2012 NFL Draft - Thurs. April 26th

[BINGO]

Five options for Carolina
2:05PM ET
Carolina Panthers

Monday morning we considered whether the Carolina Panthers would be the team that landed South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore in the first round of the draft, a player who has had a mercurial rise up the rankings lists of some analysts in recent days. But he's not the only possibility, of course, and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer ran through some others.

In Person's view, the Panthers appear to be leaning more towards the defensive side of the ball, as his five potential picks include four defenders -- LB Luke Kuechly, DEs Quinton Coples and Melvin Ingram and DT Fletcher Cox -- and just one player on offense, WR Kendall Wright (Justin Blackmon is off the board in Person's hypothetical).

Other potential players that could be in the mix include DTs Michael Brockers and Dontari Poe, WR Michael Floyd and (in a trade-down scenario) OG David DeCastro.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

How high is Blackmon's upside?
1:39PM ET
Justin Blackmon

Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon is generally considered to be the best wide receiver in the upcoming draft, and he likely will go in the top 10 picks next Thursday. But just how good can he be at the next level? In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, ESPN NFL draft expert Todd McShay responded to that very question.

"Where do we think he's going to be two, three years down the road when he's developed and he's starting to peak in his NFL career? Is he going to be an A.J. Green or an Andre Johnson or a (Larry) Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson? And I think the answer is no," McShay said, per the Star-Tribune's Dan Wiederer "Does that mean he's not a really, really good football player? Of course not. But you have to make that decision and then look at the other players in the draft if you're drafting somewhere in the top five or six picks and compare them to [others at] their position and what you can get.

With that in mind, McShay discussed how Blackmon and running back Trent Richardson compare with the top NFL players at their respective positions.

"I think there's a noticeable difference in terms of when you stack up Blackmon versus the elite, elite receivers in the NFL versus Trent Richardson and what he can provide, compared to what the elite, elite [running back] in the NFL is," McShay said.

Nonetheless, ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. still has Blackmon in the top five on his Big Board:

- Tom Carpenter​

Mel Kiper Jr.
Kiper's Big Board

"No. 5, WR Justin Blackmon: Steady stock, and has been for months. Blackmon isn't as big as some had him listed (he's actually under 6-foot-1), but he's still a lock for the top 10. Great route-runner, versatile, explosive; really works to get open. Has a high floor. "

 

[Ray_Dogg]

- Sources tell me the San Francisco 49ers pick in round one will come down to the highest rated offensive guard or Stephen Hill/WR/Georgia Tech.

Draft Insider News & Notes: Week of 4-16

 

[ChrisPozz]

NFL.com news: 2012 NFL Draft tiers: Elite prospects, blue chips, red chips

 

[ChrisPozz]

Scout.com: Jenkins denies continued drug use reports

 

[ChrisPozz]

Evan Silva:

ESPN's John Clayton on #Jaguars at 7: "They're hoping Kansas City will trade up (for) Tannehill. ... They want to trade out desperately."

 

[ChrisPozz]

49ers set to draft in a 'Blink' | PressDemocrat.com

 

[EKmane]

- Sources tell me the San Francisco 49ers pick in round one will come down to the highest rated offensive guard or Stephen Hill/WR/Georgia Tech.

Draft Insider News & Notes: Week of 4-16

Makes perfect sense to me. No way Hill will get past Houston, we can cross him off the list. Our 1st round board should start with DeCastro (just in case), then some form of Zeitler, Osemele and Glenn.

The only other option that would make sense would be a trade for Philly's two 2nd round picks.

For the record, I'm on the Zeitler wagon. I love the coaching he's had, I love his football IQ, I think his dominate pulling abilities are a perfect match for what we do, as well as liking the fact that he has already been playing on the right side and won't need any adjustment period. Plug him in and play.

Kevin Zeitler highlights Nebraska and Penn State.wmv - YouTube

Kelechi Osemele vs Oklahoma - YouTube (Osmele playing LT though)

Cordy Glenn vs LSU 2011 - YouTube

In the 2nd I'd like for us to add the best de (that fits our scheme)for depth and grooming (behind Justin Smith).

 

[CalamityX11]

- Sources tell me the San Francisco 49ers pick in round one will come down to the highest rated offensive guard or Stephen Hill/WR/Georgia Tech.

Draft Insider News & Notes: Week of 4-16

 

[mem49er]

- Sources tell me the San Francisco 49ers pick in round one will come down to the highest rated offensive guard or Stephen Hill/WR/Georgia Tech.

Draft Insider News & Notes: Week of 4-16

Makes so much sense, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a huge smoke screen.

Another quote in there...

Small school sleeper Jason Slowey, who spent his career at left tackle for Western Oregon, is getting looks at the center spot by the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

 

[mem49er]

Hadn't seen this posted but think it's funny we discussed this very thing a few days ago.

NFL.com news: NFL, NFL Network, ESPN to reduce draft tip-offs

 

[BINGO]

Scout.com: Jenkins denies continued drug use reports

Trent Baalke is the culprit behind this horrible rumor for obvious reasons...

 

[BINGO]

Elway's thoughts on Broncos' pick
11:30AM ET
Denver Broncos

There is a school of thought indicating that the Denver Broncos must take a DT with their first-round pick (No. 25 overall), owing to their incredible perceived need for a player at that position. But in comments this week, executive VP of football operations John Elway hinted that they will not be pushed into any corner.

"The last thing you want to do in the first round is reach on a guy because you think it's a need," Elway explained, per the Denver Post. "We want the best guy there, our best guy at that spot. No exceptions."

However, he did confirm that there is an expectation that any player drafted with a first-round pick will most likely be a starter. "No question," Elway noted. "You can't miss on those. How we do draft after draft will show up if we get where we want to go."

ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. ran through a three-round mock draft where he got to play GM of every team this week, and for the Broncos at No. 25, he selected Cincinnati DT Derek Wolfe:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Mel Kiper, Jr.
Strong piece to add to their current group

"I'm the GM here, and Wolfe is one of my biggest sleepers in this draft. He is an explosive, scheme-versatile player and fills a big need on the defensive interior. I trust the Broncos with making talent work regardless of the 'system' fit (see: Von Miller), and Wolfe could be a really good one. They simply have to add talent on the interior of the defensive line, and Wolfe makes sense."

 

[BINGO]

Stephen Hill to Jacksonville?
11:04AM ET
Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert did not have a strong start to his NFL career, struggling through his rookie season in 2011. But, the team has gone out to get him some help heading into Season 2, including signing Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans, and that process may continue with the club's early round draft picks.

Some have shipped Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd to the Jags at No. 7 overall, but according to what multiple sources have revealed to Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union, there's another WR prospect on whom we should keep an eye: Georgia Tech speedster Stephen Hill.

The tricky part for Jacksonville is whether Hill is worthy of their first-round pick or if they should risk attempting to take him in Round 2 (No. 38 overall). It's also possible that they could trade up from 38 into the latter stages of the first if Hill falls.

Of course, this is the same club that raised eyebrows in 2010 by taking DT Tyson Alualu well ahead of where he'd been ranked by draft analysts in the media. So, if they really are in love with Hill, it wouldn't be altogether shocking to see them go ahead and snag him with that seventh pick.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

The Jets' strategy at No. 16
10:41AM ET
New York Jets

As with every other NFL team, the New York Jets have some remaining holes to fill on their roster, but may or may not directly address them with their first-round pick (No. 16 overall). It's hard, then, to assess exactly who they'll be targeting with that first-rounder, though one week out, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com has compiled a watch list.

Included on the list are UNC DE Quinton Coples (who may slide to OLB in the pros), Memphis DT Dontari Poe, Alabama S Mark Barron, Alabama DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw and Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd. Cimini also reports that he's heard the Jets have been showing increased interest in Illinois DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus as of late.

Cimini is of the belief that the Jets will take the best available defender with their pick at No. 16, and has some additional tidbits on the interest in Coples:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Rich Cimini
Jets have done their diligence on him

"At 6-foot-6, 284 pounds, with 4.7 speed, Coples is straight out of central casting. One personnel executive told me Coples is a 'top-10 talent,' but there are questions about his motor, so he's likely to fall into the teens, according to the exec. Perhaps sensing the slide, the Jets brought him in for a visit, gathering 11th-hour information just in case. They did the same thing in 2006 with D'Brickashaw Ferguson, inviting him in to meet with non-football staffers. At the time, there were questions about his passion for football. Coples would be a risk/reward pick."

 

[BINGO]

Poe in play for Steelers?
9:20AM ET
Pittsburgh Steelers

As the visitation schedule for draft prospects came to a close on Wednesday -- there's now an embargo until the draft -- the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in a player about whom there has been furious debate: Memphis DT Dontari Poe. As Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, Poe could very well end up being the team's first-rounder.

The debate on Poe centers on his game tape as a Tiger (when he appeared to not always put in a full effort) vs. what he was able to do during this draft season (when he became a scouting combine superstar with a 4.98 40-yard dash and 44 reps in the 225-pound bench press). He's gone as high as No. 9 overall in some mock drafts, and fallen out of the first round in others.

The Steelers have one of the game's archetypal NTs in Casey Hampton, but the veteran is coming off another knee injury and is certainly nearing the end of his time in the league. Poe certainly fits the bill from a physical standpoint, and perhaps a season as Hampton's apprentice will yield some positive results. As for the idea that the Steelers would trade up to secure Poe, it's not completely outside the realm of possibility, given that the Steelers have been active draft pick traders during the Mike Tomlin era.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Niners decided on Round 1 pick?
8:54AM ET
San Francisco 49ers

A lot can happen over the course of the first 29 selections of the NFL Draft; however, San Francisco 49ers GM Trent Baalke is confident with one week to go that the player the team likes at that spot will still be on the board for them when their turn comes up on the night of Apr. 26.

"We'll see how the board falls," Baalke noted at a pre-draft meeting with the media this week, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "We certainly have more than one person, but there is [a player] in particular we feel will be there."

Baalke declined to say who that player was (for obvious reasons), joking that it could even be a punter. [Editor's note: No long-snapper love?] Niners HC Jim Harbaugh even hinted that Baalke was perhaps messing with everyone with the idea that the team had already identified its target.

"I think Trent's trying to be dramatic with you guys," Harbaugh quipped. "Trying to build the drama. There's several -- there's a lot of good guys, put it that way. There are a lot of good guys that we'd love to have at that pick."

It's still anyone's guess what the Niners will wind up doing in Round 1 and afterwards, as they did a fine job of shoring up some holes up and down the roster in free agency. One lingering question remains at RG, however, so perhaps they have a particular interior O-lineman in mind at that spot.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Will the Giants draft a WR?
8:14AM ET
New York Giants

Mario Manningham and Devin Thomas elected to sign with non-New York Giants teams this offseason in free agency, which has left the club with a bit of a hole at the WR position. Yes, they do have Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz atop the depth chart, but there is a need for another wideout to establish himself as that third-level threat, as well as fill Thomas' shoes on special teams.

Domenik Hixon's return from injury could be the answer, and there is some thought that Ramses Barden or Jerrel Jernigan is ready to take the next step. But how about adding a rookie to the mix? While the Giants have adopted the "best player available" strategy over the past few seasons, there is a chance that at No. 32 overall, that player could be a WR. ESPNNewYork.com scribe Ohm Youngmisuk offers up some potential fits there, as well as a couple names to keep in mind for the later rounds:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Ohm Youngmisuk
Hill, Wright would make sense at No. 32

"It's a good bet the Giants will stick to their best player available philosophy. But if the Giants were to go receiver in the first round, Baylor's Kendall Wright and Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill might be possibilities if they slip to 32. Receiver may be more of an option later in the draft. Appalachian State's Brian Quick has intriguing size at 6-3, 220 pounds. Michigan State's Keshawn Martin is shifty and can make plays in space and as a returner. The Giants reportedly brought in Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu and Fresno State's Devon Wylie in for a look."

 

[I_am_1z]

- Sources tell me the San Francisco 49ers pick in round one will come down to the highest rated offensive guard or Stephen Hill/WR/Georgia Tech.

Draft Insider News & Notes: Week of 4-16

Don't believe this 'source'. Baalke has shown he's one of the more secretive GM's in the league.

 

[NinerSickness]

Poe in play for Steelers?
9:20AM ET
Pittsburgh Steelers

As the visitation schedule for draft prospects came to a close on Wednesday -- there's now an embargo until the draft -- the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in a player about whom there has been furious debate: Memphis DT Dontari Poe. As Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, Poe could very well end up being the team's first-rounder.

The debate on Poe centers on his game tape as a Tiger (when he appeared to not always put in a full effort) vs. what he was able to do during this draft season (when he became a scouting combine superstar with a 4.98 40-yard dash and 44 reps in the 225-pound bench press). He's gone as high as No. 9 overall in some mock drafts, and fallen out of the first round in others.

The Steelers have one of the game's archetypal NTs in Casey Hampton, but the veteran is coming off another knee injury and is certainly nearing the end of his time in the league. Poe certainly fits the bill from a physical standpoint, and perhaps a season as Hampton's apprentice will yield some positive results. As for the idea that the Steelers would trade up to secure Poe, it's not completely outside the realm of possibility, given that the Steelers have been active draft pick traders during the Mike Tomlin era.

- Tim Kavanagh​

This makes a ton of sense. The Steelers are not stupid enough to pass on Poe IMO. If the Niners want him they'd better trade up to at least 23 or higher.