With Matthew Stafford already locked up as the No. 1 overall pick, all eyes turn to USC QB Mark Sanchez. Where will he fall? Some late-night ESPN viewing can clarify some things:
- Chris Mortensen said there is about a 20% chance the St. Louis Rams will take Sanchez at No. 2
- Both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay believe Sanchez will go off the board when the Seattle Seahawks picks at No. 4.
- Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels told Ed Werder that he does not believe his team will trade up to take Sanchez, nor would he be a lock if he fell to No. 12, the Broncos' first of two first-rounders. He also said the team has not contacted anyone about trading up, but admitted that the Jacksonville Jaguars have contacted him about moving up to No. 8.
- Sal Paolantonio caught up with New York Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum after a draft meeting, and the GM told the ESPN reporter that his team is in fact interested in moving up from No. 17, most likely to draft Sanchez. Many people believe it would take the Jets' first-rounder, second-rounder and fourth-rounder to move up to No. 8 to draft the QB. Another scenario that has been floated around involves the Cleveland Browns, Brady Quinn and the No. 5 overall pick.
Other late-night notes:
- With 11 draft picks this year, the New England Patriots could possibly move up into the top 10 to draft some defensive help.
And don't forget, the draft day LIVE BLOG kicks off at 3:45 pm ET/12:45 pm PT.
Showing posts with label Matthew Stafford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew Stafford. Show all posts
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Cutler and the Draft
As the Jay Cutler saga continues in Denver, a number of teams have turned their attention to the situation. And clearly, this will have an enormous affect on the draft.
First and foremost, if Cutler is traded from the Broncos, they would sit pretty at No. 12 to possibly take a quarterback. I do believe either Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez will be available at that position, and the Broncos would clearly have to take a quarterback. That is, unless they instead choose to go the one-year rental route (a la Jeff Garcia).
Among the teams interested in Cutler:
Detroit Lions (picks 1 and 20)
New York Jets (pick 17)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (pick 19)
Minnesota Vikings (pick 22)
Clearly, if either of these teams - or any other team for that matter - acquires Cutler, their draft day needs will be drastically altered. Furthermore, the Broncos would at the very least acquire the team's first- and third-round picks in exchange for Cutler, giving Denver quite the drafting arsenal.
As the situation continues to unfold, the draft day picture will continue to develop.
First and foremost, if Cutler is traded from the Broncos, they would sit pretty at No. 12 to possibly take a quarterback. I do believe either Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez will be available at that position, and the Broncos would clearly have to take a quarterback. That is, unless they instead choose to go the one-year rental route (a la Jeff Garcia).
Among the teams interested in Cutler:
Detroit Lions (picks 1 and 20)
New York Jets (pick 17)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (pick 19)
Minnesota Vikings (pick 22)
Clearly, if either of these teams - or any other team for that matter - acquires Cutler, their draft day needs will be drastically altered. Furthermore, the Broncos would at the very least acquire the team's first- and third-round picks in exchange for Cutler, giving Denver quite the drafting arsenal.
As the situation continues to unfold, the draft day picture will continue to develop.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Post-Combine Thoughts
[Note: I apologize for the lack of any substantive posting during the Combine. Such is the life of a college student.]
There's nothing like the NFL Combine, really. The eyes of the football world turn to Indianapolis to see how high a guy can jump, how far he can jump when standing still, and how many reps he can do on the bench press.
Do you get two points if your starting defensive tackle can do 28 reps at 225? No?
The combine did, however, provide us with some clarity in a couple of situations. The offensive tackle picture became a little less muddier. Andre Smith decided it would be a good idea to leave the Combine early and not tell anyone. This erratic move, coupled with his Sugar Bowl suspension and weight issues, clearly makes him the No. 3 offensive tackle. As for the other two - Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe - some people believe Smith has the slight edge. When it's all said and done, all three will be first round draft picks, but I still hold to the belief that Monroe will be the first tackle off the board.
Aside from that, I wouldn't say there were major changes at other positions. Matthew Stafford is still the guy at quarterback, with Mark Sanchez a close second. On the defensive side of the ball, the top players at each position remain intact.
In other words, the Combine served to reinforce our beliefs - not change them.
There's nothing like the NFL Combine, really. The eyes of the football world turn to Indianapolis to see how high a guy can jump, how far he can jump when standing still, and how many reps he can do on the bench press.
Do you get two points if your starting defensive tackle can do 28 reps at 225? No?
The combine did, however, provide us with some clarity in a couple of situations. The offensive tackle picture became a little less muddier. Andre Smith decided it would be a good idea to leave the Combine early and not tell anyone. This erratic move, coupled with his Sugar Bowl suspension and weight issues, clearly makes him the No. 3 offensive tackle. As for the other two - Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe - some people believe Smith has the slight edge. When it's all said and done, all three will be first round draft picks, but I still hold to the belief that Monroe will be the first tackle off the board.
Aside from that, I wouldn't say there were major changes at other positions. Matthew Stafford is still the guy at quarterback, with Mark Sanchez a close second. On the defensive side of the ball, the top players at each position remain intact.
In other words, the Combine served to reinforce our beliefs - not change them.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
If the Draft Happened Today...
If the draft happened today, how would the top five picks play out? Like this:
1. Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia
There's no denying Detroit needs a quarterback, and right now that is probably the Lions' most pressing need. Which signal-caller will it be? Stafford seems to get the slight edge on a majority of boards, and as of now, he gets the edge here.
2. St. Louis Rams: OT Andre Smith, Alabama
It's no secret that the Rams have needed a solid offensive tackle since Orlando Pace was in his prime, and Smith fits that need. He has the physical attributes and skill to be that type of tackle, and the intangibles to go with it.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
The Chiefs don't need a QB - they need an anchor on the offensive line. Monroe provides that stability in the first round.
4. Seattle Seahawks: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
The Seahawks haven't had a big-play wide receiver in quite some time, and Crabtree is an all-world talent. He is, at this point, the best player on the board (and might have been from the start) as well as the best player at a need position.
5. Cleveland Browns: OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
The Browns need help on defense, and Curry is the best player left on the board. He is an athletic linebacker who brings immediate ability to the table. He could start on day one, and Cleveland certainly needs that type of help.
1. Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia
There's no denying Detroit needs a quarterback, and right now that is probably the Lions' most pressing need. Which signal-caller will it be? Stafford seems to get the slight edge on a majority of boards, and as of now, he gets the edge here.
2. St. Louis Rams: OT Andre Smith, Alabama
It's no secret that the Rams have needed a solid offensive tackle since Orlando Pace was in his prime, and Smith fits that need. He has the physical attributes and skill to be that type of tackle, and the intangibles to go with it.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
The Chiefs don't need a QB - they need an anchor on the offensive line. Monroe provides that stability in the first round.
4. Seattle Seahawks: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
The Seahawks haven't had a big-play wide receiver in quite some time, and Crabtree is an all-world talent. He is, at this point, the best player on the board (and might have been from the start) as well as the best player at a need position.
5. Cleveland Browns: OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
The Browns need help on defense, and Curry is the best player left on the board. He is an athletic linebacker who brings immediate ability to the table. He could start on day one, and Cleveland certainly needs that type of help.
Friday, January 23, 2009
TOP 5: Quarterbacks
(1) Matthew Stafford, Georgia
(1) Mark Sanchez, USC
(3) Josh Freeman, Kansas State
(4) Nate Davis, Ball State
(5) Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State
The question at the quarterback position remains: Who is number one? Is it Stafford or Sanchez?. Depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer. I have done nothing to settle that debate because I truly see them on equal footing for now. That could change, of course, as teams continue to evaluate their performance at the various scouting stops.
Everyone agrees, however, that after these two, it's really slim pickings. Freeman has ascended the draft charts to be the (almost) consensus number three, with Davis close behind.
Everyone also seems to be in agreement that Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Missouri's Chase Daniel are quickly falling out of favor. I was never high on Harrell, but I think Daniel could surprise as a late-round draft pick.
Other names to watch: Drew Willy (Buffalo), Cullen Harper (Clemson), Rudy Carpenter (Arizona State)
These are not the next three names on my list, but they're three guys who should garner some attention on day two and, if drafted, have a lot of potential.
(1) Mark Sanchez, USC
(3) Josh Freeman, Kansas State
(4) Nate Davis, Ball State
(5) Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State
The question at the quarterback position remains: Who is number one? Is it Stafford or Sanchez?. Depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer. I have done nothing to settle that debate because I truly see them on equal footing for now. That could change, of course, as teams continue to evaluate their performance at the various scouting stops.
Everyone agrees, however, that after these two, it's really slim pickings. Freeman has ascended the draft charts to be the (almost) consensus number three, with Davis close behind.
Everyone also seems to be in agreement that Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Missouri's Chase Daniel are quickly falling out of favor. I was never high on Harrell, but I think Daniel could surprise as a late-round draft pick.
Other names to watch: Drew Willy (Buffalo), Cullen Harper (Clemson), Rudy Carpenter (Arizona State)
These are not the next three names on my list, but they're three guys who should garner some attention on day two and, if drafted, have a lot of potential.
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