MadDog's 2014 NFL Draft Pre-Combine Big 100 Board

Maddog:
You have Kelvin Benjamin, Clinton Dix, Louis Nix,Stephon Tuitt, Jason Verrett; Mimmie Ward, and DAvid Yankey all in our 1st round pick area. Could you give me your pros and cons on these players and list them as to whether they would realistically be players that the Niners would pick? Thanks

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:
MadDog49er, The guy I want playing free safety for the 49ers next season is Lamarcus Joyner from Florida St. The days of knocking receivers out is over. Joyner is built in the mold of Earl Thomas and can cover all over the field. He can run with slot receivers and also come up and hit you in the mouth in the run game.

He is such a good player that I think he will make it in the NFL. However, when he comes in under 5'8", which is where he is listed right now, it simply limits what he can do. Expect him to be a terrific nickel corner in the NFL, covering slot guys like Welker and Amendola. He will end up at least two inches shorter than Earl Thomas, who is one of the smaller Safeties in the NFL. Call me a skeptic on his chances at safety in the NFL.

I can understand your concern but I've watched a ton of film on him and he plays/hits alot bigger then that. I can count on 1 hand how many jump balls have been thrown on Earl Thomas in 4 years. Scouts get caught up too many times with measurables/speed. Taylor Mays was a work out warrior but watch film on him and he couldn't cover a bank with a gun. Goldson/Whitner have all the measurables but time after time Julio Jones,Jacoby Jones and Doug Baldwin get behind them in the playoffs for big plays. I'll take the 5'8" Joyner all day in coverage while others will take Goldson/Whitner who give up big plays and 15 yard penalty's.

I tend to agree that people tend to overemphasize measurables in a player evaluation . However, in a league with tall, fast and big WR's, it is tough to see him playing at that size in that role.

ahmed black at florida was a similar size and made alot of plays in college--not so much in the pros

Originally posted by hofer36:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:
MadDog49er, The guy I want playing free safety for the 49ers next season is Lamarcus Joyner from Florida St. The days of knocking receivers out is over. Joyner is built in the mold of Earl Thomas and can cover all over the field. He can run with slot receivers and also come up and hit you in the mouth in the run game.

He is such a good player that I think he will make it in the NFL. However, when he comes in under 5'8", which is where he is listed right now, it simply limits what he can do. Expect him to be a terrific nickel corner in the NFL, covering slot guys like Welker and Amendola. He will end up at least two inches shorter than Earl Thomas, who is one of the smaller Safeties in the NFL. Call me a skeptic on his chances at safety in the NFL.

I can understand your concern but I've watched a ton of film on him and he plays/hits alot bigger then that. I can count on 1 hand how many jump balls have been thrown on Earl Thomas in 4 years. Scouts get caught up too many times with measurables/speed. Taylor Mays was a work out warrior but watch film on him and he couldn't cover a bank with a gun. Goldson/Whitner have all the measurables but time after time Julio Jones,Jacoby Jones and Doug Baldwin get behind them in the playoffs for big plays. I'll take the 5'8" Joyner all day in coverage while others will take Goldson/Whitner who give up big plays and 15 yard penalty's.

I tend to agree that people tend to overemphasize measurables in a player evaluation . However, in a league with tall, fast and big WR's, it is tough to see him playing at that size in that role.

ahmed black at florida was a similar size and made alot of plays in college--not so much in the pros

Id love to have Joyner to cover the Tavon Austins and Ty Hiltons of the league. The question is how high. If he inexplicably dropped, Id love to draft him as a second Cb in the 2nd round or 3rd rd.

Here is MadDog's board by position:

Pick Player School Position
Center
82 Marcus Martin USC C
85 Travis Swanson Arkansas C
94 Weston Richburg Colorado St C

Cornerback
12 Darqueze Dennard Michigan St CB
13 Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State CB
37 Jason Varrett TCU CB
43 Marcus Roberson Florida CB
44 Bradley Roby Ohio State CB
47 Jaylen Watkins Florida CB
55 Pierre Desir Lindenwood CB
60 Stanley Jean-Baptiste Nebraska CB
64 Keith McGill Utah CB
67 Kyle Fuller Virginia Tech CB
75 Lamarcus Joyner Florida State CB
92 Louchiez Purifoy Florida CB
98 Chris Davis Auburn CB

Defensive End
3 Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina DE
48 Jackson Jeffcoat Texas DE
77 Trevor Reilly Utah DE

Defensive Tackle
20 Ra'Shede Hageman Minnesota DT
25 Aaron Donald Pittsburgh DT
29 Louis Nix Notre Dame DT
32 Timmy Jernigan Florida State DT
33 Stephon Tuitt Notre Dame DT
58 Will Sutton Arizona St DT
78 Kelcy Quarles South Carolina DT
88 DaQuan Jones Penn State DT
90 Anthony Johnson LSU DT

Guard
35 Xavier Su'a-Filo UCLA G
42 David Yankey Stanford G
50 Gabe Jackson Mississippi St G
86 Cyril Richardson Baylor G

Linebacker
6 Anthony Barr UCLA LB
18 Dee Ford Auburn LB
21 Ryan Shazier Ohio State LB
30 Kyle Van Noy BYU LB
68 Yawin Smallwood Connecticut LB
71 Marcus Smith Louisville LB
72 Jeremiah Attaochu Georgia Tech LB
73 Trent Murphy Stanford LB
87 Chris Borland Wisconsin LB
96 Christian Jones Florida State LB

Outside Linebacker
10 Khalil Mack Buffalo DE/OLB
14 Kony Ealy Missouri DE/OLB
19 CJ Mosley Alabama OLB
23 Scott Crichton Oregon St DE/OLB
49 Carl Bradford Arizona St DE/OLB
54 Chris Smith Arkansas DE/OLB
91 Michael Sam Missouri DE/OLB

Offensive Tackle
4 Jake Matthews Texas A&M OT
9 Greg Robinson Auburn OT
15 Zach Martin Notre Dame OT/G
16 Cyrus Kouandjio Alabama OT
17 Taylor Lewan Michigan OT
28 Morgan Moses Virginia OT
62 Antonio Richardson Tennessee OT
63 Jack Mewhort Ohio State OT
74 Joel Bitonio Nevada OT/G
84 Brandon Thomas Clemson OT/G
89 Cameron Fleming Stanford OT
95 Billy Turner North Dakota St OT

Quarterback
1 Teddy Bridgewater Louisville QB
2 Blake Bortles Central Florida QB
7 Johnny Manziel Texas A&M QB
8 Derek Carr Fresno State QB
40 Jimmy Garappolo Eastern Illinois QB
100 Zach Mettenberger LSU QB

Runningback
38 Ka'Deem Carey Arizona RB
46 Tre Mason Auburn RB
51 Carlos Hyde Ohio State RB
59 Charles Sims West Virginia RB
66 Jeremy Hill LSU RB
83 Bishop Sankey Washington RB

Safety
27 Hasean Clinton-Dix Alabama S
34 Calvin Pryor Louisville S
39 Jimmie Ward Northern Illinois S
45 Ed Reynolds Stanford S
61 Deone Buchanon Washington St S
93 Telvin Smith Florida State SS/OLB
97 Dion Bailey USC S

Tight End
22 Eric Ebron North Carolina TE
26 Jace Amaro Texas Tech TE
52 Austin Seferian-Jenkins Washington TE
80 Troy Niklas Notre Dame TE
99 CJ Fiedorowicz Iowa TE

Wide Receiver
5 Sammy Watkins Clemson WR
11 Mike Evans Texas A&M WR
24 Kelvin Benjamin Florida State WR
31 Marqise Lee USC WR
36 Brandin Cooks Oregon St WR
41 Allen Robinson Penn State WR
53 Jordan Matthews Vanderbilt WR
56 Jarvis Landry LSU WR
57 Odell Beckham LSU WR
65 Mike Davis Texas WR
69 Robert Herron Wyoming WR
70 Jared Abbrederis Wisconsin WR
76 Davante Adams Fresno State WR
79 Paul Richardson Colorado WR
81 Josh Huff Oregon WR

nice breakdown fryet

Here are Maddogs 11-35 rankings that the 49ers could conceivably draft in the first round. Which of these players would be a good fit for our system? Which players should be avoided because they don't? Any likely busts in this group? I am just wondering what everyone thinks.

11 Mike Evans Texas A&M WR
12 Darqueze Dennard Michigan St CB
13 Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State CB
14 Kony Ealy Missouri DE/OLB
15 Zach Martin Notre Dame OT/G
16 Cyrus Kouandjio Alabama OT
17 Taylor Lewan Michigan OT
18 Dee Ford Auburn LB
19 CJ Mosley Alabama OLB
20 Ra'Shede Hageman Minnesota DT
21 Ryan Shazier Ohio State LB
22 Eric Ebron North Carolina TE
23 Scott Crichton Oregon St DE/OLB
24 Kelvin Benjamin Florida State WR
25 Aaron Donald Pittsburgh DT
26 Jace Amaro Texas Tech TE
27 Hasean Clinton-Dix Alabama S
28 Morgan Moses Virginia OT
29 Louis Nix Notre Dame DT
30 Kyle Van Noy BYU LB
31 Marqise Lee USC WR
32 Timmy Jernigan Florida State DT
33 Stephon Tuitt Notre Dame DT
34 Calvin Pryor Louisville S
35 Xavier Su'a-Filo UCLA G

Originally posted by fryet:
Here are Maddogs 11-35 rankings that the 49ers could conceivably draft in the first round. Which of these players would be a good fit for our system? Which players should be avoided because they don't? Any likely busts in this group? I am just wondering what everyone thinks.

11 Mike Evans Texas A&M WR
12 Darqueze Dennard Michigan St CB
13 Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State CB
14 Kony Ealy Missouri DE/OLB
15 Zach Martin Notre Dame OT/G
16 Cyrus Kouandjio Alabama OT
17 Taylor Lewan Michigan OT
18 Dee Ford Auburn LB
19 CJ Mosley Alabama OLB
20 Ra'Shede Hageman Minnesota DT
21 Ryan Shazier Ohio State LB
22 Eric Ebron North Carolina TE
23 Scott Crichton Oregon St DE/OLB
24 Kelvin Benjamin Florida State WR
25 Aaron Donald Pittsburgh DT
26 Jace Amaro Texas Tech TE
27 Hasean Clinton-Dix Alabama S
28 Morgan Moses Virginia OT
29 Louis Nix Notre Dame DT
30 Kyle Van Noy BYU LB
31 Marqise Lee USC WR
32 Timmy Jernigan Florida State DT
33 Stephon Tuitt Notre Dame DT
34 Calvin Pryor Louisville S
35 Xavier Su'a-Filo UCLA G

Of your list the primary ones that would be of most interest to the Niners are Evans, Dennard, Gilbert, Ealy, Ford, Donald, Clinton-Dix, Nix, Tuitt, Sua-Filo. These players would cover our need at WR, CB, Safety, Pass rush, Nose, DE, and Guard. In my opinion it is not likely we draft for Tackle in the high rounds. But in this list there are some tremendous player in our need areas.

Curious to why you have Swanson rated so low? Most have him from the late 1st to mid 2nd. The 9ers could draft a starter at center depending on the situation and camp battles, who do you like scheme wise for the 9ers at center?

I think Kelvin Benjamin is going to be taken a lot earlier than most mocks say

Originally posted by Ninefan56:

Of your list the primary ones that would be of most interest to the Niners are Evans, Dennard, Gilbert, Ealy, Ford, Donald, Clinton-Dix, Nix, Tuitt, Sua-Filo. These players would cover our need at WR, CB, Safety, Pass rush, Nose, DE, and Guard. In my opinion it is not likely we draft for Tackle in the high rounds. But in this list there are some tremendous player in our need areas.

I agree with most of those guys, but Donald is not a good fit for the 49ers. He's 6'0 290 - not long enough to play DE and too small to play NT in a 3-4. Hageman has similar size and athleticism to Tuitt I believe and is another guy we may look at for DE (versatile enough to move inside on 3rd down as a bonus). I think we'll look at Benjamin and Lee as well as some other WR's. Evans will be long gone unless we trade up.

With the depth of this draft I wouldn't be surprised to see us trade back from round 1. unless someone unexpected falls to us we could probably get the same talent with the 4th pick in the 2nd round and get an extra 3rd rounder for it. The 1 luxury we have is we have multiple needs we can go with. We don't have to target 1 position and hope we get our guy. We can get a WR or a S or a CB or a DT/DE. It will be fun to watch. This draft could set us up for years if they draft well.

Originally posted by MC9BEAT:

With the depth of this draft I wouldn't be surprised to see us trade back from round 1. unless someone unexpected fal

ls to us we could probably get the same talent with the 4th pick in the 2nd round and get an extra 3rd rounder for it. The 1 luxury we have is we have multiple needs we can go with. We don't have to target 1 position and hope we get our guy. We can get a WR or a S or a CB or a DT/DE. It will be fun to watch. This draft could set us up for years if they draft well.

It's possible but I'd be a little surprised to see it with their early picks. Blake has had a pretty consistent history of moving up to target the player he wants when he starts with a late first.

Personally, I am expecting them to move up with their first, and maybe again with one their seconds. They will have some roster spots, but rookies will stay have a tough time making this team.

Originally posted by Butter:

Originally posted by MC9BEAT:
With the depth of this draft I wouldn't be surprised to see us trade back from round 1. unless someone unexpected fal

ls to us we could probably get the same talent with the 4th pick in the 2nd round and get an extra 3rd rounder for it. The 1 luxury we have is we have multiple needs we can go with. We don't have to target 1 position and hope we get our guy. We can get a WR or a S or a CB or a DT/DE. It will be fun to watch. This draft could set us up for years if they draft well.

It's possible but I'd be a little surprised to see it with their early picks. Blake has had a pretty consistent history of moving up to target the player he wants when he starts with a late first.

Personally, I am expecting them to move up with their first, and maybe again with one their seconds. They will have some roster spots, but rookies will stay have a tough time making this team.

He moved up last year and might again this time. The difference is we had 1 premiere need last year. A safety to replace Goldsen trumped all else. This year we have multiple needs that are equal. It is very possible there could be a number of players they would be happy getting with the 1st pick. Last year we moved back with our 2nd round pick and it was the 2nd pick in the 2nd round or #34. Our 1st pick this year is #30.

If we get to that pick and there are several players we like you can move back,gain a free pick and still get 1 of them. It all depends. If a really special player drops further than they thought they may target him but this draft is so deep that 2nd and 3rd round picks show tons of talent. Moving back makes more sense in a deep draft.

Originally posted by Butter:

Originally posted by hofer36:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:
MadDog49er, The guy I want playing free safety for the 49ers next season is Lamarcus Joyner from Florida St. The days of knocking receivers out is over. Joyner is built in the mold of Earl Thomas and can cover all over the field. He can run with slot receivers and also come up and hit you in the mouth in the run game.

He is such a good player that I think he will make it in the NFL. However, when he comes in under 5'8", which is where he is listed right now, it simply limits what he can do. Expect him to be a terrific nickel corner in the NFL, covering slot guys like Welker and Amendola. He will end up at least two inches shorter than Earl Thomas, who is one of the smaller Safeties in the NFL. Call me a skeptic on his chances at safety in the NFL.

I can understand your concern but I've watched a ton of film on him and he plays/hits alot bigger then that. I can count on 1 hand how many jump balls have been thrown on Earl Thomas in 4 years. Scouts get caught up too many times with measurables/speed. Taylor Mays was a work out warrior but watch film on him and he couldn't cover a bank with a gun. Goldson/Whitner have all the measurables but time after time Julio Jones,Jacoby Jones and Doug Baldwin get behind them in the playoffs for big plays. I'll take the 5'8" Joyner all day in coverage while others will take Goldson/Whitner who give up big plays and 15 yard penalty's.

I tend to agree that people tend to overemphasize measurables in a player evaluation . However, in a league with tall, fast and big WR's, it is tough to see him playing at that size in that role.

ahmed black at florida was a similar size and made alot of plays in college--not so much in the pros

Id love to have Joyner to cover the Tavon Austins and Ty Hiltons of the league. The question is how high. If he inexplicably dropped, Id love to draft him as a second Cb in the 2nd round or 3rd rd.

That is where I see Joyner's fit in the NFL, as an effective nickel corner who can run with the shiftier slot WR's of the NFL.

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:

Originally posted by Ninefan56:
Of your list the primary ones that would be of most interest to the Niners are Evans, Dennard, Gilbert, Ealy, Ford, Donald, Clinton-Dix, Nix, Tuitt, Sua-Filo. These players would cover our need at WR, CB, Safety, Pass rush, Nose, DE, and Guard. In my opinion it is not likely we draft for Tackle in the high rounds. But in this list there are some tremendous player in our need areas.

I agree with most of those guys, but Donald is not a good fit for the 49ers. He's 6'0 290 - not long enough to play DE and too small to play NT in a 3-4. Hageman has similar size and athleticism to Tuitt I believe and is another guy we may look at for DE (versatile enough to move inside on 3rd down as a bonus). I think we'll look at Benjamin and Lee as well as some other WR's. Evans will be long gone unless we trade up.

Donald is a sub-package rush specialist. Think of him as the 2012 version of Aldon Smith. For how good he can become, it is not off the board in my opinion. Think of how the Seahawks are crushing their opposition through a wave of fresh, studly pass rushers.