The 2015 NFL Draft is three weeks away, and it would appear NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has finalized his position rankings with version 3.0. I've got some of those rankings below, and you can also view version 1.0 and version 2.0.
The big "story" of the rankings for most people is Mayock's decision to move Marcus Mariota to No. 1 at quarterback, ahead of Jameis Winston. I'm sure NFL Network wants people to tune in tonight to find out why, but it is odd nonetheless. His last rankings came in early March, which would seem to indicate the Pro Day performances were the difference. I thought Winston had a pretty solid Pro Day by outward appearances. I'm not seeing how Mariota did enough, or Winston struggled enough to make the switch. Or maybe Mayock had not watched enough tape on one or both of them? I don't know.
This just sort of goes to show even further that we can take draft analysis only so serious. While there are certain things that are of importance for any evaluator, there are also plenty of things each person considers with a little more or less weight, if at all.
For our purposes Winston vs. Mariota holds almost no value. Both are highly likely to be gone when the 49ers pick at No. 15, so the only real impact is a team behind the 49ers maneuvering ahead of them. And even then, it's not a huge thing for the 49ers.
With that in mind, here are a handful of positions I see as in play for the 49ers potentially grabbing one of the top five players listed.
Wide receiver
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. Kevin White |
1. Kevin White |
1. Kevin White |
2. Amari Cooper |
2. Amari Cooper |
2. Amari Cooper |
3. DeVante Parker |
3. DeVante Parker |
3. DeVante Parker |
4. Dorial Green-Beckham |
4. Jaelen Strong |
4. Breshad Perriman |
5. Devin Funchess |
5t. Dorial Green-Beckham |
5t. Dorial Green-Beckham |
|
5t. Breshad Perriman |
5t. Nelson Agholor |
Interior Defensive Line
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. Leonard Williams |
1. Leonard Williams |
1. Leonard Williams |
2. Danny Shelton |
2. Danny Shelton |
2. Arik Armstead |
3. Malcom Brown |
3. Malcom Brown |
3. Malcom Brown |
4. Arik Armstead |
4. Arik Armstead |
4. Danny Shelton |
5t. Jordan Phillips |
5t. Jordan Phillips |
5t. Eddie Goldman |
5t. Eddie Goldman |
5t. Eddie Goldman |
5t. Jordan Phillips |
Cornerback
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. Trae Waynes |
1. Trae Waynes |
1. Trae Waynes |
2. Marcus Peters |
2. Jalen Collins |
2. Jalen Collins |
3. Jalen Collins |
3. Marcus Peters |
3. Marcus Peters |
4. P.J. Williams |
4. Kevin Johnson |
4. Kevin Johnson |
5. Kevin Johnson |
5t. Byron Jones |
5t. Eric Rowe |
|
5t. P.J. Williams |
5t. Byron Jones |
Edge Rusher
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. Dante Fowler, Jr. |
1. Dante Fowler, Jr. |
1. Dante Fowler, Jr. |
2. Randy Gregory |
2. Randy Gregory |
2. Randy Gregory |
3. Shane Ray |
3. Shane Ray |
3. Vic Beasley |
4. Vic Beasley |
4. Vic Beasley |
4. Bud Dupree |
5. Bud Dupree |
5. Bud Dupree |
5. Shane Ray |
Interior Offensive Line
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. Brandon Scherff |
1. Brandon Scherff |
1. Brandon Scherff |
2. Cameron Erving |
2. Cameron Erving |
2. Cameron Erving |
3. Laken Tomlinson |
3. Laken Tomlinson |
3. Laken Tomlinson |
4. A.J. Cann |
4. A.J. Cann |
4. A.J. Cann |
5. Tre' Jackson |
5. Tre' Jackson |
5. Tre' Jackson |
Offensive Tackle
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. T.J. Clemmings |
1. La'el Collins |
1. La'el Collins |
2. Andrus Peat |
2. T.J. Clemmings |
2. Ereck Flowers |
3. La'el Collins |
3. Andrus Peat |
3. D.J. Humphries |
4. Ereck Flowers |
4. Ereck Flowers |
4. Andrus Peat |
5t. Cedric Ogbuehi |
5t. D.J. Humphries |
5t. T.J. Clemmings |
5t. D.J. Humphries |
5t. Cedric Ogbuehi |
5t. Cedric Ogbuehi |
Linebacker
February 11 |
March 2 |
April 8 |
1. Paul Dawson |
1. Paul Dawson |
1. Paul Dawson |
2. Benardrick McKinney |
2. Eric Kendricks |
2. Eric Kendricks |
3. Denzel Perryman |
3. Stephone Anthony |
3. Stephone Anthony |
4. Eric Kendricks |
4. Benardrick McKinney |
4. Denzel Perryman |
5. Stephone Anthony |
5. Denzel Perryman |
5. Benardrick McKinney |