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Data-driven decision-making is science and art.
The QBs. Not a complete list but players we should all know.
PFF's top 4 QBs right now are 1) Mac Jones, 2) Zac Wilson, 3) Spencer Rattler, 4) Trevor Lawrence and 5) Justin Fields
I've seen mocks that have the Pats picking everyone of them (usually at pick #9) except Lawrence who is universally picked by the JETE.
QB rankings are everywhere and as usual thoughts differ. Here's one:
The DTs.
The LBs.
The WRs. Another impressive class that rivals the 2020 class. It's deep, it's talented and has 3 eye-popping players better than the top drafted WR in the 2020 draft.
CBs if Gilmore is gone.
This season, Stingley has lowered his coverage grade from 91.7 to 66.8 in four games played. But in two of those four outings, he locked up his opponent by not allowing a single yard and breaking up a pass in each. Despite him not playing like his 2019 self in this small sample, I’m taking Stingley over any other cornerback in college football 10 times out of 10 — it’s only a matter of time before we see him return to that elite form.
In his college career, Surtain has given up just 0.62 yards per coverage snap against SEC wide receivers when lined up at outside corner. For perspective, the FBS average this season for outside corners is 1.1 yards. Surtain has made as many plays on the ball as first downs allowed (seven), including a pick-six last week against Mississippi State. Stingley may be the best, but Surtain is firmly the second-best corner in the country.
Cincinnat Bearcats cornerback Ahmad Gardner (12) makes an interception against Southern Methodist Mustangs during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports
Through five games in 2020, Gardner has allowed just a 36% catch rate, intercepted three passes and forced six total incompletions. That equates to an 11.3 passer rating when targeted, the lowest in the country and well below what the quarterback’s passer rating would be by just throwing the ball away every play. Cincinnati is a legitimate candidate for that fourth and final College Football Playoff spot, and Gardner is a major reason why.
He reacts swiftly in coverage, and that helped him rack up 26 passing stops in the slot in 2019, nine more than anyone else in the FBS. Molden still gave up a concerning amount of first downs (21), but his nose for the football outweighs the bad.
Among cornerbacks with at least 20 targets in 2020, Jean-Charles has allowed the second-lowest catch rate, at 32%. His timing at the catch point is precise, and his 10 forced incompletions on contested targets — the most in the FBS by three — back that up.
This year, Jolly does have one bad game on his resume against Arkansas State. The 5-foot-9 Jolly faced off against the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Jonathan Adams Jr. That said, though, it was truly the only bad game of his college career thus far. He allowed fewer than 30 yards in coverage in each of his other four games in 2020 and is the highest-graded cornerback in coverage over the past two years.
On top of that, McCreary broke up a pass and forced a fumble that game with just two total yards allowed in coverage. He tied for eighth in the SEC in PFF grade a season ago and has improved that rank to second in 2020.
He ranks ninth among current FBS cornerbacks in coverage grade since the start of 2019 and fifth in total forced incompletions, with 21. Samuel’s size isn’t necessarily ideal, but he makes up for it with his quicks.
The first-year starter has allowed a minimal six catches in five games while intercepting three balls and breaking up another. Ricks has forced tight coverage on six of his 16 targets, and that’s where all three of his picks came. He’s looking like the next elite, playmaking cornerback to come out of DBU.
Elam may have played only a little more than 300 snaps in 2019 as a true freshman, but he was the most valuable player on the Gators’ roster. He earned an 89.8 coverage grade while making three interceptions, breaking up three passes and allowing just five first downs.
This year, Elam has given up a handful of huge plays when playing zone coverage, but when in man-to-man or in a one-on-one battle with his receiver at the catch point, he has been nearly flawless. With his length, Elam has forced an incompletion on all of his seven contested targets in 2020. That’s the most contested targets forced without a catch allowed in the FBS.
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32 Early Big Boards.
PFF's top 4 QBs right now are 1) Mac Jones, 2) Zac Wilson, 3) Spencer Rattler, 4) Trevor Lawrence and 5) Justin Fields
I've seen mocks that have the Pats picking everyone of them (usually at pick #9) except Lawrence who is universally picked by the JETE.
QB rankings are everywhere and as usual thoughts differ. Here's one:
The DTs.
2021 NFL Draft: Top 10 defensive line rankings
Who are the top 10 interior defenders in the 2021 NFL Draft class? Matt Valdovinos provides his first look at the 2021 defensive line rankings.
www.profootballnetwork.com
First Take - Top Defensive Tackles for the 2021 NFL Draft
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson is the top only senior to enter the 2020 season with a first round grade. Will an early dispute with new Seminoles head coach Mike Norvel impact his draft stock? Who are the top DTs NFL scouts are focusing on?
www.si.com
The LBs.
NFL Draft 2021: The top 10 linebacker rankings
After a very weak 2020 class, the 2021 linebacker rankings looks to be one of the best in years. Who takes the top spot in our rankings?
www.profootballnetwork.com
First Take - Top Inside Linebackers for the 2021 NFL Draft
Can USC's Palaie Gaoteote IV live up to his hype and challenge Alabama's Dylan Moses as the top inside linebacker prospect in college football? And where do the Big Ten's stars Paddy Fisher (Northwestern), Tuf Borland (Ohio State) and Jack Sanborn (Wisconsin) fit in?
www.si.com
The WRs. Another impressive class that rivals the 2020 class. It's deep, it's talented and has 3 eye-popping players better than the top drafted WR in the 2020 draft.
NFL Draft 2020 - Latest Draft News and Predictions
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/
www.cbssports.com
NFL Draft 2021: A surprising take in the top 10 wide receiver rankings
Matt Valdovinos, PFN draft analyst, is breaking down the 2021 wide receiver class' top 10 rankings. Could 2021 be even better than 2020?
www.profootballnetwork.com
CBs if Gilmore is gone.
1. DEREK STINGLEY JR., LSU
His 2020 season hasn’t been nearly as great as his 2019 campaign, but Stingley is still the highest-graded cornerback in all of college football since the start of last year. He shattered PFF College records and put together the most valuable season we have ever recorded from a non-quarterback in terms of PFF’s Wins Above Average (WAA). And he did that as a true freshman.This season, Stingley has lowered his coverage grade from 91.7 to 66.8 in four games played. But in two of those four outings, he locked up his opponent by not allowing a single yard and breaking up a pass in each. Despite him not playing like his 2019 self in this small sample, I’m taking Stingley over any other cornerback in college football 10 times out of 10 — it’s only a matter of time before we see him return to that elite form.
2. PATRICK SURTAIN II, ALABAMA
Surtain shut down his SEC competition in 2018 and 2019 as an underclassman, and 2020 has been no different. He has allowed 25 yards or fewer in five of his six games played while posting an 89.0 coverage grade for the season — the best in the FBS.In his college career, Surtain has given up just 0.62 yards per coverage snap against SEC wide receivers when lined up at outside corner. For perspective, the FBS average this season for outside corners is 1.1 yards. Surtain has made as many plays on the ball as first downs allowed (seven), including a pick-six last week against Mississippi State. Stingley may be the best, but Surtain is firmly the second-best corner in the country.
3. AHMAD GARDNER, CINCINNATI
Gardner was one of the biggest surprises of the 2019 season — he started out the year as a three-star true freshman with low expectations and ended as the seventh-highest-graded cornerback in the FBS. He allowed a minimal 39.7% catch rate and combined for 11 pass breakups and interceptions.Cincinnat Bearcats cornerback Ahmad Gardner (12) makes an interception against Southern Methodist Mustangs during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports
Through five games in 2020, Gardner has allowed just a 36% catch rate, intercepted three passes and forced six total incompletions. That equates to an 11.3 passer rating when targeted, the lowest in the country and well below what the quarterback’s passer rating would be by just throwing the ball away every play. Cincinnati is a legitimate candidate for that fourth and final College Football Playoff spot, and Gardner is a major reason why.
4. ELIJAH MOLDEN, WASHINGTON
Molden has been one of the most productive slot defenders we have ever come across in the PFF College era. Over the past two seasons, he has produced the second-best slot coverage grade and forced 21 incompletions, which are six more than anyone else at the alignment.He reacts swiftly in coverage, and that helped him rack up 26 passing stops in the slot in 2019, nine more than anyone else in the FBS. Molden still gave up a concerning amount of first downs (21), but his nose for the football outweighs the bad.
5. SHEMAR JEAN-CHARLES, APPALACHIAN STATE
Jean-Charles was a quality starter for the Mountaineers in 2019, but no one quite expected him to perform at his current level in 2020. The fifth-year senior has broken up more passes (12) than he has allowed catches (10) through five games this year.Among cornerbacks with at least 20 targets in 2020, Jean-Charles has allowed the second-lowest catch rate, at 32%. His timing at the catch point is precise, and his 10 forced incompletions on contested targets — the most in the FBS by three — back that up.
6. SHAUN JOLLY, APPALACHIAN STATE
Yes, that’s right — Appalachian State, of all teams, has two of the six best cornerbacks in college football. Back in 2019, Jolly was second to only Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage grade, at 91.4, and was a playmaker week in and week out.This year, Jolly does have one bad game on his resume against Arkansas State. The 5-foot-9 Jolly faced off against the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Jonathan Adams Jr. That said, though, it was truly the only bad game of his college career thus far. He allowed fewer than 30 yards in coverage in each of his other four games in 2020 and is the highest-graded cornerback in coverage over the past two years.
7. ROGER MCCREARY, AUBURN
The best player on Auburn’s roster has easily been McCreary. He saved the Tigers from near disaster in their 2020 opener against Kentucky with a goal-line interception at the end of the first half, stopping Auburn from going down a touchdown at the half.On top of that, McCreary broke up a pass and forced a fumble that game with just two total yards allowed in coverage. He tied for eighth in the SEC in PFF grade a season ago and has improved that rank to second in 2020.
8. ASANTE SAMUEL JR., FLORIDA STATE
We should put an asterisk next to the two interceptions Samuel had against Georgia Tech, as Jeff Sims threw it directly where he was standing. But make no mistake, Samuel is easily a top-10 corner in the game.He ranks ninth among current FBS cornerbacks in coverage grade since the start of 2019 and fifth in total forced incompletions, with 21. Samuel’s size isn’t necessarily ideal, but he makes up for it with his quicks.
9. ELI RICKS, LSU
There were high hopes for five-star true freshman Eli Ricks in Baton Rouge entering the year. While LSU’s defense has been a disaster, Ricks is far from the reason — he has exceeded expectations right out of the gate.The first-year starter has allowed a minimal six catches in five games while intercepting three balls and breaking up another. Ricks has forced tight coverage on six of his 16 targets, and that’s where all three of his picks came. He’s looking like the next elite, playmaking cornerback to come out of DBU.
10. KAIIR ELAM, FLORIDA
Elam may have played only a little more than 300 snaps in 2019 as a true freshman, but he was the most valuable player on the Gators’ roster. He earned an 89.8 coverage grade while making three interceptions, breaking up three passes and allowing just five first downs.
This year, Elam has given up a handful of huge plays when playing zone coverage, but when in man-to-man or in a one-on-one battle with his receiver at the catch point, he has been nearly flawless. With his length, Elam has forced an incompletion on all of his seven contested targets in 2020. That’s the most contested targets forced without a catch allowed in the FBS.
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32 Early Big Boards.
2021 NFL Draft Big Board Player Rankings | NFL Mock Draft Database
The largest collection of 2021 NFL draft big board player rankings. These boards are a list of the author's rankings for college football players entering the NFL draft.
www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com