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 South
Friday, May 04, 2007
Atlanta Falcons Who They Took: 1.(8) DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas 2.(39) OT Justin Blalock, Texas 2.(41) CB Chris Houston, Arkansas 3.(75) WR Laurent Robinson, Illinois St. 4.(109) LB Stephen Nicholas, South Florida 4.(133) TE Martrez Milner, Georgia 6.(185) DT Trey Lewis, Washburn 6.(194) CB David Irons, Auburn 6.(198) C Doug Datish, Ohio St. 6.(203) S Daren Stone, Maine 7.(244) RB Jason Snelling, Virginia Key Team Needs: 1. Offensive tackle 2. Defensive back 3. Defensive end 4. Wide receiver 5. Defensive tackle The Bottom Line: Having eleven picks always helps, but the Falcons had a solid draft this season. They were set on Anderson for a while now. He is big, athletic, and is just a natural athlete. Blalock is a big power blocker that can play guard or tackle. he could become a starter early in his career and not give it up for a while. Houston could have been a late first rounder, bust second round seems a bit more fitting for him. He has done a lot of his coverage pressing receivers which may not translate too well to the Pros. Good coaching will allow him to adjust like he needs to. I like the pick of David Irons in round six. If Irons can play up to his potential, he may have a good career at the next level. He has the speed and quickness, he just needs to work on his coverage skills. This was possibly one of the better drafts at filling needs. Grade: B+ Carolina Panthers Who They Took: 1.(25) LB Jon Beason, Miami 2.(45) WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC 2.(59) C Ryan Kalil, USC 3.(83) DE Charles Johnson, Georgia 4.(118) WR Ryne Robinson, Miami (OH) 5.(155) TE Dante Rosario, Oregon 5.(164) LB Tim Shaw, Penn St. 7.(226) CB C.J. Wilson, Baylor Key Team Needs: 1. Linebacker 2. Offensive tackle 3. Tight end 4. Running back 5. Defensive tackle The Bottom Line: I believe Carolina had one of the best drafts this year and it really shows by the talent they got all the way into day two. Beason is a beast. Coming from "The U" is a good place for a LB to get noticed. He knows how to get through blocks and can tackle like the best of them. Round two may have been almost just as good of a pick. Although his 40 time hurt his stock a lot, I believe Dwayne Jarrett will show up as the second best receiver in this years draft two Calvin Johnson, who is on another planet. Jarrett defiantly has the size and he has been consistent throughout his career at USC. He makes big catches in big games. I believe his "field speed" is easily good enough to put up big numbers in the NFL. Another USC player in Ryan Kalil probably could have gone a bunch higher as well. I think he was the best center in the draft. Like Jarrett, Kalil has been consistent. He could be the leader of the Carolina line for a lot of years. Johnson is a guy who wasn't gifted with his skills, he earned everything he's gotten so far. He plays hard and can make plays. Though they dint get much into their needs, still a great draft for the Panthers. Grade: A New Orleans Saints Who They Took: 1.(27) WR Robert Meachem, Tennessee 3.(66) CB Usama Young, Kent State 3.(88) OG Andy Alleman, Akron 4.(107) RB Antonio Pittman, Ohio St. 4.(125) OT Jermon Bushrod, Towson 5.(145) CB David Jones, Wingate 7.(220) LB Marvin Mitchell, Tennessee Key Team Needs: 1. Cornerback 2. Linebacker 3. Defensive tackle 4. Wide receiver 5. Tight end The Bottom Line: Though WR wasn't their biggest need, Sean Payton liked Meachem, with good reason. He is naturally athletic and he can make plays after the catch. He put up great numbers during his Junior year, setting Tennessee's single season receiving yards record. He can come in and replace Horn's absence. He still will have to compete with Colston, Henderson, and Copper. Young was a reach for round three, he probably could have been available for another round or maybe even two. I like the pick of Pittman in round four. I think he could have gone late second to early third round. Already having drafted Reggie Bush last year, and having Deuce McAllister getting back to old form, Pittman may get lost in the shuffle. If the Saints give McAllister a breather and line Bush up as a receiver, Pittman may get some playing time. Overall, not the best draft, but the Saints didn't have too many needs. Grade: C+ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Who They Took: 1.(4) DE Gaines Adams, Florida 2.(35) OT Arron Sears, Tennessee 2.(64) S Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon St. 3.(68) LB Quincy Black, New Mexico 4.(106) CB Tanard Jackson, Syracuse 5.(141) DE Greg Peterson, N. Carolina Central 6.(182) LB Adam Hayward, Portland St. 7.(214) OT Chris Denman, Fresno St. 7.(245) CB Marcus Hamilton, Virginia 7.(246) RB Ken Darby, Alabama Key Team Needs: 1. Defensive end 2. Defensive tackle 3. Wide receiver 4. Safety 5. Offensive tackle The Bottom Line: Tampa decided to go defense this year. Six of the team's first seven picks were on the defensive side of the ball. Gaines Adams is a special player. He has great size and ability.He uses his hands great to get through blockers. He may be the next Dwight Freeney in the league. I really like the pick of Piscitelli with the last pick of round two. Piscitelli is a lot like Adam Archuleta was back in the days of Lovie Smith in St. Louis. He plays like a linebacker with the athleticism of a safety. Will battle right away for a starting role. Getting Darby in the seventh round should be considered a steal. If he can stay healthy and play to his full potential, he may get a chance to not only make a roster, but start someday. Still a pretty good draft for Tampa. Grade: B
Winners of Draft Weekend 1. Carolina - Trading down and still getting the great talent of Jon Beason. Then they got a big steal by selecting Dwayne Jarrett mid round two. Jarrett would have been a top 10 overall pick had his 40 time not been so disappointing. He still plays hard and can be dominate at times. Later in round two, they got another steal with center, Ryan Kalil. Kalil was a late first-early second round talent. Charles Johnson is a good end that will help add depth to that position. Ryne Robinson can help out the receiving core. Since that position is already deep, it may take time or an injury to really give him some gametime.
2. Indianapolis - Normallydrafting last will hurt your picks, but not for the Colts. They filled their need of a good slot receiver right away by selecting Anthony Gonzalez. They got another good value pick by taking Tony Agoh near the middle of the second round. Then with their two third round picks, they snatched up Daymeion Hughes and Quinn Pitcock. Both players were first round projections at the start of the offseason, but there stock fell. If the Colts can get them to play to their full potential, they got some real steals. Finally, I really like the pick of Michael Coe at the 173rd overall pick. Coe will fill in at a CB spot and I think he can contribute early in his career.
3. Minnesota - I like the Vikings Draft because they got some explosive players. The addition of Adrian Peterson, healthy or not, will help out a lot. He will split time with Taylor and eventually take the full load. Sidney Rice is either a major hit or a big flop. He only played two years in college, but what a two years they were. He had monster receiving stats. Becasue he doesn't have the full experience as most, he may not know how to adjust his game to the NFL. Getting Marcus McCauley in the third round is also a very good pickup. He will help address a week pass defense. Rufus Alexander could turn out to be a big steal as well. If he can perform at his potential, he can be very good.
4. Cleveland - Cleveland got what everyone is calling the "sexiest" draft, it doesn't reflect that they don't have a first round pick next year. Getting Joe Thomas at 3 was a good fit for them. They decided to pass on Brady Quinn, but got lucky when they traded up to get him at 22. Both players had top 10 grades. Getting Eric Wright in round 2 was a good pick as well. Wright was a part of USC until off the field issues led to a transfer to UNLV. He's got enormus talent, but some teams didn't want to take the gamble on him. Other then those three players, their draft wasn't too special.
5. New England - Belichick gets another one. It wasn't the draft that impresses me, it't the fact that they get Randy Moss for a 4th round pick. They started Saturday with two first round picks and ended it with one one total pick. That one pick was Brandon Meriweather though. Meriweather is a versitile safety that will help out the team right away. Oscar Lou was a good pick that they got in the seventh round. Coming from USC, he's bound to be good. Moss alone would make this draft one of the best, but add Meriweather and I give them a top 5 grade.
Panthers Select Jon Beason The second straight Hurricane taken, Beason is a good prospect. The Panthers needed a linebacker to fill in for Dan Morgan. Beason didn't have too productive of a career, but he still projects well in the NFL. Many people thought the Panthers would select a different Miami player, Greg Olsen. Olsen was high on many people boards, but he continues to fall. He may end up in Chicago.
Jets Trade Up The Carolina Panthers didn't know who they wanted and there were two elite corners sitting on the board. The Panthers did the logical thing by capitalizing on there situation. They traded the #14 pick and their 6th round pick for the Jets #25 pick and their 6th and 7th round picks. The Jets then srprised some by taking Darrelle Revis. I believed Leon Hall was a little better, it was close. i actually liked one of the two to go to St. Louis. Obviously, the Jets needed a lead corner, and they mnay have just got one.
Falcons
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
