QB RB WR TE OT G C NT DT 3-4 DE DE RLB OLB MLB CB S K P
Updated 4/17/10
100 Once in a decade prospect
95-99 Elite talent
90-95 Solid top 10 pick
85-90 Solid first round pick
80-85 Late 1st-early 2nd
75-80 Solid 2nd round pick
70-75 Solid 3rd round pick
65-70 3rd-4th round pick
60-65 4th-5th round pick
55-60 5th round pick
50-55 6th round pick
45-50 7th round pick
40-45 Undrafted, invite to training camp
30-40 Career practice squader
20-30 No NFL future
0-20 No football future
1. Mike Iupati (Idaho) 83
1/27/10: Unlike Ducasse, this much hyped offensive lineman has really lived up to the hype. He is destroying guys one on one and is making a huge case to be a first round pick lock, which is rare for a guard.
A massive offensive guard with the possible ability to kick out to right tackle if he needs to. He completely dominated defensive lineman one on one this season, though he didn’t have the toughest competition, and moves extremely well for his size. We’ll all get a good look at him and the hype that surrounds him at the Senior Bowl next week. He’s already drawing premature comparisons to by far the best guard of the last 20 years, Larry Allen.
2. Mike Johnson (Alabama) 78
He probably wouldn’t be a top 10 tackle without his ability to play guard, but he’s an amazing run blocker. He blocked for Glen Coffee in 2008 and Mark Ingram in 2009. He’s not a big mauling run blocker, but his technique is amazing and he should be drafted in the 2nd or maybe 3rd round as a right tackle or right guard.
3. John Jerry (Mississippi) 74
Is he going to have problems against the pass, sure, but he projects well as a right guard at the next level and is a really tough matchup inside at 345 pounds. His older brother, Peria, is already in the NFL, a defensive tackle with the Atlanta Falcons who was drafted in the 1st round last year.
4. Vladimir Ducasse (Massachusetts) 73
1/27/10: This small school kid with excellent size had a lot of hype surrounding him coming into the week and he has not lived up to it. He has looked like 5 steps slower than every defensive lineman has had been guarding. He’s really having trouble with tougher competition. He’s probably only a guard at the next level rather than a right tackle as some had envisioned him.
Another big man from a small school, Ducasse is 340 pounds of mean. He didn’t have the toughest competition, but he’ll get his chance to show himself at the Senior Bowl as well. He has the ability to play both right guard and right tackle, but it’ll be interesting to see if he projects as a right tackle longterm because he’s a step or two slower than the average right tackle.
5. Maurkice Pouncey (Florida) 69
By far the most versatile guard on here, he has the ability to play both guard positions, and center, which he played last year. He could also play right tackle and he has great athletic upside, though he didn’t quite tap into all of that in his time at Florida.
6. Jon Asamoah (Illinois) 67
The best pure zone guard in this draft class, and he has the versatility to play both guard slots. He moves well for his size, but isn’t overpowering. He could run the fastest 40 of all guard prospects which means he could be a Raider next year.
7. Mitch Petrus (Arkansas) 65
2/25/10: He benched 225 pounds 45 times. That doesn’t equate to football success necessarily, but it certainly helps.
He’s been suspended before for academic reasons, but he’s also the same monster blocker that was getting National hype as a sophomore blocking for Felix Jones and Darren McFadden. If scouts can look past his character issues and his weaknesses against the pass, he’ll be drafted in the 4th round as a right guard.
8. Sergio Render (Virginia Tech) 64
A former elite guard prospect who falls back quite a bit this year after struggling a bit. He’s still worth a mid round prospect because he’s a great athlete who uses his hands well, but his leverage needs work
9. Jeff Byers (USC) 59
1/30/10: He’s undersized, but with great form he really held his own against much bigger defensive lineman. He played at center for most of the game, which is not his natural position, but he did a great overall job, which is very good because, due to his small frame, that’s likely the position he’ll have to play at the next level.
A former elite guard prospect who would be a perfect fit for a zone blocking scheme. He only weighs 290 pounds so he won’t fit all schemes and he has a nasty history of injuries, but if he fulfills his potential, he could be the best pure left guard in this draft class. He needs to bulk up though, even to play a zone scheme.
10. Brandon Carter (Texas Tech) 58
3/15/10: This is what I like to see. Ran a poor 5.36 at his Combine, so he lost 10 pounds and then ran a 5.24. A 5.24 at 6-6 319 isn’t overly impressive, and for an offensive lineman 40 times barely matter, but I love the dedication and commitment to football.
By far the craziest guard in the draft class. If it were legal, he’d probably bite off a defensive linemen’s head. He’s a huge run blocker, but I have some concerns about how he’ll transition to a real blocking scheme in the NFL and about his pass blocking and mobility, which he really lacks.
11. Thomas Austin (Clemson) 56
A bit of an unknown who burst onto the scene as a senior this year, but he’s got good versatility and an excellent knack for the fundamentals so he could be drafted as a depth guy at worst.
12. Joe Thomas (Pittsburgh) 54
A very solid and versatile depth guy whose motor I love. He doesn’t have a ton of upside and he’s not a huge name guy, but every time I’ve seen him, he’s made NFL caliber blocks. Size is an issue though.
13. Cord Howard (Georgia) 51
An All-ACC first teamer this year as a guard after making the 2nd team last year, Howard is a very solid all around guard, but nothing really leaps off the page when you watch him.
14. Marshall Newhouse (TCU) 49
An athletic freak with a 5.00 40 at 6-4 319, which means he’ll be on the Raiders’ radar, but I have some concerns about his leverage and technique. Level of competition was also a concern for him.
15. Matt Stephens (Richmond) 45
One of Division I-AA’s best offensive linemen, never missed a start and opened up a ton of holes for Richmond’s elite running game. Level of competition is obviously an issue, but this guy was one of the best at what he did for the last 4 years and deserves a shot at the next level.
16. Reggie Stephens (Iowa State) 44
17. Shelley Smith (Colorado State) 43
18. Shawn Lauvao (Arizona State) 42
19. Andrew Lewis (Oklahoma State) 41
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