FBG Board Consensus 2010 Mock NFL Draft (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

1.01 St. Louis Rams select QB Sam Bradford (83% of the vote)

1.02 Detroit Lions select DT Ndamukong Suh (59% of the vote)

1.03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers select DT Gerald McCoy (85% of the vote)

1.04 Washington Redskins select OT Russell Okung (73% of the vote)

1.05 Kansas City Chiefs select S Eric Berry (41% of the vote)

1.06 Seattle Seahawks select OT Trent Williams (41% of the vote)

1.07 Cleveland Browns select QB Jimmy Clausen (28% of the vote)

1.08 Oakland Raiders select OT Bryan Bulaga (23% of the vote)

1.09 Buffalo Bills select OT Anthony Davis (61% of the vote)

1.10 Jacksonville Jaguars select ILB Rolando McClain (30% of the vote)

1.11 Denver Broncos select DT Dan Williams (38% of the vote)

1.12 Miami Dolphins select WR Dez Bryant (47% of the vote)

1.13 San Francisco 49ers select CB Joe Haden (52% of the vote)

1.14 Seattle Seahawks select RB C.J. Spiller (45% of the vote)

1.15 New York Giants select OLB Sean Weatherspoon (37% of the vote)

1.16 Tennessee Titans select DE Derrick Morgan (46% of the vote)

1.17 San Francisco 49ers select CB/S Earl Thomas (26% of the vote)

1.18 Pittsburgh Steelers select G-OT Mike Iupati (40% of the vote)

1.19 Atlanta Falcons select DE-OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (42% of the vote)

1.20 Houston Texans select RB Ryan Matthews (49% of the vote)

1.21 Cincinnati Bengals select S Taylor Mays (38% of the vote)

1.22 New England Patriots select DE-OLB Sergio Kindle (29% of the vote)

1.23 Green Bay Packers select CB Kyle Wilson (33% of the vote)

1.24 Philadelphia Eagles select DE-OLB Brandon Graham (33% of the vote)

Baltimore Ravens

Positions of Need (as per NFL.com)

CB, DL, TE, S

Needs Analysis: The Ravens fixed their receiver issues by trading for Anquan Boldin, picking up Donte' Stallworth in free agency and re-signing Derrick Mason. Now they can turn to other needs in the draft. The Ravens lost two defensive linemen in free agency (Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards), and Trevor Pryce is getting older, so look for them to target a defensive lineman early. Signing veteran Cory Redding is a stopgap measure. Cornerback is a glaring need and some of the veteran candidates may not be ready for camp or even Week 1 as they return from injuries. Ed Reed hinted at retirement after the season due to a lingering neck ailment, which means the team must start looking to the future and find a possible future replacement. Keep in mind, Baltimore lost safety Jim Leonhard last year to the Jets. While TE Todd Heap is coming off a solid year, he has a shaky medical history, so the position could be enticing in the early rounds.

 

[RUSF18]

I've read that they really like McCourtey and Rice has been talking him up.

 

[Marino13]

I've read that they really like McCourtey and Rice has been talking him up.

Dolphins aren't going to take Dez Bryant after getting Marshall....

 

[Faust]

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-04-1...ise-quarterback

Ravens still waiting to draft a playmaking receiver

Adjustment to NFL offenses make it a difficult transition

By Ken Murray, The Baltimore Sun

Imagine a Ravens offense with Brandon Marshall and Roddy White starting at wide receiver, staring down the Pittsburgh Steelers' ragged secondary. Or imagine Vincent Jackson and Jerricho Cotchery running free under Joe Flacco's deep throws. And how would Patrick Crayton look in the slot?

Tantalizing?

Could've happened. Any combination of the receivers listed above could be wearing Ravens purple, and, in that case, who knows whether Ozzie Newsome still would be trying to pull a playmaking receiver out of his draft hat this month.

In years when the Ravens drafted for reinforcements at wide-out, they passed on these prospects. Instead of Marshall and White, they wound up with Demetrius Williams (2006) and Mark Clayton (2005). Instead of Cotchery and Crayton, they took Devard Darling and Clarence Moore in 2004.

What that shows is not necessarily a flaw in the Ravens' otherwise immaculate draft machine, but the capricious nature of the fickle NFL draft. Selecting a wide receiver from the college ranks is almost as difficult as finding a franchise quarterback.

"I think it's probably the toughest position other than quarterback to learn mentally, coming into the NFL," said Gil Brandt, draft analyst for NFL.com and former personnel director for the Dallas Cowboys. "I think it's a very, very tough position to play because of all the adjustments they have to make quickly. A lot of time, speed is not as important as quickness."

Brandt remembered — accurately — that Clayton led all rookies in 2005 with 44 catches, a promising start. But after he caught 67 in 2006, Clayton's production went down each of the next three years, to a career-low 34 catches a year ago when the Ravens so desperately needed him to be a playmaker.

Even though Newsome scored with a trade for Anquan Boldin and signed Donte' Stallworth this offseason, the general manager intimated the team still will be looking to add a young receiver during this draft.

"Wide receiver still is an important position for us as we head into this draft, when you look at our roster and what potentially could happen to it over the next two or three years," Newsome said.

A review of the Ravens' draft history at wide receiver yields little more than a succession of what-ifs. Starting with Jermaine Lewis in their debut 1996 season, the Ravens have selected 15 wide receivers. Only one — Lewis, a fifth-round pick — went to the Pro Bowl, and he went twice as a return specialist, not as a receiver. (Three of the 15 receivers picked were return specialists.)

The Ravens have been chasing playmakers with speed ever since.

They missed on Patrick Johnson (second round), Travis Taylor (10th overall pick) and Darling (third round) in 1998, 2000 and 2004. Clayton, the 22nd pick in 2005, looked like the answer his first two seasons but has just 12 touchdown catches in five years.

Roddy White, taken by the Atlanta Falcons five picks after Clayton, had 11 touchdowns among his 85 receptions last season. Vincent Jackson, a second-round pick by the San Diego Chargers, had nine touchdown grabs in 2009.

Eric DeCosta, director of player personnel for the Ravens, said they had Clayton and White ranked "very close in the sequence … very close."

"We just looked at both players and watched them both on tape and said, ‘Which one do we like better?'" DeCosta said. "And we said we liked Mark better, for the Ravens."

White has 315 career catches, a 14.9 yard average gain and 27 touchdowns for the Falcons, compared with Clayton's 234, 13.3 and 12.

As for Jackson, 10 teams took receivers before San Diego drafted him in the second round — eight picks after the Ravens took linebacker Dan Cody.

"We liked Jackson," DeCosta said. "He just played at a small school [Northern Colorado]."

It's impossible to know whether White would have had the same success with the Ravens that he has had in Atlanta. It seems obvious some of Clayton's inconsistency is the result of instability at quarterback in Baltimore.

In 2006, the Ravens took Williams in the fourth round, with the 111th overall pick. Eight picks later, the Denver Broncos took Marshall, from Central Florida. Marshall had 101 catches in 2009, his third straight 1,000-yard receiving season. But he had a contentious career in Denver and was traded this week to the Miami Dolphins.

DeCosta declined to say why the Ravens passed on Marshall. Williams, on the other hand, appears to have run out of chances with the Ravens.

In 2004, the Ravens were dazzled by Darling's speed and picked him in the third round. When Darling was recently released by the Kansas City Chiefs, he had 37 career catches, four for touchdowns. Cotchery went to the Jets in the fourth round in that draft; he has 317 career receptions for 16 touchdowns and more than 4,000 yards.

History shows that receivers selected in the late rounds have a reasonable chance to make an impact. Crayton was a seventh-rounder in 2004, and he is a solid slot receiver for the Cowboys. The Indianapolis Colts got Pierre Garcon in the sixth round in 2008 and Austin Collie in the fourth in 2009. Wes Welker of the New England Patriots went undrafted.

"That's like [three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback] Tom Brady going in the sixth round," DeCosta said. "You can do that for every position. It's just a lot of variables. You're trying to evaluate these players and you rank them, and the reality is we had Williams and Clayton and Darling higher than those other guys. That's really what it amounts to. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. There's a lot of subjectivity, and it's hard."

Mike Lombardi, an NFL Network analyst and former personnel director for the Oakland Raiders, said he preferred not taking a wide receiver in the first round because of the difficulty in projecting college receivers.

"I think the hardest position to evaluate in college football is wide receiver because the game they play in college doesn't always translate to the game we play in the National Football League," Lombardi said. "In college, they have a lot of freedom to get open. Then they come to the NFL and find every route is being challenged."

Mike Mayock, draft analyst for NFL Network, said the uneven performance of successful college receivers in the NFL can be traced to two things.

"One, there is a scarcity of true press corners in college football," Mayock said. "So you don't get to see a wide receiver getting obstructed at the line of scrimmage. Two, the sophistication of pass defense they see in the NFL is not even close to the [mediocre] level they see in college. Once they're off the line of scrimmage, they've got to adjust to all these coverages they've never seen in their life. So you've got a combination of physical and mental factors."

 

[Honda]

Odrick all day long & twice on Sunday.

 

[Faust]

I've read that they really like McCourtey and Rice has been talking him up.

Dolphins aren't going to take Dez Bryant after getting Marshall....

I agree; however, that trade went down after the FBG consensus draft poll for the Dolphins pick was closed.

 

[Faust]

http://profootball.scout.com/2/962776.html

Pre-Draft Needs: Baltimore Ravens

by Adam Caplan

The Ravens finally helped their passing offense by adding veteran WR Anquan Boldin. However, they still could use speed at the position.

Players Added

Anquan Boldin/WR - The veteran receiver will give the Ravens another badly needed passing option. He'll also give them an inside presence in their passing game.

Donte' Stallworth/WR - If he stays out of trouble, Stallworth will give the Ravens badly needed speed at the receiver position.

Cory Redding/DL - He'll provide badly needed depth on their defensive line.

Players Lost

Kelley Washington/WR - Washington fits in as a third or fourth receiver. He also is a good special teams player.

David Tyree/WR - The special teams ace should find work closer to the start of training camps.

Quinn Sypniewski/TE - He was waived earlier this year after not passing a team physical.

L.J. Smith/TE - He's had his chances to gain a significant role over the years, but injuries have hampered a once promising career.

Adam Terry/OT - Terry was not tendered as a restricted free agent, but found a backup role with the Indianapolis Colts.

Dwan Edwards/DE - The former second-round pick will fit in well with the Buffalo Bills.

Justin Bannan/DT - He found a big payday with the Denver Broncos.

Corey Ivy/CB - The journeyman cornerback fits in a dime role.

Frank Walker/CB - The veteran defensive back figures to sign with a team after the draft. He fits in a dime or nickel role.

Pre-Draft Team Needs

Cornerback - Starter Fabian Washington is coming back from ACL surgery and is on a one-year deal. Second-year CB Lardarius Webb, who played well as a rookie, also tore his ACL last season.

Defensive End - Veteran DE Trevor Pryce turns 35 in August and they have no viable long-term replacement for him. They also have to replace Edwards' role.

Wide Receiver - The only speed receiver currently on their 80-man roster is Stallworth. It's not like he can be counted on at all based on his checkered past.

Inside Linebacker - With veteran LB Ray Lewis turning 35 in May, it's time that the team starts to look at his potential replacement. While Dannell Ellerbe did a nice job last season, it remains to be seen if the team believes he'll be Lewis' successor.

Free Safety - Veteran Ed Reed turns 32 in September and may retire. It remains to be seen if Tom Zbikowski is his long-term replacement.

Other Issues to Address

Guard Depth

Offensive Tackle Depth

Running Back Depth

 

[Honda]

The Ravens finally helped their passing offense by adding veteran WR Anquan Boldin. However, they still could use speed at the position.

The only "speed" receiver in the entire draft is Jacoby Ford. I don't remember ever seeing a WR class so collectively slow.

 

[Faust]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-...ns_html-2010420

Receiver still a consideration for the Ravens

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - For the Baltimore Ravens, their draft philosophy and big-picture outlook could prompt them to draft a wide receiver as high as the first round.

When the Ravens are on the clock with the 25th overall pick Thursday night, it’s entirely possible that the best player available in terms of talent and upside will be a wide receiver.

Although the Ravens upgraded the receiver position by trading for Anquan Boldin(notes) as well as signing Donte’ Stallworth(notes) and retaining Derrick Mason(notes), they’re likely to need to acquire a receiver in the near future considering that Boldin has a history of durability issues and Mason is 36 years old.

Both Dez Bryant and DemaryiusThomas visited the Ravens’ training complex, and at least one of those imposing wide receivers could be available for Baltimore in the first round.

“If the best player available for us at 25 is a wide receiver, then we will take that wide receiver,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “What you also have to look at , not only this year, but you have to look at next year and two years from now, what your team will look like at each position.

“Not only just trying to build it for September for the opener, but we’re also trying to build it for the future. So, wide receiver is an important position for us as we head into this draft when you look at our roster and what potentially could happen to it over the next two or three years.”

Bryant is sliding due to concerns about his character following an NCAA suspension for lying about his relationship with former NFL star Deion Sanders and reports that he was chronically late for practices and games at Oklahoma State.

He had a rough childhood with his mother jailed for dealing drugs.

He has never been arrested, though.

And Bryant is regarded as a gifted player who’s capable of taking over games.

Bryant caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, production that’s hard to argue with.

“He’s got a great body of work,” Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta said. “We had a chance to work him out, we had the chance to talk to him, a lot of different resources and ways to skin a cat to kind of fit a guy’s profile in. He’s caught a lot of balls.

“We’ve talked to people at the school. You do all your research and you just kind of build a profile and see where he stacks against anybody else. It is a little bit more challenging, but fortunately we have a lot of tape to look at.”

Bryant raised a few more eyebrows by hiring a life-skills coach to accompany him for visits with NFL teams and to make sure he’s on time.

He also wore new cleats instead of his broken-in pair, which he forgot, for his Pro Day workout after declining to work out at the combine due to not being in optimum condition. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has prototypical size, good speed (4.52) and natural route-running ability.

It’s unclear if he’s going to fall all the way to the Ravens, but they’re making preparations just in case he’s there.

“I think they would have to jump on him because he’s so talented even with the issues he’s had, but I don’t know if he’ll be there,” said Russ Lande, a former Cleveland Browns scout who covers the NFL draft for the Sporting News. “The Ravens will take a gamble on character guys. This guy could be a top-flight wide receiver. His strengths and weaknesses are parallel to Boldin’s. Boldin could teach him a lot about how to be a professional.”

What does Bryant tell NFL personnel about the NCAA incident?

“I just tell them I misled the NCAA about going out to Deion Sanders’ house,” Bryant said during the scouting combine. “I apologized for it and I’m back on track and ready to go. I was nervous. Going out to Deion Sanders’ house wasn’t a violation, but lying was a violation, so I got the punishment.

“It was a bad mistake, but I’m a great person. I enjoy the opportunity to make people smile. People that know me, they know it was a mistake.”

Bryant is considered less likely to be available at No. 25 than Thomas.

Thomas has an ideal size-speed combination at 6-foot-3, 229 pounds with a 4.38 clocking in the 40-yard dash. The Georgia Tech standout is coming off a broken foot and worked out on a limited basis for NFL scouts, including the Ravens, on Sunday in Atlanta.

He had surgery after breaking his fifth metatarsal before the combine.

Last season, Thomas caught 46 passes for 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 25 yards per reception.

Thomas played in a run-first offense, but caught 120 career passes for 2,339 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“This kid is huge and is clean off the field and a bigger and faster player than Bryant,” Lande said. “He’s this year’s version of Calvin Johnson. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens took a gamble on him."

Because he played in a run-first offense in college, Thomas will probably need some time to adjust to the entire NFL route tree.

“A lot of teams question my route-running ability,” Thomas said. “I ran a lot of routes in school, but we just didn’t run them in the game. I can run routes.”

 

[Faust]

Close race right now between the top 3 choices...looking for a few more votes to take us to a clear consensus!

 

[Faust]

http://nfl.sportsnewsandscores.com/footbal...t-analysis.html

Baltimore Ravens 2010 Draft Analysis

by Kyle Delgado

I don't know what the Baltimore Ravens are going to do with their first-round pick this year, but I can tell you what they're most likely not to do. Throughout this slide I will analyze some possible scenarios and players I feel the Ravens should be targeting.

First off, I've been hearing the cry out by many fans for a pass rusher to bring some new blood into a defensive that didn't accumulate many sacks at all last year. But I just don't see that happening in the first round, and I'll explain why. First off, the Ravens are fully confident Terrell Suggs is going to return to Pro Bowl form.

After getting a huge contract, Suggs came in overweight and injured his foot during training camp.Things went downhill from then on with Suggs .Also, Jarret Johnson quietly had a very good year. He tied for the lead in sacks for the Ravens with seven. He's still pretty young, so with Suggs' huge contract and Johnson's production, it would be unwise to spend all that money on one position.

Finally, if you remember back to last year, the Ravens spent a high pick on Utah's Paul Kruger. I've heard the word 'bust' already associated with this guy already, which is ridiculous. He barely got a chance, for whatever reason. I don't think Ozzie is ready to give up on such a high draft pick already. Give the man a chance; with added weight, I think Kruger can be a solid player.

Ultimately, I think the Ravens SHOULD go with offense. Either Jermaine Gresham if he gets by Cincy and New England, or Demaryius Thomas. Now I know I'm going to get bashed with the "They've already upgraded the offense! The defense needs help!"; just hear me out. There's no doubt Anquan Boldin's a fantastic fit for the Ravens. He's hard-nosed and physical; it's a match made in football heaven.

But due to his physical nature, Boldin has been a victim to injuries throughout his career. If he goes down, the next two receivers are Derrick Mason and Donte Stallworth. Who know's how much is left in the tank of Derrick Mason? He's very productive for us, but is getting up there in age.

Also, Donte Stallworth has been out of football for a year! What if he doesn't come on as planned? Then we're right back to the Mark Clayton-Derrick Mason combo. Trust me, no one wants that. Also, just so you know, Boldin, Stallworth, and Mason will all be older than 30 by year's end.

That's why I say draft a young talented receiver, like a Demaryius Thomas or a Jermaine Gresham, to learn from Mason and Boldin. He can eventually become our No. 1 receiver. It's an investment for the future, for a young receiver to grow with Flacco and eventually become a deadly combo. But don't count out Boise State's Kyle Wilson, as the secondary is pretty weak.

Whether you agree with my perspective or not, it's a deep draft this year and the Ravens are well-known as one of the best drafting teams in the league. So expect a great player to come out of this year's draft for the Ravens. Baltimore has reason to be excited for the 2010 season. Expect big things from our Ravens.

 

[Faust]

With the 1.25 selection in the 2010 FBG Consensus Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select DT Jared Odrick