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Doug Farrar Top 40 pre-Combine
This is where the draft process starts in earnest. As a last-minute barometer before it all begins, heres one Big Board to consider as the combine approaches.
1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Bridgewater may or may not be the best overall player in this draft class, but I believe that hes clearly the best player at the most important position, which is why hes up top here. With his mobility, ability to make the palette of NFL throws and field awareness, Bridgewater has the comprehensive skill set needed to succeed at the next level. At times, he reminds me of an embryonic Aaron Rodgers.
2. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Production and motivational concerns will dog Clowney through the combine and into the rest of the draft process, because narratives are written as such. But theres still the tape to watch, and that tape shows a player that nearly every opponent is arrayed against to a ridiculous degree. Clowney can still disrupt and make things happen from multiple gaps, and thats why hes a special player.
3. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
The most technically sound and practiced offensive lineman in this draft class. Matthews gets pushed back once in a while, but there isnt a better overall blocker, or one more ready for the rigors of the NFL.
4. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
Robinson doesnt yet have Matthews agility or technique, but hes already got more of both than youd expect from a pure mauler. And make no mistake, Robinson can maul at times, hell just level the defenders hes blocking over and over. It wouldnt be surprising at all if some line coaches saw Robinson as the more appealing prospect and he went before Matthews somewhere in the top five.
5. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
A truly special player built for any scheme, in multiple roles if need be. Possessing impressive speed for his size (6-foot-3, 248 pounds), Mack can rush from the edge or head inside on stunts just as adeptly as he can line up at linebacker depth and blow up run plays.
6. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
7. C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama
Mosley is the best pure inside linebacker since Luke Keuchly. Not only is he a rare player in a field awareness sense, he also possesses impressive versatility. Mosley loves to come down against the run and mix it up, but hes just as adept in coverage.
8. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
9. Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA
10. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
11. Marqise Lee, WR, USC
12. Dee Ford, DE, Auburn
Another Colts comparison Ford reminds me of Robert Mathis at times in the ways he turns things over in the open field. Hes got great explosiveness and outstanding awareness in the open field, and he closes on the ballcarrier in a big hurry. He still has some issues in pass coverage, and Id like to see him dip-and-rip with more consistency, but those things can be ironed out with good coaching.
13. Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame
Its quite rare to see an athlete of Nixs size (6-2, 345 pounds) get through blockers and gaps with speed, but the tape doesnt lie Nix is an unusual player from that perspective. Hes got the strength and technique (including a devastating swim move) to make life very difficult for every NFL center he faces.
14. RaShede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
15. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Lets set the YOLO lifestyle claims aside for the time being, because youll hear all sorts of things both positive and negative about that. As a pure football player, Manziel comes into the NFL at the perfect time. QBs from Ben Roethlisberger to Cam Newton have proven that mobility is a virtual must for todays signal callers, and Russell Wilson has shown that you can get things done with an exceptional football sense even if youre not 6-3. Manziel doesnt have Wilsons demeanor or acumen (yet), but hes a rare improviser in a positive sense. The problem? There are parts of his tape where he looks just about undraftable. The positive? A play or two after that clip, youll see him make a play that leaves you (and the defense) gasping. A rare risk/reward player, but his first-round status is undeniable.
16. Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville
17. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
18. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
19. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU
20. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
21. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama
22. Aaron Donald, DL, Pittsburgh
23. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
24. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
25. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
26. Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech
27. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
Kouandjio has everything it takes to be a great left-side outside protector in a run-based offense, and hes lighter on his feet than your standard-issue Bama mauler. He needs some work on getting his feet quicker, but hes well on his way.
28. Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
Bortles might be the most polarizing player in this class, in terms of positioning and where people see him. Ive seen mocks and Big Boards from people I respect that have him top five, or even first overall. Most of those advanced proclamations favor Bortles on physical potential, and theres a lot to like there. But theres a caveat like Jake Locker, I think Bortles could be overdrafted on his potential and take longer than expected to get the fine points of quarterbacking at the NFL level.
29. David Yankey, G, Stanford
Two years ago, Stanfords David DeCastro had me thinking that he was the best collegiate guard Id seen since Steve Hutchinson. Yankey isnt quite at that point, but its clear that the Cardinal are doing something right with this position. Yankey is a powerful player with fine fundamentals who should be able to step right in for the team that selects him.
30. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
While I like Jernigans strength in the middle of a defensive line, Im less sure than some others about his quickness off the snap, and his mastery of hand moves hell need to deal with NFL blockers. A fine prospect in need of specific coaching.
31. Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State
The template for the NFL linebacker has changed drastically over the last five years more and more, teams want smaller, rangy guys who can cover the maximum amount of ground. At 6-2 and 230 pounds, Shazier is right on the cusp of that curve in good and bad ways. He can break into coverage just as well as he can come down to play against the run, but there are enough plays where he gets washed out to have me thinking that a few protein drinks are in order.
32. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU
33. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas
Center is hardly a glamorous position, but it becomes readily apparent to all the skill position players when theres a talent drain in the middle of your offensive line. Swanson would be of great value to any NFL team, but especially to any pass-heavy offense, because pass pro is his primary strength. Hes also an outstanding blocker in space when asked to pull to either side.
34. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State
35. Moses Morgan, OT, Virginia
The thing that really stands out about Morgan to me is how flexible and mobile he is, especially to the second level. Its impressive to see for a player his size (6-6, 325). If he can learn to clamp onto blocks with more consistency and ovoid overpursuit, he could be a very special player.
36. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
37. Xavier Sua-Filo, G, UCLA
If youre looking for a true masher with a nasty playing demeanor for the inside of your offensive line, it would be hard to do better than Sua-Filo. While he will occasionally lose leverage and power when he forgets technique, he has a great combination of power and agility.
38. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU
Van Noy is a technique-sound player with limited upside, but hell make plays in the right scheme. Coverage is perhaps his most underrated asset, but field speed is a problem in certain instances.
39. Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State
Jackson has the raw potential to be the best of this years guard class hes powerful and agile, and he really delivers a blow in the run game. Its the second-level stuff that seems to befuddle him at this point, but with a little coaching, hes going to be a good one.
40. Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
Perhaps the most underrated defensive lineman in the nation. Crichton breaks plays down at the line very well and closes with great speed. Hes got the root strength to beat double teams, and the technique to slap blockers around and create havoc. Crichton will reward the team smart enough to take him with a whole lot of production.