5. Dri Archer, Running Back/Wide Receiver, Kent State
Dri Archer is a name that most probably won’t recognize. He doesn’t play for an Oregon or a USC, but for Kent State. However, Dri Archers is one of the most explosive players in all of America. Anytime he gets his hands on the ball he is absolutely electric and can take the ball to the house.
The main thing limiting Archer isn’t the school that he plays for, but his size and durability. He can run the ball as well as catch it as most in the nation, but he has had real trouble staying healthy. Standing in at 5’8” and weighing only 170 pounds, he can’t touch the ball 20-25 times a game and stay healthy. At the next level, Archer may be served best to do as Tavon Austin has done and become a slot receiver, return man and carry the ball on the occasional reverse and end around. If he can stay healthy in the NFL, he will make big plays though, you can count on that.
4. Marqise Lee, Wide Receiver, USC
Lee was battling to be the top wide receiver in this draft before the season and now he may have been relegated to being the third after Sammy Watkins of Clemson and Mike Evans of Texas A&M.
Lee has had a down year with injuries and terrible quarterback play, but let us not forget the huge year Lee has last year with a quarterback who had at least some talent.
Lee has the ability to go deep as well as make people miss anytime he gets the ball into his hands. He can turn a 2 yard pass into an 80 yard touchdown and that is a skill all NFL teams want.
Lee is going to have to prove he can stay healthy after this year has been plagued with different small injuries.
That being said, Lee is still one of the top offensive playmakers in this draft and should be a top-15 pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
3. Eric Ebron, Tight End, North Carolina
A tight end, yes I said a tight end, is one of the top playmakers in the country. Eric Ebron isn’t your typical tight end though, no he is more like a wide receiver in a tight ends body. Ebron has the ability to out run defenders down the field and get behind them for a big play.
On top of that Ebron also has the size and jumping ability to just go up overtop smaller defenders and catch the ball. He is an impossible mismatch for a defense and has the talent to put up Jimmy Graham like numbers when he is drafted into the NFL. Ebron is one of the best playmakers in the draft and will be one of the top three or four offensive playmakers taken.
2. Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson
Watkins has been one of if not the best receiver in the country this year and will be one of the first two taken in the 2014 NFL Draft.
He has played extremely well with Tajh Boyd this year and has put up huge stats. Watkins is an explosive playmaker who shows outstanding catch and run ability.
If you lead him and give him the ability to make people miss and pick up yards after the catch, he will do so.
He runs a beautiful deep route and is the best deep ball receiver in the draft. His straight-line speed is outstanding and will be able to run by most defenders. Despite his speed, Watkins is also 6’1” and weighs 205 pounds and shows the ability to go up and come down with a contested ball. Watkins is a complete receiver who can do anything you ask of him.
1. De’Anthony Thomas, Running Back/Wide Receiver, Oregon
Much like Dri Archer, De’Anthony Thomas is a lot like Tavon Austin. Thomas, just like Archer and Austin weighs roughly 175 pounds, thought he stands an inch taller than either Austin or Archer at 5’9”.
Thomas is an absolutely explosive playmaker who can take any run or any pass for a touchdown, regardless of where he is on the field. At Oregon, Thomas lines up at running back, slot receiver and return man and can do those same things in the NFL.
Thomas won’t ever be able to be a full time running back in the NFL because of his size, but he can be used in so many ways. Slot receiver, running back, return man, he can be extremely dangerous on screens, draws and end arounds. Just get the ball into Thomas hands someway and give him space to make people miss and watch the big plays happen. De’Anthony Thomas is the top playmaker in the 2014 NFL Draft.