December 11th First Round Projection

[Matthew Jones]

Here are the 32 players I think are going to be selected in the first round this April, in some order, listed alphabetically by position. These aren't my personal rankings, just who I think will make up the first round of picks when all is said and done:

1. QB Matt Barkley, Southern California

2. QB Geno Smith, West Virginia

3. QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

4. WR Keenan Allen, California*

5. WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia

6. WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee*

7. TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame*

8. OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan

9. OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M*

10. OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan*

11. OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M*

12. OG Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina

13. OG Chance Warmack, Alabama

14. DT Johnathan Hankins, Ohio St.*

15. DT John Jenkins, Georgia

16. DT Star Lotulelei, Utah

17. DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri*

18. DE Ezekiel Ansah, Brigham Young

19. DE Dion Jordan, Oregon

20. DE Sam Montgomery, Louisiana St.*

21. DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M*

22. DE Bjoern Werner, Florida St.*

23. LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia*

24. LB Barkevious Mingo, Louisiana St.*

25. LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama*

26. LB Alec Ogletree, Georgia*

27. LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

28. LB Chase Thomas, Stanford

29. CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi St.

30. CB Dee Milliner, Alabama*

31. CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida St.*

32. FS Eric Reid, Louisiana St.*

[descendency]

I think you left off Manti Te'o?

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by descendency

I think you left off Manti Te'o?

Good catch, removed Robert Woods.

[Matthew Jones]

Also replaced Terrance Williams in favor of Alec Ogletree.

[Big_Pete]

Nice list

There are quite a few quality players that didnt make the cut

Here are a few from Kiper's big board

WR Cordarelle Patterson*
DT Shariff Floyd*
LB Anthony Barr*
LB Khaseem Greene
S Kenny Vaccaro

It is shaping up as a heck of a defensive draft

[Big_Pete]

The positional breakdown is quite interesting

3 QB
4 RB/WR/TE
6 OL
9 DL
6 LB
4 DB

Thats probably a fair representation of the strength of the draft class at this stage.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by Big_Pete

The positional breakdown is quite interesting

3 QBs
4 Offensive skill positional players
6 Offensive linemen

9 Defensive linemen
6 Linebackers
4 Defensive backs

And even though Matthew has listed them as LBs, some of those are either pure rush linebackers or undersized DEs. So the reality is the DL number will be quite high this year.

[princefielder28]

Eifert and Reid would be the two names I'd argue most on the list. Reid is more of an in-the-box safety, suggesting that skill set isn't intriguing enough to be a first round selection, and with Eifert he's talented but he's not even the prospect that Kyle Rudolph was; it's so difficult for tight ends to break into the first round.

[JoeJoeBrown]

I always look forward to your projections, Mr Jones.

If Roby out of OSU declares do you see him as a first rounder?

[holt_bruce81]

Nice list, always enjoy reading your rankings. I think I would have Cordarelle Patterson up there.

[Leon Sandcastle]

Very strong year for OL/DL.

[Babylon]

I would be ok with Robert Woods (Seattle). Chase Thomas, who i like as a player, isn't first round material. Trent Murphy if he were to declare out of Stanford would be the better choice i think.