Winners
New York Jets: Trading up for Mark Sanchez while only giving up a second rounder and some spare parts is a win in my book. He's got the perfect make-up to succeed in New York.
Baltimore: The Ravens traded up for Michael Oher and found first round talent late in the second round in Paul Kruger.
Philadelphia: The Eagles picked up two impact players in the draft (Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy) and another by trading a couple picks (Jason Peters). Well done.
Jacksonville: I love the fact that the Jaguars are addressing their glaring need on the offensive line. Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton will allow David Garrard to prove his 2008 season was an anomaly.
UConn: Four first day picks? Well done, Randy Edsall.
Losers
Oakland: Is this even a debate? They reached for Darrius Heyward-Bay with the seventh overall pick and then stunned the masses by taking Michael Mitchell with the 40th pick. The moral of the story: never entrust your draft to an unstable, 80 year old man.
Tampa Bay: Not only did they reach for Josh Freeman, but they also traded up for him. This has major bust potential.
Cleveland: The Browns traded down from the fifth overall pick to 21 and failed to pick up a 2010 first rounder in the process. Then, they drafted two wide receivers. Worst of all, they did not make a move with either of their two quarterbacks. A very confusing day.
New England: Lots of movement but no meaningful action. The Patriots failed to grab a difference maker on either side of the ball despite being involved in about a dozen trades.
The U(niversity of Miami): No first round picks for the first time in 14 years? That'll get you a spot on this list.
Best Picks (non-Sanchez category)
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: The 49ers get the top talent in the draft with the 10th pick. Makes sense to me.
Everette Brown, DE, Florida State (43rd by Carolina): Late first round talent scooped up in the middle of the second.
Sean Smith, CB, Utah (61st by Miami): An incredible value here. Smith will be a starter in the NFL for the next ten years.
Worst Picks (non-Raiders category)
Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU (3rd by Kansas City): Jackson is a decent player, but he has very limited upside. That's not something you look for when picking third. Jackson wasn't even in my initial mock draft which shows just how far he's climbed in a few short months.
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama (6th by Cincinnati): Another day, another acquisition of a player with character issues.
Pat White, QB/WR, West Virginia (44th by Miami): I understand White will be a nice fit for the Wildcat but is that worth a precious early second rounder?
Showing posts with label Sean Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sean Smith. Show all posts
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Underrated Players
Here are the seven players I think are most underrated* (in order of underratedness; yes, that's a word).
Sean Smith, CB, Utah (mock draft position: 57): Smith has been a favorite of mine for some time. He has great height (6'2") and speed (4.4 40). Best of all, he's only been playing the position for two years meaning there's a ton of upside left. I would not be shocked to hear his name get called in the first round. Teams in need of secondary help would be foolish to pass on him.
Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma (138): To me, Iglesias is a better prospect than Malcolm Kelly, a former teammate of his who went in round two last year. Iglesias was QB Sam Bradford's favorite target this season (74 catches, 1,150 yards, 10 TD). A few weeks back, he was being discussed as an early second round possibility. Now, McShay has him going early in round five? Not happening.
Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State (137): Maybe I'm a sucker for college productivity, but if you lead the NCAA in rushing touchdowns and finish in the top five in rushing yards and you play in the defensive-focused Big 10, I think you should get a little more respect. Ringer should see his name called in round three, not round five.
Jarrett Dillard, WR, Rice (133): Dillard hauled in 55 touchdowns over the last three seasons. Sure, he's a bit undersized and lacks top end speed, but his productivity and toughness (hat tip, Jay Bilas) cannot and should not be underestimated.
Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss (192): The combine-like measurables may not be there but McRath recorded 137 tackles despite playing behind a woeful defensive front. has the theme of productivity set in yet?
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (27): Three years ago, Reggie Bush was the second overall selection. Harvin is the same player. Getting him 25 picks later wouldn't happen, but if it did, it's a steal.
Rey Maualuga, LB, USC (28): Possibly the second best linebacker in this year's class. His size:speed ratio is unparalleled. He's a beast with a mean streak and should be picked in the top 15.
*Rated based on Todd McShay's latest seven-round mock draft published on April 21st.
Sean Smith, CB, Utah (mock draft position: 57): Smith has been a favorite of mine for some time. He has great height (6'2") and speed (4.4 40). Best of all, he's only been playing the position for two years meaning there's a ton of upside left. I would not be shocked to hear his name get called in the first round. Teams in need of secondary help would be foolish to pass on him.
Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma (138): To me, Iglesias is a better prospect than Malcolm Kelly, a former teammate of his who went in round two last year. Iglesias was QB Sam Bradford's favorite target this season (74 catches, 1,150 yards, 10 TD). A few weeks back, he was being discussed as an early second round possibility. Now, McShay has him going early in round five? Not happening.
Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State (137): Maybe I'm a sucker for college productivity, but if you lead the NCAA in rushing touchdowns and finish in the top five in rushing yards and you play in the defensive-focused Big 10, I think you should get a little more respect. Ringer should see his name called in round three, not round five.
Jarrett Dillard, WR, Rice (133): Dillard hauled in 55 touchdowns over the last three seasons. Sure, he's a bit undersized and lacks top end speed, but his productivity and toughness (hat tip, Jay Bilas) cannot and should not be underestimated.
Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss (192): The combine-like measurables may not be there but McRath recorded 137 tackles despite playing behind a woeful defensive front. has the theme of productivity set in yet?
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida (27): Three years ago, Reggie Bush was the second overall selection. Harvin is the same player. Getting him 25 picks later wouldn't happen, but if it did, it's a steal.
Rey Maualuga, LB, USC (28): Possibly the second best linebacker in this year's class. His size:speed ratio is unparalleled. He's a beast with a mean streak and should be picked in the top 15.
*Rated based on Todd McShay's latest seven-round mock draft published on April 21st.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
NFL Early Entries
Now that the deadline has passed for college players to declare for the NFL Draft, let's assess which players made the best and the worst decisions.
Best Decisions to Leave Early
Donald Brown, RB, UConn: Brown (aka UConn's entire offense) was abused this season as he carried the ball 367 times in 13 games. To put that into perspective, only one running back in the NFL had more carries (Michael Turner - 373). Had Brown stayed in school, he would have been asked to shoulder a similar load. The shelf life of a running back is only so long.
With a solid showing at the combine, Brown could be a second round pick.
Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa: Greene, who sat out the entire 2007 season, came out of nowhere to lead the Hawkeyes. He was the only player in the nation to rush for at least 100 yards in every game this season. His stock will never be higher.
Greene too could hear his name called in the second round.
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois: Quite simply, Davis mailed it in this year; for much of the season, it looked like he was playing not to get hurt. He possesses the physical skills to be a shutdown corner at the next level. Can he stay motivated? Ironically, the same question was asked about his big brother, Vernon.
Davis should come off the board in the middle of the first round.
Sean Smith, CB, Utah: Smith has great size for a defensive back (6'3") and played the best game of his career in the Sugar Bowl. Like Greene, his stock cannot go much higher.
Smith could be selected late in round one.
Worst Decisions to Leave Early
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: No one argues with the athletic ability, but Harvin needs to prove he can stay healthy. With all key starters returning next season, he would have had a chance to crack the top 10 next season.
Harvin will be drafted in the mid-late first round.
Jeremy Childs, WR, Boise State: Childs led the Broncos in receptions and receiving yards. He was clearly QB Kellen Moore's go-to target. Another year working with Moore would have done wonders for Childs.
Childs figures to be a fifth or sixth round selection.
P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin: Hill picked a terrible year to declare for the draft. There are at least ten better prospects at the position including six other underclassmen. His performance this season failed to live up to expectations.
Hill may not get picked until late on Day 2.
To Be Determined
Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama: Coffee's is a curious one. The Crimson Tide lost bookend OT Andre Smith, but figure to be a National Title contender from Opening Day (not the case this past season). It seems like there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Coffee should go early on Day 2.
Best Decisions to Leave Early
Donald Brown, RB, UConn: Brown (aka UConn's entire offense) was abused this season as he carried the ball 367 times in 13 games. To put that into perspective, only one running back in the NFL had more carries (Michael Turner - 373). Had Brown stayed in school, he would have been asked to shoulder a similar load. The shelf life of a running back is only so long.
With a solid showing at the combine, Brown could be a second round pick.
Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa: Greene, who sat out the entire 2007 season, came out of nowhere to lead the Hawkeyes. He was the only player in the nation to rush for at least 100 yards in every game this season. His stock will never be higher.
Greene too could hear his name called in the second round.
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois: Quite simply, Davis mailed it in this year; for much of the season, it looked like he was playing not to get hurt. He possesses the physical skills to be a shutdown corner at the next level. Can he stay motivated? Ironically, the same question was asked about his big brother, Vernon.
Davis should come off the board in the middle of the first round.
Sean Smith, CB, Utah: Smith has great size for a defensive back (6'3") and played the best game of his career in the Sugar Bowl. Like Greene, his stock cannot go much higher.
Smith could be selected late in round one.
Worst Decisions to Leave Early
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: No one argues with the athletic ability, but Harvin needs to prove he can stay healthy. With all key starters returning next season, he would have had a chance to crack the top 10 next season.
Harvin will be drafted in the mid-late first round.
Jeremy Childs, WR, Boise State: Childs led the Broncos in receptions and receiving yards. He was clearly QB Kellen Moore's go-to target. Another year working with Moore would have done wonders for Childs.
Childs figures to be a fifth or sixth round selection.
P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin: Hill picked a terrible year to declare for the draft. There are at least ten better prospects at the position including six other underclassmen. His performance this season failed to live up to expectations.
Hill may not get picked until late on Day 2.
To Be Determined
Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama: Coffee's is a curious one. The Crimson Tide lost bookend OT Andre Smith, but figure to be a National Title contender from Opening Day (not the case this past season). It seems like there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Coffee should go early on Day 2.
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