1. Blaine Gabbert- Gabbert is the top rated quarterback on my board. While I don’t think he is a Franchise Quarterback, who can step in from day one, I think he has the potential to develop into one in a couple of years. While there are the obvious questions coming from a spread offense, I love his size, athleticism and arm. I’ve always got the impression that he is a smart quarterback, which is why I think there is a high probability that he is at least a quality starter. Top 15 talent, will likely be 1st quarterback taken.

2. Cam Newton- While part of me has soured on Newton, it is hard to deny his physical tools and potential. Newton has a chance to be a combination of Vince Young and Josh Freeman, but he is going to have to keep an attitude like Freeman to ensure he succeeds. I do like the reports that he has taken well to coaching, considering he is as raw of a prospect that there is in this class. While I love the potential, if you start him too early he will likely develop the bad habits of Vince Young and he will never become a star. Top 25 talent, should be taken in the top 15.

3. Christian Ponder- Ponder nails down the third spot because his floor is pretty high. While he might not have the ceiling as some of the other quarterbacks, I think he is one of the safer bets to become a good starter in the NFL, and at worst should be a mediocre one. Ponder also gets the nod, because he is one of the closest to being able to start in the NFL. There is not a single area that Ponder will ‘wow’ you in, but he does everything well. Top 45 talent, likely early 2nd rounder.

4. Colin Kaepernick- Kaepernick certainly has the potential to be a star, and his intangibles are off the charts, but he is not without his drawbacks. He has very little experience in a pro style system, and has to work on quickening his release and cleaning up his footwork. I think between his physical skills, drive, and work ethic he will succeed in the NFL. I think he will need at least a year to be ready to start, and it could be closer to two years.Top 50 talent, likely will fall to the third round.

5. Ryan Mallett- Mallett has the big arm, and looks like a classic pro style QB, but there are some major red flags. A lot of people are question his character, and it sound like he brings a lot of baggage to the table. Even without that, there are questions about his play on the football field. His decision making isn’t the best, and he does not handle pressure well. Also he has no foot speed, making him basically a statue in the pocket. Top 60 talent, will likely be drafted higher in the 2nd round.

6. Jake Locker- I thought Locker would rank a lot higher, but his performance Senior Bowl week really sent his stock in a tail spin. Locker is way to inconsistent and inaccurate at this point in his career. And while he has some key intangibles, he can never seem to find his touch. I think he will need a good bit of work, and despite being a senior and coming from a pro style he will need 2-3 years to become successful. Top 75 talent, still will likely be picked high in the 2nd round.

7. Pat Devlin- Pat Devlin looks like a good mid-round quarterback prospect. He doesn’t have the biggest arm, but he is accurate and smart with his throws. He won’t have the impact of his Delaware predecessor, Joe Flacco, but he could develop into a very good quarterback. Top 75 talent, end of 2nd to early 3rd round pick.

8. Ricky Stanzi- Stanzi is what I’d define as an average quarterback. There isn’t anything special that he does, but he shows enough to make me believe he should be a quality backup at worst. I don’t think he’d ever be a great or very good starter, but he should at least be solid-to-good. Top 100 talent, likely an early 4th rounder.

9. Andy Dalton- I expected to see higher level of performance from Dalton at the Senior Bowl, and was disappointed in his practices all week. He has good size and a solid arm, but really struggled in his transition to a pro style system. He very well could develop into a good starter or better at the next level, but I have some questions if he will ever reach that level. Top 125 talent, 4th-5th rounder.

10. Nathan Enderle- I know I’m higher on Enderle than most, but I really like his potential. He has a good balance of size, arm and intelligence, and could really surprise some people. I think he will need a couple of years to develop, but he does have starting capability. Top 140 talent, likely 6-7th rounder.

In Part I we looked at the misconceptions that winning teams need elite quarterbacks, and that they can only be found in the first round. We also broke down the 31 quarterbacks taken in the first round since Peyton Manning went 1st overall in 1998. Well the numbers are in and they aren’t pretty. Of those 31 one quarterbacks only four could be considered ‘elite’, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Rivers, and Eli Manning. Another two should be in the very good category, as both Palmer and McNabb lose some points do to consistency and injuries. I’d say there are another two in the above average category, Campbell and Cutler, with both 2008 QB’s (Ryan and Flacco) just about there and likely to move up.

Beyond those 10, I think at best you can call Pennington an average quarterback, and say its too early to tell on Vince Young and Matt Leinart. Even in the best case scenario Young and Leinart join Cambell and Cutler in the above average category and Ryan and Flacco ascend to the level of elite quarterbacks.

Now you’ll notice I didn’t add the ‘too early to tell’ on any of the three rookie quarterbacks from last season. I don’t think its fair yet to judge them or fully label them in any category yet. Right now though I do feel they are all shading towards the ‘bust’ label, given just how bad their rookie numbers were. None of their rookie numbers compare too favorably with any of the names above, giving one pause. Now I doubt all three will end up being bad picks, but I also don’t believe all three will be successful first rounders either. And I really have a hard time believing any of these guys will one day end up in the ‘elite’ class.

So by ignoring the three rookies we are down to 28 quarterbacks of those, in our most optimistic perception we have 13 successful draft picks. That’s less than half, and only the top 6 (potentially 8 if Ryan and Flacco keep developing) are true ‘franchise’ changers. So that means less than a third of the quarterbacks drafted over the 10 year period 1999-2008 in the first round, became the top-notch quarterbacks that everyone is looking for. That is an awful percentage, especially since when you miss on a ‘franchise’ quarterback you miss badly (see Akili Smith, Joey Harrington etc.).

So what makes one quarterback successful and another a cautionary tale (or at least should be one)? The honest answer is there isn’t much in common among the successful quarterbacks in the league, some are pure pocket passers, others are good on their feet, some have big arms, others are more limited. Some are tall strong quarterbacks, others barely break 6 feet. The one thing that they do somewhat have in common, is that they have been developed over time.

Going into the 2008 draft, only two of the quarterbacks listed above in the success category, started more than half their teams games their rookie season, Ben Roethlisberger and Vince Young. And Roethlisberger is the only one to have sustained success, after starting his rookie year. Young struggled his first two years, before getting benched for over a year. He too had technically had to ‘develop’ into a starting quarterback, and the jury is still very much out on him. What’s even more impressive is that pretty much every successful quarterback with the exception of Peyton Manning had to spend at least a year maturing into being a starting quarterback. Guys like Favre, Brees, and Brady were back-ups their first season’s  in the League. Yet despite this track record of quarterbacks needing time to develop, the 5 first round quarterbacks since 2008 all started at least 9 games their rookie year. While it looks like Ryan and Flacco will be fine, its quite possible that the Lions, Jets and Bucs all slowed down or stunted the growth of their rookie quarterbacks. Now this is not to say that benching a quarterback for a year or two will automatically make a quarterback a success story, as their are plenty of failed quarterbacks who barely saw the field their first season, but it is telling that so many of those quarterbacks who did start their rookie seasons are now out of the league.

I don’t believe that you should never draft a quarterback in the first round, but I do feel teams need to be smart when doing so. Teams need to have talent around them on offense, as well as allowing them ample time to develop. When teams force the issue with a young quarterback and throw him in the fire too soon, they are the ones getting burned. If you draft a quarterback and your team isn’t ready, or able to hold him on the bench for a couple of seasons it will set your team back for years. Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees, but they also aren’t found just by ‘drafting them in the first round’.

Every year multiple NFL teams face a tough decision, to draft or not to draft a quarterback in the first round. The general consensus (aka just about everyone else but me) believes that more and more the NFL is a quarterback driven league, and a ‘franchise’ quarterback is needed to succeed. It is also the belief that ‘franchise’ quarterbacks are found by drafting them in the first round.

To the first point about the only way to succeed is with an elite quarterback, I feel like there is some selective memories going on around the league. I guess someone forgot about the great Steelers and Ravens teams of the past decade with pretty average quarterback play (Roethlisberger has become an elite QB, but he wasn’t one when they won in 2005). Or the fact when the Patriots won their first two titles, Tom Brady’s numbers were pretty pedestrian. And if those trips down memory lane don’t blow holes in the “elite QB=success” argument, then just look at this past season when Mark Sanchez, who was one of the statistically worst quarterbacks in the league, was under center for the most dangerous team this postseason.

When it comes to the second point, that elite quarterbacks are found primarily in the first round, its hard to see where that argument even begins to hold water. The top ten quarterbacks this past season in terms of quarterback rating were as follows:

1. Drew Brees
2. Brett Favre
3. Phillip Rivers
4. Aaron Rodgers
5. Ben Roethlisberger
6. Peyton Manning
7. Matt Schaub
8. Tony Romo
9. Tom Brady
10. Kurt Warner

Now this might not be the exact order of top quarterbacks in the league, but all of these guys are in the top 10, and are elite signal callers. Of this list of the 10 best passers from last season, only FOUR are former first round picks (Rivers, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, and Manning). The only quarterback not on this list that deserves mention in the ‘elite’ status among quarterbacks is Eli Manning another first round pick. Even with Eli included, less than 50% of the quarterbacks we consider ‘elite’ or ‘franchise’ were first round draft picks. Yet for some reason, the prevailing logic in the league is that you must grab a quarterback in the first round to be a successful franchise, and if you pass up your chance in the first round, you will never find that top notch signal caller.

Look, I get why teams want the next Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger, but the odds are stacked against them and you can’t force it upon players. They either have it or they don’t, and trying to create a ‘franchise’ quarterback will only lead to heartbreak, for the team and its fans. Here is a look at all the quarterbacks drafted in the first round between 1999-2009.

The reason I choose to start looking at 1st round quarterbacks, is because of the 1998 draft and the impact of Peyton Manning on the rest of the league. I also chose to begin looking after the ’98 draft, because THAT draft is the perfect dichotomy of RISK (Ryan Leaf) vs. REWARD (Peyton Manning) in drafting a franchise quarterback. Since Manning was drafted, 31 quarterbacks have been selected in the first round and there has been at least one quarterback selected in the top stanza in each of the 11 years, which is the longest such streak since the NFL merger in 1970.

1999:

1. Tim Couch – Browns – 1st pick
2. Donovan McNabb - Eagles - 2nd pick
3. Akili Smith – Bengals - 3rd pick
4. Daunte Culpepper – Vikings - 11th pick
5. Cade McNown – Bears – 12th pick

The allure to find the next Manning was quite prevalent in the first draft after his arrival. Couch, Smith and McNown were all busts and big time washouts in the league. Couch maybe had somewhat of an excuse because he was on an expansion team, but the same can’t be said for Smith or McNown. Culpepper had a couple of great seasons, but all in all ended up being a below average quarterback and not worth the money or draft pick. McNabb is the silver lining among this bunch. He maybe never achieved truly ‘elite’ status, but he has been a very good quarterback for a long time making him well worth the 2nd pick in the draft.

2000:

1. Chad Pennington Jets 18th pick

Pennington was a solid selection for the Jets. He has had his share of injury issues, which knock down his overall value, but has been a good starter when healthy.

2001:

1. Micheal Vick Falcons 1st pick

Even if you can ignore all his legal troubles (which did have a major effect on his on the field value), Micheal Vick has not even come close to being worthy of the top selection in the draft. Even in his prime, Vick was an electrifying player, but a bad quarterback. When you factor in his legal issues and time away from the game, Vick is a major bust. Especially when you figure the 2nd best quarterback in this class was Drew Brees (2nd round), ouch!

2002:

1. David Carr – Texans - 1st pick
2. Joey Harrington – Lions - 3rd pick
3. Patrick Ramsey – Redskins – 32nd pick

Carr and Harrington were two more top 5 busts. Neither ever showed any ability to be a quality starter, much less a franchise quarterback. Ramsey didn’t fare much better at the end of the first round, getting pushed out of DC by another future first round quarterback, Jason Campbell. 20o2 was not the ‘year of the quarterback’, with three picked and three busts to show for it.

2003:

1. Carson Palmer – Bengals – 1st pick
2. Byron Leftwich – Jaguars - 7th pick
3. Kyle Boller – Ravens – 19th pick
4. Rex Grossman – Bears – 22nd pick

’03 wasn’t much better of a quarterback year, Leftwich, Boller and Grossman all washed out with their respective teams (though they do remain in the league as backups). Palmer initially showed flashes of being an elite franchise quarterback, but had a really down year this past season. Palmer might never be a great quarterback, but could end up with a similar career path of McNabb, which makes him worthy of the top selection.

2004:

1. Eli Manning – Giants (t/Chargers) – 1st pick
2. Phillip Rivers – Chargers (t/Giants) – 4th pick
3. Ben Roethlisberger - Steelers – 11th pick
4. J.P. Losman – Bills – 22nd pick

Now 2004 was a fantastic year for quarterbacks, with 3 elite starters coming out of round one (not to mention Schuab was drafted in the 3rd round). A 75% success rate is unheard of for the first round, what’s even more impressive is how successful these quarterbacks have been. All three are top notch, and so far look to be true ‘franchise’ quarterbacks.

2005:

1. Alex Smith – 49ers - 1st pick
2. Aaron Rodgers - Packers – 24th pick
3. Jason Campbell - Redskins – 25th pick

Smith so far has been a major disappointment, though he did have some good starts down the stretch this season for the 49ers. Rodgers had trouble seeing the field his first three seasons, but since then has worked his way up to ‘elite’ quarterback status. Campbell has been solid and a quality starter, but is by no means a ‘franchise’ quarterback.

2006:

1. Vince Young – Titans – 3rd pick
2. Matt Leinart – Cardinals – 10th pick
3. Jay Cutler - Broncos – 11th pick

This draft class was supposed to produce 3 franchise quarterbacks, but so far that hasn’t been the case. Young got off to a great start in his rookie season, but came crashing down to earth in year two. He has started getting his career back on track, but it remains to be seen if he can be a good starting quarterback in the NFL. Leinart lost his job to Kurt Warner, and hasn’t shown too much in spot duty these last couple of years. He will now have the reins of the team with Warner’s retirement, and 2010 will be a make or break year for him. Cutler has been called a ‘franchise’ quarterback plenty. And the Bears even thought enough of him to give up multiple first round picks, additional selections and Kyle Orton before last season, but he has failed to show he is worthy of the ‘franchise’ label. While its too early to say any of these picks were a outright bust, its fair to say that their teams have all been disappointed with their investment (except for what the Broncos got in return for Cutler).

2007:

1. JaMarcus Russell – Raiders – 1st pick
2. Brady Quinn – Browns – 22nd pick

There is not much to pin your hopes on in this draft class. Russell has been downright awful so far, and Quinn hasn’t fared much better. Russell hasn’t shown that he grasps the nuances of the position yet. As for Quinn, the glimmer of hope isn’t completely gone, as part of his problem has been the fact the Browns coaches have inexplicably not allowed Quinn to see the field.

2008:

1. Matt Ryan - Falcons – 3rd pick
2. Joe Flacco – Ravens – 18th pick

So far, so good from this draft class. Ryan had a very impressive rookie season, though had a bit of a sophomore slump. I’d expect him to rebound and potentially put himself in the ‘franchise’ class within the next year or two. Flacco had an average rookie year, but really began to come into his own this past season. If he continues to develop, he shouldn’t be too far behind Ryan in joining the ranks of elite quarterbacks.

2009:

1. Matt Stafford - Lions – 1st pick
2. Mark Sanchez – Jets – 5th pick
3. Josh Freeman – Buccaneers – 17th pick

The early returns on the 2009 draft class aren’t pretty. While few rookie quarterbacks find any or much success, the numbers this trio put up were particularly awful. While hopefully one or two of these guys can be good starters in the NFL, they all have a long way to go. In fairness its too early to begin to proclaim any of these guys as a bust after one season, but some of the warning signs are there.

Later we will take a more indepth look at drafting quarterbacks in the first round and what teams can do to make their investment successful.

QB:

1. Jason Campbell- Washington Redskins: RFA, Campbell hasn’t become an elite starter by any means, but has shown he can be a 2nd tier starter in the NFL. If he goes to a team with some offensive weapons and an actual offensive line, he may lead his team deep into the playoffs.

2. Matt Moore-Carolina Panthers: ERFA, Moore supplanted Jake Delhomme last season as the Panthers starter, and should be the favorite going into this season. As an exclusive rights free agent Moore won’t be going anywhere, but the Panthers should try to lock him up for a couple years, before his price tag gets to crazy.

3. Kyle Orton-Denver Broncos: RFA, Orton had a nice first year with the Broncos, but could very well end up being the scapegoat their for their collapse. The Broncos will probably look to keep Orton as a restricted free agent for another season, but he could be on borrowed time. Orton is a solid quarterback, and probably could be successful if given enough of an opportunity.

4. Bruce Gradkowski-Oakland Raiders: RFA, Gradkowski was impressive for the Raiders before getting hurt against the Redskins. He single-handily knocked the Steelers out of the Super Bowl, by beating them in Pittsburgh late in the season. If the Raiders are smart they would give the reins to Gradkowski for a season, and see what they have.

5. Chad Pennington-Miami Dolphins: UFA, Pennington is the top unrestricted free agent, and really the last quarterback who can start on a regular basis in the NFL. Pennington should get plenty of interest from teams in transition, or developing a young quarterback. He doesn’t have a big arm, but he’s very accurate and smart.

Overall I’d expect Pennington and Campbell to change teams this offseason. The Panthers and Raiders can’t afford to let their guys go, and the Broncos will try to get the most out of the Jay Cutler deal as possible. Unlike most positions, I wouldn’t expect a boost in talent due to players who are cut. Their might be a couple veterans, but no one who should be starting 16 games.

RB:

1. Pierre Thomas-New Orleans Saints- RFA, Thomas was a major piece of the puzzle for the World Champion Saints this season. He is a tough running back, who can also be an effective part of the passing attack. If he was an unrestricted free agent he would get plenty of attention, but its doubtful he’s wearing a different uniform next season.

2. Leon Washington-New York Jets-RFA, Washington is a great utility back that can fill the role of Wildcat, return man, 3rd down back. In addition, Washington is very effective catching the ball out the the backfield and should be a nice weapon for Mark Sanchez next season. I don’t think the Jets will let him leave, even though it  might mean they have to cut Thomas Jones.

3. Darren Sproles- San Diego Chargers-RFA, Sproles is a fantastic scat back who is a threat to go the distance anytime he gets the ball in space. Most people would think he should go higher on this list, but Sproles was exposed as a running back last season. He can’t carry the load of an offense and needs to be used in special circumstances.

4. Chestor Taylor-Minnesota Vikings-UFA, Taylor like Pennington gets a huge boost in his stock because he is unrestricted. He never got much of a chance to prove himself in Minnesota, but should be a solid 2nd option in a two horse attack.

5. Jerome Harrison-Cleveland Browns-RFA, Harrison finished the year extremely strong and it should translate into a nice extension with the Browns. Harrison isn’t a complete runner, but is a pretty good option that allows the Browns to move running back down their need list.

6.  Jason Snelling-Atlanta Falcons-RFA, Snelling isn’t a game breaker, but he showed he can handle the load last season for the Falcons when Turner went down.

7. Mike Bell-New Orleans Saints-RFA, Bell showed some solid ability as Thomas’s caddy last season. Not an every down starter, he is a good back-up who can get 5-10 carries a game.

8. LenDale White-Tennessee Titans-RFA, White might be available despite being a restricted free agent given his run-ins with the coaching staff there. He’s not been happy watching Chris Johnson become a star and take away all his carries. He might get more work somewhere else, but won’t ever be an every down starter.

9. Cadillac Williams-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-RFA, Williams should be ranked much higher on talent alone, but injuries and inconsistency does drop him quite a bit. Williams should be given a shot to be a top running back, but its hard to imagine him staying healthy a full season.

10. Jerious Norwood-Atlanta Falcons-RFA, Norwood is a solid option catching the ball out of the back field and as a change of pace back.

Like every position, the running backs are severely limited by the uncapped season, making a number of them restricted free agents. Now there should be a number of players released that should add a lot of depth to this position. Some backs who could be released include, Clinton Portis, Thomas Jones, LaDainian Tomlinson, and maybe Reggie Bush.

Quarterbacks:

1. Jimmy Clausen- 1^st round, Notre Dame
2. Sam Bradford- 1^st round, Oklahoma
3. Tony Pike-2^nd round, Cincinnati
4. Colt McCoy-2^nd-3^rd round, Texas
5. Tim Tebow-2^nd-3^rd round, Florida
6. Jevan Snead-2^nd-4^th round, Ole Miss
7. Dan LeFevour-3^rd-4^th round, Central Michigan
8. Sean Canfield-4^th round, Oregon State
9. Bill Stull-4^th-5^th round, Pittsburgh
10. Jarrett Brown-5^th round, West Virginia
11. John Skelton-5^th-6^th round, Fordham
12. Max Hall-6^th round BYU
13. Tim Hiller-7^th round, Western Michigan
14. Zac Robinson-FA, OK State
15. Joe Webb-FA, UAB
16. Levi Brown-FA, Troy
17. Ryan Perrilloux-FA, Jacksonville St
18. Jon Compton-FA, Tennessee
19. Mike Kafka-FA, Northwestern

Right now Jimmy Clausen has separated himself from the pack and should be the top quarterback taken in April. His big arm, and ability to play in a more pro style offense moves him ahead of Sam Bradford. Bradford’s arm injury also should give teams in the early part of Round 1 some cause for concern. While there are some holes in their games, I do think both Clausen and and Bradford are first round talents and could be Franchise quarterbacks down the line. While most people think the quarterback talent stops after Bradford in this class, I feel a couple of these arms will surprise some people. It would not shock me at all to see 3-4 of these quarterbacks (outside the first rounders) end up as good starters 3 years from now. Pike and McCoy are the next closest from the bunch, and may be ready to start within a year. Neither one possesses incredible arm strength, but both have the intangibles needed for the NFL. McCoy in particular reminds me of a right-handed Mark Brunell. Jevan Snead has taken a beating for coming out early, but he has all the tools needed to succeed at the next level if he finds a team that will be patient with him. Dan LeFevour I think could be the best quarterback of this group, and I see him developing into a top notch quarterback. LeFevour has a good (but not great) arm, and always makes smart decisions. He also has the mobility and foot speed to pick up chunks of yards on the ground, when nothing is open down field. Two senior quarterbacks, Sean Canfield and Bill Stull, stepped up their games this year and moved themselves into mid-round consideration. As for late-round targets, two names to keep an eye on are John Skelton and Max Hall. Hall is a gamer, and an extremely accurate passer. Unfortunately for Hall he stands just about 6 feet tall, making it unlikely he can transition into the pro game as a starter. Skelton on the other hand has no problems with his 6’5″ size, just his mechanics. His arm strength is spectacular (probably the best in the class), but he is a very raw prospect, that will need plenty of work to turn into a starter.

Running backs:

1. C.J. Spiller-1^st round, Clemson
2. Jahvid Best-1^st-2^nd round, California
3. Jonathan Dwyer-1^st-2^nd round, Georgia Tech
4. Montario Hardesty-2^nd round, Tennessee
5. Antonio Dixon-2^nd round, Mississippi State
6. Toby Gerhart-2^nd-3^rd round, Stanford
7. Joe McKnight-2^nd-3^rd round, USC
8. Ryan Mathews- 2^nd-3^rd round, Fresno State
9. Ben Tate-3^rd round, Auburn
10. Charles Scott-3^rd-4^th round, LSU
11. Javarris James-4^th round, Miami
12. James Starks-4^th-5^th round, Buffalo
13. Dexter McCluster-4^th-5^th round, Ole Miss
14. Chris Brown-5^th-6^th round, Oklahoma
15. Stafon Johnson-6^th round, USC
16. Keiland Williams, 6^th round, LSU
17. LeGarrett Blount,6^th-7^th round, Oregon
18. Curtis Steele, 7^th round, Memphis
19. Damion Fletcher, 7^th round, Southern Miss
20. Keith Totson, 7^th round, OK State
21. Shawnbrey McNeal, 7^th round, SMU
22. Brandon Minor, 7^th round, Michigan
23. Brandon James, 7^th round, Florida
24. Joique Bell, 7^th round-FA, Wayne State
25. Trindon Holliday, 7^th round-FA, LSU

This year’s running back class, lacks ‘star’ power and overall depth, but has a lot of interesting guys in the top 15. Any of the top 8 backs could be a feature back by year two. Spiller and Best are the home run hitters of this class, and have the added benefit of being return men. Dwyer and Dixon are your grind it out running backs, capable of getting the ball 25 times a game. Hardesty is a tough back that really seems to be getting overlooked in some circles. Gerhart should be in the mix with Dwyer and Dixon, but he’s the type of player that is consistently underrated. He might not have top end speed or the best short shuffle time, but when he runs, he runs like John Riggins and I think he has that high of a ceiling. Ryan Mathews is another back who should probably go higher then I have him rated, and he should have a bright future in the NFL, but he needs to learn some of the finer points of being a running back. His vision and decision making are average at best, and will need to improve to become an every down runner. McKnight is a back that has all the physical skill, size and speed, but lacks the intangibles to be an elite prospect. I still think he’ll come off the board in the 2nd or 3rd round given his pedigree (possibly by his old college coach Pete Carroll), but has a major bust label looming. One mid-round guy that warrants more attention is McCluster, a running back/receiver/return man hybrid. He will never be an every down back at the next level, but should excel in a specialty role (similar to Sproles and L. Washington), and in fact might be even better given his work as a wide receiver. Blount and Fletcher are two late-round guys, who should be going 4-5 rounds higher if not for off the field incidents. If they can show that they have pulled their lives together, they could end up being good late round steals.

Remember this is just a first look at where these guys should rank. We will get into greater detail on players and positions as the draft gets closer.