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Rumors abound as NFL draft looms
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
[email protected]
You don't know what to believe or who to believe this time of year. Is it a smokescreen? Is it true? So take what you hear with a grain of salt.
Today, we've heard the Cowboys are trying to trade up to get Texas safety Earl Thomas. Depending on who you hear it from, they're either trying to trade with the 49ers or the Titans. They have had no contact with Thomas, though, and he seems small for what they want in a safety. Another rumor says they're high on USC OT Charles Brown. He's been the Cowboys' choice in a lot of mock drafts. Not that it means anything, but the Cowboys didn't have him in for a visit.
Let's be honest: No one, not even the Cowboys, knows who is going to be there at No. 27. Some player is going to fall, and it could be a player the Cowboys like. Everyone expects Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant and Idaho G/T Mike Iupati to be gone when Dallas drafts. But again, who knows?
It is a good bet that USC safety Taylor Mays will be there at No. 27.
Maryland OT Bruce Campbell's stock seems to be falling, and unless Al Davis selects him eighth overall, Campbell could fall out of the first round.
The Chiefs are poised, I hear, to pull off another draft-day surprise. It's hard to even guess who would be a surprise at No. 5. Not picking Tennessee safety Eric Berry or an OT would be a surprise to me, no matter the player. Both of those are needs for Kansas City.
The 49ers could be the landing spot for Jimmy Clausen, with the Yorks ties to Notre Dame. But can the 49ers afford another quarterback mistake? They better be sure if they're going to pick him. If the 49ers pass on Clausen, I could see him falling out of the first round.
Texans won't take S Thomas
The Houston Texans will not take Texas safety Earl Thomas with the 20th pick, if he is still on the board. They like him, but they feel like they have bigger needs at running back and cornerback. They expect Clemson running back C.J. Spiller to be gone by the time they draft. But if Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews still is available, mark him in your mock draft. That's the safest pick you'll make after the first four choices.
Steve Slaton was a 1,200-yard rusher as a rookie, but he had a neck injury last year. Gary Kubiak told me he thought Slaton's decline last season in his second year had a lot to do with the neck. Dr. Andrew Dossett, one of the Cowboys' team physicians, did the surgery on Slaton after the Texans put him on injured reserve. While the Texans are confident Slaton will be as good as new, there has to be some uncertainty there. It is a neck injury, after all. They also have to ask themselves how much did the neck injury contribute to the seven fumbles that Slaton had.
There is no doubt the Texans have to run the ball better if they are going to get to the playoffs. They ranked fourth in total offense, first in passing, but only 30th in rushing. Their lack of a running game on the goal line cost them two games, and a playoff berth.
So Mathews if the pick if he's there. If he's not, they love Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty. They like McCourty more than Boise State's Kyle Wilson. McCourty will be there if Mathews isn't, and the Texans would have their replacement for Dunta Robinson.
TCU's Hughes could be higher pick
TCU outside linebacker Jerry Hughes' stock is rising on the eve of draft day. Don't be surprised if he goes as high as No. 23 to the Packers. His teammate, Daryl Washington, could sneak into the first round too. The Saints are expected to pick the best defender on the board at No. 32, and that could be Washington.
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
[email protected]
You don't know what to believe or who to believe this time of year. Is it a smokescreen? Is it true? So take what you hear with a grain of salt.
Today, we've heard the Cowboys are trying to trade up to get Texas safety Earl Thomas. Depending on who you hear it from, they're either trying to trade with the 49ers or the Titans. They have had no contact with Thomas, though, and he seems small for what they want in a safety. Another rumor says they're high on USC OT Charles Brown. He's been the Cowboys' choice in a lot of mock drafts. Not that it means anything, but the Cowboys didn't have him in for a visit.
Let's be honest: No one, not even the Cowboys, knows who is going to be there at No. 27. Some player is going to fall, and it could be a player the Cowboys like. Everyone expects Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant and Idaho G/T Mike Iupati to be gone when Dallas drafts. But again, who knows?
It is a good bet that USC safety Taylor Mays will be there at No. 27.
Maryland OT Bruce Campbell's stock seems to be falling, and unless Al Davis selects him eighth overall, Campbell could fall out of the first round.
The Chiefs are poised, I hear, to pull off another draft-day surprise. It's hard to even guess who would be a surprise at No. 5. Not picking Tennessee safety Eric Berry or an OT would be a surprise to me, no matter the player. Both of those are needs for Kansas City.
The 49ers could be the landing spot for Jimmy Clausen, with the Yorks ties to Notre Dame. But can the 49ers afford another quarterback mistake? They better be sure if they're going to pick him. If the 49ers pass on Clausen, I could see him falling out of the first round.
Texans won't take S Thomas
The Houston Texans will not take Texas safety Earl Thomas with the 20th pick, if he is still on the board. They like him, but they feel like they have bigger needs at running back and cornerback. They expect Clemson running back C.J. Spiller to be gone by the time they draft. But if Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews still is available, mark him in your mock draft. That's the safest pick you'll make after the first four choices.
Steve Slaton was a 1,200-yard rusher as a rookie, but he had a neck injury last year. Gary Kubiak told me he thought Slaton's decline last season in his second year had a lot to do with the neck. Dr. Andrew Dossett, one of the Cowboys' team physicians, did the surgery on Slaton after the Texans put him on injured reserve. While the Texans are confident Slaton will be as good as new, there has to be some uncertainty there. It is a neck injury, after all. They also have to ask themselves how much did the neck injury contribute to the seven fumbles that Slaton had.
There is no doubt the Texans have to run the ball better if they are going to get to the playoffs. They ranked fourth in total offense, first in passing, but only 30th in rushing. Their lack of a running game on the goal line cost them two games, and a playoff berth.
So Mathews if the pick if he's there. If he's not, they love Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty. They like McCourty more than Boise State's Kyle Wilson. McCourty will be there if Mathews isn't, and the Texans would have their replacement for Dunta Robinson.
TCU's Hughes could be higher pick
TCU outside linebacker Jerry Hughes' stock is rising on the eve of draft day. Don't be surprised if he goes as high as No. 23 to the Packers. His teammate, Daryl Washington, could sneak into the first round too. The Saints are expected to pick the best defender on the board at No. 32, and that could be Washington.
