The NFL draft is nearly upon us. This next few days represent the waiting game. The experts have spoken, teams have their big boards created, mock drafts are wrapping up and we just want it to be Thursday night already. If you’re planning to follow the draft on social media, like most fans are, Twitter is a great tool to utilize. Here is an article focusing on the best low-key Twitter follows during the three-day NFL draft.
Let’s start with a mainstream media member who boasts the best set of eyes in the industry. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah also takes time out of his busy schedule to respond to fans on the Twitter Dot Com. Great scout, better guy.
Draft is finally less than a week away! Here's my top 50: http://t.co/ylAkTdgbts
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) May 2, 2014
One of my former colleagues at Bleacher Report, Matt Miller has helped so many young writers make their dream to write professionally come true. He always makes time for those on Twitter, even as he’s juggling a life with two kids and an endless amount of Twitter Dot Com trolls. He’s also among the best football minds you will ever come across.
I keep hearing five offensive linemen in the top 12 picks. Good luck trying to place them.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 2, 2014
One of my favorites and not just because he writes for another site that I am the managing editor, eDraft, Derrik Klassen is one of the best minds when it comes to the overall evaluation of quarterbacks and other positions. He does tremendous work, showing exactly what it means to have the passion needed to make it in this industry. He will be live-blogging the draft starting Thursday.
That's what I meant when I said I liked DJ a lot. Bad pro day and all this other nonsense, but Teddy is still his top QB and No.11 player.
— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) May 2, 2014
Benjamin Allbright sings to the tune of his own music. He doesn’t exactly follow group think, and as a free thinker, really opens up other aspects of the NFL draft for his followers. This is a huge thing. You can check out his hot takes and interesting personality throughout the day, as he tweets a lot. Good guy, too.
Guess at top 5 picks: 1. Clowney 2. Robinson 3. Mack 4. Evans (yep) 5. Watkins
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) May 2, 2014
Ryan Riddle. One of the best guys you will come across in any walk of life. A genuine person in every single possible definition of the term. My former co-host of Football Debate Central Radio on Pro Football Central, Ryan and I have built a strong friendship dating back to our days at Bleacher Report. The former NFL player devotes more time than pretty much anyone to watching tape. Much like Allbright, he strays from group think as an independent football mind…one of the best football minds at that.
Interesting tidbit: Anthony Barr is the fastest prospect in the draft per pound when combining all three speed drills.
— Ryan Riddle (@Ryan_Riddle) May 2, 2014
Former NFL scout Don Shonka runs one of the most trustworthy online scouting services around, Ourlads.com. He’s of the old-school variety, mainly relying on his set of eyes rather than numbers and combine-like information. Shonka is also more than willing to engage his followers on a daily basis.
#NewOrleansSaints 7 round #Mock http://t.co/BCX2H4xAoW
— Dan Shonka (@Ourlads_Shonka) May 1, 2014
Jayson Braddock continually provides his own brand of scouting, while focusing on insider information and sources to give his followers/listeners/readers the most up-to-date information. He’s also a tremendous listen on the radio.
https://twitter.com/JaysonBraddock/status/462015750623211520
I sent Luke Inman to Mobile, Alabama for Senior Bowl week as a member of the eDraft draft team. All he did was provide tremendous insight and information on a majority of the top prospects at the annual All-Star game. You can check out his interviews here. Inman is a great football mind with a flair for comedy mixed in. A great follow, better man and outstanding NFL draft mind.
Easiest One: Il take Ward/Bucannon in the 40s over HaHa/Pryor in the Teens #ValueShopping #DiscountDoubleCheck
— Luke Inman (@Luke_Spinman) April 30, 2014
Scott Carasik might have some hot takes and disagree with a lot of the mainstream experts out there, but that’s what makes him an outstanding prospect evaluator. He trusts what he watches on tape and will argue tooth and nail about his own opinions. As yet another member of the great Bleacher Report draft team, Scott’s works stands out big time.
https://twitter.com/ScottCarasik/status/462433598038372353
Fusue Vue is a legit under-the-radar draft mind. The work that this video cutter for Draft Breakdown puts in is beyond belief. It’s hard to believe someone can actually do all this work with just 24 hours in a day, but he finds a way to get it done. One of the best aspects of Vue’s analysis is the fact that he goes against the grain and avoids the common player comparison model. Instead, he looks beyond all that to draw his own conclusions.
https://twitter.com/lifesyourcup/status/462026284923506688
You want outstanding small-school analysis? Well, check out Damond Talbot. This guy reaches for the stars in middle America and comes out looking like a genius. He’s in-depth, outgoing, friendly and an all-around great guy. Nothing else to really add here. Amazing stuff.
Yardbarker: Top 10 NFL Draft Predictions: A New Look http://t.co/dcHpoPKChi via @yardbarker
— Damond Talbot (@DamondTalbot) May 3, 2014
A personal favorite of mine, Ethan Hammerman and I have been colleagues in the armchair scouting business for some time now. He’s about the most most personable indivdual that you can come across, always providing informative analysis and takes on NFL draft prospects. Just a tremendous dude.
I think Pittsburgh goes Hageman R1, big WR R2 and big CB R3. Hageman, Kelvin Benjamin, Phillip Gaines/Breeland perhaps.
— Ethan Hammerman (@Ethanhamm) May 2, 2014
More awesome Draft Twitter follows.
Expert | Website | |
Ryan Ratty | eDraft and Sport DFW | RyanRattyNFL |
Dylan Bishop | Rotorants | DLBScouting |
Ben Natan | Draft Mecca | BenNatan2 |
Jeff Lloyd | RSEN Network | nflfanscomx |
Arif Hasan | Optimum Scouting | ArifHasanNFL |
Joe Bussell | nflphilosophy.com | NFLosophy |
Mike Krupka | Dawgs By Nature | MikeKrupka |
Luke Easterling | The Draft Report/Bleacher Report | NFLDraftReport |
Bryan Perez | First Round Grade | FirstRoundGrade |
Ian Wharton | Bleacher Report/Draft Mecca | NFLFilmStudy |
Blake Meek | eDraft/PF Spot | BMeek23 |
Greg Gabriel | Bleacher Report/National Football Post | greggabe |
Justin Higdon | Draft Browns | afc2nfc |
Emory Hunt | Football Gameplan | FBallGameplan |
Cian Fahey | Bleacher Report/Football Outsiders | Cianaf |
Thomas Melton | Draft Falcons | TMeltonScouting |
Dane Brugler | CBS Sports | dbrugler |
Shane P. Hallam | Draft TV | ShanePHallam |
Vance Meek | Stripe Hype/Fake Pigskin | vancemeek |
Make sure to check out both Sportsnaut and Yardbarker for up-to-date draft information as it happens. Our very own Josh Collacchi, who was also down in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, is yet another great Twitter follow and NFL draft mind.
Photo: NFL.com