Draft Nuggets 2016: Entry #19
By Jeff Bowers of www.draftnarrative.com
Twitter: @sportsnarrative
Positional Look: Quarterbacks and Running Backs
With just over a week to the NFL Draft (brought to you live wall-to-wall right here on The Ticket starting Thursday April 28th at 6pm) it is time to put up my final rankings for each position. This will include a thumbnail scouting report and my projected round grade. I will have two positions per post, starting with QBs and RBs.
|
Quarterbacks |
||||||
|
RANK |
PLAYER |
SCHOOL |
HT. |
WT. |
PROJ. ROUND |
Evaluation |
|
1 |
*Jared Goff |
California |
6-4 |
215 |
1 |
Excellent accuracy, throwing receivers open. Not a huge arm but can make all the throws. Smallish hands could be a concern in bad weather. Reads the field well but will need to develop footwork under center. Not a runner, but slippery in the pocket.Comparison: Carson Palmer |
|
2 |
Carson Wentz |
North Dakota State |
6-5 |
237 |
1 |
Alpha male, showing leadership at all levels. Above average arm with smooth motion and setup. Above average athlete capable of selling a spread option. Natural ball skills and pocket presence. Only question is his adaptation to the speed of the game at the pro level.Comparison:Andy Dalton |
|
3 |
*Paxton Lynch |
Memphis |
6-7 |
244 |
1-2 |
Lot of tools, but very raw. Came from read-then-run system at Memphis and will need to grasp full field vision. Mechanics fall apart on scramble. Needs to sit at least a year or 2 but could be a stud.Comparison:Blaine Gabbert |
|
4 |
Connor Cook |
Michigan State |
6-4 |
217 |
1-2 |
Most NFL ready QB in class, but questions about his personality persist. Arm and accuracy is average but toughness is elite. Field general who can overcome limitations if his teammates buy in.Comparison:Ryan Fitzpatrick |
|
5 |
*Cardale Jones |
Ohio State |
6-5 |
253 |
2-3 |
Big arm but needs touch and experience.Comparison:Jay Cutler without the college experience |
|
6 |
Dak Prescott |
Mississippi State |
6-2 |
226 |
2-3 |
Great leader (despite offseason DUI charge) with excellent athleticism. Accuracy a concern.Comparison:Cam Newton |
|
7 |
Jacoby Brissett |
NC State |
6-4 |
231 |
3-4 |
Has all the tools but needs seasoning for a few years.Comparison:Aaron Brooks |
|
8 |
Jeff Driskel |
Louisiana Tech |
6-4 |
234 |
3-4 |
Great arm, but gets rattled too easily.Comparison:Geno Smith |
|
9 |
*Christian Hackenberg |
Penn State |
6-4 |
223 |
3-4 |
Looks the part, doesn’t play like it.Comparison:Ryan Leaf |
|
10 |
Brandon Allen |
Arkansas |
6-1 |
217 |
4-5 |
Smart with good mobility. Very solid career backup. |
|
11 |
Vernon Adams Jr. |
Oregon |
5-11 |
200 |
4-5 |
Poor man’s Russell Wilson. Low release point a problem. |
|
12 |
Kevin Hogan |
Stanford |
6-3 |
218 |
4-5 |
Good leader and smart, but rag arm |
|
13 |
Cody Kessler |
Southern California |
6-1 |
220 |
5-6 |
Works hard and will be a decent career backup |
|
14 |
Nate Sudfeld |
Indiana |
6-6 |
234 |
5-6 |
Nice size but weak arm. Maybe a fit in a west coast system |
|
15 |
Jake Coker |
Alabama |
6-6 |
244 |
5-6 |
Good leader but poor vision |
|
16 |
Brandon Doughty |
Western Kentucky |
6-3 |
213 |
7-UFA |
Developmental spread QB |
|
17 |
Jake Rudock |
Michigan |
6-3 |
207 |
7-UFA |
Might be a solid backup |
|
18 |
Joel Stave |
Wisconsin |
6-5 |
236 |
7-UFA |
Nice arm but little else |
|
19 |
Mike Bercovici |
Arizona State |
6-0 |
206 |
7-UFA |
Intriguing undersized prospect with “Romo” potential |
|
20 |
Josh Woodrum |
Liberty |
6-3 |
231 |
7-UFA |
Has the look but will need lots of time |
|
Running Backs |
||||||
|
RANK |
PLAYER |
SCHOOL |
HT. |
WT. |
PROJ. RD |
Evaluation |
|
1 |
*Ezekiel Elliott |
Ohio State |
6-0 |
225 |
1 |
Do-Everything back who can block, pass pro and catch |
|
2 |
*Derrick Henry |
Alabama |
6-3 |
247 |
1-2 |
Big One-cut back best suited for zone-blocking system |
|
3 |
Kenneth Dixon |
Louisiana Tech |
5-10 |
215 |
2 |
Productive 2 down back |
|
4 |
Devontae Booker |
Utah |
5-11 |
219 |
2 |
Potential to be great except concerns with injury and ball security |
|
5 |
*Paul Perkins |
UCLA |
5-10 |
208 |
2-3 |
Complimentary slasher back |
|
6 |
*Alex Collins |
Arkansas |
5-10 |
217 |
2-3 |
Solid #2 RB with upside |
|
7 |
*C.J. Prosise |
Notre Dame |
6-0 |
220 |
3 |
Converted WR still developing as a between-the-tackles runner |
|
8 |
*Jordan Howard |
Indiana |
6-0 |
230 |
3 |
Run-to-contact back like Marion Barber |
|
9 |
Jonathan Williams |
Arkansas |
5-11 |
220 |
3-4 |
High upside if knee checks out |
|
10 |
Kenyan Drake |
Alabama |
6-1 |
210 |
3-4 |
Fragile but a plus out of the backfield and in kicking game when healthy |
|
11 |
Daniel Lasco |
California |
6-0 |
209 |
3-4 |
Ideal 3rd down back |
|
12 |
Tyler Ervin |
San Jose State |
5-10 |
192 |
4 |
3rd down and KR |
|
13 |
*Wendell Smallwood |
West Virginia |
5-10 |
208 |
4-5 |
Undersized grinder |
|
14 |
Josh Ferguson |
Illinois |
5-9 |
198 |
4-5 |
Tough scat back |
|
15 |
DeAndre Washington |
Texas Tech |
5-8 |
204 |
5 |
3rd down scat back |
|
16 |
Keith Marshall |
Georgia |
5-11 |
219 |
5 |
Lotta raw potential |
|
17 |
Darius Jackson |
Eastern Michigan |
6-0 |
220 |
5-6 |
Size/speed guy |
|
18 |
Aaron Green |
TCU |
5-11 |
203 |
6 |
3rd down back with heart |
|
19 |
*Kelvin Taylor |
Florida |
5-10 |
207 |
6-7 |
NFL pedigree but left school too early |
|
20 |
Jhurell Pressley |
New Mexico |
5-10 |
206 |
7-UFA |
Sleeper |
|
21 |
Tre Madden |
Southern California |
6-0 |
223 |
7-UFA |
Injury concerns but talented |
|
22 |
D.J. Foster |
Arizona State |
5-10 |
193 |
7-UFA |
KR and pass catcher |
|
23 |
Keenan Reynolds |
Navy |
5-9 |
190 |
7-UFA |
Converted QB that some OC will have fun with |
|
24 |
Marshaun Coprich |
Illinois State |
5-8 |
207 |
7-UFA |
Super productive back with some red flags |
|
25 |
*Dwayne Washington |
Washington |
6-1 |
221 |
7-UFA |
Size/Speed with injury concerns |