http://espn.go.com/melkiper/ I guess we would be taking Anthony Spencer at 25. I wouldn't mind him. 1. Calvin Johnson Jr. WR Georgia Tech Hard worker and team oriented 2. Joe Thomas Sr. OT Wisconsin Imposing lineman with great quickness. 3. Brady Quinn Sr. QB Notre Dame Poised and at his best under pressure. 4. JaMarcus Russell Jr. QB LSU Big, strong with a powerful arm 5. Jamaal Anderson Jr. DE Arkansas Gifted athlete and a complete player 6. Adrian Peterson Jr. RB Oklahoma Durability is a concern 7. Alan Branch Jr. DT Michigan A space-eater along the interior. 8. Marshawn Lynch Jr. RB California Complete big back 9. Gaines Adams Sr. DE Clemson Dominating ability with his athleticism. 10. Leon Hall Sr. CB Michigan Great anticipation and awareness in coverage. 11. LaRon Landry Sr. DB LSU Leader on one of the nation's best defenses. 12. Amobi Okoye Sr. DT Louisville Quick, strong and gets penetration into the backfield. 13. Jeff Samardzija Sr. WR Notre Dame Great hands and speed for his size. 14. Dwayne Jarrett Jr. WR USC Can create mismatches against smaller cornerbacks. 15. Robert Meachem Jr. WR Tennessee Could elevate with a fast time at the combine. 16. Tony Ugoh Sr. OT Arkansas Athletically gifted left tackle with upside. 17. Charles Johnson Jr. DE Georgia Workout numbers should be eye catching. 18. Levi Brown Sr. OT Penn St. Reliable at protecting his QB's blind side. 19. Sidney Rice Jr. WR South Carolina Above average hands and nice burst. 20. Ryan Kalil Sr. C USC Benefits from practicing against great players. 21. Lawrence Timmons Jr. LB Florida State Production and consistency are what jump out. 22. Adam Carriker Sr. DE Nebraska Runs unbelievably well for 300-pound DE. 23. Dwayne Bowe Sr. WR LSU Runs great routes and is tough in traffic. 24. Marshal Yanda Sr. OT Iowa Well coached with outstanding technique. 25. Anthony Spencer Athleticism will make him an ideal OLB in the NFL
I don't think the "Big Board" is a mock draft, it's just his personal rankings of how good each player is. Plus, Kiper is always wrong anyway, I can't believe people still buy into his shit.
That is by far and away the highest I've seen Carriker ranked. Most have him going in the second round, but he is the only real 3-4 DE that is worth a first day pick, as far as I know.
First day or first round pick? Other 3-4 DEs include Alan Branch and Jamaal Anderson. And that is just the first rounders.
Has he had that Joe Thomas #1 the last 6 weeks? Samardzija top 15 he blows. He has a high baseball contract. Kiper is on crack. though I liked his mock draft til our pick(but its 120 days from now) anything can happen
Yea Kiper is useless. The first good mock draft I'll see this year will be in a week at nfldraftcountdown.com, once everyone declares or doesn't declare.
NFLDRAFTCOUNTDOWN is always right, Mel Kiper has to go. One question, why isn't Troy Smith on his board ?
did you watch the Fiesta Bowl? P.S. who did Kiper have us taking in his mock draft? McShay had Irons, just making sure you didn't mix the two blowhards up.
Nah. He was in the conversation but it was never as a bonafied top ten pick. If he was going in the first it would have been like to the Panthers or something late in the draft. He will probably go in the second like Kellen Clemens.
NFL countdown has us drafting Lynch, would be a good pick. Of course if someone like Brohm declares, it will shake up the draft.
Hasn't been updated in weeks though. He's waiting until after the Juniors declaring date is over (the 15th), to make a new one.
I don't see either Branch or Anderson as good fits for a 3-4. In a 3-4, they would be OLB's, more like Merriman is. (not to say as good, but that's where I see them fitting in a 3-4) Ideally, a 3-4 DE is a big guy, 300 pounds, that can stop the run and generate some pressure on the QB..... the only player that fits that mold that would be ready to start is Carriker. He isn't the sexy pick, but 3-4 DE aren't sexy. The three hardest players to get in a 3-4 defense are the two DE's and the NT. Guys like Abraham, Anderson and Branch aren't suited to the position. They are the tweeners, the rush OLB's in a 3-4.
Alan Branch is 6-6 330. I don't think he'll be playing OLB anytime soon..... At that size I think he'd be capable of playing either NT or DE in the 3-4.
Yeah, you're right about Branch.... but I have ignored him because he's likely a top ten pick. Why did I say he wasn't a 3-4 DE? I'm stupid. Actually, I've forgotten about him because there is no way he falls to us at 25 or 26, whatever it is. I tend to concentrate on players i think we have a shot at, and Branch is off my radar to be a Jet. I'm not Jabba..... I don't really analyze the entire draft. I research players that will likely be available for us, so more correctly should have said that Carriker is the only bona-fide 3-4 DE we could draft. I stand properly corrected. I don't see another solid "ready to start" 3-4 DE in the draft other than Carriker when we pick.
