Rank 'em: 3-4 OLB prospects

[MetalBleachers]

Here's mine:
1. Barwin
2. Ayers
3. Matthews
4. Johnson
5. English
6. Sintim

Remember, this is as a 3-4 OLB, not as an overall defender/producer at the pro level.

Be gentle with your KO punches. :stars2:

 

[mayoclinic]

Here's mine:
1. Barwin
2. Ayers
3. Matthews
4. Johnson
5. English
6. Sintim

Remember, this is as a 3-4 OLB, not as an overall defender/producer at the pro level.

Be gentle with your KO punches. :stars2:

I definitely agree with you on Barwin and Ayers at 1-2 and Sintim at 6. I'm not sure about how I would order the next 3, but your order seems reasonable. If Matthews were a bit bigger I would definitely agree with it. You didn't include Everette Brown or Aaron Maybin in your list. I'm not sure where I would put them either.

 

[BadMoFo]

So I guess Aaron Curry is just **** then.

 

[aaron spacemuseum]

As of right now, Clint Sintim is the best 3-4 OLB in this draft, the others might learn to play that position and might not. Sintim's played in a 3-4 (Patriots' style, mind you) for his whole college career. That said, I'm warming to Barwin as being a better overall prospect and believe that English is gonna be a stud OLB and a hell of a consolation prize if we can't get either.

I would go:
1. Curry
2. Barwin
3. Sintim
4. English
5. Maybin

Matthews is 10 lbs underweight for the position and I'm not sure he has that much room to grow. Everette Brown might be in the top five but I don't know enough about him. Cushing I think could work inside and Ayers, I'm not sure could play in space, but could be wrong on that.

 

[mgteich]

The players that I expect to produce the most during their rookie contracts are:

Curry
Everette Brown
Ayers
Matthews
English

Production beyond a player's rookie contract matters little in making a choice.

 

[patsfan55]

The players that I expect to produce the most during their rookie contracts are:

Curry
Everette Brown
Ayers
Matthews
English

Production beyond a player's rookie contract matters little in making a choice.

You make a great point here. One that gets overlooked by a lot in here, but definitely not by BB and co. This is why we don't draft pure projects too early.

 

[reflexblue]

As of right now, Clint Sintim is the best 3-4 OLB in this draft, the others might learn to play that position and might not. Sintim's played in a 3-4 (Patriots' style, mind you) for his whole college career. That said, I'm warming to Barwin as being a better overall prospect and believe that English is gonna be a stud OLB and a hell of a consolation prize if we can't get either.

I would go:
1. Curry
2. Barwin
3. Sintim
4. English
5. Maybin

Matthews is 10 lbs underweight for the position and I'm not sure he has that much room to grow. Everette Brown might be in the top five but I don't know enough about him. Cushing I think could work inside and Ayers, I'm not sure could play in space, but could be wrong on that.

From what i've read I like this list the best so far. In fact so much i don't need to write one.

 

[dryheat44]

Curry
Brown
Orakpo
Sintim
Barwin
Johnson
Cushing
English
Maybin
Matthews
Brown
Walters
Buie
Long
Swain
Davis
Sulak
Martin

 

[mayoclinic]

So I guess Aaron Curry is just **** then.

I didn't include him because (1) I don't see him remotely being available and (2) I don't see him as a 3-4 OLB. I believe he would move to ILB if the Pats somehow got him, probably as an uber-athletic SILB. Curry and Mayo would be unreal, but it's not going to happen.

 

[MetalBleachers]

So I guess Aaron Curry is just **** then.

That, OR I wasn't clear on the detail of "...available to the Pats at 23" thing. I assume Curry and Everette will be gone.

As of right now, Clint Sintim is the best 3-4 OLB in this draft, the others might learn to play that position and might not. Sintim's played in a 3-4 (Patriots' style, mind you) for his whole college career. That said, I'm warming to Barwin as being a better overall prospect and believe that English is gonna be a stud OLB and a hell of a consolation prize if we can't get either.

I would go:
1. Curry
2. Barwin
3. Sintim
4. English
5. Maybin

Matthews is 10 lbs underweight for the position and I'm not sure he has that much room to grow. Everette Brown might be in the top five but I don't know enough about him. Cushing I think could work inside and Ayers, I'm not sure could play in space, but could be wrong on that.

Not high on Maybin or Ayers, but as you said, could be wrong. Hard to tell how those player would adjust.

Hey, you know who we're all forgetting for some reason? Paul Kruger.

 

[MetalBleachers]

Curry
Brown
Orakpo
Sintim
Barwin
Johnson
Cushing
English
Maybin
Matthews
Brown
Walters
Buie
Long
Swain
Davis
Sulak
Martin

thanks for the heads up on Buie:
Jarriett Buie | South Florida, DE : 2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile
A prime candidate for the NE School of Hybrid Transitions.

 

[strongside]

Here's mine:
1. Barwin
2. Ayers
3. Matthews
4. Johnson
5. English
6. Sintim

Remember, this is as a 3-4 OLB, not as an overall defender/producer at the pro level.

Be gentle with your KO punches. :stars2:

If this is a Pats specific list taking in account palyers that will be around, then I agree w/ some changes.

1. Sintim
2. Ayers
3. English
4. Barwin
5. Matthews

Overall
1. Orakpo
2. Curry
3. Brown
4. Maybin
5. Sintim

 

[MetalBleachers]

If this is a Pats specific list taking in account palyers that will be around, then I agree w/ some changes.

1. Sintim
2. Ayers
3. English
4. Barwin
5. Matthews

Overall
1. Orakpo
2. Curry
3. Brown
4. Maybin
5. Sintim

Can't agree with Sintim as the best available. In films I've seen he seems relatively unathletic and unimpressive overall. Now that I've said that, watch the Pats take him at 23 and him get the defensive ROY.

 

[bakes781]

1. Orakpo
2. English
3. Matthews
4. Barwin
5. Sintim

 

[WhiZa]

Why is everyone forgetting about Curry?

My list:
Aaron Curry
Brian Orakpo
Everette Brown
Clay Matthews/Connor Barwin
Clint Sintim
Brian Cushing

Hopefully Orakpo and Brown are both gone by 23, because to me they are both projects with a lot of athletic ability so it would be a tough call to take a risk on a player like that in the first round.

 

[mgteich]

You hope that we don't take Orapko or Brown because they are projects and then want us to choose between Matthews and Barwin, with Sintim next?

I would think that Brown is less of a project than either Barwin or Sintim.

Who do you consider to be a #23 value pick at OLB, and NOT be a project?

Why is everyone forgetting about Curry?

My list:
Aaron Curry
Brian Orakpo
Everette Brown
Clay Matthews/Connor Barwin
Clint Sintim
Brian Cushing

Hopefully Orakpo and Brown are both gone by 23, because to me they are both projects with a lot of athletic ability so it would be a tough call to take a risk on a player like that in the first round.

 

[WhiZa]

You hope that we don't take Orapko or Brown because they are projects and then want us to choose between Matthews and Barwin, with Sintim next?

I would think that Brown is less of a project than either Barwin or Sintim.

Who do you consider to be a #23 value pick at OLB, and NOT be a project?

The reason I put Orapko and Brown ahead of these guys is the reward value if it pans out. Sintim is a true LB so we already know what he can do. Barwin is also a project, but I think his ceiling is lower then Brown.

It's going to be a tough decision at 23 given how many DEs turned OLB are worthy there. It's always a risk, but you can also find players like Vrabel and AD who made the transition.

Really the only player to me who's not a project is Curry.

 

[Revman]

Sintim is a guy that appears under the radar a bit. Quietly mentioned. I know he gets after the qb. I know he is experienced in a 3/4. Can he play inside? I could see him as a candidate at 34 if he is versatile enough to go inside. Someone told me he reminds them of James Farrior-Steelers. A former rd one, Jers gave up on him-Steelers won titles with him in rotation.

 

[mayoclinic]

The reason I put Orapko and Brown ahead of these guys is the reward value if it pans out. Sintim is a true LB so we already know what he can do. Barwin is also a project, but I think his ceiling is lower then Brown.

It's going to be a tough decision at 23 given how many DEs turned OLB are worthy there. It's always a risk, but you can also find players like Vrabel and AD who made the transition.

Really the only player to me who's not a project is Curry.

Curry's also probably not a 3-4 OLB, he would likely project to ILB.

Brown is considerably more proven than Barwin as a 4-3 DE, though he is on the small side. There is no doubt that he is a more finished product with a better repertoire of moves. As a 3-4 OLB however, both have no prior experience, and Barwin is bigger, faster, more agile, better in coverage and in defending the pass, and better equipped to play in space. And he also has a proven record of being able to change positions successfully, whereas Brown has never shown that he is capable of being anything other than a 4-3 DE.

A lot of people wanted Chris Long or Vernon Gholston last year as 3-4 OLB conversion projects, paying top 10 money. The risk at 23 is much less, no matter whom we take.

 

[BPF]

A. Curry
E. Brown
L. English
C. Sintim
C. Barwin
C. Matthews
B. Orakpo
A. Maybin
M. Johnson
B. Cushing
C. Brown
V. Butler
O. Martin
P. Kruger
D. Veikune
B. Williams
P. Hunt
J. Williams