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Top 5 Jet Draft Disappointment’s Of the Decade
Published: December 28, 2009
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So with 2009 winding down and the team about to enter a new decade with a new stadium and high expectations. I thought it was the perfect time to look back over the past 10 years. As I like my college football, and my draft discussion, I thought the biggest ‘busts’ or maybe more accurately ‘biggest disappointments’ were a great place to start. Several factors will be considered when going over these, and if their are any that you disagree with, or a glaring admission I have made then just post it up in the comments.
2010 NFL Mock Draft 1st Round: Suh or Clausen?
Published: December 24, 2009
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Updated 12/24
Here’s the latest update of my 2010 NFL mock draft. I decided to release it a little early with Christmas approaching. The draft order is based on my season record and playoff projections. I apologize for any missing pictures. Some of the prospects have no search results. 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.
2010 NFL Mock Draft First Round: Tebow Reuniting With Former Teammate?
Published: December 24, 2009
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With so many teams out of the playoff race already, a mock draft may be the perfect remedy for those ailing fans. The Rams, if the season ended today, would be on the clock to pick first overall, and it’s really no secret which direction they are looking with that selection.
1. St. Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The Rams need a player to build their franchise around, and Suh is that kind of player. He is a game-changing force at defensive tackle and he demands a double-team on every play. He will make former first round picks Chris Long and Adam Carriker much more effective on their young, talented defensive line.
2. Detroit Lions: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
The Lions will be hard pressed to pass on Gerald McCoy or Russell Okung in this spot, but Berry is too talented to pass on. He is arguably the top prospect available in this draft, and he has drawn comparisons to Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Bucs would likely be fine with either McCoy or Suh here, as there is little talent drop off between the two. McCoy is an elite defensive line prospect who will be a cornerstone for the Bucs to build around.
4. Cleveland Browns: Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech
A lot of people think the Browns need a quarterback, but I am not one of them. I think Brady Quinn played well enough in the last couple of games before going down to have earned at the very least the top QB spot heading into training camp in 2010.
Enter Derrick Morgan, arguably the top pass-rushing prospect available in the draft. He would give the Browns a great pass rush option off the edge and he is also stout against the run.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Kansas City’s pass protection is absolutely dreadful and Okung would be a huge step in the right direction to fixing that area of their team. Matt Cassel, the team’s franchise player, needs to remain upright to do much of anything for the Chiefs.
6. Washington Redskins: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The Redskins could look to one of many places with this pick, but taking a local kid in Campbell would be a strong step in the right direction for the organization. Campbell is a very athletic tackle who would be able to step in to protect the blind side of whatever quarterback will be under center in Washington.
7. Buffalo Bills: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
The Bills need a reason for fans to come to games as well as a franchise quarterback, and Mallet gives them both. He is an exciting prospect with a strong arm and phenomenal size. Some think he will go back to school, but with Jake Locker’s decision to return and the possibility of a rookie money cap in 2011, Mallett may be inclined to take it while it’s hot.
8. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
The Seahawks need to move on from Matt Hasselbeck and take their quarterback of the future with this pick. Jimmy Clausen is getting mixed reviews, but he has all of the tools to succeed in the NFL and would be a solid pick for the Seahawks.
9. Denver Broncos (from Chicago): Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
It seems like McClain to Denver is the closest thing to unanimous as you will find on mock drafts, and for good reason. McClain has the makings of an elite linebacker prospect who will lead a defense for the next decade plus. He has outstanding size and would be a great heir to Andra Davis to play alongside D.J. Williams in the middle of Denver’s 3-4 defensive scheme.
10. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
The Raiders may finally get one right in 2010 if they go for Anthony Davis. They need to upgrade their offensive line in a bad way, as they rank near the bottom in most offensive categories. Davis is an intriguing prospect with great size and athleticism, and the Raiders may fall in love with his measurables.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Dre’ Bly and Nate Clements are not getting any younger, and the 49ers could look to simply the best player available here. In both cases, I think they need to look at Joe Haden, who has no business falling outside of the top 10. He is the closest thing to a shutdown corner in this draft.
12. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina): Navorro Bowman, DE/OLB, Penn State
With their next pick, I think the 49ers should look to either an offensive lineman or a top flight pass rusher, and Bowman fits the latter. He brings a great force off the edge and would give the Niners a complete group of young linebackers.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Mike Sims-Walker cannot do it all on his own, and while Tim Tebow has been the popular pick for this team, there is simply no way the Jags take him this high. Dez Bryant is too good to pass on here. Plain and simple.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Despite the fact that Ben Roethlisberger is behind his offensive line 100 percent, I think they could stand to be upgraded. Trent Williams is a very solid prospect who could easily go in the top 10. Pittsburgh would likely welcome him with open arms.
15. Houston Texans: Taylor Mays, S, USC
This is a great fit, and I probably won’t change this pick unless I hear definitively otherwise. Mays is a freakish athlete, similar to 2009 first round pick Brian Cushing, and he fills a huge void at safety for the Texans. Great pick.
16. New York Jets: Carlos Dunlap, DL, Florida
Dunlap is good value here, and the Jets need help along the defensive front. Terrence Cody is another possibility here, but Dunlap is a better prospect.
17. Atlanta Falcons: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
John Abraham is not getting younger and the Jammal Anderson project was a complete failure. Jason Pierre-Paul is a stellar pass rushing prospect who is really rising up draft boards fast. He would be a nice addition to the Atlanta defense.
18. Tennessee Titans: Dan Williams, DL, Tennessee
The loss of Albert Haynesworth has clearly hurt the Titans’ defense, and they could use some more size along their defensive front. Dan Williams is a good-sized prospect with excellent athleticism.
19. Miami Dolphins: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
There is a chance Miami could go for a nose tackle here, but I like them to take a defensive signal caller for the future to pair with Channing Crowder in the middle of their 3-4 scheme. Spikes is a solid prospect whose stock has taken a bit of a fall lately.
20. New York Giants: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
Kindle is good value here for the Giants. He is a great pass rusher who could line up at end or outside linebacker with his elite athleticism. He is having one of the most productive seasons of his career as a senior, and will be a solid NFL player wherever he goes.
21. Baltimore Ravens: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
I’m not usually a fan of smaller wide receivers going in round one, but Tate reminds me a lot of Reggie Wayne of the Indianapolis Colts. He plays a lot bigger than his size and is a beast after the catch.
22. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
After fixing their atrocious quarterback situation, the Seahawks get a huge steal here with Clemson star C.J. Spiller, who reminds me a lot of Chris Johnson. He has absolutely blazing speed and is a dangerous threat in the return game.
23. Green Bay Packers: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
The Packers’ pass protection is awful and Aaron Rodgers is not going to last long if he is consistently on his back. Bulaga is no lock to come out early, but if he does he is good value here for the Packers.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Big shocker here, but hear me out on this one. Kurt Warner may play one more year at the very most, so Bradford could potentially sit for a year. I think it’s safe to say that Matt Leinart is not a good fit for the Cardinals’ system, so enter Sam Bradford. Bradford sits for a year behind Warner, if he comes back, and becomes the starter in 2011.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
The Bengals have long needed a top flight pass-receiving tight end and Gresham falling into their laps would be a huge stroke of luck. He gives Carson Palmer a huge target to stretch the field, and is a big-time mismatch for linebackers.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Earl Thomas, S, Texas
This pick is a major steal. Earl Thomas is a top 15 prospect, but I have him falling due to other teams’ needs. Dallas would jump at the opportunity to pick him up and fortify their defensive backfield.
27. New England Patriots: Jahvid Best, RB, Cal
The Patriots really are just going with the best player available here, since no player available really fits a glaring area of need. Though, Best does fit the need of a speed back, which New England lacks. In fact, they really lack a lot at the running back position, so this would be a nice selection for the Patriots.
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Price, DL, UCLA
The Eagles are always looking to beef up their front seven, and Price would be an excellent fit there. He is rising quickly up draft boards, and is having a great junior season.
29. Minnesota Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
I’m ready for this pick and the Sam Bradford pick to be the main focus of attention of this mock, but this really is a good fit. Tebow reunites with former teammate Percy Harvin and becomes an exciting prospect for Minnesota, who could also use help at linebacker. I think Tebow is a good fit for this team.
30. San Diego Chargers: Terrence Cody, DL, Alabama
Jamal Williams’ time is nearly up, and “Mount” Cody would be a nice replacement for him. He is a space-eater who has been questioned in the past for his work ethic. He is an elite level run stopper, and he is much more athletic than his size would indicate.
31. New Orleans Saints: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
The Saints would be wise to upgrade their front seven with this pick, and Weatherspoon is a solid prospect for an outside linebacker in the 4-3. He has been on NFL radars going on three years now.
32. Indianapolis Colts: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
The Colts’ offensive line is one of the best in the league, but their only weaknesses lie in the guard positions. Iupati plays with a chip on his shoulder and would be an excellent addition to this Colts’ offense.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Why the St. Louis Rams Should Draft Ndamukong Suh
Published: December 23, 2009
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Not that it should be an issue, but the St. Louis Rams shouldn’t go do something foolish, like winning one of their next two games.
The Buccaneers just did St. Louis a huge favor by beating the Seattle Seahawks, a team that twice couldn’t trick Steve Spagnuolo and the Rams into beating them.
St. Louis now has a clear path to the first overall pick in the 2010 draft and it better make the best of it.
The Rams have about 75 holes to fill on a 53-man roster. Outside of Steven Jackson, there’s just not a whole lot going right in the Gateway to the West.
So what should the Rams do?
Jimmy Clausen? Colt McCoy? Tim Tebow?
No. No. Obviously not—unless you just want to completely screw with the Jaguars.
Take Ndamukong Suh.
Quarterbacks are sexy picks, hanging out in biker bars, sporting tattoos and playing a mean bass. Linemen are the picks you can take home to show mom.
Speed is the biggest difference between college and pro football. New QBs struggle to adapt to smaller windows through which they can throw the ball and have difficulty making quick passes under pressure.
I don’t see the wheels on offensive linemen giving Suh major problems.
Linemen are more immune to the NFL’s speed factor, and a guy like Suh is certainly big enough to compete at a high level in the pros.
Quarterbacks take time, and if you misfire on one, you can set your franchise back half a decade. See Russell, Jamarcus; Carr, David; Couch, Tim; cetera, et.
Usually, fans don’t like linemen. Usually, fans don’t know who linemen are and can’t reel off fancy stats and figures about them, which is why they boo when their teams “waste” high, first-round picks on the Mario Williamses instead of the Reggie Bushes. Usually, linemen aren’t sexy. Usually, linemen don’t sell. Usually, chicks dig the deep ball.
That’s what makes Suh so special.
Fans like Suh. Fans know who Suh is and can tell you about how he owned the Texas Longhorns in the Big XII title game. They can tell you he led his team in tackles, which is why fans will cheer when Roger Goodell calls his name instead of Mark Ingram’s. Suh is the football version of Olivia Wilde walking out of a sauna in a thin white towel. Suh sells. Chicks dig the run stopper?
With Suh, you have the rarest of opportunities: a high profile defensive lineman.
How many defensive tackles have been named AP Player of the Year? Oh right, none. In fact, not a single defensive player of any kind has been awarded that title.
This should be one of the easiest picks of all-time.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Denver Broncos 2010 NFL Mock Draft Pt. Five: Denver Looking Offense Early?
Published: December 22, 2009
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After the Broncos’ loss to the Oakland Raiders, several new weakness have really emerged, namely on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines.
Thanks to former Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears, Denver is currently armed with the eighth overall pick, one that could be very attractive to teams who want to move up for an elite level prospect in a very top-heavy draft.
One candidate who could possibly be willing to trade up is the Baltimore Ravens. Trading up would be completely out of character for the Ravens, as they usually keep their picks or trade down for more. They consistently build their team through the draft, and often end up taking the best player available when they pick.
This season, their main target in the draft needs to be a premiere wide receiver, and they will not be able to pick one up if they stick with the 21st overall pick. That is why they should trade up with the Denver Broncos and acquire wide receiver Dez Bryant, who could be the top receiver prospect the Ravens crave.
Here is my projected trade:
Ravens Receive
-Broncos’ first round pick (8th overall)
Broncos Receive
-Ravens’ first round pick (21st overall)
-Ravens’ second round pick (54th overall)
-Ravens’ fifth round pick (150th overall)
It may seem a bit steep for a top ten pick, but the Ravens really seem to be on the verge of being a Super Bowl contender, and an elite wide receiver prospect could vault them to where they need to be.
Meanwhile, the Broncos’ draft slate appears to be much more filled out than it previously was, looking as such:
1. 21st overall (from Baltimore)
2. 54th overall (from Baltimore)
3. 55th overall
4. 87th overall
5. 134th overall
6. 150th overall (from Baltimore)
7. 192nd overall
8. 242nd overall
With eight picks, the Broncos can much more easily take advantage of this very deep draft, and they need to start off by going big in the first round.
1. First Round, 21st overall (from Baltimore): Mike Iupati, Guard, Idaho
6’6″ 330 lbs.
Iupati is a very hot prospect right now. He has very imposing size and would fill an enormous void on the interior of Denver’s offensive line at left guard.
For a long time, I have been defending former Iowa guard/tackle and current Broncos reserve Seth Olsen as the player to be the heir apparent at left guard, but the Broncos would be wise to take Iupati and hope Olsen can be the future at the center position or added depth at tackle and guard.
Iupati is an elite level guard prospect, and the Broncos can get him for a relative bargain. He would provide Denver with great size on the interior, and would be the fourth piece out of five in what could potentially be the most talented young offensive line in the NFL with Ryan Clady, Ryan Harris, Chris Kuper, and Iupati.
Denver has really struggled to run the ball consistently and their interior pass protection has been marginal at best, though Kyle Orton doesn’t always do the greatest job of escaping the pressure. Iupati would greatly help Denver’s pass protection, and would give Ryan Clady the help he needs at the left tackle position to succeed.
2. Second Round, 54th overall: Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech
6’3″ 230 pounds
This might seem a bit off the wall for Denver, who already have one of the deepest and most talented receiving cores in the NFL, but this would be a very, very smart pick.
Besides the fact that Thomas would likely be a first round pick if he had a quarterback who could get him the ball better, he fits a lot of different roles that Denver would like to have filled.
First of all, the Broncos lack a true deep threat opposite Brandon Marshall. Certainly Eddie Royal has excellent speed, but his skills would best be used from the slot as many Denver fans anticipated. Thomas has excellent speed, and could sneak into the first round based on his measurables alone.
Also, Thomas would take a lot of pressure off of the Broncos’ other receivers. Though Brandon Marshall has seemingly been the only wideout on quarterback Kyle Orton’s radar all season long, another big play receiver could really free up Marshall on the opposite side and Royal in the middle.
Thomas would also be a solid developmental prospect in case Brandon Marshall bolts in a couple of years.
3. Second Round, 55th overall: Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford
6’2″ 240
Not a big shocker here. As I mentioned in the early stages of the reasoning for Mike Iupati, the Broncos have really struggled running the ball, largely due to their lack of depth (or use of it in the case of Peyton Hillis).
While many believe Peyton Hillis is the obvious answer for the Broncos as the team’s power back, head coach Josh McDaniels has refused to use him this season for whatever reason, and he is simply being wasted. Sadly, Hillis could be traded or released come this offseason if the team doesn’t find a better use for him, though now that he has not played much, his value may be diminished.
All of that being said, Toby Gerhart would be the perfect fit for the Broncos as a power back. The Broncos have really struggled with short yardage plays, and the additions of Gerhart and Iupati could potentially erase those struggles.
4. Third Round, 87th overall: Myron Lewis, Cornerback, Vanderbilt
6’2″ 204
Lewis is a relatively little known prospect but he has very good measurables and has proven to be a very durable, versatile player in his football career.
He has had nine interceptions the last two seasons, and was named second team All-SEC in 2009. His size makes him a very attractive prospect for the next level, especially because of his ability to help in the running game as an effective tackler.
His size helps him bat down balls much more frequently than many other cornerbacks, though his speed at times is somewhat of a liability. He is slightly faster than average and reminds me a lot of Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears.
5. Fourth Round, 134th overall: Micah Johnson, Middle Linebacker, Kentucky
6’2″ 258 lbs.
The Broncos could very easily look to this position much earlier in the draft, but Johnson is great value here. He is a mammoth against the run, and almost fits the exact same mold as current Denver linebacker Andra Davis. He is not so much fast as he is quick, but he is very versatile.
Johnson is close to a liability in pass coverage, but he can stay in on passing downs to rush the passer, an area he excels in. Some scouts believe him to be best fit as a pass rusher or strong side linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme.
6. Fifth Round, 150th overall: John Skelton, Quarterback, Fordham
6’5″ 258 lbs.
Skelton is a very intriguing prospect to me. I recently found out about him, and was extremely impressed. He is quickly becoming one of the more popular prospects in the draft, and according to other reports, the Broncos have been scouting this kid since August.
They have been watching him this whole season, and for good reason. Skelton is a physical marvel and has all of the tools to succeed at the NFL level. With proper coaching, which he would receive in Denver, he could wind up being one of the bigger steals in the draft. He has great footwork, escape-ability, and good zip on short range passes. He throws a nice deep ball and can make any and every NFL throw.
Watch for this kid on draft day, he is an intriguing prospect.
7. Sixth Round, 192nd overall: Anthony Moeaki, Tight End, Iowa
6’3″ 247 lbs.
As I have said in previous mock drafts, I think the Broncos are going to have a tough time passing on the versatility of Moeaki, especially because they could lose Tony Scheffler at the end of the season.
Moeaki has been oft-injured in his time at Iowa, but he is one of the better players to come through Iowa City this decade. He will likely fall in the draft due to his injury plagued career, but he is an excellent blocker in addition to being a good pass receiver.
He has good vision after the catch, but his speed is average. He could be a nice find for some team late in the draft.
8. Seventh Round, 242nd overall: Erik Cook, Offensive Lineman, New Mexico
6’6″ 315 lbs.
Cook adds quality depth and versatility to the Broncos’ offensive line. He is a very underrated prospect who could be the sleeper to fill the Broncos’ void at center for the future.
He has experience in college at tackle, guard, and center, and could really provide the Broncos with some quality depth if injuries occur throughout the season.
There may be questions as to why I have not included the defensive line in this particular segment. I believe the Broncos will address the defensive line with the deep free agent class of 2010. The defensive lineman available in 2010 are fairly deep, though it is very heavy on the top end and it lacks a lot of true 3-4 fits other than Terrence Cody as a nose tackle.
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2010 Denver Broncos NFL Draft Player Profile: Idaho G Mike Iupati
Published: December 22, 2009
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After the Denver Broncos lost the most embarrassing game of the season to the Oakland Raiders at home on Sunday, I realized the team’s biggest flaw was the interior of the offensive line.
Now this was not new news, as many Bronco fans have already pointed out that Denver’s true weaknesses offensively have a lot to do with lack of experience in the system and a totally non-existent interior offensive line.
Led by veterans Casey Wiegmann and Russ Hochstein, the interior of Denver’s line has a ton of experience. What they boast in the experience category is outweighed immensely by their inability to help the Broncos’ offense move the ball on a consistent basis, especially in short yardage situations.
Denver was unable to run the ball against Oakland, and it is not the first time they have been shut down on the ground this season. Knowshon Moreno looked absolutely lost when running the ball on Sunday, and Kyle Orton was sacked three times.
The solution to these woes?
Denver must draft Idaho guard Mike Iupati at any cost and actually, the guy could turn out to be quite the bargain.
Iupati stands at 6’5″ and roughly 330 pounds. He is a mammoth on the interior line and he plays with a mean streak. For the second straight season, he was named first team All-WAC, and was selected as a first team Walter Camp All-American for the Vandals. Not to mention he was also one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top interior lineman.
The Broncos’ first round pick is going to turn out to be a very high one, as Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears currently project to send Denver the seventh pick in the 2010 NFL draft as the final piece to the blockbuster trade that occurred this past offseason.
Obviously, Denver is not going to go after Iupati that early in the first round. What appears to be the best option is to trade down with anyone who is willing, and take Iupati later in the first round if they can. The only problem is going to be finding a suitor for that pick.
The Broncos do not need to trade down, as their top pick could turn out to be an elite level player like Rolando McClain or dare I say—Ndamukong Suh.
Either way, the Broncos’ interior offensive line is absolutely dreadful, and picking up Iupati would be a step in the right direction. Denver has lost whatever edge it had offensively, and they are failing to cash in from inside the 20.
I have been all about bringing in Seth Olsen in the past, and I think that is a route the Broncos definitely will explore. If Olsen can transition to center, and Iupati can be brought in to start at left guard, the Broncos will dance with joy.
Speaking of interior linemen, how about the performance of Denver’s run defense on Sunday? Another pitiful output. The Oakland Raiders racked up nearly 250 total rushing yards against Denver, a number that is utterly unacceptable.
One player who may be able to stop that bleeding is Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody, who is an absolute space vacuum in the middle of the defensive line. Cody demands two blockers on every play, and would give the Broncos a huge weapon defensively.
These are two players I have not been so high on early in the draft scouting process, but I think they are two players the Broncos need to look at acquiring come draft day, and they need to look hard.
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2010 NFL Draft Rankings: Running Backs
Published: December 19, 2009
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The end of the season is nearing and, like a good NFL fan, I’m already preparing for the draft. In a defense dominated by defense, this year’s class of running backs is under the radar. With its fair share of freakish athletes and bruising workhorses, this class has enormous potential, despite it being considered one of the weaker groups of backs in recent years.
Here’s a look into this year’s group of running backs.
2010 NFL Mock Draft (take 2)
Published: December 19, 2009
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This is a mock draft for next year. Of course it is way to early, but what the heck it’s always fun to project. This is based on records through Week 14 of the NFL season. This does assume that some underclassmen that haven’t yet declared will come out. You can bet that this list will change over time and I plan to do more as the draft gets closer. ENJOY!
Packers 2009 Draft Has Potential to Rival Thompson’s ’05, 06′ Classes
Published: December 18, 2009
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It’s well known that Ted Thompson has experienced success in the NFL Draft, opting to build through the April event rather than free agency or trade.
During his tenure in Green Bay, Thompson has drafted ten current starters—Rodgers, Collins, Hawk, Jennings, Spitz, Jolly, Sitton, Matthews, B. Jones, and Crosby—and is widely considered one of the best in the business at projecting future talent.
While his 2005 and 2006 drafts have stood out as his best to date, since joining the Packers, his 2009 class has potential to be the best he has ever put together.
During his time in Seattle, he took part in five drafts and selected Pro Bowlers Shaun Alexander, Steve Hutchinson, Marcus Trufant, Ken Hamlin, and Rocky Bernard, among others.
While he found gems through the draft in Seattle, his success in Green Bay has been far superior. He now has the youngest team in the league poised to make a deep playoff run.
Thompson’s luck began in 2005 when he made California quarterback Aaron Rodgers his first selection as Green Bay General Manager. Four years later, Rodgers is a top-5 quarterback and looking like one of the best steals of the draft this decade.
Joining Rodgers in that 2005 draft class was Pro Bowler Nick Collins, who started from day one and has turned into one of the better coverage safeties in the NFC. Thompson also selected Brady Poppinga in the fourth round, in what has turned out to be an important draft for Thompson’s career, but not necessarily a deep one.
The next year, Thompson put together the deepest draft class in Green Bay, selecting five starters and a special teams specialist.
Given the fifth pick in the draft, Thompson selected Ohio State outside linebacker A.J. Hawk. While he has not lived up to his draft slot’s potential, he has done better in the 3-4 defense as a serviceable starter.
In the second round Thompson drafted Greg Jennings and Daryn Colledge, and OG Jason Spitz in the third. Those three players have started since they arrived in Green Bay and, if Colledge is brought back for the right price, are all great selections.
Thompson took ACC Special Teams Player of the Year Will Blackmon in the fourth round, and found his steal-of-the-draft in Johnny Jolly, who he selected in the sixth round.
The ’05 and ’06 drafts have set the foundation for the Packers, especially on offense, so it would be no surprise to see the 2009 draft class seemingly setting up the defense for future success.
After struggling earlier, ninth overall pick B.J. Raji has come on nicely, giving a banged up Packers’ defensive line good minutes and even better production. With Ryan Pickett potentially leaving for free agency after this season, Raji could be a full-time starter in 2010.
If early returns are any sign for the future, then Thompson found his steal of the draft early, when he traded up to select USC outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Through 13 games, Matthews finds himself in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year with 40 tackles, a forced fumble, and eight sacks.
Past the first round, Thompson also struck gold with offensive lineman T.J. Lang, who has seen spot starts this season, and seventh round pick Brad Jones, who has filled in nicely for Aaron Kampman—out with a torn ACL for the remainder of the year.
Sixth rounders Jarius Wynn and Brandon Underwood had provided excellent depth and could prove to be potential role players in the future.
Because of the Matthews trade, Thompson lost out on his second round selection along with both third rounders. Despite this, Matthews has more than made up for those losses and if the Packers could, they would surely make the trade again.
In Matthews and Raji, the Packers have set up the foundation for their 3-4 defense with a versatile nose tackle/defensive end and a pass rushing threat on the outside.
Combine the run-stuffing Raji and the pass rushing threat of Matthews with one of the best secondaries in the league and you have one of the better up-and-coming defenses.
Much of that credit goes to Thompson, who also signed Ryan Pickett and Charles Woodson from free agency, as well as Tramon Williams and Atari Bigby after they went undrafted.
The 2006 draft might have produced more starters than can be expected in 2009, but the impact of last year’s draft class could be unmatched.
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2010 NFL Draft Rankings: Quarterbacks
Published: December 18, 2009
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College Bowl season is upon us, which means January and the NFL Playoffs are closing in, bringing us ever closer to the dramatic days that lead up to the 2010 NFL Draft.
Now that we know that Jake Locker will be returning to Washington for his senior season, predicting which passers go where just became a little less difficult. Emphasis on a little.
Here’s a good, hard look at the top 15 prospects who are entering (or likely to enter), with in-depth analysis, as well as potential NFL landing spots. Mel Kiper, eat your heart out.
