Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Maier

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Thanksgiving Edition

Chris Maier — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:10:24 -0500

The college football season is prepping for its conference championships and bowl game announcements, making it a good time to for a mock draft update. The hardest part of doing a mock this time of year is determining who is and is not coming back, which means we project and could see a larger than usual number of underclassmen declare in light of a possible rookie wage scale in 2011. This number of declarations could especially impact the quarterback position as this mock will show. (Draft order based on records as of 11/24/09)

First Round:

1. Cleveland Browns, QB Jimmy Clausen , Notre Dame - The Browns do not want the No. 1 overall pick, and would prefer to see Brady Quinn blossom during the second half of the season. Unfortunately, the No. 1 pick is a real possibility, and Quinn is unlikely to shine enough to count on moving forward. While a new administration would love to get a veteran QB, drafting a true franchise QB is more likely, which could lead the Browns to yet another Irish signal caller. Clausen is not a surefire franchise QB, but he is the best QB prospect in the draft as long as his size does not become an issue. A reluctant selection on my part.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DT Ndamukong Suh , Nebraska - Suh is the best and safest defensive linemen in the draft and fits the Bucs needs to a tee. Easy pick although they would consider a pass rusher if they find one they like. No. 2 overall feels early for a DT, but Suh has played up to the hype this season.

3. St. Louis Rams, QB Sam Bradford , Oklahoma - Bradford is the draft's biggest curveball as he will be able to throw in a limited fashion at best prior to the draft. He fills a definite need and will be a popular pick in the St. Louis market, but he will be a risky selection. Almost as concerning as his injury is how he struggled when faced with a pass rush in limited action this season and in the title game last year.

4. Detroit Lions, OT Russell Okung , Oklahoma State - Gerald McCoy will be tempting for the defensive minded HC Jim Schwartz, but this season has shown 2009 No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford has talent, but they need to vastly improve his protection if they hope to keep him healthy. Okung is the best offensive tackle in the draft by far and the Lions will be able to find a DT in round two.

5. Washington Redskins, QB Jake Locker , Washington - The Redskins would prefer Okung fall to them, but if he does not (and possibly even if he does) they will look to select a franchise signal caller. Locker has the best tools of any quarterback in the draft, but he also is the one who would benefit the most from another year with Steve Sarkisian. He will likely come out in large part due to the pending rookie wage scale. It won't matter who the Redskins quarterback is if they do not improve their offensive line.

6. Buffalo Bills, DT Gerald McCoy , Oklahoma - Like the Redskins, the Bills need a left tackle badly but the drop-off after Okung is a significant one, and passing on a talent like McCoy could be tough considering run defense has been such an issue for the Bills.

7. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant , Oklahoma State - Scott Pioli would prefer to fix his team upfront (on either side of the ball), but knows he needs to give an offensive mind like Todd Haley a true No. 1 wideout. Bryant missed much of the season, but his blend of size and speed should make him an excellent fit at the next level.

8. Seattle Seahawks, S Eric Berry , Tennessee - The broken record of team's hoping to fix their offensive lines but failing to fill it continues as the Seahawks can't afford to pass up an Ed Reed-type playmaking safety to take a chance on one of the second tier tackles. Fortunately, they still have another first round pick thanks to Denver.

9. Oakland Raiders, DE Carlos Dunlap , Florida - Al Davis loves tools guys and Dunlap is the ultimate tools defensive end. Dunlap has rare size and speed for the position, but he has coasted through this season causing his stock to slip.

10. Denver Broncos (from Chicago), ILB Rolando McClain , Alabama - The Broncos defense has exceeded all expectations this season, but it adding a thumper in the middle could be what they need to take it to the next level.

11. San Francisco 49ers, CB Joe Haden , Florida - The early run on quarterbacks takes the Niners out of that market and turns their focus on other needs. Haden is easily the top cornerback prospect who plays with the type of physical style Mike Singletary loves.

12. San Francisco 49ers, OT Bryan Bulaga , Iowa - A big play safety such as Taylor Mays or Earl Clark is tempting but the 49ers need to take advantage of their draft spot to fill a bigger need at right tackle with Bulaga.

13. New York Jets, DT Terrance Cody , Alabama - Cody is a risky prospect based on his weight but after watching how the Jets defense has fizzled since losing Kris Jenkins, Cody fills a major need at a position with few top prospects.

14. Tennessee Titans, DE Derrick Morgan , Georgia Tech - The Titans will also consider linebackers and corners, but the best past defense is a pass rush and Morgan is quickly becoming the top pass rusher in the draft and a hard guy to pass on at 14.

15. Houston Texas, RB Jonathan Dwyer , Georgia Tech - Earl Clark or Taylor Mays would feel a decade long need at safety, but anyone who has watched the Texans struggled in short yardage sees the value a guy like Dwyer could bring to the team. Combine Dwyer with Steve Slaton and they could have one of the best running combos in the league.

16. Miami Dolphins, RB CJ Spiller , Clemson - Ronnie Brown is constantly banged up and Ricky Williams is not getting any younger making Miami a perfect landing spot for the best offensive playmaker in the draft. Spiller lacks the size to be an every down back but the Dolphins offensive creativity will find ways to get him 20 touches per game.

17. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Romeus , Pittsburgh - One thing is certain, the Falcons will use this pick to fill a need on defense be it a pass rusher, or pass defender. Romeus is the best prospect on the board to fill one of those needs (as long as he come out).

18. Baltimore Ravens, WR Arrelious Benn , Illinois - Benn has hardly lit up the stat sheet in 2009, but it is hard to deny his talent. His ability to get deep would make him an ideal fit for strong armed Joe Flacco.

19. Green Bay Packers, OT Charles Brown , USC - Brown has the footwork and the upside to be an excellent left tackle, which instantly would make him Aaron Rodgers best friend in Green Bay.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars, S Taylor Mays , USC - This could be Tim Tebow's only shot to be drafted before round three but Mays would fill a more immediate need in the secondary (unless selling tickets counts as a draft need).

21. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Anthony Davis , Rutgers - Seeing Ben Roethlisberger getting beat up every week has got to be a concern and while Davis is more of a right than a left tackle he still fills a major need for a Steelers offensive line needing multiple upgrades. Davis also has the potential to be an excellent drive blocker in the Steelers mold.

22. Philadelphia Eagles, OLB Sean Weatherspoon , Missouri - Philadelphia has been playing smoke and mirrors with its linebackers all season and needs to make upgrading the position a priority in 2010. Don't be surprised if the Eagle go offensive line though as the Andrews brothers have not worked out as expected.

23. Seattle Seahawks, OT Trent Williams , Oklahoma - Taking a safety with their first pick virtually forces the Seahawks to go offensive line here. Williams stock has fallen mightily this season as he has failed to convert to the left side. He has the ability to be a solid right tackle, however, which would be just fine for the Seahawks who will take the best right or left tackle available given Sean Locklear's ability to play either side.

24. New York Giants, S Earl Thomas , Texas - Seeing how badly the Giants defense has fallen apart after losing Kenny Phillips has shown why the Giants need to improve their secondary depth. Thomas is an excellent ball hawk who would provide the center fielder type they need for their aggressive scheme.

25. Dallas Cowboys, ILB Brandon Spikes , Florida - Spikes does not have ideal measureables, but he is a playmaker who would fit nicely in the middle of the Cowboys defense.

26. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham , Oklahoma - Gresham slides due to his knee injury and would be a tremendous value for a Bengals team in dire need of a competent not to mention dangerous tight end.

27. New England Patriots, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes , TCU - Hughes is a tough guy to peg due to his lack of size, but he would be an excellent fit in a Patriots' hybrid scheme in need of a pass rusher. When Tully Banta Cain is considered one of your best pass rushers, its time to upgrade.

28. Arizona Cardinals, OLB Sergio Kindle , Texas - Kindle has some coverage concerns making him pretty much a 3-4 OLB. The Cardinals have been searching for a pass rusher ever since switching to the 3-4.

29. San Diego Chargers, DT Dan Williams , Tennessee - A need pick as Jamal Williams is nearing the end of the line, and without him the Chargers have been extremely vulnerable to the interior run.

30. Minnesota Vikings, QB Tony Pike , Cincinnati - You never know if Brett Favre is going to come back, but it is hard to imagine the organization being comfortable with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels as the quarterback of the future. Pike is the type of high risk/reward pick that only a playoff team can take.

31. New Orleans Saints, OLB Navarro Bowman , Penn State - The Saints could go a variety of directions including RB, O-Line, D-Line, LB, or S making this a best player available type pick. An athletic linebacker like Bowman would add versatility to Gregg Williams aggressive schemes.

32. Indianapolis Colts, DE Greg Hardy , Mississippi - The Colts are going away from the undersized defenders on defense, and grabbing a guy like Hardy provides insurance for the oft-injured Dwight Freeney. A team can never have too many pass rushers.

Round Two:

33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR Golden Tate , Notre Dame

34. St. Louis Rams, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida

35. Cleveland Browns, RB Jahvid Best , California

36. Detroit Lions, DT Arthur Jones , Syracuse

37. Buffalo Bills, OT Selvish Capers, West Virginia

38. Kansas City Chiefs, DE/OLB Eric Norwood , South Carolina

39. Seattle Seahawks, QB Case Keenum , Houston

40.Oakland Raiders, DT Marvin Austin , North Carolina

41. Washington Redskins, OT Ciron Black , LSU

42. Carolina Panthers, QB Colt McCoy , Texas

43. San Francisco 49ers, S Morgan Burnett , Georgia Tech

44. New York Jets, CB Perrish Cox , Oklahoma State

45. New England Patriots (from Tennessee), WR Demaryious Thomas , Georgia Tech

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago), S Nate Allen , South Florida

47. Miami Dolphins, WR Damian Williams , USC

48. Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta), OG Mike Iupati, Idaho

49. Baltimore Ravens, CB Trevard Lindley , Kentucky

50. Houston Texans, DT Vince Oghobaase , Duke

51. New England Patriots (from Jacksonville), DE Corey Wootten , Northwestern

52. Green Bay Packers, CB Patrick Robinson , Florida State

53. Philadelphia Eagles, OG Joe Asamoah , Illinois

54. Denver Broncos, WR Brandon LaFell , LSU

55. New York Giants, CB Myron Lewis Vanderbilt

56. Pittsburgh Steelers, DT Jared Odrick , Penn State

57. Cincinnati Bengals, CB Javier Arenas , Alabama

58. New England Patriots, RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno State

59. Arizona Cardinals, OG Sergio Render , Virginia Tech

60. Dallas Cowboys, WR Mardy Gilyard , Cincinnati

61. San Diego Chargers, RB Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State

62. Minnesota Vikings, DE Brandon Graham , Michigan

63. New Orleans Saints, DE Everson Griffin , USC

64. Indianapolis, OT Jason Fox , Miami, FL

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com . He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com .

Feeling an NFL Draft: Alabama's Mount Cody Asserts Himself in Talented DT Class

Chris Maier — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:23:41 -0400

In a season in which Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy have garnered the most accolades, Terrance "Mount" Cody has seen his draft stock slide into the mid-late first round. On Saturday, he reminded America why he is considered such a rare blend of size and power, as the 6'4" 365 pounder burst threw the Tennessee offensive line for not one but two blocked field goals in the Crimson Tide's 12-10 win over the Volunteers. Suh and McCoy are athletic marvels for the defensive tackle position, while Cody is more of a run stuffing defensive tackle in the Jamal Williams and Ted Washington mold. While there are weight concerns, Cody showed in two plays how he can penetrate an offensive line and make his presence known. You see, he did not block those kicks with a 40" vertical, he did it by collapsing the line and reducing the angle. Cody's ability to play nose tackle and the proliferation of the 3-4 defense could ultimately result in him getting picked ahead of Suh or McCoy on draft day (definitely not ahead of both).

Other thoughts from this past weekend:

—One game flying under the radar this past weekend was Pittsburgh vs. South Florida; featuring three of the nations top pass rushers in Greg Romeus (jr.), Jason Pierre-Paul (jr.), and George Selvie . The game was a blowout as Bulls were pummeled by Pitt 41-14. What was surprising was how little pressure Pierre-Paul and Selvie were able to put on the Panther quarterback after harassing Cincinnati's Tony Pike the week before. For this day Romeus was the best defensive lineman on the field, and at 6'5" 270 lb he will likely find himself very attractive to the pro scouts when he decides to come out.

—Pitt QB Bill Stull looked extremely efficient tearing apart USF's vaunted pass defense for 18-25 with 245 years including 2 TDs and 1 INT. He was hardly a prospect entering the season but he is starting to gain some notice with a 16 TD: 4 INT ratio for the season.

—Pitt TE/WR Dorin Dickerson shows potential as a roster saving utility man in the Legedu Naanee sort of way. He will be lucky to be a 7th rounder but he is built like a wide receiver but plays like a tight end and his versatility could earn him a roster spot.

—Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin is only a sophomore but has tremendous upside and the rare size team's look for in a wide receiver at 6'5 225 lbs. He still needs to refine his game but 6'5 guys average 20 yards per catch do not grow on trees.

—Iowa State MLB Jesse Smith is not going to wow anyone with his athleticism or size but he is a sideline to sideline tackling machine for the Cyclones and keyed the team's upset of Nebraska. He'll never be a top prospect as he struggles to shed blockers and gets overpowered at times but high effort guys like Smith often earn jobs as 5th and 6th linebackers/special teamers.

—Nebraska DT Ndamukong Sug, a Feeling a Draft favorite, tried his best to will Nebraska past Iowa State with a tremendous game including a blocked field goal. Even his strong play was not enough to overcome 8 turnovers. Keep an eye on teammate Jared Crick who has hidden in Suh's shadow this season but shows excellent potential.

—West Virginia RB Noel Devine did his best Jahvid Best and CJ Spiller impersonation in the team's win over UConn highlighted by his game winning 56 yard touchdown run. Devine is not likely to leave this season, in part due to the plethora of undersized backs like Best and Spiller but he is an explosive talent who needs to find a way to add a little bulk to his 176 lb frame. By the way kudos to the West Virginia fans with a tremendous show of class welcoming an emotionally drained UConn team.

—Mississippi RB/WR Dexter McCluster finally had a breakout game with 260 combined rushing and receiving yards in the Rebels 30-17 win over Arkansas. At 5'8" 165 lbs McCluster will have a hard time finding a role, but the kid is a playmaker whose best role in the NFL will be as a slot receiver/returner. He needs more games like this one if he wants to get his chance.

—Notre Dame WR Golden Tate : When teammate Michael Floyd broke his collar bone, opposing defenses have keyed on shutting down Tate yet he has managed to put up a whopping 28 catches for 489 yards and 5 touchdowns the past three weeks. A former running back, Tate plays wide receiver with remarkable toughness and deceptive deep speed. I doubt he will be a first rounder when he comes out, as he lacks first round measureables, but the more you watch him play the more he reminds you of Anquan Boldin.

—Minnesota WR Eric Decker : The injury plagued senior regular season ended this past weekend with a sprained foot. Hopefully, the heart of the Golden Gophers gets a chance to play in a bowl game but if he does not expect to see him on Sundays next year as tough possession receivers are always in high demand.

What To Watch This Weekend:

#21 West Virginia @ South Florida (Friday) - Can the Bulls vaunted pass rushers redeem themselves in their third consecutive Big East test.

#22 South Carolina vs. Tennessee - Top prospects Eric Norwood and Eric Berry hope to lead their offensively challenged teams to victory.

#3 Texas @ #14 Oklahoma State - Last big test for the Longhorns but draftniks should view the game and ask is Colt McCoy that much better than Zac Robinson. McCoy has excellent intangibles but if Robinson finds a way to win without Dez Bryant, Kendall Hunter and a porous defense the answer should be a resounding "No!".

#5 USC @ #10 Oregon - Taylor Mays and his vaunted USC defense has been shredded the past two weeks. The Trojans are not likely to escape if it happens a third time.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for nfldraft101.com . He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com .

Feeling a Draft: Sam Bradford at a Crossroads

Chris Maier — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:48 -0400

After last season, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford was considered the top quarterback prospect in the country and the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Surprisingly, Bradford—along with highly rated teammates Trent Williams , Jermaine Gresham and Gerald McCoy —decided to return to Oklahoma for a chance to win a national title. In Saturday's Red River Rivalry, Bradford suffered another injury to his throwing shoulder, ending the Sooners faint title hopes and possibly his college career.

Many experts suggest it is now a no-brainer to enter the 2010 draft, as he can ill-afford another injury. He may have lost millions, they say. However, if his throwing shoulder needs surgery, he could be lucky to even be drafted in the first round considering he may not be able to throw for the scouts.

Add in the fact he has hardly dazzled in limited action this season, and he may have to come back next season just to prove he is healthy and worthy of being considered a franchise quarterback. His decision is sure to be a difficult and an unfortunate one.

His story, along with teammate Gresham's (knee), will be a cautionary tale for players with first-round grades and lends credence to the theory that players should come out if they do not stand to improve their draft position.

One player who should pay especially close attention to Bradford's story is Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen . I say this not because Clausen is assured of being a top 10 pick, but rather because he will be playing behind an inexperienced offensive line breaking in four new starters if he returns like Bradford has this season.

In general, the year of the quarterback has been hardly a good omen this season. Tim Tebow suffered a serious concussion and has done little to prove he has NFL quarterback skills. Colt McCoy has struggled with his accuracy as opponents have dared him to throw downfield. Fast-rising Tony Pike reinjured his non-throwing arm against South Florida this past, week making him a medical risk.

The beneficiaries of these quarterbacks' misfortune could very well be Clausen and Jake Locker , who benefit from the aforementioned's struggles as well as playing in pro-style offenses.

Other notes from this week's action:

— Texas DE/LB Sergio Kindle is considered the better prospect, but when I watch Texas the player who stands out most is Roddrick Muckelroy , as he is always in on the action.

— Two other Texas notes: Jordan Shipley has the look of a great slot receiver (a Wes Welker-type), and keep an eye on sophomore S Earl Thomas, who shows great instincts in coverage.

— Got a much better view of the Alabama defense this week as South Carolina's Stephen Garcia was at least moderately competent at quarterback. Rolando McClain is the real deal and would push Brandon Spikes for the No. 1 ILB slot if he decided to come out. Also, in the absence of Javier Arenas , fellow senior Marquis Johnson stepped up his game and was brilliant in defending fade pattern and stubborn fade pattern.

— Watching sophomore RB Mark Ingram run showed me why Glen Coffee was a surprising early entrant last season.

— Oklahoma State RB Keith Toston has made the most of his opportunities the past two weeks and could get notice as a late-round prospect he would not have gotten had Kendell Hunter remained healthy. He does not do anything fancy but has adequate size, runs with authority, and showed he can catch passes out of the backfield.

— South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul outplayed teammate George Selvie in a high-profile game vs. Cincinnati. Unlike Selvie, Pierre-Paul has size to go with his tremendous athleticism and pass-rushing ability. CB Jerome Murphy is among the most talented corners in the country, but his aggressive nature led to multiple unnecessary penalties.

— Central Michigan beat Western Michigan 34-23 in the battle of the MAC's top quarterbacks, but both Central's Dan LeFevour and Western's Tim Hiller played well to keep themselves near the top of the second tier of college quarterbacks.

What to Watch This Weekend:

Tennessee @ Alabama — Can resurgent Jonathan Crompton test the 'Bama defense? Also, will S Eric Berry help elevate the Vols defense against a suddenly one-dimensional Crimson Tide offense?

Penn State @ Michigan — Nittany Lions linebackers Sean Lee and Navarro Bowman play together for the first time.

TCU @ BYI — The Horned Frogs face their toughest test as DE Jerry Hughes gets his best chance to show his wares. Unfortunately, DirecTV subscribers will miss it as the game is on Versus.

Iowa @ Michigan State — The best linebacker you may not have heard of—Greg Jones (MSU)—hopes to lead an upset over the undefeated Hawkeyes and their highly regarded offensive tackles.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com .

Feeling a Draft: Jimmy Clausen vs. Jake Locker

Chris Maier — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:53:15 -0400

One of the best games of this past weekend featured the cardiac Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus the rapidly improving Washington Huskies, including three goal line stands and an overtime finish.

Draftniks tuning into the game received a treat in a battle of two of the nation's top quarterback prospects in Jimmy Clausen and Jake Locker. Entering the season, both quarterbacks were considered players to watch for the 2011 draft. Now some are talking about Clausen and Locker as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Recently, I found Clausen as the No. 1 overall pick in Draft Zoo's latest mock, and Locker was rated the No. 1 player on National Football Post's Wes Buntings NFP Super 30 prospects. One of the best parts of this matchup, aside from a tremendous football game, was how both players lived up to the hype with excellent performances.

Clausen's stat line was an eye popping 23-31 for a career high 422 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Locker's stats were pedestrian in comparison to Clausen's, but he still managed a strong 22-40 for 281 yards, plus a rushing and passing touchdown, while displaying rare athleticism for the position.

As Locker's performance shows, the stats do not necessarily tell the whole story, so let's break down their performances from a scout's perspective:

Size:

Locker - Has proto-type quarterback size and build. Looks every bit his listed 6'3" size.

Clausen - Listed at 6'3", 223 pounds, he is nearly identical to Locker (just three pounds different). But when you look at Clausen standing next to 6'4" backup quarterback Dayne Crist, you wonder if Clausen is even 6'2". The number of passes Clausen has knocked down backs up the height argument as well.

Accuracy:

Locker - Arguably his biggest weakness, but also the area in which he has improved the most. Locker has completed just 57 percent of his passes for the season and just 55 percent against a poor Irish secondary. His receivers drop more than their fair share of passes, but let's not forget that he completed 47 percent as a freshman and 53 percent as a sophomore. His three interceptions are a positive.

Clausen - He has steadily improved his accuracy each season going from 56 percent as a freshman to nearly 68 percent this season. His accuracy is especially impressive on intermediate to deep passes. On the negative side, Clausen struggles at times throwing screen passes, putting too much air under the ball and allowing defenses to react to the play. He also threw a screen pass backwards during this game resulting in a Husky touchdown—a major quarterback no-no.

Arm Strength:

Locker - He has good zip on his passes, showing nice touch on his deep balls, especially sideline routes.

Clausen - He does not necessarily possess a howitzer but can make all the throws, and he throws one of the better deep balls in the college game.

Mobility:

Locker - He has excellent mobility and is a weapon in the ground game. Most importantly, Locker has learned when to run and when to pass. He is much more patient than he used to be.

Clausen - A pocket passer, Clausen is never going to be considered a great runner, but he has improved markedly this season in his ability to buy time in the pocket and extend plays.

Intangibles:

Locker - A big reason why Locker is gaining so much traction in scouting circles is his "It" factor. He has shown tremendous leadership this season, elevating the play of his teammates and coming through in the clutch, notably on the final drive in the upset of USC.

Clausen - He has developed an aura of confidence and calm this season leading a touchdown drive to take the lead in the final five minutes of Notre Dame's last four games. He earns toughness points for playing through a visibly painful turf toe injury.

System:

Locker - He benefits from playing for former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian's pro style offense. He plays a lot of shotgun but does take snaps from center (mostly running plays) more often than most college quarterbacks these days. One of the biggest reasons I think he will come back for his senior season is the potential benefit from another season with Sarkisian and the effect it could have on his overall development as a quarterback.

Clausen - He plays in one of college football's few true pro style offenses, which will be immensely helpful in his transition to the pro game be it 2010 or 2011. Clausen benefits greatly from playing alongside one of the best sets of skill position players in the country. His ability to continue to elevate his play despite the absence of Michael Floyd could allay concerns he is a product of the system.

Overall:

Locker - He's a classic tools guy who has improved his game markedly playing for new coach Steve Sarkisian. He may have the bigger upside down the road due to rare combination of size and athleticism. He has come so far so fast but still needs to refine his game, especially his accuracy and his supporting cast will only get better.

Clausen - A pure pocket passer playing in a pro style offense is a rare sight in today's college game, which makes him one of the safer projections among the talented group of junior and senior quarterbacks. He has proven that he can carry a team, but may want to return for his senior year to finish the turnaround at Notre Dame and another season with the talented trio of receivers in Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, and Kyle Rudolph. If he is truly 6'1" and not 6'3", he might as well stay in college as long as he can.

The talent and bright futures of both Clausen and Locker were displayed in this weekend's thrilling Irish victory. Both players are potential future first round picks when they decide to come out.

At this point, it is hard to determine whether either will be rated high enough to merit forgoing their senior season. Before the season, it was hard to imagine either player being an early entrant, but an injury to Sam Bradford and struggles for fellow junior Jevan Snead may have opened the door.

Only time will tell, but until then, enjoy these great young quarterbacks while you can.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2010 NFL Mock Draft: An Early Look

Chris Maier — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:41:35 -0400

The college and pro season's are now underway giving us an opportunity to better gauge prospects and team needs making it a perfect time for an updated mock draft.

Hint: This mock is very light on quarterbacks despite the pub the position has received due to early season struggles by the top prospects (Snead looks nothing like a first rounder thus far, for example) and a lack of knowledge on which hot prospects (Locker, Clausen) are coming out. (* denotes underclassman)

1. Tampa Bay Buccanneers, DT Gerald McCoy*, Oklahoma—Taking a defensive tackle No. 1 overall would not be a sexy pick, but after drafting their franchise quarterback last year with Josh Freeman, it is time to find a defensive anchor.

McCoy is the rare defensive tackle who can rush the passer and stuff the run and would fill a major hole. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is also an intriguing possibility, but his early season struggles make him a riskier option.

2. Cleveland Browns, QB Sam Bradford*, Oklahoma—The Browns have showed us how not to develop a franchise quarterback with the disaster that was Tim Couch and the barely got a chance of Brady Quinn, but the new staff will look for a fresh face and hope the third time is a charm.

Bradford is the guy for now, but I am not convinced he will be the top quarterback selected based on his injury and worries of him being a product of the system but for now he remains the top quarterback. If you don't like Bradford insert your favorite quarterback here.

3. St. Louis Rams, DE Carlos Dunlap*, Florida—The Rams need a major facelift on both sides of the ball and a quarterback will be get top consideration but with a defensive coach like Spag's my gut tells me they get him some difference makers up front first. Dunlap has rare size for a defensive end and could excel as a Justin Tuck type in Rams defense.

4. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant*, Oklahoma State—Todd Haley has discovered two things very quickly, his offensive line is terrible and his receivers are not much better.

This brings his decision down to the two Cowboys, Bryant and Okung, and he picks Bryant because the one offensive line spot he has filled is left tackle. Bryant provides a much needed weapon in the passing game and would give Haley a Larry Fitzgerald type to pair with Dwayne Bowe (whom Haley is not especially fond of).

5. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina), OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State—The 49ers trade with Carolina is starting to look like a San Francisco treat and the type of trade that builds franchises. There are multiple directions they can go here including quarterback, but with Singletary at the helm expect them to go with the safe need pick in Okung.

6. Miami Dolphins, S Eric Berry*, Tennessee—The Dolphins could go with a skill position but their front office loves defense and Berry is one of the best defensive playmakers in the draft.

7. Tennessee Titans, LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri—First, let me say I will be stunned if Jeff Fisher's tough luck team is drafting this high come next April, but if they are a quarterback will be considered.

They took care of the offensive skill positions this year which means they will look at the best defensive player available. Weatherspoon is the pick for now based on the age of Keith Bullock and David Thornton.

8. Washington Redskins, QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati—The Redskins need to fix their offensive line, but the one given next offseason is Daniel Snyder will make a splash at the quarterback position. I don't know that Pike qualifies as a splash but he is one of the fast rising quarterback prospects in the country and is the prototypical pocket quarterback.

9. Oakland Raiders, DT Terrance Cody*, Alabama—The Raiders need a quarterback and offensive line help, but Cody fits the Al Davis mold of a risky boom\bust prospect who could fill the team's long standing need for a run stuffer. The Raiders are the only team I think that would take Cody over Suh at this point.

10. Detroit Lions, DT Ndakumong Suh, Nebraska—The Lions will decide between the best offensive tackle and best defensive tackle on the board and this one is a no brainer with blue collar Suh still on the board. He's not flashy but his lunch pail style will suit Jim Schwartz and Co. just fine.

11. Buffalo Bills, OT Ciron Black, LSU—If the Bills have learned anything about their offense this season it is that you need to have good tackles if you have a pair of deep threats for wide receivers. I'm not sure if Black is an ideal left tackle but he is a major upgrade over what the Bills have be it the right or left side.

12. Seattle Seahawks, S Taylor Mays, USC—A quarterback or offensive tackle is a possibility, but a playmaking safety for their maligned secondary such as Mays would be awful tough to pass up.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars, DT Arthur Jones, Syracuse—The Jaguars defense needs to toughen up its interior if they hope to regain their winning ways. Of course, if this season unravels they could be looking for a franchise quarterback.

14. Arizona Cardinals, DE/OLB George Selvie, South Florida—The Cardinals coaching staff's pedigree wants to add a defensive edge to their high powered offense and they need an elite pass rusher to make their 3-4 defense work.

15. Houston Texans, S Nate Allen, South Florida—Allen feels every bit as much of a reach as reading his name this high appears to be, but the Texans are going nowhere until they improve their defense.

They would probably get better value at corner with Trevard Lindley or Joe Haden but no need is bigger than the one at safety. They can only hope Berry or Mays falls or better yet, they are picking later in the first stanza.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma—The Steelers can only ignore their offensive line needs for so long.

17. Green Bay Packers, OT Bryan Bulaga*, Iowa—Anyone who has watched the Packers this year knows they will be hot for a tackle in next year's draft. Bulaga's stock has slipped a bit due to injury concerns, but he is one of the best offensive line talents in the college ranks.

18. Denver Broncos, ILB Brandon Spikes, Florida—The Broncos defense has overachieved thus far this season, but Spikes would be a nice fit in the middle of their 3-4 and an excellent value this late. Wide receivers and quarterbacks will get consideration as well but knowing McDaniel he does not think he has to draft either in round one.

19. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma—The team's tight end ranks were decimated by injuries this preseason and with the emergence of Cedric Benson at running back, the tight end position along with maybe guard is the weakest spot on the offensive side of the ball right now.

20. Dallas Cowboys, WR Arrelious Benn*, Illinois—Benn has the raw skills to be an elite talent, but he is starting to go the Darius Heyward-Bey route as a top talent without anyone to get him the ball. His stock is slipping as he has caught just five passes through three games and has not scored a touchdown since Oct. 18, 2008.

21. New England Patriots, RB Jahvid Best, California—You never know what the Patriots are going to do on draft day, but the Pats are in major need of a young playmaker on offense and Best could be a nice fit in a Reggie Bush kind of way.

22. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Hardy, Mississippi—With its offense in place the Falcons will focus on building its defense with either a pass rusher or a cornerback. Hardy has battled injuries this season but has good all-around skills, above average size and a nose for the quarterback.

23. San Diego Chargers, RB CJ Spiller, Clemson—The Chargers rarely do what you would expect but finding a young back should be a priority with LT showing his age and Sproles not capable of carrying an every down load. A bigger back like Jonathan Dwyer might be a better fit in a two back system, but my guess is Spiller for his versatility especially in the passing game.

24. Philadelphia Eagles, OT Charles Brown, USC—Shawn Andrews has likely played his last game as an Eagle and after focusing on skill position guys in this year's draft Andy Reid and Co. will go back to the trenches next year.

25. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver), RB Jonathan Dwyer*, Georgia Tech—After taking a best player available safety with their first pick, the Seahawks would need to fill their needs at quarterback, offensive tackle or running back with their second pick. Dwyer is the best player available at those positions right now (Hint: I am not sold on Colt McCoy as an NFL quarterback).

26. San Francisco 49ers, CB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky—Lindley has good size and cover skills and would fill a major need for the 49er defense. Surprisingly, it took 26 picks to get a cornerback off the board.

27. Indianapolis Colts, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes, TCU—The Colts are probably the only team in the league that will consider Hughes as a defensive end, but with Dwight Freeney becoming injury prone the past two years, it would not be a surprise if the Colts look to develop a replacement. The Colts will also be on the lookout for a left tackle.

28. Minnesota Vikings, DE Brandon Graham, Michigan—Not really a major need, but Graham is a great athlete who can hold up against the run and would be a nice fit opposite Jared Allen. A defensive tackle or corner would also get consideration.

29. New York Jets, WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati—The Jets need a playmaker at wide receiver to stretch defenses and Gilyard is one of the top playmakers at the position. He's like DeSean Jackson with size.

30. New Orleans, OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas—Kindle is a big athletic linebacker who would be an excellent fit in Gregg Williams scheme.

31. Baltimore Ravens, WR Brandon LaFell, LSU—By the end of this season, the Ravens will have gotten about two more years than expected from Derrick Mason and finding a true No. 1 wide receiver for young quarterback Joe Flacco will be a priority next offseason. If they go defensive they may consider a CB or ILB.

32. New York Giants, CB Joe Haden*, Florida—The Giants have an embarrassment of riches up front and hope to have filled their wide receiver and left tackle needs in this year's draft and look to find a shutdown corner with Haden who will challenge for top cornerback honors if he comes out.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Fantasy 101: 2009 Top Sleepers

Chris Maier — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:31:35 -0400

In our last article, we looked at the biggest bust candidates which means it is time to list our top fantasy sleepers for 2009.

Sleepers fall into two categories: breakout candidates and deep sleepers.

Breakout players are guys who are not considered a fantasy starter except in deep leagues but have the potential of to grow into fantasy starters or more. A deep sleeper is a guy who is likely going undrafted in shallow leagues and late in deeper leagues who possess high upside but also the risk of being useless.

When faced with the choice between a so-so veteran like Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson or Joey Galloway or a wide receiver with upside late in a draft, I recommend always take a flyer on the upside guy. The veteran may get you points each week but if you can hit on a sleeper late in the draft it can be the difference between being a contender or pretender late in the season.

Lastly, to qualify as a breakout/comeback player he has to rank outside of the top 12 quarterbacks and tight ends, top 24 running backs, top 36 wide receivers in the Draft101.comrankings. To qualify as a deep sleeper, they have to rank outside the top 20 quarterbacks or tight ends, top 40 running backs and top 60 wide receivers in the Draft101.com rankings.

QUARTERBACKS

Breakout:

Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks (Draft101 rank: 16)—More of a comeback candidate than a breakout, Hasselbeck is coming off a miserable season last year and is coming off a back injury but he is falling in drafts and could easily bounce back to a 3,500+ yard, 20-25 TD season on a team without a running back. Has the ability to be a top 10 QB and a late round steal. To insulate yourself from the injury risk draft Seneca Wallace who played well in relief late last season.

David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars (Draft101 rank: 17)—Garrard was not the breakout star many expected from him a year ago but considering his poor protection and lack of receivers his fantasy year was solid if not spectacular. Garrard came into camp in better shape, and the team upgrade the line and receivers setting the stage for a 3,600 yard 20+, 10-12 INT season plus solid rushing yards. I love Garrard in two QB league.

Deep Sleepers:

Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers (Draft101 rank: 28)—No one gives Hill any credit but all he has done is complete 60 percent of his passes and throw for 1.5 TDs per game the past two years. He will throw less without Martz around but he should throw for 3,000 yards and a good touchdown to interception ratio.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (Draft101 rank: 31)—You never want to bank on a rookie but if Stafford gets the starting job he could put up solid stats considering he gets to throw to Calvin Johnson and will be playing from behind a lot (Of course, he'll throw a lot of picks too). Mark Sanchez is the safer rookie but Stafford is the one with the top 20 potential if he gets a chance to play.

RUNNING BACKS

Breakout:

(I love the depth at running back this season and sleeper options are plentiful)

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals (Draft101 rank: 27)—Skeptics point to his 3.5 ypc and strong finish vs. weak opponents but anyone who watched the Bengals play saw a player with a good power/speed combination and unlike many higher ranked players Benson has a firm grip on the starting job and will get the goal line carries. A 1,200 yard season with 8-10 TDs is possible.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (Draft101 rank: 34)—The Ravens three back committee is daunting but expect Rice to be the top fantasy producer this season as his role expands especially between the 20s. Think a poor man's Brian Westbrook. His value is best in PPR leagues.

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (Draft101 rank: 35)—Draft101 has Charles ranked higher than most sites due to his speed and receiving ability not to mention Larry Johnson's decline. Like Rice his value is best in PPR leagues.

Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals and Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts (Draft101 ranks: 32 and 37)—Either of these guys could be the top rookie offensive player this season and a top 10 overall back (a rookie seems to emerge as a top 10 runner each season). Both appear to be good scheme fits as the Cardinals need a power runner and Brown's running/receiving skills appear to be an ideal fit for the Colts scheme. Do not overdraft them expecting the breakout season but be ready to swoop in if either drops on draft day.

Deep Sleepers:

Leon Washington, New York Jets (Draft101 rank: 50)—He has always had the talent and the new Jets coaching staff is looking to give the playmaking back increased opportunities.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (Draft101 rank: unranked)—No running back has increased his stock more in the pre-season than Bradshaw. He is in-line to replace Derrick Ward and his 1,025 yards and 41 receptions alongside Brandon Jacobs.

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Bush has the potential to be a LenDale White, LeRon McClain touchdown vulture. He'll likely get past injury prone Justin Fargas on the depth chart and could add 800 yards and 8-10 TD.

James Davis, Cleveland Browns (Draft101 rank: unranked)—A pre-season star who could become the Browns starting running back if Jamal Lewis' decline continues.

Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Scott has playmaker potential and the Bengals coaching staff appears to know it. If Scott gets an opportunity to show his burst, he could steal Benson's job.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Breakout: (It is not a great year to gamble for breakout wide receivers so draft your receivers early)

Ted Ginn, Jr., Miami Dolphins (Draft101 rank: 39)—Ginn has his detractors but don't forget he was still learning the position when he entered the NFL and is now entering his third season which is when many receivers begin to come into their own. He'll be a little feast or famine from week to week but he has playmaking potential and could come into his own this year.

Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears (Draft101 rank: 45)—The Bears added Jay Cutler in the off-season and need a receiver to emerge. Devin Hester will remain the playmaker but look for Bennett to lead the team in receptions as a possession receiver who moves the chains.

Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith, New York Giants (Draft101 rank: 41 and 44)—The Giants are looking for someone to step up in the passing game and Nicks and Smith are the top fantasy options on the roster. Smith is the safer possession guy who should be good for 60-70 catches and 800 or so yards. Nicks is the riskier play but has a much higher ceiling and is a better red zone option.

Super Sleepers:

Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans (Draft101 rank: 61)—Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks and even the unsigned Michael Crabtree have garnered more fantasy support but Britt is a near equal in talent and could start on opening day due to an injury to Nate Washington. Britt is a big, physical receiver who will be a red zone option who is worth a late round flyer on the hunch he makes an early impact.

Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings (Draft101 rank: 64)—All the talk in Minnesota is surrounding Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian but neither is much of a red zone option nor a chain moving possession guy. QB Brett Favre always seems to like to throw to the chain moving possession guy making the failed breakout guy from 2008 a nice super sleeper in 2009.

Josh Morgan, San Francisco 49ers (Draft101 rank: 65)—Michael Crabtree's holdout has Morgan poised to seize the 49ers No.1 receiver job and build on the potential he showed last season. A nice combination of size, strength and speed.

Jordy Nelson and James Jones, Green Bay Packers (Draft101 rank: 73 and 74)—Nelson and Jones are flying under the radar in most drafts because of their third and fourth receiver roles in the Green Bay offense but Donald Driver is in decline and the Packers offense is showing tremendous firepower thus far in the pre-season. Jones has the higher ceiling but whichever one earns the No.3 receiver job for the Pack should be a useful fantasy player this season.

Chaz Schilens, Oakland Raiders (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Schilens was having a tremendous camp prior to incurring a foot injury that will cost him the first couple games of the season but keep him on your watch list or stash him on your bench because if a Raiders receiver is worth owning in 2009 its Schilens not Heyward-Bey.

Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts (Draft101 rank: unranked)—Collie is working exclusively out of the slot in the pre-season for the Colts and is showing excellent hands and route running ability. Look for him to put up numbers similar to Anthony Gonzalez did a year ago and should Gonzalez slip, Collie could steal a starting job.

Sammie Stroughter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Draft101 rank: unranked)—A good route runner known for his toughness, the Bucs seventh round pick who has already earned the slot receiver job.

TIGHT ENDS

Breakout:

(it is a deep tight end class but lean on what I consider breakout guys as Brent Celek, John Carlson and Zach Miller were all ranked among Draft101's top 12)

Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings (Draft101 rank: 13): Shiancoe actually "broke out" last year but he could see his stock rise yet another notch with the arrival of Brett Favre who is known to look for his tight ends in the red zone.

Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins (Draft101 rank: 15): Fasano was the touchdown vulture of the tight end position last year with seven touchdowns out of just 34 catches. This year he could put the whole package together and challenge for the top 10.

Super Sleeper:

Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans (Draft101 rank: 24): Cook was only a third round pick but has amazed his coaches and teammates with his combination of size, speed and strength. Even with Bo Scaife on the roster the Titans will find ways to take advantage of Cook's talent in the passing game. He may take a year to develop but if he is ready right away he could rank in the top 10. An ideal last round sleeper pick in a 12 team league.

Martellus Bennett, Dallas Cowboys (Draft101 rank: 29): Bennett is a tremendous athlete who averaged over 14 ypc as a rookie. With the departure of Terrell Owens and a questionable collection of receivers expect the Cowboys to use enough two tight end sets to give Bennett value as a second tight end.

Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (Draft101 rank: unranked): Finley did not play much as a rookie but he has the raw tools to be a top flight tight end. The Packers offense is tight end friendly and the team does not appear enamored with the merely average Donald Lee which could present Finley with an opportunity. If he starts he'll shine.

Chris Maier is senior editor for Draft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Fantasy Football 101: 2009 Bust Candidates

Chris Maier — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:29:36 -0400

As draft time nears, much of the focus is on finding the late round sleepers, but avoiding the busts is even more important to your team's ultimate success.

After all, many of the biggest busts are players you took in the first five rounds whom you were counting on a major contribution.

Don't worry; we will cover the sleepers in our next article but for now let's look at the players to push down your draft board (or in some cases avoid altogether).

Quarterback:

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Before the hate mail comes, let me say I am not predicting Romo to completely flat-line in the post-Jessica Simpson era, but Romo will be more of a top 10-15 QB than a top five QB this season.

The Cowboys are expected to re-focus on the ground game this season and aside from tight ends Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, the receivers are not the type that strike fear in opponents.

A return to 4,000 yards and 30+ TDs is not likely. He will still be solid, but a 3,500 yard 20-25 TD season is more likely and possibly optimistic.

Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb is a big name who always gets drafted high on draft day, but he is merely a good fantasy quarterback and not a great one.

Injuries are always a concern, but more concerning is that he has only thrown for 3,500+ yards twice in his career, only thrown more than 25 touchdowns once (way back in 2004), and does not run anymore.

In other words is he really worth anything more than Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger, Carson Palmer, or Kurt Warner (not to mention Matt Schaub or Matt Ryan)? He will be hard pressed to be a top 10 quarterback again this season.

Matt Cassell, New England

Word is Cassell is hardly tearing it up in Chiefs camp and he no longer has Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to. He still has potential but there will be a learning curve this season. Duplicating his 2008 numbers is not likely. Don't draft him to be a starter except in a two quarterback league.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

It is easy to say Flacco is going to get better with another year under his belt, but the Ravens are still going to be a defensive oriented team which relies on a ball control offense geared to minimize mistakes.

In addition, the Ravens did not improve Flacco's targets, aside from oft-injured TE LJ Smith. He might be better, but not by enough to make him fantasy relevant except in two quarterback leagues. A top 20 season in fantasy points would be an accomplishment for Flacco this year.

Running Back: (Hint: Don't gamble with aging running backs with early round picks)

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers

LT was once the best player in fantasy football, but his play has slipped each of the past two seasons and few running backs over 30 are able to bounce back the inevitable slide.

Even if he is healthy, Darren Sproles will play an increased role this season. Overall, LT's risk outweighs his upside as a No. 1 running back. Let someone else gamble with their first round pick.

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles

In 2007, Westbrook was an MVP candidate (2,104 total yards) and a PPR league monster. In 2008, he fell hard with just 1,338 total yards as he battled injuries all season long and those injuries are limiting him in camp thus far.

The icing on the cake is he turns the big 30 before the season starts and has never played in all 16 games during his career.

The problem is not a lack of talent but the risk of taking him with a pick in the first, second or even third rounds is too great as LeSean McCoy takes some of his touches.

Let someone else gamble on Westbrook unless he falls past round three. If you draft him, you will need to overdraft McCoy as a handcuff.

Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

The burden of carrying the Redskins offense really showed late last season and the offense (especially the line) does not look any better this season. He is more of a grinder than a breakaway back at this stage in his career and is no longer a fantasy force.

DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers

I can't just pick on again veterans, so let this be a caution on DeAngelo. Williams is in a time share and duplicating his 20 overall touchdowns ( including 6 from 30+ yards) is not likely.

He will have a solid season but one more in line with No.2 running back than the No.1 running back you will draft him to be. He will be overdrafted based on his tremendous 2008 but 1,200 yards and 10 TDs is more likely. He does have the most upside of the four guys on this list.

Wide Receiver:

TJ Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks

TJ has never been a No. 1 receiver before and is more of a possession receiver. He has averaged just 10 yards per catch the past two seasons and the Seahawk offense is not expected to be as pass happy as the Bengals were.

Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers

Holmes has talent but he is likely to get overdrafted due to his tremendous Super Bowl. More of a 65—catch 1,000 yard catch guy than the breakout star some expect.

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos

He has butted heads with the new regime and his training camp is attitude issues brings back memories of the 2008 Ocho Cinco. Combine the attitude with the departure of Jay Cutler and you have the makings of a flameout.

Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns

Should be playing for a contract but like Marshall he does not seem to be making friends with the new coaching staff. His case of the dropsies has also carried over into the preseason. Worth a gamble if he slides, but names like his rarely slide on draft day.

Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers

Normally, Driver is among the most underrated receivers in the league, but this will be the season he fails to reach 1,000 yards. The lurking of James Jones and Jordy Nelson does not help the 34 year old wideout either.

Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys

His performance the past two years should have tempered expectations, but the departure of Terrell Owens has many thinking he will be a No. 1 receiver again. A return to form is a 50/50 shot, meaning he will be too much of a gamble where you will need to take him.

Torry Holt, Jacksonville Jaguars

A move to Jacksonville makes you think he could return to form, but his knees were shot last year. Expect another 65—catch, 850 yard season; anything more is a bonus.

Tight End:

Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He has been banged up throughout his career and moving to a weak Tampa offense will not allow for a return to form.

Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints

Plays in a pass friendly offense but he has been injury prone and has not had more than 800 yards receiving since 2005.

Any Tight End You Select Before Round Six

It used to be Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, and a big drop off. But the emergence of tight ends around the league allows you the opportunity to wait and take the best value on the board.

There are 10-11 tight ends who are capable of 70 catches and 800+ yards diminishing the value of the big three. Consider taking a third running back or receiver before taking a tight end this year.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for Draft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com

Fantasy 101: Rating the Rookie Wide Receivers

Chris Maier — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:23:22 -0400

Since Anquan Boldin burst onto the scene in 2003, the myth of wide receivers needing a year or two to make an impact has had a notable exception (or two or three) each season. The rule of avoiding rookie wide receivers (except in keeper leagues) is now more of a caution. Rather than avoiding them, the rule is do not count on them. Here is a list of receivers who were above average or better as rookies since 2003:

2003: Anquan Boldin

2004: Michael Clayton and to a lesser extent Lee Evans and Larry Fitzgerald

2005: None

2006: Marques Colston

2007: Dwayne Bowe

2008: Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson

Of this list, half of the list, Boldin (second round), Colston (seventh), Royal (second) and Jackson (second), were not first round picks, proving what a crap shoot rookie receivers are.

This proves you don't draft a rookie wideout to be anything more than a fourth or fifth receiver. As tempting as a Calvin Johnson might have been in 2007, he had just 48 catches for 748 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. Those stats are not bad but not likely to be worth the price you paid to draft him. But if you picked Eddie Royal or DeSean Jackson in one of the last three rounds or less than $5 in an auction you received one of 2008 fantasy's most pleasant surprises.

With the caveat of not banking on rookie wideouts out of the way, here are the best rookie receiver prospects for 2009:

1. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers - Highly touted for his route running and hands, Crabtree landed in a situation in which he can be the no. 1 receiver right away, not to mention learn from a similar receiver in Isaac Bruce. That said, the 49ers' QB situation is shaky and they will be a run first team. As a result, Crabtree may have the most talent but he will likely be over-drafted making him a riskier pick. Of course, all of this is moot if he never signs a contract.

2. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings - Harvin has a lot to learn about being an NFL wide receiver (esp. route running) but his playmaking ability can't be underestimated as the Vikings will make use of his speed in the slot, on reverses and even as a "Wildcat" QB. He won't have as many catches as you would like but he will get yardage in a variety of ways.

3. Brian Robiskie, Cleveland Browns - Aside from Crabtree, Robiskie was the most polished receiver in the draft and he lands in a situation in which he could be the no. 2 receiver right away in Cleveland. He lacks great upside but runs great routes and is the safest pick to play right away and get 40-50 catches and 550-700 yards.

4. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans - Quick name a good Titans wide receiver. Now that you realize Justin Gage and Nate Washington are the competition, you see the opportunity Britt finds himself in. That said, Britt is far from a sure thing esp. as a rookie. He has a chance to be the #1 guy but then again he could be third or fourth. If nothing else he will be a great red zone option. Don't draft him too early.

5. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants - Like Britt, Nicks has the opportunity to be the no. 1 guy and a red zone threat but has just as good a chance to be sitting on the sidelines as a rookie. He has Anquan Boldin like skills but don't bank on a Boldin like immediate impact (possible but not likely)

6. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders - They don't have anyone else and Heyward-Bey is a prototype Raiders vertical wide receiver. That said, he is extremely inconsistent, runs poor routes, inconsistent hands and has a lot to learn. As a rookie he should be good for a few big plays but good luck guessing which weeks they occur.

7. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles - Of all of the first round receivers, Maclin is the least likely to make an impact as a rookie as he needs to learn the system and expand his route tree. Then again, the Eagles lack a true no. 1 wide receiver and Maclin could surprise like Jackson did last year. Best drafted for keeper leagues but worth a late round flyer.

Ok the big names are out of the way here are some names to consider for the out of the blue wide receiver impact:

8. Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts - Marvin Harrison is gone and the Colts run a lot of three receiver threats. Collie is a good route runner with excellent hands who might be able to step in right away as the no. 3 receiver.

9 (tie). Mike Thomas/Jarrett Dillard, Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jaguars have used several first round picks on big, tall and unpolished wide receivers with little success. Now the Jags have drafted two guys lacking ideal measure-ables (esp. size) but known for their polish, hands and receiving skills. Don't be surprised if one of them seizes a large role in the Jaguars passing game. Pay close attention to stories out of Jaguars camp to determine which one it will be.

10. Kenny McKinley, Denver Broncos - The Broncos will be implementing a spread oriented Patriots style attack and need to find a no. 3 and no. 4 receiver to make the system work. Like Thomas and Dillard above, McKinley does not have the best measurable talent, but he has the talent to be a nice possession receiver. Could he fill a Wes Welker type role? (not likely but may be worth taking in the last round if he has a good camp).

11. Derrick Williams, Detroit Lions - Aside from Calvin Johnson the Lions receiver corp is a little thin and Williams has the skills to be a good slot receiver and could even play some Wildcat QB. Has playmaking ability.

12. Sammie Stroughter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Easily the deepest sleeper on this list but Stroughter is one tough son of a gun who could shine if given a chance.

13. Ramses Barden - New York Giants - A matchup nightmare in the Red Zone with his 6-6 size, Barden just needs polish and a chance. Not likely to make an early impact but has keeper potential.

14. Deon Butler - Seattle Seahawks - Has slot receiver potential on a team that will need to throw early and often. He could get an opportunity because none of the other receivers are healthy.

15. Mohammed Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns - I don't like Massaquoi especially as a rookie, but reverse psychology says Robiskie will make the early impact only to watch Massaquoi steal the show. Its often the unheralded one that breaks out.

16. Juaquin Iglesias, Chicago Bears - Its all about opportunity and while Oklahoma receivers have struggled to adjust to the pro game, Iglesias is a good route runner who could find a role in a thin Bears receiving unit.

In sum, the 2009 wide receiver class was a talented one but with the holdout of Crabtree the jury is still out as to which receiver will be most relevant. When the pickings get slim at wide receiver late in your draft, take a flyer on the rookie receiver you think has the best chance to shine rather than taking a past his prime veteran type (Amani Toomer, Bobby Engram) who will likely be plentiful on the waiver wire.

Chris Maier is senior editor for Draft 101 and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Fantasy 101: Rating the Rookie Running Backs

Chris Maier — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:49:56 -0400

The success of Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, and to a lesser extent Kevin Smith and Jonathan Stewart, demonstrated the value of rookie running backs. Of course, they also show impact runners are not always found in the first round.

On the flipside, the struggles of fourth overall pick Darren McFadden demonstrate the pitfalls of drafting a rookie runner too early. Of all of the positions, running back is the easiest position for a rookie to come in and make an early fantasy impact.

Due to the risk of banking on rookie running backs, it is best to take select a rookie running back as your No. 2, or as a high upside backup runner.

Don't be afraid to take a flyer on an unheralded rookie runner late in your draft as teams are filling out their rosters with limited upside veterans (see Steve Slaton and Tim Hightower in 2008).

In 2009 three running backs were selected in round one and six runners were selected in the first three rounds. Which ones are worth an early selection? Which ones carry the most risk? Who is worth a late round flyer? See below for the answers.

1. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos—Moreno was the first back selected on draft day and is the safest pick to make an early impact among the 2009 running back class. He lacks breakaway speed but his ability to run inside and out, along with his strong receiving skills, make him an excellent fit for Josh McDaniels' offense (especially in PPR leagues).

With the departure of Jay Cutler, the Broncos will likely rely more on their ground game than McDaniels' Patriots did. On the downside, Moreno will be competing with numerous other runners for time, including Correll Buckhalter, but none of them should pose a serious threat to Moreno.

2. Chris "Beanie" Wells, Arizona Cardinals—Wells is built in the Steelers mold that Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt likes in his runners. He will need to battle 2008 draftee Tim Hightower for carries, but Hightower's 2.8 yards per carry is hardly elite competition.

Of greater concern is the poor run blocking of the Cardinals offensive line and how well Wells will fit into a pass-first Cardinals offense which often treats the ground game as an afterthought.

Overall, Wells loses some value in PPR leagues, but could be a 1,200 yard rusher if he earns the starting job outright.

3. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts—Brown's all-around skills as a runner and receiver make him an ideal fit for the Colts offense and if not for a looming two-back system, he would be the No. 1 running back on this list.

Unfortunately, Brown is destined to alternate carries with former first rounder Joseph Addai (once regarded as one of the top fantasy runners).

Unlike Addai, Brown is the type of back capable of carrying the full load, but due to Addai, he is not likely to receive that opportunity barring an injury.

He is a safe bet for 700-800 yards and five to seven TDs, but his likely job share limits the 1,000+ yard possibilities.

4. Shonn Greene, New York Jets—The Jets prepared for life after Thomas Jones with the selection of Greene, but the question is whether the future will be this year or next.

From a talent standpoint, Greene is a good runner between the tackles and should be a nice complement to Leon Washington in the Jets' two back system.

Greene will also likely get the goal line carries once he earns the power back job. Overall, Greene's upside is limited by the two back system and is a better keeper pick than 2009 selection.

5. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles—Like Donald Brown and Knowshon Moreno, McCoy landed in the perfect system for his skills. He is very similar to Brian Westbrook and will obviously be groomed to replace him in the future.

While Westbrook is likely to get the bulk of the carries this year, he is 30 years old and coming off yet another injury-plagued season.

He might appear to have limited upside this season, but Westbrook's injury status makes McCoy a must-have handcuff and/or mid-round flyer. McCoy is an excellent pick up for keeper league's.

Late Round Sleepers:

Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals—Scott fell in the NFL Draft due to off the field issues, but he has game-breaking talent and is on a team that takes chances on questionable characters.

Cedric Benson is not a sure thing in the backfield for the Bengals and if he struggles don't be surprised if Scott gets a chance. Scott tantalized with his burst during his preseason debut. My pick for this year's Tim Hightower.

James Davis, Cleveland Browns—Jamal Lewis is on his last legs and Jerome Harrison is more of a scat back than an every down guy, which could give Davis an opportunity. Davis had a terrible senior season but given an opportunity, he could be a grinder who gets 3.5-4.0 yards per carry and maybe earns a goal line role.

Gartrell Johnson, San Diego Chargers—The Chargers low profile selection of Johnson evokes memories of their Michael Turner selection a few years back. Gartrell has a nice initial burst to the line but lacks breakaway speed. If LT's decline and/or injuries continue, he could get a look. More of a late round flyer in keeper leagues.

Overall this year's rookie running back class is not as good as the 2008 class, especially from a depth perspective, so don't jump in too early. But if you can get one of these guys as a third or fourth running back you could have a pleasant surprise without much risk.

Chris Maier is the Senior Editor for Draft101.com and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Draft Grades: All 32 Teams

Chris Maier — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:32:12 -0400

After talking about speculation regarding the draft for weeks, TV and radio commentators often wrap up their draft coverage by griping about why grades are a foolish endeavor to feed our need for instant gratification.

They are correct when they say you can't truly grade a draft for three years, but they rarely follow it up by grading the 2006 draft (hint: anybody can tell you how a team did three years later).

Enough of my babbling. After writing mock drafts, profiles, articles and rankings for the last six months, I just want to do grades because I want to know how well I did three years from now (hint: I was wrong about the 2008 Falcons draft. Really wrong) plus it's fun so here goes in grade order:

(Click on the team name for pick-by-pick analysis of the entire team and access to each players profile.)

Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles - Tremendous draft for Andy Reid and company. First, they filled their biggest need (LT) trading the 28th overall pick (and change) for LT Jason Peters. They followed it up on draft day, by getting Andy Reid to drink from the skill position kool-aid by adding the No. 2 wide receiver in Jeremy Maclin and the draft's best Brian Westbrook clone in LeSean McCoy. TE Cornelius Ingram could also be a great fifth-round value.

Grade: A-

Cincinnati Bengals - A potentially franchise altering draft for the Bengals. As usual the Bengals stood pat but managed to avoid the reaches of previous drafts. Andre Smith is a gamble at No. 6 but he has talent and fills the team's top need. MLB Rey Maualuga is a defensive difference maker in Round Two.

Michael Johnson would have been a huge gamble in Round One but is top pass rushing talent well worth the risk in Round Three. TE Chase Coffman, C Jonathan Luigs and P Kevin Huber will all be given the opportunity to contribute early as well.

This grade gets an asterisk because for all its talent it remains a bit on the high risk/high reward side.

Seattle Seahawks - Added two top talents in LB Aaron Curry and C Max Unger plus they gained a 2010 1st round pick in the process. Also made three nice value picks in round 7 in DE/LB Nick Reed, S Courtney Greene and TE Cameron Morrah.

Grade: B+

Chicago Bears - The Bears ranked among the winners of the draft after trading for QB Jay Cutler but also managed to add good value on draft day despite not having a first round pick. Third rounders DT Jarron Gilbert and WR Juaquin Iglesias filled needs while fourth round CB/S DJ Moore was one of the best value picks in the entire draft.

Indianapolis Colts - No team builds its team through the draft better than Indianapolis and its 2009 class is no different. Joseph Addai's struggles showed they need another running back and Donald Brown is a tremendous fit for their offense.

They were in desperate need for help at defensive tackle and added two possible starters in Fili Moala and Terrence Taylor. Like Donald Brown, WR Austin Collie is a great scheme fit.

Grade: B

Atlanta Falcons - They filled top offensive need when they traded a 2010 2nd rounder TE Tony Gonzalez allowing them to fill needs at DT and S with the early selections of DT Peria Jerry and S William Moore. Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury is a high upside 4th rounder but cornerbacks Christopher Owens and Williams Middleton were questionable selections.

Baltimore Ravens - Year in and year out, Ozzie Newsome and his staff do an excellent job of reading the draft. This year they traded up for OT Michael Oher and fill a need along the offensive line.

DE Paul Kruger is one of the best all-around (and most underrated) defensive ends in the draft and should be a nice pass rushing complement to Terrell Suggs. CB Lardarius Webb, ILB Jason Phillips and RB Cedric Peerman were all nice selections as well. The only thing missing was a wide receiver.

Cleveland Browns - Failed to find a taker for WR Braylon Edwards but showed creativity in trading out of the No. 5 spot and trading down two more times in round one to add picks. C Alex Mack was a surprise but follows the blueprint Mangini used in New York. WR Brian Robiskie has the skills to contribute quickly as a possession receiver.

WR Mohommed Massaquoi and DE David Veikune were questionable second rounders. Their sixth rounders (Don Carey, Coye Francies and James Davis were nice values. Don't underestimate the value of the players they acquired in traded as DE Kenyon Coleman and S Abram Elam fill needs while Brett Ratliff could be a dark horse candidate in the QB derby.

Green Bay Packers - Getting NT BJ Raji at No. 9 was a gift for a Packers team making a transition to a 3-4 defense. OLB Clay Matthews is more solid than spectacular outside but his effort and coverage skills will earn him a starting job. TJ Lang and Jamon Meredith are good day two prospects for a team in need of replacing its tackles in the near future.

Houston Texans - Filled needs early with LB Brian Cushing, DE Connor Barwin and C Antoine Caldwell. Also, added nice value late including safeties Glover Quin and Troy Nolan plus TEs Anthony Hill and James Casey.

Minnesota Vikings - Pushed aside character to select WR/KR Percy Harvin whose addition to the offense should open things up a little for RB Adrian Peterson and take pressure off their questionable quarterbacks.

Right tackle Phil Loadholt fills a major need as did the selection of cover corner Asher Allen. Fifth rounder Jasper Brinkley could a fifth-round steal if his knee is healthy and he keeps his weight in check.

New York Giants - While WR Hakeem Nicks is compared to Anquan Boldin, the Giants would have been better off with the real thing (or Braylon Edwards). Overall the Giants added a lot of receiving talent in Nicks, Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum.

Each of whom is a tall red zone target. OT William Beatty could be their left tackle of the future and RB Andre Brown should challenge for Derrick Ward's carries. OLB Clint Sintim is not a good fit for a 4-3 (just like fellow Virginia linebackers Darryl Blackstock and Ahmad Brooks weren't).

Tennessee Titans - Added the best route runner in the draft with Kenny Britt who combined with third round TE Jared Cook should enhance the passing game and red zone efficiency. DT Sen Derrick Marks adds depth and penetration ability to their Haynesworth-less defensive line.

CB Ryan Mouton, LB Gerald McRath, G/T Troy Kropog and RB Javon Ringer were solid selections as well.

Grade B-

New England Patriots - While everyone praises the Patriots for how well they have traded down and accumulated picks during the past three drafts, they fail to mention how poorly the Pats have done outside of round one the past two years.

Adding two 2010 second-round picks was nice but considering they had five day one picks entering the draft I expected more. The Patriots did add some nice developmental players in NT Ron Brace, S Patrick Chung, CB/PR Darius Butler, and OLB Tyrone McKenzie.

OT Sebastian Vollmer was a surprise second rounder but he was the sleeper lineman in the draft and has left tackle potential. WR/KR Brandon Tate is a nice talent but is further proof that the Patriots don't value character anymore than other teams. The failure to land a 3-4 rush linebacker was a surprise in a draft deep at the position.

New York Jets - Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets are the anti-Patriots. While the Patriots accumulate picks, the Jets can't give them away fast enough. Joking aside, the Jets got their top target in Mark Sanchez in a creative package that did not include a 2010 draft pick.

Trading up to get Shonn Greene was a solid move considering Thomas Jones' age and contract situation. That said they only had three picks giving them just 11 selections in three years and they did not add any talent to a wide receiver position in need of a deep threat. Ultimately Mark Sanchez will make or break this draft.

St. Louis Rams - Did well in Rounds One and Two, filling their needs for a LT and MLB with top talents Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis, but their day two selections were nothing special.

Grade: C+

Arizona Cardinals - RB Beanie Wells fills the team's need for a power back to provide balance to the offense in round one. Second rounder OLB Cody Brown could fill their pass rusher need down the road. S Rashad Johnson was a solid pickup in round three.

G Trevor Canfield could also be a nice late round pick. After years of loving the Cardinals drafts on paper, this one looks more solid than special.

Jacksonville Jaguars - They did an excellent job of filling their needs at offensive tackle with Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. Also took the anti-Matt Jones route by selecting two undersized but true wide receivers in Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard in the middle rounds.

Trading a 2010 second rounder for CB Derek Cox feels like a reach and DT Terrence Knighton is not likely the answer inside.

Miami Dolphins - Did a great job upgrading their top need by drafting big, physical corners Vontae Davis and Sean Smith. QB Pat White is a perfect fit for the wildcat who could some day press Chad Henne for the starting job.

Patrick Turner was a major reach in round three as were several of their day two selections. I do like the pick of Brian Hartline (although a round early), he is fundamentally sound like teammate Brian Robiskie and has the look of a quality special teamer.

Grade: C

Detroit Lions - Added the best QB, TE and S in the draft in Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas but struggled to get tough in the trenches on day two. How a team allowing the second most sacks in the league (52) can fail to add an offensive lineman to protect their $41 million investments until round seven is beyond me.

Kansas City Chiefs - Scott Pioli deserves credit for acquiring Matt Casell for his second rounder and getting a 2010 second-round pick for Tony Gonzalez but had a pedestrian draft weekend with the Chiefs. Failing to trade down made him reach for DE Tyson Jackson at No. 3.

Jackson is a good prospect but drafting a 3-4 DE in the top five is the same as taking a guard or center in the top five. DE Alex Magee was a surprise in round three which emphasized the team's need to get tougher up front.

The rest of day two was highlighted by the hope of small schoolers WR Quinton Lawrence and RB Javarris Williams and the boom/bust selection of CB Donald Washington.

New Orleans Saints - The Saints traded away most of this draft last year for Jonathan Vilma and Jeremy Shockey last year but managed to add the top secondary player in the draft in Malcolm Jenkins. The fourth round Demon Deacon duo of Chip Vaughn and Stanley Arnoux adds needed depth to the defense.

San Diego Chargers - Passing on Rey Maualuga and the running backs in round one was a bit of a surprise but some considered DE/OLB Larry English the best pass rusher in the draft. Considering Shawne Merriman is coming off of a serious knee injury and is a year away from free agency the Chargers figured it best to get another pass rusher now.

In the later rounds they added an intriguing nose tackle prospect in Vaughn Martin out of Canada and two solid offensive linemen in Louis Vasquez and Tyronne Greene. Gartrell Johnson is a poor man's Michael Turner. Failing to add an offensive tackle or middle linebacker was a surprise.

San Francisco 49ers - The wide receiver needy 49ers were thrilled to get Michael Crabtree in round one. Also received a 2010 1st round pick in exchange for their second rounder which will pay dividends in the long run but hindered their ability to fill immediate needs. RB Glen Coffee was a bit of a reach in round three but filled a need. Best values of day two with LB Scott McKillop and DT Ricky Jean-Francois.

Washington Redskins - Almost received an A for managing to get through the draft without trading any 2010 picks but common sense prevailed. Having pass rushing DE Brian Orakpo drop to them in round one was a pleasant surprise. Aside from CB Kevin Barnes the rest of day two felt ordinary at best.

Grade: C-

Buffalo Bills - If you give team's credit for their trade additions you have to penalize them for their trade subtractions. The loss of Jason Peters hurt the offensive line and despite the selections of C Eric Wood and G Andy Levitre, the tackle position remains a problem.

DE Aaron Maybin is a good pass rusher but is a risky pick at 11th overall due to his lack of size and experience.

CB Jairus Byrd was a surprise second round selection who will likely be converted to safety. On the plus side, TE Shawn Nelson's combination of receiving and willing blocking was a tremendous value in round four.

Carolina Panthers - Traded a 2010 first rounder for the second consecutive year but did manage to acquire undersized pass rusher Everette Brown with the pick. Developmental CB/S Sherrod Martin was not nearly as good a value later in the round. Corvey Irvin is a rotational DT at best.

Added nice value with the late round picks FB Tony Fiametta, G Duke Robinson and CB Captain Munnerlyn. If you add 2008 1st rounder T Jeff Otah to the mix the grade would be as much as a letter better.

Denver Broncos - The pick of Knowshon Moreno was a smart move considering his playmaking ability and the team's shaky quarterback situation. DE Robert Ayers was a solid front seven selection for the defense.

Unfortunately, he was the only front seven selection. Added much needed depth to the secondary with CB Alphonso Smith, S Darcel McBath and S David Bruton.

Made two questionable trades however, giving up a 2010 first rounder for the undersized Smith (with MLB Rey Maualuga on the board no less) and trading up to make Richard Quinn the second tight end drafted (a truly baffling selection).

Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Evander Hood was an odd scheme fit in round one as he is more of a penetrating DT than a blocker occupying 3-4 DE. G Kraig Urbik is a tough Steelers type lineman. WR Mike Wallace was a third round surprise whom they hope can be a deep threat and returner.

CBs Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett were solid values who will compete for time. Don't be surprised if C AQ Shipley or RB/FB Frank Summers find a way to contribute. There's potential but aside from Urbik there is not much certain help.

Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Hopefully got their franchise QB in Josh Freeman but despite his talent he is a risky pick and they need to fight the urge to play him right away. Attempted to add talent at DT and DE with Roy Miller and Kyle Moore but both are projects. WR Sammie Stroughter could be a nice seventh-round find as a slot receiver and kick returner.

Grade: D

Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys accumulated picks like crazy but did very little with them. They are bound to hit on a few guys due to the quantity but the overall talent of their selections is not overwhelming. Their best picks were likely LB Jason Williams, OLB Victor Butler and S Michael Hamlin.

DE/OLB Michael Bennett is an nice pass rushing talent but he is not a good 3-4 OLB candidate. They would have been better off using their multitude of picks and trading up in round two rather than trading out of the first day altogether.

When you add in the trade of their first and third round picks for WR Roy Williams when Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards could not even command a first-round pick the draft looks even worse.

Grade: D-

Oakland Raiders - Al Davis had a need for speed and as a result the Raiders draft turned into a "Danger Zone". Darrius Heyward-Bey was the best combination of size and speed at the wide receiver position in the draft and despite inconsistent hands and a lack of production Al Davis needed to have him at seventh overall.

If it was not for the fact of Heyward-Bey having tremendous upside to go with his risk the Raiders grade would have been an F.

S Michael Mitchell created a collective "huh?" from draftniks across the globe in round two. He may also have started the wild run of must have sleeper picks across the league in round three.

He gave new meaning to last year's William Hayes pick. Round three also included a reach for DE Matt Shaughnessy (who is surprisingly not fast). WR Louis Murphy and DE Stryker Sulak were solid day two values. Ironically Sulak was the fastest DE on the board when he was selected in round six.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals Recap

Chris Maier — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:34:52 -0400

One has to go back to 2003 (Carson Palmer, Eric Steinbach, and Kelley Washington) or 1998 (Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons) to find an NFL Draft which has generated the day after buzz on the Bengals 2009 draft, and even then I do not think it compares

(Remember we are talking about day after excitement).

In an offseason of negativity and free agent departures, the Bengals went through the draft with the patience to let the draft come to them and selected top talents while also filling their top needs.

One can make the argument that no team drafted more sheer talent in the 2009 draft.

That said, it is not a draft class without substantial risk. After all, there is a reason why Andre Smith fell to No. 6 (immaturity/weight), Rey Maualuga fell to round two (maturity/freelancing), Michael Johnson a top 10 talent in round three (inconsistent effort), and Chase Coffman to late in round three (slow, poor blocker, injury).

I don't say this to be negative, but it is important to say this collection of talent is very much a high risk/high reward draft.

Pick by Pick breakdown:

1. OT Andre Smith, Alabama - Arguably the most talented offensive lineman in the draft, and a dominating run blocker who may or may not be athletic enough to play left tackle.

At a minimum, he is the team's starting right tackle and should provide an immediate boost to a stagnant ground attack. Biggest concern is whether offensive line coach Paul Alexander can get the most out of him.

2. MLB Rey Maualuga, USC - A big hitting intimidator, Maualuga is the type of player Marvin Lewis has always wanted in the middle of his defense.

Needs to stay out of trouble and stick to the scheme. Tremendous talent whom the team was thrilled to see fall to them in round two.

3a. DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech- Arguably most physically gifted defensive end in the draft, Johnson falls due to inconsistent effort and questionable desire.

Fills a major need, but he will be a project for Mike Zimmer and D-Line coach Jay Hayes.

Even if Johnson is only able to be a situational pass rusher, he could make a big difference for the defense. His potential is well worth the risk of a third round pick.

3b.TE Chase Coffman, Missouri - Excellent route runner with the best hands of any tight end in the draft. Has the talent to be what everyone expected out of Ben Utecht last year.

Despite the positives, he is far from a sure thing as he is slow and a poor blocker, which is generally not a good combination for a tight end.

4. C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas- He is not the physical mauler that Max Unger or Eric Wood are, and the concerns with how he will deal with the nose tackles of the AFC North are legitimate.

But, he is also the fifth and final member of a highly touted center class and is known for his athleticism and high football IQ. A great value in round four who will challenge for the starting job.

5. P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati - Best punter in the draft.

As a left footer his kicks have a unique spin which has caused problems for returners. Also, is known for his ability to change fields and pin the ball deep.

6a. CB Morgan Trent, Michigan - Has good size/speed combination and good coverage instincts. Has the tools you look for in a developmental type.

Should battle for the dime job.

6b. RB Bernard Scott, Abilene-Christian - Like Jason Shirley last year, he is the team's gratuitous character risk who will garner far too much discussion from the media.

Despite his troubled past, he is the burst the team lacks in the backfield and was tremendously productive at Abilene.

Has a lot of potential, but needs to keep his nose clean.

7a. FB Fui Vakapuna, BYU- The team was known to be interested in Vakapuna after his excellent pro day workout.

Vakapuna is a big and strong runner who is making the transition to fullback.

Shows good power, receiving skills, and a willingness to block.

7b. DT Clinton McDonald, Memphis - A nice sleeper pick.

McDonald is an athletic and undersized defensive tackle with a knack for penetration.

Had seven sacks as senior. Good character guy.

7c. WR Freddie Brown, Utah - One of the stars of the Utes upset over Alabama with 12 catches and 125 yards.

Has good size and is a possession receiver who is willing to make the tough catches over the middle.

Will face an uphill battle making the roster.

Overall Grade: A- (but with a High Risk/High Reward asterisk)

Visit NFLDraft101.com for pick analysis of all 32 teams and to revisit the Live Chat.

2009 NFL Draft: Day One Winners, Losers, and More

Chris Maier — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:22:18 -0400

Day One of the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and while it has been one of the more predictable drafts in recent years and has included just one dynamic trade (Mark Sanchez) but it has definitely had its moments including winners and losers:

Winners: (There are a lot to choose from in this category as a lot of teams did well)

Philadelphia Eagles - After filling their need for an offensive tackle by trading for Jason Peters, the Eagles filled their need for offensive playmakers with WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy. McCoy in particular was an excellent selection and heir apparent to Brian Westbrook in the backfield.

New York Jets - The Jets entered the draft needing a quarterback more than anything else and were able to get their guy in Mark Sanchez without overpaying. Giving up a first, second, and three veterans who were no longer in their plans is a small price to play to get your franchise quarterback.

Getting Sanchez without giving up a 2010 pick was especially impressive.

Cincinnati Bengals - As usual the Bengals stood pat with their picks but filled their offensive tackle need with Andre Smith and received one of the biggest draft day steals in MLB Rey Maualuga.

It had to be tough for the Bengals to pass on highly rated C Max Unger but taking Maualuga was the right move and gives Marvin Lewis the MLB he has always wanted.

Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins did not get the wide receiver everyone expected them to take but managed to get two physical corners in the Parcells mold while also adding the ultimate Wildcat weapon in QB Pat White.

Cleveland Browns - They were able to accomplish what Kansas City's Scott Pioli was not and traded out of the top five adding an additional second rounder in the process. The pick of C Alex Mack brought back memories of Mangini's Nick Mangold pick from 2006 and while also adding one of the drafts top possession receivers in Brian Robiskie.

You can debate the Mohammed Massaquoi and David Veikune picks a little bit but the hidden gems of their day were the collection of role players they received from the Jets including S Abram Elam (fills a need) and Brett Ratliff (a darkhorse candidate for their quarterback derby).

Other teams that did well include the Colts, Packers, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and Minnesota.

Losers:

Denver Broncos - They did well with first rounders Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers but baffled with their trades in round two including giving up a 2010 first round pick for Alphonso Smith and trading up to get mildly regarded blocking tight end Richard Quinn.

When you have the bounty of pick the Broncos had there is no reason to give up a first round pick the following year.

Oakland Raiders - They reached for speedy WR Darrius Heyward-Bey at seventh overall (not a big surprise). Not satisfied that they had reached far enough they made the day one version of last year's William Hayes pick by selecting lightly regarded workout warrior Michael Mitchell.a safety out of Ohio University.

The networks did not have film on a day one selection which has to be a first. Kudos to Sonny Jacobs for actually writing an article on Bleacher Report on April 24 requesting them to draft Mitchell. Of course, I doubt Jacobs meant for them to do it on day one.

Buffalo Bills - I liked the team's focus on the offensive line with C Eric Wood and G Andy Levitre but I am not sold on Aaron Maybin at defensive end (esp. at 11th overall money) and CB Jairus Byrd was a bit of a reach (and not a great scheme fit).

Anquan Boldin and Chad Johnson—both veteran wide receivers wanted to relocate to get new contracts but after watching the teams with wide receiver needs select receivers in round one they are both resigned to playing under their current deals once again.

Awards:

Biggest Reach: Michael Mitchell by Oakland

Surprised to See Fall to Round Two: Rey Maualuga

Trader Jack Award: Cleveland—entered the draft with just five picks and managed to get three more while also adding three solid veterans in the process. The multiple trade downs for two extra six rounders was a nice display of managing the draft.

Nothing to Show for Day One Award: Dallas and Chicago both elected to trade out of day one altogether. Nothing wrong with it, but just wanted to mention how odd it was to have two teams come out of day one empty handed (aside from additional day two picks).

Best Available Entering Day Two According to NFLDraft101.com:
TE Shawn Nelson
CB DJ Moore
DT/DE Jarron Gilbert
G Duke Robinson
ILB Darry Beckwith
DE Michael Johnson
DE Lawrence Sidbury
TE Cornelius Ingram
OT Fenuki Tupou
S Rashad Johnson
TE Jared Cook

Be sure to check out NFLDraft101.com for Live Coverage of Day Two of the NFL Draft including Live Chat and Pick By Pick Commentary.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com

2009 NFL Draft: 32 Teams, 32 Questions To Answer

Chris Maier — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:59:47 -0400

With Christmas in April almost here, I considered updating my mock draft for the umpteenth time but realized there would probably be a trade before I completed it, making it moot for the second time this week.

Instead, let's take a different track and look at a key question each team will need to answer on draft day.

1. Detroit Lions—All indications are Stafford is the guy, but will they make protecting him a priority?

2. St. Louis Rams—After taking a tackle in round one, how will they go about adding toys for Steve Spagnuolos' aggressive pressure-based defense?

3. Kansas City Chiefs—I have to admit, I think the Chiefs will set the tone in this draft as Scott Pioli is forced to draft outside of his comfort zone. Will he play it safe and take Aaron Curry or he follow the Patriot Way and build up the trenches?

More than anything, Pioli wants to trade down, and no matter what he does, the ripples will be felt throughout the entire draft.

4. Seattle Seahawks—Are they reloading (linebacker or tackle) or rebuilding (Mark Sanchez)?

5. Cleveland Browns—A year ago they were everyone's breakout team, now just one year later, will Eric Mangini blow it all up and start over?

6. Cincinnati Bengals—Will the Bengals front office have the patience to re-stock the offensive line in rounds one or two, or will Mike Brown's hear the siren song of skill position guys (Beanie Wells, Michael Crabtree) once again? Also, will they actually make a trade? (They have moved up or down just once in the last five years.)

7. Oakland Raiders—What type of crazy move(s) will Al Davis make this year? Also, will Tom Cable get his wish and get some trench warriors?

8. Jacksonville Jaguars—Can they get a quality wide receiver for their passing game while still filling their needs for a offensive and defensive tackle?

9. Green Bay Packers—How does Ted Thompson go about finding 3-4 personnel while keeping an eye on finding an offensive tackle or two?

10. San Francisco 49ers—How much sway will Mike Singletary have in the draft room? (i.e.: Will physical, character guys be a focus?)

11. Buffalo Bills—After trading Jason Peters and cutting Derrick Dockery, how will the Bills go about rebuilding their offensive line?

12. Denver Broncos—Are the Broncos really content with Kyle Orton, or will they bypass their defensive needs to trade up for Mark Sanchez? The quarterback decision will likely make or break Josh McDaniels, not to mention the Broncos' season.

13. Washington Redskins—How much is Daniel Snyder willing to give up to get Mark Sanchez? And will he have a line to protect him?

14. New Orleans Saints—With just one pick in the top 100, will they really entertain the idea of drafting a running back before adding a much needed defensive player?

15. Houston Texans—Can they find the pieces (especially on defense) they need to finally get this team over .500?

16. San Diego Chargers—Do they draft for an immediate need at RT, DE or LB or prepare for life after LaDainian Tomlinson at running back?

17. New York Jets—What, if anything, will the Jets do to shore up the quarterback position?

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—How do they go about re-configuring the vaunted Tampa defense after the departure of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin?

19. Philadelphia Eagles—Can they find Brian Westbrook's eventual replacement, and can Andy Reid go through three rounds without drafting a lineman?

20. Minnesota Vikings—Will they focus on fixing the pass defense or adding balance to their offense as they look to build around Adrian Peterson?

21. New England Patriots—Free agency will hit this team hard after the 2009 season. How well will Bill Belichick play his cards with four day one picks in his first draft without Scott Pioli?

How well they take advantage of these picks could determine whether or not the Patriots' mini-dynasty continues or begins to fade.

22. Atlanta Falcons—After trading for Tony Gonzalez, can they find the pieces on defense to make this team a bona fide contender?

23. Miami Dolphins—Will Bill Parcells actually draft a wide receiver in the first round, or will his defensive tendencies keep the focus on the secondary or finding a pass rusher?

24. Baltimore Ravens—In 2008, Joe Flacco learned how to manage a game. With a year under his belt, what weapons will they add to help him take the next step in his development?

25. Indianapolis Colts—Will the Colts reach to fill a major need at defensive tackle or look to add more weapons at wide receiver and running back?

26. New York Giants—Do they trade for a veteran wide receiver or take their chances with a rookie wide receiver in the post-Plaxico era?

27. Tennessee Titans—With a deep wide receiver class, is this the year the Titans look to upgrade their receiver position, or will they stick to their bread and butter on defense?

28. Arizona Cardinals—Will they actually trade Anquan Boldin?

29. Pittsburgh Steelers—Can they rebuild their porous offensive line, or do they take their chances with Big Ben surviving another year under tremendous pressure?

30. Chicago Bears—They gave up a lot to get QB Jay Cutler, now can they provide him with the weapons he needs to excel in Chicago?

31. Dallas Cowboys—How satisfied are the Cowboys with their wide receivers in the post-TO era? We're about to find out.

32. Carolina Panthers—Can the Panthers find a taker for Julius Peppers, and with or without Peppers, can they upgrade their defensive line?

Chris Maier is senior editor for nfldraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Be sure to join NFL Draft 101 for live coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft April 25-26 including a live chat and pick by pick analysis.

2009 NFL Draft: Seven Stories To Watch

Chris Maier — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:48:51 -0400

Christmas in April is just about here and the 2009 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years. There are even rumblings we may see multiple trades within the top 10 picks, including a trade within the top five (a rarity in the salary cap era). Here are seven stories to watch on draft weekend:

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1. How strong is the Mark Sanchez Kool-Aid? The media would have you believe the Redskins, Jets, Broncos, and even 49ers could all be in the mood to move up to get Sanchez. With so many teams in the mix, how much will a team have to give up and how high up will they have to trade?

Lastly, with everyone focusing on Jacksonville as the spot to trade up to, it might behoove the bidders to call Cincinnati or Oakland to make sure someone does not sneak in front of you. With the Raiders considering a wide receiver, they are in a great position to move back and still get the player they want (of course Al Davis is the GM so you never know what they will do).

2. The Andre Smith Comeback. After the combine rumors swirled of Andre sliding all the way to round two. After firing his agent and having a few weeks for the combine talk to settle down, Andre is solidly in the top 10 and there is now speculation of teams possibly needing to trade up in front of Cincinnati to snare him. Some even think Andre Smith could be drafted in front of Eugene Monroe.

3. Will anyone trade for a veteran wide receiver? There has been lots of trade talk regarding Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards but teams are bulking at the asking prices, especially in light of the Jason Peters trade. Will team demands lower (there are already rumors Arizona's asking price is coming down) or will someone step up to avoid taking a risk on a rookie?

With the asking prices being a concern don't be surprised if a bargain shopper snares Chad Ocho Cinco for a late second or early third round pick especially if there is a RB or DE Cincinnati likes on the board at that point in the draft.

4. Are the Jets and Buccaneers convinced Josh Freeman is a franchise quarterback if they can't get in position to draft Mark Sanchez? Freeman has tremendous upside, but some debate whether he is a franchise quarterback and whether he will need a year of seasoning. If one of these two does not draft Freeman he could slide into round two and have the TV cameras in New York all over him a la Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers.

5. Speaking of sliders, which player with a first round grade could surprisingly fall into round two or beyond? Possibilities include the USC linebackers, especially Brian Cushing, Hakeem Nicks (weight concerns), Percy Harvin (failed drug test), and Robert Ayers (few sacks in college).

6. Which players could find themselves getting drafted much higher than expected? Possibilities include: Michael Johnson (Tampa at No. 18?), Connor Barwin (New England at No. 23), William Beatty (Detroit at No. 20?) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (Oakland at No. 7?)

7. Who will take Pat White and will he get his wish to compete as a quarterback or be selected as a wildcat novelty? He could be picked anywhere from early in round two to the middle of round three and I can't think of a harder guy to place in mock drafts because of his unique skillset. Don't forget, no quarterback has looked better than Pat White in offseason workouts.

Chris Maier is senior editor for nfldraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Be sure to join NFL Draft 101 for live coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft April 25-26 including a live chat and pick by pick analysis.

The 2009 NFL Draft All-Overrated and All-Underrated Teams

Chris Maier — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:31:10 -0400

The 2009 NFL Draft is just around the corner. The pro days and workouts are done, and teams are making their final adjustments to their draft boards.

Here is one draftnik's take on the All-Overrated and All-Underrated teams for the 2009 Draft.

Quarterback

Overrated: Josh Freeman, Kansas State

Freeman has the size and arm strength teams desire in a quarterback, but his accuracy and decision making are not first round caliber.

He will also need at least a year on the sidelines to learn.

Being invited to New York is a great honor, but he is not a first round guarantee and would be smart to enjoy his draft day at home with friends and family.

Underrated: Graham Harrell, Texas Tech

He won't be drafted until at least the fourth round, but if you are looking for a developmental quarterback, Harrell should be high on your list.

Harrell possesses the intelligence, accuracy, and intangibles you want in a quarterback, and given time he will learn how to take snaps from center.

Could be a tremendous value on day two.

Running Back

Overrated: Shonn Greene, Iowa

A one-year-wonder, he is a nice interior runner, but his lack of speed makes him a risk at the next level. There have also been some rumblings of character concerns.

Underrated: Cedric Peerman, Virginia

Big enough to get tough yards inside, he also has the burst to get outside and displays excellent hands in the receiving game. A good all-around back with excellent intangibles.

Wide Receiver

Overrated: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland

Best size/speed combination in the draft but has shown bad hands at times, and his lack of college production despite his talent makes him a high risk/high reward pick.

The comparisons to Troy Williamson may or may not come true, but they are scary.

Underrated: Jarrett Dillard, Rice

The polar opposite of Heyward-Bey, Dillard is undersized and a tad slow, but was also tremendously productive.

Dillard knows how to get open, and his excellent hands plus a 42.5" vertical make up for his lack of height.

Tight End

Overrated: Chase Coffman, Missouri

He is a good receiver, but he is slow and can't block, which is not a good combination for an NFL tight end.

Underrated: Anthony Hill, NC State

One of the best blocking tight ends in the draft and a better athlete than he is given credit for.

Offensive Tackle

Overrated: William Beatty, Connecticut

A good athlete who has the measureables you want in a tackle but is more of a finesse player who needs to improve his consistency.

Underrated: Gerald Cadogan, Penn State

Underrated athlete with excellent intangibles. A good run blocker who has the potential to develop at right or left tackle.

Guard/Center

Overrated: Herman Johnson, LSU

Unbelievable size but is not very strong for a player whose biggest asset is his girth. Not a fit for all teams and schemes.

Underrated: Antoine Caldwell, Alabama

Alex Mack, Max Unger, and Eric Wood seem to be getting all the press in a talented center class, but Caldwell is a solid fourth option, equally adept in run and pass blocking.

Defensive Tackle

Overrated: Fili Moala, USC

For all the talent surrounding him, you would think Moala would have been more productive. He has the tools, but does he have the heart?

Underrated: Chris Baker, Hampton

Has some character concerns, but in a draft lean on big, athletic defensive tackles. Baker is a sleeper. Hampton has done a nice job of developing players in recent years, and the school's 3-4 defense should make Baker an attractive option.

Defensive End

Overrated: Aaron Maybin, Penn State

A talented pass rusher, but you have to be concerned about a guy who never visited the weight room until after he declared for the draft.

He did not look comfortable in the linebacker drills at the combine.

Underrated: Paul Kruger, Utah

Does not wow you with measureables but plays with a high motor, has a nose for the quarterback, and shows good instincts against the run. In sum, one of the best all-around defensive ends in the draft.

Inside Linebacker

Overrated: Dannell Ellerbe, Georgia

A good athlete who has questionable instincts and character concerns.

Underrated: Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic

A hard-working, smart inside backer from a small school. A good run stuffer and will be a good mid/late round value.

Outside Linebacker

Overrated: Clay Matthews, USC

A hard-working, self-made athlete who plays with a lot of heart but does not show the production of a day one pick.

Many project him as an excellent 3-4 OLB, but he only had 4.5 sacks as a senior.

Underrated: DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin

An above average athlete for an outside linebacker. Can play strong or weak side. He may not be not flashy, but he is productive.

Cornerback

Overrated: Vontae Davis, Illinois

Like his brother Vernon, Vontae has all the measureables, but his attitude and work ethic are major questions.

The Michael Johnson of cornerbacks.

Underrated: Asher Allen, Georgia

Undersized but is a natural cover corner with good instincts and awareness. Would be an excellent fit for a cover two team.

Also a good returner.

Safety

Overrated: David Bruton, Notre Dame

William Moore was originally going to go here, but his stock has dropped so much he can't be considered overrated anymore.

Bruton gets this dubious honor instead. He is one of the most athletic safeties in the draft but does not play up to his measureables in coverage.

Underrated: Darcel McBath, Texas Tech

Has a good size/speed combination and is one of the best center fielder-type safeties in the draft.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Updating The NFL Draft Trade Value Chart

Chris Maier — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:42:15 -0400

Back in the 1990s when Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys created the Trade Value Chart it was revolutionary. The Cowboys manipulated the draft with remarkable efficiency.

As other teams picked up the concept the chart began to lose its value. Part of the problem is the trade value chart has remained a constant over the years.

While the chart varies slightly from team to team it but has not varied from year to year. Two major considerations have not been taken into account.

First, the economics of draft picks has changed drastically over the years. The value of picks at the top of the drafts have diminished as the salary cap costs have risen.

For example, the number one overall pick in the 2008 draft, Jake Long, received a contract making him one of the highest paid offensive tackles without ever playing a down. The salary cap era also increased the value of the later round picks as well because those players are less expensive than veterans.

Secondly, the players at the top of the draft only hold a lofty value if the players available in those slots are worth the value. The past two drafts have lacked a sure-fire #1 overall pick as groups of players are rated closely together.

As a result the value of the #1 overall pick is diminished. The 2009 draft follows a similar path as QB Matthew Stafford, OT Jason Smith and OLB Aaron Curry are all considerations at the top of the draft but none of them are considered an instant Pro Bowler.

The value of the group behind these players including OT Eugene Monroe, WR Michael Crabtree, QB Mark Sanchez, DE Brian Orakpo and DT BJ Raji is not much different either. When there is not a great disparity among the value of the top players the value of the top picks is again diminished.

An example of the disparity in the value of top 10 picks can be found in Jacksonville’s trade up from #26 to #8 overall with Baltimore. According to the trade value chart the 8^th overall selection should have been worth 1,400 points.

By trading picks 26, 71, 89 and 125 the Jaguars gave up only 1,127 points. Even with the recommended adjustments in the chart the 8^th pick is 1,350 points and the points given up have only closed the gap from 273 points to 178 points.

In other words from a chart standpoint the Jaguars still got the better end of the deal just not quite as good. It just goes to show how hard it is for a team to make a move from the 20s into the top 10. Which leads to the next point of the trade decision.

As the Ravens-Jaguars trade demonstrates economics and the draft pool lowered the value of the players at the top of the draft. In addition, with the need to add as many quality young players as possible to one’s roster the value of the later round picks has increased a little as well.

In other words with the supply (i.e. teams wanting to trade) outweighing the demand (team’s wanting to move up), it is time to update the trade value chart. (see chart below).

With the top overall pick having less value than in the past due to lack of a marquee talent and the increased price tag of the top picks, the baseline has been reduced to 600 points to 2400. The chart then drops 225 points to #2, 175 to #3 and 150 points for picks four and five.

The drop continues to gradually work its way closer to the current chart around pick 18. The side benefit of the new chart is the increased value (at least proportionally) of second round picks.

The value in the draft the past few seasons has been the depth of talent between picks 25-50 and 2009 appears that way as well. The new chart takes this into account as teams in the top 10 should be able to move up 4-5 spots by using their 1st and 2nd rounder.

Teams outside the top 10 need to dig a little deeper to move up but the price is not nearly as prohibitive. A team in the 20s will still need to make a major commitment to get into the top 5.

The late round pick value is increased slightly there is minor tweak to the chart to account for compensation picks after rounds 3, 4, 5, and 6 as those picks can not be traded.

Prior to last year’s Ravens-Jaguars trade, moves into the top 10 had been almost non-existent and the constraints of the trade value chart and subsequent backlash were partially to blame. Sometimes teams may have determined that they needed to accumulate picks, did not believe a player on the board was worth the draft position’s salary slot or the player the team wanted would be available a few picks later and getting an additional pick allows them to add another player. It just goes to show if teams at the top of the draft really want to trade down they need to lower their expectations.

The best demonstration of changing expectations is provided by the Carolina Panthers in 1995. The Panthers valued QB Kerry Collins but did not want to pay him #1 money.

They subsequently traded down from the #1 pick in exchange for the 5th overall pick and a 2nd rounder. They still managed to select Collins and acquired another top 40 pick in the process. In the end whether you use the traditional trade chart or the updated one, remember the Draft Trade Chart is a tool not a rule.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Check out our 7 round mock draft coming Monday April 13th. Trade Chart is on the next page or clicking here.

Pick	Round 1	Pick	Round 2	Pick	Round 3	Pick	Round 4	Pick	Round 5	Pick	Round 6	Pick	Round 7
1	2400	33	590	65	275	97	110	129	43.5	161	26.5	193	14.1
2	2175	34	580	66	270	98	107	130	42.7	162	26.1	194	13.8
3	2000	35	570	67	265	99	104	131	41.9	163	25.7	195	13.5
4	1850	36	560	68	260	100	101	132	41.1	164	25.3	196	13.2
5	1700	37	550	69	255	101	98	133	40.3	165	24.9	197	12.9
6	1575	38	540	70	250	102	96	134	39.8	166	24.5	198	12.6
7	1450	39	530	71	245	103	94	135	39.3	167	24.1	199	12.3
8	1350	40	520	72	240	104	92	136	38.8	168	23.7	200	12
9	1250	41	510	73	235	105	90	137	38.3	169	23.3	201	11.7
10	1200	42	500	74	230	106	88	138	37.8	170	23	202	11.4
11	1150	43	490	75	225	107	86	139	37.3	171	22.5	203	11.1
12	1100	44	480	76	220	108	84	140	36.8	172	22.1	204	10.8
13	1050	45	470	77	215	109	82	141	36.3	173	21.7	205	10.5
14	1000	46	460	78	210	110	80	142	35.8	174	21.3	206	10.2
15	975	47	450	79	205	111	78	143	35.3	175	20.9	207	9.9
16	950	48	440	80	200	112	76	144	34.9	176	20.5	208	9.6
17	925	49	430	81	195	113	74	145	34.5	177	20.1	209	9.3
18	900	50	420	82	190	114	72	146	34.1	178	19.7	210	9
19	875	51	410	83	185	115	70	147	33.7	179	19.3	211	8.7
20	850	52	400	84	180	116	68	148	33.3	180	18.9	212	8.4
21	825	53	390	85	175	117	66	149	32.9	181	18.6	213	8.1
22	800	54	380	86	170	118	64	150	32.5	182	18.3	214	7.8
23	780	55	370	87	165	119	62	151	32.1	183	18	215	7.5
24	760	56	360	88	160	120	60	152	31.7	184	17.7	216	7.2
25	740	57	350	89	155	121	58	153	31.3	185	17.4	217	6.9
26	720	58	340	90	150	122	56.5	154	30.9	186	17.1	218	6.6
27	700	59	330	91	145	123	55	155	30.5	187	16.8	219	6.3
28	680	60	320	92	140	124	53.5	156	30.1	188	16.5	220	6
29	660	61	310	93	135	125	52	157	29.7	189	16.2	221	5.7
30	640	62	300	94	130	126	50.5	158	29.3	190	15.9	222	5.4
31	620	63	290	95	125	127	49	159	28.9	191	15.6	223	5.1
32	600	64	280	96	120	128	47.5	160	28.5	192	15.3	224	4.8

				4 comp picks		4 comp picks		5 comp picks		4 comp picks		15 comp picks

The Jay Cutler Trade: The NFL Draft Impact

Chris Maier — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:10:11 -0400

Just days after officially putting quarterback Jay Cutler on the market, the Broncos ended the suspense by agreeing to trade Cutler to the Chicago Bears. In exchange for the sensistive 26-year franchise quarterback, the Broncos received a bounty of draft picks to restock a fading roster. There is plenty of talk on the web regarding who got the best of the deal and whether Cutler is a good fit for Chicago—he is—but being a draftnik, let's breakdown the deal from the draft perspective.

Trade specifics:

Chicago receives quarterback Jay Cutler and a fifth round pick (140th overall). They also followed up the trade by signing past his prime left tackle Orlando Pace.

Denver receives Chicago's first (18th) and third (84th) round picks in 2009, the Bears first rounder in 2010 and quarterback Kyle Orton.

How the trade impacts the Bears' draft:

While Cutler is only 26 years old, this trade was made in an effort to win now before its aging defense springs too many leaks to make a run at another Super Bowl. As a result, the Bears draft likely switches from building through the draft to filling immediate needs. At the top of the list is finding a wide receiver to take advantage of Cutler's strong arm. They can only hope Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt or Brian Robiskie makes it to them in round two (there is a major dropoff after the top seven receivers). With their third round pick, the Bears will look to fill a need again at safety. Fortunately for the Bears, safety talent should be plentiful in round three. After filling these needs, look for them to add depth to the offensive line and add young talent to the defensive front seven.

How the trade impacts the Broncos draft:

After last season, everyone knew the Broncos had to rebuild its defense, now they have the draft picks to do it. Of course, they created a hole at quarterback in the process. How well they fill that hole will determine not only whether or not this was a good trade but whether or not Josh McDaniels succeeds as coach of the Broncos. With five picks in the first 84, the Broncos are in a position to be aggressive on draft day. Speculation has already begun of Denver possibly making a move up to get a quarterback, most likely, Mark Sanchez.

However, using both first rounders to move up to draft a quarterback would be a major blow to the team's effort to rebuild the defense and find key pieces for the team's conversion to a 3-4 defense. Despite McDaniels' offensive background, don't be surprised if four of the first five picks are used on the defensive side of the ball if they keep the picks. If they elect to stick with Orton at quarterback, the odds of taking a running back in rounds one or two would increase as they look to take the pressure off the passing game despite signing Correll Buckhalter and JJ Arrington in free agency.

Players whose draft stock may have increased due to the trade: (Broncos owning 12th and 18th picks)

Mark Sanchez, Tyson Jackson, Rey Maualuga, Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, Knowshon Moreno, Beanie Wells

Players whose draft stock has fallen a notch due to the trade: (Bears no longer in round one)

One less team is likely to select a wide receiver meaning the odds of Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks or Brian Robiskie going in round one went down a notch. Offensive tackles William Beatty and Eben Britton fall slightly as well.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com

Stay tuned for NFLDraft101's second annual seven round mock draft. Coming April 14th.

2009 NFL Draft Stories: The Time is Now for the Patriots to Re-load

Chris Maier — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:44:10 -0400

Since 2001 the Patriots have been the league's model franchise. In an eight year period they won three Super Bowls (2001, 2003, and 2004) and were the Super Bowl Runner Up once (2007's 18-1 season). In the book "The Blueprint" author Christopher Price detailed how the head coach Bill Belichick, and VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli created a salary cap era dynasty through the draft and signing inexpensive veteran free agents. Their 2003 (DE Ty Warren, S Eugene Wilson, CB Asante Samuel and C Dan Koppen) and 2005 (Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur, James Sanders and Matt Cassell) drafts among the best drafts in the past decade. In addition, the 2000 selection of QB Tom Brady in the 6th round is one of the all-time best draft picks.

Yet in recent years the Patriots have veered from the build through the draft strategy signing big ticket free agent LB Adalius Thomas and trading for Randy Moss in 2007 (Moss was then signed to a lucrative contract before the 2008 season). Neither of these moves were bad moves but were they the beginning of a trend. Recently, their have been rumors of the Patriots using their bounty of first day picks in a possible trade for Julius Peppers. Sounds great on paper and could instantly make the Patriots the team to beat in 2009. It also sounds more like the "Yankee Way" than the "Patriots Way". A trade for Julius Peppers while an excellent move for 2009 could also signal the end of the Patriots dynasty.

Ok, the last statement may be a little over the top but when you look at the Patriots roster a crack in the foundation has been found. After the 2009 season the following players will be free agents: NT Vince Wilfork, DE Richard Seymour, CB Ellis Hobbs, G Logan Mankins, G Stephen Neal, T Nick Kaczur, TE Ben Watson, TE David Thomas and K Stephen Gostkowski. The team has made little progress thus far in re-signing this group of players. A trade for Julius Peppers would likely using a large chunk of the team's $14 million in salary cap space making re-signings even more difficult not to mention upsetting the team's locker room culture.

In addition to the multitude of potential free agents on the roster the Patriots as a team are getting old. LB Tedy Bruschi is nearing the end at 35 years old, LT Matt Light is slowing down at 30, WR Randy Moss is 32 as is RBs Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk. LB Adalius Thomas is no spring chicken at 31. Free agent acquisitions RB Fred Taylor and WR Joey Galloway have also seen better days. The team has also jettisoned veteran linchpins Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison. All of these players are not washed up but in the NFL the years can sneak up on you fast and the Patriots are using more stop gaps with each passing season as they have not been as prepared to replace many of their aging players with young talent.

Making matters more urgent is the team's struggles in the draft the past three seasons. Despite drafting defensive rookie of the year Jerod Mayo in last year's draft the Patriots have little to show from the last three drafts in terms of replenishing the talent on the roster. Yes, the trades for Randy Moss and Wes Welker were excellent moves but the team has struggled to find players in the draft itself to groom for the future (esp. in the later rounds).

From the 2006 draft only K Stephen Gostkowski has established himself (1st rounder Laurence Maroney is nearing bust status and three other players are role players). Only two players remain from the 2007 draft with only first round pick Brandon Merriweather receiving meaningful playing time. Aside from Mayo, only two other 2008 draft picks played in more than six games. The most common thread from these past three drafts is the Patriots have traded down time and time again to position themselves for extra late round picks and future drafts but the philosophy has not worked as well as it has in previous years.

All is not bad however as the team's trading prowess has also positioned them to be major players in the 2009 draft with four day one selections. In Bill Belichick's first draft without Scott Pioli, he and his staff the Patriots putting them in the perfect position to re-stock the shelves prior to roster's expiration.

For example, with those four first day picks they can add a young skill position player on offense, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, and a rush linebacker (think Percy Harvin/Knowshon Moreno, Jamon Meredith/Eric Wood, Ron Brace/Jarron Gilbert, and Connor Barwin/Clay Matthews). In addition the Patriots will need to hit on some of their mid-late round picks to find a tight end, inside linebacker and offensive/defensive line depth. This is not the year for the Patriots to get cute with multiple trade downs. The Patriots 2009 draft needs to be about adding talent for the near future. They need to duplicate the success of the 2003 or 2005 drafts and find multiple players who can be starters within two years. Without a strong draft the Patriots dynasty may go from Super Bowl contender to playoff contender or worse in a rapidly improving AFC East.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com

NFL Draft Pro Day Updates: Stafford Shines at Georgia Pro Day

Chris Maier — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:25:20 -0400

After passing on working out at the scouting combine, quarterback Matthew Stafford had a lot riding on today's workout. Based on the early returns, today has to be considered a positive for Stafford but whether or not the Lions are convinced he is the No. 1 overall pick remains to be seen although he may be making the decision a little easier. He are some thoughts seen around the web:

Chip Towers of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution saying he "ended the day with several impressive throws."

Great Blue North Draft Report says "QB Matthew Stafford threw the ball reasonably well. There still were some accuracy issues but Stafford showed plenty of arm strength."

CBS Sportsline's Rob Rang said Stafford "impressed scouts most with his accuracy, touch and better mobility than he's often given credit for." He also spoke to a scout who said he was "pretty much on throughout the entire workout...handled the pressure well." and "he helped himself today."

NFL.com's Steve Wyche says the "Lions need to ignore history and give the keys of franchise to Stafford". In the article Wyche spoke to scouts who said: "He can make all the same throws (Ryan can) except he has a stronger arm, what sets (Ryan) apart from just about any other quarterback in the NFL is he is so cerebral. Still, (Stafford) has got 'it.' "

NFLN's Mike Mayock said the following of Stafford: "He did as expected....this is an elite quarterback".

Overall, Stafford's pro day workout was expected to go well considering his biggest strengths is his measureables and he met expectations. Whether he is able to answer questions about his decision making and inconsistency will ultimately determine whether he is drafted No. 1 or not.

Knowshon Moreno has to be disappointed with a reported 40 time of 4.63. While in line with his combine times (4.55/4.61 unofficial), 4.5+ 40 speed generally does not get a 210 pound running back drafted in the first round.

Moreno flashed as expected in the drills show good quickness and catching ability. Moreno has excellent quickness, toughness, vision and balance but the lack of breakaway speed is a concern.

Donald Brown could be closing the gap on Moreno based on both having similar styles but Brown being considered the faster back of the two.

As a side note, today's workouts ranked he most highly anticipated workouts draft season and a surprise winner of the day was CB Asher Allen.

Thanks to teammates Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno all 32 teams were in attendance to see Allen, the physical yet undersized cornerback run a 4.33 40 and then perform in the skill drills.

It is worth mentioning that Allen was among NFL Draft 101's combine winners after excellent skills workout.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

Seattle Trades Julian Peterson to Lions for Cory Redding: The Draft Effect

Chris Maier — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:31:46 -0400

The surprisingly busy NFL trade market continued, again today, as the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions consummated swapped star players and team needs.

In the deal, the Seattle Seahawks acquired 28-year-old DT, Cory Redding and a fifth round pick while the Lions land 31-year-old pass rushing linebacker, Julian Peterson.

While it would be easy to take the Lions to task for trading for a quality player and absorbing a massive cap hit in exchange for a player the Seahawks were considering cutting, NFL Draft 101 is a draft site so we will focus on the draft implications for both teams:

Seattle

Landing Redding fills a need at DT and most likely takes them out of the running for DT BJ Raji. On the other hand, moving Peterson clears the way for the Seahawks to draft LB Aaron Curry if he is still on the board.

It may also be an indication they feel the Chiefs are at the very least considering Raji. The fifth round pick is gravy and adding mid-round picks is always a nice thing.

Detroit

Acquiring Peterson fills a need for a pass rusher and a defensive playmaker opposite LB Ernie Sims but opens up a major hole at the defensive tackle position.

Two-years ago the Lions had Shaun Rogers and Cory Redding, now the Lions have neither and a major hole in the middle of the defensive line.

Don't be surprised if the 20th overall pick is now Peria Jerry or the 33rd pick becomes Ron Brace or Evander Hood.

The bigger sub-plot of this move is it likely removes Aaron Curry from consideration as the No. 1 overall pick and makes it increasingly likely the Lions will draft QB Matthew Stafford No. 1.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com.

He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

NFL Free Agency: The First Weekend's Draft Impact

Chris Maier — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:51:13 -0500

NFL free agency has only been open for a weekend, but the moves teams made have clearly had an impact on draft boards—especially among the top five. Here is a look at some of the weekend's big moves and their impact on the upcoming draft.

Kansas City trades for QB Matt Cassell:

The Chiefs fill their need at quarterback, freeing up their first round pick for an offensive tackle (Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe), nose tackle (BJ Raji), pass rusher (Brian Orakpo), or linebacker (Aaron Curry). While that has not exactly cleared things up, it is a major blow to whichever quarterback Detroit does not pick. Among the teams in the top 10, only San Francisco appears to be in a position to invest heavily in a rookie QB, and that is hardly a guarantee. The path for Matt Sanchez or Stafford to fall into the teens is much clearer—ironically the Jets, Chicago, and Tampa are at #17, #18, and #19; Trade Up?

Seattle signs WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh:

If the stress fracture did not cause Michael Crabtree to fall out of the top five, this signing may have done the trick. Look for Crabtree to fall to either Cincinnati, Oakland, or Jacksonville.

Cleveland trades TE Kellen Winslow:

By acquiring another first day pick, the Browns are in a much better position to take the best player available at #5, with a pass rusher being the most likely option. They are also in a good position to trade back into the first round if they want to as well. Don't forget the Jets were among the league's most aggressive team's during Mangini's tenure, and he now has the ammunition to do it again.

Washington signs DT Albert Haynesworth:

With a big body added to the defensive front, the odds of drafting an offensive tackle have gone up considerably. Finding a pass rusher is a close second after cutting Jason Taylor. And remember that the Redskins don't have a 2nd round pick.

Houston signs DE Antonio Smith:

Finding a defensive end to play opposite Mario Williams was the team's #1 offseason need. They can now turn their attention to fine tuning their offense or adding talent to the back seven on defense.

NY Jets trade for CB Lito Sheppard:

The door is now wide open for the Jets to take the best offensive skill position player available. They also stand to benefit from a more likely QB slide.

Tampa Bay signs RB Derrick Ward and WR Michael Clayton:

Most mocks have the Bucs taking a skill position guy, but aside from QB, the Bucs will now likely turn their attention to finding defensive personnel to fit their new scheme.

New England acquires a third second round pick:

Love the Pats or hate them, they know how to maneuver with the best of them. They now have four day one picks to re-stock a roster facing numerous 2010 free agents. Plus, they now have the cap room to be major players in the free agent market.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Scouting Combine Buzz Day Four : Cornerback and Safety

Chris Maier — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:08:23 -0500

NFL Draft 101 provided 2009 Combine Coverage with a Live Chat but also recapped each day's biggest stories in article format as well. Here are some quick combine wrap up comments and the day four buzz from the cornerback and safety workouts:

Combine Wrap Up Comments:

1) I know it was a long 4-5 days for the NFL Network staff at the combine but why did their coverage end so abruptly today. They did not provide a final wrap-up or winners and losers. As a matter of fact they ended their coverage while the second group of defensive backs was still conducting their drills. Further, NFLN did not even have wrap-up segments on the cornerback and safety workouts on Total Access. Overall, they do a great job of covering the combine in an entertaining fashion, especially with the multiple online feeds, but the failure to wrap-up the coverage properly put a downer on an otherwise good weekend.

2) Either the 2009 draft class is slow, the official timers are slow, or Lucas Oil Stadium had a slow track this week because it is hard to fathom none of the corners breaking 4.4 and only four guys total breaking 4.4 for the week. Only 11 guys total broke 4.45 (10 of 11 were wide receivers). The variance between unofficial and official times was much larger than usual as well.

3) Watching BJ Raji blow away Rich Eisen in the 40 was very entertaining. The Eisen taking the Wonderlic and running the 40 were both good bits by the NFLN team.

Cornerback:

Winners:

Sean Smith, Utah—Has rare size for a corner at 6'3 and after running a better 40 (4.47 unofficial) than 3 of the top 4 rated corners, Smith answered the questions that he was not fast enough to play corner. Was good not great in the drills.

Vontae Davis, Illinois—Had the good all-around workout we expected. Looked fluid and polished in the drills, and finished in the top 10 in theL 40, bench, 20 yard shuttle, and three-cone. Will get consideration for the top corner in the draft but a down 2008 campaign could hinder those efforts.

Asher Allen, Georgia—A physical corner (backed up with 22 reps) who showed good athleticism and technique in the drills. Would be drafted higher if he was taller.

Darius Butler, Connecticut—Good all-around workout. Showed nice athleticism and showed good footwork in the drills.

Donald Washington, Ohio State—Had out of this world marks in the vertical and broad jump making him one of the corners workout warriors. Was merely average in the drills but his performance gives him the high upside tag, and likely insures he gets drafted.

Lydell Sargeant, Penn State—Only average athleticism, but looked very smooth, and showed good footwork in the drills.

Christopher Owens, San Jose State—Teammate Coye Francies garners most of the attention, but Owens very quietly had the better workout today. Showed good footwork and turn and run skills in the drills.

Keenan Lewis, Oregon State—Looked like more than just a press corner. Good size and better than average speed compared to the rest of this year's corner class.

Losers:

Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State—Did not answer concerns regarding his speed with a 4.55 40. Also was not a standout in the drills with his footwork being a little off today. Looks more like a #2 corner or free safety than a top 10 pick.

DJ Moore, Vanderbilt—Measured at less than 5'10'' and ran a 4.54 40 (39.5" vertical though). Looked good in the drills, but short and slow is not going to get him drafted in the first round. Like Jenkins, a move to safety is a possibility, and the good news is each would probably be the #1 safety in the draft.

Bradley Fletcher, Iowa—Showed decent speed but struggled in the skill drills throughout the day. Did not turn and run well.

Brandon Hughes, Oregon State—Ran a great 40 but did not show cornerback instincts and skills in the drills.

Cary Harris, USC— Was clearly laboring through the drills. He may have been trying to tough it out on a sore hamstring.

Safety:

Winners: (overall a good day for safeties)

Louis Delmas (Western Michigan) and Patrick Chung (Oregon)—Took care of business today. Ran well and showed why they are ranked among the top safeties in the draft.

Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest—Showed excellent speed and athleticism for a 220 pounder and followed it up by performing well in the drills.

William Moore, Missouri—Showed plus athleticism and looked better in drills than expected. If nothing else, he did enough to level his sinking draft stock. May convert to OLB but still worth a look as a SS.

Losers:

David Bruton, Notre Dame—It was hard to come up with losers at safety and especially hard to list arguably the workout warrior among safeties—top 10 in 40, 60 yardd shuttle, vertical, and broad jump—on this list, but Bruton did not do anything to answer questions about his coverage skills in the drills. It was a tremendous workout in the measureables but it is doubtful that it moved him up draft boards. He remains a 3rd/4th round pick.

Emanuel Cook, South Carolina—Maybe it was the strong workouts by his teammates but I expected a better workout from Cook. He was a tad slow and did not look comfortable in the coverage drills.

Nic Harris (Oklahoma) and Kevin Ellison (USC)—Both guys showed their best bet is to shift to OLB. It is a shame neither of them worked out alongside the linebackers because they probably would have showed a lot better. Harris looked very comfortable as a LB at the Senior Bowl and probably would have preferred to workout with them here as well.

Thanks for joining NFLDraft101's 2009 Scouting Combine coverage.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Scouting Combine Buzz: Day Three - DT, DE, LB

Chris Maier — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:31:43 -0500

NFL Draft 101 is providing live coverage in the chat (11-2 pm Feb. 21-24) but we will also recap each day's biggest stories in article format as well. Here is the day three buzz from the defensive tackle, defensive end, and linebacker workouts:

Defensive Tackles:

Winners:

Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State - Gilbert's stock was rising entering the combine. He put up a great workout, as the DT/DE tweener ranked among the top 10 in the 40, vertical, and broad jump. Gilbert displayed the best athleticism of the DT prospects and moved himself into day one consideration.

Evander Hood, Missouri - Has rare height for this year's DT class and showed excellent quickness in the drills. Also, showed power (34 reps) and speed (4.89 unofficial 40).

Myron Pryor, Kentucky - Good all-around effort by Pryor. Displayed a nice burst and shined in the drills.

Terrence Taylor, Michigan - Entered the combine as a forgotten man after Michigan's tough season. Taylor made his name known early by leading the D-line with 37 bench reps and followed it up with a nice all-around workout. He may not be a day one guy, but at least he is back in the conversation.

BJ Raji, Boston College - Did nothing to hinder his status as the top DT on the board and showed a nice blend of power (33 reps) and short area burst. Solid 40 for a guy weighing 330 lbs.

Losers:

Sen'Derrick Marks, Auburn - Not a terrible day, but he did not display the level of strength or athleticism that was expected.

Vance Walker, Georgia Tech - Did not display the athleticism he needed to bolster his stock. A rather pedestrian effort for a guy known more for speed and quickness than power.

Defensive Ends:

Winners:

Teams Looking for 3-4 Outside Linebackers - Last year was the year of the offensive tackle and this may be the year of the rush linebacker. The defensive end class has several conversion guys and most of them played up to expectations. If there is a concern, it would be that the supply might outweigh the demand.

Connor Barwin, Cincinnati - The workout warrior of the day. Was tops in the vertical (40.5), broad jump (10'8"), three cone, and the 20-yard shuttle, plus he finished second in the 40 and put up 21 reps. Barwin may be a raw DE/OLB prospect, but the tools and work ethic are there. Is drawing comparisons to Mike Vrabel (never a bad thing), and may have worked his way into the second round.

Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech - As expected, Johnson had a tremendous all-around workout, including finishing in the top three in the vertical, broad jump, and 20-yard shuttle, plus fifth in the 40. Physically impressive and was very fluid in the drills. Stood out in conversion drills, which is impressive considering he's 6'7". Of course, we expected him to perform well. How he did in the interviews will likely affect his stock more than his workout. Someone will be tempted by his upside in round one.

Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond - Great workout. Had the top time in the 40 and finished among the leaders in the vertical, broad jump, and 20-yard shuttle. Most importantly, he may have looked the best of all the defensive ends in the conversion drills. He is raw and lacks strength but he has made the most of his postseason opportunities.

Brian Orakpo, Texas - Showed why many consider him the best all-around defensive end in the draft with a tremendous workout in the measureables, including ranking third in the 40 and sixth in the bench press. Missed the conversion drills due to a strained hamstring, but it was not enough to ruin his strong performance.

Losers:

Aaron Maybin, Penn State - Maybin had a solid workout, but he paled in comparison to Orakpo, Everette Brown, Michael Johnson, and others. Was good, not great in the conversion drills (horrible hands). Has put on some weight, but he does not look much like a 4-3 defensive end and was slower than most of the conversion guys. You worry he may be a situational pass rusher. Needs to add strength and fill out his body. Did finish among the leaders in the vertical, broad jump, and 20-yard shuttle and has good short area quickness.

Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin - Looked a little robotic and did not show the athleticism that had him ranked as a top DE entering the 2008 season. Did not look comfortable and really struggled to show change of direction ability.

David Veikune, Hawaii - Possesses good size and great measureables, including good 40 and bench press, but looked very stiff in drills. Really struggles to change directions.

Linebackers:

Winners:

Aaron Curry, Wake Forest - Put up the combine's single best performance at any position thus far. He was fast, strong, and fluid while making it look effortless. It is no wonder he is considered the safest pick in the draft.

Gerald McRath, Southern Mississippi - Aside from Curry, McRath was the best athlete among the linebackers. Looked very crisp in the drills. One of the best weakside linebacker prospects in the draft. If only he were a little bigger.

Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina - The USC Trojans had a better football season, but the Gamecocks are having a tremendous combine. Brinkley came in at 252 pounds and followed in Jamon Meredith (OT) and Jared Cook's (TE) footsteps with a tremendous all-around workout. Strong in the drills, plus ran a sub 4.7 40 and put up 26 reps (both top 10 among LBs).

Clay Matthews, USC - A much better athlete than expected and had the best workout of the Trojan linebackers. Does not look as natural in the drills as Brian Cushing, but was impressive nonetheless.

Losers:

Teams Looking for Weakside Linebackers - There is just not the depth of talent at the weakside linebacker position this year. It is every bit as weak as the 3-4 OLB position is strong.

Rey Maualuga, USC - It is hard to say what was worse, pulling his hamstring or putting up a 4.83 40 just before it happened. Maualuga is a tremendous talent and a ferocious hitter, but how much will a slow 40 and perceived athleticism hurt his stock? The question is not whether or not he is a good MLB, but whether you expect a top 10-15 pick to be an elite athlete in addition to the intangibles and instincts.

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State - Did not get out of Paul Posluszney and Dan Connor's second and third round shadows, as he was beaten in the 40 by all of the top middle linebackers aside from Maualuga. Looked good in the drills and the early word is he did well in the interviews.

Clint Sintim, Virginia - Sintim is a good 3-4 rush LB prospect but his workout showed he does not possess the all-around skills for the 4-3.

Join NFLDraft101.com throughout the weekend for live coverage of the workouts from 11 am - 2 pm Feb 21-24) at the Combine Live Blog.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 Scouting Combine Buzz Day Two: QB, RB and WR

Chris Maier — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:51:39 -0500

NFL Draft 101 is providing live coverage in the blog (11 am - 2 pm daily) but we will also recap each day's biggest stories in article format as well. Here is the day two buzz:

Sunday's quarterback, running back and wide receiver workouts came and went without a true breakout star like Jared Cook on Saturday but most importantly the players avoided the drama of Saturday when Michael Crabtree's injury and Andre Smith's disappearance dominated the workouts. This is not to say players stocks did not go up or down based on today's work. Here are today's winners and losers:

Quarterbacks

Winners:

Pat White, West Virginia

The lack of credit White is getting at quarterback is bordering on ridiculous. Even without the great 40 (4.55) and other measureables, White was the best thrower in the 2nd group of quarterbacks today.

He displayed accuracy and arm strength building upon an excellent Senior Bowl week and Meineke Car Care Bowl. It is time for people to stop talking about his decision to not workout at wide receiver and start evaluating him as a quarterback.

He is the 4th best quarterback in the draft and would be higher if he was taller (Michael Vick was also only 6'). Call him the a wildcat novelty if you want but he looks more and more like a quarterback every time I see him play.

Josh Freeman, Kansas State

NFLN did viewers a huge disfavor by not showing his workout, but early word is he showed a tremendous arm and has ideal height. He could be working his way into the end of round one.

Stephen McGee, Texas A&M

If you are looking for a sleeper QB, McGee might be your guy. He did not play much this year due to a shoulder injury but he is a great athlete (4.66 40) and had a nice day throwing the football today.

Curtis Painter, Purdue

Did a nice job throwing the ball during his workout and may have shown enough to get drafted after a sub-par senior season.

Losers:

Mark Sanchez, USC

Early word is Sanchez did a good job in the interviews but his decision to throw did not improve his stock. It was as if Sanchez was pressing during the throwing drills as he had too much mustard on his short throws and overthrew several passes including an out and post corner.

The arm strength, footwork and motion were there but the accuracy was not. It was not a terrible performance but it was not the type of workout you expect from a guy who is trying to be the the overall No. 1 pick.

Despite the struggles, Draft101 Chief Scout Dan Wernery still thinks Sanchez will get taken in the top 10 on draft day.

Nate Davis, Ball State

Like Freeman NFLN did viewers a disfavor by not showing his workout but the lack buzz afterward is not a good sign. On the plus side, the early word is he showed good arm strength during his workout.

Running Backs

Winners (it was hard to find many winners in a group lacking speed):

Donald Brown, Connecticut

The only one of the top 5 running backs to break 4.5 in the 40. He ranked in the top two running backs in the vertical jump, broad jump, and the 20 yard and 60 yard shuttles.

He also showcased good change of direction and receiving ability in the drills. A solid all-around performance.

Andre Brown, NC State

Built on an excellent Senior Bowl with a good all-around performance. Sub 4.5 speed for a 225 pound running back.

Ian Johnson, Boise State

His stock has been sliding after struggling as a junior and senior but a good 40 and bench press plus a solid all-around performance in the drills gives him value as a 3rd down back. He may have gone from a late round flier to a 4th or 5th rounder.

Tony Fiametta, Syracuse

Showed good speed and receiving ability for a fullback.

Losers:

Chris Wells

Big back but needed to run better than 4.59 in the 40. He did have the best broad jump and was solid in the drills. Not a top 15 workout.

Knowshon Moreno

Like Wells his 40 time was a disappointment at 4.61. He's not a burner anyway but he would have benefited from running a 4.50 or better. Redeemed himself a little with good performances in the bench press, three-cone and 20 yard shuttle. Looked good as a receiver out of the backfield. Not a top 15 workout.

Shonn Greene, Iowa and Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State

You don't want to overestimate the 40 for big backs like these two, but their failure to break 4.7 is a concern and will likely keep them out of the 1st day. Neither ranked in the top 10 in the bench press either.

Javon Ringer, Michigan State

Did not flash the speed and quickness he needed to stay in the 1st day conversation.

Wide Receivers

Winners:

Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland

Forties are overrated but Heyward-Bey had the 2nd fastest one since 2000 going an official 4.30. His stats don't show elite production, but he has the best size/speed combination of any receiver in the draft.

Kenny Britt (Rutgers), Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina), and Brian Robiskie (Ohio State)

All three of these big, physical red zone wide receivers ran sub 4.5 40s. Robiskie also looked tremendous drills and will merit day one consideration with his polish. Don't be surprised if Britt or Nicks challenge for round 1 slots and sneak above Percy Harvin come draft day.

Kenny McKinley, South Carolina

Kept alive the Gamecocks streak of tremendous workouts. Excellent measureables and showed nice polish in the receiving drills.

Mike Wallace, Mississippi

Wallace had one of the best all-around workouts of any receiver today including a tremendous 40, vertical and broad jump. Also ran a flawless gauntlet and caught the ball with his hands (which is something he has struggled with in the past).

Jarrett Dillard, Rice

A tad slow (but a decent 4.53) and undersized (5'10) but he showed excellent athleticism with a 42.5" vertical and 10'9" broad jump both bests for the position. A much better day than expected for a receiver who is known more for his productivity than his measureables.

Losers:

Derrick Williams, Penn State

Overemphasizing the 40 is dangerous, but when your speed and quickness are your biggest attribute you can't afford a 4.6 40.

Darius Passmore, Marshall

Was expected to be one of the weekend's workout warrior but ran just an average 40 and did not finish in the top 10 in any receiver category.

2009 NFL Scouting Combine Buzz: Day One

Chris Maier — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:19:20 -0500

NFL Draft 101 is providing live coverage in the blog (11 a.m. - 2 p.m. daily) but we will also recap the day's biggest stories in article format as well. Here is the day one buzz:

While the workouts today featured the offensive linemen and tight ends, the two biggest stories surrounded two players who were not able to work out (one of whom is a wide receiver):

- During his combine physical, it was discovered WR Michael Crabtree has a stress fracture in his left foot which will require surgery and 10 weeks to recover. Here is Chief Scout Dan Wernery and my thoughts from the live blog:

Chris: No workouts for Crabtree is a scary proposition for a team drafting in the top 10. I think his saving grace is he is not known as a burner anyway and his route running can be viewed on tape.

Remember Jonathan Stewart had a similar type injury last year and it did not appear to affect his stock as much one would have expected.

Dan: I still feel Crabtree will not fall past Cincinnati or Oakland. Both owners/general managers are obsessed with big-name receivers. I feel Seattle will now look heavily at BJ Raji or Aaron Curry.

Update: Per Adam Shefter of NFL.com, Michael Crabtree will work out at his pro day March 26th prior to having surgery on his performed on the stress fracture in his left foot. This work out will include running the 40 twice.

- The other big story was regarding the status of Andre Smith. First, he bowed out of the bench press because he said he was not prepared, then he followed it up today by leaving the combine. Here is Dan and my thoughts from the live blog:

Chris: Big story to start the day, Andre Smith late to the workouts this morning. Mayock's story of the lift yesterday combined with his absence show a lack of maturity. I am baffled as to why he waited so long to sign an agent considering he was suspended from the bowl game for illegal contact with one. Not only is he not prepared physically, but he and his agent seem to have missed the boat on the mental side as well.

Dan: With Andre Smith's erratic behavior, I wouldn't be surprised if he fell into the 20's.

Offensive Line Quick Hits:

Winners:
- Jason Smith, Baylor - Finished in the top 10 in the bench press, ran a solid 40 (best of the top tackles) and showed excellent footwork in the drills. His stock was on the rise entering the combine and has moved himself to the tackle class with his workout today. This performance will have him slated No. 2 overall to St. Louis in numerous mocks this week.

- Jamon Meredith, South Carolina - A first day sleeper entering the day, Meredith showed he is arguably the most athletic tackle in the draft with a terrific under the radar workout. He had the second-fastest 40 of the linemen (5.03), ranked in the top 10 in the bench press and showed good footwork in the drills.

Look for him to draw interest from Philadelphia, Arizona, and Pittsburgh late in round one plus as a fallback option for team's drafting early in round 2 who don't draft a tackle in round one.

- Eben Britton, Arizona - Not a stellar day but showed enough athleticism including a 5.16 40 to avoid the dreaded "right tackle only" tag.

- Antoine Caldwell, Max Unger, Eric Wood - All had good all-around workouts. In particular I think Wood may have helped himself the most because he is the strongest of the group and known as more of a mauler yet appeared to be as athletic as his competition.

- A.Q. Shipley, Penn State- Entering the combine it was widely considered to be a strong five-man class at the center position but with a good all-around workout Shipley may have turned it into a six-man class and he could challenge Jonathan Luigs for the 5th spot.

Losers

- Andre Smith, Alabama - Unprepared and lacked the maturity for a guy with millions of $$$ on the line.

- Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas - Did not have a terrible day with a 40 and bench press in line with his competition but he appears a little stiff and his footwork is not in line with his competitors.

- Jason Watkins, Florida - Did not show the athleticism or strength needed for the tackle position in the NFL.

Tight End Quick Hits:

Winners:
- Jared Cook, South Carolina - Off the charts athleticism including the top 40 time (4.5) and vertical (40" best by 4") among tight ends. Like Greg Olsen and Dustin Keller before him, Cook may have worked his way into the first round with the day's best workout at any position. The biggest reason he was not more productive with the Gamecocks was the team's shoddy QB play.

-James Casey, Rice - Good all-around workout including a 4.7 40, 36" vertical (ranked 2nd), and 28 bench reps (led tight ends). He may not be well-known coming out of Rice but he is one of the best all-around tight ends in this year's draft.

- Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi - Built on a great Senior Bowl week with an excellent all-around workout. One of only two tight ends with a sub 4.6 40. His willingness to block helps set him apart in a tight end class full of one dimensional receivers.

- Cameron Morrah, California- Entered the combine without a lot of publicity but his good workout will have teams going back to watch the tape of this raw underclassman with excellent measureables. A sleeper with down the seam speed.

- Kory Sperry, Colorado State- Nice all around workout. A favorite of Draft101's Chief Scout Dan Wernery.

Losers
- Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State- No one expected Pettigrew to be a workout warrior but he needed to break 4.8 in the 40. Zach Miller and John Carlson (both second-rounders) have taught us not to overrate the combine workout but Pettigrew's pedestrian workout could keep him out of the top 15-20.

- Chase Coffman, Missouri- The combine might not have played to his strengths but not working out will continue his slide down draft boards. There are too many similar receiving tight ends with better measureables.

Join NFLDraft101.com throughout the weekend for live coverage of the workouts from 11 am - 2 pm Feb 21-24) at the Combine Live Blog.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 NFL Scouting Combine: Who and What To Watch

Chris Maier — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:33:06 -0500

Thanks to the NFL Network and the rise of internet blogs like this one, the NFL Scouting Combine has moved from being a gathering of scouts to an actual media event. The only other time men running in shorts and t-shirts is dissecting this closely is during the Olympics and people who actually watch the scouting combine might even debate that. It just goes to show how the NFL has graduated from being a seasonal sport to a year round phenomenon (again thanks to NFL Network and the internet).

Before we break down who and what to watch let's take a moment to remember what the Scouting Combine is and is not. It is a part of the player evaluation process and will cause draft boards to be adjusted, but a great workout is not a guarantee of NFL success. That may sound overly simplistic but many a team has been sucked in by the siren song of the workout warrior (Mike Mamula anyone).

Stars can be born during the combine, (see Chris Johnson in 2008) but they are the exception not the rule. One can also make the argument the most important part of the combine is not the part we watch on NFL Network or the media sees during the player press conferences.

The player interviews and physicals are every bit as important as the workouts themselves if not more so. Lastly, no preview of the combine would be complete without saying it is a meat market.

Here are the stories to watch during the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine:

1. Are Nate Davis or Josh Freeman worth a late first or second round pick?

Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez will most likely be sitting the combine out but Davis and Freeman do not have the same luxury. Can Josh Freeman display the athleticism and arm strength of a young Daunte Culpepper and vault himself into the later stages of round one? As for Nate Davis, he was a first round prospect prior to flaming out in the MAC Title game, now he needs a great workout just to be a day one consideration.

2. Which running back will have a breakout performance?

Knowshon Moreno and Beanie Wells may or may not workout, but if they don't LeSean McCoy may be the beneficiary. McCoy is one of the few running backs capable of a fast 40 and looks to showcase his excellent all-around ability. Donald Brown is another back hoping to showcase all-around skills and sneak into the first round.

If you are looking for someone to light up the 40 you are likely out of luck this year (Wyoming's Devin Moore was not invited). Other breakout possibilities are Javon Ringer and Marlon Lucky (although Lucky probably needs strong interviews in addition to a great workout).

3. Will any of the top wide receivers workout?

Do not expect Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin or Jeremy Maclin to workout unless they expect to run great 40s (which means Crabtree is out). In my opinion, Harvin needs to workout the most if he wants to be a top 20 pick. One guy to watch is Darrius Heyward-Bey if he goes sub 4.4 at 6'3'' while doing well in the drills he could vault as high as the No. 2 wide receiver. Another story to watch will be whether and how well Pat White performs in the receiver drills.

4. Which tight end is going to take the lead for the No. 2 ranking behind Brandon Pettigrew?

There is a logjam at the tight end position behind Brandon Pettigrew and unlike the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs all the players are expected to workout making the tight end position one of the most interesting to watch this week.

Are Travis Beckum and Cornelius Ingram healthy and weigh anywhere near 245 lbs?

Can Jared Cook flash the athleticism and receiving ability which was masked by poor QB play at South Carolina?

Also hoping to show off their athleticism and sneak into day one are Shawn Nelson and James Casey. I expect at least one of these players to have a Greg Olsen or Dustin Keller like workout and merit first round consideration with Cook and Nelson being the top candidates.

5. Will a leader emerge in the left tackle race?

Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith need to know what is at stake here and elect to workout (Michael Oher will workout just like he did at the Senior Bowl). A failure to workout would make me wonder about their competitiveness.

Unlike skill guys they tackles don't face massive scrutiny on their 40 times but need to show the combination of athleticism, balance and power to play left tackle. After hiding in Andre's shadow all season don't be surprised if the other Smith is the one who shines this week.

Based on the nature of the combine workout, Jason Smith would appear to have the best chance of elevating his stock. The interview will be equally important for these guys (esp Oher and Andre Smith). Some others to watch are Eben Britton, William Beatty and Jamon Meredith.

6. The Battle Royale at Center

I said this during the Senior Bowl and the same remains true at the combine. This is the best class of centers in a long time and aside from Alex Mack establishing himself as the number 1 guy, the next four spots are still up for grabs with the difference being a selected as second or fourth round pick. Antoine Caldwell, Max Unger, Jonathan Luigs and Eric Wood are all in position to make themselves a lot of money this week.

7. How will the defensive ends shake out and which ones show the ability to convert to 3-4 outside linebackers?

This year is not a great year for prototype pass rushing defensive ends (6'4'' 270 lb), this does not mean it is not a great year for pass rushers, it just means it is a riskier class. Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin lead the way and are battling for the top slot.

Kansas City and Cleveland are both looking for pass rushers and pick in the top five meaning a lot of money is on the line. Outside of these three, Paul Kruger and Larry English are trying to prove themselves to be first round worthy. Beyond the top five there are guys like Connor Barwin, Lawrence Sidbury, Robert Ayers and Michael Bennett who each possess the athleticism to make a name for themselves at the combine.

Then there is the case of Michael Johnson. The former top 10 projection is coming off of an uneven senior season and his stock is in serious decline with questions about drive and competitiveness. He missed an opportunity to answer the skeptics by skipping the Senior Bowl and has put all of his marbles into his workouts.

With his combination of size, speed and athleticism he needs to nail his combine workout and interviews. It could mean the difference between being a mid/late first round pick or being a third rounder (think Quentin Moses).

8. Can James Laurinaitis stop his falling stock?

Like Paul Posluzsny (2007) and Dan Connor (2008) before him, James Laurinaitis finds his once sure-fire 1st round grade falling in the weeks leading up to the draft. A sub-par senior season (by his standards) led to the questions about his athleticism and the combine has a way of exposing those flaws.

Laurinaitis skipped the Senior Bowl to avoid being overanalyzed and may do the same here as well. If he does skip the workouts, a couple of other linebackers to watch are Jason Phillips, Gerald McRath, Marcus Freeman, Nic Harris and a host of defensive ends hoping to prove they can be 3-4 outside linebackers.

9. Will some cornerbacks emerge beyond the top four?

Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis, DJ Moore and Alphonso Smith are at the top of most draft rankings at the cornerback position but beyond them it is a bit murky. The candidates to fill the void are plentiful but who will they be?

Can Macho Harris, Jairus Byrd and Sean Smith show the speed to turn and run with receivers? Will Darius Butler flash his excellent athleticism?

Can Coye Francies show he is strong enough and answer questions about his character?

Will Mike Mickens be able to show he is healthy?

Can Asher Allen and Captain Munnerlyn justify their decisions to come out early?

These questions will begin to be answered this weekend.

10. Who are some guys to lesser knowns to watch?

a. QB Jason Boltus, DIII Hartwick - He's no Joe Flacco but if he can show a live arm to go with his size and athleticism he could be a late round sleeper with a good workout.

b. RB Mike Goodson, Texas A&M - great talent coming off an up and down season with the Aggies.

c. WRs Jarrett Dillard, Rice and Austin Collie, BYU - neither of these guys will wow you in the 40 but can they showcase the intangibles to become solid possession receivers at the next level.

d. TE Davon Drew, East Carolina - An excellent athlete with raw skills.

e. T Gus Parrish, Kent State - One of the most athletic tackles in this year's draft.

f. DE/DT Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State - Coming off a huge senior season and one of the best 3-4 DE prospects in the draft.

g. LB Worrel Williams, California - Zach Follett got most of the pub at Cal but Williams is a better athlete and a candidate for workout warrior status.

h. CB Don Carey, Norfolk State - Tall corner looking to build on a great East West Shrine performance.

i. S Louis Delmas, Central Michigan - Ok he is not unheralded but this is a chance to see why the scouts are raving about the safety from Central Michigan.

j. S Emanuel Cook, South Carolina - The safety position is wide open and Cook hopes to showcase his above average athleticism for a big hitter.

Thanks to NFL Network fans and draftniks get to watch wall to wall coverage of the combine. While the network's coverage is heavy on 40 times, draft expert Mike Mayock provides informative commentary while creating new adjectives (ex. "heavy legged waist bender"). '

If you are interested in watching drills other than the 40 yard dash, I recommend going the multimedia route with a laptop in front of the TV. This allows you to take advantage of watching the drills on NFL.com (and their multiple cameras) while listening to Mayock and the 40 times.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be contacted at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Shameless promo: Join me at NFLDraft101.com for live coverage of the combine Feb 21-24.

NFL Mock Draft: Post-Senior Bowl

Chris Maier — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:16:22 -0500

With the NFL Season over, the focus has shifted to the draft. The NFL Scouting Combine is just a week away, so here's an early look at the 2009 draft.

1. Detroit Lions, QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia- The Lions taking a QB is about as close to a given as you will find in this year's draft. For the next three months they will breakdown and compare Stafford and Mark Sanchez. Stafford has the better measureables while Sanchez has the better intangibles. The fact Stafford is more experienced and has played behind a porous line in the past gives him the edge.

2. St. Louis Rams, OT Andre Smith, Alabama - The debate has only just begun at the offensive tackle position with 4 guys battling for the No. 1 slot. Eugene Monroe is gaining a lot of momentum in recent weeks but it is hard to move up someone who skipped the Senior Bowl. Don't be surprised if Smith's footwork, size, and character cause him to slide during the coming months but he is the top tackle for now.

3. Kansas City Chiefs, DE Brian Orakpo, Texas- Taking a QB is extremely tempting but new GM Scott Pioli has had success with late rounders in the past and may be willing to give Tyler Thigpen a chance. I look for Pioli to try to rebuild the Chiefs from the inside out by taking a pass rusher like Orakpo who fits a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.

4. Seattle Seahawks, WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech - Don't be surprised if the Seahawks take an offensive tackle considering Walter Jones is getting up in age. That said, finding a top receiver is a must for a team expecting to turn things around quickly.

5. Cleveland Browns, OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest - The Browns take the best player available on the defensive side of the ball in Curry. Ohio State Buckeyes Malcolm Jenkins and Beanie Wells will also get long looks.

6. Cincinnati Bengals, OT Jason Smith, Baylor- If the Bengals are concerned about Carson Palmer staying healthy then this pick needs to be a left tackle. I expect Smith to move up boards in coming weeks with his rare athleticism for the position. This said a RB, MLB or DE would not be a shock considering their past draft history.

7. Oakland Raiders, OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia- The Raiders are a wild card considering their propensity for drafting skills guys but this offense and JaMarcus Russell are going nowhere until they learn to protect the QB. This said, WR Jeremy Maclin and a DE are possibilities with Al Davis calling the shots.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars, OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss- The Jaguars has a whole week to check out Oher at the Senior Bwol and while they know he is a bit of a work in progress, he is a tremendous talent for an offensive line in need of an upgrade.

9. Green Bay Packers, DT BJ Raji, Boston College- With the team switching to a 3-4, Raji is the Casey Hampton-like building block in the middle. A 3-4 outside linebacker is also a possibility but those types should be plentiful in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

10. San Francisco 49ers, QB Mark Sanchez, USC - If Sanchez slips past Kansas City he could easily fall into the 49ers laps at No. 10 overall. Despite other needs, the 49ers would be hard pressed to pass on the QB here.

11. Buffalo Bills, TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State- The Bills would love to have Raji fall to them here but with him off the board they debate TE vs. DE. Pettigrew is the safer pick and his all-around talents are a nice fit for their run-heavy offense.

12. Denver Broncos, ILB Rey Maualuga, USC- The Broncos have major needs on defense and none bigger than adding an intimidating MLB to the front seven.

13. Washington Redskins, DE Everette Brown, Florida State - With the top four offensive tackles off the board the Redskins take the best defensive player available in Everette Brown. He is undersized but his pass rushing skills should allow him to make an immediate contribution.

14. New Orleans Saints, CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State- The Saints have tried to fix their CB problems via free agency with little success. They finally decide to fix the leak rather than plugging it but drafting the top cornerback in the draft.

15. Houston Texans, DE Paul Kruger, Utah - The Texans are looking for a DE to play opposite Mario Williams and Kruger is a fast rising prospects who will bring the heat on the QB without being a liability against the run. Center Alex Mack could also be considered here.

16. San Diego Chargers, RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia- LT is showing wear on the tires and Darren Sproles is not an every down back even if he re-signs. Moreno is a good runner and receiver for a team that likes its backs to do both. If Moreno is off the board then look for them to take LeSean McCoy.

17. New York Jets, CB Vontae Davis, Illinois- A RB or WR is tempting considering the talent still on the board but CB is their top need and Davis is the type of physical man corner Rex Ryan likes.

18. Chicago Bears, WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri- The Bears will consider defensive ends and defensive tackles but adding a playmaker like Maclin will stretch defenses and give them another dangerous kick returner as well.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State- The Bucs need to add playmakers on offense and Wells gives them a power back to wear down opposing defenses and take pressure off of the QB position. Darrius Heyward-Bey or Percy Harvin are intriquing options if they want to go the receiver route instead.

20. Detroit Lions, OT Eben Britton, Arizona- The Lions follow the Falcons model from a year ago and take a left tackle to protect Matthew Stafford as the new staff hopefully realizes Jeff Backus is not the answer on the left side. MLB James Laurinaitis would be an intriguing option in a Chris Spielman sort of way.

21. Philadelphia Eagles, RB LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh- The Eagles are disappointed to see Britton go off the board in front of them and turn their attention to finding a running mate for Brian Westbrook. McCoy is a good all-around back who can share the job in the short term and protects the Eagles in the event Westbrook begins to show his age.

22. Minnesota Vikings, CB DJ Moore, Vanderbilt - After considering the offensive linemen, the Vikings take a best player available at a position of need approach to select DJ Moore. Moore is a top cover corner who can also provide help in the return game.

23. New England Patriots, OLB Brian Cushing, USC- Cushing is an excellent fit for the Patriots defense with his ability to play inside and out. Similar to Mike Vrabel, he continues the team's re-loading effort on the defensive side of the ball.

24. Atlanta Falcons, DE/DT Tyson Jackson, LSU - While most people think Jackson is more of a 3-4 DE, I think the Falcons will take a hard look at Jackson as a defensive tackle considering he is taller, heavier and more talented than the other defensive tackles on the board.

25. Miami Dolphins, DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State - After building up the trenches last year the Dolphins look to add a young pass rusher to develop on the outside of their 3-4.

26. Baltimore Ravens, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland- The Ravens don't have to look far to fill their need at WR with the former Maryland Terrapin. Heyward-Bey has the combination of size and speed teams crave. He is also one of the fastest rising prospects on the board.

27. Indianapolis Colts, DT Peria Jerry, Ole Miss - Jerry is an undersized defensive tackle in the Tampa-two mold. His ability to provide an interior pass rush and anchor against the run fills a long-time need for the Colts.

28. Philadelphia Eagles, OT William Beatty, Connecticut- The Eagles are not thrilled to be reaching a bit for Beatty but if there is one thing the Eagles expect to get with one of their two first round picks it is an offensive tackle. Beatty has the athleticism to play left tackle but remains a work in progress.

29. New York Giants, WR Kenny Britt, Rutgers- The Giants consider taking a MLB like Laurinaitis but realize if they want one of the top receivers they may have to reach for one here. Britt is a big, tall receiver with a physical style that would help fill the void left by Plaxico Burress.

30. Tennessee Titans, WR Percy Harvin, Florida- The Titans finally grab a wide receiver whom defenses will have to account for in Harvin. His route running is a little raw but Harvin is an excellent playmaker in the open field and should make an impact as a slot receiver and returner a la DeSean Jackson.

31. Arizona Cardinals, RB Donald Brown, Connecticut - Many have not heard a lot about Brown but he is a versatile all-around back who can run inside and out plus catch passes out of the backfield. His versatility should combine well with Hightower's sledge hammer style.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers, G Duke Robinson, Oklahoma - The Steelers really want an offensive tackle but they do the next best thing which is draft the best guard in the draft in Robinson.

To view rounds two and three visit NFLDraft101.com.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.

2009 Senior Bowl Recap: Defense Studs and Duds

Chris Maier — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:14:57 -0500

The 2009 Senior Bowl is now in the books. Some considered it a down year for the game, given the number of players who decided to sit this one out (including Tyson Jackson, Aaron Curry, and Michael Johnson).

While the first-round talent was in short supply, the number of players looking to improve their stock was not. Without further ado, here are this year’s Senior Bowl Defensive Studs and Duds (by position).

Defensive Tackle

Studs: Led by the Senior Bowl’s top performer, BJ Raji, the defensive tackles had a pretty strong week in Mobile. Raji was a terror on the offensive linemen and was virtually unblockable in one-on-one drills with his combination of size, power, and quickness.

After entering the season as a fourth-round prospect, Raji has been drawing comparisons to Casey Hampton and is now getting Top 10 consideration. Among the other defensive tackles, Peria Jerry showed good technique and strength, while Evander (Ziggy) Hood showed a great spin move and an excellent motor (like Trevor Laws last year).

Duds: Fili Moala looks like a Top 10 pick on one play and a practice squad player the next. While he possesses elite talent, his inconsistency is causing him to slide into the third or fourth round area. He especially needs to improve his anchoring at the point of attack, as he was driven off the ball several times throughout the week.

Ron Brace had an OK week, but not the breakout week he needed to get out of teammate BJ Raji's shadow. He looked too much like a one-dimensional run-stuffer (not that there is anything wrong with that). Mitch King showed a great motor, but at 275 pounds, you wonder whether he has a true position in the pros, because he plays like a DT but looks like a DE.

Defensive End

Studs: Like the defensive tackles, the defensive ends had a pretty good week in Mobile. One player who may have played his way into the first round was Northern Illinois' Larry English. He showcased excellent pass rush skills and was stronger than expected against the run. He may fit best as a 3-4 OLB, but it might be a mistake to pigeon hole him as one. Put him in an NFL strength program and he may add 10 pounds of muscle and develop into a good pass rushing 4-3 end.

Aside from English, three late round prospects may have played themselves into fourth-round consideration: Robert Ayers, David Veikune, and Lawrence Sidbury.

Sidbury is a raw pass rusher out of Richmond who showed excellent pass rush skills and built on his excellent Shrine Bowl performance. Ayers has 4-3 DE size and showed good all-around skills, adding further intrigue to Tennessee's one-year wonder. Like Ayers, Veikune has flown under the radar, but he took advantage of his opportunity by blowing by tackles and guards all week. If only he could stop the run.

Duds: Cody Brown hoped to show he had the athleticism to be a 3-4 OLB but failed to show the athleticism required for the transition. He is just one of many undersized defensive ends this year. USC’s Kyle Moore was similar to teammate Moala as his inconsistency keeps you wondering what player you are really going to get.

Linebacker

Studs: There were bigger names at linebacker, including a trio out of USC, but the player who improved his stock the most was converted safety Nic Harris. He entered the weak as a slow-footed safety, but at linebacker, he was great in coverage and rushing the passer while showing excellent instincts.

In addition to Harris, Darry Beckwith lashed sideline-to-sideline speed and good instincts, making him a good fit inside or on the weakside. Of the USC trio, Brian Cushing had the best week, showing the versatility to play inside or out.

Duds: LB Rey Maualuga is arguably the best MLB in the draft, but despite his obvious talents, he did not dominate as expected. He makes a lot of impact plays, but a week’s worth of workouts reminded you he misses some, too. Despite all the pub, Clay Matthews is more of a 3-4 OLB than a 4-3 one. He is a high-motor guy who will maximize his talents, but the more he is used as a pass rusher, the better.

Clint Sintim was a bit of a disappointment as he continued the trend of Virginia linebackers who look great when attacking the ball but struggled reading plays and appeared stiff in coverage.

Cornerback

Studs: You can make the argument that along with DT BJ Raji, CB Alphonso Smith was one of the top two performers of Senior Bowl Week. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for with excellent coverage skills, anticipation, ball skills, and recovery speed.

He stuck with receivers all week long, solidifying his hold on a first-round slot. Two other corners who improved their stock were Oregon State’s Keenan Lewis and San Jose State’s Coye Francies. Lewis has rare height for a corner at 6’1" and displayed good press coverage skills and a better than expected ability to turn and run with receivers.

Although not the breakout performer Dominque Rodgers Cromartie was a year ago, Francies was the best player in Mobile you had never heard of before. He's a rail thin six-footer with excellent speed, good coverage awareness, and a willingness to get physical.

Duds: Darius Butler looked tentative in coverage all week. For a guy known for his speed, he allowed too big of a cushion and generally looked tentative. Domonique Johnson hoped to be a small-school star but generally looked out of his league. He has talent, but he is a raw developmental type at this point.

Safety

Studs: The safeties struggled most of the week, but two players who improved their stock were Patrick Chung and Louis Delmas. Chung’s coverage skills and awareness were better than expected for an in-the-box safety. He may have elevated himself to being the top strong safety in the draft. Delmas held his own versus the big boys and looked to be the best free safety on the field.

Duds: After battling injuries and inconsistency his senior year, William Moore needed to have a great week to solidify his first-round grade. Unfortunately, he struggled in coverage all week and may have fallen out of the first day. His lack of speed is a concern, and some now wonder whether he will need to switch to OLB.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Chief scout Dan Wernery contributed to this article and can be reached at dwernery@nfldraft101.com.

2009 Senior Bowl Recap: Offense—Studs and Duds

Chris Maier — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:13:25 -0500

The 2009 Senior Bowl is now in the books. Some considered it a down year for the game considering the number of players who decided to sit this one out (including Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, James Laurinaitis, and Michael Johnson). While the first round talent was in short supply, the number of players looking to improve their stock was not.

Without further ado, here are this year’s Senior Bowl Studs and Duds (by position).

Quarterbacks

Studs

This has to be the worst QB class in the Senior Bowl in years, considering the player who looked the best, Pat White, was criticized all week by numerous media outlets for not playing wide receiver or running back.

Personally, I don’t blame White for playing QB because despite his flaws (namely height and accuracy) he was easily the best QB in Mobile. He displayed above average arm strength, good pocket awareness, and of course, excellent mobility. He especially impressed in the team portion of practices, where his instincts shined.

While he will likely be no more than a backup QB in the NFL, the emergence of the Wildcat will make White a third round draft pick by someone on draft day.

Sam Houston State’s Rhett Bomar was not terrible but did not take advantage of the opportunity and remains a fourth round pick at best.

Duds

I want to say all of them, as poor passing made it difficult to evaluate the receivers. Limiting the duds to two, let’s go with Cullen Harper and Nathan Brown. Harper continues to baffle the scouts who once projected him as the top senior QB. He struggled mightily with accuracy and awareness all week.

As for Brown, he struggled in every facet of the game, including poor accuracy and a below average arm. Most concerning how was how many center exchange problems he had. Fumbled snaps were such a problem the coaching staffs decided to use a lot more shotgun formations than evaluators would have liked during the game on Saturday.

Running backs

Studs

Andre Brown entered the week as a bit of a mystery. His play at NC State was up and down due in part to injuries, but this week he showed good power and burst and may have elevated himself to the top senior RB prospect.

Liberty’s Rashad Jennings also had a good week displaying a nice blend of speed and power. Overall though he was more good than great, meaning his stock remains in the fourth/fifth round range.

If there was a breakout guy, it was Jeremiah Johnson, who showcased big play ability out of the backfield. However, his lack of size will likely keep him a mid-round/late round pick.

Duds

It’s not that they played bad, but neither Arian Foster nor James Davis did anything to distinguish themselves this week. In the words of Dennis Green, “they are what we thought they were.”

Wide Receivers

Studs

Derrick Williams showcased good hands, excellent run after catch ability, and overall was the most talented receiver on the field. Kenny McKinley, Brian Robiskie, and Juaquin Iglesias all had solid weeks as well. In particular, Iglesias showed better than expected route running for a guy coming out of the spread.

Duds

I know I listed him above, but it is worth mentioning that Derrick Williams struggled mightily fielding punts and needs to work on his route running. Mike Wallace probably helped himself being here and built on an excellent final month of the season, but his upward mobility will be limited because he catches the ball with his body too often. He did show good speed and an ability to get separation.

Cal Poly’s Ramses Barden came in with high expectations but overall was merely average in terms of performance. In particular, his route running and ability to get off the line need work.

Tight Ends

Studs

Brandon Pettigrew had a good week and solidified his stranglehold on the No. 1 tight end position. While he does not possess blazing speed, he runs good routes, is an above average athlete, and most importantly is a good blocker.

Southern Mississippi’s Shawn Nelson was among the week’s biggest winners, as he showcased tremendous speed and surprisingly good blocking ability. Watching him shutdown Rey Maualuga in a pass rushing drill not once but twice was a nice statement for a guy considered undersized. Depending on his 40 time, he could be this year’s Dustin Keller (with better blocking).

Duds

None of the tight ends was especially bad, although Connor Barwin proved he was not a tight end. That said, Barwin might have been the best example of what the Senior Bowl is all about, as he wanted to be there so bad he was willing to play out of position just to showcase his athleticism in front of the scouts.

At defensive end he showed he was a raw but talented pass rusher. While he struggled in one on one drills, he played well in team drills when he was allowed to play more instinctively and the linemen were not focused on stopping just him.

Offensive Tackle

Studs

The tackle position lost a lot of its luster when Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith decided not to play, leaving Michael Oher as the only top talent at the position.

Oher showed why he is considered a first round pick with his athleticism and a bit of a mean streak. He also showed his flaws, namely an occasional lack of focus and a tendency to stand upright, making him vulnerable to bull rushes. While Oher was not the star of the week many had hoped, it is hard to grade him down too much because he was the only top tackle willing to play.

The next best tackle was probably William Beatty. Beatty was notorious for frequent holding calls, but he also showed the athleticism to play the left side. He could be the best of the second tier tackles in the draft.

Duds

Of the big name guys, Phil Loadholt was one of the biggest disappointments of the week. Despite being 6'8" and possessing long arms, his inability to handle speed rushers was noticeable, making a move to the right side or inside a necessity at the next level.

Troy Kropog was also a bit of a disappointment. He showed above average athleticism but was overwhelmed physically. Xavier Fulton struggled mightily all week as well.

Offensive Guard

Studs

None of the true guards had an especially good week. The best of the lot were Trevor Canfield and Tyronne Green, who both had their moments.

Duds

LSU G Herman Johnson entered the week as one of the top two guard prospects in the draft but was overpowered by defensive tackles and was out of his league against speed rushers. He may be a mountain of a man, but he was either out of shape and ill-prepared or he was exposed.

Center

Studs

The 2009 center class is being talked about as the best center class in years, and the group performed rather well during the week, so much so that if your team is looking for a guard, it would be a smart move to consider one of these centers first.

Alex Mack stood out as the best of the group, but Eric Wood and Antoine Caldwell both had good weeks as well. Wood looked especially good in team play when his ability to pull was on display.

Duds

Jonathan Luigs had an OK week, but his performance lagged behind a competitive group. He was overpowered by the defensive tackles and was a step slower than his competition.

Coming Soon: 2009 Senior Bowl Defensive Studs and Duds

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com and can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com. Chief Scout Dan Wernery contributed to this article and he can be reached at dwernery@nfldraft101.com

Previewing the 2009 College Football Senior Bowl

Chris Maier — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:53:54 -0500

With the growth of interest in the NFL and NFL Draft, the Senior Bowl has taken on a higher profile the past few years. With the addition of the NFL Network, fans now get to see the practices in addition to the game.

While casual fans will tune in just for the game, most of the scouts will have left by kickoff. For the scouts, the practices, especially Monday through Wednesday, are the key to the week.

How do the players match up compared to one another in workouts with pads? How do they perform in drills? What is their work ethic? In other words, a much deeper football analysis than the combine will provide and possibly a look one won't be able to find by watching the tape.

Here are six stories to watch:

1. How well do the small-school players perform?

The 2009 Senior Bowl features a larger than usual pool of players from FCS schools this year. Six players (QBs Nathan Brown and Rhett Bomar, RB Rashad Jennings, WR Ramses Barden, DE Lawrence Sidbury and CB Domonique Johnson) have been given their chance to show their wares vs. the big boys.

Even if scouts have had a chance to watch any of these players, it was not against top competition. In particular, I am looking forward to seeing how Rashad Jennings performs against a group of mid-round prospects.

2. Will a quarterback emerge from the week?

While it is exciting to see FCS quarterbacks Nathan Brown and Rhett Bomar being given an opportunity to play in the Senior Bowl, it is also a reflection on how weak this year's quarterback class is.

Will Bomar show he is the real deal? How will Pat White function in a pro-style offense? Is Graham Harrell a product of the Texas Tech system or a real pro prospect? We will have a much better answer to each of these questions by week's end.

3. Can Michael Oher take advantage of Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith skipping the Senior Bowl?

Those three linemen are all bunched together on most draft rankings for the No. 2 spot behind Andre Smith at offensive tackle in a deep class, with Oher being the one whose ranking fluctuates the most.

Some believe he is the most physically impressive and all-around tackle of the three, but he lacks consistency. Can he answer the questions about his ability to pick up schemes?

Can he showcase the remarkable athleticism for which he is known? No matter what, he earns points in my book for showing up and performing.

4. The battle royale at center.

The 2009 draft is loaded at the center position, and the top five guys (Alex Mack, Max Unger, Jonathan Luigs, Eric Wood, and Antoine Caldwell) are all here to show their stuff. A lot of money will be made by the one or ones who have a great week.

Both the North and South have some good measuring sticks at defensive tackle to evaluate their performance against, including BJ Raji and Ron Brace of the North and Vance Walker and Peria Jerry of the South.

5. How the safeties match up.

Six of NFLDraft101's seven top safeties have decided to show up this week and the only player not here is an underclassmen. William Moore is the top dog, but he will need to show strong coverage skills if he wants to move into the middle of round 1.

Two guys who will challenge to be Day One picks whom you may not have watched this season are Derek Pegues of Mississippi State and Louis Delmas of Western Michigan. This is their chance to show they belong with the top names at the position.

6. A strong 3-4 linebacker class.

It may not be a great year for outside linebackers but there it is an extremely deep group of 3-4 outside linebackers. While the 4-3 will be used exclusively during the games, the following players will be evaluated for their ability to get after the quarterback as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Defensive Ends: Larry English, Cody Brown, Connor Barwin, and Lawrence Sidbury
Outside Linebackers: Zack Follett, Clay Matthews, and Brian Cushing

Players I am most excited to see (not necessarily because they are the best at their position):

QB: Pat White - His last chance to prove he is an NFL QB.
RB: Rashard Jennings and Andre Brown - two guys with a lot to prove
WR: Mike Wallace and Ramses Barden
TE: Shawn Nelson
OT: Michael Oher and Troy Kropog
OG: The north trio of Urbik, Levitre, and Canfield
C: All of them - This is the position to watch.
DT: BJ Raji - Can he be this year's Senior Bowl practice star?
DE: Connor Barwin, Larry English, and Lawrence Sidbury (hopefully they spell Sidbury's name on his jersey right this week). Also, why is Barwin playing TE and DE? His future is clearly at DE.
LB: Darry Beckwith and Zack Follett - How do they perform against the position's best?
CB: The North team's practices where you have a strong collection of 2nd - 4th round talent. This week may be what separates them.
S: A deep and talented group.

Guys who decided to sit this one out: (if you are not a first round guy you are taking a big risk not showing up)

Making a mistake unless they are injured:
WR Demetrius Byrd, LSU
RB: Javon Ringer, Michigan State
OT Jason Smith, Baylor - May have lost his chance to be the second tackle taken by sitting out.
OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia - Missing his chance to impress the Bengals coaches who are drafting sixth and need a LT.
DE: Michael Johnson - He had a lot to gain by playing. Unless he was slow or extremely week, I don't see how he had a lot to lose. He is all about upside anyway.

Not a big surprise:
OG Duke Robinson
DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
ILB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State - Does not want to take a chance on having his athleticism nitpicked.

OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest - His stock is soaring already.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com. He can be contacted at cmaier@nfldraft101.com.