Oh well. We’re probably trading this pick with a fourth and a player for Lito Sheppard anyway.
Carolina Panthers
With a OG, RB, DE all selected already, the Panthers are, and have been for a long time, looking for a WR to stick opposite Steve Smith. Dwayne Jarrett was a huge disappointment last year (and this offseason picking up a DWI), so they may be in the market for a strong #2 receiver. With Dan “Perpetually injured” Morgan, they may also be looking for a OLB and move Beason to the middle. They could also be looking for a OLT project to develop.
There is one guy out there who has fallen far enough. In the real world, he wouldn’t fall this far, because a 3-4 team would have scooped him up earlier. And, although he isn’t a perfect fit for what the Panthers do, he’s the BPA
Carolina Panthers select Cliff Avril, OLB/DE, Purdue
Time for a Recap:
ROUND ONE
1 (1) Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT, Michigan
2 (2) St. Louis Rams – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
3 (3) Atlanta Falcons – Chris Long, DE, Virginia
4 (4) Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
5 (5) Kansas City Chiefs – Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
6 (6) New York Jets – Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
7 (7) New England Patriots (From 49ers) – Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
8 (8) Baltimore Ravens – Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
9 (9) Cincinnati Bengals – Keith Rivers, LB, USC
10 (10) New Orleans Saints – Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, CB, Tenn. St.
11 (11) Buffalo Bills – Limas, Sweed, WR, Texas
12 (12) Denver Broncos – Ryan Clady, OT, Boise St.
13 (13) Carolina Panthers – Branden Albert, OG, Virginia
14 (14) Chicago Bears – Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
15 (15) Detroit Lions – Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt
16 (16) Arizona Cardinals – Aquib Talib, CB, Kansas
17 (17) Minnesota Vikings – Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware
18 (18) Houston Texans – Mike Jenkins, CB, S. Florida
19 (19) Philadelphia Eagles – DeSean Jackson, WR, California
20 (20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jerod Mayo, ILB, Tennessee
21 (21) Washington Redskins – Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
22 (22) Dallas Cowboys (From Browns) – Jonathon Stewart, RB, Oregon
23 (23) Pittsburgh Steelers – Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
24 (24) Tennessee Titans – Derrick Harvery, DE, Florida
25 (25) Seattle Seahawks – Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
26 (26) Jacksonville Jaguars – Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
27 (27) San Diego Chargers – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
28 (28) Dallas Cowboys – James Hardy, WR, Indiana
29 (29) San Francisco 49ers (From Colts) – Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
30 (30) Green Bay Packers – Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
31 (31) New York Giants – Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
ROUND 2
1 (32) Miami Dolphins – Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
2 (33) St. Louis Rams – Sam Baker, OT, USC
3 (34) Atlanta Falcons (From Raiders) – Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue
4 (35) Kansas City Chiefs – Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
5 (36) New York Jets – Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
6 (37) Atlanta Falcons – Chad Henne, QB, Michigan
7 (38) Baltimore Ravens – Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech
8 (39) San Francisco 49ers – Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma.
9 (40) New Orleans Saints – Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
10 (41) Buffalo Bills – Reggie Smith, CB/S, Oklahoma
11 (42) Denver Broncos – Jonathan Goff, ILB, Vanderbilt
12 (43) Carolina Panthers – Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers.
13 (44) Chicago Bears – Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
14 (45) Detroit Lions – Curtis Lofton, LB, Oklahoma.
15 (46) Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida
16 (47) Minnesota Vikings – Quentin Groves, DE/OLB, Auburn
17 (48) Atlanta Falcons (From Texans) – Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana
18 (49) Philadelphia Eagles – Tavares Gooden, ILB, Miami (Fla.)
19 (50) Arizona Cardinals – Lawrence Jackson, DE/OLB, USC
20 (51) Washington Redskins – Tyrell Johnson, S, Arkansas St.
21 (52) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas St.
22 (53) Pittsburgh Steelers – Early Doucet, WR, LSU
23 (54) Tennessee Titans – Chilo Rachal, OG, USC
24 (55) Seattle Seahawks – Fred Davis, TE, USC
25 (56) Green Bay Packers (From Browns) – John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame
26 (57) Miami Dolphins (From Chargers) – Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida
27 (58) Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
28 (59) Indianapolis Colts – Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
29 (60) Green Bay Packers – Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn
30 (61) Dallas Cowboys – Martelles Bennett, TE, Texas A & M
31 (62) New England Patriots – Marcus Howard, OLB, Georgia
32 (63) New York Giants – Josh Barrett, SS, Arizona State
ROUND 3
1 (64) Miami Dolphins – Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas
2 (65) St. Louis Rams – Donnie Avery, WR, Houston
3 (66) Kansas City Chiefs – Roy Schuening, OG, Oregon St.
4 (67) Carolina Panthers (From Jets) – Kendall Langford, DE, Hampton
5 (68) Atlanta Falcons – Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech
6 (69) New England Patriots (From Raiders) – Terrell Thomas, CB/S, USC
7 (70) Chicago Bears (From 49ers) – Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska
8 (71) Jacksonville Jaguars (Ravens through Bills) – Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt
9 (72) Buffalo Bills – Jason Jones, DE, Eastern Michigan
10 (73) KC Chiefs from (Vikings and Broncos) – Justin King, CB, Penn State
11 (74) Carolina Panthers – Cliff Avril, OLB, Purdue.
12 (75) San Francisco 49ers (From Bears) –
13 (76) Detroit Lions
14 (77) Cincinnati Bengals
15 (78) New Orleans Saints
16 (79) Houston Texans
17 (80) Philadelphia Eagles
18 (81) Arizona Cardinals
19 (82) Minnesota Vikings
20 (83) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21 (84) Washington Redskins
22 (85) Tennessee Titans
23 (86) Seattle Seahawks
24 (87) Detroit Lions (From Browns)
25 (88) Pittsburgh Steelers
26 (89) Jacksonville Jaguars
27 (90) Chicago Bears (From Chargers)
28 (91) Green Bay Packers
29 (92) Dallas Cowboys
30 (93) Indianapolis Colts
31 (94) New England Patriots
32 (95) New York Giants
33 (96) Washington Redskins (Compensatory selection)
34 (97) Cincinnati Bengals (Compensatory selection)
35 (98) Atlanta Falcons (Compensatory selection)
36 (99) Baltimore Ravens (Compensatory selection)
I think you mean without Dan Morgan. He was cut and signed with the Saints.
Yeah… That’s what I meant… I knew he was cut …
[sub]thanks for the heads up[/sub]
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners got a pretty solid LB and an iffy but talented WR so far in the draft. They’re on the lookout for a pass rush, some help in the running game, and a QB to challenge Alex Smith. They’re also looking for another LB to team with Willis. I think this pick depends most on what is going to happen to Larry Allen. If he retires, the 49ers NEED a good guard who can start with Joe Staley. If he comes back, they can afford to wait a few rounds and grab a guy to groom. While a guy like Jeremy Thompson or Chris Ellis are tempting, I think the 49ers need to shore up their line to help Frank Gore and Smith. The guy they pick here is a good value, a strong, hard working player who could have a long, prosperous career in the NFL. Plus, he’s played every position on the OLine, so he’s a valuable commodity. He’s been rising on the draft boards recently, and he may be a bit of a stretch. And I wanted him to fall to the Packers.
San Francisco 49ers select Matt McGlynn, OG, Pittsburgh.
Detroit Lions
In one of the easiest no brainers in this draft, the
Detroit Lions select Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas.
Hell, I think the Lions would be ecstatic if they landed Jamaal Charles this far down.
Omni, I’m really having a hard time with your outrage over the Mendenhall pick for the Bears. Yes, they need an offensive line, but they also do need a running back. You said it yourself, that Mendenhall is a stud. After the top tier of offensive tackles, the quality goes down. It’s not worth it to take another Steve Slaton on your roster when you could fill holes quickly and cheaply with roster cuts and rookies.
I don’t want to step on Foie Gras’ toes and pick for the Bengals. But…
Cincy Bengals
The Bengals have to do something, anything to stop the run. Picking up Rivers was a start, but they need to be stronger and stouter at the point of attack. And with the best ones gone, they’ll have to settle for a guy in the third round who has the body, but not the heart.
Cincinnati Bengals select Dre Moore, DT, Maryland.
He’s 6’4", 310 lbs, 4.84 in the 40, 63 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks.
On paper, he’s a great pick, even as just a rotation guy. He’s got the body (some may say workout warrior) and measurable you want. He’s just … well … lazy. If someone can get him to commit to football and get his motor running, he could be great.
What, exactly, makes him a stud? He started for one year, and couldn’t beat out Pierre Thomas, who was a seventh-round pick.
Couldn’t tell ya. I’m not sold on him, and for one of the reasons you say.
Nawlins Saints
The Saints have addressed their huge need at CB, and can wait a few rounds to take chances on a backup RB (they need a downhill runner to complement Bush), another WR (they still have a roster to fill), TE, another CB, and a QB prospect. If Payton is sold on Andre Woodson, he might get the nod here. But their more pressing need is at defensive tackle and LB on the weak side and to backup Dan Morgan who, and this is just in, they acquired this offseason. The problem is, I think most of the DT left will be reaches here (maybe Bryant isn’t.) But, luckily for the Saints, there is still some strong talent at OLB. I think, for what the Saints need, is:
New Orleans Saints select Beau Bell, OLB, UNLV
So why exactly did you draft him again? 
The drop off between a first round back and a 3rd round back is much narrower than the drop off between a first round OL and a third round OL. Coupled with the fact that OL is a position of much greater need makes drafting an RB a shortsighted move. And, while Cedric Benson sucks donkey balls, they still have about 30 million tied up in the guy. You just can’t afford the cap hit that 2 first round RBs add up to.
I realize that Slaton, Williams and Charles aren’t the answer at RB but we need a warm body with some speed. Hell, I have no problem not taking an RB in this draft. We’re not going anywhere anyways so if we can build a line the back we take next year will at least have a chance at success. There’s nothing wrong with Mendenhall, he’ll be great, but drafting him in spite of other needs is putting the cart before the horse.
It’s not so much that we missed one of the first round tackles, it’s that we’re liable to spend the rest of the draft scrambling and hoping for help at the line because there is so much uncertainty at that position deep in the draft. We’d have to make 2 or 3 picks to compensate for missing out in the first round. The opportunity cost of taking Mendenhall is way to high compared to any of the OTs. Running back is simply our 4th greatest need behind OT, OG, and QB respectively.
3.16 (79) Houston Texans
There has been lots of change regarding the Texans this offseason, but because hardly any of it involves marquee players, the team has received little press. Earlier in the draft, the Texans drafted a CB, solidifying a horrendous pass defense. This pick, the Texans go offensive. One of their biggest problems last year was their lack of a dependable RB, as Ahman Green was hurt for most of the season, and ended up playing in only 6 games. While the two best options available are both injury prone themselves, hopefully the Texans can throw enough warm bodies at the problem to nullify it. This is an offense without an exciting QB, a stud WR that few outside of Houston can name, and a lack of true playmakers around the ball. For that reason, Houston decides to liven things up and take the biggest home run hitter left in the draft (damnit)…
With the 79th overall pick, the Houston Texans select Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia.
**
3.17 (80) Philadelphia Eagles**
I would love to see Slaton in an Eagles uniform. He reminds me a lot of Brian Westbrook in his earlier years; a shifty, smallish RB with good hands and a knack for making a big play. I don’t personally watch much college football, but I’ve been watching Slaton for a few years now, and I rarely seem to be wrong about lesser known players I happen to notice. My prediction is he ends up becoming an explosive offensive threat and makes at least one Pro-Bowl (if he doesn’t get broken in half after being tackled the first time).
Anyhow, this is a no brainer pick for the Eagles. After addressing two of their most primary concerns (WR, LB), there is only one real pressing need, DT. The Eagles are really thin at the position, and after missing out on the chance to add depth via DeWayne Robertson of the Jets, the Eagles celebrate in jubilation to see Pat Sims fall this far. Who could resist the chance to draft a top 40 ranked player with the 80th pick, AND fill an area of need in doing so? They double check their charts, deeply paranoid that they must be missing something (like him being taken 20 picks earlier), and make the call…
With the 80th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select Pat Sims, DT, Auburn
Not a bad pick, but personally I’m not feeling the Slaton love that seems to have gripped so many people. He barely cleared 1,000 yards this year, looked slow, and didn’t have a run longer than 38 yards. Add in that he was in a option offense and can’t take a pounding and I see him as no better than a glorified Darren Sproles without the return ability.
I’ll tell you, the guy I covet for the Packers, a guy I think that would work for the Texans also, is Tashard Choice. Although short, he hits the hole quickly, and can see the cutback lanes which is so important in the zone blocking scheme. Plus he’s a “football player”.
To be honest, I thought he was taken. Great pick.
I’ve read on occasion that certain RB prospects are regarded as too short to be a high round pick, being short always looked upon as a downside. But why, exactly? With a WR, corner, QB, etc. it makes sense that taller is better. But for RBs, I’m not so sure. As long as your frame is big enough for a good amount of strength, being short and having a low center of gravity seems like an advantage in some ways.
I totally agree. The only reason being a short back would hurt is because it might make one think you were too small to effectively pass protect against a 300 lb End. That might be the case and it means a back is going to have to really have good form to compensate, but I’d think the extra elusiveness and ability to get lost behind the line might outweigh that.
I don’t think shortness alone is a killer; a better term would be size. It’s like the difference between Maurice Jones Drew and Darren Sproles/Ryan Moats/. Drew is huge and carries his weight well, while Sproles and Moats are slighter. I think with the smaller guys, the concerns are that they can’t take the pounding and don’t have enough power.
As far as height alone, my feelings are that shortness not only effects the ability to block, but also isn’t ideal for vision and power. In a zone blocking scheme, I think seeing the holes, as well as the second level, is a big advantage, one that a shorter running back might not have. Add in using the RB as a receiver, and the same issues arise.
With regard to Tashard, I should have used the term “size”. Choice doesn’t have first (or likely even second) round speed, he relies more on his vision, cuts and ornerines to get yards. He’s not got great height, or upper body strength, to be a power runner, which is more his style of running.
Omni,
Jay Mariotti would like to have a few words with you.
Included: “If the Bears like Mendenhall and think he’ll be a productive starter for the next six years, then, by all means, take him and find your tackle later. And if it means trading up a couple of spots to get him, fine. The running backs who will be available in the second and third round all have “buts” beside their accolades.”
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals, in this draft, can go with the Best Player Available, because they have plenty of needs, but not many “must haves”. So far, they’ve helped out their defense (and their Ricky Williams “stoner” factor) with Talib and Jackson. Grimm would like some more depth at OLine and a running back to spell/replace Edge is another place to look. I think they’ll go offense here. Forte and Choice don’t really have the speed I think the Cards want, so it would probably be Slaton they’d be eyeing. But, the better choice for the Cards is Anthony Collins. He’s a bit of a project (only one year of high school football), and needs some coaching, but he’s big and quick and could be a great LT. He made a mistake coming out early, but he’s worth taking in the third round and learning the game for a year or two.
Arizona Cardinals select Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas