In this edition of my Big Board for the 2018 NFL draft: seven new entrants from my last update, which means some big names dropped off. There's also some new top-ranked prospects at a few positions, plus my No. 1 tight end makes his debut.
A reminder about my Big Board:
The write-ups here won't change much week to week.
I'm projecting to the NFL. This is about much more than stats. My projections are based on size, athletic ability, statistics and what I hear from people around the league.
Speaking of size, what's listed here is provided by the schools. These numbers could vary greatly when players show up at the NFL combine. True height and weight really matter for almost every position.
Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.
1. *Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Previous rank: 1
After back-to-back underwhelming games on the stat sheet, Barkley is no longer the Heisman favorite. But that doesn't affect his NFL prospects. He is a lights-out athlete who shows tremendous balance with a great lower body and quick feet. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and had 1,076 yards as a freshman. He has 1,368 yards from scrimmage and 14 total touchdowns this season. Barkley (5-foot-11, 230 pounds) also will help in the passing game; he has 39 catches this season after having 48 in his first two seasons at Penn State. I think he'll run under a 4.4 40-yard dash and test well at the combine. Barkley could be a top-five pick in 2018, and he's going to get an elite grade from me, barring injury.
2. *Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Previous rank: 2
I said last month that the gap had closed between Rosen and Sam Darnold, and I'm ready to put Rosen above the USC signal-caller. Coming off a stellar freshman season in 2015, Rosen was a sleeper pick to win the Heisman Trophy last season. Things didn't go well, as he had only 10 touchdown passes in six starts before injuring his shoulder and missing the rest of the season. He had a great start to the 2017 season and led for a while in touchdown passes and passing yards, but a three-interception performance in a loss at Arizona means his numbers are just OK (20 TDs, eight INTs, 2,713 yards, while completing 63.1 percent of his passes). The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Rosen throws a great ball and has rare arm talent. There aren't many quarterbacks who can make the throws he does. The Bruins need to win two of their final three games just to be bowl eligible, and Rosen, who suffered a concussion in the loss to Washington and missed the Utah game, should be back this weekend.
3. **Derwin James, S, Florida State
Previous rank: 3
James played only two games in 2016 after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee. The former five-star recruit was terrific as a freshman for the Seminoles, with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. FSU has had a miserable 3-5 season so far after losing starting quarterback Deondre Francois in the season opener, but James is a real talent. The 6-foot-3, 211-pound James has an interception with nine passes breakups, and he's second on the team in tackles (53).
4. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Previous rank: 4
Fitzpatrick (6-foot-1, 203 pounds) has played both corner and safety at Alabama, but I think he'll be a safety at the next level. The versatility is a plus, and coach Nick Saban loves him. I wrote about Fitzpatrick after his great game against Texas A&M last month. He's really a defensive coordinator's dream: a modern-day, big corner who plays safety. He's versatile enough to line up in the slot and lock down receivers, but he can also be a center fielder. Fitzpatrick had eight interceptions from 2015 to 2016 (including four that were returned for touchdowns), so he has elite ball skills. He isn't afraid to make a tackle, either, which is why I think he'll be a top-five pick in April. I also like that Fitzpatrick will get after it on special teams. He had 11 special-teams tackles in 2016. Fitzpatrick picked up a hamstring injury against LSU.
5. **Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California
Previous rank: 5
After dropping from the top spot in my last update, Darnold is staying around the same spot. The rumblings about him returning to school -- remember, he's only a third-year sophomore -- are now too loud to ignore. Darnold has been too up and down this season. He has thrown 11 interceptions and has lost seven fumbles (plus fumbled two other times). His 18 turnovers are the most in FBS. He had an outstanding 2016 season but hasn't matched it. Now, I think Darnold has a chance to be special, and I believe in his talent long-term. But he has to get these turnover issues sorted out. Darnold has a big frame (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), makes quick decisions and is an accurate, natural passer. He completed 67.2 percent of his passes last season and ranked second in the nation in Total QBR (86.8), but he is down to 63.6 percent and 72.1 this season.
6. *Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Previous rank: 6
Allen (6-foot-5, 233 pounds) is super raw, but he can really sling it. His numbers weren't great last season (28 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions while completing 56 percent of his passes), and his numbers aren't great this season either (12 touchdown passes, six interceptions while completing 55.4 percent of his passes), but NFL teams will take into account the talent around him. The Wyoming offense lost 47 touchdowns from last season's team, along with its center. The schedule hasn't been kind to the Cowboys, either, with a game at Iowa and one against Oregon. Allen had another poor game in a loss at Boise State, completing just 44.4 percent of his passes with two picks, but he was better in the Cowboys' upset win over Colorado State. I think Allen's numbers will be much better in an NFL offense with NFL players. He has also shown his athleticism, rushing for four touchdowns, and you can see him on the move in the clip below:
Baker Mayfield finds a streaking Marquise Brown, who takes it 84 yards to the house.
7. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Previous rank: 7
I wrote about Chubb's performance against Florida State earlier this year; he was dominant with two sacks and a forced fumble. Chubb (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) could have entered the 2017 draft and been in the first-round discussion. He had 10.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss last season after posting 5.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2015. Chubb shows good takeoff from the edge as a pass-rusher, and he has an excellent mix of speed and power. He has 7.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss this season. Check out Chubb's backstory here.
8. *Arden Key, OLB, LSU
Previous rank: 8
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Key is a fantastic pass-rushing talent who can close quickly on quarterbacks. He had 17 sacks in his two seasons (12 in 2016). He needs to improve against the run, but that should come in time when he adds weight to his frame. After taking a leave of absence from the LSU team in the spring, Key had shoulder surgery and missed the beginning of the season. He has four sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and 30 total tackles in seven games.
9. *Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Previous rank: 11
Nelson and Mike McGlinchey form the best left side of an O-line in college football. At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, Nelson just causes destruction in the interior. I wrote last year that he was entertaining to watch, and you just don't say that about guards. He's a dominant run-blocker who is powerful at the point of attack but also athletic enough to pull and get into space. I've seen enough from his 2017 season to put him in the first-round range for next year's draft.
10. *Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
Previous rank: 20
Finally healthy after being hampered by a groin injury, Evans is playing well for a defense loaded with NFL talent. He played outside early in his career at Alabama, and the versatility will help at the next level. Evans (6-foot-3, 234 pounds) can also rush the passer; he has 13 career sacks. The Crimson Tide have a long history of producing linebackers, including Reuben Foster in the 2017 draft, and Evans is next up.
11. Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College
Previous rank: 10
After leading the nation in sacks (16.5) last season, Landry could have been a late first- or early second-round pick if he had entered the 2017 draft. He also had 22 tackles for loss. There is value in his versatility. The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Landry can play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or end in a 4-3. He has five sacks -- including three in a tough loss to Virginia Tech -- and 8.5 tackles for loss this season, but he missed the Eagles' last game because of an ankle injury.
12. **Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Previous rank: 17
I wrote about Ferrell's performance on Monday. He had five tackles for loss in the win over NC State on Saturday, the second time in three games that he has had at least that many tackles for loss. He was dominant in a 3.5-sack performance at Syracuse. Ferrell is solid against the run and disruptive in the backfield, and he makes hustle plays. He came on strong as a redshirt freshman last season, with six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Ferrell, 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, has the size that makes scouts turn their heads, and he's quick off the edge. He's probably a prototypical 4-3 end in the NFL.
13. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Previous rank: 9
You might remember McGlinchey from my preseason Big Board last season. He decided to remain in school for his senior year. McGlinchey is a massive athlete (6-foot-8, 315 pounds) who looks like a tight end with pads on. He was dominant from the left side in the rout of USC last month. He plays with solid technique, and he can get to the second level for combo blocks, all while driving defenders off the ball in the run game. He played right tackle in 2015, then replaced first-round pick Ronnie Stanley on the left side last season, and he has stayed at left tackle in 2017. The versatility will help him in the NFL, where I think he's a lock for the first round in 2018.
14. *Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Previous rank: 14
I wrote about Brown earlier this season, when the 6-foot-8, 345-pound left tackle was outstanding in the Sooners' win at Ohio State. He helped protect OU quarterback Baker Mayfield from a defense that is loaded with future NFL talent. Brown is nimble for a big man, getting to the second level with ease. He has great feet and can slide easily outside to pick up blitzing linebackers. Don't worry about Brown having to move to the right side in the NFL. I think he's a left tackle all the way. Watch him (No. 78) take on two Oklahoma State defenders here:
Joshua Jackson makes an incredible one-handed interception to pick off J.T. Barrett for the fourth time today.
15. *Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Previous rank: 15
With 161 catches and 14 touchdown receptions in his first two collegiate seasons, the cat-quick Ridley (6-foot-1, 188 pounds) has been one of the nation's top wide receivers since he stepped onto the field. What I really like about him is his competitiveness. He's a nightmare to try to tackle in the open field. He torched Florida State's talented secondary in the season opener, with seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, and he has 44 catches for the season.
16. *Connor Williams, OT, Texas
Previous rank: 16
After digging into Williams' 2016 tape, I really liked what I saw. He's a pure left tackle prospect with great feet and balance, and he just didn't get beaten in pass protection. But Williams (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) didn't have a great game to open the season against Maryland. He was beaten in that game, and that was discouraging. Williams suffered a sprained MCL and PCL in his left knee in the loss at USC and could be out for a while longer, potentially the rest of the season.
17. *Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
Previous rank: NR
Jones had gone under the radar among running backs before the season, but he impressed me as a pure runner in 2016, and he looks stronger this season. He had 2,069 rushing yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry in his first two seasons at USC. He has 1,082 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this season, including 410 yards and five TDs in his past two games. He's not huge -- 6-1, 195 -- but he has some wiggle between the tackles. I'd like to see the Trojans involve him in the passing game to cater to his skill set -- he has only 29 career catches.
18. *Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
Previous rank: 12
Clemson just keeps producing first-round picks. Wilkins could be next. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, he moves inside and outside for the Tigers. He is a Jonathan Allen-type lineman. He could be an end in a 3-4 defense or a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3. Wilkins had 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season. He has three sacks in 2017. Clemson still has College Football Playoff aspirations, and the Tigers could be in if they win out.
19. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Previous rank: NR
The Wolverines had a senior-laden defensive line in 2016, and Hurst didn't start. But the 6-2, 282-pound tackle had 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss and stood out while consistently splitting double-teams and getting into the backfield. Now a starter, Hurst has 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss this season. He's a big part of a defense that ranks No. 3 in the country in yards per play allowed (4.2).
20. *Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Previous rank: 21
Oliver was the Buffaloes' third corner last season behind Day 2 draft picks Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon, and his talent shows on film. He's long and athletic (6-foot-1, 190 pounds). He competes on the Colorado track team and has twice been All-Pac-12 in the decathlon. He also contributes as a punt returner; he had a TD on a return in 2016. Oliver has two interceptions and 10 pass breakups this season. His father, Muhammad, was a ninth-round pick by the Broncos in 1992.
21. *Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Previous rank: NR
I said before the season that I think Ward has a chance to be the next great Ohio State cover corner and first-round pick. He's polished. He didn't have an interception last season, but he plays the ball well and showed good instincts in coverage, which was proven by his nine pass breakups. He does have an interception this season, as well as 10 more pass breakups. Listed at 5-10, 191, Ward plays bigger than that. I really liked what I saw on his 2016 tape, even as the Buckeyes had higher-ranked corners.
22. *Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Previous rank: NR
Jackson has been the best corner in college football this season, and he showed it picking off Ohio State's J.T. Barrett three times in an upset win last weekend. He was phenomenal and showed off his stellar hands. Check out the athleticism on his third interception in the video above. He has five interceptions and has broken up 15 passes this season, his first as a starter. He has also pitched in on punt returns, though he hasn't broken off any big returns.
23. *Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Previous rank: NR
At 6-4, 346 pounds, Vea is more than a space-eater. He has some explosion and quickness off the ball and can penetrate along the interior. He had five sacks and 39 total tackles last season, and he has three sacks this season. I think Vea can be an every-down player in the NFL, not just a two-down tackle. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata, who had three consecutive NFL seasons with at least five sacks.
24. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
Previous rank: NR
Okoronkwo is a tough evaluation because of his size; he's listed at 6-1, 240, which is below average for a pass-rushing outside linebacker. But he's such a good pass-rusher that I've moved him into the Big Board. He kind of reminds me of James Harrison, who has carved out a role into his late 30s as guy who can sack quarterbacks in a 3-4 defense. Now, Okoronkwo is probably not that strong, but he's a tough, physical and relentless defender who can get low coming off the edge. He has 17 sacks over the past two seasons, including eight in 2017. And he has 14 tackles for loss this season.
25. Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Previous rank: NR
Former Stanford star Zach Ertz has developed into one of the best tight ends in the league, and Goedert reminds me of him. Their size is comparable (Goedert is 6-5, 260), and they both had huge numbers in college. After putting up 92 catches for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for the Jackrabbits, he has 48 catches for 816 yards and four touchdowns this season. He had 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the win over North Dakota State last weekend. Goedert is the clear No. 1 tight end in the 2018 draft.