Random 2011 Draft Chatter....

[sbk92]

Another idea for Titans at No. 8

The Tennessee Titans need to find an answer at quarterback this offseason. Vince Young will be gone and Kerry Collins may retire.

As we know, there are three ways to add to the arsenal: the draft, free agency or a trade. So it's certainly possible they'll be taking a QB with their first pick (No. 8 overall). But if they don't, there are a number of other ways they could go.

One possibility is addressing the defensive line, and this was the subject of a column by John Glennon of the Tennessean on Thursday. Glennon focuses on Nick Fairley and Marcell Dareus, though both may be off the board by the time the Titans pick.

But Glennon also includes two other names: Illinois product Cory Liuget and UNC's Marvin Austin. Though these two haven't generally graded out as high, that doesn't always mean they won't be productive as pros.

 

[sbk92]

Carter on Lions' radar?

From the standpoint of having players to man the position, the linebacking corps is the Detroit Lions' top need this offseason, with DeAndre Levy the only returning starter. After all, Jeff Backus is still playing well and they have options on the right side. But let's assume for the purposes of this post that they go tackle in Round 1.

It becomes more of a necessity, then, for the Lions to be targeting an LB with their second pick, and Tom Kowalski of MLive.com has a suggestion: UNC product Bruce Carter. Carter -- profiled here in August -- was a potential Top 15 pick, only to injure his knee during the season. As Kowalski notes, the medical tests performed on Carter will determine how willing the Lions or any other team will be to take a chance come April 28-30.

 

[sbk92]

Gailey on Newton

UPDATE: In his Day 1 recap of the NFL draft combine, ESPN's John Clayton updated the Cam Newton situation (see below).

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Reporting from the combine Thursday, ESPN's Chris Sprow passed along some intel from Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey's media availability: namely, that the team is going to be taking a hard look at the Auburn quarterback.

At No. 3 overall, it's believed that the Bills may be interested in taking a QB if they are under the impression he can be developed into their next leader at the position. Bear in mind that this is a team that has been looking for their next great QB ever since Jim Kelly retired. If the Carolina Panthers pass on Newton, and the Denver Broncos don't trade their No. 2 pick to a team wanting to nab him, this puts the Bills on the spot. This week's interviews will greatly impact whether or not they pull the trigger.

- Tim Kavanagh

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John Clayton
Here's why he could land in Buffalo

"General manager Buddy Nix, who has spent a career watching SEC football, mentioned the importance of not passing on potential franchise quarterbacks. It's a quarterback league, and at some point, teams that are down for talent need to draft a quarterback. ... Gailey prefers a mobile quarterback. Newton fits that style. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said his team has targeted seven to 10 positions and quarterback is one of the positions. Still, the Panthers like Jimmy Clausen, so the odds of them taking Newton with the first pick aren't very good."

 

[sbk92]

Seattle's draft strategy

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider may have tipped his team's hand going into the NFL draft. It's clear that his team will be targeting offensive linemen come April.

Schneider discussed the offensive line with Eric Williams of the Tacoma News-Tribune. Specifically, Schneider was talking about Max Unger when he said, "Ideally his spot I think probably will end up being center."

Though he missed almost all of 2010 with a toe injury, Unger was penciled in as a starting guard for Seattle in 2011. If he winds up sliding over to center, it will mean two things: One, the team will cut ties with former first-round pick Chris Spencer. Two, they'll have an opening for Unger's guard spot on the line.

The news is not a surprise -- Spencer has never lived up to his promise in Seattle, and Unger was mentioned as a possible replacement when he was drafted out of Oregon in 2009. But it backs up ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper's theory that Seattle will take Florida guard Mike Pouncey (who, like Unger, can also play center) in the first round of the draft.

- Vince Verhei

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Mel Kiper, Jr.
He has good smarts as an interior blocker

" Pouncey, who has good bloodlines and good smarts as an interior blocker, can help at either guard or center. Seattle needs better blocking after starting many different line combinations this past season, and Pouncey will shore it up."

 

[sbk92]

New weapon for Joe Flacco?

The Baltimore Ravens have a history of moving up and down the draft board, and Todd McShay expects them to do it again this year. ESPN's draft expert told Mike Duffy of the Ravens' website that the Ravens could trade back and still fill one of their biggest needs with an explosive wide receiver.

"They typically do a good job of finding the best player at one of three, four positions where they feel they have a need," McShay said Friday at the combine. "I don't think there are many teams that do a better job targeting those guys and knowing when to maybe move up slightly or bail out if the board's not going the way you planned or hoped."

McShay mentioned that while Maryland receiver Torrey Smith could make a big difference in the Baltimore offense, it would be a mistake to take him in the first round. Trading back, though, would let the Ravens take him at good value in the second.

John Clayton agrees that the Ravens need help at receiver. He told Duffy that Baltimore's lack of speed at the position held Joe Flacco back in 2010.

"I think at the end of the season in the Kansas City game, there was some unfair criticism [of Flacco]," he said. "Even in the Jets game, too, just from the standpoint that there is no speed at the wide receiver position in certain matchups. When they match up against teams that [use] man press with their cornerbacks, then there's a big problem."

 

[sbk92]

Vikes to take QB late?

While few if any teams have a bigger hole at quarterback than the Minnesota Vikings (the only NFL team that publishes its own list of potential starting QBs, a list that is now 16 names long), there's no guarantee they will select a passer in the first round of April's draft. Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn., points out that both Auburn's Cam Newton and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert are likely to be off the board by the time Minnesota rolls around at number 12, it may be smarter to look elsewhere in round one, then target a quarterback in round two.

If Gabbert and Newton are unavailable at 12, the next best options are probably Washington's Jake Locker or Arkansas' Ryan Mallett, either of whom would be a reach at that slot. However, both are also likely to be gone by the time the Vikings use their second-round pick (number 43 overall). That means the Vikings would be picking from a third tier of passers that includes TCU's Andy Dalton, Florida State's Christian Ponder and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick.

"We still need to get more beyond what we're going to find out this weekend," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told Fowler at the NFL scouting combine. "We've got to spend a lot of time with the quarterbacks to be able to determine, 'Does he have the ingredients we're looking for?' This (combine) is a part of the process, but it's not the end-all."

 

[sbk92]

Lions' draft plans

Despite the presence of defensive rookie of the year Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew says he may still target defensive linemen in the draft.

"That has to be the strength of our team in the future," Mayhew told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "A big part of our defensive philosophy right now is get after the quarterback, and there are a lot of intriguing guys in this draft on the defensive line, a lot of good defensive ends."

"That's definitely an area we could look to address," he added.

After that? While Calvin Johnson (77 catches, 1,120 yards) and Nate Burleson (55, 625) were an effective one-two punch at wide receiver, the Lions had no reliable third option. Bryant Johnson and Derrick Williams combined for only 21 catches and 240 yards without a touchdown between them.

"I think it impacted our entire offense," Mayhew told Tom Kowalski of MLive.com. "We didn't have much of an impact from that position. We didn't have a difference-maker in there."

In Mel Kiper's latest mock draft, the Lions would have their pick of a number of front-seven players, including Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith, Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget, or California defensive end Cam Jordan. (However, Kiper sees them selecting Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith.)

You never know how the draft will shake out, but if the Lions are looking for wideouts, they may find Maryland's Torrey Smith, Indiana's Tandon Doss, or Miami's Leonard Hankerson.

 

[sbk92]

Dolphins' next running back

No one can question Mark Ingram's production at the University of Alabama -- 84 yards per game, 5.7 yards per carry, 12 or more touchdowns in each of three seasons, and the 2009 Heisman trophy.

What they can question are his measurables -- he measured a hair over 5-foot-9 at the Combine, he's undersized at 215 pounds, and he's not expected to blow anyone away in the 40-yard dash. He also has an injury history, as a bad knee cost him two games in 2010.

It all adds up to a perfect storm for the Miami Dolphins. With Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams both entering free agency (and a combined 62 years old in 2011), they have a clear need for a runner. But due to his iffy physical attributes, Ingram will probably slide all the way down to them at number 15.

Brian Biggane talked to a number of experts at the Combine who expect Ingram to be wearing an aqua jersey this fall. They also had a habit of comparing Ingram to Emmitt Smith. "You're talking about two outstanding runners who are somewhat similar in stature," Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said. "Mark Ingram certainly has the opportunity to be an outstanding NFL back."

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper agrees:

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Mel Kiper, Jr.
A terror on the second level.

"Ingram will step in effectively for Ricky Williams and make sure the ground game doesn't lose a step, even if there's some turmoil at the quarterback position. Ingram runs with great pad level and leverage, and seems to explode from contact. Once he gets through the initial hole, he's a terror on the second level."

 

[sbk92]

Combine star destined for Raiders?

No team likes to draft for pure athletic ability more than the Oakland Raiders. In recent years they've selected Jacoby Ford, Bruce Campbell, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Michael Mitchell, all of whom looked better in the gym than on the football field.

Which is why ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson says that Syracuse center Ryan Bartholomew is a perfect fit for the silver and black.

"[Bartholomew] led all players in the bench press competition Friday," Williamson says. "Bartholomew did 34 repetitions of the 225-pound bench press. The average over the past three years for interior offensive linemen is 26.6 reps."

The kid can run, too. "Saturday, Bartholomew clocked an unofficial 40-yard dash time under 4.9 seconds, Williamson adds. "These are tremendous numbers for a 6-foot-1, 305-pound offensive lineman."

What has the combine done for Bartholomew's draft stock? "[He] entered the combine considered a third- or fourth-round prospect," Williamson says. "Now, he could shoot himself into the second round."

That's crucial for the Raiders, who have no first-round pick this year (they traded it to the New England Patriots in 2009 in the Richard Seymour deal). They won't step up to the podium until the 48th pick of the draft.

The Raiders center last year was Samson Satele, a four-year starter in the NFL. Bartholomew would likely be an upgrade, but Oakland could also select the Syracuse lineman and slide one of them over to guard.

 

[sbk92]

QB steals show at Combine

For all the hype surrounding Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallett, it was Florida State's Christian Ponder who stole the show in the passing drills at the NFL Combine on Sunday.

"Ponder showed surprising zip and very good accuracy throughout the throwing session, especially in the short to intermediate levels," writes Rob Rang of CBS Sports. "His deep outs and post-corner routes were especially impressive."

As for Newton, Rang said that "he is still in the early developmental stages in dropping back, transferring his weight and throwing passes accurately. This led to some of his throws -- especially timing routes like deep outs -- to sail on him."

Rang also attended the early throwing session on Sunday, and had thoughts on the passers who threw there.

On Ryan Mallett: "[His] rocket arm and good accuracy was especially evident on the tougher throws such as the deep out, fly and post-corner routes."

On Jake Locker: "He struggled early on with his accuracy some of the simpler throws ... As the session continued, however, Locker got hot, nailing the deep ball and the post-corner -- generally considered the most difficult throw quarterbacks are asked to make here."

On Andy Dalton: "[His] average arm strength led to many of his passes fluttering, affecting his accuracy."

Rang added that Fresno State's Ryan Colbun and Texas A&M's Jerrod Johnson "struggled mightily," and were "consistently inaccurate."

 

[sbk92]

Chargers to trade up?

With five picks in the first three rounds of the draft, the Chargers figure to be a key part of any trade in the NFL this April. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune looks at what it would take for the Chargers to move up, and who they might be targeting when they get there.

Acee estimates that the Chargers could package their first-rounder (number 18 overall) with the 50th pick in the draft to move up to number 12 (currently held by the Minnesota Vikings). That would give them a chance to draft either J.J. Watt out of Wisconsin or Cal's Cam Jordan, two players who would fit in great at defensive end in the Bolts' 3-4 scheme.

That's what Acee would suggest to San Diego general manager A.J. Smith: "If the Chargers love either one -- and they should -- that would be a good move," he writes.

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UPDATE: ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson agrees that the San Diego Chargers are likely to trade up into the early part of the first round, but says they have a different target in mind: Alabama receiver Julio Jones.

Williamson writes that it was doubtful Jones would make it past the Rams at number 14, and with the way he's performing at the Combine -- a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and an 11-foot, 3-inch broad jump -- he may not make it outside the top 10.

 

[sbk92]

Giants missing out on tackle?

Good news for Nate Solder may be bad news for the New York Giants. ESPN NFC East blogger Matt Mosley says that the Colorado tackle would have fit great with the Giants at the number 19 spot in the first round of April's draft, but a solid performance at the scouting combine may have boosted Solder into the top 15, taking him out of New York's hands.

"I don't think [Solder will] be there when the Giants select at No. 19," Mosley writes. "There's always a run on offensive tackles, and it will surprise me if a team in the top 15 doesn't take Solder or USC's Tyron Smith, who didn't work out Saturday because of fluid on his knee."

 

[sbk92]

Newton disappoints Denver

Between veteran Kyle Orton and youngster Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos are already looking a quarterback controversy in the face without adding another face to the mix. So why were they so disappointed when Auburn's Cam Newton turned in an iffy performance at the Combine on Sunday?

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson explains that the Broncos, in desperate need of defense, are hoping that the Carolina Panthers take an offensive player with the first pick of the NFL draft. That would give Denver (who has the second pick) the choice of any defensive player in the draft. Newton's poor performance increases the odds that Carolina will take defensive end Da'Quan Bowers or Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley -- and take them away from Denver.

 

[sbk92]

Oakland's next QB

With no first round pick in the draft, the Oakland Raiders have to make their second-round pick (number 48 overall) really count. If they choose to go quarterback at that slot, what kind of prospect can they expect to be available?

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson explores the options after the NFL Scouting Combine. As Williamson writes, Arkansas' Ryan Mallett and Washington's Jake Locker -- two prospects with iffy resumes who may have fallen to Oakland -- looked good at the Combine, and both will probably be gone before the Raiders can get them. TCU's Andy Dalton and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, though, turned in poor performances, making them more likely to slide back to the Raiders' slot.

Of course, that begs the question of why Oakland would want to build their franchise around a quarterback who nobody else wanted. If they do take Dalton or Kaepernick, that will speak volumes about what new coach Hue Jackson thinks about Jason Campbell.

 

[sbk92]

A Prince for the Lions?

While LSU's Patrick Peterson seems a near-unanimous pick to be the first cornerback selected in April's NFL draft, he wasn't the only corner who impressed observers at the Combine. Nebraska's Prince Amukamara 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash may have boosted him into the draft's top 10. That's bad news for the Detroit Lions, who need a cornerback but don't pick until number 13.

Tom Kowalski, for one, is not giving up hope. The MLive.com writer says we could still see Amukamara in Honolulu blue.

Kowalski notes that the Lions need 12 players to go off the board ahead of Amukamara, and he lists 14 names that could fit the bill. "The key, I think, is the defensive linemen and whether six or seven could go in the top 12," he writes. "This is a passing league and you're cooked if you can't throw it or defend it and, when it comes to defending it, pass pressure is the key and that's how teams draft."

ESPN's Mel Kiper says the Lions are going to miss out on Amukamara (who he says will go to the Dallas Cowboys at number 9), but they'll come away with another cornerback in Colorado's Jimmy Smith:

- Vince Verhei

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Mel Kiper, Jr.
A late riser.

"[Smith is] a good player on a bad team and a guy who got less attention partly because quarterbacks wouldn't put a ball near him this past season. But the film is stacking up now, and it proves why NFL personnel are really high on him."

 

[sbk92]

More Lions' draft buzz

Past buzz on the Detroit Lions' plans for the No. 13 overall pick in the NFL draft this April have included a cornerback or an outside linebacker, depending on whether certain players were available. But the team also has a bit of a need at offensive tackle, as ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert discussed Friday.

The Lions will definitely have a need at the position if 2010 starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus is unable to recover from a December microfracture surgery, the tackle's third by Seifert's count. Though Lions general manager Martin Mayhew has remained optimistic on that recovery, Seifert writes, "would the Lions say anything else at this point? If they were concerned about Cherilus' long-term future and interested in drafting a potential replacement at No. 13, I don't think they would say so right now."

The way this draft is shaping up, there doesn't appear to be any surefire franchise left tackles in the class. Because of that, the Lions may actually be the first team to draft a tackle this year, with players like Nate Solder, Tyron Smith, Gabe Carimi and Anthony Castonzo as possibilities.

 

[sbk92]

Miami looking for linemen?

With Richie Incognito re-signed for three years, the picture of the Miami Dolphins 2011 offensive line becomes a little more clear.

Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post looks at the Miami line, how they performed in 2010, and what changes are likely to follow. Volin expects Incognito to slide from guard over to center, with Vernon Carey and Jake Long manning the tackle positions. That leaves the guard positions open.

Volin expects second-year player John Jerry (who started 10 games in his rookie season) and Nate Garner (who missed all of 2010 with a broken foot) to battle for one guard position. Then things get interesting, because this is one of the few draft projections you'll see where the Dolphins don't end up with Alabama running back Mark Ingram.

"We would not at all be surprised to see the Dolphins trade down in the first round and draft one of the top interior linemen coming out of college ?- someone like Mike Pouncey, Ben Ijalana or Tyron Smith," Volin writes. "In that scenario, the highly-drafted rookie almost certainly would start from Day 1, and Garner and Jerry would compete for the other guard spot."

 

[sbk92]

Dareus to go No. 1?

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has experience running a 4-3 defense, but he also ran a 3-4 in San Diego. He has said that he plans to use an "attacking" 4-3 in Carolina, with elements of the 3-4. In other words, he's going to need some outstanding and versatile players along the defensive line.

Enter Marcell Dareus. Could the Alabama lineman fit in with Rivera's plans as the draft's top overall selection?

"Easily," says ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Dareus is going to be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick and it won't surprise me at all if he's gone in the top three selections. Dareus moves really well for a big man, is physical and is going to make one team very happy. I now think Dareus will wind up going ahead of [Auburn's Nick Fairley] -- at least that's what people in Indianapolis seemed to think. Now we'll go through pro days and the interview process and see, but it's definitely a close race."

In his latest projection, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper had Dareus all the way down at number eight to the Tennessee Titans, but that doesn't account for Dareus' stellar showing at the Combine. Regardless, Kiper's description of Dareus sounds like exactly what the Panthers need:

- Vince Verhei

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Mel Kiper, Jr.
Almost no concern for systems.

"Dareus is the rare player you can draft with almost no concern for systems. A player who can be a dominant pass-rusher from the 3-4 defensive end position, he also profiles to star in his more natural 4-3 defensive tackle position."

 

[sbk92]

Buffalo's draft blueprint

Quarterback or front seven? Which is the biggest need for the Buffalo Bills? That's the question asked of ESPN AFC East blogger Tim Graham in his most recent chat. As one Buffalo fan points out, the Bills were last in the league in rush defense last season. In his opinion, the Bills need to boost their front seven in the draft before they think of adding a quarterback to the mix.

Graham disagrees, pointing out that it's far easier to find defensive stars in this year's draft than it is to find a quality passer. "Defensive linemen are deep in the draft this year, and the Bills have the second pick of the second round," Graham explains. "They could grab a quarterback early and still get help later. There are all sorts of strategies they can follow."

Going quarterback in the first round could mean the Bills would get their choice of any quarterback in the draft, likely Missouri's Blaine Gabbert or Auburn's Cam Newton.

 

[sbk92]

Pats' next passer

With Tom Brady coming off an MVP season in 2010, the New England Patriots hardly seem in need of help at the quarterback position. However, one passer in April's draft seems like an ideal fit for the squad, and teams that draft quarterbacks sometimes reap the benefits even if that player never starts for them.

The player in question is Alabama's Greg McElroy, who made headlines in 2009 for leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship, and more recently for scoring a 48 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test. While many football players leave college before graduating, McElroy earned not only a bachelor's degree, but also his master's while playing for Alabama. There are questions about his arm strength, but obviously he has the mental capacity to guide any offense in the NFL.

Which makes him a perfect complement to Brady, one of the most cerebral passers in league history. McElroy admits to studying Brady. "He's the most fun guy to watch in the league right now," he told ESPN AFC East blogger Tim Graham at the Scouting Combine. There's a lot of efficient quarterbacks, but as far as his control, his balance, the way he sets up in the pocket, the way he is so mechanically sound, it really is such a joy to watch."

Graham asked McElroy if he'd like to be Brady's backup. "In a heartbeat," McElroy replied. "Absolutely."

Drafting McElroy in the later rounds could pay off handsomely for the Patriots even if he never starts for them. The Green Bay Packers drafted a number of future NFL starters in the Brett Favre era -- Aaron Brooks, Mark Brunell, and Matt Hasselbeck, to name a few -- and later traded them away for extra picks when other teams came calling for franchise quarterbacks.