Smashmouth Football League Articles

1.1 - CB Brandon Browner
We all know that it's the worst kept secret in the league that I am going to select CB Brandon Browner with this pick. I mean, there's no way I would do anything crazy and select a different player here, right? Well, I'm not going to say either way, because we have what looks like a really fun night of real fake football drafting tomorrow night and I'm going to do my part to keep the suspense and drama as high as possible, especially since Will and Breck have an awesome sounding radio show lined up. Anyways...I'm not saying either way whether this will be the pick, but I am mocking him to us here at 1.1. And I think everyone knows why. Browner is a mountain of a man at 6'4", 221 lb, and also happens to be one of the more athletic cornerbacks to enter the league with 95 SPD/95 ACC. Now, much has been made of the fact that he is probably going to skew down considering his off-the-chart attributes (hint: he does), but does it really matter? The worst he could end up with is 92 SPD/ACC before boosts, and that is still an insane speed/height combination for this league. In fact, currently the best height/speed combination in the league belongs to former Cardinal Nnamdi Asomugha at 93 SPD/6'2" (maxed out - he was drafted with 90 SPD) and Raiders CB Tory James with 92 SPD at 6'2" (boosted +1 SPD from 91). Even if he enters the league with 92 SPD at the worst case scenario, he will be eligible to hit 95 SPD at 6'4", blowing everyone else out of the water. Now, that's the case for him. There's also a case against him, which is fairly strong as well. While he is not excessively raw (I'm talking 45-50 AWR range), or even very raw (low 50's AWR), his 55 AWR means he is going to require many years of seasoning to reach his peak game. Some quick math says 99 - 55 = 44 points of AWR alone until he maxes out, or what is probably at least 6 seasons, or 3 shy of regression. And that is before you factor in any progression of his 59 CTH or 48 TAK. My personal opinions leave me much more concerned with the CTH side of things rather than the TAK, but either way the point is clear - this is not a polished prospect we are talking about. So it's for good reason that Browner is so polarizing. How long are you willing to wait for a player at the top of his game? Will he ever get there? At the end of the day, to me the pros outweigh the cons, especially considering his AWR is actually right in line with most of the Top 10 CBs that have been selected in past drafts. But there's no doubt this isn't as much of a slam dunk pick as it might initially seem


1.2 - OLB Shawn Merriman
The second worst kept secret in the league is that Tom Riddell traded up to the second pick in the draft to take WR Matt Jones. While that may be true, there's something telling me that Tom has changed his mind and may be leaning towards a pick at a great position of need than WR. While his motto has always been to pass the ball until he's blue in the face and dare you to stop him, it's possible he has come around to the fact that he already has a very successful WR duo in Anquan Boldin and Chris Chambers. Earlier today he posted an article claiming exactly the scenario above, and that the team has decided to go with OLB Shawn Merriman at this pick. While I think Tom originally intended this to be a smokescreen, the more he thought about the idea the more he liked it. While Merriman is not as rare of a talent as Jones would be (there's actually surprisingly 9 linebackers in the league with 82 SPD/STR/AGI/ACC), there is a very good case to be made that he would help Tom keep his team, improving his squads defense more than Jones would improve their offense. I actually don't think the value is great here if you look at where players like Karlos Dansby and Alonzo Jackson went in past drafts, but there is no doubt that Merriman would be a force alongside newly signed MLB Jamie Sharper. Will this actually happen? I'd say it's less than 50% likely, but it is way more likely than I previously thought it could be. The only other player I could see Tom selecting here (besides Jones) would be OT Wes Sims, but I actually think he would have the least impact this year of the three players.


1.3 - WR Matt Jones
When we traded up for this pick, this surely wasn't the plan, but if this scenario plays out Jones might actually be too good to pass up. Jones is a very similar player to Brandon Browner, just at the offensive version of the position. At 6'6", 91 SPD he is eligible to hit 94 SPD, 6'6", which similarly to Browner would put him in a league of his own at his position physically speaking. While there are 4 WR's in the league 6'3" tall with 94 SPD and 2 6'4" tall with 94 SPD, there are no players at that mark 6'5" tall, let alone 6'6" tall. Also consider that there are only two of those six combined players with 60+ STR. If you want to view things from the 6'5"+ angle, there are currently 7 WRs in the league at 6'5" or taller, with Jaguars WR Kassim Osgood being the fastest with 91 SPD. While he has had a moderate amount of success so far, he has yet to crack the 1,000 mark. Still, it's hard to truly put too much stock into that because he entered the league incredibly raw - 45 AWR and 61 CTH raw. With that in mind his stats to date have actually been rather impressive. Regardless, Jones will blow all these players out of the water with the ability to max out at 6'6", 94 SPD, 93 AGI, and 95 ACC after +2 SPD and rookie/sophomore boosts alone. However, this does kind of make him a tweener. Is he a possession receiver, or is he a speed guy? Well he can definitely be a possession receiver at 6'6", but you don't take a guy top 5 for that. And 94 SPD is nice, but that doesn't make him a burner. I actually had a very hard time finding a comparison for a player like Jones, even over in MFL land. Most players 6'5" or taller are either at 92/93 SPD SPD or 97 SPD. The ones at 97 SPD kill it, The ones with 92/93 SPD? Not so much. Still, there is little doubt Jones will be a unique talent. And while some will point to his low AWR as being too raw, his 82 CTH is actually quite good for a rookie entering the league which I think helps assuage those concerns a bit. Can I say for sure if I would jump at the chance to take Jones in this exact scenario? I can't. I traded up for a different player, and at this point it would be tough to reverse course, especially with the resources I have already invested in the position. But there is no doubt I would be tempted. And hey, this way I don't have to mock myself someone else at this pick.


1.4 - WR Braylon Edwards
The Lions have been a little all over the board with this pick. There have been rumors that they were looking to trade down, but they have also been adamant that there are at least four players they would be more than happy to land with this pick. At this point I think there is little chance this selection changes hands, and whoever goes 4th overall I believe will be a Detroit Lion. Looking over their roster, they actually have less holes than you might expect for a team who is on the hot seat. I wouldn't be surprised if they went S, MLB, CB, or OL here. But I am also 80% sure they are going to take a wide receiver with this pick. Their wideouts are neither overly talented or young, and I think after the trade for Vick they want to give him all the weapons he needs to be successful. Plus, the talent at WR this year is clearly at the top of the draft, while other positions have quite a bit more depth. So I am mocking Michigan product Braylon Edwards to stay in state and head to Detroit with the 4th pick. For all the talk of unpolished players so far, Braylon Edwards is the exact opposite of that, which is exactly how GM Brad Barber likes his receivers. With 65 STR, 66 AWR, and 84 CTH this is a player that knows how to run routes and secure the football. His phsyical attributes also don't leave a whole lot to be desired unless you desire a physical freak, as 91 SPD/94 AGI/92 ACC at 6'3" is nothing to sneeze at . Sure there have been faster players as well as taller players, but few have been able to do it all like Edwards can. He will reach 92 SPD/95 AGI/93 ACC after rookie boosts alone, and if Brad has any APs left over after changing Vick to a balanced QB he could invest +2 SPD to get him up to 94. Braylon has never really been on my radar as someone I really wanted during this process, but the more I look at him the more it's clear he is one of the safest picks in this draft. I think this is an A+ selection for the Lions and I am pretty confident we will see them go in this direction tomorrow night.


1.5 - OT Wes Sims
Perhaps the third worst kept secret in the league off-season has been the Bills apparent affinity of Wes Sims at the top of the draft. It simply makes too much sense considering A) He will instantly be one of the most physically gifted tackles in the league and B) The lack of any competent tackles currently on the Bills roster. Now, I have always been a big believer in the idea that you don't draft an OT the year you need them, but at least a season or two in advance so you are able to give them a season or two of development before truly having to count on them, but the Bills by the looks of it have little choice here. And it just so happens that Sims is absolutely worth the 5th pick here. In fact in any other draft he likely does not make it here. His 68 SPD/95 STR/74 AGI/79 ACC makes him essentially a clone of both the most athletically gifted players in the league and also last year's 1.3 selection OT Tyson Clabo, except for the fact that he is actually decently more polished than Clabo was coming out. This is a pretty straightforward and non-sexy pick here that doesn't require much of an explanation, but I think it's the absolute right pick for this team and this point in time as well as great value. The only thing keeping this from being a win all the way around for Buffalo is that they don't have anyone to hold down the fort at RT while Sims develops his technique. Even with his immense talent he is going to have a rough time at RT if he is forced to play there this year. For the sake of Steve McNair I hope they are able to find a veteran to pair with him for at least this season.



1.6 - MLB Alfred Fincher
The Jaguars are looking to trade down from this spot currently, but I'm not sure they are going to find anything that is really worth their while more than staying put here and picking up a stud player. They already traded down once from the top spot to pick up two top ten selections as well as a rising star on the offensive line, and unless they can pick for a veteran star I think they have done about as well as they can. I've also found that most teams throughout the league are very reluctant to part with their star players for draft picks, as they should be. Most players with star potential who enter the league need a good many seasons of development. With this selection I think the Jaguars look to have their cake and eat it too in that sense by selecting MLB Alfred Fincher. He is still a player with supreme athletic ability at 87 SPD/73 STR/92 AGI/90 ACC, but his 61 AWR/77 TAK is not what I would consider raw at all, even if he is the least developed of the top 3 MLBs in this class. Assuming he doesn't skew down (although it's likely he will in at least one aspect of his game), he will instantly become a trifecta of unseen talents at the MLB position, as no middle linebacker currently in the league has 87 SPD, or 92 AGI, or 90 ACC. Some will criticize Fincher's somewhat undersized stature at 6'1", 238 lbs (me included), especially paired with his somewhat low 73 STR for the position, but if you can live with those things there is no denying he will be a unique talent in the league. With that said, I am not confident in this selection at all due to the fact that, like I pointed out earlier, there are 3 very talented MLBs in this class, and if you have 2 picks it makes sense to grab a player at another position and then circle back for your MLB later on, as there is almost guaranteed to be one available for you. If GM Jason Arnold decided to do just that I could also see him going with a CB here in Corey Webster, or even the most talented safety in the draft O.J. Atogwe. But at the end of the day I just don't think those players will help the Jags save their team like Fincher can, and that is why I am mocking him to the Jaguars here.


1.7 - FS O.J. Atogwe
The way I see it there are 4 physical freaks in this draft (not counting the OL position because honestly there have been freaks at that position every year, and there are multiple this year), and I think Rock runs to the podium to select the last one in FS O.J. Atogwe. It seems that every draft I see Rock grab the LB or S with the highest SPD rating he can find (after he has taken the K or P with the highest KPW, of course), and I don't expect anything else form him this draft. Safety is a position in this league that is notoriously lacking in athletic ability, which is why a safety is even being considered in the Top 10 of the draft here. Atogwe could truly be worth the selection, however. His 94 SPD/95 AGI/95 ACC should just break the "fit the sytem" tool rather than spitting back a "0." The only two players who can compare are the dominant Ed Reed as well as FS Bryan Scott who the Dolphins drafted at 1.26 a couple years ago, but who also entered the league with 50 STR, 40 AWR and 54 CTH. Atogwe is a much more complete player than that with 62 STR, 56 AWR, and 60 CTH, although I do still have my concerns about how long it will take him to develop at a position where I do place a premium on AWR. But Scott has had surprisingly not horrible numbers for how horrendously raw he was entering the league, and the Dolphins were able to have tremendous success with him starting (although a lot of that could have had to do with their pair of elite cornerbacks). I think the Seahawks will not hesitate to pull the trigger here, staring him from day one and developing him as they go. But the question remains - will he help GM Rock Hewko be able to keep his job in Seattle? I have my doubts, but I also don't feel there is a selection here that would do any better for them. And with a roster that has honestly underachieved to date, I can easily see them reaching 6 wins this year in a NFC West division that is not nearly as strong as it was jut a year ago. Even in crunch time, Rock doubles down and takes the highest SPD S he can find.


1.8 - MLB Odell Thurman
It's clear I have earned a reputation in this league for drafting low AWR players. DE Osi Umenyiora with 44 AWR, WR Drew Carter with 41 AWR, WR Jon Olinger with 50 AWR, and HB Derrick Ward with 47 AWR just to name a few. With the selection of MLB Odell Thurman I buck that trend and grab a player who carries on the tradition of extremely ready to player MLBs coming out in the same tradition as Nick Barnett and Jonathan Vilma. The nice thing about Thurman is that he also has the measurables to be an elite player in this league with 84 SPD/80 STR/86 AGI/83 ACC. While those are not rare numbers by any measure in a league known for its star power at the linebacker position, it makes Thurman more than capable of holding his own. The biggest knock on Thurman is going to be his size, as he fits the mold of an OLB more than a thumper in the middle at 6'0", 233 lbs, but there have been plenty of undersized linebackers to find success in the past. His 79 AWR (almost double that of WR Drew Carter!) and 84 TAK combo is the real ticket here, as it's quite possible Thurman hits the 90 AWR/TAK mark by his third year in the league. In a year where we have shifted fully into "win now" mode by trading serious assets for a 30+ year old CB, Thurman gives us a player who is absolutely ready to start from day one to pair with the more raw Brandon Browner who will need a good amount of time to develop.


1.9 - CB Corey Webster
I mentioned that the Jaguars have been exploring the idea of trading out of the top ten selections they received. While I mentioned I didn't think it would be worthwhile for them with the 6th pick, I do think it would be a good idea for them here as I believe they will be looking to add a cornerback, and there are plenty of them to be found in this class. Still, if they stay put and make a selection here CB Corey Webster out of LSU. I think he has perhaps the best height/SPD/AWR/CTH combo in the entire draft at 6'0", 95 SPD, 63 AWR, and 70 CTH. His 92 ACC leaves a bit to be desired, but the good thing about cornerbacks is that they receive +2 ACC from their rookie boost alone, and then another +1 ACC if they are eligible for a sophomore boost. 86 AGI is a bit of a problem for some GMs, but also is something that is usually able to be overlooked some if the player is good enough in other areas. While Webster isn't what I would call a truly elite physical prospect, it is the 63 AWR and 70 CTH combined with still very good physical attributes that makes him stand out in this class. With most other prospects you are either going to have to sacrifice AWR or SPD. With that in mind I believe the Jaguars would do just fine to stay and take this rare commodity. I do think there are a number of other directions they could go with this pick, though. If they decide to trade it I do think it would make a lot of sense for them to get an elite veteran player to help GM Jason Arnold save his job, even if that player happens to be over. However it is quite possible that most of the players GMs are willing to move have already been traded, most likely to the Titans. If they decide to trade back I could see them picking up someone like Antrel Rolle, or possibly a WR like Mike Williams or Vincent Jackson. If they do keep the pick, I also think the only other position they would look at is WR, but Arnold is already on record saying he wouldn't be happy with that value here. I think you can pretty much book it - it's either Webster or bust here, assuming they don't wait on a MLB and grab a different player earlier.


1.10 - QB Kyle Orton
This selection has already been narrowed down to one of two positions by no one other than GM Justin Walstead himself - either MLB or QB. While one side of this equation says that the Rams should take the player who will help them win right now (MLB), I think Justin realizes his team has been on the decline for a couple seasons now due to age and salary related attrition and that it is time to start planning for the future. If they do decide to go "all in" for another run to the Superbowl than MLB Jordan Beck will be the pick here, but I have a hunch that they plan for a post-Warner world by taking the best quarterback in the draft, Kyle Orton. Even though most would say there is little value in drafting Orton only to have him sit on the bench (myself included not too long ago), I think there is something to the strategy of drafting your future quarterback and then giving them a game or two each progression period for a best of both worlds approach. This would allow the Rams to still compete this year with their "best show on turf" offense, while also planning for the inevitable future that lies ahead of them. I am personally more of an all or nothing rebuilder myself, but I think this is still a good path for them moving forward. If they do opt to go with MLB Beck here, there is some merit to the thought they could pick up a QB in the second round. But that is a risky proposition with the 49ers and Bears both sitting just a few picks away, and plenty of teams with either middling or aging quarterbacks lurking in the later stages of round one. While it is a shame for them that this is the first year without an elite quarterback prospect, Orton is still nothing to sneeze at. His 67 AWR/95 THP/86 THA is right in line with other quarterbacks taken Top 5, and really this is the first year a QB prospect with his kind of ability will be available this far into the first round. I think the Rams will get a good player no matter where they go with this pick, but the question for me is more about how they plan to position themselves for the seasons to come. They won't be in a position to draft the top quarterback in the draft unless Warner gets injured again or they trade another star veteran player such as WR Torry Holt next off-season.


1.11 - OT Todd Herremans
The Saints end up on the edge of the top ten for the second year in a row, but that doesn't mean they have a bad team. On the contrary there are actually very few major holes I see on their roster, I think they have just been playing in one of the most competitive divisions in the league. While many have noted their need for a WR, which is true, I think Joe Horn still has a couple of seasons left in him and WR is one of the more plug and play positions you can draft. Therefore I think addressing their issues on the offensive line makes the most sense here and that OT Todd Herremans will be the pick. OT Pete Kendall is one of the most athletic lineman in the league, but I think his low strength coupled with his smaller size has seen him struggle to date at the LT position. Herremans is in the same mold athletically, although much, much stronger. In fact, with 70 SPD, 92 STR, and 71 AGI I consider Herremans to be a steal here. Now, there are a few reasons Herremans was not taken in the top 10, chief among them being his 53 AWR. However I also think his 74 ACC could be seen as a problem by a few GMs, and being a non-bold attribute it is possible it could be even more of a problem considering it has the potential to skew down or up +/- 5 points. A workout will go a long way in determining whether Herremans is worth a selection here, however, and even if it brings bad news there are several other options the Saints could choose from at the position. Taking a talented but raw talent like Herremans will also allow the Saints to bring him along at the LT position while RT Kyle Turley holds down the more crucial right side, and also allow them to slide Pete Kendall back inside where he is a more natural fit. If the Saints do decide to look for a WR here for the second straight year they will also have a number of good options with their choice between WR Mike Williams and WR Vincent Jackson. I think either would be a good pick here, I just see offensive line as the bigger need.


1.12 - QB Charlie Frye
When I saw the Bears trade a second rounder to move up two spots in the draft my immediate thought was that they figured they needed to jump the 49ers for the quarterback of their choice, forgetting that they already had the 12th pick and the ability to do just that. That tells me that there is someone else that they really want with this pick, AND that they want to still take a quarterback in front of the 49ers. I'll address the quarterback first. The Rams took the clear best quarterback in the draft in Kyle Orton, but I don't think Frye is a bad consolation prize at all. Some have panned him as a prospect, but in reality he is only -4 AWR, -2 THP, -2 THA compared to Orton. His 63 AWR and 83 THA still puts him on track to be an 80 AWR/90 THA quarterback sooner rather than later, and I personally believe it is imperative the Bears find a quarterback other than Patrick Ramsey. Frye is only 2 AWR/THA points behind Ramsey at this point despite Ramsey being 3 more YP and 2 years older. I also believe there is something to the assumption that rookies progress more their first year than other players. There are certainly other positions the Bears could look to with this pick, especially now that they are picking both 12 and 13th, but frankly order doesn't matter with back to back picks. I don't see any reason they would have been so desperate to jump the 49ers if one of these picks wasn't going to be a QB - there are plenty of good players at this point of the proceedings.


1.13 - MLB Jordan Beck
As I said above, the order of these picks could really go in either direction. The important thing for the Bears is that by taking Beck who slid out of the Top 10 with GMs favoring Fincher and Thurman more Chicago has now found their replacements for both the quarterrback of their offense and the quarterback of their defense after they made the tough decision to trade Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher this off-season. And Beck could very well go down as one of the best values in this entire draft considering his talent level. At 6'2", 233 lbs he has perhaps the best size of the "big 3" at the position, and his 85 SPD/80 STR/86 ACC makes him a superb athlete. His 79 AGI is for sure a little concerning, but I have a feeling that is going to skew up considering his other measureables. It's also quite possible the Bears could run to the podium for a WR like Mike Williams here, but I think Beck fills too big of a need for them to pass up, and so far in his tenure GM Brent Lachapelle has not been known to place a premium on the WR position.


1.14 - QB Alex Smith
I'm not sure the 49ers were expecting that two quarterbacks would already be off the board by the time it was their turn on the clock at pick 14, but here we are, although it's certainly possible this scenario only plays out in my imagination. I think this is a really tough spot for them because they don't pick again until 25th in the second round, and I am not sure there will be any quarterbacks worth taking by them. They can go BPA here and roll with Freotte for a year, but that is only going to set their rebuild back a full season. I think they bite the bullet here and begrudgingly grab QB Alex Smith here. They will likely have to spend points to make Smith a non-scrambler, but according to the latest update they are already more than halfway there at 60k. Smith actually has a lot of merit as a prospect if you are able to take the scrambler tendency out of the equation, with just about the same AWR (67) and THA (86) as Kyle Orton who went to the Rams 1.10. His 90 THP does leave a little to be desired, but many GMs have proven that a strong arm is far from a necessity to win in these leagues. If the 49ers do decide to roll the dice and see if they can find a decent QB prospect towards the end of the 2nd round then I could see them stopping the slide of WR Mike Williams here to replace T.O. But I just don't think that kind of pick is worth riding a middling 34 year old QB for a full season before finding your QB of the future.


1.15 - WR Mike Williams
The Chargers really need help on the offensive line, and I would have mocked them an OT here to help protect Pennington if they hadn't just traded for one about an hour ago. With both tackle spots taken care of now, I think the Chargers are free to draft an immediate weapon for QB Chad Pennington. The Chargers were hoping that adding Pennington last year was going to be their ticket to the playoffs, but things didn't exactly go as planned and they failed to put together wins down the stretch. I think a wide receiver like Williams will go a long way towards making sure that same fate doesn't play out again. Williams isn't the strongest or the fastest, but he has unbelievable size at 6'4", 230 lbs to go with probably the best hands in the draft (88 CTH). He is already at 90 SPD/90 AGI/90 ACC or better across the board, meaning that he could theoretically reach at least 93 SPD at 6'4" with boosts, and that is not bad potential at all. WR Vincent Jackson is also a route they could go here, but I think the more polished game of Williams will be more attractive to a team looking to win their division this year. If they opt to not take a WR at this spot they could still shore up their offensive line with an OT like Marcus Johnson or Jammal Brown.


1.16 - WR Vincent Jackson
Up next are the Jets, and I believe we see them also select a WR here to make it back to back picks for pass catchers. GM Kevin Mullendore historically has loved WRs in this mold who are able to run block with their strength and size while also being a plus match-up as a receiver. That is exactly what Jackson brings to the table at 6'5", 240 lbs with 65 STR and 88 SPD. He also has the second best RBK rating in the entire draft at 45. While it is true the Jets have a number of talented wide receivers on their roster already, all of them are nearing the end of their careers, and as I mentioned before I just think this is the kind of player Kevin wants on his team. They certainly don't come around often. If they don't take Jackson here it is quite likely they look to take a cornerback. I think Kevin would be equally happy nabbing Antrel Rolle here, who I know many GMs are high on due to his elite combination of SPD, ACC, AWR, and CTH.


1.17 - CB Antrel Rolle
I picture commissioner William Cook frantically sprinting to the podium for this one, hands raised in the air while loudly muttering something to himself about the demise of the Redskins the whole way. Will will be thrilled to land Rolle here as he is both the best cornerback on the board and a huge position of need for them. He also happens to be one of the most polished plug and play cornerbacks in this class, which means the Cowboys plans to win the division this year after the Redskins hit the reset button in Washington would be well in tact despite starting a rookie cornerback. While Rolle has a fantastic combination of a 6'0" frame, 93 SPD, 62 STR, 67 AWR, 93 ACC, 71 CTH, and 71 TAK, the big knock on him coming out of college is that he just isn't that fluid in his hips. This could be a problem if the Cowboys ever asked him to play the slot and perhaps against some of the shiftier wideouts in the league, but I think Dallas will live with this one shortcoming given the overall package they are getting here. Truth be told Rolle probably should have gone earlier, but I think this is a section of the draft where we will see some really good value picks such as this one. The Cowboys still need a lot more help on defense, but this is a great way for them to kick off their draft.


1.18 - CB Justin Miller
This is a tough pick to mock. The Ravens have long had one of the best rosters in the league and still do not have many holes despite having to start making some tough financial decisions. The one position that really sticks out as a need on their roster is a wide receiver, but with the 4 top targets there already off the board I think they would have to seriously reach to take one at this point. I also see OLB as a need after they traded Boulware this off-season, but again, I don't like the value here. To me the best players on the board right now are tackles and cornerbacks, but the Ravens have already invested drat picks at those positions, even if they weren't top picks. With all that said, I am going cornerback here, as I think they could use a young, physically talented prospect to bring along. There are lots of good options here and whoever the pick is simply would come down to personal preference. In the end I mocked CB Justin Miller here as I think he has combination of elite athletic ability and ball hawking skills is a great fit for this tenacious Baltimore defense. Some, probably including Norbert, will have an issue with his 5'10" stature, and his 56 AWR is not great, but his 55 STR/75 CTH still makes him one of the more complete cornerbacks left on the board. I'm sure the Ravens would have loved to have Antrel Rolle here, but I don't see them jumping the Cowboys for a position that isn't a huge need. Miller is not a bad consolation prize at all.


1.19 - CB Stanford Routt
The Browns have a few different places they could go with this pick, but to me I think it's pretty obvious they moved to this spot with the intention of drafting a cornerback. It's a good thing they showed up to the part when they did, too, because we are in the middle of what is starting to be a serious run on cornerbacks. Routt is about as good of a third option as you could hope for in this range, however, with supreme athleticism (93 SPD, 96 AGI, 94 ACC) to go with his 6'0" frame, and still a very respectable 59 AWR and 62 CTH, at least for what we have become accustomed to in these draft classes. His 48 STR is why he fell to this point, and could be reason for some GMs to take him off their board entirely, but he has all the potential in the world to be about as good of a cover corner as you will find in this league. I also have to think that in previous drafts he would have been a sure fire top 15 selection who probably would have gone in the top 10. It is possible the Browns could look for an OT here as there are still a few great ones on the board, but I just have a hard time seeing them pass on taking advantage of what could end up being a historically great cornerback class.


1.20 - CB Pacman Jones
After seeing three of their top cornerback targets still on the board after 1.16 , I have to think the Falcons are sorely disappointed to see Rolle, Miller, and Routt all come off the board right before their pick. While they certainly have quantity at that position, they are somewhat lacking in quality there. Without another selection for another 32 picks, I think the Falcons bite the bullet and take the best cornerback on their board in Pacman Jones. Pacman kind of doubles down on all of the concerns of the three cornerbacks taken before him in that he's not the strongest (43 STR), lacks ideal height (5'10"), and doesn't have elite change of direction (88 AGI), but his 93 SPD/94 ACC/74 CTH to go with a respectable 58 AWR still makes him worth of this selection, especially in a league that has previously lacked top end talent at this position. I don't think the lack of height will bother GM Dhani Aldila at all considering he has had no problem stocking his roster with 5'8" and 5'9" cornerbacks, and the athleticism, while not elite, should also be a plus factor for him. The Falcons would be wise to trade up from this spot to get ahead of this stampede of cornerback selections, but this late in the game I think they could have trouble finding any takers. If the Falcons do decide to say "no thanks" to the cornerbacks left on the board here, I think offensive tackle is certainly an option, with either Marcus Johnson or Jammal Brown being prime candidates here and good value.


1.21 - DE Marcus Spears
The good news for the Bengals is that they have already invested a good amount of resources into the cornerback position, so they shouldn't be too bothered by the insane run on cornerbacks we just saw. The bad news though is that I don't really see offensive tackle as a huge need for them either. They do have a pretty big need at both RE and DT, however, so I think Marcus Spears makes a ton of sense for them with this pick. Spears would be regarded as a classic tweener with his skillset if it wasn't for his 90 STR and 304 lbs frame, which actually makes him just a supremely athletic defensive tackle who can also play DE. He compares pretty nicely to Warren Sapp, although not quite as athletic, who has been a monster at the position, and also the Bengals own DT Justin Smith. But Spears' 90 STR entering the league actually makes him a bit of a different talent than these two as he will automatically be boosted to 92 STR from rookie boosts, 93 STR if he is eligible for sophomore progression. That means he has the ability to get up to 95 STR if the Bengals are willing to invest in him a little bit. That would essentially make him a way faster and slightly smaller Albert Haynesworth, which is a pretty good projection to have. Still, I could see the Bengals not wanting to double down on this position considering they already have Justin Smith who they tried at DE and then moved inside, and honestly trading back might make the most sense for them. There are a couple of wide receivers they could look at at that point, and they would also be able to pick up some additional or future draft capital.


1.22 - OT Marcus Johnson
Things could not have set up any better for first time GM Riley Breckheimer here in his first draft, as the best talent remaining on the board fits his needs exactly. The offensive line has actually been a strength for the Chiefs for a number of years, but that unit is now well past their prime and it is time for the team to invest in the next generation of talent there. Kansas City could opt for the most polished tackle in the draft in Jammal Brown here, but I think having a veteran OL gives them the flexibility to bank on the potential of Marcus Johnson. He is one of the most physically gifted players in the class, and I actually have him neck and neck with Todd Herremans, making this pick one heck of a steal considering Herremans is being talked about in the top ten. He lacks the top end speed of Herremans, but is actually a bit more pro-ready and has the better first step. Otherwise the two players are incredibly similar. The Chiefs need to get younger at a lot of positions, but grabbing perhaps the most talented player left on the board is not at all a bad start to the new era in Kansas City.


1.23 - OT Jammal Brown
GM Tom Riddell is out to save his job this off-season, and has taken several steps to ensure he does so such as bringing in veteran MLB Jamie Sharper. While I don't think this is the direction he wants to go with this pick, he missed out on the top cornerback talent, meaning he will either have to settle for a lesser or more raw player, or trade back. I think he will look to trade back if this is how things play out, but honestly I think Jammal Brown is a gift here. Although Tom has made it well known he is happy with his offensive line as it is, Brown is the most ready tackle in this class and would be a tremendous player at the LT spot from day one. This would allow Tom the keep the athletic but weak Ben Hamilton inside at LG where I think he can really thrive. Brown will give quarterback Drew Bledsoe some much needed protection after he spent several weeks on the injured last season, ultimately torpedoing the Broncos campaign for the division and putting them on the hot seat. While this isn't the player the Broncos truly wanted here, I think the more they think about it the more it will make sense for them here at pick #23.


1.24 - FS Brodney Pool
Breck has made little secret of the fact that he is going all in for a championship this year, and it makes sense given the talent on his roster and the fact that he is looking to change teams next year. Looking over his roster, however, I see just one small problem with that - he has exactly zero safeties signed to his roster. Now normally I am not a big proponent of drafting strictly based on need, and I also don't think playing a rookie safety is generally a good way to win a Superbowl, but with the lack of talent at the position in this league there a guy like Pool could actually be a plus player for them on defense. His paltry 85 SPD/57 STR combo leaves a lot to be desired, but if you can get past those numbers there is a lot to like about Pool. His 62 AWR is a good entry point in this league, and his 6'1" frame with 91 AGI/90 ACC off the bat is quite good. He also has great hands with 68 CTH and is a sure tackler (68 TAK). I wouldn't be surprised to see Breck trade this pick for veteran help for his championship run, but if he stays at this spot I think Pool makes a lot of sense for him.


1.25 - CB Mike Hawkins
The Raiders are one of those teams in the league without a lot of needs as their roster is pretty much set across the board. While they might be tempted to take a wide receiver here after being spurned by Donald Driver in free agency, I think they add a young piece to their secondary here. The biggest strength of their roster is their elite pair of cornerbacks, but that duo is quickly aging. I think they will add one of the most physically gifted talents in the class in CB Mike Hawkins here, knowing that they have the time to develop him behind James and Woodson. I know there will be some GMs who don't have Hawkins on their board at all considering his 51 AWR and 54 CTH, his 93 SPD/93 AGI/98 ACC at 6'1" is absolutely elite in this league. I also wouldn't be surprised to see them go with a FS like Ben Emanuel here, but his AWR rating is only marginally better than Hawkins, and I think Hawkins is the better overall talent so I have to go with him. I would actually be very surprised if the Raiders do not use this pick on a secondary player, but I also know they have been toying with the idea of trading it as well.


1.26 - OT Pete McMahon
The Colts once again had a great season, showing the ability to win big games even when Peyton Manning was injured. Even though they have the potential to do that, I don't think it is something they would prefer to have to do. And while I do think they would have loved it if one of the top cornerbacks in the draft somehow slipped all the way to this spot, they have no problems taking the best offensive tackle on the board in Pete McMahon. It is not an immediate need for the team, but they certainly could use an upgrade along their offensive line. McMahon would provide exactly that. He is a monster of a tackle at 6'8", 330 lbs, and his 95 STR/69 AGI combination is almost Wes Sims level good. He doesn't have as good of a first step as some of the other tackles in the class (73 ACC), but regardless he is going to one day be one of the best tackles in the league. I say someday because the downside to this pick, and the reason he is still here near the end of the 1st round, is that he is quite raw. His 58 AWR is not the worst in the world, but most of the lineman with low AWR in this class make up for it with good blocking skills. That is not the case for McMahon who has just 82 PBK and 78 RBK coming out of college. Things could be worse for him in that regard, but there is no doubt he will need some time to develop. I think the Colts are the perfect situation for him as they do have established players at the position already and can bring him along slowly.


1.27 - CB Carlos Rogers
The Vikings are a team that is quickly running out of holes to fill on their roster. Defensive end looks like it is probably one of the bigger needs for them, but I don't feel like there is anyone that Neal would want to take at this spot. Instead, I think he picks up another cornerback in the draft as he knows the value of the position. Some might find this selection odd as they already have Chris Gamble (1.7 last year) and Asante Samuel, who Neal had high hopes for when he took him in the second round, but Samuel played quite poorly his rookie year and barely saw the field last year. I think that experiment has just about run its course as far as a starting job is concerned. While Rogers is far from the most athletic corner in this class, he is one of the best all-around football players at the position. His 66 STR, 66 AWR, 67 CTH, and 67 TAK are all right up Neal's alley, and 90 SPD/88 AGI/90 ACC is still a very developable starting block for a CB in this league. While he is probably too good to qualify for sophomore progression unless Neal holds back his progression points, he will still reach 91 SPD/89 AGI/92 ACC by the end of his rookie year, and with a little bit of work we cold still see him as a 93 SPD CB. There's also the chance he skews up (although down would be a bit of a nightmare scenario, so of course a workout should be done here). As mentioned, there are other options at this pick for Neal, but I think Rogers is just the type of player he is hoping to land here.


1.28 - OL Rob Petitti
Neal knows the importance of a good run game in these leagues, and he also knows good value when he sees it. That's why I have him taking Rob Petitti with this pick. While Petitti played tackle in college, I think the Vikings would have no problem sliding him inside to play guard for them. He lacks top end acceleration for the position at just 70 ACC, but his 97 STR/65 AGI is more than legit, and he is already a fairly polished player entering the league at 64 AWR/88 PBK/85 RBK. I could also see the Vikings falling in love with FS Ben Emanuel's athleticism here, but in the end I have Neal going with the more polished player that can contribute right away.


1.29 - FS Ben Emanuel
Travis has already mentioned that he barely looks at the class until draft day. I think when he looks things over when he is up on the clock someone like Emanuel still being on the board is really going to stand out to him. After all, 6'3", 90 SPD safeties don't grow on trees in this league, and his current FS Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. There is, however, a reason Emanuel lasted this long though and it is because while he is physically talented he leaves a good bit to be desired elsewhere His 53 STR is lower than many CBs in this class, and 56 AWR and 58 CTH is not going to earn him a ball-hawking reputation anytime soon. 68 TAK is not bad for a FS, but it also is not great. The upside to Emanuel is what he will be in a couple years. After rookie and sophomore boosts, which he should no doubt be eligible for, you are looking at a 6'3", 91 SPD, 95 AGI, 91 ACC FS, which some might arguable would be better than the Top 10 pick O.J. Atogwe. I also could easily see the Patriots going cornerback here, but I just don't see anyone left on the board that would persuade them to do so.