National Football League

Joel Klatt's Big Board: Top 50 players for the NFL Draft

Published Apr. 25, 2016 4:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

With the NFL Draft just days away, let's update the Big Board to see where the prospects stand.

Check out the full list of 50 below, plus a bonus 51-70 at the bottom.

The draft is Thursday-Saturday in Chicago. Let's do this.

Rank	Player	Pos.	School	Last
1	Myles Jack	OLB		3
I have made the move with Jack to the top spot on my board. Coming off of knee surgery and only being around 80 percent healthy, he still jumped 40 inches at his pro day. Jack was the most versatile player in CFB over the last three years and his dominance in every area was staggering. He was the Pac-12 Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2013 and the coaches at UCLA have said his best attribute -- his 1-on-1 coverage ability -- wasn't even used as much as it could have been. As a LB he followed Nelson Agholor around the field in 2014 when UCLA faced USC, holding Agholor to a season-low three catches in a year in which he caught 104 passes for 1,313 yards. Needless to say Jack can do it all and has the type of ability that could result in an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
2	Jalen Ramsey	CB/S		2
Highly recruited out of high school, Ramsey did not disappoint once he got to FSU. With the versatility of today's offenses it is imperative that defenders have the ability to display several skill sets at an elite level, and that is exactly what Ramsey can do. He is smooth and demonstrates great ball skills as a corner both on the outside and in the slot, while being aggressive and instinctive as a safety as well. Was a track athlete and that explosiveness carries over to the football field, however, he isn't as quick as you would hope with his first step. He was a big winner at the combine, but that was no surprise to anyone who was familiar with his athleticism at FSU.
3	Laremy Tunsil	OT		1
I have moved Tunsil down a couple of spots -- which could be see as an indictment on the big fella, but that is hardly the intent. Jack and Ramsey have just impressed me to such a degree that I could not keep them out of the top two spots. Tunsil displays ideal size and athleticism to play on the left side with very quick and powerful hands upon initial contact. He has to deal with some injury issues over the last few years, but he came back to play very well in the back half of the 2015 season. His best trait is his footwork in pass protection, and that is a rarity in today's CFB offensive linemen. Tunsil has the ability to be an All-Pro player fairly early in his career.
4	Jared Goff	QB		5
Goff plays the QB position with a rare ease and grace that is extremely uncommon. He showed the ability to build his frame from his freshman year to his junior season, but that will need to continue as he is a bit slight at this stage. He has tremendous footwork and is a terrific worker in the classroom. His WRs at Cal ran very clean and precise routes, which tells me he has great leadership ability and he also holds the standard of the offense at a high level -- what all great QBs do. There is not a better pure passer in the draft, but because of his frame and lack of elite arm strength it will be very important that he finds the right fit in the NFL. If he could land in a warm-weather city or a dome it would be advantageous. Hmm, that sounds a lot like L.A.
5	Carson Wentz	QB		4
I love everything about Carson Wentz! He has tremendous size and also is very athletic. His system at NDSU was a pro-style, which will help him immensely as he gets acclimated to the NFL. He is a sturdy mover in the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield while also moving through his progressions. Showed terrific leadership ability and presence at the Senior Bowl with players from much bigger programs around him. He anticipates throws very well in the intermediate zones and showed the ability to make all of the types of throws necessary to succeed at the next level. I have dropped him below Goff, as I believe he was protected at times by a great program and solid running game. Think of it this way -- NDSU is like the Alabama of the FCS and the same critique that a Tide QB would get for playing with a great team around him can get thrown at Wentz as well.
6	DeForest Buckner	DE		7
The 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was a dominant force on a really bad defense last season. The fact that he earned that award in a year in which his own defense was so terrible speaks to his ability. At 6-7 and around 280 pounds, he has elite size and plays with outstanding effort. I was most impressed with how he played when plays went in the opposite direction (which they almost always did) because he was a force in backside pursuit. He needs to play with better leverage when he is on the interior, but I think he is perfect to play 4-3 DE, which will allow his pass rush ability to flourish.
7	Joey Bosa	DE		6
Bosa is, without a doubt, the most polished DE in the draft as he can play well against the run and he has the ability to get to the passer with regularity. He tends to play with a better motor than most "pass rushers" as he is a technician against the run, playing with solid leverage and above-average strength. I love the way that he uses his hands and separates from blockers consistently. There is absolutely no way that Bosa falls out of the Top 10 in this year's NFL Draft. He is far too disruptive for teams to overlook his production.
8	Vernon Hargreaves III	CB		8
His lack of length and height will be a problem and has been an issue in particular in downfield situations. But he is so quick and closes so well that he would be a perfect nickel corner, which is essentially a starter in the modern NFL anyway. He has the attitude of a shutdown corner and does not lack in confidence, which helps him on the rare occasion that he does get beat. Has played well and been productive in all types of coverage and techniques, which suggests that he is just a quality football player with solid instincts.
9	Jaylon Smith	OLB		9
If it weren't for that horrific injury in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, Smith would be right up there with Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey at the top of the list. As opposed to Jack, who hurt his knee earlier in the season, there is some uncertainty about the exact timeframe for Smith's return and availability. Smith has great speed and closes as well as anyone on the ball carrier. He JUMPS off the tape and was one of the best tacklers I have seen in quite some time. When healthy, he will be perfect WLB for a 4-3 team. Highly productive player who will be an All-Pro defender very quickly in the NFL.
10	Ronnie Stanley	OT		11
With solid feet and really polished handwork (with long arms) Stanley is excellent in pass protection. In the run game he is decent but not overly dominant, however he shows stickiness once connected to the defender. He seems comfortable in space and will likely be able to play RT or LT right away in the NFL. This is important due to the need for effective right tackles in today's NFL. Just ask Carolina and New England how important it is to have one when you're trying to beat the Denver Broncos and Von Miller.
11	A'Shawn Robinson	DT		10
The potential with Robinson is off the charts. However, he is a bit of a project as he is not refined in any one area. Great size at 6-4 and 312 pounds and is solid against the run. It's nearly impossible to move him off the spot. Once he cleans up his technique and learns to play with lower pad level he could become dominant in the run game. He is also very athletic and has shown some ability to disrupt the passing game. So far, he has done that primarily with strength, but once he learns some secondary pass rushing skills he will terrorize offenses from the middle.
12	Jarran Reed	DT		14
There was a reason that Alabama was the best run defense in the entire country last season, giving up only 75 yards per game, and that reason (among others) was Reed playing alongside Robinson in the middle. He showed all season, and then again at the Senior Bowl, that it is nearly impossible to move him in the run game. He's not just a large run stuffer that would fit well in the 3-4 defense -- he also shows the ability to push the pocket from the middle against the pass. I love Reed's upside in the NFL.
13	Corey Coleman	WR		18
When I watch Coleman play, I immediately think of Steve Smith. He is not very big and yet plays with a violent disposition, in particular after the catch. He was asked to do very little at Baylor, but that shouldn't hurt his stock because everything that he was asked to do he excelled at. For a smaller WR at 5-11 he is deadly down the field, much like Smith. Also, he is extremely explosive, which translates to his speed and ability to play in the air. Has to learn the game from a system point-of-view, but he should succeed early in his career.
14	Reggie Ragland	ILB		12
A throwback style of LB in the run game is hard to find in modern CFB, but that is exactly what Ragland is. He also has solid range and top-end speed, but he is not overly quick. He has tremendous ability to diagnose and fill in the run game and possesses great strength and tackling ability upon contact with the ball carrier. He will likely struggle with NFL RBs in space while in coverage and could be more of a normal down player initially in his career.
15	Kevin Dodd	DE		16
While his teammates got most of the attention at Clemson, Dodd was absolutely dominant in the College Football Playoff. When Shaq Lawson left the semifinal game with an injury, Dodd had his best game of his career and opened up many eyes, including mine. Dodd has that rare ability to use his athleticism in a powerful way at the point of attack. Getting to the QB is the name of the game and Dodd can do that with regularity.
16	Kenny Clark	DT		20
One of the younger players available in the draft at 20 years old, Clark has the unique ability to dominate at times from the DT spot. He was a wrestler in high school and that type of leverage knowledge shows up on a regular basis in tight spaces. He has to get better as a pass rusher, but that is mostly technique-oriented, which should come with time, because remember he won't be 21 until this fall. His potential is endless and I am more bullish on him than others, in particular if he can find himself with a quality coaching staff that understands development.
17	Sheldon Rankins	DT		15
Played both DT and some DE at Louisville, but projects more on the interior in the NFL. He is very athletic and relies more on quickness than overt strength to dominate. Had a wonderful week at the Senior Bowl, which allowed for some upward momentum. Some teams might be scared off by his size, but at 6-1 he plays much larger and generally uses his height to his own advantage with leverage at the point of attack. He is a really good football player and will have a solid career.
18	Leonard Floyd	OLB		24
The thing most NFL evaluators are looking for out of an edge front-seven player is length and athleticism. Floyd possesses both of those attributes in abundance, and he also plays with decent strength against the run. His game is built upon speed and the concern would be how explosive he can be if he gains the 15-30 pounds that he needs to be a solid NFL front-seven three-down contributor. He can play right away on third down off the edge in the NFL, and that is a valuable asset.
19	Ezekiel Elliott	RB		25
It is easy to say that the RB position has been devalued in the NFL, but the reality is that when a player has first-round ability, he generally gets selected in the first round. Elliott is a complete back that will make an impact early in his career. It is always hard to project how a "zone read" runner will translate to the NFL, but Elliott performs well regardless of run scheme with his combination of vision, power, and speed. There is a lot to like about his game, including his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his excellent pass protection.
20	Laquon Treadwell	WR		13
Instincts and WR knowledge over flash and top-end speed here. Treadwell has good size and understands how to get open while displaying a unique ability to win the 50/50 ball. Suffered that horrendous injury in 2014 and came back to have a really solid year in 2015, showing he has the ability to overcome obstacles. You will likely hear about his lack of top-end speed, but this guy can play and some team is going to be thrilled to get him.
21	Vonn Bell	S		55
Bell has moved quickly up draft boards during the pre-draft process in large part because of his love for the game. It may come as a shock to some that there is a number of players on this list and in the draft process that simply don't love football. I love his discipline with his eye as he is not often fooled with misdirection or special plays from the offense. He is a solid athlete and has fluid movement in his lower body. Bell has decent ball skills and with some development should become a very good safety in the NFL.
22	Jack Conklin	OT		21
This type of offensive lineman is what we are more accustomed to seeing out of CFB. He is very strong in the run game and showed moments of dominance in this area, but he is not a polished pass protector and there are concerns for me about his quickness. He fits more as a RT than a LT at the next level, and what you see is what you're going to get. Consistent performer that won't hurt you but is likely not a special OT like Stanley or Tunsil at the top of this draft.
23	Darron Lee	OLB		28
Lee is extremely athletic and plays very quick both with his feet and mind. He reminds me of former Washington safety Shaq Thompson as he will look like a bigger safety trying to play linebacker. He is solid in pass defense and overall his athleticism is too enticing not to give him a high rank here.
24	Mackensie Alexander	CB		19
What he lacks in prototypical height he makes up for with raw coverage ability. He is very good in man coverage and was challenged very few times in college. Like most college CBs, he has to develop better technique and early in his career may need to be protected a bit while he develops that. Still, this guy will likely be one of the better corners in the NFL in 2-3 years. Will not lack in confidence either.
25	Michael Thomas	WR		37
Like Josh Doctson and Treadwell, it was unlikely that we saw a fast 40 time from Thomas, but he is a solid and sturdy pass catcher. He shows good awareness in particular in creating space for himself down the field. Not a flashy player but some QB will be happy with a big WR that will win with his frame and be reliable as a pass catcher.
26	Shaq Lawson	DE		17
More of an effort producer than he is a rare athlete, but he does possess solid size and shows the ability to read and react quickly vs. the pass and the run. I really love his mentality and toughness that are on display constantly while he plays. He is closer to his ceiling than Dodd is, so he falls behind his Tiger teammate. However, his ability will translate in the NFL.
27	Eli Apple	CB		27
From 0-20 yards Apple is an elite player with a physical mentality that is rare for an elite CB. He has shown some holes on tape, however, when defending down the field, which will likely scare some teams in the middle of the first round. I love his willingness to defend the run and he shows tremendous instincts in coverage in the short and intermediate zones. Teams will fall in love with his size at 6-1 and over 200 pounds.
28	Andrew Billings	DT		33
Art Briles, Baylor's head coach, has often said that he doesn’t recruit players, he recruits freaks. That is what Billings is with his power-lifting background. His defensive coordinator, Phil Bennett, also coached Aaron Donald in college and is not shy about making comparisons between the two. But he will say that Billings isn't as quick as Donald. I don’t think he is the player that Donald is, but he is very good, and his strength is nearly immovable in the middle.
29	Derrick Henry	RB		32
What a career and season Henry had in 2015. I love his work ethic and raw size as an imposing Eddie George-style RB. However, he doesn’t have the shake that George had and runs much more similar to former NFL RB Chris Brown. He gets better as the game goes on and will wear a defense down. For a back nearly 250 pounds, he has good speed and should be a success in the NFL, however I don’t think he will be the dominant player he was in college. Henry will have to develop in the passing game to stay on the field on third down.
30	Noah Spence	DE		29
Originally attended Ohio State before being banned from the Big Ten Conference for failing drug tests. That will obviously be a big topic concerning Spence, but he did go to treatment for his issues and transferred to Eastern Kentucky, where he was dominant last season. He is in between positions due to his size, but he can likely succeed as both a 4-3 DE or a stand-up 3-4 OLB. At the end of the day, trials and obstacles that any of us can overcome make us stronger and smarter. This is the case for Spence, who should have a very long and solid NFL career.
31	Connor Cook	QB		22
It has become very fashionable to bash Cook and find flaws in his game and his personality, but this guy can play the position. First off, I was right next to Archie Griffin and Cook at the infamous "Trophy Snub" and I can assure you that it did not feel as bad on the stage as it appeared on TV. When a QB plays as much football as Cook has played over the last three seasons, it is easy to take shots and find flaws. But he understands how to operate a pro-style system and has shown the ability to put his team on his back in big moments and win games. He has made more pro-style throws in his career than any other QB in this draft. Cook is a solid pick and it won't shock me if he is the third QB taken.
32	Paxton Lynch	QB		23
I am a fan of Lynch, but it is very easy and en-vogue to project him higher than Cook even though it is extremely tough to evaluate him due to the spread system he played in. He will have to learn and develop NFL footwork, which should be possible because of his athleticism. I love how the ball comes out of his hand, and his arm strength is more than adequate. Lynch would be well served to sit for a few years in the NFL and learn the game while developing pro-style fundamentals. He has solid potential, and would be best served going to a team with an established starter.
33	Emmanuel Ogbah	DE		30
This will likely be the classic case of a guy that doesn’t meet the eye test and can be lost at times when watching cut-ups, however he was one of the most dominant players in the Big 12 last season. Every opposing coach that I met with would talk about the need to have a game plan just for Ogbah. His production is off the charts and his technique is not very polished, which suggests that he has tremendous effort and natural ability. He is a remarkable kid and will be a welcome addition to any NFL locker room.
34	Josh Doctson	WR		36
I'm a big fan of Doctson as he plays with such an easy fluidness, particularly down the field. There was not a better player in the country in the 50/50 ball situation, and his grace and elegance in these moments can be mesmerizing. My partner, Gus Johnson, told me all year that he reminded him of legendary ballerina Misty Copeland (Google it). Like Treadwell, he will not wow us with a blazing 40 time, but get him on the field and he is a beautiful assassin.
35	Taylor Decker	OT		26
Very similar to Conklin of MSU, Decker will translate more to a RT than a LT because of his lack of polish regarding the footwork required to be a great pass protector. I love his strength and mentality in the run game, and his leadership ability will make him a solid pick for any franchise that needs help on the offensive line.
36	Robert Nkemdiche	DT		31
It will be hard to overlook some of his off-field incidents that showed up at the tail end of his career at Ole Miss. He is very talented, but at times that is not enough to make an NFL organization overlook those transgressions. He is, both as a player and person, the exact opposite of Emmanuel Ogbah, as he flashes great technique and raw athleticism, but his production lags behind. His draft slot is likely to be all over the map. Won’t surprise me if he is taken in the first 15 picks and it won't surprise me if he falls to Round 2.
37	Will Fuller	WR		38
Likely the best deep threat in the draft as it relates to speed and the ability to threaten the defense down the field. Fuller, though, showed inconsistent hands and he is very slight, which will show up against strong press-coverage at the next level. If he can clean up his pass-catching ability and put on 10 pounds, he could be very dangerous, allowing teams to take the top off of any defense.
38	Chris Jones	DT		58
Jones is an enticing project on the interior because of his raw size and power. Virtually every area of his game is rough and needs work, and yet he had some production last season. If I was a GM and knew that I had a strong DL coach who had a history of solid developmental work, then Jones would be an enticing pick.
39	Vernon Butler	DT		40
He has a massive frame at 320-plus pounds and has extremely long arms, which is perfect for DT. I didn't see much of Vernon during the season, but once I got some tape on him he showed me a strong athletic player that will be a solid interior player for a long time. When watching him it is so obvious that he uses his long arms to his advantage and that should continue at the next level.
40	Kamalei Correa	OLB		42
Correa is all about quickness and speed as an OLB. He uses his quickness and athleticism, rather than taking on blockers, so he is better in a chase position than he is when they run right at him. It is hard to rate his pass-rush ability because of the competition that he played against at Boise, but he does produce mostly via effort and athleticism.
41	Cody Whitehair	G		39
Whitehair played OT for KSU but he is a prototype G in the NFL. His biggest weakness was speed, which will be nullified if you put him inside and allow him to operate where he excels -- tight spaces. He was very consistent for Kansas State and was a team captain in 2015. This is a Day 1 starter at G and he should have a very long career. This is a very low-risk player that will not excite a fan base but will improve the team.
42	Austin Johnson	DT		34
A solid complete player in the middle of the defense for Penn State. I thought he was better vs. the run than he was as a pass rusher, but he does show the ability to disconnect upon initial contact. He is not nearly as flashy as some of the other DTs on this list, but he is reliable and will be a good fit for any style of defense at the next level.
43	Jonathan Bullard	DT		35
I love his explosiveness at the snap, and he generally wins the initial leverage battle. He is not big enough to be a 3-4 player, but he is a perfect fit for a 4-3 team looking for a productive 3-technique that can flash some productivity as it relates to TFLs. I'm a fan of his effort on tape, and I believe that he will be a very solid DT in the NFL once he develops a bit more size and polish.
44	Devontae Booker	RB		NR
This guy is likely the best kept secret in the draft. He was the workhorse for Utah the last two seasons, which is a concern as he wore down and was injured late last season. Fantastic runner between the tackles with excellent power, vision, and burst. His best attribute is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Dennis Erickson, his RB coach at Utah, said that he was the best pass catching RB that he had ever been around. JUCO guy that made an enormous impact in the Pac-12 for two seasons and is very mature. Booker is likely to turn some heads very early in his career.
45	Karl Joseph	S		49
Like Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith, Joseph is coming off of a season-ending knee injury. He should be good to go fairly soon as it was a non-contact ligament injury with very little trauma. Joseph is excellent in downhill mode from his safety position and is a natural leader. His ball skills are above average and he can cover both the slot receiver and the TE. If he proves he is healthy, he will be a potential first-round selection and likely be taken quickly in Round 2.
46	Jeremy Cash	S		46
Cash is one of the smartest players available in this year's draft. He started his career at Ohio State before finding his way to Duke for the academics. He is not overly athletic against the pass game and in coverage, but he is exceptional in anticipation and against the run. With some development he could be one of the better strong safeties in the NFL. He is not the player that John Lynch was, but they possess some of the same types of attributes. Cash wins with his mind more often than not.
47	Joshua Perry	ILB		50
Another Buckeye in the Top 50. Now you know why they were so good for the last couple of years. Perry is much better against the run in a downhill aggressive mode than he is in pass coverage. He is very smart, and shows the consistency that GMs will like. He is the type of player that will not hurt you on the field and will be an absolute glue piece to your locker room. Perry is a no-brainer in the middle of the second round.
48	Shon Coleman	OT		43
This is the feel-good story of the entire draft. Coleman was one of the best high school players in the country when his priorities were adjusted. He was thrown into a battle, not on a football field, but for his life in a hospital when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He underwent two and a half years of treatment and chemo therapy and eventually found himself back on the football field. He has excelled at Auburn. He has a great frame at 6-6 and will draw comparisons to former Auburn OT Greg Robinson. He must develop as a pass protector but is ready to go as a run blocker in the NFL.
49	William Jackson III	CB		68
What a year Houston had last season! Jackson III is a true corner and has the ability, and more importantly the size, to excel on the outside in the NFL. Like most CBs coming into this league, he has some things to clean up, but he is fast and has above-average ball skills down the field. I love that fact that he is willing to stick his nose in the run game and is actually a reliable tackler in space. In today's NFL you cannot have enough corners.
50	Su'a Cravens	OLB		41
Another hybrid player on the defensive side which is very valuable for the modern defense. Cravens has played both safety and LB at times for the Trojans, but would ideally fit in the front-seven at the next level. I list him as OLB, but I don’t believe he can play in a 3-4 system because he is not strong enough at the point to be an edge player in the NFL. However, he is instinctive and can cover in space, which is highly valuable.