Positives: Good height and above-average bulk for the position. Good track speed for the position and size. Very good effort on off-target and contested passes. Has adequate hands. Okay downfield blocker. Threw a nice touchdown pass in 2014 bowl game.
Negatives: Injured leg in 2013 bowl game. While adequate as a downfield blocker, he is easily pulled off balance. Tends to body catch, though fairly reliably.
All-Star Games: NFLPA Game.
Positives: Very good height and good bulk for the position. Has above-average hands. Shows good effort after the catch. Adequate track speed for the position and above-average for his size.
Negatives: Will occasionally have some trouble coming down with passes thrown behind him. A little slow into and out of his breaks.
Positives: Has adequate hands, though inconsistent. He has the body control and hand-eye coordination to adjust pretty well to off-target passes. Fights for yards after the catch. Intelligently takes a knee on kick returns when needed. Usually makes smart punt return fair catch decisions.
Negatives: Will occasionally make unwise punt return decisions trying to return in traffic – or lose yardage while trying to make a big play. He pretty consistently lets the ball get to his body, and he will bobble some when he has to extend.
Positives: Good height and great bulk for the position, with ridiculously large hands. Runs with adequate speed. Okay hands. Knows where the 1st down marker is, and shows good effort for extra yards. Turns upfield quickly after the catch and shows adequate vision in the open field for yards after the catch.
Negatives: Tore ACL in November 2014 and missed the rest of the season, but was better by his Pro Day.
To me, there’s really only one sure thing at tight end/fullback in this year’s draft, and he’s Maxx Williams, an all-around tight end who reminds a lot of people of Todd Heap because of his athleticism and hands.
After Williams, you mostly have a selection of H-backs and big wide receivers with varying degrees of competency in blocking and/or receiving. Not that they won’t grow into solid contributors or more at the pro level, but they’re all far from finished products.
Like the 2015 running back class, the wide receiver class is top heavy with starting talent. At the top, you have up to four receivers who, I think, could each be the best WR in the class. Then, another ten or so who can be solid WR2s or WR3s in the league. And then a lot of solid role players who could all be on rosters come September.
At the top is Kevin White, one of the most athletic size-speed athletes at WR that I’ve seen. Most people either have him or Amari Cooper as their 1-2 WRs this year, but I slide Perriman into the number-2 slot. He’s a lot like White in his skills and athleticism. Cooper drops to number three for me because he has a little more inconsistency than I like.
Positives: Has very good height and above-average bulk for the position. Runs with adequate speed for his position, and above-average for his size. Crisp routes and is quick out of his breaks, accelerating well to get separation. Uses his hands well to keep cornerbacks off of him during his routes, and regularly gets physical with cornerbacks during his routes. He shows generally good hands and extension – effortlessly catching passes on the move and without letting them hit his body. He tracks passes very well over his inside shoulder. Is a good red-zone target and catches a lot of touchdowns. Very good concentration and body control on tough catches – regularly contorting for tough catches. Has pretty good open field vision and above-average lateral quickness and acceleration – can make the first defender miss after the catch. Above-average balance and effort after contact and runs strong – will break multiple tackles in the open field. Nice vertical leap and will consistently win jump-ball situations. Has pretty strong hands and can hold the ball while defenders are trying to strip it from him.
Negatives: He isn’t a burner, and he can be caught from behind. Though his hands are generally good, he shows inconsistent concentration on some easy passes, and passes will go through his hands for an interception. He will also bobble some when he looks to go up the field before securing the ball. Sometimes gets a little bit too physical with cornerbacks and leaves himself open for pass interference calls against him. Seems a little bit lax in effort as a downfield blocker and seems to be easy to outmuscle or avoid. Below-average ball security. Broken left toe in August 2014 forced him to miss first five games of 2014.
Projection: Round 1.
The 2015 draft for running backs is the best I’ve seen in years. At the top, we have maybe six backs who can be solid-to-great starters in the NFL. Then, another 20, at least, who can be solid contributors to varying degrees. Then, after that, it’s more of a lottery situation, with a lot of talent, but big deficiencies, too.
And I really don’t mean to fight against traffic, but I seem to be the only person who doesn’t think Todd Gurley’s a transcendent talent. I don’t know why this is – maybe I’ve never seen the right games – but I do think he’s a very good power back with adequate athleticism. I absolutely love TJ Yeldon, my favorite back in this class (though he’s ranked 4th or lower in most other people’s lists), with Melvin Gordon only slightly behind him.
Positives: Is a versatile athlete who converted to running back from defensive back in 2013. Runs with adequate speed and above-average burst. Doesn’t waste much sideways motion behind the line, and will decisively head upfield. Runs with consistently good body lean and finishes runs with power. Above-average balance after contact. Has above-average hands and body control and can extend and adjust his body for passes pretty well. Can hold the ball with a big hit. Runs with pretty good ball security technique – high and tight. Good run blocker on the outside. With little experience at the position, he should still be improving.
Negatives: Below-average ability to change direction. Is inexperienced at running back. Investigated for domestic battery in October 2014 but wasn’t charged.
Projection: Round 4.
Positives: Adequate bulk for the position, and is built more like a running back. Runs with adequate speed and above-average agility and quickness. Above-average routes and is quick out of his breaks. Has a good double move on the post. Good concentration when hit’s coming. Has above-average hands and extends pretty well – even over the middle. Gets himself in pretty good position on long punts. Seems to have fairly reliable punt return fielding hands. Doesn’t seem afraid to go over the middle. Shows some agility and can leapfrog defenders in the open field.
Negatives: Below-average height for the position.
Projection: UDFA.
Dynasty Draftnik 