Monday, March 12, 2007
Pluto Would Approve of Kirwan's Latest Mock
As I said last week, it is a little early for mock drafts. But with each passing week, the free-agent signings and the latest information coming out of the Pro Day workouts clear up the draft picture even more.
There is no doubt the number of signings at the running back position has changed the draft needs for a number of teams. With all the action of the past week, I have nine changes to the first-round mock draft. Within a few days, there will be more changes especially if a team like the Bills or Packers sign a veteran running back or a linebacker like Cato June takes an offer.
1. Oakland: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU -- The Raiders have lots of needs, but as long as quarterback is one of them, they have to respond by selecting the guy with the great deep ball. I could see a move down, especially now that Cleveland will not need Adrian Peterson and someone was counting on OT Joe Thomas or WR Calvin Johnson.
2. Detroit: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame -- The popular opinion everywhere is that I'm wrong on this pick. But Jon Kitna is old, Josh McCown wasn't given any chance to play last year and is scheduled to make more money than Kitna. Quinn has 46 collegiate starts, 95 touchdown passes and over 11,000 yards. The Lions need him and their Joey Harrington experiment is not a reason to pass.
3. Cleveland: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin -- The signing of Jamal Lewis turned the top of this draft upside down. Thomas reminds me of the year Phil Savage took Jonathan Ogden with the third pick in the draft. Thomas is a 10-year starter, but the Browns still need a QB.
There is no doubt the number of signings at the running back position has changed the draft needs for a number of teams. With all the action of the past week, I have nine changes to the first-round mock draft. Within a few days, there will be more changes especially if a team like the Bills or Packers sign a veteran running back or a linebacker like Cato June takes an offer.
1. Oakland: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU -- The Raiders have lots of needs, but as long as quarterback is one of them, they have to respond by selecting the guy with the great deep ball. I could see a move down, especially now that Cleveland will not need Adrian Peterson and someone was counting on OT Joe Thomas or WR Calvin Johnson.
2. Detroit: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame -- The popular opinion everywhere is that I'm wrong on this pick. But Jon Kitna is old, Josh McCown wasn't given any chance to play last year and is scheduled to make more money than Kitna. Quinn has 46 collegiate starts, 95 touchdown passes and over 11,000 yards. The Lions need him and their Joey Harrington experiment is not a reason to pass.
3. Cleveland: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin -- The signing of Jamal Lewis turned the top of this draft upside down. Thomas reminds me of the year Phil Savage took Jonathan Ogden with the third pick in the draft. Thomas is a 10-year starter, but the Browns still need a QB.
Ready for #1
ESPN features a lenghty piece on Sav's "favorite player of all-time" LSU's JaMarcus Russell.
Russell doesn't flinch at the thought of being the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft. The Oakland Raiders are eyeing him closely with that first selection.
Russell has been in Arizona training with some of the best receivers in the draft, including former teammate Dwayne Bowe, Tennessee's Robert Meachem and Southern Cal's Dwayne Jarrett.
His take on the whole process?
"I'm just going to chill," said Russell, whose cool demeanor has been mistaken for nonchalance more than a few times during his career.
Never a big talker, Russell really doesn't need to. His teammates say there is a quiet confidence about him that is infectious.
"You just learn to trust that he's going to make big plays," said Bowe, who jokes that his hands are still swollen from catching 95 mph fastballs from the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Russell. "He never talked a whole lot about it. He just went out there and did it. That's why so many respected him. When he's out there, there's no doubt in your mind that we were going to win the game."
Russell doesn't flinch at the thought of being the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft. The Oakland Raiders are eyeing him closely with that first selection.
Russell has been in Arizona training with some of the best receivers in the draft, including former teammate Dwayne Bowe, Tennessee's Robert Meachem and Southern Cal's Dwayne Jarrett.
His take on the whole process?
"I'm just going to chill," said Russell, whose cool demeanor has been mistaken for nonchalance more than a few times during his career.
Never a big talker, Russell really doesn't need to. His teammates say there is a quiet confidence about him that is infectious.
"You just learn to trust that he's going to make big plays," said Bowe, who jokes that his hands are still swollen from catching 95 mph fastballs from the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Russell. "He never talked a whole lot about it. He just went out there and did it. That's why so many respected him. When he's out there, there's no doubt in your mind that we were going to win the game."
Gosselin's Top 10 Overall
Rick Gosselin's mock drafts have been the most accurate you can find. Here's his list of the top 10 players, post-combine.
1. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
The Biletnikoff Award winner has the size of Terrell Owens (6-5, 239) and the speed of Randy Moss (4.35 seconds in the 40). But a wide receiver hasn't gone first overall since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
2. Adrian Peterson, HB, Oklahoma
Peterson rushed for 100 yards in his college debut in 2004 and went on to set a school record with 23 career 100-yard games. A broken collarbone cost him his shot at a Heisman Trophy in 2006, but it won't keep him out of the top five in this draft.
3. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
Vince Young was a giant coming out of college in 2006 at 6-4, 233. Russell is even bigger at 6-5, 265 and has one of the best arms to come along in decades.
1. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
The Biletnikoff Award winner has the size of Terrell Owens (6-5, 239) and the speed of Randy Moss (4.35 seconds in the 40). But a wide receiver hasn't gone first overall since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
2. Adrian Peterson, HB, Oklahoma
Peterson rushed for 100 yards in his college debut in 2004 and went on to set a school record with 23 career 100-yard games. A broken collarbone cost him his shot at a Heisman Trophy in 2006, but it won't keep him out of the top five in this draft.
3. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
Vince Young was a giant coming out of college in 2006 at 6-4, 233. Russell is even bigger at 6-5, 265 and has one of the best arms to come along in decades.
Monday's Quinn Questions
From SI's ScoreCard:
If the Lions take Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas and don't trade down to a team that wants Brady Quinn, then the first potential landing spot for Quinn, an Ohio product, is Cleveland at No. 3. The Vikings (7th), Texans (8th) and Dolphins (9th) could each try to move up for Quinn or hope he falls to them. -- New York Daily News
For the second consecutive week, there's been a report that the Texans might be trying to move up in the draft to select Quinn. Neither report is true. The Texans are not expected to pass up Quinn if he is available with the eighth pick, but they haven't tried to move up. -- Houston Chronicle
If the Lions take Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas and don't trade down to a team that wants Brady Quinn, then the first potential landing spot for Quinn, an Ohio product, is Cleveland at No. 3. The Vikings (7th), Texans (8th) and Dolphins (9th) could each try to move up for Quinn or hope he falls to them. -- New York Daily News
For the second consecutive week, there's been a report that the Texans might be trying to move up in the draft to select Quinn. Neither report is true. The Texans are not expected to pass up Quinn if he is available with the eighth pick, but they haven't tried to move up. -- Houston Chronicle
Lions Scribe Sees Through Detroit Smog
Just kidding
So, the Lions are interested in Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn at the No. 2 pick? I'm calling it a smoke screen to get somebody to trade up. Marinelli wants interior linemen and more help on defense.
So, the Lions are interested in Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn at the No. 2 pick? I'm calling it a smoke screen to get somebody to trade up. Marinelli wants interior linemen and more help on defense.
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