This is the flip side of the busts post, the guys who I think are going to have a very strong career in the NFL in some cases despite momentary concerns about character or attitude: 1. Marshawn Lynch. Dropping like a stone lately but would be a huge value pick anywhere from 15 on down. Did nothing but produce in college and has played hurt when he had too. If I had a top 10 pick and was looking for a tailback I'd find someway to trade down and get Lynch. He's worth a lot more on the 16 than Adrian Peterson would be on the 8. 2. Alan Branch. Getting dissed for a slow motor (supposedly) and being less of a finisher than a disruptive force inside. Every team he's been on has been very strong defensively and the main reason has been his presence inside mixing it up, usually against a double-team. This guy absolutely should be a top 5 pick given the rest of the talent available this season however he's dropping down towards the 11 to 15 range. Probably the only guy in the draft I would not complain about a trade up by the Jets to get if he actually drops into that range. 3. Patrick Willis. I'm sold. He's fast and strong and very tough. Played the last half of the season in 2005 with a broken finger in a cast. Two time All-American and All-SEC and he's going to be a great pro. Unfortunately he's gonna go high, probably in the top 8, and he's a 4-3 linebacker. He's probably the safest pick in the draft and may well have the most value in a few years if the QB's blowout. 4. Jamaal Anderson. The best pass-rusher in the draft. He's going to make somebody very happy as a 4-3 end. I'd take him over Gaines Adams, but not Branch or Willis. Might be a 3-4 end but he's really a speed rusher and would be more productive in a standard set. 5. LaRon Landry. Hits hard although not lights out. Has excellent speed and man-to-man coverage skills and could play CB in the NFL if that was what was on tap for him. Another really safe pick for whoever gets him. Those are the guys I think are pretty much guaranteed to make their teams happy in the first round. Lynch and Branch are dropping and could turn into steals for the team that takes advantage and moves up to just the right spot to grab them, probably 11 for Branch and 19 for Lynch. Willis, Anderson and Landry all should be top 10 picks although it looks like one of them might drop a bit lower at this point. My guess is Anderson drops a bit.
I like Willis and Branch as well. Funny thing about Branch, is he's getting the same criticism that Ngota got a year ago about the lack of motor. But his size and strength is gonna be an instant impact for the team that takes him.
It's really hard to move him out of the middle and when you saw a surge on the defensive line at Michigan the last couple of years it was bowing in from his spot on the line.
I have to disagree about a few of them, namely Lynch and Anderson. Lynch has a lot of physical tools, but I doubt his ability to be a true carry the load RB. He impressed statistically, but doesn't really have a ton of things about his game that makes me think he's a consistent 1000 yard back in the NFL. If anything, he's really had the same questions about his game since he was a freshman because of that Cal offense. There are parts of me that would rather take Antonio Pittman straight up than Lynch to be honest. And I'd consider Peterson at 5 a much better value than Lynch at 20. As for Anderson, he's athletic but not even close to the best passrusher in the draft. Adams has him beat in that regard, as do Jarvis Moss and Anthony Spencer. To me he's a much more raw version of Mario Williams, without quite as high a ceiling as Mario's.
1. Lynch-agreed-he's gonna be a good one and great value in the mid-late 1st, like jamal lewis, a good RB with a 'tude 2. Branch-kind of agree-he's not the sloth he's made out to be, he's just big boned. but seriously, almost all guys his size deal with that label, I think he'll turn out like d-slob and probably provide the most production for his second team cause DT's usually take a few years to develop. 3. Willis-agree 100%-this guy is a complete b.e.a.s.t. and will dominate for years-like urlacher 4. anderson-disagree-this guy is mister bust, a WW with questionable football skills-like the old Bryan Thomas 5. Landry-agreed-killer safety-like reed or rhodes
My 5 can't miss 1st Rd picks: 1) Calvin Johnson....Best Player in the draft!! 2) Adrian Peterson....going to be a franchise back. 3) Laron Landry.....Special player. 4) Patrick Willis......MY Prediction for DROY!! 5) Dwayne Bowe....He's going to be a solid receiver, if he fell to the Jet's, I'd take him.
I'm surprised you feel that way about Bowe WW, he was the one that started the Miami LSU fight last year. He's a good receiver, but there's a line between being cocky, and just being an ass, I think he's in the latter territory.
I've never felt Bowe was a troublemaker (ala..Chris Henry type), he is a cocky..SOB and shoots off his mouth. Bowe's production and measurables just can't be ignored. A majority, not all, receivers are cocky and have an edge. Jarrett, Bowe, Rice, Paul Williams are just a few recievers that have an edge to them this year.
MY Favorite to make me smiling. Jamarcus russell QB. and C Ryan Kalil with second pick. Kalil might be the safest pick in this draft. Fits Raiders new blocking scheme to a T.
How can the Raiders afford to take Kalil after investing an early second in Jake Grove in 2004? Is Grove really that bad?
Does anyone think that Jamaal Anderson could drop to 25? I wouldn't wait I would run to the podium. If he puts on some weight he could get to 300 pounds pretty easily. I've seen him bounce around from a top pick to late teens and I don't know why.
I don't think Anderson will drop that far. Branch may be there though. His medical condition is sending loud alerts through the NFL community right now. I've heard anything from shin splints to stress fractures. Alan Branch has some good agents. This is about the 3rd article I've seen on him that tries to alleviate some of the concerns: http://profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2007/beacom042207.htm I'd be thrilled if he dropped to 25 somehow and we chose to take him there.
Same reason they took a chance on C Jeremy Newberry in Fa. Knows zone Blocking scheme being employed. Same as Broncos, but Guards will be bigger. Ryan Kalil can step right in(IF Newberry knee don't hold up) as he knows the blocking scheme being employed. Raiders can get consistant play from the center positionand their Oline hyas very good chance to bounce back big time in 2007. Raiders oline pretty much set. LT Gallery/Sims LG Cooper carlisle(former Bronco) C Jeremy Newberry/Ryan Kalil(would draft and might move up for)RG Kevin Boothe and Rt Sims/Gallery Reserves J Grove LT Paul McQuistan . Grove dosen't know the blocking scheme and couldn't make all the line calls. The center position is the most important position in Raiders new blocking scheme(alot of cutblocking)
I would replace Branch (huge bust potential) for Brandon Merriweather who will sneak into round one and make some lucky team very happy that they took a change on him. Honorable mention = Levi Brown.
