After ranking the top 30 skill guys in the draft, I kicked off the breakdown yesterday by looking at players ranked 21-30. Here is the next installment—chock full of second-rounders—for your debating pleasure:
11. Chris Polk, RB, Washington Huskies (5-11, 215 ; 4.49 40)
- A true North-South runner, Polk hits the hole decisively and rarely goes down at first contact. He runs like he has a chip on his shoulder and his aggressive style is reminiscent of another physical back in the Pacific Northwest—Marshawn Lynch. Though he is not quite at the Beast Mode level yet, with natural hands coming out of the backfield and the willingness to stand in the pocket and unload a block on a blitzing linebacker, a more accurate comparison for Polk would be Pierre Thomas. Either way, that's good company to be in.
PROJECTED: 2nd Round
12. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU Tigers (6-3, 210 ; 4.42 40)|STAR|
- Coming from a very limited passing attack at LSU, Randle will face a learning curve to pick up on many of the routes he'll need to run at the pro level but he certainly has all the athletic gifts to make the leap and do so with great success. With his arm length and long strides he's difficult to jam and can get into his routes quickly, and once the ball is in the air Randle has great body control to adjust to throws anywhere near his frame. He's also quick to turn up field after the catch and has enough wiggle to elude defenders in space and pick up extra yards. Though not quite as thick or fast, Randle has the tools to be a poor man's Jordy Nelson.
PROJECTED: Late 1st to Early 2nd Round
13. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon Ducks (5-8, 194 ; 4.45 40)|STAR|
- With more than 5,000 rushing yards at over 6.5 per attempt and 58 touchdowns in just three seasons as a Duck, few college backs in the last 10 years were more productive or electric as James. Despite his small stature, James routinely bounced off tacklers and fought for extra yards with every run, whether slipping through the line or burning around the edge. And he kept on chugging despite a heavy workload (over 800 career touches) to prove that durability shouldn't be an issue for him at the next level. Though he'll have to transition from a spread offense, that process will be eased by his good vision and exceptional lateral agility and acceleration, and though naysayers will insist that his size will limit him to strictly a third-down role, James will prove to be more than capable of handling three downs.
PROJECTED: Late 2nd to Mid 3rd Round
14. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech Hokies (5-10, 206 ; 4.49 40)|STAR|
- A tremendous quick-twitch athlete, Wilson is one of the more dynamic runners in this class. With excellent lateral quickness, balance and flexibility he is tough to take down unless fully wrapped up, as evidenced by his nation-leading 990 yards after contact in 2011 (according to STATS X-Info). A bit of a whirling dervish at times, Wilson could get himself into trouble at the next level when the size and speed of defenders will give them opportunities for huge hits when he dances. Nevertheless, as he gains experience and patience running between the tackles, he could emerge as a poor man's LeSean McCoy.
PROJECTED: 2nd Round
15. Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma Sooners (5-10, 192 ; 4.57 40)
- Any team that is not savvy and bold enough to look past Broyles' torn ACL late in the 2011 season and spend a second round pick on him will be sorry. The bottom line with this absurdly productive receiver (NCAA's all-time leader with 349 receptions) is that once he is back to full strength, his quickness and ability to read and react to a defense mid-route will rival even the best pros in just a few years. Broyles doesn't bring much size to the table, but his superior hands, deceptive speed and elusiveness after the catch are going to make him one of the league's elite slot receivers who will challenge for a 100+ catches on a yearly basis in the right offense.
PROJECTED: Late 2nd to Late 3rd Round
16. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers Scarlett Knights (6-2, 211 ; 4.55 40)|STAR|
- Sanu is a football player in the purest sense and something of a blend of Anquan Boldin and Percy Harvin. He doesn't have quite the bulk of Boldin or the speed of Harvin, but he brings a mix of their talents to the table. With an explosive burst Sanu can carry the ball effectively out of the backfield a la Harvin while he also possesses the body type and after-the-catch strength to be a chains mover like Boldin. Using his secure hands and crisp route running, Sanu could make his mark as one of the league's better possession receivers while also doubling as a serious wildcat threat.
PROJECTED: Mid to Late 2nd Round
17. Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State Spartans (6-3, 214 ; 4.93 40)
- Cousins does not offer the same size, athleticism or arm of the other top quarterbacks in the draft, but he does bring tremendous intangibles, in particular his leadership and will to win. That will led him to improve in each of his three seasons as a starter and captain for the Spartans, and his intelligence and preparation habits will lead him to similar success at the pro level, where he will be a gritty producer in the mold of a less mistake-prone Ryan Fitzpatrick.
PROJECTED: 2nd Round
18. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M Aggies (6-4, 221 ; 4.61 40)
- Tannehill's athleticism and upside are undeniable, but there are enough question marks regarding his lack of experience to suggest he should not be a first round pick. While he can be accurate on the run, he too often looks to scramble and extend plays rather than step up into the pocket and make the less risky, more efficient play. And though he appears calm in the pocket, he doesn't throw as accurately from it, sometimes sailing throws or forcing throws into traffic. There are no traits he exhibits that cannot be fixed, but there's also no guarantee Tannehill will be able to put it all together and perform at the level of a top-10 pick.
PROJECTED: Top 10
19. Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3, 216 ; 4.54 40)
- It took just three seasons for this converted quarterback to become the most complete and talented receiver in the Big 10 Conference. McNutt brings great strength and desire to the receiver position and with his size and sticky hands he will become one of the better possession wideouts in the league before long. His body control and hand-eye coordination are as good as anyone in this class and with his size and aggressiveness, McNutt is difficult to bring down after the catch. Don't be surprised when he starts snagging 60+ balls a year.
PROJECTED: Mid to Late 3rd Round
20. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Hurricanes (5-11, 212 ; 4.40 40)|STAR|
- Miller's good overall size and excellent speed will entice someone to grab him in the second round, but with such limited experience collegiately, don't expect early returns at the pro level from this unpolished back. A mostly straight-linish runner with average elusiveness and vision, he relies heavily on his speed at times, too often looking for the home run and not consistently taking what he could and should get. Right now he looks like Mike Goodson 2.0, but Miller's explosive burst and ability to take it the distance gives him the potential to achieve feature back status if he continues to mature as a runner and add to his repertoire.
PROJECTED: 2nd Round
|STAR| Denotes early entry.