The Stacking Board

Sporting News, The, April 16, 2001 by Dan Pompei

This chart, compiled by The War Room, ranks more than 300 draft prospects and shows in which round those players deserve to be drafted, based solely on their ability. Other factors will come into play on draft day (a team's desperation to fill a hole in its lineup, for example), so expect some of these players to be drafted in earlier rounds and others in later rounds.

Many NFL teams "stack the board" like this to help them weigh need vs. value. This year, TWR believes only 26 players merit a first-round grade (although 31 are certain to become first-round picks) and that 39 wide receiver prospects merit at least a seventh-round grade. The numbers in parentheses show where each player ranks relative to other members of the 2001 class.