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2013 NFL Draft: A look at possible Browns target Dion Jordan, Oregon DE/OLB
By Ryan Lewis Published: February 13, 2013

This is the 14th in a 20-part series examining some possibilities for the Browns in the 2013 NFL Draft, including extensive looks at the most likely prospects for the No. 6 overall selection, potential targets later in the draft, trade-down scenarios, what the other teams in the AFC North might do and the top players coming out of Ohio State and the Mid-American Conference.

Each morning will bring a new, daily posting leading up the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb 20.

Today we look at potentially the most athletic, versatile defensive player in this class who could rise up draft boards.

Dion Jordan, Oregon, senior

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 243 pounds.

Current overall prospect ranks: NFLDraftScout.com: 26th; Scout's Inc.: 11th; ESPN's Todd McShay: 11th; ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: 13th.

Current projected draft position: At the moment, ESPN has Jordan ranked higher and going higher in the draft than NFLDraftScout.com. McShay has the Detroit Lions taking Jordan with the No. 5 pick. Kiper has him going No. 9 to the New York Jets. NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler sees the Saints taking him off the board at No. 15 and Rob Rang, also of NFLDraftScout.com, has Jordan falling all the way to the Atlanta Falcons with the 30th pick. That's a range of 25 picks in the first round.

Overview: Jordan went to Oregon as a highly touted tight end and then made the switch to defensive end in the spring before his sophomore season in 2010. Before his junior year, Oregon changed their defensive alignment to fit Jordan's athleticism, creating a hybrid, pass-rushing role. He responded with 7.5 sacks and earned First-Team All-Pac 12 honors. As a senior, Jordan displayed his versatility to a greater extent, lining up as a defensive end, a linebacker and even covering receivers in the slot. While trying to best use Jordan -- a tall, athletic pass rusher with great length and speed but not ideal bulk -- Oregon had him rushing from a standing position most of the time. As a senior, he had 44 tackles and five sacks.

What they're saying: Jordan has rare athleticism for his size with loose hips and smooth footwork to naturally move in any direction. ... Looks like a small forward in football pads with his tall, long frame and flexible joints. ... Fluid change of direction skills. ... Very good first step with natural bend and closing burst off the edge. ... Active and doesn't quit. ... Violent hand use, uses quick hands to make it tough on blockers. Fiery demeanor and has a good head on his shoulders. ... Good awareness and experience lining up all over the front seven. ... Sky is the limit with his athletic potential. ... Still a bit raw, could refine pass rush and hand use but is so athletic he has great upside. ... Still needs to get stronger in his upper body. ... Has very good range, uses long arms and closing burst to bring in ball carriers. ... Must get stronger, but there's no questioning his toughness and effort.

NFLDraftScout.com player comparison: Chandler Jones, defensive end, New England Patriots.

Why he fits the Browns' needs: With the Browns switching to a 3-4 multi-front scheme, Jordan is certainly athletic enough to fit as a rush linebacker on the outside. He's long (at least 6-foot-6), explosive and athletic, with a rare combination of fluidness and speed for someone his size. That being said, he's still raw, will take refining and will need to add some bulk to survive in the NFL. There are also a high number of pass rushers who could go as high as No. 6, so Jordan has competition. But for someone who's athletic and only played the position for three years, he has the chance to shoot up draft boards because of his potential. As shown above, analysts have a varying opinion on where he'll end up -- the Nos. 5 and 30 picks of the draft carry a very wide range of value -- so Jordan has about as much to gain as anyone at the combine. web page

With two months to go before commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the lecturn to open the NFL draft, I have a prediction: The Kansas City Chiefs don't choose a quarterback with the first pick.

Yeah, I know, they need one like L.A. needs mass transit, and they'd take one if there were an Andrew Luck or Matt Stafford available.

But there's not.


In fact, there's nobody even close, and if you think I'm kidding you weren't listening to what Frank Scelfo, Jacksonville's quarterbacks coach, said about Blaine Gabbert the other day -- namely, that if he were in this year's draft he'd be the No. 1 choice.

That should tell you something about the field. It should also tell you what the Chiefs' first move should be -- namely, anywhere but quarterback.

With the first choice you don't draft for need; you draft the best player out there. You go in one direction and one direction only, and that's for the sure thing. You absolutely, positively must be sold that whomever you choose steps in, starts and becomes the foundation of your franchise for the next 5-10 years.

So tell me which of these guys fits that description: Geno Smith? Matt Barkley? Tyler Wilson? Tyler Bray? All have holes in their games, and none is worth choosing with the first, second or third picks.

So that makes Kansas City's options easy: Either stay where you are and choose the best player -- a pass rusher, maybe, or a left tackle -- or find your quarterback with a later choice. The bottom line is that the Chiefs must be true to their board, choosing the guy at the top ... and I can't imagine any of these quarterbacks is anywhere near there.

In fact, one guy I trust who studied this class of quarterbacks thinks it's so underwhelming he's not sure there's a legit first-rounder in there.

I'm serious.

That doesn't mean there won't be a quarterback taken in the first round. Of course there will. There will be more than one. It's a passing league, and clubs that don't have good, young quarterbacks can't wait to get their hands on one. So they reach, just as teams did in the 2011 draft when four quarterbacks went with the first 12 picks, leaving Andy Dalton to Cincinnati in the second round.

Dalton is the only quarterback in that class to make the playoffs his first two seasons, and there's a lesson there for Kansas City: Don't overdraft the position.

"We never reached (when I was at Dallas) -- except for one time," said former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt. "We were supposed to take Joe Montana (in the third round of the 1979 draft), but we had three veteran quarterbacks, and (then coach) Tom Landry said, 'I can't carry four quarterbacks.' So we took Doug Cosbie instead."

Cosbie was a decent tight end who was named to three Pro Bowls, but Montana was a Hall-of-Fame quarterback who won four Super Bowls.

Everyone knows the Chiefs need someone to replace Matt Cassel, but not with the first pick of the 2013 draft they don't. They can find one by trading out and moving down or by staying put and choosing a quarterback at the top of the second round, much as San Diego did in 2001. Instead of taking Michael Vick with the first selection, the Bolts that year traded the pick to Atlanta, then tapped running back LaDainian Tomlinson with the pick acquired from the Falcons and quarterback Drew Brees at the top of the second round.

The problem for Kansas City is that it chose the wrong year to bottom out. The 2012 draft was the time and place to find a quarterback with a high draft pick, with Luck and Robert Griffin III the first two choices. It's not just that they were the two best quarterbacks out there; it's that they were at or near the top of everyone's boards. So Indianapolis took the best player in the draft; Washington took the second best, and that's the way it's supposed to go.

Which means you can scratch Kansas City from choosing a quarterback with the first pick for one very important reason: That player should be the best player in the draft, and there's not a quarterback who qualifies. web page

2013 NFL Draft: A look at the five teams picking ahead of the Browns and what to expect from them
By Ryan Lewis Published: February 8, 2013

This is the ninth in a 20-part series examining some possibilities for the Browns in the 2013 NFL Draft, including extensive looks at the most likely prospects for the No. 6 overall selection, potential targets later in the draft, trade-down scenarios, what the other teams in the AFC North might do and the top players coming out of Ohio State and the Mid-American Conference.

Each morning will bring a new, daily posting leading up the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb 20.

Today, we take a look at the five teams drafting ahead of the Browns in the first round and break down a couple of potential scenarios.


Overview of each team: 1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): The Chiefs are a bit of a statistical anomaly as they had three times as many pro bowlers (six) as wins. So there's talent on the roster for new head coach Andy Reid. News for the next few weeks in Kansas City will surround impending free agents, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and left tackle Brandon Albert, both of whom could command top-dollar price tags on the open market. It isn't believed the team can keep both stars, though the team has some cap space and some handy work with other contracts could be done to make room. Much of what the Chiefs do in the draft will hinge on where Albert ends up and if Reid chooses to find a new franchise quarterback.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): The Jaguars are also going through a regime change after an abysmal season that had much fewer bright spots than in Kansas City. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been a bust despite promising starts to the careers of receivers Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. The team also ranked dead last in the NFL with 20 sacks.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): The Raiders are reeling. Considering the Cincinnati Bengals' troubles to move quarterback Carson Palmer, the heavy price tag of a first- and second-round pick hasn't paid off, setting the franchise back and leaving Oakland with few options. Palmer is set to make a base salary of $13 million in 2013. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports listed Palmer as a potential cap casualty, saying Oakland won't pay him that kind of money. A 3-4 start to the 2012 season was tampered with a horrid finish -- the Raiders' only win during the final nine weeks of the season was over the team picking No. 1 overall.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Again, a great team on paper didn't translate to the field, and it cost Reid his job. Enter new head coach Chip Kelly and his high-speed, spread offense. In a division with the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, the Eagles seem to be a couple of steps behind. After starting 3-1 (which included wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Giants), the team fell apart, finishing 1-11. Quarterback Michael Vick struggled for much of the season with turnovers and then with injuries. His future with the team is now uncertain.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): A record-breaking season from wide receiver Calvin Johnson wasn't enough to save the Lions. Detroit's secondary struggled again, and the defensive line hasn't panned out quite like the Lions' brass had hoped. There are quality pieces in place scattered throughout the roster, but head coach Jim Schwartz hasn't found the player or players to bring everything together.

Here are four of the most reputable mock drafts currently available:

NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler:

1. Chiefs: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
2. Jaguars: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
3. Raiders: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
4. Eagles: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
5. Lions: Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

Brugler has Reid and the Chiefs selecting their new franchise QB in Smith. Smith seemed to be a lock for the No. 1 pick in September and October but couldn't sustain the hot start to his season. Still, he's a quarterback, and quarterbacks play by different rules because of their value to an offense. The Minnesota Vikings' Christan Ponder, the Tennessee Titans' Jake Locker and perhaps the Miami Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill are all examples of signal callers who didn't grade as high as the players drafted around them but shot up draft boards because of the position they play. As all four analysts see it, the Jaguars have a massive need for a pass rusher around the edge, one of the best positions in this draft class to pick from. Werner certainly fits that mold and his comparisons to J.J. Watt won't hurt. Lotulelei and Joeckel, the No. 3 and No. 4 picks here, are each thought by some to be the best overall player in the class. The Raiders are expected to look at their defensive line and the Eagles, implementing Kelly's offense, could improve the offensive line with a franchise left tackle. The Lions are left with Moore, a versatile pass rusher to help with a below-average pass defense.

In this mock, the Browns end up with Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, LSU DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo and Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones as the top options. Brugler has the Browns going with Milliner, the draft's top cornerback, to play opposite Joe Haden.

NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang:

1. Chiefs: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
2. Jaguars: Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
3. Raiders: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
4. Eagles: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
5. Lions: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

Rang also has the Chiefs selecting Smith No. 1 overall. Likewise, he has the Jaguars taking a pass rusher (this time Moore over Werner) and the Raiders addressing the front seven with Werner. He also agrees with Brugler at No. 4 with the top offensive tackle being taken off the board by the Eagles. And he has the Lions taking one of the pass rushers available. Only one player in the top-five is swapped (Mingo for Lotulelei), and Moore is taken before Werner, but it follows the same blueprint of picks.

This would leave the Browns with Milliner, Jones and perhaps Alabama guard Chance Warmack (even though Warmack plays a position not normally taken in the top 10, he is said to have the kind of talent that can buck the trend) as the top options. Rang has the Browns taking Jones, who might be the draft's best player but will have to check out with team doctors after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis.

ESPN's Todd McShay:

1.Chiefs: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
2. Jaguars: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
3. Raiders: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
4. Eagles: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
5. Lions: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon

Lotulelei is thought by some to be this draft's top player. And Werner fits the mold as the Jaguars' pass-rusher. Milliner to Oakland is certainly a possibility, as he is the top CB and fits a glaring need in the secondary (which happens to also fit the description of what the Eagles might be looking for). Joeckel to the Eagles, again, is thought to be a solid pick if he falls to No. 4. Jordan, going to the Lions, at least at this point is a surprise. Jordan is thought to be a very athletic pass rusher capable of playing multiple roles on the front seven, but he isn't often ranked above the others at his position (Moore, Mingo, etc.). He's a converted tight end who is said to be raw but could climb draft boards in the offseason.

If Browns coach Rob Chudzinski and defensive coordinator Ray Horton like the pass rushers in this draft class, this is a nice setup. This leaves the Browns to choose between Moore, Mingo and Jones, thought to be three of the draft's top pass rushers on the outside to fit in the 3-4 multi-front scheme to be employed. McShay has the Browns picking Mingo.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr:

1. Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
2. Jaguars: Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
3. Raiders: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
4. Eagles: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
5. Lions: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Kiper's mock is the first assuming the Chiefs let Albert walk in free agency. Joeckel slides in and fills the space left there. Moore is again the pick to the Jaguars at No. 2 overall, and Kiper also has the Raiders addressing the defensive line with Lotulelei. Like McShay, he has the Eagles taking Milliner to fix a horrid secondary. Kiper has Jones, the No. 1 player on his board, rounding out his top five to the Lions.

Kiper still has the Browns taking Werner, as he did in his first mock. Werner is thought to be very athletic, enough to switch to a 3-4, though he's believed to be a much better fit in a 4-3. His pure pass rushing skills might be able to overlook a growing period, though.

Notes: The first rule of looking at the draft this early -- before the NFL Scouting Combine and the start of free agency -- is keeping in mind that just about everything can change. Teams could trade for a quarterback, contract extensions don't work out, etc. Everything is fluid.

If Albert leaves the Chiefs, Reid can find his franchise left tackle rather easily in Joeckel, who in all four of the mocks is taken in the top four. All four mocks also have the Jaguars taking a pass rusher (Moore or Werner) and the Raiders finding a piece along their defensive line/front seven. Should Joeckel fall to the Eagles, all three mocks with that scenario have him being taken off the board. And all four mocks have the Lions taking a pass rusher as well.

What this all means for the Browns is that a couple pass rushers who could be employed into the 3-4 multi-front scheme the team will be running will be off the board by the sixth pick. In some, it's three pass rushers gone in the top five. How these players (Werner, Moore, Mingo, Jones, Jordan) jockey for position over the next few months might determine the Browns' pick. Three teams in the top five, like the Browns, have a glaring need to address their pass rush or their pass defense (Milliner).

So it's about teams taking players that won't show up on the Browns draft board (Joeckel is a fantastic left tackle, but with Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz on the roster, isn't an option for the Browns). The Chiefs taking Smith helps here, which leaves Joeckel (Eagles) and Lotulelei (Raiders) as options later. This might push Milliner and a pass rusher down the board to the Browns.

It's also possible the Jaguars follow the trend and take a quarterback much higher than his draft grade. Mike Glennon of North Carolina State, Matt Barkley of Southern California and Tyler Wilson of Arkansas, all projected to go inside the top eight by at least one of the four analysts, could enter the discussion. If not, a pass rusher seems likely.

The Lions have similar needs as the Browns and could either take another pass rusher or Milliner off the board right ahead of them. Even if the first four picks unfold the way the Browns expect, the Lions could still snatch up whoever Chudzinski, CEO Joe Banner and vice president of player personnel Mike Lombardi have their eyes on. At this point in time, the No. 5 pick is the main selection to keep an eye on.
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Good stuff.

Gotta hope KC lets Albert walk because Joeckel is a much more likely #1 overall than Smith.

Like to see Fisher move up also. Philly? It helps having an offensive minded HC in Kelly there.

I don't like Jordan or Mingo. I'm all about PRODUCTION at the college level. This high in the draft I want NOTHING to do with "Potential". That's Jordan since he's a converted TE and Mingo simply due the fact he's never been an OLB at LSU. He's just now trying to learn it. NO THANKS.

The ticket is Milliner. I can't believe we will go into this draft set at CB the way we are and HOPE Milliner gets past Detroit. We will be signing a solid CB in Free Agency. That is about guaranteed.

MY hope is Jones or Moore at 6. And with Jones' being somewhat medically cleared so far, he's the one we need.

Production? How's 24 Tackles for Loss with 14 Sacks and numerous pressures catch you? Top that off with SEVEN forced fumbles and that's what I call a disrupter. Can you imagine this kid in an ATTACK Horton Defense?

Forget Milliner. No CB will do what a Jones can do for this style of defense.

My top choice is Moore (Texas A&M). If he isn't available I would look to trade down and draft Babks or Rhodes at CB then come back and grab a Sean Porter (Texas A&M) or Corey Lemonier (Auburn).

Failing a trade down I would draft Jarvis Jones (Georgia). I Have Jones a little lower than Moore because my criticism of Jones is that he could be more stout at the point of attack vs the run.

All those options off the table? Well then I am not sure who I am drafting, at least at this point. But probably comes down to Mingo vs Jordan vs Milliner. God forbid that we draft one of these Qb's at #6.

Kiper is an idiot. He acknowledges that Werner is a 4-3 end. Then gives him to us in his mock draft. I wonder if he is even aware we changed defenses.

J/C...

A few different scenarios based on how the first pick goes. Not having a 2 hurts. I think I like the third option the best, but I can't say for sure. One thing I'm happy about is that it looks like there will be pass rushers available throughout the draft.

Code:

---

1	Dee Milliner	Alabama		CB
3	Brandon Jenkins	FSU		OLB
4	DJ Swearinger	South Carolina	FS
5	Hugh Thornton	Illinois	OG
6	BrandonThurmond	Ark-Pine Bluff	OLB
6	Jordan Campbell	NM Highlands	ILB
7c	AJ Francis	Maryland	5T
UDFA	Levine Toilolo	Stanford	TE
			
			
1	Damontre Moore	Texas A&M	OLB
3	David Amerson	NC State	CB
4	Shawn Williams	Georgia		FS
5	Bennie Logan	LSU		5T
6	Armonty Bryant	EastCentral OK	OLB
6	JakeStoneburner	Ohio State	TE
7c	Jordan Campbell	NM Highlands	ILB
UDFA	Josh Dworaczyk	LSU		OG
			
			
1	Star Lotulelei	Utah		5T
3	Phillip Thomas	Fresno State	FS
4	Devin Taylor	South Carolina	OLB
5	Dion Sims	Michigan State	TE
6	Terry Hawthorne	Illinois	CB
6	BrandonThurmond	Ark-Pine Bluff	OLB
7c	Lamar Mady	Youngstown St	OG
UDFA	Ja'Gared Davis	Southern Meth	ILB
			
			
1	Jarvis Jones	Georgia		OLB
3	Travis Kelce	Cincinnati	TE
4	Devin Taylor	South Carolina	OLB
5	Tharold Simon	LSU		CB
6	Hugh Thornton	Illinois	OG
6	AJ Francis	Maryland	5T
7c	Rontez Miles	California (PA)	FS
UDFA	Ja'Gared Davis	Southern Meth	ILB

---

We have 2 6th rounders? I thought we're getting Philly's 7th for Sims

As for the mocks: I like a mix of them the best

1) OLB Moore
3) TE Kelce
4) FS Swearinger
5) DL Logan (no way, but we're dreaming here)
6) CB J.Adams
7) WR Boyce
7) OLB E.Martin

Does anyone remember why Michael Johnson slid?...the Bengals guy who I believe is a free agent

We have Philly's 6th and Philly has our 7th as a result of the Sims trade.

http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2013/1/24/3...ional-6th-round

The 7th is because we're projected to get a "you stink" comp pick to fill out the 32 compensatory picks. It may actually be Mr. Irrelevant.

I've got Logan in the fifth there because CBS has him rated at 133 overall. I agree though, that he is better than that and should go higher. I have him above Floyd myself and the #5 3-4 DE (5th or 6th overall DT) in the class. Of course, I don't claim to know everybody, but of the guys I ranked that's where I have him.

I don't know much about the MSU corner and Martin is the guy you mentioned from Nebraska, right? I assume Boyce is the TCU Boyce and not Xavier Boyce, correct? Do you think he'll make it into the seventh?

I don't really want to draft a FS. I don't want there to be any learning curve, aka, any reason Usama Young may need to play...

I say go after all the good FA Free Safeties, possibly look for a trade (Horton is familiar with Rhodes)

Plus true FAs are rare now adays...

I would prefer to sign Jarius Byrd as well, but I have almost no confidence we will be able to do that.

Buffalo has cut George Wilson, Terrence McGee, and Nick Barnett. They have enough cap space to keep Levitre and Byrd, if they are able to convince them to stay.

So many teams need FS and there are only a couple FAs out there. I am not counting on us signing anyone of consequence, which is why I have those positions targeted in the draft.

As long as we come away with at least one or hopefully two of the other teams starters in FA, as opposed to signing their backups... I might accept that...

Thanks, didn't know that this was the Sims-trade compensation. Would have preferred an extra pick, even if only a 7th, instead of a swap

I think the Bills will franchise Byrd if he doesn't re-sign.

As a brief aside: How sweet does the Greco trade look now? Seems like a good way to spend a conditional 7th round pick. (did we even give it?)

No, we didn't. The conditional part was if he started a game in 2011, which he did not, so we got him free.

As for Sims, I think Philly still has S as a big need and he's not a better ST than Bademosi and not a better S than Gipson, so anything we got is better than nothing. We got a high 6th instead of a high 7th, that's where Alfred Morris went last draft, so there's some value to this swap. The net value to trade up from 7th to 6th normally is a late or future 6th

Some WR tape stuff:

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/articl...bd-781bbd649635


Cordarrelle Patterson 6-3. 205 Tennessee

Has an interesting background in that he has only played one year of major college football….is a clear playmaker on tape…every chance he gets to do something with the ball in his hands, he makes the most of it…can catch the ball on the move…nice run after catch…can make the first man miss and once that happens, he can be off to the races…have seen him snatch the ball out of the air but I have also seen him work to cradle the ball with his body…there were times where he would jump to put himself in position to catch the ball with his body when he doesn’t have to….does this a great deal on slants…he has the quickness to get in and out of routes…good sideline awareness and how to get his feet down in bounds…will lay out for catches…was very good at this against North Carolina State…able to adjust to the low ball…can get vertical on the “9” or the go route but had a terrible drop against Florida where Bray laid the ball right in there for him and he dropped it…was used throughout the season on reverses and with huge success….showed running back skills with the ball in his hands…against Georgia was able to weave through the defense and show an extra gear to get in the end zone…doesn’t look like he is running than he is by the defender…can be dynamic with the ball in his hands…had to battle his rear off against Banks of Mississippi State who tried to bang him around in press coverage…not afraid to use his size and hands to push off defenders to get open…had a nice touchdown on a double move against State in the red zone…love the play making ability he shows and how he was able to do it against outstanding competition but still has so much to learn about route running and becoming more consistent catching the ball….just a thought, but very much like Dez Bryant in the limited amount of college games he played but the ability and potential are very similar.

Tavon Austin 5-9, 174 West Virginia

My old boss in Green Bay, Ron Wolf used to say during draft meetings, if a receiver is a small guy, he better walk on water for us to consider him….Austin is short but he doesn’t play that way….lines up mainly in the slot and runs all kinds of option routes….has the ability to break down coverage…outstanding football savvy and awareness…outstanding initial quickness and a burst…can turn little plays into big ones…took a short pass inside against Texas and took it the distance through the defense…runs well enough to split coverage…don’t see many down the field routes…has a real feel for how to get open…really plays with his eyes…clutch player…reliable…rarely see the ball on the ground when it is thrown in his direction…team was faced with two 4th down situations in the Texas game and both times, Geno Smith threw him the ball…will go get the ball if its thrown poorly….can be a back breaker for a defense with the ball in his hands…really does a nice job of running the “Fly” sweep, had a touchdown against Kansas State….plays with very good concentration, was held off the line against Kansas State badly but still managed to catch the ball….showed really nice explosiveness against TCU catch the ball underneath and getting up the field…he one of those receivers that can make cuts quickly to create separation….there is no doubt that he has the faith and confidence of the quarterback when it comes to making plays…the ball goes his direction without hesitation…could be a mismatch player out of the slot with his quickness initially in a three wide package…respect his football awareness and the toughness that he plays with….bottom line is that he makes plays.

Keenan Allen 6-3, 205 California

Sure that he is a better player than the tape showed because his quarterback was awful….there were plenty of chances where he worked hard to get open and the ball was nowhere close…has to fight for every ball that he catches because of the quarterback’s lack of accuracy…..will catch the ball in traffic…plays out of the slot a majority of the time…like Allen runs a lot of option routes…see him go after the ball when it’s in the air or square up to make a catch on the spot…more initial quickness than deep speed…runs a ton of underneath routes…really doesn’t separate…has a hard time running away from defenders…plays with sideline awareness…can adjust his body to make plays….knows how to work zones and find the soft spots but doesn’t have the quick of Allen…good at catching screens and fades….thought he could have done a better job of using his size as a blocker…see him as a speed deficient receiver that has good catching skills but not excellent ones…he really doesn’t get open against tight coverage and again, he doesn’t have the speed to make defensive backs have to worry about him…have to admit that he is a hard guy to grade because the quarterback play was so bad…best trait he has is his ability to catch the ball in traffic.

DeAndre Hopkins 5-11, 205 Clemson

Had an outstanding game against LSU in the bowl to finish his career….is a Junior coming out and you can see times where he plays like he needs more work on his techniques…when you see him play down after down there are positive traits but plenty of negative ones as well….I didn’t see a smooth route runner and I didn’t see that explosiveness that I observed in Patterson of Tennessee or Austin of West Virginia….played like he struggled against the press…didn’t show quickness or power to get away from the defender….thought his hands were inconsistent….times where he would snatch the ball above his head and then next pass he would just flat miss play….like Patterson you will see him try and body catch the ball on the slant…had a touchdown against LSU where he caught a touchdown on a slant…on another inside route he thought he was going to get whacked and he didn’t run through it…able to adjust to the low ball because he can use his body to catch it…I didn’t see a receiver with strong hands like Austin…ran a nice switch route against South Carolina that resulted in a big gain in the middle of the field…would not call him a blazer on the “9” route…it takes him some time to get going….showed more balance in the LSU game than he did in the others….I didn’t see much after the catch….saw him jump too early for a ball down the field that ended up on the ground…had more questions about his game than answers.

Robert Woods 6-1, 190 USC

Productive, playmaker that plays with good foot quickness and a wiggle...runs solid routes and uses his quickness to get in and out of breaks…. Is one of those receivers that really sees the whole field whether its running routes or with the ball in his hands… good vision….plays with a burst with the ball in his hands….can make things happen on the move…flashes the ability to catch passes away from his frame with his hands….strong handed player… can make catches in traffic and run down passes over his shoulder…. at times shows the strength and agility to spin out of tackle attempts in the secondary…. Has the courage and is willing to go over the middle to take a hit and hang on….really like his toughness… Has the speed to run past defenders but not afraid to push off from defenders to buy himself some space….Finds ways to get open….doesn’t stay in one spot….always moving….benefits from a quarterback that knows how to get him the ball….will see him body catch some passes but not as bad as Patterson or Hopkins….has a nose for the goal line….makes things happen with the ball in his hands…has played in some big time football games over his career and responded to the challenge…would draft him high just off the Stanford tape from 2012…plays with a chip on his shoulder….as a freshmen was an all PAC-10 performer as a kickoff returner…something to keep in mind when you are talking about his value to a club.

Top 32: Plenty of talent, some future stars and only one QB
Pete Prisco
By Pete Prisco | Senior NFL Columnist
Feb. 20, 2013 9:21 AM ET

One of my pet peeves is when people say the NFL draft stinks this year because there are no quarterbacks at the top.

That is 100 percent wrong.

While there aren't the top quarterback prospects like last year with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the 2013 NFL Draft is filled with a lot of good players and is deep at several positions.

There is a lot of talent on the offensive line and at defensive tackle, tight end, safety and you can find pass rushers.

It's lazy to say it's not a good draft based on the quarterbacks. And, by the way, I think one, two or even three quarterbacks will emerge as quality NFL starters from this year's class. It's up to the personnel people to figure out which ones.

I actually had a tough time putting together my list of the top 32 players heading into the scouting combine this week. I moved several players in and out over the past week.

There is only one quarterback on the list, and that's West Virginia's Geno Smith. But he isn't near the top.

I still think as the evaluation process plays out, we will see either Ryan Nassib of Syracuse or Matt Barkley move into the top 32. They are two quarterbacks who have a lot to prove in the next two months.

For now, this is my top 32. It probably doesn't look a lot like the other lists out there, but that's OK. It's my list.

1. Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M: He is the cleanest player on the board. Picking tackles high in the draft is usually a wise thing.

2. Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: He is a power player who mauled opponents in 2012. He has to be careful about his weight.

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida: The more I watch, the more I like. He will be special on the next level.

4. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee: One year in the big time will scare some people, but not me. This kid has game-breaking ability.

5. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: He is quick and strong. He can play inside in the 4-3 and end in the 3-4. Lived up to the hype in 2012.

6. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State: He is big and fast and plays with a swagger. What's not to like?

7. Jarvis Jones, OLB-DE, Georgia: He has great speed off the edge, but he has some spine issues that need to be checked out. The medical is key for him.

8. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri: Some will say this is too high for Richardson, but I think it's just right. He will be a disruptive inside player on the next level.

9. Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan: If you watched him at the Senior Bowl, you know why he is here. He is fundamentally sound.

10. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: Yes, he's small at 5-foot-9. But can he fly or what? Think slot receiver and return man. He will be an NFL star.

11. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: I like his ability, but he played a lot of Cover-2 at Alabama. Can he transition to playing more man?

12. Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU: He is fast off the line, but he is small and needs to bulk up. Where was the production last year?

13. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU: Talk about raw. This kid is just learning the game. But the skills are there.

14. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: He will be a good, solid player. But will he ever be a star?

15. Menelik Watson, T, Florida State: At 6-6, 320, he has played football for only a couple of years, but this former basketball player has all the tools needed to be an elite NFL tackle.

16. Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma; This former quarterback has great athletic ability for a left tackle. He is still learning the position, which indicates a lot of growth potential.

17. Dion Jordan, DE-OLB, Oregon: He is in the Aldon Smith mold, a swift pass rusher who can play standing up or with his hand on the ground.

18. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: I like his game. I don't love it. But he is a smart, accurate thrower. My only concern is that he played in a quarterback-friendly system and he had nice weapons.

19. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal: He has good size at 6-3, 210 pounds and can run a 4.4 forty. Too bad he didn't have better quarterback play at Cal.

20. Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: In some of the tape I watched, I was more impressed with Montgomery than Mingo. He isn't as explosive, but he is better against the run and made more plays.

21. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: His bowl tape was sensational with four sacks. He also did some good things during the Senior Bowl week.

22. Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: He had a great week at the Senior Bowl, showing power and speed.

23. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State: The only knock on this 320-pound player is effort. He didn't give it all on every play. If he does, look out.

24. Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina: Teams want more agile offensive linemen and this is a player who can move for a man who is 315 pounds.

25. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: He is a smooth cover player who has to show scouts he is fast enough. I think he is.

26. Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor: When I watched Kendall Wright in 2011, I kept seeing this kid show up. He starred last season.

27. Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford: At 6-6, 250 pounds, he can run and catch. Is the next Rob Gronkowski?

28. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: At first I thought he was just a big hitter. But the more I watched, the more impressed I was by his range.

29. DJ Fluker, T, Alabama: He will be the prototypical right tackle. He is big and strong. Needs to work on his pass protection some.

30. Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina: I like air backs, and this kid is that type of back. He runs hard and he's fast. I like him more than Eddie Lacy.

31. Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: He isn't far behind Ertz in what is a deep tight end class.

32. Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn: He is a little light at 6-4, 246 pounds, but he has speed off the edge. He will need to get bigger. I like him more than most.
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I was just talking with Django last night about believing Rhodes is better than Millner and how this was a very strong draft despite what many of the talking heads are spewing. Now we get a talking head agreeing with me lol

Not a bad list.

The only name that really stands out and has no business being on there is Keenan Allen. This guy is a mid round pick talent. He's not quick and doesnt have speed. I was not impressed at all with his play that I saw this year. He had his brother for a QB, which you and Django both screammed horrible and both had comments about separation and breakaway speed. Reminds me of Robiskie but Robiskie ran better routes.

Damontre Moore isn't even on the list, and most mocks have him going before we pick. What's up with that?

There are some that think his athleticism isn't 1st round worthy. Usually the same guys that have J.Jones and Mingo as their top pass rushers. They fall for the speed and hype and don't like players that actually use their head when playing and are team players like Ansah and Moore. Jones and Mingo simply aren't 3 down players. If you want to draft Bruce Irvin or M.Ingram at 6, go ahead and do it but don't come whining when the opposing RBs AVG 100+ yds/game. Since the league still runs at least 40% of the time, I'd very willingly trade 2-4 less sacks a year vs constantly good play vs the run instead of alibi run defending...and since guys like Ansah and Moore have a much higher motor than the speedsters I'd even expect them to make up in the sack column to make it a wash there.
I saw almost every sack of J.Jones and except for a few his sacks were mostly of the "mistake hitter" variety. Whoever has this dude top 10 doesn't watch tape or doesn't know it when it hits him, sorry.

If Lombardi takes Jones or Mingo, then I know for sure he's still the same hype clown he was the last 25 years. There's one chance though: Ansah is also a hype player with actual tape to back it up. Not that I think that Lombardi is able to see it, but if Ansah puts on a show in Indy, which I expect, then Lombardi will fall in love too, lol...and Horton will be in his ear for the next 2 months leading up to the draft

Quote:

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If Lombardi takes Jones or Mingo, then I know for sure he's still the same hype clown he was the last 25 years.

---

You're a hoot.

2 of the most respected guys out there in Mayock and Brandt LOVE this kid. But YOU don't, so Lombardi's an ass. lmao.

Jones is the BEST Pass Rusher and argueably the BEST Drop Back Coverage LB in this draft.

You do just what I thought you would do with these glorified scouting reports of yours. You over-analyze.

But ONE guy agrees with you from some site. You never did disclaim that ones name did you?

I compare you to a Backyard Breeder of Doberman Pinschers.

Quote:

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And, by the way, I think one, two or even three quarterbacks will emerge as quality NFL starters from this year's class. It's up to the personnel people to figure out which ones.

---

Is it just me or this about the dumbest statement ever? The odds of one of these QBs rising up and being a decent NFL starter are pretty good, this guy just doesn't know which one it will be.. Now that's talent evaluation.

Sort of like saying, "At least 6 guys from this draft will make the pro bowl at some point, so the Browns should be able to draft a pro bowl player, I just don't know which 6."

Django, you had Brandon Sharpe on your almost sold list, right? I watched the cut-up of that pitt game... Wow! That kid was a beast! I'm sold after one game. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up somewhere in the top 2 rounds. That was like a season'shighlight reel in one game.

No, Sharpe is on my watch list for day 3. I searched for some cut up tape on him but didn't find anything. Since you pimped him I watched and I'll double your wow....sure does look like a day 3 sleeper, doesn't he? Impressive motor and body language and he's what I call a "magnet tackler", once the ball carrier is near him, he gets him. Pretty impressive

That said, that game was his best game statistically. I'd like to see more. Usually I try to watch at least 3 cut up games on a prospect and against the best possible competition.

The Cuse player I pimped was S Shamarko Thomas...watch him while you're at it, he also had a solid game vs PIT (watch the fearless hit at 5:10min, bob Sanders clone):

http://www.youtube.com/v/u1DCB6SmkDU

Even more impressive though was his game vs USC and Barkley:

http://www.youtube.com/v/OuGOpQLtskE

Those 2 Cuse defenders are pretty good day 3 sleepers, Bills HC Marrone should know them best. Will be interesting if the Bills end up with one of them. Speaking of day 3 sleepers, my fav day 3 CB Johnny Adams:

http://www.youtube.com/v/by8k8PNr_Bo

or Utah DE Joe Kruger

http://www.youtube.com/v/NNUc_waKMrU

We need more mid/late round picks, class is deep

Quote:

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and he's what I call a "magnet tackler"

---

You make up a lot of these words don't you? You should publish an index so we all know.

Leaving Moore off was probably by accident. It is easy to do. The guy I keep forgetting by accident this year is Star. For some reason, he is the easy one to forget even with a name like Star lol.

Ok I have been reading this board for a few years now and finally decided to make a post. I live in GA in the heart of SEC country and have watched Jones for a couple of years. This kid is Von Miller 2.0 . He is by far the best defensive player in the SEC. He is always around the ball making impact plays not just sacks. Some may question his run defense but I didn't see a weakness against the run in the years he was at UGA. If he is there at 6 take him and watch him harass the Millegville Menace and other AFC North qb's for years. Just my opinion from having to watch GA for the last 10yrs.

I like Jones but I do put Moore ahead of him. Age, injury and ability to play the run puts Moore ahead. I love the motor from Jones.

Mingo, Ansah and Dion Jordan are in a group all their own. These are freaks that are super raw with the potential to dominate. I want to see how these 3 work the combine drills.

Werner is the best pass rusher of the bunch but he doesnt wow me with athleticism which makes me think he may be a true 4-3 DE and not a 3-4 rush backer. Now he may be one of those guys that doesnt look that athletic until you line up against him.

The combines are huge for these 6 prospects.

Big Board: Get ready for 'Underwear Olympics' data overload
Rob Rang
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
Feb. 20, 2013 8:26 PM ET

NFL scouts will tell that by the time the annual scouting combine rolls around in late February, 90 percent of their prospect evaluations are finished.

While media and fans will fawn over the raw athleticism demonstrated by prospects working out, scouts are paid to keep the "Underwear Olympics" in perspective. There will be buzzing to trumpet the athleticism likely to be shown this week by the likes of Oregon's Dion Jordan or LSU's Barkevious Mingo, but it's worth cautioning that for all of their speed and explosiveness, neither was consistently productive.

Meanwhile, more productive talents annually wind up characterized as combine "fallers" when they run the 40-yard dash a tenth of a second slower than expected.

The Big Board isn't a mock draft. There is no attention given to team needs or the selection order. It is simply a ranking of the 64 best draft-eligible prospects for the 2013 NFL draft before we get consumed by the annual data overload from player workouts. Underclassmen are denoted with an asterisk (*).

1. * Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M: Having earned all-conference recognition all three years of his career, including first-team All-SEC honors and winning the Outland Trophy in 2012, Joeckel is a proven star. Remarkably light on his feet, he is a comparable athlete and more technically refined prospect than 2012 fourth overall pick, Matt Kalil. Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy, but Joeckel could be the one holding the bigger prize -- the thrill of being the first non-quarterback selected No. 1 overall since offensive tackle Jake Long went to the Dolphins with the first pick in 2008.

2. * Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: A first-team All-SEC pick in each of his two eligible seasons at Georgia, Jones has proven himself to be a playmaker against both the pass and run. The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Jones led the country in three critical statistics -- sacks (14½), tackles for loss (24½) and forced fumbles (seven) despite missing two games (Kentucky, Florida Atlantic) due to injury. As dynamic as he is, the redshirt junior's medical grade will ultimately determine his draft status. He was diagnosed with a mild case of spinal stenosis in 2009 and some NFL doctors may be unwilling to clear him.

3. * Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: Blessed with a quick first step, heavy hands and surprising instincts given the fact that the German-born Werner has played just five years of American football, the 6-4, 255-pounder has established himself as one of the country's elite prospects. An immediate standout in Tallahassee, Werner improved in each of his three seasons at Florida State, culminating with winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year this season with 18 tackles for loss, including 13 sacks.
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4. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: With the Utes struggling through a disappointing 5-7 campaign, their senior defensive tackle didn't generate as much national attention as his play warranted. Despite fighting constant double and triple teams, Lotulelei registered 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and four recovered fumbles this season, earning first-team All-Pac-12 accolades for the second consecutive season. Remarkably athletic at 6-3, 320 pounds, he's capable of shutting down running lanes and terrorizing quarterbacks.

5. * Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: The rapid ascension by San Francisco 49er pass rusher Aldon Smith as one of the NFL's elite playmakers has forced talent evaluators to acknowledge how much versatile defenders can impact today's game. Moore, like Smith, is viewed by some as a bit of a 'tweener at 6-4, 255 pounds, and has starred at defensive end and outside over the past two seasons for the Aggies. Athletic and passionate, Moore registered 21 tackles for loss, including 12.5 sacks, in his first season at defensive end and should only improve as he gains more experience.

6. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama: Offensive linemen rarely get the limelight, but it might be even worse for Warmack than most. Not only do the "skill-position" and defensive stars for Alabama generate virtually all of the attention, Warmack is overshadowed even on the Tide's All-American offensive line -- but not by talent evaluators, who see the 6-3, 320-pound mauler as one of the safest prospects in his class.

7. Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan: Impressive vs. Michigan State and Iowa this year, scouts had some reservations until a dominating performance against top competition at the Senior Bowl. With the foot quickness, balance and length to be a "blindside" pass protector, the 6-7, 305-pound Fisher is functionally stronger and more aggressive than former Chippewa Joe Staley, the starting left tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.

8. * Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri: While some of the top defensive tackles in the country lack eye-popping statistics, Richardson enjoyed a breakout campaign for the Tigers, finishing just four tackles behind linebacker Andrew Wilson as Missouri's leading tackler this season with 75 tackles, 10½ tackles for loss and four sacks.

9. * Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: The 6-1, 198-pound Milliner is a perfect example of how Alabama reloads rather than rebuilds. A highly regarded prep prospect who started 11 games as a true freshman, Milliner was pushed a bit to the background in 2011 as 'Dre Kirkpatrick and De'Quan Menzie took over. With each now in the NFL, Milliner re-asserted himself in 2012, finishing second in the country with 20 passes broken up and providing stellar run defense on the boundary. He's the top-rated cornerback in 2013, but Milliner does not possess the elite fluidity of No. 1 corners in recent years.

10. * Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida: With so many talented defensive linemen playing in the SEC, Floyd didn't generate the buzz that his talents warranted until recently. Used predominately at defensive end a season ago, the 6-3, 303-pound junior was moved back inside to his more natural defensive tackle position this year and stepped up his play, earning First Team all-conference honors with 46 tackles, including a team-high 13 tackles for loss. While his Gators lost the Sugar Bowl to Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville, Floyd was dynamic, sacking the mobile sophomore quarterback twice and showing scouts flashes of untapped potential.

11. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU: A perfect example of the potential/production quandary scouts see as a theme of the 2013 draft class. At 6-5, 210, "Ziggy" tried out for basketball and lettered in track at BYU before giving football a try in 2010. Over his first two seasons he'd registered 10 total tackles but steadily added muscle to his frame. A breakout performance for the ages came about in 2012. Ansah, 60 pounds heavier, recorded 62 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, earning comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul along the way. While not as explosive off the snap as the Giants' star, Ansah plays with surprising power and closes in the blink of an eye. Following a dominant performance in the Senior Bowl, Ansah could emerge as a top-10 pick if he can convince teams that he'll have the same incredible work ethic once he starts drawing NFL paychecks.

12. * Keenan Allen, WR, California: An exceptionally highly regarded prep prospect who originally was going to sign with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide as a safety before joining his brother (quarterback Zach Maynard) at Cal, Allen possesses virtually all of the physical characteristics to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. He is not the same caliber of athlete as Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson but is a more polished player who has drawn comparisons to Green Bay's Jordy Nelson and Baltimore's Anquan Boldin for his sneaky speed, reliable hands and toughness.

13. Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina: NFL teams are generally loathe to spend first-round picks on guards, but with the steady Cooper an exception may have to be made. Cooper has excellent agility, demonstrating the ability to quickly get to the second level and block on the move. His terrific blocking helped Tar Heels running back Giovani Bernard -- a legitimate high-round prospect himself -- rush for an average of nearly 123 yards per game in 2012.

14. Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma: With the athleticism that once saw him line up at QB, TE and DE, Johnson has emerged as arguably the fastest-rising left tackle prospect in the country. Having only played left tackle one season, Johnson is undeniably raw but his length, lateral agility and surprising physicality helped him shut down Texas A&M's Moore in the Alamo Bowl loss and helped him turn heads in Mobile.

15. Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas: Instinctive, athletic and tough, Vaccaro has endeared himself to scouts despite the fact that he hasn't proven the ball-hawk of some of Texas' highly regarded defensive backs in recent years. He's starred as an in-the-box run-stuffer, single-high cover safety and even demonstrated the fluidity to handle nickel responsibilities. He carries some character red-flags, however, which teams will want to investigate.

16. * Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee: Of the skill-position players in this draft, Patterson shows the greatest "wow" factor. In his first season at the FBS level, Patterson, 6-3, 205, dominated the SEC to the tune of 154.83 all-purpose yards a game, easily the most of any player in the power conference. If there is a superstar receiver in this draft class, Patterson likely is the one. He brings considerable red flags on and off the field, enough that any team considering investing a top 15 pick will want to explore his NFL readiness from every angle.

17. * Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford: One half of the most talented tight end duo in college football, Ertz only started five games in 2012 but easily led the Rose Bowl-winning Cardinal in catches (69), receiving yards (898) and receiving touchdowns (six). While perhaps not quite as imposing as his 6-8, 265 pound teammate Levine Toilolo (himself a potential top 75 prospect), Ertz combines soft hands with a rare combination of size (6-6, 256) and athleticism. There isn't a Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski clone in this draft class, but Ertz's unique traits have drawn comparisons to Cincinnati Bengals' standout Jermaine Gresham from multiple scouts.

18. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: Smith did not play the second half of the season at the level of top-ranked quarterbacks in recent years. He remains a legitimate candidate to be the top pick in the 2013 draft. Optimists will point out that Smith improved his completion percentage and touchdown/interception ratio in each of his three starting seasons, culminating in a senior campaign in which he completed a sparkling 71.24 percent of his passes and threw 42 touchdowns against just six interceptions. More important, he possesses all of the physical traits scouts are looking for, as well as the work ethic to build upon them. Of concern, however, is the fact that Smith struggled late in the year with anticipation as defenses got more physical with his receiÍers. Smith hesitated to release passes before his receivers were open. They rarely are for long in the NFL.

19. Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California: Considered the clear-cut No. 1 pick when he spurned the NFL to return to the Trojans for his senior season, there is no denying that Barkley struggled in 2012. After only one multi-interception game during his junior campaign, Barkley had six in 2012, including what proved to be the final four games of his career before a shoulder injury sidelined him for USC's final two games. While critics are quick to point to Barkley's lack of ideal size and arm strength, they often ignore the impact from the loss of left tackle Matt Kalil to the NFL. For all of the spectacular plays Marqise Lee made during his glorious Biletnikoff Award-winning season, his freelancing also resulted in a number of the interceptions for which Barkley was assigned blame. There are a number of productive NFL passers with lesser physical traits than Barkley and scouts love his intangibles.

20. * Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State: With a rare combination of size (6-2, 217), physicality and athleticism, Rhodes proved to be a standout throughout his career with the Seminoles, culminating in first-team All-ACC honors in 2012. He'll need to run well in pre-draft workouts to guarantee being selected in the first round and projects best to a press-heavy scheme.

21. Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama: Many top prospects boast eye-popping statistics. Williams is not one of them. The Australia native finished the regular season just ninth (and tied for that) on the Alabama roster with 36 tackles, including 2½ tackles for loss and one sack. The 6-3, 320-pounder's wide frame and awesome strength (600-pound bench press) make him a potentially elite nose guard. With most NFL teams either using the 3-4 as their base defense or at least incorporating many of its principles, Williams' value may not truly be proven until draft day.

22. * D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama: Anyone who watched Alabama dismantle Notre Dame's talented defense in the BCS title game knows that the Tide offensive line was dominant. Much of the credit has gone to the interior (and for good reason). At 6-5, 355 pounds, however, Fluker is an absolute road-grader himself. Massive, physical and tenacious, he's the top right tackle prospect in the draft.

23. Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington: While lacking the size and physicality of Millner or Rhodes, the 5-11, 190-pound Trufant showcased a blend of speed and fluidity in Mobile to arguably rank as this year's top cover corner. If the last name sounds familiar, it should. Both of his older brothers -- Marcus and Isaiah -- are already cashing NFL paychecks as cornerbacks with the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.

24. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: Despite being the obvious focus of every opponent's blocking scheme since talented teammate Jackson Jeffcoat was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle Oct. 13, Okafor earned first-team All-Big 12 accolades for the second straight season, posting a career high 12½ sacks, including 4½ against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl. Okafor showed off a better-than-expected burst off the snap and his trademark active, heavy hands to wreak havoc during Senior Bowl practices.

25. Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: A consistent standout during the Senior Bowl practices, Jones racked up an impressive 19 tackles for loss in 2012, seeing action up and down the UCLA defensive line. A few years ago Jones, at 6-4, 280 pounds might have been considered a 'tweener. With defensive coordinators forced to adjust to the rapidly expanding offenses of today's NFL, however, Jones ranks as an intriguing hybrid defender who can hold up against the run as a base defensive end, while beating interior lineman with his quickness if moved inside on passing downs.

26. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: Used in much the same fashion (receiver, runner, returner) as the Vikings feature Percy Harvin, Austin has emerged as the top senior playmaker in the country. At just 5-9, 172 pounds, Austin may not have been viewed as worthy of first-round consideration a few years ago, but in today's wide-open NFL that rewards mismatches Austin could prove among the more valued commodities on draft day.

27. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: Snap to snap consistency has been an issue with Short throughout much of his career but he's also proven to be a natural playmaker, averaging 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and three blocked kicks over the past three years. He then backed that up with a stellar week of practice at the Senior Bowl, legitimizing his first-round grade.

28. Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon: At a rangy 6-6, 243 pounds, Jordan's length and explosiveness off the edge make him a matchup nightmare for opponents and a must-see athlete at the combine. Unfortunately, while this Jordan might be able to "fly" in shorts like Mike, he hasn't been as productive as his athleticism might lead you to believe once the chin-straps are buckled. Jordan led the Ducks as a junior with 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, but wasn't as productive in 2012 (10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks) and has struggled with nagging injuries throughout his career.

29. *Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State: In terms of pure talent, Hankins deserves to be ranked among the top five prospects in the country. With light feet and shocking athleticism for a man listed at 6-3, 320 pounds, Hankins can be a superstar. Unfortunately, his motor too often appears to be in neutral rather than overdrive. After registering an impressive 11 tackles for loss in a breakout sophomore campaign, the Buckeye defender had just five this season, including only one sack. Despite his drop in production, Hankins is entering the 2013 draft. He clearly has talent, but so too did other notable Ohio State busts like Vernon Gholston and Dan Wilkinson.

30. * Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU: Mingo possesses the frame (6-5, 240 pounds) and athleticism to warrant top 10 consideration, but at this point he remains a largely unpolished product who relies on his natural tools rather than technique to make plays. Given Mingo's upside, it is easy to imagine him terrorizing NFL quarterbacks off the edge as a multi-dimensional defender. Considering Mingo's relatively pedestrian numbers (38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) this season, as well as the struggles of other former highly regarded LSU defensive linemen in the NFL, the general manager who selects him that high is rolling the dice.

31. Johnathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia: Like his fellow SEC run-stuffer, Jesse Williams, Jenkins does not possess the elite statistics (50 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack) that normally are associated with first-round picks. At 6-3, 358 pounds, however, Jenkins certainly possesses the beef to clog running lanes and is experienced at both nose guard and defensive end in the 3-4 alignment. Despite having only played two seasons at the FCS level, he's proven himself against top competition in the SEC and at the Senior Bowl.

32. Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: More decorated than a wedding cake, Te'o has earned an astounding seven national awards since leading the Irish to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the BCS title game. While the NFL couldn't care less about a collegiate prospect's stocked trophy case, it is tough not to acknowledge the relative safety that the 6-2, 255-pound Te'o provides as an instinctive, physical defender capable of making big plays against the run and pass. However, Te'o must have a strong pre-draft process after struggling in the title game and then admitting to lying as part of an admittedly embarrassing "hoax" that hit the national stage Jan. 16.
The second tier

33. * Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia: Ogletree could drop due to character concerns but he is a spectacular athlete with undeniable upside; normally might warrant top-15 consideration.

34. * Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: Possessing soft hands and excellent body control, Eifert is the prototypical security blanket, though to earn a first round grade he'll need to answer questions about his straight-line speed.

35. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: Lanky ball hawk who must prove his speed to warrant first-round consideration.

36. * Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU: Instinctive and physical, Minter was the most dependable player on an LSU defense chock-full of prospective NFL talent.

37. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: The most consistent of the quarterbacks throughout the critical first three practices of the Senior Bowl, likely pushing him back into the first-round mix.

38. * Matt Elam, SS, Florida: An instinctive defender with a knack for making the big play in big games, everything about Elam's game is big ... except his 5-10, 205-pound frame.

39. * Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: High-effort pass rusher who looks the part at 6-5, 260 pounds, but doesn't consistently win one-on-one battles due to stiffness in his upper body. Plays with top effort, however, and has the strength and determination to be equally effective vs. the run as well as the pass.

40. Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech: Patton may lack the name recognition of the rest of this strong, if not elite, receiver class but he was clearly the most polished wideout in Mobile.

41. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin: While perhaps not possessing any one dominant trait, Ball's all-around game brings back memories of another No. 28 -- Hall of Famer Curtis Martin.

42. Jonathan Cyprien, SS, Florida International: The ultra-physical Cyprien was dynamic in Mobile, erasing my previous concerns about his level of competition. If he runs well in Indianapolis, Cyprien could push for a spot in the first round.

43. * DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson: A polished route-runner who plays with speed and physicality, Hopkins is earning first round grades from some teams.

44. Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky: Overshadowed in this class by Warmack and Cooper, the powerful Warford is a legitimate top 50 prospect in his own right.

45. * Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama: Nursing a slightly torn hamstring, Lacy won't workout at the combine. If he can prove his speed at his March 13 Pro Day, however, he could join former teammates Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson as the top backs of their respective draft classes.

46. Khaseem Green, OLB, Rutgers: Safety-turned-linebacker, Greene is a turnover machine (played a role in 24 turnovers over his career), and a future NFL star as a 4-3 weakside linebacker.

47. * Eric Reid, FS, LSU: Terrific in run support but questionable instincts, fluidity could make him a liability in coverage in the NFL.

48. Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State: Too slim of a build to earn first-round consideration but has elusiveness and straight-line speed.

49. Phillip Thomas, FS, Fresno State: A Thorpe Award candidate with an FBS-leading leading eight interceptions (including three returned for touchdowns), Thomas is the best safety most haven't heard of.

50. * Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State: Scouts worry about the fact that Randle's success came out of a spread offense but his agility and speed make him arguably the draft's most elusive back... at 6-0, 200-pounds.
Just missed the cut

51. * Robert Woods, WR, USC
52. Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
53. * Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
54. Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State
55. Cornelius Carradine, DE, Florida State
56. * Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
57. * Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
58. Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
59. Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon
60. E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State
61. Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern
62. Terron Armstread, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff
63. Da'Rick Rodgers, WR, Tennessee Tech
64. * Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State web page


Jones isnt going to workout at the combines which is a huge mistake imho. Teams want to see how these kids stack up against each other and with his speed it is stupid not to work out.

kwhip - You are new to this board. Dj has a long record in the draft thread. Every year, he gets criticized for some of his opinions but 2-3 years later you see what a great job he does (Gabbert excluded). He did as well as Heckert and kicked Savage's butt up and down the football field. I thoroughly respect his evaluations (again except for Qb's but hey nobody is perfect).