By Paul M. Banks
For round 1 click here
Click on the following highlighted/bold phrases to read our:
4 Things I Learned at the NFL Combine
As always, you can check out my College Football and NFL blogs on the Washington Times.com by clicking the hyperlinked text.
For our NBA Mock Draft click here
Team Player Position School
33. St. Louis Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU
Here’s one of the biggest winners at the combine this week. The versatile and seasoned Hughes will bring acumen and speed to Stl.’s paper thin front seven. Yes I do see the Rams going defense in both of the first two rounds.
34. Detroit Carlos Dunlap DE Detroit
The Lions have had a pretty rough go of it with their draft picks lately, so they’re due for another one to pan out, right? Dunlap’s DUI has hurt his stock immensely, but his pass-rushing skills and explosiveness will get him noticed. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the best combine, and he generated a couple more red flags.
35. Tampa Bay Jared Odrick DT Penn State
If the Buccaneers opponents had a theme song, it would be Black-Eyed Peas: “running running and running running”, because that’s exactly what they’re opponents did to them. With the addition of Griffen, the run defense can maybe “get it started in here”.
Regarding the talents and abilities of Odrick himself, I asked him about the best part of his game, “I hate this question. I let people decide that for me. I just try to be a smart player. If you’re a smart player than you can play faster, more efficient and that’s really what I want to try and do,” Odrick said.
To read the complete profile and exclusive of Odrick click here
36. Kansas City Ryan Mathews RB Fresno St
Why not upgrade the depth at tailback this draft? You do recall that whole “incident” with Larry Johnson this fall, correct?
For an in-depth profile, exclusive interview of Mathews click here
The Chiefs desperately need a boost to their running game and Mathews would be perfect. His running style has been described as many things: elusive, balanced, powerful, even, consistent, reliable, Fergalicious…well maybe not that last one.
37. Washington Vladimir Ducasse, OT, Massachusetts
The earthquake in Haiti hit this big man hard. He immigrated to the United States ’02 and most of his family still lives there. Hopefully for him, this April will bring some sunshine (and a big paycheck) into his life. Ducasse did not allow a sack last fall, and only allowed 4 during his career.
38. Cleveland Nate Allen S USF
The secondary is one of many areas where the Browns are desperate for help. This pick is subject to change pending outcome of combine results
39. Oakland Bruce Carter OLB North Carolina
Raiders could use a play-maker to sharpen up their run defense. This pick is of course contingent on Carter running a sub 4.5 at the combine in Indianapolis
40. Seattle Devin McCourty DB
The secondary is one of many areas where Seattle could use some help. This pick is subject to change pending outcome of combine results
41. Buffalo Dekoda Watson, OLB, Florida State
The 2nd fastest LB at the combine, and he has good size to boot
42. Tampa Bay (from Chicago) Selvish Capers OT West Virginia
I would advise Tampa’s offensive backfield in the same manner I would a dude going out with a slutty girl- get/use some protection. And Capers is prospect with a stock on the rise. He’s not just big, but also agile and quick, even seeing time at Tight End during his stay in beautiful Morgantown.
43. Miami Terrence Cody DT Alabama
To read an in-depth profile and interview of Terrence Cody, click here
Cody is a big time anchor guy who could go higher if he got into shape (well he is in a shape- he’s round) throughout the combine and workout process. He is a perfect 3-4 true nose tackle, but scouts worry about his conditioning and stamina. By the way, the Dolphins could REALLY use a nose tackle. However, many wonder is can keep his weight under control enough to really be solid contributor in this league.
44. New England (from Jacksonville) Golden Tate WR Notre Dame
After Moss, Welker, and Edelman, the Pats have NADA at WR, so they’ll grab this reliable, but undersized burner. There’s a drop-off from Bryant and Benn to Tate, when it comes to WR prospects, because there are many more questions about Golden than there are about Dez. Some wonder if Tate is too small. He measured below what they expected he would at the combine. Lowering his stock. Then he ran faster than expected, raising his stock; so I left him right back where he was before the combine.
45. Denver Eric Decker WR Minnesota
So many receivers have seen their stock drop from Combine week that Decker has slid right into this spot. No one can deny his speed, athleticism, toughness, heart and desire for the game
For an in-depth profile, exclusive interview of Decker click here,
46. New York Giants Chad Jones S LSU
Safety is a primary need in Gotham and Jones is a hard-hitter who seems to have a nose for the ball.
47. New England (from Tennessee) Navorro Bowman LB Penn State
The Pats’ struggles and injuries to the front seven this season have been a constant reminder that this draft will no doubt focus on the defensive side of the ball. Bowman’s stock dropped A LOT at the combine. There were questions about his character heading in, and now there’s a buzz about his lack of speed in the drills. Concerns have been strong enough to drop him out of the first round.
For an interview/profile of Bowman, click here
48. Carolina Darryl Clark QB Penn State
The Panthers had one of the worst quarterbacking situations in the NFL this past season, maybe they’ll address that first. Clark’s mobility, leadership and throwing accuracy make him a tantalizing prospect.
For a feature profile/interview of Clark click here
49. San Francisco Arthur Jones DT Syracuse
Jones’ is a gap filler and stronger than Arnold Schwarznegger during the height of his steroid using days. He is in a Pat Williams type run stopper that will be look like a man amongst boys at times. He plays hard on every play and is of the rare breed of football players that will never quit on any play.
50. Kansas City (from Atlanta) Javier Arenas CB Alabama
Arenas, has a drive and work ethic that few can match. And most importantly, he doesn’t have the crazy streak possessed by his gun-toting relative. “Out of high school, I had probably like three solid offers, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, and I guess here the last week of the signing process. I never really thought about it giving me motivation, because regardless, I was going to go out there and give it my all, whenever I was working on the football field,” Arenas said.
To read an in-depth profile/interview of Gilbert Arenas’ cousin Javier, click here
51. Houston Tyson Alualu DE/DT California
The big, strong Polynesian has versatility (which should get him plenty of playing time on the next level) and a knack for penetrating the opponents’ backfields.
52. Pittsburgh Geno Atkins DT Georgia
Whatever diet Atkins is on, it’s working! Or his conditioning habits are…or both! Geno followed up an excellent Senior Bowl week with a stellar combine, kicking ass and taking names in both the speed and strength drills
53. New England Sergio Kindle DE/LB Texas
His ability to play multiple positions in the front seven is reminiscent of current Patriot Adalius Thomas (but Thomas may not be a Pat by the time Kindle arrives) Nevertheless, Kindle makes perfect sense as Foxboro has made no secret they’re going in a younger direction in the defensive front 7.
54. Cincinnati Jon Asamoah OG Illinois
To read an in-depth profile/exclusive of Asamoah click here.
Cincy could use some help at the guard position, and Asamoah is a great combination of strength, quickness and agility. As a UI grad, it’s frustrating to think about how poorly most Illini offenses have performed this decade given all the NFL talent they’re produced on the OL (Duke Preston, Brandon Moore, David Diehl, Ryan McDonald etc.) The squandering of talent drove the Illini community to drink heavily (as you can see from the picture below).
55. Philadelphia Taylor Mays S USC
Mays absolutely killed his own draft stock during Senior Bowl week, but I have a feeling the combine, where he’ll show off his ridonkulous speed, will redeem it somewhat.
56. Green Bay Perrish Cox CB Oklahoma St.
Does GB need help in the secondary? Did you watch that playoff game against Arizona? There’s your answer. And at 6 feet tall, he’s got great size for a corner, and he’ll be a great asset in the return game too. He led all active FBS players and holds the Big 12 and OSU record with four career kickoff returns for touchdowns. Cox was the 2008 All-America kick returner as selected by Sportsline.com
57. Baltimore Sherrick McMannis CB Northwestern
If McMannis has a good combine, he should land in the second round. He has great closing speed, but…scouts question his ability to stay healthy
58. Arizona Daryl Washington LB TCU
Zona’s D hasn’t exactly been the strongest at times this season (especially against the pass, and in between the hashes. Enter Washington, who could fit in well on the inside and be a help in shutting down the short-mid range passing game
59. Dallas Mike Johnson G Alabama
Cowboys could use some help in the interior blocking department and Johnson should be the best on the board at this point.
60. San Diego Jahvid Best RB California
You can’t use the obvious pun on his name to describe his place in this year’s running back class. But he is easily the second best- especially after that eye-catching 40 time he registered at the combine. Chargers start to rebuild after losing LT. This is a good place to start
61. New York Jets Kameron Chancellor S Virginia Tech
Chancellor has said that he attempts to emulate the former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, and said, “[He was a] big safety, the prototype guy for the position. I’m a big safety, too, and I’ve just always wanted to be just like him. I don’t necessarily say I can be Sean Taylor before it’s over, but I think I can be just as good.”
62. Minnesota Jermaine Cunningham DE Florida
Cunningham isn’t as explosive as his teammate Carlos Dunlap but he is more reliable on a play by play basis. He gets to the quarterback with regularity and makes a lot of tackles in the run game as well.
63. Indianapolis Brandon Ghee DB Wake Forest
Ghee is a both physical and fast, especially in his backpedal.
64. New Orleans Sean Lee LB Penn State
So what would this prospect bring to the Saints’ proverbial table? “I think my leadership, my intensity, a sense of urgency in trying to become a better player, encouraging others to become a better player,” Lee says.
For an in-depth profile/exclusive interview of Lee click here
To read Round One click here
As always, you can check out my College Football and NFL blogs on the Washington Times.com by clicking the hyperlinked text.
For our NBA Mock Draft click here
See ya next round maybe?
Garrett Graham TE Wisconsin For an in-depth profile, exclusive interview of Graham click here Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati, Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida, Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss, Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech, Brandon LaFell WR LSU, DamianWilliams WR USC, Rob Gronkowski, , Aaron Hernandez TE Florida, Dan LeFevour QB Central Michigan, Colt McCoy QB Texas For a profile/interview of McCoy click here,