Path to the Draft, 4/20

Appearing: Fran Charles, Charles Davis, Michael Lombardi, Charlie Casserly

Happy 4/20 from Mike Adams, Janoris Jenkins, and what's Claude Wroten up to these days? (Surprisingly, still in football at last update, with the Toronto Argonauts. Equally surprising, not in jail)

* Team news:

Cincinnati at 17/21: Radio announcer sees both picks going to defense, starting with a corner at 17, Stephon Gilmore or Dre Kirkpatrick. 21 would go to a defensive lineman; he thinks Michael Brockers could fall to there. Also says the Bengals would “jump” if Quinton Coples is available. Not out of the question.

San Diego at 18: Kevin Acee believes the draft has enough depth at the pass rusher positions that the Chargers can afford to pick David DeCastro or a wide receiver (I assume Michael Floyd) in the event they fall, and actually predicts DeCastro will be the pick. So apparently yet another beat writer who has never watched this show. Whitney Mercilus, Nick Perry, or Andre Branch (quite a reach) could be the direction they go if DeCastro or a WR don't plop in their laps.

Bears at 19: Correspondent believes they'll go defensive line, upgrading the defensive end rotation if they can. Makes it sound especially like the Bears will participate in a run on pass rushers if one starts. Nick Perry's being mentioned a lot, but don't rule out Floyd. Coples, Mercilus and again, Branch are considered in play.

Ravens at 29: The Ravens radio announcer, with the most awkward name in football history, Gerry Sandusky, calls interior offensive line Baltimore's most pressing need. Peter Konz will be a great fit, starting at guard, learning under Matt Birk and eventually moving to center. Torrey Smith is reportedly lobbying for Stephen Hill. They're also looking for an edge pass rusher and an inside LB, and can see Ozzie Newsome trading up to get Don'ta Hightower.

* Player news:

His top six fall in the standard way, with Justin Blackmon to the Rams at #6, but Lombardi has plenty of surprises in his mock draft:

7 – Stephon Gilmore to Jacksonville. Jagwires supposedly like Gilmore more than Melvin Ingram now. Ingram falls to the Jets at 16.

10 – Mark Barron to Buffalo. Cowboys have to settle for Michael Brockers.

15 – Chandler Jones to Philadelphia.

Michael Floyd getting passed on by the Seahawks, Cardinals, Jets, Bengals and Bears, and falling out of the top 20. None of the other panelists question Lombardi on this.

I was going to complain that the show had Brandon Weeden live in the studio yet again until I realized they were featuring someone named “Weeden” on 4/20. Nice call, NFL Network! Hopefully this segment will be sponsored by Doritos.

And now, it's The Most Interesting Ex-Coach in the World (He can drink Charlie Sheen under the table)! He doesn't always call young QBs the next Jamarcus Russell, but when he does, he says that QB, Ryan Tannehill, should still be a first-rounder. He's just not a top ten pick. A team picking him that high is expecting him to start right away, and he won't be ready. Has great potential/upside, but very few career starts and “has difficulty” throwing in the middle of the field. Has all the skills, but has moved up the draft board way too quickly. Unlike The Most Interesting Ex-Coach in the World (until they met him, the Eskimos had no word for “awesome”). Stay draft-y, my friends.

Casserly doesn't think Tannehill is a franchise QB, either. Telegraphs his throws and isn't consistently accurate. Casserly and Davis both agree he gets a bad rap for the games Texas A&M lost in the fourth quarter. They lost one where he never got on the field, and lost others because they started running the ball with the lead too early.

Charles interviews Les Miles about the LSU players in the draft, but it's not like Miles will ever say anything about flaws his players may have, so I pretty much ignore it. He does say Morris Claiborne is more fluid and flips his hips better than Patrick Peterson. Also wishes he could have gotten the ball to Reuben Randle more.

LaMichael James says he doesn't have to be as big, fast or strong as other players because he's smarter. Lombardi says his draft status and playing time hinge on how well he can protect the passer.

Oregon State defensive back Brandon Hardin was invited to pre-draft visits by 15 teams despite missing his senior season due to a shoulder injury. Goes 225-230 lbs and will probably be a safety. Played well at the Shrine Game.

Dontari Poe seems to be moving back up the draft board. His effort shows on tape and more teams believe they can make him more productive by coaching him up. He's also a very likeable personality and teams think that will make him more coachable than a similarly-talented player with a bad attitude.

OK, even though Path to the Draft continues into next week, and Mayock reveals his mock draft Wednesday night, RamView's done with NFL Network recaps unless something major happens or is said. Got to get the mock draft out, and prepare for the big event Thursday. Until then, stay draft-y, my friends.

-$-