4 NFL Scouts Rate The Players - Page 4

Chiefnj2 · 04-13-2009, 09:22 AM

http://spartannation.com/?p=6083

Four of my friends who are NFL scouts (or personnel people) agreed to give me their top twenty players at this point of the off-season process leading up to the draft. They represent four different teams.

I will keep each of their identities confidential as you can imagine that their respective teams wouldn’t appreciate their participation in this endeavor. All I asked from them was that they give me their personal top twenty and why they like them. I weighed all four lists and put them in the appropriate order.

This list is not the order that I think they will be drafted, it is simply four men who get paid to do this for a living and who they think are the best twenty. I will also post early in the week something that we have never had before. We will have a list of the top three players at all positions other than the special teams.

I will also have them all give me a mock first round draft for each team, as the draft gets closer. Obviously they know other teams better than any of us, so I have asked each for their mock draft and why they think each team does what. As with this list, I will weigh each of their picks and see if there is consensus on what they think. I will (as similar to this list) post at least one of their comments about each pick.

One scout had an interesting take last year that I want to share with all of you about the draft process. He said, “The way we draft is what do we need and who on the board at the time we pick fits a need the best. For example, Calvin Johnson was the best player in the draft on our board last year but had we been Detroit we wouldn’t have taken him. With the huge needs at offensive tackle and middle backer, we would have taken Joe Thomas or Patrick Willis. Both had Pro Bowl seasons. Now some pundits would have said those guys would have been too high of picks for the money (and we would have tried trading down) but would the Lions have been better off with either those two than Calvin? I sure think so. We draft (and have been successful) at picking guys that meet needs with priority given to lineman if we have a need there. I based my list on who best fits needs.”

Here are some interesting stats about the list. All four scouts say that they place a high importance on a pure franchise QB (of which none listed any QB as a top notch franchise pick such as Peyton Manning) and on offensive and defensive lines. Cornerback was also a position of high value. Something I learned was that offensive tackles, defensive tackles, defensive ends and cornerbacks all had a higher point of value (other than a sure fire franchise QB) to all four of our contributors.

Although I may not agree with this list, but over the years we have posted them, they have been extremely accurate and correct. I thank each of the men in advance.

Here is how the top twenty broke down as far as position.

Defensive Line 7
Offensive Line 4
Defensive Back 1
Running Back 1
Line Backer 3
Quarterback 0
Wide Receiver 3
Tight End 1

Click the link to see the top 20 players.

Saccopoo · 04-14-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

I agree with Mecca on this one. Calvin Johnson is the sort of WR i've never seen. I mean 239 AND runs under 4.4? That's sick.

He's also got rare agility for a guy his size. To put this in perspective, CJ is 239 and Shannon Sharpe went 228.

Add to that, considering that drafting Calvin Johnson essentially allowed Detroit to trade Roy Williams for a 1st, 3rd and 5th round pick, and Calvin Johnson is already the best "drafted" wide receiver of recent history.

He's also the reason why Detroit takes Stafford. You don't piss away talent like that by not having a decent quarterback throwing to him. That is, unless people in Detroit think Drew Stanton can be that guy, and if that's the case, the Chiefs just got a bit more leverage with their #3 pick in a potential trade situation.

Although, as a side note, Detroit drafting Mike Williams was one of the dumbest things I've ever seen a team do in the draft.

Chiefnj2 · 04-14-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

I agree with Mecca on this one. Calvin Johnson is the sort of WR i've never seen. I mean 239 AND runs under 4.4? That's sick.

He's also got rare agility for a guy his size. To put this in perspective, CJ is 239 and Shannon Sharpe went 228.

I was surprised to see Mecca say you take Johnson over Thomas because he has been a big proponent of various "positional value" arguments. Obviously a LOT is worth more than a WR to 99% of people.

**Buehler445** · 04-14-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I was surprised to see Mecca say you take Johnson over Thomas because he has been a big proponent of various "positional value" arguments. Obviously a LOT is worth more than a WR to 99% of people.

Johnson was an amazing prospect. Go back and look at his numbers. And those were with REGGIE ****ING BALL throwing to him
I saw him run a 5 and out and Ball thew a terrible ball low and WAYYY behind him. He was able to stop, change his momentum, dive the OTHER way (back inside) and get the ball off of the ground. That was amazing. I've never seen anything like that.
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B_Ambuehl · 04-14-2009, 02:19 PM

You guys are missing the scout's point. Shitty teams build their team from the outside in. Good teams build their club from the inside out. He acknowledged Calvin Johnson was the best player in the draft, but for a team like detroit he was a luxury pick....especially when you already had a pro bowl level receiver in Roy Williams. That team had far too many holes...A WR can't do anythign for you unless you have an O-line and QB. As it is he's been there for 2 years and hasn't helped them win any games. If he were that good shouldn't they be able to win 1 freaking game? With Joe Thomas the running game immediately gets better, the QB gets better and the receivers get better. With Pat Willis the defense as a whole would be a lot better. In fact, the front office and coach that drafted him (Johnson) have now been run out of town, proving his point exactly. By the time that ball club gets to a level where CJ can actually help them his contract will be up.

04-13-2009, 09:22 AM
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6654388	4 NFL Scouts Rate The Players http://spartannation.com/?p=6083 Four of my friends who are NFL scouts (or personnel people) agreed to give me their top twenty players at this point of the off-season process leading up to the draft. They represent four different teams. I will keep each of their identities confidential as you can imagine that their respective teams wouldn’t appreciate their participation in this endeavor. All I asked from them was that they give me their personal top twenty and why they like them. I weighed all four lists and put them in the appropriate order. This list is not the order that I think they will be drafted, it is simply four men who get paid to do this for a living and who they think are the best twenty. I will also post early in the week something that we have never had before. We will have a list of the top three players at all positions other than the special teams. I will also have them all give me a mock first round draft for each team, as the draft gets closer. Obviously they know other teams better than any of us, so I have asked each for their mock draft and why they think each team does what. As with this list, I will weigh each of their picks and see if there is consensus on what they think. I will (as similar to this list) post at least one of their comments about each pick. One scout had an interesting take last year that I want to share with all of you about the draft process. He said, “The way we draft is what do we need and who on the board at the time we pick fits a need the best. For example, Calvin Johnson was the best player in the draft on our board last year but had we been Detroit we wouldn’t have taken him. With the huge needs at offensive tackle and middle backer, we would have taken Joe Thomas or Patrick Willis. Both had Pro Bowl seasons. Now some pundits would have said those guys would have been too high of picks for the money (and we would have tried trading down) but would the Lions have been better off with either those two than Calvin? I sure think so. We draft (and have been successful) at picking guys that meet needs with priority given to lineman if we have a need there. I based my list on who best fits needs.” Here are some interesting stats about the list. All four scouts say that they place a high importance on a pure franchise QB (of which none listed any QB as a top notch franchise pick such as Peyton Manning) and on offensive and defensive lines. Cornerback was also a position of high value. Something I learned was that offensive tackles, defensive tackles, defensive ends and cornerbacks all had a higher point of value (other than a sure fire franchise QB) to all four of our contributors. Although I may not agree with this list, but over the years we have posted them, they have been extremely accurate and correct. I thank each of the men in advance. Here is how the top twenty broke down as far as position. Defensive Line 7 Offensive Line 4 Defensive Back 1 Running Back 1 Line Backer 3 Quarterback 0 Wide Receiver 3 Tight End 1 Click the link to see the top 20 players.
Posts: 22,541

04-14-2009, 02:19 PM	#49
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9705405	You guys are missing the scout's point. Shitty teams build their team from the outside in. Good teams build their club from the inside out. He acknowledged Calvin Johnson was the best player in the draft, but for a team like detroit he was a luxury pick....especially when you already had a pro bowl level receiver in Roy Williams. That team had far too many holes...A WR can't do anythign for you unless you have an O-line and QB. As it is he's been there for 2 years and hasn't helped them win any games. If he were that good shouldn't they be able to win 1 freaking game? With Joe Thomas the running game immediately gets better, the QB gets better and the receivers get better. With Pat Willis the defense as a whole would be a lot better. In fact, the front office and coach that drafted him (Johnson) have now been run out of town, proving his point exactly. By the time that ball club gets to a level where CJ can actually help them his contract will be up.
Posts: 2,613