Path to the Draft, 4/5

Appearing: Paul Burmeister, Charlie Casserly, Charles Davis, Tony Softli, Ted Sundquist

* Team news:

Chiefs at 11: beat writer says they don't have any “desperate” needs and thinks they will pick David DeCastro as a lineman of the future. Luke Kuechly also under consideration.

Broncos at 25: beat writer says they need to fortify their front seven and that they haven't done anything at defensive tackle in free agency.

Raiders at, yes, 95: oh, no, the Raiders say they're done drafting players just because they're fast? Where are wide receivers who can run only one route supposed to go now? One of the players that has visited is Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman. They're optimistically hoping they can find starters in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.

Bengals at 17/21: Didn't this show just talk about the Bengals? Solomon Wilcots thinks for some reason the Bengals can get Mark Barron at 17, and then draft a corner at 21, Gilmore, Kirkpatrick or Janoris Jenkins, who he also calls the 2^nd best corner in the draft if you ignore his off-field problems. Well, that's a specialty in Cincinnati. Too bad Wilcots apparently doesn't watch this show. Barron's got about as much chance of falling to 17 as Andrew Luck. How much did Wilcots get paid for this appearance? Davis would go with a corner and an offensive lineman with the picks. Apparently he's Peter Konz's agent, mentioning him prominently for the second straight day. Casserly adds that WR is a big need, and they're not settled at RB even after signing the Law Firm. Casserly mentions Doug Martin along with several linemen who will already be picked. Does anybody pay attention to this show? The. Bengals. Are. Not. Getting. David. DeCastro!

* Player news:

We finally get to see Casserly's ranking of the top six prospects. Not only is Trent Richardson ahead of Robert Griffin III, so is Morris Claiborne. Justin Blackmon and Matt Kalil round out the top 6.

As for the next six:

7. Mark Barron? Nothing he can't do. Physical against the run but also effective stationed deep in the secondary. Great range, instincts, intelligence and athletic ability. Is a Pro Bowl-type prospect. Davis says the only concern is his limited experience in man defense.

8. Luke Kuechly. Excellent tackler, finds the ball well, athletic enough to play outside and to cover receivers. Three-down player who should play a long time.

9. Dontari Poe, who Casserly likes a lot more than other analysts. Sees a disruptive football player who plays with a good motor, disruptive against the run and pass.

10. David DeCastro. Physical at the line of scrimmage, can run and pull, can block in space. Very few holes and another Pro Bowl-type prospect. Davis calls him the best lineman in the draft, even over Matt Kalil.

11. Michael Floyd. Physical, very good hands, great runner after the catch. Might not play as fast as he ran at the Combine. Deserves credit for his production given pretty poor QBing at Notre Dame during his career.

12. Fletcher Cox. Quick and explosive, can shed people. Wins as a nickel pass rusher inside. Has the long arms the league likes but may need to add weight (currently 295). Davis says Cox's pass rush ability puts him ahead of Michael Brockers.

Asked about Michael Floyd, Tony Softli says he wouldn't take him in the top 10. I therefore suppose he'll insist the Rams should draft Floyd tomorrow. Maybe not, he actually has Kendall Wright ahead of Floyd. Wow. Says he emphasizes playmaking over size. Also slid Floyd down the board because of the DUIs. Sundquist says Wright has proven ability to make big plays down the field. Separates from defenders and makes plays over the middle. Is concerned about Wright's original 40 time at the Combine (4.61) but says he plays faster than that.

Softli tabs Coby Fleener as about the only TE with a chance to crack the first round. Plays from slot, inside, outside, in-line. Good at catching the ball, can make one-handed catches. Needs to get stronger to be a more effective in-line blocker.

Softli has a couple of running backs in the first round besides Trent Richardson. David Wilson was very productive against strong competition. Good receiver and runs well inside and outside. Softli calls Doug Martin a Ray Rice clone. Explosive, stays behind his pads, can run over or around people. Productive runner and receiver. Both men are also good blockers but will need to improve their blitz recognition. Sundquist agrees with Softli. Wilson or Martin will never make it to the end of the second round. Calls Martin the best all-around back in the draft. Weighs over 220 and should be a durable back as a result. (Get this guy in a Rams uniform, Jeff Fisher.)

Ray Romano's lost brother Pete Fiutak of CollegeFootballNews.com is invited on for a mock draft. Ryan Tannehill goes 4^th to the Browns. Says the Browns are talking that they're going that direction, though it's possibly to attract trading interest. But he also said Tannehill shows too much upside and potential as a franchise QB to pass up. (Funny, I just checked who the top ten were in last year's Heisman vote and Tannehill isn't in there anywhere.) Tampa takes Richardson over Claiborne with the thought he could carry their offense. The Rams get Justin Blackmon at 6 with Claiborne going to the Jagwires.

Defensive end talk:

Chandler Jones – 6'5” with long arms, but just 260 and needs to add weight. Missed five games last season, Casserly doesn't say why. Good strength, effective at warding off blockers with those long arms. Quicker than fast, but has suddenness and quick hands to beat blockers. Quick inside move off that ball. One of this brothers plays for the Ravens and another is the UFC light-heavyweight champion.

Vinny Curry – showed variety of moves and held his own with the bigger-school players at the Senior Bowl and ran by some of them. Forced seven fumbles last season. Second-round talent at worst, shows definite pass rush ability.

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