I am curious as to how Goodell can say there will be no rookie cap in 2010. If it is negotiated as part of the CBA, which according to what we have heard from players it most likely will be, then it will be in place. Even if somehow the CBA stated that a rookie cap wouldnt take effect until the following season, what is to say that the owners wouldnt offer contracts at that rate in 2010 even if it is unofficial. I would rather bump the pay for vets or FA than spend 60M on some kid out of college that may never amount to jack.

I can see it already we are so getting Travis Johnsoned again. Dammit.

I wasnt aware he re-entered the draft.

My updated list

1 Andre Smith
2 Matthew Stafford
3 Michael Oher
4 Eugene Monroe
5 Malcolm Jenkins
6 B.J. Raji
7 Aaron Curry
8 Michael Crabtree
9 Brian Orakpo
10 Rey Maualaga
11 Vontae Davis
12 Chris Wells
13 Jason Smith
14 Jeria Jerry
15 Everette Bown

the best of the rest

Max Unger C Oregon
Alex Mack OC 6-4, 315 California
Clint Sintim OLB 6-2, 255 Virginia
Brandon Spikes LB 6-2, 245 Florida
James Laurinaitis LB 6-2, 245 Ohio State
Alphonso Smith CB 5-9, 195 Wake Forest
D.J. Moore CB 5-10, 182 Vanderbilt
Will Moore FS 6-0, 230 Missouri (X)
Sen'Derrick Marks DT 6-1, 290 Auburn
Michael Johnson DE 6-6, 250 Georgia Tech
Greg Hardy DE 6-4, 265 Mississippi (O)
Aaron Maybin DE 6-3, 235 Penn State
Brandon Pettigrew TE 6-5, 260 Oklahoma State
Chase Coffman TE 6-5, 245 Missouri
Percy Harvin WR 5-10, 180 Florida (X)
Darrius Heyward-Bey WR 6-1, 206 Maryland
Jeremy Maclin WR 6-0, 200 Missouri
Knowshon Moreno RB 5-10, 207 Georgia
Leshon McCoy RB 5-11, 215 Pittsburg
Jamon Meredith OT 6-5, 310 South Carolina
Alex Boone OT 6-7, 312 Ohio State

OU's Bradford and Grishem are now off the table. That sucks in multiple ways.

The pool of talent that might drop the guys we want down to 15 appear to be dwindling. We may find ourselves at 15 with no really good options. But it is way too early to say with certainty. The board definitely changes after the combine.

Can this be considered the first official nickname of the 2009 Draft? Not quite Captain america though.

You can also nix Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss, and Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida. The talent pool dwindles further.

Is it just me or does it seem like there are more top guys deciding to stay in college one more year than in years past?

No, I used the monniker "Captain America" to prevent spies from knowing who I was talking about. It was more of a code name than a nickname.

Interestingly enough, I think you are correct. I have never seen so many sure fire first round and top ten picks decline to enter the draft.

Off hand in the top ten:

Taylor Mays
Sam Bradford
Gerald McCoy

First rounders:

Jermaine Gresham
Greg Hardy
Brandon Spikes

That is all I could think of off the cuff.

Like I said, the labor issues will not be pushing any kids into coming out early.

Nevertheless, the general rule I have repeatedly heard iterated by college and NFL coaches alike, is that if you are sure you are a first rounder you come out. That rule has been case by the road side in this case, and I think next year you think some of the prospects listed are going to regret this decision.

Penn State DE Aaron Maybin is going to be a very fast riser in the draft. Scouting services have him late in the first and some have him in the second but he'll be gone by the first half of the first round. While some project him as a 3-4 OLB, there are 4-3 teams who think he can pack on 20 pounds of muscle with ease on his frame and play DE in a 4-3. Houston Texans, this could be your guy.
http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootba...right_cal.html
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I haven't heard too much about this guy, but LZ obviously likes him ?

I can't believe Kubiak is going to go for someone who needs time to add twenty pounds of muscle. Kubiak's time is NOW. The more I think about it the less it will surprise me if he go RB, because a RB tends to be near his peak in his rookie year. The knock on RBs is they have short careers. If Kubes doesn't win next year that won't matter.

Another position known for early results is LB. Since we are deficient at LB, it won't surprise me if we go that direction either. Though we really need help at DE in passing situations, we might be able to fill that nicely in a later round with a specialist. Remember, we are kind of stuck with Weaver so we might as well use him as a first and second down guy.

An interesting thing to me is that Brown, Okoye and Williams did not have a body of work to justify how high they were drafted. But they went early anyway because they all screamed future potential. Because this may be Kubiak's last year, I don't think we'll see that kind of pick this year. I'm thinking we probably go BPAN. (Best Player Available Now)

My impact players that may be available at 15:

Aaron Maybin has the type of speed off the edge that can make a DE an instant impact player.
Ray Malulaga
James Lauranitis
Chris Wells
Brian Cushing
Malcolm Jenkins has alot of athletic ability and is one of teh more polished corners in this draft.

Personally, I would love for Malualaga to fall, but don't think it will happen.

I cant wait until the combine to see how Maybina and Brown look in some drills.


I think if you are on the right track with "impact players". Kubes has to make it happen this year. My list of impact players that could be available @15looks more like this.

Everette Bown
Clint Sintim OLB 6-2, 255 Virginia
Aaron Maybin DE 6-3, 235 Penn State
Chase Coffman TE 6-5, 245 Missouri
Percy Harvin WR 5-10, 180 Florida (X)
Darrius Heyward-Bey WR 6-1, 206 Maryland
Jeremy Maclin WR 6-0, 200 Missouri
Leshon McCoy RB 5-11, 215 Pittsburg
and maybe
Michael Johnson DE 6-6, 250 Georgia Tech

Any of these guys could make an impact on our team.

While they haven't had a Pro Day or the Combine, I'm hesitant to say Maybin has the type of speed to be an instant impact. I've seen these projections:

Aaron Maybin 6'4" 248lbs and 4.67 - 40
Everette Brown 6'4" 252lbs and 4.65 - 40
Michael Johnson 6''7" 258lbs and 4.67 - 40
Paul Kruger 6'5" 265lbs and 4.68 - 40.

Gaines Adams ran a 4.64 at 6'5" 258lbs. I'm not sure he had an Instant Impact. Brian Robison ran a 4.67 at 6'3" 259lbs. One was the #4 pick and the other was a 4th round pick. Robison had 4.5 sacks his rookie year and started 5 games. Adams had 6 sacks his rookie year and started 8 games. I'm not quite sure we have a Jevon Kearse, Dwight Freeney, Simeon Rice, or Leslie O'neal in this draft class, who makes a difference day one.

Players who should make an impact right away in my opinion are:
Crabtree, Curry, Oher, Stafford, Moreno, Maclin, McCoy, Harvin, Pettigrew, and William Moore. Other players may develop into great players with time, but I wouldn't bet my career on it.

This brings up an interesting philosophy question between a GM and a HC. When drafting players do you go for the BPA currently or the BPA eventually? That was the question with Mario vs. Bush. Bush started off his career faster, but it now appears the Mario was the better choice.

It would be interesting to know what Mario and Reggie would be worth if they were to be offered in a trade for a pick in this draft. I'm pretty sure Mario would go at or close to a number one overall, but I'm having trouble deciding what someone would offer for Bush, considering the huge contract he would come with. Would he even go for a first round pick?

I realize that there has been discussions on moving Ryans out to the WILL, but what about drafting Laurinitis to play the WILL and leaving Ryans at the MIKE?

If things continue at the rate they are going, William Moore might be available in the 2nd round. Then, in the 3rd round grab DE/OLB Cody Brown. Followed by RB James Davis in the 4th.

5th TE Bear Pascoe
6th SS Keith Fitzhugh
7th DT Darryl Richard

That would shore up some needs.


Cody Brown is 6'2" 248lbs 4.68
Everette Brown is 6'4" 252lbs 4.65 and people are considering using our 1st round pick on him.

I don't think a 40 time is the most important stat for a DE. I look, as I am sure you do Roy, at thier first step among other things, and I believe that Johnson and Maybin have the most dynamic first step off the line in this draft.

I am not sure about Everette Brown, he seems a bit like a mirage to me. He is good in college but I am not sure that he will succeed in the pros, he reminds me of Jamaal Anderson?, and for that reason I am skeptical.