Here is my working list of the top 20 prospects entering the 2005 draft. I'm sure this will change after combines. I have to admit, however, I have come around on more than a few players.

 

1. Derrick Johnson OLB, Texas

-Derrick will be one of the best players in football in the next 2-4 years. Derrick is one of the most amazing linebackers I have seen in the draft since Lewis.

2. Antrel Rolle CB, Miami

-Lock-down corner, will compete with the best of em'.

3. Mike Williams WR, USC

-Big play reciever with breakout speed. Damn. Reminds me a lot of...who...thats right, T.O.

4. Cedric Benson RB, Texas

5. Ronnie Brown RB, Auburn

-After having watched some gametape and read what some NFL scouts had to say about Ronnie, I have really turned around on this kid. Before, I questioned his hands and playmaking abilites...now, I question nothing. Ronnie is the most NFL-ready runningback in the draft. Crow.

6. Aaron Rodgers QB, Cal

7. Braylon Edwards WR, Mich

8. Jammal Brown OT, OK

9. Justin Miller CB, Clemson

-Stock soaring

10. Alex Smith QB, Utah

11. Shaun Cody DE, USC

12. Thomas Davis S, GA

13. Alex Barron OT, FSU

14. Carnell Williams RB, Auburn

15. Justin Tuck DE, ND

16. Carlos Rogers CB, Auburn

-Lock-down.

17. Marlin Jackson CB, Mich

18. Heath Miller TE, VA

19. Channing Crowder LB, FL

20. Erasmus James DE, Wis

 

Lists? Thoughts?

everyone has alex smith going so low in the draft, san fran needs a qb, and from what ive heard aaron rodgers is so far gonna be a niner, thats disapointing because he played like crap in the bowl game and alex smith can do it all, smith is your next rothlesberger

everyone has alex smith going so low in the draft, san fran needs a qb, and from what ive heard aaron rodgers is so far gonna be a niner, thats disapointing because he played like crap in the bowl game and alex smith can do it all, smith is your next rothlesberger

 

im going to smack you in school tommorow.... No way in hell is smith the next roethlesburger... Smith played at Utah les not forget yeah thats right whats the top ranked team they faced? pittsburgh pathetic. He going to be good but i dont think he will even be a starter right away on any team or if he is NFL starter material.

well anyways heres my list:

1. alex smith, honestly i like what ive seen

2. cedric benson, how can you complain, 4, 1,000 yard seasons

3. Ronnie Brown, i agree with you

4. derrick johnson, id like to see the bears take him

5. mike williams, incredible, most likely who the bears do get

6. Braylon edwards Mich

7. Antrel Rolle, he'll end up in kansas i can feel it

8. Carnell Williams Aub

9. Erasmus James WIs

10. Carlos Rogers Aub i liked him in the auburn game, damn he hits hard

11. Aaron Rodgers Cal

12. Rodrique Wright Tex Dt, incredible player

13. jamal Brown

14. Alex Barron

15. Kevin Burnett olb Tenn, very fast i like him

16. Heath miller

17. Jason cambell, i think hes gonna be good, may go higher up, lions possibly could take him?

18. Adam Jones CB W VA, somewhat small but hes quick and guard tight

19. Dan Cody DE OKLA

20. Mark Clayton OKLA

 

didn't feel like listing college and position for players mentioned above

im going to smack you in school tommorow.... No way in hell is smith the next roethlesburger... Smith played at Utah les not forget yeah thats right whats the top ranked team they faced? pittsburgh pathetic.  He going to be good but i dont think he will even be a starter right away on any team or if he is NFL starter material.

 

anyone can start on the 49ers

everyone has alex smith going so low in the draft, san fran needs a qb, and from what ive heard aaron rodgers is so far gonna be a niner, thats disapointing because he played like crap in the bowl game and alex smith can do it all, smith is your next rothlesberger

 

This is a bit perplexing.

 

Do you think Alex Smith is the #1 prospect in 2005, or do you think Smith is the #1 draft selection. Those are two very, very, very different things.

 

I can't fathom any justification that Smith deserves the #1 seeding amongst the prospects.

 

I was also a little confused as to why you have Cambell so high.

Alex Smith doesn't have nearly the size to be compared to Roethlisberger right now. They are both athletic QB's, I will give you that. As for Derrick as the number 1 player, I couldn't agree more. I thought I would be by myself in that thought. He's such an athletic specimen, but he's even smarter than he is athletic, the strip he made in the OU game I believe it was, was just awesome.

 

I'm not as big of a fan of Antrelle Rolle at CB as you are. I'm not sure if he will end up as a CB or a safety in the NFL. I also think Erasmus Jones will still go ahead of Shaun Cody and is a better prospect even though I haven't seen all the hype about Erasmus as scouts are trying to say.

 

But overall thats a great list.

This is a bit perplexing.

 

Do you think Alex Smith is the #1 prospect in 2005, or do you think Smith is the #1 draft selection.  Those are two very, very, very different things.

 

I can't fathom any justification that Smith deserves the #1 seeding amongst the prospects.

 

I was also a little confused as to why you have Cambell so high.

 

number one in the draft yes, number one prospect, it could be any of my top five

I really do think that Derrick Johnson will be a real good linebacker for years to come. That's cool that he's #1 on your list.

im going to smack you in school tommorow.... No way in hell is smith the next roethlesburger... Smith played at Utah les not forget yeah thats right whats the top ranked team they faced? pittsburgh pathetic.  He going to be good but i dont think he will even be a starter right away on any team or if he is NFL starter material.

 

And who exactly did Roethlesberger play at Miami of Ohio? They don't exactly play a stellar schedule either. Culpepper didn't exactly play against quality competition at South Florida either. I agree that he isn't going to have the immediate impact that Ben has had, but that is a poor argument to base the opinion on.

they are both better school's than utah.

they are both better school's than utah.

 

Thats VERY arguable in itself. Especially when it doesn't even matter how tough of a schedule a player plays against in college. How good of competition do you think Jimmy Smith, Larry Allen, Dwyane Carswell, Shannon Sharpe, Darren Sharper, Jason Taylor, Yancey Thigpen, Hollis Thomas, Charles Tillman, Adam Timmerman etc played against? There's always talent everywhere in college, whether its Jake Delhomme at Louisiana-Lafeyette, or Brett Favre from Southern Mississippi, or Jeff Garcia from San Jose State, Jon Kitna at Central Washington, JP Losman and Shaun King at Tulane, Steve McNair at Alcorn State, or Kurt Warner from Northern Iowa, there is alot of hidden talent to be had, even at the QB position.

It's always nice to see players from mid major conferences or other small schools make it and succeed.

Thats VERY arguable in itself. Especially when it doesn't even matter how tough of a schedule a player plays against in college. How good of competition do you think Jimmy Smith, Larry Allen, Dwyane Carswell, Shannon Sharpe, Darren Sharper, Jason Taylor, Yancey Thigpen, Hollis Thomas, Charles Tillman, Adam Timmerman etc played against? There's always talent everywhere in college, whether its Jake Delhomme at Louisiana-Lafeyette, or Brett Favre from Southern Mississippi, or Jeff Garcia from San Jose State, Jon Kitna at Central Washington, JP Losman and Shaun King at Tulane, Steve McNair at Alcorn State, or Kurt Warner from Northern Iowa, there is alot of hidden talent to be had, even at the QB position.

 

Thought I'd throw in some more major ones:

 

Walter Payton- Jackson State

Jerry Rice- Mississippi Valley State

Terrell Owens- Chatanooga

Steve McNair- Alcorn State

it doesn't matter what school you come out of to play in the NFL, some of the best players came out of the small unknown schools (brett favre, daunte culpepper)

from what ive seen of Brett Favre i wouldnt call his College unknown when he went to it. seen some college highlights. Im just saying Alex Smith isnt a top prospect as of now because he hasnt faced the toughest competition maybe he is good but he shouldnt be picked 2 high in the draft.

Again Favre etc didn't face top competition in college either. Plenty of scouts have seen Alex Smith play and think very highly of him. It doesn't matter where you play college, if you can play, you can play. If you don't think he's good, thats fine and thats one thing, but to say he won't be good because where he played isn't a valid argument. Charlie Frye is another possible first round draft pick and will be a very good pro QB, he went to Akron.

 

Alex Smith faced Texas A&M, New Mexico, North Carolina, Wyoming, and Pittsburgh who all played in bowl games. Not to mention BYU, Air Force, and Colorado State just missed bowl games by 1 win. It's tough to argue his competition was below even MAC level competition which is very solid and what Roethlisberger, Pennington, and Leftwich faced.

Farve did face competition:

 

September 2, 1989: Favre leads the Golden Eagles to a convincing victory as they upset the sixth-ranked Florida State Seminoles, 30-26. With FSU leading 26-24 midway through the final quarter, Southern Miss put together a six and a half minute drive topped off by Brett’s winning touchdown pass with 23 seconds remaining. He put himself on the national map with this game.

 

 

He also played against Alabama, and in a few bowl games.

 

For every player, there is usually atleast 1 or 2 games in their career where they play top talent.

 

SB

Yep, most of the unheralded guys playing at smaller schools have to perform well during their "big game" against a national power to get on scouts maps. Beating FSU anytime during the mid to late 90's is an awesome feat.

 

Just noticed your avatar SoxFan101, I bought that card a couple of months ago also, it rocks

yeah thanks, im not saying Alex Smith wont be good you really dont know how good anyone is going to be good but i just dont see him going number 1 in the draft if in the 1st round at all.

I didn't think Carson Palmer would be any good (or BEn or Rivers) so what do I know? I'm a Bronco guy and would love to get Pollack, I saw in the Pasq-chat today he made an off-the-cuff remark about the Bears trading down. Nothing like trading down twice in three years form the 4 spot.

yeah thanks,  im not saying Alex Smith wont be good you really dont know how good anyone is going to be good but i just dont see him going number 1 in the draft if in the 1st round at all.

 

You may not see it that way but right now they have Rodgers and Smith as the top two QBs in the draft, now if Rodgers goes first, and someone else is in the first round looking for a QB, Alex Smith is gonna be the next best option..

 

And why not?

 

he is mobile, move around the pocket, he can throw..

 

When he stepped on the campus at Utah he was a JR.. he is probably THE smartest player in the draft, that will help a lot with how he picks things up and his decision making..

 

I wouldnt knock on him too much, he may be a real good QB