2013 NFL Draft: Top 40 Prospects Playing in Saturday's All-Star Games

There will be no shortage of 2013 NFL draft prospects to watch on Saturday. With not just one but three college football all-star games on the schedule this Saturday, scouts and fans alike will have the opportunity to watch many potential draft picks showcase their skills.

Headlining Saturday’s schedule is the East-West Shrine Game (4 p.m. ET, NFL Network), which is the well-established No. 2 pre-draft all-star game behind only the Senior Bowl. But while the Shrine Game garners and deserves the most attention Saturday, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2) and Raycom College Football All-Star Classic (2 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network) showcase talented prospects of their own.

The Shrine Game features players at every position who will be drafted, but with players like Virginia Tech linebacker Bruce Taylor in the NFLPA Bowl and Maryland outside linebacker Kenny Tate in the Raycom Classic, all three games are worth watching.

The following slides break down the 40 best prospects to watch on Saturday. These prospects are ranked based on how they grade out on tape in terms of NFL readiness and potential, not necessarily the order in which they are expected to be drafted.

Note: UCLA tight end Joseph Fauria and West Texas A&M offensive tackle Manase Foketi were both left off the list after leaving the Shrine Game early due to injuries, according to the Shrine Game’s official Twitter (Fauria) and the Victorville Daily Press (Foketi).

Honorable Mentions

While these players did not crack the top 40, they all have a good shot at being selected late in the 2013 NFL draft.

Mario Benavides, C, Louisville
National, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Benavides is a skilled center with great feet and technique, but at only 279 pounds and lacking strength, he needs to seriously bulk up to succeed at the next level.

Brandan Bishop, FS, North Carolina State
East, East-West Shrine Game

Bishop is a decent free safety in both coverage and tackling, but with subpar measurables and inconsistent play, he projects best as a special teams player.

Chancey Aghayere, DE, LSU
Stars, Raycom College Football All-Star Classic

Aghayere has flashed some serious potential as a versatile, athletic and strong defensive lineman. However, he is only the seventh-best prospect among all LSU defensive linemen in this draft class, and did not make a consistent impact as a player from the back end of the rotation.

Cooper Taylor, SS, Richmond
East, East-West Shrine Game

Taylor is an FCS All-American who should be able to make the transition to the next level. He has outstanding size for a safety at 6’4” and 229 pounds, and he pairs that size with good athletic ability.

Isi Sofele, RB, California
American, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Sofele is a dynamic open-field runner with great quickness and potential as a complementary, third-down back. He is very undersized, however, at only 5’7” and 178 pounds.

James Ferentz, C, Iowa
West, East-West Shrine Game

Ferentz is a technically sound and strong center, but he is undersized and will struggle with powerful and explosive interior linemen at the next level.

40. Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

Syracuse’s Shamarko Thomas is an athletic safety and sound tackler. Thomas does a good job of coming up in the box and hitting runners, and is also solid in pass coverage.

The biggest issue for Thomas is his lack of height at only 5’9”, and he does not have great ball skills. With his athleticism and hitting ability, however, he projects as a solid special teams player who can be a backup safety.

39. Matt Stankiewitch, C, Penn State

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

In a weak center class from top to bottom, Penn State’s Matt Stankiewitch has a good shot at being drafted. While he does not stand out with his size or quickness, he is a gritty, physical center.

Stankiewitch is not overpowering, but he is a solid run blocker who holds his own with good technique. He snaps the ball well, but he could have issues with quick interior rushers at the next level.

Stankiewitch would be a good late-round choice as a backup center.

38. D.C. Jefferson, TE, Rutgers

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

Rutgers tight end D.C. Jefferson has impressive raw potential. He has great measurables and the size/athleticism combination to create mismatches.

He isn’t particularly polished as either a receiver or blocker, but he can post up against smaller defenders consistently with his size, strength and speed. At 6’6” and 255 pounds, he is a tough matchup for both linebackers and safeties, and can be coached into becoming a better blocker.

Jefferson is not currently an NFL-quality tight end, but his potential makes him worth a late-round pick.

37. Brandon Ford, TE, Clemson

Stars, Raycom College Football All-Star Classic

Grade: Round 7

The Raycom College Football All-Star Classic doesn’t have the same caliber of prospects as the Shrine Game or even the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, but one player to keep an eye on is Clemson tight end Brandon Ford.

Ford does not have great size for a tight end, but he is a skilled receiver and good athlete. He may not have the size or strength to be an in-line blocking tight end at the next level, but his skill set warrants a late-round selection as a receiving tight end.

36. Colby Cameron, QB, Louisiana Tech

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

Colby Cameron was one of the nation’s most prolific passers as a senior at Louisiana Tech, completing 69 percent of his passes for 4,147 yards, 31 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His collegiate success may be enough to get him drafted, but he projects only as a backup quarterback at the next level.

Cameron had success in Louisiana Tech’s high-volume passing spread offense, but he is undersized and has a weak arm by NFL standards. He projects to being little more than a game manager in a pro-style offense.

35. Zeke Motta, FS, Notre Dame

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

Manti Te’o received all of the hype on Notre Dame’s defense this season, but another one of their leaders was free safety Zeke Motta.

Motta has good instincts and is a typically sound tackler. He doesn’t have great speed or ball skills, however, and would struggle as a cover safety at the next level.

With good size, Motta has the overall game to make it in the NFL as a special teams regular. He can provide depth at safety, but he lacks the athleticism and playmaking skills in coverage to be a starting safety.

34. Will Campbell, DT, Michigan

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

Once a highly touted recruit, Michigan defensive tackle Will Campbell never came close to living up to expectations in his Wolverines career. He still has big upside, however, and the flashes of potential he has shown could be enough to get him drafted.

Campbell has the size of a nose tackle at 6’5” and 318 pounds, and he is both powerful and quick. Still, he wasn't particularly disruptive over his collegiate career, with only five total tackles for loss in four seasons, and motor and technique are both definite concerns.

Campbell is a raw prospect, but in the right system, he could end up being a steal as a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick.

33. Corey Fuller, WR, Virginia Tech

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

The first of two Virginia Tech wide receivers on this list, Corey Fuller had a breakout senior season. Known for making big plays, Fuller is an athletic playmaker who tracks the ball well.

Fuller can make defenders miss in the open field with his speed and quickness. His game is still raw, but he has significant upside as a third or fourth receiver who can make plays from the slot in an NFL offense.

32. Robert McCabe, OLB, Georgetown

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 7

Georgetown linebacker Robert McCabe is a tackling machine: He proved that by leading the FCS with 159 total tackles in his senior season. Projecting to the NFL, he is undersized at only 6’1” and 227 pounds, but he is a good athlete and certainly a great tackler.

He has great instincts and covers ground quickly, which allows him to always be around the football. His issue will be finding a true position at the next level. He is not much of a pass-rusher, and while he looks like a safety, he does not have the coverage skills to move back to the secondary.

McCabe could be a solid backup outside linebacker who makes up for some of his deficiencies with his consistency in making tackles. He should also be a great special teams player.

31. Josh Downs, DT, LSU

Stars, Raycom College Football All-Star Classic

Grade: Round 7

Josh Downs is an undersized defensive tackle (6’, 297 pounds) and was only a rotational player at LSU, yet he still is an intriguing sleeper as a late-draft pick. Downs has very good power, and he is also quick and athletic for an interior lineman.

Downs does a good job of penetrating at the line to bring pressure, whether that be with a power bull-rush or getting a good burst off the line and using his arsenal of inside rush moves. A player used to being in a limited rotational role, Downs may be able to take on a similar role at the next level with the flashes of strength and explosiveness he has shown.

30. Kenny Tate, OLB/SS, Maryland

Stars, Raycom College Football All-Star Classic

Grade: Round 7

The prospect at the Raycom College Football All-Star Classic with the most upside is Maryland’s Kenny Tate. Tate is a good athlete and big hitter with the potential to be a difference-maker at multiple levels of the defense.

Tate is an athletic outside linebacker with great height (6’4”), but the converted strong safety is a ‘tweener who may not fit any true position at the next level. At only 220 pounds, he will need to bulk up to play OLB on a regular basis, but he does not have enough speed to be an NFL safety.

Additionally, Tate didn’t look like the same player he once was coming off of a knee injury this season. That said, as he continues to recover, he at least has big potential as a situational “Star” player who can play in specific packages in a linebacker/safety hybrid position. He could also be an asset on special teams.

29. Demontre Hurst, CB, Oklahoma

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6-7

Demontre Hurst has looked very good at times as an Oklahoma cornerback, but inconsistency has been a big issue for him. He can make good plays in outside coverage and can tackle well, but he makes too many mistakes in both pass defense and run support.

Hurst is a good athlete, but he is a short cornerback at only 5’9”. If Hurst is going to stick around at the next level, he will have to be a contributor on special teams, but he could make it as a fourth or fifth cornerback.

28. Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6-7

There are few if any players at the Shrine Game with higher upside than Arkansas-Pine Bluff offensive tackle Terron Armstead. A big offensive lineman with terrific feet, Armstead has developmental potential as a left tackle, but he could also project to right tackle or guard as well.

Armstead didn’t dominate on a consistent basis even at the FCS level, but he has the potential to develop into a starting-caliber player. He is an outstanding pull blocker in the run game, and while he needs to get stronger, he has the footwork to move with speed rushers.

27. Zac Stacy, RB, Vanderbilt

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6-7

Vanderbilt running back Zac Stacy is not going to blow anyone away with his measurables in pre-draft testing, but he does the little things well as a runner.

Stacy is a hard runner who uses his vision well to find holes, can make defenders miss with his cuts and take on contact in the open field as well. Late-round draft picks become productive running backs annually in the NFL, and Stacy has a shot to follow that same path to success.

26. Emory Blake, WR, Auburn

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

Even with the poor quality of quarterback play Auburn suffered from this season, Emory Blake still had a productive senior year. He is a skilled receiver with good speed, and he uses that speed well to track the ball downfield for big plays.

Blake does not have great size for an outside receiver, and he does not have the route-running skill and quickness of a typical slot receiver. Nonetheless, he should be able to find a spot to contribute in an NFL offense as a talented and athletic playmaker with big-play ability.

25. Marcus Davis, WR, Virginia Tech

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

Marcus Davis is one of the most gifted talents among players in St. Petersburg at the Shrine Game, but his productivity has not matched up to his potential at Virginia Tech.

Davis is an outstanding all-around athlete and big-play receiver. He has the ability to make big plays both as a sideline receiver and from the slot, and he can beat defenders with his speed and his cuts.

Davis’ biggest question is his work ethic: He is an unwilling blocker, and he has not had any consistency in his collegiate career. But if an NFL coaching staff can turn him from an athlete with potential into a true football player, he has big potential as a playmaker.

24. Sheldon Price, CB, UCLA

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

UCLA cornerback Sheldon Price was not targeted often in his senior season, and he made plays when he was. He is thin but long, and he is a consistent cover corner with good athleticism.

Price has good ball skills and fluid hips, and he plays physically with opposing receivers. He has the potential to develop into a quality playmaker in an NFL secondary, and should be able to contribute right away on special teams as well.

23. Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, a Heisman finalist in his senior season, will be the most well-known player in the East-West Shrine Game. As an NFL quarterback prospect, however, he projects only to be a backup.

Klein has good size, athletic ability and a strong arm, but he struggles significantly with downfield accuracy and footwork in the pocket. He is a project who has worked almost exclusively out of the shotgun at Kansas State, and he has poor mechanics.

His physical upside makes him worth a late-round draft choice, but he doesn’t have the speed or passing ability of the dual-threat quarterbacks who have found recent success in the NFL.

22. DeVonte Holloman, OLB, South Carolina

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

Like Kenny Tate, South Carolina’s DeVonte Holloman is a converted strong safety, and it shows in his game. While he has bulked up to the size of an outside linebacker, he still has the athleticism of a safety.

Holloman is an active playmaker around the line of scrimmage, and uses his speed well to make plays in space and rush off the edge. He is a good cover linebacker, and he hits opposing offensive players with authority.

Holloman is still learning the technique of playing linebacker and becoming stronger, but he has upside as a linebacker and should be an immediate contributor on special teams.

21. Jasper Collins, WR, Mount Union

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

Mount Union has put two very good NFL receivers into the league in recent years in Pierre Garcon and Cecil Shorts, and they could soon have another in Jasper Collins. Collins is a legitimate NFL prospect with high upside as a slot receiver.

Collins is a terrific route-runner and a reliable pass-catcher. He has great hands and does not shy away from contact. That combination of skills helps him make up for subpar measurables, and gives him the potential to be a dynamic weapon out of the slot.

20. Sio Moore, OLB, Connecticut

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

Connecticut outside linebacker Sio Moore could be an intriguing sleeper on Day Three. An athletic linebacker who is effective as both a tackler and in coverage, Moore projects well to the next level as a strongside linebacker.

Moore plays bigger than he measures up to be, and he is good at making plays in space. He is not a natural pass-rusher, but he is good at finding lanes into the backfield, does very well covering tight ends and also excels on special teams.

Moore may only be a good fit for a 4-3 defense, but he could be a great investment in the late rounds as linebacker and special teams depth.

19. Rod Sweeting, CB, Georgia Tech

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 6

There is plenty to like about the game of Georgia Tech cornerback Rod Sweeting. He is a skilled deep cover corner with good speed and ball skills, and could be a playmaker as a nickel or dime cornerback in an NFL secondary.

Sweeting will slip due to a lack of physicality in his game, as well as inconsistent play both with blown coverages and missed tackles. That said, he is a good athlete well worth taking a chance on in the late rounds for his potential to contribute on defense and on special teams.

18. Ray Graham, RB, Pittsburgh

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5-6

Pittsburgh’s Ray Graham is a small back at only 5’9” and 192 pounds, but he overcomes his lack of stature with great quickness, vision and hands.

Graham finds holes well and can make defenders miss with his moves in the open field. He does not have much of a power element to his game, but projects well as a third-down back with his elusiveness and his receiving ability out of the backfield.

17. Kerwynn Williams, RB, Utah State

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5-6

In many ways, Utah State’s Kerwynn Williams is a slightly better version of Ray Graham. He is a very small running back (5’8”, 196 pounds) who lacks power, but he is one of the most dynamic open-field runners in the 2013 NFL draft class.

Williams has a great burst out of the backfield, good speed and swift open-field moves. He won’t run through defenders, but has the ability to bust any run into a big gain by making defenders miss.

As a complementary third-down back and potential kickoff returning threat, Williams could be a spark for an NFL offense, and is well worth a Day Three draft pick.

16. Will Compton, ILB, Nebraska

National, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Grade: Round 5-6

With Lavonte David having moved on to the NFL, Nebraska’s Will Compton stepped up to become the leader of the Cornhuskers defensive front seven as a senior.

Compton is undersized and not particularly athletic, but he is a physical, instinctive linebacker who is a sound tackler against the run. He will likely struggle in pass coverage at the next level, but projects to be a solid backup middle linebacker and special teams contributor.

15. Travis Johnson, OLB, San Jose State

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5-6

An undersized defensive end with little experience in pass coverage, Travis Johnson may only be a good fit for a 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker. That said, he was a very productive defensive end at San Jose State who has the skill set to contribute in any scheme in a situational role.

Johnson is a good athlete who does a very good job bringing pressure off the edge, both as a pass-rusher and as a run defender. He needs to become stronger physically, but his ability to make plays in the backfield should translate to the next level.

14. Wes Horton, DE, USC

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5-6

Wes Horton is a physically imposing defensive end, but he never lived up to expectations at USC. He has good size and is a decent athlete, but isn’t particularly explosive.

Horton does not have great bursts of speed, which limits him as a pass-rusher both on the edge and going inside. He has solid strength and does a good job setting the edge in run defense, but does not overpower blockers.

Horton will likely never be a sack specialist, but he is a good physical specimen who can provide solid depth as a run-stopping defensive end in a 4-3 defense.

13. Josh Evans, FS, Florida

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5

Florida free safety Josh Evans was overshadowed by strong safety Matt Elam this season, but Evans actually led the team in total tackles. In addition to be a consistent and sound tackler, Evans is a good athlete who covers effectively.

Evans isn’t a game-changing playmaker, but he has good measurables and is both active and instinctive. He is good at covering receivers over the middle, and one of his strengths is lining up and making plays as a blitzer.

Evans has upside as a free safety, the skills to contribute early to an NFL secondary and is also a refined contributor in kickoff coverage.

12. Micah Hyde, CB, Iowa

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5

Iowa’s Micah Hyde is a very solid cover corner with fluid movement skills and great ball skills. He plays with physicality and is a very solid tackler.

Hyde has decent but unspectacular measurables. He is a good athlete with punt return ability, but his speed does not stand out. He has enough size to play on the outside as a cornerback, but does not have great length.

Overall, Hyde projects as a player who will likely be a fourth cornerback and special teams contributor with the ability to play as an outside cornerback if needed and also return punts.

11. Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5

Illinois’ Terry Hawthorne is another cornerback with the potential to play outside at the next level, but does not have much that stands out about his game.

Hawthorne is a physical cornerback who is consistent in coverage and has good athleticism. He isn’t a big-play corner, but he is a sound tackler and is very good off the corner blitz.

Hawthorne has the game to hang with bigger and faster receivers, but he probably won’t be a starter at the next level.

10. Brodrick Brown, CB, Oklahoma State

National, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Grade: Round 5

Oklahoma State cornerback Brodrick Brown had nowhere near the production in his senior season as he did in his junior year. After defending a whopping 20 passes as a junior—the second-most in the nation—he managed only two pass defenses this season.

His stock dipped as a result, but Brown has shown the potential to be a playmaker in an NFL secondary. Size and physicality are significant concerns for him, but he is an athletic cornerback with very good ball skills.

If Brown can contribute on special teams, he should make a good fourth cornerback at the next level who can play in dime packages for his ability to make plays in coverage. He is one of the top players to watch in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

9. Earl Wolff, SS, North Carolina State

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 5

North Carolina State’s Earl Wolff may be among the best in-the-box safeties in the 2013 NFL draft class. He is a terrific tackler in run support, both on blitzes and plays near the line of scrimmage, as well as cleaning up on the back end when runners break through to the second or third level of the defense.

Wolff is not a big playmaker in pass coverage. But even if only a situational player as a run-stopping safety and special teams contributor, he could be a valuable asset to an NFL team’s secondary. He is a good athlete and one of the best tackling safeties in the class.

8. Duke Williams, SS, Nevada

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4-5

Duke Williams has not gotten a lot of attention coming out of Nevada, but he is one of the better strong safety prospects in the 2013 draft class.

Williams is a hard-hitting safety and sound tackler, and is very good at reading and reacting to plays in run support. He is a good athlete with playmaking range, and has the ability to be a deep center fielder as a cover safety.

Williams could compete for a starting spot at strong safety, but if he can improve as a special teams player, he should at least be a solid backup at the position.

7. Matt Scott, QB, Arizona

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4-5

The best quarterback prospect to watch on Saturday is Arizona’s Matt Scott. An athletic pocket passer with a good arm, Scott is an intriguing developmental quarterback prospect worth taking a chance on with a Day Three pick.

There are plenty of issues to work on in Scott’s game: He is undersized and suffers from inconsistency with both his accuracy and footwork. But with only one year of collegiate starting experience, Scott has shown significant upside, and is a good team leader who can make plays with his arm and feet.

With room to grow, Scott projects to be a solid backup quarterback, and should be among the best quarterbacks available on the draft’s third day.

6. A.J. Klein, OLB, Iowa State

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4-5

Iowa State’s A.J. Klein is a well-rounded linebacker who should draw a lot of interest on Day Three from teams that run the 4-3 defense. He has good size, instincts and lateral athleticism, and is a sound tackler who makes plays all over the field.

Klein is best suited to play outside linebacker in a 4-3, but could play on the inside as well. He does not have explosive speed or pass-rushing ability, but would make a very good three-position backup linebacker as well as a special teams contributor.

5. Gerald Hodges, OLB, Penn State

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4

Gerald Hodges was not the star of the Penn State linebacker corps in his senior season, but with a well-rounded game and clean bill of health, he is the best pro prospect from the Nittany Lions defense. Hodges is an athletic and active linebacker with a nose for the football and great instincts.

Hodges makes tackles in space well, and he is a very good cover linebacker. His drops into coverage are smooth, and he has very good ball skills for a linebacker.

Hodges is an undersized player and not an imposing pass-rusher. With his all-around game, however, he is a good fit to play weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense.

4. Rashard Hall, FS, Clemson

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4

Clemson free safety Rashard Hall is one of the more underappreciated defensive backs in the 2013 NFL draft. He has good size and athleticism, is an effective short and deep cover safety and a solid tackler.

Hall can play receivers over the middle physically, and does not give up many big plays over the top. He does not have outstanding ball skills or playmaking ability, but was a four-year starter at Clemson who has proven he has the all-around game to at least be a solid third safety and special teams contributor at the next level.

3. Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina

East, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4

Devin Taylor was overshadowed at South Carolina by the defensive end who started opposite him (sophomore Jadeveon Clowney), but he has big upside in his own right. Taylor has outstanding size (6’7”, 275 pounds) and length, while he has the athleticism of a smaller defensive end.

Taylor remains a raw talent whose productivity never lived up to his potential, and he does not have great quickness or pass-rush moves. He has good movement skills for his size, however, and with good strength as well, he presents a tough matchup for any opposing offensive lineman.

Taylor needs to become a more refined technician, and he may never be a particularly disruptive player at the next level. But with a great physical skill set and big upside, he is worth a shot as an early Day Three selection as a developmental defensive end prospect, especially for a team with a 3-4 defense looking for another defensive end.

2. Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State

West, East-West Shrine Game

Grade: Round 4

While the quarterback from Kansas State may be the most-hyped prospect playing in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game, the best player on the field may actually be his college teammate, cornerback Nigel Malone.

Malone is a skilled cornerback who could end up being a late Day Two draft selection. He does not have great measurables, but he is a good cover corner with great ball skills and fluid movement skills.

He plays with physicality and is a solid tackler. He has the potential to be a very good nickel cornerback at the next level, and is a sleeper you should pay attention to as you watch the East-West Shrine Game.

1. Bruce Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech

National, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Grade: Round 4

Most of the prospects on this list are playing in the Shrine Game, but the highest-rated player on my board had to settle for a spot in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. That player, Virginia Tech’s Bruce Taylor, should stand out on the field.

Taylor is a talented and versatile linebacker with the measurables and skill set to play any linebacker position.

He is a very good run-stopping linebacker: He is very good at making stops inside around the line of scrimmage, and also has the athleticism to make plays all over the field. He can also line up outside and rush the passer, something he did effectively in a situational role at Virginia Tech.

As a result of his well-rounded skill set, Taylor can play any position from middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense to outside linebacker in a 3-4. He is not a huge playmaker, but he can be a very valuable chip to a team looking for a linebacker who can play in a rotational role in multiple spots on the defense.

Dan Hope is an NFL draft Featured Columnist and the New England Patriots game-day correspondent for Bleacher Report.

Follow @Dan_Hope