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A&M's Miller moves up draft boards; Cam Newton slides in latest mock draft
Russ Lande
Sporting News
INDIANAPOLIS—Over the last week, NFL prospects moved up and down teams' draft boards based on how they performed at the NFL Scouting Combine. They were poked and prodded by doctors, grilled by coaches and GMs and timed in a variety of drills by scouts.
Just about every player came to Indianapolis with at least one thing to prove, even the best of the best. Texas A&M's Von Miller was universally liked around the NFL, but there was no consensus about how high in the first round he'd go because of his lack of experience playing off the ball. After a dominant Combine workout, there are no lingering doubts about his potential to become a dominant pass-rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and comfortably drop into coverage.
On the flip side, Auburn QB Cam Newton’s did not win over anybody with his on-field performance or in interview sessions. He struggled to throw accurately and had a lot of problems diagnosing defenses when meeting with coaches. Now more than ever, despite Newton's amazing physical gifts, there are concerns about his ability to become a quality NFL starter.
With so many defensive linemen expected to be drafted in the first round, Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan had sort of flown under the radar. We had been touting him as a top-10 caliber player since August, but only this week did other talent evaluators seem to see what we recognized on film last summer. He proved this week to be an elite athlete who is sure to go in the top half of the first round because 280-pound ends with elite athleticism, strength and competitiveness are extremely hard to find.
Before the Combine, Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder was talked about as an elite blocker who could zoom up draft boards with a great workout. This seemed odd because he struggled so much during Senior Bowl week and certainly seemed locked in behind Boston College's Anthony Castonzo and USC's Tyron Smith in the tackle rankings. Solder was only so-so this week, even struggling in some drills, so he is sure to slide down draft boards a bit.
Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod had a better all-around Combine week than Solder and could well pass him on many teams' draft boards. Despite a good senior year, Sherrod came to Indianapolis as an under-the-radar prospect. After a strong week of work at the Combine, he could climb into the top 20 and be the third tackle drafted.
In recent weeks, there had been a ton of talk in scouting circles about Iowa defensive end Christian Ballard and Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson rising up draft boards and capable of challenging to be top-15 picks with strong Combine workouts. In the end, Ballard had a good showing and Wilkerson was only average. Ballard showed the athleticism to be productive in any scheme -- he fits best as a strongside end in a 4-3 defense, sliding inside to tackle in pass-rush situations, or fulltime end in a 3-4 system. Wilkerson, on the other hand, failed to show explosiveness NFL coaches covet and now fits only in 3-4 power-based schemes.
The first round
1. Panthers—Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
2. Broncos—Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
3. Bills—A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
4. Bengals—Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
5. Cardinals—Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
6. Browns—Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
7. 49ers—Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
8. Titans—Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
9. Cowboys—Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
10. Redskins—Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
11. Texans—Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina
12. Vikings—Tyron Smith, OT, USC
13. Lions—Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
14. Rams—Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
15. Dolphins—Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
16. Jaguars—Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pitt
17. Patriots (from Oakland)—Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. Chargers—Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
19. Giants—Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
20. Buccaneers—Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
21. Chiefs—Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
22. Colts—Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
23. Eagles—Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
24. Saints—Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
25. Seahawks—Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Ravens—Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (Fla.)
27. Falcons—Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
28. Patriots—Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
29. Bears—Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
30. Jets—Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
31. Steelers—Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
32. Packers—Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Russ Lande
Sporting News
INDIANAPOLIS—Over the last week, NFL prospects moved up and down teams' draft boards based on how they performed at the NFL Scouting Combine. They were poked and prodded by doctors, grilled by coaches and GMs and timed in a variety of drills by scouts.
Just about every player came to Indianapolis with at least one thing to prove, even the best of the best. Texas A&M's Von Miller was universally liked around the NFL, but there was no consensus about how high in the first round he'd go because of his lack of experience playing off the ball. After a dominant Combine workout, there are no lingering doubts about his potential to become a dominant pass-rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and comfortably drop into coverage.
On the flip side, Auburn QB Cam Newton’s did not win over anybody with his on-field performance or in interview sessions. He struggled to throw accurately and had a lot of problems diagnosing defenses when meeting with coaches. Now more than ever, despite Newton's amazing physical gifts, there are concerns about his ability to become a quality NFL starter.
With so many defensive linemen expected to be drafted in the first round, Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan had sort of flown under the radar. We had been touting him as a top-10 caliber player since August, but only this week did other talent evaluators seem to see what we recognized on film last summer. He proved this week to be an elite athlete who is sure to go in the top half of the first round because 280-pound ends with elite athleticism, strength and competitiveness are extremely hard to find.
Before the Combine, Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder was talked about as an elite blocker who could zoom up draft boards with a great workout. This seemed odd because he struggled so much during Senior Bowl week and certainly seemed locked in behind Boston College's Anthony Castonzo and USC's Tyron Smith in the tackle rankings. Solder was only so-so this week, even struggling in some drills, so he is sure to slide down draft boards a bit.
Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod had a better all-around Combine week than Solder and could well pass him on many teams' draft boards. Despite a good senior year, Sherrod came to Indianapolis as an under-the-radar prospect. After a strong week of work at the Combine, he could climb into the top 20 and be the third tackle drafted.
In recent weeks, there had been a ton of talk in scouting circles about Iowa defensive end Christian Ballard and Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson rising up draft boards and capable of challenging to be top-15 picks with strong Combine workouts. In the end, Ballard had a good showing and Wilkerson was only average. Ballard showed the athleticism to be productive in any scheme -- he fits best as a strongside end in a 4-3 defense, sliding inside to tackle in pass-rush situations, or fulltime end in a 3-4 system. Wilkerson, on the other hand, failed to show explosiveness NFL coaches covet and now fits only in 3-4 power-based schemes.
The first round
1. Panthers—Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
2. Broncos—Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
3. Bills—A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
4. Bengals—Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
5. Cardinals—Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
6. Browns—Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
7. 49ers—Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
8. Titans—Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
9. Cowboys—Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
10. Redskins—Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
11. Texans—Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina
12. Vikings—Tyron Smith, OT, USC
13. Lions—Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
14. Rams—Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
15. Dolphins—Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
16. Jaguars—Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pitt
17. Patriots (from Oakland)—Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. Chargers—Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
19. Giants—Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
20. Buccaneers—Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
21. Chiefs—Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
22. Colts—Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
23. Eagles—Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
24. Saints—Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
25. Seahawks—Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Ravens—Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (Fla.)
27. Falcons—Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
28. Patriots—Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
29. Bears—Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
30. Jets—Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
31. Steelers—Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
32. Packers—Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
