Feeling a Draft: Toby Gerhart, One of the 2010 Draft’s Biggest Mysteries

Rule No. 1 when evaluating offensive players is to not put too much stock into how they perform against the horrific Notre Dame defense. That said, many people’s first notice of Gerhart came in Stanford’s prime time victory of Notre Dame in which he rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for a score as well. 

From an NFL Draft standpoint Gerhart will be a tough guy to peg. He has carried Stanford on his back through much of the season while arguably putting up the most complete performance in college football this year. He is as tough as nails and his intangibles are off the charts.  

On the negative side, he lacks speed, is not a factor in the passing game and has a knee in need of medical attention. Like Tim Tebow, he is a guy coaches will fall in love with but scouts will be wary of the upside. In other words a 4th round grade who could slide into round two.

 

Other Thoughts from the Weekend:

1. In the Texas A&M—Texas shootout on Thanksgiving Colt McCoy was the star of the game throwing for 304 yards and four TDs to go along with 175 yards rushing. Yet the player who stood out most to me was Aggie QB Jerrod Johnson.   

Don’t get me wrong: Colt McCoy was fantastic in picking apart a porous A&M defense.  Johnson on the other hand threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns against the best defense in the country while showing off tremendous arm strength, touch and poise. 

He was also the most improved player I have watched all season. Early in the year he was an athlete with good size and a howitzer. Against Texas he was a quarterback. He needs to work on his consistency, footwork and mechanics but given another season in Mike Sherman’s system he could soon be one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

2. In the Texas—Texas A&M’s best one-on-one match up, DE/OLB Von Miller demonstrated why he is an exciting 3-4 rush linebacker prospect while exposing OT Adam Ulatoski’s limitations. Like many of this year’s tackle prospects Ulatoski looks like a right rather than left tackle.

3. Alabama CB/PR Javier Arenas is a tough undersized nickel corner whose punt returning skills could vault him into the 2nd round of a wide open cornerback class behind top rated Joe Haden.

4. Another guy who shined in the Stanford-Notre Dame game was WR Golden Tate whom some are saying is the top wide receiver prospect. Tate may be the best college wide receiver but is he a first round pick talent? 

On the plus side is the strength, run after catch ability and the way he catches the ball at the highest point. On the negative is the 5’11” height and speed that is more quick than fast. I doubt he is a sub 4.4 guy making him a bit of risk should he run a 4.5 40. Of course, it is hard to imagine his stock getting any higher next year. He reminds me a lot of Hines Ward or Anquan Boldin. Elite receivers, yes, but neither of them was a first round pick.

5. OT Selvish Capers of West Virginia did a solid job against Pitt’s fabulous front line in the Mountaineers upset win.

 

Who and What to Watch this Week:

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh—Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard go up against one of the top pass rushes in the country led by Panther DE Greg Romeus.

Alabama vs. Florida—No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the National Title play-in game. There are prospects galore on the defensive side of the ball for both teams.

Houston vs. East Carolina—A prime time showcase for QB Case Keenum.

Georgia Tech vs. Clemson—Dwyer vs. Spiller II in a sequel to the early season thriller.

Texas vs. Nebraska—I might be the only guy in the country crazy enough to pick the Cornhuskers over the Longhorns. It may not be likely but it is much more possible than the experts will make you think. The Nebraska defense, especially the front four, is that good.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com .  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Thanksgiving Edition

The college football season is prepping for its conference championships and bowl game announcements, making it a good time to for a mock draft update.  The hardest part of doing a mock this time of year is determining who is and is not coming back, which means we project and could see a larger than usual number of underclassmen declare in light of a possible rookie wage scale in 2011.  This number of declarations could especially impact the quarterback position as this mock will show.  (Draft order based on records as of 11/24/09)

First Round:

1. Cleveland Browns, QB Jimmy Clausen , Notre Dame – The Browns do not want the No. 1 overall pick, and would prefer to see Brady Quinn blossom during the second half of the season.  Unfortunately, the No. 1 pick is a real possibility, and Quinn is unlikely to shine enough to count on moving forward.  While a new administration would love to get a veteran QB, drafting a true franchise QB is more likely, which could lead the Browns to yet another Irish signal caller.  Clausen is not a surefire franchise QB, but he is the best QB prospect in the draft as long as his size does not become an issue. A reluctant selection on my part.

 

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DT Ndamukong Suh , Nebraska – Suh is the best and safest defensive linemen in the draft and fits the Bucs needs to a tee.  Easy pick although they would consider a pass rusher if they find one they like. No. 2 overall feels early for a DT, but Suh has played up to the hype this season.

 

3. St. Louis Rams, QB Sam Bradford , Oklahoma – Bradford is the draft’s biggest curveball as he will be able to throw in a limited fashion at best prior to the draft.  He fills a definite need and will be a popular pick in the St. Louis market, but he will be a risky selection.  Almost as concerning as his injury is how he struggled when faced with a pass rush in limited action this season and in the title game last year.

 

4. Detroit Lions, OT Russell Okung , Oklahoma State – Gerald McCoy will be tempting for the defensive minded HC Jim Schwartz, but this season has shown 2009 No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford has talent, but they need to vastly improve his protection if they hope to keep him healthy.  Okung is the best offensive tackle in the draft by far and the Lions will be able to find a DT in round two.

 

5. Washington Redskins, QB Jake Locker , Washington – The Redskins would prefer Okung fall to them, but if he does not (and possibly even if he does) they will look to select a franchise signal caller.  Locker has the best tools of any quarterback in the draft, but he also is the one who would benefit the most from another year with Steve Sarkisian.  He will likely come out in large part due to the pending rookie wage scale.  It won’t matter who the Redskins quarterback is if they do not improve their offensive line.

 

6. Buffalo Bills, DT Gerald McCoy , Oklahoma – Like the Redskins, the Bills need a left tackle badly but the drop-off after Okung is a significant one, and passing on a talent like McCoy could be tough considering run defense has been such an issue for the Bills. 

 

7. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant , Oklahoma State – Scott Pioli would prefer to fix his team upfront (on either side of the ball), but knows he needs to give an offensive mind like Todd Haley a true No. 1 wideout.  Bryant missed much of the season, but his blend of size and speed should make him an excellent fit at the next level.

 

8. Seattle Seahawks, S Eric Berry , Tennessee – The broken record of team’s hoping to fix their offensive lines but failing to fill it continues as the Seahawks can’t afford to pass up an Ed Reed-type playmaking safety to take a chance on one of the second tier tackles.  Fortunately, they still have another first round pick thanks to Denver.

 

9. Oakland Raiders, DE Carlos Dunlap , Florida – Al Davis loves tools guys and Dunlap is the ultimate tools defensive end.  Dunlap has rare size and speed for the position, but he has coasted through this season causing his stock to slip. 

 

10. Denver Broncos (from Chicago), ILB Rolando McClain , Alabama – The Broncos defense has exceeded all expectations this season, but it adding a thumper in the middle could be what they need to take it to the next level.

 

11. San Francisco 49ers, CB Joe Haden , Florida – The early run on quarterbacks takes the Niners out of that market and turns their focus on other needs.  Haden is easily the top cornerback prospect who plays with the type of physical style Mike Singletary loves. 

 

12. San Francisco 49ers, OT Bryan Bulaga , Iowa – A big play safety such as Taylor Mays or Earl Clark is tempting but the 49ers need to take advantage of their draft spot to fill a bigger need at right tackle with Bulaga.

 

13. New York Jets, DT Terrance Cody , Alabama – Cody is a risky prospect based on his weight but after watching how the Jets defense has fizzled since losing Kris Jenkins, Cody fills a major need at a position with few top prospects.

 

14. Tennessee Titans, DE Derrick Morgan , Georgia Tech – The Titans will also consider linebackers and corners, but the best past defense is a pass rush and Morgan is quickly becoming the top pass rusher in the draft and a hard guy to pass on at 14.

 

15. Houston Texas, RB Jonathan Dwyer , Georgia Tech – Earl Clark or Taylor Mays would feel a decade long need at safety, but anyone who has watched the Texans struggled in short yardage sees the value a guy like Dwyer could bring to the team.  Combine Dwyer with Steve Slaton and they could have one of the best running combos in the league.

 

16. Miami Dolphins, RB CJ Spiller , Clemson – Ronnie Brown is constantly banged up and Ricky Williams is not getting any younger making Miami a perfect landing spot for the best offensive playmaker in the draft.  Spiller lacks the size to be an every down back but the Dolphins offensive creativity will find ways to get him 20 touches per game.

 

17. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Romeus , Pittsburgh – One thing is certain, the Falcons will use this pick to fill a need on defense be it a pass rusher, or pass defender.  Romeus is the best prospect on the board to fill one of those needs (as long as he come out).

 

18. Baltimore Ravens, WR Arrelious Benn , Illinois – Benn has hardly lit up the stat sheet in 2009, but it is hard to deny his talent.  His ability to get deep would make him an ideal fit for strong armed Joe Flacco.

 

19. Green Bay Packers, OT Charles Brown , USC – Brown has the footwork and the upside to be an excellent left tackle, which instantly would make him Aaron Rodgers best friend in Green Bay.

 

20. Jacksonville Jaguars, S Taylor Mays , USC – This could be Tim Tebow’s only shot to be drafted before round three but Mays would fill a more immediate need in the secondary (unless selling tickets counts as a draft need).

 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Anthony Davis , Rutgers – Seeing Ben Roethlisberger getting beat up every week has got to be a concern and while Davis is more of a right than a left tackle he still fills a major need for a Steelers offensive line needing multiple upgrades.  Davis also has the potential to be an excellent drive blocker in the Steelers mold.

 

22. Philadelphia Eagles, OLB Sean Weatherspoon , Missouri – Philadelphia has been playing smoke and mirrors with its linebackers all season and needs to make upgrading the position a priority in 2010.  Don’t be surprised if the Eagle go offensive line though as the Andrews brothers have not worked out as expected.

 

23. Seattle Seahawks, OT Trent Williams , Oklahoma – Taking a safety with their first pick virtually forces the Seahawks to go offensive line here.  Williams stock has fallen mightily this season as he has failed to convert to the left side.  He has the ability to be a solid right tackle, however, which would be just fine for the Seahawks who will take the best right or left tackle available given Sean Locklear’s ability to play either side.

 

24. New York Giants, S Earl Thomas , Texas – Seeing how badly the Giants defense has fallen apart after losing Kenny Phillips has shown why the Giants need to improve their secondary depth.  Thomas is an excellent ball hawk who would provide the center fielder type they need for their aggressive scheme.

 

25. Dallas Cowboys, ILB Brandon Spikes , Florida – Spikes does not have ideal measureables, but he is a playmaker who would fit nicely in the middle of the Cowboys defense.

 

26. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham , Oklahoma – Gresham slides due to his knee injury and would be a tremendous value for a Bengals team in dire need of a competent not to mention dangerous tight end.

 

27. New England Patriots, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes , TCU – Hughes is a tough guy to peg due to his lack of size, but he would be an excellent fit in a Patriots’ hybrid scheme in need of a pass rusher.  When Tully Banta Cain is considered one of your best pass rushers, its time to upgrade.

 

28. Arizona Cardinals, OLB Sergio Kindle , Texas – Kindle has some coverage concerns making him pretty much a 3-4 OLB.  The Cardinals have been searching for a pass rusher ever since switching to the 3-4.

 

29. San Diego Chargers, DT Dan Williams , Tennessee – A need pick as Jamal Williams is nearing the end of the line, and without him the Chargers have been extremely vulnerable to the interior run.

 

30. Minnesota Vikings, QB Tony Pike , Cincinnati – You never know if Brett Favre is going to come back, but it is hard to imagine the organization being comfortable with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels as the quarterback of the future.  Pike is the type of high risk/reward pick that only a playoff team can take.

 

31. New Orleans Saints, OLB Navarro Bowman , Penn State  – The Saints could go a variety of directions including RB, O-Line, D-Line, LB, or S making this a best player available type pick.  An athletic linebacker like Bowman would add versatility to Gregg Williams aggressive schemes.

 

32. Indianapolis Colts, DE Greg Hardy , Mississippi  – The Colts are going away from the undersized defenders on defense, and grabbing a guy like Hardy provides insurance for the oft-injured Dwight Freeney.  A team can never have too many pass rushers.

Round Two:

33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR Golden Tate , Notre Dame

34. St. Louis Rams, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida

35. Cleveland Browns, RB Jahvid Best , California

36. Detroit Lions, DT Arthur Jones , Syracuse

37. Buffalo Bills, OT Selvish Capers, West Virginia

38. Kansas City Chiefs, DE/OLB Eric Norwood , South Carolina

39. Seattle Seahawks, QB Case Keenum , Houston

40.Oakland Raiders, DT Marvin Austin , North Carolina

41. Washington Redskins, OT Ciron Black , LSU

42. Carolina Panthers, QB Colt McCoy , Texas

43. San Francisco 49ers, S Morgan Burnett , Georgia Tech

44. New York Jets, CB Perrish Cox , Oklahoma State

45. New England Patriots (from Tennessee), WR Demaryious Thomas , Georgia Tech

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago), S Nate Allen , South Florida

47. Miami Dolphins, WR Damian Williams , USC

48. Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta), OG Mike Iupati, Idaho

49. Baltimore Ravens, CB Trevard Lindley , Kentucky

50. Houston Texans, DT Vince Oghobaase , Duke

51. New England Patriots (from Jacksonville), DE Corey Wootten , Northwestern

52. Green Bay Packers, CB Patrick Robinson , Florida State

53. Philadelphia Eagles, OG Joe Asamoah , Illinois

54. Denver Broncos, WR Brandon LaFell , LSU

55. New York Giants, CB Myron Lewis   Vanderbilt

56. Pittsburgh Steelers, DT Jared Odrick , Penn State

57. Cincinnati Bengals, CB Javier Arenas , Alabama

58. New England Patriots, RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno State

59. Arizona Cardinals, OG Sergio Render , Virginia Tech

60. Dallas Cowboys, WR Mardy Gilyard , Cincinnati

61. San Diego Chargers, RB Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State

62. Minnesota Vikings, DE Brandon Graham , Michigan

63. New Orleans Saints, DE Everson Griffin , USC

64. Indianapolis, OT Jason Fox , Miami, FL

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com .  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Feeling a Draft: Mount Cody Asserts Himself in Talented DT Class

In a season in which Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy have garnered the most accolades, Terrance “Mount” Cody has seen his draft stock slide into the mid-late first round.  On Saturday, he reminded America why he is considered such a rare blend of size and power, as the 6’4″ 365 pounder burst threw the Tennessee offensive line for not one but two blocked field goals in the Crimson Tide’s 12-10 win over the Volunteers.  Suh and McCoy are athletic marvels for the defensive tackle position, while Cody is more of a run stuffing defensive tackle in the Jamal Williams and Ted Washington mold.  While there are weight concerns, Cody showed in two plays how he can penetrate an offensive line and make his presence known.  You see, he did not block those kicks with a 40″ vertical, he did it by collapsing the line and reducing the angle.  Cody’s ability to play nose tackle and the proliferation of the 3-4 defense could ultimately result in him getting picked ahead of Suh or McCoy on draft day (definitely not ahead of both).  

Other thoughts from this past weekend:

—One game flying under the radar this past weekend was Pittsburgh vs. South Florida; featuring three of the nations top pass rushers in Greg Romeus (jr.), Jason Pierre-Paul (jr.), and George Selvie .  The game was a blowout as Bulls were pummeled by Pitt 41-14.  What was surprising was how little pressure Pierre-Paul and Selvie were able to put on the Panther quarterback after harassing Cincinnati’s Tony Pike the week before.  For this day Romeus was the best defensive lineman on the field, and at 6’5″ 270 lb he will likely find himself very attractive to the pro scouts when he decides to come out.

—Pitt QB Bill Stull looked extremely efficient tearing apart USF’s vaunted pass defense for 18-25 with 245 years including 2 TDs and 1 INT.  He was hardly a prospect entering the season but he is starting to gain some notice with a 16 TD: 4 INT ratio for the season. 

—Pitt TE/WR Dorin Dickerson shows potential as a roster saving utility man in the Legedu Naanee sort of way.  He will be lucky to be a 7th rounder but he is built like a wide receiver but plays like a tight end and his versatility could earn him a roster spot. 

—Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin is only a sophomore but has tremendous upside and the rare size team’s look for in a wide receiver at 6’5 225 lbs.  He still needs to refine his game but 6’5 guys average 20 yards per catch do not grow on trees.

—Iowa State MLB Jesse Smith is not going to wow anyone with his athleticism or size but he is a sideline to sideline tackling machine for the Cyclones and keyed the team’s upset of Nebraska.  He’ll never be a top prospect as he struggles to shed blockers and gets overpowered at times but high effort guys like Smith often earn jobs as 5th and 6th linebackers/special teamers. 

—Nebraska DT Ndamukong Sug, a Feeling a Draft favorite, tried his best to will Nebraska past Iowa State with a tremendous game including a blocked field goal.  Even his strong play was not enough to overcome 8 turnovers.  Keep an eye on teammate Jared Crick who has hidden in Suh’s shadow this season but shows excellent potential.

—West Virginia RB Noel Devine did his best Jahvid Best and CJ Spiller impersonation in the team’s win over UConn highlighted by his game winning 56 yard touchdown run.  Devine is not likely to leave this season, in part due to the plethora of undersized backs like Best and Spiller but he is an explosive talent who needs to find a way to add a little bulk to his 176 lb frame.  By the way kudos to the West Virginia fans with a tremendous show of class welcoming an emotionally drained UConn team.

—Mississippi RB/WR Dexter McCluster finally had a breakout game with 260 combined rushing and receiving yards in the Rebels 30-17 win over Arkansas.  At 5’8″ 165 lbs McCluster will have a hard time finding a role, but the kid is a playmaker whose best role in the NFL will be as a slot receiver/returner.  He needs more games like this one if he wants to get his chance.

—Notre Dame WR Golden Tate : When teammate Michael Floyd broke his collar bone, opposing defenses have keyed on shutting down Tate yet he has managed to put up a whopping 28 catches for 489 yards and 5 touchdowns the past three weeks.  A former running back, Tate plays wide receiver with remarkable toughness and deceptive deep speed.  I doubt he will be a first rounder when he comes out, as he lacks first round measureables, but the more you watch him play the more he reminds you of Anquan Boldin.

—Minnesota WR Eric Decker : The injury plagued senior regular season ended this past weekend with a sprained foot.  Hopefully, the heart of the Golden Gophers gets a chance to play in a bowl game but if he does not expect to see him on Sundays next year as tough possession receivers are always in high demand.

What To Watch This Weekend:

#21 West Virginia @  South Florida (Friday) – Can the Bulls vaunted pass rushers redeem themselves in their third consecutive Big East test.

#22 South Carolina vs. Tennessee – Top prospects Eric Norwood and Eric Berry hope to lead their offensively challenged teams to victory.

#3 Texas @ #14 Oklahoma State – Last big test for the Longhorns but draftniks should view the game and ask is Colt McCoy that much better than Zac Robinson.  McCoy has excellent intangibles but if Robinson finds a way to win without Dez Bryant, Kendall Hunter and a porous defense the answer should be a resounding “No!”.

#5 USC @ #10 Oregon – Taylor Mays and his vaunted USC defense has been shredded the past two weeks.  The Trojans are not likely to escape if it happens a third time.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for nfldraft101.com .  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com .

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

2010 NFL Mock Draft: An Early Look

The college and pro season’s are now underway giving us an opportunity to better gauge prospects and team needs making it a perfect time for an updated mock draft.

Hint: This mock is very light on quarterbacks despite the pub the position has received due to early season struggles by the top prospects (Snead looks nothing like a first rounder thus far, for example) and a lack of knowledge on which hot prospects (Locker, Clausen) are coming out. (* denotes underclassman)

1. Tampa Bay Buccanneers, DT Gerald McCoy*, Oklahoma—Taking a defensive tackle No. 1 overall would not be a sexy pick, but after drafting their franchise quarterback last year with Josh Freeman, it is time to find a defensive anchor. 

McCoy is the rare defensive tackle who can rush the passer and stuff the run and would fill a major hole.  Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is also an intriguing possibility, but his early season struggles make him a riskier option.

2. Cleveland Browns, QB Sam Bradford*, Oklahoma—The Browns have showed us how not to develop a franchise quarterback with the disaster that was Tim Couch and the barely got a chance of Brady Quinn, but the new staff will look for a fresh face and hope the third time is a charm. 

Bradford is the guy for now, but I am not convinced he will be the top quarterback selected based on his injury and worries of him being a product of the system but for now he remains the top quarterback.  If you don’t like Bradford insert your favorite quarterback here.

3. St. Louis Rams, DE Carlos Dunlap*, Florida—The Rams need a major facelift on both sides of the ball and a quarterback will be get top consideration but with a defensive coach like Spag’s my gut tells me they get him some difference makers up front first.  Dunlap has rare size for a defensive end and could excel as a Justin Tuck type in Rams defense.

4. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant*, Oklahoma State—Todd Haley has discovered two things very quickly, his offensive line is terrible and his receivers are not much better. 

This brings his decision down to the two Cowboys, Bryant and Okung, and he picks Bryant because the one offensive line spot he has filled is left tackle.  Bryant provides a much needed weapon in the passing game and would give Haley a Larry Fitzgerald type to pair with Dwayne Bowe (whom Haley is not especially fond of).

5. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina), OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State—The 49ers trade with Carolina is starting to look like a San Francisco treat and the type of trade that builds franchises.  There are multiple directions they can go here including quarterback, but with Singletary at the helm expect them to go with the safe need pick in Okung.

6. Miami Dolphins, S Eric Berry*, Tennessee—The Dolphins could go with a skill position but their front office loves defense and Berry is one of the best defensive playmakers in the draft.

7. Tennessee Titans, LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri—First, let me say I will be stunned if Jeff Fisher’s tough luck team is drafting this high come next April, but if they are a quarterback will be considered. 

They took care of the offensive skill positions this year which means they will look at the best defensive player available.  Weatherspoon is the pick for now based on the age of Keith Bullock and David Thornton.

8. Washington Redskins, QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati—The Redskins need to fix their offensive line, but the one given next offseason is Daniel Snyder will make a splash at the quarterback position.  I don’t know that Pike qualifies as a splash but he is one of the fast rising quarterback prospects in the country and is the prototypical pocket quarterback.

9. Oakland Raiders, DT Terrance Cody*, Alabama—The Raiders need a quarterback and offensive line help, but Cody fits the Al Davis mold of a risky boom\bust prospect who could fill the team’s long standing need for a run stuffer.  The Raiders are the only team I think that would take Cody over Suh at this point.

10. Detroit Lions, DT Ndakumong Suh, Nebraska—The Lions will decide between the best offensive tackle and best defensive tackle on the board and this one is a no brainer with blue collar Suh still on the board.  He’s not flashy but his lunch pail style will suit Jim Schwartz and Co. just fine.

11. Buffalo Bills, OT Ciron Black, LSU—If the Bills have learned anything about their offense this season it is that you need to have good tackles if you have a pair of deep threats for wide receivers.  I’m not sure if Black is an ideal left tackle but he is a major upgrade over what the Bills have be it the right or left side.

12. Seattle Seahawks, S Taylor Mays, USC—A quarterback or offensive tackle is a possibility, but a playmaking safety for their maligned secondary such as Mays would be awful tough to pass up.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars, DT Arthur Jones, Syracuse—The Jaguars defense needs to toughen up its interior if they hope to regain their winning ways.  Of course, if this season unravels they could be looking for a franchise quarterback.

14. Arizona Cardinals, DE/OLB George Selvie, South Florida—The Cardinals coaching staff’s pedigree wants to add a defensive edge to their high powered offense and they need an elite pass rusher to make their 3-4 defense work.

15. Houston Texans, S Nate Allen, South Florida—Allen feels every bit as much of a reach as reading his name this high appears to be, but the Texans are going nowhere until they improve their defense. 

They would probably get better value at corner with Trevard Lindley or Joe Haden but no need is bigger than the one at safety. They can only hope Berry or Mays falls or better yet, they are picking later in the first stanza.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma—The Steelers can only ignore their offensive line needs for so long.

17. Green Bay Packers, OT Bryan Bulaga*, Iowa—Anyone who has watched the Packers this year knows they will be hot for a tackle in next year’s draft.  Bulaga’s stock has slipped a bit due to injury concerns, but he is one of the best offensive line talents in the college ranks.

18. Denver Broncos, ILB Brandon Spikes, Florida—The Broncos defense has overachieved thus far this season, but Spikes would be a nice fit in the middle of their 3-4 and an excellent value this late.  Wide receivers and quarterbacks will get consideration as well but knowing McDaniel he does not think he has to draft either in round one.

19. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma—The team’s tight end ranks were decimated by injuries this preseason and with the emergence of Cedric Benson at running back, the tight end position along with maybe guard is the weakest spot on the offensive side of the ball right now.

20. Dallas Cowboys, WR Arrelious Benn*, Illinois—Benn has the raw skills to be an elite talent, but he is starting to go the Darius Heyward-Bey route as a top talent without anyone to get him the ball.  His stock is slipping as he has caught just five passes through three games and has not scored a touchdown since Oct. 18, 2008. 

21. New England Patriots, RB Jahvid Best, California—You never know what the Patriots are going to do on draft day, but the Pats are in major need of a young playmaker on offense and Best could be a nice fit in a Reggie Bush kind of way.

22. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Hardy, Mississippi—With its offense in place the Falcons will focus on building its defense with either a pass rusher or a cornerback.  Hardy has battled injuries this season but has good all-around skills, above average size and a nose for the quarterback.

23. San Diego Chargers, RB CJ Spiller, Clemson—The Chargers rarely do what you would expect but finding a young back should be a priority with LT showing his age and Sproles not capable of carrying an every down load.  A bigger back like Jonathan Dwyer might be a better fit in a two back system, but my guess is Spiller for his versatility especially in the passing game.

24. Philadelphia Eagles, OT Charles Brown, USC—Shawn Andrews has likely played his last game as an Eagle and after focusing on skill position guys in this year’s draft Andy Reid and Co. will go back to the trenches next year.

25. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver), RB Jonathan Dwyer*, Georgia Tech—After taking a best player available safety with their first pick, the Seahawks would need to fill their needs at quarterback, offensive tackle or running back with their second pick.  Dwyer is the best player available at those positions right now (Hint: I am not sold on Colt McCoy as an NFL quarterback).

26. San Francisco 49ers, CB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky—Lindley has good size and cover skills and would fill a major need for the 49er defense.  Surprisingly, it took 26 picks to get a cornerback off the board.

27. Indianapolis Colts, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes, TCU—The Colts are probably the only team in the league that will consider Hughes as a defensive end, but with Dwight Freeney becoming injury prone the past two years, it would not be a surprise if the Colts look to develop a replacement.  The Colts will also be on the lookout for a left tackle.

28. Minnesota Vikings, DE Brandon Graham, Michigan—Not really a major need, but Graham is a great athlete who can hold up against the run and would be a nice fit opposite Jared Allen.  A defensive tackle or corner would also get consideration.

29. New York Jets, WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati—The Jets need a playmaker at wide receiver to stretch defenses and Gilyard is one of the top playmakers at the position.  He’s like DeSean Jackson with size.

30. New Orleans, OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas—Kindle is a big athletic linebacker who would be an excellent fit in Gregg Williams scheme.

31. Baltimore Ravens, WR Brandon LaFell, LSU—By the end of this season, the Ravens will have gotten about two more years than expected from Derrick Mason and finding a true No. 1 wide receiver for young quarterback Joe Flacco will be a priority next offseason.  If they go defensive they may consider a CB or ILB.

32. New York Giants, CB Joe Haden*, Florida—The Giants have an embarrassment of riches up front and hope to have filled their wide receiver and left tackle needs in this year’s draft and look to find a shutdown corner with Haden who will challenge for top cornerback honors if he comes out.

 

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com.  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy 101: 2009 Top Sleepers

In our last article, we looked at the biggest bust candidates which means it is time to list our top fantasy sleepers for 2009. 

Sleepers fall into two categories: breakout candidates and deep sleepers. 

Breakout players are guys who are not considered a fantasy starter except in deep leagues but have the potential of to grow into fantasy starters or more.  A deep sleeper is a guy who is likely going undrafted in shallow leagues and late in deeper leagues who possess high upside but also the risk of being useless. 

When faced with the choice between a so-so veteran like Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson or Joey Galloway or a wide receiver with upside late in a draft, I recommend always take a flyer on the upside guy.  The veteran may get you points each week but if you can hit on a sleeper late in the draft it can be the difference between being a contender or pretender late in the season.

Lastly, to qualify as a breakout/comeback player he has to rank outside of the top 12 quarterbacks and tight ends, top 24 running backs, top 36 wide receivers in the Draft101.comrankings.  To qualify as a deep sleeper, they have to rank outside the top 20 quarterbacks or tight ends, top 40 running backs and top 60 wide receivers in the Draft101.com rankings.

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

Breakout:

Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks (Draft101 rank: 16)—More of a comeback candidate than a breakout, Hasselbeck is coming off a miserable season last year and is coming off a back injury but he is falling in drafts and could easily bounce back to a 3,500+ yard, 20-25 TD season on a team without a running back. Has the ability to be a top 10 QB and a late round steal. To insulate yourself from the injury risk draft Seneca Wallace who played well in relief late last season.

David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars (Draft101 rank: 17)—Garrard was not the breakout star many expected from him a year ago but considering his poor protection and lack of receivers his fantasy year was solid if not spectacular.  Garrard came into camp in better shape, and the team upgrade the line and receivers setting the stage for a 3,600 yard 20+, 10-12 INT season plus solid rushing yards.  I love Garrard in two QB league.

 

Deep Sleepers:

Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers (Draft101 rank: 28)—No one gives Hill any credit but all he has done is complete 60 percent of his passes and throw for 1.5 TDs per game the past two years.  He will throw less without Martz around but he should throw for 3,000 yards and a good touchdown to interception ratio.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (Draft101 rank: 31)—You never want to bank on a rookie but if Stafford gets the starting job he could put up solid stats considering he gets to throw to Calvin Johnson and will be playing from behind a lot (Of course, he’ll throw a lot of picks too).  Mark Sanchez is the safer rookie but Stafford is the one with the top 20 potential if he gets a chance to play.

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Breakout:

(I love the depth at running back this season and sleeper options are plentiful)

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals (Draft101 rank: 27)—Skeptics point to his 3.5 ypc and strong finish vs. weak opponents but anyone who watched the Bengals play saw a player with a good power/speed combination and unlike many higher ranked players Benson has a firm grip on the starting job and will get the goal line carries.  A 1,200 yard season with 8-10 TDs is possible.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (Draft101 rank: 34)—The Ravens three back committee is daunting but expect Rice to be the top fantasy producer this season as his role expands especially between the 20s. Think a poor man’s Brian Westbrook. His value is best in PPR leagues.

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (Draft101 rank: 35)—Draft101 has Charles ranked higher than most sites due to his speed and receiving ability not to mention Larry Johnson’s decline.  Like Rice his value is best in PPR leagues.

Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals and Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts (Draft101 ranks: 32 and 37)—Either of these guys could be the top rookie offensive player this season and a top 10 overall back (a rookie seems to emerge as a top 10 runner each season).  Both appear to be good scheme fits as the Cardinals need a power runner               and Brown’s running/receiving skills appear to be an ideal fit for the Colts scheme. Do not overdraft them expecting the breakout season but be ready to swoop in if either drops on draft day.

 

Deep Sleepers:

Leon Washington, New York Jets (Draft101 rank: 50)—He has always had the talent and the new Jets coaching staff is looking to give the playmaking back increased opportunities.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (Draft101 rank: unranked)—No running back has increased his stock more in the pre-season than Bradshaw.  He is in-line to replace Derrick Ward and his 1,025 yards and 41 receptions alongside Brandon Jacobs.

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Bush has the potential to be a LenDale White, LeRon McClain touchdown vulture.  He’ll likely get past injury prone Justin Fargas on the depth chart and could add 800 yards and 8-10 TD.

James Davis, Cleveland Browns (Draft101 rank: unranked)—A pre-season star who could become the Browns starting running back if Jamal Lewis’ decline continues.

Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Scott has playmaker potential and the Bengals coaching staff appears to know it.  If Scott gets an opportunity to show his burst, he could steal Benson’s job.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Breakout: (It is not a great year to gamble for breakout wide receivers so draft your receivers early)

Ted Ginn, Jr., Miami Dolphins (Draft101 rank: 39)—Ginn has his detractors but don’t forget he was still learning the position when he entered the NFL and is now entering his third season which is when many receivers begin to come into their own.  He’ll be a little feast or famine from week to week but he has playmaking potential and could come into his own this year.

Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears (Draft101 rank: 45)—The Bears added Jay Cutler in the off-season and need a receiver to emerge.  Devin Hester will remain the playmaker but look for Bennett to lead the team in receptions as a possession receiver who moves the chains.

Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith, New York Giants (Draft101 rank: 41 and 44)—The Giants are looking for someone to step up in the passing game and Nicks and Smith are the top fantasy options on the roster.  Smith is the safer possession guy who should be good for 60-70 catches and 800 or so yards.  Nicks is the riskier play but has a much higher ceiling and is a better red zone option. 

 

Super Sleepers:

Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans (Draft101 rank: 61)—Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks and even the unsigned Michael Crabtree have garnered more fantasy support but Britt is a near equal in talent and could start on opening day due to an injury to Nate Washington.  Britt is a big, physical receiver who will be a red zone option who is worth a late round flyer on the hunch he makes an early impact.

Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings (Draft101 rank: 64)—All the talk in Minnesota is surrounding Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian but neither is much of a red zone option nor a chain moving possession guy.  QB Brett Favre always seems to like to throw to the chain moving possession guy making the failed breakout guy from 2008 a nice super sleeper in 2009.

Josh Morgan, San Francisco 49ers (Draft101 rank: 65)—Michael Crabtree’s holdout has Morgan poised to seize the 49ers No.1 receiver job and build on the potential he showed last season.  A nice combination of size, strength and speed.

Jordy Nelson and James Jones, Green Bay Packers (Draft101 rank: 73 and 74)—Nelson and Jones are flying under the radar in most drafts because of their third and fourth receiver roles in the Green Bay offense but Donald Driver is in decline and the Packers offense is showing tremendous firepower thus far in the pre-season.  Jones has the higher ceiling but whichever one earns the No.3 receiver job for the Pack should be a useful fantasy player this season.

Chaz Schilens, Oakland Raiders (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Schilens was having a tremendous camp prior to incurring a foot injury that will cost him the first couple games of the season but keep him on your watch list or stash him on your bench because if a Raiders receiver is worth owning in 2009 its Schilens not Heyward-Bey.

Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Collie is working exclusively out of the slot in the pre-season for the Colts and is showing excellent hands and route running ability.  Look for him to put up numbers similar to Anthony Gonzalez did a year ago and should Gonzalez slip, Collie could steal a starting job.

Sammie Stroughter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Draft101 rank: unranked)—A good route runner known for his toughness, the Bucs seventh round pick who has already earned the slot receiver job.

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Breakout:

(it is a deep tight end class but lean on what I consider breakout guys as Brent Celek, John Carlson and Zach Miller were all ranked among Draft101’s top 12)

Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings (Draft101 rank: 13): Shiancoe actually “broke out” last year but he could see his stock rise yet another notch with the arrival of Brett Favre who is known to look for his tight ends in the red zone.

Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins (Draft101 rank: 15): Fasano was the touchdown vulture of the tight end position last year with seven touchdowns out of just 34 catches.  This year he could put the whole package together and challenge for the top 10.

 

Super Sleeper:

Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans (Draft101 rank: 24):  Cook was only a third round pick but has amazed his coaches and teammates with his combination of size, speed and strength.  Even with Bo Scaife on the roster the Titans will find ways to take advantage of Cook’s talent in the passing game. He may take a year to develop but if he is ready right away he could rank in the top 10. An ideal last round sleeper pick in a 12 team league.

Martellus Bennett, Dallas Cowboys (Draft101 rank: 29): Bennett is a tremendous athlete who averaged over 14 ypc as a rookie.  With the departure of Terrell Owens and a questionable collection of receivers expect the Cowboys to use enough two tight end sets to give Bennett value as a second tight end.

Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (Draft101 rank: unranked): Finley did not play much as a rookie but he has the raw tools to be a top flight tight end.  The Packers offense is tight end friendly and the team does not appear enamored with the merely average Donald Lee which could present Finley with an opportunity.  If he starts he’ll shine. 

Chris Maier is senior editor for Draft101.com.  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Fantasy Football 101: 2009 Bust Candidates

As draft time nears, much of the focus is on finding the late round sleepers, but avoiding the busts is even more important to your team’s ultimate success. 

After all, many of the biggest busts are players you took in the first five rounds whom you were counting on a major contribution. 

Don’t worry; we will cover the sleepers in our next article but for now let’s look at the players to push down your draft board (or in some cases avoid altogether). 

 

Quarterback:

 

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Before the hate mail comes, let me say I am not predicting Romo to completely flat-line in the post-Jessica Simpson era, but Romo will be more of a top 10-15 QB than a top five QB this season. 

The Cowboys are expected to re-focus on the ground game this season and aside from tight ends Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, the receivers are not the type that strike fear in opponents. 

A return to 4,000 yards and 30+ TDs is not likely.  He will still be solid, but a 3,500 yard 20-25 TD season is more likely and possibly optimistic. 

 

Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb is a big name who always gets drafted high on draft day, but he is merely a good fantasy quarterback and not a great one.  

Injuries are always a concern, but more concerning is that he has only thrown for 3,500+ yards twice in his career, only thrown more than 25 touchdowns once (way back in 2004), and does not run anymore. 

In other words is he really worth anything more than Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger, Carson Palmer, or Kurt Warner (not to mention Matt Schaub or Matt Ryan)?  He will be hard pressed to be a top 10 quarterback again this season. 

 

Matt Cassell, New England

Word is Cassell is hardly tearing it up in Chiefs camp and he no longer has Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to.  He still has potential but there will be a learning curve this season.  Duplicating his 2008 numbers is not likely.  Don’t draft him to be a starter except in a two quarterback league. 

 

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

It is easy to say Flacco is going to get better with another year under his belt, but the Ravens are still going to be a defensive oriented team which relies on a ball control offense geared to minimize mistakes. 

In addition, the Ravens did not improve Flacco’s targets, aside from oft-injured TE LJ Smith.  He might be better, but not by enough to make him fantasy relevant except in two quarterback leagues.  A top 20 season in fantasy points would be an accomplishment for Flacco this year.

 

Running Back: (Hint: Don’t gamble with aging running backs with early round picks)

 

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers

LT was once the best player in fantasy football, but his play has slipped each of the past two seasons and few running backs over 30 are able to bounce back the inevitable slide. 

Even if he is healthy, Darren Sproles will play an increased role this season.  Overall, LT’s risk outweighs his upside as a No. 1 running back.  Let someone else gamble with their first round pick. 

 

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles

In 2007, Westbrook was an MVP candidate (2,104 total yards) and a PPR league monster. In 2008, he fell hard with just 1,338 total yards as he battled injuries all season long and those injuries are limiting him in camp thus far.  

The icing on the cake is he turns the big 30 before the season starts and has never played in all 16 games during his career.

The problem is not a lack of talent but the risk of taking him with a pick in the first, second or even third rounds is too great as LeSean McCoy takes some of his touches.

Let someone else gamble on Westbrook unless he falls past round three.  If you draft him, you will need to overdraft McCoy as a handcuff.

 

Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

The burden of carrying the Redskins offense really showed late last season and the offense (especially the line) does not look any better this season.  He is more of a grinder than a breakaway back at this stage in his career and is no longer a fantasy force. 

 

DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers

I can’t just pick on again veterans, so let this be a caution on DeAngelo.  Williams is in a time share and duplicating his 20 overall touchdowns ( including 6 from 30+ yards) is not likely. 

He will have a solid season but one more in line with No.2 running back than the No.1 running back you will draft him to be. He will be overdrafted based on his tremendous 2008 but 1,200 yards and 10 TDs is more likely.  He does have the most upside of the four guys on this list.

 

Wide Receiver:

 

TJ Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks

TJ has never been a No. 1 receiver before and is more of a possession receiver.  He has averaged just 10 yards per catch the past two seasons and the Seahawk offense is not expected to be as pass happy as the Bengals were.

 

Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers

Holmes has talent but he is likely to get overdrafted due to his tremendous Super Bowl.  More of a 65—catch 1,000 yard catch guy than the breakout star some expect.

 

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos

He has butted heads with the new regime and his training camp is attitude issues brings back memories of the 2008 Ocho Cinco.  Combine the attitude with the departure of Jay Cutler and you have the makings of a flameout.

 

Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns

Should be playing for a contract but like Marshall he does not seem to be making friends with the new coaching staff.  His case of the dropsies has also carried over into the preseason.  Worth a gamble if he slides, but names like his rarely slide on draft day.

 

Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers

Normally, Driver is among the most underrated receivers in the league, but this will be the season he fails to reach 1,000 yards.  The lurking of James Jones and Jordy Nelson does not help the 34 year old wideout either.

 

Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys

His performance the past two years should have tempered expectations, but the departure of Terrell Owens has many thinking he will be a No. 1 receiver again.  A return to form is a 50/50 shot, meaning he will be too much of a gamble where you will need to take him. 

 

Torry Holt, Jacksonville Jaguars

A move to Jacksonville makes you think he could return to form, but his knees were shot last year.  Expect another 65—catch, 850 yard season; anything more is a bonus.

 

Tight End:

 

Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He has been banged up throughout his career and moving to a weak Tampa offense will not allow for a return to form.

 

Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints

Plays in a pass friendly offense but he has been injury prone and has not had more than 800 yards receiving since 2005.

 

Any Tight End You Select Before Round Six

It used to be Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, and a big drop off. But the emergence of tight ends around the league allows you the opportunity to wait and take the best value on the board. 

There are 10-11 tight ends who are capable of 70 catches and 800+ yards diminishing the value of the big three. Consider taking a third running back or receiver before taking a tight end this year.

 

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for Draft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com

Fantasy 101: Rating the Rookie Wide Receivers

Since Anquan Boldin burst onto the scene in 2003, the myth of wide receivers needing a year or two to make an impact has had a notable exception (or two or three) each season.  The rule of avoiding rookie wide receivers (except in keeper leagues) is now more of a caution.  Rather than avoiding them, the rule is do not count on them.  Here is a list of receivers who were above average or better as rookies since 2003:

2003: Anquan Boldin

2004: Michael Clayton and to a lesser extent Lee Evans and Larry Fitzgerald

2005: None

2006: Marques Colston

2007: Dwayne Bowe

2008: Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson

Of this list, half of the list, Boldin (second round), Colston (seventh), Royal (second) and Jackson (second), were not first round picks, proving what a crap shoot rookie receivers are.  

This proves you don’t draft a rookie wideout to be anything more than a fourth or fifth receiver.  As tempting as a Calvin Johnson might have been in 2007, he had just 48 catches for 748 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.  Those stats are not bad but not likely to be worth the price you paid to draft him. But if you picked Eddie Royal or DeSean Jackson in one of the last three rounds or less than $5 in an auction you received one of 2008 fantasy’s most pleasant surprises.  

With the caveat of not banking on rookie wideouts out of the way, here are the best rookie receiver prospects for 2009:

1. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers – Highly touted for his route running and hands, Crabtree landed in a situation in which he can be the no. 1 receiver right away, not to mention learn from a similar receiver in Isaac Bruce. That said, the 49ers’ QB situation is shaky and they will be a run first team.  As a result, Crabtree may have the most talent but he will likely be over-drafted making him a riskier pick. Of course, all of this is moot if he never signs a contract.

2. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings – Harvin has a lot to learn about being an NFL wide receiver (esp. route running) but his playmaking ability can’t be underestimated as the Vikings will make use of his speed in the slot, on reverses and even as a “Wildcat” QB.  He won’t have as many catches as you would like but he will get yardage in a variety of ways.

3. Brian Robiskie, Cleveland Browns – Aside from Crabtree, Robiskie was the most polished receiver in the draft and he lands in a situation in which he could be the no. 2 receiver right away in Cleveland.  He lacks great upside but runs great routes and is the safest pick to play right away and get 40-50 catches and 550-700 yards.

4. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans – Quick name a good Titans wide receiver. Now that you realize Justin Gage and Nate Washington are the competition, you see the opportunity Britt finds himself in.  That said, Britt is far from a sure thing esp. as a rookie.  He has a chance to be the #1 guy but then again he could be third or fourth. If nothing else he will be a great red zone option.  Don’t draft him too early.

5. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants – Like Britt, Nicks has the opportunity to be the no. 1 guy and a red zone threat but has just as good a chance to be sitting on the sidelines as a rookie. He has Anquan Boldin like skills but don’t bank on a Boldin like immediate impact (possible but not likely)

6. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders – They don’t have anyone else and Heyward-Bey is a prototype Raiders vertical wide receiver. That said, he is extremely inconsistent, runs poor routes, inconsistent hands and has a lot to learn.  As a rookie he should be good for a few big plays but good luck guessing which weeks they occur. 

7. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles – Of all of the first round receivers, Maclin is the least likely to make an impact as a rookie as he needs to learn the system and expand his route tree.  Then again, the Eagles lack a true no. 1 wide receiver and Maclin could surprise like Jackson did last year.  Best drafted for keeper leagues but worth a late round flyer.

Ok the big names are out of the way here are some names to consider for the out of the blue wide receiver impact:

8. Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts – Marvin Harrison is gone and the Colts run a lot of three receiver threats. Collie is a good route runner with excellent hands who might be able to step in right away as the no. 3 receiver.

9 (tie). Mike Thomas/Jarrett Dillard, Jacksonville Jaguars –  The Jaguars have used several first round picks on big, tall and unpolished wide receivers with little success.  Now the Jags have drafted two guys lacking ideal measure-ables (esp. size) but known for their polish, hands and receiving skills. Don’t be surprised if one of them seizes a large role in the Jaguars passing game.  Pay close attention to stories out of Jaguars camp to determine which one it will be.

10. Kenny McKinley, Denver Broncos – The Broncos will be implementing a spread oriented Patriots style attack and need to find a no. 3 and no. 4 receiver to make the system work.  Like Thomas and Dillard above, McKinley does not have the best measurable talent,  but he has the talent to be a nice possession receiver. Could he fill a Wes Welker type role? (not likely but may be worth taking in the last round if he has a good camp).

11. Derrick Williams, Detroit Lions – Aside from Calvin Johnson the Lions receiver corp is a little thin and Williams has the skills to be a good slot receiver and could even play some Wildcat QB.  Has playmaking ability.

12. Sammie Stroughter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Easily the deepest sleeper on this list but Stroughter is one tough son of a gun who could shine if given a chance. 

13. Ramses Barden – New York Giants – A matchup nightmare in the Red Zone with his 6-6 size,  Barden just needs polish and a chance.  Not likely to make an early impact but has keeper potential.

14. Deon Butler – Seattle Seahawks – Has slot receiver potential on a team that will need to throw early and often.  He could get an opportunity because none of the other receivers are healthy.

15. Mohammed Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns – I don’t like Massaquoi especially as a rookie, but reverse psychology says Robiskie will make the early impact only to watch Massaquoi steal the show.  Its often the unheralded one that breaks out.

16. Juaquin Iglesias, Chicago Bears – Its all about opportunity and while Oklahoma receivers have struggled to adjust to the pro game, Iglesias is a good route runner who could find a role in a thin Bears receiving unit.

In sum, the 2009 wide receiver class was a talented one but with the holdout of Crabtree the jury is still out as to which receiver will be most relevant. When the pickings get slim at wide receiver late in your draft, take a flyer on the rookie receiver you think has the best chance to shine rather than taking a past his prime veteran type (Amani Toomer, Bobby Engram) who will likely be plentiful on the waiver wire.

Chris Maier is senior editor for Draft 101 and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Fantasy 101: Rating the Rookie Running Backs

The success of Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, and to a lesser extent Kevin Smith and Jonathan Stewart, demonstrated the value of rookie running backs.   Of course, they also show impact runners are not always found in the first round.  

On the flipside, the struggles of fourth overall pick Darren McFadden demonstrate the pitfalls of drafting a rookie runner too early. Of all of the positions, running back is the easiest position for a rookie to come in and make an early fantasy impact. 

Due to the risk of banking on rookie running backs, it is best to take select a rookie running back as your No. 2, or as a high upside backup runner. 

Don’t be afraid to take a flyer on an unheralded rookie runner late in your draft as teams are filling out their rosters with limited upside veterans (see Steve Slaton and Tim Hightower in 2008).

In 2009 three running backs were selected in round one and six runners were selected in the first three rounds.  Which ones are worth an early selection? Which ones carry the most risk? Who is worth a late round flyer?  See below for the answers.

 

1. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos—Moreno was the first back selected on draft day and is the safest pick to make an early impact among the 2009 running back class.  He lacks breakaway speed but his ability to run inside and out, along with his strong receiving skills, make him an excellent fit  for Josh McDaniels’ offense (especially in PPR leagues). 

With the departure of Jay Cutler, the Broncos will likely rely more on their ground game than McDaniels’ Patriots did.  On the downside, Moreno will be competing with numerous other runners for time, including Correll Buckhalter, but none of them should pose a serious threat to Moreno.

 

2. Chris “Beanie” Wells, Arizona Cardinals—Wells is built in the Steelers mold that Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt likes in his runners.  He will need to battle 2008 draftee Tim Hightower for carries, but Hightower’s 2.8 yards per carry is hardly elite competition. 

Of greater concern is the poor run blocking of the Cardinals offensive line and how well Wells will fit into a pass-first Cardinals offense which often treats the ground game as an afterthought.  

Overall, Wells loses some value in PPR leagues, but could be a 1,200 yard rusher if he earns the starting job outright. 

 

3. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts—Brown’s all-around skills as a runner and receiver make him an ideal fit for the Colts offense and if not for a looming two-back system, he would be the No. 1 running back on this list. 

Unfortunately, Brown is destined to alternate carries with former first rounder Joseph Addai (once regarded as one of the top fantasy runners). 

Unlike Addai, Brown is the type of back capable of carrying the full load, but due to Addai, he is not likely to receive that opportunity barring an injury. 

He is a safe bet for 700-800 yards and five to seven TDs, but his likely job share limits the 1,000+ yard possibilities.

 

4. Shonn Greene, New York Jets—The Jets prepared for life after Thomas Jones with the selection of Greene, but the question is whether the future will be this year or next. 

From a talent standpoint, Greene is a good runner between the tackles and should be a nice complement to Leon Washington in the Jets’ two back system. 

Greene will also likely get the goal line carries once he earns the power back job. Overall, Greene’s upside is limited by the two back system and is a better keeper pick than 2009 selection. 

 

5. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles—Like Donald Brown and Knowshon Moreno, McCoy landed in the perfect system for his skills.  He is very similar to Brian Westbrook and will obviously be groomed to replace him in the future. 

While Westbrook is likely to get the bulk of the carries this year, he is 30 years old and coming off yet another injury-plagued season.

He might appear to have limited upside this season, but Westbrook’s injury status makes McCoy a must-have handcuff and/or mid-round flyer.  McCoy is an excellent pick up for keeper league’s.

Late Round Sleepers:

Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals—Scott fell in the NFL Draft due to off the field issues, but he has game-breaking talent and is on a team that takes chances on questionable characters.

Cedric Benson is not a sure thing in the backfield for the Bengals and if he struggles don’t be surprised if Scott gets a chance. Scott tantalized with his burst during his preseason debut. My pick for this year’s Tim Hightower.

James Davis, Cleveland Browns—Jamal Lewis is on his last legs and Jerome Harrison is more of a scat back than an every down guy, which could give Davis an opportunity.  Davis had a terrible senior season but given an opportunity, he could be a grinder who gets 3.5-4.0 yards per carry and maybe earns a goal line role. 

Gartrell Johnson, San Diego Chargers—The Chargers low profile selection of Johnson evokes memories of their Michael Turner selection a few years back.  Gartrell has a nice initial burst to the line but lacks breakaway speed.  If LT’s decline and/or injuries continue, he could get a look. More of a late round flyer in keeper leagues.

 

Overall this year’s rookie running back class is not as good as the 2008 class, especially from a depth perspective, so don’t jump in too early. But if you can get one of these guys as a third or fourth running back you could have a pleasant surprise without much risk.

Chris Maier is the Senior Editor for Draft101.com and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Draft Grades: All 32 Teams

After talking about speculation regarding the draft for weeks, TV and radio commentators often wrap up their draft coverage by griping about why grades are a foolish endeavor to feed our need for instant gratification. 

They are correct when they say you can’t truly grade a draft for three years, but they rarely follow it up by grading the 2006 draft (hint: anybody can tell you how a team did three years later). 

Enough of my babbling.  After writing mock drafts, profiles, articles and rankings for the last six months, I just want to do grades because I want to know how well I did three years from now (hint: I was wrong about the 2008 Falcons draft. Really wrong) plus it’s fun so here goes in grade order:  

(Click on the team name for pick-by-pick analysis of the entire team and access to each players profile.)

 

Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles – Tremendous draft for Andy Reid and company.  First, they filled their biggest need (LT) trading the 28th overall pick (and change) for LT Jason Peters.  They followed it up on draft day, by getting Andy Reid to drink from the skill position kool-aid by adding the No. 2 wide receiver in Jeremy Maclin and the draft’s best Brian Westbrook clone in LeSean McCoy.  TE Cornelius Ingram could also be a great fifth-round value.

 

Grade: A-

Cincinnati Bengals – A potentially franchise altering draft for the Bengals. As usual the Bengals stood pat but managed to avoid the reaches of previous drafts. Andre Smith is a gamble at No. 6 but he has talent and fills the team’s top need. MLB Rey Maualuga is a defensive difference maker in Round Two.

Michael Johnson would have been a huge gamble in Round One but is top pass rushing talent well worth the risk in Round Three. TE Chase Coffman, C Jonathan Luigs and P Kevin Huber will all be given the opportunity to contribute early as well. 

This grade gets an asterisk because for all its talent it remains a bit on the high risk/high reward side.

Seattle Seahawks – Added two top talents in LB Aaron Curry and C Max Unger plus they gained a 2010 1st round pick in the process.  Also made three nice value picks in round 7 in DE/LB Nick Reed, S Courtney Greene and TE Cameron Morrah.

 

Grade: B+

Chicago Bears – The Bears ranked among the winners of the draft after trading for QB Jay Cutler but also managed to add good value on draft day despite not having a first round pick. Third rounders DT Jarron Gilbert and WR Juaquin Iglesias filled needs while fourth round CB/S DJ Moore was one of the best value picks in the entire draft.

Indianapolis Colts – No team builds its team through the draft better than Indianapolis and its 2009 class is no different. Joseph Addai’s struggles showed they need another running back and Donald Brown is a tremendous fit for their offense. 

They were in desperate need for help at defensive tackle and added two possible starters in Fili Moala and Terrence Taylor.  Like Donald Brown, WR Austin Collie is a great scheme fit.

 

Grade: B

Atlanta Falcons – They filled  top offensive need when they traded a 2010 2nd rounder TE Tony Gonzalez allowing them to fill needs at DT and S with the early selections of DT Peria Jerry and S William Moore.  Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury is a high upside 4th rounder but cornerbacks Christopher Owens and Williams Middleton were questionable selections.

Baltimore Ravens – Year in and year out, Ozzie Newsome and his staff do an excellent job of reading the draft. This year they traded up for OT Michael Oher and fill a need along the offensive line.

DE Paul Kruger is one of the best all-around (and most underrated) defensive ends in the draft and should be a nice pass rushing complement to Terrell Suggs. CB Lardarius Webb, ILB Jason Phillips and RB Cedric Peerman were all nice selections as well.  The only thing missing was a wide receiver.

Cleveland Browns – Failed to find a taker for WR Braylon Edwards but showed creativity in trading out of the No. 5 spot and trading down two more times in round one to add picks. C Alex Mack was a surprise but follows the blueprint Mangini used in New York. WR Brian Robiskie has the skills to contribute quickly as a possession receiver.

WR Mohommed Massaquoi and DE David Veikune were questionable second rounders. Their sixth rounders (Don Carey, Coye Francies and James Davis were nice values. Don’t underestimate the value of the players they acquired in traded as DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam fill needs while Brett Ratliff could be a dark horse candidate in the QB derby.

Green Bay Packers – Getting NT BJ Raji at No. 9 was a gift for a Packers team making a transition to a 3-4 defense.  OLB Clay Matthews is more solid than spectacular outside but his effort and coverage skills will earn him a starting job.  TJ Lang and Jamon Meredith are good day two prospects for a team in need of replacing its tackles in the near future.

Houston Texans – Filled needs early with LB Brian Cushing, DE Connor Barwin and C Antoine Caldwell.  Also, added nice value late including safeties Glover Quin and Troy Nolan plus TEs Anthony Hill and James Casey.

Minnesota Vikings – Pushed aside character to select WR/KR Percy Harvin whose addition to the offense should open things up a little for RB Adrian Peterson and take pressure off their questionable quarterbacks.

Right tackle Phil Loadholt fills a major need as did the selection of cover corner Asher Allen. Fifth rounder Jasper Brinkley could a fifth-round steal if his knee is healthy and he keeps his weight in check.

New York Giants – While WR Hakeem Nicks is compared to Anquan Boldin, the Giants would have been better off with the real thing (or Braylon Edwards). Overall the Giants added a lot of receiving talent in Nicks, Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum.

Each of whom is a tall red zone target. OT William Beatty could be their left tackle of the future and RB Andre Brown should challenge for Derrick Ward’s carries. OLB Clint Sintim is not a good fit for a 4-3 (just like fellow Virginia linebackers Darryl Blackstock and Ahmad Brooks weren’t).

Tennessee Titans – Added the best route runner in the draft with Kenny Britt who combined with third round TE Jared Cook should enhance the passing game and red zone efficiency. DT Sen Derrick Marks adds depth and penetration ability to their Haynesworth-less defensive line.

CB Ryan Mouton, LB Gerald McRath, G/T Troy Kropog and RB Javon Ringer were solid selections as well.

 

Grade B-

New England Patriots – While everyone praises the Patriots for how well they have traded down and accumulated picks during the past three drafts, they fail to mention how poorly the Pats have done outside of round one the past two years.

Adding two 2010 second-round picks was nice but considering they had five day one picks entering the draft I expected more. The Patriots did add some nice developmental players in NT Ron Brace, S Patrick Chung, CB/PR Darius Butler, and OLB Tyrone McKenzie.

OT Sebastian Vollmer was a surprise second rounder but he was the sleeper lineman in the draft and has left tackle potential. WR/KR Brandon Tate is a nice talent but is further proof that the Patriots don’t value character anymore than other teams. The failure to land a 3-4 rush linebacker was a surprise in a draft deep at the position.

New York Jets – Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets are the anti-Patriots. While the Patriots accumulate picks, the Jets can’t give them away fast enough. Joking aside, the Jets got their top target in Mark Sanchez in a creative package that did not include a 2010 draft pick.

Trading up to get Shonn Greene was a solid move considering Thomas Jones’ age and contract situation. That said they only had three picks giving them just 11 selections in three years and they did not add any talent to a wide receiver position in need of a deep threat. Ultimately Mark Sanchez will make or break this draft.

St. Louis Rams – Did well in Rounds One and Two, filling their needs for a LT and MLB with top talents Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis, but their day two selections were nothing special.

 

Grade: C+

Arizona Cardinals – RB Beanie Wells fills the team’s need for a power back to provide balance to the offense in round one. Second rounder OLB Cody Brown could fill their pass rusher need down the road. S Rashad Johnson was a solid pickup in round three.

G Trevor Canfield could also be a nice late round pick.  After years of loving the Cardinals drafts on paper, this one looks more solid than special.

Jacksonville Jaguars – They did an excellent job of filling their needs at offensive tackle with Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton.  Also took the anti-Matt Jones route by selecting two undersized but true wide receivers in Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard  in the middle rounds. 

Trading a 2010 second rounder for CB Derek Cox feels like a reach and DT Terrence Knighton is not likely the answer inside.

Miami Dolphins – Did a great job upgrading their top need by drafting big, physical corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith.  QB Pat White is a perfect fit for the wildcat who could some day press Chad Henne for the starting job.

Patrick Turner was a major reach in round three as were several of their day two selections. I do like the pick of Brian Hartline (although a round early), he is fundamentally sound like teammate Brian Robiskie and has the look of a quality special teamer.

 

Grade: C

Detroit Lions – Added the best QB, TE and S in the draft in Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas but struggled to get tough in the trenches on day two.  How a team allowing the second most sacks in the league (52) can fail to add an offensive lineman to protect their $41 million investments until round seven is beyond me.
 
Kansas City Chiefs – Scott Pioli deserves credit for acquiring Matt Casell for his second rounder and getting a 2010 second-round pick for Tony Gonzalez but had a pedestrian draft weekend with the Chiefs.  Failing to trade down made him reach for DE Tyson Jackson at No. 3.

Jackson is a good prospect but drafting a 3-4 DE in the top five is the same as taking a guard or center in the top five. DE Alex Magee was a surprise in round three which emphasized the team’s need to get tougher up front. 

The rest of day two was highlighted by the hope of small schoolers WR Quinton Lawrence and RB Javarris Williams and the boom/bust selection of CB Donald Washington.

New Orleans Saints – The Saints traded away most of this draft last year for Jonathan Vilma and Jeremy Shockey last year but managed to add the top secondary player in the draft in Malcolm Jenkins. The fourth round Demon Deacon duo of Chip Vaughn and Stanley Arnoux adds needed depth to the defense.

San Diego Chargers – Passing on Rey Maualuga and the running backs in round one was a bit of a surprise but some considered DE/OLB Larry English the best pass rusher in the draft. Considering Shawne Merriman is coming off of a serious knee injury and is a year away from free agency the Chargers figured it best to get another pass rusher now.

In the later rounds they added an intriguing nose tackle prospect in Vaughn Martin out of Canada and two solid offensive linemen in Louis Vasquez and Tyronne Greene. Gartrell Johnson is a poor man’s Michael Turner. Failing to add an offensive tackle or middle linebacker was a surprise.

San Francisco 49ers – The wide receiver needy 49ers were thrilled to get Michael Crabtree in round one. Also received a 2010 1st round pick in exchange for their second rounder which will pay dividends in the long run but hindered their ability to fill immediate needs. RB Glen Coffee was a bit of a reach in round three but filled a need. Best values of day two with LB Scott McKillop and DT Ricky Jean-Francois.

Washington Redskins – Almost received an A for managing to get through the draft without trading any 2010 picks but common sense prevailed. Having pass rushing DE Brian Orakpo drop to them in round one was a pleasant surprise. Aside from CB Kevin Barnes the rest of day two felt ordinary at best.

 

Grade: C-

Buffalo Bills – If you give team’s credit for their trade additions you have to penalize them for their trade subtractions. The loss of Jason Peters hurt the offensive line and despite the selections of C Eric Wood and G Andy Levitre, the tackle position remains a problem.

DE Aaron Maybin is a good pass rusher but is a risky pick at 11th overall due to his lack of size and experience. 

CB Jairus Byrd was a surprise second round selection who will likely be converted to safety. On the plus side, TE Shawn Nelson’s combination of receiving and willing blocking was a tremendous value in round four.

Carolina Panthers – Traded a 2010 first rounder for the second consecutive year but did manage to acquire undersized pass rusher Everette Brown with the pick. Developmental CB/S Sherrod Martin was not nearly as good a value later in the round. Corvey Irvin is a rotational DT at best. 

Added nice value with the late round picks FB Tony Fiametta, G Duke Robinson and CB Captain Munnerlyn.  If you add 2008 1st rounder T Jeff Otah to the mix the grade would be as much as a letter better.

Denver Broncos – The pick of Knowshon Moreno was a smart move considering his playmaking ability and the team’s shaky quarterback situation. DE Robert Ayers was a solid front seven selection for the defense.

Unfortunately, he was the only front seven selection. Added much needed depth to the secondary with CB Alphonso Smith, S Darcel McBath and S David Bruton.

Made two questionable trades however, giving up a 2010 first rounder for the undersized Smith (with MLB Rey Maualuga on the board no less) and trading up to make Richard Quinn the second tight end drafted (a truly baffling selection).  

Pittsburgh Steelers – DT Evander Hood was an odd scheme fit in round one as he is more of a penetrating DT than a blocker occupying 3-4 DE.  G Kraig Urbik is a tough Steelers type lineman.  WR Mike Wallace was a third round surprise whom they hope can be a deep threat and returner. 

CBs Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett were solid values who will compete for time.  Don’t be surprised if C AQ Shipley or RB/FB Frank Summers find a way to contribute.  There’s potential but aside from Urbik there is not much certain help.

 

Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Hopefully got their franchise QB in Josh Freeman but despite his talent he is a risky pick and they need to fight the urge to play him right away.   Attempted to add talent at DT and DE with Roy Miller and Kyle Moore but both are projects. WR Sammie Stroughter could be a nice seventh-round find as a slot receiver and kick returner.

 

Grade: D

Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys accumulated picks like crazy but did very little with them.  They are bound to hit on a few guys due to the quantity but the overall talent of their selections is not overwhelming.  Their best picks were likely LB Jason Williams, OLB Victor Butler and S Michael Hamlin.

DE/OLB Michael Bennett is an nice pass rushing talent but he is not a good 3-4 OLB candidate. They would have been better off using their multitude of picks and trading up in round two rather than trading out of the first day altogether.

When you add in the trade of their first and third round picks for WR Roy Williams when Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards could not even command a first-round pick the draft looks even worse.

 

Grade: D-

Oakland Raiders – Al Davis had a need for speed and as a result the Raiders draft turned into a “Danger Zone”.  Darrius Heyward-Bey was the best combination of size and speed at the wide receiver position in the draft and despite inconsistent hands and a lack of production Al Davis needed to have him at seventh overall.

If it was not for the fact of Heyward-Bey having tremendous upside to go with his risk the Raiders grade would have been an F.

S Michael Mitchell created a collective “huh?” from draftniks across the globe in round two. He may also have started the wild run of must have sleeper picks across the league in round three.

He gave new meaning to last year’s William Hayes pick. Round three also included a reach for DE Matt Shaughnessy (who is surprisingly not fast). WR Louis Murphy and DE Stryker Sulak were solid day two values. Ironically Sulak was the fastest DE on the board when he was selected in round six.

 

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com.  He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals Recap

One has to go back to 2003 (Carson Palmer, Eric Steinbach, and Kelley Washington) or 1998 (Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons) to find an NFL Draft which has generated the day after buzz on the Bengals 2009 draft, and even then I do not think it compares

(Remember we are talking about day after excitement).  

In an offseason of negativity and free agent departures, the Bengals went through the draft with the patience to let the draft come to them and selected top talents while also filling their top needs.

One can make the argument that no team drafted more sheer talent in the 2009 draft. 

That said, it is not a draft class without substantial risk.  After all, there is a reason why Andre Smith fell to No. 6 (immaturity/weight), Rey Maualuga fell to round two (maturity/freelancing), Michael Johnson a top 10 talent in round three (inconsistent effort), and Chase Coffman to late in round three (slow, poor blocker, injury). 

I don’t say this to be negative, but it is important to say this collection of talent is very much a high risk/high reward draft.

 

Pick by Pick breakdown:

1. OT Andre Smith, Alabama – Arguably the most talented offensive lineman in the draft, and a dominating run blocker who may or may not be athletic enough to play left tackle. 

At a minimum, he is the team’s starting right tackle and should provide an immediate boost to a stagnant ground attack.  Biggest concern is whether offensive line coach Paul Alexander can get the most out of him.

2. MLB Rey Maualuga, USC – A big hitting intimidator, Maualuga is the type of player Marvin Lewis has always wanted in the middle of his defense. 

Needs to stay out of trouble and stick to the scheme. Tremendous talent whom the team was thrilled to see fall to them in round two.

3a. DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech– Arguably most physically gifted defensive end in the draft, Johnson falls due to inconsistent effort and questionable desire. 

Fills a major need, but he will be a project for Mike Zimmer and D-Line coach Jay Hayes. 

Even if Johnson is only able to be a situational pass rusher, he could make a big difference for the defense.  His potential is well worth the risk of a third round pick. 

3b.TE Chase Coffman, Missouri – Excellent route runner with the best hands of any tight end in the draft.  Has the talent to be what everyone expected out of Ben Utecht last year. 

Despite the positives, he is far from a sure thing as he is slow and a poor blocker, which is generally not a good combination for a tight end.

4. C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas– He is not the physical mauler that Max Unger or Eric Wood are, and the concerns with how he will deal with the nose tackles of the AFC North are legitimate.

But, he is also the fifth and final member of a highly touted center class and is known for his athleticism and high football IQ.  A great value in round four who will challenge for the starting job.

5. P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati – Best punter in the draft. 

As a left footer his kicks have a unique spin which has caused problems for returners.  Also, is known for his ability to change fields and pin the ball deep.

6a. CB Morgan Trent, Michigan – Has good size/speed combination and good coverage instincts.  Has the tools you look for in a developmental type.

Should battle for the dime job.

6b. RB Bernard Scott, Abilene-Christian – Like Jason Shirley last year, he is the team’s gratuitous character risk who will garner far too much discussion from the media. 

Despite his troubled past, he is the burst the team lacks in the backfield and was tremendously productive at Abilene. 

Has a lot of potential, but needs to keep his nose clean.

7a. FB Fui Vakapuna, BYU– The team was known to be interested in Vakapuna after his excellent pro day workout. 

Vakapuna is a big and strong runner who is making the transition to fullback. 

Shows good power, receiving skills, and a willingness to block.

7b. DT Clinton McDonald, Memphis – A nice sleeper pick. 

McDonald is an athletic and undersized defensive tackle with a knack for penetration. 

Had seven sacks as senior.  Good character guy.

7c. WR Freddie Brown, Utah – One of the stars of the Utes upset over Alabama with 12 catches and 125 yards. 

Has good size and is a possession receiver who is willing to make the tough catches over the middle. 

Will face an uphill battle making the roster.

 

Overall Grade: A- (but with a High Risk/High Reward asterisk) 

Visit NFLDraft101.com for pick analysis of all 32 teams and to revisit the Live Chat.

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