Mike Mayock Early Positional Rankings

[Big-T]

NFL.com news: Early position-by-position rankings for 2012 NFL Draft

He has Reiff above Kalil at OT and Alshon Jeffery as the #4 WR but other than that he looks to share the same opinion as the other draft experts from what I've seen.

 

[cstjohn17]

His CB ratings are very interesting.

Expect BB to get a first hand report on Kirkpatrick, if he falls I like the CB/FS versatility he could bring to the table.

Cornerback
1. Morris Claiborne, LSU
2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
4. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
5. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

Also at DE he has Mercilus rated very high.

Defensive End
1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
4. Nick Perry, USC
T-5. Chandler Jones, Syracuse
T-5. Andre Branch, Clemson


DE & CB in round 1 would be fine with me.

 

[dryheat44]

It doesn't appear to be a strong year for safeties, which means I wouldn't be opposed to trying to get Barron with a 1st rounder if we can't get a veteran starter in free agency. I think safety is a bigger issue than corner right now.

 

[Big-T]

It doesn't appear to be a strong year for safeties, which means I wouldn't be opposed to trying to get Barron with a 1st rounder if we can't get a veteran starter in free agency. I think safety is a bigger issue than corner right now.

Using the Lardarius Webb idea I suggested in the other thread, the Patriots could bypass drafting a safety by moving Dowling, McCourty or Moore to FS.

The wouldn't be a bad secondary at all:
CB: Webb, McCourty/Dowling, Arrington
S: Chung & McCourty/Dowling/Moore

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It doesn't appear to be a strong year for safeties, which means I wouldn't be opposed to trying to get Barron with a 1st rounder if we can't get a veteran starter in free agency. I think safety is a bigger issue than corner right now.

I know the Jets and Ravens fans are all over their teams drafting Baron in the first round, but I do not have a first round grade on Baron.

I think we can pick up a decent safety in the third or fourth round.

 

[Peachhead]

I know the Jets and Ravens fans are all over their teams drafting Baron in the first round, but I do not have a first round grade on Baron.

I think we can pick up a decent safety in the third or fourth round.

I agree. Plus Barron is pretty much a SS only. He has below average cover skills but is a beast in run support. We already have that in Chung.

If BB doesn't see a FS he likes, this year's CB class looks decent. Maybe he takes a big CB in the mid or late rounds who's speed and cover skills are less than average for a CB, but great for a FS. Then covert the guy to FS like Eugene Wilson in the early 00s.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

I think we can pick up a decent safety in the third or fourth round.

George Iloka is awesome, but he is rising fast at the Senior Bowl and is likely a 2nd rounder at this point.

I'm all in for a big FA or trade at safety.

Oh and I forgot, Janzen Jackson is now listed as a 5th rounder on CBS. We need to get him, his upside is limitless.

 

[Daigle]

It doesn't appear to be a strong year for safeties, which means I wouldn't be opposed to trying to get Barron with a 1st rounder if we can't get a veteran starter in free agency. I think safety is a bigger issue than corner right now.

I dont think spending a first on Barron is a good thing. We can probably pickup better guys or people that will do about the same job as him in free agency. Better spend it on other stuff, depending whats available.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

George Iloka is awesome, but he is rising fast at the Senior Bowl and is likely a 2nd rounder at this point.

I'm all in for a big FA or trade at safety.

Oh and I forgot, Janzen Jackson is now listed as a 5th rounder on CBS. We need to get him, his upside is limitless.

Iloka is very long and seems to have trouble with change of direction. But I have no trouble taking him or Martin in the second round at #64.

As for Jackson, we would need to overdraft him in the 4th or make a trade to get a 5th rounder. But I think he would be a vast improvement over Ivebeenaho. Especially if he can excel at ST.

 

[kennyb]

George Iloka is awesome, but he is rising fast at the Senior Bowl and is likely a 2nd rounder at this point.

I'm all in for a big FA or trade at safety.

Oh and I forgot, Janzen Jackson is now listed as a 5th rounder on CBS. We need to get him, his upside is limitless.

Why did Jackson come out after his junior year? I would think he'd want to stay in to show he had gotten over his issues. He got kicked off the TN team and possible substance abuse problems. Seems like a problem child.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Why did Jackson come out after his junior year? I would think he'd want to stay in to show he had gotten over his issues. He got kicked off the TN team and possible substance abuse problems. Seems like a problem child.

Likely because he feels he wouldn't raise his stock too much playing at McNeese another year. It's also a week safety class so that will help him.

 

[ay-yo]

Somebody threw out the idea of trading for Adrian Wilson. I like that more than signing Goldson or drafting Barron.

Brockers rated behind Worthy and Still. If Brockers is around at 15 I hope we move up. Our 2 first for 15 + 3rd + 4th (then trade 3rd and 4th for a future 2nd and 3rd).

Zack Brown as 4th LB. I would spend a 1st on him. I like Hightower but he replicates many of the things our current LB's already do. I think Brown is just as good a player but with a different game. In terms of a hybrid 4-3 / 3-4 look how about Deaderick / Vince / Love / Ninko / Brown / Mayo / Spikes as the personnel. Ninko can put his hand down in the 4-3 or stand up in the 3-4. Hopefully he's available at 27.

If Sanu isn't in the top 5 WR's there's a good shot to get him at 47. That'd be awesome.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Somebody threw out the idea of trading for Adrian Wilson. I like that more than signing Goldson or drafting Barron.

Do we know he's available?

 

[manxman2601]

Mayocks positional ratings have been updated and can be seen here. Two surprises:

Defensive End
1. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
2. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
3. Andre Branch, Clemson
4. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
T-5. Vinny Curry, Marshall
T-5. Nick Perry, USC

Have to think that 3-5 would fall into our wheelhouse and would useful as trade bait or picking for ourselves.

Defensive Tackle
1. Michael Brockers, LSU
2. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
3. Dontari Poe, Memphis
4. Devon Still, Penn State
T-5. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi St.
T-5. Kendall Reyes, UConn
T-5. Brandon Thompson, Clemson

I'd love it if Still falls like this. Starting to think he's the best fit for a Patriots 3-4 DE, particularly if Brockers goes high.

 

[Smokeeye123]

Chris Givens at #5 WR?...Am I missing something?

 

[VrabelJr]

Using the Lardarius Webb idea I suggested in the other thread, the Patriots could bypass drafting a safety by moving Dowling, McCourty or Moore to FS.

The wouldn't be a bad secondary at all:
CB: Webb, McCourty/Dowling, Arrington
S: Chung & McCourty/Dowling/Moore

Webb won't be leaving Baltimore.

 

[VrabelJr]

Do we know he's available?

While we're at it we should trade for Troy Polamalu, Patrick Willis, and Justin Tuck too

 

[ay-yo]

Do we know he's available?

There has been nothing saying he's available. But the Cards are right at the salary cap already and that's w/o any of their FAs signed, including calias campbell who will get big money. Add in he's in he'll be past his prime by the time the cards are any good and a 2nd rounder just might pry him free.

 

[VrabelJr]

No way in hell the Cards give up Adrian Wilson. He's the best modern day safety in the NFL.

 

[Wilfork#75]

No way in hell the Cards give up Adrian Wilson. He's the best modern day safety in the NFL.

The problem for the Cards is he is due a $3mil roster bonus, and has a $9.5mil cap value overall for 2012. With Calais Campbell a free agent and probably looking at a big contract, they may have to choose between the two, and I would go for the guy that isn't 32 years old. I don't think Arizona will trade Wilson, but I think there is a very good chance they cut him before his roster bonus in March.