in NFL Articles

This column usually goes up on Sunday, but I have delayed it this week because I’ve been trying to take in everything that is the NFL Combine. As the draft hopefuls gather in Indianapolis, under the lights of the RCA Dome, some players have been helping their stock, while others have been hurting theirs.

To get you started as we all approach draft day, is a look at the top ten talents in this year’s draft. Note that the players are being ranked on talent and skill. A mock draft will be ready for you clowns next week, as we prepare for some good, old-fashioned prop betting!

1. Calvin Johnson (WR) –

Johnson has described himself as a cross between Randy Moss and Terrell Owen, physically, with the character and mental head space of Marvin Harrison. Sounds pretty appealing doesn’t it? Well, if you have seen his game tape, then you know how devastating of a playmaker he is.

At 6-foot-5 and 235lbs, he is a nightmare to match-up against. After he has beaten you with his size and 45” vertical jump, Johnson can explode through tackles with his immense frame. Johnson ran a 4.3 second 40-yard dash at the Combine…in another man’s shoes (he did not plan on participating until he saw how many coaches were there).

Wide-receivers and first-round picks have not mixed well in the past. Only ten of the last thirty wide-outs taken in the first round have gone on to the pro-bowl. Nobody wants to be the next guy who breaks the bank to get J.J Stokes.

Still, Johnson is a special breed of athlete, but need is also paramount in the draft. Four of the top five teams do not have any considerable need for a wide-receiver, but Johnson’s measurable make it hard to pass up on him.

2. JaMarcus Russell (QB) –

This monster is taller then Vince Young and bigger than Daunte Culpepper. Plus, he can actually thread the needle on passes. And if you are not fully convinced of his skills, just look at the Sugar Bowl game against Notre Dame.

Yes, people will be screaming that they have seen this kind of athlete before in Daunte Culpeper, but Russell is testing off the charts in most rankings. He has to develop his throwing motion (he has a tendency to “flick” the ball) and must avoid throwing into double coverage. But he has shown amazing arm strength, and the intangible ability to step-up and be competitive in big games.

3. Alan Branch (DT) –

Size counts in the NFL, and Branch is as big as they come. At 6-foot-5 and 328 lbs, Branch is a massive beast of a man. Branch was used to help stuff the run in Michigan, consistently occupying two blockers at a time.

Though he lacks some explosiveness, you can not neglect his size and brute strength. For a tall guy, he gets great leverage by staying low and is able to penetrate by barreling through o-lines with his immense frame. He is being touted as the only complete interior defensive lineman in the draft.

Simply, the dude is BIG.

4. Brady Quinn (QB) –

Ok, I’ve been knocking Quinn for this “big game” losses for his entire career. But college season is over, folks. As far as pure passers, with significant natural athletic ability, Brady is still one of the best.

Quinn has all the measurable of a good quarterback including good vision, ideal height, solid size (224 lbs.), great arm strength and a high football IQ. I don’t know what this translates to on the football field, but he did bench 225lbs for twenty-four reps at the Combine. At times, however, he gets chattering feet and can be indecisive at times when under pressure.

Despite his shortcomings in the big game at the college level, Brady Quinn is going to be a great NFL quarterback. He loses out to Russell’s freakish size, and the fact LSU beat Notre Dame, but Quinn still ranks up there. Whichever team gets him in this draft will be set at quarterback for a while.

5. Jamaal Anderson (DE) –

At 6-foot-5 and 273 lbs., Anderson has incredible size for a defensive lineman. He can bully with the best of him, and is an absurdly powerful tackler. If you see him play, you will fall in love with his endlessly ferocity.

As far technical merit goes, he is a little behind the eight-ball. But these are all things that can be coached. As they say – you can not coach size and strength, but you can coach speed. If he lands in the lap of a talented defensive line coach, Anderson could develop into a pro-bowl talent.

He is all the raw, physical tools of a defensive-end, but needs to polish his technical assets.

For NFL entry draft prospects numbers six through ten, click .

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