2012 NFL Draft - Thurs. April 26th

[CalamityX11]

there are two can't-miss quarterback prospects in this year's draft

Which one it is doesn't matter as much

I believe this... I think the colts will be drawn to the hype(potential) of RGIII and take him surprisingly over Luck. Shanahan will get his new Elway....

 

[BINGO]

NFL Draft Blog
Who could catch passes from Tim Tebow?
March, 26, 2012 3:17PM ET
By Kevin Weidl

Tim Tebow has been introduced as the newest member of the New York Jets, but it remains to be seen what impact Tebow will have on the Jets' offense.

What we do know, though, is that Tebow can't fill the other needs New York is faced with as the NFL draft approaches.

Safety was a primary need heading into free agency, but the signing of former Redskins S LaRon Landry helped fill that void. Four areas remain in need of an upgrade, including players Tebow could end up throwing passes to.


Pass-rusher
The Jets need players who can put heat on opposing quarterbacks, and there are plenty of hybrid defenders -- college ends who could transition to 3-4 outside linebacker -- who fit what New York needs.

Courtney Upshaw can pressure the passer and does plenty of other things well.

Should they opt for a pass-rusher with the No. 16 overall pick, Alabama's Courtney Upshaw would be a nice addition to coach Rex Ryan's 3-4 scheme. Upshaw isn't the most natural athlete, but he has a compact build (6-foot-1⅝, 272 pounds), plays with natural leverage and shows excellent finishing power when pursuing the quarterback. Upshaw isn't a guy you want playing in space regularly, but he can spot-drop on occasion and he is very stout when setting the edge against the run.

Clemson's Andre Branch (6-4¼, 259) and Illinois' Whitney Mercilus (6-3⅝, 261) could also be options in the first round. Branch shows the versatility to play standing up or with his hand on the ground, and he could even play strong-side linebacker on occasion. The versatility to get after the passer, play the run well and hold up in underneath zone coverage make him a nice fit. As for Mercilus, his stock has been rising since an impressive combine workout that proved he is more athletic than first thought, and he has a nonstop motor and a knack for big plays.

If New York looks to add pass-rush help on Day 2 (Rounds 2-3), keep an eye on Marshall's Vinny Curry (6-3⅛, 266). He's a better football player than athlete, but Curry has power, good hands and the quickness to disrupt plays in the backfield. He's coming off a good pro day workout and would offer solid value in the middle of the second round. The Jets could also find a pass-rusher in the middle rounds with a player such as Arkansas' Jake Bequette (6-4⅝, 274), who has a good motor and strong hands, or Miami's Olivier Vernon (6-2⅛, 261).



Wide receiver
New York signed Chaz Schilens to help replace free agent Plaxico Burress, but don't rule out the Jets drafting a big-bodied receiver who can add more help down the field and in the red zone.

Notre Dame's Michael Floyd (6-2⅝, 220) made a lot of headway after proving his speed with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and while Floyd is a little tight he does a great job using his size and length to create late separation then play the ball. If the Jets can get him the ball, Floyd could provide a strong threat on the outside as a first-round pick.

Baylor's Kendall Wright (5-10¼, 196) also proved his speed recently (mid-4.4s in the 40 after running 4.61 at the combine), and while he's not as big Wright would offer a downfield threat and can be dynamic after the catch. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill (6-4, 215) is still raw and is a tough evaluation because he played in a triple-option scheme in college, but his exceptional combination of size and athleticism could have him in the mix in the first round as well.

If the Jets look for a receiver in the second round, they might not have a chance at LSU's Rueben Randle (6-2⅞, 210), but South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery could be an intriguing possibility. Jeffery played the college season at around 230 pounds but was down to 217 at the combine, and he still has to answer questions about his speed and suddenness at his upcoming pro day workout. However, if he checks out in those two areas, his combination of elite ball skills and strong hands could make him attractive in the middle of the second round.

Options in the third round (New York does not have a fourth-round pick) include Miami's Tommy Streeter (6-4⅞, 219), and his impressive measurable, and Wake Forest's Chris Givens (5-11⅛, 198), with his solid routes and good overall skill set. The third round might be a bit rich for Streeter, but he is gaining some momentum in scouting circles and could be an option there.



Offensive line depth
The offensive front won't be a top priority in the draft, but adding some help there would be a good idea for a team that will likely look to diversify its offense with Tebow and Mark Sanchez available to take snaps.

The Jets don't have a pressing need at guard, but they will have to at least consider Stanford's David DeCastro (6-4⅞, 316) in the first round, should he be available. DeCastro is far and away the best interior offensive linemen on the board, and his combination of size, strength, technique and tenacity would allow him to step in immediately as a starter.

The next-best options could come in the third round. Iowa State's Kelechi Osemele (6-5½, 333) has good size and the ability to line up at both guard and tackle, while Northwestern State's Amini Silatolu (6-3⅝, 311) is one of the better small-school prospects in this year's draft, showing quick feet and a nasty disposition.

Miami (Ohio)'s Brandon Brooks (6-4⅝, 353) is a massive, powerful presence who can move defenders off the ball and would fit nicely in the power run scheme of new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Wake Forest's Joe Looney (6-3¼, 309) could offer value in the third round, despite coming off a foot injury suffered at the Senior Bowl.



Tight end depth
This is another spot that's not a primary need, but New York would do well to add some blocking help to go with the receiving threat posed by starting TE Dustin Keller.

In the later rounds, N.C. State's George Bryan (6-5, 265) is not the greatest athlete, but his size and inline power give him the ability to get movement in the running game, and Bryan's size and soft hands could make him a nice underneath security blanket and red zone target. Likewise, Georgia's Bruce Figgins (6-3¼, 272), who also played some fullback in college, has a strong lower body and the ability to help in the running game.

And watch out for Cincinnati's Adrian Robinson (6-4, 264), who needs work as a blocker but turned heads at his pro day with a 40 in the mid-4.5s, a 39.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-3 broad jump. Robinson's size and pad level give him potential as a blocker, and he has a wide catching radius with the ability stretch the seam and flex out of the formation. Robinson is under the radar at this point, but he is gaining some steam and could offer solid value in the middle rounds.

 

[Flyingiguana]

could this end up being the best 1-2-3's ever? every year there seems to be a reach/bust pick in the top 3, but this year it looks like three true #1's.

i dont see the colts doing anything but pick luck.

 

[BINGO]

could this end up being the best 1-2-3's ever? every year there seems to be a reach/bust pick in the top 3, but this year it looks like three true #1's.

i dont see the colts doing anything but pick luck.

I feel the same. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they do not have a strong/sincere curiosity (or talks within their management) regarding RGIII. I'm starting to think however that Shanahan prefers RGIII more than Luck. Strange but true. Either way he doesn't really care and is a lucky coach come draft day.

 

[CalamityX11]

Maybe in the old Peyton Manning like offenses they would go for Luck hands down. But it's a new system now, new coaches and everything. Perhaps a new identity too? Cam was stellar for Carolina and brought them on the map in terms of growth, RGIII may be that much of a lure for the Colts.

 

[CalamityX11]

I feel the same. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they do not have a strong/sincere curiosity (or talks within their management) regarding RGIII. I'm starting to think however that Shanahan prefers RGIII more than Luck. Strange but true. Either way he doesn't really care and is a lucky coach come draft day.

I will say this though, IMO if I had to chose between Luck or RGIII to battle against the NFC East defenses, I feel RGIII has the better chance in winning and avoiding any setbacks due to his ability to beat both arm and legs.

 

[BINGO]

I will say this though, IMO if I had to chose between Luck or RGIII to battle against the NFC East defenses, I feel RGIII has the better chance in winning and avoiding any setbacks due to his ability to beat both arm and legs.

I respectfully disagree! Luck's mental readiness and his ability to pro style offense so effortlessly speaks volume and not should be understimated. He's very mobile, and able to beat you with his legs as well (a la Aaron Rodgers).

 

[CalamityX11]

I respectfully disagree! Luck's mental readiness and his ability to pro style offense so effortlessly speaks volume and not should be understimated. He's very mobile, and able to beat you with his legs as well (a la Aaron Rodgers).

Luck is definitely ready his makeup however, he doesn't possess that RGIII run ability. RGIII may have a quicker tendency in his mental shot clock to pull the ball and run where Luck will hold out a little further for that open pass.

I'm talking about just playing the NFC East defenses.

 

[BINGO]

Luck is definitely ready his makeup however, he doesn't possess that RGIII run ability. RGIII may have a quicker tendency in his mental shot clock to pull the ball and run where Luck will hold out a little further for that open pass.

I'm talking about just playing the NFC East defenses.

The NFC East Defenses are so used to playing a guy like Michael Vick and his uncanny scrambling skills. So in that sense, I think they are more equipped to deal with a guy like RGIII with somewhat similar tendencies in scrambling; as oppose to a team like the AFC East per se who is more used to dealing with pocket passers.

 

[CalamityX11]

The NFC East Defenses are so used to playing a guy like Michael Vick and his uncanny scrambling skills. So in that sense, I think they are more equipped to deal with a guy like RGIII with somewhat similar tendencies in scrambling; as oppose to a team like the AFC East per se who is more used to dealing with pocket passers.

that's true.

Yet, the woes of the Giants, Cowboys n Skins also have been dealt by the 2 way attack of Sr Vick.

 

[NinerSickness]

Irsay says Colts undecided on Luck vs RG3
March, 26, 2012
1:35PM ET
By Dan Graziano.

I'm calling B.S.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Why would Irsay BS that, though? It's not like he's looking for more leverage with the rookie cap in place.

 

[NinerSickness]

Why would Irsay BS that, though? It's not like he's looking for more leverage with the rookie cap in place.

I think he's just trying to be polite to RGIII.

 

[I_am_1z]

Why would Irsay BS that, though? It's not like he's looking for more leverage with the rookie cap in place.

Baiting the Redskins into trading the rest of their picks to move up to select RG3

 

[Flyingiguana]

Baiting the Redskins into trading the rest of their picks to move up to select RG3

that would be like taking shoes from a homeless man

 

[BINGO]

Rams looking to trade up?
10:04AM ET
St. Louis Rams

One reason why the Cleveland Browns would've made a better trading partner for the St. Louis Rams is that doing so would've moved the Rams down to the No. 4 overall pick instead of the No. 6 selection they received from the Washington Redskins. The central issue is that at No. 4, the Rams would've likely had their choice of Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne or Trent Richardson; at No. 6, they get the last one left.

As a result, it's not surprising to hear that the Rams have some level of interest in trading up. And, interestingly enough, Rams HC Jeff Fisher wouldn't rule out executing a deal with the Browns, though he did hedge that remark by indicating they'd be fine staying where they are as well.

"I don't know if we'd consider going that high," Fisher acknowledged, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Those conversations aren't going to take place until draft day because your guy's got to be there. It'll be interesting to see what kind of compensation they want. We're very happy with the compensation we've got right now over the next couple of years."

If another team trades up to No. 3 to get Blackmon, this all but assures that the Rams will not trade up -- and in fact, they could potentially trade down. Lot of moving parts here.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

NFL draft plans for four teams
What Chicago, New York, Minnesota and Tampa should do in the draft
Updated: March 27, 2012, 3:14 PM ET
By KC Joyner | ESPN Insider

The Chicago Bears need another complementary WR with Johnny Knox out.

The early stages of free agency typically serve as the first step for teams to address their personnel needs.

Sometimes those moves are more than enough to solve a club's problems, but in other cases teams need to have a solid continuation plan for the NFL draft.

Here are four teams (Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings) that need a strong draft plan, as well as a suggestion as to what that plan could entail.



Chicago Bears

Area of concern -- Vertical passing productivity
Step 1: Trading for Brandon Marshall
Draft plan: Draft Stanford tight end Coby Fleener

Marshall is a great addition to the Bears' offense, but his acquisition is somewhat offset by the recent news that Johnny Knox, Chicago's best vertical receiving threat, will likely start the 2012 season on the PUP list due to his horrific back injury.

The impact of Knox's loss is hard to overstate from a metric perspective. Jay Cutler's 11.4 vertical yards per attempt (VYPA) and 12.1 stretch vertical YPA (SVYPA) last year were both very good totals, but those figures drop to pedestrian levels (10.0 VYPA and 8.4 SVYPA) when Knox's numbers are removed from Cutler's metrics. (Note: vertical passes are aerials thrown 11 or more yards downfield; stretch vertical passes are thrown 20 or more yards.)

Marshall will fill in more than adequately for Knox, but to get to the upper echelon of passing, the Bears' offense should mimic some of the other great offenses around the league and get a matchup nightmare at the tight end position.

Fleener fits that description perfectly. His 6-foot-6, 247-pound frame matches up quite well with Rob Gronkowski (6-6, 265) and Jimmy Graham (6-6, 260), as does his performance when he was flexed out as a wide receiver.

Last year Fleener caught 13 of the 20 passes thrown his way as a wideout and gained 281 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at his pro day. Add in the 10-yard defensive holding penalty he drew on another target and it equals 291 yards on 21 targets, or a ridiculously high 13.9 YPA.

That alone would justify taking him with the No. 19 pick in the first round, but combine that with his superb 8.8 YPA on 20 targets thrown to him when lined up as a standard tight end and it shows why it would be sensible to make an early draft investment here.



Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Area of concern -- Upgrading the worst defense in the NFL
Step 1: Re-sign Ronde Barber, sign free-agent cornerback Eric Wright
Draft plan: Draft LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne

While the Buccaneers deserve kudos for signing wide receiver Vincent Jackson and offensive guard Carl Nicks in free agency, their biggest problems by far last year were on the defensive side of the ball.

Tampa allowed the most total rushing yards and second most yards per carry last season. The Bucs also finished next to last in the league in passing yards per attempt allowed and were dead last in turnover margin. Wright's 10.1 VYPA says he may not offer much help coverage-wise, as the NFL average usually hovers around 7.5. So, the Bucs still need to upgrade their defensive personnel.

There are many players in the draft who might help solve one or two of those issues, but Claiborne is the only one who can assist in every one of those areas. He is a superb ball hawk (six interceptions last year, ranked third in the SEC), has solid tackling skills (Scouts Inc. says he is above average in this area) and, although he isn't a shutdown cornerback, his 7.5 YPA in a seven-game sampling of his 2011 season shows he should be at least adequate in this category in the NFL.



New York Jets

Area of concern -- Vertical passing productivity
Step 1: Sign free-agent wide receiver Chaz Schilens
Draft plan: Draft Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright or Arkansas wide receiver Jarius Wright

As noted in a recent Insider article, the biggest issue with Mark Sanchez last year wasn't a lack of leadership but rather a lack of a quality vertical receiving threat.

Schilens looks to have the physical skills to take over this role, but he has been injury-prone to such an extent that he has been able to rack up enough targets to qualify for the season-ending wide receivers charts in only two of his four NFL seasons.

It's not as if Schilens' numbers in those seasons were very good, as he had an 8.3 VYPA in 2009 and a 9.3 VYPA in 2011. To put that in context, quality performance in this area requires a 10.0 or higher. That means he might not be the answer even if he can stay healthy.

Kendall Wright's 15.4 VYPA and 20.7 SVYPA last year indicate he could be a quality solution for the Jets if they are willing to invest a first-round pick in him, but the most recent mock drafts by Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both indicate New York is likely to go for defense in Round 1.

The good news is that the Jets may fare just as well if they go for Jarius Wright in one of the later rounds. He is nearly the same size as Kendall Wright and his 16.7 VYPA and 19.0 SVYPA totals against BCS conference foes last year are more than comparable, as well.



Minnesota Vikings

Area of concern -- Shoring up the worst pass defense in the NFL
Step 1: Sign free-agent cornerback Zack Bowman
Draft plan: Play their cards right on draft day

There are only about six players who stand head and shoulders above the rest of the players in this year's draft and USC Trojans offensive tackle Matt Kalil is one of them. Unless a blockbuster deal is offered, the Vikings will almost certainly draft Kalil with the third overall pick in this year's draft.

That will still leave Minnesota short in the secondary and since general manager Rick Spielman has been hesitant to upgrade via free agency, the later picks in the draft will be the only way for the Vikes to get better in this area of dire need.

This does not mean they will end up coming up short, at least as long as Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith (the second highest rated safety in the draft, according to Kiper) falls into the early second round, something that the Kiper/McShay mock drafts indicate could happen. Minnesota has the third pick in that round, so it would not be a shock to see Smith still available at that spot if he makes it out of the first round.

The Vikings could also choose to go for a game-changing cornerback such as Virginia Tech cornerback Jayron Hosley (12 interceptions over the past two seasons) if he happens to make it out of the first round.

Finally, Minnesota could further benefit from finding diamonds in the rough such as Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin. He notched a fantastic set of YPA totals (3.4 YPA, 5.3 VYPA) and three interceptions versus BCS teams in 2011.

 

[BINGO]

How will the Packers address their needs?
March, 27, 2012 4:30PM ET
By Steve Muench

The Green Bay Packers' dream 2011 season came to an abrupt halt with a disappointing home playoff loss to the New York Giants, and you can be sure they are itching to get back to work on another Super Bowl run.

The Packers have signed free-agent C Jeff Saturday and appear to be in pursuit of some other available players, but a good portion of that work will be done through the 2012 draft.

What holes will Green Bay be looking to fill when it comes on the clock? Here's a look at the possibilities for each of the Packers' top six picks, including two compensatory selections at the end of the fourth round.

Andre Branch's pass-rush ability and versatility make a nice fit for the Packers.


First round
The Packers are clearly in need of pass-rush help. They finished second in the league with 47 total sacks in 2010 -- including 13½ from OLB Clay Matthews -- but ranked 29th last season with Matthews contributing only six of Green Bay's 29 total sacks.

With Matthews needing help on the opposite side, Clemson DE/OLB Andre Branch (Scouts Inc. Grade: 92) makes a lot of sense at No. 29 overall. Branch has the initial quickness and athletic ability to get to the quarterback, which would make it tougher for offenses to double-team Matthews, and Branch's experience dropping into coverage and ability to hold up there make him a good fit for the Packers' 3-4 scheme.


Second round
Packers FS Nick Collins suffered what could be a career-ending neck injury last season, and even if he does return Collins likely won't be the same player. That makes safety help a pressing need, and Green Bay would do well to land LSU's Brandon Taylor (Scouts Inc. Grade: 84) in the second round. Taylor has the range to play a center fielder-type role in coverage, and the toughness and tenacity to hold up well in run support.


Third round
The Aaron Rodgers-led passing attack is one of the most potent in the league and will remain the focal point of the offense, but improving an inconsistent ground game should be a priority. This is especially true considering the weather in Green Bay late in the season.

Brandon Jackson (second round, 2007) is the only back the Packers have drafted earlier than the third round since 1990 and he didn't exactly pan out, so don't expect that trend to change unless Boise State's Doug Martin (87) somehow slides to them in the late second round. However, Washington's Chris Polk (71) is a name to remember. He isn't much of a big-play threat, but Polk is a tough and instinctive runner who doesn't leave many yards on the field. He's also a reliable receiver and, perhaps more importantly, an effective pass-blocker.


Fourth round
The Packers now have three picks in the fourth with which they could address offensive tackle, cornerback and center. Let's start with tackle, which may not seem like a need at first glance. However, Chad Clifton is on the downside of his career, 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod is coming off a season-ending leg injury and Marshall Newhouse might be better suited to play guard.

With all that in mind, keep an eye on Boise State's Nate Potter (64), who has the arm length and agility to emerge as a quality No. 3 tackle who can provide depth on both sides and potentially develop into a starter in this scheme.
As for cornerback, today's defenses can never have enough quality corners and age has to start catching up with 35-year-old Charles Woodson. That means a player like West Virginia's Keith Tandy (53) is a possibility. Tandy may not have the natural ability to become an above-average man-to-man corner, but he's a tough player who closes and tackles well.

Green Bay signed Saturday after Scott Wells departed for the St. Louis Rams, but Saturday, who will turn 37 in June, clearly isn't the long-term answer. Georgia's Ben Jones (56) is the No. 2 center on our board at this point and could very well be available to the Packers late in the fourth. Jones would benefit from playing behind Saturday for a year, and he has the frame (6-foot-25, 303 pounds) and skill set to develop into a starter.

 

[BINGO]

More Bills draft buzz
11:18 AM ET
Buffalo Bills

After the Buffalo Bills' FA spending spree landed them a pair of productive DEs -- fulfilling a big need -- we look to the other spots on the roster to envision which positions they might address with remaining FAs or the draft. Two big holes as of now are at left tackle and a secondary WR. As for the former need, it's possible that Demetrius Bell could come back, though he's generating significant interest from other clubs. In the WR department, the pickings are pretty slim at this point.

Going on the idea that the Bills will address these two needs with their first two picks, Lance Zierlein of TheSidelineView.com sent prospects at those positions to Buffalo in his latest mock draft. In Round 1 (No. 10 overall), it's Iowa OT Riley Reiff. In Round 2 (No. 41 overall), it's Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu.

Bills GM Buddy Nix commented recently that the team will not necessarily use the draft to fill a need, but will instead take the player that they believe is the best available. Nevertheless, adding Reiff and Sanu in the first two rounds would be a logical scenario.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Chatter on pick No. 14
10:40 AM ET
Dallas Cowboys

Many envisioned the Dallas Cowboys signing OG Carl Nicks in free agency this offseason, but the former New Orleans Saint went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without much interest (at least publicly) from Jerry Jones' team. The Cowboys did sign two other O-linemen -- Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau -- and as a result, this may mean that they'll not be worrying about drafting another at No. 14 overall.

"We probably wouldn't prefer that. I wouldn't," Jones quipped on Tuesday from the NFL owners meetings, per Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com. "That would keep us from maybe having to pick a top [defensive] player there in the first round and the offensive line. I did it both ways. It left us totally flexible there. You might want to move down and pick up a player that's going to be there rather than being at your 14th -- you might not have been able to do that had you not had the success that we had in free agency."

Jones was also asked whether the club would consider going defense with that pick. "It would look like it was going to be potentially top defensive players there as opposed to a receiver or as opposed to a running back," Jones responded. "But you're going to have some good depth or some good selection opportunities at that level where we are on the offensive line. So all of those areas you'd have to look at. We'd have to take into consideration that we've done pretty well in free agency relative to our offensive line. We have to take that into consideration if we had the alternative of taking it on the defense. So you're not off base when you ask is it likely that would be a defensive player."

Watkins believes that potential selections at No. 14 include LSU DT Michael Brockers, Memphis DT Dontari Poe and UNC DE/OLB Quinton Coples.

- Tim Kavanagh​