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Ten most underrated defensive prospects in 2016 NFL DraftBy Gil Brandt
NFL Media senior analyst
Published: March 22, 2016 at 12:06 p.m.
Updated: March 22, 2016 at 12:25 p.m.I’ve been on record saying there are 18 elite players in the 2016 NFL Draft. That’s not to say there aren’t some very good prospects beyond 18, because there are.
I have my own personal list of the top 1,000 players in this draft. The players below represent the ones I consider to be the most underrated on defense (On Monday, I covered the most underrated offensive players in the draft). These are prospects that will get drafted lower than they should, but ones I believe will enjoy long, impactful careers in the NFL.
Most underrated defensive prospectsVernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech: Butler (6-foot-3 5/8, 323 pounds, 5.33-second 40-yard dash) is an inside player who plays well vs. the run. He’s tall, athletic and strong (26 bench lifts). His best position is nose tackle. He was a standout at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and could be one at the next level.
Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska: Collins (6-1 7/8, 311, 5.03) is very athletic with speed and strength (25 bench lifts). He has very good ability to get off blocks and make plays. He has long arms. If you want to get a starting nose tackle in the second round, this is your guy.
Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Jones (6-5 3/4, 310, 5.03) has all the ability in the world, but it doesn’t always show up on every play. He’s an outstanding athlete, strong (26 bench lifts), and has long arms (34 1/2). He’s young (played just three years at MSU). He could be a very good NFL player but needs to work harder on every down.
Deion Jones, OLB, LSU: Jones (6-0 7/8, 222, 4.59) plays like Buccaneers LB Lavonte David. He’s very athletic and quick. He needs to get stronger and I think he will. He’ll start and play on all downs in the NFL. He’s one of my favorite players in this draft.
Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn: The only negative on Jones (5-9 1/8, 186, 4.33) is his lack of height. He plays a lot like Senquez Golson, who was taken by the Steelers in the second round last year. He’s strong (19 bench lifts) and very athletic (36-inch vertical jump). Jones has good coverage skills; he had six interceptions in 2014.
Keanu Neal, SS, Florida: Neal (6-0 1/2, 211, 4.62) is ultra-athletic and strong; he had a 38-inch vertical jump, an 11-foot broad jump and 17 bench lifts last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has coverage ability. A good pro-day workout on Tuesday could possibly get him into the bottom of the first round.
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: Rankins (6-1 1/8, 299, 5.03) is strong and very athletic (34.5-inch vertical jump). He has the speed and quickness needed for the position. Along with Butler, Rankins stood out at the Senior Bowl. I would expect him to be taken in the 25-40 range in the draft.
Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas: Ridgeway (6-3 3/8, 303, 5.02) has a lot of ability, but like Chris Jones, he doesn’t always use it on every play. He’s strong (24 bench lifts) and fast. He’s very mature but needs better work habits. If he learns how to work, he’ll be a very good NFL player.
Joe Schobert, OLB, Wisconsin: Schobert (6-1 3/8, 244, 4.76) makes plays all over the field. He’s very athletic and strong. Besides playing on all four downs, he’ll also be a very good special-teams player. He plays with the same intensity of the Cowboys’ Sean Lee.
Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois: Ward (6-5 1/8, 297, 5.17) was a high school wide receiver and defensive back who started at a junior college before transferring to Illinois. He has an unbelievable backstory of perseverance. He played just two years with the Illini with only one spring practice. He’s strong and a very good competitor. He’ll improve with experience and NFL coaching.
Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter @Gil_Brandt.
Agamemnonhttp://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000646037/article/ten-most-underrated-offensive-prospects-in-2016-nfl-draft
Ten most underrated offensive prospects in 2016 NFL DraftBy Gil Brandt
NFL Media senior analyst
Published: March 21, 2016 at 01:45 p.m.
Updated: March 22, 2016 at 12:27 p.m.I’ve been on record saying there are 18 elite players in the 2016 NFL Draft. That’s not to say there aren’t some very good prospects beyond 18, because there are.
I have my own personal list of the top 1,000 players in this draft. The ones below represent the most underrated on offense — 10 prospects that will get drafted beyond the first round and lower than they should, but ones whom I believe will enjoy long, impactful careers in the NFL. On Tuesday, I covered the 10 most underrated defensive players this draft has to offer.
Most underrated offensive prospects
Willie Beavers, OT, Western Michigan: Beavers (6-foot-4 5/8, 321 pounds, 5.26 40-yard dash) always seemed to elevate his game against better opponents in college, which bodes well for his move to the NFL. He’s coming off a strong pro-day performance. He does need to get stronger, but some team will take him in the second round and get a very good player with a ton of upside.
Devontae Booker, RB, Utah: Booker (5-10 3/4, 219) hasn’t been able to run an official 40-yard dash because of injuries, but he does have the speed and quickness to play the position. He has very good hands. He did not play as well in 2015 as he did in 2014 because of a torn meniscus that limited him to 10 games. He’s a workhorse back who had 560 carries and 80 receptions in his two seasons at Utah. He should be a second-day (Rounds 2-3) bargain.
Joe Dahl, OG, Washington State: Dahl (6-4 1/8, 304, 5.11) is one of my favorites in this draft. I like players who transfer up (think J.J. Watt); Dahl spent his freshman year at Montana before transferring to Wazzu, where he was a three-year starter at left guard and left tackle. He could play multiple positions at the next level, including center, but I think guard is his best position. He’s strong (28 bench reps). Some team will draft him in the second round; others will wish they had.
Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana: Howard (5-11 7/8, 230) was a transfer from UAB after the school temporarily gave up football. I love what he did against two really good defenses in back-to-back games last November, rushing for 174 yards vs. Iowa and 238 yards vs. Michigan, with a pair of touchdowns in each game. Howard was a very productive college back who should put up numbers in the NFL.
Germain Ifedi, OG, Texas A&M: Ifedi has good size (6-5 3/4, 324 pounds), long arms (36 inches) and is strong. He played guard and tackle at A&M and could start at multiple positions in the NFL. He’s not a first-round player like the tackles he followed at A&M, but he should have a solid career in the NFL.
Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama: Kelly (6-4, 311, 4.93) will play center in the NFL, and he’s a plug-and-play rookie starter who I think will have a 10-year NFL career. In 659 plays last year against SEC opponents, Kelly had zero penalties and gave up only one sack. He’s a very dedicated player who increased his muscle mass every year in Tuscaloosa.
Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA: Payton (6-1 1/8, 207, 4.47) is a try-hard, every-down player who excels in the clutch. He made 145 catches for more than 2,000 yards over the last two seasons. He’s a good and willing blocker. The former Bruin is a hard worker with a lot of upside.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma: Shepard (5-10 1/4, 194, 4.48) will be a slot receiver in the NFL. He has great hands and quickness for the position, and reminds me a lot of Wes Welker. I think he’ll also be a top punt returner in the NFL. He’s a great character guy who will be a Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) bargain for some team.
Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana: Spriggs (6-5 5/8, 301, 4.85) is athletically special, and nowhere was that more apparent than at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he was the top prospect at his position in four events. He’s also very strong (31 bench reps) and light on his feet. He has the ability to play in the NFL for a long time.
Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State: Whitehair (6-3 3/4, 301, 5.0) has shorter arms (32 3/8) than you’d like, but he’s really a good player. He played left tackle at K-State; in the NFL, his best position is going to be guard, maybe even center. He’s a high-effort player who should play for a long time in the league.
Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter @Gil_Brandt.
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