Slimm's November 2013 NFL Draft Position Rankings (Seniors)

[Pachyderm_Wave]

The slotting for my Seniors are beginning to take shape as I tier prospects prior to fine tuning throughout the evaluating process. I have draftable grade on 11 Senior quarterbacks.


Quarterback:


Tier 1: (Top 25-50 Grade)

Geno Smith / West Virginia

Matt Barkley / USC

Ryan Nassib / Syracuse

Mike Glennon / N.C. State


Tier 2: (Top 75-150 Grade)

Zac Dysert / Miami (OH)

Tyler Wilson / Arkansas

Landry Jones / Oklahoma

Brad Sorensen / Southern Utah

E.J. Manuel / Florida St.


Tier 3: (Top 175-250 Grade)

Sean Renfree / Duke

Colby Cameron / Louisiana Tech





*Note*

At no point in their stellar collegiate careers have I evaluated Collin Klein or Denard Robinson as legitimate next level quarterbacks. Robinson is perhaps the best athlete and most explosive, dynamic playmaker in college football, and view him as making a transition to the WR position in the same manner of former college quarterbacks such as Bert Emanuel, Antwaan Randle El, Matt Jones, Josh Cribbs, and Brad Smith, for example. Hines Ward and Anquan Boldin were both QB's in college who made the transition to WR while actually still in college. Robinson possesses the mental and physical attributes to make the transition and become a terrific weapon in the NFL as a receiver/return specialist, although the blocking aspects are simply unprojectable at the moment.

There's probably no single player in the country who means more to their team than Collin Klein. As of right now, he deserves the Heisman Trophy for being the best player in college football. What he's done at Kansas St. under Bill Snyder is incredible.... accounting for 76% of total offense and 63% of the offensive touchdowns K-State has had over the past 2 seasons. A completely unselfish player with extremely rare leadership qualities, rugged toughness, maturity, and special running ability for an athlete of his size. Kids like him are everything that's right about college football. One of the more special players I've seen in college football in recent years. However, his passing ability simply does not translate to the NFL.

The flaws are obvious to anyone who takes the time to delve into them, so they're not worth going into great detail about.... Especially for a kid who does nothing but produce and win.

Make no mistake, Klein will be drafted, and the potential is there to be drafted fairly high to a team who falls in love with his off the charts intangibles, size, toughness, athletic ability, production, and leadership. He makes sense only if you're a team that has a specific package designed to take advantage of the exact same things that Bill Snyder takes advantage of at Kansas St.

Ryan Nassib possesses a terrific set of physical tools to work with, along with the quickest release in all of college football. That release is really something special... lightening fast.

 

[2413fanphins]

looking forward to your early defensive grades. maybe it's just todays performance, but I'm going to be dreaming of an upgraded secondary for at least six days!!

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Tight End:


Tier 1 (Top 25 Grade)

Tyler Eifert / Notre Dame


Tier 2 (Top 50-125 Grade)

Jack Doyle / Western Kentucky

Joe Fauria / UCLA

Jake Stoneburner / Ohio St.

Chris Gragg / Arkansas

Matt Furstenburg / Maryland

Ryan Otten / San Jose St.

Nick Kasa / Colorado

Michael Williams / Alabama

Justice Cunningham / South Carolina


Tier 3 (Top 150-225 Grade)

Phillip Lutzenkirchen / Auburn

Zach Sudfeld / Nevada

Ryan Griffin / UCONN

Chase Harper / Texas St.

 

[datruth55]

I've seen Denard Robinson listed as a top 10 WR on some sites which I find absurd given he's never played the position.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Runningback: (Power/Short Yardage/Goaline)


Tier 1 (Top 150 Grade)

Zach Line / SMU

Lonnie Pryor / Florida St. (FB)


Tier 2 (Top 175-250 Grade)

Shawn Alston / West Virginia

Richard Samuel / Georgia (FB)


*Note*

Zach Line is a 6'0", 230 pound versatile, do-everything-back for SMU who will look good at the next level getting goaline work and short yardage carries in a RB by committee approach. Tremendously productive football player throughout his entire career... and I do mean "football player". Polished in pass protection... identifying and picking up blitzers left unaccounted for by the offensive line. Understands the concepts of runningback pass protection and protecting from the inside out.

Shawne Alston is a physical runner that gives Dana Holgorsen's wide open Air-Raid offense a dimension that you rarely see with these type of finesse offenses.... the ability to pick up the tough yards between the tackles when it's necessary. He's been fighting the injury bug a bit this year missing 3 games. I watched him on the field yesterday against TCU limping all over the place and giving his all for his team.

The 6'1", 235 pound Richard Samuel is the forgotten man in Georgia's backfield with the emergence of the double-headed monster at tailback in the form of freshman Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, but Samuel is as powerful of a runner as there is in the college game. Versatile player who can play both fullback and tailback. Outstanding special teams player for UGA and I can't evaluate Georgia without seeing him making plays on special teams.




Runningback: (Balanced)


Tier 1 (Top 50-100 Grade)


Stepfan Taylor / Stanford

Zac Stacy / Vanderbilt

Latavius Murray / UCF

Montee Ball / Wisconsin

Christine Michael / Texas A&M


Tier 2 (Top 125-175 Grade)

Dennis Johnson / Arkansas

Miguel Maysonet / Stony Brook

Mike Gillislee / Florida


Tier 3 (Top 200-250 Grade)

Mike James / Miami

Benny Cunningham / Middle Tennessee St.

Rex Burkhead / Nebraska

Marcus Curry / Texas St.



*Note*

I talked all season last year about how underrated of a back the Sun-Belt's Alfred Morris was coming out of Florida Atlantic, and even pointed straight to him as one of the best picks the Redskins made the entire draft in the thread where I handed out grades for all 32 teams. This year, I think Benny Cunningham of Middle Tennessee St. is the stud Sun-Belt runningback who flies under the radar. Underutilized back who finally started getting the carries he deserves this year, and became the focal point of the offense until his season ended due to injury. Had a 217 yard, 5 TD performance against Georgia Tech, and another 230 yard, 2 TD performance against FIU in a 3 game stretch before he got hurt. Runs with tremendous pad level and balance....gets yards after contact. Strong, compact runner with a low center of gravity and ideal build for the position at 5'10", 212 pounds. Reminds me a little bit of a poor man's Deangelo Williams.


Miguel Maysonet is one of the most productive runners at the FCS level, and has shown that he can produce playing against D-1 competition. In fact, he's been so good that he's kept former All-Big Ten back, Marcus Coker on the bench. Coker rushed for almost 1,400 yards and scored 15 TD's at Iowa in 2011 prior to transferring to Stony Brook. What I like most about Maysonet is his patience and vision as a runner. Stony Brook basically runs power on every play... meaning they're blocking down and pulling a guard into the hole, while getting a kickout block from the FB or TE. This type of scheme requires a runner with great patience to allow his blocks to set up, and vision to anticipate where the best hole is going to be. This is old school power football that NFL scouts will enjoy.

Zac Stacy is another kid I've spent many a Friday nights watching in high school when he played for Bibb County.




Runningback: (Scatback/Change of Pace)


Tier 1 (Top 50-100 Grade)

Kenjon Barner / Oregon

Andre Ellington / Clemson


Tier 2 (Top 125-175 Grade)

Robbie Rouse / Fresno St.

Chris Thompson / Florida St.

Johnathan Franklin / UCLA

D.J. Harper / Boise St.


Tier 3 (Top 200-250 Grade)

D.J. Monroe / Texas

Onterio McCalebb / Auburn

Orwin Smith / Georgia Tech

Montel Harris / Temple

Curtis McNeal / USC

 

[WVDolphan]

The slotting for my Seniors are beginning to take shape as I tier prospects prior to fine tuning throughout the evaluating process. I have draftable grade on 11 Senior quarterbacks.


Quarterback:


Tier 1: (Top 25 Grade)

Geno Smith / West Virginia

Matt Barkley / USC

Tyler Wilson / Arkansas


Tier 2: (Top 50-125 Grade)

Zac Dysert / Miami (OH)

Ryan Nassib / Syracuse

Landry Jones / Oklahoma

Brad Sorensen / Southern Utah

E.J. Manuel / Florida St.


Tier 3: (Top 150-225 Grade)

Sean Renfree / Duke

Mike Glennon / N.C. State

Colby Cameron / Louisiana Tech





*Note*

At no point in their stellar collegiate careers have I evaluated Collin Klein or Denard Robinson as legitimate next level quarterbacks. Robinson is perhaps the best athlete and most explosive, dynamic playmaker in college football, and view him as making a transition to the WR position in the same manner of former college quarterbacks such as Antwaan Randle El, Matt Jones, and Brad Smith, for example. Hines Ward and Anquan Boldin were both QB's in college who made the transition to WR while actually still in college. Robinson possesses the mental and physical attributes to make the transition and become a terrific weapon in the NFL as a receiver.

There's probably no single player in the country who means more to their team than Collin Klein. As of right now, he deserves the Heisman Trophy for being the best player in college football. What he's done at Kansas St. under Bill Snyder is incredible.... accounting for 76% of total offense and 63% of the offensive touchdowns K-State has had over the past 2 seasons. A completely unselfish player with extremely rare leadership qualities, rugged toughness, maturity, and special running ability for an athlete of his size. Kids like him are everything that's right about college football. One of the more special players I've seen in college football in recent years. However, his passing ability simply does not translate to the NFL.

The flaws are obvious to anyone who takes the time to delve into them, so they're not worth going into great detail about.... Especially for a kid who does nothing but produce and win.

Make no mistake, Klein will be drafted, and the potential is there to be drafted fairly high to a team who falls in love with his off the charts intangibles, size, toughness, athletic ability, production, and leadership. He makes sense only if you're a team that has a specific package designed to take advantage of the exact same things that Bill Snyder takes advantage of at Kansas St.

Wow. What a WEAK year for QBs. Im so glad we got ours last draft. If Genos myth is one of the top senior QBs, its slim pickins.

 

[WVDolphan]

From the games I have watched Gillislee play RB, he is an NFL RB. I would draft him in a heartbeat. I think he could be a really good player in the NFL.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I've seen Denard Robinson listed as a top 10 WR on some sites which I find absurd given he's never played the position.

The NFL tends to do some absurd things when it comes to the draft. Drafting Matt Jones in the 1st round as a WR considering he hadn't played the position could be considered absurd.... but the NFL foams at the mouth over physical talent and rare athletic ability. It's a talent driven league, as opposed to being driven by innovation and creativity like college and high school football. Everybody pretty much runs the same schemes and same plays in the NFL, with the same personnel packages.... it boils down to who has the better talent. It has to be this way because the hash marks being so close together doesn't allow for deception on offense to work to the extent that it does in college or high school. A lot of football purists find the NFL quite boring because of it.

However, guys like Brad Smith and especially Randle El have had nice careers despite not playing the WR position in college. Hell, Randle El was drafted in the 2nd round to play a position he hadn't played. I don't think Robinson being one of the top 10 guys drafted to play WR is that absurd, simply because he's that talented physically. His speed, agility, and athleticism is flat out rarest of the rare.... and he actually has adequate size in the 6'0", 200 pound range.

Considering the fact that Michigan doesn't have much leeway when it comes to academics, Robinson obviously has some mental aptitude. Which is why he's able to understand the game from the perspective of a quarterback. That will count for something in the eyes of NFL scouts that they can project in terms of Robinson learning a system.

I think his projection as a returner and slot receiver at the next level is outstanding. Again, simply because he's so incredibly gifted physically. There ain't many in the NFL that can match him in terms of athletic ability, quickness, and top end speed... with the emphasis being on quickness, and his ability to accelerate and change directions like electricity. That's the main part of his athleticism that translates to the football field at any level in my opinion.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Wow. What a WEAK year for QBs. Im so glad we got ours last draft. If Genos myth is one of the top senior QBs, its slim pickins.

Not a myth. He's good.

If Robert Griffin, Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Christian Ponder, and Andy Dalton can play quarterback in the NFL and experience various degrees of success, I'll guarantee that Geno Smith can play quarterback in the NFL.

Let's "get real" here. If a league thinks Tim Tebow can play quarterback in it, Geno Smith can play in that league.

Blaine Gabbert has a starting job in the NFL. Let that sink in for a minute...

 

[WVDolphan]

Not a myth. He's good.

If Robert Griffin, Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Christian Ponder, and Andy Dalton can play quarterback in the NFL and experience various degrees of success, I'll guarantee that Geno Smith can play quarterback in the NFL.

Let's "get real" here. If a league thinks Tim Tebow can play quarterback in it, Geno Smith can play in that league.

Blaine Gabbert has a starting job in the NFL. Let that sink in for a minute...

Ive watched every game Genos myth has played in college. He cant play in the NFL. He is nowhere close to Blaine Gabbert. He isnt even as good as Bob Griffin.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Ive watched every game Genos myth has played in college. He cant play in the NFL. He is nowhere close to Blaine Gabbert. He isnt even as good as Bob Griffin.

I've also watched every game Geno has played in college... most of 'em several times over in fact. That's typically what I'm doing while most of you are watching the NFL.

You're right about one thing... he's nowhere close to Blaine Gabbert. Geno can actually produce in college, doesn't bail the pocket against a 3 man rush, and doesn't try to deliver passes with his eyes closed.

Considering Griffin and Cam Newton were both essentially "garbage you wouldn't waste a 7th rounder on", Geno has to be close in your estimation.

 

[ChambersWI]

Barkley's perception seems to have taken a fairly big hit wouldn't you say Slimm? I mean, he's still a good QB prospect but it doesn't seem like anybody really loves him as much as they did last year. USC was probably overrated going into the year (or the Pac-12 was vastly underrated... or both), but it doesn't really seem like Barkley took that next step with everybody watching you like Andrew Luck did. Hell even a guy like Leinart (who was a lock for number 1 pick had he come out) didn't really lose a beat on the field, people noticed more weaknesses but he fell more cause of his attitude (ie love for parties)

Now obviously Barkley is still probably the number 1 overall pick, and top 5 at worst, and I know he's having a fairly good year. But man, can't help but be a little disappointed in how he's played.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Barkley's perception seems to have taken a fairly big hit wouldn't you say Slimm? I mean, he's still a good QB prospect but it doesn't seem like anybody really loves him as much as they did last year. USC was probably overrated going into the year (or the Pac-12 was vastly underrated... or both), but it doesn't really seem like Barkley took that next step with everybody watching you like Andrew Luck did. Hell even a guy like Leinart (who was a lock for number 1 pick had he come out) didn't really lose a beat on the field, people noticed more weaknesses but he fell more cause of his attitude (ie love for parties)

Now obviously Barkley is still probably the number 1 overall pick, and top 5 at worst, and I know he's having a fairly good year. But man, can't help but be a little disappointed in how he's played.

The way I see it is that Barkley simply can't overwhelm scouts with physical tools or athletic ability the way Cam Newton can, but if you appreciate the subtleties and fine details of how to play the quarterback position.... Matt Barkley has no peers.

A lot of people were high on Logan Thomas because of physical tools, nothing else. This kid currently has no clue how to play the quarterback position at a level consistent with a good college quarterback, much less at an NFL level. Tyler Bray is good against bad defenses. In other words, the lack of NFL ready underclassman QB's this year will keep the stock fairly steady for the top Seniors like Matt Barkley.

I'm not sure he deserves to be the #1 overall pick, because there's defensive talent that more legitimately warrants being taken that high... but it's a quarterback league now and teams know they have to draft them early, perhaps passing up better players in the process.

Barkley has actually played extremely well this year. He's still completing over 65% of his passes and already thrown 30 TD's. He's had a couple of rough stretches along the way this year, but it's not all his fault. As good as Marquise Lee is, he still has lapses in concentration and drops easy passes that would be TD's on perfectly thrown passes from Barkley.

Barkley mainly struggled against Stanford because the best Senior center prospect in the draft went out with injury (Khaled Holmes) and they had to replace him with a freshman who couldn't make the line calls. Stanford blitzed and brought pressure in the A gaps directly over that freshman center every play....he couldn't even provide any resistance.... I don't see a QB in the NFL that wouldn't have a bad game behind that.

Started out rough against Utah because Holmes was rusty, and nervous lined up face mask to face mask with Star Lotulelei. He was so distracted by Star that he couldn't even get a functional snap to Barkley. However, Barkley's leadership and poise took over that game as he went on to lead USC to a 38-28 win. Lotulelei is one of those defensive players that deserve consideration for the #1 overall pick.

I understand what you're saying. The "hype" and noise surrounding Barkley has tailed off, but he didn't forget how to play quarterback. It's the details and consistency from the ground up that makes you appreciate Matt Barkley. Those who are typically only ever concerned with physical tools and nothing else when it comes to quarterbacks aren't going to attach themselves to a technician like Matt Barkley as the clear cut best option in the draft.

 

[datruth55]

I've watched Barkley this year and I think he looks just as good as last year and I think his deep ball has improved. He's not going to wow you with physical tools like Slimm said but he's fundamentally sound and he has a very good grasp on reading defenses and finding favorable matchups in the passing game.

I don't know if he's the first QB taken cause Geno Smith has the physical tools to wow you and he's playing pretty well. Would depend on the GM and how much value they place on the athleticism but Barkley is top 5 IMO. Geno Smith and Tyler Wilson would be the only other two QBs I would consider and Wilson will probably slip down in the draft cause he's not having a great year but I still like him as a prospect.

 

[ChambersWI]

The way I see it is that Barkley simply can't overwhelm scouts with physical tools or athletic ability the way Cam Newton can, but if you appreciate the subtleties and fine details of how to play the quarterback position.... Matt Barkley has no peers.

A lot of people were high on Logan Thomas because of physical tools, nothing else. This kid currently has no clue how to play the quarterback position at a level consistent with a good college quarterback, much less at an NFL level. Tyler Bray is good against bad defenses. In other words, the lack of NFL ready underclassman QB's this year will keep the stock fairly steady for the top Seniors like Matt Barkley.

I'm not sure he deserves to be the #1 overall pick, because there's defensive talent that more legitimately warrants being taken that high... but it's a quarterback league now and teams know they have to draft them early, perhaps passing up better players in the process.

Barkley has actually played extremely well this year. He's still completing over 65% of his passes and already thrown 30 TD's. He's had a couple of rough stretches along the way this year, but it's not all his fault. As good as Marquise Lee is, he still has lapses in concentration and drops easy passes that would be TD's on perfectly thrown passes from Barkley.

Barkley mainly struggled against Stanford because the best Senior center prospect in the draft went out with injury (Khaled Holmes) and they had to replace him with a freshman who couldn't make the line calls. Stanford blitzed and brought pressure in the A gaps directly over that freshman center every play....he couldn't even provide any resistance.... I don't see a QB in the NFL that wouldn't have a bad game behind that.

Started out rough against Utah because Holmes was rusty, and nervous lined up face mask to face mask with Star Lotulelei. He was so distracted by Star that he couldn't even get a functional snap to Barkley. However, Barkley's leadership and poise took over that game as he went on to lead USC to a 38-28 win. Lotulelei is one of those defensive players that deserve consideration for the #1 overall pick.

I understand what you're saying. The "hype" and noise surrounding Barkley has tailed off, but he didn't forget how to play quarterback. It's the details and consistency from the ground up that makes you appreciate Matt Barkley. Those who are typically only ever concerned with physical tools and nothing else when it comes to quarterbacks aren't going to attach themselves to a technician like Matt Barkley as the clear cut best option in the draft.

oh I agree. I just think people expected USC to run away with the Pac 12 and underestimated how good some teams were. Stanford may not have Luck anymore, but they are loaded on defense (including 2 of my favorite on defense in Shane Skov and Chase Thomas) and Coach Shaw has loaded up on OL (They lost good OL in the draft in Martin and DeCastro, but he got some good young guys in Josh Garnett, Kyle Murphy, Andrus Peat, and Graham Shular). I also think people forgot how loaded Oregon is. Plus some of the teams that have been cupcakes are much better coached this year. I think people are just gonna look at USC's "disappointing" season and conclude Barkley can't handle pressure.

I'm still kind of unsure whose going number 1. I've concluded that the only team a lock to take a QB is KC. If Gene Smith doesn't lose his job in Jacksonville, I think he'll give Blaine Gabbert another go. I think the Bills and Raiders would love QBs as well.