The end of the pro day circuit signals the beginning of pre-draft meetings for most organizations around the league. Scouts convene at team facilities for the next few weeks to put the finishing touches on the draft board prior to April's event. Although a handful of private workouts and team visits will impact the final rankings, I thought it'd be a good time to reveal my latest Big Board heading into the final phase of the evaluation season for the 2013 NFL Draft.
What are your thoughts on the rankings? As always, feel free to provide feedback via Twitter (@BuckyBrooks).
NOTE: Big Board 2.0 rankings are listed parenthetically for contextual purposes.
1) Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan (Big Board 2.0 ranking: 1): Fisher has skyrocketed up draft charts around the league after stellar performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. With additional strong showings at his pro day and in private workouts, Fisher is making a compelling case to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick.
2) Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (2): Joeckel's lack of elite athleticism keeps him from occupying the top spot on the list. Otherwise, he is a technically sound player with outstanding skills and potential.
3) Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama (3): If offensive guards were valued at a premium, Warmack would be in the conversation as the potential No. 1 pick. He is a future Pro Bowler with a game that is solid in all aspects.
4) Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia (8): Smith's spectacular pro day solidified his standing as the top quarterback prospect in the 2013 class. He is a polished pocket passer with exceptional arm talent and underrated athleticism.
5) Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama (5): The premier cover corner in the draft displayed impressive speed and athleticism at the combine. Scouts are a little concerned about his hands and ball skills, but he has all of the tools to be a plug-and-play starter.
6) Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina (6): After witnessing Cooper's spectacular performance at UNC's Pro Day, I think he might be the most athletic big man in the draft. He impressed scouts with his agility, quickness and body control, while also showing the versatility to play guard or center as a pro.
7) Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma (7): The ultra-athletic Johnson has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the charts since the fall due to strong performances at the Senior Bowl and combine. He is a lock to come off the board as a top-10 pick, and flashes the skills to develop into an elite left tackle as a pro.
8) Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (9): The buzz has been building around Floyd since scouts started closely examining his 2012 tape following his early entry. He is a versatile interior defender with outstanding skills, but his short arms (31 3/4 inches) could be problematic at the next level.
9) Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon (10): The ultra-talented Jordan is a better athlete than football player at present, but that hasn't stopped scouts from raving about his potential as a disruptive force off the edge. He shows exceptional first-step quickness and burst, and displays a relentless motor pursuing the ball.
10) Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU (12): It is amazing Ansah is considered a top-10 talent with less than a season of starting experience. However, scouts are captivated by his explosive first-step quickness, hand skills and motor. Few prospects can rival his energy, effort and athleticism, leading to his steady rise up the charts.
11) Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri (13): The more scouts study Richardson's game film, the more they love his ability and potential as a disruptive 3-technique (outside shade of offensive guard) in a 4-3 scheme.
12) Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia (14): The most athletic inside linebacker in the draft must still address character concerns (four-game suspension for failed drug tests and a recent DUI arrest) to solidify his standing in the top half of the first round.
13) Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (4):A disappointing workout at Georgia's Pro Day raised red flags about Jones' speed, athleticism and explosiveness. Factor in his spinal stenosis condition and Jones' status as a top-10 pick is debatable at this point.
14) Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia (20): Austin has been the talk of the scouting community following his impressive performances at the combine and West Virginia's Pro Day. Scouts view him as a super explosive athlete with game-changing abilities as a hybrid offensive playmaker, which is why he is creeping closer to top-10 consideration.
15) Barkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU (11): Mingo might be the biggest "boom or bust" prospect in the draft. He tantalizes coaches with his athleticism and movement skills, but his meager production and questionable strength make it tough to project his impact potential as a pro.
16) Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah (16): A heart condition that prevented Lotulelei from working out in Indianapolis remains a concern, but evaluators love his explosiveness and short-area quickness. If he can obtain a clean bill of health from medical personnel at the combine "re-check" -- scheduled for April 5 and 6 in Indy -- Lotulelei's stock could rise again prior to the draft.
17) Keenan Allen, WR, Cal (15): A knee injury has prevented Allen from working out in front of scouts at the combine, but he will get his chance to answer questions about his speed and athleticism at his pro day on April 9. If he can post respectable times in the 40-yard dash and short shuttle, he could be the first receiver to come off the board.
18) Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina (28): There is a lot to like about Williams' game in terms of production and potential. He is not only a "hard hat and lunch pail guy" with a high motor, but scouts raved about his athleticism and work ethic following UNC's Pro Day.
19) Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State (21): Coaches and scouts have been raving about Rhodes' natural abilities as a press corner. They love his size/speed combination and the aggressiveness he displays in coverage. With his workout revealing a better athlete than many anticipated, he is going to come off the board relatively early on the draft's opening night.
20) Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M (18): Moore is one of the toughest evaluations in this year's draft. He was ultra-productive in the SEC, but his lack of elite athleticism and strength raise concerns about his ability to thrive as a pro.
21) Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (17): Scouts have cooled on Patterson due to his limited major-college experience -- he only spent one year at Tennessee after a stellar JUCO career -- and unrefined route-running skills. He remains the top vertical receiver in the draft, but there are questions about his ability to develop into a legitimate No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
22) Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State (19): Werner bounced back from a so-so workout at the combine to put on an impressive showing at Florida State's Pro Day and solidify his grade as a mid-to-late first-round prospect.
23) D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (24): Right tackle prospects typically are not coveted at a premium, but several teams rate Fluker as a potential star on the edges in the right system. He excels at blowing defenders off the ball, yet possesses enough athleticism to hold up against credible rushing threats on passing downs.
24) Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas (25): Versatility is the key to Vaccaro's game. He has the capacity to fill a variety of roles in the back end, which makes up for his disappointing 40 time (4.63) at the combine.
25) Matt Barkley, QB, USC (22): Barkley didn't wow scouts with his performance at USC's Pro Day, but he displayed enough arm strength and accuracy to solidify his status as the No. 2 quarterback in the draft. Scheme fit certainly will play a role in his eventual draft slot, but he has the goods to be a quality starter in the NFL.
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26)Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame (23)
27)Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame (27)
28)Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington (34)
29)Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford (30)
30)Margus Hunt, DE, SMU (40)
31)Eric Reid, S, LSU (38)
32)Matt Elam, S, Florida (26)
33)Kevin Minter, LB, LSU (29)
34)Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State (33)
35)Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State (31)
36)Robert Woods, WR, USC (35)
37)Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama (47)
38)Kawann Short, DT, Purdue (36)
39)DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson (37)
40)Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky (39)
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41)Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State (43)
42)David Amerson, CB, N.C. State (46)
43)Alex Okafor, DE, Texas (42)
44)EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State (48)
45)Le'Veon Bell, RB, Michigan State (45)
46)Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers (44)
47)Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU (32)
48)Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech (NR)
49)John Cyprien, S, Florida International (NR)
50)Justin Pugh, OG, Syracuse (NR)
Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks. And check out his comprehensive video series comparing 2013 draft prospects to today's NFL players.
