Mel Kiper: We've got the combine at the horizon. We can talk about the players that need to have a good combine and others that need to put to rest them moving down. The guys that need to keep the momentum going and the guys that want to stop the downward spiral.
John (Orlando, FL): Will a sub-par 40 time drop James Hardy into the mid 2nd round?
Mel Kiper: I think he's a second rounder/late first anyway. His speed is the question. Getting separation from the CB is the question. Can he give the QB a window. That's the big question. It's more about explosiveness and quickness than just speed. He's a big receiver, he's 6-6. He's always been a borderline first anyway. What he's trying to do is maintain that second round grade.
Gray (Chicago): I am not expecting it to happen, but is Brohm being available to the Bears at 14 their worst nightmare?
Mel Kiper: I don't think they're going to take a QB in the first round, right around that particular spot. I think you're talking about OT, RB, WR. I think they'll go away from QB. And it's a little early for Brohm. He's not in my top 25 right now. I think they could go for a QB in the second round. How would Brohm look in the second round? Flacco? Henne? They'll all be there in the second round.
Kevin (Arlington, VA): Mel, Do you have a late round QB to watch....one that might emerge as a starter down the road?
Mel Kiper: A couple of guys. You're always looking for those kind of guys. History tells us, not just with Tom Brady, but Matt Hasselback, David Garrard, Marc Bulger. Those are some guys. You're always looking to find those guys. They all went from the third round and on. The guys that would be in that mold this year, I think there's a chance Colt Brennan could be there in the 5th-6th round. Caleb Hanie, Nick Hill, Dennis Dixon is a wild card due to his knee injury. Those are the guys. Even Matt Flynn from LSU. Josh Johnson. They will figure into that late round mix.
Vinny(New York): Mel which of the top players might slip ala Brady Quinn this year?
Mel Kiper: I think of the top guys that could slide a little bit....first of all, the top guys aren't defined yet. Not until the combine. There's always a chance, like Adrian Peterson, that a RB could slip a little bit. Maybe a McFadden could drop a bit. Probably a RB could slip. But right now it's too early to say who all could slip.
Mike oakland,Ca: Do you think limus sweed is a better fit in dallas than Super Mario manningham?
Mel Kiper: I think Manningham would be a real good fit. Sweed is coming off an injury. Sweed hasn't played since Oct. 6. Manningham is the best deep receiver in the draft. What you wish is that he was a bigger on the inside. But he had a lot of catches in his career. If he was a little more consistent, he would be a top 15 pick in the first round.
David (Phoenix, Az): The Cardinals need lots of help. With the RB being very good and deep this year, would they be foolish to pass on Stewart, RB Oregon, and take a Lb or a CB?
Mel Kiper: The RB is going to be interesting, because of the tandem with James. Stewart, Mendenhall, Felix Jones, you could go any one of those directions if you're Arizona. But it wouldn't be ridiculous to take a RB later. This team does have a major need area at CB. If a top CB is there, they could go CB over RB very easily. They also have a need at OLB. The guys who would figure to be there are CB or RB.
Dave (Boston): If the Patriots stay at #7 and do not draft a CB, who do you see them selecting?
Mel Kiper: If they don't take a CB at that point, it's too early for LB, but that's a major need for them. If they don't take a CB, maybe a WR. The only one that would make sense at that point would be Malcom Kelly. Their OL had all sorts of problems in the Super Bowl, but I don't see them going that route. But if there's no one they see, they could trade down.
Matt Pletcher (Sanford FL): Does Kentwan Balmer slip to pittsburgh at 23?
Mel Kiper: I would doubt it. I think he's more of a mid-first. I think he could go as high as 10 to New Orleans. He could be a possibility in the middle of the first. I would be surprised if he dropped to 23. I would look more at a guy like Chilo Rachal, an OG.
Dan vermont: Who has the most to win and lose in the combine?
Mel Kiper: The guys that need to have a good combine, just to keep favorable commentary coming their way. Joe Flacco from Delaware. A guy that's underrated, Chris Johnson. He could turn some heads. John Carlson, a TE from Notre Dame. I think it will be very important for the CBs to separate themselves. Talib, McKelvin, Jenkins, Rodgers-Cromartie, Flowers, Jackson. It's critical for Jackson to run a good 40 to show he's more than a Cover-2 CB.
Mark (Baltimore): Gholston - Is he a classic "tweener" that the Ravens love, or will his hand always be in the dirt? =
Mel Kiper: He could be a 4-3 end or a 3-4 OLB. He has the ability to play in a 3-4 or 4-3. He played with his hand off the field some this season. He gave Jake Long his only sack allowed this year. I feel very good about how I graded out the juniors at an early stage. I have him going to the Jets.
Mikey(Lackawanna,NY): Mel, Do you think CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has a good shot at sliding into the 1st round with a good combine performance?
Mel Kiper: He's one of the ones that could. He could be a first round possibility. I would say more second round, because I go back to Mathis going in the second round a few years ago. I would say late first would be a possibility. Mike Jenkins needs a good combine. There will be a lot of battles for that third CB spot.
Dan vermont: Do you see the Giants selecting a DB with the last pick of the 1st round?
Mel Kiper: As far as needs, LB is at the top for the Giants. I think S/CB is No. 2. It would not surprise me if they looked at that at the end of the first round. They could look at Reggie Smith from Oklahoma. Kenny Phillips, Mike Jenkins, Brandon Flowers. In the first round right now, I have them taking Dan Connor.
Johnny Minot, ND: Are the vikes in the market for a defensive end or a wide reciever in the first round?
Mel Kiper: I'd say first round wise, for them, WR could be the possibility. DE would be No. 2 and S No. 3. WR is the No. 1 priority. If he's there, it would be Malcom Kelly. I don't see a WR where they're picking that would be all that attractive. If they wanted to reach a little bit, it could be DeSean Jackson. If a guy like Calais Campbell is there, they might jump after him.
Kyle (Boston): How will the combine affect matt ryan?
Mel Kiper: If you like Matt Ryan, you already like him. If you're Miami, you know he's your guy. What's a workout going to show you? He has the ability to be the No. 1 pick overall. He's clearly one of the top 3 guys in the draft. If you don't know who you like at QB, you're not going to find him at the combine. You need to find him when bullets are flying - in the games. A workout is not going to make you say that you're going to take this guy. What a combine can do is move somebody up a little bit if he wows you over.
Mel Kiper: You know about the guys before the combine. No kidding Joe Flacco has a big arm. No kidding Chad Henne has a big arm. If you're watching the games, you know about these guys already.
mike(detroit): Can the draft help the lions? It seems to just hinder our cap and degrade lions fans souls
Mel Kiper: This is a huge draft for the Lions. They were a team that thought they were a playoff team early in the year, but fell off. They need to get two CBs, not just one. They have to get a pass rushing DE. They need an OT. They also need a RB. They're going to run the ball now. You're going to see more of a running game. They also could use a MLB. That's the identity of your defense.
Mel Kiper: CB, DE, RB, OT and MLB, in that order. If you're looking at CB, you're talking Talib or McKelvin. If you're looking DE, Merling or Campbell. At RB, it's Stewart or Mendenhall. And if it's OT, you could be looking at Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, Jeff Otah. Those are some of the options.
Chris (Los Angeles): Do you see any chance of Chris Long falling to the Raiders? Would they take him?
Mel Kiper: It depends upon where the Raiders are picking. At this combine, there's a coin flip to determine where they pick. Them and Detroit. If they win, they'll pick third. I think there's a chance. It depends on the coin flip and the Rams. If the Rams take Dorsey, then Oakland could be looking at Long or Ellis. Also, Atlanta then could be looking at McFadden. The Raiders resigned Fargas at RB. But the Raiders are gauranteed Dorsey, Long or Ellis.
Matt Chicago, IL: Do you think Missouri's Martin Rucker could make the transition to a Marques Colston type offensive threat?
Mel Kiper: No. He's a TE. I don't see him making any change to another position. He's 6-4, 240 pounds. He's a pass catching TE. You can move him around. They're going to use him in a lot of different ways. They can flex him out to the slot. You can utilize him in different ways and use him as a WR. What's going to be seen about him is how he runs at the combine. He could be as high as the fourth TE drafted or as low as the 7th.
Bob (Oakland): Hey Mel, Where do you see Cal's Desean Jackson going, and do the 49ers have a chance at him?
Mel Kiper: I think they could. They could have a shot at the other Cal WR, Lavelle Hawkins. He's right in there with Jackson. The thing with DeSean is, do you draft him based on '07? If so, he's a 2-3 rounder at best. He didn't have a great year. Back as a sophomore in '06, he was a top 15 pick. Now he's only 167 pounds, but he's a dynamic performer. For me, I'd say late first round, he's a good pick for somebody. There's no question the 49ers would be interested. They need a WR in the first round. A lot of teams need a WR. Washington could take one,
Dallas, Tennesse, San Francisco.
Barbato (Scranton, PA): What NFL player, past or present, does Mike Hart remind you of?
Mel Kiper: I think a Joe Morris/Jamie Morris. They both had nice careers in the NFL.
Mel Kiper: I think he's a second or third rounder.
A-Lo (Rochester, NY): Mel, who do the dolphins target with their 2 2nd round picks?
Mel Kiper: I think when you look at them, I think you probably go front seven on defense and I would probably go CB or WR with the second pick.
Ryan (Tampa): Mel, how do you see the oft-maligned former FSU quarterback Xavier Lee doing in the draft? Does his athleticism get him noticed as a project-type player for some team?
Mel Kiper: It's interesting. He could have gone back to FSU and been a TE. I don't see his future in the NFL as a QB. We've seen a lot of QBs turn into NFL WRs. With his size, I could see Lee becoming a TE. You look at him, you think there has to be an opportunity to be a project. That's why I thought that if he had played at FSU this year and played well at TE, he could have helped himself a bit. If NFL teams are going to look at you as a TE, why not go back and play TE?
Mel Kiper: He should have welcomed the chance to play another year at FSU and played TE.
Jacob Russell (Dayton, OH): What should the Chiefs do with their pick in the draft?
Mel Kiper: Jake Long would be the guy you have to target if you're KC. OL is their No. 1 need. LT or RT and they need a G. Long would be the ideal fit. Other needs that they have to solidify is they need to get younger at CB. They have to get another WR. Other than Bowe, there's not a lot to speak of at WR. I'd come out of this draft with three OL if I were the Chiefs.
Denys (Miami): Hey Mel, is Matt Ryan worthy of being #1 pick for the Dolphins? Is this feasible?
Mel Kiper: Yeah, he does. His grade to me is equal to what Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers. So, no question he's worthy.
Peter ( Simi, CA ): Who do you see the Bucs targeting in the 1st, deep threat WR or CB?
Mel Kiper: Tampa Bay, No. 1, they need a WR. Their offense needs to have more diversity and big play ability. Joey Galloway is not getting any younger. Plus he desperately needs a complimentary WR. Plus another RB. They don't know when Williams is coming back. They need a breakaway guy to compliment Earnest Graham. No. 3, they need a young CB. Those are the three areas.
Barbato (Scranton, PA): Is there any divison II players that anyone should be looking at?
Mel Kiper: The non-I-A guys that you'd be looking at: Nick Hill, QB, S. Illinois; Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego; Xavier Omon, RB, NW Missouri St.; Tim Hightower, RB, Richmond; Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina; Bruce Hocker, WR, Duquesne; Mike Peterson, TE, NW Missouri St.; Kolo Kapanui, TE, W. Texas A+M; Demetrius Bell, OT, Northwestern St. (LA); Brian Johnston, DE, Gardner-Webb; Rudy Hardie, DE, Howard; Kroy Biermann, DE, Montana; Korey Lynch, S, Appalachain St.; Rob Zarrilli, PK, Hofstra; Mike Dragosavich, P, N. Dakota St.
Mel Kiper: And Benjamin Dato, P, Fordham.
Jim: Ocean Springs: Mel, the college CB's are rated differently by almost everyone I've read. Without question the Saints need CB help, bad! So, what do you see the Saints doing with their #10 pick?
Mel Kiper: I think it's going to be a DT or CB. I say DT because if Kentwan Balmer is there, he's going to be hard to pass up. You need someone who can collapse the pocket and create havoc in the interior. If they want to go CB, then Aqib Talib or McKelvin.
Josh, Statesboro GA: Hey bro, your the best, do you really think that Falcons will build the O-line and D-line first? Does that draft make sense for them to do that?
Mel Kiper: I think what they have to do early on is to figure out what they want to do with that first pick. They have some major needs. QB, but Matt Ryan is going to be gone. They have nothing resembling a pro bowl caliber player on the OL. LT is a possibility. If they wanted to look at Jake Long, he could be there. They could look at RB like Darren McFadden. They could go in any one of those directions. They also need help at FS.
kyle (kansas): who are the best centers in this class, and what rounds are they projected to go?
Mel Kiper: It's a very mediocre center group. I think Steve Justice at Wake Forest is a 3-4 round guy. Cody Wallace is more of a 5-6 round. Kory Lichtensteiger out of Bowling Green is a 5-6 rounder. Mike Pollak from ASU is a 6-7 round guy. Jamey Richard is a late round/undrafted guy.
Will (Austin,TX): Where will Jamaal Charles go in the draft? Any chance my Cowobys can land him with their low second round pick? Thanks for your time!
Mel Kiper: I think he is a second round pick. The thing that makes him interesting is that he's a home run hitter. He only carried the ball 20 or more times just one time his first two years at Texas. This past season, there were 6 games that he carried the ball over 20 times. He runs with determination between the tackles. He scored 18 TDs this year. He's definitely a second rounder. I can't see him getting into the third round.
Mel Kiper: If he got into the third round, you're getting phenomenal value.
Jay, Louisville KY: What position should the Seahawks be looking at in the 1st round? Does anyone jump off the page at the end of the 1st round that would help thier running game?
Mel Kiper: The No. 1 need on this team is TE. I think Fred Davis the TE from USC makes some sense. Mike Holmgren wants the TE to be a part of this offense. They're snakebite in trying to find TEs. Another position they need help in is that they need a RB. I think Chris Johnson would be a great pick for somebody. They also could be looking at a WR.
Mel Kiper: Also, an OG is another position of need. But definitely TE and RB are at the top of the list.
Mel Kiper: Well, we're moving through this process full steam ahead. When we talk next Wednesday, the combine will be over. My next first round projection goes up on ESPN.com on Tuesday, March 4. That will include the combine. Movers and shakers. Guys moving up and down. That will all be coming up next week.
