Ohio State free safety Malik Hooker might have the most upside of any player in this draft.
by John Sarianides
It is officially draft season boys and girls. The second season in the NFL is in full swing. We begin our draft coverage by unveiling our first of two big boards. First, we will start off with our pre-combine top 64 and at the end of March we will unveil our top 100 pre-draft big board.
1.Myles Garrett, Defensive End, 6-5 265, Texas A&M: Garrett has the length and explosiveness to be a dominate defensive end. Could be this generation’s Julius Peppers.
2. Malik Hooker, Free Safety, 6-2 205, Ohio State: Hooker has tremendous range and ball skills. A difference maker who will be the early leader in the clubhouse for defensive rookie of the year. Reminds me a great deal of Ed Reed.
3. Jonathan Allen, Defensive Tackle, 6-3 290, Alabama: Ideally suited to play the three technique defensive tackle in the 4-3. Allen is explosive off the snap and re-creates the line of scrimmage.
4. Jamal Adams, Free Safety, 6-0 210, LSU: Adams has great length and range and can play in space or cover down in man coverage.
5. Dalvin Cook, Running Back, 5-11 205, Florida State: Cook is explosive in space. He runs with good balance and power for his size. Can contribute on all three downs.
6. Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback, 6-0 195, Ohio State: Lattimore is a rangy, athletic corner who can be effective as a press Cover 2 corner or as a man to man cover corner.
7. Rueben Foster, Inside Linebacker, 6-0 240, Alabama: Foster is very instinctive. makes quick reads, locates the ball and finishes plays.
8. Soloman Thomas, Defensive End, 6-3 275, Stanford: Thomas is ideally suited to play the five technique end in the 4-3. He is strong at the point of attack against the run and is an effective pass rusher.
9. Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, 6-2 205, Clemson: Williams is a terrific route runner who displays good body control in one on one, jump ball situations.
10. Leonard Fournette, Running Back, 6-1 230, LSU: Fournette is big, physical and fast. He runs with good balance and has good feet for his size.
11. Teez Tabor, Cornerback, 6-0 200, Florida: Tabor has good size and he is fluid in his movements. He can play in any coverage scheme because of his athleticism.
12. Corey Davis, Wide Receiver, 6-2 215, Western Michigan: Arguably the most complete receiver in this draft. Davis runs terrific routes has strong hands and a wide catch radius.
13.Mitch Trubisky, Quarterback, 6-2 225, North Carolina: A one year wonder but the tools are there physically for Trubisky to develop into a starting quarterback.
14. Derek Barnett, Defensive End, 6-3 265, Tennessee: Explosive EDGE rusher who closes quickly and finishes plays from the backside.
15. Deshaun Watson, Quarterback, 6-2 210, Clemson: Tremendous body of work and a terrific leader. Size and decision making leave something to be desired.
16. Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback, 6-1 200, Alabama: The son of Bobby Humphrey can play corner or safety. Humphrey has great size and above average ball skills.
17. Sidney Jones, Cornerback, 6-0 180, Washington: Jones is smooth and fluid in man coverage. Shows good closing speed and ball skills. A bit over aggressive at times.
18. Jabrill Peppers, Safety, 6-0 210, Michigan: A defensive coordinator’s dream. Can play all over the place and is athletic. Struggles to cover over the top in space.
19. Zach Cunningham Outside Linebacker, 6-3 230, Vanderbilt: Cunningham can play on the edge or in space and is an effective three down linebacker who can cover.
20. Takkarist McKinley, Outside Linebacker, 6-2 250, UCLA: McKinley is explosive off the snap and plays with good lean. Ideally suited to play in the 3-4.
21. Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle, 6-6 320, Alabama: Big, athletic tackle who has had some issues off the field. Multi-year starter who is experienced and can step in at left tackle.
22. Tim Williams, Outside Linebacker, 6-3 255, Alabama: Rising on teams boards. Raw but very athletic with an opportunity to further develop.
23. DeShone Kizer, Quarterback, 6-4 230, Notre Dame: Could be the most physically gifted quarterback in this draft but there are a lot of questions about how ready he is to play.
24. O.J Howard, Tight End, 6-6 250, Alabama: Versatile tight end who can play in-line or split out. A vertical threat down the middle of the field.
25. John Ross, Wide Receiver, 5-11 190, Washington: Explosive after the catch. Ross is DeSean Jackson with more size. He will need to prove he can run an entire route tree.
26. Ryan Ramczyk, Offensive Tackle, 6-5 310, Wisconsin: A mauler who plays with great technique in the run game. Good short area pass blocker who can punch and recoil with consistency.
27. David Njoku, Tight End, 6-4 245, Miami (Fla): More of an H-Back, move tight end who can separate after the catch and make big plays.
28. Garrett Bolles, Offensive Tackle, 6-5 295, Utah: Bolles is athletic. He has good feet and he can punch, recoil and adjust. He is physically ready to play left tackle as a rookie.
29. Taco Charlton, Defensive End, 6-5 285, Michigan: Charlton is your classic nine technique defensive end. He can anchor down against the run and get a push as a pass rusher.
30. Charles Harris, Defensive End, 6-3 255, Missouri: Harris climbing up teams boards because he is explosive edge pass rusher who can close.
31. Christian McCaffery, Running Back, 6-0 205, Stanford: Versatile all purpose back who can play all three downs and make explosive plays in the open field.
32. Malik McDowell, Defensive End, 6-5 285, Michigan State: McDowell can play defensive tackle or end depending on the package. Quick twitch psss rusher who plays with good balance and power.
33. Adoree Jackson, Cornerback, 5-11 185, USC: Jackson is a terrific athlete who is effective in any coverage scheme. Returns kicks as well.
34. Budda Baker, Free Safety, 5-10 195, Washington: Baker is a physical, down hill safety who attacks the line of scrimmage in run support and finishes plays. Has shown he can play over the top in a Cover 2 scheme.
35. Forrest Lamp, Offensive Guard, 6-3 300, Western Kentucky: Lamp is a phone booth mauler who wins one on one battles. He’s strong and athletic. He can play in space.
36. Pat Mahomes, Quarterback, 6-2 230, Texas Tech: A rising player who could end up going top ten. I like the arm strength but I don’t like the mechanics.
37. Carl Lawson, Defensive End, 6-2 255, Auburn: Undersized defensive end, outside linebacker type who is explosive off the edge and can consistently get to the quarterback.
38. Dan Feeney, Offensive Guard, 6-4 310, Indiana: A road grader. Athletic and physical. Gets inside hand position on defenders and finishes them. Solid in pass pro as well.
39. T.J Watt, Outside Linebacker, 6-3 245, Wisconsin: I think Watt is a first round talent. He is explosive three down player who can make plays as a pass rusher and in coverage.
40. Obi Melifonwu, Free Safety, 6-2 215, UConn: A terrific athlete who is long, rangy and cover over the top or down on a slot.
41. Raekwon McMillan, Outside Linebacker, 6-2 240, Ohio State: McMillan’s size and athleticism makes an intriguing option as a 4-3 SAM linebacker.
42. Tre’Davious White, Cornerback, 5-11 195, LSU: Smooth, rangy cover corner who is athletic and has elite ball skills. White is inconsistent and has a tendency to take too many chances.
43. Evan Engram, Tight End, 6-3 230, Mississippi: Engram reminds me of Redskins tight end Jordan Reed. A move tight end who can generate match ups from a variety of alignments.
44. Hassan Reddick, Outside Linebacker, 6-1 230, Temple: Reddick has been impressive thus far in the pre-draft process and could continue to rise with a strong combine.
45. Gareon Conley, Cornerback, 6-0 195, Ohio State: Conley is long and has terrific ball skills. He has the potential to sneak into the first round with a good combine and pro day.
46. Brad Kaaya, Quarterback, 6-4, 210, Miami (Fla): I like Kaaya more than most. He has good size and arm strength. Shows terrific pocket presence but has a tendency to make bad decisions.
47. Ethan Pocic, Center, 6-5, 310, LSU: Pocic could play guard or center. Typical phone booth type player who is physical and can get consistent movement against nose and defensive tackles.
48. Bucky Hodges, Tight End, 6-6 245, Virginia Tech: Hodges is athletic and has the size to be match up problem for defenses as a move tight end.
49. Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver, 6-0 190, Eastern Washington: Kupp is a terrific route runner who knows how to get open on a consistent basis. He has plus hands and a wide catch radius.
50. Quincy Wilson, Cornerback, 6-1 210, Florida: Wilson is climbing up teams boards because of his length and ball skills. Ideally suited as a press cover 2 corner.
51. DeDe Westbrook, Wide Receiver, 5-11 170, Oklahoma: Westbrook is a terrific route runner and is deceptively fast after the catch. Ideal slot receiver who could flourish as the third receiver.
52. Alvin Kamara, Running Back, 5-9, 215, Tennessee: Kamara is a versatile, three down back who could really develop into a productive player at the next level. He did not get a ton of carries at Tennessee.
53. Ryan Anderson, Outside Linebacker, 6-2 255, Alabama: Another EDGE player who can rush the passer on a consistent basis but also stick a block and support the run. Doesn’t jump out on film.
54. Zay Jones, Wide Receiver, 6-0 200, East Carolina: Jones had a terrific Senior Bowl. He is big, strong and can finish in the open field. A rising talent who could early in the second round.
55. Carlos Watkins, Defensive Tackle, 6-2 300, Clemson: Reminds me a lot of Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Watkins isn’t as explosive but he’s stronger than Jarrett at the point of attack against the run.
56. Dorian Johnson, Offensive Guard, 6-5 300, Pittsburgh: Johnson is a solid run blocker who gets good movement but he needs to bend more consistently. Good enough psss blocker that he can play tackle.
57. Desmond King, Cornerback, 5-10 200, Iowa: King played corner at Iowa but he might not be athletic enough to play the position in the NFL. King could play nickel or move to safety.
58. D’Onta Foreman, Running Back, 6-1 250 Texas: Foreman is a big back who can make one cut and get vertical. Reminds me a lot of LeVeon Bell coming out of Michigan State.
59. Cordrea Tankersly, Cornerback, 6-0 195, Clemson: Tankersly is another long corner who is smooth and athletic. He transitions with ease and can go up and make plays on the ball. Tankersly can be inconsistent.
60. Joe Mixon, Running Back, 6-0 230 Oklahoma: Mixon has a lot of talent but his off the field issues will cost him. It is highly unlikely that Mixon goes before day three.
61. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Wide Receiver, 6-2 215, USC: Smith-Schuster is a big bodied receiver who runs good routes and can separate after the catch. Talented but inconsistent.
62. Jordan Willis, Defensive End, 6-3 250, Kansas State: Willis is an ideal five technique EDGE player who can rush the passer and disrupt the running game.
63. Marcus Williams Free Safety, 6-0, 195 Utah: Williams is athletic and can play over the top in either Cover 2 or man free.Williams is willing to fill the alley against the run and is a sound tackler.
64. Fabian Moreau, Cornerback, 6-0 194, UCLA: Moreau could be the hidden gem of a deep cornerback group in this draft.