Oct 8, 2011; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defender Jared Crick (94) lines up against Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Mike Adams (75) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

The Packers are putting together a really good NFL Draft with Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy, and Casey Hayward. So, how will the Packers finish off their 2012 draft class?

The Packers have two fourth rond picks and plenty of sixth- and seventh-rounders so the Packers have some flexibility if they want to make a trade for a player like Ole Miss’s Bobby Massie to provide more depth on the offensive line after Chad Clifton was cut. If they stay where they are in the fourth round, they should look at running back and another defensive lineman.

Feb 26, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Utah State running back Robert Turbin runs the 40 yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

The first thing the Packers should do in the fourth round is pick up a running back. Miami’s Lamar Miller is a definite possibility if he continues to fall but a more realistic option is Utah State’s Robert Turbin.

Turbin was productive and college and has shown a great combo of size and speed. I think Turbin has the tools to be a really good NFL running back.

Despite picking up Jerel Worthy, the Packers still need some help at defensive end and the two players that are now steals are Boise State’s Billy Wynn and Nebraska’s Jared Crick.

Wynn will probably be off the board by the time the Packers pick, but Crick will probably still be there and he would be a great pick as he could start at defensive end.

A defensive line of Crick, B.J. Raji, and Worthy would be able to dominate in the trenches.

In the sixth round, the Packers will probably look at taking a young quarterback like Ryan Lindley out of San Diego State.

Lindley has an impressive arm but he lacks in the areas of consistency and accuracy. However, I think Lindley will be at least as good as Rex Grossman with the potential to be similar to Brett Favre.

Lindley can be a backup that the Packers can develop which is eactly what they want.

December 17, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns during the first quarter of the New Orleans Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

In the seventh round, the Packers have four picks and plenty of possibilities.

The Packers could take some chances on some players like Arizona State’s Vontaxe Burfict as he is a high ceiling guy that would not be much of a loss if he does not pan out.

Notre Dame safety Robert Blanton could be another possibility if he is still on the board.  Colorado offensive guard Ryan Miller is a player that has a high ceiling and could be very effective.

A player that is off the radar but a very good talent that would be worth taking in the seventh round is Utah cornerback Conroy Black.

Black has all the skills to develop into a starting cornerback in the NFL as he could be a dime cornerback next season even.

The uncertainty of playing in the NFL has been exacerbated for players like former Louisville QB Adam Froman who has been working out with former Packer Brian Brohm.

The chances of an undrafted football player making an impact is not great.
But if you consider how the NFL lockout has dragged on the past couple of months, the possibility for these players making any kind of difference diminishes with each passing day. (more…)

The team that seems to have the best shot at making noise in the NFL next year is the Detroit Lions. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Everyone’s screaming, “play football!”
And everyone is hearing the roar emanating from the Detroit Lions’ camp. (more…)

The ring

Now that the NFL draft hoopla is finally dying down and the league’s focus centers on settling the collective bargaining issues, I’ll take a shot on this Cinco de Mayo to give you my top five list of things that have caught my eye during and after the draft.

(more…)

Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th in 2005 by the Packers, was one of three quarterbacks taken in the first round of the draft that year. The other two, Alex Smith, who was drafted with the first overall selection by the 49ers, and Jason Campbell, who went 25th to the Redskins, have never matched Rodgers for overall production.

It is no secret that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is at the top of his game. In just three seasons as the starting quarterback, he has passed for 12,394 yards with just 31 interceptions.
How were the Packers able to get Aaron Rodgers?
It was much more complex than the 24th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft.
First, Rodgers had to fall all of the way to the 24th pick. That was not a likely event, as there were only three quarterbacks drafted in the first round that year. Those drafted were Alex Smith, selected with the first overall pick; Rodgers, and Jason Campbell, Washington, who was taken right after Rodgers at 25. Matt Jones was also a quarterback in college, but the Jaguars drafted him 21st as a wide receiver. The 49ers were considering Smith and Rodgers for the first overall pick. Leading up to the draft, Rodgers was projected to go eighth overall to the Cardinals. Instead, the Cardinals drafted cornerback Antrel Rolle. It is a miracle that Rodgers fell to the 24th pick.
Second, of the three quarterbacks selected in the first round, Rodgers is the only one who has proved worthy of a first round pick. Jason Campbell is not even with the Redskins anymore. He was traded to the Raiders for a fourth round pick, showing that he certainly is not worth a first round selection. Alex Smith has been injury prone and has lost his starting job multiple times. In the six years that all three quarterbacks have been in the league, Rodgers is the only one to reach the playoffs.
Let it also not be forgotten that Brett Favre was still the dominant figure in Green Bay when Rodgers was drafted. Rodgers spent three years behind Favre before he was traded to the Jets, while Campbell was given the job in 2007 and Smith started in his rookie year.

Everyone has their picks and have been changing them daily for the past three months. Who will go number one? Number two? Who will be the first quarterback picked in this pass-happy league? Who has the best upside, the fastest 40, the most reps in the lifting marathon?

Does it matter?

Yes, it  matters. Teams are built and broken through brilliance and idiocy through the course of this seven-round circus.

But I’ll tell you what doesn’t matter – the mass prognostications.

Have you ever known of any of the “experts” coming even remotely close to what actually transpires? I’m aware of none.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but none of the experts could pick the exact top 10 if spotted the first nine.

Why do we listen so intently to them? Why do so many of us spend the months leading up to the draft poring over lists and drooling over the best outside linebacker, the best quarterback, or the best safety who could be picked by our favorite teams.

Well, it’s fun, I guess. No matter how wrong the prognostications and prognosticators.

And it all comes to a head in less than two days.

Though the Packers won’t be on the clock for hours, it will still be exciting to watch the other 31 teams in the league pick, trading up and down to find that perfect pick.

Do Packers fans have anything to look forward to?

I would speculate that Ted Thompson is right when he says those prognosticating, betting and speculating “have no idea what they’re talking about.”

That’s why we have so much to look forward to – because he’s right … especially when it comes to his picks. Thompson’s picks are always interesting and never predictable.

Take away the Aaron Rodgers-fall-in-my-lap and the world-conquering-Clay-Matthews picks and Thompson is never flashy … never trading up into the top 10 to get that high-profile, expensive pick.

He dwells in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds … places where most teams lose interest. It’s in those later rounds that he finds his gems. The players who may not have thrived at the big-time colleges. Those are his ticket … the ticket that has taken him and this franchise all the way to a Super Bowl championship in a five-year span.

Consider how New England consistently found the players at the back end of many of the drafts this past decade … the players who could be plugged in to make an immediate impact.

New England’s success is being emulated by many and though he was severely criticized for his tactic of sticking to the draft to build his empire, Thompson knew exactly what he was doing … though nobody else (even me, at times) could see it.

That’s why this weekend will be exciting to Packers fans and why we should all watch and pay attention.

Forget your picks … they don’t matter.

What will matter is who lands with the Packers.

I  admit I don’t know anything about drafting college players, but I will tell you that I believe we’re very lucky to have Ted Thom

Like John Kuhn, the Packers’ blue collar running back who came out of nowhere last year to electrify Packers fans, this draft will no doubt be one that will surprise. We can only hope Ted Thompson is at his best this weekend. Raymond T. Rivard photograph 

The spark and young leader of the Packers vaunted defense, Clay Matthews will lead the team into the 2011 season. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

pson pulling the trigger.

At least he knows what he’s doing and by the end of the weekend I’m sure we’ll be thankful.

Simply, the Packers beefed up both sides of line.  Summary: 2010 Green Bay Packers draft picks.  Meanwhile, a brief review of the grades for this draft in the sports nation:

1. Todd McShay (Scout’s Inc.) B-.  The Packers’ best-case scenario was realized when top-four OT Bryan Bulaga fell to them at No. 23, but things fell apart from there.  DT Mike Neal (No. 56) is a reach. We’re not sure he’s a good fit as a 5-technique in their 3-4 scheme.

2. Mel Kiper (ESPN) B -.  Green Bay stuck to a good plan in the first round and got an ideal fit in Bryan Bulaga. In the second and third rounds, I think they may have reached a bit with Mike Neal and Morgan Burnett. Good players, but I think in both cases there were some better options. Neal’s skill-set isn’t a direct fit for the 3-4 they run. The grade goes up a notch with the addition of James Starks….A really good size-speed package when he’s right. 

3. Pete Prisco (CBS Sportsline) C+.  Best pick: Third-round pick Morgan Burnett is a playmaking safety who has the range you want in a modern-day player at that position. Questionable move: Taking defensive tackle Mike Neal in the second round over some other tackles will be a move watched closely. Was he worth a second-round selection? Third-day gem: Defensive end Wilson has a chance to stick as a seventh-round pick. He was a quality player at East Carolina. Analysis: Getting tackle Bulaga to fall to them in the first round was a good thing.  2nd round pick brings the grade down. They reached on that one.

4. James Joyner (Outside The Beltway) C.  The Packers needed to get younger at offensive tackle and did so with the Bulaga selection. Neal provides some bulk for the run defense. Burnett is a ball hawk at the back end. He intercepted 14 passes at Georgia Tech.

5. Nolan Nawrocki (Pro Football Weekly) B-.  The Packers landed a potential long-term blind-side protector to replace Clifton in LT Bulaga. The brute-strong Neal was tabbed to stack the edges of the Packers’ “30″ front. Thompson nabbed S Morgan Burnett early in the third round. All three players could see action readily. Fifth-round TE Quarless could develop into a solid role player. OT Newhouse fits the Packers’ zone-blocking scheme, as does one-cut runner James Starks. DE C.J. Wilson could also provide depth as a five-technique. The Packers could come away with three starters and recognized value throughout the draft.

COMMENTARY: For the Packers, it was a B- value draft. On this weekend, rookie orientation camp begins for the Packers.

Returning from a long tour trip on the road, I am back with 2010 Draft Day preview to help fans get beyond the nauseating carp reported about the combine. The “I got press pass to the combine and join me” wannabes bloggers, “nickel and dime” GM TT, and “classy” Packers press are laughable examples, but it’s time to get quality views about the potential scenarios for draft day.

The Packers have predictable draft needs in several positions listing the top six picks available:

LEFT TACKLE: TOP CHOICES 

COMMENTARY: “Okung is top 10 and Williams and Davis are top 20,” another AFC scout said. “Bulaga is maybe top 20. It’s an excellent, an outstanding group of tackles.” Another view: Veldheer, Division II player from Hillsdale College who finished among the top 10 offensive linemen in all five tests…and measured in at the combine at 6-feet-8 1/8 and 312 pounds, came into the weekend as probably a late second-round to third-round prospect.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY: If available, the Pack may take pass rusher OLB Hughes at 53. Another view–“a few Packers fans with visions of Michigan’s Graham, possibly the top-rated outside linebacker in the draft, going to the Packers at No. 23 and lining up opposite Matthews for years to come.”  Another view–Morgan, Georgia Tech (6-3, 266), one of the best pass rushers in this draft. Pierre-Paul, South Florida (6-5, 270), probably more physically talented than Morgan and Graham.

CORNERBACK: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY:  In all probability, eight cornerbacks or more will be taken in the first three rounds.   If available, the Pack may take either physical Warren or return specialist Cox. “Ideally, Harris rebounds from his injury, Blackmon recovers to reclaim his return job and serve as an emergency corner in sub packages, and Lee [or replacement serves] to back up Williams as the nickel back.”

SAFETY: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY: Some experts pick the Pack to take a solid safety prospect like S Mays from USC. 

Punters–COMMENTARY: With the Packers looking at punters, especially in the later rounds, the available choices include Dodge from East Carolina or Mesko from Michigan.

Who the Packers talked to at the combine, so far:

• Return specialist Holliday, LSU
• Punter Dodge, East Carolina
• Tackle Black, LSU
• Punter Mesko, Michigan
• Tackle Veldheer, Hillsdale College
• Cornerback Cox, Oklahoma State

Next week, I contribute to a mock draft. I’ll let you know the mock draft’s results for the Packers. 

Packers fans claimed their say about Sunday’s NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saint.  In an amusing Packers news article, the vast majority of Packers fans want to see Favre, Vikings go down in flames. “True estimates that of the fans calling in, the percentage breakdown is 90% want Favre to lose and 10% of them want Favre to go and win his second Super Bowl, cementing his status as one of the greatest players ever in the National Football League.”

CBS Video Preview

Commentary: We are an enormous country and we use sports teams to re-channel our feeling of loyalty and to express conflict. You are a Brett fan, a Packers fan, or both. The rivalry between fans of the Packers and Vikings is real. For Favre haters, it didn’t help that Deanna Favre, Favre’s wife, told Sports Illustrated in a cover story this week that the couple feel right at home in the Twin Cities. While the Vikings had the upper hand this year defeating the Packers twice, Packers fans can say that the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl (they’re 0-4). 

Commentary: Views from Packers nation–Can The Old Gunslinger Do It? Enjoy QB Favre’s Magical Story–40-year-old Favre has produced the best season of his remarkable career. The fact he has guided the Vikings within one victory of the Super Bowl at such an advanced age is the best NFL story of the year, if not the past decade. Old man Favre is worth rooting for–Is it morally wrong to want to root for Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings until the Green Bay Packers get back to the Super Bowl? Working His Game Plan, Favre’s Big Goal Within Reach–So far, so good. Favre’s brilliant season has included a most satisfying sweep of the Packers, the division title and a smashing divisional-playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys one week ago.

The Packers kicked off the 2009 NFL Draft by addressing their most pressing need: their defense.  By drafting the 6-foot, 2-inch, 337-pound Raji, the Packers have found an anchor at nose tackle that will take up space and free up their linebacking corps for years to come.

Many mock drafts had the Packers nabbing Raji at No. 9, so when the Packers came up to pick at No. 9 with Raji on the board, it was no surprise when they picked him.

What was surprising was the build-up to the pick.

With the Oakland Raiders picking Darrius Heyward-Bey out of Maryland at No. 7, it left talents such as Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Orakpo, and Michael Jenkins still on the board, all or most of which many “experts” thought would be gone by then.  This led to a burning question: Does Ted Thompson stick to his “best player available” draft strategy and add another offensive weapon such as Crabtree or Maclin, or does he go defense, where the need is?

Keeping a short story short, he went need.

The pick lacked much of the drama I thought it would have.  I guaranteed a friend the pick would be Orakpo or Crabtree as soon as the Jacksonville Jaguars grabbed Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, but it became apparent minutes in to the Packers ten-minute allotment that Raji was the pick, as ESPN’s camera at the Raji draft party showed multiple family members dancing around and Raji smiling and talking on his cell phone.  I knew Raji was the one.

And I’m happy with this pick.

People can say what they want about “character issues” and such, but the Packers have found the cornerstone, or more like a “centerstone,” of Dom Capers‘ new 3-4 defense.  Raji will eat space and blockers, freeing up defensive ends and linebackers to make plays.  He fits the scheme and has been described as an unselfish player, something you have to be to play line in the 3-4.

Defensive first round picks for the Packers have not always worked out in the past, in Justin Harrell, Ahmad Carroll, and Jamal Reynolds, but they have been able to get solid starters in A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett.  Thompson knew the defense needed major help, and that is what he did for Mike McCarthy, picking B.J. Raji.

16 San Diego Chargers
(8-8) Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
17 New York Jets
(9-7) Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
18 Denver Broncos
(9-7, Pick via Bears) Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(9-7) Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
20 Detroit Lions
(9-7, Pick via Cowboys) Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
21 Philadelphia Eagles
(9-6-1) Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
22 Minnesota Vikings
(10-6) William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
23 New England Patriots
(11-6) Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
24 Atlanta Falcons
(11-5) Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
25 Miami Dolphins
(11-5) Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
26 Baltimore Ravens
(11-5) Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
27 Indianapolis Colts
12-4) Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
28 Buffalo Bills
(Pick via CAR, PHI) Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
29 New York Giants
(12-4) Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
30 Tennessee Titans
(13-3) Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois
31 Arizona Cardinals
(9-7) LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh 32 Pittsburgh Steelers
(12-4) Alex Mack, C, Cal

Who will be the ninth player (Green Bay Packers) selected in the NFL draft?
B.J. Raji Even
Brian Orakpo 7/2
Aaron Maybin 4/1
Tyson Jackson 8/1
Robert Ayers 10/1

The Packers most glaring need on draft day is their defensive line.  They are currently understaffed and undersized for new defensive coordinator Dom Capers‘ 3-4 alignment and will definitely try to alleviate this in the draft.

That was pretty obvious, but I can’t give everything from the post away here…

…the Packers do have talented linebackers.  Nick Barnett, tweeting his way back from a severe knee injury, will be in the middle, but the question is who will start with him.  A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, and Brady Poppinga are all solid linebackers, but are all more suited for the 4-3 defense.  I expect Capers and Mike McCarthy to rotate the linebackers in and out and really mix up the looks they will give the offense.

Linebackers…what’s next?

The Packers drafted Josh Sitton in 2008 to hopefully compete for a starting job and they also signed Duke Preston in one of their free agent moves this offseason.  It seems as if McCarthy and Ted Thompson are trying to breed competition to get the best starting lineup they can get.

Hopefully that breeding has some offspring.

Thompson is a notorious mover on draft day, making unexpected trades (ie trading out of the first round in 2008) and making unexpected picks (Aaron Rodgers in 2005).  That being said, there is no sure pick for the Packers at #9.  I have said in some posts on Lombardi Ave that I want the Packers to get either Brian Orakpo or B.J. Raji at #9, or Malcolm Jenkins, the one everyone has the Packers picking, if Raji or Orakpo are gone.  It seems logical that the Packers will go defense, given their personnel is ill-suited for a 3-4 defense currently.

Check out NFL Mocks for the rest of the preview and for other teams’ needs as well.

The Packers find themselves back in the top ten for the first time since 2006 when they selected linebacker A.J. Hawk.  It appears with the switch to the 3-4 defense, the Packers will go defense again in the top 10.  With Ted Thompson calling the shots, I wouldn’t rule anything out.  If I’m calling the shots, I go for Brian Orakpo and pick him if he’s available.    It’s no secret (or it would be if I posted more…I apologize) that I love Orakpo.  Even if he is a workout warrior, I feel his skill set could transition very well into Dom Capers‘ 3-4 scheme.  He gives the Packers a body opposite Aaron Kampman that can do serious damage to the quarterback.  He wants the sacks, and he’ll get them.  It will obviously take him time to develop, but the defense will need time to develop too, creating a great match.

After Orakpo, having B.J. Raji drop into the Packers’ lap would be nearly as good.  Picking up Raji would be great for a currently-overmatched defensive line.  Throwing his big body down in the trenches would clog space and free up Nick Barnett and whoever else plays in the middle for the Packers next year (Desmond Bishop? Brandon Chillar? A.J. Hawk?).  There is question about Raji’s character and reported failed drug test at the combine which could deter Thompson who loves his high character guys.  Also, many mocks have Raji going #8 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The sexy mock draft pick for the Packers is Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.  It seems like nearly every mock has the Packers picking up the Buckeye with the “Al Harris and Charles Woodson are old; they need fresh blood” reasoning, ignoring the fact Tramon Williams had a great season in 2008 filling in for an injured Harris and Thompson drafted Pat Lee last year.  We all remember how everyone had the Packers picking one of a plethora of cornerbacks last year.  And what did they do?  Traded out of the first round and picked wide receiver Jordy Nelson.  I didn’t see that one coming.  At all.  I don’t really see that big of a reason for the Packers to pick Jenkins.  If Orakpo and Raji are gone, then sure, Ted, go for it.  But please don’t take Jenkins over one of those two.

If all three of the aforementioned players are gone, I see the Packers taking Florida State defensive end Everette Brown.  He’s shooting up draft boards.  In the later rounds on defense, Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson is an athletic freak and could definitely be a second round pick if his stock keeps dropping like I hear it is.  At defensive tackle, Evander Hood, Ron Brace, and Sen’Derrick Marks are the top picks for the Packers, based on where they are projected to go, as late-first round or second-round picks.  Tyson Jackson from LSU has had his name floated around the Packers due to his versatility on the defensive line, while Robert Ayers has been named as a possibility.  Although with Ayers, we all remember what happened last time Thompson took a defensive lineman from Tennessee with a high pick…yeah, let’s not go there.

After Orakpo, none of the other highly touted linebackers (USC’s threesome, James Laurenaitis) really seem to fit the MO the Packers want to have their defense to have.  Also, the secondary is ridiculously crowded, so I see Jenkins as the only legitimate pickup for that group.  All of this being said, if the Packers go defense at #9, they better get a #98 jersey ready for Orakpo.

We all know that Thompson goes Best Player Available in the NFL Draft; picking Jordy Nelson with his first pick last year shows it.  But what would happen if the Packers are faced with having Crabtree as their highest rated player available and being on the clock on April 25?

Packers Lounge shows that the Packers have done this before, in 2005 when Aaron Rodgers was drafted in the first round with no real need at quarterback for the team.  And they think Crabtree could happen.

I still think we could end up with Crabtree. And boy will people be pissed. They will freak out, saying that we don’t need a wide receiver right now or say Ted is trying to force Donald Driver into retirement.

Given how the Brett Favre drama went down in Green Bay, Thompson’s detractors would be the first to point out that they are trying to force Driver out.  However, drafting Crabtree wouldn’t not be a totally stupid move.  Rodgers is a young quarterback and young quarterbacks can never have too many weapons.  Right now teams key on Greg Jennings for the whole game, shading coverage over to Driver in key spots because of the trust the team has for his hands.  But after Jennings and Driver, there isn’t much on the offense.  Ryan Grant barely showed anything in 2008, and James Jones was in the backseat for most of last season.  If everyone on the offense would run on all cylinders, drafting Crabtree would definitely be unnecessary, but because of the struggles of the offense in 2008, adding the Texas Tech product would not be a negative.  Teams would have to watch Jennings, Driver, and Crabtree.  A few years down the line, the Packers would have Jennings and Crabtree as their first two wide receivers, with a big Nelson in the slot.  It makes sense.

Tom Silverstein over at JSOnline examines Crabtree’s college career and his possibilities in the pros.  If Crabtree is available, he sees the chance the Packers could snatch him up.

Basically, with Thompson at the helm on draft day, anything is possibly.  Don’t be surprised if Crabtree falls, that the Packers pick him.  I’d be pretty shocked too.  But try not to be surprised if it happens.

With the 12th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select…..

Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

The Denver Broncos have a lot of needs, all on the defensive side of the ball.  IN this draft, however, many of the guys the Broncos are targets have already left the board – [B.J.] Raji, Rey-Rey [Maualuga], [Brian] Orakpo, even [Clay] Matthews as a sleeper.  For me it came down to [Malcolm] Jenkins or Brian Cushing and at this point I gave the slight edge to Jenkins.  He has the perfect size to step right in for the Broncos and play the nickel, and should injuries crop up at either corner or safety Jenkins could step right in there too.  There are questions about his speed, but having watched 95% of Ohio State’s games during Jenkins career I can honestly say he plays a lot faster than his straight-line 40-time.

The Broncos have a ton of needs, and while some might think that CB isn’t one of them, with Champ Bailey on one side and FA acquisition Andre Goodman on the other, Jenkins is just the type of physical presence that could step in and make an impact Day 1.  Playing with Champ and Brian Dawkins every day will do wonders for him and the kid has all the tools to be a star.

It might not be the sexy pick, but with Josh McDaniels and Co. running the show the Broncos are likely to be safe and Jenkins would definitely be the safest pick of those who remain.

The Washington Redskins are on the clock…..

With the 13th pick in the 2009 NFL draft for blogs, the Washington Redskins select…

** ANDRE SMITH, OT ALABAMA **

The Redskins have fairly simple needs this year, and they are going to take the best player at either of their top two positions of need.  On the offensive side of the ball Washington needs a tackle.  Thirty-one year old left tackle Chris Samuels ended 2008 on injured reserve, 33 year old right tackle Jon Jansen lost his starting job then got it back and never pass blocked well, all while undrafted rising third year utility tackle Stephon Heyer still is not turning into a full range starter.

On the defensive side, the position of need is defensive end.  With the release of Jason Taylor and the inexplicable loss of Demetric Evans who was the Redskins best player at the position in 2008, the Redskins are left with one quality defensive end, Andre Carter, with the next best option an as yet un re signed Phillip Daniels, 36 years old and coming off a torn ACL suffered in 2008 training camp.

Curly R rated the tackles and defensive ends likely to go in the first thirteen picks in this order:  OT Jason Smith, OT Eugene Monroe, DE Brian Orakpo aka Brian Oh Crappo, OT Andre Smith, OT Michael Oher, DE Everette Brown, DE Aaron Maybin.  With Jason, Eugene and Brian off the board the decision is easy, Andre will challenge at right tackle this summer.

Although this does not necessarily spell the end of either Jon Jansen or Stephon Heyer it does signal the beginning of a new era at offensive tackle in Washington.

The New Orleans Saints are now on the clock.

With the 14th pick in the draft, the New Orleans Saints select

Brian Cushing, LB, USC

I can’t even believe that Cushing is actually still on the board, particularly following his awesome combine performance, but alas he is. With the re-signing of Jonathan Vilma and the return of Dan Morgan, the Saints are just okay at the linebacker spot but really need some help in the secondary. Because of all the talk surrounding his possible switch to safety, Malcolm Jenkins would have to be the other consideration with this pick but because Cushing appears to be the best player available the Saints just can’t pass him up. Scott Shanle, your days are numbered!

The Houston Texans are now on the clock.

With the 15th pick in the draft, the Houston Texans select

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

Well, this is unexpected.  The Texans picked their LT of the future in the first round last year, but with all the players I wanted off the board – and an elite talent like Oher slipping, I have no choice but to take him. Oher will be the LT, Duane Brown can move to RT, and current RT Eric Winston can move inside, which would be a significant upgrade to an already drastically-improved offensive line.

Quick, nimble, and athletic, Oher weighs 309 and is a great fit for the zone blocking scheme that helped to make RB Steve Slaton a rookie of the year candidate last season.

Houston’s two biggest positions of need are OLB and DT.  However Oher is an ELITE talent, whereas the best players left at those positions may or may not slip to Houston’s 2nd round pick.

This was a difficult choice to make because for weeks now I’ve been railing against mocks that have the Texans taking ANY offensive players, but since I’m a “build from front to back” guy, I can’t help but jump all over a player of Oher’s caliber.

If this scenario played out in the real world, the Texans would get a SWEET offer to trade down, and they’d take it… but since there are no trades in this draft, I’ll take Oher with no regrets.

The San Diego Chargers are now on the clock…

With the 16th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers select:

Eben Britton, Offensive Tackle, University of Arizona

As draft day draws nearer and nearer, speculation as to what position the San Diego Chargers will address in the first round continues to grow. Some feel the Chargers would be best suited to draft a running back with their top pick. Others feel an upgrade at safety is needed, or help along the defensive line. But those who’ve followed the team closely know how much the Chargers want a top offensive tackle.

Last year, the Chargers were poised to select an offensive tackle with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the Bolts, a record eight offensive tackles were selected in the first 26 picks. By the time the Chargers came on to the clock, all the tackles were gone. This year, the Chargers are in a much better position to acquire an elite tackle.

Chargers GM AJ Smith has made it no secret that he is not happy about the way his team has struggled to run the football, and plans to address the issue:

“I just know we’re not good enough. But I will say this, which I’ve said before: we need to have a solid, consistent running game. We have to.”

While four offensive tackles have gone off the board at this point, there are still some options for the Chargers. The Chargers could take a defensive lineman like Tyson Jackson. Or they could draft [Shawne] Merriman‘s potential replacement, Larry English. And of course many people think the Chargers take a running back like Chris Wells or Knoshown Moreno here. But for the Chargers, who need help at right tackle, Britton could be an easy selection.

The Chargers love experienced players, and while Britton is only a junior, he has started 37 consecutive games in the PAC-10. Britton, a Southern California native, has ideal size, a massive wingspan, a nasty temperment, and leadership abilites. Britton would bring excellent drive blocking skills to the right tackle position and allow the team some flexibility when calling run plays. Britton is also a pretty solid athlete and has the speed to pull.

Overall, I think the Chargers head into the first round looking for an offensive tackle if the right one is there. I think they’d also consider help along the front seven defensively. But in this scenario, I think Britton is a solid selection he could very well end up being a San Diego Charger when it is all said and done.

With the 17th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select:

Tyson Jackson, Defensive End, LSU

With spots to fill at WR, RB, QB and depth on both lines, it’s a shame there’s only one pick to be made.  Jets fans have had their say on TJB , and it’s clear they’re conflicted.  The folks in the TJB War Room were a little surprised how the ABMD has played out, what with some players like Mark Sanchez, Vontae Davis and Tyson Jackson still on the board.

The Jets have real need to find offensive playmakers and with the elite WRs already off the board, but  Chris Wells and Sanchez still in the mix, they are tempting options.  Still with a player like Tyson Jackson still on the board at 17, it is impossible to resist taking him here.

Although the Jets have invested heavily in a defense (by acquiring ILB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard & CB Lito Sheppard) already this offseason, taking Jackson at #17 isn’t too much of a good thing.  On offense the Jets are looking at depth players like WRs Chansi Stuckey & David Clowney along with QBs Kellen Clemens or Brett Ratliff to take the reigns.  With a deep draft class at WR, I would imagine that the Jets will look to target a player like Brian Robiskie in the second round, and move around if necessary to get him.

By the start of the season, both of the Jets Defensive Ends (Kenyon Coleman & Shaun Ellis) will be over 30.  Todd McShay called him the Draft’s only “elite five technique in this draft.” Jackson could play end on first and second downs, and transition to a tackle in passing situations for the team for the next 5-10 years.  True, with solid veterans already on the roster, Jackson might have to fight to get playing time in 2009, but he’s a pick that would benefit and energize the Jets defensive line for the long-term, something that new coach Rex Ryan would relish.

With the 18th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select:

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Which one of these underwhelming receivers do Bears fans want the underwhelming Kyle Orton to throw to? Third-year receiver — as in he has three years of experience playing the position — Devin Hester? Rashied Davis? Earl Bennett? Brandon Rideau?

Exactly.

The Bears passed on T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Laveranues Coles, aren’t calling the Cardinals about Anquan Boldin, and seem poised to give recently-released Torry Holt the same cold shoulder treatment.

Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey has seen his stock go through the roof after an eye-popping performance at the NFL Combine, including running a 4.30 40-yard dash, the fastest of all receivers. But he isn’t just all speed, he has the height too — 6’2, 210 — to make him an imposing threat to secondaries everywhere.

All-in-all, Heyward-Bey probably has higher upside than any receiver in the draft, but I know he lacks experience and big-time production. If he denies the urge to go all Troy Williamson, he could finally be — take a deep breath — the No. 1 receiver the Bears have been looking for since the beginning of time.

More picks to come.

Who should join him? Ahmad Carroll?  Jamal Reynolds?  Even Justin Harrell?

Leave your suggestions here and we’ll find out eventually.

With the tenth pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Everette Brown, OLB, Florida State.

The 49ers have various needs this offseason, but unlike what some people are predicting, a first round QB is not one of those needs.  The 49ers have a pair of outside linebackers, one of whom turned in a very solid season in 2008.  Parys Haralson seems to have a legitimate future going forward as a pass rushing outside linebacker.  Manny Lawson is an athletic freak, but he seems less inclined to rush the passer or more likely to be a guy in coverage and in a read position.

Although Everette Brown didn’t have a ton of experience (only one season as a fulltime starter), he still racked up 23 sacks for his 3-year career.  This pick is a really tough one for the 49ers because it seems like they’re too high for guys like [Michael] Oher, but they’re too low for a BJ Raji.  Andre Smith is plummeting and seems like too much of a headcase.  If the first 9 picks go in the above order, I think the 49ers will battle themselves in trying to decide between Michael Oher and Everette Brown.  What wouldn’t surprise me is if the 49ers tried to move up from the second round into the late first round to grab the right tackle they need.  They’ve shown no qualms about making those kinds of moves, so we’ll see if they do so again.

With the eleventh overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select…
Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
Buffalo is in full-fledged “win now” mode.  Let’s face it – you’re not risking Terrell Owens being on your roster if you’re not desperate for a few wins.  Unlike the ’08 draft, when the Bills took small-school product Leodis McKelvin and unpolished receiver James Hardy with their first two picks, the Bills are going to look past potential for guys that can contribute immediately, particularly in the first three rounds.

Unfortunately, the team is forced to choose between prospects at this stage in the game that either aren’t worthy of a selection this high (Brandon Pettigrew) or fill needs but are inexperienced (Matthews, Aaron Maybin).  In the end, Matthews – yes, even ahead of USC teammate Brian Cushing – is the best fit.  He gives the Bills an outstanding blitz presence right out of the gate, and he adds playmaking ability to the Bills’ league-renowned special teams unit as well.

Matthews isn’t a perfect fit in Buffalo’s zone-based scheme; his coverage skills are severely underdeveloped, and it’s unclear whether he’d be a better fit as a linebacker or an end in a 4-3 defense.  In Buffalo, he’d have the opportunity to play a little of both.  Buffalo desperately needs a physical, hard-hitting presence at linebacker for run downs, and the 6’3″, 240-pound Matthews can lay the lumber.  But he also opened some eyes at the Combine when he easily recorded the fastest 10-yard split of any pass-rushing prospect; his 1.49-second time was beaten by only nine cornerbacks.  He’s very explosive in the short area, and given that fact, he also has potential as a pass-rush specialist – either standing or down on the line – for the blitz-happy Bills.  His work ethic, intangibles and unbelievable NFL bloodlines make him a safe investment, even if he’s a bit of a reach.

The Denver Broncos are on the clock.

Eleven picks down…