Pre NFL Draft Thread - Update, Jake Long #1

[allen3xis]

I mean, things would have to break real bad for that to happen...

And if so...trade outa that spot, back a few and take DRC or McKlevin to pair with Revis

 

[johnnyredstorm]

wikipedia also said chris benoit was dead before the authorities announced it so it could be true

 

[mr fizzy womack]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

I mean, things would have to break real bad for that to happen...

And if so...trade outa that spot, back a few and take DRC or McKlevin to pair with Revis

See, happy thoughts.

---

Edit:

Anyone else getting a kick out of all these rumors?

Last one I saw was: Jets pick Ryan @ 6, trade Pennington to Ravens for a 1st or 2nd rounder in 09.

 

[CP1708]

Ok, who do I need to talk to to get this to happen. Whatever on the first rounder, just get me extra picks and I'm happy billy.

I doubt the 1st round is comin your way. Would the Boys move one of their firsts to re-unite him with Zach? They goin offense huh? Who else needs and oldervet end and is stupid enough to give away a first rounder?


[h1]Reports: Dolphins seeking draft choices for Taylor[/h1]

The Miami Dolphins, having signed Michigan's Jake Long as the first pick of the 2008 NFL draft, are shopping All-Pro defensive end Jason Taylor in hopes of acquiring another first-round pick, according to media reports in South Florida.

Taylor

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that according to two NFL executives, the Dolphins are trying to land another first-round pick in order to secure a player they're concerned won't be on the board when they lead off the second round with the No. 32 pick overall. And the Palm Beach Post reported that Taylor, who is still competing on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," has quietly requested a trade and understands he could be on the move if the team can make the right deal.

The speculation about Taylor's future has continued despite Bill Parcells' denials that the team has any interest in dealing the 11-year veteran and team captain. ''The only way Jason Taylor doesn't play for the Dolphins in 2008 is if he retires,'' Parcells said March 3. "The team is not going to trade him.''

The Kansas City Chiefs were able to obtain a first-round draft pick and two third-round picks from the Minnesota Vikings for defensive end Jared Allen. But an NFL source told the Sun-Sentinel that Taylor doesn't merit the same trade value as Allen, due to his age and the money remaining on his contract.

Allen, whose new contract with the Vikings guranteed him $31 million, is 26 and led the NFL with 15½ sacks last season. Taylor hasn't missed a game since 2000 and is a six-time All Pro, but he is 33 and has two years and $17 million remaining on his deal.

 

[TheGift23]

The ******** are honing in on these two players as the draft nears.

The team has a contingent of roughlyl 10 players at Clemson to watch Merling, a DE from Clemson. That group includes Dan Snyder, Jim Zorn, Greg Blache, the club's new DL coach and trainers, according to sources in Clemson.

That group, along with offensive coaches like Sherman Smith and Stan Nixon, are likely to fly to Oklahoma for Kelly's private workout late this afternoon (he is a junior WR for the Sooners) . At this point I cannot say for certain that the owner will be attending both workouts, but I would be surprised if they don't jump on the planbe to Oklahoma in the next few hours and all go out to Norman.

We'll post more as we get it.

If the Skins can't' drop down in the draft and both of these players are on the board, it would be very interesting to see what they did. There would likely be several decent WRs left when Washington picked in the second round - they are falling, in general, as a position class - but the dropoff at DE after Merling is selected would likely be significantly greater.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/*******sinsider/

Merling shows skills for pro scouts
By PAUL STRELOW - [email protected]


CLEMSON | Washington ******** quarterback Jason Campbell had seen this size entourage before.

Campbell stood off to the side Thursday, watching the limited pro-day workout of Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling, behind the ********' brain trust.

There was owner Daniel Snyder, player personnel director Vinny Cerrato, new coach Jim Zorn and a cast of assistant coaches - all of whom arrived on Snyder's personal jet earlier in the morning.

Campbell, tagging along for a later workout with Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly, a projected second-round pick, remembered seeing such a crew the year the ******** traded into the first-round to acquire him.

Washington owns the No. 21 pick in Saturday's first round.

"This is usually a pretty positive sign," Campbell said.
http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/385285.html

Ugh...I'd rather have Campbell over Merling but w/e....whoever they pick I'll be ok with...
and I hope that we aren't using the 1st round pick on Kelly

 

[theone2401]

Originally Posted by TheGift23

The ******** are honing in on these two players as the draft nears.

The team has a contingent of roughlyl 10 players at Clemson to watch Merling, a DE from Clemson. That group includes Dan Snyder, Jim Zorn, Greg Blache, the club's new DL coach and trainers, according to sources in Clemson.

That group, along with offensive coaches like Sherman Smith and Stan Nixon, are likely to fly to Oklahoma for Kelly's private workout late this afternoon (he is a junior WR for the Sooners) . At this point I cannot say for certain that the owner will be attending both workouts, but I would be surprised if they don't jump on the planbe to Oklahoma in the next few hours and all go out to Norman.

We'll post more as we get it.

If the Skins can't' drop down in the draft and both of these players are on the board, it would be very interesting to see what they did. There would likely be several decent WRs left when Washington picked in the second round - they are falling, in general, as a position class - but the dropoff at DE after Merling is selected would likely be significantly greater.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/*******sinsider/

Merling shows skills for pro scouts
By PAUL STRELOW - [email protected]


CLEMSON | Washington ******** quarterback Jason Campbell had seen this size entourage before.

Campbell stood off to the side Thursday, watching the limited pro-day workout of Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling, behind the ********' brain trust.

There was owner Daniel Snyder, player personnel director Vinny Cerrato, new coach Jim Zorn and a cast of assistant coaches - all of whom arrived on Snyder's personal jet earlier in the morning.

Campbell, tagging along for a later workout with Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly, a projected second-round pick, remembered seeing such a crew the year the ******** traded into the first-round to acquire him.

Washington owns the No. 21 pick in Saturday's first round.

"This is usually a pretty positive sign," Campbell said.
http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/385285.html

Ugh...I'd rather have Campbell over Merling but w/e....whoever they pick I'll be ok with...
and I hope that we aren't using the 1st round pick on Kelly

Why do you prefer Campbell just curious.

IMO they are both solid and neither one of them is special. With that said. I rather have Merling because he has more potential as a pass rusher. Campbell gotno burst at all

 

[TheGift23]

With Campbell I just see that he's 6'8 280 and from "the U", so I assume he's fast.

but I don't watch CFB as much as you do so If you say Merling is better than I 'll take your word for it.

 

[bigmike23]

Originally Posted by TheGift23

With Campbell I just see that he's 6'8 280 and from "the U", so I assume he's fast.

but I don't watch CFB as much as you do so If you say Merling is better than I 'll take your word for it.

dude ant he is slow

 

[allen3xis]

Dewayne Robertson to the Broncos...

 

[blackredxiiigoat]

^^allen, is it official?...for what rd pick?...

 

[allen3xis]

Yeah it's official, but no word on what draft pick(s) the Jets are getting back yet..

 

[theone2401]

Originally Posted by TheGift23

With Campbell I just see that he's 6'8 280 and from "the U", so I assume he's fast.

but I don't watch CFB as much as you do so If you say Merling is better than I 'll take your word for it.

Oh I got you.

Haha yea it pains me to say that I do not want another Cane on the Skins. Its not even that he is a bum or anything he just isnt a 12 sack a year type dudeIMO.

I just think Merling has more upside but I wouldnt be mad with Campbell either despite that 5.0 40

I also heard Campbell's workouts arent going to well

Reports are Robertson for a Conditional Pick in 09...

ehh...
Dang they couldnt even get a 08 draft pick for him? I mean he didnt live up to the hype but dude had 4 sacks from the DT spot in the 3-4 hes not atotal bum. If he stays healthy he will probably drop a few pounds and produce in Denver. Yall lost him and Vilma just cause of that 3-4 i hope it works out forya.

 

[allen3xis]

Reports are Robertson for a Conditional Pick in 09...

ehh...

 

[goldenticket21]

Thats a steal for denver.
A late round pick in 2009 for a decent big man to clog the middle.

 

[mr fizzy womack]

Hosed.

 

[MambaMentality824]

Nice trade for the Broncos. Must have been no value for Roberston.

 

[bigmike23]

1. Roberston sucks so anything the jets got for him is good

2. why dose denver keep getting underachieving defensive lineman thinking they will be good?

 

[berkeley boy]

Wow, the damn jets couldn't even get a pick this year!??? Way to go management.

 

[allen3xis]

Well,

I believe like Vilma it's performance based...so I think expect it to be a 4th rounder most likely...and now we got a bunch of picks for next year

1. Roberston sucks so anything the jets got for him is good

2. why dose denver keep getting underachieving defensive lineman thinking they will be good?
Pretty much.

He's got a bum knee (remember he failed the Cincy physical?)

And it saves a ton of money on the cap...

 

[misterp0315]

I pray my boy Brandon Golder gets that call.

 

[gunna get it]

2. why dose denver keep getting underachieving defensive lineman thinking they will be good?
They actually get them to play pretty well, cuz they literally cut their playing time in half. they have like an 8 man rotation and they staypretty fresh.

 

[blackredxiiigoat]

SMH at my Jets getting rid of Vilma AND Robertson for so little (in comparison to where both were drafted, and the expectations that came with them). I really,really thought those 2 were the future of Gang Green...(damn you Mangini)

 

[allen3xis]

I'm giving Mangini the benefit of the doubt for now...

But I need to see results this season.

 

[allen3xis]

As the draft-week intrigue starts to build and our final mock draft looms (version 7.0 hits the site Friday), predictions of what's about to unfold areeverywhere. But as I survey the NFL landscape in late April, here are moves I think make too much sense not to make. I'm not saying these all will happen,but I think they should:
1. The Giants trade Jeremy Shockey to the Saints: New York can spin it any way it likes, but the reality is the Giants got a glimpse oflife without Shockey from mid-December on, and it wasn't so bad. In fact, it was better.

Eli Manning was undeniably at his best and the Giants offense was more balanced and varied without the constraints of having to ensureShockey was happy with his level of involvement. In addition, rookie tight end Kevin Boss showed legitimate promise in the postseason.

Shockey has never fully bought into head coach Tom Coughlin's program, and he promises to be even more of a potential problem now thathe has let it be known he doesn't care for his blocking assignments and has grown bothered by the perception that the Giants won it all in part because hemissed everything after Week 15 due to injury. Super Bowl success has freed New York to do the right thing for its locker room, and that spells moving anunhappy player while he still has significant value.

New York is never going to get New Orleans to give up both its second-round pick (No. 40 overall) and starting safety Roman Harper (asecond-round pick in '06), who has been the best player in the Saints' sometimes shaky secondary. New York should settle for the second-rounder, plus afifth, and then use its picks at No. 31 and 40 to take the best available safety and outside linebacker, filling its two most obvious needs. The Giants mightcome away with a safety prospect like Miami's Kenny Phillips or Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson with one of thosepicks, and maybe a linebacker such as Penn State's Dan Connor or Oklahoma's Curtis Lofton with the other.

At No. 40, New York could also choose to replace Shockey with a younger, healthier, cheaper version in Purdue tight end Dustin Keller, andwait until its No. 63 second-round pick to select its linebacker in Xavier Adibi of Virginia Tech. As for Shockey, he'd be a big upgradefor the Saints tight end position, where he'd play a major role in an offense he's familiar with. Saints head coach Sean Payton washis offensive coordinator with the Giants in his rookie season of 2002, when Shockey caught a career-best 74 passes for 894 yards.

2. The Eagles trade Lito Sheppard to move up in the first round: The minute Asante Samuel signed with Philadelphia itbecame a fait accompli that Sheppard would be dealt. It's rare that a 27-year-old cornerback with a pair of Pro Bowl selections on his résuméreaches the market, but Sheppard's recent injury history and his contract dissatisfaction make him expendable.

With Sheppard not even taking part in Philly's offseason program, the Eagles don't have a ton of leverage in any potential deal. Everybody knowshe's a goner, so Philadelphia can't exact maximum value. What the Eagles should be content to do is use Sheppard as the ammo they need to move up inthe first round from their current No. 19 slot. The two obvious teams above Philly that need a cornerback are No. 8 Baltimore and No. 10 New Orleans.

The Ravens wouldn't go anywhere if Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan was still available at No. 8, but as the draft looms it'slooking less likely that he'll get past the trio of the No. 3 Falcons, No. 5 Chiefs and No. 6 Jets. If the Eagles could get Baltimore interested in movingdown to No. 19 in exchange for Sheppard, they should jump on it, because it might put them into position to take USC defensive tackle SedrickEllis.

Same for No. 10 New Orleans. At No. 10, the Eagles could pick the draft's top-rated receiver, Devin Thomas of Michigan State, justahead of the No. 11 Bills, who covet him. Another potential target at No. 10 would be Virginia guard-tackle Branden Albert, who is rated thedraft's second-best tackle prospect by some teams. Turning Sheppard, a former 2002 first-round pick, into one of those three players -- Ellis, Thomas orAlbert -- would be transforming the Eagles' biggest negative this offseason into a positive.

3. The Raiders bypass Darren McFadden: He might be the most talented and gifted player in this year's draft, but McFadden isn't themissing piece that will turn Oakland into a winner after five desultory seasons of losing. The Raiders still have many needs, but running back simply isn'tone of them. Somehow, some way, they should be able to piece together a ground game from the likes of Michael Bush, Justin Fargas, DominicRhodes and LaMont Jordan. Adding McFadden would be counterproductive and leave some need unfilled.

The Raiders need defensive linemen and they're well-positioned in this year's draft to address that issue. At No. 4, they're 99.9 percentcertain of getting one of the following: Ohio State defensive end/linebacker Vernon Gholston, LSU defensive tackle GlennDorsey or Virginia defensive end Chris Long. If none of those possibilities seem attractive enough, Oakland should still spurnMcFadden and shop the pick to a team that needs a running back (No. 14 Bears, No. 15 Lions, No. 16 Cardinals), or a team that wants to move up and take one ofthose three defensive linemen. With as many holes as the Raiders have, multiple picks in the opening three rounds is the way to go.


4. The Bears draft Rashard Mendenhall: I'm not sure what the Bears still see in 2005 first-round running back CedricBenson that deserves continued displays of confidence, but I don't share their optimism.

Benson doesn't seem to do anything particularly well three years into his NFL career, and if I was calling the shots in Chicago, I'd cut my lossesand move on. At least in the sense of bringing in front-line competition for the underachieving Benson, who appears to be a classic case of the high draft pickwho got paid and lost motivation.

That's where Mendenhall, the University of Illinois star, comes in. He's a big, powerful and fast runner who has very little wear and tear on hisbody after starting just one season (as a junior) for the Illini. The already low-impact Bears offense suffered some losses this offseason, and playmakers arein painfully short supply on the unit coordinated by Ron Turner. The Bears stayed status quo at quarterback and lost ground at receiver. Morethan ever, they need a running game they can rely on.

5. The Chiefs trade Jared Allen to the Vikings: It's not an enviable position to have to shop your best defensive player, butthat's the situation the Chiefs find themselves in given that the franchised Allen appears unlikely to ever agree to a long-term deal. In reality, KansasCity can go 4-12 with or without Allen leading the league in sacks these days, so it makes sense to move him for as many picks as possible and at least try tospeed up the Chiefs' rebuilding program.

The Vikings have offered their No. 17 pick in the first round, plus the higher of their two selections in the third round, No. 73 overall. The Bucs areinterested in Allen as well, but Tampa Bay picks 20th overall in the first round, and that means Minnesota is in the driver's seat.

With the Vikings' two picks, the Chiefs would own five of the draft's top 73 choices, including two of the top 17. If they choose wisely and getsome luck, the Chiefs could parlay that into a draft-weekend bounty and be on their way back. Kansas City should act now, when Allen's value is at itspeak, rather than risk losing him in the long run, perhaps for a lot less.

6. Baltimore trades for a second first-round pick: If the Ravens miss out on Matt Ryan as I now expect they will,Steve McNair's retirement gives them more motivation than any team to try and trade back into the lower third of the first round andselect their quarterback of the future.

Who will it be? The Ravens like all three of the passers who could potentially be the second quarterback chosen: Michigan's Chad Henne,Louisville's Brian Brohm or Delaware's Joe Flacco. My pecking order would be Flacco, Brohm and Henne, but there'ssome thought that it's Henne, Flacco and Brohm on Baltimore's board.

As for the Ravens' trading partner, several teams in the 20s jump out as likely targets: No. 24 Tennessee, No. 25 Seattle, and No. 27 San Diego. TheTitans probably have the most reason to stay where they are, but if they don't like their receiving options at 24, they could choose to move down and letBaltimore climb ahead of fellow quarterback-needy clubs such as Miami, Atlanta (if it doesn't choose Ryan in the first round) and Carolina.

7. The Saints move up in the top 10 to take Sedrick Ellis: OK, I'll conceded it's not possible for New Orleans to do everythingI've suggested. The Saints can't both trade down with No. 19 Philadelphia for Lito Sheppard and trade up from No. 10 for Ellis, the Southern Caldefensive tackle. And don't forget sending their No. 40 second-round pick to the Giants for Jeremy Shockey.

But New Orleans needs help at defensive tackle and Ellis is seen as the obvious pick at No. 9 by Cincinnati. It'll take getting above the Bengals toland Ellis. While the Saints are rumored to have also explored the idea of getting up high enough to have a shot at LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, it'sprobably cost prohibitive. Ellis makes much more sense and comes with the added bonus of having been recruited to USC by new Saints defensive line coachEd Orgeron, the former Trojans assistant head coach/defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator.

9. The Jets draft Matt Ryan: While the latest buzz has Ryan going to the No. 3 Falcons, I still think Atlanta would be wiser to take Dorseywith its first pick and use some of its three second-round selections as ammo to land either Brohm, Henne or Flacco late in the opening round.

Doing it that way, the Falcons could almost certainly add an impact player on both sides of the ball at the top of their draft. Taking the quarterback atNo. 3 means it's unlikely they'd be able to affect their defense as dramatically in Round 2 as Dorsey would in Round 1.

But New York isn't in the same position as Atlanta, and has to get better quarterback play if it has any hopes of closing the gap on the Patriots in theAFC East. Chad Pennington is on borrowed time with the Jets, and Kellen Clemens remains a question mark who came at the priceof a second-round pick in 2006. If the Jets are as high on Ryan as indications allow, and he makes it to their No. 6 slot, they should pull the trigger and notthink twice.

10. Matt Walsh spills his guts on Spygate: I can't think of a better way to truly open the build-up for the NFL's 2008 season thanto finally put the biggest story of 2007 to bed -- one way or another. Let's hear it, Matt. All of it. And see it too, as the case may be. Then theconspiracy theorists will be either proven right or wrong, and the saga of the 2007 Patriots won't be an open-ended debate.

 

[kobekid24]

just heard raiders are looking to trade down

4. The Bears draft Rashard Mendenhall: I'm not sure what the Bears still see in 2005 first-round running back Cedric Benson that deserves continued displays of confidence, but I don't share their optimism.

Benson doesn't seem to do anything particularly well three years into his NFL career, and if I was calling the shots in Chicago, I'd cut my losses and move on. At least in the sense of bringing in front-line competition for the underachieving Benson, who appears to be a classic case of the high draft pick who got paid and lost motivation.

That's where Mendenhall, the University of Illinois star, comes in. He's a big, powerful and fast runner who has very little wear and tear on his body after starting just one season (as a junior) for the Illini. The already low-impact Bears offense suffered some losses this offseason, and playmakers are in painfully short supply on the unit coordinated by Ron Turner. The Bears stayed status quo at quarterback and lost ground at receiver. More than ever, they need a running game they can rely on.