Way too early 2014 NFL Draft Board

Submitted by Butterfield on

The value of this is probably nothing other than as a "conversation piece" as I doubt Eric  Fisher was showing up on these lists a year ago, but nonetheless, it gives us something to talk about in regards to who draft experts view as the top CFB guys this upcoming season.  It does take into account underclassmen declaring early so at least it's better than a list of only seniors.  Some highlights:

  • Clowney at #1 - because...yeah. 
  • Taylor Lewan at #4 - scout says he has all the physical traits, needs to improve technique.  Can't disagree with that assessment. 
  • Bradley Roby (OSU) at #8 - sounds about right where the Lions may be picking and a likely a position of need unless Slay gets the job done.
  • Ryan Shazier at #21 - 3 B1G prospects in the top 21.  Considering the conference only had one 1st rounder this year, I suppose this means good things for the reputation of the B1G. 
  • AJ Mccarron at #33 - Ken Dorsey, anyone?  I see a winner and a solid intangible guy, but an NFL QB?  No. 
  • Ka'deem Carey at #44 - I live out here in AZ now and this guy was electric in RR's zone read.  How his skills will translate to the NFL are a bit of a question, ala Steve Slaton. 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/rob-rang/22166940/2014-nfl-draft-early-top-50-draft-board 

Mr. Rager

April 30th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^

How quickly people forget, the last man to get PAID as a rookie (because of NFL rules): Sam Bradford.  Came back after his junior year, dislocated his shoulder, put on ice the rest of the season, and still number 1.

The track record of drafting a QB after 3 years of college is not good, either.  

bronxblue

April 30th, 2013 at 4:15 PM ^

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing except that the talk surrounding him last year was so much greater that I think some hapless GM would have taken him in the 2nd round at the least.  So he might have cost himself a couple of million up front, but again if he plays well then he'll hopefully make up much of that lost money in subsequent contracts.

WolvinLA2

April 30th, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^

Yeah, that's possible, but not the crazy money like people are suggesting as if he would have taken GRIII's draft spot last year or something. 

Now, I bet Pete Carroll picks Barkley instead of Russell Wilson last year, so if you take a look at Wilson's contract and minus what Barkley got, that's about what he lost, which I'm willing to bet isn't too much.

After looking it up, Barkley's contract is 500k below Wilson's, over the course of the contract, both of which are for four years.  Wilson has a 4 yr. 3MM deal, and Barkley's is 4 yr 2.5MM.  

So he got to live in campus for free for a year and start all season for half a million.  That's not that bad of a deal, really.

Mr Miggle

April 30th, 2013 at 9:32 PM ^

Geno Smith was supposed to go #1 according to some of the mock drafts. Damontre Moore was considered a possibility for the Lions at #6. He went at #81. There's no way to tell where Barkley would have gone once teams looked at him closely, but I suspect this year's draft is a better indicator than the early mocks.

Butterfield

April 30th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^

Hey, picking 8th instead of the top 5 would be a great season per Lion standards! 

I think there is potential for a better season this year, but just as must potential for an awful season again.  So many uncertainties.  Will the safeties be a vast improvement and can Delmas stay healthy?  How will Ansah and Willie Young do replacing KVB and Avril.  Will the LB's improve?  How much of an impact does Reggie Bush's recieving ability make on the offense?  Will LeShoure and Bell improve their ball safety?  Does David Akers blow close games? 

As a non-Carnac, I can't guess the answers to those questions so I'm taking the safe way out and assuming they will do what they always do. 

goblue20111

April 30th, 2013 at 4:58 PM ^

He was a 3rd/4th round talent that fell b/c of two drug tests. Maybe he's not a starter but given Delmas' injury history some depth back there on a flier like him wouldn't have been a bad move. I understand we needed help punting but in all likelihood, we could have picked him up in free agency. Minnesota apparently had interest in him but given that they cleaned up in the first round and got Greg Jennings in the off-season they coulda afforded to take a bigger gamble. The only other punter drafted was the number one rated punter in the draft (Kid outta UCLA). IDK just doesn't make sense. I mean he seems like a really good punter and all but IDK I thought there were better player on the board that filled needs. It all boils down to drafting on need vs. value. I felt that we could have addressed our punting needs elsewhere. Hopefully it pans out. 

Butterfield

April 30th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^

The Lions just aren't in the position to be taking chances on guys with character issues right now.  Their off-season arrests the last two years (Fairley x2, Culbreath, Berry, Spievey, Lewis)has led the league and the instability those arrests has created has definitely had an on-field impact, not to mention has made them (even more of) an NFL punch line. 

You pretty much need to go a few years as an organization out of the legal spotlight before you can draft those guys it seems. 

Danwillhor

April 30th, 2013 at 5:31 PM ^

Unless a crazy amazing kicker/punter you do not draft them. Punters are all about the same minus about 5 in the league and they are only slightly better. If anything we should have drafted a kicker before punter. Akers? I'd genuinely rather give "Kickalicious" the job. Not kidding. Hanson was a huge loss. Yet, to pass on so many proven guys of need for a punter no better than any in FA is a Lion move. To see who went after him until we picked next made me want to vomit.

nuclearblue

April 30th, 2013 at 11:53 AM ^

Seems more reasonable than saying they won't be awful.  

 

Don't get me wrong, I love me some Lions football, but I'd be hard pressed to say the Lions aren't likely to be the 4th team in the NFC North again.

Monocle Smile

April 30th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^

Shazier really goes that high? He's very athletic for his position, but I don't know if he has the discipline or top-flight instincts. I didn't watch him much last year, but in 2011 he got blocked pretty easily and caught out of position against Michigan.

Slaton's problem was dropping the ball all over the place, so Carey should theoretically do just fiine.

Intangibles and all that, but Murray goes before McCarron. Also, Bridgewater's great, but I wouldn't be surprised if he dropped due to injury concerns.

Michigan248

April 30th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^

Eric Fisher was on everyone's radar, not first overall but they knew who he was. As for the lions, don't count out Bill Bentley, if he can stay healthy he win play.

MGoLogan

April 30th, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^

Obviously it will depend on how the season goes, but I think Michael Schofield can work his way into a top 50 pick as well.  And I believe Devin Gardner will be a 1st rounder whenever he decides to leave school.

umjgheitma

April 30th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^

The Lions just blow again this year and take Clowney? Can't help but think this is a once in a decade type player (Peppers is who he reminds me of)  that could be great for a long time 

Trebor

April 30th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^

How do they figure Mettenberger goes first round? He's Anthony Morelli incarnate - great arm, but has absolutely no football smarts whatsoever. I'd take Manziel (who should be on this anyway), Murray, and McCarron before I take Mettenberger.

And what's with all these M-named QBs?

mejunglechop

April 30th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^

The technique criticisms I've seen of Lewan and I saw of Omameh leading into this last draft make me wonder about Funk especially given the interior Oline play last season. Link for scathing criticism of Omameh technique.

HipsterCat

April 30th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^

oline might not have been great at run blocking but their pass protection was solid all season. omameh was always at his best either releasing out onto the linebacker (see denards run at notre dame in 2010), he was never that mauling guard that just shoved people out of the way

ama11

April 30th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^

That first year was a lot of scheme that he didn't use at SDSU. Not a lot of man blocking, which, from what I remember, he prefers. That is not to say that he doesn't coach zone schemes, as they did employ a lot of stretch and inside zone at SDSU... I'm not sure if you're saying he sucks or what, but I just think it's still a little early.

IndyBlue90

April 30th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^

One thing  that we learned in this draft is that no matter how hyped dual threat QB guys are, they are unlikely to go in the top 10. I think Bridgewater and Boyd are good quarterbacks, but I don't think the NFL will be so interested in them to draft them that high.

DGDestroys

April 30th, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^

...I think you're mistaking 'dual threat' for 'black'. Sure, Bridgewater can buy himself time in the pocket, but he's up there on draft boards because of his arm strength and football IQ. Running isn't any more a part of his game or the Louisville offense than it was for Geno Smith, although people assumed he was 'dual threat' too.