ESPN Mel Kiper 02/08 Draft Chat Wrap... 1 'boys

[WoodysGirl]

Buzzmaster: We're getting Mel!

Mel Kiper: We're looking forward to the Combine workout and where the kids are going into the Combine.


Mark Fremont Ca: Hey there Mel, Can you honestly see the Oakland Raiders drafting Darren Mcfaden if he is available at the time of their pick?

Mel Kiper: I could definitely see them drafting McFadden. That's a guy they would look at. They have to consider a RB. They have a lot of RBs in the mix, but no stand out. They're a team now that would have to say yes to him. But if it's not McFadden, I'll tell you what Dorsey would look great in a Raider uniform. They need a top flight DT. He would be a great fit for what the Raiders do.


Dane (Ohio): The cornerback class is so tough to predict, how many first rounders will be corners?

Mel Kiper: I think you could see 4, if you consider Reggie Smith a CB. He's a combo CB/S. That's Aqib Talib, Ledois McKelvin, Mike Jenkins and Smith.


Darnell (Otown): If Millen can refrain from drafting a WR, do you see them addressing some real needs?

Mel Kiper: I would say right now their needs are CB. That's their No. 1 need by far. DE is No. 2, then RB, OT, and MLB. At the 15th pick, they could be looking at Leodis McKelvin at CB. Phillip Merling, Jonathan Stewart. Those are guys that would fill the needs they have. Calais Campbell from Miami, a DE could be another possibility.


Dave B. Sharpsville, PA: Good afternoon Mel! Give me your thoughts on how Dallas will use their 2 #1's & also who you see them taking. Thank You.

Mel Kiper: In terms of Dallas, their needs are No. 1 WR, CB, OT, RB. If I had to say with WR and CB combo in the first round with their two picks - they could go Mario Manningham, Reggie Smith, Rashard Mendenhall. Those are some possibilities.


Dane (Warren): With Plaxico Burress meaning so much for the NY Giants Super Bowl run, will that cause James Hardy's stock to skyrocket?

Mel Kiper: No, I don't think they'll worry too much about what happened to Burress. Big WRs have their pluses and minuses. They have big strides and sometimes have trouble separating. But Burress was a talented kid coming out of Michigan State. James Hardy has a chance to become a late first round pick if he runs a good 40 and has a good combine, he could go high. But I don't think him being a bigger receiver will have anything to do with it.


Bill & Scott (Foxboro, MA): We, er I mean the Pats, have the 7th pick. Is that too high to snag Rivers from USC? Should we trade down with say Chicago so they can take a QB in front of Balt?

Mel Kiper: I think it's too high for Rivers. What they can look at in New England is a CB like Talib. That's too high for any LBs. Considering the way the OL was handled in the Super Bowl, they could look to add to the line. The only guy it wouldn't be too high for is a combo DE/LB like Vernon Gholston.


Luke (Madison, WI): Now that Wisconsin junior cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu tore his ACL and is likely out for the 2008 season where does he project in the upcoming April draft?

Mel Kiper: Obviously it impacts it negatively. This is a kid that had a chance to be a second round pick, even a late first rounder. The only thing that he had to show was his recovery speed. With his size, he showed some good skills. Now, the injury clouds his draft position. It puts him in a tough position. If you want to put him on the shelf for a year, you might think about him as a third or fourth round. If you have that luxury.


Sean (nj): Did Giants GM Jerry Reese prove that he had the best 2007 Draft Class?

Mel Kiper: When you get to the Super Bowl, it's not just because of the draft class. There were a lot of other things. What happened with their draft class, they got help late. The guys you remember the most are Kevin Boss, Michael Johnson, Ahmad Bradshaw, who almost went undrafted. Bradshaw was the 250th pick out of 255.


Brandon (Chicago): Mel, I read that Bears GM Jerry Angelo booked a private workout with Joe Flacco yesterday. Will Flacco still be available at the Bears second round pick (45th overall)?

Mel Kiper: I think he will right now. We still have a long way to go in this process. I think Flacco will still be around. With his arm and size, he would be attractive for the Bears.


Brad (Gadsden,Alabama): Mel, What do you think the packers biggest need is and who will they draft first?

Mel Kiper: No. 1, I would say is CB. No. 2 TE, then OG, OLB, WR. The most pressing is the CB. You talk about a league that's pass happy, you have the two starters getting up there in years. A No. 3 CB is very valuable in this league. I had the best player on the board when I did projections was Keith Rivers. They're a difficult team to project. There isn't a glaring need. You don't want to be forcing needs at pick No. 30.


Michael (Minneapolis, MN): Which reciever in this draft class is the best route runner/possesion reciever?

Mel Kiper: I like Keenan Burton from Kentucky, Marcus Henry from Kansas, Jordy Nelson from Kansas State.


Tony ( Milwaukee ): Dominique Cromartie-Rodgers of Tennessee State looked very impressive at the Senior Bowl, where do you project him ?

Mel Kiper: Rodgers-Cromartie was a stick out performer at the Senior Bowl practices. You have to like his height, recovery speed, ball skills. He jumped right in there with the major college stars. With a solid combine, he's a solid second rounder.


Steve, Texas: Mel, No questions, just a compliment on how impressive your knowledge is on not only all the players, but each team. Keep up the great work!


Steve: (NYC): If the Raiders can get Dorsey where could you see their Run Defense ranking next year with this addition? Last to......??

Mel Kiper: When you look at his explosiveness, how tough he is and his leadership are all huge assets to any defense. He's to the DT spot what Ray Lewis is to the MLB spot. In terms of energy and enthusiasm and making everyone around him better. He played through that injury this year. He's a great character guy. He's passionate about the game. I think the world of Dorsey.


Greg (Rochester, NY): How is it that late round WR's have a lot of success..for example do you remember how you had TJ Houshmanzedah rated - are you surprised by his success.

Mel Kiper: He was a good, productive player. He was tremendously productive at Oregon State. Great hands. That's the thing about the draft, it's hard to predict. That's the thing about speed. He hasn't struggled, he's been a heckuva player. The 40 times lead you down a dangerous road. That's why you see guys slide down in the draft.


Chris (Vancouver, Wa): What do you see as the Seahawks biggest needs in the early rounds of the draft?

Mel Kiper: The biggest need is a TE. They have not had a quality TE under Holmgren. They've tried. No. 2, I would say RB. Then WR, and if I had to go to No. 4, I would say OG. A guy that would look great in a Seahawks uniform it's Fred Davis from USC.


Jacob (Balto): Mel, who's the player to surprise you the most in the NFL? Someone whom you a low grade for but turned out to be great

Mel Kiper: Hmmm. A player who turned out to be better than I thought. Let's see....

Mel Kiper: From recent drafts, Nick Collins, the safety with Green Bay. I'll tell you who played well last year after not impressing the first few years is Calvin Pace from Arizona. I wasn't impressed with the pick at the time. But he could be a guy that some 3-4 teams look at as a free agent this year.

Mel Kiper: Sheldon Brown, the CB with the Eagles. Charles Grant, DE with New Orleans.


Rickey (NC): Hey Kiper, what will the panthers due with their first pick defensive end or offensive tackle?

Mel Kiper: Carolina's No. 1 need is WR. They need a compliment to Steve Smith and Jarrett is still unknown. Then an OT. Both OTs are free agents. It depends on which one they lose, right or left. No. 3, FS, then DE, RB. In the first round, they could be looking at Jeff Otah, Malcolm Kelly,


Pat: Where do you see Jamie Silva going in the draft?

Mel Kiper: He's a guy if he runs a decent 40 could be a very interesting prospect. He's a ballhawk. He makes plays. He's productive. If he runs just an OK 40, you're probably looking at 4-5 round guy. You're going to want him on your side.


Jacob (Minneapolis, MN): Who should the Vikings being going after?

Mel Kiper: They need a couple of things. First of all, they need a WR to work opposite Rice. They need to get a DE. They have to get a TE. Also, a safety. Those are the major needs. WR and DE jump off the page at you. They don't have a DE to get you sacks. They could look at Jackson at WR. Campbell from Miami at DE is a possibility.


Dane (Ohio): DeSean Jackson has world-class athleticism, but had a sub-par junior year and lacks size, could he fall out of the first round?

Mel Kiper: He could. But I don't think he will. You've got to look back at 2006. As a sophomore, he averaged 18 yards per catch. This past year, it was 11.7. He has good pass receiving skills. He has excellent speed, great feet. He's great in the open field. He's a scoreboard changer, both as a return man and a receiver. If Ted Ginn is the 9th pick to Miami last year, then Jackson shouldn't get out of the first round. But there were a couple of games this year where he was a non-factor.


Mikey(Lackawanna,NY): Who would be a nice pick for the Buffalo Bills with the 11th overall pick?

Mel Kiper: The Bills at No. 11, I would say a WR, CB, DT those are the areas. I would say Malcom Kelly, Leodis McKelvin, those are the options there.


Chris (Frankfort,KY): Mel...it there anything you think Andre' Woodson can do to put a halt to his plummeting stock? Perhaps an impressive showing at the combine...

Mel Kiper: Anything helps. At this stage, yes. The thing with QBs is that it's a gut feel. The QB is always a gut feel. If there's an OC or QB coach in the NFL that feels even though he has the hitch in his delivery and you have a feel on him, you pick him. For him, the best case I'd say right now is second round, probably the third. I wouldn't be shocked if he goes in the first, but I would expect the second.


Mike (NC): Mel, besides Rodgers-Cromartie and Flacco, what FCS or lower division players do you see getting drafted in the first 3-4 rounds?

Mel Kiper: The draftable guys from the lower levels are Nick Hill a QB from S. Illinois; Xavier Omon RB from NW Missouri State; Jerome Simpson, WR from Coastal Carolina; Charles Sullivan, WR, Hofstra; Mike Peterson, TE, NW Missouri St.; Kolo Kapanui, TE, W. Texas A+M; Heath Benedict, G/T from Newbury; Chad Rinehart, OG, Northern Iowa; Brian Johnston, DL, Gardner-Webb; Rudy Hardie, DE, Howard; Kendall Langford, DE, Hampton; Bobbie Williams, DB, Bethune-Cookman; Corey Lynch, S, Appalachain St.


John (work): Mel, can you break down the TE's a little? How big of a gap is there between USC's Davis and someone like Bennett? What round would Bennett project? Thanks

Mel Kiper: There's not a huge gap after Davis. The top TEs are Davis, Carlson, Jermichael Finley, Bennett, Rucker, Senti, Peterson, Kapanui, Barnidge, Stevens. The TE group is pretty good. There are a lot of TEs that will be playing in the NFL out of this class.


SG - Cincy: What do the Bengals do in the draft? Has to be DL right?

Mel Kiper: LB No. 1. They don't have a top drawer LB on this team. They need a DT. Pass catching TE. Depth at WR. LB and DT are pressing. I think they even could look at a DE. They could look at trading up to get a Sedrick Ellis. There's no LB to take that early. I think a DL is going to be their first round pick.


Joe (NYC): Looking back Mel, has the collective success of the '04 QB class surprised you?

Mel Kiper: No, not at all. I thought there wouldn't be a bust in that group. I thought all three would have good careers in the NFL. I rated them Manning, Roethlisberger, Rivers. I actually think Matt Ryan will have a similar grade.


Jim (Toledo, Oh): Mel, I love Ohio State, but can you give me a reason why Vernon Gholston is worth a top 6 pick?

Mel Kiper: I think he'll go because he can get after the QB. He can rush the passer. This is a guy that had 14 sacks. He had a sack against Jake Long, the only sack he gave up. He also showed he can play off his feet and be a 3-4 OLB. You talk about a guy that can close on the QB very quickly. The most important thing, though, is playing with his hand off the ground.


Tom (SC): What do you see the Saints doing with the 10th pick?

Mel Kiper: The order for their needs is: No. 1 CB; second, a playmaker on the front seven on defense, hopefully a DT; then a LB, their LBs combined for just 7 sacks; a TE, their TE averaged just 7 yards per catch; and a WR, but they need Meechem to develop. That leads you to Balmer or McKelvin. If they're fortunate and Aqib Talib is still there, they take him at 10.


Christian (St. Augustine, FL): Mel, what would you expect the Buccaneers to do sitting at pick #20?

Mel Kiper: Their main need is WR. No. 2 is RB. Williams is coming off an injury. They need a gamebreaker. They need to develop a young CB. WR is definitely No. 1. They could be looking at a guy like Manningham, Swead or Felix Jones.


Marc (Charlotte, NC): Why is Omar Cuff of Delaware not even cracking the top 25 RBs on anyone's board? I know he is 1AA but you can't argue his production in yards and TDs.

Mel Kiper: We had 8 quality Jr. RBs come out early. When you have 8 juniors come out, it pushes down the seniors. Cuff is a guy that can work into the mix. He's a late rounder or undrafted free agent. If Ahmad Bradshaw almost went undrafted last year, I doubt you'll see Cuff drafted this year. He'll have to battle his way on to a roster as a free agent.


Todd (Reading, PA): Hi Mel, What direction do you see the Dolphins going with the #1 pick?

Mel Kiper: I talked about it on the mailbag section on ESPN.com, I talked about the possibility of Matt Ryan. If they're not sold on John Beck, this new regime, you take Matt Ryan. If you think Beck can be the answer, you go another direction. I said it last week and I said it now, Bill Parcells drafted Drew Bledsoe in New England and now with Matt Ryan, he could become his guy. I said before, he could have a career like Manning and those guys.

Mel Kiper: We'll be back next Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET. Back to the regular schedule. We'll be a week away from the combine.

 

[NorthTexan95]

Geez ... according to Mel just about every NFL team has CB as a first or second most need.

 

[peplaw06]

Dane (Ohio): The cornerback class is so tough to predict, how many first rounders will be corners?

Mel Kiper: I think you could see 4, if you consider Reggie Smith a CB. He's a combo CB/S. That's Aqib Talib, Ledois McKelvin, Mike Jenkins and Smith.


Luke (Madison, WI): Now that Wisconsin junior cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu tore his ACL and is likely out for the 2008 season where does he project in the upcoming April draft?

Mel Kiper: Obviously it impacts it negatively. This is a kid that had a chance to be a second round pick, even a late first rounder. The only thing that he had to show was his recovery speed. With his size, he showed some good skills. Now, the injury clouds his draft position. It puts him in a tough position. If you want to put him on the shelf for a year, you might think about him as a third or fourth round. If you have that luxury.

So would anyone be stoked if we got Cason in the 2nd, Ikegwuonu in the 4th, and went some combo of OT, RB, and WR with our two 1sts and 3rd?

 

[Pabst]

Geez ... according to Mel just about every NFL team has CB as a first or second most need.

It's kind of understandable, though. The league has gone pass-happy in recent years, and this is the result. There just isn't enough quality corners to keep up with the recievers being churned out, especially when teams have dangerous 3rd/TE/slot reciever who can burn a teams third corner (See: J. Reeves).

 

[miamicowboy21]

No way Cromartie makes it out of the first round.

 

[masomenos]

Michael (Minneapolis, MN): Which reciever in this draft class is the best route runner/possesion reciever?

Mel Kiper: I like Keenan Burton from Kentucky, Marcus Henry from Kansas, Jordy Nelson from Kansas State.

This is the first mention of Burton that I've seen anywhere. Burton would be a terrific addition to the Cowboys WR corp.

[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Positives: Has the ideal frame you look for in a receiver, with a muscular upper body, very low body fat (4.4&#37, well-defined midsection, long arms and tapered thighs and calves...Demonstrates the change-of-direction agility and low pads to slip under tackles in attempts to gain separation after the catch...Has the timed speed to threaten the deep areas of the secondary, but with his strength and ability to shield the ball from defenders, he has been very effective as a possession receiver...Uses his hands well to defeat the jam at the line of scrimmage and has the loose hips and crisp cutting ability to make the initial tackler miss...Will power through the "chuck" and knows how to use his change-of-direction agility and swim moves to get a clean release...Very good at settling underneath, showing the balance and body control to make shoestring grabs or extend to catch outside his frame...Will push and shove off the defenders with his strong hands in attempts to gain separation and builds to top speed nicely heading down field...Very flexible in his route progression, showing the stop-and-go action to instantly redirect, along with good thrust to be competitive taking on defenders in attempts to get into his route...Has the burst to get on top of the defense and shows nice body control adjusting to the deep ball in flight...Alert to coverage and easily locates the soft areas in a zone...Able to adjust on his routes when on the move and is aware of the sidelines, but it is his ability to set up defenders downfield that sets him apart from others...Has the ability to adjust in his route and get open if the quarterback is forced to scramble, showing good awareness to the sidelines and down marker...It is very rare to see any hesitation in his play, especially when going over the middle to compete for the ball, as he can take a hit and hang on in close quarters...Efficient in-line blocker with the balance and hand technique to provide solid crack blocks for the ground game...Hunts for blockers downfield and will not hesitate to lay an opponent out...Has a true playmaker's mentality, as he will not hesitate to sacrifice his body...One of those "first to enter, last to leave" types in the training room and spends countless hours breaking down opposing game film...Too strong to jam at the line of scrimmage and uses his hip swerve efficiently to avoid defenders to get into his route progression...Used a lot on shallow and wheel routes, as he has the strength to power his way to the ball in the crowd...Has the long reach to get under the fade and bubble screen and, when utilized on crossing patterns, he can turn upfield in an instant after the catch...Made steady improvement extending for the ball with defenders all over him, and is effective at dropping his hips and separating out of his cuts...Has outstanding hand-eye coordination, seeing the ball as it arrives while generating the moves needed to uncover...When he keeps his pads down instead of getting erect in his stance, he is much more effective at gaining and eating up the defensive back's cushion...In the early stages of 2007, he did a better job of planting and cutting out of his breaks...Does a good job running at a proper pad level and coming out of his breaks cleanly when working underneath...Uses his size well to shade the defender and demonstrates the balance and body control to catch the ball and turn upfield without having to break stride...Always alert to coverage and where to locate defenders...Keeps his feet when catching along the sidelines and plays with uncanny instincts to find the zone's soft areas...His ability to adjust to the thrown ball underneath stands out on film...Has the speed to get open when working in a crowd and blocks out all activity around him to concentrate on the ball in flight, knowing how to use his long reach and hands to extend and catch the pass at its highest point...His long reach lets him catch the wheel and crossing routes without having to break stride...Looks natural extending for the ball in flight and has the body control to get into position and make plays over his outside shoulder...H 43 1/2-inch vertical is one of the best figures in college football and along with his 6-foot frame and long arm reach (34 1/8-inches), he is an inviting target for quarterbacks when working over the middle...Has good hand strength to gain position as a blocker and uses his upper-body power to defeat the jam and get into his route. He is a strong runner who can power through defenders who fail to properly wrap up...Also has that stop-and-go action that makes defenders miss...Natural hands catcher with the ball skills to make plays on it outside of his frame...Will more often power through the initial tackle to gain yardage after the catch rather than attempt to execute a fake or a juke to elude...More effective stalking or executing the cut blocks along the perimeter or in the second level than blocking in-line...Competes to stay on his blocks and takes good angles to neutralize linebackers when playing in space.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Negatives: Might get a little bit erect in his stance coming off the snap, but he has that ability to get into his routes instantly, using his hands with force to push off the press...On deep routes, could utilize his second gear more effectively and he will drift at times when going long distances...Has good turning motion to catch the ball over his outside shoulder, but does not turn as quick when having to look the ball in over his inside shoulder on deep throws...Has the loose hips and acceleration to ride up on a defender, but could be more sudden when trying to separate on deep throws...Continues to improve as a route-runner, but despite his speed, he does not always run with a smooth stride, especially at the top of the route...Because he is used so often on short-to-intermediate routes than in the deep-area game, it is difficult to get a true feel for his separation ability...Has great jumping ability, but needs to time his leaps better in the deep zone (had 35 passes to him deflected by the opposition during his career), but once he elevates, he has the strength and reach to get to balls at their highest point...Will cradle to catch, but when he extends for the pass, he will generally get to most throws...Can play with pain, but has had a high number of injuries the last few years that could lead to concerns about his durability.[/FONT]

[SIZE=-2][FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Burton is a guy who is probably looking at being a 4th or 5th round choice right now due to his injuries. Talent wise I think he's probably top 5 in this class, he's just an outstanding WR who understands the position and the game. I see his injuries more as a run of bad luck than anything and would gladly spend a mid round pick on the guy and have him be the only WR that we draft. Burton is going to turn into a very good #2 WR for someone and I'd be thrilled if it were us. [/FONT]

[/SIZE]

 

[morieeel]

[/B] Might get a little bit erect in his stance coming off the snap,

Sounds like a personal problem....:laugh1:

Seriously after watching the Giants postseason, I'm suprised that teams aren't looking at D-lineman as opposed to DB's.

 

[Muhast]

Dave B. Sharpsville, PA: Good afternoon Mel! Give me your thoughts on how Dallas will use their 2 #1's & also who you see them taking. Thank You.

Mel Kiper: In terms of Dallas, their needs are No. 1 WR, CB, OT, RB. If I had to say with WR and CB combo in the first round with their two picks - they could go Mario Manningham, Reggie Smith, Rashard Mendenhall. Those are some possibilities.

why mention a rb in our "WR /CB combo"

 

[Rack]

Dave B. Sharpsville, PA: Good afternoon Mel! Give me your thoughts on how Dallas will use their 2 #1's & also who you see them taking. Thank You.

Mel Kiper: In terms of Dallas, their needs are No. 1 WR, CB, OT, RB. If I had to say with WR and CB combo in the first round with their two picks - they could go Mario Manningham, Reggie Smith, Rashard Mendenhall. Those are some possibilities.

Mel doesn't do his homework, does he?

We won't be drafting a WR in the first. If he ever listened to Wade and JJ talk, he'd know this.

 

[HardHittingRoy31]

It's hard to believe that Kiper gets paid all that money to be wrong, year in year out.

 

[TheCount]

It's hard to believe that Kiper gets paid all that money to be wrong, year in year out.

It's good work if you can get it.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

guess we can go rest now--Mel has spoken.

 

[BourbonBalz]

This is the first mention of Burton that I've seen anywhere. Burton would be a terrific addition to the Cowboys WR corp.

[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]....[/FONT]

[SIZE=-2][FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Burton is a guy who is probably looking at being a 4th or 5th round choice right now due to his injuries. Talent wise I think he's probably top 5 in this class, he's just an outstanding WR who understands the position and the game. I see his injuries more as a run of bad luck than anything and would gladly spend a mid round pick on the guy and have him be the only WR that we draft. Burton is going to turn into a very good #2 WR for someone and I'd be thrilled if it were us. [/FONT]

[/SIZE]

Being a life-long UK fan, I can attest to the fact that Burton is a damn good receiver. I wouldn't mind him at all. The best thing is he's clutch.

 

[Biggems]

id love to sign that Wisconsin CB as a UDFA.....then immediately put him on the PUP list. Let him fully recover and then bring him in to compete for a roster spot in 2009.

 

[firehawk350]

id love to sign that Wisconsin CB as a UDFA.....then immediately put him on the PUP list. Let him fully recover and then bring him in to compete for a roster spot in 2009.

Wouldn't somebody take him as a flyer in the 6th or 7th round? I mean, if he's as good as everyone says he is, I think a late-round pick would be worth it to get an excellent DB for 09.

 

[dogberry]

How likely is Ikegwuonu to sit out the year rather than sign a sixth round contract? I'm in favor of signing injured ones and twos late, but they can turn us down.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Rogers Cromartie is the guy I like late 1st round, he'll be a nice NFL player...