Mel

Mel's Top players Report

Defensive Ends

The scouts are seeing green! No, they're not jealous, they're just excited about Ed and Derek, the top two defensive ends in this draft. This is a deep, talented group. The deepest in several seasons.

DE Ed Green HoF
Fumble recoveries: 7
Tackles: 252
Sacks: 66, 1 safety

Pros: Fast, quick and powerful, Green has everything you need in a starting end.

Great conditioning and plenty of football starts too. His production compares well

with Jerel Jennings and Johnpaul Grogan, who were both solid first rounders last

season.

Cons: Tends to freelance at times.

Conclusion: Green should be a lock to go in the first round.

DE Derek Green HoF
Interceptions: 1 for 1 return yard, 1 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 6
   Tackles: 198
   Sacks: 51

Pros: Even quicker than Ed Green but slightly less athletic. Good power and

conditioning.

Cons: Serious lack of discipline is this player's biggest weakness, and it may

show in the fact that he has substantially lower sack numbers than Ed Green.

Conclusion: Second round prospect who could be a solid starter.

DE Al Moschetti
Fumble recoveries: 2, 1 TD
Tackles: 199
Sacks: 50

Pros: Power end with plenty of quickness and more than enough speed and

athleticism. Very well-conditioned athlete. Made some big plays and found the end

zone.

Cons: Lacks football smarts. Production was solid but not elite.

Conclusion: Moschetti doesn't look like a star, but he looks like a player. He's a

second round prospect.

DE James Bouie
Fumble recoveries: 8, 2 TD
Tackles: 174
Sacks: 47, 2 safeties

Pros: This guy has absolutely all the physical tools. Two scores isn't half bad

for an end.

Cons: Really needs to work in the film room and play within the scheme.

Conclusion: If he can learn the game at the pro level Bouie appears to have some

star qualities. Get him in the second round.

DE Kyle Fuller HoF
Interceptions: 1 for 16 return yards, 16 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 1
   Tackles: 188
   Sacks: 62, 1 safety

Pros: Very productive pass rusher with great speed and mental game. Plenty quick

enough and a fine athlete.

Cons: Badly needs to work on his conditioning. Strength is just north of average.

Conclusion: Fuller should be a second round selection, but concerns about his

ability to play a full game could push him lower.

Dark horse pick: Preston Price, who is 40th all-time in career sacks. An athletic end rather than a bruiser. NPLCAA Hall of Fame member.

Defensive Tackles

I imagine that the scouts get just a little weak in the knees and let out a wistful sigh each time there's a new crop of defensive tackles to rank. This season, as most years, it's true love. The top two players overall and four of the top twelve are DTs. However, on stats alone none of these tackles have had especially distinguished careers, with Troy Risha leading the way in a tie for 43rd on the all-time sack list. That's not to say they're bums, but it is to say proceed with caution. In terms of production none of these guys was Ken Scott or Alfred Wollam.

DT Troy Risha HoF
Fumble recoveries: 1
Tackles: 210
Sacks: 62, 1 safety

Pros: A practically perfect player in the scouts' eyes. The Mary Poppins of

defensive tackles if you will.

Cons: Where's the flaw with this guy? He could have more impressive production in

terms of big plays, but he wasn't too shabby.

Conclusion: The scouts tell you this is your top prospect. He should be a first

rounder, though I doubt he'll be the first player taken.

DT Adlai Dyson HoF
Interceptions: 1 for 2 return yards, 2 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 3
   Tackles: 212
   Sacks: 57

Pros: Nearly as perfect as Risha and nearly as productive. The Sherry Bobbins of

defensive tackles if you will. Got fewer sacks and no safeties but scooped up more

fumbles than Risha.

Cons: Could be slightly better conditioned and more disciplined.

Conclusion: The scouts say he's the second best player in the draft. I say that's

probably hyperbolic, but he should be a first rounder anyhow.

DT Danny Brown
Interceptions: 1 for -2 return yards, -2 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 3
   Tackles: 134
   Sacks: 48, 1 safety

Pros: Has all the physical tools. Just a little less perfect than Dyson.

Cons: Discipline is a noticible shortcoming, though it doesn't seem to have

stopped him from getting picks, sacks, safeties and fumble recoveries. Not as

productive as the top two tackles.

Conclusion: The scouts say he's a first round prospect. I say that's unlikely,

though not impossible. He should be gone by the end of the second.

DT Giradie Boddie HoF
Fumble recoveries: 2
Tackles: 173
Sacks: 60, 1 safety

Pros: Second-best sack numbers of the top DTs. Has nearly all elite physical

tools, and a sharp mental game to boot.

Cons: Seriously lacking in quickness. How did he get those sacks?

Conclusion: Guess what? The scouts think he's a first rounder. Maybe, but I'm

thinking a second rounder.

DT Wilson Pragalz
Fumble recoveries: 1
Tackles: 110
Sacks: 40, 1 safety

Pros: Well-suited to playing in the middle in terms of athleticism. Smart and

well-conditioned.

Cons: Not a massive player for the middle, and may or may not be quick enough to

consistently shoot the gaps. May be destined to be a career backup. Not nearly as

productive as the top players at this position.

Conclusion: Late second round prospect.

Dark horse pick: Jason Mayberry, a steady if unspectacular performer and NPLCAA

Hall of Fame member who snuck onto the career sack list at number 178.

Linebackers

The talent is at the top at the linebacker position, but what a talent! After Wayne Robinson is taken off the board, there may be no other backers taken until the third round, so get your future hall-of-famer early if you need him.

LB Wayne Robinson
Interceptions: 5 for 36 return yards, 13 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 6
   Tackles: 534
   Sacks: 75, 2 safeties

Pros: Tops in career tackles and fourteenth in career sacks. Made loads of big

plays. Has all the physical tools.

Cons: Maybe could be a little quicker, but it's hard to see the chinks in his

armor. I suppose you could complain that he didn't score any TDs.

Conclusion: Forget what the scouts say about the defensive tackles. This is your

first overall pick. Robinson has impact player written all over him.

LB Tony Buggs
Interceptions: 3 for 18 return yards, 15 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 8, 2 TD
   Tackles: 366
   Sacks: 54, 1 safety

Pros: Fine athlete who doesn't freelance or make too many mistakes. Powerful

tackler. Productive and made some big plays, including some scores.

Cons: Could be a bit faster and in somewhat better condition, but these are not

particularly glaring flaws. Not the greatest hands, but he's a linebacker, not a

safety.

Conclusion: Buggs projects to the middle third round but could go earlier if teams

need bodies at linebacker.

LB Anthony Veach
Fumble recoveries: 3
Tackles: 269
Sacks: 22

Pros: An above average athlete with elite quickness and sufficient speed. Great

conditioning.

Cons: Feather-light hitter who failed to register many sacks. Could use more time

in the film room.

Conclusion: Veach projects to the fifth round.

LB Rod Deligianis
Interceptions: 4 for 38 return yards, 11 longest
Tackles: 348
Sacks: 70, 1 safety

Pros: Fast, explosive 'backer who used that athleticism to the tune of 70 sacks.

That's big-time production. Solid tackler.

Cons: Conditioning could be better though still above average. Not a great student

of the game.

Conclusion: Deligianis slots in as a fifth-round prospect, but on the strength of

his sack ability alone I bet he'll go sooner.

LB Bobby Moore
Interceptions: 10 for 145 return yards, 51 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 4
   Tackles: 422
   Sacks: 29, 1 safety

Pros: Lots of picks for a linebacker. Plenty of speed and athleticism. Sound

conditioning.

Cons: More of a coverage player than a rush linebacker, though those hands aren't

great. Needs to improve his mental game to be an impact player in NPL.

Conclusion: Projects as a seventh rounder and should be a pleasant surprise taken

in that round. However, I think he'll go sooner.

Dark horse pick: : Frank McDaniels, NPLCAA's all-time sack leader among LBs and

5th overall among all players. NPLCAA Hall of Fame member

Cornerbacks

This isn't the greatest NPLCAA class in the secondary, if the scouts are on their game. However in Eric Lopez and Bernardo Usu this class has two corners who should be able to step in and play sooner rather than later.

CB Eric Lopez
Interceptions: 4 for 97 return yards, 52 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 2, 1 TD
   Tackles: 297
   Sacks: 2, 1 safety

Pros: Elite quickness and man coverage ability. Soft hands, hard hits. Great

conditioning. Good production including some scores.

Cons: Mental game is just barely above average and lacks truly elite speed.

Conclusion: The scouts see him as a third-round prospect, though it would be

highly unlikely to see no corners taken until then. On scouting evaluations alone,

his quickness, conditioning and hands give him an edge over Usu to be the first

corner taken, though the two are neck-and-neck.

CB Bernardo Usu
Interceptions: 8 for 192 return yards, 63 longest, 1 TD
   Fumble recoveries: 1
   Tackles: 262
   Sacks: 6

Pros: Lots of college interceptions and a score. Fine man coverage player and a

solid hitter for a corner. Fine conditioning. Plays within the scheme.

Cons: Lacks truly elite speed and quickness. Could have softer hands, though that

doesn't seem to have kept him from racking up picks. Could spend a little more

time studying film.

Conclusion: The scouts see him as a third-round prospect, though it would be

highly unlikely to see no corners taken until then. On stats alone I prefer him

slightly to Lopez, though the two are neck-and-neck.

CB Joe Robinson
Interceptions: 7 for 220 return yards, 62 longest, 1 TD
Tackles: 224
Sacks: 3

Pros: You can hardly fault Robinson's productivity. He has good man coverage

skills and great condtioning.

Cons: Lacks the blazing speed and quickness you want in a starting corner. Gets

taken in too often on fakes.

Conclusion: Robinson appears to be a late fourth or early fifth round prospect.

Given the need for coverage players, he could go sooner.

CB Sir Miller
Interceptions: 2 for 23 return yards, 22 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 1
   Tackles: 213
   Sacks: 5

Pros: Very sound athlete and reliable tackler. Fine conditioning.

Cons: There's nothing elite about Miller. He lacks the speed you want for a

starter, and he tends to freelance. He may give up some big plays and draw

penalties.

Conclusion: Fifth round prospect.

CB Donnel Ryans
Interceptions: 5 for 70 return yards, 23 longest
   KO Returns: 1 return, -1 yards, -1 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 5, 1 TD
   Tackles: 231

Pros: Productive player who got some scores and made an impact. Fast enough and

good enough athlete. Sound tackler.

Cons: Not an elite athlete, and definitely needs to spend time watching film.

Conclusion: The scouts see him as a sixth rounder. I think he'll go sooner.

Dark horse pick: Brandon Ah You, winner of the Lemony Jack Lubowski Best Name

Award®. He also has the basic coverage skills to play some corner, even if he may

be too congenitally stupid to find the stadium.

Safeties

This group has no obvious stars, but it offers a handful of mid-round prospects who may be able to contribute over the long haul.

S Juaquin Graham
Interceptions: 6 for 99 return yards, 42 longest, 1 TD
   Fumble recoveries: 3, 1 TD
   Tackles: 285
   Sacks: 2, 1 safety

Pros: Good production. Scored touchdowns and a safety. Productive player overall.

Great hands.

Cons: Not an elite player. His lack of speed and explosiveness may render him a

zone-only player in NPL.

Conclusion: Fourth round prospect.

S Avery Robinson
Interceptions: 3 for 49 return yards, 19 longest, 1 TD
   KO Returns: 1 return, 2 yards, 2 longest
   Fumble recoveries: 2
   Tackles: 219
   Sacks: 6

Pros: Great speed and explosiveness. Nice hands.

Cons: Needs to hit the film room. Lacks top man coverage skills. Not as productive

as Graham for all his athleticism.

Conclusion: Fourth round prospect who could go sooner to a team needing help at

the position.

S Johndale Mason
Interceptions: 7 for 152 return yards, 63 longest, 2 TD
   Fumble recoveries: 5
   Tackles: 222
   Sacks: 3

Pros: Sufficient speed and quickness. Fine conditioning. Hard hitter. Made plenty

of plays in college.

Cons: Little skill at man coverage. Slightly subpar student of the game.

Conclusion: Sixth round prospect, though with his production I think he'll be off

the board well before then.

S Corey Ponder
Interceptions: 1 for 59 return yards, 59 longest, 1 TD
Tackles: 142
Sacks: 5

Pros: Sufficient speed and outstanding quickness. Solid tackler and well-

conditioned athlete. Scored a touchdown (on his only college pick).

Cons: Lacks soft hands and man coverage skills. Not nearly as productive as the

top players at the position.

Conclusion: Seventh round prospect.

S Tony Maddox
Interceptions: 2 for 41 return yards, 39 longest
   KO Returns: 1 return, 3 yards, 3 longest
   Tackles: 265
   Sacks: 2

Pros: Racked up lots of tackles. Very quick.

Cons: Just barely above average speed, coverage ability, conditioning. Needs work

in the film room.

Conclusion: Seventh round prospect.

Dark horse pick: Patrick Grant, who may need a bit of luck to even be drafted.

Kickers

K Gary Fife
Barney's younger brother isn't too bright, but he has a heck of a leg, Brownie!

K Bennie Riley
Riley brings better athleticism and mental game than Fife, at the cost of a

slightly weaker leg. 73.4% career on FGs to Fife's 65.2% mark. Both pale in

comparison to number three kicker Jr. Stephens's 74.4% mark. Stephens also hit on

nearly 90% of his PAT attempts. Who was this writeup about again?

Punters

P Johnny Nguyen
Gotta love Mel's rating system. Tavaris Jackson and his 42.6 yard net (third-best all-time in NPLCAA) don't make the grade, but Nguyen, who did not make the top 35 career punters, is rated tops. Must be the EN.

P Darren Taylor
Gerald Moss and Matt Michael out-punted Taylor, but the scouts love Taylor. Is it for his EN?

Defensive Ends The scouts are seeing green! No, they're not jealous, they're just excited about Ed and Derek, the top two defensive ends in this draft. This is a deep, talented group. The deepest in several seasons.
DE Ed Green HoF Fumble recoveries: 7 Tackles: 252 Sacks: 66, 1 safety Pros: Fast, quick and powerful, Green has everything you need in a starting end. Great conditioning and plenty of football starts too. His production compares well with Jerel Jennings and Johnpaul Grogan, who were both solid first rounders last season. Cons: Tends to freelance at times. Conclusion: Green should be a lock to go in the first round.
DE Derek Green HoF Interceptions: 1 for 1 return yard, 1 longest Fumble recoveries: 6 Tackles: 198 Sacks: 51 Pros: Even quicker than Ed Green but slightly less athletic. Good power and conditioning. Cons: Serious lack of discipline is this player's biggest weakness, and it may show in the fact that he has substantially lower sack numbers than Ed Green. Conclusion: Second round prospect who could be a solid starter.
DE Al Moschetti Fumble recoveries: 2, 1 TD Tackles: 199 Sacks: 50 Pros: Power end with plenty of quickness and more than enough speed and athleticism. Very well-conditioned athlete. Made some big plays and found the end zone. Cons: Lacks football smarts. Production was solid but not elite. Conclusion: Moschetti doesn't look like a star, but he looks like a player. He's a second round prospect.
DE James Bouie Fumble recoveries: 8, 2 TD Tackles: 174 Sacks: 47, 2 safeties Pros: This guy has absolutely all the physical tools. Two scores isn't half bad for an end. Cons: Really needs to work in the film room and play within the scheme. Conclusion: If he can learn the game at the pro level Bouie appears to have some star qualities. Get him in the second round.
DE Kyle Fuller HoF Interceptions: 1 for 16 return yards, 16 longest Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 188 Sacks: 62, 1 safety Pros: Very productive pass rusher with great speed and mental game. Plenty quick enough and a fine athlete. Cons: Badly needs to work on his conditioning. Strength is just north of average. Conclusion: Fuller should be a second round selection, but concerns about his ability to play a full game could push him lower.
Dark horse pick: Preston Price, who is 40th all-time in career sacks. An athletic end rather than a bruiser. NPLCAA Hall of Fame member.

Defensive Tackles I imagine that the scouts get just a little weak in the knees and let out a wistful sigh each time there's a new crop of defensive tackles to rank. This season, as most years, it's true love. The top two players overall and four of the top twelve are DTs. However, on stats alone none of these tackles have had especially distinguished careers, with Troy Risha leading the way in a tie for 43rd on the all-time sack list. That's not to say they're bums, but it is to say proceed with caution. In terms of production none of these guys was Ken Scott or Alfred Wollam.
DT Troy Risha HoF Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 210 Sacks: 62, 1 safety Pros: A practically perfect player in the scouts' eyes. The Mary Poppins of defensive tackles if you will. Cons: Where's the flaw with this guy? He could have more impressive production in terms of big plays, but he wasn't too shabby. Conclusion: The scouts tell you this is your top prospect. He should be a first rounder, though I doubt he'll be the first player taken.
DT Adlai Dyson HoF Interceptions: 1 for 2 return yards, 2 longest Fumble recoveries: 3 Tackles: 212 Sacks: 57 Pros: Nearly as perfect as Risha and nearly as productive. The Sherry Bobbins of defensive tackles if you will. Got fewer sacks and no safeties but scooped up more fumbles than Risha. Cons: Could be slightly better conditioned and more disciplined. Conclusion: The scouts say he's the second best player in the draft. I say that's probably hyperbolic, but he should be a first rounder anyhow.
DT Danny Brown Interceptions: 1 for -2 return yards, -2 longest Fumble recoveries: 3 Tackles: 134 Sacks: 48, 1 safety Pros: Has all the physical tools. Just a little less perfect than Dyson. Cons: Discipline is a noticible shortcoming, though it doesn't seem to have stopped him from getting picks, sacks, safeties and fumble recoveries. Not as productive as the top two tackles. Conclusion: The scouts say he's a first round prospect. I say that's unlikely, though not impossible. He should be gone by the end of the second.
DT Giradie Boddie HoF Fumble recoveries: 2 Tackles: 173 Sacks: 60, 1 safety Pros: Second-best sack numbers of the top DTs. Has nearly all elite physical tools, and a sharp mental game to boot. Cons: Seriously lacking in quickness. How did he get those sacks? Conclusion: Guess what? The scouts think he's a first rounder. Maybe, but I'm thinking a second rounder.
DT Wilson Pragalz Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 110 Sacks: 40, 1 safety Pros: Well-suited to playing in the middle in terms of athleticism. Smart and well-conditioned. Cons: Not a massive player for the middle, and may or may not be quick enough to consistently shoot the gaps. May be destined to be a career backup. Not nearly as productive as the top players at this position. Conclusion: Late second round prospect.
Dark horse pick: Jason Mayberry, a steady if unspectacular performer and NPLCAA Hall of Fame member who snuck onto the career sack list at number 178.

Linebackers The talent is at the top at the linebacker position, but what a talent! After Wayne Robinson is taken off the board, there may be no other backers taken until the third round, so get your future hall-of-famer early if you need him.
LB Wayne Robinson Interceptions: 5 for 36 return yards, 13 longest Fumble recoveries: 6 Tackles: 534 Sacks: 75, 2 safeties Pros: Tops in career tackles and fourteenth in career sacks. Made loads of big plays. Has all the physical tools. Cons: Maybe could be a little quicker, but it's hard to see the chinks in his armor. I suppose you could complain that he didn't score any TDs. Conclusion: Forget what the scouts say about the defensive tackles. This is your first overall pick. Robinson has impact player written all over him.
LB Tony Buggs Interceptions: 3 for 18 return yards, 15 longest Fumble recoveries: 8, 2 TD Tackles: 366 Sacks: 54, 1 safety Pros: Fine athlete who doesn't freelance or make too many mistakes. Powerful tackler. Productive and made some big plays, including some scores. Cons: Could be a bit faster and in somewhat better condition, but these are not particularly glaring flaws. Not the greatest hands, but he's a linebacker, not a safety. Conclusion: Buggs projects to the middle third round but could go earlier if teams need bodies at linebacker.
LB Anthony Veach Fumble recoveries: 3 Tackles: 269 Sacks: 22 Pros: An above average athlete with elite quickness and sufficient speed. Great conditioning. Cons: Feather-light hitter who failed to register many sacks. Could use more time in the film room. Conclusion: Veach projects to the fifth round.
LB Rod Deligianis Interceptions: 4 for 38 return yards, 11 longest Tackles: 348 Sacks: 70, 1 safety Pros: Fast, explosive 'backer who used that athleticism to the tune of 70 sacks. That's big-time production. Solid tackler. Cons: Conditioning could be better though still above average. Not a great student of the game. Conclusion: Deligianis slots in as a fifth-round prospect, but on the strength of his sack ability alone I bet he'll go sooner.
LB Bobby Moore Interceptions: 10 for 145 return yards, 51 longest Fumble recoveries: 4 Tackles: 422 Sacks: 29, 1 safety Pros: Lots of picks for a linebacker. Plenty of speed and athleticism. Sound conditioning. Cons: More of a coverage player than a rush linebacker, though those hands aren't great. Needs to improve his mental game to be an impact player in NPL. Conclusion: Projects as a seventh rounder and should be a pleasant surprise taken in that round. However, I think he'll go sooner.
Dark horse pick: : Frank McDaniels, NPLCAA's all-time sack leader among LBs and 5th overall among all players. NPLCAA Hall of Fame member

Cornerbacks This isn't the greatest NPLCAA class in the secondary, if the scouts are on their game. However in Eric Lopez and Bernardo Usu this class has two corners who should be able to step in and play sooner rather than later.
CB Eric Lopez Interceptions: 4 for 97 return yards, 52 longest Fumble recoveries: 2, 1 TD Tackles: 297 Sacks: 2, 1 safety Pros: Elite quickness and man coverage ability. Soft hands, hard hits. Great conditioning. Good production including some scores. Cons: Mental game is just barely above average and lacks truly elite speed. Conclusion: The scouts see him as a third-round prospect, though it would be highly unlikely to see no corners taken until then. On scouting evaluations alone, his quickness, conditioning and hands give him an edge over Usu to be the first corner taken, though the two are neck-and-neck.
CB Bernardo Usu Interceptions: 8 for 192 return yards, 63 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 262 Sacks: 6 Pros: Lots of college interceptions and a score. Fine man coverage player and a solid hitter for a corner. Fine conditioning. Plays within the scheme. Cons: Lacks truly elite speed and quickness. Could have softer hands, though that doesn't seem to have kept him from racking up picks. Could spend a little more time studying film. Conclusion: The scouts see him as a third-round prospect, though it would be highly unlikely to see no corners taken until then. On stats alone I prefer him slightly to Lopez, though the two are neck-and-neck.
CB Joe Robinson Interceptions: 7 for 220 return yards, 62 longest, 1 TD Tackles: 224 Sacks: 3 Pros: You can hardly fault Robinson's productivity. He has good man coverage skills and great condtioning. Cons: Lacks the blazing speed and quickness you want in a starting corner. Gets taken in too often on fakes. Conclusion: Robinson appears to be a late fourth or early fifth round prospect. Given the need for coverage players, he could go sooner.
CB Sir Miller Interceptions: 2 for 23 return yards, 22 longest Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 213 Sacks: 5 Pros: Very sound athlete and reliable tackler. Fine conditioning. Cons: There's nothing elite about Miller. He lacks the speed you want for a starter, and he tends to freelance. He may give up some big plays and draw penalties. Conclusion: Fifth round prospect.
CB Donnel Ryans Interceptions: 5 for 70 return yards, 23 longest KO Returns: 1 return, -1 yards, -1 longest Fumble recoveries: 5, 1 TD Tackles: 231 Pros: Productive player who got some scores and made an impact. Fast enough and good enough athlete. Sound tackler. Cons: Not an elite athlete, and definitely needs to spend time watching film. Conclusion: The scouts see him as a sixth rounder. I think he'll go sooner.
Dark horse pick: Brandon Ah You, winner of the Lemony Jack Lubowski Best Name Award®. He also has the basic coverage skills to play some corner, even if he may be too congenitally stupid to find the stadium.

Safeties This group has no obvious stars, but it offers a handful of mid-round prospects who may be able to contribute over the long haul.
S Juaquin Graham Interceptions: 6 for 99 return yards, 42 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 3, 1 TD Tackles: 285 Sacks: 2, 1 safety Pros: Good production. Scored touchdowns and a safety. Productive player overall. Great hands. Cons: Not an elite player. His lack of speed and explosiveness may render him a zone-only player in NPL. Conclusion: Fourth round prospect.
S Avery Robinson Interceptions: 3 for 49 return yards, 19 longest, 1 TD KO Returns: 1 return, 2 yards, 2 longest Fumble recoveries: 2 Tackles: 219 Sacks: 6 Pros: Great speed and explosiveness. Nice hands. Cons: Needs to hit the film room. Lacks top man coverage skills. Not as productive as Graham for all his athleticism. Conclusion: Fourth round prospect who could go sooner to a team needing help at the position.
S Johndale Mason Interceptions: 7 for 152 return yards, 63 longest, 2 TD Fumble recoveries: 5 Tackles: 222 Sacks: 3 Pros: Sufficient speed and quickness. Fine conditioning. Hard hitter. Made plenty of plays in college. Cons: Little skill at man coverage. Slightly subpar student of the game. Conclusion: Sixth round prospect, though with his production I think he'll be off the board well before then.
S Corey Ponder Interceptions: 1 for 59 return yards, 59 longest, 1 TD Tackles: 142 Sacks: 5 Pros: Sufficient speed and outstanding quickness. Solid tackler and well- conditioned athlete. Scored a touchdown (on his only college pick). Cons: Lacks soft hands and man coverage skills. Not nearly as productive as the top players at the position. Conclusion: Seventh round prospect.
S Tony Maddox Interceptions: 2 for 41 return yards, 39 longest KO Returns: 1 return, 3 yards, 3 longest Tackles: 265 Sacks: 2 Pros: Racked up lots of tackles. Very quick. Cons: Just barely above average speed, coverage ability, conditioning. Needs work in the film room. Conclusion: Seventh round prospect.
Dark horse pick: Patrick Grant, who may need a bit of luck to even be drafted.