Players jockey for position on the boards
Posted: Tue April 14, 1998 at 1:19 PM ET
From The War Room
Hot Players
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Some impressive workouts in Gainesville have established Fred Taylor as the second-best running back available in the draft
(AP)
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Here is a look at who is on the move on NFL Draft boards around the league.
John Avery, RB, Mississippi -- Has had great individual spring workouts followed by an outstanding combine. He's a strong candidate for a nickel RB and return specialist. He's possibly moved himself into Round 2.
Fred Taylor, RB, Florida -- Really seems to grow on NFL teams. Ran an outstanding 40 time in the 4.40 range in his individual workout in Gainesville and is now established as the second running back in this draft behind Curtis Enis.
Corey Chavous, CB, Vanderbilt -- Followed Indy workout with solid individual workouts. Big corner that many teams like because of versatility. Could slip into top half of first round.
Steve McKinney, G, Texas A&M -- Combined an excellent Senior Bowl and outstanding Indy workout and is now considered one of the best athletic offensive linemen in this draft. He's moved up to a possible second-round pick because of athletic ability
and upside.
Ahman Green, RB, Nebraska -- Has had excellent individual workouts in Lincoln, running great times on Nebraska's fast track. He's a great combination of size and speed, but still has some doubters. At least a solid second round pick.
Brad Jackson, OLB, Cincinnati -- Was not invited to Combine, but has tested extremely well in individual workouts. Good athletic ability and overall measurables and could become interesting sleeper in middle portion of draft.
Tebucky Jones, S, Syracuse -- Continues to amaze NFL brass with his athletic ability and naturalness for the secondary with limited experience. He has a huge upside because of size and speed. He could climb into the top of the second round, maybe e
ven before teammate Donovan Darius.
Leonard Little, DE/OLB, Tennessee -- Posted great times in his individual workouts on campus. Ran in the 4.45 range with a 39-inch broad jump, which shows his explosiveness and athletic ability. Probably not that fast, but has solidified his spot i
n the first round as a pass rusher.
Takeo Spikes has solidified himself as a Top 15 pick with a great combination of speed and strength in his workouts
(AP)
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Clarence Love, CB, Toledo -- Somewhat unknown player is moving up charts according to DB coaches. Has run great 40 times lately (in the 4.40 range) and could end up as a pick somewhere in the middle rounds.
Takeo Spikes, MLB, Auburn -- Workout warrior in individual workouts on campus. Running under 4.50 while posting a 40-inch broad jump and excelling in the strength area. Great numbers to go along with production solidifies him as a Top 15 pick.
Hines Ward, WR, Georgia -- Continues to slide up draft boards, following up a solid Indy workout with even better individual workouts on campus. According to coaches, is catching ball well and improving his overall reputation as a great athlete. Sh
ould be gone by end of first day.
Todd Weiner, OT, Kansas St -- Continues to impress NFL teams with athletic ability and movement. Has solid strength numbers and has gone from "late-round afterthought" to potential first-day selection.
Kailee Wong, DE, Stanford -- Followed up his strong Indy workout with strong individual performances on campus and he seems to be sliding up NFL charts as a potential edge rusher. He has probably gone from a third- or fourth-round pick to a solid s
econd-round selection. Could project as pure DE or pass rushing OLB.
Jonathan Quinn, QB, Middle Tennessee -- May be the hottest QB in draft. Really impressing teams with his overall athletic ability and measurables. May be the most athletic QB in draft. He's also looking strong in terms of throwing skills and arm st
rength in individual workouts. Could be a fourth- or fifth-round type.
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Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost could go on the first day of the draft and get moved to safety in the NFL
(Todd Warshaw/Allsport)
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Mikheal Ricks, WR, SF Austin -- Improved his 40 time at the Combine from 4.57 to slightly below 4.50 in recent individual workouts. NFL experts love his size and versatility. Should be solidified as a first-day developmental-type pick. He is one of
the most-intriguing players in the draft.
Scott Frost, QB/S, Nebraska -- Posted great Combine numbers and showed his athletic ability. He's dazzling NFL coaches and scouts in individual workouts with his S potential. Could easily be drafted in rounds 4 or 5 as an athlete. It wouldn't be sh
ocking to see him go late in the first day of the draft.
Mitch Marrow, DE, Penn -- He seems to be the "workout warrior" in this draft, impressing teams with his skills in shorts. But he does not perform as well in pads. Seems to be a hot guy on draft boards by teams that pay a lot of attention to workou
ts. Not sold on him in this corner, but wouldn't be shocked if he sneaked into the second round because of his numbers.
Chris Conrad, OT, Fresno -- Was not even a draft consideration entering his senior year, but athletic ability and techniques have brought him potential as a mid-second round player. Value has gone up because of ability to play LOT.
Pat Johnson, WR, Oregon -- Has gone from track guy playing football to "hot" NFL candidate. Great athletic ability and speed and strong upside could easily sneak him into a spot in Round 3. He should be gone the first day of the draft.
Cold Players
A lack of speed in his workouts has dropped E.G. Green to possibly the third or fourth round
(AP)
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R.W. McQuarters, CB, Oklahoma State -- He has been constantly described as a poor man's Charles Woodson, but he may be struggling to even keep that identity. He has not been able to run quality 40 times. Although his overall athletic numbers are im
pressive, a CB in the first round that lacks blazing speed is of some concern. He could wind up later in the first round or even the second round.
Scott Harley, RB, East Carolina -- Somebody gave this guy bad advice about entering the draft a year early. His numbers at the Combine were not very good (especially 40) and they have not dramatically improved in his individual workouts. He is prob
ably no better than a late pick or a free agent.
Kivuusama Mays, MLB, North Carolina -- Good college player who has had trouble posting acceptable 40 times both at Indy and individual workouts. He continues to run in the 4.90 range and has some teams concerned about his overall range. He may slip
from round 2 to 3 or 4, but is still a good football player.
Alonzo Mayes, TE, Oklahoma State -- Has done a nice job in workouts as a receiving TE and posted good numbers showing his athletic ability, but problems here are off the field. As a result, he is dropping fast. He may have gone from a solid first-r
ound pick to maybe Round 2 or 3.
E.G. Green, WR, Florida State -- Excellent college player that can't seem to improve his 40 times. He's really struggling in the speed area and can't seem to do any better than 4.50 in the 40. He may have gone from a second-round pick to Rounds 3 o
r 4.
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, RB, Utah -- May really be squandering an excellent NFL opportunity. He ran a disappointing 4.81 40 at the Combine and has improved somewhat in individual workouts, but is still not in great shape, which concerns NFL teams. H
e's really a "roll of the dice" pick. His problems are scary enough to drop to 4th, 5th or 6th round, but he has the ability to go the first day.
Mike McQueary, QB, Penn State -- Has fallen off many draft boards. A bad Senior Bowl, bad Indy workouts, hasn't recovered in individual workouts. He's gone from interesting, draftable guy to late pick or free agent.
Raymond Priester, RB, Clemson -- Cannot seem to get his 40 times in the acceptable area, although he is still running with some leg problems. The best he has run is in the 4.70 range, and has really cooled off on many draft boards. He's probably a
second-day pick that could go in the 5th or 6th rounds.
Tra Thomas, OT, Florida State -- Late-breaking rumors in terms of character and off the field activities. May shake up some teams in the last week leading to the draft, unless they can wipe those concerns off their boards. If he does drop, he will
not drop far and should still be in the Top 15.
Small College Players
Mikhael Ricks, WR, SF Austin -- Big, athletic guy that can play WR H-back. Very impressive in terms of athletic ability and speed. A solid first- round pick.
Wilmont Perry, RB, Livingstone -- Big and physical RB that can also play FB. Needs work in pro-style offense, but he has a huge upside.
Paul Kaiser, QB, Central Missouri --Sleeper on a lot of NFL draft boards. Good size and athletic ability. He's posted good numbers without much help. Interesting late-round developmental player.
Jonathan Quinn, QB, Middle Tennessee -- May be the hottest QB in the draft. Great Indy workout, has size and athletic ability and good overall skills. Excellent developmental qualities. He could sneak into mid portion of draft.
Lloyd Lee, S, Dartmouth -- Outstanding Ivy League prospect. He has size, speed and athletic ability. Very productive. He has enough going to be a second-day pick.
Matt Birk, OT, Harvard -- Best Ivy League prospect in years. Good size and decent athletic ability, a very efficient player. He has the maturity to make the jump to the NFL.
Cordell Taylor, CB, Hampton -- Emerged as a solid prospect after decent Blue-Gray & Senior Bowl performances. Good size and athletic ability. Might be able to play safety. He's a physical player with a nice upside.
Mitch Marrow, DE, Penn -- Workout warrior that tests better than he plays. NFL teams will love his athletic ability and draft him as a developmental type. He could go as high as the second round.
Jeremiah Trotter, MLB, SF Austin -- Had solid Indy workout and is interesting enough to NFL teams to possibly move him into the first day of the draft. He dominates on lower level of competition and he's an outstanding run defender.
George Cousins, DE, Florida A&M -- One of the true sleepers in this draft. Excellent Indy workout and shows a lot of explosiveness and athletic ability. He could develop into an outstanding pass rusher on NFL level.
Steve Foley, DE, NE Louisiana -- Established himself as a solid draft pick early with an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl, followed by excellent workouts. Great athletic ability and his pass rush abilities make him a solid first-day pick.
Bob Hallen, CC, Kent State -- Followed solid senior season with excellent results at Senior Bowl and Indy and may be the third center on the board. A good, hard-nosed football player.
Zach Walz, OLB, Dartmouth -- He is not a real big or physical guy, but has good athletic ability and has the ability to add to his frame. A very productive Ivy League player and has enough ability to stick with an NFL team as a special teams guy.
Dan Williams, OC, Wofford -- Big, physical guy that dominates on the college level. Also an excellent long snapper -- that may be his ticket to the NFL. A good upside, but there's a tremendous jump in talent level from Wofford to the NFL.
Jerry Ross, TE, Pittsburgh State -- Outstanding athlete that was stuck in a running offense. Excellent skills, but not a lot of production. Can only get better.
Sleepers
Wilmont Perry, RB, Livingstone -- Nobody knew his name entering the '97 season. A combination of size and athletic ability make him an interesting developmental type.
George Cousins, DE, Florida A&M -- Outstanding upside as an outside pass rusher. He is not polished, but has great athletic ability and measurables. He'll excite many NFL DL coaches.
Jonathan Quinn, QB, Middle Tennessee -- May have had the best athletic workout at Indy and combines excellent skills with a strong arm. A lot of qualities to develop and could even be the third QB off the board.
Patrick Surtain, CB, Southern Mississippi -- Well thought of by many DB coaches, although his numbers aren't spectacular. A very efficient cover guy that is a fairly hot commodity.
Jason Simmons, DC, Arizona State -- Small cover corner that excels in quickness and has no wasted motion. Outstanding in individual workout and plays faster than his 40 time. He could sneak up on draft boards.
Clarence Love, CB, Toledo -- Not on very many draft boards early in the process, but has had solid senior year and has run great 40 times. A solid middle-round pick.
Ryan Sutter, S, Colorado -- Has not received the publicity as his S partner for the Buffaloes (Ryan Black), but has played a lot better and will be drafted higher. A great Indy workout to go along with size and production.
Scott Frost, S, Nebraska -- He is a sleeper only in the sense that he will play another position in the NFL. He is moving up the charts with a "bullet" as a S. A combination of solid Hula Bowl and great Indy combine makes him one of the most intrig
uing players of this draft.
Pat Tillman, S, Arizona State -- One of the most intelligent and productive players on the college level. Not big enough to play OLB in the NFL, but could move to S or in a nickel LB role. He should be a special teams warrior and could easily forge
a career like that of Bill Bates. NFL teams throw out the charts on this guy ... he is a football player.
Lorenzo Bromell, DE, Clemson -- Has gone from an unknown player to a solid NFL pick as a developmental-type pass rusher. Could become an excellent edge guy and combines athletic ability with a good frame. He'll easily sneak into the first day of th
e draft.
Paul Kaiser, QB, Central Missouri -- Dominates on the small-college level without a great supporting cast and seems to have caught the eye of several NFL teams. He's not overly exciting, but could be a nice second-day pick.
Vince Amey, DT, Arizona State -- On very few draft lists, but may be on more draft boards. He's a fairly productive college player that has impressed a lot of NFL coaches and scouts in off-season workouts. He's a real "sleeper" that will come out o
f nowhere to be a late-round pick or, at the very least, a sought-after free agent.
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