Mel

Mel's Top players Report

QUARTERBACKS

The scouts didn't think much of the quarterbacks' hands overall. This is a group that has one star and a big drop-off to several players with interesting qualities who are not locks to make it in the league.

QB Dat Stroud
Pros: Elite athlete with top positional skills.

Cons: Hands are as good as any quarterback in this draft, but are they
good in the objective sense?

Summary: Stroud is a first round lock. He could go very early if a team
feels a need. He could go first overall if the team picking thinks they
need a QB.

QB Terry Mcdowell
Pros: Great athlete with an arm and decision-making skills that are good
enough.

Cons: Lacks elite arm and understanding of the game.

Summary: Mcdowell slots in at the bottom of the fourth or top of the
fifth round. Someone will take him sooner, maybe as soon as the second
if they have a positional need.

QB Dave Zellars
Pros: Elite athlete.

Cons: Not an elite quarterback. Questionable arm strength. Needs to
improve his grasp of the position.

Summary: Zellars projects as a seventh round pick, though positional
need could push him higher.

QB Chris Bronson
Pros: Huge arm, great grasp of the passing game and the patience of a
New Orleans Saint.

Cons: Not much of an athlete. A bit of a statue. Not in great shape.

Summary: Pure pocket passer with a reasonable release and conditioning
issues. He might not have the ball-handling skills to lead a run-first
team. Bronson slots into the seventh round, though he could have enough
appeal to go a round earlier to a team that throws first.

Dark Horse Pick:
QB Fabian Burkhardt
Summary: Good arm but none too bright. Burkhardt will be fortunate to be
drafted, though positional need will probably see to it that he gets his
shot.

HALFBACKS

One star, three solid prospects and a huge drop-off characterize this class. Need may cause some of these players to be over-drafted.

HB Sean Chambers
Pros: Top athlete with a great mental game. Hands are good enough.

Cons: Conditioning is just okay. He will need to take a big step forward
in that sense to become a feature back.

Summary: One of the top players in the entire draft overall. Not a power
back, but a guy with all the skills you need as a halfback. Chambers is
a likely early first rounder

HB Ashley Butler
Pros: Elite athlete with good power. Fine conditioning. Knows how to use
his blockers.

Cons: May make a mistake or two, though not an undisciplined player on
the whole.

Summary: Clearly the second-best back in the draft, Butler projects to
the top of the second round. History says he'll be a first rounder, and
I can't disagree because in the right situation he has a shot at
becoming a star.

HB Jason Green
Pros: A true power back with fine athleticism. Tends to stay within the
scheme.

Cons: Decision-making and ball-handling could use improvement, though
neither is a glaring weakness.

Summary: An early third round prospect, Green could go sooner based on
the league-wide hunger for good halfbacks. I don't see him as a first
round prospect, but he would not be a huge reach starting in the middle
of the second.

HB Joe Walker
Pros: Very sound halfback in most respects, fast, athletic, powerful,
and smart.

Cons: Slower first step than you want in a starter and a tendency to
freelance.

Summary: A third round prospect with enough positional skill to rise to
the lower reaches of the second.

Dark Horse Pick:
HB Marcus Mock
Summary: Slow for a halfback, but quick and solid in the receiving game.
Look for him in the sixth or possibly the seventh.

FULLBACKS

There are no really compelling players at fullback in this draft. If the scouts were too hard on these guys there could be some great second-day bargains.

FB Joshua Mikell
Pros: Athletic and quick to the hole. Good receiver.

Cons: Just okay in most respects, including power and speed which are
important for a FB.

Summary: Mikell slots in as a middle fourth rounder. I think a team that
needs a young FB could spend a third on him, but I wouldn't go any
earlier on him without a personal invite. On scouts alone he appears to
be just a guy.

FB Zamir Small
Pros: As fast as any FB in this year's draft and an elite athlete with
excellent power to boot.

Cons: Not in great shape. Not the best decision maker.

Summary: Great athlete with shaky conditioning and mental game. The
scouts say fifth round, but I could see taking a chance on him in the
fourth.

FB Matt Hickenbotham
Pros: Powerful blocker in great shape. Solid agility.

Cons: Slow. Not a receiver. Lacks a great first step.

Summary: A plugger who could be good if he grows or have trouble
sticking on a roster if he doesnt. Get him in the sixth.

WIDE RECEIVERS

All the speed and talent are at the top of the list, which will result in some players being over-drafted. Still, there's no over-drafting for Nutter, who will compete to be the first overall pick. Matt Millen would love the NPL, where you can win taking receivers first overall. But don't worry. He'd still screw it up.

WR Gil Nutter
Pros: Amazing athletic abilities with soft hands. Top speed, a great
first step and plenty of ability to get open. A strong pattern runner
and knows the offense.

Cons: Doesn't block like a tight end, but you don't need a receiver to
do that.

Summary: Nutter has a legitimate shot at going first overall, and I'd be
surprised if he didn't get picked in the top three,

WR Scott Owens
Pros: As fast and quick as they come. Falls just short of elite in terms
of balance and body control, but just short of elite is still highly
effective. Great mental game.

Cons: Needs better conditioning and hands could be more reliable. A
non-factor blocking for the run.

Summary: Owens projects to the third round, but there's no way he lasts
that long. Despite holes in his game, he has the raw ability teams look
for in the first.

WR Wayne Thompson
Pros: A near-elite athlete in great condition. Should be a monster at
getting open and catching anything that comes his way.

Cons: Not the sharpest tool in the shed. He will make some mistakes. May
not have the top speed to be a big play guy.

Summary: Thompson slots into the third round, but more likely he goes
early in the second.

WR John Petty
Pros: Fast receiver with good hands and the ability to make nice cuts.
Great conditioning.

Cons: Just okay quickness. Not a student of the game, and he makes some
mistakes.

Summary: Petty slots in as a sixth rounder. Because of demand for
receivers and his decent speed he looks more like a fourth rounder to me.

Dark Horse Pick
WR Tony Hamiter
Summary: Despite less than blazing speed, Hamiter has the quickness and
athleticism to get open and the soft hands to make the catch. Can play
all day. His mental game is not his strength. Slots in as a sixth rounder.

TIGHT ENDS

This appears to be a fairly ordinary group, but there are blocking and receiving specialists who will be available in the middle rounds for teams in need.

TE J.J. Burke
Pros: Fast enough and quick. Can be a dominating blocker.

Cons: Not the best at getting open. He will make some mental mistakes.

Summary: Burke looks like a third rounder to the scouts, and he could
fall that far. He looks like a good enough blocker to potentially
warrant a second round pick.

TE Bill Landry
Pros: Quick athlete with the ability to get separation and reliable
hands. Great conditioning. Good route runner who doesn't often blow
assignments.

Cons: Not especially fast or powerful. Could use some time in the film room.

Summary: A slowish receiving tight end. That's not necessarily a bad
combination. Landry slots into the third round and has the potential to
be a steal for a passing team with speedy backs and wide receivers.

TE Chris Carlson
Pros: One of the better combinations of receiving and blocking skills in
this draft. Great conditioning. Nifty enough to get open frequently, and
a powerful blocker when he engages.

Cons: A little on the slow side, and may drop a few passes after he gets
free.

Summary: A fourth round prospect who could go a little later.

Dark Horse Pick
TE Mike Oben
Summary: Seventh round prospect who doesn't have much special going for
him as a receiver but who may be a decent blocking tight end for a
passing team.

CENTERS

Is it possible that the scouts were too tough on the speed of the centers overall? There are a couple of early round prospects and then some guys who will take some time to pan out.

C Brian Goodspeed
Pros: Lives up to his name as the fastest of the centers. Has the
quickness, athleticism and power to be sound blocking for both the run
and the pass.

Cons: Could be in better shape. Misses assignments occasionally.

Summary: A talented player who isn't a lock for greatness, but who has
more than enough going for him to get drafted in the second round.

C Bruce Valvo
Pros: Quality overall prospect who explodes in the run blocking game and
who has the finesse to block for the pass as well.

Cons: Could be in better shape. Mental game is good but not great.

Summary: A third round prospect who could move into the second based on
need but who should not fall.

C Leonard Stiles
Pros: Great burst and balance. Plenty of power. Excellent command of
blocking schemes.

Cons: Extremely slow and could be in better shape.

Summary: A quality fourth round prospect with some noteworthy strengths
and significant weaknesses.

Dark Horse Pick
C Daryl Armah
Summary: Very slow and could use some conditioning, but Armah has the
goods otherwise. He will make some team very happy in the fourth round.

GUARDS

The scouts are in love with guards this year. Like the children in Lake Woebegone, all the guards in this draft are above average. If the scouts are to be believed.

G Joe Tenner
Pros: Everything. Elite or close to it across the board. This is the top
ranked-player on my draft board. He has the look of a player who can
step in and start from day one and who has the versatility to play every
position on the line.

Cons: None to speak of.

Summary: A guard isn't likely to go first overall, but if the scouts
have Tenner's number, he should be gone early in the first round.

G Kerry Powell
Pros: The second-best guard, Kerry Powell isn't at the top of the charts
in every respect but he's very close in most of them.

Cons: No glaring holes.

Summary: Powell looks like a solid first rounder

G Larry Taylor
Pros: Some coaches like their guards a little slower. Taylor isn't too
slow, but he's not a sprinter either. Combined with elite athleticism
and power and a tremendous command of the game he will be exactly what
some owner is looking for.

Cons: Could be in better shape.

Summary: Taylor slots into the first round, though the fact that he's a
guard could push him into the second. If he is in better shape than
advertised he could be a real steal.

G Bob Brooks
Pros: Near-elite in most respects. Outstanding hands and mental game.

Cons: Needs to work on his cardiovascular.

Summary: A bit better blocking for the run than for the pass, Brooks
projects to the first round despite being the fourth-best guard. That
endurance will knock him into the second.

Dark Horse Pick:
G Jared Holden
Summary: Run blocking guard who is prone to mistakes. Still a quick and
powerful athlete who is in fine physical condition. He carries a second
round grade, but if the run teams don't take him he could slide to the
third.

TACKLES

Unless you think you can convert a stud guard--which isn't out of the question--this is a one-tackle draft. The rest are risky picks.

OT Alex Williams
Pros: Near-elite in most respects, with top power and great burst.

Cons: No glaring holes. Does not look like a top pass blocker, though he
should be fine in that role.

Summary: Williams won't be the first lineman off the board, but he
should make a fine late first round pick or early second rounder at worst.

OT Paul Hicks
Pros: Good burst and fine power. Good mental game.

Cons: Unexceptional foot-speed and conditioning. Not an elite pass blocker.

Summary: Hicks should find a home during the second round.

OT Corey Searcy
Pros: Powerful and athletic blocker in great condition. Good knowledge
of the game.

Cons: A bit of a plugger, lacking burst and foot-speed. Looks more like
a guard than a tackle. Makes a few mistakes.

Summary: Searcy slots into the fourth round, and with his weaknesses
that seems plenty soon enough.

Dark Horse Pick:
OT Thomas Freeman
Summary: More quick than fast and lacking both the power to dominate run
blocking and the finesse to be a premier pass blocker. Get him in the fifth.

QUARTERBACKS The scouts didn't think much of the quarterbacks' hands overall. This is a group that has one star and a big drop-off to several players with interesting qualities who are not locks to make it in the league.
QB Dat Stroud Pros: Elite athlete with top positional skills. Cons: Hands are as good as any quarterback in this draft, but are they good in the objective sense? Summary: Stroud is a first round lock. He could go very early if a team feels a need. He could go first overall if the team picking thinks they need a QB.
QB Terry Mcdowell Pros: Great athlete with an arm and decision-making skills that are good enough. Cons: Lacks elite arm and understanding of the game. Summary: Mcdowell slots in at the bottom of the fourth or top of the fifth round. Someone will take him sooner, maybe as soon as the second if they have a positional need.
QB Dave Zellars Pros: Elite athlete. Cons: Not an elite quarterback. Questionable arm strength. Needs to improve his grasp of the position. Summary: Zellars projects as a seventh round pick, though positional need could push him higher.
QB Chris Bronson Pros: Huge arm, great grasp of the passing game and the patience of a New Orleans Saint. Cons: Not much of an athlete. A bit of a statue. Not in great shape. Summary: Pure pocket passer with a reasonable release and conditioning issues. He might not have the ball-handling skills to lead a run-first team. Bronson slots into the seventh round, though he could have enough appeal to go a round earlier to a team that throws first.
Dark Horse Pick: QB Fabian Burkhardt Summary: Good arm but none too bright. Burkhardt will be fortunate to be drafted, though positional need will probably see to it that he gets his shot.

HALFBACKS One star, three solid prospects and a huge drop-off characterize this class. Need may cause some of these players to be over-drafted.
HB Sean Chambers Pros: Top athlete with a great mental game. Hands are good enough. Cons: Conditioning is just okay. He will need to take a big step forward in that sense to become a feature back. Summary: One of the top players in the entire draft overall. Not a power back, but a guy with all the skills you need as a halfback. Chambers is a likely early first rounder
HB Ashley Butler Pros: Elite athlete with good power. Fine conditioning. Knows how to use his blockers. Cons: May make a mistake or two, though not an undisciplined player on the whole. Summary: Clearly the second-best back in the draft, Butler projects to the top of the second round. History says he'll be a first rounder, and I can't disagree because in the right situation he has a shot at becoming a star.
HB Jason Green Pros: A true power back with fine athleticism. Tends to stay within the scheme. Cons: Decision-making and ball-handling could use improvement, though neither is a glaring weakness. Summary: An early third round prospect, Green could go sooner based on the league-wide hunger for good halfbacks. I don't see him as a first round prospect, but he would not be a huge reach starting in the middle of the second.
HB Joe Walker Pros: Very sound halfback in most respects, fast, athletic, powerful, and smart. Cons: Slower first step than you want in a starter and a tendency to freelance. Summary: A third round prospect with enough positional skill to rise to the lower reaches of the second.
Dark Horse Pick: HB Marcus Mock Summary: Slow for a halfback, but quick and solid in the receiving game. Look for him in the sixth or possibly the seventh.

FULLBACKS There are no really compelling players at fullback in this draft. If the scouts were too hard on these guys there could be some great second-day bargains.
FB Joshua Mikell Pros: Athletic and quick to the hole. Good receiver. Cons: Just okay in most respects, including power and speed which are important for a FB. Summary: Mikell slots in as a middle fourth rounder. I think a team that needs a young FB could spend a third on him, but I wouldn't go any earlier on him without a personal invite. On scouts alone he appears to be just a guy.
FB Zamir Small Pros: As fast as any FB in this year's draft and an elite athlete with excellent power to boot. Cons: Not in great shape. Not the best decision maker. Summary: Great athlete with shaky conditioning and mental game. The scouts say fifth round, but I could see taking a chance on him in the fourth.
FB Matt Hickenbotham Pros: Powerful blocker in great shape. Solid agility. Cons: Slow. Not a receiver. Lacks a great first step. Summary: A plugger who could be good if he grows or have trouble sticking on a roster if he doesnt. Get him in the sixth.

WIDE RECEIVERS All the speed and talent are at the top of the list, which will result in some players being over-drafted. Still, there's no over-drafting for Nutter, who will compete to be the first overall pick. Matt Millen would love the NPL, where you can win taking receivers first overall. But don't worry. He'd still screw it up.
WR Gil Nutter Pros: Amazing athletic abilities with soft hands. Top speed, a great first step and plenty of ability to get open. A strong pattern runner and knows the offense. Cons: Doesn't block like a tight end, but you don't need a receiver to do that. Summary: Nutter has a legitimate shot at going first overall, and I'd be surprised if he didn't get picked in the top three,
WR Scott Owens Pros: As fast and quick as they come. Falls just short of elite in terms of balance and body control, but just short of elite is still highly effective. Great mental game. Cons: Needs better conditioning and hands could be more reliable. A non-factor blocking for the run. Summary: Owens projects to the third round, but there's no way he lasts that long. Despite holes in his game, he has the raw ability teams look for in the first.
WR Wayne Thompson Pros: A near-elite athlete in great condition. Should be a monster at getting open and catching anything that comes his way. Cons: Not the sharpest tool in the shed. He will make some mistakes. May not have the top speed to be a big play guy. Summary: Thompson slots into the third round, but more likely he goes early in the second.
WR John Petty Pros: Fast receiver with good hands and the ability to make nice cuts. Great conditioning. Cons: Just okay quickness. Not a student of the game, and he makes some mistakes. Summary: Petty slots in as a sixth rounder. Because of demand for receivers and his decent speed he looks more like a fourth rounder to me.
Dark Horse Pick WR Tony Hamiter Summary: Despite less than blazing speed, Hamiter has the quickness and athleticism to get open and the soft hands to make the catch. Can play all day. His mental game is not his strength. Slots in as a sixth rounder.

TIGHT ENDS This appears to be a fairly ordinary group, but there are blocking and receiving specialists who will be available in the middle rounds for teams in need.
TE J.J. Burke Pros: Fast enough and quick. Can be a dominating blocker. Cons: Not the best at getting open. He will make some mental mistakes. Summary: Burke looks like a third rounder to the scouts, and he could fall that far. He looks like a good enough blocker to potentially warrant a second round pick.
TE Bill Landry Pros: Quick athlete with the ability to get separation and reliable hands. Great conditioning. Good route runner who doesn't often blow assignments. Cons: Not especially fast or powerful. Could use some time in the film room. Summary: A slowish receiving tight end. That's not necessarily a bad combination. Landry slots into the third round and has the potential to be a steal for a passing team with speedy backs and wide receivers.
TE Chris Carlson Pros: One of the better combinations of receiving and blocking skills in this draft. Great conditioning. Nifty enough to get open frequently, and a powerful blocker when he engages. Cons: A little on the slow side, and may drop a few passes after he gets free. Summary: A fourth round prospect who could go a little later.
Dark Horse Pick TE Mike Oben Summary: Seventh round prospect who doesn't have much special going for him as a receiver but who may be a decent blocking tight end for a passing team.

CENTERS Is it possible that the scouts were too tough on the speed of the centers overall? There are a couple of early round prospects and then some guys who will take some time to pan out.
C Brian Goodspeed Pros: Lives up to his name as the fastest of the centers. Has the quickness, athleticism and power to be sound blocking for both the run and the pass. Cons: Could be in better shape. Misses assignments occasionally. Summary: A talented player who isn't a lock for greatness, but who has more than enough going for him to get drafted in the second round.
C Bruce Valvo Pros: Quality overall prospect who explodes in the run blocking game and who has the finesse to block for the pass as well. Cons: Could be in better shape. Mental game is good but not great. Summary: A third round prospect who could move into the second based on need but who should not fall.
C Leonard Stiles Pros: Great burst and balance. Plenty of power. Excellent command of blocking schemes. Cons: Extremely slow and could be in better shape. Summary: A quality fourth round prospect with some noteworthy strengths and significant weaknesses.
Dark Horse Pick C Daryl Armah Summary: Very slow and could use some conditioning, but Armah has the goods otherwise. He will make some team very happy in the fourth round.

GUARDS The scouts are in love with guards this year. Like the children in Lake Woebegone, all the guards in this draft are above average. If the scouts are to be believed.
G Joe Tenner Pros: Everything. Elite or close to it across the board. This is the top ranked-player on my draft board. He has the look of a player who can step in and start from day one and who has the versatility to play every position on the line. Cons: None to speak of. Summary: A guard isn't likely to go first overall, but if the scouts have Tenner's number, he should be gone early in the first round.
G Kerry Powell Pros: The second-best guard, Kerry Powell isn't at the top of the charts in every respect but he's very close in most of them. Cons: No glaring holes. Summary: Powell looks like a solid first rounder
G Larry Taylor Pros: Some coaches like their guards a little slower. Taylor isn't too slow, but he's not a sprinter either. Combined with elite athleticism and power and a tremendous command of the game he will be exactly what some owner is looking for. Cons: Could be in better shape. Summary: Taylor slots into the first round, though the fact that he's a guard could push him into the second. If he is in better shape than advertised he could be a real steal.
G Bob Brooks Pros: Near-elite in most respects. Outstanding hands and mental game. Cons: Needs to work on his cardiovascular. Summary: A bit better blocking for the run than for the pass, Brooks projects to the first round despite being the fourth-best guard. That endurance will knock him into the second.
Dark Horse Pick: G Jared Holden Summary: Run blocking guard who is prone to mistakes. Still a quick and powerful athlete who is in fine physical condition. He carries a second round grade, but if the run teams don't take him he could slide to the third.

TACKLES . Unless you think you can convert a stud guard--which isn't out of the question--this is a one-tackle draft. The rest are risky picks.
OT Alex Williams Pros: Near-elite in most respects, with top power and great burst. Cons: No glaring holes. Does not look like a top pass blocker, though he should be fine in that role. Summary: Williams won't be the first lineman off the board, but he should make a fine late first round pick or early second rounder at worst.
OT Paul Hicks Pros: Good burst and fine power. Good mental game. Cons: Unexceptional foot-speed and conditioning. Not an elite pass blocker. Summary: Hicks should find a home during the second round.
OT Corey Searcy Pros: Powerful and athletic blocker in great condition. Good knowledge of the game. Cons: A bit of a plugger, lacking burst and foot-speed. Looks more like a guard than a tackle. Makes a few mistakes. Summary: Searcy slots into the fourth round, and with his weaknesses that seems plenty soon enough.
Dark Horse Pick: OT Thomas Freeman Summary: More quick than fast and lacking both the power to dominate run blocking and the finesse to be a premier pass blocker. Get him in the fifth.