2007 SFL Pre-draft ?Top-3? Per Position
2007 is here! And I?m not ready...what else is new. The draft starts tomorrow, and I don?t currently have a first round pick, so I guess I have time to do my pre-draft write up!
I have taken into account what I deem the 3 most important attributes at each position, and used them to rank my top 3 prospects and WHY I believe them to be the top prospects.
Because awareness is such an important attribute to the majority of positions, I have excluded it in any of the 3 most important attributes because I have assumed it to be attribute #1 in each circumstance, and is essentially just a given. I have also weighted non-progressible attributes a little heavier due to not being able to increase them. Most, if not all GMs would agree to this as well.
Quarterbacks
When looking for a quarterback I believe the most important attributes are 1. THP, because it is a non-progressible attribute, meeting the minimum is important when drafting a QB. 2. THA, as a progressible attribute, it can be much lower than the minimum to start, but too low, and it will take far too long to make him a game-ready QB. 3. INJ, this one might get overlooked for some other attributes, but the only argument I believe I need is this, how many hopeful/good/great seasons were lost because of a quarterback going down? In a competitive league, a starting caliber quarterback is much harder to replace than any other position.
1. Brady Quinn ? Brady Quinn seems to be the unanimous top QB choice, but I don?t feel he?s as clear cut as that. His arm could be a little stronger, technically could be a scrambler, but he has the AWR you so desperately need for a quarterback. I would say he also backs it up with good size at 6?4? and 231 pounds, and has a FANTASTIC line of 99 STA, 93 INJ, and 99 TGH ratings. If his arm holds, he?s solid everywhere, and should be a starter somewhere for the next 15 years. If he skews up, and someone drops some extra points on him, he could be incredible?despite being from Notre Dame?
2. Kevin Kolb ? Kevin Kolb would be my second choice for a quarterback. He doesn?t have any MAJOR holes in his game, but as always, could still use a little help. His STA and INJ are lower than you want for an every-down starter, who is the sole object of desire for every player on the defensive line?he is gonna get hit a lot, will he hold up? Might still be a first rounder for a more desperate team, but a very late first rounder.
3. JaMarcus Russell ? I don?t think JaMarcus Russel will be a popular choice, but I don?t care, it MY article. With his size, it?s hard to compete with his field of vision. I?m only 5?8?, so I can?t even fathom what you could see standing 6?6??his stat line is also solid, and not really in danger of being a scrambler, yet still mobile. His THP is his greatest weakness, but with a favorable skew, and some activity points, it could get to a 90-92. His AWR and THA are already better than most the rest of the class, so I don?t feel he?s a bad pick for my third overall QB choice.
4. Honorable Mentions ? John Beck ? Not a great option in John Beck, he?s a little undersized, and his THA needs work, but his AWR isn?t bad, and he has the THP. Could be a great pick for someone in the later second/third round. Oh, and GO COUGS!!
Running Backs
Running backs are difficult to assess. It is hard to narrow them down to just 3 attributes because they don?t have to be fast to be successful, but it helps. They also don?t have to have a high awareness or BTK to see success, and yet all of those stats are important. If I had to pick 3 attributes, I would settle on these, 1. BTK, I personally believe BTK to be important as it allows them to slip between tacklers without getting nabbed. I also realize this is a progressible attribute, but fast or quick running backs with low progressibles are a dime a dozen. 2. ACC, I believe it is more important for a good running back to have that initial burst in order to explode through the gaps then it is for them to have a high SPD. 3. SPD, I chose SPD over AGI or CAR because often times a big bruiser running back isn?t that agile, yet can have success, and if you can?t be touched, you aren?t going to fumble. It really just depends on the makeup of your running back, is he tall, short, a buck 90? Or does he bulldoze right through the linebackers? That?s why I went with BTK, ACC, and SPD; because no matter the makeup of your RB, in my opinion, I believe these attributes are universal.
1. Tony Hunt ? Unpopular opinion, but Tony Hunt is more complete in my book. His SPD will put him near the top of the league for big runningbacks, and he is big. Not often do you find a 6?2? halfback. His 89 AGI and 93 ACC also round out a solid group of stats. This draft class is also very weak on the CAR and BTK, which makes his 72 CAR and 76 BTK one of the better combinations this year. His 69 STR might make an argument to pick someone else like Brandon Jackson, but we will get to that next.
2. Brandon Jackson ? Brandon Jackson could have been the top pick here, but his 58 CAR is so very low, he just might have a fumble every game if you are giving him 20+ carries. This can certainly be increased and worked on, and maybe he doesn?t fumble as much as I think, certainly worth taking a chance! His 95 SPD and 82 STR will make him an absolute juggernaut once he?s moving.
3. Marshawn Lynch ? Arguably the top most pick of the class, but I think he?s lower risk, and lower reward. His 88 ACC worries me a little, if his SPD were several points higher, I would say it doesn?t matter, but Hunt and Jackson both have a higher SPD and ACC. Lynch could very well skew up, but I wouldn?t draft him super high unless I ran a private workout on him. He could be absolute gold, but I?d want to know first.
4. Honorable Mention ? Adrian Peterson ? Adrian Peterson is a solid back, and I think someone I going to get a steal on him. None of his stats break the mold, but he has very level stats, nothing is un-workable. And at 6?2? with 93 SPD and a 91 ACC, he?s going to be a gem in the second round, because I don?t see 4 halfbacks going in the first round.
Full Backs
Fullbacks are essential to an offense, but are sometimes overlooked. They have a very limited purpose, and so they sometimes get pushed to the wayside, but they are a tremendous help in a team?s running game. A full back?s bolded attributes highlight the offensive capabilities, but that?s not entirely how I view a full back. A full back gets maybe 2 carries a game, so unless you?re playing him as your 3rd down back, his bolded attributes are misleading. I believe that a full back?s 3 most important attributes are his ACC and SPD, but third I?d say the combination of his PBK/RBK stats. 1. ACC, this time around I actually swapped SPD and ACC, because as I read my own description, I determined that going back to the blocking capabilities, a full back needs to get in front of either a QB or HB quickly, and therefore needs ACC. I also believe that ACC helps in the PBK, because it creates momentum or power in small spaces. As for the RBK, he needs to get out in front very quickly in order to make holes for the running back. 2. SPD, because a full back blocks for your running back, I have come to the conclusion that their SPD needs to be high enough so that he does not get run over by your running back. 3. PBK/RBK, because this is what I believe he does most. While most full backs rack up 30-45 carries a season, they also rack up that many pancakes. So while every carry counts to that tally, not every block is a pancake, which means he blocks far more than he carries.
1. Jason Snelling ? It?s not every draft that you have 3 mentionable candidates at fullback. Jason Snelling looks to be the most athletic by a good margin, as he?s the only option about an 80 SPD. He also has the sure hands of a seasoned veteran, with an impressive 89 CAR. Fullbacks might not get many carries a year, but don?t be surprised to see less fumbles on the season than halfback Brandon Jackson has in his single worst game. (I?ll put 5 bucks down right now) What Snelling has in offensive capabilities though, he lacks in pass blocking. The quarterback might have a few extra sacks because of him, but I?d say it?s worth it.
2. Oren O?Neal ? Oren O?Neal lacks that extra pizazz that Snelling is on the brink of having, but his AWR gets him the bump over Brian Leonard. Leonard?s stats are slightly better I think, but within range after the skew, that I really give him the nod because of his AWR. Neither is a physical freak, so the added AWR will help as a blocker and reading plays.
3. Brian Leonard ? Brian Leonard hits a lot of the basic minimums, but again is not a physical freak. Fullbacks can be easily found with a lot of slower powerbacks in the early years of this league, so he might not be really worth it, but his blocking is far higher as a rookie than a lot of converted halfbacks. Just depends on what you are looking for if he is worth a draft pick for you.
Wide Receivers
Wide receivers are very straight forward, find the best combination of Height, SPD, ACC, AGI, and CTH. A lot of people prize height above all else along with JMP, and while I agree that the taller a wide receiver is, the bigger his catch radius is, and can over shadow smaller corner backs, I disagree on the JMP. I disagree because of several conversations I have read or have been a part of, where people came to the conclusion that wide receivers do not go up after the ball, rendering the JMP attribute a little meaningless. I believe the most important attributes are 1. SPD, because if a wide receiver can push past the defensive backs, he becomes an open target down field. 2. ACC, working in tandem with SPD, getting that quick jump on the defensive back is key, it can create space and ultimately make for an easier catch. 3. CTH, the higher the CTH, the less drops, the more opportunities to score, it?s as simple as that for me.
1. Calvin Johnson ? Calvin Johnson will be unrivaled in this league. He is easily the best wide receiver in this draft, and even with a 67 AWR, if he?s not starting for you day 1, you?re crazy, or on cocaine. 6?5? with a 98 SPD and 97 ACC, he?s going to be a force to be reckoned with, and will tower over most corners in the league. Even his 70 CAR and 63 BTK are better than some of the halfbacks in the draft. His STA and INJ are a little low, but not enough to question him. His one dark spot is his 87 AGI, but if that holds, I doubt it will affect any part of his game. Its even higher than a lot of the other class members. I don?t know who created Megatron, but they nailed it. He is the Arnold Schwarzenegger to Cowboy?s GM William Cook?s Danny DeVito.
2. Dwayne Jarrett ? Dwayne Jarrett is the bargain bin version of Megatron. He?s still 6?5?, but not quite as fast, not quite as strong, and not quite as quick, but in any other draft year, he?s probably a top 3 pick. This draft, I?d say still top 10 for sure. There are a couple other options that are a bit riskier, but still might be taken first.
3. Robert Meachem ? Robert Meachem could be the reason Dwayne Jarret doesn?t make a top 10 draft pick. He?s high risk with only a 58 CTH, but a 6?2? wide receiver with potentially 99 SPD and 99 ACC, how could you not consider him? The flip side of the coin but with the same result, given how deep this wide receiver class is, people might hold off once Calvin Johnson is gone, and then all the rest of the receivers drop. We will just have to wait and see.
4. Honorable Mention ? Jason Hill ? As I said, this is an incredibly deep class for receivers. Jason Hill at 6?1? and a 94 SPD and 99 ACC isn?t even in my top 3. I would say the biggest reason why is definitely his 27 STR, not sure how a receiver with that low of strength will perform, but if I needed a receiver in the late first of second round, landing someone with his height and athleticism is insane. A 73 CTH isn?t half bad either, considering some of the competition here.
5. Honorable Mention ? James Jones ? Yes, another honorable mention. Deep class?yada yada etc?Another 6?1? receiver with great athleticism, there will likely be a plethora of decent and tall receivers in the second round. James Jones is all around solid, and probably should have been ahead of Jason Hill and his weak arms, but the STR difference between 42 and 27 seemed less important than Hill?s extra 2 SPD and 6 ACC. Either option though should be a steal where I expect them to go.
Tight Ends
Tight ends for me a little tough. I?m not quite sure what to expect of them. They can be played as a receiver, so do you go for SPD, ACC, and CTH like a receiver? Or, since the other duties of a tight end include backfield blocking, and since most teams don?t carry more than 1 full back, they often fill in at the full back position, do you target STR and blocking capabilities? Or lastly, at their specified position of tight end, where they do a little of both, do you just try to find someone that offers good stats across the board, and sacrifice excellent stats at either end? Because of this, I don?t feel I can narrow it down to only 3 top attributes, and so I will just rank my favorite 3, and express my reasons.
1. Greg Olsen ? Greg Olsen might be the only one worth looking at. He?s 6?5? with a decent 69 STR, 83 SPD, and 75 CTH. He?s not the worst. I would hope that his AGI and ACC skew up to match his SPD, and since they?re not bolded, they absolutely have room to grow.
2. Scott Chandler ? The rest all suck, but 6?7??
3. Mat Spaeth ? 6?7? and 80 STR?
Offensive Tackles (Outside Linemen)
Offensive tackles are big and burly, but I like mine to also be mobile so they can help direct defensive ends out and around instead of being pushed backwards and collapsing on their own quarterback. For offensive tackles, I prioritize 1. STR, first and foremost, I like my entire offensive line to be 90+ STR in order to deal with any powerful defensive linemen. 2. AGI, as I said, I feel AGI is more important here. I don?t know how ACC is affected in lateral movement, but more often than not, offensive tackles aren?t moving forward, and so I feel AGI out ranks ACC. And 3. Combined PBK/RBK, I don?t think you can prioritize one over the other if you want a legitimate offensive line, he needs to be able to block for your passing game as well as for your running game.
1. LT ? Joe Thomas ? Joe Thomas is stacked across the board. He doesn?t have a single blemish. His 69 SPD, 96 STR, 73 AGI, 80 ACC, 94 PBK, 95 RBK, 74 STA, 99 INJ, and 94 TGH are all elite, and he could literally lose the max on each of those stats, and still be a legitimate first rounder. Even his 67 AWR is pretty high for a rookie, and since you won?t have to touch anything else on him, his AWR will also pretty easily be up in the 80?s within a couple years.
2. LT ? Clint Oldenburg ? Clint Oldenburg is a solid first rounder, but he does have 1 concern, his 69 ACC. Lucky it is not a bolded attribute, so I don?t know if it will have that much of an affect, especially since 69 ACC really isn?t bad, and could skew up a potential 5 points. He?s going to be a long time starter for someone probably in the mid to late first round.
3. LT ? James Marten ? Another solid lineman that could start from day one is James Marten. He has great size and athleticism, and already has a class bet 74 AWR. His 67 SPD, 72 AGI, and 79 ACC put him in an elite class. His raw talent should also make up for some of his lack of polishing, he has it where it counts. Where he doesn?t have it, is his 78 PBK. It?s not so incredibly bad that he should drop that far for it, but I imagine later first is still definitely doable.
4. Honorable Mention ? LT ? Tony Ugoh ? Like the receiver class, this class is also quite deep with offensive linemen, as I have 4 worthy honorable mentions. The first of which is Tony Ugoh. Very similar to James Marten, he?s an athletic freak, but with a small hole in his game. His PBK and RBK are reversed from marten, but that means he?s still workable. The reason he likely will take a little longer to become a starter is his 64 AWR. Otherwise, he?s going to be a great lineman for someone at a great price.
5. Honorable Mention ? LT ? Jacob Bender ? Jacob Bender is yet another insanely athletic left tackle, but could play anywhere. He?s borderline ?special project?, but still so insanely talented. His blocking stats are on the low side, but again they?re not unworkable. His AWR is good, but his 89 STR needs to stay strong, but even if it took a -3 hit, after progression and some activity points, he could be back up to a 90 STR. Like I said, a little bit of a project, but if he had a good skew, he could actually be quite solid from the get-go.
6. Honorable Mention ? LT ? Ryan Harris ? Ryan Harris is another borderline project candidate. He?s still insanely athletic, but his AWR is a bit lower. The silver lining though is that his blocking stats are much better. I would bet he still drops even further though because the 88 STR is getting out of reach to hit that 90 mark, if it even skews down a little.
7. Honorable Mention ? LT Marshal Yanda ? Solidly in the ?project? category, Marshal Yanda would need an absolutely insane skew to be relevant right off the bat, but it?s not unheard of. He?s got the ultimate draft gem written all over him, if he drops to the 4th round. I don?t think he will, someone needing some good depth will probably snag him in the late third round.
Offensive Guards + Centers (Inside Linemen)
For offensive guards I have had some discussions as to what a guard actually needs in order to be effective. Continuing with the theme of STR, my top attribute is again, 1. STR. Now that we are on to the guard position, STR is needed more than ever because they have to deal with the defensive tackles instead of the typically weaker defensive ends. 2. ACC, this is where the change comes in, instead of needing AGI to direct defensive ends laterally around the outside, I believe the guards need to drive the defensive tackles back in order to prevent the pocket from collapsing. Leaving 3. PBK/RBK, for obvious reasons.
1. LG ? Kasey Studdard ? The Offensive Guard draft class is far less deep than the Offensive Tackles. The best of which is Kasey Studdard. His 61 SPD is more than adequate, but his 97 STR, 71 AGI, and 73 ACC land him smack dab in the middle of solid draft pick, likely a first rounder. His 71 AWR is also great, but his 82 PBK leaves a little on the table, and his 73 RBK leaves a LOT to be desired?maybe a second rounder.
2. RG ? Justin Blalock ? Justin Blalock looks to be a solid option for an Offensive Guard, he does have one glaring hole, but as I also have said, this class is a little more slim pickin?s for Guards. His 67 RBK will definitely force him to drop, and probably quite significantly, but he could still be a good pick for someone. His 65 SPD, 91 STR, 70 AGI, and 69 ACC are all very solid, and he should eventually become a starter somewhere.
3. LG ? Mansfield Wrotto ? Mansfield Wrotto is probably a more complete option than either Blalock and Studdard, but he?s the ?safer? bet?.both a good thing and a bad thing. He has less holes, but also a lower ceiling.
4. Honorable Mention ? C ? Mike Elgin ? There are a lot of athletic Centers in tis draft class, but none that really blew me away. Mike Elgin is a little undersized, but was the best option to me. His 62 SPD, 91 STR, 71 AGI, and 71 ACC are all just above my minimums, so he?s well-rounded. He also has just about game ready 88 PBK, and 83 RBK.
Left Defensive Ends
Left and right defensive ends require different sets of skills, and so I have separated them for the sake of discussion. Left defensive ends tend to be the faster sack-getters, and so their most important attributes in my opinion should be 1. SPD, this ultimately is what allows them to get out and around offensive tackles, so the faster the better. 2. ACC, that first step is crucial to beating offensive tackles off the line. And 3. AGI, because again, it is all about getting by that offensive tackle. TAK is very arguably important, but I say that it?s not as important than SPD, ACC, and AGI, because at the very least, if you can get by the tackle, you can rush the quarterback, and force him to rush or make a mistake. Sacks are great, tackling is great, but you can?t do either if you can?t get past the O-Line.
1. Lamar Woodley ? This draft class is wildly all over the place. Amazing players are very polarizing, have fantastic stats across the board, but then having a huge hole that makes you question everything. Lamar Woodley is one of those players. His 86 SPD paired with 85 STR is essentially unheard of. His AWR is much lower than other?s available, but surprisingly, his 67 TAK is quite a bit higher?hence the polarizing draft class.
2. Jay Moore ? Jay Moore is technically a Right Defensive End, but I wouldn?t expect him to stay there. He is yet another polarizing option, whih his 54 TAK. It?s hard to imagine an 86 SPD Defensive End dropping that far, so I?d still expect him in the late first to second round. His 85 STR is insane and might help make up for his low TAK, but then you add in the 82 AGI and 81 ACC, and you really do have an interesting draft pick.
3. Gaines Adams ? Another Right Defensive End that I?d expect to get moved over to the left side. His 85 SPD, 85 AGI, and 80 ACC will lend itself well, plus I?d hope to see his ACC actually skew up to match his other athleticism. His 80 STR would also be rather high for a left side, while it?s a little lackluster on the right.
Right Defensive End
For a right defensive end my priorities are different. SPD and ACC are always good, but here I would prioritize 1. STR, this side matches up with the left offensive tackles, which tends to be the stronger side of the o-line, therefore STR comes first. 2. ACC, when I think of the right side, I think run stopping. I may be wrong, but that?s my current philosophy. Good ACC helps the right defensive end get in position to make the stop. 3. TAK, again, this has to do with run-stopping, and not to do with sacks. A high TAK comes in to play, to allow a RE to wrap up those slippery running backs trying to break out. While hurrying a quarterback might be as effective as sacking the quarterback, if you can?t bring down the half back, hurrying them doesn?t do enough to stop the play.
1. Lamar Woodley ? Surprisingly, Lamar Woodley is also my top Right Defensive End as well! He?s currently a Left Defensive End, but he could easily be moved over to the right side. The reason I went here was because at an 85 STR and 274 pounds, he?s got the best combination of size and STR. He also has the best in class TAK at 67. There?s just not many good option for a burley Right Defensive End. The strongest options in this draft are just too undersized and have too low of a TAK to make up for it.
2. Ikaika Alama-Francis ? Ikaika Alama-Francis is just about the only other option for Right Defensive End, but is still listed as a Left End. His numbers really look more like a second tier Left End, but 290 pounds, and if his STR skews up, he?d be an athletic Right End pretty easily.
Defensive Tackles
With a similar job to the right defensive ends, only bigger, defensive tackles should prioritize 1. STR, because they need to be able to content with the high STR of the offensive linemen. 2. ACC, again in order to counter the offensive linemen, and force the collapse of the pocket. And 3. TAK, because as the running backs come through, a stout defensive line could drag anything to the ground.
1. Kareem Brown ? Not too many Defensive Tackles in this draft that I?m happy with, but Kareem Brown tops that list. He seemed to offer the best combination of STR and athleticism, as well as TAK. He?s raw, but workable. I wouldn?t be surprised to not see the first Defensive Tackle go off the board till the second round.
2. Clifton Ryan ? Clifton Ryan is kind of stuck in between athletic Defensive Tackle and being a Nose Tackle. He?s only 324 pounds, and his STR is low at 89 for a big hold filler, but he?s close. The Defensive Tackles that did have the STR or size lack any athletic talent, and hard to justify drafting with the expectation of more than a roster filler.
Linebackers
Whether you?re looking for the inside or outside position, 3 things come to mind, how fast they are, how strong they are, and how effective they are in taking an opponent down. The leads me to my top 3 attributes I look for, 1. SPD, undoubtedly SPD has to be the number one factor. Without enough SPD, a linebacker will either be ineffective in covering the slot area, or shutting down a running back. 2. ACC, it goes hand in hand with SPD, and is crucial to plug holes or for an outside linebacker to be able to shoot through gaps, getting those precious tackles and sacks you pay him for. 3. STR, this was a toss up between TAK and STR. I find them similar, but as STR probably lends to actual tackling, and TAK being progressible, unless there?s a huge discrepancy in the draft prospect?s TAK, I?ll take STR.
MLB
1. David Harris ? David Harris doesn?t quite have the best athleticism in this class, but with his added height and weight, and the added STR and AWR, the rest could flip flop after skews, so I went with what is definite. He?s big, he?s bad, and he has startable AWR and TAK, he?s my top Middle Linebacker in the draft.
2. Justin Durant ? Potentially the most athletic Middle Linebacker in the draft class, Justin Durant is just a little undersized than what I typically look for, and I don?t think he?s enough of an athletic freak to over compensate for it. I still think he is first round, maybe even pick 10-20, but that?s why he dropped from first to second on my list.
3. Honorable Mention ? Buster Davis ? I didn?t really have a third pick that I was in love with, so I gave this one an honorable mention tag. His 83 SPD and 85 AGI are absolutely great, along with his 74 AWR and 83 TAK, he could start on day one if you need it. But his 76 ACC would max at 79 with a perfect skew, and that?s still a little shy of what I want. If you run a private workout though, I?d be interested to know what he actually looks like. His 77 CTH intrigues me soo much, and if he skews when, I could see someone taking a higher flyer on him. He could be an absolute ball hawk in the middle of the field, or a number 2 Middle Linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme.
ROLB
1. Anthony Waters ? Anthony Waters looks like a first rounder to me. He?s 6?3? and only 2 pounds shy of the 240 I look for. His 82 SPD isn?t incredibly high, but that?s perfectly find on the right side. His 82 STR is fantastic, and then an 83 AGI and 85 ACC, he?ll be super quick to stock the run.
2. Paul Posluszny ? Paul Posluszny is solid all around, and has a game ready 78 AWR and 83 TAK. He?s a little undersized at only 229 pounds, but his 76 STR puts him right there for me as a Right Outside Linebacker. His 82 SPD, 82 AGI, and 83 ACC will make him a very mobile run stopper.
LOLB
1. Jon Beason ? Jon Beason is lacking in 1 major area, his 47 AWR is crazy low. There?s an argument to be had though for dumb athletic freaks at Outside Linebacker though, definitely interested to follow his career. To think of an Outside Linebacker with 91 SPD is insane. His 88 AGI and 87 ACC would also make him just about the most athletic Linebacker in the league, and even at Strong Safety. His 77 STR and 75 TAK are also great numbers for any rookie Linebacker.
2. Zak DeOssie ? Zak DeOssie almost took the top spot here, he looks to be the most complete Outside Linebacker available. His 82 SPD, 79 STR, 70 AWR, 82 AGI, and 86 ACC are everything you want in a rookie prospect. His 71 TAK leaves a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth, but it?s workable. He also has an imposing stature at 6?4? and 249 pounds, which should make him a nightmare for offensive lines.
3. Antwan Barnes ? Antwan Barnes has a good size, and hits a lot of my minimums. He?s not spectacular, but he?s a solid draft pick. Probably solidly in the second round. His 87 ACC is his best feature, and if it holds post skew, he?ll be a sack nightmare.
4. Honorable Mention ? Johnny Baldwin ? Johnny Baldwin is currently a Right Outside Linebacker, but I think he?s a better fit on the Left side. He?s a little undersized, and lacks a little STR for the right side, but I think his 86 SPD and 86 AGI will place him perfectly for a position change. His 82 ACC also isn?t bad, and if it skews up, he?ll be fantastic.
Corner Backs
Arguably the hardest position to fill on the defensive side of the ball, everyone is looking for that ?shut down? corner. People are rarely willing to part with them for less than a first born or at least a first rounder. While a lot of people prioritize height for a corner back, so that they are less likely to be overshadowed by the plethora of tall wide outs, I?m actually okay with my corners being a little shorter. 5?10? is pushing it, that?s definitely a tall nickel, I do like to see at least 5?11?. Of course the taller the better, I just don?t prioritize it. For an extra 2-3 SPD and 2-3 ACC, I would gladly give up 2-3 inches of height. So, other attributes that I prioritize for corners are 1. SPD, obviously. Corners have to be able to keep up with the likes of receivers that commonly push 95+ SPD. 2. ACC, again, gotta keep up. Every team has at least that one receiver that has explosive SPD and ACC, and if you allow a separation, it will not be good for your cornerback. 3. CTH/TAK, this might be a copout to the ?3 most important attributes? parameters I set at the start, but because corner backs are arguably the most important defensive position, I can?t skip on important attributes. With that said, I can?t stress enough the importance of AWR either?..and it?s getting old, but also AGI and JMP, because corners have been known to go up to get the ball for an interception?.it?s no wonder it takes so much to pry a good corner away from someone.
1. Corey Graham ? Corey Graham is a fully complete looking Corner Back. He hits that 6? mark for most other people, plus a 97 SPD, 57 STR, 93 AGI, 94 ACC, and a CTH/TAK combo averaging out to 60 points apiece, he?s stacked. He also comes with a super solid 68 AWR, would have been a nice year to have a first round pick! Haha
2. Aaron Ross ? Only a slight step behind Corey Graham?s physical athleticism, Aaron Ross is still no slouch. His 92 SPD, 88 AGI, and 93 ACC are still very desirable. His 88 AGI is non bolded, so it also stands a chance of skewing up quite a bit. I don?t have a draft pick high enough to snag him, so hopefully he doesn?t? What Ross comes with that Graham doesn?t, is a 77 AWR, and an extra 7 CTH/TAK points, making him just about game ready. He?ll be starting on day 1 this season.
3. David Irons ? David Irons is only 5?11?, which doesn?t bother me any. I won?t sacrifice athleticism for height. Unfortunately Irons is lacking the athleticism ever do slightly by comparison to Graham and Ross. But he?s still a fantastic option! His 67 AWR is also very good for a rookie, so he?ll definitely be a solid pick in the second round.
4. Honorable Mention ? Dante Hughes ? I debated over Hughes and Irons for a bit, 5?10? is borderline Nickel Corner, but I?m still willing to play him in CB1/CB2, but his 46 CTH is what ultimately made me drop him here. He?ll likely get a lot of deflections with his 95 SPD and 94 ACC, but his 46 CTH will keep him from creating turnovers.
5. Honorable Mention ? Eric Wright ? Eric Wright was also very much in the same boat as Dante Hughes. His athleticism is stellar, but his 50 AWR is rough. If I?m going to have to make up 15-20 points over someone like David Irons, I?d prefer it be on his CTH like Hughes than on his AWR like we have here in Wright. Still an interesting Cornerback selection, likely a second rounder still.
Safeties
Safeties are a simple position, 1. SPD. 2. ACC. 3. CTH or TAK, depending on whether they?re a free safety or strong safety. Safeties are really a Plan-C kind of position, or the full back of the defensive side of the ball. They?re not the first choice to make the play, but they hit like a tank. The way I look at a Strong Safety is that they are the first check-point between the linebackers and the cornerbacks. They hit hard, and so I prioritize TAK, while the Free Safety is the second check-point, so they are a little smaller, and act more like a defensive back instead of a tackler, and so I lean towards CTH.
Safeties
1. SS ? Sabby Piscitelli ? Clearly the top pick for any Safety position, his higher TAK would indicate a Strong Safety, but his 49 STR doesn?t inspire confidence. I don?t know that it really makes a difference though. His 6?3? and 224 pound frame is intimidating, and can?t hurt. His 92 SPD, 96 AGI, and 96 ACC rival the top Corner prospects this year, and is stupid insane for a safety. He?ll likely be drafted top 10 this year, and I?d expect him to stay at Strong Safety, because his 60 CTH is incredibly low.
2. FS ? LaRon Landry ? LaRon Landry is listed as Free Safety, but I?m not convinced of that. His 89 SPD, 85 AGI, and 87 ACC need a little help to be a really effective Free Safety. But he also lacks the STR and weight I?d prefer to see at Strong Safety. His 69 AWR still makes him a solid pick if you need either a Free or Strong Safety, but don?t expect him to go high.
3. FS ? Eric Frampton ? Eric Frampton might be the better option over LaRon Landry for a Strong Safety, even though he?s shorter and still doesn?t have the weight, he does have a 63 STR, combined with an 88 SPD, 89 AGI, and a 90 ACC, he?s kind of an unstoppable missile. He also has a decent 68 CTH and 69 TAK, making him very versatile. The biggest problem is his 53 AWR.
Kickers & Punters (The ?Rock Special?)
There are only 2 things you need to know about a kicker or punter, 1. KPW, how hard can he kick, and 2. KAC, will he miss the broad side of a barn?
Kickers
All of the Kickers this year look pretty decent. The lowest KPW is an 89, while the highest is only a 92. None are incredible standouts, so if you need a kicker, take the highest KAC.
Punters
1. Tom Schneider ? Tom Schneider gets the nod here because his 86 KAC is higher. Having a 94 KPW versus the 95 KPW of Brandon Fields is inconsequential. I would waster a private workout, just draft him.
2. Brandon Fields ? More or less the same, you know the drill.
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