2007 NFL Draft

Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 12:00 ET

4/20/2007 12:29:22 AM

ready, set, go

4/21/2007 6:16:08 AM

Its not a draft with out this segment
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rZxNeFLuY98

[Edited on April 21, 2007 at 9:02 AM. Reason : link]

4/21/2007 9:01:25 AM

curious to see where quinn ends up, i've got friends who are obsessed with him and are convinced he'll go no lower than top five; i don't think he will

second link is being troublesome btw

4/21/2007 9:36:07 AM

since we get no respect, i think you guys will like this quote:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2844964&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1

"Which is why some tackles with solid second- or third-round grades -- Justin Harrell and Turk McBride (both of Tennessee),Tank Tyler (North Carolina)

4/22/2007 12:21:22 PM

if troy smith is going to be a 4th roudn pick now, will he still get some type of bonus for being a heisman winner? If i can recall corectly, heisman winners get some type of bonus money after getting drafted??????

4/27/2007 4:25:43 AM

one day and less than 8 hours left

4/27/2007 4:27:52 AM

Quote :

"curious to see where quinn ends up, i've got friends who are obsessed with him and are convinced he'll go no lower than top five; i don't think he will"

if he's there (and i don't see why he wouldnt be) he's a lock for cleveland

4/27/2007 9:06:22 AM

a guest on MikeandMike this morning is saying that the Panthers are looking to trade down from the 14th pick, that they're getting cold feet about the tight end Olsen from Miami

4/27/2007 9:10:56 AM

They should be, Olsen shouldn't go until the 20's. But I figured they'd look at Nelson at that point, but I guess they don't think he should go that high.

4/27/2007 9:16:05 AM

that's no big surprise, the Panthers can fill needs with good players late in the first round and even in the second round. The only reason to hold on to 14 is in case Willis is still there, which he won't be. If they can find someone to take their pick and get a late first round and a third round, they will really benefit from the extra player more than they will from whoever they take at 14.

If they trade into the early 20s and get a second round pick they can take Ted Ginn, Jr. in the 1st and then get a quality safety in the second, I'll be happy. I just can't see them using 14 on a player like Nelson who isn't #14 good.

4/27/2007 9:19:50 AM

Can somebody with insiders post some draft stuff? My account expired a week ago.

4/27/2007 11:09:31 AM

what insider stuff do you want to see?

4/27/2007 11:30:04 AM

^9

Quote :

"Tank Tyler (North Carolina State),"

Is what I see, don't know about you.

4/27/2007 11:51:19 AM

^^post something about the niners

[Edited on April 27, 2007 at 11:51 AM. Reason : ^]

4/27/2007 11:51:29 AM

i love the draft but i am so tired of hearing about it

4/27/2007 11:51:51 AM

^^^^^^Ginn Jr?

Is Steve Smith on the verge of retirement or something?

They have more pressing needs than a backup WR / return man.

[Edited on April 27, 2007 at 12:02 PM. Reason : 2]

4/27/2007 12:01:50 PM

The Panthers are not going to trade down from 14.

The reason is simple: No one left at that point will be worth trading up to get.

If you aren't picking in top 10/11, you are not going to get good value.

4/27/2007 12:04:33 PM

This was under the "NFC draft needs" article:

Quote :

"San Francisco 49ers 1. Defensive Tackle/Defensive End: Marques Douglas and Bryant Young are also good fits for the 3-4 scheme, but Young is clearly on the downside of his career and Douglas just turned 30. In addition, Melvin Oliver may never develop into a starter. Even if Isaac Sopoaga moves to end, San Francisco needs to infuse youth here. Speaking of Sopoaga, his moving to end and Anthony Adams' departure through free agency weakens depth at defensive tackle, despite the signing of Aubrayo Franklin. 2. Outside Linebacker: Manny Lawson has the burst to consistently get to the quarterback off the edge, and free-agent signing Tully Banta-Cain is a relentless pass rusher. As a result, San Francisco is expected to run a 3-4 defense this year. There isn't great depth, however, so the 49ers would be wise to add a quality No. 3 who can make an impact rushing the passer. 3. Safety: Free-agent signing Michael Lewis is expected to start at strong safety and Mark Roman is expected to move to free safety, so Keith Lewis would move into the No. 3 slot. That being said, Michael Lewis struggled over the second half of the season and Roman doesn't make enough big plays, so look for San Francisco to add a safety. 4. Wide Receiver: Arnaz Battle has developed into a quality No. 2. Unfortunately, San Francisco cut Antonio Bryant, and Taylor Jacobs and Brandon Williams have been nonexistent. While free-agent signing Ashley Lelie improves depth, nothing about his past suggest he will develop into a No. 1, so getting a receiver who can contribute early is a must. 5. Offensive Tackle: Adam Snyder did an adequate job of filling the No. 3 role last year, but he is a better fit at guard because he lacks the lateral mobility to hold up in pass protection when lined up on the outside. With Jonas Jennings' injury history, the 49ers should look to add a swing tackle. Other needs: RB, ILB, TE, FB, OC/OG "

4/27/2007 1:33:35 PM

if my bengals take Ginn offense I am going to cry

4/27/2007 1:33:39 PM

Panthers from the same article:

Quote :

"Carolina Panthers 1. Tight End: Kris Mangum retired, Michael Gaines is a far better blocker than receiver, and No. 3 Jeff King doesn't have a great deal of upside. Adding a tight end with the speed and athletic ability to stretch the field should be the priority. 2. Safety: Mike Minter has lost a step and doesn't make enough plays in coverage. Though Nate Salley could develop into an effective starter at strong safety, he lacks prototypical cover skills and isn't going to make a lot of big plays, either. Signing Deke Cooper improves depth, but he is at his best making plays on special teams. With Shaun Williams and Colin Branch both unrestricted free agents, the Panthers should draft at least one safety that has the ball skills, range and instincts to develop into the playmaker they lack at this point. 3. Inside Linebacker: Dan Morgan has been cleared to play this year, but he sustained at least his fifth concussion last year and has never appeared in more than 13 games in a regular season. With backup Chris Draft signing with St. Louis and Adam Seward struggling last year, Carolina needs a starting-caliber inside linebacker. 4. Defensive End: Mike Rucker, who is expected back after restructuring his contract, is 32 years old and his sack numbers dipped last year. With no heir apparent on the roster, Carolina needs a quality No. 3 with the potential to replace Rucker when the time comes for him to step down. 5. Offensive Tackle: Jordan Gross gets the job done on the right side and Travelle Wharton has exceeded expectations on the left side, but Wharton is an overachiever who missed 15 games with a knee injury last year. Though Rashad Butler has some upside, he didn't appear in a game last year. Adding some insurance and depth would be wise. Other needs: WR, OLB "

[Edited on April 27, 2007 at 1:36 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on April 27, 2007 at 1:36 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2007 1:35:36 PM

Ribs, could you do the Bengals plz?

4/27/2007 1:36:57 PM

ditto for the Saints

4/27/2007 1:39:44 PM

Quote :

"Cincinnati Bengals 1. Cornerback: 2006 first-round pick Jonathan Joseph appears to have a bright future but aging Tory James signed with New England and Deltha O'Neal struggled mightily down the stretch. Cincinnati needs a corner capable of developing into a quality complement to Joseph. 2. Wide receiver: Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh form a dangerous starting duo. The issue here is this offense needs a potent three-receiver set to run at its highest level and Chris Henry's eight-game suspension has left the Bengals without a quality No. 3. Keeping that in mind, taking a receiver on the first day of the draft would be wise. 3. Outside linebacker: David Pollack may never play again after breaking his neck and A.J. Nicholson has had problems staying on the field. Making matters worse, Marcus Wilkins signed with Atlanta, Rashad Jeanty shouldn't be playing an every-down role and Ahmad Brooks is a better fit on the inside. 4. Tight end: Cincinnati lacks a dynamic pass-catcher who can take advantage of the receivers drawing so much attention on the outside and the loss of Tony Stewart to free agency weakens depth. 5. Defensive tackle: Sam Adams is old and an injury risk. John Thornton is average in just about all areas. Domata Peko was a pleasant surprise as a run-stopper last year but Cincinnati should be in the market for a big man with the potential to develop into an every-down player. "

4/27/2007 1:45:04 PM

Quote :

"New Orleans Saints 1. Defensive Tackle: New Orleans signed Hollis Thomas, who is is an excellent run stuffer, to a four-year extension. Unfortunately, Thomas is 33 year old and Brian Young is a marginal No. 2. Since it is unlikely Antwan Lake or Rodney Leisle will ever develop into every-down players, the Saints need a difference maker who can control the middle and improve a marginal run defense. 2. Weakside Linebacker: Free-agent signing Brian Simmons is expected to take over in the middle and Scott Fujita is an adequate starter on the strong side. However, Scott Shanle and Mark Simoneau are better suited for backup roles, rather than playing every down. In addition, Troy Evans is strictly a situational player, so the Saints should draft a weakside linebacker capable of pushing for immediate playing time. 3. Corner: The Saints finished last season with the third-ranked pass defense in the NFL, but they still lack a true No.1 corner, even if they sign restricted free-agent Jason David. While signing David would help, he is too inconsistent and undersized to be considered a shutdown corner. It's also critical that New Orleans injects youth here, as Mike McKenzie, Fred Thomas and Jason Craft are all on the downside of their careers. 4. Wide Receiver: The top three could be strong, despite Joe Horn's decision to sign with Atlanta. However, Devery Henderson is inconsistent, Marques Colston needs to avoid a sophomore slump and Terrance Copper is a much better No. 3 than No. 2. Keeping that in mind, adding another playmaker should be a priority. 5. Tight End: The Saints signed Eric Johnson, No. 2 Mark Campbell returns and No. 3 Billy Miller re-signed. However, this is still a need because Johnson and Miller both have problems staying healthy, and Campbell turns 32 this year. Other needs: DE, OG/OC, QB "

4/27/2007 1:46:17 PM

thx Ribs

I knew espn would have WR high. And every year they say we need a TE but we never get one because we just use them as blockers. Our offense is still going to be above-average without Henry. CB AND OLB PLZ

[Edited on April 27, 2007 at 1:57 PM. Reason : e]

4/27/2007 1:57:27 PM

couple of good topics in the "debates" article:

Quote :

"DEBATE 2: Would you rather have a high second-round pick or multiple picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds? McShay: At first I was really torn on this issue. As a draft guy, my initial instinct is to want multiple picks to find more quality players. Then I did some research and quickly changed my mind. First off, there have been some tremendous values in recent years stemming from the first 10 picks of the second round. Here's a look at some from the past few drafts: 2006: DeMeco Ryans, MLB, Texans (No. 33) D'Qwell Jackson, ILB, Browns (No. 34) Rocky McIntosh, OLB, Redskins (No. 35) Thomas Howard, OLB, Raiders (No. 38) Daniel Bullocks, S, Lions (No. 40) Deuce Lutui, G, Cardinals (No. 41) Danieal Manning, S, Bears (No. 42) 2005: Brodney Pool, S, Browns (No. 34) Reggie Brown, WR, Eagles (No. 35) Josh Bullocks, S, Saints (No. 40) Michael Roos, OT, Titans (No. 41) 2004: Karlos Dansby, OLB, Cardinals (No. 33) Chris Snee, G, Giants (No. 34) Igor Olshansky, DE, Chargers (No. 35) Daryl Smith, OLB, Jaguars (No. 39) Ben Troupe, TE, Titans (No. 40) Tatum Bell, RB, Broncos (No. 41) Travis LaBoy, DE, Titans (No. 42) The percentage of starters from the second round compared to the following three rounds (3-5) is more substantial than I anticipated, especially at certain positions. For example, there are as many or more starting running backs, wide receivers, offensive tackles, cornerbacks and safeties drafted in Round 2 than there are drafted in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 combined. There also are nearly as many quarterbacks, tight ends and defensive ends. In fact, the only positions where I would opt for additional picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds would be interior offensive and defensive lineman. Finally, the only scenario in which a general manager is wise to opt for multiple picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds is when his team is rebuilding. Generally speaking, teams forced to rebuild are in salary-cap purgatory, which makes quantity far more important than quality. Take the Titans, for example. In an effort to overhaul their roster with young talent, they have continually traded down to stockpile extra picks. The result is a team on the rise thanks primarily to the 34 selections in their past three drafts. Green: I think every team and situation is a little different, but I believe that in the majority of instances you would clearly want multiple picks over a high second-rounder. What is a high second-round pick? It is usually a player who fell out of the first round for one reason or another. Every year you see projected first-round picks slip to the top of the second round. Those players fell for a reason. You will hear the word "value" a lot as we move toward the draft. A team will say, "I would not take him in the first round because of these holes in his game, but he would make a great second-round pick." Well, did his holes disappear because he slipped a round? No, he has the same holes, and those same issues are going to be a problem regardless of the round in which you select him. In most instances there will be anywhere from 10 to 15 prospects who are considered blue-chip players. There have been plenty of busts in the top 10-15 picks, but at least in terms of their profiles coming out of college, they are guys with no glaring weaknesses. After the top 15, everyone has holes. The draft is not necessarily about drafting the best player. It is about drafting the best player who fits your system. With multiple picks, you have the opportunity to find more players who fit your system. Football is a team sport. You have to fill a lot of positions, and the only way to do that is with multiple players. Two solid starters, two solid backups and two excellent special-teams players outweigh one excellent player in most instances. "

Quote :

"DEBATE 4: All things being equal, do you take a top pass-rushing DE or a shutdown corner? McShay: I understand both arguments in this debate, but a stronger case can be made for the pass-rushing defensive end. It all boils down to efficiency. An elite man-to-man cover corner should buy pass-rushers extra time, but it doesn't do much good if the rest of the secondary is Swiss cheese. On the flip side, because there's only one quarterback to rush, all it takes is one great sack artist to improve an entire secondary. The Denver Broncos are my case in point. Champ Bailey is arguably the NFL's premier cover corner, yet the Broncos' pass defense ranked 21st last season. Conversely, San Diego's Shawne Merriman (17), Green Bay's Aaron Kampman (15.5), Buffalo's Aaron Schobel (14), Miami's Jason Taylor (13.5), Baltimore's Trevor Pryce (13), Carolina's Julius Peppers (13) and St. Louis' Leonard Little (13) were the seven players who accounted for the NFL's top five sack totals last season. The only one of those seven players whose team did not finish in the top half of the league in pass defense was Kampman -- and the Packers ranked 17th overall. Denver has already traded for Dre' Bly this offseason to solidify the cornerback spot opposite Bailey, but that's not going to fix the range issues it has at safety with Nick Ferguson and John Lynch. Using pick No. 21 overall on a pass-rusher such as Jarvis Moss (Florida) or Anthony Spencer (Purdue) should prove to be far more fruitful in the long run. Green: This is a tough one, because both have a ton of value. A top pass-rushing defensive end can make the secondary better. However, I would prefer to have a shutdown corner. I look at the Denver Broncos with Champ Bailey. Denver does not have a great pass rush, but its pass rush is clearly better with Bailey on the field. Bailey's presence can make the quarterback hold on to the ball longer and allows Denver to apply pressure. Being a top college pass-rusher does not always translate into the same success in the NFL. First and foremost, offensive tackles at the NFL level are so much more developed than at the college level. It took last year's first-round pick, Mario Williams, an entire preseason and half a regular season to figure out that he is not going to be able to simply line up and run around NFL left tackles. Coming out of college, defensive ends must learn to be technicians, and that can take a lot of time or may never happen. Cornerbacks who can line up and play man coverage in college tend to be able to do the same in the NFL. For that reason, corners are more likely to make an immediate impact and less likely to earn the bust label. "

4/27/2007 2:06:30 PM

could you post the "draft buzz"

4/27/2007 3:07:55 PM

Odds or estimates on how long the first round will last this year?

4/27/2007 3:21:51 PM

Quote :

"Recent history won't influence Lions' pick Assuming QB JaMarcus Russell is the top overall pick by the Raiders, the most dramatic 15 minutes of the 2007 draft will occur when Detroit goes on the clock with pick No. 2. The most recent information I'm getting is the Lions have basically boiled it down to two options. Their top priority is to trade out of the second pick, acquire additional selections and select the best available prospect (ideally Clemson DE Gaines Adams) with their new pick later in the first round. If they can't strike a reasonable deal, Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson becomes the choice. He is the top overall prospect on their value board, the Lions are prepared to deal with the criticism that likely would come with selecting Johnson, since they have drafted three first-round wide receivers in the past four drafts. It's a tough pill to swallow, but GM Matt Millen would be making the right choice. Drafting OT Joe Thomas or Adams would indicate that Millen is being affected by outside influences. The team has just as big of a need at wide receiver as it does at offensive tackle or defensive end, so passing on the best player in this year's class because he's a wide receiver makes no sense. Plus, there's always the possibility of a team contacting Detroit for a post-pick trade involving the rights to Johnson -- a la Eli Manning for Philip Rivers in 2005. Back to priority No. 1: From all indications, the Lions are willing to take less than market value for the No. 2 pick to avoid drafting another wide receiver. With eight selections in the first four rounds of this year's draft, San Francisco has the ammunition and the need to move up for Johnson. At this point, however, there has been no indication out of Niners camp regarding the potential of such a deal. Tampa Bay and Atlanta seem to be the only two teams in serious contention right now. Although the Buccaneers have the shorter climb from No. 4 overall, don't count on GM Bruce Allen to get in a bidding war for the pick. Like most teams, the Bucs consider Johnson the premier prospect in this year's class and they would love to have him -- but only for the right price. Tampa Bay is said to value five others as "elite" prospects, so it may be willing to take the risk of Johnson going to a different team at No. 2 overall. That could leave the window open for Atlanta to move up for the local product. The Falcons own four Day 1 draft picks, including the eighth overall selection. The biggest potential deal-breaker between these two teams is the probability of Adams being off the board prior to the pick No. 8. There also have been rumblings regarding Denver as a potential suitor, but the team knows it stands no chance of moving up 19 spots for the draft's most coveted player. The Broncos own their original picks in the first two rounds (21 and 56), as well as two picks in Round 3 (70 and 86). Although it's nowhere near enough to compete in the Calvin Johnson sweepstakes, don't be surprised to see Denver move up a few picks in order to land one of the top-three defensive ends in this year's class (Adams, Arkansas' Jamaal Anderson and Nebraska's Adam Carriker). There's almost no chance the Broncos can get high enough to land Adams, but don't be surprised if they make a move to the middle of the first round to secure Anderson or Carriker. Although both players warrant consideration, it seems Anderson is the better fit seeing as Carriker isn't the type of pass-rushing threat they desire. Purely as speculation, it seems the Panthers (No. 14) would be a perfect match as a potential trading partner. The Broncos would like to get ahead of the Steelers, who could be in the market for Carriker or Anderson at No. 15 overall. The Panthers, on the other hand, have evidently cooled on Miami TE Greg Olsen and would like to draft a safety in Round 1. LSU's LaRon Landry, who is a surefire top-10 pick, will be out of the Panthers' reach. But there's a considerable drop-off in talent after Landry, which means Carolina would be reaching for a need if it selects any of the second-tier safety prospects (Florida's Reggie Nelson, Miami's Brandon Meriweather and Texas' Michael Griffin) prior to the 20s. That's why moving back to No. 21 and acquiring an extra pick or two in the meantime would make loads of sense for Carolina. Outside of Johnson, Mississippi ILB Patrick Willis is arguably the most coveted prospect in preliminary trade talks right now. Evidently, the Bills are worried that Willis won't be available when they pick at No. 12. The reason is the 49ers have Willis extremely high on their board. Remember, the 49ers staff coached Willis at the Senior Bowl and named him a team captain that week. Don't be surprised if the bills make a last-minute deal to leapfrog San Francisco in order to land Willis. Houston, which owns the No. 10 overall selection, could be the team that Buffalo targets for a trade. Also, don't count Denver out of the Willis auction following the release of longtime starter Al Wilson. Small-school studs to know Although all the hype leading up to Saturday's draft will focus on the top picks, history has proved that NFL superstars come from all rounds -- and as undrafted free agents, for that matter. Be prepared to hear the names of the following 10 small-school prospects during draft weekend. You never know, one of them could become this season's Marques Colston. 1. Justin Durant, LB, Hampton Durant lacks ideal size, but he is fast, athletic and tough. He dominated the I-AA level with 321 combined tackles during his final three seasons (2004-06). Durant could be the first of five Hampton players selected in the 2007 draft. 2. Ben Patrick, TE, Delaware Patrick's lack of explosiveness -- both as a receiver and blocker -- should prevent him from ever becoming a full-time starter in the NFL. However, the former Duke transfer is worth considering late on Day 1 because of his combination of athleticism, ball skills and toughness. Patrick could develop into a versatile backup who can contribute as an H-back type on offense, while also providing help on special teams. 3. Jacoby Jones, WR, Lane Jones needs to get stronger and add some bulk to his frame, but he has the size, speed and athletic ability to develop into a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver who can also contribute in the return game. 4. Allen Barbre, OT, Missouri Southern State Barbre has the natural ability to develop into a contributor at guard and/or tackle in the NFL. He is a bit undersized and has the mobility to fit a scheme such as the Colts or Broncos. 5. Laurent Robinson, WR/RS, Illinois State Robinson has shown steady progress as a route-runner and he catches the ball well, but his lack of speed and power could prevent him from developing into an every-down receiver. His quickness and vision in the return game could land him a spot on an NFL roster. 6. Travarous Bain, CB, Hampton Bain originally attended Miami before transferring to Hampton in 2005, where he earned first team All-MEAC honors during each of his final two seasons. Bain is a developmental Day 2 prospect with the speed, agility and frame to develop into an every-down cornerback in the NFL. However, he is raw and he needs lots of polishing to his technique. 7. Michael Allan, TE, Whitworth Allan was the only D-III prospect invited to this year's scouting combine. Although he lacks ideal explosiveness and is a marginal-at-best in-line blocker, there's a lot to like about Allan's blend of size, hands and top-end speed. He projects as a fourth-round pick due to his developmental upside. 8. Zak DeOssie, LB, Brown DeOssie, whose father, Steve, played in the NFL for the Jets, Patriots, Cowboys and Giants, is an Ivy Leaguer looking to make the transition from inside to strongside linebacker in the NFL. He needs to improve his upper-body power and overall technique, but DeOssie's size, speed, bloodline and intelligence make him an attractive early Day 2 prospect. 9. Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon Boss was a two-sport standout at Western Oregon. In addition to notching 134 receptions during his four-year career on the gridiron, Boss played three seasons of basketball for the Wolves. Although he's obviously a gifted athlete, Boss has never had the time to develop physically as a football player. If gets busy in the weight room and kicks the injury bug, Boss has a chance to emerge as a contributing H-back in the NFL. 10. Courtney Brown, CB, Cal Poly Brown flew under the radar at Cal Poly before turning scouts' heads during his pro-day workout. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound cornerback breezed a 4.39 40 and timed out well in all the agility drills. If coached properly and given time to develop, Brown could become a hidden gem on Day 2 of the 2007 draft."

4/27/2007 3:23:57 PM

had to break it up due to 10,000 character bullshit

Quote :

"Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 RANK NAME POS CLASS SCHOOL PREV 1. Calvin Johnson WR JR Georgia Tech 1 2. JaMarcus Russell QB JR LSU 2 3. Adrian Peterson RB JR Oklahoma 3 4. Joe Thomas OT SR Wisconsin 4 5. Laron Landry S SR LSU 5 6. Gaines Adams DE SR Clemson 6 7. Brady Quinn QB SR Notre Dame 7 8. Levi Brown OT SR Penn State 9 9. Leon Hall CB SR Michigan 9 10. Darrelle Revis CB JR Pittsburgh 12 11. Jamaal Anderson DE JR Arkansas 14 12. Patrick Willis ILB SR Mississippi 11 13. Amobi Okoye DT SR Louisville 10 14. Adam Carriker DE SR Nebraska 15 15. Alan Branch DT JR Michigan 13 16. Greg Olsen TE JR Miami 18 17. Dwayne Bowe WR SR LSU 16 18. Ted Ginn Jr. WR JR Ohio State 23 19. Robert Meachem WR JR Tennessee 21 20. Joe Staley OT SR C. Michigan 22 21. Marshawn Lynch RB JR Cal 19 22. Jarvis Moss DE JR Florida 20 23. Anthony Spencer DE SR Purdue NR 24. Lawrence Timmons OLB JR Florida State 23 25. Aaron Ross CB SR Texas 24 26. Ben Grubbs G SR Auburn 30 27. Paul Posluszny OLB SR Penn State 25 28. Reggie Nelson S JR Florida 26 29. Justin Harrell DT SR Tennessee 27 30. Ryan Kalil C SR USC 28 31. Chris Houston CB JR Arkansas 31 32. Dwayne Jarrett WR JR USC 32"

4/27/2007 3:24:42 PM

jesus h. christ, I'm so fucking sick of espn overdoing EVERY SINGLE major sporting event...March Madness was 2 months long, the nfl draft has been going on for over a month now (with sportscenter "specials" every day this week)

today they are "re-doing" last years draft, with the knowledge of how well each player did their rookie season, needless to say Mario Williams hasnt been picked in the top 9 picks so far...this shit is getting ridiculous

4/27/2007 4:17:02 PM

Could you post the "tip sheet"?

4/27/2007 4:49:58 PM

First half:

[quote]Every draft features its share of late risers, prospects who leapfrog up the board in the weeks preceding the lottery, sometimes enhancing their stock by two or three rounds.

But rarely has any draft included as many upwardly mobile quarterbacks as it appears this year's has. There are, of course, two certain first-round quarterbacks in JaMarcus Russell of LSU, still the favorite to be the top pick overall, and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn. But there also look to be several other first-day quarterbacks, and that is a rarity of sorts, particularly since so many of them are players who only recently moved into the top three rounds on the draft boards of most franchises.

"After the really obvious guys every year at quarterback, you know, the two or three that everyone knows about, it gets down to a 'beauty in the eye of the beholder' kind of thing," said Detroit offensive coordinator Mike Martz. "You know, a personal preference thing, where not everyone agrees on a player, but one or two teams like him. There seems to be a lot of beholding this year, because it looks like there are [quarterbacks] moving up, and a lot of guys who a lot of teams seem to like."

Indeed, "the Others," as one general manager referred to the quarterback prospects outside of the first-round picks, don't appear to be lost this year.

Certainly in the past month, the stock of candidates such as Kevin Kolb (Houston), John Beck (BYU), Jeff Rowe (Nevada) and Isaiah Stanback (Washington) has skyrocketed. Lump that group in with quarterbacks who already figured to be first-day picks -- Drew Stanton (Michigan State), Trent Edwards (Stanford) and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith (Ohio State) -- and the first three rounds could produce an impressive haul.

That hasn't been the case in recent drafts.

Since 2000, the first three rounds have produced just 35 quarterbacks chosen, or five per year. The second days of those seven drafts have seen 60 quarterbacks go off the board, a rate of 8.6 annually. Dating to 1994, the first year of the seven-round draft, there have been 59 quarterbacks selected on the first day and 99 on the second. Only three times in that 13-year stretch have first-day quarterbacks outnumbered those chosen on the second day. Just once since 2000 -- last year, when there were seven quarterbacks taken in the opening three rounds and five in the final four stanzas -- have there been more first-day than second-day quarterbacks.

Noted one NFC personnel director: "We've done a lot of slumming at the position, you know, taken guys in the sixth and seventh rounds, brought them in as just hired guns for camp and discarded them. This [draft] looks a little different. There's some quality at the front end that extends beyond just the elite guys."

Kolb in particular has made an impressive jump in the past month, and it's now possible he could be the third quarterback selected, perhaps early in the second round. There is even some speculation that a few teams might try to trade up from the second round and into the latter part of the first round to snatch the former Houston standout. Edwards, who missed considerable playing time during his Stanford career, is also drawing elevated grades.

And then there is Stanback, who suffered a Lisfranc foot sprain late last season. The former Washington standout is a very talented athlete, a player who some teams feel can contribute as a fourth or fifth wide receiver or perhaps even as a return man while he hones his skills at quarterback. He is among the prospects who will go earlier than anticipated in what could be a very solid year in terms of overall numbers for quarterbacks.

There were only a dozen quarterbacks chosen in the seven rounds in 2006, and this year should top that number.

4/27/2007 4:58:30 PM

thanks.

4/27/2007 5:18:59 PM

Quote :

"The Panthers are not going to trade down from 14. The reason is simple: No one left at that point will be worth trading up to get. "

Not really true. A team needing a RB could probably get Lynch at 14. There's also a good chance the top two corners (Hall and Revis) will be there at 14. Then there's the two top DT's (Branch and Okoye), one of which will probably be available at the Panthers spot.

Ideally for me, the Panthers find a way to get the 10th pick, and take either Willis, Anderson, or Landry. Since that's probably never going to happen, I hope they jump back to about 25 and take either Nelson, Griffin, or Olsen.

4/27/2007 5:42:46 PM

I think Anderson will be there at 14th.

4/27/2007 5:49:14 PM

Maybe. He's definitely the guy I want if he's there (assuming Willis and Landry are gone)

I still don't see why the "experts" rank him lower than Gaines Adams. He absolutely dominated every time I saw him this year. And unlike Adams, he can actually stop the run. I guess the fact he only started one year hurts him, but he seems to be a much much better prospect to me. Plus I hate Clemson.

4/27/2007 5:52:48 PM

yea, I have no problem drafting Anderson. I would think he's a more complete DE, since he's bigger than Adams. I can see the Broncos trying to trade up to draft either Anderson or Carriker.

4/27/2007 5:57:47 PM

^^^^As a rule the only positions worth trading up into the top 10 are QB RB OT and DE (pass rusher) assuming they are premiere "franchise players". This means Russell/Quinn, Peterson, Thomas, or Adams. Unless the Panthers can get one of those they are going to give up a lot more than there is to be had at pick 10. You might throw in Landry as an exception but there is no way he lasts until 10.

[Edited on April 27, 2007 at 6:11 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2007 6:09:43 PM

There's no "rule" as to who you can trade up to get. You left receiver off your "only trade up to get" list, and I'm sure everyone in this draft wishes they could get Calvin Johnson. Then there's shutdown corners, premiere LB's, DT's, hell even TE's.

The only position that you'd be hard-pressed to find a team trying to trade up for would be interior lineman. And of course kickers/punters.

4/27/2007 6:21:47 PM

i'm calling it now (note time stamp): Calvin Johnson #1 pick in draft!

4/28/2007 3:31:58 AM

oh I hope so, I'd love to see Russell fall to the Browns

4/28/2007 9:55:46 AM

They'd be crazy not to pick up Calvin Johnson if only to try and trade with the team that gets Russell who perhaps wanted Johnson. Much like that proposed trade the Buccs and Detroit have been discussing where Detroit picks up Johnson and the Buccs get Gaines Adams and they try discussing trades from there.

4/28/2007 10:01:52 AM

ESPN reporting its gonna be Russell

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2852155

4/28/2007 10:06:03 AM

just saw on espn that cleveland has put a serious offer on the table for the #1 overall:

2 #1's and Wimbley to move up

4/28/2007 10:07:20 AM

wow.. moving up to take Russell? thats like 3 #1's since Wimbley was their #1 pick last year.

4/28/2007 10:12:28 AM

no matter what Cleveland does today, the result will be a disaster

4/28/2007 10:47:03 AM

^noted

4/28/2007 11:02:00 AM

So Oakland is taking big Akili Smith today?

4/28/2007 11:04:04 AM