1. Miami, Chris Long, DE, Virginia. Though the Dolphins opened negotiations with offensive tackle Jake Long first, you can bet they’ll also do so with some of the others considered. And Bill Parcells will settle on Chris Long as the pick. Pick in previous draft: Long
2. St. Louis, Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State. The Rams could grab offensive tackle Jake Long, but feel the value will be there later in the draft. Gholston is a lot like current Rams’ star Leonard Little, without the drinking problem. Previous pick: Jake Long.
3. Atlanta, Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. No change from my previous draft, as Dorsey fills a big need.
4. Oakland, Jake Long, OT, Michigan. After striking out with Robert Gallery a couple of years ago, the Raiders go for another offensive tackle. Previous pick: Sedrick Ellis.
5. Kansas City, Matt Ryan, QB, Kansas City. The Chiefs will be looking to move down and pick up some extra selections – Baltimore being a possibility. Barring that, the Chiefs go for a QB. Previous pick: Ryan.
6. N.Y. Jets, Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. McFadden gives the Jets a running back of the future and a home run hitter. Previous pick: McFadden.
7. New England, Keith Rivers, LB, USC. The Patriots haven’t selected a linebacker higher than the fifth round under Bill Belichick. But that has to change this year. Previous pick: Gholston.
8. Baltimore, Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State. With Jonathan Ogden likely to retire, Clady makes sense here unless the Ravens can get Ryan. Previous pick: Clady.
9. Cincinnati, Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC. The Bengals failed in their attempts to acquire some beef up front in the offseason, but Ellis will fill that need. Previous pick: Rivers.
10. New Orleans, Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy. With Dorsey and Ellis off the board, the Saints go for a defensive playmaker. McKelvin paired with Reggie Bush would give the Saints a ridiculously good return game. Previous pick: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie..
11. Buffalo, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State. The Bills would like a receiver, but none are worthy of being taken this high. Previous pick: Derrick Harvey
12. Denver, Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt. With Matt Lepsis’ retirement, the need for an offensive tackle is too grat to overlook. Previous pick: Williams
13. Carolina, Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida. The Panthers need somebody to rush the passer opposite Julius Peppers. Previous pick: Branden Albert.
14. Chicago, Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt. The Bears have a big need at offensive tackle. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is also a possibility. Previous pick: Otah.
15. Detroit, Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois. With Kevin Jones’ release, the team won’t go with Tatum Bell as it’s top back. That makes Mendenhall a necessity.
16. Arizona, Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida. The Cardinals desperately need help at cornerback. Previous pick: McKelvin.
17. Minnesota, Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson. Merling takes care of a need for the Vikings. Previous Pick: Merling.
18. Houston, Branden Albert, G/OT, Virginia. The Texans need corner help, but with the top three off the borad, and Aqib Talib falling because of off-field problems, they go offensive line. Albert can play left tackle. Previous pick: Kenny Phillips.
19. Philadelphia, Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State. The Eagles have been trying to get Donovan McNabb wide receiver help since Terrell Owens went crazy in Philadelphia. Previous pick: Mike Jenkins.
20. Tampa Bay, Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma. Kelly was once considered the top receiver in the draft, but poor workouts caused him to drop. He won’t drop too far, though. Previous pick: Kelly.
21. Washington, Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. Three receivers in a row. Previous pick: Devin Thomas.
22. Dallas, Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas. Some felt Jerry Jones would move up to take Darren McFadden. But why do that when Jones is available? Previous pick: Jonathan Stewart.
23. Pittsburgh, Gosder Cherlius, OT, Boston College. The Steelers give serious thought to Stewart, but go for the bigger need. Previous pick: Quentin Groves.
24. Tennessee, DeSean Jackson, WR, California. The Titans need to get Vince Young some help. Previous pick: Kentwaan Balmer.
25. Seattle, Kentwaan Balmer, DT, North Carolina. The Seahawks are tempted by Stewart as well, but go for the bigger need. Previous pick: Martellus Bennett.
26. Jacksonville, Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC. Jackson’s stock is rising after a solid workout and the Jaguars need help at defensive end. Previous pick. Calais Campbell.
27. San Diego, Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon. After losing Michael Turner, the Chargers grab another powerful runner to pair with LaDanian Tomlinson. Previous pick: Gosder Cherlius.
28. Dallas, Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. The Cowboys roll the dice, even though Talib reportedly skipped a scheduled meeting with them recently. Previous pick: Talib.
29. San Francisco, Quentin Groves, LB, Auburn. Groves was an undersized defensive end at Auburn, but will play outside linebacker in San Francisco’s 3-4.
30. Green Bay, Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona. Al Harris and Charles Woodson aren’t getting any younger. Previous pick: Dan Connor.
31. N.Y. Giants, Kenny Phillps, S, Miami (Fla.). Phillips didn’t run well, but he’s a playmaker. Previous pick: Reggie Smith.
7 comments:
Dale,
What are your thoughts on Gosder? From some of what I've read, he struggled at LT last year, and projects as a RT in the NFL. As much as I really want to see the Steelers upgrade the offensive line, do you see him as substantial upgrade over Starks?
This would be a move not only for the now, but for the future. Starks would line up at RT, with Colon moving to LG.
They would then not be forced to re-sign Starks after the season unless he plays really well. Or, they could re-sign Starks and move him to LT if Marvel Smith's negotiations don't go well.
It's a Steelers-type move.
I agree with your insight, Dale, about potential moves on the OL. It might not be out of the realm of possibility that the Steelers could release Mahan and keep Starks and Smith either. They would spend this year grooming both Stapleton and Cherilus, if he's the pick.
Does all of this assume the Steelers are going to pay Starks the one year $6.8 million??? I really don't like that idea. That whole situation seems to be at a bit of a stalemate right now. Any inside info Dale?
Nothing yet, but I think they're in a holding pattern until they see what happens with the draft.
For example, if Albert falls to them, they may not be as inclined to make a long-term deal with Starks because Colon would stay at RT.
I would love it if Albert fell to #23, but I really don't see it. If he did, do you see him at LG and potentially moving out to LT if Smith doesn't ink a new deal? Do the Steelers want to keep Marvel around for the money he'll command? I'd be worried about his back issues. Any chance we pull the transition tag? I know they said they wouldn't, but we can't pay Starks $6.8. Actually I'm surprised Starks hasn't signed the contract yet. I guess everything will become a little clearer after the draft.
Thanks Dale
Albert would play guard this year and be insurance for Marvel in the long term. I was told they won't pull the tag on Starks. He'll either make the $6 mill and walk next season or they'll sign him long term, with that being the more likely of the two.
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