Big Board 2007
Calvin Johnson is the real deal
(1) Calvin Johnson, WR. Georgia Tech
Is there any doubt? I don't remember the last 6'5"+ 240lb receiver that ran 4.35 seconds in the 40 yards dash. Lets not forget that Calvin came up big in the biggest games. He is an excellent blocker with no ego issues. Larry Fitzgerald meets Randy Moss meets weight room. There are no question marks. Impact from day one is expected.
(2) Adrian Peterson, RB. Oklahoma
I know; the man is fragile like Javon Kearse. But, there is no doubt about Adrian Peterson's physical abilities and on field performances. Peterson has plus straight line speed with a powerful 6'2" 220lb frame to boot. He flourished throughout his career at Oklahoma, often touching the ball thirty or more times per game. There are a few miles on the tires, but those tires are BF Goodrich Drag Radials.
(3) Gaines Adams, DE. Clemson
Simply put, Gaines Adams is a playmaker. He is electrifying on the edge. What he lacks in brute strength, he makes up for with speed, athleticism, and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Adams is the pure pass rusher that is simply a terror from the moment he straps on the helmet. So, he can't pass the Wonderlic. Who cares?
You can't discount Brady Quinn as still being the #1 pick
(4) Brady Quinn, QB. Notre Dame
If you want a prototypical quarterback, look no further than Brady Quinn: rocket arm, tall, strong, technically sound, and effectively nimble. Quinn has had experience in a pro-style offense and used to being in the spotlight. He had a bad game against the #3 pass defense in the country on the biggest stage, but that doesn't completely tarnish his body of work.
(5) Alan Branch, DT. Michigan
This is hard for a Spartan to rank a Wolverine so highly if Branch were not such a beast in the middle. He engulfs would be blockers at the point of attack, using every bit of leverage possible with his 6'6" 330lb frame. He is simply a massive defensive tackle that can effectively free up the linebackers and make plays when plays are needed.
(6) Jamarcus Russell, QB. LSU
I find it difficult to put anyone who is raw in his skills within the top five of a draft class that is filled with front line names and talents. Russell had a monster season. He completed over two-thirds of his passes and sported a 28:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the toughest defensive conference in the league. Nevertheless, he is raw and needs development.
(7) Joe Thomas, OT. Wisconsin
I have taken the franchise tackle train off a cliff in recent years. I was high on Robert Gallery and D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Both have underacheieved. I am curtailing my enthusiasm on Thomas, a former defensive end turned potential franchise left tackle. Like Russell, Thomas has ability, athleticism, and accolades coming out of his ears. An athletic skill set on a 6'8" frame is mighty enticing to anyone.
If it is possible to have a sleeper at #8, Brown is the guy
(8) Levi Brown, OT. Penn State
Levi reminds me of his unrelated namesake brother Jammal Brown. It may be ugly and not technically sound, but the the blockee ends up on his rear sooner than later. Lacking the mean streak of Jammal, Levi is a more consistent player who is there down in and down out. He, along with his balanced blocking abilities, are largely underrated.
(9) Patrick Willis, MLB. Ole Miss
A top inside linebacking prospect does not come across often. Willis is speedy, quick, instinctive, and terribly reliable. He is too easily manhandled by massive blockers, but his range makes him perfect for the 4-3 system. He has the MLB skill set with the MLB mentality. I am very high on Patrick Willis as he is a prototype MLB.
(10) LaRon Landry, S. LSU
Enforcer-type 6'2" 200lb safeties with range strike a certain chord with me. Landry is an experienced leader on one of the best pass defenses in the nation in years past. He has a knack for the ball, and finds himself in the middle of the action often. Landry is just a rock solid safety prospect that is polished enough to play from the the first day of training camp.
(11) Dwayne Jarrett, WR. USC
Jarrett is big, strong, physical receiver with excellent hands and playmaking ability stuffed into a body that lacks true break away speed. Sound like a recently drafted USC wideout? Forget about the comparisons. Jarrett is more Keyshawn Johnson than "Bust" Mike Williams. Ego may be an issue, but two or more touchdowns in the biggest games of the year makes you forget easily.
(12) Jamaal Anderson, DE. Alabama
Anderson is yet another raw athlete with all the tools to become a truly dominant player. He has the size at 6'6" 285lbs, and he has the athleticism to boot. He is an almost unstoppable force on the field. He plays to the whistle every down. Regardless, he is raw and short on experience. Although, 13.5 sacks in the SEC this year really boosts the resume.
(13) Darrelle Revis, CB. Pittsburgh
Check your cover corners at the door. Darrelle Revis is big, physical, and dominating at the line of scrimmage. What he lacks in pure speed, he makes up for with excellent technique, killer instincts, and unbridled desire. At 6'0" 200lbs, Revis is ideally sized and polished enough to make an immediate impact.
Michael Griffin is playmaking safety pedigree
(14) Michael Griffin, S. Texas
One only needs to remember the famous Vince Young Rose Bowl of a year ago to remember the playmaking abilities of Michael Griffin. Fast, fluid, and athletic, Griffin came make plays on the ball few safeties in the NFL are able to. The man can cover. That is good enough for me.
(15) Marshawn Lynch, RB. California
Don't fall asleep on Pac 10 running backs. Maurice Drew stormed on to the scene last year, and Lynch could realistically outshine the entire draft class in the right system with the right opportunities. He is slow out of the pads, but his on-field acceleration and burst is pallatible. His 5'11" 220lb frame makes him an every down back pedigree.
(16) Jarvis Moss, DE. Florida
Moss is an outstanding athlete. He is a lanky 6'6" 250lbs that seems to cover half of the field with his length. He can make plays in every direction at every point on the field. His explosiveness is second to none among defensive tackle prospects. He is a proven talent that gets to the ball.
(17) Reggie Nelson, S. Florida
What Reggie Nelson lacks in Division I experience, he makes up for with playamking ability as a balanced safety that can support the run and cover the pass. A JuCo transfer that came to play for Urban Meyer at Florida, Nelson is as complete a player -in terms of skills- as there is among all players in the draft class. 6 INT's don't lie.
A 20-year-old with four years of Division-I experience,
Amobi Okoye is perhaps this year's most intriguing propect
(18) Amobi Okoye, DT. Louisville
No surpsise, Okoye is a Nigerian native that is a nightmare up the middle on defense. He can clog the middle on rushing downs and shed blocks on passing downs. He has four years of experience, yet is only 20-years-old as a result of his Nigerian exchange. The guy flat out gets into the backfield and makes plays at defensive tackle. That is indeed rare.
(19) Adam Carriker, DE. Nebraska
At 6'6" 300lbs, Carriker is perfect for the 3-4 system. He possess size and strength. He punishes blockers and wraps up his tackles well. Perhaps the worst athlete on the Big Board 2007, Carriker is just a production machine. 33 TFL in the past two seasons is really impressive.
(20) Lawrence Timmons, OLB. Florida State
Add Lawrence Timmons to the list of raw, freakish athletes on the Big Board 2007. At 6'3" 240lbs, Timmons does not lose a step, clocking in at 4.6s in the 40 yard dash. He is a rangy linebacker that excels in coverage and can absolutely lay the lumber when he connects on a hit. He is a slighty bigger, slighty slower, considerably more raw version of Ernie Sims. Timmons probably has a higher ceiling simply as a result of his size.
