The NFL Scouting Combine has almost come and gone, so before the all-important post-combine rankings come out, I wanted to post a list of my Top 50 prospects. The list was created the day before the combine started, and the following Big Board following the Combine will highlight how much each prospect has ascended or descended in the rankings. In total, my Big Board consisted of:

7 Receivers
7 Cornerbacks
6 Offensive Tackles
6 Linebackers
5 Defensive Ends
4 Quarterbacks
4 Defensive Tackles
3 Tight Ends
3 Offensive Linemen (who could play more than one spot; undetermined which in particular in the pros)
2 Safeties
2 Guards
1 Offensive Weapon (could line up at running back or receiver and is generally a nightmare for Defensive Coordinators)

In my opinion, the depth of this class is most apparent in the positions who are to catch the most passes – either as touchdowns or interceptions. A large amount of early-round talent is available on the offensive and defensive lines for a second straight year, and the quarterback crop puts last year’s to absolute shame. Again, these are rankings that do not take into effect anything witnessed at the Combine. Johnny Manziel’s hand size, Dee Ford’s problem with Jadeveon Clowney, and Rich Eisen’s 40-yard dash time play no part in this list, but they WILL play a part in the next installment of my Big Board (Spoiler Alert – Eisen, though showing better speed, still does not crack the list yet.).

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

2. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

4. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

5. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

6. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

7. C.J. Mosely, LB, Alabama

8. Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA

9. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

10. Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

11. Marqise Lee, WR, USC

12. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

13. Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame

14. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

15. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

16. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

17. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State

18. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State

19. Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

20. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State

21. Cyrus Kouandijo, OL, Alabama

22. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

23. Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama

24. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

25. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

26. Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame

27. Stephon Tuitt, DL, Notre Dame

28. Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

29. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

30. Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State

31. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU

32. Austin Sefarin-Jenkins, TE, Washington

33. Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford

34. Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida

35. Cyril Richardson, OL, Baylor

36. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State

37. Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State

38. Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia

39. Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida

40. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State

41. Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech

42. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU

43. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

44. David Yankey, OL, Stanford

45. Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

46. Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State

47. Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee

48. Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State

49. Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA

50. De’Anthony Thomas, OW, Oregon

I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the Combine, make their own lists, and generate strong opinions on which players look best in their team’s uniforms. Any comments, questions, concerns, insults, awards, or other forms of communication may be directed to the “comments” section below, and I will do my best to answer anything left for me to read!

God Bless!

– Dan