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The college football regular season ends this weekend, with the famed Army-Navy game serving as a fantastic finish to the season. That leaves bowl games and the College Football Playoff as all that separates us from draft season being here at 100 percent.

There are key dates coming up on the calendar: January 16 is the deadline for underclassmen to declare—and those decisions are starting to leak out—and January 30 is the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Those two events will shake up the Big Board in a huge way, and give some much-needed clarity to the draft picture. Until then, this Big Board is based on intel on which players will be entering the draft and which will be staying in school. 

As of December 10, this is how the top 100 players in the draft shake out. Of course, one of my 10 Scouting Rules is that all grades should be fluid and revisited, so expect these to change between now and the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

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How does the 2016 draft class look compared to previous seasons? 

In terms of talent at the top of the class, it's fair to say 2016 is comparable to 2015 but nowhere near close to 2014. As far as depth, this year doesn't have the depth that last year's draft featured, but it's much better than the famous 2013 draft class. In the last five years of drafts, this year's looks to be fourth-best (2014, 2012, 2015, this year, and 2013 in last place), but there is room for that to change if some juniors surprise us all and head back to school. 

The strengths of this class reside at defensive line and linebacker. There are 13 players in the top 32 along the defensive line, and four linebackers help to round out what looks like a very good defensive class. The weakness, though, will be at key spots like quarterback, safety and tight end.  

You might not hear many say quarterback is a weakness, but outside of Jared Goff at No. 1 overall—a spot he's fighting to keep with Jaylon Smith and Joey Bosa being exceptional prospects—there isn't a passer in this class I'd compare to the 2014 or 2015 top passers. Paxton Lynch of Memphis doesn't currently grade out as better than Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. That, of course, can change with more film study.

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Most NFL-Ready: Connor Cook, Michigan State

Best Arm: Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

Best Runner: Trevone Boykin, TCU

Best Potential: Cardale Jones, Ohio State

Biggest Question Mark: Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

Biggest Sleeper: Carson Wentz, North Dakota State

Biggest Riser: Brandon Allen, Arkansas

Biggest Faller: Cardale Jones, Ohio State

BRADLEY LEEB/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Best Third-Down Back: C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame

Best Speed: Byron Marshall, Oregon

Best Power: Derrick Henry, Alabama

Best Potential: Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

Biggest Question Mark: Derrick Henry, Alabama

Biggest Sleeper: Alex Collins, Arkansas

Biggest Riser: Jordan Howard, Indiana

Biggest Faller: James Conner, Pittsburgh

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss

Best Boundary Receiver: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss

Best Slot Receiver: Corey Coleman, Baylor

Best Hands: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss

Best Route-Runner: Tyler Boyd, Pitt

Best Potential: Michael Thomas, Ohio State

Biggest Question Mark: Leonte Carroo, Rutgers

Biggest Sleeper: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

Biggest Riser: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

Biggest Faller: Kenny Lawler, California

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: O.J. Howard, Alabama

Best Slot Tight End: Evan Engram, Ole Miss

Best Hands: Hunter Henry, Arkansas

Best Route-Runner: Hunter Henry, Arkansas

Best Blocker: O.J. Howard, Alabama

Biggest Question Mark: O.J. Howard, Alabama

Biggest Sleeper: Nick Vannett, Ohio State

Biggest Riser: Jordan Leggett, Clemson

Biggest Faller: Evan Engram, Ole Miss

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Most NFL-Ready: Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame

Best Run-Blocker: Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

Best Pass-Blocker: Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame

Best Potential: Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M

Biggest Question Mark: Shon Coleman, Auburn

Biggest Sleeper: Tyler Johnstone, Oregon

Lowest Risk: Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame

Biggest Riser: Shon Coleman, Auburn

Biggest Faller: Jason Spriggs, Indiana

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Most NFL-Ready: Vadal Alexander, LSU

Best Run-Blocker: Denver Kirkland, Arkansas

Best Pass-Blocker: Vadal Alexander, LSU

Biggest Upside: Landon Turner, North Carolina

Biggest Question Mark: Aaron Morris, Ole Miss

Biggest Sleeper: Cody Whitehair, Kansas State

Biggest Riser: Denver Kirkland, Arkansas

Biggest Faller: Greg Pyke, Georgia

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Max Tuerk, USC

Best Run-Blocker: Ryan Kelly, Alabama

Best Pass-Blocker: Max Tuerk, USC

Best Upside: Evan Boehm, Missouri

Biggest Question Mark: Dan Voltz, Wisconsin

Biggest Sleeper: Cole Toner, Harvard

Biggest Riser: Ryan Kelly, Alabama

Biggest Faller: Mike Matthews, Texas A&M

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Best Run-Stopper: Jonathan Bullard, Florida

Best 4-3 Defensive End: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Best 3-4 Outside Linebacker: Leonard Floyd, Georgia

Best Pass-Rusher: Joey Bosa, Ohio State

Best Potential: Vince Biegel, Wisconsin

Biggest Question Mark: Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky

Biggest Sleeper: Vince Biegel, Wisconsin

Biggest Riser: Leonard Floyd, Georgia

Biggest Faller: Kemoko Turay, Rutgers

 

2016 Edge-Defender Rankings

Rank	Player	School
1	Joey Bosa	Ohio State
2	Leonard Floyd	Georgia
3	Shaq Lawson	Clemson
4	Emmanuel Ogbah	Oklahoma State
5	Noah Spence	Eastern Kentucky
6	Jordan Jenkins	Georgia
7	Vince Biegel	Wisconsin
8	Jonathan Bullard	Florida
9	Jonathan Allen	Alabama
10	Kamalei Correa	Boise State

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Best Run-Stopper: Kenny Clark, UCLA

Best Nose Tackle: Kenny Clark, UCLA

Best 3-4 Defensive End: DeForest Buckner, Oregon

Best 3-Technique: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Best Pass-Rusher: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Best Potential: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss

Biggest Question Mark: Shawn Oakman, Baylor

Biggest Sleeper: Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech

Biggest Riser: Jarran Reed, Alabama

Biggest Faller: Adolphus Washington, Ohio State

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Best Weak-Side Linebacker: Myles Jack, UCLA

Best Strong-Side Linebacker: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri

Best Inside Linebacker: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Best Run-Stopper: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri

Best Pass-Rusher: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Best Pass Coverage: Myles Jack, UCLA

Best Potential: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

Biggest Question Mark: Eric Striker, Oklahoma

Biggest Sleeper: Kyler Fackrell, Utah State

Biggest Riser: Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn

Biggest Faller: Scooby Wright, Auburn

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Most NFL-Ready: Vernon Hargreaves, Florida

Best Man Coverage: Mackensie Alexander, Clemson

Best Zone Coverage: Vernon Hargreaves, Florida

Best Potential: Mackensie Alexander, Clemson

Biggest Question Mark: KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame

Biggest Sleeper: Michael Jordan, Missouri Western

Biggest Riser: Mackensie Alexander, Clemson

Biggest Faller: Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Most NFL-Ready: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

Best Coverage: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

Best Strong Safety: Vonn Bell, Ohio State

Best Free Safety: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

Best Run-Stopper: Jeremy Cash, Duke

Best Potential: Jalen Ramsey, Florida State

Biggest Question Mark: Jalen Mills, LSU

Biggest Sleeper: Darian Thompson, Boise State