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Kevin(Las Vegas,NV): With the interesting move by the Bears by trading Thomas Jones for the early 2nd round, Do you think they have a person in the early 2nd round that they are targeting, or thinking of moving up again and targeting someone in the mid 1st round?
Mel Kiper: It's a big difference. Look at what the Commanders did they moved up to get McIntosh last year. There's a big difference in the caliber of player you get in the early second and late second. The Commanders had felt that they had to move up to get Ryans or McIntosh. They went up from 53 to 35 to get him. If they didn't get him there then they wouldn't have gotten him. You don't know who will be there, but you position yourself now for a better player if you're the Bears.
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Bruce (Tucson, AZ): Two Broncos questions for you Mel. 1) What does the signing of Daniel Graham mean for Tony Sheffler? I thought he started to show promise late last seasons. 2) What will the Broncos target in the 2nd and 3rd rounds? WR possibly?
Mel Kiper: First of all, look at what Daniel Graham means - a TE with that kind of ability. There was talk that he would be franchised. But when you look at him, he has never really developed into the pass receiving option they had hoped. Getting a fresh start for Graham, especially since he played college ball in Colorado. In terms of Sheffler, he does not help you as a blocker. He's a one-dimensional pass catching TE. Now you have a veteran that's been in a lot of big games. Graham can block. That was his key role with the Patriots.
Mel Kiper: As far as their needs now, what Denver has done now by getting some help at RB with Henry. They've added some reinforcements in places, they can look at DE, OT, DB help. They have some options now and don't have to look at a RB. I had talked about them moving up to get Peterson or Lynch.
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Jerry (washington, DC): How does all of the running back movement effect the drafting of A.Peterson and M. Lynch?
Mel Kiper: Well, in terms of the teams that are at the top. The Lions, for instance, they've added Tatum Bell. Is he a big-time RB? No, but they need help at other places. They've added an OT and DE. They could be looking at, ironically, Calvin Johnson and Brady Quinn. They've had the history of drafting WRs, but they still have a need at WR. Peterson still looks to me as an ideal pick for the Cleveland Browns.
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Brad (Winona, MN): where do you think the HB from Louisville Bush will go in this years draft? Is he a second round talent?
Mel Kiper: He's a first-round talent, based on how he performed at Louisville. The problem with him is that he wasn't ready to work out at the combine. He was at 243 pounds at the combine. I had him projected to be 250. What he has to do is to get back to where he can work out. He needs to show teams that he can be back to work out at training camp. He may go later in the draft because he has to show that he'll be ready. The medical is going to have to come back positive. If everything comes back, then he might be a second round pick.
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Anthony (Brooklyn NY): Mel, Can you comment on the Thomas Jones trade from a Jets point of view? Who will Ganggreen be targeting in Round 1?
Mel Kiper: I think in terms of the Jets, keep in mind where they're picking. They're later in the first round. I didn't have them picking a RB in the projection a month ago. There is no RB for them to take. That's why the Jones trade was so valuable for the Jets, because there won't be a RB there for them to take. I think you can get a RB in rounds 2, 3, 4 that can give you what Jones can. Brandon Jackson from Nebraska, Antonio Pittman has a lot of talent. There are some good RBs that will be around in the late Day 1, early Day 2. The Jets still need a WR, CB or a 3-4 DE.
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James South Benn: Darius Walker 40 time did improve on nd first pro day. What round do u see him going in?
Mel Kiper: I've always thought that Walker was a third round pick, maybe a late two. Walker was 5-10, 206 at the combine. He did 19 reps. He ran about the same as he did in the pro day - 4.5 guy. He's more quick than fast. He showed explosive ability. He has the quickness. Good feet. Good balance. I think he gives you some things that 40 times don't tell you. He's strong, durable. You're talking late second, early third. I think that would be a nice pick for somebody.
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Alex (Cleveland OH): Who are the ideal 3-4 defensive ends available?
Mel Kiper: Adam Carriker from Nebraska would be at the top of the list. He's the ideal guy for that scheme. Jamaal Anderson could play in that. He plays the run very effectively. Those are a couple of guys.
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Mike (Sacramento): Mel, with the Dolphins purge on offense, especially on the offensive line, can you anticipate a majority of their draft picks this year on that side of the ball?
Mel Kiper: With what Miami's done in free agency is they've signed a TE and LB. They've lost some players, some pretty good football players. They still need help at WR, OL, DT and still at QB. It hasn't really changed a lot what they're looking for. I thought Quinn, if he was there. If they can get a WR, like Ginn, he would be one to think about at that point, if he's still available. Maybe an Alan Branch. Those are some of the guys they could think about.
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Jim (Pittsburgh,PA): Mel, with the recent release of Joey Porter, who do you see the Steelers targeting?
Mel Kiper: Well, they haven't done anything signing wise. They had an OLB need, OT, CB, RB. I had them looking at Jarvis Moss, who was kind of a Porter-type at Florida. He could play in that system. He's 6-6, 250. He could play on his feet. He would be a guy to look at. If you're looking at other options at that point, Anthony Spencer, if they trade down a little bit. I've always been a big Spencer guy. I actually like Spencer better than Moss.
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Jake (Minnesota): Mel, Antonio Pittman ran a great 40 at the combine, how does that help him come draft time, and what teams are looking at him? Thank you!
Mel Kiper: It helps because he didn't have a lot of 15+ yard runs. In seven of the 12 regular season games, his longest run was less than 15 yards. He's the kind of guy, north-south runner, puts down the pads. He shows that at 5-10 that he has outside speeds. I'd rather have him show that he can run up the gut and then show the speed. You know he has speed now. But the physical runs up the gut, he's shown he can do that. That's what he does. He has a physical presence as a RB that you like.
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Dan (Boston): Hey Mel! Looks like Bill Belichick likes Randy Moss, the pats have 2 first round picks, do you think they would ship maybe the later pick in the first for Randy?
Mel Kiper: They added Wes Welker. He has return skills, which is valuable. Here's a guy that's not real big, but tough as nails. Quick. Instinctive return man. But they still need a WR. I was looking at Anthony Gonzalez in my earlier projections. He's a New England kind of player. Then they have options after that to what they can do. They franchised Samuel and signed Thomas - that gives them some flexibility in what they do in the draft.
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Ryan (CA): Mel, SF has made a lot of noise in FA, what do you see them doing in the draft now? They have a whole lot of picks in the top 1/3 of the draft. THANKS!
Mel Kiper: They have a lot of picks and have already done a lot of good things. Nate Clements. Out of all the free agents this year and you look at what Clements was able to do, he has everything you look for. In his career, he has 23 INTs and 13 fumbles. He's a game-changing corner. He's big time. To add a guy like that is a big, big help. Banta-Cain at LB gives them ability there. He had 5.5 sacks last year - that was more sacks than he had in his first three seasons combined. He's an interesting guy. Then you look at Franklin, who Nolan knew about when he was in Baltimore. Lewis, they added at safety. What they've done now is put WR at the top of the need list.
Mel Kiper: They could be in the market for a Ted Ginn, for a Bowe, Robert Meachem.
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Brody (LA): Melly Mel, it looks like Greg Olsen is going to keep the Hurricanes' streak of 1st rounders alive. Who could be targeting him? Will he fall to the Bears at the back end of the 1st?
Mel Kiper: No chance now. I thought that a month ago, but that's not going to happen now. This kid, he ran 4.53, 4.55 at 6-6, 254. He did 23 reps. He tested off the charts. Now you ask which teams will look at him in the first - Carolina, Green Bay, both in the middle of the first round. They could look very seriously at Olsen. That workout really made him a lot of money.
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Bevan (Utah): Mel, I haven't heard much about Kenny Irons. He had an injury filled senior season that limited his production. Where do you see him going in the draft, and where do you rate him in running back class? I think he could be a steal in the middle of round 2..
Mel Kiper: He's in the top five. He'd be right in there. He's 5-10. He ran 4.45-4.49. You have to realize just how good he was going into this season. He was very similar to Cadillac Williams when he was healthy. He was quick enough to slip through the holes. He finished drives. He had 13 rushing TDs. This year, with the injuries, they effected him from having the year that was expected. You're talking about a guy that could end up being a nice bargain. To me, he's a first day running back. I thought going into this year, if he had a big year, he could have been a first round draft choice.
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DD (Austin, MN): Hey Mel! Grea job! What will the Vikings need to do to upgrade their team?
Mel Kiper: I think what they've done already - getting a TE. What they have to do now is WR, CB and DE. Those are three areas they have to look at. Say a Gaines Adams, Jamaal Anderson, one of those two DEs, you'd have to think about. You'd have to think about a corner. But there's not a CB to take at that point. They could look WR.
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Coach Tuesday: Mel, does Marshawn Lynch have too upright of a running style for the NFL?
Mel Kiper: No. You look at upright - it can be overrated at times. There are some upright runners that have had some success in the league. He was productive this year. He went over 1,300 yards. He runs hard. I worry more about his style. He's so physical. He has so much contact. You have to worry about durability and longevity. He's tough to get to the ground. This past year, he was much more effective catching the ball. He's not quite as big as I projected him to be, but he's strong. This kid has talent.
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Michael (Indianapolis, In): With the Colts having multiple issues to fill in the draft on both sides of the ball, (DT, LB) and (WR, RB), where do you see the depth of the draft?
Mel Kiper: Typical of a team that wins a Super Bowl, they haven't had a lot of activity. They haven't signed anybody yet. They're looking at three areas, CB, OLB and DT. At the end of the first round, you just have to wait and see who slides through the cracks. I have them taking Justin Harrell in the last projection. I have a new one coming out on Friday.
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Jimmy (Houston): Oh perfectly-coiffed one, does the Ahman Green signing tell us that the Texans will not select Adrian Peterson (if he slips) or Marshawn Lynch? I know you have Levi Brown for the number 8 pick, but I think he's pretty overrated. He doesn't seem to be athletic enough to do well in the zone-blocking scheme.
Mel Kiper: Peterson wouldn't have been there. That had something to do with the Green signing. That gives them a security blanket. Green's been a workhorse who has taken a lot of hits. He turned 30 in February. A lot of people thought he'd be back in Green Bay. They have other needs other than RB. Knowing that they weren't going to get Peterson, maybe they were a little more aggressive in going after Green.
Mel Kiper: They also have to decide what they're doing at QB, which is the biggest question.
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Joe (Huntsville,AL): Is there any game changing returners in this year's draft?
Mel Kiper: There are. You look at some guys - Steve Breaston, Ryne Robinson. And the guy that's going to have to show that he can return kicks is Garrett Wolfe. That's where his future lies in the NFL.
Mel Kiper: That's a projection saying Wolfe will be a good return man, but that's what he's going to have to do.
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Wade (Missoula, MT): Do you see Jared Zabransky having a future in the NFL?
Mel Kiper: He's got a chance. I've always said I see a bit of Jeff Garcia in Zabransky. He's a little over 6-2. He ran in the 4.55. Showed athletic ability at the combine. People said he's an overachiever, but there are a lot of players in this league that don't have cannon for arms. He could be a West Coast system QB. He could carve a niche.
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John (Madison): Okoye's buzz has cooled since the Senior Bowl - is he still a #10-#15 pick?
Mel Kiper: I don't think there's a lot of buzz right now, because there's not a lot going on. He's strong, with great quickness. He's still in the top 15. I've thought that all along. You could be looking at Buffalo. I think he's one of the best 10 players in this draft.
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Jason, Seattle: Mel, where do you project Isaiah Stanbeck going, and will he be drafted on his QB ability or overall athletic ability
Mel Kiper: I think he's going to be drafted as a WR. If you look at a Brad Smith - WR with the Jets. Michael Robinson - WR for the 49ers. I look at Stanbeck as a wideout. He did a good job out there as a duel threat for Washington. He's 6-2, 216 pounds. Once he runs and goes through the whole workout, if he's in the kind of range you look for and shows some potential, he could be a guy that goes Day 2 in the draft as one of many former college QBs that turn into WRs. There's a laundry list of names of former collegiate QBs who are doing a nice job at WR in the NFL.
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Nick (Bensalem, PA): If Okoye were gone, would Alan Branch be able to play in Buffalo's Cover 2?
Mel Kiper: First of all, as far as the DT, Alan Branch is a very versatile athlete. You think he's just a space eater, but he's a very athletic kid. He did 33 reps at the combine, ran just over 5.0 at the combine. The only reason he's not a top 10 pick is because of his production. He did not make enough plays to guarantee him a spot in the top 15. He needed to dominate against the run more than he did. The production just wasn't there. You kept waiting for it, but the production never matched the physical ability. His performance put him between 15 and 25.
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abram alex (las vegas ): do you see the broncos signing dre bly or will they trade him and are they going to get another wide reciver onthe other side of javon or do they trust brandon marshall to be that guy or will they get a vetern
Mel Kiper: I think when you make a deal like that you look at what they traded and got in return. Tatum Bell and George Foster to bring back in Dre Bly. You look at it and Denver needed some help in the secondary. Bly gives them some help in an area where they needed it.
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Ryan, LaCrosse, WI: Who are the sleepers in rounds 3,4,5 that could help a NFL team?
Mel Kiper: Well, what we'll do is give some non-D-IA guys that could go in the 3, 4, 5 rounds and help out teams: Ben Patrick TE (Delaware); Laurent Robinson WR (Illinois State); Alonzo Coleman RB (Hampton); Travarous Bain CB (Hampton); Jacob Ford DE (Central Arkansas); Dennis Mitchell CB/return man (Western Kentucky); Michael Allan TE (Whitworth); Kevin Boss TE (Western Oregon); Jermon Bushrod OT (Towson); Chad Nkang LB (Elon); David Ball WR (New Hampshire). There are a number of others, but we don't have enough time to get them all in here.
Mel Kiper: Next week, we'll have a new first round projection up on the site. A lot of it will be reflective on how free agency has effected the teams. It will also have how the pro days are effecting the drafts. Next week, the chat will probably not be on Wednesday, we're going to adjust it and I'll let everyone know on Friday when the chat will be next week.
Mel Kiper: Thanks for chatting!
Kevin(Las Vegas,NV): With the interesting move by the Bears by trading Thomas Jones for the early 2nd round, Do you think they have a person in the early 2nd round that they are targeting, or thinking of moving up again and targeting someone in the mid 1st round?
Mel Kiper: It's a big difference. Look at what the Commanders did they moved up to get McIntosh last year. There's a big difference in the caliber of player you get in the early second and late second. The Commanders had felt that they had to move up to get Ryans or McIntosh. They went up from 53 to 35 to get him. If they didn't get him there then they wouldn't have gotten him. You don't know who will be there, but you position yourself now for a better player if you're the Bears.
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Bruce (Tucson, AZ): Two Broncos questions for you Mel. 1) What does the signing of Daniel Graham mean for Tony Sheffler? I thought he started to show promise late last seasons. 2) What will the Broncos target in the 2nd and 3rd rounds? WR possibly?
Mel Kiper: First of all, look at what Daniel Graham means - a TE with that kind of ability. There was talk that he would be franchised. But when you look at him, he has never really developed into the pass receiving option they had hoped. Getting a fresh start for Graham, especially since he played college ball in Colorado. In terms of Sheffler, he does not help you as a blocker. He's a one-dimensional pass catching TE. Now you have a veteran that's been in a lot of big games. Graham can block. That was his key role with the Patriots.
Mel Kiper: As far as their needs now, what Denver has done now by getting some help at RB with Henry. They've added some reinforcements in places, they can look at DE, OT, DB help. They have some options now and don't have to look at a RB. I had talked about them moving up to get Peterson or Lynch.
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Jerry (washington, DC): How does all of the running back movement effect the drafting of A.Peterson and M. Lynch?
Mel Kiper: Well, in terms of the teams that are at the top. The Lions, for instance, they've added Tatum Bell. Is he a big-time RB? No, but they need help at other places. They've added an OT and DE. They could be looking at, ironically, Calvin Johnson and Brady Quinn. They've had the history of drafting WRs, but they still have a need at WR. Peterson still looks to me as an ideal pick for the Cleveland Browns.
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Brad (Winona, MN): where do you think the HB from Louisville Bush will go in this years draft? Is he a second round talent?
Mel Kiper: He's a first-round talent, based on how he performed at Louisville. The problem with him is that he wasn't ready to work out at the combine. He was at 243 pounds at the combine. I had him projected to be 250. What he has to do is to get back to where he can work out. He needs to show teams that he can be back to work out at training camp. He may go later in the draft because he has to show that he'll be ready. The medical is going to have to come back positive. If everything comes back, then he might be a second round pick.
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Anthony (Brooklyn NY): Mel, Can you comment on the Thomas Jones trade from a Jets point of view? Who will Ganggreen be targeting in Round 1?
Mel Kiper: I think in terms of the Jets, keep in mind where they're picking. They're later in the first round. I didn't have them picking a RB in the projection a month ago. There is no RB for them to take. That's why the Jones trade was so valuable for the Jets, because there won't be a RB there for them to take. I think you can get a RB in rounds 2, 3, 4 that can give you what Jones can. Brandon Jackson from Nebraska, Antonio Pittman has a lot of talent. There are some good RBs that will be around in the late Day 1, early Day 2. The Jets still need a WR, CB or a 3-4 DE.
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James South Benn: Darius Walker 40 time did improve on nd first pro day. What round do u see him going in?
Mel Kiper: I've always thought that Walker was a third round pick, maybe a late two. Walker was 5-10, 206 at the combine. He did 19 reps. He ran about the same as he did in the pro day - 4.5 guy. He's more quick than fast. He showed explosive ability. He has the quickness. Good feet. Good balance. I think he gives you some things that 40 times don't tell you. He's strong, durable. You're talking late second, early third. I think that would be a nice pick for somebody.
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Alex (Cleveland OH): Who are the ideal 3-4 defensive ends available?
Mel Kiper: Adam Carriker from Nebraska would be at the top of the list. He's the ideal guy for that scheme. Jamaal Anderson could play in that. He plays the run very effectively. Those are a couple of guys.
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Mike (Sacramento): Mel, with the Dolphins purge on offense, especially on the offensive line, can you anticipate a majority of their draft picks this year on that side of the ball?
Mel Kiper: With what Miami's done in free agency is they've signed a TE and LB. They've lost some players, some pretty good football players. They still need help at WR, OL, DT and still at QB. It hasn't really changed a lot what they're looking for. I thought Quinn, if he was there. If they can get a WR, like Ginn, he would be one to think about at that point, if he's still available. Maybe an Alan Branch. Those are some of the guys they could think about.
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Jim (Pittsburgh,PA): Mel, with the recent release of Joey Porter, who do you see the Steelers targeting?
Mel Kiper: Well, they haven't done anything signing wise. They had an OLB need, OT, CB, RB. I had them looking at Jarvis Moss, who was kind of a Porter-type at Florida. He could play in that system. He's 6-6, 250. He could play on his feet. He would be a guy to look at. If you're looking at other options at that point, Anthony Spencer, if they trade down a little bit. I've always been a big Spencer guy. I actually like Spencer better than Moss.
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Jake (Minnesota): Mel, Antonio Pittman ran a great 40 at the combine, how does that help him come draft time, and what teams are looking at him? Thank you!
Mel Kiper: It helps because he didn't have a lot of 15+ yard runs. In seven of the 12 regular season games, his longest run was less than 15 yards. He's the kind of guy, north-south runner, puts down the pads. He shows that at 5-10 that he has outside speeds. I'd rather have him show that he can run up the gut and then show the speed. You know he has speed now. But the physical runs up the gut, he's shown he can do that. That's what he does. He has a physical presence as a RB that you like.
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Dan (Boston): Hey Mel! Looks like Bill Belichick likes Randy Moss, the pats have 2 first round picks, do you think they would ship maybe the later pick in the first for Randy?
Mel Kiper: They added Wes Welker. He has return skills, which is valuable. Here's a guy that's not real big, but tough as nails. Quick. Instinctive return man. But they still need a WR. I was looking at Anthony Gonzalez in my earlier projections. He's a New England kind of player. Then they have options after that to what they can do. They franchised Samuel and signed Thomas - that gives them some flexibility in what they do in the draft.
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Ryan (CA): Mel, SF has made a lot of noise in FA, what do you see them doing in the draft now? They have a whole lot of picks in the top 1/3 of the draft. THANKS!
Mel Kiper: They have a lot of picks and have already done a lot of good things. Nate Clements. Out of all the free agents this year and you look at what Clements was able to do, he has everything you look for. In his career, he has 23 INTs and 13 fumbles. He's a game-changing corner. He's big time. To add a guy like that is a big, big help. Banta-Cain at LB gives them ability there. He had 5.5 sacks last year - that was more sacks than he had in his first three seasons combined. He's an interesting guy. Then you look at Franklin, who Nolan knew about when he was in Baltimore. Lewis, they added at safety. What they've done now is put WR at the top of the need list.
Mel Kiper: They could be in the market for a Ted Ginn, for a Bowe, Robert Meachem.
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Brody (LA): Melly Mel, it looks like Greg Olsen is going to keep the Hurricanes' streak of 1st rounders alive. Who could be targeting him? Will he fall to the Bears at the back end of the 1st?
Mel Kiper: No chance now. I thought that a month ago, but that's not going to happen now. This kid, he ran 4.53, 4.55 at 6-6, 254. He did 23 reps. He tested off the charts. Now you ask which teams will look at him in the first - Carolina, Green Bay, both in the middle of the first round. They could look very seriously at Olsen. That workout really made him a lot of money.
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Bevan (Utah): Mel, I haven't heard much about Kenny Irons. He had an injury filled senior season that limited his production. Where do you see him going in the draft, and where do you rate him in running back class? I think he could be a steal in the middle of round 2..
Mel Kiper: He's in the top five. He'd be right in there. He's 5-10. He ran 4.45-4.49. You have to realize just how good he was going into this season. He was very similar to Cadillac Williams when he was healthy. He was quick enough to slip through the holes. He finished drives. He had 13 rushing TDs. This year, with the injuries, they effected him from having the year that was expected. You're talking about a guy that could end up being a nice bargain. To me, he's a first day running back. I thought going into this year, if he had a big year, he could have been a first round draft choice.
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DD (Austin, MN): Hey Mel! Grea job! What will the Vikings need to do to upgrade their team?
Mel Kiper: I think what they've done already - getting a TE. What they have to do now is WR, CB and DE. Those are three areas they have to look at. Say a Gaines Adams, Jamaal Anderson, one of those two DEs, you'd have to think about. You'd have to think about a corner. But there's not a CB to take at that point. They could look WR.
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Coach Tuesday: Mel, does Marshawn Lynch have too upright of a running style for the NFL?
Mel Kiper: No. You look at upright - it can be overrated at times. There are some upright runners that have had some success in the league. He was productive this year. He went over 1,300 yards. He runs hard. I worry more about his style. He's so physical. He has so much contact. You have to worry about durability and longevity. He's tough to get to the ground. This past year, he was much more effective catching the ball. He's not quite as big as I projected him to be, but he's strong. This kid has talent.
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Michael (Indianapolis, In): With the Colts having multiple issues to fill in the draft on both sides of the ball, (DT, LB) and (WR, RB), where do you see the depth of the draft?
Mel Kiper: Typical of a team that wins a Super Bowl, they haven't had a lot of activity. They haven't signed anybody yet. They're looking at three areas, CB, OLB and DT. At the end of the first round, you just have to wait and see who slides through the cracks. I have them taking Justin Harrell in the last projection. I have a new one coming out on Friday.
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Jimmy (Houston): Oh perfectly-coiffed one, does the Ahman Green signing tell us that the Texans will not select Adrian Peterson (if he slips) or Marshawn Lynch? I know you have Levi Brown for the number 8 pick, but I think he's pretty overrated. He doesn't seem to be athletic enough to do well in the zone-blocking scheme.
Mel Kiper: Peterson wouldn't have been there. That had something to do with the Green signing. That gives them a security blanket. Green's been a workhorse who has taken a lot of hits. He turned 30 in February. A lot of people thought he'd be back in Green Bay. They have other needs other than RB. Knowing that they weren't going to get Peterson, maybe they were a little more aggressive in going after Green.
Mel Kiper: They also have to decide what they're doing at QB, which is the biggest question.
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Joe (Huntsville,AL): Is there any game changing returners in this year's draft?
Mel Kiper: There are. You look at some guys - Steve Breaston, Ryne Robinson. And the guy that's going to have to show that he can return kicks is Garrett Wolfe. That's where his future lies in the NFL.
Mel Kiper: That's a projection saying Wolfe will be a good return man, but that's what he's going to have to do.
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Wade (Missoula, MT): Do you see Jared Zabransky having a future in the NFL?
Mel Kiper: He's got a chance. I've always said I see a bit of Jeff Garcia in Zabransky. He's a little over 6-2. He ran in the 4.55. Showed athletic ability at the combine. People said he's an overachiever, but there are a lot of players in this league that don't have cannon for arms. He could be a West Coast system QB. He could carve a niche.
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John (Madison): Okoye's buzz has cooled since the Senior Bowl - is he still a #10-#15 pick?
Mel Kiper: I don't think there's a lot of buzz right now, because there's not a lot going on. He's strong, with great quickness. He's still in the top 15. I've thought that all along. You could be looking at Buffalo. I think he's one of the best 10 players in this draft.
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Jason, Seattle: Mel, where do you project Isaiah Stanbeck going, and will he be drafted on his QB ability or overall athletic ability
Mel Kiper: I think he's going to be drafted as a WR. If you look at a Brad Smith - WR with the Jets. Michael Robinson - WR for the 49ers. I look at Stanbeck as a wideout. He did a good job out there as a duel threat for Washington. He's 6-2, 216 pounds. Once he runs and goes through the whole workout, if he's in the kind of range you look for and shows some potential, he could be a guy that goes Day 2 in the draft as one of many former college QBs that turn into WRs. There's a laundry list of names of former collegiate QBs who are doing a nice job at WR in the NFL.
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Nick (Bensalem, PA): If Okoye were gone, would Alan Branch be able to play in Buffalo's Cover 2?
Mel Kiper: First of all, as far as the DT, Alan Branch is a very versatile athlete. You think he's just a space eater, but he's a very athletic kid. He did 33 reps at the combine, ran just over 5.0 at the combine. The only reason he's not a top 10 pick is because of his production. He did not make enough plays to guarantee him a spot in the top 15. He needed to dominate against the run more than he did. The production just wasn't there. You kept waiting for it, but the production never matched the physical ability. His performance put him between 15 and 25.
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abram alex (las vegas ): do you see the broncos signing dre bly or will they trade him and are they going to get another wide reciver onthe other side of javon or do they trust brandon marshall to be that guy or will they get a vetern
Mel Kiper: I think when you make a deal like that you look at what they traded and got in return. Tatum Bell and George Foster to bring back in Dre Bly. You look at it and Denver needed some help in the secondary. Bly gives them some help in an area where they needed it.
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Ryan, LaCrosse, WI: Who are the sleepers in rounds 3,4,5 that could help a NFL team?
Mel Kiper: Well, what we'll do is give some non-D-IA guys that could go in the 3, 4, 5 rounds and help out teams: Ben Patrick TE (Delaware); Laurent Robinson WR (Illinois State); Alonzo Coleman RB (Hampton); Travarous Bain CB (Hampton); Jacob Ford DE (Central Arkansas); Dennis Mitchell CB/return man (Western Kentucky); Michael Allan TE (Whitworth); Kevin Boss TE (Western Oregon); Jermon Bushrod OT (Towson); Chad Nkang LB (Elon); David Ball WR (New Hampshire). There are a number of others, but we don't have enough time to get them all in here.
Mel Kiper: Next week, we'll have a new first round projection up on the site. A lot of it will be reflective on how free agency has effected the teams. It will also have how the pro days are effecting the drafts. Next week, the chat will probably not be on Wednesday, we're going to adjust it and I'll let everyone know on Friday when the chat will be next week.
Mel Kiper: Thanks for chatting!
