Appearing: Paul
Burmeister, Charles Davis, Michael Lombardi, Charlie Casserly, Mike
Mayock
* Team news:
Colts at #1:
It's Andrew Luck! Shocking!
Casserly believes Luck will be paid about the same $22 million deal
Cam Newton got. Lombardi mentions Stanford's one of the schools with
that stupid rule that won't let Luck join the Colts until his college
class has graduated. I swear, I am so sick of that rule – from now
on, if all other things are equal enough, I would just pass on a
Stanford or Ohio State player. (Although that rule would have stuck
me with Rey Maualuga over James Laurinaitis three years ago.) Mayock
gives a completely unnecessary scouting report on Luck.
Colts at #34,
not #33: One week before the
draft, and the NFL Network's main show dedicated to all things draft
still thinks the Colts are picking first in the second round. No, it
is the Rams. Somebody tweet this to these dummies or something. Wide
receiver, tight end, and interior lineman are all offensive needs for
the Colts. They'll still be in range to pick up a fine player,
possibly among Stephen Hill, Coby Fleener, Kevin Zeitler or Amini
Silatolu. But Chuck Pagano wants to get bigger and tougher on
defense, too. Just a pick later than this show thinks.
Bills at #10:
Lombardi's sources tell him the
Bills are now thinking more along the lines of wide receiver or
defense at #10 instead of offensive line.
Cowboys at #14:
After weeks of assuming Mark
Barron will be taken here, things have gotten much less simple at
#14. Their correspondent lists three defensive tackles first, then
Barron. They're pretty sure Fletcher Cox will be gone, and
apparently, they're not sold on Dontari Poe. Interesting. So they're
thinking Barron or Michael Brockers. In fact, the correspondent
thinks Brockers will be the pick, though Barron would be an immediate
impact starter for them. They need size in the middle of the line.
Eagles at #15:
How about the Eagles drafting a
cornerback after spending all that jack on corners last offseason?
After their correspondent raises the dumb idea of Fletcher Cox
falling, he speculates that Dre Kirkpatrick could be a dark-horse
pick.
Jets at #16:
Jets are staying on outside
pass rushers like Courtney Upshaw or Quinton Coples, but will have an
interesting decision if Michael Floyd is available.
Packers at #28:
Dead last in the league in
total defense last year. Might have trouble getting the OLB they
want, though; chances are pretty good there will be a run at the
position in front of them. They would jump for Shea McClellin if they
could get him. Failing that, they could take Harrison Smith because
of Nick Collins' medical problems or beef up the interior o-line with
Zeitler, Silatolu or Peter Konz. Their running back situation isn't
great, either.
* Player news:
Interesting draft statistics from Mayock: In the last 8 drafts, 23
quarterbacks were selected in the first round, producing 15 starters.
In the other rounds combined, 83 QBs were taken, with only seven
becoming starters. That's less than a 10% success rate. Of the seven,
two were second-rounders (Kevin Kolb, Andy Dalton), two were
third-rounders (Matt Schaub, Colt McCoy) and THREE from round 7 (Matt
Flynn, Matt Cassel and Ryan Fitzpatrick). Mayock thinks the Browns
will pass on Ryan Tannehill, who will go 7th (Jagwires
trade down) or 8th, and take a hard look at Brandon Weeden
at #22 or in the second round at #37.
Head-to-head: Dwayne Allen vs. Orson Charles
Lombardi says Allen will be the better pro because he's the better
blocker, but pretty much all the tight ends in this draft need to
improve their blocking skills. Plays with great balance and catches
the ball well but lacks speed and separation ability. Still compares
well to TEs like Brandon Pettigrew. Charles can be a nasty blocker,
has a strong competitive streak. His size might suit him better to
fullback or H-back. Catches well and plays with good effort. Davis
likes Orson Charles better because of that effort. Plays to the
whistle and wins a lot of battles. No one mentions Charles' DUI right
after the Combine six weeks ago. Narrow win for Allen.
Mike Adams tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine. He was
also suspended for five games last year in the Ohio State tattoo
parlor scandal that felled Jim Tressel. Casserly says failing the
drug test has to knock his draft stock down. He'd drop him off his
board. Failing a drug test when you know it's coming means you either
have a problem you can't control, you're stupid, or you don't care,
and none of those are good. Mayock adds that's already strike one for
Adams under the NFL drug policy. The next time he fails a test, it's
a four-week suspension, then a full season. The Redskins drafted
Trent Williams under similar conditions, and now he's a strike from a
full-season suspension.
Time for The Most Interesting Ex-Coach in the World (Policemen give
him free donuts). He doesn't always draft quarterbacks who are really
tall, but when he does, he would draft Brock Osweiler the second day.
He's a better athlete than he looks for being as tall as he is. Not
as good as The Most Interesting Ex-Coach in the World, though (He can
throw a knuckleball with his foot). Stay draft-y, my friends.
Tim Ruskell pops back on to project where on the field all of these
hybrid DE/OLBs will play.
Melvin Ingram – has the instincts and plays well enough in space to
ultimately play 3-4 OLB, and he adds a pass rush element from there.
Isn't sure that he's a top ten player but his athleticism and
productivity in college merit drafting him high.
Courtney Upshaw – should be a 4-3 DE. Ruskell calls him a cross
between Hugh Douglas and Dwight Freeney. Can play either side. Size
may not be ideal, but his explosiveness should put him in demand.
Suspects he doesn't have the instincts, movement in space or coverage
ability to do well as a 3-4 OLB. Doesn't really suit his skillset.
Middle-first round pick.
Whitney Mercilus – should be perfect fit as a 4-3 DE. Perfect pass
rusher, long with excellent change of direction. Better off as a RDE.
Physical strength is going to be an issue. He also hasn't really been
exposed to any of the things he'd have to do as a 3-4 OLB. Mid-late
first round.
Shea McClellin – better fit as a 3-4 OLB. Makes plays all over the
field, can rush the passer, is stout at the point of attack. Has the
instincts, coverage skills and movement in space to be successful.
Mayock Zone pick.
Chris Polk's draft stock has been pretty flat despite excellent
college numbers. Very early on he was graded as a top-five RB but has
fallen ever since the draft process started. Lacks breakaway speed
and had a ton of carries in college; teams are worried there are
already too many miles on him.
If the Bills pass on Riley Reiff (see team news), he could go for a
pretty long slide. A team like Arizona's not going to want to draft
him in the top 15 if they're not convinced he can play left tackle.
Only one more of these suckers to go!
-$-
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