Ridiculous: A player
will have a huge impact and could be a hall of famer one day.
Stud: A great player
that will do better than expected and may have pro bowl potential.
Solid: A good player
worthy of where they are selected.
Okay: A decent player
that will be a role player at best.
Bust: A player that
has been over valued, and will not develop into an impact player.
Defensive End Rankings
1. Everette Brown,
Florida State
Best Fit: He is a little undersized probably would fit
best as an OLB in a 3-4 system.
Prediction: Ridiculous, extremely athletic knows how to
get after the QB, a steal if he drops past the 15th pick.
NFL Comparison: Dwight Freeney
2. Tyson Jackson, LSU
Best Fit: Best fit is probably to play DE on a 3-4
defense, but also could play 4-3 end or defensive tackle.
Prediction: Stud, great combination of strength and
acceleration should be able to make an impact right away.
NFL Comparison: Marcus Spears
3. Brian Orakpo, Texas
Best Fit: He is versatile enough to play as a 3-4 OLB
or 4-3 DE.
Prediction: Stud, a good prospect with all the skills,
went up against some top caliber tackles and still preformed.
NFL Comparison: Darren Howard
4. Larry English,
Northern Illinois
Best Fit: Probably too small to play DE, best fit
would be a 3-4 OLB.
Prediction: Stud, great speed, and awareness will not
have a tough time switching to linebacker.Should be a definite first rounder.
NFL Comparison: Shaun Phillips
5. Robert Ayers,
Tennessee
Best Fit: He will be ready to start day one best fit
would probably be a 4-3 end.
Prediction: Solid, a good player but he is a little too
hyped should be a late first rounder.
NFL Comparison: Tamba Hali
6. Michael Johnson,
Georgia Tech
Best Fit: A team where he can come in and sit and
learn from some veterans and add some strength.
Prediction: Okay, has a lot of potential with his great
size and athleticism, but he needs to learn how to get the most out of his
skills.
NFL Comparison: Mathias Kiwanuka
7. Aaron Maybin, Penn
State
Best Fit: Needs to add some weight to play DE in the
NFL
Prediction: Bust, a one dimensional pass rusher that is
undersized and will get pushed around in the NFL.He is supposed to be amazing athlete yet he
only starts one year and then runs a 4.88 in the 40 at the combine.
NFL Comparison: Kabeer Gbaja Biamila
Overall DE Class Grade:B+. A very good group of defensive ends again this year 7+ may
go in the first round alone.
Defensive Tackle Rankings
1. B.J. Raji, Boston
College
Best Fit: With his strength size and instincts he
could start right away for any team in any system.
Prediction: Ridiculous, he is 6’1” 337 lbs yet he is a
quick as some defensive ends.
NFL Comparison:Vince
Wilfork
2. Ron Brace, Boston
College
Best Fit: Could play right away for any team needing a big
nose tackle.
Prediction: Ridiculous, overshadowed by Raji but is a
very good player who should be getting first round attention.
NFL Comparison: Kris Jenkins
3.Evander Hood,
Missouri
Best Fit: A team that needs an interior pass rusher.
Prediction: Stud, an all around player that can get to
the QB, have to like how he plays every play until the whistle is blown.
NFL Comparison: Tommie Harris
4. Peria Jerry, Ole
Miss
Best Fit: inside on a 4-3 defense.
Prediction: Solid, a good player not an elite prospect
like some have him out to be.
NFL Comparison: Amobi Okoye
5. Fili Moala, USC
Best Fit: Probably be best on a team that needs a guy
that can come in and rush the passer on 3rd downs, not an all around
player yet.
Prediction: Okay, get up field quick but does not have
great awareness and benefited from being on a really good team.
NFL Comparison: Fred Robbins
Overall DT Class Grade:B. A pretty
good class especially with Raji heading it.
Outside Linebacker
Rankings
1. Aaron Curry, Wake
Forrest
Best Fit: A great prospect that could play any where.
Prediction: Ridiculous, all the skills and intangibles
should be an impact player right away.
NFL Comparison: Lance Briggs
2. Clay Matthews, USC
Best Fit: lined up at defensive end some times so
would fit nicely as a 3-4 OLB.
Prediction: Stud, great intensity and work ethic will
help him succeed at the next level.
NFL Comparison: Chad Greenway
3. Clint Sintim,
Virgina
Best Fit: Played in a 3-4 system in college so that
would be his best fit.
Prediction: Stud, great awareness and willing to take on
blockers.
NFL Comparison: Adalius Thomas
4. Brian Cushing, USC
Best Fit: He could fit in on
any team and could play either outside or inside.
Prediction: Solid, he is all over the field and is not
afraid to deliver some big hits, benefited from playing on a great defense.
NFL Comparison: A.J. Hawk
5. Connor Barwin,
Cincinnati
Best Fit: A very versatile player (used to play tight
end) that could fit in any system.
Prediction: Solid, a very good player, but has been over
hyped.
NFL Comparison: Mike Vrabel
Overall OLB Class Grade: B+. Very good class, but the talent level kind of
thins out in the later rounds.
Middle Linebacker
Rankings
1. Rey Maualuga, USC
Best Fit: It would be best for him to go to a team
with a good linebacker coach, he is good but if he is taught better technique
he could be great.
Prediction: Ridiculous, enjoys delivering the big hits,
he is always around the ball.
NFL Comparison: Mike Peterson
2. Jasper Brinkley,
South Carolina
Best Fit: He could fit in any where.
Prediction: Stud, a productive player that is being over
looked because of bigger names at the linebacker position.
NFL Comparison: DeMeco Ryans
3. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Best Fit: A team that is looking for an all around
guy, not necessarily a playmaker.
Prediction: Bust, overhyped and not nearly as good as
former buckeye A.J. Hawk who people are comparing him to.
NFL Comparison: Lofa Tatupa
Overall MLB Class Grade:D, Other than Maualuga the class is
weak and not very deep.
Cornerback Rankings
1. Malcolm Jenkins,
Ohio State
Best Fit: He could play corner or safety, best fit
would probably be safety because he is so physical.
Prediction: Ridiculous, should be a top 10 pick but may
not because of slow 40 time (4.55), type of guy that proves that the combine is
over rated.
NFL Comparison: Antrel Rolle
2. Alphonso Smith,
Wake Forrest
Best Fit: A team that plays their corners off and does
not use bump and run coverage.
Prediction: Ridiculous, a playmaker that has all the
skills to be a top 15 pick, but he is under estimated because of his size.
NFL Comparison: Adam Jones
3. Darius Butler,
Connecticut
Best Fit: A versatile player that could fit on any
team and even play some wide receiver.
Prediction: Stud, a pure football player that will do
what ever it takes to help the team win.
NFL Comparison: Terence Newman
4. Vontae Davis,
Illinois
Best Fit: Needs a team with some veteran players that
he can learn from and mature.
Prediction: Bust, has all the physical tools but he is
missing the intangible and character that you need to succeed.
NFL Comparison: Phillip Buchanon
Overall Cornerback Grade: B. A lot of good players but only two or three
may go in the first round.
Safety Rankings
1. Rashad Johnson,
Alabama
Best Fit: Not an elite prospect but could start right
away for any team.
Prediction: Stud, a ball hawk that is vastly underrated.
NFL Comparison: Michael Griffin
2. Louis Delmas,
Western Michigan
Best Fit: a good player with the skills to start right
away best fit is probably free safety.
Prediction: Solid, all over the field, a playmaker, a
little over rated and still needs to work on some things like wrapping up
runners.
NFL Comparison: Sean Jones
3. Michael Hamlin,
Clemson
Best Fit: Fit in at any team free safety or strong
safety.
Prediction: Solid, another guy that is very underrated,
should be a second- to third-rounder but
might not go until fourth round.
NFL Comparison: Darren Sharper
Overall Safety Class Grade:C. Pretty weak class but is an overall very underrated
class.
