DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2013 NFL Season NFL Draft (2013) Millner

Sounds right to me. There's no award for getting the "best" player at a position. We need a good number 2 corner to complement Haden. Milliner isn't the only good one. Having Trufant/Rhodes and an extra second to pick up a really good player (could be Okafor, Elam, Kelce, Brown, Woods) would offer more value to the team than just Milliner.

We could also have one of the best CB tandems if we draft Rhodes. And we would also pick up more picks.

Another reason we should trade down if Milliner is on the board is because we could demand more from our trade partner because we don't have to trade the pick. If Milliner is gone we lose a little leverage.

I disagree, If Milliner is gone, that means that one of the OT's is available or Geno Smith. I think we sit in a good spot to pick up a couple of picks.

There is a chance that all three of those guys are available when we pick.

1. Joeckel/Fisher
2. Jordan
3. Floyd
4. Joeckel/Fisher
5. Ansah

That isn't that far fetched.

Alabama's Dee Milliner says he and Cleveland Brown Joe Haden would be great combination

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
April 11, 2013

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Alabama's Dee Milliner is confident he and Joe Haden will form the best cornerback tandem in the NFL if the Browns tab him with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft.

"I really think we can," Milliner said in a phone interview today. "Not to be cocky or anything, but I think we'd be two really dynamic players who could go out and do great things for this defense."

Can he think of another pair that'd top them?

"No, not right now, I don't think so," he said. "Oh man, that would be awesome. I think we'd make a great combo and we'd accomplish some great things together."

Milliner, the undisputed premier cornerback in this draft, had the thrill of meeting former first-rounder Haden on Monday when he paid a pre-draft visit to the Browns. The two sat down and chatted, and Milliner watched one of his film heroes come to life.

"I study the top cornerbacks in the league to see what techniques I can put into my arsenal," Milliner. "I've watched film of guys like Champ Bailey, Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson and Joe. Joe has great fundamentals and he's definitely going to be one of the great DBs in the game. I really enjoyed meeting him. I've played against him, but have never really gotten a chance to talk to him."

What would it mean to have the two roaming the defensive backfield together?

"I definitely think we'd be a playoff contender," Milliner said.

Haden isn't the only Browns star Milliner connected with during his visit and would love to play with. A selection by the Browns would mean a reunion with former Alabama teammate Trent Richardson, with whom Milliner won one of his two national championships.

"I spent a lot of time with Trent when I was in Cleveland," said Milliner. "He told me how great it is here and how much I'd love it. We talked about we talked about how great it would be to play on the same team again and lead another team to a championship."

Milliner (6-0, 201) laughed when told of Richardson's in-season remark that defensive backs often avoid tackling him because they "don't want any trouble."

"That's true," Milliner said. "He's like tackling a Mack truck. But going against Trent in practice is the main reason I became a more physical tackler. He's so big and strong, he prepared me really well for what I'll face in the NFL."

The Browns weren't able to conduct a private workout with Milliner because he underwent surgery March 12 to repair a torn labrum. But he's confident he'll be full-strength by training camp "or sometime in August at the latest. I'm working really hard to get back as fast as I can."

But Milliner, one of at least a half-dozen players the Browns are considering with their top pick, played so well last season and ran so fast at the NFL Combine that he's a sure top 10 pick -- and maybe top five -- even without the workouts. He blazed a 4.37 in the 40 -- second fastest among cornerbacks.

"I've run faster, and think I could've done better, but overall, I was happy with my time," he said.

According to STATS, Inc, opposing quarterbacks completed just 40.6 percent of their attempts against Milliner, and he yielded only two TDs in 69 targets. He's had only five interceptions the past two seasons, but tied for first in the country with 22 pass breakups in 2012.

"I think there will be plenty of opportunities for interceptions in the NFL," he said. "Especially if Joe and I are on the field together."

ESPN Sports Science also studied Milliner and rated him off the charts athletically. He ranked in the 92nd percentile of athletes they've studied, which put him between Pro Bowlers Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie. His acceleration topped that of Adrian Peterson his change of direction matched Cromartie's. His 41-inch vertical leap and his ability to cover the out-route ranked among the best ever.

"I was really happy with how all of that came out," he said. "Whether or not it helped my draft status, you never know."

Not only does Milliner consider himself the best defensive back in the draft, he also feels worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. Of the last 10 drafts, only two cornerbacks have gone in the top five: Peterson in 2011 and Terence Newman 2003.

"I think I could be (worth the No. 1 overall)," he said. "I bring a lot to the table, the way I go about preparing and making plays, the physical style I play. A team wouldn't be sorry."

NFL Network's Mike Mayock has become more impressed with Milliner throughout the pre-draft process.

"What I see on tape is a tough instinctive guy who tackles, which I love," Mayock said. "I love a corner that will tackle. When you come out of Nick Saban's Alabama program, especially when you're a defensive back which Nick takes a big interest in as a former defensive back coach, you are well-coached. He understands zone concepts, he plays man-to-man, he presses, he tackles."

Saban also has a good relationship with Browns GM Mike Lombardi, and will give him a thorough appraisal. Question is, will the Browns Roll 'Tide again come April 25th?

this is good for other Free Agents to see:

"I spent a lot of time with Trent when I was in Cleveland," said Milliner. "He told me how great it is here and how much I'd love it. We talked about we talked about how great it would be to play on the same team again and lead another team to a championship."

the funny part is I still can't figure out if the "we talked about" was supposed to be in there twice or if it was not

I think the move towards online publishing has resulted in less (or worse) copy editing ... I notice lots more errors in internet news reporting than in the days of print news.

Nice interview...I'm curious what is written after other visits he has with other teams. Is it the same excitement - is he just a good diplomat?

I am pretty sure we are targeting 2 players at #6. Millner n Ansah. Hope we get one of our guys!

JMHO

If that's the case, and it certainly seems to be, then you go with Millner. Millner is faster, the same build, and has more room to grow.

I love Millner, and I love his attitude on everything. He and Joe Haden would be the perfect fit in the defensive back field and we could match up fairly easily with other teams.

Quote:

---

"I spent a lot of time with Trent when I was in Cleveland," said Milliner. "He told me how great it is here and how much I'd love it. "

---

Just don't invite anyone from Maple Heights over.

Eagles cancel visit with Dee Milliner

The Eagles have the fourth overall pick and they have visited with plenty of the players expected to go early in the first round of the draft, but they won’t be meeting with the man considered to be the best cornerback in this year’s class.

Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner told Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer that the Eagles cancelled a scheduled visit this week. The Eagles have signed Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher to help replace the departed Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but they are expected to make some further additions to the unit via the draft.

Canceling Milliner’s visit could be seen as a sign that he won’t be one of those additions, especially with the Eagles spending lots of time talking to offensive and defensive linemen recently. Of course, one can only take so much at face value in the silly season that leads up to the draft so the cancellation could also be regarded as a smokescreen designed to keep others from learning of any Philly interest in Milliner’s services.

Milliner has met with plenty of other teams picking in the top 10 and he’s expected to be off the board early in the first day whether or not the Eagles are the team picking him.

(link)

So they're taking him then...

So is Chip Kelly going to go for two after his first draft pick?

Milliner may not be ready for start of camp

PFT

Report: League personnel think Milliner reports part of “smear campaign” to lower draft stock

Posted by Curtis Crabtree
April 23, 2013, 12:17 AM EDT

‘Tis the season for misinformation with the NFL draft just three days away and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner could be the latest prospect to find himself in the crosshairs.

A report came out Monday saying that Milliner may not be ready for the start of training camp as he continues to recover from a surgery to his labrum following the NFL combine. If true, it’s increasingly more likely that Milliner, considered the top defensive back in the draft, could slip during the first round on Thursday night.

However, the validity of that information may be tough to determine this close to the draft. In fact, those around the NFL are already questioning it.

“Teams have known about these surgeries all along,” a source told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “They haven’t been a secret and this is not a big issue.”

Per Cabot, those she has talked to believe the negative reports are part of a smear campaign against Milliner in hopes of dropping his draft stock. A team hopeful to snag Milliner later in the draft could be pushing the narrative of his recovery not going to plan in hopes teams would shy away at the last-minute.

However, with all the medical checks prospects undergo during the lead up to the draft – Milliner was evaluated again by league personnel at the combine re-check just three weeks ago – teams should feel very comfortable about their evaluation of his medicals. It would be a surprise to see his stock slide considerably at this stage in the process.

I had Rhodes ahead of Millner anyway but that is a lot of injuries for a guy playing in Bama's secondary. I can understand if it was Vandy's corner having to make all the tackles.

The 49ers appearing to want to move up to take Milliner..interesting..

49ers and Browns trade rumors have been brewing since the owners meetings. not sure what kind of relationship is there between the 2 regimes but they did just finish the Colt trade and we all know teams often start big trades by completing minor ones first.

49ers have like 13 picks and only a few holes. Even with prac squad, they'll have a hard time keeping all of their draft picks. If they don't trade up to get a guy like Milliner, watch for them to trade out for future picks.

I know Harbaugh and Lombardi are buddies.

Using the old value chart, #6 (1,600) for #31 (600), #34 (560), #61 (292) and #93 (128) is about right (1580 vs 1600).

Not sure any corner is worth giving up 4 top-100 picks for, though.

There's no question I'd take that deal if I'm the Browns. I'd also accept taking their 2014 2nd in lieu of #61.

NFL.com says 49ers might be interested in Tavon Austin or Star Lottamonga ...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000...up-in-nfl-draft

Well, they've already got Asamonga on the team.

Remember, this is a late 1st, an early 2nd, a late 2nd, and a late 3rd compared to the ATL deal which was a late 1st, a late 2nd, a late 4th, and the next-year picks.

A more-equivalent deal would be

31, 61, 128, 2014 1st, 2014 4th

LINK

Dee Milliner has had five surgeries

Posted by Michael David Smith
April 23, 2013, 2:19 PM EDT

Whether there are legitimate concerns about Dee Milliner’s ability to stay healthy or whether it’s all part of a smear campaign, the health of the former Alabama cornerback is one of the major topics of conversation in the final days before the NFL draft.

So with everyone buzzing about Milliner’s medical status, Adam Schefter of ESPN offers this note: Milliner has undergone a total of five surgeries: a right knee scope, a repair of a sports hernia, a procedure for a right tibia stress fracture and one surgery on each shoulder.

Milliner is still rehabbing after his most recent shoulder surgery, and he might not be ready for the start of training camp. So it’s easy to see why there are medical questions about him.

But it’s also important to remember this: In his three seasons at Alabama, Milliner missed exactly one game, and in that game (a blowout win over Western Kentucky), coach Nick Saban said Milliner had a minor hip injury and could have played if the team needed him. So while Milliner’s medical history may raise a few eyebrows, his football history says he can get on the field when his team needs him.

I like the draft chart and I think its a valuable tool. But like any market, supply and demand sets the tone. Last year, big demand for RG3, only one supplier (Rams).

Seems like there will only be a few teams with mild interest in trading up, and that depends on the board (Milliner and Left Tackle). Plus, it seems like 1/2 of the top 15 are willing to trade out. It appears we've got a supply of trade-down candidates and very little demand.

Banner is going to look at that chart, and probably have to choose between staying at #6 and accepting a trade with poor value.