Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 89,471
- Reaction score
- 212,423
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...ers-mel-kiper-favorite-players-2016-nfl-draft
This is neither a list of the best players in the draft overall, nor guys I consider the best at each position. They're all good, but they fit into a couple of separate categories. They are players who I've either:
Offense
Quarterback: With the debate swirling around who is the top QB in the draft, I'll stay with Jared Goff, my top QB in this class going back to last year's draft. He's the most gifted passer available, and while NFL success at this position is always going to be largely defined by where a guy lands, in a vacuum Goff would be my choice over Carson Wentz. Projection: Should be the No. 1 pick, and can't fall past No. 2
Running back: Kenneth Dixon out of Louisiana Tech is a player I've highlighted going back to last season. He's not particularly big or fast compared to other top backs, but he's decisive when the hole is there and often generates yards after contact when it isn't. Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry -- and perhaps a couple of others -- will go before him, but Dixon is really good.Projection: Late second to third round
Wide receiver: Josh Doctson doesn't wow in testing and lacks elite size, but he's dynamic with his ability to adjust to the ball in the air and is underrated after the catch. Sterling Shepard is a master craftsman at the position, a fabulous route runner who can make plays down the field and through contact despite a smaller frame. Projections: Safely first round for Doctson, and possible late first or early second for Shepard
Tight end: Don't roll your eyes at the Ivy League success. Ben Braunecker(Harvard) has speed (4.73) and explosiveness that would be above average in any Power 5 program. Projection: Early Day 3 (fourth round)
Offensive tackle: Jack Conklin was ranked as my No. 12 overall prospect for 2016 at this time last year, and he hasn't moved. He's a consistent pass-blocker and a great finisher in the running game. The former walk-on will be a good one. Projection: Top half of Round 1
Guard: He's not the top prospect at guard, but as a pure fit for the position (not transitioning from tackle) Christian Westerman from Arizona State is a great prospect. He offers a great combination of pure power and the ability to move and block in space. Projection: Round 2
Center: It wouldn't bother me if Ryan Kelly went somewhere in the middle of Round 1. Sure, he can block -- but Kelly is also the quarterback snapper who can make calls at the line, limit blitz effectiveness and help an O-line in ways that extend beyond the tape. Projection: Late first round
Defense
Defensive end: In a loaded class, I'll place a bet on Jihad Ward (Illinois) to be a better pro than he was a college player. The one-time receiver is still figuring things out and has explosiveness and size that will make him a versatile defensive lineman. Projection: Early Round 2
Defensive tackle: He's nobody's sleeper, but I've had A'Shawn Robinson at the top of the defensive tackle rankings, a high compliment in a seriously loaded class at the position. Vernon Butler is well-known at this point, but he was a player I really liked in 2015, and he continued that into this season. In that time he has gone from a mid-rounder to a name I hear discussed as a late-first possibility. Projections: Middle of Round 1 for Robinson, late first to mid-second for Butler
Linebacker: Another guy where the tape tells the story. Kentrell Brothers(Missouri) is just always around the ball. He has 20/15 vision on the football field, and seems to anticipate where the play is headed better than others around him. Another ILB who will go on Day 2 but have a Day 1 impact. Projection: Round 2-3
Edge: Kamalei Correa (Boise State) is a burner off the edge who went under the radar for far too long. The draft process has everyone caught up. Victor Ochi (Stony Brook) is among my favorite sleepers in the draft class. Projections: Correa can slide into Round 1 late, while Ochi is more likely an early Day 3 guy
Cornerback: Other cornerbacks have surpassed him in draft rankings, but throw out any of last year's tape on Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech). When he's 100 percent, he can challenge the best cornerbacks in this draft class. Projection: Round 2
Safety: Sean Davis (Maryland) won't draw raves for coverage, but he has a fearlessness to his game, and will make big hits and provide a fear factor in the middle of the field. (Yes, it still exists.) Su'a Cravens (USC) is listed here and at OLB, but I see him as the good kind of tweener, the guy with size to compete near the line of scrimmage, but underrated anticipation in coverage and sneaky good hands. Projections: As high as Round 3 for Davis; late first to second round for Cravens
This is neither a list of the best players in the draft overall, nor guys I consider the best at each position. They're all good, but they fit into a couple of separate categories. They are players who I've either:
- Often rated higher than other evaluators within the draft media or team evaluators I discuss prospects with, or ...
- Have been guys I have had higher in close debates within position groups, namely at quarterback
Offense
Quarterback: With the debate swirling around who is the top QB in the draft, I'll stay with Jared Goff, my top QB in this class going back to last year's draft. He's the most gifted passer available, and while NFL success at this position is always going to be largely defined by where a guy lands, in a vacuum Goff would be my choice over Carson Wentz. Projection: Should be the No. 1 pick, and can't fall past No. 2
Running back: Kenneth Dixon out of Louisiana Tech is a player I've highlighted going back to last season. He's not particularly big or fast compared to other top backs, but he's decisive when the hole is there and often generates yards after contact when it isn't. Ezekiel Elliott and Derrick Henry -- and perhaps a couple of others -- will go before him, but Dixon is really good.Projection: Late second to third round
Wide receiver: Josh Doctson doesn't wow in testing and lacks elite size, but he's dynamic with his ability to adjust to the ball in the air and is underrated after the catch. Sterling Shepard is a master craftsman at the position, a fabulous route runner who can make plays down the field and through contact despite a smaller frame. Projections: Safely first round for Doctson, and possible late first or early second for Shepard
Tight end: Don't roll your eyes at the Ivy League success. Ben Braunecker(Harvard) has speed (4.73) and explosiveness that would be above average in any Power 5 program. Projection: Early Day 3 (fourth round)
Offensive tackle: Jack Conklin was ranked as my No. 12 overall prospect for 2016 at this time last year, and he hasn't moved. He's a consistent pass-blocker and a great finisher in the running game. The former walk-on will be a good one. Projection: Top half of Round 1
Guard: He's not the top prospect at guard, but as a pure fit for the position (not transitioning from tackle) Christian Westerman from Arizona State is a great prospect. He offers a great combination of pure power and the ability to move and block in space. Projection: Round 2
Center: It wouldn't bother me if Ryan Kelly went somewhere in the middle of Round 1. Sure, he can block -- but Kelly is also the quarterback snapper who can make calls at the line, limit blitz effectiveness and help an O-line in ways that extend beyond the tape. Projection: Late first round
Defense
Defensive end: In a loaded class, I'll place a bet on Jihad Ward (Illinois) to be a better pro than he was a college player. The one-time receiver is still figuring things out and has explosiveness and size that will make him a versatile defensive lineman. Projection: Early Round 2
Defensive tackle: He's nobody's sleeper, but I've had A'Shawn Robinson at the top of the defensive tackle rankings, a high compliment in a seriously loaded class at the position. Vernon Butler is well-known at this point, but he was a player I really liked in 2015, and he continued that into this season. In that time he has gone from a mid-rounder to a name I hear discussed as a late-first possibility. Projections: Middle of Round 1 for Robinson, late first to mid-second for Butler
Linebacker: Another guy where the tape tells the story. Kentrell Brothers(Missouri) is just always around the ball. He has 20/15 vision on the football field, and seems to anticipate where the play is headed better than others around him. Another ILB who will go on Day 2 but have a Day 1 impact. Projection: Round 2-3
Edge: Kamalei Correa (Boise State) is a burner off the edge who went under the radar for far too long. The draft process has everyone caught up. Victor Ochi (Stony Brook) is among my favorite sleepers in the draft class. Projections: Correa can slide into Round 1 late, while Ochi is more likely an early Day 3 guy
Cornerback: Other cornerbacks have surpassed him in draft rankings, but throw out any of last year's tape on Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech). When he's 100 percent, he can challenge the best cornerbacks in this draft class. Projection: Round 2
Safety: Sean Davis (Maryland) won't draw raves for coverage, but he has a fearlessness to his game, and will make big hits and provide a fear factor in the middle of the field. (Yes, it still exists.) Su'a Cravens (USC) is listed here and at OLB, but I see him as the good kind of tweener, the guy with size to compete near the line of scrimmage, but underrated anticipation in coverage and sneaky good hands. Projections: As high as Round 3 for Davis; late first to second round for Cravens
Last edited:
