the interesting ones to this forum:
100. Jared Veldheer, OT, Arizona Cardinals (Unranked)
A good first year in Arizona where he proved the left tackle Arizona has been searching for since PFF was a glint in anyone’s eye. As can be the case in a new team he took a while to get going but after the first six weeks of the season he’d clearly found his rhythm in the Arians offense and would only allow multiple-pressure games four times the rest of the season (and never more than two in a game). Contributed nicely in the running game to boot.
Best Performance: WK13 ARZ @ ATL, +3.5
Key Stat: Fourth-highest pass-blocking efficiency number of any tackle during the 2014 season
83. Shariff Floyd, ID, Minnesota Vikings (Unranked)
This is the kind of player the Vikings were expecting when they spent a first round pick on him in 2013. Floyd only played 587 snaps yet did enough with those snaps to earn the fifth highest overall grade of all 4-3 defensive tackles. Particularly impressive against the run, it’s worth noting that Floyd scored a positive grade rushing the passer to show himself a fully complete player.
Best Performance: Week 11, MIN @ CHI, +5.8
Key Stat: Graded positively in all bar four games.
Shariff was widely projected to the Raiders in the 2013 draft.
79. Donald Penn, LT, Oakland Raiders (Unranked)
The Bucs didn’t look too smart after ditching Penn for Anthony Collins, but the Raiders came out smiling given just how well he played. Seemingly playing with a chip on his shoulder most of the year, you rarely noticed Penn such was his shutdown nature in pass protection. Sure his run blocking didn’t wow you like others, but when you can go through a year earning the fifth-highest grade in pass protection for all left tackles what more could the Raiders ask for?
Best Performance: Week 16, BUF @ OAK, +6.3
Key Stat: Only graded negatively in pass protection twice all year.
52. Pernell McPhee, ED, Baltimore Ravens (Unranked)
Earned himself a big free agent deal as a situational menace in Baltimore. Playing just 540 snaps he still earned the second highest grade of all 3-4 outside linebackers. Imagine what he could do with more playing time? A true defensive mismatch who can and was used in a number of ways to exploit and overwhelm offenses, McPhee was fantastic in picking up a huge 64 quarterback disruptions.
Best Performance: Week 4, CAR @ BLT, +5.1
Key Stat: His 14.0 Pass Rushing Productivity score was fourth best of all edge defenders.
I maintain, we shoulda signed him.
39. Khalil Mack, ED, Oakland Raiders (Unranked)
For a while Mack was in for some criticism as the sacks didn’t flow. That one number didn’t come close to telling the story of Mack, who was a solid pass rusher and an out of this world run defender. His 54 quarterback disruptions are a number to be proud of, but it’s his work in the run game that sees him so high. Nobody made life as hard for blockers on the edge as Mack, a true rookie force.
Best Performance: Week 16, BUF @ OAK, +7.8
Key Stat: Scored the highest grade of any edge defender in run defense.
Our rookie is considered one of the top 40 players in the NFL after one season. Not bad.
#1-30 still aren't available yet, so I imagine Aaron Donald will be in that group, along with Odell Beckham Jr. Still, considering that PFF used the average per position and then extrapolated that to measure players across positions, Mack starting out as 39th when he wasn't being used as a LEO - his likely position next year- is just crazy.