playing low and gaining leverage. Uses very good hand placement. With a great bull rush and slip move, he combines that with a rip move that creates a lot of pressure on the quarterback. He does show the ability to turn the corner or simply overpower offensive tackles. He has underrated athletic ability and good quickness off the edge, and scrapping down the line. Has a knack for getting off the ball the second it's snapped. Kerrigan has exceptional balance and a solid burst. He can really close to the ball carrier. Has the ability to play both end positions and he has enough size to kick inside on certain situations. Stout against the run, but needs improving. Does a very good job keeping outside leverage and sealing the edge. Does struggle to disengage from blockers on running plays directed directly at him. He is excellent at playing on the other side of the ball and does a good job getting off the line quickly and relocating the line of scrimmage. Very smart, hard working player that maximizes his talents. Finishes plays and hustles. Works through trash very well. Good tackler and brings his feet with him. Extremely productive, but does have limited upside. A definite first round defensive end with a lot of versatility for base 43 defenses. One of my favorite players in the country. He will be a steal come draft day just like Spencer, Edwards and Philips were (who would be top 20 picks if their drafts were to be re-done). He may be the best defensive linemen in the 2011 Draft. A complete player that plays the run and pass equally effectively. Not overly athletic or explosive and wont be a consistent double digit sack guy. Incredible production and tons of experience.
Grade: Top 10
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama, Jr.
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Jones is a big, physical wide receiver that has seen a huge rise in his draft stock after tearing the Combine apart. He's 6'2'' and 220 pounds, built like a rock. Running a sub 4.40, Jones became some people's #1 wide receiver in this years draft. On the field, Jones is coming off a very good junior season after a very disappointing sophomore season. A really good blocker and looks like a complete warrior on the field, which was validated after it was found he had a broken bone in his foot during the Combine workouts. Very strong and tough to tackle. A great competitor. A team player that gives great effort. Plays with great passion and emotion. An excellent route runner and does a great job of getting separation by using excellent technique. Very controlled while running routes. Solid hands, but has had issues with drops throughout his career. Decent ball skills, but wont make many high difficulty catches with corners draped all over him. Great character and work ethic. Very smart and excellent football IQ. Did not play up to his Combine numbers and looks more like a 4.5 guy on the field. Not a great timer of jump balls and doesn't have great potential to be a major playmaker. Lacks that elite quickness in and out of his breaks and wont gain great separation despite his excellent route running ability. Battled through injuries throughout his career and injured once again at the Combine. Plays with a style of play that may invite future injuries throughout his professional career as well. A solid, physical receiver that will do the majority of his damage as a possession receiver with the short to intermediate routes. Works the middle of the field and understands zone concepts. Finds the open holes in defenses. Will contribute in the running game. Compares well to Hines Ward and Anquan Boldin in regards to blocking and effort. A complete player, but not that definite, true stud #1 wide receiving option for a team that will command constant attention and double teams. Not that elite prospect some have made him out to be, but he will be a very good, productive professional. A winner. A step below AJ Green.
Grade: Top 10
Cameron Jordan, DE, California, Sr.
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Jordan is an emerging defensive line prospect that projects to be one of the best 34 defensive end prospects in the 2011 Draft. Jordan is an incredibly long player with excellent strength and power. Jordan doesn't look like a physically dominating specimen, but he's a technician when it comes to stuffing the run. Jordan is probably the best run stuffing defensive linemen I have ever seen. From a pure technique standpoint, he is flawless. His leverage is phenomenal and, by far, his greatest attribute. His understand of taking on double teams, stacking, shedding and then slipping a double team is already at a Pro level, and something I've never seen another college defensive player do on such a consistent basis. Jordan consistently powers through double teams, clogs holes and still has the ability to make plays. Jordan has a tall, lanky frame capable of adding weight. He could really develop physically at the pro level and play at around 300 pounds. Jordan is very athletic for a 34 defensive end, but not athletic for a 43 defensive end. Jordan is simply not a 43 defensive end even though some may say he is scheme diverse. When Jordan is too far away from the quarterback, he is out of his comfort zone and will struggle to apply pressure on the quarterback. He does not have the speed to run around offensive tackles and he is not a natural pass rusher from the 43 end position. Jordan relies on his quickness and initial burst to gain leverage and power through multiple blockers. Very strong, active hands that allow him to collapse the pocket and create a lot of pressure. Capable of delivering heavy punches and getting off blockers. A relentless motor with a great work ethic. Jordan is simply an animal. A guy that will dominate in a 34 defense for a decade and a guy I believe will be one of the best 34 defensive ends in the NFL. An absolute boss that is capable of make an early impact right away for an NFL team. Like Tyson Alualu, he could really emerge as a favorite for many teams and go a lot higher than people expect. He's the kind of guy you want on your side. Wont put up sack numbers and isn't flashy, but he will dominate the line of scrimmage and make everyone around him better.
Grade: Top 10
Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska, Sr.
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Amukamara is the top rated senior corner in the 2011 Draft on most people's accounts. He has excellent size for an NFL corner and shows decent run support ability. He attacks running backs on toss plays or sweeps in his area, and he does a great job making the quick stop. An average tackler with poor technique. He does not wrap up on most tackles to the perimeter, instead staying low and cutting a runner to the ground. He is not as strong against the run while in traffic and closer to the middle of the field, and will struggle against bigger, physical backs. He does show very good aggressiveness on quick screen passes to wide receivers or quick hitches and slants. Amukamara is going to be known best for his aggressive style of play. He jumps routes and does a great job trusting his eyes, reacting and then closing on the ball, whether it be through the air or against the run. Amukamara is incredibly instinctive and has great field awareness. He has the ability to make flat footed reads, read the quarterbacks eyes, feel where the receiver is and then explode through the throwing lane. He does a great job with route recognition, and his foot speed and natural burst allow him to close quickly on the ball, undercutting receivers. Tremendous change of direction skills, shows a very strong plant / drive leg. Very rarely will you see Amukamara slip or lose his balance, but he is a little tight hipped and plays high. He's physical at the line of scrimmage and shows a very good, disruptive jam. Long arms and plays with good extension. Really does an excellent job wearing down a receiver and making opposing players work for everything they get. Amukamara is a solid athlete, but lacks that elite top end speed. He plays very physical and uses his hands very well when slowing down receivers and disrupting timing routes. He has shown decent makeup speed when he is beat, but struggles finding the ball. Very confident in his natural abilities and shows excellent patience, and maintains solid positioning and use of angles. Scheme diverse. Can play man coverage and zone equally well. Does a great job of using his safety help when he gets it. He is a gambler and will get caught cheating, giving up catches. Is a little too physical at times and might struggle with illegal contact or holding penalties early in his career. Will get beat deep due to overaggressive play at the line of scrimmage. Amukamara needs to do a better job understanding his own abilities and how much cushion is necessary. He has average hands and average ball skills. He breaks up a lot of passes. His combination of size, strength, athleticism, acceleration, change of direction and recognition skills will make for one of the best cornerback prospects in recent years. Amukamara is a high character guy and a real student of the game. Very new to the position (only two years of starting experience) and has a lot of upside. A natural corner with great instincts for the position. I think Prince Amukamara has the potential to turn into one of the elite corner's in the game. He has all the tools to be a great NFL player. He is a suffocating defender with phenomenal strength for the position, but he is gambler.
Grade: Top 10
Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida, Sr.
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Pouncey has been the consensus #1 interior linemen in the draft ever since he decided to stay for his senior season. His twin brother, Maurkice Pouncey, had a Pro Bowl rookie season with the Steelers at Center. His success makes Mike Pouncey a sought after commodity as teams will hope to strike gold just like the Steelers did. Pouncey doesn't quite possess the same kind of athleticism as his twin brother, but he shows much more of a mauling strength and toughness to his game than Maurkice did when he entered the draft. Not an elite athlete, but he does an excellent job pulling and shows very good footwork and has nimble feet. Can get to the second level and does a good job blocking linebackers. He does a real nice job of locking on to defenders and moving them off the ball. He tends to struggle with quick defenders and positioning when he gets beat. He will let defenders get on the outside shoulder and he'll lose the leverage battle since he doesn't move his feet properly, and this was exposed even more when he moved to Center during his senior season. Pouncey looked very uncomfortable with snapping the ball, then immediately engaging a defensive linemen. He does a great job blocking down and washing linemen in the running game. Prototypical in-line blocker in run heavy / man-to-man schemes. He does a solid job at the second level, but he will bend at the waist, lose his balance and get knocked to the ground too often. He needs to continue refining his technique and play with more consistent leverage. When he keeps his hips low, he gets great leverage and can really push linemen off the ball. Excellent pass protector and has an incredibly strong base. Strong hands, excellent punch and terrific hand placement. Always keeps his hands inside a defenders body and really impedes a pass rush. Great anchor ability and terrific balance in pass protection. Very good size, but will have to continue building his strength in the weight room to handle the elite power of the top defensive linemen in the NFL. An extremely safe player that wont surprise you. Pouncey is a guy who will start from day 1 at offensive guard and be a stalwart for the next ten to twelve years. Was NFL ready last year. Could be a perennial Pro Bowl player and maybe even an All-Pro on occasion. Does not project well to Center and really struggled snapping the ball, especially out of the shotgun offense, but he could play there if needed as a stop gap. His struggles during his senior year only helped his growth for the transition to the next level as he constantly had to battle from a position of weakness. The best linemen in the 2011 NFL Draft and maybe the most NFL ready player in the entire Draft. Not much upside or potential, but an immediate starter who works hard and plays with a nasty demeanor. Tough player and a great competitor. Will go higher in the draft than people expect.
Grade: Top 15
Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College, Sr.
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Castonzo is the prototypical, long limbed left tackle prospect that teams covet. With excellent quickness and athletic ability for a man that's 6'7'' and around 310 pounds, Castonzo shows the ability to play left tackle at the NFL level. With experience at right tackle, Castonzo could come in and start right away for a team at either tackle spot. With great fluidity and an ability to sink his hips, bend at the knees and get low, Castonzo can out-leverage opposing defensive players and anchor down. This is a rare prospect with such great fluidity for the position, especially for his size, that you wonder how high his ceiling really is. Castonzo is a hard working player with a great motor on the field. Top notch intangibles and great work ethic. Might even be a better student than a college football player, which is really saying something. Castonzo is a prototype for blocking speed rushers. With excellent technique, a great kick step, excellent footwork and good (but inconsistent) hand placement, Castonzo shows the ability to really dominate opposing pass rushers. Although Castonzo shows great technique, he does get a little inconsistent with his technique. He was beat more than you'd like to see. He may overextend at times and get caught out of position. He needs to play with more consistency at the next level and improve his punch, which I see as his biggest area of concern. Will struggle with a bullrush when he plays high and a little soft. Lacks power in his lower half and is not fully developed physically. Castonzo is also an excellent run blocker. He's not a powerful inline blocker, but he can hold the line of scrimmage, move his feet and seal running lanes. Castonzo shows a great ability to get out of his stance quickly. He really does a phenomenal job getting to the second level on running plays, which shows his quickness and athleticism. Castonzo was a guy who continuously got better each and every season at the college level. With a great frame, at around 310 pounds, he can add even more weight and power to his frame, which he will have to do (especially in his lower half). With more coaching he can continue improving on his technique and sure up his consistency. A typical Boston College linemen thats entering the NFL with a high football IQ, well coached, great character, hard working and a bit of a nasty disposition. There is nothing in Castonzo's game that is lacking for a future franchise left tackle. Still has a bit of upside, but probably wont ever be a dominant left tackle. More than capable of making a handful of Pro Bowls and being an anchor for a franchises blind side for the next decade. Tons of experience, started 53 straight games. Needs to get stronger and anchor better. Will struggle early in his career with stronger opposing linemen.
Grade: Top 15
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple, Jr.
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Wilkerson is an excellent NFL prospect that will tend to float under the radar amongst the bigger names of flashy prospects that went to bigger schools. The Temple prospect has phenomenal NFL size with excellent athletic ability for his natural position of 34 defensive end. At 6'4'' and 315 pounds, Wilkerson already enters the NFL with the frame to start from day 1. Incredible length. Very strong and shoots gaps with relative ease at times. Very aggressive with a terrific motor. A very productive college player that had experience playing all over line in multiple fronts: Played 43 defensive end, 43 defensive tackle and 34 defensive end while at Temple. A very good pass rusher that can split double teams and effectively run stunts, creating openings for other players. Splits double teams while rushing the passer. Basketball background shows on the field as he dips and plays low when rushing the passer. Occupies multiple blockers in the run game and shows the ability to play with his hands and get great extension. Relentless effort to the quarterback. Good bullrush and always moving his feet forward, towards the quarterback. Good balance and strength as a pass rusher. Excellent swim move. Shows he can use his hands well and has the power to swat the hands away of blockers, slipping a linemen and getting around them. A solid run defender that can and should improve into a complete player. More of a one dimensional prospect that's a better pass rusher than run stuffer. Tallied 16.5 sacks over his last two seasons with 23.5 tackles for loss. Wilkerson struggles with leverage and tends to play upright due to his height. Will get pushed off the ball with strong, aggressive run blockers. Also tends to get washed down the line due to poor leverage. Will get pushed out of his gap or take himself out of plays with his aggressive, up field style of play. Still raw as a pass rusher (needs to improve hand work) and run defender. Played in the MAC and did not see top level competition. Does play the run with good awareness (keeps contain and plays within the defense) and works in traffic fairly well. Has solid instincts for the position. Has as much potential as any defensive linemen in this draft. An excellent prospect and terrific fit for 34 fronts. Could develop into one of the better 34 defensive ends in the NFL within the next three years if he improves his technique and plays with better leverage. Clean off the field with no character concerns. Will be a steal and shouldn't fall out of round 1.
Grade: Top 15
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri, Jr.
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Gabbert possess very good arm strength, solid accuracy, top notch intangibles, great character and a high football I.Q. He has proven to be one of the few top quarterback prospects in this draft that has what you look for physically, combined with the maturity and knowledge to run an NFL system. Has shown great leadership qualities and intangibles, which makes you think he's capable of being a franchise quarterback. Great work ethic and focus. Dedicated to the game and improving his play. Gabbert is coming from a spread system that was mostly run out of the shotgun with five wide receiver sets. Most will knock the spread system, but Sam Bradford showed that a pass heavy spread system is not necessarily a bad thing since the NFL is changing to more four and five wide receiver sets on a more regular basis. Gabbert does show the ability to read defenses prior to the snap and find his open receiver before the ball is snapped. His system did make the reads easy. Gabbert can get rid of the ball quickly, with timing and accuracy. Good field vision and recognizes blitzes, but he needs to improve in letting the play develop before getting the ball out too fast. Will leave plays on the field. He does understands hot routes and communication with his receivers. He will reduce sacks. Accurate, but Gabbert's ball placement is inconsistent and a lot of that has to do with his footwork. Gabbert's biggest area of improvement will have to come from his footwork and learning NFL drops. He will have to learn how take the traditional three, five and seven step drop backs and throw the ball with accuracy, timing and anticipation. Since he was mostly a catch, rock and throw quarterback out of the shotgun, dropping back could be a major project filled with growing pains and inconsistent play early on at the next level. Gabbert does have the work ethic, drive, focus and maturity to work on those things and improve his game. Gabbert is a raw prospect with less than 30 college starts, but his biggest question marks come with his patience and maneuverability within the pocket. Gabbert will bail out of the pocket far too quickly at times instead of staying in the pocket, sliding up, finding the throwing lane and going through the rest of his progressions. Lacks poise and doesn't show a great feel in the pocket. He does have solid mobility with the speed and quickness to escape and buy time. What you like to see is Gabbert's ability to keep his eyes downfield while moving up or out of the pocket. Instead of tucking it down and taking off like an athlete playing quarterback, he moves up, sucks defenders up and looks for big plays in the passing game. Gabbert has proven to be a top caliber prospect with some rawness and inexperience regarding his footwork. He is, however, advanced when it comes to the nuances of the game. He can hold safeties, manipulate coverage and create throwing lanes with his eyes. He can be decisive. He is a little inconsistent and does miss throws that he should hit. He did leave a lot of plays on the field, mostly do to his footwork. Gabbert has a real good amount of upside. He has the size, arm strength and ball placement of a potential franchise quarterback. Throws really well in the short to intermediate area. Couple that with leadership qualities, work ethic, intangibles, and football smarts... Gabbert is the closest thing to being a safe pick at the quarterback position that this draft will have to offer. With that said, he's not a special quarterback that teams will look as a can't-pass-up player. The potential to be a complete quarterback is there. He's not a perfect player and his system does draw some concerns with the short passing game and the drop off from his sophomore year, but he will be a franchise quarterback that should be a top 10 pick in the 2011 Draft.
Grade: Top 15
Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina, Jr.
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Quinn is easily among the most talented players in this years draft, and in my opinion, the most talented. In a draft full of top end talent coupled with question marks, Quinn is yet another highly talented, highly risky prospect to add to the list. Quinn has not played football in over a year due to a season long suspension. Going off of just his sophomore tape, he shows to be the most naturally gifted pass rusher in this draft class, possessing great potential and a tremendous amount of upside. With an improved junior season, Quinn could have developed into a rare pass rushing prospect that could have been drafted 1st overall. Now uncertainty and risk emerge with this talented prospect. Quinn also has a tumor in his brain that has teams worrying over his medical condition. If healthy and when on the field, Quinn is as talented as any defensive end prospect you will find. Very solid frame with good height and bulk. Very good speed and the second best first step in the entire draft. Incredibly explosive off the line of scrimmage. Very good jab step that sets up his speed rush, allowing him to run around tackles. Uses his hands well to rip and dip when running the arc. Can consistently run around offensive tackles. Did rely on his supreme athleticism quite a bit while tallying his 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Strong hands and can bullrush, but needs to improve his leverage on a consistent basis. Questionable motor and disappeared in games. Showed to be a playmaker as he forced 6 fumbles, doing a great job of dislodging the ball from the quarterback. Really finished a sack off with a good hard hit on the quarterback when he had a blindside shot. But did miss a lot of tackles in the backfield and didn't always break down and use proper tackling form. Needs to improve on finishing plays, will get wild and out of control. Still very raw and will need to develop more pass rush moves. Only a one year wonder and is a risky roll of the dice. Tends to play high and upright and will get punched in the chest, preventing his pass rush. Would disappear at times since he did not use a good variety of pass rush moves, which will cause him to struggle early in his career. Only average against the run and will have to play with more discipline and understanding of the nuances for the position. Did get pushed off the line of scrimmage and not very stout at the point of attack. Would lose sight of the ball, get turned around. Athletic, can chase and close from behind very well. So athletic he has garnered a lot of talk and consideration for 34 outside linebacker. I don't think he's an outside linebacker and he's best suited to be a 43 defensive end, but he could rush from a two-point stance. Good character and a hard worker. Still has a lot of development to do and really needs to improve on his technique to maximize that incredible potential. Has the potential to be an All-Pro that averages 10 sacks per season. Will have growing pains until he develops his technique and a repertoire. Lacks experience and has very average awareness and instincts.
Grade: Top 20
Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona, Sr.
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Brooks Reed is not the kind of player that is going to test off the charts or show elite level athleticism. On the small end as far as height and length are concerned. A 5th year senior with only marginal production. Lacks elite athleticism and top end burst or explosion off the line of scrimmage. Reed is not overly stout at the point off attack and will have to learn to play with better leverage. Will get engulfed by bigger blockers at times. What Reed will bring to the table is an unparalleled motor, great character, work ethic, toughness, intensity and leadership. Phenomenal character and the kind of guy you want on your team. Has a passion for the game rarely matched and plays every down at full speed. An excellent football player with a bit of upside as a pass rusher and run stuffer. A good pass rusher with a nice repertoire of pass rush moves including a power spin move. Uses his hands very well and shows natural pass rushing ability, which will only further improve with better technique. Very strong and powerful pass rusher with naturally heavy hands and great power. A lot of upside from a pass rushing standpoint and could be a potential double digit sack guy. Good athleticism and good quickness that translates well to a 34 outside backer role. Will get the edge and turn the corner on opposing offensive tackles, but will be in a deceptive manner. Certainly wont blow by tackles. Has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews due to his hair and that rare motor, but he does not have quite the potential since he lacks the elite athletic ability and burst off the line of scrimmage Matthews possessed. A hard working overachiever type that still has untapped potential. The type of guy that will maximize his abilities. Very instinctive and smart. Well coached and plays with great discipline. May take a year or two to get his feet wet if drafted as a stand up linebacker, but could develop into a LaMarr Woodley type of backer since they compare better with power, size and athleticism.
Grade: Top 20
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn, Jr.
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Nick Fairley is one of the most sought after and talked about prospects entering the 2011 draft. With a monstrous junior season, Fairley came out of nowhere to dominate along the defensive line for the defending champion Tigers. Notching 24 TFL and 11.5 sacks, garnering awards and accolades as the best linemen in college football and being named MVP of the championship game. Fairley emerged as a potential #1 overall draft pick until character and work ethic emerged as major red flags. Fairely was an absolute beast, penetrating backfields, piling up sacks, demanding double teams and causing complete chaos for opposing offenses to game plan around. Fariely had a dominant season, but only has one season to show for it, which is a bit of a concern. Fairley showed great strength and power to match great quickness and an excellent burst off the line of scrimmage. Fairley is stout at the point of attack, but did have lapses in his game where he would play high, lose his technique and get blown off the ball. Was it fatigue or just a poor motor where he decided to take plays off? With work ethic concerns and questions swirling around Fairley's character is what makes you wonder if he was just taking plays off. Motor turned off and on like a light switch. One has to proceed with caution and figure out what kind of person you are drafting. He was not able to attend Auburn University out of high school due to poor grades. Has a learning disability. It has also been said that he is lazy with has poor practice habits, and links to colossal draft bust JaMarcus Russell have raised eyebrows. Fell asleep during meetings. Fairley was a dominating player and is more talented than Gerald McCoy. Fairley is very raw and doesn't use his hands very well, sometimes hardly ever. He relies on his athletic ability for the position to run around guys instead of proper technique, which comes back to coaching (not adapting to it) and being a one year wonder. Fairley also doesn't look the part of an athletic marvel and doesn't seem to be a gym rat as he possess rather thin looking limbs and a thin lower half. Fairley is more country strong that could improve his strength with weight training. He is treated like a sure thing. A can't-miss-prospect, but he's anything but. He has red flags surrounding his work ethic, character and intelligence. Didn't play within the defense and just did his own thing. Doesn't really understand the nuances of the game and is strictly a 3-technique in a 43 front. Fairley also gets a lot of flack for being a dirty player. Flagged numerous times for late hits and took a lot of cheap shots on quarterbacks, which I really don't mind to be quite honest. Plays with a nasty demeanor and finishes plays. Fairley is extremely gifted. He is long, very athletic and shows unlimited upside. The concerns are there though. Will he reach that potential? Thats the question teams are going to have to decide during the interview process. Came into the combine at just 291 pounds, and I rarely rank sub-300 pound defensive tackles in the Top 10. Glenn Dorsey was the only one, and he got a Top 5 grade from me. You'd like to see better size since his limbs are lanky and most of his weight is carried in his mid section. He may not have the ability to get much bigger. A great athlete, but there is a bit of risk involved. Incredible movement skills and plays with natural leverage and generates a lot of speed, explosiveness and power. If he falls, he could be a steal since he is a top 3 talent in this draft at a critical position. Work ethic will determine success. My draft grade proves I think he will lose focus once he gets his NFL contract.
Grade: Top 20
Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State, Sr.
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Heyward isn't the most physically gifted defensive end you'll find, but he does posses very good athletic ability for his natural position of 34 defensive end. He lacks the speed and explosiveness to be an impact player as a 43 defensive end and is best suited for 34 fronts. As a 43 player, his value is not nearly as high, and carriers little potential to be anything more than a decent pro. Heyward is a very tough, physical linemen that has a great motor and the kind of character / work ethic that will maximize his potential. Haywerd has really good size and excellent arm length with some room to pack on even more weight to his frame. Very good athlete with an excellent basketball background. Very agile and quick for a big man. Carriers his weight well. With weight room conditioning at the NFL level, Heyward may bulk up to around 300 pounds. He plays with incredible leverage and excellent handwork. A natural bender that plays low. Has a great bullrush and plays with heavy hands. Heyward disengages from blockers well. He uses his long arms to keep good separation, and in one-on-one situations he has the ability to stack, shed and toss a defender out of the way. Shows the ability to anchor down and play two gaps, but has been pushed around by strong offensive linemen. Has a good push-pull technique. His size is very good, but his strength needs to improve as he does get engulfed by double teams. He will also lose ground on occasion and will play high at times (mostly when he tires). He is not extremely stout at the point of attack and does struggle with bigger, physical linemen. He's not dominate and never will be in any phase of the game, but he's a very smart football player that is always in the right position, works well in traffic and plays with great discipline and excellent technique. Not a ton of potential left, but he could develop into one of the better 34 defensive ends in the NFL. Maybe a bit of an overachiever, but he never quits on a play and he'll make tackles behind the line of scrimmage, at the line of scrimmage or ten and fifteen yards down field. The one thing that I hate the most is how far off the ball he will line up. Everyone else will be up on the ball, and Heyward will be off the ball, sometimes over a full yard. Lacks a burst off the snap. Brings a lot of versatility along the line at the college level, but is exclusively a 34 defensive end prospect. Tons of experience playing against interior linemen. Great team player, a lead with great character. Has very good instincts. Very good vision. Has a knack for finding the ball. Does a good job pushing the pocket and playing until the whistle. Consistently gives linemen a fight for 60 minutes.
Grade: Round 1
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado, Sr.
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Smith is an outstanding press corner and one of the most impressive cover corners I have ever seen at the college level from a pure man coverage standpoint. Smith has incredible size, about 6'2'' and 210 pounds with very long arms. He is great at the line of scrimmage and does an excellent job redirecting receivers off the line and really disrupting patterns, making it difficult to run routes. He is extremely physical, sometimes too physical past five yards. With his hand use and his long arms, his smoothness, balance and patience in coverage, he looks eerily similar to... Nnamdi Asomugha. I can't believe I just compared a college corner to one of the most technically sound corners the game has ever seen, but that is exactly who he reminds me of when he plays up to his abilities. Smith lacks the complete game and the consistency of Asomugha, but his technique is very similar to go along with his freakish size and length. Smith has a great understanding of the game, but does not always use the patience Asomugha is most known for. In press coverage he will take a false step and jump inside on occasion, which causes him to get beat off the line. He does, however, show very good straight line speed and can make up ground when he's beat off the line. He can read routes in off coverage, jump routes and use his instincts and closing speed to break up passes. He does read the quarterbacks eyes when in off coverage and makes plays on the football, or quick stops (closes extremely well) for minimal gains. He can make the position look as effortless as I have ever seen. Smith has good quickness, but is a little tight in his hips and plays a little too high, which will make some question if he needs to play safety. He can quickly plant and drive off his back (plant) foot, explode out of his break and stay right in the hip pocket of receivers on some of the most difficult routes to defend. Smith needs to sure up his tackling and do a better job stopping the run. He tackles too high and will struggle at the next level with stronger backs. He has a relatively thin / lanky frame, but he is willing in run support and doesn't shy away from contact. Smith needs to play with more consistency and use his size better when it comes to the run. Smith's knocks are his inconsistent play and his, sometimes, overly physical jams, which lead to holding, illegal contact or pass interference penalties down field. He will get overaggressive or wild with his technique and grab instead of jam. The disconcerting thing about Smith is his lackadaisical attitude, immaturity and possibly being a "paycheck player." Smith has tons of potential and a lot of upside. He's one of the most gifted corners I have ever seen. Really unlimited upside. Could be a major steal on draft day, but you get the feeling that Smith is only going to be good as he wants to be. Some major red flags regarding character. With some of the interviews I've heard, he is a complete moron that's incredibly immature and needs to learn to grow up. Incredibly stupid and takes no responsibility for his actions. Failed drug tests during college career numerous times. Has an entourage that he follows and came from a bad upbringing. Not a leader. Will probably be a giant waste of talent. From a pure talent standpoint, I think Smith is the most gifted corner in this class. Yes, better than Peterson. Simply, he might not care.
Grade: Round 1
AJ Green, WR, Georgia, Jr.
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AJ Green is a special talent that the NFL draft only sees every handful of years. The last prospect that was as big and imposing as Green was Calvin Johnson, and before that, Andre Johnson and before that, Randy Moss. AJ Green is not quite in that elite, rare category of a once-in-a-decade type receiver prospect, but he's about as close as it gets. He's more in the Larry Fitzgerald and Dez Bryant range, which is still pretty damn good. With ridiculous size, great length, very good speed, excellent hands, great focus and concentration, Green routinely makes highlight reel catches, jumps over defenders and simply looks like a man amongst boys. An extremely productive player in the SEC for three years. Against the top competition, Green has shown an innate ability to adjust to poorly thrown balls, shield defenders with his big frame and make tough catches in traffic. Excellent body control and elite level ball skills. Really attacks the ball when its in the air. Vertical threat that is very dangerous and will keep defenses honest. A true #1 receiver prospect that has to be accounted for on almost every single play. Really opens things up for other players and makes everyone around him better, including his quarterback. Green is a good route runner and gets good separation. He lacks that elite quickness in and out of his breaks. He will be very productive at the next level and be a teams top receiving threat for years to come. Good character and very good work ethic. A smart player that has natural instincts for the position. Maybe the most talented player in the 2011 draft. Coming from a pro style offense and is familiar with the NFL route tree. Understands defenses and option routes. Isn't going to do a whole lot after the catch, but will be a dangerous deep threat and a big scoring threat. A safe player for a position that has produced a lot of draft busts. I think Green will be a major contributor for an NFL team and a future Pro Bowl player capable of really exploding. Could be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in three or four years. Rather thin frame, lanky. Will have to improve strength. Great competitor, focused. Terrific red zone threat. The best player in this draft.
Grade: Elite
Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama, Jr.
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Marcell Dareus is the cream of the crop when it comes to this heavy class of defensive linemen. At nearly 320 pounds and well over 6'3'' Dareus already has an NFL frame. With very good athletic ability and lateral quickness, Dareus can play over an offensive tackle, a guard or a center. Extremely versatile linemen with gaudy power. Reminds me of Cullen Jenkins, one of my favorite players in the NFL. Has a similar build as Jenkins (just bigger) coupled with similar athletic ability. Dareus battled through injuries his junior season and still managed to be a force that commanded constant double teams and extra attention. When healthy, Dareus flashed brilliance rarely seen from a defensive tackle. A hard nosed player with a great motor and physicality. Extremely heavy hands and great use of power and leverage. Generates the most force and momentum of any defensive linemen in this class. Incredibly strong and a has frame that is well built. Really explodes off the line of scrimmage and can penetrate the backfield by splitting linemen or powering through with a bullrush. Great balance with a great first step. A surprisingly good natural bender that can take a cut block and power through. Has experience all over the line and can play any defensive line position in a pinch. Best suited for a 34 defensive end role. The best natural 34 defensive end prospect in this draft (along with JJ Watt). Holds up incredibly well at the point of attack. Great leverage and power with a thick lower half that allows him to anchor against double teams. Has violent hands and excellent handwork. A rare defensive line prospect that can really rush the quarterback. Has experience playing 43 defensive end, where he was shockingly effective and explosive for such a big man. Versatile and can be utilized in a myriad of ways as a pass rusher. Was not as productive due to injuries and limited starting experience. Best days are ahead of his. A finisher that knows how to finish a play. Great motor. Relentless. Very smart and instinctive. Plays with his eyes up. Recognizes gadget plays, such as screens and reverses. Plays gap assignment. Very smart player. Great athlete. Exceptional body lean and footwork. A natural pass rusher with pass rushing instincts. Needs to improve with leverage against the run on a consistent basis, but his run stuffing ability is not on the same level as his pass rushing ability at this time. Can stack and shed defenders. Great ability to separate and gain outside leverage. Well coached. A complete player that is capable of dominating as a run defender and pass rusher. Very few flaws in his game. Stamina, fatigue and lack of starting experience are the only real negatives. Didn't put up great numbers in college. My third favorite interior defensive line prospect behind Ndamukong Suh and Haloti Ngata. Should be a dominating force that anchors a defensive front for the next 10 years.
Grade: Elite
Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU, Jr.
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Patrick Peterson is considered by many to be the "cleanest," best or most talented prospect in the 2011 Draft. With as much talent as any prospect in this draft, Peterson brings unparalleled size for the cornerback position. At 6'2'' and 220 pounds, Peterson has the size and strength few corners possess. Combine that rare size with blazing 4.3 speed and you have one of the biggest freak specimens any draft will ever offer. Peterson is coming off a very good junior season and brings versatility with the return game. With the size, speed and elite ball skills, Peterson could be an intriguing prospect as a free safety, where I think he would be extremely good, and maybe better at the next level. There are questions concerning his ability to drop deep into zones, make safety reads and take proper angles. Peterson will be used primarily as a cornerback once he enters the NFL, but a later transition could be very possible if he does not turn out to be the shutdown corner some expect him to be. Peterson has good hips and change of direction skills, showing fluidity in coverage although he does play a little too high on occasion. He does, however, struggle with footwork (at times) and takes false steps, which causes him to get beat quickly off the line of scrimmage. With as much speed as Peterson has, his burst is not at the same elite level and he will struggle covering quick-twitch receivers that can run short, underneath patterns in the middle of the field. Coverage skills were also exposed while in off coverage where quick posts and comebacks can cause Peterson to give up ground and easy receptions. He's much better in press coverage where he can use his excellent jam and length to hinder routes and timing with a wide receiver and quarterback. Will give up his fair share of receptions early in his career. He is not a shutdown cornerback prospect, and probably never will be, but he has the potential to be an elite player. Peterson does have incredible ball skills and excellent hands, which may be the best in this draft from any defensive back. Made some acrobatic interceptions and showed great ball skills and natural ability to undercut routes. An extremely tough and competitive player, and it shows on the field. A leader when on the field and has an aura about him that just oozes something special. Great tackler and does an excellent job in run support and making immediate tackles when giving up a reception. A tough competitor who never takes a play off and shows a great fiery motor. Likes to stick his nose in a run play and hit someone. A hard worker with virtually no character concerns to speak of. I don't think he'll ever be an elite, shutdown corner, but I do think he'll be a playmaker at the next level; unlike any cornerback we have ever seen. Tons of talent and still has upside to become a better pure cover corner. I do think he has more potential be an elite free safety, an extremely rare one, then an elite cornerback. Either way, I think this will be one of the best players in the NFL by year three.
Grade: Top 5
J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin, Jr.
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Watt is another first round caliber 34 defensive end to add to this incredibly deep class of five-techniques. Watt possess ideal size and great strength. A terrific motor and maybe the best character of any player in this years draft. A relentless player that constantly makes hustle plays. Never quits on a play. Very good athleticism and really performed much better in the Combine than most expected. Coming off a dominate junior season where he notched 21 tackles for loss. Incredibly stout at the point of attack and does a phenomenal job of relocating the line of scrimmage. Constantly lives in opposing teams backfields. Very strong, very long and does a really nice job of shedding blockers. Great hand placement and excellent length. Works better in traffic as opposed to further away from the ball in space. Quick enough to shoot gaps on a consistent basis and possess great balance to make plays in the backfield. Has excellent technique and plays with great leverage. Has a knack for keeping his eyes up when rushing the quarterback and getting his hands up into passing lanes, batting balls at the line of scrimmage. Great instincts and awareness. A very good pass rusher that has the potential to post double digit sack totals on a yearly basis. Is not special and will lack the explosion off the line of scrimmage to be an ideal fit in 43 fronts. If drafted by a 43 defense, he may never live up to his first round projection since he lacks the ability to be a constant pressure pass rusher, and would probably better suited as a 43 defensive tackle (where you really don't want to play and negate his strengths). Watt certainly isn't a flashy player and doesn't have a ton of upside, but he's a phenomenal leader, a high energy and high character guy that could ignite a defense. An extremely hard worker that is dedicated to the game. Focused and determined. Incredibly passionate. Ideal 34 defensive end and similar in a lot of ways to Aaron Smith coupled with Chris Long's athletic ability. He will be an excellent player for the next 10 years. One of the safest players in the draft, and much better than most consider. Could wind up being the best player from this entire draft if used properly.
Grade: Top 5
Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M, Sr.
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Miller is one of the few prospects in this draft that will garner an "elite" label from a good amount of people. Miller is, without question, the most proven pass rusher in this draft. With the most athleticism and speed as any pass rusher in this draft, Miller shows the ability to be a perennial double digit sack guy. Miller is a good fit for 34 schemes as a weak side backer. Really great competitor with a terrific motor. Miller plays hard against the run and gives maximum effort. Tremendous range and closing ability. Phenomenal burst. Terrific in pursuit and looks comfortable in space. Still lacks the instincts and awareness in pass coverage, dropping into zones and feeling receiving threats behind him. Miller is, however, not great against the run and may struggle with NFL tackles. His size is the only thing that keeps him from being an elite player on my board. At just 6'2'' and around 240 pounds, he will struggle with the strength of NFL offensive tackles. He does have extremely quick hands and tremendous footwork. Miller has one of the most explosive first steps I have ever seen. A tremendous advantage that allows him to set up offensive tackles. Has Derrick Brooks-like speed and quickness off the edge. The best jab step I've seen from a college player where he rushes up field and then quickly cuts inside and offensive tackle, gaining inside leverage. A Clay Matthews like jab step. Very strong punch and a solid bull rush that will improve with better strength. An energizer bunny. Terrific work ethic and top notch intangibles. For all the risk with pass rushers, especially in this draft, Miller has the least risk. A sure fire starter that will have Pro Bowl potential. Will need to develop his strength to become more of a complete player. Needs to develop more pass rushing moves (counter moves) and use his hands better to disengage from blockers, instead of relying on his speed and quickness. Will give up ground to get around a blocker instead of stacking and shedding with proper technique. Did disappear at times and his play wasn't always consistent. Miller is extremely productive and an incredible pass rusher. Great production: 27.5 sacks over the last two years with 39 tackles for loss. A naturally gifted pass rusher with tremendous body control, balance, athleticism, leverage and finishing ability. Good awareness and solid instincts. Tough. Leader. Minimal question marks. Will develop into one of the best pure pass rushers in the NFL. Relentless attitude. Incredibly quick. Elite natural ability and tremendous potential. Should be the prize pass rusher from this class.
Grade: Top 5
Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri, So. (Rs)
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Aldon Smith is a unique prospect with a unique skill set that I think makes him pretty special, but a little risky at the same time. Smith is a very tall and lanky player, but possess deceptive strength. A guy that you expect, just looking at his size and rather thin looking frame, to be a guy that uses speed and quickness to beat opposing players and be little more than a situational pass rusher. Smith is anything but a situational pass rusher and he's surprisingly stout at the point of attack despite playing with poor leverage. Smith does have unique quickness and athletic ability for a pass rushing defensive linemen, but his athleticism tends to get very overrated. Smith has the strength to kick inside and play over an offensive guard where he's usually at his best. Smith has a unique cutting ability that allows him to setup offensive linemen. He is able to fake to the outside and start upfield, and then quickly cut inside an offensive tackle, gain inside leverage and work towards the quarterback. Smith also displays a powerful swat move that he has perfected since his freshman year where he will swat a linemen's hands away and knock them off balance. Smith is a natural swatter that prefers to get inside an offensive linemen instead of running around an offensive linemen. Smith is able to time his swat perfectly. Just as a linemen is attempting to punch him, he swats their arms away, which causes them to drop their head, lose their balance, which gives Smith a free run at the quarterback. It's instant pressure and he uses violent hands and an incredible punch. Smith does struggle against the run and with his upright style of play, he will get blown off the line of scrimmage three to five yards down field. Smith attempts to just back peddle, and then throw a linemen off to the side, giving up several yards and allowing the offense to move the original line of scrimmage three yards into the teeth of the defense. Smith may struggle early against the run and will have to play with better technique in stopping the run. He is raw as a run defender and may never develop into anything more than a merely adequate run stopper. His lack of burst and speed to turn the corner makes me question if he's going to be the pass rusher some make him out to be. Very similar to Jason Pierre-Paul, but not as athletic or naturally gifted. He is a little stiff in his hips and struggles as a bender. Played through injuries as a junior and had a down season. Looked very slow and was mere shadow of himself. I don't know what kind of player Smith is and I don't know what kind of career he will have if he's not in an ideal situation. Still raw, but lacking great upside or potential. Should be able to produce early in his career. His power and strength will translate very well to the next level. He's about as NFL ready as any defensive player in this draft.
Grade: Top 5
Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue, Sr.
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Kerrigan is another top caliber Boilermaker defensive end that the program has been turning out in recent years. And like the previous three star defensive end prospects, Anthony Spencer / Ray Edwards / Shaun Philips, he will probably be underrated for a while, at the same time, outperforming numerous players that will go ahead of him. With more flashy and athletic speed rushers (with not nearly the all-around game that Kerrigan has) being the hot commodity, they will go much higher come draft day because of words like "potential" and "speed" and "size," or a combination of all three. Kerrigan isn't going to be a guy labeled as disappointing because he gets everything out of his talents. He has a phenomenal motor that never quits. He's a high character guy. Kerrigan plays the game with great discipline, incredible instincts and excellent technique. His great uses of leverage, his athleticism / flexibility, instincts and his football IQ are going to make him a successful defensive end at the next level. Kerrigan plays with heavy hands and great power in his upper body, really showing a natural ability to get under opposing offensive tackles and driving them back, getting them off balance and attacking the line of scrimmage. Does a great job playing low and gaining leverage. Uses very good hand placement. With a great bull rush and slip move, he combines that with a rip move that creates a lot of pressure on the quarterback. He does show the ability to turn the corner or simply overpower offensive tackles. He has underrated athletic ability and good quickness off the edge, and scrapping down the line. Has a knack for getting off the ball the second it's snapped. Kerrigan has exceptional balance and a solid burst. He can really close to the ball carrier. Has the ability to play both end positions and he has enough size to kick inside on certain situations. Stout against the run, but needs improving. Does a very good job keeping outside leverage and sealing the edge. Does struggle to disengage from blockers on running plays directed directly at him. He is excellent at playing on the other side of the ball and does a good job getting off the line quickly and relocating the line of scrimmage. Very smart, hard working player that maximizes his talents. Finishes plays and hustles. Works through trash very well. Good tackler and brings his feet with him. Extremely productive, but does have limited upside. A definite first round defensive end with a lot of versatility for base 43 defenses. One of my favorite players in the country. He will be a steal come draft day just like Spencer, Edwards and Philips were (who would be top 20 picks if their drafts were to be re-done). He may be the best defensive linemen in the 2011 Draft. A complete player that plays the run and pass equally effectively. Not overly athletic or explosive and wont be a consistent double digit sack guy. Incredible production and tons of experience.
Grade: Top 10
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama, Jr.
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Jones is a big, physical wide receiver that has seen a huge rise in his draft stock after tearing the Combine apart. He's 6'2'' and 220 pounds, built like a rock. Running a sub 4.40, Jones became some people's #1 wide receiver in this years draft. On the field, Jones is coming off a very good junior season after a very disappointing sophomore season. A really good blocker and looks like a complete warrior on the field, which was validated after it was found he had a broken bone in his foot during the Combine workouts. Very strong and tough to tackle. A great competitor. A team player that gives great effort. Plays with great passion and emotion. An excellent route runner and does a great job of getting separation by using excellent technique. Very controlled while running routes. Solid hands, but has had issues with drops throughout his career. Decent ball skills, but wont make many high difficulty catches with corners draped all over him. Great character and work ethic. Very smart and excellent football IQ. Did not play up to his Combine numbers and looks more like a 4.5 guy on the field. Not a great timer of jump balls and doesn't have great potential to be a major playmaker. Lacks that elite quickness in and out of his breaks and wont gain great separation despite his excellent route running ability. Battled through injuries throughout his career and injured once again at the Combine. Plays with a style of play that may invite future injuries throughout his professional career as well. A solid, physical receiver that will do the majority of his damage as a possession receiver with the short to intermediate routes. Works the middle of the field and understands zone concepts. Finds the open holes in defenses. Will contribute in the running game. Compares well to Hines Ward and Anquan Boldin in regards to blocking and effort. A complete player, but not that definite, true stud #1 wide receiving option for a team that will command constant attention and double teams. Not that elite prospect some have made him out to be, but he will be a very good, productive professional. A winner. A step below AJ Green.
Grade: Top 10
Cameron Jordan, DE, California, Sr.
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Jordan is an emerging defensive line prospect that projects to be one of the best 34 defensive end prospects in the 2011 Draft. Jordan is an incredibly long player with excellent strength and power. Jordan doesn't look like a physically dominating specimen, but he's a technician when it comes to stuffing the run. Jordan is probably the best run stuffing defensive linemen I have ever seen. From a pure technique standpoint, he is flawless. His leverage is phenomenal and, by far, his greatest attribute. His understand of taking on double teams, stacking, shedding and then slipping a double team is already at a Pro level, and something I've never seen another college defensive player do on such a consistent basis. Jordan consistently powers through double teams, clogs holes and still has the ability to make plays. Jordan has a tall, lanky frame capable of adding weight. He could really develop physically at the pro level and play at around 300 pounds. Jordan is very athletic for a 34 defensive end, but not athletic for a 43 defensive end. Jordan is simply not a 43 defensive end even though some may say he is scheme diverse. When Jordan is too far away from the quarterback, he is out of his comfort zone and will struggle to apply pressure on the quarterback. He does not have the speed to run around offensive tackles and he is not a natural pass rusher from the 43 end position. Jordan relies on his quickness and initial burst to gain leverage and power through multiple blockers. Very strong, active hands that allow him to collapse the pocket and create a lot of pressure. Capable of delivering heavy punches and getting off blockers. A relentless motor with a great work ethic. Jordan is simply an animal. A guy that will dominate in a 34 defense for a decade and a guy I believe will be one of the best 34 defensive ends in the NFL. An absolute boss that is capable of make an early impact right away for an NFL team. Like Tyson Alualu, he could really emerge as a favorite for many teams and go a lot higher than people expect. He's the kind of guy you want on your side. Wont put up sack numbers and isn't flashy, but he will dominate the line of scrimmage and make everyone around him better.
Grade: Top 10
Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska, Sr.
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Amukamara is the top rated senior corner in the 2011 Draft on most people's accounts. He has excellent size for an NFL corner and shows decent run support ability. He attacks running backs on toss plays or sweeps in his area, and he does a great job making the quick stop. An average tackler with poor technique. He does not wrap up on most tackles to the perimeter, instead staying low and cutting a runner to the ground. He is not as strong against the run while in traffic and closer to the middle of the field, and will struggle against bigger, physical backs. He does show very good aggressiveness on quick screen passes to wide receivers or quick hitches and slants. Amukamara is going to be known best for his aggressive style of play. He jumps routes and does a great job trusting his eyes, reacting and then closing on the ball, whether it be through the air or against the run. Amukamara is incredibly instinctive and has great field awareness. He has the ability to make flat footed reads, read the quarterbacks eyes, feel where the receiver is and then explode through the throwing lane. He does a great job with route recognition, and his foot speed and natural burst allow him to close quickly on the ball, undercutting receivers. Tremendous change of direction skills, shows a very strong plant / drive leg. Very rarely will you see Amukamara slip or lose his balance, but he is a little tight hipped and plays high. He's physical at the line of scrimmage and shows a very good, disruptive jam. Long arms and plays with good extension. Really does an excellent job wearing down a receiver and making opposing players work for everything they get. Amukamara is a solid athlete, but lacks that elite top end speed. He plays very physical and uses his hands very well when slowing down receivers and disrupting timing routes. He has shown decent makeup speed when he is beat, but struggles finding the ball. Very confident in his natural abilities and shows excellent patience, and maintains solid positioning and use of angles. Scheme diverse. Can play man coverage and zone equally well. Does a great job of using his safety help when he gets it. He is a gambler and will get caught cheating, giving up catches. Is a little too physical at times and might struggle with illegal contact or holding penalties early in his career. Will get beat deep due to overaggressive play at the line of scrimmage. Amukamara needs to do a better job understanding his own abilities and how much cushion is necessary. He has average hands and average ball skills. He breaks up a lot of passes. His combination of size, strength, athleticism, acceleration, change of direction and recognition skills will make for one of the best cornerback prospects in recent years. Amukamara is a high character guy and a real student of the game. Very new to the position (only two years of starting experience) and has a lot of upside. A natural corner with great instincts for the position. I think Prince Amukamara has the potential to turn into one of the elite corner's in the game. He has all the tools to be a great NFL player. He is a suffocating defender with phenomenal strength for the position, but he is gambler.
Grade: Top 10
Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida, Sr.
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Pouncey has been the consensus #1 interior linemen in the draft ever since he decided to stay for his senior season. His twin brother, Maurkice Pouncey, had a Pro Bowl rookie season with the Steelers at Center. His success makes Mike Pouncey a sought after commodity as teams will hope to strike gold just like the Steelers did. Pouncey doesn't quite possess the same kind of athleticism as his twin brother, but he shows much more of a mauling strength and toughness to his game than Maurkice did when he entered the draft. Not an elite athlete, but he does an excellent job pulling and shows very good footwork and has nimble feet. Can get to the second level and does a good job blocking linebackers. He does a real nice job of locking on to defenders and moving them off the ball. He tends to struggle with quick defenders and positioning when he gets beat. He will let defenders get on the outside shoulder and he'll lose the leverage battle since he doesn't move his feet properly, and this was exposed even more when he moved to Center during his senior season. Pouncey looked very uncomfortable with snapping the ball, then immediately engaging a defensive linemen. He does a great job blocking down and washing linemen in the running game. Prototypical in-line blocker in run heavy / man-to-man schemes. He does a solid job at the second level, but he will bend at the waist, lose his balance and get knocked to the ground too often. He needs to continue refining his technique and play with more consistent leverage. When he keeps his hips low, he gets great leverage and can really push linemen off the ball. Excellent pass protector and has an incredibly strong base. Strong hands, excellent punch and terrific hand placement. Always keeps his hands inside a defenders body and really impedes a pass rush. Great anchor ability and terrific balance in pass protection. Very good size, but will have to continue building his strength in the weight room to handle the elite power of the top defensive linemen in the NFL. An extremely safe player that wont surprise you. Pouncey is a guy who will start from day 1 at offensive guard and be a stalwart for the next ten to twelve years. Was NFL ready last year. Could be a perennial Pro Bowl player and maybe even an All-Pro on occasion. Does not project well to Center and really struggled snapping the ball, especially out of the shotgun offense, but he could play there if needed as a stop gap. His struggles during his senior year only helped his growth for the transition to the next level as he constantly had to battle from a position of weakness. The best linemen in the 2011 NFL Draft and maybe the most NFL ready player in the entire Draft. Not much upside or potential, but an immediate starter who works hard and plays with a nasty demeanor. Tough player and a great competitor. Will go higher in the draft than people expect.
Grade: Top 15
Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College, Sr.
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Castonzo is the prototypical, long limbed left tackle prospect that teams covet. With excellent quickness and athletic ability for a man that's 6'7'' and around 310 pounds, Castonzo shows the ability to play left tackle at the NFL level. With experience at right tackle, Castonzo could come in and start right away for a team at either tackle spot. With great fluidity and an ability to sink his hips, bend at the knees and get low, Castonzo can out-leverage opposing defensive players and anchor down. This is a rare prospect with such great fluidity for the position, especially for his size, that you wonder how high his ceiling really is. Castonzo is a hard working player with a great motor on the field. Top notch intangibles and great work ethic. Might even be a better student than a college football player, which is really saying something. Castonzo is a prototype for blocking speed rushers. With excellent technique, a great kick step, excellent footwork and good (but inconsistent) hand placement, Castonzo shows the ability to really dominate opposing pass rushers. Although Castonzo shows great technique, he does get a little inconsistent with his technique. He was beat more than you'd like to see. He may overextend at times and get caught out of position. He needs to play with more consistency at the next level and improve his punch, which I see as his biggest area of concern. Will struggle with a bullrush when he plays high and a little soft. Lacks power in his lower half and is not fully developed physically. Castonzo is also an excellent run blocker. He's not a powerful inline blocker, but he can hold the line of scrimmage, move his feet and seal running lanes. Castonzo shows a great ability to get out of his stance quickly. He really does a phenomenal job getting to the second level on running plays, which shows his quickness and athleticism. Castonzo was a guy who continuously got better each and every season at the college level. With a great frame, at around 310 pounds, he can add even more weight and power to his frame, which he will have to do (especially in his lower half). With more coaching he can continue improving on his technique and sure up his consistency. A typical Boston College linemen thats entering the NFL with a high football IQ, well coached, great character, hard working and a bit of a nasty disposition. There is nothing in Castonzo's game that is lacking for a future franchise left tackle. Still has a bit of upside, but probably wont ever be a dominant left tackle. More than capable of making a handful of Pro Bowls and being an anchor for a franchises blind side for the next decade. Tons of experience, started 53 straight games. Needs to get stronger and anchor better. Will struggle early in his career with stronger opposing linemen.
Grade: Top 15
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple, Jr.
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Wilkerson is an excellent NFL prospect that will tend to float under the radar amongst the bigger names of flashy prospects that went to bigger schools. The Temple prospect has phenomenal NFL size with excellent athletic ability for his natural position of 34 defensive end. At 6'4'' and 315 pounds, Wilkerson already enters the NFL with the frame to start from day 1. Incredible length. Very strong and shoots gaps with relative ease at times. Very aggressive with a terrific motor. A very productive college player that had experience playing all over line in multiple fronts: Played 43 defensive end, 43 defensive tackle and 34 defensive end while at Temple. A very good pass rusher that can split double teams and effectively run stunts, creating openings for other players. Splits double teams while rushing the passer. Basketball background shows on the field as he dips and plays low when rushing the passer. Occupies multiple blockers in the run game and shows the ability to play with his hands and get great extension. Relentless effort to the quarterback. Good bullrush and always moving his feet forward, towards the quarterback. Good balance and strength as a pass rusher. Excellent swim move. Shows he can use his hands well and has the power to swat the hands away of blockers, slipping a linemen and getting around them. A solid run defender that can and should improve into a complete player. More of a one dimensional prospect that's a better pass rusher than run stuffer. Tallied 16.5 sacks over his last two seasons with 23.5 tackles for loss. Wilkerson struggles with leverage and tends to play upright due to his height. Will get pushed off the ball with strong, aggressive run blockers. Also tends to get washed down the line due to poor leverage. Will get pushed out of his gap or take himself out of plays with his aggressive, up field style of play. Still raw as a pass rusher (needs to improve hand work) and run defender. Played in the MAC and did not see top level competition. Does play the run with good awareness (keeps contain and plays within the defense) and works in traffic fairly well. Has solid instincts for the position. Has as much potential as any defensive linemen in this draft. An excellent prospect and terrific fit for 34 fronts. Could develop into one of the better 34 defensive ends in the NFL within the next three years if he improves his technique and plays with better leverage. Clean off the field with no character concerns. Will be a steal and shouldn't fall out of round 1.
Grade: Top 15
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri, Jr.
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Gabbert possess very good arm strength, solid accuracy, top notch intangibles, great character and a high football I.Q. He has proven to be one of the few top quarterback prospects in this draft that has what you look for physically, combined with the maturity and knowledge to run an NFL system. Has shown great leadership qualities and intangibles, which makes you think he's capable of being a franchise quarterback. Great work ethic and focus. Dedicated to the game and improving his play. Gabbert is coming from a spread system that was mostly run out of the shotgun with five wide receiver sets. Most will knock the spread system, but Sam Bradford showed that a pass heavy spread system is not necessarily a bad thing since the NFL is changing to more four and five wide receiver sets on a more regular basis. Gabbert does show the ability to read defenses prior to the snap and find his open receiver before the ball is snapped. His system did make the reads easy. Gabbert can get rid of the ball quickly, with timing and accuracy. Good field vision and recognizes blitzes, but he needs to improve in letting the play develop before getting the ball out too fast. Will leave plays on the field. He does understands hot routes and communication with his receivers. He will reduce sacks. Accurate, but Gabbert's ball placement is inconsistent and a lot of that has to do with his footwork. Gabbert's biggest area of improvement will have to come from his footwork and learning NFL drops. He will have to learn how take the traditional three, five and seven step drop backs and throw the ball with accuracy, timing and anticipation. Since he was mostly a catch, rock and throw quarterback out of the shotgun, dropping back could be a major project filled with growing pains and inconsistent play early on at the next level. Gabbert does have the work ethic, drive, focus and maturity to work on those things and improve his game. Gabbert is a raw prospect with less than 30 college starts, but his biggest question marks come with his patience and maneuverability within the pocket. Gabbert will bail out of the pocket far too quickly at times instead of staying in the pocket, sliding up, finding the throwing lane and going through the rest of his progressions. Lacks poise and doesn't show a great feel in the pocket. He does have solid mobility with the speed and quickness to escape and buy time. What you like to see is Gabbert's ability to keep his eyes downfield while moving up or out of the pocket. Instead of tucking it down and taking off like an athlete playing quarterback, he moves up, sucks defenders up and looks for big plays in the passing game. Gabbert has proven to be a top caliber prospect with some rawness and inexperience regarding his footwork. He is, however, advanced when it comes to the nuances of the game. He can hold safeties, manipulate coverage and create throwing lanes with his eyes. He can be decisive. He is a little inconsistent and does miss throws that he should hit. He did leave a lot of plays on the field, mostly do to his footwork. Gabbert has a real good amount of upside. He has the size, arm strength and ball placement of a potential franchise quarterback. Throws really well in the short to intermediate area. Couple that with leadership qualities, work ethic, intangibles, and football smarts... Gabbert is the closest thing to being a safe pick at the quarterback position that this draft will have to offer. With that said, he's not a special quarterback that teams will look as a can't-pass-up player. The potential to be a complete quarterback is there. He's not a perfect player and his system does draw some concerns with the short passing game and the drop off from his sophomore year, but he will be a franchise quarterback that should be a top 10 pick in the 2011 Draft.
Grade: Top 15
Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina, Jr.
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Quinn is easily among the most talented players in this years draft, and in my opinion, the most talented. In a draft full of top end talent coupled with question marks, Quinn is yet another highly talented, highly risky prospect to add to the list. Quinn has not played football in over a year due to a season long suspension. Going off of just his sophomore tape, he shows to be the most naturally gifted pass rusher in this draft class, possessing great potential and a tremendous amount of upside. With an improved junior season, Quinn could have developed into a rare pass rushing prospect that could have been drafted 1st overall. Now uncertainty and risk emerge with this talented prospect. Quinn also has a tumor in his brain that has teams worrying over his medical condition. If healthy and when on the field, Quinn is as talented as any defensive end prospect you will find. Very solid frame with good height and bulk. Very good speed and the second best first step in the entire draft. Incredibly explosive off the line of scrimmage. Very good jab step that sets up his speed rush, allowing him to run around tackles. Uses his hands well to rip and dip when running the arc. Can consistently run around offensive tackles. Did rely on his supreme athleticism quite a bit while tallying his 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Strong hands and can bullrush, but needs to improve his leverage on a consistent basis. Questionable motor and disappeared in games. Showed to be a playmaker as he forced 6 fumbles, doing a great job of dislodging the ball from the quarterback. Really finished a sack off with a good hard hit on the quarterback when he had a blindside shot. But did miss a lot of tackles in the backfield and didn't always break down and use proper tackling form. Needs to improve on finishing plays, will get wild and out of control. Still very raw and will need to develop more pass rush moves. Only a one year wonder and is a risky roll of the dice. Tends to play high and upright and will get punched in the chest, preventing his pass rush. Would disappear at times since he did not use a good variety of pass rush moves, which will cause him to struggle early in his career. Only average against the run and will have to play with more discipline and understanding of the nuances for the position. Did get pushed off the line of scrimmage and not very stout at the point of attack. Would lose sight of the ball, get turned around. Athletic, can chase and close from behind very well. So athletic he has garnered a lot of talk and consideration for 34 outside linebacker. I don't think he's an outside linebacker and he's best suited to be a 43 defensive end, but he could rush from a two-point stance. Good character and a hard worker. Still has a lot of development to do and really needs to improve on his technique to maximize that incredible potential. Has the potential to be an All-Pro that averages 10 sacks per season. Will have growing pains until he develops his technique and a repertoire. Lacks experience and has very average awareness and instincts.
Grade: Top 20
Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona, Sr.
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Brooks Reed is not the kind of player that is going to test off the charts or show elite level athleticism. On the small end as far as height and length are concerned. A 5th year senior with only marginal production. Lacks elite athleticism and top end burst or explosion off the line of scrimmage. Reed is not overly stout at the point off attack and will have to learn to play with better leverage. Will get engulfed by bigger blockers at times. What Reed will bring to the table is an unparalleled motor, great character, work ethic, toughness, intensity and leadership. Phenomenal character and the kind of guy you want on your team. Has a passion for the game rarely matched and plays every down at full speed. An excellent football player with a bit of upside as a pass rusher and run stuffer. A good pass rusher with a nice repertoire of pass rush moves including a power spin move. Uses his hands very well and shows natural pass rushing ability, which will only further improve with better technique. Very strong and powerful pass rusher with naturally heavy hands and great power. A lot of upside from a pass rushing standpoint and could be a potential double digit sack guy. Good athleticism and good quickness that translates well to a 34 outside backer role. Will get the edge and turn the corner on opposing offensive tackles, but will be in a deceptive manner. Certainly wont blow by tackles. Has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews due to his hair and that rare motor, but he does not have quite the potential since he lacks the elite athletic ability and burst off the line of scrimmage Matthews possessed. A hard working overachiever type that still has untapped potential. The type of guy that will maximize his abilities. Very instinctive and smart. Well coached and plays with great discipline. May take a year or two to get his feet wet if drafted as a stand up linebacker, but could develop into a LaMarr Woodley type of backer since they compare better with power, size and athleticism.
Grade: Top 20
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn, Jr.
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Nick Fairley is one of the most sought after and talked about prospects entering the 2011 draft. With a monstrous junior season, Fairley came out of nowhere to dominate along the defensive line for the defending champion Tigers. Notching 24 TFL and 11.5 sacks, garnering awards and accolades as the best linemen in college football and being named MVP of the championship game. Fairley emerged as a potential #1 overall draft pick until character and work ethic emerged as major red flags. Fairely was an absolute beast, penetrating backfields, piling up sacks, demanding double teams and causing complete chaos for opposing offenses to game plan around. Fariely had a dominant season, but only has one season to show for it, which is a bit of a concern. Fairley showed great strength and power to match great quickness and an excellent burst off the line of scrimmage. Fairley is stout at the point of attack, but did have lapses in his game where he would play high, lose his technique and get blown off the ball. Was it fatigue or just a poor motor where he decided to take plays off? With work ethic concerns and questions swirling around Fairley's character is what makes you wonder if he was just taking plays off. Motor turned off and on like a light switch. One has to proceed with caution and figure out what kind of person you are drafting. He was not able to attend Auburn University out of high school due to poor grades. Has a learning disability. It has also been said that he is lazy with has poor practice habits, and links to colossal draft bust JaMarcus Russell have raised eyebrows. Fell asleep during meetings. Fairley was a dominating player and is more talented than Gerald McCoy. Fairley is very raw and doesn't use his hands very well, sometimes hardly ever. He relies on his athletic ability for the position to run around guys instead of proper technique, which comes back to coaching (not adapting to it) and being a one year wonder. Fairley also doesn't look the part of an athletic marvel and doesn't seem to be a gym rat as he possess rather thin looking limbs and a thin lower half. Fairley is more country strong that could improve his strength with weight training. He is treated like a sure thing. A can't-miss-prospect, but he's anything but. He has red flags surrounding his work ethic, character and intelligence. Didn't play within the defense and just did his own thing. Doesn't really understand the nuances of the game and is strictly a 3-technique in a 43 front. Fairley also gets a lot of flack for being a dirty player. Flagged numerous times for late hits and took a lot of cheap shots on quarterbacks, which I really don't mind to be quite honest. Plays with a nasty demeanor and finishes plays. Fairley is extremely gifted. He is long, very athletic and shows unlimited upside. The concerns are there though. Will he reach that potential? Thats the question teams are going to have to decide during the interview process. Came into the combine at just 291 pounds, and I rarely rank sub-300 pound defensive tackles in the Top 10. Glenn Dorsey was the only one, and he got a Top 5 grade from me. You'd like to see better size since his limbs are lanky and most of his weight is carried in his mid section. He may not have the ability to get much bigger. A great athlete, but there is a bit of risk involved. Incredible movement skills and plays with natural leverage and generates a lot of speed, explosiveness and power. If he falls, he could be a steal since he is a top 3 talent in this draft at a critical position. Work ethic will determine success. My draft grade proves I think he will lose focus once he gets his NFL contract.
Grade: Top 20
Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State, Sr.
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Heyward isn't the most physically gifted defensive end you'll find, but he does posses very good athletic ability for his natural position of 34 defensive end. He lacks the speed and explosiveness to be an impact player as a 43 defensive end and is best suited for 34 fronts. As a 43 player, his value is not nearly as high, and carriers little potential to be anything more than a decent pro. Heyward is a very tough, physical linemen that has a great motor and the kind of character / work ethic that will maximize his potential. Haywerd has really good size and excellent arm length with some room to pack on even more weight to his frame. Very good athlete with an excellent basketball background. Very agile and quick for a big man. Carriers his weight well. With weight room conditioning at the NFL level, Heyward may bulk up to around 300 pounds. He plays with incredible leverage and excellent handwork. A natural bender that plays low. Has a great bullrush and plays with heavy hands. Heyward disengages from blockers well. He uses his long arms to keep good separation, and in one-on-one situations he has the ability to stack, shed and toss a defender out of the way. Shows the ability to anchor down and play two gaps, but has been pushed around by strong offensive linemen. Has a good push-pull technique. His size is very good, but his strength needs to improve as he does get engulfed by double teams. He will also lose ground on occasion and will play high at times (mostly when he tires). He is not extremely stout at the point of attack and does struggle with bigger, physical linemen. He's not dominate and never will be in any phase of the game, but he's a very smart football player that is always in the right position, works well in traffic and plays with great discipline and excellent technique. Not a ton of potential left, but he could develop into one of the better 34 defensive ends in the NFL. Maybe a bit of an overachiever, but he never quits on a play and he'll make tackles behind the line of scrimmage, at the line of scrimmage or ten and fifteen yards down field. The one thing that I hate the most is how far off the ball he will line up. Everyone else will be up on the ball, and Heyward will be off the ball, sometimes over a full yard. Lacks a burst off the snap. Brings a lot of versatility along the line at the college level, but is exclusively a 34 defensive end prospect. Tons of experience playing against interior linemen. Great team player, a lead with great character. Has very good instincts. Very good vision. Has a knack for finding the ball. Does a good job pushing the pocket and playing until the whistle. Consistently gives linemen a fight for 60 minutes.
Grade: Round 1
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado, Sr.
http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/4868/jimmysmith.jpg (http://img806.imageshack.us/i/jimmysmith.jpg/)
Smith is an outstanding press corner and one of the most impressive cover corners I have ever seen at the college level from a pure man coverage standpoint. Smith has incredible size, about 6'2'' and 210 pounds with very long arms. He is great at the line of scrimmage and does an excellent job redirecting receivers off the line and really disrupting patterns, making it difficult to run routes. He is extremely physical, sometimes too physical past five yards. With his hand use and his long arms, his smoothness, balance and patience in coverage, he looks eerily similar to... Nnamdi Asomugha. I can't believe I just compared a college corner to one of the most technically sound corners the game has ever seen, but that is exactly who he reminds me of when he plays up to his abilities. Smith lacks the complete game and the consistency of Asomugha, but his technique is very similar to go along with his freakish size and length. Smith has a great understanding of the game, but does not always use the patience Asomugha is most known for. In press coverage he will take a false step and jump inside on occasion, which causes him to get beat off the line. He does, however, show very good straight line speed and can make up ground when he's beat off the line. He can read routes in off coverage, jump routes and use his instincts and closing speed to break up passes. He does read the quarterbacks eyes when in off coverage and makes plays on the football, or quick stops (closes extremely well) for minimal gains. He can make the position look as effortless as I have ever seen. Smith has good quickness, but is a little tight in his hips and plays a little too high, which will make some question if he needs to play safety. He can quickly plant and drive off his back (plant) foot, explode out of his break and stay right in the hip pocket of receivers on some of the most difficult routes to defend. Smith needs to sure up his tackling and do a better job stopping the run. He tackles too high and will struggle at the next level with stronger backs. He has a relatively thin / lanky frame, but he is willing in run support and doesn't shy away from contact. Smith needs to play with more consistency and use his size better when it comes to the run. Smith's knocks are his inconsistent play and his, sometimes, overly physical jams, which lead to holding, illegal contact or pass interference penalties down field. He will get overaggressive or wild with his technique and grab instead of jam. The disconcerting thing about Smith is his lackadaisical attitude, immaturity and possibly being a "paycheck player." Smith has tons of potential and a lot of upside. He's one of the most gifted corners I have ever seen. Really unlimited upside. Could be a major steal on draft day, but you get the feeling that Smith is only going to be good as he wants to be. Some major red flags regarding character. With some of the interviews I've heard, he is a complete moron that's incredibly immature and needs to learn to grow up. Incredibly stupid and takes no responsibility for his actions. Failed drug tests during college career numerous times. Has an entourage that he follows and came from a bad upbringing. Not a leader. Will probably be a giant waste of talent. From a pure talent standpoint, I think Smith is the most gifted corner in this class. Yes, better than Peterson. Simply, he might not care.
Grade: Round 1