The Top 30 NFL Draft Busts of the Decade

Well, now that the decade is over, it’s time to look back and see all those bad decisions that (cough, Matt Millen, cough) all 32 NFL teams, made in the NFL Drafts of this decade. Of course, if you’re talking about this past decade and NFL draft busts, who better to be on the front of the slideshow than a Detroit Lions wide receiver. Can you guess who it is?

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New York Giants’ Game Plan For The 2010 NFL Draft

This season did not end well for the New York Giants. After a hot 5-0 start against mediocre teams, the Giants have won just three of their last ten games, are eliminated from playoff contention, and are entering a meaningless game with Minnesota on Sunday.

This may be a bit preemptive since the season has not officially ended for Big Blue, but it’s all we have right now.

The following is my take on the top three needs General Manager Jerry Reese should address this coming April in the NFL draft. Of course, these needs may also be met in the off season, but I don’t think any one player would make the difference, unless it is someone like Champ Bailey (like that’ll ever happen).

Which leads me into the first priority for the New York Giants’ staff: find a legitimate cover corner to compliment Corey Webster.

I know most of you will disagree with me because of the talent the Giants have drafted at that position the last couple years, but Aaron Ross’ hamstring injury and the poor late play of Terrell Thomas in the passing game (he is a pretty good tackler and great in run support) have made me think this is still a need.

Bruce Johnson started the season off overachieving, but played horrible down the stretch. With Ross and Webster out against Carolina, the backups made first year QB Matt Moore look like Peyton Manning.

Since they already have some talent at the CB position and are just looking to solidify the depth in the secondary, I can’t justify taking one in the first round. Second round would be ideal, since you can almost always get a steal if you play your cards right.

Crezdon Butler out of Clemson comes to mind. He saw significant playing time all four years at Clemson, and started in every game since he was a sophomore.

The biggest issue with the Giants’ secondary this year was nothing they could control, however. When Kenny Philips went down, the Giants were doomed. If you need any indication of what a play-making safety does for a team, just look at the Denver Broncos.

Brian Dawkins came in and transformed that defense from embarrassing to dominant.

Which is my next point. If Kenny Philips cannot come back from his patella femoral arthritis 100 percent, the Giants need to have a backup plan.

Guys like Tennessee’s Eric Berry and USC’s Taylor Mays look nice, but are not realistic options, since they are most likely first round picks.

Someone who just played very well today in the Rose Bowl for Ohio State is Safety Anderson Russell . He is a big body and is great in run defense, and would be a better backup option than C.C. Brown (who are we kidding, he’s gone next year).

Something I would not be surprised to see at all is Jerry Reese going after the guys in the trenches hard this draft. Both lines are getting old in football years and both suffered injuries to some capacity.

I feel like the first round selection is almost certainly going to be an offensive or defensive lineman, and seeing as how the defensive line played so poorly of late, Reese will probably lean in that direction.

How awesome would it be to see Alabama’s Terrence Cody dominate Texas in the National Championship game, then end up suiting up in Blue come September.

Cody is the 3rd rated defensive tackle by most respected draft experts, and will almost certainly give the Giants a leg up in the NFC East next year. He is 6’4″, 365 lbs (supposedly, most think he’s closer to 380)….’nuff said.

If he were to go in another direction and draft an offensive lineman, a guard is the likely pick. Since they took Will Beatty in last year’s draft and he seems to be the replacement for Kareem Mackenzie, the Giants will need to solidify the inside with a better guard than Kevin Boothe.

Mike Iupati from Idaho is someone who really impressed me in the Humanitarian bowl against Bowling Green. That is the beauty of Bowl season in College Football; you get to see NFL prospects that you never get to see on a day-to-day basis.

Iupati allowed only five quarterback pressures and 0 sacks as a Senior in 807 snaps. He is the No. 1 OG according to… well… everyone.

Obviously there are other needs that should be addressed come April, but these were fresh on my mind. Jerry Reese has proven himself to be one of the premier drafting GM’s—expect nothing less this year.

The 2010 New York Giants have no reason to expect anything less than to win the NFC East, which was the goal coming into this season. As long as everyone comes back healthy, that goal will not change.

P.S. For those of you who read me, I apologize for my recent absence.

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2010 NFL Mock Draft 1st Round: Suh or Clausen? Version 2.0

Updated 12/31

Here’s the latest update of my 2010 NFL mock draft. The draft order is based on my season record and playoff projections. Tune in next week for another update of my mock draft, and feel free to comment and tell me what you think of my picks and whether you like your favorite team’s pick.

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Does T.O. See Jimmy Clausen As His Next QB? 2010 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

One weekend remains in the chase to the top…..arrr bottom of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Most of the chips are in place and we can get a fantastic handle going into the Senior Bowl, Blue vs Grey Classic and the Combine.

Again I’ll remind you that this could be the most unpredictable draft we’ve seen in years. The collective bargaining agreement that hinges the fate of over 200 would be unrestricted free agents and the possibility of a record underclassmen exoduses in search of what could be the last of the super pay days for rookies make this a once in a generation sensation.

#1. St Louis – Ndamukong Suh DT NEB          

If the Rams don’t pull out a victory over San Fran this week the top pick is all theirs and leads to what I believe will be a prognosticators worst possible nightmare. You could easily make a case for 3-4 different players with as many holes as the Rams have.

 As it stands Suh is the guy right now, St Louis has a history with Nebraska players over the last ten years and it makes sense to take the best player in the country. I wouldn’t rule out a trade, maybe to Cleveland for Brady Quinn and their pick

#2. Detroit – Russell Okung OT OKST

This pick is also up for grabs with the Lions already paying Matt Stafford a boat load of cash.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they trade down and save some money. If they stay put someone to protect their franchise QB will be tempting and Okung is a beast. Gerald McCoy will also be an option but I stand firm in my belief Shaun Rogers is on his way back to town.

 #3 Kansas City – Derrick Morgan DE GT

Morgan is oozing skills; guys that attack the QB like he can don’t come along every year. While I think Eric Berry might be a better fight or Golden Tate might be a huge weapon I don’t think they should pass up making their line almost unstoppable by drafting Morgan

#4. Tampa Bay – Eric Berry S TEN

Raheem I hope that win against New Orleans felt good because it cost you Big Suh.

I like Berry here as the best player on the board and to a few teams the best player in the draft. If rumor holds true that Bill Cowher is their next head coach this guy can fly around and be their Rod Woodson type hard hitting safety.

 #5 Washington – Sam Bradford QB OKA

They have options and Bruce Allen will talk shop with anyone interested in this pick.        I like Bradford just because they are going to make a splash, although they could be stuck with Jason Campbell if they can’t find a taker as he’d be a restricted free agent in an uncapped year. Other options could include C.J. Spiller or Anthony Davis

#6 Cleveland – Gerald McCoy DT OKA

They have a ton of needs but keeping this defense steady with the possible loss of Shaun Rodgers is a must and McCoy fits that bill. Holmgren will turn one of those QB’s into a decent option and they have weapons with Cribbs, Massaquoi, and Harrison. If Mangini stays and has a say don’t count him out of talking Mike into trading down.

#7 Seattle – Anthony Davis OT Rutgers

Seattle is hurt the most by Jake locker staying in school as they are likely to go with Matt Hasselbeck again next year. Matt has to stay healthy and needs some protection to do it. Davis is a rung bellow Okung but is still a heck of a prospect at 6’6 325 and can help a team that has had a few injury issues up front since their Superbowl run.

#8 Buffalo – Jimmy Clausen QB ND

I’ve been saying since he was fired from the Fighting Irish Charlie Weiss is the next coach of the Bills and it make sense that Jimmy Clausen is their man, TO has a few years left and nothing would make him happier to have both those guys helping out a horrific offense.

#9 Oakland – Joe Haden CB FLA

The Raiders win totals since 2004- 5,4,2,4,5, and 5.

I think Al Davis falls in love with his speed flat out. Tim Tebow is an option and no one would put it past the Raiders to make a reach pick but at the end of the day putting someone who can ball hawk across from Nnamdi Asomugha is a must at this pick.

#10 Denver (from Chicago) – Rolando McClain LB ALA

Denver could go a few ways here, their secondary is old but LB outside of D.J. Williams is a bigger question mark for me. McClain provides none stop motor, not overly flashy but well rounded. Joe Haden and Taylor Mays would also be fantastic selections. I would not be surprised if Sam Bradford falls past Washington and Josh Mac jumped at the chance to get his QB of the future.

#11 San Francisco (from Carolina) – Taylor Mays S USC

San Fran’s Offense is on the up swing. Its Defense is on the verge of being very very good. Taylor Mays maybe is the guy to push them over the top, along with Dashon Goldson their stud rookie and an improving pass rush I think next year is the year they catch Arizona. Mays is someone who can spy Kurt Warner and make big plays against the likes of Boldin and Fitzgerald.

#12 Jacksonville – Carlos Dunlap DE FLA

We know they like Tim Tebow but I get the sense everyone believes he will slip into round two. Having seen Dunlap up close they know what their getting here, a QB heat seeking missile that they lack.

#13 Tennessee – Earl Thomas S TEX

Their secondary was exploited all year due to injuries so it makes sense to add depth. Thomas ranks above Mays on some draft boards and the savvy Titans get a big time play maker. I could see Dez Bryant or Golden Tate here to give them someone across from Kenny Britt.

#14 San Francisco – Trent Williams OT OKA

After helping the Defense with Taylor Mays they will look to help Alex Smith have time to develop their spread offense. Williams is well rounded and at 6’5 300+ he should be able to grow into a Pro Bowl tackle.  

#15 Miami – Golden Tate WR ND

Chad Henne is now the man is south beach but he needs help, we all hear Bill Parcels hates first round WR’s and after Teddy Ginn who could blame him? Golden Tate is a Percy Harvin clone as far as what he can do on the football field. Add him to a potent wild cat spread and give Henne a deep threat and that offense becomes a force.

#16 Pittsburgh – Terrence Cody DT ALA

Sixburgh got run all over this year, and Mount Cody is the answer to stopping the bleeding and opening lanes back up for that vaunted pass rush. They do need help in the secondary and if any of the Mays/Thomas/Haden trio fall they would also be tempting.

#17 Atlanta – Dez Bryant WR OKST

Matty Ice had issues this year when teams double covered Roddy White; Michael Jenkins just isn’t the answer. Bryant is a huge talent and getting him at this value shouldn’t be passed up. They do have needs on defense so don’t rule out a Brandon Spikes either.

#18 Houston – C.J. Spiller RB Clemson

I have every faith Steve Slaton will be back to normal next year but Gary Kubiak can’t run that risk with the lack of depth they showed late in the season. Spiller is a do everything type and the one two punch will only open things up further for Andre Johnson.

#19 Baltimore – Bruce Carter LB UNC

Sometimes the right player lands with the right team and it’s a no brainer, Carter is a guy Ray Lewis can finally pass the torch to. A beast that came out during UNC’s bowl game, his stock is soaring.

#20 NY Jets – Jermaine Gresham TE OKA

Gresham can be safety blanket for Mark Sanchez who desperately needs someone who can open up the outsides by exploiting the middle of the field. Gresham should not have any lingering issues from missing his senior season but he will feel it in the pocket book as he could have been a top 10 guy last year.

#21 Seattle (from Denver) – Colt McCoy QB TEX

They can’t simply keep ignoring Matt Hasselbeck’s injury issues. McCoy can sit and learn for most of next year and take over as soon as Hasselbeck shows once again he just cant stay on he field.

#22 NY Giants – Patrick Robinson CB FLST

The G-Men have to address their secondary and Robinson is the best value at this pick, they’d love to get one of those top safeties but a cover guy who can stay with the likes of DeSean Jackson isn’t so bad after all.

#23 Green Bay – Mike Iupati OL Idaho

This would be a great addition for the Packers attempt to get Aaron Rodgers uprite, his experience in cold weather at Idaho and his positive attitude will make him an instant fan favorite in the trenches for Green Bay

#24 Arizona – Cameron Heyward DL OSU

The 6’6 290lb second team all Big Ten selection can help a team that still gets gashed against the run. Arizona has developed a solid pass rush and ball hawk DB’s so finding guys who can be stout against the likes of Gore and Jackson is a must if they wish to return to the Superbowl.

#25 Cincinnati – Jason Pierre-Paul DC SFLA

Cincy lost some luster when Antwan Odom went down mid season. Finding a legit pass rusher is a priority. Brandon LeFell or Marty Gilyard could also be appealing but I doubt you replace Chris Henry with a first rounder and put that kind of pressure on a kid.

#26 Dallas – Sergio Krindle LB TEX

Jerry Jones has seen this beast grow up in his back yard and addressing an ageing LB core led by Keith Brooking is a necessity this offseason.

#27 New England – Ricky Sapp DE Clemson

Their line struggled without Richard Seymour, with all the picks Bill Belichick has horded this upcoming draft they can retool an aging dynasty. As always the Mad Genius will be moving up and down thru out the rounds.

#28 Minnasota – Brandon Spikes LB FLA

Spikes will be a good fit in case E.J. Henderson has issues recovering from his horrific leg injury late this season. A leader Minnesota is lacking without their play caller on the field. Getting younger on the defensive line is also something the Vikings will be looking to do, would Mount Cody be a perfect fit if he drops?

#29 Philadelphia – Navorro Bowman LB PNST

Nothing flashy this year, look for an emphasis of the D side as their offense is clicking. Bowman would be a fantastic leader and playmaker able to blitz and chase with that scary secondary behind him.

#30 San Diego – Brandon LeFell WR LSU

Phillip Rivers loves tall WR’s and LeFell is a monster at 6’3 210. D-line is an issue but health really effected them this year and I don’t think it’s going to be a problem next year.

#31 New Orleans – Jahvid Best RB CAL

Reggie Bush may cost them too much to keep around next year, so Best can give the offense a playmaker in Reggie’s mold.

#32 Indianapolis – Dan Williams DT TEN

The Colts close out round one with help on the D-line that has battled injuries closing out the last few years. I’d like to see them draft Tim Tebow and turn him into a TE that runs the Wild Cat, what do you think?

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2009 New York Giants Draft Recap

The 2009 New York Giants were a big dissapointment to all Giants fans around the world. The team started off going 5-0 but have gone down to a record of 8-7 and have missed the playoffs for the first time in a while.

The same dissapointment happend with the 2009 Giants Draft Class. Jerry Reese had been amazing at drafting for the Giants until this year. In fact, Reese picked up Ahmad Bradshaw in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

This draft class had been hyped during the preseason but hardly produced what was once thought. Other than a few the 2009 New Yor Giants did not play well or will hardly even given a chance. Let’s hope next year’s draft class will produce and play well and that this year’s class will produce next season.

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Detroit Lions 2010 NFL Draft and Free Agency Picks

Matt Millen left both the offensive and defensive lines decimated in the 10 years he was with the Lions.  Granted, his first draft teased the Lion fan base in 2001 when two offensive line players were taken, left tackle Jeff Backus and center Dominic Raiola, in the first two rounds.  With the second pick in round two, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was taken.

Millen’s first draft gave Lions fans hope that finally, finally, there was a GM within the Lions front office that was going to build the Lions right and start in the trenches.

Little did we know just how much of a farce that Millen was and just how much of a farce he made the Detroit Lions.  His failure in subsequent drafts and free agency exposed his lack of judgment in evaluating talent.  He went after players that didn’t quite fit team needs.

I cannot stress enough of how critical the 2010 draft is going to be for Martin Mayhew and the Detroit Lions.

So I give you my first attempt at how the Lions should draft in 2010 and some possible free agents to go after with the caveat that things can change with trades.  I hope that I just might surprise some people with my picks.

Round One – Defensive Tackle

Option A:  Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Could be the “Barry Sanders” pick for the Lions defense.  Opposing teams will have to account for Suh at all times as he could be a game changer for the Lions.

Option B:  Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma

If the Rams don’t draft Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame to satisfy their quarterback need, they will take Suh.  McCoy won’t be the monster on defense that Suh will be but he would be a huge upgrade to what the Lions have now.

Round Two – Cornerback

Option A:  Ras-I Dowling, Virginia

Not many wide receivers are going to run away from Dowling on deep patterns with his 4.50 speed.  He’s comparable to Pittsburgh Steelers corner Ike Taylor in that both have size, athleticism and competitive attitude both coaches and fans love to see.  Would be a great complement to safety Louis Delmas.

Option B:  Crezdon Butler, Clemson

While not as physical as Dowling is, Butler is a burner with 4.39 speed.  He is considered one of the best corners in the nation with 43 tackles, four picks and five passes broken up.

Round Three – Defensive End

Option A:  Corey Wootton, Northwestern

Tall (6-7), fast (4.83 40 time) and big (280 lbs), Wootton should be able to take on most tackles to get to the QB.  And if he can’t he can get those long arms up to bat down passes.  He can disappear during stretches which is why he can be had in the third round.

Option B:  Austen Lane, Murray State

I got no idea where Murray State and I don’t care.  Lane is 6-6 and 258 pounds and can run a 4.68 40.  As with Wootton, he can get around those tackles and get the arms up to bat down passes.  He had 14 sacks for Division 1-AA Murray State.

Round Four – Offensive Guard

Option A:  Sergio Render, Virginia Tech

This guy can bench press more than 425 lbs.  At 6-4 and 324 pounds, he can open a lot of large holes in the defensive line as well as stifle any pass rush up the middle.  Stick him next to Backus and maybe Backus won’t look so bad.

Option A:  Rodney Hudson, Florida State

He’s been Florida State’s top lineman for the past two years and was voted to the All-ACC First Team.  If he declares, he would be an upgrade in talent to the Lions guards.

Round Five – Cornerback

Option A:  Patrick Robinson, Florida State

In 2008, Robinson started only five games but picked off six passes and broke up another six.  He’s available in round five because of his involvement in Florida State’s 2007 cheating scandal.  But he’s kept his nose clean since then and might be a good risk to take here.  He’s listed at 5-11 and 190 lbs. with 4.43 speed so he should be able to handle most slot receivers.

Option B:  Kurt Coleman, Ohio State

Being from Michigan, it’s really hard to say nice things about Ohio State players.  But they did give us Chris Speilman, perhaps one of the best linebackers the Lions ever had. 

Coleman plays safety at Ohio State but with his size and speed (5-11, 4.43), he’ll be better suited to play corner in the NFL.

Round Six – Offensive Guard

Option A:  Dan Doering, Iowa

Iowa always has produced talented NFL lineman and Doering should be no exception.  6-6 and 302 lbs, he’ll be a great run blocker as well being decent in pass protection.

Option B:  Jacques McClendon, Tennessee

This guys sounds more like a hockey player.  But at a massive 6-3 and 324 lbs, I doubt that he’d be graceful on skates.  In 2008, he was part of a unit that gave up only 4 sacks all year.  However, like all Tennessee players in 2009, McClendon’s value has dropped.  Could be a steal here in round 6 though.

Round Seven – Center

Option A:  Kenny Alfred, Washington State

Dominic Raiola, the Lions current center, has done yeoman service for the Lions.  However, he is undersized and can be overpowered at times.  Alfred is 6-2 and 302 lbs won’t be pushed around as easily.  Alfred can also play guard if needed so the round 6 pick could be used to address other needs.

Option B:  Josh McNeil, Tennessee

Despite playing on one of the worst offenses ever produced at Tennessee, McNeil is considered one of the best centers available in the draft.  At 6-4 and 289 lbs, McNeil won’t be as easily overpowered as Raiola can be.

As you can see, my picks focus on the Lions biggest needs.  The defensive line needs the most help and the offensive line can get by with current tackles Backus and Gosder if they can upgrade the guard positions.

Free Agency

Wide Receiver – Seattle Seahawk Nate Burleson will be an unrestricted free agent this year.  He was Seattle’s consolation prize when the Vikings snapped up offensive guard Steve Hutchinson.  He has good hands and also has excellent kick return capabilities. 

Could be the complement to Calvin Johnson the Lions have been looking for the past three years.  Antonio Bryant from Tampa and Greg Lewis from Minnesota will also be free agents.

Backup Quarterback – Daunte Culpepper has got to go.  Kyle Boller of the Rams has proved that he can play in this league.  While not performing consistently for the Rams, he can be a capable backup.  Charlie Batch is also available but I doubt he would want anything to do with the Lions. 

Chris Redman could also be avaialble but I suspect Atlanta will keep him to back up Matt Ryan.  This may be moot if the Lions decide that Drew Stanton is the backup.  If so, the Lions will seek a lesser talented QB for third string.

Running Back – Chester Taylor from the Vikings would be the most intriguing.  He was the man until Adrian Peterson came along.  Paired with Kevin Smith and Aaron Brown, the Lions running game would become a serious upgrade.  Also available are Chris Brown from the Texans and Willie Parker of the Steelers.

Granted, with my draft picks and free agent suggestions, there would be a serious need to spend some cash.  I’ve never claimed to be wise in the ways of contracts and salary caps. 

I do feel strongly that this direction, or one similar to it, will give the Lions the best chance to win.

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Did Scott Pioli Cripple the Kansas City Chiefs by Drafting Tyson Jackson?

If you are a Kansas City Chiefs fans, go back in time with me for a moment to about eight months ago.

Do you remember how you felt?  Well, I do…and it was very optimistic, almost giddy as we headed into the NFL draft.

The Chiefs were coming off of their worst season of all-time; things couldn’t get any worse. The offseason couldn’t come soon enough. 

The Chiefs were finally rid of GM Carl Peterson. Scott Pioli became his replacement. The Scott Pioli who had made a career out of helping orchestrate the personnel decisions responsible for the Patriots dynasty. 

The Chiefs now had the man in the front office who would put the pieces back together, starting with Matt Cassel.

Pioli brought in the “franchise” quarterback and was able to keep the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft. 

Going into the draft, the Chiefs had made swift yet necessary changes to the faces of the organization. The draft would be the proving ground for Pioli to show the fans why he (cue Denny Green’s voice) is who we thought he was.

This past April, Pioli and the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson, defensive end out of LSU with the third overall pick.

If you remember correctly, many draft specialists had suggested that this pick was quite a stretch for Jackson with the third overall pick. Many of these specialists had Jackson much lower on the board, projected as a later first-round pick, and some even had him going in the second round.

However, the draft guru Pioli had his man.  The organization had Jackson at the top of their board, so they thought, “why go looking for hamburger when you have prime rib staring at you in the face?”

The Chiefs had a glaring need on the defensive line: They needed a pass-rush specialist who could create havoc in the backfield and put much needed pressure on the opposing quarterback. Tyson Jackson was drafted to do just that; after all, Pioli’s first pick with the Patriots was a defensive end by the name of Richard Seymour.

Now that we are basically at the end of the season, let’s see how Pioli’s pick and the largest investment in Kansas City’s history has paid off. Let’s see how this $57 million pass-rush specialist has fared so far for the Chiefs…

Jackson has played in every game in 2009. His stats: 34 total tackles with zero sacks. 

Obviously, it is a little too early to label Jackson a bust; however, I haven’t heard his name brought up more than a handful of times all year long. That’s just not a good sign coming from a man selected above every college football player in the nation except for two others.

The bottom line is that Jackson just hasn’t been the force that should be expected out of a man who signed the biggest contract in Chiefs’ history: five years worth $57 million, with $31 million guaranteed.

So let’s compare him to the other first round picks. Do you remember the name Aaron Curry?

Curry was the pick that most “draft specialists” projected the Chiefs to select with the No. 3 pick, including Todd McShay. Curry was labeled as the “surest thing in the draft.” He was a linebacker that could have been used on the inside against the run or the outside for pass rushing. 

Curry was drafted one spot behind the Chiefs, at No. 4 to Seattle. To date, he has produced 61 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and two sacks at the outside linebacker position. He has also been injured and missed one game this year—not too bad for the first-year player out of Wake Forest.

Maybe Pioli didn’t see as big of a need at linebacker than at defensive end: Ok, so what about the other defensive ends taken in the first round?

Aaron Maybin was the next end selected, with the 11th pick to the Bills. So far, Maybin hasn’t been able to crack the starting lineup and only has 16 total tackles and one forced fumble this season. Not acceptable.

The next defensive end taken was Brian Orakpo to the Redskins at No. 13. In case you haven’t heard, he is the lone Redskin to be selected to the Pro Bowl. Orakpo has racked up 48 tackles, one forced fumble, and 11 sacks after 15 games.

Why didn’t Pioli see this guy’s talent level during the combine, endless interviews, game film, etc.?

So, as you can see, Tyson Jackson was not the best defensive end taken in the draft.

As I mentioned before, only time will tell if he is a bust or not, but so far Jackson just isn’t earning his $57 million and Pioli didn’t do the Chiefs any favors with his drafting skills.

 

 

If you are a Chiefs fan check out ChiefsHouse.com or if you are interested in starting your own sports blog check out SportsPageNetwork.com!  Thanks for reading!!

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Could 2010 Be the Best Defensive Tackle Draft of All Time?

Good news for teams in need of a defensive tackle in this upcoming draft: they are stacked.

Very rarely is an NFL Draft dominated by defensive tackles. In fact, there have never been more than 10 defensive tackles taken in the first two rounds of an NFL draft. Depending on which juniors declare eligible this year, we could see up to 12 off the boards.

When looking at the best classes of all time, I looked at the amount of defensive tackles taken, and also the amount of quality players to come out of them. Some of the best classes include…

 

1970

Three first-round picks, seven second-round picks. Some notable players were
Mike Read and Jerry Sherk. 1970 had the most quantity, but the quality wasn’t there. They didn’t have the big names that other draft classes had.

 

1975

Four first-round picks, three second-round picks. Some notable players were Hall-of-Famer Randy White, Gary Johnson, Louie Kelcher, and Doug English.

There were some real quality players and a Hall-of-Famer in this class. Johnson and Kelcher were both three-time All-Pro players, and English made four Pro Bowls.

 

2001

Six first-round picks, two second-round picks. Some notable players were Richard Seymour, Marcus Stroud, Casey Hampton, Kris Jenkins, and Shaun Rogers.

2001 not only had the most defensive tackles picked in the first round in NFL history, it also was stacked with quality players, most of which are continuing to have NFL success to this day.

2010 could be next on this list, and even top them all. The number of top defensive tackles is there, and the quality of those players has never been seen before in a draft in NFL history before.

I’ll start out with the name that everyone knows, but nobody can pronounce, Ndamukong Suh .

Suh has taken over college football this year. There aren’t many defensive tackles that have ever had the type of impact that Suh has had.

Suh became the first defensive player since Charles Woodson in 1997 to even be invited to the Heisman ceremony, and Woodson also played offense and special teams that year, too.

Suh’s season this year was as dominating as a defensive player has ever had. He is the clear-cut No. 1 player on almost everyone’s big board, and will likely be either the first or second player selected in the upcoming draft.

The next defensive tackle who is eying a top 5 draft selection is Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy . He has had an amazing year, overshadowed by Oklahoma’s disappointing season and Suh’s dominating season.

McCoy has constantly drawn double teams and still put up a productive season. At 6’4 and 300 pounds, he’s sure to be a top 5-10 pick to a team that runs a 4-3 defense.

I’ll continue with the primarily 4-3 defensive tackles with Jared Odrick of Penn State. Odrick had another solid season, being named to the second-team All-American list. He’s likely another first-round pick in April, and a good combine showing could put him in the top 20.

The best of the 3-4 nose tackles is Terrence “Mount” Cody of Alabama. At 6’5, 355, Cody fits his nickname well. For a guy his size, he moves very well.

He was a key factor in Alabama’s defense, and really freed things up for linebacker Rolando McClain. Cody also blocked two fourth-quarter kicks in a 12-10 win against Tennessee to assure Alabama’s spot in the National Championship game.

Cody was the third defensive tackle on the 1st team All-American team this year. Cody will most likely be an early-mid first-round pick for a team running a 3-4 defense.

Another nose tackle moving up the boards is Tennessee’s Dan Williams . Now Williams can also play in a 4-3 defense, but he is getting a lot of attention from teams who run a 3-4 defense, particularly the Miami Dolphins.

Williams is 6’3, 330, and is likely to be the anchor of a defense for a long time in the NFL.

There are two quality underclassmen this season who may or may not come out in the draft. But if they do, they will likely be first-round picks. The first is UCLA’s Brian Price .

Price has been talking as if he was going to enter this year’s draft, and he is shooting up the draft boards fast. Price was voted by Pac-10 coaches as the Pac-10 defensive player of the year.

He led all defensive linemen with 22.5 TFL this season. He’s best suited for a 4-3 defense, has climbed into the late first round, and is continuing to move up.

The second is Marvin Austin of North Carolina. Austin is ranked right around the same area as Brian Price and is also moving up. We don’t know if he is going to declare for the draft, but if he does, he’s likely a first-round pick.

Austin had two of his best games in his last two games, getting three sacks in them. Austin is in a good position because he can play in both a 4-3 and 3-4 very effectively.

The biggest question mark in the group is Syracuse’s Arthur Jones . Jones was set to have another great year in his senior season until he tore his lateral meniscus. He had surgery on it and was forced to miss the remainder of the year.

How Jones comes back from that injury will be very telling to where he will be selected in the upcoming draft. He could be a first-round pick or he could fall into the third or fourth round.

He’ll be a 4-3 defensive tackle in the pros, and a lot of people are saying he is a good fit to the Colts late in the first round.

The most intriguing is Allen Bailey of Miami. Bailey is a freakish athlete for his size. He has even played some linebacker this year.

I am almost positive that he’ll be going back to school for his senior season, but if he doesn’t, expect a team to jump on him earlier than expected because of his workouts.

Now there are the prospects who could be second round picks in the draft. The first is Tyson Alualu of Cal. Alualu is a very strong player, who despite only being 295 pounds, could play in a 3-4 defense in the pros with a little added weight.

It’ll be interesting what he weighs in at the combine, that could be telling of where he’ll be selected. His on-field production is there, earning a first-team All-Pac 10 selection and recording 7.5 sacks this season.

One of my personal favorite prospects at defensive tackle is D’Anthony Smith . Smith may get overlooked by some scouts because he plays for Louisiana Tech University. Smith is very athletic and very talented. He is also very raw, which will drop him in the draft.

He is a senior, but is still only 21 years old. His production wasn’t the greatest, but it wasn’t bad either. His numbers don’t look as good as his Junior season when he broke out onto the scene, but he was fighting double teams all year long this year.

Smith will participate in the Senior Bowl, and I think he’ll move up the boards into the mid-second round with a good showing there.

Lamarr Houston out of Texas is another interesting prospect. Most of his production came against lesser competition (All six of his sacks were either non-conference games or games against Big 12 bottom feeders Baylor and Kansas).

Houston is the anchor of a much improved Texas defense this year, and is a bit of a surprise this year.

What he does in the National Championship game will tell where he goes in the upcoming draft, but a good showing could possibly sneak him into the end of the second round.

2010 may be the last year before a rookie salary cap is implemented into the NFL. So this draft may be one of the bet drafts of all-time with all of the players declaring eligible.

Defensive tackles highlight this impressive draft class both in quality and quantity.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

2010 NFL Mock Draft, Denver Broncos Edition: Dez Bryant to Denver Possible?

With every week the NFL draft picture becomes clearer, and unfortunately for the Denver Broncos, it seems more and more likely that it will be their next significant event, unless they get a win and some serious help this weekend.

Either way, the Broncos have lost seven of their last nine games, and in those seven losses they have exposed various areas of weakness.  So many weaknesses, in fact, that it appears they will likely trade down in the draft to stockpile picks and take advantage of a very deep draft.

If they do not trade down, I think the Broncos should look to the best player available with their first round pick.  After the Chicago Bears’ exciting overtime win against Minnesota on Monday night, that first round pick moved back a couple of spots, but is still in the top 10.

The Broncos are almost guaranteed a top 15 draft pick, so they will wind up with a very solid player no matter what, but who could they target if they do not trade down?

With their first pick, I really think the Broncos could be hard pressed to pass on Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant . 

Do not be confused, the Broncos are still in dire need of interior offensive linemen, but Bryant is too good to pass up on at this point in the draft, and he also fits a huge hole in Denver’s offense.

Yes, you read that right.

Despite the fact that the Broncos have Brandon Marshall, one of five players in NFL history to record back to back to back 100 catch seasons, they are still in need of a playmaking number two wide receiver.  Some of you might be asking, “What about Eddie Royal?” 

Eddie Royal is a fine player and he has all of the tools to succeed in Josh McDaniels’ offense, but not as a number two guy.  Kyle Orton has clearly not gotten him the ball enough on the outside, and his services would be better used in the slot much like Wes Welker over in New England.

Enter Dez Bryant, a game-changing playmaker on the outside who would provide Kyle Orton with a second go-to guy in the passing game.  Not to mention he would make the jobs of Royal and Marshall worlds easier.  He is also a huge asset in the return game, an area the Broncos have struggled save for one game this season.

If the Broncos stick with their first round pick, I truly believe they will look to the best offensive player available, and in this case, Bryant fits the bill.  He has great size as a receiver, game-changing speed, and he would be a great fit on the opposite side of the field from Marshall.

I know many Broncos fans, including myself, are really high on Idaho guard Mike Iupati.  He would be an excellent fit in Denver’s offense at left guard, an area of Denver’s front line that has been absolutely dreadful this season.

If the Broncos don’t trade down and take him in the first round, they will probably not be able to get him, which is why I have devised an alternate option for their second round pick.

It is clear that the Broncos need help at guard, and though I think Seth Olsen could be the answer at either guard or center, there is a player available in this draft that could also be an excellent fit for the Broncos on the interior line.

UMass offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse is a very underrated prospect who could possibly fall to the Broncos in the second round, and if he does, they would be wise to jump at the opportunity to draft him.

Ducasse is still developing in terms of his overall football awareness, and his level of competition is going to seriously increase when he makes the jump to the NFL, but this is a guy who has great natural talent and at 6’5″ 330 pounds, he is an ideal fit to play guard in Denver’s system.

The Broncos have struggled to find consistency in their running game or pass protection all season long, and a lot of that can be attributed to their lack of size on the interior line.  Ducasse brings a versatile weapon who is athletic enough to play tackle if someone drafted him to do so.

He would give the Broncos a very good, young left side of their offensive line, and though he is a small downgrade from the coveted Iupati, it is not much in terms of a talent drop off and this kid has great potential to succeed at the next level.  If he falls to Denver in round two, expect him to be the pick.

If the Broncos go for two straight offensive players in rounds one and two, which I believe they should (unless some guy named Suh falls into their laps), they would be wise to address the defensive side of the ball with the third pick.

In the third round, I like the Broncos to upgrade their depth and youth at the cornerback position by drafting Vanderbilt star Myron Lewis .  I really like Lewis and had him going to Denver in my previous mock draft in the third round, and this pick has not changed.

One of the reasons I like Lewis is because of his 6’2″ 205 pound frame.  He has excellent size for the cornerback position and has very long arms.  His speed is not elite, but his size helps him make up for it.  He is an excellent open-field tackler and would give the Broncos another weapon on special teams right away.

With their fourth pick, I think the Broncos should again look to the best player available.  In that case, I think they should go for Ole Miss playmaker Dexter McCluster. 

McCluster is one of the fastest players available in this draft, and the Broncos really lack a big time speedster at the running back position.  Though his size may be in question, the Broncos should have no reservations about a smaller running back given the amount of times they have been burned by San Diego’s Darren Sproles, who is an excellent complimentary back, receiver, and return man.

McCluster has that big play potential for the next level.  He is small in stature but he is very competitive and has blazing open field speed.  He is a versatile player who would give the Broncos a home run threat offensively.

The Broncos do not have a fifth round pick, one of the reasons they would be wise to trade down.  Waiting two rounds for a pick late is not all that bad, and I think they could look again to the best player available in the sixth round.

No change here, I still think the Broncos should look to Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki in round.  Moeaki is a very good athlete with great ball skills and reliable hands though his biggest strength is his ability to block.  He has been injury prone in his time at Iowa, but he is a great player when healthy and could be excellent value if he falls this far.  He would be a nice replacement for Tony Scheffler if he leaves for free agency.

In the seventh, I look for the Broncos to go for more depth, and they clearly need depth along the offensive line.  I think a good value pick here would be New Mexico offensive lineman Erik Cook . 

Cook has been a very versatile performer for the Lobos, playing all of tackle, guard, and center in his time there.  He would be a nice late addition for the Broncos and he has a good NFL blood line as his brother Ryan plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

Here is a recap of my Broncos mock draft:

1.  Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

2.  Vladimir Ducasse, G/T, UMass

3.  Myron Lewis, CB, Vanderbilt

4.  Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Ole Miss

5.  Anthony Moeaki, TE, Iowa

6.  Erik Cook, G/C, New Mexico

This draft may be heavy on the offensive players, and many will argue that the Broncos need young defensive linemen.  I will quickly point to the fact that their defensive line has been one of their biggest strengths this season, though they have struggled against the run at times.

The Broncos have two players waiting in the wings that they have high hopes for in Everette Pedescleaux and Chris Baker, two undrafted players who have been developing all season under veterans Vonnie Holliday, Kenny Peterson, and Ronald Fields.

Denver may also have a need at middle linebacker, but they will probably not be picking high enough anymore to nab Rolando McClain, and their duo of Andra Davis and D.J. Williams will be just fine for another season.  Wesley Woodyard is really coming on as well as a second year pro.

Another area the Broncos might like to address is their pass rush.  Though Elvis Dumervil has been absolutely outstanding in 2009, the Broncos haven’t generated a great pass rush outside of him.  They could use a guy like McClain, Michigan’s Brandon Graham, Ole Miss’ Greg Hardy, or TCU’s Jerry Hughes early on in the draft as well, and all are options.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Draft Review

Heading in week 17 of the NFL season it seems unlikely that the Pittsburgh Steelers will be making the playoffs, so we’ll go ahead and review the job that Kevin Colbert and the Steelers did with their 2009 draft class and undrafted free agents.

Note: All players mentioned in this slideshow were listed as rookies on Steelers.com and stats were found on Yahoo.com.

Begin Slideshow

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