Spartan Nation Top 20 NFL Prospects for the Upcoming Draft

Four of my friends who are NFL scouts (or personnel people) agreed to give me their top twenty players at this point of the off season process leading up to the

Four of my friends who are NFL scouts (or personnel people) agreed to give me their top twenty players at this point of the off season process leading up to the draft. They represent four different teams. I first put this list up several weeks ago and stated at the time that it would be updated. The list has several changes because of pro days, combine and individual workouts and interviews.Â
I will keep each of their identities confidential as you can imagine that their respective teams wouldn’t appreciate their participation in this endeavor. All I asked from them was that they give me their personal top twenty and why they like them. I weighed all four lists and put them in the appropriate order.
This list is not the order that I think they will be drafted, it is simply four men who get paid to do this for a living and who they think are the best twenty. I will update this list one more time prior to the draft. It will be different in that I will have them all give me a mock first round draft for each team. Obviously they know other teams better than any of us, so I have asked each for their mock draft and why they think each team does what. As with this list, I will weigh each of their picks and see if there is consensus on what they think. I will (as similar to this list) post at least one of their comments about each pick.
One scout had an interesting take that I want to share with all of you about the draft process. He said, “The way we draft is what do we need and who on the board at the time we pick fits a need the best. For example, Calvin Johnson was the best player in the draft on our board last year but had we been Detroit we wouldn’t have taken him. With the huge needs at offensive tackle and middle backer, we would have taken Joe Thomas or Patrick Willis. Both had Pro Bowl seasons. Now some pundits would have said those guys would have been too high of picks for the money (and we would have tried trading down) but would the Lions have been better of with either those two than Calvin? I sure think so. We draft (and have been successful) at picking guys that meet needs with priority given to lineman if we have a need there. I based my list on who best fits needs.”
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Here are some interesting stats about the list. All four scouts say that they place a high importance on a pure franchise QB (of which none listed any QB as a top notch franchise pick such as Peyton Manning) and on offensive and defensive line. Cornerback was also a position of high value. Something I learned was that offensive tackles, defensive tackles, defensive ends and cornerbacks all had a higher point of value (other than a sure fire franchise QB) to all four of our contributors.
Here is how the top twenty broke down as far as position.

1. Defensive Line 7 NC from previous list.
2. Offensive Line 4 NC from previous list.
3. Defensive Back 4 NC from previous list.
4. Running Back 2 D1 from previous list.
5. Line Backer 1 NC from previous list.
6. Quarterback 1 NC from previous list.
7. Wide Receiver 1 There where no WR’s on the previous list.

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Here is the new and updated list:
 

1. Jake Long OT UM He is the most dominant offensive player available at any position. He comes in and starts from his first practice at the LT. You don’t see Long make technique mistakes and has tremendous leverage. Scouts Take: “Long is the best pure football player I have ever seen. We are nervous of the huge money a #1 will get, but if our team had a need at LT, we would have pulled a Ditka to move up. He is a future Hall of Famer.” Previous List: 2/U1
2. Chris Long DE Virginia Long is an attacker. Any concerns about his technique were eliminated with his workouts. Scouts Take: “We were not sure how much of this kid was hype because of who his father his. We learned real quick in interviews and workouts that he is the real deal. He knows the game and has a sharp football mind. When we interviewed him, he knew his job and the other lineman and backers. He is going to be great. He sure loves his dad, but he has a chip on his shoulder. He works hard in practice and has a motor.” Previous List: 7/U5
3. Glen Dorsey DT LSU Strong motor that never stops. He is able to get up the field and has deceptive speed. He is unstoppable. Scouts Take: “Prior to all the interviews and workouts we had him as our number one D lineman. He certainly hasn’t done anything to hurt that with us, he has only dropped because Long (Chris) performed so well and we would love to add him to our D.” Previous List: 1/D2                                                                                   Â
4. Darren McFadden RB ARK He is clearly the best RB in the draft. He has an attack style running attack that could shorten an NFL career, but has all the tools to play right now. Scouts Take: “We have him rated higher than AP of the Vikes from last season. He has some off field character issues that scare us with the new NFL. His style will get him abused in this league, but certainly for that first five-year deal he is a nice get. By far he is the best back in this draft.” Previous List: 4/NC
5. Vernon Gholston DE OSU Is very fast, and has all the tools. He impressed us with how smart he is. Scouts Take: “We have him and Long (Chris) rated as 1A and 1B. He has superior ability to create space and keep people’s hands off of him.” Previous List: 5/NC
6. Aqib Talib CB Kansas Talib is the most talented CB in this draft. He is so talented in fact that when you watch his tape, he takes risks that he could get away with in college that he won’t be able to in the NFL. He is smart and his vision rates off of the charts. Scouts Take: “He has so much ability and he knows it. That can he a determent. I think however that once he gets settled in and respects that talent on the other side of the ball in the NFL that he hasn’t faced in college he will do well. We think he would do well in any system, but a cover two would create some match ups for him and he would crush some guys.” Previous List: 6/NC.
7. Sedrick Ellis DT USC Very similar to Dorsey, but at times does get winded. He also has great speed, but also is good at lateral movement. Scouts Take: “This young man can be as good as he wants to be. I think at times he was able to play on talent rather than the entire package. Sadly for him, when he plays full tilt we think he is as good as Dorsey. Unlike Dorsey he doesn’t play that way every play. He is a very good DT that could be great.” Previous List: 3/D4
   
8. Branden Albert OL Virginia This kid has skyrocketed up the charts. He has one thing that is more precious in the NFL than anything: versatility in a lineman. He is fast and strong and interviewed very well. Scouts Take: “We blew it on this kid. We were so focused on Long that he slipped through a little bit. We have went over him with a fine tooth comb and we think he would be an exceptional T, but he could play any of the five OL spots. We wouldn’t have been interested, but with that versatility we could start him off inside and move him out when we had an opening. He is definitely the real deal.” Previous List: NR
9. Derrick Harvey DE Florida He is very strong and fast. The questions around Harvey were not necessarily football. He has a great coach in UM and one thing NFL scouts love about UM is that he is very honest. UM really praised Harvey and teams started drooling over him in interviews and workouts. Scouts Take: “We thought he was a good player, but when we sat down with him we knew he was our kind of guy. He has a love for the game of football and whether it was practice or games he went all out. When talking to people about him, he really loves people and treats the janitor to the head coach with class. We want Gholston, but will be very pleased to get him.” Previous List: NR
   
10. Ryan Clady OT Boise State Clady is athletic and gifted. Has tendencies to use his physical size more than technique, which could hurt him at the next level. Not fast, but quick on his feet. Scout Take: “We like our lineman to physically attack the defense. We don’t want them to sit back and be abused. He is an attacker. The guy on the field is like a demon possessed killer, but the nicest kid in the world off of it. He will be a great teammate and a great community guy. Not as well rounded as Jake Long, but has the same potential long term.” Previous List: 11/U1
    
11. Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt He is a very athletic OT, with a killer instinct. He is mean and punishes people. He possesses great hands and is very strong. Scouts Take: “He has moved down our list a little bit based upon others performance but has done nothing to hurt himself. Everyone around the kid loves him and you can’t hear a bad word. Has a great work ethic on the practice field and that is always wanted and needed from such a high pick that will have to come and be a leader immediately.” Previous List: 9/D2
12. Rashard Mendenhall RB ILL Great ability to make the cut. He can catch the ball and has superb balance. Scouts Take: “He makes guys miss and especially in the NFL where every yard is so precious, that extra yard may be the difference between the playoffs or not. We like that he is a three down back.” Previous List: NR
    
13. Leodis McKelvin DB Troy There is an old adage that speed kills and McKelvin has it. Scouts Take: “We have liked MAC from day one. You can’t only label him a speed guy. He hasn’t had the coaching that the others have, but we see him with so much upside. We rate guys also upon that upside factor and there isn’t one person in our entire organization that would be shocked ten years from the draft he ended up the best one.” Previous List: 10/D3
14. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State Fast and gifted, the knock on this young man was the talent he has played against. Scouts Take: “I was shocked that he didn’t make your last top 20 list. As you know I had him listed #1 DB way back then and nothing has changed. We have him pegged for a certain slot and if he drops to that spot we will for sure move up. We have no issues with his competition and after interviewing him it is clear he is a terrific kid on and off the field. We want him bad in this draft and if we get him not matter what else we get, it would be a good draft for us we think he is that special.” Previous List: NR
    
15. Phillip Merling DE Clemson His technique is not as good, but he makes up for it with heart. He also has a great motor and is just more raw. Scouts Take: “Merling has all the raw skills, and in the NFL with OTA and training camp he will get plenty of reps and opportunity. We love his pass rush and his skills against the run will develop. Most kids that are as raw as he is don’t get rated as high as we have him, but he is not an egomaniac that can’t take coaching. In fact we are very comfortable investing the big money of the first round because he is so teachable.” Previous List: 8/D7
16. Devin Thomas WR Michigan State Thomas has great hands and speed and those two qualities are huge. Throw in his size and he has team’s salivating. Scouts Take: “Does the kid ever drop a pass? He has all the tools to be great, but one thing people can’t underestimate about him is that he loves to block and hit people. Thomas makes himself valuable because he can do all the things you want on pass plays, but he works just as hard in blocking and as a decoy. When we interviewed him we asked him about returning kicks. His answer told us all we needed to hear, ‘I have always been told what I can’t do and all I asked for is a chance. If you pick me, I will do whatever you ask.’ We heard enough. He is the real deal. Depending on who is off the board, we could take him in the first. We have him as the best available.” Previous List: NR
    
17. Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee He has a high motor similar to Lions LB Ernie Sims. He is very smart and loves to practice. In fact, twice this past season in Knoxville he was not allowed to hit in practice because he injured his teammates. Scouts Take: “When you interview that young man, his staff or anyone connected to him you hear what the tape shows. He loves football and will only get better. I think that his upside is huge for more than one reason. He is a great kid in the class room as far as studying and learning and his passion for football was very obvious in interviews.” Previous List: NR
    
18. Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh He is a big and strong road grader. He has superior talent at the point of attack. The concern is how good can he be in pass protection? Scouts Take: “No doubt about his run blocking talents. Only Long (Jake) is better than him there. The issues we have are in pass blocking. A big string guy that pass blocks can be taught run blocking, but it is really hard to teach a kid to concentrate on passing. He struggled at times against superior DE’s and in this league he will face one each week in practice. Just not sure if his footwork can be reworked for pass protection.” Previous List: NR
    
19. Mike Jenkins CB South Florida One of the fastest players in the draft. He also can close very well. He has battled being consistent, but has all of the tools to be very good. Scouts Take: “This is a very deep DB draft so each and every pimple gets looked at even closer because of the buffet of talent available. It isn’t a question of talent with Jenkins, it is his desire to play each and every play.” Previous List19/D1
20. Matt Ryan QB BC He is sound technically, but does struggle under pressure. Throws a good ball and is accurate. Scouts Take: “No doubt that he is the best choice for a team that needs an immediate QB. We don’t think he is the best long term and we certainly don’t see him as a franchise homerun. For a team that needs a QB right away I can’t see them letting him slip by, but he would be fortunate like Quinn last year to drop and be allowed to go somewhere that he can develop. Other may have better upside, but he is the most ready now.” Previous List: 20/NC