Thursday, January 15, 2009

My top 5 at each position...

QB
1. Matt Stafford
2. Mark Sanchez
3. Josh Freeman
4. Graham Harrell
5. Nate Davis

I love Matt Stafford, I think he's the perfect fit for the Lions at #1. I think Mark Sanchez is a good game manager, ala Matt Leinart (who hasn't been the manager in the NFL). Freeman has physical ability and size, although he lacks accuracy and consistancy. Harrell I like his presence in the pocket, although questions will linger about being a system QB. I like Nate Davis, but he's rough.

RB
1. Chris Wells
2. Knowshown Moreno
3. Lesean McCoy
4. James Davis
5. Shonn Greene

Chris Wells is headed to the top 10 as a power runner, although RB's do slip. Moreno needs to run well, but has terrific athleticism, and should garner first round grades; although it's possible he'll fall with McCoy to the 2nd round. I think Greene is a special case, and might have the best game for the next level. He runs with great leverage, and plays fast. He'll be a bargain with his advanced age. I also love Glen Coffey, who's a gamebreaker himself.

WR
1. Michael Crabtree
2. Jeremy Maclin
3. Hakeem Nicks
4. Kenny Britt
5. Darrius Heyward-Bey

There is actually some depth at this position now, with an exceptional load of underclassmen joining the ranks. Crabtree needs to run well, but should still go high-1. Maclin is a multi-faceted burner, and Nicks has great hands. I love Britt and Bey's upside.

TE

1. Brandon Pettigrew
2. Chase Coffman
3. Jared Cook
4. Travis Beckum
5. Dennis Pitta

Pettigrew is a stud, and should go somewhere in the mid-late first. Coffman is a solid player, and should be a predictably handy pass catching TE at the NFL level. Cook has physical tools, although his performances have been up and down. He could get a late push for his talents, but buyer beware. Beckum is coming off the broken leg, but would have been a first day pick before his injury. I'd love to see Pitta run a 40 before I'd assess a final grade. This is a good class, but it could have been a great class with Gresham.

OT
1. Andre Smith
2. Michael Oher
3. Eugene Monroe
4. Jason Smith
5. Phil Loadholt

I concede Smith will go high one, but there's alot that I remain weary about him. He scares me on an island, and he had TE help on his side at Alabama. I've knocked Oher, but he's a good football player. Probably a top 10 pick. Monroe and Smith are very similar, and they are two experienced and dependable blockers. I'm higher on Loadholt than others are. He reminds me of Marcus McNeill of the Chargers, and he might be able to stay on the left side.

OG
1. Duke Robinson
2. Sergio Render
3. Herman Johnson
4. Kraig Urbik
5. Anthony Parker

Ugh, Duke! When he's in control, he's a top of the line blocker, but he commits too many penalties for my liking, although technically I have to put him at the top. I like Render more than Johnson, but maybe Johnson is out of position...RT anyone? Urbik is a battler, and Parker has good feet.

C
1. Max Unger
2. Alex Mack
3. Jonathon Luigs
4. Eric Wood
5. A.Q. Shipley

Mack is getting some hype, but Unger has more value, as he can play almost anywhere on the line of scrimmage. The rest including Cooper, are very good centers. This is the best class of centers I can remember...

DE
1. Everette Brown
2. Brian Orakpo
3. Aaron Maybin
4. Tyson Jackson
5. Michael Johnson

This is a really solid group of pass rushers. I like Brown over Orakpo, simply because I think he's more physical at the point of attack, and he reminds me of Andre Carter. Orakpo has great burst, but bursts his way out of too many plays. Jackson is a better run defender, and Maybin is a 3-4 OLB rush end waiting to happen. Johnson is more for show than go.

DT
1. BJ Raji
2. Peria Jerry
3. SenDerrick Marks
4. Fili Moala
5. Ron Brace

I love the team of Raji/Brace so much, and I think Brace is underrated because of Raji. Raji is lurking, but I think the NFL will catch up to him. He's really a superstar, and might be a top 10 (maybe higher) pick before it's all said and done. Jerry and Marks are strictly three techniques, although Moala offers some versatility in the roles he plays. This isn't a strong class, but these are five good players.

OLB
1. Aaron Curry
2. Brian Cushing
3. Clay Mathews
4. Clint Sintim
5. Marcus Freeman

Curry is a stud, although it looks like he has free reign within the WF defensive scheme. He's all over the place, and doesn't look out of place rushing the passer with his hand down. He reminds me of Junior Seau, but bigger. The rest of the guys are all similar...they're pretty safe bets to be solid players at the next level. All three USC LB's could go in the first round, which is impressive.

ILB
1. Rey Maulauga
2. James Laurinaitis
3. Dannell Ellerbe
4. Jasper Brinkley
5. Scott McKillop

I'm not convinced 100% that Laurinaitis isn't the better MLB, but this is a conservative ranking. When I key in on Laurinaitis, he's making great reads, moves well, and has great functional strength, as he showed against Texas. I think McKillop doesn't get enough hype, as he is a better player than given credit for.

CB
1. Vontae Davis
2. Malcolm Jenkins
3. DJ Moore
4. Alphonso Smith
5. Asher Allen

I think Davis is terrific, and I also wonder how fast Jenkins is. We'll know more after they run. I love Moore's toughness, and Smith is a terrific player.

S
1. Rashad Johnson
2. Nic Harris
3. William Moore
4. Louis Delmas
5. Patrick Chung

I've gone back and forth with this safety class, wondering what to think about it. I'm kind of meh about them as a group, although there is something there. I like Harris as a hitter, and I think he should be a SS in the box type. Delmas is getting too much hype, that I'm not buying. He's a nice 2nd rounder, maybe third.

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