"What Ifs" for the Top Players in the Draft (1 Viewer)

[Sigmund Bloom]

Glenn Dorsey - Hard to see him in any uniform except the Rams or Falcons... if it's Rams, then

Chris Long - Long is an excellent player to set the tone for Dimitroff's tenure. It will be very interesting if the Raiders have to choose between Long and McFadden when they are on the clock (if say 2/3 goes Dorsey/Ryan or even Dorsey/Ellis or Gholston/Dorsey). I would be shocked if Long gets past KC at #5.

Matt Ryan - Ryan to the Falcons doesn't feel quite right. KC has the extra first to afford taking him, but Baltimore has seemed like the destination. No way he falls past Carolina/Chicago, and I would expect a trade up to Denver/Buffalo's pick to take him if he gets past Baltimore.

Darren McFadden - really seems like Oakland or the Jets, but McFadden is also the kind of player that would make a team feel like they *have* to have him. St. Louis is not totally out of the question. At this point, it feels like everyone is expecting his name to get called at #4.

Vernon Gholston - we heard a while back that the Rams love Gholston, and of course he fits the Raiders penchant for athletes and the Jets need for an edge rushing force. If he somehow falls out of the top 6, it could be him, not Ryan, who is stranded in the Green Room. I like Derrick Harvey better as a prospect, and wouldnt be shocked to see him go before Gholston. Still hard to see him fall past the Jets.

Sedrick Ellis - The Saints could skew everything by trading up with the Pats to snag him. Hard to imagine him getting past their natural pick.

Branden Albert - As early as KC as 5, as late as KC at 17, but I don't see him falling farther than that. NE, BAL, CIN, DEN, CAR, CHI, DET all in play in between.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - As early as NE's #7 or NO's 10. Been hearing a ton of buzz that Buffalo loves him, but they could easily trade down with Philly and get Lito. I don't think he gets past Arizona's 16.

Leodis McKelvin - Like DRC, in play at 7. Lots of talk about him and Baltimore earlier in the draft season. Another guy that Arizona would be happy to land at 16.

Keith Rivers - hard to see him go earlier that NE's 7, but where does he go if he's not a Pat? Cincy at 9? NO at 10? It feels like most of the teams from 11-17 would be looking at other positions, but once Rivers falls out of the top 10, he seems like the kind of player a team would take as a BPA.

Mike Jenkins - the safest pick of the top CBs, of course in play at 7, shouldn't fall past TB's 20 in any scenario.

Ryan Clady - Like Albert, not out of the question at KC's 5. One would think he's Denver's dream pick at 12. Also not ruling out Baltimore.

Rashard Mendenhall/Jonathan Stewart - seems like the same teams will be looking at these guys - DEN/CHI seem like long shots, but if they pull the trigger, can you blame them? DET and ARI are the most likely destinations, and if either falls past that point, HOU is in play, and then DAL/PIT.

Devin Thomas - as early as BUF at 11 (or even CIN at 9 !?!?) but PHI at 19 (if they don't trade up for an OT) TB at 20, WAS at 21, is the prime Thomas territory.

I'll try to update this as I have time today, and please feel welcome to add your thoughts.

 

[comfortably numb]

 

[Nate]

Great post Bloom. Loving the potential here for a top player at a position of need to slide to the Texans at 18.

 

[Despyzer]

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - As early as NE's #7Leodis McKelvin - Like DRC, in play at 7.Mike Jenkins - the safest pick of the top CBs, of course in play at 7

I'm not a big Patriots guy, so someone may need to point out the flaws in my logic here. Have the Patriots ever placed such an emphasis on the CB position that they would want to spend a top ten pick on one? I know they lost Asante, but are they the type of team that stresses out over a (supposed) need rather than drafting the BPA? If they do focus on needs first, isn't replacing an ancient LB crew just as much of a need?*edit to add - I really like this approach to assessing the draft, Bloom.

 

[Spike]

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - As early as NE's #7Leodis McKelvin - Like DRC, in play at 7.Mike Jenkins - the safest pick of the top CBs, of course in play at 7

I'm not a big Patriots guy, so someone may need to point out the flaws in my logic here. Have the Patriots ever placed such an emphasis on the CB position that they would want to spend a top ten pick on one? I know they lost Asante, but are they the type of team that stresses out over a (supposed) need rather than drafting the BPA? If they do focus on needs first, isn't replacing an ancient LB crew just as much of a need?*edit to add - I really like this approach to assessing the draft, Bloom.

With the money the Pats would have to spend being comparable to what they would have spent for Samuel, why would they be looking at a CB? They would have stayed with the known quantity.The Pats WILL NOT take a CB at 1.07.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I cant argue with you guys who are anti-pats taking a CB, and now we are hearing Mayo if they swap with the Saints anyway. I dont profess to have an idea what the Pats are doing, which is why I have them as the earliest place for those CBs - since I dont know, I cant say for sure that theyre not taking a CB - they are just impossible to read.