draft's future Pro Bowl players

[Mr. Laz]

Eric Fisher, Ezekiel Ansah among draft's future Pro Bowl players

By Gil Brandt
Senior Analyst
Published: March 6, 2013 at 01:23 p.m. Updated: March 6, 2013 at 04:07 p.m. 21

As we get closer to the 2013 NFL Draft, we hear more and more about the supposedly lackluster crop of prospects teams have to pick from. You know the chorus: There's no clear-cut No. 1 pick; there aren't any instant superstars-in-waiting. While that's true, I think this class is underrated and actually much better than many people think.

Every draft is different. People think having a lack of attention-grabbing names means it's a bad year to be drafting. No one in this class can match 2012 headliners Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III or 2011 standout Cam Newton -- in fact, last year's eighth overall pick, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, would probably easily be the first player off the board this year. But several high-ceiling prospects will be entering the league in 2013. Moreover, the second-tier talent (player who will be picked from 11 to 50 or so) is better than the talent at that level in last year's draft. This is going to be a quality draft, despite what folks are saying.

With that in mind, I've put together a list (arranged in alphabetical order) of prospects who project as top-notch future starters, guys who are going to make multiple Pro Bowls in the years to come. They don't have the highest profiles -- this class is heavy on standout offensive and defensive linemen -- but they do all have the size, speed, strength and football smarts to suggest they'll be studs in the long term, with a better than average chance of starting as rookies.

You won't find any quarterbacks on this list (all come with too many question marks), and you won't find the kinds of prospects (like Tavon Austin) who flash plenty of potential but are far from sure things (Austin might very well thrive in the NFL, but his lack of size would make him the exception to the rule). This list (arranged according to alphabetical order) is made up of players who will stand out years from now as gems of this draft class.

Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, BYU
Ansah was part of a group of defensive ends picked out to practice linebacker techniques at the NFL Scouting Combine, and it was just unbelievable how well he mastered dropping into space and reacting to the ball. This versatility just boosts his long-term potential. He'll do equally well whether he's working as an outside linebacker for a 3-4 defense or as a defensive end in a 4-3. The Ghana native's story is already amazing, given how little football experience he has; multiple Pro Bowl appearances will simply make it more so.

Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
When I first started looking at Cooper, I didn't think he was quite as good as he is, but he's the kind of player who grows on you. He's got the kind of body build (6-foot-2 1/8, 311 pounds) that would easily allow him to get up to 330 pounds. Cooper has amazing foot quickness. He's strong enough to take people on, but he can also pull, and he's smart; he could probably be a very, very good center. He's an example of how an offensive lineman who stays in school for four years gets to learn so much more about being a football player than a guy who comes out early.

Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
This guy is something else. Some guys have heavy feet -- the ground pounders of the game -- but Fisher, who completed the short shuttle in 4.44 seconds at the combine, has really light, quick feet, probably the best feet of the offensive linemen in this class. Fisher is like a carbon copy of San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley, only a little bit taller (Fisher is 6-7 1/4; Staley is 6-5). He's got long (34.5-inch) arms, which made his ability to throw the bar up 27 times all the more impressive. Fisher has put his time in, and he's worked hard. The former high-school basketball player is an athlete.


Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Of all the offensive tackles we have on this list, Joeckel is probably the most ready to compete at a high level. He's also probably the best technician -- with the best hand placement -- of the group. He'll be a lot like -- but not quite as good as -- Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas. He and Fisher are both strong (both recorded 27 reps on the bench press at the combine); the two of them are just about peas in a pod. Joeckel will be playing in this league for a long time.

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Jerry Schmidt, the weight coach at Oklahoma who does a great job developing players like Johnson, thinks this guy has as much potential as any Sooner lineman he's ever been around. Johnson played quarterback at Kilgore junior college and spent time at tight end and defensive end at Oklahoma before switching to the offensive line. He's big (6-6, 303 pounds) and fast (4.72-second 40-yard dash); once he gets some experience, I could see him becoming a perennial Pro Bowler for a number of years. When his team was getting walloped by Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, Johnson was the exception, doing a tremendous job of blocking Damontre Moore.

Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
Jordan's got real star potential. He could have used a torn labrum as an excuse for not working out at the combine, but he didn't; the only thing he didn't do was lift. I love the attitude of anyone who works out when they don't have to. I also love his length (6-6 1/4). Jordan is very fast, has long arms and good change of direction. Between his attitude, aggressiveness and athleticism, there's a good chance that whoever drafts him will have a star on their hands.


Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
No cornerback has ever been taken with the first overall draft pick. It's not likely to happen this year, either, but if the Kansas City Chiefs, who already took care of their needs at quarterback (by maneuvering for Alex Smith) and offensive line (by locking up Branden Albert) want to use this spot to boost their secondary, Milliner would be well worth a look. With his size and speed, he's the prototypical corner everyone's looking for, like a faster Darrelle Revis. Milliner makes plays; he's got really good ball-reaction skills. I think he's going to be very, very good and visit the Pro Bowl many times.

Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo's past productivity is not quite as good as you want it to be, but he's probably the best athlete of this group; he's like the small forward who out-hustles everyone on the basketball court. He's long, fast and can turn the corner; he's got the skills needed to play the position and can work with his hand on the ground or in space. He needs to play with better leverage and take on blockers more effectively, but he'll learn how to do that.

Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
Warmack is probably as dominant an offensive lineman as I've seen in college football recently. He's not that fast, but he's great at getting to the second tier; I think he's largely the reason that Alabama's running game was so good. He'll be a fantastic inside pass protector and should help immensely against the Haloti Ngatas and Henry Meltons of the world.

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Vaccaro is one of the most aggressive defensive backs to have been available in the draft in awhile, a tough guy who reminds me of Brian Dawkins. He looked great in drills, showing very good recognition skills; his ability to read the offense and make plays with his vision and expertise will overcome OK-but-not-great speed. If he can replicate what he did at the college level, he'll be an excellent pro player for a long time to come.

GUYS WHO MISSED THE CUT

Keenan Allen, WR, California
Speed is very important at the receiver position. If Allen, who didn't work out at the combine, posts a sub-4.5 40 at his pro day, he'll probably be worth putting on this list.


Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
If he hadn't been sidelined at the combine by a heart condition, he'd definitely have been on this list. Lotulelei is a dominant inside defender. If you wanted to pay to see the ideal matchup between prospects -- the best against the best -- it would be Lotulelei vs. Warmack.

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
I'm not convinced yet that Jones, who did not work out at the combine, will be as good as everyone else seems to think he'll be. I want to see him run and do athletic drills at Georgia's pro day first.

Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Floyd has a lot of upside as a strong playmaker. I just wish he was a little taller. I think he's good, but I'm not sure he'll be exceptional.

[Bootlegged]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Eric Fisher, Ezekiel Ansah among draft's future Pro Bowl players

By Gil Brandt
Senior Analyst
Published: March 6, 2013 at 01:23 p.m. Updated: March 6, 2013 at 04:07 p.m. 21

As we get closer to the 2013 NFL Draft, we hear more and more about the supposedly lackluster crop of prospects teams have to pick from. You know the chorus: There's no clear-cut No. 1 pick; there aren't any instant superstars-in-waiting. While that's true, I think this class is underrated and actually much better than many people think.

Every draft is different. People think having a lack of attention-grabbing names means it's a bad year to be drafting. No one in this class can match 2012 headliners Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III or 2011 standout Cam Newton -- in fact, last year's eighth overall pick, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, would probably easily be the first player off the board this year. But several high-ceiling prospects will be entering the league in 2013. Moreover, the second-tier talent (player who will be picked from 11 to 50 or so) is better than the talent at that level in last year's draft. This is going to be a quality draft, despite what folks are saying.

With that in mind, I've put together a list (arranged in alphabetical order) of prospects who project as top-notch future starters, guys who are going to make multiple Pro Bowls in the years to come. They don't have the highest profiles -- this class is heavy on standout offensive and defensive linemen -- but they do all have the size, speed, strength and football smarts to suggest they'll be studs in the long term, with a better than average chance of starting as rookies.

You won't find any quarterbacks on this list (all come with too many question marks), and you won't find the kinds of prospects (like Tavon Austin) who flash plenty of potential but are far from sure things (Austin might very well thrive in the NFL, but his lack of size would make him the exception to the rule). This list (arranged according to alphabetical order) is made up of players who will stand out years from now as gems of this draft class.

Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, BYU
Ansah was part of a group of defensive ends picked out to practice linebacker techniques at the NFL Scouting Combine, and it was just unbelievable how well he mastered dropping into space and reacting to the ball. This versatility just boosts his long-term potential. He'll do equally well whether he's working as an outside linebacker for a 3-4 defense or as a defensive end in a 4-3. The Ghana native's story is already amazing, given how little football experience he has; multiple Pro Bowl appearances will simply make it more so.

Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
When I first started looking at Cooper, I didn't think he was quite as good as he is, but he's the kind of player who grows on you. He's got the kind of body build (6-foot-2 1/8, 311 pounds) that would easily allow him to get up to 330 pounds. Cooper has amazing foot quickness. He's strong enough to take people on, but he can also pull, and he's smart; he could probably be a very, very good center. He's an example of how an offensive lineman who stays in school for four years gets to learn so much more about being a football player than a guy who comes out early.

Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
This guy is something else. Some guys have heavy feet -- the ground pounders of the game -- but Fisher, who completed the short shuttle in 4.44 seconds at the combine, has really light, quick feet, probably the best feet of the offensive linemen in this class. Fisher is like a carbon copy of San Francisco 49ers tackle Joe Staley, only a little bit taller (Fisher is 6-7 1/4; Staley is 6-5). He's got long (34.5-inch) arms, which made his ability to throw the bar up 27 times all the more impressive. Fisher has put his time in, and he's worked hard. The former high-school basketball player is an athlete.


Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Of all the offensive tackles we have on this list, Joeckel is probably the most ready to compete at a high level. He's also probably the best technician -- with the best hand placement -- of the group. He'll be a lot like -- but not quite as good as -- Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas. He and Fisher are both strong (both recorded 27 reps on the bench press at the combine); the two of them are just about peas in a pod. Joeckel will be playing in this league for a long time.

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Jerry Schmidt, the weight coach at Oklahoma who does a great job developing players like Johnson, thinks this guy has as much potential as any Sooner lineman he's ever been around. Johnson played quarterback at Kilgore junior college and spent time at tight end and defensive end at Oklahoma before switching to the offensive line. He's big (6-6, 303 pounds) and fast (4.72-second 40-yard dash); once he gets some experience, I could see him becoming a perennial Pro Bowler for a number of years. When his team was getting walloped by Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, Johnson was the exception, doing a tremendous job of blocking Damontre Moore.

Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon
Jordan's got real star potential. He could have used a torn labrum as an excuse for not working out at the combine, but he didn't; the only thing he didn't do was lift. I love the attitude of anyone who works out when they don't have to. I also love his length (6-6 1/4). Jordan is very fast, has long arms and good change of direction. Between his attitude, aggressiveness and athleticism, there's a good chance that whoever drafts him will have a star on their hands.


Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
No cornerback has ever been taken with the first overall draft pick. It's not likely to happen this year, either, but if the Kansas City Chiefs, who already took care of their needs at quarterback (by maneuvering for Alex Smith) and offensive line (by locking up Branden Albert) want to use this spot to boost their secondary, Milliner would be well worth a look. With his size and speed, he's the prototypical corner everyone's looking for, like a faster Darrelle Revis. Milliner makes plays; he's got really good ball-reaction skills. I think he's going to be very, very good and visit the Pro Bowl many times.

Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo's past productivity is not quite as good as you want it to be, but he's probably the best athlete of this group; he's like the small forward who out-hustles everyone on the basketball court. He's long, fast and can turn the corner; he's got the skills needed to play the position and can work with his hand on the ground or in space. He needs to play with better leverage and take on blockers more effectively, but he'll learn how to do that.

Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
Warmack is probably as dominant an offensive lineman as I've seen in college football recently. He's not that fast, but he's great at getting to the second tier; I think he's largely the reason that Alabama's running game was so good. He'll be a fantastic inside pass protector and should help immensely against the Haloti Ngatas and Henry Meltons of the world.

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Vaccaro is one of the most aggressive defensive backs to have been available in the draft in awhile, a tough guy who reminds me of Brian Dawkins. He looked great in drills, showing very good recognition skills; his ability to read the offense and make plays with his vision and expertise will overcome OK-but-not-great speed. If he can replicate what he did at the college level, he'll be an excellent pro player for a long time to come.

GUYS WHO MISSED THE CUT

Keenan Allen, WR, California
Speed is very important at the receiver position. If Allen, who didn't work out at the combine, posts a sub-4.5 40 at his pro day, he'll probably be worth putting on this list.


Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
If he hadn't been sidelined at the combine by a heart condition, he'd definitely have been on this list. Lotulelei is a dominant inside defender. If you wanted to pay to see the ideal matchup between prospects -- the best against the best -- it would be Lotulelei vs. Warmack.

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
I'm not convinced yet that Jones, who did not work out at the combine, will be as good as everyone else seems to think he'll be. I want to see him run and do athletic drills at Georgia's pro day first.

Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Floyd has a lot of upside as a strong playmaker. I just wish he was a little taller. I think he's good, but I'm not sure he'll be exceptional.

IN
Robert Woods
Johnthan Banks
Tavon Austin

OUT
Joeckel
Mingo

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Bootlegged

IN
Robert Woods
Johnthan Banks
Tavon Austin

OUT
Joeckel
Mingo

Mingo was a beast last year.

[DaneMcCloud]

If the Chiefs are truly going to a one-gap, Jordan would be a great addition.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Every position player slated for the Top 10 is a Pro Bowla!!!!!/dumbasses every year

[The Franchise]

We need a FS. Vacarro is going to be a probowler. We should take him at 1.1.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Stopped reading at "Pro Bowl" in the headline.

Hard to take anyone who takes making the Pro Bowl seriously.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Mingo was a beast last year.

Lsu has a habit of d linement, and lbs doing mediocre in the pros.

Dorsey, tyson jackson just to name two that chiefs fans may know.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by PGM

Every position player slated for the Top 10 is a Pro Bowla!!!!!/dumbasses every year

Of top ten players drafted in 2011, Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Patrick Peterson and Aldon Smith have been Pro Bowlers at least once, if not twice.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Of top ten players drafted in 2011, Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Patrick Peterson and Aldon Smith have been Pro Bowlers at least once, if not twice.

And?

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith Fan

Lsu has a habit of d linement, and lbs doing mediocre in the pros.

Dorsey, tyson jackson just to name two that chiefs fans may know.

Tyson Jackson wasn't a huge standout at LSU. I'm a big LSU fan and I was floored when the Chiefs drafted him so high.

I don't think the Chiefs should take him, but Mingo is insanely athletic and he's got a motor that doesn't stop. I could see him being a standout in the NFL. I always wondered if he wouldn't make a better LB than a DE in the pros like Tamba.

[ThankYouBasedGod]

Where's ur boy Geno?

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by ThankYouBasedGod

Where's ur boy Geno?

****ing your Mom.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

If the Chiefs are truly going to a one-gap, Jordan would be a great addition.

Where would he play?

[milkman]

Can't say I value Gil Brandt's opinion.

He was a hell of a football man back in the 60s and 70s.

But that was long time ago, when I was still a young man.