Draft buzz, T-minus-2

* As the QB turns. Although it’s arguable that two at best are deserving of first-round status, the biggest intrigue about the first round of the draft tomorrow night continues to center on quarterbacks, with NFL Network believing as many as SIX could be drafted in the first round.

Though they claim they’re STILL undecided less than 48 hours before they go on the clock, the rest of the world still claims that Carolina’s taking Cam Newton first. Signs are that they’re at least going QB. HC Ron Rivera spoke to the press yesterday and seemed to be dropping hints. He wants to “upgrade” at QB while “tempering expectations” for the QB they bring in. Sounds like a draft pick to me, and a high one.

Talk is increasing that Tennessee is going to take Jake Locker at #8. Yes, the guy RamView called the next Brodie Croyle. On Path to the Draft, Jamie Dukes called that idea “a reach.” Mike Lombardi called it “an incredible reach.” Charley Casserly awesomely called it “an Inspector Gadget reach,” a turn of phrase I am certain to steal sometime this weekend. Longtime NFL scout Dave Razzano, though, calls Locker the next Brett Favre. Well, gulp.

Speculation on Tennessee taking Locker then fueled speculation that Miami could feel pressure to trade up to #9 for Ryan Mallett. There are going to be more busts in this year’s top ten than there are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at this rate. Feeling left out of the wild-draft-a-QB-rumor business, ESPN.com’s bloggers’ mock draft has Minnesota taking Andy Dalton at #12.

Tempering this talk somewhat, Dallas Morning News writer and long-time draft expert Rick Gosselin, who should have appeared on Path to the Draft LONG before now, says Blaine Gabbert shouldn’t even be a top 10 pick because there are so many defensive players who are better picks. He did call Gabbert a potential franchise QB. Locker is his #3 QB, Mallett only #5, though more for mobility concerns than off-field concerns.

Torry Holt (!) appeared on the panel to argue that Christian Ponder is more pro-ready than Gabbert OR Newton, and that Kurt Warner is more than enough proof that you don’t HAVE to use a high pick on a QB.

* Team rumors. Path to the Draft talked mostly about the same damn four teams they did last night. What league are the Rams playing in next year? Because from this show, I’d swear the only teams in the NFL are the Panthers, Broncos, the freaking Cowboys and the freaking Patriots. TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE!

Dukes thinks Carolina should trade out of the first pick overall for extra picks, since they STUPIDLY traded their 2nd-rounder to New England for the great Armanti Edwards and don’t have a pick between 1 and 65. Not the dumbest idea in the world, but Panthers GM Marty Hurney continues to contend his phone isn’t exactly ringing off the hook with trade offers.

As good a pick as Marcel Dareus may be for them, NFL Network’s advice for Denver is to take Patrick Peterson or Von Miller at #2 and get their DT in the 2nd round, where they have picks #36 and #46. Again, not the dumbest idea in the world.

Mike Mayock’s advice to Buffalo is to take one of Peterson, Miller, Dareus or A.J. Green, unless they’re convinced Gabbert is a franchise QB. You know, I don’t think I’ve heard Mayock say if HE thinks Gabbert is a franchise QB. I think he does. RamView does, that is, he’s as much of a franchise QB as Mark Sanchez. Maybe Mayock will clear things up for me when he releases his mock draft tonight.

And, of course, there’s Dallas, apparently the most important team ever to draft at #9. Jerry Jones claims he’s not reluctant to draft an offensive tackle in the first round even though he never has. He also claims to be looking at 5-techniques. Dallas is rumored to have four players in mind at #9 and are telegraphing to the entire world that they want to trade down. Rick Gosselin’s prediction for the pick is a coin flip between Tyron Smith and J.J. Watt.

* Player rumors. Gosselin’s 2nd-round sleepers were Ryan Williams, who he really likes for his elusiveness and pass-catching skills. He called Akeem Ayers a potential steal in the 2nd round, which probably says a little for where his stock’s been going these days.

I would love to see Mayock actually run a team someday. Everyone in the league would beat Mayock’s team all season long with deep passes, thanks to his unrequited love for short, slow defensive backs. (Mayock himself was a tall, slow defensive back.) He pushed Kendrick Burney (4.75 40) as a 4th-round prospect who will be a starter (!) because he tackles, competes and was one of the best players at the Senior Bowl. A prototypical Tampa-2 corner. And, of course, his possible love child Ahmad Black (4.78 40), of whom he says for the millionth time to throw out the measurables (4.78 40) and buy into his production. Says he can play safety, drop into the slots, and play special teams. RamView says, though, that if you put him on your punt coverage team, your punts had better have six seconds of hang time. Mayock also continues to “bang the table” for Marcus Gilchrist, who he thinks should be a second round pick, every bit as good a safety as #1 safety prospect Rahim Moore.

Mike Lombardi did a partial second-round mock that again stopped well before the Rams’ pick at #47. Bruce Carter, Aaron Williams and Greg Little do not make it past 42, but Jonathan Baldwin did, as he did in Casserly’s last week. Just somebody to think about.

* Lockout chaos. The NFL’s lockout of the players remains lifted, and will for today, with Roger Goodell saying on the owners’ behalf that the two sides need to resume negotiations. We may get some clarity at the end of today on the effect of Monday's ruling on free agency and the draft. Players were not allowed to work out at team facilities yesterday, despite the lifting of the lockout. Jim Thomas reported one Rams player attempted to get into Rams Park for a workout yesterday.

Of course it was James Laurinaitis.

-$-