This might be the toughest divison in the NFL, but let's see how much the draft is going to affect the AFC South this year.
Houston Texans (2007 record: 8-8)
Number of picks: 7
Best Pick: RB Steve Slaton (89th overall)
Sleeper Watch: LB Xavier Adibi (118th overall)
Analysis: The Texans traded down in the first round, which allowed the Baltimore Ravens select QB Joe Flacco. So, at pick 26, they were all set to select CB Mike Jenkins, when he was snatched up by Dallas, who traded up to number 25. So, the Texans drafted OT Duane Brown. An interesting pick, because they have been attempting to buil an offensive line since day one, and Brown could be a great pick. They could also regret not trading down further. In the second round they drafted the speedy CB Antwaun Molden. Moldin needs some work on his skills, but his 4.39 40 tim can't be ignored. In Slaton, the Texans get a speedy, slasher-type RB to use with Ahman Green. Many had Slaton down on their draft boards because he was featured in an option offence at West Virginia, but he has all the skills to develop into a great NFL back. Adibi was considered by some as a first round pick, but his off-the-field troubles pushed his stock way down. He was considered one of the best coverage LBs in this draft. Though the rest of the draft, they filled depth needs with a defensive tackle, a safety and a quarterback.
Grade: C-
Indianapolis Colts (2007 record: 13-3)
Number of picks: 9
Best Pick: LB Phillip Wheeler (93rd overall)
Sleeper Watch: RB Mike Hart (202nd overall)
Analysis: Without a first round pick, the Colts went solely for the best player available for much of the draft. They select versatile OL Mike Pollak late in the second round. Wheeler had a very productive college career at Georgia Tech. They also drafted LB Marcus Howard, who they believe has the same skill set as Robert Mathis. Hart was an incredible option at RB in Michigan, and some people are shocked he fell so far. The major knock on Hart is his size (5'9, 185) but that can be worked on. He should excel as a back up to Joseph Addai. Along the way they also drafted three more offensive lineman, two tight ends, and a wide receiver.
Grade: C
Jacksonville Jaguars (2007 record 11-5)
Number of picks: 5
Best Pick: LB Quentin Groves (52nd overall)
Sleeper Watch: CB Trae Williams (159th overall)
Analysis: They used a bunch of their picks to trade up to the eigth pick and select DE Derrick Harvey. They stated right away that this draft was about getting to the quarterback. Harvey has great skills, but may have been a reach at number 8. With their second round pick, they drafted Groves, who many thought had first round value. Groves should fill in nicely as a back up and future starter in the Jag's LB corps. From there they had no picks until the fifth round. The Jag's went for a pair of Williams in the fifth. The first was LB Thomas Williams. Thomas has the versatility to play all of the LB positions and has some experience at FB. Trae Williams has nice potential at CB. He played opposite to first rounder Mike Jenkins in college, and you would think some of those skills transferred over. With their final pick, they drafted solely for depth, with RB/KR Chauncey Washington coming to them in the seventh round.
Grade: C
Tennessee Titans (2007 record 10-6)
Number of picks: 7
Best Pick: DE Jason Jones (54th overall)
Sleeper Watch: LB Stanford Keglar (126th overall)
Analysis: The Titans shocked the world in the first round by selecting speedy RB Chris Johnson with the 24th overall selection. While speed will not be a concern, Johnson is smallish and comes from a low-calibre school. This was a bit risky at that point of the draft. Johnson joins an already crowded backfield, and may struggle to get carries. In round two they selected Jones, who they believe will be a great replacement for the departed Antwan Odom. With great size and strength, Jones should be a great addition to this line. In round three, the Titans selected one of the best blocking TEs in this draft in Craig Stevens. This should help the ailing running game, as would settling on one RB. Than along comes Keglar. He has great size (6'2, 239) and could be groomed as an immediate starter, or as an eventual replacement for Keith Bulluck. They also drafted a defensive lineman, a wide receiver and a cornerback.
Grade: C
So, this division was kind of boring. Just kidding of course, as the NFL is never boring. AFC West on deck next.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
AFC North Draft Review
Here is part two of my draft recaps. I am venturing into the AFC North this time, and this could be fun.
Baltimore Ravens (2007 record: 4-12)
Number of picks: 10
Best Pick: RB Ray Rice (55th overall)
Sleeper Watch: LB Tavares Gooden (71st overall)
Analysis: So they missed on Matt Ryan, so they traded down, than back up, to select Joe Flacco from Deleware. This choice has boom-or-bust potential. Flacco fits the bill (6'6, 236) but comes form division II, so he has not seen NFL-level competition. Enough scouts believe Flacco can excel, so who am I to question him? They used their second round pick on RB Ray Rice from Rutgers. Some question his abilities because of his size, but you can't deny his production. I think Goodmen has the speed and strength to excel in the Ravens hybrid 4-3/46 defence for a lot of years, and should strenghten the LB corps right away. Along the way they drafted two safeties, two wide receivers, two offensive lineman and another running back, so they shouldn't have any depth problems next season. Anything helps this team, that gave the Dolphins their only win.
Grade: C-
Cincinnati Bengals (2007 record 7-9)
Number of picks: 10
Best Pick: LB Keith Rivers (9th overall)
Sleeper Watch: DT Jason Shirley (145th overall)
Analysis: The Bengals went with the safe pick by selecting Rivers, and immediately fixed their defence. They went with an unknown WR in the second round, but believe his production could be enough to replace the departed Chris Henry. And, with the impending (maybe) trade of Chad Johnson, they drafted Andre Caldwell in the third round and another in the seventh. Shirley is a wild card, because he was the second DT chosen by the Bengals (Pat Sims). He is huge (6'5, 329) and has decent speed for his size. Could be a clogger for years to come. They also drafted a safety, a defensive end and a tight end. They focused heavily on defence, which they had to.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Browns (2007 record 10-6)
Number of picks: 5
Best pick: DT Ahtyba Rubin (190th overall)
Sleeper Watch: Rubin
Analysis: Due to a mass of trades prior to the draft, the Browns only had five picks. They spent thier first pick on ILB Beau Bell. Bell has good size and strength, and could join a very good young LB corps. They drafted TE Martin Rucker with their second pick. This is strictly a depth move, as they have Kellen Winslow Jr. This brings me to Rubin. You might be asking why my sleeper is also my best pick. The Browns use a 3-4 defence, and this requires a great nose tackle. Since Ted Washington is pretty much (if not) done, they drafted the massive Rubin to replace him. Thier other two picks were a defensive end and a wide receiver, basically for depth purposes.
Grade: C
Pittsburgh Steelers (2007 record: 10-6)
Number of picks: 7
Best Pick: RB Rashard Mendenhall (23rd overall)
Sleeper Watch: QB Dennis Dixon (156th overall)
Analysis: The Steelers were overjoyed that Mendenhall fell to them at 23. A bit of a weird pick, but he will pair with Willie Parker to form a great running game. They got another steal at 53 when WR Limas Sweed fell into their laps. Sweed gives them the size (6'4) and speed that they have lacked inrecent years. They drafted a lot of depth picks, including a defensive end, offensive tackle, linebacker and safety. This brings me to Dixon. Once a favourite to win the Heisman and go in the first round, Dixon fell off most boards when he tore his ACL. Apparently he has recovered, and could be groomed into a nice back up for Big Ben. Word is, he might be turned into the next Kordell Stewart, a hybrid between QB and WR.
Grade: A
In other news, the Raiders have parted ways with RB Dominic Rhodes. Stuck in a battle with 5 other guys in the Raiders backfield, Rhodes will probably get more work elsewhere anyway...The Panther have added DT Darwin Walker. When healthy, Walker can be a force, and should provide a great replacement for the traded Kris Jenkins.... The Eagles are sueing Terrell Owens for not paying back bonus money he owed the team...And finally, the Chargers add some offensive line depth by signing the massive L.J. Shelton. Tomorrow, it's AFC South time.
Baltimore Ravens (2007 record: 4-12)
Number of picks: 10
Best Pick: RB Ray Rice (55th overall)
Sleeper Watch: LB Tavares Gooden (71st overall)
Analysis: So they missed on Matt Ryan, so they traded down, than back up, to select Joe Flacco from Deleware. This choice has boom-or-bust potential. Flacco fits the bill (6'6, 236) but comes form division II, so he has not seen NFL-level competition. Enough scouts believe Flacco can excel, so who am I to question him? They used their second round pick on RB Ray Rice from Rutgers. Some question his abilities because of his size, but you can't deny his production. I think Goodmen has the speed and strength to excel in the Ravens hybrid 4-3/46 defence for a lot of years, and should strenghten the LB corps right away. Along the way they drafted two safeties, two wide receivers, two offensive lineman and another running back, so they shouldn't have any depth problems next season. Anything helps this team, that gave the Dolphins their only win.
Grade: C-
Cincinnati Bengals (2007 record 7-9)
Number of picks: 10
Best Pick: LB Keith Rivers (9th overall)
Sleeper Watch: DT Jason Shirley (145th overall)
Analysis: The Bengals went with the safe pick by selecting Rivers, and immediately fixed their defence. They went with an unknown WR in the second round, but believe his production could be enough to replace the departed Chris Henry. And, with the impending (maybe) trade of Chad Johnson, they drafted Andre Caldwell in the third round and another in the seventh. Shirley is a wild card, because he was the second DT chosen by the Bengals (Pat Sims). He is huge (6'5, 329) and has decent speed for his size. Could be a clogger for years to come. They also drafted a safety, a defensive end and a tight end. They focused heavily on defence, which they had to.
Grade: B+
Cleveland Browns (2007 record 10-6)
Number of picks: 5
Best pick: DT Ahtyba Rubin (190th overall)
Sleeper Watch: Rubin
Analysis: Due to a mass of trades prior to the draft, the Browns only had five picks. They spent thier first pick on ILB Beau Bell. Bell has good size and strength, and could join a very good young LB corps. They drafted TE Martin Rucker with their second pick. This is strictly a depth move, as they have Kellen Winslow Jr. This brings me to Rubin. You might be asking why my sleeper is also my best pick. The Browns use a 3-4 defence, and this requires a great nose tackle. Since Ted Washington is pretty much (if not) done, they drafted the massive Rubin to replace him. Thier other two picks were a defensive end and a wide receiver, basically for depth purposes.
Grade: C
Pittsburgh Steelers (2007 record: 10-6)
Number of picks: 7
Best Pick: RB Rashard Mendenhall (23rd overall)
Sleeper Watch: QB Dennis Dixon (156th overall)
Analysis: The Steelers were overjoyed that Mendenhall fell to them at 23. A bit of a weird pick, but he will pair with Willie Parker to form a great running game. They got another steal at 53 when WR Limas Sweed fell into their laps. Sweed gives them the size (6'4) and speed that they have lacked inrecent years. They drafted a lot of depth picks, including a defensive end, offensive tackle, linebacker and safety. This brings me to Dixon. Once a favourite to win the Heisman and go in the first round, Dixon fell off most boards when he tore his ACL. Apparently he has recovered, and could be groomed into a nice back up for Big Ben. Word is, he might be turned into the next Kordell Stewart, a hybrid between QB and WR.
Grade: A
In other news, the Raiders have parted ways with RB Dominic Rhodes. Stuck in a battle with 5 other guys in the Raiders backfield, Rhodes will probably get more work elsewhere anyway...The Panther have added DT Darwin Walker. When healthy, Walker can be a force, and should provide a great replacement for the traded Kris Jenkins.... The Eagles are sueing Terrell Owens for not paying back bonus money he owed the team...And finally, the Chargers add some offensive line depth by signing the massive L.J. Shelton. Tomorrow, it's AFC South time.
Monday, April 28, 2008
AFC East Draft Review
Here is part one of eight in my series of draft reviews.
Buffalo Bills (2007 record 7-9)
Number of picks: 10
Best Pick: CB Leodis McKelvin (11th overall)
Sleeper Watch: TE Derek Fine (132nd overall)
Analysis: The Bills addressed their two most pressing needs (WR and CB) with their first two picks. In McKelvin, the Bills got the best CB in the draft. His speed and cover skills will help the defence immediately, and he is also a threat in the punt return game. With their next pick they selected WR James Hardy. They entered the draft looking for a big WR to complement Lee Evans, and they got him in the 6'6 Hardy. My pick as their sleeper for next year will be Fine. I think he will compete for the starting TE job from day one, and could provide a nice option for Trent Edwards. The Bills also addressed some depth issues in the later rounds, by selecting two more CBs as well as an offensive lineman.
Grade: A
Miami Dolphins (2007 record 1-15)
Number of picks: 9
Best Pick: OT Jake Long (1st overall)
Sleeper Watch: QB Chad Henne (57th overall)
Analysis: Long and Henne bring the Michigan connection to Miami, and both could be starters from day one. They got first round value from DE Phillip Merling with the first pick in the second round. At 6'5, 272, Merling should mold into a nice 3-4 DE in Bill Parcells scheme. In Henne, the 'Phins provide competition for last season's second round pick QB John Beck. Both had solid college careers, and either could be starting in September. The Dolphins failed to address their need at WR, but did draft four more big bodies for the Tuna on the second day.
Grade: B+
New England Patriots (2007 record 18-1, lost Super Bowl)
Number of picks: 7
Best Pick: LB Jared Mayo (10th overall)
Sleeper Watch: LB Bo Ruud (197th overall)
Analyis: The Pats did what they had to do, which was get younger on defence. In Mayo, they get the best ILB on the board, and can pair him up with Tedy Bruschi from day one. With their second round pick, they took a gamble on small school CB Terrence Wheatley. Wheatley has the speed and skills to be successful, but will require some grooming. In Ruud, they may have found a huge steal. He is the brother of Buc's starter Barrett. While he is not as talented coming out of college, with a few years in the system, he could be a major steal. They also drafted a third LB and a second CB, as well as a QB to mold into Tom Brady's back up.
Grade: B
New York Jets (2007 record 4-12)
Number of picks: 6
Best Pick: DE/OLB Vernon Gholston
Sleeper Watch: WR Marcus Henry (171st overall)
Analysis: The Jets picked up a versatile player in Gholston, one who will immediately fit into the Jets 3-4 scheme. Extra kudos go to the Jets for stealing Gholston from the Patriots. They traded back up into the first round to select TE Dustin Keller. This may be a reach in the first round, but Keller has the speed to be an efficient option for the Jets. Watch out for Henry, who has the size (6'4) to be a decent red-zone threat as a rookie. The Jets also drafted a developmental QB, as well as depth for their offensive line and in the secondary.
Grade: C+
Stay tuned tomorrow, as we travel to the AFC North.
Buffalo Bills (2007 record 7-9)
Number of picks: 10
Best Pick: CB Leodis McKelvin (11th overall)
Sleeper Watch: TE Derek Fine (132nd overall)
Analysis: The Bills addressed their two most pressing needs (WR and CB) with their first two picks. In McKelvin, the Bills got the best CB in the draft. His speed and cover skills will help the defence immediately, and he is also a threat in the punt return game. With their next pick they selected WR James Hardy. They entered the draft looking for a big WR to complement Lee Evans, and they got him in the 6'6 Hardy. My pick as their sleeper for next year will be Fine. I think he will compete for the starting TE job from day one, and could provide a nice option for Trent Edwards. The Bills also addressed some depth issues in the later rounds, by selecting two more CBs as well as an offensive lineman.
Grade: A
Miami Dolphins (2007 record 1-15)
Number of picks: 9
Best Pick: OT Jake Long (1st overall)
Sleeper Watch: QB Chad Henne (57th overall)
Analysis: Long and Henne bring the Michigan connection to Miami, and both could be starters from day one. They got first round value from DE Phillip Merling with the first pick in the second round. At 6'5, 272, Merling should mold into a nice 3-4 DE in Bill Parcells scheme. In Henne, the 'Phins provide competition for last season's second round pick QB John Beck. Both had solid college careers, and either could be starting in September. The Dolphins failed to address their need at WR, but did draft four more big bodies for the Tuna on the second day.
Grade: B+
New England Patriots (2007 record 18-1, lost Super Bowl)
Number of picks: 7
Best Pick: LB Jared Mayo (10th overall)
Sleeper Watch: LB Bo Ruud (197th overall)
Analyis: The Pats did what they had to do, which was get younger on defence. In Mayo, they get the best ILB on the board, and can pair him up with Tedy Bruschi from day one. With their second round pick, they took a gamble on small school CB Terrence Wheatley. Wheatley has the speed and skills to be successful, but will require some grooming. In Ruud, they may have found a huge steal. He is the brother of Buc's starter Barrett. While he is not as talented coming out of college, with a few years in the system, he could be a major steal. They also drafted a third LB and a second CB, as well as a QB to mold into Tom Brady's back up.
Grade: B
New York Jets (2007 record 4-12)
Number of picks: 6
Best Pick: DE/OLB Vernon Gholston
Sleeper Watch: WR Marcus Henry (171st overall)
Analysis: The Jets picked up a versatile player in Gholston, one who will immediately fit into the Jets 3-4 scheme. Extra kudos go to the Jets for stealing Gholston from the Patriots. They traded back up into the first round to select TE Dustin Keller. This may be a reach in the first round, but Keller has the speed to be an efficient option for the Jets. Watch out for Henry, who has the size (6'4) to be a decent red-zone threat as a rookie. The Jets also drafted a developmental QB, as well as depth for their offensive line and in the secondary.
Grade: C+
Stay tuned tomorrow, as we travel to the AFC North.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Late Night Bloggin'
Well, it's 11:10, and I have yet to update my blog for today. Ergo, I am going to lay out a few key picks/strategies that are likely to improve or hurt teams.
-> Kudos to the Redskins on bolstering their offence. In the second round alone, they drafted two good WRs (Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas) and a solid TE to pair with Cris Cooley in Fred Davis. Not only this, they provided another QB to battle with incumbent starter Jason Campbell in Colt Brennan. While many think he will be unsuccessful in the NFL, his numbers at Hawaii can't be ignored. Too bad Steve Spurrier and his run-and-gun offence are gone...
-> It's mind boggling that the Packers took two QBs in this draft. Note to Aaron Rodgers: PLAY YOUR BUTT OFF! His skills are surely being questioned by Packers brass, and they want to light a fire under his butt... metaphorically at least. Anywho, I think Brian Brohm was the most talented QB in the draft, especially in the middle of the second round.
-> How good do the Chiefs look now? They started the draft with 13, yes 13 picks. They ended up getting studs DT Glenn Dorsey, G Branden Albert and CB Brandon Flowers. Than, they come back in the third round and select RB Jamaal Charles to compete and split time with Larry Johnson. Wow, what a draft.
-> Speaking of good drafts, how smart do the Dolphins look for taking Jake Long. Not only did they draft his college QB (Chad Henne) but they also drafted another big lineman on the second day. Don't look now, but the Big Tuna could be making a push towards respectability, and fast.
-> How is it that every team in the NFC East bolstered their receiving corps except the Dallas Cowboys. I suppose the only logical explanation for the Boys is that Terry Glenn believes he can stay healthy for next season. Or, might there still be a trade coming for Big D?
-> How good did the Browns do, despite the fact their first pick was in round four? They took a solid LB in Beau Bell, who at 6'2, 248 could be the eventual replacement for Willie McGinest on the weak side. They drafted a solid TE in Martin Rucker to improve their already deadly offence. And they got a solid sleeper pick in DT Ahtyba Rubin. Good job.
Well, those are just some quick nuggets for you, and over the next week or so I will go through each division and critique each team's draft, and give grades. Should be fun, eh?
-> Kudos to the Redskins on bolstering their offence. In the second round alone, they drafted two good WRs (Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas) and a solid TE to pair with Cris Cooley in Fred Davis. Not only this, they provided another QB to battle with incumbent starter Jason Campbell in Colt Brennan. While many think he will be unsuccessful in the NFL, his numbers at Hawaii can't be ignored. Too bad Steve Spurrier and his run-and-gun offence are gone...
-> It's mind boggling that the Packers took two QBs in this draft. Note to Aaron Rodgers: PLAY YOUR BUTT OFF! His skills are surely being questioned by Packers brass, and they want to light a fire under his butt... metaphorically at least. Anywho, I think Brian Brohm was the most talented QB in the draft, especially in the middle of the second round.
-> How good do the Chiefs look now? They started the draft with 13, yes 13 picks. They ended up getting studs DT Glenn Dorsey, G Branden Albert and CB Brandon Flowers. Than, they come back in the third round and select RB Jamaal Charles to compete and split time with Larry Johnson. Wow, what a draft.
-> Speaking of good drafts, how smart do the Dolphins look for taking Jake Long. Not only did they draft his college QB (Chad Henne) but they also drafted another big lineman on the second day. Don't look now, but the Big Tuna could be making a push towards respectability, and fast.
-> How is it that every team in the NFC East bolstered their receiving corps except the Dallas Cowboys. I suppose the only logical explanation for the Boys is that Terry Glenn believes he can stay healthy for next season. Or, might there still be a trade coming for Big D?
-> How good did the Browns do, despite the fact their first pick was in round four? They took a solid LB in Beau Bell, who at 6'2, 248 could be the eventual replacement for Willie McGinest on the weak side. They drafted a solid TE in Martin Rucker to improve their already deadly offence. And they got a solid sleeper pick in DT Ahtyba Rubin. Good job.
Well, those are just some quick nuggets for you, and over the next week or so I will go through each division and critique each team's draft, and give grades. Should be fun, eh?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Round One Recap
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
The Dolphins fill a need, no matter which side he plays on. A great selection, but now the pressure is on for Long after signing a huge contract last week.
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
A great selection. Should pair with 2007 rookie Adam Carriker to form an excellent defensive line. Has the skills and potential to flourish in the league.
3. Atlanta Falcons select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
A bit of a risk, but could be the new face of the franchise for years to come. They are officially out of the Mike Vick era.
4. Oakland Raiders select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
Home run potential. Will provide a nice safety blanket for JaMarcus Russell. The only problem could be having too many RBs....and this is a problem?
5. Kansas City Chiefs select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
They resist the trade offers from New Orleans, and select a guy who could be the best player in the entire draft. A great pick at number five.
6. New York Jets select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio St
They pretty much had to take Gholston, or else send him to New England. This is a great pick, as they will use him as an outside pass rusher in their 3-4 defence.
7. New Orleans Saints trade up with the Patriots and select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
This pick will enrage a lot of teams, but Ellis is every bit as good as Dorsey, without the injury concerns. Will be a force in the middle, and will help Charles Grant and Will Smith. Wow.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars trade up with the Ravens and select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
A great trade for the Jags. They get the pass rusher they need. This may be a bit of a reach, but they based this pick solely on need. They will be a force next season.
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
A great pick. Will solidify that defence and help ease the loss of David Pollack. If Odell Thurman is successful, that will bode well for Rivers.
10. New England Patriots select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
They needed to get younger on defence, so they select the best inside linebacker in the draft. A bit of a surprise, but Mayo's stock has been on the rise for a while now.
11. Buffalo Bills select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy St
The Bills needed help in the secondary, so they went out and drafted the best CB on the board. McKelvin has the speed and coverage ability to excel for many years.
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise St
Fills a great need for the Broncos, that need being protecting Jay Cutler. First time a player from Boise St has gone in the first round, so it could be a reach.
13. Carolina Panthers select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
Needed help in the backfield, so they select Stewart. Has good size mixed with good speed, but could be affected but offseason surgery.
14. Chicago Bears select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
They needed to do something to improve their running game. They pass on the backs and select a solid tackle.
15. Kansas City Chiefs trade up with the Lions and select Branden Albert, OG from Virginia
A huge need, as they aim to replace their shaky offensive line. They have drafted two solid players here in the first round.
16. Arizona Cardinals select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee St
With former first round pick Antrel Rolle expected to move to safety, this pick makes a lot of sense. DRC adds speed to the secondary, but could be a reach.
17. Detroit Lions select Gosder Cherilus, OT from Boston College
They need to protect their QB, so the reach on Cherilus. They have a plethora of needs, and this fills a big one.
18. Baltimore Ravens trade back up with the Texans and select Joe Flacco, QB from Deleware
Missed on Matt Ryan, so they trade back up to ensure that they get their QB of the Future. Flacco has a big arm, but played division II, so could be a work in progress.
19. Carolina Panthers trade into the first round with the Eagles and select Joff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
They are moving towards a power running game, adding Otah with Stewart. This running game could be a force next season, with Stewart pairing with Deangelo Williams.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas
They needed to replace Brian Kelly, and get a solid guy in Talib. He does have some character concerns, but those can be managed by a good coach.
21. Atlanta Falcons trade back into the first round with the Redskins and select Sam Baker, OT from USC
They need to protect their franchise QB, and they take the best tackle left on the board. A great pick at this point of the draft.
22. Dallas Cowboys select Felix Jones, RB from Arkansas
They needed a speed back to complement Marion Barber, and Jones has the best speed on the board at the RB position. Will address other needs later.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
Wow. A shocker at number 23. The Steelers will pair him with Willie Parker and run with two dynamic RBs. Might regret not taking a cornerback here.
24. Tennessee Titans select Chris Johnson, RB from East Carolina
The fastest RB in the draft. A bit of a questionable pick, as they have two solid RBs in Lendale White and Chris Henry. Will provide Vince Young with another solid option in the backfield.
25. Dallas Cowboys trade up with the Seahawks and select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
A good choice, considering all of their cornerback depth left via free agency. May struggle to get time with Pac Man coming in, but could still be a solid option for the Cowboys.
26. Houston Texans select Duane Brown, OT from Virginia Tech
They traded down, so they missed out on the elite tackles of the class. Could be a sleeper, but it is likely they settled for Brown.
27. San Diego Chargers select Antoine Cason, CB from Arizona
Second year in a row they use a first on a CB, but look how it turned out last year. Cason is a solid pick, and could fill in nicely as a nickel back with the departure of Drayton Florence.
28. Seattle Seahawks select Lawrence Jackson, DE from USC
Teams are always looking for pass rushing abilities, and Jackson is the best player available to fit that need. They worked the draft right by trading down and still getting a great player.
29. San Francisco 49ers select Kentwan Balmer, NT from North Carolina
Many thought they would go LB here, but they could not pass up on Balmer. Balmer will fill an immediate need for any 3-4 team, as he is the best NT in the draft.
30. New York Jets trade into the first round with the Packers and select Dustin Keller, TE from Perdue
A weird play here by trading back in for a tight end, but Keller has loads of potential. A bit undersized, but he showed some of the skills he has at the Combine.
31. New York Giants select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami (Fla)
The Giants are ecstatic that Phillips is still on the board here. They get their replacement for Gibril Wilson, and they also get the best safety in the draft.
Wow, so many trades. This was an amazing first round. Good call by the NFL to shorten the time between picks, as we may have two full rounds done by 9 pm. Back with more draft musings tomorrow.
The Dolphins fill a need, no matter which side he plays on. A great selection, but now the pressure is on for Long after signing a huge contract last week.
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
A great selection. Should pair with 2007 rookie Adam Carriker to form an excellent defensive line. Has the skills and potential to flourish in the league.
3. Atlanta Falcons select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
A bit of a risk, but could be the new face of the franchise for years to come. They are officially out of the Mike Vick era.
4. Oakland Raiders select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
Home run potential. Will provide a nice safety blanket for JaMarcus Russell. The only problem could be having too many RBs....and this is a problem?
5. Kansas City Chiefs select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
They resist the trade offers from New Orleans, and select a guy who could be the best player in the entire draft. A great pick at number five.
6. New York Jets select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio St
They pretty much had to take Gholston, or else send him to New England. This is a great pick, as they will use him as an outside pass rusher in their 3-4 defence.
7. New Orleans Saints trade up with the Patriots and select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
This pick will enrage a lot of teams, but Ellis is every bit as good as Dorsey, without the injury concerns. Will be a force in the middle, and will help Charles Grant and Will Smith. Wow.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars trade up with the Ravens and select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
A great trade for the Jags. They get the pass rusher they need. This may be a bit of a reach, but they based this pick solely on need. They will be a force next season.
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
A great pick. Will solidify that defence and help ease the loss of David Pollack. If Odell Thurman is successful, that will bode well for Rivers.
10. New England Patriots select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
They needed to get younger on defence, so they select the best inside linebacker in the draft. A bit of a surprise, but Mayo's stock has been on the rise for a while now.
11. Buffalo Bills select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy St
The Bills needed help in the secondary, so they went out and drafted the best CB on the board. McKelvin has the speed and coverage ability to excel for many years.
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise St
Fills a great need for the Broncos, that need being protecting Jay Cutler. First time a player from Boise St has gone in the first round, so it could be a reach.
13. Carolina Panthers select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
Needed help in the backfield, so they select Stewart. Has good size mixed with good speed, but could be affected but offseason surgery.
14. Chicago Bears select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
They needed to do something to improve their running game. They pass on the backs and select a solid tackle.
15. Kansas City Chiefs trade up with the Lions and select Branden Albert, OG from Virginia
A huge need, as they aim to replace their shaky offensive line. They have drafted two solid players here in the first round.
16. Arizona Cardinals select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee St
With former first round pick Antrel Rolle expected to move to safety, this pick makes a lot of sense. DRC adds speed to the secondary, but could be a reach.
17. Detroit Lions select Gosder Cherilus, OT from Boston College
They need to protect their QB, so the reach on Cherilus. They have a plethora of needs, and this fills a big one.
18. Baltimore Ravens trade back up with the Texans and select Joe Flacco, QB from Deleware
Missed on Matt Ryan, so they trade back up to ensure that they get their QB of the Future. Flacco has a big arm, but played division II, so could be a work in progress.
19. Carolina Panthers trade into the first round with the Eagles and select Joff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
They are moving towards a power running game, adding Otah with Stewart. This running game could be a force next season, with Stewart pairing with Deangelo Williams.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas
They needed to replace Brian Kelly, and get a solid guy in Talib. He does have some character concerns, but those can be managed by a good coach.
21. Atlanta Falcons trade back into the first round with the Redskins and select Sam Baker, OT from USC
They need to protect their franchise QB, and they take the best tackle left on the board. A great pick at this point of the draft.
22. Dallas Cowboys select Felix Jones, RB from Arkansas
They needed a speed back to complement Marion Barber, and Jones has the best speed on the board at the RB position. Will address other needs later.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
Wow. A shocker at number 23. The Steelers will pair him with Willie Parker and run with two dynamic RBs. Might regret not taking a cornerback here.
24. Tennessee Titans select Chris Johnson, RB from East Carolina
The fastest RB in the draft. A bit of a questionable pick, as they have two solid RBs in Lendale White and Chris Henry. Will provide Vince Young with another solid option in the backfield.
25. Dallas Cowboys trade up with the Seahawks and select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
A good choice, considering all of their cornerback depth left via free agency. May struggle to get time with Pac Man coming in, but could still be a solid option for the Cowboys.
26. Houston Texans select Duane Brown, OT from Virginia Tech
They traded down, so they missed out on the elite tackles of the class. Could be a sleeper, but it is likely they settled for Brown.
27. San Diego Chargers select Antoine Cason, CB from Arizona
Second year in a row they use a first on a CB, but look how it turned out last year. Cason is a solid pick, and could fill in nicely as a nickel back with the departure of Drayton Florence.
28. Seattle Seahawks select Lawrence Jackson, DE from USC
Teams are always looking for pass rushing abilities, and Jackson is the best player available to fit that need. They worked the draft right by trading down and still getting a great player.
29. San Francisco 49ers select Kentwan Balmer, NT from North Carolina
Many thought they would go LB here, but they could not pass up on Balmer. Balmer will fill an immediate need for any 3-4 team, as he is the best NT in the draft.
30. New York Jets trade into the first round with the Packers and select Dustin Keller, TE from Perdue
A weird play here by trading back in for a tight end, but Keller has loads of potential. A bit undersized, but he showed some of the skills he has at the Combine.
31. New York Giants select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami (Fla)
The Giants are ecstatic that Phillips is still on the board here. They get their replacement for Gibril Wilson, and they also get the best safety in the draft.
Wow, so many trades. This was an amazing first round. Good call by the NFL to shorten the time between picks, as we may have two full rounds done by 9 pm. Back with more draft musings tomorrow.
Friday, April 25, 2008
On The Eve...
ONE DAY LEFT! I have run into some programming problems (Raptors and Red Wings play tomorrow at 3 pm as well) but you know what, how fun is that gonna be? As promised, here is my final mock draft, complete with second round. I'm not gonna give explanations this time, just so you don't have to spend all day reading, and so I don't have to spend all day writing. Enjoy.
ROUND ONE
ROUND ONE
- Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
- St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
- Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
- Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio State
- TRADE: Baltimore Ravens trade first and second round picks to the Chiefs and select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
- New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
- TRADE: New Orleans Saints trade their first and third round picks to the Patriots and select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy St
- Kansas City Chiefs select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
- Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
- TRADE: Detroit Lions trade their first and third round picks the Patriots and select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee St
- Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
- Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise St
- Carolina Panthers select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
- Chicago Bears select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
- New England Patriots select Dan Connor, ILB from Penn St
- Arizona Cardinals select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
- TRADE: Washington Redskins trade their first and third round picks to the Chiefs and elect Kenny Phillips, S from Miami
- Houston Texans select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
- Philadelphia Eagles select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Kentwan Balmer, NT from North Carolina
- Kansas City Chiefs select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
- Dallas Cowboys select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
- Pittsburgh Steelers select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
- Tennessee Titans select Malcolm Kelly, WR from Oklahoma
- Seattle Seahawks select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
- Jacksonville Jaguars select Calais Campbell, DE from Miami (Fla)
- San Diego Chargers select Felix Jones, RB from Arkansas
- Dallas Cowboys select Devin Thomas, WR from Michigan St
- San Francisco 49ers select Jared Mayo, ILB from Tennessee
- TRADE: Atlanta Falcons trade the 34th and 48th overall draft picks to the Packers and select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville
- New England Patriots forfeit pick
- New York Giants select Quentin Groves, OLB/DE from Auburn
ROUND TWO
- Miami Dolphins select Chad Henne, QB from Michigan
- St Louis Rams select Gosder Cherilus OT from Boston College
- Green Bay Packers (from Atl) select Fred Davis, TE from USC
- Kansas City Chiefs select Carl Nicks, OT from Nebraska
- New York Jets select Curtis Lofton, ILB from Oklahoma
- Atlanta Falcons select Mario Manningham, WR from Michigan
- Kansas City Chiefs (from Bal) select Sam Baker, OT from USC
- San Francisco 49ers select Pat Sims, DT from Auburn
- New Orleans Saints select Dustin Keller, TE from Purdue
- Buffalo Bills select Limas Sweed, WR from Texas
- Denver Broncos select Early Doucet, WR from LSU
- Carolina Panthers select Dejuan Morgan, S from North Carolina St
- Chicago Bears select Chilo Rachal, OG from USC
- Detroit Lions select Jamaal Charles, RB from Texas
- Cincinnati Bengals select John Carleson, TE from Notre Dame
- Minnesota Vikings select James Hardy, WR from Indiana
- Green Bay Packers (from Atl) select Antoine Cason, CB from Arizona
- Philadelphia Eagles select Justin King, CB from Penn St
- Arizona Cardinals select Ray Rice, RB from Rutgers
- Washington Redskins select Anthony Collins, OT from Kansas
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Jordy Nelson, WR from Kansas St
- Pittsburgh Steelers select Ahtyba Rubin, DT from Iowa St
- Tennessee Titans select Xavier Adibi, LB from Virginia Tech
- Seattle Seahawks select Martellus Bennett, TE from Texas A&M
- Green Bay Packers select Joe Flacco, QB from Deleware
- Miami Dolphins select Kenny Iwebema, DE from Iowa
- Jacksonville Jaguars select Trevor Laws, DT from Notre Dame
- Indianapolis Colts select Tavares Goodman, LB from Miami (Fla)
- Green Bay Packers select Roy Schuening, OG from Oregon St
- Dallas Cowboys select Chris Johnson, RB from East Carolina
- New England Patriots select Thomas Decoud, S from California
- New York Giants select Andre Caldwell, WR from Florida
Whew... that was a toughie. Hope you all enjoyed my hard work, and stay tuned tomorrow for draft recap and analysis of the first round.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
It's My Birthday And I'll Blog If I Want To
So not much happening on the eve of the eve of draft day (two days to go).
-> The biggest news of the day is the Dallas Cowboys acquiring troubled CB Adam "Pac Man" Jones in a trade from the Tennessee Titans. They get Jones in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in the upcoming draft. Now, for those of you who don't know, a conditional trade usually applies to the number of games played by the player in question. In this case, it pretty much depends on whether or not Jones gets reinstated into the NFL after serving a one-year suspension for conduct problems.
This is a good move for the Cowboys, who are incredibly short when it comes of secondary depth. The fact that they pick up this former sixth overall pick for a fourth rounder has to be considered a steal for the organization. Along with his solid CB play, Jones also brings strength to a return game that has been pretty much non-existant for a long time now. The Cowboys have said that this trade will not affect their draft strategy, so don't be suprised if they draft a corner as high as the first round.
-> The New England Patriots made three signings today that go the opposite direction of their goal to get younger. They signed 13-year-pro TE Marcus Pollard, who has spent his career being a solid TE for the Colts, Lions and Seahawks. The Pats lacked a good blocking TE last year after the departure of Kyle Brady, and Pollard is a solid complement to Ben Watson. While he won't provide much in the way of offence, this is still a solid pick up.
They also added punter Scott Player, but really, what does it matter? They picked up Chris Hansen last season, and he had the fewest punts in the NFL, by far. The Pats punter position has kind of become the Colt's back up QB slot, just never plays. So a good job by the Pats to sign a punter who is tried and proven, and perhaps now they will draft a punter to groom behind Player.
And if these signings weren't enough, they went out and signed 30-year old CB Keith Smith. Now, this wouldn't be that bad of a signing if it were, say, 2004. Smith has not played in an NFL since 2003, so there is a good chance he won't be on the roster come September.
-> A curious free agent visit yesterday, as Daunte Culpepper visited the Green Bay Packers. Culpepper would provide a nice veteran back up for Aaron Rodgers, and could fill in as a starter if needed. While nothing is final yet, expect the Packers to lock him up if they don't draft a QB.
TOMORROW: final updated mock draft!
-> The biggest news of the day is the Dallas Cowboys acquiring troubled CB Adam "Pac Man" Jones in a trade from the Tennessee Titans. They get Jones in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in the upcoming draft. Now, for those of you who don't know, a conditional trade usually applies to the number of games played by the player in question. In this case, it pretty much depends on whether or not Jones gets reinstated into the NFL after serving a one-year suspension for conduct problems.
This is a good move for the Cowboys, who are incredibly short when it comes of secondary depth. The fact that they pick up this former sixth overall pick for a fourth rounder has to be considered a steal for the organization. Along with his solid CB play, Jones also brings strength to a return game that has been pretty much non-existant for a long time now. The Cowboys have said that this trade will not affect their draft strategy, so don't be suprised if they draft a corner as high as the first round.
-> The New England Patriots made three signings today that go the opposite direction of their goal to get younger. They signed 13-year-pro TE Marcus Pollard, who has spent his career being a solid TE for the Colts, Lions and Seahawks. The Pats lacked a good blocking TE last year after the departure of Kyle Brady, and Pollard is a solid complement to Ben Watson. While he won't provide much in the way of offence, this is still a solid pick up.
They also added punter Scott Player, but really, what does it matter? They picked up Chris Hansen last season, and he had the fewest punts in the NFL, by far. The Pats punter position has kind of become the Colt's back up QB slot, just never plays. So a good job by the Pats to sign a punter who is tried and proven, and perhaps now they will draft a punter to groom behind Player.
And if these signings weren't enough, they went out and signed 30-year old CB Keith Smith. Now, this wouldn't be that bad of a signing if it were, say, 2004. Smith has not played in an NFL since 2003, so there is a good chance he won't be on the roster come September.
-> A curious free agent visit yesterday, as Daunte Culpepper visited the Green Bay Packers. Culpepper would provide a nice veteran back up for Aaron Rodgers, and could fill in as a starter if needed. While nothing is final yet, expect the Packers to lock him up if they don't draft a QB.
TOMORROW: final updated mock draft!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Making A Mockery Of Things
Four days to go, so I thought it would be wise to update my mock again. And, since I only have to guess on 31 of the picks now, I like my odds.
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
The hulking tackle has already signed with the 'phins, and it was a good choice by the Bill Parcells regime.
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
The word is they might go with Vernon Gholston here, but I think the Rams will choose to go with the safer pick. Imagine their d-line with Long, Leonard Little and Adam Carriker. Jeez.
3. Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
Could be the best player in the draft, his explosiveness will help from day one after the loss of Rod Coleman. They will address their QB needs later.
4. Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio State
Gholston has great potential, and could fill a need in Al Davis' defence. They pass on McFadden because they already have four RBs on the roster.
5. TRADE: Baltimore Ravens trade their first and second round picks to the Chiefs, and select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
Only because the Chiefs are looking to trade down. The Ravens get the fresh start QB they need to push incumbent Kyle Boller.
6. New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
With the running problems they have had, this is an easy choice. McFadden will add speed and a home run ability to an offence that had neither last season.
7. TRADE: New Orleans Saints trade thier first and third round picks to the Patriots and select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy State
The Saints want to trade up further, but will love the fact that they can trade up and steal McKelvin, who many think is the best CB in the class.
8. Kansas City Chiefs select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
A great choice here. Is almost as good as Dorsey, and doesn't have the injury history. The Chiefs could also go CB or OT in this spot, but they choose Ellis.
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
With Ellis off the board, the Bengals take the next best defensive player available in Rivers. Could be a perennial Pro Bowler, and with the retirement of David Pollack, LB depth is needed.
10. TRADE: Detroit Lions trade their first, third and fourth round picks to the Patriots and select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State.
The Lions need a tonne of help in the secondary, so they jump up a few picks and select the best one available. Cromartie has great speed and could immediately help the woeful Lions.
11. Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
Albert's stock has been on the rise, so look for the Bills to take advantage of this and plug him in beside Langston Walker. They have the makings of a solid offence in the coming year.
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State
Many think the OT explosion will come earlier, but I'm not convinced. The Broncos need to draft a couple OL in this draft, and Clady is a great start.
13. Carolina Panthers select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
A bit of a reach, but the Panthers need to provide options for Jake Delhomme. They can address their other needs later, so they select the speedy Jackson.
14. Chicago Bears select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
Again, they need to at least push Cedric Benson, because he has been a bust ever since he left Texas. Mendenhall is seen as some as the best RB in the class, so he is a steal at 14.
15. New England Patriots select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
Between him or Dan Connor, the Pats take a step in the right direction by getting younger at the linebacker position.
16. Arizona Cardinals select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
The Cards will be ecstatic that Harvey falls this far, so they snatch him up. He will greatly improve the D, and will help in the eventual replacement of Bertrand Berry.
17. TRADE: Washington Redskins trade their first and third round picks to the Vikings and select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami
They know the Eagles want him at 19, so they trade up and take him here. They pair him with LaRon Landry, and all of the sudden they have a great secondary.
18. Houston Texans select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
Character problems aside, Jenkins should be a great player. He immediately gels in this secondary, and with Dunta Robinson and Fred Bennett, it could be among the league's best.
19. Philadelphia Eagles select Malcolm Kelly, WR from Oklahoma
With Phillips off the board, they go for the best WR available. Has less speed than Reggie Brown, but will provide another solid option for Donovan McNabb.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Kentwan Balmer, DT from North Carolina
Again, I think this is purely a pick to replace aging starters. Balmer is overrated, and this could be a reach, but his good size and strength are intriguing.
21. Minnesota Vikings select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
Yes, they acquired Jared Allen. But the Giants proved that you can never have enough pass rushers. Merling is strictly a depth pick up now, but could emerge as a starter in a few seasons.
22. Dallas Cowboys select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
Some might see this as a bad pick, but Flozell Adams can't play forever. Otah provides great depth, and the eventual replacement for Adams.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
His speed isn't where some teams want it, but Flowers has the potential to be a great cornerback in the NFL with his size and strength on jams.
24. Tennessee Titans select Devin Thomas, WR from Michigan State
Many will argue that Thomas is in fact the best in the draft, so the Titans are overjoyed that he lands in their laps at 24. They could also go CB here.
25. Seattle Seahawks select Fred Davis, TE from USC
Strictly a need-pick. The Hawks could go OT, CB or even DE with this pick, but they choose to give Matt Hasselbeck a solid option at TE.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
A lot of teams like this guy's strength, so the Jags plug him into the starting line up right away. If Balmer falls here, the Jags will take him instead.
27. San Diego Chargers select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
Wow, how did he fall this far? The Chargers get the third best back in the draft to pair with the best back in the game.
28. Dallas Cowboys select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas
They need depth in the secondary, so they take the best CB left on the board. Giant WR James Hardy could also be a good pick here, if the Cowboys don't acquire a WR during the draft.
29. San Francisco 49ers select Dan Connor, LB from Penn State
Again, it will be either Connor or Mayo, but one will be selected here to pair with Patrick Willis. How scary could that defence be?
30. TRADE: Atlanta Falcons trade the 34th and 48th overall picks to the Packers and select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville.
The Falcons address their QB needs, and the Packers can add a few more players later in the draft, which is something they love to do. Brohm starts and is successful from day one.
31. New England Patriots forfeit pick
32. New York Giants select Quentin Groves, LB/DE from Auburn
The Giants need to address either LB or S, and since there are no strong safety candidates at this point, they choose to go with Groves.
Just four days away now, and how excited is everyone? This has the makings of a heck of a first round.
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
The hulking tackle has already signed with the 'phins, and it was a good choice by the Bill Parcells regime.
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
The word is they might go with Vernon Gholston here, but I think the Rams will choose to go with the safer pick. Imagine their d-line with Long, Leonard Little and Adam Carriker. Jeez.
3. Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
Could be the best player in the draft, his explosiveness will help from day one after the loss of Rod Coleman. They will address their QB needs later.
4. Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio State
Gholston has great potential, and could fill a need in Al Davis' defence. They pass on McFadden because they already have four RBs on the roster.
5. TRADE: Baltimore Ravens trade their first and second round picks to the Chiefs, and select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
Only because the Chiefs are looking to trade down. The Ravens get the fresh start QB they need to push incumbent Kyle Boller.
6. New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
With the running problems they have had, this is an easy choice. McFadden will add speed and a home run ability to an offence that had neither last season.
7. TRADE: New Orleans Saints trade thier first and third round picks to the Patriots and select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy State
The Saints want to trade up further, but will love the fact that they can trade up and steal McKelvin, who many think is the best CB in the class.
8. Kansas City Chiefs select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
A great choice here. Is almost as good as Dorsey, and doesn't have the injury history. The Chiefs could also go CB or OT in this spot, but they choose Ellis.
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
With Ellis off the board, the Bengals take the next best defensive player available in Rivers. Could be a perennial Pro Bowler, and with the retirement of David Pollack, LB depth is needed.
10. TRADE: Detroit Lions trade their first, third and fourth round picks to the Patriots and select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State.
The Lions need a tonne of help in the secondary, so they jump up a few picks and select the best one available. Cromartie has great speed and could immediately help the woeful Lions.
11. Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
Albert's stock has been on the rise, so look for the Bills to take advantage of this and plug him in beside Langston Walker. They have the makings of a solid offence in the coming year.
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State
Many think the OT explosion will come earlier, but I'm not convinced. The Broncos need to draft a couple OL in this draft, and Clady is a great start.
13. Carolina Panthers select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
A bit of a reach, but the Panthers need to provide options for Jake Delhomme. They can address their other needs later, so they select the speedy Jackson.
14. Chicago Bears select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
Again, they need to at least push Cedric Benson, because he has been a bust ever since he left Texas. Mendenhall is seen as some as the best RB in the class, so he is a steal at 14.
15. New England Patriots select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
Between him or Dan Connor, the Pats take a step in the right direction by getting younger at the linebacker position.
16. Arizona Cardinals select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
The Cards will be ecstatic that Harvey falls this far, so they snatch him up. He will greatly improve the D, and will help in the eventual replacement of Bertrand Berry.
17. TRADE: Washington Redskins trade their first and third round picks to the Vikings and select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami
They know the Eagles want him at 19, so they trade up and take him here. They pair him with LaRon Landry, and all of the sudden they have a great secondary.
18. Houston Texans select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
Character problems aside, Jenkins should be a great player. He immediately gels in this secondary, and with Dunta Robinson and Fred Bennett, it could be among the league's best.
19. Philadelphia Eagles select Malcolm Kelly, WR from Oklahoma
With Phillips off the board, they go for the best WR available. Has less speed than Reggie Brown, but will provide another solid option for Donovan McNabb.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Kentwan Balmer, DT from North Carolina
Again, I think this is purely a pick to replace aging starters. Balmer is overrated, and this could be a reach, but his good size and strength are intriguing.
21. Minnesota Vikings select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
Yes, they acquired Jared Allen. But the Giants proved that you can never have enough pass rushers. Merling is strictly a depth pick up now, but could emerge as a starter in a few seasons.
22. Dallas Cowboys select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
Some might see this as a bad pick, but Flozell Adams can't play forever. Otah provides great depth, and the eventual replacement for Adams.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
His speed isn't where some teams want it, but Flowers has the potential to be a great cornerback in the NFL with his size and strength on jams.
24. Tennessee Titans select Devin Thomas, WR from Michigan State
Many will argue that Thomas is in fact the best in the draft, so the Titans are overjoyed that he lands in their laps at 24. They could also go CB here.
25. Seattle Seahawks select Fred Davis, TE from USC
Strictly a need-pick. The Hawks could go OT, CB or even DE with this pick, but they choose to give Matt Hasselbeck a solid option at TE.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
A lot of teams like this guy's strength, so the Jags plug him into the starting line up right away. If Balmer falls here, the Jags will take him instead.
27. San Diego Chargers select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
Wow, how did he fall this far? The Chargers get the third best back in the draft to pair with the best back in the game.
28. Dallas Cowboys select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas
They need depth in the secondary, so they take the best CB left on the board. Giant WR James Hardy could also be a good pick here, if the Cowboys don't acquire a WR during the draft.
29. San Francisco 49ers select Dan Connor, LB from Penn State
Again, it will be either Connor or Mayo, but one will be selected here to pair with Patrick Willis. How scary could that defence be?
30. TRADE: Atlanta Falcons trade the 34th and 48th overall picks to the Packers and select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville.
The Falcons address their QB needs, and the Packers can add a few more players later in the draft, which is something they love to do. Brohm starts and is successful from day one.
31. New England Patriots forfeit pick
32. New York Giants select Quentin Groves, LB/DE from Auburn
The Giants need to address either LB or S, and since there are no strong safety candidates at this point, they choose to go with Groves.
Just four days away now, and how excited is everyone? This has the makings of a heck of a first round.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Earth Day
Well, when I took a gander at my calender today, I noticed that it is Earth Day. And, I also noticed that there is a buttload to news to blog about. Brace yourself, this is gonna be a wild Earth Day ride.
The Seahawks have cut ties with former MVP RB Shaun Alexander. The back was released after eight years with the team, and is their all-time leading rusher. Alexander signed an 8-year, $62 million contract after being named the NFL's MVP two seasons ago. This was not an unexpected move for the team, as they went out and signed Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett in free agency. Alexander suffered through two injury-plauged seasons after signing his big contract, and the team struggled without him. I'm sure Alexander will not be out of work for long, unless he refuses to take a cut in pay.
The Dolphins have agreed to terms with Michigan OT Jake Long, and will make him the #1 pick overall. The contract includes $30 million in guarenteed money. This comes as no surprise to me, as I had him at the top of all my mock drafts. The contract is interesting though, in the sense that many OTs have signed for that kind of money over the last few seasons and are not as skilled as Long. Oh well, at least the Dolphins made a good choice, and will draft one of the safest picks to come along in a while.
The Chiefs are still trying to trade DE Jared Allen. This blows my mind, as Allen led the NFL in sacks last season. They say their eventual goal is to get younger, and are asking for first and second round picks in the upcoming draft. The Minnesota Vikings have offered a first and a third, but this isn't good enough. The question is: WHY TRADE YOUR BEST PLAYER? They have come up with a few good points, which I will quickly shoot down:
-> Money: They believe Allen will have a huge price tag after this season, should he maintain his success. They are afraid that between him and the #5 selection in the Draft, they will have money problems. Yes, but a trade with the Vikings gives them the #17 pick. This means they will have to fork out two first round contracts. Hmmmm, their argument is weak. Plus, you add another pick in the third. I think they could afford Allen.
-> Off-field Problems: Allen was suspended for four games last season due to conduct issues. They are afraid these problems will continue, so they want to ship him away. Yes, he has issues, but when a player plays in only 12 games and registers 16.5 sacks.... don't complain.
->Younger: They want to get there. Allen is 26 and entering the prime of his career. Enough said.
So, as you can see, I think they should resign Allen. if the Vikings do get him, they get one of the best in the league. Remember after the Super Bowl when everyone thought all you needed to win was pass rush. Foolish move by the Chiefs.
Roger Goodell has reinstated Bengals LB Odell Thurman after his two year suspension. This bodes well for Adam "Pac Man" Jones, as Goodell is obviously in a good mood lately. This is huge for the Bengals, as Thurman showed great promise in his rookie season. Time will tell if he can still be successful.
Speaking of the Bungels, coach Marvin Lewis has called out Chad Johnson. He is holding his stance that Johnson will not be traded. Johnson said recently that he will sit out the season if need be to get out of Cincinnati. Lewis basically said today that if this is the case, than so be it. He said Johnson will not be traded and if he doesn't want to play, than he will not play.
And finally, on another sad retirement note, Panthers DE Mike Rucker is calling it a career. This has been a rough offseason for NFL fans, as we have lost Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Warren Sapp, Larry Allen and now Rucker. Makes good for a great Hall of Fame class for 2013, doesn't it? HAPPY EARTH DAY!
(11 pm update: the Chiefs have apparently agreed on a deal with the Vikings for Allen, for their first rounder (17th overall) and two thirds. Terrible move for the Chiefs, great move for the Vikes.)
The Seahawks have cut ties with former MVP RB Shaun Alexander. The back was released after eight years with the team, and is their all-time leading rusher. Alexander signed an 8-year, $62 million contract after being named the NFL's MVP two seasons ago. This was not an unexpected move for the team, as they went out and signed Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett in free agency. Alexander suffered through two injury-plauged seasons after signing his big contract, and the team struggled without him. I'm sure Alexander will not be out of work for long, unless he refuses to take a cut in pay.
The Dolphins have agreed to terms with Michigan OT Jake Long, and will make him the #1 pick overall. The contract includes $30 million in guarenteed money. This comes as no surprise to me, as I had him at the top of all my mock drafts. The contract is interesting though, in the sense that many OTs have signed for that kind of money over the last few seasons and are not as skilled as Long. Oh well, at least the Dolphins made a good choice, and will draft one of the safest picks to come along in a while.
The Chiefs are still trying to trade DE Jared Allen. This blows my mind, as Allen led the NFL in sacks last season. They say their eventual goal is to get younger, and are asking for first and second round picks in the upcoming draft. The Minnesota Vikings have offered a first and a third, but this isn't good enough. The question is: WHY TRADE YOUR BEST PLAYER? They have come up with a few good points, which I will quickly shoot down:
-> Money: They believe Allen will have a huge price tag after this season, should he maintain his success. They are afraid that between him and the #5 selection in the Draft, they will have money problems. Yes, but a trade with the Vikings gives them the #17 pick. This means they will have to fork out two first round contracts. Hmmmm, their argument is weak. Plus, you add another pick in the third. I think they could afford Allen.
-> Off-field Problems: Allen was suspended for four games last season due to conduct issues. They are afraid these problems will continue, so they want to ship him away. Yes, he has issues, but when a player plays in only 12 games and registers 16.5 sacks.... don't complain.
->Younger: They want to get there. Allen is 26 and entering the prime of his career. Enough said.
So, as you can see, I think they should resign Allen. if the Vikings do get him, they get one of the best in the league. Remember after the Super Bowl when everyone thought all you needed to win was pass rush. Foolish move by the Chiefs.
Roger Goodell has reinstated Bengals LB Odell Thurman after his two year suspension. This bodes well for Adam "Pac Man" Jones, as Goodell is obviously in a good mood lately. This is huge for the Bengals, as Thurman showed great promise in his rookie season. Time will tell if he can still be successful.
Speaking of the Bungels, coach Marvin Lewis has called out Chad Johnson. He is holding his stance that Johnson will not be traded. Johnson said recently that he will sit out the season if need be to get out of Cincinnati. Lewis basically said today that if this is the case, than so be it. He said Johnson will not be traded and if he doesn't want to play, than he will not play.
And finally, on another sad retirement note, Panthers DE Mike Rucker is calling it a career. This has been a rough offseason for NFL fans, as we have lost Brett Favre, Steve McNair, Warren Sapp, Larry Allen and now Rucker. Makes good for a great Hall of Fame class for 2013, doesn't it? HAPPY EARTH DAY!
(11 pm update: the Chiefs have apparently agreed on a deal with the Vikings for Allen, for their first rounder (17th overall) and two thirds. Terrible move for the Chiefs, great move for the Vikes.)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Five Teams That Can't Wait
With the draft now only five days away, I felt it was time to take a closer look at some of the not-so-elite teams. I will take a look at what they have done to improve, as well as what still needs to be done. I will than assign them a grade based on their offseason performance thus far.
Miami Dolphins (2007 record 1-15): The best move the Dolphins have made in this offseason has been getting Bill Parcells in charge of personnel. He has worked wonders with teams in the past, and now can focus solely and personnel, and not coaching. He has already began bringing in players that he craves for his defense, which are big strong lineman and versatile players for the secondary. He also re-aquainted himself with NT Jason Ferguson and S Keith Davis, who who coached during his Cowboy years. So, as of right not, they look like they could win five games or so. They still need to address the offense. RB Ronnie Brown is a stud, when healthy, but they need a franchise quarterback and another solid wide receiver to be successful. They are still a ways away. GRADE: C
Atlanta Falcons (2007 record 4-12): There have been positives and negatives during the offseason for the Falcons. The obvious positive was the signing of RB Michael Turner. Turner will be a workhorse for the offence, which already boasts young star Jerius Norwood. They also worked on their secondary, by signing CB Von Hutchins and S Erik Coleman. Both are solid players and should be starters from day one. Now, the negatives. They cut fan favourites Warrick Dunn, Rod Coleman and Alge Crumbler. They traded disgruntled CB Deangelo Hall to the Raiders for a second round pick. They have done nothing to help the offensive line, and quite frankly, they have no one to put behind it. I am talking about their lack of a QB, which needs to be addressed in the draft. GRADE: C+
Oakland Raiders (2007 record 4-12): This team is in trouble, but what else is new? It all started with the $50 million contract to DT Tommie Kelly, who is not worth that kind of cash. Second, the retirement of Warren Sapp. Third, saying good bye to WR Jerry Porter. Through all this however, the team did well in acquiring Hall, as well as placing the franchise tag on CB Nnamdi Ashomugha. The problem here is: where does all the money come from? After handing out the biggest rookie contract ever to last years #1 pick JaMarcus Russell, they now have the Kelly contract, Hall's contract, and with the #4 overall selection in the upcoming draft, another huge rookie contract to pay for. Jeez.... GRADE: C-
New York Jets (2007 record 4-12): Now here is a team that appears to be taking steps in the right direction. They hit it big with the free agent signings of LB Calvin Pace, G Alan Faneca, G Damien Woody and FB Tony Richardson. Also, they re-signed their All-Pro safety Kerry Rhodes. And, if all this wasn't enough, they traded for All-Pro DT Kris Jenkins. The only major losses were S Erik Coleman and LB Victor Hobson, but both are replaceable. Now, with a strong draft and some better QB play, the Jets could soar back into the playoffs. GRADE: A
St Louis Rams (2007 record 3-13): When your best free agent signings are a kicker and a over-the-hill quarterback, you have problems. And the Rams have plenty of problems. They cut fan favourite Isaac Bruce, who will look to anvenge his release while playing for the 49ers. Now, they are faced with the second pick overall. The management team needs to decide between a plethora of options. The bottom line for the Rams is, if they don't have a very good draft, there won't be a "Greatest Show On Turf" reunion any time soon. GRADE: D-
Well, for these five teams, the offseason has been interesting. But with the draft just days away, it is a time of many choices.
Miami Dolphins (2007 record 1-15): The best move the Dolphins have made in this offseason has been getting Bill Parcells in charge of personnel. He has worked wonders with teams in the past, and now can focus solely and personnel, and not coaching. He has already began bringing in players that he craves for his defense, which are big strong lineman and versatile players for the secondary. He also re-aquainted himself with NT Jason Ferguson and S Keith Davis, who who coached during his Cowboy years. So, as of right not, they look like they could win five games or so. They still need to address the offense. RB Ronnie Brown is a stud, when healthy, but they need a franchise quarterback and another solid wide receiver to be successful. They are still a ways away. GRADE: C
Atlanta Falcons (2007 record 4-12): There have been positives and negatives during the offseason for the Falcons. The obvious positive was the signing of RB Michael Turner. Turner will be a workhorse for the offence, which already boasts young star Jerius Norwood. They also worked on their secondary, by signing CB Von Hutchins and S Erik Coleman. Both are solid players and should be starters from day one. Now, the negatives. They cut fan favourites Warrick Dunn, Rod Coleman and Alge Crumbler. They traded disgruntled CB Deangelo Hall to the Raiders for a second round pick. They have done nothing to help the offensive line, and quite frankly, they have no one to put behind it. I am talking about their lack of a QB, which needs to be addressed in the draft. GRADE: C+
Oakland Raiders (2007 record 4-12): This team is in trouble, but what else is new? It all started with the $50 million contract to DT Tommie Kelly, who is not worth that kind of cash. Second, the retirement of Warren Sapp. Third, saying good bye to WR Jerry Porter. Through all this however, the team did well in acquiring Hall, as well as placing the franchise tag on CB Nnamdi Ashomugha. The problem here is: where does all the money come from? After handing out the biggest rookie contract ever to last years #1 pick JaMarcus Russell, they now have the Kelly contract, Hall's contract, and with the #4 overall selection in the upcoming draft, another huge rookie contract to pay for. Jeez.... GRADE: C-
New York Jets (2007 record 4-12): Now here is a team that appears to be taking steps in the right direction. They hit it big with the free agent signings of LB Calvin Pace, G Alan Faneca, G Damien Woody and FB Tony Richardson. Also, they re-signed their All-Pro safety Kerry Rhodes. And, if all this wasn't enough, they traded for All-Pro DT Kris Jenkins. The only major losses were S Erik Coleman and LB Victor Hobson, but both are replaceable. Now, with a strong draft and some better QB play, the Jets could soar back into the playoffs. GRADE: A
St Louis Rams (2007 record 3-13): When your best free agent signings are a kicker and a over-the-hill quarterback, you have problems. And the Rams have plenty of problems. They cut fan favourite Isaac Bruce, who will look to anvenge his release while playing for the 49ers. Now, they are faced with the second pick overall. The management team needs to decide between a plethora of options. The bottom line for the Rams is, if they don't have a very good draft, there won't be a "Greatest Show On Turf" reunion any time soon. GRADE: D-
Well, for these five teams, the offseason has been interesting. But with the draft just days away, it is a time of many choices.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sleeping At The Draft
When the 32 teams head into the draft room in six days, there will plenty of speculation, as teams try to draft the best player available. The toughest task of the draft, outside the trades, the money and the time limits, is trying to find gems in the later rounds.
The following is a list of sleepers who I think could have immediate success.
-> Ray Rice, RB from Rutgers --- This guy is very underrated. Had great career success at Rutgers, but is kind of undersized. Could be a huge factor as a third down/change of pace back at first, and could develop into a great starter down the road.
-> James Hardy, WR from Indiana --- Could go as high as the first round, but is ranked in the bottom half of the top ten wide receivers. This guy is huge (6'6) and his size will be a huge factor in an offense, especially in the red zone.
-> Dennis Dixon, QB from Oregon --- This guy would have been a Heisman canidate if he didn't have to get his ACL fixed in his senior year. he has rehabbed well, and it is said he is athletic, with a better arm than Vince Young. Sounds good to me.
-> Tavares Goodman, LB from Miami (Fla) --- Great speed and size. Comes from a system that shoots out good defensive players. Could have an immediate success in a 4-3 defence with good defensive tackles.
->Carl Nicks, OG from Nebraska --- Great size (6-5, 343) and has the skill set to excel in the NFL. Will be a steal in the second or third round.
-> Dejuan Tribble, CB from Boston College --- Stock has dropped with the rise of others. Was originally a top ten ranked corner, who could be a gem in the middle rounds.
-> Colton Brennan, QB from Hawaii --- Call me a fool, but I don't think you can deny those numbers in college. I think he will need some time to develop, but he could be pushed in as a backup right away.
There you go folks, SIX DAYS TO GO.
The following is a list of sleepers who I think could have immediate success.
-> Ray Rice, RB from Rutgers --- This guy is very underrated. Had great career success at Rutgers, but is kind of undersized. Could be a huge factor as a third down/change of pace back at first, and could develop into a great starter down the road.
-> James Hardy, WR from Indiana --- Could go as high as the first round, but is ranked in the bottom half of the top ten wide receivers. This guy is huge (6'6) and his size will be a huge factor in an offense, especially in the red zone.
-> Dennis Dixon, QB from Oregon --- This guy would have been a Heisman canidate if he didn't have to get his ACL fixed in his senior year. he has rehabbed well, and it is said he is athletic, with a better arm than Vince Young. Sounds good to me.
-> Tavares Goodman, LB from Miami (Fla) --- Great speed and size. Comes from a system that shoots out good defensive players. Could have an immediate success in a 4-3 defence with good defensive tackles.
->Carl Nicks, OG from Nebraska --- Great size (6-5, 343) and has the skill set to excel in the NFL. Will be a steal in the second or third round.
-> Dejuan Tribble, CB from Boston College --- Stock has dropped with the rise of others. Was originally a top ten ranked corner, who could be a gem in the middle rounds.
-> Colton Brennan, QB from Hawaii --- Call me a fool, but I don't think you can deny those numbers in college. I think he will need some time to develop, but he could be pushed in as a backup right away.
There you go folks, SIX DAYS TO GO.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Oh, the Bengals....
So, only 7 days away from draft day now. Anyone else getting really excited? Well, in recent weeks there has been a lot of focus on the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver position. The majority of said focus has been on Chad Johnson.
We have come to know Chad over the years because of his ability to get the ball in the end zone, as well as his ability to entertain us when he does. This all came to a head with the rulings about taunting a few years back. Personally, I think this is all hogwash. I say the players should be able to celebrate when they do something good. Sure, it can be taken too far sometimes, but who's to say when that is? The NFL brass made a good call, but they could be a little more lenient when it comes to end zone dances.
Anywho, back to Chad. This week, he demanded that the Bengals trade him. Head coach Marvin Lewis has stated multiple times during the offseason that Johnson will remain a Bengal. So, now the question is: what do the Bengals do with their disgruntled superstar? A few days ago I touched on this, and I think that their best option would be to trade him. But, this brings up a problem. If they trade Johnson, they will still be responsible for over $8 million of his salary. So if this is the case, Johnson will likely remain in the orange and black.
Here is my suggestion (again): Marvin, you have to weigh the pros and cons here. Sure, your team will have to pay Johnson his money either way, but wouldn't you rather get that distraction out of the locker room? This whole situation has covered up the fact that Johnson's receiving partner T.J. Houshmanzadeh is also upset with the team. Housh has done nothing but good things for this club. Year in and year out he is near the top of the league in receptions, and he does it without the charisma and problems that are brought by Chad Johnson. The Bengals need to realize that if they keep this stalemate happening, they could lose both their top wide outs.
The Bengals need to unload Johnson, and I'm sure there are many teams out there interested. Their best bet (as was noted in my mock draft) would be to trade him to the Cowboys for one of their two first round selections. This would help get rid of the distraction, as well as enable them to add another peice to their struggling defence.
Another option could be dangling him in front of the Tennessee Titans. The Titans hold the 24th pick in the first round, and could use a top receiver such as Johnson. The Bengals could unload their distraction, and likely could draft one of the top receivers in the draft. If Deshean Jackson is still around, this becomes an easier decision. Jackson is similar to Johnson, with good size and good speed, but there are character concerns around Jackson as well.
Whatever they choose, they had better get it done soon. They need to go into draft day looking for help on defence. They hold the number nine pick, and are targeting Sederick Ellis from USC. This would be a great pick for an organization who has been terrible in the draft room for the better part of 20 years (outside the pick of Carson Palmer). Oh, the Bengals....
We have come to know Chad over the years because of his ability to get the ball in the end zone, as well as his ability to entertain us when he does. This all came to a head with the rulings about taunting a few years back. Personally, I think this is all hogwash. I say the players should be able to celebrate when they do something good. Sure, it can be taken too far sometimes, but who's to say when that is? The NFL brass made a good call, but they could be a little more lenient when it comes to end zone dances.
Anywho, back to Chad. This week, he demanded that the Bengals trade him. Head coach Marvin Lewis has stated multiple times during the offseason that Johnson will remain a Bengal. So, now the question is: what do the Bengals do with their disgruntled superstar? A few days ago I touched on this, and I think that their best option would be to trade him. But, this brings up a problem. If they trade Johnson, they will still be responsible for over $8 million of his salary. So if this is the case, Johnson will likely remain in the orange and black.
Here is my suggestion (again): Marvin, you have to weigh the pros and cons here. Sure, your team will have to pay Johnson his money either way, but wouldn't you rather get that distraction out of the locker room? This whole situation has covered up the fact that Johnson's receiving partner T.J. Houshmanzadeh is also upset with the team. Housh has done nothing but good things for this club. Year in and year out he is near the top of the league in receptions, and he does it without the charisma and problems that are brought by Chad Johnson. The Bengals need to realize that if they keep this stalemate happening, they could lose both their top wide outs.
The Bengals need to unload Johnson, and I'm sure there are many teams out there interested. Their best bet (as was noted in my mock draft) would be to trade him to the Cowboys for one of their two first round selections. This would help get rid of the distraction, as well as enable them to add another peice to their struggling defence.
Another option could be dangling him in front of the Tennessee Titans. The Titans hold the 24th pick in the first round, and could use a top receiver such as Johnson. The Bengals could unload their distraction, and likely could draft one of the top receivers in the draft. If Deshean Jackson is still around, this becomes an easier decision. Jackson is similar to Johnson, with good size and good speed, but there are character concerns around Jackson as well.
Whatever they choose, they had better get it done soon. They need to go into draft day looking for help on defence. They hold the number nine pick, and are targeting Sederick Ellis from USC. This would be a great pick for an organization who has been terrible in the draft room for the better part of 20 years (outside the pick of Carson Palmer). Oh, the Bengals....
Friday, April 18, 2008
What A Mockery
Well, as promised, it is time for me to update my mock draft. With only 8 days remaining until the draft, this is the time for all these draft day trades to start taking shape.
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
-> Speculators had them taking Chris Long, but I think goal #1 should be forming an offensive line for whoever takes the snaps this year.
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
-> The Rams will be overjoyed to see Long fall here, but they will also be tempted to scoop up Vernon Gholston. They still could be a canidate to trade down.
3. Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
-> The Falcons will pass on Matt Ryan, and draft a player that could be a force for their defence for the next 10 years.
4. Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio State.
-> The Raiders will take a long look at Darren McFadden, before deciding they have enough running backs, and they select the defensive player with the most potential in the draft.
5. TRADE: Baltimore Ravens trade their first and second round draft picks to the Chiefs and select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College.
-> The Chiefs really want to unload this pick, so they give it to the Ravens. The Ravens fill the void left by Steve McNair's retirement, and put the pressure on Kyle Boller.
6. New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
-> The Jets need to form an offense, so they start with the best running back in the draft. McFadden will provide speed in the backfield, as well as an outlet for Chad Pennington in the passing game.
7. TRADE: Detroit Lions trade their first and third round picks this year, as well as a second next year to the Patriots and select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
-> A huge deal for the Lions, who move up and grab another young linebacker to pair with Ernie Sims. This may be a stretch, but the Lions could use the help.
8. Kansas City Chiefs select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy State
-> The unquestioned number one corner in the draft, the Chiefs gain some speed in their secondary and provide an eventual replacement for Patrick Surtain.
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
-> The Bengals need help on D, and Ellis could be the best tackle in the draft outside of Dorsey. Fills an immediate need.
10. New Orleans Saints select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State
-> A risky pick at number 10, but the Saints need an infusion of speed and talent in their secondary after the terrible signing of Jason David. Loads of potential, but could be over drafted because of his name.
11. Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
-> Will be drafted higher because of his pro day and his versatility, Albert can fill a major hole in the Bills o-line and immediately gel with the emerging Jason Peters.
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State
-> The Broncos need to reform it's aging o-line, so they pick the best lineman on the board at this point. They could have gone for a receiver, but they just signed Darrell Jackson, so it is no longer needed.
13. Carolina Panthers select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida-> The Panthers need to address their depth at the defensive end position, so they draft the best one on the board.
14. Chicago Bears select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
-> They need to replace Cedric Benson, or at least find someone to push him for his carries.
15. New England Patriots select Dan Conner, LB from Penn State
-> The Pats need to get younger at the linebacker positiong, so they select one of the best inside backers in the draft.
16. Arizona Cardinals select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
-> Edgerrin James isn't the back he once was, so they add Stewart, a speedy but huge back to complement him. Stewart is a hidden gem.
17. Minnesota Vikings select Calais Campbell, DE from Miami (Fla)
-> With the status of both their defensive ends in jeopardy, the Vikes draft Campbell, a talented, but troubled off the field, defensive end to provide depth.
18. Houston Texans select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
-> The Texans would like a running back, but with no studs available, they draft the best cornerback available to pair with Dunta Robinson.
19. Philadelphia Eagles select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami (Fla)
-> The Eagles need to address the strong saftey slot, and Phillips is the best safety in the draft.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Kentwan Balmer, DT from North Carolina
-> The Bucs have so many needs elsewhere, but will be overjoyed that this beast of a man falls to them. Will help solidify the middle of the line, and provide a nice complement for Gaines Adams.
21. Washington Redskins select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
-> They need help in the pass rush department, and Merling can provide a partner for the aging Andre Carter
22. Dallas Cowboys select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
-> The Cowboys need to address their depth behind Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry after letting two key reserves go. Flowers' speed is question, but could be a great shut-down guy in the NFL.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas
-> The Steelers would have loved Flowers here, but Talib`s stock has been rising. Character problems a bit of a concern however.
24. Tennessee Titans select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
-> Some question his drive, but no one will be able to ignore this guy`s speed. A definite steal, and the first wide out taken will provide Vince Young with a nice weapon.
25. Seattle Seahawks select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
-> Walter Jones won`t go on forever, and even still, Otah could fill other needs along the offensive line. A great pick this late in the round.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
-> They wanted Otah, but Williams is still a great pick. Big, strong man will fill a huge need at either tackle position.
27. San Diego Chargers select Felix Jones, RB from Arkansas
-> The other Arkansas back in this draft should be a great back up to LT, and will take the pain away from losing Michael Turner.
28. TRADE: Dallas Cowboys trade thier pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Chad Johnson. The Bengals select Quentin Groves, LB from Aurburn
-> A huge trade to say the least. The Boys save on drafting a receiver. And the Bengals get rid of their distraction and draft another key addition for their defence.
29. San Francisco 49ers select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
-> With this addition they all but guarentee they will own the best inside linebacker duo in the league. For those of you who don`t know (how could you not), the other is Patrick Willis.
30. TRADE: Atlanta Falcons trade the 34th and 48th overall picks to the Packers and select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville
-> A not-so-shocking trade, as the Falcons need a quarterback, and the Packers really don`t need anything. They do gain two extra second rounders which can be used for depth.
31. New England Patriots forfeit pick
32. New York Giants select Xavier Adibi, LB from Virginia Tech
-> The Giants have other needs, but they take the chance at replacing Kawika Mitchell with Adibi.
Well folks, there you have it. That`s how I think the first round could go down. A few long shot trades, but that`s why these mock drafts are fun. The only other shocking news of the day is the Chiefs may be trying to unload DE Jared Allen if the right price comes along. This is weird, as he just had his best season of his career. But, who am I to judge? Signing off for another day, JVZ
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
-> Speculators had them taking Chris Long, but I think goal #1 should be forming an offensive line for whoever takes the snaps this year.
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
-> The Rams will be overjoyed to see Long fall here, but they will also be tempted to scoop up Vernon Gholston. They still could be a canidate to trade down.
3. Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
-> The Falcons will pass on Matt Ryan, and draft a player that could be a force for their defence for the next 10 years.
4. Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB from Ohio State.
-> The Raiders will take a long look at Darren McFadden, before deciding they have enough running backs, and they select the defensive player with the most potential in the draft.
5. TRADE: Baltimore Ravens trade their first and second round draft picks to the Chiefs and select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College.
-> The Chiefs really want to unload this pick, so they give it to the Ravens. The Ravens fill the void left by Steve McNair's retirement, and put the pressure on Kyle Boller.
6. New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
-> The Jets need to form an offense, so they start with the best running back in the draft. McFadden will provide speed in the backfield, as well as an outlet for Chad Pennington in the passing game.
7. TRADE: Detroit Lions trade their first and third round picks this year, as well as a second next year to the Patriots and select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
-> A huge deal for the Lions, who move up and grab another young linebacker to pair with Ernie Sims. This may be a stretch, but the Lions could use the help.
8. Kansas City Chiefs select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy State
-> The unquestioned number one corner in the draft, the Chiefs gain some speed in their secondary and provide an eventual replacement for Patrick Surtain.
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
-> The Bengals need help on D, and Ellis could be the best tackle in the draft outside of Dorsey. Fills an immediate need.
10. New Orleans Saints select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State
-> A risky pick at number 10, but the Saints need an infusion of speed and talent in their secondary after the terrible signing of Jason David. Loads of potential, but could be over drafted because of his name.
11. Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
-> Will be drafted higher because of his pro day and his versatility, Albert can fill a major hole in the Bills o-line and immediately gel with the emerging Jason Peters.
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State
-> The Broncos need to reform it's aging o-line, so they pick the best lineman on the board at this point. They could have gone for a receiver, but they just signed Darrell Jackson, so it is no longer needed.
13. Carolina Panthers select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida-> The Panthers need to address their depth at the defensive end position, so they draft the best one on the board.
14. Chicago Bears select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
-> They need to replace Cedric Benson, or at least find someone to push him for his carries.
15. New England Patriots select Dan Conner, LB from Penn State
-> The Pats need to get younger at the linebacker positiong, so they select one of the best inside backers in the draft.
16. Arizona Cardinals select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
-> Edgerrin James isn't the back he once was, so they add Stewart, a speedy but huge back to complement him. Stewart is a hidden gem.
17. Minnesota Vikings select Calais Campbell, DE from Miami (Fla)
-> With the status of both their defensive ends in jeopardy, the Vikes draft Campbell, a talented, but troubled off the field, defensive end to provide depth.
18. Houston Texans select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
-> The Texans would like a running back, but with no studs available, they draft the best cornerback available to pair with Dunta Robinson.
19. Philadelphia Eagles select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami (Fla)
-> The Eagles need to address the strong saftey slot, and Phillips is the best safety in the draft.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Kentwan Balmer, DT from North Carolina
-> The Bucs have so many needs elsewhere, but will be overjoyed that this beast of a man falls to them. Will help solidify the middle of the line, and provide a nice complement for Gaines Adams.
21. Washington Redskins select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
-> They need help in the pass rush department, and Merling can provide a partner for the aging Andre Carter
22. Dallas Cowboys select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
-> The Cowboys need to address their depth behind Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry after letting two key reserves go. Flowers' speed is question, but could be a great shut-down guy in the NFL.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas
-> The Steelers would have loved Flowers here, but Talib`s stock has been rising. Character problems a bit of a concern however.
24. Tennessee Titans select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
-> Some question his drive, but no one will be able to ignore this guy`s speed. A definite steal, and the first wide out taken will provide Vince Young with a nice weapon.
25. Seattle Seahawks select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
-> Walter Jones won`t go on forever, and even still, Otah could fill other needs along the offensive line. A great pick this late in the round.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt
-> They wanted Otah, but Williams is still a great pick. Big, strong man will fill a huge need at either tackle position.
27. San Diego Chargers select Felix Jones, RB from Arkansas
-> The other Arkansas back in this draft should be a great back up to LT, and will take the pain away from losing Michael Turner.
28. TRADE: Dallas Cowboys trade thier pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Chad Johnson. The Bengals select Quentin Groves, LB from Aurburn
-> A huge trade to say the least. The Boys save on drafting a receiver. And the Bengals get rid of their distraction and draft another key addition for their defence.
29. San Francisco 49ers select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
-> With this addition they all but guarentee they will own the best inside linebacker duo in the league. For those of you who don`t know (how could you not), the other is Patrick Willis.
30. TRADE: Atlanta Falcons trade the 34th and 48th overall picks to the Packers and select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville
-> A not-so-shocking trade, as the Falcons need a quarterback, and the Packers really don`t need anything. They do gain two extra second rounders which can be used for depth.
31. New England Patriots forfeit pick
32. New York Giants select Xavier Adibi, LB from Virginia Tech
-> The Giants have other needs, but they take the chance at replacing Kawika Mitchell with Adibi.
Well folks, there you have it. That`s how I think the first round could go down. A few long shot trades, but that`s why these mock drafts are fun. The only other shocking news of the day is the Chiefs may be trying to unload DE Jared Allen if the right price comes along. This is weird, as he just had his best season of his career. But, who am I to judge? Signing off for another day, JVZ
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Trades and Demands
There are lots of happenings going on around the NFL today.
->In a shocking twist, Baltimore Ravens QB Steve "Air" McNair has retired. The 35-year old gunslinger retires after 14 seasons, which included one Super Bowl appearance, and was a Co-MVP of the league in 2003 with Peyton Manning.
->Chad Johnson, what a guy. He has now decided that his time is up in Cincy. Marvin Lewis has said multiple times that Ocho Cinco will remain a Bengal, but is there a hold out in Chad's future? My suggestion is that they trade Chad, and work out a new deal for T.J. Houshmanzedah. They need to keep at least one of these guys. Ahhhh, the Bengals.
->The Saints are apparently looking at trading up from the tenth pick overall, in search of either Vernon Gholston or Glenn Dorsey. This would be a great choice for the Saints, but they would need to evaluate all of their options. They should be able to get Gholston at #4, but that's only if the Raiders jump on Darren McFadden.
->The Denver Broncos have taken a step in the right direction with the signing of Darrell Jackson. If healthy, Jackson could be a great complement for Brandon Marshall. He lacks speed, but can be a great possession guy who could help the development of Jay Cutler. This all but determines the Broncos don't take a receiver in the first round.
->The Buffalo Bills are not going to trade or release J.P. Losman. This is an interesting choice, as their QB of the future is Trent Edwards. But, Losman has shown flashes in the past, and I think they will try to use him as trade bait. Losman could be a decent NFL quarterback, but he may end up a career back up.
->Oklahoma Sooner prospect Malcolm Kelly has re-run his 40 yard dash.....again. This time,, he improved by over two tenths of a second, but he is still going to be questioned about his speed. The bottom line on Kelly is that he is a big, strong receiver who will be a great possession receiver who could have a long career.
So, anywho, another busy day in the NFL world. Be sure to check out T-Dub's mock draft, and I will update mine in the next few days.
->In a shocking twist, Baltimore Ravens QB Steve "Air" McNair has retired. The 35-year old gunslinger retires after 14 seasons, which included one Super Bowl appearance, and was a Co-MVP of the league in 2003 with Peyton Manning.
->Chad Johnson, what a guy. He has now decided that his time is up in Cincy. Marvin Lewis has said multiple times that Ocho Cinco will remain a Bengal, but is there a hold out in Chad's future? My suggestion is that they trade Chad, and work out a new deal for T.J. Houshmanzedah. They need to keep at least one of these guys. Ahhhh, the Bengals.
->The Saints are apparently looking at trading up from the tenth pick overall, in search of either Vernon Gholston or Glenn Dorsey. This would be a great choice for the Saints, but they would need to evaluate all of their options. They should be able to get Gholston at #4, but that's only if the Raiders jump on Darren McFadden.
->The Denver Broncos have taken a step in the right direction with the signing of Darrell Jackson. If healthy, Jackson could be a great complement for Brandon Marshall. He lacks speed, but can be a great possession guy who could help the development of Jay Cutler. This all but determines the Broncos don't take a receiver in the first round.
->The Buffalo Bills are not going to trade or release J.P. Losman. This is an interesting choice, as their QB of the future is Trent Edwards. But, Losman has shown flashes in the past, and I think they will try to use him as trade bait. Losman could be a decent NFL quarterback, but he may end up a career back up.
->Oklahoma Sooner prospect Malcolm Kelly has re-run his 40 yard dash.....again. This time,, he improved by over two tenths of a second, but he is still going to be questioned about his speed. The bottom line on Kelly is that he is a big, strong receiver who will be a great possession receiver who could have a long career.
So, anywho, another busy day in the NFL world. Be sure to check out T-Dub's mock draft, and I will update mine in the next few days.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Drugs and Schedules
Well, as advertised, I am going to keep my adoring fans (hey T-Dub) informed on the happenings around the league. This morning I was informed (by T-dub) that a certain Chargers linebacker was being suspended four games for substance abuse. Now, I know what you are all thinking....boy what did Merriman do this time? Well, it was actually Stephen Cooper, the sixth year pro out of Maine, who led the Chargers with 179 tackles.
The 2008 NFL schedule was released yesterday, and there are a few things I feel I should touch on. First, we will get yet another epic match up in the Patriots-Colts feud. The Colts will be hosting the Pats in week nine, on a Sunday nighter. Secondly, the guys on NFL network had a nice rant on the fact that the Browns will be featured in FIVE prime time games. Yes, no typo, five prime time games for a team that didn`t make the playoffs, and doesn`t really have a superstar. Injustice? Probably, but really....who doesn`t want to watch the Brownies this year? On a final note, who else is looking forward to the Opening night festivities between the Giants and Skins? Should be a dandy. And, in what is possibly the worst marketing plan in history, the first regular season game in Canada will be a sure-fire preview of the AFC Championship (not) between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Enough said.
Just a few more nuggets before I sign off today:
-The Eagles are still trying to unload Lito Sheppard
-The Saints re-signed Deuce McAllister
-The Chiefs are trying real hard to unload the fifth overall pick
and
-Pac Man Jones is delaying his application for reinstatement....probably too busy at the strip club to care....
The 2008 NFL schedule was released yesterday, and there are a few things I feel I should touch on. First, we will get yet another epic match up in the Patriots-Colts feud. The Colts will be hosting the Pats in week nine, on a Sunday nighter. Secondly, the guys on NFL network had a nice rant on the fact that the Browns will be featured in FIVE prime time games. Yes, no typo, five prime time games for a team that didn`t make the playoffs, and doesn`t really have a superstar. Injustice? Probably, but really....who doesn`t want to watch the Brownies this year? On a final note, who else is looking forward to the Opening night festivities between the Giants and Skins? Should be a dandy. And, in what is possibly the worst marketing plan in history, the first regular season game in Canada will be a sure-fire preview of the AFC Championship (not) between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Enough said.
Just a few more nuggets before I sign off today:
-The Eagles are still trying to unload Lito Sheppard
-The Saints re-signed Deuce McAllister
-The Chiefs are trying real hard to unload the fifth overall pick
and
-Pac Man Jones is delaying his application for reinstatement....probably too busy at the strip club to care....
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Draft Days Part 2
For the record, I do believe there will be some wheeling and dealing in the NFL draft, but I chose not to mention it in my mock.
Here are a few teams that are (or could be) looking to move.
Miami Dolphins: Obviously they don't want the burden of signing a #1 overall pick. But, no team is likely to trade up to this spot, based on the value it carries. They may however, try to get back into the first round, maybe into the 20s, should a QB strike their fancy.
Kansas City Chiefs: Word is the Chiefs don't want to stay in the #5 slot. Realistically, they could trade down a few spots and still take Sederick Ellis, but all eyes will be on whether or not the Chiefs decide to go to Matt Ryan. But, if you are the Chiefs, you need to find ways to fill as many holes as you can.
New England Patriots: Bill Belichick loves to be a wild card come draft day. They do not want to stay in the #7 slot, or so they make us think. My guess is they will attempt to trade down to the mid-teens and pick up the top rated linebacker or cornerback on the board.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons will select Glenn Dorsey at number three, but with three second round picks, they could have another pick in the first round in their sights. My guess for the Falcons is they trade back into the first round in an attempt to snag Brian Brohm.
Dallas Cowboys: Whether or not the Pac Man trade goes through, the Cowboys are said to be looking for a cornerback with one of their two first round picks. There are also rumours that they could be shopping the other pick for a top notch wide receiver. Chad Johnson, Roy Williams and Anquan Boldin have all been mentioned.
Countdown to the 2008 NFL Draft: 11 Days
Here are a few teams that are (or could be) looking to move.
Miami Dolphins: Obviously they don't want the burden of signing a #1 overall pick. But, no team is likely to trade up to this spot, based on the value it carries. They may however, try to get back into the first round, maybe into the 20s, should a QB strike their fancy.
Kansas City Chiefs: Word is the Chiefs don't want to stay in the #5 slot. Realistically, they could trade down a few spots and still take Sederick Ellis, but all eyes will be on whether or not the Chiefs decide to go to Matt Ryan. But, if you are the Chiefs, you need to find ways to fill as many holes as you can.
New England Patriots: Bill Belichick loves to be a wild card come draft day. They do not want to stay in the #7 slot, or so they make us think. My guess is they will attempt to trade down to the mid-teens and pick up the top rated linebacker or cornerback on the board.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons will select Glenn Dorsey at number three, but with three second round picks, they could have another pick in the first round in their sights. My guess for the Falcons is they trade back into the first round in an attempt to snag Brian Brohm.
Dallas Cowboys: Whether or not the Pac Man trade goes through, the Cowboys are said to be looking for a cornerback with one of their two first round picks. There are also rumours that they could be shopping the other pick for a top notch wide receiver. Chad Johnson, Roy Williams and Anquan Boldin have all been mentioned.
Countdown to the 2008 NFL Draft: 11 Days
Monday, April 14, 2008
Draft Days
With the NFL draft now only 12 days away, there is a lot of speculation on who will go number one to the Dolphins. So far, the team is apparently talking contract with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, and Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston. Personally, I have listed Jake Long in the number one slot in my mock drafts. I think Gholston will be a suprise pick by the Oakland Raiders at number four.
Lets take a look at the Dolphins most likely options:
Jake Long, OT, Michigan: could be a perennial Pro Bowler at right tackle, but the consensus is he will man the left side. While it could take a bit longer for him to develop here, they need to provide protection for whoever their quarterback is.
Chris Long, DE, Virginia: A typical Parcells pick. He is big, strong and has a famous father. I think they will go with Jake, with Chris falling (not really) to number two to the Rams.
Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State: Another Parcells-type guy. Hard working, great size and good skill set. Most analysists feel he will be better in the long run than Long, but he could require more time to develop. Would be great as a outside linebacker in a 3-4 defence.
With all this in mind, here is my Mock Draft for round one.
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
3. Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
4. Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE from Ohio State
5. Kansas City Chiefs select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
6. New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
7. New England Patriots select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
8. Baltimore Ravens select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Kentwan Balmer, DT from North Carolina
10. New Orleans Saints select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy State
11. Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State
13. Carolina Panthers select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
14. Chicago Bears select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
15. Detroit Lions select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
16. Arizona Cardinals select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
17. Minnesota Vikings select Calais Campbell, DE from Miami (Fla)
18. Houston Texans select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
19. Philadelphia Eagles select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami (Fla)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
21. Washington Redskins select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
22. Dallas Cowboys select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas State
24. Tennessee Titans select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
25. Seattle Seahawks select Quentin Groves, LB from Auburn
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
27. San Diego Chargers select Felix Jones, RB from Texas
28. Dallas Cowboys select Malcolm Kelly, WR from Oklahoma
29. San Francisco 49ers select Dan Conner, LB from Penn State
30. Green Bay Packers select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville
31. New England Patriots forfeit pick
32. New York Giants select Xavier Adibi, LB from Virginia Tech
There you go, a few surprises, but overall should be fairly accurate. Round two to come in the next few days.
Lets take a look at the Dolphins most likely options:
Jake Long, OT, Michigan: could be a perennial Pro Bowler at right tackle, but the consensus is he will man the left side. While it could take a bit longer for him to develop here, they need to provide protection for whoever their quarterback is.
Chris Long, DE, Virginia: A typical Parcells pick. He is big, strong and has a famous father. I think they will go with Jake, with Chris falling (not really) to number two to the Rams.
Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State: Another Parcells-type guy. Hard working, great size and good skill set. Most analysists feel he will be better in the long run than Long, but he could require more time to develop. Would be great as a outside linebacker in a 3-4 defence.
With all this in mind, here is my Mock Draft for round one.
1. Miami Dolphins select Jake Long, OT from Michigan
2. St Louis Rams select Chris Long, DE from Virginia
3. Atlanta Falcons select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU
4. Oakland Raiders select Vernon Gholston, DE from Ohio State
5. Kansas City Chiefs select Sederick Ellis, DT from USC
6. New York Jets select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas
7. New England Patriots select Keith Rivers, LB from USC
8. Baltimore Ravens select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College
9. Cincinnati Bengals select Kentwan Balmer, DT from North Carolina
10. New Orleans Saints select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy State
11. Buffalo Bills select Brandon Albert, OG from Virginia
12. Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State
13. Carolina Panthers select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida
14. Chicago Bears select Johnathan Stewart, RB from Oregon
15. Detroit Lions select Jared Mayo, LB from Tennessee
16. Arizona Cardinals select Brandon Flowers, CB from Virginia Tech
17. Minnesota Vikings select Calais Campbell, DE from Miami (Fla)
18. Houston Texans select Rashard Mendenhall, RB from Illinois
19. Philadelphia Eagles select Kenny Phillips, S from Miami (Fla)
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Mike Jenkins, CB from South Florida
21. Washington Redskins select Phillip Merling, DE from Clemson
22. Dallas Cowboys select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State
23. Pittsburgh Steelers select Aqib Talib, CB from Kansas State
24. Tennessee Titans select Deshean Jackson, WR from California
25. Seattle Seahawks select Quentin Groves, LB from Auburn
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select Jeff Otah, OT from Pittsburgh
27. San Diego Chargers select Felix Jones, RB from Texas
28. Dallas Cowboys select Malcolm Kelly, WR from Oklahoma
29. San Francisco 49ers select Dan Conner, LB from Penn State
30. Green Bay Packers select Brian Brohm, QB from Louisville
31. New England Patriots forfeit pick
32. New York Giants select Xavier Adibi, LB from Virginia Tech
There you go, a few surprises, but overall should be fairly accurate. Round two to come in the next few days.
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