Rick Gosselin's Top 100 Players List

[texbengal]

From today's Dallas Morning News. This is a consensus draft board that he builds each year and releases the day before the draft... he's got hooks into a bunch of scouts and GMs around the league, and he puts this together based on their collective input. Interesting reading... it's usually pretty damned accurate.

A few interesting things I saw:

- Ryan Matthews as the #1 RB
- Kyle Wilson at #20
- DeMaryius Thomas at #21, basically without working out in the off-season
- Kindle and Mays at #32 and #33
- Golden Tate at #41 and Morgan Burnett at #71

========

Rick Gosselin's top 100 prospects in this year's NFL Draft
01:41 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
You have to go back to 2001 to find the last time a defensive tackle was selected in the top 3 of an NFL draft. The Cleveland Browns took Gerard Warren with the third overall choice that year.

You have to go back to 1992 to find the last time two defensive tackles went in the top 3. The Indianapolis Colts claimed Steve Emtman first and the Los Angeles Rams took Sean Gilbert third that year.

But the 2010 draft offers maybe the deepest and most talented class of defensive tackles in NFL history – and it starts at the top, where Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma sit atop the board as the two most talented players in this draft.

Only the presence of a franchise quarterback – Sam Bradford of Oklahoma – seems to be preventing Suh and McCoy from becoming the first pair of defensive tackles to go 1-2 in NFL draft history.

Suh and McCoy are three-year starters and two-time All-Big 12 selections. Suh won the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland trophies/awards for his defensive excellence in 2009. McCoy started 40 consecutive games before deciding to skip his senior season to turn pro.

Since 2000, an average of 20 defensive tackles are selected each draft. But the talent will flow deep into the seventh round in 2010 with 26 draftable tackle prospects on this board.

Pencil in Suh at No. 1 on the annual Top 100 of SportsDay. The Top 100 is compiled based on conversations with NFL general managers, personnel directors, pro and college coaches and scouts. This is not a mock draft. Teams will skip around the board on draft day to make selections that fit their needs.

[b]THE TOP 100[/b]
1-10
Rank, player Position School
1. Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska
2. Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma
3. Eric Berry S Tennessee
4. San Bradford QB Oklahoma
5. Russell Okung OT Okla. St.
6. Trent Williams OT Oklahoma
7. Derrick Morgan DE Ga. Tech
8. Dan Williams DT Tennessee
9. Rolando McClain MLB Alabama
10. Dez Bryant WR Okla.St.

Spotlight on Eric Berry, S, Tennessee: Berry may be the surest bet for greatness at the top of this draft board. He started all four seasons in high school and all three in college. He left high school and college as an All-America. He's leaving school early to turn pro, but benefited in 2009 by playing at Tennessee for Monte Kiffin, a veteran NFL coordinator. Safeties historically don't go high in drafts, but Berry does not feel out of place with his lofty status on this board. "At the end of the day, I believe I'm supposed to be up there with those guys," Berry said. "I believe I'm the most talented player in this draft."

11-20
Rank, player Position School
11. Joe Haden CB Florida
12. Anthony Davis OT Rutgers
13. Jimmy Clausen QB Notre Dame
14. Ryan Mathews HB Fresno State
15. Bryan Bulaga OT Iowa
16. Brandon Graham DE Michigan
17. C.J. Spiller HB Clemson
18. Jason Pierre-Paul DE S. Florida
19. Earl Thomas S Texas
20. Kyle Wilson CB Boise State

Spotlight on C.J. Spiller RB/KR, Clemson: Spiller will be a first-round draft pick as a running back, but his abilities on special teams are a perk. He's the best return specialist in a draft thick with them. There are 36 players on this draft board who have returned either a punt or kickoff for a touchdown in college. Spiller returned 74 career kickoffs an average of 27.7 yards with seven touchdowns. He returned 53 career punts an average of 10.7 yards with one score. His eight career return touchdowns tie an NCAA record. He has the speed (4.27 in the 40) to take every kick to the house.

21-30
Rank, player Position School
21. Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech
22. Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
23. Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma
24. Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
25. Jerry Hughes DE TCU
26. Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri
27. Mike Iupati G Idaho
28. Jared Odrick DE Penn State
29. Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
30. Rodger Saffold OT Indiana

Spotlight on Sean Weatherspoon OLB, Missouri: If the NFL graded Weatherspoon off his junior tapes in 2008, he'd be a top-10 pick. He led the Big 12 with 155 tackles, plus 5 ½ sacks and three interceptions. He looked like the second coming of Lance Briggs. But Weatherspoon played 12 pounds heavier in 2009 and looked sluggish. He'll slide on this draft board but not out of the first round. Linebacker is one of the thinnest positions in 2010. The good ones will go fast. Weatherspoon is a good one. He shed those 12 pounds by the combine, and will be an impact player in the NFL.

31-40
Rank, player Position School
31. Tyson Alualu DE Cal
32. Sergio Kindle OLB Texas
33. Taylor Mays S Southern Cal
34. Rob Gronkowski TE Arizona
35. Jahvid Best HB Cal
36. Brian Price DT UCLA
37. Patrick Robinson CB Florida State
38. Sean Lee MLB Penn State
39. Nate Allen S S. Florida
40. Koa Misi DE Utah

Spotlight on Patrick Robinson CB, Florida State: There are five cornerbacks in the top shelf of this draft and Robinson is the fifth. There is a drop in talent after him and that could bump his draft stock up. Robinson has the size (5-11, 190) and speed (4.42) the NFL covets at corner. But he slumped as a senior, failing to intercept a pass. His talent deserves late first-round consideration, but cornerbacks without interceptions rarely turn up that high on draft day. Robinson intercepted six passes in 2007 but finished his career with only seven. The NFL prefers playmakers in the first round.

41-50
Rank, player Position School
41. Golden Tate WR Notre Dame
42. Daryl Washington OLB TCU
43. Chris Cook CB Virginia
44. Charles Brown OT Southern Cal
45. Everson Griffen DE Southern Cal
46. Terrence Cody NT Alabama
47. Damian Williams WR Southern Cal
48. Tony Moeaki TE Iowa
49. Ben Tate HB Auburn
50. Navorro Bowman OLB Penn State

Spotlight on Ben Tate HB, Auburn: Like linebacker, running back is one of the thinnest positions on the draft board. All the quality backs – about six of them – will be gone by the end of the third round. The NFL covets backs who weigh in the 220-pound range. That gives them the bulk to withstand the pounding as an every-down back. Only three of the top six backs in this draft have both the size (220 pounds) and speed (4.42) that fit the NFL prototype: Ryan Mathews, Tate and Montario Hardesty. There are medical concerns about Hardesty's knees, putting a premium on Mathews in the first round and Tate in the second.

51-60
Rank, player Position School
51. Regus Benn WR Illinois
52. Colt McCoy QB Texas
53. Aaron Hernandez TE Florida
54. Jonathan Asamoah G Illinois
55. Dexter McCluster WR Mississippi
56. Linval Joseph NT E.Carolina
57. Dominique Franks CB Oklahoma
58. Corey Wootton DE Northwestern
59. Dennis Pitta TE BYU
60. Bruce Campbell OT Maryland

Spotlight on Colt McCoy QB, Texas: The draft is about the measurables. McCoy won an NCAA-record 45 games as the starting quarterback of the Longhorns, but the numbers that carry more weight in NFL draft rooms are 6-1 (his height) and 216 (his weight). McCoy doesn't fit the NFL prototype for the position (6-4, 240 pounds). He's not tall enough to see over the heads of the blockers and pass rushers. He also lacks the bulk to withstand the hits he'll take in the pocket. McCoy backers want to compare him to Drew Brees. But one NFL coach told me for every Drew Brees there are 10 John Becks. The exceptions are rare.

61-70
Rank, player Position School
61. Jerome Murphy CB S.Florida
62. Zane Beadles G Utah
63. Thaddeus Gibson DE Ohio State
64. Javier Arenas CB Alabama
65. Toby Gerhart HB Stanford
66. Vladimir Ducasse OT UMass
67. Tim Tebow QB Florida
68. Eric Decker WR Minnesota
69. Jimmy Graham TE Miami-F
70. Lamarr Houston DT Texas

Spotlight on Vladimir Ducasse OT, Massachusetts: The offensive line board will empty out quickly in this draft. The quality tackles, guards and centers will be gone by the end of the third round. Ducasse will be the biggest beneficiary. Football is still new to him. He moved to the U.S. from Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2002 and only played two years in high school. But he became a three-year starter at UMass, twice earning All-Colonial Athletic Association honors. It may take Ducasse a year or two to figure the NFL game out, but he's worth the investment. He's 6-4, 332 pounds with 35-inch arms to steer speed rushers wide of the pocket.

71-80
Rank, player Position School
71. Morgan Burnett S Ga. Tech
72. Corey Peters DT Kentucky
73. Brandon LaFell WR LSU
74. Chad Jones S LSU
75. Taylor Price WR Ohio
76. Montario Hardesty HB Tennessee
77. Brandon Spikes MLB Florida
78. Emmanuel Sanders WR SMU
79. Ricky Sapp OLB Clemson
80. Al Woods DT LSU

Spotlight on Brandon LaFell WR, LSU: LSU has had a player selected in the first round in each of the last six drafts – the longest such streak in the college ranks. LaFell is carrying the LSU banner in this draft as the highest-rated Tiger on the board. But he had a down senior year, ran slower than expected at the combine (4.62), and projects as a mid- to late second-round selection. Barring a mercurial rise by LaFell, the LSU draft streak will come to an end in 2010. Ohio State and Tennessee have the next longest streaks with first-rounders in four consecutive drafts.

81-90
Rank, player Position School
81. Andre Roberts WR Citadel
82. Aaron Spievey CB Iowa
83. Jordan Shipley WR Texas
84. Jason Worilds DE Virginia Tech
85. Andrew Quarless TE Penn State
86. Alex Carrington DE Arkansas St.
87. Myron Lewis CB Vanderbilt
88. D'Anthony Smith DT La.Tech
89. Major Wright S Florida
90. Joe McKnight HB Southern Cal

Spotlight on Jordan Shipley WR, Texas: There's a new position evolving on draft boards – slot receiver. With the explosion of three- and four-receiver sets, the NFL needs wideouts who can run routes in the belly of the field. Golden Tate (Notre Dame), Dexter McCluster (Mississippi), Andre Roberts (Citadel), Emmanuel Sanders (SMU) and Shipley are among the best in this draft. Bet on Shipley to succeed on Sundays. The Burnet, Texas product succeeded on Saturday afternoons, finishing second in Texas Longhorns history with 248 career receptions. He's coming off a 116-catch season in 2009.

91-100
Rank, player Position School
91. Torrell Troup NT Central Fla.
92. Carlos Dunlap DE Florida
93. Mardy Gilyard WR Cincinnati
94. Jermaine Cunningham DE Florida
95. Selvish Capers OT W.Virginia
96. Brandon Ghee CB Wake Forest
97. T.J. Ward S Oregon
98. Ed Dickson TE Oregon
99. Eric Norwood OLB S. Carolina
100. Dorin Dickerson TE Pittsburgh

Spotlight on Torrell Troup DT, Central Florida: With 14 NFL teams playing a 3-4 defensive scheme this season – up from eight just two seasons ago – there's an increasing premium on nose tackles. That should benefit Terrence Cody of Alabama, Linval Joseph of East Carolina and Troup in this draft. Troup was a three-year starter and a team captain. He has the bulk (314 pounds) and strength (bench-pressed 225 pounds 34 times) to hold up against double-teams in run defense, plus the long arms (34 inches) to keep blockers off his body in the pass rush. He also has surprising speed for a big man (5.10 seconds in the 40).

[fredtoast]

1. I saw a study a couple of years ago that compared the mock drafts of several experts over a period of a few years and Gosslin was rated as the best.

2. Based on this list I want to trade out of the first round and get another couple of picks in the top 100. I am not in love with any of the guys rated around #21, but there is tons of talent between 70 and 100.

3. Biggest surprises on this list for me are Pierre-Paul at #18, Demaryius Thomas at #21, and Dexter McCluster at #55

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='fredtoast' date='21 April 2010 - 09:11 AM' timestamp='1271855514' post='879842']
1. I saw a study a couple of years ago that compared the mock drafts of several experts over a period of a few years and Gosslin was rated as the best.

[/quote]


I've heard the same. Has he done a mock yet?

[akiliMVP]

[quote name='Bengals1181' date='21 April 2010 - 10:02 AM' timestamp='1271858567' post='879867']
I've heard the same. Has he done a mock yet?
[/quote]
He's done one or two. His first few usually are pretty bad. The one he puts out today or tomorrow is the one that is the best.

[alleycat]

Yep, the one that comes out tomorrow is the one that's famous. He must have some serious connects and get all kind of last minute information.
I'm still in love with Jerry Hughes for rd. 1. I have him there in my mock (forthcoming).

I'm upset to see Corey Peters on that list though, because other sources had him going in 5-7 and I thought he was an absolute STEAL that low.

Also tough to see Gronkowski so high. I'm thinking there's less and less of a chance that we have a shot at him in rd. 2.

[fredtoast]

Based on who is avalable on this list here is my Bengal Mock

21...OLB Sean Weatherspoon
54...CB Dominique Franks (Really love Asamoah, but we can get an OG later)
84...FS Myron Lewis (listed as a CB here)
96...DE Austen Lane


I know it looks heavy on defense, but we can address our offensive needs (OG, RB, TE, WR) in later rounds.

[texbengal]

Gosselin does the same thing every year - 3 mocks leading up to the draft:

1. (A few weeks ahead of draft) Based on current ranking of players, regardless of team need

2. (Sunday before) based on combination of player ranking and team need

3. (Day of draft) - with most up to date info, and buzz/what he's hearing about teams and players they like


Because he's plugged in, the only one I pay attention to is the "day of" mock. He's usually quite accurate - maybe not teams/players together, but with players who end up going in the first round.

[JBandJoeyV]

[quote name='texbengal' date='21 April 2010 - 07:54 PM' timestamp='1271894051' post='880074']
Gosselin does the same thing every year - 3 mocks leading up to the draft:

1. (A few weeks ahead of draft) Based on current ranking of players, regardless of team need

2. (Sunday before) based on combination of player ranking and team need

3. (Day of draft) - with most up to date info, and buzz/what he's hearing about teams and players they like


Because he's plugged in, the only one I pay attention to is the "day of" mock. He's usually quite accurate - maybe not teams/players together, but with players who end up going in the first round.
[/quote]

In the last 3 years for the bengals hes picked Andre Smith, Keith Rivers, and Reggie Nelson. So he nailed it 2 out of the 3 years, even if they were pretty predictable picks. In 2007 he had Leon Hall going 7 to Minnesota, but obviously AP fell to them and they obviously passed on Hall.