Whose draft stock slipping? Start with Young

MSNBC.com

Whose draft stock slipping? Start with Young
Texas QB not necessarily top-10 pick; Louisville's Dumevil slips, too

COMMENTARY
By Russ Lande
GMJr.com
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 1:41 p.m. ET March 27, 2006


With less than a month until the NFL draft, the draft talk is heating up. Here's our top 10 players on the decline.

1. Vince Young, QB, Texas
After beating USC and announcing he was coming out early for the draft, Young was hailed as a definite top-three pick, but over the last month things have changed. First, after watching a lot of film, some team personnel became nervous about his ability to make the switch to a pro-style offense. Then he went to the combine where he did not work out and did poorly on the Wonderlic test, which has made many more teams wonder about his ability to handle directing a complex NFL offense. Young has gone from a definite top-three pick to hopefully being chosen in the top 10, and even that is not a sure thing.

2. Marcus McNeill, T, Auburn
Entering the 2005 season, McNeill was considered the top offensive tackle prospect, but he stuggled during the season and was passed by D?Brickshaw Ferguson. He was still considered the No. 2 tackle by most teams after the season and a likely top 10-15 pick, but since the season ended he has not stepped up. Now many teams are debating if McNeill is still ahead of Eric Winston from Miami (Fla.). He is no longer a lock to go in the top 10-15, but probably will be a late first- or early second-round pick.

3. Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State
During the season many people felt Carpenter could be picked ahead of teammate A.J. Hawk and even if he wasn?t, he would definitely be a top 15 pick. However, as teams have watched a lot more film, met with Carpenter and seen him work out, there are many questions about his ability to consistently produce. He struggled through a disappointing senior season and has slid from a definite first-round pick to a second- or third-round pick over the past three months.


4. Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville
Dumervil had an excellent season in 2005, and many people were predicting he was going to be a late first-round pick. However, he struggled at the Senior Bowl and disappointed teams as they have studied film more closely. Many teams no longer believe Dumervil can be a starting defensive end, which has caused him to slide from a possible late first-round pick to a high pick on the second day.

5. Max Jean-Gilles, G, Georgia
Jean-Gilles was regarded as the top guard entering 2005 and was still battling for that spot as the postseason all-star games and combine approached. However, he has not proven he is willing to put in the effort to stay in great shape and was disappointing in his combine workout. Jean-Gilles was considered a definite first-round pick when the season ended, but now is looked at more as a second-rounder who may sneak into the late first round if a team is really in need of a guard.


6. Greg Blue, S, Georgia
Blue had a very good senior season, which pushed him way up on many draft boards. However, he was disappointing at the combine, and teams are wondering if he has the versatility to contribute in all areas as a safety. Blue ended the 2005 season as a likely second-round pick, but probably will end up in the third round and could slip even to the fourth because there are so many good safeties available.

7. Charles Gordon, CB, Kansas
Gordon is a very good athlete who came out early despite an up-and-down junior season. He was originally slotted as a second- or third-round pick, based more on athleticism and potential. However, Gordon ran slowly at the combine and did not improve much on that 40 time at his personal workout, and many teams believe he is a second-day prospect. When you consider that he is a better athlete than football player and did not show great athleticism in workouts, he is in a pickle and is probably going to slide on draft day.

8. Cory Rodgers, WR, TCU
Rodgers is a receiver/returner who came out early, and after watching film, many teams were impressed with his play and saw him as a second- or third-round pick. However, he did not work out well at the combine, especially in his 40 tie and catching passes. Although Rodgers was expecting to be a first-day pick after he first declared for the draft, after his workouts he is likely to be a high second-day draft pick.

9. Greg Lee, WR, Pittsburgh
Lee surprised a lot of people when he declared for the 2006 draft despite having a disappointing junior season. When teams watched him on film, they saw a good possession receiver with the height, hands and smooth athleticism to develop into a solid starting receiver. The trouble is, that he ran poorly at the combine and has many teams concerned if he has enough speed to develop into a starter in the NFL because he will struggle to consistently get separation from defensive backs. Lee probably will end up in the fourth or fifth round.

10. Marcus Vick, QB, Virginia Tech
Vick was having a very good 2005 season when things began to fall apart and he was dismissed from the team, then choose to enter the draft early. Many teams believe he is a more polished passer than his brother and still has the good athletic ability and speed to make plays with his feet, but he lacks the elite playing speed that his brother had. Then Vick did not come across very well at the combine, and media reports say that he did not do very well on the Wonderlic. He has gone from an intriguing prospect with some character concerns who would probably be a high secon-dday draft pick to a player who is has just a 50 percent chance of being drafted late in the draft.

? 2006 NBC Sports.com

? 2006 MSNBC.com

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