Nick's Top 50 Big Board (2/11)

[Nick]

Keeping in mind that this is a very amateur-ish effort on my part, I thought I'd put together a big board of prospects in terms of where I kind of see them in relation to one another. It should also be noted that where a prospect ranks on a big board and where they may be selected are two different things, and many factors could come into play in terms of a prospect being drafted above or below their position on a board. With that being said, here's my list!

1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
2. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
3. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
4. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
5. Marcell Dareus, DL, Alabama
6. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
7. Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
8. Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
9. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
10. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
11. Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
12. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
13. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
14. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
15. Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
16. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
17. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
18. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
19. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
20. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
21. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
22. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
23. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
24. Justin Houston, LB, Georgia
25. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
26. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
27. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
28. Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
29. Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
30. Tyron Smith, OT, USC
31. Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois
32. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
33. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
34. Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
35. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
36. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
37. Ben Ijalana, OL, Villanova
38. Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA
39. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
40. Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
41. Stefan Wisniewski, C, Penn State
42. Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
43. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
44. Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State
45. Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
46. Danny Watkins, G, Baylor
47. Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
48. Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
49. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
50. Davon House, CB, New Mexico State

[npow81]

Hey good list, and i'm probably going to beat a dead horse until draft day on this, but I simply don't get Torrey Smith Jon Baldwin, and Leonard Hankerson ahead of Titus Young.

Actually to say I don't get it is a fallacy, because I understand why you have done it, those guys all fit the mold of a #1 wideout because of their size, and Titus is a bit frail and a bit short. However, Titus played his whole career on the outside, has elite speed, good hands, and shows excellent fluidity in and out of his breaks as a route runner (although i'll admit he kind of runs like a spaz)

Above all Titus a playmaker that can provide the explosion that we especially could use to give us those extra points needed to get us over the hump in those close games that we lost this year (although i realize this list isn't meant solely for the Rams).

So I guess, if you would, give it a shot on why you have them rated higher, because although biased, i just don't see them as better players than titus.

[Nick]

The reason I'm not as high on Young (still think he's a second rounder though) boils down to a couple of things.

One, he looks pretty frail. 5'11" but only 174 pounds and his legs look like they'd snap if you sneeze on them. Arms aren't very long, hands are pretty small. So size is a concern.

Two, there are some concerns about his game. For instance, I like him in the short passing game, but I don't think he has great deep speed. Maybe he runs well at the Combine, but to give you an example, there were times at the Senior Bowl where he couldn't separate from safeties on deep routes. There are also some issues with drops, which isn't surprising giving the hand size.

Three, there are some character red flags including a pretty significant suspension in 2008. The DeSean Jackson comparisons speak to his attitude as well, from what I've heard.

Now, there are weaknesses and downsides to the other receivers as well, but based on a number of these factors, I view Young as the #6 receiver right now in the class. Ironically, Jackson was the 7th receiver drafted in his class, also as a second rounder. So who knows what can happen.