Hot Stocks - Feb 2010

The Senior Bowl is in the books and the invites to Indy have been sent.  Some players really helped themselves with their post-season play including; Anthony Davis, Dan Williams, Brandon Graham, and Kyle Wilson.  Guys like Taylor Mays and Tim Tebow struggled though, and as a result they continue to loose some value in this months review of our Hot Stocks.


1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska (Even)
Another update and Suh maintains his rank as the top stock in the nation.  This guy will makes some team (Rams?) very happy in April's draft.

2. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee (Even)
Berry is the top playmaker in any defensive backfield in the nation.  He can hit, support the run, and he is a superb ball hawk.  The comparisons to Ed Reed are warranted.

3. Gerald McCoy, DT, USC (Even)
McCoy is the best pass rushing DT to come from college since Warren Sapp matriculated from the U.  He will be a disruption to opposing lines, and OC's around the league need to account for this guy.

4. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State (Even)
Okung is still the best of the deep O-Line crop, but the gap has closed quickly with the recent rise of Davis.  I still really like what Okung brings to the table, and I think potential investors (NFL Teams) will be very please with his ROI.

5. Joe Haden, CB, Florida (Even)
Clearly the best cover corner in this years class, Haden has shut down ability.  He has excellent explosion, and can play physical football too.

6. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State (+1)
Despite some character concerns, Bryant is no doubt the most talented receiver in this year's class.  He can run, catch, and return kicks.  He will be an impact player at the next level.

7. Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers (+10)
Davis continues to rocket up the board with his tremendous potential.  He could soon be looking at the top spot amongst tackles if this type of rise continues.

8. Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech (-2)
As is common this time of year, sometimes we see player slide not because of what they do, but because of the rise of others.  Morgan's fall is a result of the rise of Davis and Pierre-Paul closing the gap at the DE spot.

9. Jason Pierre Paul, DE, South Florida (+4)
JPP's raw skills have talent evaluators drooling.  The potential ROI on this kid is off the charts, and it continues to result in him rising up the board.

10. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama (Even)
McClain is still the best linebacker in this year's class.  Despite movement all around him, McClain manages to maintain his position at the end of the top 10.

11. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (-2)
This month shows good news and bad news for Bradford.  The bad news is he slipped two more spots on our board.  The good news is that he has leaped Jimmy Clausen to reclaim the top spot at the QB position. This will likely result in Bradford being drafted higher than his 11th position would indicate.

12. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame (-4)
Jimmy has fallen again.  Despite the hype, I am beginning to feel like Clausen was overvalued.  With Bradford looking healthy for the start of the season, he has retaken the top QB spot.  This could result in a draft day fall for Jimmy.

13. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma (-2)
Williams has been steadily been losing ground on this list, and now he has been eclipsed by Davis.  However, this info should be put into perspective, considering the strength of the O-linemen as a whole.

14. Bryan Bugala, OT, Iowa (+4)
Bugala is another reason the tackles are expected to fly off the board on draft day.  He continues to rise up the board and for good reason.  This Iowa product will succeed at the next level.

15. Earl Thomas, S, Texas (Even)
Thomas continues to show his stregnth in this class as he, like McClain, maintains his position despite movement all around him.  He should perform well in Indy, and that could push him up the board by a few spots.

16. Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas (-4)
Kindle has been supplanted on this board by his collegiate teammate.  His high energy will serve him well, but we will have to see how he performs in Indy before we know how he will shake out.

17. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee (+11)
Williams was a super riser this month, mainly resulting from a superb Senior Bowl week.  He proved he can be dominant at the point-of-attack, and thus he crashes the party entering our list at 17.

18. Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan (+11)
Graham is another player who had a real big Senior Bowl week.  My only knock on him is that I am not certain he will play DE in the pros.  I see him as a high motor player who could be great in the right system.

19. Mike Iupati, G, Idaho (+12)
Mike Iupati is an interior lineman who holds the distinction of being the biggest riser in a month filled with high risers.  This guy has all of the intangibles you want out of an interior lineman, and I think he has the potential to be every bit as valuable to a team as Alan Faneca is to the Jets.

20. Brian Price, DT, UCLA (+4)
Brian Price continue to impress me with his skills.  He has good technique, and I think he is one of the reasons that the D-Tackle position is looking so deep this year.

21. CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson (Even)
I really like Spiller and all he brings to the table.  My only concern is that I am not sure there are a whole lot of places he could go and be utilized to maximize his production.  He is quick, and he can serve as both a RB and a return man, but I am not convinced he can withstand the punnishment absorbed by an every down back in the league.

22. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida (-3)
Dunlap has some real upside, but the more I read about him, the more I question if he is just another talented head-case.  Even if he does bring game, how many teams are going to be willing to put up with the baggage this guy brings?

23. Navarro Bowman, LB, Penn State (-9)
Bowman has raw talent and the right pedigree.  Yet still, I have some reservations about how he will perform in the pros.  Under the right system, I can see him flourishing, however, I think there are more wrong systems out there for him than right, and this has me concerned.

24. Taylor Mays, S, USC (-8)
Because of another week of failing to live up to expectations, Mays again finds himself falling down the chart.  Fortunately for him, I see this being his low point, as I expect he will wow folks in Indy, and start climbing boards again as me move towards the draft.  He is just too talented to be ranked this low, but this could ultimately spell bust.

25. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois (Even)
This months top stocks closes as it did last month.  Arrelious Benn is a very talented player who I think is going to provide some real value to his investor.  Right now I think some team at the back end of the first round is facing a "buy low" situation.  Now the only question for me is... who?