DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Best Player- Leonard Williams (USC). When the dust settles and the rookies are finally on the field, I believe Williams will be the best player at any position in this draft. Any player that draws comparison to JJ Watt before he even suits up has to be a special talent. He can play anywhere along the defensive line and is arguably the most gifted player in the draft. He shows great power, a good initial burst off the line and uses his hands well. Given the right situation, Williams could be a potential Hall of Fame player. He reminds me a lot of the late great USC defensive tackle Darrell Russell.
First Drafted- Leonard Williams
Bust Alert- Arik Armstead (Oregon). Armstead has elite size and strength that most teams want when drafting a defensive lineman. The issue comes with the rising stock on him. There is a hype surrounding him that I cannot justify. He was very bland his senior year, recording only 2.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. I'd expect way more productivity out of a player who is a "first-round talent." With all the hype surrounding him, and the expectation of first-round players to preform early and often, Armstead could be a huge disappointment.
EDGE RUSHERS (DEFENSIVE ENDS AND OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS)
Best Player- Shane Ray (Missouri). The main knock on Ray is his size. Coming in around 6'3" and 245 lbs. Ray is considerably undersized. I fully expect that to change well before he straps up opening day. Although he only participated in the bench press at the combine, his game film speaks for itself. He is the most explosive linebacker in the class, and has a high motor. Can rush the passer, and drop into coverage with ease. Ray can be a true three-down player in the pros.
First Drafted- Dante Fowler Jr. (Florida). Fowler was asked to do a lot in college, playing different positions for the Gators, and fluctuating his weight throughout his stay. He came into his own his senior year racking up 8.5 sacks, and had a tackle for loss in every game but one. Has good leadership skills and was the captain in Gainesville his senior year. He is very athletic with a big frame and long arms, ideal for rushing the passer. Was good in pass coverage and can be dropped into a zone without being a liability. Fowler could give Shane Ray a run for his money as the best EDGE in the class.
Bust Alert- Randy Gregory (Nebraska)/Bud Dupree (Kentucky). Looking at the off-field issues that Gregory has already had, lead me to send up a red flag. He has failed two separate drug tests since the end of the season, and there will be some teams that don't want to take a chance that a first-round pick will be a problem player off the field. Bud Dupree falls into my "hype" category. Dupree had a great career in the SEC, but still lacks a lot of the decision making skills that an NFL rusher needs. Dupree could develop into a good player, but his "lag time" on decision making could lead to limited productivity early in his career. He takes bad angles to the ball more than often, which will lead to quarterbacks and running backs being able to shift around him. Dupree has a first round grade by most scouts, but I wouldn't take a shot on him until the mid-second round.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Best Player- Eric Kendricks (UCLA). Kendricks is a monster playing inside the hash marks. He is quick to make reads and can get through gaps with ease. can move from sideline to sideline well, and excels in coverage as well. Kendricks is a little undersized but makes up for it with heart and relentlessness. I can see Eric easily surpassing the talent of his brother Mychal who played in the league for a number of years.
First Drafted- Benardrick McKinney (Texas A&M). McKinney might be the most pure run stopping inside linebacker in the draft. Has better size than Kendricks, but might not be as athletic. He has great straight line speed, and is very capable of shedding off initial blocks and into the backfield to take on fullbacks, potentially stopping plays in the backfield before they develop. He could be a liability in the passing game, but can run with some backs and tight ends in man coverage. McKinney has the potential to be a solid starter in the NFL.
Bust Alert- Denzel Perryman (Miami). Perryman is very undersized for an NFL linebacker, and lacks the skill set needed to be an every down linebacker. He does a good job at recognizing and staying in position to make plays in the run game, but is a no-factor in the passing game. Although he can recognize plays, he doesn't accelerate fast enough to stop plays before they develop, and has trouble getting to full speed when changing directions. If Perryman doesn't take advantage of being able to learn early in his career without being on the field, he could potentially bust out of the NFL before his career really takes off.
CORNERBACK
Best Player- Trae Waynes (Michigan State). Waynes is what you look for when targeting a cornerback in the NFL Draft. He has the size and speed to be a potential shut-down type of player. Could potentially start on the outside from his first game. Waynes excels in man-to-man coverage and invites the idea of playing with no safety help. Trae only gave up two touchdowns in his last two seasons at Michigan State. He surprised a lot of scouts at the combine when he ran a 4.31 forty time, and the combination of size and speed make for a unique talent compared to the other corners in the draft.
First Drafted- Trae Waynes.
Bust Alert- Marcus Peters (Washington)/Ronald Darby (Florida State). Marcus Peters could be the most talented corner in the class but off the field issues may tamper his career. Peters had problems at Washington, specifically getting into altercations with coaches which inevitably led to his dismissal from the team. If Peters can't get his head on right he may be a victim of self-destruction. Ronald Darby played well during his time at Florida State, but not well enough to be a first round pick. He had amazing numbers at the combine which will undoubtedly lead to him being drafted too early. If Darby needs to adapt early to the speed of the NFL game to excel at the professional level otherwise at the very best he'll be a career nickel back.
SAFETY
Best Player- Landon Collins (Alabama). Collins was an All-American at Alabama, and easily the best safety in the country. He is a wrecking ball that causes chaos in both the run and pass game. He has prototypical size for an NFL safety, and has the speed to run with pretty much any receiver. He provides exceptional pass-coverage and contributes in both zone and man coverage. Will easily be able to cover most tight ends. Collins shows great run-stopping support for a safety, and is quick to read a play and come into the box and make a play. He can easily change a game with his big-play capability. Could eventually be the best safety in the NFL in a short amount of time.
First Drafted- Landon Collins
Bust Alert- Gerrod Holliman (Louisville). Holliman had a first round grade in many circles due to the amazing season he had at Louisville. He will likely be the second or third safety taken in the draft. Holliman has good size but lacks a true football instinct. If he isn't used correctly he could bust out of the NFL. He doesn't show a pro-level skill set in the passing game, and if asked to play one-on-one or deep zone coverage, he will get beat more times than none. He posted 44 tackles his senior year, but also had 20 missed/broken tackles (worst ratio in the FBS). Holliman may have had a great season at Louisville, but i believe he will be a non-factor in the NFL.
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