The brackets have been announced, which means it’s time to second-guess the selection committee. In BE’s Bracket Breakdown, I give my initial thoughts about each region, including general analysis of the seeds, upset possibilities, intriguing potential matchups and possible dark horses. I’ll also discuss a few teams that were snubbed and one team that really should be headed for the NIT.
Month: March 2007 (Page 8 of 12)
Oakland souring on Russell?
Steve Corkran for Sporting News.com is reporting that the Raiders came away from the NFL Combine less convinced that QB JaMarcus Russell was their man. Corkran believes that WR Calvin Johnson has an equal chance of being Oakland’s No. 1 pick, although this seems like one of the many smokescreens that teams “leak” leading up to the draft. Aaron Brooks was cut, many quality free agent quarterbacks are off the market and Randy Moss and Jerry Porter are still on the roster. I’d still give Russell more than a 50% chance of landing in Oakland.
Houston looking to trade up for Quinn?
ESPN.com reported last week that the Texans were rumored to already have a deal in place with Washington to move up to the No. 6 spot in the draft. However, the Houston Chronicle reported over the weekend that the Texans are unwilling to part with any draft picks. It should be noted, however, that the Chronicle is also reporting that if Quinn does fall to the Texans at No. 8, they are not expected to pass on him.
With Lewis on board, will Cleveland pass on Peterson?
Some of the nationwide thought now that the Browns have inked RB Jamal Lewis is that they’ll pass on Adrian Peterson in the draft. However, read between the lines and you’ll find that Cleveland wants to employ a two-back system next season. With Reuben Droughns now out of the mix and Lewis only signed through next year, Peterson is still very much in the mix for the Browns at No. 3. The only way I see the Browns passing on Peterson is if Joe Thomas falls past the Lions, or another team packages picks and swaps with Cleveland at No. 3 in hopes of landing Brady Quinn or Calvin Johnson.
Smith looks impressive, Ginn doesn’t run at OSU Pro Day
Quarterback Troy Smith reportedly showed a strong, accurate arm at Ohio State’s Pro Day last Saturday. He also ran a 4.7 40, increasing the likelihood that he will be chosen on the first day of the draft. Ted Ginn Jr. failed to run again, opting not to workout on his foot sprain. Some mocks have him failing past the first 15 picks, with the notion that many NFL teams are filling their wide receiver position through free agency.
Quick hits: The Jaguars and Patriots are both interested in S Reggie Nelson, although the Jags would have first crack at him unless the Pats traded up…New England is also rumored to be interested in LB Buster Davis…Michael Bush plans to run at Louisville’s Pro Day on March 26…The Lions are reportedly interested in QB Drew Stanton or LB Patrick Willis if they trade down from their No. 2 spot. If Detroit spends a No. 1 pick – even a late No. 1 pick – on Stanton, that organization is more troubled than I ever thought imaginable.
Scout.com is reporting the Browns have traded RB Ruben Droughns to the Giants in exchange for wide receiver Tim Carter. By acquiring Jamal Lewis on Wednesday coupled with the option of possibly drafting Adrian Peterson next month, Droughns became dispensable to the Browns. They’ll avoid paying him a $1.75 million roster bonus, which was due near the end of the month.
The real question is: Did Giants’ GM Jerry Reese panic? With Cleveland highly unlikely to pay Droughns’s roster bonus and presumably set to release him if it couldn’t trade him, why did the Giants feel that they had to make this right now? Shouldn’t they have waited until he was released?
Actually when you think about it, this wasn’t a terrible move by Reese. Several backs that New York had been targeting – including Lewis, Dominic Rhodes, Willis McGahee and Ahman Green – are now off the market. And unless the Giants traded up for Peterson or Marshawn Lynch, Droughns is a better option right now than the rest of the rookie class set to come out. So they give up a wide receiver in Lewis that they’ve been disappointed with and get a back to complement Brandon Jacobs. I’m sure he wasn’t the first choice, but given the options, he isn’t Curtis Enis either. Plus, who knows what Droughns would have commanded if he was released and able to test the market, especially considering how overpriced everything is right now. New York can see what it has for a year and reevaluate next offseason.
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting the Raiders have struck a deal with free agent running back Dominic Rhodes. The former Colt signed a two-year contract worth $7.5 million that also includes a signing bonus of $1 million.
That’s a great deal for Oakland, who not five days ago retained Lamont Jordan at a discounted price. The team now has a running back duo that isn’t spectacular, but certainly isn’t ineffective either.
In other free agent news, the Seahawks continued their busy offseason by inking former Jaguars’ safety Deon Grant. Unlike the Rhodes deal, however, Seattle vastly overpaid for Grant’s services. The Seahawks signed Grant to a six-year deal that could be worth up to $30 million. He also received a signing bonus of over $11.1 million, making him the third-highest paid safety in the NFL. Only Roy Williams (Cowboys) and Ed Reed (Ravens) are making more than Grant at the safety position.
I know this is the offseason craze this year – that is, to overspend because cap room is aplenty – but come on. The third-highest paid safety in the league? Grant is a great leader, has outstanding smarts and certainly will help in coverage, but he’s not sniffing the league’s third-best safety. Off the top of my head: Reed, Troy Polamalu, Brian Dawkins, Bob Sanders and Sean Taylor are better all-around safeties. Hell, I’d even throw in Kerry Rhodes and Sean Jones based on their age and upside. But hey, this is the way it’s going to be this offseason with teams shelling out boo-co bucks for above average talent. Grant will help, especially after the team lost Ken Hamlin, but not $11.1-million-signing-bonus-help.
Mid-way through February, Bullz-Eye.com posted its first NFL Mock Draft. Now that the combine is behind us and free agency is in full swing, the NFL Draft picture has gotten much clearer.
Is JaMarcus Russell still the Raiders’ likely choice at #1? Click here to check out Bullz-Eye’s latest NFL Mock Draft. You’ll find updated predictions, a listing of team needs, potential surprises and a brief recap of what other national pundits are saying about the draft.
Also, make sure to check out Bullz-Eye’s NFL Draft Resource Page to find other mocks, player profiles and an overall web guide.
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