2018 NBA Free Agency: Top 10 Players Available

The superstars have declined their player options  in order to secure new contracts and mindless internet speculation is starting to run wild, which means NBA free agency is about to get underway. Here are my picks for the top 10 prizes of this year's not particularly deep, but still intriguing class.

(Note: Since there's virtually no chance they leave their current teams, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul were excluded from this list)

10.Trevor Ariza, shooting guard/small forward (2017-18 team: Houston Rockets): The grizzled veteran wing may have just turned 33, but Ariza's still a tenacious 3-and-D player who can give you quality minutes as a starter or priority bench player.
Possible Destinations: Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings

9.J.J. Redick, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Philadelphia 76ers): The nearly 35-year old journeyman is coming off a career year with the 76ers and despite his limited skill set, his scoring prowess make him an excellent short-term addition for any contending or young bubble team looking to add a sharp-shooting veteran leader to their roster.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves

8.Marcus Smart, point/shooting guard (2017-18 team: Boston Celtics): If you're willing to overlook his shooting woes, Smart is easily one of the best all-around players available in this free agent class. His relentlessness on both ends of the floor, underrated ability as an offensive facilitator and irritating on-court demeanor make him an ideal 2nd unit anchor.
Possible Destinations: Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings

7.Will Barton, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Denver Nuggets): You can never have enough scoring in the NBA and any organization that's looking to add a lethal spark scorer who can start if need be will likely take a long look at Barton. Will The Thrill has been arguably the most unheralded 6^th man in the NBA over the past few seasons (since the start of 2015-16, he's averaged 14.6 points per game and shot 36.2% from beyond the arc) and at only 27 years old, he could end up becoming a long-term staple in a productive rotation.
Possible Destinations: Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies 

6.Aaron Gordon, power forward (2017-18 team: Orlando Magic): I don't typically like to rate players purely on untapped potential, but I have to make an exception for a kid that has this much upside. Gordon has made considerable strides as an all-around player over the past couple of seasons- including adding a decent outside shot to his game in 2017-18- and at only 22 going on 23, he still has plenty of time to build off of the flashes of brilliance he's displayed during his first four seasons in the league.
Possible Destinations: Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks

5.Clint Capela, center (2017-18 team: Houston Rockets): After posting career highs in points (13.9), blocks (1.9) and rebounds (10.8) per game for a third consecutive season,  there's a pretty strong chance that GM Daryl Morey will want to lock the Swiss big man down long-term. However, Capela's emergence as an elite shot-blocker and continuous improvement as a low-post scorer could lead to a hefty contract offer that the Rockets can't afford to match getting floated his way.
Possible Destinations: Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets 

4.DeMarcus Cousins, center (2017-18 team: New Orleans Pelicans): Boogie would clearly be higher on this list if he wasn't coming off of a torn Achilles. While this potentially career-altering injury should take him out of max money consideration, the nearly 28-year old center's floor-stretching versatility and status as one of the league's only nightly double-double threats make him far too intriguing of a talent to not take a gamble on.
Possible Destinations: New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards  

3.DeAndre Jordan, center (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Clippers): Even though his god awful free throw shooting gets him frequently pulled from the lineup at the end of close games, DeAndre Jordan is still a god damn wrecking ball at the center spot. His physicality in the low post, ability to score around the rim and yearly place among the league leaders in rebounds and blocks make him a very attractive option for any team that isn't married to the idea of positionless basketball.
Possible Destinations: Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets

2.Paul George, small forward (2017-18 team: Oklahoma City Thunder): A year of being overshadowed by Russell Westbrook's heroball antics seems to made some people forget how special George is. Whether he decides to team up with LeBron or return to face of the franchise role he held during his 7-year tenure with the Pacers, some lucky organization will be picking up a perennial All-Star that has a proven track record of putting forth strong efforts on both ends of the court and stepping up his play in crunch time situations.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers 

1.LeBron James, small forward (2017-18 team: Cleveland Cavaliers): Huge surprise right? LeBron is coming off of one of the most productive years of his career at age 33 and his landing spot could end up considerably shifting the league's hierarchy for the foreseeable future.
Possible Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers

Other Notable Free Agents:
Alex Len, center (2017-18 team: Phoenix Suns)
Amir Johnson, power forward (2017-18 team: Philadelphia 76ers)
Anthony Tolliver, power forward (2017-18 team: Detroit Pistons)
Aron Baynes, center (2017-18 team: Boston Celtics)
Avery Bradley, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Detroit Pistons/Los Angeles Clippers)
Brook Lopez, center (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Corey Brewer, shooting guard/small forward (2017-18 teams: Los Angeles Lakers/Oklahoma City Thunder)
Dante Cunningham, small/power forward (2017-18 teams: New Orleans Pelicans/Brooklyn Nets)
Dante Exum, point guard (2017-18 team: Utah Jazz)
Derrick Favors, power forward (2017-18 team: Utah Jazz)
Derrick Rose, point guard (2017-18 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Minnesota Timberwolves)
Devin Harris, point/shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Dallas Mavericks/Denver Nuggets)
Doug McDermott, small forward (2017-18 teams: New York Knicks/Dallas Mavericks)
Dwight Howard, center (2017-18 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Dwyane Wade, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Cleveland Cavailers/Miami Heat)
Ed Davis, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Elfrid Payton, point guard (2017-18 teams: Orlando Magic/Phoenix Suns)
Ersan Illysova, power forward (2017-18 teams: Atlanta Hawks/Philadelphia 76ers)
Fred VanVleet, point guard (2017-18 team: Toronto Raptors)
Garrett Temple, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Sacramento Kings)
Greg Monroe, power forward/center (2017-18 teams: Milwaukee Bucks/Phoenix Suns/Boston Celtics)
Ian Clark, shooting guard (2017-18 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Isaiah Thomas, point guard (2017-18 teams: Cleveland Cavaliers/Los Angeles Lakers)
Jabari Parker, small/power forward (2017-18 team: Milwaukee Bucks)
Jahlil Okafor, power forward/center (2017-18 teams: Philadelphia 76ers/Brooklyn Nets)
Jamal Crawford, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Minnesota Timberwolves)
James Ennis, small forward (2017-18 teams: Memphis Grizzlies/Detroit Pistons)
Jarret Jack, point guard (2017-18 team: New York Knicks)
JaVale McGee, center (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Jeff Green, small/power forward (2017-18 team: Cleveland Cavaliers)
Jerami Grant, power forward (2017-18 team: Oklahoma City Thunder)
Joe Harris, small forward (2017-18 team: Brooklyn Nets)
Joe Johnson, small forward (2017-18 teams: Utah Jazz/Houston Rockets)
Julius Randle, power forward (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Jusuf Nurkic, center (2017-18 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Lakers)
Kevon Looney, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Kyle Anderson, small forward (2017-18 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Kyle O'Quinn, power forward/center (2017-18 team: New York Knicks)
Lance Stephenson, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Indiana Pacers)
Luc Mbah a Moute, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Houston Rockets)
Marco Belinelli, shooting guard (2017-18 teams: Atlanta Hawks/Philadelphia 76ers)
Mario Hezonja, small forward (2017-18 team: Orlando Magic)
Michael Beasley, small forward/power forward (2017-18 team: New York Knicks)
Michael Carter-Williams, point guard (2017-18 team: Charlotte Hornets)
Mike Scott, power forward (2017-18 team: Washington Wizards)
Montrezl Harrell, power forward (2017-18 team: Los Angeles Clippers)
Nemanja Bjelica, small/power forward (2017-18 team: Minnesota Timberwolves)
Nerlens Noel, power forward/center (2017-18 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Nick Young, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Omri Casspi, small forward (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Patrick McCaw, point/shooting guard (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)
Rajon Rondo, point guard (2017-18 team: New Orleans Pelicans)
Raymond Felton, point guard (2017-18 team: Oklahoma City Thunder)
Rodney Hood, shooting guard/small forward (2017-18 teams: Utah Jazz/Cleveland Cavaliers)
Rudy Gay, small forward (2017-18 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Seth Curry, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Shabazz Napier, point guard (2017-18 team: Portland Trail Blazers)
Shane Larkin, point guard (2017-18 team: Boston Celtics)
Tim Frazier, point guard (2017-18 team: Washington Wizards)
Tony Parker, point guard (2017-18 team: San Antonio Spurs)
Trevor Booker, power forward (2017-18 teams: Brooklyn Nets/Philadelphia 76ers/Indiana Pacers)
Tyreke Evans, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Memphis Grizzlies)
Wayne Ellington, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Miami Heat)
Yogi Farrell, point guard (2017-18 team: Dallas Mavericks)
Zach LaVine, shooting guard (2017-18 team: Chicago Bulls)
Zaza Pachuila, center (2017-18 team: Golden State Warriors)

2018 NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Safeties

50.Eddie Jackson (Bears)
49.Bradley McDougald (Seahawks)
48.Jaquiski Tartt (49ers)
47.Marcus Gilchrist (Raiders)
46.T.J. McDonald (Dolphins)
45.T.J. Ward (Free Agent)
44.Shawn Williams (Bengals)
43.Patrick Chung (Patriots)
42.Justin Simmons (Broncos)
41.Jeff Heath (Cowboys)
40.Eric Reid (Free Agent)
39.Tre Boston (Free Agent)
38.Duron Harmon (Patriots)
37.Jamal Adams (Jets)
36.Reggie Nelson (Raiders)
35.Ricardo Allen (Falcons)
34.Darian Stewart (Broncos)
33.Byron Jones (Cowboys)
32.Morgan Burnett (Steelers)
31.Budda Baker (Cardinals)
30.Karl Joseph (Raiders)
29.Jahleel Addae (Chargers)
28.D.J. Swearinger (Redskins)
27.John Johnson III (Rams)
26.Tashaun Gibson (Jaguars)
25.Marcus Williams (Saints)
24.Rodney McLeod (Eagles)
23.George Iloka (Bengals)
22.HaHa Clinton-Dix (Packers)
21.Jordan Poyer (Bills)
20.Antonie Bethea (Cardinals)
19.Mike Adams (Panthers)
18.Tyrann Mathieau (Texans)
17.Andrew Sendejo (Vikings)
16.Micah Hyde (Bills)
15.Keanu Neal (Falcons)
14.Kevin Byard (Titans)
13.Barry Church (Jaguars)
12.Malcolm Jenkins (Eagles)
11.Tony Jefferson (Ravens)
10.LaMarcus Joyner (Rams)
9.Adrian Amos (Bears)
8.Devin McCourty (Patriots)
7.Glover Quin (Lions)
6.Landon Collins (Giants)
5.Eric Berry (Chiefs)
4.Reshad Jones (Dolphins)
3.Eric Weddle (Ravens)
2.Earl Thomas (Seahawks)
1.Harrison Smith (Vikings)

The Best and Worst of Josh Brolin

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” star Josh Brolin.

Films starring Josh Brolin that I've seen:
The Goonies
Hollow Man
Planet Terror
American Gangster
No Country for Old Men
Milk
Jonah Hex
True Grit
Men in Black 3
Gangster Squad
Oldboy
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Everest
Sicario
Hail, Caesar!
Only the Brave
Avengers: Infinity War
Deadpool 2

Best Performance: No Country for Old Men (2007)
Brolin is one of my favorite actors and while he was great in Robert Rodriguez's underrated B-zombie flick Planet Terror, No Country for Old Men was the film that convinced me he was a top-tier talent. Thanks to his stern yet nuanced performance, Brolin makes Llewyn Moss a smart, grounded protagonist whose preservation-based decisionmaking is easy to understand once his quiet life goes to hell after he stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone awry and chooses to take a briefcase containing $2 million in cash from the scene.
       

Worst Performance: Everest (2015)
Everest was a relatively forgettable fact-based survival drama that wasn't bolstered by the presence of numerous acting powerhouses including Jake Gyllenhaal, John Hawkes and Robin Wright. While Brolin wasn't notably better or worse than any of his costars, this was pretty much the only movie that he's appeared in where he didn't standout or elevate the material that was given to him.  

Best Film: No Country for Old Men (2007)
Masterpiece is a term that I find to be a bit overused in the world of film criticism. However, it's a distinction that I'd apply to No Country for Old Men without hesitation. The Coen Brothers adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel is a brilliantly-acted thriller that pairs nerve-frying suspense with fascinating commentary about the conflicting nature of human morality that remains haunting on repeat viewings.    

Worst Film: Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Whenever the Coen Brothers decide to return to directing, hopefully they'll put out something better than this. Despite some spirited efforts from its star-studded ensemble cast (George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Brolin, several other recognizable faces/names) Hail, Caesar! managed to be the most unfocused and downright unfunny comedy the icon filmmakers have ever assembled. This very niche satire of Old Hollywood constantly drives jokes into the ground, juggles about a half-dozen inconsequential subplots at once and features a glacial pace that completely clashes with the zany nature of the material.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Ant-Man and the Wasp” star Walton Goggins. 

2018 NFL Position Rankings: Top 50 Cornerbacks

50.Briean Boddy-Calhoun (Browns)
49.Aaron Colvin (Texans)
48.Adoree' Jackson (Titans)
47.Desmond King (Chargers)
46.Darqueze Dennard (Bengals)
45.Bryce Callahan (Bears)
44.Justin Coleman (Seahawks)
43.Mike Hilton (Steelers)
42.Ken Crawley (Saints)
41.Logan Ryan (Titans)
40.Jonathan Joseph (Texans)
39.Joe Haden (Steelers)
38.Artie Burns (Steelers)
37.William Jackson III (Bengals)
36.Nickell Robey-Coleman (Rams)
35.Bobby McCain (Dolphins)
34.Rashaan Melvin (Raiders)
33.Byron Maxwell (Seahawks)
32.E.J. Gaines (Browns)
31.Brandon Carr (Ravens)
30.Trumaine Johnson (Jets)
29.Trevor Williams (Chargers)
28.Prince Amukamara (Bears)
27.Jason McCourty (Patriots)
26.Jimmy Smith (Ravens)
25.Tramon Williams (Packers)
24.Kendall Fuller (Chiefs)
23.Bradley Roby (Broncos)
22.Kyle Fuller (Bears)
21.Robert Alford (Falcons)
20.Brent Grimes (Buccaneers)
19.Ronald Darby (Eagles)
18.Patrick Robinson (Saints)
17.Tre'Davious White (Bills)
16.Marshon Lattimore (Saints)
15.Malcolm Butler (Titans)
14.Josh Norman (Redskins)
13.Janoris Jenkins (Giants)
12.Stephon Gilmore (Patriots)
11.Desmond Trufant (Falcons)
10.Marcus Peters (Rams)
9.Xavier Rhodes (Vikings)
8.Richard Sherman (49ers)
7.Darius Slay (Lions)
6.A.J. Bouye (Jaguars)
5.Aqib Talib (Rams)
4.Patrick Peterson (Cardinals)
3.Jalen Ramsey (Jaguars)
2.Chris Harris Jr. (Broncos)
1.Casey Hayward (Chargers)

2018 NBA Mock Draft (Draft Day)

Are the Kings crazy enough to take Michael Porter Jr. with the second overall pick? Can the Grizzlies find a team that's willing to take on Chandler Parsons' garbage contract in exchange for the fourth overall pick? Will the Hornets fully commit to tanking? Will today be the day where the Spurs grant Kawhi Leonard's wish to be traded and potentially plant the seeds for the formation of the league's next potential superteam? All of these questions and more will be answered this evening when the launching pad for hardwood chaos otherwise known as the NBA Draft kicks off at 7:00 EST. As you anxiously await for the festivities at the Barclays Center to get underway, you can briefly pretend that you live in a fantasy land where flurries of draft night trades don't happen and take a gander at this bare bones 1st round mock that I've assembled. Enjoy the non-stop madness that this evening will more than likely deliver my friends.

1.Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, center (Arizona)
2.Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, power forward (Duke)
3.Atlanta Hawks: Luka Doncic, small forward (Slovenia)
4.Memphis Grizzlies: Mo Bamba, power forward/center (Texas)
5.Dallas Mavericks: Jaren Jackson Jr., center (Michigan State)
6.Orlando Magic: Trae Young, point guard (Oklahoma)
7.Chicago Bulls: Michael Porter Jr., small/power forward (Missouri)
8.Cleveland Cavaliers: Wendell Carter Jr., power forward/center (Duke)
9.New York Knicks: Colin Sexton, point guard (Alabama)
10.Philadelphia 76ers: Mikal Bridges, small forward (Villanova)
11.Charlotte Hornets: Kevin Knox, small forward (Kentucky)
12.Los Angeles Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, point guard (Kentucky)
13.Los Angeles Clippers: Robert Williams, power forward (Texas A&M)
14.Denver Nuggets: Miles Bridges, small/power forward (Michigan State)
15.Washington Wizards: Zharie Smith, shooting guard (Texas Tech)
16.Phoenix Suns: Ellie Okobo, point guard (France)
17.Milwaukee Bucks: Lonnie Walker IV, shooting guard (Miami)
18.San Antonio Spurs: Troy Brown, shooting guard (Oregon)
19.Atlanta Hawks: Donte DiVincenzo, shooting guard (Villanova)
20.Minnesota Timberwolves: Jerome Robinson, shooting guard (Boston College)
21.Utah Jazz: Aaron Holiday, point guard (UCLA)
22.Chicago Bulls: Mitchell Robinson, center (N/A)
23.Indiana Pacers: Kevin Huerter, shooting guard/small forward (Maryland)
24.Portland Trail Blazers: Dzanan Musa, small forward (Bosnia)
25.Los Angeles Lakers: Grayson Allen, shooting guard (Duke)
26.Philadelphia 76ers: Josh Okogie, shooting guard (Georgia Tech)
27.Boston Celtics: Bruce Brown, shooting guard (Miami)
28.Golden State Warriors: Keita Bates-Diop, small forward (Ohio State)
29.Brooklyn Nets: Jacob Evans III, small forward (Cincinnati)
30.Atlanta Hawks: De'Anthony Melton, point guard (USC)

Quick Movie Reviews: Hotel Artemis, Ocean's 8, Set It Up

Hotel Artemis: I hate to play spoiler, but Hotel Artemis isn't the next John Wick.  In fact, this film  centered around a particularly busy night at a members-only hospital for criminals in an impoverished, riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles is much more of a noir thriller than a straight-up action flick. Writer/director Drew Pearce packs way too many subplots into such a short film (it clocks in at just over 90 minutes) and the few fight scenes it does have are pretty sloppy, but the excellent work from its wildly talented ensemble cast (particularly Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown and Charlie Day) combined with the badass atmosphere of its contained yet chaotic setting prove to be more than enough to make Hotel Artemis a slick, respectable crime flick.  
Grade: B

Ocean's 8: For better or worse, this reboot/spin-off of the George Clooney/Brad Pitt/Matt Damon-led franchise from the early-to-mid 2000's is built around the same ingredients that made the installments not named Ocean's Twelve immensely likable. The largely underdeveloped titular gang of thieves, played by numerous A-listers including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Rihanna, bring the charisma and their robbery of a $150 million Cartier necklace from the annual Met Gala is about as elaborate, clever and adversity-free as movie heists get. As breezy, well-acted and generally watchable as it is, Ocean's 8 still manages to be kind of a letdown. While the proceedings are never dull, Gary Ross' restrained direction nixes any chance this movie had of being an over-the-top good time. Even with his blatant thievery of Steven Soderbergh's hallmarks (jazzy musical cues, multi-frame shots, liberal usage of montages), Ross never even comes close to replicating the effortlessly cool style and electric level of energy that helped make Ocean's 11 and Ocean's Thirteen premier pieces of entertainment. If Debbie Ocean and the gang get called into action again, Warner Brothers needs to bring back Soderbergh to direct or find another similarly gifted person that revels in lighthearted spectacle so this well-matched powerhouse ensemble can make a legitimate grin-inducing crime romp.
Grade: B

Set It Up: The quality of a romantic comedy is usually correlated with the likability of and general rapport between its protagonists. With underappreciated young actors Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell steering the ship, Set It Up coasts to genre respectability with relative ease. Deutch and Powell are both magnetic presences with an effortless, palpable chemistry that keeps the proceedings of this Netflix production about a pair of 20-something personal assistants that attempt to dupe their demanding bosses (Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs, both respectable in comedic psycho roles) into entering a relationship with each other so they can receive a reprieve from their hellish existences funny, sweet and engaging throughout. Definitely worth a look if you're looking for a nice romcom you can watch from the comfort of your couch.    
Grade: B

The Best and Worst of Bryce Dallas Howard

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” star Bryce Dallas Howard.

Films starring Bryce Dallas Howard that I've seen:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Village
Lady in the Water
Spider-Man 3
Terminator Salvation
The Help
50/50
Jurassic World
Gold

Best Performance: The Help (2011)
While it's not quite on the level of the award-caliber work from Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Emma Stone, Howard's performance in The Help is still notably great. Her turn as Hilly Walter Holbrook, a deceitful, highly prejudiced Mississippi socialite that employs Spencer's character as a maid, was a thoroughly convincing departure from the largely unassuming characters she'd played up to that point in her career.  

Worst Performance: The Village (2004)
The Village was Howard's first substantial film role, and boy did it show. Her performance as a kind-hearted blind woman that stumbles upon a colonial village's bizarre, long-kept secret is as laughably terrible as the twist M.Night Shyamalan concocted for this misguided mystery thriller.

Best Film: 50/50 (2011)
If I were to compose a list of the most underrated films of the 2010's so far, there's a very strong chance that 50/50 would top it. Thanks to an outstanding, largely autobiographical script from Will Reiser and its terrific ensemble cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Howard, Anna Kendrick, Angellica Houston, Phillip Baker Hall), this borderline flawless dramedy is able to seamlessly blend gut-busting R-rated humor with heartfelt sentiments about mortality, love and the significant toll cancer takes on a patient and their loved ones.

Worst Film: Lady in the Water (2006)
Virtuoso filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan managed to follow up The Village with a project that was even more poorly-acted and unintentionally hilarious. Lady in the Water, which is currently the infamous writer/director's lone foray into the world of fantasy, is a pretty much unprecedented exercise in rapidly-escalating ridiculousness. Just about every plot development in this wanna-be epic fairy tale is so gloriously dumb that I almost have to commend Shyamalan for making something that is so unabashedly, balls-to-wall preposterous.        

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” star Josh Brolin. 

As We Proceed Episode #20

On this month's As We Proceed, Feliciano and I discuss Ameer Vann getting kicked out of Brockhampton, the riveting Drake/Pusha T beef and review the first two projects (Pusha T's Daytona and Kanye West's ye) in the G.O.O.D. Music new release marathon. This captivating hour of takes can be heard at any of the links below:

Soundcloud: 

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-we-proceed/id1122163104?mt=2

Concert Review: The Black Dahlia Murder/Whitechapel--Boston, MA--June 14th, 2018

Lineup: The Black Dahlia Murder/Whitechapel/Fleshgod Apocalypse/Aversions Crown/Shadow of Intent
Venue: Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

Shadow of Intent: Once I got past the tragic fact they were a Halo-themed band that didn't do Master Chief cosplay on stage, I ended up enjoying Shadow of Intent's set quite a bit. Their vocalist has some wild high screams, every guitar solo was a winding ripper that delighted my wank metal sensibilities and the symphonic elements are a nice touch that helps them standout in a crowded field of up-and-coming deathcore bands that have solely dedicated their time to attempting to replicate the brutal yet atmospheric sound of Thy Art is Murder. Definitely intrigued to see where these guys go from here.

Aversions Crown: Aversions Crown is a band that has never been anything more than decent to me. To be frank, they're one of the bands that I alluded to in the last paragraph that seems like they want to ride the Thy Art is Murder wave to genre stardom. Whether that's true or not, the power of their live performance is undeniable. Their energy, intensity and crowd engagement helps elevate them from middle-of-the-road band with no true standout elements to a pretty damn enjoyable one with well-timed breakdowns, fierce vocals and the occasional effective burst of melody. I urge anyone that's attending this tour to see Whitechapel that isn't familiar with Aversions Crown to show up early to check out their set.  

Fleshgod Apocalypse: Even with a pretty substantial recent lineup shift that included longtime drummer Francesco Paoli returning to the vocalist/guitarist post he vacated following their 2009 debut Oracles, Fleshgod Apocalypse is still pretty much the same band they were during the Tommasso Riccardi years. In terms of the live setting, this means that Italy's resident evil operatic enthusiasts haven't stopped being a soundboard operator's worst nightmare. I figured that the great acoustics of the Paradise Rock Club would help make their mix much clearer than it was the previous times I'd seen them at the Worcester Palladium, which is known for its shaky sound, but as soon Paoli came in on set opener"The Violation", it became clear that he and both of the band's clean vocalists (bassist Paolo Rossi and resident opera singer Veronica Bordacchini) would be drowned out by the guitars, piano and booming orchestral sections. Their massive slam riffs and distinctly odd stage presence kept things engaging, but the full scope of their classical/death metal hybrid will always be better captured on record.

Whitechapel: For a band that isn't notorious for partying, Whitechapel's live shows are rather erratic. The previous four times I've seen have ranged from excellent (Summer Slaughter 2011) to pretty fucking awful (Warped Tour 2010). On this tour honoring the 10th anniversary of their breakout sophomore LP This is Exile, the Whitechapel dice roll yielded some pretty favorable results. Phil Bozeman's vocals were sharp, their trio of guitarists, who I've seen blow many a solo in the admirably handled all of the deep cuts (which is essentially all but three songs on this record) and the crowd unsurprisingly lost their shit as they ripped their way through an album that played a pivotal role in the growth of the most polarizing metal subgenre to emerge in the past decade. I'm not going to go out of my way to see Whitechapel again anytime soon, but this show was an enjoyable nostalgia trip that brought back warm memories of my high school years when watching breakdown compilations on YouTube and getting dirty looks from strangers when you blared shit like this in public were life-affirming pastimes.

The Black Dahlia Murder: It's incredibly difficult for me to discuss a Black Dahlia Murder performance without going full fanboy. I'd seen them eight times prior to this show and every single one of those performances rendered me speechless upon conclusion. Their 14-song set, which consisted of their ferocious new record Nightbringers in its entirety alongside a handful of fan favorites from their first three albums, here was no exception. Even as the founding members (vocalist Trevor Strnad and rhythm guitarist/primary songwriter Brian Eschbach) approach 40, the band has not lost an ounce of their musical proficiency or general zest for performing that they had when they first broke out on the scene in the mid-2000's. This kind of prolonged consistency in quality of live performances is pretty infrequent and as they continue to chug along through another extensive touring cycle, that reign of destruction doesn't look its going to slow down anytime soon. All hail and long live the Immortals.  

Grades:
Shadow of Intent: B+
Aversions Crown: B+
Fleshgod Apocalypse: B
Whitechapel: B
The Black Dahlia Murder: A+

Setlists:
Shadow of Intent included:
The Heretic Prevails (opener)
The Battle of the Maginot Sphere (closer)

Averisons Crown included:
Prismatic Abyss
Hollow Planet

Fleshgod Apocalypse included:
The Violation (opener)
The Fool
Cold as Perfection
The Egoism

Whitechapel:
Father of Lies
This is Exile
Possession
To All That Are Dead
Exalt
Somatically Incorrect
Death Becomes Him
Daemon (The Procreated)
Eternal Refuge
Of Legions
Messiahbolical

Encore:
Vicer Exciser
Prostatic Fluid Asphyxiation

The Black Dahlia Murder:
Widowmaker
Of God and Serpent, Of Spectre and Snake
Matriarch
Contagion
Nightbringers
Jars
Kings of the Nightworld
What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse
Catacomb Hecatomb
As Good as Dead
The Lonely Deceased
Everything Went Black
Statutory Ape
Deathmask Divine

2018 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Outside Linebackers

35.Aaron Lynch (Bears)
34.Carl Lawson (Bengals)
33.Craig Robertson (Saints)
32.Jamie Collins (Browns)
31.Leonard Floyd (Bears)
30.T.J. Watt (Steelers)
29.Christian Kirksey (Browns)
28.Pernell McPhee (Redskins)
27.Lorenzo Alexander (Bills)
26.Shaq Thompson (Panthers)
25.Vic Beasley Jr. (Falcons)
24.De'Vondre Campbell (Falcons)
23.Tahir Whitehead (Raiders)
22.Anthony Barr (Vikings)
21.Shaquil Barrett (Broncos)
20.Nick Perry (Packers)
19.Preston Smith (Redskins)
18.Derrick Morgan (Titans)
17.Nigel Bradham (Eagles)
16.Bruce Irvin (Raiders)
15.Thomas Davis (Panthers)
14.Clay Matthews (Packers)
13.Whitney Mercilus (Texans)
12.Myles Jack (Jaguars)
11.Vontaze Burfict (Bengals)
10.Terrell Suggs (Ravens)
9.Brian Orakpo (Titans)
8.Olivier Vernon (Giants)
7.Ryan Kerrigan (Redskins)
6.K.J. Wright (Seahawks)
5.Jadeveon Clowney (Texans)
4.Telvin Smith (Jaguars)
3.Lavonte David (Buccaneers)
2.Justin Houston (Chiefs)
1.Von Miller (Broncos)

The Best and Worst of Jason Mitchell

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Superfly” star Jason Mitchell.

Films starring Jason Mitchell that I've seen:
Contraband
Broken City
Straight Outta Compton
Keanu
Kong: Skull Island
Detroit
Mudbound
The Disaster Artist

Best Performance: Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Mitchell's current status as one of the industry's most respected young actors can be traced back to his breakout role as Eazy-E in Straight Outta Compton. With his magnetic presence and incredible emotional range, Mitchell's awards-caliber performance was a big part of the reason why the N.W.A. biopic went down as a standout entry in the genre.

Worst Performance: Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Like just about everyone else in Kong: Skull Island's wildly talented ensemble cast, Mitchell's character is there to fight giant monsters and occasionally participate in a conversation about said monsters. While Mitchell handles this task competently, Skull Island is the only time where I've watched something he was in for more than a few minutes and wasn't notably impressed with his performance, which is enough for it to pick up this unfortunate distinction.   

Best Film: Straight Outta Compton (2015)
Biopics have a bad tendency of not even beginning to scratch the surface of their subject matter. Straight Outta Compton marked an increasingly rare instance of a film dedicated to telling the story of an iconic figure (or in this case, figures) that was willing to subvert that formula. Andrea Berloff and Jonathan Herman's terrific script manages to hit all out of the obligatory rise-and-fall footnotes in N.W.A's career while also serving as a deep exploration of what made each prominent member tick. Combine this dense, cliché-averting script with an electric sense of energy and terrific performances from every actor that has significant screen time (Mitchell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Paul Giamatti), and you have one of the most absorbing and flat-out fantastic films in recent history.

Worst Film: Broken City (2013)
Broken City is one of those cinematic failures that just seems implausible. It has all the ingredients for a successful film (talented ensemble cast, director with a good track record, solid premise about a disgraced former police officer turned private investigator that stumbles into a web of corruption centered around the mayor of New York City), yet it somehow ends up being a dull thriller that offers up next-to-no suspense or entertainment value.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” star Bryce Dallas Howard. 

2017-18 NBA Year-End Awards

The 2017-18 NBA season mercifully came to end last Friday night at Quicken Loan Arena when the Golden State Warriors completed a pretty easy sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third title in the last four years. Now that the champagne has been sprayed and the Larry O'Brien Trophy has been paraded through the streets of Oakland, it's time to reflect on the individual greatness the NBA has graced the basketball-loving public with over the past eight months. Here are my picks for all of the Association's prominent year-end awards.

MVP: LeBron James (Cavaliers)
In a career full of wildly productive seasons, 2017-18 is a contender for his most jaw-dropping since his first stint in Cleveland, if not ever. Carrying a team of aging, lackadaisical role players to a 50-win season that culminated in a NBA Finals appearance that seemed like a laughable pipe dream as recently as mid-April while remaining efficient (54.2 FG%, 36.7 3PG%, career-high 9.1 APG) and not showing any signs of decline or notable fatigue at age 33 is the type of unreal feat that reminds you of just how great James truly is.
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Davis (Pelicans), James Harden (Rockets), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens (Celtics)
I'm sorry, I just can't see the case for Dwane Casey. Even with a significantly improved second unit, a staring lineup full of veteran talent and no notable injuries to speak of, Casey's Raptors still wilted come playoff time-which resulted in him getting unceremoniously fired by the team following their latest embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers. On the other hand, Stevens managed to overcome a pair of perceived season-derailing injuries to both of his team's All-Stars (Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving) and other injuries of varying significance to key rotational players (Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis, Shane Larkin) to take an undermanned team that predominantly consisted of unproven young players with little-to-no playoff experience all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Honorable Mentions: Quin Snyder (Jazz), Nate McMillan (Pacers), Dwane Casey (Raptors)

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
The Brow's ability on the defensive end have always been overlooked because of his unique, lethal offensive skill set, but after his absurd 2017-18 campaign, that might not be the case for much longer. Davis made life hell for anyone that tried to drive inside against the Pelicans with his physical presence around the rim and elite shot-swatting ability (his 2.6 blocks per game led the league).

Honorable Mentions: Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Joel Embiid (76ers), Clint Capela (Rockets)

Rookie of the Year: Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
Ben Simmons had the triple doubles and nonstop hype, but I'll take the "real" rookie any day of the week. Mitchell's killer instinct, scoring prowess (20.4 PPG, good for 25th in the league) and veteran-esque calmness in clutch situations made him the electric playmaker this defensive-minded Jazz team desperately needed to earn their second consecutive playoff berth in the ultracompetitive Western Conference.   

Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons (76ers), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Lauri Markkanen (Bulls)

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams (Clippers)
You could make an argument that he started too many games (19) to be eligible for this award, but Williams' brilliance throughout this season can't be denied. The 31-year old journeyman guard emerged as a reliable offensive force, averaging career highs in points (22.6) and assists (5.3), for a Clippers squad that was in constant flux thanks to a rash of injuries (too many to list, but basically every other player of note besides DeAndre Jordan missed at least 20 games) and the shocking mid-season trade of star power forward Blake Griffin.     

Honorable Mentions: Fred VanVleet (Raptors), Eric Gordon (Rockets), Will Barton (Nuggets) 

Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo (Pacers)
It's amazing what a change in scenery can do for a young player. After a three-year sentence in the basketball death pit otherwise known as the Orlando Magic followed by a brief stint as a middling bystander to Russell Westbrook's heroball antics in Oklahoma City, Oladipo finally blossomed into the two-way force he was projected to be when he was drafted second overall in the 2013 upon arriving in Indiana as a presumed afterthought in the Paul George trade. Oladipo's well-rounded, often dominant play helped a Pacers team that was widely projected to be a doormat establish a strong team chemistry and sense of resiliency that resulted in them shocking the league with a 48-win season.         

Honorable Mentions: Clint Capela (Rockets), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets)

2018 NFL Position Rankings: Top 25 Inside Linebackers

25.Korey Toomer (49ers)
24.Joe Schobert (Browns)
23.Zach Cunningham (Texans)
22.Brandon Marshall (Broncos)
21.Zach Brown (Redskins)
20.Nick Kwiatkoski (Bears)
19.Reuben Foster (49ers)
18.Benardrick McKinney (Texans)
17.Derrick Johnson (Raiders)
16.Todd Davis (Broncos)
15.Wesley Woodyard (Titans)
14.Eric Kendricks (Vikings)
13.Blake Martinez (Packers)
12.Anthony Hitchens (Chiefs)
11.Jake Ryan (Packers)
10.Mychal Kendricks (Browns)
9.Demario Davis (Saints)
8.Avery Williamson (Jets)
7.Danny Trevathan (Bears)
6.Dont'a Hightower (Patriots)
5.C.J. Mosley (Ravens)
4.Sean Lee (Cowboys)
3.Deion Jones (Falcons)
2.Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
1.Bobby Wagner (Seahawks)

2018 NFL Position Rankings: Top 35 Defensive Ends

Note: Due to multiple major injuries that have limited him to appearing in only 8 games over the past 2 seasons, J.J. Watt was withheld from this list.
35.DaQuan Jones (Titans)
34.John Simon (Colts)
33.Brooks Reed (Falcons)
32.Adrian Clayborn (Patriots)
31.Myles Garrett (Browns)
30.Derek Wolfe (Broncos)
29.Mario Addison (Panthers)
28.Alex Okafor (Saints)
27.Frank Clark (Seahawks)
26.William Hayes (Dolphins)
25.Danielle Hunter (Vikings)
24.Ezekiel Ansah (Lions)
23.Michael Brockers (Rams)
22.Vinny Curry (Buccaneers)
21.Jabaal Sheard (Colts)
20.Jerry Hughes (Bills)
19.Michael Bennett (Eagles)
18.Jason Pierre-Paul (Buccaneers)
17.Yannick Ngakoue (Jaguars)
16.Leonard Williams (Jets)
15.Carlos Dunlap (Bengals)
14.Akiem Hicks (Bears)
13.Trey Flowers (Patriots)
12.Cameron Wake (Dolphins)
11.Cameron Heyward (Steelers)
10.DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys)
9.Everson Griffen (Vikings)
8.Melvin Ingram (Chargers)
7.Mike Daniels (Packers)
6.Joey Bosa (Chargers)
5.Brandon Graham (Eagles)
4.Chandler Jones (Cardinals)
3.Calias Campbell (Jaguars)
2.Cameron Jordan (Saints)
1.Khalil Mack (Raiders)

Movie Review: Upgrade

In an era where the entertainment industry regularly cooks up ill-conceived meals in an attempt to feed audiences insatiable appetite for nostalgia, sci-fi action thriller Upgrade marks a rare instance where a confident individual with an understanding of the necessary ingredients seized their chance to enter this storied kitchen and made something special. Writer/director Leigh Whannell (Insidious franchise, Saw I-III) has gifted B-movie fans with a gory, amusing and intelligent throwback to the days when genre movies balanced electric grindhouse thrills with thoughtful social commentary.

While there's plenty of the brutal, cleverly-shot fight scenes that the redband trailer offered up, Upgrade puts a greater emphasis on story than I expected. Whannell turns what could've easily been a straightforward revenge narrative about a widow (Logan Marshall-Green) seeking retribution for his wife's (Melanie Vallejo) murder into a twisty tale that highlights mankind's relationship with technology that could change how you feel about the future of artificial intelligence. Exploring why humans are drawn to technology and the potential hazards that come with new advancements in the field isn't exactly uncharted territory for the sci-fi genre, especially in our current  climate where previously unfathomable inventions like facial recognition software, talking computers and drones are already part of our reality, but this commentary is effective enough to help add some narrative weight behind all of the stylized blood-and-guts and smartass one-liners.

Upgrade is a huge triumph for the underserved B-movie market. Action flicks that lack big names and budgets that exceed the GDP of most medium-sized countries don't receive theatrical releases very often anymore, so it's great to see a veteran like Whannell take advantage of this rare opportunity by delivering a thoroughly badass product that seems destined to become a cult favorite. Genre enthusiasts should go see this ASAP before some inconsiderate jabroni spoils the insanity of the carnage and/or the whopper of an ending.

Grade: A-

The Best and Worst of Sandra Bullock

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Ocean's 8” star Sandra Bullock.

Films Starring Sandra Bullock that I've seen:
Demolition Man
Speed
Crash
The Proposal
The Blind Side
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Heat
Gravity
Our Brand is Crisis 

Best Performance: Gravity (2013)
I believe that Bullock's healthy amount of work in the romantic comedy genre has resulted in her being severely overlooked as a dramatic actor. Just about every "serious" film I've seen her in has been elevated by her massive yet nuanced performances. Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity, which features Bullock alone on screen for about 80% of the running time, is the perfect showcase for her underrated chops. Bullock's powerhouse performance enhances the tension while also displaying an emotional range that you don't typically see in effects-driven disaster/survival movies. 

Worst Performance: Crash (2004)
As great as she's been of late, Bullock's road to becoming a strong dramatic actor wasn't without its major hiccups. The commanding screen presence that eventually became a hallmark of her craft was notably absent from the much-maligned Best Picture winner Crash. Her turn as the uppity, prejudiced wife of a Los Angeles-area district attorney (Brendan Fraser) is consistently wooden and thoroughly unconvincing.   

Best Film: The Heat (2013)
While it's not quite on the level of Bridesmaids, The Heat is still easily one of Paul Feig's best projects to-date. A sharp, vulgar script from Katie Dippold paired with the fantastic juxtaposition between its two leads (Bullock as a stern FBI agent, Melissa McCarthy as a short-tempered Boston police officer) made this buddy comedy a seriously funny treat. 

Worst Film: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Good intentions don't always result in good art and few films illustrate that point better than Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. This drama based on a best selling novel about a 10-year old kid (Thomas Horn) trying to cope with the death of his father (Tom Hanks), who was killed during the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11, is a dull melodrama with an obnoxious protagonist that never even comes close to hitting its intended emotional target.   

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Superfly” star Jason Mitchell. 

Album Review: Kanye West-ye

As the great Dr. Robert Doback once told his son Dale after he'd given up his dream of running a prestigious worldwide entertainment company to take a job as a caterer, life just isn't the same if you lose your dinosaur. In other words, sacrificing what makes you unique strictly for the sake of appeasing other people is a move that you'll regret in the long run. It's taken about 15 years, but Kanye West appears to be on the cusp of losing his dinosaur. His eight LP ye is a borderline unlistenable collection of tracks that sees the hip-hip icon betraying the no-holds-barred authenticity and unwavering confidence that has helped define his legacy as one of the music industry's most dynamic talents to deliver a feigned apology for his (very) recent public misdeeds.

Where his chaotic last LP The Life of Pablo was rough around the edges by design, ye sounds like a truly unfinished product. After sitting through this jarring barrage of soul samples, obnoxious hooks and aimless features a few times, it's hard not to come away feeling that ye is simply a PR move disguised as an album. Like just about every piece of damage control from a public figure or company, this mercifully short (it clocks in at just under 24 minutes) musical apology for West's most headline-grabbing string of controversial comments to-date contains the subtlety of a nuclear arsenal and sincerity of an average political stump speech.

After undergoing the most hostile public takedowns of his career following his now-infamous TMZ outburst and repeated praise of Donald Trump, it's comically evident that West and his team were desperate to change the narrative around him. And what better way to win the people over than to concoct a nice introspective album that focuses on how much he loves his family and his struggles with bipolar disorder? This calculated charade might've worked if West had approached this material with any sort of conviction. His delivery is so consistently sloppy and devoid of legitimate emotion that it renders every single "heartfelt" sentiment completely meaningless. Watching an artist that has preached sticking to your true self at every turn suddenly table that previously steadfast belief because their public image, which has always been polarizing, could've possibly taken a long-term hit is a shocking and disheartening development that I honestly didn't see coming.

Whatever fleeting victories are found on ye stem from the goofy back-to-back combo of "Yikes" and "All Mine". While neither of these tracks flirt with greatness, they at least allow glimpses of West's signature brashness and childlike giddiness to shine through. On an album that's driven by an unsettling sense of phoniness, a couple of on-brand songs with bouncy beats and vulgar punchlines offer up some much-needed hope that West's vacation to the world of contrived conformity is only temporary.

The existence of ye has made me wish that West stayed out of the public eye for at least a little bit longer. Succumbing to a media shitstorm with a rushed album riddled with lackluster material that's at the very least forced, if not completely insincere was an uncharacteristic move that stripped away the unapologetic attitude and unpredictable creative flare that usually define his projects. I'm pulling for West to rebound from this unfortunate misstep in an otherwise pretty remarkable career, but considering this and the similarly suspect quality of his other recent endeavors not named Daytona, you have to at least consider the possibility that his reign as hip-hop's boldest voice has come to an end.
   

Grade: D+

Standout Tracks

1.Yikes

2.All Mine 

2018 NFL Position Rankings: Top 30 Defensive Tackles

30.Al Woods (Colts)
29.Dalvin Tomlinson (Giants)
28.Kyle Williams (Bills)
27.Malcom Brown (Patriots)
26.Justin Ellis (Raiders)
25.Domata Peko (Broncos)
24.Danny Shelton (Patriots)
23.Corey Peters (Cardinals)
22.D.J. Reader (Texans)
21.Star Lotulelei (Bills)
20.Michael Pierce (Ravens)
19.Marcell Dareus (Jaguars)
18.David Irving (Cowboys)
17.Sheldon Richardson (Vikings)
16.Timmy Jernigan (Eagles)
15.Kenny Clark (Packers)
14.Chris Jones (Chiefs)
13.Malik Jackson (Jaguars)
12.Grady Jarrett (Falcons)
11.DeForest Buckner (49ers)
10.Brandon Williams (Ravens)
9.Linval Joseph (Vikings)
8.Jurrell Casey (Titans)
7.Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers)
6.Damon Harrison (Giants)
5.Kawann Short (Panthers)
4.Ndamukong Suh (Rams)
3.Geno Atkins (Bengals)
2.Fletcher Cox (Eagles)
1.Aaron Donald (Rams)