Tannenbombs
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JADEVEON CLOWNEY South Carolina, 6052 266 4.53. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Played in all 13 games as a freshman. Can turn speed to power. Faster than green grass through a goose and must be game planned for. He looks like the prototype NFL defensive end from his long athletic build to his extra long arm length. If only his flashes were graded you would think he was from another planet. But the whole film is graded and you rarely get the production his physical gifts warrant. Made many plays when he was unblocked. He was on a play count most of the year because of injury. Has an explosive arm-over move that you seldom see. Can completely dominate a portion of a game or can be walled off by a tight end. His 40 tackles, 3 sacks, and 11.5 tackles for loss are underachieving for the rare talent. Has a tendency to play high and gets pushed up the field past the quarterback. Lazy in techniques from hands up on a pass rush to separating from blockers. Needs to work on his endurance. Has some nagging injuries. 2013 stats: 40 T, 11.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FF. OSR:1/43. Top five pick. (A-34 1/2, H-10, BP-21, 10-1.59).
GREG ROBINSON Auburn, 6050 332 4.92. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Was red-shirted in 2011. He emerged as one of the draft’s top left tackle prospects during Auburn’s national championship run. Athletic with good lateral quickness to cut off the inside go. Can stone a bull rush. Powerful on down blocks. Locks out his long arms on a pass rusher’s breast plate, carrying them up the field. A knee bender with good hip flexibility. Thick overall build and frame to gain. Has the feet to run a speed rusher up the field. A road grader in the run game. Has all the raw tools to be a future Pro Bowl tackle. Will waist bend in pass protection instead of moving his feet. Will need work as an NFL pass protector. Explosive, athletic, and dominant is Robinson’s game in a nutshell. Creates seams in the run game with functional play strength and balance. Has the ability to stay balanced with knee bend, change of direction, and body control. An explosive knee bender who rolls his hips and drives his legs in the run game. Good quickness for a big man. There will be minimal carryover from Auburn’s pass pro to the NFL field which takes a little bloom off the rose. He has all the raw athletic tools, but becoming a master pass protector is a time consuming learning process. Has flashed ability to redirect with natural body control. Has the attitude and aggression to engage with base balance and knee bend. Can shadow the rusher. Light feet. OSR:2/40. Top 10 pick. (A-35, H-10, BP-32, 10-1.74).
BLAKE BORTLES Central Florida, 6050 232 4.93. Junior entry. Three-year starter. Started making noise in 2013 after two back-to-back non-conference games versus Penn State and South Carolina where he demonstrated NFL skills. He continued his upward climb to the NFL draft by beating conference rival Louisville in a comeback win that launched the Knights to the conference championship. Bortles then capped off his junior year by leading the underdog UCF to a win in the Fiesta Bowl over Baylor. The big right-handed signal caller is not a one year wonder, but rather an ascending player who bookended his sophomore season with a strong junior campaign. He is a young player who needs pro development. He shows good patience on all three levels of passing - short, medium, and long. Can throw the touch pass fade or touch over the linebackers. Can still make a strong throw while being hit. Extends a play and has good accuracy on the move. Reads pressure and blitz packages well. He gets the ball out of his hand quickly with a high release. Has experience taking snaps from under center. At his best in the up-tempo packages where he can get into a rhythm. Central Florida runs a conservative and structured run-based pro offense that includes the zone read. Many of his passes were thrown behind the line of scrimmage. He can make all the downfield throws. Good leadership qualities. He is not a finished product but has a strong pattern of success, a good work ethic, and football intelligence. An offensive coordinator can mold Bortles and his unpolished ability into a future star. All arrows are pointing up. A prototype looking drop back NFL quarterback. He stands tall in the pocket. He ranked 21st in the country in total offense with 296.4 yards per game. He completed 67.8% of his passes and averaged 9.4 yards per attempt. Had several responsibilities at the line of scrimmage. Keeps feet alive on roll out plays. Can scramble for positive yards. Steps up into the pocket and his passes. Throws several play action passes off the run fakes. Will hang in the pocket and take a hit while trying to make a play. Cuts the ball loose quickly on timing routes. Confident in his arm. Needs work in every phase of his quarterback fundamentals including ball placement. Arm strength is good. Will throw the ball into traffic when he doesn’t have a play at times. 2013 stats: 259/382, 3581 passing yds, 67.8%, 25 TD, 9 INT. Ball velocity 56 mph. OSR:6/18. First round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 3/8, SS-4.21, VJ-32.5).
SAMMY WATKINS Clemson, 6006 211 4.39. Junior entry. Three-year starter. He leaves evaluators at a loss for descriptive adjectives. A competitive and explosive hand catcher who will reach and extend to catch a ball at the high point. He can freeze a defender’s feet, then accelerate by them. A double move magician. He can win in transition and separate against the best corners. Excels on man-beater crossing routes. Gets open, plucks the ball, and is athletic after the catch. Big time speed, quickness, and production with the ball in his hands. Uncanny ability to break tackles and split defenders. Explosive on kickoff returns. Led the country in 2013 with 837 yards after catch. Very good run after catch ability. A broken field runner with good awareness and field vision. Possesses a pair of strong hands. Wins the one-on-one battles with his eye on the prize. Has the talent to dominate down and distance. A game breaker who can regularly beat coverage. Has the strength to fight press coverage. Was deadly on wide receiver jail break screens. Instant acceleration. Has a running back’s compact build. A very good route runner who can get better. Had a few concentration drops last season. 2013 stats: 101-1464, 14.5 ypr, 12 TD. OSR:14/46. First round. (A-32, H-9 5/8, VJ-34, SS-4.35).
KHALIL MACK Buffalo, 6025 251 4.59. Four-year starter. Has played both outside linebacker and a four-man front defensive end. Projects to outside linebacker for the next level. May project inside for some teams. Good balance and change of direction. Long arms to lock out, play square, and shuffle laterally down the line of scrimmage. A good athlete who can dip his shoulder, penetrate and pressure the quarterback. Experience dropping into coverage and playing on or off the line of scrimmage. Will finish backside pursuit. Good effort player with a non-stop motor. Doesn’t stay blocked. Explosive first step when rushing the passer. Uses his hands on blockers like a shiver board. A disruptive playmaker. Did not face an elite group of blockers to test his wares. 2013 stats: 100 T, 19 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 3 INT, 5 FF. Edge speed:left 1.75, right 2.03. OSR:3/ 49. First round. (A-33 1/4, H-10 1/4, BP-23, SS-4.18).
JAKE MATTHEWS Texas A&M, 6054 308 5.05. Four-year starter who played right tackle in 2012. The second pick in the 2013 draft, Luke Joeckel, played on the left side. Moved to left tackle this past fall. Matthews is the middle son of Hall-of-Famer Bruce Matthews. A knee bender who plays with attitude and effort. Competed for an up-tempo offensive team. Good athletic ability and is consistently effective as a run blocker and pass protector. Has dominated pass rushers the past two years, including last year’s number six pick, Barkevious Mingo. Smooth lateral shuffle in pass protection. Plays square with his long torso and takes advantage of his long arms. Uses his quick hands efficiently in his punch, stab, placement, and extension. Good six inch pop. Can redirect and shift his weight quickly. Moves quickly off the ball as a zone blocker in the run game. Solid stance and foot quickness. Effective on combination and second level blocks. Stays balanced with good body control when blocking on the move. Plays with good leverage to anchor versus power. Fringe arm length for the left tackle position. Could use more strength to anchor a bull rush. OSR:4/40. Top 10 pick. (A-33 3/8, H-9 7/8, BP-24, 10-1.74).
MIKE EVANS Texas A&M, 6046 231 4.53. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Was red-shirted in 2011. A big athletic target who will reach and extend for high passes and out jumps most defensive backs. Averaged 20.2 yards per catch on his 69 catches. Tough to jam at the line of scrimmage because of size and strength. A power player who lacks short area quickness. A mismatch nightmare in the slot or outside as an X or Z receiver. He establishes position with his hands like a basketball player. Tough to press or jam because of size and strength. Improved on his receiver nuances like coming back to the ball in 2013. Can be a feature receiver on the next level. Johnny Manziel’s go-to guy over the past two seasons. Good ball skills and a wing span radius of 82 1/4'. Has the size and physical style of play to create mismatches with corners and linebackers. Does a good job of adjusting his route if there are protection breakdowns and finds the open area. Needs work on his patterns but he can drive his man off and set up the route. Needs to be smoother in his footwork and body balance. Will need to improve techniques of getting off big press corners. Walls off defenders as a blocker. Can track the deep ball over his shoulder. No blind spots. Can make the catch. Loses his poise and focus at times in the heat of the battle and hurts his team with penalties. 2013 stats: 69-1394, 20.2 ypr, 12 TD. OSR:20/46. First round. (A-35 1/8, H-9 5/8, VJ-37, SS-4.26).
ANTHONY BARR UCLA, 6047 255 4.59. Two-year starter. Plays with excellent timing. Good combination of length, long arms, and take off edge speed. Moved to linebacker in the spring of 2012 after playing running back and Pistol fullback for two years. Projects as a 3-4 right outside pass rushing linebacker. Can beat an offensive tackle with his athletic ability. Sets the edge in the running game. Plays with knee bend and leverage. Gets under a tackle’s pads and can run him back to the quarterback. Has the speed to run down screen passes from behind. Plays square, locks out, and skates down the line of scrimmage. Explosive and sudden quickness off the ball on a speed rush. Can bend the corner. Has a burst to the quarterback after he gets off the block. Quick change of direction in space. A four down linebacker who is effective dropping into coverage or breaking up on check downs. 2013 stats: 66 T, 20 TFL, 10 sacks, 3 INT, 4 FF. Edge speed:left 1.64, right 1.88. OSR:8/49. First round. (A-33 1/2, H-9 3/8, BP-15, SS-4.19).
ERIC EBRON North Carolina, 6043 250 4.59. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Athletic after catch. Has some stop and go quickness. A mismatch athletically for the linebackers and secondary. A raw route runner. Not stiff or mechanical, but needs to improve his cuts and body control. Gained separation in college with his athletic ability. Has the speed to get deep. A vertical threat who can close the cushion. Lines up wide or in the slot and can beat coverage with strength, athleticism, and quickness. He is equally as skilled catching a screen, crosser, or vertical route. Good athletic ability and tight end skill set. Caught 62 passes last fall and set a Tar Heel record for receptions and yards (973) in a season by a tight end. He also holds the career record of 112 catches for 1805 yards, passing former Terp Vernon Davis as the ACC tight end yardage leader. A hand catcher who can make the first tackler miss. Catches the ball away from the frame of his body. Needs to improve his inline blocking, perfunctory effort, and lower body strength. 2013 stats: 62-973, 15.7 ypr, 3 TD. OSR:2/18. First round. (A-33 1/4, H-10, BP-24, VJ-32).
TAYLOR LEWAN Michigan, 6071 309 4.87. Four-year starter with long arms and a wide body. Reminds us of former Wolverine Jon Runyan, long-time Eagles’ right tackle. When he gets his mitts on you, it’s all over. Plays left tackle from a preset two-point stance. Good mirror and slide in pass protection. Slides his feet while squaring up the pass rusher. Sits down and locks out. Must work to bend his knees and not grab a speed rusher. Aggressive in his play. Good position and sustain. Pass blocking is the most important skills for today’s NFL linemen and Lewan sets quickly and can slide-shuffle with good athletic ability and quick feet. Has dominated defenders at times with weight transfer, change of direction, and body control. He can pancake a slant tackle. Gets inside position on a defensive end or tackle with foot quickness. Can handle a twist stunt with quickness and space adjustment. Can be a road grader. Lines up at left or right tight end in the heavy packages. Elevated his game in 2013 and put a cherry on top with lights out Combine workout. Physical on down blocks. Can be beat inside at times. Had a good battle with Jadeveon Clowney in the 2012 Outback Bowl. OSR:1/ 40. Top 10 pick. (A-33 7/8, H-9 1/4, BP-29, 10-1.71).
ODELL BECKHAM JR LSU, 5112 198 4.38. Junior entry. Three-year starter. He’s not only a feature receiver, but a game changing fearless kick returner as well. Averaged a salty 19.5 yards per catch on his 59 receptions and tallied 8 touchdowns. Aggressive going after the ball. Will lay out for an off-target pass. A good route runner who has a physical edge to his game. Runs sharp and crisp routes. Can shake a defender in the open field after a catch. Will run and catch a short pattern into the teeth of a defense. Good ball skills down the field competing for the ball. A first round talent who is tough and strong. A physical receiver who has the speed to take the top off a secondary. Has the ability to get open underneath with quickness. Dangerous with the ball in his hands. A competitive and impact player who has the strength and explosion of a running back. Has improved as a receiver and route runner over his career. Big time elite speed running a 4.38/40 at the Combine. Has big hands and long arms. Receivers are not paid for their blocking skills, but Beckham has the strength to crack back, stalk, and position a defender. 2013 stats: 57-1117, 19.6 ypr, 8 TD. OSR:3/46. First/second round. (A-32 3/4, H-10, VJ-38.5, SS-3.94).
KYLE FULLER Virginia Tech, 5116 190 4.46. Four-year starter. Takes a direct line to the ball with no false steps. Athletic, confident, and competitive. A three time All- ACC defender. Good football instincts and body control. Defended 12 passes despite missing 5 games with a torn groin muscle. Good feet and short area quickness. Sudden to read and react. A four-year starter who is not shy about taking on blockers in run support. Good ball skills and production over his career. Solid tackler. Dependable open field tackler. When he gets position on his man he keeps it. Has natural instincts and reactions in coverage. Must be technique sound. 2013 stats: 24 T, 2 INT, 1 FF. BTR:left 4.84, right 5.03. OSR:7/32. First/ second round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 3/8, VJ-38.5, SS-4.19).
RYAN SHAZIER Ohio State, 6011 237 4.43. Junior entry. Two-year starter. A tall rangy inside linebacker who projects to the outside because of his lack of bulk. Some ball clubs may like his inside skill set however. The long-armed blitzer is disruptive, quick, and always around the ball. He led the Buckeyes with 143 total tackles. He also collected 22.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and had 4 forced fumbles. Explosive when moving downhill making contact on a running back. Plays with a competitive spirit. Very willing to initiate contact with a ball carrier. Matches his opponents’ game day intensity. Stays on his feet when shedding a block. A knee bender who protects his legs from cut blocks. Good functional flexibility to take on blockers. Very good speed and range to be productive on outside runs. Has a burst to finish off plays. 2013 stats: 144 T, 23.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, left hamstring. First/second round. (A-32 3/8, H-10, BP-25, SS-4.21).
ZACK MARTIN Notre Dame, 6042 308 5.00. Four-year starter at left tackle. Two-year captain who projects inside at guard but will get a chance to play on the edge first. Plays in a three point stance along with a two point preset stance. Gets a good two arm extension in pass protection. Cuts off the inside go. Good awareness on blitz pickups. Works to sustain and finish his blocks. Effective as a pass protector and run blocker. Knee bender who generally plays with flat feet. Plays with balance and body control. Can pivot, turn, and run. Effective use of hands to lock up the pass rusher’s breast plate. Concentrates and focuses on his job. Good reactions. Gets depth in pass protection. Smooth feet to mirror and slide. Smart and instinctive player who can sit down and anchor a bull rush. A four-for-one player. Must improve his core strength to handle power and leverage players. Medical exclusion at Combine, left hamstring. Senior Bowl notes: Solid week of practice. Not the ideal length desired in a left tackle, but has NFL qualities. Good functional foot mobility and athletic agility. Blue collar type worker. Positive fundamental initial steps and shows effort working to finish blocks. Smooth lateral and redirect playing quickness as a pass protector. Physically is better suited for a guard. Showed grit and determination with inline block encounters. First round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 1/2, BP-29, 10-DNP).
CJ MOSLEY Alabama, 6020 234 4.67. Three-year starter. A playmaking tackling machine. Quick hands, quick feet, pass rush quickness, fluidness with good flexibility, acceleration, balance, the ability to redirect, and top level instincts. After all that, the best thing he may do is excel in pass coverage. Good route awareness. Plays square. Works through traffic instinctively. Wrap tackles. Is disruptive as a blitzer and is an impact hitter. He also has returned three interceptions for touchdowns in his career. Plays on all special teams. Needs to add more bulk and get stronger in his arms and shoulders to control offensive linemen. 2013 stats: 108 T, 9 TFL, 1 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, right shoulder. First/second round. (A-33 3/8, H-10 3/4, BP-DNP, SS-4.40).
CALVIN PRYOR Louisville, 5111 207 4.58. Junior entry. Three-year starter. A physical safety who breaks quickly on the ball and punishes the ball carrier when he arrives. A reliable talent with good ball skills who can also make splash highlight plays. Second leading tackler with 75 stops. Athletic with good foot quickness and hip flexibility. Can recover and has closing quickness with drive on run and ball. Has a well-earned reputation as a heavy hitter contact player. No problems with tackling courage here. A competitor with confidence and poise. Has a wide range and can make the acrobatic interception. Throws his body at ball carriers. Good coverage on special teams. Was inconsistent in open field tackles early in the year. Inconsistent angles in 2012 and early 2013. Good late season improvement. 2013 stats: 75 T, 3 INT, 2 FF, 4 PD. BTR:left 4.65, right 4.85. OSR:13/18. First round. (A-31 3/8, H-9 1/8, VJ-34.5, SS-4.30).
JA'WUAN JAMES Tennessee, 6060 311 5.29. Four-year starter at right tackle. A good effort player who takes good angles in the run game and plays square with his feet under him in pass pro. Will lock on a down defender with a good base and run his feet. A knee bender that can wall off a speed rusher. Effective combo blocker. Good mobility to be effective in space. Can smother corner support on pulls. Could use more anchor strength. Takes inconsistent angles to wall off pursuit on second level. Senior Bowl notes: could firm up with additional weight room work in upper and lower body. Did not play in game due to strained knee but practiced two days and showed functional foot mobility and athletic agility for a right tackle. More of a steer and wall off type blocker. Generally gave effort and would contest and finish inline drive blocks. Can bend and set tail down. Plays with a flat back as a pass protector, but needs to improve hand location and overall play strength. OSR:15/40. Third/fourth round. (A-35, H-9 7/8, BP-22, 10-1.86).
BRANDIN COOKS Oregon State, 5096 189 4.33. Two-year starter. Was the explosive 2013 Fred Biletnikoff winner as the country’s best receiver. Has a lot of Carolina’s Steve Smith in him. A gritty receiver who has good hands and quick feet. A strong route runner with good vision. Explosive upfield burst on jailbreak screens. Beats the first tackler on a regular basis. An aggressive receiver with strong hands. Catches the ball in tight quarters and is not afraid to go over the middle. Gets open in man-to-man coverage. Competitive and athletic after the catch. Makes defenders miss. Tough to cover in the slot. An athletic receiver who can carry his pads and can take the short pass all the way for a touchdown. Good upper body strength. Quickness into and out of the break point to create separation and get open. Has explosive quickness and speed. Adjusts well to the ball in flight. Can move and adjust to uncover. Talent to contribute early and provide impact play. Can make plays in a congested area. Will leap and pluck the ball at the high point and not wait on the ball. Runs the fly sweep with speed, quickness, and agility. 2013 stats: 128-1730, 13.5 ypr, 16 TD. OSR:1/46. First/second round. (A-30 3/4, H-9 5/8, VJ-36, SS-3.81).
HA HA CLINTON-DIX Alabama, 6013 208 4.58. Two-year starter. Athletic enough and by scheme design does not let a receiver get on top of him. As the last line of defense, he lines up at 10-12 yards deep. Keeps good position on receiver and jumps a ball carrier once he crosses the line of scrimmage. Reads things quickly. Good ball skills and has the range of a center fielder. Has good burst quickness on plays in front of him. Stays on his feet and plays off blockers. Plays with confidence. Has a top level reaction IQ. Needs to improve wrap tackling skills. Inconsistent run through hitter. Had a drop off in his overall play after returning from suspension in October. 2013 stats: 50 T, 4 TFL, 2 INT, 4 PD. BTR:left 4.57, right 4.50. OSR:10/18. First round. (A-32 3/8, H-9, VJ-33, SS-4.16).
JOHNNY MANZIEL Texas A&M, 5116 207 4.66. Declared sophomore. Two-year starter. There are several cardinal rules and critical factors that go into a quarterback’s evaluation. The quality of competition is high on the list. The SEC gave Manziel a peek through the window of speed and athleticism of the NFL. His pattern of success was second to none with his record-breaking productivity the past two years. His decision making and accuracy was consistent. Can it improve? Absolutely. He is a performer, not a potential guy. Future NFL quarterbacks must have some mobility because they now gain yards as the check down option on a play. He is more of a scrambler than a runner when the play breaks down. He sees the field and understands what he is seeing. Does a good job of throwing the ball through open lanes of the defense. He’s an athlete who loves to play quarterback and his teammates respect his leadership. Quarterbacks under 6-feet tall historically are not the rule, but the exception to the rule. Manziel is not Drew Brees or Russell Wilson, he may be closer to a right-handed Steve Young. These quarterbacks were mature beyond their years coming out of college. Only time will tell if Manziel follows their lead. Has innate running and passing instincts as well as a feel for the pass rush. He completed 73% of his passes from the pocket, best among quarterbacks from BCS automatic qualifier conferences. Only one first round quarterback had a better down the field throwing percentage than Manziels, 48% of passes 25 yards or longer in the past three years – that was Robert Griffin III. Despite his lack of height, he only had 12 of 864 passes batted down. Excels when he’s in a passing rhythm from the pocket. Coaches must accept the fact that extemporaneous plays are part of his game. Has good body control but can complete awkward body position throws. Has a knack to get the ball out on time. Has the touch and feel to throw a ball down the chimney to a receiver. The undeniable facts are that "Johnny Football" is a playmaker, winner, highly competitive, and exciting player. Ball clubs must weigh the risk versus reward in regards to durability. Every time a back takes a hit, it is like being in a car wreck without a seatbelt. The law of physics persists - in crashes, big cars win. Needs work on general fundamentals of quarterback play including sliding when ending a scramble. 2013 stats: 300/429, 4114 passing yds, 69.9%, 37 TD, 13 INT. Did not throw at Combine. OSR:3/18. First round. (A-31 3/8, H-9 7/8, SS-4.03, VJ-31.5).
DEE FORD Auburn, 6021 252 4.56. Two-year starter. An explosive playmaker who would fit nicely into a 3-4 rush linebacker position. Plays like he sat on a fire ant colony. Does his work on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Made his presence felt during the season, in the BCS national championship game, and the Senior Bowl – the scouts’ trifecta. Plays square on the line of scrimmage in the run game with good lateral quickness and change of direction. Can dip and bend the edge as he flattens down the line. Plays best with his hand on the ground. Will burst and launch to make a tackle. Undersized for a run playing defensive end. He needs to develop a counter to the speed rush he can go to on a more consistent basis. Could use his arms more effectively as a pass rusher. A leverage player who keeps his pad level low. Needs to get more core strength to handle the rigors of the NFL’s power off tackle in the running game. May be engulfed by tight ends on Sundays. 2013 stats: 29 T, 14.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 2 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, lumbar spine. First/second round. (A-32 7/8, H-10 1/4, BP-29, SS-4.59).
DARQUEZE DENNARD Michigan State, 5107 199 4.44. Three-year starter. One of the team captains. Answered questions about deep vertical speed with a 4.44 at the Combine. Smooth athletic backpedal and lateral movement. Good change of direction. Sticky in man-to-man coverage. Has his hands all over the receiver in press cover two. Can reroute wide out and keep position on him. Has been known to grab a jersey or compete in close quarters. Has a burst when asked to blitz off the edge. A heady corner who can come off a receiver and make a play in run support. Wrap tackler. Aggressive in his play. Can’t bang receivers around after five yards in the NFL. More comfortable in man-to-man coverage than zone. The 2013 Thorpe Award winner. 2013 stats: 62 T, 4 INT, 2 FF. BTR:left 4.89, right 5.03. OSR:11/32. First round. (A-30 1/4, H-9, VJ-36, SS-4.39).
JASON VERRETT TCU, 5094 189 4.38. Three-year starter. Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Active and disciplined in his play. Good foot quickness and hip flexibility. Contests every throw in his area. Good timing to break on the ball. Athletic with a quick burst. A solid tackler despite his size. Dependable getting the ball carrier down. No hesitation on run support. Plays with confidence and toughness. For the past two years he led the country with 38 passes defended. He plucked 8 interceptions and deflected 30 passes. Shorter than ideal for an outside corner. 2013 stats: 39 T, 2 INT, 1 FF. BTR:left 4.59, right 4.78. OSR:3/32. First/second round. (A-30 5/8, H-9 1/4, VJ-39, SS-4.00).
MARCUS SMITH Louisville, 6033 251 4.68. Two-year starter. Was a high school quarterback who made the move to linebacker right away in college. Edge defender who plays with good leverage and demonstrates outstanding pass rush skills. Has a good jolt with his hands. At best on the edge where he is tough to get around as he uses his hands well and can be disruptive. He tracks well, adjusting the quarterback in pass rush and is explosive coming off the edge. Projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker with outstanding pass rush potential. Will need to be in the right scheme, but has some skills that are looked for in an outside linebacker. The Louisville scheme has him roaming around pre-snap, letting him rush the passer from numerous angles and positions. A good athlete in space. Was a Walter Camp 2nd-team All-American and a 1st-team all-conference selection. Struggles in man-to-man coverage. Will need time to develop in all phases of linebacker play. 2013 stats: 42 T, 19 TFL, 15 sacks, 4 FF. Edge speed:left 2.03, right 1.94. OSR:8/43. Second/third round. (A-34, H-10, BP-23, 10-1.64).
DEONE BUCANNON Washington State, 6010 211 4.48. Four-year starter who led the Pac-12 in tackles with 109. His total of 114 tackles was 8th best in the country. He is the biggest, fastest, most productive, durable, explosive, and athletic safety in this draft. He has experience at both free and strong safety. Has been elected team captain three times. A physical run through tackler who plays the ball well down the field and has good ball skills. Smart, mature, tough, versatile, and motivated. Supports the run like a concrete truck running into a Yugo. He is not only a hitter, but a wrap up tackler. Has the feet and flexibility to run with tight ends, backs, and wide receivers. Can play deep off the ball or in the slot. Forces fumbles not only as a collision hitter but with his active hands grabbing at the ball. Athletic and agile working through traffic on run support. Recorded 384 tackles in his career, 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 15 interceptions. A four year playmaker. The Sultan of Swat from the Palouse grades out as a very valuable weapon for a creative defensive coordinator against the run, in pass coverage, and as a blitzer. Three teams - St. Louis (#13), Pittsburgh (#15), and Baltimore (#17) are all looking for safeties. Any team that selects him after that trio just held up a Brinks truck. Bucannon has a consistent pattern of success from his high school days through his college career. As an extra bonus, Deone can play golf on off days with the defensive coordinator that selects him. He lettered in golf for four years in high school. Senior Bowl notes: liked his change of direction in drills. Closed well in pursuit and was fluid in transition. Physical in tackling drills and showed aggressive play in run support. The physical safety put a pad popper hit on James White during practice. 2013 stats: 114 T, 6 INT, 3 FF. BTR:left 4.59, right 4.59. OSR:2/ 18. First round. (A-32 3/8, H-9 3/4, VJ-36.5, SS-4.26).
KELVIN BENJAMIN Florida State, 6050 240 4.62. Underclass entry. One-year starter. Was one of seven wide receivers who caught at least 20 passes as a red-shirt freshman. A big physical target who is not easy to tackle. Smooth for a big man. A long strider that picks up speed as he goes down the field. Basically a one-year starter who caught 30 passes as a red-shirt freshman in 2012. He played in a five-receiver rotation. Not a nifty-footed receiver, but a powerful one. Can make the tough overhead catch by tracking the ball. Adjusts well to a poorly thrown pass. Can make the great catch or miss a routine ball. Long arms (34 7/8") and a wing span of 83 inches, plus catcher mitt-sized hands which look like tennis rackets at times. Good effort as a downfield run blocker. He caught the game winning catch versus Auburn for the national championship after being a non-factor for most of the game. He caught nine passes versus rival Florida for 212 yards, but dropped 5 other balls. Presently grades out as a backup type who may be an eventual starter in certain schemes. Will need pro physical development. Inconsistent hand catcher and pass route runner. Does not catch the ball cleanly. Built more like a tight end. May grow out of wide receiver position. 2013 stats: 54-1011, 18.7 ypr, 15 TD. OSR:43/ 46. Third/fourth round. (A-34 7/8, H-10 1/4, VJ-32.5, SS-4.39).
DOMINIQUE EASLEY Florida, 6016 288 4.89. Three-year starter with experience at defensive tackle and end. Sudden and explosive to get penetration or gain an advantage upfield. Unlocks his hips with force. Plays with a good power base and lower body strength with knee bend to stack the point of attack. A one-gap player who is highly motivated to use his hands to control the blocker, close down inside with authority, and disrupt an offensive blocking scheme. Easley doesn’t have the gaudy stats of some players because he is part of a six-man rotation. A quick twitch athlete who is flexible and always around the ball. A scheme specific defender. Injury history which includes a torn ACL in 2013 and one in 2011. Undersized for an NFL tackle. 2013 stats: 5 T, 2 TFL. Medical exclusion at Combine, right knee ACL. Third/fourth round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 3/4, BP-26, 10-DNP).
JIMMIE WARD Northern Illinois, 5105 193 4.46. Three-year starter. A competitor who loves the game and is always around the ball. He collected 7 interceptions and had 10 pass deflections in 2013. A run-through-the-target type tackler. A reliable and disciplined safety who is instinctive and always in position. Takes good run support on pursuit angles. Will sacrifice his body to take out the lead blocker. Equally as skilled up on the line of scrimmage or back in halves coverage. Huskies’ leading tackler. A sticky coverage safety who will get in a tight end’s back pocket. Plays well in the slot and is competitive when asked to play man-to-man coverage. Shorter than ideal for a strong safety. Has an injury history over his career. 2013 stats: 95 T, 7 INT, 1 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, right foot. Second/third round. (A-31, H-9 3/8, VJ-38, SS-4.24).
BRADLEY ROBY Ohio State, 5112 194 4.37. Three-year starter. Missed the 2014 Orange Bowl with a knee injury. Best asset is his big time speed and athletic ability. A quick twitch athlete. Can be disruptive with corner blitzes. Recorded 13 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, and blocked two punts in 2013. Ball clubs will be enticed by his speed and athletic ability. Has an injury history. Questionable ball and visual skills. Loses the ball in flight. Doesn’t turn back to the ball. Sat out first game due to a suspension. Play-to-play focus is needed. Struggles when the ball gets close to the receiver. Needs work on tackling skills. 2013 stats: 69 T, 3 INT. BTR:left 4.40, right 4.53. OSR:2/ 32. First/second round. (A-31 1/2, H-10 1/4, VJ-38.5, SS-4.04).
Cannot find Justin Gilbert, Aaron Donald, or Teddy Bridgewater as their team made 2 first round selections, and Greg Robinson, Anthony Barr, and Johnny Manziel were more publicized selections.
GREG ROBINSON Auburn, 6050 332 4.92. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Was red-shirted in 2011. He emerged as one of the draft’s top left tackle prospects during Auburn’s national championship run. Athletic with good lateral quickness to cut off the inside go. Can stone a bull rush. Powerful on down blocks. Locks out his long arms on a pass rusher’s breast plate, carrying them up the field. A knee bender with good hip flexibility. Thick overall build and frame to gain. Has the feet to run a speed rusher up the field. A road grader in the run game. Has all the raw tools to be a future Pro Bowl tackle. Will waist bend in pass protection instead of moving his feet. Will need work as an NFL pass protector. Explosive, athletic, and dominant is Robinson’s game in a nutshell. Creates seams in the run game with functional play strength and balance. Has the ability to stay balanced with knee bend, change of direction, and body control. An explosive knee bender who rolls his hips and drives his legs in the run game. Good quickness for a big man. There will be minimal carryover from Auburn’s pass pro to the NFL field which takes a little bloom off the rose. He has all the raw athletic tools, but becoming a master pass protector is a time consuming learning process. Has flashed ability to redirect with natural body control. Has the attitude and aggression to engage with base balance and knee bend. Can shadow the rusher. Light feet. OSR:2/40. Top 10 pick. (A-35, H-10, BP-32, 10-1.74).
BLAKE BORTLES Central Florida, 6050 232 4.93. Junior entry. Three-year starter. Started making noise in 2013 after two back-to-back non-conference games versus Penn State and South Carolina where he demonstrated NFL skills. He continued his upward climb to the NFL draft by beating conference rival Louisville in a comeback win that launched the Knights to the conference championship. Bortles then capped off his junior year by leading the underdog UCF to a win in the Fiesta Bowl over Baylor. The big right-handed signal caller is not a one year wonder, but rather an ascending player who bookended his sophomore season with a strong junior campaign. He is a young player who needs pro development. He shows good patience on all three levels of passing - short, medium, and long. Can throw the touch pass fade or touch over the linebackers. Can still make a strong throw while being hit. Extends a play and has good accuracy on the move. Reads pressure and blitz packages well. He gets the ball out of his hand quickly with a high release. Has experience taking snaps from under center. At his best in the up-tempo packages where he can get into a rhythm. Central Florida runs a conservative and structured run-based pro offense that includes the zone read. Many of his passes were thrown behind the line of scrimmage. He can make all the downfield throws. Good leadership qualities. He is not a finished product but has a strong pattern of success, a good work ethic, and football intelligence. An offensive coordinator can mold Bortles and his unpolished ability into a future star. All arrows are pointing up. A prototype looking drop back NFL quarterback. He stands tall in the pocket. He ranked 21st in the country in total offense with 296.4 yards per game. He completed 67.8% of his passes and averaged 9.4 yards per attempt. Had several responsibilities at the line of scrimmage. Keeps feet alive on roll out plays. Can scramble for positive yards. Steps up into the pocket and his passes. Throws several play action passes off the run fakes. Will hang in the pocket and take a hit while trying to make a play. Cuts the ball loose quickly on timing routes. Confident in his arm. Needs work in every phase of his quarterback fundamentals including ball placement. Arm strength is good. Will throw the ball into traffic when he doesn’t have a play at times. 2013 stats: 259/382, 3581 passing yds, 67.8%, 25 TD, 9 INT. Ball velocity 56 mph. OSR:6/18. First round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 3/8, SS-4.21, VJ-32.5).
SAMMY WATKINS Clemson, 6006 211 4.39. Junior entry. Three-year starter. He leaves evaluators at a loss for descriptive adjectives. A competitive and explosive hand catcher who will reach and extend to catch a ball at the high point. He can freeze a defender’s feet, then accelerate by them. A double move magician. He can win in transition and separate against the best corners. Excels on man-beater crossing routes. Gets open, plucks the ball, and is athletic after the catch. Big time speed, quickness, and production with the ball in his hands. Uncanny ability to break tackles and split defenders. Explosive on kickoff returns. Led the country in 2013 with 837 yards after catch. Very good run after catch ability. A broken field runner with good awareness and field vision. Possesses a pair of strong hands. Wins the one-on-one battles with his eye on the prize. Has the talent to dominate down and distance. A game breaker who can regularly beat coverage. Has the strength to fight press coverage. Was deadly on wide receiver jail break screens. Instant acceleration. Has a running back’s compact build. A very good route runner who can get better. Had a few concentration drops last season. 2013 stats: 101-1464, 14.5 ypr, 12 TD. OSR:14/46. First round. (A-32, H-9 5/8, VJ-34, SS-4.35).
KHALIL MACK Buffalo, 6025 251 4.59. Four-year starter. Has played both outside linebacker and a four-man front defensive end. Projects to outside linebacker for the next level. May project inside for some teams. Good balance and change of direction. Long arms to lock out, play square, and shuffle laterally down the line of scrimmage. A good athlete who can dip his shoulder, penetrate and pressure the quarterback. Experience dropping into coverage and playing on or off the line of scrimmage. Will finish backside pursuit. Good effort player with a non-stop motor. Doesn’t stay blocked. Explosive first step when rushing the passer. Uses his hands on blockers like a shiver board. A disruptive playmaker. Did not face an elite group of blockers to test his wares. 2013 stats: 100 T, 19 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 3 INT, 5 FF. Edge speed:left 1.75, right 2.03. OSR:3/ 49. First round. (A-33 1/4, H-10 1/4, BP-23, SS-4.18).
JAKE MATTHEWS Texas A&M, 6054 308 5.05. Four-year starter who played right tackle in 2012. The second pick in the 2013 draft, Luke Joeckel, played on the left side. Moved to left tackle this past fall. Matthews is the middle son of Hall-of-Famer Bruce Matthews. A knee bender who plays with attitude and effort. Competed for an up-tempo offensive team. Good athletic ability and is consistently effective as a run blocker and pass protector. Has dominated pass rushers the past two years, including last year’s number six pick, Barkevious Mingo. Smooth lateral shuffle in pass protection. Plays square with his long torso and takes advantage of his long arms. Uses his quick hands efficiently in his punch, stab, placement, and extension. Good six inch pop. Can redirect and shift his weight quickly. Moves quickly off the ball as a zone blocker in the run game. Solid stance and foot quickness. Effective on combination and second level blocks. Stays balanced with good body control when blocking on the move. Plays with good leverage to anchor versus power. Fringe arm length for the left tackle position. Could use more strength to anchor a bull rush. OSR:4/40. Top 10 pick. (A-33 3/8, H-9 7/8, BP-24, 10-1.74).
MIKE EVANS Texas A&M, 6046 231 4.53. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Was red-shirted in 2011. A big athletic target who will reach and extend for high passes and out jumps most defensive backs. Averaged 20.2 yards per catch on his 69 catches. Tough to jam at the line of scrimmage because of size and strength. A power player who lacks short area quickness. A mismatch nightmare in the slot or outside as an X or Z receiver. He establishes position with his hands like a basketball player. Tough to press or jam because of size and strength. Improved on his receiver nuances like coming back to the ball in 2013. Can be a feature receiver on the next level. Johnny Manziel’s go-to guy over the past two seasons. Good ball skills and a wing span radius of 82 1/4'. Has the size and physical style of play to create mismatches with corners and linebackers. Does a good job of adjusting his route if there are protection breakdowns and finds the open area. Needs work on his patterns but he can drive his man off and set up the route. Needs to be smoother in his footwork and body balance. Will need to improve techniques of getting off big press corners. Walls off defenders as a blocker. Can track the deep ball over his shoulder. No blind spots. Can make the catch. Loses his poise and focus at times in the heat of the battle and hurts his team with penalties. 2013 stats: 69-1394, 20.2 ypr, 12 TD. OSR:20/46. First round. (A-35 1/8, H-9 5/8, VJ-37, SS-4.26).
ANTHONY BARR UCLA, 6047 255 4.59. Two-year starter. Plays with excellent timing. Good combination of length, long arms, and take off edge speed. Moved to linebacker in the spring of 2012 after playing running back and Pistol fullback for two years. Projects as a 3-4 right outside pass rushing linebacker. Can beat an offensive tackle with his athletic ability. Sets the edge in the running game. Plays with knee bend and leverage. Gets under a tackle’s pads and can run him back to the quarterback. Has the speed to run down screen passes from behind. Plays square, locks out, and skates down the line of scrimmage. Explosive and sudden quickness off the ball on a speed rush. Can bend the corner. Has a burst to the quarterback after he gets off the block. Quick change of direction in space. A four down linebacker who is effective dropping into coverage or breaking up on check downs. 2013 stats: 66 T, 20 TFL, 10 sacks, 3 INT, 4 FF. Edge speed:left 1.64, right 1.88. OSR:8/49. First round. (A-33 1/2, H-9 3/8, BP-15, SS-4.19).
ERIC EBRON North Carolina, 6043 250 4.59. Junior entry. Two-year starter. Athletic after catch. Has some stop and go quickness. A mismatch athletically for the linebackers and secondary. A raw route runner. Not stiff or mechanical, but needs to improve his cuts and body control. Gained separation in college with his athletic ability. Has the speed to get deep. A vertical threat who can close the cushion. Lines up wide or in the slot and can beat coverage with strength, athleticism, and quickness. He is equally as skilled catching a screen, crosser, or vertical route. Good athletic ability and tight end skill set. Caught 62 passes last fall and set a Tar Heel record for receptions and yards (973) in a season by a tight end. He also holds the career record of 112 catches for 1805 yards, passing former Terp Vernon Davis as the ACC tight end yardage leader. A hand catcher who can make the first tackler miss. Catches the ball away from the frame of his body. Needs to improve his inline blocking, perfunctory effort, and lower body strength. 2013 stats: 62-973, 15.7 ypr, 3 TD. OSR:2/18. First round. (A-33 1/4, H-10, BP-24, VJ-32).
TAYLOR LEWAN Michigan, 6071 309 4.87. Four-year starter with long arms and a wide body. Reminds us of former Wolverine Jon Runyan, long-time Eagles’ right tackle. When he gets his mitts on you, it’s all over. Plays left tackle from a preset two-point stance. Good mirror and slide in pass protection. Slides his feet while squaring up the pass rusher. Sits down and locks out. Must work to bend his knees and not grab a speed rusher. Aggressive in his play. Good position and sustain. Pass blocking is the most important skills for today’s NFL linemen and Lewan sets quickly and can slide-shuffle with good athletic ability and quick feet. Has dominated defenders at times with weight transfer, change of direction, and body control. He can pancake a slant tackle. Gets inside position on a defensive end or tackle with foot quickness. Can handle a twist stunt with quickness and space adjustment. Can be a road grader. Lines up at left or right tight end in the heavy packages. Elevated his game in 2013 and put a cherry on top with lights out Combine workout. Physical on down blocks. Can be beat inside at times. Had a good battle with Jadeveon Clowney in the 2012 Outback Bowl. OSR:1/ 40. Top 10 pick. (A-33 7/8, H-9 1/4, BP-29, 10-1.71).
ODELL BECKHAM JR LSU, 5112 198 4.38. Junior entry. Three-year starter. He’s not only a feature receiver, but a game changing fearless kick returner as well. Averaged a salty 19.5 yards per catch on his 59 receptions and tallied 8 touchdowns. Aggressive going after the ball. Will lay out for an off-target pass. A good route runner who has a physical edge to his game. Runs sharp and crisp routes. Can shake a defender in the open field after a catch. Will run and catch a short pattern into the teeth of a defense. Good ball skills down the field competing for the ball. A first round talent who is tough and strong. A physical receiver who has the speed to take the top off a secondary. Has the ability to get open underneath with quickness. Dangerous with the ball in his hands. A competitive and impact player who has the strength and explosion of a running back. Has improved as a receiver and route runner over his career. Big time elite speed running a 4.38/40 at the Combine. Has big hands and long arms. Receivers are not paid for their blocking skills, but Beckham has the strength to crack back, stalk, and position a defender. 2013 stats: 57-1117, 19.6 ypr, 8 TD. OSR:3/46. First/second round. (A-32 3/4, H-10, VJ-38.5, SS-3.94).
KYLE FULLER Virginia Tech, 5116 190 4.46. Four-year starter. Takes a direct line to the ball with no false steps. Athletic, confident, and competitive. A three time All- ACC defender. Good football instincts and body control. Defended 12 passes despite missing 5 games with a torn groin muscle. Good feet and short area quickness. Sudden to read and react. A four-year starter who is not shy about taking on blockers in run support. Good ball skills and production over his career. Solid tackler. Dependable open field tackler. When he gets position on his man he keeps it. Has natural instincts and reactions in coverage. Must be technique sound. 2013 stats: 24 T, 2 INT, 1 FF. BTR:left 4.84, right 5.03. OSR:7/32. First/ second round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 3/8, VJ-38.5, SS-4.19).
RYAN SHAZIER Ohio State, 6011 237 4.43. Junior entry. Two-year starter. A tall rangy inside linebacker who projects to the outside because of his lack of bulk. Some ball clubs may like his inside skill set however. The long-armed blitzer is disruptive, quick, and always around the ball. He led the Buckeyes with 143 total tackles. He also collected 22.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and had 4 forced fumbles. Explosive when moving downhill making contact on a running back. Plays with a competitive spirit. Very willing to initiate contact with a ball carrier. Matches his opponents’ game day intensity. Stays on his feet when shedding a block. A knee bender who protects his legs from cut blocks. Good functional flexibility to take on blockers. Very good speed and range to be productive on outside runs. Has a burst to finish off plays. 2013 stats: 144 T, 23.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, left hamstring. First/second round. (A-32 3/8, H-10, BP-25, SS-4.21).
ZACK MARTIN Notre Dame, 6042 308 5.00. Four-year starter at left tackle. Two-year captain who projects inside at guard but will get a chance to play on the edge first. Plays in a three point stance along with a two point preset stance. Gets a good two arm extension in pass protection. Cuts off the inside go. Good awareness on blitz pickups. Works to sustain and finish his blocks. Effective as a pass protector and run blocker. Knee bender who generally plays with flat feet. Plays with balance and body control. Can pivot, turn, and run. Effective use of hands to lock up the pass rusher’s breast plate. Concentrates and focuses on his job. Good reactions. Gets depth in pass protection. Smooth feet to mirror and slide. Smart and instinctive player who can sit down and anchor a bull rush. A four-for-one player. Must improve his core strength to handle power and leverage players. Medical exclusion at Combine, left hamstring. Senior Bowl notes: Solid week of practice. Not the ideal length desired in a left tackle, but has NFL qualities. Good functional foot mobility and athletic agility. Blue collar type worker. Positive fundamental initial steps and shows effort working to finish blocks. Smooth lateral and redirect playing quickness as a pass protector. Physically is better suited for a guard. Showed grit and determination with inline block encounters. First round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 1/2, BP-29, 10-DNP).
CJ MOSLEY Alabama, 6020 234 4.67. Three-year starter. A playmaking tackling machine. Quick hands, quick feet, pass rush quickness, fluidness with good flexibility, acceleration, balance, the ability to redirect, and top level instincts. After all that, the best thing he may do is excel in pass coverage. Good route awareness. Plays square. Works through traffic instinctively. Wrap tackles. Is disruptive as a blitzer and is an impact hitter. He also has returned three interceptions for touchdowns in his career. Plays on all special teams. Needs to add more bulk and get stronger in his arms and shoulders to control offensive linemen. 2013 stats: 108 T, 9 TFL, 1 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, right shoulder. First/second round. (A-33 3/8, H-10 3/4, BP-DNP, SS-4.40).
CALVIN PRYOR Louisville, 5111 207 4.58. Junior entry. Three-year starter. A physical safety who breaks quickly on the ball and punishes the ball carrier when he arrives. A reliable talent with good ball skills who can also make splash highlight plays. Second leading tackler with 75 stops. Athletic with good foot quickness and hip flexibility. Can recover and has closing quickness with drive on run and ball. Has a well-earned reputation as a heavy hitter contact player. No problems with tackling courage here. A competitor with confidence and poise. Has a wide range and can make the acrobatic interception. Throws his body at ball carriers. Good coverage on special teams. Was inconsistent in open field tackles early in the year. Inconsistent angles in 2012 and early 2013. Good late season improvement. 2013 stats: 75 T, 3 INT, 2 FF, 4 PD. BTR:left 4.65, right 4.85. OSR:13/18. First round. (A-31 3/8, H-9 1/8, VJ-34.5, SS-4.30).
JA'WUAN JAMES Tennessee, 6060 311 5.29. Four-year starter at right tackle. A good effort player who takes good angles in the run game and plays square with his feet under him in pass pro. Will lock on a down defender with a good base and run his feet. A knee bender that can wall off a speed rusher. Effective combo blocker. Good mobility to be effective in space. Can smother corner support on pulls. Could use more anchor strength. Takes inconsistent angles to wall off pursuit on second level. Senior Bowl notes: could firm up with additional weight room work in upper and lower body. Did not play in game due to strained knee but practiced two days and showed functional foot mobility and athletic agility for a right tackle. More of a steer and wall off type blocker. Generally gave effort and would contest and finish inline drive blocks. Can bend and set tail down. Plays with a flat back as a pass protector, but needs to improve hand location and overall play strength. OSR:15/40. Third/fourth round. (A-35, H-9 7/8, BP-22, 10-1.86).
BRANDIN COOKS Oregon State, 5096 189 4.33. Two-year starter. Was the explosive 2013 Fred Biletnikoff winner as the country’s best receiver. Has a lot of Carolina’s Steve Smith in him. A gritty receiver who has good hands and quick feet. A strong route runner with good vision. Explosive upfield burst on jailbreak screens. Beats the first tackler on a regular basis. An aggressive receiver with strong hands. Catches the ball in tight quarters and is not afraid to go over the middle. Gets open in man-to-man coverage. Competitive and athletic after the catch. Makes defenders miss. Tough to cover in the slot. An athletic receiver who can carry his pads and can take the short pass all the way for a touchdown. Good upper body strength. Quickness into and out of the break point to create separation and get open. Has explosive quickness and speed. Adjusts well to the ball in flight. Can move and adjust to uncover. Talent to contribute early and provide impact play. Can make plays in a congested area. Will leap and pluck the ball at the high point and not wait on the ball. Runs the fly sweep with speed, quickness, and agility. 2013 stats: 128-1730, 13.5 ypr, 16 TD. OSR:1/46. First/second round. (A-30 3/4, H-9 5/8, VJ-36, SS-3.81).
HA HA CLINTON-DIX Alabama, 6013 208 4.58. Two-year starter. Athletic enough and by scheme design does not let a receiver get on top of him. As the last line of defense, he lines up at 10-12 yards deep. Keeps good position on receiver and jumps a ball carrier once he crosses the line of scrimmage. Reads things quickly. Good ball skills and has the range of a center fielder. Has good burst quickness on plays in front of him. Stays on his feet and plays off blockers. Plays with confidence. Has a top level reaction IQ. Needs to improve wrap tackling skills. Inconsistent run through hitter. Had a drop off in his overall play after returning from suspension in October. 2013 stats: 50 T, 4 TFL, 2 INT, 4 PD. BTR:left 4.57, right 4.50. OSR:10/18. First round. (A-32 3/8, H-9, VJ-33, SS-4.16).
JOHNNY MANZIEL Texas A&M, 5116 207 4.66. Declared sophomore. Two-year starter. There are several cardinal rules and critical factors that go into a quarterback’s evaluation. The quality of competition is high on the list. The SEC gave Manziel a peek through the window of speed and athleticism of the NFL. His pattern of success was second to none with his record-breaking productivity the past two years. His decision making and accuracy was consistent. Can it improve? Absolutely. He is a performer, not a potential guy. Future NFL quarterbacks must have some mobility because they now gain yards as the check down option on a play. He is more of a scrambler than a runner when the play breaks down. He sees the field and understands what he is seeing. Does a good job of throwing the ball through open lanes of the defense. He’s an athlete who loves to play quarterback and his teammates respect his leadership. Quarterbacks under 6-feet tall historically are not the rule, but the exception to the rule. Manziel is not Drew Brees or Russell Wilson, he may be closer to a right-handed Steve Young. These quarterbacks were mature beyond their years coming out of college. Only time will tell if Manziel follows their lead. Has innate running and passing instincts as well as a feel for the pass rush. He completed 73% of his passes from the pocket, best among quarterbacks from BCS automatic qualifier conferences. Only one first round quarterback had a better down the field throwing percentage than Manziels, 48% of passes 25 yards or longer in the past three years – that was Robert Griffin III. Despite his lack of height, he only had 12 of 864 passes batted down. Excels when he’s in a passing rhythm from the pocket. Coaches must accept the fact that extemporaneous plays are part of his game. Has good body control but can complete awkward body position throws. Has a knack to get the ball out on time. Has the touch and feel to throw a ball down the chimney to a receiver. The undeniable facts are that "Johnny Football" is a playmaker, winner, highly competitive, and exciting player. Ball clubs must weigh the risk versus reward in regards to durability. Every time a back takes a hit, it is like being in a car wreck without a seatbelt. The law of physics persists - in crashes, big cars win. Needs work on general fundamentals of quarterback play including sliding when ending a scramble. 2013 stats: 300/429, 4114 passing yds, 69.9%, 37 TD, 13 INT. Did not throw at Combine. OSR:3/18. First round. (A-31 3/8, H-9 7/8, SS-4.03, VJ-31.5).
DEE FORD Auburn, 6021 252 4.56. Two-year starter. An explosive playmaker who would fit nicely into a 3-4 rush linebacker position. Plays like he sat on a fire ant colony. Does his work on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Made his presence felt during the season, in the BCS national championship game, and the Senior Bowl – the scouts’ trifecta. Plays square on the line of scrimmage in the run game with good lateral quickness and change of direction. Can dip and bend the edge as he flattens down the line. Plays best with his hand on the ground. Will burst and launch to make a tackle. Undersized for a run playing defensive end. He needs to develop a counter to the speed rush he can go to on a more consistent basis. Could use his arms more effectively as a pass rusher. A leverage player who keeps his pad level low. Needs to get more core strength to handle the rigors of the NFL’s power off tackle in the running game. May be engulfed by tight ends on Sundays. 2013 stats: 29 T, 14.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 2 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, lumbar spine. First/second round. (A-32 7/8, H-10 1/4, BP-29, SS-4.59).
DARQUEZE DENNARD Michigan State, 5107 199 4.44. Three-year starter. One of the team captains. Answered questions about deep vertical speed with a 4.44 at the Combine. Smooth athletic backpedal and lateral movement. Good change of direction. Sticky in man-to-man coverage. Has his hands all over the receiver in press cover two. Can reroute wide out and keep position on him. Has been known to grab a jersey or compete in close quarters. Has a burst when asked to blitz off the edge. A heady corner who can come off a receiver and make a play in run support. Wrap tackler. Aggressive in his play. Can’t bang receivers around after five yards in the NFL. More comfortable in man-to-man coverage than zone. The 2013 Thorpe Award winner. 2013 stats: 62 T, 4 INT, 2 FF. BTR:left 4.89, right 5.03. OSR:11/32. First round. (A-30 1/4, H-9, VJ-36, SS-4.39).
JASON VERRETT TCU, 5094 189 4.38. Three-year starter. Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Active and disciplined in his play. Good foot quickness and hip flexibility. Contests every throw in his area. Good timing to break on the ball. Athletic with a quick burst. A solid tackler despite his size. Dependable getting the ball carrier down. No hesitation on run support. Plays with confidence and toughness. For the past two years he led the country with 38 passes defended. He plucked 8 interceptions and deflected 30 passes. Shorter than ideal for an outside corner. 2013 stats: 39 T, 2 INT, 1 FF. BTR:left 4.59, right 4.78. OSR:3/32. First/second round. (A-30 5/8, H-9 1/4, VJ-39, SS-4.00).
MARCUS SMITH Louisville, 6033 251 4.68. Two-year starter. Was a high school quarterback who made the move to linebacker right away in college. Edge defender who plays with good leverage and demonstrates outstanding pass rush skills. Has a good jolt with his hands. At best on the edge where he is tough to get around as he uses his hands well and can be disruptive. He tracks well, adjusting the quarterback in pass rush and is explosive coming off the edge. Projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker with outstanding pass rush potential. Will need to be in the right scheme, but has some skills that are looked for in an outside linebacker. The Louisville scheme has him roaming around pre-snap, letting him rush the passer from numerous angles and positions. A good athlete in space. Was a Walter Camp 2nd-team All-American and a 1st-team all-conference selection. Struggles in man-to-man coverage. Will need time to develop in all phases of linebacker play. 2013 stats: 42 T, 19 TFL, 15 sacks, 4 FF. Edge speed:left 2.03, right 1.94. OSR:8/43. Second/third round. (A-34, H-10, BP-23, 10-1.64).
DEONE BUCANNON Washington State, 6010 211 4.48. Four-year starter who led the Pac-12 in tackles with 109. His total of 114 tackles was 8th best in the country. He is the biggest, fastest, most productive, durable, explosive, and athletic safety in this draft. He has experience at both free and strong safety. Has been elected team captain three times. A physical run through tackler who plays the ball well down the field and has good ball skills. Smart, mature, tough, versatile, and motivated. Supports the run like a concrete truck running into a Yugo. He is not only a hitter, but a wrap up tackler. Has the feet and flexibility to run with tight ends, backs, and wide receivers. Can play deep off the ball or in the slot. Forces fumbles not only as a collision hitter but with his active hands grabbing at the ball. Athletic and agile working through traffic on run support. Recorded 384 tackles in his career, 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 15 interceptions. A four year playmaker. The Sultan of Swat from the Palouse grades out as a very valuable weapon for a creative defensive coordinator against the run, in pass coverage, and as a blitzer. Three teams - St. Louis (#13), Pittsburgh (#15), and Baltimore (#17) are all looking for safeties. Any team that selects him after that trio just held up a Brinks truck. Bucannon has a consistent pattern of success from his high school days through his college career. As an extra bonus, Deone can play golf on off days with the defensive coordinator that selects him. He lettered in golf for four years in high school. Senior Bowl notes: liked his change of direction in drills. Closed well in pursuit and was fluid in transition. Physical in tackling drills and showed aggressive play in run support. The physical safety put a pad popper hit on James White during practice. 2013 stats: 114 T, 6 INT, 3 FF. BTR:left 4.59, right 4.59. OSR:2/ 18. First round. (A-32 3/8, H-9 3/4, VJ-36.5, SS-4.26).
KELVIN BENJAMIN Florida State, 6050 240 4.62. Underclass entry. One-year starter. Was one of seven wide receivers who caught at least 20 passes as a red-shirt freshman. A big physical target who is not easy to tackle. Smooth for a big man. A long strider that picks up speed as he goes down the field. Basically a one-year starter who caught 30 passes as a red-shirt freshman in 2012. He played in a five-receiver rotation. Not a nifty-footed receiver, but a powerful one. Can make the tough overhead catch by tracking the ball. Adjusts well to a poorly thrown pass. Can make the great catch or miss a routine ball. Long arms (34 7/8") and a wing span of 83 inches, plus catcher mitt-sized hands which look like tennis rackets at times. Good effort as a downfield run blocker. He caught the game winning catch versus Auburn for the national championship after being a non-factor for most of the game. He caught nine passes versus rival Florida for 212 yards, but dropped 5 other balls. Presently grades out as a backup type who may be an eventual starter in certain schemes. Will need pro physical development. Inconsistent hand catcher and pass route runner. Does not catch the ball cleanly. Built more like a tight end. May grow out of wide receiver position. 2013 stats: 54-1011, 18.7 ypr, 15 TD. OSR:43/ 46. Third/fourth round. (A-34 7/8, H-10 1/4, VJ-32.5, SS-4.39).
DOMINIQUE EASLEY Florida, 6016 288 4.89. Three-year starter with experience at defensive tackle and end. Sudden and explosive to get penetration or gain an advantage upfield. Unlocks his hips with force. Plays with a good power base and lower body strength with knee bend to stack the point of attack. A one-gap player who is highly motivated to use his hands to control the blocker, close down inside with authority, and disrupt an offensive blocking scheme. Easley doesn’t have the gaudy stats of some players because he is part of a six-man rotation. A quick twitch athlete who is flexible and always around the ball. A scheme specific defender. Injury history which includes a torn ACL in 2013 and one in 2011. Undersized for an NFL tackle. 2013 stats: 5 T, 2 TFL. Medical exclusion at Combine, right knee ACL. Third/fourth round. (A-32 7/8, H-9 3/4, BP-26, 10-DNP).
JIMMIE WARD Northern Illinois, 5105 193 4.46. Three-year starter. A competitor who loves the game and is always around the ball. He collected 7 interceptions and had 10 pass deflections in 2013. A run-through-the-target type tackler. A reliable and disciplined safety who is instinctive and always in position. Takes good run support on pursuit angles. Will sacrifice his body to take out the lead blocker. Equally as skilled up on the line of scrimmage or back in halves coverage. Huskies’ leading tackler. A sticky coverage safety who will get in a tight end’s back pocket. Plays well in the slot and is competitive when asked to play man-to-man coverage. Shorter than ideal for a strong safety. Has an injury history over his career. 2013 stats: 95 T, 7 INT, 1 FF. Medical exclusion at Combine, right foot. Second/third round. (A-31, H-9 3/8, VJ-38, SS-4.24).
BRADLEY ROBY Ohio State, 5112 194 4.37. Three-year starter. Missed the 2014 Orange Bowl with a knee injury. Best asset is his big time speed and athletic ability. A quick twitch athlete. Can be disruptive with corner blitzes. Recorded 13 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, and blocked two punts in 2013. Ball clubs will be enticed by his speed and athletic ability. Has an injury history. Questionable ball and visual skills. Loses the ball in flight. Doesn’t turn back to the ball. Sat out first game due to a suspension. Play-to-play focus is needed. Struggles when the ball gets close to the receiver. Needs work on tackling skills. 2013 stats: 69 T, 3 INT. BTR:left 4.40, right 4.53. OSR:2/ 32. First/second round. (A-31 1/2, H-10 1/4, VJ-38.5, SS-4.04).
Cannot find Justin Gilbert, Aaron Donald, or Teddy Bridgewater as their team made 2 first round selections, and Greg Robinson, Anthony Barr, and Johnny Manziel were more publicized selections.
