There will be some adjustments to the Big Boards as we move closer to the 2013 NFL Draft (and there are some in this version), but the days of major movement are more or less gone, barring an arrest or injury to this year's prospects.
Between game tapes from the past college football season, the NFL combine and ongoing Pro Days, teams have just about all the information they're going to get when it comes to seeing players perform. The rest is left up to how players respond to visiting interested teams and what they have to say in interviews.
Big Board 4.0 does differ significantly from Big Board 1.0, but only in a few key spots from the 3.0 version. Things at the very top ought to look quite familiar by this point. Read more on my rationale behind this version.
Chris Burke's NFL Draft Big Board
1
Luke Joeckel
Texas A&M, junior
6-6, 306
OT
With the Chiefs cutting Eric Winston loose and with rumors swirling that Branden Albert might be on the trade block, all signs seem to be pointing toward an offensive tackle going No. 1. There's still no better option than Joeckel.
2
Chance Warmack
Alabama, senior
6-2, 317
OG
You want him to pass block? Fine. Warmack will drop on his strong base, move his feet and keep pressure off the quarterback. Rather he set up the run game? Even better. Whichever teams drafts Warmack might wind up with one of the league's elite maulers in the trenches.
3
Eric Fisher
Central Michigan, senior
6-7, 306
OT
Fisher was exceptional to begin with, and he appears to have improved noticeably since even the close of the college football season. As the MAC product continues to mature, he might wind up this class' best pro.
4
Sharrif Floyd
Florida, junior
6-2, 297
DT
If Joeckel (or Fisher) is not the No. 1 overall pick, then how about Floyd? Even with the signing of Mike DeVito, the Chiefs could use another playmaker on the line -- and Floyd certainly fits that bill.
5
Dee Milliner
Alabama, junior
6-1, 198
CB
A slight bump for Milliner from 3.0 to 4.0, up from No. 6. Why? Because I'm more convinced than ever that Milliner is easily this draft's top prospect at an extremely critical position. There are a number of capable corners behind him, but none on his level.
6
Dion Jordan
Oregon, senior
6-6, 248
DE/OLB
I sort of view Dion Jordan like the defensive version of Tavon Austin. Like Austin, there's no doubt in my mind that Jordan will produce at the next level, even if, also like Austin, I'm not entirely sure how his new team will utilize him.
7
Lane Johnson
Oklahoma, senior
6-6, 303
OT
Johnson's spot in the 2013 draft pecking order remains extremely secure right now -- he's the No. 3 tackle, behind Joeckel and Fisher, with more than enough upside to warrant an early selection.
8
Jarvis Jones
Georgia, junior
6-2, 245
OLB
One day, his spinal stenosis is a career-threatening concern; the next, it's no big deal. Depending on where the official verdict comes down, Jones could be a top-five pick or drop into the lower half of Round 1. He slipped up at his Pro Day on Thursday, but as he said after, "I'm a football player." The team that lands him can count on production for years.
9
Ziggy Ansah
BYU, senior
6-5, 271
DE
The relatively cold free-agent market for DE/OLB-types leads me to believe that a lot of teams plan to address those spots in the draft. And Ansah, with his high ceiling, will be high on almost every board, especially as teams shift to more and more hybrid 3-4/4-3 fronts.
10
Star Lotulelei
Utah, senior
6-3, 320
DT
Lotulelei appears to have put worries over a potential heart issue to bed. He was cleared for his Pro Day, then delivered a terrific showing in all aspects there. The versatile ex-Utah star could come off the board even higher than this.
11
Jonathan Cooper
North Carolina, senior
6-2, 311
OG
It is rather tough to guess where guards might be drafted because so many teams put a premium on other positions. Still, I consider Cooper one of the surer things in this draft, at this point. He's bulked up and yet remains a quick-footed and aggressive interior lineman.
12
Bjoern Werner
Florida State, junior
6-3, 266
DE/OLB
It would not surprise me all that much to see Werner slide a lot further than most people expect come draft day. He produced big numbers at Florida State and could replicate that performance in the right situation, but a lot of the earlier luster has worn thin.
13
Cordarrelle Patterson
Tennessee, junior
6-2, 216
WR
Patterson holds steady as the No. 13 prospect and the top wide receiver heading into April. It has to excite receiver-needy teams to think that Patterson already presents as a game-changer, yet has significant room to grow.
14
Sheldon Richardson
Missouri, junior
6-2, 294
DT
Down slightly, from 12 to 14, only because his size as a projected 4-3 tackle might cause some teams to shy away early. He makes up for that lack of an ideal body type, though, with an explosive burst off the line.
15
Barkevious Mingo
LSU, junior
6-4, 241
DE/OLB
Consider Mingo's spot more or less cemented here -- I view him as a player that should hear his name called during the first half of Round 1. That's not to say that he will, because he's likely in for a shift to 3-4 OLB from a DE spot. But teams search high and low for players with this type of athleticism.
16
Kenny Vaccaro
Texas, senior
6-0, 240
S
More and more, players of Vaccaro's ilk are coveted by NFL teams. He may not possess world-class speed, but the ex-Longhorn is able to play in the box or drop deep. With the zone-read offense gaining traction, a multi-dimensional safety like Vaccaro becomes a must.
17
Xavier Rhodes
Florida State, junior
6-1, 210
CB
Rhodes explained at the combine that he expects to eventually -- and we're talking years down the road -- make the move to safety. That statement speaks to the physicality that Rhodes plays with right now, which will serve him well as he transitions to the next level.
18
Tavon Austin
West Virginia, senior
5-9, 174
WR
It's a mistake to think that Austin can fit only with certain offensive schemes. The only real requirement with regard to Austin is that a team get the ball in his hands, be it on handoffs or through the air. He'll do the rest.
19
Cornellius "Tank" Carradine
Florida State, senior
6-4, 276
DE
The secret is pretty much out that Carradine is capable of being at least as good a pass rusher as Werner, his Florida State teammate, when he's healthy. Many experts believe he'll be better than any other pass rusher in this draft. As he continues to work his way back from an ACL tear, his mid-April Pro Day could earn him a high Round 1 spot.
20
Alec Ogletree
Georgia, junior
6-2, 242
LB
Physically, Ogletree is a star -- maybe even a player who should be a top-10 pick. Mentally, the jury is still out, as evidenced by Clark Judge's report from the combine, in which a player personnel director described Ogletree as "an immature idiot."
21
Damontre Moore
Texas A&M, junior
6-4, 250
DE
Following his recent Pro Day, Moore compared himself to a puppy -- "young, energetic kid, like a puppy. You bring him home, you got him for a reason. He has a lot of potential, and he does everything you like." But teams don't want to spend years training their top draft picks to become, well, lead dogs.
22
Datone Jones
UCLA, senior
6-3, 283
DE
Size-wise, Jones is not that far off from Michael Bennett (6-4, 274) or Jason Jones (6-5, 276). Why does that matter? Because Jones and now likely Bennett worked into Seattle's lineup as pass-rushing DTs with the ability to play DE. Datone Jones, undersized for a traditional tackle role, might have to do the same.
23
Alex Okafor
Texas, senior
6-4, 264
DE
Plenty of people look down on the wide-nine alignment up front, but it's really made for guys like Okafor -- a player who relies more on his explosiveness than his technique to disrupt offenses.
24
Geno Smith
West Virginia, senior
6-3, 220
QB
Smith's only up two spots from Big Board 3.0 after his recent Pro Day. He's the best quarterback in this class, and I'd bet dollars to donuts he is selected before No. 24 in Round 1. That does not mean that he's a top-10 player in this class.
25
Desmond Trufant
Washington, senior
5-11, 190
CB
The brother of current NFLers Marcus and Isaiah Trufant, the Washington product certainly has a terrific pedigree. He may wind up being taken before Xavier Rhodes when all is said and done, too, thanks to a ton of positive pre-draft momentum.
26
D.J. Fluker
Alabama, senior
6-5, 339
OT
Fluker has been either 25 or 26 on each of the past three Big Boards. He really would be hard-pressed to play left tackle in the pros, and may have to accept a shift to a guard spot, at least in his rookie season.
27
Larry Warford
Kentucky, senior
6-3, 333
OG
For a team looking to build around its run game, Warford will be a coveted prospect -- early in Round 2, if not late in Round 1. Just send a play his direction and let him do his thing as a road-grader along the line.
28
Keenan Allen
California, junior
6-2, 206
WR
April 9 is the key date for Allen, who was the top-rated receiver on Big Board 1.0. That's when the Cal product will perform at his Pro Day, in an effort to show teams he has fully recovered from a PCL injury. Allen is near the top of the list when it comes to players that could raise their stock late.
29
Tyler Eifert
Notre Dame, senior
6-5, 250
TE
Eifert can move around to create mismatches, and he'll find space to get open no matter where he starts. His touchdown numbers at Notre Dame (four last year, 11 for his career) barely even hint at the damage he could do in the red zone.
30
Matt Elam
Florida, junior
5-9, 208
S
Elam may as well start setting aside money to pay fines, because his ability to absolutely light up offensive players no doubt will catch the attention of the NFL offices from time to time. Skill-position players will want to know where he is at all times.
31
Sylvester Williams
North Carolina, senior
6-2, 313
DT
As promised above, there are very few major changes throughout this board. Here, Williams flip-flops with Arthur Brown, because I think Williams' hulking presence up front will appeal to more teams.
32
Arthur Brown
Kansas State, senior
6-0, 241
LB
A lot of NFL teams seem to think highly of Brown, a high-character player with impressive instincts. He probably could play some 3-4 inside linebacker and be decent, but the real fit for him would be to stick with a 4-3 OLB role.
33
Eddie Lacy
Alabama, junior
5-11, 231
RB
I keep inching Lacy closer and closer to top-32 standing here -- I believe he will be the first running back off the board and that could happen late in Round 1. He would be a terrific fit on a team trying to round out a playoff roster with a reliable back.
34
Kevin Minter
LSU, junior
5-11, 246
LB
Honestly, there is very little to separate Minter and Manti Te'o, who clocks in one spot below on Big Board 4.0. Both figure to be better pros than they are athletes -- neither lit up the combine. And both will have trouble with opposing offenses that require them to cover a lot of ground north-to-south.
35
Manti Te'o
Notre Dame, senior
6-1, 241
LB
Te'o's production at the college level could drive him into Round 1, assuming he steps up and answers all of the questions presented him by interested teams. Before we get too deep into this draft, a team will decide the reward here is worth all the risks.
36
DeAndre Hopkins
Clemson, junior
6-1, 214
WR
Another player who easily could find a home in Round 1. Hopkins could step right in and deliver results for an NFL team, due mainly to his proven ability as a route-runner. Even if he settles into a No. 2 receiver role, he'll make a nice investment.
37
Jesse Williams
Alabama, senior
6-3, 323
DT
We've talked a lot about the value of players with versatility throughout this draft process, and Williams scores points there. He should be a discussed prospect for every team in need of a promising talent up front, whether in a 3-4 or 4-3 setup.
38
Jonathan Cyprien
Florida International, senior
6-0, 217
S
After sitting out drills at the combine because of a hamstring injury, Cyprien posted a couple of sub-4.6 40s at his Pro Day in early March. Those numbers are good enough to solidify Cyprien as a player who should be drafted before Round 2 ends.
39
Kyle Long
Oregon, senior
6-6, 313
G/T
This is tough, because the 24-year-old Long does not have the development window of younger guards. But at his size, he has room to put on a little weight and possesses mobility above and beyond a lot of the linemen in this draft.
40
Zach Ertz
Stanford, junior
6-5, 235
TE
Ertz comes back into the top 40 for the simple reason that I think he deserves to be picked here or higher. He may not be a Dwayne Allen or Martellus Bennett, equally adept at running routes or delivering punishing blocks. He'll hold his own as a protector, though, and he'll burn plenty of defenses in the passing game.
