Around the NFL: Draft Primer
It’s finally here! The NFL Draft has finally come and I can’t wait to find out where all the stars have gone. This week’s column will talk about the top five prospects and where they might end up, while also mentioning a big name changing teams.
Chief to Falcon
Certain first ballot Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzales has been traded to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2010 second round pick. This is a great move for everyone involved. Gonzales gets to go to a playoff team that’s a little closer to contending for a championship than Kansas City is. The Falcons get a badly needed target underneath and an extra weapon for young quarterback Matt Ryan. The Chiefs get a second round pick in the 2010 draft to help plug more holes on their roster. This is a great situation for everyone involved and it even has draft implications. Prior to this trade, it was assumed that the Falcons would use their first round pick on TE Brandon Pettigrew from Oklahoma State, should he be available. This changes that, giving the Falcons the flexibility to take the best available defensive player, which is another need position. Expect them to go after one of the top LB’s like Brian Cushing, DT Peria Jerry, or perhaps CB Vontae Davis if they like him enough.
The Top Five Players
Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia – The best QB in the draft is usually one of the most sought after prospects. Stafford earns that distinction with his rocket arm and great college production. Mark Sanchez out of USC could very well develop into a better passer in the long run, and neither one appears NFL-ready, but it seems as though Stafford has the eye of most scouts, and if he can get a deal done before the draft begins, expect him to go first overall to the Detroit Lions.
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor – Smith has surprisingly established himself as the best OT in this draft class. That distinction has flip-flopped repeatedly between Smith, Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, Alabama’s Andre Smith, and even Mississippi’s Michael Oher at times, but in the end this converted TE from Baylor will likely be the first one of the group to be selected on draft. The Rams, who desperately need to upgrade the offensive line, must replaced recently released OT Orlando Pace and Smith appears to be the guy that could do this. If Stafford doesn’t get a deal done with Detroit, it’s possible the Lions select Smith. If that happens, expect the aforementioned Monroe to be the Rams choice at number two. Should a team decide to trade up and grab Mark Sanchez at this spot, expect Smith to be scooped up by either the Chiefs at three or the Seahawks at four. No matter what happens, I don’t see Smith making it out of the top five, and if I were a betting man, I’d say he’s about to become really good friends with Steven Jackson in St. Louis.
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Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest – Curry might be the safest pick in this draft. He’s versatile enough to play the Sam, Mike, or Will positions, and he could even fit well in a 34 defense. He’s sure to be a top-5 pick, and he might go off the board at number three to the Chiefs. Much like the Jason Smith scenario, Curry could be in the running to go first overall to the Lions if Stafford can’t get a deal done. He’s already said that if he were taken first overall, he’d sign a contract for less than the one Jake Long signed with the Dolphins a year ago. This would greatly tempt me, and the thought of Curry playing the Mike position in Detroit alongside Ernie Simms and Julian Peterson has to make even Adrian Peterson a little concerned. Still, in all likelihood Curry will wind up a Chief, or perhaps a Brown at the fifth overall pick. Should he start to slide, expect Jacksonville, San Francisco, and Denver to take notice.
B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – After reports declared that Raji did not fail a drug test, his draft stock has been slowly creeping back up to elite status. To run a 34 defense, you must have pass rushers on the outside and a massive NT to clog the middle. This is why teams that have that NT (San Diego, New England, Pittsburgh) succeed making this switch, and teams that do not have one (San Francisco) fail to make a smooth transition. Raji is really the only clear-cut prospect for that important NT position. Because of this, teams like Green Bay, Denver, and Kansas City who are trying to make that conversion this year probably have Raji very high on their value list. This could catapult him into the top-5. Kansas City will likely consider him, as will Cleveland with current NT Shaun Rogers unhappy. No matter what happens, it’s very likely that Raji will hear his name called early on Saturday. At the very, very latest, he’ll go to Denver at 12, but I highly doubt he lasts that long.
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech – Despite his foot fracture and rumors that he failed to impress in Cleveland, Crabtree is one of the elite players in this draft. His size and ability have people likening him to Larry Fitzgerald. He’s kind of a wildcard in this draft. He could go as high as second overall to the Rams who need to replace Torry Holt, to Seattle to pair up with T.J. Houshmandzadeh, or to one of the teams in 6-10 range like Jacksonville or Oakland. I don’t see Crabtree slipping out of the top ten however, and I believe that whoever picks him up will be getting one of the top 2-3 players in this entire draft.
Enjoy the draft and I’ll be back next week with who I feel were the winners and losers of the weekend’s activities!
By: Brandon Niles
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer