NFL Draft rankings: Joel Klatt's top five players at each position
As we get started in the 2015 NFL Draft process, I am struck by how many quality players are available. This class is again deep at wide receiver and offensive tackle, but the quarterbacks will get all of the attention.
The thing that makes this process so difficult is rarely do you see a player that is truly independent of needing the right NFL fit. Every year we see rookies that are drafted late in the draft make rosters and make an impact mostly because they strike the lottery and get with an organization that is a perfect fit for them.
With that being said, here is my initial rankings of the top five players at each position. I am sure this will change a bit during the process, but what I love about this version more than others is that it is purely based on what I see from these players on the field and around their college programs. These rankings are not inflated because someone runs fast or jumps high in a pair of shorts. So here we go!
In addition to the rankings below, check out my top 50 overall players in the Big Board.
* -- Junior who declared for draft early
** -- Red-shirt sophomore who declared for draft early
QUARTERBACKS
1. Marcus Mariota* -- Oregon
2. Jameis Winston** -- Florida State
3. Sean Mannion -- Oregon State
4. Bryce Petty -- Baylor
5. Brett Hundley* -- UCLA
On Deck: Garrett Grayson -- Colorado State
RUNNING BACKS
1. Melvin Gordon* -- Wisconsin
2. Tevin Coleman* -- Indiana
3. Ameer Abdullah -- Nebraska
4. Javorius Allen* -- USC
5. TJ Yeldon* -- Alabama
On Deck: Todd Gurley* -- Georgia (when healthy, he will be number No. 2)
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Amari Cooper* -- Alabama
2. Kevin White -- West Virginia
3. Jaelen Strong* -- Arizona State
4. DeVante Parker -- Louisville
5. Devin Funchess* -- Michigan
On Deck: Ty Montgomery -- Stanford
TIGHT ENDS
1. Maxx Williams** -- Minnesota
2. Jeff Heurman -- Ohio State
3. Nick O'Leary -- Florida State
4. Clive Walford -- Miami
5. Wes Saxton -- So. Alabama
On Deck: EJ Bibbs -- Iowa State
Note: Devin Funchess may be evaluated as a tight end and would immediately be vaulted to No. 1 on this board. He played the entire year at wide receiver for Michigan and would be a fine NFL player at that spot, but he has drawn comparisons to Jimmy Graham if he were to move to tight end.
TACKLES
1. Brandon Scherff -- Iowa
2. Andrus Peat* -- Stanford
3. La'el Collins -- LSU
4. Cedric Ogbuehi -- Texas A&M
5. Ereck Flowers* -- Miami
On Deck: Ty Sambrailo -- Colorado State
GUARDS
1. AJ Cann -- South Carolina
2. Josue Matias -- Florida State
3. Arie Kouandjio -- Alabama
4. Tre' Jackson -- Florida State
5. John Miller -- Louisville
On Deck: Jarvis Harrison -- Texas A&M
CENTERS
1. Reese Dismukes -- Auburn
2. Cameron Erving -- Florida State
3. BJ Finney -- Kansas State
4. Hroniss Grasu -- Oregon
5. Andy Gallik -- Boston College
On Deck: David Andrews -- Georgia
SAFETIES
1. Landon Collins* -- Alabama
2. Cody Prewitt -- Ole Miss
3. Gerod Holliman* -- Louisville
4. Derron Smith -- Fresno State
5. Kurtis Drummond -- Michigan State
On Deck: Jaquiski Tartt -- Stanford
CORNERBACKS
1. Trae Waynes* -- Michigan State
2. Marcus Peters* -- Washington
3. PJ Williams* -- Florida State
4. Jalen Collins* -- LSU
5. Alex Carter* -- Stanford
On Deck: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu -- Oregon (will be No. 2 once healthy)
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. Benardrick McKinney* -- Mississippi State
2. Eric Kendricks -- UCLA
3. Denzel Perryman -- Miami
4. Ben Heeney -- Kansas
5. Ramik Wilson -- Georgia
On Deck: Stephone Anthony -- Clemson
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
1. Vic Beasley -- Clemson
2. Shane Ray* -- Missouri
3. Dante Fowler Jr.* -- Florida
4. Shaq Thompson* -- Washington
5. Hau'oli Kikaha -- Washington
On Deck: Paul Dawson -- TCU
DEFENSIVE ENDS
1. Randy Gregory* -- Nebraska
2. Alvin Dupree -- Kentucky
3. Nate Orchard -- Utah
4. Arik Armstead* -- Oregon
5. Danielle Hunter* -- LSU
On Deck: Eli Harold* -- Virginia
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Leonard Williams* -- USC
2. Danny Shelton -- Washington
3. Malcom Brown* -- Texas
4. Eddie Goldman -- Florida State
5. Michael Bennett -- Ohio State
On Deck: Jordan Phillips** -- Oklahoma
1. WR
2. S
3. RB
4. OLB
5. CB
6. QB
7. C
8. DT
9. OT
10. DE
11. OG
12. ILB
13. TE