By
Pete Fiutak
1. Dan
Mozes, C West Virginia
One of the best centers in America for the
last four years, he’s a smart quarterback up front who’s terrific on the
move and tough as nails. He makes all the right line calls and is always
in great position. He’s more of a technician than a bulldozer, but he
can flat-out play.
2. Victor DeGrate, DE/LB Oklahoma State
After serving as a
disruptive outside linebacker, he moved to the line. At only 250 pounds,
he could potentially move back to a linebacker spot because of his
quickness. If he can get bigger and show he can handle himself better
against the run, he could be a major player as a tweener. The problem?
He got nailed for marijuana possession a week before the draft.
3. Julius Wilson, OT UAB
Very strong, tough, and a good
all-around blocker, physically, he’s ready to play right now. Mentally,
he’ll still need a little bit of work before he can handle everything
thrown at him at an NFL level. He could play guard if needed.
4. Tyrone Moss, RB Miami
A strong 240-pound back with nice
speed and a nose for the goal line, he’s yet another Miami back who’ll
make a nice number two. He has to stay healthy, has to keep his weight
in check, and he needs to kickstart the motor and become a full-time
worker.
5. Ryan Moore, WR Miami
It’s all there with the size, speed,
and talent to be a big-time NFL receiver. While he has million dollar
talent, he has a ten-cent head having legal problems and no
concentration whatsoever missing too many catchable balls. He’s a good
risk to take on pure skill, but he’ll be a pain in the butt.
6. Jemalle Cornelius, WR Florida
Great quickness and natural
athletic ability with a great work ethic and the smarts to quickly
become an NFL route runner. Unfortunately, he’s not big enough to be any
sort of a pro-level downfield blocker and he’ll get pushed around on the
line. A nice flier pick who’ll be tough to cut.
7. Patrick Ghee, S Wake Forest –
Signed with Seattle
Speed, speed, speed. He’s fast
and made plenty of tackles over the last three seasons, but he was
almost non-existent at times in pass coverage. He’ll need coaching and
work on making plays when the ball is in the air. If he’s not using his
speed, he’s not much use at an NFL level.
8. Jonny Harline, TE BYU
A tight end in name only, he’s a pure
receiver who cranked out two huge seasons in the Cougar offense.
However, he can’t block worth a lick and has no speed whatsoever. He’s a
good enough route runner to make it tough to cut him.
9. Darius Walker, RB Notre Dame
The Shelly Long/McLean
Stephenson Career Move Award goes to Walker, who for some reason things
he’s ready to play at an NFL level. While he runs hard and tough for his
size, he’s not a power runner and doesn’t have the speed needed to be an
elite back. On the plus side, he’s a great receiver who could eventually
grow into a heck of a third down back.
10. Jon Abbate, LB Wake Forest –
Signed with Houston
He could’ve used another year at
Wake Forest to be considered an even better all-around prospect and a
bit more disciplined on the field, but he’s the type of defender
everyone wants. Very strong, very tough and very aggressive, his
mistakes come from trying too hard to make every play and not always
playing within the system.
11.
Chris Leak, QB Florida –
Signed with Chicago
Has a far better arm than he gets credit
for throwing one of the nicest balls among the prospects. Too short,
needs better overall mechanics, and isn’t much of a runner. He’ll be a
hard worker and will find a way to stick as a No. 3 because of his
intangibles and work ethic.
12. Cody Boyd, TE Washington State
At over 6-7 and 265 pounds,
he’s big with great hands. He’s a great blocker who finishes off well.
He’s not a good athlete and isn’t going to be a consistent route runner
at an NFL level. Getting stronger is a must.
13. Tyler Palko, QB Pitt – He came through with a great senior
season, but no one noticed since the team stunk. He’s not big and has an
average arm, but he’s a tremendous competitor who’s tough as nails and a
good decision-maker. He’ll make a great coach someday.
14. Brandon Myles, WR West Virginia
It’s not like he played in
a Texas Tech offense so he made a name for himself with a good Senior
Bowl performance. He’ll have to create a niche for himself showing he
can be more than just a speed receiver. He has to prove he can block and
take a hit.
15. Earl Everett, LB Florida
Not as good as he should be. Even
though he runs well and is big and athletic, he’s not an NFL-caliber
football player. Not good in pass coverage and lacking the ability to
always be in the right spot at the right time, he was able to make up
for his mistakes with his athleticism in college. He won’t be able to do
that in the pros.
16. Rory Johnson, LB Ole Miss
A JUCO transfer who was
one-and-done in Oxford making 94 tackles as the running mate of Patrick
Willis. He’ll need coaching and a whole bunch of patience, but he’ll be
a high-motor defender who could be a nice producer in a few years. Don’t
expect him to compete for a starting spot any time soon.
17. Xzavie Jackson, DE Missouri
A highly productive end for the
Tigers from day one, he has good size and enough athleticism to be a
nice contributor in a rotation. He’ll work hard to make himself better
and he’ll have to needing better overall technique.
18. Tony Taylor, LB Georgia
A good tackler with a nice motor,
he would’ve gone far higher had he not had past problems with injuries
and if he showed more athleticism in workouts. He’s not polished in pass
coverage and he’s not a sideline-to-sideline playmaker at an NFL level,
but he can play.
19. Rhema McKnight, WR Notre Dame
Came back from a torn up knee
to become a nice second option for Brady Quinn with 15 touchdown grabs
last year. While he’s tough and will make plays in traffic, he doesn’t
have the top speed necessary to be a regular starter. There’s a ceiling
on him; he’s not going to blow up into something special all of a
sudden.
20. Zach Latimer, LB Oklahoma
Looks the part with a big frame
and great speed when closing on the ball. Now he has to be a better
overall tackler and show he can use his athleticism to do something in
pass coverage. It’ll be tough to find a spot for him since he doesn’t do
any one thing particularly well.
21. Matt Gutierrez, QB Idaho State
After starting his career at
Michigan, he left after it became obvious that Chad Henne was the man.
He’s big (6-4 and 245 pounds) with a tremendous arm and is a rah-rah
type that isn’t Joey Harrington phony. Not mobile and not durable, if
he’s not a consistent passer, he won’t make the roster.
22. Jon Cornish, RB Kansas –
Signed with Calgary Stampeders
Went from being an average runner to
a Big 12 Player of the Year type of workhorse. He uses his 211-pound
size well and is a willing player who’ll do a little of everything to
try to make a roster.
22. David Ball, WR New Hampshire – Think Wayne Chrebet with
talent. Ball was a touchdown machine setting the D-IAA record with 58
scoring grabs and will work his way into becoming a reliable route
runner who’ll find a way to make plays. He’s not fast and he’s not big,
but he’ll be a tough target.
23. Joe Newton, TE Oregon State
At 6-7 and 257 yards with great
hands and receiving skills, he was a hot prospect throughout the year,
but he cooled off big-time in workouts. He’s not a good blocker and
isn’t athletic enough to become a top NFL receiver.
24. Anthony Pudewell, TE Nevada
Not big enough to be a
consistent next level blocker and not fast enough to be a dangerous
receiver, he’ll have to work and work to stay on the roster. He has
everything you’d want in a player except athletic ability.
25. Noland Burchette, DE Virginia Tech –
Signed with Atlanta
Not big enough or
athletic enough to be an every down end, and he’s not a linebacker. Not
durable enough to ever be a 16-game starter, he has to be part of a
rotation. He was a productive Hokie who fit extremely well within the
system and needs to find a role right off the bat or he’ll be an easy
cut.