1. St. Louis Rams (1-15): Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Its official Marc Bulger is gone and Bradford seems the favorite over Clausen. Right now it doesn’t seem like the Rams are going to finish contract negotiations before the draft.
2. Detroit Lions (2-14): Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Lions had the first overall pick last year and Matthew Stafford. If the Lions want him to reach his true potential then the Lions need to improve their line and improve the protection of their prized QB, especially since he has shown some injury concerns last year.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13): Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Buccaneers fans and front office must be dancing because of this pick. Because of the previous two teams needs arguably the best player in the draft and best defensive lineman in along time falls to the Bucs. This fills a huge hole on the team and should invoke images of the good times when Warren Sapp commanded the interior on their Super Bowl champion team.
4. Washington Redskins (4-12): Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
What one day does to a team’s future. The addition of McNabb makes the Redskins instant playoff contenders and means they will NOT be drafting a QB now. This pick is very difficult for me to decide on, do the Redskins take the best player on the board or an offensive lineman? My money is going on the protection for McNabb. William’s goes here at this pick because he fits their zone-blocking scheme.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12): Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Pioli doesn’t believe in taking Safeties early in the draft. Berry would be the best pick here but the Chiefs do need to improve their protection of Matt Cassel. They certainly have enough invested into him.
6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11): Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
How the draft works out has been very friendly to every team so far. McCoy fills a need for Seattle. He fits the 4-3 defense and will provide pass rush in the middle that their defense desperately needs. McCoy is a top-5 talent and getting him at #6 is a bargain. Funny thing is Eric Berry is still on the board but McCoy fits a bigger need.
7. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Good news for the Browns is that they don’t have to trade up to get a franchise QB. Holmgren has to make this pick Clausen, Delhomme is a gap filler and Wallace isn’t an opening day starter
8. Oakland Raiders (5-11): Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
I can’t see the Raiders taking Eric Berry even though a top-5 talent has fallen this far to them. Campbell fits a need and fills the role of the workout warrior Al Davis just loves. I am set in stone that if Campbell is there this will be their pick.
9. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
This pick was very difficult for me to make. The Bills need a franchise LT but the top 4 lineman are already and gone and the only two QB’s worth taking are gone, plus on top of that drafting Eric Berry would be stupid because they don’t need help at defensive back at all. This pick will come down to reaching for the next best LT (Anthony Davis), adding a playmaker in Dez Bryant or filling a big need in Dan Williams. The Bills are going to run a 3-4 defense this year and it all starts in the trenches.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9): Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
I can’t believe that Eric Berry can fall this far. But because of the Redskins trade it is now possible. The Jags pass defense cannot defend anyone and that’s a big problem when you play Payton Manning two times a year. Berry is a blue-chip prospect and is believed to be the next in line of Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed and Sean Taylor type players.
11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) (7-9): Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Right now Brandon Marshall is still with the Broncos, but I would suspect that a draft day deal goes down and he is shipped out of town like Randy Moss a few years ago. The Broncos defense improved a lot under Coordinator Mike Nolan. Inside linebacker is still a weakness on the team so it makes sense for the best ILB in the draft to be picked here. If Dez Bryant is still on the board then I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos take him.
12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Dolphins miss out on drafting Williams so time to look to improving their pass rushing situation. Joey Porter is gone and Jason Taylor is probably going to retire after this season. Pierre-Paul is a very athletic raw talent, high upside but high chance of being a bust.
13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8): Joe Haden, CB, Florida
At his pro day Haden rebounded with an impressive 40-time. But how the draft plays out it doesn’t matter since he will probably end up falling all the way to the 49ers. Corner is a need for the 49ers, Shawnte Spencer has proven he is a good starter but Nate Clements looks to be on the decline and Terrell Brown is average. Adding Haden give the 49ers a very respectable defense and should help put them in the top-10 defense next year.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) (8-8): C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
This pick probably couldn't have worked out any better then the Seahawks. After picking up a top-5 talent, the Seahawks can fill their void at running back and get a true play maker they haven't had since Shaun Alexander's MVP season. They could use some help on the offensive line but this class is fairly deep and can address it later.
15. New York Giants (8-8): Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Giants tried to improve their pass defense by overpaying for Antrel Rolle. Now the Giants defense that took down the mighty Patriots 3 Super Bowls ago now need help. Derrick Morgan is probably the safest and best DE in the draft.
16. Tennessee Titans (8-8): Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
The Titans released former Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosh opening a big void on their defense. The Titans have some pieces in their secondary but the result of no pass rush last year exposed the holes in their defense. Pass rushers improve the whole defense.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Combine: Winners and Losers
This past week the NFL combine took place. It featured different drills such as the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle; along with interviews one on one with the player so scouts and team officials can see the psychological aspect to their prospects. For more information about each drill you can click the link. I generally do not put a lot of emphasis in combine numbers because I believe that game film is the most important part to scouting a prospect. Still some prospects had some impressive numbers that will force scouts to take note of. All prospects will have a second chance to do the same drills as the combine at their Pro-Day later this month.
Winners:
Ben Tate, RB, Auburn- Tate came into the combine with the reputation as a hard-nose downhill runner. He didn't fail to prove that by tying for first for running backs in the bench press with 26 reps. What was most impressive was that Tate finished 3rd among RB with a 40-time of 4.43 along with impressive numbers. Tate showed that he has strength to backup his known tough running style and his 40-time help show that he can be an complete back that has not only strength but speed.
Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon- Dickson reputation has always been he will be a great receiving TE but doesn't have the size to be dominate in blocking. If he wants to make it in the NFL he needed to show he can be a play maker by catching the ball. From watching him on throwing drills he showed great awareness and effort by adjusting his route according to the ball. His 40-time was a 4.67, which was probably higher then most had him at. I think Dickson proved that he can be a good receiving threat for teams.
Taylor Mays, S, USC- Mays was projected a top-15 draft pick last year but decided to return to USC for his senior year. That choice might just drop him out of the first round of the draft this year. Mays showed he is not a ball-hawking safety, there is no denying he is an athletic freak and has the potential to be great. Mays entered the combine tagged as a fast and powerful guy. His 40-time didn't disappoint as he posted a 4.43, the fastest out of any defensive back. When it comes to his strength he helped show it in the bench press by tying for second doing 24 reps.
Other notable winners: Jacoby Ford ran fastest 40 time of a 4.28. Jahvid Best ran the fastest RB 40 time of 4.35. Elite prospect Eric Berry had 4.47 40 time, third best overall vertical jump and second overall long jump. Golden Tate shut the critics about his speed. Tim Tebow showed his athleticism and maybe that he can play more then QB.
Losers:
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida- The Gator star didn't look impressive during his workouts at all. He was very stiff and had a terrible base while running drills. During the interviewing process he seemed immature. Dunlap had legal trouble during college which already hurts his draft stock. Before the combine I had Dunlap falling out of the first round, now I have no reason to believe he will fall into the second round.
Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke- Oghobasse was known as an athletic DT that had great size. While you can't take away his size, his workouts had people scratching their heads when labeling him as "athletic." He ran a 5.43 40-time which for a DT they run slow 40s but most people would have expected his time to be much faster. Two years ago he looked like a 1st/2nd round prospect, after a disappointing senior season from injuries, decline in production and poor combine he is likely to be lucky to be a third round selection.
Ciron Black, OT, LSU- Black is hailed as a more of a power lineman, good for run blocking. But for the bench press he only did a mediocre 23 reps and even though 40-yard times for offensive lineman should not really be counted a 5.5 leaves many to believe he will struggle against fast DE. His sliding drills further reinforced this fear because he was very unbalanced. Black at one time had early mocks projecting him in the first round, now their is no way he goes that high. Look for teams to draft him in the second and more likely third round.
Other notable losers: Brandon Spikes, former Gator star showed his athleticism which might drop him out of the first and into the second round. Joe Haden another former Gator didn't "wow" people with his performance like we all expected, he is still the best CB but his stock might push him out of top-10. Fellow top CB prospect from Michigan Donovan Warren ran a awful 40-yard time of 4.69. These questions might help fellow CB Kyle Wilson and Patrick Robinson move up in their respected position.
Winners:
Ben Tate, RB, Auburn- Tate came into the combine with the reputation as a hard-nose downhill runner. He didn't fail to prove that by tying for first for running backs in the bench press with 26 reps. What was most impressive was that Tate finished 3rd among RB with a 40-time of 4.43 along with impressive numbers. Tate showed that he has strength to backup his known tough running style and his 40-time help show that he can be an complete back that has not only strength but speed.
Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon- Dickson reputation has always been he will be a great receiving TE but doesn't have the size to be dominate in blocking. If he wants to make it in the NFL he needed to show he can be a play maker by catching the ball. From watching him on throwing drills he showed great awareness and effort by adjusting his route according to the ball. His 40-time was a 4.67, which was probably higher then most had him at. I think Dickson proved that he can be a good receiving threat for teams.
Taylor Mays, S, USC- Mays was projected a top-15 draft pick last year but decided to return to USC for his senior year. That choice might just drop him out of the first round of the draft this year. Mays showed he is not a ball-hawking safety, there is no denying he is an athletic freak and has the potential to be great. Mays entered the combine tagged as a fast and powerful guy. His 40-time didn't disappoint as he posted a 4.43, the fastest out of any defensive back. When it comes to his strength he helped show it in the bench press by tying for second doing 24 reps.
Other notable winners: Jacoby Ford ran fastest 40 time of a 4.28. Jahvid Best ran the fastest RB 40 time of 4.35. Elite prospect Eric Berry had 4.47 40 time, third best overall vertical jump and second overall long jump. Golden Tate shut the critics about his speed. Tim Tebow showed his athleticism and maybe that he can play more then QB.
Losers:
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida- The Gator star didn't look impressive during his workouts at all. He was very stiff and had a terrible base while running drills. During the interviewing process he seemed immature. Dunlap had legal trouble during college which already hurts his draft stock. Before the combine I had Dunlap falling out of the first round, now I have no reason to believe he will fall into the second round.
Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke- Oghobasse was known as an athletic DT that had great size. While you can't take away his size, his workouts had people scratching their heads when labeling him as "athletic." He ran a 5.43 40-time which for a DT they run slow 40s but most people would have expected his time to be much faster. Two years ago he looked like a 1st/2nd round prospect, after a disappointing senior season from injuries, decline in production and poor combine he is likely to be lucky to be a third round selection.
Ciron Black, OT, LSU- Black is hailed as a more of a power lineman, good for run blocking. But for the bench press he only did a mediocre 23 reps and even though 40-yard times for offensive lineman should not really be counted a 5.5 leaves many to believe he will struggle against fast DE. His sliding drills further reinforced this fear because he was very unbalanced. Black at one time had early mocks projecting him in the first round, now their is no way he goes that high. Look for teams to draft him in the second and more likely third round.
Other notable losers: Brandon Spikes, former Gator star showed his athleticism which might drop him out of the first and into the second round. Joe Haden another former Gator didn't "wow" people with his performance like we all expected, he is still the best CB but his stock might push him out of top-10. Fellow top CB prospect from Michigan Donovan Warren ran a awful 40-yard time of 4.69. These questions might help fellow CB Kyle Wilson and Patrick Robinson move up in their respected position.
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