2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2

Top 40

By Pat Kirwan

https://realfootballnetwork.com/2016/02/15/02-04-16-rfn-top-32/

Well, we’ve had a few more days to evaluate some of these players, watch film, talk to scouts and personnel people around the league, and as you might expect this early in the process, there are some significant changes to our list. The biggest change is at the top.

There is no #1.

That’s right. No one has established themselves as the top player in this draft. Usually the quarterback need that drives so many teams this time of year will force a signal caller to the top of the list, but that hasn’t happened yet. If not a QB, then maybe one of the impact defensive linemen in this draft will take the spot, or one of the big offensive tackles.

It’s important to remember that this isn’t a mock draft determining who will be picked where. This is just an early stacking of the board. There will be consideration for medical issues, character issues, and the position played when stacking this list. This week, being I didn’t give you a #1, I’ll give you my top 40.

1. ??????
Yet to be determined, and if a QB doesn’t rise to the top it will be tough for the Titans to move out of the #1 spot in the draft.

2. Joey Bosa, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Bosa can play all three downs, but you have to ask yourself, “Is what you see, what you get?” He looks like a finished product, which is great for early in his career, but is there upside?

3. Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
This might be too high for the quarterback from a smaller school, but he did impress at the Senior Bowl and signal callers drive the draft. If your team needs a QB, he will be high on their draft board.

4. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Big people with pass rush skills and athleticism to drop are hard to find. Lawson had 37 plays behind the line of scrimmage last year between sacks and tackles for a loss. He can play all three downs.

5. Laremy Tunsil, LT, Mississippi
The best left tackle in the draft, but has had off the field issues that have to be cleared up by teams before I can move him up on the list. He reminds me of the Jets D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

6. A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Big men that can move and be disruptive inside are very hard to find, and this guy can play in any scheme and multiple spots along the front. He has more pass rush/pressure skills than his stats might indicate.

7. Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
Injuries have pushed him down from the top five, but his Combine physicals might clear up some of those issues. He may fall on this list because teams really have to rely on 2014 game tapes to determine his final value, but the traits are there for a successful NFL career.

8. Jalen Ramsey, S/CB, Florida State
It appears he can play anywhere on the back end of a defense, and a little at ‘backer in a sub package. Is the versatility a sign of greatness, like a Patrick Peterson, or is it a sign of a jack of all trades and a master of none? The films I watched indicate he is a top flight athlete who can play well at multiple spots.

9. DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon
The numbers aren’t great, but the size and disruptiveness are a big plus. I remember when teams felt Calais Campbell wasn’t a first round talent, but he became an All-Pro because of the things I see in Buckner. He had 28 plays behind the line of scrimmage this past season.

10. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi
Not the speed burner some teams are looking for, but a big play wide receiver. In three seasons he had 196 receptions and 18 touchdowns. Any true freshman that comes into the SEC and has 72 receptions and 5 touchdowns has proven to me that he can make the jump to the next level.

11. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
I don’t think Elliott will go this high in the draft, but he is a talent, as proven by his 37 touchdowns and 3,540 yards in the past two seasons. I usually have some concerns about running backs from big time programs with NFL-type offensive linemen in front, but this kid’s 54 receptions in the past two years set him apart.

12. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
The cornerback position is far from being fully evaluated and I suspect there will be a re-shuffling of the deck through the winter and spring. He is not a 6’0”-plus corner, but he can press, blitz and tackle. I suspect he will move up this list after the combine if he runs well.

13. Jared Goff, QB, California
He came out of high school PAC-12 ready and delivered right away with 18 touchdown passes as a freshman. He went on to finish his career with 90! Some worry about his physique, while others are concerned about the offense he was in at Cal. His combine and pro day workouts will go a long way towards convincing clubs about his pro potential as a top 10 pick.

14. Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
The former Ohio State player has had serious off the field issues, but he did go to the Senior Bowl to improve his image. If he had a clean character rating he would be a top 10 prospect. No one could block him down in Mobile, and who isn’t looking for a pass rusher like this guy. Risk and reward is the main issue here, and someone will conclude they can get the best out of him.

15. Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Mississippi
Here’s another super talented player with questions about his decision making skills off the field. He can play anywhere across the front and has the QABS (quickness, agility, balance, speed) to make plays. Is he going to fail the drug test and make himself unavailable?

16. Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
He showed me plenty by showing up at the Senior Bowl when most players with his draft status stay home. He is a solid two down player with some questions about his pass rush skills at the next level. Coaches like working with guys like Reed, and it could go a long way to keeping him this high on the list.

17. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Stanley has played both right and left tackle and has pass blocking skills. There are times he looks average to me, and other times he looks very solid. I just finished watching the game against Clemson, and I felt like putting him down in the 20’s, but decided to move Shaq Lawson up the list instead.

18. Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
A 4-3 three technique kind of athlete with burst and explosiveness. He will find himself in different spots on draft boards. Teams that play a 3-4 base defense may not see him as high as the 4-3 teams. He does have 35 plays behind the line of scrimmage in the past two seasons, but is more of a disrupter than a sacker. He is not the second coming of Aaron Donald, but he can play.

19. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
Another 4-3 three technique type with the QABS to make plays and be disruptive. His 122 tackles in the last two seasons shows an ability to be around the ball, but this is a rich class in defensive linemen and time will tell if he can move up the list.

20. Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
When in doubt, take a big offensive tackle in the first round. He may not have the QABS to line up at left tackle for his entire career, but after watching the tackles in the Super Bowl, Decker could have helped both teams.

21. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
There are some that believe he is the best QB in the draft, and others that see him as a second round talent. There’s a significant history of teams jumping back into the bottom of the first round to get a QB (Joe Flacco-Delaware). In the last two years, Lynch threw 50 touchdowns and passed for 5,726 yards with only 12 interceptions. He’s big and can run, and after talking with him recently, someone is going to see their future in this young man.

22. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
In the last two seasons, Ogbah has 110 tackles, 35 tackles for a loss, and 24 sacks. Anytime I see a major college player with 59 plays behind the line of scrimmage in 26 games, it grabs my attention. He has the QABS to be effective in the NFL and appears to have the ability to convert his speed to power, which is necessary at the next level. If he runs well at the Combine, he could start to climb.

23. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
A late injury might be the only thing keeping this young man from being closer to the top ten. He can play any of the linebacker spots and probably is better suited for a 4-3 defense. He had close to 300 tackles in three seasons and plays the pass well enough to be a nickel ‘backer.

24. Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Some have him in the second round, and he may very well wind up there, but after watching three Ohio State games, he has some traits of Richard Sherman as a CB, with solid skills to turn and run, close and compete for the ball. His four interceptions at Ohio State doesn’t give a true representation of his play ability.

25. Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
He had a solid week at the Senior Bowl and demonstrated throughout the 2015 season that he can be a penetrating three technique. In the past two years, he has 42 plays behind the line of scrimmage.

26. Jason Spriggs, LT, Indiana
There really aren’t many left tackle candidates in this draft, especially for all the teams that need one. Before the Senior Bowl he was being advertised as a right tackle candidate, but he did enough at practice and in the game to turn people’s heads. Every year, offensive linemen that come to Mobile as second round prospects leave as first round guys, and Spriggs could be that guy in 2016.

27. Jack Conklin, LT, Michigan State
Conklin decided to not attend the Senior Bowl and I believe it would have helped his draft status. He can play left and right tackle, and his run blocking skills are as solid as his pass blocking. He should rise as the draft approaches and the NFL line coaches get into Michigan State to work him out.

28. Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana State
Coaches paid a lot of attention to Butler during Senior Bowl week, and for good reason. He can play! At 6’4, 325, he has the ability to play in any front.

29. Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
Another in a long line of solid linebackers from Alabama. He can lineup in the NFL right now on the inside, call a defense, and take on the run game. Ezekiel Elliott told me no one ever hit him harder than Ragland. He came to the Senior Bowl to prove he could rush the passer from the outside linebacker spot.

30. Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida
Three year production total included 142 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, and 11 sacks. He appears to be able to play across the front. If he runs as fast as advertised at the Combine, he could move up the list.

31. Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
The TE class is shallow this year, but if your team needs a tight end this is the top choice. I do like Nick Vannett as my second choice, but Henry is the complete player. He can block and averaged 14 yards on 111 receptions in his career.

32. Vadal Alexander, OG, Louisiana State
I watched big Vadal all week at the Senior Bowl, and at times he looked like a man among boys. He can play tackle, but excels at guard. Any team looking to protect the midline pocket passer will love his skill set.

33. Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
An NFL left defensive end in a 4-3, or a 5-technique in a 3-4. He has pass rush skills. A one year wonder in some people’s eyes, but the tapes don’t lie, and 36 plays behind the line of scrimmage in 2015 tells the tale of a solid prospect.

34. Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
I may move him up when I get done watching enough of his games, but he was benched for a short period of time in 2015 and really is an OLB pass rusher.

35. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Henry has been under the microscope since winning the Heisman, and his critics say he’s a front side power runner. There are teams that really like this type of runner. In the second round it will be hard for zone scheme teams to pass up a back like this.

36. Kendall Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech
Injury issues are part of the equation for Fuller, unfortunately. But he can play, and comes from an NFL family. His 2014 efforts would have made him a first round pick and his pro day, when he’s healthy, will go a long way towards putting him in the first round.

37. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
A lot of people already have him high up in the first round. I talked to a few scouts who visit Clemson on a pretty regular basis, and they warned me to temper the excitement. The kid has coverage skills, but has never had an interception. More work to be done here.

38. Adolphus Washington, DE, Ohio State
I watched him a lot at the Senior Bowl. He has very good get off and really fits in a 4-3 scheme as a left end or tackle. He had some off the field issues, but may have answered them at the Senior Bowl during interviews with coaches and scout. He had 13 sacks and close to 30 tackles for a loss in college.

39. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
There was a time when he was the top rated QB in the draft. So many teams are looking for that ‘future’ QB in the second and third rounds after they take care of their primary needs. His completion percentage is under 60%, but Michigan State throws a lot more balls down the field. He does have 70 touchdown passes in three seasons.

40. Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
Here’s a hybrid linebacker with safety skills, which means he can stay on the field for all three downs. He’s a 4-3 WLB with coverage skills to play in the slot, but also had 12 sacks in two seasons.

from off the net

==

Deadpool

I think CB is missing a real high end shut down guy like Peterson, but is so much better then last year.

DT is stupid deep with tons of high end talent.

This DE class is so money in the first & 2nd rounds.

Safety is fine, but outside of Ramsey, there are very few ballhawking types. Plenty of box guys.

TE is scary outside of Henry. And by scary, I mean the bust factor is strong. So much raw meat.

RB is a mess outside of Elliott. Value is found later on IMO. Next year will have a great RB class.

LBer has guys that can play all over, it is also deep everywhere, 4-3 OLB, 4-3 MLB, 3-4 Edge, 3-4 ILB.

I like the upside and depth of the QB class, but it doesn’t have that 1 WoW guy. At least without having a crystal ball.

WR is deep and kind of steady throughout the rounds, just no WR that checks all the boxes. And if Treadwell runs in the mid 4.6s…well wow.

C is interesting. I think a lot of these guys are zone type centers. Good for the Rams. I could see Tuerk being a target with LA and Fisher and USC and all.

I really haven’t paid much attn. to the OGs, after last draft.

OT is solid, Shon Coleman is a good kid with a courageous story. I hope he climbs.

Pre-combine top 5 at each position

Top 5 QBs:

1. Jared Goff – Cal – Maybe I am tempering expectations of my guy Wentz, maybe I am trying to protect him a little by not having him #1, But at this moment Goff is more advanced with more games and higher competition, so for now Goff is #1.

2. Carson Wentz – NDSU- 2nd most upside with less downside. Comes from a pro style offense, proto size, with an NFL arm. Mobile and willing runner.

3. Paxton Lynch – Memphis – Most upside, but needs time. Big, athletic QB that checks a ton of boxes. Like Wentz, level of competion. Wentz answered those questions at the Senior bowl. Lynch couldn’t.

4. Connor Cook – Mich. St. – Pluses are pro style offense and prototype size and arm. Negatives are accuracy and attitude?

5. Christian Hackenberg – Penn State – left for dead by Coach Franklin, showed tons of promise under Bill O’Brien. Prototypical size and a big arm. Needs mechanical work.

Top 5 RBs:

1. Ezekiel Elliott – Ohio State – Does everything well. Great size for the position. Didn’t catch a ton of balls for OSU.

2. Derrick Henry – Ala. – Big back at 240 lbs. Tough to bring down once he gets going, but much less effective going east/west.

3. Kenneth Dixon – La. Tech – another back that does everything well. Can catch the ball, and is a tough runner that gets YAC.

4. Devontae Booker – Utah – plays bigger then his 205 lb size. Big YAC guy in college, but I don’t see that continuing at the NFL level. Quick and elusive.

5. Alex Collins – Arkansas – another tougher, north south guy. While a very good back, not special in any area.

Top 5 WRs:

1. Laquan Treadwell – Ole Miss – wins 50/50 balls, most physical blocker at WR I’ve ever looked at, and has great hands. His 40 time might determine where he ultimately ends up.

2. Michael Thomas – Ohio State – Todays NFL #1 WR body. He’s a size, speed guy that could end up challenging Treadwell for 1st WR off the board. In a more wide open offense, he could of put up video game numbers.

3. Will Fuller – ND – Maybe THE deep threat in the draft. Want some draft speak? He can take the top off a defense. He can stretch the field vertically. Well you get the picture.

4. Tyler Boyd – Pitt – Needs some weight, but he hjas good hands, gets seperation and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Very smooth WR. DUI red flag.

5. Corey Coleman – Baylor – 5′-9″ to 5′-10″. Tavon Austin-lite. Not a fit for the Rams.

Top 5 TE:

1. Hunter Henry – Arkansas – Better blocker then he’s getting credit for. Plays all over, from H-back to TE inside and out. Athetic and causes matchup problems @ 6′-6″. A TE that would never have to come off the field for a decade. How valuable is that?

2. Austin Hooper – Stanford – Another mismatch at 6′-4″ with his athleticism. Not the blocker henry is, but its not terrible either.

3. Nick Vannett – Ohio State – Had an up and down week at the Senior Bowl. he had drops. But also had some great catches. Good blocker, but not the athletic reciever the first 2 are.

4. Jerrel Adams – South Carolina – Under the radar guy who is 6′-6″ and pretty quick. Needs to add size to block in the NFL.

5. Bryce Williams – East Carolina – For a guy 6′-6″ and 260, he moves well. Also not the blocker you would think he is.

Top 5 OTs:

1. Laremy Tunsil – Ole Miss – Plug and Play LT for a decade. Safest pick in the draft IMO. Athletic, smooth and handles the run as well as the pass. Red Flag is a no concern issue for me.

2. Ronnie Stanley – ND – The other true LT in the draft. Nothing Flashy but another plug and ignore LT for 10 years.

3. Taylor Decker – RT to start, could end up as a LT. has had issues with speed rushers.

4. Jack Conklin – RT only for now. Just not athletic enough for the left side. A strong, brawler type.

5. Jason Spriggs – Indiana – Another LT/RT type. Played well at senior bowl. Opposite of Conklin, better pass blocker then run blocker as he needs to add strength.

Top 5 OGs:

1. Cody Whitehair – Kansas State – Tackle moving inside to OG. Reminds me of a less athletic Zac Martin. Tough as nails guy that needs some more size .

2. Vadal Alexander – LSU – a mountain of a man that swallows up defenders. Needs some refinement in his technique, but a durable, punisher in the run game.

3. Joshua Garnett – Stanford – another in a long line of good OL from the cardinal. Could use some strength, but can run and pass block, and moves very well.

4. Sebastian Tretola – Arkansas – Arkansas had the best pair of OGs in the country. His game is based on power, lots of it. Man scheme fit only, he doesn’t move, at all.

5. Spencer Drango – Baylor – He is a OT that I have as a OG. He is just built like a OG in my eye. Could be a steal if he makes the transition.

Top 5 Centers:

1. Ryan Kelly = Ala. – Better run blocker then pass blocker makes him a good fit for the Rams. Can he add more size? I hope so.

2. Nick Martin – ND – Brother of Zac Martin. 2 year team captain. Same exact size as Kelly, so can he add size?

3. Jack Allen – Mich. State – another 2 year captain. A HS wrestler (which I love), was overpowered at times at the Senior Bowl. At 6′-2″ he might have more issues adding size and power over the 2 guys above him.

4. Evan Boehm – Mizzou – biggest of my top 5 at 310. Also the most physical of the 5. Not the most gifted athlete. I like him in a man power scheme where is doesn’t have to move.

5. Max Tuerk – Tallest and lightest OC in my top 5. he wins with his skill and athleticism. ACl red Flag and needs to add some weight.

Top 5 DTs:

1. A’Shawn Robinson – Ala. – Smooth, strong athlete that is a decade long 3 down defender. Consistancy has been an issue.

2. Andrew Billings – Baylor – Baylor defenders make me nervous, but I am a sucker for powerhouses and he defines that term. he is a bull in a china shop. Strong, reckless and a bit out of control. If he plays more under control, his burst and strength would make him extremely dangerous.

3. Robert Knemdiche – Ole Miss – Not the pass rusher he should be, and smoking weed then jumping off a 15 foot tall wall and injuring himself leads to all sorts of red flag stuff. But at the end of the day, he is a freak athlete that saw a ton of attn. from offenses.

4. Sheldon Rankins – Louisville – A inside pass rusher will make him a valued commodity come draft day.

5. Vernon Butler – La State – Strong, explosive, has some rush moves. A good DL coach could transform him into a monster, because its all there.

Top 5 DEs:

1. Joey Bosa – Ohio State – Maybe not the highest ceiling, but his floor is where most ceilings stop. 3 down end that is strong and explosive. He also sets a very good edge in the run game.

2. Shaq Lawson – Clemson – A size speed strength guy that can drop into coverage, defends the run and gets after the QB. And one of my favorite draft phrases: He converts speed into power.

3. Emmanuel Ogbah – Okla. State – Read: Lawson, Shaq, except he is a little raw. A base 4-3 end that has more speed then you would think a guy that size has. I like him as a Rams target in the 1st round.

4. DeForest Buckner – Oregon – Oregon guys make me nervous, but he is better than Erik Armstead from last year. He’s a 3-4 DE only in my mind.

5. Kevin Dodd – Clemson – Non stop motor that had actual production. Meaning, not just a try hard guy that almost gets to the Qb. A 4-3 base end to start out with a massive ceiling. Rams 2nd round target?

Top 3 Edge Rushers:

Not going to spend a ton of time on these guys since they don’t fit what the Rams are doing.

1. Noah Spence – Eastern Kentucky – Repeated drug tests failures and an addiction to ecstacy got him banned from the big 10 permanently. Smooth operator that played up and down in his stance, left and right sides and has a massive burst. Top 10 talent…

2. Leonard Floyd – Georgia – Light frame, but strong. Good motor that can rush the QB with his agility and burst. Late, late first, early 2nd round.

3. Kyler Fackrell – Utah State – Older kid at 25, needs to add strength. Can drop into coverage for a guy 6′-4′ and 245. Tough player with no quit and apparently no red flags what so ever.

Top 5 OLBs:

1. Myles Jack – UCLA – a stud athlete that can pass cover, rush the QB and plays sideline to sideline. Top 5 prospect, even after injury. I wish he was a little more physical.

2. Jaylon Smith – ND – I like him more inside then outside, but a rare prospect none the less. He was a top 5 pick before the knee gave out in his bowl game. Flexible, quick and a violent tackler. 3 down backer inside or out.

3. Darron Lee – Ohio State – Sideline to sideline OLB that has issues once he gets engaged by a blocker. Narrow lower half makes me think he is maxed out size wise.

4. Su’a Cravens – USC – I love his recognition (he’s always in the play) and his aggresiveness. I wish he had more size, but he’s a kamakazee on the field.

5. Nick Vigil – He could play inside as well, but I think is better suited for the weakside in a 4-3. Athletic that needs to add strength. Aggressive player.

Top 5 MLBs:

1. Jaylon Smith – ND – See above. I will add that on the inside he compares to Kuechly and Willis.

2. Myles Jack – UCLA – Yeah I’m cheating. Like him more outside where he can stay cleaner.

3. Reggie Ragland – Ala. – Prototypical 3-4 ILB, big, strong and aggressive. 3 things I love. Was he helped out by his DL? Maybe a little, but he’s a stud.

4.Scooby Wright – Arizona – One of my favorites. 3 down backer that is a tazmanian devil with pass rush skills. Can play inside and out. Relentless is a word I like with him. Sometimes to relentless and will overrun the action. No idea where his injury history puts him in the draft.

5. Kentrell Brothers – Mizzou – Another inside/ outside guy that won’t come off the field. Only 6′ tall. Physical and aggressive but not exactly what I would call explosive.

Top 5 CBs:

1. Vernon Hargreaves – Florida – 6′-0′ and 200 lbs. He has shutdown corner ability. had a rough bowl game but I still like him more then the other corners.

2. Mackensie Alexander – Clemson – 5-10″ with zero ints., but he is a physical corner with a ton of swagger and very good technique.

3. Eli Apple – Ohio State – 6′-1″ with long arms, he is the future of NFL CBs, but he is raw. I wished he stayed at OSU for 1 more year. A tad bit handsy.

4. Kendall Fuller – Virginia Tech – 6′-0″ 200 lbs with injury history. His tape, is spotty at best. And you have to go back to his soph. year to even look at tape. 2nd rounder IMO.

5. Artie Burns – Miami – 6′ corner that is a track star. I love his awareness and upside.

Top 5 S:

1. Jalen Ramsey – A generational talent at S that can also play CB at a high level. 6′-1″ and over 200 lbs makes him an ideal FS IMO. Smooth. Just smooth. Moving, changing direction, in his backpedal… He is also a very effective blitzer. Add some muscle, call it a decade with him.

2. Jalen Mills – LSU – good speed and locates the ball well. I like him as a FS only. Needs to improve his tackling. Its not that he doesn’t want to tackle, he is just not very technically sound.

3. Keanu Neal – Florida – 6′-1″ 220, tough, strong safety in the mold of McDonald. More effective in the box. Needs coverage work.

4. Jeremy Cash – Duke – 6′-0″ 215, fills up a stat sheet, makes tackles behind the LoS, again, needs ball skill work.

5. Karl Joseph – WVU – physical safety that actually can pick off a pass. Unfortunately was injured early so there is that flag. Has a chance to climb.

Consensus Big Board

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/60543/325/consensus-big-board-10

I’ll be tossing these up every few weeks on Mondays, so check back over the next month-plus to see how the Consensus Big Board fluctuates with the ebbs and flows of the process. For reference’s sake, I’ve averaged out the boards of Pro Football Focus (February 17), ESPN’s Todd McShay (February 18), CBS Sports’ Rob Rang (February 17) and Rotoworld’s Josh Norris (February 19). You can check out Josh’s full Big Board here.

****
1. Ohio State DE Joey Bosa, 6-foot-5, 275 pounds
Highest- Of our four Big Boards in question, every one other than Norris placed Bosa at No. 1.

Lowest- Norris dropped him all the way to No. 2.

2. Ole Miss T Laremy Tunsil, 6-foot-5, 305 pounds
Highest- Rang slots Tunsil in at No. 2 while McShay ranks him at No. 3.

Lowest- PFF’s analysis team and Josh Norris are less frisky on him, with PFF ranking him No. 5 and Norris No. 7.

3.FSU CB/S Jalen Ramsey, 6-foot-1, 202 pounds
Highest- McShay’s super-duper impressed, placing Ramsey at No. 2. Rang’s right behind him with Ramsey as his third best prospect in this class.

Lowest- PFF and Norris fall in lockstep here, more or less, with Norris placing Ramsey at No. 6 and PFF waiting until No. 7 to spring his name.

4. UCLA LB Myles Jack, 6-foot-1, 222 pounds
Highest- Norris’ No. 1 prospect. Rang’s next up at No.4, with PFF at No. 5.

Lowest- Hit the road, Jack. McShay ranks the UCLA standout at No. 11.

5. Oregon DE DeForest Buckner, 6-foot-7, 290 pounds
Highest- Buckner’s had himself a nice week of Internet chatter in the draft community, with both ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein hopping the Duck terror over Buckeye Bosa in mock drafts. PFF’s first Big Board similarly pushed Buckner’s name to the forefront, ranking him at No. 2 behind Bosa. Check back in a few weeks to see if there’s tangible upward movement on the Big Boards.

Lowest- Norris doesn’t let Buckner crash the party until No. 12. Rang and McShay find a middle ground between the sky-high ranking by PFF and the less chipper ranking of Norris, slotting him at No. 7 and No. 6, respectively.

6. Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley, 6-foot-6, 315 pounds
Highest- Rang (6), Norris (8) and McShay (5) all more or less see Stanley in the same range.

Lowest- PFF, however, doesn’t unveil Stanley until No. 16.

7. Cal QB Jared Goff, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds
Highest- The writers at PFF think highly of both Goff and NDSU’s Carson Wentz, placing the Cal gunslinger at No. 3. While not quite as high on him, McShay (9) and Rang (10) see Goff similarly.

Lowest- Norris doesn’t see a franchise quarterback in the 2016 pool, placing Goff onto his Big Board at No. 23.

8. North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz, 6-foot-5, 231 pounds
Highest- PFF places Wentz just behind Goff at No. 4. McShay’s got him at No. 8.

Lowest- Rang (11) and Norris (24) are more conservative in their rankings of the Bison product. A few fun (?) quarterback notes: All four analysts placed Goff and Wentz next to each other. Three of them ranked Goff a spot above Wentz, while McShay quietly shuffled Wentz ahead. Neither Rang nor PFF have another quarterback cracking the top-32.

9. Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott, 6-foot, 225 pounds
Highest- You won’t have to scroll long on Josh Norris’ rankings to find Elliott. Zeke turns up at No. 3 on his Big Board.

Lowest- Nobody else in our quartet is tossing Elliott up quite that high. Rang’s next at No. 9, while McShay (15) and PFF (21) aren’t as keen to place a running back in the single digits of their big boards.

10. Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins, 6-foot-2, 304 pounds
Highest- McShay includes the Cardinals’ stud at No. 7 on his board, while PFF and Norris are similarly high, with both outfitting Rankins at No. 9.

Lowest- Rob Rang’s far more cautious here, waiting until No. 24 to unveil Rankins.

11. Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves IIII, 5-foot-11, 198 pounds
Highest- McShay at No. 4. No other analyst ranks him in the top-10.

Lowest- Everybody who isn’t McShay. Technically, PFF’s lowest with Hargreaves at No. 19, but Rang (13) and Norris (16) aren’t far off from their analysis team.

12. Clemson DE Shaq Lawson, 6-foot-3, 275 pounds
Highest- CBS Sports’ Rang by a fair margin with Lawson at No. 5. PFF comes next placing the Clemson star at No. 11.

Lowest- Rotoworld’s Josh Norris ranks Lawson at No. 17 while McShay rounds out the bunch with a Lawson sighting at No. 21.

13. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell, 6-foot-2, 212 pounds
Highest- Rotoworld’s Norris puts the Ole Miss beast at No. 5, while Rob Rang also keeps him in single-digits at No. 8.

Lowest- Not tossing Treadwell into single-digits, McShay (17). Almost leaving him off the top-32 entirely, PFF (26).

14. Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche, 6-foot-4, 296 pounds
Highest- Lock your windows, all four of our analysts rank Nkemdiche in the teens. Norris (13) and Rang (15) lead the parade.

Lowest- PFF (18) and McShay (19) are seeing eye-to-eye on the riddle wrapped in an enigma that is Mr. Nkemdiche.

15. Notre Dame OLB Jaylon Smith, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds
Highest- Norris and McShay find common ground with Smith at No. 14

Lowest- PFF waits until No. 21 to offer Smith forward, while Rang waves him in at No. 19.

16. Eastern Kentucky Edge Noah Spence, 6-foot-3, 254 pounds
Highest- Norris turns in the former Buckeye at No. 10, while PFF’s team checks him in at No. 12.

Lowest- Rang hits up Spence at No. 16. That’s lower than PFF and Norris, but Todd McShay takes the cake by putting the edge rusher at No. 32.

17. Baylor WR Corey Coleman, 5-10, 190 pounds
Highest- Rotoworld’s Norris thinks the world of Coleman and ranks him as his No. 4 overall prospect. PFF’s team of analysts aren’t far behind at No. 10

Lowest- McShay keeps the all-universe Baylor star out of his top-32, while he barely nudges into Rang’s rankings at No. 29.

18. Baylor DT Andrew Billings, 6-foot-1, 300 pounds
Highest- Norris checks Billings in just shy of his top-10 at No. 11.

Lowest- The rest of our fair analysts place him 20 or higher, with Rang putting down the former Bear at No. 20, followed by both PFF and McShay at No. 24.

19. Clemson CB Mackenzie Alexander, 5-foot-10, 195 pounds
Highest- Rang and PFF both offer Alexander forward at No. 14.

Lowest- McShay unleashes the Tiger at No. 26, while Norris waits until No. 32 to open the door.

20. Alabama DL Jarran Reed 6-foot-3, 313 pounds
Highest- CBS Sports analyst Rang has him scraping the top-10 at No. 12. McShay isn’t far behind, tossing the champ in at No. 16.

Lowest- Norris and PFF are decidedly lower here, with Reed at No. 29 on Norris’ Big Board. PFF fells him all the way to No. 36.

21. Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson 6-foot-3, 312 pounds
Highest- McShay’s ranking of Robinson at No. 12 and Rang’s at 17 aren’t just a little higher than those of PFF and Norris. They’re flying so high above that they can’t even see the other rankings.

Lowest- PFF not only keeps Robinson out of their top-32, they don’t have him in their top-40. Neither does Norris for that matter, as you’ll find the former Tide star at No. 42 on his Big Board.

22. Michigan State OT Jack Conklin, 6-foot-6, 318 pounds
Highest- McShay includes Conklin at No. 13. PFF has him slightly lower at No. 17.

Lowest- While Rang’s ranking of 26 for Conklin is relatively low, Norris bests (worsts?) that by placing the Spartan warrior down at 52.

23. Ohio State OLB Darron Lee, 6-foot-1, 234 pounds
Highest – Rotoworld’s Norris turns to Lee at No. 19, while McShay and Rang wait a few more slots until No. 25.

Lowest- PFF doesn’t include the former Buckeye in their top-40.

24. TCU WR Josh Doctson, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds
Highest- Norris is most bullish on Doctson, placing him at No. 20. PFF follows at No. 25.

Lowest- McShay and Rang do not include the former Horned Frog on their boards.

25. Ohio State OT Taylor Decker, 6-foot-7, 317 pounds
Highest- McShay and Rang are within shouting distance here, as the former ranks Decker No. 22 while the latter boosts him a spot at No. 21.

Lowest- PFF doesn’t rank the Ohio State lineman in their top-40, while Norris has him ranked 36th.

26. Alabama ILB Reggie Ragland, 6-2, 259 pounds
Highest- McShay’s by far the highest on Ragland of our bunch, ranking him as the No. 10 prospect in this draft pool.

Lowest- Norris doesn’t drop Ragland in until No. 40, with Rang (32) and PFF (30) slightly higher on the Tide leader.

27. Kansas State OG Cody Whitehair, 6-foot-4, 309 pounds
Highest- Norris is the first on the scene with Whitehair at No. 21. PFF follows a few slots later at No. 27.

Lowest- No such dice for the offensive lineman on either McShay or Rang’s boards. Neither analyst tosses him into the fray for this round.

28. Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd, 6-foot-3, 232 pounds
Highest- Norris and Rang meet at No. 22 with Floyd.

Lowest- McShay and PFF, not so hot. McShay ranks the former Bulldog at No. 29, while PFF omits him from their top-40 completely.

29. Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler, 6-foot-4, 325 pounds
Highest- Norris is the only one to place Butler within his top-20, lining him up at No. 18.

Lowest- McShay places Butler at No. 28, Rang at No. 31. He doesn’t make the cut for PFF.

30. Florida DE Jonathan Bullard, 6-foot-3, 283 pounds
Highest- Rang (27) and PFF (29) buoy Bullard in our consensus.

Lowest- The Florida product fails to crack either Todd McShay’s or Josh Norris’ top-32, though Norris has him just outside that at No. 33.

31. UCLA DT Kenny Clark, 6-foot-3, 308 pounds
Highest- Rang and Norris both rank Clark within the top-32, with Rang slotting the Bruin slightly higher 23 to 31.

Lowest- PFF has him near the bottom of their top-40 at No. 37. McShay does not include Clark on his 32-man big board.

32. Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, 6-foot-6, 225 pounds
Highest- Norris slots Lynch in just after Goff and Wentz at No. 25. McShay sees the situation likewise and places the gunslinger at No. 27.

Lowest- Lynch just makes the cut in PFF’s top-40, falling into line at No. 39. Rang leaves him out of the party altogether.

2016 NFL Draft Outlook

Bob McGinn

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/2016-nfl-draft-outlook-b99676279z1-370399721.html

Here’s an early look at 50 players who figure to fit into these layers of the draft (underclassmen are denoted by asterisk).

Based on interviews with executives in personnel for five teams, it is possible to narrow down just a little bit the pool of players that might be considered by the Green Bay Packers regardless of position if they exercise their current 27th selection in the first round of the NFL draft April 28.

Prospects are conservatively divided into three categories: As Good As Gone – barring negative developments, these players have virtually no chance of reaching No. 27; Probably Gone — players who appear to have no better than a 50-50 chance of remaining on the board at No. 27; and The Next Level — players who figure to fall next.

The Packers have their own selection in all seven rounds. They’re also likely to be awarded at least one compensatory pick next month for the free-agent losses of cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House in 2015.

AS GOOD AS GONE (11)

Laremy Tunsil*, T, Mississippi: 6-5, 310. Started 28 games at left tackle. “Outstanding athlete,” one scout said. “Long arms. Moves well. He played against some of the best pass rushers in college football and shut them down. Tough.” Doesn’t work to finish blocks on a consistent basis. “He might be a little lighter on his feet than (Ronnie) Stanley,” a second scout said. Top-five pick.

Ronnie Stanley*, T, Notre Dame: 6-6, 312. Junior left tackle. “Good player, but I don’t think he’s special,” said one scout. “He’s in the top seven, eight (picks). He’s a better player than the Giants took at No. 9 last year (tackle Ereck Flowers).” Not a great worker and doesn’t always play hard. Three-year starter (39 games) at LT. “He needs to get stronger,” another scout said. “He probably has the best pass set. He’s really good technically as a pass blocker. Left tackle.” Extremely long arms (35 5/8 inches).

Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: 6-5, 237. Played behind Waupaca’s Brock Jensen until 2014. A wrist injury in ’15 limited him to just 23 career starts. “He’s a big guy with a big arm,” said one scout. “The ball gets there. He’s not a scrambler per se but he has speed. He might be the most physically talented of the group. Would I be nervous with this guy? Absolutely. But if you have no quarterback at all, what do you got to lose?” Finished with an NFL passer rating of 105.2. Scored 29 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test. “He’s got an arm,” another scout said. “But it’s such a long way from that level of play to the NFL at any position, let alone quarterback.”

Jared Goff*, QB, California: 6-4, 215. Third-year junior with 37 starts. “He might be the most ready,” one scout said. “Thing I don’t like is his slender build. He did not have a lot of talent around him. Does he have a great arm? No, but it’s good enough. I’d be nervous taking him above 10.” Posted an NFL passer rating of 98.9. “In terms of arm talent, he’ll be like (Jay) Cutler,” another scout said. “Skinny kid. Gets hit a bunch. He doesn’t see everything. Accuracy is off at times, but he is talented. He can really spin it. Really good feet.”

Paxton Lynch*, QB, Memphis: 6-7, 244. Fourth-year junior. “There’s stuff he doesn’t see but, boy, is he a great athlete for a big guy,” one scout said. “He’s got good feet and can make all the throws.” His NFL passer rating of 93.5 included 110.6 in 2015. “Big production in a lot of games, so-so in some others,” another scout said. “Pretty good athlete for a big kid. Excellent size. He’s got a big ceiling. It’s a weird group of quarterbacks. None of them are just ready-made and none of them show consistency. They’re good, solid starters. None of them are Pro Bowl-caliber type quarterbacks. I would take (Jameis) Winston and (Marcus) Mariota over these guys. No question.”

Joey Bosa*, DE, Ohio State: 6-5, 269. Third-year junior with 26 sacks and 50½ tackles for loss in 37 starts. “He’s a top-three, top-four player,” said one scout. “He could be the first pick in the draft. Very strong. Can play the run and he rushes the passer well. Plays with good intensity.” Father, John, was a bust (seven sacks in three seasons) as a DE drafted with the 16th pick by Miami in 1987. “He’s a little better version of Justin Smith when he came out of Missouri (in 2001),” said another scout. “Little better athlete. Strong, tough guy like that. Good motor.”

A’Shawn Robinson*, DT, Alabama: 6-4, 307. Third-year junior. “He doesn’t play with the same consistency that (Jarran) Reed does,” said one scout. “He’s not stiff. He can play 3-technique or 5-technique. I don’t like him as a nose because he plays tall.” Started 30 of 42 games, finishing with 9 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. Won’t turn 21 until next month. “Big run stuffer with pass-rush ability,” one scout said.

DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon: 6-7, 291. Started 38 of 54 games. “Comes in and starts,” one scout said. “Not as dynamic obviously as Bosa. More of a run-down player for a 3-4 team, but he has some pass rush to him.” Finished with 18 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. Wonderlic score of 9. Widely regarded as a better prospect than former Duck DE Arik Armstead, who went 17th last year to the 49ers. “They play a two-gap 3-4 there,” said another scout. “He’s got a chance to be an impact guy. He kind of plays all across the front.” Hands measured an incredible 11¾ inches.

Myles Jack*, ILB, UCLA: 6-1, 245. Third-year junior. “He’s the best player in the draft,” one scout said. “He’s a slam dunk. He can play modern-day football. He ain’t never leaving the field.” Suffered torn lateral meniscus in practice after the third game last season and immediately left team. Cleared for workouts Jan. 22. Also played extensively as a RB in 2013-’14. “He’s a ‘will’ but he’s kind of a freak,” said another scout. “You see him walk out to the slot and cover receivers. He can also play in the box. I’m betting he’d go in the first three rounds as a running back. He’s a much better player than Shaq Thompson a year ago. Will run in the 4.5s. He can play inside in a 3-4 but that’d be kind of a waste for him.”

Jalen Ramsey*, CB-S, Florida State: 6-1, 209. Third-year junior split time between CB and safety. “He could be the first pick,” said one scout. “He’s going to blow this combine out. He’ll run in the 4.3s. Super competitive. Very smart. Very long. Very physical.” Just three interceptions in 41 starts. “I don’t know if the movement’s quite there for corner but he can really run and he’s athletic and he’s smooth,” said another scout. “I think he’s probably better covering tight ends and backs than walking out.”

Vernon Hargreaves*, CB, Florida: 5-10, 204. Third-year junior. “I do think he’s the best corner,” said one scout. “He’s a smoother cover guy than Ramsey.” Started 37 games and had 10 interceptions. “Very smart, very instinctive,” said one scout. “Joe Haden-type player. Gets his hands on a lot of balls. Very physical in the run game. Competitor. Only thing he lacks is Jalen’s size.”

PROBABLY GONE (9)

Laquon Treadwell*, WR, Mississippi: 6-2, 221. Bounced back from a gruesome leg injury in November 2014 with 82-catch, 1,153-yard final season. “Most likely he is the first wide receiver taken, but that’s not a slam dunk,” one scout said. “He’s a physical, stronger guy. DeVante Parker last year was a very similar player. Good route runner.” From Crete, Ill. “He’s big, has made some great catches and can run with the ball,” another scout said.

Ezekiel Elliott*, RB, Ohio State: 6-0, 225. Two-year starter with 592 carries for 3,961 yards (6.7) and 43 TDs. “He’s a complete three-down back,” one scout said. “He’s really good.” Stunned some scouts by telling reporters after loss to Michigan State that he didn’t get the ball enough and was done as a Buckeye. “Declaring for the draft and making those statements right after a loss were very disappointing,” another scout said. “Is he a selfish player? Is it all about him? He’s going to have to answer a lot of questions.” Ran a 4.47 40.

Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama: 6-3, 307. Played two seasons of junior college before starting two seasons for Crimson Tide. “I didn’t realize how well he ran until he chased down (Carson) Wentz in the Senior Bowl,” one scout said. “I’d take him (mid-first round) and not look back. You don’t see his pass rush but I think he can. I think he can play nose, too.” Finished with 6½ sacks and 21½ tackles for loss. “He doesn’t thrill me,” another scout said. “He’s a nose tackle. Maybe somebody will get fired up on him. Not a pass-rush guy.”

Robert Nkemdiche*, DT, Mississippi: 6-3, 294. Kicked off team 10 days before Rebels’ bowl game after having his 15-foot fall from a hotel wall interrupted by a bush. “I was drunk,” he said Friday. “It was a blunder. I have changed. I have cleaned up a little bit.” Third-year junior started 34 games. “He’s really a different kid,” said one scout. “He may scare some people. He’s strange strange.” Finished with seven sacks. “He’s got as much ability as anybody, if not more,” another scout said. “Three-technique is his best position. He’s a little bit up and down, but his good plays are very, very good. But there’s some things that have to be answered and worked through.” Added a third scout: “His character will keep him off the board for us. He’s talented enough to be in the top 10. But holy (expletive), buyer beware on this one.”

Kevin Dodd*, DE, Clemson: 6-5, 277. Fourth-year junior. “He’s a little better than (teammate) Shaq Lawson,” one scout said. “Really came on. His best games were probably the last six in his career, which always helps. Quality kid, all that stuff. He’s a 4-3 DE pass rusher or an outside backer in a 3-4.” Had 12 sacks in 39 games (15 starts).

Shaq Lawson*, DE, Clemson: 6-3, 269. Third-year junior. “Top 25,” said one scout. “Pass rusher. Long arms. Really came on this year. Played behind (Vic) Beasley in the past. Totally different than Beasley. Beasley was a speed rusher. This guy’s got speed and athleticism. He’s just a bigger guy.” Posted 20 sacks in 43 games (16 starts).

Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: 6-1 1/2, 299. Undersized 3-technique with 29 starts in four seasons. “He’s a move guy,” one scout said. “If you put him at nose and don’t move him you’re going to be wasting him. He can run. He’ll play at 315, 320.” Models his game after Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt and Geno Atkins. “I can play in any scheme and all three downs,” he said.

Emmanuel Ogbah*, DE, Oklahoma State: 6-4, 273. Fourth-year junior. “Whoever takes him will get an excellent player,” one scout said. “He can play any position except nose. He does what they tell him to do. He plays the defense.” Consistent production (28 sacks, 36 starts) over three seasons. “Good effort player,” another scout said. “Very explosive. Late first, early second.” Arms were 35 1/2.

Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama: 6-1, 247. Started two of four years. “Ragland is a great kid, great leader, great person, great worker,” said one scout with intimate knowledge of the Crimson Tide program. “His speed is good enough.” Dropped 12 pounds in the last month, presumably in hopes of running a competitive 40 Sunday. Several scouts said he wasn’t as good as D.J. Mosley, the Alabama ILB who went in the first round to Baltimore in 2014. Scored 10 in first attempt at the Wonderlic. “Alabama runs probably the toughest defense in college football to understand, and he ran the show,” another scout said. “He had to bide his time to run the show. He did it only his senior year. He’s a pretty serious football player. Very tough, very athletic, could cover really well. Mosley is a little more versatile than Ragland but Ragland can take the pounding a little bit more.”

THE NEXT LEVEL (30)

Corey Coleman*, WR, Baylor: 5-11, 194. Caught 173 passes for 3,009 yards (17.4) and 33 TDs. “Really dynamic player,” one scout said. “Got a ton of catches and big plays. It’ll take a little bit of time when he comes in the league just like all the Baylor receivers because they don’t run a route tree. There’s a development to his game that he needs.” Compared by another scout to Anquan Boldin.

Josh Doctson, WR, Texas Christian: 6-2, 202. Caught 35 passes as a true freshman at Wyoming before transferring. “He’s got great hands,” one scout said. “He may have the best hands of the bunch.” Late-season wrist injury that required surgery concerns some teams. “He’s very similar to (Laquon) Treadwell,” another scout said.

Tyler Boyd*, WR, Pittsburgh: 6-1, 197. Established school records with 254 receptions and 3,361 yards (13.2) in three seasons. “Very smooth,” said one scout. “Good hands. Good route runner. He has a chance to be in the latter part of the first (round).” Ran a disappointing 4.58.

Hunter Henry*, TE, Arkansas: 6-5, 250. Moved to the head of the tight end group after Alabama’s O.J. Howard returned for his senior season. “It’d be a reach to take a tight end in the first round,” one scout said. “He’s not a dynamic, special athlete, difference-maker like some of the tight ends that have come out recently. Like Eric Ebron or Jordan Reed or Tyler Eifert or Zach Ertz or Travis Kelce. All those guys had more athletic-receiver traits than this guy.” Much faster than Green Bay’s Richard Rodgers and has comparable hands, according to another scout. “He’s a complete tight end,” said one scout. “More of a pass catcher but he’s got enough size to block.” Started 30 of 38 games, finishing with 116 receptions for 1,661 (14.3) and nine TDs.

Jack Conklin*, T, Michigan State: 6-6, 308. Walk-on from Plainwell, Mich., who earned scholarship shortly after his redshirt season. “He’s a mass blocker, not an explosive blocker,” one scout said. “I think he’s a guard or a right tackle.” Started 35 games at LT and three at RT. “He’s a typical Big Ten offensive lineman,” another scout said. “Big, tough, nasty. Late first round.” Added a third scout: “Finisher. Doesn’t have elite left tackle feet but his feet are good enough. Very consistent.” He compared Conklin to Green Bay RT Bryan Bulaga. 40 time of 5.00.

Taylor Decker, T, Ohio State: 6-7, 310. Started all 42 games from 2013-’15 at LT. “He’ll end up being a right tackle,” one scout said. “OK athlete. Tough kid, smart, good length. He just ends up being so high he gets pushed. He’s better than the (Jack) Mewhort kid was.” Co-captain in 2015. “I’m not as excited about him,” a second scout said. “He does have some toughness and is pretty sound in his technique, but he’s limited athletically.” Just 20 reps on the bench press.

Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama: 6-4, 311. Three-year starter. “Great kid,” said one scout. “Leader. Has great initial quickness. Savvy. He’s not overly powerful. Turned down the Senior Bowl. Plays with leverage. Athletic enough in the screen game. Really good at the second level.” Took over in 2013 for long-time starter Barrett Jones. “He’s significantly better than Barrett Jones,” said another scout. “Not even in the same category. Jones didn’t have nearly the ability that Kelly has. He’s the best center in the draft.”

Jason Spriggs, T, Indiana: 6-6, 301. Started 47 games at LT. “He may go late one or top of two,” said one scout. “Athletic kid. Had a good Senior Bowl. He’s got size, he’s got length and does have left tackle type feet. He’ll continue to rise.” Excelled in three other sports as a high school athlete. “Strictly a left tackle,” another scout said. “He is athletic. Maybe he sits a year and works his way into the lineup. Offensive linemen go (early) because there’s such a need, but I don’t see him being any more than a solid starter.” Turned in a sensational workout. His 40 time of 4.94 was the best among offensive linemen, and he did 31 reps on the bench.

Shon Coleman*, T, Auburn: 6-5, 307. Was diagnosed with leukemia in spring 2010, underwent treatment and finally was cleared for limited practice two years later. “He’s actually a very humble kid,” one scout said. “That (leukemia) is a big deal now. He had 30 months of treatment. That kind of slowed him down, but he’s a worker.” Backed up Greg Robinson in 2013 before making 25 starts at LT. “Very talented,” another scout said. “That offense is hard to evaluate because they don’t do a lot of traditional, basic pass protection.”

Nick Martin, C-G, Notre Dame: 6-4, 299. Older brother Zack was a four-year starter at LT for the Irish before being drafted in the first round by Dallas in 2014 as a RG. “He’s close to his brother only because of blood,” one scout said. “He’s just not as good a player. Not as athletic. He’ll play in the league, yes.” Most of his 37 starts were at center but also projects to guard. “Tough, try-hard kid,” another scout said. “He’s got the intangibles like his brother but not the athlete.”

Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State: 6-4, 301. Four-year starter. “He was a college left tackle but will be a guard,” one scout said. “Probably the best guard in the draft. Very steady. Always in great position. Great feet. Knows how to play.” Handicapped to an extent by short arms (32 inches). “He’s stiff,” said another scout. “I’m not as enthused with him as other people. Real smart guy.” Hurt himself with merely 16 reps on the bench.

Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: 6-4, 217. Three-year starter with a 34-5 record. “He’s got a great winning percentage, an average arm and a quick release,” one scout said. “I don’t know if his teammates really love him.” Wasn’t elected as a team captain. “He can make all the throws and he’s got some strength to him and he can run,” another scout said. “It’s all the other stuff. How much he really likes ball and how much he’s going to work at it. He likes being a celebrity.” NFL passer rating was 95.1. “Cook speaks well and looks good when he speaks, but he’s not the sharpest guy,” a third scout said. “He’s not a high football IQ guy.”

Christian Hackenberg*, QB, Penn State: 6-4, 223. Third-year junior. “He’s got an incredible amount of talent,” one scout said. “There are times he makes incredible throws and times he makes stupid throws. Does the pressure rattle him? That’s the key. The changeover in coaches has probably brought him down.” Flourished as a freshman (NFL passer rating of 89.0) before coach Bill O’Brien departed for the Texans. His rating in 2014-’15 dipped to 75.6. “After his freshman year people looked at him as the first pick in the draft,” another scout said. “He could be as talented as any of these quarterbacks. He’s got the arm, the body and is actually a competitor. But the coaches there at Penn State didn’t play to his strengths. A premier type talent like that is so hard to find these days. I could see him going latter part of the first round.”

Derrick Henry*, RB, Alabama: 6-3, 247. Heisman Trophy winner started just 17 of 41 games. “He’s very similar to (Eddie) Lacy,” one scout said. “He’s the workhorse.” Rushed for 2,219 yards last season, bringing his three-year totals to 602 carries for 3,591 (6.0) and 42 TDs. “Great kid,” another scout said. “Great production. Strong runner. Had a lot of wear and tear. Upright style of running.” 40 time of 4.54.

Noah Spence*, DE, Eastern Kentucky: 6-2, 251. Ended up at Eastern Kentucky after being suspended indefinitely at Ohio State for failed drug tests. “Multiple trust things got him kicked out,” said one scout. “Some question marks about his character. Pass rushers are a premium, and he is that.” Had a strong week at the Senior Bowl. “He could go anywhere from 15 to 35,” a second scout said. “It’s all on the off-field stuff. All it takes is one team to be OK with it. Especially with guys like Randy Gregory…you get nervous.” Played well as an outside linebacker at OSU. Had 11 1/2 sacks in only season at EKU.

Andrew Billings*, NT, Baylor: 6-0½, 311. Third-year junior with 30 starts. “They bill him as the strongest college football player,” one scout said. “He’s a limited athlete, but he’s got incredible strength.” Had 5 1/2 sacks in 2015. Likens his style of play to Vince Wilfork. “He’s the true nose,” another scout said. “They rant and rave about how strong he is, but he just doesn’t play that way all the time. I see him second or third round.”

Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech: 6-4, 323. Two-year starter with extremely long arms (35 1/8) and large hands (10 3/4). “Big 5-technique,” one scout said. “He can do a lot of things. I’d be a little skittish of him there (late first round).” Just five sacks in 48 games (28 starts). “Everybody here loves him,” another scout said. “More second round. Nose tackle and 3-technique.”

Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida: 6-3, 285. Started 36 of 50 games. “He had his best year (in 2015),” one scout said. “Thought about coming out last year. Helped himself. He’s been dinged up. More of a 4-3 DE than an outside linebacker. He’ll go second or third round just because of limitations on flexibility.” Posted 12 sacks and 33 1/2 tackles for loss.

Kenny Clark*, DT, UCLA: 6-3, 314. Third-year junior. “Very similar to Billings,” one scout said. “Good football player. Second round. He has always played nose.” A scout for a 3-4 team said Clark fits better as a 3-technique. “He has some pass rush in him,” the scout said. “Wish he was more consistent.” Two-year starter with seven sacks.

Austin Johnson*, DT, Penn State: 6-4, 314. Fourth-year junior. “Fits multiple schemes,” said one scout. “Late first, early second. Like him. Plays more 3-technique but he can play nose.” Registered 8 1/2 sacks in 38 games (28 starts). Short arms (32 3/4). “For me it’s all about running to the ball,” Johnson said. “I like 3-technique but I can play whatever.”

Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State: 6-3, 298. Prevented from playing in the bowl game by coach Urban Meyer after his arrest for soliciting a prostitute. “I think about it on a daily basis,” he said. “I had never been in trouble or failed a drug test. It was just an impulsive decision.” Finished with 13 1/2 sacks in 49 games (31 starts). “Losing the last game because of that…God, what an idiot,” said one scout. “He’s a late second-rounder now.” Wonderlic of 16. “I like him but he gets knocked around, he really does,” another scout said. “He plays light. He’s got a good first step. He’s a 3-technique all the way.”

Chris Jones*, DT, Mississippi State: 6-6, 310. Third-year junior. “Interesting guy. Real interesting,” one scout said. “Big long guy. Can run. I don’t know if he knows he don’t know (anything) yet. Five-technique. He can rush. Second round.” Started just three games in first two seasons before starting 13 at DT in ’15. “He could easily be in the top 50 but he is such a dog,” said another scout. “He’s an underachiever. Very good ability.” Said Jones: “I’m a flamboyant personality. I’m a cheerful guy. Sky’s the limit.”

Leonard Floyd*, OLB, Georgia: 6-6, 244. Fourth-year junior. “He has a DeMarcus Ware kind of body,” one scout said. “Could play D-end, could play outside backer. Has first-round traits and some third-round, fourth-round inconsistency.” Started 32 of 38 games, finishing with 17 sacks. “His lack of bulk and strength is going to be a concern for some teams,” another scout said. “He’s got good pass-rush skills and instincts. People will be concerned about him because of Barkevious Mingo and Dion Jordan in recent years.”

Jaylon Smith*, ILB, Notre Dame: 6-2, 240. Seven weeks removed from suffering knee damage (torn ACL, torn lateral collateral ligament, some nerve damage) and might not be ready to play at all in 2016. “If he didn’t have the blown knee I think he’s in the top 10,” one scout said. “Maybe he falls because of that and is there for Green Bay (at No. 27). If so, they lucked into a great player.” Third-year junior with 39 starts in 39 games. “I view myself as the best player in the draft,” he said. “I’m going to be a very impactful player for a long time.” Projects inside in a 3-4 and on the weak side in a 4-3. “Athletic, really good pass rusher and he’s also got cover skills,” another scout said. “He’s better than Manti Te’o.”

Darron Lee*, OLB, Ohio State: 6-1, 232. Redshirt sophomore started all 28 games in 2014-’15. “Run, see, hit type guy,” one scout said. “Little bit like Myles Jack. Very athletic. Little undersized. 4-3 ‘will’ or 3-4 inside backer. Immediate nickel backer.” Had 12 sacks, 27½ tackles for loss and three interceptions. “More of a finesse guy than anything,” another scout said. “Has to be covered up. He goes out and plays on the slot a lot. First-round talent.”

Su’a Cravens*, OLB-S, Southern California: 6-1, 226. Projects himself as another Deone Bucannon, the Cardinals’ strong safety who shifted to ILB in ’15. “I think that’s what this kid is,” said one scout. “Probably a nickel backer. For a 4-3 team he’s probably not much different than Shaq Thompson that went in the first round (No. 25) last year. I don’t see him being a first. I just don’t see the production.” His 14 turnover plays included nine picks. “He’s not (Troy) Polamalu but he’s a good player,” another scout said. “Everybody wants to make a linebacker out of him. I think he can play safety.”

Eli Apple*, CB, Ohio State: 6-1, 199. Redshirt sophomore renounced final two seasons of eligibility. “He’s raw,” one scout said. “He’s a man-cover corner. He’d benefit from not having to start right off the bat. Not getting beat early. The physical stuff is there. He gets by with size and speed but not really good fundamentals. That’s great on the college level where they allow you to grab downfield.” Had four picks, 18 passes defensed.

Kendall Fuller*, CB, Virginia Tech: 5-11, 187. Third-year junior. Suffered torn meniscus three games into last season, underwent a microfracture procedure and never returned. “If he wasn’t hurt he’d be a first-rounder,” one scout said. “He’ll probably end up being top of the second based on size and ability. His sophomore film really was very good.” Older brothers Vincent (CB-S), Corey (WR) and Kyle (CB) all either played or are playing in the NFL. “He’s faster than his brother in Chicago (Kyle),” said another scout. “He’s not as good a football player or as strong.”

Xavien Howard*, CB, Baylor: 6-0, 201. Fourth-year junior. “He probably has a chance to be a late first because of the height-weight-speed factor,” one scout said. “Top 50 for sure. Man-cover corner. Decent ball skills. He is tough to throw on. Not a lot of balls completed on him. He can run with almost all receivers. He tracks the ball well. Physical.” Picked off 10 passes in 39 games.

Artie Burns*, CB, Miami: 6-0, 193. Third-year junior. “He’s going to run very well (Monday),” one scout said. “Then he’ll climb.” Started 23 of 36 games, finishing with seven interceptions. “Howard is a much better player but he could slide into the top 50 because of the nature of the position, the size and the speed,” said another scout. “I don’t love him. He’s not very instinctive. More of a height-weight-speed type player that shows flashes.”