Well, Round 1 is in the books, so lets see what we think will happen after all the excitement of round 1 is over.PICK 33: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Johnthan Banks CB, Mississippi State
Banks was widely regarded as the #2 corner in the country, behind Milliner, for most of the season, but his stock took a hit with relatively poor 40 times.
He is a physical corner who showed a knack for making big plays, both in coverage and against ball carriers. He plays faster than his average 40 time shows and he is a great value for a Jacksonville team who is trying to build a good young defense.
PICK 34: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (from CHIEFS) Johnathan Hankins NT, Ohio State Hankins is a massive specimen of a human being, standing at 6'3" and 320 lbs. That, in and of itself, makes him noticeable. This is especially true for teams who run a 3 man front, as he is not only large, but has shown good enough agility and movement that he has gotten snaps at Defensive End in college.
The Niner need to prepare for the future without Justin Smith, and Hankins is a nice start towards that, and should be valuable as a rookie as he strengthens the rotation.
PICK 35: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
D.J. Fluker OT, Alabama
Fluker projects best to Right Tackle in the NFL as he is a power run blocker who has question marks around whether he has the foot speed to protect the blind side against premier NFL pass rushers.
He is a powerful human being, and will add immediate depth to an Eagles line that has needed depth to deal with injuries over the past few years.
PICK 36: DETROIT LIONS
Matt Elam SS, Florida
Elam is a shorter safety, but he plays very physical and has good speed an instincts in coverage.
He was the highest rated SS on my board, and the Lions will have a nice partner to work with Louis Delmas at the back end of their defense. It will be interesting to see how his speed and ball skills translate against slot receivers and tight ends that he will doubtless spend a good amount of his time chasing.
Should start from day one for the Lions, and his mean streak will suit their defense and scheme just fine.
PICK 37: CINCINNATI BENGALS (from OAKLAND RAIDERS)
Eddie Lacy RB, Alabama
The Bengals have themselves set up to the point where they can truly take the best available player. At this point, the best player is the physical bowling ball of a running back from Bama, Eddie Lacy.
We all know what Lacy is.
He is a punishing back with great agility who ran behind a dominant O-Line. He'll be running behind a good one in Cincy too.
PICK 38: ARIZONA CARDINALS
Dallas Thomas OT, Tennessee
There are questions about whether Thomas is suited to play Left Tackle in the league, but he is a starting guard at worst, and O-Line is a HUGE area of need for the Cardinals.
I think Thomas can step in at right tackle, with Warmack and left guard, and the Cardinals Line will be improved dramatically, and could allow the Cardinals to have the play-action passing game to give Carson Palmer a shot to make some noise at the end of his career.
PICK 39: CLEVELAND BROWNS (Used in Supplemental Draft)
PICK 40: NEW YORK JETS
Geno Smith QB, West Virginia
This is probably later than he will go, but I think this is about right.
Geno has the talent, and am rooting for him, but the Mountaineers went in the tank bigtime in the second half of last season. I like him to sit and learn for a year from Garrard, regardless of who is starting, and take over as soon as the Jets give up on Sanchez...or Garrard calls it a career, depending on who is starting this year.
Geno can throw the ball, but he still needs to learn how to play Quarterback.
PICK 41: TENNESSEE TITANS
Kyle Long OT, Oregon
Long is an extremely athletic tackle who projects well as a left tackle down the road, but he is still relatively new to the position, having only played it for the last 2 seasons.
This is a nice value pick for the Titans who need depth but can stand to coach him up if needed. Look for Long to be a bookend for them for a long time.
PICK 42: BUFFALO BILLS
Ryan Nassib QB, Syracuse
Nassib is nearly the prototype for the pocket passer, except for 2 things.
First, he's a touch short for the prototype, though 6'2" is just fine, and he has a good strong build to stand up to the pounding that is delivered to NFL QB's.
Second, he is not near as accurate as you would like to see, especially on deep throws, which is surprising with his tremendous arm strength.
He can be great, and he is a leader...and at pick 42, he is a nice value bet.
PICK 43: MIAMI DOLPHINS
DeAndre Hopkins WR, Clemson
Hopkins was a leader from day one for the Tigers and picked the slack when his running mates were out on several occasions.
He is a strong receiver with enough speed who has tremendous polish for a receiver coming into the Pros. For a team like Miami who needs receivers to play immediately, he is custom made.
Here is the reviver to put opposite Mike Wallace to make team pay for that double coverage.
PICK 44: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Zach Ertz TE, Stanford
Luke Stocker hasn't really turned into the players that the Bucs had hoped for.
Ertz is a tall receiving tight end who catches the ball very well, and who has learned to play as an in line tight end. Let's be honest about one thing, when you play for Stanford, you block or you sit.
He will fit the physical approach the Schiano wants to play while providing an underneath receiver for Josh Freeman.
PICK 45: CAROLINA PANTHERS
Damonte Moore OLB/DE, Texas A and M
It wasn't long ago that Moore was considered a potential top 10 pick before he found down the draft boards.
Moore played the same position that Von Miller did, the 'Joker' position, and he was very effective. He is a rangy athlete that runs well for and end, but perhaps not well enough to be a 3 down defensive end. The Panthers would be wise to remember that he played faster than he measured and add a difference maker to their defense.
Flat out, best player on the board goes to Carolina.
PICK 46: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (Forfeited Pick for Bountygate scandal)
PICK 47: SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Shamarko Thomas SS, Syracuse
The Chargers need to restock their defensive secondary. Shamarko is on the short side, but he is strong, aggressive, and incredibly fast for a safety. He is an in-the-box safety who is best when used as a blitzer, but he has the speed to run with any receiver in the league.
PICK 48: ST. LOUIS RAMS
Mike Gillislee RB, Florida
The Rams need a replacement for Stephen Jackson, and Gillislee is a nice all-around back avoids solid hits and shoots through gaps as quick as anyone. Once he shoots through, he has the speed to break a big play.
He's not likely to make anyone forget Stephen Jackson, but he's got some skills and could pair with Isaiah Pead to give them a nice platoon.
PICK 49: DALLAS COWBOYS
Johnathan Franklin RB, UCLA
With the release of Felix Jones, the Cowboys need a platoon mate for DeMarco Murray. Murray is a #1 back, but he has an injury history, so they need another back for insurance. Franklin was very effective for the Bruins leaving campus with most of the rushing records.
He is tremendous with the ball in his hands. He can shake, and he can really run, with a low center of gravity which gives him the ability to break more tackles than would be expected. The question is whether he can catch the ball well out of the backfield. If he had shown that ability, he may have been the only first round back in this draft.
PICK 50: PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Joseph Randle RB, Oklahoma State
Randle has good speed and great acceleration, running with more physicality than his upright stance and lean frame would suggest. He hits the hole decisively and has shown a good instinct for when to shake and when to lower his shoulder.
Additionally, he has shown that he can be an every down back as a solid pass blocker and receiver out of the backfield.
He does need to focus on ball security and continue to add strength, but was the top RB on my board until he ran a tad slower than I expected and others exceeded my expectations.
The Steelers need a running back right now, and with their offense revolving around Big Ben, they need one who can be useful in the passing game. Randle is the kind of back who has proved he can work in a shotgun and has the skillset to step out into the slot as well if needed.
PICK 51: NEW YORK GIANTS
T.J. McDonald FS, USC
McDonald is a big safety with all the tools to play at the next level.
He is very aggressive in supporting the run and is a proven tackler, but is not the best coverage safety in this draft. He may be best suited to play a role along the lines of what Troy Polamalu does for the Steelers where teams can't scheme as well to take advantage of him in coverage.
The Giants need to replenish at safety and Mcdonald may be an upgrade at either spot.
PICK 52: CHICAGO BEARS
Alec Ogletree OLB, Georgia
The Bears need to replenish at linebacker and Ogletree is the kind of electric talent that will take a long way back to where they expect their defense to be, especially when paired with Kevin Minter.
Ogletree's background as a safety and upper tier foot speed will give the Bears defense the ability to stay in their base sets more often as he will be able to cover tight ends and receivers more easily than most.
PICK 53: WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Terrance Williams WR, Baylor
The Redskins need a lead receiver for RGIII who can really take advantage of that cannon he has connected to his right shoulder.
Williams paired nicely with Kendall Wright as outside receivers at Baylor and will have some relationship with Griffin coming in the door, which should allow him to put his deep speed and good size to the Redskins' advantage earlier that some other receivers may.
He is coming from a different type of offense and will have to learn to run the underneath routes much more crisply than he showed at Baylor, but he is a legit deep threat which is something the Redskins need to keep the safeties from cheating up to help against Griffin's running.
PICK 54: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
E.J. Manuel QB, Florida State
The Vikings have not gotten the production that they were hoping for from their last Florida State QB, and it's time to bring in another to give him some fresh competition.
Manuel has question marks, especially around his consistent accuracy, but I think those are just a question of improving his footwork and being more decisive in his reads. He also needs to be aware of ball security as he has been known to be loose with the ball while running.
Those question marks aside, this may be the most talented QB in this draft. He is big, fast, and strong, both throwing and physically. He can make every throw, and has shown tremendous touch down the field at times, and will be a legit threat to run away from defenses when flushed, even at the NFL level.
The best thing I saw about him in college though, was that he didn't lose the big games. This is a QB who won 4 bowl games, including 2 where he came off the bench to spell Christian Ponder early in his career.
If they can smooth out a few minor mechanical issues, Manuel has a shot to be the best of the bunch and he's too good a value to pass up here.
PICK 55: CINCINNATI BENGALS
Keenan Allen WR, California
Allen has shot himself in the foot in this off-season.
Early on he was the top WR on some boards, but ran on a bad leg and failed a pot test, which dropped him about 50 spots...ok maybe 40 is more realistic.
Allen was a stud on a team where he was the only real threat, and he did it over and over again.
He is big, fast, polished, and believes that every football belongs to him. If he gets all of his speed back and can stay out of trouble, like he did before this season, the Bengals will have a steal of a WR to pair with AJ Green.
PICK 56: MIAMI DOLPHINS (From COLTS)
Jordan Poyer CB, Oregon State
The Dolphins lost both of their starting CB's over the last year, and need to restock.
Poyer is a shutdown corner with good size who was tested regularly by NFL-caliber QB's while playing in the Pac-12.
He will start earlier, rather than later, for the Fins.
PICK 57: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Kawann Short DL, Purdue
The Packers defense is definitely the weak link and the weakest part of a 3-man front is nearly always run defense.
Short will give them a legit talent on the edge without having to move B.J. Raji out of the middle.
PICK 58: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Kenjon Barner RB, Oregon
The Seahawks love to add difference making talent to their roster and a speed back is one thing they do not have at this point.
Barner is the best of that breed in this draft and will add an explosiveness to the Seahawks O, that they have not had in the Pete Carroll era. He has excellent acceleration and top end speed, with all the shake you could ever want, and he catches the ball well. He is, at minimum, a premier third down back.
I think he can be more.
PICK 59: HOUSTON TEXANS
Ryan Swope WR, Texas A and M
People looked at Ryan Swope as a Wes Welker clone. The slot guy who's a little undersized and we're not sure how well he runs, but dang does he produce.
The thing is, he keeps breaking big plays....hmmm. Oh yeah, that bit about him not running well....could not have been less true. And the undersized...yeah no. Swope is a legit 6'0' and ran a SUB 4.3 40.
It is true that he is best in the slot, but he has the skills and polish to play wherever. He was successful in a pro scheme, and he was successful in a spread theme.
The Texans need to get Andre Johnson some help, and here it is.
PICK 60: DENVER BRONCOS
Alex Okafor DE, Texas
Okafor is a strong DE who has shown a good motor and a tremendous bull rush with very good hands.
He is especially strong against the run, but has shown the ability to generate pressure on occasion.
He projects well as a Left End for a 4 man front, shoring up against the run and providing occasional QB pressures.
PICK 61: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Quinton Patton WR, Louisiana Tech
The Pats need wide receivers and Patton is a good one.
He played in a up-tempo spread system, which should translate well to New England's attack and Patton was the star of the show. He has good enough speed, great agility, and a strong frame to go fight for the ball, while using his long arms to catch the ball away from his body which he uses to shield defenders.
It will be a big jump for him from the WAC to the AFC East, but the potential is there for him to be the next bullet in Tom Brady's gun.
PICK 62: ATLANTA FALCONS
Larry Warford G, Kentucky
The Falcons are loaded and don't have any glaring needs, but their bread and butter is the inside running game. They use that to set up everything else, and having a dominated guard to clear space never hurts that facet of your game. Warford is a very large individual with a tremendously strong and low center of gravity.
Frankly, when he wants you to move, you are probably going to move, and that is all that Stephen Jackson is likely to need him to do.
PICK 63: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Joseph Fauria TE, UCLA
Jim Harbaugh loves to use Tight Ends in his schemes, and with Delanie Walker heading east, he needs a new one.
Joseph Fauria could be his man. He is a very different tight end than current star Vernon Davis, but he is just as much a threat as the speedy Davis.
Fauria runs well himself and checks in a 6'8" who is a considerable weapon in the passing game as his huge catch radius and considerable athleticism make him a nearly impossible cover for a single player. At minimum, his height and 35 inch verticle will make him a QB's dream in the red zone.
PICK 64: BALTIMORE RAVENS
Da'Rick Rogers WR, Tennessee Tech (Via Tennessee)
Rogers is a beast of an athlete who physically dominated corners while he was at Tennessee. If he had stayed there, we may be looking at 3 of the top 5 receivers in the draft coming from one team, or Cordarelle Patterson may have gone somewhere else...but I digress.
Rogers is big, fast, shifty, and has great hands. As a receiver, he has it all, but teams will take a hard look at why he finished at Tennessee Tech and not Tennessee. His coaches have said all the right things, but it seems like it would take a lot to get a talent like this kicked off a team.
That said, the Ravens need to replace Anquan Boldin, and Rogers is the kind of athlete that is worth the risk.
No comments:
Post a Comment