The super-speculative 2008 NFL draft thread

Is Matt Ryan really the #1 suspected QB pick? ?!!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/316081404_6b61421eb8.jpg

See McFadden go running back, running back, running running running back.

check his stats fever, dude is having a career year. he was having a great year last year too despite playing on a busted foot.

bc/va tech this week, watch how quick ryan gets rid of the ball.

and i don't mean he's taking a one step drop and throwing, it's the throwing motion itself. the mechanics of the throw instead of the system that determines the throw.

mcfadden is going to be a monster in the league, on some real LT shit.

kevin that vt/bc game is next thursday night.

Oh, I'm not calling his awesomeness into question...but I'd probably put Pat White or Andre Woodson ahead of him just based on the games I've actually seen (and I've seen ZERO Boston College games). Pat White's only a junior, though, and I doubt he's coming out early.

Bold Clam! Browns make the wild card (go 9-7) under Derek Anderson and TRADE HIM for a high 2nd rounder (remember the Browns don't have 1st round pick). and draft twelve DL's.

if anything, pat white has a great chance to catch on w/ a team in a brad smith-type "hey listen, we don't know what you are but we know ppl have trouble tackling you" situation

and be the most successful at it.

i'm distressed by the bosox right now.

Tim Wakefield won 17 games this season but started the postseason on Boston's bench. Why's he starting tonight's Game 4 of the ALCS? Good question

haha, i like the fact that batters don't even care about getting HBP when Wakey is pitching

^that's the front of ESPN.com right now.

No! You're getting baseball in my peanut butter!

Tim Wakefield won 17 games this season but started the postseason on Boston's bench. Why's he starting tonight's Game 4 of the ALCS? Good question

he hurt his back and needed a cortisone shot in the shoulder to be able to play in this series.

I don't watch enough college football to know that many players. Other than Woodson, Kentucky has a couple of other guys that I won't be surprised if they end up drafted and on an NFL roster including their TE Jacob Tamme and WR Keenan Burton.

That McFadden guy from Arkansas is crazy fast.

haha kevin i was just reposting that from espn.com. my response to that question would be, "BECAUSE HE WON 17 GAMES."

anyway i'm reposting this thing form the chambers thread:

1. Darren McFadden* RB Arkansas
2. Chris Long DE Virginia
3. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
4. Calais Campbell* DE Miami
5. Jake Long OT Michigan
6. DeSean Jackson* WR California
7. Derrick Harvey* DE Florida
8 Sedrick Ellis DT USC
9. Matt Ryan QB Boston Coll.
10. Ryan Clady* OT Boise St.
11. Andre Woodson Jr. QB Kentucky
12. Kenny Phillips* S Miami
13. Samuel Baker OT USC
14. James Laurinaitis* ILB Ohio State
15. Brian Brohm QB Louisville
16. Keith Rivers OLB USC
17. Malcolm Jenkins* CB Ohio State
18. Gosder Cherilus OT Boston Coll.
19. Vernon Gholston* DE Ohio State
20. Malcolm Kelly* WR Oklahoma
21. Justin King* CB Penn State
22. Rey Maualuga* ILB USC
23. Adarius Bowman WR Okla. State
24. Dan Connor OLB Penn State
25. Early Doucet III WR LSU
26. Quentin Groves DE Auburn
27. Michael Oher* OT Mississippi
28. Ali Highsmith OLB LSU
29. Reggie Smith* CB Oklahoma
30. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon
31. Fili Moala* DT USC
32. Frank Okam DT Texas

wake's playing because tito francona isn't gonna go dusty baker and pitch beckett early in a panic move. i'm sure he was thinking/hoping his offense would wake up (they haven't).

McFadden is indeed crazy fast. Hopefully some team somewhere is keeping an eye on BenJarvus Green-Ellis at Ole Miss too, though. That dude's a running, cutting, tackleproof machine.

1. Darren McFadden* RB Arkansas
3. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
7. Derrick Harvey* DE Florida
12. Kenny Phillips* S Miami
14. James Laurinaitis* ILB Ohio State
25. Early Doucet III WR LSU

^^^i like all these guys (as nfl prospects) A LOT.

anyway, i think the pats are gonna need some linebacking help as that group is very VERY experienced can't last much longer. plus they still need to sort their dbackfield.

WOOOW.

what are the chances of the bears making a huge move up to try and snag a QB?

i don't think the bears are going to have to make all the huge of a move to snag a qb.

The Bears will take a QB first round, or the city will go up in flames.

goddamn it i wish i had cigarettes. or beer. ANYTHING TO NUMB MYSELF TO THE HORROR OF THE BOSOX RIGHT NOW.

this is the kind of thing that would have killed me three years ago. now it's annoying but not a killer.

ok dumb question i forgot there are going to be QBs around in the teens.

this is the kind of thing that would have killed me three years ago. now it's annoying but not a killer.

-- chicago kevin, Tuesday, October 16, 2007 9:07 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

bill simmons said this same thing a few days ago, excpet about the 11th inning of game 2.

i started smoking again becuase of the tribe

i have not quit smoking but i have run out of cigarettes and my unemployed status leaves me with the option of buying a pack or going to a show at the empty bottle tonight to see (HEY JOHNNY FEVER) a really good band from alabama that i've been wanting to see. i'm choosing the show and two pabst over the ciagarettes.

i figure i'll be able to bum one from someone and there's always a chance i won't have to pay to get in.

bears can trade w/ rams (we got #1 made!!!). I am thinking WR for the male sheep.

(sheep also need cb, lb, o-line, coach, stadium, owner)

i just checked the pants in my laundry and coats on hooks for maybe forgotten cigarettes. none found.

meanwhile youk and papi give too little too late.

i dunno - looks like they're just getting warmed up

ok, i also checked the carry on i took with me to san diego back in july and unfolded the sleeper sofa in hopes of finding a rogue smoke. no dice.

theo couldn't get better seats than that?
c'mon lester, finish this inning, i gotta show to go to.

"The Bears will take a QB first round, or the city will go up in flames."

Chad Pennington will be the nu-Erik Kramer.

where the F is mike hart in this discussion? dude rulez.

i actually think dude should win the heisman, but there's probably a good chance he'll end up w/ a ron dayne career in the league.

no way. he's no dayne. if you're gonna compare him to a current NFL back, i'd say he's more of a thomas or julius jones type of RB.

julius only has 2 more carries than dayne this year, but point taken.
w/r/t hart there are probably like 4-5 better nfl prospects @ rb. something like, mcfadden, stewart from oregon, tashard choice from gt, felix jones from arkansas, steve slaton (if he comes out), maybe even green-ellis or ray rice.

hart= A+ college player and an A+ middle 2nd round and on pick, but idk if he's a top 15 or 20 type dude.

'd say he's more of a thomas or julius jones type of RB.

or a tim biakabatuka.

I know it's not without historical precedent and all, but Mike Hart just seems like too small a guy to last very long in the NFL.

Maybe that's just my impression, though. I have no idea how tall/short he actually is.

Oh, okay...he's 5'9" and 190-something...but still, that seems comparitively small considering that every other skill position player in the league is getting bigger and bigger every year.

that's kevin faulk's size if faulk lost 12 pounds.

yes, hart may be a shorter back, but he is a very strong runner. he can pound the rock. and he never ever fumbles the ball. those are things that nfl teams look for.

he can pound the rock.
http://z.about.com/d/crime/1/0/i/S/irvin_m.jpg

kevin faulk had a pretty good college career too. that doesn't translate into success in the pros.

In 1995, Faulk went to the Louisiana State University (LSU), where he immediately became the starting running back for LSU's football team.

At LSU, Faulk rushed for 4,557 yards in 41 games, which was 2nd best in SEC history behind the legendary Herschel Walker of Georgia (5,259 yards in 33 games). Faulk also finished his career with 6,833 career all-purpose yards and 53 total touchdowns, which ranked him 5th in NCAA history and 1st in SEC history.

In 1996, Faulk was voted to the College Football All-America Team by the AP.

Faulk holds the following school records at LSU:

LSU Career All-Purpose Records

* Most career all-purpose yards (6,833)

LSU Career Scoring Records

* Most points scored in a career (318 points)

LSU Career Rushing Records

* Most career rushing yards (4,557 yards)
* Best career yard-per-rush average (5.32 yards per rush)
* Best career yard-per-game average (111.2 yards per game)
* Most career rushing touchdowns (46)
* Most career 100-yard-rushing games (22)
* Most career 200-yard-rushing games (4)
* Most career 1,000-yard seasons (3)

Faulk was also one of the best kick returners in LSU's history with 832 yards and 2 TDs on punt returns and 884 yards and 1 TD on kickoff returns.

dependant on how far usf goes, don't you maybe throw mike ford in the discussion? 6-2, 220, pretty fast?

is he a RB?

he's only a freshman, no team will draft a 19 running back.

19 year old that is.

nor can one enter the draft.

Kevin Faulk is the prototype 3rd down back. While he is not a superstar, the guy has had a pretty nice career and has been a very effective player.

Joe Morris was also a small back out of Michigan who had a decent pro career. I think with Hart it is just getting on the right team, he has been playing on a team that runs a somewhat pro style offense, so he is a step up on some players. Parcells' liked Morris as defenses would sometimes lose him behind huge offensive linemen.

Not really a fair comparison, but Barry Sanders was only 5-8.

I don't know if Mike Hart will be as good as Brian Westbrook, but he might be looked at as a similar kind of talent.

he couldn't play the poor man's (marshall) faulk role that westbrook plays w/ the eagles.

maurice jones drew is 5'7 u fucken dweebs

it's not his height it's his weight! dude is LISTED at 190!!!

which translates to 185 tops.

he's not even adam vinatieri's size!!!

stop me before i exclaim again!!!!

hasn't stopped him from dominating run defenses and getting in the end zone yet. i don't see what's the problem.

Linebackers and ends in the NFL are bigger and angrier than those in college? Unless you can cut like Barry Sanders, you're a 5'9", 190lb piece of buttered toast.

hasn't stopped him from dominating run defenses and getting in the end zone yet. i don't see what's the problem.

i'm just pointing out that college success doesn't necessarily translate into pro success. and a guy that small probably won't be one of the first backs taken.

yeah, i didn't realize fors was that young and underutlized. the few times i've seen him, he looks like he's going to be something.

i really do enjoy watching mcfadden, though. if he's not the top running back taken, there's something wrong.

Yeah, unless something bizarre happens, McFadden should be the first rb to get the call. Now...which NFL team sucks AND needs a new rb? I could see him being a Jet.

miami has brown, st. louis has jackson, atlanta? not new orleans. cincinnati? how many years left does johnson have? jets look like a candidate but i could see them taking a qb too. same with atlanta.

I think once Atlanta builds a scheme that suits Norwood, he'll deliver. Atlanta needs a qb BAD! I just hope it's not Brohm.

hey, i just checked and miami does NOT get new england's 2nd rounder in this draft, they got their 2nd round pick last year selecting center samson satele from hawaii.

so the pats lose their 1st rounder due to spygate but still have san francisco's 1st rounder and their own 2nd.

thank god for samson steele.

what would miami do with wes welker anyway?

or satele whatever. mcfadden will be the best player in the draft, and i don't think it will be close. he's gonna be peterson good.

Kick and punt returns, just like they did for however long they had him. And actually, with Ginn there, he might be riding the bench some of the time...just because that's how Miami works!

nah i mean i have no problems w/ us getting a 2nd round pick for welker. but idk it's frustrating to watch this team knowing our 2nd round pick was a center.

What's the latest on Brown's injury? Perhaps the Fins will do something like draft McFadden about 7 spots earlier than anyone should?

Drafting McFadden would be insane. They need to draft Dorsey or trade down for more picks.

i advocate drafting mcfadden or trading down. dorsey would be an insane #1 pick. who are the great DTs in this league? haynesworth got drafted 15 overall, sapp 12 overall (obv i mean he was great in his prime), wilfork 21 overall, kevin williams 9 overall. maybe i'm missing someone but you get the point. that guy the jets traded up to #4 for a few years ago is decent but by no means an every down/every game impact player.

nah i mean i have no problems w/ us getting a 2nd round pick for welker. but idk it's frustrating to watch this team knowing our 2nd round pick was a center.

-- J0rdan S., Sunday, October 28, 2007 2:50 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Link

^^this dude is awesome btw.

12. Kenny Phillips* S Miami

this dude is gonna be fucking great.

sapp 12 overall (obv i mean he was great in his prime),

sapp "fell" to #12 because of rumors that he failed every drug test administered to him.

let the mock drafting begin!

i advocate drafting mcfadden or trading down. dorsey would be an insane #1 pick. who are the great DTs in this league? haynesworth got drafted 15 overall, sapp 12 overall (obv i mean he was great in his prime), wilfork 21 overall, kevin williams 9 overall. maybe i'm missing someone but you get the point. that guy the jets traded up to #4 for a few years ago is decent but by no means an every down/every game impact player.

But they don't need McFadden. The last thing they need is to pay a bunch of money for another running back, especially when they invested so much money in Ronnie Brown. They'd be better off signing Michael Turner (or someone like him) as a free agent and building from the trenches out. I don't know if Dorsey is that guy, and I don't know if the #1 pick is the right place to start, but that's the direction they should be going, not another running back.

McFadden will probably be great, don't get me wrong. I just don't think you start with a running back. They need too much help in too many places, and there are always Ryan Grants out there.

if parcells is running the draft i'd bet dollars to donuts he'll go with the d lineman.

they should trade down on questions asked. if forced to pick #1 i would go with dude from uva or dude from mich. i'm just skeptical of dorsey as a #1. maybe i'm wrong

no*

yeah i think chi kev otm there sadly

This point by McShay seems pretty important:

Dorsey is strong enough to adjust to a 3-4 defensive scheme, but it wouldn't play to his strengths as a penetrating interior force. It wouldn't be cost effective for Miami to spend No. 1 money on an interior lineman in that defensive scheme, either, so OT Jake Long and DE Chris Long are also options.

they should trade down on questions asked. if forced to pick #1 i would go with dude from uva or dude from mich. i'm just skeptical of dorsey as a #1. maybe i'm wrong

mcshay makes a good point in his analysis of dorsey; if the 'phins go to a 3-4 set his value drops precipitously and that would seem to make howie long's kid a better deal at the top spot.

er, yeah, that too.

Let's also not forget that the Dolphins are WAY under the cap for 2008. They can improve quite a bit just by signing a few key vets. If Huizenga really wants to win, maybe he could help by spending more money?

They can improve quite a bit just by signing a few key vets.

has anyone ever investigated if this is a reliable way to get better? it seems like signing big money free agents is a crap shoot. and pretty much the only way a veteran is going to sign with miami is if they overpay because it's obvious they aren't going to win right away.

You don't think people want to go play for Parcells?

The Packers signed Charles Woodson. The Pats signed Adalius Thomas. The Giants signed Sam Madison and Burress and others. Even though they're diametrically opposed to free agents, the Chargers signed Lorenzo Neal, re-signed Kris Dielman, signed Marlon McCree; they traded for Chris Chambers, which is basically the same thing as signing him as a free agent.

Maybe my definition of "key" is different than yours. I'm not saying "Go blow a billion on Lance Briggs," although I'm not NOT saying that either.

howie long's kid a

worst cover album ever?

also heard today a comment parcells made about his evaluation of the talent level of the current dolphins team as the least talent he's ever had anywhere he's been since his first year with the giants. meaning trading down is prob v. realistic.

You don't think people want to go play for Parcells?

they'll be playing for tony soprano or whatever his name is. for every charles woodson or adalius thomas there's a david boston or kevin carter. the pats have had good luck recently but pioli and belicheck certainly struck out with chad brown and chad scott. i'm not saying it's a bad thing to sign free agents but i'm curious as to how many big $$$ guys actually work out? even rosey colvin has only been on the field for half the team's games and he's making HUGE money. i wondering about the risk/reward of the whole thing.

meaning trading down is prob v. realistic.

i don't think so! trading down from #1 is hard, and also there's really only one scenario where it's a good idea - when, say, 5 of your top-graded players all have the same grade and you will get what you consider to be the same level quality player if you move down a few spots and pick up an extra pick or two in the process. but if someone like dorsey has their highest grade, then they would be stupidstupidstupid to trade down. the dolphins in particular have so many needs that they really should concentrate on getting impact players at about any position~

charles woodson or adalius thomas there's a david boston or kevin carter.

For every Orlando Pace there's a Robert Gallery! I mean I basically agree with you, but I don't think the answer is to ONLY bring in young guys and a few cheap vets when you're that far under the cap. If you can afford it, why NOT take a gamble on a Lance Briggs or an Alan Faneca or whomever? Alan Faneca is probably going to perform better than some rookie free agent off the practice squad, so even if he's overpaid, it's not like you can't get rid of him in a year or two, since the Dolphins aren't even CLOSE to the cap threshold.

I don't even know if the Dolphins need a center, I'm just using Faneca as an example.

trading down from #1 is hard, and also there's really only one scenario where it's a good idea - when, say, 5 of your top-graded players all have the same grade and you will get what you consider to be the same level quality player if you move down a few spots and pick up an extra pick or two in the process.

Well, it's also a good idea when you don't want to spend a billion dollars on a lottery ticket, and have confident you can hit consistently on later picks. And Parcells should feel pretty confident about Ireland's ability to find someone great with a mid-1st pick, since most of the recent picks Ireland made have been pretty damned solid, seemingly.

I don't even know if the Dolphins need a center

i hope they don't, they used the 2nd round pick they got for wes welker on one. yeah, i'm not saying the draft is any safer but you have 7 chances of finding a player. the pats got a pretty good qb at pick #199 a few years back.

also, it's been harder and harder to trade out of the top 3 in recent years because of the $$$ involved for unproven players. IF you crap out you've severely screwed your team. no one wants to take that chance anymore.

mentioning Faneca is interesting. i think he'll be a great addition where ever he ends up assuming pitt cant find some way to bring him back.

what is the rest of the free agent class like? i know michael turner will now be unrestricted...that dude will get a lot of interest.

I don't know how accurate it is, but I'm using this:

http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html

Some of the dudes on there (Haynesworth) will surely get tagged by their teams if they don't re-sign long-term, but it seems like a good primer.

a$$ante $amuel will be available as the pats franchised him this year.

If we're talking about dudes who the Dolphins shouldn't spend a bunch of coin on, Samuel is definitely one of em.

i dunno what the 'phins dbackfield looks like but samuel is one of the best corners in the conference if not the league.

Sure, but is any cornerback worth what a top-tier cornerback gets paid? Especially considering how little cornerbacks are allowed to get away with the current rules?

the dolphins defensive backs (corners esp except for will allen) were probably the defense's weakest link, but i don't think throwing mad money samuel's way will be worth it (just like getting rid of wes welker for a second round pick actually was worth it in the long run). i think in the dolphins case, 2-3 good players> 1 asante samuel

yes, a top tier corner is worth it. the difference that having a guy who doesn't need safety help brings is tremendous, it frees up a safety to support the run or to lend coverage to a nickel back or whatever. lawyer milloy made millions for himself because he had the freedom to roam the backfield and make his own decisions because ty law had one side of the field shut down. a top corner is more valuable on defense in my opinion that any position other than a top defensive end who can bring pressure on every down (strahan, freeney, etc.).

There are plenty of guys who write about football who disagree with you, but I admittedly am just rehashing what they say without actually formulating my own opinion.

I am a LITTLE skeptical about how well some dude who used to play for the Patriots will play on another team, though, as great as Samuel obviously is. It's got to be a letdown to go from playing for titles to playing for money, even if there's a good chance Miami rebounds in the second year.

as a$$ante proved in the offseason, his focus is on the money and not on winning titles. plus he's from south florida i think, maybe he'd WANT to go there?

There are plenty of guys who write about football who disagree with you,

and i'm totally fine with that. all i know is that i would prefer to have one guy who can lockdown the opposing teams best receiver and cut the field in half. when you only have to gameplan for half the field it makes things easier. unless you can't stop the run in which case shutting down the passing game is kind of a moot point.

i've been thinking lately that a top-tier, penetrating DT might be the most valuable thing a defense could have - think tommie harris, kevin williams types.

i always think defensive end because when you double an end it's either with a tackle and tight end or tackle and rb whereas a dt gets center and guard. but yeah that's my thinking too, anyone on the line who can bring pressure every down is probably most valuable on that side of the ball.

this doesn't take into account the freaks of nature like lt who could rush the passer like an end or drop into coverage with equal ease. obviously if you can find a once in a generation type player he'd be the most valuable player on your team.

DT's aren't as valuable in a 3-4, which is what Parcells will probably run.

What do you think of the speculation that the Browns could or should ship off Derek Anderson for picks and go with the bowl cut at QB? Personally, I think that is crazy talk, but I saw a couple of the knucklehead experts at the east coast sports network saying it should be so.

They would be crazy to do anything other than tag him.

DT's aren't as valuable in a 3-4, which is what Parcells will probably run.

-- polyphonic, Friday, January 18, 2008 10:02 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

ever hear of the 'planet theory'? parcells has been its biggest proponent over the years. also, OLBs are the stars of the 3-4 in a sense, but they're also more replaceable than a dominant NT.

Right, DT's are hugely important in a 3-4.

except dorsey isn't the type of dt that parcells likes in the 3-4. dude isn't even 300 lbs for christ's sake!

He isn't right now. DT's can be molded, look at the Willams "brothers" in Minn.

he could maybe play the 5-technique end in a 3-4, tho he might not be tall enough. point is tho, guys like dorsey and ellis with that kind of size AND talent/athleticism are super rare and very much worth a first overall pick.

bill, how were the williams' molded? kevin williams is pretty much the same guy now as he was when he came out.

One of them was a low rounder and bounced around a couple of teams. I'm citing Easterbrook's column from last week. I don't remember if it's Pat or Kevin.

Speaking of Williamses, don't the Charger's play a 3-4? Jamal's a tough SOB.

that has to be pat, cuz kevin williams was a first rounder who's been w/the vikes his whole career.

i remember skimming that easterbrook column and seeing a lot of bizarre selections, like pat kerney (who was a first rounder for atlanta back in 99). pat williams has been a regular starter since at least 2001~

But Pat got cut from somebody's practice squad twice (the Bills??)

I agree with you on Kerney. He was a stud with Atl.

the job of a a nose tackle in a 3-4 is to clog the middle against the run. it's not to penetrate, it's to hold your ground and jam the gaps between the guards on each side of the center. for that you need someone with a low center of gravity who plays low to the ground and is strong lamf. dorsey's biggest asset is his quickness that allows him to penetrate the backfield. he plays too upright and weighs between 35-65 pounds less than a typical tackle for a 3-4. you can try to mold him but on a team like the dolphins that needs so much help in so many areas they'd be better served drafting chris long and letting him go right away without any "molding" that may or may not work.

btw, how fucking scary is it that NE has a shot at chris long (or a similar impact player) with that #7 pick? i mean... that just ain't right.

most mocks i've seen have them taking cb from usf

idk much about him but that would give them 2 great young dbs (+ meriweather) which really isn't fair

a$$ante samuel won't be there next year so unless you think randall gay or ellis hobbs are great (which they aren't) they'll be thin there next year.

i was including dude from usf if they draft him

Jamal Williams, for what it's worth, was taken in the supplemental draft. I think it was in the 2nd round. I can't remember if he played NT in college, but I think that might have been the case.

I think Randall Gay might also be an unrestricted free agent, so you could potentially see a big overhaul of the Pats' defensive backfield.

i was including dude from usf if they draft him

ok, but who is the other great dude? gay? hobbs? merriweather (who only started playing on nickle and dime packages 5 weeks ago)?

Ck, you really think chris long is worth #1 overall?

i was including dude from usf if they draft him

ok, but who is the other great dude? gay? hobbs? merriweather (who only started playing on nickle and dime packages 5 weeks ago)?

-- chicago kevin, Monday, January 28, 2008 4:08 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

i thought i was implying that they would be great in the future but if not that's what i meant

yeah for that team i do. if i ran a 4-3 i'd take dorsey in a heartbeat.

here's how mel kiper grades out the top ten prospects:

1. Darren McFadden* RB Arkansas 99
2. Chris Long DE Virginia 98
3. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU 98
4. Matt Ryan QB Boston Coll. 97
5. Jake Long OT Michigan 97
6. Sedrick Ellis DT USC 97
7. Ryan Clady* OT Boise St. 97
8. Vernon Gholston* DE Ohio State 96
9. Brian Brohm QB Louisville 96

i thought i was implying that they would be great in the future but if not that's what i meant

i hear you, i'm kind of dubious about predicted greatness though. it seems like merriweather has finally made the adjustment to safety which is why he's playing more. i wouldn't mind seeing the pats get one of those dudes from usf, they have two are are pretty good but i can't for the life of me remember who either are. i really wish there was some way to hold onto a$$ante but he's going for the big money and that won't fly in foxborough.

wow, ugly english going on up there. ^^

i'm not that familiar w/ the pats cap situation but i have to imagine they will bring in someone who can compete for a starting cb job

what i was saying w/ the usf cb thing was that it would really shore up a place where they're getting older and would allow them to concentrate on other stuff down the line etc etc esp. if dude turned out to be a newman/trufant/jammer type player

pats two biggest areas of need will be linebacker and cornerback (in that order, imo). i think it hurt when neither dan connor nor laurinaitis came out early. i wouldn't mind seeing them trade down to the early/mid teens as they still might be able to snag a decent d-back.

This site says they'll have about $10 mil to play with.

Isn't Moss an UFA? If the Pats tag him, his salary should increase from about $5 mil this year to a considerably larger amount in 2008.

i believe both sides have an option on randy's contract. iirc that's what made it a win-win for the pats. if he was great they got him for cheap for a year, if he was a cancer they could cut him loose.

i was about to ask if laurinitis was coming out - guess not. but i thought connor was? either way, #7 is too high to take either of them imo.

jenkins, the south florida guy, isn't a top ten dude 2 me - none of the DBs this year are. the pats would prob get better value picking d-line or mb lb~

yeah, that's why i was saying i would be happy if they traded out of the top ten. the pats already have a young, solid defensive line made up of #1 picks (seymour, wilfork, and warren) with jarvis green coming off the bench as a pass rushing specialist or as the end with seymour moving inside when they switch to a four man front. i don't see them taking a d lineman with the first pick. they're way way too old at linebacker and way too thin in the defensive backfield to not address those two areas.

i think the top two corners in the draft this year are both juniors? the kid from kansas and some dude from troy? who are the best linebackers available? i must have been on crack when talking about connor because i'm 90% positive he was a senior this year. laurinitis hasn't declared himself eligible and hasn't worked out for anyone and has said he's going back to columbus in the fall. ray maualaga (sp?) is going back to usc but keith rivers is graduating.

i'd like to see the pats get a decent inside linebacker to replace seau (who i've got to imagine will retire for the last time if he gets a ring) and/or tedy bruschi. i did see one mock draft that had the pats taking vernon gholston the de from ohio state and moving him outside a la mcginnest, bruschi, vrable, etc. i think that would probably move adalius thomas inside full time.

C'MON PATS!!!

from todd mcshay:

Ohio State DE/OLB Vernon Gholston continued his assault on the pre-draft process during the Buckeyes' pro day workout Friday in Columbus, Ohio. The 6-foot-3, 266-pounder blazed a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds and soared 42 inches in the vertical jump, both slightly better than his impressive numbers (4.67, 35.5) at last month's combine. Now that Gholston has twice verified in workouts the explosiveness scouts have seen on film for the past two seasons -- during which he had 22.5 sacks -- there should be no question about his standing as a top-10 prospect in this year's draft class. With the Jets, Patriots and Ravens -- all of whom employ 3-4 defensive schemes -- selecting sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, it's hard to imagine Gholston still being available when the Bengals select at No. 9.

maybe the dolphins will say fuck it and grab dude at #1

i mean is he better than chris long?

he sounds like a fucking animal tbh

also even tho i hate them i'm kind of excited about seeing mcfadden on the jets-- it seems kinda right to me

i think he's EXACTLY the kind of linebacker the hooded casanova likes, converted college de who can play in space. look at vrabel, bruschi, tully banta-cain, willie mcginnest, etc.

adaelius (sp?) thomas

Gholston is the sort of dude who you draft because his name is so cool, and any additional production is gravy.

i mean is he better than chris long?

-- J0rdan S., Tuesday, March 11, 2008 7:05 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Link

n

long's measurables are pretty much the same (dude's a monster) and he has a more versatile skill set.

plus if you're building a defense i think you start up front and work back rather than the other way around.

but then again i've never built an nfl defense so what the fuck do i know.

yeah, tho gholston could certainly be a 4-3 end in the nfl. i'm not sure if he projects better as a rushing OLB or what, but i doubt he'd have problems playing the 9-technique.

6-3 266 is plenty big enough for a pass rushing de in a 4-3 but probably too small for a 3-4 which is what belicheck uses as the base set. i think he would be the perfect fit for the willie mcginnest/mike vrabel role of outside linebacker who can line up and get in a 3 point stance or drop back and play in space if he needs to. i'd love to see it happen.

As a member of the Autism Awareness Team at Grand Street Campus, I am currently working with my teamates on how to let people know about World Autism Awareness Day, which is April 2nd. I have created a fantasy-type game called Stacking the Board, that goes along with the NFL Draft. The directions are below. Please forward to any football fans you know and if they are interested they can follow the directions and play along. Even if you do not play along, just by forwarding this email you have helped me in letting people know that April is the month to find out more about Autism and what we can all do to help.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/press/world_autism_awareness_day_2008.php

I will donate $20 in the name of the person with the highest official point total.

Directions for Stacking the Board
Choose 32 players that you think will be drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Place them in the order that you think they will be picked.

Points will be given like this:
1 point if your player is selected anywhere in the first round.
5 points if your player is selected in the slot you predicted.
10 points if you pick three players in a row
15 points if you pick four players in a row
20 points if you pick five players in a row
(if you hit on five in a row, you start a new streak on the next pick)

In order for your picks to be official, I must receive them by 11am on April 26th (one hour before the draft starts) email them to b✧✧.offe✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧

For your convenience, I have attached a list of what many think are the top players in the draft, in no particular order. If you want to do some research just google "2008 NFL Draft" and you will be directed to a bunch of mock drafts where people have been picking themselves. You can also pick up a NFL Draft magazine in any major newstand or bookstore which will help you to predict based on team needs, trends and the rumor mill.

Please forward to anyone you think would be interested. If you are unclear about the rules, please contact me via email. This is free. There is no catch.

thanks for taking the time to read this,
KM

--
Kyle McKenna
Offensive Coordinator
Grand Street Campus Wolves Football

that email is b✧✧.offe✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧

sheesh. Big.offense at gmail.com

wtf jeremy green's wrists?

it's like that on all the clips too. fucking weird.

so apparently the only player the 'phins are in negotiations with is JAKE long? did i hear that correctly?

dolphins agreed to terms w/jake long?

seems like a smart move to me. if only bo jackson overdrive were around to give his insight.

i wonder how/if this will change anybody's draft strategy?

one way or another i think there's going to be a lot of movement in the top 10. if the Pats take Cromartie jr or anyone else at 7 i will be v surprised.

if gholston's there i'd be surprised if they don't take him. huge if though. i wonder who will want to trade up to that spot though?

i don't see Gholston being there, but he's prob the only guy in the whole draft they would gladly spill the requisite $35-40m on. he couldn't fit into the Pats D better if he came with his own camera and short-sleeved hoodie.

the bottom half of the first 10 picks are still prohibitively expensive but there's always someone left on the board that another team decides they must have. if they want to trade down it'll happen.

if they want to trade down it'll happen.

last year teams were trying to bail out of the top ten and no one wanted the picks. unless someone starts to slide i'm not sure anyone will want to pay a premium for a top pick in this draft.

it does depend on who's left. you can make a case for all of the top 6 taking someone other than McFadden. if no one takes Ryan someone like Carolina might want to leap ahead of Baltimore. i have a feeing that when the first round is done it isn't going to look very much like any predictions at all.

If Cromartie goes in the top 10 I will die laughing. He had a few nice workouts and now he's a sure thing corner? He's never played in a meaningful game in his life, but because his cousin is good at football, now he's a top-15 pick? Why would you ever draft a corner in the top 15 unless the dude is a sure thing? When the Chargers drafted Antonio Cromartie they were ridiculed for it, but at least he was a highly-touted prospect from a big school. I would be happy to have nu-Cromartie on my team, but that early seems like a huge risk.

belichick won't draft a corner that high, he probably won't even draft one in the first round. dude prides himself on being able to develop dbacks, a$$ante $amuel was a 4th round pick, randall gay was a UFA, ellis hobbs a 3rd rounder.

where players, esp. d-back and receiver, go to school doesn't really matter. just because a player may not have been skilled or physically mature at age 17 doesn't have much influence on if they have the speed, agility, hands, and ability at 22.

i don't know what the 'expert' line on this is, but i would've thought that the transition to the NFL in the mental side of the game is the maybe toughest for CBs of any position after QBs. drafting high would seem like something to avoid because it would be more of a gamble than most positions, even for a stand-out college player.

where players, esp. d-back and receiver, go to school doesn't really matter. just because a player may not have been skilled or physically mature at age 17 doesn't have much influence on if they have the speed, agility, hands, and ability at 22.

How do you figure that it doesn't matter? There are plenty of examples of athletically-gifted corners who couldn't cut it in the NFL. You still need to be able to learn your defense and assignments. Not that he can't, but I want to see him prove it in a game against real competition. I can't imagine Cromartie contributing to anything but dimeback responsibilities and returns in his first two seasons.

I still would take him with a late first rounder, don't get me wrong. But maybe I'd rather have Brandon Flowers or someone of his ilk.

How do you figure that it doesn't matter? There are plenty of examples of athletically-gifted corners who couldn't cut it in the NFL.

exactly. there have been plenty from big schools and small schools who could not cut it. if you have talent it does not matter.

belichick won't draft a corner that high, he probably won't even draft one in the first round. dude prides himself on being able to develop dbacks, a$$ante $amuel was a 4th round pick, randall gay was a UFA, ellis hobbs a 3rd rounder.-- chicago kevin, Tuesday, 22 April 2008 19:20 (53 minutes ago) Link

nigga he drafted a fucken SAFETY in the first round last year!

From Dr. Z's draft column, this sounds kind of frightening. I cannot see Dorsey hanging around that long, but adding him in with what they already have is crazy.

7) Patriots Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

They're a base 3-4 defensive team, but Bill Belichick likes to throw in a lot of 4-3 on pressure downs. And with the dynamic, disruptive Dorsey lining up next to All-Pro Richard Seymour, the Pats will have enough pressure to make lives miserable.

dorsey is, without an atom of a doubt, the best player in the draft. if he lasts to 7, then a bunch of teams will have majorly fucked up.

it's pretty much confirmed now that the rams are taking Chris Long. and it's sounding like the Falcons are taking Ryan, which if true will make me fucking furious.

fuck youuuu arthur blank you jew cocksucker

alright i fucking quit football fuck this shit

if new orleans emerges from this draft with glenn dorsey i will firebomb the falcons headquarters

Oh shit, cankles. The Falcons have taken Ryan. I've never understood the Ryan love. ESPN says he's the most NFL ready quarterback. I think they're talking out their ass again. Brian Brohm is better. Falcons should have taken an offensive or defensive lineman.

Ooh dang, Mayo to the Pats!

mayo's a super duper good pick by NE - most versatile, complete LB in draft, like a more athletic Al Wilson. he can play all four LB spots.

see, I like Ryan just fine, it's just that I thought Dorsey was the best player in this draft and he fit a position of huge need (tho so does Ryan obv). i can live with it, just would'a rather seen Dorsey :[

Yeah, that's a positive "Ooh dang"

Chiefs are making a killing.

Dorsey + Albert

that mayo pick was perfect :/

man cardinals shoulda took mendenhall-- the dude ripped usc and ohio st last year

What's up with Cadillac? Could the Bucs go after Mendenhall?

Oh, uh...cornerback, okay.

ugh, not sure about that move for Atlanta - I like Baker a LOT and i was hoping we'd get him in the second because of how his stock's fallen (due to an ugly senior bowl showing and an inconsistent senior year), but i really really feel like he would've been available by 2rd3pk. atl outsmarted themselves here.

Have to admit I'm surprised the Steelers went for Mendenhall, but I think it will pay off.

Me too, but Parker was injured a lot and Davenport doesn't look to be more than a back-up. It could be they were surprised he was still available and thought he's too good to pass up. They'll go for offensive lineman in the later rounds.

49er defense about to get super-tough. Willis + Balmer = dirty quarterbacks.

yeah that mendenhall pick was surprising but i think they were picking based on who could contribute next year so they don't lose in the first round again and mendenhall def fits that idea over one of the cb/wr projects around then

kenny phillips is a baller

Phillips is a total baller. Giants make playoffs in 08.

as a dude who watched every dreadful hurricane last year i can attest that phillips only dropped because there was literally too many things for him to do last year. we had a porous d-line last year and he was functionally our best linebacker. he's a very very solid tackler and didn't get enough chances to make plays on the ball becasue he had to play so far up to stop the run. A+ pick at 31 imo.

Repeat, repeat: The Chiefs are pwning this draft

Dorsey
Albert
Flowers

every dreadful hurricane game* but also every dreadful hurricane

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/5132/belichickep5.jpg

Belichick does look like a Boston mobster...

Chargers gave up their 2009 2nd rounder so they could draft Jacob Hester at the top of the third, way before his projection. I know they needed a backup Rb/fullback and Hester fills both needs, but this seemed like a big expensive reach to me.

Man, the Chargers had a terrible draft. I like Antoine Cason, but I think they could've grabbed Hester much later, and all the rest of their picks were huge reaches AND not at positions of need. They needed help on the offensive line and a replacement for Jamal Williams, not a fifth-string running back or a fifth-string corner.

i like the pats pick. i like the falcons taking ryan. he has an amazingly fast release and he's going to need it in atlanta. the knock against him was his "efficiency" but if you look at the numbers his int per pass ratio was about the same as brohm, he just threw it about 200 times more. he was making chicken salad out of chicken shit at bc the last two years. can you name any of his receivers there? his best target was will blackmon two years ago. blackmon was a defensive captain as a corner who played part time at wide out. his "speed" receiver ran a 4.65 40 at the combine. dude's a winner and while i think 3rd overall is a bit high for him that's where the team that needed him the most was drafting. he would have been a perfect value pick for the ravens.

Belichick does look like a Boston mobster...

he doesn't look 1 bit irish.

The Colts got a couple of interesting picks for the offense. I've seen Jacob Tamme play quite a bit for Kentucky, the guy has some good hands and could be an excellent player at the second TE to match up with Dallas Clark. Mike Hart is another interesting pick as his stock dropped because of his 'lack of speed'. The guy played well in an NFL style offense at Michigan and seems to have good hands for the receiving game. I think Hart might be a bit of a sleeper and could at least be someone to maybe spell Addai or be used in certain situations.

The Colts must think Jeff Saturday is in the winter of his career, criminy they drafted THREE centers. I know they will probably end up playing some guard, but that is still pretty funny.

I'm kind of curious to see if the Bears got some talent in this draft, they had a bunch of picks in the later rounds, twelve in total. Checking it out, the Chiefs also had twelve picks. It is kind of hilarious considering how BAD the KC and Chicago QBs are that they had all of those picks and did not pick one quarterback. I say good luck with all of that...better hope that the kicking game is fantastic. Brady Croyle, Damon Huard, Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton.....YIKES that is a special kind of fugly.

I hope that Ryan works out for Atlanta. Those are some football fans that have had to eat a big crap sandwich for the past couple of years. Still, if it was me I would have loaded up on the defense and tried to find a vet drafting that early. Maybe it is because the only time I saw BC play is when they lost for the first time last season and Ryan looked freakin' HORRIBLE.

i'm starting to drink the matt ryan kool-aid. the story i'm hearing is that dimitroff and smith had dorsey at the top of their board until their april 5th meeting with ryan, which dimitroff called the most impressive whiteboard display he'd ever seen. the guy has peyton & brady type study skills and football smarts, excellent mechanics, an unbelievable work ethic, and he loves football. this could end up being the best pick in the franchise's history.

buffalo had an awesome draft btw~

I think Atl. did the right thing. The Bears picked an olineman who only did 19 reps on the bench at the combine in the first round. I can do more than that, and I'm a 37 year old guy who works in an office all day. What in god's name are they doing?

i'd heard they're moving him to left tackle. he has quick feet so they'll use him to watch grossman/orton/blanda's blind side and move john tait to the right where his strength and inline blocking ability will be put to better use.

What is the Chi media saying about the Bears draft? I'm a transplant, I live in NJ

the wgn morning guy was critical but the depth of his analysis was "they're a bunch of guys no one's ever heard of". dude's a tool. i usually don't watch tv except to see if it's going to rain on my way to work or if there's a game on so i have no idea what the other stations had to say. haven't seen the papers today and haven't read anything online because work is keeping me sort of busy.

Peter King killed Chi's draft in Monday Morning QB. He was dumbfounded they didn't pick a QB. They've never had a QB in the history of their franchise, why start now?

mcmahon was pretty qb-esque

peter king's opinion carries no weight with me. i was surprised they didn't take brohm in the 2nd round and took the running back from tulane who ran a 4.7 40. because, you know, with the other adrian peterson and ced benson on the roster they needed a plodding running back.

"mcmahon was pretty qb-esque"

His job was just to not fuck anything up, which he did ok the few times he actually played in a game.

The Raven's first round pick was a bit of a head scratcher. Flacco, according to the scouts, has tremendous potential. But why pick up a project quarterback in the first round when you could have could have gotten him much cheaper. I admit I'm biased about Ryan. I only saw him play once in what might have been his worst game. He may work out. I hope he doesn't get his brains scrambled playing behind that line.

sports radio dudes in MN are loving the "john david booty" related puns!

the guy has peyton & brady type study skills and football smarts, excellent mechanics, an unbelievable work ethic, and he loves football.

Keep in mind that all of this stuff is also true of Alex Smith, though.

i think he'll be the next hasselbeck. whether it's matt or tim i don't know.

buffalo had an awesome draft btw~

-- cankles, Monday, April 28, 2008 7:40 AM (15 hours ago) Bookmark Link

i know, right? i am stupidly optimistic about the season again.

did they draft a head coach?

;_;

i think he'll be the next hasselbeck. whether it's matt or tim i don't know.

Colt Brennan will be the next Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

Now I saw on tv today that Kiper says the Bears had the best draft of anybody. I guess I just figured out why the actually play the goddamn games.

wha? mel kiper's brain has been swallowed whole by his hair.

know, right? i am stupidly optimistic about the season again.

-- horseshoe, Tuesday, 29 April 2008 03:56 (11 hours ago) Link

double or nothing on the Battle of Lake Erie part II?

Now I saw on tv today that Kiper says the Bears had the best draft of anybody.

well they did draft three guys who will start for them immediately. steltz will probably supplant archuleta at some point in the year.

UFA time!

Monday, April 28, 2008
TEAM
Atlanta Falcons Signed running back Jamar Brittingham, tackle Michael Butterworth, defensive end Brandon Miller, linebacker Isaac Brown, cornerback Glenn Sharpe, safety D.J. Wolfe and punter Jimmie Kaylor.
Chicago Bears Signed defensive backs Trey Brown and Leslie Majors, defensive ends Joe Clermond and Nick Osborn, tackles Cody Balogh and David Faaeteete, quarterbacks Caleb Hanie and Nick Hill, wide receiver Curtis Hamilton and kicker Shane Longest.
Cincinnati Bengals Waived safety Nick Turnbull.
Denver Broncos Signed running back Anthony Aldridge, offensive lineman Mitch Erickson, kicker Garrett Hartley, punter Brett Kern, tackle Tyler Polumbus, wide receiver Lorne Sam and linebacker Wesley Woodyard; waived defensive tackle Michael Bozeman, safety Steve Cargile, guard Mark Fenton, fullbacks Steven Jackson and Paul Smith, linebacker William Kershaw and running back Marquis Weeks.
Jacksonville Jaguars Agreed to terms with quarterback Paul Smith, running back Anthony Cotrone, wide receivers Clyde Edwards and Jeron Harvey, tight ends Adam Bishop and Chris Brown, center Drew Miller, cornerbacks Isaiah Gardner, Michael Grant and Brian Witherspoon, defensive end Alex Boston, defensive tackle Theo Horrocks and linebacker Lamar Myles.
New York Jets Waived tight end Joe Kowalewski and fullback Stacy Tutt.
Philadelphia Eagles Agreed to terms with cornerback Kyle Arrington, fullback Jed Collins, tackle Franklin Dunbar, linebacker Justin Roland and wide receivers Shaheer McBride, Frantz Hardy and Terrell Golden.
Pittsburgh Steelers Agreed to terms with quarterback Mike Potts, tight end Dezmond Sherrod, wide receivers Dorien Bryant and Micah Rucker, defensive tackles Jordan Reffett and Martavius Prince, linebackers Patrick Bailey and Donovan Woods, cornerbacks Roy Lewis and Travis Williams, center Doug Legursky and kicker Julian Rauch.
St. Louis Rams Agreed to terms with running backs Yvenson Bernard and Brandon McAnderson, wide receivers Matt Caddell and Joshua Hyman, defensive tackles Vernon Bryant and Joshua Thompson, defensive end Rodney Hardeway, tight end Doug Jones, linebackers Vincent Hall and Marc Magro, tackle Stephen Sene and cornerback Justin McKinney.
Washington Redskins Agreed to terms with quarterback Bret Meyer, offensive linemen Devin Clark, Shannon Boatman, Kerry Brown and Kyle Devan, defensive ends Dorian Smith and Alonzo Dotson, linebackers Curtis Gatewood and Bryan Wilson, safeties Kevin Mitchell and Justin Scott, wide receiver Horace Gant and cornerback Matteral Richardson.

BUTTERWORTH

Harrison is a first-round talent who dropped in the draft because of durability and character concerns. The 6-3, 310-pounder possesses excellent size, agility and balance, but he sustained knee injuries in each of his final two seasons and was arrested last August and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and driving with a restricted license.

In 2004, defensive lineman Marcus Harrison became Arkansas' first true freshman to start the season opener since 1992.
Harrison tore his left ACL last spring, but rebounded to register 76 tackles, 6½ tackles-for-loss and 1½ sacks while starting 10 games. He also batted down 10 passes and forced one fumble.

“Talent-wise, we are very excited about this young man as a football player,” said Bears defensive coordinator Bob Babich.

“He is a big, strong, athletic defensive lineman. We feel very comfortable with him fitting in our system. I think that he is athletic enough to play the three technique, but at the same time, he’s big enough and strong enough to play nose if we need to move him into that position. So anytime we can gain depth through talent on the defensive line, we are comfortable doing that.”

The Bears were comfortable picking Harrison despite his arrest.

“We weighed the risk/reward and felt that he was a good player and that we can take care of the situation,” said Greg Gabriel, the Bears’ director of college scouting.

because after all, they played the whole tank johnson thing PERFECTLY.

Yeah, right. How stupid did they look on that.

1. Darren McFadden* RB Arkansas
2. Chris Long DE Virginia
3. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
4. Calais Campbell* DE Miami
5. Jake Long OT Michigan
6. DeSean Jackson* WR California
7. Derrick Harvey* DE Florida
8 Sedrick Ellis DT USC
9. Matt Ryan QB Boston Coll.
10. Ryan Clady* OT Boise St.
11. Andre Woodson Jr. QB Kentucky
12. Kenny Phillips* S Miami
13. Samuel Baker OT USC
14. James Laurinaitis* ILB Ohio State
15. Brian Brohm QB Louisville
16. Keith Rivers OLB USC
17. Malcolm Jenkins* CB Ohio State
18. Gosder Cherilus OT Boston Coll.
19. Vernon Gholston* DE Ohio State
20. Malcolm Kelly* WR Oklahoma
21. Justin King* CB Penn State
22. Rey Maualuga* ILB USC
23. Adarius Bowman WR Okla. State
24. Dan Connor OLB Penn State
25. Early Doucet III WR LSU
26. Quentin Groves DE Auburn
27. Michael Oher* OT Mississippi
28. Ali Highsmith OLB LSU
29. Reggie Smith* CB Oklahoma
30. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon
31. Fili Moala* DT USC
32. Frank Okam DT Texas

-- Jordan Sargent, Wednesday, October 17, 2007 2:00 AM (6 months ago) Bookmark Link

^^lol everybody remember this from upthread when projections come out next oct

hahahaha ALI HIGHSMITH WAS SIGNED BY THE CARDINALS AS AN UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT. undrafted!!!!!!!!!!!!

also, the pats picked up UFA gary guyton from georgia tech, which i love - dude's a baller

next october? cnn has their '09 mock draft up today.

sweet post it

taken from here:

about 4 hours ago :: 151207 Views

Welcome to SI.com's second annual year-ahead mock draft. To simplify, we're assuming Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow will return to Florida, because projecting him into the NFL is too difficult.

I'm also breaking news of a major draft-day trade in April of 2009 -- the Falcons have the No. 1 overall spot but trade down.

1. Chiefs (via trade with Falcons) -- Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia * -- A quarterback has gone No. 1 overall six out of the past eight years, and Stafford looks like the most likely candidate to develop into that kind of elite QB. His numbers were mediocre last year, but he had no line or receivers. The Falcons will have the worst record, but be able to field trade offers because they don't need a QB.

2. Raiders -- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech * -- Plays in a big numbers system, but his size and speed still make him an elite receiver. And he will fit into the "Al Davis kind of player" category.

3. Lions -- Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State * -- Wells said he wants to stay four years at Ohio State, but an elite running back trying to save wear and tear on his body would be foolish not to go pro as soon as possible.

4. Falcons (via trade with Chiefs) -- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama * -- Smith doesn't get the publicity of Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher, but we'll take a shot on a player many considered the top prospect in his high school class.

5. Rams -- James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State -- Could have been a top-15 pick this year. Goes higher than usual for an inside linebacker because of athleticism.

6. Dolphins -- Fili Moala, DT, USC -- Moala is one of the few dominant defensive tackles in this draft and will someday require double-teams in the NFL.

7. 49ers -- Michael Oher, Mississippi -- You'll see him in other mocks in the top three. Word from Oxford is that the coaching staff isn't thrilled with Oher's performance last year and work ethic. But he's still a huge natural talent.

8. Bengals -- C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson* -- Spiller, a standout at track as well, averaged 7.3 yards per carry last season and is a bona fide home run threat. His backfield partner, James Davis, could also be a top-45 pick.

9. Ravens -- Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma -- At 6-foot-8 and at least 350 pounds, Loadholt could draw some comparisons to Jonathan Ogden. He's not that good, but certainly grades as a first-rounder.

10. Bills -- Rey Maualuga, LB, USC -- I hate putting the Bills this low, but I don't have much confidence in their quarterbacks. Look for them to take one in the second round of the '09 draft (perhaps Hunter Cantwell or Graham Harrell).

11. Cardinals --Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU -- Jackson had a disappointing '07 campaign, but he still has impressive physical skills and he may go even higher if he bounces back this season.

12. Eagles (via Panthers) -- Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin -- One of two first-rounders for Eagles after a '08 draft-day trade with the Panthers. Beckham had 75 catches for 982 yards last season and should be a nice safety blanket Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb.

13. Jets -- Derrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland * -- Heyward-Bey is tall and fast, he'll have great combine numbers. The question: Is he physical enough to be a star in the NFL?

14. Packers -- Taylor Mays, S, USC * -- You have to love athletic USC safeties. Mays could follow in Troy Polamalu's and Ronnie Lott's footsteps and be a star in the NFL.

15. Broncos -- George Selvie, DE, South Florida * -- Selvie struggled toward the end of last season, but if he gets a little stronger he should get a lot of attention from the NFL.

16. Titans -- Lydon Murtha, OT, Nebraska -- This may be my one true darkhorse in the first round. Not on anyone's radar right now, but he was a huge recruit out of high school who runs a very fast 40 for a big man. If he can stay healthy, expect a breakout year.

17. Texans -- Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss -- Jerry gets overshadowed by defensive end Greg Hardy at Mississippi, but should have a strong enough season to vault up into the first round.

18. Bears -- Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU -- I really want to give the Bears a quarterback, but I think most of the QBs in this draft are second-rounders. Look for them to grab the best available receiver. Byrd hasn't produced yet, but has blazing 40 speed.

19. Browns -- Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana * -- Middleton had 16 sacks last season and will be a nice complement to Kamerion Wimbley.

20. Buccaneers -- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State -- Others have projected him as a top-five pick, but there's buzz he won't be able to produce that kind of 40 time.

21. Redskins -- Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas -- Scouts like Orakpo's size and speed and the Skins would love to be able to pressure the QB more.

22. Vikings -- Percy Harvin, WR, Florida * -- He's not very big (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), but the Vikes will find a place for him.

23. Seahawks -- Alex Boone, LT, Ohio State -- He should be part of an outstanding offense at Ohio State that will make him look good.

24. Eagles -- Michael Jones, WR, ASU -- The Eagles are undoubtedly still trying to trade for a premiere receiver this offseason, but if they can't, watch out for Michael Jones. Jones had just 46 catches as a junior, but 10 of them were for touchdowns and those numbers will go up this year.

25. Saints -- Brian Cushing, LB, USC -- This is an optimistic place for the Saints, but I'll give them the edge over the Bucs in the watered-down NFC South.

26. Giants -- Myron Rolle, S, Florida State * -- Not related to Samari or Antrel, but we won't hold that against him. He could go even higher if he improves this season.

27. Steelers -- Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech -- A 6-7 DE/LB hybrid with great speed who should have a good season at Georgia Tech.

28. Jaguars -- Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn * -- After strengthening the ends in this year's draft, the Jags bolster the interior of the defensive line.

29. Chargers -- Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma -- With the recent emphasis on guards around the league, the massive Robinson will be a hot prospect.

30. Colts -- Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State -- Colts will be eager to get back to a better running back tandem (sorry Kenton Keith).

31. Cowboys -- Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State -- Receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are getting old.

32. Patriots -- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State -- His character issues may very well push him out of the first round (he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer this offseason), but the Patriots think they can fix talented players.

*Indicates underclassmen

matthew stafford #1 loooooooooooooooool

that mock makes my head hurt. someone got paid to cook that shit up??

...and it wasn't one of us. shameful.

here is mcshay's:

1. Atlanta Falcons -- Fili Moala, DT, USC
Atlanta finally gets its playmaking interior defensive lineman. Moala has flown under the radar to this point but he should emerge from the shadow of 2008 No. 7 overall pick Sedrick Ellis and become one of the elite defenders in college football this fall.

2. Detroit Lions -- Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Coach Rod Marinelli's defense is predicated on speed up front, and Johnson is blessed with plenty of that. Johnson was overlooked while playing in a rotation last season, but it won't take long for the rangy edge-rusher to make his mark in 2008.

3. Kansas City Chiefs -- Matt Stafford*, QB, Georgia
Another injury-plagued and disappointing season out of fragile QB Brodie Croyle will force the Chiefs to address the position with this high draft pick in 2009. If the supremely talented Stafford continues to progress as he did last fall, he could easily emerge as a top-five pick next April.

4. Miami Dolphins -- Al Woods, DT, LSU
At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Woods is a physically imposing defensive tackle with enough size and strength to anchor the middle of a 3-4 defense.

5. Cincinnati Bengals -- Sen'Derrick Marks*, DT, Auburn
The Bengals got shut out in their pursuit of an elite defensive tackle in this year's draft, but 2009 will be more kind. Marks is an undersized playmaker with the first-step quickness to disrupt as a 3-technique tackle, which is exactly what Marvin Lewis' defense needs along its front.

6. Oakland Raiders -- Andre Smith*, OT, Alabama
Smith stepped in immediately as the Tide's starting left tackle and continues to improve with more coaching and game experience. The Raiders could enlist a player with his kind of skills to take care of their most recent first-round investments in QB JaMarcus Russell and RB Darren McFadden.

7. Chicago Bears -- Tim Tebow*, QB, Florida
It's almost certain that the Bears will need a quarterback come next offseason. Unfortunately, next year's crop of signal-callers does not look promising at this point. Bears fans won't be thrilled if the team uses a high pick on another Gators quarterback following the failed Rex Grossman experiment, but Tebow's unique blend of skills and rare intangibles might be too good to pass up. Should Tebow elect to leave school early, however, his uncommon skill set could make him the most difficult prospect at any position to grade.

8. San Francisco 49ers -- Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
Oher, who possesses the size and athletic ability to develop into an upper-echelon starting tackle in the NFL, would make an ideal bookend opposite 2007 first-rounder Joe Staley.

9. St. Louis Rams -- Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
Maualuga is the top senior prospect on my 2009 draft board at this insanely early point in the process, although he wouldn't be the first senior off the board. I've never seen a defensive player take over a game the way Maualuga did versus Illinois in the Rose Bowl, and his recognition skills are clearly catching up with his rare physical tools.

10. New York Jets -- Knowshon Moreno*, RB, Georgia
Moreno burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2007 and he should build on that momentum as a first-year starter behind a more mature offensive line during the upcoming season. The Jets were not able to land McFadden in this year's draft but Moreno would be worth the wait if he's available in 2009.

11. Tennessee Titans -- Michael Crabtree*, WR, Texas Tech
Do not pigeonhole Crabtree; he's not just a product of coach Mike Leach's pass-crazy offense. The tall, long-armed receiver could be the go-to-target QB Vince Young so desperately needs.

12. Houston Texans -- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Jenkins made a wise decision to return as a senior. He needs to improve his footwork and overall man-to-man cover skills to prove to scouts he's capable of playing corner in any scheme at the next level. Regardless, the Texans could use his ball-hawking skills in their secondary, no matter whether it's at cornerback or safety.

13. Denver Broncos -- James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
Laurinaitis surprised many NFL scouts when he elected to return to Columbus for his senior season. Assuming he continues to make progress in 2008, there's no reason to believe he will fall out of the top 20 picks in next year's draft. The instinctive, high-motor inside linebacker would be a nice addition to a Denver defense in search of more stout defenders up the middle.

14. Baltimore Ravens -- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
The Ravens need an upgrade at corner and a young playmaker like Davis, who possesses rare athleticism for his size, would be an ideal fit.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (from CAR) -- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
The Eagles failed to land a go-to-receiver in the 2008 draft (no, DeSean Jackson does not qualify). Instead of going the free-agent route to land a weapon for veteran QB Donovan McNabb, they might as well use one of two first-round picks in '09 on a future primary target for future QB Kevin Kolb.

16. Arizona Cardinals -- LeSean McCoy*, RB, Pittsburgh
After Arizona failed to find a complement for Edgerrin James in this year's draft, the Cardinals' need at running back will be far more pressing in the spring of '09. McCoy is a supremely talented sophomore who is draft eligible after spending a year in prep school, and he is reportedly already eyeing the 2009 draft.

17. Buffalo Bills -- Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
Beckum could emerge as a top-20 pick if he can add 10-15 pounds to his frame while maintaining his big-play ability as a receiver during his senior season.

18. Philadelphia Eagles -- Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
After failing to land one of the record-setting seven offensive tackles selected in the first round of this year's draft, coach Andy Reid will be craving a big fella like Loadholt in 2009.

19. Washington Redskins -- Greg Hardy*, DE, Mississippi
Hardy is flying under the radar right now despite notching 10 solo sacks the past two seasons, and the Redskins will be looking for a young pass-rushing threat after failing to land one during the latest draft.

20. Minnesota Vikings -- Percy Harvin*, WR/RS, Florida
Staying healthy for a full season would all but guarantee Harvin a spot in the first round of the NFL draft, either next year or in 2010.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Ciron Black, OT, LSU
The Bucs will be looking to enlist the services of a talented left tackle prospect such as Black, who displays quick feet for a 6-5, 315-pounder.

22. Green Bay Packers -- Max Unger, OT, Oregon
Unger, who projects as a first-day pick in next year's draft, is the type of versatile lineman the Packers typically covet.

23. Cleveland Browns -- Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson
Sapp is an up-and-coming talent with outstanding speed and pass-rushing potential. He should fit perfectly as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme like the one employed in Cleveland.

24. Seattle Seahawks -- Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma
The Seahawks are still looking for a long-term solution at left guard, so why not use this pick on the player who is at this point the top prospect at that position.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Jackson is among the elite senior defensive prospects right now but that might not hold up for 12 full months, as he's simply not a great fit for every team's defensive scheme. At 6-5 and 290, Jackson is best suited to play defensive end in a three-man front like the one employed in Pittsburgh.

26. New Orleans Saints -- Gerald McRath, OLB, Southern Miss
The Saints will be looking for an injection of youth and athleticism at linebacker and the speedy, undersized McRath falls in line with that objective.

27. New York Giants -- Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
The Giants could use a quick and powerful tackling machine like Spikes after failing to address that need early in the 2008 draft.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars -- William Moore, S, Missouri
Moore emerged as a playmaking machine in 2007, when he notched 114 tackles and eight interceptions. At 6-1 and 215 pounds he could be the versatile strong safety Jacksonville needs opposite FS Reggie Nelson.

29. Indianapolis Colts -- Vance Walker, DT/DE, Georgia Tech
Walker has the right blend of tools to provide depth along the interior of Indianapolis' quick-but-undersized defensive line.

30. San Diego Chargers -- Auston English, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
English is an instinctive, high-motor player with very good speed and fluid hips for a young defensive end. He already has experience dropping into coverage on zone-blitz looks within Oklahoma's complex defensive scheme.

31. Dallas Cowboys -- Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Wide receiver is the one area Dallas did not address during an otherwise promising 2008 draft. Byrd has a lot to prove as a senior but he certainly has the blend of size and deep speed it takes to emerge as a first-round draft pick.

32. New England Patriots -- Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
The Patriots continue a recent trend of drafting linebackers by using this selection on the versatile Cushing. The 6-5, 248-pounder has experience on the strong side and as a rush linebacker, which will be attractive to a New England coaching staff that likes versatility in its linebackers.

wtf, that shit reads like it was written by the same dude, whatta bunch of asinine bullshit

lol maybe we should start a 2009 draft thread now

if a team drafts matt stafford in the top 5 i quit

10. New York Jets -- Knowshon Moreno*, RB, Georgia
Moreno burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2007 and he should build on that momentum as a first-year starter behind a more mature offensive line during the upcoming season. The Jets were not able to land McFadden in this year's draft but Moreno would be worth the wait if he's available in 2009.

otoh this dude can ball

He CAN, but will he enter the draft so soon?

btw, re: 2008 SEC RB's...how did Benjarvus Green-Ellis fall all the way from a top RB prospect to being undrafted?

(oh apparently he was snapped up by the Pats...hope he makes it out of camp)

" Bears fans won't be thrilled if the team uses a high pick on another Gators quarterback following the failed Rex Grossman experiment, but Tebow's unique blend of skills and rare intangibles might be too good to pass up"

Is this guy kidding?

note that both seem to expect the pats to beat the cowboys in the superbowl and for the falcons to have a rough year. i will be rooting against the chargers even more than usual this year now that the pats own their 2nd round pick.

That's good for you. Chargers are on the decline.

Uh no they aren't. I mean they might very well be worse next year, but last year was their first appearance in a conference championship since their super bowl year in the mid-90s.

Not to mention that they didn't lose anyone of merit, and most of their core is young and signed long-term, and they have 20 million in cap space, and they play in a bad division ...

I mean they might very well be worse next year,

that's still a decline though.

but i know what you're saying and barring injury to ldt i don't see them finishing out of the playoffs.

It's not a decline until the decline starts, though.

I mean, they were a better team at the end of last season than they were at the end of 2006.

It comes down to this: their coach is Norv Turner. Welcome to mediocrity.

semantics has no place in football.

I'm an editor, wtf am I supposed to do!

It comes down to this: their coach is Norv Turner. Welcome to mediocrity.

The Chargers have reached the conference championships exactly three times since the merger, and one of them was with Norv Turner as coach. Just sayin'.

I actually like the Chargers. However, it's hard when your best guy is an RB (when does LT start showing wear?), and you can't be too happy with Rivers after last year.

I'm very happy with Rivers! He's the second-best quarterback the Chargers have had since Fouts retired.

I think the 1985 Chicago Bears did a pretty good job despite their best player being a running back.

Yeah, LT will break down at some point, but I'm going to wait until it starts happening before I feel bad about it. I'm already neurotic enough as it is.

Yeah, LT will break down at some point,

like maybe during a conference championship game?

at least the chargers linebackers won't all be eligible for aarp benefits while they're still on the active roster, so you got that going for you.

I mean, do I have to make a list of players who missed a playoff game due to injury? That would seem like a poor use of my time.

at least the chargers linebackers won't all be eligible for aarp benefits while they're still on the active roster, so you got that going for you.

Heh.

I was as hard as anyone on the Chargers last year but they're clearly in a great position right now. They beat Indy at home and played NE super tough, and could've won if they pulled off a few of NYG's end zone miracles.

relying on miracles is a pretty poor game plan in my mind.

remember when ilnfl had a thick skin? that was awesome.

"I think the 1985 Chicago Bears did a pretty good job despite their best player being a running back."

Their best player at that point was their middle linebacker. Walter was still great, but that team was all about defense

18-1~

remember when ilnfl had a thick skin? that was awesome.

I never had thick skin, it's just that my team used to be completely irrelevant and thus I never had any reason to defend them. I am a pathetic apologist for my teams.

18-1 is some weak sauce when it comes to insults.

so shaun alexander appearantly contacted the bangles abt a roster spot b/c they were his fav team growing up??

that team needs a running back that's a shadow of his former self.

damn I just spit my water out while reading that. That would make sense for the Bengals though, they just turned down and opportunity to fleece Dan Snyder.

so shaun alexander appearantly contacted the bangles abt a roster spot b/c they were his fav team growing up??

-- johnny crunch, Thursday, May 1, 2008 12:59 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Link

rofl. this dude needs to catch on with cbs pregame and call it a day

He said he was going to gain 2000 yards last year. Didn't work out so well for him.

Sidenote to Jordan S-did you burn that High on Fire bootleg for me yet>?