OFFICIAL 2009 NFL DRAFT (APRIL 25-26) VOL. NFL SALVATION

[CP1708]

Why would the Dolphins take a RB in the 3rd round?

And aye, I took Jackson with the 12th pick in the mock draft and ya'll killed me for it. Better yell at Mel too.

 

[heat23]

CP, I notice that also

are suppose to be 8.

code: 8 ) =

 

[yungchris504]

Hmm Beanie Wells, I took him at the 14 too. It would not surprise me if the saints trade out of that pick altogether.

 

[DeadsetAce]

why in the world would we draft a RB, and donald brown at that, in the first round?

 

[kiddin like jason]

why in the world would we draft a RB, and donald brown at that, in the first round?
Laurence Maroney, combined with the fact that Brown might be the best back in the draft. I mean, I get it.

New England has four backs that contribute somewhere, but none of them are long-term solutions.

 

[DeadsetAce]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

why in the world would we draft a RB, and donald brown at that, in the first round?

Laurence Maroney, combined with the fact that Brown might be the best back in the draft. I mean, I get it.

New England has four backs that contribute somewhere, but none of them are long-term solutions.

right on about the lack of a young back...but i think there are MUCH bigger needs on the other side of the ball to address...we can get by withthe backs we have for another season.

 

[kiddin like jason]

I hear you; just trying to get inside Kiper's head.

 

[heat23]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

I hear you; just trying to get inside Kiper's head.

Good luck getting past the bullet proof hair

 

[DeadsetAce]

Originally Posted by heat23

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

I hear you; just trying to get inside Kiper's head.

Good luck getting past the bullet proof hair

nah i hear ya, klj

 

[CP1708]

Real question, why does ESPN employ Todd McShay?

They have Mel, the world renown draft expert. His word means a lot. People love him, respect him, and he knows his job and how this stuff works. He'spure gold.

So why hire some lame a*^ and watch him say stupid stuff and then put him on every show at every chance, effectively taking away air time from Mel? EverytimeI hear a radio show have Todd on, I wonder why the hell ESPN wants him on the air.

Is it simply just to have someone spark debate with Mel and that's it? Ok fine, but then why carry his mock draft on .com? Why have him do radiosegments?

I just don't get it. He must have photos of someone high up at ESPN or something.

 

[dlo13]

Kiper's mock is...different, I'll give him that.

...but Jenkins @ #25? I can't rock with that.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

ESPN needs to replace McShay w/ Mike Mayock

 

[DeadsetAce]

if he falls THAT far...i'll have no prob with the pats using the 34th to take him

 

[CP1708]

Kipe said this morning on Mike and Mike he considered putting Jenkins in the early second round as he is sliding. But didn't say why he was sliding.

 

[dlo13]

Originally Posted by CP1708

Kipe said this morning on Mike and Mike he considered putting Jenkins in the early second round as he is sliding. But didn't say why he was sliding.

I can easily see a slide for a couple of reasons(Lack of speed, CB or FS?), but not that damn far...

 

[heat23]

2 more weeks

 

[DeadsetAce]

[h2]Sanchez will not be in N.Y. on draft day[/h2]

Comment Email Print By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
Archive

The NFL has expanded the number of players invited to the draft April 25-26 in New York to at least 10. But USC quarterback Mark Sanchez has decided not to be among them.

Sanchez's USC teammate, linebacker Brian Cushing, is among the players who have accepted invitations. Two other projected first-round quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford of Georgia and Josh Freeman of Kansas State, will attend the draft.

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher, Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo and Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith are also expected in New York.

The NFL routinely has invited six of the projected top picks but league officials decided to expand the list to include players who have compelling stories, even if they are not necessarily top 10 selections.

Sanchez has elected to stay in California to enjoy the moment with family and friends. There is an outside chance he will change his mind to be in New York.

The league is expected to make a formal announcement by Monday.

 

[bigmike23]

josh freeman? That could get ugly

 

[heat23]

[h2]13 Days to the Draft: Big men on campus[/h2][h3]Do you know the best NFLer to walk the halls of USC? How about S.D. State? You will[/h3]
Comment Email Print Share


By Alvin Chang
Special to Insider
Archive

ESPN Stats & Information has ranked all NFL players drafted in the modern draft (1967 to 200 based on their performance during their NFL careers,regardless of how they fared with the team that drafted them.

For a short explanation of the ranking system, click here, or, for a more detailedrundown of how the system was developed, click here.

If the careers of NFL players weren't so public, 20-year reunions would be awkward.

"Is that you, Mike Vick? I remember you were incredible back in college. What have you been up to for the past 20 years?"

Or how about, "Maurice? Maurice Clarett? Please tell me everything about your pro career." See? Awkward.

Sure, it's nice to have been the best player at your college. But it's also nice to be able to go back to that proverbial 20-year reunion and sayyou had the best NFL career out of everyone who went to your school.

So this is that list: the best NFL player from each school.

But what about this year's top prospects? Do any of them have a decent shot at appearing on this list in 20-some years?
To find out where Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, Michael Crabtree, B.J. Raji, Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez may each rank on his school's list andto see the best NFL draftee from your school, you must be an ESPN Insider.

Aaron Curry, OLB,Wake Forest

[+] Enlarge
Mark Goldman/Icon SMIAaron Curry likely will become the best NFL player to come out of Wake Forest.

Wake Forest doesn't even qualify for this list because none of its alumni has scored more than 10 points on ESPN Stats & Information's rankingsystem.

So Curry, who is this year's top-ranked draft prospect according to Scouts Inc. and Mel Kiper Jr., needs just 10 points to be considered theschool's best prospect.

A defensive rookie of the year award (two points), two Pro Bowl selections (two points each) plus a first-team Associated Press All-Pro selection (fourpoints) would do the trick.

Jason Smith, OT,Baylor

Ten-time Pro Bowler Mike Singletary holds the top spot at Baylor, and it doesn't look as though he'll let go any time soon. He has 81 points and wasinducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. So Smith has his work cut out for him.

In fact, to score 81 points, Smith would have to be good as 11-time Pro Bowler Anthony Munoz, arguably the best offensive lineman in history.

Michael Crabtree,WR, Texas Tech

Linebacker Zach Thomas has the hold on TexasTech's top spot with 40 points. It will take quite the career to reach that plateau.

All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald, with whom Crabtreeis often compared, has 10 points after four years in the NFL. Neither Randy Moss (31) nor Terrell Owens(33) has reached 40 points, although a Hall of Fame induction would change that. But Marvin Harrison (46) recently eclipsed that mark.

In other words, Crabtree needs to be one heck of a star to earn 40 points.

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Tom Nalen sits atop the Boston College alumni listwith 27 points. Among defensive tackles, Raji has to be a little better than Bryant Young (24 points) but not quite as good as Warren Sapp (45).

Matthew Stafford,QB, Georgia

Former Broncos and Bulldogs running back TerrellDavis, a sixth-round draft pick, accumulated 44 points in his eight-year NFL career. Stafford likely will be the No. 1 overall pick of the Lions,but to find a way to earn 44 points, he'll need to be better than former Lions quarterbacks Scott Mitchell, Charlie Batch, Dan Orlovsky, Jon Kitna and Andre Ware -- combined.

In fact, Stafford has to be Hall of Fame-worthy to take the top spot from Davis. Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw accumulated 45 points, 15 of those from hisHall of Fame induction and 30 during his actual career.

Mark Sanchez, QB,USC

As difficult as it might be for Stafford to take the top spot at Georgia, it's even harder for Sanchez. USC has produced 421 NFL players, and 11 ofthose players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The top players from USC are Anthony Munoz and Bruce Matthews, both with 81 points.

On the list of top quarterbacks that includes JohnElway (59), Brett Favre (75), Peyton Manning (76) and Joe Montana (83), only Montana passes that total. Good luck,Mark.
[h3]Big men on campus[/h3]
Who's the best NFL player drafted since 1967 from your school? Here's how our ranking system sees it (minimum 10 points).

School	Player	Points
Abilene Christian	Wilbert Montgomery	11
Akron	Jason Taylor	33
Alabama	John Hannah	71
Alabama A&M	John Stallworth	39
Alcorn State	Steve McNair	16
Angelo State	Pierce Holt	11
Arizona	Tedy Bruschi	19
Arizona State	Randall McDaniel	73
Arkansas	Dan Hampton	42
Arkansas State	Bill Bergey	28
Arkansas-Pine Bluff	L.C. Greenwood	32
Auburn	Forrest Blue	24
Augustana (Ill.)	Ken Anderson	30
Ball State	Blaine Bishop	12
Baylor	Mike Singletary	81
Boston College	Tom Nalen	27
Bowling Green	Phil Villapiano	14
Brown	Steve Jordan	12
BYU	Todd Christensen	30
California	Tony Gonzalez	52
Central Arkansas	Monte Coleman	10
Central Florida	Asante Samuel	15
Central State (Ohio)	Erik Williams	25
Clemson	Brian Dawkins	31
Colgate	Mark van Eeghen	11
Colorado	%*+* Anderson	30
Colorado State	Joey Porter	24
Delaware	Rich Gannon	25
Delaware State	John Taylor	16
Duke	Ed Newman	25
East Carolina	Earnest Byner	10
East Central (Okla.)	Mark Gastineau	25
Eastern Kentucky	Wally Chambers	18
Emporia State (Kan.)	Leon Lett	13
Ferrum (Va.)	Chris Warren	12
Florida	Jack Youngblood	56
Florida A&M	Henry Lawrence	13
Florida State	Deion Sanders	64
Fort Valley State (Ga.)	Rayfield Wright	54
Fresno State	Lorenzo Neal	20
Georgia	Terrell Davis	44
Georgia Tech	Pat Swilling	30
Grambling	Charles Joiner	25
Harvard	Matt Birk	15
Hawaii	Jason Elam	21
Henderson State (Ark.)	Roy Green	12
Hillsdale	Chester Marcol	12
Houston	Riley Odoms	26
Idaho	Mark Schlereth	13
Idaho State	Jared Allen	12
Illinois	Simeon Rice	21
Iowa	Andre Tippett	40
Iowa State	Matt Blair	18
Jackson State	Walter Payton	79
Jacksonville State	Eric Davis	11
James Madison	Charles Haley	33
Kansas	John Riggins	25
Kansas State	Larry Brown	34
Kent State	Jack Lambert	80
Kentucky	Dermontti Dawson	39
Kutztown (Pa.)	Andre Reed	24
Lincoln (Mo.)	Lemar Parrish	23
Livingstone (N.C.)	Ben Coates	25
Long Beach State	Mike Horan	12
Louisiana Tech	Willie Roaf	52
Louisiana-Lafayette	Brian Mitchell	15
Louisville	Sam Madison	25
LSU	Alan Faneca	49
Marshall	Randy Moss	31
Maryland	Randy White	69
Maryland Eastern Shore	Arthur Shell	51
Memphis	Isaac Bruce	15
Miami (Ohio)	Ben Roethlisberger	10
Miami	Ted Hendricks	65
Michigan	Dan Dierdorf	48
Michigan State	Joe DeLamielleure	51
Minnesota	Charles Sanders	40
Mississippi	Wesley Walls	22
Mississippi State	Eric Moulds	12
Mississippi Valley State	Jerry Rice	95
Missouri	Roger Wehrli	44
Morehead State	Phil Simms	10
Morgan State	Willie Lanier	49
Nebraska	Will Shields	44
Nevada	Charles Mann	24
New Mexico	Brian Urlacher	37
New Mexico State	Roy Gerela	22
North Carolina	Lawrence Taylor	107
North Carolina A&T	Elvin Bethea	37
North Carolina Central	Doug Wilkerson	10
North Carolina State	Torry Holt	25
North Dakota State	Tyrone Braxton	10
North Texas	Joe Greene	83
Northern Iowa	Bryce Paup	18
Northwestern	Chris Hinton	24
Northwestern State (La.)	Mark Duper	11
Notre Dame	Joe Montana	83
Ohio State	Randy Gradishar	38
Oklahoma	Lee Roy Selmon	46
Oklahoma State	Barry Sanders	93
Oregon	Dan Fouts	47
Oregon State	Chad Ocho Cinco	21
Penn State	Jack Ham	70
Pittsburgh	Dan Marino	69
Prairie View A&M	Kenneth Houston	56
Purdue	Rod Woodson	75
Rhode Island	Steve Furness	12
Rutgers	Harry Swayne	10
San Diego State	Marshall Faulk	68
San Jose State	Louis Wright	20
Santa Clara	Brent Jones	23
Savannah State	Shannon Sharpe	44
SMU	Eric Dickerson	55
Sonoma State	Larry Allen	52
South Carolina	Sterling Sharpe	22
South Carolina State	Harry Carson	48
South Dakota State	Adam Timmerman	15
Southern	Mel Blount	57
Southern Cal	Anthony Munoz, Bruce Matthews	81
Southern Mississippi	Brett Favre	75
Stanford	John Elway	59
Stephen F. Austin	Mark Moseley	23
Syracuse	Marvin Harrison	46
TCU	LaDainian Tomlinson	45
Temple	Joe Klecko	19
Tennessee	Peyton Manning	76
Tennessee State	Claude Humphrey	32
Tennessee-Chattanooga	Terrell Owens	33
Texas	Earl Campbell	65
Texas A&M	Shane Lechler	31
Texas A&M-Commerce	Harvey Martin	32
Texas A&M-Kingsville	Gene Upshaw	68
Texas Southern	Michael Strahan	46
Texas Tech	Zach Thomas	40
Towson	Dave Meggett	14
Troy	DeMarcus Ware	17
Tulane	Eddie Murray	14
Tulsa	Steve Largent	45
UCLA	Jonathan Ogden	56
UNLV	Randall Cunningham	22
Utah	Steve Smith	20
Utah State	Rulon Jones	13
UTEP	Seth Joyner	16
Vanderbilt	Jim Arnold	14
Villanova	Howie Long	45
Virginia	Ronde Barber	31
Virginia State	Larry Brooks	18
Virginia Tech	Bruce Smith	94
Virginia Union	Herb Scott	19
Washington	Olin Kreutz	20
Washington State	Keith Millard	21
West Virginia	Todd Sauerbrun	18
Western Carolina	Clyde Simmons	12
Western Illinois	Rodney Harrison	23
Western Michigan	John Offerdahl	17
Widener	Joe Fields	14
William & Mary	Darren Sharper	22
Wis.-La Crosse	Tom Newberry	16
Wisconsin	Mike Webster	68
Wyoming	Jay Novacek	26
Yale	Calvin Hill	21

Note on rankings

ESPN Stats & Information ranked players based on the following criteria: Hall of Fame induction, MVP awards, All-Pro first-team selections, All-Prosecond-team selections, Pro Bowls, offensive and defensive player of the year and rookie of the year awards and membership on a Super Bowl-winning or -losingteam. A player scores on our ranking system when he earns at least one of those honors. For a deeper explanation, click here.

 

[N41D]

Originally Posted by Bigmike23

josh freeman? That could get ugly

Why did he even get an invite? He hasn't been projected in the Top 10-15 ANYWHERE...

It won't get too bad, because he ain't sliding outta the first round, and I can't imagine he falls much further than where he's expected togo... Just don't understand why he got an invite...

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Nowitness41Dirk

Originally Posted by Bigmike23

josh freeman? That could get ugly

Why did he even get an invite? He hasn't been projected in the Top 10-15 ANYWHERE...

It won't get too bad, because he ain't sliding outta the first round, and I can't imagine he falls much further than where he's expected to go... Just don't understand why he got an invite...

It said something in the article about compelling stories, does Josh have some backstory that's interesting? That's my only guess why they would havehim there.

Schedules are released tomorrow is that correct?

 

[kiddin like jason]

It said something in the article about compelling stories, does Josh have some backstory that's interesting? That's my only guess why they would have him there.
He's a black quarterback.

 

[heat23]

[h2]NFL mock draft: the experts' consensus[/h2][h3]We gather a range of experts to create our own war room. Who is the best prospect?[/h3]
Comment Email Print Share
By Chris Sprow
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

Earlier today, we released MelKiper's latest mock draft. As we get closer to draft day, experts are zeroing in on where they believe players will land. But what mightsurprise you is just how much they disagree. How is it that one draft guru has a guy at No. 1 and another has him at No. 12?

Getty ImagesTop overall value might not mean top overall pick for Jason Smith.

So we create our own war room. The process helps us with three things:

• Assigning value. If 10 experts argued about who the top pick should be, who would go first, on average? Sounds like an actual war room,no? Average helps determine who is a steal. If you get a guy with a 15.8 average at No. 24, that's great value, regardless of need.

• Creating an agreement index. By calculating the standard deviation of likely draft positions among experts, we can determine whose valueis set. The lower the number, the closer the consensus.

• Finding a range. If one expert has a pick set for No. 5 overall and another has him in the No. 28 spot, it's a good indicator that alot of mystery still surrounds the guy.

Our pool includes Kiper and McShay, plus draft experts from CBS, Fox, the NFL Network and Yahoo! Sports. All second-round projections are given a No. 35pick standing. The numbers in the "Scouts" section all refer to the Scouts Inc. grades.
The expert rankings are for ESPNInsiders.

Updates will follow the shifting sands of opinion each week.

[h4]THE CONSENSUS[/h4]

Jason Smith	2	2	3	1	2	4	2.3	1.03	97
Comment: It's pretty clear that Jason Smith is, along with Aaron Curry, by far the most consistent top-five lock across the board. Only one expert sees him falling past No. 3. Jason, go buy something on credit. At worst we see you landing at No. 2 overall.
Matthew Stafford	1	1	1	10	1	3	2.8	3.60	95
Comment: Stafford is still the consensus choice to go No. 1 overall, but he does have a variance. Some still see him as a Matt Leinart-type, a guy who, if he falls past the top pick, could fall hard. Will people wonder, "What made the Lions pass?" Is it his completion percentage -- under the magical 60 percent mark -- or his Scouts Inc. rating, which is lower than six other players on the board?
Eugene Monroe	4	4	2	2	4	2	3.0	1.10	96
Comment: Safely the No. 2-rated tackle in a draft loaded with them, Monroe is a split decision. It's either St. Louis or Seattle between the experts, but with Smith's rating so high, we say Monroe drops and learns from Walter Jones.
Aaron Curry	3	3	4	3	3	5	3.5	.84	97
Comment: Even if the Lions listen to their fans and pass on Stafford, don't expect the Chiefs to scoop him up, given their acquisition of Matt Cassel. Instead, look for them to grab the Wake Forest LB, an instant starter.
Brian Orakpo	8	5	9	5	5	6	6.3	1.75	96
Comment: Orakpo has raised his stock enough to be considered by most as a good fit in Cleveland's 3-4. But can he (A) stop the run and (B) chase tight ends? For a top-five pick, it sure seems like Orakpo has some question marks.
Michael Crabtree	5	8	5	8	7	7	6.7	1.37	97
Comment: There's a good chance the top-rated prospect in the draft (with Curry and J. Smith) will be on one side of Ohio or the other. Will Braylon Edwards determine Crabtree's future? Could he replace Ocho Cinco? Or will both teams pass, giving the Raiders what Randy Moss was supposed to offer?
Mark Sanchez	13	12	8	4	10	1	8.0	4.69	94
Comment: Sanchez is still the hardest player to pin down on the board. Because some think he could be the top pick, or go to Seattle at No. 4, he rates higher than most scouts would tag him. We still think Denver will try to find a way to nab him if he drops.
Andre Smith	6	6	13	6	6	18	9.2	5.15	93
Comment: Andre has finally stabilized. Once considered the Warren Sapp of this year's draft, given his wacky combine showing and a blubbery pro day, Smith is now back up where most thought he should be, safely inside the top 10. Washington's hopes of landing him at No. 13 appear kaput.
B.J. Raji	9	9	12	7	12	5	9.5	2.07	96
Comment: If character issues don't sink Raji's stock, the guy Kiper has called the most "dominating player of last season for stretches," should be safe inside the top ten.
Jeremy Maclin	7	7	10	18	8	17	11.2	5.04	94
Comment: Maclin is in a weird situation. If Crabtree falls to the Raiders, it could push Maclin out of that spot and potentially way down the board. Would San Fran take a flyer on him at No. 10, especially if Sanchez is gone?
Aaron Maybin	10	10	23	9	15	11	13.0	5.33	95
Comment: Maybin has been a riser ever since Indy, but he may have finally peaked. There's a general agreement that this guy is a top-15 pick. And if he falls to the Chargers at 16, that's great value.
Everette Brown	18	11	19	12	11	9	13.3	4.13	92
Comment: A few weeks ago, Kiper had Brown ranked down in the 20s, while every other expert ranked him as a top-15 pick. Well, Mel seems to coming around, too, so things are looking good for Mr. Brown. Denver, at 12, could be the right fit.
Tyson Jackson	12	18	16	16	14	12	14.7	2.42	91
Comment: Note how limited the variance is on Jackson; he's solidly mid-teens. If he falls to say, No. 20, he's a total steal.
Malcolm Jenkins	25	15	15	15	9	14	15.5	5.21	93
Comment: The folks at NFL.com like Jenkins a lot more than anybody else, and we wonder why. He's still not even set on a position in the pros. Safety or corner, what'll it be? Houston could use both and it picks 15th.
Chris "Beanie" Wells	14	14	6	14	29	16	15.5	7.48	92
Comment: Few players have moved up the board like Wells, likely due to a combination of strong workouts and fading opinions on other backs. Half of our experts see him lining up next to Reggie Bush after going to the Saints at 14. Thunder and lightning, both with toe questions.
Robert Ayers	11	13	11	11	20	29	15.8	7.33	93
Comment: Fox is a total outlier on Ayers, who half of our experts have pegged for Buffalo (11). We'll give the nod to Kiper on this one.
Michael Oher	20	16	21	13	21	10	16.8	4.62	91
Comment: What do the Lions, with the NFL's worst defense, do? Draft a pair of offensive players in the first round (1 and 20)! While we know Matt Millen is gone, and most Detroit fans want Curry and another defender, based on the franchise's history, it's hard to argue with Mel's projection.
Rey Maualuga	16	20	18	20	16	13	17.2	2.71	91
Comment: He's a good fit for any team with major holes on defense, especially one that is shifting to a 3-4. Denver, at 12, could be a good fit.
Josh Freeman	19	19	17	19	17	19	18.3	1.03	89
Comment: Josh Freeman needs to send Mel a thank you note. For weeks and weeks, Kiper kept Freeman as a mid-first-round pick, even as most every other expert had him buried in the second (or later). Now, amazingly, Freeman has wide consensus as a first rounder. There's almost no variance on the guy who is being projected as a future Buc or Jet.
Brian Cushing	15	26	25	25	13	15	19.8	6.08	90
Comment: He'd offer great value if he falls to Miami with the 25th pick. Hey, he even looks like Zach Thomas!
Darrius Heyward-Bey	17	22	7	35*	26	22	21.5	9.31	90
Comment: Heyward-Bey's sparkling dash at the combine and his physical skills are continuing to make up for a lack of production at Maryland. And come on, Sage Rosenfels could use a deep threat with the Vikings picking 22nd.
Clay Matthews	35*	23	14	17	23	23	22.5	7.20	91
Comment: With Mike Vrabel shipped out, could Matthews become the next Belichick-molded tool of 3-4 perfection? With the Patriots holding the 23rd pick, it's possible.
Knowshon Moreno	21	21	28	31	28	21	25.0	4.52	93
Comment: There's a split between the experts on Moreno and Donald Brown. Brown is probably the better inside runner and would seem to complement Brian Westbrook. But both Kiper and McShay see an aging Westbrook and view Moreno is a replacement-in-training, either at 21 or 28.
Peria Jerry	27	27	27	27	19	24	25.2	3.25	91
Comment: Four consecutive experts see him as the new inside force in Indy. We're just the messenger.
Vontae Davis	26	25	35*	26	24	25	26.8	4.07	90
Comment: The lesser-regarded combo (compared to Jenkins), Davis is talented enough to be a corner, but could be a dynamic cover safety. If Baltimore takes him at 26, he'll learn from the best.
Brandon Pettigrew	24	24	24	28	35*	28	27.2	4.31	93
Comment: In his previous mock, Kiper had Pettigrew all the way up at No. 11 to Buffalo. Now, he's fallen back with the rest. Most see Pettigrew as Matt Ryan's new favorite target, the perfect fit for the hole left by Alge Crumpler last year.
Percy Harvin	30	17	35*	35*	22	26	27.5	7.23	92
Comment: There are still serious doubts about Harvin's route-running ability and endurance, but he could be a playmaker where one is needed, however. If he lands in Tennessee with the 30th pick, perhaps he'd become a pass-catching version of Chris Johnson.
Eben Britton	28	28	22	22	32	35*	27.8	5.23	89
Comment: Pretty solid level of agreement for a player that has risen since Indy. Britton could be opening holes for Moreno and Westbrook and protecting the backside of McNabb. No pressure, kid.
James Laurinaitis	35*	35*	35*	35*	18	20	29.7	8.29	89
Comment: Only an utterly baffling No. 18 projection by one expert has Laurinaitis in the first round in terms of average draft position. We agree that'll he'll fall to the second, where, perhaps Detroit finally could consider defense.
Evander Hood	35*	35*	20	35*	25	35*	29.8	6.21	87
Comment: Hood isn't considered a first rounder by half of our experts. Considering the needs of these last few picks, the defensive tackle might be best set for the early second round, maybe with St. Louis at No. 34.
Kenny Britt	22	35*	29	35*	25	35*	30.2	5.74	88
Comment: The Giants don't have their wide receiver yet. Since both Britt and Hakeem Nicks have first round grades, they are cheaper options than Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards. But are they better?
Donald Brown	23	31	31	35*	31	31	30.3	3.93	89
Comment: The Arizona Cardinals will take the best running back available with the 31st pick. Four of six experts say it's Brown, a productive player who tested well in Indy. He is a great value late in the first.

[th=""] No. 1 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 2 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 3 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 4 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 5 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 6 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 7 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 8 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 9 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 10 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 11 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 12 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 13 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 14 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 15 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 16 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 17 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 18 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 19 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 20 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 21 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 22 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 23 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 24 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 25 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 26 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 27 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 28 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 29 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 30 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 31 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th] [th=""] No. 32 [/th] [th=""] Player [/th] [th=""] Kiper [/th] [th=""] McShay [/th] [th=""] CBS [/th] [th=""] Yahoo [/th] [th=""] NFL.com [/th] [th=""] Fox [/th] [th=""] Avg. [/th] [th=""] Agree [/th] [th=""] Scouts [/th]

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

[h1]The Way We Hear It: High-character guys[/h1]
By Nolan Nawrocki, ProFootballWeekly.com 11 hours, 53 minutes ago

• Buzz up! 0 votes
• [h5]Print[/h5]

Just as undervaluing players' character can cost a team millions of dollars and flush extreme talent down the toilet, overdrafting players with high character and inferior talent can also cause teams to miss. Look no further than high picks such as Robert Gallery, Kelly Jennings and Kamerion Wimbley, who have struggled to live up to expectations despite possessing outstanding character. Others who were graded as free-agent talents by some evaluators, yet drafted in the first three rounds, such as Dan Bazuin and Quinn Pitcock, are out of the league already after only a few years, in part because their character was overvalued relative to their actual talent.

Mankins has developed into a Pro Bowler with the Patriots.
(Rich Kane/US Presswire)

Savvy-drafting decision makers do not bump up the grades of inferior talent because of exceptional character. However, they are more likely to roll the dice early on players they figure will be very safe, 10-year starters, such as New England Patriots OG Logan Mankins and Indianapolis Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez, because they know exactly what they are getting and can trust that the players' talent will be maximized.

"It's very difficult to be competitive in the National Football League if you miss on your first- and second-rounders," said one very analytical NFL executive with a rich history of properly identifying elite talent. "And there are far more misses because teams misidentify character than talent. Everyone likes to hit a home run, but you're more likely to win hitting doubles than striking out."

"Look at Reggie Wayne," another executive said. "He was drafted with expectations that he would be a good No. 2 receiver, and it took him three years before he figured it out. But he was not expected to outplay Marvin Harrison and become a No. 1."

Even though Gallery has not become the Pro Bowler the Raiders expected when they drafted him second overall, he has been a very solid starter at guard, which is much more than the Detroit Lions ever reaped out of Charles Rogers, drafted in the same slot the year before, because his character was so poor.

In a violent game where NFL evaluators say every team can use a couple of anti-Boy Scouts in the locker room to provide an edge, teams are not always seeking "pristine or angelic character," and some players fail to live up to expectations because they are too nice and cannot flip the switch and change their on-field temperament. Generally speaking, teams expressed the most concern about a repeated history of mistakes (positive drug tests or DUIs) and domestic violence, for which some teams carry a zero-strike policy.

"We forget, these kids are 17, 18, 20 years old," one executive said. "We browbeat these kids endlessly and, at the end of the day, forget that we were once the same age and made a lot of the same mistakes."

PFW polled five NFL executives to determine which players had the best character in this year's draft class among those expected to be selected in the first three or four rounds. All participants were granted anonymity in exchange for honesty.

It should be noted that Kansas State QB Josh Freeman was mentioned readily by three of the club officials polled and all three elite quarterbacks (Georgia's Matthew Stafford, USC's Mark Sanchez and Freeman) in this year's draft were mentioned at one point in the overall conversation. However, one official suggested quarterbacks are expected to be more programmed than any other in the draft by virtue of the position they play and argued that none should be considered in the top five of this survey. For this exercise, they were not included.

A number of offensive linemen - another position where good character is the rule, not the exception - were also mentioned.

Factors that were used in defining overall character include maturity, work ethic, intelligence, citizenship, coachability, responsibility, trustworthiness, accountability, leadership and overall intangibles. It should also be noted that almost all of those mentioned prominently were seniors, with the exception of Florida State DE Everette Brown, who is a fourth-year junior, RB Donald Brown from Connecticut and Freeman, who one executive said appeared extremely well-prepared for the interview process to the point of being "rehearsed."

Malcolm Jenkins
(John David Mercer/US Presswire)

1. CB-FS Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
At a position known for producing many prima donnas craving attention, Jenkins stands out for his maturity and humble attitude. Evaluators call him one of the cleanest elite cornerbacks to come out of the draft in the last decade and praise his smarts, intangibles and emotional leadership ability. They point to Jenkins having rallied the Buckeyes when they would fall behind and having provided the spark needed in the huddle, which his why some teams believe his makeup is most ideally suited for the safety position. He straddles the line of appearing arrogant on the field, but evaluators say he is far from it and have been impressed with his confidence, overall character and the way he has carried himself in team interviews. He was described as the type of person who will contend for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award and PFW's Arthur Arkush Humanitarian Award in due time.

2. DE Everette Brown, Florida State (Jr.)
Questions still remain among the NFL scouting community about whether Brown is an elite talent. Some believe he is too stiff to be projected to play rush linebacker and could not be more than an open-side end in the NFL, where his stock could be adversely affected because many fronts do not feature the position. However, much like Wimbley, no one is questioning his character, as Brown receives high marks for his work ethic, maturity and citizenship. His intelligence and approach in the classroom were given such high marks that he is viewed as being more intelligent than football-smart. Brown goes the extra mile to make a difference and can be expected to be a pillar of the community for the team that drafts him. Hailing from an unruly program known for its share of run-ins with the law, Brown stands out for his exceptionally strong character, warranting several votes for having the most rare character in this draft class.

3. DE-OLB Brian Orakpo, Texas
Comparisons to current Jets OLB Vernon Gholston have increased in league circles as Orakpo's finishing ability and every-down effort, especially in backside pursuit, have warranted closer scrutiny. Yet, Orakpo is more intelligent, intrinsically motivated and has more passion for football than Gholston. Having put on roughly 50 pounds since entering the program through sheer weight-room determination and a superior work ethic, he in many ways defies the typical, laid-back demeanor that has come to be associated with Texas talent, and he consistently showed up in some of the Longhorns' biggest games. The explosive edge rusher brings emotion to the field and has represented Texas very well off it. Several executives were torn between voting for Orakpo or Curry, both of whom were described as "self-made," but when pressed to give a nod to one of them after reviewing character grades in their scouting databases, they sided with Orakpo.

4. MLB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Some evaluators have been quick to stamp the "overachiever" label on the Buckeyes middle linebacker, not regarding him as an elite athlete deserving of a high pick. However, most decision makers still feel comfortable with the thought of selecting him in the back half of the first round because he is such a "safe" pick. Notwithstanding an overbearing father who was cited by two teams, Laurinaitis has the work habits, maturity, football intelligence and leadership ability of a seasoned pro.

5. OLT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
Monroe borders on being almost too nice and too passive, which, unfortunately for him, shows up on tape. That said, the biggest criticism that evaluators have heaped upon Monroe is some doubt about whether he is mentally tough enough to play through injuries. Coming from a family with 16 kids, Monroe has been credited for blending into a locker room and being a strong team player. He has represented the Cavaliers very well, not finding any trouble off the field. For an elite talent projected to be a top-five pick, some evaluators have expressed reservations as to why he was not voted a team captain. Others are not the least bit concerned and say he will do everything he is told.

Others strongly mentioned:
WR Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
RB Donald Brown, Connecticut (Jr.)
OLB Brian Cushing, USC
OG Andy Levitre, Oregon State
OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
DE-OLB Clay Matthews, USC
OT Jason Smith, Baylor
DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
QB Josh Freeman, Kansas State (Jr.)
TE Chase Coffman, Missouri

 

[dlo13]

Packers working out Greg Paulus as a potential backup QB.

Getting past the fact that he hasn't played football since HS, why have interest in that fragile little %#!$!? C'mon now...