My top 5 (and some sleepers) at every position. Any thoughts?


QB
1. Matt Stafford
2. Mark Sanchez
3. Josh Freeman
4. Rhett Bomar
5. Stephen McGee
Sleeper: Jason Boltus, Chris Pizzotti

RB
1. LeSean McCoy
2. Knowshon Moreno
3. Donald Brown
4. Beanie Wells
5. Rashad Jennings
Sleeper: Mike Goodson

FB
1. Quinn Johnson
2. Tony Fiammetta
3. Brannan Southerland
4. Fui Vakapuna
5. Jason Cook
Sleeper: Frank Summers

H-Back
1. Travis Beckum
2. David Johnson
3. James Casey
4. Zach Miller
5. Travis McCall

TE
1. Brandon Pettigrew
2. Shawn Nelson
3. Chase Coffman
4. Jared Cook
5. Cameron Morrah
Sleeper: Kory Sperry, Ryan Purvis, Nick Walker

WR
1. Michael Crabtree
2. Kenny Britt
3. Darrius Heyward-Bey
4. Hakeem Nicks
5. Jeremy Maclin
Sleeper: Brandon Tate, Jarrett Dillard, John Matthews

OT
1. Andre Smith
2. Eugene Monroe
3. Jason Smith
4. Michael Oher
5. William Beatty
Sleeper: Fenuki Tupou, Garrett Reynolds, Sam Allen

OG
1. Kraig Urbik
2. Herman Johnson
3. Duke Robinson
4. Tyronne Green
5. Trevor Canfield
Sleeper: Matt Slauson, Ray Feinga

C
1. Antoine Caldwell
2. Alex Mack
3. Max Unger
4. Jonathan Luigs
5. Eric Wood
Sleeper: Cecil newton, Brett Helms

DT (4-3)
1. BJ Raji (3-4 too)
2. Peria Jerry
3. SenDerrick Marks
4. Alex Magee
5. Ziggy Hood
Sleeper: Matt Kroul, Clinton McDonald, Chris Baker

DT (3-4)
1. Ron Brace
2. Fili Moala
3. Terrence Knighton
4. Myron Pryor
5. Dorell Scott
Sleeper: Sammie Lee Hill, Louis Ellis

DE (4-3)
1. Brian Orakpo
2. Everette Brown
3. Robert Ayers
4. Mitch King
5. Michael Johnson
Sleeper: Lawrence Sidbury, Pierre Walters, Brandon Swain

DE (3-4)
1. Tyson Jackson
2. Jarron Gilbert
3. Kyle Moore
4. Zach Potter
5. Everette Pedescleaux
Sleeper: Henry Melton, Alex Fields, Jeremy Navarre

OLB (3-4)
1. Aaron Maybin
2. Larry English
3. Clay Matthews
4. Clint Sintim
5. Cody Brown
Sleeper: Jeremy Lomax, Slade Norris

OLB (4-3)
1. Aaron Curry
2. Marcus Freeman
3. Zack Follett
4. Brian Cushing
5. Tyrone McKenzie
Sleeper: Kaluka Maiava, Jonathan Casillas

MLB/ILB
1. Rey Maualuga
2. James Laurinaitis
3. Gerald McRath
4. Darry Beckwith
5. Frantz Joseph
Sleeper: Daniel Holtzclaw, Josh Mauga

CB
1. Malcolm Jenkins
2. DJ Moore
3. Vontae Davis
4. Alphonso Smith
5. Darius Butler
Sleeper: Ryan Palmer, Jamar Love, Jason McCourty, Pete Ittersagen

SS
1. Patrick Chung
2. William Moore
3. Chip Vaughn
4. Michael Hamlin
5. Emanuel Cook
Sleeper: Carlton Williams, Trimaine Goddard

FS
1. Rashad Johnson
2. Louis Delmas
3. Derek Pegues
4. Curtis Taylor
5. Dre'Mail Hardin
Sleeper: CJ Spillman, Marcus McClinton

K
1. Louie Sakoda
2. Sam Swank
3. Jose Martinez
4. Ryan Succop
5. Tom Schneider
Sleeper: Derek Doerfler

P
1. Kevin Huber
2. Thomas Morstead
3. Aaron Perez
4. TJ Conley
5. Justin Brantly
Sleeper: Robbie Dehaze, Brian Mimbs

hell yeah at least Cam isn't 16th or 20th in your TE rankings

Some Observations of your rankings.

1. I like the Zach Miller in the top 5 H-Back. Did he get an invite to the combine?

2. Don't know if I agree with Britt being #2 WR, but I could see it happening.

3. I sort of agree with you on Chris Wells. I'm not completely sold on him and his toughness.

4. Love Zach Potter in the top 5 3-4 DE's. He is going to be a good good NFL player.

As a 4-3 DT where would you rank Tyson Jackson?

I thought I woulda seen shonn greene in your top 5, but I may rate him too high

Hard to argue with much of that, Jeff. Fun scanning through it.

I have to vote for Maine's Javon Belcher as a sleeper OLB, of course...lol...

I also like some different CB sleepers than you (although I am intrigued by your inclusion of Ittersagen). My CB sleepers are: Christopher Owens, DeWayne Lewis, Bryan Williams and Londen Fryar. Some deep sleepers would be: Lydell Sergeant, Bradley Fletcher, Jacob Lacey and Derek Cox.

I'd like to hear why Maclin is the #5 WR? I haven't seen a whole lot of weaknesses in his game. And do you think Fili Moala is a true 3-4 NT? He looks like a 4-3 DT or maybe 3-4 DE to me, with his first step and natural athleticism. The sleepers look great, I love the Pizzotti pick and Dillard looks like he'll be a productive slot WR.

My sleeper at CB - Joe Burnett UCF. I know I keep harping on this kid, but I'm telling you he can play in the NFL.

And btw, PoM, Belcher just got some props on one of the major websites the other day. I can't remember which one off the top of my hed, but when I find it again I'll let you know.

I'll give my thoughts...

Mcgee is a late round pick, but I like where you have him. I have him about 6 or 7. That kid is tough

I don't really get your HB rankings? Why McCoy over Wells and Moreno? No Shonn Green in top 5?

I think Oher is just another one of those players who is getting too much criticisim because he's been elite for so long that everyone's finding his weaknesses instead of his strengths. I'm not on the Jason Smith bandwagon. He has good feet, ya. But he didnt run block much.

Moala isn't really a 3/4 NT

I see Mitch King as a DE in 3/4 and UT in 4/3

Cushing will also dominate combine. He'll go number 2 at OLB on draft day. No doubt in my mind

I love your FS rankings though.

No Graham Gano at K or P.


Im being picky, but I like them. They're original and not like most peoples..

Thanks, Erik. I keep telling people he has a chance to be as good as Stephen Cooper.

I asked this earlier, but I think it got lost in the postings.


Tyson Jackson.

As a 4-3 DT, where would you rank him amongst/against the rest of the 4-3 DTs?


The reports I've read on him seem to suggest that he might have an ideal skill set for an undertackle. Good phonebooth ability, quickness, etc.

Hey PoM,

Here's the bit I was telling you about regarding Belcher:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/risersandfallers

Cool! Thanks, man.

BPB,

I am not at all high on Jackson. He plays only when he really wants to. Wouldn't be on my draft board, personally, but some bright coach may know how to get the best out of him. There are only two DTs who would outrank him as an UT if he plays the way he is capable of playing.

That's kind of what I was thinking... except for the motivational issue.

I don't see Jackson as a 4-3 DT. I don't think he's instinctual enough to play 4-3 DE at the NFL level.

I like Greene, and probably would put him at 6 or 7, but he's not top 5 because of his age and the fact that he's a one-year wonder.

I like Maclin a lot, but I have some big questions about him. He's coming from a spread offense that helped to give him the amazing numbers. He's only got two years of playing experience and he rarely faced good defenses. I also have questions about his ability to get off the jam. He's not a terribly physical player. He definitely has some serious upside though.

As for Moala... he's a guy who I'm not exactly sure where to put him. He's got the quickness at the snap to be a 4-3 DT, but I worry about his failure to produce once Sedrick Ellis moved on. He's not a guy who has the speed to track down the QBs. With his frame and ability to bullrush, I like him to add another 20# of functional strength and play over center.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on him. He'll be a late-round guy, but he'll battle in camp and earn a roster spot.


Wells is a bust waiting to happen, in my opinion. He just scares me. I really like Moreno, and he's more a 1A to McCoy than #2. They're both electric on the field and can make people miss, but both can pound it between the tackles when they need to. I just prefer McCoy slightly. I already discussed Greene. He'll be a 24-year old rookie and he's only got one year of production. He's probably not the brightest or hardest working guy out there.


Honestly, I'm not sure about Oher's head. Yes, he's probably the most all-around complete LT, but he's too inconsistent. I also wonder if he's been coddled so much that he's not going to be a self-motivated guy. Jason Smith clearly has weakness as a run blocker, but as a LT his main role is in pass protection, where he excels. He needs some more sand in his pants, but an NFL strength coach can take care of that.


But he could be...

He's another guy who's a bit of a square peg when it comes to the DL. He doesn't have the length I like in a 3-4 DE nor the base to be a UT in the 4-3.


Mike Mamula dominated the combine too. So did Vernon Gholston last year. Cushing is another guy I worry about. Can he stay healthy?


I'm never comfortable with my K or P rankings. The best kickers always turn out to be that undrafted kid from Northwestern Tulsa School of Culinary Design anyway.



Thanks!

No, he didn't.


I've always loved his ability. I wondered if he'd be mature enough to make it in the NFL without self-destructing. That happened this year. Talking to some people around the team, Britt developed into a real leader over the second half of the season. He definitely has the physical skills, size, hands, and body control to be a #1 receiver on a team. He plays faster than he'll time, although he's definitely not a speed merchant.