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With the NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis, we’ll see boards moving all over the place in next week or so. As usual we’ll see a whole lot of overreaction in the national media – however teams that draft well realize the function of the event and move minimally. It can’t be said enough – the NFL Combine is a piece (a small one at that) of a player’s overall evaluation. Teams will be paying close attention to the medicals and confirming what they’ve seen on tape. Pay close attention to positional drills as they are telling of physical tools that transfer to the field. While the 40-yard dash is sexy, it has little correlation to a player’s on-field ability.

The most hyped story leading up the event is which QB’s will throw. It matters the least. If we learned one thing from last year, it was the overvaluing of how a player throws in shorts and t-shirt.

Don’t get me wrong, when I have a free minute I’ll be eyes glued to NFL Network this weekend. That said, you won’t see any drastic movement up or down my board.

A couple of notes:

1. This year I’m not playing character police (Manziel evaluation taught me an important lesson). I’ve learned that I’m not positioned to qualify a prospects character, hence DGB being so high on this list. 
2. Shaq Thompson at No. 3 is going to draw more than a few comments/emails. After watching seven games from ’13 and ’14, I think he’s a special player and don’t care what position he plays.
3. Why so low on the QB’s? Neither Mariota or Winston are franchise QB’s in my book. Mariota has a lot to like but his transition to the NFL is going take some time. I see him as a solid starter but not a franchise-type. Winston, remember I didn’t factor character in, is a second rounder for me. A lot to like but there’s a lot I didn’t like. For one, was his propensity to heat up in the 2nd half after abysmal 1st half performances. The coach in me says that is the offensive braintrust adjusting and scares me a bit. No doubting his physical tools. After that it’s anybody’s guess.
4. D.J. Humphries might be higher on this list than others. Let me say, I’ve had a keen eye on Humphries over the last two years and like what I see. In the right scheme, I think he has a Tyron Smith-like skill set.
5. Why the drop for Hauoli Kikaha? Kikaha is carrying significant medical risk, otherwise I had a solid 2nd grade on him. Until I hear otherwise, I think he’s a low risk, high reward guy in the late 3rd, early 4th round vicinity.