by Rickhouse on April 11 at 4:15PM
This isn’t a bad draft class, there just isn’t a clear cut, top player like there is in most years. Long, Dorsey, and McFadden are the three best players in some order, and team needs will determine where they get picked. Dorsey dropped two points from the first rankings because of injury concerns. Without it, he’d be the top player. The Dolphins are currently negotiating a deal with Long, and he’d make sense for them with the first pick. Matt Ryan could go number one, and will certainly be a top ten pick, but his accuracy and arm strength leave a lot to be desired. It’s hard to put a quarterback among the ten best players in any draft when his best attribute is intangibles. Overall class grade: B/B-
Rating Scale: 100-97 Hall of Fame caliber
96-92 One of the top players at his position in the NFL
91-87 Multiple Pro Bowl trips
86-81 Key part to a team, possible Pro Bowler
80-75 Solid starter
1. OT Jake Long - Michigan
Rating: 94
Poised to go #1.
2. DT Glen Dorsey - LSU
Rating: 94
If he can stay healthy, he’ll be one of the league’s best.
3. RB Darren McFadden - Arkansas
Rating: 94
Is hurt a little by Adrian Peterson. Isn’t as good, but still one of the better running back prospects to come along in the last ten years.
4. DE Chris Long - Virginia
Rating: 91
Good for 10+ sacks for a long time.
5. DT Sedrick Ellis - USC
Rating: 91
Disruptive force in the middle who will put tons of pressure on the QB from inside.
6. DE Vernon Gholston – Ohio State
Rating: 90
Classic 3-4 edge rusher.
7. RB Rashard Mendenhall - Illinois
Rating: 88
Impressive combo of size-speed-strength.
8. OT Ryan Clady – Boise State
Rating: 87
Athletic enough be handle most speedy right ends.
9. G Branden Albert – Virginia
Rating: 86
At 6-7, can he play tackle?
10. DE Derrick Harvey - Florida
Rating: 84
Tore up OSU in the National Title two years ago. Better prospect than Jarvis Moss.
11. S Kenny Phillips - Miami
Rating: 84
Scouts think he could have been more productive.
12. WR Malcolm Kelly - Oklahoma
Rating: 84
Can he stay healthy?
13. S Reggie Smith - Oklahoma
Rating: 83
Versatile, ball-hawking defensive back.
14. WR Limas Sweed - Texas
Rating: 82
A tad slow, but a huge target with good hands. Also has injury concerns.
15. CB Leodis McKelvin - Troy
Rating: 81
Dynamic return man with poor ball skills.
16. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – Tennessee St.
Rating: 81
Great combo of size and speed.
17. LB Jerod Mayo - Tennessee
Rating: 80
Will likely get taken lower than he should.
18. DE Phillip Merling - Clemson
Rating: 79
Huge d-end who will be a beast against the run.
19. LB Keith Rivers - USC
Rating: 79
Productive starter at the country’s elite program.
20. CB Mike Jenkins – South Florida
Rating: 77
Good size, but was a bit of a one-year wonder.
21. OT Chris Williams - Vanderbilt
Rating: 77
Good size but may not have killer instinct.
22. RB Jonathon Stewart - Oregon
Rating: 77
Huge power runner between the tackles.
23. OT Jeff Otah – Pitt.
Rating: 76
Massive, may be too slow to play left tackle.
24. WR Devin Thomas – Michigan State
Rating: 75
Productive but only did it for one year.
25. QB Matt Ryan – Boston College
Rating: 75
Has great intangibles, lacks sound tangibles.
Check out our rankings from earlier this year and from last year.
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