Top 5 at each position
By Dwayne Wilton
As we move into the final month of draft season, I thought it would be a good time to update my top 5 players at each position. I should do one more as we get closer to draft day.
Quarterbacks:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Jameis | Winston | Florida State | RSS | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Marcus | Mariota | Oregon | Jr | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Garrett | Grayson | Colorado St | Sr | 3 | 3 | |
| Bryce | Petty | Baylor | Sr | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Brett | Hundley | UCLA | Jr | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Analysis: My only change is at the bottom. I flip-flopped Petty and Hundley because I believe Petty has done a little more to acclimate himself to the pro style of offense.
New to this ranking: None
Out from previous ranking: None
Running Back:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Melvin | Gordon | Wisconsin | Jr | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Todd | Gurley | Georgia | Jr | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Ameer | Abdullah | Nebraska | Sr | 3 | 3 | |
| Tevin | Coleman | Indiana | Jr | 5 | 4 | |
| Jay | Ajayi | Boise State | Jr | 5 |
Analysis: If not for a knee injury, I would have Gurley as my top runner. He may still be a contributor this year, but right now the jury is still out. I watched more tape on Coleman and have gained more respect for him. I also moved Ajayi into my top five.
New to this ranking: Jay Ajayi
Out from previous ranking: Duke Johnson
Wide Receiver:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Amari | Cooper | Alabama | Jr | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kevin | White | W Virginia | Sr | 3 | 2 | |
| DeVante | Parker | Louisville | Sr | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Jaelen | Strong | Arizona St | Jr | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Breshad | Perriman | UCF | Jr | 5 |
Analysis: In my last top five I wrote that Cooper was head and shoulders the top receiver. Then the combine happened and Kevin White’s 4.35 40 happened. Most people have White barely ahead of Cooper. I believe Cooper is a more polished receiver, so I’m keeping him at the top. I moved Perriman into my top five because of his very good 40 time at his pro day. Most people agree Perriman ran a sub 4.3, and some have even stated it was 4.22 (which would have broken Chris Johnson’s Combine record). There are so many good receivers in this draft it’s hard to come up with just five.
New to this ranking: Breshad Perriman
Out from previous ranking: Devin Smith
Tight End:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Maxx | Williams | Minnesota | Jr | 3 | 1 | |
| Clive | Walford | Miami | Sr | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Nick | O’Leary | Florida St | Sr | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Tyler | Kroft | Rutgers | Jr | 3 | 4 | |
| Jesse | James | Penn State | Jr | 5 | 5 |
Analysis: The tight end group for this draft is the polar opposite of the receivers. It was hard for me to come up with five names I really liked. After the top three, you could really put just about anyone on the list.
New to this ranking: Tyler Kroft
Out from previous ranking: Ben Koyack
Fullback:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre season | Pre Combine | March |
| Jalston | Fowler | Alabama | Sr | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tyler | Varga | Yale | Sr | 2 | 2 | |
| Zach | Zenner | S Dakota State | Sr | 3 | 3 | |
| Zach | Zwinak | Penn State | Sr | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Tyler | Cierski | Maryland | Sr | 5 | 5 |
Analysis: Fowler is the only one in this group that was a fullback in college. The others were running backs that could move to fullback and provide great value at the next level.
New to this ranking: Tyler Cierski
Out from previous ranking: Connor Neighbors
Offensive Tackle:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Brandon | Scherff | Iowa | Sr | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Andrus | Peat | Stanford | Jr | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| La’el | Collins | LSU | Sr | 5 | 3 | |
| Ereck | Flowers | Miami | Jr | 4 | 4 | |
| D.J. | Humphries | Florida | Jr | 5 |
Analysis: Many people have Sherff listed as a guard, but I believe he could also play tackle, so I’m keeping him here. Collins was previously on my list as a guard, but I’ve moved him onto this list. He moves better than I thought, so he may be able to play tackle.
New to this ranking: La’el Collins, D.J. Humphries
Out from previous ranking: T.J. Clemmings, Cedric Ogbuehi
Guard:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Laken | Tomlinson | Duke | Sr | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| A.J. | Cann | S Carolina | Sr | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Tre | Jackson | Florida St | Sr | 1 | 3 | |
| Ali | Marpet | Hobart | Sr | 4 | ||
| Arie | Kouandjio | Alabama | Sr | 3 | 5 |
Analysis: I moved Tomlinson ahead of Cann, because I really like what I saw of Tomlinson at the Senior Bowl. He is very stout at the point of attack and stood his ground against some of the best defensive linemen in the draft. Marpet is very athletic and could possibly play anywhere along the line.
New to this ranking: Tre Jackson, Ali Marpet
Out from previous ranking: La’el Collins (moved to tackle), Josue Matias
Center:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Cameron | Erving | Florida State | Sr | 1 | 1 | |
| Hroniss | Grasu | Oregon | Sr | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Reese | Dismukes | Auburn | Sr | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| B.J. | Finney | Kansas State | Sr | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Andy | Gallik | Boston College | Sr | 4 | 5 |
Analysis: The same five, but I’ve juggled the rankings a little bit. I bet Cameron Erving had no idea how much he would improve his draft stock by moving from left tackle to center. He’s likely a first round pick as a center, but was probably a day two selection at tackle.
New to this ranking: None
Out from previous ranking: None
Defensive End:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Leonard | Williams | USC | Jr | 1 | 1 | |
| Dante | Fowler | Florida | Jr | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Shane | Ray | Missouri | Jr | 3 | 3 | |
| Arik | Armstead | Oregon | Jr | 5 | 4 | |
| Alvin | Dupree | Kentucky | Sr | 5 | 5 |
Analysis: Leonard Williams may be the best player in the entire draft. He could really play anywhere along the front line. Fowler, Ray and Dupree could end up at linebacker, but I have them listed here for now. Armstead could play defensive end, especially in a 3-4 alignment or he might end up as a 4-3 defensive tackle.
New to this ranking: Alvin Dupree
Out from previous ranking: Mario Edwards Jr.
Defensive Tackle:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Danny | Shelton | Washington | Sr | 1 | 1 | |
| Malcom | Brown | Texas | Jr | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Eddie | Goldman | Florida State | Jr | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Jordan | Philips | Oklahoma | Jr | 4 | ||
| Carl | Davis | Iowa | Sr | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Analysis: No change in the top three. Jordan Philips has been moving up draft boards and could possibly end up as a day one selection. Carl Davis could be a good value pick on day two.
New to this ranking: Jordan Philips
Out from previous ranking: Michael Bennett
Outside Linebacker:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Vic | Beasley | Clemson | Sr | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Shaq | Thompson | Washington | Jr | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Randy | Gregory | Nebraska | Sr | 3 | ||
| Eli | Harold | Virginia | Sr | 4 | ||
| Nate | Orchard | Utah | Sr | 5 | 5 |
Analysis: I like Vic Beasley as the best edge rusher in this draft. Many have Fowler, but I think Beasley is more explosive. I’m not sure where Thompson will end up, some even have him as a safety or running back. I think he will end up at linebacker. I had Gregory higher before his failed drug test.
New to this ranking: Randy Gregory (from DE), Eli Harold
Out from previous ranking: Bud Dupree (moved to DE), Eric Kendricks (moved to ILB)
Inside Linebacker:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Eric | Kendricks | UCLA | Sr | 1 | 1 | |
| Denzel | Perryman | Miami | Sr | 2 | 2 | |
| Benardrick | McKinney | Miss State | Jr | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Stephone | Anthony | Clemson | Sr | 3 | 4 | |
| Paul | Dawson | TCU | Sr | 5 |
Analysis: I like Kendricks and Perryman’s speed. They could play inside or outside. Dawson ran better at his pro day, so I moved him into my top five.
New to this ranking: Eric Kendricks (from OLB), Paul Dawson
Out from previous ranking: Taiwan Jones, Ben Heeney
Corner:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Trae | Waynes | Mich State | Jr | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Marcus | Peters | Washington | Jr | 2 | 2 | |
| Jalen | Collins | LSU | Jr | 3 | ||
| Kevin | Johnson | Wake Forest | Sr | 5 | 4 | |
| Byron | Jones | Uconn | Sr | 5 |
Analysis: Trae Waynes’ 4.31 40 time cemented him as the top corner and possibly even a top 10 pick. Peters had some issues with the coaching staff at Washington, but he has great talent. Byron Jones’ Combine record 12’3” broad jump was enough to get him on the radar for NFL teams and vaulted him onto this list.
New to this ranking: Jalen Collins, Byron Jones
Out from previous ranking: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, P.J. Williams
Safety:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Year | Pre Season | Pre Combine | March |
| Landon | Collins | Alabama | Jr | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Damarious | Randall | Arizona St | Sr | 2 | ||
| Jaquiski | Tartt | Samford | Sr | 3 | ||
| Gerod | Holliman | Louisville | Jr | 2 | 4 | |
| Anthony | Harris | Virginia | Sr | 5 |
Analysis: The safety group in this class is not very good. Once you get past Collins, the rest are a risk. Randall and Tartt seem to be the best of the group behind Collins.
New to this ranking: Damarious Randall, Jaquiski Tartt, Anthony Harris
Out from previous ranking: Darren Smith, Ibraheim Campbell, Chris Hackett
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