RS12
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See link for whole list, I'll cut it off at 15 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/2011-NFL-draft-player-rankings
Rank Grade Player School Height Weight 40-YD Position
1. 9.1 Andrew Luck** Stanford 6-foot-3 1/2 235 4.67 QB
Luck’s NFL future hinges on several things, the first being the status of Stanford’s head coach in 2011. If Jim Harbaugh leaves for an NFL gig, Luck is soon to follow. Rumors have Harbaugh as the object of affection by the 49ers. If he ends up as their new coach, could Luck pull an “Eli Manning” on draft day and force a team like Buffalo to trade his rights to San Francisco? The third-year sophomore is ranked 10th in the nation in passing efficiency (159.71) and 16th in total offense (288.4 ypg), but is clearly the frontrunner to be the draft’s top pick, if he opts to leave early.
2. 8.5 A.J. Green* Georgia 6-foot-3 1/2 212 4.38 WR
The Bulldogs struggled early in the season with Green on suspension and rumors are swirling that head coach Mark Richt might not be in Athens next year (Colorado?). Green has game-breaking ability and with the slew of draft picks in the early rounds, New England could package them to a team so it can take a player to fill the void created by Randy Moss’ departure. Let’s hope that the next time Green sells his football jersey that it is through NFL marketing. The junior has pulled down 150 passes for 2,445 yards and 23 scores in 30 games at Georgia. The Pats will have to leap-frog past Cleveland for Green’s services, as Mike Holmgren is fully aware that the Browns need a playmaker to stretch the field and develop with QB Colt McCoy.
3. 8.5 Prince Amukamara Nebraska 6-foot 1/4 201 4.45 CB
Prince must be very lonely on the field this year, as opposing quarterbacks outright refuse to challenge his area. Some of his eleven pass break-ups should have been interceptions, but he is a blanket-type defender who has held receivers to under 2.0 yards per pass attempt as a Husker. He will vie with LSU’s Patrick Peterson to see who will be the first cornerback taken on draft day. The 49ers and Lions are in desperate need of a shutdown secondary performer of his caliber, but he will more likely be in Motown, as San Francisco needs to address QB issues first.
4. 8.4 Patrick Peterson LSU 6-foot-1 222 4.38 CB
Whichever team loses out on Amukamara (or vice versa) will not cry over the consolation prize of finding the best boundary cornerback in college football still available. He dealt with leg cramp issues early in 2010, but with his added ability on special teams, he could be the first defender to mount a serious challenge for Heisman Trophy honors since Charles Woodson (1997). He’s averaging 43.7 yards on three interceptions, ranks fifth nationally with a 17.64-yard punt return average that includes two touchdowns and is 21st in the NCAA ranks with a kickoff return average of 27.0 yards.
5. 8.2 Da'Quan Bowers* Clemson 6-foot-4 1/4 277 4.56 DE
Injuries kept Clemson’s first top-rated prep prospect in school history from reaching his potential during his first two years in the program, but completely healthy in 2010, Bowers has been a terror in the opposing backfields. Through 10 games, he’s already tied the school season-record with 13.5 sacks, leading the nation in that category, while placing second with 2.2 tackles-for-loss per game.
6. 8.0 Nick Fairley* Auburn 6-foot-4 298 4.83 DT
What QB Cam Newton has done for the Tigers’ offense, Fairley has grabbed the reins as Auburn’s defensive stalwart, as both have been stellar additions coming from the junior-college ranks. Fairley is like a bull in a china shop and this reckless play has resulted in a fair share of questionable hits and missed tackles, but with his nonstop motor, he has wreaked havoc in the backfield, ranking eighth nationally in tackles-for-loss (18), that includes 7.5 sacks, holding ball carriers to minus -75 yards through 10 games. The Broncos are paying close attention to this Tiger, who can play either end or tackle in the pros.
7. 7.9 Marcell Dareus* Alabama 6-foot-2 1/2 309 4.85 DE
Hopefully, the next time he visits a South Beach party it will be as a member of the Dolphins. One of a slew of SEC players under investigation during the offseason, Dareus was suspended for the first two games and has been nursing left ankle and leg injuries, but the Richard Seymour clone is a nice fit on the edge as a pass rusher or shooting the inside gaps as a bull rusher for a 3-4 alignment. Dallas needs offensive help, but with injuries and a lack of a pass rush up front, coupled by a lack of early-round talent available among offensive linemen, Jerry Jones could grab yet another SEC player for his stable.
8. 7.9 J.J. Watt* Wisconsin 6-foot-6 1/4 291 4.78 DE/T
With the inside gap-shooting skills of Dan Hampton and the high motor/power game on the edge of Mario Williams, this former tight end has just two years on the defensive side of the ball, but athletically and potentially, he could emerge as the best down lineman in this draft class. Boy, Don Shula would have loved using this kid on stunts, a la A.J. Duhe! Watt can play any position on the front wall and his 18 tackles for loss rank fourth in the nation. He also excels on special teams, having blocked two kicks this year. Joe Namath said it best — "I can’t wait until tomorrow, because I get prettier every day." That can aptly describe Watt’s performance from one week until the next. The Packers and Bengals are in desperate need of an interchangeable part for their defensive line.
9. 7.5 Robert Quinn* North Carolina 6-foot-4 1/2 271 4.53 DE/LB
Quinn’s dismissal, along with several other Tar Heels defenders instantly squashed UNC’s national title hopes. He’s a freak of nature, with the size of a down lineman, along with the speed of a linebacker. He could emerge as a bigger, stronger version of the Steelers' LaMarr Woodley and even though he does not get to show his wares to scouts this year, every NFL team knows of his capability in the trenches. While his off-field issues might scare away a team or two, Cincinnati, in dire need of a pass rusher, has never flinched when it came to a player’s character.
10. 7.4 Adrian Clayborn Iowa 6-foot-3 287 4.75 DE
After producing 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles-for-loss in 2009, Clayborn was expected to be the leader of the Iowa defense and the elite draft prospect at his position in 2010. But with just 3.5 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss and a unit that has been torched regularly on the ground, Clayborn needs a monster performance in all-star games, if he hopes to leap-frog the crop of underclass pass rushers expected to enter the 2011 draft. With his “pedestrian” numbers as a senior, a team like Green Bay could benefit by finding him still available later in the first round.
11. 7.3 Jonathan Baldwin* Pittsburgh 6-foot-4 1/2 224 4.37 WR
Baldwin is that Calvin Johnson-type of receiver that offensive coordinators salivate for. He recently requested that the school refer to him as “Jon,” but opposing cornerbacks refer to him as a “nightmare.” Baldwin did not start heating it up until early October, but the best receiver in the Big East since Pitt alumni Larry Fitzgerald, the junior has averaged 16.4 yards per reception in 2010. He’s a physical route runner, but with his 4.37 speed, he instantly creates mismatches vs. opposing safeties once he gets behind the cornerback. If Cleveland or New England miss out on A.J. Green, this Panthers wideout is the “next best thing” at wide receiver.
12. 7.3 Derek Sherrod Mississippi State 6-foot-5 305 5.15 OT
The “glamour” left tackles in college are Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi and Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, but talk to most scouts and they will tell you those “emperors” at the elite offensive line position are exposed for not “wearing their clothes,” when compared to Sherrod’s balance, footwork and devastating hand punch that he combines to make him not only the NCAA’s best drive blocker, but a superb pass protector, also. He’s received just one bad grade for blocking consistency in his past 32 contests, won SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week three times in the past five weeks and has drawn comparisons to Baltimore’s Michael Oher for the technical aspect of his game. The Bears feel he could be the perfect solution for their left tackle woes next year, but depending on where Arizona finishes this season, Chicago could have competition for a player more than deserving to be called the best blocker in college.
13. 7.3 Stephen Paea Oregon State 6-foot-3 306 4.95 DT
This guy is a human wrecking ball in the middle of the field. Try to “scoop” block him and he will fend you off with a vicious hand punch. Try to drive block on him and he simply executes an incredible spin move to escape. Dare to send your lead blocker up the A-and-B gaps and Paea will just walk that fullback back into the pocket. The team might be ranked 80th in the nation vs. the rush (169.22 ypg) in 2010, but for his career, Paea has allowed just five ball carriers to record first downs vs. him. Ever since Jamal Williams was injured before the 2009 season, San Diego has had a gaping hole needing to be filled at nose guard. With the Chargers not really looking like a playoff-bound team this year, Paea could be their answer in the middle of the first round.
14. 7.2 Bruce Carter North Carolina 6-foot-3 232 4.6 OLB
Through all of the turmoil while his teammates were under investigation, Carter has maintained his stellar performance, actually picking up his game to fill the void created by the dismissals of linemen Marvin Austin and Robert Quinn. Teams looking for evidence on his ability to change the tide of a game need to look at the Rutgers film. Carter blocked a punt and picked off a pass to set up drives that produced 10 points in a 17-13 win. A lifelong Carolina Panthers fan, with the NFL team struggling with injuries to their linebacking unit, the next Panthers head coach could get a nice present for the team’s rebuilding program by slotting Carter in at strongside linebacker and having Jon Beeson in the middle.
15. 7.2 Ryan Mallett* Arkansas 6-foot-6 1/4 238 4.86 QB
Whether Jack Del Rio survives another season in Jacksonville or not, David Garrard is not long for being the Jaguars’ quarterback. Enter Mallett, a physically gifted passer in the Carson Palmer mold. What Josh Freeman has done for Tampa Bay, Mallett has the same ability to “stand tall” in the pocket and deliver those “long ropes” down field. He’s saying all the right things about returning to Arkansas next year, but let’s face it, after Andrew Luck, what college QB stands to make the most on the contract table in 2011 than Mallett? The Razorback has had moments this year where he’s looked like another David Carr, but that was more likely Mallett trying to “push the envelope” and make things happen while battling early-season injuries. To date, he has had six 300-yard passing performances, ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency (166.49) and had 24 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He might enjoy the tax break players get in the state of Florida, as Miami would be nuts not to pounce on him if Jacksonville fails to do so.
Rank Grade Player School Height Weight 40-YD Position
1. 9.1 Andrew Luck** Stanford 6-foot-3 1/2 235 4.67 QB
Luck’s NFL future hinges on several things, the first being the status of Stanford’s head coach in 2011. If Jim Harbaugh leaves for an NFL gig, Luck is soon to follow. Rumors have Harbaugh as the object of affection by the 49ers. If he ends up as their new coach, could Luck pull an “Eli Manning” on draft day and force a team like Buffalo to trade his rights to San Francisco? The third-year sophomore is ranked 10th in the nation in passing efficiency (159.71) and 16th in total offense (288.4 ypg), but is clearly the frontrunner to be the draft’s top pick, if he opts to leave early.
2. 8.5 A.J. Green* Georgia 6-foot-3 1/2 212 4.38 WR
The Bulldogs struggled early in the season with Green on suspension and rumors are swirling that head coach Mark Richt might not be in Athens next year (Colorado?). Green has game-breaking ability and with the slew of draft picks in the early rounds, New England could package them to a team so it can take a player to fill the void created by Randy Moss’ departure. Let’s hope that the next time Green sells his football jersey that it is through NFL marketing. The junior has pulled down 150 passes for 2,445 yards and 23 scores in 30 games at Georgia. The Pats will have to leap-frog past Cleveland for Green’s services, as Mike Holmgren is fully aware that the Browns need a playmaker to stretch the field and develop with QB Colt McCoy.
3. 8.5 Prince Amukamara Nebraska 6-foot 1/4 201 4.45 CB
Prince must be very lonely on the field this year, as opposing quarterbacks outright refuse to challenge his area. Some of his eleven pass break-ups should have been interceptions, but he is a blanket-type defender who has held receivers to under 2.0 yards per pass attempt as a Husker. He will vie with LSU’s Patrick Peterson to see who will be the first cornerback taken on draft day. The 49ers and Lions are in desperate need of a shutdown secondary performer of his caliber, but he will more likely be in Motown, as San Francisco needs to address QB issues first.
4. 8.4 Patrick Peterson LSU 6-foot-1 222 4.38 CB
Whichever team loses out on Amukamara (or vice versa) will not cry over the consolation prize of finding the best boundary cornerback in college football still available. He dealt with leg cramp issues early in 2010, but with his added ability on special teams, he could be the first defender to mount a serious challenge for Heisman Trophy honors since Charles Woodson (1997). He’s averaging 43.7 yards on three interceptions, ranks fifth nationally with a 17.64-yard punt return average that includes two touchdowns and is 21st in the NCAA ranks with a kickoff return average of 27.0 yards.
5. 8.2 Da'Quan Bowers* Clemson 6-foot-4 1/4 277 4.56 DE
Injuries kept Clemson’s first top-rated prep prospect in school history from reaching his potential during his first two years in the program, but completely healthy in 2010, Bowers has been a terror in the opposing backfields. Through 10 games, he’s already tied the school season-record with 13.5 sacks, leading the nation in that category, while placing second with 2.2 tackles-for-loss per game.
6. 8.0 Nick Fairley* Auburn 6-foot-4 298 4.83 DT
What QB Cam Newton has done for the Tigers’ offense, Fairley has grabbed the reins as Auburn’s defensive stalwart, as both have been stellar additions coming from the junior-college ranks. Fairley is like a bull in a china shop and this reckless play has resulted in a fair share of questionable hits and missed tackles, but with his nonstop motor, he has wreaked havoc in the backfield, ranking eighth nationally in tackles-for-loss (18), that includes 7.5 sacks, holding ball carriers to minus -75 yards through 10 games. The Broncos are paying close attention to this Tiger, who can play either end or tackle in the pros.
7. 7.9 Marcell Dareus* Alabama 6-foot-2 1/2 309 4.85 DE
Hopefully, the next time he visits a South Beach party it will be as a member of the Dolphins. One of a slew of SEC players under investigation during the offseason, Dareus was suspended for the first two games and has been nursing left ankle and leg injuries, but the Richard Seymour clone is a nice fit on the edge as a pass rusher or shooting the inside gaps as a bull rusher for a 3-4 alignment. Dallas needs offensive help, but with injuries and a lack of a pass rush up front, coupled by a lack of early-round talent available among offensive linemen, Jerry Jones could grab yet another SEC player for his stable.
8. 7.9 J.J. Watt* Wisconsin 6-foot-6 1/4 291 4.78 DE/T
With the inside gap-shooting skills of Dan Hampton and the high motor/power game on the edge of Mario Williams, this former tight end has just two years on the defensive side of the ball, but athletically and potentially, he could emerge as the best down lineman in this draft class. Boy, Don Shula would have loved using this kid on stunts, a la A.J. Duhe! Watt can play any position on the front wall and his 18 tackles for loss rank fourth in the nation. He also excels on special teams, having blocked two kicks this year. Joe Namath said it best — "I can’t wait until tomorrow, because I get prettier every day." That can aptly describe Watt’s performance from one week until the next. The Packers and Bengals are in desperate need of an interchangeable part for their defensive line.
9. 7.5 Robert Quinn* North Carolina 6-foot-4 1/2 271 4.53 DE/LB
Quinn’s dismissal, along with several other Tar Heels defenders instantly squashed UNC’s national title hopes. He’s a freak of nature, with the size of a down lineman, along with the speed of a linebacker. He could emerge as a bigger, stronger version of the Steelers' LaMarr Woodley and even though he does not get to show his wares to scouts this year, every NFL team knows of his capability in the trenches. While his off-field issues might scare away a team or two, Cincinnati, in dire need of a pass rusher, has never flinched when it came to a player’s character.
10. 7.4 Adrian Clayborn Iowa 6-foot-3 287 4.75 DE
After producing 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles-for-loss in 2009, Clayborn was expected to be the leader of the Iowa defense and the elite draft prospect at his position in 2010. But with just 3.5 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss and a unit that has been torched regularly on the ground, Clayborn needs a monster performance in all-star games, if he hopes to leap-frog the crop of underclass pass rushers expected to enter the 2011 draft. With his “pedestrian” numbers as a senior, a team like Green Bay could benefit by finding him still available later in the first round.
11. 7.3 Jonathan Baldwin* Pittsburgh 6-foot-4 1/2 224 4.37 WR
Baldwin is that Calvin Johnson-type of receiver that offensive coordinators salivate for. He recently requested that the school refer to him as “Jon,” but opposing cornerbacks refer to him as a “nightmare.” Baldwin did not start heating it up until early October, but the best receiver in the Big East since Pitt alumni Larry Fitzgerald, the junior has averaged 16.4 yards per reception in 2010. He’s a physical route runner, but with his 4.37 speed, he instantly creates mismatches vs. opposing safeties once he gets behind the cornerback. If Cleveland or New England miss out on A.J. Green, this Panthers wideout is the “next best thing” at wide receiver.
12. 7.3 Derek Sherrod Mississippi State 6-foot-5 305 5.15 OT
The “glamour” left tackles in college are Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi and Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, but talk to most scouts and they will tell you those “emperors” at the elite offensive line position are exposed for not “wearing their clothes,” when compared to Sherrod’s balance, footwork and devastating hand punch that he combines to make him not only the NCAA’s best drive blocker, but a superb pass protector, also. He’s received just one bad grade for blocking consistency in his past 32 contests, won SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week three times in the past five weeks and has drawn comparisons to Baltimore’s Michael Oher for the technical aspect of his game. The Bears feel he could be the perfect solution for their left tackle woes next year, but depending on where Arizona finishes this season, Chicago could have competition for a player more than deserving to be called the best blocker in college.
13. 7.3 Stephen Paea Oregon State 6-foot-3 306 4.95 DT
This guy is a human wrecking ball in the middle of the field. Try to “scoop” block him and he will fend you off with a vicious hand punch. Try to drive block on him and he simply executes an incredible spin move to escape. Dare to send your lead blocker up the A-and-B gaps and Paea will just walk that fullback back into the pocket. The team might be ranked 80th in the nation vs. the rush (169.22 ypg) in 2010, but for his career, Paea has allowed just five ball carriers to record first downs vs. him. Ever since Jamal Williams was injured before the 2009 season, San Diego has had a gaping hole needing to be filled at nose guard. With the Chargers not really looking like a playoff-bound team this year, Paea could be their answer in the middle of the first round.
14. 7.2 Bruce Carter North Carolina 6-foot-3 232 4.6 OLB
Through all of the turmoil while his teammates were under investigation, Carter has maintained his stellar performance, actually picking up his game to fill the void created by the dismissals of linemen Marvin Austin and Robert Quinn. Teams looking for evidence on his ability to change the tide of a game need to look at the Rutgers film. Carter blocked a punt and picked off a pass to set up drives that produced 10 points in a 17-13 win. A lifelong Carolina Panthers fan, with the NFL team struggling with injuries to their linebacking unit, the next Panthers head coach could get a nice present for the team’s rebuilding program by slotting Carter in at strongside linebacker and having Jon Beeson in the middle.
15. 7.2 Ryan Mallett* Arkansas 6-foot-6 1/4 238 4.86 QB
Whether Jack Del Rio survives another season in Jacksonville or not, David Garrard is not long for being the Jaguars’ quarterback. Enter Mallett, a physically gifted passer in the Carson Palmer mold. What Josh Freeman has done for Tampa Bay, Mallett has the same ability to “stand tall” in the pocket and deliver those “long ropes” down field. He’s saying all the right things about returning to Arkansas next year, but let’s face it, after Andrew Luck, what college QB stands to make the most on the contract table in 2011 than Mallett? The Razorback has had moments this year where he’s looked like another David Carr, but that was more likely Mallett trying to “push the envelope” and make things happen while battling early-season injuries. To date, he has had six 300-yard passing performances, ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency (166.49) and had 24 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He might enjoy the tax break players get in the state of Florida, as Miami would be nuts not to pounce on him if Jacksonville fails to do so.
