The skinny: Reminiscent of former Nittany Lions linebacker Paul Posluszny in that he's highly productive. The Bednarik Award winner set a school record with 419 tackles, including a Big-Ten leading 145 in 2007. He can play inside or out, returning to the middle in 2007. He's extremely instinctive and often the first one to the ball. Rarely misses tackles and is smooth dropping into pass coverage, though he doesn't have great hands.
The skinny: He made the move from outside to inside linebacker and what a difference: He led the SEC in tackles with 140. Scouts may look at him as an outside backer, especially with his size and speed, but he seemed comfortable inside last season. Attacks the line and has good change of direction.
The skinny: As the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, he had an astonishing 157 tackles this season, including four that forced fumbles. He's instinctive, fast and is a reliable open-field tackler. The downside: He was a one-year starter, and there's an underwhelming history of OU linebackers in the NFL.
The skinny: The Yellow Jackets' leading tackler, he is underrated as a pass rusher -- with 5.5 last season. Though he started at middle linebacker last season he can play outside, too. In fact, he was recruited as a pass-rushing defensive end. He struggles in pass coverage but his skills as a blitzer could make him a perfect third-down pass rusher.
The skinny: He led his team for the second straight year in tackles, this time accumulating a career-high 113. He's highly productive, with at least 10 tackles in six games, and he's durable with 27 straight starts at middle linebacker. A physical presence, he's best at jamming the middle against the inside run. He's also a natural leader, serving as team captain the past two seasons.
Player on the rise:
Mayo. At his Pro Day workout he bettered his vertical jump by seven-and-a-half inches. He has the size, temperament and versatility that coaches like, but they questioned his speed ... until he ran a 4.54 at the annual scouting combine. Next.
Player on the decline:
Connor. Look, this isn't a precipitous fall, but he was once mentioned as a Top 15 draft choice. Not anymore. As clubs start to dissect him they're finding he's not as athletic or as strong as they would like. Plus, he's a little top heavy. Nevertheless, he should be a late first or early second-round choice.
Sleeper
Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Boston College. A converted tailback, he doesn't have great size or ideal range, but the guy is productive. He has great vision and is seldom caught out of position and takes command of a huddle -- one reason he was a team captain. Bothered by a high-ankle sprain last year, he missed two games and was limited in three others. BC was 2-3 while he was away.
Overrated
Beau Bell, UNLV. Some people have him in the top five, but he's too top heavy and plays stiff. I know he was the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and led the conference in tackles, but he's a straight-ahead runner with limited change of direction.
Position analysis:
This is not the year to look for an inside linebacker. There is a marked dropoff after the first three, with the rest of the field looking at a second-day draft. In short, don't look for a Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans or David Harris here. Connor is the best of the lot, and scouts are conflicted about just how good he is ... or can be.
I love your work, Mr. Rang, but that is uninformed. Your comments to today regarding Keenum ring even more true for Colt McCoy. He is a system QB that allows for gaudy statistics. His ball floats badly beyond 15 yards, and he throws into huge windows. His game might, I stress, might translate to a Jake Delhomme. I would rather draft Sean Canfield in the 6th than take
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Honestly, they both claim that Green Bay will take a WR with their first pick? No chance in he!!. They need O-linemen and Defensive players. Get your facts right you morons.
I've followed nfldraftscout.com for years, so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and guess this is more an indication of where they think each player will be drafted, and that they paid little attention to which team is in in each slot. I hope so, because some of these are beyond idiotic.
Tampa Bay and Detroit both taking QBs after just taking Stafford and Freeman
For a team that has 2 spectacular recievers that cant show how good they really are because of the weakness of the QB dont you think they would try to draft a QB....maybe Colt McCoy, Locker, if lucky Claussen...expect for Dez Bryant to go to a team needing a wr like Tennessee or Miami.
As a dolphin fan i would be very upset if we get either of the people you drafted for us.
I would like to know why there is no race quota in the NFL? Maybe its because Jimmy the Greek was right. Blacks are faster and stronger based not solely on their work ethic but also on their physicality and genetic superiority. Until we admit that we are kidding ourselves. BUT< you think I am racist, keep reading you imbeciles. One day... and soon, we will see all the athletes i
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There is no way on God's green earth that Clausen is going number 1 or 2. Tampa Bay and St. Louis have much bigger issues than their QBs. Not to mention that Tampa Bay has a young QB that has shown some promise. St. Louis has talent at QB and have way too many other issues they need to fill rather than take a QB. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if St. Louis traded o
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Prisco has the right idea for the Lions, but Im sure they reach for Stafford... 2 great D's in the NFC North, a rocket arm isnt gonna stop a sack, just ask David Carr... With the 20th and 33rd pick u'd think they could make a deal to move up if they feel they need one of the two qb's... Sign Garcia and land Nick Davis in the later rounds would be a better choice... Then get some defense, u need
First of all, the Lions won't pick any later than #3. Secondly, there is NO WAY they take Bradford one year after taking Stafford #1 overall. Seriously, did a couple of interns put these together?
Defensive help is critical and the Broncose take a RB who most likely would have made it to their 18th pick? WHAT? If Denver really thought the Defensive players left on the board were this weak with B.J. Raji, Tyson Jackson, and Aaron Maybin gone and thinking that Texas' Brian Orakpo is soft, then why would they keep the pic? TRADE IT...what a waste - Denver is dead.
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How do you not even have D.Thomas in your rankings? Watch some highlights of this guy over the first four games of the season. He's not on a great team, but he definitely is a prospect.
