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Prospect Profile: Calvin Pryor

April 30th, 2014 at 8:26pm CST by Rob DiRe

If Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton Dix is not the top safety in this draft, then Louisville’s Calvin Pryor is. While nominally these two players inhabit the same position on the field, the two free safeties have very different styles of play. While we already examined the playmaking ability in the center field that Dix could bring to the table, Pryor counters with the big-hitting, in-your-face style of play of safeties past.Calvin Pryor

Pryor’s biggest strength on the football field is violence. He struck fear in the hearts of any receiver running a crossing route in front of him. His highlight clips on YouTube are among the most fun watches of any prospect, filled with big plays that look as if they were scripted to elicit groans from all who watch. He throws his body into every play with full force and no hesitation. His dedication to those highlight hits makes him a weapon as a run defender. For an insight into his physical dominance, he had a stretch in which he knocked an opponent out of a game in three consecutive games, according to NFL.com.

While most fans will probably remember him for his ability to put ball carriers on the ground, Pryor never proved to be a weakness covering the middle of the field. It was rare to find him in man coverage, but he was able to cover deep in the middle of the field, exhibiting good range. His athleticism is not dissimilar to that of Clinton-Dix, as Pryor weighed in at 207 pounds and posted an identical time of 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. Pryor did measure in at 5’11”, a full two inches shorter than Clinton-Dix.

Pryor’s aggressiveness can be his greatest weakness on tape, as expected for a player always going for the big hit. He has the tendency to overrun plays, leaving himself susceptible to the cutback. He might take some bad angles, and a big hitter always risk the chance of missing on a tackle, especially as he meets bigger and stronger runners in the NFL.

Still, for a safety not known as a ballhawk, Pryor managed to get his hands on seven passes in his three years at Louisville, with a few highlight catches among those. He also forced nine devastating fumbles for his career, solidifying himself as one of the biggest hitters in college football regardless of position. Pryor was named Second Team All-Big East as a sophomore, and after a conference change, achieved First Team All-ACC as a junior before declaring for the NFL Draft. Like his counterpart from Alabama, Pryor was suspended for violating a team rule, forcing him to miss a game during his final collegiate season.

Early in the draft process, a common thought was that Pryor could be too physical for the NFL game. Pundits worried that he was almost a guarantee for fines and suspensions, a potential magnet for defenseless receiver calls. For the most part, that thinking corrected itself, and coincided with Pryor’s rise up draft boards. While most still have him as the second best safety in this class, he has closed the gap between himself and Clinton-Dix. Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have Pryor falling to the Cowboys (No. 16) (subscription required), while two out of the four mock drafts posted by CBS Sports have him up at No. 13, to the Rams. The Louisville hammer also has some traction among the Bears (No. 14) and Ravens (No.17).

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

April 30th, 2014 at 7:02pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earl Thomas signed a huge extension on Monday, making him the highest paid safety in the NFL. The reason Thomas got that money is due to the rarity of true to form center field type safety in today’s game. The versatility that a speedy defensive back that can play in the middle of the defense, providing coverage skills as well as strength bringing down the ball carrier makes a defensive coordinator’s job much easier. If not easier, then definitely more fun.Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

There is only one safety in the mold of Thomas projected to be picked in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, and that is Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Dix played three seasons with the Crimson Tide, and was a part of two national championship teams. His five interceptions as a sophomore led a highly regarded Alabama defense. Clinton-Dix was suspended for two games during the 2013 season, due to “unspecified team rules violations.” Despite missing two games, he was named First Team All-SEC after his junior season, and was a Consensus All-American safety.

Clinton-Dix measured out well at the NFL combine, standing tall at 6’1″ and 208 pounds. He ran a respectable 4.58 40-yard dash. It does not put him in the category of elite athletes, but it is a combination of size and speed that is desirable in a prospect. Under Nick Saban, he learned how to play the position efficiently. According to NFL.com, he is quick to read and react to plays, and makes up for his average speed by taking great angles to the football, where he becomes a nightmare due to his good ball skills and ability to turn defense into offense.

Like many Saban coached defensive backs, Clinton-Dix shined in college coming up to stop the run. Not one to shy from contact, he gets into the alley and is a strong open field tackler. While he does not have the top speed to run with the fastest receivers in the NFL, nor the bulk to be considered a true in the box safety, he does provide versatility in his ability to switch from a run stopper to a pass defender from play to play.

Safety is a tough position to gauge in regards to this draft. Clinton-Dix is not the clear cut top option, as Louisville’s Calvin Pryor has been making headway. The two are very different players as well, as Clinton-Dix has the reputation for staying in the middle of the field and making plays on the ball, whereas Pryor is known as the big hitter. Style will play a huge role in which player comes off the board first.

Clinton-Dix starts to gain a lot of traction among mock drafts starting with the Lions (No. 10). If the Lions pass on him, he begins to make a lot of sense for the Rams (No. 13) and the Bears (No. 14). ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. agrees that the Rams could jump on him, and Todd McShay has him landing in St. Louis as well (subscription required). The Vikings (No. 8) seem like the highest he could possibly go, and if the Steelers (No. 15) do pass, the Cowboys (No. 16), Ravens (No. 17), and Jets (No. 18) all have significant need at safety.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile Series

April 30th, 2014 at 8:38am CST by Luke Adams

Leading up to the 2014 draft, Pro Football Rumors is taking a closer look at some of the top prospects in this year’s draft class in Prospect Profile pieces. We’re evaluating a number of players’ stocks, breaking down their pros and cons, and forecasting where they may land in next week’s draft.

We’ve got another handful of Prospect Profile posts on the way, but for now, you can catch up on the ones we’ve published so far. This list will continue to be updated up until draft night, and can be found at any time on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”

Prospect Profile: Khalil Mack

April 27th, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The University at Buffalo has produced NFL players before, but (with all due respect to James Starks and Trevor Scott) Khalil Mack is set to enter the league as the most acclaimed Bull in school history, with his talent and seemingly endless potential likely making him a top-five selection in next month’s draft.NCAA Football: Buffalo at Baylor

Graded as just a two-star recruit coming out of high school, Mack has always played with something of a chip on his shoulder. In the 2009 version of EA Sports’ NCAA Football, he was given an overall rating of only 46 (out of possible 99), making him one of the worst players in the game. Mack used this slight as motivation, choosing 46 as his jersey number throughout his dominating college years.

And dominate he did. In 2013, Mack’s second straight season as a Butkus Award finalist, he registered 100 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three interceptions, and five forced fumbles. The edge rusher was named the Mid-American Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, and a second-team All-American. He set a NCAA record with 16 career forced fumbles, and finished tied for first in career tackles for loss (75).

Explosiveness is the key to Mack’s game — his vertical jump is an astounding 40 inches, and his first-step quickness from the outside linebacker position is unparallelled in this draft. He rarely gets pancaked by opposing offensive lineman, and any OL trying to block Mack one-on-one, especially at the second level, will face severe difficulty. The 23-year-old is a master of many pass-rushing maneuvers, but the outside move is his specialty, as his almost flawless technique allows him to leave offensive tackles off-balance. Additionally, Mack has the speed, exhibited by a 4.65 40-yard-dash, to drop in pass coverage and, with a bit more experience, could be a nice weapon against physical tight ends running seam routes between the hash marks.

The primary concern for Mack, like most prospects from small schools, is the level of competition he faced. The MAC is certainly not the SEC, and it is not even comparable to the Pac-12 or the Big 12. However, Mack, in something of a coming-out party, did perform extraordinary well against Big 10 powerhouse Ohio State, showing that he can hang with elevated competition. Analysts have also noted that Mack has the tendency to play with reckless abandon at times instead of relying on his sound technique, indicating that harnessing his skill will be a critical test at the next level.

Mack, at 6’3″ and 251 pounds, could fit a multitude of defensive schemes — he probably makes the most sense as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but could also play OLB in a 4-3, or even, in a pinch, as a 4-3 defensive end. He is a dark horse candidate to go No. 1 overall to the Texans, as some believe that he is a better fit than Jadeveon Clowney for Houston’s 3-4 defense. The Jaguars, owners of the third pick, are looking for a pass rusher to stabilize their front seven, and teams like the Raiders, Falcons, Vikings, and Bills could all be interested in the dynamic edge player. Along with Clowney, Sammy Watkins, and Greg Robinson, Mack is considered one of the elite players in next month’s draft, and it would be surprising to see him fall out of the top five selections.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Jadeveon Clowney

April 26th, 2014 at 7:22pm CST by Rob DiRe

Coming out of high school, Jadeveon Clowney was the number one recruit in his senior class. He was the best defensive player in college football at his best. Now he is the best bet to be the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

NCAA Football: Mississippi State at South Carolina

A player of Clowney’s status could not come easy. It started early, when he famously decided to hold out on his college acceptance decision until after National Signing Day, electing to instead announce his decision live on ESPN, on Valentine’s Day, which doubled as his 18th birthday. He chose South Carolina and his hometown Gamecocks over the more highly touted programs among the SEC and ACC.aft. He was the number one recruit coming out of high school in 2011, and has basically been anointed as a certainty ever since, although his recruitment had earned him the label of a “diva” in the eyes of the media, which would be the first knock on him as a future NFL star.

Then the domination began. Clowney more than lived up to the hype during his first two seasons in Columbia, South Carolina. He posted 8.0 sacks and five forced fumbles as a freshman for a South Carolina team that went 11-2. That season he had the luxury of following the lead of another pass rushing standout in Melvin Ingram, who wound up as a first-round pick to the Chargers in the following draft. As a sophomore, Clowney was able to take all the spotlight. His 13.0 sacks left him as the most feared pass rusher in the nation, and solidified him as a very high draft pick, with most scouts noting the he would have been the first overall pick had he been eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft.

Controversy came again that offseason, as many NFL experts and media personalities noted that Clowney had nothing to gain by returning to school. He would risk a career debilitating injury, but could not raise his draft stock at all. Sports radio and NFL shows discussed whether it would be more beneficial to him if he were to skip school and workout full time, as he would have been basically ensured a spot in the top five if he was not still drafted first overall a year later.

Clowney did return to school, but battled through injuries and inconsistent effort until once again, his merits as a prospect were questioned. He missed two games entirely, and ended up with statistics that fell short of previous numbers. Still in play for the first pick, his case was not as rock solid as it had been a year earlier, especially as the Texans, Jaguars, Browns, and Raiders possessed huge needs elsewhere on offense, particularly at quarterback and receiver. The Rams, set at quarterback, already own a dynamic pass rushing duo of Robert Quinn and Chris Long. Clowney would truly have to impress to stay in the top five.

Of course, that is exactly what Clowney did at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He measured in at a large 6’6″, weighing a lean 266 pounds with 34.5 inch arms and ten inch hands. Then he took that giant frame for a run, posting a blazing 4.53 40-yard dash, with extremely impressive numbers across the board in the other drills as well.

Even still, not everyone is sold on Clowney. Greg Cosell called him a “raw” athlete, and stated that he believes pass rusher Khalil Mack should be rated as the top player in the draft at that position.

Hall of Fame defensive lineman and Fox Sports analyst Warren Sapp was also critical of Clowney, saying, “I look at Jadeveon Clowney’s (game) tape and I don’t see a guy that is playing with his hair on fire, making plays, running up and down the field sideline to sideline, doing all of the things.”

ESPN analyst Merril Hoge, who played running back for the Steelers, was even harsher of Clowney as a football player. “You look at him as a fundamental football player when you talk about feet, hip and hands, like we watch Khlail Mack, he’s actually atrocious,” he said. “Clowney as a football player is not very good. Amazing athlete. Don’t get confused by being an athlete and being a good football player. Not a very good football player.”

Even his peers took shots at him, notably when Auburn defensive end Dee Ford declared himself the better option for teams looking for a pass rusher. “I’m better. Let’s put it like this. People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes,” said Ford. “You can look at guys like Robert Mathis, Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller. These are 6-2 guys and under. People are just looking at the fact that he is a physical specimen. Honestly if you watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market basically.”

Despite those who are no longer sold on Clowney’s ability, he still has a good chance of going first in this draft, and is seemingly a lock for the top three in one of the most wide open drafts in a while. CBS Sports has all four major mock drafts currently with Clowney as the first player off the board (three to the Texans, one projecting the Falcons trading up). NFL.com posts eight mock drafts, of which six have Clowney going first, with Bortles taking the top spot in the other two. From ESPN, both Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have Clowney atop their most recent mocks. We won’t know until that first name is called on May 8th, but star or bust, or somewhere in between, some people are going to be very wrong on this divisive yet incredible NFL prospect.

Prospect Profile: Teddy Bridgewater

April 26th, 2014 at 3:09pm CST by Rob DiRe

The quarterback position is the number one priority for a handful of teams drafting in the top ten. The Texans, Jaguars, Browns, Raiders, Buccaneers, and Vikings could all use huge upgrades at the position, and all will most likely have the opportunity to select one of the top three or four quarterback prospects.

Even though there is such a tremendous need at the top of the draft, that does not guarantee that those quarterbacks will be coming off the board early. Part of that is the lack of consensus among the top quarterbacks. Zach Links already looked at the current favorite to be the top quarterback taken in UCF’s Blake Bortles, but the original star of this quarterback class was Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater. (For what it’s worth, Johnny Manziel also spent some time on the top of those big boards.)

Bridgewater stands tall enough between 6’2″ and 6’3″ depending on who you ask, but his slight frame leaves much to be desired. He certainly lacks the massive size of Bortles, but makes up for it with his own strengths. Bridgewater was a three year starter at Louisville before leaving after his junior season. Had he been allowed to leave after his sophomore season, he would have likely been the first quarterback off the board, ahead of both E.J. Manuel and Geno Smith. Thought of as “NFL ready” due to his quick release, poise in the pocket, and ability to quickly scan and read defenses, there were moments in time when it was a foregone conclusion that Bridgewater and Jadeveon Clowney would be drafted first and second overall, in some order.

Of course, throughout the draft process Bridgewater’s stock has dropped off. Bortles of course has passed him due to his prototypical size, and Manziel shot out of a rocket and has become such a love him or hate him prospect, it seems every team has either put him at the top of their wish list or taken him off their board altogether. Bridgewater struggled with accuracy and mechanics at his pro day, establishing red flags that made scouts and pundits question why they thought he was so “NFL ready” to begin with.

His play on the field is still impressive. He completed almost 69% of his passes as a sophomore, and improved that number to 71% as a junior. In those last two years, he posted 28 and 31 touchdowns against 7 and 4 interceptions, respectively. Bridgewater was often calm under pressure, and handled blitzes and pass rushers effectively and efficiently.

Draft expert Mike Mayock of NFL.com has downgraded Bridgewater out of his first-round projection.

“I’ve never seen a top-level quarterback in the last 10 years have a bad pro day, until Teddy Bridgewater. He had no accuracy, the ball came out funny, the arm strength wasn’t there, and it made me question everything I saw on tape because this was live. I went back and watched a bunch more tape and compared him to the rest of the guys in the draft,” said Mayock. “And like it or not, I’ve come to a conclusion — if I was a GM in the NFL, I would not take him in the first round of the draft.”

Not everyone has given up on Bridgewater completely. While he has clearly fallen behind Bortles as an option for the Texans (No. 1), Jaguars (No. 3), and Browns (No. 4), mock drafts still put him as high as the Buccaneers (No. 7) and Vikings (No. 8). Even for those who see him falling fast, there has been a narrative that see the Browns selecting one of the elite defensive players or a receiver such as Sammy Watkins with their first pick, and catching Bridgewater or possibly Derek Carr with the pick they received in the Trent Richardson deal with the Colts (No. 26).

Prospect Profile: Blake Bortles

April 24th, 2014 at 6:12pm CST by Zachary Links

For much of 2013, Jadeveon Clowney was widely regarded as the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft. While that absolutely could still be the case, Central Florida’s Blake Bortles might wind up being the first player to shake Commissioner Goodell’s hand on May 8th.Blake Bortles

The first thing that strikes most people about the UCF product is his size. At 6’5″ and 232 pounds, Bortles has the height to see over the outstretched arms of defensive linemen and the frame to absorb repeated blows a la Ben Roethlisberger. That’s not to say he’s resigned to taking a sack when the pocket collapses. Bortles has pretty solid mobility – no small feat for a QB his size – and can escape pressure when he needs to. He can keep a play alive longer than most and that will be a major asset for him as he makes the leap to the next level.

Not unlike Kyle Boller heading into the 2003 draft, Bortles has scouts raving over his fastball. With major zip on his throws, Bortles is able to take advantage of tiny openings and get his ball to the receiver from short and medium distance. Bortles throws an extremely catchable ball to his receivers with solid accuracy and has the intuition to lead his receivers to open space. He’s not the best at bombing the ball downfield (more on that in a bit), but his receivers tend to gain serious yards after the catch because of the opportunities he gives them.

The one thing that NFL scouts tend to drool over in a quarterback – other than size – is poise. Bortles both on and off the field, has shown that he’s an even-keeled and calm personality that doesn’t fold under pressure. This season, Bortles helped spearhead comeback victories against Penn State and Louisville on the road en route to leading UCF to a BCS bowl game. Off the field, Bortles has wowed coaches with his positive attitude in interviews and overall work ethic. Because he’s a notorious film room geek, front offices believe that the signal caller will work hard to identify his weaknesses and either neutralize them or turn them into positives.

So, what are his weaknesses? For starters, Bortles doesn’t have the kind of cannon arm that you might expect from a quarterback projected to go in the top five. His deep ball tends to float and that precision accuracy that he offers from close/medium distance has a significant dropoff. On passes thrown 16 yards or deeper, Bortles completed 49.3%, putting him in the middle of the pack for the top QBs in this class.

While Teddy Bridgewater is regarded by many as being an “NFL ready” prospect, you won’t find many scouts saying the same of Bortles. He has a high ceiling, but no one should expect to get perfection out of him in 2014 if he’s thrown into the fire. Bortles is also coming out of a UCF offense that didn’t ask him to survey the field for multiple targets as a lot of their players were pre-designed to go to one specified receiver. The other advantage the towering QB had in college was the weather on his home turf. While he ultimately came out on top against SMU in a December showdown, he was clearly affected by the 24 degree weather and many of his throws looked wobbly.

Ultimately, even though Bortles will have a learning curve ahead of him, he stands as a very solid option and one that is regarded by most as the best quarterback prospect of them all. While Clowney would be a welcome addition to anyone’s defense, the Texans know that the offense and the QB position are a higher priority. Also, this is just speculative, but Houston may be weary of a tremendously gifted defensive end prospect who has some question marks regarding motivation after their experience with Mario Williams.

If the Texans do take a pass, it’s hard to see him sliding far. The Rams at No. 2 appear very willing to trade down and there are several clubs looking to come away with a QB. Of course, the Jaguars at No. 3 and the Browns at No. 4 are among those in the market for a signal caller and he’ll get heavy consideration there. Some may prefer the makeup of Bridgewater or the excitement of Johnny Manziel, but I’d be genuinely surprised to see either player taken ahead of Bortles.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Prospect Profile: Mike Evans

April 23rd, 2014 at 8:46pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earlier today, Zach Links looked at the consensus top receiver in the upcoming draft, but Sammy Watkins might not be the only playmaking pass catcher selected in the top ten. Texas A&M standout Mike Evans might not have the pedigree of Watkins, but after two seasons with the Aggies he has jumped to the top of draft boards across the league.

Evans has a strength that makes him extremely valuable in the current NFL. Standing tall at 6’5″, even if he cannot separate with cornerbacks running down the field, Evans has the ability to separate with anyone vertically. Time and time again during his two seasons at College Station, Johnny Manziel was able to throw the ball up and watch Evans go up and over smaller defenders to come down with the football.

Where Watkins is considered the more polished receiver with the highest upside, he surrenders four inches or more when compared to Evans. While Zach writes that Watkins could have a similar impact to A.J. Green or Julio Jones did during their first two seasons, both those players are 6’3″ or taller. Other notable receivers that are 6’3″ or taller include Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Hakeem Nicks, Dez Bryant, Josh Gordon, Jordy Nelson, Vincent Jackson, and Jimmy Graham to name a few.

If that list of names does not include all of the best receivers in the modern NFL, it includes nearly all of them. The gives Evans a huge upside that could rival even Watkins. While taller receivers sometimes do not possess the top end speed required, Evans eased the minds of scouts when he ran a surprisingly fast 40-yard dash, posting a time of 4.53 seconds.

More importantly than his combine performance, Evans produced on the field. As a redshirt freshman, Evans caught 82 passes for over 1,100 yards and added five touchdowns. He only got better as a sophomore, catching 69 passes for 1,394 yards, for an incredible 20.2 yards per catch. His 12 touchdowns were tied for most in the SEC, as he torched some of the best defenses in the country. The Aggies lost to Alabama, but Evans caught 7 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown in that game. Texas A&M went on to beat the eventual SEC champion Auburn Tigers, behind Evans’ 287 yards on 11 catches, with four of those catches ending in the endzone.

Evans still will most likely have to wait for Watkins to come off the board ahead of him, but both players are looking at being selected in the top ten. The Buccaneers (No. 7) are rumored to be interested in Evans, and the Lions (No. 10) have been interested as well. The Bills (No. 9) could be a possibility, and it would be a surprise if he is passed on by both the Giants (No. 12) and the Rams (No. 13), assuming the Rams do not take Watkins with their earlier pick.

Prospect Profile: Sammy Watkins

April 23rd, 2014 at 8:26am CST by Zachary Links

In a draft chock full of talented wide receivers, no one has the kind of upside that Sammy Watkins offers. The Clemson star is a mortal lock for the top ten and highly likely to go inside of the top five thanks to his top-level speed and playmaking ability.Sammy Watkins

Watkins has the ability to burn cornerbacks deep, but that’s far from his only tool to make an impact on the field. The wide receiver has routinely shown the ability to take a short pass and turn it into a major gain with his agility and quickness. Beyond the physical skills, Watkins has the innate knowhow to get away from cornerbacks that you rarely see from someone his age. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the long-term, but his makeup implies that he could have an instant impact in the NFL ala A.J. Green or Julio Jones.

A team that embraces a west coast offense could really help Watkins flourish. Some have said that Watkins is a product of the offensive system at Clemson – a valid concern – but the liberal use of short passes and bubble screens could help make him feel like he’s still wearing neon orange on a Saturday. Taking that a step further, Watkins might be a good match for a rookie or sophomore quarterback. Veteran receivers can help with the maturation process, but having a safety blanket like Watkins who can take a five-yard pass deep down the field can bring additional comfort.

That’s not to say that there aren’t concerns about Watkins’ transition to the next level. For starters, at 6-foot and change (or 6’1″, depending on who you ask), the speedster could have some trouble against larger cornerbacks out of the Seahawks mold. You also won’t mistake Watkins for David Boston – he’s got a good sized frame and is defined at 211 pounds, but he doesn’t have the kind of major body mass that can offset his stature. Most of this league’s elite wide receivers stand at 6’3″ or taller, and that’s no coincidence. Watkins will have to adjust his game to find the football amongst the trees if he wants to get into the same stratosphere as Green, Jones, Brandon Marshall, Larry Fitzgerald, and all the rest.

Beyond that, Watkins has yet to show the ability to run a wide range of routes in game action. That doesn’t mean that he couldn’t run a multitude of crisp routes, but that is something of an unknown about Watkins since the Tigers aren’t known for mixing things up too much with their receivers. Can you blame Clemson? When dumpoff passes and bubble screens fluster opponents on a weekly basis, there’s no reason to fix what isn’t broken.

So where will Watkins wind up? Looking at the top of the draft, the Jaguars (No. 3) would be a logical landing spot since Justin Blackmon is on thin ice, but Jacksonville’s needs go far beyond receiver. At No. 4, the Browns have been frequently talked about as a team that would make sense for Watkins and we’re inclined to agree. Cleveland needs a signal caller too, but they could have a few attractive options in play at No. 26, including Fresno State’s Derek Carr. if the Browns go quarterback at No. 4, the Raiders (another team with multiple needs) will have to give some serious thought to drafting Watkins. If the late Al Davis was still with us, there’s no way he’d turn down Watkins and his 4.43 second 40-yard-dash time. The Buccaneers (No. 7) and the Lions (No. 10) are also high on Watkins, but they’ll probably have to move up if they want to grab him. Any way you slice it, it’s hard to see the Clemson star falling out of the top ten.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.