Top NFL draft prospects by position
Ranking the top five NFL prospects, by position, for the 2013 draft
Originally Published: February 20, 2013
By Mel Kiper Jr.
The NFL combine is here, so take a look at how I've ranked the top prospects on a positional basis. What you see below is a ranking of players by position, regardless of class. Each player's position is based on my projection of his NFL position. Every player in the 2013 NFL draft class was considered for these top-five lists, so if you don't see a player who you know is in the draft, it's not by accident.
QUARTERBACKS
Matt Barkley 6-2 230
246-387 3,273 36 15
Geno Smith 6-3 214
369-518 4,205 42 6
Mike Glennon 6-6 218
330-564 4,031 31 17
Tyler Wilson 6-3 220
249 401 3,387 21 13
Ryan Nassib 6-2 229
294-471 3,749 26 10
Analysis: Regardless of who rises, and perhaps even cracks the top half of the first round, this is an underwhelming class, to say the least. Smith and Barkley are contending to be the first QB taken, but Glennon should rebound. Ryan Nassib could enter the first-round discussion with a good showing.
RUNNING BACKS
Eddie Lacy*
6-1
220
204
1,322
6.5
17
22
189
Montee Ball
5-11
212
356
1,830
5.1
22
10
72
Kenjon Barner
5-11
195
278
1,767
6.4
21
20
256
Giovani Bernard*
5-10
205
184
1,228
6.7
12
47
490
Marcus Lattimore*
6-0
218
143
662
4.6
11
26
173
Analysis: Lacy won't work out because of a hamstring issue, so his pro day is crucial. Bernard has the most diverse skill set, but my suspicion is he won't be the first RB taken. Ball profiles more as an every-down guy, to the extent that those even exist anymore. What will he run? Yep, there's Marcus Lattimore. Has a third-round grade right now.
FULLBACKS
Lonnie Pryor
6-0
229
47
376
8.0
8
13
117
Zach Line
6-1
230
277
1,278
4.6
13
33
229
Zach Boren
6-1
245
11
33
3.0
2
5
42
Tommy Bohanon
6-2
245
2
1
0.5
1
1
5
Kyle Juszczyk
6-3
245
0
0
0
0
3
20
Analysis: Pryor flew up the board for me late in the year because he's shown off a pretty good offensive skill set. Line is a safe pick. Boren also filled in well as a linebacker for Ohio State, so his draft value actually increases given his versatility.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Cordarrelle Patterson*
6-3
205
46
778
16.9
58
5
0
Keenan Allen*
6-3
210
61
737
12.1
69
6
0
Tavon Austin
5-9
174
114
1,289
11.3
75
12
0
Quinton Patton
6-2
195
104
1,392
13.4
79
13
0
Aaron Dobson
6-3
200
57
679
11.9
40
3
0
Analysis: The combine is huge for this group. Who blows people away with speed and agility? Patterson isn't a truly known commodity, but has big-time athleticism and skills. Patton had a great week at the Senior Bowl and has decent size for winning one-on-one battles for the ball. Allen is too much of a sleeper to be taken first, but he'll have to wait for his pro day to run.
TIGHT ENDS
Tyler Eifert*
6-6
251
50
685
13.7
38
4
0
Zach Ertz*
6-6
252
69
898
13.0
68
6
0
Jordan Reed*
6-3
243
45
559
12.4
39
3
0
Travis Kelce
6-6
260
45
722
16.0
83
1
0
Dion Sims*
6-5
285
36
475
13.2
44
2
0
Analysis: Here's a group where speed will really come into play. It's a big part of how teams view these guys as matchup threats. Ertz could push Eifert to be the first tight end taken. Both have the pass-catching skills of wide receivers and, given their size, can also overwhelm corners. Sims lacks burst but he's the size of some tackles. Reed is coming on.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Luke Joeckel*
6-6
310
Eric Fisher
6-8
305
D.J. Fluker*
6-6
335
Lane Johnson
6-7
303
Justin Pugh*
6-6
292
Analysis: This is a really good class at the top, and Joeckel will challenge to be the first player taken overall. Nobody even knew who Fisher was when the season started, but he could go top-10. Fluker has been rising. Joeckel is the clear standout among this group. Johnson has moved up on my Board recently.
OFFENSIVE GUARDS
Chance Warmack
6-3
320
Jonathan Cooper
6-3
310
Larry Warford
6-3
336
Dallas Thomas
6-5
305
Brian Winters
6-6
294
Analysis: Flat-out loaded class. Warmack has been really high, but Cooper might be more versatile, giving him an edge. Either could be the David DeCastro of the 2013 draft, a guard who gets a legit look in the top 10 -- and he's even better. I don't see a player here whom I feel should get a shot at tackle, but some measurements will be interesting to see.
CENTERS
Travis Frederick*
6-4
330
Barrett Jones
6-5
311
Brian Schwenke
6-4
300
Khaled Holmes
6-4
310
Mario Benavides
6-4
280
Analysis: Frederick has been my top center for a while: solid player, moves well, can get to the second level or pull effectively. Remember that Jones has played three different positions in his time at Bama and will gain some points for his versatility. USC fell apart when Holmes was dinged up this season.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Damontre Moore*
6-4
250
Bjoern Werner*
6-4
265
Dion Jordan
6-7
241
Barkevious Mingo*
6-5
240
Ezekiel Ansah
6-6
270
Analysis: Several of these guys could switch positions, a caveat to keep in mind. A great year by Moore should pay off. He can be a terror as a pass-rusher with his burst. Ansah is getting a close look now -- he could fit a 3-4 as a defensive end as well. The guy is a major athletic talent. Regardless of his lack of experience, scouts see a lot of promise.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Star Lotulelei
6-3
325
Sharrif Floyd*
6-3
295
Sheldon Richardson*
6-4
295
Sylvester Williams
6-3
305
Brandon Williams
6-3
325
Analysis: Deep, deep, deep. Lotulelei is a certain top-10 pick. The guy who has moved the most this season is Richardson, who could be really versatile and has the instincts and motor to make an early impact. All five should be gone in the first round, maybe easily. Brandon Williams is the late riser here.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Alec Ogletree*
6-3
236
Manti Te'o
6-2
255
Kevin Minter*
6-2
242
Kevin Reddikk
6-3
240
Jonathan Bostic
6-1
246
Analysis: Will be an interesting combine for this group. I have Ogletree just ahead of Te'o here based on positional versatility, but Te'o is just ahead of Ogletree on the Big Board. A little confusing, I know. Te'o needs to run well. Ogletree needs to interview well. Minter is your sleeper to go ahead of both of them.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Jarvis Jones*
6-3
241
Khaseem Greene
6-1
230
Jamie Collins
6-3
239
Zaviar Gooden
6-2
230
Cornelius Washington
6-4
268
Analysis: Jones is a star -- no way around it. Greene isn't really a pure pass-rushing type; he's the kind of guy who's going to make 150 tackles for an NFL team at some point, likely working from the weak side. Collins was super-productive on a bad team. Washington has jumped for me after more time evaluating him on tape.
CORNERBACKS
Dee Milliner*
6-1
199
Xavier Rhodes*
6-2
215
Johnthan Banks
6-2
185
Desmond Trufant
6-0
186
Jordan Poyer
6-0
190
Analysis: Milliner has the skills to be a true No. 1 corner in the NFL. He has great raw football skills, awareness, the ability to dictate routes, and he keeps getting better. The guy will step up and make hits like a safety. Rhodes is really a steady player and should land in the first round. No way around it -- 40 times are huge for this group.
SAFETIES
Kenny Vaccaro
6-1
218
Matt Elam*
5-10
206
Tony Jefferson*
5-10
199
Eric Reid*
6-2
208
D.J. Swearinger
6-0
210
Analysis: Nice class. Vaccaro played really well despite a lot of problems on the Texas defense. He was often left to clean up the mess when the front seven couldn't make plays. Elam makes a lot of plays, and what he lacks in size he makes up for in anticipation. For both these guys, it's all about how versatile they are.
KICKERS
Dustin Hopkins 6-2 190
Caleb Sturgis 5-11 183
Zach Brown 6-1 180
Brett Maher 6-0 185
Brett Bae r6-0 187
Analysis: Wire to wire for Hopkins at the top of these rankings. He's accurate and can be a weapon on kickoffs.
Jeff Locke 6-1 214
Brad Wing* 6-3 184
Josh Hubner 6-4 231
Quinn Shar 6-1 189
Ryan Allen 6-2 215
Analysis: Locke could very well end up being the top punter taken. Wing was actually a weapon for LSU. And he's a very rare early entry at this position.
That's our future QB
