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Matt Miller's Early 2015 NFL Draft Big Board
May 12, 2014Matt Miller's Early 2015 NFL Draft Big Board
The 2014 NFL draft was one of the deepest in recent memory. Next year's crop of talent may not live up to the 2014 class, but it is still a very deep group heading into this fall.
A group loaded at offensive tackle, defensive end and running back will excite fans who love watching the ball in the trenches, but it's the top three quarterbacks who will draw the most attention. Florida State's Jameis Winston, Oregon's Marcus Mariota and UCLA's Brett Hundley will be the driving force for much of the national coverage of this class—and for good reason, as all three have top-five talent.
With these top three signal-callers expected to compete for the Heisman Trophy and the chance to be selected No. 1 overall in 2015, expect plenty of coverage surrounding each of them this season. But what about the rest of the class?
Here's an early look at the top 10 players at each position this season. Think of this as a watch list—not a definitive ranking but a good starting point for the preseason evaluation period.
Quarterbacks
Best Prospect: Marcus Mariota
Most NFL-Ready: Jameis Winston
Best Arm: Brett Hundley
Best Runner: Marcus Mariota
Best Potential: Marcus Mariota
Biggest Question Mark: Jameis Winston
Biggest Sleeper: Gunner Kiel
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon | 6'4" | 212 | rJr |
| 2 | Brett Hundley | UCLA | 6'3" | 222 | rJr |
| 3 | Jameis Winston | Florida State | 6'4" | 228 | rSo |
| 4 | Bryce Petty | Baylor | 6'2" | 230 | rSr |
| 5 | Sean Mannion | Oregon State | 6'4" | 220 | rSr |
| 6 | Kevin Hogan | Stanford | 6'4" | 228 | rJr |
| 7 | Gunner Kiel | Cincinnati | 6'4" | 208 | rSo |
| 8 | Taylor Kelly | Arizona State | 6'1" | 204 | rSr |
| 9 | Chuckie Keeton | Utah State | 6'1" | 200 | Sr |
| 10 | Braxton Miller | Ohio State | 6'1" | 215 | Sr |
Running Backs
Most NFL-Ready: Todd Gurley
Best Third-Down Back: Melvin Gordon
Best Speed: Melvin Gordon
Best Power: Todd Gurley
Best Potential: Mike Davis
Biggest Question Mark: Malcolm Brown
Biggest Sleeper: Jay Ajayi
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Todd Gurley | Georgia | 6'1" | 232 | Jr |
| 2 | T.J. Yeldon | Alabama | 6'1" | 218 | Jr |
| 3 | Melvin Gordon | Wisconsin | 6'1" | 207 | rJr |
| 4 | Mike Davis | South Carolina | 5'9" | 215 | Jr |
| 5 | Karlos Williams | Florida State | 6'1" | 223 | Sr |
| 6 | Ameer Abdullah | Nebraska | 5'9" | 190 | Sr |
| 7 | Malcolm Brown | Texas | 5'11" | 225 | Sr |
| 8 | Duke Johnson | Miami (Fla.) | 5'9" | 196 | Jr |
| 9 | Jay Ajayi | Boise State | 5'11" | 220 | rJr |
| 10 | Kenyan Drake | Alabama | 6'0" | 202 | Jr |
Wide Receiver
Most NFL-Ready: Amari Cooper
Best Boundary Receiver: Dorial Green-Beckham
Best Slot Receiver: Rashad Greene
Best Hands: Amari Cooper
Best Route-Runner: Nelson Agholor
Best Potential: Dorial Green-Beckham
Biggest Question Mark: Dorial Green-Beckham
Biggest Sleeper: DeVante Parker
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Amari Cooper | Alabama | 6'1" | 205 | Jr |
| 2 | Dorial Green-Beckham | Missouri* | 6'5" | 225 | Jr |
| 3 | Nelson Agholor | USC | 6'0" | 185 | Jr |
| 4 | Ty Montgomery | Stanford | 6'2" | 215 | Sr |
| 5 | Rashad Greene | Florida State | 6'0" | 180 | Sr |
| 6 | DeVante Parker | Louisville | 6'2" | 209 | Sr |
| 7 | Jaelen Strong | Arizona State | 6'4" | 205 | rJr |
| 8 | Kasen Williams | Washington | 6'2" | 212 | Sr |
| 9 | Christion Jones | Alabama | 5'11" | 185 | Sr |
| 10 | Tyler Lockett | Kansas State | 5'11" | 175 | Sr |
*Wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was dismissed from Missouri and has not yet signed on with another school.
Tight Ends
Most NFL-Ready: Nick O'Leary
Best Slot Tight End: Devin Funchess
Best Hands: Nick O'Leary
Best Route-Runner: Ben Koyack
Best Blocker: Ben Koyack
Best Power: Clive Walford
Biggest Question Mark: Rory Anderson
Biggest Sleeper: Pharaoh Brown
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Nick O'Leary | Florida State | 6'3" | 248 | Sr |
| 2 | Ben Koyack | Notre Dame | 6'5" | 261 | Sr |
| 3 | Devin Funchess | Michigan | 6'5" | 235 | Jr |
| 4 | Rory Anderson | South Carolina | 6'5" | 252 | Sr |
| 5 | Pharaoh Brown | Oregon | 6'5" | 241 | Jr |
| 6 | E.J. Bibbs | Iowa State | 6'3" | 252 | Sr |
| 7 | Randall Telfer | USC | 6'4" | 250 | rSr |
| 8 | Clive Walford | Miami (Fla.) | 6'4" | 259 | rSr |
| 9 | C.J. Uzomah | Auburn | 6'3" | 258 | Sr |
| 10 | Jeff Heuerman | Ohio State | 6'5" | 262 | Sr |
Offensive Tackles
Most NFL-Ready: Brandon Scherff
Best Run-Blocker: Brandon Scherff
Best Pass-Blocker: Cedric Ogbuehi
Best Potential: Cedric Ogbuehi
Biggest Question Mark: Spencer Drango
Biggest Sleeper: Jake Fisher
Lowest Risk: Cedric Ogbuehi
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Cedric Ogbuehi | Texas A&M | 6'5" | 300 | rSr |
| 2 | Brandon Scherff | Iowa | 6'5" | 315 | rSr |
| 3 | Andrus Peat | Stanford | 6'6" | 312 | Jr |
| 4 | Cameron Erving | Florida State | 6'5" | 320 | rSr |
| 5 | La'El Collins | LSU | 6'5" | 315 | Sr |
| 6 | Eric Lefeld | Cincinnati | 6'5" | 309 | rSr |
| 7 | Spencer Drango | Baylor | 6'5" | 315 | rJr |
| 8 | Daryl Williams | Oklahoma | 6'5" | 321 | rSr |
| 9 | Sean Hickey | Syracuse | 6'5" | 291 | rSr |
| 10 | Jake Fisher | Oregon | 6'5" | 292 | Sr |
Interior Offensive Line
Most NFL-Ready: Tre' Jackson
Best Run-Blocker: Reese Dismukes
Best Pass-Blocker: Tre' Jackson
Best Center: Hroniss Grasu
Best Guard: Tre' Jackson
Biggest Question Mark: Shaquille Mason
Biggest Sleeper: B.J. Finney
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Tre' Jackson | Florida State | 6'4" | 330 | Sr |
| 2 | Hroniss Grasu | Oregon | 6'5" | 225 | rSr |
| 3 | Laken Tomlinson | Duke | 6'3" | 320 | rSr |
| 4 | Reese Dismukes | Auburn | 6'2" | 298 | Sr |
| 5 | Arie Kouandjio | Alabama | 6'5" | 315 | rSr |
| 6 | B.J. Finney | Kansas State | 6'3" | 303 | rSr |
| 7 | A.J. Cann | South Carolina | 6'3" | 314 | rSr |
| 8 | Shaquille Mason | Georgia Tech | 6'1" | 305 | Sr |
| 9 | Malcolm Bunche | UCLA | 6'6" | 327 | rSr |
| 10 | Dallas Lewallen | Wisconsin | 6'5" | 322 | rSr |
Defensive Ends
Most NFL-Ready: Randy Gregory
Best Run-Stopper: Shawn Oakman
Best 3-4 Defensive End: Shawn Oakman
Best 4-3 Right End: Randy Gregory
Best 4-3 Left End: Cedric Reed
Best 3-4 Outside Linebacker: Randy Gregory
Best Pass-Rusher: Randy Gregory
Best Potential: Randy Gregory
Biggest Question Mark: Noah Spence
Biggest Sleeper: Markus Golden
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Randy Gregory | Nebraska | 6'5" | 255 | Sr |
| 2 | Shawn Oakman | Baylor | 6'9" | 275 | Jr |
| 3 | Cedric Reed | Texas | 6'5" | 258 | Sr |
| 4 | Shilique Calhoun | Michigan State | 6'4" | 250 | rJr |
| 5 | Trey Flowers | Arkansas | 6'3" | 262 | Sr |
| 6 | Markus Golden | Missouri | 6'3" | 260 | rSr |
| 7 | Mario Edwards | Florida State | 6'4" | 277 | Jr |
| 8 | Tony Washington | Oregon | 6'3" | 243 | rSr |
| 9 | Jeremiah Rasco | LSU | 6'2" | 262 | Sr |
| 10 | Noah Spence | Ohio State | 6'3" | 252 | Jr |
Defensive Tackles
Most NFL-Ready: Michael Bennett
Best Run-Stopper: Leonard Williams
Best Nose Tackle: Danny Shelton
Best 3-4 Defensive End: Leonard Williams
Best 3-Technique: Michael Bennett
Best Pass-Rusher: Michael Bennett
Best Potential: Leonard Williams
Biggest Question Mark: Arik Armstead
Biggest Sleeper: Leon Orr
Lowest Risk: Michael Bennett
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Michael Bennett | Ohio State | 6'3" | 285 | Sr |
| 2 | Leonard Williams | USC | 6'4" | 290 | Jr |
| 3 | Brandon Ivory | Alabama | 6'3" | 310 | Sr |
| 4 | Danny Shelton | Washington | 6'1" | 327 | Sr |
| 5 | Carl Davis | Iowa | 6'4" | 315 | Sr |
| 6 | Arik Armstead | Oregon | 6'7" | 292 | Jr |
| 7 | Brandon Ivory | Alabama | 6'3" | 310 | rSr |
| 8 | Leon Orr | Florida | 6'4" | 302 | rSr |
| 9 | Christian Covington | Rice | 6'2" | 295 | Jr |
| 10 | Travis Raciti | San Jose State | 6'5" | 290 | rSr |
Outside Linebackers
Most NFL-Ready: Vic Beasley
Best 4-3 Weakside Linebacker: Vic Beasley
Best 4-3 Strongside Linebacker: Benardrick McKinney
Best 3-4 Outside Linebacker: Vic Beasley
Best Run-Stopper: Jordan Jenkins
Best Pass-Rusher: Vic Beasley
Best Pass Coverage: Derrick Malone
Best Potential: Shaq Thompson
Biggest Question Mark: Jordan Hicks
Biggest Sleeper: Kyler Fackrell
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Vic Beasley | Clemson | 6'2" | 235 | rSr |
| 2 | Dante Fowler | Florida | 6'3" | 277 | Jr |
| 3 | Benardrick McKinney | Miss. State | 6'5" | 225 | Jr |
| 4 | Jordan Jenkins | Georgia | 6'2" | 246 | Jr |
| 5 | Eric Striker | Oklahoma | 6'2" | 215 | Jr |
| 6 | Derrick Malone | Oregon | 6'2" | 216 | rSr |
| 7 | Ishaq Williams | Notre Dame | 6'5" | 261 | Sr |
| 8 | Jordan Hicks | Texas | 6'2" | 238 | rSr |
| 9 | Shaq Thompson | Washington | 6'2" | 225 | Jr |
| 10 | Xzavier Dickson | Alabama | 6'2" | 265 | Sr |
Inside Linebackers
Most NFL-Ready: Denzel Perryman
Best vs. Inside Run: Trey DePriest
Best vs. Outside Run: Denzel Perryman
Best Pass Coverage: Denzel Perryman
Best Potential: Trey DePriest
Biggest Question Mark: A.J. Johnson
Biggest Sleeper: Bryce Hager
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Denzel Perryman | Miami (Fla.) | 6'0" | 240 | Sr |
| 2 | Trey DePriest | Alabama | 6'2" | 245 | Sr |
| 3 | Ramik Wilson | Georgia | 6'2" | 232 | Sr |
| 4 | A.J. Johnson | Tennessee | 6'2" | 243 | Sr |
| 5 | Kris Frost | Auburn | 6'2" | 238 | rJr |
| 6 | Jabari Hunt-Days | Georgia Tech | 6'2" | 247 | rJr |
| 7 | Eric Kendricks | UCLA | 6'0" | 228 | rSr |
| 8 | Bryce Hager | Baylor | 6'1" | 235 | rSr |
| 9 | A.J. Tarpley | Stanford | 6'2" | 238 | rSr |
| 10 | Amarlo Herrera | Georgia | 6'1" | 244 | Sr |
Cornerbacks
Most NFL-Ready: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
Best Slot Cornerback: Quandre Diggs
Best Man Coverage: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
Best Zone Coverage: Quandre Diggs
Best Potential: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
Biggest Question Mark: Kevin Johnson
Biggest Sleeper: Deshazor Everett
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Ifo Ekpre-Olomu | Oregon | 5'10" | 185 | Sr |
| 2 | Quandre Diggs | Texas | 5'10" | 200 | Sr |
| 3 | Josh Shaw | USC | 6'1" | 195 | rSr |
| 4 | Kevin Johnson | Wake Forest | 6'2" | 215 | rSr |
| 5 | Deshazor Everett | Texas A&M | 6'0" | 185 | Sr |
| 6 | Wayne Lyons | Stanford | 6'1" | 196 | Sr |
| 7 | P.J. Williams | Florida State | 6'0" | 190 | Jr |
| 8 | Trae Waynes | Michigan State | 6'1" | 185 | rJr |
| 9 | Jalen Collins | LSU | 6'1" | 195 | rJr |
| 10 | Steven Nelson | Oregon State | 5'10" | 192 | Sr |
Safeties
Most NFL-Ready: Landon Collins
Best Coverage: Landon Collins
Best Strong Safety: Landon Collins
Best Free Safety: Jordan Richards
Best Run-Stopper: Cody Prewitt
Best Potential: Landon Collins
Biggest Question Mark: Sam Carter
Biggest Sleeper: Ronald Martin
| Rank | Player | School | Height | Weight | Class |
| 1 | Landon Collins | Alabama | 6'0" | 215 | Jr |
| 2 | Jordan Richards | Stanford | 5'11" | 208 | Sr |
| 3 | Derron Smith | Fresno State | 5'11" | 200 | rSr |
| 4 | Kurtis Drummond | Michigan State | 6'1" | 200 | rSr |
| 5 | Anthony Harris | Virginia | 6'1" | 190 | Sr |
| 6 | Karl Joseph | West Virginia | 5'11" | 200 | Jr |
| 7 | Ronald Martin | LSU | 6'1" | 218 | Sr |
| 8 | Cody Prewitt | Ole Miss | 6'2" | 220 | Sr |
| 9 | Sam Carter | TCU | 6'0" | 215 | rSr |
| 10 | Gerod Holliman | Louisville | 6'0" | 202 | Jr |