Gil Brandt's top 100, for what it's worth.

[top dawg]

Tunsil comes in first (with good reason). 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000652753/article/hot-100-laremy-tunsil-is-top-prospect-in-2016-nfl-draft

Interestingly enough, Brandt has both Henry's ranked at 32 and 33. He also says that S'ua Cravens (49) "is a very competitve player, but a prospect without a true position" much like Shaq Thompson last year.

I also think that it's very notable that he said "Whoever drafts [Sterling] Shepard (39l will be very glad that they did."

Note that he has both Dodd (16) and Shaq Lawson (24) ranked higher than where our actual draft spot at 31 falls.

I find it a little intersting that the main suspects in our party of draft prospects, in addition to the whisperings by Jeremy Igo, seem to kind of align with Brandt's rankings.

 

[ctrcat]

[sml1950]

I've followed the godfather's top 100 for a number of years and he's unbelievably accurate.  While they may not come off the board exactly, he got 96 of the 100 last year and has averaged around 94/95. 

[KB_fan]

17 minutes ago, sml1950 said:

I've followed the godfather's top 100 for a number of years and he's unbelievably accurate.  While they may not come off the board exactly, he got 96 of the 100 last year and has averaged around 94/95. 

Thanks for this.  I was really impressed with this ranking.  I'll give it extra weight in any further consensus rankings and/or draft availability analysis I do.  Hoping I'll manage some more position analyses later this week.  Hit a very busy patch of work the past 4 - 5 days, and the coming week is still pretty maxxed out.

[Frank Hollywood]

I'm all for Shepard in Round 1 if Coleman isn't there. He won't be there when we pick in the second. I also like Hunter Henry, but I think Shepard could help us more.

[Rags]

I'm on the Shepard train 100%. Like Funchess he can line up everywhere.  Imagine using KB, Funch, and Shepard as chess pieces at the X Y and Z WR positions for mismatches. Imagine bunch formations with those 3 and Olsen on the oppiste side of the formation.

 

 

I got a Lil chub just thinking about it tbh.

[Jackofalltrades]

14 minutes ago, Rags said:

I'm on the Shepard train 100%. Like Funchess he can line up everywhere.  Imagine using KB, Funch, and Shepard as chess pieces at the X Y and Z WR positions for mismatches. Imagine bunch formations with those 3 and Olsen on the oppiste side of the formation.

 

 

I got a Lil chub just thinking about it tbh.

Jumbo package of KB, Funch, Olsen and Dickson. 

Speed package of Ginn, Brown and Shepard. 

Then there's mixing it up.

Do love. 

[MV%doe]

Gil STILL knows the game and one of the very few that I respect their opinion.

Echo the praise already shared here. Gil changed NFL with his computers and rankings, waaaaay ahead of his time and remains connected. If you land three out his top 100, they have a good chance to pan out.

I remember him praising Tri Turner, saying he was the steal of the third. Said if he stayed at school for another year, been a first rounder. 

Funny his board mirrors my over in the draft forum, but where he has Noah Spence..... Wow.

 

[CarolinaNCSU]

Dodd/Lawson may end up being pipe dreams, but Henry, Henry, Shepard, Cravens, etc. all probably being around when we pick?  Yeah, I think I'll be happy regardless of the pick. 

[jdpanther5]

Not to discount Brandt, but it's interesting that he's so high on Neal. It's not just him, a lot of media guys are suddenly buying him in the first. A week ago he was usually in the mid-40s, but now that he's been invited to the draft he's now knocking on the door of the top 25. He's also suddenly jumped guys like Joseph and Bell to become the top Safety on a lot of boards (unless you count Ramsey as a Safety).

I know Brandt likes to wait on his lists; but it feels like the sudden shuffling a lot of these guys are doing is more about them trying to get as close as possible to the actual results, rather than actually doing more research and altering their rankings organically. 

[pstall]

Brandt just knows talent. Unreal he is still so engaged in the game.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

I am actually more excited about who we take 2-4. That is where you see GMan come thru.  He has a guy at the bottom named Willy Beavers.  While I would love to draft him just for the immature yet extremely entertaining puns regarding his name, I am also intrigued at the thought of a utility lineman. There are other guys there who also look interesting but I like me some wiley Beaver.  

[SOJA]

I'm on the Shepard bandwagon- whenever we draft him I'm cool with it. Even if that means moving up in the second to get him a la Funchize 

[MHS831]

I got this thing figured out.  No charge. 

If there is no DE from Clemson, we consider Shepherd (WR-Smitty clone, but a reach at 30, imo), Ifedi (OT--our OL staff can make elite--this is my pick, btw). Could a Decker or Conklin drop to us? 

The second round HAS to be where we grab our SS unless we move up to get the player we did not take in the first.  Look at all of the SS candidates sitting there around 50-75.

In the third round, we grab Harlan Miller, CB.  He is a Norman clone in nearly every sense of the word.

In the fourth round, we probably take a TE, DE, or DT.  The DT crop could be the best.

The crystal ball gets foggy after that.  I would rather take Shepherd in the second, but the only way we get him there is if we package our third and second rounders to move up into the second round.   If we do that, we could end up with Ifedi and Shepherd with no pick until the fourth round.  We would just about have to take a CB there, and that is fine--we have found CB gold late in the draft a few times (Norman, Benwikere).  We should add that we have been looking at later-round SS and DE candidates lately.   So, does that clear it up?