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2018 NFL Draft Pre-Season Rankings

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While we can't release our FULL NFL Draft rankings due to our responsibility to our clients, we are able to release our Top-10 at each position. Our staff's database has over 4,000 players evaluated based on last year's film, and this is the product of film study, spring games, and speaking with college and pro personnel. 
With that, here's our pre-season Top-10 (Seniors and Juniors) at each position for the 2018 NFL Draft Class.


Quarterbacks
1. Sam Darnold, USC*
2. Josh Rosen, UCLA*
3. Mike White, Western Kentucky
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
5a. Lamar Jackson, Louisville*
5b. Josh Allen, Wyoming*
5c. Jarrett Sidham, Auburn*

Running Backs
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. Derrius Guice, LSU
3. Nick Chubb, Georgia
4. Bo Scarborough, Alabama
5a. Royce Freeman, Oregon
5b. Sony Michel, Georgia

Wide Receivers
1. Cortland Sutton, SMU
2. Calvin Ridley, Alabama
3. Deon Cain, Clemson
4. James Washington, Oklahoma State
5a. Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
5b. Juwan Johnson, Penn State

Tight Ends
1. Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
2. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
3. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
4. Alize Mack, Notre Dame
5. Mark Andrews, Oklahoma

Offensive Tackles
1. Trey Adams, Washington
2. Mitch Hyatt, Clemson
3. Connor Williams, Texas
4. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
5a. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
5b. Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
5c. Brian O'Neil, Pittsburgh

​Interior Offensive Line
1. Billy Price, Ohio State
2. Mason Cole, Michigan
3. Braden Smith, Auburn
4. Cody O'Connell, Washington State
5. Scott Quessenbery, UCLA


Defensive Ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
2. Harold Landry, Boston College
3. Arden Key, LSU*
4. Christian Wilkins, Clemson*
5a. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
5b. Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama
5c. Josh Sweat, Florida State


Defensive Tackles
1. Vita Vea, Washington*
2. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
3. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
4. Daylon Mack, Texas A&M*
5a. Lowell Lotulelei, Utah
5b. BJ Hill, NC State
5c. Raequan Williams, Michigan State*

Outside Linebackers
1. Matthew Thomas, Florida State
2. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech*
3. Malik Jefferson, Texas*
4. Skai Moore, South Carolina
5. Porter Gustin, USC*

Inside Linebackers
1. Azeem Victor, Washington
2. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
3. Cameron Smith, USC*
4. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
5a. Connor Strachan, Boston College
5b. Jordan Williams, East Carolina

Cornerbacks
1. Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech
2. Donte Jackson, LSU*
3. Denzel Ward, Ohio State*
4. Tony Brown, Alabama
5a. Tavares McFadden, Florida State*
5b. Iman Marshall, USC*
5c. Jaime Alexander, Louisville*

​Safeties
1. Derwin James, Florida State*
2. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
3. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama*
4. Jaleel Wadood, UCLA
5. Marcus Allen, Penn State

Optimum Scouting's 2017 NFL Draft Guide
​What Makes Us Unique

This will be our 8th NFL Draft Guide here at Optimum Scouting. When we started, there were just a handful of people in the “Draft Guide” space: Russ Lande’s GM Jr, NFL Draft Scout’s work, Scout’s Inc. online work, and a few others.

Optimum Scouting started a Draft Guide almost 10 years ago because our staff had compiled many, many scouting reports for the media and our professional clients, and it was a way for fans to see inside our processes and our reports that NFL teams, CFL teams and other professionals accessed throughout the years. We work with professional clients and pro teams that make actual decisions in the draft process, not just comment on what happens. This year, we consulted for 20+ underclassmen to assist in their decision making process.

Since 2009, there’s been a remarkable rise in these Guides in the marketplace, and a cannibalization of that market. People feel the need to create these Guides as a marketing tool for their brand, not necessarily a collection of work during the year. While that's encouraged, it's clear that not all publications of this magnitude are the same in terms of which you should trust and value.

In terms of our Draft Guide, I’d put its thoroughness, accuracy and respectability among any out there. We have 300+ scouting reports. We have six analytic studies that NFL teams will get the chance to consider before making actual decisions. We’ll have forwards by former NFL executives.

We’ve seen five members of Optimum Scouting’s staff leave for NFL scouting positions or College Recruiting positions in this time. We’ve seen members of Optimum Scouting leave for major media at NFL.com, NFL Network, and Bleacher Report. I’m confident that no other scouting entity, website or learning institution has had more success than that in terms of our scouting talent getting to a position elsewhere in the league, and that's in part thanks to our process and the talent of our team each year. 

That’s not to say Optimum Scouting that directly gave people opportunities elsewhere. It wasn’t. It takes a LOT to work in the NFL, or with a major college program, or as a major media member. But Optimum Scouting has always had the type of scouting talent that NFL teams value, and continue to read each year. And that's why YOU should get your copy as well.

You can find NFL Draft Guide’s all across the internet. I’m sure many of you are following at least four people who are publishing a draft guide. You can buy and skim through a lot of Draft Guides, and some are better than others. 

If you want to read one you can be sure NFL teams are reading, and one that is written by former or future NFL scouts or college recruiting personnel, Optimum Scouting’s is the one you should read. And your support in rewarding our evaluators for their hard work as they work with Optimum Scouting before launching into the NFL or some other awesome scouting-based opportunity won’t be forgotten.

Get the NFL Draft Guide Pro Teams read, the one Former and Future NFL Scouts Work On, and the one That Will Make you an Expert for the 2017 NFL Draft.

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Optimum Scouting - Who Are We?

Working as a football scouting consulting company since 2006, Optimum Scouting offers the most thorough, detailed, and accurate football scouting evaluations and analytics available to agents. We also work with pro teams, college all-star games, underclassmen prospects, and in the major media. Our services are unique in the industry and catered towards each individual agent. 

What Makes Us Unique

  • 10+ years as a consultant company
  • NFL, CFL, All-Star Game Client Work
  • Actual NFL Connections
  • Former and Future NFL Scouts on Staff
  • Advanced Scouting Software
  • Association With Former NFL Player Personnel
About Optimum Scouting

2017 Optimum Scouting Team

Eric Galko - Director of Scouting
Mark Dulgerian - Lead Contributor
Derrik Klassen - Analytics/Scout
Christian Page - Analytics/Scout
Austin Baumer - Scout
Daniel Griffin - Scout
Anthony Chiado - Analytics/Scout
Marcus Mosher - Analytics

Ben Natan - Contributor

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Optimum Scouting
Contact Information

Eric Galko
Owner, Director of Scouting
Philadelphia, PA
EricG@OptimumScouting.com

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