Path to the Draft, 4/11

Appearing: Paul Burmeister, Charles Davis, Charlie Casserly, Michael Lombardi, Mike Mayock

* Team news:

Cleveland at 3: Supposedly still between Ryan Tannehill, Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne. Beat writer still thinks it's Blackmon because he's a proven scorer. Also doesn't rule out a trade out of #4. At 22, players they could consider include Brandon Weeden, Kendall Wright, Stephon Gilmore, Jonathan Martin. It's wide open depending what they do at #4. Did that beat writer just get paid to tell us absolutely nothing? Casserly suggests the balance is best if they take a WR at 4 (Blackmon) and a RB as 22 (Doug Martin) instead of vice versa. Also rejects the idea of taking Tannehill. Even if Colt McCoy isn't the answer, and he isn't, Tannehill isn't worth the high pick. Panel consensus seems to be Richardson at 4 and a WR at 22 to be Cleveland's best route.

Cincinnati at 17/21: cornerback and guard are still their priorities. David DeCastro falling is still their dream scenario. Dre Kirkpatrick and Stephon Gilmore also possibilities there. WR such as Kendall Wright might be in the mix at 21; so would Michael Floyd if he falls.

Carolina at 9: Beat writer says they would love to get Justin Blackmon, which I think really puts Michael Floyd in play. Short of that, they need to address defense, where the first player mentioned, curiously, is Stephon Gilmore. Panthers especially need help at DT (Fletcher Cox, Dontari Poe), but Quinton Coples comes up as well.

N.Y. Jets at 16: Let me guess, Courtney Upshaw? Yup. For the twelve millionth time we get a Jets preview that tells us they need to improve their pass rush. Melvin Graham also mentioned, with Floyd as the wild card if he drops - Jets haven't exactly replaced Plaxico Burress.

* Player news:

Casserly calls Trent Richardson a better version of Maurice Jones-Drew. Lombardi would take Richardson over Justin Blackmon because he makes the spread formation more effective. Strong cases for him to go 4^th or 5^th overall. Cleveland should know you have to run to compete in the NFC North. And Richardson plays the tough brand of football they emphasize in Tampa Bay.

Lots more running back talk:

Doug Martin – merits first-round consideration but could drop because teams aren't emphasizing the position. True three-down back with good feet, burst and acceleration. Catches the ball well and protects the QB well. Good inside runner with good balance, but can make things happen on the outside as well. Starting-quality player. Cleveland, Denver and Green Bay could be interested in the 20s. RamView is very interested and hopeful at 33.

David Wilson – electrifying back with great acceleration. Solid pass protector. Confident runner but has ball security issues. True three-down back status gives him a big edge when compared to Lamar Miller.

Lamar Miller (pictured) – played last year with a bad shoulder, wasn't as physical an inside runner. When healthy, he's a poor man's Chris Johnson. Curious thing about Miller was that he came out of the game in the goal line offense and on 3rd-and-shorts. Red flag.

LaMichael James – coming off three huge seasons. Best burst and acceleration in the draft, Chris Johnson-like. Not as big as Johnson, teams have to find ways to get him in space. Also returns punts. High third-round grade.

Isaiah Pead – 5'10”, 197, ran in the 4.4s. Quick and fast, had 87 receptions and back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Cincinnati. Had two long punt returns in the Senior Bowl even though he didn't return punts for CU.

Chris Polk – durability is a question due to two shoulder operations, but he also had 800 carries in college and played in nearly 40 straight games. Good hands, good pass protector. North-south runner with good feet and balance, but won't make people miss. Third-round grade.

Robert Turbin – 5'10”, 222, strong, also ran in the 4.4s. Patient runner with good burst and acceleration. Can make people miss or just run over them. 67 career catches but wasn't used much in blitz protection.

Mayock's top 100: Mayock has Luke Kuechly as the #6 player in the whole draft. He's the cleanest player in the draft, high production in a BCS conference, no off-field or medical issues. Three-down LB, Mayock calls him the best zone-drop linebacker he has ever seen on tape. Expects him to go to multiple Pro Bowls.

Mayock calls Quinton Coples the #1 DE on one hand; here, he ranks him the #50 player overall. Says he wouldn't even take him in the second round. Doesn't like any of his senior year tape. His bust potential is high. Then he kicks Coples again while he's down and says.... he wouldn't even draft him? Wow, I wonder what Quinton Coples did to piss Mike Mayock off. Also, welcome to my bandwagon, Mayock.

Chandler Jones jumped into Mayock's top 20 late in the going. 6'5.5”, 266, very long arms. Uses his hands well and gets good leverage. Good burst and acceleration, stout against the run, both 3-4 and 4-3 teams like him. Only played seven games last year due to injury.

Same deal for Shea McClellin. Lines up all over the field and makes plays all over the field. Can do it all, twists, stunts. Understands timing and understands when to get skinny to get through the line. Mayock easily prefers McClellin, Jones or Whitney Mercilus to Coples.

Mayock has upgraded Jerel Worthy to #2 DT, ahead of Michael Brockers and Dontari Poe. Brockers is a one-year starter still learning to play; Poe's tape is just average. Worthy dominated against Iowa and Wisconsin, teams with top offensive lines.Great movement skills, pushes the pocket, good quickness, good bull rush move.

Not just Janoris Jenkins, but Trumaine Johnson also has off-field issues affecting his draft stock at CB. They're both first-round quality athletes, but won't be drafted there.

Bruce Irvin, West Virginia - 6'3", 245 defensive end ran faster and jumped higher at the Combine than a lot of the cornerbacks. Situational pass rusher only, cannot be a three-down player but his ability to get to the passer makes him special. Third-round grade; got into some unspecified kind of trouble last week or he might have been graded a second-rounder.

Akiem Hicks - before he transferred to the University of Regina, he was a better DT prospect at LSU than Michael Brockers. Athletic, excellent wingspan, knows how to pass rush. Has the athletic potential to improve rapidly with the right coaching and as the level of competition increases.

Brandon Thompson -  Clemson DT takes on double-teams, holds his ground against the run, collapses the pocket against the pass. Makes plays all over the field, excellent in pursuit. Jarvis Jenkins graduated this year and Thompson played just as well, which speaks well to his consistency. Thompson and Hicks are graded as second-round picks.

Brandon Brooks - 6'4.5" 353, guard, Miami, Ohio. Excellent anchor, strong drive-blocker, played well at the Shrine Game. Didn't go to the Combine but has worked out for 18 different teams.

-$-