Mike Mayock alters position rankings for 2013 NFL Draft

[Nick]

Mike Mayock alters position rankings for 2013 NFL Draft
By Mike Mayock
Published: March 1, 2013 at 04:30 p.m.
Updated: March 1, 2013 at 06:42 p.m.

With the NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, Mike Mayock unveils the second edition of his position-by-position draft prospect rankings for the 2013 NFL Draft.

Quarterback
1. Geno Smith, West Virginia
2. Matt Barkley, USC
3. Mike Glennon, NC State
4. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
5. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Running Back
1. Eddie Lacy, Alabama
2. Montee Ball, Wisconsin
3. Andre Ellington, Clemson
4. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina
5. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

Wide Receiver
1. Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
2. Keenan Allen, Cal
3. Tavon Austin, West Virginia
4. Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech
5. DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

New entry: Hopkins
Rise: Austin (4), Patton (5)
Out: Terrance Williams, Baylor (3)

Tight End
1. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
2. Zach Ertz, Stanford
3. Gavin Escobar, San Diego State
4. Travis Kelce, Cincinnati
5. Vance McDonald, Rice

New entry: McDonald
Out: Jordan Reed, Florida (5)

Center
1. Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
2. Brian Schwenke, Cal
3. Barrett Jones, Alabama
4. Khaled Holmes, USC
5. Braxston Cave, Notre Dame

Guard
1. Chance Warmack, Alabama
2. Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
3. Larry Warford, Kentucky
4. Kyle Long, Oregon
5. Brian Winters, Kent State

Tackle
1. Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
2. Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
3. Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
4. D.J. Fluker, Alabama
T-5. Menelik Watson, Florida State
T-5. Justin Pugh, Syracuse

4-3 Defensive End
1. Bjoern Werner, Florida State
2. Ezekiel Ansah, BYU
3. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
4. Sam Montgomery, LSU
5. Tank Carradine, Florida State

3-4 Defensive End
1. Star Lotulelei, Utah
2. Margus Hunt, SMU
3. Datone Jones, UCLA
4. Jesse Williams, Alabama
5. William Gholston, Michigan State

Defensive Tackle
1. Sharrif Floyd, Florida
2. Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
3. Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
4. Kawann Short, Purdue
5. Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State

Rise: Richardson (3), Williams (4), Short (5)

4-3 Outside Linebacker
1. Jarvis Jones, Georgia
2. Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
3. Arthur Brown, Kansas State
4. Sio Moore, Connecticut
5. Chase Thomas, Stanford

3-4 Outside Linebacker
1. Dion Jordan, Oregon
2. Jamie Collins, Southern Miss
3. Barkevious Mingo, LSU
4. Michael Buchanan, Illinois
5. Corey Lemonier, Auburn

Inside Linebacker
1. Alec Ogletree, Georgia
2. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
3. Kevin Minter, LSU
4. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina
5. Kiko Alonso, Oregon

Cornerback
1. Dee Milliner, Alabama
2. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
3. Desmond Trufant, Washington
4. Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut
5. B.W. Webb, William & Mary

New entry: Wreh-Wilson, Webb
Rise: Trufant (4), Patton (5)
Out: Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State (3); Jordan Poyer, Oregon State (5)

Safety
1. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
2. Matt Elam, Florida
3. Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
4. Eric Reid, LSU
5. Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse

New entry: Thomas
Out: Zeke Motta, Notre Dame (5)

[sosa39rams]

Mayock listed Jarvis as the top 4-3 LB? Nowhere on the 3-4 LB list? That's definitely a new one.

[Vinnie25]

Mayock listed Jarvis as the top 4-3 LB? Nowhere on the 3-4 LB list? That's definitely a new one.

Yup, he also has Star Lotulelei and Jesse Williams listed as a DE's when they're really DT's... I thought a NFL draft expert would know the difference

[Rambos]

Not sure why Mayock thinks of Jarvis Jones as a 4-3 LB.

Lets see how Terrance Williams looks at his pro day.

I thought Reid looked good at the combine, he could be a steal in the second.

[sosa39rams]

Yup, he also has Star Lotulelei and Jesse Williams listed as a DE's when they're really DT's... I thought a NFL draft expert would know the difference

Well that's for a 3-4 DE, which they would fit. But it's weird to see a guy that is pegged as pass rusher by virtually everyone (a 3-4 pass rusher) be put into the 4-3 OLB rankings.

[GROUND DOG 39]

For me, Jarvis Jones body type and athletic ability, looks a little more suited to the 4-3 than the 3-4 anyway. He doesn't look a natural pass rusher either. One to keep an eye on, but still a risky proposition in the first round.?

[THOLTFAN81]

Well that's for a 3-4 DE, which they would fit. But it's weird to see a guy that is pegged as pass rusher by virtually everyone (a 3-4 pass rusher) be put into the 4-3 OLB rankings.

Valid points, but if the guys a special player, hes a special player and can play OLB in either the 3-4 or 4-3. The media was saying the same stuff about Von Miller when Denver drafted him into their 4-3 Defense as an OLB and hes doing just fine.

[sosa39rams]

Valid points, but if the guys a special player, hes a special player and can play OLB in either the 3-4 or 4-3. The media was saying the same stuff about Von Miller when Denver drafted him into their 4-3 Defense as an OLB and hes doing just fine.

Agree 100%. I've been vouching for Jones, and would actually be ecstatic if we picked him. I share the exact same sentiments. Special players make plays, end of story. I think he would work in a 4-3, just assumed he'd be listed as a 3-4 guy.

[cfh128]

Interesting that he has Kyle Long listed at guard and Justin Pugh listed at tackle. I thought those 2 were generally considered to play exactly the opposite?

[HUbison]

For me, Jarvis Jones body type and athletic ability, looks a little more suited to the 4-3 than the 3-4 anyway. He doesn't look a natural pass rusher either. One to keep an eye on, but still a risky proposition in the first round.?

Not to mention the spinal stenosis. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt this kid's career is a long one.

[Nick]

Valid points, but if the guys a special player, hes a special player and can play OLB in either the 3-4 or 4-3. The media was saying the same stuff about Von Miller when Denver drafted him into their 4-3 Defense as an OLB and hes doing just fine.

Probably because he's being used much more like a 3-4 outside linebacker, playing to his strengths rather than forcing him into a role that isn't his best fit.

According to Pro Football Focus, Miller was on the field for 574 passing snaps in 2012, and rushed the passer on 436 of them. That's nearly double the number of pass rush snaps of the next highest 4-3 OLB, and would have ranked 5th among 3-4 OLBs.

Miller's 52 hurries not only led 4-3 OLBs (next highest is Lavonte David with 14), but it would have led 3-4 OLBs in 2012 as well. Heck, Miller rushed the passer more than some 4-3 defensive ends did in 2012.

Contrast that a mere 139 snaps in coverage, which ranks 34th among 4-3 OLBs. To compare, Miller was asked to drop back and cover about as often as the Rams asked Rocky McIntosh to do so.

IMO, Miller is succeeding in Denver's 4-3 at OLB not because he's a special player whose talent defies scheme, but because the Broncos have chosen to use him in a manner that plays to his strengths rather than how 4-3 OLBs are typically utilized.

As I see it, the moral of the story is, if you draft a guy with 3-4 OLB skills to be a 4-3 OLB, you'd better find ways to play to his strengths as a pass rusher if you want him to be successful. Otherwise, you're probably going to end up with something closer to Mathias Kiwanuka rather than Von Miller.

[AvengerRam]

If we're going to try to use a 3-4 OLB-type as a 4-3 OLB, I'd rather we take Dion Jordan or Jamie Collins. Jones' medical condition scares me.

[Vinnie25]

If we're going to try to use a 3-4 OLB-type as a 4-3 OLB, I'd rather we take Dion Jordan or Jamie Collins. Jones' medical condition scares me.

Great point, plus I hear that Dion Jordan is far superior in pass coverage

[sosa39rams]

Does Dion Jordan remind anyone of Manny Lawson (10x better obviously)?

[HUbison]

Does Dion Jordan remind anyone of Manny Lawson (10x better obviously)?

You mean in appearance?

Yea, they kind of look alike.