NFL Draft Predictions

Round 1 Predictions:
I really am usually excited for the NFL draft but thanks to the Miami Dolphins it is a little less exciting due to them signing Jake Long already. I mean couldn't they have at least kept it quiet till the Saturday? At least the Cowboys have two first round picks and Darren McFadden and Chris Long are still on the board. I am excited to see where they go because I think those two are the best athletes on the board EASILY.

Lets get down to my picks. Post your thoughts and hopefully I am correct on some of these!

1 Dolphins - Jake Long - OL - Michigan
2 Rams - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU
3 Falcons - Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College
4 Raiders - Chris Long - DE - Virginia
5 Chiefs - Vernon Gholston - DE - Ohio State
6 Jets - Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas
7 Patriots - Leddis McKelvin - CB - Troy
8 Ravens - Ryan Clady - OL - Boise State
9 Bengals - Sedrick Ellis - DT - USC
10 Saints - Aqib Talib - CB - Kansas
11 Bills - Devin Thomas - WR - Michigan State
12 Broncos - Keith Rivers - LB - USC
13 Panthers - Kentwan - DT - North Carolina
14 Bears - Branden Albert - OL - Virginia
15 Lions - Rashard Mendenhall - RB - Illinois
16 Cardinals - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - CB - Tennessee State
17 Chiefs - Chris Williams - OL - Vanderbilt
18 Texans - Johnathan Stewart - RB -
19 Eagles - Macolm Kelly - WR - Oklahoma
20 Buccaneers - Mike Jenkins - CB - USF
21 Redskins - Philip Merling - DE - Clemson
22 Cowboys - Felix Jones - RB - Arkansas
23 Steelers - Jeff Otah - OL - Pittsburgh
24 Titans - DeSean Jackson - WR - Cal
25 Seahawks - Fred Lewis - TE - USC
26 Jaguars - Calais Campbell - DE - Miami
27 Chargers - Dan Connor - LB - Penn State
28 Cowboys - Limas Sweed - WR - Texas
29 49ers From Colts - Gosder Cherilus - OL - Boston College
30 Packers - Brandon Flowers - CB - Virginia Tech
31 Patriots - VOID - good job guys!
32 Giants - Jerod Mayo - LB - Tennessee


Guys I am Watching For:

After the first round I am only interested in most of the 2nd and parts of the 3rd.... But here is the Top 5 players that would keep me watching after the 1st round! (in order)

1) Ray Rice - RB - Rutgers - I have seen him play numerous times and this guy is just a workhorse. He can run up the middle or to the outside and he can catch and even block for the qb..... Think Maurice Jones Drew but better. I think he will end up on either the Bears or the Jets.

2) Joe Flacco - QB - Delaware - Another talented player that I have seen play and came away impressed. This guy is tall and he can throw the ball with the best of them. I say the Ravens or the Chiefs will take him.

3) James Hardy - WR - Indiana - This guy has had some off the field issues but I think he finally is getting himself together. He is tall and athletic and just like Antonio Gates he played basketball first in college. I know the perfect team that will help him.... the Dallas Cowboys. BOOK IT!

4) Jeremy Zuttah - OL - Rutgers - Yea I know another Rutgers player... what can I say! In all seriousness I watched Jeremy opens holes that my fat ass could run threw. After a while I knew why Ray Rice was so efficient at running the ball between the tackles. This guy is big and he is quick. I say the Panthers or the Steelers will pick this guy!

5) Xavier Adibi - LB - Virginia Tech - This guy was a 1st round pick easy at the beginning of this season and from that till now its like he fell of the face of the earth. I followed him for the longest time and I think he is talented.... he is fast and he tackles really well so don't be surprised if you hear his name in the NFL. The Lions or the Jets will pick him up.

Honorable Mentions - Eric Foster - DT - Rutgers, Pedro Sosa - OL - Rutgers, Kevin Smith - RB - UCF. Steve Slaton - RB - WVU, Martin Rucker - TE - Missouri, Antoine Cason - CB - Arizona, Tom Zbikowski - S - Notre Dame.


Wide Receiver Overdose:

Coming into this season I had DeSean Jackson as the Number 1 Wide Receiver coming into this draft and boy was I wrong. I really like Devin Thomas and James Hardy and I think there size and playmaking skills will really make them a good NFL Pro. DeSean Jackson just reminds me of another Sidney Rice for some reason and he is short and will probably end up just being a good Kick/Punt Returner. Granted Steve Smith and Santana Moss have helped the case of short WR's that are very good but I just don't think DeSean is one of them.

Another really good WR to watch out for is Dexter Jackson. This guy played Division 3 ball but do NOT let that fool you. He has the speed, size, hands and the competitive spirit to really make him the next Colston.

When I look at how much talent is at the Wide Receiver position this draft I was amazed. Some players are not going to be as good as they were in College but some players will be drafted by the correct team and they will do very well. Look at the 2005 Draft... you have the Browns taking the best Wide Receiver on the board in Braylon Edwards and man he did NOT disappoint. He has lived up to his hype and he is now a main part of the rebuilding Browns team. But then look about 5 picks down where the Vikings took Troy Williamson or 2 more picks after that when the Lions took Mike Williams. Both of those guys just flopped in the pros because either they were just "college" players or because they were just not in the right system.

I just wanted to throw out some names of Wide Receivers that I followed in College Football and who I am surprised is ranked so low because of the stockpile in the WR category this Draft.

So here is my Top 10 Wide Receivers that could have been draft higher if the talent wasn't as good:

10) William Franklin - Missouri
9) Adrius Bowman - Oklahoma State
8) Dorien Bryant - Purdue
7) Ryan Grice-Mullen - Hawaii
6) Jordy Nelson - Kansas State
5) Devone Bess - Hawaii
4) Mario Urrutia - Louisville
3) Todd Blythe - Iowa State
2) Earl Bennett - Vanderbilt
1) Jabari Auther - Akron

Mostly half of the players I listed come from a heavy passing system so looking at the list it does not surprise me that most of these players are just not ranked higher on scouts list. Most of these guys are under 6 foot or not as fast but they were thrown the ball so much in college they just produced. Jordy Nelson and Adrius Bowman will easily get drafted but they would have been a lot higher if the talent was not as good. They both have the size and speed to make it as a starting WR and I think they will just give them the right team. I am a big fan of Todd Blythe, he is Big, catches well in traffic and can run, he reminds me of Matt Jones a lot but we all know what happened to him in the pros. All the Hawaii receivers were overrated in college because they were in such a heavy passing system that it made Colt Brennan even look impressive. They have some talent but look for them not to do that well in the NFL.