Tag: 2011 NFL Draft (Page 10 of 20)

      Broncos to take Marcell Dareus?

      March 29, 2011 /
      Alabama Crimson Tide’s Marcell Dareus (R) runs for a touchdown after he intercepted a pass during the second quarter as teammate Kareem Jackson (L) celebrates during play against the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter in the NCAA’s BCS National Championship football game in Pasadena, January 7, 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)

      The Denver Post is reporting that the Broncos are leaning towards Alabama DT Marcell Dareus with the No. 2 overall pick.

      • The Broncos will draft a dominant defensive tackle — Marcell Dareus is the leader in the clubhouse — or trade the pick if they can get Patrick Peterson or Von Miller several picks later. Perhaps they can persuade the 49ers, at No. 7 (yes), the Titans (8), Washington’s Mike Shanahan (10th; he grabbed Jay Cutler at 11) or the Vikings (12) to trade up with additional draft choices for the Broncos’ pick.

      With teams being unable to trade 2012, 2013 and 2014 picks, it’s going to be difficult for the Broncos to move down. They’ll either have to take less value than a team holding the No. 2 pick would, or stay put and take whichever player is on the top of their board. I would imagine that the latter is the more likely scenario.

      In my latest mock draft (which I compiled earlier this month), I have the Broncos taking Dareus at No. 2:

      No. 2 Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
      I had the Broncos taking Da’Quan Bowers with this pick in my second mock, but since then they’ve released Jamal Williams and, in a rather surprising move, Justin Bannan. Those moves open up a huge need at defensive tackle and Dareus’ stock continues to soar. The question is, will the Broncos look to trade this pick knowing that QB-needy teams draft behind them? They may lose the opportunity to take Dareus, but maybe they can trade back and still land Nick Fairley (a nice consolation prize).
      Combine Comparisons: Marcus Thomas; Corvey Irvin; Red Bryant.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Lockout ruling not expected by mid-April; NFLPA won’t go head-to-head with NFL on draft night

      March 28, 2011 /
      NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell departs after a day of negotiations with players association representatives in Washington March 8, 2011. The two sides are seeking an agreement as the deadline looms for a player lockout. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS)

      A pair of updates on the NFL labor situation:

      – Even though the owners and NFLPA will due battle in court over the validity of the lockout on April 6, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter that no one should expect a ruling by mid-April.

      This news is the final dagger in the hopes that free agency would start before the draft. Now teams can almost expect to make selections not knowing whether or not they’ll be able to re-sign their own free agents (or what free agents are interested in joining their team). Now more than ever it’s paramount that a team has a good general manager and scouting department in place. (In other words, yes, you’re screwed Bengal fans.)

      – In separate but somewhat related news, the NFLPA has decided to schedule its draft parties so that they won’t conflict with selections made April 28-30. Originally, the NFLPA was threatening (for lack of a better word) to hold parties during the draft to discourage prospects from shaking commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand on stage at Radio City Music Hall.

      Good for the NFLPA. These prospects deserve to have their moment on stage with Goodell, even if it means they’ll be whisked away to lockout land immediately after they snap that photo on stage. Eventually there will be a new CBA in place. Eventually there will be a season. Eventually this bloody mess will have a resolution. In the meantime, it’s nice to know that top prospects can still have their moment on draft day. I might be looking at the situation wrong, but to me this is also a sign of good faith by the NFLPA.

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Team-by-Team NFL Draft Compensatory Picks

      March 26, 2011 /
      Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre (R) speaks with Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) after the Bears defeat the Vikings 40-14 in their NFC, NFL football game at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, December 20, 2010. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      For fans wondering whether or not your team landed a couple of compensatory picks for the 2011 NFL Draft, I’ve got the stuff you need.

      As a refresher, these picks will be added to Rounds 3 through 7 and cannot be traded. They’re awarded to teams losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year. For example, the Panthers were the only team awarded with a third round compensatory pick after they lost Julius Peppers to the Bears via free agency last season and replaced him with a hobo they found on the street. (That wasn’t nice.)

      Below is a team-by-team breakdown of compensatory picks for this year’s draft. The first number represents the round that the team will be drafting their compensatory picks in, followed in parenthesis by the number of said pick.

      Personally I think it should be illegal for the Packers to be awarded any compensatory picks after the won the Super Bowl last season, especially when the selection is in the fourth round. My TSR colleague John Paulsen (a staunch Packer fan) would certainly disagree, but he’s also wrong a lot so whatever.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL

      Schefter predicts that the Panthers will take Newton

      March 26, 2011 /
      Auburn Tigers’ quarterback Cam Newton (R) throws a pass as teammate Mike Berry (C) blocks Oregon Ducks’ Brandon Bair (L) in the second quarter in the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 10, 2011. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      After leaning towards Blaine Gabbert last week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter now predicts that the Panthers will select Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 1 overall pick.

      “Last week, I sensed Blaine Gabbert,” Schefter said in an ESPN Insider Q&A. “This week, I’m more on the Cam Newton bandwagon. The more I hear, the more it sounds like Newton is the player to beat for the No. 1 pick.”

      Schefter goes on to say that the Panthers “need to create buzz to sell some tickets,” which of course is the best reason to draft a player. I mean, if you’re going to invest that much money in a prospect then he better be able to put butts in the seats. Football skills be damned.

      Schefter isn’t a draft guru but I’m convinced he has a wiretap on every GM, head coach and player in the league so his words aren’t to be taken lightly. Still, he’s only making a prediction and not reporting anything, so Gabbert and even LSU’s Patrick Peterson are in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick.

      That said, I had the Panthers taking Newton in my last mock and if I were to update it today, I would still have the former Auburn QB going No. 1. Carolina doesn’t seem enamored with any of the top defensive linemen and as good as Peterson is, a cornerback has never gone No. 1 or even No. 2. I don’t see Peterson making history this year and if the Panther are down to Newton or Gabbert, I think they’ll take the boom or bust player and pin their future on the former Tiger. (What? Newton and Gabbert are both former Tigers? Well that works out well for that last sentence now doesn’t it?)

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Cardinals to take Blaine Gabbert if he falls?

      March 24, 2011 /
      Missouri Tigers quarterback Blaine Gabbert runs onto the field for a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri on October 23, 2010. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

      I must admit, some of that faded excitement that I had for the draft is returning now that the rumors are flowing. Even though the NFL is trying to ruin the holiday with this CBA mess, little by little the draft is starting to creep back into my heart.

      ESPN’s Chris Mortensen tweets that if the Cardinals “can get” Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert at No. 5 next month, “they will.” Owners Michael and Bill Bidwill took Gabbert to dinner on Tuesday night and Arizona’s coaching staff held a private workout with him on Wednesday. It appears, for all intents and purposes, that the Cardinals are putting on a full-court press for the former Tiger.

      Now the question is whether or not he’ll fall to the Cardinals at No. 5. If the Panthers pass on Cam Newton, they could take Gabbert at No. 1. If the Bills don’t take him at No. 3, the Bengals could certainly nab him at No. 4 depending on how they want to handle the Carson Palmer fiasco. With three quarterback-needy teams picking ahead of the Cards in the first round, Gabbert might not fall.

      But if you’re a Cardinal fan and you want Gabbert, it’s easy to look at the situation and stay optimistic. Carolina could take Newton, Buffalo may address its defensive line and Cincinnati owner Mike Brown reiterated on Monday that he wants Palmer back, so maybe the Bengals go with either A.J. Green or Julio Jones. In that scenario, Gabbert would slip to the Cardinals at No. 5.

      Either way, Arizona needs to acquire a signal caller at some point this offseason and given how there’s no free agency, the Cards would be wise to take one in the draft. John Skelton showed flashes last season but on a whole, the quarterback situation was an absolute mess in the desert last year. Gabbert is a big kid with a strong arm and would be a good fit in Ken Whisenhunt’s balanced offense (which also features elements of the spread).

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑