Scout.com has launched our 2008
NFL Draft Rankings, which will be updated frequently through draft
weekend next April. We've loaded up the top 100 senior draft prospects for the
launch. Watch for more feature articles announcing the addition of more players,
including the top junior prospects who may declare for the draft, right here at
Scout.com. If you missed Tom Marino's first article on the top ten
seniors in this year's draft and his analysis of the top defensive talent
available, click here to
read it.
The 2007 senior quarterback group is solid throughout in terms of numbers,
but scouts and draft enthusiasts need to look at and closely scrutinize the type
of throws, system of play, and characteristics of each individual athlete -- both
on and off the field -- rather than just looking at their numbers. In order to
become a true scout, one must be able ask and answer one seemingly simple
question before putting his name on a report -- "Is it real, or is it
Memorex?" In other words, is the person I have just watched capable in his own
right? Or is
he just the product of the system? In my opinion, NFL talent evaluators have
made some very critical mistakes when evaluating players at the quarterback
position which have totaled hundreds of millions of dollars in the last decade
alone! Aside from the crazy money Major League Baseball clubs throw at
mediocre starting pitchers or setup men, I know of no other business in the
country where mediocrity is rewarded as it is in professional football.
For the
record, I like Chad Henne of Michigan's size, arm, and I think he has surprising mobility for a big
man. But
his track record in big games is questionable, he appears to have some tunnel-vision and aside from Tom Brady, when was the last time the University of Michigan
developed a top professional signal-caller?
I want to see Brian Brohm, the big,
experienced, and productive signal-caller from Louisville throw the football down
the field more consistently and effectively. In my mind, I've seen far too many
shallow crosses, screens, delays, hitches, slip screens, and high-percentage
throws to running backs and tight ends in the games I've viewed. Based on my exposure, I
didn't see him as having a particularly strong throwing arm.
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Hawaii's Colt Brennan
Harry How, Getty Images |
Hawaii's Colt Brennan has a
funky throwing delivery (so did Philip Rivers) and made virtually all of his
throws from the gun. But I've got to tell you, his skills and playing demeanor
really intrigue me. He has no fear, and believes he will get the job done with
the game in the balance.
Matt Ryan from Boston College has a nice stroke and has
been well-schooled. If he continues to make the type of strides he has made
over the last two years, he has a real chance of passing over all of his senior
counterparts. Kentucky's Andre Woodson has everything you look for physically at
the position but he hasn't done it consistently over his career for the
Wildcats. The only knock I had on him was his ability to get the ball out
quickly. But he does have talent and I really look for him to put up some big
numbers in 2007. If LSU's Matt Flynn can hit his stride quickly in 2007, he
also has the
skills to really surprise and move up among this year's group of QBs.
Junior
Chase Holbrook from New Mexico State has excellent size (built like a tight end)
and like the aforementioned Colt Brennan, put up some very impressive numbers
for passing guru Hal Mumme, but so did another Mumme protégée
by the name of Tim Couch at the University of Kentucky in 1998. In fairness to Holbrook,
this writer has yet to see him perform either live or on tape, so I am basing his
relative value at this time strictly on his incredible passing numbers (396-566
for 4,619 yards, 70.0% completion rate - 34 TDs - 9 INTs). Ben Olsen of UCLA
-- by way of BYU -- can really spin
the ball, but if he is to be given some early draft consideration, he must prove to the pro scouts he can stay healthy and put up the
kind of numbers that were expected of him before he left school for two seasons
to complete his LDS mission.
The offensive tackle position does not have an Orlando Pace, a Walter Jones
or a Jonathan Ogden, but is solid with good depth. Upwards of five players have
a chance of being selected in the top round with Michigan wide-body Jake Long
leading the way. A player to watch this fall is Boston College's Gosder Cherilus
who hails from my hometown of Somerville, MA. Cherilus is quite obviously a
massive man (6'7, 319 pounds) who in terms of size can block out the sun. In 2007 he moves from
the right to left side, and if he continues to show steady improvement he could
well turn out to be something very special (Go Highlanders)!  |
Notre Dame's John Sullivan
Joe Raymond, AP |
John Sullivan of Notre Dame heads up the always lean offensive center position
which includes only three players in the mythical top 100 rankings. Texas
A&M veteran Cody Wallace and Wake Forest' Steve Justice have both played a
lot of football over their college careers and should become solid
professionals.
At offensive guard, another thin position in terms of top prospects, the
versatile Eric Young from the University of Tennessee leads the way. Shannon Tevaga from
UCLA, Will Arnold from LSU, USC's Drew Radovich, and Michigan tough-guy
Adam Kraus are all solid prospects -- although unlikely to crack the top round. Former
BYU freshman starter Ofa Mohetau, transferred to pass happy Texas Tech U, but
appears to have entered college football's witness protection program. He had
some physical skills and if he resurfaces this season, he may well be one to
watch.
The receiver group doesn't have anyone with the skills of a Calvin Johnson,
but I believe there are some people in this group who could well become front-line receivers quickly. After sharing the spotlight with not one, but two first-round selections last season, LSU's
Early Doucet enters the 2007 season with very
high expectations. He is explosive, and I like his ability to adjust to the
deep ball. Texas' Limas Sweed has his detractors but his great size and speed
will create many mismatches at both the college and professional level.
Although
Oklahoma State's Adarius Bowman does not have racehorse speed, he does possess
excellent hands and has been a very productive player since transferring from the
Univesity of North Carolina. Like Sweed, Bowman's size and leaping ability give him some
real advantages, particularly when working versus man coverage. Kentucky's Keenan Burton, Virginia Tech's Eddie Royal, Loiusville's Harry Douglas, and
Houston's Donnie Avery are the best of the rest. They should all become solid,
productive, professional players quickly.
He quit football in 2005 to
concentrate solely on his track & field career, but proactive NFL scouts
and draft enthusiasts everywhere have not forgotten the name of former LSU
receiver Xavier Carter. In 2006, the Palm Bay, Florida prep football and track
star ran the third-fastest time in history in the 200M and is widely
considered today to hold the mythical title of "The World's Fastest
Human."
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Missouri's Martin Rucker
Charlie Riedel, AP |
As a group, the tight end position is not deep, but talented. Missouri'
Martin Rucker, Southern Cal's Fred Davis, Jacob Tamme from the University of Kentucky
and Notre Dame's John Carlson are all big, athletic athletes with excellent
receiving skills. Which one of them is the most complete is not readily known at this
juncture, but all have a chance to develop into front-line performers at the
professional level. Texas A&M's giant junior tight end, Martellus Bennett, also
has a great deal of ability and his progress will be followed closely by the
"pay for play" evaluators.
The senior running back position is better overall then last season's group,
but is somewhat flawed. Mike Hart from the University of Michigan is a
talented player and one tough hombre, but he is a "little guy" -- and
little guys at this position have a history of not holding up physically in the
NFL's "Land of The Giants." I also was a tad disappointed in his
vision. Allen Patrick from the University of Oklahoma flashed some very impressive skills as
a replacement for the injured Adrian Peterson in 2006, but his ability to handle
the full load over an entire season has yet to be determined.
The rest of the senior
group shows promise, but will need to stay healthy and step up big time during
their senior campaigns. It's an adequate group overall -- but wait, the junior class of
ball carriers, led by Darren McFadden from the University of Arkansas is among the best I
have seen in years!!!
McFadden, last season's Heisman runner-up, is -- at this stage of
his development -- on par with any and all of the greats to have ever lined up at
the position at the college level. He is explosive, instinctive, and has enough juice
to take it to the house every time he touches the football. Look for him to be
the number one selection in the country should he choose to pack it in at the
end of the 2007 season. West Virginia's Steve Slaton, explosive little men
Antone Smith from Florida St and Ray Rice of Rutgers, and -- if you can believe this
-- McFadden' backup Felix Jones (who in 2006 ran for 1,168 on just 154 touches for
an amazing 7.6 yard per carry average), are all quality backs who will make an impact at
the professional level very quickly.
Bookmark this page: 2008
Scout.com NFL Draft Rankings and visit it often to learn more about the
players who could land on your favorite team's roster next year! You can sort
your view of the players by overall ranking, name, position, college or home
state. And each player is rated on a five-star system based on the following
table:
1st-round talent
2nd- to 3rd-round talent
4th- to 7th-round talent
Priority free agent
Low-rated free agent
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Tom Marino has over 35 years of experience as a professional scout working for the NFL's Bears, Saints, Rams, Giants and Cowboys along with both the WFL and USFL. As Scout.com's Lead NFL Analyst, he has primary responsibility for network reporting, the NFL Draft, Free Agency databases and rankings. |  |
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