NFLDraftScout's early rankings predict the strongest position in this draft is D-Line

[RuthlessBurgher]

NFLDraftScout.com (a well-respect site whose rankings are used by CBS Sports, etc.) currently has 24 total prospects with a projected round of "1" (and we happen to be picking 25th, right at the cusp of their top 2 tiers). Their next tier is designated with a projected round of "1-2" and contains 16 more names.

Of those top 40 prospects, a dozen of them are defensive linemen (4 DT's and 4 DE's listed as Round 1, and 2 DT's and 2 DE's listed as round 1-2). The next strongest position would be offensive line, with 8 of the top 40 prospects (4 OT's listed as Round 1 and 3 OT's, and 1 OC listed as Round 1-2). That means that among the top 40 prospects in this draft, half of them play in the trenches either on the d-line or o-line. There were no guards, fullbacks, safeties, punters, or kickers listed in their top 40 prospects. This appears to be a big ugly type of draft moreso than a skill position draft.

Here is what the rankings for these top 40 players looks like at this time, broken down by position:

QB 1:
Jared Goff
Carson Wentz

QB 1-2:
Paxton Lynch

RB 1:
Ezekial Elliott

RB 1-2:
Derrick Henry

TE 1-2:
Hunter Henry

WR 1:
Laquan Treadwell
Corey Coleman

WR 1-2:
Michael Thomas
Josh Doctson

OC 1-2:
Ryan Kelly

OT 1:
Laremy Tunsil
Ronnie Stanley
Taylor Decker
Jack Conklin

OT: 1-2
Shon Coleman
Germain Ifedi
Jason Spriggs

DE 1:
Joey Bosa
Deforest Buckner
Shaq Lawson
Jonathan Bullard

DE 1-2:
Emmanuel Ogbah
Kevin Dodd

DT 1:
A'Shawn Robinson
Andrew Billings
Robert Nkemdiche
Jarran Reed

DT 1-2:
Kenny Clark
Sheldon Rankins

ILB 1:
Reggie Ragland

OLB 1:
Myles Jack
Darron Lee
Leonard Floyd

OLB 1-2:
Jaylon Smith
Noah Spence

CB 1:
Jalen Ramsey
Mackenzie Alexander
Vernon Hargreaves III

CB 1-2:
Eli Apple

[URL]http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/players.php?genpos=QB&draftyear=2016&sortorder=tsx pos&order=ASC[/URL]

It's interesting that board favorite CB Kendall Fuller is listed in the following tier as a Round 2 prospect...imagine if Fuller fell to us in round 2. Think about defensive improvements if we are able to get Weddle in free agency to start next to Mitchell, re-sign Gay to start for another season or two while preparing young DB's on how to be a professional. Then in the draft, get a top notch DT like Billings or Reed in round 1 to plug the middle and keep our ILB's clean to make plays on early downs, then rotate with Heyward and Tuitt on nickel and dime passing downs to keep everyone fresh. Then if Fuller fell to us in round 2, he could battle for the starting outside CB spot with Cockrell while Golson man the slot CB position. And finally, a young safety prospect in round 3 like Deandre Houston-Carson from Tomlin's alma mater William & Mary to develop behind Mitchell and Weddle. That would be a heck of an end to the first two days of the draft...one can dream...

[Oviedo]

I'm going DL this year in Round 1. I think we can get a CB in Round 2

I'm thinking Vernon Butler at 25 or better if we can trade down a few spots. I think Butler rises through the process

[SteelerOfDeVille]

It's interesting that board favorite CB Kendall Fuller is listed in the following tier as a Round 2 prospect...imagine if Fuller fell to us in round 2.

For me, it's DNA... it's the same reason I woulda drafted Eli Manning above all other QBs - it's the safe pick based on family track record. Granted, we'd all argue Ben was better, BUT, just last night, i heard kurt warner complain about their offense compared to the Rams and the Cardinals.

But, i digress... There more i think of it, have any of the Fuller's been pro-bowlers? maybe that's an indication that we're giving bloodlines too much credit - apparently theirs are really dang good, but, not necessarily pro bowl good...?

My money's on Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State