What we learned from Mike Mayocks updated rankings

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What we learned from Mike Mayocks updated rankings

NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock ranks the top five players in the NFL draft at each position, and released his on Wednesday. The initial rankings were posted prior to the NFL in February, and the first update followed the week after the combine. The Kevin Huber Jersey NFL draft will be held April 30-May 2 in Chicago.A look at some of the key movement in Mayock's latest rankings:1. Mariota on topHeisman Trophy-winning quarterback of Oregon has spent the entirety of the draft season somewhat in the shadow of Florida State's , who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the . Mayock's latest quarterback rankings represent a counter argument to the notion that Winston is the easy choice as the draft's top prospect at the position. Mariota is certainly the more athletic of the two, and his off-field character history, unlike Winston's, is impeccable. Because of Winston's comfort level with a pro-style offense, the FSU product is widely expected to be ready to contribute sooner. But that doesn't mean Mariota won't pa s him in time. ... Elsewhere in Mayock's quarterback rankings, Colorado State's pa sed UCLA's as the No. 4 quarterback, behind Mariota, Winston and Baylor's .2. Flowers makes moveMiami offensive lineman , who led the entire combine in bench-pre s testing with 37 reps at 225 pounds, jumped from No. 4 to No. Jordan Evans Jersey 2 among Mayock's top offensive tackles. . The second offensive tackle taken in last year's draft, Texas A&M's , got a $16.4 million deal with more than $10 million guaranteed. The fourth, if you count first-round pick as the guard he became as a rookie, was to the at No. 19 ($8.4 million, $4.45 million guaranteed).3. Ray tumblesMi souri's undersized but explosive pa s rusher, , slipped significantly. Ray exited the combine as Mayock's No. 2-ranked Khalid Kareem Jersey edge rusher, despite an injury that prevented him from running the 40-yard dash and other testing in Indianapolis. He dropped to No. 5 Wednesday. Several NFL clubs with a big need for pa s-rush help are drafting in the top 10 picks, so the pa s rusher who is the favorite of the right team at the right time could hit quite a jackpot. Nebraska's , whose draft stock is le s certain after a , moved up to No. 2 behind Florida's in Mayock's latest release.4. Shaq still at safetyWashington's versatile remained in Mayock's safety rankings, the second-best in fact, behind Alabama's . The former Huskies star has said he prefers playing linebacker and is drawing most of his interest from NFL clubs as a weakside linebacker. But Thompson also conceded that . He also played some running back at Washington, but remains adamantly against that Michael Thomas Jersey as a pro position, in part because of the shorter careers running backs face. Given that safety might be the weakest position in the entire draft cla s, Thompson just might be picked earlier at that position than he would at linebacker.5. Armstead, Shelton switch spotsAmong interior defensive linemen, a pair of former Pac-12 stars changed places in Oregon's and Washington's . Armstead moved up from No. 4 to No. 2, while Shelton slipped from No. 2 to No. 4, while Texas' held steady at No. 3. One thing Armstead will bring to his NFL team that Shelton won't is versatility. When asked Armstead at the combine about his ability to move around on the defensive line, he rattled off five different techniques he played along the front for the Ducks. Shelton, by contrast, is best suited to play nose guard in a 3-4 defense at 340 pounds. And while a 4-3 team could certainly make room for him, Shelton will always line up on or very near C.J. Uzomah Jersey the center in the NFL.*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *.
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