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Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook: NFL Draft Big Board

Bradley Ylitalo Posted On April 23, 2018
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The dynasty community has become my new home. But the NFL draft was my first love. I’ve scouted 200 prospects, and am now bringing you my top 100 big board. I hope this makes you more prepared for Thursday and Friday night, and can make your draft experience just a little bit more enjoyable.

If you have a question about why I’m higher or lower on a prospect that you’d expect, please leave a comment below and I’ll try to answer as best I can. Here they are: my final NFL draft rankings!

1) Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State

I’ve been scouting the draft for three years now. Saquon Barkley is the best talent I’ve come across. On and off the field, this kid is special. He’s got zero holes in his game and will add some immediate star power to whatever top ten team takes him.

2) Quenton Nelson, OG Notre Dame

Quenton Nelson and Saquon Barkley are inches away in terms of talent. Because of position though, their many miles apart when it comes to hype. He won’t be a sexy pick, but he’ll be one of the safest. Nelson will immediately upgrade any team’s offense.

3) Bradley Chubb, EDGE North Carolina State

Go back a few years and it was Bradley’s brother Nick getting a majority of the talk. That’s not the case anymore. Chubb has developed into one of the better pure pass rushers I’ve ever seen. He should be in for many double digit sack campaigns.

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4) Tremaine Edmunds, LB Virginia Tech

Hands down, Tremaine Edmunds is my favorite defender in this draft. He fits the term prototype in every conceivable way. The Hokie is 6’5, 250 lbs, and 19 years old. With his athleticism, strength, and fluidity that gives him amazing versatility, his arrow is pointing straight up.

5) Josh Rosen, QB California Los Angeles

Josh Rosen comes with some apparent question marks. But his talent on tape speaks a lot louder if you’re asking me. He’s got a combination of mechanics, footwork, and accuracy that is rarely found. The finest pocket passer in this draft, Rosen is ready to step in on day one and contribute.

6) Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS Alabama

Everyone seems to love Minkah Fitzpatrick, and why not? Similar to Edmunds, the Bama product is exactly what you want in a modern prospect. His size, tremendous hips, and effortless athleticism will make him extremely valuable for any defensive coordinator. His ideal position is yet to be set, but it doesn’t really matter. He’ll be a star.

7) Derwin James, SS Florida State

Derwin James is just a special, special talent. He was a pre-season top ten prospect and showed why week in and week out. Man and zone coverage, run defense, football instincts, straight line speed, ball skills, tackling, he truly has it all.

8) Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State

With Fitzpatrick as a safety, Denzel Ward becomes the second straight Buckeye to be my CB1. If Ward can be half as good a rookie as his former teammate Marshon Lattimore, he’ll be a good pick. Ward lacks just a bit height wise but makes up for it with the best blend of hip quickness, speed, and ball skills in this class.

9) Sam Darnold, QB Southern California

Every quarterback in this class has their own flaws. Darnold just might have the most minor. Footwork isn’t an easy fix, but we’ve seen plenty of signal callers work around this to have outstanding careers. With his accuracy, pocket presence, and mechanics, he should be able to as well. I have absolutely no problem spending a top-five pick on this young man.

10) Roquan Smith, ILB Georgia

They don’t make them much more solid than Roquan Smith. He was the lifeblood of that Georgia defense and should carry that with him in the NFL. Smith is the perfect mix of old-fashioned mike linebacker toughness with modern coverage skills and range. You don’t regret taking prospects like this one.

11) Josh Allen, QB Wyoming

Bring on the hate. I get it, many people do not like Josh Allen’s game. But there’s a reason us analysts love his NFL future. You just don’t see players with his tools coming out every year. At the game’s most important position, Allen has the highest ceiling in this draft.

12) Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma

Allen and Mayfield bring totally different backgrounds, yet should both be top ten picks. Mayfield won hearts of fans all over the country with his historic Senior season that ended in that heartbreaking loss to Georgia. If his height doesn’t slow him down, he’ll be a franchise quarterback very quickly.

13) Joshua Jackson, CB Iowa

There’s really nothing to worry about with Joshua Jackson. With how badly NFL teams need serviceable corners, the Hawkeye is deservedly so, a hot commodity. His 4.56 forty wasn’t exceptional by any means, but will be more than enough to make him well worth a top 20 selection.

14) Derrius Guice, RB Louisiana State

He didn’t live up to the hype put on him as the heir apparent to Leonard Fournette. Don’t look at the box score with Derrius Guice, as they don’t come close to describing his talent. Whoever lands this kid is getting an instant weapon who should be a long time workhorse.

15) Marcus Davenport, EDGE Texas San-Antonio

Freak. That’s the word that comes to mind with Marcus Davenport. At 6’6, 260 lbs, he’s going to stand out, even on an NFL field. Consider his scary strength and speed, and you can see why quarterbacks are going to have nightmares before games. Davenport will be a very strong mid-first round selection.

16) Harold Landry, EDGE Boston College

Davenport will go right through you, Harold Landry views pass-rushing as more of an art form. His 6’2 frame is concerning, but his unbelievable quickness off the ball more than compensates. With his speed and bend, he’s got the tools to become a perennial pro-bowler.

17) Da’Ron Payne, NT/DT Alabama

Da’Ron Payne is ready for NFL football. Evidenced by his play in the CFP, he’s just on a whole nother level physically. You just don’t find prospects with his size, quickness, and pure power. Payne will need to sharpen up his game in his early years, but he’ll be a long-term difference maker.

18) Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame

I was really surprised Mike McGlinchey didn’t come out in 2017. He’s been an NFL talent for a long time now. A two-time Notre Dame captain and All-American, McGlinchey brings with a very well rounded toolset. Much like his partner in crime Quenton Nelson, he’ll be a welcome addition on any offensive line.

19) Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama

It’s not all that common that we have to wait until 19 to see our first wide receiver. Calvin Ridley’s not a tremendous prospect because of his age (23), but his talent on film still makes him this drafts’ number one wide-out. He won’t have much time to learn how to play in the NFL. With his pure speed and route running though, Ridley shouldn’t have much trouble producing.

20) Maurice Hurst, NT/DT Michigan

I’m not just saying this: Maurice Hurst may have been the most dominant defender in college football. He didn’t just clog up running lanes, he destroyed entire rushing attacks. If not for frame concerns, I’d have zero issues with listing him in the top ten.

21) Kolton Miller, OT California Los Angeles

If you’re looking for a player who’s shown the ability to improve, Kolton Miller’s your man. The growth I saw from early-season play to his bowl game was really fun to watch. He still needs some refining and coaching up, but he’s got a great shot to be the best tackle in this group.

22) James Daniels, C Iowa

In a very good pool of talent along the interior offensive line, James Daniels stands out. This kid has upside and lots of it. He may lack the functional every-play strength to be an instant star, but he’ll get there soon enough. I know that these picks can be boring, but it’s just not the case with Daniels.

23) Conor Williams, OT Texas

Whichever team scoops up Conor Williams will feel like they came out as winners. With numerous teams looking for quality offensive tackles, he’ll be a hot name on draft night. Williams’ injury suffered this season hurt his stock some, but wasn’t enough to force him out of round one. If his knee issues don’t resurface, we could be looking at a franchise pass protector.

24) Rashaan Evans, ILB Alabama

Make it four Nick Saban products in the top 25, and they all absolutely deserve it. If Evans can clean up his bad risk-taking, he will become one of the most prolific run stoppers in the league. He’s got the athleticism and technique to be a difference maker in the pass game as well. He’ll be a fun one to watch.

25) Vita Vea, NT Washington

Once you get past 20, it’s not common to find players who could be year one pro-bowlers. Vita Vea isn’t your average prospect. At 6’4, 347 lbs, he’ll more often than not be the most physically imposing player on the field. His lack of high-end burst may limit his long-term potential, but at least you know what you’re getting.

26) Leighton Vander Esch, SAM Boise State

27) Mike Hughes, CB Central Florida

28) DJ Moore, WR Maryland

29) Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville

30) Jaire Alexander, CB Louisville

31) Justin Reid, FS Stanford

32) Courtland Sutton, WR Southern Methodist

33) Isaiah Wynn, OG Georgia

34) Dallas Goedert, TE South Dakota State

35) Isaiah Oliver, CB Colorado

36) Sam Hubbard, EDGE Ohio State

37) Taven Bryan, DT Florida

38) Christian Kirk, WR Texas A&M

39) Rasheem Green, DT Southern California

40) Arden Key, EDGE Louisiana State

41) Donte Jackson, CB Louisiana State

42) Mason Rudolph, QB Oklahoma State

43) Ronnie Harrison, SS Alabama

44) Harrison Phillips, NT/DT Stanford

45) Sony Michel, RB Georgia

46) Jessie Bates, FS Wake Forest

47) M.J. Stewart, CB North Carolina

48) James Washington, WR Oklahoma State

49) Will Hernandez, OG Texas El-Paso

50) Lorenzo Carter, EDGE Georgia

51) Geron Christian, OT Louisville

52) Billy Price, C Ohio State

53) Nick Chubb, RB Georgia

54) Ronald Jones, RB Southern California

55) Carlton Davis, CB Auburn

56) Mike Gesicki, TE Penn State

57) D.J. Chark, WR Louisiana State

58) Brian O’Neill, OT Pittsburgh

59) Hayden Hurst, TE South Carolina

60) Frank Ragnow, C Arkansas

61) Anthony Miller, WR Memphis

62) Breeland Speaks, 3-4 DE Ole Miss

63) Anthony Averett, CB Alabama

64) Martinas Rankin, OT Mississippi State

65) Tarvarus McFadden, CB Florida State

66) Josh Sweat, EDGE Florida State

67) Darius Leonard, ILB South Carolina State

68) Mark Andrews, TE Oklahoma

69) Kerryon Johnson, RB Auburn

70) Duke Dawson, CB Florida

71) Tyrell Crosby, OT Oregon

72) Desmond Harrison, OT West Georgia

73) Tim Settle, NT Virginia Tech

74) Deon Cain, WR Clemson

75) Dante Pettis, WR Washington

76) Terrell Edmunds, SS Virginia Tech

77) Rashaad Penny, RB San Diego State

78) Orlando Brown Jr., OT Oklahoma

79) Uchenna Nwosu, SAM Southern California

80) Jalyn Holmes, 3-4 DE Ohio State

81) B.J. Hill, NT North Carolina State

82) J.C. Jackson, CB Maryland

83) Tre’Quan Smith, WR Central Florida

84) Austin Corbett, OG Nevada

85) Rashaan Gaulden, CB Tennessee

86) Armani Watts, SS Texas A&M

87) Malik Jefferson, SAM Texas

88) Chukwuma Okorafor, OT Western Michigan

89) Avonte Maddox, CB Pittsburgh

90) Will Richardson, OT North Carolina State

91) Michael Gallup, WR Colorado State

92) Godwin Igwebuike, SS Northwestern

93) Josey Jewell, ILB Iowa

94) Kemoko Turay, EDGE Rutgers

95) Chad Thomas, 3-4 DE Miami

96) Jamarco Jones, OT Ohio State

97) Isaac Yiadom, CB Boston College

98) Joseph Noteboom, OT Texas Christian

99) Kyzir White, SS West Virginia

100) DaeSean Hamilton, WR Penn State

That wraps up this edition of “Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook”. Please leave a comment or question about a specific prospect, or fit for your team, below. Feel free to shoot me a question on Twitter (@NFL_Drafthub), I’m always happy to interact with football fans. See you next time!

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Bradley Ylitalo
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