Russ Lande Top 50 players

The opinions of a professional scout are always interesting...

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-02-13/nfl-draft-top-50-prospects-luck-griffin-nearly-even

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. He's as close to Peyton Manning as the Indianapolis Colts are going to get. Luck has great football intelligence, poise in the pocket and is competitive.

2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor. Griffin is in a virtual tie with Luck as the best player in the draft. He has excellent arm strength, accuracy and is off the charts when it comes to leadership and smarts.

3. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama. Richardson will likely not go in the top five because of specific team needs at the top of the draft, but he's has the ability to be dominant inside runner and game-changer on the edge.

4. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU. Claiborne is a better cornerback prospect than his former teammate Patrick Peterson from a year ago.

5. Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal. The best offensive line prospect in the draft, Kalil is already a dominant pass protector.

6. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State. While Blackmon lacks "wow" speed, he is a powerful receiver with deceptive athleticism.

7. Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College. Kuechly made a smart decision to come out early for a draft with no other elite linebackers to challenge him. NFL scouts have told us he reminds them of Brian Urlacher.

8. Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. Coples is 6-6 and explosive. He showed at the Senior Bowl that he can beat offensive tackles with power and speed. He reminded many of Julius Peppers.

9. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. Floyd's two alcohol arrests could knock him down draft boards, but he's an elite prospect with great size at 6-3.

10. Devon Still, DT, Penn State. Still has the tools to be a productive starter as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme or a tackle in a 4-3.

11. David DeCastro, G, Stanford. While guards rarely go this high, DeCastro deserves consideration because of his foot quickness, agility and balance.

12. Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina. While many rank Courtney Upshaw as the best 3-4 outside linebacker prospect, Ingram is the more explosive athlete with better pass-rush skills.

13. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU. Brockers is quick off the snap with the long arms and strength to be a disruptive interior force.

14. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama. Kirkpatrick is 6-3 and excels at lining up in press coverage and playing tight man coverage all over the field.

15. Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State. Cox is not huge at under 300 pounds, but he has good first-step explosiveness off the snap and shoots gaps and gets into the backfield to blow up plays.

16. Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis. Poe has exceptional foot quickness and balance for a 350-pound player. With the demand for nose tackles high, he is assured of being a first-round pick by a team playing a 3-4 defense.

17. Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford. Martin is not dominant and allows pressure more than he should, but he has the foot skills, flexibility and potential that will entice a team to take him in the first round.

18. Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State. Weeden is an elite prospect in our eyes. Were he not 28 years old, he would be in the discussion with Luck and Griffin to be the first pick in the draft.

19. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford. With receiving tight ends becoming more valuable, Fleener's stock is rising. He has explosive acceleration, natural route running ability and good hands.

20. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama. If not for serious questions about his character, Jenkins would likely be a top 10 pick.

21. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor. Wright is the most explosive receiver in the draft and best receiver under 6-foot tall.

22. Alameda Ta'amu, NT, Washington. After a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl, Ta'amu's name is on the lips of every NFL team that plays a 3-4 defense and needs a physically dominant nose tackle.

23. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina. Jeffery lacks explosiveness and top-end speed, neither of which he improved last season. Many teams now view him as a late first- or high second-round pick.

24. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech. NFL teams are excited about his ability to change direction combined with his explosiveness through the hole.

25. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M. Tannehill is still learning to play quarterback after switching from receiver during the 2010 season, but he has athleticism, a strong arm and can be accurate.

26. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State. After being suspended for the first part of 2011, Adams improved each week and impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl.

27. Brandon Thompson, NT, Clemson. Thompson doesn't fit the mold of a 350-pound nose tackle, but he does an excellent job of playing with a solid base. He also uses his hands well.


28. Doug Martin, RB, Boise State. He showed in Mobile that he has sharp cutting ability, strength running with the ball and good receiving skills.

29. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona. Criner is an underrated receiver who runs sharp routes and consistently gets open.

30. Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin. Konz is the draft's top center because of his ability to move his feet and maintain blocks. He must improve his strength.

31. Sean Spence, LB, Miami (Fla.). Spence makes up for his 5-11 frame with a natural ability to read and react to plays in a flash.

32. Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall. Curry hasn't received the attention of other prospects in the draft, but he's been one of our favorites because he's a relentless pass rusher who showed in Mobile that he can easily defeat tackles to pressure the quarterback.

33. Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina. Brown is a dynamic athlete who is drastically underrated and will make an impact as a pass rusher.

34. Mychal Kendricks, LB, California. Kendricks makes plays all over the field using his instincts, speed and explosive closing ability.

35. Chris Polk, RB, Washington. Even after his disappointing week in Mobile, we are not changing our view that Polk has the tools to be a powerful starting back running between the tackles.

36. Nigel Bradham, LB, Florida State. Bradham is an elite athlete who is at his best playing out in the open field where he can use his speed to chase down plays.

37. Orson Charles, TE, Georgia. While Charles is never going to be a strong in-line blocker, he is an explosive athlete who consistently defeats man coverage.

38. Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia. Chase, the son of former Browns cornerback Frank Minnifield, is underrated. His smooth athleticism, size at 6-foot and ball skills make him good in all types of pass coverage.

39. Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia. Boykin is a special athlete who can cover any receiver in tight coverage. When you add in Boykin's return skills, it's clear he'll make an impact.

40. Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama. Upshaw is a powerful defender who uses great technique and competitiveness to be a dominant force against the run.

41. Billy Winn, DE, Boise State. Winn is not a dynamic athlete, but he is versatile, strong and has instincts to be productive playing in any defensive front.

42. Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson. While he is a good blocker and strong receiver, Allen's lack of explosiveness and top-end speed will likely keep him from being a first-round pick.

43. Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State. Perhaps the most intriguing defensive player in the draft, Worthy has draft rooms around the league split as teams try to figure out what it takes to get him to play hard on every snap.

44. Mark Barron, S, Alabama. Barron is a highly productive collegian whose strength is run support and violent hits.

45. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami (Fla.). Miller has the vision to find open space and the explosive burst to hit holes and make big plays. He hasn't consistently shown the aggressive running style and strength to run through hits.

46. Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest. Givens had a huge 2011 season where he showed the top speed and burst to get separation deep and make big plays. He reminds us a little of Baltimore Ravens receiver Torrey Smith.

47. Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State. Martin is a smooth athlete who can flip his hips easily to change directions. His speed gives him sideline range against the run and pass.

48. Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina. Jones jumped off the film when evaluated, but struggled at the Senior Bowl. NFL teams are now trying to figure out if he has the speed and desire to be the dynamic big receiver.

49. Nick Perry, DE, Southern Cal. Perry is not an explosive edge rusher, but he is strong and technically sound. He has consistently shown the ability to fight through blocks to pressure quarterbacks and make plays against the run.

50. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU. Randle, who came out early for the draft, impressed on film with his ability to pluck the ball and get free from the initial tackler.


PS: Pretty sure he forgot Riley Reiff. I know he's not that high on him but I don't think he'd leave him out of his Top 50.