It's draft week. Now that we are a couple days away, figured I'd give a list of players who, from what I've seen, have trended up and down.
Trended Up:
Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon: There hasn't been much question about Gordon's ability, but draft boards have him in the top 20 overall players. As for Gurley, it seems the questions have been answered about his knee injury in a very positive fashion. No running backs have been drafted in the first round the last two years. We may very well have two in the top 20 this year.
Breshad Perriman: While he's not getting the talk of Cooper, White, and Parker, the wide receiver from Central Florida has been on a very steady rise the past few weeks. He's looking like a solid bet as a mid to late first rounder, which will make him attractive to receiver needy teams like the Dolphins, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs, and Eagles.
Byron Jones: The UConn DB first got attention with his 40 time. He has maintained the momentum and is looking like a first rounder. Plenty of teams late in the first need CB help like the Eagles, Steelers, Cardinals, Ravens, Cowboys, Saints, and Patriots. One of those are a good bet to pick him.
Phillip Dorsett: I was a bit surprised that some draft sites had him as a third or fourth round player weeks ago. I thought he had better potential, and now the draft boards agree now. If he's not picked in the first, he won't be waiting long to hear his name called Friday night.
TRENDING DOWN:
Shane Ray: He gets the bad timing award this year. From what I have seen, NFL personnel aren't as concerned as the citation as they are the timing. Easy to see why. Perhaps the biggest week in your life and you get in some trouble. As minor as some see it, Ray, who should be a top ten pick, now may be sliding late in the first round.
Jalen Collins: Another potential first rounder who has slid because of off-field concerns. Reports of a few failed drug tests at LSU has generated concern and a potential first round pick now may be in the middle of the second round.
T.J. Clemmings: The Pitt tackle just about six weeks ago was looking like a mid-first rounder. Now he is in the position as a middle second rounder. I admit, I'm not sure why, but he has fallen in some eyes.
Sammie Coates: After he lit up Alabama, I was hoping he'd go pro. He looked like a sure first round pick. He looked good in the Senior Bowl, but seemed to struggle in the combines and hasn't really recovered his stock. Now looks like a late second or third round pick.
