It's an ESPN insider article, so I don't know who else is on the list, but Kiko is #1 and they include the blurb below. Mike Rodak of ESPN also wrote a nice piece on Kiko, which I also linked to below the Kiper article. Nice to see Kiko getting love from the national media even though he hasn't had the big INT's like he did early in the season. What a great draft pick so far.
Kiko Alonso Has Arrived
1. Kiko Alonso, ILB, Buffalo
If you graded it only on per-play impact, you'd probably put Alonso lower on this list -- not far, but perhaps behind the next two players. But when you factor in the total impact of a player who is second in the NFL in tackles, has been as good as almost any linebacker in the NFL in coverage and literally never comes off the field, you give the slight edge to Alonso. He is a second-round pick who has played to the level of what you might hope for from a top-10 pick so far. At least I would, which is why he stays at No. 1.
If you graded it only on per-play impact, you'd probably put Alonso lower on this list -- not far, but perhaps behind the next two players. But when you factor in the total impact of a player who is second in the NFL in tackles, has been as good as almost any linebacker in the NFL in coverage and literally never comes off the field, you give the slight edge to Alonso. He is a second-round pick who has played to the level of what you might hope for from a top-10 pick so far. At least I would, which is why he stays at No. 1.
Comment