The Next Masahiro Tanaka?

This Masahiro Tanaka guy just might be an alright pitcher. At 8-1 with a league-leading 2.06 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, Tanaka is the best pitcher in the American League. So much for all the haters who laughed at the $155M contact the Yankees handed him before throwing a MLB pitch.

Tanaka isn’t the only former Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB) star cutting through MLB hitters like a hot knife through butter. Yu Darvish is also one of the best 10 pitchers on the planet. Hisashi Iwakuma was an All-Star in 2013 and finished 3^rd in the AL CY Award voting. Koji Uehara’s performance over the past two seasons might be the most dominant consecutive relief seasons in MLB history (98.0 IP, 49 H, 12 BB, 135 K, 1.01 ERA, 0.62 WHIP) – at ages 38 and 39.

So the next time a Japanese ace is getting crazy media hype and some jackass refers to him as the next Dice-K, punch that guy in the nose for being a mouth-breathing moron. That (racist, frankly) comparison isn’t even much of a criticism based in reality. Matsuzaka was worth 9.4 WAR his first two MLB seasons and helped Boston win a World Series. He’s also 2-0 with 32 K in 29.1 IP and a 2.45 ERA for the Mets this year as a valuable swing-man.

Clearly, elite-level NPB pitchers have proven that there isn’t that much of a transition to crossover success in MLB. So the obvious question exists – who is the next Masahiro Tanaka, the next Japanese star pitcher that will light MLB on fire?

I’ve identified 5 NPB pitchers (plus one bonus pitcher) with the potential to become impact MLB stars in 2015 and beyond. None of them are as talented as Tanaka, but you can bet there are 30 MLB teams that would love to add any of them to their organization. Here are my top 5 targets for MLB clubs with scouting reports and video (statistics updated on June 1, 2014):

#1 Shohei Otani, RHP (6-4, 198) – Age 19

2014 NPB Statistics: 4-1, 3.26 ERA, 8 GS, 49.2 IP, 53 H, 17 BB, 49 K

Overpowering fastball sits 94-97 and has hit 100 as NPB starting pitcher. Compliments fastball with a slurvy-breaking ball at 78-81 and splitter at 90-93. Amateur phenom that seriously considered bypassing NPB to sign MLB contract out of HS. Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters took a chance and selected him in 1^st Round of NPB Draft. Otani signed contract after receiving considerable pressure from country and family to do so. Perfect pitchers build – has already put on 9 pounds since last season and could easily add another 25 pounds as he matures. Body type is very similar to a young Yu Darvish, who is now 6-5/225. Great athlete – Otani is the only two-way starter in Japan. Currently hitting .291/.354/.465 as outfielder on days he is not pitching. Was 3-0 with 4.23 ERA and 46 K in 61.2 IP as 18-year old NPB rookie in 2013. Control is rapidly improving – 3.1 BB/9 in 2014 vs 4.8 BB/9 in 2013.

Video:

#2 Shintaro Fujinami, RHP (6-6, 187) – Age 20

2014 NPB Statistics: 3-3, 3.56 ERA, 9 GS, 55.2 IP, 42 H, 29 BB, 52 K

Fastball sits at 90-95 and explodes out of his hand. Has two-plane breaking curveball at 73-75. Also throws splitter at 89-92 and cutter at 87-89. Lives at the top of the zone – needs to learn to utilize his natural arm angle, get on top of ball and pitch in lower quadrants. Very tall and skinny, built just like Chris Sale and Jack McDowell. Ideal height but does not have body type that will put on much weight. Legendary HS pitcher, 1^st Round pick by Hanshin Tigers. Went 10-6 with 2.75 ERA and 126 K in 137.2 IP as 19-year old rookie with Hanshin in 2013. Needs to work on control of fastball, getting ahead of batters more frequently.

Video (Skip to 4:15):

#3 Chihiro Kaneko, RHP (5-11, 170) – Age 30

2014 NPB Statistics: 4-3, 1.25 ERA, 10 GS, 79.0 IP, 58 H, 19 BB, 102 K

Master of many pitches – very similar pitcher in terms of pitch selection and velocity to Hisashi Iwakuma, who was the 2^nd best pitcher in the American League in 2013 according to WAR. Fastball sits 88-89 and will touch 91 on a good day. Throws devastating slider at 85-86 and effective cutter at 83-85. Splitter is thrown below the strike zone for swinging Ks and sits 81-84. MLB hitters will not be able to handle split. Like many other Japanese pitchers, curveball is a very slow get-me-over pitch (67-69) with a big break. Currently the best pitcher in Japan. Leads Pacific League with 79 IP and 102 K. His ERA (1.25) is slightly better than Masahiro Tanaka’s (1.27) in 2013. Led Pacific League in K (200) and IP (223.1) in 2013. Upside is limited due to size, age and velocity, but could immediately contribute to MLB team in 2015. If he doesn’t hold up as MLB starter, pitching every 5 days, he’s a potentially great late inning reliever like Koji Uehara.

Video:

#4 Kenta Maeda, RHP (6-0, 179) – Age 26

2014 NPB Statistics: 5-3, 2.22 ERA, 10 GS, 69.0 IP, 54 H, 14 BB, 50 K

Fastball sits 89-92 and will touch 94. Strikeout pitch is tight slider/curveball mix at 80-83 – can throw pitch for both strike and two-strike chaser. Throws splitter at 83-86, but is third best pitch. Hesitation in delivery, common among Japanese pitchers, that adds deception.  Won Eiji Sawamura Award (best pitcher in NPB) in 2010 with 15-8 record, 2.21 ERA and 174 K in 215.2 IP. Led Central League in IP three times, ERA three times and Ks twice. Steady pitcher who has never had a bad season or suffered an injury.  Slight frame, but has added 25 pounds in recent years and should hold up as MLB starter.

Video:

#5 Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP (6-1, 198) – Age 24

2014 NPB Statistics: 7-2, 1.56 ERA, 11 GS, 80.2 IP, 65 H, 16 BB, 63 K

Fastball sits 88-91 and will touch 92. Throws two different curves: a tight hard one at 79-82 and a big slow one at 71-73. Very good control of both fastball and off-speed pitches. Not a lot of room for projection physically, he’s a bit thickly built and looks maxed out. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2013 (13-6, 3.12 ERA, 155 K), Sugano is the best pitcher in the Central League this season, leading the league in wins (7), ERA (1.56) and IP (80.2).

Video:

BONUS PITCHER:

Tomohiro Anraku, RHP (6-2, 187) – Age 17

Senior at Saibi High School

High school senior Tomohiro Anraku has received plenty of publicity, thanks to his legendary feats of durability (232 pitches in one game, 772 pitches in five games over a nine-day period) that were featured in a fantastic ESPN profile. He has hit 97 as a junior, but because he’s regularly abused as a pitcher, his velocity will fluctuate greatly. Some games, he sits 84-87 and touches 89. Other games, he sits 88-92 and will hit 95. He threw 94 on his 183^rd and final pitch of a Spring Koshien Tournament game in 2013. Anraku reaches back for extra velocity when guys are on base and will pace himself with no one on – something American pitchers don’t do, which has contributed greatly to arm injuries in this country. Has a big slow curve and wipeout slider to compliment his fastball. Needs to work on control, like just about every 17-year old pitcher on the planet. Great body – could end up being 6-4/220 when he’s done growing. Loads of potential and upside if he doesn’t get ruined (or hasn’t already been ruined) by his HS manager. It will be interesting to see where he lands in the 2014 NPB Draft or if he decides to become the first HS player to bypass NPB and sign a MLB contract.

Video:

Top 100 Prospects for the 2014 NFL Draft

Hours before the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft kicks off, I've compiled my list of the Top 100 Prospects. To put this list together, I've poured over dozens of available online game tape. The list includes heights, weights, college statistics and workout numbers for each player. You can view and print the PDF file HERE

My random predictions and observations for this draft class:

HOF Offensive Player: LT Greg Robinson

HOF Defensive Player: DT Aaron Donald

Offensive Superstar Sleeper: QB Logan Thomas

Defensive Superstar Sleeper: OLB Jeremiah Attaochu

Offensive Bust: QB Blake Bortles

Defensive Bust: DE Kony Ealy

Favorite Offensive Player to Watch on Video: WR Brandin Cooks

Favorite Defensive Player to Watch on Video: ILB Ryan Shazier
Safest Bet to Succeed on Offense: LT Jake Matthews
Safest Bet to Succeed on Defense: OLB Khalil Mack
Best Athlete on Offense: LT Greg Robinson
Best Athlete on Defense: DE Jadeveon Clowney

Here are NFL comparisons for my Top 10 players in this draft:

1. DE/3-4 OLB Jadeveon Clowney (DeMarcus Ware)
2. 3-4 OLB/WLB Khalil Mack (Cornelius Bennett)
3. LT Greg Robinson (Orlando Pace)
4. DT Aaron Donald (Warren Sapp)
5. WR Sammy Watkins (Percy Harvin - but bigger)
6. LT Jake Matthews (Jordan Gross)
7. 3-4 ILB/WLB Ryan Shazier (Derrick Brooks)
8. QB Johnny Manziel (Russell Wilson)
9. WR Mike Evans (Vincent Jackson)
10. CB Justin Gilbert (Leon Hall)

Eagles Trade for Darren Sproles

I’m sure you’ve heard the news – the Eagles are sending a 5th round draft pick to New Orleans for the rights to Darren Sproles.

What did the Eagles get here? Let’s take a look at his measurables:

2005 Combine:
5-6 1/8, 187
40 time: 4.47 seconds
Bench: 23 reps
Vertical: 33 inches
20-yard Shuttle: 3.96 seconds

Solid athlete for his size. He’s currently listed at 5-6/190, so he’s maintained the same body since 2005. The shuttle time is ridiculous and backs up Sproles’ reputation as a sudden player who can effortlessly change direction.

Here’s his Pro Football Focus play-by-play breakdown:

Overall Grade: 16.1 (7th among all RBs)
Receiving Grade: 15.3 (1st among all RBs) (71 rec, 604 yds, 8.5 avg, 2 td)
Rushing Grade: 1.3 (53 att, 220 yds, 4.2 avg, 2 td)
Blocking Grade: -0.5
Penalty Grade: 0.0
Total Snaps: 364

Based of these numbers, Sproles is the greatest 3rd down back in the NFL. He played in 364/1154 total offensive snaps, 31.5% of the time he was on the field. That’s essentially exactly 1/3 of the time and he was pretty much in on every 3rd down play. Of his 604 receiving yards, 560 came after the catch. He caused 15 missed tackles on 71 receptions. His catch percentage was 84%. He dropped zero catchable balls on 71 chances. Health-wise, he’s played in 122 of 128 possible games in his career.

There is downside. He will be 31 all next season. His punt return (6.7 avg) and kickoff return numbers (21.3 avg) were at an all-time low in 2013. But a lot of that is based on the entire return unit’s performance. For 2014 (his contact runs out after this season - he makes $4.25M, $3.5 cap number, $750K bonuses), this is a pretty substantial move. On third down in a passing situation, the Eagles will have DeSean Jackson and Riley Cooper or Jeremy Maclin split wide, Zach Ertz in a bunch pattern behind a receiver or in–line, and Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy in the backfield/slot. Good luck with that.

Sadly, this might mean either Bryce Brown or Chris Polk won't be on the team and both of those guys can really play. An embarrassment of riches at RB.

PFF Mid-Season NFL All-Pro Teams

According to Pro Football Focus (which grades each play from each player using a +/- system), here are the best players in the NFL at each position for the first half of the season (1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd Teams). PFF grades are in parenthesis (an average player would score a zero). Keep in mind, scores are only comparable to each position – you can’t compare a QB’s score to a RB’s score. Why is this? - each position is asked to do different things. A RB has to pass block. A QB doesn’t.

One note – players must have played 60% of their team’s offensive/defensive snaps to be eligible for these All-Pro teams. That eliminates players who excel in a very a specific role. For example: a huge blocking TE like Carolina’s Ben Hartsock, who only comes in on run plays, excels at run blocking (+11.4) and his receiving score is nullified (-0.8) because he never gets an opportunity to fail (played just 186/473 snaps). This augments his score and specialty players like this are not included (just like third-down-only RBs or third-down-only pass rushers aren’t eligible).

There are 27 spots for each All-Pro team, the same number of positions as the Associated Press All-Pro team.

1st TEAM
QB Peyton Manning, DEN (21.7)
RB LeSean McCoy, PHI (16.3)
RB Frank Gore, SF (9.7)
FB Anthony Sherman, KC (11.0)
WR Calvin Johnson, DET (14.9)
WR Jordy Nelson, GB (14.2)
TE Vernon Davis, SF (8.9)
OT Nate Solder, NE (20.5)
OT Jordan Gross, CAR (17.3)
OG Evan Mathis, PHI (25.1)
OG Louis Vasquez, DEN (13.7)
C Chris Myers, HOU (12.4)

DE JJ Watt, HOU (44.5)
DE Robert Quinn, STL (32.1)
DT Jason Hatcher, DAL (20.9)
DT Gerald McCoy, TB (20.7)
OLB Justin Houston, KC (20.8)
OLB Robert Mathis, IND (16.1)
ILB Derrick Johnson, KC (11.4)
ILB Brandon Spikes, NE (10.6)
CB Darrelle Revis, TB (13.7)
CB Alterraun Verner, TEN (11.4)
S Devin McCourty, NE (16.2)
S TJ Ward, CLE (11.4)

K Matt Prader, DEN (37.9)
P Johnny Hekker, STL (17.8)
KR Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN (7.9)

2nd TEAM
QB Philip Rivers, SD (16.9)
RB Marshawn Lynch, SEA (8.6)
RB Adrian Peterson, MIN (6.4)
FB Mike Tolbert, CAR (6.4)
WR Antonio Brown, PIT (13.1)
WR Brandon Marshall, CHI (12.3)
TE Jordan Cameron, CLE (8.6)
OT Doug Free, DAL (16.6)
OT Andrew Whitworth, CIN (16.3)
OG David DeCastro, PIT (11.3)
OG Daryn Colledge, ARZ (7.9)
C Manuel Ramirez, DEN (11.4)

DE Cameron Jordan, NO (18.8)
DE Michael Johnson, CIN (18.3)
DT Geno Atkins, CIN (19.9)
DT Randy Starks, MIA (18.4)
OLB Elvis Dumervil, BAL (15.4)
OLB Tamba Hali, KC (14.3)
ILB Sean Lee, DAL (9.0)
ILB NaVorro Bowman, SF (6.9)
CB Jason McCourty, TEN (10.8)
CB Vontae Davis, IND (8.8)
S Earl Thomas, SEA (11.0)
S Eric Berry, KC (9.2)

K Stephen Gostkowski, NE (26.9)
P Shane Lechler, HOU (17.7)
KR Golden Tate, SEA (5.7)

3rd TEAM
QB Aaron Rodgers, GB (16.8)
RB Arian Foster, HOU (5.6)
RB Jamaal Charles, KC (3.9)
FB Bruce Miller, SF (5.8)
WR Dez Bryant, DAL (11.5)
WR Andre Johnson, HOU (10.9)
TE Jimmy Graham, NO (6.6)
OT Joe Staley, SF (16.3)
OT Joe Thomas, CLE (15.8)
OG Ben Grubbs, NO (7.8)
OG Jon Asamoah, KC (7.8)
C Alex Mack, CLE (9.8)

DE Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ (16.2)
DE Fletcher Cox, PHI (14.8)
DT Jurrell Casey, TEN (16.9)
DT Brandon Mebane, SEA (16.6)
OLB Junior Galette, NO (12.2)
OLB Lavonte David, TB (11.8)
ILB Daryl Washington, ARZ (6.1)
ILB Kiko Alonso, BUF (5.5)
CB Richard Sherman, SEA (8.7)
CB Brent Grimes, MIA (8.3)
S Troy Polamalu, PIT (8.7)
S Michael Griffin, TEN (7.7)

K Dan Bailey, DAL (26.5)
P Thomas Morstead, NO (15.2)
KR Julian Edelman, NE (4.6)

2014 NFL Draft at the Quarter Mark

If the NFL season ended at the quarter mark, here is what the Top 10 picks would look like with my projections for each selection:

1) Pittsburgh Steelers select: LT Jake Matthews (6-5/308), Texas A&M
With Big Ben still able to play well, the Steelers try to buy their franchise quarterback some time by taking Matthews, son of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and cousin of Green Bay’s Clay Matthews. Jake has picture-perfect technique (his punch stuns defenders and speed rushers never get around him because his feet are so good) to go with his exceptional athletic gifts and will be a HOF player in his own right if healthy.

2) New York Giants select: DE Jadeveon Clowney (6-5/274), South Carolina
The Giants need a LT badly (2013 #1 pick Justin Pugh cannot play the position), but there is no way they can pass up on Clowney, who is the most talented athlete in the draft by a wide margin. Currently playing with a foot injury that will need surgery after the season, Clowney is a 4.45 player when healthy at 275 pounds. He’s as big as Bruce Smith and as fast as Darrelle Revis. Think about that.

3) Jacksonville Jaguars select: QB Teddy Bridgewater (6-3/205), Louisville
In all likely-hood, the Jaguars will have to trade up for the #1 pick to take Bridgewater. I’m sure Pittsburgh would field offers from any team picking in the Top 10, including Jacksonville, Tampa, Minnesota and Philly. Teddy has exceptional accuracy and above-average arm strength and athleticism. Reminds me of Andrew Luck.

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: QB Brett Hundley (6-3/227), UCLA
Time to hit the reset button in Tampa and you could do a lot worse than Hundley, who is big and athletic and equipped with a rocket arm. Hundley is used to doing it all himself at UCLA and the presence of WR Vincent Jackson and RB Doug Martin will help him immensely.

5) St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins) select: LT Taylor Lewan (6-7/315), Michigan
Lewan is a nasty player – he has displayed questionable character both on and off the field. A lot of Ndamukong Suh in him. Huge and athletic, he’ll start at RT and work his way to LT. If he adjusts to the speed, and he should, he’s an annual Pro-Bowl player. I would take Oregon QB Marcus Mariota here, but the Rams brass is convinced Sam Bradford is a star.

6) St. Louis Rams select: NT Louis Nix (6-2/352), Notre Dame
The Rams play a 4-3, but every 4-3 needs someone to play two-gap and control the center and guard, stopping the run game. Nix is the best NT to enter the draft in a very long time. Star Lotulelei is dominating at NT in Carolina’s 4-3 defense, helping turn that team into a Top 3 unit (12.0 pts/game) and Nix is an even better player.

7) Oakland Raiders select: WR Marqise Lee (6-0/195), USC
Terrelle Pryor looks like the future for Oakland and Lee, a local HS & college star in Los Angeles, would be the perfect weapon to help him succeed. Lee is not the biggest and not the fastest, but he can really play football. Think Chad Johnson in his prime.

8) Minnesota Vikings select: QB Marcus Mariota (6-4/212), Oregon
Vikings break Chip Kelly’s heart and take the electric Mariota who has both the best arm and legs of any available quarterback. He’s thin and has accuracy problems at times, but the upside is Randall Cunningham in his prime.

9) Philadelphia Eagles select: OLB Anthony Barr (6-4/248), UCLA
Birds take the best pass-rusher available. Barr is perfect for the 3-4 under defense and should supply 12-15 sacks a year. Reminds me of Kansas City’s Justin Houston.

10) Atlanta Falcons select: DE Stephon Tuitt (6-5/303), Notre Dame
An exceptional 3-down player, Tuitt brings some star power to a Falcons defense that has let the team down late in games so far this season, putting a serious damper on any Super Bowl hopes. Tuitt is big and strong and can rotate along all 4 positions of Atlanta’s defensive line, bringing them a great deal of versatility.

QB Options for Chip Kelly & Philadelphia Eagles in the 2014 NFL Draft

As amazing as Mike Vick is (clearly the best QB in Eagles history...maybe the greatest player of all-time ...OK maybe I have a serious homer bias with #7), he’s 33, has a 1-year contract and will need to be replaced eventually. Here’s a look at some great fits at quarterback for Chip Kelly and the Eagles in the 2014 NFL Draft:

Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville (6-3, 205)
2013 Stats (4 Games): Passing: 79/110, 1,214 yds, 11.0 yds/att, 71.8 comp%, 14 TD, 1 INT; Rushing: 12 att, 36 yds, 0 TD
2014 Draft Projection: #1 Overall Pick
Teddy is a virtual Andrew Luck clone – he has a plus arm (better velocity than Luck) with pinpoint accuracy and is an exceptional athlete (should run a 4.60-4.65 the NFL Combine) who goes through all his progressions before leaving the pocket. Louisville faces inferior opponents, but don’t look at how open receivers are, look at Bridgewater’s ball placement. It’s almost always perfect, leading receivers on the hands without having them break stride. Teddy is a bit thin, but has the frame to put on 20 pounds. There is a zero percent chance the Eagles end up with Bridgewater. He will likely be the starting QB of the Jacksonville Jaguars on opening day 2014 after going #1 overall in the draft.

Marcus Mariota, Oregon (6-4, 212)
2013 Stats (4 Games): Passing: 60/107, 1,003 yds, 9.4 yds/att, 56.1 comp%, 9 TD, 0 INT; Rushing: 21 att, 295 yds, 5 TD
2014 Draft Projection: Top 10 Pick
Unless Braxton Miller of Ohio State comes out for the 2014 NFL Draft (he shouldn’t), Mariota will be the fastest QB available. It wouldn’t shock me to see him run a 4.45 at the Combine. Keep in mind, Colin Kaepernick ran a 4.53, Russell Wilson ran a 4.55 and Cam Newton ran a 4.59, so Mariota can really fly. He’s tall and has the strongest arm in the class, invoking comparisons to Kaepernick and Randall Cunningham. He’s built more like Randall, thin and wiry. He has issues with accuracy at times and often throws to wide-open receivers in Oregon’s blistering offense. None of this should matter because he’s supremely talented and the pinpoint accuracy will come in due time. He would be perfect for Chip Kelly, who recruited and coached him during his breakout season as a redshirt freshman in 2012. If the Eagles are 8-8 or 9-7, they will have to trade up significantly to draft Mariota, who has the upside of being the #2 overall pick in the draft.

Brett Hundley, UCLA (6-3, 227)
2013 Stats (3 Games): Passing: 61/92, 848 yds, 9.2 yds/att, 66.3 comp%, 8 TD, 3 INT; Rushing: 32 att, 157 yds, 2 TD
2014 Draft Projection: Top 10 Pick
Built like a tank, Hundley has a rocket arm and very good athletic ability. He’s not fast, but will time better than most QB’s in the 4.65-4.75 range. UCLA has limited NFL prospects on offense, so Hundley is lighting up Pac-12 teams almost on his own. He’s a poor-man’s Cam Newton. Big and strong, but not that big and strong. Great velocity, but not the top-3 NFL arm Cam has. Very athletic, but not as fast. There will be scouts that like him over every QB other than Bridgewater in the 2014 NFL Draft because of his plus size and athletic ability. He’s only 20 and that 227 is a ripped 227. He could very well end up in the 240 range. He’s probably a Top-5 NFL Draft Pick - the Eagles would have to trade up to get him unless their defense completely shits the bed all season. I don’t think that will happen. I’ll wager he’s picked before Mariota because of his ideal size and experience playing in a more conventional offense. Mariota is a much better fit for Chip Kelly, so the Eagles would be thrilled to see a team pass up on him to select Hundley in the draft.

Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (6-0, 210)
2013 Stats (5 Games): Passing: 100/140, 1,489 yds, 10.6 yds/att, 71.4 comp%, 14 TD, 4 INT; Rushing: 48 att, 314 yds, 3 TD
2014 Draft Projection: Late 1st / Early 2nd Round
Despite the bad rap, I love Johnny’s attitude on the field and so do his teammates. When he’s not taunting opponents after a touchdown, Johnny is calm and collect in the face of adversity and his teammates gravitate to that, which you could really see in Texas A&M’s rally vs Alabama. Media and fans who want every football player to act like Tim Tebow have zero impact on how high Manziel gets drafted. His arm has gotten stronger since last season and is about NFL average right now, in the same league as Tony Romo when you look at velocity. His footwork has improved dramatically and that has really impacted his accuracy for the better. The obvious feature with Johnny is escapability and speed. Johnny is legitimately fast. The lazy comparisons NFL pundits make is Jeff Garcia and Doug Flutie because Johnny is white, but he is much faster than those players. He will likely time in the 4.45-4.50 range at the combine, which is almost as fast as RG3 (4.41 in 2012) and faster than Steve Young (4.50 in 1984). That’s actually the upside for Johnny – Steve Young was a shorter, lighter QB with an average arm, tremendous accuracy and great speed. They are nothing alike off the field, but are both killers on the field. Manziel’s height/weight doesn’t bother me – he’s bigger than Russell Wilson and the same size as Steve Young and Drew Brees. Chip Kelly loved Johnny in high school - Manziel verbally committed to Oregon before switching to A&M after deciding he’d like to play closer to his home in Texas. If the Eagles end up 9-7 or 10-6, Johnny could very well fall into their lap later in the 1st Round and Chip may finally get his guy.

Tajh Boyd, Clemson (6-1, 225)
2013 Stats (4 Games): Passing: 73/114, 994 yds, 8.7 yds/att, 64.0 comp%, 9 TD, 0 INT; Rushing: 49 att, 159 yds, 4 TD
2014 Draft Projection: Late 1st / Early 2nd Round
In some ways, Boyd reminds me of Donovan McNabb. He is thickly built with a big arm and a pretty deep ball, but struggles with accuracy on short and intermediate routes. He’s also a fantastic leader and has helped place Clemson at the top of the ACC, coming through with huge performances in big games against Georgia in 2013 and LSU in 2012. He plays faster than he times, and will run around the same time McNabb did at the NFL Combine (4.64 in 1999). Even with the accuracy concerns and less-than-ideal height, it would not surprise me if Boyd was drafted in the top 15 picks because of his supreme leadership qualities and above average arm strength and speed, similar to when Buffalo drafted EJ Manuel with the 16th pick in 2013 with the same attributes and accuracy concerns. Boyd would fit in well with Chip Kelly’s offense and could be available after the first half of the 1st Round.

My Top 100 Prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft

Just hours before the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft kicks off, I've compiled my list of the Top 100 Prospects ranked by position. To put this list together, I've poured over dozens of available online game tape. The list includes heights, weights, college statistics and workout numbers for each player. You can view and print the PDF file HERE.

My out of left field predictions for this draft class:

HOF Offensive Player: LT Lane Johnson
HOF Defensive Player: DT Sharrif Floyd
Offensive Superstar Sleeper: TE Travis Kelce & QB Matt Scott
Defensive Superstar Sleeper: CB Jamar Taylor
Offensive Bust: QB Matt Barkley
Defensive Bust: OLB Barkevious Mingo

Here are NFL Comparisons for my Top 10 Players in this draft:

1. DT (3T/5T DE) Sharrif Floyd (Warren Sapp)
2. OLB (LEO) Dion Jordan (Jason Taylor)
3. LT Lane Johnson (Joe Staley – the best LT in today’s NFL by far)
4. LT Eric Fisher (Joe Thomas)
5. WR Tavon Austin (Percy Harvin - with more speed and less headaches)
6. OG Jonathan Cooper (Randall McDaniel)
7. LT Luke Joeckel (Todd Steussie – 11-year starter & two-time Pro Bowl selection)
8. DT (3T/5T DE) Sheldon Richardson (Gerald McCoy)
9. DE (LEO) Ezekiel Ansah (Jason Paul-Pierre – with even less football experience)
10. DT (NT/5T DE) Star Lotulelei (Dan Wilkinson – 12 year starter & 54.5 career sacks)

Happy Mike Mayock Day everyone.