Present vs. Past Thread
 

Compare your top prospect to your past top draft picks at there position.

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QB:
Present:
2011: Newton
2010: Bradford
2009: Stafford
2008: Ryan
2007: Russell

RB:
Present:
2011: Ingram
2010: Spiller
2009: Wells
2008: McFadden
2007: Peterson

WR:
Present:
2011: Green
2010: Bryant
2009: Crabtree
2008: Thomas
2007: Johnson Jr

TE:
Present:
2011: Rudolph
2010: Gresham
2009: Pettigrew
2008: Keller
2007: Olsen

DT:
Present:
2011: Dareus
2010: Suh
2009: Raji
2008: Dorsey
2007: Okoye

DE:
Present:
2011: Quinn
2010: Morgan
2009: Jackson
2008: Long
2007: Adams

OLB:
Present:
2011: Miller
2010: Weatherspoon
2009: Curry
2008: Rivers
2007: Timmons

MLB:
Present:
2011: Wilson
2010: McClain
2009: Maualuga
2008: Mayo
2007: Willis

CB:
Present:
2011: Peterson
2010: Haden
2009: Jenkins
2008: Rodgers Cromartie
2007: Revis

S:
Present:
2011: Williams
2010: Berry
2009: Delmas
2008: Phillips
2007: Landry

Going by how I had them ranked as prospects...

QB

Luck > Bradford > Stafford > Ryan > Newton > Russell

RB

Richardson > Peterson > McFadden > Wells > Spiller > Ingram

WR

Megatron > Green > Bryant > Blackmon > Crabtree > Thomas

TE

Gresham > Olsen > Pettigrew > Keller > Fleener > Rudolph

DT:

Suh > Raji > Dareus > Dorsey > Brockers > Okoye

DE:

Long > Quinn > Adams > Coples > Jackson > Morgan

OLB

Miller > Curry > Rivers > Weatherspoon > Brown > Timmons

ILB

Willis > Mayo > Kuechly > McClain > Maualuga > Wilson

CB

Peterson > Haden > Claiborne > Revis > Rodgers-Cromartie > Jenkins

S

Berry > Landry > Phillips > Delmas > Barron > Williams

The most interesting to me is Newton vs. Luck...I'd say the only reason Luck will be considered a better prospect is because his college awesome lasted more than a season...That said Newton's out-of-this-world physical ability makes this so much closer than it might be given credit for. Then there's a fact that Newton is a boss and he knows/knew it. I'm not sure who would go first if they were in the same draft, but you have to figure Newton would get the Leaf tag between the two.

Andrew Luck would almost assuredly go first. I don't think that's much of a discussion.

Definitely. Newton is a physical freak, but he had issues coming out. Played in a spread option offense, had erratic accuracy and had character issues. Luck, on the other hand, played in a pro-style offense, and called plays at the line of scrimmage. He was more accurate too.

Newton may be more impressive physically, but Luck isn't some scrub there either. He's 6'4", 235 pounds and can run. His arm has improved too, and it's well above-average. Luck's pristine character and academic performance push him up even further.

QB: Luck > Stafford > Russell > Newton > Bradford > Ryan

RB: Peterson > Richardson > McFadden > Spiller > Moreno > Ingram

WR: Johnson > Green > Crabtree > Blackmon > Bryant > Thomas

TE: Gresham > Pettigrew > Olsen > Keller > Fleener > Rudolph

DT: Suh > Dareus > Dorsey > Okoye > Raji > Still

DE: Long > Quinn > Adams > Coples > Orakpo > Graham

OLB: Miller > Curry > Rivers > Upshaw > Timmons > Weatherspoon

MLB: Willis > McClain > Kuechly > Mayo > Maualuga > Wilson

CB: Peterson > Claiborne > Haden > McKelvin > Hall > Jenkins

S: Berry > Landry > Phillips > Barron > Williams > Delmas

I think it's interesting what hindsight is going to do to Cam Newton the NFL prospect. People will look back and see unrivaled physical tools, one of the most dominant college seasons by any player in recent memory, single-handedly carried his team to a national championship and undefeated season in the SEC followed by what looks to be a future as a dominant quarterback in this league and will remember a phenomenal prospect on paper. What I think will be overlooked is that many people thought Cam would bust because he was a selfish, unintelligent, scumbag who's game just wouldn't transfer to the next level. In fact, I'm not sure there was a single major sports site or draft publication that had him as their #1 QB let alone a top 15 player in the draft. Some even, including this one, guaranteed he would bust. I just find it interesting/strange that Newton vs. Luck is even being mentioned when you consider how little was generally thought of Cam Newton as an NFL prospect.

Luck was unequivocally the #1 QB over Newton last year before he went back. It wasn't just a foregone conclusion, it was ALREADY DECIDED he was going first.

Cam didn't even lock up the #1 spot in the eyes of most people until the last couple weeks and some media types still preferred Gabbert of all people

And after all that...I'm not shedding any tears over Luck going back to school. You never know what will happen in the future but it worked out pretty well for the Panthers

It's interesting, because I was a big anti-Cam guy around these parts. I had him as a first round talent, but I said over and over there was absolutely no way he should have been drafted first overall and the character issues he had would prevent him from ever reaching his full potential. Also, I had huge concerns about his mid range accuracy and ability to transition to working under C. I suppose I was wrong on those fronts, and it's time for me to eat my crow. In my defense, I did say that if he kept his nose clean, he had the potential to be Dante Culpepper on steroids, which is exactly what he is. But I'll readily admit I was wrong on Newton, and even with that admission he isn't really close to where Luck is as a prospect.

Man, I was a really big Cam hater, and I had him a good 3 rounds ahead of Gabbert as far as talent goes. I liked Locker more then Newton though.

QB

1. 2012-Luck

2.2008-Ryan

3.2009 Stafford

4.2010 Bradford

5.2011 Newton

6.2007 Russel


RB

1.2007 Peterson

2.2012 Richardson

3.2008 Mcfadden

4.2010 Spiller

5.2011 Ingram

6.2009 Wells

WR

1.2007Calvin Johnson

2.2011 Green

3.2010 Bryant

4.2012 Blackmon

5.2009 Crabtree

6.2008 Thomas

TE

1.2010 Gresham

2.2007 Olsen

3.2011 Rudolph

4.2009 Petigrew

5.2008 Keller

6.2012 Allen

DT

1.2010 Suh

2.2008 Dorsey

3.2011 Dareus

4.2009 Raji

5.2012 Brockers

6.2007 Okoye

DE

1.2011 Quinn

2.2007 Adams

3.2012 Couples

4.2008 Long

5.2009 Tyson Jackson

6.2010 Derrick Morgan

OLB

1.2011 Miller

2.2012 Upshaw

3.2009 Curry

4.2010 Weatherspoon

5.2008 Rivers

6.2007 Timmons

MLB

1.2007 Willis

2.2008 Mayo

3.2012 Burfict

4.2009 Maulaga

5.2010 Mcclain

CB

1.2011 Peterson

2.2010 Haden

3.2012 Claiborne

4.2008 Rogers Cromartie

5.2007 Revis

6.2009 Jenkins

S

1.2007 Landry

2.2010 Berry

3.2009 Delmas

4.2008 Phillips

5.2012 Barron

I've always followed the draft, but I didn't follow it as close as I do now until 2009. So, here are my rankings of the top prospect at each position from each year since. Of course, 2012 rankings aren't completely final, but yeah...

QB:
1. 2012 - Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. 2009 - Matthew Stafford, Georgia
3. 2010 - Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
4. 2011 - Cam Newton, Auburn

RB:
1. 2012 - Trent Richardson, Alabama
2. 2011 - Mark Ingram, Alabama
3. 2010 - C.J. Spiller, Clemson
4. 2009 - Knowshon Moreno, Georgia

WR:
1. 2011 - A.J. Green, Georgia
2. 2009 - Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
3. 2010 - Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
4. 2012 - Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

TE:
1. 2010 - Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
2. 2009 - Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
3. 2011 - Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame

DT:
1. 2010 - Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2. 2011 - Marcell Dareus, Alabama
3. 2012 - Michael Brockers, Louisiana State
4. 2009 - B.J. Raji, Boston College

DE:
1. 2011 - Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
2. 2010 - Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
3. 2012 - Quinton Coples, North Carolina
4. 2009 - Brian Orakpo, Texas

OLB:
1. 2011 - Von Miller, Texas A&M
2. 2009 - Aaron Curry, Wake Forrest
3. 2010 - Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
4. 2012 - Zach Brown, North Carolina

MLB:
1. 2012 - Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2. 2009 - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
3. 2010 - Rolando McClain, Alabama

CB:
1. 2011 - Patrick Peterson, Louisiana State
2. 2010 - Joe Haden, Florida
3. 2012 - Morris Claiborne, Louisiana State
4. 2009 - Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

S:
1. 2010 - Eric Berry, Tennessee
2. 2012 - Mark Barron, Alabama
3. 2009 - Louis Delmas, Western Michigan

Yeah probably, but it should be closer than it's perceived to be. They didn't dumb down the passing game for Newton at Auburn and plenty of NFL routes and throws were made. Not to mention that Newton could probably run it himself it he didn't already...

QB-Luck is the top guy with Stafford not too far behind.

RB-Peterson would have been an all time prospect had it not been for injury concerns. McFadden has the slight edge over Richardson then.

WR-Calvin Johnson by a wide margin here followed by AJ Green and Julio Jones in either order. Crabtree was thought to be a very good prospect as well and Dez Bryant was higher than Blackmon but had off the field issues.

TE-There really hasn't been an elite TE prospect since Vernon Davis. I would probably put Gresham at the top though. Coby Fleener is my top TE this year and he would grade out similarly to Rudolph.

OT-Joe Thomas far and away the top guy with Jake Long next. Matt Kalil is a similar level as Jason Smith.

OG-DeCastro hands down. Mike Iupati and Brandon Albert were great prospects but DeCastro is phenomenal. I really like Cordy Glenn too.

OC-Nick Mangold, Alex Mack, Pouncey 1, Pouncey 2

DE-Chris Long was such a safe prospect but had great tools. Gaines Adams was a risky guy with great physical tools. That's a toss up for me. Coples is very much like Derrick Morgan for me.

DT-Suh wins in a landslide and Gerald McCoy would be next. My next top guy would actually be Sedrick Ellis. I wasn't a huge Dorsey fan. No one this year comes close.

OLB-Von Miller I thought was overrated so I'm going to say Aaron Curry. I really liked Weatherspoon as well. Zach Brown has pro bowl potential but he's isn't the same level of prospect.

MLB-P-Willy and it's not even remotely close. Mayo was a fast riser and he would be my second guy. McClain went way too high and guys like Maualuaga and Brandon Spikes also fell coming up to the draft. Keuchly is on the same level as Mayo IMO. Good player but may never be a star.

CB-Patrick Peterson as a prospect. Revis wasn't even my top CB prospect of his year. I really liked Leon Hall and Aaron Ross. Claiborne would probably be my second rated prospect over the last few years.

S-Eric Berry closely followed by Laron Landry relatively easily here. Then Michael Griffen, then Brandon Meriweather. Mark Barron is a notch below them but above Delmas and Phillips.

Really? Did you really just use that sentence?

Oooh I honestly did not mean that. I'll edit it now since it seems in bad taste a touch

How I had the prospects rated (to the best of my memory)

QB:
I absolutely thought that Stafford was the biggest head case ever, and that's proven to be true, pressure = chuck n duck. But that goes to show you how little I care for Luck going in. I'm also rarely a fan of many top rated QBs, I'm a hater.

RGIII > Bradford > Newton > Ryan = Stafford > Luck > Russell

RB: I thought Wells was going to be a pretty poor NFL back, and I think Ingram is Ron Dayne all over again.
Peterson > Richardson > McFadden > Spiller > Wells >>> Ingram

WR:
CJ > Julio > Bryant = Blackmon = Crabtree > Thomas

TE:
Gresham > Keller > Allen > Olsen > Rudolph > Pettigrew

DT:
Raji > Suh > Dareus > Dorsey > Okoye > Poe

DE:
Quinn > Coples > Adams > Long > Morgan > Jackson

OLB:
Miller > Weatherspoon > Timmons > Brown > Curry > Rivers

MLB:
Willis > McClain > Burfict > Maualuga > Mayo > Wilson

CB:
Peterson > Revis > DRC > Kirkpatrick > Jenkins > Haden

S:
Berry > Landry > Delmas > Smith > Williams > Phillips

QB: Stafford > Luck> Ryan > Newton > Bradford > Russell. I thought Stafford was going to be one of the best QBs in the NFL within five years. I was certain Russell would bust and I thought Newton would be a starter and nothing else. As for Luck, there are times where he looks like the next Peyton Manning. But I'm not as high on him as others might be.

RB: Peterson > McFadden > Richardson > Ingram > Wells > Spiller. I loved Peterson in college and I thought if he could stay healthy, he had all-time great potential. I thought similar things about McFadden. Not quite as good, but close.

WR: Johnson > Blackmon = Julo Jones > Green > Bryant > Thomas Seein Calvin Johnson in person numerous times, I knew he would be great. I liked Julio (alot) more than AJ Green. To be honest, I didn't watch much of Dez Bryant and I thought all the receivers in 2008 outside of Earl Bennett were just meh. For 2012, I love Justin Blackmon. I thought he was great all year and his bowl game just cemented that.

TE: Olsen > Pettigrew = Gresham > Fleener = Rudolph > Keller. The only one of these I really liked was Olsen. **** Mike Martz for trading him.

OLine: I must admit, I don't really watch much offensive linemen.

DE: Morgan > Coples > Long > Quinn = Adams > Jackson. I thought Derrick Morgan would win rookie of the year last year. Maybe he would have had it not been for the injury. I wans't a huge fan of Adams or Jackson. I think Coples will be a very good all around end and make a few Pro Bowls.

DT: Dorsey > Suh > Everyone else. I don't remember much outside of this. I loved Dorsey and was a pretty big fan of Suh as well. The only thing else I remember is that I was intrigued with Okoye's potential because he was so long.

OLB: Miller > Timmons > Brown > Curry > Rivers = Weatherspoon. Not much to say outside of the fact that I really liked Miller but thought he would be misused in Denver's scheme. Guess I was wrong. Zach Brown is exactly the type of linebacker I like.

CB: Peterson = Claiborne > Rodgers-Cromartie > Revis > Haden = Jenkins. I absolutely loved Peterson and I think Claiborne is just slightly behind him. I had never seen Rodger-Cromartie play. BUt as soon as I saw him at the Senior Bowl, I knew he would be a first rounder. I watched a lot of Haden and Jenkins in college and was never really impressed.

S: Berry > Landry > Rahim Moore > Phillips > Barron = Delmas. I loved Eric Berry. I thought he was the most talented player in his draft. I was higher on Rahim Moore than most. I thought he was a late first rounder. I thought Delmas was a terrible pick when it happened. I don't think any safety this year is all that special.

Sorry but I got on the Newton wagon early...Called ******** on most of those knocks because well...they were ********...Selfish is just a stupid knock unless it affects his work, which it didn't...in fact it probably made it better ...Unintelligent and scumbag was just a bad joke by the horribly ignorant...Sorry, but anyone who even caught interviews with the guy saw NONE of those things, except maybe selfish...Not even the bad connotation of selfish, IMO...Guys like Newton will alwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays compile haters simply because no one should be THAT confident at that young an age (otherwordly physical talent too? Not fair!). The first QB prospect to blow me away with confidence and makeup in a long, long time...and again, I said all this before he came in and kicked ass at the NFL level.

Sorry, but most people completely missed and that's on them...Probably because they wasted so much time poking small holes in a huge talent. Clearly the guys inside the game saw right through the crap because by the time draft day came around he was the no doubt, hands down, you're ******** if you don't make it #1 pick.

Albert would have been higher as an OG than DeCastro if he was graded and drafted as an OG, IMO. Top of the line measureables and athleticism + was coming from a school that was pumping out first round left side of the line OL at the time...Good makeup...That's why he's a good NFL LT today.

Based on my personal evaluations (even though a lot of the guys you listed weren't my personal top guy at that position):

QB: Stafford > Luck > Newton > Bradford > Ryan > Russell

RB: Peterson > McFadden > Spiller > Richardson > Wells > Ingram

WR: Johnson > Green > Thomas = Crabtree = Bryant = Blackmon

TE: Rudolph > Olsen > Fleener = Pettigrew = Gresham > Keller

DT: Suh > Okoye > Raji = Dareus = Dorsey > Still

DE: Long > Coples > Adams > Quinn > Jackson > Morgan

OLB: Miller > Rivers = Timmons = Curry > Weatherspoon > Brown

MLB: Mayo > Willis > Kuechly > McClain > Wilson > Maualuga

CB: Revis >>>> Haden = Claiborne > DRC = Peterson > Jenkins

S: Berry > Landry > Delmas = Phillips > Harrison Smith > Williams

Like others, this is based on how I viewed them prior to the draft. This year's guys are in bold.

QB:
Luck > Stafford > Ryan > Russell > Newton > Bradford

RB:
McFadden > Peterson > Richardson >Wells > Ingram > Spiller

WR:
Johnson > Green > Bryant > Crabtree > Blackmon > Thomas

TE:
Gresham > Pettigrew > Olsen > Allen > Rudolph > Keller

DT:
Suh > Dorsey > Dareus > Raji > Brockers > Okoye

DE:
Long > Coples > Morgan > Quinn > Jackson > Adams

OLB:
Miller > Curry > Weatherspoon > Rivers > Brown > Timmons

MLB:
Kuechly > Willis > Maualuga > McClain > Mayo > Wilson

CB:
Peterson > Claiborne > Haden > Revis > Rodgers-Cromartie > Jenkins

S:
Berry > Landry > Delmas > Barron > Phillips > Williams

What I never understood was why Gabbert and Locker graded out a full round higher on most team/media boards than Kaepernick. All three were/are such huge projects when it comes to throwing from the pocket.

I was pretty off on some of these. I'm going to give how I actually thought of them as prospects though. I don't remember this many people being high on Newton, and I alot of people like Russell too.

QB: Luck > Russell > Stafford > Bradford > Newton > Ryan

RB: Peterson > McFadden > Richardson > Spiller > Wells > Ingram

WR: Johnson > Green > Crabtree > Bryant > Blackmon > Thomas

TE: Gresham > Rudolph > Olsen > Pettigrew > Fleener > Keller

DT: Suh > Dorsey > Dareus > Raji > Okoye > Still

DE: Quinn > Long > Coples > Adams > Jackson > Morgan

OLB: Miller > Curry > Weatherspoon > Rivers > Timmons >

MLB: Willis > McClain > Wilson > Maualuga

CB: Peterson > Haden > Claiborne > DRC > Revis > Jenkins

S: Berry > Landry > Phillips > Delmas > Williams

QB: Luck, Stafford, Newton=Ryan, Russell?, Bradford. (I know I was on the JaMarcus train for a bit, but that was more anti Quinn than anything else. Meanwhile, I killed Ryan for the longest time until I gradually warmed up a bit.)

RB: Peterson>McFadden>Trent>Spiller>Ingram>Wells

Loved AD, and I love Trent. I just though McFadden would be 2nd best back in the league quality, while I think Trent can be top 5.

WR: Calvin>Green>Bryant>Crabtree>Blackmon>Thomas

I loved all of the first 4.

TE: Gresham>Fleener>Pettigrew>Olsen>Rudolph>Keller

DT: Suh>Dorsey>Okoye>Dareus>Raji>Still


Graded them all out highly. (My top 2 tackles are actually Brockers and Poe, but I see them more as 34 DEs)

DE: Quinn>Coples>Long>Morgan>Adams>Jackson

OLB: Miller>Spoon>Timmons>Rivers>Curry>Brown

MLB: Wills>Maualuga>Kuechly>McClain>Mayo>Wilson

CB: Peterson>Haden>Claiborne>DRC>Revis (ouch)>Jenkins

S: Berry>Landry>Delmas>Barron>Phillips>Williams

I'm surprised that I'm the only one that had Bowers rated as the top DE of 2011 draft class.

The injury concern definitely hurt him, but he was a solid top 5 pick before that information came to light. At least in my opinion.