Some crazy predictions for NFL Draft

Win Toronto ith the NFL Draft now only hours away, the ridiculous four-month frenzy of pre-draft speculation, misinformation and perturbation finally is at a merciful end. Well, almost. I’m finally weighing in, with these cranky, crazy Kryk predictions: top five. But probably he will.

Regardless, the top five team that selects Barkley will get 5-10 jaw-dropping plays from him this coming season, which highlights shows will eat up. But by season’s end Barkley will come closer to 1,000 yards receiving than rushing.

Look, the Penn State product is as electrifying a player with the ball in his hands in open space as any running back — or any player for that matter, period — to come out of college in a long, long time.

But until he figures out that he won’t succeed in the NFL for long as a traditional pro running back if he keeps running as he did in college — like a C.J. Spiller, ever looking to bounce it outside — then Barkley overall will disappoint and won’t realize his potential, or justify his lofty selection.

He will fall in the draft. Maybe to Miami at No. 11. Or farther. Wherever he goes Allen then will fail, as a starting NFL quarterback. At least initially.

He has an incredibly powerful arm, but not much else ready to go at this point as a pro. He’s a project.

Allen might fall so far that ...

Yup. I predict it will happen. ND’s two celebrated offensive linemen — the draft’s top-rated guard in Quenton Nelson and top-rated tackle in Mike McGlinchey — are slam-dunk first-round picks. Some rate Nelson as the best talent in the whole draft. With so many teams desperate for an offensive line upgrade, don’t be surprised if these Fightin’ Irishmen are gobbled up before the draft is 90 minutes old. And before Allen is selected.