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Big Board shifts among top 10
QBs could be drafted far higher than their stock indicates -- but that makes sense
By Mel Kiper
ESPN.com
If you saw my recent mock draft, you know I have two quarterbacks going within the first four picks. You also won't see either of them in the top 10 here, a list that reflects current draft value. But that's the reality of the draft. While I think a rookie salary scale will make it much easier for teams to move up and down the draft board, it's still always an internal battle between getting the best value and getting the biggest need. Right now, it makes sense for teams drafting in the top five to show a great deal of interest in quarterbacks. With so many of the teams drafting early in need of an answer there, it creates a lot of leverage. But the need outpaces value right now.
That said, there are still chances to move up on the Big Board. There are plenty of evaluations to be made. As always, juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.
1) Patrick Peterson *, LSU CB 6-0 219
Analysis: An extraordinary athlete, Peterson has 4.34 speed in the 40 and carries safety size. Tape is superb; helps in return game. Solid after recent pro day. Last week: No. 1
2) Nick Fairley *, Auburn DT 6-4 291
Analysis: Raised eyebrows with smaller size at combine, but had great workouts, then weighed 297 at Auburn pro day. Versatility, skills, tape all imply stardom. Last week: No. 2
3) Marcell Dareus *, Alabama DE 6-3 319
Analysis: Dareus is a gifted penetrator with pass-rush skills to burn and a good motor. Well-liked, scheme-versatile, he has impressed during draft lead-up. Last week: No. 3
4) Von Miller, Texas A&M LB 6-3 246
Analysis: More than a sack artist, Miller has shown coverage skills that complement known pass-rush production. Fits a 3-4. Great Indy workouts; steady stock. Last week: No. 4
5) A.J. Green *, Georgia WR 6-4 211
Analysis: Premier wideout in the draft. Good route-runner, great size and hands, and speed is fine (4.48). A complete player. Last week: No. 6
6) Da'Quan Bowers *, Clemson DE 6-4 277
Analysis: Perhaps draft's most gifted pass-rusher, Bowers has a big pro day, with small injury concerns. Potential to go as 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. Star potential. Last week: No. 5
7) Robert Quinn *, North Carolina DE 6-4 265
Analysis: Great natural pass-rusher, solid athlete, serious motor. High character; if he falls past No. 10, a potential steal. Last week: No. 7
8) Prince Amukamara, Nebraska CB 6-0 206
Analysis: Great instincts, finds the ball with good awareness and has good hands. Good speed, safety size, ready to start at corner. Last week: No. 9
9) Julio Jones *, Alabama WR 6-3 220
Analysis: Dominant when healthy; still really good when he's not. Worked out brilliantly in Indy -- ran a 4.39. Some durability concerns, but rising stock. Last week: No. 13
10) Muhammad Wilkerson *, Temple DT 6-4 315
Analysis: Continues gains. Scheme-flexible, disruptive, strong penetrator. Ideal 3-4 DE. Thought he could be top-10 pick next year, getting close for 2011. Last week: No. 15
11) Blaine Gabbert *, Missouri QB 6-4 234
Analysis: Strong arm, good accuracy, ideal size and physical skills. An underrated athlete; a big pro day approaches, where he'll be under center. Last week: No. 8
12) Cam Newton *, Auburn QB 6-6 250
Analysis: Big-time physical ability, underrated mechanics and accuracy. Solid at pro day but not a stock bump for me. Lots of stationary targets. Last week: No. 12
13) J.J. Watt *, Wisconsin DE 6-5 290
Analysis: Showed athleticism and versatility in Indy at full 290 pounds, also offers scheme versatility. Great motor and plenty of smarts. Last week: No. 11
14) Cameron Jordan, California DE 6-4 287
Analysis: Frame and skills capable of handling either 3-4 or 4-3 DE duty. Proved that he has top athleticism and speed for position. Last week: No. 14
15) Corey Liuget *, Illinois DT 6-2 298
Analysis: Reads game well; strong against the run or the pass. Good leverage, disruptive, not elite pass-rusher. Solid workouts. Last week: No. 16
16) Aldon Smith *, Missouri OLB 6-4 263
Analysis: Ideal frame and athleticism to consider for edge in 4-3 or 3-4; still developing but loaded with upside. Athletic enough with size to be versatile. Last week: No. 17
17) Tyron Smith *, USC OT 6-5 307
Analysis: A future blindside tackle. Good frame, athleticism and quickness, but gets a push. Has added bulk to athletic frame. Last week: No. 18
18) Anthony Castonzo, Boston College OT 6-7 306
Analysis: Smart, reliable with solid footwork, and has added needed strength and overall bulk to improve leverage. Consistent worker; smart player. Rising. Last week: No. 22
19) Mark Ingram *, Alabama RB 5-9 215
Analysis: Great pad level, explodes from contact, a terror on second level; 40 time not a huge concern. No running back near top 10 right now. Last week: No. 12
20) Jimmy Smith, Colorado CB 6-2 211
Analysis: Late riser from a bad team. Shutdown corner. Worked out very well in Indy considering his length. Now the likely third corner off the draft board. Last week: No. 19
21) Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue OLB 6-4 267
Analysis: Led nation with 26 TFL and was impossible to block, even with double-teams. Could shake tweener tag, sticking at OLB in the NFL. Last week: No. 20
22) Nate Solder, Colorado OT 6-8 319
Analysis: A physical specimen, has great length and has added bulk to his long frame. Could be moved along offensive line. Not dominant in workout phase. Last week: No. 21
23) Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin OT 6-7 314
Analysis: A solid year of video; battling a number of high draft picks. Better footwork, added consistency. Excellent frame; could be moved along the line. Last week: No. 23
24) Adrian Clayborn, Iowa DE 6-3 281
Analysis: Better fit for 4-3 DE. Really good motor; batters O-linemen. Needs to refine rush skills; gets very high marks from those he's gone against. Last week: No. 24
25) Stephen Paea, Oregon State DT 6-1 314
Analysis: Extraordinarily powerful, Paea shattered the combine bench record. As close to a true anchor tackle as Round 1 could offer. Great leverage player. Last week: No. 25
QBs could be drafted far higher than their stock indicates -- but that makes sense
By Mel Kiper
ESPN.com
If you saw my recent mock draft, you know I have two quarterbacks going within the first four picks. You also won't see either of them in the top 10 here, a list that reflects current draft value. But that's the reality of the draft. While I think a rookie salary scale will make it much easier for teams to move up and down the draft board, it's still always an internal battle between getting the best value and getting the biggest need. Right now, it makes sense for teams drafting in the top five to show a great deal of interest in quarterbacks. With so many of the teams drafting early in need of an answer there, it creates a lot of leverage. But the need outpaces value right now.
That said, there are still chances to move up on the Big Board. There are plenty of evaluations to be made. As always, juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.
1) Patrick Peterson *, LSU CB 6-0 219
Analysis: An extraordinary athlete, Peterson has 4.34 speed in the 40 and carries safety size. Tape is superb; helps in return game. Solid after recent pro day. Last week: No. 1
2) Nick Fairley *, Auburn DT 6-4 291
Analysis: Raised eyebrows with smaller size at combine, but had great workouts, then weighed 297 at Auburn pro day. Versatility, skills, tape all imply stardom. Last week: No. 2
3) Marcell Dareus *, Alabama DE 6-3 319
Analysis: Dareus is a gifted penetrator with pass-rush skills to burn and a good motor. Well-liked, scheme-versatile, he has impressed during draft lead-up. Last week: No. 3
4) Von Miller, Texas A&M LB 6-3 246
Analysis: More than a sack artist, Miller has shown coverage skills that complement known pass-rush production. Fits a 3-4. Great Indy workouts; steady stock. Last week: No. 4
5) A.J. Green *, Georgia WR 6-4 211
Analysis: Premier wideout in the draft. Good route-runner, great size and hands, and speed is fine (4.48). A complete player. Last week: No. 6
6) Da'Quan Bowers *, Clemson DE 6-4 277
Analysis: Perhaps draft's most gifted pass-rusher, Bowers has a big pro day, with small injury concerns. Potential to go as 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. Star potential. Last week: No. 5
7) Robert Quinn *, North Carolina DE 6-4 265
Analysis: Great natural pass-rusher, solid athlete, serious motor. High character; if he falls past No. 10, a potential steal. Last week: No. 7
8) Prince Amukamara, Nebraska CB 6-0 206
Analysis: Great instincts, finds the ball with good awareness and has good hands. Good speed, safety size, ready to start at corner. Last week: No. 9
9) Julio Jones *, Alabama WR 6-3 220
Analysis: Dominant when healthy; still really good when he's not. Worked out brilliantly in Indy -- ran a 4.39. Some durability concerns, but rising stock. Last week: No. 13
10) Muhammad Wilkerson *, Temple DT 6-4 315
Analysis: Continues gains. Scheme-flexible, disruptive, strong penetrator. Ideal 3-4 DE. Thought he could be top-10 pick next year, getting close for 2011. Last week: No. 15
11) Blaine Gabbert *, Missouri QB 6-4 234
Analysis: Strong arm, good accuracy, ideal size and physical skills. An underrated athlete; a big pro day approaches, where he'll be under center. Last week: No. 8
12) Cam Newton *, Auburn QB 6-6 250
Analysis: Big-time physical ability, underrated mechanics and accuracy. Solid at pro day but not a stock bump for me. Lots of stationary targets. Last week: No. 12
13) J.J. Watt *, Wisconsin DE 6-5 290
Analysis: Showed athleticism and versatility in Indy at full 290 pounds, also offers scheme versatility. Great motor and plenty of smarts. Last week: No. 11
14) Cameron Jordan, California DE 6-4 287
Analysis: Frame and skills capable of handling either 3-4 or 4-3 DE duty. Proved that he has top athleticism and speed for position. Last week: No. 14
15) Corey Liuget *, Illinois DT 6-2 298
Analysis: Reads game well; strong against the run or the pass. Good leverage, disruptive, not elite pass-rusher. Solid workouts. Last week: No. 16
16) Aldon Smith *, Missouri OLB 6-4 263
Analysis: Ideal frame and athleticism to consider for edge in 4-3 or 3-4; still developing but loaded with upside. Athletic enough with size to be versatile. Last week: No. 17
17) Tyron Smith *, USC OT 6-5 307
Analysis: A future blindside tackle. Good frame, athleticism and quickness, but gets a push. Has added bulk to athletic frame. Last week: No. 18
18) Anthony Castonzo, Boston College OT 6-7 306
Analysis: Smart, reliable with solid footwork, and has added needed strength and overall bulk to improve leverage. Consistent worker; smart player. Rising. Last week: No. 22
19) Mark Ingram *, Alabama RB 5-9 215
Analysis: Great pad level, explodes from contact, a terror on second level; 40 time not a huge concern. No running back near top 10 right now. Last week: No. 12
20) Jimmy Smith, Colorado CB 6-2 211
Analysis: Late riser from a bad team. Shutdown corner. Worked out very well in Indy considering his length. Now the likely third corner off the draft board. Last week: No. 19
21) Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue OLB 6-4 267
Analysis: Led nation with 26 TFL and was impossible to block, even with double-teams. Could shake tweener tag, sticking at OLB in the NFL. Last week: No. 20
22) Nate Solder, Colorado OT 6-8 319
Analysis: A physical specimen, has great length and has added bulk to his long frame. Could be moved along offensive line. Not dominant in workout phase. Last week: No. 21
23) Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin OT 6-7 314
Analysis: A solid year of video; battling a number of high draft picks. Better footwork, added consistency. Excellent frame; could be moved along the line. Last week: No. 23
24) Adrian Clayborn, Iowa DE 6-3 281
Analysis: Better fit for 4-3 DE. Really good motor; batters O-linemen. Needs to refine rush skills; gets very high marks from those he's gone against. Last week: No. 24
25) Stephen Paea, Oregon State DT 6-1 314
Analysis: Extraordinarily powerful, Paea shattered the combine bench record. As close to a true anchor tackle as Round 1 could offer. Great leverage player. Last week: No. 25