Mel's Top players Report

Defensive End is not especially strong this season, with one or two first round prospects. Though the high end isn't great, the middle depth may be a hair better than in recent seasons.

Interceptions: 1 for 6 return yards, 6 longest
Fumble recoveries: 2
Tackles: 157
Sacks: 46, 2 safeties

Pros
The only sure first round pick from this group. Adams racked up the most tackles among the top defensive ends--always a good sign for an end. He also made his share of big plays. Strong and agile with a top-notch mental game.

Cons
Not as fast as some teams would like. Could use some conditioning work. Stats are solid, but not eye-popping.

Conclusion
Adams looks like a solid three-down end. He may not be the next superstar end, but he has the look of a long-term starter. Nab him in the middle or late first.
 

Interceptions: 1 for 5 return yards, 5 longest
Punt Returns: 1 return, 0 yards, 0 longest, 1 TD
Fumble recoveries: 4
Tackles: 129
Sacks: 48, 4 safeties

Pros
The only Hall of Fame player among the top ends this season. All the speed and quickness you could ask for in an end. Great conditioning. Slightly better knack for big plays than Larry Adams.

Cons
Konte had better be really quick, because he doesn't bring a lot of power to the table, and he made significantly fewer stops than Adams. His average smarts may make him more mistake prone than many players.


Conclusion
Konte looks more like a pass rusher than a run stuffer, but his explosiveness is borne out by his stats. Konte looks like a guy who can have an impact. Late first is possible for a team targeting DE, but more likely a second or early third round player.
 

Fumble recoveries: 4
Tackles: 95
Sacks: 44, 2 safeties

Pros
Productive pass rusher. A quick, powerful player who looks like a real stud in terms of physical ability. Can play inside or out.

Cons
And he is a stud if you only play him on third down. Any more action may tire him out quickly. Well behind the top players in terms of tackles. Lacks discipline and may miss out on big play opportunities as a result. Maybe he should have stayed in school another year to round out his game.

Conclusion
Howard looks like a top spot player. Just don't put him on the field every down. He's a guy who could be worth a shot in the second if you think you can train up that endurance. Otherwise, he's probably an early third rounder because of his shortcomings.
 

Tackles: 145
Sacks: 47, 1 safety

Pros
Quick and powerful defender. Shows by sheer number of tackles that he stands in against the run as well as any defender in this draft. He'll stay at home to make plays. Showed that he can pressure a passser.

Cons
No student of the game, and while he may get some sacks he didn't exactly rack up the big plays. Strictly an end; gets swallowed up if you try to play him inside.

Conclusion
Could be a productive spot-starter who does everything you need an end to do. An early or middle third round pick ought to get him.
 

Fumble recoveries: 2
Tackles: 92
Sacks: 20

Pros
Quick and disciplined defender who has the conditioning to play a lot of downs for a team.

Cons
Stats and scouts show him well behind the other players on this list. Lacks footspeed and power. Not all that bright.

Conclusion
Fourth round prospect.
 

DE Terrence Jackson

After scout evaluations Ken Scott shapes up the class of the draft. Overall this looks like a strong group at defensive tackle, with two or three first round prospects. Have the scouts overrated the position as a whole?

Fumble recoveries: 4, 1 TD
Tackles: 300
Sacks: 124, 1 safety

Pros
You could write a novel on Scott's pros. Great stats, great scout evaluations, Hall of Fame membership. 300 tackles! 124 sacks!! He even put points on the board. Scott is a real presence in the middle of a defense.

Cons
Maybe he could be a bit faster, more agile or more disciplined, but the room for improvement isn't great. Considering what he did in college, how bad can he be?

Conclusion
Not just a great defensive tackle prospect, Scott is also the frontrunner for president and has been nominated for sainthood while still living. What are you waiting for? Take him first overall, already!
 

Fumble recoveries: 2
Tackles: 134
Sacks: 20, 1 safety

Pros
Great speed and mental game. Fast enough to play on the end, and fit enough to start for any team. Made a few big plays.

Cons
Not as quick as you'd like, and it shows in his sack totals. Only average power, and it shows in his tackle totals.

Conclusion
Kinney has gaudy scout numbers and looks like a top 5 selection based on that alone. I don't think he's going to bear out that ranking. He still should be a lock for the first round, but I see him going more toward the middle of the round.
 

Interceptions: 2 for 6 return yards, 5 longest
Fumble recoveries: 3
Tackles: 152
Sacks: 42

Pros
In nearly every respect his production outpaced Kinney's. He landed a coveted spot in the Hall of Fame. Powerful, well conditioned and agile.

Cons
Not a particularly fast player. Like Kinney, Bingham could be a bit quicker, though Bingham's production suggests that he's quick enough to have an impact.

Conclusion
A true tackle who has the look of a starter in NPL. Bingham fits as an early to middle second round prospect.
 

Fumble recoveries: 1
Tackles: 92
Sacks: 39, 1 safety

Pros
Smart, disciplined player with great speed.

Cons
Not overly powerful or athletic. Could get swallowed up on the interior at times.


Conclusion
Hunt scored a high ratio of sacks to tackles, and there are NPL teams that could use that kind of production. Middle to late second round prospect.
 

Tackles: 99
Sacks: 30

Pros
Powerful and explosive tackle with a good feel for the game. Rates just a hair lower than Alonzo Hunt.

Cons
Terrible conditioning, underscored by underwhelming production. Marginal ability to stay free on the interior.

Conclusion
A plugger who may be as suited to end as to tackle. Late second round.
 

DT Roger Ismail

With two first-rate prospects and a third who could inch into the first round, linebacker looks like a strong position at the top of the 2013 draft.

Interceptions: 7 for 154 return yards, 58 longest, 2 TD
Fumble recoveries: 4, 1 TD
Tackles: 379
Sacks: 45, 3 safeties

Pros
Extremely productive 'backer who would have been even more productive but for an injury during his senior year. Prototypical linebacker and an elite prospect.

Cons
Maybe his hands could be better, but he was rated as high as any of the linebackers in hands, which usually points to the scouts. If you have doubts about whether it was the player or the scouts, look at his interception numbers.

Conclusion
A clear top-10 player in this draft, could even be a top 5 player if you think the scouts were unnecessarily harsh on LB hand ratings.
 

Interceptions: 3 for 24 return yards, 20 longest
Fumble recoveries: 8
Tackles: 465
Sacks: 67, 3 safeties

Pros
Another prototype linebacker, who may even be more athletic than Bobby Jolley. Tremendous sack production in college. Very few chinks in his armor.

Cons
Could be something of a light hitter. Lightly knocked opposing ballcarriers to the ground 465 times in college.

Conclusion
An absolutely outstanding 'backer, who should join Jolley in getting picked during the first half of the first round. Could even sneak past Jolley if a team less concerned about power in their LB corps targets him.
 

Interceptions: 1 for 5 return yards, 5 longest
Fumble recoveries: 1
Tackles: 356
Sacks: 41, 1 safety

Pros
On pace to out-perform Hillier and Jolley if he had stayed in school for his senior year. Outstanding physical specemin who compares well to Jolley and Hillier.

Cons
Conditioning may force him into a backup role, at least early on. Not as much of a student of the game as Jolley and Hillier. Could have used another year in college to round out his resume.

Conclusion
Strict number crunching says Tabari goes in the middle or late second, but I think he has a strong possibility of going as early as the late first.
 

Interceptions: 1 for 12 return yards, 12 longest
Fumble recoveries: 7, 1 TD
Tackles: 180
Sacks: 18

Pros
A speedy, smart and disciplined player who has a knack for picking up fumbles.

Cons
Good, but not great in most respects. Comparing his production to the top guys or even Jose Houllis puts into perspective just how big a step down Gadsden is. Difficult to say Gadsden.

Conclusion
Early fourth round pick.
 

Interceptions: 4 for 14 return yards, 6 longest
Fumble recoveries: 5
Tackles: 225
Sacks: 11

Pros
Fast, quick and athletic player who was fairly productive. Knows his assignments.

Cons
Poor conditioning and weak upper body make him a likely career backup.

Conclusion
Middle fourth round is soon enough.
 

LB Jon Roan

With as many as three first round prospects, this is a strong position, led by the tremendous Michael Otero.

Interceptions: 6 for 131 return yards, 61 longest
Fumble recoveries: 4
Tackles: 272
Sacks: 2

Pros
A polished corner who did everything you could have asked an NPLCAA player to do in college. Great speed and coverage ability, along with starting-calibre endurance. Terrific 61 yard interception return.

Cons
Could be quicker at the snap. Above-average mental game but not top-notch.

Conclusion
If you're wondering who could go second overall, you certainly have to throw Otero's hat into the ring. It would be a surprise if he fell out of the top five.
 

Interceptions: 2 for 47 return yards, 27 longest
Fumble recoveries: 1
Tackles: 263
Sacks: 1

Pros
Slick and smart coverage player who can play all day.

Cons
Austin's strengths are truly outstanding, but other than those few strengths he does not look like an elite player. May need to learn how to play within a scheme better.

Conclusion
Middle to late first round.
 

Interceptions: 10 for 138 return yards, 26 longest, 1 TD
Tackles: 251
Sacks: 3

Pros
A college interception machine who may have had opposing quarterbacks too frightened to throw at him. A smart corner who hits like a sledgehammer. Found the end zone.

Cons
No significant weaknesses, but also not really outstanding in any way once you get past the picks.

Conclusion
Blackshear could sneak into the first round if a corner-needy team likes him, and he should go no later than the early second.
 

Interceptions: 4 for 41 return yards, 21 longest
Tackles: 212
Sacks: 1

Pros
Brings the top speed that Austin and Blackshear lack. A hard hitting, smart player with good coverage skills.

Cons
Could be quicker at the snap. Needs badly to work on conditioning. May have trouble staying within a scheme.

Conclusion
Early third round prospect unless concerns about his conditioning drop him lower.
 

Interceptions: 3 for 53 return yards, 21 longest
Fumble recoveries: 1
Tackles: 178
Sacks: 3

Pros
Fine speed player who has quickness and good man coverage skills.

Cons
A light hitter who needs to improve his strength and conditioning. No student of the game.

Conclusion
Take him in the middle of the third.
 

CB Walter Downing

This season Safety boasts some promising players who have some big questions to answer. There are one to two first round prospects, but it's not clear prior to invites that any of these players is the answer.

Interceptions: 7 for 74 return yards, 25 longest
Punt Returns: 1 return, 1 yard, 1 longest
KO Returns: 2 returns, 8 yards, 4 longest
Fumble recoveries: 4
Tackles: 317
Sacks: 3

Pros
Quick, smart and agile defender who hits like a Mack truck. Posted college numbers as good as the best safeties in most any year.

Cons
Fields looks like a rock solid prospect except for very real questions about his speed. Slow defensive backs are killers, and teams will be bringing him in for workouts to see exactly where the truth lies.

Conclusion
Middle first rounder who could fall to the early second if fears about his speed bear out.
 

Interceptions: 6 for 168 return yards, 86 longest, 1 TD
KO Returns: 3 returns, 9 yards, 5 longest
Fumble recoveries: 2
Tackles: 288
Sacks: 10

Pros
Academic All-American who brought home plenty of picks, including an impressive 86 yard long. Found the end zone. Good coverage skills and outstanding sack numbers. In another season Watts might have been at the top of this list.

Cons
Needs to answer questions about his quickness off the ball, though his sack total is encouraging in speaking for his quickness. May wind up being a better fit in zone than in man coverage. Needs to play within the scheme.

Conclusion
In some ways Watts looks even better than Fields, but like Fields he has some questions to answer. Solid second round player who could find his way into the first round if he gives the right answers.
 

Interceptions: 1 for 7 return yards, 7 longest
KO Returns: 1 return, 3 yards, 3 longest
Fumble recoveries: 3, 1 TD
Tackles: 243
Sacks: 5, 1 safety

Pros
Smart, hard-hitting defender who could run a triathlon and have energy left at the end for a quick 18 holes. Quick off the ball. Found the end zone and generally made some big plays.

Cons
Poor production in terms of interceptions. Significant questions about his speed and hands.

Conclusion
Middle to late second round pick.
 

Interceptions: 3 for 14 return yards, 8 longest
Fumble recoveries: 3
Tackles: 304
Sacks: 1

Pros
Great mentals and solid man coverage ability.

Cons
Speed and quickness are lacking, which may keep limit Swindall to playing zone defenses.

Conclusion
Middle third rounder.
 

Interceptions: 2 for 13 return yards, 10 longest
Fumble recoveries: 2
Tackles: 239

Pros
Hard hitter with decent athleticism and conditioning. Plays smart.

Cons
Lacks speed and explosiveness off the ball. May be a bit of a freelancer.

Conclusion
Yet another slowish but smart safety. Do you really need him before the fourth round?
 

S Mike Dercher