Special Sports

World According to Me:

NFL Draft 2008:

NFC East   AFC East  
C+ B+
C C
C B
C C+
NFC West   AFC West  
C- C-
D+ A
D C+
B C
NFC North   AFC North  
B+ C-
D C+
A- B
B- D+
NFC South   AFC South  
D+ D+
C B+
B D+
C- D+
 

My 2008 Draft All-Can't Miss Team:                                           My 2008 Draft All-Favorite Longshot Team:

WR

 Jordy Nelson, Kansas State, Green Bay Packers

  Taj Smith, Syracuse, Green Bay Packers
WR  James Hardy, Indiana, Washington Redskins  Todd Blythe, Iowa State, New Orleans Saints
WR  Devin Thomas, Michigan State, Buffalo Bills  Pierre Garcon, Mt. Union, Indianapolis Colts
TE  Dustin Keller, Purdue, New York Jets  Mike Peterson, NW Missouri St., Green Bay Packers
TE  John Carlson, Notre Dame, Seattle Seahawks  Drew Atchison, William and Mary, Dallas Cowboys
OT  Jake Long, Michigan, Miami Dolphins  Cody Balogh, Montana, Chicago Bears
OT  Ryan Clady, Boise State, Denver Broncos  Mike Byrne, Delaware, Miami Dolphins
OT  Chris Williams, Vanderbilt, Chicago Bears  Will Robinson, San Diego State, Seattle Seahawks
OG  Brandon Albert, Virginia, Kansas City Chiefs  Shawn McMackin, Hofstra, New York Jets
OG  Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers  James Lee, South Carolina State, Cleveland Browns
OG  Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Eagles  Brandon Barnes, Grand Valley State, Baltimore Ravens
C  Mike Pollack, Arizona State, Indianapolis Colts  Isaiah Wiggins, Illinois State, Baltimore Ravens
C  John Sullivan, Notre Dame, Minnesota Vikings  Darren Marquez, Southern Illinois, Indianapolis Colts
FB  Owen Schmitt, West Virginia, Seattle Seahawks  Jed Collins, Washington State, Philadelphia Eagles
FB  Peyton Hillis, Arkansas, Denver Broncos  Mike Tolbert, Coastal Carolina, San Diego Chargers
RB  Darren McFadden, Arkansas, Oakland Raiders  Danny Woodhead, Chadron State, New York Jets
RB  Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, Pittsburgh Steelers  Justin Beaver, UW-Whitewater, Green Bay Packers
RB  Matt Forte, Tulane, Chicago Bears  Allen Ervin, Lambuth, Detroit Lions
QB  Brian Brohm, Louisville, Green Bay Packers  Ricky Santos, New Hampshire, Kansas City Chiefs
QB  Joe Flacco, Delaware, Baltimore Ravens  Nick Hill, Southern Illinois, Chicago Bears
P  Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech, Washington Redskins  Mike Dragosavich, No. Dakota St., New England Pats
K  Taylor Melhaff, Wisconsin, New Orleans Saints  Steven Hauschka, NC State, Minnesota Vikings
DE  Chris Long, Virginia, St. Louis Rams  Dominic Lewis, Kentucky, New Orleans Saints
DE  Derrick Harvey, Florida, Jacksonville Jaguars  Bryan Robinson, Wesley College, Arizona Cardinals
DL  Pat Sims, Auburn, Cincinnati Bengals  Colin Ferrell, Kent State, Indianapolis Colts
DL  Trevor Laws, Notre Dame, Philadelphia Eagles  Maurice Murray, New Mexico St., Kansas City Chiefs
DT  Glenn Dorsey, Louisiana State, Kansas City Chiefs  Theo Horrocks, Vanderbilt, Jacksonville Jaguars
DT  Dre Moore, Maryland, Tampa Bay Buccaneers  Tywain Myles, Tarleton State, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB-DE  Jeremy Thompson, Wake Forest, Green Bay Packers  Kroy Biermann, Montana, Atlanta Falcons
OLB   Keith Rivers, USC, Cincinnati Bengals  Brandon Renkart, Rutgers, New York Jets
OLB  Tavares Gooden, Mia, Fl., Baltimore Ravens  Marcus Richardson, Troy, Houston Texans
LB  Cliff Avril, Purdue, Detroit Lions  Russell Reeves, Delaware State, Cincinnati Bengals
MLB  Jerod Mayo, Tennessee, New England Patriots  Danny Lansanah, Connecticut, Green Bay Packers
MLB  Dan Connor, Penn State, Carolina Panthers  Ben Moffitt, South Florida, Houston Texans
CB  Mike Jenkins, South Florida, Dallas Cowboys  Alfred Phillips, Wagner, New York Jets
CB  Leodis McKelvin, Troy, Buffalo Bills  Damon Jenkins, Fresno State, Cleveland Browns
CB  Antoine Cason, Arizona, San Diego Chargers  Marcus Brown, McNeese State, Arizona Cardinals
CB-S  Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tenn. St., Ariz Cards  Isaiah Gardner, Maryland, Jacksonville Jaguars
S  Kenny Phillips, Mia, Fl., New York Giants  Matt Hewitt, Arkansas, Buffalo Bills
S  Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State, Minnesota Vikings  Rocky Schwartz, Houston, New Orleans Saints
S  Reggie Smith, Oklahoma, San Francisco 49ers  Joe Fields, Syracuse, Carolina Panthers

Ten Players who deserved a shot, but I couldn't find if they'd signed with anyone:

 C Aryan Barto, Tulane, 6-4 280 5.15  DT Richard Clebert, South Florida 6-0 320 5.23
 OG Kirk Elder Texas A&M 6-5 308 5.20  S  Dorian Chenault, Youngstown St., 6-0 191, 4.50
 DT George Chukwu, 6-1 315 Rice 5.02  S  Joe Garcia, Texas Tech, 6-1 215, 4.67
 DT Victor Filipe, Western Oregon,  6-1 290,  4.90 (33 reps)  S  Miguel Scott, NC State, 6-0 190, 4.54
 DT Kyndraus Guy, North Carolina, 6-2 285, 5.19 (35 reps)  CB James Thabuteau, 6-1 209, Truman State, 4.59

 

 

Dallas Cowboys: C+

Team Needs:

CB: (excellent) Jenkins and Scandrick, a couple of the best corners in the draft.

RB: (Good) Felix Jones was back they wanted and Choice is good depth.

WR: (Good) Bradford and Amendola should be nice FA values.

S: (poor) Dowayne Davis is not a earthshaking addition.

DT: (poor) Dixon and Robertson are DEs

Other: TE Martellus Bennett may be a 2nd round reach, but could be a contributer.  Drew Atchison is a nice FA backup TE.  FB Julius Crosslin is a top FB, but may not fit the Cowboys scheme.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 22 Felix Jones RB Arkansas  
1 25 Mike Jenkins CB South Florida Can't Miss
2 61 Martellus Bennett TE Texas A&M Reach
4 122 Tashard Choice RB Georgia Tech  
5 143 Orlando Scandrick CB Boise State Value
6 167 Erik Walden OLB Middle Tennessee State Stretch

 

WR Mark Bradford, Stanford+

 

WR Danny Amendola, Texas Tech+
 

DE Marcus Dixon, Hampton+
 

DE Darrell Robertson, Georgia Tech
 

TE Drew Atchison, William and Mary (fave longshot)

FB Julius Crosslin, Oklahoma State++
 

S Dowayne Davis, Syracuse+

 

P Jay Ottovegio, Stanford


 

New York Giants: C

S: (Excellent) Phillips and Warrick are both possible starters.

OLB: (average) Kehl is a nice shot, but some competition would have been nice.

CB: (poor) Thomas went early and needs to respond to coaching.

OT: (failed) Stewart could be a good FA but word is they want him to move to guard and drafted Bujnoch as a center.

WR: (good) Manningham has some upside if he can overcome his rep.  Hall has talent but an attitude problem as well.

Other: Goff was a nice value pick at ILB.  Woodson is an intriguing prospect to learn along with Manning.  Henderson and Gilberry can get after the passer, but aren't big.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 31 Kenny Phillips FS Miami (Fla.) Can't Miss
2 63 Terrell Thomas CB USC Reach
3 95 Mario Manningham WR Michigan  
4 123 Bryan Kehl OLB Brigham Young  
5 165 Jonathan Goff ILB Vanderbilt Value
6 198 Andre Woodson QB Kentucky  
6 199 Robert Henderson DE Southern Mississippi  

 

DE Wallace Gilberry, Alabama
 

S Nehemiah Warrick, Michigan State+
 

OG Andrew Bain, Miami

OT Carnell Stewart, L.S.U+.
 

WR D.J. Hall, Alabama
 

DT Nate Robinson, Akron

 

OT-C Glenn "Digger" Bujnoch, Cincinnati++(fave longshot)

 

 

Philadelphia Eagles: C

WR: (average) Jackson is a breaker, but not an every down receiver.  McBride and Banks were good small college players and will need time.

S: (average) Demps is a great value in the 4th, but may not be the impact player or players the Steelers could use.

LB: (Good late rounds and FAs) Smith is a big reach, small and not that fast from a small school.  Mays and Studebaker were nice late round selections and Justin Roland fits the Eagles defense.

OL: (Good) McGlynn and Gibson are solid guards.  Dunlap is a huge tackle who needs to learn to be more effective.

 DE: (failed) Laws may be productive inside, but it doesn't help much.

Other: Ikegwuonu may never come back from destroyed knees and all he really had was speed.  Jed Collins is very athletic player at FB.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
2 47 Trevor Laws DT Notre Dame Can't Miss
2 49 DeSean Jackson WR California Reach
3 80 Bryan Smith OLB McNeese State Big Reach
4 109 Mike McGlynn OG Pittsburgh  
4 117 Quintin Demps FS UTEP Value
4 131 Jack Ikegwuonu CB Wisconsin Stretch
6 184 Mike Gibson OG California  
6 200 Joe Mays ILB North Dakota State  
6 203 Andy Studebaker OLB Wheaton  
7 230 King Dunlap OT Auburn  

 

FB Jed Collins, Wash. State+ (fave longshot)

 

WR Shaheer McBride, Delaware State+
 

LB Justin Roland, Kansas State+
 

WR James Banks, Carson-Newman

 

 

Washington Redskins: C

DE: (average) Jackson is a good value, but may not be a game changer.  Needed more.

S: (good) Moore is a bit of a stretch and although Horton is an excellent value in the 7th, neither is an instant success.  Mitchell could offer depth as an FA.

OT: (average) Rinehart is a reach and may not be fleet enough to play OT.  Devin Clark is a good FA pickup.

DT: (failed) So many good ones out there this year.

WR: (excellent) Although both have question marks, Thomas and Kelly may both get playing time as rookies.

Other: Fred Thomas dropped on many boards and overslept on one of the rookie camp days. Brennan has obvious talent but needs much work to be an NFL QB.  Gatewood is a very good FA LB prospect.  Bret Meyer has better pocket QB fundamentals than Brennan.  Devan is a steady player at C.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
2 34 Devin Thomas WR Michigan State  
2 48 Fred Davis TE USC Big reach
2 51 Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma  
3 96 Chad Rinehart OT Northern Iowa Reach
4 124 Justin Tryon CB Arizona State  
6 168 Durant Brooks P Georgia Tech Can't Miss
6 180 Kareem Moore S Nicholls State Stretch
6 186 Colt Brennan QB Hawaii  
7 242 Rob Jackson DE Kansas State Value
7 249 Chris Horton S UCLA  

 

OG Kerry Brown, Appalachian State

 

LB Curtis Gatewood, Vanderbilt+++ (should have been drafted)

 

QB Bret Meyer, Iowa State++

 

OT Devin Clark, New Mexico
 

S  Kevin Mitchell, Illinois
 

C Kyle Devan, Oregon State+



Chicago Bears: B+

QB: (average) Although Hill and Hanie have some talent, they are not going to step in.

OL: (excellent) Williams may have been the best OT after Long.  Barton would have gone earlier before his injury.  His talent is a steal in the 7th.  Adams is a big guard with decent feet.  FA Cody Balogh may turn out to be the best acquisition of all.

RB: (excellent) Many considered Forte the best all-around back.

DT: (average) Harrison has character and consistency issues but his talent is undeniable.

S: (good) Steltz has size and decent speed, a good fit.  Bowman can play some slot.

Other: Earl Bennett and Kellen Davis were very good best available talent picks who will shore up the receiving core.  Longest was considered by many the best kicker out there, but he'll have trouble pushing Gould.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 14 Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt Can't Miss
2 44 Matt Forté RB Tulane  
3 70 Earl Bennett WR Vanderbilt  
3 90 Marcus Harrison DT Arkansas  
4 120 Craig Steltz S LSU  
5 142 Zackary Bowman CB Nebraska  
5 158 Kellen Davis TE Michigan State  
7 208 Ervin Baldwin DE Michigan State  
7 222 Chester Adams OG Georgia  
7 243 Joey Larocque OLB Oregon State reach
7 247 Kirk Barton OT Ohio State Value
7 248 Marcus Monk WR Arkansas stretch

 

K Shane Longest, St Xavier+

 

QB Nick Hill, Southern Illinois+(fave longshot)

 

WR Curtis Hamilton, Western Kentucky
 

OT Cody Balogh, Montana (fave longshot)


QB Caleb Hanie, Colorado State+

 
Detroit Lions: D

RB: (poor) Smith is a reach.  Runs high, will not squirm away from NFL tacklers.  Ervin may turn out to be better, but Lambuth faced very small competition.  Kinlaw rose on many boards with his athletic ability which he didn't show much in college games.

OL: (failed) Cherilus was a big reach in round one, big man with little mobility or technique.  That's all drafted.

ILB: (poor) Dizon is a decent pick outside.  Avril might be able to help inside.

DE: (poor) Hardie is a small college stud, but the Lions obviously needed more.

CB: (failed) ????

Other: Fluellen and Cohen are good picks at DT, not the Lions biggest need.  Felton and Campbell are good athletes who may take awhile to develop.  Williams is a good tackling safety from Bethune-Cookman.  Buck Reed is a big TE from a successful small school program.  Blackman fights for every pass.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 17 Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College Big Reach
2 45 Jordon Dizon OLB Colorado reach
3 64 Kevin Smith RB Central Florida Reach
3 87 Andre Fluellen DT Florida State  
3 92 Cliff Avril OLB Purdue Can't Miss, value
5 136 Kenneth Moore WR Wake Forest reach
5 146 Jerome Felton FB Furman value
7 216 Landon Cohen DT Ohio  
7 218 Caleb Campbell SS Army  

 

DE Rudolph Hardie, Howard+

 

S Bobbie Williams, Bethune-Cookman+

QB Mark Nicolet, Hillsdale College+


RB Allen Ervin, Lambuth College+(fave longshot)
 

TE Buck Reed, Bethel College ++(fave longshot)

 

WR Darrell Blackman, North Carolina State+

 

RB Rodney Kinlaw, Penn State

 

 

Green Bay Packers: A-

CB: (good) Lee is a very athletic leaper and not afraid to hit.  May be best where Packers need him on the slot receiver.

TE: (excellent) Finley is a project, but if he adds some bulk to his tall frame, and applies himself, he could contribute in a need area.  Haynos is a big dude was high on a lot of boards and is an excellent FA pickup.  Peterson is a small college version of Dustin Keller.  He could turn out to be Keller at a FA price.

QB: (excellent) Brohm and Flynn are excellent value picks as well as QBs who can control and win games

OL: (poor) Sitton is another Ted Thompson "huh" picks, a guy who would have been barely an FA pickup for most teams.  When a team wastes a pick like this, it's a double whammy. Even if the guy turns out to be productive, you've missed a shot at a big time talent.  Giacomini is a good middle round selection at tackle, but he also likely would have been available later or as a FA.

S: (failed) ????  This is a big need when you have to keep using Nick Collins as an every down player.

Other: Jeremy Thompson, four year starter for Wake, may have been the best overall athlete with the biggest upside of all the Pack's picks.  Lansanah is an incredibly instinctive hitter who could help on special teams right away as he learns the defense.  Taj Smith is a deceptive long ball threat. Harper is a big target with some illusiveness.  Mapp is a smallish LB who was expected to drafted late as was RB Lumpkin.  Carvalho may turn out to be the diamond in this rough, a solid center with smarts.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
2 36 Jordy Nelson WR Kansas State Reach
2 56 Brian Brohm QB Louisville value
2 60 Patrick Lee CB Auburn  
3 91 Jermichael Finley TE Texas  
4 102 Jeremy Thompson DE Wake Forest Can't Miss, Value
4 135 Josh Sitton OG Central Florida Big Stretch
5 150 Breno Giacomini OT Louisville  
7 209 Matt Flynn QB LSU  
7 217 Brett Swain WR San Diego State Stretch

 

LB Danny Lansanah, Connecticut+ (fave longshot)
 

P Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin

 

C Brennen Carvalho, Portland State++(fave longshot)
 

LB Durell Mapp, North Carolina

 

TE Joey Haynos, Maryland+

TE Mike Peterson, Northwest Missouri State+ (fave longshot)

 

RB Kregg Lumpkin, Georgia
 

WR Taj Smith, Syracuse+(fave longshot)
 

WR Rod Harper, Murray State
 

RB Justin Beaver, UW-Whitewater+(fave longshot)


Minnesota Vikings: B-

QB: (average) Got a good value with Booty still available late, but he's been hurt and doesn't look like a franchise player.  Could have been some definite benefit to adding some depth.

OT: (poor) Pedro Sosa will be an absolute steal as FA if he can bounce back from injury.  Drew Radovich, another nice FA, may try OT.

S: (excellent) Johnson was considered the best athlete and perhaps the best safety in this draft.  Abdullah was on many draft boards so another good grab for the Vikes.

WR: (good) Johnson is fast but slight and likely would have been an FA.  Reynaud was surprise dropping off draftboards, again a nice catch who can also return kicks. Nate Jones is a prospect, good athlete out of Texas.

TE: (failed) Not a great class but there was talent out there.

Other: Sullivan is a tough, hard-nosed, smart kid who could step in at center soon.  Vikes took good gambles on Henderson and Leman, both with 'tudes, but both physical and talented.  Hauschka was considered a draftable kicker.  Sherels is another good LB.  Walker and Key will play eventually in the NFL somewhere.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
2 43 Tyrell Johnson FS Arkansas State Can't Miss
5 137 John David Booty QB USC value
5 152 Letroy Guion DT Florida State value
6 187 John Sullivan C Notre Dame  
6 193 Jaymar Johnson WR Jackson State Stretch
 

LB Erin Henderson, Maryland+

 

LB Jeremy Leman, Illinois+

 

S Husain Abdullah, Washington State


OT Pedro Sosa, Rutgers+

 

DE Martail Burnett, Utah+

WR Nate Jones, Texas


CB Travis Key, Michigan State+

C Tim Mattran, Stanford

 

OG Drew Radovich, U.S.C.+++ (should have been drafted)
 

WR Darius Reynaud, West Virginia+

CB Marcus Walker, Oklahoma+

RB Albert Young, Iowa


LB Mike Sherels, Minnesota+

 

C Matt Roan, So. Utah, 6-5 293, 5.14 (TE-OT-OG)++ (fave longshot)

 

K Steven Hauschka, NC State++(fave longshot)

 

 

Atlanta Falcons: D+

QB: (good) Ryan was probably as good as they could have done, but he just doesn't play like a first rounder.

OT: (average) Baker is a huge reach in the first round, a gritty player who may develop into a journeyman.  Butterworth is a prospect, dedicated, tough, willing.

DT: (failed) A lot of talent and a lot of picks out there.  Nothing?

CB: (average) Jackson was not the best CB available.  Fontenot is tiny.  Glenn Sharpe's stock dropped as the year went on.  He still might be the best to come in.

S: (average) Decoud dropped on a lot of boards.  Wolfe is a very nice FA pickup, big, strong, and deceptively fast.

Other: This team's draft yielded not a single can't miss candidate.  They are all reaches or iffy.  Their fave longshot is Biermann, a 5th round pick.  Douglas and James are too small.  Zinger wasn't even on most teams board at all.  Did they bring in more than three or four free agents?

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 3 Matt Ryan QB Boston College  
1 21 Sam Baker OT USC Big Reach
2 37 Curtis Lofton ILB Oklahoma Reach
3 68 Chevis Jackson CB LSU  
3 84 Harry Douglas WR Louisville  
3 98 Thomas DeCoud FS California  
5 138 Robert James OLB Arizona State  
5 154 Kroy Biermann OLB Montana (fave longshot)
6 172 Thomas Brown RB Georgia Value
7 212 Wilrey Fontenot CB Arizona  
7 232 Keith Zinger TE LSU Stretch

S  D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma+

CB Glenn Sharpe, Miami+

OT Michael Butterworth, Slippery Rock++(fave longshot)

 

 

Carolina Panthers: C

DE: (failed) ?

OT: (good) Otah has a big upside, but round one was probably a little early for him.  Schwartz is a good late round pick because he is also an excellent long snapper.

QB: (failed) Not the greatest talent pool, but many good choices.

RB: (good) Many considered Stewart the best pure runner, but he needs to show blocking skills and durability.

S: (average) Although Fields is an excellent athlete and FA pickup.  A top pick would have solidified this spot.

Other: Getting Godfrey and Connor in the 3rd gives the Panthers a couple solid players even if the need wasn't the worst.  Barnidge is another very good football player in the 5th.  Evans is a nail tough fullback who can run and catch.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 13 Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon  
1 19 Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh Reach
3 67 Charles Godfrey CB Iowa  
3 74 Dan Connor LB Penn State Can't Miss, value
5 141 Gary Barnidge TE Louisville  
6 181 Nick Hayden DT Wisconsin reach
7 221 Hilee Taylor OLB North Carolina Stretch
7 241 Geoff Schwartz OT Oregon Value
7 250 Mackenzy Bernadeau OG Bentley (Mass.) value

S Joe Fields, Syracuse+ (fave longshot)

TE-LS Chris Conklin, Wingate

FB Breyone Evans, Massachusetts+

P-KO Dan Zeidman, Idaho State++(fave longshot)

 

 

New Orleans Saints: B

CB: (average) Porter, an aggressive corner with good cover skills, was near the top of most boards.  As deep as this class was, another choice would have been good insurance.

DT: (excellent) Ellis was a little reach on 7th overal pick, but adding Pressley in the 5th shores up this area nicely.

C: (poor) Tuminello has a chance, but there were definitely better options.

LB: (average) Sanders and Dunbar were very good college players who may step up.

S: (good) Schwartz and Roach (considered by many as the best undrafted player) are super athletes who may need time to learn defensive schemes.

Other: Melhaff was considered by most to be the best all around kicker in the draft and Ito was in the top five as well.  Ostrander was the best remaining QB and Mitchell showed some talent for Lou Holtz at SC.  Blythe has size and perhaps the best natural receiving skills in the draft.  Lewis may be the diamond in this rough, very fast, strong and agile.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 7 Sedrick Ellis DT USC reach
2 40 Tracy Porter CB Indiana  
5 144 DeMario Pressley DT North Carolina State  
5 164 Carl Nicks OT Nebraska  
6 178 Taylor Mehlhaff K Wisconsin Can't Miss, value
7 237 Adrian Arrington WR Michigan Stretch

 

S  Rocky Schwartz, Houston+ (fave longshot)
 

QB T.C. Ostrander, Stanford+

 

QB Blake Mitchell, South Carolina+
 

WR Todd Blythe, Iowa State+ (fave longshot)

S  David Roach, T.C.U.++
 

OT Akim Millington, Illinois
 

LB Luke Sanders, L.S.U.

OG Nate McManus, Georgia Tech
 

C Kevin Tuminello, Georgia Tech
 

DE Dominic Lewis, Kentucky+ (fave longshot)
 

WR Evan Moore, Stanford
 

P Waylon Prather, San Jose State+
 

K Jeremy Ito, Rutgers+
 

LB Jolonn Dunbar, Boston College+

 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C-

WR: (poor) Huge reach Jackson will be a return man and spot down receiver.  Richards is an interest project with athletic skills.

CB: (average) Talib is a huge talent who may see time on offense as well, but he is by his own admission, uncoachable.

RB: (average) Boyd is a good, if not great runner.  Some more relief here would have helped.

OL: (poor) Zuttah was the perfect pick as he can play anywhere on the line, but not at the same time.  Where's the help?

QB: (good) Johnson is a very good developmental prospect, has size and makes good decisions already.

Other: Dre Moore may have been the best DT after Dorsey. Myles is fast and strong and spends time in the backfield. Stewart was considered the most talented runner among the fullbacks. Carmody was the top kicker on some boards.  Doggett could be an excellent player if he can learn to play safety.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 20 Aqib Talib CB Kansas  
2 58 Dexter Jackson WR Appalachian State Big Reach
3 83 Jeremy Zuttah OG Rutgers Value
4 115 Dre Moore DT Maryland Can't Miss
5 160 Josh Johnson QB San Diego  
6 175 Geno Hayes OLB Florida State  
7 238 Cory Boyd RB South Carolina  

 

S  Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee
 

DT Tywain Myles, Tarleton State+ (fave longshot)
 

FS Steve Tate, Utah++
 

WR Derrek Richards, Utah+
 

FB Carl Stewart, Auburn+
 

OLB Derrick Doggett, Oregon State+

 

K  Art Carmody, Louisville+++(should have been drafted)


 

Arizona Cardinals: C-

CB: (good) DRC has all the tools, but needs some more body and mind involved.  Marcus Brown is bigger, but needs to show the same.

DE: (excellent)  Once a top ten prospects, Campbell fell fast with attitude, poor tests, and desire issues. Iwebema could be good.  He was a shade below the top DEs this year.  Harrington showed some flashes, but needs to be consistent. Robinson is a possible comer who was athletic enough to play some TE.

LB: (poor) Even a great find like Highsmith falling to FA won't make up for not drafting someone.

RB: (poor) Cards are high on Hightower, but they could have used more.

TE: (failed) A down class but still some small school talent out there.

Other: Doucet is a consistent force.  Dykes is tenacious enough to become a starter.  Keyes could be a good find a spot.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 16 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State Can't Miss
2 50 Calais Campbell DE Miami (Fla.)  
3 81 Early Doucet WR LSU Value
4 116 Kenny Iwebema DE Iowa reach
5 149 Timothy Hightower RB Richmond  
6 185 Chris Harrington DE Texas A&M  
7 225 Brandon Keith OT Northern Iowa Stretch

DT Keilen Dykes, West Virginia+++(should have been drafted)

QB Anthony Morelli, Penn State

DE Bryan Robinson, Wesley College++(fave longshot)

S Dennis Keyes, U.C.L.A.+

LB Ali Highsmith, L.S.U.+

CB Marcus Brown, McNeese State++(fave longshot)

 

 

St. Louis Rams: B

OL: (good) Greco and Schuening are solid picks.  One or both will start soon.

DE: (excellent) Long should step in.

WR: (excellent) Avery may have been a tiny reach but it is hard to argue with his production and athleticism.  Keenan Burton adjusts to passes better than any receiver in the draft short of Todd Blythe.  Caddell is another athletic kid who needs a chance.

CB: (good) King and McKinney should help this area.

QB: (failed) No help behind Bulger.

Other: McAnderson was considered one of the few draftable FBs.  Bernard is a nice FA running back.  Hall, Magro, and Chamberlain were overachievers in college who may continue in the pros.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 2 Chris Long DE Virginia Can't Miss
2 33 Donnie Avery WR Houston reach
3 65 John Greco OT Toledo  
4 101 Justin King CB Penn State  
4 128 Keenan Burton WR Kentucky  
5 157 Roy Schuening OG Oregon State value
7 228 Chris Chamberlain OLB Tulsa  
7 252 David Vobora OLB Idaho fave longshot

 

FB Brandon McAnderson, Kansas+

 

CB Justin McKinney, Kansas State+

 

LB Vince Hall, Virginia Tech
 

LB Marc Magro, West Virginia
 

RB Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State+

WR Matt Caddell, Alabama++(fave longshot)

DT Vernon Bryant, Hampton
 

San Francisco 49ers: D+

OT: (failed) ?? Look out Smith or whichever QB is the next to get killed.

WR: (excellent) Morgan, Colvin, and Jordan are good mix.

QB: (failed) Just Get better!

LB: (good) Grant and Butler are both jewels late in the draft.

DT: (good) Balmer should make a good 3-4 nose if they can keep the fire lit under this guy.

Other: Reggie Smith offers a good safety-CB option and should step in as a fifth back immediately.  D.J. Parker is another decent d-back.  Wallace was a top five center.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 29 Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina  
2 39 Chilo Rachal OG USC reach
3 75 Reggie Smith S-CB Oklahoma Can't Miss
4 107 Cody Wallace C Texas A&M  
6 174 Josh Morgan WR Virginia Tech  
7 214 Larry Grant OLB Ohio State Value

 

OLB Ezra Butler, Nevada+++ (should have been drafted)

 

WR Cameron Colvin, Oregon
 

WR Robert Jordan, California

 

S  D.J. Parker, Virginia Tech+

 

TE J.J. Finley, Oklahoma

 

 

Seattle Seahawks: D

OL: (failed) Robinson is a whale of a FA, but all by himself doesn't help much.

DT: (average) Bryant is scrappy, but can't do it alone.

TE: (good) Carlson was consider by many as best all-around TE.

RB: (average) Forsett is really good value in the 7th, but no Shaun Alexander.

WR: (poor) Brown is a rangy receiver who put up good numbers against less than top comp.  More needed.

Other: Coutu is a good kicker.  Adams was a top 10 safety on most boards.  Add Wicks and Johnson and the hawks have upgraded deep defense.  Alexander is a probable keeper at CB as well.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 28 Lawrence Jackson DE USC reach
2 38 John Carlson TE Notre Dame  
4 121 Joseph "Red" Bryant DT Texas A&M  
5 163 Owen Schmitt FB West Virginia Can't Miss
6 189 Tyler Schmitt LS San Diego State Huge Stretch
7 233 Justin Forsett RB California Value
7 235 Brandon Coutu K Georgia  
 

S Eric Wicks, West Virginia+

 

S Kelin Johnson, Georgia+

 

S Jamar Adams, Michigan+

 

WR Travis Brown, New Mexico+

 

CB Donovan Alexander, North Dakota+ (fave longshot)
 

OT Will Robinson, San Diego State+ (fave longshot)
 

Buffalo Bills: B+

CB: (excellent) McKelvin might be the best CB in the draft.  Corner has talent as well.

WR: (excellent) Hardy was top three for wideouts on all boards.  Johnson and Jones bring skills and speed.

TE: (average) Fine moved up most boards, could use more blocking bulk.

LB: (good) Bowen is a little small and slow, but has good instincts.  Buggs and Banks are good, but undersized FAs.

DE: (good) Ellis may have been the best all-around end in the draft.

Other: Omon is a value pick with a sizable upside.  Bell and Felton are big but don't move well.  Luke Drone brings intelligence and a winning attitude to offset average athleticism.  McCray was once an elite prospect who never quite developed.  Hewitt and Cox are longshots.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 11 Leodis McKelvin CB Troy Can't Miss
2 41 James Hardy WR Indiana  
3 72 Chris Ellis DE Virginia Tech  
4 114 Reggie Corner CB Akron  
4 132 Derek Fine TE Kansas  
5 147 Alvin Bowen OLB Iowa State reach
6 179 Xavier Omon RB Northwest Missouri State Value
7 219 Demetrius Bell OT Northwestern State  
7 224 Steve Johnson WR Kentucky  
7 251 Kennard Cox S Pittsburgh Stretch

 

WR Jason Jones, Arkansas-Pine Bluff +
 

OG Robert Felton, Arkansas

 

LB Marcus Buggs, Vanderbilt

 

LB Jon Banks, Iowa State

 

QB Luke Drone, Illinois State++(fave longshot)

 

DT Teraz McCray, Miami

 

S  Matt Hewitt, Arkansas (try out)++(fave longshot)

 

Miami Dolphins: C

OT: (excellent) Long should step in.  Mike Byrne is also an excellent prospect from a good small program.

CB: (failed) what?

ILB: (failed) no one?

DE: (excellent) Merling has question marks and injuries but could be reach his potential.  Langford could be the real find.  Dotson and Toribio are very nice additions, but are better suited to DT.

QB: (average) Henne may have been a tad early, but he could add some competitive fire.

Other: Murphy is big, but needs to run better at guard.  Donald Thomas is big value who is strong, fast, and smart, might end up playing center. Parmele has the stuff to be a star.  Mulligan and Kasparek are good looks at TE.  Jayson Foster may be the most talented player to not find a job in this draft, may end up in Arena or Canada.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 1 Jake Long OT Michigan Can't Miss
2 32 Phillip Merling DE Clemson Reach
2 57 Chad Henne QB Michigan reach
3 66 Kendall Langford DE Hampton  
4 110 Shawn Murphy OG Utah State  
6 176 Jalen Parmele RB Toledo Value
6 195 Donald Thomas OG Connecticut Big Value
6 204 Lex Hilliard FB Montana  
7 245 Lionel Dotson DT Arizona Value

 

TE-WR Marcel Reese, Washington+
 

WR Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern+
 

OT Mike Byrne, Delaware+ (fave longshot)
 

WR Davone Bess, Hawaii
 

TE Matt Mulligan, Maine+
 

TE Kris Kasparek, Akron (try out)

 

DT Anthony Toribio, Carson-Newman+
 

New England Patriots: B

CB: (average) Wheatley is very small, but fast.  Wilhite is even smaller.

LB: (excellent) Mayo is an impact player who will fit neatly into the Pats defense.  Crable should find some time as well.  The Pats probably got the two best fits among the top four LBs.  Guyton has as much upside as anyone coming in, but along with Ruud and Redd, both very talented LBs in their own, can there be room?

OL: (poor) Coffman and Wendell are very good FAs, but may not be enough.

TE: (good) Devree was the best undrafted TE after the draft.

QB: (average) O'Connell is big and surprisingly athletic, so might be perfect for long range development.  He's a little like Gutierrez. 

Other: Benjarvis Green-Ellis and Kenny Cattouse have a chance to play and win the best name contest. Dragosovich was the best punter on a lot of boards.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 10 Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee Can't Miss
2 62 Terrence Wheatley CB Colorado Reach
3 78 Shawn Crable OLB Michigan Value
3 94 Kevin O'Connell QB San Diego State Reach
4 129 Jonathan Wilhite CB Auburn  
5 153 Matt Slater WR UCLA Huge Stretch
6 197 Bo Ruud OLB Nebraska  

 

LB Vince Redd, Liberty+
 

OT Josh Coffman, East Carolina+
 

OG-C Ryan Wendell, Fresno State++ (fave longshot)
 

RB Kenny Cattouse, Troy+
 

P Mike Dragosavich, North Dakota State+ (fave longshot)
 

TE Tyson DeVree, Colorado+
 

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ole Miss
 

LB Gary Guyton, Georgia Tech+++ (should have been drafted)

 

 

New York Jets: C+

WR: (average) Marcus Henry is a big target, but not a clutch receiver.  Raymond is more of a return man.  Dunlap has size and decent speed, but has shown no flash.

CB: (good) Lowry is a decent back who gave up big plays.  Phillips is a good small school prospect with speed and fire. Pratt and Tate are small speedy backs who may be spot players.

LB: (good) Renkart is an awesome kid with work ethic to go with athletic and scholastic ability.  Johnson is a prospect who played DE for most of the year, but is better suited to his background at ILB.

RB: (failed) Woodhead is a wonderful option, but not an every down back.

DE: (excellent): Gholston and Mattison are a formidable tandem of new quarterback terrorizers.

Other: Keller is the best athlete for a TE in a long time.  Hopkins is a bigger, old school type TE and Listorti may be the best all-around package of blocking and receiving.  A few scouts touted Ainge as a top five QB.  McMackin is a small school dynamo who must convert to guard to be effective.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 6 Vernon Gholston OLB-DE Ohio State  
1 30 Dustin Keller TE Purdue Can't Miss, value
4 113 Dwight Lowery CB San Jose State  
5 162 Erik Ainge QB Tennessee Reach
6 171 Marcus Henry WR Kansas  
7 211 Nate Garner OT Arkansas Stretch
 

RB Danny Woodhead, Chadron State+ (fave longshot)


S Nate Lyles, Virginia
 

FB Jehuu Caulcrick, Michigan State
 

LB Brandon Renkart, Rutgers++(fave longshot)
 

DE Bryan Mattison, Iowa+
 

TE Chris Hopkins, Toledo+
 

CB Alfred Phillips, Wagner++(fave longshot)
 

LB Rodrick Johnson, Oklahoma State+
 

WR Paul Raymond, Brown

 

WR John Dunlap, North Carolina State

 

TE Brad Listorti, Massachusetts+

 

OG Shawn McMackin, Hofstra+ (fave longshot)

 

CB Paul Pratt, Nevada

 

CB Davanzo Tate, Akron

 

 

Baltimore Ravens: C-

QB: (average) Flacco is big, but not a great athlete with an odd delivery, almost from his waist.  Roach is a similar guy from an even smaller school.

CB: (failed) Big class to choose from, but none taken?

OT: (good) Hale and Cousins are good opportunities who will get better with time.  Barnes and Kraus were considered draftable guards.

DE: (failed) ??

LB: (average) Gooden is big and fast, but more was expected of him.  He fell from grace with Mia, FL. Some scouts thought McClain was draftable so he is a good FA ILB.

Other: Zbikowski and Nakamura are safeties who fit the Ravens' system.  Rice and Patrick are both small, but tough runners.  Dato and Czech are a couple good small college specialists who will push for jobs.  Wiggins is a solid, tough small school center.  Smith and Wheelwright have reps as having suspect hands.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 18 Joe Flacco QB Delaware Reach
2 55 Ray Rice RB Rutgers  
3 71 Tavares Gooden OLB Miami (Fla.) Can't Miss
3 86 Thomas Zbikowski S Notre Dame Value
3 99 Oniel Cousins OG UTEP  
4 106 Marcus Smith WR New Mexico Reach
4 133 David Hale OT Weber State  
6 206 Haruki Nakamura FS Cincinnati  
7 215 Justin Harper WR Virginia Tech Stretch
7 240 Allen Patrick RB Oklahoma  

 

DT Lorenzo Williams, Missouri
 

QB Brad Roach, Catawba
 

C Isaiah Wiggins, Illinois State++(fave longshot)
 

LB Jameel McClain, Syracuse++ (fave longshot)

WR Ernest Wheelwright, Minnesota

OG Brandon Barnes, Grand Valley State
 

OG Adam Kraus, Michigan+
 

P Benjamin Dato, Fordham++(fave longshot)
 

K Piotr Czech, Wagner+

 

Cincinnati Bengals: C+

DL: (good) Sims, a clutch player who was famous for his 3rd down stops, was considered by some to be the best DT outside Dorsey.  Shirley has talent but also problems, suspended twice from Fresno State.  Craig is not fast or big, but still made plays at Cincinnati.

LB: (excellent) Rivers was the best talent at the position.  Reeves is a small college animal who can also intercept passes.  Hoke is a former end who has decent speed, size and aggressiveness to play OLB.

TE: (poor) Sherry is a very good athlete with enough size to block, would be perfect as an H-back as well, but may have been a reach and only selection.

OL: (average) Collins is a former DT who is big, slow and unfamiliar with offense.  His best skill is holding.  James Blair is a mid-range, small college guard with size and little mobility.  Fladell is too tall to be a guard and too weak to be a tackle.

S: (good) Lynch and Castille both have great size and potential, but need to develop focus and savvy.

Other: Simpson, Caldwell, Urrutia, Purify, and Logan are an excellent crop of receivers. 

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 9 Keith Rivers LB USC Can't Miss
2 46 Jerome Simpson WR Coastal Carolina Reach
3 77 Patrick Sims DT Auburn Value
3 97 Andre Caldwell WR Florida  
4 112 Anthony Collins OT Kansas  
5 145 Jason Shirley DT Fresno State Reach
6 177 Corey Lynch FS Appalachian State  
6 207 Matt Sherry TE Villanova  
7 244 Angelo Craig DE Cincinnati Stretch
7 246 Mario Urrutia WR Louisville  

 

LB Russell Reeves, Delaware State++(fave longshot)

 

S Simeon Castille, Alabama+

 

OG James Blair, Western Michigan
 

OLB Anthony Hoke, Cincinnati

WR Clyde Logan, Idaho State

 

WR Maurice Purify, Nebraska (try out)
 

OG Mike Fladell, Rutgers (Tryout)
 

Cleveland Browns: B

CB: (excellent) Terrell, Jenkins, Zenon, Turner, and Gaines were all former top stars in high school and college who for various reasons never lived up to expectations.  As a group, there has to be an emergence.

LB: (good) Bell is a big hitter, but lacks speed, athleticism and sophistication.  Hall is former DE and Moore is a smallish overachiever.

RB: (poor) Temple is a little chugger who never gives up, but by himself, not enough.

DE: (average) Ortiz is stronger and tougher than his size would suggest, but may wear down.

WR: (good) Hubbard is a former track guy with leaping ability, but injury prone.  Leggett is an enigma who might shine or burn out.  Hughes could be a surprise.

Other: Some boards had Rubin in the top five at DT.  Lee and Young were draftable on most boards.  Powell, smart and tough, may be a real find at center.  Wells and Harrison are excellent safeties who bring the lumber like LBs.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
4 104 James "Beau" Bell ILB UNLV Reach
4 111 Martin Rucker TE Missouri Big Reach
6 190 Ahtyba Rubin DT Iowa State Value
6 191 Paul Hubbard WR Wisconsin  
7 231 Alex Hall OLB St. Augustine Stretch

 

C Robbie Powell, Purdue+

 

S Justin Harrison, Illinois

 

DE Chase Ortiz, T.C.U.+++ (should have been drafted)
 

OT James Lee, South Carolina State+ (fave longshot)


CB Jonathan Zenon, L.S.U.++


CB Jerrid Gaines, Miami Ohio
 

OG Eric Young, Tennessee

CB Craig Turner, Southern Illinois (try out)+
 

TE Kolo Kapanui, West Texas A&M
 

CB Damon Jenkins, Fresno State+ (fave longshot)

 

WR Nate Hughes, Alcorn State

 

S  Patrick Wells, Ferris State++

 

RB Tony Temple, Missouri+
 

CB Darnell Terrell, Missouri
 

QB Craig Hormann, Columbia

 

WR Lance Leggett, Miami

LB Nick Moore, Baylor

 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers: D+

OL: (average) Hills coming off an injury has the size and mean streak to develop into an NFL linemen.  Legursky's stock rose at center the more scouts watched tapes and his workouts.

DE: (failed) Reffett is very good, but probably won't play end.

RB: (excellent) Mendenhall was the consensus choice as best pick of the draft.

WR: (good) Sweed and Rucker are a couple of big, talented targets the Steelers haven't had in awhile.

CB: (failed) Williams is fast, but needs cover work.

Other: Humpal, big, not fast, and Woods, smallish, but fast, are solid LB prospects.  Bruce Davis is a bust, too slow to be a LB and not big enough to be an end.  Potts and Dixon are long-term QB possibilities.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 23 Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois Can't Miss
2 53 Limas Sweed WR Texas value
3 88 Bruce Davis OLB UCLA bust
4 130 Tony Hills OT Texas  
5 156 Dennis Dixon QB Oregon stretch
6 188 Mike Humpal LB Iowa  
6 194 Ryan Mundy FS West Virginia Stretch

 

WR Micah Rucker, Eastern Illinois
 

C  Doug Legursky, Marshall+++(should have been drafted)
 

CB Travis Williams, East Carolina
 

LB Donovan Woods, Oklahoma State+


QB Mike Potts, William & Mary

DT Jordan Reffett, Washington+ (fave long shot)
 

Houston Texans: D+

CB: (average) Molden needs polish, but he has all the attributes and returns kicks.

RB: (average) Slaton is small but resilient.  Could have used another heavy load back.

OT: (average) Brown is an excellent project with a lot of size, speed. and ability but needs refining.  Another choice?

LB: (excellent) Adibi is not big, but most boards had him top five for OLBs.  Moffitt has all the tools inside, speed and decent size.   Richardson has them all outside.

S: (average) Barber has the size, decent speed, and willingness to get better.

Other: Okam and Long bring the beef, strength, and some talent inside on defense.  Grice-Mullins was probably the best receiver not drafted.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 26 Duane Brown OT Virginia Tech reach
3 79 Antwaun Molden CB Eastern Kentucky value
3 89 Steve Slaton RB West Virginia  
4 118 Xavier Adibi OLB Virginia Tech Value
5 151 Frank Okam DT Texas  
6 173 Dominique Barber FS Minnesota  
7 223 Alex Brink QB Washington State stretch

 

LB Ben Moffitt, South Florida+ (fave longshot)


WR Ryan Grice-Mullins, Hawaii+++(should have been drafted)
 

LB Marcus Richardson, Troy+ (fave longshot)

 

TE Cole Bennett, Auburn

DT Gabe Long, Utah

 

 

Indianapolis Colts: B+

LB: (excellent) Wheeler is big and zealous, but overpursues and has trouble with intricacies.  Howard has talent and speed but lacks size.  Johnson is a monster with skills in need of honing.  Adams was an excellent small college stopper.

OG: (good) Pollack, Justice, and Richard are all quality centers who can also play guard.  Pollack may be the most versatile lineman in the draft.  Marquez may be the best center of all.

DT: (poor) Ferrell is good, but much more is needed. 

TE: (excellent) Tamme and Santi are a couple of top fifteen TEs.  Both have speed, agility, good hands and decent blocking ability.

RB: ( good) Hart and Simpson are excellent smaller, quicker backs.

Other: WRs Garcon and Giguere bring small school speed, prominence, and ambition.  Senn and Silva are safeties in the "Bob Sanders" mode with perhaps a bit more ballhawk.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
2 59 Mike Pollak OG-C Arizona State Can't Miss
3 93 Philip Wheeler ILB Georgia Tech  
4 127 Jacob Tamme TE Kentucky reach
5 161 Marcus Howard OLB Georgia  
6 196 Tom Santi TE Virginia  
6 201 Steve Justice C Wake Forest  
6 202 Mike Hart RB Michigan value
6 205 Pierre Garcon WR Mt. Union  
7 236 Jamey Richard C Buffalo

stretch

 

WR Sam Giguere, Sherbrooke
 

OLB Curtis Johnson, Clark Atlanta+++(should have been drafted)
 

C  Darren Marquez, Southern Illinois++ (fave longshot)
 

S  Jordan Senn, Portland State
 

S Jamie Silva, Boston College+++(should have been drafted)
 

QB Adam Tafralis, San Jose State
 

DT Colin Ferrell, Kent State++(fave longshot)

LB Anthony Adams, Grand Valley State++ (fave longshot)

 

RB Chad Simpson, Morgan State
 

Jacksonville Jaguars: D+

DE: (excellent) Harvey and Groves are two of the top four DEs.

WR: (failed) Big Need.  Lots of choices out there.

S: (poor) Gardner may be talented enough to switch here.  Possibly Grant may switch as well.

OL: (poor) Miller is a very good center with the skills to play guard or tackle, but not all at the same time.

LB: (average) Williams is small and not fast.  Myles is slight, but fast and moved up many boards.

Other: Williams and Witherspoon are tiny CBs with blazing speed.  Theo Horrocks is a fine DT who may someday be a rush end.  Paul Smith will play pro QB some place.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 8 Derrick Harvey DE Florida Can't Miss
2 52 Quentin Groves DE Auburn value
5 155 Thomas Williams OLB USC Reach
5 159 Trae Williams CB South Florida stretch
7 213 Chauncey Washington RB USC  

 

QB Paul Smith, Tulsa+(fave longshot)

CB Isaiah Gardner, Maryland+ (fave longshot)
 

CB Michael Grant, Arkansas

DT Theo Horrocks, Vanderbilt++ (fave longshot)
 

G/C Drew Miller, Florida++ (fave longshot)
 

LB Lamar Myles, Louisville+
 
CB Brian Witherspoon, Stillman

 

 

Tennessee Titans: D+

WR: (good) Hawkins, who lacks size and skills was top ten on some boards.  Rivers lacks speed but catches a lot of balls.  Williams has great size, but lacks consistency and flash.

DE: (average) Jones and Hayes are small school gambles, light and fast with no record of success against top flight tackles.

RB: (good) Johnson is fast, but often outruns his blockers.  Little and Cuff are small, solid backs who can catch and block.

CB: (failed) Cary Williams put up good test numbers but is slight and played lesser competition.

OT: (poor) Pasteur is a very good small college player, but is lean and solid rather than big.

Other: Keglar and Freeman are fine additions to the linebacking corps.  Scott and Velasco were two of the better pure centers available.  Joiner plays safety like a LB.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 24 Chris Johnson RB East Carolina  
2 54 Jason Jones DE Eastern Michigan Reach
3 85 Craig Stevens TE California value
4 103 William Hayes DE Winston-Salem State Hugh Reach
4 126 Lavelle Hawkins WR California  
4 134 Stanford Keglar OLB Purdue Value
7 229 Cary Williams CB Washburn Stretch

 

WR Edward Williams, Lane

 

WR Jason Rivers, Hawaii+

 

LB Jerrell Freeman, Mary Hardin-Baylor++(fave longshot)
 

RB Omar Cuff, Delaware+
 

C Eric Scott, Kentucky+
 

C Fernando Velasco, Georgia+++ (should have been drafted)
 

S Tony Joiner, Florida
 

RB Rafael Little, Kentucky+
 

DT Barry Booker, Virginia Tech+

 

OT Brock Pasteur, Stephen F. Austin++(fave longshot)

 

 

Denver Broncos: C-

DT: (average) Powell is a decent fifth round pick, but he's not big enough or ferocious enough to make a big impact.

OT: (excellent) Clady was the guy the Broncos wanted, big, agile, and understands his purpose.  Add Polumbus who is even bigger and Erickson who is a scrapper and this weakness is vastly improved.

S: (good) Barrett, a big value in the 7th, and Woodyard both will play safety like extra LBs but with the speed of corners.

ILB: (poor) Larsen is not fast, overly big, or a natural athlete.  Not a bad speculation pick in the 6th, but not a lot of expectation either.

WR: (good) Royal is small and fast, but can also catch the ball.  Lorne Sam is big and not too fast, but also has good hands.

Other: Two very nice specialist FAs in Kern who moved up the punter list right up until draft day and Hartley who has been one of the top kickers over the past two seasons.  Hillis is the fullback with the best running ability.  Torain was a bit of a reach, but may turn out to be one of those magic Bronco 1000 yard rushers.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 12 Ryan Clady OT Boise State Can't Miss
2 42 Eddie Royal WR Virginia Tech  
4 108 Kory Lichtensteiger OG-C Bowling Green  
4 119 Jack Williams CB Kent State  
5 139 Ryan Torain RB Arizona State Reach
5 148 Carlton Powell DT Virginia Tech  
6 183 Spencer Larsen LB Arizona  
7 220 Josh Barrett S Arizona State Value
7 227 Peyton Hillis FB Arkansas Value

 

OT Mitch Erickson, South Dakota State+
 

OT Tyler Polumbus, Colorado+
 

RB Anthony Alridge, Houston
 

P Brett Kern, Toledo+
 

WR Lorne Sam, Texas-El Paso+
 

S Wesley Woodyard, Kentucky++(fave longshot)

 

K  Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma+

 

 

Kansas City Chiefs: A

OL: (good) Albert is fast and likes to hit.  He may not be strong enough to switch to left tackle.  Richardson is quite big and strong but doesn't move that well.  His linemate, Chris McDuffie may turn out to be the best of this lot.  He repped out 29 bench presses after healing an elbow ligament. A former DT, he moves well for his size.

CB: (good) Flowers is a man-up corner who hits hard despite his diminutive stature.  Carr has size and is also aggressive.  He will have to show he can adapt to speedier receivers.

DE: (average) Johnston was a small college phenom with speed, decent size, and a good sense of the quickest route to the Quarterback.  Dingle is small and not that fast, but made a lot of plays.  They could have used some more options to replace Jared Allen

S: (excellent) Morgan was top five at safety on all boards.  Girault and Hay were considered late round possibles.  Girault is coming off an injury.  Both are extremely fast and athletic.  Hay (227) is almost big enough to play outside backer.

WR: (excellent) Franklin has good size and excellent speed.  Robinson and Swan are shifty possession receivers who can shake loose deep.  Arthur is a big, physical receiver.  Robinson can also return kicks.

Other: Dorsey was too good to pass up.  Lokey is a bit slower, but same kind of player.  Murray is a plugger who is also faster than he looks.  McClinton is a slower clone of Murray, but just as much a stopper.  Charles was a top back.  MacRae is an Emmitt Thomas type banger between the tackles.  Mike Cox rose up the boards at FB as the testing period went on.  QB Ricky Santos does a lot with lesser talent, throwing for a near record number of attempts, completion, and yards all with only 33 interceptions in his career.  Not big or fast, he still took off when needed.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 5 Glenn Dorsey DT LSU Can't Miss
1 15 Branden Albert OG Virginia  
2 35 Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech  
3 73 Jamaal Charles RB Texas  
3 76 Brad Cottam TE Tennessee Reach
3 82 DaJuan Morgan S North Carolina State Value
4 105 William Franklin WR Missouri  
5 140 Brandon Carr CB Grand Valley State  
6 170 Barry Richardson OT Clemson  
6 182 Kevin Robinson WR Utah State  
7 210 Brian Johnston DE Gardner-Webb  
7 239 Michael Merritt TE Central Florida Stretch

 

DT Maurice Murray New Mexico State+(fave longshot)

 

QB Ricky Santos, New Hampshire++(fave longshot)

 

S  Greg Hay, Toledo++ (fave longshot)

LB James Terry, Youngstown State
 

OG Chris McDuffee, Clemson+


DT Derek Lokey, Texas+
 

WR Luke Swan, Wisconsin++ (fave longshot)
 

LB Steve Octavien, Nebraska
 

FB Mike Cox, Georgia Tech+

 

DE Johnny Dingle, West Virginia

RB Kalvin McRae, Ohio

 

S Ron Girault, Rutgers
 

K Connor Barth, North Carolina+
 

WR Jabari Arthur, Akron+
 

DT James McClinton, Kansas (try out)
 

 

Oakland Raiders: C+

DL: (average) Scott is a good pick, a worker with a motor.  Gunheim is similar.  He might play OLB, but carries close to 270.  Could have used a DT.

WR: (good) Shields was taken too early.  Must show his speed can be matched by catching in a crowd and getting open.  Schilens is a tremendous athlete who must translate his potential into production.

OT: (poor) Sutherland, Tevaga, and Rodd are all better at guard. 

LB: (good) If Gunheim moves here, he could be awesome.  Jackson was high on a lot of boards, not big or fast, but gets to plays.  Shane Simmons brings a big small college rep, but he must beef up to play inside.

RB: (excellent) Hard to do better than the best back in the draft.

Other: Branch is a good 4th round pick, big and fast.  Wagner and Strong are two very good, big prospects at TE who can catch it and block.  Spieker was considered an experienced, draftable center.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 4 Darren McFadden RB Arkansas Can't Miss
4 100 Tyvon Branch CB Connecticut  
4 125 Arman Shields WR Richmond Reach
6 169 Trevor Scott DE Buffalo Value
7 226 Chaz Schilens WR San Diego State Stretch

 

OG Noah Sutherland, UCLA+

 

OG Shannon Tevaga, UCLA+

 

ILB Shane Simmons, Western Washington+
 

TE Chris Wagner, So. Dakota State+ (fave longshot)

 

C Adam Spieker, Missouri+

OG Brandon Rodd, Arizona State++

LB Malik Jackson, Louisville+

 

DE-OLB Greyson Gunheim, Washington+ (fave long shot)

TE Darrell Strong, Pittsburgh+

 

 

San Diego Chargers: C

OT: (good) Clark is a steady clubber, but not a standout athlete. Luellen might be the better prospect, almost as big as Clark, but very experienced, playing in 48 games at Mizzou. Crummey and Manu were good similiar big, slow college linemen, but both played mostly guard.

S: (poor) Bonner is a decent pickup, smallish and a bit slow.  A lot more out there to try out.

DT: (failed) OK.

CB: (good) Cason was arguably the best cover man in the draft, makes up for his lack of sprinter speed with football smarts.  Tribble is too small and may not be physical enough to even play the slot.

RB: (average) Marcus Thomas is a solid back, but without great natural ability, likely would have been available after the draft.  Hester may end up being more of a tailback.  Tolbert could be a breakout fullback.

Other: WR Banks is an all-around athlete who played minor league baseball and has played all the skill positions including quarterback and safety.

Rd Pick Player Pos College  
1 27 Antoine Cason CB Arizona Can't Miss
3 69 Jacob Hester FB LSU value
5 166 Marcus Thomas RB UTEP Stretch
6 192 DeJuan Tribble CB Boston College Reach
7 234 Corey Clark OT Texas A&M  

 

OG Andrew Crummey, Maryland+

 

OG Charles Manu, Nevada+

 

OT Tyler Luellen, Missouri++(fave longshot)

S  Brian Bonner, T.C.U.+
 

FB Mike Tolbert, Coastal Carolina+ (fave longshot)

 

WR Gary Banks, Troy+

 

 

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