Welcome everybody to the first edition of my NFL draft’s big board of top prospects. I will be updating my big board throughout the next couple of months after the senior bowl, the combine and all the way up to the draft. It’s a work in progress so if you have any comments or you feel somebody is too high or too low please feel free to comment and let me know. Thank you and enjoy.

    1. Patrick Peterson-CB LSU. The clear cut number 1 overall player. Shut down corner with great change of direction skills and somebody that can play bump and run or zone coverage. Established kick returner that can improve any team’s special teams.
    1. Nick Fairley-DT Auburn. The second best defensive player in the draft, dominated every lineman he faced. Great hands and excellent point of attack skills. He can play the nose or the off tackle and be dominant. Fairly unproven with only one year of production.
    1. DeQuan Bowers-DE Clemson. Bowers came out of nowhere to dominate the ACC. Big guy with excellent feet and hands and speed. He can bull rush and be a finesse defensive end. Great hands that allow him to disengage blocks well. Fairly unproven as well with only one year of production.
    1. AJ Green-WR Georgia. Prototypical WR with excellent size, hands and speed. Big enough to sustain blocks on the outside and athletic enough to beat double teams and catch the ball at its highest point. Think Calvin Johnson.
    1. Marcell Dareus-DT Alabama. The anchor for Nick Saban’s 3-4 alignment. Big frame that can disengage blocks and eat up space. Prototypical nose tackle for a 3-4 with production to back it up. He should be off the board early with so many teams going to the 3-4.
    1. Prince Amukamara-CB Nebraska. Excellent corner with great speed, hands and the ability to get off blocks and make tackles. Can play bump and run or zone. Should push Peterson for first CB off the board.
    1. Robert Quinn-DE UNC. Explosive player with great hands and feet and the ability to disengage blocks. Strong enough for a bull rush and fast enough to rush the outside. Can play the 4-3 or the 3-4. Would be higher on the board if not for suspension.
    1. Blaine Gabbart-QB Missouri. Took over as top quarterback after Andrew Luck went back to school. The Mel Kiper and Todd McShay endorsed pick. Big guy with a big arm but has showed inconsistency with passes.
    1. Cameron Heyward-DE OSU. 4 year starter with excellent hands and feet. Strong enough for the bull rush and quick enough to rush the outside. Can anchor and stop the run and very durable. Great lineage with dad playing in the NFL.
    1. Adrian Clayborn-DE Iowa. Prototypical 4-3 defensive end that can bull rush and rush the outside. Struggles at anchoring against the run but will get better as he gets stronger.
    1. Jake Locklear-QB Washington. Former top 5 pick that struggled his senior year. Big arm that can make all the throws. Needs to work on consistency with passes and recognizing blitzes. With good combine and senior bowl he should regain his status as a top 5 pick.
    1. Mark Ingram-RB Alabama. Former Heisman winner with enough speed to make it in the NFL. Big frame to hold up for a whole season, he can be a 30-35 carry guy a game. Excellent pro with a great track record.
    1. Justin Houston-DE-OLB Georgia. DE that will project to an OLB in a 3-4. Excellent rush skills with enough strength to engage at the point of attack.
    1. Von Miller-LB- Texas A&M. Hybrid pass rusher that will go early. Rising up boards with senior bowl performance.
    1. Cam Newton-QB Auburn. Heisman winner that came out of nowhere this year. Great leader that thrives under pressure. Will be a project player in the NFL and have to prove he can make all the throws. Has character questions but should be able to maintain in the NFL.
    1. Mike Pouncey-OG-C. Great run blocker with ok pass protection skills. Will project to guard in the NFL and will thrive in a run first system. Strong enough to sustain blocks and quick enough to pull and get in the second level.
    1. Nate Solder-OT Colorado. Fast rising prospect that is dominating at the senior bowl. Big guy with a frame that will continue to grow. Strong enough to hold off the bull rush but quick enough to hold off the speed rush.
    1. Julio Jones-WR Alabama. 3 year starter with great hands and size. Has enough speed for the next level and tough enough to fight through injuries and stay on the field.
    1. Aaron Williams-CB Texas. Fast corner with excellent change of direction skills. Can play bump and run or zone coverage.
    1. Ryan Mallett-QB Arkansas. Big arm with excellent production in college. Mallett can make all the throws but needs to work on his footwork. Will need to get used to being under center more and dissecting defenses.
    1. Cameron Jordan-DE CAL. Big DE that will project to the 3-4. Very good at anchoring against the run and taking up space. Will thrive in the 3-4.
    1. Allen Bailey-DE Miami. Great DE with size that can play in the 3-4 or 4-3. Projects more for the 3-4. Has great size that can eat up space in the run and quick enough to rush the passer.
    1. Derek Sherrod-OT Mississippi. Great size with great hands and feet. Strong enough to sustain blocks and get to the second level.
    1. JJ Watt-DE-DT Wisconsin. Excellent at the point of attack with enough strength to anchor against the run. Fairly unproven and will need to prove himself at the combine.
    1. Akeem Ayers-OLB UCLA. 4-3 linebacker that can stop the run and drop in coverage. Strong enough to get off blocks in the run and quick enough to drop in zone.
    1. Deunta Williams-S UNC. Fast safety with good coverage skills and strong enough in the run game. Will struggle with man but good in zone coverage.
    1. Brandon Harris-CB Miami. Athletic corner with great change of direction skills.
    1. Kyle Rudolph-TE ND. Big TE that is strong enough in the run game and excellent pass catching ability. Great production with great feet and hands.
    1. Aldon Smith-DE Missouri. Freak of an athlete, drawing comparisons to Pierre Paul. Could be next work-out warrior.
    1. Joseph Barksdale-OT LSU. Big OT that has great strength at the point of attack and good pass protection skills. Will project to RT in the NFL.
    1. Ryan Kerrigan-DE Purdue. Great motor but needs to improve skill set at next level. 
    1. Anthony Costanzo-OT BC. Athletic tackle that projects well to a zone blocking scheme for his ability to get in the second level. Will project to RT in the NFL.

There is my first edition of my big board. It will change twenty times before the draft after the senior bowl and combine. Some will rise and some will fall. I will be putting out my first edition of my mock draft here soon. Feel free and comment and let me know if you think anybody is too high or too low or somebody I need to put on there. It’s almost the best time of the year, it’s draft time. Hey I’m a Bengals fan, the draft is all I have to look forward to.