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| Sunday, April 29, 2007 |
The 5th round of the 2007 NFL Draft is well underway. It gets much less exciting for the fans at this point, as the reaction to our team’s picks is generally “Who?!”
Still, some great players wind up being taken here. Picking well in the 5th and 6th rounds distinguishes great drafts from merely good ones.
ESPN DraftTracker:
1(138) Oakland Jay Richardson DE OHIO STATE
2(139) St. Louis (from Detroit) Dustin Fry OC CLEMSON
3(140) Cleveland Brandon McDonald CB MEMPHIS
4(141) Tampa Bay Greg Peterson DT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
5(142) Arizona Steve Breaston WR MICHIGAN
6(143) Washington Dallas Sartz OLB USC
7(144) Houston Brandon Harrison S STANFORD
8(145) New Orleans (from Miami through Detroit) David Jones CB WINGATE
9(146) Minnesota Aundrae Allison WR EAST CAROLINA
10(147) San Francisco Tarell Brown CB TEXAS
11(148) Kansas City (from Buffalo through St. Louis) Kolby Smith RB LOUISVILLE
12(149) Jacksonville (from Atlanta) Uche Nwaneri OG PURDUE
13(150) Jacksonville Josh Gattis S WAKE FOREST
14(151) Cincinnati Jeff Rowe QB NEVADA
15(152) Tennessee Antonio Johnson DT MISSISSIPPI STATE
16(153) NY Giants Kevin Boss TE WESTERN OREGON
17(154) St. Louis Cliff Ryan DT MICHIGAN STATE
18(155) Carolina Dante Rosario TE OREGON
19(156) Pittsburgh Cameron Stephenson OG RUTGERS
20(157) Green Bay David Clowney WR VIRGINIA TECH
21(158) Detroit (from Denver) Johnny Baldwin ILB ALABAMA A&M
22(159) Philadelphia (from Dallas) C.J. Gaddis CB CLEMSON
23(160) Kansas City Justin Medlock PK UCLA
24(161) Seattle Will Herring OLB AUBURN
25(162) Philadelphia Brent Celek TE CINCINNATI
26(163) Houston (from New Orleans) Brandon Frye OT VIRGINIA TECH
27(164) Carolina (from NY Jets) Tim Shaw OLB PENN STATE
28(165) Oakland (from New England) Eric Frampton S WASHINGTON STATE
29(166) Jacksonville (from Baltimore) Derek Landri DT NOTRE DAME
30(167) Chicago (from San Diego) Kevin Payne S LOUISIANA MONROE
31(168) Chicago Corey Graham CB NEW HAMPSHIRE
32(169) Indianapolis Roy Hall WR OHIO STATE
33(170) Pittsburgh (Compensatory selection) William Gay CB LOUISVILLE
34(171) New England (Compensatory selection) Clint Oldenburg OT COLORADO STATE
35(172) San Diego (Compensatory selection) Legedu Naanee WR BOISE STATE
36(173) Indianapolis (Compensatory selection) Michael Coe CB ALABAMA STATE
37(174) Baltimore (Compensatory selection) Troy Smith QB OHIO STATE
UPDATE: Inside the 5th Round with Scouts, Inc.
• With Andy McCollum turning 37 this year, St. Louis needed to pick up a center, so taking Clemson’s Dustin Fry makes some sense. And Fry is a hard worker who plays with a mean streak and can drive defenders off the ball. The problem with this pick is it’s a reach, because Fry is an overachiever who doesn’t have great athletic ability. If the Rams wanted to fill this need here, Ohio State’s Doug Datish or West Virginia’s Dan Mozes would have been better choices.
• Arizona might have filled two needs by taking Michigan’s Steve Breaston with the fifth pick of the fifth round. First, Breaston is a dangerous punt returner and an efficient kickoff return man. He should replace unrestricted free agent Troy Walters in the Cardinals’ return game. Second, Breaston has the burst and quick feet to eventually develop into Arizona’s No. 3 receiver. He admittedly underachieved on offense at the collegiate level, but the natural talent is there if he can improve his route running and consistency catching the football.
• After reaching for a corner in the third round, New Orleans redeemed itself and helped bolster the position by getting David Jones out of Wingate. Jones obviously didn’t face the nation’s top receivers on a weekly basis, so there are questions about his ability to compete at the NFL level. But there is reason to be optimistic. Jones can change directions quickly, he rarely gets caught out of position and he plays the ball well.
• San Francisco obviously needs help at corner. The Niners could very well have found it in Tarell Brown out of Texas. Brown’s draft value dropped because of a disappointing senior season, a broken bone in his foot that hindered him last year and legitimate character concerns. But make no mistake — Brown is a player. Though he gets caught out of position at times, he is big, fast and athletic enough to develop into a starting man-to-man cover corner.
• The Texans did well to get Virginia Tech OT Brandon Frye. He is a developmental prospect who has had some problems staying healthy, but there’s a lot to like about his potential. He has the athletic ability and size to become an effective starter on the left side. Houston addressed another position of need by taking DS Brandon Harrison earlier in the round. Though they might have done better by taking Wyoming’s John Wendling, Harrison is not too much of a reach and is a big hitter who plays the ball well.
• Jacksonville has done an excellent job of addressing the safety position, which was its biggest need heading into the draft. In the first round, the Jaguars selected Florida’s Reggie Nelson, who represents a considerable upgrade over Gerald Sensabaugh. In the fifth round, they picked Wake Forest’s Josh Gattis, who instantly becomes the heir apparent to 31-year-old Donovin Darius, who has played in just 12 games the past two seasons because of injuries. He is a tough run stopper who can make plays in coverage and has the athletic ability to develop his cover skills. One area the Jaguars likely will work on with him is his tackling because he doesn’t always wrap up upon contact.
• Green Bay reached for San Jose State WR James Jones in the third round, but they did well to get Virginia Tech WR David Clowney here. Clowney flew under the radar because of erratic quarterback play and the Hokies’ commitment to the ground game. However, he has a good blend of speed, burst and hands. In fact, there’s a chance he could develop into a No. 2 receiver for QB Brett Favre.
• The loss of CB Roderick Hood to free agency made corner a need for Philadelphia, and the Eagles addressed that need by taking C.J. Gaddis out of Clemson. Gaddis is a little bit of a boom-or-bust prospect, because he is raw and inconsistent, but he has the natural ability of a starting corner. He has the upper-body strength to slow receivers down at the line of scrimmage, and he is fast enough to run with them downfield.
• Carolina’s strong draft continued in this round when it picked up Oregon TE Dante Rosario and Penn State OLB Tim Shaw. Both are good values and fill needs. Rosario doesn’t drive defenders off the ball or make many big plays down the seam, but he is a relentless blocker and has the athletic ability to develop into an effective possession receiver. Though Shaw isn’t explosive and takes too long to change directions in coverage, he makes the most of his ability. He never stops working, rarely gets caught out of position and tackles well.
• Ohio State QB Troy Smith finally came of the board when Baltimore took him with the last pick of the fifth round. While Smith undoubtedly would have liked to go earlier, he couldn’t be in a better situation. With the Ravens, he should benefit from playing behind Steve McNair, and the team’s commitment to the running game means he won’t have to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load.
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| Sunday, April 29, 2007 |
Round 4 of the 2007 NFL Draft is underway. The Oakland Raiders started us off by taking Michael Bush, a running back who would likely have gone early in the first round were he healthy. He’ll likely sit out his first year, a la Willis McGehee a couple years back, but the Raiders are getting him for a high 4th, not a low 1st that the Buffalo Bills spent. Potentially, the steal of the draft.
ESPN DraftTracker:
1(100) Oakland Michael Bush RB LOUISVILLE
2(101) Jacksonville (from Detroit through Baltimore) Adam Podlesh PT MARYLAND
3(102) Minnesota (from Tampa Bay) Brian Robison DE TEXAS
4(103) Dallas (from Cleveland) Isaiah Stanback QB WASHINGTON
5(104) San Francisco (from Washington) Jay Moore DE NEBRASKA
6(105) Detroit (from Arizona through Oakland) AJ Davis CB NORTH CAROLINA ST
7(106) Tampa Bay (from Minnesota) Tanard Jackson CB SYRACUSE
8(107) New Orleans (from Houston) Antonio Pittman RB OHIO STATE
9(108) Miami Paul Soliai DT UTAH
10(109) Atlanta Stephen Nicholas OLB SOUTH FLORIDA
11(110) Oakland (from San Francisco through New England) John Bowie CB CINCINNATI
12(111) Buffalo Dwayne Wright RB FRESNO STATE
13(112) Pittsburgh (from Green Bay) Daniel Sepulveda PT BAYLOR
14(113) Jacksonville Brian Smith OLB MISSOURI
15(114) Cincinnati Marvin White S TCU
16(115) Tennessee Leroy Harris OC NORTH CAROLINA ST
17(116) NY Giants Zak Deossie OLB BROWN
18(117) Detroit (from St. Louis) Manuel Ramirez OG TEXAS TECH
19(118) Carolina Ryne Robinson WR MIAMI (OHIO)
20(119) Green Bay (from Pittsburgh) Allen Barbre OT MISSOURI SOUTHERN
21(120) Seattle Baraka Atkins DE MIAMI (FLA.)
22(121) Denver Marcus Thomas DT FLORIDA
23(122) Dallas Doug Free OT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
24(123) Houston (from Kansas City from New Orleans) Fred Bennett CB SOUTH CAROLINA
25(124) Seattle (from New York Jets through San Francisco) Mansfield Wrotto OG GEORGIA TECH
26(125) New Orleans (from Philadelphia) Jermon Bushrod OT TOWSON
27(126) San Francisco (from New Orleans through Indianapolis) Dashon Goldson S WASHINGTON
28(127) New England Kareem Brown DT MIAMI (FLA.)
29(128) Tennessee (from Baltimore) Chris Davis WR FLORIDA STATE
30(129) San Diego Scott Chandler TE IOWA
31(130) Chicago Josh Beekman OG BOSTON COLLEGE
32(131) Indianapolis Brannon Condren S TROY STATE
33(132) Pittsburgh (Compensatory selection) Ryan McBean DT OKLAHOMA STATE
34(133) Atlanta (Compensatory selection) Martrez Milner TE GEORGIA
35(134) Baltimore (Compensatory selection) Antwan Barnes OLB FLORIDA INTL
36(135) San Francisco (Compensatory selection) Joe Cohen DE FLORIDA
37(136) Indianapolis (Compensatory selection) Clint Sessions OLB PITTSBURGH
38(137) Baltimore (Compensatory selection) Le’Ron McClain FB ALABAMA
UPDATE: Scouts, Inc. takes us “Inside the fourth round.”
• A leg injury caused Louisville RB Michael Bush to drop into the fourth round, but he is an excellent second-day value for Oakland. With LaMont Jordan and free-agent signee Dominic Rhodes playing in front of Bush, the Raiders can ease him into the rotation and protect him while he gets back to full strength. And if he can get healthy and stay that way, he has the size and speed to develop into a franchise back.
• The only two punters expected to get drafted came off the board during the first half of the fourth round. Jacksonville got Maryland’s Adam Podlesh with the second pick of the round, and he could be a substantial upgrade over Chris Hanson, who is coming off a disappointing season. Podlesh has excellent power, is accurate enough to place the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and he can kick off. Pittsburgh took Daniel Sepulveda later in the round. He, too, has good power, and he gets good hang time on his kicks, but he tore his ACL in the spring of 2006, so there are concerns about his durability.
• Washington QB Isaiah Stanback has the arm strength and mobility to develop into an effective backup for the Cowboys. If he stays at quarterback, he is an excellent No. 3 because of his upside. However, there are concerns about his accuracy, and he has some experience lining up at receiver, so Dallas could swith his position. If the plan is to play him at receiver, this is a questionable pick, because there were better values available at receiver. Taking East Carolina’s Aundrae Allison, Auburn’s Courtney Taylor or Virginia Tech’s David Clowney would have made more sense.
• Tampa Bay might be deep at corner, but there’s no doubt it needed to infuse some youth at the position, and it addressed that need by taking Syracuse DS/CB Tanard Jackson. While Jackson isn’t fast enough to line up at corner for a team that runs a lot of man coverage, he could excel in the Buccaneers’ Cover 2 scheme. He is quick, reads quarterbacks’ eyes and fills hard when he reads run. It couldn’t be a better situation for him, either. He gets to play behind three veterans, and as a hard worker, he should only get better.
• Miami’s best pick thus far might be Utah DT Paul Soliai. With Keith Traylor turning 38 this year and the Dolphins expected to part with Dan Wilkinson, they needed to get a tackle, and Soliai is a great pickup. Projected to go in the third round, he dropped likely because of minor character concerns, and he isn’t a great pass rusher. However, he has the size and lower-body strength to develop into a dominant nose tackle who can clog up the middle and keep blockers off the linebackers.
• Playing for the Giants is now a Deossie family tradition. New York took Brown OLB Zak Deossie, whose father once played for the Giants. Zak played at a small school and needs to work on his technique, but he has great upside.
• Denver took its second Florida defensive lineman in DT Marcus Thomas, who joins Jarvis Moss. Thomas has some character concerns stemming from multiple failed drug tests, but the Broncos can protect themselves by including a clause in his contract that requires him to stay clean. Keeping that in mind, this could prove to be one of the steals of this draft. Remember, many draft analysts projected Thomas as a first-round pick heading into the 2006 season.
• Last night we questioned Dallas taking Boston College OT James Marten over Northern Illinois’ Doug Free. Maybe the Cowboys were listening, because they came back Sunday and took Free. Free is a developmental prospect because he played at a small school and needs to get bigger, but he has the quick feet to emerge as a quality starting left tackle.
• Seattle filled its most pressing need by taking OG Mansfield Wrotto, and it’s not a bad pick. Wrotto shows great quickness for his size and excellent lower-body strength. However, Seattle really needs a guard who can play this year, and Wrotto is raw so he may not be ready to push for playing time this year. Keeping that in mind, the Seahawks could have considered Boston College’s Josh Beekman, whom Chicago took later in the round, because he is more polished.
• New England almost never reaches to fill need, and it didn’t here either. Though the Patriots could use some help at linebacker and corner, they took Miami DT Kareem Brown because he was the best value at No. 127 overall. Brown is inconsistent, but he is explosive and athletic for a player with his size. If Bill Belichick can keep him motivated, he should develop into a productive contributor.
• Baltimore drafted OLB Antwan Barnes out of Florida International, and he is a good fit for that scheme. Though he doesn’t have great size and doesn’t read his keys particularly well, Barnes is a speed demon, and the Ravens can unleash him on opposing passers.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The guys at ESPN.com analyze all the trades from Day 1 of the 2007 NFL Draft. While I tend to look at these trades in terms of the numerical value of the picks, they simply look at the players each team winds up picking with the selections.
Analysis: First round
Lions trade up with Ravens
Detroit Lions: Acquire pick No. 61 (selected S Gerald Alexander).
Baltimore Ravens: Acquire picks No. 74 (third round) and No. 101 (fourth round).
Lions trade up with Saints
Detroit Lions: Acquire pick No. 53 (selected DE Ikaika Alama-Francis).
New Orleans Saints: Acquire picks No. 66 (third round) and No. 145 (fifth round).
Browns trade up with Cowboys
Cleveland Browns: Acquire picks No. 53 (selected DB Eric Wright) and No. 195 (sixth round).
Dallas Cowboys: Acquire picks No. 67 (third round), No. 103 (fourth round) and No. 178 (sixth round).
Raiders trade for Williams, McCown
Oakland Raiders: Acquire WR Mike Williams and QB Josh McCown.
Detroit Lions: Acquire pick No. 105 (fourth round).
Jets, Packers swap second-rounders and more
New York Jets: Acquire picks No. 47 (selected LB David Harris) and No. 235 (seventh round).
Green Bay Packers: Acquire picks No. 63 (second round), No. 89 (third round) and No. 191 (sixth round).
Colts trade up with 49ers
Indianapolis Colts: Acquire pick No. 42 (selected OT Tony Ugoh).
San Francisco 49ers: Acquire pick No. 126 (fourth round) and Colts’ first-round pick in 2008.
Falcons, Vikings swap second-rounders
Atlanta Falcons: Acquire pick No. 41 (selected CB Chris Houston)
Minnesota Vikings: Acquire No. 44 (selected WR Sidney Rice) and No. 121 (fourth round).
Browns trade up for Quinn
Cleveland Browns: Acquire pick No. 22 (select QB Brady Quinn).
Dallas Cowboys: Acquire pick No. 36 and Browns’ first-round pick in 2008.
Scouts take: GM Phil Savage made an aggressive move by trading up and acquiring their franchise quarterback of the future in Brady Quinn. The Browns gave up a second-round pick this year, along with their first-round pick next year. The Browns are definitely the winners on the first day of the draft by acquiring two players that they had targeted at No. 3 in Joe Thomas and Quinn. Quinn possesses a fine blend of arm strength, size and intelligence. QB Charlie Frye will start the season as the No. 1 quarterback, but he hasn’t solidified the starting spot and Quinn will get every chance to be the starter in 2007.
The Cowboys made a great move by moving back, while acquiring a first-round pick next year that could easily be in the top 10. Then owner Jerry Jones moved back into the first round by trading with the Eagles at No. 26 and selecting OLB Anthony Spencer. The Cowboys did not address a major need with this pick (DC, WR). Although, Spencer is a perfect fit in new head coach Wade Phillips’ 3-4 system. However, the Cowboys continue to not address the offensive side ball in the first round.
Jets, Panthers swap first-rounders
New York Jets: Acquire picks No. 14 (selected CB Darrelle Revis) and No. 191 (sixth round).
Carolina Panthers: Acquire picks No. 25 (selected LB Jon Beason), No. 59 (second round) and No. 164 (fifth round).
Scouts take: The Jets made the first major trade of the NFL draft with the Carolina Panthers. GM Mike Tannenbaum was very aggressive in moving up and addressing a major need on their football team by selecting cornerback Darrelle Revis. Revis is best-suited to play in a zone-heavy defensive scheme, which fit Mangini’s defensive style. The Jets are very thin at corner and the addition of Revis gives the Jets a possible future No. 1 corner. Revis has additional value as a return specialist. However, the Jets gave up a lot by moving up 11 spots in the first round.
The Panthers had targeted linebacker as a primary need and they filled it by trading back and taking OLB Jon Beason. With the health concerns of MLB Dan Morgan, the Panthers’ needed to address the linebacker position at some point in the draft. Beason lacks elite size, but he is a powerful, aggressive, fast linebacker with good instincts. Beason projects as a WLB but has the versatility to play inside as the MLB in the Panthers’ 4-3 schemes.
Broncos, Jaguars swap first-rounders
Denver Broncos: Acquire pick No. 17 (selected DE Jarvis Moss).
Jacksonville Jaguars: Acquire picks No. 21 (selected S Reggie Nelson), No. 86 (second round) and No. 198 (fifth round).
Scouts take: Simply put, head coach Mike Shanahan was not happy with his defense in 2006. With that said, the Broncos moved up to select DE Jarvis Moss. Moss is an impact pass-rusher who will improve the pass rush that this team lacked in 2006. He should contribute immediately as a nickel rusher in passing situations, which should help the back end in coverage. However, the Broncos probably could have stayed put at No. 21.
The Jaguars did a good job here of moving back four spots and acquiring two draft picks. They ended up with FS Reggie Nelson, the player they had rated as the top defensive player on their board. Nelson is a versatile player who has the best range of any safety prospect in the NFL draft. He should be an immediate impact player in the Jaguars’ secondary. Nelson has very good range, while SS Donovin Darius is best suited to play up near the line of scrimmage.
Cowboys trade up with Eagles
Dallas Cowboys: Acquire pick No. 26 (selected DE Anthony Spencer).
Philadelphia: Acquire picks No. 36, No. 87, No. 159.
Scouts take: Once SS Brandon Meriweather was selected by the Patriots at No. 24, the Eagles moved back in the draft in a trade that netted them QB Kevin Kolb. Kolb possess a combination of size, arm strength and mobility. Even though we think he is a perfect fit in Andy Reid’s West Coast offense, he is a reach in our opinion as the fifth-ranked quarterback on our board.
49ers trade up with Patriots
San Francisco 49ers: Acquire pick No. 28 (selected OT Joe Staley).
New England Patriots: Acquire pick No. 110 and a first-round pick in 2008.
Scouts take: The 49ers aggressively moved up in the backend of the first round to acquire LT Joe Staley. By selecting Staley the 49ers can move LT Jonas Jennings to the right side and drastically improve their offensive line. The 49ers have been shopping both RG Justin Smiley and the underachieving RT Kwame Harris throughout the offseason. Staley was a former TE who was converted to RT in 2004. He is a very good athlete with outstanding feet, balance and control but needs to improve his total body strength.
The Patriots got great value acquiring the 49ers’ first-round pick in 2008 and a fourth this season. The Patriots like to acquire future No. 1 picks.
Cardinals trade up for DT
Oakland Raiders: Acquire picks No. 38 (selected TE Zach Miller) and No. 105.
Arizona Cardinals: Acquire pick No. 33 (selected DT Alan Branch).
Scouts take: The Raiders moved back in the second round to select TE Zach Miller. Even though the Raiders signed two tight ends in Tony Stewart and Fred Wakefield in the free agency, the Raiders still had a need for a tight end. Miller is a solid all-around player who lacks the top-end speed to stretch the vertical seam. However, he could emerge as a reliable target in Lane Kiffin’s West Coast offense.
The Cardinals traded up at the start of the second round with the Oakland Raiders to select DT Alan Branch. Branch was highly rated as the second-best defensive tackle in the draft behind Amobi Okoye. With the selection of Branch the Cardinals are definitely moving in the direction of implementing more multiple 3-4 fronts under head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Bills trade up for Posluzny
Buffalo Bills: Acquire pick No. 34 (selected LB Paul Posluszny).
Detroit Lions: Acquire picks No. 43 (selected QB Drew Stanton) and No. 74.
Scouts take: After moving back in the second round, the Lions selected their possible quarterback of the future in Drew Stanton. Stanton has all the physical tools to eventually emerge as a frontline starter in the NFL. However, he will need a lot of development and refinement under the guidance Mike Martz. Stanton will also have the ability to sit and learn under starting QB Jon Kitna.
The Bills addressed a major need by moving up in the second round and selecting OLB Paul Posluszny. Posluszny is a throwback linebacker who reminds GM Marv Levy of former Bills linebacker Shane Conlan. Posluszny is a versatile player who could play either OLB or MLB in the Bills’ 4-3 defense. He possesses some size and speed with outstanding instincts. The Bills suffered some major losses on defense in the offseason with the loss of MLB London Fletcher and WLB Takeo Spikes.
Chargers trade up with Bears
San Diego Chargers: Acquire pick No. 37 (selected S Eric Weddle).
Chicago Bears: Acquire picks No. 62, No. 93, No. 167 and a third-round pick in the 2008 draft.
Scouts take: The Chargers gave up a lot to move up in the second round and select Eric Weddle. Weddle was the most versatile player on the board left in the draft. He is the type of player that coaches love and should be core special teams player, while contributing in the Chargers’ sub defensive packages. The Chargers are thin on the backend at safety and he has the ability to develop into a frontline starter in future years.
After moving back in the second round, the Bears reached and selected DE Dan Bazuin. Bazuin is an undersized defensive end with the ability to create speed off the edge in Lovie Smith’s defensive system. He is a great fit in their scheme, but there are concerns about his ability to produce at the NFL level. However, he is raw and will need time to develop his skills as a pass rusher. The Bears have been shopping DE Alex Brown and Bazuin should work well in the rotation of the Bears’ defensive line.
Chiefs send Hall to St. Louis
Kansas City Chiefs: Acquire picks No. 82 (third round) and No. 148 (fifth round).
St. Louis Rams: Acquire WR/RS Dante Hall and pick No. 84 (third round).
Scouts take: The Rams addressed a critical need when acquiring Hall. Although his production declined last season, he still possesses the ability to make explosive plays in the return game. The trade also allows the Rams to shift their focus to the defensive side of the ball in the first round after previously expressing a strong interest in Ohio State WR Ted Ginn Jr.
In the swap, the Chiefs switched places with the Rams in the third round, while also acquiring a fifth-round pick. Kansas City now has seven picks in the draft and potentially can position itself to move up on the first day with another deal.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The draft has been ongoing over nine and a half hours and Round 3 is just now getting under way, with the Oakland Raiders taking Georgia DE Quentin Moses. Thankfully, as Norm Hitzges points out, teams only get 5 minutes a pick from here on out.
ESPN NFLDraftTracker
1(65) Oakland Quentin Moses DE GEORGIA
2(66) New Orleans (from Detroit) Usama Young CB KENT
3(67) Dallas (from Cleveland) James Marten OT BOSTON COLLEGE
4(68) Tampa Bay Quincy Black OLB NEW MEXICO
5(69) Arizona Buster Davis ILB FLORIDA STATE
6(70) Denver (From Washington) Ryan Harris OT NOTRE DAME
7(71) Miami Lorenzo Booker RB FLORIDA STATE
8(72) Minnesota Marcus McCauley CB FRESNO STATE
9(73) Houston Jacoby Jones WR LANE
10(74) Baltimore (from Buffalo through Detroit) Yamon Figurs RS KANSAS STATE
11(75) Atlanta Laurent Robinson WR ILLINOIS STATE
12(76) San Francisco Jason Hill WR WASHINGTON STATE
13(77) Pittsburgh Matt Spaeth TE MINNESOTA
14(78) Green Bay James Jones WR SAN JOSE STATE
15(79) Jacksonville Mike Walker WR CENTRAL FLORIDA
17(80) Tennessee Paul Williams WR FRESNO STATE
18(81) NY Giants Jay Alford DT PENN STATE
19(82) Kansas City (From St. Louis) Tank Tyler DT NORTH CAROLINA ST
20(83) Carolina Charles Johnson DE GEORGIA
21(84) St. Louis (From Kansas City) Jonathan Wade CB TENNESSEE
22(85) Seattle Brandon Mebane DT CALIFORNIA
23(86) Baltimore (from Denver through Jacksonville) Marshal Yanda OT IOWA
24(87) Philadelphia (from Dallas) Stewart Bradley OLB NEBRASKA
25(88) New Orleans Andy Alleman OG AKRON
26(89) Green Bay (from NY Jets) Aaron Rouse S VIRGINIA TECH
27(90) Philadelphia Tony Hunt RB PENN STATE
28(91) Oakland (from New England) Mario Henderson OT FLORIDA STATE
29(92) Buffalo (From Baltimore) Trent Edwards QB STANFORD
30(93) Chicago (from San Diego) Garrett Wolfe RB NORTHERN ILLINOIS
31(94) Chicago Michael Okwo OLB STANFORD
32(95) Indianapolis Daymeion Hughes CB CALIFORNIA
33(96) San Diego (Compensatory selection) Anthony Waters ILB CLEMSON
34(97) San Francisco (Compensatory selection) Ray McDonald DE FLORIDA
35(98) Indianapolis (Compensatory selection) Quinn Pitcock DT OHIO STATE
36(99) Oakland (Compensatory selection) Johnnie Lee Higgins WR UTEP
UPDATE: Here’s what Scouts, Inc. has to say:
• All the red flags are there for Georgia DE Quentin Moses. He had a disappointing season, didn’t have a strong Senior Bowl week and showed up overweight at the combine. But don’t forget Moses once projected as a first-round pick and Oakland needed to get a defensive end. If Moses commits himself to improving and adds some bulk to his frame, he could prove to be one of the steals in this draft because of his natural ability.
• Infusing youth into the cornerback position had to be one of New Orleans’ top priorities. Unfortunately for Saints’ fans, the front office may have gotten caught up in the hype surrounding Usama Young who turned in an impressive 40-time. Young may be fast but he doesn’t change directions particularly well and he isn’t a great playmaker. Add in concerns about his ability to make the jump to the NFL after playing at Kent State and it becomes clear New Orleans reached here.
• Dallas took Boston College OT James Marten to fill its need at defensive tackle and he is a good value in the third round. He is a feisty drive blocker who plays with a wide base and masks his lack of ideal lateral mobility by using his long arms to ride edge rushers past the pocket. However, Doug Free out of Northern Illinois could be the better pick here because he is a much better pass blocker and they need a left tackle more than a right tackle. Free gets set quickly and he shows excellent lateral mobility for his size. One reason the Cowboys may have taken Marten is a foot injury slowed him during his senior season.
• Arizona has greater needs than inside linebacker. However, Florida State ILB Buster Davis represents an upgrade over Gerald Hayes and he should benefit from the Cardinals taking Michigan DT Alan Branch. With Branch eating up space and occupying blockers, Davis’s size won’t be as much of an issue. He has excellent instincts and takes the shortest path to the ball so he should be very effective.
• Notre Dame OT Ryan Harris should be happy he ended up in Denver because it is arguably the best fit for him. Harris’ biggest weakness is his inability to drive defenders off the ball but the Broncos won’t ask him to do that too much. Instead, the zone blocking scheme will take advantage of his above-average lateral mobility and initial quickness.
• Florida State RB Lorenzo Booker has the burst, elusiveness to emerge as an excellent third down back so Miami did well to get him. However, Booker is undersized and can’t carry a heavy workload. As result, the Dolphins need to take a big back that can step in should Ronnie Brown sustain an injury if they don’t think the league will reinstate Ricky Williams.
• Fresno State DC Marcus McCauley dropped to the third round because he makes too many mistakes and gives up too many big plays for a prospect with his talent. However, the Vikings needed help at corner and he has the tools to develop into a starter if the light comes on for him. He has excellent size, the speed to run with receivers and the quick feet to stay with receivers in man coverage.
• Two small school receivers came of the board in the third. Houston took Jacoby Jones out of Lane and Atlanta took Laurent Robinson out of Illinois State. Jones is the stronger prospect, as he’s fast and athletic to develop into a quality No. 2 if the can adjust to the speed of the NFL game. He should move into the No. 3 role and eventually replace Kevin Walter as the start opposite of Andre Johnson. Robinson is more of a reach because he doesn’t catch the ball as consistently and he needs to improve his ability to beat press coverage. However, there’s a lot to like about his big-play ability and he’s capable of turning the limited touches he’ll likely see with the Falcons during his rookie season into decent production.
• The Devin Hester effect continues to linger. After Miami reached for Ted Ginn Jr. in the first round, Baltimore took Kansas State WR/RS Yamon Figurs in the third. Figurs has everything you want in a return man. He is fearless, quick, and fast enough to go the distance when he gets a seam. The problem is he hasn’t been a productive receiver and he will have to make substantial progress to push for playing time for offense so he is one-dimensional. Chances are the Ravens could have waited and filled this need on the second day of the draft.
• San Francisco’s strong draft continued with the selection of Washington State WR Jason Hill. Hill is a raw route runner and is faster than he is quick but he has the jets to get behind defensive backs and he has the big hands to make spectacular catches. Getting him gives the 49ers a much needed playmaker at the receiver position.
• Philadelphia did well to add Penn State RB Tony Hunt. While they already have a big back in Correll Buckhalter, he has had problems staying healthy so adding another one to back up Brian Westbrook is wise.
• Cal CB Daymeion Hughes’ stock plummeted after he turned in an abysmal 40-time at the combine but he has the tools to develop into an excellent Cover 2 corner. He is physical, reads routes well and is a playmaker so Indianapolis should be happy to land him in the third.
• Stanford QB Trent Edwards finally came off the board in the fourth round. Though he slipped, it’s important to remember that he missed most of his senior season with a foot injury. If he can stay healthy, his arm strength and quick release should make him an excellent insurance policy should JP Losman sustain an injury or struggle.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
Round 2 is underway and I’ll update as it goes along. The trades are fast and furious and there’s much less information available as we get deeper in the draft and I won’t do player-by-player analyses other than perhaps for the picks made by the Dallas Cowboys and really oddball news (like Philly taking Houston QB Kevin Kolb with their first pick).
ESPN DraftTracker:
33. Arizona Cardinals
Pick acquired from Oakland
The pick: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
Scouts take: The saying it all starts up front is a football cliché that rings true more times than not and Arizona is having an excellent draft if you take that into account. In the first, the Cardinals got OT Levi Brown and trade up to get DT Alan Branch. Branch’s stock plummeted because of concerns about his work ethic and durability but he is an outstanding value here. He has the size, power and quickness to control the middle of the line of scrimmage and keep blockers off the linebackers.
34. Buffalo Bills
Pick acquired from Detroit
The pick: Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State
Scouts take: The exodus of Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher makes linebacker a substantial need and the Bills helped fill it by getting a first-round talent in the second round. Posluszny possesses rare instincts, he is relentless in pursuit and he knows how to bring ball carriers down in the open field. Even more impressive, he’s versatile enough to line up on the outside or the inside so the Bills can plug him in wherever they think he is most needed.
35. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The pick: Arron Sears, G, Tennessee
Scouts take: USC head coach Pete Carroll might feel a little slighted because either Steve Smith or Dwayne Jarrett, both USC receivers, would have arguably been better picks here. Where Arron Sears lines up will also have an impact on how strong of a pick this ends up being. If he lines up guard, he would be a valuable addition because he is quick and strong enough to eventually excel there. If they drafted him as an insurance policy for injury-prone Luke Pettigout, it’s a poor pick because he isn’t explosive or long enough to consistently hold up in pass protection on the edge.
36. Philadelphia Eagles
Pick acquired from Cleveland through Houston
The pick: Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
Scouts take: This is too much of a reach to consider it a quality pick and considering this is the Eagles’ first pick of the day makes this even worse but it’s understandable. The reason is Kolb is an excellent fit for the West Coast offense and the future if the quarterback situation needs to be addressed since Donovan McNabb and Kelly Holcomb aren’t getting any younger.
37. San Diego Chargers
Pick acquired from Washington through Chicago and New York Jets
The pick: Eric Weddle, S, Utah
Scouts take: The Chargers are efficient if nothing else, as they have used their first two picks to fill their most pressing needs. Weddle’s lack of ideal speed, athletic ability and size separated him from the top three safeties in the draft but he is a football player who makes the most of his natural ability. That’s good news for a Chargers’ team that needs him to make an immediate impact.
38. Oakland Raiders
Pick acquired from Arizona
The pick: Zach Miller, TE, Arizona State
Scouts take: While the Raiders signed two tight ends during the offseason, neither can be considered a quality starter and there is a big drop off in talent at the tight end position after Miller. He isn’t quite as fast as Olsen but he has excellent body control and he tracks the ball well so he can make the occasional play downfield. Miller also has strong hands to develop into a productive red zone target and hang onto the bullets QB Jamarcus Russell is certain to be firing next year.
39. Atlanta Falcons
Pick acquired from Houston
The pick: Justin Blalock, G, Texas
Scouts take: Head coach Bobby Petrino wants a bigger, tougher offensive line and general manager Rich McKay appears to be listening. Blalock is a mauler who has the upper body strength to lock onto defender’s frame and the meanness to finish the block once in position. He should step into the starting lineup and give the Falcons a much-needed upgrade at offensive guard.
40. Miami Dolphins
The pick:John Beck, QB, BYU
Scouts take: Miami needed a quarterback and Beck, whose stock gained some steam heading into the weekend, has the tools to develop into an effective starter. He is smart, mechanically sound and accurate. However, Drew Stanton is still on the board and he would have been a better pick in our opinion.
41. Atlanta Falcons
Pick acquired from Minnesota
The pick: Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
Scouts take: Safety is Atlanta’s biggest weakness and getting Houston likely fills the hole there. The reason is Jimmy Williams can move from corner to safety and Houston can move into the starting slot opposite DeAngelo Hall. And the Falcons should be confident in his ability to start because he faced some of the best receivers in the nation at the collegiate and never backed down. Of course, his speed and ability to change directions quickly are reason to be hopeful.
42. Indianapolis Colts
Pick acquired from San Francisco
The pick: Tony Ugoh, OT, Arkansas
Scouts take: Again, Indianapolis needs help on the defensive side of the ball so this is puzzling. In fact, the only logical reason for taking tackle is to start grooming a possible replacement for Tarik Glenn. Ugoh played in a run-heavy scheme at the collegiate level and he doesn’t project as a starting left tackle. The only other possibility is moving him inside but he doesn’t have ideal lower body strength for a guard.
43. Detroit Lions
Pick acquired from Buffalo
The pick: Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State
Scouts take:The Lions did well to get Stanton considering two quarterbacks had already gone in the round. Stanton doesn’t have elite arm strength or size but he is tough, moves well and can pick a defense part when he gets on a roll. He should play behind John Kitna for a year while he gets comfortable with the offense and develop a strong bond with first-round pick Calvin Johnson.
44. Minnesota Vikings
Pick acquired from Atlanta
The pick: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
Scouts take: The Vikings needed a receiver and Rice has the potential to develop into a playmaker. He is fast enough to stretch the field and he does a nice job of adjusting to the ball while it’s in the air. With that in mind, this can’t be called a bad pick but there are concerns about Rice’s ability to excel at the NFL level. He doesn’t have great bulk and he is a little soft so he will get pushed around at times. That’s why USC WR Steve Smith may have been the better pick here.
45. Carolina Panthers
The pick: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
Scouts take: Mentor finally gets to play with protégé, as Dwayne Jarrett joins Keyshawn Johnson in Carolina. The truth is receiver isn’t a great need for the Panthers but Jarrett is a great value here and, oddly enough, he could eventually replace Johnson when the times comes for him to step down. It makes because both make up for their lack of ideal speed with fluid route running and by using their wide frame to shield defenders from the ball.
46. Pittsburgh Steelers
The pick: LaMarrr Woodley, DE, Michigan
Scouts take: Getting an outside linebacker that can get to the passer appears to be so important to the Steelers that they picked up two with their first two selections. Woodley’s stock dropped during the offseason, but he projected as a first-round pick at the end of the season and for good reason. He has good initial quickness, can shed blocks quickly and shows good closing speed once he turns the corner. The only concern is he has to work on his cover skills so he isn’t going to play an every-down role at outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme any time soon.
47.New York Jets
Pick acquired from Green Bay
The pick: David Harris, LB, Michigan
Scouts take: The Jets seem to be a completely different team in terms of the draft since Eric Mangini took over as the head coach. After jumping up to get Darrelle Revis in the first round, they jumped again to draft Harris. Harris doesn’t cover as well as Patrick Willis and he will need to be protected at times, but he is a stout run defender who rarely gets caught out of position and delivers some big hits. Just the idea of him lining up opposite Jonathan Vilma should keep opposing ball carriers up at night.
48. Jacksonville Jaguars
The pick: Justin Durant, LB, Hampton
Scouts take: The Jaguars reached for Durant because there are a number of higher rated prospects at outside linebacker, but they have addressed two of their top three needs. Though Durant has the athletic ability and explosiveness to develop into a quality starter, he is a small-school prospect so his ability to adjust to the speed of the game at the NFL level remains to be seen.
49. Cincinnati Bengals
The pick:Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn
Scouts take: Irons is a good value here because he runs hard between the tackles and he’s fast enough to break some long runs. His lack of size won’t be as much of a concern in Cincinnati because he will share caries with Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry. However, it’s important to note that the Bengals need an outside linebacker and a receiver so they didn’t fill any kind of a hole here.
50. Tennessee Titans
The pick: Chris Henry, RB, Arizona
Scouts take: With LenDale White having problems keeping his weight down and former Titan Travis Henry now wit Denver, the Titans needed a running back and Chris Henry has great upside. He possesses a rare bend of size and speed. With that said, Tennessee has yet to pick up a cornerback or a receiver and they are hurting at both positions. In addition, Henry’s lack of experience at the collegiate level should raise some red flags and Michael Bush is still on the board.
51. New York Giants
The pick: Steve Smith, WR, USC
Scouts take: The Giants couldn’t have done much better than getting Smith here. He is an excellent route runner for such a young player, catches the ball and can produce after the catch. Smith should replace aging Amani Toomer and complement Plaxico Burress well. Perhaps more importantly, he gives Eli Manning another legitimate target.
52. St. Louis Rams
The pick: Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers
Scouts take: The Rams could have been better served taking a linebacker here because it’s a more pressing need. On the other hand, Leonard is a good choice here and they also need a back that can back Jackson up because undersized free agent signing Travis Minor is strictly a situational back. Leonard can pick up the tough yards between the tackles, catch the ball out of the backfield and line up at fullback at times.
53. Cleveland Browns
Pick acquired from Dallas
The pick: Eric Wright, CB, UNLV
Scouts take: From a talent standpoint, the Browns continue to have one of the strongest drafts. They have also addressed up some of the biggest weaknesses on the roster. Wright has the confidence, speed and quick feet to quickly emerge as a quality starting corner as a rookie. So why has he lasted so long? No player has more baggage in terms of character concerns than Wright so teams have been hesitant to pull the trigger. As a result, this looks like a boom or bust pick at this point.
54. Kansas City Chiefs
The pick: Turk McBride, DT, Tennessee
Scouts take: The Chiefs needed a defensive tackle and Turk McBride projected as a second round pick heading into today because he has the quickness to regularly disrupt plays in the backfield. However, it’s not a great fit. Kansas City’s priority should have been improving a mediocre run defense and McBride lacks the size to clog up the middle.
55. Seattle Seahawks
The pick: Josh Wilson, CB, Maryland
Scouts take: Kelly Herndon is a marginal No.2 cornerback who isn’t getting any younger so the Seahawks were wise to bring in Wilson. Wilson is a bit or a reach because he doesn’t have great size and he is inconsistent but he is still one of the best corners available. He’s fast enough to run with most any receiver and he is tough against the run for player his size.
56. Denver Broncos
The pick: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas
Scouts take: After taking Moss in the first round, Denver could have filled this need by taking a receiver or a linebacker. On the other hand, Crowder is a sound second round selection. He is a high-motor player with great speed for his size and sound instincts. Though he isn’t as explosive as Moss, he is bigger so he has a better chance of developing into an every-down player.
57. Philadelphia Eagles
The pick: Victor Abiamiri, DE, Notre Dame
Scouts take: While the Eagles still needing help at safety and corner, getting a defensive end was also on the to-do list this weekend because Javon Kearse and Darren Howard are aging and have underachieved. Abiamari lacks ideal top-end speed and has some problems holding his ground when teams run at him, but he has the strong upper body to keep blockers off him and the quick feet to develop a wide variety of pass rush moves.
58. Detroit Lions
Pick acquired from New Orleans
The pick: Ikaika Alma-Francis, DE, Hawaii
Scouts take:Alma-Francis is coming off a season-ending pectoral injury and he is raw so he will have to work on his technique. While he has the size and quickness to develop into an effective starter in time, the Lions have more pressing needs than end and adding a linebacker or possibly a cornerback makes a little more sense here.
59. Carolina Panthers
Pick acquired from New York Jets
The pick: Ryan Kalil, OC, USC
Scouts take:The bottom line is a team can’t go wrong by taking Kalil at this point. While Justin Hartwig is an adequate starter, Kalil represents an upgrade and could emerge as one of the best centers in the league. He is a technician who gets into good position and he’s strong enough to drive defenders off the ball when he gets under their pads. His pass blocking is just as strong if not better because he has excellent quickness and he has the quick feet to counter when defenders throw double moves at him.
60. Miami Dolphins
Pick acquired from New England
The pick: Samson Satele, OC, Hawaii
Scouts take: Satele is versatile enough to line up anywhere along the offensive line but he fits best at center and the Dolphins’ greatest need at offensive tackle. If they do indeed move him to tackle, defensive ends should have success exposing his lack of ideal lower body strength. In addition, he doesn’t have very long arms so he is going to have problems riding edge rushers past the pocket. In other words, this is a questionable pick.
61. Detroit Lions
Pick acquired from Baltimore
The pick: Gerald Alexander, S, Boise State
Scouts take: Although Alexander rarely makes mistakes when dropping into coverage, fills hard when he reads run and is versatile enough to line up at safety or corner, he doesn’t have great size or speed. In fact, he projects as a sub-package defensive back who makes his biggest contributions on special teams. Why not take DS Josh Gattis or DC/DS Tenard Jackson here? Both would have been better values.
62. Chicago Bears
Pick acquired from San Diego
The pick: Dan Bazuin, DE, Central Michigan
Scouts take: Bazuin is a good pick for the Bears’ Cover-2 schemes because he has the burst to turn the corner and can deliver the big hit when he gets to the quarterback but this is too much of a reach. First off, he doesn’t have great size and he will struggle when teams run at him. Secondly, he had a disappointing senior season and didn’t play in one of the premiere conferences. As a result, there are some concerns about ability to produce working against a considerably higher level of competition.
63. Green Bay Packers
Pick acquired from Chicago through New York Jets
The pick: Brandon Jackson, RB, Nebraska
Scouts take: The Packers lost out on the Marshawn Lynch sweepstakes so they were wise to take a back here. Only problem is they took the wrong back. On the positive side, Jackson is a balanced runner who bounces of arm tackles and can make defenders miss. On the negative side, he doesn’t have ideal size or speed for a primary back. With Michael Bush and Tony Hunt still waiting for calls, Green Bay probably should have taken one of them.
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick acquired from Indianapolis
The pick: Sabby Piscitelli, S, Oregon State
Scouts take: DC Daymeion Hughes is a perfect fit for the Cover-2 and would have been a strong pick here Piscatelli, on the other hand, doesn’t have the range to cover the deep half of the field. He’s tough against the run and can make plays in coverage but he just isn’t fast enough to excel in this scheme. In fact, some draft experts thought Piscatelli would have to move to outside linebacker to make it in the NFL.
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| Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
The Green Bay Packers have reached to get some help on the defensive line, taking Tennessee’s Justin Harrell with the 16th pick.
What the Experts Say:
Scout.com Profile:
Player Evaluation: A hard-working lineman with a lot of physical skill, Harrell could be one of the most underrated players in this draft. His injury last season will decrease his final grade, yet he offers starting possibilities as either a two-gap lineman or as a conventional tackle.
STRENGTHS: Explosion, Intensity/Effort, Quickness off Ball
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Disengaging Skills, Lateral Range
Biography: Three-year starter who totaled seven tackles in three games last season, after being sidelined with a torn bicep. Awarded All-Conference honors as a junior after totaling 39/7.5/2.5.
Pos: Tough, athletic defender who plays with top effort. Gets off the snap with a quick first step, is fluid changing direction and slides off blocks to make the play. Bends his knees, gets leverage on opponents and is rarely off his feet. Flashes power on the inside, gets push in the middle of the line or holds the point. Consistently doubled by opponents.
Neg: Gets wired in blocks and is slow to shed. Makes most of his plays up the open field in a small area.
UPDATE Scouts.inc:
Make no mistake about it, Justin Harrell is a talented player, and staying away from a player who has problems keeping his weight down like Alan Branch makes sense considering the problems the Packers had with Grady Jackson. However, tight end is a far greater need and Greg Olsen was still on the board, so they probably could have gotten a little more bang for the buck here, especially considering QB Brett Favre does a great job of finding his tight ends.
Harrell is coming off a serious arm injury, so there’s reason to worry about his ability to stay healthy, and he isn’t a great pass-rusher, but he should immediately improve the Packers’ run defense. He has excellent lower-body strength and is virtually impossible to move once he establishes position. His ability to collapse the pocket will also make it easier for the edge rushers to get to the quarterback.
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| Friday, April 27, 2007 |
The ultimate guides to the NFL draft are produced by Rick “Goose” Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News and ESPN’s Mel Kiper. Gosselin’s is the best, in my judgment, because it’s compiled by consulting the people who actually make the decisions: the scouts and general managers. He’s put out his top 100 prospects. Here are the top 40, which should theoretically take us well through the first round:
1-10 |
Rank, player |
Position |
School |
1. Calvin Johnson |
WR |
Ga. Tech |
Gosselin on Johnson: Since the NFL opened the door to underclassmen in 1990, juniors have gone first overall in 10 of 17 drafts. Come Saturday, make it 11 times. The Oakland Raiders are likely to select either LSU QB JaMarcus Russell or Johnson with the first overall choice. Both are skipping their senior seasons. It also will be the third consecutive draft an underclassman has gone first overall, following QB Alex Smith in 2005 (San Francisco) and DE Mario Williams in 2006 (Houston). A record 15 underclassmen were selected in the first round in 2005. Seventeen juniors carry potential first-round grades into this draft. At 6-5, 239 pounds with 4.35 speed in the 40, Johnson is the best of the bunch. |
2. Adrian Peterson |
HB |
Oklahoma |
3. JaMarcus Russell |
QB |
LSU |
4. Joe Thomas |
OT |
Wisconsin |
5. Brady Quinn |
QB |
Notre Dame |
6. Gaines Adams |
DE |
Clemson |
7. LaRon Landry |
S |
LSU |
8. Darrelle Revis |
CB |
Pittsburgh |
9. Levi Brown |
OT |
Penn St. |
10. Leon Hall |
CB |
Michigan |
11-20 |
Rank, player |
Position |
School |
11. Jamaal Anderson |
DE |
Arkansas |
12. Patrick Willis |
MLB |
Mississippi |
13. Adam Carriker |
DE |
Nebraska |
14. Marshawn Lynch |
HB |
California |
15. Lawrence Timmons |
OLB |
Florida St. |
16. Robert Meachem |
WR |
Tennessee |
17. Reggie Nelson |
S |
Florida |
Gosselin on Nelson: Since 1967, when the AFL and NFL merged drafts, there have never been four safeties taken in a first round. That could change with LaRon Landry, Nelson, Michael Griffin and Brandon Meriweather all toting first-round grades. The search is on for safeties with ball skills, and Nelson is coming off a six-interception season for the national champions. "His nickname is the Eraser," Florida CB Reggie Lewis said. "If I got in a situation where I was beaten, I knew I had the Eraser back there. With Reggie behind me, I knew I didn’t have any problems." |
18. Ben Grubbs |
G |
Auburn |
19. Ted Ginn Jr. |
WR |
Ohio St. |
20. Joe Staley |
OT |
C. Michigan |
21-30 |
Rank, player |
Position |
School |
21. Amobi Okoye |
DT |
Louisville |
22. Aaron Ross |
CB |
Texas |
23. Jarvis Moss |
DE |
Florida |
24. Jon Beason |
OLB |
Miami-Fla. |
Gosselin on Beason: The Hurricanes are no longer a college football power, but they remain a dominant force every April. They’ve had first-round selections in 12 consecutive NFL drafts, the longest current streak among the colleges. The next longest streak is five by Oklahoma. Miami also has had 22 players selected in the first round this decade – 10 more than runner-up Florida State. The Hurricanes can pad both totals with three potential first-round draft picks: Beason, S Brandon Meriweather and TE Greg Olsen. Beason has been compared to ex-teammate Jonathan Vilma, a No. 1 pick by the Jets in 2004. A bit undersized (6-0, 237), Beason packs a heavyweight’s punch in a middleweight’s body. |
25. Dwayne Bowe |
WR |
LSU |
26. Michael Griffin |
S |
Texas |
27. Paul Posluszny |
MLB |
Penn St. |
28. Justin Harrell |
DT |
Tennessee |
29. David Harris |
MLB |
Michigan |
30. Brandon Meriweather |
S |
Miami-Fla. |
31-40 |
Rank, player |
Position |
School |
31. Greg Olsen |
TE |
Miami-Fla. |
32. Anthony Gonzalez |
WR |
Ohio St. |
33. Alan Branch |
DT |
Michigan |
34. Anthony Spencer |
DE |
Purdue |
35. Chris Houston |
CB |
Arkansas |
36. Ryan Kalil |
C |
Southern Cal |
37. Trent Edwards |
QB |
Stanford |
Gosselin on Edwards: The pre-draft hype focused on the two elite passers at the top of this board, LSU’s JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn. But three quality quarterbacks factor into the second round: Edwards, Drew Stanton of Michigan State and Kevin Kolb of Houston. All could go quickly. Edwards went 26-0 in his final two seasons at Los Gatos (Calif.) HS and set a state record by completing 78.1 percent of his passes as a junior. But he played on some terrible teams at Stanford, winning only 10 of his 31 starts. He also took a beating, missing time with shoulder, thumb and foot injuries. Still, he’s 6-4, 231 pounds with a big arm. The NFL loves measurables at quarterback. |
38. Arron Sears |
G |
Tennessee |
39. Dwayne Jarrett |
WR |
Southern Cal |
40. Drew Stanton |
QB |
Michigan St. |
For 41-100, see his guide.
Mel Kiper is the most famous of the draft geeks and he’s good. He lives and breathes the prospects and knows them better than almost anybody. But that doesn’t mean his opinion–even if it’s right–will match up with that of the GMs and scouts on draft day. Here are his final projections for the 1st round:
We’ll check back tomorrow to see who got closest. It’ll take four or five years to know whose picks were best.
The Kansas City Chiefs are having trouble signing their superstar running back Larry Johnson to a long-term contract. To make sure they don’t end up with nothing if Johnson leaves via free agency after next season the team has been talking trade with a few teams including my Green Bay Packers:
The Chiefs have spoken with the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and possibly others, but have not found anything close to a taker.
A Chiefs official insisted Tuesday that his team has not engaged in “specific” trade talks with any team. But it’s a matter of semantics. They clearly have spoken in trade generalities with a number of teams, trying to gauge Johnson’s value around the league and to their organization.
The reason the Chiefs are shopping Johnson is the exact reason that other teams are leery about trading for him.
Johnson is heading into the last year of his contract and is seeking a new deal that would eclipse the eight-year, $60 million contract given to San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson two years ago, before the NFL’s salary-cap increased 36 percent. With the salary-cap skyrocketing, so is Johnson’s asking price, and rightfully so.
As much as I’d love Johnson wearing the green and gold his salary would be way to high. Mike McCarthy’s zone blocking scheme appears to be like Denver’s. The running back isn’t as important as the blocking technique. Thus Denver could continue having an effective running game after trading Clinton Portis to Washington. The talent of the offensive linemen and the scheme are more of a key than the running back blasting through the holes. We’ll see if the Packers can garner some ball control without Ahman Green who left to go to Houston. The Packers are better off drafting a running back or two Saturday and putting their salary cap room into finding a safety and improving all-around depth.
“Future of Larry Johnson Still Cloudy”
[Cross-posted to The American Mind.]
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| Sunday, April 15, 2007 |
Rick Gosselin has put together his first NFL Mock Draft of the 2007 season. He got himself into the sportswriters wing of the NFL Hall of Fame doing these, so he’s worth paying attention to.
Team |
Player |
Pos. |
School |
1. Oakland |
JaMarcus Russell |
QB |
LSU |
2. Detroit |
Adrian Peterson |
RB |
Oklahoma |
Matt Millen has struggled with top-10 picks in his stint as general manager of the Lions. Peterson would be a safe and popular choice. Detroit had success using first-round picks on Oklahoma runners Steve Owens (1970) and Billy Sims (1980). |
3. Cleveland |
Calvin Johnson |
WR |
Georgia Tech |
4. Tampa Bay |
Brady Quinn |
QB |
Notre Dame |
5. Arizona |
Joe Thomas |
OT |
Wisconsin |
6. Washington |
Gaines Adams |
DE |
Clemson |
7. Minnesota |
LaRon Landry |
S |
LSU |
8. Atlanta |
Leon Hall |
CB |
Michigan |
9. Miami |
Alan Branch |
DT |
Michigan |
10. Houston |
Amobi Okoye |
DT |
Louisville |
11. San Francisco |
Jamaal Anderson |
DE |
Arkansas |
12. Buffalo |
Marshawn Lynch |
RB |
California |
13. St. Louis |
Darrelle Revis |
CB |
Pittsburgh |
14. Carolina |
Patrick Willis |
LB |
Mississippi |
15. Pittsburgh |
Adam Carriker |
DE |
Nebraska |
Carriker is the prototypical defensive end for a 3-4 scheme. But his true value lies is his versatility. With his size (6-6, 296), he can line up at any of the four positions along the defensive line. |
16. Green Bay |
Ted Ginn Jr. |
WR |
Ohio State |
17. Jacksonville |
Jarvis Moss |
DE |
Florida |
18. Cincinnati |
Reggie Nelson |
S |
Florida |
19. Tennessee |
Robert Meachem |
WR |
Tennessee |
20. N.Y. Giants |
Levi Brown |
OT |
Penn State |
21. Denver |
Lawrence Timmons |
LB |
Florida State |
22. Dallas |
Dwayne Bowe |
WR |
LSU |
With two starting wide receivers in their 30s, the Cowboys need a young player to build a future downfield passing game for Tony Romo. Bowe is a physical receiver in the Michael Irvin mold. |
23. Kansas City |
Justin Harrell |
DT |
Tennessee |
24. New England |
Jon Beason |
LB |
Miami |
25. N.Y. Jets |
Aaron Ross |
CB |
Texas |
26. Philadelphia |
Chris Houston |
CB |
Arkansas |
27. New Orleans |
Dwayne Jarrett |
WR |
Southern California |
28. New England |
Michael Griffin |
S |
Texas |
29. Baltimore |
Joe Staley |
OT |
Central Michigan |
30. San Diego |
Anthony Gonzalez |
WR |
Ohio State |
31. Chicago |
Paul Posluszny |
LB |
Penn State |
32. Indianapolis |
Greg Olsen |
TE |
Miami |
Forgive me for having a Robin Williams moment. The Miami Dolphins have been very busy over the last few days. Here is the good news.
The Dolphins have agreed to terms with former Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter on a five-year, $32 million contract, a source said today.
The deal is pending Porter passing a physical examination, which he is expected to take tonight or tomorrow.
The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus and another $8 million in guaranteed salary, a source said.
Porter, who was released by the Steelers last Thursday in a salary cap-related move, logged 60 sacks in his eight seasons with the Steelers while emerging as one of the AFC’s top outside linebackers in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense. The Dolphins deploy the same kind of defensive system and are in need of an outside linebacker with Donnie Spragan now an unrestricted free agent.
No question, Porter is a great addition to the team. Now for the bad Dolphin news.
The Miami Dolphins’ busiest day of the free-agency period ended with the team better positioned for April’s draft and picking up more space under the salary cap.
It could be just the beginning of a roster overhaul that might signal a youth movement under first-year coach Cam Cameron and General Manager Randy Mueller.
Miami traded popular wide receiver Wes Welker on Monday for second- and seventh-round draft picks, giving the Dolphins nine picks – and possibly more to come.
Tight end Randy McMichael and his $4 million salary and quarterback Joey Harrington, who was due a $1 million roster bonus this week, were released.
Harrington was no great loss. Welker is an overacheiver who gets little respect because of his size but his stats were good last year his first season playing mostly full-time. Welker also livened up Miami’s kick returns that have been pathetic for years.
Then the team dumps McMichael. Couldn’t the team find room for his bonus? They’ve got enough over priced overrated players dump them. So what will Miami do at tight end now. Here is one possible answer.
The Dolphins have made their first free-agent acquisition of 2007 by signing Green Bay tight end David Martin to a contract, a source said Sunday.
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Martin played in 11 games for the Packers in 2006 with four starts, catching 21 passes for 198 yards with two touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Martin is regarded as a quality receiver who has battled injuries throughout his first six NFL seasons in Green Bay.
Here are the stats on the piece of junk player Miami will replace Randy McMichael with. I’m so overwhelmed by those 87 career pass receptions. NOT!
Oh and if anyone cares, The Dolphins’s 3rd string QB at the end of last season, Shane Matthews, has retired.
Quarterback Shane Matthews, a 14-year NFL veteran, said Friday he plans to retire permanently.
Matthews, a former Florida Gators star, came out of retirement in December to sign with Miami after the team placed Daunte Culpepper on injured reserve to rehabilitate his knee. He did not appear in any games.
In his NFL career, Matthews played for six teams and threw for 4,756 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Here are Matthews career stats. Note that he threw 31 career touchdowns not 24. Back to remedial sportswriting school with you Palm Beach Post reporter Edgar Thompson.
Shane Matthews won’t be missed by Dolphin fans, I wish the same could be said for the rest of the team’s transactions.
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