It's time! Okay, it isn't really time, I'm just apparently suffering from insomnia. Since we could pick anywhere from #3 to #7 (I think?), I'll give us a nice average #5 pick, just for the sake of arguement. No fancy trades or anything, though I do expect us to make some. Round 1: Vernon Gholston, OLB, Ohio State. I expect a declaration of entering the draft coupled with a huge combine. The combine doesn't mean nearly as much as not only his production but the show that this player puts on on the field. Round 2: Roy Schuening, OG, Oregon State. Due to injuries on the Beavers' line, Schuening has been moved around a lot. He has also been effective playing all over the line. Combining this with his great health history (50 consecutive starts counting the upcoming bowl game) and you've got a player that we could desperately use on our offensive line, specifically at LG. Round 3: Red Bryant, DT, Texas A&M. A defensive tackle with knee problems? That sounds familiar from somewhere . . . And I want both of them to play End for the Jets. Under the tutelage of Shaun Ellis with rotational help from Kenyon Coleman, Red Bryant should be able to develop into a solid 3-4 End quickly. The only problem here is that I see someone smashing the panic button at the end of the second round since the third round is now on day two (which means everyone gets a night to review everyone left on the board). So perhaps we trade our fifth to get into the end of the second round. What am I, a fricking psychic? Round 4: Peyton Hillis, FB, Arkansas. Did you know that in Arkansas, it is illegal to pronounce the state's name phonetically? Really, we need a Fullback and Hillis is a triple threat: Runner, receiver and blocker. He plays special teams, too. Hell the guy returns punts. Schottenheimer will most likely wet his pants thinking about this guy: He is what Stacy Tutt was supposed to be. Round 5: Marcus Monk, WR, Arkansas. He's a physical receiver. Was. Was a physical receiver. We'll see in the Dallas Bowl if he made a full recovery. If he didn't, you can bet your arse that this pick won't be here. Early reports are that he is doing well and showing confidence in his knee. Let's hope it is as sturdy as ever. Round 6: Jeremy Leman, ILB, Illinois. Maybe he goes earlier, maybe he doesn't. Who knows. What we do know, however, is that Barton is getting up there in years and is overpaid to be a backup (which in my opinion, he inevitably will be) and Kassell could use some competition. Woohoo, you're a special teams captain, congratulations. Now do something at linebacker or this guy will. Round 7: Kerry Brown, OG, Appalachian State. Rewatching the App. State Vs. Michigan State game, you can see flashes from Kerry Brown. He has an explosive first step and can reach a linebacker quite quickly when he's uncovered by a defensive lineman. Hell, why not? Let's take a shot on the guy. So . . . Still not tired in the least. Damnit. I tried.
J Leman will go a lot higher than that...but other than that pretty nice draft. I don't know if Schuening will be the best guard available for us to take at that spot, but I like going drafting o-linemen and d-linemen with our first day picks.
You don't have to worry about anyone taking Bryant in the second (at least right now). Leman is going way earlier than the 6th round.
Some good players in your Mock.......As others have said, Leman is a day one pick, most likely a mid to late Rd 2 pick, as I have him in my Mock. I'm not thrilled about selecting a Guard in very early rd 2....I have us getting a OT in Chris Williams, I believe a better value.
I would without a doubt expect Bryant to go somewhere in the middle of the third round if it were still a day 1 pick, but someone at the end of round two might see that he's their man and they won't get a stab at him in the third round. I'm specifically worried about 3-4 teams like NE, SD, Pitt and Dallas. It would be a reach but if they like the guy and they know they won't be getting him with their late third round pick, they could pull the trigger. The explanation on Leman is that I read several articles from throughout the season talking about how he wasn't going to be drafted high (and perhaps even at all), complete with quotes from Leman himself asking the NFL coaches for "just one chance". At that point despite the need for ILB depth the choice really would just be BPA. All of the later rounds tend to be a big ol' crapshoot. It really could be anyone down there. As far as a guard (Specifically Schuening) over a tackle in the second, we have two guard positions that need to be filled and one tackle position that while not horrendous, still needs to be filled. Schuening has played RT and both guard positions if I remember correctly, which means he is a versatile general OL guy who should be able to start wherever we need him on day 1. If Kerry Brown could start at LG (I would seriously doubt it but you never know, then Schuening could fit in at either RG or RT, whichever we don't pick up in Free Agency.
There's no question Leman will be drafted Day 1, he won't get past the Patriots last pick of Rd 2, unless they draft Lauranitis. The Guards last year were a very strong group, Grubbs went in the end of Rd 1 and Blalock early 2 and I rate them both much higher than Schuening. This years group of guards IMO, is VERY weak. Let's remember, that Bender may shift to Guard........I'd really like to use that early Rd 2 on a RT. I donot want to spend our 1st Rt pick on J Long(RT)......you just don't invest that kind of coin in very early Rd 1 on a RT.
You know Electric....if Leman was on the Buckeyes, he would be rated as high as Lauranitis......sometimes it's not how you play, but what Team you're on and Illinois was in the dumper until this year. Leman has been just as productive as the little animal and IMO, a better fit than Lauranitis for the 3-4 ILB position.
The Fighting Illini are known for their linebackers so it would surprise me if no one seriously looked at Leman just for the fact that his team was losing. So, two questions for you guys: 1) Instead of Schuening, what offensive lineman would you take in the second round? and 2) All of you seem convinced that Leman is going a lot higher than I predicted. Who would you suggest as a sleeper/project/gamble/whatever in the sixth round?
His team is losing? They are playing Southern Cal in a BCS bowl and they beat Ohio State... Ezra Butler, a linebacker out of Nevada would be a great sleeper pick in the 6th round. I don't know if he'll last that long either though. Gosder Cherlius, Chris Williams, Sam Baker, or Eric Young...I hope that Jeff Otah falls, but that won't happen.
