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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Carolina Panthers selected Miami linebacker Jon Beason with the 24th pick.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Player Evaluation: Showing a lot of ability during his short time as a starting linebacker, Beason has the size and speed to be a starter on the weak side.
STRENGTHS: Athleticism, Change of Direction, Foot Quickness
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Shedding Ability
Biography: Former fullback who moved to linebacker as a sophomore and has started the past two seasons. Led the team in tackles as a senior posting 76/8/1.5, also intercepting one pass. Junior totals included 64 tackles. Competes on the school’s track team.
Pos: Terrific athlete with a good degree of upside potential. Breaks down well, plays with excellent balance and rarely off his feet. Explosive up the field, slides laterally to make plays and is effective in pursuit. Takes good angles to the action and covers a great amount of area on the field. Breaks down well, immediately alters his angle of attack and is disciplined with assignments. Hard-hitting, and aggressively puts his shoulders into ball handlers.
Neg: Easily handled at the point once engaged in a block, and is very slow to get back to playing form off the initial hit.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
The Panthers probably would have liked to have gotten an inside linebacker or a safety but the value just wasn’t there. Another option was tight end and Greg Olsen is still on the board so Carolina could have done slightly better here. It’s tough to be critical of the pick however. Beason is an excellent value at this point in the first round and he is more than capable of pushing Na’il Diggs for playing time on the weak side.
The Panthers will likely work on his cover skills but he has a great bend of instincts, quickness and tenacity. It’s also worth noting that Beason has adequate size and the frame to get even bigger so there’s a chance Carolina considers moving him inside if MLB Dan Morgan can’t stay healthy.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The New England Patriots took Miami safety Brandon Meriweather with the 23rd overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He’s one of a handful of terrific athletes who fell because of “character” problems, including on-field thuggery and off-field gunplay.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile: A talented defensive back with natural ball skills, Meriweather’s versatility is key. Has some character issues that teams must check out, but, if focused on the task at hand, offers starting potential.
 Player Evaluation: A talented defensive back with natural ball skills, Meriweather’s versatility is key. Has some character issues that teams must check out, but, if focused on the task at hand, offers starting potential.
STRENGTHS: Backpedal Quickness, Burst Out Of Breaks, Coverage Awareness
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Size, Tackling Ability
Biography: All-Conference selection as a senior after totaling 58/1/8. Led the team in tackles as a junior, finishing the year with 115/3/7.
Pos: Athletic secondary prospect who shows potential at safety and cornerback. Efficient, immediately diagnoses the action and takes good angles to the play. Fast to the sidelines, displays excellent range and possesses a sense of timing. Placed over the slot receiver and shows great ball skills. Very aware in coverage and has a burst of closing speed.
Neg: Bites on play-action passes, makes his first move up the field and will be caught out of position. Lacks strength at the point of attack.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
New England has a reputation for not drafting players with character concerns. And with new commissioner Roger Goodell trying to clean up the league by getting tougher with players, we didn’t expect them to draft Meriweather. The Patriots take Meriweather who could be seen trying to stomp on players during the now infamous Miami-Florida International brawl. But the truth is this organization has taking risks on the past. The reason they haven’t been as criticized as some other teams is the players they bring in buy into the team philosophy and stay out of trouble. Don’t be surprised to see the same thing happen here. New England’s veterans should bring him into the fold and the fact that he should see plenty of playing time should help. The reason he should see the field so much is durability concerns surrounding the starters and he is too talented to keep on the sidelines. Meriweather has excellent instincts, he shows great range and he is an effective open field tackler.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted LSU wide receiver Dwayne Bowe with their first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Player Evaluation: Productive throughout college, Bowe has the physical makeup and dimensions to be a number two receiver at the next level. Has his game on an upswing and offers starting potential as a rookie.
 STRENGTHS: Hands and Concentration, Size, Strength
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Elusiveness with Catch, Route-Running Skills, Speed
Biography: Three-year starter awarded All-Conference honors as a senior after totaling career-best numbers of 65/990/12. Led the team in receiving as a junior, producing 41/710/9, after 39/597/5 as a sophomore.
Pos: Big, possession wide out who significantly improved his consistency as a senior. Sells routes, settles into the open spot of the defense and always works to become an available target. Uses his frame to shield away opponents and protect the pass. Lays out for the difficult reception or gets vertical to pull the ball from the air. Displays good eye/hand coordination, effectively uses the sidelines and makes the reception in stride. Solid downfield blocker.
Neg: Lacks the deep speed and cannot stretch the defense. Occasionally drops a catchable throw.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
Wonders never cease. It seems like Kansas City’s top need the past five seasons has been receiver and they haven’t taken one since they drafted Sylvester Morris in 2000. The hope is Bowe pans out and there’s reason to be optimistic. He has outstanding size, he catches the ball well and he makes fluid cuts so he clearly has the potential to develop into a reliable possession receiver. Though he doesn’t have elite speed and he isn’t going to run by defensive backs, he is big and fast enough to make the occasional play downfield so he can stretch defenses vertically. With the Larry Johnson expected back and Bowe taking advantage of TE Tony Gonzalez keeping the safeties occupied, this offense should be even more productive than is was last year despite the likely departure of Trent Green.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
 The Dallas Cowboys traded their 2007 1st round pick, #22 overall, to the Cleveland Browns, who promptly picked Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. In return, the Cowboys got Cleveland’s 2nd round pick (4th in round, #36 overall) and 2008 1st rounder.
Presuming that the Browns don’t have a radical transformation this year into a great team, that’s a great coup for the Cowboys, although one that I think will be win-win. Quinn will likely be a quality NFL quarterback and the Browns have to solve their weakness at that position if they ever want to be contenders.
The Cowboys have no gaping holes and the draft is quite deep at both wide receiver and cornerback, the positions where the team most needs to add depth and youth. Dallas will be able to pick up a quality player at one of those positions–or possibly one of a handful of offensive linemen that have fallen further than expected–in Cleveland’s spot.
Having an extra 1st rounder in 2008, especially if it’s a top fifteen pick, will give the Cowboys the ability to restock next year, whether taking two starting caliber players or trading up to take one impact player.
According to the more-or-less standard chart reportedly devised by former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, the 22nd pick is worth 780 points. The 35th pick is worth 550 points, a deficit of 230. A first round pick is worth anywhere from 3000 to 590 points.
UPDATE (April 29): Multiple day-after reports note that the Cowboys had “turned in the card to take [Anthony] Spencer at 22, but had it rescinded when they reached an agreement with the Browns.” Indeed, they turned down other offers for the pick and only took the Cleveland deal because they figured next year’s #1 will be very, very high and that Spencer might fall to them that early in the second round. They didn’t want to take that risk, though, so they immediately starting working to trade back into the first round.
More, from FWST’s Clarence Hill:
It’s been back to the future at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch headquarters ever since coach Bill Parcells packed his bags in January. With owner Jerry Jones back in charge of the team’s personnel decisions, the Cowboys returned to their wheeling and dealing ways during a wild first round of the 2007 NFL Draft on Saturday.
After admittedly taking an hour before ultimately turning down a trade to move into the top five of the draft, Jones made two bold moves — netting a first-round pick in 2008 from the Cleveland Browns and Purdue pass rush specialist Anthony Spencer. Jones, who made his fortune as a risk taker in the oil and gas business, and earned a reputation as a trader during his early years with the Cowboys, was back in his element.
In getting Spencer while pocketing a first-round pick next year from the Browns, which could be a possible top-10 pick, the Cowboys passed on a potential franchise quarterback in Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn. Jones was emboldened by his belief in quarterback Tony Romo and that the talent already on the roster is good enough to make a Super Bowl run in 2007.
“It was a lot of fun,” Jones said. “What makes it so much fun is the chill and the anxiety. The feeling you get to expose yourself, take some risks, then it comes back and turns out good for you. I can’t help but get excited when you are talking about two No. 1s.”
This is the 14th year since Jones bought the team in 1989 that the Cowboys have made a trade involving a first-round pick. Of the five years they didn’t, three came during Parcells’ four-year stint in Dallas.
The Cowboys, who later traded their second-round pick to the Browns for a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick and a flip flop of sixth-round picks, have made 43 draft-day trades during the Jones era.
[...]
Taking advantage of the free-falling Quinn, the Cowboys traded their 22nd pick in the first round to the quarterback-starved Browns for a first round pick next year and the second-round pick this year, 36th overall. After consummating the trade the Cowboys immediately got back on the phone in an effort to move back into the first round and found a trade partner in the Philadelphia Eagles four picks later. The Cowboys gave up the second-round pick they received from the Browns and third- and fifth-round picks and chose Spencer 26th overall.
Early in the draft, a team in the top five, most likely the Detroit Lions at No. 2, called to see if the Cowboys wanted to move up. Because the team, which Jones refused to identify, wanted a first-round pick in next year’s draft, as well as a prominent player, Jones turned it down. “I couldn’t have done it,” Jones said. “I told our people to quit talking about it because I know how we are and we would have found a way to do it.”
Although the Cowboys came into the draft wanting to deal, it was more about trying to take advantage of someone else’s desperation than their own. Quinn and Cleveland provided the perfect foil. The Cowboys turned down a trade offer from another team because the second-round pick that was offered wasn’t high enough for Dallas. Jones and Phillips said being in position to still get a shot at Spencer was key to the deal.
UPDATE (April 30): SI’s Peter King has a wonderful account of how the deal went down. Here’s the part when it gets down to the Cowboys:
Desperate minutes now. [Cleveland general manager Phil] Savage knew Kansas City might be a logical team to just sit there at 23 to take Quinn. So the only team left was Dallas, at 22.
“I really didn’t know Jerry Jones,” Savage said. “We’d never done anything with the Cowboys. I’d seen him at league meetings, and I had a lot of respect for him, but there was no prior experience there.”
Savage offered Jones second- and third-round picks. Jones said no. End of call. Jones called back and asked for Cleveland’s first-rounder in 2008, and Savage said he’d consider doing it — but without adding anything else this year. Jones said no; he had to have a high pick this year. End of call.
“Now [the Cowboys] were on the clock, and I figured, ‘This is a guy we really want,”’ said Savage. “We’ve got to make our best offer now.”
Sort of. With the minutes ticking by, Savage offered next year’s first-round and this year’s third-round picks to Dallas. Nope, said Jones. It’ll take next year’s one and this year’s two. Savage said he’d call right back.
Meanwhile, Jones told the Cowboys man at the draft in New York to write down the name of Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer on a card and get it ready to turn in. “We had four guys very close in value right there,” Jones said. (One other candidate there, I learned, was LSU wideout Dwayne Bowe.) “And I was determined that we would get one of them, unless we could get that Cleveland pick next year.”
With two minutes left in the period, Savage called. “We’ll do it,” he said. “Our two this year and next year’s one.”
“Deal,” Jones said.
Savage hung up the phone. There were about 30 people — coaches, scouts, owner’s family and friends — in the Cleveland draft room, and when Savage said, “We got him!” the place exploded. One of my HBO buddies, Jason Cohen, a Browns freak, texted me thusly: “Best day of Browns FB in 10 years!”
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
Brady Quinn fell to #22 with the Dallas Cowboys on the clock. The Cleveland Browns traded up to grab him, fearing that Kansas City would grab him at #22. The Cowboys move down to the #3 spot in the 2nd round and pick up Cleveland’s first rounder in 2008.
Quinn, whose astonishing fall has been the story of the draft day, is going to the team he grew up rooting for. It’ll cost him a few million dollars in his initial contract but he’s going to be in a good situation.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Scout.com Profile:
 Scout.com Player Evaluation: Possessing the size, arm strength and intangibles to be a starter at the next level, Quinn is an incredibly productive college quarterback who translates well to the next level. Comes off a poor senior campaign and needs to refocus, fine-tune his decision-making and play within himself.
STRENGTHS
- Arm Strength
- Mental Toughness
- Pocket Awareness
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
- Decision-making
- Field Vision
Biography: Four-year starter who Pos:ted 61.9%/3,426/37/7 as a senior. Junior totals included a career-high 3,919 passing yards, a Notre Dame single-season record.
Pos: Nice-sized, strong-armed pocket passer with a great amount of upside. Patient, calm under pressure and buys time for receivers. Gets outside the pocket to give himself a better view of the field, has a quick, over-the-top delivery and immediately gets the ball out of his hand. Zips the outs, Pos:sesses a good deep arm and drives passes into the tight spots. Flashes the ability to beautifully place throws where only his target can make the reception. Consistently challenges the vertical game. Puts touch on throws when necessary.
Neg: At times stares the primary target down from the get-go. Not adverse to forcing the throw into coverage. Makes some head-scratching decisions at times. Not an elusive quarterback who escapes the rush. Marginally accurate throwing on the move and downfield. Leadership abilities are in question.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
It looked like Cleveland general manager Phil Savage would have to decide between Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn and Adrian Peterson when he woke up this morning. Now the Browns get two out of three and we’re sure he had to give up a lot to get Quinn but teams have had to give up similar value in similar trades. Though most teams would rather not start a rookie quarterback, Quinn has the poise to step in right away and enough confidence to learn from his mistakes along the way. It also helps that the Browns have done an excellent job of improving the offensive line during the offseason since Quinn shouldn’t get harassed as much as Charlie Frye did last year.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Jacksonville Jaguars took Florida safety Reggie Nelson with the 21st pick. Mel Kiper reports that this is the guy they would have taken at #17, so they got a 3rd and 6th round pick, in essence, for nothing.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile: Displaying tremendous improvement in his overall game last season, Nelson is a top-flight free safety with the ability to be placed over receivers in man coverage situations. Needs to fine-tune his instincts, yet should quickly break into a starting lineup for an NFL team who needs a ball hawk in center field.
Player Evaluation:
STRENGTHS: Burst Out Of Breaks, Coverage Awareness, Recovery Ability
 AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Size
Biography: Junior college transfer who became a full-time starter last season, winning All-Conference and All-American honors after producing 51/6/5. Started four games the prior season and posted 46 tackles.
Pos: Athletic centerfielder with tremendous ball skills. Displays outstanding sideline-to-sideline range, shows good speed to the flanks and flashes on the scene, playing with a large degree of suddenness. Diagnoses the action, possesses a sense of timing and shows great hands going up for the interception. Plays with balance, body control and easily gets vertical or contorts in midair to defend the pass. Fluid pedaling in reverse, smooth flipping his hips and works well with cornerbacks. Possesses a closing burst and shows the ability to recover. Aggressive in run defense and sizes up ball carriers. Keeps the action in front of him and remains disciplined.
Neg: Not strong at the point of attack. Misreads assignments on occasion.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
Filling the No. 1 need and getting great value is at the pick is all any team could ask for and the Jaguars did just that with this pick. Critics point out that Nelson is somewhat one-dimensional because he isn’t big enough to line up in the box or a great run defender but he has great range. His ability to cover so much ground should make him an immediate upgrade over FS Gerald Sensabugh and he gives the Jaguars another playmaker to complement DC Rashean Mathis. In addition, the Jaguars should feel comfortable with this pick because of their familiarity with the player. Jacksonville isn’t too far from Gainesville and head coach Jack Del Rio reportedly attended the Gators’ Pro Day.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The New York Giants have taken Texas cornerback Aaron Ross, widely projected to go to the Dallas Cowboys at the 22 spot, number 20 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Player Evaluation: One of the better athletes at the cornerback position in this draft, Ross is just hitting his stride as a football player and offers great upside. May need time to develop his skills but has starting potential.
STRENGTHS: Closing Speed, Size
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Burst Out Of Breaks, Coverage Awareness
 Biography: All-Conference selection as a senior after becoming a full-time starter, posting 80/6/19. Primarily a reserve cornerback and return specialist before last season. Junior totals were 62/9/3, when he averaged 14.7 yards on 34 punt returns.
Pos: Athletic corner who showed tremendous progress last season. Quick-footed in reverse, is fluid flipping his hips and easily runs downfield with opponents. Displays an excellent break to the throw, out-jumps opponents defending passes and makes a lot of athletic plays. Effective in zone, displaying a sense of timing, and does a fine job handling man coverage responsibilities. Impacts the game returning punts.
Neg: Tends to play soft coverage and gives up a lot of underneath receptions. Shows hesitation to his game and has trouble staying with receivers out of their breaks.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters have both lost a step and are now liabilities when left on an island, so taking a corner makes sense and the Giants got an excellent one in Ross. He possesses a very good blend of size, speed, instincts and ball skills. If he develops as expected, he’ll emerge as a playmaking starter in the NFL. Don’t overlook the impact he should make on special teams because the Giants made Chad Morton a cap casualty and need help in that area. It’s also worth noting that Central Michigan OT Joe Staley also would have been an excellent selection.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Tennessee Titans have gone with a University of Texas player for the second year in a row, taking safety Michael Griffin. Last year, of course, they took quarterback Vince Young. The Titans are hoping this pick works out half as well.
None of the ESPN talking heads seem surprised but Griffin is a big reach according to the print guys, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Player Evaluation: A rangy centerfielder with a complete game, Griffin offers starting potential at safety and could be a dominant special-teams player.
STRENGTHS: Change of Direction, Coverage Awareness, Toughness
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Anticipation
 Biography: Two-year starter and All-Conference selection as a senior after totaling 126/4/10. Blocked four kicks as a junior and accumulated 124 tackles.
Pos: Explosive safety who is an intimidating force in centerfield. Diagnoses the action, fires up the field in run defense and aggressively lays his shoulders into ball handlers. Displays outstanding sideline-to-sideline range and gets to the flanks to help cornerbacks. Shows a burst of speed and ability to recover. Wraps up tackling and punishes opponents. Terrific special-teams player.
Neg: Has tackles broken. Occasionally shows some hesitation to his game. At times is too quick moving up the field.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
This is isn’t as bad as Miami taking Ginn, but drafting Griffin was still bad for the Titans. Most teams are looking to add one or two starters through the draft unless it’s a quarterback, and then there’s Tennessee. The Titans need a corner that can step into the starting slot opposite free-agent singing Nick Harper, a receiver that can make an immediate impact and a running back that can share the load with LenDale White. Taking a safety here rather than a receiver like Robert Meachem or Dwayne Bowe makes it a lot more difficult to fill those holes. That’s not to say Griffin isn’t going to be a player in this league. Though he gets caught out of position at times and he needs to get a little bigger, he will smack the ball carrier in the mouth and has above-average cover skills, so he should push for immediate playing time.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Cincinnati Bengals may have gotten the steal of the draft so far, having cornerback Leon Hall fall to them in the 18th spot.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
 Scout.com Player Evaluation: Rarely tested by opposing quarterbacks, Hall has shut down opponents the past two years. Struggles against speedy receivers, as was the case against Ohio State this year yet has enough natural skills and cover abilities to quickly break into a starting lineup.
STRENGTHS
- Anticipation
Coverage Awareness
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
- Closing Speed
- Recovery Ability
Biography: Three-year starter awarded varying degrees of All-Conference honors since his sophomore campaign. Senior totals were 45/3/15 after 61/4/9 as a junior.
Pos: Good-sized cornerback with outstanding ball skills. Fluid transitioning to run with opponents, stays with receivers out from breaks and quickly closes on the ball. Displays a sense of timing, reads opponents’ eyes and immediately locates the pass. Consistently positions himself to make a play on the ball. Instinctive, gets vertical to defend the throw and flies around the action.
Neg: Does not show top-end speed or play to his forty time. Not a strong sure-handed tackler.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
Hall is an excellent addition and he should push for immediate playing time opposite Jonathan Joseph. He is a physical cover corner who is tough enough to match up with bigger receivers, athletic enough to stay with slot receivers and can make big plays in coverage. Character isn’t a concern, either. Hall hasn’t had any problems off the field and he works hard at improving his game. However, Ohio State fans will be quick to point out that he lacks ideal turn-and-run skills despite his excellent 40 time. The Bengals will have to give him safety help over the top when he lines up opposite a premiere deep threat. But the bottom line here is Cincinnati has done a good job of using the draft to build a potentially excellent secondary.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Denver Broncos traded up from the 21st spot to take Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss. The move cost them their 1st, 3rd and 6th round picks, which go to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Player Evaluation: A sensational athlete and a disruptive force in the opponent’s backfield, Moss is a defensive line prospect with a large upside. Will start off his career as a conventional pass-rushing defensive end, yet has the ability to move to different spots on the front line once he physically matures.
STRENGTHS: Athleticism, Backside Pursuit, Change of Direction
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Disengaging Skills, Size
 Biography: Moved into the starting lineup last season and totaled 56/11/7.5, winning All-Conference honors. Used as a third-down specialist the prior year, finishing with 25/9/7.5.
Pos: Gifted pass-rusher who is slowly pulling together a complete game. Breaks down well, plays with good pad level and is fluid moving in every direction. Rushes the edge with speed, effortlessly changes direction and makes a lot of plays in pursuit. Effectively uses his hands to protect himself and is rarely off his feet. Flashes power, defeats blocks or slides off them laterally. Smart ballplayer who quickly locates the ball and always works to make something positive happen.
Neg: Possesses a thin build and struggles against big offensive linemen. Marginally productive until last season.
A redshirt junior defensive end…
2005: Saw action in the final 11 contests on the season at defensive end, playing mainly on third-down situations…Led the team and finished fifth in the SEC with 7.5 sacks on the season for a net loss of 54 yards…Was also one of 15 Gator defenders with a pass break-up…One of nine to recover a fumble for Florida, and one of 11 with a forced fumble last season…Added four to his tackle total with four solo efforts against Louisiana State, as well as three quarterback sacks for a net loss of 28 yards…Became the first Gator since Bobby McCray on Oct. 11, 2003, to record three sacks in a game…Recorded the first forced fumble and fumble recovery of his career against the Tigers…Tied his career-high tackle total with five in Florida’s home win over Florida State, including three tackles for a net loss of 16 yards and 1.5 sacks for a loss of 11… Posted first quarterback sack and first pass break-up of his career versus Kentucky…Added four solo tackles to his total, including two for a net loss of five yards, against South Carolina…
2004: Played in the season opener against Eastern Michigan for seven plays…Saw action at linebacker in preseason drills…
2003: Suffered a hernia in preseason drills…Saw action at defensive end in one game (FAMU)…Re-injured a muscle in his pelvic area, after battling through preseason pain, and did not return…Saw first career action vs. FAMU, tying for the line-lead with five tackles on the night, including four solo hits on 40 plays…Second true freshman to see action on the defensive line since 2000, when Kenny Parker, Darrell Lee and Ian Scott played…Named Scout Team Player of the Week on defense the week of the Miami game…Dressed for the Miami and Tennessee games but did not see action…
PREP: A Parade All-America selection…Named a USA Today First-Team All-American…A SuperPrep All-America who was also listed to the Elite 50 team…Led his team to three-consecutive Class 4A state championship games, winning titles in his junior and senior seasons…A two-year starter who helped his team to a 30-1 record over his final two seasons…Despite missing seven games due to injury, Moss recorded 81 tackles (29 for loss), 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and four recovered fumbles… Totaled 122 tackles, including 52 for a loss and 28 sacks, seven pass deflections, three forced fumbles and five fumble recovers as a junior…Had 61 tackles and nine sacks as a sophomore…Was invited to play in the U.S. Army All-Star Game in Texas…Also considered Miami, Texas and Florida State…
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
Denver executes the second trade of the day and takes a chance on Moss in the hopes of getting an elite pass-rusher. While saying the Broncos are making a deal with the devil here would be harsh, there are some minor character concerns about Moss after Florida suspended him for a game last year. With the league cracking down on players that commit off-field infractions, it’s important Moss stay out of trouble. If he can, he is capable of giving the pass rush a substantial boost. Moss anticipates snap counts well, explodes off the ball and closes extremely well. The Broncos will likely use him as a situational pass-rusher, but there is a chance he develops into an every-down player if he can add some weight without sacrificing any quickness.
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