NFP Prospect Position Rankings

FROM WES BUNTING:

With the NFL Combine over, it’s time to turn back to position rankings and draft boards to update the accuracy of each position. The tests and times at the Combine often carry too much weight, although they do help determine which position a prospect is best suited to play at the next level. Here are the National Football Post’s updated position rankings:  

Quarterbacks

1. Mark Sanchez, USC (6-3, 225)
2. Matthew Stafford, Georgia (6-3, 236)
3. Josh Freeman, Kansas State (6-6, 248)
4. Pat White, West Virginia (6-0, 192)
5. Nate Davis, Ball State (6-2, 218)
6. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech (6-2, 205)
7. Stephen McGee, Texas A&M (6-3, 216)
8. Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State (6-2, 216)
9. Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas (6-1, 214)
10. John Parker Wilson, Alabama (6-2, 219)

Running Backs

1. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia (5-11, 208)
2. Chris Wells, Ohio State (6-1, 237)
3. Shonn Greene, Iowa (5-11, 235)
4. LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh (5-11, 210)
5. Donald Brown, Connecticut (5-10, 210)
6. Rashad Jennings, Liberty (6-1, 232)
7. Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon (5-9, 208)
8. Andre Brown, N.C. State (6-0 224)
9. Glen Coffee, Alabama (6-0, 209)
10. Javon Ringer, Michigan State (5-9, 205)

Third Down Backs

1. Kory Sheets, Purdue (5-11, 203)
2. Devin Moore, Wyoming (5-9, 191)
3. Ian Johnson, Boise State (5-11, 212)
4. Keegan Herring, Arizona State (5-10, 195)
5. Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian (5-11, 195)

Fullbacks

1. Quinn Johnson, LSU (6-1, 260)
2. Conredge Collins, Pittsburgh (5-11, 232)
3. Tony Fiammetta, Syracuse (6-0, 238)
4. Travis McCall, Alabama (6-2, 276)
5. Will Taufoou, California (5-11, 252)
6. Brannan Southerland, Georgia (6-0, 245)
7. Mark Hafner, Houston (6-2, 235)
8. Marquez Branson, Central Arkansas (6-2, 248)
9. David Johnson, Arkansas State (6-2, 250)
10. Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M (6-0, 278)

Wide Receivers

1. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (6-3, 214) 
2. Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (6-1, 200) 
3. Percy Harvin, Florida (5-11,195)
4. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland (6-2, 206)
5. Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (6-1, 210)
6. Kenny Britt, Rutgers (6-4, 215)  
7. Derrick Williams, Penn State (6-0, 200)
8. Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma (6-0 204)
9. Brian Robiskie, Ohio State (6-2, 200)
10. Brandon Tate, North Carolina (6-1, 195)

Slot Receivers

1. Mike Thomas, Arizona (5-8 187)
2. Deon Butler, Penn State (5-11, 168)
3. Quan Cosby, Texas (5-9, 191)
4. Johnny Knox, Abilene Christian (6-0, 185)
5. Sammie Stroughter, Oregon State (6-0, 189)

Possession Receivers

1. Patrick Turner, USC (6-5, 221)
2. Austin Collie, BYU (6-2, 206)
3. Ramses Barden, Cal Poly (6-6, 227)
4. Marko Mitchell, Nevada (6-4, 218)
5. Aaron Kelly, Clemson (6-5, 193)

Tight Ends

1. Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss (6-5, 242)
2. Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State (6-6, 260)
3. Jared Cook, South Carolina (6-5, 242)
4. James Casey, Rice (6-4, 235)
5. Chase Coffman, Missouri (6-6, 252)
6. Cornelius Ingram, Florida (6-4, 245)
7. Travis Beckum, Wisconsin (6-3, 237)
8. Ryan Purvis, Boston College (6-4, 255)
9. Davon Drew, East Carolina (6-4, 258)
10. Cameron Morrah, California (6-4, 244)

Offensive Tackles

1. Eugene Monroe, Virginia (6-5, 315)
2. Jason Smith, Baylor (6-5, 300)
3. Michael Oher, Mississippi (6-5, 320)
4. Andre Smith, Alabama (6-4, 340)
5. Eben Britton, Arizona (6-6, 310)
6. William Beatty, Connecticut (6-6, 310)
7. Fenuki Tupou, Oregon (6-5, 332)
8. Jamon Meredith, South Carolina (6-5, 304)
9. Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma (6-8, 332)
10. Joel Bell, Furman (6-7, 315)

Offensive Guards

1. Duke Robinson, Oklahoma (6-5, 335)
2. Herman Johnson, LSU (6-7, 382)
3. Andy Levitre, Oregon State (6-2, 318)
4. Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati (6-5, 305)
5. Tyronne Green, Auburn (6-2, 309)
6. Cornelius Lewis, Tennessee State (6-4, 324)
7. Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin (6-6, 323)
8. T.J. Lang, Eastern Michigan (6-4, 312)
9. Seth Olsen, Iowa (6-5, 304)
10. Jaimie Thomas, Maryland (6-4, 331)

Centers

1. Alex Mack, California (6-4, 314)
2. Max Unger, Oregon (6-5, 305)
3. Eric Wood, Louisville (6-5, 308)
4. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama (6-5, 305)
5. Cecil Newton, Tennessee State (6-2, 295)
6. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas (6-5, 314)
7. A.Q. Shipley, Penn State (6-1, 297)
8. Alex Fletcher, Stanford (6-3, 302)
9. Edwin Williams, Maryland (6-2, 308)
10. Brett Helms, LSU (6-2, 282)

4-3 Defensive Ends

1. Brian Orakpo, Texas (6-4, 260)
2. Robert Ayers, Tennessee (6-3, 273)
3. Aaron Maybin, Penn State (6-4, 248)
4. Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech (6-7, 260)
5. David Veikune, Hawaii (6-2, 255)
6. Lawrence Sidbury Jr., Richmond (6-3, 267)
7. Paul Kruger, Utah (6-5, 265)
8. Phillip Hunt, Houston (6-1, 261)
9. Derek Walker, Illinois (6-4, 268)
10. Brandon Williams, Texas Tech (6-5, 252)

3-4 Defensive Ends

1. Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State (6-5, 287)
2. Tyson Jackson, LSU (6-4, 295)
3. Everette Pedescleaux, Northern Iowa (6-6, 305)
4. Khalif Mitchell, East Carolina (6-5, 317)
5. Kyle Moore, USC (6-5, 272)
6. Zach Potter, Nebraska (6-7, 279)
7. Rulon Davis, California (6-5, 281)
8. Pannel Egboh, Stanford (6-6, 272)
9. Bobby Greenwood, Alabama (6-5, 280)
10. Alex Field, Virginia (6-6, 272)

Nose Tackles

1. B.J. Raji, Boston College (6-1, 325)
2. Ron Brace, Boston College (6-3, 326)
3. Dorell Scott, Clemson (6-3, 310)
4. Sammie Lee Hill, Stillman (6-4, 331)
5. Myron Pryor, Kentucky (6-0, 310)
6. Terrance Taylor, Michigan (6-0, 306)
7. Chris Baker, Hampton (6-2, 326)
8. Terrance Knighton, Temple (6-3, 324)
9. Roy Miller, Texas (6-1, 310)
10. Antonio Dixon, Miami (6-3, 324)

Three-Technique Tackles

1. Peria Jerry, Mississippi (6-3, 295)
2. Evander Hood, Missouri (6-3, 295)
3. Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn (6-1, 295)
4. Mitch King, Iowa (6-2, 275)
5. Fili Moala, USC (6-5, 305)
6. Alex Magee, Purdue (6-3, 295)
7. Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU (6-3, 290)
8. Corvey Irvin, Georgia (6-3, 289)
9. Vance Walker, Georgia Tech (6-2, 295)
10. Clinton McDonald, Memphis (6-2, 289)

4-3 Outside Linebackers

1. Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (6-2, 246)
2. Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida (6-2, 235)
3. Marcus Freeman, Ohio State (6-1, 238)
4. Zack Follett, California (6-2, 238)
5. Nic Harris, Oklahoma (6-3, 233)
6. Lee Robinson, Alcorn State (6-2, 249)
7. Jason Williams, Western Illinois (6-1, 241)
8. Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin (6-1, 228)
9. Kevin Ellison, USC (6-1, 227)
10. Mortty Ivy, West Virginia (6-1, 236)

3-4 Outside Linebackers

1. Everette Brown, Florida State (6-4, 252)
2. Clay Matthews, USC (6-3, 246)
3. Connor Barwin, Cincinnati (6-4, 255)
4. Brian Cushing, USC (6-4, 243)
5. Larry English, Northern Illinois (6-2, 254)
6. Clint Sintim, Virginia (6-3, 249)
7. Victor Butler, Oregon State (6-2 241)
8. Cody Brown, Connecticut (6-2, 242)
9. Moise Fokou, Maryland (6-1, 233)
10. Orion Martin, Virginia Tech (6-2, 248)

 Inside Linebackers

1. Rey Maualuga, USC (6-2, 260)
2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State (6-2, 240)
3. Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh (6-1, 240)
4. Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic (6-2, 243)
5. Darry Beckwith, LSU (6-1, 235)
6. Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina (6-2, 265)
7. Gerald McRath, Southern Miss (6-3, 220)
8. Jason Phillips, TCU (6-1, 235)
9. Dannell Ellerbe, Georgia (6-1, 236)
10. Worrell Williams, California (6-0, 250)

Cornerbacks

1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State (6-0, 200)
2. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest (5-9. 190)
3. Darius Butler, Connecticut (5-11, 187)
4. Vontae Davis, Illinois (6-0, 205)
5. D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt (5-10, 184)
6. Asher Allen, Georgia (5-10, 198)
7. Coye Francies, San Jose State (6-0 179)
8. Jairus Byrd, Oregon (6-0 200)
9. Victor Harris, Virginia Tech (5-11, 195)
10. Kevin Barnes, Maryland (6-0, 187)

Free Safeties

1. Sean Smith, Utah (6-3, 215)
2. Louis Delmas, Western Michigan (6-0, 196)
3. Sherrod Martin, Troy (6-1, 193)
4. Rashad Johnson, Alabama (6-0, 190)
5. Derek Pegues, Mississippi State (5-10, 195)
6. Darcel McBath, Texas Tech (6-1, 198)
7. Brandon Underwood, Cincinnati (6-1, 192)
8. David Bruton, Notre Dame (6-2, 210)
9. Curtis Taylor, LSU (6-2, 208)
10. Troy Nolan, Arizona State (6-1, 207)

Strong Safeties

1. William Moore, Missouri (6-1, 226)
2. Patrick Chung, Oregon (5-11, 210)
3. Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest (6-2, 214)
4. Emanuel Cook, South Carolina (5-10, 205)
5. Courtney Greene, Rutgers, (6-1, 211)
6. Michael Hamlin, Clemson (6-3, 206)
7. Trimane Goddard, North Carolina (5-11, 195)
8. Keith Fitzhugh, Mississippi State (5-10, 210)
9. Otis Wiley, Michigan State (6-2, 210)
10. Al Afalava, Oregon State (5-11, 213)

Specialists

1. K/P Louie Sakoda, Utah (5-9, 171)
2. K Jose Martinez, UTEP (5-9, 200)
3. K/P Graham Gano, Florida State (6-1, 192)
4. LS Jake Ingram, Hawaii (6-3 235)
5. P Thomas Morstead, Southern Methodist (6-4, 228)
6. P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati (6-1, 224)
7. K Pat McAfee, West Virginia (6-0 228)
8. K Jeff Wolfert, Missouri (6-1, 187)
9. K David Buehler, USC (6-2, 227)

10. Comments

    Add a Comment
    Scott Miller
    Mar 03, 2009
    02:09 PM

    Wes-
    
    Great stuff as always.... Quick question: you had Curry going three to the chiefs in your latest mock draft and here you have him as a 4-3 outside linebacker. There's a lot of talk that the chiefs are going to move to a 3-4 defense next season. Curry is obviously an extremely versatile player, but do you think he could thrive in the 3-4 for the chiefs?

    Mike in MD
    Mar 03, 2009
    02:53 PM

    Wes - your #1 guard is one of my favs...do you think Duke Robinson has the tools (athleticism, quick feet, arm length, technique, etc) to play tackle?
    
    About Sean Smith at FS...do you think there's any chance he makes it to the Niner's 2nd Rd pick or is that too much of a long shot?
    
    Keep up the great work. What an awesome list, supremely USEFUL!!

    Wes Bunting
    Mar 03, 2009
    03:02 PM

    Brian: Yes Barwin and Brown both do, I think both would be very good pass rushers but I think both forecast ideally to OLB in the 3-4. But I wouldn't be surprised to see any 4-3 team take one as a 4-3 DE.
    
    Scott Miller: Curry has the ability to do it all. I think he is best suited for a 4-3 scheme. But his skill set would allow him to be successful in a 3-4 scheme as well, outside or inside.
    
    Mike in MD: I think Robinson would struggle outside if he is left alone on an island, much like Herman Johnson at the Senior Bowl. I think he is a starting caliber guard and NFL teams won't want to mess with a good thing and move him to tackle.
    
    As for Sean Smith, no way (sorry to dash your hopes) Now, anything is possible come draft day, but with the lack of talent at safety, Smith seems like to much of a commodity to get past the first round.

    Don Ibod
    Mar 03, 2009
    03:20 PM

    Thank you for breaking out the 3-4 vs 4-3 OLBs & DEs. It would also be good to see it for ILBs. How about CBs for man vs zone systems as well?

    Jim G.
    Mar 03, 2009
    03:42 PM

    Thanks for the lists. A few things caught my eye. I like Chip Vaughn at #3 of the SS group. He caught my eye at the combine. I also like Sean Smith at #1 FS. I'm interested in where Unger will go in the draft. He looks like a 12-year player based on what I saw at the combine, and if it's true that he can play OG, C, and OT, then why wouldn't a team invest a 1st round pick in him. I haven't seen Mack yet, so I think he must be pretty good on film for you to put him ahead of Unger.
    
    Finally, Chase Daniels doesn't make the top 10? Will he get drafted?

    Jerry Jones
    Mar 03, 2009
    04:37 PM

    Wes,
    
    If you were the Dallas Cowboys which Safety would you take with there 2nd or 3rd round pick?

    Jason
    Mar 03, 2009
    05:01 PM

    Any chance for some kick return rankings?

    Crazy Canuck
    Mar 03, 2009
    05:50 PM

    Is Maualuga a reach for the Bengals to take at six? Him and Rivers could be the very foundation of their future defensively. Plus, he's a mean thumper in the middle. Perhaps Ray, Ray like....Baltimore.

    Brian
    Mar 03, 2009
    06:21 PM

    Cushing is a prototypical 4-3 sam linebacker, I wouldn't list him as a 3-4 OLB.
    
    I think Mike Goodson should at the very least be on your top 3rd down backs list. Great receiving skills and game breaking speed. He was out of favor at Texas A&M so you didn't see too much of him last season.

    Nikos
    Mar 03, 2009
    10:56 PM

    Wes,
    Great work as usual. A little late to the dance today but I had a busy day. A quick point on 3-4 DE's. You don't list Fili Moala who I think can definitely play there. He's big and athletic with long arms. He also has very good body length and range. I also think Rick Jean-Francois can play there as well. Reminds me of former LSU and current Patriot Jarvis Green. Now he probably won't start but he can contribute. Just like Green he has explosive lower body strength and good arm length. Very quick off the ball which will make up for his lack of size. Your thoughts??

    Rick
    Mar 04, 2009
    08:45 AM

    Good work, With 3-4 & 4-3 players, shouldn't you integrate them? Ex: Orakpo should also be on the 3-4 OLB list, Cushing, Curry, etc not just 3-4 or 4-3 prospects.

    Jim G.
    Mar 04, 2009
    09:55 AM

    Wes, can you explain why you have Brian Robiske at #9 on your WR list? With his size, hands, and intelligence, he seems a safer bet to have a good NFL career than some of the players listed ahead of him. He ran a 4.5 at the combine, so it's not like he's a plodding runner. He consistently is not mentioned with the top WRs, so I am curious what you see with him to list him so low. I personally would love to see the Patriots get him with one of their 3 2nd round picks.

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