Mark's 2014 NFL Draft Top Prospects

Now that the College Football season is over, it is now time for the NFL playoffs and pre-draft workouts for NFL player hopefuls.  Here is a list of my list of the top players at each position for the draft and a little scouting report of each player.  Also, I will list a few teams that could benefit greatly from drafting each position. Although this is a ranking, it is my ranking and will not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of all draft gurus as they like to call themselves.  My ranking is based primarily on how I think that they will do in the NFL, along with a small portion of my rankings are based of how well they played in College.  Without further ado here is the list:

Quarterbacks

1. Blake Bortles-  Blake has a lot of talent and really showed the world how good he is capable of being at the next level during the Fiesta bowl against Baylor.  Although Baylor does not have a great defense, Bortles found ways to make plays when his team needed him to.  He showed off a very strong arm and a very strong ability to stay inside the pocket even when the pocket was breaking down.  I see Bortles as being a guy who goes in the Top 10 of the draft for a team that desperately needs a quarterback and starts right away.  Possible teams: Texans, Browns, Raiders, or Vikings.

2.  Johnny Manziel-  There is almost no one that is going to doubt the play making ability of Johnny Football.  He is so creative with the ball in his hands that you constantly have to be aware of where he is on the field at all times.  The question that a lot of people have about him is whether his style of play will work within the confines of an NFL teams system.  If Manziel goes to a team that allows him to be himself and does not try to change the way he plays the game, he is going to have a fantastic career in the NFL.  I see a little bit of a mix of Russell Wilson and Cam Newton in Manziel.  Possible teams: Browns, Raiders, or Vikings.

3.  Derek Carr-  I strongly believe that there is not a smarter, harder working quarterback in this years class then Derek Carr.  Carr has the ability to make all the throws and when he has time to set his feet he has incredible accuracy.  Derek does struggle at times when people are in his face, but that is something that whichever team takes him in the draft will work on with him.  If he goes to a team that has the ability to protect him, the sky is the limit for Carr.  I see him as a guy that goes in the Top 10 of the draft and start for a team day 1.  Possible teams: Browns or Vikings.

4.  Tajh Boyd-  Boyd is a guy that is a little bit on the shorter side, but he has a great accurate arm and fantastic footwork.  Tajh has the ability to extend plays when they break down by either throwing or running the football.  He is also a very smart guy with the ability to make in-game adjustments to how a defense is defending him.  The one thing about Tajh Boyd that he needs to help his development is the ability to sit behind a veteran quarterback and learn an NFL playbook. Possible teams: Steelers, Cardinals, or Broncos.

5.  Aaron Murray-  I am sure there are plenty of people that are going to be surprised by the fact that I have Aaron Murray this high in the draft. This is especially true because of the fact that Aaron suffered a torn ACL in the second to last game of his GREAT CAREER.  I however see a guy that played in the SEC for three years and put up great numbers at Georgia.  Although he does not have a great arm he has the ability to make all the throws necessary to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.  Just like Boyd, the best situation for Murray is to go to a team that he will have the ability to sit and learn behind a veteran quarterback.  Possible teams: Cardinals, Steelers, 49ers, or Packers

Running Backs

1.  Kadeem Carey-  Carey is one of the most impressive running backs that I have seen in a few years.  I see Carey as an all around running back that can do everything.  If you watched the bowl game that Arizona played in his all around versatility was on full display.  He ran with speed, power, and elusiveness, he caught the ball out of the backfield, and was fantastic in pass blocking and giving his quarterback time to throw the football.  The one weakness of Carey is his maturity, he can at times let his emotions get the best of him.  However, I do not see his maturity being much of an issue going forward.  Possible teams: Ravens, Browns, or Rams

2.   Bishop Sankey-  Bishop is another really impressive when it comes to an every down back  He has fantastic explosiveness along with the ability to break tackles.  It is even more impressive because of the lack of holes that he had to run through, at times he had to make his own holes by showing a lot of patience.  I think Sankey will be a very good running back in the NFL and would be very good if he has the opportunity to be the feature back at the next level.  The one weakness that I see with him is he needs to show more effort when it comes to his pass blocking.  Possible teams: Browns, Ravens, Titans, or Chargers

3.  Tre Mason-  Going into the SEC championship game Mason was not even in the discussion about getting an invitation to New York for the Heisman.  After having a fantastic game against an SEC defense Mason was then invited to the Heisman ceremony.  With Mason I see a lot of Marshal Faulk in him.  The question mark that I have with him is how will he do at his size when it comes to pass blocking.  When it all comes down to it, he must prove to scouts that he can pass block during the combine.  If he is able to do this effectively he will be a very high pick.  Possible teams: Brown, Chargers, or Titans.

4.  Lache Seastrunk-  I am still not completely sold on Lache as I am on Mason, Sankey, and Carey.  Maybe that is because I have not see a lot of film on him as other running backs.  From what I have seen he has a great ability to cutback and he reminds me a little bit of Reggie Bush because of the fact that he likes to dance in the hole.  The weakness that I see with Seastrunk is he has to be more of a runner that makes one cut and gets upfield.  At his size he cannot afford to dance, he needs to use his strength more then his speed.  Possible teams: Brown, Titans, Cardinals, or Steelers

5.  Terrance West-  Most people have never even heard about this guy, but if you have not you need to go watch some tape on him.  He is very impressive even though he does not play at a major football program.  For all the 49er fans out there, he reminds me a lot of Frank Gore.  He has pretty good speed, but the key to his game is his ability to break tackles.  West will be a steal of a pick to any team that decided to take him.  Possible teams: Browns, Cowboys, Steelers, or 49ers.

These are my rankings so please be respectful if you have a different list.  With that being said I would love to hear what you think, so feel free to make your own list and send it to me for comparison sake.  Later this week will be the Wide Receivers and Tight Ends. Enjoy!!