Rating defensive players is a lot more challenging. Again, I only rated a player for one position. A lot is going to depend on the team that drafts a player...4-3 vs 3-4. I put the player at the position I feel he fits best, it doesn't mean he can't play another postion. Ex: IMO, Nick Perry is a better 4-3 DE, but he could also develop into an outstanding 3-4 OLB. Many may disagree with my choice of position for the DL and LBs, it's my opinion from watching these players games and film. CORNERBACK Mo Claiborne - LSU Dre Kirkpatrick - Bama Stephon Gilmore - South Carolina Janoris Jenkins - N. Alabama Josh Robinson - Central Florida SAFETY Mark Barron - Bama Harrison Smith - Notre Dame Trumaine Johnson - Montana George Iloka - Boise State Markelle Martin - Oklahoma St DT/NT Jerel Worthy - MSU Dontari Poe - Memphis Michael Brockers - LSU Brandon Thompson - Clemson Mike Martin - Michigan 3-4 DE Fletcher Cox - Miss St Kendall Reyes - UConn Devon Still - Penn St Derek Wolfe - Cincinnati Billy Winn - Boise St 4-3 DE Quinton Coples - North Carolina Courtney Upshaw - Bama Nick Perry - USC Whitney Mercilus - Illnois Chandler Jones - Syracuse 3-4 OLB Melvin Ingram - South Carolina Shea McClellin - Boise State Vinny Curry - Marshall Andre Branch - Clemson Ronnell Lewis - Oklahoma 4-3 OLB Zach Brown - North Carolina Bobby Wagner - Utah St Lavonte David - Nebraska Sean Spence - The U Nigel Bradham - Florida St ILB Luke Kuechly - BC Dont'a Hightower - Bama Tank Carder - TCU Audie Cole - NC St Mychal Kendricks - Cal
What's your reasoning with Kendricks listed behind Carder and Cole, both rd 4-5 prospects at ILB? Kendricks is almost locked into rd 2
I have more to talk about with these. I was curious to see your #5 Cb behind Jenkins. There are a lot of corners very close in that area IMO. On your safeties, where would you grade them in a normal class? In other words would Barron have a 1st round grade, harrison smith in the 2nd round, so on and so forth... I'm assuming not everyone in your DT/NT list is actually an NT right? I just can't see Brockers working out there. That said having him as a 4-3 DT makes more sense than as a 3-4 DE, so I get why he is there. I concur with your 4-3 DE list. I don't think anybody could stand up, save for Perry. And I think he doesn't want to stand up, so I think in the end he will go to a 4-3 team like Chicago. Of the 3-4 OLB's, Curry is the only guy I would have qualms about his ability to play standing up instead of hand in the dirt. I just don't know that he is athletic enough to excel at the next level standing up. Can you give a round grade on your ILB's as well? I can't tell if you really like Carder/Cole as compared to everything else, or if you just hate the ILB's beyond Hightower/Kuechly. Interesting you have Bradham as a OLB, most people have him as a 3-4 ILB, so it's just interesting you have him placed in that category.
Kendricks stellar combine bumped him up quite a ways. I don't necessarily think his tape warrants that high of a consideration. Knowing WW like I do, when in doubt, tape trumps the athleticism displayed in shorts.
ILB is a weak position this year. Positions 3-5 are really close. After Hightower the drop is pretty significant. Kendricks is a solid player, his size is a slight concern for me.
A lot of questions!! CBs after the top 4, there is a drop and you're rihgt there is a bunch to choose. I really like Casey Hayward and he was close to making my list. Barron has a 1st Rd grade, don't be surprised if the Jets draft him. Too many Jet fans are undervaluing Barron, while he's not an elite safety, he a solid Rd 1 player and I won't lose sleep if we draft him. The rest of the safety class is what it is, not great, but some decent players in Rd 2 -4. you'll see my Top 50 players coming out later tonight. DT/NT is just a mix of both. I'm not as high on Poe and Brockers as most. Curry was a close call, I almost put him in the 4-3 DE, I think he has the potential to stand up, but like I said, these players are interchangeable. ILB; Kuchly & Hightower Rd1,Tank Carder Rd 3, Audie Cole & Mykal Kendricks Rd 3-4 I think bradham can play both LB position.
thank you sir. I figured as much with the safeties. I actually just noticed, Cox is the top of your 3-4 end list. That surprises me that you think he is a better 3-4 prospect, than 4-3. Most people aren't talking about that. Now that you have your DE/OLB's squared away, I would be curious how you would rank those players based solely on their pass rushing abilities. since, thats all the average fan seems to care about anyways. Other than that, love the lists, and can't wait to get a peek at your top 50.
I love Cox, he's really moved up my board, he's a force inside and equally good from the outside with his push. A very versatile player, reminds me slightly like a Mo Wilk. If he fell to the Jets they might pull the trigger based on Value. I think he's going to be a Dallas Cowboy. Ingram is the best 3-4 OLb in this draft. It's too bad the draft is approaching so fast, Shea Mc. might be a mid round 1 pick if we had another month. If the Jets believe Shea Mc is going to be a force, they should consider him at #16, if they can't trade back 10 spots.
You won't catch me complaining about McClelin if we take him at 16. I love the kid. If we can pull a trade down, he is the guy I want. Which means I'm glad there isn't another month for his stock to keep rising. Then again, somebody always falls, so here's to hoping something stupid unexpected happens, and the Jets become beneficiaries of poor drafting. Also I wouldn't be shocked if we took Cox. Value is value. Even though we just went 3-4 DE last year, adding another physical freak solidifies the DL for a decade (supposing Kenrick Ellis works out). Can't argue with that being the way it works out at all.
Nice job WW on these past 3 threads you put up. As always, very high quality work that Im sure took a lot of time. A few thoughts- You think Vinny Curry could stand up a 3-4 OLB? Do you think he is athletic enough to occasionally drop into coverage? I personally think he could play the position but I’ve been hearing others say he is strictly a 4-3 end... What are your thoughts on that? Im assuming you dont think Upshaw’s best position is 3-4 OLB, but instead 4-3 end... Imo, I just dont see Upshaw reaching his full potential at end; despite all of the talk about his lack of flexibility and athleticism, I still see him as a 3-4 OLB. His value might be around the late teens/early 20s, but I still prefer at OLB. Because of this, I would probably put Perry over Upshaw at 4-3 end. Just some of my opinions- I think Ronnell Lewis’s upside is in the middle despite him playing OLB. I would absolutely love Derek Wolfe if he somehow made it to the 5th... Although Im not sure if he’s best for this system. I think he would be a great book end opposite JJ Watt in Houston (reminds me of that penetrating DE)... Do you think Wolfe could play in the Jets system? James Michael Johnson could deserve some consideration when talking about the 4th or 5th ILB spots... I think he’ll have a very solid career. I wouldnt mind him replacing Scott.
I think Janoris Jenkins is the second best corner in this draft, character problems aside. He essentially shut down AJ Green, Julio Jones, and Alshon Jeffery while he was at Florida. Two of those guys look like future NFL studs.
