This might not be a weekly thing but here is my first crack at how I think the top 10 picks (plus the Redskins No. 21 selection) could shake down in late April at the NFL Draft.
1. Miami: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College. I'm pretty sure Parcells would love to dish this pick to pick up more assets but a top seven pick hasn't been traded since 2004 (teams ask for too much in return). Although I'd go with Chris Long, the Fins need a trigger man.
2. St. Louis: Chris Long, DE, Virginia. The best defensive player in the draft, he'll team with Leonard Little to form a potent pass-rushing combination. Michigan LT Jake Long would be a possibility but Orlando Pace is still around and the Rams are likely loathe to pay LT money to a player they would move to RT or G for a few years.
3. Atlanta: Jake Long, LT, Michigan. The Falcons desperately need help at quarterback so if Ryan falls in their lap, it's a no brainer. But to help new RB Michael Turner, they bolster their offensive line with Long.
4. Oakland: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. He supposedly has health issues, but teams have to be impressed that he played through the injuries last year and remained productive.
5. Kansas City: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State. Clady has been climbing up team's draft boards since the season ended and some teams might have him ranked ahead of Michigan's Long. The Chiefs have to rebuild their entire line.
6. NY Jets: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. The Jets would foolish to pass up our pick as Best Overall Player In The Draft. Even with Thomas Jones in the fold, McFadden will be a dynamic addition.
7. New England: Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy. The Patriots have lost Asante Samuel (big loss) and Randall Gay (no loss) in free agency so they have to address this position.
8. Baltimore: Keith Rivers, LB, USC. The Ravens have the misfortune of needing help at quarterback, cornerback and left tackle -- none of those positions have players available that are worthy of the eighth pick.
9. Cincinnati: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State. The Bengals defense stunk last year and Gholston will replace departed free agent Justin Smith.
10. New Orleans: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC. The Saints addressed LB (Jonathan Vilma) with a trade and think they took care of CB with the awful Gay. Enter Ellis.
Can't forget about the home team. ...
21. Redskins: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State. Thomas has some size (6-1.5) and big-play ability. He could be the third receiver taken. Because there will be a run on receivers, the Redskins should address that need in round 1 and then take a pass rusher in round 2.
Comments (14)
should malcom kelly fall to 21,he'd easily be the pick over thomas.
ditto for james hardy,hardy ran a 4.47 at 6'6 and has good hands.
hardy would fit the need of a big possession receiver to a tee,while kelly is the prototypical WC WR. big,fast,and a great YAC guy.
devin thomas has shown promise but if he goes in the 1st round of the draft it will be because of his combine not what he displayed as a college player.
drafting WR's in the 1st is a crapshoot anyways, I wouldn't be surprised if they went DE and chose a guy like philip merling and took a kid like jordy nelson later in the draft.
Posted by Ron Burgandy | March 5, 2008 2:55 PM
I disagree with the Redskins selection of a WR in the first round. Recievers take several years to develop into good players. Our team is pretty old and built to win now. We need to go for a defensive lineman in the first round. If we do decide to draft a WR we need to make sure the guy is at least 6'3".
Posted by Rob | March 5, 2008 2:56 PM
I like the idea of drafting on D in the first round. From what I've been reading, this draft is deeper at DE, WR, OT than at other positions. I'm projecting the skins going with yet another CB perhaps with Cromartie or Talib to address the Rogers' injury.
Posted by MDVJ | March 5, 2008 3:58 PM
I, like the other comments, believe the first round with the 21st pick should go with a lineman - the best one available. This draft has depth apparently on WR, D-line and O-line. Some even think it is the best d-line draft in awhile.
Occassionally, I think what if the Redskins just take who is the best player on the board when their turn comes? The took LaRon Landry who was the best player available and, some considered, the number one defensive player in last year's draft.
I also wonder, if the draft has depth in several of the positions needed by the Redskins, under what scenario's might they trade down to get more picks?
Posted by saratogan | March 5, 2008 10:42 PM
Skins need to use the pick for a d-end who can put some heat on the qb & stand up to the run.
Posted by Todd | March 5, 2008 11:58 PM
Bengals will go after Cedric Ellis they filled Justins spot with Odum from Titans.
Mark
Posted by mock | March 6, 2008 4:30 AM
The Skin's need to package ALL of their draft picks and trade them for a new OWNER and G.M.
Posted by Paul | March 6, 2008 8:30 AM
To paraphrase George Allen, Offense can win you a game. Defense will win you many games and take you to a championship. Enough said.
Posted by viera skinsaholic | March 6, 2008 8:48 AM
Have to agree with the consensus here. The Redksins have been through this before, wasting high picks on two receivers, when they could have drafted stud linemen. Don't make the same mistake again. Will a rook receiver really be better than Keyshawn Johnson? Better than Mix? Isn't it likely that a big receiver could fall into their laps, like the highly productive Caldwell did last year? How many receivers do they need anyway? They're already paying big bucks to Moss and randel el, plus Cooley, and eating Lloyd's cap number.
Posted by AAA | March 6, 2008 11:15 AM
If the Jets get McFadden and he is as good as he appears to be, they could become a seriously scary team. They improved their O line a lot already.
Posted by AAA | March 6, 2008 11:17 AM
Can't understand what not to like about James Hardy. He big and fast and catches everything thrown to him. I watch as many of his games last year as I could and in all the games I saw it wasn't a matter of how many he would catch it was a matter of how many times they were going to throw to him because they threw the ball to him he caught it. Is it because he doesn't run good routes or can't get off the line of scrimmage. In the Big ten he was very dominate. To me this guy would be a steal if we got him a 21
Posted by lewis | March 7, 2008 1:07 AM
DE must be 1st round selection. CB must be 2nd round selection. Shawn Springs has only one more year left in his body and Carlos Rodgers is slow. The CB will be primed to move into a starting role in 2009, replacing Springs. WR can be found in 3rd round. The wideout will move into a starting role in 2 years, replacing Moss or Randle El.
Posted by Tramell | March 11, 2008 12:32 AM
TRADE VINNY NOW.
Posted by bow | March 13, 2008 8:58 AM
"Can't understand what not to like about James Hardy"
Character issues, beyond the norm you see with recievers.
Posted by Anonymous | March 16, 2008 3:52 PM