What shifts your prospective Top 10? Injury, Jr. year players declaring eligibility, poor combine performance?

I've been assigned to research the draft and take note of all potential factors and events that occur during the year to alter one's draft position.

For instance, the 06/07 draft:

1.... Oakland............... JaMarcus Russell
2.... Detroit................. Calvin Johnson
3.... Cleveland........... Joe Thomas
4.... Tampa Bay.......... Gaines Adams
5.... Arizona............... Levi Brown
6.... Washington........ LaRon Landry
7.... Minnesota........... Adrian Peterson
8.... Atlanta................ Jamaal Anderson
9.... Miami.................. Ted Ginn Jr.
10.... Houston............. Amobi Okoye
11... San Francisco..... Patrick Willis
12... Buffalo............... Marshawn Lynch
13... St. Louis............. Adam Carriker
14... NY Jets............... Darrelle Revis
15... Pittsburgh........... Lawrence Timmons
16... Green Bay........... Justin Harrell
17... Denver................ Jarvis Moss
18... Cincinnati........... Leon Hall
19... Tennessee.......... Michael Griffin
20... NY Giants............ Aaron Ross
21... Jacksonville........ Reggie Nelson
22... Cleveland........... Brady Quinn
23... Kansas City......... Dwayne Bowe
24... New England...... Brandon Meriweather
25... Carolina............. Jon Beason
26... Dallas................. Anthony Spencer
27... New Orleans....... Robert Meachem
28... San Francisco..... Joe Staley
29... Baltimore............ Ben Grubbs
30... San Diego........... Craig Davis
31... Chicago............... Greg Olsen
32... Indianapolis........ Anthony Gonzalez


Why did the first round pan out the way it did? What are the characteristics of a solid Top 10 pick? Was anyone picked after the first round that was once anticipated as a top 10 pick? Anyone unexpected leap into the first round? Thanks gentlemen, any input is good input.

There are various factors. The major ones are outside factors. Common outside factors include legal problems, such as arrests or aggressive behavior. The other major reason is heath. Usually significant weight gains or losses affect the draft position of a player. In addition if a player doesn't work out with certain teams or doesn't perform certain exercises such and the 100 yard dash in a certain time, may lead the team to bringing the position down. Similarly, if a player gains or loses weight for an advantage to their health, their draft stock may very well rise.

I see, is respectable locker room behavior as important as in game performance? Interesting perspective Desi, thanks.

Don't count out the team's needs. Why would a team with a solid starting QB and a solid back-up draft another QB?

I totally agree with what is being said above, it's not just a players skill level that is taken into perspective when drafting.

Players attitudes, habits, and experiences often play huge factors in whether they are drafted high or low. In some cases they may not be drafted at all, that would only be if something serious is wrong though.

-Scott Jack