2014 NFL Draft: Matt Miller's Pre-Combine Big Board
From top to bottom, the 2014 draft is a very good class. Better than the 2013 group but not quite on par with the 2012 class, this year we see a crop of football players with tremendous potential.
The class is helped overall by the quarterbacks. Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr all carry a first-round grade, as opposed to the 2013 class that had just one quarterback (EJ Manuel) drafted in the first round.
Outside of quarterback, there is fantastic depth at wide receiver and running back. You'll also notice another good group of offensive tackles, defensive ends and tight ends. No matter the needs of your team, this class has you covered.
Here are the top 300 players in the 2014 draft class, separated by position, from top to bottom.
Top 32 Players Overall
1 of 17
The best of the bestโthat's what the top 32 players represent. These are the players with a first-round grade. These are the guys you should look for to be selected on the first night of the draft, as they can come in and instantly turn around or push your franchise over the top.
The group has four quarterbacks, five offensive tackles, four outside linebackers and four excellent defensive tackles. Sprinkle in three dominant defensive ends, four game-changing wide receivers, two tight ends and three cornerbacks, and you have a very good top 32 to headline the 2014 class.
| ย Rank | Player | Pos. | School | Height | Weight |
| 1 | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | Louisville | 6'3" | 205 |
| 2 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina | 6'5" | 274 |
| 3 | Sammy Watkins | WR | Clemson | 6'1" | 205 |
| 4 | Greg Robinson | OT | Auburn | 6'5" | 320 |
| 5 | Jake Matthews | OT | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 305 |
| 6 | Khalil Mack | OLB | Buffalo | 6'3" | 248 |
| 7 | Anthony Barr | OLB | UCLA | 6'4" | 260 |
| 8 | Blake Bortles | QB | Central Florida | 6'5" | 230 |
| 9 | Kony Ealy | DE | Missouri | 6'5" | 275 |
| 10 | Justin Gilbert | CB | Oklahoma State | 6'0" | 200 |
| 11 | Johnny Manziel | QB | Texas A&M | 6'0" | 210 |
| 12 | Mike Evans | WR | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 225 |
| 13 | Derek Carr | QB | Fresno State | 6'3" | 215 |
| 14 | Dee Ford | DE | Auburn | 6'2" | 243 |
| 15 | Eric Ebron | TE | North Carolina | 6'4" | 245 |
| 16 | C.J. Mosley | ILB | Alabama | 6'2" | 232 |
| 17 | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | FS | Alabama | 6'1" | 208 |
| 18 | Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | 5'11" | 197 |
| 19 | Calvin Pryor | FS | Louisville | 6'2" | 208 |
| 20 | Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan | 6'7" | 315 |
| 21 | Cyrus Kouandjio | OT | Alabama | 6'5" | 310 |
| 22 | Jason Verrett | CB | TCU | 5'10" | 176 |
| 23 | Zack Martin | OT | Notre Dame | 6'4" | 305 |
| 24 | Odell Beckham | WR | LSU | 5'11" | 193 |
| 25 | Aaron Donald | DT | Pitt | 6'1" | 288 |
| 26 | Louis Nix | DT | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 345 |
| 27 | Allen Robinson | WR | Penn State | 6'3" | 210 |
| 28 | Jace Amaro | TE | Texas Tech | 6'5" | 260 |
| 29 | Timmy Jernigan | DT | FSU | 6'2" | 298 |
| 30 | Ra'Shede Hageman | DT | Minnesota | 6'6" | 318 |
| 31 | Ryan Shazier | OLB | Ohio State | 6'2" | 230 |
| 32 | Kyle Van Noy | OLB | BYU | 6'3" | 244 |
Quarterbacks
2 of 17
After a year in which only one quarterback (EJ Manuel) went in the first round, the 2014 NFL draft class looks strong.
With underclassmen Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel adding to a strong senior class, this year looks to put at least three quarterbacks (and probably four) in the first round. Seniors Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo took advantage of the Senior Bowl to improve their stock, while SEC stars Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will attempt to rehab torn ACLs in time to impress NFL scouts.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Teddy Bridgewater | Louisville | 6'3" | 210 | 1 | Jr |
| 2 | Blake Bortles | Central Florida ย | 6'5" | 230 | 8 | rJr |
| 3 | Johnny Manziel | Texas A&M | 6'0" | 210 | 11 | rSo |
| 4 | Derek Carr | Fresno State | 6'3" | 215 | 13 | rSr |
| 5 | Jimmy Garoppolo | Eastern Illinoisย | 6'2" | 219 | 56 | Sr |
| 6 | Zach Mettenberger ย | LSU | 6'5" | 235 | 87 | rSr |
| 7 | AJ McCarron | Alabama | 6'3" | 214 | 101 | rSr |
| 8 | Tajh Boyd | Clemson | 6'1" | 222 | 104 | rSr |
| 9 | David Fales | San Jose State ย ย | 6'2" | 220 | 146 | Sr |
| 10 | Aaron Murray | Georgia | 6'1" | 201 | 150 | rSr |
| 11 | Brett Smith | Wyoming | 6'2" | 206 | 171 | Jr |
| 12 | Logan Thomas | Virginia Tech | 6'5" | 255 | 226 | rSr |
| 13 | Connor Shaw | South Carolina ย | 6'0" | 209 | 249ย | Sr |
| 14 | Stephen Morris | Miami (Fla.) | 6'1" | 208 | 257 | Sr |
| 15 | Jeff Mathews | Cornell | 6'4" | 225 | 264ย | Sr |
| 16 | Keith Wenning | Ball State | 6'3" | 219 | 283 | Sr |
| 17 | Casey Pachall | TCU | 6'4" | 230 | 291ย | Sr |
| 18 | Garrett Gilbert | SMU | 6'3" | 223 | 296 | rSr |
Running Backs
3 of 17
For the second season in a row, no running back carries a first-round grade heading into the draftโbut that doesn't mean there isn't talent here.
Backs like Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason, Ka'Deem Carey and Charles Sims all project as Day 1 starters in the NFL. Jeremy Hill adds a ton of value and intrigue if he passes some character tests. Add in the versatility of Marion Grice, Lache Seastrunk and De'Anthony Thomas, and there is enough talent and diversity here to excite any NFL team.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Carlos Hyde | Ohio State | 6'0" | 235 | 37 | rSr |
| 2 | Tre Mason | Auburn | 5'9" | 205 | 47 | Jr |
| 3 | Ka'Deem Carey | Arizona | 5'10" | 207 | 52 | Jr |
| 4 | Charles Sims | West Virginia | 6'0" | 214 | 57 | rSr |
| 5 | Jeremy Hill | LSU | 5'9" | 235 | 68 | rSo |
| 6 | Bishop Sankey | Washington | 5'10" | 203 | 80 | Jr |
| 7 | Marion Grice | Arizona State | 6'0" | 207 | 89 | Sr |
| 8 | Lache Seastrunk | Baylor | 5'9" | 210 | 97 | rJr |
| 9 | De'Anthony Thomas ย | Oregon | 5'9" | 170 | 102 | Jr |
| 10 | Devonta Freeman | Florida State | 5'8" | 203 | 105 | Jr |
| 11 | Terrance West | Towson | 5'11" | 223 | 130 | Jr |
| 12 | Andre Williams | Boston College | 6'0" | 227 | 141 | Sr |
| 13 | James White | Wisconsin | 5'9" | 206 | 173 | Sr |
| 14 | James Wilder | Florida State | 6'1" | 229 | 179 | Jr |
| 15 | Antonio Andrews | Western Kentucky | 5'10" | 225 | 194 | Sr |
| 16 | Rajion Neal | Tennessee | 5'11" | 211 | 199 | Sr |
| 17 | Jerick McKinnon | Georgia Southern | 5'9" | 209 | 201 | Sr |
| 18 | Tyler Gaffney | Stanford | 6'0" | 226 | 202 | rSr |
| 19 | Lorenzo Taliaferro | Coastal Carolina | 6'1" | 231 | 219 | Sr |
| 20 | Storm Johnson | UCF | 6'0" | 215 | 239 | rJr |
| 21 | Kapri Bibbs | Colorado State | 5'11" | 203 | 245 | rSo |
| 22 | Silas Redd | USC | 5'9" | 200 | 266 | Sr |
| 23 | David Fluellen | Toledo | 5'11" | 226 | 269 | Sr |
| 24 | Isaiah Crowell | Alabama State | 5'11" | 215 | 274 | Jr |
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Fullbacks
4 of 17
The fullback position isn't quite as popular as it was 20 years ago, but there is still a need for a big, bruising offensive weapon. Fullbacks need to be versatileโequal parts blocker, runner and receiver. Depending on the offense you run, they're almost like another tight end at times. Finding the right player to match the scheme is the most important thing.
This year's class has bruisers (Jay Prosch) and athletes (Gator Hoskins) to match any personnel grouping.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Jay Prosch | Auburn | 6'1" | 256 | 136 | rSr |
| 2 | J.C. Copeland ย | LSU | 5'11" | 285 | 214 | Sr |
| 3 | Gator Hoskins | Marshall | 6'1" | 244 | 246 | Sr |
| 4 | Ryan Hewitt | Stanford | 6'4" | 246 | 250 | rSr |
| 5 | Trey Millard | Oklahoma | 6'2" | 253 | 260 | Sr |
| 6 | Chad Abram | Florida State | 5'11" | 230 | 298 | Sr |
| 7 | Chris Coyle | Arizona State ย | 6'2" | 235 | 299 | rSr |
Wide Receivers
5 of 17
No position in the 2014 draft class offers the depth, top-end talent and overall goodness that the wide-receiver crop brings.
You have legitimate stars in Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans and Odell Beckham. You have up-and-comers like Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry. Award winners like Brandin Cooks and rock-solid seniors like Jordan Matthews are there, too.
With eight players ranked inside my top 50, you can see why the wide-receiver position is one of my favorite groups in the 2014 draft.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Sammy Watkins | Clemson | 6'1" | 205 | 3 | Jr |
| 2 | Mike Evans | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 225 | 12 | rSo |
| 3 | Odell Beckham | LSU | 5'11" | 193 | 24 | Jr |
| 4 | Allen Robinson | Penn State | 6'3" | 210 | 27 | Jr |
| 5 | Marqise Lee | USC | 6'0" | 195 | 35 | Jr |
| 6 | Brandin Cooks | Oregon State | 5'10" | 186 | 38 | Jr |
| 7 | Jarvis Landry | LSU | 6'0" | 195 | 42 | Jr |
| 8 | Jordan Matthews | Vanderbilt | 6'3" | 209 | 45 | Sr |
| 9 | Davante Adams | Fresno State | 6'2" | 216 | 60 | rSo |
| 10 | Kelvin Benjamin | Florida State | 6'5" | 235 | 64 | rSo |
| 11 | Paul Richardson | Colorado | 6'1" | 172 | 81 | rJr |
| 12 | Martavis Bryant | Clemson | 6'4" | 200 | 91 | Jr |
| 13 | Robert Herron | Wyoming | 5'9" | 193 | 93 | Sr |
| 14 | Josh Huff | Oregon | 5'11" | 211 | 100 | Sr |
| 15 | Jared Abbrederis | Wisconsin | 6'1" | 189 | 107 | rSr |
| 16 | Mike Davis | Texas | 6'0" | 193 | 108 | Sr |
| 17 | Donte Moncrief | Mississippi | 6'2" | 226 | 119 | Jr |
| 18 | Bruce Ellington | South Carolina | 5'9" | 196 | 127 | rJr |
| 19 | Kevin Norwood | Alabama | 6'2" | 197 | 143 | rSr |
| 20 | Ryan Grant | Tulane | 6'0" | 197 | 145 | rSr |
| 21 | Brandon Coleman | Rutgers | 6'5" | 220 | 154 | rJr |
| 22 | TJ Jones | Notre Dame | 6'0" | 195 | 156 | Sr |
| 23 | Devin Street | Pittsburgh | 6'3" | 195 | 166 | rSr |
| 24 | Jalen Saunders | Oklahoma | 5'9" | 164 | 177 | Sr |
| 25 | Jeff Janis | Saginaw Valley State ย | 6'2" | 212 | 182 | Sr |
| 26 | Cody Latimer | Indiana | 6'2" | 215 | 184 | Jr |
| 27 | Cody Hoffman | BYU | 6'4" | 218 | 188 | Sr |
| 28 | Michael Campanaro | Wake Forest | 5'10" | 191 | 195 | rSr |
| 29 | L'Damian Washington ย | Missouri | 6'4" | 205 | 212 | rSr |
| 30 | Josh Stewart | Oklahoma State | 5'10" | 185 | 221 | Jr |
| 31 | Shaquelle Evans | UCLA | 6'1" | 210 | 222 | rSr |
| 32 | Matt Hazel | Coastal Carolina | 6'1" | 196 | 248 | Sr |
| 33 | Tevin Reese | Baylor | 5'10" | 170 | 251 | Sr |
| 34 | Dri Archer | Kent State | 5'8" | 175 | 258 | rSr |
| 35 | Jeremy Gallon | Michigan | 5'8" | 183 | 284 | rSr |
| 36 | Quincy Enunwa | Nebraska | 6'2" | 227 | 285 | Sr |
| 37 | Marcus Lucas | Missouri | 6'4" | 220 | 287 | Sr |
| 38 | Kain Colter | Northwestern | 5'11" | 199 | 297 | Sr |
| 39 | Eric Ward | Texas Tech | 5'11" | 199 | 300 | rSr |
Offensive Tackles
6 of 17
Just last year, we saw four of the top 11 draft picks used on offensive tackles. That number may not be reached this year, but there are an impressive number of starting-caliber tackles in this year's class.
Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews will fight it out for the top spot, and both could go inside the top five, but don't sleep on Taylor Lewan, Cyrus Kouandjio, Zack Martin and Morgan Moses. This year's class could put six players in the first round.
The depth here is good, but there is a drop-off from the top six to the next group of players. Teams needing a starting left tackle will need to strike early in the first round.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Greg Robinson | Auburn | 6'5" | 320 | 4 | rSo |
| 2 | Jake Matthews | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 305 | 5 | Sr |
| 3 | Taylor Lewan | Michigan | 6'7" | 315 | 20 | rSr |
| 4 | Cyrus Kouandjio | Alabama | 6'5" | 310 | 21 | Jr |
| 5 | Zack Martin | Notre Dame | 6'4" | 305 | 23 | rSr |
| 6 | Morgan Moses | Virginia | 6'6" | 325 | 34 | Sr |
| 7 | Jack Mewhort | Ohio State | 6'6" | 306 | 49 | rSr |
| 8 | Antonio "Tiny" Richardson ย | Tennessee | 6'6" | 327 | 59 | Jr |
| 9 | Billy Turner | North Dakota State ย | 6'5" | 316 | 86 | Sr |
| 10 | Joel Bitonio | Nevada | 6'4" | 307 | 111 | rSr |
| 11 | Ja'Wuan James | Tennessee | 6'6" | 315 | 128 | Sr |
| 12 | James Hurst | North Carolina | 6'6" | 305 | 140 | Sr |
| 13 | Michael Schofield | Michigan | 6'4" | 303 | 159 | rSr |
| 14 | Seantrel Henderson ย | Miami (Fla.) | 6'7" | 331 | 172 | Sr |
| 15 | Justin Britt | Missouri | 6'6" | 315 | 178 | rSr |
| 16 | Cameron Fleming | Stanford | 6'6" | 318 | 197 | rJr |
| 17 | Wesley Johnson | Vanderbilt | 6'5" | 290 | 208 | rSr |
| 18 | Donald Hawkins | Texas | 6'5" | 301 | 227 | Sr |
| 19 | Cornelius Lucas | Kansas State | 6'8" | 329 | 238 | rSr |
| 20 | Matt Patchan | Boston College | 6'5" | 305 | 244 | rSr |
| 21 | Kenarious Gates | Georgia | 6'4" | 327 | 272 | Sr |
| 22 | Charles Leno | Boise State | 6'4" | 302 | 281 | rSr |
| 23 | Matt Hall | Belhaven | 6'9" | 323 | 293 | Sr |
Tight Ends
7 of 17
The tight-end position has seen a revitalization in the NFL in recent years. As offenses have become more multifaceted and coaches look for more athletes, they're turning to the tight end to be their mismatch against the defense.
The 2014 class of tight ends will only add to that. This group features two top-tier talents (Eric Ebron and Jace Amaro) followed by a strong second tier of players featuring guys who are ready to be starters in the NFL.
There is also versatility. C.J. Fiedorowicz has the length and strength to be a classic in-line blocker and receiver, but guys like Amaro and Richard Rodgers are as much wide receiver as they are tight end.
Whatever your preference at the position, the 2014 class has a player for you.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Eric Ebron | North Carolina | 6'4" | 245 | 15 | Jr |
| 2 | Jace Amaro | Texas Tech | 6'5" | 260 | 28 | Jr |
| 3 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins ย | Washington | 6'6" | 276 | 46 | Jr |
| 4 | Troy Niklas | Notre Dame | 6'6" | 270 | 72 | rJr |
| 5 | C.J. Fiedorowicz | Iowa | 6'6" | 262 | 115 | Sr |
| 6 | Arthur Lynch | Georgia | 6'5" | 258 | 121 | rSr |
| 7 | Richard Rodgers | California | 6'4" | 245 | 138 | rSo |
| 8 | Crockett Gillmore | Colorado State | 6'6" | 253 | 151 | Sr |
| 9 | Marcel Jensen | Fresno State | 6'6" | 264 | 167 | Sr |
| 10 | Joe Don Duncan | Dixie State | 6'3" | 267 | 193 | rSr |
| 11 | Jordan Najvar | Baylor | 6'6" | 262 | 210 | rSr |
| 12 | Rob Blanchflower | Massachusetts | 6'4" | 260 | 217 | rSr |
| 13 | Jacob Pedersen | Wisconsin | 6'3" | 242 | 242 | rSr |
| 14 | Xavier Grimble | USC | 6'3" | 250 | 252 | rJr |
| 15 | A.C. Leonard | Tennessee State ย | 6'3" | 245 | 255 | Jr |
| 16 | Colt Lyerla | Oregon | 6'5" | 250 | 275 | Jr |
| 17 | Michael Flacco | New Haven | 6'5" | 245 | 278 | rSo |
Offensive Guards
8 of 17
It's unlikely that we'll see two offensive guards drafted in the top 10 picks again this year, but the talent at the position in this class is impressive from top to bottom.
The guard class features six players who will enter the NFL with starting potential from Day 1. The experience, depth and talent of the entire class is notable, but these top-tier players are as strong as any guard class in recent memory.ย
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | David Yankey | Stanford | 6'5" | 314 | 33 | rJr |
| 2 | Xavier Su'a-Filo | UCLA | 6'3" | 305 | 51 | rJr |
| 3 | Cyril Richardson | Baylor | 6'5" | 348 | 62 | rSr |
| 4 | Gabe Jackson | Mississippi State | 6'4" | 339 | 90 | rSr |
| 5 | Anthony Steen | Alabama | 6'2" | 310 | 114 | rSr |
| 6 | Brandon Thomas ย | Clemson | 6'4" | 316 | 123 | rSr |
| 7 | Dakota Dozier | Furman | 6'4" | 312 | 133 | rSr |
| 8 | Chris Watt | Notre Dame | 6'3" | 321 | 168 | rSr |
| 9 | Jon Halapio | Florida | 6'4" | 320 | 170 | rSr |
| 10 | Brandon Linder | Miami (Fla.) | 6'6" | 316 | 198 | Sr |
| 11 | Russell Bodine | North Carolina | 6'3" | 310 | 220 | rJr |
| 12 | Kadeem Edwards ย | Tennessee State ย | 6'4" | 309 | 232 | Sr |
| 13 | John Urschel | Penn State | 6'3" | 317 | 236 | rSr |
| 14 | Ryan Groy | Wisconsin | 6'5" | 325 | 254 | rSr |
| 15 | Spencer Long | Nebraska | 6'4" | 315 | 259 | rSr |
| 16 | Trai Turner | LSU | 6'3" | 316 | 290 | rSo |
Centers
9 of 17
No center in the 2014 draft class carries a first-round grade, but the talent here is still top-notch.
Arkansas' Travis Swanson is as pro-ready as they come, and he should be an early pick in the second round. Behind him is Colorado State's Weston Richburg, a player with enough talent to shoot up draft boards between now and May 8.
The one player to really keep your eye on is Marcus Martin from USC. The more I watch, the more I'm impressed with his athleticism and pass-protection skills.
| ย Rank | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Travis Swanson | Arkansas | 6'5" | 310 | 41 | rSr |
| 2 | Weston Richburg ย | Colorado State | 6'4" | 300 | 74 | rSr |
| 3 | Bryan Stork | Florida State | 6'4" | 306 | 129 | rSr |
| 4 | Tyler Larsen | Utah State | 6'4" | 317 | 164 | Sr |
| 5 | Marcus Martin | USC | 6'3" | 310 | 180 | Jr |
| 6 | Gabe Ikard | Oklahoma | 6'3" | 302 | 213 | rSr |
| 7 | Zac Kerin | Toledo | 6'5" | 308 | 268 | rSr |
| 8 | Corey Linsley | Ohio State | 6'3" | 298 | 286 | rSr |
| 9 | Matt Armstrong | Grand Valley State ย | 6'3" | 296 | 288 | rSr |
Defensive Ends
10 of 17
The defensive-end class is a unique one in 2014โtalented but unique.
There are few true 4-3 defensive ends in this class, and they are only in the top tier. Jadeveon Clowney and Kony Ealy could both line up over the tight end and do damage, but the drop-off from there is big. Dee Ford is a master at crashing the edge, but he does not possess the ideal size or strength to play in a classic 6-technique.
That's not to discount the second tier of this year's class, because it's very good. Trent Murphy, Scott Crichton and Jackson Jeffcoat could all start as rookies. Also, guys like Chris Smith and Marcus Smith offer scheme versatility, while Josh Mauro and Brent Urban are ideal 3-4 defensive ends.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Jadeveon Clowney | South Carolina | 6'5" | 274 | 2 | Jr |
| 2 | Kony Ealy | Missouri | 6'5" | 275 | 9 | rJr |
| 3 | Dee Ford | Auburn | 6'2" | 243 | 14 | rSr |
| 4 | Trent Murphy | Stanford | 6'6" | 252 | 36 | rSr |
| 5 | Scott Crichton | Oregon State | 6'3" | 265 | 44 | rJr |
| 6 | Jackson Jeffcoat | Texas | 6'4" | 250 | 48 | Sr |
| 7 | Chris Smith | Arkansas | 6'1" | 266 | 50 | Sr |
| 8 | Josh Mauro | Stanford | 6'6" | 276 | 88 | rSr |
| 9 | Marcus Smith | Louisville | 6'4" | 258 | 92 | Sr |
| 10 | Michael Sam | Missouri | 6'2" | 260 | 94 | rSr |
| 11 | Demarcus Lawrence ย | Boise State | 6'3" | 245 | 99 | rJr |
| 12 | Kareem Martin | North Carolina | 6'6" | 272 | 122 | Sr |
| 13 | Will Clarke | West Virginia | 6'6" | 271 | 148 | rSr |
| 14 | James Gayle | Virginia Tech | 6'4" | 255 | 157 | rSr |
| 15 | Ed Stinson | Alabama | 6'3" | 292 | 158 | rSr |
| 16 | Aaron Lynch | South Florida | 6'5" | 244 | 160 | rSo |
| 17 | Cassius Marsh | UCLA | 6'4" | 254 | 181 | Sr |
| 18 | Brent Urban | Virginia | 6'6" | 298 | 183 | Sr |
| 19 | Taylor Hart | Oregon | 6'6" | 287 | 189 | rSr |
| 20 | Ben Gardner | Stanford | 6'4" | 277 | 190 | rSr |
| 21 | Ethan Westbrooks | West Texas A&M ย | 6'4" | 264 | 263 | Sr |
| 22 | Jeoffrey Pagan | Alabama | 6'3" | 290 | 267 | Jr |
| 23 | Chaz Sutton | South Carolina | 6'4" | 263 | 270 | rSr |
| 24 | Larry Webster | Bloomsburg | 6'6" | 249 | 279 | rSr |
Defensive Tackles
11 of 17
The 2014 class of defensive tackles doesn't feature a surefire top-10 pick, but the group of players available in the mid-to-late first round could be exceptional.
Pitt's Aaron Donald was one of the most decorated players in college football during the 2013 season and would step into the NFL as an ideal 3-technique pass-rusher. The same goes for Timmy Jernigan, who saved his best for last and dominated the BCS title game.
The defensive tackles may have to wait a while on draft day to hear their names called, but their impact should be felt immediately in the NFL.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Aaron Donald | Pittsburgh | 6'1" | 288 | 25 | Sr |
| 2 | Louis Nix | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 345 | 26 | rJr |
| 3 | Timmy Jernigan | Florida State | 6'2" | 298 | 29 | Jr |
| 4 | Ra'Shede Hageman | Minnesota | 6'6" | 318 | 30 | rSr |
| 5 | Stephon Tuitt | Notre Dame | 6'6" | 312 | 39 | Jr |
| 6 | Will Sutton | Arizona State | 6'1" | 315 | 66 | rSr |
| 7 | Dominique Easley | Florida | 6'2" | 285 | 70 | Sr |
| 8 | DaQuan Jones | Penn State | 6'4" | 323 | 78 | Sr |
| 9 | Kelcy Quarles | South Carolina | 6'3" | 298 | 85 | Jr |
| 10 | Ego Ferguson | LSU | 6'2" | 309 | 95 | rJr |
| 11 | Anthony Johnson | LSU | 6'2" | 295 | 106 | Jr |
| 12 | Daniel McCullers | Tennessee | 6'7" | 348 | 112 | Sr |
| 13 | Caraun Reid | Princeton | 6'2" | 301 | 120 | rSr |
| 14 | Justin Ellis | Louisiana Tech | 6'2" | 342 | 142 | rSr |
| 15 | George Uko | USC | 6'3" | 275 | 149 | rJr |
| 16 | Deandre Coleman | California | 6'5" | 315 | 161 | rSr |
| 17 | Jay Bromley | Syracuse | 6'3" | 307 | 163 | Sr |
| 18 | Ryan Carrethers | Arkansas State | 6'1" | 330 | 196 | rSr |
| 19 | Calvin Barnett | Oklahoma State ย | 6'2" | 300 | 200 | Sr |
| 20 | Shamar Stephen | Connecticut | 6'5" | 308 | 206 | rSr |
| 21 | Eathyn Manumaleuna ย | BYU | 6'2" | 305 | 224 | rSr |
| 22 | Kerry Hyder | Texas Tech | 6'2" | 280 | 233 | rSr |
| 23 | Zach Kerr | Delaware | 6'2" | 334 | 277 | rSr |
Inside Linebackers
12 of 17
Just one player from the inside-linebacker class carries a grade within the first two rounds, but Alabama's C.J. Mosley has earned it.
After Mosley, the class takes a deep dive. However, the third round should feature several players with starting potential in their first season. And there is almost always one surprise player (Kiko Alonso, anyone?) who comes on strong at the middle-linebacker position after being picked later than expected.
Keep an eye on this class, as there's some hidden talent here.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | C.J. Mosley | Alabama | 6'2" | 232 | 16 | Sr |
| 2 | Chris Borland | Wisconsin | 6'0" | 245 | 69 | rSr |
| 3 | Shayne Skov | Stanford | 6'2" | 245 | 75 | rSr |
| 4 | Yawin Smallwood ย | Connecticut | 6'3" | 236 | 110 | rJr |
| 5 | Lamin Barrow | LSU | 6'1" | 229 | 131 | rSr |
| 6 | Christian Jones | Florida State | 6'4" | 234 | 134 | Sr |
| 7 | DeDe Lattimore | South Florida | 6'0" | 237 | 174 | rSr |
| 8 | Andrew Jackson | Western Kentucky ย | 6'1" | 259 | 191 | Sr |
| 9 | Preston Brown | Louisville | 6'1" | 262 | 207 | Sr |
| 10 | Jeremiah George | Iowa State | 5'11" | 231 | 234 | Sr |
| 11 | Glenn Carson | Penn State | 6'3" | 244 | 276 | rSr |
Outside Linebackers
13 of 17
The line between a 3-4 outside linebacker and a 4-3 outside linebacker is becoming bigger and bigger in the NFL, and thus, some players fit into only one team's draft plans while others are a fit for both. The outside linebackers are all ranked together at this stage but will later be separated by 3-4 or 4-3 niche rankings.ย
For now, as an overview of the class, it's easy to get excited. Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr offer a ton of athleticism and potential. Kyle Van Noy could fit in any scheme and play either inside or outside linebacker. Guys like Ryan Shazier and Carl Bradford have the pass-rushing skills to excite 3-4 defenses.ย
From top to bottom, the depth here is some of the best you'll see in the entire class.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Khalil Mack | Buffalo | 6'3" | 248 | 6 | rSr |
| 2 | Anthony Barr | UCLA | 6'4" | 248 | 7 | Sr |
| 3 | Ryan Shazier | Ohio State | 6'2" | 230 | 31 | Jr |
| 4 | Kyle Van Noy | BYU | 6'3" | 244 | 32 | rSr |
| 5 | Trevor Reilly | Utah | 6'5" | 255 | 58 | rSr |
| 6 | Telvin Smith | Florida State | 6'3" | 218 | 61 | Sr |
| 7 | Carl Bradford | Arizona State | 6'1" | 243 | 82 | rJr |
| 8 | Jeremiah Attaochu | Georgia Tech | 6'3" | 252 | 84 | Sr |
| 9 | Christian Kirksey | Iowa | 6'2" | 234 | 98 | Sr |
| 10 | Jordan Zumwalt | UCLA | 6'4" | 231 | 103 | Sr |
| 11 | Jordan Tripp | Montana | 6'3" | 237 | 118 | rSr |
| 12 | Adrian Hubbard | Alabama | 6'6" | 255 | 124 | rJr |
| 13 | Morgan Breslin | USC | 6'1" | 250 | 147 | Sr |
| 14 | Ronald Powell | Florida | 6'3" | 240 | 165 | rJr |
| 15 | Prince Shembo | Notre Dame | 6'2" | 254 | 176 | Sr |
| 16 | Devon Kennard | USC | 6'3" | 257 | 185 | rSr |
| 17 | Denicos Allen | Michigan State | 5'11" | 218 | 203 | rSr |
| 18 | Kasim Edebali | Boston College | 6'2" | 248 | 209 | Sr |
| 19 | Howard Jones | Shepherd | 6'2" | 229 | 228 | rSr |
| 20 | Kevin Pierre-Louis ย | Boston College | 6'0" | 222 | 230 | Sr |
| 21 | Tyler Starr | South Dakota | 6'4" | 249 | 237 | Sr |
| 22 | Jonathan Brown | Illinois | 6'1" | 224 | 240 | Sr |
| 23 | Derrell Johnson | East Carolina | 6'1" | 248 | 253 | Sr |
| 24 | Jonathan Newsome ย | Ball State | 6'2" | 236 | 265 | rSr |
| 25 | Shaquil Barrett | Colorado State ย | 6'2" | 260 | 289 | Sr |
| 26 | Boseko Lokombo | Oregon | 6'3" | 230 | 292 | rSr |
| 27 | Jayrone Elliott | Toledo | 6'3" | 240 | 294 | Sr |
Cornerbacks
14 of 17
Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert has the highest grade of any cornerback since Patrick Peterson on my Big Board, and there's a lot to love about his game. But you also have to respect the depth and talent at the top of this class, throughout every tier.
There's something here for every scheme, every discipline and every trend. Tall cornerbacks like Pierre Desir, Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Keith McGill are sure to attract teams wanting to find the next Richard Sherman, while battle-tested stars like Bradley Roby and Jason Verrett bring the man-coverage skills teams are dying for.
The cornerback class has elite talent at the top but also the depth to fill the NFL with starters.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Justin Gilbert | Oklahoma State | 6'0" | 200 | 10 | Sr |
| 2 | Darqueze Dennard | Michigan State | 5'11" | 197 | 18 | Sr |
| 3 | Jason Verrett | TCU | 5'10" | 176 | 22 | Sr |
| 4 | Bradley Roby | Ohio State | 5'11" | 192 | 40 | rJr |
| 5 | Stanley Jean-Baptiste ย | Nebraska | 6'3" | 215 | 43 | Sr |
| 6 | Lamarcus Joyner | Florida State | 5'8" | 190 | 53 | Sr |
| 7 | Marcus Roberson | Florida | 6'0" | 195 | 63 | Jr |
| 8 | Pierre Desir | Lindenwood | 6'1" | 195 | 65 | rSr |
| 9 | Kyle Fuller | Virginia Tech | 6'0" | 194 | 67 | Sr |
| 10 | Victor Hampton | South Carolina | 5'10" | 202 | 73 | rJr |
| 11 | Keith McGill | Utah | 6'3" | 214 | 76 | rSr |
| 12 | Loucheiz Purifoy | Florida | 6'0" | 190 | 83 | Jr |
| 13 | E.J. Gaines | Missouri | 5'10" | 195 | 96 | Sr |
| 14 | Terrance Mitchell | Oregon | 6'0" | 190 | 109 | rJr |
| 15 | Ross Cockrell | Duke | 6'0" | 183 | 113 | rSr |
| 16 | Jaylen Watkins | Florida | 6'0" | 194 | 117 | Sr |
| 17 | Walt Aikens | Liberty | 6'1" | 205 | 126 | Sr |
| 18 | Chris Davis | Auburn | 5'10" | 201 | 132 | Sr |
| 19 | Nevin Lawson | Utah State | 5'10" | 184 | 137 | Sr |
| 20 | Bashaud Breeland | Clemson | 6'0" | 185 | 139 | rJr |
| 21 | Rashaad Reynolds | Oregon State | 5'10" | 191 | 144 | rSr |
| 22 | Antone Exum | Virginia Tech | 6'0" | 220 | 152 | rSr |
| 23 | Deion Belue | Alabama | 5'11" | 183 | 155 | Sr |
| 24 | Aaron Colvin | Oklahoma | 6'0" | 186 | 162 | Sr |
| 25 | Bennett Jackson | Notre Dame | 6'0" | 187 | 175 | Sr |
| 26 | Ricardo Allen | Purdue | 5'9" | 187 | 205 | Sr |
| 27 | Bene Benwikere | San Jose State | 5'11" | 194 | 211 | Sr |
| 28 | Andre Hal | Vanderbilt | 5'11" | 190 | 216 | Sr |
| 29 | Phillip Gaines | Rice | 6'1" | 195 | 225 | Sr |
| 30 | Lavelle Westbrooks | Georgia Southern | 6'0" | 195 | 235 | Sr |
| 31 | Carrington Byndom | Texas | 5'11" | 180 | 241 | Sr |
| 32 | Marcus Williams | North Dakota State ย | 5'11" | 195 | 256 | rSr |
| 33 | Charles Sawyer | Mississippi | 5'10" | 175 | 261 | rSr |
| 34 | Ciante Evans | Nebraska | 5'10" | 193 | 282 | Sr |
Free Safeties
15 of 17
The play of Earl Thomas has surely opened the eyes of NFL evaluators, and in a copycat league, everyone will want a free safety with his range and tackling skills. The trouble is finding a player with that skill set.
There is no Thomas in this year's class, but there are two safeties with major upside and legitimate first-round skills. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Calvin Pryor have the range, instincts and hitting skills to step into the league as starters and potential stars.
Teams needing an instant impact at free safety will want to move early, as there is a drop-off in talent after the top two, but the development potential in Rounds 3 and 4 is intriguing.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix ย | Alabama | 6'1" | 208 | 17 | Jr |
| 2 | Calvin Pryor | Louisville | 6'2" | 208 | 19 | Jr |
| 3 | Terrence Brooks | Florida State | 5'11" | 197 | 77 | Sr |
| 4 | Ed Reynolds | Stanford | 6'2" | 206 | 79 | rJr |
| 5 | Dion Bailey | USC | 6'0" | 200 | 116 | rJr |
| 6 | Kenny Ladler | Vanderbilt | 6'0" | 200 | 125 | Sr |
| 7 | Marqueston Huff | Wyoming | 5'11" | 198 | 153 | Sr |
| 8 | Jemea Thomas | Georgia Tech | 5'10" | 190 | 187 | rSr |
| 9 | Dontae Johnson | North Carolina State ย | 6'2" | 199 | 243 | Sr |
| 10 | Nickoe Whitley | Mississippi State | 6'0" | 205 | 247 | rSr |
| 11 | Christian Bryant | Ohio State | 5'9" | 193 | 262 | Sr |
| 12 | Tre Boston | North Carolina | 6'0" | 198 | 271 | Sr |
| 13 | Ty Zimmerman | Kansas State | 6'1" | 204 | 273 | rSr |
| 14 | Jonathan Dowling | Western Kentucky | 6'2" | 198 | 280 | rJr |
Strong Safeties
16 of 17
As the backbone of most defenses, the strong safety must be able to hit, cover and play with range against the run and pass; that's the model on which we're basing these grades, at least.
This year's class shouldn't see a true strong safety drafted in the first round, but once Day 2 begins, expect them to fly off the board.
Deone Bucannon and Ahmad Dixon are both big hitters with enforcer ability. Jimmie Ward is small for the position and may see a shift to free safety, but he has the coverage skills we all want in a last-line defender.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Deone Bucannon ย | Washington State ย | 6'1" | 216 | 54 | Sr |
| 2 | Ahmad Dixon | Baylor | 6'0" | 205 | 55 | Sr |
| 3 | Jimmie Ward | Northern Illinois | 5'11" | 191 | 71 | Sr |
| 4 | Craig Loston | LSU | 6'1" | 214 | 135 | rSr |
| 5 | Vinnie Sunseri | Alabama | 6'0" | 210 | 169 | Jr |
| 6 | Isaiah Lewis | Michigan State | 5'10" | 205 | 186 | Sr |
| 7 | Hakeem Smith | Louisville | 6'0" | 186 | 192 | rSr |
| 8 | Sean Parker | Washington | 5'10" | 193 | 223 | Sr |
| 9 | Alden Darby | Arizona State | 5'10" | 192 | 229 | Sr |
Special Teams
17 of 17
Finding a talent at kicker worth drafting is tough, but when you lock on to a potentially great player, you have to move to get one. This year's class has just two players with a "draftable" grade, but both could be stars in the NFL.
| Rank ย | Player | School ย | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Anthony Fera ย | Texas | 6'1" | 218 | 215 | rSr |
| 2 | Chris Boswell | Rice | 6'2" | 183 | 218 | rSr |
It used to be rare to see a punter drafted, but those days are over. The 2013 draft saw a run on the fourth-down specialists, and we could see that again this May.
| Rank ย | Player | School | Height ย | Weight ย | Overall ย | Class ย |
| 1 | Kirby Van Der Kamp ย | Iowa State ย | 6'4" | 202 | 204 | Sr |
| 2 | Tom Hornsey | Memphis | 6'3" | 217 | 231 | Sr |
| 3 | Steven Clark | Auburn | 6'6" | 226 | 295 | Sr |
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
