March 12 Top 50 from SI.com

[mayoclinic]

Tony Pauline posted his latest top 50 board on SI.com today:

Aaron Curry, Michael Crabtree are 2009 NFL draft Top 50 prospects - NFL - SI.com

Some interesting tidbits:

- Andre Smith at #10 - seems rather high given his implosion over the past 3 months
- BJ Raji at #12 - lower than most mocks and boards have been recently
- Clay Matthews at 24
- Rey Maualuga at 26: "Maualuga will have one more chance at the start of April to stem his freefalling draft stock."
- Robert Ayers at 27: "Ayers played like the best defensive end in the nation last season and his combine workout may have moved him into the first round."
- Connor Barwin at 28: "Barwin answered just about every question critics had by turning in a tremendous workout. He could end up even higher on this board when all is said and done."
- Larry English at 32
- Hakeem Nicks at 34
- William Beatty at 37
- Jarron Gilbert at 38
- Eric Wood at 39 (highest ranked center)
- Eben Britton at 40
- Sean Smith at 41
- Louis Delmas at 42
- Rashad Johnson at 44 - highest ranking I have seen for Johnson, a Sabin guy
- Tyson Jackson at 47: "Jackson ran slower than expected and his workout was uninspired, much like his play the past two seasons."
- Alex Mack at 48
- Patrick Chung at 49, behind Rashad Johnson

 

[alvinnf]

All you Conner or Connor Barwin fans beware, your binkie was not even in the top 50 pre combine. I've seen westminster's them dawgs is perty, but they aint real dawgs.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

All you Conner or Connor Barwin fans beware, your binkie was not even in the top 50 pre combine. I've seen westminster's them dawgs is perty, but they aint real dawgs.

Yup, which is why Barwin is my binky.

 

[VJCPatriot]

All you Conner or Connor Barwin fans beware, your binkie was not even in the top 50 pre combine. I've seen westminster's them dawgs is perty, but they aint real dawgs.

So I assume you're saying the Pats "reached" for Mayo too right?

SI has Barwin at #28. That's a solid 1st round value, and far from a reach at #23.

Top 100 prospects hottest players for the NFL draft - USATODAY.com

And Jerod Mayo was the #55 ranked prospect of the 2008 NFL draft. So what is your point??

After an impressive Combine and Pro Day last year, Mayo made the jump up from a consensus 2nd round pick to a 1st rounder and the Patriots ended up with the DROY.

In a weak linebacker class, Jerod Mayo’s eye opening post season workouts (NFL Scouting Combine and Pro Day ) has rocketed his value up from a possible 2nd round pick to a likely 1st round pick. He ran a sizzling 4.54 forty at the combine and at Tennessee's Pro Day on March 19th, Mayo measured in at 6' 1" 3/8, 237 pounds, had a 40 ½-inch vertical jump, did 22 reps in the bench press and looked very quick and athletic in the positional drills.

Jerod Mayo, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect

 

[dryheat44]

I don't think Tyson Jackson's going to be available at 27, let alone 47. Pauline does realize the proliferation of 3-4 defenses this year, doesn't he?

 

[patchick]

All you Conner or Connor Barwin fans beware, your binkie was not even in the top 50 pre combine.

Of course. Early on, draftnik rankings are more about who the college stars are than who the NFL values are. Clay Matthews was an afterthought until he took off his shirt at the Senior Bowl weigh ins and dazzled the scouts with his pretty muscles. B.J. Raji was a "who's he?" and James Laurinatis was a top-20 lock. Etc.

 

[dryheat44]

Of course. Early on, draftnik rankings are more about who the college stars are than who the NFL values are. Clay Matthews was an afterthought until he took off his shirt at the Senior Bowl weigh ins and dazzled the scouts with his pretty muscles. B.J. Raji was a "who's he?" and James Laurinatis was a top-20 lock. Etc.

I remember a mock I did in January or so, and I had the Pats taking Matthews in the seventh round. Not a single poster questioned it, except one or two who said, "Who's he?" or "Why Matthews?"

Funny what happens once guys like Kiper turn their attention onto a guy.

 

[patchick]

I remember a mock I did in January or so, and I had the Pats taking Matthews in the seventh round. Not a single poster questioned it, except one or two who said, "Who's he?" or "Why Matthews?"

Funny what happens once guys like Kiper turn their attention onto a guy.

Yep, I recently came across a top-700 list from before the season and Matthews wasn't even on it! "Late riser" is just a synonym for "players the draftniks didn't know about earlier."

Now comes the stage where the big bodies start climbing and the skill players sliding. I have Beatty & Barwin as my 2 targets at #23, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find them both gone.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Yep, I recently came across a top-700 list from before the season and Matthews wasn't even on it! "Late riser" is just a synonym for "players the draftniks didn't know about earlier."

Now comes the stage where the big bodies start climbing and the skill players sliding. I have Beatty & Barwin as my 2 targets at #23, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find them both gone.

Certainly my concern...though I'm sure a player BB is targeting would be in range for a slight move up if necessary.

 

[Sicilian]

Certainly my concern...though I'm sure a player BB is targeting would be in range for a slight move up if necessary.

With three second rounders and two thirds, we could probably move to just about anywhere we want outside the top 10 if we REALLY wanted a guy.

 

[mayoclinic]

So I assume you're saying the Pats "reached" for Mayo too right?

SI has Barwin at #28. That's a solid 1st round value, and far from a reach at #23.

Top 100 prospects hottest players for the NFL draft - USATODAY.com

And Jerod Mayo was the #55 ranked prospect of the 2008 NFL draft. So what is your point??

After an impressive Combine and Pro Day last year, Mayo made the jump up from a consensus 2nd round pick to a 1st rounder and the Patriots ended up with the DROY.



Jerod Mayo, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect

Very nice. They also had Brandon Albert at #67. In contrast, they had Ali Highsmith a #32 and Erin Henderson at #50. Both went undrafted.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yep, I recently came across a top-700 list from before the season and Matthews wasn't even on it! "Late riser" is just a synonym for "players the draftniks didn't know about earlier."

Now comes the stage where the big bodies start climbing and the skill players sliding. I have Beatty & Barwin as my 2 targets at #23, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find them both gone.

Say it aint so Patchick. I would be :steamed:

Much as I would be disappointed, I have complete confidence that we will come out of this draft golden. There are just too many good players available with 4 day one picks. If someone rises, then someone else drops.

 

[WhiZa]

This whole list is based solely on combine numbers. If you ran a fast 40 you are in my top 50. Take it with a grain of sea salt

 

[PATSNUTme]

This whole list is based solely on combine numbers. If you ran a fast 40 you are in my top 50. Take it with a grain of sea salt

I think of this time as the silly season fro the draft. Combine #'s are dancing in people's heads. In another couple of weeks, we will start seeing more risers and fallers as word starts leaking as to who the real football player are.

 

[WhiZa]

I think of this time as the silly season fro the draft. Combine #'s are dancing in people's heads. In another couple of weeks, we will start seeing more risers and fallers as word starts leaking as to who the real football player are.

amen

101010