Draft/FA Watch

www.nfldraftcountdown.com has us picking 11th and taking Alex Barron.

 

Damn Alex Barron.

 

Agree, I don't want him or any other O lineman in the 1st.

 

Not a bad second round pick

 

Kiper's Big Board: http://espn.go.com/melkiper/

 

With Morgan's recent troubles, I like this guy in the 2nd...

Kirk Morrison, 6'4, 240

Big guy can hit, move, and cover.

 

http://www.nfldraftblitz.com/mock_draft.htm

 

Don't know that he's a 2nd, but he's rated there. Can't say I've watched him, though. One guy inside I really like is Lance Mitchell, an unquestioned leader on the field and an all around fine linebacker. He's got that leadership that Rod Davis had, but in a better package.

 

Huddle Report's top 20: (prob won't format too good)

RANK, POS RANK, POS, PLAYER, HT, WT, 40, SCHOOL, STOCK +/-

1 1 CB Antrel Rolle 6-1 205 4.5 Miami 0
2 1 LB Derrick Johnson 6-3 230 4.6 Texas 0
3 1 WR Mike Williams 6-4 230 4.5 USC 0
4 1 OT Alex Barron 6-7 325 5.2 Florida St +4
5 1 RB Carnell Williams 5-10 205 4.5 Auburn -1
NEW 6 1 DE David Pollack 6-2 260 4.7 Georgia +1
7 2 WR Braylon Edwards 6-3 210 4.4 Michigan -2
8 2 RB Cedric Benson 5-10 220 4.5 Texas -2
9 2 CB Marlin Jackson 6-0 200 4.4 Michigan +1
10 3 WR Mark Clayton 5-10 190 4.4 Oklahoma -1
11 3 CB Corey Webster 6-0 200 4.5 LSU +1
12 1 DT Anttaj Hawthorne 6-3 310 5.2 Wisconsin -1
NEW 13 2 DT Shaun Cody 6-4 290 4.9 USC +1
14 3 RB Ronnie Brown 6-0 225 4.4 Auburn +4
15 1 QB Andrew Walter 6-5 240 4.9 Arizona St -2
16 1 OG Elton Brown 6-5 340 5.3 Virginia -1
17 2 DE Marcus Spears 6-4 295 5.0 LSU 0
18 2 OT Jammal Brown 6-5 300 5.2 Oklahoma -2
19 2 LB Kevin Burnett 6-3 235 4.6 Tennessee +1
20 3 DE Dan Cody 6-4 260 4.8 Oklahoma -1

 

Jesus H. Christ I just wrote a long piece here that got lost because something logged me out. *sigh* In brief...

Draft priorities -
QB: Some middle and late prospect guys, but statistically there isn't a lot of evidence for the idea that you need to groom your own guy.

RB: Only reason to draft one is the assumption that we don't re-sign Foster next year. This crop is extremely talented, but I look at that more as a way to push down guys we actually need.

WR: Proehl will retire and Moose is gone, so we need one or two guys depending on free agency. Would Smith and Colbert be the shortest starters in the NFL? I'd look at the middle rounds here.

TE: Everyone loves Heath Miller and rightly so, but I don't see this being a need.

O-line: Despite media reports and fan complaints our line has actually been pretty solid this year. The biggest disappointment has been Gross, but I think he'll rebound. I share Magnus' opinion on Alex Barron, and in fact, none of the top OT prospects excite me in the slightest. Brown would be ok at OG, but you can get effective guards in the middle rounds if you just draft the right guys. One guy I'd really like is Ben Wilkerson if he falls due to his knee injury. He'd be 10 times the center Nelson ever could be, plus he'd probably make a pretty solid guard.


D-line: Buck has picked it up with Jenkins out, but it's time to start thinking about his long-term replacement. I'm not crazy about any of the guys mentioned as potential first or second rounders, though, so this might be something to wait on.

LB: If we don't keep Witherspoon I'd love to see Derrick Johnson fall to us. I've also been thinking about Morrison, but I haven't gotten a chance to see him play. This is an area I'd definitely like to see us address.

CB: I haven't heard too many people talking about it, but I'm actually in favor of drafting someone to replace Manning. He's been terrible this year and would probably be better suited to playing third corner and covering the slot. Rolle and Jackson will be gone, which is ok by me since I think especially Rolle is overhyped, but someone like Rogers would be fine.

S: Branch has come on recently and I'm not in love with anyone at the position but I'd certainly take an upgrade if someone thinks one is out there.

Special Teams: Kasay is locked in, against my better judgment, but a returner would be welcome. I drafted Craig Bragg in Madden and he's been tearing it up for me, so why not take the advice of a video game?