It’s been some time since I offered some more in-depth draft thoughts, so here are ten points on the 2016 NFL Draft, which will take place in Chicago next April 28-30.

$.01--Everyone is crowding onto the Paxton Lynch bandwagon after the Memphis junior quarterback impressed on a national stage in the Tigers win over Ole Miss. Folks are catching on to his impressive blend of size, agility and downfield touch.

What gets lost in the hubbub is how much Lynch has improved at NFL qualities over the past year. When I watched Memphis in 2014, and for some odd reason I saw six of their games, I was intrigued by Lynch’s athleticism and presence. Yet I had reservations about his release, his long delivery and his ball placement. All were what I considered average, and average doesn’t cut it for quarterbacks in non-BCS conferences in NFL eyes.

It’s subtle, but Lynch has altered his delivery platform. In the past he needed a wider base platform in order to deliver an accurate fastball. He has learned how to be even more accurate with his legs closer together, which helps in the tighter pockets and when he’s forced off his mark.

Look at his feet and hips in this delivery from the 2014 game against Temple:

His front foot isn’t parallel with his target, and he’s rotated his hips before releasing the ball. To complete passes like this puts a lot of stress on the arm and elbow. This is similar to how Nick Foles or Kirk Cousins throw.

Now look at his foot and hips in this shot from the Cincinnati game in September:

His front foot is perfectly aligned with his target (the outlet receiver at the bottom). Even though the rush is coming right at his face, he holds the hip rotation a beat later than he used to. The end result is better zip and more accurate placement even though he’s about to get pounded. That’s one of the small differences between being a second or third round QB and being a top 10 overall QB. And that’s where I expect Lynch to get drafted come April.

$.02--One of the players I get asked about most is Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook. I’ve even talked about Cook on the Sports Illustrated podcast earlier this year after seeing the Spartans in person at Western Michigan.

Strictly based on the play between the white lines, Cook is my top quarterback in this draft class. Yes, I prefer him to Lynch for his on-field accomplishments and acumen. And several NFL scouts I’ve spoken with throughout the course of the season feel the same; Cook is the top quarterback prospect for many NFL teams.

Yet many folks point out some off-field issues with Cook. He was not named a captain despite being a senior and three-year starter. There have been accusations Cook is “hated” by his teammates and that they wished he had declared for the draft last year.

I have talked with several folks in and around the Spartans program, including two coaches and a player who starts. I’ve also talked to NFL regional scouts who have dug deep on Cook. Just about all of them told me basically the same thing:

Cook is not “one of the boys”. He carries himself with a sense of entitlement that rubs some people the wrong way off the field. He’s not particularly interested in socializing with anyone outside a very small circle.

In the film room, in the locker room and most definitely on the field, Cook has the 100% confidence and support of everyone. He’s a leadership presence who can rally teammates. One scout compared him to Eli Manning in that regard, another very skilled quarterback who just wasn’t into the social trimmings or customs that most college students seek out. One coach said Cook’s teammates respect him much more than they did former Spartan Kirk Cousins, whose outward religiosity and driving perfectionism for everyone around him repelled some teammates.

It’s not insignificant that Cook failed to get elected a team captain. That does matter to the NFL, even if he is a member of the Spartans’ 12-man leadership council. He will rub some the wrong way in interviews too, and probably not care much about doing so. But his very legitimate talent will sell him to some team picking in the top 10.

$.03--Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil finally got back on the field against Texas A&M last week. After missing the first seven weeks while the tyrannical NCAA investigated some potential side benefits (nothing was ever proven), Tunsil jumped right into the fire.

The Aggies feature two very impressive pass rushers in Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Garrett, a true sophomore, is one of the most electrifying edge presences in college football, a speed demon who comes off the snap like a sprinter. Hall, a 6’6” junior, has some speed as well but also uses his length and strength pretty impressively to make plays behind the line.

Other than an early holding penalty, Tunsil basically pitched a shutout…

Ole Miss LT Laremy Tunsil had a near perfect game in pass protection vs A&M. 0 QB pressures allowed in 36 PB snaps, 1 holding penalty. — CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) October 27, 2015

Not too shabby for a guy who hadn’t played since breaking his leg in the Peach Bowl last December. Tunsil is my top offensive line prospect for 2016. He would have been my top offensive line prospect every year since the 2007, when Joe Thomas went third overall to the Browns. Thomas remains the highest-graded prospect I’ve evaluated and this will be my 12th draft class. Tunsil moves better than Thomas but doesn’t have quite the strength, nastiness or ability to destroy targets in space.

$.04--On the flip side from Tunsil, one highly-touted offensive tackle I’m not as high on as most is Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley.

Don’t mistake the phrase “not as high on” as “dislike”. Stanley is a high-end prospect who will be a plug-and-play starter for most NFL teams. He can play either tackle spot or kick inside to guard like his Irish predecessor, Zach Martin of the Dallas Cowboys. The senior has graded out with Notre Dame coaches almost perfectly this year.

Still, I see some warts that others appear too willing to overlook. Stanley is a veritable holding machine, drawing eight flags so far. If you ask opponents, it could be 80. Most of his trouble comes when he’s blocking to the inside. You can see it clearly in this rep (he’s No. 78) against Clemson:

This is a reach block, and he quite literally reaches for it instead of moving his frame. His explosion off the line isn’t optimal. This is a horse collar, not a block, and this shows up more often than it should on game tapes. One area scout who has seen Notre Dame in person advised me his notes on Stanley includes the phrase “not averse to holding to get the job done”.

Stanley also doesn’t anchor well against the power bull rushers all the time. Virginia’s Trent Corney, a freaky powerful athlete but not a very good finisher or tactician, jolted Stanley a few times in their early-season matchup. Corney didn’t have the wherewithal to seize upon his advantage, but a more skilled presence like Clemson’s Shaq Lawson showed more ability to win some battles.

I have very little doubt Stanley is a top 10 overall draft pick. In my tentative big board, he sits 12th right now. He’s an incredibly talented football player. Just be careful of those who sell him as being above reproach or having no flaws.

$.05--This cent is inspired by Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis, a junior who essentially declared he’s staying in school despite having a breakout campaign where he leads the nation in passes defended.

Lewis is 5’10” and 176 pounds. Maybe. Folks in Ann Arbor tell me he’s closer to 5’9” and 172. And for Lewis and every other cornerback who is under 5’11” and 185 pounds, I would advise them to either find a growth machine or be prepared for the NFL to not care about their collegiate accomplishments.

Every NFL team wants size at cornerback. Some teams, notably Green Bay and Seattle, don’t even consider defensive backs under 6’ tall and 190 pounds. Lewis is of similar size and playing style to Kevin White from TCU last year. Listed at 5’9” and 183, White was outstanding at attacking the football in the air for the Frogs. He stood out for his ball skills and aggressive tenacity during Senior Bowl practices…

…and he went undrafted. I can’t even find him on a practice squad right now. Rashaad Reynolds, Jemea Thomas, Troy Hill. All these players were impact defensive backs in college, and none are in the league right now because they’re just too small. Lewis, right or wrong, was likely to face the same unfortunate fate unless he packed on 10 pounds and/or blazed a 4.35 or better 40 time. Good choice, Mr. Lewis.

$.06--After a couple of pretty strong classes, 2016 sure looks like a down year for interior offensive linemen.

There is one potential guard or center for the first round, and that is LSU right tackle Vadal Alexander. He at least has played some guard in his career, and at 6’5” he’s still in the height range for playing inside, albeit at the high end. My personal philosophy is that you don’t draft a tackle to play guard, but there are exceptions and Alexander is one.

The best actual guard I’ve seen this year is Pat Elflein from Ohio State. He’s a solid run blocker on the move and an absolute bedrock in pass protection; one area scout told me he has Elflein down for one missed pass blocking assignment and two QB hurries all year. My evaluation isn’t finished but I see the senior as a late second/mid-third round talent right now.

At center it’s just as dire. I like Nick (brother of Zack) Martin from Notre Dame quite a bit, but he’s not as accomplished or high-end of a pivot prospect as guys like Weston Richburg or Travis Frederick in recent classes. Martin is more of a safe pick, a capable instant starter but not a guy who projects to Pro Bowl perennial. He’s a reach in the top 50, even though he will grade out somewhere in the 30s overall on my board.

Two of the better centers are both out for the year with injuries, and that clouds the class as well. Dan Voltz from Wisconsin and Max Tuerk from USC are both top 75 prospects, potentially. I’m still confident in Voltz, less so with the lightweight (285 pounds) Tuerk.

There are a few tackle converts who can help spice up the guard spot. Baylor’s Spencer Drango is fantastic on the move, making him a nice second or third-round fit for a Shanahan/Kubiak offense. Kansas State left tackle Cody Whitehair is seen by most as someone who needs to kick inside at the next level. I happen to think Whitehair will be just fine at right tackle, but if he opts for guard he still merits a top 50 selection. Arm length is his biggest issue.

$.07--There will be heated debate about how soon to draft Florida State’s superb kicker Roberto Aguayo. He’s handily the top specialist prospect since fellow Seminole Sebastian Janikowski was drafted in the first round back in 1999.

People like to poo-poo the Raiders for taking a kicker in the first round, but SeaBass is still there 16 years later and has been above-average at his position for most of his lengthy career.

Nobody is going to take Aguayo that high (I hope), but it is reasonable to think someone might pull the trigger as early as the 47th overall pick. That’s where Mike Nugent from Ohio State came off the board to the Jets in 2005. Aguayo is more accurate from deeper range than Nugent was, and that’s important as Nugent has largely been just an average kicker.

For me, the sweet spot is the compensatory picks at the end of the third round. That will be picks 96-106 or so, and landing a player with the potential to be an above-average performer for a decade at any position is a worthwhile roll of the dice in that range. I would strongly consider Utah punter Tom Hackett one round later, too.

$.08--Everyone wants sleepers. It’s the most common question I get on social media aside from takes on quarterbacks. Here are five guys I’ve enjoyed watching this year who I think will (should?) rise in the draft process.

- Virginia CB Maurice Canady, currently ranked in the high 40s on my big board. Most projections have the smooth 6’2” senior in the third or fourth rounds. He’s the best tackling CB in the ACC aside from being a pretty darn good cover man with excellent length.

- Oklahoma State DE Jimmy Bean, also in the 40s on my board and also widely projected in the fourth round. One of the most improved players in the country, Bean has finally figured out how to use his long arms to keep blockers at bay, and his closing burst is very strong for a 6’5” guy with an upright gait.

- Ole Miss safety Trae Elston, an underappreciated ballhawk and vocal leadership presence on a talented Rebel defense. He reminds me of Tre Boston in his North Carolina days, and he has dramatically outplayed his draft slot. Elston, who will not test well in speed or agility metrics, is a likely 5th or 6th rounder. He’s in my top 100 right now.

- Western Michigan tackle Willie Beavers. When I saw the Broncos host Michigan State and Shilique Calhoun, Beavers definitely held his own against the (should be) second round edge presence. He doesn’t have the quickest movement skills, but Beavers is very good at striking targets with heavy hands and he can create real movement as a run blocker. I’m comfortable with a fifth round pick. He may or may not get drafted.

- William & Mary LB Luke Rhodes, who unfortunately has a sprained knee and will likely miss the rest of the season. He’s a powerful, instinctive tackler with NFL frame, though his hips are a little tight. He deserves a late-round look as a 3-4 ILB even after the knee issue, which isn’t considered serious enough to need surgery.

$.09--From the underrated to the guys I find overrated. Note that overrated does not mean I think these players are bad or not worthy of the NFL. I just believe they are being projected to a loftier status than I am comfortable with at this point:

- Cal QB Jared Goff. I like a lot of what I see with Goff, but he does not belong ahead of Cook or Lynch. The more I watch, the less I like. I would strongly advise him to stay in school, though word is he’s already picked an agent. Unofficially, of course…

- Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson. Very good player, but I don’t see an impact talent in the NFL. I actually like linemate Jarran Reed to have a splashier NFL career.

- Oklahoma LB Eric Striker. He’s smaller than many safeties, and he’s a pass rush specialist. That’s not going to work. Undraftable to me.

- Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg. Do I really need to beat this dead horse any more?

- BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi. When I saw BYU play at Michigan, I had very high expectations for Kaufusi. He did absolutely nothing, unable to get off blocks and showing very little twitch. He’s had better games since, but I can’t shake the live impression of a guy who was so disappointing.

$.10--A parting shot…my current top 20:

1. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

2. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

3. Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

4. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

6. Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

7. Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State

8. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

9. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

10. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

11. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

12. Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

13. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

14. Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame

15. Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

16. Su'a Cravens, LB, USC

17. Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

18. LaQuan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

19. Jared Goff, QB, Califronia

20. Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson