| Risers and Fallers - Dane Brugler -- (Updated 2/14/2012) |
| Risers |
| Rank | Player | Pos. | School | Summary |
| 1. | 
Luke Kuechly | ILB | Boston College | There are no "sure things" but Kuechly comes pretty close. While not the fastest, he plays with good football speed and moves decisively, rarely taking false steps. Kuechly has a very good feel for the position and his best asset is between his ears with impressive instincts and anticipation to attack in a flash. Scouts are coming away even more impressed with Kuechly's work ethic and personality off the field. He has top football character with impeccable preparation habits, working hard in the weight room and film study to get the most out of his ability. Kuechly is more athletic than most think. He isn't the most exciting draft pick, but teams know what they are getting with him: a consistently productive winner, who set the ACC record for career tackles -- in just three seasons.
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| 2. | 
Brandon Weeden | QB | Oklahoma State | Weeden is an intriguing prospect for the next level and should be in the conversation to be the top senior quarterback off the board. Weeden spent five years playing professional baseball, walked on at Oklahoma State and worked his way to the top of the depth chart at quarterback the last two seasons, setting numerous school passing records. He faces a transition at the next level with his ability to adjust under center and quickly decipher defenses to make accurate reads in his three-, five-, and seven-step drops. It's been well publicized that he's an older prospect, turning 29-years old during the 2012 NFL season, and age does ding his value because he needs to learn a pro-style offense. For NFL teams interested in him, the question becomes, can he help right away or will he need to sit and learn the system? For a 22-year old prospect, that isn't a huge deal. For Weeden, it could mean the difference in a top-40 draft selection or falling outside the top 75. Weeden has shown good-enough arm strength with the accuracy, size and football intelligence in the Kyle Orton mold to eventually start and be productive in the NFL.
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| 3. | 
Cordy Glenn | OG | Georgia | When evaluating various positions, certain traits are valued differently by NFL teams. But versatility is an attribute that just about every franchise looks for, especially in linemen. And Glenn offers intriuging versatility to play just about anywhere on the offensive line. As a four-year starter at Georgia, he began his career at right guard before moving to left guard and then kicking out to left tackle. A large reason he decided to return to the Bulldogs for his senior season in 2011 was so he could start the entire season at left tackle to show pro teams his versatile skill-set. Glenn is a mammoth at 6-5, 346 pounds, but is surprisingly nimble for his size with long 35-inch arms to cover a large area. Most teams still project him best inside at guard in the NFL, but he continues to show enough raw ability to play on the outside, including a positive week of practice at the Senior Bowl where he lined up mostly at left tackle. Regardless of where he eventually plays in the NFL, the fact that he can fill several roles is a huge positive in his favor that could earn him a spot in the first round.
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| 4. | 
Fletcher Cox | DT | Mississippi State | After a rather pedestrian sophomore season, he had a productive junior campaign, leading the Bulldogs in sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (14.5, third in the SEC), also setting a new career-high in tackles (56). Cox doesn't boast the star power that usually accompanies SEC defensive tackles, like Marcell Dareus and Nick Fairly last season, but his name has been circulating around the league as a player on the rise. At 6-4, 300, he is attractive to every team regardless of defensive scheme with the size-strength-quickness combination that pro teams seek in interior linemen. After the Combine, it's a good bet that more and more people will know his name.
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| 5. | 
Rueben Randle | WR | LSU | Despite playing on a run-heavy offense, Randle managed to finish third in the SEC in receiving with 53 catches for 917 yards (17.3-yard average) and eight touchdowns. Randle proved to be effective at all levels of the field and was one of the better deep threats in the nation in 2011, averaging 17.3 yard per reception. In his first two seasons, Randle was considered a better athlete than football player with only one 100-yard performance and a combined five touchdowns. But he worked hard in the offseason to elevate his game as a junior and now is one of the top receivers in this draft class. Most consider Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon to be the top receiver available followed by Baylor's Kendall Wright and Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. However, it's definitely possible that Randle could help his draft stock at the Combine and in pre-draft workouts to leap frog into the top-three receivers and top-20 consideration for several teams. And even if he doesn't overtake the top three receivers, Randle will be an attractive option in the late first round for a team needing a big, fast receiver, such as the Texans, Patriots or 49ers.
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| Fallers |
| Rank | Player | Pos. | School | Summary |
| 1. | 
Mark Barron | SS | Alabama | In a weak safety class, Barron is the cream of the crop and will warrant consideration in the first round, possibly as high as the top 15. However, he enters the NFL with a little bit of a "buyer beware" tag after news of a double-hernia surgery that will force him to miss next week's NFL Combine after already being held out of the Senior Bowl. Post-surgery rehab is expected to run anywhere from two to eight weeks and could keep Barron from participating in Alabama's Pro Day (March 7) or working out at all for pro teams before the draft in April. While this isn't a serious injury that will cause NFL decision-makers to remove the All-American safety from their draft boards, it is a slight concern that must be weighed on drafty day. The injury is highly unlikely to push him out of the first round, but his injury history could force him out of the top 20. Barron suffered a torn pectoral muscle in 2010 that required surgery and probably kept him from declaring for the draft early. For a player with such a violent playing style, will he be able to hold up and stay healthy in the NFL?
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| 2. | 
Alshon Jeffery | WR | South Carolina | One of the more polarizing prospects in this draft class, Jeffery had a breakout sophomore season in 2010, but failed to produce similar numbers in 2011, barely matching his totals as a freshman. He didn't show the same dominance this past season with only one 100-yard receiving game, averaging 3.7 catches and 58.6 yards per game. Much of the blame can be placed on South Carolina's sometimes inept passing game, which ranked only 181 yards per game. But Jeffery deserves some of the responsibility, looking out-of-shape which hindered his speed and ability to create separation. Several reports have surfaced that his playing weight is in the 250-pound area with 40-yard dash times that some offensive linemen wound find disappointing. Several of these questions will be answered next week when he weighs in at the Combine and works out, but early indications are not positive. Scouts aren't so much interested in the numbers as they are seeing what kind of physical shape he is in to answer questions about work ethic. Jeffery needs to distance himself from prevalent comparisons to Mike Williams, who was drafted 10th overall by the Lions in 2005, but struggled to stay in shape or make much of an impact in Detroit.
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| 3. | 
Brandon Brooks | OG | Miami (Ohio) | Probably the biggest NFL Combine snub, Brooks isn't exactly "falling" down draft boards, but not being able to participate in Indianapolis certainly won't help his draft stock. The massive guard prospect (6-5, 353) has the size and strength to play at the next level, but NFL teams want to see better technique and more of a mean streak to eliminate defenders. Brooks isn't the most natural mover and will be best suited for an aggressive, run-oriented offense where he isn't asked to cover large areas laterally. Not being able to work out at the combine could play in his favor to avoid his shortcomings athletically, but he also loses the face time with NFL teams. Brooks will have a chance to work out as his pro day and will almost certainly earn several private work outs with teams, but missing out on the NFL Combine is a disappointment.
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Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH 
