Who is the best player in the draft? It's a debate that has gone on for a few months and it's not even the player most likely to be the top pick. With the draft Thursday night, this is my ranking of the top-25 draft eligible guys.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who is the best player in the draft? It's a debate that has gone on for a few months and it's not even the player who will be the top pick. With the draft Thursday night, this is my ranking of the top-25 draft eligible guys.
This exercise doesn't take into account team needs, draft position or order. That's what a mock draft is for, trying to guess what's going to happen in the first round.
This is an attempt to determine the best players, regardless of the position they play while speculating on which ones will be most successful.
Here is last year's Big Board:
NFL Draft 2015 Big Board
Here is the 2014 Big Board:
NFL Draft 2014 Big Board
1. Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback/Safety, Florida State
Ramsey has a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism to succeed at either cornerback or safety. A three-year starter at Florida State, he showed the instincts and ball skills to become an immediate defensive playmaker.
2. Myles Jack, Linebacker, UCLA
I'm not a doctor so I have no clue how scary his knee situation is. He was able to go through his Pro Day and it doesn't appear he will miss his rookie season. Jack's a complete linebacker, an athletic anomaly who is capable of making plays at every level.
3. Jared Goff, Quarterback, California
He's not the biggest and he doesn't have the strongest arm. But neither of those traits goes at the top of what makes a successful quarterback. Goff has great pocket presence and toughness. He makes tight-window throws with anticipation and accuracy while going through progressions quickly. With nothing around him at Cal, he helped turn the program around and took it to a bowl game.
4. Laremy Tunsil, Offensive tackle, Ole Miss
Big guys aren't supposed to be able to move the way he does. He has great balance, strength and plays with a nasty demeanor. Tunsil is the ideal blindside protector who has the tools to become an All-Pro.
5. Joey Bosa, Defensive end, Ohio State
Bosa was one of Ohio State's most productive defensive players of all-time. He shows enough strength and understanding of leverage to stop the run. He uses his hands well, displaying the power to get through multiple blockers and get pressure on the quarterback. Bosa doesn't have the flexibility to bend off the edge, but is an all-around defensive lineman, a smooth, productive technician.
6. DeForest Buckner, Defensive end, Oregon
The four-year starter at Oregon has tremendous size and athleticism. He also uses his hands like a pro. Buckner rarely came out of games for the Ducks and his versatility allows him to play all over the defensive line.
7. Ezekiel Elliott, Running back, Ohio State
He's not on the same level as Todd Gurley last year. Gurley was a rare prospect. But Elliott has the ability to become the centerpiece of an NFL offense. A touchdown machine, Elliott is able to pick up more than what is blocked thanks to his combination of speed, balance, vision, quick feet and power. He's the definition of a three-down running back -- with special blocking ability and good hands out of the backfield.
8. Ronnie Stanley, Offensive tackle, Notre Dame
A three-year starter for the Irish, Stanley has the size, footwork and athleticism to stay at left tackle. He doesn't have great power and isn't a plow in the run game, but pass protection will be his best attribute.
9. Vernon Hargreaves, Cornerback, Florida
What Hargreaves lacks in size and speed he makes up for with competitiveness, technique and instincts. He can play all styles and is willing to fight with receivers of all sizes, showing that against Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell.
10. Sheldon Rankins, Defensive tackle, Louisville
He was a dominant player for two straight years and then shined at the Senior Bowl. Rankins has a unique skill set, capable of playing a handful of different positions along the defensive line. He is the kind of impact defensive tackle who takes on and sheds blockers in the run game while also showing the explosiveness to get up field and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
11. Josh Doctson, Wide receiver, TCU
Doctson is a polished receiver who excels at making acrobatic catches. He isn't quick or sudden off the line of scrimmage, but has a great understanding of how to get open.
12. Shaq Lawson, Defensive end, Clemson
Lawson was extremely productive at Clemson, finishing with 12.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss this past season. He plays hard the entire game and even fought through a shoulder injury. Lawson doesn't have elite athleticism, but works his way into the backfield with power and a motor that doesn't stop.
13. Laquon Treadwell, Wide receiver, Ole Miss
Treadwell didn't time well in the 40-yard-dash and he struggles to create consistent separation. However, he makes tough, contested catches in traffic and he has the athleticism and strength to make plays after.
14. Andrew Billings, Defensive tackle, Baylor
Strength is the name of the game for Billings, who has the power to shove blockers backwards while also showing quickness and athleticism to beat the his man off the line.
15. Darron Lee, Linebacker, Ohio State
Lee isn't physical and will miss his share of tackles, but his unique athleticism and speed at the position make him perfect for this era. Lee is explosive, showing the burst to make plays behind the line, at the line and in coverage.
16. Corey Coleman, Wide receiver, Baylor
He might be just 5-foot-11, but Coleman is an all-around receiver, showing the ability to play bigger than his size. Speed. Explosiveness. Athleticism. Quickness in and out of breaks. Ball skills. Coleman has all the tools to be a big-play receiver. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
17. Leonard Floyd, Linebacker, Georgia
Floyd was a three-year starter who lined up all over the field. While he's wiry and needs to get stronger, the former Bulldog is a terror off the edge. His explosive first step makes it hard for offensive tackles to handle him off the snap. He will be at his best when used as a pass rusher.
18. William Jackson III, Cornerback, Houston
Jackson has the ideal size to become a quality press corner at the next level. With good awareness and natural ball skills it's easy to see why he led the nation in pass breakups and hauled in five interceptions.
19. Jaylon Smith, Linebacker, Notre Dame
Smith was one of the best defensive players in the draft before a scary knee injury during the Fiesta Bowl. That leaves his draft position in question. The talent is undeniable. He has the athleticism, speed and physical style to play any linebacker spot. He's a playmaker and will be a steal if he can return to pre-injury form in the future. It will require lots of patience from the team that takes him.
20. Mackensie Alexander, Cornerback, Clemson
Alexander's size and production don't show a top cornerback. Ignore that. Alexander is competitive, tough, smart and instinctive. He shows a willingness to help in the run game and was rarely challenged at Clemson.
21. Jarran Reed, Defensive tackle, Alabama
Powerful and tough, Reed is the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in the draft. He doesn't show much when it comes to rushing the passer, which may limit his value.
22. Jack Conklin, Offensive lineman, Michigan State
He was a three-year starter at Michigan State and got better every season. He has good size and toughness and would be at his best as a road-grading power tackle.
23. Reggie Ragland, Linebacker, Alabama
While the former Alabama leader doesn't excel at anything, he does a lot of different things well. He's an aggressive, hard-hitting linebacker who showed some ability to rush off the edge this past season.
24. Ryan Kelly, Center, Alabama
The three-year starter has the smarts, toughness and size to start from Day One. As the players around him changed, Kelly was the model of consistency for the Alabama offensive line.
25. Carson Wentz, Quarterback, North Dakota State
He has the raw tools -- size, athleticism, arm strength and smarts -- to be successful in the NFL. The key word there is "raw." Wentz is a "see-it-throw-it" QB, who has a tendency to lock onto his receivers. Anyone drafting Wentz, and it looks to be the Eagles, will be doing it based on what they believe he will become, not who he currently is.