SFBay NFL Draft big board

Evaluating NFL talent isn’t a task for the faint of heart. And looking into the minds of 32 general managers is even tougher.

Because of that, SFBay has created our very own Big Board — the top 12 players at every position.

For those relying on ESPN and the NFL Network for draft analysis, this may throw you through a loop. Many of our picks are not consistent with some of the bigger names in media scouting.

But the SFBay staff prides itself on being a little different — after all, this is one of only a few news organizations that was started with no funding from big business or deep pockets.

So here’s the preface for our rankings:

First off, size does matter. A lot, for the NFL. Cornerbacks are getting bigger, so larger receivers are necessary. Wide receivers get bigger, so defensive backs must as well.

Defensive ends are getting faster, so lineman better be speedy with their feet. Got it?

Quarterbacks

1. Blake Bortles, Central Florida
2. Derek Carr, Fresno State
3. Zach Mettenberger, LSU
4. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech
5. David Fales, San Jose State
6. Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois
7. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
8. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
9. AJ McCarron, Alabama
10. Tom Savage, Pittsburgh
11. Aaron Murray, Georgia
12. Jeff Mathews, Cornell

Running Backs

1. Tre Mason, Auburn
2. Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona
3. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State
4. Jeremy Hill, LSU
5. Bishop Sankey, Washington
6. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor
7. Tyler Gaffney, Stanford
8. Storm Johnson, Central Florida
9. Henry Josey, Missouri
10. Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern
11. Devonta Freeman, FSU
12. Charles Sims, West Virginia

Wide Receivers

1. Kelvin Benjamin, FSU
2. Sammy Watkins, Clemson
3. Mike Evans, Texas A&M
4. Marqise Lee, USC
5. Allen Robinson, Penn State
6. Martavis Bryant, Clemson
7. Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
8. Odell Beckham Jr., LSU
9. Davante Adams, Fresno State
10. Jordan Mathews, Vanderbilt
11. Brandon Coleman, Rutgers
12. Donte Montcrief, Ole Miss

Offensive Tackle

1. Greg Robinson, Auburn
2. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
3. Taylor Lewan, Michigan
4. Zack Martin, Notre Dame
5. Morgan Moses, Virginia
6. Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama
7. Brandon Thomas, Clemson
8. Jack Mewhort, Ohio State
9. Cameron Fleming, Stanford
10. Joe Bittino, Nevada
11. JuWaun James, Tennessee
12. Antonio Richardson, Tennessee

Offensive Guard

1. David Yankey, Stanford
2. Cyril Richardson, Baylor
3. Xavier Su’a-Filo, UCLA
4. Brandon Thomas, Clemson
5. Trai Turner, LSU
6. Anthony Steen, Alabama
7. Andrew Norwell, Ohio State
8. Chris Watt, Notre Dame
9. Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State
10. Dakota Dozier, Furman
11. Jon Halapio, Florida
12. Spencer Long, Nebraska

Center

1. Marcus Martin, USC
2. Travis Swanson, Arkansas
3. Weston Richburg, CSU Ft. Collins
4. Tyler Larsen, Utah State
5. Bryan Stork, FSU
6. Russell Bodine, North Carolina
7. Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
8. James Stone, Tennessee
9. Andrew Miller, Virginia Tech
10. Jonotthan Harrison, Florida
11. Demetrius Rhaney, Tennessee State
12. Corey Linsley, Ohio State

Tight End

1. Eric Ebron, North Carolina
2. Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
3. Troy Niklas, Notre Dame
4. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
5. Xavier Grimble, USC
6. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa
7. Arthur Lynch, Georgia
8. Marcel Jensen, Fresno State
9. Richard Rogers, Berkeley
10. A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State
11. Colt Lyerla, Oregon
12. Jordan Najvar, Baylor

Defensive Tackle

1. Timmy Jernigan, FSU
2. Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
3. Ra’Shede Hageman, Minnesota
4. Louis Nix III, Notre Dame
5. Ego Ferguson, LSU
6. Will Sutton, Arizona State
7. Anthony Johnson, LSU
8. DaQuan Jones, Penn State
9. Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina
10. DeAndre Coleman, Berkeley
11. Justin Ellis, Louisiana Tech
12. Daniel McCullers, Tennessee

Defensive End

1. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2. Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
3. Dominique Easley, Florida
4. Kony Ealy, Missouri
5. Trent Murphy, Stanford
6. Scott Crichton, Oregon State
7. Will Clarke, West Virginia
8. Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
9. Taylor Hart, Oregon
10. Kareem Martin, North Carolina
11. Marcus Smith, Louisville
12. Michael Sam, Missouri

4-3 Outside Linebacker

1. Khalil Mack, Buffalo
2. Anthony Barr, UCLA
3. Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
4. CJ Mosely, Alabama
5. Dee Ford, Auburn
6. Trent Murphy, Stanford
7. Marcus Smith, Louisville
8. Christian Jones, FSU
9. Telvin Smith, FSU
10. Lamin Barrow, LSU
11. Jordan Tripp, Montana
12. Michael Sam, Missouri

3-4 Outside Linebacker

1. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2. Khalil Mack, Buffalo
3. Anthony Barr, UCLA
4. Dee Ford, Auburn
5. Trent Murphy, Stanford
6. Marcus Smith, Louisville
7. Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
8. Michael Sam, Missouri
9. Ron Powell, Florida
10. Adrian Hubbard, Alabama
11. Kareem Martin, North Carolina
12. Kyle Van Noy, BYU

Inside Linebacker 3-4 or 4-3

1. CJ Mosely, Alabama
2. Shayne Skov, Stanford
3. Christian Jones, FSU
4. Lamin Barrow, LSU
5. Jordan Zumwalt, UCLA
6. Khairi Fortt, Berkeley
7. Max Bullough, Michigan State
8. James Morris, Iowa
9. Caleb Lavey, Oklahoma State
10. Andrew Wilson, Missouri
11. Yawin Smallwood, Connecticut
12. Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Cornerback

1. Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
2. Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech
3. Bradley Roby, Ohio State
4. Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
5. Keith McGill, Utah
6. Jason Verrett, TCU
7. Marcus Roberson, Florida
8. Stanley Jean Babtiste, Nebraska
9. Dontae Jones, Stanford
10. Phillip Gaines, Rice
11. Bashaud Breeland, Clemson
12. LaMarcus Joyner, FSU

Safety

1. HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama
2. Dion Bailey, USC
3. Calvin Pryor, Louisville
4. Deone Bucannon, Washington State
5. Terrence Brooks, FSU
6. LaMarcus Joyner, FSU
7. Ed Reynolds, Stanford
8. Antone Exum, Virginia Tech
9. Isaiah Lewis, Michigan State
10. Craig Loston, LSU
11. Ahmad Dixon, Baylor
12. Dezmen Southward, Wisconsin

 

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