2017-18 CFB SEASON / '18 NFL DRAFT

[clyde21]

Saquon Barkley - RB - Nittany Lions

Saints coach Sean Payton told the MMQB's Peter King that Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is the best RB prospect he's seen in 25 years.

King adds another team he spoke with handed Barkley a perfect grade, only the fifth in the last 20 years. That is quite a statement. Payton was a focal point in trading a future second-round pick to acquire Alvin Kamara last offseason, so his running back evaluations should be heavily respected. To put 25 years in perspective, that is a higher grade than Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Trent Richardson, Darren McFadden, Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter, Marshall Faulk and Garrison Hearst. Every one of those names was selected in the top five.
Source: The MMQB

Mar 5 - 9:08 AM

Peterson still the best RB prospect I ever watched, but Barkley's up there. Might be second for me.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Baker Mayfield - QB - Sooners

The MMQB's Peter King published the consensus of an informal poll of GMs, scouts and coaches regarding their top-10 in the draft as of today.

The results?: Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, USC QB Sam Darnold, North Carolina State pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, Wyoming QB Josh Allen, Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, UCLA QB Josh Rosen, Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson, Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ohio State CB Denzel Ward and Georgia LB Roquan Smith. Interestingly, Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds did not make the cut. Of course, much can change between now and late April.
Source: MMQB

Mar 5 - 1:12 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Saquon Barkley - RB - Nittany Lions

Saints coach Sean Payton told the MMQB's Peter King that Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is the best RB prospect he's seen in 25 years.

King adds another team he spoke with handed Barkley a perfect grade, only the fifth in the last 20 years. That is quite a statement. Payton was a focal point in trading a future second-round pick to acquire Alvin Kamara last offseason, so his running back evaluations should be heavily respected. To put 25 years in perspective, that is a higher grade than Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Trent Richardson, Darren McFadden, Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter, Marshall Faulk and Garrison Hearst. Every one of those names was selected in the top five.
Source: The MMQB

Mar 5 - 9:08 AM

Peterson still the best RB prospect I ever watched, but Barkley's up there. Might be second for me.

He’s going as far back as 25 years. If I were to go back that far for me I would rank them like this:

1.) Adrian Peterson
2.) Ricky Williams
3.) Garrison Hearst
4.) Leonard Fournette
5.) Todd Gurley
6.) Kijana Carter
7.) Saquon Barkley / Ezekiel Elliot
9.) Reggie Bush
10.) Dalvin Cook

**Willis McGahee could have been in the top 3 hadn’t it been for the devastating knee injury he sustained. I’m no doctor but I still don’t think he was ever the same after that injury. He lost some explosiveness.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Derrius Guice - RB - Tigers

LSU RB Derrius Guice was listed as one of the "winners" of the Scouting Combine by Draft Wire's Michael Middlehurst-Scihwartz.

Guice (5'10/224) was the "other" running back to watch with Saquon Barkley getting the (justifiable) hype, but the former LSU star more than held his own in Indianapolis. "The hard-nosed Guice ripped off a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and looked smooth, fueling comparisons to a young Marshawn Lynch," wrote Middlehurst-Schwarz. He helped solidify himself as one of the first running backs off the board, and he has a real chance of going in the first 32 selections.
Source: Draft Wire

Mar 5 - 5:51 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Leighton Vander Esch - LB - Broncos

Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch produced a composite score in the 96th percentile during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Many projected Vander Esch (6'4/256) to be one of the standouts of the combine because of his athleticism, and he did just that. He impressed in essentially every category, and showed that the stats he put up for the Broncos could be sustainable at the next level. He currently projects as a late-first, early-second round selection, but his showing in Indianapolis could have bumped that up to the middle of Day 1.
Source: 3 Sigma Athlete

Mar 5 - 5:33 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

NFL Network "Official" CB 40 times

Josh Jackson - 4.56

Whoa! I thought he ran much faster than that when I saw it live? I could have sworn it said four/four - nine or something!?

Also, Tolliver not running is not making things better for him. Disappointed that he chose not to run.

Josh Jackson - DB - Hawkeyes

NFL.com Analyst Bucky Brooks listed Iowa CB Josh Jackson as one of the "losers" of Day 4 of the NFL Scouting Combine.

Jackson posted a 4.56 40 yard dash on Monday, which ranks among the bottom third of cornerbacks who participated. While that number doesn't help, it was the struggles on the field in Indianapolis that troubled Brooks. "He didn't look comfortable with his turns and transitions, and his upright stance could be an issue as a young player," Brooks wrote. "While most scouts will trust the evaluations compiled off film study, this disappointing showing is a definite setback for the potential first-rounder heading into the pro day circuit."
Source: NFL.com

Mar 5 - 5:41 PM

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Smart man.

Lamar Jackson - QB - Player

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports one NFL team said at the Combine that it has Louisville's Lamar Jackson rated as this year's No. 2 quarterback prospect.

It's a testament to just how varied quarterback rankings can be from team to team; some NFL clubs allegedly wanted to see Jackson work out at wide receiver at the Combine, while this particular organization has Jackson ranked as a top-two quarterback prospect. Jackson remains one of this year's biggest draft wild cards. He could go as early as the top 15, or fall into day two.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 5 - 5:17 PM

[Dloading99]

This is bull.

Best prospect running back I've seen in 25 years is by far Todd Gurley. I would go as far as I see Todd Gurley same grade same evaluation as Eric Dickerson. same tye of build tall back but explosive and fast and smooth.

When I saw Todd Gurley at Georgia University of Georgia as a freshman I said he could go play in the NFL and be a number one pick. easily. He was more explosive better then Hershal Walker. Hershal was in between tackles.

But Gurley could go in between tackles break to the outside. and return kicks. he ran a kick back that he returned for a touchdown against Clemson on the opening kickoff. he's a beast.

Edrigen James at Miami was amazing.


Todd Gurley to me was in the same class as Erick Dickerson OJ simpson. big explosive and smooth.


Saquoan Barkley was great you can see him explosive in college but Ezekial Elliot was just as great at Ohio State the guy single handily won a national championship for Ohio State.


Chris Pozz shout outs to you. you are spot on with the Heard. Guy acts like he knows everything about football. he was the biggest oh nobody likes Josh Rosen he's got some stuff then Oh Josh Rosen is the best Quartreback in the draft he's number one right there with Sam Darnold.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Saquon Barkley - RB - Nittany Lions

Saints coach Sean Payton told the MMQB's Peter King that Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is the best RB prospect he's seen in 25 years.

King adds another team he spoke with handed Barkley a perfect grade, only the fifth in the last 20 years. That is quite a statement. Payton was a focal point in trading a future second-round pick to acquire Alvin Kamara last offseason, so his running back evaluations should be heavily respected. To put 25 years in perspective, that is a higher grade than Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Trent Richardson, Darren McFadden, Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter, Marshall Faulk and Garrison Hearst. Every one of those names was selected in the top five.
Source: The MMQB

Mar 5 - 9:08 AM

Peterson still the best RB prospect I ever watched, but Barkley's up there. Might be second for me.

He’s going as far back as 25 years. If I were to go back that far for me I would rank them like this:

1.) Adrian Peterson
2.) Ricky Williams
3.) Garrison Hearst
4.) Leonard Fournette
5.) Todd Gurley
6.) Kijana Carter
7.) Saquon Barkley / Ezekiel Elliot
9.) Reggie Bush
10.) Dalvin Cook

**Willis McGahee could have been in the top 3 hadn’t it been for the devastating knee injury he sustained. I’m no doctor but I still don’t think he was ever the same after that injury. He lost some explosiveness.

OMG!! I forgot to include LaDanian Tomlinson. He’s definitely in my top 5 ahead of Fournette. Eric Bienamy should be at #10 too. Man if I really take the time to think this through, SB might not even make my top 10.

[NinerSickness]

NFL Network "Official" CB 40 times

Donte Jackson - 4.32 (T-8th best since 2006 among all DBs)
Parry Nickerson - 4.32 - (Pulled up w/injury after finish on 1st 40)(T-8th best since 2006 among all DBs)
Denzel Ward - 4.32 (T-8th best since 2006 among all DBs)
Tony Brown - 4.35 (0.02 shy of T-15)
Anthony Averett - 4.36 (0.03 shy of T-15)
Jaire Alexander - 4.38 (0.05 shy of T-15)
Avonte Maddox - 4.39

Josh Jackson - 4.56

I'm not worried about Josh Jackson's 40. He's a good prospect (not a great one).

[NinerSickness]

Roquan Smith - LB - Bulldogs

Georgia LB Roquan Smith was red-flagged medically "by a number of teams," according to Tony Pauline.

With that said, Pauline suggests it will not "drag" down Smith's evaluation. We interpret that as teams outside of the range of Smith's projection might have concerns and his top 10 fit is still in place. This is something to monitor as we move forward.
Source: Draft Analyst

Mar 5 - 9:49 AM

Hard pass.

[Dloading99]

Ladanaian Tomlinson Torched the Trojans in the sun bowl in 1998 and Chris Claiborne that's when I first saw him with Basil Mitchell in the option offense at TCU. he was great. he played great in that game. one of the best running backs I've seen in College Football.

[CalamityX12]

Saquon Barkley - RB - Nittany Lions

Saints coach Sean Payton told the MMQB's Peter King that Penn State RB Saquon Barkley is the best RB prospect he's seen in 25 years.

King adds another team he spoke with handed Barkley a perfect grade, only the fifth in the last 20 years. That is quite a statement. Payton was a focal point in trading a future second-round pick to acquire Alvin Kamara last offseason, so his running back evaluations should be heavily respected. To put 25 years in perspective, that is a higher grade than Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Trent Richardson, Darren McFadden, Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, Ricky Williams, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter, Marshall Faulk and Garrison Hearst. Every one of those names was selected in the top five.
Source: The MMQB

Mar 5 - 9:08 AM

Peterson still the best RB prospect I ever watched, but Barkley's up there. Might be second for me.

He’s going as far back as 25 years. If I were to go back that far for me I would rank them like this:

1.) Adrian Peterson
2.) Ricky Williams
3.) Garrison Hearst
4.) Leonard Fournette
5.) Todd Gurley
6.) Kijana Carter
7.) Saquon Barkley / Ezekiel Elliot
9.) Reggie Bush
10.) Dalvin Cook

**Willis McGahee could have been in the top 3 hadn’t it been for the devastating knee injury he sustained. I’m no doctor but I still don’t think he was ever the same after that injury. He lost some explosiveness.

McGahee was an unreal animal back in the Hurricane days... that guy, if the head was right, could've been so much more in the NFL if it weren't for the injury. IMO

[CalamityX12]

I am feeling better about our options at #9 more n more.... phew...

[ChrisPozz]

Peterson still the best RB prospect I ever watched, but Barkley's up there. Might be second for me.

He’s going as far back as 25 years. If I were to go back that far for me I would rank them like this:

1.) Adrian Peterson
2.) Ricky Williams
3.) Garrison Hearst
4.) Leonard Fournette
5.) Todd Gurley
6.) Kijana Carter
7.) Saquon Barkley / Ezekiel Elliot
9.) Reggie Bush
10.) Dalvin Cook

**Willis McGahee could have been in the top 3 hadn’t it been for the devastating knee injury he sustained. I’m no doctor but I still don’t think he was ever the same after that injury. He lost some explosiveness.

McGahee was an unreal animal back in the Hurricane days... that guy, if the head was right, could've been so much more in the NFL if it weren't for the injury. IMO

I usually cringe when I hear people say, "(So and so) is the best (position) prospect I've seen in (X) years."

The ONE guy I know FOR SURE is that FOR ME is Adrian Peterson. Best RB prospect I've seen in at least the past 20 years and I have a hard time putting anybody above him if I go back the past 30. Twenty years is my range for STUDYING these guys but I have somewhat of a good handle on guys who go back 30. I didn't have an issue with him fitting into any offense. I didn't have an issue fitting in with any coaching staff. I didn't have an issue with him fitting around any different sorts of players. I didn't have an issue with him as a student of the game. He was as close to a "you can not screw this guy's future up" guy as I think I had ever seen. His body failing him was far and away his biggest challenge from the day he stepped on a field.

I always had some feelings and emotions that Calvin Johnson could have been the best WR I ever saw, even as a college project going in, but it's a push-and-pull thing for me where I can't say definitively that there was no doubt in my mind before he got to the NFL and that no argument could be made against him as he played in the NFL. Part of it is not something he could control and that's the position he played and the offense he came from. That's why there's that disclaimer.

Choosing guys from different eras is also another thing in all this and it's a reason why I don't have more of these conversations with people because I'm not real comfortable with understanding every little difference and putting everything in a place where I feel like it's a fair argument. I just don't feel good when I do it.

-------------

Going back to the RB list. I've had Steven Jackson on mine. Hearst and Fournette wouldn't appear on mine and I had more uneasy feelings/questions on Gurley than most people did. Bush isn't on my list either. Maybe I'm just a goofy dude with RBs to some people.

Barkley is on there but of all the guys that would be on the top list to me he might have the lowest floor/highest bust chance. For the love of God I hope there isn't any sensitive Barkley people out there that read that who think that I'm saying he'll hit that floor. I'm not saying that. For the love of God I just said he's on my all-time list of guys coming into the NFL (going back 20-30 years).

I just think his floor is lower than other guys on that list. There's some guys in the league that I think could take him and because of their scheme and what they ask of their backs take away from the Saquon Barkley experience. And obviously a lot will fall on Barkley where his ceiling and floor will be set at, too. That's another push-pull thing. As I've said the improvisational/freelancing things are a big reason why he's great but there's some running systems where that won't work on an all-time level. And if his PT is dependent on him sticking to script all the time then his floor lowers and he could end up coming in at closer to where his floor is at than where his ceiling could be.

[clyde21]

He’s going as far back as 25 years. If I were to go back that far for me I would rank them like this:

1.) Adrian Peterson
2.) Ricky Williams
3.) Garrison Hearst
4.) Leonard Fournette
5.) Todd Gurley
6.) Kijana Carter
7.) Saquon Barkley / Ezekiel Elliot
9.) Reggie Bush
10.) Dalvin Cook

**Willis McGahee could have been in the top 3 hadn’t it been for the devastating knee injury he sustained. I’m no doctor but I still don’t think he was ever the same after that injury. He lost some explosiveness.

McGahee was an unreal animal back in the Hurricane days... that guy, if the head was right, could've been so much more in the NFL if it weren't for the injury. IMO

I usually cringe when I hear people say, "(So and so) is the best (position) prospect I've seen in (X) years."

The ONE guy I know FOR SURE is that FOR ME is Adrian Peterson. Best RB prospect I've seen in at least the past 20 years and I have a hard time putting anybody above him if I go back the past 30. Twenty years is my range for STUDYING these guys but I have somewhat of a good handle on guys who go back 30. I didn't have an issue with him fitting into any offense. I didn't have an issue fitting in with any coaching staff. I didn't have an issue with him fitting around any different sorts of players. I didn't have an issue with him as a student of the game. He was as close to a "you can not screw this guy's future up" guy as I think I had ever seen. His body failing him was far and away his biggest challenge from the day he stepped on a field.

I always had some feelings and emotions that Calvin Johnson could have been the best WR I ever saw, even as a college project going in, but it's a push-and-pull thing for me where I can't say definitively that there was no doubt in my mind before he got to the NFL and that no argument could be made against him as he played in the NFL. Part of it is not something he could control and that's the position he played and the offense he came from. That's why there's that disclaimer.

Choosing guys from different eras is also another thing in all this and it's a reason why I don't have more of these conversations with people because I'm not real comfortable with understanding every little difference and putting everything in a place where I feel like it's a fair argument. I just don't feel good when I do it.

-------------

Going back to the RB list. I've had Steven Jackson on mine. Hearst and Fournette wouldn't appear on mine and I had more uneasy feelings/questions on Gurley than most people did. Bush isn't on my list either. Maybe I'm just a goofy dude with RBs to some people.

Barkley is on there but of all the guys that would be on the top list to me he might have the lowest floor/highest bust chance. For the love of God I hope there isn't any sensitive Barkley people out there that read that who think that I'm saying he'll hit that floor. I'm not saying that. For the love of God I just said he's on my all-time list of guys coming into the NFL (going back 20-30 years).

I just think his floor is lower than other guys on that list. There's some guys in the league that I think could take him and because of their scheme and what they ask of their backs take away from the Saquon Barkley experience. And obviously a lot will fall on Barkley where his ceiling and floor will be set at, too. That's another push-pull thing. As I've said the improvisational/freelancing things are a big reason why he's great but there's some running systems where that won't work on an all-time level. And if his PT is dependent on him sticking to script all the time then his floor lowers and he could end up coming in at closer to where his floor is at than where his ceiling could be.

I still don't get one that one Pozz. I feel like at this point I know what kind of RBs you like and I feel like Gurley fit that mold as a prospect.

[ChrisPozz]

McGahee was an unreal animal back in the Hurricane days... that guy, if the head was right, could've been so much more in the NFL if it weren't for the injury. IMO

I usually cringe when I hear people say, "(So and so) is the best (position) prospect I've seen in (X) years."

The ONE guy I know FOR SURE is that FOR ME is Adrian Peterson. Best RB prospect I've seen in at least the past 20 years and I have a hard time putting anybody above him if I go back the past 30. Twenty years is my range for STUDYING these guys but I have somewhat of a good handle on guys who go back 30. I didn't have an issue with him fitting into any offense. I didn't have an issue fitting in with any coaching staff. I didn't have an issue with him fitting around any different sorts of players. I didn't have an issue with him as a student of the game. He was as close to a "you can not screw this guy's future up" guy as I think I had ever seen. His body failing him was far and away his biggest challenge from the day he stepped on a field.

I always had some feelings and emotions that Calvin Johnson could have been the best WR I ever saw, even as a college project going in, but it's a push-and-pull thing for me where I can't say definitively that there was no doubt in my mind before he got to the NFL and that no argument could be made against him as he played in the NFL. Part of it is not something he could control and that's the position he played and the offense he came from. That's why there's that disclaimer.

Choosing guys from different eras is also another thing in all this and it's a reason why I don't have more of these conversations with people because I'm not real comfortable with understanding every little difference and putting everything in a place where I feel like it's a fair argument. I just don't feel good when I do it.

-------------

Going back to the RB list. I've had Steven Jackson on mine. Hearst and Fournette wouldn't appear on mine and I had more uneasy feelings/questions on Gurley than most people did. Bush isn't on my list either. Maybe I'm just a goofy dude with RBs to some people.

Barkley is on there but of all the guys that would be on the top list to me he might have the lowest floor/highest bust chance. For the love of God I hope there isn't any sensitive Barkley people out there that read that who think that I'm saying he'll hit that floor. I'm not saying that. For the love of God I just said he's on my all-time list of guys coming into the NFL (going back 20-30 years).

I just think his floor is lower than other guys on that list. There's some guys in the league that I think could take him and because of their scheme and what they ask of their backs take away from the Saquon Barkley experience. And obviously a lot will fall on Barkley where his ceiling and floor will be set at, too. That's another push-pull thing. As I've said the improvisational/freelancing things are a big reason why he's great but there's some running systems where that won't work on an all-time level. And if his PT is dependent on him sticking to script all the time then his floor lowers and he could end up coming in at closer to where his floor is at than where his ceiling could be.

I still don't get one that one Pozz. I feel like at this point I know what kind of RBs you like and I feel like Gurley fit that mold as a prospect.

I see what you mean. Physically he fits the mold of a Pozz every down back. The injury stuff scared me. I thought he was a guy that left too many yards for the taking. Too many 2-yard runs that could have been 4 yarders or a 2 yard run that went for minus 2. And when he did turn a 2-yard run into a 4-yard run or a minus 1 into a plus 3, he did it with power (You might know I like me some power) but I thought I didn't quite see him do it with more than just his power. Wasn't sure he'd figure out how to run within a defined blocking scheme either. He didn't tie his eyes and/or feet to his blockers. Granted that's often one of the last things that comes for a lot of college backs.

There was some push and pull with him. No doubt. But I was on the lower end of the excitement list with him. I just couldn't get myself there to the point where most people were at.

If someone asked me has there been anything this year that you've seen that has surprised you with him? I've told friends that of everything I've seen out of him I was more impressed by his ability to get out of junk with more than just power than I gave him credit for coming into the NFL. I still don't think I was wrong with what I saw because I had actual clips where I could show people but it's something that has been a pleasant surprise about with him. Chalk it up to NFL coaching and maybe being around some potentially special folks. Maybe.

[ChrisPozz]

Read on Twitter

[ChrisPozz]

Pro Day in doubt for projected top 10 pick Vea

http://nfldraftscout.com/2018/03/05/pro-day-in-doubt-for-projected-top-10-pick-vea/

[CrimsonCrew]

I am feeling better about our options at #9 more n more.... phew...

My first choice is still to trade back, but if we pick, feeling pretty good about the options.