Top 50 Prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft + 5 Best Players at Each Position (Post-Draft Update)

1.Solomon Thomas, edge rusher (Stanford) Selected 3rd overall by the San Francisco 49ers

2.Jamal Adams, safety (LSU) Selected 6th overall by the New York Jets

3.Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State) Selected 11th overall by the New Orleans Saints

4.Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State) Selected 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts

5.Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M) Selected 1st overall by the Cleveland Browns

6.Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson) Selected 7th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers

7.Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle (Alabama) Selected 17th overall by the Washington Redskins

8.Leonard Fournette, running back (LSU) Selected 4th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars

9.Haason Reddick, inside/outside linebacker (Temple) Selected 13th overall by the Arizona Cardinals

10.David Njoku, tight end (Miami) Selected 29th overall by the Cleveland Browns

11.Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee) Selected 14th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles

12.Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan) Selected 5th overall by the Tennessee Titans

13.Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford) Selected 8th overall by the Carolina Panthers

14.Tre'Davious White, cornerback (LSU) Selected 27th overall by the Buffalo Bills

15.Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky) Selected 38th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers

16.John Ross, wide receiver (Washington) Selected 9th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals

17.Gareon Conley, cornerback (Ohio State) Selected 24th overall by the Oakland Raiders

18.Taakarist McKinnley, edge rusher (UCLA) Selected 26th overall by the Atlanta Falcons

19.Zach Cunningham, inside linebacker (Vanderbilt) Selected 57th overall by the Houston Texans

20.Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State) Selected 41st overall by the Minnesota Vikings

21.Tim Williams, edge rusher (Alabama) Selected 78th overall by the Baltimore Ravens

22.Charles Harris, edge rusher (Missouri) Selected 22nd overall by the Miami Dolphins

23.Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina) Selected 2nd overall by the Chicago Bears

24.Evan Engram, tight end (Ole Miss) Selected 23rd overall by the New York Giants

25.Alvin Kamara, running back (Tennessee) Selected 67th overall by the New Orleans Saints
26.Kevin King, cornerback (Washington) Selected 33rd overall by the Green Bay Packers

27.Quincy Wilson, cornerback (Florida) Selected 46th overall by the Indianapolis Colts

28.Marcus Williams, safety (Utah) Selected 42nd overall by the New Orleans Saints

29.Obi Melifonwu, safety (Connecticut) Selected 56th overall by the Oakland Raiders

30.T.J. Watt, edge rusher (Wisconsin) Selected 30th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers

31.Ryan Ramcyzk, tackle (Wisconsin) Selected 32nd overall by the New Orleans Saints

32.Jordan Willis, edge rusher (Kansas State) Selected 73rd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals

33.Adoree' Jackson, cornerback (USC) Selected 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans

34.O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama) Selected 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

35.Jourdan Lewis, cornerback (Michigan) Selected 92nd overall by the Dallas Cowboys

36.Justin Evans, safety (Texas A&M) Selected 50th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

37.Kareem Hunt, running back (Toledo) Selected 86th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs

38.Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida) Selected 21st overall by the Detroit Lions

39.Chris Godwin, wide receiver (Penn State) Selected 84th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

40.Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Texas Tech) Selected 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs

41.Joe Mixon, running back (Oklahoma) Selected 48th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals

42.Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback/safety (Colorado) Selected 60th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
43.Sidney Jones, cornerback (Washington) Selected 43rd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles

44.Malik McDowell, defensive tackle (Michigan State) Selected 35th overall by the Seattle Seahawks

45.George Kittle, tight end (Iowa) Selected 146th overall by the San Francisco 49ers
46.Corn Elder, cornerback (Miami) Selected 152nd overall by the Carolina Panthers

47.Cam Robinson, tackle (Alabama) Selected 34th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars

48.Carl Lawson, edge rusher (Auburn)  Selected 116th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals

49.Taco Charlton, edge rusher (Michigan) Selected 28th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
50.Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive tackle (Alabama) Selected 55th overall by the New York Giants

Top 5 Prospects by Position 

Quarterback
1.Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina) NFL team: Chicago Bears
2.Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech) NFL team: Kansas City Chiefs
3.Deshone Kizer (Notre Dame) NFL team: Cleveland Browns
4.DeShaun Watson (Clemson) NFL team: Houston Texans
5.Nathan Peterman (Pittsburgh) NFL team: Buffalo Bills

Running Back
1.Leonard Fournette (LSU) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars
2.Christian McCaffery (Stanford) NFL team: Carolina Panthers
3.Dalvin Cook (Florida State) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings
4.Alvin Kamara (Tennessee) NFL team: New Orleans Saints
5.Kareem Hunt (Toledo) NFL team: Kansas City Chiefs

Wide Receiver
1.Mike Williams (Clemson) NFL team: Los Angeles Chargers
2.Corey Davis (Western Michigan) NFL team: Tennessee Titans
3.John Ross (Washington) NFL team: Cincinnati Bengals
4.Chris Godwin (Penn State) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5.Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Tight End
1.David Njoku (Miami) NFL team: Cleveland Browns
2.Evan Engram (Ole Miss) NFL team: New York Giants
3.O.J. Howard (Alabama) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4.George Kittle (Iowa) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
5.Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings

Center
1.Ethan Pocic (LSU) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
2.Pat Elflein (Ohio State) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings
3.Tyler Orlosky (West Virginia) NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles
4.Jon Toth (Kentucky) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
5.Chase Roullier (Wyoming) NFL team: Washington Redskins

Guard
1.Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky) NFL team: Los Angeles Chargers
2.Taylor Moton (Western Michigan) NFL team: Carolina Panthers
3.Dan Feeney (Indiana) NFL team: Los Angeles Chargers
4.Dion Dawkins (Temple) NFL team: Buffalo Bills
5.Danny Isidora (Miami) NFL team: Minnesota Vikings

Tackle
1.Ryan Ramcyzk (Wisconsin) NFL team: New Orleans Saints
2.Cam Robinson (Alabama) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars
3.Garret Bolles (Utah) NFL team: Denver Broncos
4.Roderick Johnson (Florida State) NFL team: Cleveland Browns
5.Antonio Garcia (Troy) NFL team: New England Patriots

Edge Rusher (Defensive End/Outside Linebacker)
1.Solomon Thomas (Stanford) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
2.Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) NFL team: Cleveland Browns
3.Derek Barnett (Tennessee) NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles

4.Taakarist McKinley (UCLA) NFL team: Atlanta Falcons
5.Tim Williams (Alabama) NFL team: Baltimore Ravens

Defensive Tackle:
1.Jonathan Allen (Alabama) NFL team: Washington Redskins
2.Malik McDowell (Michigan State) NFL team: Seattle Seahawks
3.Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) NFL team: New York Giants
4.Chris Wormley (Michigan) NFL team: Baltimore Ravens
5.Larry Ogunjobi (Charlotte) NFL team: Cleveland Browns

Inside Linebacker:
1.Haason Reddick (Temple) NFL team: Arizona Cardinals
2.Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt) NFL team: Houston Texans
3.Jarrad Davis (Florida) NFL team: Detroit Lions
4.Reuben Foster (Alabama) NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
5.Blair Brown (Ohio) NFL team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Cornerback:
1.Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State) NFL team: New Orleans Saints
2.Tre'Davious White (LSU) NFL team: Buffalo Bills
3.Gareon Conley (Ohio State) NFL team: Oakland Raiders
4.Kevin King (Washington) NFL team: Green Bay Packers
5.Quincy Wilson (Florida) NFL team: Indianapolis Colts

Safety:
1.Jamal Adams (LSU) NFL team: New York Jets
2.Malik Hooker (Ohio State) NFL team: Indianapolis Colts
3.Marcus Williams (Utah) NFL team: New Orleans Saints
4.Obi Melifonwu (Connecticut) NFL team: Oakland Raiders
5.Justin Evans (Texas A&M) NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Top 25 Prospects Available on Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft

1.Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)
2.Zach Cunningham, inside linebacker (Vanderbilt)
3.Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)
4.Tim Williams, edge rusher (Alabama)
5.Kevin King, cornerback (Washington)
6.Quincy Wilson, cornerback (Florida)
7.Alvin Kamara, running back (Tennessee)
8.Marcus Williams, safety (Utah)
9.Obi Melifonwu, safety (Connecticut)
10.Jordan Willis, edge rusher (Kansas State)
11.Corn Elder, cornerback (Miami)
12.Jourdan Lewis, cornerback (Michigan)
13.Desmond King, cornerback (Iowa)
14.Justin Evans, safety (Texas A&M)
15.Kareem Hunt, running back (Toledo)
16.Chris Godwin, wide receiver (Penn State)
17.Joe Mixon, running back (Oklahoma)
18.Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback/safety (Colorado)
19.Malik McDowell, defensive tackle (Michigan State)
20.George Kittle, tight end (Iowa)
21.Cam Robinson, tackle (Alabama)
22.Sidney Jones, cornerback (Washington)
23.Carl Lawson, edge rusher (Auburn)
24.Cordrea Tankersly, cornerback (Clemson)
25.Blair Brown, inside linebacker (Ohio)

2017 NFL Mock Draft 8.0 (Draft Day)

1.Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M):
In the least surprising news of the offseason, the decisionmakers in the Browns organization are reportedly fighting over who they should take with the 1st overall pick  General manager Sachi Brown wants to take Texas A&M pass-rushing specialist Myles Garrett while owner Jimmy Haslam and head coach Hue Jackson want to take North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Ultimately, I think Brown and his army of number-crunching nerds will win out in this absurd power struggle. A front office headed by an analytics guy would be going against everything they preach if they took a "project" QB over an edge-rusher with the sky-high ceiling that Garrett possesses.
 
2.San Francisco 49ers: Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)
Barring the Browns taking Trubisky, this is where the draft starts to get really interesting. The 49ers are the most talent-deprived team in the league at the moment and just about every single one of the top prospects on the board would fill a need. With a future hall-of-fame safety in John Lynch leading the personnel department, there's strong odds that Jamal Adams will end up being the pick. Adams is one of the most well-rounded safety prospects in recent memory and of the players that are available at this juncture, he has the best chance of becoming a cornerstone piece in San Francisco's latest attempt to rebuild.

3.Chicago Bears: Solomon Thomas, edge rusher (Stanford) 
Given the depth issues the Bears currently have in the secondary, I wouldn't be surprised if GM Ryan Pace ended up picking Marshon Lattimore or Malik Hooker here. However, Solomon Thomas arguably has higher upside than both of the highly-touted Ohio State defensive backs and is exactly the type of versatile, freakishly athletic defensive lineman that the Bears have been looking for since the Pace/John Fox regime started in 2015.    

4.Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette, running back (LSU):
The failure to establish a running game played a pretty significant role in the substantial regression of the Jaguars offense in 2016.  Both of their top running backs (Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon) averaged below 4 yards a carry and mustered a combined total of just 904 yards for the season. Adding Leonard Fournette, who is a 3-down back with the potential to be a workhorse at the next level, could prove to be enough to get this young offense back on track. Even though there some concerns about his durability, Fournette's devastating combination of size, speed and power could help take some much-needed pressure off of their erratic starting quarterback Blake Bortles.

5.Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State):
The 2016 Titans playoff hopes were dashed in large part due to the play of their god awful secondary, which ranked 29th in the league against the pass. The addition of a potential shutdown corner like Marshon Lattimore to the fold has the potential to immediately elevate the Titans from promising young team that's a couple years away from contending to legit playoff contenders in the middling AFC.

6.New York Jets: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)
In a quarterback class that's middling at best, Mitch Trubisky is largely considered to be the most promising prospect. Because of this significant perceived gap in talent, he is also a sure bet to be overdrafted. With a quarterback depth chart that currently consists of Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenburg and the reanimated corpse of Josh McCown, and a coach/GM combo that's firmly on the hot seat, the Jets are the team that's most likely to spend an early pick on the widely unproven Trubisky.

7.Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)
With the consistently abysmal play of Dwight Lowery and Jahleel Addae in 2016, the loss of Eric Weddle proved to be an bigger obstacle than originally anticipated for the Chargers. While it's far from a lock that he'll be as productive as the Chargers former 5-time All-Pro safety, Malik Hooker has the range and athleticism needed to be the dynamic playmaker the Bolts secondary sorely lacked a season ago.

8.Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford)
With WTF-inducing picks like Shaq Thompson, Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler in 3 of the past 4 years, general manager Dave Gettleman's loud, proud middle finger to conventional thinking makes predicting the Panthers picks damn near impossible. However, I think 2017 will mark a return to sensibility for the league's most unpredictable executive. With an aging, injury-prone player in Jonathan Stewart currently sitting atop the RB depth chart and an offensive weapon cache that comes nowhere close to matching the other 3 teams in the NFC South at the moment, selecting an elusive dual-threat back like Christian McCaffery makes too much sense for the Panthers to possibly pass up on.

9.Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle/end (Alabama)
Injury concerns and a somewhat disappointing combine performance has dropped Jonathan Allen's stock a little bit, but the jaw-dropping strength, hand-quickness and pass-rushing ability he displayed during his time at Alabama makes him a worthwhile risk for a Bengals squad that desperately needs another disruptive presence to put alongside 5x Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins in their front 7.

10.Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)
Even with the presence of an undisputed top wideout in Sammy Watkins on the roster, the Bills passing attack has been merely average over the last few years. Fellow Clemson Tiger alum Mike Williams could very well put a stop to the revolving door of mediocre receivers (Robert Woods, Chris Hogan, Percy Harvin, etc.) the Bills have trotted out to play alongside Watkins since they drafted him 4th overall in 2014. Williams' reliable hands, imposing size (6'4, 220 lbs) and elite leaping ability make him a prime candidate to become the legit redzone/secondary passing option quarterback Tyrod Taylor has lacked during his first 2 years with the Bills.

11.New Orleans Saints: Marlon Humphery, cornerback (Alabama)
With the possibility of trading for Patriots corner Malcolm Butler looking less and less likely by the day, its highly probable that the Saints are going to draft a corner with 1 of their 2 1st-round picks. Of the corners available at #11, Marlon Humphery seems like the best fit. His deficiencies in man coverage make him a longshot to be a top corner right way, but his length, lateral quickness and sure-tackling make him a strong bet to contribute right away as a number 2 or slot/nickel corner. 

12.Cleveland Browns: DeShaun Watson, quarterback (Clemson)
Unlike most of the organizational turmoil in recent Browns history, this current internal dispute has a happy ending. The addition of DeShaun Watson at #12 would give Jimmy Haslam and Hue Jackson the shiny new quarterback they want without having to pass on a player with Myles Garrett's upside at the top spot. Hooray for compromises! 

13.Arizona Cardinals: O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)
While I wouldn't be shocked if the Cardinals appeased Bruce Arians desire to have a strong-armed gunslinger under center by drafting Patrick Mahomes here, I think this team has too many needs on both sides of the ball to blow a top-15 pick on Carson Palmer's eventual successor. Given Palmer's age and how erratic the Cardinals deep-passing attack was last season, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard should get the nod here. Howard's ability as a vertical threat paired with his competency as a blocker makes him a really intriguing option for an offense that was plagued by poor receiver play (outside of the always-reliable Larry Fitzgerald) and pass-protection issues throughout 2016 .

14.Philadelphia Eagles: Tre'Davious White, cornerback (LSU)
With the addressing of their wide receiver problem in free agency and the top 2 running backs off-the-board by the time they go on the clock, the Eagles are prime candidates to trade out of this spot. If they do decide to stay the course and pick at #14, adding Tre'Davious White to their average corner group would be a smart play. While he lacks the physicality of the draft's other buzzed-about corners, White's fluid footwork and outstanding man-coverage skills make him a great fit for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's blitz-happy scheme. 

15.Indianapolis Colts: Haason Reddick, inside/outside linebacker (Temple)
The stunning lack of depth present in this draft class and their desire to protect the $140 million investment they made in franchise quarterback Andrew Luck could force the Colts to draft an offensive lineman here, but given how awful their defense is at the moment, it's going to be really hard for them to pass on a player with Haason Reddick's skill set. Reddick is a true Swiss Army knife player whose combination of blinding sideline-to-sideline speed, pass-rushing prowess, coverage skills and sure-tackling gives him the flexibility to lineup at both linebacker spots as well as a sub-package defensive end. Reddick's athleticism, versatility and strong work ethic could end up making a monumental impact on a Colts defense that is currently devoid of reliable playmakers.

16.Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan)
The retirement of Steve Smith has left the Ravens with a receiving corps full of deep-threats with god awful hands (Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman) and special-teamers who offer next-to-nothing in the passing game (Michael Comparano, Chris Matthews). Despite being shelved for the entire pre-draft workout process after undergoing ankle surgery in January, Corey Davis' standing as a big-bodied receiver who excels at running intermediate routes and making contested catches makes him too tantalizing of a prospect for the WR-needy Ravens to not roll the dice on him.

17.Washington Redskins: Adoree' Jackson, cornerback (USC)
Adoree' Jackson's tendency to go for the big play results in him getting burned from time to time (he allowed 7 TD's during his last year at USC), but his unreal athleticism and strong route-recognition skills is more than enough to make him 1 of the more appealing options in this year's deep corner class. His physical gifts and knack for making INT's would be greatly appreciated on a Redskins squad that doesn't currently have a reliable slot corner on their roster. 

18.Tennessee Titans: David Njoku, tight end (Miami)
This pick may be seem like a head-scratcher since the Titans have already have a top-flight tight end in Delanie Walker on their roster, but Walker is going to be 33 in August and Miami's David Njoku has the potential to be the game-breaking downfield threat that Marcus Mariota needs to become an undisputed franchise quarterback. 

19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker (Alabama)
The Buccaneers are in a very weird place right now. A lot of the glaring holes on their roster have been filled over the last few years, but they still have a number of areas where they could stand to improve before they can be considered a perennial playoff contender. Of the players available at the positions they need to upgrade at (safety, offensive line, inside linebacker), Alabama's Reuben Foster makes the most sense here. While Foster has a slew of red flags (diva-esque behavior at the combine, failed drug test, questions about work ethic) that have caused him to tumble down draft boards, his proven excellence against the run and in pass coverage at a position that's very difficult to obtain top-level talent at makes him the most intriguing high-risk/high-reward pick of the draft.

20.Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramcyzk, tackle (Wisconsin)
The Broncos desperation to find a competent lineman makes this pick the closest thing you'll find to a a sure thing in the twist-filled shitshow that is the NFL Draft. Ryan Ramcyzk may be far from a finished product, but it's still pretty unlikely that he'll be as woefully inept as any of the clowns they wheeled out at right tackle (Donald Stephenson, Ty Sambrailo, Michael Schofield) last season.

21.Detroit Lions: Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)
Derek Barnett's below-average 40 time (4.88) and lack of elite size (6'3, 259 lbs) will undoubtedly cause some pass-rush needy teams to look elsewhere, but his skid should stop here. The Lions underwhelming front 7 needs another aggressive edge-defender to complement Ziggy Ansah and if Barnett ends up being anywhere near as productive in the NFL as he was during his record-setting tenure at Tennessee (33 sacks in 3 years), they should have one of the most devastating pass-rush combos in the league within the next 2-3 years.  

22.Miami Dolphins: Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)
With last year's 1st-round pick Laremy Tunsil set to make the move to left tackle in 2017 after spending his rookie season at guard, a massive void opened in the middle of the Dolphins line. Adding Forrest Lamp-who is easily the most pro-ready prospect in this year's razor-thin offensive line class-should help bring some much-needed stability to the interior of this inexperienced o-line.  

23.New York Giants: Cam Robinson, tackle (Alabama)
The Giants are in a really tough spot. Since they didn't have the cap space to sign one of the few talented offensive lineman that were available in free agency this season, they are currently tasking 3 human turnstiles (guard John Jerry, tackles Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart) and 2 talented, but injury-prone men (guard Justin Pugh, center Weston Richburg) with protecting a 36-year old  quarterback (Eli Manning) that is absolutely critical to the functionality of their offense. This predicament pretty much forces them to draft a lineman here and Alabama's Cam Robinson has the highest odds of becoming a stabilizing presence on this offensive line this season. 

24.Oakland Raiders: Zach Cunningham, inside linebacker (Vanderbilt)
Poor play at the inside linebacker position, particularly in pass-coverage, has been the glaring Achilles' heel of the Raiders D throughout their lengthy rebuilding process. Zach Cunningham's combination of strong coverage and open-field tackling skills should give the Raiders the reliable presence that the middle of their defense has lacked since Napoleon Harris left the team in 2005.

25.Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Texas Tech)
A risk-taking, mobile quarterback that has no experience taking snaps from under center or making non-rehearsed throws seems like the type of quarterback that Bill O'Brien would want no part of. However, the Texans head coach apparently loves Patrick Mahomes and given that the unproven Tom Savage is currently penciled in as their starter, Houston seems like a very strong possible landing spot for the former Texas Tech gunslinger. 

26.Seattle Seahawks: Quincy Wilson, cornerback (Florida)
Washington product Kevin King is the popular choice to land here, but I think the Seahawks will end up taking Florida's Quincy Wilson over the hometown prospect. Like King, Wilson is the type of bruising press corner the Seahawks covet, but with better ball skills and more experience defending top-end receivers.   

27.Kansas City Chiefs: Joe Mixon, running back (Oklahoma)
This pick will obviously be met with controversy, but I think Dalvin Cook's lackluster pre-draft workouts have opened the door for Joe Mixon to be a late 1st-round pick. As evidenced by their selection of Tyreek Hill last season, the Chiefs have no problem drafting a player with a domestic violence incident on their record, and Mixon is an undeniably gifted dual-threat back that could make some serious noise in Andy Reid's ball-control offense. 

28.Dallas Cowboys: Kevin King, cornerback (Washington)
Kevin King is the type of super-athletic, relentlessly physical player that makes Jerry Jones soil his trousers and reminiscence on the good ol' days when no one was concerned about the long-term negative health effects that come from playing football. If King is on the board at #28, there's no doubt in my mind that he'll be a Cowboy.
 
29.Green Bay Packers: Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback/safety (Colorado)
The Packers need as much help as they can possibly get in the secondary right now (they finished dead-last in pass defense last year) and a player with Chidobe Awuzie's versatility, aggression and finesse would mark a nice jumping-off point for their much-needed defensive back overhaul.     

30.Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt, edge rusher (Wisconsin)
People expecting T.J. Watt to be anything like his older brother J.J. are going to be sorely disappointed. While they are both impressive athletes with high motors and strong hand-usage, T.J. lacks the unreal size, strength and power that has made his brother one of the most dominant defensive ends in NFL history. That being said, T.J. still has a good chance to be an excellent professional player and I believe his "tweener" status makes him an eerily perfect fit to come off the edge in Keith Butler's speed-driven defense.

31.Atlanta Falcons: Taakarist McKinnley, edge rusher (UCLA)
Even with the emergence of Vic Beasley a year ago, the Falcons still had some trouble getting to the quarterback, finishing tied for 16th in the league with 34 sacks (Beasley had 15.5 of them). Taakarist McKinnley has the top-notch agility and burst to give the Falcons another pass-rushing threat up front as well as the strong instincts to help provide some much-needed help against the run.

32.New Orleans Saints: John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)
Do the Saints have more pressing needs than a wide receiver? Absolutely. Is that going to stop them from adding John Ross if he's available with the last pick of the 1st round? I don't think so. Sean Payton has never met a deep-threat that he didn't like and even with his alarming injury history, John Ross is one of the most impressive ones to enter the draft in quite some time. Ross' rare combo of blistering speed and strong route-running ability would make him an excellent candidate to take over Brandin Cooks' role in the Saints lethal passing attack. 

2nd round:
33.Cleveland Browns: Evan Engram, tight end (Ole Miss)
34.San Francisco 49ers: DeShone Kizer, quarterback (Notre Dame)
35.Jacksonville Jaguars: Garrett Bolles, tackle (Utah)
36.Chicago Bears: Obi Melifonwu, safety (Connecticut)
37.Los Angeles Rams: Juju Smith-Schuster, wide receiver (USC)
38.Los Angeles Chargers: Dion Dawkins, guard (Temple)
39.New York Jets: Justin Evans, safety (Texas A&M)
40.Carolina Panthers: Zay Jones, wide receiver (East Carolina)
41.Cincinnati Bengals: Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)
42.New Orleans Saints: Charles Harris, edge rusher (Missouri)
43.Philadelphia Eagles: Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)
44.Buffalo Bills: Cordrea Tankersley, cornerback (Clemson)
45.Arizona Cardinals: Davis Webb, quarterback (California)
46.Indianapolis Colts: Taco Charlton, edge rusher (Michigan)
47.Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Willis, edge rusher (Kansas State)
48.Minnesota Vikings: Dan Feeney, guard (Indiana)
49.Washington Redskins: Raekwon McMillan, inside linebacker (Ohio State)
50.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alvin Kamara, running back (Tennessee)
51.Denver Broncos: Blair Brown, inside linebacker (Ohio)
52.Cleveland Browns: Desmond King, cornerback (Iowa)
53.Detroit Lions: Jabril Peppers, safety/inside linebacker (Michigan)
54.Miami Dolphins: Malik McDowell, defensive tackle (Michigan State)
55.New York Giants: Gerald Everett, tight end (South Alabama)
56.Oakland Raiders: Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive tackle (Alabama) 
57.Houston Texans: Budda Baker, safety (Washington)
58.Seattle Seahawks: Taylor Moton, guard/tackle (Western Michigan)
59.Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Wormley, defensive tackle/end (Michigan)
60.Dallas Cowboys: Bucky Hodges, tight end (Virginia Tech)
61.Green Bay Packers: Tim Williams, edge rusher (Alabama) 
62.Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Williams, safety (Utah)
63.Atlanta Falcons: Dorian Johnson, guard (Pittsburgh)
64.Carolina Panthers: Tyus Bowser, edge rusher (Houston)

The Best and Worst of Emma Watson

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "The Circle" star Emma Watson.

Films starring Emma Watson that I've seen:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
My Week with Marilyn 
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Bling Ring
This is the End
Noah

Best Performance: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
If there was any doubt that Watson's career was going to be able to survive post-Harry Potter, her phenomenal turn in the The Perks of Being a Wallflower promptly killed that narrative. The combination of warmth, sex appeal and subtle insecurity Watson brings to the role of Sam makes the character one of the more believable free spirits I've ever seen in a coming-of-age movie.   

Worst Performance: My Week with Marilyn (2011)
Watson's first live-action role outside of the Harry Potter franchise wasn't exactly a rousing success. The combination of her being miscast as a goody two-shoes makeup girl on the set of the Marliyn Monroe/Laurence Oliver film The Prince and the Showgirl and jarring lack of chemistry with her love interest (Eddie Redmayne) makes this performance a notable dud in Watson's otherwise impressive early career.

Best Film: This is the End (2013)
Seth Rogen and co.'s gloriously fucked-up send-up of apocalypse movies is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. The entire ensemble (Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson) is at their best playing exaggerated, self-absorbed versions of themselves and it's one of the rare comedies that manages to get funnier with every repeat viewing.

Worst Film: The Bling Ring (2013) 
If Spring Breakers had no satirical elements and below average acting, it would've ended up being something like The Bling Ring. Writer/director Sofia Coppola squandered a golden opportunity to make a prime piece of satire by choosing to tell this fact-based story about a group of Los Angeles-area teenagers that robbed $10 million worth of cash and high-end merchandise from celebrities houses in 2009 with no real angle. The film consists of these wealthy teenagers partying, talking about high-end fashion and robbing various celebrities houses on a seemingly endless loop until they finally get arrested in the final 15 minutes. Without any biting humor, social commentary or strong condemnation of "The Bling Ring's" actions to add depth to the proceedings, the film ends up being just as shallow as its high-society protagonists.

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2" star Zoe Saldana.  

Top 50 Prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft+5 Best Players at Each Position

With the start of the 2017 NFL Draft just five days away, here are my picks for the 50 best prospects and 5 best plays available at each position.

50.Taco Charlton, edge rusher (Michigan)

49.Carl Lawson, edge rusher (Auburn)

48.Sidney Jones, cornerback (Washington)

47.Cam Robinson, tackle (Alabama)

46.George Kittle, tight end (Iowa)

45.Malik McDowell, defensive tackle (Michigan State)

44.Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback/safety (Colorado)

43.Joe Mixon, running back (Oklahoma)

42.O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)

41.Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Texas Tech)

40.Chris Godwin, wide receiver (Penn State)

39.Kareem Hunt, running back (Toledo)

38.Adoree' Jackson, cornerback (USC)

37.Justin Evans, safety (Texas A&M)

36.Desmond King, cornerback (Iowa)

35.Jordan Willis, edge rusher (Kansas State)

34.Evan Engram, tight end (Ole Miss)

33.Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)

32.Jourdan Lewis, cornerback (Michigan)

31.T.J. Watt, edge rusher (Wisconsin)

30.Obi Melifonwu, safety (Connecticut) 

29.Corn Elder, cornerback (Miami)

28.Ryan Ramcyzk, tackle (Wisconsin)

27.Marcus Williams, safety (Utah)

26.Charles Harris, edge rusher (Missouri)

25.Quincy Wilson, cornerback (Florida)

24.Alvin Kamara, running back (Tennessee)
23.Kevin King, cornerback (Washington)
22.Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)

21.Zach Cunningham, inside linebacker (Vanderbilt)

20.Taakarist McKinnley, edge rusher (UCLA)

19.Tim Williams, edge rusher (Alabama)

18.Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)

17.Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford)

16.Gareon Conley, cornerback (Ohio State)

15.John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)

14.Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)

13.Tre'Davious White, cornerback (LSU)

12.Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan)

11.Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)

10.David Njoku, tight end (Miami)

9.Haason Reddick, inside/outside linebacker (Temple)

8.Leonard Fournette, running back (LSU)

7.Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle (Alabama)

6.Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)

5.Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M)

4.Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)

3.Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State)

2.Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)

1.Solomon Thomas, edge rusher (Stanford)

Quarterback
1.Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina)
2.Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech)
3.Deshone Kizer (Notre Dame)
4.DeShaun Watson (Clemson)
5.Nathan Peterman (Pittsburgh)

Running Back
1.Leonard Fournette (LSU)
2.Christian McCaffery (Stanford)
3.Dalvin Cook (Florida State)
4.Alvin Kamara (Tennessee)
5.Kareem Hunt (Toledo)

Wide Receiver
1.Mike Williams (Clemson)
2.Corey Davis (Western Michigan)
3.John Ross (Washington)
4.Chris Godwin (Penn State)
5.Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma)

Tight End
1.David Njoku (Miami)
2.Evan Engram (Ole Miss)
3.O.J. Howard (Alabama)
4.George Kittle (Iowa)
5.Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech)

Center
1.Ethan Pocic (LSU)
2.Pat Elflein (Ohio State)
3.Tyler Orlosky (West Virginia)
4.Jon Toth (Kentucky)
5.Chase Roullier (Wyoming)

Guard
1.Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky)
2.Taylor Moton (Western Michigan)
3.Dan Feeney (Indiana)
4.Dion Dawkins (Temple)
5.Danny Isidora (Miami)

Tackle
1.Ryan Ramcyzk (Wisconsin)
2.Cam Robinson (Alabama)
3.Garret Bolles (Utah)
4.Roderick Johnson (Florida State)
5.Antonio Garcia (Troy)

Edge Rusher (Defensive End/Outside Linebacker)
1.Solomon Thomas (Stanford)
2.Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
3.Derek Barnett (Tennessee)
4.Tim Williams (Alabama)
5.Taakarist McKinley (UCLA)

Defensive Tackle
1.Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
2.Malik McDowell (Michigan State)
3.Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama)
4.Chris Wormley (Michigan)
5.Tanzel Smart (Tulane)

Inside Linebacker:
1.Haason Reddick (Temple)
2.Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt)
3.Jarrad Davis (Florida)
4.Reuben Foster (Alabama)
5.Blair Brown (Ohio)

Cornerback:
1.Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State)
2.Tre'Davious White (LSU)
3.Gareon Conley (Ohio State)
4.Kevin King (Washington)
5.Quincy Wilson (Florida)

Safety:
1.Jamal Adams (LSU)
2.Malik Hooker (Ohio State)
3.Marcus Williams (Utah)
4.Obi Melifonwu (Connecticut)
5.Justin Evans (Texas A&M)

Album Review: Kendrick Lamar-DAMN.

In an era where "real" hip-hop is alleged to be dead, Kendrick Lamar has been dubbed a savior by the segment of the genre's that is disenchanted with the current trap-obsessed climate. With their rich storytelling and dense commentary on everything from growing up in the rough streets of Compton, California to systematic racism, 2012's good kid m.A.A.d city and 2015's To Pimp a Butterfly received the type of sweeping, universal acclaim that hip-hop artists rarely ever receive. On his latest project DAMN., the beloved 29-year old rapper comes crashing back to earth with a competent yet bizarrely safe project that doesn't come anywhere close to sniffing the greatness of his last two LP's.

As hard as I tried approach listening to this record with a clear mind, the letdown of DAMN. directly correlates with the fact that it follows-up good kid m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly. While it's admittedly unfair to expect everything he puts out to be on the level of his past records, expectations are a cruel reality that can't be ignored when you're assessing an album. Dropping two instant genre classics in a row naturally raises the bar for what you expect as a listener when you sit down to listen to that artist's new material and sadly, DAMN. falls well below the lofty quality standard Lamar has set for himself.

A large part of what made Lamar's previous two records so special was the scope and execution of the narratives that ran through them. good kid m.A.A.d city focused on the struggle of a teenager trying to escape his gang-driven, poverty-stricken LA neighborhood without being influenced by the evils of the environment he was raised in while To Pimp a Butterfly took an in-depth look at what it means to be black in modern-day America. The stories and overarching messages of these records may be different, but they both thrived because of Lamar's insightful, sharp and deeply personal approach to the topics he discussed. By comparison, the themes on DAMN. are child's play, and that lack of narrative weight paired with shakier execution ends up being its downfall.

This record is primarily dedicated to Lamar's feelings about his newfound fame. I don't know if it's because the subject matter isn't as deep this time around or its just the more accessible style he employs for most of the record, but his reflections on fame lack the potency, tightness and soul-bearing honesty that was present in his earlier material. While there are certainly good tracks with some substance on here ("DNA", "XXX", "Loyalty"), there's not a single moment where Lamar dazzles you with his storytelling. His commentary about the pressures of fame, the strain being in the public eye puts on your personal relationships, etc. offers up nothing you haven't heard on dozens of other "fame isn't as dope as it looks" tracks in the past (Vince Staples' Prima Donna covered similar ground in a much sharper, interesting way). To put it in literary terms, if good kid and Butterfly were his Infinite Jest and The Road, DAMN. is his Runaway Jury.   

Lamar's sudden embrace of all things generic is also apparent in the album's sound. While he shows off his top-flight technical chops throughout and the production from the likes of Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi and Lamar's longtime collaborator Sounwave is generally pretty good, there's a sense of predictability present on DAMN. that had previously been foreign to his music. The wide influence of production styles and constant vocal delivery changes that made his previous two records so dynamic have been swamped out for more straightforward compositions that rarely utilize Lamar's arsenal of  flows or unusual instrumentation. The sense of unpredictability that ran through Lamar's music gave him a dynamic edge that no one in hip-hop outside of weirdo extraordinaire Danny Brown could match and without it in the fold, he becomes just another faceless semi-conscious rapper that's hard to get excited about.

DAMN. isn't a bad record, it's just a frustratingly unadventurous one. When an artist that has spent the past five years pushing the boundaries of the hip-hop genre releases something that is indistinguishable from the shit that every other non-trap rapper on the planet is putting out right now, you can't help but feel betrayed and disheartened as a listener by the time its over. I'll admit that I'm probably being too harsh on this record, I just can't sit here and overpraise a trailblazing artist like Kendrick Lamar for putting a project that's as inessential as DAMN. is. Every great artist releases some less-than-stellar stuff over the course of their career, let's just hope that DAMN. isn't the first step in Kung Fu Kenny's downward spiral into mediocrity.

3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.DNA
2.XXX (feat. U2)
3.Loyalty (feat. Rihanna)

The Best and Worst of Brie Larson

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Free Fire" star Brie Larson.

Films starring Brie Larson that I've seen:
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
21 Jump Street
The Spectacular Now
Short Term 12
Don Jon
The Gambler
Trainwreck
Room
Kong: Skull Island

Best Performance: Room (2015)
In my eyes, Larson's Academy Award win for Room was one of the most well-deserved in recent history. Her portrayal of Joy Newsome, a 24-year old woman raising her 5-year old son (Jacob Tremblay) in captivity, is an unforgettable, emotional powerhouse that solidifies Larson's standing as a generational talent.

Worst Performance: Don Jon (2013)
The failure of Larson's performance in Don Jon is a classic case of a talented actress being held back by bad writing. I'll never understand why writer/director/star Joseph Gordon-Levitt got an actress of Larson's caliber to play such an underwritten and unessential character. With the exception of one lengthy, "inspirational" monologue near the end of the film that doesn't quite land, Larson is reduced to a thankless role that mostly consists of her sitting quietly with her face buried in her phone. If Larson was given more of an opportunity to show off her chops, maybe Don Jon wouldn't have been so mediocre.

Best Film: Room (2015)
Unlike most human beings, I don't get visibly overwhelmed by emotion during movies. The only time I cried during a movie was the first time I saw American History X  and I watched that well before I morphed into the cold, heartless prick that I am today. The raw emotion of Lenny Abrahamson's psychological coming-of-age drama Room came VERY close to breaking this decade-plus streak of me not shedding a tear while watching a movie. The strong character development and unflinching realism of the hell the main characters go through makes this an absolutely devastating yet consistently captivating viewing experience.  

Worst Film: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
I was very close to giving this title to Don Jon, but that movie wasn't nearly as much of a letdown as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was. After the genius of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, writer/director Edgar Wright proved his mortality with this wildly overrated cult phenomenon. The movie's over-the-top, comic-book shtick becomes grating very fast, the jokes aren't nearly as clever as Wright thinks they are and not a single member of this phenomenal ensemble cast (Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick, a half-dozen other of my favorite working actors) is anywhere near the top of their respective games.  

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Circle" star Emma Watson.  

2017 NFL Mock Draft 7.0 (Updated 4/18)

1.Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M)
2.San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, edge rusher (Stanford)
3.Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Forunette, running back (LSU)
5.Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State)
6.New York Jets: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)
7.Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)
8.Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford)
9.Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle/end (Alabama)  
10.Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)
11.New Orleans Saints: Gareon Conley, cornerback (Ohio State)
12.Cleveland Browns: DeShaun Watson, quarterback (Clemson)
13.Arizona Cardinals: O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)
14.Philadelphia Eagles: Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback/safety (Colorado)
15.Indianapolis Colts: Haason Reddick, inside/outside linebacker (Temple)
16.Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan) 
17.Washington Redskins: Jabril Peppers, safety (Michigan)
18.Tennessee Titans: John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)
19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Takkarist McKinnley, edge rusher (UCLA)
20.Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, tackle (Utah)
21.Detroit Lions: Kevin King, cornerback (Washington)
22.Miami Dolphins: T.J. Watt, edge rusher (Wisconsin)
23.New York Giants: David Nokju, tight end (Miami)
24.Oakland Raiders: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker (Alabama)
25.Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Texas Tech)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Tre'Davious White, cornerback (LSU) 
27.Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Brantley, defensive tackle (Florida) 
28.Dallas Cowboys: Adoree' Jackson, cornerback (USC)
29.Green Bay Packers: Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)
30.Pittsburgh Steelers: Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)
31.Atlanta Falcons: Charles Harris, edge rusher (Missouri)
32.New Orleans Saints: Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)

Movie Review: The Fate of the Furious

The continued financial success of the Fast and Furious films can be attributed to the creative team's deep understanding of its audience. Star/producer Vin Diesel, screenwriter Chris Morgan and the half-dozen other people calling the shots on this long-running franchise ability to consistently find new ways to excite and steadily grow their fanbase without ever boring them has helped make this series one of the biggest properties in Hollywood over the last 15+ years. The latest installment, The Fate of the Furious, keeps the franchise's sterling reputation in tact with yet another dose of top-notch, adrenaline-fueled entertainment.

The Fate of the Furious is a testament to how efficient these films have become since it reinvented itself as a lighthearted, wildly over-the-top action/spy/heist series with 2011's Fast Five. Every person involved with this project is on the exact same page creatively and that collective, collaborative mindset helps establish the type of effortless on-screen electricity that every blockbuster should strive to have. Whether it's a destruction-filled chase scene through a crowded New York street or the protagonists (Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Jason Statham, flipping sides after his villain turn in Furious 7) sitting around a table playfully hurling insults at each other, every frame of the film bristles with a level of energy, enthusiasm and good-natured fun that is nothing short of infectious. The consistently crazy action scenes may (deservedly) command the spotlight, but the sense of spontaneity that runs through every inch of Fate of the Furious still plays a pivotal role in its runaway success.

Per usual, the inspired madness and strong sense of camaraderie that defines the Fast and Furious brand is bolstered by the contributions of some series first-timers. Fate of the Furious' game new blood comes in the form of Academy Award-winner/certified badass Charlize Theron and director F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton, Law Abiding Citizen). Theron's imposing, scenery-chewing presence makes Cipher the most exciting villain this series has had to-date and a battle-tested veteran director like Gray was the perfect choice to tackle this series' massive, multi-faceted action sequences. Even among Fast and Furious fans, the producers ability to consistently bring new people into the fold that understand the tone and vision of the series is highly underappreciated.
    
Fate of the Furious proves once again that there's enough juice left in the tank for Diesel and co. to keep this franchise alive for the foreseeable future. Everyone involved with this project is clearly still have a blast making and every ounce of that collective joy always finds its way into the finished product. This series continues to raise the bar for escapist entertainment and if the alleged final two entries are as fun as the last four films have been, that bar is going to be damn near impossible for anyone to clear.

4.5/5 Stars

10 Funniest Moments of the 2016-17 NBA Season

When it comes to gaffes in professional sports, the NBA reigns supreme. The volume of stupid, absurd and head-scratching miscues that occur on an almost-nightly basis helps give the league a distinct, entertaining feature that no other major sport in North America can contend with. After spending the last few weeks digging through 5 months worth of hardwood ineptitude, I've assembled a list of the 10 funniest moments of the 2016-17 NBA regular season. Hopefully this collection of basketball blunders is as fun for you to watch as it was for me to put together. Enjoy the playoffs everyone!

Honorable Mentions:
Kemba Walker does his best Swaggy P impression:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnlEanI7QKg
Dennis Schroder and Dwight Howard squabble while Steph Curry hits an uncontested 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RBBEKsMbMk
Put Quincy Acy in Kenny Atkinson, He's Ready to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOrY5gd2ujk
Wesley Johnson's Inbounding Nightmare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOxqEpGjI44
Derrick Favors' Creative Post Finish (fast forward to 2:15):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX0qj-u1B34


10.J.R. Smith's Mid-Play Embrace of Jason Terry

When you've been in the league for as long as 39-year old Jason Terry has, you're bound to have a lot of friends around the league. Cleveland Cavaliers guard/decorated pipe-giver J.R. Smith is clearly among them. Smith is such a fan of Terry's that he decided to take a play off and greet him on the Bucks bench while his man (Tony Snell) drove to the basket for an uncontested dunk. It may have resulted in an easy 2 for the opposing team, but Smith's mid-game hug was a powerful reminder to the world that even in the heat of battle, love always prevails.
9.Russell Westbrook's Long 3rd Quarter Walk

This casual stroll through the marigolds should probably cost Russell Westbrook (aka the Oklahoma City Thunder) some MVP votes.
8.D'Angelo Russell's Excellent Coordination

Ladies and gentleman, the 2016-17 Los Angeles Lakers.
7.John Wall Decapitates Marcin Gortat

I'm almost 25 years old yet I still laugh every time someone gets unexpectedly hit in the face with an object. I need help.
6.Phoenix Suns Mascot Jumps on Court Mid-Play

The Suns Gorilla showed more hustle in this sequence than most of the team's sorry-ass roster did over the course of the entire season. If I were part of the Suns front office, this primate would definitely be part of the rebuilding plan.
5.Jahlil Okafor's Lockdown Defense

Casual Reminder: Jahlil Okafor was picked 3rd overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. Okafor's interior defense on this play (and in general) shows a complete and total disrespect for the integrity of "The Process".
4.Sam Dekker's Fast Break Faceplant

Has this play been replayed on TV too much since it happened in early November? Sure. Does that fact take away from how glorious it is? ABSOLUTELY NOT. If you don't see the beauty in a man eating shit and hitting himself in the face with a basketball, you're probably not a human being.
3.Dwight Howard Embraces His Inner Point Guard

I'll fully admit that this play is probably higher on this list than it should be. However, I get a pathetic amount of enjoyment out of watching a whiny, team-wrecking douchebag like Dwight Howard make colossal fuck-ups like this. Fingers crossed that Mike Budenholzer lets him run the fast break again in the playoffs.
2.Joakim Noah's Beautiful Jumper

This play managed to get even funnier after Joakim Noah got busted for using a banned substance in mid-March. Noah's game has deteriorated so much in recent years that he can't even get his heinous jumper to hit the rim while hopped up on performance-enhancing drugs. Tremendous stuff.
1.Devin Booker's Business Casual Ejection   

Behold the Donnie Darko of basketball plays. There's enough layers present in this super nonchalant ejection video to fuel months of heated philosophical, psychological and sociological debate in any high school or college classroom around the world. This densely-packed 1:30 of action prove that contrary to what the so-called intellectuals say, sports can be meaningful art.

Movie Review: Ghost in the Shell

The still young cinematic year of 2017 has been loaded with unlikely gems and Paramount's Ghost in the Shell very well could be the most pleasant surprise yet. A live-action adaptation of an acclaimed anime film from the director of the painfully dull Snow White and the Huntsman sounded about as intriguing as diving into a piranha tank on paper, but it ended up being one of the most enthralling and visually-striking blockbusters to come out of Hollywood over the past several years.

The non-stop advancements in technology combined with the volume of CGI-driven spectacles that hit theaters every year has made it very difficult for me to be impressed by special effects in the modern day. This marks one of only a handful of times in recent memory that I've been legitimately blown away by a film's SFX. Ghost in the Shell's blend of elaborate practical effects and computer-generated imagery gives it a vivid visual style that is breathtaking to behold. The consistently eye-popping scenery plays a pivotal role in building (and eventually sucking the viewer into) Ghost in the Shell's infinitely badass, cyborg-filled universe.

While the non-stop parade of striking visuals may give the film a stunning backdrop to work with, Scarlett Johansson's performance as part-human, part-robot special agent Major gives Ghost in the Shell its soul. Johansson plays the character with an appropriate amount of subtlety and emotional distance, which allows her journey to discover her true self to play out in a very natural, convincing fashion. It's a shame that the backlash surrounding Johansson's involvement with this project has cast such a black cloud around the entire film because she really was the perfect choice to bring this beloved character to life.

As the summer season approaches, Ghost in the Shell has set a really high standard for this year's wave of big-budget action spectacles. It possesses the memorable fight scenes, distinct visual style and abundance of entertainment value that every blockbuster strives to have, but often has difficulty pulling off. I really hope people will put be able to look past the overblown controversy that has surrounded Ghost in the Shell since Johansson was cast as Major and give this film the unbiased chance it deserves. 

4/5 Stars

The Best and Worst of Tyrese Gibson

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "The Fate of the Furious" star Tyrese Gibson.

Films starring Tyrese Gibson that I've seen:
Baby Boy
2 Fast 2 Furious
Flight of the Phoenix
Four Brothers
Annapolis 
Waist Deep
Transformers
Death Race
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Legion
Fast Five 
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Fast and Furious 6
Furious 7
Ride Along 2

Best Performance: Furious 7 (2015)
When Gibson's acting career is over, Roman Pearce is going to be the character he's most remembered for. Pearce has been a prominent player in the last three Fast and Furious movies, but the character's finest moment came in 2015's Furious 7. Gibson's abundance of charisma and excellent comedic rapport with Ludacris played an integral part in helping Furious 7 become a standout blockbuster.

Worst Performance: Legion (2010)
While he had some minor stumbles along the way (Annapolis, Flight of the Phoenix), Gibson had never really embarrassed himself during his first eight years in Hollywood. That all changed when Legion was released in January 2010. Like every other person that starred in this poorly-constructed action-horror flick, Gibson delivered the type of indifferent, effort-free performance that actors give when they don't give two shits about the material they're given to work with. 

Best Film: Fast Five (2011)
Fast Five is without question the most important film in the long-running Fast and Furious franchise. Not only is it the best entry in the franchise so far, it marked the turning point when the series went from a respectable franchise centered around illegal street racing to the gold standard in beautifully excessive, blockbuster action filmmaking. I don't know what caused this franchise to suddenly make such a massive shift in tone and genre, but as a proud over-the-top action movie whore, I'm beyond thankful that it happened.   

Worst Film: Legion (2010)  
Trashy action horror movies are very much in my wheelhouse. I've enjoyed everything from long-running cult franchises (Underworld, Resident Evil) to high-profile box office bombs that no one else on the planet liked (Doom, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). This love of garbage horror-based action movies made my hatred for Legion very shocking. Despite a promising premise involving God sending angels from Heaven to eviscerate mankind, the film fails to deliver any of the sleazy fun, morbid laughs or frantic, gory action that typically drive this subgenre.    

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "Free Fire" star Brie Larson. 

2017 NFL Mock Draft 6.0 (Updated 4/10)

1.Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M)
2.San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, edge rusher (Stanford)
3.Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Forunette, running back (LSU)
5.Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State)
6.New York Jets: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)
7.Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)
8.Carolina Panthers: Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)
9.Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle/end (Alabama)  
10.Buffalo Bills: Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan)
11.New Orleans Saints: Gareon Conley, cornerback (Ohio State)
12.Cleveland Browns: O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)
13.Arizona Cardinals: Jabril Peppers, safety (Michigan)
14.Philadelphia Eagles: Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford)
15.Indianapolis Colts: Haason Reddick, inside/outside linebacker (Temple)
16.Baltimore Ravens: Kevin King, cornerback (Washington)
17.Washington Redskins: Chidobe Awuzie, cornerback/safety (Colorado)
18.Tennessee Titans: John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)
19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)
20.Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, tackle (Utah)
21.Detroit Lions: Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)
22.Miami Dolphins: T.J. Watt, edge rusher (Wisconsin)
23.New York Giants: David Nokju, tight end (Miami)
24.Oakland Raiders: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker (Alabama)
25.Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Texas Tech)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Tre'Davious White, cornerback (LSU) 
27.Kansas City Chiefs: DeShaun Watson, quarterback (Clemson)
28.Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Brantley, defensive tackle (Florida)
29.Green Bay Packers: Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)
30.Pittsburgh Steelers: Takkarist McKinnley, edge rusher (UCLA)
31.Atlanta Falcons: Zach Cunningham, inside linebacker (Vanderbilt)
32.New Orleans Saints: Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)

As We Proceed Episode #8

On this month's As We Proceed, Feliciano and I discuss stupid hip-hop beefs, Kendrick Lamar's upcoming album and review Drake's new "playlist" More Life. Check it out at the link's below:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/asweproceedpodcast/have-you-seen-this-playlist
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-we-proceed/id1122163104?mt=2

The Best and Worst of Alan Arkin

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Going in Style" star Alan Arkin.

Films starring Alan Arkin that I've seen:
Edward Scissorhands
Glengarry Glenn Ross
Grosse Point Blank
Firewall
Little Miss Sunshine
Sunshine Cleaning
Get Smart
The Change-Up
The Muppets
Argo
Stand Up Guys
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Grudge Match
Million Dollar Arm

Best Performance: Argo (2012)
One of the few elements of 2012's overrated best picture winner Argo that really worked for me is Arkin's performance as miserable Hollywood movie producer Lester Siegel. Arkin's fantastic comedic timing and believable bitterness makes his character a thoroughly entertaining detour from the generic political thriller proceedings that make up most of the film. 

Worst Performance: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Where Argo demonstrates how great Arkin's wisecracking, miserable old-man routine can be when it clicks, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone serves as a reminder of how grating it can be when it fails. Every sarcastic quip Arkin spews lacks the stinging delivery that made his previous disenchanted old man roles so memorable and without the venom-filled laughs to back it up, the "I'm elderly and pissed-off" shtick turns into an annoying gimmick.

Best Film: Get Smart (2008)
Example #6,024,853 of why I have terrible taste in movies: I like Get Smart more than Glengarry Glenn Ross and Little Miss Sunshine. The Steve Carell-led adaptation of the 1960's TV series just happens to be one of the many dumb action comedies that I find to be super entertaining, hilarious and highly-rewatchable.

Worst Film: Edward Scissorhands (1990)
There probably isn't a figure in the film industry that I have a deeper-seeded hatred for than Tim Burton. While I've enjoyed some of his projects (Mars Attacks!, Big Eyes, both of his Batman movies),  every time he goes into quirky "let's put some goth makeup and wacky clothes on Johnny Deep " mode, I want to vomit all over the place. Edward Scissorhands birthed this toxic film movement/collaborative relationship and for that reason alone, it has a special place in my personal cinematic hell. This film's relentlessly cheesy storyline, horrific acting and overwhelmingly blatant desire to try and be unique undercut the shit out of its noble intentions to say something meaningful about being a misunderstood outcast in society. 

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Fate of the Furious" star Tyrese Gibson.
 
 

2017 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Updated 4/5)

1.Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, edge rusher (Texas A&M)
2.San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, edge rusher (Stanford)
3.Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, safety (LSU)
4.Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Forunette, running back (LSU)
5.Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, cornerback (Ohio State)
6.New York Jets: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback (North Carolina)
7.Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, safety (Ohio State)
8.Carolina Panthers: John Ross, wide receiver (Washington)
9.Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle/end (Alabama)  
10.Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, wide receiver (Clemson)
11.New Orleans Saints: Tre'Davious White, cornerback (LSU)
12.Cleveland Browns: O.J. Howard, tight end (Alabama)
13.Arizona Cardinals: Jabril Peppers, safety (Michigan)
14.Philadelphia Eagles: Christian McCaffery, running back (Stanford)
15.Indianapolis Colts: Haason Reddick, edge rusher (Temple)
16.Baltimore Ravens: Gareon Conley, cornerback (Ohio State) 
17.Washington Redskins: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker (Alabama)
18.Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, wide receiver (Western Michigan)
19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dalvin Cook, running back (Florida State)
20.Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, tackle (Utah)
21.Detroit Lions: Derek Barnett, edge rusher (Tennessee)
22.Miami Dolphins: Marlon Humphrey, cornerback (Alabama)
23.New York Giants: David Nokju, tight end (Miami)
24.Oakland Raiders: Jarrad Davis, inside linebacker (Florida)
25.Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Texas Tech)
26.Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King, cornerback (Washington)
27.Kansas City Chiefs: DeShaun Watson, quarterback (Clemson)
28.Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Brantley, defensive tackle (Florida)
29.Green Bay Packers: Forrest Lamp, guard (Western Kentucky)
30.Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt, edge rusher (Wisconsin)
31.Atlanta Falcons: Takkarist McKinnley, edge rusher (UCLA)
32.New Orleans Saints: Charles Harris, edge rusher (Missouri)

Album Review: Mastodon-Emperor of Sand

It's official: the 2000's-era Mastodon metalheads in their mid-20's like myself grew up on is dead. You get the occasional reminder of their glory days in the form of a brief pummeling riff or screamed vocal line from Troy Sanders or Brent Hinds, but the group that spent their first four albums challenging the boundaries of the genre with their bold songwriting has traded in innovation for the comfort of convention on their last couple of records. Their seventh LP, Emperor of Sand, has ultimately helped me accept the fact the old Mastodon is never coming back and begin to (begrudgingly) respect the more straightforward direction they've embraced in recent years.

While I do respect Mastodon's change in sound, it's hard to ignore the state of complacency they've settled into on Emperor of Sand. Outside of a couple of standout tracks ("Steambreather", "Jaguar God") and excellent guitar solos ("Ancient Kingdom", "Roots Remain"), there's an overwhelming feeling of familiarity that runs through this record that had previously been foreign to Mastodon's music. A majority of the tracks follow the exact same structure: heavy intro with some nice, crunchy grooves before descending into a collection of decent mid-tempo hard rock/alternative metal riffs and melodic hooks. The consistent tone of the songwriting may prevent the WTF-inducing experimental sins that sunk Once More 'Round the Sun (I still have nightmares about the "Hey ho, let's fucking go" section of "Aunt Lisa") from entering the fold, but it also prevents their dynamic riffwriting ability and gift for executing seamless tempo changes from ever shining through. Unpredictability was vital to Mastodon's success as a band and with that sense of adventure out of the equation, they're a lot less fun to listen to.

As hard as I tried to shake off my superfan bias, I can't help but view listening to Emperor of Sand as a bittersweet experience. On one hand, it's a competently-constructed hard rock record with some great moments and a limited amount of miscues ("Show Yourself" is the only song on here that I would dub a miserable failure). On the other, it serves as a reminder that a band I've spent nearly half my life idolizing has pretty much completed their transformation from transcendent genre pioneers to anonymous a-holes. I now understand how Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth fans felt when they watched their musical heroes inexplicably fall from grace in the early-to-mid 90's and as petty as this emotional phenomenon is, it's still a huge fucking bummer. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to spend the rest of the day curled up in a ball watching reruns of Dawson's Creek and eating Haagen-Dazs until I pass out from crying.

3.5/5 Stars

Standout Tracks

1.Steambreather

2.Roots Remain

3.Jaguar God

Assessing the 2016-17 NBA MVP Race

With just 9 days left in the regular season, the NBA MVP conversation has officially reached its boiling point. Below I make the case for each of the award's projected top 5 candidates and predict who will ultimately come away with professional basketball's top individual honor.

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) (Season Averages: 31.9 PPG, 10.4 APG, 10.6 RPG)
Given the level of success he's enjoyed this season, Russell Westbrook probably wishes Kevin Durant left OKC sooner. The 28-year old point guard is 1 game away from tying Oscar Robertson's record (41) for most triple doubles in a season and 6 games away from becoming the first player since Robertson to finish a season averaging a triple double. In addition to the nightly stat-sheet stuffing, his awe-inspiring play has been enough to carry an otherwise average Thunder squad to a playoff spot in the lion's den that is the Western Conference.

James Harden (Houston Rockets) (Season Averages: 29.2 PPG, 11.2 APG, 8.1 RPG)
What a difference a year makes. After a trainwreck of a 2015-16 season that raised questions about his ability to lead a team, James Harden has spent this season reminding the world why he is one of the NBA's most electrifying talents. A position change to point guard in new coach Mike D'Antoni's uptempo system has maximized Harden's production level, which in turn has allowed the Rockets to become a dark horse title contender.

Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics) (Season Averages: 29.1 PPG, 5.9 APG, 2.6 RPG)
Ever since the Celtics acquired him from the Suns in February 2015, fans and pundits around the league have rattled off a seemingly endless number of reasons (height, poor defensive skills, lack of quality competition in Eastern Conference) as to why Isaiah Thomas isn't a legit superstar. His ridiculous 2016-17 campaign has successfully destroyed that narrative once and for all. Thomas' aggression, playmaking ability and knack for closing out games in the 4th quarter have served as the catalyst for the Celtics unlikely run to the top of the Eastern Conference.

LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (Season Averages: 26.3 PPG, 8.7 APG, 8.5 RPG)
It may be a tired storyline, but there's no denying that LeBron's status as one of the game's all-time greats makes people take his perennial success for granted. In a season that's been bogged down by injuries to key members of their supporting cast (Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert) and stretches of ugly, inconsistent play, LeBron's continued excellence on both ends of the floor has kept the Cavs in contention for the East's top seed.

Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs) (Season Averages: 25.9 PPG, 3.6 APG, 5.9 RPG)
Any MVP conversation wouldn't be complete without the face of the most anonymous dominant team in professional sports. Leonard has thrived in an expanded offensive role for an aging Spurs squad, putting up career-highs in points per game, free throw percentage and assists, while maintaining the level of defensive dominance that has defined his game since he entered the league in 2011. 

Final Verdict:
Will Win: James Harden 
Should Win: Russell Westbrook