College Pro Day Results — March 30th

Come on, if you believed Brandon Routh could do it, why not Barwin?

Here they are.  You’re really going to enjoy this if you like reading phone books.  Or if you just really like pro days.  These are all the noteworthy pro day results from the past two weeks.  It’s a lot of info, so the format will differ slightly than updates past, but it’s still awesome and you should read every last line of it.

Pitt — RB LeSean McCoy worked out for about 20-25 teams last Tuesday.  He managed to weigh in at 204 pounds, up 6 from his sickly combine.  He also mentioned that he was disappointed in his 4.48-4.53 range 40 times.  Still fast enough to play football, LeSean.  I think you’ll be a steal if you drop to the bottom half of round two.

Boise St — WR Jeremy Childs turned in an impressive 40 time in Idaho.  His 4.47 is a full tenth of a second faster than what he ran at the combine.  At around 6-00 196, he should get some later round looks.

Ohio — CB Mark Parson, already a fringe draftable prospect in my eyes, may have run himself into free agency.  He posted a 4.57 40 at his pro day.  Some sites were reporting that Parson could run in the 4.3 range.  Not that great.  Still he has good instincts, he just ignored them and decided to run slowly.

Penn State — By far one of the most impressive pro day showings by any school’s prospects.  After a disasterous combine 40 brought on by an unknown ailment, WR Derrick Williams is back into second-third round consideration after blazing through a 4.37 40 time.  Speed is what was going to get him drafted in the first place, and now he actually has a time that backs up that claim.  DE/OLB Aaron Maybin was drinking the same water as Williams and ran a 4.59.  He lacks experience, and will likely have to switch positions in the NFL, but he has amazing upside and is now back in top ten pick territory.  Making his workout, which included a 40.5 inch VERT and a 10-10 BROAD, even more impressive was the fact that he has added an additional four pounds to his frame.  He’s a freak now.  Michael Johnson has some competition in the potential department.  WR Jordan Norwood posted a 4.55 — still much slower than he looks on film.  DE/OLB Maurice Evans sliced .24 seconds off of his combine 40 with a draft-worthy 4.75.

Illinois — CB Vontae Davis continued his quest to supplant Malcolm Jenkins as the top true corner in the draft.  His 4.40 40 was a major step up (though it’s really impossible to differentiate from his combine 4.49, but it looks better on paper, and apparently that’s all the NFL is about), his 25 reps of 225 and 37.5 inch VERT were also testaments to his workout warrior stigma/attactive title.  DE Will Davis put up 27 reps of 225, which is impressive, but his size (6-02 260) makes him small for a DE, and his 40 (4.86) makes him slow for a 3-4 rush linebacker.

Florida — WR Percy Harvin stood on his 4.41 combine 40.  Of course, speed is not an issue here.  It’s durability and route running that have scouts scratching their heads.  I don’t see that those concerns outweigh Harvin’s playmaking ability or his natural knack for taking over a game.  He should be a first rounder if you ask me.  He also put up a 10-1 BROAD and a 37.5 inch VERT.  TE Cornelius Ingram ran basically the same 40 time as the one he ran in Indy — a 4.69.  He put up 21 reps of 225, which I always like to point out is more than Andre Smith did.  He’s got an injury history as well, but Urban Meyer called him the “best natural pass catcher” he has ever seen.  OTs Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins put up 23 and 19 reps respectively.

Cal — C Alex Mack ran a 5.17 40.  It was good to see him workout after a freak ankle injury that kept him sidelined at the combine.  He’s still the top center by a good margin in my mind.  TE Cameron Morrah was not all that productive in college, but he has great measurables that should get him picked up late.  At 6-03 245 he ran a 4.61 40 and put up 24 reps on the bench.  LB Worrell Williams is only 5-10 – 5-11, but he weighs 240 pounds and has good speed.  His 4.75 40 will help his cause.  His 23 reps and 35 inch VERT won’t hurt either.  LB Zach Follett was pretty productive in college, and he is starting to back that up with some nice numbers.  He stood on his combine 40 of 4.75, but put up 21 reps and had a 37 inch VERT.  Fellow LB Anthony Felder posted a 4.76, put up 28 reps and had a 36 inch VERT.

Georgia — RB Knowshon Moreno posted another 4.60 40.  I don’t care though.  He is still the best back in this class, and he doesn’t need to be the Flash to consistenly rip off 7-10 yard gains.  He also put up 25 reps and had a 35.5. VERT.  WR Mohamed Massaquoi dropped his 40 to 4.51 and added a 10-7 BROAD.  Not bad for a guy with good size and a great Senior year.  DT Corvey Irvin put up 24 reps.  DE Jarius Wynn ran a 4.94 40.  The guy everyone wanted to see, QB Matt Stafford, looked a little shaky with his footwork but displayed awesome arm strength and accuracy.  It should be noted that he completed more passes at his pro day than Matt Ryan did at the event that boosted his stock last year.

Missouri — WR Jeremy Maclin ran a 4.43, which is right on par with his 4.45, which is plenty fast enough to play.  He’s go the skills, I’m just not sold on his polish.  He also added a 10-0 BROAD and a 35.5 VERT.  QB Chase Daniel ran a 4.79 40 and has 9.25 inch hands.  Not bad size for a short guy.

Virginia Tech — CB Victor Harris redeemed himself with a 4.46 40 time.  His 4.61 at the combine had him on his way to the fourth round, but he is a good corner and it’s nice to see that others will still view him that way after his new time.

Cincinnati — DE/OLB Connor Barwin ran a damn fast 40 at his pro day.  Already viewed as a versatile athletic machine, running a 4.47 could get him into round one.  He also put up 23 reps on the bench and posted a 41.5 inch VERT just for good measure.  CB Mike Mickens hurt himself some with a 4.57 40.  He has some injury concerns, and is faster than that on the field, but he is likely a third rounder now, though he has good height.  At least he wasn’t quite as slow as fellow CB Deangelo Smith, who ran a 4.63.  Ouch.  G Trevor Canfield has 32 inch arms.

Vanderbilt — CB DJ Moore didn’t do himself any favors with his 4.57 pro day 40.  He’s a solid second rounder with an extreme outside shot to go in round one if there is a run on corners.  He’s a great football player and that can’t be measured by 40 times alone.  He also posted a 39.5 inch VERT which should help when asked to cover receivers that are a bit taller than 5-09.

Stanford — At 6-06 277 pounds DE Pannell Egboh has the size to play end in a 3-4.  With a 4.86 pro day 40, he now looks like he might have the speed to be successful there.  His 26 reps on the bench and 35 inch VERT prove his athleticism and strength.

Cal Poly — WR Ramses Barden is unparalleled when it comes to size at his position.  His unofficial 4.4 range pro day 40 was a huge step forward.  Still, Barden struggles to use his size effectively when catching the ball, but he could develop into a serious red zone threat with time.  He has always been a top performer, and his new 40 coupled with a 10-2 BROAD could make him dangerous.

Indiana — KR Marcus Thigpen was not quite as fast as advertised.  He posted a 4.47.

North Carolina — WR Brooks Foster finally ran his 40, and did it well posting a 4.44.  WR Hakeem Nicks stood on his combine numbers and unfortunately also stood on a scale which revealed that he has ballooned to 226 pounds.  After such a great combine, it’s unfortunate that Nicks has added 14 pounds, which raises major red flags.  OT Garrett Reynolds is a massive player at 6-08 309 pounds, but he only put up 19 reps on the bench.  Still, that’s not all that bad considering he has 34.5 inch arms.

San Jose St — CB Coye Francies ran a 4.63 at his pro day.  That’s gonna hurt him.  Still, he’s a physical corner who could thrive in the right cover 2 system.  CB Christopher Owen, on the other hand, looked great with a 4.44.  He could end up going before Francies due to off the field issues.  DE Jarron Gilbert continues to impress.  His pool jumping youtube video got him started.  A 4.80 40 is helping him finish.

Stephen F Austin — WR Dominique Edison is a big target at 6-02 196, and he ran a 4.42 at his pro day improving upon an already impressive 4.45 combine time.  He is a solid late rounder who had major upside.

Iowa — RB Shonn Greene took a major step forward in his quest to re-reach the second round.  His 4.55 40 was much better than his combine time, and he posted a 10-6 BROAD and a 39 inch VERT.  He looks better on film everytime I watch him, and he has fresh legs after only one season as the go-to back.  DE Mitch King ran another 4.89 40, but he is a hard worker who cant be measured by numbers on a page.  He will be a nice 3-4 end for someone.  CB Bradley Fletcher posted a 4.44 40

Tennessee — RB Arian Foster is only 215 pounds, which makes his 4.69 40 pretty awful.  If he was as big as he was listed at UT, he might have a shot as a power back, but I am not high on this guy at all.  He has really fallen off.  WR Lucas Taylor had a great showing.  He ran a megafast 4.36 with a 36 inch VERT and a 10-6 BROAD.

Clemson — RB James Davis may have himself back in 3rd-4th round consideration after a 4.43 pro day 40.  With most of the top backs unable to post sub 4.5s, Davis will be attractive to someone earlier than he should be.

Texas — The only player who did anything of note here was DE Brian Orakpo who kept his combine 40.  It’s worth mentioning though that he did 31 reps on the bench, had a 39.5 inch VERT, and had a 10-10 BROAD.  CB Ryan Palmer ran a 4.58 40.

Connecticut — DE/OLB Cody Brown lit it up at his pro day, posting a 4.60 40.  That’s .24 faster than what he did in Indy.  He’s a solid second rounder to a team that needs a 4-3 end or a 3-4 rush LB.  CB Darius Butler finally ran what we all expected with a 4.38 40.  He also has a 43 inch VERT.  He’s a first rounder.

Wake Forest — CB Alphonso Smith surprised me by sticking with his 4.56 combine 40 along with his other numbers.  I am pretty sure he can do better than that.  We may never know.

Ole Miss — DT Peria Jerry posted a 4.98 40 at his pro day.  He’s a little undersized but has the quickness to wreak havoc in the backfield.  OT Michael Oher ran a great 5.16 40.  That helps.  He also has 33.5 inch arms.

Rutgers — WR Kenny Britt ran a 4.47 40.  He’s got good height, and some feel that he is a first rounder.  I like him more in the top half of round two.  He has some character issues.  WR Tiquan Underwood stole the show, however.  At 6-01 198 he ran a 4.36 40, had a 41.5 inch VERT, and a 10-9 BROAD.

Rice — TE James Casey ran a 4.79 40, nearly identical to his combine time, while WR Jarrett Dillard shaved .03 seconds off of his with a 4.50.

Northern Illinois — DE/OLB Larry English helped himself with a 4.70 40.  That’s good news considering he is about 20 pounds lighter than he was listed at in college.

Mississippi St — S Derek Pegues needed a good 40 time at only 5-09 199 pounds, and his 4.54 was a full tenth of a second better than his combine run.

Houston — DE/OLB Phillip Hunt ran a little slower than expected.  Drawing comparisons to Dwight Freeney, people expected a 4.60 at worst.  He gave them a 4.75.  Not bad, but not great at 6-01 250 pounds.  OT Sebatian Vollmer continues to make a case as the best player not invited to the combine.  At 6-08 312, his 32 reps on the bench and 5.13 40 time are equally impressive numbers.

Jackson St — CB Domonique Johnson ran another disappointing 40 time. His 4.52 was only .03 seconds better than his combine run.  He has trouble with stiff hips, and could be falling to the later rounds.

Nevada — MLB Josh Mauga ran an impressive 40 of 4.61.  He weighs around 241 pounds, so a good time was expected.  Still, it was nice to see him recover well from a torn chest.

Temple — At 6-03 317 pounds, DT Terrance Knighton was pretty quick with a 4.93 40.  That’s .25 seconds better than his combine time.  He only put up 21 reps however.

Washington St — WR Brandon Gibson still hasn’t run a 40.  I’m not nearly as high on him as some people are.  He’s a real unknown.

Michigan St — RB Javon Ringer is bouncing back nicely from a forgettable combine that had him on his way to being…forgotten.  He posted some unofficial 4.4 range 40s at his pro day.  He’s not big, and I really worry about his durability after carrying a HUGE load in college.  In the first 7 games as a senior, he went over 100 yards five times.  In the last 6 he did it only twice.  Sure the competition was better, but it’s not getting any worse in the NFL.  He averaged less than 3 yards per carry in 3 of those last 6 games.  Not good.  S Otis Wiley ran a 4.64 40.  Not good.  He posted 9 reps on the bench.  Also not good.

South Carolina — S Emanuel Cook helped himself some by running a 4.57 40; better than his 4.64 combine time.  OT Jamon Meredith has 34.5 arms, which somehow allowed him to do 31 reps on the bench.  Pretty good.  CB Captain Munnerlyn ran a great 4.41 40.  That’s huge considering at 5-09 he is not.

Draft Zoo Around the Web

Feeling Neglected? Don't cry, shopgirl.

UPDATE!!!  MY ARTICLES FOR WALTERFOOTBALL.COM AND BULLZ-EYE.COM HAVE BEEN LINKED BELOW.  CHECK THEM OUT.

I’ve been busy.  Like really busy.  Like Bucky the Beaver at an all you can eat timber buffett.  Yeah, like that.

Anyway, to prove my excuse’s validity, here’s a list of some things that have been going on.

1.  Site overhaul.  Draft Zoo is currently undergoing a rather substantial makeover.  Have no fear, the current site will remain functional until the new site is up and ready.  Shouldn’t be too long from now.  The address will always be www.DraftZoo.com   That just won’t ever change.

2.  I have recently started blogging about the Draft for College Football News, or as it is now known, CFN.Scout.com.  You can check out my first post about Physical Freaks and Stat Geeks by clicking this link.  I’ll still be amping up the funny and frank at my own site, but if my smorgasbord of material at this venue doesn’t fully satiate your appetite, you can find some great digestif material over there.

3.  I also recently did a preview of the New Names to Know for Florida Football 2009 for The Bleacher Report.  Just click on this link to check that out.  How cool will you look when you’re the only one at the water cooler who knows that Jaye Howard is the rookie leading the charge of Gators defensive tackles and not the latest crooner kicked off American Idol.  Sam in accounting is gonna be super jealous.

4.  I also have some articles coming out for Bullz-eye.com WHICH CAN BE FOUND HERE, WalterFootball.com WHICH CAN BE FOUND HERE, and ESPNtheMag.com.  So keep your eyes peeled, and when the font hits the web, I’ll post the links so you can check them out.  I’ll try not to keep you waiting.

5.  Other than that, on an actual NFL Draft content related note, I’ll be posting about a million new pro day updates today.  So come back in about an hour (it’s 12:20 Mountain time right now) and you can check it all out.

Thanks for your time.

Five Most Overrated Prospects

I don't need that Gatorade. I'm overrated, not dehydrated.

It’s that time of year again.  The time when a majority of the pro days are in the books.  The Combine is old news.  Senior All-Star games are now stories old enough to tell your grandkids about.  And a few guys are hitting the hype stride at just the right time.  It’s the time of year when, for some unknown reason, NFL scouts fall head over heels for prospects whose biggest accomplishment was practicing well for a whole week in Mobile.  It’s almost April, and there’s no better time for the most overrated prospects to sit back, take a big bite of their own hype, and prepare to be overpaid by millions.

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee — By far the most overrated prospect in the draft.  Let’s check out what Ayers did during his “stellar” time at Tennessee.  Most sacks in a season?  Try four in his junior year.  In fact, Ayers managed to accumulate a whopping career total of nine during his stay in Knoxville.  Maybe it’s his measurables then.  They’re not bad.  He’s 6031 272 with a 4.89 combine 40 time.  Not awful.  He’s got nice bulk.  But why, then, are so many projecting him to be picked in the top half of the first round as a pass rusher?  Ayers’ rise in stock is completely due to one week, and more specifically one game, in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.  I just don’t understand how an entire career can be overlooked in favor of one 60 minute period.  I’m going out on a small limb here and saying that Ayers never develops as a pass rusher, and becomes the next in a long line of run stuffing DEs to bounce from team to team.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri — Maclin is not on this list because I doubt his talent.  In fact, as a pure athlete, Maclin is near the top of this class.  Maclin makes the docket due to the fact that so many people are starting to view him as a top ten pick, and worse — they think it’s a good idea.  How many times has a speedy receiver been plucked at the top of round one and failed to produce?  Remember Travis Taylor to the Ravens?  How about Troy Williamson to the Vikings?  Maclin played in a spread system in college that rarely asked him to run precise routes.  In fact, most of the time Maclin ran five yard slants that he turned into big gains with his superiour athleticism.  That won’t fly at the next level.  Sure, Maclin has elite deep speed, and he can always contribute in the return game, but I see some serious bust potential here.  The Mizzou wideout is worth a first round pick on the chance that he does develop like he could, but that slight frame and raw talent make him a poor decision so early in the draft.

Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia — Pretty simple here.  Sintim was a productive college player who played in an NFL-friendly 3-4 defense as an end and a rush linebacker.  Sounds like a pretty sure thing, right?  Wrong.  Sintim may have the speed and size and certainly the look of a dominant 3-4 linebacker, but like we’ve said before, measurables don’t make an NFL star.  Watch some film of Sintim and you’ll see that he was most effective in a straight line to the quarterback.  That’s great in obvious passing situations as a blitzer, but not when you’re asked to cover a shifty RB out of the backfield.  Sintim has stiff hips and struggled mightily this offseason to dispel the doubts about his ability to change directions.  A team looking for a pure speed rusher would likely have some success with him, but until he learns to move more fluidly he’ll be nothing more than a spot player.

Evander Hood, DT, Missouri — Sorry to dog on Missouri so bad.  And I know I’ll take some heat for this one.  Maybe deservedly so, but I’m sticking to my original opinion here.  Hood put up five sacks as a Senior, which isn’t bad.  But look who four of them came against.  One against Baylor, one against Northwestern, and two against Buffalo.  Not exactly an O line gauntlet.  Hood has a quick first step, and he has the potential to be a disruptive force up front for a team like Indianapolis.  But I don’t get all the talk about him being a first rounder.  I know the DT class is especially weak this year, but shouldn’t that force teams to address other areas instead of reaching for a need.  Football is a team sport, and no one player is accountable for all of a team’s struggles, but that was an awful defense that Hood was a part of.  I just never saw that much out of him in the big games against quality opponents.  Again, I promise I’ve got nothing against Missouri personally.  And sorry for ending one of those sentences in a preposition.

Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St — This guy is not better than Knowshon Moreno.  He may not be better than Donald Brown.  Wells is a physical freak who dominated the college ranks with a superior blend of size and athleticism.  That’s not enough in the NFL.  Wells is more of a straight forward runner who lacks the ability to change directions as smoothly as some of the more successful NFL running backs.  Sure, he’s no slouch, and if I’m wrong about him I’ll probably be wrong in a big way.  But the way I see it, Wells has the look of so many Big Ten big backs who busted before him.  Holy alliteration.  Anyway, back to the point.  Beanie appears to be another powerful guy who impressed with his pro day 40 and now has teams prepared to put all their eggs in one Beanie basket.  If he ends up on a team with a smaller, quicker complementary back, he’s got a chance.  If not, no way this guys makes it through a 16 game season unscathed.  He rarely made it through 12.

Feel free to disagree.  DraftZoo@gmail.com

George Kelly Pro Day

It’s no secret that the smaller school prospects often find it easier to slip through the cracks.  Hey, maybe that’s why their called small schools.  UTEP is no Grand Valley State, but it’s a small enough university.  Perhaps that’s the reason no one is talking about George Kelly’s pro day.

Kelly isn’t even mentioned in most of the articles written specifically about UTEP’s pro day.  How?  I don’t know.  It seems print-worthy to me when a cornerback measures in around 5100 185 and puts up 19 reps of 225 on the bench.  Maybe even ESPN-worthy when he posts a 40 inch VERT and a 10-3 BROAD.  But a 4.32 40?  That’s gotta be worth at least a Kid’s Choice Award or $50 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse.  Seriously though, that’s one hell of a pro day.  Check out that YouTube video above and get out your stopwatch.  I had a heck of time timing him in the most unofficial way imaginable.  But still, it was fun.

Of course, pro day numbers aren’t everything.  It takes more than a great workout to be a great player.  But I think Kelly had to put himself on someone’s map.  Special thanks to Austin for pointing me to the video.

New Five Round NFL Mock Draft — March 24th

Check out the NEW Logo!

ROUND 1 ROUND 2 ROUND 3 ROUND 4 ROUND 5 ROUND 6 ROUND 7

5 ROUND MOCK!  ROUNDS 6 and 7 WILL BE UP TOMORROW!

3/24/09

It only takes one new pick near the top to change the entire face of this mock.  I know all about the reports that Jason Smith is the next in a long line of Zoloft patients called new Detroit Lions, but I don’t buy it.  The Lions wouldn’t let this out this early if they were serious about taking him.  They are either A.) Trying to drive Matt Stafford’s price down or  B.) Trying to entice a team to trade up to take Jason Smith.  Regardless, Stafford is the pick.

As always, new picks in GREEN.

Lions

1.  DET — Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia, 6022 225, 4.84 — Stafford is still the top pick.  Don’t pay any attention to the Jason Smith rumors.  The Lions are just blowing smoke.  Maybe it will work, or maybe it won’t, but they aren’t going to pass on a franchise QB, are they?  I don’t think so.  The Lions have too much money tied up in their current offensive line to spend anymore on Jason Smith with the first pick.  I still think there’s an all-timer of an outside chance that someone falls in love with Stafford, or more likely Jason Smith, and trades up here, but if the Lions stay put, then it has to be Stafford.  He had a great pro day, and completed more passes there than Matt Ryan did when he became the unquestioned number one QB last year.  He’s got a rocket arm and loads of experience.  Plus, his Wonderlic scores were great.  Welcome to Detroit Matthew Stafford.  Don’t trip on Joey Harrington’s body.

Rams

2.  STL — Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, 6050 309, 5.22 — After all the dust has settled, this Smith is still the unquestioned top OT in the draft.  After he slips past Detroit, he’ll end up in St. Louis.  Say hey to Nelly for me.  He’s quick.  He’s got great length.  He plays with a nasty mean streak.  And his ceiling is lofty considering he’s a converted tight end with great success in limited time at the position.  The combine was kind to Smith, and he was great in the interrogation room.  The Rams have to find a successor for Orlando Pace, and this guy should be an achor for about 10-15 years.  If Marc Bulger is ever going to be successful again, the Rams have to find a way to keep him upright.

Chiefs

3.  KC — Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest, 6016 254, 4.56 — When you’re already considered possibly the best prospect in the draft, it’s helpful to run faster than more than half of the cornerbacks at the combine.  Curry is not a guy who will be on Sportscenter every night, but there are no weaknesses to his game.  He is incredibly gifted athletically, and with the speed he showed in Indy, he should help the Chiefs actually get some pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  Now that Matt Cassell is the QB, Kansas City can focus on their defense, and with Curry they get a guy who can pair with Derrick Johnson to give them an excellent linebacking corps for years.  He’ll be a great fit in the new 3-4, whether he lines up inside or out.  This is a great situation for Kansas City.  Looks like the start of another strong draft.

Seahawks

4.  SEA — Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech, 6013 215, ??? — Cory Redding all but eliminates the possibility of this pick being BJ Raji.  I don’t think Redding is the answer at all, and neither is Colin Cole, but hey who knows?  The Seahawks need another receiver despite picking up TJ Houshmandzadeh.  TJH will be 32 during the season, he’s never had to be THE guy, and he’s playing in a new system.  I think he’ll be great in Seattle, but he won’t be around forever.  Crabtree would be pretty much the only other WR on this team.  Crabtree doesn’t have elite deep speed, but his blend of body control and ability to pluck the ball out of the air will make him a rare safety valve who doubles as an electrifying playmaker.  He’ll help Hasselbeck get back to form.

Browns

5.  CLE — Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas, 6030 263, 4.70 — The Cassell trade hurts the Browns here.  Until now, it looked like Aaron Curry might slide to this spot giving Cleveland a new inside linebacker to solidify the middle of their D.  Now it looks like they’ll have to build from the outside in.  Orakpo should fit excellently as an outside linebacker or a rush end in the Browns’ 3-4.  Everette Brown got some consideration here, but Orakpo has better measurables and has a better shot at holding up in he has to play from the line.  Cleveland managed only 17 sacks last season and Orakpo was better at getting to the quarterback than just about anyone in 2008. 

Bengals

6.  CIN — Eugene Monroe, OT, UVA, 6052 309, 5.16 — The Bengals shouldn’t consider anyone else.  If Monroe is available here, you take him.  This O line is awful and Carson Palmer will never be the same again if someone isn’t drafted to protect him.  Monroe wasn’t quite as impressive as Smith, but he is clearly the number two OT in the draft, and is well worth this pick.  Teams with major rebuilding projects (like the Dolphins and Browns a couple years ago) have made major strides by selecting an OT, and the Bengals should follow suit.  Jason Smith may have the highest ceiling at the position, but Monroe isn’t far off and is probably the safest tackle in the draft. 

Raiders

7.  OAK — Darrius Heyward Bey, WR, Maryland, 6015 210, 4.30 — That was close.  I almost got caught giving Oakland a smart pick here.  Special thanks to WalterFootball’s latest mock for slapping me with some common sense.  Walter pointed out that Al Davis is not big on taking DTs in round one.  Al Davis is big on taking speed, and there is no one in this draft with Heyward Bey speed.  Other than DHB himself.  The Raiders need a wideout in a big way.  Jamarcus Russell won’t continue to improve the way he did at the end of 2008 without a true number one target.  Heyward Bey had a great pro day.  He stood on his combine numbers but was extremely smooth out of his cuts during position drills, and he caught the ball nicely.  I know this is high for him, but Al Davis is perpetually high on something, why not let it be a quick receiver this time?  Previous pick:  BJ Raji

Jaguars

8.  JAX — Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri, 6001 198, 4.45 — The Jaguars would have lucked into making a smart pick here despite their best efforts if Crabtree was still available.  Maclin is a big time reach for Jacksonville with the eighth pick, but hey that didn’t stop them from taking Derrick Harvey.  Matt Jones is a huge fan of prison food and blow, so he decided to get all crazy high on his way to his favorite Arkansas penitentiary cafeteria.  While he’s chowing down and reminiscing with old gang mates, the Jags still need a WR more than ever.    Maclin does have great speed, and he can possibly become the deep threat the Jags lack.  But he ran so many short routes in college that I’m not sold on him.  Worst case, though, he ends up pushing for the starting kick returner job.

Packers

9.  GB — BJ Raji, DT, Boston College, 6014 337, 5.13 — This would be a heck of a scenario for Green Bay.  I had Raji here a while back, but his stock has risen since then, and the chance that he is available here is small.  The chance that the Packers’ take him if he is, in fact, available is huge.  Green Bay has a nice stable of linemen who can and will rotate around the front of their new 3-4, but they lack a true nose tackle.  Raji is the top DT in the draft by a mile.  He has the wide frame and elite bulk to man the middle of the new scheme.  Plus, he’s got a quick enough burst to collapse the pocket and pressure the QB, which is a trait that GB is desperate for.  Raji has a higher chance of success at playing the clog in the 3-4 than Glenn Dorsey did of manning an inside spot in the 4-3.  That’s saying something.  Previous pick:  Everette Brown

49ers

10.  SF — Mark Sanchez, QB, 6021 227, 4.88 — I know, I know.  “Mike Singletary isn’t that high on Sanchez.”  And “he already said he wants a pass blocker or pass rusher early.”  But you don’t pass on a guy like Sanchez when Shaun Hill and Alex Smith are your big competitors for the QB spot.  Even if Mike Singletary wants to run the ball and let the QB simply manage the game, the passer needs to be of starting quality to win games.  I’m just saying, the 49ers are going to have a hard time passing on Sanchez now that he should be available per the Cassell trade.  Sanchez is a little raw maybe, but his upside is amazing, and his hands are bigger than Smith’s so he should be able to hold on to the ball.  The Niners can get a pass blocker and a pass rusher in later rounds.  The only time they can get a QB like Sanchez is right here.  I just don’t see them taking the next step with Smith or Hill at the helm of the offense.

Bills

11.  BUF — Aaron Maybin, DE, 6036 249, 4.89 — The Bills have a few needs that must be adressed early on.  They need a tight end, a pass rusher, and a center.  The only position worth looking at with the eleventh pick is DE.  Maybin is a little undersized, but he is taller than I expected, and I think he’s a good fit in the 4-3.  He ran a blazing 4.59 40 at his pro day, and even if he ends up at linebacker, he fills a need here.  Plus, the 4-3 is his only bet to stay at DE.  He really stepped up this year and became a pass rushing terror for a great Penn St defense.  The Bills had good success with former Nittany Lion Paul Posluszny so I think they will be comfortable taking Maybin here.  If he can generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, this defense should be vastly improved, and the team should avoid another monumental meltdown.

Broncos

12.  DEN — Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, 6042 296, 4.91 — The Broncos have been very active this offseason, and a few of their top needs like MLB, CB, and S have been addressed.  The one position that still needs filling in the new 3-4 that is worth fixing here is DE.  Jackson is not as fast as some of the other guys at his position, but he is the best pure 3-4 DE in the draft.  Denver cannot be successful defensively in the new alignment with guys like Elvis Dumervil at end.  Jackson is strong against the run and is deceptively adept at getting to the QB.  He will be a great fit for the Broncos.  Now, if only Josh McDaniels can teach him to throw the ball…

Redskins

13.  WAS — Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6044 309, 5.32 — The Redskins took care of a major need by overpaying for Albert Haynesworth.  Now that the DT position is solidified, it’s time to take care of the O line and find a DE.  There aren’t any DEs worth taking here, because in my opinion Everette Brown is better suited to play LB.  Oher is a tricky selection here.  Some would say Andre Smith makes more sense, but Chris Samuels will eventually need to be replaced and I don’t think Andre has the lateral quickness to play Left Tackle as a pro.  Oher has been up and down all offseason, but he was impressive in Mobile, and I think he can man the right side before eventually taking over for Samuels at LT.  With all the top DEs gone, Oher is the only selection that makes sense.

Saints

14.  NO — Malcolm Jenkins, CB, 6001 204, 4.46 — I don’t care if Tracy Porter is coming back.  In fact, I don’t care if Deion Sanders found the fountain of youth and agrees to play for the Saints for free.  New Orleans needs to finally address the corner position in round one.  Jenkins is dropping some, but it’s more the fault of his stiff hips than his 40 time.  He did succeed at corner during his entire Ohio State career, however, and I belive that he can continue to play that spot in the NFL.  But, if he is forced to move to safety, he still fills a huge need for New Orleans.  In fact, with the signing of Jabari Greer from Buffalo, that may be what the Saints draft him to play.  Regardless, New Orleans has an awful secondary, and they need this pick.  They have been burned in free agency before (Jason David, Randall Gay).

Texans

15.  HOU — Everette Brown, OLB, FSU, 6014 256, 4.73 — Safety is the biggest need, but there aren’t any worth this pick.  If I were mocking trades, which I’m not, then I would have the Texans trading out of this spot.  Like they did last year.  And corner is a need too, but they franchised Dunta Robinson and have accumulated a group of competitors for the other spot.  They brought in Antonio Smith, but they still need pass rushers to take heat off of Mario Williams.  Brown will probably end up at LB, and that is certainly a position that can be upgraded.  But even if he ends up on the line, it will be in a 4-3.  Like the one Houston runs.  He should find his way onto the field early at either spot.  If it’s only on situational downs, that will be fine too.  He will help this pass rush.  Previous pick:  Vontae Davis

Chargers

16.  SD — Andre Smith, OT, Alabama, 6040 332, ??? — I’ve had Peria Jerry here for a long time, and with Igor Olshansky now gone, that could happen.  But if Smith falls to them here, the Chargers can’t pass on him.  Sure there are lots of concerns now that he has behaved like a weirdo all offseason, but to get a guy who was at one point the top prospect in scouts’ eyes with the 16th pick is just too good to pass up.  The Chargers need help on the right side of their line and Smith looks like a solid right tackle.  He’s got great size and strength and should keep Ladainian Tomlinson near the top of the league for a few more years.  There’s still a good chance that he’ll be gone by this spot, but if he’s not, he will have to become a Charger.

Jets

17.  NYJ — Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia, 5105 217, 4.60 — The Jets look to me like they have solidified 90% of their defense through free agency.  The only missing link now is a starting corner opposite Darrelle Revis, but the corner class this year is much deeper than the running back class.  Which is why Moreno will be the pick.  No matter who lines up at QB, a strong running game will take some pressure off of him.  Thomas Jones had a good year, but he’s getting old.  Adding Moreno to the mix along with Leon Washington (who is going to get more carries this year) will give the Jets one of the best rushing attacks in the league.  Moreno should eventually take over as the starter, but even if he splits carries with Washington his whole career it won’t be all that bad considering the recent successes of two-back systems.

Bears

18.  CHI — Eben Britton, OT, Arizona, 6060 309, 5.16 — With Maclin off the board, a lot of guys have Robert Ayers here.  I hope for the sake of all Bears’ fans that that doesn’t happen.  Ayers is the most overrated guy in the whole draft in my opinion — he never produced.  Now that John St. Clair is gone, tackle becomes an even bigger need.  The Bears have needed an OT for a long time.  That’s why Chris Williams was drafted last year.  But, even though I played with him in high school (awesome name drop right?), I’m not convinced he can stay healthy.  If he can, that’s great.  If not, Britton can step in and start.  Britton is really rising up draft boards lately.  He is very athletic and has the quickness to play on the left side and the strength to man the right.  Lovie Smith loves to bolster his lines, and this is looking more like an OT to me.  Previous pick:  Darrius Heyward Bey

Buccaneers

19.  TB — Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St, 6056 248, 4.97 — Bringing in Derrick Ward pretty much eliminated the possibility of this pick being a running back.  And it’s been said that a new regime usually means a new quarterback.  Freeman is the unquestioned number three QB in the draft, and I’ve been saying for a while that he would likely sneak into round one so here he is.  There isn’t a more physically imposing passer in the draft, and Freeman is suprisingly agile for a such a big guy with a rocket arm.  Tampa Bay let Jeff Garcia go, and I can’t buy that any of the current guys left on the roster are the answer.  Receiver is a possibility, but they won’t find another QB in the draft as talented as Freeman.

Lions

20.  DET — Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC, 6016 249, 4.83 — After all that, it still looks like Maualuga will be the first USC linebacker off the board.  Paris Lenon and Jordan Dizon just plain suck.  The Lions have to find a new inside backer if their defense is ever going to be better than a powder puff squad.  Maualuga may not measure as well as some guys, but he is a vicious tackler who can make plays all over the field.  He might be a better fit in a 3-4, but I think that MLB is a bigger need than OLB.  Even drafting Clay Matthews or Brian Cushing would leave a major hole in the middle.  If Maualuga drops this far, the Lions would be crazy not to grab him.  Suddenly, with the Julian Peterson signing, the Lions have a great linebacking corps.

Eagles

21.  PHI — Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St, 6010 235, 4.59 — Sure they need two offensive tackles, but they just signed Stacy Andrews which means they likely won’t spend first pick money on another OT with this pick.  The Eagles struggled to convert short yardage and goal line situations last year, and now that Correll Buckhalter is gone, there is no back on this team who can pick up the tough yards.  Wells is a bruiser who would be a great complement to the quick Brian Westbrook.  If the Eagles can start converting third and short, they will be a lot more successful at keeping drives alive.

Vikings

22.  MIN — Jamon Meredith, OT, S Carolina, 6045 305, 5.03 — The Vikings need an offensive tackle to man the right side, and every mock I see has them taking a receiver, but Im okay with Berrian, and Rice should hopefully rebound this year.  Plus, Aundrae Allison isn’t trash yet.  Ryan Cook will likely move inside from right tackle to replace Matt Birk at his college position — center.  That leaves a huge hole on the right side, which was pretty much there already.  Meredith had a great combine, and really put himself on a lot of team’s radars.  He played inside at guard some in college, so he has the strength to open holes on the right side where the Vikes like to run Adrian Peterson.  Plus, he has the quickness to get to the next level and take on linebackers.  Imagine how great this rushing game will be when Adrian Peterson doesn’t have to cut everything back to the left.  Previous pick:  Alex Mack

Patriots

23.  NE — Brian Cushing, LB, USC, 6027 243, 4.79 — The Patriots are in dire need of some young blood at LB.  They did just sign Tully Banta Cain, but he is serviceable at best, and even if he lines up on the outside, Cushing has shown the versatility to play inside next to Jared Mayo if needed.  Cushing has rocketed up draft boards with his play in Mobile and his tenacity.  He should be a perfect fit in Boston.  It wouldn’t surprise me too much to see the Pats go corner here, but I gotta believe it would be hard to pass on a guy who can play more than one position for your defense which is a trait the Pats covet.

Falcons

24.  ATL — Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss, 6017 299, ??? — The Falcons have been desperate for a dominant DT for a long time.  Taking Matt Ryan over Glenn Dorsey may have been the right choice, but it still left a gaping hole in the middle of their D line.  Jerry is a lot like Dorsey, but may be better value here than Dorsey was with the third pick last year.  If he can clog the middle and effectively take on blockers, then the new faces at LB will have a much easier time replacing departed starts Michael Boley and Keith Brooking.  He may not last this long, but if he does he will be a perfect fit for Atlanta.

Dolphins

25.  MIA — Clay Matthews, OLB, USC, 6031 240, 4.67 — The Dolphins need a corner, but they also really need an outside LB.  Everywhere Bill Parcells has been he has built his defenses on standout LBs.  Joey Porter’s play really trailed off at the end of last season, and he may be nearing the end of his great career.  On the other side, Matt Roth is improving, but he is certainly not above an upgrade.  Matthews has seen his stock rise perhaps more than any other prospect, and his motor that never quits running.  He’s a hard worker that should excel as a rush linebacker in the 3-4, especiallysince he spent some time at DE at USC.

Ravens

26.  BAL — Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 5111 203, 4.46 — The Ravens were clearly in need of a corner in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh.  Sure, they just signed Dominique Foxworth, and yeah he’ll likely start, but I don’t think there is anyway the Ravens can go into the season with no contingency plan should one of their starters go down.  I’ve had Davis in the top 15 in every mock I’ve done, but I have been hearing a lot of negatives about his work ethic and attitude towards coaches.  If he drops this far, he will be a steal for Baltimore in terms of talent.  He is an incredible athlete who has great closing speed and good instincts.  If he can find some consistency, he will be a shutdown corner for years.  Previous pick:  Darius Butler

Colts

27.  IND — Percy Harvin, WR, Florida, 5111 192, 4.41 — The Colts definitely need a receiver now that Marvin Harrison is no longer a member of the team.  Hakeem Nicks will get some consideration here, but Harvin is a better fit.  His speed and quickness make him a perfect peg to line up in the slot and will give Peyton Manning yet another weapon to work with.  I know there are concerns about his route running ability, but the Colts will find plenty of ways to utilize his athelticism.  They like speedy receivers (Anthony Gonzalez) and Harvin is no different.

Eagles

28.  PHI — Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St, 6053 263, 4.85 — He may have been overshadowed by Jared Cook at the combine, but Pettigrew is still the most complete tight end in the draft.  The Eagles have long needed a big target for the redzone, and Pettigrew is bigger than Cook, and has had better success as a part of the passing game.  He is also a very capable blocker which will be a big help to an Eagles team that has had trouble moving defenders out of the way.  I just don’t think any OTs are worth this pick now, and the Eagles will find someone later in the draft with the girth Andy Reid likes in his tackles.

Giants

29.  NYG — Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC, 6006 212, 4.49 — Nicks is nowhere near as big as the guy he’ll be replacing, Plaxico Burress, but he plays big.  The Giants now need a receiver more than anything with the signing of Chris Canty.  Canty’s prescence likely means that Mathias Kiawanuka will be headed back to linebacker.  Nicks ran a great time in Indy, which softened concerns about his ability to be a number one receiver in the pros.  There may not be a player in the entire draft with his body control and hand-eye coordination.  He should become a very reliable target for Eli Manning.  James Laurinaitis will get some consideration here.

Titans

30.  TEN — Darius Butler, CB, UConn, 5104 183, 4.53 — The Titans have a few big holes on defense now that Eric King and Albert Haynesworth are gone.  And a receiver has been a big need since Warren Moon played for the Oilers, but they just signed Jovan Haye and Nate Washington so corner looks like the most glaring need that matches up with value here.  Butler is rising up boards fast, and some have called him the best pure corner in the draft.  He has fluid hips and moves in and out of cuts with ease.  Butler has better size than Alphonso Smith or DJ Moore and has the skills that could make the Titans’ secondary as strong as it needs to be in a division with the Colts (Reggie Wayne) and Texans (Andre Johnson).  Previous pick:  Alphonso Smith

Cardinals

31.  ARI — Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech, 6067 266, 4.75 — Now that Antonio Smith has gone to play for the Texans, a weak pass rush has gotten even weaker.  Sure, Johnson has been accused of never playing up to his ability, but the Cardinals have a history of taking physical freaks who underachieved in college (see: Calais Campbell).  If Johnson ever plays up to his immense potential (which he didn’t really fail to do as a senior, in my opinion) he could end up being a huge steal here for the Cards.  They have to get better as pressuring the other team’s passer.  Running back is still a need, but LeSean McCoy has probably slipped out of round one, and I just don’t see Donald Brown making it into round one.

Steelers

32.  PIT — Alex Mack, C, Cal, 6037 311, ??? — It all comes down to who the Steelers have rated higher and who’s available, Alex Mack, Eben Britton, or Jamon Meredith.  With the top tackles off the board, the pick becomes Mack.  The Steelers re-signed both of their starting OTs from their Super Bowl win, and I think that they will be looking for a guy with some versatility.  Mack is a true center, but he has the strength and athleticism to play guard.  The Steelers were hurt against Arizona by weak interior line play.  Remember how many times Darnell Docket got into the backfield?  Pittsburgh drafts value more than need better than just about any team around, and they should find a nice combination of the two with Mack.  Previous pick:  Jamon Meredith

Sources: Lions to Draft Jason Smith

Aww, come on! Detroit?!

UPDATE!!!  OF COURSE, THE RUMOR THAT THIS WAS A LOCK HAS TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE.  THE LIONS ARE NEGOTIATING WITH ALL OF THE TOP PROSPECTS (STAFFORD, CURRY, SMITH) AND ARE LIKELY JUST TRYING TO DRIVE STAFFORD’S PRICE DOWN OR ENTICE A TRADE TO THE TOP WITH A TEAM THAT REALLY WANTS SMITH.

This just in.  KFFL is reporting that the Lions are drafting Baylor OT Jason Smith.  Holy Crap.  I can’t believe this.  I know that the Dolphins had a great year after passing on the top QB and going the O line route, and the Browns had a big season after gobbling up Joe Thomas before Brady Quinn, but I really was pretty certain Stafford would be the pick.

The Lions were present at UGA’s pro day, and apparently they weren’t impressed enough with Stafford’s footwork and consistency to make him the overall number one pick.  There will almost certainly be a trade into the top 5-7 picks to nab Stafford now.  Unless St Louis decides to scrap Marc Bulger sooner than expected, there aren’t many teams at the top looking to spend their first pick on a passer.

This rumor comes on the heels of numerous reports that the Lions were in talks with their guy in order to sign him before the draft, a la Miami 2008.  Apparenty, that guy is Smith.  Detroit spent first round dollars on OT Godser Cherilus last year, and still have a good bit of money tied up in Jeff Backus’ contract.  They also just re-signed Damion Cook and Stephen Peterman.  Plus, they brought in ex-Titan Daniel Loper.  That’s a lot of dough to spend on one O line.  Of course, the fact that this O line has been notoriously awful might have influenced the decision.

Smith, in my mind, is the top O lineman in the draft, and he should immediately help the Lions keep whoever their quarterback is upright.  There’s still a chance that the Lions think Josh Freeman will be available at the 20th pick, or they could trade that one along with one of their second or third rounders to move back up and select Stafford, Mark Sanchez, or Freeman.  Also, this could mean the Lions are getting closer to reaching a deal with Denver that would bring Jay Cutler to Detroit.  That would likely mean that the 20th pick would the Broncos’ along with another, later, selection.  Still THIS IS JUST A RUMOR RIGHT NOW!!! If I hear anything more substantial, I’ll let you know.  For now…wow to the Lions and deepest regrets to Jason Smith.

College Pro Day Results — March 19th

These weights are small. Mongo want bigger weights.

UNLV — RB Frank Summers stole the show that was pretty much a one man act to begin with.  He measured in at 5093 241 pounds, ran a 4.58 40, had a 34.5 inch VERT, and a 9-5 BROAD.  Even more impressive was the fact that he posted a 4.18 short shuttle time.  That’s ridiculous for a big back.  But the number most will point to for the fullback, is his 30 reps on the bench press.  Summers said he expected to put up around 33-34 after doing that many a week ago.  Of course, the workout he was put through by Steelers’ running back coach probably left him a little fatigued.  The Steelers seemed very interested.

Arizona — OT Eben Britton had a 28.5 inch VERT, and looked like a first rounder in position drills.  Of course, I don’t have him in my first round.  Eight offensive line coaches showed up to watch him, which means they obviously haven’t read my mock.  WR Mike Thomas had a 10-4 BROAD and put up 16 reps.  He stood on his other times from the combine.  I like Thomas as a deep threat at the next level.  He may be 5-08, but he runs great routes.

Oregon St — Going to do this one quick because I’m only sold on one of these guys:  CB Keenan Lewis. Lewis ran a 4.49.  He also had a 38.5 inch VERT, a 10-10 BROAD, and a 6.89 three cone.  Not bad at all for a guy who “isn’t that athletic.”  G Andy Levitre stood on his combine numbers, but did look good in position drills.  WR Sammie Stroughter kept with the quick theme here, and posted consecutive 4.45s.  And finally DE Victor Butler: 4.72 40, 33 inch VERT, 9-11 BROAD, fluid in drills.  Phew.

Michigan — DT Will Johnson put up 47 damn reps on the bench.  That is insane.  He’s 6-05 290, so he could project as a DE in a 3-4.  That, or a bouncer, or a world’s strongest man competitor, or a giant man who can bench press 225 pounds 47 times!  That’s what I’d do, just set up a bench outside the stadium.  He can make at least 100 buck a day.  DT Terrance Taylor put up pedestrian 5.15 and 5.08 40s.  Not awful considering he is not much more than a run stuffing guy who is now ashamed of his 37 bench reps.  DE Tim Jamison ran a 4.99 and a 4.95.  I don’t think this guy has a lot to offer NFL teams.  Think about it, he’s undersized, not that fast, and his teammate put up 47 more reps than him since he still hasn’t lifted for teams.

Purdue — DT Alex Magee boosted his stock with 4.85 and 4.82 40 times.  He is not a huge mauler, but he is a quick DT who can get to the quarterback.  He also had a 9-5 BROAD and a 4.42 short shuttle.  That’s amazingly quick when you consider that RB Kory Sheets, and underrated guy in my mind, ran a 4.33 short shuttle.  Sheets kept his sub 4.5 40 from the combine.  QB Curtis Painter defintely looks like he’ll need some time to dry (I couldn’t help myself — painter…dry…get it?) but he did display a live arm in position drills and could develop.

Oregon — WR Jaison Williams looks like a stud to me.  I heard one comparison to Calvin Johnson.  At 6045 and 238 pounds, Williams ran a 4.47 40.  Are there any DBs in the league who want to tackle all that size at that speed?  Maybe Roy Williams, but it’s okay, he missed him at the line of scrimmage.  Williams also has very long arms, and was productive as a red zone threat in Eugene.  On the other hand, RB Jeremiah Johnson is still slow and little.  The 5090 209 back ran a 4.57 40, which was a little better than his combine time.  He runs like a power back, but looks like a scat back.  With injury issues, he’ll have to avoid tackles more in the NFL, and I’m not sure he can ever be an every down guy.  OT Fenuki Tupou ran a 5.20, had a 34 inch arms, and put up 24 reps.  He’ll find a home on the right side.

Boston College — I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about LB Robert Francois. He has good size at 6020 244.  He ran a great 40 at 4.59, and he made 82 tackles as a senior.  He’s not a first day guy by any means, but he has the potential to start somewhere down the road.

Kansas St — DE Ian Campbell continues to disappoint.  He’s got decent size, but looks more like a 3-4 rush linebacker.  Until you watch him run.  He managed a 4.99 40, and now looks like a guy best suited to save someone’s seat at the movies.  I mean he’s not a huge football player, but I probably wouldn’t argue if he told me his friend was in the bathroom, and I would have to find another place to watch the Hannah Montana movie, err, I mean something manly.

Nebraska — RB Marlon Lucky ran a 4.53.  DE Zach Potter is enormous at 6070 279, and he runs like it with a 4.92 40.  He’ll be a 3-4 DE if you ask me, and he could develop into a solid starter.  I’m just happy these guys don’t have to live in Nebraska anymore.

Kentucky — DT Myron Pryor is another underrated guy in my eyes.  He’s a trench player who is best suited to stick in the middle and clog a lane, but he did a pretty damn good job against that “all-world” Alabama O line this year, and he helped Kentucky notch a third straight bowl win.  The All-SEC second teamer stood on his 5.01 40 and put up 24 reps.

Fresno St — TE Bear Pascoe is a big guy, but he is a guy, not an ursus.  It means bear.  He ran a 4.89 40 after measuring at 6050 251.  He is a willing blocker who can make a nice dent in the passing game, as well as scare the hell out of Goldilocks.

LSU — DE Tyson Jackson managed only 20 reps on the bench before looking more fluid than expected in position drills.  LB Darry Beckwith blazed through a 4.63 40.  That’s the kind of time he has been expected to run.  For an undersized guy, he needed to be quick.  Giant G Herman Johnson put up 24 reps on the bench and otherwise just laughed about being so big.  This guy came to a Halloween party at my house one time wearing a mask and a cape, and he literally didn’t say a word for the first ten minutes he was there.  He just stared at people and forced several attendees to claim that they were going as Fergie for Halloween, and that’s why there was pee on their pants.  Finally he took of the mask, and had a good laugh.  WR Demetrius Byrd ran some more sub 4.5 40s including a 4.47.  He is a better prospect than people think.  Watch the youtube video of his Auburn catch.  S Curtis Taylor looked quicker than he did in Indy, posting 4.52 and 4.55 40s.  And finally, FB Quinn Johnson is a badass lead blocker.

Florida St — DE/OLB Everette Brown surprised me by not running at his pro day.  He stood on his 4.73 from the combine which isn’t that great.  Still, when you watch this guy on film, he is much faster on the field.  He also had a 31 inch VERT and a 9-9 BROAD.  CB/KR Michael Ray Garvin put himself on the map in a big way, running a 4.24 and 4.28 40.  That’s pretty damn fast.  He should get a look now for a team that needs a kick returner.  He also had a 36 inch VERT and a 10-8 BROAD.

That’s it for today.  Special thanks to Michael Ray Garvin for continuing to put an exclamation point on how slow the combine corners were this year.

Frank Summers Interview

You want to tackle 240 pounds of will power?

Frank Summers is not worried about his combine snub.

In fact, Frank Summers doesn’t worry all that much about things he can’t control.  Summers is the type of guy who focuses his energy, and there’s plenty of it at 241 pounds, on what he can control.  When he wanted to play football as a kid, he raised the money himself by mowing lawns and washing cars while other kids his age played Nintendo and hopscotch.  He knew his mother couldn’t afford it, and he didn’t wait for someone else to fix his problem.  When his team needed a fullback at the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game, he stepped up and played the role like Beethoven in a concert hall, grabbing four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown.  He didn’t whine about having to switch positions.  Summers did what was best for his team — voluntarily.  And he did it with passion and verve.

You see, a guy like Summers is a rare commodity.  In a league where players are quick to complain, and even quicker to blame their teammates, a running back who is as unselfish as he is genuine is worth his weight in gold.  Like I said earlier, in this case that’s a lot of gold.

There’s not a lot not to like about the former UNLV running back.  He’s a smart kid who knows that in college he was a student first.  “You have to make your grades,” he says.  “If you don’t make your grades you can’t play.  I want to be on the field making plays.”  This May, he will become the first member of his family to graduate.

At his pro day, he sprinted through the 40, the shuttles, and the three cone drill in times that would have made the supposed “top backs” sweat.  As the only UNLV player asked to workout individually, he spent 45 minutes in a bout with the Sin City heat going through position drills with Steeler’s running backs coach, Kirby Wilson.

“He really is rare,” Wilson added, “You don’t see that out of a big man much.”

Not yet content, he jogged inside where he put up 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.  His response:  “I wanted to do better, but I can’t complain.”  That’s because Frank Summers doesn’t complain.  Frank Summers just does whatever is necessary.

Speak to Summers for half an hour, and you’ll believe that there is still hope for professional sports.  There’s hope that team-first players are not yet extinct.  There’s hope that some guys are still dedicated to perfecting the small things.  Like going over 420 touches without fumbing or dropping a pass.  Not one.  There’s hope that stats and dollar signs are not the only values that define today’s professional football players.  Forget thirty minutes.  Listen to him for five, and tell me you’re not praying your team is the one that takes the safest gamble Las Vegas has ever seen.

Draft Zoo: Was there one specific measurable you really wanted to work on during your offseason conditioning?

Frank Summers: I would say the 40. I think that was the biggest one. I didn’t run track in high school, I threw shot put. So I had never really worked on form or breathing or getting a good start. So the 40 was something I really wanted to work on to show people that I’m faster than they thought.

DZ: What times were you running before training?

FS: I was running about a 4.7. I ran a 4.6 one time, but I was mostly running in that range.

DZ: A 4.58 is a great time for a big back. You’re around 240 right now, what weight did you play at in college?

FS: I played at 240. I actually weighed in at 241 at my pro day. I’m usually right in that area.

DZ: You’ve done most of your training in Sarasota? That’s where you learned to run that 4.18 shuttle?

FS: Right. I trained at O.P.T.I. with Rich Lansky. They did a great job. As far as the shuttle they really taught me to stay low and touch the lines and to explode out of each break. I think I had the explosiveness naturally. You can run [the shuttle] all day by yourself and still not do well, but there is a technique for every drill, and Rich did a great job of teaching [the techniques].

DZ: What was it like to be the featured guy at UNLV’s pro day and get to work with Steeler’s running backs coach Kirby Wilson?

FS: It was a great opportunity and a great feeling to have a great workout with the Super Bowl champs taking a look at me. [Wilson] has coached some great people, and it was a real honor to get put through his workouts.

DZ: I know he worked you hard. You put up 30 reps of 225 immediately after that, was that difficult after so much running?

FS: I’d love to say the workout had no effect on my bench press, but I think it did. The week before I did 33 reps. Obviously, there was more motivation with all of the scouts there, but after doing the 40 and the cone drills and finishing my individual workout, I ended up with 30. But I can’t complain. I just try to put my best foot forward on everything.

DZ: 30 reps is still more than most of the linemen could do at the combine. As far as moving from college to the NFL, do you think your experience transitioning from Laney Junior College to the FBS will help you deal with this transition?

FS: I think so. I’m a firm believer that a football player will produce regardless of the level or who else is around. I’m the type of player to step up my game to whatever level I’m at. I think the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game was a big example. Some of the best players in the nation were there, and I thought I did a great job of making myself known while being out there. Sometimes guys will get around a group of great players and kind of linger. But I thought I did a great job of making plays and making a name for myself with my touchdown catch in the game as well as having great practices.

DZ: You volunteered to play fullback in that game to help your team. With all of the “me first” players in the NFL right now, character and work ethic are becoming more valued traits.

FS: There are some really talented guys in the NFL. But I think character means a great deal in professional sports right now. You can have a very talented guy who might only be in the league for two or three years because he can’t stay out of trouble. I’ve never been arrested or suspended from any team. I’ve always made good grades. I think you could ask the school janitor about me, and he’d have great things to say. I treat everyone the way I want to be treated. That’s the way I was raised. It’s just respectful to treat people with respect.

As far as hard work goes, I’m a blue collar guy. I pride myself on that. Since high school, I’ve been saying to myself that no one is going to outwork me. You can’t control your athletic ability. But I can control my work ethic. I’m a firm believer that hard work pays off. I think [that attitude] has me in a great place right now.

DZ: You mentioned making good grades. Right now you’re finishing up your college degree. How important is that to you?

FS: Grades have always been important. If you don’t make the grades, you can’t play. I was the first one in my family to graduate from high school. And, this May, I’ll be the first one to graduate from college. My family is really proud of me, and I’m proud of this accomplishment too. It’s all about taking care of things so you can play. Hopefully, there will be many more people in my family graduating in the future.

DZ: After lining up at fullback in the All-Star game, what position do you see yourself playing in the NFL?

FS: To me, it doesn’t matter. I can play fullback. I love special teams. So hopefully I’ll be playing that as well. There’s a youtube clip of me playing kicker in high school and making the tackle on a kickoff. Punt and kickoff team were my two favorites. It was my time to get to hit somebody instead of people trying to hit me. I can play fullback and help the team in short yardage situations. I can step in and play tailback if I’m needed. I think I can fit in three roster spots as far being a fullback, tailback, and a special teams guy. I think I’ll be able to contribute and help the team win in any way I’m needed.

DZ: I imagine you bring a pretty big hit when you’re running the ball, too. After watching LeRon McClain lead the Ravens in rushing yards from the fullback position, is there a certain player you model your game after?

FS: I like LeRon McClain. I thought he did a great job. I watched their wild card game against Miami. There’s not one particular person though. There are so many great running backs. I watch Darren McFadden, Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson. I like to watch guys hit the long run, the home run. That’s my pride and joy. I love scoring touchdowns. Long touchdown runs are great. I think I catch people sleeping sometimes with my speed. Once I break a tackle or two and get going, I think people are always surprised at how fast I am. As far as running downhill, that’s me, it’s just a knack I’ve always had.

DZ: Is there a certain team that you have your eye on, or that you’d like to play for?

FS: There’s not a certain team. It’s all a dream, and I’d be thankful to play for any of the 32 teams. It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, at the highest level. For me to be getting closer to this opportunity, it’s still surprising. I thank God everyday that I’m in this position. So I’ll be happy playing for any team.

DZ: Do you think there should be an NFL team in Las Vegas?

FS: I would love for there to be a team here. I think if there was one, that would be my frontrunner. I love Vegas. I think all the fans would come out and support. I think it would be a great thing.

DZ: You’re not originally from Las Vegas though. Growing up in Oakland, was there one person or event that really made you realize football was a passion?

FS: Growing up, I was raised by my mother and my grandmother. My grandmother took me every summer, and she put me in every sport imaginable. I started off playing hockey. A lot of people don’t know that. I went ice skating one night and loved it, so I asked my mom to sign me up. I played basketball and baseball too. But I was a little scared of the ball. Which no one believes.

DZ: Wait a minute, a 240 pound power back, scared of the baseball. Okay, I’ll admit, I had the same problem.

FS: People are surprised by that. They say, ‘you can take a hit from a 250 pound linebacker, but you’re scared of a little ball?’ But I played everything. Tennis, golf, swimming, and I had trophies for all of them. I loved trophies. When I was in the sixth grade, I was looking around my room, and I noticed that I didn’t have a football trophy. So that was my motivation to play football – I wanted a trophy. I knew that football was expensive and that my mother didn’t have the money, so I washed cars and mowed lawns all summer, and saved up enough to play. When the time rolled around, my mother took me to sign up, and I was 30 pounds too heavy to be on the team. The money was non-refundable so I decided to lose the weight. I practiced with a plastic bag on. When we got our equipment, I put it on and ran everywhere in it. There was a lake near our house that was three miles around, and I ran it everyday in full pads. In a months time I had lost 32 pounds. I was running everyday. When it came time to weigh in, I was two pounds under the limit. That was a great accomplishment for me. I think that’s when I really started to learn the value of hard work. I had to eat right, and I really learned how to do all of the little things that make you successful. I ended up playing offensive and defensive line, and I loved it. From that point on, football was a passion for me. I try to enjoy every minute of it.

DZ: I think it paid off. You’re the only player in UNLV history to lead the team in rushing and receiving touchdowns in one season, and you’ve now gone over 420 touches without a fumble or a dropped pass.

FS: Since I was little, my mom has always played catch with me. And I think one of the biggest things I’ve taken from other running backs is the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. One of the best examples I’ve seen is Ladainian Tomlinson. And before him, it was Marshall Faulk. That’s what separated them from the rest of the running backs – they were catching the ball. The more times you can get the ball in your hands, the more opportunities you’ll have to make plays. I figure [scouts] know I’m 240 and [scouts] know I’m a downhill runner, but I can catch. So, instead of a coach having to take me out [in passing situations] they can leave me in the game. I want to be the best option no matter what play the coach draws up. To stay in the game you have to catch the ball. On screens, or deeper routes. I take great pride in not dropping the ball, and turning up field after catching it.  Two of our longest passes at UNLV were to me. They were three yard flat routes, and I took them the rest of the way. I told our quarterback, ‘Hey, if you throw me the ball and I run for 50 extra yards, the stats won’t say Frank Summers: three yard catch and 50 yard run, they’ll say Omar Clayton: 53 yard touchdown pass.

DZ: What about holding onto the ball in the rushing game?

FS: When I was at Cal, we (the running backs) were coached by Ron Gould. One game, I remember J.J. Arrington fumbled and Coach Gould took him out. Then Marshawn Lynch fumbled and he got taken out. So Coach Gould stuck Justin Forsett in there and the other two guys never made it back into the game. I knew right then that if I fumbled, I wouldn’t get onto the field. And if you’re not on the field, you can’t make plays. I’m a team guy, and I would hate to lose a game or give the other team momentum by turning the ball over. If you turn it over, you won’t see the field, and I want to be on the field making plays.

DZ: Turnovers definitely played a part in this year’s BCS title game. A lot of scouts are down on him, but do you think Tim Tebow can play QB in the NFL?

FS: I think Tim Tebow is a great athlete. I think we both have had to deal with people wanting us to play different positions. But I think I’m a hard worker, and a good athlete as well. I think it’s good motivation to get to prove people wrong about you. I think Tebow will be able to play his position in the NFL. Somebody will take him. That’s what I’m hoping for. A chance to play and be good enough to make people think they should have taken me. It’s okay, there are doubters in every aspect of life, and there are people like me to overcome those doubts. I just take it as a challenge, and I’m sure he does the same thing because he keeps winning.

DZ: Leadership is a big part of overcoming adversity. You’ve been a leader throughout your career. Is there a particular leadership style that you find most effective?

FS: I think that leading by example is important. That goes back to working hard and doing all the little things necessary to be successful. There is a time to be a verbal leader too, but you can’t do that without being a good example. I like to talk to my teammates about what’s going on in their lives off the field. I think that sometimes [non-football issues] can affect how a guy plays. I just want to communicate with my teammates and let them know that if there’s anything I can do for them, I’m there for them.

DZ: Alright, one last question. You’re nickname is “Frank the Tank.” Have you ever seen Old School?

FS: Yeah, I’ve seen it. [laughs]. I saw it on the way back from a JUCO game. It was funny to see the nickname in a movie. A lot of guys made some jokes after we saw it. It was funny because my mom’s being calling me that since I was a little kid.

Alright, so you’re the original. I’ll let Will Ferrel know that he’s got some competition for the name. Thanks for your time, Frank, and good luck with the draft.  For the rest of you, check out some vintage Frank Summers highlights.  Especially the one 38 seconds in when he trucks some scrub from USC.

College Pro Day Results — March 16th

No way Al Davis can catch me.

More Pro Day hilarity.  And some insights.  They balance each other out pretty nicely I think.  Just read the article.

Oh, and by the way, NFLDraft101.com’s Chris Maier just posted a new three round mock.  His drafts are always good, and this one is no different.

BYU — WR Austin Collie didn’t do much more than he had already done in Indy.  He posted a 4.55 40, and he benched 225 pounds 17 times.  He did mention that he felt he hit his expected marks, and he felt he performed much better in the position drills.  Collie is a poor man’s Brian Robiskie if you ask me.  He’s pretty polished, but he lacks explosiveness and will be a possession type guy.  OG Travis Bright upped his bench reps from 34 to 35.  Both of those numbers are pretty impressive.  He’s a late round prospect with good upside as a run blocker.  Scouts were treated to strange Mormon food and a projector screen viewing of the latest episode of HBO’s Big Love.

Maryland — WR Darrius Heyward Bey was great in position drills.  He stood on his combine 40 time, but elected to run routes and catch the ball, which he did very well.  DHB displayed great hands and looked to be a very smooth runner.  I hate to say it, but I’m getting the feeling that Oakland will be targeting him in round one.  I know as well as anyone that 7th overall is too high, but this is Oakland we’re talking about.  Just don’t be surprised.  CB Kevin Barnes ran two sub 4.5 40s (4.45 and 4.49).  He doesn’t have the greatest hips in the world.  But he could be a nice fit for a team that runs a lot of cover two, which would take advantage of his straight line speed.  G Jaimie Thomas continues to fly under the radar a bit, but he’ll come off the board sooner than most casual fans expect.  He has great size and versatility, and he had a 28 inch VERT and an 8 foot BROAD.  That should come in handy for all those plays when he’s asked to jump as high and far as he can.  Should be fun to watch.

Oklahoma State — TE Brandon Pettigrew modeled a gray hooded sweatshirt for scouts at OSU’s pro day.  He said he has a grade 1 hamstring strain in his right leg.  Still, he implored the coaches not to worry about his 40 time, claiming to have run a 4.68 last spring.  Scouts quickly sighed, looked relieved and decided it was probably best just to take his word for it.  One Lions scout mentioned, “He looked real good in that sweatshirt.”  Pettigrew said he is undergoing intense rehab and hopes to get a chance to run again before the draft.  I hope so, too.  CB Jacob Lacey ran a 4.45, and that was pretty much it for the whole day.  No one was there to see Lacey anyway.

Texas Tech — The biggest news from this pro day came a few days back when WR Michael Crabtree announced that he will undergo surgery and will not be running a 40 time before the combine.  He should have just done what Brandon Pettigrew did and make up a time.  Then he wouldn’t have to worry.  He could claim a 4.2 and go on with his life.  OT Rylan Reed actually managed to get injured.  He was carried off the field after apparently dislocating his kneecap.  Sounds awful.  I wish him the best.  He did put up 44 reps of 225 before getting hurt.  G Louis Vasquez ran consecutive 5.22 40s.  He also had a 30.5 inch VERT and and 8-7 BROAD.  DE Brandon Williams ran a 4.80 and a 4.81.  Not bad, but not blazing.  I’m not sure this guy has the strength to hold up against any type of rushing game at the next level.  Texas Tech’s defense was one of the worst I’ve ever seen all year long.  S Darcel McBath ran a 4.53 and a 4.54.  He also weighed an even 200 pounds and had a 10 foot BROAD.  Finally, QB Graham Harrell continued his quest to become an undrafted free agent by struggling through the position drills.  For a guy with subpar arm strength and a system QB stigma, he is really hurting himself by being inaccurate.  Not Rylan Reed hurt, but emotionally hurt.

Troy — S/CB Sherrod Martin ran a 4.46 40.  He’ll be drafted as either a project corner or a free safety who isn’t asked to play near the line…ever.

Wyoming — RB Devin Moore is suffering from high expectations.  He was supposed to be a legit low to mid 4.3 guy, but he could only manage a 4.41.  That’s pretty ridiculous that he’s taking heat for running faster than any RB actually invited to the combine, but still he’s small and he’ll likely be a late round pick now because of that dreadful “fastest time in this class” 40.  Weird.

Ohio State — CB/S Malcolm Jenkins continued to disappoint in the 40.  He was timed in the 4.46 – 4.53 range, which is not good at all considering the Ohio State track usually gives runners a .07 – .1 second bonus.  He’ll probably be a safety in NFL teams’ eyes now, though I’m still convinced he CAN play some corner in the right system.  But even Jenkins appeared ready to accept the position change calling it a “positive.”  He’s still the top DB in the draft.  RB Chris Wells is closing the gap on Knowshon Moreno…for now.  He ran in the 4.34-4.46 range which is a vast improvement over his combine 4.59.  Apparently Wells has been working out as late as 10 pm some days in an effort to drop his numbers.  But until he’s implanted with whatever they gave Arnold Schwartzenegger in The Sixth Day, I still view him as a big time injury risk, and he will need a quick complementary back to be successful.  MLB James Laurinaitis ran a little bit better, but not great, posting times in the 4.68-4.78 range.  This is a guy who can’t be graded on measurables alone.  He’s a talented football player, and if you watch film of their USC game, you can see how strong he is at the point of attack.  He’ll be a steal for someone now that he’s likely fallen out of the first round.  Worst case, he can probably get you his dad’s autograph which will at least get him drafted into the XFL.  WR Brian Robiskie ran in the 4.5 range.  He was faster in Indy, but he is still one of the most polished receivers in this class.  He’ll be ready to contribute very early.

New Four Round NFL Mock Draft — March 16

Check out the NEW Logo!

ROUND 1 ROUND 2 ROUND 3 ROUND 4 ROUND 5 ROUND 6 ROUND 7

ROUNDS 5-7 ARE NOT UPDATED YET!!!  ONLY ROUNDS 1-4 ARE NEW.  THE OTHER ROUNDS WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, SO CHECK BACK.  ROUNDS 1-4 HAVE BEEN UPDATED TODAY!!!

3/15/09

With all the craziness in free agency and trades, this mock has seen a lot changes in the first four rounds.  Now that the Patriots have three second round picks, it’s even harder to project exactly who will benefit and who will be hurt by the reshaping of the draft landscape.  But I tried.  And I did a pretty damn good job, if I do say so myself.  And I do.

I promise rounds 5-7 will be up soon.  Just be patient.  Now.

As always, new picks in GREEN.

Lions

1.  DET — Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia, 6022 225, 4.84 — Stafford is still the top pick.  The Lions have too much money tied up in their current offensive line to spend anymore on Jason Smith with the first pick.  I still think there’s an all-timer of an outside chance that someone falls in love with Stafford, or more likely Jason Smith, and trades up here, but if the Lions stay put, then it has to be Stafford.  The best I’ve heard it said:  they need a new face for their franchise since Matt Millen is still the Lions’ mugshot and he’s not even employed by the team.  Welcome to Detroit Matthew Stafford.  Don’t trip on Joey Harrington’s body.

Rams

2.  STL — Jason Smith, OT, Baylor, 6050 309, 5.22 — After all the dust has settled, this Smith is now the unquestioned top OT in the draft.  He’s quick.  He’s got great length.  He plays with a nasty mean streak.  And his ceiling is lofty considering he’s a converted tight end with great success in limited time at the position.  The combine was kind to Smith, and he was great in the interrogation room.  The Rams have to find a successor for Orlando Pace, and this guy should be an achor for about 10-15 years.  If Marc Bulger is ever going to be successful again, the Rams have to find a way to keep him upright.

Chiefs

3.  KC — Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest, 6016 254, 4.56 — When you’re already considered possibly the best prospect in the draft, it’s helpful to run faster than more than half of the cornerbacks at the combine.  Curry is not a guy who will be on Sportscenter every night, but there are no weaknesses to his game.  He is incredibly gifted athletically, and with the speed he showed in Indy, he should help the Chiefs actually get some pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  Now that Matt Cassell is the QB, Kansas City can focus on their defense, and with Curry they get a guy who can pair with Derrick Johnson to give them an excellent linebacking corps for years.  He’ll be a great fit in the new 3-4, whether he lines up inside or out.

Seahawks

4.  SEA — Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech, 6013 215, ??? — Cory Redding all but eliminates the possibility of this pick being BJ Raji.  I don’t think Redding is the answer at all, and neither is Colin Cole, but hey who knows?  The Seahawks need another receiver despite picking up TJ Houshmandzadeh.  TJH will be 32 during the season, he’s never had to be THE guy, and he’s playing in a new system.  I think he’ll be great in Seattle, but he won’t be around forever.  Crabtree would be pretty much the only other WR on this team.  Crabtree doesn’t have elite deep speed, but his blend of body control and ability to pluck the ball out of the air will make him a rare safety valve who doubles as an electrifying playmaker.  He’ll help Hasselbeck get back to form.

Browns

5.  CLE — Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas, 6030 263, 4.70 — The Cassell trade hurts the Browns here.  Until now, it looked like Aaron Curry might slide to this spot giving Cleveland a new inside linebacker to solidify the middle of their D.  Now it looks like they’ll have to build from the outside in.  Orakpo should fit excellently as an outside linebacker or a rush end in the Browns’ 3-4.  Everette Brown got some consideration here, but Orakpo has better measurables and has a better shot at holding up in he has to play from the line.  Cleveland managed only 17 sacks last season and Orakpo was better at getting to the quarterback than just about anyone in 2008. 

Bengals

6.  CIN — Eugene Monroe, OT, UVA, 6052 309, 5.16 — The Bengals shouldn’t consider anyone else.  If Monroe is available here, you take him.  This O line is awful and Carson Palmer will never be the same again if someone isn’t drafted to protect him.  Monroe wasn’t quite as impressive as Smith, but he is clearly the number two OT in the draft, and is well worth this pick.  Teams with major rebuilding projects (like the Dolphins and Browns a couple years ago) have made major strides by selecting an OT, and the Bengals should follow suit.  Jason Smith may have the highest ceiling at the position, but Monroe isn’t far off and is probably the safest tackle in the draft. 

Raiders

7.  OAK — BJ Raji, DT, Boston College, 6014 337, 5.13 — Awesome news Raiders fans.  Unless Oakland was impressed by Maclin’s 4.45, which trust me Al Davis wasn’t, they might luck into a smart pick here despite their best efforts.  Raji is a great pick here.  Oakland needs a lot of help in the middle of their defense.  They have no DTs that should be starting at the professional level.  Raji is still rising, and Al Davis will wet himself if he sees the video of the wide DT using one Notre Dame player to tackle another.  He has a big frame and can hold up against the run, but he also has the quickness and elite push to collapse the pocket and take heat off of Derrick Burgess when he’s trying to rush the passer.

Jaguars

8.  JAX — Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri, 6001 198, 4.45 — The Jaguars would have lucked into making a smart pick here despite there best efforts if Crabtree was still available.  Maclin is a big time reach for Jacksonville with the eighth pick, but hey that didn’t stop them from taking Derrick Harvey.  Matt Jones is a huge fan of prison food and blow, so he decided to get all crazy high on his way to his favorite Arkansas penitentiary cafeteria.  While he’s chowing down and reminiscing with old gang mates, the Jags still need a WR more than ever.    Maclin does have great speed, and he can possibly become the deep threat the Jags lack.  But he ran so many short routes in college that I’m not sold on him.  Worst case, though, he ends up pushing for the starting kick returner job.  Previous pick:  Malcolm Jenkins

Packers

9.  GB — Everette Brown, OLB, FSU, 6014 256, 4.73 — There’s no question that the Packers need help getting to the quarterback.  They have a few linemen who should rotate around the front of their new 3-4 alignment, so the pass rushing help will have to come from the outside linebacker spot.  Watch some film of Brown and you’ll see that he is extraordinarily adept at getting to the quarterback.  Especially when he comes from a standing position.  Brown is a violent tackler who plays with speed beyond his 40 time.  If anyone is going to help the Packers get pressure on opposing QBs, its Brown.  This pick looks like a lock if Raji is off the board, which he will be.

49ers

10.  SF — Mark Sanchez, QB, 6021 227, 4.88 — The 49ers are going to have a hard time passing on Sanchez now that he should be available per the Cassell trade.  Mike Singletary has publicly stated that he wants a pass rusher and a pass blocker in the early stages of the draft, but you don’t pass on a potential franchise QB when Shaun Hill is holding off Alex Smith as your starter.  Sanchez is a little raw maybe, but his upside is amazing, and his hands are bigger than Smith’s so he should be able to hold on to the ball.  The Niners can get a pass blocker and a pass rusher in later rounds.  The only time they can get a QB like Sanchez is right here.

Bills

11.  BUF — Aaron Maybin, DE, 6036 249, 4.89 — The Bills have a few needs that must be adressed early on.  They need a tight end, a pass rusher, and a center.  The only position worth looking at with the eleventh pick is DE.  Maybin is a little undersized, but he is taller than I expected, and I think he’s a good fit in the 4-3.  He really stepped up this year and became a pass rushing terror for a great Penn St defense.  The Bills had good success with former Nittany Lion Paul Posluszny so I think they will be comfortable taking Maybin here.  If he can generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, this defense should be vastly improved, and the team should avoid another monumental meltdown.

Broncos

12.  DEN — Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, 6042 296, 4.91 — The Broncos have been very active this offseason, and a few of their top needs like MLB, CB, and S have been addressed.  The one position that still needs filling in the new 3-4 that is worth fixing here is DE.  Jackson is not as fast as some of the other guys at his position, but he is the best pure 3-4 DE in the draft.  Denver cannot be successful defensively in the new alignment with guys like Elvis Dumervil at end.  Jackson is strong against the run and is deceptively adept at getting to the QB.  He will be a great fit for the Broncos.

Redskins

13.  WAS — Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss, 6044 309, 5.32 — The Redskins took care of a major need by overpaying for Albert Haynesworth.  Now that the DT position is solidified, it’s time to take care of the O line.  Oher is a tricky selection here.  Some would say Andre Smith makes more sense, but Chris Samuels will eventually need to be replaced and I don’t think Andre has the lateral quickness to play Left Tackle as a pro.  Oher has been up and down all offseason, but he was impressive in Mobile, and I think he can man the right side before eventually taking over for Samuels at LT.  With all the top DEs gone, Oher is the only selection that makes sense.

Saints

14.  NO — Malcolm Jenkins, CB, 6001 204, 4.46 — I don’t care if Tracy Porter is coming back.  In fact, I don’t care if Deion Sanders found the fountain of youth and agrees to play for the Saints for free.  New Orleans needs to finally address the corner position in round one.  Jenkins is dropping some, but it’s more the fault of his stiff hips than his 40 time.  He did succeed at corner during his entire Ohio State career, however, and I belive that he can continue to play that spot in the NFL.  But, if he is forced to move to safety, he still fills a huge need for New Orleans.  In fact, with the signing of Jabari Greer from Buffalo, that may be what the Saints draft him to play.  Regardless, New Orleans has an awful secondary, and they need this pick.  They have been burned in free agency before (Jason David, Randall Gay).  Previous pick:  Vontae Davis

Texans

15.  HOU — Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, 5113 203, 4.49 — I’ve had Sean Smith here for a while, and even though I am the only one, I still think that would be a good pick.  Unless Davis is available.  Davis is now the unquestioned number one true corner on most team’s boards after looking much more fluid than Jenkins in Indy.  The Texans franchised Dunta Robinson, but they have a group of subpar and serviceable guys competing for the corner spot opposite him.  After signing Antonio Smith, this is now one of the top need positions, and Davis has the athletic potential to develop into a steal in the middle of round one.  If he can ever find some consistency then the Texans will be able to evenly matchup with all those Colts receivers.  The Titans and Jaguars don’t have any receivers.  Previous pick:  Sean Smith

Chargers

16.  SD — Andre Smith, OT, Alabama, 6040 332, ??? — I’ve had Peria Jerry here for a long time, and with Igor Olshansky now gone, that could happen.  But if Smith falls to them here, the Chargers can’t pass on him.  Sure there are lots of concerns now that he has behaved like a weirdo all offseason, but to get a guy who was at one point the top prospect in scouts’ eyes with the 16th pick is just too good to pass up.  The Chargers need help on the right side of their line and Smith looks like a solid right tackle.  He’s got great size and strength and should keep Ladainian Tomlinson near the top of the league for a few more years.  There’s still a good chance that he’ll be gone by this spot, but if he’s not, he will have to become a Charger.

Jets

17.  NYJ — Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia, 5105 217, 4.60 — The Jets look to me like they have solidified 90% of their defense through free agency.  The only missing link now is a starting corner opposite Darrelle Revis, but the corner class this year is much deeper than the running back class.  Which is why Moreno will be the pick.  No matter who lines up at QB, a strong running game will take some pressure off of him.  Thomas Jones had a good year, but he’s getting old.  Adding Moreno to the mix along with Leon Washington (who is going to get more carries this year) will give the Jets one of the best rushing attacks in the league.  Moreno should eventually take over as the starter, but even if he splits carries with Washington his whole career it won’t be all that bad considering the recent successes of two-back systems.

Bears

18.  CHI — Darrius Heyward Bey, WR, 6015 210, 4.30 — With Maclin off the board, a lot of guys have Robert Ayers here.  I hope for the sake of all Bears’ fans that that doesn’t happen.  Ayers is the most overrated guy in the whole draft in my opinion — he never produced.  I think the Bears still go receiver.  They need a deep threat, and have since Bernard Berrian left.  Heyward Bey is the fastest player in the draft, and after watching film of him he looks like a better route runner than most think.  Devin Hester played well down the stretch, but if Lovie Smith ever wants Kyle Orton to be better than really bad, he has to give him some weapons in the passing game.  Heyward Bey is a bit raw, but he has the potential to be an incredible player at the next level, and will easily be the best receiver on this team.  Previous pick:  Jeremy Maclin

Buccaneers

19.  TB — Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St, 6056 248, 4.97 — Bringing in Derrick Ward pretty much eliminated the possibility of this pick being a running back.  And it’s been said that a new regime usually means a new quarterback.  Freeman is the unquestioned number three QB in the draft, and I’ve been saying for a while that he would likely sneak into round one so here he is.  There isn’t a more physically imposing passer in the draft, and Freeman is suprisingly agile for a such a big guy with a rocket arm.  Tampa Bay let Jeff Garcia go, and I can’t buy that any of the current guys left on the roster are the answer.  Receiver is a possibility, but they won’t find another QB in the draft as talented as Freeman.

Lions

20.  DET — Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC, 6016 249, 4.83 — After all that, it still looks like Maualuga will be the first USC linebacker off the board.  Paris Lenon and Jordan Dizon just plain suck.  The Lions have to find a new inside backer if their defense is ever going to be better than a powder puff squad.  Maualuga may not measure as well as some guys, but he is a vicious tackler who can make plays all over the field.  He might be a better fit in a 3-4, but I think that MLB is a bigger need than OLB.  Even drafting Clay Matthews or Brian Cushing would leave a major hole in the middle.  If Maualuga drops this far, the Lions would be crazy not to grab him.  Suddenly, with the Julian Peterson signing, the Lions have a great linebacking corps.

Eagles

21.  PHI — Chris Wells, RB, Ohio St, 6010 235, 4.59 — Sure they need two offensive tackles, but they just signed Stacy Andrews which means they likely won’t spend first pick money on another OT with this pick.  The Eagles struggled to convert short yardage and goal line situations last year, and now that Correll Buckhalter is gone, there is no back on this team who can pick up the tough yards.  Wells is a bruiser who would be a great complement to the quick Brian Westbrook.  If the Eagles can start converting third and short, they will be a lot more successful at keeping drives alive.

Vikings

22.  MIN — Alex Mack, C, California, 6037 311, ??? — The Vikings need an offensive tackle to man the right side, and every mock I see has them taking a receiver, but Im okay with Berrian, and Rice should be much better this year.  There is always at least one interior lineman in the first round, and Mack is really rising up draft boards.  The Vikings were successful with the tandem of Steve Hutchinson and Matt Birk, and now that Birk is gone, they have to get a replacement.  This is a deep center class, so they could address this need later, but Mack is clearly the top guy at the position, and I don’t think they want to slow the momentum of their rushing attack.  This is a guy who should start from day one, and will be a pro bowler for a while.  Previous pick:  Jamon Meredith

Patriots

23.  NE — Brian Cushing, LB, USC, 6027 243, 4.79 — The Patriots are in dire need of some young blood at LB.  They did just sign Tully Banta Cain, but he is serviceable at best, and even if he lines up on the outside, Cushing has shown the versatility to play inside next to Jared Mayo if needed.  Cushing has rocketed up draft boards with his play in Mobile and his tenacity.  He should be a perfect fit in Boston.  It wouldn’t surprise me too much to see the Pats go corner here, but I gotta believe it would be hard to pass on a guy who can play more than one position for your defense which is a trait the Pats covet.

Falcons

24.  ATL — Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss, 6017 299, ??? — The Falcons have been desperate for a dominant DT for a long time.  Taking Matt Ryan over Glenn Dorsey may have been the right choice, but it still left a gaping hole in the middle of their D line.  Jerry is a lot like Dorsey, but may be better value here than Dorsey was with the third pick last year.  If he can clog the middle and effectively take on blockers, then the new faces at LB will have a much easier time replacing departed starts Michael Boley and Keith Brooking.  He may not last this long, but if he does he will be a perfect fit for Atlanta.

Dolphins

25.  MIA — Clay Matthews, OLB, USC, 6031 240, 4.67 — The Dolphins need a corner, but they also really need an outside LB.  Everywhere Bill Parcells has been he has built his defenses on standout LBs.  Joey Porter’s play really trailed off at the end of last season, and he may be nearing the end of his great career.  On the other side, Matt Roth is improving, but he is certainly not above an upgrade.  Matthews has seen his stock rise perhaps more than any other prospect, and his motor that never quits running.  He’s a hard worker that should excel as a rush linebacker in the 3-4, especiallysince he spent some time at DE at USC.

Ravens

26.  BAL — Darius Butler, CB, UConn, 5104 183, 4.53 — The Ravens were clearly in need of a corner in the playoff loss to Pittsburgh.  Sure, they just signed Dominique Foxworth, and yeah he’ll likely start, but I don’t think there is anyway the Ravens can go into the season with no contingency plan should one of their starters go down.  Butler is moving up draft boards, and I believe that he will sneak into the bottom of the first round.  His 40 at his pro day should solidify that.  He can start off as a nickel back for Baltimore, and I belive that before the season ends, he may push Foxworth into that role.  Plus he can help fill the kick returner void left by Jim Leonhard.

Colts

27.  IND — Percy Harvin, WR, Florida, 5111 192, 4.41 — The Colts definitely need a receiver now that Marvin Harrison is no longer a member of the team.  Hakeem Nicks will get some consideration here, but Harvin is a better fit.  His speed and quickness make him a perfect peg to line up in the slot and will give Peyton Manning yet another weapon to work with.  I know there are concerns about his route running ability, but the Colts will find plenty of ways to utilize his athelticism.  They like speedy receivers (Anthony Gonzalez) and Harvin is no different.

Eagles

28.  PHI — Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St, 6053 263, 4.85 — He may have been overshadowed by Jared Cook at the combine, but Pettigrew is still the most complete tight end in the draft.  The Eagles have long needed a big target for the redzone, and Pettigrew is bigger than Cook, and has had better success as a part of the passing game.  He is also a very capable blocker which will be a big help to an Eagles team that has had trouble moving defenders out of the way.  I just don’t think any OTs are worth this pick now, and the Eagles will find someone later in the draft with the girth Andy Reid likes in his tackles.

Giants

29.  NYG — Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC, 6006 212, 4.49 — Nicks is nowhere near as big as the guy he’ll be replacing, Plaxico Burress, but he plays big.  The Giants now need a receiver more than anything with the signing of Chris Canty.  Canty’s prescence likely means that Mathias Kiawanuka will be headed back to linebacker.  Nicks ran a great time in Indy, which softened concerns about his ability to be a number one receiver in the pros.  There may not be a player in the entire draft with his body control and hand-eye coordination.  He should become a very reliable target for Eli Manning.  James Laurinaitis will get some consideration here.

Titans

30.  TEN — Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest, 5090 193, 4.56 — The Titans have a few big holes on defense now that Eric King and Albert Haynesworth are gone.  And a receiver has been a big need since Warren Moon played for the Oilers, but they just signed Jovan Haye and Nate Washington so corner looks like the most glaring need that matches up with value here.  Smith is a bit smaller, but the Titans had no problem taking Pacman Jones with a much higher pick.  Smith is the ACC’s career interception leader and has the big play ability that could make the Titans’ secondary as strong as it needs to be in a division with the Colts (Reggie Wayne) and Texans (Andre Johnson).

Cardinals

31.  ARI — Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech, 6067 266, 4.75 — Now that Antonio Smith has gone to play for the Texans, a weak pass rush has gotten even weaker.  Sure, Johnson has been accused of never playing up to his ability, but the Cardinals have a history of taking physical freaks who underachieved in college (see: Calais Campbell).  If Johnson ever plays up to his immense potential (which he didn’t really fail to do as a senior, in my opinion) he could end up being a huge steal here for the Cards.  They have to get better as pressuring the other team’s passer.  Running back is still a need, but LeSean McCoy has probably slipped out of round one, and I just don’t see Donald Brown making it into round one.  Previous pick:  LeSean McCoy

Steelers

32.  PIT — Jamon Meredith, OT, S Carolina, 6045 305, 5.03 — It all comes down to who the Steelers have rated higher, Alex Mack if he’s available, Eben Britton, or Jamon Meredith.  With Mack off the board, it becomes one of the tackles.  The Steelers re-signed both of their starters from their Super Bowl win, and I think that they will be looking for a guy with some versatility.  Meredith played a good bit of guard for South Carolina, and that ability will probably give him the nod here.  The Steelers were hurt against Arizona by weak interior line play.  Remember how many times Darnell Docket got into the backfield?  Pittsburgh drafts value more than need better than just about any team around, and they should find a nice combination of the two with Meredith.  Previous pick:  Eben Britton