Pro Football Draft Preview March 2014
Chris Borland “Has top-notch instincts and eye discipline that allow him to flow to the football.”
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#PFDP
Interactive Index 4
Letter from the Editor
5
Hey Ted, Crack a Window?
6-7
A Joint NFL Pilgrimage
8-9
In Command and In Demand
10
He Reminds Me Of ...
11
The Top 100
12-17
NFL Mock Draft
18
Packers Team Needs
19
NFC North Needs
20-23
NFL Team Needs
24-28
Quarterbacks
29-32
Runnings Backs
33-34
Fullbacks and H-Backs
35-39
Wide Receivers
40-44
Tight Ends
45-49
Offensive Tackles
50-53
Interior Linemen
54-57
Defensive Linemen
58-62
Outside Linebackers
63-67
Inside Linebackers
68-72
Cornerbacks
73-78
Safeties
79-82
Special Teams
83-84
Packers Mock Draft
85-90
Packers Position Analysis
91-92
All-Bowl Team
93-94
What They’re Saying
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Publisher: Corey Behnke Editor: Brian Carriveau Design: Alex Tallitsch Writers: Al Bracco Andrew Garda Paul Guillemete Jay Hodgson Zach Kruse Aaron Nagler Jayme Snowden Thanks to everyone who bought the fourth-annual edition of the Cheesehead TV NFL Draft Guide. We would never be able to create this publication without all of the great readers, followers and supporters of Cheesehead TV. Cover photo: David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications Inside cover photo: Texas A&M Athletic Department Back cover photo: Missouri Athletic Department * All stats from 2013 unless indicated * All rankings and mock drafts are the author’s own opinion and not a consensus * All measurements are from the NFL Combine. If a player wasn’t invited or didn’t participate, a few pro day measurements were taken from NFL.com.
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Letter from the Editor Dear NFL Draft fans, For the fourth consecutive year, Cheesehead TV is proud to present Pro Football Draft Preview, a digital preview publication catered specifically to Green Bay Packers fans. Those that have read our previous editions will see the same things we’ve always provided: over 350 pro prospects ranked and analyzed, mock drafts, needs broken down by every NFL team, feature articles, columns and more, all from a Packers point of view. Every year we try to take it up a notch, and the best new addition this season is the inclusion of video. We’re proud to partner with the folks at DraftBreakdown.com to allow you to see several of these players in action. If there’s another NFL Draft guide that includes video, I have yet to see it. Anyone that ordered our publication should have received two versions. The first will be a fully in-line interactive copy, available to view on your home computer in Adobe Reader. You’ll be able to watch video and listen to interviews without ever leaving the .pdf file. The second version will be a standard mobile version with interactive features available via the web for your tablet, smartphones and other devices. Instead of viewing video in-line, you’ll be taken by link to a website. However you choose to consume our content, we’re just glad you chose Cheesehead TV and we appreciate your support. As usual, we always try to view players the way we anticipate the Packers and general manager Ted Thompson would view them. That includes looking at players through the lens of Mike McCarthy’s modified West Coast offense and Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense. For the first time in years, however, the Packers are pushing the boundaries of a traditional 3-4 as evidenced by the signing of Julius Peppers and classifying him informally as an “Elephant,” which is essentially a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. While we’ve continued to sort players based on the way they fit into a 3-4 defense, please be aware that some of them defy categorization. No matter how we group them, we would always face the same challenge. Despite the signing of Peppers, the Packers’ biggest needs remain on the defensive side of the football. There’s obviously a gaping hole at the safety position and inside linebacker could stand an upgrade. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Packers address both those positions on the first two days of the Draft. On the offensive side of the football, there’s an obligation to provide Aaron Rodgers with a big target that’s probably 6’ 5” or taller as long as Jermichael Finley remains unsigned. Whether that player is a tight end or a wide receiver is probably immaterial. Now that Evan Dietrich-Smith has departed Green Bay as a free agent, center has emerged as an under-the-radar need too. The Packers might pursue a true center, but considering Thompson’s track record, it wouldn’t be unexpected to see the team find a college tackle to convert to an interior offensive lineman in the NFL. My thanks go out to everyone involved in making this publication a reality from the writers to those with a behind-the-scenes role. And once again, thanks to you, the reader for your patronage. With that, please enjoy the rest of Pro Football Draft Preview.
Go Pack Go,
4 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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NFL Draft 2014
Aaron Nagler
Hey Ted, Crack a Window Back in January, Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers made a somewhat bold proclamation on his weekly radio show when asked about the possibility that the Packers’ championship window might be closing. “It’s the end of a window and the beginning of a new one. We can open up a window that lasts four or five years. This window has a chance to open up and be really bright for four, five years,” Rodgers said. “My contract is for six more years and I expect to be playing well all six.” At the time, the Packers and their fans were still smarting from yet another devastating playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. More importantly, the team was preparing to enter an offseason that would see 17 players set to hit unrestricted free agency. Whether by chance or by design, general manager Ted Thompson seemed to have created something of a perfect storm, contract-wise, for the roster to be given a significant makeover, and Rodgers’ comments seemed to reflect that idea. While a Packers team that featured the likes of James Jones, Ryan Pickett and Evan Dietrich-Smith may have won a bunch of football games in 2013, they fell short of the ultimate goal of winning a championship, and as head coach Mike McCarthy stated in his introductory press conference, that will always be the goal as long as he is coaching the team. Of course, not all those pending free agents ended up departing, with both expensive and dirt-cheap deals keeping players like Sam Shields and B.J. Raji in town. The biggest shock of the offseason was undoubtedly the news that Thompson and the Packers had more than dipped their toes into the free agency waters when they signed aging defensive end Julius Peppers. The 13-year veteran will play a key role in the Packers’ attempt to turn their defense around after three years of sub-standard to downright terrible play on that side of the ball. Thompson still has work to do when it comes to reshaping the roster for 2014 and beyond and the draft is where he will do the bulk of it.
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After what appears to be an excellent draft class in 2013, Thompson needs to bring another group of players who can not only push the veterans on the roster, but also take their jobs in training camp. Packers fans may bemoan the “draft and develop” mantra Thompson and the Packers live by but a Super Bowl title and three straight division titles certainly suggest that the team’s current way of operating produces results. Of course, repeated knockouts by the 49ers in the playoffs have left a sour taste in the mouth of Packers fans as well. Make no mistake—that feeling is felt ten-fold inside 1265 Lombardi Ave. The people who work inside that building know better than anyone that Green Bay isn’t nicknamed “Playoff Town”—it’s called “Titletown.” When the NFL Draft takes place in New York City in May, Thompson will undoubtedly be looking to bolster the safety position and to provide Rodgers with another pass catcher, be it a wide receiver or tight end. But most importantly, he will be laying the foundation for the team that Rodgers spoke about back in early January, the one with a championship window that should be open for the foreseeable future.
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Draft Feature A Joint NFL Pilgrimage BY: BRIAN CARRIVEAU
A nice story got better when Gillmore was a late invite to the nation’s premiere college football all-star game at the Senior Bowl, joining Richburg. Gillmore got the promotion after an impressive outing the previous week at the EastWest Shrine Game. Then things just got downright eerie when both were invited to the NFL Combine, pro football’s version of a job interview. Wherever one goes, the other follows. “It’s very rare,” said Colorado State offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin. “I haven’t seen it in my 35 years of coaching, and I’ve been a lot of places ... And both will be drafted, which is the unique story about it.” Richburg and Gillmore, two childhood friends from the Texas panhandle, are on the doorstep of the NFL, knocking to come in. The similarities in the road the two have traveled are uncanny. Considering everything they’ve been through, it probably wouldn’t be surprising to see them drafted by the same team. But wherever they land, they’ll always have the memories of going through their journey together—from a high school with about 350 students to the NFL.“We text all day, every day. Once we got here, we’re constantly going at it,” said Gillmore at the NFL Combine.
“It’s been a great experience. It’s just been a huge blessing for us to represent Bushland and Colorado State. Being from a town that’s so small and come together here is just unreal.”
Weston Richburg
Colorado State Athletic Department
It was coincidence when offensive lineman Weston Richburg and tight end Crockett Gillmore went from playing high school football together in Bushland, Tex. to being recruited by the same out-of-state university at Colorado State.
“I get my hands on guys quick,” said Richburg. “If I can do that, I can negate any moves they’re going to try and throw me. I think that’s one of my biggest things. And I like to get after guys. I’ve got an attitude, really like to be physical.” When you start 50 consecutive games as Richburg did over the course of his college career (a school record), you tend to pick up some tricks of the trade. According to his coach, Richburg’s football smarts and his versatility are the best things he has going for him.
Making the transition to college—at least from an academic standpoint—has been rather seamless for Richburg, who received a degree in Animal Sciences from CSU. “I grew up on a farm, raising cows, raising pigs, so I dealt with that my entire childhood, throughout high school,” said Richburg. “I really developed a love for it and it’s something I wanted to continue with and something I’d like to do after my football days are over with, go back to the farm and raise cows.” First things first, however, Richburg is intent on fulfilling a career in professional football, and he enters the NFL Draft as one of the highest-rated centers in this year’s class. Coming from a mid-major program like Colorado State, Richburg will have to prove he can play with the big boys at the next level.
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Ask Richburg and he’ll rattle off several selling points, including his experience pulling on outside-zone runs and holding up one-on-one on pass plays without the help of a guard when facing 3-4 defensive fronts.
“He’s highly, highly intelligent,” said Baldwin. “He understands offensive line play. He can play guard, center or tackle, understands that whole aspect. He’s the first kid I’ve been around in a long time that could play all three positions and is comfortable in the verbiage and the technique and the whole deal. His intelligence of the Oline play, knowledge of it, he’s way beyond a young kid that’s going into that league.” During his junior and senior seasons, Richburg made every start at center, but his first two years in college included two starts at tackle and three at guard. Center may be Richburg’s most comfortable position, but in the NFL where teams frequently carry only seven offensive linemen on their game day active rosters, his experience playing different positions will come in handy.
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Draft Feature
With Evan Dietrich-Smith moving on from the Packers in free agency, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Green Bay address the center position in the Draft, and Richburg could be a potential mid-round pick. Any new additions to the Green Bay offensive line would have the responsibility of paving the way for last season’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Eddie Lacy. Good thing for Richburg, he has experience leading the charge for an effective run game in college. There’s a reason Colorado State running back Kapri Bibbs (also eligible for the NFL Draft) led major college running backs with 31 rushing touchdowns this past season, and a lot of it has to do with both Richburg and Gillmore helping to open up holes. “I love Kapri,” said Baldwin. “I wish he was coming back, but there’s eight or nine runs where he’s not touched where he’s going into the end zone. There were holes and the Mike ‘backer is cut by Weston and outside zones where our tight ends get ‘em. There’s no back that can make things happen without an offensive line up front, and I certainly think those two were key to us moving the football.”
Crockett Gilmore Simply looking at Gillmore’s size, you’d think he’d be a devastating run blocker as a tight end. With a frame that measured 6’ 6” and 260 lbs. at the Combine, he should be able to more than hold his own as a blocker, but it wasn’t always that way.
“His strength is his catching ability,” said Baldwin. “He has phenomenal hands, plucks the ball out of the air with his big frame. And then he just seems to make people miss. He’s got big size, but the first tackler never seemed to tackle him this year. He’d pluck the ball out and was supposed to be hit and the next thing you know, he’s getting another 10 yards. Great concentration in a crowd.”
Colorado State Athletic Department
The list of Richburg’s positive qualities doesn’t end there. Baldwin also cited Richburg’s work ethic, his leadership as a two-time captain and his ability to get to the second level as reasons he’ll make it in the pros.
Gillmore spent his first year in Fort Collins, Colo. on the defensive side of the football. The Rams envisioned him as a big, tall pass rusher with a good initial burst off the line of scrimmage, but when injuries struck and the need arose, they switched him to tight end shortly before his sophomore season, a position he’s played ever since. His blocking was a work in progress, slowed by a shoulder injury. But according to Coach Baldwin, Gillmore was able to grow into a physical blocker his senior season thanks in part due to better health.
With NFL-caliber talents like Gillmore, Richburg and Bibbs on the roster, it’s not surprising that Colorado State had their first winning season and bowl win since 2008, going 8-6 and beating Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl. The Rams hadn’t won more than four games in any of the four previous seasons. “I think we had a knock because we’re Colorado State, but we knew all along that we could compete with anybody,” said Gillmore. “We went down to Alabama this year and gave them a run for their money.” Despite losing 31-6, Colorado State hung with the perennial power into the fourth quarter, trailing only 17-6 until there was less than 12 minutes remaining in the contest.
There’s now an edge to Gillmore’s game, a touch of nastiness that puts him on a level with some of the better tight ends in this year’s Draft.
Gillmore and Richburg also proved their mettle in the all-star game environment at the Senior Bowl. Neither looked out of place among the nation’s elite.
“There are guys out there who are considered better, but I know my game and I know that there isn’t that much of a difference,” said Gillmore. “I like to bring what I call ‘a bad attitude.’ People started noticing.”
“It was a great week,” said Gillmore. “It was fun to get the opportunity to go play against the best players in the country. And then to go play like I did, I felt like it was definitely something that helped me out.”
Maybe Gillmore’s blocking ability is what makes him a well-rounded prospect, one very worthy of being drafted and making an impact in the NFL, but it’s not the best part of his game. How Gillmore is going to make his money is through an ability to haul in the football in ways that others can’t.
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With Colorado State’s pro day in the rearview mirror, all that’s left for Gillmore and Richburg is the NFL Draft. Chances are, their paths will diverge for the first time in their lives. Knowing these two players, however, they’re likely to heed the advice of the sage Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
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Brian Carriveau
Safety Tre Boston is very proud of the fact that former NFL coach Jerry Glanville named him a captain of his team at the East-West Shrine Game. For a player who wasn’t even a captain on his own team at North Carolina, to be chosen among a bunch of players who were leaders at their respective universities, it was an extreme privilege.
Maybe the Shrine Game was the equivalent of turning over a new leaf for Boston. Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson was there in person for the week of practice and had the opportunity to have a discussion with Boston, to find out what makes him tick. What did they talk about? “About football, about coming to Green Bay, stuff like that,” said Boston. It’s no secret the Packers need help at safety. After getting zero interceptions from the position 2013, acquiring a playmaker to insert next to Morgan Burnett in the starting lineup is a necessity. Drafting a safety in the first round of the NFL Draft isn’t out of the question. There’s a decent chance they’ll select a player such as Deone Bucannon, Calvin Pryor or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with the 21st overall selection. But the Green Bay Packers also aren’t going to close the door on addressing another position in the first round.
“It means a lot, especially when scouts tend to not think I’m not a leader for my team at UNC,” said Boston. “To go into an atmosphere where you have tons of leaders on the team and separate yourself from them, that’s definitely an honor.”
There are plenty of other holes that need to be filled in Green Bay such as inside linebacker, tight end and wide receiver. Thompson isn’t going to rule out adding a talented player just because of the void at safety.
As Boston prepares to enter May’s Draft, the search is on to find out what type of leader he is. With each passing year, the NFL seemingly becomes more and more of passing league and judging from the amount of money thrown at safeties in free agency, the position is becoming more and more valued. Defenses are looking for field generals, players skilled at communication in an effort to slow down today’s high-powered offenses.
So why wasn’t Boston a captain for the Tar Heels? As someone who led his team in tackles (94) and interceptions (five) and was named a second-team All-ACC selection, one might think his on-field accomplishments alone might merit such a distinction. Figuring out Boston isn’t easy. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock described the paradox on air during the Combine saying, “Some call it cocky. Some call it confident.” An interview with North Carolina associate head coach Vic Koenning, also in charge of safeties, raised as many questions as answers. Koenning acknowledged the difficulties of faced by Larry Fedora and a new coaching staff coming in during Boston’s junior year. “His leadership skills, we probably could have harnessed them better,” said Koenning. “He was a guy I worked on trying different things with him, and I think that he’s got a lot of upside as far as his leadership ability. “I think we probably could have gotten more out of him had we been there the full time. Some of the things that happened to Tre, he had a bunch of different coaches. The guys that he broke in with may not have been the best at teaching him how to be a leader, and I think that we were just starting to scratch the surface with that this last year.”
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UNC Athletic Communications
In Command is in demand
Draft Feature
That’s why Thompson was doing his due diligence on Boston. Maybe the Packers don’t get around to picking a safety until the second day of the Draft. Or maybe they’re willing to select more than one. Considering the lack of talent, anything is possible. What Thompson probably found out in his meeting with Boston are some of the things the North Carolina product feels are his best qualities. “I used to play corner, so I think man coverage,” said Boston. “A lot of guys didn’t play corner as safeties, and I played corner for my first two years and that just translated into safety. It made it so much easier for me to guard slots and tight ends.” Boston insisted he didn’t give up a single touchdown his senior season, which was a major improvement on his first three years at UNC when he gained a reputation for allowing too many.
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Draft Feature The issue in the past, according to Koenning, was sometimes an attempt by Boston to do too much, both against the pass and the run. “I think he’s got a really good feel for kind of finding the ball with vision,” said Koenning. “Sometimes I’ve got a saying, and I didn’t invent it, but I tell my guys it’s a Chinese proverb, whether it is or isn’t I don’t know, but ‘He who sees everything, sees nothing.’ “And I think Tre’s eyes are his best friend and sometimes they’ve been his enemy, because he tries to almost see everything. As he gets more experienced, he’ll be able to harness that better and better.” What Koenning truly appreciates about Boston was the way he put the team ahead of himself in his final game in a North Carolina uniform, the Belk Bowl against Cincinnati, in which Boston was asked to play linebacker. With several linebackers hurt heading into the postseason, Boston lined up at both the Will and Sam linebacker positions and played well, leading the team with nine tackles and added an interception. Facing Cincinnati’s four wide receiver sets, playing linebacker wasn’t a whole lot different than playing the nickel cornerback position, which is where Koenning thinks Boston will best fit his first season in the NFL. A comparison was drawn to Tavon Wilson of the New England Patriots, a safety/cornerback hybrid Koenning coached at Illinois. Boston has no preference for free or strong safety. He says as long as he’s on the field, he doesn’t mind where he plays. But in an attempt to come full circle—to scrutinize, investigate, evaluate and decipher the type of player and person Boston is—perhaps only he can put into words what his NFL employer will be getting for their investment. “Somebody who’s accountable; somebody who’s coachable; somebody that’s going to give 110 percent every day,” said Boston. “I think I take pride in that, and that’s really what I think teams are going to get.”
“I used to play corner so I think man-coverage” 9 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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He Reminds Me Of ...
“Pigskin” Paul Guillemette
This column is intended to serve as a quick reference point for draftniks that like to link a current prospect with someone who has already played in the NFL. It’s certainly not pure science and won’t always pan out, but the comparisons are meant to give you an idea of what to expect from some of these prospects as pros.
He may not be ideal for the majority of the NFL’s passdominated teams, but for those that still rely on the running game as a serious component of their offense, he’ll be a force and start for a long time. Jackson is every bit as dominant as Chance Warmack, the ex-Alabama great who went in the first round last year.
Let’s start with one comparison that most Wisconsin and Big Ten fans have already heard a hundred times. Chris Borland is a slightly short (5’ 11”) but incredibly productive college player that looks like a solid fit for an inside linebacker slot in a 3-4 scheme pro defense. He has recorded over 100 tackles each of the past three seasons. If anything, his arm length of 29 1/4” is more of a concern than his height. Borland is reminiscent of two guys who overcame their size limitations quite nicely in Zach Tomas and London Fletcher.
When healthy, Southern Cal wide receiver Marqise Lee has been the top receiver for the Trojans the past three years as he hauled in 248 balls for 3,655 yards and 29 touchdowns over his career. Last season was his lowest statistical output after playing on a limited snap count for much of the year because of nagging injuries. His explosiveness and quickness are belied by his recently posted 4.52 40 at the Combine. The reality is that very few college cornerbacks could cover him with any success, a trend that should continue as a pro. His explosiveness bears a resemblance to Santonio Holmes.
Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks lit up the Combine with quickness, speed and explosiveness, just like most draftniks thought he would. He could do some of his best work in the slot, but Cooks is more than that. He’s also fast enough (4.33 40-yard dash) that he can go deep at any time. Cooks has success potential and playing style of Antonio Brown of the Steelers to be split out wide. Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans is a bit hard to project as an NFL player comparison because he’s so young and is likely to grow even more. He must do so without losing any of his current 4.53 speed. He’s already long (6’ 5”) and shows strong hands in battling for the ball with defenders. There have been some comparisons of to Alshon Jeffrey, but he’s much bigger and stacks up better when compared to Brandon Marshall, also of Da Bears. Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde heads to the NFL Draft as the undisputed top big running back for the 2014 NFL Draft. He slimmed down to run faster at the Combine but figure him to play somewhere between 230 and 240 lbs. in the NFL. He gained 1,521 yards last season at a 7.3 yards per carry pace, which included 15 touchdowns. Overall, he’s very reminiscent of Jerome Bettis. Bettis averaged an unspectacular 3.9 ypc as a pro, but he helped his team control the clock, which is what can be expected from Hyde. For a ball-control team, he’ll help them run the clock and convert third-and-short, just like ‘The Bus.” Mississippi State guard Gabe Jackson finished his career with a total of 52 games started in four years. Twice a consensus All-American and a two-time first-team All-SEC selection, he leaves the Bulldogs for the pro ranks this year. He’s been criticized for being too slow to play in the NFL, especially after running a 5.51 40 at the Combine, but those critics overlook his more meaningful 10-yard split of 1.78 seconds.
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Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel can indeed be to the NFL today what Fran Tarkenton was back in the 1960s. Manziel has an uncanny combination of arm, elusiveness and feel for the game to be a standout despite being slightly less than ideal in size. And for what it’s worth, Tarkenton was never six feet tall except in his dreams, either. Notre Dame’s Troy Niklas is a good all around in-line tight end who will block just as well as he catches. He’s not likely to have more receptions than any of his team’s primary receivers, but he can catch well enough that he’ll have to be accounted for. He should make a great red-zone player with his size, offering a receiving threat as well as a blocking option. Think of Vikings current TE Kyle Rudolph, another Golden Domer, when looking for a comparable player. Ohio State’s Bradley Roby not the best cover-corner in this year’s draft class, but he may be the best all-around cornerback out there. He is absolutely fearless in run support and is very effective at press cover in a short area. If an NFL secondary coach can help him at locating the ball in the air, he has Pro Bowl potential. Roby is similar to another ex-Buckeye that was slightly undersized but made a living providing decent pass coverage and fearless run support by the name of Antoine Winfield. Auburn tackle Greg Robinson is a legit man-child who may still need some polish to his game, especially in pass protection, but he has the size and athleticism to be truly dominant as a pro. There’s no doubt he will be a Pro Bowl left tackle in short order. He’s reminiscent of another big-bodied athlete that has excelled in the NFL named Ryan Clady of the Denver Broncos.
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The Top 100
“Pigskin” Paul Guillemette
The Top 100 Prospects #1 Jadeveon Clowney/DE/South Carolina #2 Sammy Watkins/WR/Clemson #3 Greg Robinson/OT/Auburn #4 Jake Matthews/OT/Texas A&M #5 Khalil Mack/OLB/Buffalo #6 Johnny Manziel/QB/Texas A&M #7 Anthony Barr/OLB/UCLA #8 Teddy Bridgewater/QB/Louisville #9 Mike Evans/WR/Texas A&M #10 Blake Bortles/QB/UCF #11 Justin Gilbert/CB/Oklahoma State #12 Taylor Lewan/OT/Michigan #13 Eric Ebron/TE/UNC #14 Zack Martin/OT/Notre Dame #15 C.J. Mosley/ILB/Alabama #16 Brandin Cooks/WR/RS/Oregon State #17 Louis Nix/DL/Notre Dame #18 Marqise Lee/WR/USC #19 Stephon Tuitt/DL/Notre Dame #20 Kony Ealy/DL/Missouri #21 Dee Ford/OLB/Auburn #22 Timmy Jernigan/DL/Florida State #23 Derek Carr/QB/Fresno State #24 Aaron Donald/DL/Pitt #25 Calvin Pryor/S/Louisville #26 Ra’Shede Hageman/DL/Minnesota #27 Jason Verrett/CB/TCU #28 Odell Beckham/WR/RS/LSU #29 Bradley Roby/CB/Ohio State #30 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix/S/Alabama #31 Xavier Su’a-Filo/OG/UCLA #32 Gabe Jackson/OG/Mississippi State #33 Ryan Shazier/OLB/Ohio State #34 Deone Bucannon/S/Washington State #35 Jordan Matthews/WR/Vanderbilt #36 Kyle Fuller/CB/Virginia Tech #37 Carlos Hyde/RB/Ohio State #38 Darqueze Dennard/CB/Michigan State #39 Bishop Sankey/RB/Washington #40 Kelvin Benjamin/WR/Florida State #41 Davante Adams/WR/Fresno State #42 Dominique Easley/DL/Florida #43 Jimmy Garoppolo/QB/Eastern Illinois #44 Allen Robinson/WR/Penn State #45 Troy Niklas/TE/Notre Dame #46 Ego Ferguson/DL/LSU #47 Cyrus Kouandjio/OT/Alabama #48 Trent Murphy/OLB/Stanford #49 Antonio Richardson/OT/Tennessee #50 Kyle Van Noy/OLB/BYU
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#51 Austin Seferian-Jenkins/TE/Washington #52 Christian Jones/LB/Florida State #53 Morgan Moses/OT/Virginia #54 Kareem Martin/DL/UNC #55 Jace Amaro/TE/Texas Tech #56 Lache Seastrunk/RB/Baylor #57 David Yankey/OG/Stanford #58 Lamarcus Joyner/DB/Florida State #59 DaQuan Jones/DL/Penn State #60 Scott Crichton/OLB/Oregon State #61 Martavis Bryant/WR/Clemson #62 Ja’Wuan James/OT/Tennessee #63 Donte Moncrief/WR/Ole Miss #64 Chris Smith/OLB/Arkansas #65 Charles Sims/RB/West Virginia #66 Demarcus Lawrence/OLB/Boise State #67 Anthony Johnson/DL/LSU #68 Telvin Smith/ILB/Florida State #69 Travis Swanson/OC/Arkansas #70 Cyril Richardson/OG/Baylor #71 Cameron Fleming/OT/Stanford #72 Jimmie Ward/S/Northern Illinois #73 Adrian Hubbard/OLB/Alabama #74 Will Sutton/DL/Arizona State #75 Tre Mason/RB/Auburn #76 Jeremiah Attaochu/OLB/Georgia Tech #77 Daniel McCullers/DL/Tennessee #78 Seantrel Henderson/OT/Miami #79 Pierre Desir/CB/Lindenwood #80 Chris Borland/ILB/Wisconsin #81 Jarvis Landry/WR/LSU #82 Jackson Jeffcoat/OLB/Texas #83 Joe Bitonio/OT/OG/Nevada #84 Paul Richardson/WR/Colorado #85 Craig Loston/S/LSU #86 Trai Turner/OG/LSU #87 Bashaud Breeland/CB/Clemson #88 Keith McGill/CB/Utah #89 Brandon Thomas/OG/OT/Clemson #90 Marcus Martin/OC/USC #91 Jay Bromley/DL/Syracuse #92 C.J. Fiedorowicz/TE/Iowa #93 Terrance Brooks/S/Florida State #94 E.J. Gaines/CB/Missouri #95 Stanley Jean-Baptiste/CB/Nebraska #96 A.J. McCarron/QB/Alabama #97 Louchiez Purifoy/CB/Florida #98 Jeremy Hill/RB/LSU #99 Deandre Coleman/DL/Cal #100 Logan Thomas/QB/Virginia Tech
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NFL Draft 2014
Andrew Garda
MOCK DRAFT 2014 #2 Rams
#1 Texans Blake Bortles, QB For a long time Teddy Bridgewater made sense with this pick. To many, he was—and still is—the top quarterback in the NFL draft.
It Happens This Way (BUT MOST LIKELY DOESN’T) BY ANDREW GARDA
Then at the NFL Combine Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien talked about “fit” and “getting the right players and coaches in.” Blake Bortles also talked about his approach, what he needs to improve and what he did in school.
Jadeveon Clowney, DE The Rams may try to trade out of this selection but assuming they don’t, athletically, Jadeveon Clowney is easily the best player in this draft. He has a great combination of size, athleticism and strength as well as a toolbox filled with pass rush moves.
The Texans and Bortles are a fit. Bortles is a raw prospect with a ton of upside. While he has a smooth release and can make every throw, he doesn’t have elite arm strength and his mechanics need some work.
There are still plenty of questions about how hard a worker he is—there were tons of both bad and good at the Combine—but he’s too good to pass up for the Rams.
He has a habit of not stepping into his throws and having his weight in the wrong spot as well.
Clowney could go anywhere from first overall to the back half of the top ten. The problem is teams aren’t forthcoming about how concerned they really are about his drive.
Ultimately, though, scouts saw more of the good than bad near the end of UCF’s season, especially in the win over Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, and they walked away impressed with him and his decision to throw in Indianapolis.
12 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
Not knowing the truth, but guessing based on actual games he’s played, it’s hard to imagine him dropping past the first two or three picks.
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NFL Draft 2014 #3 Jaguars
#4 browns
#5 Raiders
#6 Falcons
Teddy Bridgewater, QB
Johnny Manziel, QB
Sammy Watkins, WR
Jake Matthews, OT
While there are a bunch of players the Jaguars would be happy with at the third overall selection, it shouldn’t surprise anybody that one is Teddy Bridgewater
While new head coach Mike Pettine is a defensive guy, he’s not going to be able to ignore that his team will not win without a quarterback.
The Oakland Raiders have so many holes, they have to start somewhere. While it’s true that they appear to still need a quarterback, pulling the trigger on Derek Carr here may be too early.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 offensive lines, and the only team they rated worse than the Atlanta Falcons were the Arizona Cardinals. Sam Baker has been okay over his career, but after signing a fat contract last year, he ended up hurt.
Bridgewater is the safe and smart pick having shown ability in a prostyle offense, good mobility, sharp accuracy and leadership in the huddle.
Manziel has the tools to be great. Is there perceived risk off the field?
The Raiders need more weapons and Sammy Watkins is a dynamic player that catches the ball well and is dangerous after the catch. He’s is an exceptional receiver, and would immediately be a playmaker.
Jake Matthews is a tremendous talent, quick off the snap and a great pass blocker. He could step in immediately on the left side, allowing Baker to slide to guard or start at right tackle.
#8 VIKINGS
#9 Bills
#10 Lions
Khalil Mack, OLB
Anthony Barr, OLB
Greg Robinson, OT
Justin Gilbert, CB
While the Buccaneers need a quarterback, they potentially face the same problem as the Oakland Raiders.
The only thing the Minnesota Vikings don’t have on offense is a quarterback, but unless they trade up (or way back), they shouldn’t mess with a quarterback here, especially considering new head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guy and the Vikings’ defense needs help.
Months ago it might have made sense for the Bills to take Eric Ebron here, but after they re-signed both their tight ends, it doesn’t make as much sense now.
The Lions are a mess in the secondary. They did improve this year, but they really only have one half of a successful cornerback tandem in Chris Houston.
He’s the most pro-ready of the prospects in this year’s quarterback class.
Yes, but he impressed plenty of people at the Combine and is working hard to change the perception of him. It’s his upside that will attract the Browns and it is pretty high.
#7 Buccaneers
There’s little faith in taking Derek Carr this high, and we’re also talking Lovie Smith, defensive mastermind. Khalil Mack has a high motor, is a very explosive hitter and picturing him across from Lavonte David will give opposing offenses the chills.
Anthony Barr’s ranking has dropped a bit with the rise of Khalil Mack, but he’s still a great prospect.
What does makes sense is getting more help to keep E.J. Manuel on his feet. Greg Robinson is a tough road grader who is also a very good pass blocker, with the tools to be even better than he was at Auburn.
Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert is coming off a tremendous season and has all the tools you want in a corner: the size to avoid getting pushed around, the speed to keep up with elite receivers and the agility to go up and deflect passes.
MOCK DRAFT 2014 13 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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NFL Draft 2014 #11 Titans
#12 Giants
#13 Rams
#14 Bears
C.J. Mosley, ILB
Taylor Lewan, OT
Mike Evans, WR
Timmy Jernigan, DT
The Tennessee Titans were not very good at linebacker last season, specifically at middle linebacker.
The New York Giants have a lot of issues, but offensive line is probably the biggest. Injuries destroyed a line thin on talent and depth.
If the Rams are “all in” on Sam Bradford, then they need to give him more receiving weapons.
The Chicago Bears got dominated by opposing running backs, so first and foremost, the attention should be on the interior during their defensive rebuild.
C. J. Mosley is good at using his length and overall agility to get through a crowd cleanly and deliver a big hit. When tackling, he does an excellent job of wrapping up a ball carrier and driving through him.
If the Giants want to bounce back, they need quarterback Eli Manning to rebound. And to do that they are in desperate need of help on the offensive line.
Mike Evans plays a tough style of football and has tremendous body control, as well the size and strength to overpower a defensive back.
Jernigan has excellent burst and agility, as well as top-shelf strength and power, so he will be able to step in and clog the running lanes.
He also is very field aware, rarely making mental mistakes and able to adjust on the fly.
Taylor Lewan plays with a nasty streak and would help get the offensive line back on track.
Most importantly, Evans has the mental toughness to go across the middle and catch balls in traffic. When the ball is in the air, he wants it.
#15 Steelers
#16 Ravens
#17 Cowboys
#18 Jets
Darqueze Dennard, CB
Marqise Lee, WR
Aaron Donald, DT
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
The Steelers have corners but nobody all that thrilling. While they grabbed safety help in free agency, they need to improve everything across the board in the secondary.
Sure, the Ravens signed Steve Smith to replace Anquan Boldin, but let’s be honest—that’s no more than a stopgap.
There’s a lot of work to do, so this pick could go any number of ways on the defensive side of the ball, but Donald has really gained “heat” in the draft process and Jerry Jones loves him some “heat.”
With such a gaping hole existing on the roster, it sure seemed as if the Jets would address the secondary in free agency.
Darqueze Dennard is a great player, potentially the most well-rounded corner in the draft, in fact. He’s a hard worker who can fit into any type of scheme, so he should be able to walk right into Pittsburgh and find a role.
While junior Marqise Lee had a lot injury issues this past year, he won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation after his sophomore season. When healthy, Lee has the look of the No. 1 receiver and would complement Torrey Smith very well.
Aaron Donald has tremendous explosion off the snap, has several good pass-rush moves and can get under the pads of opponents. He’s a bit undersized but has a non-stop motor and a fighter’s mentality.
As a bonus, he can collapse the pocket and will help contain the powerful NFC passing offenses they have to overcome.
The Jets need offensive talent but can get that later. There are few top safeties or corners. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is one of those. He can easily handle the deep routes and support in man coverage, doesn’t get fooled by the quarterback’s eyes.
MOCK DRAFT 2014 14 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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NFL Draft 2014 #19 Dolphins
#20 Cardinals
Zack Martin, OT
Jason Verrett, CB
Adding Branden Albert helps the offensive line a ton, but there is still work to do. Zack Martin can kick into guard and solidify the interior of the line or stay at right tackle.
TCU’s Jason Verrett is a ball-hawking defender who is great at suckering quarterbacks into throws he can pick off, whether it’s by jumping a route or laying off a receiver to bait a throw.
Suffice to say, Martin would be an immediate upgrade at either spot on the line. He isn’t the prototypical size of an NFL tackle, but he gets low and keeps his balance, is quick off the snap and plays with a nice nasty streak when run blocking.
#22 Eagles Louis Nix, DT
#23 Chiefs Kelvin Benjamin, WR
#24 Bengals Kony Ealy, DE
#21 Green Bay Packers Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville This is almost a best-case scenario as both Calvin Pryor and Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix could be gone long before now. Safeties tend to drop in the draft, and many teams ahead of Green Bay have plenty of other needs that this isn’t outside the realm of possibility.
Verrett is also very tough in run support and has no compunctions about hitting ball carries when the opportunity arises.
A physical, instinctive safety, Pryor had a great career at Louisville under Charlie Strong.
He and Patrick Peterson would be a great tandem at cornerback.
The Packers need help at a few positions on the defensive side, but they couldn’t pass up Pryor if he was there.
He has tremendous ball skills, his vision and field awareness give him a head start against both the pass and the run.
The Eagles have a lot of needs on the defensive side of the ball despite some nice additions in free agency. With Louis Nix dropping here, it’s hard to argue with a pick like this, especially when Philadelphia’s current nose tackle, Bennie Logan, is ranked No. 38 out of 69 tackles by Pro Football Focus and just wasn’t all that great last season. Dwayne Bowe is a good, but not great, wide receiver. He sure can’t do it alone, and while Donnie Avery had moments this past season, the offense is sorely lacking in receiving threats. Kelvin Benjamin is fast, but also has a big frame and the strength to play physical on shorter routes. The Bengals are going to miss Mike Zimmer a ton, but might actually miss Michael Johnson more. Simply put, they have to reload, particularly at defensive end. Kony Ealy excelled at defensive end for Mizzou and is a perfect fit for a 4-3 like Cincinnati’s. If they switch to 3-4, he could easily slide to outside linebacker.
“has tremendous ball skills, his vision and field awareness give him a head start against both the pass and the run ”
MOCK DRAFT 2014 15 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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NFL Draft 2014 #25 Chargers
#26 Browns
#27 Saints
#28 Panthers
Kyle Fuller, CB
Brandin Cooks, WR
Ryan Shazier, OLB
Odell Beckham Jr., WR
The Chargers need to improve up front on defense, but there is no way to survive in Peyton Manning’s division without good corners—and no way to get past the Patriots or Colts either.
Offensive line help might tempt the Browns, but even in a deep draft, it makes sense for a Browns team that didn’t do anything much offensively in free agency (apologies to Ben Tate) to get their new quarterback some help.
The cornerback cupboard is a bit bare, as are the tackles, and while receiver is a possibility, a passrusher is a bigger need.
At first the Panthers seemed like a team who needed to get Steve Smith some help. Now they actually have to replace him—and pretty much everyone else.
Brandin Cooks had a ridiculous 40-yard dash at the Combine, but he’s about more than speed. He’s got tremendous hands, fantastic vision and can make incredible plays after the catch.
Defensive-coordinator Rob Ryan got some help for his secondary in free agency in the form of Jairus Byrd. Now he needs help for the front seven. Ryan Shazier has an explosive first step and can rapidly close on the quarterback. He’s relentless in pursuit and can drop into coverage.
#29 Patriots
#30 Niners
#31 Broncos
#32 Seahawks
Ra’Shede Hageman, DT
Davante Adams, WR
Dee Ford, DE/OLB
Eric Ebron, TE
While they need a playmaker or two on offense for Tom Brady, they can do that later and the interior of their defensive front is a higher priority.
The 49ers re-signed Anquan Boldin, but that’s a short-term solution for a long-term problem.
The Broncos are a team that could be interested in moving up for C.J. Mosley, which would be quite a leap. Instead, they’ll “settle” for an edge rusher.
It seems crazy that Eric Ebron has fallen this far, but that’s how things can play out. He could get picked up by any number of teams who would like a tight end like him.
Dee Ford can bend the edge and close quickly on the quarterback. He’ll be a perfect fit in Denver. With the rest of the front seven, he could find huge success.
It helps that Ebron can line up at wide receiver, since Seattle lost Golden Tate to the Detroit Lions in free agency. Most comfortable in the slot, Ebron can set up almost anywhere.
The Chargers can’t keep relying on Eric Weddle each year—they have to make a move. While not one of the top tier of cornerbacks, Kyle Fuller is the best of the rest. He’s very good against both the pass and the run.
Ra’Shede Hageman trashed his opponent and ate up the middle of the offensive line constantly during practice at the Senior Bowl. He can be a tad inconsistent but has huge upside.
Davante Adams is a bit raw but has great leaping ability and great hands, which allow him to go over defenders for tough catches. He’s a perfect addition to the offense and eventual replacement for Boldin down the road.
Odell Beckham Jr. has excellent acceleration, which will quickly make defensive backs give him space or risk him whipping by. When a defensive back forces press coverage, Beckham does a good job of getting off the line with minimal disruption.
MOCK DRAFT 2014 16 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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NFL Draft 2014 Round Two
Round Three
33. Texans: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT 34. Redskins: Su’a-Filo, OG 35. Browns: David Yankey, OG 36. Raiders: Derek Carr, QB 37. Falcons: Jace Amaro, TE 38. Buccaneers: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE 39. Jaguars: Allen Robinson, WR 40. Vikings: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB 41. Bills: Kyle Van Noy, OLB 42. Titans: Carlos Hyde, RB 43. Giants: Scott Crichton, DE 44. Rams: Jimmie Ward, S 45. Lions: Antonio Richardson, OT 46. Steelers: Jarvis Landry, WR 47. Cowboys: Kareem Martin, DE 48. Ravens: Morgan Moses, OT 49. Jets: Paul Richardson, WR 50. Dolphins: Jordan Matthews, WR 51. Bears: Bradley Roby, CB 52. Cardinals: Carl Bradford, OLB 53. Green Bay Packers: Stephon Tuitt, DT 54. Eagles: Terrence Brooks, S 55. Bengals: Marcus Roberson, CB 56. Niners (from Kansas City): Marcus Martin, C 57. Chargers: Trent Murphy, DE 58. Saints: Donte Moncrief, WR 59. Colts: Lamarcus Joyner, CB 60. Panthers: Jaylen Watkins, CB 61. Niners: Dominique Easley, DT 62. Patriots: Martavis Bryant, WR 63. Denver Broncos: Chris Borland, ILB 64. Seahawks: Marcus Smith, DE
65. Texans: Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB 66. Redskins: Pierre Desir, CB 67. Raiders: Gabe Jackson, OG 68. Falcons: Trevor Reilly, OLB 69. Jets (via Buccaneers): Troy Niklas, TE 70. Jaguars: Tre Mason, RB 71. Browns: Ka’Deem Carey, RB 72. Vikings: Brandon Thomas, OG 73. Bills: Jared Abbrederis, WR 74. Giants: Bruce Ellington, WR 75. Rams: Jack Mewhort, OT 76. Lions: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE/OLB 77. Niners (from Titans): Deone Bucannon, S 78. Cowboys: Dakota Dozier, OG 79. Ravens: Weston Richburg, C 80. Jets: Telvin Smith, LB 81. Dolphins: Bishop Sankey, RB 82. Bears: Yawin Smallwood, ILB 83. Browns (from Steelers): Kelce Quarles, DT 84. Cardinals: Zach Mettenberger, QB 85. Packers: C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE 86. Eagles: Christian Kirksey, OLB 87. Chiefs: Cyril Richardson, OG 88. Bengals: Joel Bitonio, OT 89. Chargers: Robert Herron, WR 90. Colts: Billy Turner, OT 91. Saints: Jeremy Hill, RB 92. Panthers: Ed Reynolds, S 93. Patriots: Travis Swanson, C 94. Niners: Arthur Lynch, TE 95. Broncos: Mike Davis, WR 96. Vikings (Seahawks): Charles Sims, RB
MOCK DRAFT 2014 17 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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NFL Draft 2014
Zach Kruse
Green BaY
Packers Team Needs 2013 Season Recap
Help Wanted Ad
The Packers season was a nauseating ride of highs and lows, punctuated by a promising 5-2 start, Aaron Rodgers’ seven-game absence and the eventual division title-clinching win over the Chicago Bears in Week 17. A team that didn’t lose in October went 0-4-1 without Rodgers in November, and it took two comefrom-behind wins over Atlanta and Dallas in December to set up Rodgers’ return in the finale. An improbable win over the Bears gave the Packers an 8-71 record and a third straight NFC North title. But for the third time in three years, the Packers failed to reach the conference title game, falling at home in the Wild Card round to—you guessed it—the San Francisco 49ers. Injuries defined another season in Green Bay, with Rodgers missing seven games to a broken collarbone and Clay Matthews five with a recurring broken thumb. Casey Hayward (hamstring, 13 games) and Randall Cobb (broken leg, 10) also missed considerable time. The Packers went 0-4 against playoff teams.
The uncharacteristic signing of Julius Peppers in free agency shows general manager Ted Thompson is serious about fixing a defense that has consistently underachieved in recent years. The front seven looks like a potential strength, but only if the Packers find a sideline-to-sideline inside linebacker with coverage abilities. Arguably the team’s biggest need comes at safety, where the Packers are now looking for a starter to plug in next to Morgan Burnett. Thompson has failed badly in finding a successor to Nick Collins, as Jerron McMillian busted in his second year and M.D. Jennings proved unworthy of starting another full season for a hopeful championship defense. Both inside linebacker and safety could be first-round options. On offense, the Packers lost Evan Dietrich-Smith and James Jones in free agency, and there’s uncertainty at tight end. Is the next starting center on Green Bay’s roster? Thompson has always struck gold with early-to-mid-round receivers, and this class looks like one of the deepest in years. Jermichael Finley’s status clouds the future of the tight end position. Simply put, Thompson needs to add one or two new starters on defense while also making sure his quarterback remains well protected and flush with weapons.
2014 Outlook
Key Players The importance of Aaron Rodgers to the Packers franchise was demonstrated in stunning detail. With Rodgers, Green Bay started 5-2 and looked like a Super Bowl contender. Everything spiraled downward following his injury, as the Packers struggled on offense and lost their edge on defense during a 2-4-1 stretch without their elite quarterback. Rookie running back Eddie Lacy emerged as a true difference-making runner, and Jordy Nelson remained as reliable as they come at receiver. Without Clay Matthews, Mike Daniels emerged as Green Bay’s most consistent pass-rusher. The $39 million paid to Sam Shields this offseason proves the Packers project him as a No. 1 cornerback. Green Bay now needs others on defense to make the jump from role player to core contributor.
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The term “rebuild” was floated around briefly this offseason, but the Packers will never be anything less than in reloading mode while Aaron Rodgers is healthy and under contract. Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson bring organizational stability, and there’s still a lot to like on a talented roster. With a booming running game, the Green Bay offense has a chance to be one of the most balanced and efficient units in football next season. And the defense has most of the necessary pieces to be very good, but only if luck returns and the injury bug packs its bags and leaves Green Bay. There seems to finally be an organizational push to fix—at any cost—what has ailed the defense in previous seasons. The NFC remains a tough collection of top teams and the NFC North continues to get better, putting the onus on Thompson to fill in some of the missing pieces and unite the talent base. But the Packers remain a front-runner to win the division and an annual contender to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
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The NFC North
Recap: The Bears made it three years in a row starting hot but collapsing down the stretch. This time around, a 3-0 start failed to hold up against the ups and downs of the remaining 13 games. With a chance to win the division in each of the last two weeks, the Bears were blown out by the Eagles and then lost a heartbreaker to the Packers in the finale. A historically productive offensive output was coupled with maybe the franchise’s worst ever defense. Help wanted: Defense, defense, defense. All of Chicago’s major needs can be found on the defensive side of the football, where the Bears allowed the most points in franchise history and finished dead last in the NFL against the run. Free agency helped with Lamarr Houston and Willie Young added to be new starters at defensive end. But defensive tackle, linebacker and safety are still big problem areas. The defense as a whole needs more young, difference-making talent.
Recap: The Lions were giftwrapped the division title but threw away the opportunity by losing six of their last seven games, including four in a row to close the season. Turnovers (34 giveaways, third most) and frustrating inconsistency led to a few late gutpunches. The collapse eventually cost Jim Schwartz and his staff their jobs. Help wanted: The offense filled its need at receiver behind Calvin Johnson by signing Golden Tate, one of the game’s more underrated pass-catchers. Now, the Lions can focus on rebuilding the secondary, which needs help at both cornerback and safety. Each position could use a new starter. Losing Willie Young in free agency could put Detroit in the market for a pass-rusher. The Lions have always prioritized the front seven on defense over the back four.
2014 outlook: The Bears figure to enter next season with one of the NFL’s best offenses. All the big pieces return. Where Chicago ends up will likely depend on the progress of a defensive rebuild that is still in its infant stages. If the Bears can become respectable on defense, this is a playoff-caliber team with high upside.
2014 outlook: New head coach Jim Caldwell brings a calming presence to the Detroit sideline. Maybe his arrival will take the scary-talented but annually underachieving Lions to the next level. For that to happen, Caldwell will need to get Matthew Stafford turned around. The Lions will only go as far as their franchise quarterback takes them. But this is still a roster built to win big in today’s game. There’s no reason the Lions can’t compete.
Key players: QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte, WR Brandon Marshall
Key players: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, DT Ndamukong Suh
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Recap: One year after becoming a surprise playoff team, the Vikings had their 2013 season derailed by a laughable game of musical chairs at quarterback and a defense that couldn’t hold a late lead. Three underwhelming quarterbacks started games and the Vikings blew five fourth-quarter leads. Minnesota only lost three games after Week 9, but a 1-7 start was too much to overcome. Leslie Frazier and his staff were fired after the season. Help wanted: The Vikings were an aggressive player in free agency, resigning Everson Griffen and filling big holes at nose tackle (Linval Joseph) and slot cornerback (Captain Munnerlyn). But last season’s 32nd ranked scoring defense could still use another talent infusion, especially at linebacker, perimeter corner and safety. Finding a long-term solution at quarterback is still the franchise’s biggest issue. Picking at No. 8 overall might solve it. 2014 outlook: The fiery, defensive-minded Mike Zimmer receives his first head coaching opportunity for a team that overachieved in 2012 and then crashed back to earth last season. The Vikings have difference makers on offense and a potentially disruptive front four, but question marks at quarterback and the backend of the defense limit Minnesota’s 2014 ceiling. Key players: RB Adrian Peterson, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Greg Jennings
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NFC Team Needs NFC TEAM
Help wanted: Signing Malcolm Jenkins in free agency helped fill an obvious hole at safety.
With most of Chip Kelly’s offense returning, the Eagles can focus on getting better at edge rusher, cornerback and along the defensive line. More talent on defense will be a priority.
The two had half of the defense’s 34 sacks in 2013.
Finding new starters at defensive end and tackle top the team’s biggest needs.
“deep and talented”
The Giants could also use help at receiver and linebacker, and few teams prioritize picking pass-rushers more.
Atlanta’s 32 sacks ranked 29th in 2013, with only Osi Umenyiora (7.5) registering more than five.
The offensive line could also use a jolt at both tackle spots, and Tony Gonzalez’s retirement left a hole at tight end.
Carolina
Dallas
Help wanted: Deep and talented on offense, the Cowboys need to rebuild a defense that lost both DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher.
Help wanted: Free agency has added help up front, but the defense’s need for an improved pass rush still exists.
Fixing the problems up front can have a trickle down effect for Ben McAdoo’s new offense.
Help wanted: Surrounding Cam Newton with a new cast of receiving options is priority No. 1, especially after letting go long-time receiver Steve Smith.
New Orleans Tampa Bay
On offense, Washington could use a receiver to pair with Pierre Garcon.
Help wanted: A forgettable season along the offensive line led to the worst year of Eli Manning’s career.
Atlanta
Adding Jason Hatcher along the defensive line was a start, but safety and linebacker remain big needs.
New York
washington Philly
Help wanted: A defense that allowed 20 or more points in 15 of 16 games and finished 30th overall in points needs an immediate talent infusion.
NEEDS Help wanted: Landing Jairus Byrd in free agency gives New Orleans one of the top safety combos. Now, finding a shutdown corner to play on the outside can complete the secondary. Restocking the talent at receiver and edge rusher are also priorities after losing both Lance Moore and Will Smith this offseason.
Help wanted: One of the more active teams in free agency, Tampa Bay has already filled most of its most glaring holes. On offense, guard and tight end represent the biggest remaining needs. And the team doesn’t have a sure-fire option at slot receiver or nickel cornerback.
The retirement of Jordan Gross leaves Carolina without a left tackle, and the losses of Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell in free agency have depleted the secondary.
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NFC Team Needs In the meantime, Arizona wants to solidify the offensive line—especially in the NFC West—and strengthen the pass rush around veteran Carson Palmer. The secondary could also benefit from improvements at cornerback and safety.
And how much more does Justin Smith have in the tank? At some point, his replacement at defensive end will need to be found.
Help wanted: Plucking OT Jake Long and TE Jared Cook in free agency were solid gets for the Rams, who needed help at both positions. Offensive line is still an area where St. Louis could use a top pick, but safety now looks like the team’s most pressing need.
Finding a starter at strong-side linebacker is another priority for the improving Rams.
SeatTle
NINERS
Help wanted: One of the NFL’s most complete rosters could still use better talent at both cornerback and receiver, two positions where San Francisco swung and missed during free agency.
St. Louis
Arizona
Help wanted: Eventually, finding a long-term option at quarterback will need to be addressed.
Help wanted: The Super Bowl champs don’t need much help. This is a roster beaming with talent, but receiver is now an issue without Golden Tate and an attacking defensive line would prefer another disruptor in the rotation.
A seam-busting tight end would add to Seattle’s already ultra-efficient offense.
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AFC Team Needs AFC TEAM
Miami
Help wanted: An offensive line in shambles on and off the field had one hole patched up by the signing of left tackle Branden Albert.
New England
Help wanted: Despite the resigning of Vince Wilfork, one of New England’s biggest needs remain along the defensive line, where they need an infusion of young talent to eventually take over for the long-time veteran. There probably isn’t enough depth at either tackle or end. Finding insurance for Rob Gronkowski at tight end wouldn’t hurt.
Eric Decker helps at receiver, but another playmaker is needed for second-year quarterback Geno Smith.
Help wanted: Michael Oher signed in Tennessee, leaving right tackle as a need in Baltimore. Finding a starter to play alongside Matt Elam at safety is arguably the highest priority, and the interior of the offensive line still needs help.
Help wanted: Losing Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins in free agency opens up defensive end and offensive tackle as top needs. Cornerback could use an infusion of younger talent.
Help wanted: A roster that is strong on defense and at the offensive skill positions now just needs a franchise quarterback. Is Brian Hoyer that guy? We’ll see. The Browns will have a chance to draft a top quarterback at No. 4 overall. Receiver and cornerback are also options.
“strong on defense”
Pittsburgh
Guard and right tackle are next on the wishlist. Signing Cortland Finnegan doesn’t solve the need at cornerback.
Help wanted: The Jets released Antonio Cromartie and then struck out while trying to find his replacement in free agency.
Cleveland
Finding another playmaking linebacker to slot in next to Kiko Alonso is another priority.
New York Baltimore Cincinnati
Buffalo
Help wanted: Cordy Glenn is a rock at left tackle, but the right side of the offensive line could use an upgrade.
NEEDS
Help wanted: Pittsburgh is thin at receiver behind Antonio Brown, offensive tackle remains a significant problem area and cornerback needs youth. A team running Dick LeBeau’s defense will always be in the market for front seven help.
“an offensive line in shambles” 22 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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AFC Team Needs At No. 1 overall, Houston will have its pick of the litter. But if a quarterback isn’t the selection, offensive tackle or edge rusher or the biggest needs.
Chad Henne is nothing more than a stopgap. Weakside linebacker and receiver are also top needs.
Chiefs
Help wanted: The Seattle-toJacksonville pipeline has added talent to the defensive front. Now, it’s time to finally hit on a franchise quarterback.
Help wanted: The Titans will want to find a replacement for All-Pro cornerback Alterraun Verner, who left in free agency. And there may eventually be a serious need at running back, but only if long-time starter Chris Johnson is shown the door.
Help wanted: Despite a freeagent spending spree, Denver needs to replace both starting guards from 2013 and find more depth at both cornerback and linebacker. The Broncos could even get greedy and add a receiver from a deep class of pass-catchers. Help wanted: Free agency wasn’t kind to Kansas City’s offensive line with three starters from 2013 departing. Expect the Chiefs to find a new starter or two in the draft. Quarterback Alex Smith wouldn’t mind another receiver and Eric Berry needs a solid running mate at safety.
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Oakland San Diego
Shoring up the interior of the offensive line and adding more depth at edge rusher and cornerback top the rest of the checklist in Indy.
Denver
Help wanted: Losing veteran safety Antoine Bethea in free agency leaves Indianapolis without a starter at the backend.
Tennessee
Houston INdianapolis Jaguars
Help wanted: The Texans feel like a team that could get turned around in a hurry with the right quarterback in place.
Help wanted: Reggie McKenzie has been active in free agency, but the Raiders still need a lot of help. Finding the future at quarterback would be a fine start at No. 5 overall. From there, Oakland is safe drafting the best player available. Upgrades could be had at nearly all positions. Help wanted: San Diego should be desperate to add a legitimate starting cornerback to a pass defense that finished 2013 ranked 29th in the NFL. Unearthing another gem at receiver (see: Keenan Allen last season) will only aid Philip Rivers as he tracks back toward elite status.
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Quarterbacks
QB
#1 Teddy Bridgwater
In a nutshell: The most pro-ready prospect at his position, Bridgewater comes out of a pro-style offense where he had to scan the whole field and make his progressions. On film, he repeatedly shows the ability to look off and fool the defense with his eyes before delivering the ball. Bridgewater can fit throws into tight windows but also can throw the ball to where only his receiver can make a play. He gets the ball out quickly with efficient technique, though his release point is sometimes lower than you’d like to see. That may be a factor in his sometimes shaky touch on downfield throws but can be corrected pretty easily. Bridgewater showed poise in big moments and produced when his team needed him to. There is concern about his weight, although he added nine pounnds. before the Combine. Bridgewater declined to do much of anything at the Combine, which has raised concerns about his competitive drive. Bowl game: Things started out poorly for Bridgewater as he was sacked for a safety on his first drop back of the Champs Sports Bowl against Miami. Bridgewater hesitated and should have thrown the ball to his outlet receiver rather than waiting for his primary to get open.
#2 Johnny Manziel
Texas A&M, So. 5 11”- 207 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.68 seconds
“most pro-ready prospect” The safety was virtually the only mistake he made all day. Otherwise, Bridgewater showed great poise under pressure and consistently looked off the coverage to get his receivers open. By halftime he’d completed 19 of 26 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Bridgewater added another touchdown pass on a beautiful throw to Senorise Perry with eight minutes to go in the third
Louisville Athletic Department
Louisville, Jr. 6’ 2”- 214 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
Andrew Garda
In a nutshell: Manziel’s game is predicated on mobility, as his ability to move outside the pocket is outstanding, and he is far more comfortable throwing on the move than staying home in the pocket. That said, Manziel made some big improvements as a pocket passer this past season, although he still leaves the pocket earlier than he should. He does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield even when scrambling and can look a defender off when moving so that he can get a receiver open. Manziel is not afraid to throw the ball up and let his receiver make a play, something he did frequently with Mike Evans in 2013. There are some durability concerns given Manziel’s frame and playing style, but he has acknowledged that he will have to play smarter in the NFL to stay healthy. There have been numerous concerns about off the field issues, however Manziel has been adamant he is focused on football and reports from the Combine say he impressed teams in interviews.
quarter. On the play, he showed exceptional cool under a heavy blitz and didn’t rush the pass despite the pressure.
Vs. ranked opponent: Widely regarded as one of Manziel’s roughest outings in 2013, the game against No. 5 Missouri isn’t as bad as some make it out to be.
Bridgewater declined to do much of anything in Indianapolis. However, which has raised concerns about his competitive drive as he enteres this year’s draft.
Suffering from a thumb injury (initially from the Auburn game on 10/19 and aggravated the week prior to this game versus LSU), Manziel was clearly uncomfortable and struggling with his grip on the ball.
2013 stats: 303 of 427, 3970 yards, 71.0%, 31 TDs, 4 INTs; 63 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD
The gameplan was aimed at less passing and shorter passes, the second of which
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Quarterbacks
Texas A&M Athletic Department
is not a strength of Manziel’s—he’s more accurate on longer passes. On the shorter passes, Manziel recognized that the cornerbacks were giving his receivers a large cushion and started rapidly firing off his passes to take advantage.
Mizzou kept up outstanding pressure and adjusted their coverage, but Manziel was still able to complete passes, showing off his strong arm and ability to stretch a play with his legs. The pressure did force him to hurry several throws, causing some fairly off-target passes. Overall, a rough game, but considering the injury and an outstanding Missouri pass rush, not as bad as it looks on paper.
Reports indicate teams were impressed with him both in interviews as well as on the field in Indianapolis—his willingness to compete in an unfamiliar atmosphere was a big hit.
Bortles took advantage of a Louisville defense on its heels, moving the chains with calm precision, especially on the last drive, showing a short memory and always quickly moving onto the next play.
Bortles shows flashes of brilliance mingled with obvious limitations. At times he does a great job of reading the defenses and throwing his receivers open, but at other times he misreads the coverage or fails to look off defenders.
On the game-winning touchdown, Bortles did a great job extending the play while keeping his eyes downfield. When his receiver slipped open, Bortles saw it immediately and delivered a perfect throw.
Bortles clearly has a very strong arm, though he doesn’t always step into his throw and could get more out of his arm with improved technique.
2013 stats: 259 of 382, 3581 yards, 67.8%, 25 TDs, 9 INTs; 87 carries, 272 yards, 6 TDs
Bortles plays with coolness and poise under pressure and led his team to key comeback victories on the road against Penn State and Louisville. Vs. ranked opponent: One of Bortles’s signature wins during the 2013 season came at No. 8 Louisville, as his team trailed by 21 points. It didn’t start out remarkably for Bortles, however, as he was off-target, shaky with his delivery and held onto the ball too long early in the game.
2013 stats: 300 of 429, 4114 yards, 69.9%, 37 TDs, 13 INTs; 114 carries, 759 yards, 9 TDs
Fresno State, Sr. 6’2”- 214 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.69 seconds
In a nutshell: Former Houston Texans No. 1 pick David Carr’s brother Derek is a solid athlete who can avoid pressure in and out of the pocket, but his accuracy can be spotty as evidenced by an up-and-down week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Carr will force the ball when he shouldn’t and throws off balance too much. Against better competition, Carr struggled. Bowl game: It was somewhat painful to watch Carr against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl as once the Trojans took the lead, their defense just teed off on him.
#3 Blake Bortles
Central Florida, Jr. 6’5”- 232 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.93 seconds
In a nutshell: Even Bortles will admit he still has work to do to become an NFL quarterback. “There’s no doubt I need coaching,” he said during his Combine press conference. “I need help, and I’m going to work my butt off to do everything I can to be the best.”
#4 Derek Carr
Several times he was lucky he wasn’t picked off. Near the end of the first half the light went on, and Bortles began playing much smarter. When he threw, his delivery was quicker and the passes were pinpoint accurate.
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Carr folded under pressure and his only success came on short drives. Performing under defensive pressure is a concern for Carr, one that was solidified against USC. 2013 stats: 454 of 659, 5083 yards, 68.9%, 50 TDs, 8 INTs; 40 carries, 117 yards, 2 TDs
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Quarterbacks #5 Jimmy Garoppolo
Eastern Illinois, Sr. 6’ 2”- 226 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.97 seconds
In a nutshell: Garoppolo has an incredibly strong arm but doesn’t show a lot of touch. He makes very quick decisions but often only from single-look reads. Despite his arm, Garoppolo has accuracy issues on long throws in part due to technique. Worked out of the shotgun in school and will need to get used to being under center. All-Star game: After an impressive showing at the Shrine Game, Garoppolo built more momentum in Mobile during Senior Bowl practices. His strong arm was especially evident during a windy Tuesday practice when his was the only ball not greatly affected. His intelligence and personality were clear during interviews as well as on the field. 2013 stats: 375 of 568, 5050 yards, 66.0%, 53 TDs, 9 INTs; 70 carries, 62 yards, 4 TDs
#6 Zach Mettenberger LSU, Sr. 6’ 5”- 224 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Mettenberger did not participate in any Combine drills due to a torn MCL/ACL injury that happened in November, which has clouded his future to an extent. When healthy, Mettenberger shows extremely good arm strength, comes out of a pro-style offense and being a
pocket passer, may not see much degradation in his game coming off his knee injury.
was returned for a touchdown. Both interceptions set up scores by Oklahoma as well.
Also has some character questions after pleading guilty to two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery after groping a woman at a bar and getting kicked off the Georgia football team early in college career.
McCarron threw some really nice passes overall but made far too many mistakes.
Vs. ranked team: Mettenberger was accurate and poised against his former team, No. 9 Georgia, putting his team in the lead of a shootout with 4:14 left to go in the game. On LSU’s final drive he threw four straight completions, including a nice 27-yard pass to put the Tigers in scoring position. Unfortunately he couldn’t repeat the deed and threw four incompletions to end the game. 2013 stats: 192 of 296, 3082 yards, 64.9%, 22 TDs, 8 INTs; 34 carries, -133 yards, 0 TDs
#7 A.J. McCarron
Alabama, Sr. 6’ 3”- 220 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.94 seconds
In a nutshell: McCarron is comfortable in a pro-style offense, both under center and in a shotgun formation. He has solid accuracy on short-to-intermediate throws but has a tendency to be off target on longer throws, forcing receivers to adjust too much. Does not have a huge arm and benefitted from having an excellent offense around him. Bowl game: McCarron posted some great yardage and touchdown totals in the Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma but turned the ball over three times—two interceptions and one fumble which
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2013 stats: 226 of 336, 3063 yards, 67.3%, 28 TDs, 7 INTs; 34 carries, -22 yards, 0 TDs
#8 Brett Smith
Wyoming, Sr. 6’ 2”- 206 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: An incredibly underrated prospect, Smith didn’t even get a Combine invite. He’s a quick, mobile quarterback who does a great job making his reads and adjusting based on coverage, but can be a bit too confident at times. He’s prone to try and fit the ball in tight coverage he should avoid. Best game: In what was easily Smith’s best game of the year—and his career—the Wyoming quarterback destroyed the Hawaii defense to the tune of 498 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith added a 51-yard touchdown run that showed off his mobility. His eight touchdowns were the most by a single player in Mountain West history. 2013 stats: 293 of 468, 3375 yards, 62.6%, 29 TDs, 11 INTs; 124 carries, 571 yards, 4 TDs
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Quarterbacks #9
Logan Thomas
Virginia Tech, Sr. 6’ 6”- 248 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.61 seconds
#10 Aaron Murray
Georgia, Sr. 6’1” - 207 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Athletically, Thomas is an incredible prospect. His size, build and speed excite coaches, scouts and media across the NFL. Unfortunately, that’s most of what he has going for him. His ball placement is all over the place, his touch is almost non-existent, and he doesn’t see enough of the field. Thomas has the raw pieces but is a real project. All-Star game: Much like his career, Thomas’ Senior Bowl experience was a lot of buildup for naught. Despite looking impressive at the weigh-in, Thomas was inconsistent and streaky in practice, showing poor footwork and telegraphing his throws. Thomas also completed 4 of 5 passes in the game for a whopping 17 yards and finished with a -39 yards rushing. 2013 stats: 228 of 403, 2909 yards, 56.6%, 16 TDs, 13 INTs; 162 carries, 344 yards, 4 TDs
In a nutshell: Murray tore his ACL during the 2013 season and is still rehabbing. Incredibly productive against topshelf SEC competition, Murray is a four-year starter in a pro-style offense. Height and build are concerns, as is durability. His low release point contributes to batted balls, as does his average arm. Murray does get rattled under pressure and has fallen apart in big games. Vs. ranked opponent: While not flawless, Murray played some incredible football against No. 7 Auburn in a huge game. After scoring on a scramble to take the lead, Georgia fell behind and Murray had to bring the offense to the Auburn 20 in less than 25 seconds. His final pass fell incomplete, but otherwise Murray came through when they needed him. 2013 stats: 225 of 347, 3075 yards, 64.8%, 26 TDs, 9 INTs; 53 carries, 186 yards, 7 TDs
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Quarterbacks #11 Tajh Boyd
Clemson, Sr. 6’ 1”- 222 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.84 seconds
In a nutshell: When Boyd is in a rhythm, he can throw sharp passes, especially on shorter routes but gets shaky under heavy pressure.
Just a two-year starter, Fales is still learning to read defenses, look off corners and overcome pressure. He’s a true project. All-Star game: Fales did not have a great week of practices and was reportedly sick on Monday and Tuesday. If that’s the case, it might explain the many floating and sailing passes we saw during those outings.
Boyd is elusive out of the pocket but prone to ditch it too early. He does not see the whole field and sometimes struggles to read defenses. Durability is a concern.
2013 stats: 283 of 413, 3851 yards, 68.5%, 34 TDs, 11 INTs; 154 carries, 411 yards, 10 TDs
#12 David Fales
San Jose State, Sr. 6’2”- 212 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.99 seconds
In a nutshell: Fales is a very average athlete with limited mobility out of the pocket and scattershot accuracy. While possessing many desirable intangibles—leadership, confidence, competitiveness—his actual game is very raw.
Matthews isn’t very mobile and his accuracy will disappear at times when he is forced to move. On the upside, he is a smart, experienced quarterback and a tremendous leader on the field who could be a tremendous backup.
#16 Connor Shaw, South Carolina Shaw is a great competitor who shows great mobility, accuracy and very nice touch on his throws, but is undersized and prone to injury. He has shown enough determination and overall football smarts, though, to think he could hang around the league for some time if healthy.
#17 Tom Savage, Pittsburgh
All-Star game: Boyd struggled in practices and even among a shaky group of quarterbacks, his accuracy and overall play was unremarkable. You could tell he was not yet comfortable under center and will take time to adapt to a pro-style offense. Boyd completed 7 of 16 passes for 31 yards and one interception in the game.
#15 Jeff Matthews, Cornell
Savage has the prototypical size, arm strength and experience teams look for in a quarterback, but still has some issues. He is prone to stare down his targets. He capped off a shaky week with an outstanding game, however, completing 6 of 7 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. 2013 stats: 312 of 487, 4189 yards, 64.1%, 33 TDs, 13 INTs; 48 carries, 7 yards, 2 TDs
#13 Keith Wenning, Ball State Wenning is a very savvy, four-year starter with a great work ethic but average physical tools. Working almost completely out of the shotgun, he will need to adapt to a pro-style offense.
#14 Stephen Morris, Miami Morris has very good arm strength and can move around the pocket to buy time, but struggles with pressure overall and ditches the pocket early. There are issues with accuracy too as Morris doesn’t hit receivers in stride and doesn’t often throw them open.
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#18 Garrett Gilbert, Southern Methodist #19 Chase Rettig, Boston College #20 Casey Pachall, TCU #21 Dustin Vaughn, West Texas A&M #22 Bryn Renner, North Carolina #23 James Franklin, Missouri #24 Brock Jensen, North Dakota State #25 Kenny Guiton, Ohio State #26 Keith Price, Washington #27 Brendon Kay, Cincinnati #28 Corey Robinson, Troy #29 Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois #30 Kolton Browning, Louisiana-Monroe CheeseheadTV.com
Running Backs #1 Carlos Hyde
Ohio State, Sr. 6’ 0”- 230 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.66 seconds
Jayme Snowden
He tweaked his hamstring while running the 40 at the NFL Combine and did not run at OSU’s pro day, but he will be a top running back pick regardless of his speed numbers.
While the game’s final score appears like a lopsided victory, the Buckeyes were watching a 28-point lead dwindle away when Hyde scored on 55and 51-yard touchdown runs.
In a nutshell: Hyde, a 2013 first-team AllBig Ten running back, runs with power. Throughout the 2013 season he carried the Ohio State offense, and often the opposing teams’ defenses. Hyde missed the first three games of the 2013 season due to a suspension but rushed for over 100 yards in the final nine games of the season, averaging 7.3 yards a carry. He lacks breakaway speed, demonstrated in his 40-yard dash time but doesn’t necessarily need to improve in that regard. With his ability to stiff arm, spin move and carry would-be tacklers, Hyde possesses the skills needed to overcome his slower speed.
#2
Tre Mason
In a 60-35 victory, Hyde had 24 carries for 246 yards and four touchdowns and added another two receptions for 26 yards and caught a touchdown pass as well.
The two long scoring runs came in the last four and a half minutes of the game, increasing the OSU lead from 12 points to 25, a deficit from which the Illini could not bounce back.
Best game: While Hyde had many good games in the 2013 season—especially against rival Michigan—his standout performance versus Illinois showed his ability to carry and will a team to victory.
Auburn, Jr. 5’8” - 207 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.50 seconds
Buckeye coach Urban Meyer credited Hyde with making the difference in the game, telling the Associated Press, “We did need the help.” 2013 stats: 208 carries, 1521 yards, 7.3 ypc,15 TDs; 16 receptions, 147 yards, 3 TDs
RB In a nutshell: It takes a superstar to break Bo Jackson’s single-season rushing record, and in 2013 Mason rushed for 30 yards more than Jackson did in 1985. Being mentioned in the same sentence as the great Bo Jackson is amazing but breaking his record is legendary. Mason had a phenomenal 2013 campaign, leading the SEC in rushing, coming in sixth in Heisman trophy voting and being named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He also performed well at the NFL Combine, as a top performer in the vertical and broad jumps with leaps of 38.5 and 126 inches respectively. Mason is a compact runner, but his strong legs allow him to move piles and shake off tacklers.
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Running Backs In the open field, he accelerates, and once free, he’s off and running. Mason is a potential every down back, as he can handle the wear and tear, is good in short-yardage situations and has big-play ability on nearly every down.
He can see lanes and quickly picks the best option or cuts to head to open field. Carey does not shy away from contact, frequently lowering his shoulders to take on tacklers, fighting for extra yardage.
Postseason game: Auburn wasn’t supposed to be in either the SEC or national title contention, but after a last second miracle play versus Alabama, the stage was set for Auburn to state their case in the SEC Championship.
He uses spin moves and keeps his legs moving to fight off going down with the first tackle. Carey also had 26 receptions in 2013 for 173 yards—and 77 for 679 yards over his three years at Arizona—proving that he can catch the ball.
Against a Missouri defense that was allowing only 119 rushing yards a game, it appeared Mason and his Tigers would have their work cut out for them.
Carey ran a slow 40-yard dash at the Combine but reportedly improved the time slightly at his pro day with a 4.66 run.
2013 stats: 317 carries, 1816 yards, 5.7 ypc, 23 TDs; 12 receptions, 163 yards, 1 TD; 15 kickoff returns, 26.3 avg., 1 TD
#3 Ka’Deem Carey
Arizona, Jr. 5’ 9”- 207 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.70 seconds
In a nutshell: A two-time All-American and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, Carey averaged 156 yards per game in 2013 and scored 19 touchdowns on the ground. He rushed for over 100 yards in 16 consecutive games, a Pac-12 record. Carey is an instinctive runner with good vision.
2013 stats: 349 carries, 1885 yards, 5.4 ypc,19 TDs; 26 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD
#4 Charles Sims
West Virginia, Sr. 6’ 0”- 214 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.48 seconds
In a nutshell: Fast at the Combine and equally fast on the football field, Sims will be a solid NFL running back. After playing for Houston in Conference USA and being named the CUSA Freshman of the Year, Sims transferred to West Virginia for his final season. Arizona Athletics
Instead, he shattered the SEC title-game record of 201 yards with a career day of 304 yards on the ground, including four scoring plays of seven, three, one and 13 yards. Carrying the ball 46 times, Mason was named the game’s MVP. Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn called him a warrior. In a team that went 3-9 in 2012, Mason was a big part of taking a bottom tier team to the national championship game.
On the game’s opening score, he had an Oregon defender on his back at about the four-yard line but kept his legs moving, broke through the defenders and walked into the end zone.
He’ll be a 24-year-old rookie and ran almost exclusively out of the pistol formation, but Sims’ upside outweighs any of those concerns. Vs. top opponent: Ranked fifth in nation, Oregon traveled to Tucson on November 23 for what it believed would be a relatively easy victory on their way to a national championship dream. The Arizona Wildcats and Carey crushed that dream. Running for 206 yards and in the process becoming Arizona’s all-time leading rusher, Carey carried the Wildcats to a stunning upset.
He’s a patient runner, able to follow his blocks and let them develop. Has small hands, but uses them effectively; he had 45 receptions in 2013. All-Star game: Sims was considered the best running back during the Senior Bowl.
He rushed 48 times that day, putting the team on his back, scoring on runs of six, one, nine and two yards.
Executive director Phil Savage had high praise for Sims, stating he had the best acceleration. “I thought he emerged as the best running back in terms of running, blocking and the combination with catching all week.”
Carey scored in all four quarters, showing that he can handle the massive workload without tiring.
2013 stats: 208 carries, 1095 yards, 5.3 ypc, 11 TDs; 45 receptions, 401 yards, 3 TDs
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Running Backs Washington, Jr. 5’ 9”- 209 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.49 seconds
In a nutshell: A top performer at the Combine, Sankey is ready to make a name for himself in the NFL. The owner of the Washington single-season rushing record, he scored a rushing touchdown in every game in 2013. A favorite of NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, who said of Sankey, “I kind of felt like he’s a great combination of make you miss, and north and south production.“ Bowl game: While Sankey was held to under 100 yards and had to leave the 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl early, the game was all his. A difficult game for the Huskies as their coach had left the program to take the USC head coaching job, it could have been a disaster. Instead, the players rallied around each other and Sankey. Carrying the ball 21 times for 95 yards, it was his two scores that made the biggest difference. 2013 stats: 327 carries, 1870 yards, 5.7 ypc, 20 TDs; 28 receptions, 304 yards, 1 TD
#6 Andre Williams
Boston College, Jr. 5’11”- 230 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.56 seconds
In a nutshell: Williams finished fourth in the Heisman voting and was the recipient of the 2013 Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back.
Best game: Williams ran the ball a lot in 2013, especially against NC State when he carried the ball 42 times. Williams ran for 100 yards in the first quarter alone and by the end of the game had 339 yards and two touchdowns. After a late game unsuccessful onside kick by the Wolfpack, Williams handled the ball on every snap in an effort to run out the clock. He scored on a 34yard run, sealing the game and a bowl berth for Boston College.
Baylor Athletic Department
#5 Bishop Sankey
The game highlighted Seastrunk’s patience at the line and ability to make tacklers miss.
In 2013, he led the nation with 2,177 rushing yards and now is the owner Boston College records for yardage and attempts. His big question mark catching the ball out of the backfield as he didn’t have a single reception as a senior.
2013 stats: 355 carries, 2177 yards, 6.1 ypc, 18 TDs
#7 Lache Seastrunk
2013 stats: 158 carries, 1177 yards, 7.5 ypc, 11 TDs
#8 Terrance West
Towson, Jr. 5’ 9”- 225 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.54 seconds
Baylor, Jr. 5’ 9”- 201 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.51 seconds
In a nutshell: Seastrunk transferred from Oregon after his freshmen season and played two years for Baylor. In his career he only has 289 rushing attempts, meaning he has very little wear on his tires. A Doak Walker semifinalist, Seastrunk is a shifty runner more than a power back, and accelerates to a second gear when in the open field. Best game: Seastrunk’s best effort came when he didn’t even need to play in the second half. In a blowout win over West Virginia, he rushed 15 times for 172 yards and two scores before being spelled by Shock Linwood in the second half.
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In a nutshell: A 2013 Walter Payton Award finalist, West led the FCS in rushing with 2,509 yards and a staggering 41 touchdowns. Over the past the seasons, he’s scored 83 rushing touchdowns. A compact back, West runs well between the tackles and can keeps his legs churning. With career rushing yard totals over 4,800 yards, West has already run a lot before his first NFL game. Best game: On his way to leading Towson to the FCS Championship, West had a career game against Eastern Illinois. In a contest played with snow and ice and 30-degree temperatures, the Towson Tigers handed the ball to West 39
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Running Backs times where he racked up 354 yards and scored five touchdowns. 2013 stats: 413 carries, 2509 yards, 6.1 ypc, 41 TDs; 26 receptions, 258 yards, 1 TD
#9 Jeremy Hill
LSU, So. 6’ 1” - 233 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.66 seconds
In a nutshell: Hill had a 6.9-yard per carry average, an SEC record. He’s a big running back but runs faster than his size. With only one fumble in 371 carries and his imposing frame, he has the potential to be an every-down back. Bowl game: When LSU went with a freshmen quarterback making his first start in the Outback Bowl, Hill stepped up to take control of the team. He averaged 7.7 yards per carry on his 28 attempts for 216 yards and two touchdowns. On the drive that sealed the victory, Hill ran the ball on four of the six plays, including the 37-yard run for the score. 2013 stats: 203 carries, 1401 yards, 6.9 ypc, 16 TDs; 18 receptions, 181 yards
#10 Devonta Freeman
Florida State, Jr. 5’8”- 206 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.58 seconds
He has good vision and picks decent running running lanes but doesn’t do well at shaking defenders. Best game: As part a crowded backfield, Freeman often shared the workload. In a blowout win vs. Idaho, he accounted for a third of Florida State’s yardage on the ground, but his 60-yard touchdown run in the first quarter is what opened up the game. On a third-and-1 at the FSU 40, Freeman found a small hole at the line and flew by defenders, leaving them in his wake. 2013 stats: 173 carries, 1016 yards, 5.9 ypc, 14 TDs; 22 receptions, 278 yards, 1 TD
#11 Tyler Gaffney, Stanford A Doak Walker semifinalist, Gaffney was fifth in the FBS with 21 rushing touchdowns. In 2012 he took a year off from football to play baseball on the Pittsburgh Pirates Class A team. While he was able to rejoin the Stanford football team without missing a beat, he lacks the buildup that other draftees have.
Bibbs has only played one season at the FBS level after having academic qualifying issues early in his career. He was a beast in the weight room at the Combine (24 bench press reps) and is quick off his cuts.
#15 De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon Thomas is not a big back, more suited for a change of pace than every-down pounder. Good vision at picking lanes, tends to run out of bounds and not into tackles. Can also be used as a slot receiver and return specialist.
#16 Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky Andrews led the nation in all-purpose yards with 2,619 in 2013, and over the past two years he had 5,780 yards. Can handle a heavy work load and also double as both punt and kickoff returner.
#17 Marion Grice, Arizona State #18 Storm Johnson, UCF #19 Silas Redd, USC #20 Rajion Neal, Tennessee
#12 Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern
#21 David Fluellen, Toledo
There is little that McKinnon can’t do. He can run the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball, return the ball and even played a little on defense. In 2013, he made nine starts, four at running back and five as an option quarterback. The problem is, you can’t be all those things in the NFL.
#22 Henry Josey, Missouri
#13 James White, Wisconsin In a nutshell: Freeman was the first Florida State running back to rush for over 1,000 yards since Warrick Dunn in 1996. A compact running back with good hands, Freeman lacks top speed.
#14 Kapri Bibbs, Colorado State
White only fumbled the ball two times in his career, while rushing for over 4,000 yards. He’s solid in pass protection and with a lower center of gravity, he can keep his legs and the play moving. A good NFL change-of-pace back.
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#23 Jerome Smith, Syracuse #24 LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State #25 Tim Cornett, UNLV #26 Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State #27 James Wilder Jr., Florida State #28 Lorenzo Taliafero, Coastal Carolina #29 George Atkinson III, Notre Dame #30 Roderick McDowell, Clemson CheeseheadTV.com
Fullbacks and H-Backs #1 Ryan Hewitt
Stanford, Sr. 6’ 4”- 246 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.87 seconds
In a nutshell: With the traditional sledgehammer mold of fullbacks nearly going extinct in the modern NFL, Hewitt’s versatility as both a fullback and receiving H-back make him an attractive prospect, elevating him to the top of the list based on multi-down usefulness alone. While he does not have many of those “de-cleating” highlight clips, he is extremely reliable in both run and pass blocking. As a receiver, he is the most polished prospect this year.
FB
“sledgehammer mold of fullbacks” After Luck graduated, there was a noticeable talent drop off at the quarterback position, and, as a result, the postLuck Stanford offense became less pass happy and more based on power running. Do not take Hewitt’s statistical decline as anything other than changes above him affecting his box score production. 2013 stats: 5 carries, 8 yards; 9 receptions, 46 yards
#2 Jay Prosch
Auburn, Sr. 6’ 1”- 256 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.72 seconds
Jay Hodgson After transferring to Auburn and acclimating to Gus Malzahn’s option offense, he learned to set the edge and block in space from multiple locations in the formation. Auburn’s run at a national title in 2013 was certainly a product of their power running game, and Prosch was the thankless blocker. 2013 stats: 5 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD
#3 Trey Millard
Oklahoma, Sr. 6’ 2”- 247 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.64 seconds
In a nutshell: Before a devastating knee injury ended his 2013 season, Millard may have been on his way to being the top fullback in the Draft. Equally at home as a ball carrier, blocker and a receiver, he will garner many looks, including those in search of an H-back.
In a nutshell: Playing as if he is almost a blast from the past, Prosch is a true battering ram fullback who blows up linebackers at the point of attack.
Hewitt understands the mechanics of the forward pass, which eludes many young fullbacks. College experience: No one will argue that Hewitt’s statistical production has declined steadily since 2011. However, during the 2011 season, he was a security blanket and very trusted receiver for quarterback Andrew Luck en route to grabbing 34 receptions for 282 yards and five touchdowns.
Additionally, during his 2013 campaign, he showed the speed and agility as an edge blocker that might convince some NFL teams to try him out at H-back, especially if they run a zoneblocking scheme. While he did occasionally show up in the box score as a receiver, he will probably not be a legitimate receiving threat in the NFL.
He has the tools to remain on the field for all three downs in the modern NFL.
College experience: During his 2010 and 2011 seasons at Illinois, he was very effective as a traditional lead blocker between the tackles.
His injury may pull him off some draft boards, but pre-injury he was the real deal and the most fluid athlete in this year’s fullback class.
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Fullbacks and H-Backs College experience: Millard was a four-year starter at Oklahoma and head coach Bob Stoops loved to rave about him. Specifically, Stoops would brag how Millard was involved in all phases of the offensive game plan as a changeup runner and skilled receiver, which says a lot considering the wide-open offenses found in the Big 12 Conference. 2013 stats: 17 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD; 11 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
#4
J.C. Copeland
LSU, Sr. 5’ 11�- 271 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.95 seconds
In a nutshell: As a converted defensive lineman, Copeland showed great potential in his two years as a fullback. Similar to Jay Prosch, Copeland is best known as a sledgehammer lead blocker while lacking advanced ball skills. In contrast, he most likely will not be able to make the transition to H-back and will be typecast as a fullback in the trenches, limiting his attractiveness to many NFL teams. He does have some added value as a goal-line ball carrier. College experience: Clearly having the mindset of a defensive lineman, Copeland loved to mix it up between the tackles. He was a hardworking lead blocker for a very balanced LSU team. Fullbacks rarely show up in the box scores, but their presence is very important. It was nice to see Copeland get some love from the coaches by giving him the opportunity to score seven rushing touchdowns over his last two seasons.
Was named MVP of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl after scoring two TDs. 2013 stats: 13 carries, 25 yards, 3 TDs; 4 receptions, 31 yards
#5 Gator Hoskins, Marshall
#10 Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest After never playing a single regular season down as a fullback in college, Whitlock is attempting the very difficult transition from a defensive tackle to a lead blocker on the offensive side of the ball. The odds certainly are long. His athleticism may get him looks at inside linebacker as well. As with other fullback prospects, he must shine on special teams in order to survive.
Hoskins mostly fits the mold of a true H-back that NFL scouts desire. While playing primarily tight end in college, he routinely showed gaudy receiving stats. His height may prevent many teams from using him in-line, but his blocking adds to his value.
#11 Vince Mayle, Washington State
#6 Chris Coyle, Arizona State
#12 Maurice Hagens, Miami (Fla.)
Similar to Gator Hoskins, Coyle was a receiving tight end and H-back in college, frequently showing flashy box scores. However, his height and bulk may also be limiting factors and will encourage NFL teams to try him out exclusively as an H-back.
#13 David Sims, Georgia Tech
#7 Chad Abram, Florida State
#17 Chris Coyer, Temple
After playing safety for one season, Abram converted to fullback and started for one season. His blocking helped the Seminoles set a single-season record with 42 rushing touchdowns. His best shot to make a roster is on special teams.
#18 Kye Staley, Oklahoma State
#14 Terrence Miller, Arizona #15 Kiero Small, Arkansas #16 C.J. Zimmerer, Nebraska
#19 Conner Neighbors, LSU #20 Hunter Charneski, GrandValley State
#8 Reggie Jordan, Missouri Western State Jordan was a skilled receiver and adequate blocker as a collegiate tight end, but he will have to transition to fullback or H-back in the NFL due to his height. Known for his excellent work ethic, the transition could go smoothly and his edge blocking certainly helps, too.
#9 Ray Agnew, Southern Illinois As an adequate blocker, at best, Agnew is a long shot to make any NFL roster. However, his father played defensive tackle in the NFL for 11 years, so the possibility is certainly in his blood.
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Wide Receivers Clemson, Jr. 6’ 1”- 211 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.43 seconds
When it comes to catching the ball, Watkins puts on a clinic. He has tremendous body control, tracks the ball well and will go up and get a pass when he needs to, attacking the ball in the air. Watkins also has tremendous hands, making sure-handed catches with soft hands. Once he has the ball in his hands, Watkins is an extremely dangerous man and can turn a short screen into a huge gain, both because of his ability and because he shows patience and vision as a runner. Bowl game: Against No. 7 Ohio State, Watkins dominated, catching 16 balls for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns—breaking the Orange Bowl receiving record in the third quarter. His run-after-the-catch ability was on full display as the Clemson gameplan involved a lot of screens thrown at Watkins. What truly stood out was his patience when he had the ball in his hands. Watching him line up his blockers, show patience at waiting for it to happen and then the vision and burst to take advantage was almost like watching a featured running back play.
“extremely dangerous” Of course, his pure speed was evident when he burned the defensive back tasked with covering him off the line and then caught an easy 34-yard touchdown in stride.
Texas A&M Athletic Department
WR
#1 Sammy Watkins
In a nutshell: Simply put, Watkins is far and away the best receiver in this draft class and among the best ever coming out of college. He’s extremely fast, both immediately off the line and at his top speed. If a defensive back plays off, he will accelerate past him, but if they try to press him, they run the risk of getting torched and never being able to catch up again.
Andrew Garda
As impressive as those things were, it was the little things that stood out, like the way he shook off coverage in a route, his willingness to block for another player, and his ability to reach up and snatch a ball from the air. 2013 stats: 101 receptions, 1464 yards, 14.5 ypr, 12 TDs; 14 kickoff returns, 20.9 avg.
#2 Mike Evans
Texas A&M, So. 6’ 5”- 230 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.53 seconds
In a nutshell: Evans is an absolutely huge receiver, a former basketball player who uses his size to box out defenders and can go up and highpoint the ball. Then his strong hands make it very hard for defensive backs to wrestle it away. Those traits make him a ridiculous red-zone target. After the catch, Evans is awfully hard to take down. His strength and body size allow him to plow through would-be tacklers and dismiss attempts to arm tackle. His size and physicality also help him blocking, something he does effectively and aggressively.
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He’s not just physically tough, but mentally tough as well, having stepped up when his team needed him to in big moments throughout his college career. If there is any downside to Evans, it’s that his speed does not help him separate and he needs to refine his route running. Vs. top opponent: No. 24 Auburn spent all day teeing off on Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, so Mike Evans had to step up and take over the offense. All of Manziel’s four touchdowns and 11 of his 28 completions were to Evans, whom the Auburn secondary had no real answer for. Evans physically overpowered the defenders and broke multiple big plays. Early in the first quarter, he took a short pass from Manziel, eluded one tackler and then ran through defenders to the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown, which to put the Aggies ahead 7-0. After Auburn answered with a touchdown and field goal, Evans put Texas A&M back in the lead with a 64-yard touchdown catch-and-run. The pass from Manziel was—again—short, but Evans did a great job dodging some tacklers and following his lead block. 2013 stats: 69 recceptions, 1394 yards, 20.2 ypr, 12 TDs More on Mike Evans appears at CheeseheadTV. com.
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Wide Receivers #3 Marqise Lee
USC, Jr. 6’ 0”- 192 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.52 seconds
In a nutshell: Lee is overlooked a little due to a down season with USC, although it’s in part because the departure of Robert Woods allowed defenses to key on him alone. While he lacks elite speed, Lee has great acceleration, getting up to top his speed quickly. His explosiveness, along with savvy route running, and his ability to read coverages make him able to find open space to make a catch or navigate through traffic afterwards. Those same skills allow him to create separation even without blinding speed. Lee will attack the ball in the air and does a great job snagging a pass at its high point. He isn’t incredibly big or strong and won’t break many tackles and at times has some ball security issues. Lee was banged up in 2013, so there are some durability concerns due to that and his smaller frame. Vs. top opponent: While his six catches for 83 yards against No. 4 Stanford weren’t eye-popping, a closer look at the game reveals that Lee’s catches were critical in the upset victory for the USC Trojans. He started things off with a key tiptoe sideline catch on the opening drive, setting up a touchdown two plays later. The catch showed off his great body control as he had to tightrope walk to make the catch.
when he was shaken up but returned to make a stellar catch on a slant route for a 13-yard gain on a fourth-and-2. The catch kept the drive going and set up a game-winning field goal. 2013 stats: 57 receptions, 791 yards, 13.9 ypr, 4 TDs; 10 kickoff returns, 16.4 avg.; 8 punt returns, 5.8 avg.
#4 Brandin Cooks
Oregon State, Sr. 5’ 10”- 189 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.33 seconds
In a nutshell: Cooks nearly beat Chris Johnson’s 40-yard dash record time but aside from speed, he brings great route running, great hands and fantastic body control.
#5 Odell Beckham Jr.
LSU, Jr. 5’ 11”- 198 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.43 seconds
In a nutshell: Beckham lacks elite speed, so he makes up for it by quick cuts and moves while running routes. He has worked on improving his hands but still has some drops on occasion. Beckham can contribute as a kick returner, but struggled as a punt returner.
Cooks will not shy away from bigger defenders and is very competitive. He’s a bit small, so he can be knocked around on routes. Vs. top opponent: No. 6 Stanford did a good job of keeping a lid on Cooks, the No.1 receiver in the nation at the time. Cooks still caught nine balls—he just couldn’t break any of them off, his longest reception covering just 14 yards. Despite the low yardage total, Cooks was still able to outfight defenders regularly. 2013 stats: 128 receptions, 1730 yards, 13.5 ypr, 16 TDs; 32 rushes, 217 yards, 2 TDs; 12 punt returns, 6.0 avg.
Lee then caught a two-point conversion near the end of the first quarter when he had to fight off Stanford safety Jordan Richards to make the catch and give his team the lead. In the fourth quarter, Lee had to come off the field
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Vs. top opponent: Beckham struggled to find room against a very tough Alabama defense, with the Tide ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time. Alabama blanketed Beckham, limiting his ability to separate while also pressuring LSU’s quarterback. Beckham, however, did a good job returning kicks, including a fantastic 82-yard return late in the game. 2013 stats: 59 receptions, 1152 yards, 19.5 ypr, 8 TDs; 32 kickoff returns, 26.4 avg.; 18 punt returns, 8.9 avg.
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Wide Receivers #6 Kelvin Benjamin
Florida State, So. 6’ 5”- 240 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.61 seconds
In a nutshell: Benjamin is a giant-sized receiver who will loom over many defensive backs. A long strider, he gets up to speed quickly, though he lacks top-end speed. His strides allow him to gain separation he otherwise couldn’t because of his speed. His size and strength make him able to win the ball against defenders. Bowl game: Benjamin performs when it counts, such as with his game-winning touchdown catch against Auburn in the BCS National Championship. With 13 seconds left, Benjamin got into the end zone and forced his body between the ball and the defender. His quarterback Jameis Winston threw it high and Benjamin extended to snatch it out of the air to win the game. 2013 stats: 54 receptions, 1011 yards, 18.7 ypr, 15 TDs
#7 Davante Adams
Fresno State, So. 6’ 1”- 212 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.56 seconds
In a nutshell: Adams has a lengthy build that allows him to extend over defenders to make catches. He has good leaping ability and fantastic hands to make tough grabs. Adams gets hung up at the line too often and is too slow out of his breaks. Has a lot of upside, but raw.
Bowl game: Fresno State was overmatched against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl, but Adams managed to have a great game anyway. He was most effective on shorter routes, though he managed to score on a 23-yard pass early in the third quarter. Overall, Adams was able to use his length and leaping ability to overcome the tough USC defense on his way to nine catches and 74 yards. 2013 stats: 131 receptions, 1719 yards, 13.1 ypr, 24 TDs
#8 Jarvis Landry
LSU, Jr. 5’ 11”- 205 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.77 seconds
In a nutshell: Landry needs to add some weight to his frame or he’ll get overpowered at the line in the NFL, especially since he lacks the explosion he needs to get past press coverage. Runs a very crisp route, and is willing to go across the middle. Landry also makes some spectacular catches. Vs. top opponent: Landry didn’t catch a ton of passes against No. 12 Texas A&M, but when he did, he carved up the Aggie defense and was the target of both of quarterback Zach Mettenberger ’s touchdown passes. Both were in the second quarter, the first a short 10-yard play and the second a longer 40-yard touchdown reception. 2013 stats: 77 receptions, 1193 yards, 15.5 ypr, 10 TDs
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#9 Allen Robinson
Penn State, Jr. 6’ 2”- 220 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.60 seconds
In a nutshell: Robinson shows some real fluidity and acceleration for a big guy, and his deceptive burst makes him tough to cover going in and out of breaks. That said, his overall routes need work and sometimes tips defenders off to his direction. Robinson can lack focus at times as well. Best game: Robinson had one of his best games of the year against the Hoosiers, catching a dozen balls for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Robinson’s first touchdown tied the game on a 46-yard touchdown pass. His second, early in the third quarter, gave Penn State its only lead of the day. 2013 stats: 97 receptions, 1432 yards, 14.8 ypr, 6 TDs
#10 Jordan Matthews
Vanderbilt, Sr. 6’ 3”- 212 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.46 seconds
In a nutshell: Matthews has the ability to make some very tough catches both in traffic and one-onone with a defensive back in his face. With his height and length he can out-jump a defensive back making him a fantastic red zone target. Lacks explosion and will get jammed if he doesn’t have space to accelerate from the line.
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Wide Receivers All-Star game: Matthews played very physical off the line during the week of practice at the Senior Bowl and showed an ability to knock a defender off balance with his initial contact.
Vs. top opponent: The high point of Richardson’s game against No. 9 Oregon was probably his 75-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, which gave Colorado its one and only lead of the day. Richardson was the only offensive player who seemed to have any luck against the Ducks when he was able to find room to make catches when everyone else couldn’t. He averaged 26.8 yards per reception, grabbing five passes for 134 yards. 2013 stats: 83 receptions, 1343 yards, 16.2 ypr, 10 TDs
#12 Donte Moncrief
Ole Miss, Jr. 6’2” - 221 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.40 seconds
However, when he was going deep, he struggled to do the same and often had to try and force contact again later on in the route. That will be an issue in the NFL. 2013 stats: 112 receptions, 1477 yards, 13.1 ypr, 7 TDs
#11 Paul Richardson
Colorado, Jr. 6’ 0”- 175 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.40 seconds
In a nutshell: Richardson is a fluid receiver with speed but has durability issues because of his thin and lean frame. He’ll have to add some bulk to help with his blocking as well, as he can be overpowered. Richardson is a great team leader and performed with no help around him.
In a nutshell: Moncrief is a big, fast receiver who shows good field awareness but doesn’t play as big or as fast as he actually is. He also seems to either lose track of the ball or react too slowly to it at times. His best football may still be ahead of him. Vs. top opponent: In a game where underdog Ole Miss shocked powerhouse No. 6 LSU, Moncrief made some big catches for huge chunks of yards. His speed enabled him to gain separation and get behind the defense, helping him to a 21.4 yards-per-catch average and helping put Ole Miss in position to score several times. 2013 stats: 59 receptions, 938 yards, 15.9 ypr, 6 TDs
“made some big catches for huge chunks of yards” 38 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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Wide Receivers #18 Mike Davis, Texas
Ellington is quick off the line and plays as fast as he runs, but his small frame and size have made durability a concern as well as limit his ability to break tackles. While competitive, Ellington won’t attack the ball in the air, allowing it to come to him and the defender.
Another receiver who looks the part, but Davis plays very stiff and not terribly fast. Loses his way in traffic, and often seems disinterested on some routes. Has the raw measurable but can he use them?
#14 Martavis Bryant, Clemson
#17 Josh Huff, Oregon
Bryant has great hands and good separation speed, but has too many drops and makes too many easy catches look hard. Does not run a great route and runs too stiff during them.
Huff looks the part, with an impressive build and a smooth running style, but is maxed out and won’t be adding muscle or mass. Seems to frequently lose focus with far too many drops and late adjustments.
#15 Robert Herron, Wyoming
#19 Brandon Coleman, Rutgers
Herron is a good athlete that times at a good speed but plays much slower. Does too many little things wrong, like short-arming the ball, drifting on routes and struggling to track the ball.
Coleman is a giant target for a quarterback with long arms that help him reach up and grab the ball. He accelerates a bit slowly and needs to work on catching the ball away from his body.
#16 Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin
#20 Jalen Saunders, Oklahoma
#30 Tevin Reese, Baylor
Baylor Athletic Department
#13 Bruce Ellington, South Carolina
David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
While he has good speed, Saunders is really thin and can get knocked off his route, especially when lining up outside. He can run a great route, though, and is elusive after the catch.
#21 Ryan Grant, Tulane #22 T.J. Jones, Notre Dame #23 Kevin Norwood, Alabama Abbrederis started off his career as a walk-on, but ended up on scholarship and continues to work hard every day. He has little explosion off the line and very average acceleration and speed.
“continues to work hard every day”
#24 Michael Campanaro, Wake Forest #25 Dri Archer, Kent State #26 Devin Street, Pittsburgh #27 Jeff Janis, Saginaw Valley #28 Cody Latimer, Indiana #29 Austin Franklin, New Mexico State
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Tight Ends
TE
#1 Eric Ebron
North Carolina, Jr. 6’ 4”- 250 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.60 seconds
In a nutshell: Ebron is the most athletically gifted tight end in the Draft. In the right system, he could easily be a high first-round pick and an openingday starter. Last season he lead the Tar Heels in both receptions and receiving yards, setting an ACC yardage record for tight ends. Ebron works better in space than he does in a phone booth. He possesses both flexible hips and soft hands and is extremely quick in and out of breaks and attacks the ball with a large catch radius. Ebron can run all of the NFL routes and has great spatial awareness. He will most likely be used in the receiving mold of Jimmy Graham and will be difficult to defend down the seam.
Jay Hodgson
“athletically gifted” Best game: Ebron’s entire college career has been highlighted by up and down performances, and the loss against Miami (FL) at home during the 2013 season exemplifies this. In the first quarter, he had a 71-yard touchdown reception off a crossing route where he outran the entire defense. For the game, he had eight receptions for 199 yards, which was a single-game tight end yardage record at North Carolina. However, he was virtually invisible during the second half, and the Tar Heels fell to the Hurricanes 27-23. Ebron enjoyed a very statistically rich game, but his tendency to take plays off is definitely on film. With the game on the line, quarterback Bryn Renner only completed two passes to Ebron in the fourth quarter. 2013 stats: 62 receptions, 973 yards, 3 TDs
UNC Athletic Communications
More on Eric Ebron appears at CheeseheadTV.com
#2 AustinSeferian-Jenkins Washington, Jr. 6’ 5”- 262 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.75 seconds
However, he lacks inline power and will struggle in the blocking game. He could be serviceable in a zoneblock scheme but will get knocked off point in a man scheme at first. Once he grows into his body and learns to be a willing blocker, he has Pro Bowl potential.
In a nutshell: Seferian-Jenkins is the best all-around and most pro-ready tight end this year. He was the 2013 John Mackey Award winner and has the coveted college basketball experience. During 2013, while playing in Steve Sarkisian’s pro-style offense, he led the Huskies with eight touchdown
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receptions. He is an agile player and is equally comfortable in space or locking up defenders. In the passing game, Seferian-Jenkins shows good footwork during breaks and excellent body control when adjusting to poor throws. He is willing to lower his shoulder and grind out an extra yard. During goal-line situations, he will be able to stay on the field as a blocker, in either zone or man systems, or as a receiver. He does show some stiffness in the hips and will need to add upper body strength and bulk. His routes tend to be more deliberate than fluid. Overall, he has a very high ceiling and projects well as a long-term starter. Seferian-Jenkins pled guilty following an arrest for DUI in July of 2013 but has owned up to his mistake and seems to understand the levity of the situation. Best game: While his blocking greatly improved in 2013 compared to 2012, Seferian-Jenkins’ receiving game had less spectacular numbers in the most recent season. His best game as a receiver came in the 2012 mid-season victory on the road over California. In that game, he had eight receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown.
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Tight Ends Sefarian-Jenkins was clearly quarterback Keith Price’s favorite target, having grabbed half of his 16 total completions and only touchdown pass for the game. The game against California was a turning point for the Huskies on the season, as they were able to salvage a
#3
disappointing campaign and eventually become bowl eligible.
yards rushing and two touchdowns.
While the game was sloppy and marred by turnovers, Sefarian-Jenkins did show his elite skills.
That game could also be considered a turning point of when Sefarian-Jenkins put his improved blocking abilities on film.
These included some key blocks for Bishop Sankey’s career day of 189
2013 stats: 36 receptions, 450 yards, 8 TDs
Jace Amaro
Texas Tech, Jr. 6’5” - 254 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.74 seconds
In a nutshell: Once considered the top tight end prospect this year, Amaro’s stock has fallen slightly. He was a 2013 firstteam All-American by the Associated Press, putting up freakish receiving numbers. Amaro is a good route runner and behaves like a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He runs clean routes and makes himself a large target for quarterbacks to hit on the move. His best routes are inside the numbers, and he shows good ability to attack the ball and bail out his quarterback. After the catch, he is difficult to bring down. His stock has fallen a little after the Combine with his unexpectedly slow 40-yard dash and his stiff hips. He also struggled a little with pro tight end routes and needs major work with blocking anyone other than a defensive back. Character issues have plagued him and may scare some teams off. Best game: Amaro exploded on the scene in 2013 after having a pedestrian 2012 campaign. His best game was in a midseason losing effort against Oklahoma State. In that game, Amaro hauled in 15 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. He had enjoyed a good season up to that point, but this game in front of a large TV audience really cemented himself as the focal point of the Red Raider offense and opened up NFL scouts’ eyes in their quest to find the next Jimmy Graham. In the game, he routinely lined up in the slot and was the featured inside receiver. He showed good elusiveness at getting open and sneaking in behind defenders. Amaro was a clear mismatch for the Oklahoma State linebackers, as he ran around them, and safeties, which he had no problem running through. 2013 stats: 106 receptions, 1,352 yards, 7 TDs
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Tight Ends #4 Troy Niklas
Texas Tech, Jr. 6’ 6”- 270 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
game itself. Good thing for him because he was named by scouts as the best tight end at the bowl but failed to make a single reception in the game. 2013 stats: 30 receptions, 299 yards, 6 TDs
In a nutshell: Niklas has a huge body and is still learning the position after converting from a linebacker to tight end in 2012. His ceiling is very high and his skills scale well to the pro game. He is a very proficient receiver and has the foundation to develop into a good blocker. Rivalry game: In their victory over rival Southern California, Niklas looked the part as a quarterback’s best friend. He led the Fighting Irish with four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. The victory over the Trojans snapped a five-game losing streak to them, and Niklas had a large role in that.
#6 Crockett Gillmore
Colorado State, Sr. 6’6”- 260 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.76 seconds
In a nutshell: Gillmore’s stock soared after being an impressive last-minute replacement in the Senior Bowl. He has a good pro offense foundation from playing for Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain.
Iowa, Sr. 6’ 5”- 265 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.76 seconds
In a nutshell: Fiedorowicz has great size and strength, which allow him to effectively set the edge during the run game. His routes are clean and create separation, although they look very slow and deliberate on film. He may not be as athletic as others, but he seems to get the job done most of the time, although sometimes takes plays off. All-Star game: NFL scouts rely more on the practice week leading up to the Senior Bowl than they do for the actual
In a nutshell: Lynch is clearly the best blocking tight end in the draft and will be equally at home in zone or man schemes. He lacks speed and is merely adequate as a receiver. Due to this dichotomy, he may project well as an H-back and could develop into a poor man’s Frank Wycheck. Postseason game: Georgia’s 2013 campaign was derailed by injuries and fluke plays. In the 2014 Gator Bowl against Nebraska, Lynch showed his qualities by hauling in six catches for 69 yards from backup quarterback Hutson Mason.
2013 stats: 30 receptions, 459 yards, 5 TDs
Colorado State Athletic Department
#5
Georgia, Sr. 6’ 5”- 258 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.82 seconds
However, his costly drop on a fourth down in the red zone ended the comeback attempt, and the Bulldogs fell to the Cornhuskers 24-19.
2013 stats: 32 receptions, 498 yards, 5 TDs
C.J. Fiedorowicz
#7 Arthur Lynch
#8 Xavier Grimble
USC, Jr. 6’ 4”- 257 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.76 seconds
All-Star game: Gillmore put himself on several scouts’ radars during an outstanding Senior Bowl. Despite not getting much practice time because he was a late addition, he had instant chemistry with the quarterbacks and hauled in five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. 2013 stats: 47 receptions, 577 yards, 2 TDs
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In a nutshell: Grimble does not show flashy statistics, but his athleticism stands out on film. He is quick down the seam and uses his body position to secure the catch. Coming off the snap, he builds to speed but is not an explosive blocker. If he can grow into his body and develop strength, he could be a steal in the draft.
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Tight Ends Best game: Grimble has never been known for box-score numbers, but his best game came in late November 2013 in a win against Colorado when he led the Trojans with six receptions and was second in yardage with 46. After losing receiver Marqise Lee to injury the previous week, Grimble was expected to step up, and he did. 2013 stats: 25 receptions, 270 yards, 2 TDs
#9
Colt Lyerla
Oregon, Jr. 6’ 4”- 242 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.61 seconds
In a nutshell: Lyerla is an exciting prospect. He is physically gifted and very quick afoot. In the passing game, he is a reliable and soft target with great hands. In the run game, he is a willing blocker and shows flashes of nastiness. He has many character red flags, so he could tumble in the draft. High-risk, high-reward prospect. College experience: His college career is one of those unfortunate, but common, combinations of an amazing athlete having numerous character and off-the-field issues.
#10 Marcel Jensen
Fresno State, Sr. 6’ 6”- 259 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.85 seconds
In a nutshell: Jensen shows great promise as a run blocker and has a knack for securely setting the edge. He has natural talent at getting open and settling down in the spaces between zones. He will have to learn to evade defenders after the catch and sink his hips while blocking, but he has a very high ceiling. Best game: Jensen has never stood out on the stat sheet, but he does impact games, mainly through his blocking. However, he was involved in the passing game during the 2013 rout against Wyoming, which the Bulldogs won 4810. Jensen only had three receptions for 29 yards, but two of those catches were for touchdowns. 2013 stats: 26 receptions, 353 yards, 3 TDs, 1 blocked kick
#11 Richard Rodgers
California, Jr. 6’ 4”- 257 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.87 seconds
He has had several run-ins with the police over alleged drug possession and driving violations.
In a nutshell: Rodgers is a long and fluid athlete whose game is predicated on his receiving abilities. He played a lot in the slot and showed elusiveness and sneaky quickness.
In October 2013, he quit the team. If he can pull it all together, his talent makes him a legitimate future Pro Bowl caliber prospect.
Drops have always been a problem, and he will have to develop more toughness while blocking. He needs to polish his pro-style routes.
2013 stats: 2 receptions, 26 yards, 0 TDs; 3 rushes, 17 yards, 1 TD
Best game: The 2013 California squad suffered through a dismal 1-11 cam-
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paign, but their aerial circus, ranking 10th in the nation, was their lone bright spot. In their single win over FCS Portland State, Rodgers had four catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. His score was a 75-yard scamper that was the go-ahead touchdown in the 3730 shootout. 2013 stats: 39 receptions, 608 yards, 1 TD; 7 rushes, 9 yards
#12 Joe Don Duncan
Dixie State, Sr. 6’ 3”- 268 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.79 seconds
In a nutshell: Duncan is quickly gaining attention after playing at a Division II school. He’s best known as a receiver due to his gaudy statistics, soft hands, willingness to attack the ball and ability to come down with the ball in traffic. He has yet to prove himself against better competition and blocking will be a work in progress. Top opponent: In the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, schools play each other twice a season. Duncan always looked good in the box score, but he especially enjoyed playing against Simon Fraser University. In his first meeting in 2013, he had four catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns. In his second, he had six for 120 and two more scores. 2013 stats: 71 receptions, 1045 yards, 13 TDs
“Division II School”
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Tight Ends #13 Robert Blanchflower, UMass
#17 Jake Murphy, Utah
Blanchflower has good ball skills and adequate leverage while blocking. His 2013 season was limited by injuries, but his skill set projects well at the next level for patient team willing to develop him.
Murphy’s strengths are in the passing game and he can run routes both inside and outside the numbers. He’ll have to improve his blocking while setting the edge against defensive ends.
#14 A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State
#18 Blake Annen, Cincinnati
Leonard put his name in draft discussions with his fast 40-yard dash. Offfield problems are an issue, but he has a pro skill set and has added value as a projected core special teams player.
Annen looks the part of an NFL player, but he is extremely raw and will be a developmental prospect. His best chances of making a roster will be on special teams.
#15 Jordan Najvar, Baylor
#19 Ted Bolser, Indiana Statistically, he is Indiana’s best alltime receiving tight end. Sportswriters routinely honored him during college, but he will have to overachieve to see meaningful playing time.
Baylor Athletic Department
#20 Alex Bayer, Bowling Green Bayer may not have much more room in his athletic ceiling, but he is capable as both a blocker and a receiver. Linebackers in the MAC had a hard time covering him, but the NFL will be much different. Despite being last in the Baylor receiving pecking order, Najvar showed tremendous athleticism on film. He is a capable blocker and looks natural in the passing game.
#21 Kaneakua Friel, BYU
#16 Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin
#24 Brian Wozniak, Wisconsin
Pedersen showed flashes as a receiver at Wisconsin, but his skill set does not translate well to an inline tight end in the NFL. He will probably have more success as an H-back.
#25 Asa Watson, NC State
#22 Michael Flacco, New Haven #23 Asante Cleveland, Miami (FL)
#26 Nic Jacobs, McNeese State #27 Jake Long, Nebraska #28 Jacob Maxwell, Louisiana-Lafayette
“showed flashes”
#29 Beckett Wales, Syracuse #30 Eric Waters, Missouri
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Offensive Tackle Robinson #1 Greg Auburn, So. 6’ 5”- 332 lbs.
In a nutshell: Using the same logic that led Pro Football Draft Preview to rank current Pro Bowler Tyron Smith as the top-rated tackle in 2011, Robinson gets the nod here. While not the best right now, he will be the best tackle of this group in two to three years. Robinson has the perfect body type, quick feet, long arms and athleticism that will cause a few jawdrops. If you watched the Combine (1.68 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash), you could see the athleticism. Some of his teammates have called him the best athlete on the team and to give an idea, this massive man can do a standing back flip. Watching tape of Robinson, you see a guy who is light on his feet, very mobile and does some of his best work downfield.
Matthews #2 Jake Texas A&M, Sr. 6’ 5”- 308 lbs.
OT
40 yard dash: 5.07 seconds Bench: 24 Arms: 33 3/8”
“draws his prey in”
In a nutshell: This son of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and cousin of the Packers’ Clay Matthews is as polished an offensive tackle prospect as there’s been in the last five drafts.
What Robinson doesn’t have is a lot of experience, especially in pass protection. While a team could insert him as a starter from day one, there will be some growing pains with only two years of college experience. He needs to learn to use his hands better in pass protection and improve his recognition of stunts. Regardless, give him a few years and he’s a Pro Bowler.
Obviously, Dad has imparted his knowledge of blocking techniques to his boy, and who knows, maybe he fine-tuned his skills going up against cousin Clay in the backyard.
College career: Robinson came to the Tigers as a highly-recruited guard prospect and redshirted his first season. His off-field hard work paid off the following season when he won the starting left tackle spot. After only two years of on-field college experience, Robinson enters the 2014 draft. Robinson has been a workin-progress, according to his position coach J.B. Grimes, who now calls Robinson the most gifted offensive lineman he’s coached. In 2012, he struggled, as did the entire Auburn team under a new coaching regime en route to a disappointing 3-9 record.
Texas A&M Athletic Department
40 yard dash: 4.92 seconds Bench: 32 Arms: 35”
Al Bracco
This past season was a different story for both Robinson and Auburn, with a 12-2 record and a trip to the BCS National Championship game. Robinson was a huge part of that resurgence, leading a potent ground attack for the Tigers. Whether getting after linebackers, safeties or leading a screen, Robinson moves extremely well and is a very effective open-field blocker; normally a difficult task for such a big man.
Grimes said the difference between Robinson in the first game of 2013 to the final one was huge. That improvement has not gone unnoticed, vaulting the previously little-known Robinson into the top tackle prospects discussion.
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Matthews does not wow you with his athleticism on film, as 2011 draftee Tyron Smith did, for example. Instead, he just comes across as powerful, rock solid, reliable and a guy that defensive ends will not look forward to lining up against. Matthews mirrors pass rushers extremely well, forcing them into the abyss known as his chest and arms. Once he draws his prey in, they are swallowed up and seem to disappear. Against the run, Matthews is even better. He has the ability to drive block his opponents downfield and make them wonder why they ever wanted to play football.
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Offensive Tackle College career: Matthews came to Texas A&M in 2010 and found himself starting as a true freshman halfway through the season due to injuries. From that point on, he manned the right tackle spot until this season, when he slid over to the left side for the departed Luke Joeckel, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft. Matthews played under some very different coaches and systems while at Texas A&M. His first two years under Mike Sherman in the Big 12, Matthews worked in a pro-style offense, protecting pocket passer Ryan Tannehill. Then came the move to the SEC, new head coach Kevin Sumlin, a new offense and—of course—the scrambling Johnny Manziel. In three words, Matthews has “seen it all.” He can play in a structured offense or a free-wheeling offense. He can pass protect in the pocket or on the move. The varied experience Matthews has gained in college as well as the “home coaching” from a Hall of Famer will be looked at as huge pluses to NFL teams. Matthews is easily the most NFL-ready tackle in the draft. More on Jake Matthews appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
Lewan #3 Taylor Michigan, Sr. 6’ 7”- 309 lbs.
40 yard dash: 4.87 seconds Bench: 29 Arms: 33 7/8”
In a nutshell: Lewan started 48 of 50 games at left tackle for the Wolverines with his only two non-starts coming as a freshman. Lewan is a bit of a paradox—he’s a finesse tackle that plays with a nasty streak. There are reports of some off-field incidents, but Lewan denies involvement and nothing has been proven.
Watching Lewan on tape, you see a player who has good balance for a man his height. He’s reminiscent of Nate Solder, the first-round pick of the Patriots in 2011.
He also topped the list in the broad jump, falling just an inch short of Lane Johnson’s combine record of 9’10” and was fourth best in the three-cone drill with a time of 7.39 seconds.
Lewan is most comfortable in run blocking, where he shows adequate pad level, good seal blocking and the ability to get downfield easily. In pass protection, Lewan is sometimes too upright and susceptible to inside moves.
In the on-field drills, Lewan continued to impress, showing fluidity in changing directions and better foot movement than he showed on tape. He looked smooth and natural with his kick steps and slide steps. If there were any questions about his ability to play on the left side, he answered them at the Combine.
Kouandjio #4 Cyrus Alabama, Jr. 6’ 6”- 322 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.59 seconds Bench: 21 Arms: 35 5/8”
He has good enough foot quickness to play on the left side, but can end up reaching and grabbing a bit against speed rushers. Regardless, he’s a sure NFL starter somewhere. NFL Combine: Lewan was arguably the star of the offensive line workouts. He aced the eyeball test with an impressive physique that did not look at all like it was carrying 311 lbs. If you weren’t looking carefully, you might have mistaken him for an oversized tight end. He definitely has a frame to add more weight, which he will need to do. Lewan was the top performer among offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.87 seconds and a fantastic 10-yard split of 1.64 seconds. His explosion out of the box had the scouts drooling and double-checking their stopwatches.
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In a nutshell: The Crimson Tide rolls out yet another massive and talented offensive lineman into the throes of the NFL. Kouandjio surprises opponents with unexpected quickness as a run blocker. His strong upper body and long arms make it a difficult task to get around him if you’re a pass rusher. NFL Combine: Kouandjio was a horror show at the Combine. Only 21 bench press reps and a 5.59 40-yard dash made him look sluggish and out of shape. There were also reports he failed the physical for some teams due to a recurring issue with an arthritic knee. He surely dropped down in the draft with this performance, but he could prove to be a heck of a bargain for the team that picks him if he gets himself back on a healthy track.
“massive and talented” CheeseheadTV.com
Offensive Tackle Turner #5 Billy N. Dakota State, Sr. 6’ 5”- 315 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.16 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 34”
In a nutshell: Turner is an intriguing small-school prospect with a ton of upside. He moves really well, is surprisingly athletic, gets to the next level easily and plays with passion and aggression. He’s a little top heavy and needs work on pass protection techniques, but Turner could be a real sleeper in this draft. College career: Turner started immediately at right tackle for the Bison, then moved to left tackle as a sophomore. He stayed there for three seasons, starting every game for three straight FCS championship teams. Turner earned FCS All-American honors as a junior and senior, dominating the competition at that level.
Moses #6 Morgan Virginia, Sr. 6’ 6”- 314 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.35 seconds Bench: N/A Arms: 35 3/8”
In a nutshell: Moses is, in one word, massive. Trying to get around him is like sparring with a grizzly bear. And like a bear, he’s quicker than you expect.
All-Star Game: He came into the Senior Bowl week with some things to prove, namely that he could be consistent from play to play and he could handle speed rushers. Moses passed both tests, surprising the scouts with his quick feet and consistently winning one-on-one battles throughout the week.
Richardson #7 Antonio Tennessee, Jr. 6’ 6”- 336 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.30 seconds Bench: 36 Arms: 35”
In a nutshell: “Tiny,” as Richardson is known, was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Vols, who had four offensive lineman invited to the Combine. The word most used to describe Richardson is “massive.” He relies on his strength and size a bit too much at times and definitely needs to work on technique and giving 100 percent every play. He likely can handle either side, but “looks” like a right tackle. College career: Richardson saw action in every game as a true freshman. He moved to left tackle the next season and started every game there for two seasons. He played on a very talented offensive line, where other players were forced to change positions in order to allow “Tiny” to man the all-important left tackle spot.
40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 29 Arms: 32 7/8”
In a nutshell: Martin might be the most technically sound tackle on tape this year. He’s always in a solid blocking position with his feet, hands and butt exactly where they should be. He mirrors perfectly, anchors adeptly and shows great instincts in picking up stunts. Many feel he would be best served by a move to guard due to lack of “length,” and they’re probably right. College career: Martin was a two-time captain for the Irish, starting a schoolrecord 52 games. He played right tackle for two games as a freshman; otherwise all other starts were at left tackle. Martin was a highly-respected leader at a tradition-rich institution. His college coaches speak of him as being a “rock” you can always depend on, never taking a play off and rarely making mistakes. Definitely “Packer People.”
Bitonio #9 Joel Nevada, Sr. 6’ 4”- 302 lbs.
40 yard dash: 4.97 seconds Bench: 22 Arms: 33 7/8”
In a nutshell: Bitonio takes heat for being “undersized,” but don’t buy it. He’s tough as nails and the type of guy offensive line coaches love.
In pass protection, he uses his long arms and big hands as effectively as any tackle in this year’s draft class. As a run blocker, he prefers the “let me engulf you” technique.
On tape, he doesn’t stop until the whistle and while he sometimes absorbs too much initial impact, he always seems to recover and win the battle in the end. The Packers would love to add him to their offensive line mix.
In college he played at 325 to 330 lbs. but dropped to 314 for the NFL Combine.
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Martin #8 Zack Notre Dame, Sr. 6’ 4”- 308 lbs.
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Offensive Tackle Mewhort #11 Jack Ohio State, Sr. 6’ 6”- 309 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.37 seconds Bench: 28 Arms: 34”
In a nutshell: Mewhort is the big, strong lumbering type that isn’t going to surprise out on the field.
NFL Combine: Bitonio delivered a solid punch to the nose to those who thought he wasn’t mobile enough to play tackle in the NFL. Bitonio was a Top 5 performer in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. Take that!
James #10 Ja’Wuan Tennessee, Sr. 6’ 6”- 311 lbs.
He gets the job done, although he plays too high, too often. He was moved to tackle at the Senior Bowl and did well there.
College career: Mewhort graduates as a fifth-year senior after a freshman redshirt.
If he can improve his pad level, he can be a very good starting right tackle in the league.
He started his final 39 games in a row. Mewhort was a team captain and second-team All-Big Ten as a senior.
#12 James Hurst
North Carolina, Sr. 6’5” - 296 lbs. Arms: 35 3/4”
40 yard dash: 5.34 seconds Bench: 22 Arms: 35”
In a nutshell: Consider James a top sleeper pick. A four-year starter at right tackle for Tennessee, James was somewhat overshadowed by his larger teammate Antonio “Tiny” Richardson. However, watching both on tape, James could turn out to be the better pro. He’s powerful, yet athletic and light on his feet, and would actually fit better at left tackle than Richardson. NFL Combine: When seeing how fluidly James moved at the Combine, it sent analysts back to the “film room.” While James didn’t have any outstanding numbers in Indianapolis, he was in the top five for the “eyeball test.” James showed he is light on his feet, bends easily and turns his hips smoothly.
In a nutshell: A four-year starter at left tackle for the Tar Heels, Hurst is the type of guy that makes the most out of the ability he has. He has good size, is a battler, plays angles well, but no one is going to call him a good athlete. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t be a solid NFL backup or even a starter at the guard position. Hurst broke his leg in his final game and was not ready to participate in the Combine.
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Offensive Tackle #21 BryanWitzmann, South Dakota State
Vs. top opponent: North Carolina started out their season against border rival South Carolina, and Hurst found himself lined up against Jadeveon Clowney for most of the game. Hurst smartly used Clowney’s speed against him, helping him overshoot the play on many occasions. Clowney came close a few times, but had no sacks in the game.
#22 Matt Feiler, Bloomsburg State #23 Austin Wentworth, Fresno State #24 Donald Hawkins, Texas #25 Danny Kistler Jr., Montana
#13 Seantrel Henderson, Miami
#17 Cameron Fleming, Stanford
#26 Matt Hall, Belhaven
So far, Henderson has been a prime example of potential wasted. Injuries, suspensions, benchings—he has quite the résumé. But then there is that impressive body type coaches drool over. He’s the definition of “boom or bust” prospect.
Fleming’s got the size and the smarts (degree in aeronautics and astronautics), but not the athletic prowess teams want from tackles these days. He looked downright clumsy at the Combine, which matched up with some of his tape. He’s strictly a right tackle or guard convert.
#27 Jeremiah Sirles, Nebraska
#14 Charles Leno, Boise State A three-year starter (two at right tackle, one at left), Leno is an average athlete and not as strong as you might expect. On the plus side, he’s steady, plays with smarts and doesn’t take plays off. He may be a candidate to move inside.
#15 Justin Britt, Missouri Britt would be a typical Packers selection: a left tackle in college whose skill set would translate well to the inside. Solid player, physical, and very capable of being the multi-position backup the Packers always seem to covet.
#16 Michael Schofield, Michigan Schofield is a bit of a lumbering sort, with heavy feet and not much speed. Schofield started his last two seasons at right tackle and the previous one at guard. He may need to return to that spot.
“heavy feet and not much speed”
#28 Kenarious Gates, Georgia #29 Parker Graham, Oklahoma State #30 Kevin Graf, USC
#18 Bryce Quigley, San Diego State One of those tight end converts NFL coaches look for. Switched to left tackle as a junior and was a two-year starter there. Like most TE converts, needs time in the weight room to get stronger. He could be a worthwhile practice-squad project at LT.
#19 Cornelius “Luke” Lucas, Kansas State This guy makes the list for being the longest prospect of the draft (almost 37” arms). He could probably lean over the line of scrimmage and touch a linebacker without moving his feet. He might be worth throwing on the practice squad to see if he can develop into something.
#20 Matt Patchan, Boston College Patchan has been a one-man hospital ward. He was awarded a sixth year of eligibility because of how many games he missed in five years with Florida. He missed plenty of weight-room time as well, and it shows on the field. Patchan was a highly recruited prep star at one point. Could that potential still be in there somewhere?
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Interior Linemen Su’a-Filo #1 Xavier UCLA, Jr. 6’ 4”- 307 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.04 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 33 3/8”
In a nutshell: Su’a-Filo leaves college a year early after playing both tackle and guard for the Bruins. He has quick feet and above average strength. His versatility gives him a jump-start for the NFL. Has the innate athleticism that Ted Thompson prefers over brute strength. Having played the past two seasons under former NFL coach Jim Mora also works to his advantage. UCLA basically played a balanced pro-style offense during most of his career. Will likely be able to gain a few more pounds and additional strength in an NFL weight-training program.
IL
“he has quick feet” His 40 time, plus a 10-yard split of 1.57 seconds indicate he can pull and get to the second level in the running game. Given his footwork in on-field drills, he also looks to have quick enough feet to backpedal well in pass protection. Arm length in excess of 33 inches is solid for an interior guy, and his 25 bench press reps are acceptable. More on Xavier Su’a-Filo appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
Yankey #2 David Stanford, Jr. 6’ 6”- 315 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.48 seconds Bench: 22 Arms: 34”
In a nutshell: Some have projected Yankey to play outside at tackle because of his length. But one look at his 40 time should tell you that his NFL future lies inside. He is not as athletic as one might assume. He’ll likely have to add some bulk to his frame to handle NFL big guys on the nose. Do not rule out that possibility that with this prospect, in a pinch, he could slide outside. NFL Combine: Su’a-Filo’s work at the Combine seemed to confirm that he is the most overall athletic interior offensive lineman in this year’s draft class.
Although not fast, his feet appear very mobile. Has strong hands and uses that strength and arm length (34 inches), to control defenders. Must work on staying low and bending at the knees. Not as pro-ready as former teammate David DeCastro. Might be able to play right tackle in a pinch, which will weigh heavily in the Packers’ evaluation of his value.
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“Pigskin” Paul Guillemette Having the Stanford pedigree is a plus given the recent flow from that school into the NFL. NFL Combine: Yankey acquitted himself well in Indianapolis, although he did not star. His 40 time was disappointing, and he was also average at best with a 10-yard split of 1.81 seconds. With long arms measuring 34 inches, his bench press of 22 reps was adequate, but his NFL team will be pushing him in the weight room a bit. He looked fairly smooth in most of the on-field drill work. Did not post numbers that would get him into Round 1, but the overall package looks like Round 2. He looks like a better athlete on film than he showed at the Combine.
Thomas #3 Brandon Clemson, Sr. 6’ 3”- 317 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.09 seconds Bench: 35 Arms: 34 3/4”
In a nutshell: Clearly this athletic young man would be projected to tackle (where he played in college) if he were a couple of inches taller. He has the arm length to play outside and he moves his feet well. But in today’s NFL the prototype for a tackle is set at over 6’ 4” tall. Thankfully, Thomas has built his weight up and should not be a pushover playing inside. Sliding with the pocket and getting to second level blocks should not be an issue once he gets used to the traffic on the interior offensive line. Despite his lack of height, he should almost certainly be able to serve as a backup option at the tackles slots. While a team waits for him to develop into a starter he should be able to backup three to four positions along
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Interior Linemen All-Star game: Thomas was somewhat of a revelation during his week at the Senior Bowl. His 34 ¾” arm length compensates for his lack of ideal height. He practiced and played at both guard and tackle all week. His feet slide quite nicely, and he showed the functional strength to control defenders and guide them in the direction he wanted. Basically, he was outstanding with his athleticism.
Turner #4 Trai LSU, Jr. 6’ 3”- 310 lbs.
40 yard dash: 4.93 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 34”
In a nutshell: A surprise entry into this draft class after only one season as a full-time starter, but Turner did earn second-team All-SEC in 2013. He has excellent size, as well as the strength and toughness to play inside in the NFL. Needs more coaching on some of his technique but can get to second-level blocks and shows ability to pull. His long 34-inch arms will be a big plus in controlling defenders as he develops. Probably not an instant pro starter, unless his NFL team has significant offensive line issues. NFL Combine: Turner got attention during the measurement process with his arms and hands, then blew it up when he ran his sub-five second 40. Some mouths dropped open with his 1.72 second 10-yard split too. He was basically a pleasant surprise overall. NFL scouts saw a solid developmental project that has starting guard potential.
He has good balance and decent movement for a man of his size. Will be dominant for a run-oriented team but a bit of a liability in pass protection.
Martin #5 Marcus USC, Jr. 6’ 3”- 320 lbs.
40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 23 Arms: 34”
In a nutshell: Martin has the body to play anywhere inside and did play both guard and center as a Trojan. He has a solid frame and is tough to move but ends up on the ground a bit more than talent evaluators would like. However, that should be correctable with proper coaching. His long arms should serve him well for an inside player. Has a strong handpunch but extends his arms a bit too far at times. Started over 30 games during his Trojan career, which is impressive in only three years.
He surprises with his ability to pull and get to the second level. It still looks like he’s a late first rounder for schemes like the Chargers, Buccaneers, Redskins and Raiders.
Mississippi State Athletic Department
the offensive line on game days when versatility is a must.
NFL Combine: The tape measure can tell quite a bit about a player at the NFL Combine, but unfortunately, Martin gets an incomplete grade. No one expected 34-inch arms, and his weight was also more than most anticipated. He could not/did not run at Indy because of knee injury suffered late last season, which—of course disappointed—and left some big questions for his pro day.
Jackson #6 Gabe Miss. State, Jr. 6’ 3”- 336 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.51 seconds Bench: 30 Arms: 33 3/4”
In a nutshell: Jackson is this Draft’s version of Chance Warmack from last year. He’s one-dimensional as an inside bulldozer, and—of course—that drops him down the board for the Packers.
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All-Star game: Impressed at the Senior Bowl weigh-in with a decent looking body considering his bulk. Having almost 34-inch arms was also a plus for him. Jackson got off to a slow start in Mobile practices, but by Wednesday NFL Network had him as their practice player of the day. He was part of a South team offensive line that dominated the North defensive line most of the game.
Swanson #7 Travis Arkansas, Sr. 6’ 5”- 212 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.28 seconds Bench: 20 Arms: 33 1/8”
In a nutshell: Not a special athlete but a tough, hard-nosed young man. Swanson has good size and decent feet. He’s the first Arkansas player to record 50 consecutive starts in his career and was a two-time team captain.
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Interior Linemen Shows good balance and is a solid run blocker as well as being decent in pass pro. Can do a good job as a seal blocker but will struggle man-on-man with quicker defenders. Stands high and has 33-inch arm length. All-Star game: Swanson showed well at Senior Bowl and held his own against more athletic defenders in drill work. Worked until the whistle whether in drills, scrimmages or the game. Scored some big points with coaches and scouts when he switched to guard because the South had a glut of centers and Gabe Ikard was struggling at guard. Some the most effective run blocking in the game was when Swanson and Wesley Johnson were in the game playing the two guard spots.
Bodine #8 Russell North Carolina, Jr. 6’ 3”- 310 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.18 seconds Bench: 42 Arms: 32 1/2”
In a nutshell: Started for the Tar Heels for the past two seasons and was a surprise draft entrant to most. Bodine is not fast but has decent quickness for his size. Broad shouldered with thick arms and legs, he looks the part of an interior lineman. Could probably become an adequate backup at guard. Might be of interest to the Packers if he lasts late into Round 3. NFL Combine: Posted some impressive numbers that caught the attention of everyone in Indy. He was the only member of the offensive group to bench press over 40 reps (42), and his arms are not considered short for an interior lineman at 32 ½”. His 1.72 seconds 10-yard split was top-notch amongst the O-line group.
Dozier #9 Dakota Furman, Sr. 6’ 4”- 313 lbs.
40 yard dash: 5.42 seconds Bench: 23 Arms: 33 7/8”
In a nutshell: An outstanding small school tackle, who scouts have been eyeballing for a couple of seasons. Consensus seems to be building that he must play inside, and his Combine 40 time above pretty much confirmed that notion. Luckily, after playing at a listed 290 lbs. as a collegian, he’s spent time adding weight to his frame. Was not as fast or athletic at the Combine as he was thought to be. He does look to have solid upside with NFL starting potential. All-Star game: The first pleasant surprise at the East-West Shrine Game was his weigh-in weight of over 300 lbs. He was moved inside to guard immediately by his coaches. He displayed light feet and showed good quickness to get to the second level and/or pull out. Appeared to be very coachable.
Watt #10 Chris Notre Dame, Sr. 6’ 3”- 310 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 29 Arms: 32 3/4”
In a nutshell: Watt is a player with decent athleticism but gets by primarily on his toughness and tenacity. He started 34 straight games for the Irish at left guard until injuring his knee in early November. Watt then reinjured it against Stanford and missed their bowl game and the Senior Bowl.
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He’s too limited and stiff to be of significant interest to the Packers, most likely. NFL Combine: As with many things in life, timing is everything and Watt was cursed by being hurt right at he end of his college career. He still could not run or jump at the Combine, but posted some decent numbers. His 32 ¾” arms are solid for an interior guy, and he posted 29 bench reps in Indy. The medical reports on his right knee—both PCL and MCL—are critical, as will be the re-check just before the Draft.
Richburg #11 Weston Colorado State, Sr. 6’ 3”- 298 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.10 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 33 3/8”
In a nutshell: For a team that likes hardworking, over-achieving interior offensive linemen like the Packers seem to, Richburg is interesting. Started four years and 50 games for the Rams. He’s played guard and tackle as well as center. Has to win with savvy, technique and effort rather than size and athleticism. Not a Top 100 athlete or a sure thing but could remind Packers fans of a guy named Scott Wells. All-Star game: Richburg displayed what was expected from him at the Senior Bowl. He has a maxed-out frame and will never weigh much more than his current 300 lbs. Richburg is an average athlete who had to fight every rep to block his man but did so willingly. He was overpowered by the bigger three-technique sized defensive tackles. Looks like he will have trouble against teams with a big nose tackles.
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Interior Linemen Johnson #12 Wesley Vanderbilit, Sr. 6’ 5”- 297 lbs.
#19 Cyril Richardson, Baylor
#15 Ryan Groy, Wisconsin
Months ago, Richardson was touted as a top prospect, but he got exposed at the Senior Bowl with his stiffness and tendency to play too upright. Certainly not of much interest for the standard Packers offensive line profile.
In a nutshell: A fine tackle in the SEC, on a winning team, Johnson is light in the pants but has gained weight in the past few months. He was moved to guard at the Senior Bowl and played well. Also got some looks at center at the Combine. Yet another guy who may be seen as a five-positon backup as a pro. All-Star game: Johnson was originally listed in the tackle group in Mobile but was beaten like a drum in passrush drills on the outside. He began getting reps inside by Tuesday’s practice and acquitted himself well. He played primarily guard in the actual game and was solid. He uses his 33inch arms and 10-inch hands effectively.
#13 Tyler Larsen, Utah State A tough guy who is functionally strong and plays hard. However, Larsen is not terribly athletic and has limited range. Played in 51 straight games to finish out his college career. May never earn a starting job in the NFL, but if he gets in because of injury, he might be hard to take off the field.
#14 Jon Halapio, Florida Tough as nails and a naturally strong player, Halpio could develop for a team that likes to run between the tackles. Started 43 games for the Gators despite a pectoral injury as a senior. Voted as a team captain last season.
“tough as nails”
Groy is trying to demonstrate that he’s more athletic than being given credit for. He made decent progress on that front at the Shrine Game and Combine. Could be decent as a backup at all five offensive line slots. His numbers at the Combine were solid across the board. His versatility could get him drafted by Round 5.
Baylor Athletic Department
40 yard dash: 5.11 seconds Bench: 26 Arms: 33 1/8”
#16 Bryan Stork, Florida State Another tough, try-hard guy that wins with determination but is not a great athlete. Stork also might be a bit pumped up and wound too tightly. But the Packers have had a few other guys like him at the center slot in recent years. Won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in 2013.
#20 Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee State A giant of a small school product that is certainly a project. But he flashes the athleticism that says he can play at the next level. Held his own at the Senior Bowl. Could grow into a blocking monster in a few years.
#21 Zach Fulton, Tennessee #22 Brandon Linder, Miami
#17 Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
#23 James Stone, Tennessee
Ikard played guard at the Senior Bowl but was eaten alive and moved back to center. Seeming lack of versatility might limit him as a pro.
#24 Spencer Long, Nebraska
#18 John Urschel, Penn State A very smart young man who professed that academics can wait. He wants to play pro football. More athletic than you might guess at first glance. Should develop as a strong locker room presence over time.
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#25 Anthony Steen, Alabama #26 Andrew Norwell, Ohio State #27 Corey Linsley, Ohio State #28 Brian Clarke, Bloomsburg #29 Karim Barton, Morgan State #30 Blake Treadwell, Michigan State CheeseheadTV.com
3-4 Defensive Line Nix #1 Louis Notre Dame, Sr. 6’ 2”- 331 lbs.
In a nutshell: A huge inside presence whose biggest issue is a tendency to get heavy/fat. Watching game tape, Nix’s get-off at the snap of the ball is often explosive. He is also naturally strong and can bury an undersized center. If Nix gets initial push, he can hold the line and disrupt the center of the pocket. Will eat up two blockers most of the time and still hold the line-ofscrimmage. Needs to develop a stronger initial hand punch. If an offensive lineman gets their hands into his chest initially, he can be neutralized. Nix does hustle but isn’t going to do much outside of a short area. In a lot of ways he is reminiscent of B.J. Raji with his girth and style of play.
DL
“huge inside presence” NFL Combine: Nix had a solid showing at the Combine, which is not where a big body like him is likely to shine. Coming in at 331 lbs. was a plus for him. Word is that be had ballooned to over 350 at times in his Irish career. Training and conditioning will be a big deal for him as a pro to stay in effective playing shape.
Notre Dame Athletic Department
40 yard dash: 5.42 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 33”
“Pigskin” Paul Guillemette
His 40-time of 5.42, though secondslowest among defensive linemen is acceptable, but his 1.87 split is a bit more encouraging. His 33-inch arms are more than functional and 9 7/8” hands are also prototype. 2013 stats: 27 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 PBU
Tuitt #2 Stephon Notre Dame, Jr. 6’ 5”- 304 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 31 Arms: 34 3/4”
Notre Dame Athletic Department
In a nutshell: Tuitt looks to be a prototype five-technique defensive end prospect. His numbers were down a bit last season, but he was playing at less than full strength the first half of the season. His length and strength are in the elite category. The Notre Dame 3-4 scheme really suited Tuitt’s athletic skills. He has 13 siblings to help supportwhich is one of the reasons for leaving school with eligibility left. Missed five games with knee injury. Has his degree.
He’s a player that must be accounted for by the offense and provides very solid pass-rush and penetration skill for a 3-4 scheme. For his college career, Tuitt ranks tied for third all-time in
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sacks with 21.5 at Notre Dame. Needs to work on his handwork to keep blockers away from his body. Is a clear first-rounder. NFL Combine: Tuitt did not participate fully in Indianapolis, thus putting serious pressure on himself to do a lot at the Notre Dame pro day, but his size measurements were elite. His arms were 34 3/4” long and his hands measured 10 inches. He did, however, participate in the bench press and did 31 reps, which is very good with arms that long. 2013 stats: 49 tackles, 9 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 PBU
Hageman #3 Ra’Shede Minnesota, Sr. 6’ 6”- 310 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.02 seconds Bench: 32 Arms: 34 1/4”
In a nutshell: Hageman may best be suited as a 4-3 defensive tackle, but he is too big and athletic to ignore as a five-technique. As it is, Hageman is a very productive college player who still may have a huge upside. The biggest knock on him is his motor, but that may be over blown. He, too, is a bit longer than one might like for a 3-4 defensive end, but he has the strength to hold
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3-4 Defensive Line the edge and athleticism to pursue the ball. 4-3 teams may covet this man too much for him to drop to the value level a 3-4 scheme would justify. Hageman is yet another player who could serve the Packers well when Capers deploys his two-man defensive line formations.
Plays low with excellent power and gets leverage on most blockers. If Easley lasts until the Packers pick in Round 2, he could tempt them greatly. College career: Unfortunately, missing most of the 2013 season really diminishes some of the enthusiasm in the scouting community about Easley’s value. A key for his draft status could hinge on him somehow being able to run a good 40 time before the draft rolls around.
NFL Combine: As one would expect, Hageman exploded from Day 1 in Indy. You can see his tantalizing size above, but the rest of his measurements are even more impressive. His 34 ¼” arms and 10 ¼” hands are elite. Likewise, his 32 reps on the bench press with that arm length is also above average. Most did not expect a 35 ½” vertical jump from him. He is almost as much of a physical beast as Jadeveon Clowney except for that 40 time.
2013 stats: 5 tackles, 2 TFLs
Ealy #5 Kony Missouri, Jr. 6’ 4”- 273 lbs.
40 yard dash: 4.92 seconds Bench: 22 Arms: 34 1/4”
2013 stats: 38 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 sacks, 8 PBU, 2 blocked kicks More on Ra’Shede Hageman appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
In a nutshell: Ealy is a very athletic young man who can rush the passer. He got double-teamed a lot last year, and Michael Sam picked up the slack. Would likely need to add another 10plus lbs. to be effective in Packers defensive scheme.
Easley #4 Dominique Florida, Sr. 6’ 2”- 288 lbs.
In a nutshell: Easley was considered an elite prospect heading into the 2013 college season. He tore an ACL in practice after just three games. His medical progress check at Combine showed rehab was progressing well. When healthy, Easley is one of the most explosive players off the snap that some scouts have ever seen. Not ideal size for a 3-4 scheme, but you find spots to play a penetrator like this guy. Could provide a surprise source of pocket pressure for the Green Bay defense. A one-gap specialist who also uses his hands well to shed blockers.
Being an underclassman, one might assume he may still grow in height and strength. The most-impressive number for Ealy may have been his exceedingly fast 6.83-second three-cone drill. 2013 stats: 42 tackles, 14 TFL, 8 sacks, 3 FF, 1 INT, 6 PBU
Coleman #6 DeAndre California, Sr. 6’ 5”- 314 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 24 Arms: 34 3/8”
In a nutshell: Coleman is a very large, athletic player who may project best to a three-technique slot, but his size and athleticism make him the kind of versatile player the Packers like. He could also be a nice fit in a two-man defensive line set. Rated as very talented but with a questionable motor. Even with his long (34 3/8”) arms, he was able to post 24 reps in the bench press at the Combine. Looked like he was going through the motions as a senior, but that entire team was in chaos after the firing of Jeff Tedford.
Missouri Athletic Department
40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 26 Arms: 32 7/8”
NFL Combine: Presented very well in Indy. His 40 time is okay, but not elite for a 4-3 defensive end. Teams love those 34 ¼” arms and 9 ½” hands. His 26 bench press reps were solid for his body build.
His game might be described as very similar to Datone Jones coming out last year. The concern in a 3-4 scheme would be whether he can hold up against running game to his side of the field.
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All-Star game: Coleman rose to the occasion during Senior Bowl week, demonstrating he can compete with the best. He showed those athletic flashes during practices that drew the attention of scouts. Did seem to lack explosion much of the time. Again showed a tendency to play too high, thus allowing blockers to get their hands into his chest.
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3-4 Defensive Line How he did in the team interviews in Mobile will go a long way. 2013 stats: 39 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU
Jernigan #7 Timmy Florida State, Jr. 6’ 2”- 299 lbs. 40 yard dash:5.06 seconds Bench: 27 Arms: 31 5/8”
In a nutshell: Jernigan was a very active player for the Seminoles that possesses an enticing combination of strength and quickness to the ball. He’s a Warren Sapp type penetrator who was the heart of the FSU defense. He might be able to swing outside in a base 3-4 formation and could be a dynamic force in a two-man defensive line. That versatility could appeal to the Pack ala Jerel Worthy. NFL Combine: Jernigan had a good but not great Combine. His 27 bench press reps were solid for his size. His 31 5/8” arms could be a bit too short and problematic for the three-technique, while his 27 bench press reps were a solid number, though not elite. 2013 stats: 63 tackles, 33 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Martin #8 Kareem North Carolina, Sr. 6’ 6”- 272 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A Bench: 27 Arms: 35”
In a nutshell: Martin is a very athletic, long defensive end who works hard all the time and is more productive than many people realize. He’s a bit lean for the Packers’ 3-4 scheme, but he might
be able to add 10 lbs. to his frame without losing too much quickness. He’s probably a bit too long-legged to stand up at outside linebacker, but he’s able to wear down blockers with his motor. His 40 time at the Combine was impressive, but even more importantly his 10-yard split of 1.53 seconds was the best in the defensive line group. All-Star game: Martin showed exactly what everyone thought he would. He displayed high energy and used those long arms (35 inches) to great advantage. Made a lot of plays in blocking drills by using those arms to throw blockers away from him. Was his usual, effective self in the actual game with four tackles and 1.5 TFL. Out-produced some bigger name players. 2013 stats: 82 tackles, 21.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 3 FF, 3 PBU
He uses his hands well and showed a strong punch. When game day rolled around, he was contained and pretty much just took up space. 2013 stats: 56 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 3 sacks
Donald #10 Aaron Florida State, Jr. 6’ 2”- 299 lbs. 40 yard dash:5.26 seconds Bench: 27 Arms: 31 5/8”
In a nutshell: Donald isn’t ranked higher only because of his size being a poor fit in the Packers defensive scheme, but his on-field performance indicates a strong, quick guy in the mold of Mike Daniels. He’d be a fan favorite in Green Bay if they played some 4-3.
Jones #9 DaQuan Penn State, Sr. 6’ 4”- 322 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.35 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 33 1/2”
In a nutshell: Jones is another wide body that is not a great athlete but can play football. He does show flashes of play-making ability. Jones is not a true nose tackle, but his burst and strength should play well as a three-technique. His Combine 40 time was disappointing and may contribute to him dropping into the Rounds 3 to 4 range, likely to a team running a 4-3 scheme. His senior year was his best, so the word “upside” might be applicable here. All-Star game: Jones showed well in defensive line drill work. He can be explosive at the snap of the ball, but if his first move does not get him past the blocker, he’s often finished for that rep/play.
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NFL Combine: Donald really cemented his status as a first-round guy despite not having ideal size. His 4.68 40 time could have gotten him into the middle of the linebacker group, and his 32 5/8” arms are quite long for a guy his height. Furthermore, his 35 reps give good indication of his power. Even his 32-inch vertical was impressive for his size and build. 2013 stats: 59 tackles, 28.5 TFL, 11 sacks, 4 FF, 3 PBU, 1 blocked kick
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3-4 Defensive Line NFL Combine: Bromley running close to a sub-five second 40 is encouraging for a guy who’s gained about 10 lbs. since the end of the college season.
Ellis #11 Justin Louisiana Tech, Sr. 6’ 1”- 334 lbs. 40 yard dash:5.29 seconds Bench: 25 Arms: 33”
In a nutshell: Ellis, nicknamed “Jelly,” has jumped up the prospect charts since the end of the college season. He looks to be ideally suited for the nose spot. While he’s not going to cover a whole lot of ground, he will hold the point of attack and occupy two blockers most of he time.
#15 Beau Allen, Wisconsin
He had a vertical jump of 33 ½” at his new weight and also managed 26 reps in the bench press. His long arms (33 ½”) serve him well in keeping blockers off his body. Frankly, he looks like a stronger, more motivated version of Datone Jones.
Allen fits the mold as an inside DL in any defensive scheme in the NFL. He has great size, good strength and plays hard all the time. He played in all 54 games he was eligible for as a Badger. Allen is an articulate young man with a positive attitude and a love for the game. Not an elite athlete but has size and work ethic that is hard to find.
2013 stats: 41 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks, 3 FF
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#13 Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina
#16 Zach Moore, Concordia (MN)
appears
at
All-Star game: Ellis played in both the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. He weighed a whopping 351 lbs. at the Shrine venue and has been dropping some of that “jelly roll” ever since. Improved his overall play week to week. 2013 stats: 48 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Bromley #12 Jay Syracuse, Sr. 6’ 3”- 306 lbs.
40 yard dash:5.06 seconds Bench: 26 Arms: 33 1/2”
In a nutshell: Bromley is a hard working, athletic defensive lineman who played in 4-3 scheme on the inside in college. He’s gained weight and looks like the kind of versatile player the Packers covet. His primary slot in a 3-4 scheme would be as the five-technique end but could also be a good fit in the Capers’ two-man front.
South Carolina Athletics
This big guy is now getting attention as a legit NFL prospect. Expect him to be right on the cusp of the Top 100 selections.
Click to listen to interview.
Quarles is not an elite athlete but has been productive for Gamecocks. His 33-plus inch arms speak well for him being able to play five-technique in a 3-4 scheme. He’s shown ability to penetrate and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. While Clowney freelanced and moved around, Quarles was expected to hold his spot inside. His 2013 sack and TFL numbers are hard to ignore from an inside DL position.
#14 Ego Ferguson, LSU Though better suited for a 4-3 scheme, this JUCO transfer might be able to help the Packers’ 3-4 DL. While not a true nose, he could certainly help them in their two-man formations.
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Mark down this athletic small school star as a sleeper for 2014. Moore may have enough speed and quickness to allow him to gain weight and keep his hand down. If not, he might translate to outside linebacker as Andy Mulumba did last year.
#17 Ed Stinson, Alabama #18 Jeoffrey Pagan, Alabama #19 Will Sutton, Arizona State #20 Shamar Stephen, UConn #21 Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas State #22 Anthony Johnson, LSU #23 Daniel McCullers, Tennessee #24 Kerry Hyder, Texas Tech #25 Zach Kerr, Delaware CheeseheadTV.com
Outside Linebackers
OLB
#1 Anthony Barr
UCLA, Sr. 6’ 5”- 255 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.66 seconds
In a nutshell: There is little doubt that Barr is the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker in this draft. He has length, strength and speed aplenty and is still just learning the position. Barr’s most outstanding quality is his ability to change directions and accelerate into another gear when he needs it the most. As a pass rusher, Barr should be a perennial 10-plus sack producer in the NFL. He closes on the quarterback as well as anyone in the last few years. When he gets on an NFL roster and his position coach teaches him some actual pass rushing techniques beyond just the pure speed rush he possesses, the sky’s the limit. Against the run, Barr is prone to misreading plays and falling for fakes, a product of his inexperience. Luckily for him, he has the lateral agility to compensate and get back to the ball carrier.
“10-plus sack producer” He gets the top spot here for what he could become in two to three years. He’s a future All-Pro. College career: A former high school All-American as a running back, Barr was named UCLA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010. He floundered a bit as a sophomore, sitting behind some talented running backs like current Packer Johnathan Franklin. When Jim Mora took over the following year, Barr and Mora had a long talk about his future with the outcome being a position switch to linebacker. Mora felt Barr had the perfect body type and natural ability to play ROLB in the 3-4 defense he was installing at UCLA. Barr was injured during spring practice but spent countless hours studying film and when the fall rolled around, he quickly won a starting job. Barr proved to be a quick study as he ended up leading the Pac-12 with 13 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss in his first season at linebacker. Still learning the position, Barr continued to terrorize opponents during his senior season despite teams specifically scheming against him. 2013 stats: 66 tackles, 20 TFL, 10 sacks, 6 FF, 1 PBU
#2 Khalil Mack
Buffalo, Sr. 6’ 3”- 251 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.65 seconds
In a nutshell: Mack is not the No.1 most explosive or most athletic linebacker in this draft, but he’s close to the top in almost every category, enough to call him the best “all-around” outside linebacker prospect. Mack has played in various spots along the Bulls’ front seven, excelling in the hybrid LB/DE role that translates well to 3-4 OLB in the NFL. Buffalo defensive coordinator Jim Tepper, who has coached over 20 college linebackers that played in the NFL, called Mack one of the “most complete” he has seen. Mack is a terror on the edge, can play in space and has a non-stop motor. He locates the ball quickly and actively pursues the ball wherever it is. His outstanding first step means he spends a lot of time in the opponent’s backfield, as his TFL numbers will attest to. Mack is a “Mr. Versatility,” but with outstanding talent to boot. A sure-fire Top 15 pick. Vs. ranked opponent: The one big question mark about Mack has been the level of competition he faced playing in the MAC. This last year, however, Buffalo opened their season in front of 104.000 fans at No. 2 Ohio State, so Mack had an opportunity to show if he belonged. Suffice to say, Mack passed the test. His stat line for the day was nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown. Mack was a thorn in the side of the massive Ohio State offensive line all night, disrupting the pocket and making things difficult for quarterback Braxton Miller.
Barr pursues from the backside in a manner reminiscent of Clay Matthews and will run down screen plays from behind. Not that experienced in pass coverage, but that’s not what you do with a guy like Barr anyway.
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Al Bracco
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Outside Linebackers
You can be sure a throng of scouts were calling Buffalo’s athletic department that day for more tape on Mack. 2013 stats: 100 tackles, 19 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 5 FF, 3 INT, 2 TDs, 7 PBU
#3 Ryan Shazier
Ohio State, Jr. 6’ 1”- 237 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Shazier is an unconventional choice for a 3-4 outside linebacker, but with a little creative thinking, he could be a great fit for Green Bay. This offseason, the Packers coaches have openly bemoaned the lack of “impact” players on their defense. The undersized Shazier would help fix that problem real fast. One of the most productive players in the nation, Shazier was a tackling machine for the Buckeyes. He plays fast, shoots gaps and avoids blockers. Shazier reads the play quickly, shows great instincts to the ball and is a hard hitter at the point of impact. He plays in the opponents’ backfield often, as his 40 tackles for a loss in the last two years demonstrates. The Packers have their pass-rushing OLB in Matthews. What they need on the other side is what they haven’t yet found, an impactful player that will make plays as other teams focus on Matthews. It certainly wouldn’t
hurt to have a guy like Shazier, who is capable of chasing down the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson, two QBs the Packers can expect to have to play against if they have Super Bowl aspirations. NFL Combine/pro day: Shazier was nursing a slight hamstring tweak coming into the Combine, so he did not participate in the 40-yard dash or the position drills, however, that doesn’t mean he didn’t impress the scouts and coaches in attendance. Shazier had the best vertical jump of any player at the Combine—an amazing 42-inch leap. He also recorded the best broad jump among the linebackers at 10’ 10” and fifth-best in the three-cone drill with at 6.91 seconds.
South Carolina Athletics
The play that really opened up eyes, however, was his pick-six. On an attempted bubble screen to speedy running back Dontre Wilson, Mack deftly avoided a cut block and stepped in front of Wilson to make the grab. He then amazingly outran Wilson 47 yards to the end zone.
At Ohio State’s pro day, a healthy Shazier ran the 40 in an unofficial time of 4.36. Yes, that’s unofficial, but even it’s off by a bit and it was, say, 4.46— that’s still in cornerback and wide receiver territory. Unfortunately, that was the end of his workout as he reaggravated his hamstring at the end of that run. 2013 stats: 144 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 FF, 4 PBU
#4 Jadeveon Clowney
College career: Clowney exploded upon the scene his second season at South Carolina with 13 sacks, 23 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. He was down right unblockable. So the big concern with Clowney is, why the precipitous drop in numbers this last season? Surely opponents were scheming to him more, but could he also have been skating through, just trying to avoid injury and not hurt his draft stock? 2013 stats: 40 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FF, 4 PBU
#5 Trent Murphy
Stanford, Sr. 6’ 5”- 250 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.86 seconds
South Carolina, Jr. 6’ 5”- 266 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.53 seconds
In a nutshell: What is Clowney doing this low, you ask? First, the likelihood of a 3-4 team drafting Clowney is pretty slim. As it was with Aldon Smith, the feeling here is that Clowney will be a great player if kept as a 4-3 defensive end. That’s assuming, of course, he figures out the work ethic required for greatness, no matter what your physical talents are.
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In a nutshell: Murphy is a high-motor, instinctual player who has had great success rushing the passer from a hybrid DE/OLB position. He’s far from being a one-trick pony, however. He is stout against the run, can hold the edge and is effective in coverage. Uses his length well (6’5”, 35inch vertical, 80 3/8” wingspan), knocks down a lot of passes and had a pick-six in each of his last two seasons.
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Outside Linebackers Needs to hit the weight room hard, but in two years he could be a Ryan Kerrigan type of player.
#7
Jeremiah Attoachu
Georgia Tech, Sr. 6’3” - 252 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
NFL Combine: Murphy earned a few groans at the Combine with his not-sospeedy 4.86 time in the 40, but his 10yard split was a very respectable 1.63. He continued to show his short-area quickness with a time of 6.78 seconds in the three-cone drill, the second-best time of all the linebackers. 2013 stats: 62 tackles, 23.5 TFL 15 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT, 1 TD, 6 PBU
#6 Kyle Van Noy
BYU, Jr. 6’ 3”- 243 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.71 seconds
In a nutshell: Attoachu is one of those guys that is still raw and learning the game but has a lot of upside. He’s a high-character guy who shows smarts and leadership on and off the field. Attoachu has an explosive first step and is primarily a speed rusher (much like Dee Ford) but is a better tackler and more likely to be able to handle pass coverage duties. He would be a great pick for the Packers. Rivalry game: Attoachu saved his best performance for a late-season game against in-state rival Georgia Bulldogs. In what turned out to be a wild overtime loss for the Yellow Jackets, Attaoachu recorded four sacks and eight tackles on his way to a “Player of the Game” performance. 2013 stats: 45 tackles, 16 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 PBU In a nutshell: Van Noy is not flashy and not great at any one thing, but he’s effective in all phases of linebacker play. He’s a “glider” on the field, moving laterally with ease and fluidity. He also closes quickly on the QB, is very effective in pass coverage and is an instinctive run defender. On the negative side, he can get overpowered at times. Needs to get stronger.
“glider on the field”
College career: Van Noy could have come out as a probable first rounder after a fantastic junior season with 13 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss. Instead, he decided to come back for his senior season for “unfinished business,” but struggled with some injuries that cut into his numbers. He should still be a Top-80 draftee. 2013 stats: 67 tackles, 17 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 INT, 1 INT, 7 PBU
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#8 Dee Ford
Auburn, Sr. 6’ 2”- 252 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Not particularly on anyone’s radar last year, 2013 has seen Ford rising up the charts “with a bullet.” An undersized DE pass rusher who depends on his blazing first steps to get to the quarterback, Ford’s low
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Outside Linebackers tackle numbers tell the story of this one dimensional player. He figures to be a pure rush OLB in the pros, at least for his first few years. This drops him in the rankings, particularly with how much the Packers value versatility. Senior Bowl: Despite being the king of the “tweeners,” nobody made more money at the Senior Bowl than Dee Ford. After wowing scouts all week with his speed rush in practices, he went out and did it in the game as well. Ford was a terror in the first half, recording, a blocked pass and numerous QB hurries. He was so impressive, he was named the game’s MVP. 2013 stats: 29 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 PBU
#9 Chris Smith
Arkansas, Jr. 6’ 1”- 266 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.71 seconds
In a nutshell: Smith has the versatility the Packers love in their players. He can do a little bit of everything by showing good acceleration and change of direction skills. Would be a perfect backup and special teams ace in Green Bay. College career: Smith saw the field as a true freshman and started several games as a sophomore. He earned a starting job as a junior and earned honorable mention All-SEC honors with a 52 tackle, 9.5 sack season. His productivity dropped a bit in his senior year but still was third in the SEC in sacks and was named second team all-conference. 2013 stats: 36 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 PBU
#10 Marcus Smith
Louisville, JSr. 6’ 3”- 251 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.68 seconds
In a nutshell: Smith does not have the quick first step or speed-rushing capabilities of a Ford or Attoachu but was still a very productive player for the Cardinals. He played in multiple positions and blitzed from all over the field, helping his pass-rushing success. Smith can get swallowed up at times against the run and has limited experience in pass coverage. All-Star game: As if to solidify his status as a true “tweener,” Smith was moved during the week of the Senior Bowl from defensive end to outside linebacker. The coaches wanted to see how he played in space and in pass coverage. Smith was a pleasant surprise. Teams looking at Smith as a 3-4 OLB conversion project can feel better. 2013 stats: 42 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 14.5 sacks, 4 FF, 3 PBU, 1 blocked kick
#11 Demarcus Lawrence Boise State, Jr. 6’ 3”- 251 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.80 seconds
In a nutshell: Lawrence has his moments as a pass rusher and plays his best in open space, a good sign for his conversion to 3-4 outside linebacker. However, his tape shows him to be a downright liability against the run as he does not show the ability to disengage from blocks. He has minimal experience in coverage, but looked very comfortable in the linebacker field drills at the combine.
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College career: Lawrence enters the draft after only two seasons on the field for the Broncos, after one year at Butler Community College. He was an immediate starter for the Broncos in 2012, recording 8.5 sacks in 11 games. A two-time first-team AllMountain West Conference selection, Lawrence was suspended three times for violating team rules. 2013 stats: 72 tackles, 20.5 TFL 10.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 PBU, 2 blocked kicks
#12 Prince Shembo
Notre Dame, Sr. 6’ 1”- 253 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.71 seconds
In a nutshell: Shembo is hard-working and versatile player who will make a decent backup in the NFL. Any description of Shembo has to start with one word—toughness. He’s not a dynamic pass rusher, but he does get near the QB as his 17 hurries in 2013 attest. If you need a physical ‘backer to hold the edge, Shembo fits the bill. College career: In the first year of Brian Kelly’s regime, Shembo saw action in every game as a true freshman, then started 38 straight games after taking over in Game 5 of his sophomore season. He’s been hailed for his consistency over the last two years and was named Notre Dame’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. 2013 stats: 48 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 1 FF
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Outside Linebackers #13 Carl Bradford, Arizona State
#19 Scott Crichton, Oregon State
Bradford was a two-year starter for the Sun Devils, making the most of his average skills with all-out hustle. Your classic overachieving type, Bradford will make his mark as a special teams standout at first.
Crichton is big and very strong but may not be athletic enough for the 3-4 outside linebacker spot. An overachiever type, Crichton was a productive player but not the type the Packers are looking for.
#14 Adrian Hubbard, Alabama
#20 James Gayle, Virginia Tech
Tall, lanky with a huge wingspan, Hubbard plays with proper pad level and strong hands. Not an explosive pass rusher. Tends to bull rush a lot (reminiscent of Nick Perry in that regard). Moves well in space.
A three-year starter for the Hokies that has the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker body type, but not the performance to match. Gayle struggles in space, lateral movement is limited and is a bit predictable as a pass rusher.
#15 Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
#21 Michael Sam, Missouri
#16 Trevor Reilly, Utah Reilly was a very productive player in 2013. He plays the game with passion and is all over the field. He has been used in various positions on defense and translates well to the 3-4 outside linebacker spot.
Missouri Athletic Department
The 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Ted Hendricks Award winner may not have what it takes to play 4-3 DE in the pros, so a 3-4 OLB conversion is likely. He’s a high-energy player but takes a few steps to get rolling.
#17 Christian Kirksey, Iowa
#22 Tyler Starr, South Dakota
Kirksey is an undersized and very athletic player who did his best work in pass coverage. Not strong enough to get involved in the trenches, Kirsksey will need to add some bulk and be a special teams ace to stick around.
#23 Ronald Powell, FL
#18 Howard Jones, Shepard Deep sleeper. Jones was super impressive at the Combine and not just for being a top performer in four categories but for how fluid he looked in the field drills. Extremely raw but may be a very worthwhile project.
#24 Morgan Breslin, USC #25 Ethan Westbrooks, West Texas A&M #26 Devon Kennard, USC #27 Larry Webster, Bloomsburg #28 Aaron Lynch, South Florida #29 Kasim Edebali, Boston College #30 Derrell Johnson, East Carolina
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Inside Linebackers Alabama, Sr. 6’ 2”- 234 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: The 2013 Butkus Award winner and two-time All-American is the best inside linebacker in the class and probably by a sizable margin. Mosley has everything you want at the position, save for physically imposing size. Will fit right in on the inside of a 3-4 defense, which he primarily played while at Alabama. Flows to the football with natural athleticism, lateral agility and linebacking instincts. Playing sideline-to-sideline and all three downs won’t be a problem. Can operate in space; he stayed on the field in Alabama’s nickel and dime defenses. Secure and often times violent tackler, who drives his body weight through ball carriers. Didn’t really develop into a big-time blitzer in college but had 6.5 career sacks.
“best inside linebacker” Postseason experience: Mosley played in four career bowl games, including back-to-back national title games and the 2013 Sugar Bowl. Broke up two passes as a freshman during Alabama’s 49-7 win over Michigan State in the 2010 Capital One Bowl.
David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
ILB
#1 C.J. Mosley
Zach Kruse
Made a tackle for loss and picked off a Jordan Jefferson pass in the 2011 title game win over LSU, which ended in a 21-0 shutout. The Tigers had just 92 total yards. Was named Defensive MVP of the 2012 title game when he recorded eight tackles, helping hold Notre Dame to just 32 rushing yards. Ended his collegiate career on a sour note, notching just six tackles in a 45-31 loss to Oklahoma. Brings vast experience playing against the very best in college football. 2013 stats: 108 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 FF, 5 PBU
Alabama Athletic Department
#2 Chris Borland
Wisconsin, Sr. 5’ 11”- 248 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.83 seconds
Frequently played in the backfield against the run. By all accounts, a lowkey, low-hassle personality who leads by example. Can direct an entire defense. Enters the NFL somewhat beat up physically, and there may be lingering worries about his ability to avoid injury
In a nutshell: Obvious height and arm length deficiencies will impact Borland’s stock, as many teams still stick strong to certain minimums at positions. But those teams will be the same ones that miss out on the draft’s most instinctive player at the position.
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Watch him become the Russell Wilson of inside linebackers. Few in the college game diagnose or react faster, which shows in his 50 career tackles for losses. Pop in any tape of his over the last five years in Madison, and you’ll see a linebacker always around the football, either as a run-stuffer or pass-rusher. Surprisingly athletic for his stumpy frame. His 17 sacks, three picks and 14 forced fumbles prove his play-making ability. Straight-line speed might be an issue if asked to cover better athletes at the next level. Has dealt with injury issues in the past. Think a subtle combination of Chris Spielman and Sam Mills. NFL Combine: Those expecting Borland to blow the doors off the Combine were mistaking him as a player. He ran a pedestrian 40-yard dash and finished in the lower five of linebackers in the vertical jump (31 inches) and broad jump (114 inches). He did put up 27 reps on the bench press, fifth best at his position. The five years of college film should define Borland, not his mostly unimpressive workout in Indianapolis. 2013 stats: 111 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 FF, 2 PBU More on Chris Borland appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
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Inside Linebackers #3 Christian Jones
Florida St., Jr. 6’ 3”- 240 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.74 seconds
In a nutshell: Jones has exactly the size and athleticism combination you now see coveted in the game’s inside linebackers today. Florida State used him all over the defensive formation, including as a hand-on-the-ground pass-rusher and at all three linebacker positions. Experience on the outside provides blitzing potential from the inside of the 3-4, and the versatility to move him around in subpackages. Speed and length gives him the necessary physical traits to stay on the field for all three downs. Doesn’t always play the game fast or with physicality, and his height could be a problem.
#4
Shayne Skov
But he always shows up on tape around the football, using sideline-to-sideline ability to chase down ballcarriers. Started three years for an eventual national champion and proved to be durable. A hybrid player who fits perfectly into the modern game. All-Star game: Coaches at the Senior Bowl asked to see a lot of Jones and his versatile skill set. He delivered as requested, showing his ability to blitz off the edge, attack against the run and drop into coverage against tight ends and running backs.
He’s a fluid, pure athlete with quicktwitch tendencies. His performance at the Senior Bowl likely confirmed for teams that he’ll be an asset, regardless of scheme. Versatility is all the rage in today’s game. 2013 stats: 56 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT
Jones was most impressive and natural when asked to rush the quarterback, as he gave a number of the top tackles in Mobile big problems throughout the week. His hand strength and flexibility off the edge will translate to any blitzing role from the inside. Teams such as the Packers will value his ability to drop his hips and cover in space.
Stanford, Sr. 6’2” - 245 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: An instinctive, physical linebacker who is always around the football, Skov is one of the best tacklers in the class. Not an elite athlete, especially after a torn ACL cost him most of the 2011 season. Fearless, with a non-stop motor and an obvious passion for the game. Bowl game: Dominant in both the Pac12 title game (team-high nine tackles) and Rose Bowl. Michigan State couldn’t handle him in Pasadena, where Skov had nine tackles, including three for losses, a sack and a forced fumble. A clutch player who seems to always rise to the occasion. 2013 stats: 109 tackles, 13 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3 FF, 4 PBU
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Inside Linebackers #5 Telvin Smith
Florida St., Sr. 6’ 3”- 218 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.52 seconds
In a nutshell: Long but underdeveloped, with the body of a strong safety but a game that screams linebacker. Smith will need to add serious weight to play inside in a 3-4 defense. Plays the game at a different speed, using instincts and athleticism to get to the football and make plays. Isn’t afraid of contact despite a wiry frame. Tough and energetic, with the kind of football attitude that will rub off on others. Only a one-year starter at Florida State. NFL Combine: Smith’s athleticism was on full display in Indianapolis, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds (second best among linebackers) and posted a vertical leap of 31.5 inches. Clearly a fluid, explosive athlete. His running ability will be a big asset covering tight ends and running backs at the next level. Has a high ceiling if he can add weight and not lose his movement skills. 2013 stats: 90 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INTs, 2 TDs, 4 PBU
#6 Yawin Smallwood
Connecticut, Jr. 6’ 2”- 246 lbs. 40 yard dash: 5.01 seconds
In a nutshell: Smallwood’s long frame could add even more weight, which will make him even more productive at the next level from the inside spot. Size wasn’t a problem in college,
where he could play downhill without much blocking shedding. Possesses the length, toughness and blitzing ability to be a two-down, run-stuffing inside linebacker. Pro ready. NFL Combine: Disappointed in Indianapolis by running the 40-yard dash in 5.01 seconds and posting just 18 reps on the bench press. Only one linebacker ran slower, and the 18 reps were fourth worst at his position. A hamstring tweak could be mostly to blame for the slow time. He played faster and stronger on tape. 2013 stats: 118 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT, 1 TD, 9 PBU
#7 Preston Brown
Louisville, JSr. 6’ 1”- 251 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.86 seconds
In a nutshell: A big, physical mike linebacker who isn’t afraid to hit or attack a blocker head-on, Brown helped anchor a Louisville defense that allowed just 2.6 yards per rush and ranked second in points. Can blitz the quarterback (seven career sacks) and cause negative plays (26 tackles for losses, four takeaways). Bowl game: Dominated the 2012 Sugar Bowl at times, registering a game-high 13 tackles (nine solo). Florida couldn’t keep him out of the backfield. Of his 13 tackles, 1.5 came behind the line. He also broke up a pass. The Louisville defense controlled the game until garbage time. 2013 stats: 98 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 PBU
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#8 Jordan Tripp
Montana, Sr. 6’ 3”- 234 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.67 seconds
In a nutshell: Versatile, athletic, combo linebacker who can rush the passer and cover in space. Tripp needs to add weight to his long frame to hold up for three downs on the inside, but his athleticism will carry him a long ways. Four-year starter. A ball of confidence that also has experience long snapping. NFL Combine: One of the most athletic linebackers in Indianapolis. Tripp’s 20yard shuttle time was the fastest for a linebacker since A.J. Hawk in 2006. He also finished in the top 10 at his position in the 40-yard dash (4.67 seconds), three-cone drill (6.89 seconds), broad jump (10 feet) and vertical jump (37.5 inches). 2013 stats: 95 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 4 FF, 1 INT, 2 PBU
#9 Andrew Jackson
W. Kentucky, Sr. 6’ 1”- 254 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Looks like the part of a starting inside linebacker in the 3-4. Jackson is powerful yet quick-footed, with an ability to play downhill and shed blocks. Mostly a thumper who rarely needed to play in space or cover down the field. His game is very much reminiscent of Brandon Spikes. Vs. top opponent: Jackson held his own as a junior against No. 1 Alabama. Tallied a team-high seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and the Western
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Inside Linebackers Kentucky defense held the Crimson Tide to a rushing average of just 3.3 yards. Never looked overwhelmed by the nation’s top offensive line.
gets swallowed up. Will bring immediate special teams value. Bowl game: Went out with a bang in the 2013 Sun Bowl vs. Virginia Tech. Led the team with 10 tackles, and his one quarterback hit—a crushing blow to Logan Thomas—knocked the Hokies’ starter out of the game. A quarter later, he picked off Thomas’ replacement.
2013 stats: 95 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1 sacks, 2 PBU
#10 Lamin Barrow
LSU, Sr. 6’ 1”- 237 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.64 seconds
2013 stats: 91 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 FF, 2 INTs
#12 Max Bullough
In a nutshell: Barrow has all the athleticism you want in an inside linebacker, with 4.6 speed and an explosive lower body. Can play sideline-to-sideline and wasn’t overwhelmed when asked to cover in space. Rarely made impact plays for an LSU defense with NFL talent.
2013 stats: 91 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 PBU
#11 Jordan Zumwalt
UCLA, Sr. 6’ 4”- 235 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.76 seconds
In a nutshell: Zumwalt has a long frame with room to add more weight. Plays the game with maximum effort, attacking against the run and blitzing the quarterback with reckless abandon. Needs to play with a clean front or he
2013 stats: 76 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 PBU More on Max Bullough appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
#13 Avery Williamson, Kentucky Williamson has the size of a 3-4 starter inside with leadership qualities and run-stopping chops. His biggest hurdles in the NFL will come in space, where the track-fast SEC occasionally exposed him. His ceiling might be as a two-down player.
#14 DeDe Lattimore, South Florida Lattimore is a four-year starter in the AAC who finished his collegiate career as the second all-time leading tackler at USF, trailing only eight-year NFL veteran Kawika Mitchell. Also has blitzing experience. He could be a special teams demon at the next level.
Michigan State Athletic Communications
Rivalry game: Recorded a career-best 13 tackles during his fourth and final game against Florida, which ended in a 17-6 win for LSU. The Gators averaged just 2.8 yards rushing and finished with only 240 total yards. Barrow was at the ball all game, finishing with one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
Michigan St., Sr. 6’ 3”- 249 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
College experience: Three times named an All-Big Ten selection, totaling 299 tackles, 30.5 tackles for losses and eight sacks over four years. Named a Butkus Award semi-finalist as a junior and a third-team All-American as a senior. The game runs in his blood, with several family members having played or currently playing college and NFL football.
#15 Khairi Fortt, California In a nutshell: A big-time college producer who used football smarts and off-the-chart competitiveness to rack up tackles in the run-heavy Big Ten. His motor always runs hot, but his average athleticism will limit him in the NFL. Effort and intelligence can only take you so far at the next level. He refuses to talk about his suspension from the Rose Bowl.
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Ideal size and a strong effort at the Combine (4.70-second 40, 30 reps on the bench press) make Fortt an intriguing option, at least athletically. To be a starter down the road, he’ll need significant development in refining the technical parts of his game.
“motor always runs hot”
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Inside Linebackers #16 Kevin Pierre-Louis, Boston College A rangy but undersized linebacker who might have to pull off a transition to safety to make it at the next level. Pierre-Louis performed well at the Combine (4.51-second 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical, 28 reps). Best fit is in the 4-3.
#17 Jeremiah George, Iowa State George’s short stature and slow straight-line speed (4.91-second 40-yard dash at the Combine) will limit his ceiling at the next level. Like so many at this point or lower in the rankings, he has backup/special teams player written all over him.
#18 James Morris, Iowa A three-time All-Big Ten selection that will have to carve out a role on special teams in the NFL due to athletic limitations, Morris can blitz and is strong and smart against the run, but he’ll likely be a liability in space at the next level.
#19 Xavius Boyd, Western Kentucky Boyd’s sideline-to-sideline athleticism and blitzing ability (8.5 sacks in 2013) will appeal to teams, but he needs to get bigger, stronger and better in coverage to last in the NFL. Last season’s Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year could eventually become a core special teams player.
#20 Glenn Carson, Penn State Carson is a fullback convert who started 35 games for Linebacker U. However, he doesn’t have the kind of natural athletic ability to become anything more than a career backup in the NFL.
#21 Jonathan Brown, Illinois #22 Keith Smith, San Jose State #23 Devin Unga, BYU #24 Caleb Lavey, Oklahoma State #25 Greg Blair, Cincinnati #26 Chris Young, Arizona State #27Steele Divitto, Boston College #28 Stephon Robertson, James Madison #29 Dan Fox, Notre Dame #30 Mike Marry, Ole Miss
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Cornerbacks #1
Kyle Fuller
Zach Kruse
Virginia Tech, Sr. 6’0” - 190 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.49 seconds
CB “unafraid to support against the run”
In a nutshell: A long, lean corner who is experienced playing off-man and press coverage, inside against the slot and outside along the boundary. Much quicker than straight-line fast, with above average reactions and the instincts to jump throws and read route combinations.
nearly blocked several punts and routinely played gunner. Football runs in his blood, as his oldest brother Vincent Fuller played six years with the Tennessee Titans. His other older brother, Corey, finished 2013 on the practice squad
Mostly durable despite his lean frame, with 50 games and 41 starts in a major conference as evidence. Completely unafraid to support against the run, often times taking on bigger blockers on the edge and cutting down running backs in the open field.
Best Game: Fuller used the spotlight of a nationally televised contest with No. 1 Alabama to showcase his skillset. While Virginia Tech would lose by 25, Fuller all but shut down Crimson Tide receiver Amari Cooper, who many believe could be a future first-round pick. In the first quarter, he mirrored Cooper on a deep corner and made an athletic play, breaking up the pass with his right hand while avoiding contact. Later, while guarding the slot, he undercut a route and picked off A.J. McCarron. He finished with two pass breakups.
Finished his career with 23.5 tackles for losses, 34 passes defensed and four forced fumbles. He’ll bring toughness, confidence and a non-stop, always-attacking mindset to the next level. Can get high in his backpedal, but he compensates with smooth hips and feet.
of the Detroit Lions. Three-time All-ACC selection and a team captain his senior season.
His 38.5” vertical and a 10’ 8” broad jump highlights an explosive lower body. Very experienced on special teams, where he
Only played in nine games as a senior after having surgery on a sports hernia in November.
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Of his four tackles, two came supporting the run, including a pair of instances when he chopped down T.J. Yeldon, an elite college running back. 2013 stats: 24 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 FF, 2 INT,10 PBU, 1 blocked kick
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Cornerbacks #2 Justin Gilbert
Oklahoma St., Sr. 6’ 0”- 200 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.37 seconds
In a nutshell: The best size, speed and playmaking combination in this cornerback class belongs to Gilbert, who has the length to match up with the NFL’s bigger receivers, 4.37 second recovery speed and a four-year career with 12 interceptions and eight touchdowns. There are few better athletes in the entire draft. His quick feet, smooth hips and impressive short-area explosion allow him to anticipate and break on the football in a flash.
consistent. He makes too many mental mistakes for a player of his caliber. And even at his size, he doesn’t add much against the run. College experience: Gilbert’s four years in Stillwater were anchored by his sophomore and senior seasons. In 2011, Gilbert broke out by finishing second in the Big 12 with five interceptions and fifth with 15 pass-breakups. Two years later, he led the conference with seven picks, 123 interception return yards and two defensive scores. His 12 career picks still rank seventh in the conference since 2000. His kick-return skills have been ever present, as he returned at least one kick for a score during each of his four seasons. His six return touchdowns are the most in Big 12 history and one shy of the NCAA career record. Selected as a three-time All-Big 12 (twice as a returner) and 2012 Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl. In 2013, he was named a second-team All-American and Jim Thorpe Award finalist. 2013 stats: 42 tackles, 7 INTs, 2 TD, 7 PBU; 18 KOR’s, 25.2 ypa, 1 TD
Once at the ball, he uses top ball skills and a 35.5-inch vertical leap to create big plays. He returned two of his 12 career picks for scores. His other six touchdowns came off kick returns, where Gilbert can immediately provide impact in the NFL. He has the natural ability to set up blocks, find creases and explode through any space. Always a threat to score with the ball in his hands. No corner has bigger upside, but his junior year was worryingly in-
More on Justin Gilbert can be found at CheeseheadTV.com.
#3 Jason Verrett
TCU, Sr. 5’ 9”- 189 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.38 seconds
In a nutshell: Many teams will knock him down their boards because of his lack of size, which could end up being a problem in the pros in terms of durability and longevity.
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But 99 percent of the time, it’s difficult to tell Verrett is only 5’ 9” and 189 pounds. He plays like he’s three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. Scrappy, quick-twitch and simply annoying are all fitting ways to describe the way he blankets receivers. He’s a fighter who is unafraid to mirror much bigger receivers or wrap up bulkier running backs. And seemingly every single game, he finds a way to get his hands on the football. Verrett broke up 34 passes over 34 career starts, including a nation-high 22 in 2012. Picked off six passes as a sophomore, before the pass-happy Big 12 just stopped throwing at him as a junior. He held LSU’s Odell Beckham to just one catch and broke up three passes in the 2013 opener. He could be the next Antoine Winfield. NFL Combine: Verrett threw his name squarely into the first-round discussion by putting together arguably the top performance among cornerbacks at the Combine in Indianapolis. Any questions about his long speed were answered when he ran the 40yard dash in 4.38 seconds, second among cornerbacks only to Justin Gilbert’s 4.37. Those worried about his short stature found some comfort when he posted a vertical leap of 39 inches, which tied two others for third at his position. But maybe Verrett’s most impressive showcase at the Combine came during positions drills, where he displayed the increasingly rare combination of fluid hips, quick feet and confident ball skills—traits that starting cornerbacks at the next level are built from. 2013 stats: 39 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 2 INTs, 14 PBU
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Cornerbacks #4 Darqueze Dennard
Michigan St., Sr. 5’ 11”- 199 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.51 seconds
#5 Bradley Roby
Ohio State, Jr. 5’ 11”- 194 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.39 seconds
He is physical, durable, versatile and productive, with leadership potential and special teams chops. Teams that pass strictly based on size will probably regret it down the road.
In a nutshell: Dennard has the size and college film of a first-round corner. Week-in and week-out, he shut down whichever receiver was placed in front of him.
In a nutshell: Roby remains in the firstround conversation because of the elite speed and quick-twitch athleticism every general manger in the NFL craves at the position.
Best game: Joyner set the tone for Florida State’s romp over Clemson on the very first play, when he forced a fumble with a tomahawk punch on the ball. Later, he blew up Tajh Boyd off the blindside for a strip-sack.
However, he lacks elite long speed (4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash), his hips too often appear tight and the clingy, grabby nature of his game might not translate to the flag-happy NFL.
His 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine steadied his stock. Consistency is a real issue, as he doesn’t always play like his skillset suggests he should. Ohio State suspended him to start 2013 after an offseason arrest.
He created his third turnover of the first half when he broke off zone coverage and undercut a throw inside the red zone. His final stat line during Florida State’s 51-14 rout: eight tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Vs. top opponent: Facing his first true test of 2013 in Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis, Roby fell flat on his face.
2013 stats: 69 tackles, 7 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 INTs, 4 PBU
Michigan State Athletic Communications
It was ugly. He was routinely beat by the quick, vertically effective Abbrederris, who finished with 10 catches and 207 yards. An interception and three pass breakups couldn’t sugarcoat an otherwise disastrous individual performance. 2013 stats: 69 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INTs, 1 TD, 13 PBU College experience: A three-time AllBig Ten selection, including first-team selections in both 2011 and 2013, and a unanimous first-team All-American in 2013. He intercepted at least three passes in every season from 20112013, with a career-high four in 2013. Finished his career with 10 interceptions and 20 pass breakups. As a senior, he won the Jim Thorpe Award over Justin Gilbert and LaMarcus Joyner. 2013 stats: 62 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 FF, 4 INTs, 10 PBU
#6 LaMarcus Joyner
Florida State, Sr. 5’ 8”- 184 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.55 seconds
In a nutshell: Some teams will be turned off by Joyner’s obvious lack of size. That group will likely include the Packers, who have been very consistent in avoiding smaller secondary players in the draft. But there is a very good football player stuck inside Joyner’s shrunken frame.
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#7 Bashaud Breeland
Clemson, Jr. 5’ 11”- 197 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.62 seconds
In a nutshell: Breeland features a tall, lean build similar to Antonio Cromartie of the Cardinals. Clemson asked him to play a lot of man coverage, but most came in trail technique without much press at the line of scrimmage. His combination of quickness, length, physicality and mirroring ability will be attractive to a variety of NFL defenses. College experience: Breeland might have benefitted from returning to Clemson and playing out his college career. His numbers over three years and 24 starts were enough to convince him otherwise.
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Cornerbacks He intercepted six passes, broke up 20 others and forced two fumbles. His 8.5 tackles for losses led all Clemson cornerbacks during the last two years. In 2013, he was named a second-team All-ACC selection. 2013 stats: 56 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FF, 4 INTs, 10 PBU
#8 Pierre Desir
Lindenwood, Sr. 6’ 1”- 198 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.59 seconds
In a nutshell: A strong, lean corner with great arm length (33”) and the ability to take away receivers along the boundary. Desir’s ball skills and route anticipation were evident at the Division II level, but competition was mostly lacking. He didn’t test as well at the Combine as many hoped.
#9 Keith McGill
Utah, Jr. 6’ 3”- 211 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.51 seconds
In a nutshell: Every team will be trying to find long, physical cornerbacks like McGill, who is 6’ 3” with 33 ¼” arms. That’s rare length for a corner. His size and athleticism should allow him to be position-versatile, both as a press boundary corner or deep safety. He’ll enter the NFL with serious durability questions. NFL Combine: Teams will love his movement skills. At 6’ 3” and 211 pounds, McGill still ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds. He confirmed his lower body explosiveness by posting a 39” vertical leap and 129” broad jump. In terms of looking the part, McGill fits the bill. 2013 stats: 37 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 TD, 12 PBU
#10 Marcus Roberson
Florida, Jr. 6’ 0”- 191 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.61 seconds
All-Star game: The lack of top-level competition at Lindenwood required Desir to strut his stuff during postseason all-star games. Facing FBS receivers, Desir held his own at both the EastWest Shrine Game and Senior Bowl, showing off his big, athletic frame and coverage awareness. 2013 stats: 33 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 4 INTs
In a nutshell: His length, quickness and anticipation are positives at the position. He also has extensive experience returning punts and covering kicks. However, he’s a below-average tackler, and his lean body type has been susceptible to injury.
NFL Combine: Roberson didn’t help his stock in Indianapolis. He clocked a stunningly slow 40-time of 4.61 seconds, and his eight reps on the bench press were among the lowest for defensive backs. If teams feel the measurables match up with his game tape, Roberson could fall down boards. 2013 stats: 11 tackles, 3 PBU; 14 punt returns, 9.2 ypa
#11 Stanley Jean-Baptise Nebraska, Sr. 6’ 3”- 218 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.61 seconds
In a nutshell: The trend towards big, physical corners will help Jean-Baptise, who might possess the best size of any cornerback in the 2014 class. He needs to get better at using his size to re-route at the line of scrimmage in press-man. There will be concerns about his suddenness and long speed. His overall game compares favorably to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner. All-Star game: Jean-Baptise left Nebraska with only 18 career starts at cornerback, giving teams only a limited sample size to see on film.
“arrow was pointing up” At the Senior Bowl, he showed his enticing potential as a long, surprisingly fluid cover man who can erase a receiver on the boundary. His arrow was pointing up after leaving Mobile. 2013 stats: 41 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 4 INTs, 1 TD, 12 PBU
An arrest in 2011 and a suspension in 2013 will need to be investigated further.
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Cornerbacks #12 Terrance Mitchell
Oregon, Jr. 5’ 3”- 192 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.63 seconds
In a nutshell: Mitchell is a sticky cover corner with three years of starting experience but a concerning lack of long speed (4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash). He’s a gambler, in the same mold as Asante Samuel. He probably could have used a final year at Oregon to refine his technique and improve his physicality. College experience: His frequent gambling paid off as a junior, when Mitchell intercepted a team-high five passes (fifth most in the Pac-12) and defended 12 others (sixth). His 40 career appearances over three years resulted in seven picks, 27 passes defensed and four forced fumbles, including one against Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl. 2013 stats: 59 tackles, 1 FF, 5 INT, 1 TD, 7 PBU
#13 Victor Hampton, South Carolina Hampton needs to clean up his technique at the next level, but he’s a tough and confident corner capable of offering added versatility at safety and on special teams. Teams will want to know more about a few prior off-thefield incidents.
#15 Dontae Johnson, N. Carolina State Cornerbacks standing 6’ 2” who run the 40-yard dash in 4.45 are rare and in demand. His overall game needs considerable polish, however. He does offer versatility, having played free safety as a senior and linebacker as a sophomore.
#16 Antone Exum, Virginia Tech Exum has the body size of a safety but the athleticism of a press corner. Smart and tough, with free safety experience and special teams chops. He spent much of his senior season recovering from ACL surgery.
#17 Jaylen Watkins, Florida A physical, play-making slot corner who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds but also put up 22 reps in the bench press. He has experience playing safety. He’s also the younger brother of Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins.
#18 Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State While undersized, Reynolds has experience playing a variety of coverages, including press-man. He’s a fluid athlete and stronger than his frame suggests (20 reps at the Combine). He should have late-round appeal.
#19 Ross Cockrell, Duke A four-year starter at Duke, Cockrell features decent size, football smarts and the versatility to cover both the slot and boundary. He isn’t a standout athlete, however, and he fought the football at times in Indianapolis
#20 Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida A poor 40 time at the Combine (4.61 seconds) and only six reps on the bench press might plummet his stock. He doesn’t have the physicality, instincts or tackling ability to make up for athletic limitations.
#21 Andre Hal, Vanderbilt #22 Bene Benwikere, San Jose State #23 Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma #24 Walt Aikens, Liberty #25 Chris Davis, Auburn
#14 Phillip Gaines, Rice
#26 Deion Belue, Alabama
Gaines’ size-and-speed combination will be enticing for teams that can afford to develop him. A blazing 40yard dash at the Combine (4.38 seconds) opened eyes. He broke up a school record 34 passes over 52 career games.
#27 E.J. Gaines, Missouri
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#28 Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame #29 Lavelle Westbrooks, Georgia S. #30 Travis Carrie, Ohio
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Safety #1 Deone Bucannon
Washington St., Sr. 6’ 1”- 211 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.49 seconds
Brian Carriveau
FS/SS “plays bigger than his size”
#2 Calvin Pryor
Louisville, Sr. 5’ 11”- 207 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.58 seconds
He also plays bigger than his size, not afraid to take on offensive linemen or throw his body into ball carriers that outweigh him. In a 2012 game against No. 2 ranked Oregon, Bucannon twice undercut a receiver in zone coverage to pick off quarterback Marcus Mariota, a player with a reputation for taking care of the football. “It was really just running to the ball and playing my hardest football that I can,” Bucannon told Pro Football Draft Preview.“It could have been any quarterback.” NFL Combine: Bucannon finished among the top four safeties at the Combine in 40-yard dash, bench press (19 repetitions), vertical jump (36.5 inches), broad jump (125 inches) and three-cone drill (6.96 seconds). In a nutshell: Some analysts came away from the Senior Bowl with overrated concerns that Bucannon struggles in coverage after seeing him get beat in one-on-one pass drills. While there’s some truth to the matter, teams have little to worry about as long as they don’t put Bucannon in a position to fail. He’s a deep safety that shouldn’t be asked to cover the slot (or at least not often). Bucannon, however, does a terrific job reading and reacting in front of him, able to break on balls and undercut receivers for interceptions. His 15 career interceptions and at least one forced fumble each year in college speak to his big-play ability.
He bettered the numbers in each of those drills than those put up by Calvin Pryor and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, generally considered the two best other safeties in this year’s draft class. Not only that, Bucannon measured in heavier than the other two afore-mentioned safeties as well, which makes the numbers he put up in the measured drills all the more impressive. Only Clinton-Dix (4.16 seconds) had a better time than Bucannon in the 20-yard shuttle (4.26 seconds). 2013 stats: 114 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 FF, 6 INTs, 1 PBU More on Deone Bucannon appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
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In a nutshell: Pryor does not wait for the football to come to him, he goes to meet the football, whether it’s a run or a pass. His anticipation is top notch, coming up to meet running backs before they reach the third level and hitting receivers as the ball arrives. Aggressive is perhaps the best way to describe the underclassman entry into the NFL Draft. Some may argue Pryor is over-aggressive and misses some tackles, but when he gambles, he wins far more often than he loses. Pryor lays the wood as well as any other safety in this year’s draft class, and allows his pads to do the hitting for him. He doesn’t come up with a ton of interceptions, but makes up for it by constantly being in a position to both force and recover fumbles (a combined 10 in three years). The challenge for him at the next level will be not to miss tackles that end up being costly and going for touchdowns. He measured in three inches shorter at the Combine than his published height at Louisville.
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Safety Vs. top opponent: Even though UCF wasn’t ranked at the time, it was the win over Louisville that put the Golden Knights in the driver’s seat to with the American Athletic Conference. Pryor started the game slowly, taking a poor angle on running back Storm Johnson and getting leveled by a lineman in the first quarter. But he picked up his game after that, beating a receiver to his spot in the corner of the end zone and making an acrobatic tip to himself for an interception. He later breaks up a third down pass beyond the first-down marker, doing well to anticipate by batting the pass down and not making contact with the receiver before it arrives. 2013 stats: 75 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 FF, 3 INTs, 4 PBU More on Calvin Pryor appears at CheeseheadTV.com.
#3 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Alabama, Sr. 6 1”- 208 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.58 seconds
the 2014 draft class. For one, that was before Pryor declared and draft analysts were playing catch-up on an unexpected junior entry. And for another, the reputation of Alabama and the ability of coach Nick Saban to develop topnotch safeties receive overrated credit. All this isn’t to say Clinton-Dix isn’t a good player, but he’s not better than Pryor. His six interceptions in three seasons are good but not overwhelming. And then there’s his questionable decision-making, agreeing to accept cash from an assistant coach at Alabama. There are worse things ClintonDix could have done, but it calls into question his judgment. He’s not always a punishing tackler, but ClintonDix gets the job done for the most part, taking out legs, dragging down ball carriers, whatever the situation calls for, and rarely misses tackles. Clinton-Dix is also much more aggressive attacking the perimeter where there’s more open space and blockers who are smaller receivers as opposed to the heart of the defense where things are more congested and blockers are much bigger. Rivalry game: One of Clinton-Dix’s worst games of the season came in Alabama’s Iron Bowl loss to Auburn that cost the Tide the SEC West Title and the opportunity to appear in the conference championship and perhaps the national championship. Several missed tackles and an inability to contain the combination of quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason contributed to Auburn racking up 296 yards on the ground.
In a nutshell: For a variety of reasons, Clinton-Dix was generally considered the early leader as the No. 1 safety in
On the first score of the game, ClintonDix over-committed to a read-option fake to Mason as Marshall sprinted 45 yards up the middle of the field. In the second quarter, Clinton-Dix flat out failed to wrap up Mason on an openfield tackle attempt that went on gain 40 yards and set up Auburn’s second
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touchdown. On a couple occasions, the Alabama safety couldn’t disengage from blocks from wide receivers while trying to read the action in front of him and got pushed downfield. 2013 stats: 51 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INTs, 4 PBU
#4 Jimmie Ward
N. Illinois, Sr. 5’ 11 - 193 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Simply put, Ward is the best cover safety in this year’s draft class, displaying good closing speed and an ability to break on the ball. He’s not a big hitter, at least compared to other safeties, but he does know how to make a form tackle. Ward has terrific man coverage skills and can defend the slot and blitz if necessary. While Ward looked good against MAC opponents, he also played up to his level of competition against bigger programs like Florida State and Iowa. Named the Most Outstanding Defensive Back during the week of Senior Bowl practices. Smaller stature than you’d prefer. Had a screw inserted into his foot to fix an issue discovered at the Combine but shouldn’t be a major issue. Bowl game: On at least two occasions during Northern Illinois’ appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl against Utah State in 2013, Ward broke up passes by timing hits as the ball arrived and showed an awareness to make contact low, avoiding the dreaded targeting penalty. Trailing by six points in the third quarter while in the red zone, he wasn’t duped by a pump fake by the quarterback. Ward undercut the receiver to make an interception in the end zone.
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Safety On another pass broken up, Ward nicely turned his head around to bat the ball away at the last second. Also made a touchdown-saving tackle 40 yards downfield. The Huskies may have lost, but Ward held up his end of the bargain. 2013 stats: 95 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 7 INTs, 1 TD, 10 PBU
#5
Craig Loston
In a nutshell: When healthy, Loston can be a productive safety but has been criticized for missing games nearly every season to a variety of injuries from wrist to toe to groin. He has a knack for diving and taking out legs when he tackles, but there’s an injury risk in putting his body on the line. Doesn’t have the same closing speed as some of the higher-ranked safeties and will have completions made in front of him. Loston didn’t receive much playing time as a freshman and a sophomore while behind talented players such as Eric Reid on the depth chart, but he emerged as a key player in his last two seasons.
LSU, Sr. 5’11” - 217 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.65 seconds
Bowl game: Whether he was motivated because it was his last college game or just well-prepared, Loston was ultra-aggressive in LSU’s Outback Bowl win over Iowa, making six tackles, three for a loss, a sack and an interception. His pick helped preserve a seven-point, fourth-quarter lead with less than six minutes, coming on fourth-and-1 in the red zone. Loston made a leaping, extended grab over his head, and LSU was able to hang on for the victory. As a senior Loston had three interceptions and all three occurred at crucial points in key victories over Auburn, Texas A&M and Iowa. 2013 stats: 57 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INTs, 3 PBU
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Safety #6 Terrance Brooks
Florida St., Sr. 5’ 11”- 198 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.42 seconds
In a nutshell: Brooks looks similar to undersized safeties like Ward but doesn’t overcome his lack of size with elite ball skills like the others, never making more than two interceptions in any given season. He’s still a good reliable defender and a reason Florida State had the No. 1 ranked scoring defense in the nation. Brooks will be aggressive in his tackling, but ends up on his back more often than he puts ball carriers on their backs.
#7 Kenny Ladler
Vanderbilt, Sr. 6’ 0”- 207 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.70 seconds
In a nutshell: Like Bucannon, Ladler is another player better suited as a deep safety and struggles to disengage from blockers if playing in the box. If allowed to be a centerfield roamer, however, Ladler is at his best. He shows good awareness in zone coverage, meeting ball carriers before they reach the first-down marker. Ladler might be the best form tackler in this year’s draft class, able to break down and wrap up as well as displaying strength in drag-down tackles. Really came on as a senior making five interceptions and forcing five fumbles. Plays faster than he times. NFL Combine: Ladler ran an alarmingly slow 40-yard dash at the Combine, clocking in at 4.70 seconds, although on his second attempt he appeared off balance and actually tripped after crossing the finish line.
Best game: Brooks arguably had his best game of the season against NC State, starting off the game by making a diving interception in the first quarter on which he showed terrific range by getting all the way from his centerfield zone to the sideline. He later identified a reverse, coming up from deep to force a fumble behind the line of scrimmage for his second turnover-inducing play of the game. Also added a highlight-reel block by decleating a would-be tackler, showing his impact on special teams. 2013 stats: 56 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF, 2 INTs, 5 PBU
He was able to improve his time at Vanderbilt’s pro day, running a more respectable time of 4.62 seconds, according to NFL.com. However, Ladler apparently pulled his hamstring on his 40 in Nashville. In a display of his explosiveness, Ladler had the best broad jump of any safety at the Combine with a leap of 127 inches and had the second-most bench press reps with 24.
#8 Tre Boston
North Carolina, Sr. 6’ 0”- 204 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.59 seconds
In a nutshell: Boston became an increasingly productive player each year of his college career, always making more tackles and interceptions than the previous season. He’s more of a drag-down tackler than a hard hitter or striker, but he gets the job done. Boston’s biggest asset is being a magnet for the football, coming up with 13 career interceptions. He could have had more had it not been for several drops, but he does well to make plays on the football and break up passes. He’s best when keeping the action in front of him as a deep safety and closes well. All-Star game: Based on the leadership he displayed in the week of practice leading up to the East-West Shrine Game, Boston was named a captain by coach Jerry Glanville. During the game itself, Boston led all defensive players with five tackles, including one for a loss for the winning East squad. He showed versatility in deftly playing both the free and strong safety positions, flying forward to make aggressive tackles from both spots on the field. 2013 stats: 94 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 5 INTs, 8 PBU
2013 stats: 91 tackles, 1 TFL, 5 FF, 5 INTs, 4 PBU
“may be the best form tackler this year”
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Safety #9 Nickoe Whitley
Mississippi St., Sr. 6’ 0”- 205 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Whitley is a difficult player to get a handle on. He’ll make bone-jarring hits, but on many of them he’ll go for the knockout blow and in one game in 2012, made a helmet-tohelmet hit and injured himself. Against Arkansas in 2013, he was called for two personal foul penalties, got ejected for throwing punches and got into a shouting match with coach Dan Mullen coming off the field. Then on the other hand, he put the team first, playing almost the entire 2013 season with a torn ACL, choosing not to have surgery until after the regular season. He’s a ballhawk with 15 career interceptions and five forced fumbles. Rivalry game: Whitley opened the game by making a one-handed grab of an interception on an overthrow by Ole Miss quarterback Bo Levi Wallace in the first quarter of the 2013 Egg Bowl. But his biggest impact came in overtime when Whitley forced a fumble on Wallace inside the five-yard line on what would have otherwise been a touchdown. The Bulldogs won in Whitley’s last game as he chose to have surgery on his ACL after this game. 2013 stats: 55 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 5 INTs, 2 PBU
#10 Dezmen Southward, Wisconsin, Sr. 6’ 0”- 211 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Southward has all the size and measurables you’d want in a safety but didn’t show a knack for making plays in four years at Wisconsin. On the bright side, he didn’t start playing football until late in high school, so there’s hope he’s still learning the game and has a higher ceiling than he showed in college. Southward showed the ability to occasionally play cornerback, such as he did at the Senior Bowl, but his forte is not turning and running with receivers. Pro day: Southward was prevented from working out at the Combine after his physical apparently showed a fracture in his vertebrae but after an X-ray examination by Peyton Manning’s orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins, Southward says there’s only a slight herniation. At Wisconsin’s pro day he had a 42inch vertical jump that would have tied the best of any player at the Combine, regardless of position and ran a 4.38 second 40-yard dash that would have been tops among safeties.
#11 Dion Bailey
USC, Jr. 6’ 0”- 201 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.66 seconds
In a nutshell: A former linebacker, Bailey was used almost exclusively defending the slot at USC and has exceedingly little experience as a deep safety, raising questions whether he can do so at the next level. Drafting Bailey is a risk if he’s expected to play deep at all, but there’s enough athleticism to believe he can do it. Best game: With Stanford coming into USC coming off its win vs. Oregon the previous week and ranked No. 11 in the nation, Bailey helped the Trojans come away with the upset victory. Facing third-and-goal in a tie game during the fourth quarter, Bailey sat in zone coverage and made a leaping, extended interception of the Stanford quarterback to prevent a score. He also forced a fumble and made a tackle for a loss, leaving an indelible mark on the outcome of the game. 2013 stats: 62 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 FF, 5 INTs, 6 PBU
2013 stats: 40 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 FF, 1 INT, 5 PBU More on Dezmen Southward appears at CheeseheadTV.com
“has all the size and measurables you’d want” 77 | Cheesehead TV 2014 Draft Preview
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Safety #12 Marqueston Huff
Wyoming, Sr. 5’ 11”- 196 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.49 seconds
In a nutshell: Huff played both cornerback and safety at Wyoming and feels as if he could do either in the NFL. Teammate Robert Herron—who’s also entering the NFL Draft—said he best fits at safety. Huff is slightly undersized, but offers a good degree of athleticism. He might take time to develop as a safety but should be able to contribute on special teams immediately. All-Star game: Huff planned on going to the Senior Bowl to play safety, but with a surplus at the position and a shortage of cornerbacks, he played corner during the week.
#14 Daniel Sorensen, BYU
#17 Hakeem Smith, Louisville
Like Vereen, Sorensen was a Combine superstar, turning in the fastest threecone drill of any player regardless of position (6.47 seconds) and turned in a sub-four second short shuttle (3.95 seconds). Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to play as fast on film, but with some good coaching at the next level, there’s room for improvement.
Overshadowed by Calvin Pryor at Louisville, Smith still had a productive career, making 290 tackles and 14 for a loss in 52 games. Needs to add bulks, weighing in at just 186 lbs. at the Shrine Game. Should get selected later in this year’s NFL draft.
#15 Ed Reynolds, Stanford
Breaks down well for having an exceedingly tall frame (6’ 3”) as a safety. A junior entry into the NFL Draft, Dowling played only two years at Western Kentucky after transferring following his dismissal from Florida for a violation of team rules. In those two years, however, he did make nine interceptions and forced eight fumbles.
Reynolds has ideal size and has NFL bloodlines as his father (also named Ed) played with the Patriots and Giants for 10 seasons, but the younger Reynolds would have benefitted from staying in college for another year after declaring as a junior. Watching him trying to tackle Packers RB Johnathan Franklin in a 2012 game against UCLA was a comedy of errors.
#16 Ahmad Dixon, Baylor
During the game he made three tackles but was otherwise inconspicuous. Huff recalled briefly meeting Packers general manager Ted Thompson in Mobile.
#18 Jonathan Dowling, Western Kentucky
#19 Maurice “Mo” Alexander, Utah State Came back from being jailed and kicked off the Utah State program after getting into an altercation with a teammate. A former linebacker, Alexander is not a ballhawk but did make nine tackles for a loss as a senior.
#20 Jerry“Boo Boo”Gates, Bowling Green
2013 stats: 127 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 FF, 2 INTs, 6 PBU, 1 blocked kick
#21 Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama
#13 Brock Vereen, Minnesota
#22 Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State
The brother of Patriots running back Shane Vereen, Brock has experience playing both cornerback and safety. He never had more than one interception in any season, but did make 190 tackles over his last three years at Minnesota. Vereen had a good performance at the Combine, putting up the most bench press reps among safeties (25) and had the second-fastest 40 time (4.47 seconds).
#23 Daytawion Lowe, Oklahoma State
“brother of Shane Vereen”
#24 Denicos Allen, Michigan State Unfortunately, Dixon is not a wellrounded safety. He might be the biggest hitter in this year’s draft class and is unafraid to lay the wood but struggles in coverage. He’s a classic strong safety that may have excelled a generation ago, but in today’s passing age in the NFL, fast tight ends and receivers will expose him. Too often he’ll get juked on a move by an opposing receiver and then has to play catch-up.
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#25 C.J. Barnett, Ohio State #26 Alden Darby, Arizona State #27 Gabe Lynn, Oklahoma #28 Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State #29 Jason Hendricks, Pitt #30 Damon Magazu, East Carolina CheeseheadTV.com
Special Teams #1 Nate Freese
Boston College, Sr. 5’8”- 192 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Perhaps a late bloomer, Freese came on big as a senior, leading the nation by converting 100 percent of his field goal attempts. It was the second straight solid season for Freese, who converted 90 percent as a junior after just 62.5 percent as a sophomore.
Brian Carriveau
Kicker “100-percent of attempts”
#2 Cairo Santos
Tulane, Sr. 5’ 8”- 164 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
The biggest surprise was the jump in Freese’s kickoffs as a senior, averaging 64.16 yards per attempt, which ranked sixth in the nation. That comes one season after averaging only 60.02 yards per kickoff as a junior and just 58.58 yards as a freshman.
Making up for an extra point that was blocked earlier in the game, Freese tied a career-long 52-yard field goal as time expired that broke a tie and gave the Eagles a comeback win over the Terrapins. Freese had initially missed the field goal wide left, but it was ruled Maryland coach Randy Edsall called a timeout just before the kick, giving the kicker a second chance. On the day, Freese officially went 3-3 on field goal attempts. 2013 stats: 20/20 FGs, long of 52, 40/41 PATs, 100 points, 51 touchbacks on 73 kickoffs
2013 stats: 16/23 FGs, long of 56, 38/38 PATs, 86 points, 47 touchbacks on 62 kickoffs
#3 Chris Boswell
Rice, Sr. 6’2”- 185 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
The burden is on Freese to prove he’s an ascending kicker and his senior season wasn’t just a flash in the pan. He was also Boston College’s full-time punter as a senior. Rivalry Game: Coming in the penultimate game of the regular season against former Big East foe Maryland, Freese assured Boston College would finish the season with at least a .500 record.
All-Star Game: Santos was invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where he helped the National team beat the American team by a score of 31-17 in mid-January. He kicked a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Nationals a commanding three-score lead, going up 31-14 at the time. Santos converted on all four of his extra point attempts.
In a nutshell: At just 5’ 8” and 164 lbs., you’re worried that there’s maybe not enough strength behind Santos’ kicks, but at the end of the day, all that matters is he puts the ball between the uprights on field goals and in the end zone on kickoffs. Santos still has some consistency to be desired, having made 100 percent of his field goal attempts as a junior, but just 69.6 and 61.1 percent respectively as a senior and sophomore. Distance doesn’t seem to be an issue as Santos connected on field goals of 57, 56 and 54 yards over his college career. He also ranked No. 1 in the nation in touchback percentage as a senior at 75.81 percent.
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In a nutshell: Perhaps curiously, Boswell’s average yards per kickoff went up every year from his sophomore year (63.07 yards) to senior year (64.19), but over the same timespan, his field goal percentage dropped each year from 81.0 percent as a sophomore to 79.3 percent as a junior to 66.7 percent as a senior. He was second in the nation in touchback percentage as a senior (72.15 percent) and was third in overall touchbacks 57, showing he has adequate leg strength. Vs. BCS Conference Opponent: Kansas may not be a premiere FBS football program, but a win over a BCS conference opponent for Rice is a major accomplishment. In getting their first win of the 2013 season, Boswell kicked a go-ahead 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to help preserve what was a 23-14 final score. He was a perfect 3-3 on field goals for the day, had six touchbacks on all six kickoffs and added two extra points. 2013 stats: 14/21 FGs, long of 56, 47/49 PATs, 89 points, 57 touchbacks on 79 kickoffs
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Special Teams #4 Anthony Fera, Texas Fera didn’t kick off his junior or senior seasons after an injury but insists he has the ability to do so. He converted 90.9 percent of his field goals as a senior.
Punter “best punter this year”
#5 Zach Hocker, Arkansas Hocker had the highest average kickoff distance in the nation as a junior, pinning opponents back 64.7 yards.
#1 Richie Leone
Houston, Sr. 6’ 3”- 211 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
#6 Cody Parkey, Auburn Parkey never converted better than 80 percent of his field goal attempts in his career but was consistently among the top average kickoff distance leaders. He played in the Senior Bowl.
All-Star game: Leone was mentored by former NFL All-Pro punter Louie Aguiar, the special teams coach for the West squad in the East-West Shrine Game. Aguiar played for 10 seasons in the NFL, including the Green Bay Packers in 1999. In the game, Leone punted three times for an average of 45.0 yards with a long of 46 yards and avoided any touchbacks. 2013 stats: 73 punts, 43.2-yard gross average, long of 65, 34 punts inside the 20, 3 touchbacks, 37 touchbacks on 78 kickoffs
#2 Tom Hornsey
Memphis, Sr. 6’3”- 221 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
#7 Jeff Budzien, Northwestern Budzien coverted on better than 90 percent of his field goal attempts as both a junior and senior.
#8 Vincenzo D’Amato, Cal D’Amato was invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
#9 Carey Spear, Vanderbilt Spear converted on both field goal attempts in Vanderbilt’s BBVA Compass Bowl win over Houston.
#10 Chandler Castonzaro, Clemson Castonzaro converted on over 90 percent of his field-goal attempts as a senior.
“highest kickoff distance”
In a nutshell: Probably the best punter in this year’s draft class at ball placement, Leone had a very high number of punts downed inside the 20 as a senior with 34 and only three went for touchbacks. He also displays a strong leg, averaging over 43 yards per punt as both a junior (45.5) and a senior (43.2). Leone helped a Houston team that ranked ninth out of 10 teams in the American Athletic Conference in total defense by pinning opponents deep. Giving Leone an edge over other punters is also his ability to be a kickoff specialist, a role he held for three out of four years in Houston. He can also kick field goals in a pinch.
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In a nutshell: A native of Geelong, Victoria in Australia, Hornsey was the Ray Guy Award winner as the nation’s top punter as a senior. He posses a great combination of control and leg strength, averaging 45.2 yards per punt as a senior (ranking eight in the nation), while placing 29 inside the 20 and having only four go for touchbacks. Hornsey never averaged less than 42 yards per punt in four years in college. He had 34 games in which he averaged at least 40 yards per punt (minimum four punts). The NCAA record is 37 games. All-Star Game: Hornsey participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, Cal., where he was part of the winning National squad. In the game, he punted four times for an average of 42.3 yards with a long of 48. One of his punts landed in the end zone for a touchback. 2013 stats: 62 punts, 45.2-yard gross average, long of 79, 29 punts inside the 20, 4 touchbacks
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Special Teams #3 Tyler Campbell
Mississippi, Sr. 6’2”- 230 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
In a nutshell: Despite a rare occurrence in which Campbell redshirted his true senior season, he came back to have a successful year in 2013. He doesn’t have the ball control of the top punters in this year’s draft class, placing only 17 inside the 20 and having 10 go for touchbacks as a senior, but Campell displays a consistently strong leg. His lowest season average was 43.6 yards per punt as a junior in 2011, while has best was 46.4 yards as a sophomore in 2010, which ranked No. 1 in the nation. Campbell was invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where he punted five times for a 43.0-yard average and placed one inside the 20. Bowl game: Campbell helped Ole Miss beat Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl in 2013, securing an eight-win season by Mississippi. He punted five times for an average of 42.4 yards per kick. Among them, Campbell had a booming 68-yard punt that landed inside the five-yard line, one of two that landed inside the 20 on the day. 2013 stats: 51 punts, 44.4-yard gross average, long of 75, 17 punts inside the 20, 10 touchbacks
#4 Cody Mandell, Alabama
#5 Steven Clark, Auburn Clark stood out in the BCS National Championship game, punting six times for a 43.2-yard average and placing five inside the 20 in a losing effort. Invited to the East-West Shrine Game.
#6 Pat O’Donnell, Miami O’Donnell saw a huge jump in his gross punting average as a senior, averaging for 47.1 yards. He also handled kickoffs and holding duties at Miami and impressed at the Combine, putting up 23 reps on the bench press and running the 40 in 4.64 seconds.
#7 Kirby Van Der Kamp, Iowa State Van Der Kamp punted in the Senior Bowl, averaging 46.9 yards on eight attempts but wasn’t invited to the Combine.
#8 Cody Webster, Purdue Webster was named first-team All-Big Ten and the conference’s Punter of the Year in 2013, in addition to being a finalist for the Ray Guy Award.
LS “only long snapper invited”
#1 Marcus Heit
Kansas St., Sr. 6’ 3”- 258 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.91 seconds
In a nutshell: Heit was the only long snapper invited to the NFL Combine, where he also had a 29-inch vertical jump. He was one of the two long snappers that played in the Senior Bowl as a member of the winning South squad. Most importantly, Heit was perfect on all 363 snaps of his college career. He has short arms, measuring in at less than 32 inches.
#9 Paul Layton, Temple
Didn’t play in Kansas State’s bowl game for reasons that have not been published.
Layton participated in the Medal of Honor Bowl college all-star game.
#2 Tyler Ott, Harvard
#10 Zac Murphy, Miami (Oh.)
#3 Trevor Gillette, Rice
Murphy was named first-team AllMAC as a senior.
#4 Chris Maikranz, Lamar
Mandell didn’t even qualify among national leaders because he punted so few times his senior year at Alabama but would have ranked fourth in the nation with a 47.1 gross average. Invited to Senior Bowl.
#6 J.R. Carr, Tennessee #7 Tanner Hedstrom, Colorado State #8 Zach Northern, Baylor #9 Andrew Suter, Oklahoma State
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#5 Phillip Fajgenbaum, Clemson
#10 Casey Kreiter, Iowa
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Special Teams
Return “thrived under the lights” Return specialists are players who will be viewed primarily as return specialists at the NFL level and do not include those who are listed at other positions.
#1 Brelan Chancellor
North Texas, Sr. 5’ 9”- 186 lbs. 40 yard dash: 4.66 seconds
In a nutshell: The jump in competition from the Sun Belt to Conference USA didn’t seem to hurt Chancellor as a senior. If anything, he thrived under the brighter lights and facing better opponents. Chancellor was named Conference USA’s Special Teams Player of the Year after ranking fifth in the nation in punt returns and 11th in kick returns in 2013, scoring a touchdown each way. He has four career college returns for a touchdown. As a receiver, Chancellor has 116 career receptions for 1,711 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’ll have to overcome what’s been reported as a slow time in the 40-yard dash (4.66 seconds) by NFL.com.
#2 Fabian Truss
Samford, Jr. 5’ 9” - 185 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A seconds
In a nutshell: While also a running back at Samford, Truss has 6,640 career all-purpose yards, 2,293 of which came as a kick returner. Truss ranked second in the nation among FCS players
in kick returns (32.1 yards per return) and fourth in punt returns (14.8 yards per return). He has a career kick return average of 29.3 yards on 85 attempts, scoring touchdowns four times. Truss has also rushed for over 3,000 yards rushing and displayed good hands, catching exactly 100 passes coming out of the backfield.
#3
Darryl Surgent
Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr. 6’0”- 195 lbs. 40 yard dash: N/A
fense. He averaged a career-best 14.7 yards per punt return as a senior, but his experience as a kick returner is limited with only 12 attempts..
#6 Diontae Spencer, McNeese State #7 Alex Hubbard, Cal Poly #8 Andy Erickson, Texas State #9 Jamill Smith, Ball State #10 Kyle Harbridge, St. Francis
In a nutshell: Surgent received firstteam All-Sun Belt honors as a return specialist in 2013, ranking 13th in the nation in kick returns (27.6 yards per attempt) and 25th in punt returns (10.5 yards per attempt). He scored one touchdown each on both kick and punt returns as a senior, and scored four touchdowns on returns over the course of his college career. Surgent also caught 100 passes for 1,642 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career, helping Louisiana-Lafayette qualify for bowl games in three consecutive seasons.
#4 Rashard Smith, N. Carolina State Like Tobais Palmer the previous season, Smith gave North Carolina State a top-flight return specialist for a second consecutive year. He scored two touchdowns on punt returns as a senior, and was named the ACC’s Specialist of the Week in the Week 5 win over Central Michigan, returning a punt 87 yards for a score.
#5 Devon Smith, Marshall A Penn State transfer, Smith helped Marshall become Conference USA’s East division champion, making his mark on both special teams and of-
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Packers Mock Draft
Al Bracco
PackerS Mock Draft Round 1
Round 2
Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State
Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State
The Packers’ coaches have made it clear this offseason that they are looking to add some “impact” players on defense. With B.J. Raji back for a year and Julius Peppers in the fold, attention is turned to the linebacking corps, a group that is pedestrian at best after Clay Matthews.
Staying with the same theme, the Packers sorely lack a big hitter at the safety position. Bucannon is a punishing tackler that will finally give opposing receivers a reason to keep their head on a swivel when running through the middle of the Packers secondary. Bucannon showed better speed than expected at the Combine and has the versatility to play free safety if needed. Alternate choices: Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Marcus Smith
Shazier is a disruptive force and highly productive player (144 tackles as a senior). Whether he would play outside or inside for the Packers is up for debate, but regardless, he gives the Packers what they need—a playmaker. Alternate choices: C.J. Mosley, Dee Ford
Round 3 Donte Moncrief, WR, Mississippi Moncrief is a thoroughbred athlete with ideal size and speed. He had a 40-yard dash time of 4.40 at the Combine to go along with a 39.5” vertical jump and an 11’ broad jump. As a receiver, he knows how to create separation but has had some issues with drops and concentration over the course of a game. Alternate choices: Martavis Bryant, Jarvis Landry
Round 3 (Compensatory) C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa While not great in any one area, Fiedorowicz is very good in all. He has excellent size, is a solid blocker, has soft hands, uses his body to shield defenders, can run the seam route, etc. Frankly, he’s a perfect pick for the versatility-craving Packers. Alternate choices: Arthur Lynch, Ego Ferguson
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Packers Mock Draft Round 4 Caraun Reid, DL, Princeton
With B.J. Raji signed for only one year, the Packers will be looking for a developmental defensive tackle in the middle rounds. Reid is effective at shooting gaps with a quick first step and has been surprisingly effective as a pass rusher from the inside. Alternate choices: Justin Ellis, Will Clarke
Round 5 Kenny Ladler, S, Vanderbilt
Ladler is an under-the-radar free safety prospect that would be of interest to the Packers. He plays like a free safety but hits and tackles like a strong safety. He’s also a proven turnover-creator, whether by interceptions or forced fumbles. Ladler would make a perfect swing backup safety. Alternate choices: Dion Bailey, Dontae Johnson
Round 5 (Compensatory) Prince Shembo, OLB, Notre Dame If the Packers want to add some nasty toughness to their linebacking corps, Shembo would be a great value here. He’s a high-motor guy who’s very strong at the point of attack and can hold the edge. He’s not a dynamic edge rusher, but has shown to be a real thorn in offensive linemen’s sides. Alternate choices: Carl Bradford, Tyler Starr
Round 6 Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama
Every team needs a big run stuffer. With Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly still on the free-agent market and Jolly recovering from neck-fusion surgery, the Packers must pick one up in this draft. Pagan fits the bill to a “T.” He can eat up blockers and hold the line of scrimmage against double teams. Alternate choices: Ryan Groy, Max Bullough
Round 7 Corey Linsley, C, Ohio State Assuming the Packers don’t sign a veteran center to replace the departed Evan Dietrich-Smith, they will need some depth at the position. Linsley is a workout warrior that can bench press 500 pounds. On the field, he’s a mobile, aggressive blocker who also has experience at guard, a must for the Packers. Alternate choices: Spencer Long, John Urschel
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Green Bay Packers
Brian Carriveau
packers Running backs and Quarterbacks
Larry Radloff Photography
What the injury exposed was the team’s failure to adequately develop a backup quarterback. Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman and Vince Young all tanked in the preseason, and the Packers were forced to go into the season signing veteran Seneca Wallace as the backup before he too got injured. Wallace is a free agent and would likely only come back in an emergency situation.
The Packers finally experienced the grim reality of life without Aaron Rodgers last season after breaking his collarbone and missing seven full games and most of another. When healthy, however, Rodgers showed why the Packers made him the NFL’s highest-paid player last offseason. They probably wouldn’t have won the NFC North and qualified for the playoffs without Rodgers’ gritty performance in the season finale, his first game back.
If Lacy and Starks are the thunder in the Packers backfield, Johnathan Franklin and DuJuan Harris are the lightning. Both must come back from season-ending injuries last season, Franklin from a concussion and neck issue and Harris from a knee injury. When healthy, both players have shown they can be dangerous with the ball in their hands but must prove to do so on a consistent basis. Michael Hill and Orwin Smith round out the position.
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Larry Radloff Photography
Eddie Lacy resuscitated a Green Bay ground game in 2013 that had been dormant since the heyday of Ahman Green nearly a decade ago. The surgically-repaired toe that apparently caused Lacy to drop in last year’s NFL Draft is a mere footnote (no pun intended) and never affected him. He rushed for a franchise rookie record 1,178 yards (4.1 ypc) and 11 touchdowns on the way to being named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. And among the more impressive aspects of Lacy’s season was the way he fought through an ankle injury the last month of the year, which was obviously hindering him. Whether Lacy will have his lead blocker back in 2014 is the big unknown. As of the time publication, the Packers still haven’t re-signed free agent John Kuhn despite his highlight pickup of Julius Peppers in last season’s final regular season game. Could the Packers actually go without a true fullback on the roster? We’ll see. When Green Bay re-signed James Starks as a free agent, it solidified what could be one of the best backfields in the entire NFL. Starks comes off a season in which he averaged a remarkable 5.5 yards per carry and might have found his calling as a complementary back rather than a true starter.
Luckily, the Packers were able to sign Matt Flynn at midseason, and he was able to lead them to two come-frombehind victories and a tie to salvage the season. Flynn doesn’t have a great arm, but because of his knowledge of the Packers offense, he’s a valuable commodity. After flopping in both Seattle and Oakland, it isn’t likely Flynn garners much interest in free agency, and he likely returns. As former Packers assistant Steve Mariucci said, “It behooves you to have a veteran.” The Packer will continue to develop Scott Tolzien, who was a pleasant surprise. Tolzien has a stronger arm than Flynn but is short on experience. An entire offseason in Mike McCarthy’s quarterback camp will help. McCarthy always seems to embrace the challenge of developing a young quarterback, so taking one in the NFL Draft in the mid to late rounds is a distinct possibility.
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Green Bay Packers packers Receivers and Tight ends
Larry Radloff Photography
the 2014 season is over. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nelson signs an extension before the NFL Draft like Aaron Rodgers did last year. Nelson seems to be a perpetually underrated receiver. Big targets that can also get deep are a rare breed. And those tiptoe sideline catches are becoming a thing of legend.
Reading into James Jones’ signing with the Oakland Raiders in free agency, the Packers likely didn’t want to invest any more money into the wide receiver position, even though Jones signed for a modest $10 million over three years. The Packers are saving salary-cap space for Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, each of whom have contracts expiring after the 2014 season. There’s little doubt the Packers would like to lock up both players with long-term extensions and probably will before
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Myles White, Kevin Dorsey and Chris Harper will be engaged in a fight to make a jump up the depth chart, but it’s up to each of them to take advantage of it. All of them offer something a little different. Alex Gillett and Sederrick Cunningham also return but will be pushed by an incoming rookie class of wide receivers.
If Finley doesn’t come back, Brandon Bostick might become the biggest receiving threat on the team. Now in his third season in Green Bay, it’s time for Bostick to emerge as a legitimate threat. Ryan Taylor provides depth but his calling card remains on special teams. Jake Stoneburner must improve upon a lackluster rookie season, or any rookies the Packers bring in will push him out. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the position addressed on the first two days of the Draft.
Larry Radloff Photography
Despite the re-signing of Andrew Quarless in free agency, the tight end position remains one of the biggest question marks on the Packers roster. At the time of publication, there’s been no more clarity on the Jermichael Finley situation than there was at the outset of free agency. He still hasn’t been cleared for action after undergoing spinal-fusion surgery coming on the heels of a serious neck injury suffered in October of last season. The Packers haven’t closed the door on Finley returning to Green Bay, but they appear to be in no hurry to pay him multi-millions with such an uncertain future. If healthy, Finley would provide a dangerous weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers but banking on him to return to his pre-injury form would be a major risk. The Packers brought in Owen Daniels for a visit in free agency, but there’s been little heard on that front. Quarless returns on a modest two-year contract, but at just 25 years old, he should be ultra-motivated to be productive and hit free agency again in two seasons time. There’s still room for Quarless improve after coming back from a devastating knee injury in 2011, but he’s the best thing the Packers have as an in-line tight end.
Cobb unfortunately missed most of last season with a broken leg but showed how effective he can be when healthy, hauling in the touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers against the Bears to clinch the NFC North title. The question is, will he remain on returns? Jarrett Boykin’s emergence eases the sting of Jones’ departure and probably contributed to the reason why the Packers were comfortable in letting him leave. Boykin is effectively promoted to the No. 3 receiver in Green Bay, but there’s little proven depth beyond the top three.
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Green Bay Packers packers Offensive Line
Larry Radloff Photography
has room to improve. It’s difficult to see the Packers moving him after a promising rookie season. Prior to injury, the Packers anticipated Bulaga playing left tackle, but will now move him back to his old spot on the right side of the offensive line. When healthy, Bulaga has been an effective NFL offensive lineman. Now he just has to stay healthy. The size of his next contract will depend heavily upon it.
Mike McCarthy recently confirmed who would be playing left tackle and right tackle for the Packers in 2014. At left tackle will be David Bakhtiari, who held down the fort protecting Aaron Rodgers’ backside after Bryan Bulaga went down in training camp with a torn ACL. Bakhtiari may not have been perfect and doesn’t have prototypical length, but he’s a battler that can pass protect and still
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Don Barclay was the starter at right tackle for much of last season, but the Packers would probably rather see him in a more versatile role, backing up both tackle and guard. Aaron Adams returns after spending time of the practice squad last year, and Jeremy Vujnovich was signed to a futures contract once the season ended.
Lang is perhaps a small step below Sitton, but he seemingly improves each year. Finding a backup interior swing lineman is the next step, and perhaps that player is Don Barclay, who might make a better guard than tackle.
When Evan Dietrich-Smith left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, it assured the Packers would have their fourth starting center in four years. The focus for the remainder of the offseason will be trying to find the new exchange partner for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The leader in the clubhouse might be last year’s fourth round draft choice, J.C. Tretter, but the secondyear offensive lineman comes with limited experience. A graduate of Cornell, Tretter never played major college football and didn’t play a single snap his rookie season in the NFL as he recovered from an ankle injury suffered last May. Also in the mix is Garth Gerhart, who spent the past two seasons on the team’s practice squad. Neither player is a sure thing, however, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Packers address the position in the NFL Draft.
Lane Taylor figures to take the next step in his development after a rookie season spent on the sidelines. Andrew Tiller returns after learning on the practice squad last season.
Larry Radloff Photography
Whoever the Packers tab as their next center, at least that player will be surrounded by a stable, veteran presence at both guard positions. Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang enter their second seasons at left and right guard respectively after flip-flopping in 2013. Sitton, in particular, has established himself as one of the league’s premier guards, being named second team All-Pro last season.
Derek Sherrod enters a make-it or break-it season in 2014 after a long road back from a gruesome injury in 2011 in which both his tibia and fibula were fractured. Sherrod took a few baby steps forward last season, playing on special teams and appearing on offense in one game. If he isn’t at least the team’s sixth offensive lineman in 2014, Sherrod professional future may be in doubt.
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Green Bay Packers packers Defensive Line and special teams
Larry Radloff Photographyt
signed with the Packers in free agency. At 6-4, 315 lbs. and just 26 years old, Guion will provide a runstuffing presence in the middle of the Packers defense and will guard against the exit of Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly should they not return. The Packers also re-signed one of their own in B.J. Raji, inking him to an incentive-laden one-year deal worth a maximum of $4 million. Raji perhaps overestimated his value on the open market and will be motivated to have a good season and boost his value next season.
The Packers made the biggest splash in free agency since Charles Woodson back in 2006 when they added former Bears nemesis Julius Peppers. Perhaps an odd fit for the team’s 3-4 scheme, it may not matter if the Packers utilize Peppers heavily as an edge rusher in nickel and dime subpackages. At 34 years old, the Packers hope there’s still plenty left in Peppers’ tank and he can hold up against the run. Another new face for 2014 is Letroy Guion, who also
Three players who all figure to play bigger roles in 2014 include Mike Daniels, Datone Jones and Josh Boyd. Daniels had a breakout season last year, coming up with 6.5 sacks and providing the interior pass rush pressure that’s been missing ever since Cullen Jenkins departed. The Packers will be banking on Jones to make a big leap in Year 2 after an ankle injury contributed to his modest production as a rookie. As a former first-round pick, expectations are high. Boyd will be relied upon to be another big body to plug holes. And it’s up to Jerel Worthy to come back from a torn ACL to make an impact on what’s becoming a crowded defensive line.
NFL. Masthay provided competition to Crosby on kickoffs last season and has the stronger leg but not the consistency. Long snapper Brett Goode has yet to have a snap lead to a turnover in six seasons. Any offseason competition the Packers bring in from specialists will probably be as insurance in case of injury.
The only position on the team that didn’t have a player with an expiring contract in 2014 is the specialists, partially because there are only three of them. And because all of them are solid, there doesn’t figure to be any turnover on special teams either. After being on the verge of being cut by the Packers in training camp, kicker Mason Crosby followed the worst season of his career in 2012 with the best season of his career in 2013. Crosby went from finishing dead last in the NFL in field goal percentage (63.6 percent) to a career-best (89.2 percent).
Is it time to bring in a full-time return specialist?
On one hand, punter Tim Masthay set a Packers singleseason record with a 39.0-yard net average and on other hand, he had a career-low 22 punts downed inside the 20. Like Crosby, Masthay deserves credit for performing well in less-than-ideal weather conditions in Green Bay, but he’s still not among the top tier of punters in the
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Larry Radloff Photography
There’s still room for improvement, however, as 11 other NFL kickers finished with a field-goal percentage above 90 last season. From a kickoff standpoint, Crosby was average in 2013, but considering he kicks in one of the least-hospitable climates in the league, he gets the benefit of the doubt.
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Green Bay Packers packers Inside and Outside Linebackers
Larry Radloff Photography
coming more agile in 2013. Could the Packers do better than Hawk? Sure. But they’re better off finding him a better running mate. Brad Jones is the incumbent starter after signing a three-year deal worth $11.25 million last offseason. It looked as if Jones was off to a good season early last year before suffering a hamstring injury and his production waned. If the Packers happen to draft an inside linebacker in the first round, it’s possible they could part ways with Jones.
Probably not since Desmond Bishop has been healthy have the Packers gotten solid, above-average play from the inside linebacker position. At times, they’ve been able to avoid below-average play, but the production the Packers have been getting may best be described as pedestrian. There’s plenty of room for improvement; improvement that could come from the NFL Draft. A.J. Hawk is arguably coming off the best season of his career after dropping weight and be-
ties is to see how much, if at all, Julius Peppers might play and practice with the outside linebackers. He’s not a made to be a true-and-through outside linebacker such as dropping into coverage, but Peppers is at his best as an edge rusher. Second-year players Andy Mulumba and Nate Palmer should have benefitted from receiving significant playing time their rookie years. If either or both make a jump, it will only make the Packers defense better.
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Timing is everything for Mike Neal. People had likely begun to write him off after playing in only 23 of 55 games in his first three seasons. Even in the games he played, his impact was nil. Then in 2013, the last year of his rookie contract, he played in all 16 games, starting ten, had a career-high five sacks, even grabbed his first interception and had a team-high 37 quarterback pressures, according to ProFootballFocus.com. Neal stayed healthy while Clay Matthews and Nick Perry were relegated to the sidelines with broken thumb and heel respectively. Upon reaching free agency, Neal received a deal to stay with the Packers for two more seasons. Matthews, of course, remains a big part of the Packers’ plans after becoming the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL last offseason. Now he just has to stay healthy. In a case of bad timing, Perry appeared to be coming on last season just as injury struck, coming up with three sacks and two forced fumbles in back-to-back weeks before getting hurt. His effectiveness was effectively sapped the rest of the way. He’ll look to follow the path of Neal, overcoming injuries early in his career. Perhaps one of the more intriguing possibili-
Jamari Lattimore will be back after the Packers extended an original-round tender before the start of free agency. Last season Lattimore showed flashes of athleticism while filling in for Jones but was too frequently caught out of position. At minimum, he’s a core special teams player, a key backup and a respected locker room leader. The Packers might be looking to get more out of second-year player Sam Barrington, who showed promise before being placed on injured reserve last season with a hamstring injury. Veteran Rob Francois has yet to be signed as a free agent and may or may not be back after tearing his Achilles in 2013. Victor Aiyewa comes back after being added as a special teams role player in the second half of last season.
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Green Bay Packers packers Cornerbacks and Safeties locked up a player in the prime of career that hedges against the potential of Tramon Williams leaving after his contract expires following the 2014 season. Williams came on strong in the second half of last season and should be motivated to continue his high level of play entering a contract season.
Larry Radloff Photography
The Packers have a pair of young ascending slot cornerbacks in Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde, assuming Hyde doesn’t make the switch to safety. They’ll also be banking on Hayward to fully recover from last year’s hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve, missing most of the season. The jury’s still out whether Hayward can be as effective of a boundary cornerback as he is defending the slot. When the Packers re-signed Sam Shields in the offseason, they avoided the possibility of having to address the position as high as the first round of the NFL Draft. The Packers signed Shields to a four-year, $39 million contract, making him tied for third highest-paid cornerback in the NFL based on an average per year salary of $9.75 million. Shields’ signing also raised questions whether the Packers over-paid for a player who has yet to become a Pro Bowler. But on the other hand, they also
the NFL Combine. Hyde’s aggressive style of play would seem to translate well if the team feels comfortable taking him away from the slot, where he played well last season. Sean Richardson is another in-house candidate but must make a jump in his third year in the NFL. He’s solid in the run game but has shown to be a step slow in coverage. Chris Banjo was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent and makes a nice addition to special teams if nothing else.
One player that could fill the void at the position is cornerback Micah Hyde, who head coach Mike McCarthy called “an option” to play at safety while at
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Larry Radloff Photography
When the Green Bay Packers stood pat and didn’t address the safety position in the opening days of free agency, it all but assured they’d be taking one high in the NFL Draft, probably sometime in the first two days. And when they declined to tender M.D. Jennings as a restricted free agent and he subsequently signed with the Chicago Bears, it guaranteed there would be a new starter opposite Morgan Burnett in 2014. Make no bones about it, Burnett was a letdown last season, made all the more disappointing after signing a new five-year, $26 million deal the previous offseason. The impact plays were missing: zero interceptions, zero sacks and zero forced fumbles. With the Packers’ married to Burnett’s contract, there’s no choice but to upgrade the safety opposite him, and hope his play improves as a result. Given that Burnett has the raw tools and has proven himself to be better in previous seasons, there’s a decent chance he’ll rebound.
One player that’s a true perimeter corner is Davon House, but he’s also a player that has yet to gain the full trust of the coaching staff in a starting role. Jarrett Bush adds depth and comes off perhaps the best performance of his career last season, intercepting a pass intended for Tony Gonzalez. James Nixon, Jumal Rolle and Antonio Dennard are all young, raw prospects that have potential but must prove themselves during the offseason.
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All-Bowl Team
Brian Carriveau
2013-2014 Draft All-Bowl Team Our all-bowl team is based on a 3-4 defense the Packers run, and players are projected how they’d fit into such a system. Quarterback Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M—In a back-and-forth battle with Duke in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, it was Manziel that ultimately came up victorious, operating an offense that could not be stopped. Manziel completed 30 of 38 passes for 382 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions, also running for 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground on his way to leading the Aggies to 52 points. He may not have the strongest arm, but the way Manziel reads defenses and finds the open receiver is superb. Running Back Adam Muema, San Diego State—Muema may not have been one of the more well-known running back prospects before the Potato Bowl against Buffalo, but he is after running for 229 yards on 28 carries to go along with three touchdowns. That’s a defense with Khalil Mack on it. As a junior, Muema has declared for the NFL Draft. Running Back Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona—Unlike Muema, Carey is on everyone’s radar and may perhaps be the No. 1 overall running back prospect in this year’s draft class. He didn’t disappoint in the AdvocCare V100 Bowl against Boston College, rushing for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Fullback Chad Abram, Florida State—A traditional blocking fullback, Abram made the most of made the most of his few touches, taking his lone reception 11 yards on a swing pass for a touchdown to help the Seminoles win the national championship over Auburn. Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins, Clemson—Watkins put on a clinic against Ohio State, setting both school and Orange Bowl single-game records with 16 receptions for 227 yards, two of them going for touchdowns, helping to establish himself as the No. 1 overall wide receiver in this year’s draft class. Wide Receiver Bruce Ellington, South Carolina—Wisconsin came into the Capital One Bowl with the reputation for having a pretty good defense. Ellington shredded it to the tune of 140 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. His performance was capped off by a nine-yard touhdown pass to quarterback Connor Shaw on a trick play. Just 5’ 9”, Ellington figures to make an impact from the slot in the NFL. Another junior entry. Tight End Gator Hoskins, Marshall—More H-back than tight end, whatever his classification, Hoskins continued to show his knack for finding the end zone with two touchdowns on six receptions covering a team-high 104 yards in a Military Bowl win over Maryland. Including the bowl game, his season total touchdowns reached 15. Tackle Zack Martin, Notre Dame—Arguably the best player on the field in the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers, Martin made the case that he could possibly be a left tackle at the next level. Some have him pegged at guard or right tackle. Martin helped the Fighting Irish put up 494 yards of total offense and didn’t give up a sack. Tackle Xavier Su’a-Filo, UCLA—Another left tackle projected to guard in the NFL, Su’a Filo helped the Bruins rack up 447 yards and average 6.8 yards per play against a Virginia Tech defense that ranked No. 4 in the nation. Filo declared for the draft as a junior. Guard Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State—Jackson helped the Bulldogs offense steamroll Rice for 553 yards and 7.0 yards per play. For perspective, 7.0 yards per play would rank No. 5 in the nation over the course of an entire season. Mississippi State averaged 5.7, which ranked No. 45. Guard Jordan McCray, Central Florida—Baylor came into the Fiesta Bowl as a 16.5-point favorite. McCray helped hold the Baylor defense without a sack as UCF put up 556 yards of offense (7.4 yards per play) and the Golden Knights pulled off the upset.
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All-Bowl Team Center Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma—Ikard helped Oklahoma upset 15.5-point favorite Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Oklahoma beat writer Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World described Ikard’s impact on the game-winning drive as follows: “With the score 38-31 and nearly six minutes still remaining, (QB Trevor) Knight faced third-and-9 from his own 13. He flipped a screen to Brennan Clay. Ikard got out in front of his running back and chipped the one Crimson Tide defender in position to make the stop. Clay spun and lunged for the first down. The Sooners went on to chew up another 39 yards and, more important, five minutes of clock.” Defensive Lineman Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame—Of Tuitt’s four tackles in the Pinstripe Bowl, 1.5 were sacks, which added up for a loss of 14 yards. Tuitt is another junior entry into the NFL draft and a prototype five-technique end. Defensive Lineman Timmy Jernigan, Florida State—Known for his quickness, Jernigan showed how stout he can be in the national championship game against Auburn, shutting down the Auburn run game up the gut. He’s not a traditional nose tackle, but Jernigan showed he play a two-gap style of defense and be effective, making nine tackles, one for loss against the Tigers. Defensive Lineman Kony Ealy, Missouri -- The 6-5, 275 lbs. performed well as a five-technique end in Missouri’s win over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl, making six tackles, two sacks and breaking up a pass. Ealy declared for the NFL draft as a junior. Outside Linebacker Marcus Smith, Louisville—A defensive end at Louisville, Smith would play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Of his two sacks in the Champs Sports Bowl win over Miami, one was a strip-sack that resulted in a turnover. The Hurricanes lost 20 yards on Smith’s two sacks. He also broke up a pass. Outside Linebacker Kareem Martin, North Carolina—Martin is on the bigger side for defensive ends that would transition to outside linebacker at 272 lbs., but his playmaking ability in the Belk Bowl against Cincinnati suggested he could. Martin made four tackles, 1.5 for a loss and was credited for half a sack in which he combined with a teammate to bring down Hurricanes quarterback Stephen Morris in the end zone for a safety. Inside Linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, UCLA—Zumwalt made a team-leading 10 tackles as well as grabbed an interception and returned it 43 yards to set up a UCLA touchdown against Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl. But his most impressive moment might have been the slobber-knocker hit he put on 257 lb. quarterback Logan Thomas to knock him out of the game. Inside Linebacker Jake Doughty, Utah State—Doughty made eight tackles, 1.5 for a loss Utah State’s win over Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl. His biggest impact came in helping to shut down Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch, including a forced fumble that led to a Utah State field goal. Cornerback Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State—It’s hard to argue with a player that scored two touchdowns on the defensive side of the football, recovering two fumbles in Oregon State’s Hawaii Bowl win over Boise State and taking them to pay dirt. Reynolds also made 10 tackles and broke up a pass. Cornerback Andre Hal, Vanderbilit—Hal made a team-leading nine tackles, broke up three passes and intercepted one, returning it 29 yards in Vandy’s BBVA Compass Bowl win over Houston, helping to limit the Cougars to just 22 yards the entire first half. Safety Craig Loston, LSU—Loston may have had the best game of his career in his last game as a Tiger, making a team-high six tackles, three for a loss and intercepted a fourth-quarter pass that helped seal LSU’s win over Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Safety Jerry “Boo Boo” Gates, Bowling Green—Although it came in a losing effort against Pittsburgh in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Gates made eight tackles, 1.5 for a loss, half a sack and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, doing his best to keep Bowling Green competitive. Kicker Carey Spear, Vanderbilt—There weren’t many notable performances to choose from among draft-eligible kickers, but Spear was perfect in the BBVA Compass Bowl, kicking 24 and 35 yard field goals, converting all four extra points and had three touchbacks on eight kickoffs, averaging 61.9 yards. Punter Steven Clark, Auburn—Auburn lost to Florida State in the national championship despite Clark’s best efforts, pinning five of his six punts inside the 20. He averaged 43.2 yards and had a long of 58. week.
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NFL Draft 2014
Brian Carriveau
What they’re saying... The 2014 Draft class talks about their teammates Fresno State QB Derek Carr on WR Davante Adams:
“He’s the best. Some people say he’s not the fastest on tape, but I still haven’t seen him get caught on tape. He’ll definitely have one of, if not the best, vertical leaps. I’ve seen him dunk and he’s looking down through the rim. I don’t think that’s supposed to happen with how tall he is.”
Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel on WR Mike Evans: “Mike Evans is really one of the most physical, one of the best receivers I’ve seen play college football.”
“He demolished people. He just straight manhandled. As soon as the ball was hiked; he was five yards down the field .”
South Carolina DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney on QB Connor Shaw: “I believe Connor Shaw has everything it takes to be an NFL quarterback. He’s out there playing hurt; he pushes through practice. He comes back when we need him in clutch moments. Against Missouri, he came back hurt and gave us a chance to win that game. He’s a great quarterback.”
Wisconsin ILB Chris Borland on WR Jared Abbrederis: “I think he’s very polished. He’s a great route runner, has got great hands, very smart player, puts in a lot of work. Doesn’t slow down in and out of breaks, hits them full speed, which is rare. There are guys that might run better times, but I don’t know if there’s guys that run faster routes because they break down out of breaks.”
UCF QB Blake Bortles on RB Storm Johnson: “I think he’s a special player, has unbelievable amount of talent. I think as everybody kind of saw, he’s a great running back.“
Auburn RB Tre Mason on OL Greg Robinson:
Missouri OL Justin Britt on DE/OLB Michael Sam:
“Mike has a really good motor and him being a fifth-year senior, he really knows how to play the game.”
Wisconsin OL Ryan Groy on RB James White: “I think he’ll have a strong NFL future. I think he’s the kind of guy that you can rely on first through fourth down. He’s a guy that can do everything. He’s very football savvy. He has great pass-blocking skills, and I think that’s something that really will help at the next level.”
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NFL Draft 2014
Brian Carriveau
What they’re saying... The 2014 Draft class talks about their opponents Ohio State OL Jack Mewhort on Michigan OL Taylor Lewan: “Taylor’s got that field persona. He’s like a pro wrestler: When he steps between the lines, he’s kind of got his different personality, and I respect that. He’s a great competitor and he goes out and plays great ball. But outside the lines, he’s just like any other offensive lineman, fun loving, likes to have relax and have fun.”
Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo on Ball State QB Keith Wenning:
“He gets the ball out quickly. He’s a very quick decision maker, and I think that’s a tribute to him and just his knowledge of the game really.”
“I give it to Aaron Donald. He’s a hell of a player, honestly. Good feet, good hands and a great technician.”
South Carolina CB Victor Hampton on Clemson WR Sammy Watkins: “You have to study him. He’s a guy you are going to think about from Sunday to Saturday. He’s capable of that big play, and I had to make sure he didn’t make it on me. This year he did have a great catch on me, like a 50-yard past route. That was his one good catch on me this year.”
Boise State DE/OLB Demarcus Lawrence on Nevada OL Joel Bitonio: “I played against a pretty good tackle at Nevada. He was just throwing me different kind of sets, different kind of moves. He had pretty good footwork, too.”
Arkansas DE/OLB Chris Smith on Auburn OL Greg Robinson: “I went against him. He’s a great run blocker, a great pass blocker too. I went against him last year as well. He’s very athletic too.”
Baylor OL Cyril Richardson on Pittsburgh DL Aaron Donald:
Penn State OL John Urschel on Minnesota DL Ra’Shede Hageman: “He’s a very talented defensive lineman. That guy has some serious size, and he’s going to be a great D-tackle in the NFL.”
Louisville S Calvin Pryor on UCF QB Blake Bortles: “Great upside. Very, very intelligent. Great decision maker. He can use his legs when he has to escape out the pocket and make plays. Just a great quarterback.”
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Staff The Pro Football Draft Preview STAFF “Jersey” Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also the Packers draft analyst for DraftTek.com and co-host of Cheesehead Radio. Al is a recently accepted member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @JerseyAlGBP. Brian Carriveau is the editor of Cheesehead TV’s “Pro Football Draft Preview” and author of “It’s Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America.” In 2002, he was a safety at the University of Technology, Sydney in Australia. Follow him on Twitter @BrianCarriveau. Andrew Garda is a member of the Pro Football Writers Association. When not yelling at kids as a Pop Warner assistant coach, he is also a member of the fantasy football staff at FootballGuys.com, the NFL writer at Cheesehead TV and a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. He’s been credentialed at the Senior Bowl, NFL Draft and Combine as well as a ridiculous amount of pro days. Follow him on Twitter @andrew_garda. “Pigskin” Paul Guillemette has been a football fan and drafnik for 50 years. He remains a Packers fan at heart even though he now lives in Central Florida. He has a website at PigskinPaul.com and can also be heard year-round on various Wisconsin sports radio talk shows. Follow him on Twitter @ PigskinPaul. Jay Hodgson is a lifelong Packers fan after growing up in the shadow of Lambeau Field and later working as a teenager on the training camp staff at St. Norbert College. He currently writes for WIsports.com and AllGreenBayPackers.com. Follow him on Twitter @jys_h. Zach Kruse is a 25-year-old writer who contributes at Cheesehead TV and serves as the NFC North lead writer at Bleacher Report. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @zachkruse2. Aaron Nagler is a co-founder of Cheesehead TV, a senior producer for NFL Video at Bleacher Report and lives in New York City. Follow him on Twitter @Aaron_Nagler. Jayme Snowden is a writer at Cheesehead TV and co-host of Cheesehead Radio, part of the Packers Talk Radio Network at PackersTalk.com. Raised in Wisconsin, she now lives in Cincinnati. Follow her on Twitter @Jaymelee1. Alex Tallitsch is the designer of Cheesehead TV’s “Pro Football Draft Preview.” He currently owns a small digital media company and lives in Tampa Bay, Florida. Follow him on Twitter @AlexTallitsch.
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