(Kiper ratings/analysis)
1/1 DT Sheldon Richardson 6-2½ 294 Missouri (S. 4.95) R. 9.3
Analysis: When he came to
Missouri out of the JUCO ranks, Richardson wasn’t in great shape and wasn’t 100 percent physically. However, he flashed dominant ability in
some games as a junior and he played well this past season. He is quick and athletic, and because he’s so gifted, you don’t realize just how big
he is. Richardson is a really strong kid and one of the most athletic defensive tackles to come across my radar in the past five years. He’s not
that well known to many fans nationally, but NFL scouts are on to this kid because he’s so big and athletically gifted. In some games,
Richardson looked unblockable, and will hear his name called early in the draft. It’s likely he comes off the board by the early to middle portion
of the first round. *Combine Note: Ran a 5.02, did 30 reps, and had a 32” vertical jump.
2/47 OG Kyle Long 6-6 313 Oregon (S. 4.96) R. 9.2
Analysis: Long is the son of NFL Hall of Fame DE Howie Long and the
brother of Rams’ DE Chris Long, so he has some exceptional bloodlines. Despite only being in the Pac-12 for one year,
he played pretty good football for the Ducks, showing the versatility to be an offensive guard or a right tackle at the pro
level. He needs to develop some consistency, though, as he’s still evolving as a late developing football player. The light is going on for Long
but he needs to improve his position technique. I expect that to come with more experience. He’s a tenacious football player with an impressive
punch move. He’s also a quality athletic talent with tremendous feet. This could open up an opportunity for Long to possibly make the grade as
a left tackle down the road, adding to his value entering the draft. - Long has a chance to be an outstanding player in 2-3 years. He has firstround
athletic talent; if he works on his game, gets coached up, and the off the field issues are a thing of the past, he’ll end up being a very
good late first round or early Day 2 pick. *Combine Note: Ran a 4.97, didn’t lift, and had a 28” vertical jump.
3/80 TE Travis Kelce 6-4½ 256 Cincinnati (S. 4.69) R. 8.5
Analysis: Kelce had an excellent career for Cincinnati, stretching the deep middle of the field very effectively.
He had a lot of yards after the catch for a big, athletic tight end, turning 10-yard catches into 20-yard gains. He is a big kid who can run and get
separation against linebackers and safeties. Kelce also does a good job as an inline blocker, finishing his blocks nicely. He is an aggressive kid,
but he needs to do a better job as a route runner and pay more attention to detail in that area. Kelce needs some coaching on his technique to
better utilize that frame and he needs to do a better job of protecting the football. There were too many times I noticed where he was sloppy
and had some near fumbles. If he can shore that up, Kelce has the speed and overall talent to be a very good old-school tight end who can
help an NFL team in a lot of ways. *Combine Note: Didn’t workout.
4/114 FS JJ Wilcox 6-0 213 Georgia Southern (S. 4.56) R. 8.8
Analysis: Despite playing just one year at safety, Wilcox showed big time results in
2012. I love his speed to the ball, that he hits with purpose, and that he’s a good overall tackler. He’s going to keep getting better in coverage
and, with more coaching and experience, he could evolve into a Pro Bowl caliber performer. Wilcox has tremendous long range potential and
hinted that he could be special in a year or two by being one of the stickout performers in Mobile at the Senior Bowl practices. With his talent
and upside potential, I can’t see an exciting prospect like Wilcox getting out of the second round. At worst, he’s off the board by the end of day
2. *Combine Note: Ran a 4.51, did 17 reps, and had a 35” vertical jump.
5/151 OT Reid Fragel 6-7½ 309 Ohio St. (S. 5.09) R. 8.1
Analysis: For a guy who had never played offensive tackle before this year, I thought Fragel did a good overall job as a run-blocking right bookend. He used his athletic ability to get to the second level and showed good technique. He has good feet and he uses his hands well, but he’s still learning the position. Fragel isn’t the prototypical dominant run blocker you normally see and want at right tackle, so he’s not quite up to par with the first
and second round talent in this draft. However, he increased his weight from 280 lbs to nearly 310 lbs this year, while significantly improving his
upper body strength. In 2 years, with a season of development, Fragel could be a guy you count on as a very solid bookend. He has come a
long way and he has the smarts, athleticism, and work ethic to be a very good developmental prospect. *Combine Note: Ran a 5.14, did 33
reps, and had a 30” vertical jump.
6/185 RB Knile Davis 5-11½ 229 Arkansas (S. 4.40) R. 7.5
Analysis: Davis was healthy in 2012 but he was just average,
not putting up the numbers many thought possible after his tremendous 2010 campaign. The concern with him is going to be durability, as he
suffered significant injuries in high school (ankle, collarbone) and then to his ankle in 2011. He also had some fumbling issues that he must
correct. When Davis is healthy and at 100 percent, though, he hits the hole with authority, doesn’t dance around, and combines power with
speed to be effective. This kid has a great work ethic and an incredible amount of talent. In fact, his talent is right up there with first and second
round picks, but because of the durability and fumbling issues, Davis will likely be pushed down just a bit. Someone may roll the dice a little
sooner than you may expect in the hope that he will revert back to his brilliant 2010 form which inexplicably disappeared this past season.
*Combine Note: Ran a 4.37, did 31 reps, and had a 33 ½” vertical jump.
