Four Bulldogs among Bucky Brooks' top five at their positions
NFL Mock Drafts are really ramping up with the seven-round event beginning in just over a month. While those are entertaining to consume, position rankings can often paint a more complete picture. Bucky Brooks has released his second set of such rankings since the process began and four Georgia players are included among the top five at their positions.
If you’ve followed the process, you can probably guess those four players — Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Darnell Washington, and Broderick Jones. In fact, those four players rank inside the top three players at their position.
Carter, despite all of the negative attention for off-field happenings, is still Brooks’ No. 1 defensive tackle. Some have him dropping down draft boards and with Carolina trading into the No. 1 spot, there’s no more talk of him going first overall.
“NFL teams are fully examining Carter’s character after he pleaded no contest to reckless driving and racing charges related to a fatal crash in January,” Brooks writes. “A lackluster pro day only furthered concerns. Strictly assessing the film, Carter is an extra-large freak athlete with a disruptive presence. The All-American flashes a rare combination of explosive first-step quickness and heavy hands as a destructive run stopper/pocket pusher.”
Brooks doesn’t consider Smith an EDGE defender in his position rankings. He has the Savannah, Ga. native tabbed as a linebacker who could become a designated pass rusher if asked.
“Smith is a standup edge defender with the versatility to play multiple spots on the second level,” Brooks says. “The Georgia star could fill a void as a DPR (designated pass rusher) or play in the box as a run-and-chase defender. With unique traits and rare athleticism, the combine star is surging up the charts.”
The combine performance Brooks’ speaks of included Smith jumping over 41 inches and running the 40-yard-dash in 4.39 seconds.
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Both Washington and Jones rank No. 3 at their positions — tight end and offensive tackle, respectively. Both have been projected by quite a few analysts as first-round picks but Jones is a near unanimous first-round per analysts.
“Jones is a power player with the knock-back power to mash and maul defenders in the ground attack,” Brooks says. “In addition, he displays balance, body control and lateral quickness to shadow shifty pass rushers off the edge.”
Washington, like Smith, had a standout NFL combine showing. This is a talented tight end class at the top but Brooks believes the Las Vegas native fits right in.
“Washington is a super-sized tight end with a combination of skills that makes him a hybrid offensive tackle/perimeter pass catcher,” Brooks writes. “The Georgia product obliterates defenders as a blocker on the edges, while also displaying soft hands and better-than-anticipated playmaking skills for a gigantic target.”
Brooks had Kelee Ringo as the No. 5 cornerback in his first set of rankings in February. Ringo isn’t included in the second set of position rankings.
