Top prospects (by position) in the 2014 NFL Draft

Atlanta Falcons

Top prospects (by position) in the 2014 NFL Draft

AJC Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter lists the top five prospects at each position in the 2014 NFL Draft (May 8-10 in New York).

Justin Gilbert, KR, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 202 pounds: Gilbert set the Big 12 record with six career kickoff returns for touchdowns. In 2013 against Kansas, Gilbert returned the opening kickoff for a 100-yard score. Three of his other kickoff returns for touchdowns went for 89 yards or longer.

Bruce Ellington, KR, South Carolina, 5-9, 197 pounds: Ellington played basketball and football for the Gamecocks over the past three seasons. He was the primary kick returner in 2011 and 2012 and still handled punts after he emerged as the Gamecocks’ top wide receiver 2013.

Dri Archer, KR, Kent State, 5-8, 173 pounds: Archer did it all as a running back/wide receiver/returner. His 40-yard dash time of 4.26 seconds is second only to Chris Johnson since the combine started recording times in 1999.

De’Anthony Thomas, KR, Oregon, 5-9, 174 pounds: Thomas handled kickoffs and punts for the Ducks and had three career returns for touchdowns in three seasons.

Chris Boswell, K, Rice, 6-2, 185 pounds: In four seasons at Rice, Boswell was 51-for-65 on field-goal attempts, with a long of 57. Boswell also handled kickoffs and forced 121 touchbacks on 224 tries.

Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn, 6-foot-5, 332 pounds: Robinson is a big, fast and powerful blocker. He seeks to dominate his defender and drive him into the ground. He left school as a third-year sophomore and still has a lot to learn about pass protection. He is the most athletically gifted of the linemen in the draft

Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan, 6-7, 309 pounds: He’s the meanest and nastiest of the top offensive line prospects.

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M, 6-7, 309 pounds: Son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, who played 19 years in the NFL. May be a bit over-hyped, but is still a super-strong prospect.

Zack Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame, 6-4, 308 pounds: Some scouts believe that he doesn’t have the long arms (33 inches or more) or wide-enough wingspan to play tackle in the NFL. NFLDraftScout.com rates him as the top guard prospect. He is light on his feet and maneuvers well.

Joel Bitonio, OG, Nevada, 6-4, 302 pounds: He impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl with his work inside at guard and center. Bitonio (70) is a nasty and emphatic finisher of blocks. He started at left tackle the past three seasons. He was a first-team all-conference pick in 2013. Arm length is good at 33-7/8 inches.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson, 6-foot-1, 211 pounds: He was the fourth freshman to earn first-team Associated Press All-American honors, joining Herschel Walker, Marshall Faulk and Adrian Peterson. He’s considered to have similar traits to Detroit Lions standout Calvin Johnson, a former Georgia Tech star; Cincinnati’s A.J. Green, a former Georgia star; and Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. He had a dazzling 16 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio State in the Orange Bowl.

Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M, 6-5, 231 pounds: When Johnny Manziel was running around in the pocket and found himself in danger, Evans usually bailed him out. In 2013, Evans averaged 20 yards per catch and had monster games against Alabama and Auburn. A former basketball player with excellent hands, he runs well after the catch.

Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State, 5-10, 189 pounds: The former Junior Olympic sprinter ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at the combine. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver last season. He caught 128 passes for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He also is a dangerous punt returner.

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU, 5-10, 189 pounds: Beckham Sr. was a running back for the Tigers (1989-92). Junior won the Paul Hornung Award in 2013 as the nation’s most versatile player after breaking the school-record for most all-purpose yards. He amassed 2,315 yards as a receiver, punt and kickoff returner.

Marqise Lee, WR, USC, 6-0, 192 pounds: He had three spectacular seasons for the Trojans. In 2012, he won the Biletnikoff Award, the Paul Warfield Award and was the named the Pac-12’s offensive player of the year after having 118 catches for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns. In part because of quarterback play and injuries, his production dipped last season, as he had only 57 catches for 791 yards and four touchdowns.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, 6-foot-6, 266 pounds, South Carolina: He is considered the most athletically gifted player to enter the draft in decades. His work ethic has been questioned by scouts, but some teams are not alarmed.

Khalil Mack, DE, 6-3, 251, Buffalo: He only had one college offer coming out of Fort Pierce, Fla. Skeptics contended that he would be just another good linebacker in the Big Ten before Buffalo faced Ohio State last season.

Anthony Barr, LB, 6-5, 255, UCLA: He’s a converted running back.

Dee Ford, DE, 6-2, 252, Auburn: He’s a tenacious and self-confident rusher.

Demarcus Lawrence, DE, 6-3, 251, Boise State: Started his career at Butler Community College in Kansas. The South Carolina native picked Boise State over Clemson, Tennessee, South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Blake Bortles, QB, 6-5, 232 pounds, Central Florida: American Athletic Conference coaches picked Bortles over Teddy Bridgewater as 2013 league player of the year. Bortles led the Knights to victories at Penn State and Louisville and against Baylor at the Fiesta Bowl. Bortles has great size for his position and also is a good athlete—he had the best vertical jump (32.5 inches) and broad jump (115 inches) were among the best marks for top prospects at the combine.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, 6-2, 214, Louisville: Bridgewater was the 2012 Big East offensive player of the year as a sophomore.

Johnny Manziel, QB, 5-11, 207, Texas A&M: Manziel won the Heisman Trophy in 2012, becoming the first freshman to do so, and also was SEC offensive player of the year.

Derek Carr, QB, 6-2, 214, Fresno State: Carr’s brother, David, was the No. 1 overall pick by Houston in 2002.

Tom Savage, QB, 6-4, 228, Pittsburgh: Played at Rutgers as a freshman and set Big East records for passing yards (2,211) and touchdowns (14) for a true first-year player.

1/25

Justin Gilbert, KR, Oklahoma State, 6-0, 202 pounds: Gilbert set the Big 12 record with six career kickoff returns for touchdowns. In 2013 against Kansas, Gilbert returned the opening kickoff for a 100-yard score. Three of his other kickoff returns for touchdowns went for 89 yards or longer.

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