NFL's Future

The 2012 NFL Draft is quickly coming upon us.  With less than ten days until  Andrew Luck’s name is called by Roger Goodell, we will be offering our position-by-position rankings with final grades on most of the draftable prospects.

Today we look at offensive tackles in the 2012 NFL Draft:

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Height: 6064  Weight: 306

Kalil is the cream of the crop in this tackle class.  I wouldn’t put him in Joe Thomas territory but he will sit right outside it.  He’s athletic with the polish to handle the NFL’s best edge rushers.  Weighing in at 306 at the Combine helped because of questions about the bulk to overpower in the run game.  He’s an immediate starter that will be drafted in the top 5.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 5

Final Grade: 7.1

2. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Height: 6070  Weight: 323

Mike Adams may be the most frustrating prospect in this draft.  He has all the physical tools (minus lacking a little in the strength dept).  His consistency, mental focus, and general want-to seem to be lacking at times.  This became more evident with yesterday’s report of a failed drug test at February’s Combine.  All that said, I think he has the skills to be a starting left tackle in the league.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1-2

Final Grade: 6.4

3. Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Height: 6055  Weight: 313

The former defensive end has made the transition into a top tackle.  Most are really high on Reiff because of his combination of athleticism and work ethic.  I, however, see significant holes that make me believe he will have to play RT in the NFL.  That said, his athleticism and solid technique will allow a team to take him in the first round.  He’s an end of day one guy for me.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1

Final Grade: 6.2 Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft: Final Offensive Tackle Rankings»

The 2012 NFL Draft is creeping up on us with the countdown officially set at 6 days.  With that in mind, we wanted to collaborate with our avid, informed reader’s on NFL’s Future to put together a mock draft.

The mock draft will be a pick a day with the final tally culminating at 6:00 a.m. EST the following day.  After the pick is in, that player will be off the board and the next selection will be up before 9:00 a.m. EST.  At the end we will put the mock together in anticipation of April 26th.

Thus far Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Tannehill, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Riley Reiff, Dontari Poe, Michael Brockers, Courtney Upshaw, Stephon Gilmore, Mark Barron, Kendall Wright, Quinton Coples, Cordy Glenn, Stephen Hill, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dont’a Hightower, and Jerel Worthy are off the board and the Denver Broncos are up.  So get voting:

The 2012 NFL Draft is quickly coming upon us.  With less than ten days until  Andrew Luck’s name is called by Roger Goodell, we will be offering our position-by-position rankings with final grades on most of the draftable prospects.

Today we look at the centers in the 2012 NFL Draft:

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Height: 6051  Weight: 314

Peter Konz is a versatile center prospect with the ability to kick over to guard.  He anchored a very solid Wisconsin line in 2011 as he emerged as the clear cut top center prospect in this draft.  He possesses the size, power, and intelligence to step into a starting job immediately.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1

Final Grade: 6.1

Philip Blake, C, Baylor

Height: 6023  Weight: 311

Blake is another versatile center prospect with the ability to play guard.  He started 38 games at Baylor (12 of them at RT).  Blake has ideal girth and strength to match-up with wide bodied nose tackles.  A pure man, power player that should come off the board before more well-known prospects in Ben Jones and Michael Brewster.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  3

Final Grade: 5.6

David Molk, C, Michigan

Height: 6011  Weight: 298

David Molk really helped himself by checking in just under 300 at the Combine.  Molk is an ideal ZBS pivot that plays with intelligence and surprising strength for his size.  In the right system, Molk could wind up a steal in this draft.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  3-4

Final Grade: 5.6 Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft : Final Center Rankings»

This will come as a shocker to no one, but Adam Schefter is reporting that Andrew Luck will indeed go first overall to Indianapolis.  Since Luck decided to come back to Stanford for his junior season we have been faced with this inevitability.

No great surprise, it’s what most expected, but Colts have told Andrew Luck they will take him with the No. 1 overall pick, per NFL source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 19, 2012

Luck’s considered to be a once-in-a-generation quarterback prospect that has most screaming comparisons to Peyton Manning.  Luck will be replacing the aforementioned Manning in Indianapolis one week from today…officially.

The 2012 NFL Draft is quickly coming upon us.  With less than ten days until Andrew Luck’s name is called by Roger Goodell, we will be offering our position-by-position rankings with final grades on most of the draftable prospects.

Today we look at the offensive guards in the 2012 NFL Draft:

1.  David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Height: 6047  Weight: 316

The fact has remained all season that DeCastro is the exception to the rule at the guard position.  He will be drafted high with a floor of 21 to the Bengals.  He’s as complete a player as any in this draft and is one of the safest picks in the draft. I fully expect DeCastro to start from day one and spend time enjoying the Hawaiian sun.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 20

Final Grade: 7.0

2.  Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Height: 6051  Weight: 345

Cordy Glenn is a versatile prospect that can play both guard spots and right tackle.  He even has some questioning whether he can play on the left side…I won’t go that far with the projection but I think he’s an early starter at RT or G.  Glenn has really put on a show during the pre-draft process and should come off the board no later than the early stages of round two.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1-2

Final Grade: 6.3

3.  Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin

Height: 6037  Weight: 314

Kevin Zeitler is a fast rising prospect that could come off the board late in round one.  The Wisconsin OL factory may produce two first rounders in 2012 with Zeitler and Konz.  Zeitler is a technically sound mauler that is perfect in a man, power blocking scheme.  San Francisco could give him a long look at the end of round one.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1-2

Final Grade: 6.1 Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft: Final Offensive Guard Rankings»

The 2012 NFL Draft is creeping up on us with the countdown officially set at 7 days.  With that in mind, we wanted to collaborate with our avid, informed reader’s on NFL’s Future to put together a mock draft.

The mock draft will be a pick a day with the final tally culminating at 6:00 a.m. EST the following day.  After the pick is in, that player will be off the board and the next selection will be up before 9:00 a.m. EST.  At the end we will put the mock together in anticipation of April 26th.

Thus far Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne, Justin Blackmon, Melvin Ingram, Ryan Tannehill, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, David DeCastro, Luke Kuechly, Riley Reiff, Dontari Poe, Michael Brockers, Courtney Upshaw, Stephon Gilmore, Mark Barron, Kendall Wright, Quinton Coples, Cordy Glenn, Stephen Hill, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Dont’a Hightower are off the board and the Denver Broncos are up.  So get voting:

The 2012 NFL Draft is quickly coming upon us.  With less than ten days until  Andrew Luck’s name is called by Roger Goodell, we will be offering our position-by-position rankings with final grades on most of the draftable prospects.

Today we look at the tight ends in the 2012 NFL Draft:

1. Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Height: 6060  Weight: 247

Fleener is a big target that will make his living in the NFL as a pass catcher.  In the mold of a Jimmy Graham, Fleener won’t and shouldn’t be counted on to block in-line.  Fleener was Andrew Luck’s top target at Palo Alto and they may have an opportunity to play together in the NFL with Indy picking atop round two.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  1-2

Final Grade: 6.1

2. Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Height: 6031  Weight: 255

Dwayne Allen added some nice balance to the high octane Clemson offense in 2011.  Allen made a living working down the seam on linebackers.  He will need to become a more crafty route runner in the NFL as he lacks the explosion/long speed to win one-on-one matchups with most linebackers.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  2

Final Grade: 5.9 Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft : Final Tight End Rankings»

We are quickly approaching the one week countdown until Christmas in April.  With that comes a whole bunch of rumors swirling about various media circles.  Here’s a look at today’s goings-on in the NFL Draft world.

From Russ Lande of The Sporting News:

Arizona St. QB Brock Osweiler might be picking up some late steam following his pro day workout.  Lande offers the following tidbit, “According to sources, Brandt’s statement might not be so far-fetched. A number of NFL sources told us their teams have very high grades on Osweiler and would be shocked if he was not drafted by the end of the second round.”

Brandt’s statement refers to Gil Brandt’s post-pro day comment that Osweiler vaulted himself into round one with his workout.

Lande offers readers the possibility that NFL personnel don’t view Iowa OT Riley Reiff in the same esteem as mock drafters.

“Teams question whether he has the athleticism to be effective pass blocking at left tackle. These concerns will likely place Reiff toward the bottom of the first round or possibly the top of the second round.”

Chalk me up as a believer on this one.  I have long said that Reiff was vastly overrated and could fall into the second round based on talent.  The positional value of tackle probably pushes Reiff up the draft board on April 26th but I don’t expect him to go in the top 10 when it’s all said and done.  For the record, I do disagree with the athleticism part of the assessment.  For me, Reiff didn’t have the power to play with bigger DE’s.   Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft – April 18th Rising and Falling»

The 2012 NFL Draft is quickly coming upon us.  With less than ten days until Andrew Luck’s name is called by Roger Goodell, we will be offering our position-by-position rankings with final grades on most of the draftable prospects.

Today we look at the wide receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft:

1. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Height: 6007  Weight: 207

Blackmon’s getting challenged late in the process by Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd.  I still give the edge to Blackmon because of strength that he plays with.  In all honesty I thought Blackmon was 6’3 and 225-230 pounds based on the tape.  When he checked in under 6’1 and just above 200 pounds, I was shocked.  He’s a better prospect than Michael Crabtree but not in the A.J. Green/Julio Jones territory.  Somewhere between 8-12 appears to be his sweet spot.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 10

Final Grade: 6.8

2. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Height: 6030  Weight:220

Floyd’s off-the-field discrepancies appear to be a thing of the past.  He interviewed well with teams and is picking up some steam, even passing Blackmon on many boards.  He is 1B at this point for me at the position.  He does everything pretty well but lacks concentration at times and I don’t see him playing at his timed speed.  That said, he’s the best blocking receiver in this draft, he can run after the catch, and high points the ball as well as any receiver in college football.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 15

Final Grade: 6.7

3. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Height: 5102  Weight: 188

Kendall Wright disappointed with his 40 time at the Combine raising some questions about this 5’10” receiver.  On tape he plays like a 4.4 guy and should be a mid-first round pick.  If Wright slips past pick 17, he becomes a terrific value.  He’s a vertical threat that showed consistent hands during the 2011 season and one of the main reasons we all know the name Robert Griffin III at this point.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Top 15

Final Grade: 6.6

4. Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Height:  6036  Weight:  215

Stephen Hill fell from the sky in 2011.  He wasn’t on any draft radars during the preseason partially due to the program he played at.  Georgia Tech shouldn’t be the hotbed of receiving talent that it has been over the last six years but producing Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas helps.  Hill could be the next in line.  He will need to learn the intricacies of playing receiver at the next level but certainly has the physical tools to develop into a good one.

2012 NFL Draft projection:  Round one

Final Grade: 6.1 Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft : Final Wide Receiver Rankings»

Smoke on the Water: Deep Purple’s classic has been adopted by the purple-clad Minnesota Vikings, who are trying to convince teams to trade up to their lofty draft slot. GM Rick Speilman has set the Grand Hotel on fire in hopes of convincing some team to rise up and give him multiple picks in order for the Vikings to slide back a few spots.

Even though Speilman got an unexpected assist from Colts owner Jim Irsay trumpeting his admiration of Ryan Tannehill, I don’t think the Vikings trade talks are anything more than a purple haze. Part of the problem is that the teams that are within feasible trading range for the #3 overall pick are not in the position to have extra picks to spare in a trade. Sure, the Rams and Browns both have extra picks, but they need those picks to help add overall talent to their own challenged rosters. Miami might truly and desperately want Ryan Tannehill, but moving from #8 to #3 is going to cost them, at minimum, both their 3^rd round picks and a pre-Saturday pick next year too. That’s asking a lot for a team with a whole lot of needs.

I don’t blame Speilman and the Vikings for trying to drum up interest. But their “leaking” that they might take Justin Blackmon is a classic smokescreen that has no fire. They do have interest in Morris Claiborne, and that could potentially scare the Buccaneers at #5 enough to pull the old David Coverdale-for-Ian Gillen swap. That move didn’t exactly work out too well for Deep Purple, and I don’t see the prospects for that sort of deal working out very well for the NFL’s one eyed, one horned flying purple people eaters either. Read the rest of this entry » «Some Fiery Draft Music»