Thanks, didn't know that this was the Sims-trade compensation. Would have preferred an extra pick, even if only a 7th, instead of a swap

I think the Bills will franchise Byrd if he doesn't re-sign.

As a brief aside: How sweet does the Greco trade look now? Seems like a good way to spend a conditional 7th round pick. (did we even give it?)

No, we didn't. The conditional part was if he started a game in 2011, which he did not, so we got him free.

As for Sims, I think Philly still has S as a big need and he's not a better ST than Bademosi and not a better S than Gipson, so anything we got is better than nothing. We got a high 6th instead of a high 7th, that's where Alfred Morris went last draft, so there's some value to this swap. The net value to trade up from 7th to 6th normally is a late or future 6th

Some WR tape stuff:

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/articl...bd-781bbd649635


Cordarrelle Patterson 6-3. 205 Tennessee

Has an interesting background in that he has only played one year of major college football….is a clear playmaker on tape…every chance he gets to do something with the ball in his hands, he makes the most of it…can catch the ball on the move…nice run after catch…can make the first man miss and once that happens, he can be off to the races…have seen him snatch the ball out of the air but I have also seen him work to cradle the ball with his body…there were times where he would jump to put himself in position to catch the ball with his body when he doesn’t have to….does this a great deal on slants…he has the quickness to get in and out of routes…good sideline awareness and how to get his feet down in bounds…will lay out for catches…was very good at this against North Carolina State…able to adjust to the low ball…can get vertical on the “9” or the go route but had a terrible drop against Florida where Bray laid the ball right in there for him and he dropped it…was used throughout the season on reverses and with huge success….showed running back skills with the ball in his hands…against Georgia was able to weave through the defense and show an extra gear to get in the end zone…doesn’t look like he is running than he is by the defender…can be dynamic with the ball in his hands…had to battle his rear off against Banks of Mississippi State who tried to bang him around in press coverage…not afraid to use his size and hands to push off defenders to get open…had a nice touchdown on a double move against State in the red zone…love the play making ability he shows and how he was able to do it against outstanding competition but still has so much to learn about route running and becoming more consistent catching the ball….just a thought, but very much like Dez Bryant in the limited amount of college games he played but the ability and potential are very similar.

Tavon Austin 5-9, 174 West Virginia

My old boss in Green Bay, Ron Wolf used to say during draft meetings, if a receiver is a small guy, he better walk on water for us to consider him….Austin is short but he doesn’t play that way….lines up mainly in the slot and runs all kinds of option routes….has the ability to break down coverage…outstanding football savvy and awareness…outstanding initial quickness and a burst…can turn little plays into big ones…took a short pass inside against Texas and took it the distance through the defense…runs well enough to split coverage…don’t see many down the field routes…has a real feel for how to get open…really plays with his eyes…clutch player…reliable…rarely see the ball on the ground when it is thrown in his direction…team was faced with two 4th down situations in the Texas game and both times, Geno Smith threw him the ball…will go get the ball if its thrown poorly….can be a back breaker for a defense with the ball in his hands…really does a nice job of running the “Fly” sweep, had a touchdown against Kansas State….plays with very good concentration, was held off the line against Kansas State badly but still managed to catch the ball….showed really nice explosiveness against TCU catch the ball underneath and getting up the field…he one of those receivers that can make cuts quickly to create separation….there is no doubt that he has the faith and confidence of the quarterback when it comes to making plays…the ball goes his direction without hesitation…could be a mismatch player out of the slot with his quickness initially in a three wide package…respect his football awareness and the toughness that he plays with….bottom line is that he makes plays.

Keenan Allen 6-3, 205 California

Sure that he is a better player than the tape showed because his quarterback was awful….there were plenty of chances where he worked hard to get open and the ball was nowhere close…has to fight for every ball that he catches because of the quarterback’s lack of accuracy…..will catch the ball in traffic…plays out of the slot a majority of the time…like Allen runs a lot of option routes…see him go after the ball when it’s in the air or square up to make a catch on the spot…more initial quickness than deep speed…runs a ton of underneath routes…really doesn’t separate…has a hard time running away from defenders…plays with sideline awareness…can adjust his body to make plays….knows how to work zones and find the soft spots but doesn’t have the quick of Allen…good at catching screens and fades….thought he could have done a better job of using his size as a blocker…see him as a speed deficient receiver that has good catching skills but not excellent ones…he really doesn’t get open against tight coverage and again, he doesn’t have the speed to make defensive backs have to worry about him…have to admit that he is a hard guy to grade because the quarterback play was so bad…best trait he has is his ability to catch the ball in traffic.

DeAndre Hopkins 5-11, 205 Clemson

Had an outstanding game against LSU in the bowl to finish his career….is a Junior coming out and you can see times where he plays like he needs more work on his techniques…when you see him play down after down there are positive traits but plenty of negative ones as well….I didn’t see a smooth route runner and I didn’t see that explosiveness that I observed in Patterson of Tennessee or Austin of West Virginia….played like he struggled against the press…didn’t show quickness or power to get away from the defender….thought his hands were inconsistent….times where he would snatch the ball above his head and then next pass he would just flat miss play….like Patterson you will see him try and body catch the ball on the slant…had a touchdown against LSU where he caught a touchdown on a slant…on another inside route he thought he was going to get whacked and he didn’t run through it…able to adjust to the low ball because he can use his body to catch it…I didn’t see a receiver with strong hands like Austin…ran a nice switch route against South Carolina that resulted in a big gain in the middle of the field…would not call him a blazer on the “9” route…it takes him some time to get going….showed more balance in the LSU game than he did in the others….I didn’t see much after the catch….saw him jump too early for a ball down the field that ended up on the ground…had more questions about his game than answers.

Robert Woods 6-1, 190 USC

Productive, playmaker that plays with good foot quickness and a wiggle...runs solid routes and uses his quickness to get in and out of breaks…. Is one of those receivers that really sees the whole field whether its running routes or with the ball in his hands… good vision….plays with a burst with the ball in his hands….can make things happen on the move…flashes the ability to catch passes away from his frame with his hands….strong handed player… can make catches in traffic and run down passes over his shoulder…. at times shows the strength and agility to spin out of tackle attempts in the secondary…. Has the courage and is willing to go over the middle to take a hit and hang on….really like his toughness… Has the speed to run past defenders but not afraid to push off from defenders to buy himself some space….Finds ways to get open….doesn’t stay in one spot….always moving….benefits from a quarterback that knows how to get him the ball….will see him body catch some passes but not as bad as Patterson or Hopkins….has a nose for the goal line….makes things happen with the ball in his hands…has played in some big time football games over his career and responded to the challenge…would draft him high just off the Stanford tape from 2012…plays with a chip on his shoulder….as a freshmen was an all PAC-10 performer as a kickoff returner…something to keep in mind when you are talking about his value to a club.

Top 32: Plenty of talent, some future stars and only one QB
Pete Prisco
By Pete Prisco | Senior NFL Columnist
Feb. 20, 2013 9:21 AM ET

One of my pet peeves is when people say the NFL draft stinks this year because there are no quarterbacks at the top.

That is 100 percent wrong.

While there aren't the top quarterback prospects like last year with Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the 2013 NFL Draft is filled with a lot of good players and is deep at several positions.

There is a lot of talent on the offensive line and at defensive tackle, tight end, safety and you can find pass rushers.

It's lazy to say it's not a good draft based on the quarterbacks. And, by the way, I think one, two or even three quarterbacks will emerge as quality NFL starters from this year's class. It's up to the personnel people to figure out which ones.

I actually had a tough time putting together my list of the top 32 players heading into the scouting combine this week. I moved several players in and out over the past week.

There is only one quarterback on the list, and that's West Virginia's Geno Smith. But he isn't near the top.

I still think as the evaluation process plays out, we will see either Ryan Nassib of Syracuse or Matt Barkley move into the top 32. They are two quarterbacks who have a lot to prove in the next two months.

For now, this is my top 32. It probably doesn't look a lot like the other lists out there, but that's OK. It's my list.

1. Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M: He is the cleanest player on the board. Picking tackles high in the draft is usually a wise thing.

2. Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: He is a power player who mauled opponents in 2012. He has to be careful about his weight.

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida: The more I watch, the more I like. He will be special on the next level.

4. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee: One year in the big time will scare some people, but not me. This kid has game-breaking ability.

5. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: He is quick and strong. He can play inside in the 4-3 and end in the 3-4. Lived up to the hype in 2012.

6. Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State: He is big and fast and plays with a swagger. What's not to like?

7. Jarvis Jones, OLB-DE, Georgia: He has great speed off the edge, but he has some spine issues that need to be checked out. The medical is key for him.

8. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri: Some will say this is too high for Richardson, but I think it's just right. He will be a disruptive inside player on the next level.

9. Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan: If you watched him at the Senior Bowl, you know why he is here. He is fundamentally sound.

10. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: Yes, he's small at 5-foot-9. But can he fly or what? Think slot receiver and return man. He will be an NFL star.

11. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: I like his ability, but he played a lot of Cover-2 at Alabama. Can he transition to playing more man?

12. Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU: He is fast off the line, but he is small and needs to bulk up. Where was the production last year?

13. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU: Talk about raw. This kid is just learning the game. But the skills are there.

14. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: He will be a good, solid player. But will he ever be a star?

15. Menelik Watson, T, Florida State: At 6-6, 320, he has played football for only a couple of years, but this former basketball player has all the tools needed to be an elite NFL tackle.

16. Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma; This former quarterback has great athletic ability for a left tackle. He is still learning the position, which indicates a lot of growth potential.

17. Dion Jordan, DE-OLB, Oregon: He is in the Aldon Smith mold, a swift pass rusher who can play standing up or with his hand on the ground.

18. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: I like his game. I don't love it. But he is a smart, accurate thrower. My only concern is that he played in a quarterback-friendly system and he had nice weapons.

19. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal: He has good size at 6-3, 210 pounds and can run a 4.4 forty. Too bad he didn't have better quarterback play at Cal.

20. Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: In some of the tape I watched, I was more impressed with Montgomery than Mingo. He isn't as explosive, but he is better against the run and made more plays.

21. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: His bowl tape was sensational with four sacks. He also did some good things during the Senior Bowl week.

22. Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: He had a great week at the Senior Bowl, showing power and speed.

23. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State: The only knock on this 320-pound player is effort. He didn't give it all on every play. If he does, look out.

24. Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina: Teams want more agile offensive linemen and this is a player who can move for a man who is 315 pounds.

25. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: He is a smooth cover player who has to show scouts he is fast enough. I think he is.

26. Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor: When I watched Kendall Wright in 2011, I kept seeing this kid show up. He starred last season.

27. Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford: At 6-6, 250 pounds, he can run and catch. Is the next Rob Gronkowski?

28. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: At first I thought he was just a big hitter. But the more I watched, the more impressed I was by his range.

29. DJ Fluker, T, Alabama: He will be the prototypical right tackle. He is big and strong. Needs to work on his pass protection some.

30. Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina: I like air backs, and this kid is that type of back. He runs hard and he's fast. I like him more than Eddie Lacy.

31. Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: He isn't far behind Ertz in what is a deep tight end class.

32. Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn: He is a little light at 6-4, 246 pounds, but he has speed off the edge. He will need to get bigger. I like him more than most.
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I was just talking with Django last night about believing Rhodes is better than Millner and how this was a very strong draft despite what many of the talking heads are spewing. Now we get a talking head agreeing with me lol

Not a bad list.

The only name that really stands out and has no business being on there is Keenan Allen. This guy is a mid round pick talent. He's not quick and doesnt have speed. I was not impressed at all with his play that I saw this year. He had his brother for a QB, which you and Django both screammed horrible and both had comments about separation and breakaway speed. Reminds me of Robiskie but Robiskie ran better routes.

Damontre Moore isn't even on the list, and most mocks have him going before we pick. What's up with that?

There are some that think his athleticism isn't 1st round worthy. Usually the same guys that have J.Jones and Mingo as their top pass rushers. They fall for the speed and hype and don't like players that actually use their head when playing and are team players like Ansah and Moore. Jones and Mingo simply aren't 3 down players. If you want to draft Bruce Irvin or M.Ingram at 6, go ahead and do it but don't come whining when the opposing RBs AVG 100+ yds/game. Since the league still runs at least 40% of the time, I'd very willingly trade 2-4 less sacks a year vs constantly good play vs the run instead of alibi run defending...and since guys like Ansah and Moore have a much higher motor than the speedsters I'd even expect them to make up in the sack column to make it a wash there.
I saw almost every sack of J.Jones and except for a few his sacks were mostly of the "mistake hitter" variety. Whoever has this dude top 10 doesn't watch tape or doesn't know it when it hits him, sorry.

If Lombardi takes Jones or Mingo, then I know for sure he's still the same hype clown he was the last 25 years. There's one chance though: Ansah is also a hype player with actual tape to back it up. Not that I think that Lombardi is able to see it, but if Ansah puts on a show in Indy, which I expect, then Lombardi will fall in love too, lol...and Horton will be in his ear for the next 2 months leading up to the draft

Sort of like saying, "At least 6 guys from this draft will make the pro bowl at some point, so the Browns should be able to draft a pro bowl player, I just don't know which 6."

Django, you had Brandon Sharpe on your almost sold list, right? I watched the cut-up of that pitt game... Wow! That kid was a beast! I'm sold after one game. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up somewhere in the top 2 rounds. That was like a season'shighlight reel in one game.

No, Sharpe is on my watch list for day 3. I searched for some cut up tape on him but didn't find anything. Since you pimped him I watched and I'll double your wow....sure does look like a day 3 sleeper, doesn't he? Impressive motor and body language and he's what I call a "magnet tackler", once the ball carrier is near him, he gets him. Pretty impressive

That said, that game was his best game statistically. I'd like to see more. Usually I try to watch at least 3 cut up games on a prospect and against the best possible competition.

The Cuse player I pimped was S Shamarko Thomas...watch him while you're at it, he also had a solid game vs PIT (watch the fearless hit at 5:10min, bob Sanders clone):

http://www.youtube.com/v/u1DCB6SmkDU

Even more impressive though was his game vs USC and Barkley:

http://www.youtube.com/v/OuGOpQLtskE

Those 2 Cuse defenders are pretty good day 3 sleepers, Bills HC Marrone should know them best. Will be interesting if the Bills end up with one of them. Speaking of day 3 sleepers, my fav day 3 CB Johnny Adams:

http://www.youtube.com/v/by8k8PNr_Bo

or Utah DE Joe Kruger

http://www.youtube.com/v/NNUc_waKMrU

We need more mid/late round picks, class is deep

Leaving Moore off was probably by accident. It is easy to do. The guy I keep forgetting by accident this year is Star. For some reason, he is the easy one to forget even with a name like Star lol.

Ok I have been reading this board for a few years now and finally decided to make a post. I live in GA in the heart of SEC country and have watched Jones for a couple of years. This kid is Von Miller 2.0 . He is by far the best defensive player in the SEC. He is always around the ball making impact plays not just sacks. Some may question his run defense but I didn't see a weakness against the run in the years he was at UGA. If he is there at 6 take him and watch him harass the Millegville Menace and other AFC North qb's for years. Just my opinion from having to watch GA for the last 10yrs.

I like Jones but I do put Moore ahead of him. Age, injury and ability to play the run puts Moore ahead. I love the motor from Jones.

Mingo, Ansah and Dion Jordan are in a group all their own. These are freaks that are super raw with the potential to dominate. I want to see how these 3 work the combine drills.

Werner is the best pass rusher of the bunch but he doesnt wow me with athleticism which makes me think he may be a true 4-3 DE and not a 3-4 rush backer. Now he may be one of those guys that doesnt look that athletic until you line up against him.

The combines are huge for these 6 prospects.

Big Board: Get ready for 'Underwear Olympics' data overload
Rob Rang
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
Feb. 20, 2013 8:26 PM ET

NFL scouts will tell that by the time the annual scouting combine rolls around in late February, 90 percent of their prospect evaluations are finished.

While media and fans will fawn over the raw athleticism demonstrated by prospects working out, scouts are paid to keep the "Underwear Olympics" in perspective. There will be buzzing to trumpet the athleticism likely to be shown this week by the likes of Oregon's Dion Jordan or LSU's Barkevious Mingo, but it's worth cautioning that for all of their speed and explosiveness, neither was consistently productive.

Meanwhile, more productive talents annually wind up characterized as combine "fallers" when they run the 40-yard dash a tenth of a second slower than expected.

The Big Board isn't a mock draft. There is no attention given to team needs or the selection order. It is simply a ranking of the 64 best draft-eligible prospects for the 2013 NFL draft before we get consumed by the annual data overload from player workouts. Underclassmen are denoted with an asterisk (*).

1. * Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M: Having earned all-conference recognition all three years of his career, including first-team All-SEC honors and winning the Outland Trophy in 2012, Joeckel is a proven star. Remarkably light on his feet, he is a comparable athlete and more technically refined prospect than 2012 fourth overall pick, Matt Kalil. Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy, but Joeckel could be the one holding the bigger prize -- the thrill of being the first non-quarterback selected No. 1 overall since offensive tackle Jake Long went to the Dolphins with the first pick in 2008.

2. * Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia: A first-team All-SEC pick in each of his two eligible seasons at Georgia, Jones has proven himself to be a playmaker against both the pass and run. The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Jones led the country in three critical statistics -- sacks (14½), tackles for loss (24½) and forced fumbles (seven) despite missing two games (Kentucky, Florida Atlantic) due to injury. As dynamic as he is, the redshirt junior's medical grade will ultimately determine his draft status. He was diagnosed with a mild case of spinal stenosis in 2009 and some NFL doctors may be unwilling to clear him.

3. * Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State: Blessed with a quick first step, heavy hands and surprising instincts given the fact that the German-born Werner has played just five years of American football, the 6-4, 255-pounder has established himself as one of the country's elite prospects. An immediate standout in Tallahassee, Werner improved in each of his three seasons at Florida State, culminating with winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year this season with 18 tackles for loss, including 13 sacks.
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4. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: With the Utes struggling through a disappointing 5-7 campaign, their senior defensive tackle didn't generate as much national attention as his play warranted. Despite fighting constant double and triple teams, Lotulelei registered 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and four recovered fumbles this season, earning first-team All-Pac-12 accolades for the second consecutive season. Remarkably athletic at 6-3, 320 pounds, he's capable of shutting down running lanes and terrorizing quarterbacks.

5. * Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: The rapid ascension by San Francisco 49er pass rusher Aldon Smith as one of the NFL's elite playmakers has forced talent evaluators to acknowledge how much versatile defenders can impact today's game. Moore, like Smith, is viewed by some as a bit of a 'tweener at 6-4, 255 pounds, and has starred at defensive end and outside over the past two seasons for the Aggies. Athletic and passionate, Moore registered 21 tackles for loss, including 12.5 sacks, in his first season at defensive end and should only improve as he gains more experience.

6. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama: Offensive linemen rarely get the limelight, but it might be even worse for Warmack than most. Not only do the "skill-position" and defensive stars for Alabama generate virtually all of the attention, Warmack is overshadowed even on the Tide's All-American offensive line -- but not by talent evaluators, who see the 6-3, 320-pound mauler as one of the safest prospects in his class.

7. Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan: Impressive vs. Michigan State and Iowa this year, scouts had some reservations until a dominating performance against top competition at the Senior Bowl. With the foot quickness, balance and length to be a "blindside" pass protector, the 6-7, 305-pound Fisher is functionally stronger and more aggressive than former Chippewa Joe Staley, the starting left tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.

8. * Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri: While some of the top defensive tackles in the country lack eye-popping statistics, Richardson enjoyed a breakout campaign for the Tigers, finishing just four tackles behind linebacker Andrew Wilson as Missouri's leading tackler this season with 75 tackles, 10½ tackles for loss and four sacks.

9. * Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama: The 6-1, 198-pound Milliner is a perfect example of how Alabama reloads rather than rebuilds. A highly regarded prep prospect who started 11 games as a true freshman, Milliner was pushed a bit to the background in 2011 as 'Dre Kirkpatrick and De'Quan Menzie took over. With each now in the NFL, Milliner re-asserted himself in 2012, finishing second in the country with 20 passes broken up and providing stellar run defense on the boundary. He's the top-rated cornerback in 2013, but Milliner does not possess the elite fluidity of No. 1 corners in recent years.

10. * Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida: With so many talented defensive linemen playing in the SEC, Floyd didn't generate the buzz that his talents warranted until recently. Used predominately at defensive end a season ago, the 6-3, 303-pound junior was moved back inside to his more natural defensive tackle position this year and stepped up his play, earning First Team all-conference honors with 46 tackles, including a team-high 13 tackles for loss. While his Gators lost the Sugar Bowl to Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville, Floyd was dynamic, sacking the mobile sophomore quarterback twice and showing scouts flashes of untapped potential.

11. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU: A perfect example of the potential/production quandary scouts see as a theme of the 2013 draft class. At 6-5, 210, "Ziggy" tried out for basketball and lettered in track at BYU before giving football a try in 2010. Over his first two seasons he'd registered 10 total tackles but steadily added muscle to his frame. A breakout performance for the ages came about in 2012. Ansah, 60 pounds heavier, recorded 62 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, earning comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul along the way. While not as explosive off the snap as the Giants' star, Ansah plays with surprising power and closes in the blink of an eye. Following a dominant performance in the Senior Bowl, Ansah could emerge as a top-10 pick if he can convince teams that he'll have the same incredible work ethic once he starts drawing NFL paychecks.

12. * Keenan Allen, WR, California: An exceptionally highly regarded prep prospect who originally was going to sign with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide as a safety before joining his brother (quarterback Zach Maynard) at Cal, Allen possesses virtually all of the physical characteristics to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. He is not the same caliber of athlete as Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson but is a more polished player who has drawn comparisons to Green Bay's Jordy Nelson and Baltimore's Anquan Boldin for his sneaky speed, reliable hands and toughness.

13. Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina: NFL teams are generally loathe to spend first-round picks on guards, but with the steady Cooper an exception may have to be made. Cooper has excellent agility, demonstrating the ability to quickly get to the second level and block on the move. His terrific blocking helped Tar Heels running back Giovani Bernard -- a legitimate high-round prospect himself -- rush for an average of nearly 123 yards per game in 2012.

14. Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma: With the athleticism that once saw him line up at QB, TE and DE, Johnson has emerged as arguably the fastest-rising left tackle prospect in the country. Having only played left tackle one season, Johnson is undeniably raw but his length, lateral agility and surprising physicality helped him shut down Texas A&M's Moore in the Alamo Bowl loss and helped him turn heads in Mobile.

15. Kenny Vaccaro, SS, Texas: Instinctive, athletic and tough, Vaccaro has endeared himself to scouts despite the fact that he hasn't proven the ball-hawk of some of Texas' highly regarded defensive backs in recent years. He's starred as an in-the-box run-stuffer, single-high cover safety and even demonstrated the fluidity to handle nickel responsibilities. He carries some character red-flags, however, which teams will want to investigate.

16. * Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee: Of the skill-position players in this draft, Patterson shows the greatest "wow" factor. In his first season at the FBS level, Patterson, 6-3, 205, dominated the SEC to the tune of 154.83 all-purpose yards a game, easily the most of any player in the power conference. If there is a superstar receiver in this draft class, Patterson likely is the one. He brings considerable red flags on and off the field, enough that any team considering investing a top 15 pick will want to explore his NFL readiness from every angle.

17. * Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford: One half of the most talented tight end duo in college football, Ertz only started five games in 2012 but easily led the Rose Bowl-winning Cardinal in catches (69), receiving yards (898) and receiving touchdowns (six). While perhaps not quite as imposing as his 6-8, 265 pound teammate Levine Toilolo (himself a potential top 75 prospect), Ertz combines soft hands with a rare combination of size (6-6, 256) and athleticism. There isn't a Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski clone in this draft class, but Ertz's unique traits have drawn comparisons to Cincinnati Bengals' standout Jermaine Gresham from multiple scouts.

18. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: Smith did not play the second half of the season at the level of top-ranked quarterbacks in recent years. He remains a legitimate candidate to be the top pick in the 2013 draft. Optimists will point out that Smith improved his completion percentage and touchdown/interception ratio in each of his three starting seasons, culminating in a senior campaign in which he completed a sparkling 71.24 percent of his passes and threw 42 touchdowns against just six interceptions. More important, he possesses all of the physical traits scouts are looking for, as well as the work ethic to build upon them. Of concern, however, is the fact that Smith struggled late in the year with anticipation as defenses got more physical with his receiÍers. Smith hesitated to release passes before his receivers were open. They rarely are for long in the NFL.

19. Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California: Considered the clear-cut No. 1 pick when he spurned the NFL to return to the Trojans for his senior season, there is no denying that Barkley struggled in 2012. After only one multi-interception game during his junior campaign, Barkley had six in 2012, including what proved to be the final four games of his career before a shoulder injury sidelined him for USC's final two games. While critics are quick to point to Barkley's lack of ideal size and arm strength, they often ignore the impact from the loss of left tackle Matt Kalil to the NFL. For all of the spectacular plays Marqise Lee made during his glorious Biletnikoff Award-winning season, his freelancing also resulted in a number of the interceptions for which Barkley was assigned blame. There are a number of productive NFL passers with lesser physical traits than Barkley and scouts love his intangibles.

20. * Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State: With a rare combination of size (6-2, 217), physicality and athleticism, Rhodes proved to be a standout throughout his career with the Seminoles, culminating in first-team All-ACC honors in 2012. He'll need to run well in pre-draft workouts to guarantee being selected in the first round and projects best to a press-heavy scheme.

21. Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama: Many top prospects boast eye-popping statistics. Williams is not one of them. The Australia native finished the regular season just ninth (and tied for that) on the Alabama roster with 36 tackles, including 2½ tackles for loss and one sack. The 6-3, 320-pounder's wide frame and awesome strength (600-pound bench press) make him a potentially elite nose guard. With most NFL teams either using the 3-4 as their base defense or at least incorporating many of its principles, Williams' value may not truly be proven until draft day.

22. * D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama: Anyone who watched Alabama dismantle Notre Dame's talented defense in the BCS title game knows that the Tide offensive line was dominant. Much of the credit has gone to the interior (and for good reason). At 6-5, 355 pounds, however, Fluker is an absolute road-grader himself. Massive, physical and tenacious, he's the top right tackle prospect in the draft.

23. Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington: While lacking the size and physicality of Millner or Rhodes, the 5-11, 190-pound Trufant showcased a blend of speed and fluidity in Mobile to arguably rank as this year's top cover corner. If the last name sounds familiar, it should. Both of his older brothers -- Marcus and Isaiah -- are already cashing NFL paychecks as cornerbacks with the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.

24. Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: Despite being the obvious focus of every opponent's blocking scheme since talented teammate Jackson Jeffcoat was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle Oct. 13, Okafor earned first-team All-Big 12 accolades for the second straight season, posting a career high 12½ sacks, including 4½ against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl. Okafor showed off a better-than-expected burst off the snap and his trademark active, heavy hands to wreak havoc during Senior Bowl practices.

25. Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: A consistent standout during the Senior Bowl practices, Jones racked up an impressive 19 tackles for loss in 2012, seeing action up and down the UCLA defensive line. A few years ago Jones, at 6-4, 280 pounds might have been considered a 'tweener. With defensive coordinators forced to adjust to the rapidly expanding offenses of today's NFL, however, Jones ranks as an intriguing hybrid defender who can hold up against the run as a base defensive end, while beating interior lineman with his quickness if moved inside on passing downs.

26. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: Used in much the same fashion (receiver, runner, returner) as the Vikings feature Percy Harvin, Austin has emerged as the top senior playmaker in the country. At just 5-9, 172 pounds, Austin may not have been viewed as worthy of first-round consideration a few years ago, but in today's wide-open NFL that rewards mismatches Austin could prove among the more valued commodities on draft day.

27. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: Snap to snap consistency has been an issue with Short throughout much of his career but he's also proven to be a natural playmaker, averaging 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and three blocked kicks over the past three years. He then backed that up with a stellar week of practice at the Senior Bowl, legitimizing his first-round grade.

28. Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon: At a rangy 6-6, 243 pounds, Jordan's length and explosiveness off the edge make him a matchup nightmare for opponents and a must-see athlete at the combine. Unfortunately, while this Jordan might be able to "fly" in shorts like Mike, he hasn't been as productive as his athleticism might lead you to believe once the chin-straps are buckled. Jordan led the Ducks as a junior with 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, but wasn't as productive in 2012 (10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks) and has struggled with nagging injuries throughout his career.

29. *Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State: In terms of pure talent, Hankins deserves to be ranked among the top five prospects in the country. With light feet and shocking athleticism for a man listed at 6-3, 320 pounds, Hankins can be a superstar. Unfortunately, his motor too often appears to be in neutral rather than overdrive. After registering an impressive 11 tackles for loss in a breakout sophomore campaign, the Buckeye defender had just five this season, including only one sack. Despite his drop in production, Hankins is entering the 2013 draft. He clearly has talent, but so too did other notable Ohio State busts like Vernon Gholston and Dan Wilkinson.

30. * Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU: Mingo possesses the frame (6-5, 240 pounds) and athleticism to warrant top 10 consideration, but at this point he remains a largely unpolished product who relies on his natural tools rather than technique to make plays. Given Mingo's upside, it is easy to imagine him terrorizing NFL quarterbacks off the edge as a multi-dimensional defender. Considering Mingo's relatively pedestrian numbers (38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) this season, as well as the struggles of other former highly regarded LSU defensive linemen in the NFL, the general manager who selects him that high is rolling the dice.

31. Johnathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia: Like his fellow SEC run-stuffer, Jesse Williams, Jenkins does not possess the elite statistics (50 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack) that normally are associated with first-round picks. At 6-3, 358 pounds, however, Jenkins certainly possesses the beef to clog running lanes and is experienced at both nose guard and defensive end in the 3-4 alignment. Despite having only played two seasons at the FCS level, he's proven himself against top competition in the SEC and at the Senior Bowl.

32. Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: More decorated than a wedding cake, Te'o has earned an astounding seven national awards since leading the Irish to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the BCS title game. While the NFL couldn't care less about a collegiate prospect's stocked trophy case, it is tough not to acknowledge the relative safety that the 6-2, 255-pound Te'o provides as an instinctive, physical defender capable of making big plays against the run and pass. However, Te'o must have a strong pre-draft process after struggling in the title game and then admitting to lying as part of an admittedly embarrassing "hoax" that hit the national stage Jan. 16.
The second tier

33. * Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia: Ogletree could drop due to character concerns but he is a spectacular athlete with undeniable upside; normally might warrant top-15 consideration.

34. * Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: Possessing soft hands and excellent body control, Eifert is the prototypical security blanket, though to earn a first round grade he'll need to answer questions about his straight-line speed.

35. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: Lanky ball hawk who must prove his speed to warrant first-round consideration.

36. * Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU: Instinctive and physical, Minter was the most dependable player on an LSU defense chock-full of prospective NFL talent.

37. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas: The most consistent of the quarterbacks throughout the critical first three practices of the Senior Bowl, likely pushing him back into the first-round mix.

38. * Matt Elam, SS, Florida: An instinctive defender with a knack for making the big play in big games, everything about Elam's game is big ... except his 5-10, 205-pound frame.

39. * Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: High-effort pass rusher who looks the part at 6-5, 260 pounds, but doesn't consistently win one-on-one battles due to stiffness in his upper body. Plays with top effort, however, and has the strength and determination to be equally effective vs. the run as well as the pass.

40. Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech: Patton may lack the name recognition of the rest of this strong, if not elite, receiver class but he was clearly the most polished wideout in Mobile.

41. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin: While perhaps not possessing any one dominant trait, Ball's all-around game brings back memories of another No. 28 -- Hall of Famer Curtis Martin.

42. Jonathan Cyprien, SS, Florida International: The ultra-physical Cyprien was dynamic in Mobile, erasing my previous concerns about his level of competition. If he runs well in Indianapolis, Cyprien could push for a spot in the first round.

43. * DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson: A polished route-runner who plays with speed and physicality, Hopkins is earning first round grades from some teams.

44. Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky: Overshadowed in this class by Warmack and Cooper, the powerful Warford is a legitimate top 50 prospect in his own right.

45. * Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama: Nursing a slightly torn hamstring, Lacy won't workout at the combine. If he can prove his speed at his March 13 Pro Day, however, he could join former teammates Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson as the top backs of their respective draft classes.

46. Khaseem Green, OLB, Rutgers: Safety-turned-linebacker, Greene is a turnover machine (played a role in 24 turnovers over his career), and a future NFL star as a 4-3 weakside linebacker.

47. * Eric Reid, FS, LSU: Terrific in run support but questionable instincts, fluidity could make him a liability in coverage in the NFL.

48. Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State: Too slim of a build to earn first-round consideration but has elusiveness and straight-line speed.

49. Phillip Thomas, FS, Fresno State: A Thorpe Award candidate with an FBS-leading leading eight interceptions (including three returned for touchdowns), Thomas is the best safety most haven't heard of.

50. * Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State: Scouts worry about the fact that Randle's success came out of a spread offense but his agility and speed make him arguably the draft's most elusive back... at 6-0, 200-pounds.
Just missed the cut

51. * Robert Woods, WR, USC
52. Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
53. * Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
54. Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State
55. Cornelius Carradine, DE, Florida State
56. * Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
57. * Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
58. Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
59. Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon
60. E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State
61. Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern
62. Terron Armstread, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff
63. Da'Rick Rodgers, WR, Tennessee Tech
64. * Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State web page


Jones isnt going to workout at the combines which is a huge mistake imho. Teams want to see how these kids stack up against each other and with his speed it is stupid not to work out.

kwhip - You are new to this board. Dj has a long record in the draft thread. Every year, he gets criticized for some of his opinions but 2-3 years later you see what a great job he does (Gabbert excluded). He did as well as Heckert and kicked Savage's butt up and down the football field. I thoroughly respect his evaluations (again except for Qb's but hey nobody is perfect).

Just a FYI for those who may be looking for a site to watch some film, this is the one I like to use, though I don't take it as seriously as some because in the end what I think doesn't have a whole lot of impact on what happens, but it's a good site with listing for most of the top players.



web page

yeah i love this site for their videos. Their player rankings I'm not that big a fan of since they basically mirror everyone elses, but the videos are invaluable. Good link.

Thanks Peen. Nice site from what I have seen so far.

Barkley measured in at 6'2" which is two inches taller than I thought he was. It's too bad he can't throw, he probably could have overtaken Smith as the #1 QB if he had just above-average arm strength.

Not enough has been said about the disaster that was USC and Lane Kiffin last year.

If we bring in Barkley for an interview he should just walk up to Haslam and say, "Lane Kiffin is the worst coach ever and I hate him." Haslam would try and draft him right there.

lol good strategy

What amazes me is that Robert Woods is being projected as a 3rd pick. I like Lee better, but Woods is still ahelluva WR.

For whatever reason Kiffin forced the ball to Lee even though Woods was wide open a lot of the time. Woods also had a pretty serious ankle issue.

I like Lee better than Woods. But going into this year I thought Woods and Sammy Watkins were the best WR's in college.

What if Barkley falls to the second round and we can trade for a pick there? He was seen on par with the Big Two last year at one point, maybe before the combine. Had a terrible year and all, but could he be a franchise QB. Anyone know if his arm is strong enough?

Going into last years draft I tought Barkley threw a better looking pass than Griffin and as good as Luck.

It is a myth that Barkley has a weak arm. He has an average arm and I would say just slightly and i do mean slightly, below Luck and Moore. Stronger than the Hasselbeck, Alex Smith, Andy Dalton and Colt McCoys of the world.

I had Barkley right in the mix with Luck, Tannehill and RG3. Thought he was a great fit for what we were doing last year with his excellent anticipation. Now we are talking the Coryell offense, in Cleveland, Cinn and Pitt in the fall and winter. We also have the matter of his throwing shoulder injury.

If I want a QB, I stand pat in the 3rd round. I might get anxious and move up to the very end of the 2nd maybe to the Pats but that would be it. I prefer EJ Manuel and Landry Jones in this offense. Bray would be my 3rd choice. I like Barkley but not enough to take in the first and I really dont think he will last until the 2nd.

I want no part of Barkley. He would be just another failed QB in a line of them starting with Frye, moving to Quinn, then to McCoy.

It takes an arm to play QB in Cleveland, especially in the winter. Barkley is a warm climate, weaker armed QB, who lacks great anticipation. He may have had the greatest pair of college WR ever, yet failed on many levels this past year. (and I admit that Woods was banged up last year, but Lee was an absolute machine at WR .... constantly open and catching everything) He had a great OL. They had a great rushing attack ...... even without one guy doing it all.

He had it all, and did little with it. I know that he got hurt late, but he was really unimpressive to me. He feasted on weak teams, and struggled against some of the better teams. (Oregon being an exception)

I'll pass. I want no part of another, and expensive, Frye/Quinn/McCoy type.

http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6780

The biggest story thus far is the number of teams that have Jonathan Cooper/G/North Carolina ranked higher than Chance Warmack/G/Alabama on their offensive guard board. He’s much better blocking in motion compared to Warmack and a natural fit for a zone blocking scheme. Teams have referred to Cooper as “special” and they feel in time he can add weight, which will only improve his run blocking. I was told Cooper was told to purposely keep his weight down at North Carolina and would have no problem carrying additional bulk. On a side note I believe rival Mel Kiper claimed Cooper would be a top 8 pick just last week, so credit to Mel on this.

Man, we all saw enough of Butch Davis while he was here, and he got NC into trouble, but he has been sending a TON of talent to the NFL.

I could see him being rated higher in a zone scheme.

jc

Great stuff, some nice nuggets in there: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/draft-outlook-ik8s730-192799541.html

Based on interviews with executives in personnel for five teams, it is possible to narrow down just a little bit the pool of players who might be considered by the Green Bay Packers regardless of position if they exercise their current 26th selection in the first round of the NFL draft April 25.

Prospects are conservatively divided into three categories: As Good As Gone - barring negative developments, these players have no chance of reaching No. 26; Probably Gone - players who appear to have no better than a 50-50 chance of remaining on the board at No. 26; and The Next Level - players who figure to fall next.

The Packers have their own selection in each round. In addition, they are likely to be awarded at least one compensatory choice for losses suffered last spring in free agency.

Here's an early look at the players who figure to fit into these layers of the draft (underclassmen are denoted by asterisk).

AS GOOD AS GONE (10)

Luke Joeckel*, T, Texas A&M: 6 feet 6 inches, 306 pounds. Three-year starter at LT. "He's better than (Minnesota's) Matt Kalil," one scout said. "He's not yet (Cleveland's) Joe Thomas." Benefited from Aggies' quick-release passing game. "He's not a Hall of Famer, a flat-out Walter Jones type," another scout said. "But he's got size, he's athletic and he's only going to get better. He can play left tackle tomorrow. With this draft, you may see him go No. 1 (overall). I don't think there's a premier left tackle in the draft. There's not a quarterback, not a running back, not a receiver."

Eric Fisher, T, Central Michigan: 6-7, 306. Proved himself against top-flight competition at the Senior Bowl and might have moved up to a top-10 selection. "Very good, but he was that before the Senior Bowl," one scout said. "He was a tall, thin guy (coming out of Rochester, Mich.). Is he a finesse or power player? He's more finesse than power but that doesn't mean he's not tough." Three-year starter. Only other scholarship offer was from Eastern Michigan, where he would have succeeded T.J. Lang at tackle.

Bjoern Werner*, DE, Florida State: 6-3, 266. German-born player with 23½ sacks in 41 games (27 starts). "He's good, but I don't see the special in him," one scout said. "Kind of a try-hard, good football player but nothing special." Played down but probably athletic enough to stand up as an outside linebacker for teams using the 3-4 defense. "He's not a dynamic pass rusher but he seems to get sacks," another scout said. "He comes off the ball hard but he's not special."

Barkevious Mingo*, DE, Louisiana State: 6-4, 241. Registered 14 sacks in 40 games (16 starts). "Very good," one scout said. "He played basically down but he can stand up easy. Very (tenacious). Fast. He won his state 400 meters or something. He is non-stop." Several scouts said he paled in comparison to Broncos OLB Von Miller. "I think he's too stiff at the end of the day," another scout said. "Top 25. He's got quick feet."

Damontre Moore*, DE, Texas A&M: 6-4½, 250. Finished with 26½ sacks in 38 games (23 starts). "He's a little bigger than Mingo," one scout said. "He played a lot of defensive end this year where in the past he has been a 3-4 outside linebacker. High sack guy. Doesn't run near like Mingo. He's a little bit stronger and a little bit stouter at the point. Just a puppy (20 years old)." Also rushed inside at times. "Dynamic, explosive athlete," another scout said. "Little undersized. Top 10. Different frame than (Jason) Pierre-Paul."

Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: 6-2½, 311. Athletic big man compared to Kansas City's Dontari Poe, the 11th pick a year ago. "He's a better player than Dontari Poe coming out," one scout said. "He's quick-footed, strong, can run." Started 28 of 37 games. "He's the most overrated of the bunch (DTs)," another scout said. "He doesn't really generate pressure. He doesn't shed guys and make plays. Sometimes he disappears. Other times he surely dominates."

Sheldon Richardson*, DT, Missouri: 6-2½, 294. Played in junior college for two years before starting two seasons for Tigers. "He's an athlete playing D-tackle," one scout said. "He's really quick. He's a pass rusher and plays the run pretty well. He's got a little edge to him. He got a lot better this year." Finished with six sacks in 24 games (13 starts). "He plays D-tackle and they stand him up at linebacker sometimes, but he's got to be a D-end," another scout said. "Kind of an undersized athletic move guy. Just kind of a finesse athlete. Big-time character questions."

Sharrif Floyd*, DT, Florida: 6-2½, 297. "He's the best (defensive tackle) of the bunch," one scout said. "All he does is make plays." Played three years, finishing with 4½ sacks in 37 games (26 starts). "He could be a five-technique, a three-technique or line up on the shade (nose tackle)," another scout said. "He can rush the passer and play the run. Good all-around player."

Jarvis Jones*, OLB, Georgia: 6-2, 242. Spent two years at Southern California but had a neck problem and transferred. "He didn't pass the physical at SC," one scout said. "They don't know how they got him on the field at Georgia. Really, really raw as a player but he's so athletic as a rusher. He just wins because he's a great athlete. Little more athletic than Von Miller even. He plays a million miles an hour. He will be a 3-4 guy probably. The coverage stuff is still new to him." Finished with 28 sacks. "This year he played with some ankle and (leg) injuries and was nonexistent," another scout said. "In this league, you're not going to be 100%. This guy doesn't play hurt very well."

Dee Milliner*, CB, Alabama: 6-1, 198. Three-year starter with six interceptions. "Top 15 easy," one scout said. "He's got size, speed, athleticism, ball skills. Well-coached. Great body. He will start pretty early in his career." Will undergo surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder after the combine. "I don't know if he has great, great burst," another scout said. "But for a nice-sized guy he's very fluid."

PROBABLY GONE (8)

Cordarrelle Patterson*, WR, Tennessee: 6-2, 216. Attended two junior colleges before playing just one season for the Volunteers, catching 46 passes for 778 yards (16.9-yard average) and five touchdowns. "He's up there," one scout said. "Pretty good hands. Pretty special. His play speed is unusual. If he doesn't (run 40 in under 4.4 seconds) it would be a shock to me."

Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma: 6-6, 303. Former prep QB (says he could throw a football 70 yards) and TE. "Basically only a two-year player," one scout said. "He's pretty good but he's still raw." Never started a game until 2011. "He's an intriguing player," another scout said. "He kind of got better as the season went along. His stock is really starting to rise. The more film you watch, the more you like this kid. He's a second-round talent but there are shockers every year like (Philadelphia guard) Danny Watkins in the first (in 2011)."

Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: 6-2, 317. Some scouts say he's better than Steelers G David DeCastro from a year ago. "He's one of those guys like Will Shields that will just sit in there and play until they retire him," one scout said. "Country boy from Georgia. Just a tough guy. Loves football. Kind of a road-grader in the run game and a fire hydrant in the passing game." Had to be given IVs often because of his excessive sweating. "He scares the hell out of me," another scout said. "They tell you he can't play more than one position and you have to be careful in games what kind of adjustments you make. Not a real bright kid. He kind of reminds me of (Seattle's James) Carpenter. You see stuff that's impressive, then later in the game he starts to fade. For me, a guard has to be perfect to take in the first round. Because how much difference is there in that guy and a guy you take in the fourth?"

Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California: 6-2½, 227. Four-year starter with a 64.1% completion mark, 116 TD passes and 48 interceptions. "Somebody may take him to fit the West Coast offense because that's what he is," one scout said. "You put him on a team that's stretch the field, downfield throwing and he can't do that. He may be Kevin Kolb, those kind of guys. When he steps in the NFL his talent level may go down a little bit from SC." Arm strength is a huge concern. "(Agent) Tom Condon will do everything he can to artificially pump him up," another scout said. "I don't see it. I think he's got a weak arm."

Eddie Lacy*, RB, Alabama: 5-11, 231. Backed up Trent Richardson for two seasons before serving as featured back on another Crimson Tide national title team. "He's better than Trent Richardson," one scout said. "He goes 15 to 30. He's a freakin' powerful dude now." Rushed for 1,322 yards (6.5) and 17 TDs in 2012. "If you got a speed back and you got Eddie Lacy, you've got a great combination," one scout said. "He is a battering ram but I don't know if he stays healthy for 16 weeks. You better have another guy. You'd like somebody better in the passing game but he does catch the ball OK. Second round."

Dion Jordan, DE, Oregon: 6-6, 248. Played all over for the Ducks: up, down and flexed covering wide receivers. "He's probably as good an athlete as any of them up there and he's 6-6," one scout said. "(Like) Simeon Rice. He has the ability to rush the passer but they never really rushed him. When they did rush him he always had pressure or sacks." Finished with 14½ sacks in 45 games (25 starts). "Top 15 pick," one scout said. "He's an outside rusher for a 3-4 team or an end for a 4-3 team. He's just a big, long athlete that can bend and rush the passer."

Johnathan Hankins*, DT, Ohio State: 6-3, 320. Well-rounded inside player. "Naturally strong," one scout said. "(Sheldon) Richardson is a better player but I'd trust Hankins more. He's got a chance for the top 20." Two-year starter with five sacks. "I don't see him getting off blocks," one scout said. "I don't see him controlling blockers in the run game. Overrated."

Alec Ogletree*, ILB, Georgia: 6-3, 234. Started 21 of 30 games, missing the first four of 2012 on a drug suspension. Last week, he was arrested for a DUI. "I don't know how far that's going to push him back," one scout said. "He's a top-10 talent. If you're the Patriots, you're taking the guy. It would be just a gift. And that's what's going to end up happening." Can play any position in a 4-3 and either inside spot in a 3-4. "He's like (Kansas City's) Derrick Johnson," another scout said. "He will slip and slide around in there and make a bunch of plays. He's so athletic and he's big and can really run. He won't square up and hit you in the mouth. It's just the suspension and everything. You've got to worry about that."

THE NEXT LEVEL (37)

Keenan Allen*, WR, California: 6-2, 206. Not as fast as Cordarrelle Patterson but far more productive as a three-year starter. "Not as physically gifted as Justin Hunter but he has a lot of skill and is probably a more solid all-around receiver right now," one scout said. "Hunter's ceiling is much, much higher. Very smooth for a big man. In a normal draft he's probably a second-round pick. He probably will go in the first because of need at the position and lack of players."

Justin Hunter*, WR, Tennessee: 6-4, 196. Blew out his knee early in 2011 season but came back to catch 73 passes for 1,083 yards (14.8) and nine TDs last season. "Didn't have quite the year after the ACL but probably the most physically gifted of all the receivers," one scout said. "You go back and look at ('11) film, he's special. He didn't play well this year. He had drops. He didn't look comfortable on the knee. Long arms. Lean body. Ripped up. Outstanding athlete. He's really got good hands, too."

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia: 5-8½, 174. Proclaimed himself the best all-around player in the draft Friday, and his numbers last season were impressive: 114 catches for 1,289 (11.3), 72 rushes for 643 (8.9), 15 punt returns (11.0) and 33 kickoff returns (24.6). "I don't like little guys but I love that guy," one scout said. "He can do the same stuff that (Randall) Cobb did in the slot. Plus, he's a dynamic punt and kickoff returner. That guy has never missed a game. He's a 'Holy (expletive)' player."

Robert Woods*, WR, Southern California: 6-0½, 201. Fourth-year junior and highly productive three-year starter. "He'll be right around Green Bay's pick," one scout said. Declared a year early after he started taking a back seat to ascending teammate Marquise Lee in 2012. Finished with 210 receptions for 3,218 yards (15.3) and 41 TDs.

Gavin Escobar*, TE, San Diego State: 6-6, 254. Excellent receiver. "He's probably gone by the time Green Bay picks," one scout said. "He's in that 20 to 35 range. He and (Tyler) Eifert are very similar in a lot of ways." Three-year starter caught 122 passes, averaged 13.5 and scored 17 TDs.

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame: 6-5½, 250. Labeled as a "quasi-wide receiver" by one scout. "He's probably the top kid but he's not an all-around guy," another scout said. "I don't know how much he really likes football. I think he does it because it's something he's good at. He'd be more happy being a wide receiver. Good catcher. Athletic."

D.J. Fluker*, T, Alabama: 6-5, 339. Brawling RT often compared to Bills LT Cordy Glenn and Vikings RT Phil Loadholt. "He's an Aaron Gibson type," one scout said. "Very flexible. He's massive. Real long arms (36¾ inches) and a big, broad back. The quickness thing will get to him. That's my concern about him. He'll have some problems with speed rushers but I like his demeanor." Three-year starter. Vocal leader, constantly challenges teammates. "His (expletive) is bigger than a coffee table," another scout said. "He's got huge legs. He doesn't have much fat on him at all and he's got some nastiness to him. He's a high-energy player. He's jumping around when people score. You love to see that out of a big man."

Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina: 6-2, 311. Compared by one scout to Guy McIntyre, a great 49ers guard who finished with Green Bay in 1994. "Great athlete," one scout said. "Can make all the blocks. Problem is the guy played at 280, 285 pounds. He has played bigger. You watch him move, especially for a zone team, he'll be right up their alley."

Travis Frederick*, C-G, Wisconsin: 6-4, 312. Grew up in Sharon, Wis., and played at Big Foot High School. "If people don't like him they're crazy," one scout said. "He's better than (Kevin) Zeitler and way better than (Peter) Konz. Waaay better. He'll be a better guard than center but he can play center. He's a bull. Smart. When he played against Oregon State he looked very ordinary but then they got rid of the coach (O-line coach Mike Markuson). He's better than (David) DeCastro." Another scout described him as a third-round talent. "When you take a guy in the first round you're hoping for better (than Frederick)," he said. "Ideally, he is more suited to a power-scheme offense than a zone scheme."

Menelik Watson*, T, Florida State: 6-5, 310. Born in England. Started just one season for Seminoles after stints at two other schools. Played basketball at Division I Marist (N.Y.) before surfacing at a junior college. "He's probably the best athlete of the bunch," one scout said. "For a guy his size I've never seen somebody with that much lateral agility, speed and explosive quickness. He played soccer and basketball and he was a boxer, so he's got great hands. He's got all the talent in the world but he only played one year of major-college football. I think somebody will take a shot on him early, maybe in the first."

Brian Winters, G-T, Kent State: 6-4, 320. Started all 50 games at LT. "He's one that O-line coaches are going to fall in love with," one scout said. "They'll see how nasty he is. He will be inside in the NFL and he won't have to play on the edge anymore. He has enough athleticism to play in there. He goes in the second round without question." Wherever he plays, there will be concerns about his relatively short arms (32¾).

Kyle Long, T-G, Oregon: 6-6, 313. On Thursday, he spoke of his drug addiction that derailed his career as a fire-balling left-handed pitcher at Florida State. The son of Raiders Hall of Fame DE Howie Long. Returned to football in 2010-'11 at a junior college, then started five of 11 games for the Ducks. "If he was pristine off the field it wouldn't matter," one scout said. "He's just not a good player." Other teams see potential. "The crazy stuff off the field is basically a young kid finally with a little freedom who is going to rebel against two overbearing parents," another scout said. "He says, 'Hey, take notice of me. You've been taking notice of Chris (his older brother) so long, I'm going to act up to get your attention.' And he went to the extreme and his parents (yanked) him out of Florida State and checked him into rehab and he cleaned himself up. He went to the dark side and he is out of the dark side. He's probably a better guard than tackle but he's really talented."

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia: 6-2½, 218. Three-year starter with completion mark of 67.4%, 98 TDs and 21 picks. "He'd be the only (quarterback) I'd consider," one scout said. "He's really poised. Really good vision. He's not one of those system guys who just chucks it to the first guy. He can see the field and read defenses. He's athletic. He's gotten a lot better, too, and should get a lot better in the pros." Another scout compared him to Akili Smith, a draft bust from 1999. "That will end the conversation," that scout said.

E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State: 6-4½, 237. Fifth-year senior and two-year starter. "He probably looked the best of all of them in the Senior Bowl," one scout said. "He's a big guy, can move around, has a pretty good arm." Another scout described him as a "leader of men." Said a third scout: "No chance. He's just not a quarterback. No vision. No feel. Can't read defenses. Everything you need, he can't do it."

Mike Glennon, QB, North Carolina State: 6-7, 225. Two-year starter who took over for Russell Wilson. "He's got a great arm but he's a statue," one scout said. "You'd have to protect really good. I ain't crazy about him. I'd be scared to take him there (first round)." Compared to Baltimore's Joe Flacco because of his arm strength. "I think he's Ichabod Crane," another scout said. "He's a statue but he throws a nice ball. He has no foot skills."

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin: 5-10½, 214. Came across as extremely self-assured in session with reporters Friday. "I think he has first-round ability," one scout said. "Tough. There's some (character) things you've got to check out but I know one thing: He's productive. He'll run fast enough. I'd rather have a guy that scores touchdowns than one that doesn't and runs 4.5." Rushed for a record 77 TDs to go with 5,140 yards (5.6). "I get mixed reviews on his person," another scout said. "He's got all that with him, too. But I do feel he is (a starter). I think he can catch. He's got great feet and great vision. He can make people miss." Said a third scout: "Workhorse. You'd be happy with him. He's not going to game change or anything but he will be a good NFL back."

Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, Brigham Young: 6-5, 271. Track athlete from Ghana who also tried basketball at BYU. Played three years of football for Cougars but never really got on the field until 2012 (13 games, nine starts). "He could be a difference-maker," one scout said. "He makes more plays than 'JPP' (Jason Pierre-Paul) did (at South Florida). He's a freak. You can put him wherever you want." Had big week at the Senior Bowl. "He will blow out the combine and get overdrafted," another scout said. "Everybody will compare him to Jason Pierre-Paul because he didn't play and all that stuff, but they're reaching. This guy never even played football. If he goes in the top 10, two years from now he won't be doing anything. You'll see. He has no idea how to play. He can run fast but that's about it."

Sam Montgomery*, DE, Louisiana State: 6-3, 262. Bounced back from reconstructive knee surgery in 2010 to put up 19 sacks in three-year career. "He is really a hard-playing dude," one scout said. "He's real strong at the point. He's got strong arms and strong hands. Sheds blockers. He's got some pass rush. He gets trash sacks, which are great. He's not a first-round talent but he may go there." On the stiff side and might be too small to serve as a base DE. "He'll be a situational pass rusher," another scout said.

Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: 6-4, 283. Made himself a ton of money rushing the passer in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl. "More of a second-round guy," one scout said. "I don't know if he can be a five-technique." Fifth-year senior who sat out 2010 with a broken foot. Had 13½ sacks in 51 games (43 starts).

Alex Okafor, DE, Texas: 6-4½, 264. Three-year starter with 22 sacks. "He's perplexing to me," one scout said for a 3-4 team. "I don't know if he's really big enough to be a five-technique the way we play it and I don't know if he's athletic enough to stand up. I don't know where he plays in a 3-4." Probably fits best as a 4-3 DE. "He's a fraud," another scout said. "I don't see any twitch. I don't see any production. I don't see any strength. He's got to be a five-technique."

William Gholston*, DE, Michigan State: 6-6, 281. Played better in 2011 than in '12. "As a freshman and sophomore you saw a lot of signs of dominance," one scout said. "He's a big man and carries it pretty well. He could evolve into a pass rusher with size and athleticism. He plays pretty hard. It looks like he's kind of out of shape. Maybe he's too heavy. Maybe it was not having Jerel Worthy taking the pressure off him (in 2012). I don't see how he goes out of the first round because he's just so big." His cousin, Vernon, was a first-round bust in 2008 with the Jets. "This guy might be a little better player but he's still just a mid-round guy," another scout said.

John Jenkins, DT, Georgia: 6-3½, 346. Mountainous man. "At Georgia, they say you will not meet a better kid," one scout said. "He's a giant but he moves his feet pretty well. His problem is he doesn't make a lot of plays. He's athletic enough to make plays. He just doesn't." Started 20 of 27 games for Bulldogs after a junior-college career. "Really talented guy," another scout said. "Just soft at times and inconsistent effort."

Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina: 6-2½, 313. Started all 45 games, including 20 in junior college. "He's actually quicker than all the other top guys," one scout said. "He's not a star but he's an interesting cat. He comes from nothing. He could be a late first-round pick." Had 8½ sacks for the Tar Heels. "He's not great at anything but he's really good at everything," another scout said. "Really tough. Plays with injuries. He just kind of sits in there and battles and makes plays. He's not a wow kind of guy. He makes a play or two in every game that means something."

Kawann Short, DT, Purdue: 6-3, 299. Compared by some scouts to Green Bay's Jerel Worthy. "You watch one game and he stinks, then another game and he was good and you really got to like him," said one. "He's got ability, though. I really don't know what his problem is." Started all 50 games and had 19½ sacks. "He can whip people when he feels like it," another scout said. "He's got a lot of talent and he's got a lot of lazy in his play. He can rush the passer and play the run."

Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame: 6-2, 255. Compared by one scout to St. Louis MLB James Laurinaitis. "A better version of that," he said. "Not a great athlete. Try-hard. Smart. This was the first year he really got himself in shape. Some of his teammates think he's kind of a phony." The scout made his comment in early December before his bizarre online love relationship was uncovered as a hoax. "He is a tad immature," another scout said last week. "When he comes in the locker room he is going to get abused for about the first month. For a (middle) linebacker you would want him to be more physical and make more plays against the run. He got smoked (against Alabama). He's not explosive but he's got instincts like (Brian) Urlacher."

Kevin Minter*, ILB, Louisiana State: 6-1, 245. Fourth-year junior and two-year starter. "Probably a second-round pick," one scout said. "He's a strong inside for a 3-4 team or a 4-3 'Mike.' He's got some (athletic) limitations but he is tough."

Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: 6-1, 185. Started 45 of 51 games. "Really good football player," one scout said. "He's got length. Not a thick guy by any means but real long arms. Built like a corner. He has good ball skills. Even for a long, lanky guy he has pretty good quickness. Not afraid to hit. Loves football. Quiet kid." Many scouts question his speed, so his 40 time on Tuesday is much anticipated. Intercepted 16 passes.

Xavier Rhodes*, CB, Florida State: 6-1, 217. Three-year starter with eight picks. "Big and physical," one scout said. "Instinctive. Lacks top-end speed. Could be a safety." Played boundary corner for Seminoles but won't have that advantage in the NFL. "He is a press corner and will be a second-round pick," another scout said.

Logan Ryan*, CB, Rutgers: 6-0, 190. Fourth-year junior and two-year starter. "He's OK," said one scout. "Solid. Second-rounder." Widely admired for his tackling and physical nature.

Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington: 5-11, 190. Started 47 of 50 games. "By his Senior Bowl he will get up in there," one scout said. "That may be in the first. He's not as good as his brother but he's pretty good." Marcus Trufant has been a Pro Bowl cornerback for Seattle since 2003. "Nice little player," another scout said. "He's quick. He's OK."

Sanders Commings, CB-S, Georgia: 6-0, 223. Fifth-year senior made 35 starts in 54 games. "Like (Xavier) Rhodes," one scout said. "He's a big guy and plays the boundary (corner) a lot. Probably be a free safety. Pretty good player. Thing that bothers me about him, how fast is he?" Suspended for first two games of 2012 after a campus incident involving alcohol and domestic violence.

David Amerson*, CB, North Carolina State: 6-2, 194. Led the nation with 13 interceptions in 2011before adding five last season. "He's got all kind of talent in the world but he doesn't use it all the time," one scout said. "He's disappointing. Somebody will jump on him, though, because he can run."

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: 6-1, 218. It's a very good year for safeties but no one can predict which one will be selected first. "He is different than most Texas guys," one scout said. "He's tough and physical. He will hit you, but he's got cover ability, too. I don't think he will run great. It will be good enough. Maybe the lack of 40 time keeps him out of the first." Had just five picks in 50 games. "They played him in the slot," another scout said. "He's a safety cover guy, not a corner cover guy even though he plays on the slot."

Eric Reid*, S, Louisiana State: 6-2, 212. Two-year starter with six interceptions. "He's probably the best," one scout said. "Big and instinctive. He's got a little stiffness to him." Several personnel men questioned the physical nature of his play. "I don't think he's a big hitter," said one. "I'm not sure if he has deep safety awareness. I don't expect him to be great in man (coverage) but in zone people get behind him all the time. He bothers me, he really does. But he looks the part."

Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International: 6-0, 209. Started 45 of 50 games and registered seven picks. Moved up significantly after impressive week at the Senior Bowl. "I had him in the fourth on the school call," one scout said. "You can't jump a guy to the second round but somebody will. He's probably going to run pretty well. He's a terrific kid. He will hit you."

Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State: 6-1, 210. Started all 25 games in 2010 and '12 but sat out '11 with an ankle injury. "He's got really good ball skills," one scout said. "He's very athletic. He's a fine football player." Picked off 13 passes. "He's a tough guy," another scout said.

Zeke Motta, S, Notre Dame: 6-2, 215. In 2011, played alongside Harrison Smith. "He's a poor man's Harrison Smith," said one scout. "Coverage will be the question. He's a little stiff. He does OK in zone. He's an interesting guy at the right price. I'd rather roll with Zeke Motta, who isn't as good athletically as (Georgia's) Bacarri Rambo, but at least I can trust him." Aggressive tackler.

Good stuff "D"

Scouts opinions vary as much as ours. In fact, if anyone reads these draft discussions, they will notice most of what we have been talking about on these kids is exactly what those scouts were commenting on.

My all love team.
CB Xavier Rhodes I think the kid is going to be a star and should be given a top 10 grade. Most physical corner in the draft.

DE Bjorn Werner I know he doesnt have the athleticism and he is probably a 4-3 only DE but the kid reminds me of Jareed Allen. HE is relentless and once his body matures, he will be a force.

OLB Dion Jordan WR to TE to OLB the kid can cover receivers in the slot. If he didnt have injury issues, I would take him at 6. If we move down any, take him.

OG Larry Warford big mean nasty. He may be the most violent offensive linemen I have seen in a long time. This kid would chop his momma to get a first.

FS Bacarri RAmbo The kid will be a better pro than he was in college.

WR Da'Rick Rogers Kid from Tenn Tech, Gonna be a Mega Steal for someone. ESPNU had TT a few times this year and this kid in this offense would be phenomenal. He may be the best receiver from the state of Tenn :P

Geez, so damn many linemen on both sides. Wow, I don't remember a draft like that.. Ever..

Some would flip out but I'd have zero problem building the biggest, baddest O line in the league!

You think we could run behind Thomas, Warmack and Mack?

Forget about Warmack please, he will be lucky to go as early as DeCastro last draft, he's a RG only. He's not athletic enough for OT, C or LG...the combine confirmed that and it was talked about too on the telecast btw...before someone wants to call me a hater. He's a great run blocking RG, elite, but RGs only don't go high, that's reality...especially after NFL GMs saw how DeCastro played last season

Thats ok, plug your guy in there. In a draft that isnt tremendously talented at skilled positions I'll take the best Oline who will be there for me for 10 plus years clearing the way our RB pick of last season.

Someone needs to make onterio mccalebb a WR 4.21 forty

Ryan Swope ran a 4.34

Didn't know he was that fast.

I never want to see Mingos name mentioned again after he admitted he didn't try.

Also I saw this today:

http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/LSU-Offices.png

The athletic trainers never hold anything back.

#1 person scouts always speak with on college pro-days.

Damontre Moore only manages 12 reps on bench press and a 4.87 in the forty? So what's the opposite of a workout warrior? Listen to that draft stock fall.

That's unbelievable. I can do 12 reps.

And 4.87 is below average.

How did he year up the SEC? Weird

Strength can improve anyway. Especially for a kid that young. Balance, footwork and overall agility was what I've been focusing on these guys.

Loved Dion Jordans abilities today! Can he bang away with the big tackles off the edge though.

Mingo was a beast too! I get some of the workout warrior only sirens going off with him.

Maybe so..... but a top 5 is expected to make a splash day one.

I don't doubt the guy's talent but those numbers have gotta hurt his stock.

I'm completely torn on Jordan. On tape he just doesn't jump out, he's just a guy to me, not bad, but I see nothing great either, but a lot of people who's opinion I value are high on him...a real head scratcher. I might pull a Toad on him and go to the fence

Watching the Dline/OLB highbreds I just got the feeling that there were a few future stars and they werent really the top rated guys!

Anxious to see the pure LBs now!

If that pushes him down to us at 6 or further after a trade down? Great, good tape > 5sec at the combine

Z Gooden in a later round and coached up could be a nasty pass rusher some day! Dude can fly! Can he make the outside 34 transition ?

man, i liked washington from Georgia at the senior bowl and he is lighting this 40 up. I hope to watch some of him this week.

LSU can’t be happy to hear that DE Sam Montgomery said he took the easier games off
By Frank Schwab | Dr. Saturday – 6 hours ago

Many NFL draft prospects, once the film is dissected by scouts and executives, get accused of taking plays off.
It's pretty rare to hear of a player taking entire games off. Even weirder when the player admits to doing so.

LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery had an interesting press conference at the NFL scouting combine. He discussed large bets with teammate Barkevious Mingo, such as who would get more sacks last season, as Shutdown Corner's Doug Farrar wrote about.

What's crazy is that revelation didn't raise the most eyebrows from his presser.

The Advocate in Baton Rouge had this interesting piece of information from Montgomery.

“You know, some weeks when we didn’t have to play the harder teams, there were some times when effort was not needed,” he said.

“But when we had the big boys coming in — the Bamas or the South Carolinas — I grabbed close to those guys and went all-out.”

Montgomery had been showing up in the late first round of some mock drafts, but his stock could fall some after coaches find out he admitted to being kind of lazy on certain Saturdays.

It's not like Montgomery mailing in games against Towson or Idaho cost the Tigers too much because even with apparently little effort LSU won without much of a scare (have we mentioned that getting rid of FBS-FCS games might be best for the sport?). The LSU losses last season were all against "big boys," like Florida, Alabama and Clemson.

Oh, but Montgomery had more, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

"Of course, this is a new league, the NFL and there are no small teams, small divisions. It is all Alabamas and LSUs every week. It's definitely something I have to get adjusted to, but I'm sure with the right coaching I will be fine."

Les Miles and staff must have been thrilled to hear that with "the right coaching" Montgomery would learn to do things like play hard once a week in the fall.

The lead-up to the draft has one key element that Montgomery may not have considered. NFL teams have dialogue with college coaches and ask about players all the time. And according to draftinsider.net, when teams have asked about Montgomery, LSU's coaches were openly "slamming him" to them. Apparently the Tigers' coaches and some former teammates didn't like Montgomery's attitude or personality, according to draftinsider.net.

Go figure.
- - -

web page

Are we going to get into the 90lb curl discussion again?

In all seriousness I would put $100 down that I could do 8 reps of 225 this minute. I was working toward being able to do 3 sets of 10 at 225 but never quite made it. I'm doing P90x right now so not in the gym doing bench right now.

Could I do 12...maybe probably? I am hovering around 220 but still maintaining strength.

But man come on...Isn't there a strength coach at A&M? I'd be on the phone with him if I was Lombardi.

It's just such a freakishly low number that I have to question if something else is going on here.

Was he allurgic to the weight room?

btw...I got in with the strength and conditioning coach at OSU and had a bunch of friends that were in varsity athletics. Got to work out with some impressive people. One of which was Joey Galloway.

He was repping out 405. I mean just blasting it. I think he did 8 reps. It was amazing.

And it turned out that he was juicing but man it's unreal to see a guy his size..185ish taking that amount of weight and throwing it around.

I am getting older and weaker by the day...that's the reality of the matter.


That said, the attitude says I still have a couple of good ass kickings left in me.

Agreed.

I've never been on the Mingo train, but haven't seen a lot of him. I like Jordan and would love to see him in Cleveland, though only a couple years on D worries me at #6. And only a couple years of Ansah even playing football scares me at #6. (though props to him being an Actuarial Science major!).

Holy Margus Hunt!

Oh Lordy. Just saw him right now run the 40.

Ridonculous. Straight stud.

I don't know where the best place to get him would be but I'd find a way to get that guy.

Please watch his tape first. He doesn't like to play football and pretty much all but said so live on the telecast. He was urged to start playing by SMU coaches, who watched him workout at their gym but declined to do so and just started playing as a "last chance" to stay at SMU and finish his degree. He's in it just for the money now and he hasn't improved much...Ziggy Ansah has improved much more in 9 games than Hunt in 3 seasons. Ansah loves to hit people, Hunt doesn't...it's as easy as that and since we're talking about front 7 prospects, that's pretty important imho

IF Ansah can develop the hand technique, he will be a star. This is one where you really have to determine how coachable he really is. I knew he had great feet but watching him on those drills, I got to see great hips.

That was one of the knocks I had on Wimbley coming out, he was flexible and had great feet but he was never explosive with his hips being able to sink and pop. Ansah really shot up on my board.

Moore hoever, ugg. I dont know if he came in injured and tried to workout or what but he looked defeated walking up to the 40. That bothered me a lot.

Dion Jordan walked up there like he owned the place and that sells.

The other DE from LSU impressed me more than Mingo. I really liked the power and burst. Maybe not the speed and athleticism but he was really explosive.

I think Jordan has to be the pick if he is there.

I like Montgomery too, he'd make a nice RDE for our 4-3, oh well....he's a pure 4-3 DE like Werner, I don't see him fitting anywhere in a 3-4

As for Ansah, I think he has a chance of going top 5 now and yes Mourg, his hand usage is lacking, but he comes across as a VERY intelligent and humble guy, who takes on coaching. He's already so good without any technique...once he gets that down, watch out. Guy LOVES to hit and his floor is pretty high for such a raw player. He's a good bet anywhere in the draft imho and would not be surprised if he goes top5 come April 25th

it depends on what we do in FA, but I find myself seeing guys who can cover in FA but not real pass rush guys.

so, if we can get a decent CB, OG, and S in FA, then why wouldn't we go pass rush in the draft?

Watching the combine the DB deptartment looks pretty good for solid guys in later rounds! That great pass rusher would go a long way to help the DB's.

I am still waiting on my boy Rhodes to work out, (i am watching the tape from todays combines so an hour or so behind). Right now my mock would be

1. Joeckel to the Chiefs
2. Floyd to the Jags
3. Dion Jordan to the Raiders
4. Fisher to the Eagles
5. Millner to Lions
6. ????

I would definitely take Jordan over Moore or Jones. Moore was awful at the combine - slow and not very strong. And I love Jones, but the spine thing could mean a short career. As I said in another thread, the safest and surest way to upgrade is to grab a corner at No. 6. Maybe get some of these 3-4 linebackers we need in free agency. We lost all five games Haden couldn't play, IIRC.

I'm confused as to why Jordan is assumed to be the safe pick. You're taking a guy whose best asset is his athleticism, asking him to play 20 pounds over his college weight, and to rely on that athleticism to be productive in a role he wasn't particularly effective in in college. How is that the safe pick?

Has there been anything definite with Jones and his combine physical? He is the guy I would prefer if his physical holds.

With the 49ers now also owning the 34th overall and 15 picks (!) in the draft, how about trading back from 6 to 31 for 34, 61 and 93? I'd do that in a heartbeat if both Milliner and Ansah are gone, which very well could happen by now....who's a top5 lock? Joeckel? Milliner? Who else?

I think Millner, Floyd and Joeckel are the 3 locks for top 5. Banner is gonna bang the table for Warmack. Chud probably will as well. Even Mayock has been talking about if the Browns add Warmack at LG they would have the best OL in football and lets face it Mayock and Lombardi are super tight and I am sure talk every single day.

After the combines, I am starting to think we will take a guard at #6 overall. I want the pass rusher or Rhodes (I think he is gonna be that good). For those pimping the OG, they may very well get their wish.

I would probably be okay with this, though I would prefer it if one of those picks was a 1st rounder in next year's draft. The question is: Who are the 49ers trading up to get? I could possibly see them wanting to move up for Milliner but you have him off the board by #6.

New mock draft from Walter Football http://walterfootball.com/draft2013_1.php

Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
It's now official that the Chiefs will not be picking Geno Smith. They acquired Alex Smith from the 49ers on Wednesday afternoon. Go here for the grades I've given both the 49ers and Chiefs in the Alex Smith trade.

This selection is now a no-brainer in terms of which position the front office will address. The pick will come down to Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher. The latter had a better Combine, but there have been reports that the Chiefs love the Texas A&M product. Thus, he's the favorite to be the first play off the board on April 25. Of course, this all depends on what happens with Branden Albert, but he's apparently asking for too much money, so Kansas City will probably let him walk.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Eric Fisher, OT - As discussed, the other left tackle possibility.

2. Sharrif Floyd, DE/DT - If the Chiefs re-sign Albert, they'll likely go with Sharrif Floyd as a big upgrade at defensive end.

By the way, I'm doing this live because I thought it'd be fun to get instant feedback. I'm going to post my mock anyway, so why not do it this way? Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon
I've been hesitant to place Dion Jordan in my top 10 because of his shoulder issue. That's why I previously mocked him in the 15-19 range. Apparently it's not that big of a deal, as he's widely considered a top-six prospect. Most expect him to go to Philadelphia or Dallas, but I think Jacksonville is the most likely destination.

New head coach Gus Bradley met with the NFL Network crew during the Senior Bowl. He told them that one of the things he learned under Pete Carroll was to build the team on speed. Dion Jordan certainly fits the bill there, as he was one of the most explosive athletes at the Combine.

Jordan, who is definitely one of the top players available, fits Bradley's defense perfectly. Given that he's drawn comparisons to Aldon Smith, Jordan would improve the team's last-ranked pass rush. He would also be able to drop into coverage and defend tight ends - and that is key because the Texans and Colts both use multi-tight end sets.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Sharrif Floyd, DT - The Jaguars could stand to upgrade the interior of their defensive line as well.

Pick change; previously Star Lotulelei, DT

Oakland Raiders: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Mike Mayock rated Sharrif Floyd above Star Lotulelei prior to the Combine, and he wasn't the first to do so. There's a ton of buzz about Floyd, with some of the ESPN and Scouts Inc. analysts ranking him in the top 10 of their big boards. He has so much upside and versatility that he could end up being a top-five pick. It's possible that the Raiders would view him as the best player available. Of course, this is much more of an obvious pick in the wake of Lotulelei's heart condition.

Floyd makes a ton of sense from a needs staindpoint. Richard Seymour's contract has been voided. Meanwhile, Tommy Kelly is a bum who doesn't care about winning. He's a thug who has played so sluggishly this year in the rare instances when he wasn't trying to injure the opposing quarterback, so there's no chance he's going to see a penny of his $6.5 million salary in 2013. He's as good as gone, and 15-year-old head coach Dennis Allen lost all respect in the locker room for not cutting him after the opener.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Dion Jordan/Ezekiel Ansah, DE - Only the Jaguars had fewer sacks than the Raiders this past year. The pass rush must improve.

2. Geno Smith, QB - There's been speculation that the Raiders have taken a liking to Geno Smith. If the Chiefs pass on him, another AFC West team could draft him.

Philadelphia Eagles: Sheldon Richardson, DE/DT, Missouri
The Eagles are switching to the 3-4 even though they don't have the personnel to run that style of defense. They'll obviously have to do something about that.

One of the positions Philadelphia has to address is defensive end. The front office dumped both Cullen Jenkins (too expensive) and Mike Patterson (didn't fit the 3-4) on Monday, so it'll have to find someone to play across from Fletcher Cox. That someone could be Sheldon Richardson, who makes a ton of sense. He's one of the top players available and would fit perfectly into a 3-4 scheme.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher, OT - The Eagles have to upgrade their offensive line. Jason Peters is coming off an Achilles. He and Todd Herremans are both in their 30s.

2. DeMarcus Milliner, CB - A cornerback hasn't been chosen in the top four since Charles Woodson in 1998, but that trend could be broken this year because of the lack of talent atop the class. The Eagles need corner help with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hitting free agency and Nnamdi Asomugha likely to be released.

Pick change; previously Eric Fisher, OT



Detroit Lions: DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama
The Lions' M.O. is to take the top player available. That would be DeMarcus Milliner in this situation. Cornerbacks usually don't go in the top five unless they are top-notch elite prospects, but this draft class is so horrendous at the top that Milliner could easily go No. 4 or 5.

It seems like Detroit has needed cornerback help for ages; general manager Martin Mayhew even admitted that he's looking for one. He could finally put an end to that by selecting Milliner.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Ezekiel Ansah, DE - The Lions cut Kyle Vanden Bosch and could be losing Cliff Avril in free agency. The coaching staff got a close look at Ezekiel Ansah at the Senior Bowl.

2. Eric Fisher, OT - Gosder Cherilus is a free agent, so a right tackle (and future left tackle) is needed if Riley Reiff moves inside.

Pick change; previously Ezekiel Ansah, DE

Cleveland Browns: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The Browns need to improve their pass rush. Jabaal Sheard led the team in sacks with only seven. Juqua Parker-Thomas was next with six, and he's a 35-year-old free agent.

Ezekiel Ansah, who is a top-10 pick according to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, makes sense from a scheme perspective. Michael Lombardi learned from Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, who both prefer larger rush linebackers. Ansah (271 pounds) dwarfs most of the other pass-rushers. He also possesses unbelievable upside, which will intrigue the Browns.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Dion Jordan, DE/OLB - Another pass-rushing possibility, should Dion Jordan fall to No. 6. Lombardi will likely want to bolster this group.

2. DeMarcus Milliner, CB - The Browns need cornerback help across from Joe Haden with Sheldon Brown hitting free agency.

Pick change; previously Damontre Moore, DE

Arizona Cardinals: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Eric Fisher has soared up big boards with his impressive performances at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. Mike Mayock stated that Fisher could challenge Luke Joeckel to be the first tackle off the board. I wouldn't be surprised if he even went No. 1, so this has to be considered a steal for the Cardinals.

It doesn't matter who the quarterback is; if the Cardinals can't pass protect, that signal-caller will struggle. I can't imagine Arizona passing on Fisher if he's available. He's one of the top prospects remaining, so unless the Cardinals really don't like him, they'll select him to be the cornerstone of their new offensive front.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Chance Warmack, G - Guards don't go in the top 10, but this year is different, as previously stated.

2. Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB - The Cardinals will likely go offense at No. 7 overall, but if they do opt to address the defense, they'll likely want to fix their poor pass rush.

Pick change; previously Chance Warmack, G

Buffalo Bills: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
General manager Buddy Nix, who is generally forthcoming about his offseason plans, told the media that he plans on drafting a franchise quarterback. He even said he'll trade up for one in the 2013 NFL Draft. He may have been talking about Geno Smith if the Chiefs pass on him, so I wouldn't be surprised if he moves up to No. 5 in order to leapfrog the Browns and Cardinals.

Many will criticize this move, but Nix is desperate. If he wants to keep his job, he'll have to find a franchise quarterback quickly. I think he'll swing for the fences with Smith, who undoubtedly has first-round talent; he just needs to put it all together. I'm pretty convinced that Nix will talk himself into taking Smith or another quarterback at No. 8 overall. Don't look for it to be Ryan Nassib though; it's been reported that Buffalo doesn't like him very much.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR - Buffalo could go with a wideout here and then a quarterback in Round 2. Patterson's the big type of receiver Buddy Nix is looking for.



New York Jets: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Mike Tannenbaum was recently fired because he put the Jets in an awful cap position, but given that he's a recent, former employee, he almost definitely has some inside information about the team. He mocked Cordarrelle Patterson to New York in a 10-team mock draft a few days ago, and the other NFL Network panelists followed suit.

Cordarrelle Patterson is very raw, and he normally wouldn't be a top-10 prospect. However, this draft class is awful at the very top, so Patterson has a legitimate shot to be picked eighth or ninth. Patterson doesn't have much collegiate experience, but he's a dynamic athlete who has drawn comparisons to Julio Jones. Patterson would give the Jets a much-needed No. 1 wideout option.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Ezekiel Ansah or Bjoern Werner, DE/OLB - The Jets need a lot of things, including a top-notch pass-rusher.

2. DeMarcus Milliner, CB - If the Jets trade either Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie, they'll definitely consider Milliner if he's available.

Pick change; previously Bjoern Werner, DE

Tennessee Titans: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
The Titans desperately want DeMarcus Milliner, but they'll probably have to trade up to get him. However, they're unlikely to move up because they feel like they have too many needs. Thus, they're a bit stuck if Milliner goes in the top nine.

I normally wouldn't mock a guard in the top 10, but three things: 1) Chance Warmack is a rare talent who is regarded by some to be the top prospect in this class. 2) General manager Ruston Webster said he has no reservations about taking a guard this high. He also declared that he wants to upgrade the interior of his offensive line. 3) Again, this draft class stinks at the top, so if there were ever a year in which a guard could finally break thet top 10 again, this would be it.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. DeMarcus Milliner, CB - I guarantee that Milliner will not make it past the Titans, should he fall for some unexpected reason.

2. Desmond Trufant, CB - Another cornerback option. As Charlie mentioned to me, general manager Ruston Webster is familiar with Washington's program, having drafted Jake Locker recently. Trufant had an awesome Combine.

Pick change; previously DeMarcus Milliner, CB

San Diego Chargers: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
I usually don't have teams reach for need unless it involves the quarterback position. However, Lane Johnson had a terrific Senior Bowl and followed that up with a great Combine, so this isn't really considered a reach anymore.

The Chargers could be forced into making this selection anyway. Philip Rivers appears to be regressing, but it's impossible to tell if that's the case because he's getting slaughtered behind a pathetic offensive line. San Diego cannot, under any circumstances, enter the 2013 season with Jared Gaither as its starting left tackle. He's just way too injury-prone and unreliable.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB - San Diego may deem Barkevious Mingo to be the best player available. He'd make a ton of sense as a replacement for free agent Shaun Phillips.

2. Chance Warmack or Jonathan Cooper, G - The Chargers also have to upgrade the interior of their offensive line.

Miami Dolphins: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Stud defensive tackle Randy Starks will be a free agent in March. If the Dolphins can't retain him, they'll have to find a replacement this offseason. They'd have the option of moving Jared Odrick inside, which is what they'll do in this scenario. But even if they franchise Starks, defensive end will be an option because Odrick isn't a very good fit there in Miami's 4-3. The Dolphins could use a dynamic pass-rusher across from Cameron Wake.

Bjoern Werner has drawn comparisons to Chris Long. He's not as athletic, but he's still the best pure 4-3 defensive end in this class. His draft range starts at No. 12. *** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Lane Johnson, OT - It's looking less likely that Jake Long will be back in Miami. If he leaves, the Dolphins will have to find a bookend for Jake Long.

2. Desmond Trufant, CB - The Dolphins look to be losing Sean Smith, so they need a new No. 1 cornerback.

Pick change; previously Sheldon Richardson, DT



Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
The Buccaneers decided they didn't like Morris Claiborne very much, so they traded out of the No. 5 spot in the 2012 NFL Draft and selected Mark Barron two picks later. They really need cornerback help, especially in the wake of the Aqib Talib trade, so they'll almost have to remedy that need at this juncture.

Desmond Trufant had an awesome Combine on top of his excellent Senior Bowl. Like Stephon Gilmore last year, Trufant will be the cornerback to rise. He could go as high as No. 10.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Lane Johnson, OT - The Buccaneers have shown interest in Lane Johnson. Right tackle Demar Dotson is entering his contract year, while left tackle Donald Penn, who struggled down the stretch, is owed about $18 million over the next three years.

2. Xavier Rhodes, CB - The other cornerback option.

Carolina Panthers: Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah
I don't know what to do with Star Lotulelei. He wasn't allowed to work at the Combine because of a heart condition. It could be something serious, but it could also be insignificant. Hopefully it's the latter. I think I'll slot Lotulelei here until I have more information.

I was told by a reliable source not to mock Fletcher Cox to the Panthers because they were satisfied with their current group of defensive tackles. Based on the rushing yardage they surrendered to Bryce Brown and Jamaal Charles at the end of the year, I highly doubt they'll feel the same way in April.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Desmond Trufant or Xavier Rhodes, CB - The Panthers will be cutting Chris Gamble sometime soon. They'll need a new No. 1 cornerback.

2. Kenny Vaccaro, S - More safety help is needed.

Pick change; previously Kenny Vaccaro, S

New Orleans Saints: Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
The Saints fired Steve Spagnuolo and announced that they are moving to a 3-4 defense. A new scheme doesn't mean they'll be able to fix their old problems, however. They still need to find a top pass-rusher to make things easier for an overmatched secondary. Barkevious Mingo makes a ton of sense here as one of the top prospects available.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Damontre Moore or Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB - More pass-rushing options for the Saints' new 3-4.

2. Star Lotulelei, NT - Brodrick Bunkley is currently slated to be the team's nose tackle. New Orleans may not view him as a viable option for the position. If that's the case, Star Lotulelei will be considered if he checks out medically.

Pick change; previously Dion Jordan, DE/OLB

St. Louis Rams: Jonathan Cooper, G/C, North Carolina
The Rams desperately need to upgrade their offensive front. Jeff Fisher said it as much - he defended Sam Bradford recently by saying the blocking needs to get better up front. Expect St. Louis to make multiple upgrades to the offensive line this offseason.

I'd hate the idea of slotting two guards in the top 20, but Jonathan Cooper is capable of playing all three interior positions. Fisher will love his versatility.

*** OTHER 2013 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Chance Warmack, G or Lane Johnson, OT - It'll be tough for the Rams to pass on Chance Warmack or Lane Johnson if they're available.

2. Kenny Vaccaro, S - St. Louis' front office has stated that it wants to improve the safety position.

Pick change; previously Cordarrelle Patterson, WR
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia
As in my pre-Combine mock draft, Jarvis Jones drops to No. 17 overall. I had Jones going No. 2 overall back in January, but check out Charlie's rumor mill entry on why Jones is expected to slide. On top of that, at least a dozen teams have red flags on Jones because of his spinal issue.

I believe dumb groupthink will cause Jones to fall on Draft Day. General managers will be petrified of his medical. But, as smart teams like the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, etc. often do, they'll snatch up a plummeting draft prospect and laugh at all of the dumb organizations constantly picking in the top 10 as they field yet another Pro Bowler.

Jones isn't just the best player available; he fills a big need as well. James Harrison may not be back next year. He'll be due $6.6 million as a 35-year-old who is having trouble staying healthy. The Steelers may spend an early pick on a rush linebacker.

Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Dallas Cowboys: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
The safety position was a major weak point for the Cowboys this past season after Barry Church tore his Achilles' tendon. Church was extended prior to the injury, but he's owed less than $1 million next year, so that won't prevent Dallas from picking a safety early. Kenny Vaccaro is the top player available at this juncture.

Pick change; previously Jonathan Cooper, G/C

New York Giants: Damontre Moore, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
Smart teams like the Giants, Steelers and Ravens always end up getting a prospect who falls during the draft. Teams constantly selecting in the top 15 are stupid, so intelligent front offices take advantage of their dumb decisions on Draft Day. One player who's probably going to drop is Damontre Moore. He did not perform well at the Combine, posting just 12 bench press reps and running an ugly 40 before getting hurt.

Giant fans know that general manager Jerry Reese loves drafting pass-rushers. With Osi Umenyiora entering free agency this March and Justin Tuck having a down year, Reese may select a defensive end early this April.

Pick change; previously Alec Ogletree, LB

Chicago Bears: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
The Bears have revealed that they will be searching for a speed element to their passing game this offseason. If that's the case, they won't hesitate selecting Tavon Austin if he's available at this juncture. Chicago cannot have Devin Hester on the field as a receiver any longer.

Austin has jumped into top-20 consideration after a sterling Combine. He had one of the fastest 40s and was terrific in the drills. He has drawn comparisons to Percy Harvin and Wes Welker.

Pick change; previously D.J. Fluker, OT



Cincinnati Bengals: Xavier Rhodes, CB/S, Florida State
The Bengals want Kenny Vaccaro, but he didn't make it to them in this addition. If he's not on the board, they'll go with the best player available, and that happens to be Xavier Rhodes.

Cincinnati just drafted Dre Kirkpatrick in the first round last year, but Rhodes is still in play because he can easily move to safety. Also, the team has zero cornerback depth, which is a problem because Mike Zimmer loves having three corners on the field.

Pick change; previously Manti Te'o, LB

St. Louis Rams: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
James Laurinaitis and JoLonn Dunbar played pretty well this past season, but no one the team tried at strongside linebacker did very well. Alec Ogletree makes sense as one of the top prospects available.

Ogletree was recently arrested for a DUI. He's also had some other off-the-field issues. However, this won't deter the Rams, who have taken chances on character guys in this regime. It's worked out so far.

Minnesota Vikings: Keenan Allen, WR, California
The front office has to add more talent to complement a very inconsistent Christian Ponder. The Vikings need an upgrade across from Percy Harvin, as Jerome Simpson is way too inconsistent to be a No. 2 receiver. Harvin may not even be back with the Vikings next year, so Minnesota may target two wideout upgrades this offseason.

Pick change; previously Johnathan Hankins, NT

Indianapolis Colts: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
If you've watched the Colts at all in the final couple of weeks to close out the season, you know that their offensive line must be upgraded because Andrew Luck constantly had defenders in his face. Winston Justice was always hobbling on and off the field with various injuries.

Pick change; previously Johnathan Banks, CB



Seattle Seahawks: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
Seattle's defense is dominant, but one thing the unit is lacking is a consistent interior pass-rushing presence. Perhaps Kawann Short can fix that. He's one of the top players available.

The Combine didn't provide any answers, partly because some guys didn't run, but the Pro Day could dictate this pick for me. Pete "Bazuzu" Carroll is all about building his team on speed.

Pick change; previously Bennie Logan, DT

Green Bay Packers: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jermichael Finley recently said that his chances of staying with the Packers is 50/50. Jason La Canfora reported that Finley won't return. If that's the case, the Packers will be searching for a tight end early in the 2013 NFL Draft. Tyler Eifert distanced himself from Zach Ertz at the Combine.

Pick change; previously Keenan Allen, WR

Houston Texans: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
There's a ton of uncertainty at inside linebacker for Houston. Brian Cushing is coming off a torn ACL, Bradie James is an impending free agent who isn't very good, while neither Tim Dobbins nor Darryl Sharpton is worthy of starting.

Denver Broncos: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
There's a chance a running back won't be chosen in the first round this year, but Eddie Lacy has a shot of being picked toward the end of Thursday night. He had a terrific showing in the national championship and has earned fringe first-round status.

John Fox is not shy about using early selections on running backs. He needs one. Willis McGahee is old, Knowshon Moreno can't be trusted, and Ronnie Hillman's just a chance-of-pace back.



New England Patriots: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
The Patriots don't have much of an interior pass rush. They may spend an early draft choice on a complement for Vince Wilfork.

Sylvester Williams, who had a solid Senior Bowl, has the size and scheme versatility that Bill Belichick likes in his defensive linemen.

Pick change; previously Kawann Short, DT

Atlanta Falcons: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
The overpaid Ray Edwards was cut during the season. Meanwhile, John Abraham will turn 35 a week after the 2013 NFL Draft. Defensive end will be a priority early in the 2013 NFL Draft, and the Falcons may even double dip at the position in the first few rounds.

Pick change; previously Alex Okafor, DE/OLB

San Francisco 49ers: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International
Despite making the Pro Bowl, Donte Whitner hasn't been very good this year (he surrendered more touchdowns than any safety). Dashon Goldson, meanwhile, was slapped with a franchise tag this prior offseason. The 49ers, who might want to upgrade the secondary after Joe Flacco torched them in the Super Bowl, will need a replacement if they can't sign him to a long-term deal.

Jonathan Cyprien made this big leap recently. There's so much buzz about him recently, and there are multiple reports indicating that several teams have him ranked as the No. 2 safety in this class.

Baltimore Ravens: Johnathan Hankins, NT, Ohio State
This pick is all about figuring out which player will fall to the Ravens. Ozzie Newsome frequently scoops up plummeting prospects, and there's no reason to believe that this year will be any different. The tumbling prospect could easily be Johnathan Hankins because he looked sluggish at the Combine and consequently ran slowly.

Terrence Cody is a bust. He was playing behind Ma'ake Kemoeatu in his third season. Kemoeatu is a 34-year-old free agent, so the Ravens may want to bring in a new nose tackle this offseason.

Pick change; previously John Jenkins, NT

link

their mock:
6. Ansah
68. Nassib
101. MArquis Goodwin.

I would lose my poop. In a bad way.

I'd be pissed if we drafted a Guard at 6...

you could drop down if you wanted Warmack, couldn't you? Arizona or Buffalo might move up to get Geno Smith, or another mid-round team might want one of the pass rushers. Maybe you get a two that way.

I saw one mock (I think it was a CBS sports or an SI mock) that had 2 guards going in the top 10. I would almost be willing to bet my house that that doesn't happen.

As for taking Womack at 6, I would be okay with that. Not thrilled but okay. I think we saw last year that Pinkston is not the answer. Our oline play got significantly better when Greco replaced him. And Greco is nothing but a good depth player. Our oline is really really good in pass protection. We need more power in the run game. Bringing in a guy like Womack would add that power and improve our run game. I would prefer though to upgrade OG vis free agency. Vasquez would fit nicely.

I'd be reluctant to spend 7-9mil/year on an above AVG power-run G-only in FA, I just don't see it as money well spent, especially since we have to re-sign Mack soon and that won't be cheap....we can't burn 50% of our cap on the OL folks. Vasquez isn't a Grubbs or Nicks, he's not close to that class, he's just the best OG out there and he'll want to get paid like those 2 elite guys....OL get better with time, a year ago Vasquez was a nobody, all of a sudden we want to throw 7mil at him

We have a young G group with Lauvao, Pinky, Greco and Miller....sign Schwartz' brother Geoff for T/G depth and move on, let them grow

Wastin top10 picks and 7mil in FA? Pff, as if we have no other problems, lol In case you missed it, our OL is our best unit on the team

Raiders "interested" in Geno Smith?

To answer your question: the highest drafted OGs since 2000 were Hutchinson and Iupati, both at 17th overall

Warmack is so overrated, it's laughable...he's a RG-only as I doubt he's athletic enough to play LG in the NFL. He won't have many dwarf DL he can dominate in the NFL anymore, he'll need to move his big ol butt and that happens to be his weakness: athleticism. I still predict Cooper to have a much better NFL career and thus would draft him over Warmack every time...but neither at 6th overall

We have all kinds of holes on much more important positions and we're seriously thinking about wasting a top10 pick on an already top 10, if not top5 unit in the league....only in Cleveland

Addressing 2 of your posts here in one repluy DJ:

1 - Regarding Vasquez - As with all FA signings you have to look at the talent/cost ratio. No I most definitely would not pay him $9 million a year. If that is what it costs to get him I go another route. I was thinking $3-4 possibly $5. If he demands $7-9 then he can play somewhere else. I picked Vasquez as an example because everyone knows his name but it could be some other FA guard.

2 - A lot of teams add to the strength of their roster. 1st example theat comes to mind are the NYG. They have a strong dline but still draft Kiawanuka a few years ago. Back when Parcells was their HC they had by far the best Lb corp in the NFL and still drafted Lb's. It doesn't take a lot to turn a strength into a weakness. One player leaves by free agency another tears an ACL and low and behole in less than 2 seasons a strength becomes a weakness.

Note to you DJ - I am just discussing concepts here. Do not mistake that for me wanting to grab an OG at #6.

I'd much rather grab Warmack Lite from Youngstown State, Lamar Mady, in the draft.

He put up the second-most reps on the bench of all OL at the combine at 35. He's 6'2" 317# which is basically the same size as the top 2 guards in the draft (Warmack 6'2" 317#, Cooper 6'2" 311#.) He looked really good for a guard in the edge rush drill, much better than Warmack did. Also, he was the only lineman that stood out to me at the Texas vs. the Nation game as dominating the line of scrimmage. We can probably grab him with our sixth round pick.

http://www.cornerblitz.com/2013/Features/UTR-Lamar-Mady.aspx

Drafttek's new mock

1 - Milliner

3 - William Gholston, DE- Michigan State

4 - Brandon Jenkins, OLB- Florida State

5 - Marcus Davis, WR- Virginia Tech

6a- Dion Sims, TE- Michigan State

6b- Ricky Wagner, ROT- Wisconsin

Because different positions have disparate impacts on the game.

A guard might have the least impact on offense of any position.

Obviously the QB is #1, the LT is #2...and from then on rationale debate can begin.

If we draft Warmack at 6 he has to be a HoF caliber player to get our money's worth. It's a lot like drafting Richardson at 3 last year. TRich has to be a Top 5 RB in the NFL...like now....to be in the ballpark of being worth it. Hopefully that one pans out.

I like Warmack. I like him a lot. But man he has to be an awesome pro to make it worth it. It just might be worth it, we'll see.

If we got Steve Hutchinson 2.0 it would be well worth it.

We're definitely going to disagree on this one.

The skillset necessary to be a Guard is way easier to find than the skillset to be a Tackle.

There just aren't a lot of 300+ guys who are comfortable in space. That's why the Wide 9 became popular. And that's why most people crave an edge rusher than an interior player.

Guards are protected on both sides. They play in a phone booth. The guys coming up the middle are rarely bigger or stronger than a Guard. Quicker usually but that can be schemed for. Yes Guards pull so they can't be too slow footed but still it's way easier than being a Tackle. Heck half of the Guards in the NFL were Tackles on their college teams...typically left tackles..since that's where you put your most athletic O-Lineman.

You ask anyone who they'd rather have...Steve Hutchenson or Walter Jones from Seattle. And it'd be unanimous Jones...and we're talking about two HoF guys.

If you're serious that you'd rather build in from the middle then you and I are going to differ.

This isn't baseball. And who watches baseball anyway?!?

Your entitled to your opinion,and 10-15 years ago you would have been correct.
The most important positions on the team?
Look at the pay scale for each position,that will tell you who is valued more.

I'm on board with you here Peen.

Especially with your stated opinion that at #6 overall we need a guy who is likely to be the best at his position - certainly coming out of the draft and possibly in the NFL.

I think the lack of a sure-fire stud(s) pass rusher is skewing the conventional wisdom of taking an interior OL in the top 20 or so - at least for us since we don't need a OT, there is no sure-fire QB either, etc.

For us this year, if the dominant player available to us at #6 is a G, and the pass rushers/QBs have question marks...I'm taking that G and not thinking twice about it. Or...

I'm trading down and getting more picks in a (somewhat) deep - yet not stellar - draft.

Then we differ.

You take the players as they come. No doubt I love having Joe Thomas, but it is crazy to say guards have the least impact of any position.

Some may be at more of a premium, but all positions have the same impact on a team. Each guy has to do the job.

I can tell you this...a qb is far more at ease with pressure from the edge then he is straight up the gut in his face. Pressure from the edge is something good QB's feel. Pressure up the middle is something they see and takes their eyes off the receiving targets.

Like I said, if the QB has a stonewall in front of him, as that clock ticks, he can step up a step or two and all of a sudden that tackle who is losing his position to the outside is now in perfect position.


I know the premium for LT's as a example proples them to the top of the wage scale, for some of the reasons you mentioned, but this idea you can keep throwing the Zuk's of the world at the guard position is idiotic.


Sure, you can get guards in later rounds easier than say a LT, but when you can get a guy most everybody thinks is going to stud out at the guard position, I think you don't hesitate.


Again, I am not really pimping the guy other than to say he would be worth the pick and dispelling the idea that since he is a guard he shouldn't be considered.

Browns under immense pressure to hit home run at No. 6
By Jeff Reynolds | NFLDraftScout.com
March 1, 2013 11:32 am ET

The Browns have to get it right with the No. 6 overall pick. Barring a trade, they'll watch 60 picks pass before they're on the clock again in the third round.

That's why Josh Gordon is the biggest storyline of the 2013 draft for the Cleveland Browns.

To add Gordon in the supplemfntal draft last summer, the Browns sacrificed their 2013 second-round pick. At 6-3, 225, he caught 50 passes, averaged 16.1 yards per catch and was praised by former head coach Pat Shurmur for being a quick study. He turns 22 next month, of like age to most of the 2013 draft class.

The downside: He's raw, runs unrefined multiple-breaking routes and relies on his natural ability to win one-on-one. His catch percentage (receptions/targets) was 52.1 percent, at poor number that should also factor the rookie quarterback on the other end of those throws.

Cleveland needs Gordon to perform like a No. 1 receiver, and do it soon.

CEO Joe Banner, GM Mike Lombardi and head coach Rob Chudzinski are a few of Browns' employees under more pressure than Gordon and 2012 first-round pick (22nd overall) Brandon Weeden.

In a draft with depth but a dearth of star power, finding the best playmaker available is the charge.

Lombardi intimated free agency could compensate for the Browns' scarcity of draft-day assets. Wide receiver Mike Wallace, whom Lombardi called one of the best receivers in the league in 2011, is thought to be one free-agent target.

What the team is shopping for at No. 6 can't be determined today. Free agency shapes need and Chudzinski has scheduled a three-day veteran minicamp before the draft to get a better read on Weeden. There can be no contact in the minicamp, but Chudzinski expects to learn more about Weeden and the rest of his team when he gets his players on the field than he can evaluating film.

Banner says the Browns won't become contenders until they get a quarterback they know they can win with -- he also didn't say it wasn't Weeden -- an offensive line to protect him and a defense that can put relentless pressure on the opposing quarterback.

Banner offered no prediction of how long it will take to find those three parts. He is not giving up on Weeden, but he would not go into detail on the team's evaluation of him.

"It wouldn't be productive to be overly specific about that," Banner said. "But we're telling you that we see potential that we're going to try to work with it and see what it's going to develop into. Some of that is just going to come from how bad he wants it. So I think we'll know a lot more than we know now shortly."

Knowing what we know March 1 -- subject to change post-free agency -- here are four players the Browns must consider at No. 6:

1. Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones.

Cleveland ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in 12 of 19 defensive categories in 2012; overall defense (23rd), sacks per pass play (19th), first downs allowed per game (27th) and points per game (19th) being most disconcerting. They'll have a new look in a 3-4 defense and want to blitz more under the leadership of new defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Jones might not be available; if teams downgrade Jones (spinal stenosis), the Browns should take the gamble. He had 13.5 sacks last season. The Browns haven't had a player with 10 sacks in a season since Kamerion Wimbley had 11 in 2006.

2. BYU OLB Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah.

Ansah played outside linebacker and defensive end at BYU, but has only two seasons of football experience on any level. But his natural pass-rush instincts jump out. He wowed at the Senior Bowl -- Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he's nowhere near as raw as most suggest -- and he proved as much in OLB workouts at the combine. His 10-yard split of 1.56 show Ansah's off-the-ball explosiveness. Teams considering Ansah are also interested in Oregon DE/OLB Dion Jordan, but durability questions are more worrisome than Ansah's limited experience.

3. Utah DL Star Lotulelei.

As a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defensive line that would also include active and power behemoth Ahtyba Rubin (82 tackles in 2010) and 335-pounder Phil Taylor, Lotulelei could give the Browns an elite defensive line that would rival glory days Patriots' wrecking crews that starred first-round picks Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren. Lotulelei's medical grade remains TBD. If he's found to be fine after heart function tests revealed a potential issue in Indianapolis, Star won't be around long. He compares physically to Haloti Ngata of the Ravens.

4. Alabama CB Dee Milliner.

He's a common answer to questions about who is the "top talent" or "safest pick" in this draft. A junior who started on two national championship teams and received NFL-level coaching from secondary expert Nick Saban, Milliner has size, speed and tackles. Alongside 2011 seventh overall pick Joe Haden, Milliner's coverage skills should make a modest pass rush look better than it is. Those concerned about locking up too much money at one position should note Haden (five years, $50 million pre-rookie draft slotting) will be paid like a top cornerback. Milliner would get a contract very near the four-year, $16.4 million deal signed by Morris Claiborne with the Cowboys as the No. 6 pick in 2012.

For a frame of reference, the Browns signed Dimitri Patterson to a three-year, $16 million deal last March.

Buster Skrine could replace free agent Sheldon Brown as a starting cornerback, but the Browns are more likely to seek one in free agency or the draft. web page

Watched some video of some potential OLb prospects for out round 3 pick.

Khaseem Greene vs Virginia Tech
Jaimie Collins vs Nebraska
Corey Lemonier vs Alabama

Greene - The best of the group. Not great in any aspect but all around solid. He was moved around a lot. Lined up as a DE, Olb and ILb but mostly ILb.

Collins - Somewhat neutralized by the Nebraska offense which features a quick passing game but looked like a very good pass rusher. Not stout against the run by any means but okay. Poor dropping into coverage. Lined up almost exclusively as an Olb.

Lemonier - very disappointed. I was hoping to see more but he just didn't make any plays in this game. Lined up mostly as a DE. He put up good stats the 1st half of the season but then dropped off in the later part of the season. The Alabama game I watched was the last game of the season. Was there an injury? Don't know why his production fell off.

you brought up two guys who I've liked since about mid-season. Collins and Lemonier. I think both will be better pros then college players. Both can run, and rush the passer. I especially like Collins, not because of the combine, but because he was used in multiple roles at So. Miss.. He needs to get a little stronger, and needs some real coaching, but the skies the limit. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has noticed some of these other pass rushers. Some guys focus to much on the high profile guys to much, and forget good players can be had all over. Two other guys I like, that probably won't be drafted, but I think can be solid depth guys at MLB are Hepburn from Florida A&M, and Stewart from Texas A&M.

We need to Take JONES and never look back ... JMHO

Just read that a little known WR named Terrell Sinkfield ran a 4.19 at the pro day at Minnesota... kid went to NorthernEIowa...

4.19 is sort of quick.

How soon before we get a player who runs a sub 4 second 40?

Used to be that a 4.5 receiver was fast. Then 4.4 was unbelievably speedy. Then we started to see some 4.3 receivers, which is just incredible. Now we have a guy running a sub 4.2 40.

I would bet that we see a guy run a 3.95 40 by 2020 or so.

And will have healing power & the ability to control magnetism.

I'm serious. What is the upper limit of human performance?

It seems like every year there is a guy who is just a bit faster than anyone else has ever been. 10 years ago a 4.2 flat would have been almost unheard of. I recently read an article that sais that the fastest time at the 2003 combine was a 4.38 40.

There are already plenty of people that can run the forty in less than four seconds, they just don't play football.

What is Bolt's 40 time?

I know he ran the 100 meter in less than 10 seconds ..... but I don't know about his 40 time.

I think it was calculated off his WR record 100M performance at 3.97

Add in that he gets to use the starting block though and you'd probably see his time in the 4.1 - 4.2 range.

NO he doesnt

Bo Knows had the fastest 40 time ... 4.12

Yeah I was going to mention.

These new guys aren't really any faster than Bo Jackson (4.12) or Darrell Green (4.09-4.15). Deion Sanders ran a 4.21 - 4.27.

But there may be more of them springing up

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000...reg-cosell-says


Matt Barkley is a fourth-round talent, Greg Cosell says

It's widely believed that USC's Matt Barkley is the best quarterback in this draft class not named Geno Smith.

Greg Cosell, senior producer at NFL Films, has a less optimistic take on Barkley's ceiling as a pro signal-caller.

During an appearance on NFL Network's "Path To The Draft," Cosell told NFL Network's Paul Burmeister that Barkley is a fourth-round talent masquerading as a first- or second-round pick on draft boards.

"When I look at Matt Barkley, here's a couple of things I immediately see," Cosell said. "Number one, he has average arm strength by NFL standards. Number two, his feet are not particularly quick, he has slower feet. And three, he's a little shorter.

"So then I go beyond that and think, 'OK, how can he be successful in the NFL when you got certain limitations?' And I think those limitations are the things I notice immediately and it's very difficult for me to look at him as a first- or second-round pick given those limitations and given what I know works effectively in the NFL."

Cosell added that Barkley only has shown flashes of pro-level ability when it comes to reading progressions, mobility in the pocket, and being consistent in his ball location.

Long story short, Cosell seems to believe Barkley is a bust in waiting. Makes you wonder how many other teams feel the same way behind closed doors.

Inside the Browns' War Room- NFL Network

Thought to share this. Nothing earth shattering here but I enjoyed the format.

J/C


Someone mentioned QB Pete Lalich as a possible Browns later round pick. I never heard of him so searched and found this story. Very interesting tale and very, very interesting player...


NFL Draft 2013 — Peter Lalich: The Forgotten One

BY J.P. SCOTT ON FEBRUARY 26, 2013



"A source close to and with experience coaching Lalich described the signal caller as a “football savant”, going on to call him a “real life Will Hunting” when it came to football.



Peter Lalich is the best passer in college football. No one throws a prettier, more accurate ball with more zip. No One.

Don’t bother scrolling through the names of the quarterbacks who participated in this year’s NFL Combine. The 6’6, 245 pound senior is not on it. He wasn’t invited.

Lalich was one of the most heavily recruited quarterbacks in the nation coming out of West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia in 2007. He chose to stay in-state and attend the University of Virginia after turning down offers from Miami (FL), Michigan, N.C. State and UCLA.

During the summer before his sophomore season at Virginia, Lalich was arrested for underage drinking and placed on probation. He ended up starting the first two games for the Cavaliers before his court appearance where he admitted to violating his probation by consuming alcohol. He was dismissed from the UVA Football team the same day.

Two years later, after transferring to Oregon State, he was dismissed from that program as well. This time he was caught operating a boat under the influence of alcohol.

What looked to be another tragic ending to another talented athlete’s story took a turn for the better when Lalich found a place at the University of California (PA), a Division II school. He had a quiet yet solid 2012 season, highlighted by his 334.7 passing yards per game average.

In an interview for NFL Draft Zone (the interview is following after this article), Lalich talked about how his past mistakes made him a better person and helped him grow. In the same interview, he talks about passing his time by playing blues guitar, practicing yoga and modeling his game after that of Tom Brady. If you are trying to model yourself after another in your profession, I’d say it would be tough to make a better choice than that.

From what I can tell, outside of two unfortunate incidents with alcohol and some self admitted marijuana usage in the past, he seems like your average college kid — only this kid has an NFL arm and high-speed computer processor for a mind when it comes to making decisions from the pocket.

A source close to and with experience coaching Lalich described the signal caller as a “football savant”, going on to call him a “real life Will Hunting” when it came to football.

The same source cited how the fact that Ryan Nassib, the current quarterback prospect from Syracuse, is being considered by many as potential 2nd or 3rd round pick is laughable when you compare his skill-set to that of Lalich. He went on to speculate that Lalich will be one of the most sought after undrafted free agents should he get passed over for seven rounds.

It is also important to point out that Dallas Cowboy Head Coach Jason Garrett’s brother John was one of the primary recruiters of Lalich to Virginia. This tells me that Peter Lilich will be very much on the radar of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where John Garrett is now on Greg Schiano’s staff.

As I said before, after watching literally hours of NFL prospects throw the ball, not one of them is a better pure passer and for that matter, decision maker than Peter Lalich. Let’s just hope the foolish decisions of a 20 year old kid don’t end up being what derails what could very well be a terrific NFL career.

KnowItAllFootball.com

No way we'd be interested. No way. He's potentially too good and hand wringers would whine him out of contention.

A Drunk QB would never work.

I talk back and forth with Shaun, one of the guys who does NFL Draft Zone (referenced in the article.) That guy is constantly busting his butt with small-school prospects. At the very least, he's a valuable reference for players that are overlooked in the media. To me, he's interviewing a lot more guys than have a shot, but still it's very interesting to check out and he does have some good ones.

here's what I got out of the article:


Lalich is pronounced Laloosh

Yeah at least we aren't trotting Jason Fisk out there at NT.

I thought Taylor from the get go was a good fit or better fit for DE than NT in this new D which I don't know 100% but have a good perception of it as I love the basic system as my own favorite...Attack 3-4. Also Horton's history from the Steelers D. We will utilize a One gap slashing from our DE's n frankly if Taylor lost about 15-20 lbs of fat over the next year or so - I can only Assume there will be more discipline needed by the NT which is Rubin n Hughes...Not Taylor who does have excellent explosion for penetration...now to be used in a D that is going to require it n planning on it.

I don't see him fitting in Zone Blitzing but then I've seen bigger slower guys dropping back.

Gocong...I think is not from any inside info but just assumption cause he played WILB with Mangini...I'm pretty sure when we announced our Defense it was stated by a coach/FO I really forgot who...Gocong at SOLB...will that change? They had also stated at the same time Sheard at WOLB. Winn who might turn out to be our Best DE??? remember he was gotten in the 6th round. So although a JJ Watt would be nice we do not have to invest early to get what we want! Taylor is here n we assess that his best shot to helping this D n possibly stud out would be at the DE position not NT.

The Bozo's n Talking Heads - look at the size n weight n just ASSume NT.

We got depth guys at LB I think we have a URGENT Need for that Speed Edge Rusher Regardless of system which happens to be WOLB...Sheard might turn out well but his transition is starting this season just as much as a draft pick from 2013.

JMHO

Demontre Moore gets seven more reps in bench press

Hey guys, I finished my 7-round mock today. Doing this has convinced me that if we are drafting a FS, we need to do it with one of our first three picks. There were tons of pass rushers and corners in this draft, and even some tight ends late. If you're interested, here's the link.

http://cornerblitz.com/2013/Mocks/Post-Combine/

Every once in a great while somebody will post something that just amazes me.
This is not it.
Just kidding,alot of work must have gone into that,outstanding job.

Good effort, indeed! Question(s) though:
- Floyd falling that far to the Giants?
- Fisher over Joekel I can see, but Joekel will go in the top 10 (I believe).

thanks

I'm not as crazy about Floyd as the media is. I still think he's a good player but I don't see anything in him that says top ten pick. Kawann Short put up ridiculous numbers on a Purdue squad that wasn't very good. I think there was a reason short was second team all American and Floyd wasn't. There just weren't that many teams picking early that I thought a DT was the best pick for them. DTs bust at a higher rate than just about any position and something just doesn't make me feel great about him. He still went in the top 20 though... That's pretty high.

I agree that all three LTs will go top 10, but only because someone will trade up. JMO. Ididn't do any trades in this draft besides the Alex Smith one that's already been announced.

Thanks for the feedback!

Good job overall and I could live with that draft, just one little observation:

FS T.J. McDonald, Southern California
This choice would probably be Rontez Miles of California, PA, were it not for a Steelers logo tattooed on his shoulder. TJ McDonald fits Defensive Coordinator Ray Horton's profile of a "little man that can hit," and fills a need in the seconday at Free Safety.

Dude's 6'3, little man? He'd be a nice gamble in the 5th, but he's a project as a FS and SS, probably a 3rd S with ST ability his first couple of seasons....some nice value on day 3, we need more 4th to 7th rounders....I'd look to trade down in the 3rd to get a couple of extra picks on day 3

My hindsight mock, based on yours, strictly going with BPA:

6 CB Milliner
68 FS Swearinger or QB Wilson
104 TE Gragg
141 QB L.Jones or OLB Sharpe
174+176 2 out of RB L.Bell or WR Boyce or DL Logan

Maybe switch L.Jones with OLB B.Sharpe to get a much needed pass rusher in there, but I think we'll sign a big one in FA. We need to at least fill 2 needs in FA out of needs CB, FS and OLB, so we don't have to reach for needs too much in this draft, preferably FS and OLB, as this draft is deep at CB...maybe sign a nickel/no2 tweener like Munnerlyn as a safety net

Yeah that's how I feel about it too afterwards... sans the QBs.

I took Horton to mean dbs that can hit, but yes McDonald is a big safety.

Thanks for the feedback!

Tony Grossi's 2nd first round mock:

Mock draft 2.0: Plenty of changes, but not at the Browns' No. 6 pick

Mar 08, 2013

by Tony Grossi
ESPNCleveland.com

Mock draft 2.0: Our second stab at the first round of the draft had 16 changed picks. Most came at the bottom of the round.

There were four changes in the top 10, five in the middle 10 and seven in the bottom 10.

Florida tackle Shariff Floyd was the biggest riser – from No. 14 to No. 3. Alabama guard Chance Warmack dropped the furthest – from No. 11 to No. 16. Sorry about that, big guy.

Five players dropped out of the round. There was a switch in the order of quarterbacks. Matt Barkley moved ahead of Geno Smith and went to Arizona at No. 7. Smith was taken next by Buffalo at No. 8.

The Browns’ selection at No. 6 stayed the same.

Our next mock undoubtedly will have more changes as free agency kicks off on Tuesday.

1. Kansas City: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M.

The Chiefs’ flurry of moves – trading for QB Alex Smith, re-signing WR Dwayne Bowe, franchising LT Brandon Alberts and releasing RT Eric Winston – have reinforced the logic for this pick.

2. Jacksonville: Dion Jordan, DE-LB, Oregon.

3. Oakland: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida.

4. Philadelphia: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma.

Chip Kelly’s offensive linemen have to move fast. This one is the most agile of this class.

5. Detroit: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama.

6. Cleveland: Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah, DE-LB, Brigham Young.

I see no reason to change this pick at this time. Ansah is a certifiable project. But most any college rusher projected into an NFL 3-4 defense is the same. Ansah’s elite physical skills are natural, not manufactured. He is a football infant, having played the sport only two years. In his last season at BYU, Ansah lined up in a variety of spots in the front seven. That was a good learning experience for what Ray Horton wants to do in his multi-front, 3-4 defensive scheme. Despite his rawness, Ansah is now appearing in the top 10 in a majority of mock drafts.

7. Arizona: Matt Barkley, QB, Southern California.

8. Buffalo: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia.

9. N.Y. Jets: Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia.

10. Tennessee: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah.

11. San Diego: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan.

12. Miami: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State.

13. Tampa Bay: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State.

14. Carolina: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri.

15. New Orleans: Barkevious Mingo, LB, Louisiana State.

16. St. Louis: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama.

17. Pittsburgh: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M.

18. Dallas: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue.

19. N.Y. Giants: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame.

20. Chicago: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee.

21. Cincinnati: Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas.

22. St. Louis: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia.

23. Minnesota: Keenan Allen, WR, California.

24. Indianapolis: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama.

25. Seattle: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA.

26. Green Bay: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina.

27. Houston: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson.

28. Denver: Jonathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State.

29. New England: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington.

30. Atlanta: Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State.

31. San Francisco: Jonathan Cyprien, SS, Florida International.

32. Baltimore: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia.

I wonder why Grossi would have Arizona taking Barkley, when he wouldn't fit a Bruce Arians offense? Arians wants to be able to stretch the field, and to attack at all levels down the field. That's not Barkley's game. It is a system that Smith would far better fit ..... even though I have questions about him as well. I simply do not see Barkley as a fit there. They do need a QB desperately, but I would guess that Arians will be very involved in evaluating QBs, and I doubt that a guy like Barkley is at the top of his list.

I would guess he thinks Barkley has a better arm than you think he has. Or else he has ... sources. I was sorry to see the picks he has our division rivals taking, especially Moore/Pitt and Ogletree/Balt - they're good players that I can see fitting right in with those defenses.

Cubed.

jc

A guy I am very intrigued by is Sean Porter Lb Texas A&M. He had a very productive 2011 but stats fell of significantly in 2012. I have read that this is because A&M changed their defensive scheme and had him dropping into coverage more in 2012. From the few cutups I have watched I saw nothing to dispute that rationalization.

I watched the Oklahoma St and Arkansas cutups from 2011 and the Alabama from 2012. My scouting report:

The biggest thing you notice is that he is fast. He is truly a sideline to sideline player. Great motor. When rushing the passer he is a dynamo in the backfield. For his size he has a pretty good bullrush.

He is solid against the run. Actually quite stout for his size. I didn't see any big hits but he was a solid tackler.

In coverage he stinks. I don't know why A&M would take such a good pass rusher and change him to a cover LB but he is little more than a body taking up space. Very little awareness in zone and less than tight coverage in man.

Size. This is an issue. At the combine he measured 6'1 229# so he will need to bulk up as a 3-4 Olb and is probably better off as a 4-3 Olb. If used right in a 3-4 I think he will be a difference maker. Unfortunately we no longer play a 4-3.

Watching him I see a lot of similarity to Jarvis Jones' game and Jones is projected as possibly top 10. Porter on the other hand is being mocked in the 3rd or 4th round. The big difference is Jones measured in at 6'2 245# so he is significantly bigger than Porter.

Providing the Browns won't sign Phil Dawson (I hope they do but it's looking like they won't) does the team draft the top kicker coming out of college this year? Walter Football has Caleb Sturgis out of Florida rated the top kicker and is projected to go no higher than the 4th round and no lower than the 6th round. Unless there's someone in free agency that's better, I wouldn't mind them drafting Sturgis with one of our sixth rounders.

I would bet that we let Dawson go and then draft a K. Most people have Sturgis as the top K. Personally I like Hopkins from FSU.

If there is ONE thing we have been blessed with over the years it is Kickers ... Groza, Cockroft, Barr, Stover and Dawson, We even get good ones when ours are injured (Mark Mosley), So I look for us to find another great one ... JMHO

I'd be pissed if we draft a kicker.

No reports that Dawson will or won't be a Brown. Just putting the dots together. Reasons why Dawson probably won't play for the Browns next season:

Past 2 years we couldn't get a long term deal done.
We won't franchise him for the kind of money he would get this time around
He wants to play for a winner
The Texans are a winning team and they need a K
He has a home in Texas
He is getting old and the Browns want to be young

Nothing definitive, just circumstantial.

I'm fine with drafting a very good kicker in the 6th-7th, so long as he stands out against the giant pack in UDFA.

When we start looking at guys in the 4th or so, I think you'd be better off taking a gamble on one of the many in UDFA. Looking at guys like Janikowski and Nugent should show there is no real point in taking a kicker early.

Oh, I have no desire to draft a kicker with a high pick.

However, when you need a kicker, and you can draft the best of the bunch with a 7th round pick, then why not? You immediately beat out every other team in need of a kicker for that particular guy's services, and hopefully the best kicker in the draft should be a capable kicker.

I phrased my post poorly. I understood your position that selecting a kicker in the 6-7 round range is wise and I agree entirely. I didn't mean to imply you were considering an early pick.

I meant to insinuate that I wouldn't go down further to say the 4th, (or the 1st / 2nd with Janikowski / Nugent), because the top kicker in a draft is not going to be remarkably different from a guy you can get at 6-7 and sometimes UDFA.

I agree with you on that. I don't see value in taking a kicker in the 4th or 5th rounds. The 6th would be borderline.

I have no problem drafting kickers. If they are real good, I'd even take them as high as round 3 if I was drafting mid round or lower.

The "who in the heck is that New Mexico Highlands guy" had his pro day on 3/8:

35 reps
4.58 40
36 1/2" vert
9'7" broad
11.8 60-yd shuttle
4.2-sec 3-cone

plus, he play football. I hope the Seahawks take him so the Ravens don't.

http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=842779-nfl-jordan-campbell-takes-part-in-pro-day

http://www.cornerblitz.com/2013/Features/UTR-Jordan-Campbell.aspx

Thanks for the feedback.

Jester I would also add his family lives in Texas during the season.

Phil thank you and good luck if you decide to leave.

Opinions on whether FA (so far) has altered your thoughts or the organizations
dratf board?

I don't think the Kruger precludes us drafting an outside linebacker, but I think it makes it less likely.

If they sign Groves tomorrow I think it makes it highly unlikely we draft an OLB at 6. However, they could still draft one I guess if they think he is the BPA. I am just happy we are positioning ourselves to draft BPA because we have been forced to go need the past three drafts.

Groves is nothing more than a backup. I would hope signing him wouldn't affect our draft day decisions.

I agree Willie. It gives us the possible luxery of a Geno Smith or EJ Manual or another skilled player.

Even a trade back would become a viable option! Oline stud maybe to shore up that right side?

I draft Xavier Rhodes CB from FSU. I think we may still take an OLB especially Jones if available but Rhodes is the guy I truly believe in.

My top 10 talents
1. Joeckel
2. Rhodes
3. Millner ( yea u guys convinced me that he is that good)
4. Star (medical pending)
5. Jones
6. Floyd
7. Jordan
8. Ansah
9. Bjorn Werner
10. Jonathon Hankins and it is not OSU homerism since I am an SEC guy :P lol

Not as big on Fisher, the level of competition is a concern.

Moore I love but I just hate the look on his face before he lined up to run the 40 then I thought he pulled up lame before he ran. He was looking for a way out and grabbing his hammy was his way out.

Anyway to your question, I think having Kruger doesnt preclude us from drafting jones as I am thinking Horton will have him inside, wide anywhere and everywhere but I think it sets up the trade down situation most of all even though I really like Rhodes. The last corner I was this high on was Revis and he went something like 17 so dont laugh at me just yet :P.

Isn't Groves the LB Oakland drafted high and was a big bust? He must have looked some what good in Arizona..hoping Horton can make our players look better

I hope Horton brings out the best in all...though I really wasn't down on Jauron.

It's now being reported

Groves - LB - Browns

Browns agreed to terms with OLB Quentin Groves, formerly of the Cardinals.

Groves and new Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton spent last season together in Arizona, where Horton held the same position. Groves was a useful reserve, compiling 46 tackles and four sacks despite starting just seven times. He figures to push Jabaal Sheard and Chris Gocong for snaps opposite Paul Kruger in Cleveland.

http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/football

I think Groves was originally drafted by Jax

Played 2 yrs in Jax then 2 in Oak before moving to Arizona

Did he play in a 3-4 in OAK in those seasons? With all the back and forth D-switching of teams I don't know anymore

FA signings don't change a thing with the draft. All it would do is eliminate "URGENT NEED" - as for LBs...OLB specifically for a 3-4 Defense...you cannot have enough of them. And Groves, Kruger do not give us a Dominant player on that Edge Rush...like Ware, Orakpo when healthy, Harrison in his prime, Clay Matthews.

Kruger gives us a Piece of the puzzle. Big motor if they pay attention to the other side he will make that a mistake. Groves will be a player that can help Horton put his system in.
But if Ansah or Jones is there n we want them...these pick ups do not change a thing.

It might change the direction of mid-late round picks as we got depth now at LB. But it will not change the 1st round pick AT ALL. Not 3-4 LB w/explosion. CB if we get Keenen Lewis??? Possibly could change Millner as an option? But in this NFL 3 solid CBs is not a bad thing...Millner would have to earn his way to #2 or #1 CB but would start from the #3 CB as did Haden.

I really cannot express the amazing D we would have w/Ansah as our pick...Now I see him going at #2 Jags in a Mock (NFL Network or ESPN???) - But two bookend OLB 270's Fast n Faster! Strong...man - thing of Beauty!
JMHO

I agree the potential is there to draft a Ziggy or Jones, but I see it as less likely now. The moves in FA free them from the urgency of drafting a pass rusher and open up some options like taking Milliner @6 if he's there, (doubtful he's there IMO,) taking Geno Smith, (possible, but not highly likely IMO,) if they feel he's worth the pick, or trading down to pick up a second and taking BPA, (most likely IMO).

What I was saying...FA eliminates the Urgency...n leaves BPA, if BPA is Ansah or Jones don't matter if we got Groves or Kruger...we still make the pick. I hope we sign Keenen Lewis so that CB Urgency is not there. But if they think Millner is BPA on their board...I don't care if we sign a Lewis in FA...we still get them.

Geno Smith btw...no way can be BPA, if we take him its cause of URGENT NEED

JMHO...at #6 nothing changes...whoever we got as BPA is our pick (except LTs who only become BPA if you need one)

You're right, the FA moves are smart in that they address need and remove urgency as me move into the draft. I hope we get a decent #2 corner in FA, but at this point it seem we pick up a slot guy in Captain Munnerlyn. Looks like we're also shopping for a TE. Safety could become the priority in the draft.

I think that the Kruger signing almost eliminates Ansah from contention for the Browns.

They are far too similar players .... each almost oversized, and not overly quick, fast, nor extremely explosive. I think that we will look at a quick, explosive outside rusher if OLB is a position we address in the draft.

+1, but what pick

Kruger alone did not eliminate Ansah imho, but combined with the Bryant signing...yeah, I don't see us going Ansah now, but you'll never know...if they trade 1 of Taylor, Rubin or Sheard he's all game again

I'm starting to fear that Lombardi wants to make his mark asap on this team and overdrafts for a QB with his first pick...I at least hope he's smart enough to trade down first...Lombardi LOVED Pat White as a QB coming out, yeah I know that makes us all feel comfy with his QB evaluation skills , so there's a good chance he likes Geno or maybe Barkley....other "surprise" possibilities are Vaccaro, if we don't sign a S, which we do not seem interested at all in FA despite a big need at FS...again, if he's their guy I hope they fetch another top 50 pick along the way because at 6 my stomach would hurt. QB and FS are the two big needs we haven't heard any rumors on in FA so far, so that's been my though process

I've been hearing lots of folks on here (and other places) say that Sheard should be traded.. I guess I don't get it. He's been pretty good for us. Young, tough as nails, fast.. not sure he can cover, but I'd sure as hell like to see before throwing the baby out with the bath water.

ON the other hand, we have two guys with similar skills at NT.. Rubin and Taylor.. If anything, maybe one of them could be traded. but even that's hard to do given how we'll they play.

yeah I hear ya on Sheard...of course I didn't think he had the athleticism for the switch especially switching to the faster side but he is only 250??? so the Strong side a Roth type of guy would be nice. aka Kruger. Until I saw Chud at the Kruger presser n he just stated One sentence about Sheard...I try to read people n for the first time I was like - WOW THESE GUYS REALLY BELIEVE SHEARD IS A STUD! That was my impression. Now is that Draft Smoke n Mirrors...or maybe we really think he will be good there??? great??? Until today my personal thoughts were that Sheard just wasn't versatile enough for the switch. Horton n his OLB coach - know what they want. So if Sheard is it and they love him. Who knows now. Geno? Millner? Actually makes the pick for us much much worse if we don't go OLB??? Cause its pretty much Millner, Unless we really love Geno???

If we pick Ansah or Jones...that makes Sheard expendable...n as the Pass rushers go...looks pretty good for a 4-3 team wanting a DE in the mid-late first n they got a choice of SO n SO left or Sheard...that is where a trade would be good.

JMHO

Sheard will very rarely be asked to cover man-to-man.

I really liked Jordan as soon as mock drafts came around..for us Browns fan...I'd say start of November I can't say I saw a whole ton of him only several games but I watched some videos and the main negative I see is I see no explosion with him..as a physical freak...I thought I'd be more amazed...but he doesn't have much wow to him...I know he's relatively raw...and his instincts are iffy as I often see him still engaged as a play runs right pass him...he has really good speed and seems to use those long arms to track the ball carrier down...def has huge potential...

Moore was my favorite...put up huge numbers...seems strong against hand slaps...could use more moves...hustled hard...and we all know he had a pretty bad combine...then again the combine is pretty overrated...as when do these guys have to run on a track in a straight line with no gear on during a Sunday? I know his stock dropped...I thought he looked solid on runs plays

Now I will admit I never watched Ansah play...last time I watched BYU play I think they had Watkins or Pinkston at WR...I saw his name pop up everywhere watched game tap and highlights of him...and this guy pops out..plays aggressive in his pursuit flashes a ton of pop and explosion despite being very raw...imo he plays better than Dion Jordan...

Really liked Okafor if we kept the 4-3...mainly because in addition of his pass rush skills he was touted for his top notch run defending skills with a good motor to boot...active hands and a smart player...I see some places having him as a 3-4 LB...not sure on that...just some things I've noticed

Steelers "wine & dine" Tyler Bray before attending his pro day

ZING!!!

Here's an updated list of who we've met with....

Cleveland Browns:
Anthony Capasso, WR, Ashland (PRO)
Josh Hill, TE, Idaho State (EW)
Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma (COM)
Datone Jones, DL, UCLA (PRI)
Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (COM)
Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma (PRO)
Dion Jordan, DL, Oregon (PRI)
Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado (SR)
A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State (EW)
Will Pericak, DL, Colorado (EW)
Sheldon Richardson, DL, Missouri (PRI)
Geno Smithx, QB, West Virginia (PRI)
Carson Tinker, LS, Alabama (SR)
Cornelius Washington, DL, Georgia (SR)
Earl Watford, OL, James Madison (EW)
Brian Winters, G, Kent State (COM)

SR - Senior Bowl meeting. EW - East-West Shrine meeting. COM - Combine meeting. INT - Interested. VINT - Very Interested. PRO - Pro Day meeting. PRI - Private Workout.

LINK

Can you tell I'm bored?

FINALLY! A Manti article...

From PFT

Manti Te’o runs a bit faster at Notre Dame Pro Day

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 26, 2013, 12:10 PM EDT

Manti Te’o has run his long-awaited 40-yard dashes at Notre Dame’s Pro Day, and Te’o was a little faster today than he was at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine.

Todd McShay of ESPN timed Te’o at 4.75 seconds in his first 40 and 4.71 seconds in his second, and that was the general consensus of the other reporters on the scene: Te’o improved upon his 4.82-second 40 from the Scouting Combine by somewhere around one-tenth of a second.

So will this matter? It certainly won’t hurt: Te’o said after the Combine that he’s “obviously” faster than he showed in Indianapolis, and now he can back that talk up with his times.

But a difference of one-tenth of a second in the 40 is probably not going to make a huge difference for Te’o. We talk about 40-yard dashes at this time of year because we don’t have much else to talk about, but what really matters is how a player plays football. The teams that had doubts about Te’o before today will still have doubts, and the teams that liked Te’o before today will still like him.

Norv attended Matt Barkley's pro day

2013 NFL Draft trade talk: Dolphins, Vikings, 49ers to move up?

By Daniel Jeremiah
Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: March 28, 2013 at 12:45 p.m. Updated: March 28, 2013 at 06:45 p.m. 0 Likes | 0 Comments
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The 2012 NFL Draft saw a whirlwind of trades take place in the first round. As we get closer to the 2013 event, it's only natural to wonder who will be wheeling and dealing this time around.

The 2013 NFL Draft lacks star power at the top of the board, but it boasts fantastic depth. Thus, several teams -- starting with the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 1 -- would love to move down and stockpile picks. The only problem is finding a trade partner, as teams only want to make a move when there's a prospect they want and can't pass up.

Based on what I know and what I'm hearing, I took a quick stab at identifying three teams that could trade down and three teams that could trade up, along with a group of prospects who could spur movement.

Moving out

Philadelphia Eagles: Philly already addressed several of its needs in the offseason. The Eagles added experienced starters to all three levels of their defense via free agency. The offensive line should be drastically improved, as long as key players like Jason Peters and Jason Kelce return to form following injuries in 2012. There is still a question mark at quarterback, but there isn't a glaring weakness at another position that could only be addressed with the fourth overall pick in the draft. The Eagles could easily slide down a few slots and still get an impact player who fits into their new defensive scheme.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns entered the offseason with a glaring need at outside linebacker and proceeded to nab free-agent upgrades Paul Kruger and Quentin Groves. They still have a major need at cornerback, but defensive back is shaping up to be a very deep position in this draft. If the Browns are in love with Alabama CB Dee Milliner, they likely will stand pat at No. 6 with him in mind. However, if they don't view Milliner as an "elite" cover corner -- or if he's no longer on the board when the Browns' turn comes up -- it would make a lot of sense for them to bail and make an effort to recoup the second-round pick they forfeited when they selected Josh Gordon in the supplemental draft this past summer.

New England Patriots: The Patriots are no strangers to trading down in the draft; they have mastered the art of accumulating extra picks while still staying within range of their targeted players. This is a unique situation for Bill Belichick's squad. The Pats currently possess just five picks in this draft. I would be very surprised if they didn't add to that total by dropping down a few spots in either the first (where they have the No. 29 overall pick) or second (No. 59) round.

Moving up

Miami Dolphins: Miami has been one of the most aggressive teams during the offseason. Clearly, the main focus is upgrading the talent around young quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins brought in Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Dustin Keller. However, they failed to re-sign Jake Long, their starting left tackle. There are three top-tier LT prospects in this draft: Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson. I don't see any of the three dropping to the Dolphins at No. 12. They could, though, target Fisher with the Eagles' No. 4 pick, or possibly Johnson with the Browns' No. 6 selection. They have plenty of extra picks to make a move happen.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are coming off of a season in which their passing attack ranked 31st in the NFL. They can't rely on Adrian Peterson to shoulder the entire offensive load for a second straight season. During the offseason so far, they've lost one major weapon (trading Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks) and picked one up (signing Greg Jennings). They still have a pressing need at the receiver position. All signs point toward the St. Louis Rams selecting a receiver with one of their two first-round selections (Nos. 16 and 22). The Vikings also have two first-round selections (Nos. 23 and 25), but they will have to wait in line behind St. Louis. I could see the Vikings seeking to move just ahead of the Rams to secure their top pass-catching target in the draft.

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers are right on the doorstep of winning a championship. Despite some key losses in free agency, they still possess one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. And they have an astounding 14 selections in the upcoming draft. There is no way 14 rookies will be able to make this roster. It makes sense for general manager Trent Baalke and Co. to either trade a few of this year's picks for future selections or aggressively package some picks and move up for an impact player. After the Niners lost two starting defensive linemen in free agency (Ricky Jean Francois and Isaac Sopoaga), it shouldn't be out of the question that they would make an aggressive move into the top 15 if a player like Star Lotulelei slides.

Marked men

Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson, offensive tackles: All signs point toward the Chiefs selecting Joeckel with the first overall selection. If that does indeed happen, Fisher and Johnson will be the only surefire Day 1 starting left tackles remaining on the board. Teams like Arizona (No. 7 overall pick), San Diego (11) and Miami (12) have a desperate need at the position and could look to move up for one of these two players.

Tavon Austin, wide receiver: No player in this draft has helped himself more during the postseason. Austin blazed a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and followed that up with a sensational field workout in Indy. He then wowed NFL evaluators with his pro day performance. He is the most dynamic offensive weapon in this draft. He has secured first-round status and could be a trade-up target for several teams picking from the middle to the bottom of Round 1.

Dee Milliner, cornerback: Milliner might not be in the same class as some of the elite cornerbacks we've seen enter the draft over the past few years, but he's widely considered to be the best cover man in this year's crop. With the NFL continuing to lean heavily on the passing game, a player like Milliner could garner interest from many teams looking to move up and acquire his services.

Sheldon Richardson and Star Lotulelei, defensive tackles: This draft is loaded at defensive tackle. Usually, quality depth at a certain position limits the potential trade-up scenarios, but these two players could alter that thinking. Richardson is an ideal 3-technique for a team that runs the 4-3 defense; Lotulelei is an ideal 5-technique for a team that employs the 3-4. If either player were to slide, teams with a need at either of those spots could be compelled to make a move up the board.


http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap100000...9ers-to-move-up

Chance Warmack article

2013 NFL Draft: Alabama guard Chance Warmack’s shot at cracking top 10 is no joke
Y
By Nate Ulrich Beacon Journal sports writer

Published: March 30, 2013 - 11:11 PM

As Chance Warmack stood in front of reporters last month at the NFL Scouting Combine, the group interview seemed to morph into stand-up comedy at times.

For example …

Reporter: “How did you get your name?”

Warmack: “It came from a movie. My mom and my dad went to see a movie, and the main character was named Chance.”

Reporter: “What was the name of the movie?”

Warmack: “I don’t know. I wasn’t there. I wasn’t born yet.”

Although he cracked up the assembled media with that exchange and a few other memorable responses, it’s certainly not a laughing matter when Warmack, a 6-foot-2, 317-pound guard from the University of Alabama, goes to work in the trenches. Especially for the defenders he routinely buries.

“Off the field, when we’re on the side, he’s one of the coolest dudes ever,” Alabama running back Eddie Lacy said. “When it’s time to go in and get some reps in this game, he’s different. He’s just a different person to whoever gets in his way. You’re going to move or get run over — one of the two.”

Warmack is considered a surefire first-round pick in this year’s draft, which runs April 25-27, and some analysts believe he’ll even become a top-10 pick. A guard hasn’t cracked the top 10 since the New Orleans Saints selected Chris Naeole 10th overall in 1997.

The Browns have the sixth overall pick, and they’re in the market for a guard partly because the status of Jason Pinkston remains uncertain. Pinkston, a starting left guard, had his 2012 season cut short after doctors discovered a blood clot in his lung. The Browns talked to Warmack at the combine, and they’re scheduled to bring North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper, another guard some believe has top-10 potential, to their headquarters for a pre-draft visit.

However, Browns CEO Joe Banner might as well have scoffed when asked at the combine if it would be too early to draft a guard at No. 6.

“I mean if you knew he was [hall of famer] John Hannah I guess maybe not, but it wouldn’t fit,” Banner said. “I wouldn’t rule anything out, but it wouldn’t philosophically fit with how we’re approaching the priorities and how we’re building the team. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t an exception or unusual situation or a player that’s so special that you wouldn’t look at.”

In other words, Warmack and Cooper would probably only become realistic options for the Browns if they traded down, which isn’t out of the question. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, on the other hand, believes Warmack is the best player in this year’s draft and wouldn’t balk at nabbing him in any slot.

“I would have no hesitation taking Chance Warmack at 10,” Mayock said last month during a conference call. “And to be honest with you, if I was [picking] one through nine, I wouldn’t have any hesitation of taking him, either.”

Warmack, 21, is determined to prevent the hype from going to his head.

“It makes me feel good to get the level of respect in that manner,” said Warmack, an Atlanta native. “But at the same time, I don’t really pay attention to that too much. I know where I came from, I know where I started and that’s the same mentality I have now. I appreciate the praise, but nothing’s perfect. I’m human. I make mistakes.”

His resume suggests he hasn’t erred often.

Warmack started all 40 games at left guard during the past three seasons, paving the way for Lacy and former Alabama and current Browns running back Trent Richardson to help the Crimson Tide win the past two national championships.

“Playing beside Chance, that’s a huge advantage,” said Barrett Jones, who started at center for Alabama this past season and left tackle the year before. “He really made me look good. A lot of my highlight film has to be on combo blocks with Chance.”

As a senior, Warmack was a unanimous first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection. During the 2012 regular season, Warmack allowed 3½ sacks in 287 pass attempts, led the team with 37 pancake blocks and graded out at an average of 89.4 on his assignments, according to Alabama.

“What makes him special?” Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker said. “The nastiness that he’s got — that’s the main thing. He’s aggressive. [He] let’s you know that he dominated you when he walks back and looks at you in the face.”

Warmack believes his mean streak has evolved.

“As I got to college, I kind of understood it better in terms of no mercy,” said Warmack, who’s known for donning small jerseys and letting his gut hang out on the gridiron. “It’s not play. This is a real game, and I think that’s the mentality that you’re going to have to have going to the next level.

“You just get into that zone, and you just block everything out. You have to execute on the play. Whoever’s playing against you is the enemy. I don’t know them. They don’t know me. So it’s fair game.”

Warmack said it would be an honor to be drafted early especially because guards seldom are. Clad in a bright orange hoodie, black track pants and sky blue tennis shoes while he stood behind the podium at the combine, Warmack acknowledged he doesn’t play a glamorous position. Still, he has no complaints.

“I’m not a glamorous person — look at what I’m wearing,” Warmack said, drawing more laughter. “I love it, though. I love being big and mean.”

Forget it... he's rolling.

Just him expressing that its not a "PLAY" situation for him on the field of play...it is real!

In this sense. Its not if you win or lose but how you play the game. Well to him his thinking is Fudge "PLAY" the game - he wants to win every battle n win every game.

We trade back...I don't mind him at all. I still say he doesn't have the Speed for an OG to got top 10 in a draft even a weak up front one like this. Runs in the draft will be pursued. LT n DL.

I've said all along Warmack is possibly the safest pick for the new guys to make. Just like Joe T for Savage, Mack for Mangini n Shwartz for Heckert.

OL is easy to evaluate that is why they play early n for a long time effectively. Not all but the top guys make it successfully more than any other position drafted.

Chance...I believe that was a Character name for John Wayne in one of his movies

JMHO