Mel's Top players Report

Defensive Ends

Despite having only one sure-fire first rounder in the group, there are several prospects here who look like legitimate NPL players.

DE Trey Herron

Pros: Great burst to get upfield after the passer. In supurb condition.

Cons: Can get caught up in traffic. Needs to work off the edge. Can tend to freelance and get caught out of position.

Summary: An elite athlete with an understanding of the game, Herron has a chance to start for the right team. The scouts see him as the best end in the draft. Take him in the middle of the first.

DE Rod Crockett

Pros: Near-elite in almost every respect.

Cons: Not the very fastest end, though it hardly seems fair to call his speed a con.

Summary: Crockett projects to the late first or early second round. He is solid in every phase of the game, and can play the inside, when needed. Should be the second or third end taken.

DE Wayne Cooper

Pros: Top burst. Cooper can get after the quarterback. Great conditioning. Has the speed to run around the tackle and the athleticism to bring pressure from the inside.

Cons: Not the strongest mental game, though it's not a weakness.

Summary: Cooper ranks as a late first or early second round prospect. His speed and explosion could make him the second end taken, despite some areas that could stand to improve.

DE Jeff Maxwell

Pros: Great burst and good speed. Solid all-around athlete.

Cons: Needs to spend some time in the gym working the weights and doing some cardio. When he's done with that he should retire to the film room or study his playbook.

Summary: Maxwell slots into the late third or early fourth round, however he has enough going for him that he could jump a round or so. Maxwell looks like he has the tools to succeed as an NPL end, though he will have to grow to turn into anything special.

Dark Horse Pick:
DE Ronnie Peterson
Summary: A plugger who can play all day. Perhaps in time he'll develop into something more. Fifth round prospect.

Defensive Tackles

The scouts have uncovered an unsually fast, athletic crop of defensive tackles. As many as three of these guys could go in the first--if the scouts have them pegged.

DT Mike Key

Pros: Really an elite player at his position. His first step will leave many guards in the dust, and he has the footspeed to get to the play. Has the power to play tough against the run and the conditioning to do it all day.

Cons: Misses an assignment occasionally--no, make that rarely.

Summary: Key could be drafted in the first five picks based on the scouts' evaluations alone. Because of his position he's likely to drop closer to the middle of the round.

DT Anthony Burton

Pros: Tied for the best combination of speed and burst, with his footspeed being his best trait. Plenty of strenghth and great conditioning. Knows what he's doing on the field.

Cons: A bit of a freelancer.

Summary: Though there are other similar tackles, Burton's conditioning gives him the edge to be the second defensive tackle drafted. Look for him to go toward the end of the first round.

DT Baron Harris

Pros: Tied for the best combination of speed and burst, with his burst being his best trait. Good power and knowledge of the game.

Cons: Could get worn down by top offensive lines. Takes some chances.

Summary: Harris projects to the middle of the first round. Unless his personal invites are eye-popping, I think he could fall to the top of the second where he could be an outstanding value pick.

DT Robert Kelly

Pros: Plenty quick, fast, and athletic. Has sufficent power to

Cons: May be slow to pick up the playbook if he's asked to do more than run forward. A risk-taker

Summary: Kelly slots as a very solid second-round prospect.

Dark Horse Pick:
DT William Dielman
Summary: Great burst and balance. Knows what he's doing on the field and plays within the scheme. Hits like a featherweight and would prefer that the play come to him. Third round prospect who could go lower.

Linebackers

This is not a star-studded group this year. It's unlikely that any of these players will be taken in the first, though someone could sneak in if there's a team with a pressing need. The scouts suggest a run on LB-ers in the second


LB Lamont Johnson Pros: A quick, athletic 'backer with plenty of strength. Knows what he's doing out there and rarely makes mistakes. Cons: Speed matters for a linebacker, and Johnson needs to work to get faster. That will impact his draft position. Summary: Johnson is the top overall prospect, slotting to the early second round. Questions about his speed could drop him as much as a full round.
LB Troy Binns Pros: Fast and quick, Binns hits like a sledgehammer and can play all day. Knows and carries out the scheme. Cons: Not a force in coverage. Could miss a few tackles. Summary: Binns slots around the middle of the second round, and that's a reasonable projection for him. He has the tools, but needs to improve in a couple of key areas to be an impact player. Look for Binns to be the first linebacker taken.
LB Greg Dotsy Pros: Elite athleticism and solid power combined with conditioning make Dotsy a potentially strong field general for a defense. Cons: Needs to get faster. Won't pick off many passes. Summary: Looks like Lamont Johnson light. He slots to the middle of the second but could drop to the middle third.
LB James Bates Pros: One of this year's faster linebackers, and he is powerful and athletic besides. Combine that with the ability to learn and carry out the defense, and you have a pretty complete linebacker. Cons: Hands of stone. Summary: Bates looks like another second round candidate. Could he be the second LB taken?
Dark Horse Pick: LB Matt Walters Summary: Slow and a soft hitter. These things don't suggest greatness. Walters has enough conditioning, athleticism, and brains to warrant a chance. He slots into the low second round, but will likely be more of a third-round type.

Cornerbacks

Quality athletes and positional need will likely see three corners going in the first round. Adam Stephens could be one of the first players taken.


CB Adam Stephens Pros: Speedy corner with good man coverage skills and the ability to provide run support. Impeccable mental game. Cons: Could have better hands, but Stephens' hands are still the best of the top corners. Conditioning has room for improvement. Summary: If Stephens isn't a shutdown corner on his first day of preseason he'll be very close. He projects to the middle of the first round, but given his position he could easily go before then.
CB Aaron Rouen Pros: Hard-hitting corner with smooth man coverage skills and the ability to play all day. Cons: First step is just shy of elite. Could work on those hands. Summary: Rouen projects to the middle of the first round. He will not slide out of the first and could go in the top five if a cornerback-needy team with a high pick locks in on him.
CB Aeneas Fleming Pros: Speedy corner with good man coverage skills who will punish the receiver. Has the overall quality to contribute sooner rather than later. Cons: A step down from the elite corners in this draft in most respects. Not a big step, but a step. Summary: Fleming slots into the early second round. Given his position I think he will go in the second half of the first round.
CB Chester Smith Pros: Good athlete with an extremely quick first step. Pretty much as smart and disciplined as they come. He will make the most of his abilities. Cons: He had better be smart, because he's just not fast enough. Summary: Appears to be in line to be a career backup unless he gets faster. Projects to the early second but could easily fall to the third.
Dark Horse Pick: CB James Grant Summary: A near-elite athlete who needs to work on his conditioning to become starting quality. Should make a nice second round pick for someone. Grant isn't the best corner in this draft, but he could easiy be the fourth taken.

Safeties

One elite player and several interesting prospects make this an enticing draft class with only one sure thing.


S B.j. King Pros: Pretty much everything you want in a safety. Has the great first step that many of the top safeties have lacked over the years. Any criticism of his scouting results would really amount to no more than quibbling. Cons: No significant cons. Summary: King is arguably a top five pick. How early will teams take a safety? He should be picked in the first half of the first round.
S Simirone Taylor Pros: Quick safety with soft hands who is fast enough and in top condition. Great mental game. He should get the most out of his ability. Cons: Stiff hips will limit him mostly to zone coverage. Not a huge hitter, though not a terrible tackler either. Summary: Taylor projects to the end of the first, but I don't see him going that high. Make room for him in the second.
S Terrance Figueroa Pros: Great athlete with all the physical skills you want in a safety. Cons: Good but not great mental game could see him making some mistakes. Needs to work to get into peak physical condition. Summary: Figueroa's athleticism and versatility could make him the second safety taken. He does not look like an instant starter because he has some weaknesses. Get him in the second.
S Raheem Kinney Pros: Smart safety who has near-elite athleticism and soft hands. Plays within the scheme. Cons: A step slow. Needs to improve his conditioning. Summary: Kinney projects to the late second, but it's hard to ignore his lack of top speed. I think he'll go in the third.
Dark Horse Pick: S Sam Moore Summary: A blazing fast zone safety who takes chances and occasionaly gives up the big play as a result. Solid in run support. Moore slots into the second, and his speed and burst could push him into the early part of the round.

Kickers

Punters