NFP Draft Buzz and Rumors

[mayoclinic]

Some nice gossip from Matt Bowen at NFP:

The National Football Post | Draft Buzz And Rumors

Some points of interest:

1. Tyson Jackson rising. We've heard this from just about everyone. He seems guaranteed to go somewhere between #3 and #9 right now. #12 to Denver at the very latest. Two weeks ago I had him pegged to SD at #16 - not any more.

2. Cleveland likely to hold on to Braylon Edwards.

3. Philly likely to go RB at #21.

4. KC and St. Louis looking to trade down, but no likely options unless someone wants to trade ahead of Seattle at #4 for Sanchez.

5. Washington still looking to move up to get Mark Sanchez. I hear this one from just about everyone too. Big question is whether Dan Snyder will bend over and pony up a 2010 1st in addition to #13 to get the job done. I'm betting he will - when that man gets an itch, he has to scratch it.

6. Vikings looking WR at 22, possibly Percy Harvin. Now if only they had a QB to throw him the ball.

7. Cincy likely to go with Andre Smith at #6, over Beanie Wells and BJ Raji.

8. Indy possibly going RB at #27.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

They should add Stafford going number one to Detroit for 40 million guaranteed 80 million dollars. Just a little prediction, we have to here something soon.

Andre Smith I think has moved back up to top five status IMO

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I would not be happy seeing Don Brown on the Colts. Or Moreno for that matter. Scary.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would not be happy seeing Don Brown on the Colts. Or Moreno for that matter. Scary.

Yes. Or Percy Harvin, for that matter. I'd rather they take a nice solid safe DT like Ziggy Hood.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

OR the Eagles could be doing the same thing like the last 2 years - trading OUT of the 1st round. Who knows how many additional 2009/2010 picks they'll net, but if RB is their top priority, then they should easily nab one in the 2nd(and subsequently shell out a cheaper contract).

AND with those additional picks - possibly make a move for Boldin/Edwards/CJ?

As for Snyder drooling over Sanchez - call me crazy, but I HONESTLY FEEL this is a BIG TIME smoke screen. The Skins need OL/pass rushers help - looks like it COULD work as teams above them could pick other talent thinking the Skins won't be drafting these guys?

 

[JoeShmoe]

I bet the Vikes spend sleepless nights wondering if they should have gone for Cassell

 

[mayoclinic]

Rumors that Cleveland may consider Raji at #5:

Cleveland Browns consider drafting Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji - cleveland.com

That makes Sanchez, Curry, Orapko, Crabtree and Raji. Well, at least one of them will definitely be available at 5. Unless they trade back, I suspect it will be one of those 5 players, or possibly Tyson Jackson.

 

[mayoclinic]

And, in another rumor from NFP, Denver is supposedly serious about trading up for Mark Sanchez:

Ace QB real option for Broncos - The Denver Post

I have to think this is either a smokescreen or the dumbest move possible for Denver. It will take much more than #8 to get Sanchez, and they need all the help they can get on defense. I don't believe it.

 

[tatepatsfan]

In theory, if the Seahawks don't take Sanchez at 4, he could fall down to about #8. Browns aren't going to take him at 5, Bengals won't at 6, neither will the Raiders at 7. I could see it playing like this (I am not mock-drafting, just saying this is a possible scenario):

Lions - Stafford, Rams - J. Smith/Monroe, Chiefs - Curry, Seahawks - J. Smith/Monroe, Browns - Raji, Bengals - A. Smith, Raiders - Crabtree/Macklin, thus leaving Sanchez on the board. If it played out like that, the Jags would be in dreamland.

 

[tatepatsfan]

Also, I forgot to say, I can't see any teams not in the top 10 ponying up enough picks to get up around 3-4 to get Sanchez. Only the Broncos have the ammo IMO, and I don't see McDaniels doing so.

 

[mayoclinic]

In theory, if the Seahawks don't take Sanchez at 4, he could fall down to about #8. Browns aren't going to take him at 5, Bengals won't at 6, neither will the Raiders at 7. I could see it playing like this (I am not mock-drafting, just saying this is a possible scenario):

Lions - Stafford, Rams - J. Smith/Monroe, Chiefs - Curry, Seahawks - J. Smith/Monroe, Browns - Raji, Bengals - A. Smith, Raiders - Crabtree/Macklin, thus leaving Sanchez on the board. If it played out like that, the Jags would be in dreamland.

I don't see Sanchez getting to 8. KC (trade), Seattle, or Cleveland will take him. But, you never know.

Here's some more rumors from Pat Kirwan at NFL.com. Mostly the same stuff recycled.

Draft buzz: Sanchez rising, receivers falling and Curry to Lions?

 

[bakes781]

The Seahawks are NOT taking Mark Sanchez. The player personnel guy just stated so last night. Now sure that could be another smoke screen, but do you really think they'd play with Matt Hasselbeck's head this late in the game?

 

[tatepatsfan]

I agree that the Chiefs would love to trade out of #3, but who is going to make that move? The Jets lack the ammo unless they want to give up next year's 1st, and I don't think McDaniels will give up both 1sts this year when that defense has so many holes. Obviously other teams are interested too, but I think the Chiefs would have to go well below market value to trade out of #3. I don't see the Browns as a team looking at QB at all - Quinn + tons of holes on the o-line and defense tell me otherwise.

 

[fester]

Rumors that Cleveland may consider Raji at #5:

Cleveland Browns consider drafting Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji - cleveland.com

That makes Sanchez, Curry, Orapko, Crabtree and Raji. Well, at least one of them will definitely be available at 5. Unless they trade back, I suspect it will be one of those 5 players, or possibly Tyson Jackson.

That would actually be a really nice pick for the Browns as they could move Rogers to DE and keep Raji in the middle --- all of a sudden the Browns have a very compentent 3-4 line that could actually pressure the QB with a three man rush...

 

[apple strudel]

That would actually be a really nice pick for the Browns as they could move Rogers to DE and keep Raji in the middle --- all of a sudden the Browns have a very compentent 3-4 line that could actually pressure the QB with a three man rush...

Rogers isn't a 3-4 DE, though. Doing that would put them in a position to pull a Minnesota 4-3 with a dominant middle, but I expect them to stay 3-4. I think they prefer Jackson since he fills a big need, and that if he's not there they go OL and stick with Rogers. If they drafted Raji and trade Rogers, did they really get better?

 

[tatepatsfan]

Rogers isn't a 3-4 DE, though. Doing that would put them in a position to pull a Minnesota 4-3 with a dominant middle, but I expect them to stay 3-4. I think they prefer Jackson since he fills a big need, and that if he's not there they go OL and stick with Rogers. If they drafted Raji and trade Rogers, did they really get better?

Agreed - Jackson (if he is the reincarnation of Seymour as some have speculated) definitely fills a whole for the Browns.

 

[patman52]

And, in another rumor from NFP, Denver is supposedly serious about trading up for Mark Sanchez:

Ace QB real option for Broncos - The Denver Post

I have to think this is either a smokescreen or the dumbest move possible for Denver. It will take much more than #8 to get Sanchez, and they need all the help they can get on defense. I don't believe it.

Denver goes with McGee in the 3rd as thier QB of the future. Rebuild the D this year.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Rumors that Cleveland may consider Raji at #5:

Cleveland Browns consider drafting Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji - cleveland.com

That makes Sanchez, Curry, Orapko, Crabtree and Raji. Well, at least one of them will definitely be available at 5. Unless they trade back, I suspect it will be one of those 5 players, or possibly Tyson Jackson.

I could see Raji going to the Browns at #5. In fact it happened in my mock. The other alternatives as you mentioned are Tyson Jackson and Aaron Curry. But I have a feeling that the 300 lb rare athlete rule will apply in the top 5.

I agree that the Chiefs would love to trade out of #3, but who is going to make that move? The Jets lack the ammo unless they want to give up next year's 1st, and I don't think McDaniels will give up both 1sts this year when that defense has so many holes. Obviously other teams are interested too, but I think the Chiefs would have to go well below market value to trade out of #3. I don't see the Browns as a team looking at QB at all - Quinn + tons of holes on the o-line and defense tell me otherwise.

If they can't trade out they may surprise everyone (except me) by taking Monroe. A super safe choice and a building block for the OL.

 

[mayoclinic]

Some spicy new rumors from Mike Lombardi at NFP:

The National Football Post | Notes From Lombardi: Draft Rumors

The most interesting rumors:

1. Lombardi claims Oakland is "locked in" on DHB at #7! This will shake up the top 10 if true. "From everything I’m hearing, the Hotel is locked in on wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. I know, I know, they could trade down and get him five picks later, but trading down is not an option in that draft room. It might be 2009 here in America, but in that room, it’s 1960."

2. St. Louis, KC and Jacksonville all want to trade down badly and will do so for "any price".

3. If Jax can't trade down and Mark Sanchez slips to #8, they will take him, either to keep or to trade. He says that the Jags will not go WR in the 1st round.

4. Buffalo wants a pass rusher at #11 and then TE or OL at 28. There are other rumors that Buffalo wants to trade up for Aaron Curry, but Lombardi doesn't report that.

5. Lombardi sees Cincinnati taking either Andre Smith or Beanie Wells at #6. Other rumors suggest they like Brian Orapko as well, but Lombardi doesn't list that as an option.

6. Lombardi thinks that Percy Harvin will go in the teens, notwithstanding his drug test. Other reports suggest that Minny is seriously looking at him at 22.

7. Louis Delmas is rising and could sneak in to the end of the 1st round.

8. The Cardinals will go RB at #31 and reportedly are in love with Donald Brown. Good call by the Cards.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Agreed - Jackson (if he is the reincarnation of Seymour as some have speculated) definitely fills a whole for the Browns.

Jackson is a clone of Ty Warren, he will never be a Seymour type player.