Overall a pretty keen list.
To start, thanks for replying this was a great post. I should have probably cleared a few things up (and I will on the original post). I threw out positional value. For example, I don't view NT (3-4 or 4-3) or Center as a valuable position at all. No way in hell I'd take one in the first round, no matter how good. Another example is "slot wr's" like Cooks, and Beckham. I can't draft a guy who will play
at most 60% on offense in the first round. I can in the 2nd but not in the first. When looking at QB's, I have to be getting a potential top 10 quarterback to warrant a first round grade. I don't see any even close. At best, I don't see any of these QB's being much better than Andy Dalton. As to Zack Martin, I don't find LT to LG much of a projection at all. He has experience pulling, and because of Troy Niklas staying in often as a pass protector (especially in 2012) you can see Zack pass set very similiarly to a guard. Pass setting as a guard is just how a LT would set in the quick game. You jump them early, rather than kick-slide and be patient in your set. He has very strong hands that routinely stay inside the framework.
I see an all-pro guard for a decade. 52 starts most in Notre Dame history and a 2-time captain. I'm buying high on Martin because I wholeheartedly believe at worst, I'm getting Logan Mankins 2.0.. would I take him #8 overall? No. I just think when it's said and done he will end up as the 8th best player from this class.
Greg Robinson is the
best offensive lineman I've ever seen out of college. He's the best football player in this class. No one can sway me otherwise. As a pass protector, very seldom will he overset and give a two-way go, and he has shown he can take a power step and wash down anyone who tries the inside route. Anyone who tries to convert speed-to-power against him will be stoned. You're not going to get any movement on him. That leaves his weakest area of his game, protecting the edge. He has the length and elite foot quickness and athleticism to mirror speed rushers. Where he is flawed is his technique. He is more of a grabber than a puncher which will lead to holding penalties and allow edge rushers to dip their inside shoulder and turn the corner on him. He needs to work on getting inside hands and being more patient in his pass set. Any decent offensive line coach worth his salt will be able to coach this out of him. I agree you would be better off playing him as a left guard or right tackle until that is coached out of him. I think in 2-3 years he is the best offensive lineman in the league, no matter what position you play him at. If I'm Houston I take him #1 overall no doubt and play him at LG or RT until Duane Brown retires. He's that good of a football player.
Darqueze Dennard- 4.51 "official" and a broad jump of a staggering 11 feet 2 inches shows me that he has more than enough physical tangibles. He's great in press, and has plus mirror skills. He's going to have to learn to look back and play the football. I agree wholeheartedly on that. If he doesn't learn that skill (a very coachable one at that) he may end up leading the league in pass interference calls. But I encourage you to watch a Seattle Seahawk game, specifically their corners. They commit pass interference every play. But they are experts on it. They know how to get away with it, and always play the football. Surely they will get called for it, but their train of thought it "**** it, they're not going to call it more than 3-4 times a game, it's worth the trade off of holding the other 25-30".
Kyle Fuller is a stud no doubt about it. What do you want him to play? Off or press-bail? Press? Nickel? Even Safety (see Alabama game)? He can do it all. Justin Gilbert is severely overrated. He has the physical tools but is far too inconsistent (see 2012) to be a top 20 pick.
Kudos for liking Terrance Brooks. He's vastly underrated. I don't have him in the top 32 but with a league so scarce on talent at the free safety position, he can be an above average starter for someone.
I love Ha Ha's range, but I knock every prospect coming out of Alabama. 1. Is Nick usually gets the most out of them (most hit have hit their ceiling already) 2. 90% of them enter the league hurt 3. His DB's all bust or at the least leave you wanting more. What do you not like about Pryor?
I think Latimer has more fluidness than most bigger receivers, like his "above the rim" ability, and deceptive speed as a vertical receiver. Also a hell of a blocker. He is what he is. a #2 possession guy. I like him late 1st.
Nix is kind of meh. Like I mentioned previously, I don't have a 1st round grade on him. With a DL coach that will coach him hard, he can be a pretty damn good nose tackle. Strictly a 2 down guy. Nowhere near recent high picks like Poe or Star. I would take him mid 2nd.
Beckham is not a guy that will win on the outside for you. I like him in the slot plus the added bonus of the return game. Again, I like him at pick #40-50 range. Drops too many easy balls too. Will make the highlight reel catch one play, than drop a smoke screen the next. Common of receivers with good RAC ability. If you use him extensively on the outside you will be left wanting more. If you use him in a Randall Cobb role, I think you have yourself a good slot and return guy.
Bitonio- is someone I view as a good-pretty good guard in a zone scheme. If you run a power man scheme, I don't think you view him as a starter in your scheme.
I've stated this on this forum before, but
the transition from LT to guard is a very easy process. Especially if you keep them on the same side.
A few examples are Logan Mankins and Andy Levitre.
It's much more difficult to switch sides of the line, than it is to move from tackle to guard. Your footwork and hand placement stays the same. The biggest difference is your pass set. As I mentioned with Martin, your pass set is identical to the one you used in the quick game at LT (90 protection) it's just a more aggressive set. Get your hands inside, mirror and anchor. Not a hard transition at all. That's why I find projecting LT's to guard a very very simple process. Xavier Su'a Filo has done both in college and switches between them both effortlessly. He doesn't have the length or foot quickness to stay on an island in pass pro (just like Martin, and Bitonio) that's why he's a guard at the next level.
Here are my players with 1st round grades:
Greg Robinson
Jake Matthews
Sammy Watkins (buyer beware)
Jadeveon Clowney (buyer beware)
Khalil Mack (buyer beware)
Mike Evans
Aaron Donald
Zack Martin
Ryan Shazier
Taylor Lewan (buyer beware)
Xavier Su'a-Filo
Darqueze Dennard
Calvin Pryor
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (buyer beware)
Eric Ebron (buyer beware)
Kyle Fuller
Deone Bucannon
Anthony Barr
Justin Gilbert (buyer beware)
Cody Latimer
Ja'wuan James
* I personally wouldn't take anyone with a buyer beware label. I gave out 21 first round grades from a talent perspective. Subtract the one's with buyer beware (character concerns) and it's only 14. Mosley and Easley are first round talents, but due to medical I would take them at the top of the 2nd. If you look back at drafts, you will find 12-20 players that shouldn't have been picked in the 1st round.
Again thanks for the response, and good eye on Marcus Martin, Gabe Jackson and Troy Niklas. If you want a tight end that can set the edge and reach 9 techniques, wash defenders on down blocks, and get movement on base blocks, look no further. He won't catch 100 passes a season for you, but could very well end up as the best blocking tight end in the league. Martin is a 20 year old 3 year starter with the tools to be a starter at Center and both guards. I think he can be a top 10 center. I'd draft him in the 2-3 range. I think Jackson is being criminally underrated like Larry Warford was last year. I don't think he is a better prospect, but they share similar traits.