by Jeff Legwold
The video has rolled, the numbers have been crunched — and a survey of scouts and personnel executives throughout the league over the past six months reveals the top 100 prospects available in this year's draft — regardless of position or team needs in the selection order.
When all is said and done with a class that is not considered strong overall — players likely will have been drafted ahead of their true rankings all over the board, because there are thin spots in Round 1 as well as in Rounds 3 through 5 — it's an offensive tackle at the top.
Why? Left tackles are more difficult to find and can have a bigger impact as rookies than linebackers — just ask the Broncos and Dolphins what Ryan Clady and Jake Long did for their offenses last season. And other than quarterback, there may be no position more difficult to fill with a rookie who can come in and start as well.
So if teams have the chance to get one with big-time potential, they are always wise to take him.
So, let's begin the countdown from No. 100 to No. 1:
100. Sebastien Volmer, OT, Houston (6-7, 315) Born and raised in Germany. Played tight end in '05, missed '06 with an injury and started two years at tackle. Coaches said he surrendered one sack this past season. A late bloomer with huge potential.
99. Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian (5-11, 185) Blazing speed — some had him at 4.28 hand-timed at the combine — but an either/or player. Had two 200-yard receiving games in '08 and had 5 with less than 50 yards receiving, as well.
98. Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati (5-11, 184) One of the younger players on the board — won't be 22 until July. Scouts believe his speed is better than he has timed recently. Was a four-year starter for the Bearcats.
97. Jasper Brinkley, LB, South Carolina (6-1, 252) Struggled some in '08 with a heel injury and it showed in his play at times. Missed all but four games in '07 with a torn ligament (LCL) in his right knee.
96. David Bruton, S, Notre Dame (6-2, 219) Top-shelf athlete who certainly got lost in the Irish's defensive struggles in recent seasons. Great speed (4.46 at the combine), quality range and will be a good special teams player. Had 85 tackles in '07, 97 tackles in '08.
95. Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Richmond (6-2, 266) Fastest of the tweener defensive ends on the board this time around — some teams had him in the 4.5s at the combine. Had 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in '08.
94. Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida (6-1, 240) Because of family issues, played at three different schools — Michigan St., Iowa St. and South Florida. But had three 100-tackle seasons overall.
93. D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt (5-8, 192) Has worked at cornerback, wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner for scouts since the end of the season. Undersized, but the guy snared six interceptions in the speed-heavy SEC in each of the last two seasons.
92. Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU (6-2, 295) Came out as a junior and has some notable athleticism. Plays light on his feet on the inside — he blocked three kicks in his career — yet still started just eight games in his career. Missed '07 because of academics.
91. Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa (5-10, 227) Had one big year — "1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns" kind of big — and that makes some nervous about projecting him. Won't consistently pop the big play, but durable and keeps his speed late in games, so plays a little faster as he goes along.
90. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin (6-3, 243) His '08 season was cut short by a fractured leg. Has shown good upper body strength in workouts and he competes in the run game. As a receiver, he had 61 catches in '06 and 75 catches in '07 in the Badgers' ground-pounding offense.
89. Sherrod Martin, S, Troy (6-1, 198) Has had surgeries on both shoulders to repair torn labrums — both in '06 — so there are some medical concerns, but forced 6 fumbles in '07 and had 94 tackles this past season.
88. Fili Moala, DT, USC (6-4, 305) Was a three-year starter in a loaded defense. A well-schooled player who knows how to get upfield and make something happen — 10 tackles for loss in '08.
87. Coye Francies, CB, San Jose St. (6-0, 185) Played just one year in San Jose after transfer from Oregon St. — he was dismissed from the program, though gun charges in a traffic stop were later thrown out. Fluid player and tackles fairly well. Didn't run as well as some had hoped, but plays the ball well in traffic and has run stride-for-stride with players who timed better than he has.
86. Kraig Urbik, G/T, Wisconsin (6-5, 328) Helped by the fact so many in the league believe Badgers' offensive linemen come into the league ready to go. A four-year starter who has impressed teams with his understanding of the game.
85. Derrick Williams, WR, Penn St. (5-11, 194) "A little of this, a little of that" kind of player. Returned punts, returned kickoffs, ran the ball and played receiver. Also lined up at quarterback from time to time. Had touchdown rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return against Illinois in '08.
84. Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon St. (6-0, 208) Plenty of experience with 47 career starts. Physical player who has a big reach and good enough speed to contribute on special teams immediately. Weighed 208 at the combine and then 191 at his pro day.
83. Herman Johnson, G, LSU (6-7, 364) Biggest player in the draft. Weighed just over 400 pounds when he arrived at LSU as a freshman, so weight will be a concern for some. At his best, though, he overpowers people and is conditioned well enough to have topped 1,000 snaps in '07.
82. Andre Brown, RB, North Carolina St. (6-0, 224) Oft-injured back had just one season with more than 130 carries — 175 in '08 — and has already had two surgeries on his right foot. But has significant speed for a 220-pound back and catches the ball well.
81. Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn (6-1, 306) Came out as a junior but started 37 games in his career. Gets upfield, plays into the gap and is quick off the ball — so much so that he played both end and tackle, as well as having at least nine tackles for loss in each of his three seasons.
80. Stephen McGee, QB, Texas A&M (6-2, 225) Hard-nosed quarterback who has pushed himself up in a shallow class. Had limited playing time in '08 because of a sprained throwing shoulder, but former Packers coach Mike Sherman has gone to bat for him.
79. Jerraud Powers, CB, Auburn (5-9, 188) Doesn't quite have all the measurables people get excited about. But scouts like the way he covers in man and the way he competes when he does it.
78. Mike Wallace, WR, Mississippi (6-0, 199) Led the high-powered SEC in yards per catch in both '07 (18.8) and '08 (20.1). Ran a 4.33 on the electronic clock at the combine, to go with a 40-inch vertical. Also holds school record for kickoff return yards in a game, season and career.
77. Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri (6-5, 244) Mackey Award winner has great body control and catches almost everything he can get to with one hand or two. Gritty player, but has already had a fractured left foot and bone spurs removed from right ankle.
76. Scott McKillop, LB, Pitt (6-0, 244) The Big East's Defensive Player of the Year in '08 with 126 tackles, 16.5 of those for loss. Fractured his nose on a huge collision with Michigan St.'s Javon Ringer this past season.
75. Gerald Cadogan, T, Penn St. (6-5, 309) Took over for former first-round pick Levi Brown. Smart player — a two-time academic All American — who was also one of the fastest tackles timed at the scouting combine. Add in his charitable efforts off the field, and he's a pretty safe bet for a league always on the hunt for safe bets.
74. Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama (6-3, 309) Spent time at guard, center and tackle in his career. Has helped himself in his workouts. Only blemish is a four-game suspension in '07, as one of the players caught up in an investigation of how scholarship money for textbooks was being used.
73. Juaquin Inglesias, WR, Oklahoma (6-0, 210) Powerful player who goes after the ball with conviction — had 68 catches in '07 to go with 74 in '08. Also a top-end kick returner who averaged 25.9, 28.5 and 23.8 in the last three seasons.
72. Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa (6-0, 196) Has the straight-line speed and explosiveness to be a quality special teams player. Was a highly recruited prep player who never quite reached expectations, but he's a big corner with 4.49 speed.
71. Jason Williams, LB, Western Illinois (6-1, 238) A little undersized, but this guy ran a 4.48 40-yard dash on a gym floor for scouts — he ran a 4.47 at Northwestern's pro day, as well, just to show it was no fluke. Impact hitter who forced 14 fumbles in his career, including 6 in '08, 5 in '07.
70. Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia (6-1, 210) In a time when teams are starved for young players who can consistently run quality routes, his might be the best in the class. Smart, technically sound and at least one catch in 33 consecutive games to close out his career.
69. William Moore, S, Missouri (6-0, 221) Lost some weight since his senior season — scouts believe he played at over 230 in '08, and it affected what he could do. Was playing on a bad ankle some of the time, but still went from eight interceptions in '07 to just one in '08.
68. Cody Brown, DE/OLB, Connecticut (6-2, 244) When he's moving upfield, he's explosive — 16.5 tackles for loss in both '07 and '08. Did not work at linebacker at the Senior Bowl, but many teams see him in that role or as a nickel rusher.
67. James Casey, TE, Rice (6-3, 246) The Swiss Army knife player. Played seven positions in one game as a freshman. Played three seasons of professional baseball before going to Rice — was a seventh-round pick by the White Sox. Led team in catches (111) and receiving yards (1,329) in '08.
66. Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest (6-1, 221) He is the fastest of the bigger safeties this year. Arrived at the school as a wide receiver and was switched in his redshirt year; then went on to be a two-year starter. Big hitter who needs to smooth things out in coverage.
65. Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma (6-5, 329) A mauler in the run game who was a consensus All-American in '08. Takes some un-necessary penalties at times — had a personal foul penalty and a holding penalty in the same quarter in the BCS Championship game this past January.
64. Alex Magee, DT/DE, Purdue (6-2, 298) Played both end and tackle for the Boilermakers. Has shown the ability to rush from both the inside and outside. Should only improve with more lower body strength.
63. Jairus Byrd, CB/S, Oregon (5-10, 207) Three-year starter who came out early. Played some safety in his career. A low-key worker who also can return punts if asked — averaged 12.3 with a touchdown this past season.
62. Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina (6-0, 212) Had eight receptions for 217 yards and three touchdowns in last college game. Runs quality routes and catches well out-of-frame, with a long list of plays where he turned bad balls into big gains.
61. Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland (6-0, 187) Two-year starter missed six games in '08 with a fractured shoulder blade — had surgery — but scored exceptionally well on the Wonderlic test and ran in the 4.4s in his on-campus workout.
60. Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama (5-11, 203) A former walk-on who finished his career as a rare two-time captain for the Crimson Tide. Anticipates and understands his job, which is why he is so often in position to make something happen. Quality guy who made himself into an impact player.
59. Paul Kruger, DE, Utah (6-4, 263) Played just two seasons of college football, but an older player after serving his Mormon mission. Arrived at school as a quarterback — a prep All-American at the position. There are medical concerns as his spleen was removed in early' 08 after he was stabbed, and he lost a kidney when a Jeep rolled over on him when he was 13.
58. Andy Levitre, G, Oregon St. (6-2, 332) Started last 35 consecutive games of his career. Played both tackle and guard for Beavers, but most see him as a guard in the league. Graduated with degrees in finance and sociology before playing '08 as a graduate student.
57. Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss (6-5, 240) Tough guy who played with a fractured hand at one point during his career. Fared pretty well against the USC linebackers in drills at the Senior Bowl.
56. Sean Smith, CB, Utah (6-3, 214) One rule on draft day: Big corners move up the board. And Smith is one of the biggest this year. Former wide receiver who also played some running back for the Utes, so knows how to play with the ball in his hands — 151 return yards on 5 interceptions in '08.
55. Ron Brace, DT, Boston College (6-3, 330) High-end run stuffer. Did the dirty work inside and was a durable player in his career. Had just five career sacks, but his toughness against the run is what people like.
54. Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida (6-3, 245) A high-end athlete who needs plenty of work blocking in the run game. Missed the '08 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Was a scout team quarterback in '04.
53. Jarron Gilbert, DT/DE, San Jose St. (6-5, 288) YouTube star — jumped out of a swimming pool with three feet of water in it — who played both end and tackle in his career. Had 22 tackles for loss in '08.
52. Patrick Chung, S, Oregon (5-11, 212) Started 51 games with the Ducks. Was in a college program for five years and still won't turn 22 until August. Teams like his maturity and the fact he is a willing tackler. Gives up some yards after contact at times, and had just three interceptions in his last two years combined.
51. Eric Wood, C, Louisville (6-3, 310) Quality leader who consistently held himself and teammates accountable. Many teams believe he could play center and both guard spots.
50. Pat White, QB, West Virginia (6-0, 197) Went 34-8 as the Mountaineers' starting QB, started and won four bowl games and was the Senior Bowl MVP. Set NCAA record for career rushing yards by a QB, and completed at least 63 percent of his passes in his last three years as a starter. He deserves a chance to be a QB and will be a quality addition to anybody's locker room.
49. Louis Murphy, WR, Florida (6-2, 203) Potential gem here. Had some bouts of immaturity — Urban Meyer said Murphy was simply "eating a scholarship'' early in his career — but was named a team captain in '08, has upper-tier speed and has a big upside if he can smooth out the rough spots in his routes.
48. Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan (5-11, 202) Played in 48 games in his career, starting 42 of them. Those who've seen him a lot say the commitment he showed in workouts leading up to the '08 season made a big difference — went from 64 tackles in '07 to 111 in '08.
47. Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina (6-4, 246) Combine workout was spectacular, so he has the goods. But then people look at the seven career touchdowns and wonder why there weren't far more.
46. Clint Sintim, LB/OLB, Virginia (6-2, 256) Started last 49 games of his career with the Cavaliers. Played all over in Al Groh's defense, including in the slot from time to time. Doesn't keep using same pass rush moves over and over again, varies his attack.
45. Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers (6-2, 218) A riser who could go far earlier than this spot this weekend. Might be the youngest player on the board — won't be 21 until September — to go with size, speed and two 1,200-yard receiving seasons.
44. Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech (6-6, 266) This is the guy almost every scout in the league wants to see more from. Entered the season as the highest-rated senior by many in the league, and didn't play like it.
43. Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio St. (6-0, 239) Three-year starter who played at both weak- and strong-side linebacker. Played much of '08 on a sore right foot/ankle, but was healthy for his workouts and it showed.
42. Phil Loadholt, T, Oklahoma (6-7, 332) Took a dip with an inconsistent week at the Senior Bowl, but teams have liked his workouts a little better since. Big-framed player who missed just one game in his two seasons with the Sooners, but needs more consistency overall.
41. Jamon Meredith, T/G, South Carolina (6-4, 304) Played both tackle spots for the Gamecocks and played nine games at left guard in '08. Also worked at guard at the combine, and some teams believe that's where he'll be as a pro.
40. Connor Barwin, OLB/DE, Cincinnati (6-3, 258) A most intriguing player. Put up 11 sacks in '08, the first year of his football life that he played defensive end. Was a starter at tight end in '07, and played 39 career games for the Cincinnati hoops team as a forward, as well.
39. Larry English, OLB/DE, Northern Illinois (6-2, 255) Plays with everything he's got on every play. Put up 56 career tackles for loss and 31.5 career sacks, despite getting the better part of attention from opposing blockers most of the time.
38. Max Unger, C/G, Oregon (6-4, 309) Started 51 consecutive games in his career, including 27 at left tackle and 24 at center. Oregon coaches say he is one of the strongest players they have ever had in the program.
37. Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio St. (6-2, 209) Well-schooled, as you would expect from a player whose father is a long-time NFL receivers' coach. Also fast enough to have run on the Buckeyes' 4x100 relay team that finished second at the Big Ten outdoor meet.
36. LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt (5-10, 198) Had at least 1,300 yards rushing in both of his seasons with the Panthers, to go with 35 rushing touchdowns in those two years combined. Good vision and low mileage. Makes defenders miss.
35. Alex Mack, C, Cal.-Berkeley (6-3, 311) Won the Draddy Award — the academic Heisman — in '08, so you know he's smart. He also has top-level movement skills and tremendous work ethic. Was named Pac 10's best blocker in both '07 and '08.
34. Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut (5-10, 210) Started just one full season, but made it count for 2,083 yards and 18 rushing TDs. Had 199 yards rushing against Rutgers in his first career start — in '06 — and finished career with eleven 100-yard games in '08.
33. Evander (Ziggy) Hood, DT, Missouri (6-2, 300) An interior player who gets into the backfield despite a healthy dose of double-teams against him. Flirted with coming out into the '08 draft, but helped himself immensely by staying one more season.
32. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (5-11, 192) Classic case of a multi-task player who scouts like more than many receivers' coaches do. So a team with a more vocal/powerful personnel side will likely take him earlier. Recent reports of a failed drug test at the combine don't help his cause, considering players know they will be tested there, so getting caught is an even bigger red flag.
31. Eben Britton, T, Arizona (6-6, 309) Came out as a junior, having started all 37 games he played for the Wildcats. Started two seasons at right tackle, one on the left. Ran better in workouts than most of the tackles in the draft.
30. Everette Brown, DE, Florida St. (6-1, 256) Finished his career with 46.5 tackles for loss and 23 sacks in just 3 seasons. Some may try him at linebacker because could have a difficult time keeping bigger tackles off of him.
29. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St. (6-5, 251) In a year when almost every other tight end is either just a glorified receiver or an extra tackle, he is the best receiver/blocker combo on the board. Played on an injured ankle for much of '08.
28. Michael Oher, T, Mississippi (6-4, 309) Started 47 consecutive games in his career at Ole Miss. But end to end, '08 may have been his only consistent season. Potential is there if he chooses to pursue his career with some vigor.
27. Brian Cushing, LB, USC (6-2, 243) Played both the strong side and as a stand-up end in the Trojans' scheme, so can adapt to almost any scheme in the NFL. The worry is he's had a fractured hand to go with ankle, knee and shoulder surgeries already in his career.
26. Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut (5-10, 183) Did not have an interception in '08 because most people who faced the Huskies didn't bother to throw his way. Moves well enough that bigger players have a difficult time pinning him to shield the ball. Also caught 9 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown on offense in '08.
25. William Beatty, T, Connecticut (6-6, 307) Tall, big reach and exceptional feet. Some may not have the former tight end this high on the board, but with a little more strength he could be a put-him-there-and-leave-him-there player for quite some time.
24. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (6-1, 210) One of the fastest players in this draft, with all the measurables the NFL wants. But there are caveats: he isn't always consistent catching the ball, and he had just 13 touchdown catches in 3 seasons combined.
23. James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio St. (6-1, 244) Not the athlete A.J. Hawk was coming out, but a three-time All American with three 100-tackle seasons. Still, the draft is about potential, and his 4.88 on the electric clock at the combine makes people nervous. He's going to have to shed blocks better against more athletic guards.
22. Clay Matthews, LB, USC (6-3, 240+) Former walk-on is versatile, driven and plays with an uncompromising work ethic. Also ran better and showed more explosiveness than some of his much more heralded counterparts.
21. Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi (6-1¾, 299) Led the Southeastern Conference in tackles for loss in '08 — he had 18 — and that's telling for an inside player. A disruptive player who should be able to add strength and maintain his quickness.
20. Malcolm Jenkins, CB/S, Ohio St. (6-0, 204) A four-year starter who some see as a safety because of his speed — was a 4.59 on the electronic clock at the combine — but has a huge reach, plays the ball well and is willing to step out front and lead.
19. Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest (5-9, 193) A smart player with good speed can often outplay those who are faster. He may be undersized, but is instinctive and was durable throughout his collegiate career. Oh, and he had 21 career interceptions and also forced 6 fumbles in the last two seasons.
18. Mark Sanchez, QB, USC (6-2, 227) Has risen on the draft boards, but also the player many teams are using to blow some smoke about their intentions on draft day. Transition will be moving from a team that consistently held the athletic advantage — where he basically threw to primary receivers running free — to being a rookie QB in the NFL with plenty of decisions to make on the fly.
17. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia (5-10, 217) Doesn't have jaw-dropping speed, but has a good feel in traffic and may be the best finisher in this year's group of backs. Played on the same youth football team as UConn's Donald Brown.
16. Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas (6-3, 263) Took home all of the trophies for a defensive lineman this past season. Has strength and speed, but will need to work inside more on Sundays and is not as effective when his first move doesn't give him the advantage in the rush.
15. Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois (5-11, 203) Takes too many chances, and some personnel folks believe he will be difficult to coach — he was briefly moved to the second team in spring drills in '08 to get his attention. But he won't turn 21 until July, is explosive and a cover corner who checks in at over 200 pounds.
14. B.J. Raji, NT/DT, Boston College (6-1, 337) Moves like a much smaller player. Commands double-teams and was rarely blocked at the Senior Bowl when everybody was watching. Not as tall as an in-a-perfect-world nose tackle would be — like, say, Vince Wilfork — but the best available this time around.
13. Rey Maualuga, LB, USC (6-1, 249) People worry he's too slow, too heavy, too undisciplined at times. And then they see him blast a ball-carrier or three and say never mind. Best of a wafer-thin class at inside linebacker.
12. Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee (6-3, 272) Started just one season for the Vols so not a slam dunk. But this former high school sprinter is a late bloomer who has shoved himself up the board with his work during the '08 season and in the months since.
11. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech (6-1, 215) Almost certain to be drafted before this spot, but foot surgery is foot surgery no matter what anybody says, and using a top five pick on a player you have not personally seen run from point A to point B with your own eyes is a risk, even when the player's a two-time Biletnikoff winners with 227 catches and 40 receiving TDs in two college seasons.
10. Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St. (6-5, 248) When offensive coordinators have asked him to look at a play and break down the progressions in recent weeks, he has drawn raves. Put a football mind on top of a 250-pound QB who can sling it, and you have something.
9. Chris (Beanie) Wells, RB, Ohio St. (6-1, 235) Injury history — and he's had plenty — is a concern. But in a shallow class of backs, especially backs over 220 pounds, he figures to come off the board quickly. Takes plenty of shots and doesn't always get upfield as quickly as he should, but averaged well above five yards a carry for his career.
8. Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn St. (6-3, 249) If teammate Maurice Evans doesn't get suspended three games to open '08, who knows, maybe Maybin stays mired in the depth chart. But in one season as a starter, he had 20 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
7. Andre Smith, T, Alabama (6-4, 332) Yeah, yeah, yeah, he bolted the combine, his workout was ugly, his body is too. But watch him play football and block the guy in front of him. Needs consistency, but may be the best raw blocker on the board.
6. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri (6-0, 198) Some like Florida's Percy Harvin more because they believe Harvin is physically stronger. But Maclin caught 182 passes in two seasons and was one of the best all-around return men in college football — in '07, he was the only player in the nation to score on a rush, a reception, a punt return and a kickoff return.
5. Tyson Jackson, DT, LSU (6-4, 296) Looks like a T-Rex when compared against the plethora of undersized rushers in this draft who aren't all that fast for their size. Quick off the ball. A 3-4 team would be happy to have him.
4. Jason Smith, T, Baylor (6-5, 309) Caught six passes as a tight end during the '05 season. Started 31 games at tackle — 12 on the right side, 19 on the left — to find his calling. Did not allow a sack in '08.
3. Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia (6-2, 225) Big arm and plenty of confidence. Sometimes will take a risk or two because of that, but he has shown teams he is willing to be out front, be the face of a franchise that needs one.
2. Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest (6-1, 254) A trip to the dentist as a true freshman — which revealed a number of teeth that needed to be extracted or repaired — helped turn a 200-pound, lightly recruited player into perhaps the safest pick all around on this draft board.
1. Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia (6-5, 309) Three-year starter with an even-keel demeanor and big-time athleticism. Had knee surgery in '07 and some would like to see him play a little nastier. But he's somebody's starter from Day 1.
Courtesy of FOXSports.com
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