The NFL Combine wrapped up this week and the impact on the mock drafts and predictions around the league is already being felt.
John Elway Jersey . While some players merely solidified their standing on big boards and mock drafts, several others saw their Combine results either boost or drop their placing in the mind of scouts and general managers across the league. Some notes from the NFL Combine Two-Horse Race A look at the most recent batch of mock drafts has two players showing up more often than any others at the top spot. One wont surprise you – South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney – but one certainly could – UCF quarterback Blake Bortles. While questions about his work ethic may knock Clowney out of the top spot, his blistering 40-yard dash time (4.53) ensures that if he does fall, it wont be very far. Bortles meanwhile impressed both on the field and off. Almost all draftniks and experts consider the once unknown QB to be a legit top end prospect. Of the 15 expert mock drafts gathered for TSN.cas database, Bortles had the most first overall picks of any player. Quarterback Battle While mock drafters are slotting Bortles into the first pick (owned by the Houston Texans) more than any other quarterback, that doesnt necessarily mean hes viewed as the top quarterback. Of the 15 expert mock drafts culled by TSN.ca, Bortles had just the third highest average draft position. First was Texas A&Ms Johnny Manziel with an ADP of 3.1 followed by Louisvilles Teddy Bridgewater (3.9) and then Bortles at 4.7. Dont Forget Me While hes not in the same boat as Manziel, Bridgewater, or Bortles, Fresno States Derek Carr reportedly had a very strong NFL Combine showing, particularly while interviewing with teams. At this point Carr appears to be a mid-first round pick at best but his showing has some quarterback-needy teams considering passing on one of the top three QBs early in the draft to fill other positions, while hoping to land Carr later on. There are reports the gap between the Big Three and Carr is not very wide. Moving Up The biggest benefactors of the NFL Combine, among the early picks at least, were Auburn OT Greg Robinson and Buffalo LB Khalil Mack. Robinsons athleticism seems to have solidified him as the top offensive tackle on the board and boosted his projected status from Top 10 pick to Top 5. Robinson could even hear his name as early as second overall to the St. Louis Rams. Mack is another former potential Top 10 pick that could easily find his way into the Top 5 come May. While his destination is hard to pinpoint at this point in the evaluation process, respected NFL Network draftnik Mike Mayock said he would consider Mack with the first overall pick. Thats high praise! Moving Down The rise of Robinson and Mack is having adverse effects on players of similar talent at the same position of the two in Jake Matthews and Anthony Barr. Once considered two of the top three players in the draft (alongside Clowney) by some, Matthews and Barr are no longer locks to be Top 5 picks and thats in large part due to Robinson proving hes the better offensive tackle, and Mack proving hes far closer to Clowney than originally thought. At this point it wouldnt be shocking to see Barr fall out of the Top 10 picks (ADP currently 8.9) while even Matthews could see himself suffer the same fate (ADP currently 5.9) the way things are playing out. To be fair, in Barrs case, Mack isnt the sole reason the UCLA pass rushers stock is falling; only 15 reps on the bench press could scare away a few teams. Lions targeting a CB The Detroit Lions need help at cornerback and most draftniks expect them to get it at the draft. Of the expert mock drafts culled by TSN.ca, 86% of them have the Lions taking a cornerback 10th overall. The only question in their minds is if it will be Oklahoma States Justin Gilbert, taken by the Lions in 53% of mock drafts, or Michigan States Darqueze Dennard, taken by Detroit in 33% of mock drafts. The current draft landscape lays out with a slight drop off after the top nine players. From there its still anyones guess as to who leads the second tier of players. Many mock drafters see the Lions filling a need and taking whichever cornerback they have ranked the highest. Wide Receiver Battle This position battle is unlike the quarterback battle as Clemson standout Sammy Watkins is the clear cut top pass catcher in this years draft. The battle is for the second best receiver with USCs Marqise Lee losing his spot to Texas A&Ms Mike Evans in 80% of mock drafts gathered. The receiver class is very deep this year with good pass catchers still likely to be available midway through the second round and if Lee finds himself engulfed in the second tier of receivers, hes no lock to hear his name on the first day of the NFL Draft. The true battle could be between Evans and North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron. The difference between their ADP is currently only a couple of picks (Evans: 13.8 to Ebron:16.0).
Karl Mecklenburg Broncos Jersey . The award is presented annually to the most valuable player in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players Association. The three centres are also the finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded by the NHL to the player considered most valuable to his team.
Shannon Sharpe Jersey . Regardless of who is tabbed to replace Calvillo, or at least get first **** at it, there are big shoes to fill. Calvillo has said hes leaning towards retirement after concussion troubles likely capped a brilliant 20-year career as the leagues all-time leading passer.OKLAHOMA CITY - Russell Westbrook finally gets to put his fashionable suit collection away.Thunder coach Scott Brooks said after Fridays shootaround that his ultra-athletic point guard will return to action Friday night and start against the New York Knicks.Westbrook, a three-time All-Star, broke a bone in his right hand against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second game of the season, and he hasnt played since. He was reevaluated this week and finally was cleared to play.Im just excited to get back to my game routine, he said. Go home, take my nap — normal things I usually do to get myself prepared for a game. You kind of miss all that stuff when youre sitting on the sideline in a suit. Im about to take all my suits to the cleaners and pick them up at the end of the season.Westbrook averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 19 playoff games last season. He was expected to pick up the slack after MVP Kevin Durant broke a bone in his right foot before the season began. Westbrook opened the season with a 38-point effort at Portland before getting hurt against the Los Angeles Clippers. Without the pair, the Thundder won just four of their first 16 games.
Steve Atwater Youth Jersey. Even as the losses piled up, Westbrook felt the team showed determination. The Thunder entered Fridays action fourth in the league in defensive field-goal percentage and fourth in points allowed.They compete, Westbrook said. Weve got a group of guys that compete every night. Regardless of whether we win or lose, we know our guys came out and gave it all we had. They compete. Thats the best thing about our team.Westbrook will wear a brace on the hand.Its cool, he said. Id rather not wear it, but I have to wear it. I got used to it over the past few weeks.Reggie Jackson, who filled in and averages 20.2 points and 7.8 assists, will return to his backup role. Durant is still unavailable, but at least Brooks has one of his stars.Russell has great passion for the game, Brooks said. Hes been a great, tremendous leader for us. He brings toughness, the emotional part, what it takes for a team to be successful. Hes obviously one of the best players in the league, so were all excited to have him back.__Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .
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