NB's Top 32

I've been holding onto this for a while, since the conclusion of the combine. Just got time to finish the write-ups recently. This isn't a true big board as some things haven't happened post-combine which has moved some people up and down (injuries). I will re-slot this to confirm to a true big board prior to the draft. Injuries since the combine have not been reflected in these rankings. These are just the 32 players who I think are the best 32 players in the draft. I have some write-ups at the bottom.

Top 32
1. S Malik Hooker, Ohio St
2. DL Solomon Thomas, Stanford
3. DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama
4. S Jamaal Adams, LSU
5. WR Mike Williams, Clemson
6. CB Sidney Jones, Washington
7. CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio St
8. DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
9. RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
10. S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
11. CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
12. TE OJ Howard, Alabama
13. LB Haason Reddick, Temple
14. OL Cam Robinson, Alabama
15. WR John Ross, Washington
16. WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
17. OT Garrett Bolles, Utah
18. RB Christian Mccaffrey, Stanford
19. DT Malik McDowell, Michigan St
20. LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
21. CB Gareon Conley, Ohio St
22. S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
23. DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
24. DL Chris Wormley, Michigan
25. DE/OLB Takk McKinley, UCLA
26. OLB Tim Williams, Alabama
27. OG Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
28. OG Dan Feeney, Indiana
29. LB TJ Watt, Wisconsin
30. QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
31. QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
32. CB Adoree Jackson, USC

Notes
- Unlike most, I do not have Myles Garrett as the #1 overall prospect. I don't even have him in the Top 5. I have seen too many "elite" edge rushers over the years with superb athletic numbers who just have not panned out. I think Garrett could be among that group. Is he a complete bust like Vernon Gholston or Dion Jordon or just overhyped like Mario Williams or Jadeveon Clowney? At this point, probably the latter.

- I have Malik Hooker as the clear cut #1 prospect. I watch his tape and he screams Ed Reed. I understand that his resume is thin, but I see a guy who can play the single high FS all day long. You build your defense around him. Tremendous range. He has a special skill set. Adams looks more like a complete SS. He does everything extremely well.

- Thomas and Allen are very disruptive from either the inside or outside. They are consistently disruptive and productive. They are the type of players you can build a defense around.

- Even though most have him highly rated, I still find Mike Williams underrated. He was the best player on the best college team this year. I think he was also the missing piece from the 2015 Clemson team. He is a Dez Bryant type of WR. John Ross could be the most explosive WR to enter the league in a while. Plays a Desean Jackson type of game. If he goes to a team with the right QB, watch out. Davis may be the best route runner of the big 3 receivers but I see as more of a system WR.

- This is an excellent CB class. Last year's was great, but this year's could be even better. I have Sidney Jones as the best of the bunch. May have the best man to man skills and has a nose for the ball. He ruptured his achillies which will send him tumbling down the board. Like Jaylen Smith last year, I think someone takes him early 2nd round based on talent alone. I see Lattimore and Humphrey as day 1 high level starters. The more I watch Conley, the more I am impressed. Could be alot better than some give him credit for. I think Jackson is a bit more inconsistent, however, is one of the better ballhawks and can be a gamechanger.

- I don't have Fournette as highly rated as I did Elliott last year but he is going to make a mark in the NFL. Elliott was so tremendous because he went to a team with the best Oline in the NFL. I doubt Fournette will be as lucky. I think he is good enough to overcome a bad Oline but don't expect Elliott type numbers. McCaffrey is very intriguing. A complete RB and may be the best receiving RB in years to come. I wouldn't be surprised if he outproduces Fournette, statistically, early on.

- Jabrill Peppers is special. I know that. What position will he end up is anyones guess. If used correctly, and creatively I think he is a pro bowler for years to come. Whether its FS, SS, nickel/dime LB, returner and maybe even as a gadget offensive player. A player many coaches will covet.

- OJ Howard is the real deal at TE. He does everything well. I'm not sure if he will ever be at Gronk's level of domination, but I think he could easily be a perennial 800 yard, 8 TD kind of TE while receiving quality blocking.

- Haason Reddick may be the best finnesse pass rusher in the draft. He is undersized but it so twitchy I think he can succeed anywhere as a 3-4 LB defense or as a 4-3 WLB. The more this guy is allowed to attack up the field the more success that will come. TJ Watt will be another highly drafted LB. He doesn't have Reddick's athleticism, but where Reddick is more of a finesse LB, Watt plays with heart and grit and is a bit more of a brawler. I think he could start immediately as a 3-4 ILB or 4-3 LB. If he gets bigger and develops more pass rush moves, he may be able to play in the NFL as an edge rusher

- I think this OL draft is quite weak overall, but there are some very intriguing options in the 1st round. Whether Cam Robinson finds a home at OT or OG, he knows how to move people. If you want to establish a run game, draft this guy. The same can be said for Lamp and Feeney inside. I think Bolles is the best OT prospect. The fact that he is overaged may have worked in his favor, but his athleticism on the outside is off the charts.

- I'm not sure how Reuben Foster's combine fiasco will affect his draft status, but even discounting that, he is the best pure ILB in the draft. A cornerstone of the Alabam defense the past 2 years. Tim Williams is extremely interesting. Easily the best first step in the draft. If he was a complete LB, he would be a top 10 pick. I think his off the field problems could cause him to slide, but as a situaional pass rusher, this guy is worthy of being a 1st round pick. He is going to compile some sacks in the NFL.

- Anyone following the draft process is familiar with Melifonwu. I had a 2nd round grade on him pre-combine as he was an excellent safety at UCONN. The combine probably confirmed Melifonwu will actually be an elite safety. I expect a team somewhere in the teens will fall in love with his meausrables.

- There is a group I have as late 1st round/early 2nd round pass rushers. Some are beter suited in a 4-3 (Barnett) while I think some can make the transition as a 3-4 OLB (McKinley). I think they all have some holes in their game but all are capable at getting to the QB.

- I think 2 QBs have 1st round qualities, although, I would not bet on them being elite QBs. I think Watson is a winner, which counts for alot in my book. Trubisky may be the more prototypical guy but if I was a team looking for a franchise QB I go with Watson.

- Overall this is a pretty good draft class. I think CBs, Safety, Edge Rushers and Wide Receivers run deep in this class. Not a great QB, OL, TE or interior Dline class as a whole. I feel pretty confident, that within the first 100 picks, teams should be able to acquire quality players, I'm not sure if there is enough depth to carry over to the Day 3 picks.

 

That's correct.

As I stated, Howard is the real deal. I have Shaheen as my #2 TE. He is not a good blocker now, as I doubt coaches at Ashland focused too much on it. Given his size, I think he could be taught on how to do it and do it well.

Njoku and Engram are terrible blockers, undersized and both are considered "oversized WRs". If that's the case, I'll just take a WR. Both Njoku and Engram have drop problems too.

A guy like Butt had a nice career at Michigan but I don't see success at the NFL level. That goes for alot of TEs in this class.

As far as interior DL, yes I don't see alot of depth. As I said Thomas and Allen are special. McDowell will be very solid. I really like Wormley but even he I see more as a 3-4 DE. Huge dropout after this group. Couple of guys I like on Day 2 like Adams from Auburn and Brantley from Florida. Ogunjobi is interesting and could be a nice day 2 sleeper.

 

I have watched Some tape of Howard, Shaheen, Engram and Njoku. Howard is the real deal. As a receiver, Shaheen looks no better to me than Jessie James other than being a year or so ahead in skill set. I think he's VERY overrated, and dominated because he we just so much bigger than anyone who tried to cover him. Kind of like how a 7 foot center in Div 2 college hoops would dominate, but never be anything in the NBA. I think Engram is the real deal as an H back type of TE. When I watched some of his games, I expected very bad blocking. However it's not awful. He makes an effort, and while he'll never move a lineman off the line of scrimmage, he does ok taking on LBs and safeties in space. Njoku may be the worst blocking TE to ever be drafted. It's laughable to watch. 1st-2nd round receiving talent by TE standards and undraftable blocking ability. He is the only TE I've ever seen who can get blown up at the point of attack by a nickel corner.

I personally agree that the TE class is mediocre after Howard, and that may be putting it kindly.

 

Nice right up, NB. I don't agree about Jake Butt an actually hope his injury drops him down far enough that we could take him. Everett is another guy I like. Howard is definitely the real deal and will be the most dominant TE since Gronk to come out.

A guy thats not on your list that has worked his way into 1st rd, IMO, is Kevin King, Im actually finding myself hoping he is our pick if we don't go edge rusher there.

 

I am a big Kevin King fan. I think the 2nd round is flush would top quality DBs. I have Kevin King as the #7 CB behind the 5 I had listed in the 1st round and Tankersley from Clemson.

 

This list isn't from a Steelers perspective. Just an overall top 32 players in this draft.

We will see what direction the Steelers go in. Will it be someone like a Takk McKinley,,TJ Watt, Melifonwu (fingers crossed) or one of the CBs. I know not many had us taking Artie Burns last year.

 

But beyond the top 3 or 4 guys, can you say for sure any are better than Green or James?

 

I'm a big Wisconsin fan. Watched him alot this year. Thin resume. Late season hip injury. Kind of a finesse guy. Just not a 1st round talent OT in my opinion.

 

It's possible but I just don't know if I see 6+ CBs going in the first round.

 

Yep. And as for Buffalo, he was misused there, had him dropping into coverage way too much. His specialty was rushing the passer, let him rush the passer. He did have a poor attitude about it though.

 

I'll admit, I think it's a perception thing. Before I looked up the stats I would have said his career was a disappointment. When you look at the numbers it's pretty good. Maybe not #1 pick good or a franchise changing player. But you gotta give the guy his due.