Best Available, Best Value

With half a week to go until the draft kicks off, we're taking a look at the best available and the best value at each position in this draft. When addressing best value we'll look at everything from expected production, to likely draft position, to "pacman potential" (i.e. the ability for the team to expect you to be in the league in 3 years).

Quarterback
Best Available: Brady Quinn, ND
Contrary to which passer is likely to go number 1 over all, we actually think that Brady Quinn will end up being the best passer out of this group. In our opinion, one good bowl game and a laser, rocket arm don't surpass 2 years of great production. He has the leadership qualities, the arm, reads defenses well and is very tough to bring down. His lack of wins in big time games is a concern, but I think a lot more of that can be attributed to ND's inability to play defense than anything Quinn did or didn't do.

Best Value: Drew Stanton, MSU
Stanton is the prototypical QB that teams look for these days. Has great size, a live arm, and he can kill you with his legs if the opportunity arises. Fortunately for his sake, he doesn't fall into the same category as Ron Mexico and Vince Tamland as a running back that attempts to throw every now and then. His inconsistency is his problem at this point and that will drive him down the board, likely into the second round, potentially even dropping him to 4th or 5th QB taken. We think that with the proper coaching, Stanton could end up being one of the top 2 QBs in this draft and should be available well into the 30s, maybe even the 40 range. He would be a great find for a team with a couple years to put him on the bench.

Running Back
Best Available: Adrian Peterson, OU
This is a no brainer. Peterson is a rare combination of explosiveness and power that allows him to run tough between the tackle but also outrun defenders after he gets through the hole. While his injuries are a cause for concern, he has no nagging injury and all appear to be from freak plays, not recurring weaknesses. Even with the new injury reports he'll be gone by the time the 10 pick rolls around, and he deserves to be considered in the top 3.

Best Value: Michael Bush, Louisville
Bush is the one guy that we feel some sort of sympathy for in this year's draft. He's as snakebit as a prospect can be. Guy decides to go back to school for his senior year (which we think more prospects should consider doing), is a Heisman candidate and breaks his leg before he even gets a full game under his belt, then he turns down a medical redshirt only to find out that his leg's not healing as well as it should be. At this point, it appears that his recovery is close to complete and he should be ready to go in time for training camp. So...why is he the best value? Simply because the kid is a top 15 talent that will likely be available LATE on day one (think round 3) because of his injury. The kid is a smart, patient runner...a rarity in a power back. Any time you get a top 15 talent in the late 2nd or 3rd round, then you've officially locked up the Best Value award for your position.

Wide Receiver
Best Player: Calvin Johnson, Ga. Tech
Not a real difficult sell here. He has the speed, the height, the hands, the skills...you name it. He has some questions about his ability to beat a pressure defense, but when you're a receiver and you're being discussed as a #1 choice, you're the undisputed Best Player at your position.

Best Value: Sidney Rice, South Carolina
Sidney Rice is a name that hasn't been heard of late. He's had a lackluster offseason and because of that, the team that drafts him will get a great value. He plays much faster than his official times and has TONS of upside. Early in the offseason he was being discussed as one of the top two receivers in the draft and now he's fallen out of the first round on most boards. While we still think Johnson is the best WR on the board, we simply can't justify taking a receiver in the top 10, much less the top 5, so Rice, who also has potential to be a gamechanger, but is likely available at the end of round 1 or early in the 2nd, gets the nod on Best Value.

Tight End
Best Available AND Best Value: Zach Miller, Arizona State
We're going to take a lot of flak for placing anyone but Greg Olsen at this spot, but this analyst doesn't think that the TE position is one in which speed dictates success as the media seems to think in the case of Olsen vs. Miller. Miller had 3 years of great production at ASU and was considered the top at his position over that period. He blocks well, catches well and is a big time red zone target. In that he'll likely go in the second while Olsen will likely be taken in the top half of the first, he's also our best value at the position.

Offensive Tackle
Best Available: Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
There's no doubt about this one. He would have rivaled Ferguson as the top tackle in last year's draft but decided to come back for his senior year. He's a lock to be taken in the top 5 and we think he'll have the biggest rookie impact of any of the players projected in the top 10 (honestly, when you're a premier LT and you end up in Arizona you'd have to be a complete bust to not have a big impact). He's got the size, long arms, and technical ability to be one of the new crop of top LTs in the game.

Best Value: Joe Staley, Central Michigan
While we still question the level of competition, you can't argue with the kids athleticism, size and commitment to succeed. He's shot up draft boards over the last year and has established himself as a first rounder. While we don't think he's in the same class as Thomas, he's not that far behind and can be had about 20 picks later.

Offensive Guard
Best Available and Best Value: Justin Blalock, Texas
Blalock is a tough, nasty road grader with 4 years of starting experience. He's smart and works his butt off...and did we mention 40 reps in the bench press at the combine? Why do we think he's the best value as well? Ben Grubbs is really the only other guard in the debate for best available guard and will be had around the same pick. We still believe that Blalock is the best and since there's no significant difference in draft position, he also falls into best value.

Center
Best Available: Ryan Kalil, USC
This one's not even close. Kalil is head and shoulder's above the rest of this year's crop of centers. His size is an issue, but guys like Mark Stepnoski have shown that size isn't the biggest influence on a center's success.

Best Value: Dustin Fry, Clemson
Fry's a raw prospect, we won't deny that, but he's a three-year starter and an absolute mauler. With the right coaching he could be a very good center, and when you can get a "very good" player late on day 2 or even undrafted, you've earned Best Value.

Defensive End
Best Available: Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas
Have we made it obvious that we don't like Gaines Adams yet? Jamaal Anderson, while not quite as explosive in the pass rush, is a disruptive force against the pass and is stout against the run, something Adams will never claim to be. We believe Anderson to be the most complete DE in the draft and think he'll be the most successful of this year's deep crop.

Best Value: Quentin Moses, Georgia
Coming into the season, Moses had a legitimate claim as the best DE. After posting double digit sacks in his junior year, he regressed this season and his numbers in general decreased. We think this had more to do with teams gameplanning for him specifically rather than anything he was doing wrong. He will slide into at least the second, maybe as far as the third, and we expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder and be a dominant player again.

Defensive Tackle
Best Available: Alan Branch, Michigan
We believe the questions surrounding Branch are unfounded. The questions of laziness baffle us as we believe that anyone coming into the combine 20 pounds lighter shatters those thoughts. His xrays, while a point of some concern, seem to be a matter of interpretation at this point as some teams think that he's completely healthy. He's a massive run stuffer who will demand double teams to keep him out of the backfield. He will likely never have amazing stats, but his teams will never have poor run defenses.

Best Available: Justin Harrell, Tennessee
If it wasn't for an injury early this season, we'd be talking about 3 DTs with top 10 potential this year. No one can question his toughness as he played through that injury against Florida. We expect him to have a great pro career and will be available at the end of the first round. The only way this changes is if Branch falls into the mid-teens...if that happens, two teams will end up with great deals on their new DTs.

Inside Linebacker
Best Available: Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
The kid is everything you look for in a MLB physically and he's a great lockerroom presence. He's got the speed to drop in coverage but the strength to blow up a running back at the line. He'll step in as an instant starter and make an immediate impact no matter what team drafts him.

Best Value: Zak DeOssie, Brown
DeOssie's biggest knock is his small school status and lack of high end competition. He has good size and speed and his brain obviously isn't in question. Available in the mid-rounds, he presents great bang for the buck at the MLB position.

Outside Linebacker
Best Available: Paul Posluszny, Penn State
The kid has won the Bednarik trophy twice. We could end the conversation there and it would tell us all we need to know, but then we wouldn't take into account his good speed and range and his non-stop motor. Had he been healthy and come out last year, he'd have given AJ Hawk some stiff competition as the best LB on the board.

Best Value: Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
We'll start this one with a disclaimer...for this pick to pan out, he has to go to the right team (a Tampa-2 defense) but then again, what pick, especially a mid-late rounder, doesn't rely on the system he comes into. Alexander projects at WLB and needs to be in the Tampa-2 system to preform, but if he lands in the right spot, his speed and range will make him a very dangerous player. He'll be a poor man's Cato June if he lands in the right spot.

Corner Back
Best Available: Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh
The kid has prototypical size, he's fluid in coverage and strong against the run. He plays with great instincts and gives his team an explosive punt returner as well.

Best Value: David Irons, Auburn
While Irons doesn't have great size, he plays like he does by constantly putting himself in the perfect position to knock down balls. He also isn't afraid to help out in the running game. He'll slide because of his size and only average time, but his senior bowl performance shows that the guy can play. He should be available on Sunday.

Safety
Best Available: Laron Landry, LSU
This is another position that it's not even a question as to the best player on the board. He's got great size and his speed is top notch. He plays the run and the pass equally as well and he has experience at both SS and FS as well as some time at CB. The kid's going to be a playmaker for years to come.

Best Value: Eric Weddle, Utah
Weddle is one of those guys whose size doesn't translate perfectly to any of the DB positions, but he plays with reckless abanadon and is ALWAYS around the ball. He plays smart and never quits. I got the opportunity to watch him play against Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl and his name was always called as being in the play. He's rising fast, but he should still be available in the late 2nd at least.

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