Mel Kiper Jr.’s Top 100 Prospects
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Mel’s 2014 Big Board
Mel Kiper Jr. is the ESPN draft king. Below you’ll find his FINAL rankings of the top 100 prospects for the 2014 NFL Draft. As Mel puts it, “please remember this isn’t a prediction of draft order, it’s just a ranking of how I value the players.”
An asterisk denotes a junior at the time of draft entry; two asterisks denote a redshirt sophomore.
1. *Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina-“In the end, it’s not a debate about whether you trust his stats or his athletic abilities. He was disruptive, and was so with offenses determined to limit him. He’s a special talent worthy of the No. 1 pick. He isn’t just a speed rusher looking to beat a tackle upfield and quickly turn the corner. He has strength as well, and as a speed-to-power rusher who can drive a tackle back, Clowney can be great. He’ll go through you or around you, and can succeed in any scheme.”
2. *Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson-“He may not go this high, but this is a ranking of talent and potential, not a mock. Watkins plays taller than he measures, runs bigger than his listed size, and has always had explosive speed. He fights through contact to make plays for the ball, and once he has it, he’s devastating after the catch. Watkins blends polish with a high level of explosiveness and can turn catches on the edges or between the hashes into big plays.”
3. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo-“Mack is defined by his versatility, but retains such high value because he can get it done as a pass-rusher. You see Mack lining up both at the line and on the perimeter. He’s capable of rushing the passer with quickness and power, or dropping into coverage with an ability to make plays in the open field. He uses good leverage to take on blocks and drive people back, and quickness and strong hands to disengage.”
4. **Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn-“He’s already very good, and the remarkable thing with Robinson is his growth curve. Brought in as a guard, he started at left tackle in the SEC as a redshirt freshman and held his own. In 2013, he was dominant, with increased strength making him closer to the complete package at tackle. He’s a fantastic run blocker but needs to develop as a pass blocker. He certainly seems capable, however, with a great base and long arms. Could be a star.”
5. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan-“Lewan would have rated higher than any tackle in last year’s draft, and could be the second tackle taken this year. He has great length and above-average athleticism, but what I really like is the improved play as a run-blocker; he has strength in his lower half and a mean streak as a finisher. Lewan moves his feet well and mirrors effectively in pass protection, with an improved punch. He plays with great awareness.”
6. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M-“I haven’t really moved Matthews in these rankings since August. He has experience, is a very good pass protector with good balance, feet and hand use, and he comes prepared as an intense worker who carries great NFL bloodlines — his father, brother and two cousins have played in the league. I also like his ability to finish in the run game, where he shows off a nasty streak. Draft him and plug him in.”
7. **Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M-“Evans is an impossible matchup, the WR you can never truly cover. No player in the draft is better on contested throws, and every QB wants a target like this. Evans uses his reach, jumping ability and long frame to beat shorter defenders like a power forward on a football field. Quickness is a concern, but he has enough top-end speed to create some separation, and is big and strong enough to work through a tough press.”
8. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame-“The biggest riser for me over the past month. Martin has easy feet, is versatile and can both mirror good pass-rushers and push them around in the run game. Range is a plus for Martin, as he can handle left tackle or right tackle (or guard). Martin is a great competitor who absorbs power well for a tackle with shorter arms, but also handles speed pretty effectively because of his quick feet. The arms could make him a likelier bet to move off the left side, but it’s hard to bet against him.”
9. Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh-“Numbers — both on the field and in workouts — make Donald’s case. He led the country in tackles for loss, then went to the Senior Bowl and was a star; after that he went to Indy and ran 4.65 in the 40 at 285 pounds, and also threw in 35 reps in the bench press for good measure. The combine totals, the Senior Bowl — it all matches with how he played in 2013, with a blend of quickness and power to run through and around blocks, creating constant problems for offenses. Worthy of the top 10.”
10. **Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M-“I’m certainly guilty of going back and forth on Manziel, but I ultimately believe he can be a very good player if he can stay on the field. His ability to move, improvise and make throws off platform are all special traits, but he’s also an effective pocket passer when he stays patient — a very accurate one, in fact. He anticipates well and sees the whole field, and though the arm strength is merely adequate, he can make special throws with touch and precision both from the pocket and on the move. The concern is durability — but improved patience will help.”
11. *Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida-“Bortles is the QB with the tools you want to develop, an enticing blend of the size and athleticism, and a pocket senses that goes beyond just hours of practice, but he still has rough edges. His ball placement is inconsistent, and he can at times look like the creation of his offense. That said, his work ethic makes it hard not to buy into a high ceiling projection. He has sound mechanics and shows poise and leadership. Arm strength isn’t special, but he gets it down the field.”
12. *Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU-“Beckham is an explosive athlete, with a potent initial burst off the line and then a second gear to reach full speed quickly. But the pass-catching skills are also good because not only does Beckham create good separation underneath, he’ll also make plays in traffic, snatching the ball away from his body and then transitioning immediately into a dangerous runner after the catch. He’s a potential No. 1 wide receiver.”
13. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama-“Mosley is versatile. As a run defender, he has great feet, instincts, hands, discipline and tackling explosiveness. As a cover linebacker, he’s as good as you’ll find in this draft class. If he’s healthy, what you get is a player who never has to come off the field. He flies to the ball, tackles and scrapes effectively, getting off blocks to make plays. But injury questions follow him.”
14. *Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State-“Cooks has been great during the evaluation process, which is saying something because he had an exceptional season. He ran a blazing 4.33 in Indy, also dominated in the agility drills and showed a great vertical to go with pretty good strength for a player his size. In fact, he now looks like a slightly more athletic version of Tavon Austin, and Austin was a top-10 pick last year. Cooks won’t go as high, but it’s fair to say the combine numbers match the ridiculous productivity. He’s also a high-character kid who impresses evaluators.”
15. Eric Ebron, TE, UNC-“Ebron is a full 250 pounds, but carries it well and still has special skills as a pass-catcher. He has the length and flexibility to haul in anything you throw his way, can split out, and will make plays after the catch. He has the size to overwhelm cornerbacks and most safeties, good burst and above-average straight-line speed. The questions are whether he has any value at all as a blocker, and maturity.”
16. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State-“Dennard has plenty of good tape and and praise from those who’ve had to scheme against him. He’s the most versatile defensive back in the draft, with proven skill in any area of coverage. Dennard can play up and redirect routes, or off in zone and make plays in front of him. He’ll blanket even really good receivers in man-to-man, and he turns his head well to avoid penalties. He’s strong, has enough quickness and should help early at a position where that isn’t typical.”
17. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech-“I’ll admit I had Fuller too low and moved him up later in the process after spending more time on him. He has good size for the position, though he could be a little stronger, and has really good instincts and consistently makes the right read and limits mistakes. He has a lot of experience, is a good tackler in space (which is huge for me) and comes in with enough polish to help a team soon.”
18. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville-“Whether he’s the first safety taken is a question of preference. Pryor isn’t quite at the level of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in coverage, but he’s more physical coming downhill. He does display the ability to cover significant ground in coverage with anticipation and speed, but also has that willingness to race forward and make plays at the line of scrimmage. And he packs a punch. He gets great reviews on work ethic and growth from his coaches.”
19. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama-“Clinton-Dix is instinctive and fluid, and can play deep middle with the ability to make plays on the perimeter due to his ability to anticipate and run throws down. He reads the quarterback well and can accelerate or turn quickly to make plays in any direction. While he won’t be defined by physical play, he’s certainly not afraid to get downhill in a hurry and make a play close to the line of scrimmage.”
20. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State-“Gilbert is a special athlete, and put together a bounce-back 2013 season. He combines short-area quickness to adjust to routes and open-field speed to run with (or past) any receiver. He has enough size and strength to redirect routes at the line and can then flip his hips and run with anybody, though WRs too often create space against him. He has good ball skills and can help in coverage. The big question: tackling.”
21. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State-“As an accurate thrower on short and intermediate routes, Carr also has a quick release and prepares well, which makes it no surprise he was consistently able to pick defenses apart. He’s a very good athlete with an adequate build and brings great intangibles. His question marks come in the form of bad results in the face of pressure and when you consider the competition level; he also thrived in a fast-break offense that allowed him to pile up the numbers. He could be a good NFL starter, but shouldn’t get that chance right away.”
22. *Marqise Lee, WR, USC-“Lee had an uneven junior season but could become a value because of it. He has exceptional fluidity in and out of breaks and in changing directions after the catch. He accelerates without wasted motion and plays bigger than his size on contested passes, with a physical style after the catch. He dropped too many passes in 2013 but in previous seasons showed reliable hands combined with good route-running ability.”
23. *Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State-“For a runner with the power to go right through a linebacker on occasion, Hyde also shows really quick feet and the ability to make people miss in the hole. He’s a stud in short-yardage situations because he maintains good balance and leverage and falls forward after contact. He has pretty good hands and can create havoc on the second level if you need cornerbacks and safeties to take him to the ground. He won’t go this high, but he’s the top RB available.”
24. *Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State-“I’ve said all along that Shazier is fun to watch because he’s quick, instinctive and a strong tackler, and while not a big linebacker, he balances a physical style with the ability to make plays across the field. He anticipates well and attacks plays in the backfield but also will track tight ends and running backs in coverage. In the mold of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Lavonte David, Shazier is a linebacker who looks like an oversized safety but does a great job of running through the trash and making tackles.”
25. *Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame-“A fantastic athlete at his size, Tuitt could be mistaken for a decently quick 4-3 defensive end, but he’ll play at 300-plus pounds. At 6-5, he also has long arms and will disrupt passing lanes. He creates good leverage and can drive blockers back, but can also use those long arms to create space and shed to make plays. The value here is the versatility, as you don’t need to draft Tuitt with system concerns in mind. At full strength, he’s going to help you.”
26. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: An explosive mover who doesn’t let a lack of length keep him from being consistently effective.
27. Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: If his awareness can catch up to the production, he could be a very good value. Great athlete off the edge.
28. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU: Versatile, instinctive and he plays fast. Very good in pursuit.
29. *Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: Anticipates well and delivers with accuracy, but his ball loses steam and his frame isn’t ideal. If it’s about the tape alone, he could be the steal of the draft.
30. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt: More explosive than many believed, Matthews is a reliable hands-catcher who can hit another gear after the catch.
31. *Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina: Maybe the biggest riser on my board over the past month when I got to watch more. Explosive, competitive and reliable.
32. Joel Bitonio, OT/G, Nevada: Has moved up on versatility — he can play pretty much anywhere you need, and dominates as a run-blocker.
33. Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois: I’m not sure there’s a better cover safety in the draft in terms of instincts and breaking quickly on the ball (or ball carrier).
34. Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia: Has great length for the position and creates a long road around him, but only intermittently dominant.
35. *Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State: One of the better pure pass-rushers in the class, but he’s a tweener in terms of system fit.
36. Ja’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee: Coming into the season he was’t the top OT prospect on his own team, but James was consistent and rarely beaten.
37. Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn: Explosive off the edge, Ford can turn the corner on some pretty good tackles. A first-round possibility.
38. **Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State: With a bigger frame than some realize, Adams does a good job of snatching the ball away from his body, and makes contested catches.
39. Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin: Has great vision and is explosive to the hole and into the backfield, where he’s a sure tackler.
40. *Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State: Has good size at 6-2, 220 pounds, and is a good route runner who can win at the catch point.
41. *Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri: A very good athlete at his size, Ealy can win one-on-one and has the frame to play 4-3 defensive end.
42. *Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State: Explosive and feisty, Roby is a better athlete than he is a technician, but the potential is enticing. Needs to stay disciplined.
43. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota: He can dominate and then disappear, but he’s a high-end athlete at this size and can get better with coaching.
44. *Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU: He doesn’t bring the elite speed element, but Landry has fantastic hands, makes contested catches and will throw a mean block.
45. Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State: Has good instincts and is maybe the best hitter in the draft. Not great in coverage, but doesn’t get beat often.
46. Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech: He can really close when he gets a path to the passer. I see him as a second-round pick.
47. *Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana: Latimer has risen for me, but I wonder if he’ll separate well enough and I’d put him in the second round if I’m drafting.
48. *Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington: Huge at 6-5 and 260-plus pounds, he can make catches down the field though he’s not running past people.
49. *Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame: Has the ideal frame for a zero technique, but it’s a position that isn’t as coveted as it once was. Will he stay focused?
50. *Xavier Su’a-Filo, G, UCLA: He moves well and creates movement in the run game. Have seem him unfairly maligned as sluggish.
51. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State: Could be the top center taken, as there’s a split on him and Martin. Richburg also could be an effective guard.
52. *Marcus Martin, C, USC: Have projected him as high as late Round 1, but likelier a Round 2. Will he or Richburg go first? Depends on the team.
53. Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State: A versatile defender, Joyner can handle the slot or drop to safety. What he lacks in size he makes up for with instincts.
54. **Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State: A huge player at wide receiver, he can win the physical matchup but lacks top-end speed and needs refinement.
55. *Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State: Has fallen during the draft process. There’s lots of potential, but he can be oddly slow off the snap.
56. Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood: A small-college sleeper now quite well-known to most, Desir has good length in a time when that’s coveted at cornerback.
57. Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State: Effective as both a run- and pass-blocker, and 52 starts offers plenty of certainty about what you’re getting.
58. *Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama: Has the potential to be great if he can be consistent, and consistently healthy. Still only 20 years old.
59. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska: The onetime receiver has elite length at 6-3 but could use work in his ability to mirror and in tackling.
60. **Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU: At 230-plus pounds, he can get up to speed quickly, bounce off contact and even has a decent spin move.
61. *David Yankey, G, Stanford: Not a dominating guard in a phone booth but an effective one who moves well for his size and can pull effectively. Fit matters.
62. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State: A wide body who can hold up at the point and does a good job of flowing to the ball.
63. *Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington: A shifty runner who uses good vision to find small seams and keep his weight headed downhill. Good hands. Durable.
64. *Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson: Hidden somewhat behind the dominance of Watkins, Bryant has length and shined in workouts. A possible sleeper.
65. *Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech: A good athlete for the position, he’s best used split out because there’s no real experience as a blocker. Good length at 6-5.
66. Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State: A better player than he is an athlete at a position where measurables matter. Could become a very good value.
67. **Trai Turner, G, LSU: Will be a young NFL rookie, but already shows impressive ability to move defenders in the run game.
68. *Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame: Has the size to be an effective blocker, not merely a tight end who splits out, but must improve as a pass-catcher.
69. Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State: Reads the game well and has both good instincts and a quick route to the ball; he just needs to wrap up.
70. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh: Intriguing because of his strong arm and solid frame, he dealt with bad blocking in 2013. Starting upside.
71. Dri Archer, RB, Kent State: The fastest player in the draft, the pint-sized Archer will get Darren Sproles comps, but is actually faster than Sproles.
72. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama: Really accurate underneath with success in throwing the deep ball though he lacks a big arm. Lots of split opinions here.
73. Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia: A versatile performer, Sims may have the best hands in the draft coming out of the backfield. I’d put him in Round 3-4.
74. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois: Sees the whole field and has a quick release, but lacks a big arm and faces a huge competition leap. Needs time.
75. *Tre Mason, RB, Auburn: Runs low, bounces off contact and has a good eye for the seam. Isn’t afraid to protect his quarterback.
76. *Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado: A playmaker who can eat up space with his acceleration, he just lacks bulk and could struggle against the press.
77. Josh Huff, WR, Oregon: Not as explosive as some others in this draft, but Huff fights through contact and will make contested catches.
78. Brent Urban, DL, Virginia: Has great length at 6-5 with 34-inch arms; can jolt defenders and both penetrate and disrupt passing lanes.
79. *De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon: Elite explosiveness when the pads are on; it’s just a matter of how many touches a team can give him.
80. Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech: Has the size and speed of an elite tight end prospect, but despite a couple of so-so years at QB, he’s worth a look there.
81. Andre Williams, RB, Boston College: Highly productive and offers good size at 230-plus pounds, but doesn’t do much to make people miss.
82. *Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor: An explosive athlete, he can spend too much time going east and west, but he’s not easy to pass on in terms of talent.
83. Kevin Norwood, WR, Alabama: Has good length and above-average speed, and does a great job of working back to the ball.
84. *Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson: Played a lot better than he worked out; hopefully you get the on-field version.
85. Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville: A nice third-down pass-rush option, Smith creates disruption with his quickness off the edge. Had 14.5 sacks last season.
86. *Donte Moncrief, WR, Mississippi: He had an inconsistent year, but he’s a big-time physical talent with 4.40 speed at 220-plus pounds.
87. Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma: He tore his ACL at the Senior Bowl but is already moving well and could play in 2014. Experience at safety, too.
88. Brandon Thomas, G, Clemson: A knee injury during workouts could keep him from contributing in 2014. Could be a great guard or even stick at OT.
89. *Dominique Easley, DT, Florida: Has the tape of a high first-round pick, but the injury history is too significant not to push him well down the board. He’ll be tempting in Round 2 if you believe he can stay on the field.
90. Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty: A fluid athlete with a solid build, he’ll also step up in run support. A baffling non-invite to the combine.
91. Telvin Smith, OLB, Florida State: Undersized at LB even if you think size is overrated, Smith led the Noles in tackles last season anyway.
92. Phillip Gaines, CB, Rice: Put together one of the more impressive performance in Indy, regardless of position group.
93. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia: Accuracy and intangibles are there, even if arm strength and ceiling questions exist. Likely a solid backup.
94. Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas: Has been highly productive over the last two seasons with 18.0 sacks.
95. Robert Herron, WR, Wyoming: Lost a bit in a deep wide receiver class, Herron is a straight-line speed dynamo after the catch.
96. Bryan Stork, C, Florida State: Has good size and length for an interior lineman, but anchors well and can get to the second level with good feet.
97. *Carl Bradford, OLB, Arizona State: High-effort player with good strength and instincts, just lacks length and can get eaten up by good blocking.
98. Trent Murphy, OLB, Stanford: Has the full repertoire as a pass-rusher; the question is ceiling for this experienced edge rusher.
99. C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa: Isn’t a burner, but can really move well for a 6-5, 265-pound guy with good hands.
100. John Brown, WR, Pittsburg St. (KS): Lacks size, but not speed, as he’s a 4.3-type runner. A deep threat with return capabilities.
Source: ESPN.com