With the draft just one day away, it’s time to post my final position rankings. These rankings aren’t where I think each player will get drafted, but rather how I personally have them rated based on their future prospects in the NFL.
QB
1 Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
3 Matt Barkley, QB, USC
4 Matt Scott, QB, Arizona
5 Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
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Analysis: I really don’t like Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib, who many have predicted could be a top 10 pick. Actually, I don’t even have him in my top 80 prospects. Manuel, who recently moved into my top 30 overall, could have the highest ceiling of the bunch.
RB
4 Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
Analysis: Since I last posted my rankings, I moved Michael into the No. 1 spot over Franklin. I really like both players, but Michael has an elite size/speed combination.
And I published this comparison a few weeks ago, but it’s worth repeating:
Zac Stacy: 5-9, 216 pounds, 3,143 yards, 5.4 YPC, 4.55 40-yard dash, 6.70 three-cone drill, 4.17 short shuttle, 27 reps
Player X: 5-9, 215 pounds, 3,431 yards, 5.6 YPC, 4.55 40-yard dash, 6.79 three-cone drill, 4.16 short shuttle, 28 reps
“Player X” is Doug Martin.
WR
4 Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
5 Keenan Allen, WR, Cal
Analysis: I’ve had Hopkins rated as my No. 1 wide receiver for a little while, but he’s now my No. 13 overall prospect. I also moved Rogers up to No. 3 because he’s basically a Brandon Marshall clone. His future will hinge on his ability to stay out of trouble.
TE
1 Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
3 Vance McDonald, TE, Rice
4 Chris Gragg, TE, Arkansas
Analysis: My tight end rankings have been completely shaken up. I moved both McDonald and Gragg into my top five, ahead of Ertz. McDonald has gotten a lot of exposure lately, but Gragg is considered a late-round prospect. That’s amazing considering Gragg ran a faster 40 than Da’Rick Rogers and DeAndre Hopkins, yet weighs nearly 30 pounds heavier than both of them.
G/C
4 Brian Winters, G, Kent State
Analysis: My interior line rankings have remain unchanged. It’s incredibly weak after the top two, which adds to their value.
OT
2 Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
5 David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State
Analysis: I listed six tackles because I can’t decide between Quessenberry and Bakhtiari—two players I like much more than most. I see both as second-round talents who could be available in the third round.
DE
Analysis: Jordan and Ansah are the top two overall players on my board. I actually have the top four players here listed in my top 10, and even Werner checks in at No. 15. It’s a very underrated group of pass-rushers, in my opinion.
DT
Analysis: I moved Richardson into the No. 1 spot in my defensive tackle rankings, and he’s currently listed at No. 10 overall. I also swapped Short and Floyd; despite all of the hype for Floyd, I still see him as a weak first-round talent.
LB
Analysis: Since my last set of rankings, I moved Moore into the top five. All of the top four linebackers are ranked in my top 35, while Te’o doesn’t crack the top 50.
S
Analysis: I’ve liked Wilcox as a second-round talent for a few weeks, but I moved him all the way up to No. 2 because he’s got such a high ceiling. It’s worth noting that I have Wilcox, Thomas, Elam, and Rambo all ranked very closely with Florida International’s Jonathan Cyprien and Fresno State’s Phillip Thomas not far behind. This class of safeties is weak at the top, but extremely deep.
CB
1 Xavier Rhodes, Florida State
2 Dee Milliner, Alabama
3 D.J. Hayden, Houston
4 Desmond Trufant, Washington
5 Jamar Taylor, Boise State
Analysis: I have Rhodes rated in my top 10 because of his size. Hayden is now rated just two spots behind Milliner at No. 14 overall.
Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.
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