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This out from Nolan Nawrocki at PFW today:
NFL Draft - NFL draft preview and analysis from Pro Football Weekly
Of interest:
1. Josh Freeman as the hottest QB prospect in the draft. “From a pure talent perspective,” said Rams vice president of player personnel Tony Softli, “Freeman is as gifted as any of them.” “I think he will be the best of this class when we look back in three years,” said one college scouting director not in the market for a passer. “He’s a football guy in and out between the ears. He has prototype size. He can move around the pocket and make all the throws.” “He had nothing around him — no line, no receivers, to tight ends, no running backs — and he still beat Texas,” a general manager said. “To us, he has the best arm strength in this class, better than Stafford’s.” Other evaluators think Freeman will have to sit a year before he is ready, and they shake their heads at the Ben Roethlisberger comparisons some observers have bestowed on Freeman. “If teams have not learned their lesson from JaMarcus Russell and Jason Campbell, then that’s their problem,” another scouting director said. “But he is going to take some time.”
2. On Lawrence Sidbury: “(Richmond DE-OLB) Lawrence Sidbury is not ready. He’s so raw. It’s awfully rich to take him in the first two rounds. He’s got the physical tools, but he’s just a pup.”
3. On Andre Smith: “To me, (Alabama’s) Andre Smith is the most ready to play of any tackle in this class because of the system he came from. He played against a high level of competition. I think he will be a better guard than a tackle, but Day One, you can plug him in and he will play. Regardless of all (character concerns) that are talked about, he is a quality kid. His weight is our biggest worry.”
4. On the OG prospects: “I’m not sure there is a great guard in this draft class. To be honest, if we had to have one early, I would take one of the centers and make him a guard. I’d take Max Unger or Eric Wood early before I drafted a guard highly. Unger is so smart.”
5. On Aaron Maybin: “(Penn State DE) Aaron Maybin has the biggest upside of any pass rusher in this draft. He’s got elite pass-rush ability. He can be a big-time player in the right spot. We play our defensive ends a little differently than a lot of teams. If you need one to play the run, you’ll wish he played the run better, but in terms of natural leverage and body lean — he’s been taught well in a short time. He has a natural feel and does a lot on instinct. He will skyrocket with good coaching. He did not run a great 40, but he has great anticipation off the snap and gets on the quarterback quickly.”
6. On Tyson Jackson: “(LSU DE-DT) Tyson Jackson would have a difficult time playing for us. I don’t know if he is man enough to play defensive tackle and he is not the bend-off-the-edge pass rusher we want. He’ll make the 10 or 12 teams running the 3-4 very happy — he’s a naturally big guy with long arms and plays on his feet — but he is not a great pass rusher. I think he’s a five-technique only.”
NFL Draft - NFL draft preview and analysis from Pro Football Weekly
Of interest:
1. Josh Freeman as the hottest QB prospect in the draft. “From a pure talent perspective,” said Rams vice president of player personnel Tony Softli, “Freeman is as gifted as any of them.” “I think he will be the best of this class when we look back in three years,” said one college scouting director not in the market for a passer. “He’s a football guy in and out between the ears. He has prototype size. He can move around the pocket and make all the throws.” “He had nothing around him — no line, no receivers, to tight ends, no running backs — and he still beat Texas,” a general manager said. “To us, he has the best arm strength in this class, better than Stafford’s.” Other evaluators think Freeman will have to sit a year before he is ready, and they shake their heads at the Ben Roethlisberger comparisons some observers have bestowed on Freeman. “If teams have not learned their lesson from JaMarcus Russell and Jason Campbell, then that’s their problem,” another scouting director said. “But he is going to take some time.”
2. On Lawrence Sidbury: “(Richmond DE-OLB) Lawrence Sidbury is not ready. He’s so raw. It’s awfully rich to take him in the first two rounds. He’s got the physical tools, but he’s just a pup.”
3. On Andre Smith: “To me, (Alabama’s) Andre Smith is the most ready to play of any tackle in this class because of the system he came from. He played against a high level of competition. I think he will be a better guard than a tackle, but Day One, you can plug him in and he will play. Regardless of all (character concerns) that are talked about, he is a quality kid. His weight is our biggest worry.”
4. On the OG prospects: “I’m not sure there is a great guard in this draft class. To be honest, if we had to have one early, I would take one of the centers and make him a guard. I’d take Max Unger or Eric Wood early before I drafted a guard highly. Unger is so smart.”
5. On Aaron Maybin: “(Penn State DE) Aaron Maybin has the biggest upside of any pass rusher in this draft. He’s got elite pass-rush ability. He can be a big-time player in the right spot. We play our defensive ends a little differently than a lot of teams. If you need one to play the run, you’ll wish he played the run better, but in terms of natural leverage and body lean — he’s been taught well in a short time. He has a natural feel and does a lot on instinct. He will skyrocket with good coaching. He did not run a great 40, but he has great anticipation off the snap and gets on the quarterback quickly.”
6. On Tyson Jackson: “(LSU DE-DT) Tyson Jackson would have a difficult time playing for us. I don’t know if he is man enough to play defensive tackle and he is not the bend-off-the-edge pass rusher we want. He’ll make the 10 or 12 teams running the 3-4 very happy — he’s a naturally big guy with long arms and plays on his feet — but he is not a great pass rusher. I think he’s a five-technique only.”
