The Rams got their man in the first round of this years draft. Carriker will come in and be an iunstant starter most likely and he will help out on an improving defense.
Breaking Down The Draft - NFC North
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Chicago Bears Who They Took: 1.(31) TE Greg Olsen, Miami 2.(62) DE Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan 3.(93) RB Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois 3.(94) LB Michael Okwo, Stanford 4.(130) OG Josh Beekman, Boston College 5.(167) S Kevin Payne, Louisiana-Monroe 5.(168) CB Corey Graham, New Hampshire 7.(221) CB Trumaine McBride, Mississippi 7.(241) OT Aaron Brant, Iowa St. Key Team Needs: 1. Defensive back 2. Tight end 3. Linebacker 4. Defensive tackle 5. Offensive line The Bottom Line: Greg Olsen was a steal at the 31st overall pick. Many scouts, included me, had him going a lot higher. I actually had him at 16 to Green Bay. He is a special player that wil have a great career ahead of him. With rumors that a DE like Agunleye may get traded to make more playing time for rookie phenom, Mark Anderson, the pick of Bazuin makes some sence. I don't agree with drafting Garrett Wolfe on day one at all. He will battle Adrian Peterson and undrafted rookie Darius Walker for the third down back position. I feel he could have been availible in round five or six. I also htink he may only contirbute in special teams and the Bears don't need help in that area. They tried to add some depth at DB by drafting 2 CBs and a S on day two. Overall, not the best draft. Grade: C+ Detroit Lions Who They Took: 1.(2) WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech 2.(43) QB Drew Stanton, Michigan St. 2.(58) DE Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii 2.(61) S Gerald Alexander, Boise St. 4.(105) CB A.J. Davis, North Carolina St. 4.(117) OG Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech 5.(158) LB Johnny Baldwin, Alabama A&M 7.(255) CB Ramzee Robinson, Alabama Key Team Needs: 1. Defensive end 2. Offensive tackle 3. Cornerback 4. Linebacker 5. Tight end The Bottom Line: Calvin Johnson was the best player availible and he was the right pick. Trading Mike Williams and Josh McCown opened up room for drafting a WR and QB in the first two rounds. Stanton may even see himself starting by mid to late season. They did address DE and S in the second round also so day one was pretty productive. I feel A.J. Davis is a good prospect with a bright future. Then there is Mr. Irrelivant, Ramzee Robinson. He actually has a decent chance at making the team. The Lions are improving and actually may compete this season. Grade: B
Green Bay Packers Who They Took: 1.(16) DT Justin Harrell, Tennessee 2.(63) RB Brandon Jackson, Nebraska 3.(78) WR James Jones, San Jose St. 3.(89) S Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech 4.(119) OT Allen Barbre, Missourin Southern St. 5.(157) WR David Clowney, Virginia Tech 6.(191) LB Korey Hall, Boise St. 6.(192) LB Desmond Bishop, California 6.(193) K Mason Crosby, Colorado 7.(228) RB Deshawn Wynn, Florida 7.(243) TE Clark Harris, Rutgers Key Team Needs: 1. Running back 2. Wide receiver 3. Defensive back 4. Tight end 5. Linebacker The Botttom Line: The pick of Harrell in round one was horrid. To me, it didn't make too much sense and it was aweful. I can't see how the Packers had him ranked as the best player availible. THen in round two, they reached for another player in Brandon Jackson. They could have got him in round three or even four. Plus, I think Vernand Morency is a lot better back then people give him credit for. He should and will be the starter this season and in the future. I think their best pick was with Aaron Rouse. He will come in right away and challange Manuel for the starting role. Jones and Clowney can come in and contribute early maybe too, though the Packers have like 10 WRs on the roster already. Crosby could have been taken in round two, but fell into round 6. I actually like the pick of him their. Another problem I saw was Ted Thompson not offering higher then a 5th round pick for Moss. He is Randy Moss! Overall, they didn't do enough to help out Favre. Dissapointing draft for packer fans. Grade: C-
Minnesota Vikings Who They Took: 1.(7) RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma 2.(44) WR Sidney Rice, South Carolina 3.(72) CB Marcus McCauley, Fresno St. 4.(102) DE Brian Robison, Texas 5.(146) WR Aundrae Allison, East Carolina 6.(176) LB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma 7.(217) QB Tyler Thigpen, Coastal Carolina 7.(233) WR Chandler Williams, Florida International Key Team Needs: 1. Quarterback 2. Wide receiver 3. Linebacker 4. Cornerback 5. Running back The Bottom Line: The Vikings must really like Tavaris Jackson, because Brady Quinn would've looked good in purple. I don't disagree with the Peterson pick though at all. I never though much of Chester Taylor and I think Peterson may come in and carry the bulk of the role right away. I really like the pick of Sidney Rice. The Vikings need a big play threat as Troy Williamson hasn't proved much yet. Though Rice is a hit or miss becasue of his lack of experience, I think he will do good. I also really like the Marcus McCauley pick in the third round. He could have gone early two, and he can and should contribute early. Aunrea Allison is still developing, but shows a lot of potential. Alexander is a playmaker, but may only see special teams action early. As I posted before, I really like the Viking draft this year, They found talent that will help them out for many years. Grade: B+
Another wide receiver for the Lions, this time a great one. He may be the most talented WR, if not player, in the last 10 years. Johnson can be an instant star. He won't be placed into the first receiver slot, maybe the second. Mike Martz will be able to use him and make him a star. The Lions still listened to calls for a trade, and probably still are. Don't be too surprised if Johnson doesn't last the day in Detroit.
The Readers Mock (Done by David Cornelius) Raiders JaMarcus Russell Lions Calvin Johnson Browns Brady Quinn Buccaneers Gaines Adams Cardinals Joe Thomas Redskins Alan Branch Vikings Adrian Peterson Falcons LaRon Landry Dolphins Amobi Okoye Texans Levi Brown 49ers Adam Carriker Bills Patrick Willis Rams Jamaal Anderson Panthers Greg Olsen Steelers Leon Hall Packers Marshawn Lynch Jaguars Reggie Nelson Bengals Darrelle Revis Titans Ted Ginn Jr. Giants Paul Posluzny Broncos Joe Staley Cowboys Robert Meachem Chiefs Dwayne Jarrett Patriots Lawrence Timmons Jets Jarvis Moss Eagles Michael Griffin Saints David Harris Patriots Chris Houston Ravens Justin Blalock Chargers Dwayne Bowe Bears Ben Grubbs Colts Jon Beason
As you can see, he took the safe way out and left off any trades. This could play our smart, but there always are a few trades that may screw up more then one of your picks. Guessing these trades can be difficult. One wrong guess and even more of your picks are wrong. Obviously, as most people did, David chose JaMarcus Russell to go number one and Calvin Johnson to go two. As you can see by my mock draft, I believe The Buccs will either trade up to get Johnson or draft Joe Thomas, I can't see them looking at Gaines Adams unless a swap is worked out with Detroit. One pick that baffles me is Alan Branch at 6. At the beginning of the offseason, Branch was a major player in the draft, but as workouts and interviews went along, Branch's stock has near plummeted. Some scouts say he won't even fall in the first round. Having Peterson fall to 7 may not be too much of a reach. If the Vikings keep that pick, which they should, they have to take him. They can't let a playmaker like him slip through. As far as the rest goes, its pretty much anybodies guess. Most of his picks are highly possible. It will be interesting to see how things turn out come the start of the Draft tomarrow morning.
1. Cleveland - Calvin Johnson (Braylon Edwards to Oakland) 2. Detroit - JaMarcus Russell (Couldn't find a trade partner for JRuss) 3. Oakland - Joe Thomas (Oakland just got a little better and looks at Trent Edward in rd 2 for QB) 4. Tampa Bay - Gaines Adams 5. Arizona - Adrian Peterson (Edge has a friend) 6. Denver - Amobi Okoye (Chicago traded Briggs to Wash, then Bears trade back down) 7. Minnesota - Brady Quinn (Quinn is a gift for the horrible Vikes) 8. Atlanta - LaRon Landry 9. Miami - Leon Hall 10. Houston - Levi Brown 11. San Fransisco - Jamaal Anderson 12. Buffalo - Patrick Willis 13. St. Louis - Darrelle Revis (Hill and Revis are the future of the Rams) 14. Carolina - Marshawn Lynch 15. Pittsburgh - Jon Beason 16. Green Bay - Greg Olsen 17. Jacksonville - Reggie Nelson 18. Cincinnati - Paul Posluszny 19. Tennessee - Ted Ginn 20. N.Y. Giants - Joe Staley 21. Chicago - Justin Harrell 22. Dallas - Dwayne Bowe 23. Kansas City - Robert Meacham 24. New England - Micheal Griffin 25. N.Y. Jets - Aaron Ross 26. Philadelphia - Brandon Merriweather 27. New Orleans - Adam Carriker 28. New England - David Harris 29. Baltimore - Ben Grubbs 30. San Diego - Dwayne Jarrett 31. Washington - Alan Branch 32. Indianapolis - Lawrence Timmons
Other players to watch
QB John Beck - BYU, QB John Stocco - Wisconsin, RB Chris Henry - Arizona, RB Garrett Wolfe - Northern Illinois, WR Sidney Rice - South Carolina, WR Derek Stanley - Wisconsin-Whitewater, WR Jeff Samardzija - Notre Dame, LB Mark Zalewski - Wisconsin, LB Prescott Burgess - Michigan, LB Will Herring - Auburn, CB David Irons - Auburn, S Sabby Piscitelli - Oregon State, S Eric Weddle - Utah, K Mason Crosby - Colorado
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
1. Cleveland - Calvin Johnson (Braylon Edwards to Oakland)
