The 2014 NFL Draft is slowly coming upon us and I felt like now was the time to start giving prospect rankings to all of you. We’ll start with the offensive side of the ball today, get to the defensive side of the ball later, put up a big board and then next week before Thursday’s NFL Draft, I’ll put up my final mock draft. For now, enjoy the rankings below and the picture above of, Clemson’s Sammy Watkins kneeling like a god as he’s the top offensive prospect in this year’s draft.
Quarterback
Blake Bortles – UCF – 6’5 – 235 Ibs – 1st round
Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M – 6’0 – 205 Ibs – 1st round
Teddy Bridgewater – Louisville – 6’2 – 215 Ibs – 1st round
Derek Carr – Fresno State – 6’2 – 215 Ibs – 1st-2nd round
Tom Savage – Pittsburgh – 6’4 – 230 Ibs – 2nd round
Honorable Mention – A.J. McCarron, Zach Mettenberger, Aaron Murray and David Fales.
Overall you’ll see either Bortles or Manziel taken in the first round. They both have the best chance to succeed at the next level while everyone else has some kind of question mark. I wouldn’t be surprised if Teddy Bridgewater fell out of the first round while either Carr or Savage slip into the first round. Speculation is that AJ McCarron is on the rise, my guess is the top of the 2nd round.
Running Back
Carlos Hyde – Ohio State – 6’0 – 230 Ibs – 2nd round
Jeremy Hill – LSU – 6’1 – 235 Ibs – 2nd round
Bishop Sankey – Washington – 5’10 – 210 Ibs – 2nd round
Tre Mason – Auburn – 5’9 – 205 Ibs – 3rd round
Andre Williams – Boston College – 5’11 – 230 Ibs – 3rd-4th round
Honorable Mention – Charles Sims, Lache Seastrunk and Storm Johnson.
Overall you’ll see most of these guys on day two and three. I’d be surprised if any running back creeps into the first round. Hyde is the leader followed by Hill and Sankey. It’s a toss up between those two as Sankey isn’t great between the tackles while Hill is but Sankey is a pass-catch threat. Sankey also doesn’t have off the field concerns. Multiple teams will be looking for future starters but current backups and all of these guys fit that.
Wide Receiver
Sammy Watkins – Clemson – 6’1 – 215 Ibs – 1st round
Mike Evans – Texas A&M – 6’5 – 231 Ibs – 1st round
Odell Beckham Jr. – LSU – 5’11 – 200 Ibs – 1st round
Marqise Lee – USC – 6’0 – 195 Ibs – 1st round
Brandin Cooks – Oregon State – 5’10 – 190 Ibs – 1st round
Honorable Mention – Allen Robinson, Donte Moncrief, Martavis Bryant, Kelvin Benjamin and Davante Adams.
I’d say that this is the best wide receiving class since, maybe in forever, but in all honesty since at least 2009. Sammy Watkins is the most elite prospect in the draft and behind him is some very, very good players as well. I’m not sold on Mike Evans like everyone else but the players behind him are going to be really good. Without question, the deepest position in the draft.
Tight End
Eric Ebron – North Carolina – 6’4 – 250 Ibs – 1st round
Jace Amaro – Texas Tech – 6’5 – 265 Ibs – 1st-2nd round
Austin Seferian-Jenkins – Washington – 6’6 – 265 Ibs – 2nd round
Troy Niklas – Notre Dame – 6’7 – 270 Ibs – 3rd round
CJ Fiedorowicz – Iowa – 6’6 – 265 Ibs – 4th round
Honorable Mention – Arthur Lynch, Jake Murphy and Jordan Najvar.
Overall we’ll get Eric Ebron who is a top 15 talent and probably will be a top 15 pick. Everyone else is up in the air as every tight end in this draft excels at one thing but struggles with another. Whether it be run blocking, route running, being sure handed or questions surrounding route running. Each team will find something they like about each one of these players but it’s safe to say Ebron is a first rounder with Arthur Lynch from Georgia is beginning to creep up the boards.
Offensive Tackle
Greg Robinson – Auburn – 6’5 – 335 Ibs – 1st round
Jake Matthews – Texas A&M – 6’6 – 310 Ibs – 1st round
Taylor Lewan – Michigan – 6’7 – 310 Ibs – 1st round
Morgan Moses – Virginia – 6’6 – 315 Ibs – 1st-2nd round
Cyrus Kouandjio – Alabama – 6’7 – 325 Ibs – 2nd round
Honorable Mention – JaWuan James, Cameron Fleming, Antonio Richardson, Billy Turner and Michael Schofield.
Greg Robinson to me is best fitted as a right tackle but he can play anywhere while Jake Matthews and Taylor Lewan are sure things at the left tackle position. Morgan Moses is on the climb because of injury concerns to Kouandjio and I think Billy Turner and Cameron Fleming will transition nicely at the next level.
Offensive Guard
Zack Martin – Notre Dame – 6’4 – 310 Ibs – 1st round
Xavier Su’a Filo – UCLA – 6’4 – 310 Ibs – 1st round
Joel Bitonio – Nevada – 6’4 – 305 Ibs – 2nd round
Gabe Jackson – Mississippi State – 6’3 – 335 Ibs – 3rd round
Cyril Richardson – Baylor – 6’5 – 329 Ibs – 3rd-4th round
Honorable Mention – Dakota Dozier, Trai Turner, David Yankey and Anthony Steen.
The offensive guard position is actually deep with guys like Brandon Thomas recovering from a torn ACL. Zack Martin is the top guard and should fit in nicely for any team at the left or right spot. Joel Bitonio was a third round grade for me earlier in the year but he’s solidified himself as a second round prospect. I’ve been a fan of Cyril Richardson and I have him fifth on my rankings. Again though, deep at the guard spots this year.
Center
Weston Richburg – Colorado State – 6’3 – 300 Ibs – 2nd round
Marcus Martin – USC – 6’3 – 320 Ibs – 2nd-3rd round
Travis Swanson – Arkansas – 6’4 – 315 Ibs – 3rd-4th round
Gabe Ikard – Oklahoma – 6’4 – 304 Ibs – 4th round
Corey Linsely – Ohio State – 6’3 – 295 Ibs – 5th round
Honorable Mention – Wesley Johnson and Tyler Larsen.
Overall the top three players in these rankings are the top guys and that’s it. The rest are depth guys who can eventually play but not at the level of the top three guys. Richburgh and Martin are two guys I see getting into the 2nd round while Swanson should be a third round guy. Not deep here by any means so if you need a center, get him while you can.
Full Back
Jay Prosch – Auburn – 6’1 – 255 Ibs – 5th round
Trey Millard – Oklahoma – 6’2 – 247 Ibs – 6th round
J.C Copeland – LS U – 6’0 – 270 Ibs – 7th round
Honorable Mention – Ryan Hewitt and Chad Abram.
These are the guys you want your running back to run behind. Nothing too special about them outside of being key blockers for players and the fact that some of them have the ability to get out of the backfield and catch a pass. Not a deep position, ever for that matter.
