Sleepers for the 2009 NFL Draft

Senior Offensive Prospects to Watch For

By Daryl Breault

QB-

Tom Brandstater, Fresno St: Lacks polish and is a major developmental prospect but has been on scouts’ radar thanks to his size and arm strength. A three-year starter who has produced good numbers in a spread offense. Arm strength is king come draft time and Brandstater has that in spades. Improving in all facets of quarterbacking but has some ways to go yet.

Chase Clement, Rice: Must admit, I haven’t seen enough of him to make a full evaluation but so far, Clement is coming off as a sleeper. One of Rice’s all-time players as he holds all of the teams records in passing and total offense as well as 6 C-USA records. Extremely athletic but has average size and arm strength. Accuracy is decent but not elite. Has tools to work with but may have to take the long route to NFL success.

RB-

Devin Moore, Wyoming- Moore is small (5’9, 190lbs) by all measure of the word but few senior backs will match his elite speed. Moore answered questions about his ability to handle a full workload by rushing for 1,301 yards as Wyoming’s featured back. Took to a leadership role in 08. Returns kicks and punts and has decent hands out of the backfield with a good understanding of the route tree. Versatile, home-run hitter.

Shannon Woods, Texas Tech: Bounced back from a tough 2007 season with an All-Big 12 2nd Team selection in 08. Will need to explain his 2007 benching and dismissal prior to Gator Bowl. Has a nose for the end zone and can catch passes out of the backfield. Not a tough inside runner, lacks size (5’11, 195) and speed is questionable. Has to test well but has potential to develop into a player in the NFL.

Darrell Mack, Utah: A bruiser with great size at 5’11, 220lbs. Rushed for 1,204 yards as featured back in 2007 but split time in 2008 with shiftier Matt Asiata and took on more of a blocking role. Handled quasi-full back duties very well. Not a true fullback but could survive in that role. Lacks great acceleration but has enough top end speed to be a RB. The unselfish type who could succeed strictly on character and carve out a long career.

FB-

Fui Vakapuna, BYU: A very intriguing prospect with an interesting history. Spent two years on a church mission in Carlsbad, California before returning to football. Has potential as a short yardage back and scored 8 rushing TD in 2006. Injuries have limited his effectiveness over the last two seasons and he has taken on more of a FB role. Enjoys contact is a true FB prospect.

WR-

Brian Robiskie, Ohio St: Tough, smooth athlete with great hands and body control. Has prototype size, build and wingspan. Will high-point the ball and make plays across the middle. Has deceptive speed but lacks elite burst and quickness. Inconsistent throughout career and had a down senior year.

Sammi Stroughter, Oregon St: Resilient player who has overcome a lot of off-field adversity in his life. Tough with good speed and quickness. Started off his college career in spectacular fashion, culminating in a Pac-10 2nd team selection in 2006. Short and lacks bulk and has suffered major injuries in past. Has bounced back from tough 07 with Pac-10 1st team selection. Currently very underrated after injury and problems of 07.

Greg Carr, Florida St: Incredible wing span, arms look like Stretch Armstrong doll arms. Tall (6’6”) and lanky (215) but has good definition and is a TD machine. Overlooked as a prospect. Speed is questionable and not a great route runner but is a sleeper thanks his basketball style frame and ability to out jump opponents. Should be dangerous on fade routes and jump balls.

Dicky Lyons Jr., Kentucky: Hurt knee in Oct 08 but flashed big play potential in 06 and 07. Tough kid who fights for everything and expects nothing. Small at 5’11, 185lbs but is shifty and has great open field moves, burst and acceleration. An exciting player to watch because of his determination.

Eron Riley, Duke: 2008 preseason arrest hurts stock as does playing for a basketball school. On the field, Riley has been the Blue Devils best prospect for some time and has been productive despite poor production from Duke passers. Has been the teams MVP and the player opponents key on. Has good size (6’3, 205) but lacks speed and polish. Good developmental prospect with a history of success.

TE

Dan Gronkowski, Maryland: Not a factor in the passing game outside of dump offs but a great, physical blocker. Three-year starter who had a breakout 2008 campaign with 29 catches for 287 yards and 3 TD. Imposing at 6’6, 260lbs and can add another 5-10 pounds to his frame.

OT-

Garrett Reynolds, North Carolina: OT is loaded this year but there are still a few guys flying under the radar, Reynolds being one of them. The main reason being that he is a right tackle for the Tar Heels and that, well, he plays for the Tar Heels. Stands 6’7, 310lbs with room to carry more weight. Needs to add strength and improve his punch but he’s tenacious, a three-year starter and consistently was the Tar Heels best lineman.

OG-

Roland Martin, Michigan St: With 34 career starts under his belt, Roland Martin is a lunch pail prospect who brings great size (6’5, 330) to the RG position. He possesses decent athleticism for his size and works hard but he doesn’t play with enough intensity every play.

Jeff Niedermier, Buffalo: Doesn’t get much pub playing for Buffalo but Niedermayer is one of the most consistent and intense lineman in college football. Has great athleticism and is good at getting to the second level of a defense. Doesn’t have the size or strength you would hope for but could have a future as a zone blocker.

C-

Juan Garcia, Washington: Under the radar due to a serious foot injury suffered in April 2008 but recovered sufficiently enough to earn All-Pac 10 Honorable Mention. Injuries also nearly ruined his career and caused him to miss the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons. Looking past the injuries, Garcia has great size at 6’3”, 310lbs and is quite intelligent. Potential to be a serious player if he proves injuries are behind him.

K-

Ryan Succop, South Carolina: Succop didn’t have the greatest 2008 as he battled an abdominal injury but he has LB size at 6’2” 220lbs and can hit from 50+. Accurate from 40-49 yards and can boom kick-offs. Also has experience as a punter for SC. Needs to speed up his motions as he has had problems with blocked kicks in the past.

Michael Crabtree

If NFL teams are looking for a big, physical receiver with all the tools, they cannot look past Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree. Crabtree (6' 3" 224 lbs) is one of the nation’s top wide receivers who not only puts crazy numbers but can also be relied upon to make the big play. He is talented in many different ways and is one of the premier players in college football.

Crabtree has benefited from the type of system that Tech runs but that’s shouldn’t be something to be held against him. Sure, in the Red Raiders system the passing game is king and wide receivers are bound to get a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns but Crabtree is not a product of the Red Raiders system. He is much more than that.

First and foremost, Crabtree is big, physical receiver who can out-jump defenders for the ball and muscle his way in to make the catch. And if you are looking for speed, Crabtree has plenty of it and he can get past most cornerbacks for the long touchdown play. However, he lacks the ideal quickness that you see in some receivers but more than makes up for it with his speed.

If you have seen him play at all, you will notice that he rarely drops passes and has some of the surest hands in college football. Crabtree has large hands and uses them to catch the ball away from his body which is ideal. This trait is highly valued in the NFL.

When it comes to running routes Crabtree is very good at this. He runs clean and crisp routes and makes his cuts and breaks well. He should be able to pick up an NFL system quickly meaning that he won’t need a lot of time to adjust to the NFL although, like any college player making their transition to the NFL, there will definitely be a learning curve.

With NFL physique and NFL ready skills, Crabtree could easily be a top ten pick in the NFL draft and could step in and start on any NFL team right away. If he chooses to come out (he is draft eligible sophomre) he will be one of the most sought after players in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Scouting Report by Bryan Dietzler

Quarterbacks for the 2009 NFL Draft

The 2009 NFL Draft should be an interesting one for quarterbacks. Unfortunately, many fine, experienced senior quarterbacks will be overlooked in favor of stellar juniors. Here are my NFL Draft Rankings of the top senior quarterbacks in projected draft order.

2009 College Football Senior Quarterbacks In Projected Draft Order
The 2009 NFL Draft should be an interesting one for quarterbacks. Unfortunately, many fine, experienced senior quarterbacks will be overlooked in favor of stellar juniors. Here are my top senior quarterbacks in projected draft order.

1. Cullen Harper, Clemson
Projected Round: 1
Cullen Harper, despite playing on a over-rated Clemson team, is a phenomenal quarterback. In his first season as a starter, Harper posted 27 touchdowns next to only six picks, which is fantastic when you consider his opponents, including Virginia Tech and Boston College. Oh yeah, and to cap it off, he threw for over 2,700 yards. He is definitely first round caliber, and if no high-caliber juniors come out early, he will have an edge over Hunter Cantwell to be the first QB taken.

2. Hunter Cantwell, Louisville
Projected Round: 1-2
For a few years now, Hunter Cantwell has been the best back-up in the country. A pro-style pocket passer, he’s ready made for the NFL, just as Brian Brohm should have been. He has a strong, accurate arm; and his only negative is inexperience, which is really a little misleading because every time Brohm went down, Cantwell played more than admirably, posting a completion percentage of 64.3%. That’s fantastic for a college QB. If he is pushed to the second round it will be due talented junior quarterbacks.

3. Curtis Painter, Purdue
Projected Round: 2
Curtis Painter, arguably the most prolific passer in Purdue history, has shown improvement over his two full seasons. He passed for fewer yards last year, but went up in touchdowns to twenty-nine, and down in interceptions to eleven. He is not immobile but he is a pocket passer, as his 40 time shows. Painter, however, plays in the Big Ten, which means that he won’t be drafted as high due to the misconception that Big Ten competition is somehow lesser than say, SEC opponents. The only other knock on Painter is his tendency to have his worst games against top opponents, like Ohio State and Wisconsin.

4. Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State
Projected Round: 3
Rudy Carpenter is one tough mother, well, you get it. He was sacked 54 times last year; that’s right, 54 times. When he wasn’t busy being sacked, he was completing 62% of his passes and tossing 25 touchdowns; with only 10 interceptions. Carpenter would make an excellent game manager in the NFL, but his upside might be more limited than say, Curtis Painter. A pocket passer, Carpenter deserves a shot right around round 3 or even 4.

5. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
Projected Round: 3-4
Why is every body so down on Todd Boeckman? The NFL likes: tall quarterbacks, big arms, and diplomas from major BCS-conference schools. So what’s wrong with Mr. Boeckman? Two names: Beanie Wells and Tyrell Pryor. They steal his thunder and his numbers. But I’m not worried; whoever takes Boeckman here will have a big time, NFL ready quarterback and some early round weapons for him to hurl it to. By the way, he’s not immobile either; he has been clocked in the 40 at 4.74, which is really pretty good at his size. Threw 25 touchdowns and 14 picks in his junior year.

6. Pat White, West Virginia
Projected Round: 4
That’s right, Pat White. It’s too bad no one in the NFL will let him play quarterback. He can really throw and he is a full 6-2, he’s not “6-0” like Chase Daniel. This is where I would draft Pat. If this team doesn’t want to play him at QB, well, he can REALLY run, so HB or WR would be options as well. As long as he put on some muscle, he could play many other positions at the next level.

7. Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas
Projected Round: 4-5
I haven’t seen too much of Nathan Brown, but what I have seen, I like. Unfortunately, he plays at a small school, and normally that does not bode well for NFL prospects. He threw 26 touchdowns and 10 picks as a junior.
8. Tom Brandstater Fresno State
Projected Round: 4-5

Impressive guy at a smaller school. Playing in the WAC is probably his biggest knock, especially when you consider that he plays on a team that needs to run the ball. But he can throw it. He threw 15 touchdowns and only 5 picks in 2007, and e needs to raise that to warrant higher draft consideration.

9. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
Projected Round: 5
Another Texas Tech guy, huh? Hopefully Graham Harrell won’t end up in the Arena League like Sonny Cumbie, although, from what I’ve seen, the AFL is on the rise. But that’s neither here nor there. Graham Harrell has decent height for a quarterback at the next level, and he has shown touch and arm strength none of his predecessors possessed. If someone takes a shot on this guy, in 2 or 3 years he could develop into a fine, pro-style quarterback. He threw 48 touchdowns in 2007.

10. Chase Daniel, Missouri
Projected Round: 5-6
Chase Daniel is awesome. He makes plays on the run and he can fit the ball into windows not often reached by college quarterbacks. His is very athletic and he deserves a shot. He is, however, pretty short for his position. I’m doubtful that he is actually 6-0, he’s likely closer to 5-10. To most this is not that big of a deal, but to NFL teams height means a lot. There have been great NFL quarterbacks under 6-0, Doug Flutie, to name one. I hope that some team gives him a chance to play, as he is very exciting, not to mention productive. Over two years, he has not had a game with a completion percent under 50%.

11. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State
Projected Round: 6
Another middle-of-the-road Michigan State QB. Seems like they never produce top Quarterbacks. He did, however, throw for 20 touchdowns in the Big Ten and he warrants consideration, possibly as a back-up because his upside is limited.
12. Chase Holbrook New Mexico State
Projected Round: 6-7
A bigger version of Colt Brennan. He’s a big guy with a good arm, but he plays in the spread, so that can be misleading. He went down from 34 touchdowns to 28 in 2007, but a good senior year will lead to hearing his name on draft day.

13. John Parker Wilson, Alabama
Projected Round: 7
A guy who knows how to lead. I compare him to Matt Flynn, who just beat out Brian Brohm to be Green Bay’s second quarterback. He plays in the SEC and still put up good numbers, and had his best games in 2007 against Arkansas and LSU, with 3 and 2 touchdowns, respectively. He figures to be a back-up, but you never know. No one thought Tom Brady would make it, either.
14. Stephen McGee Texas A&M
Projected Round: 7-FA
Played well as a sophomore, but his claim to fame was his low pick total, and it went up from 3 to 8 in one campaign. A good senior year gets him drafted, but a serious recent shoulder injury could curtail his draft hopes.

By Russell Webster II

Arena Football: Why not?

I had a chance to go to an Arena 2 football game recently after several weeks of wonder what it was all about and if it was really worth going to a game. The local team, the Iowa Barnstormers, appeared to not be one of the best teams in Arena 2 so I wasn’t sure what I would be getting for my ticket price. However, football is football so I thought that I would go and check it out.

The game I saw pitted the Iowa Barnstorms against the Quad City Steamwheelers. The game was to be played inside the Des Moines Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Arena here in Des Moines Iowa. The location for the game was perfect as it was just a few short miles from where I lived and it was fairly easy to get to. My girlfriend accompanied me on this new adventure to my first Arena football game not knowing what to expect either and we were both in for a treat.

At first it didn’t appear as if there were going to be too many people at the game but I had to remind myself that we got there a little bit early so we would have time to find our seats, get something to eat and drink and see what the stadium was like. We had some great seats and I felt that we would be able to see all the action down on the field. However, and most unfortunately, as we would come to find out, some of the tallest people in the building! It was hard to see at times.

The crowd that night ended up to be a record for the season to date (with one more game left to go). It was also “black out” night that night as everyone was asked to wear black to support the Barnstormers that night. I wore black and my girlfriend wore red in honor of the Barnstormers colors.

The game itself was very exciting as it appears that most Arena Football games are. There is always a lot of scoring taking place due to the fact that they are playing on a short field and the rules are fairly relaxed when compared to those of NFL Football. The game was fun too because of the players and the fans. One player in particular, Daniel McLemore, was the on the field cheerleader dancing often during breaks in the action to the music playing overhead. He provided quite a bit of entertainment for myself and my girlfriend as well as the entire crowd. You don’t see that anymore during an NFL game!

The game was pretty close for a little while but thanks to some solid quarterback play and some lucky breaks, the Barnstormers were able win by a score of 76-53. The Barnstormers 73 points were the most that they had scored during the season in a single game and we got to see it all that night.

After the game, the fans were allowed to go down on the field and meet the players. We did not stay around for this and perhaps we missed out on something special but we were clearly satisfied with the game, the fans and the team. It was quite an experience.

At the game, the row that my girlfriend and I were sitting in was selected, along with another row in the stadium, to play a game called pass the box. Our row had to pass a small pizza box down the row and back, racing another row, in hopes of winning a free meal at the sponsoring restaurant. As luck would have it, our row won and we won a free dinner at the restaurant where the Barnstormers hold their family night activities.

Family night was Monday night and so we decided to use our free meal passes and go eat dinner with the Barnstormers. We managed to get a seat right by the defensive squad and got to hear them talking about their game that Saturday and their upcoming game against the Lexington Horsemen. One thing that I did notice (and I had picked this up from the game the other night) was that their defensive coordinator, a former wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, Phoenix Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) and the Kansas City Chiefs J.T. Smith was there. I had remembered Smith from his playing days way back when I in high school and I remembered that I had several football cards of his as well.

It took a lot of nerve on my behalf but I got up and talked to Smith before leaving the restaurant. I told him that I remembered him from back in his playing days when I was younger and he said, jokingly “Are you calling me old”? I managed to get my picture taken with him, something that I will certainly always treasure. This, along with other things that I have observed about the Barnstormers, has lead me to believe that they are very community oriented and thankful for their fans.
This is the Barnstormers first season back after being gone for a few years. They did have a rich history prior to their leaving Iowa for a while and they bring that history back with them. Perhaps some of you will remember when a not so well known (at the time) quarterback who took the Arena 2 league by storm, Kurt Warner. Warner went on to become a two time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl winner.

You just never know who might end up being a star!

By Bryan Dietzler

2008 NFL Draft Grades

Which teams got the best value out of there picks? Who improved the most? Who wasted their opportunity to improve?What is the difference between drafting smart and overvaluing a player and reaching? We won't know those answers for sure for at least three years, that's how long it takes to fully evaluate a draft, but we can evaluate draft quality and value based off of team needs and players rankings.

It's easy to get excited when your team trades up for some really well known, seemingly highly talented player, but giving up future draft picks and mortgaging your future rarely pays off in the long run. Many times the team overpays for a player they could have had half a round or even a full round later. If you are not a team just a couple of players away from the superbowl, it's better to build your team with patience. I am talking to you Jacksonville and Carolina. The Jags traded away a lot of picks to move way up and reach for DE Derrick Harvey and the Panthers gave up next years first round draft pick to the Eagles to get OT Jeff Otah.

Below I have listed this years draft winners and losers and my grades for each team.

Winners:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
John Gruden must have some secret knowledge no other NFL coach has. He came into this years draft and found himself a list of steals. Gruden said he wanted to add playmakers to his team and with following picks he definitely did so. In the first round Tampa took Corner Aqib Talib from Kansas. Talib is easily one of the top five corners in this years draft and fits perfectly in the tampa two scheme. Second Round pick Dexter Jackson was a slight reach based on his projection but for a player who could very easily be the next Devin Hester with better hands it was well worth it. Jackson runs a 4.3 forty yard dash and has surprisingly good hands. His size may limit him in the NFL at 5'10" 182 pounds but he will at least be very dangerous from the slot and a threat to take kicks and punts all the way. In the third Gruden picked Rutgers offensive guard Jeremy Zuttah. A four year starter at Rutgers Zuttah is very technically sound blocking and could be a good starter in a couple of years. Dre Moore from Maryland went to Tampa in the fourth adding depth on the defensive line. In the fifth round Gruden got his quarterback of the future Josh Johnson. Gruden had been scouting Johnson for some time and was very high on him. Josh is the biggest steal of this years draft. He is a very smart quarterback with a good arm and incredible athletic ability. He could be the new starter within the next two years. Sixth round pick Geno Hayes from Florida State could a very good special teams player and backup. Running Back Cory Boyd from South Carolina Gruden's final pick has the quickness and balance to be a potential starter and a complete steal.In only seven picks Tampa likely added at least three starters you can't really ask for more from one draft.

Draft Grade A+

Cincinnati Bengals:
We all know how high powered the offense is in Cincinnati, but we also know how thin their linebacker corps and defensive line are. Cinci came into this years draft looking for playmakers to help their struggling defense. Their First pick (number nine overall) was linebacker Keith Rivers. Rivers is an extremely gifted athlete with a nose for the football. He seems to always be around the play and helping make big plays happen for the defense. He will definitely help the Bengals pass rush and run defense improve. Second round pick Jerome Simpson has all the tools to a great wide receiver. With Chad Johnson throwing fits and asking to be traded the Bengals had no choice but to look for insurance in the event he was to hold out or leave. Simpson doesn’t have blazing speed but he has great hands and good size and will fight for every jump ball. Third round pick Pat Sims adds much needed talent to cinci's defensive line. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell is a nice depth pick and could be a very good special teams player. Offensive tackle Anthony Collins is a very underrated and talented young lineman bringing starter ability to the table. Defensive linemen Jason Shirley and Deangelo Craig are very good depth picks and both have good talent and starter potential. Safety Corey Lynch could be a real steal late he has great ball instincts and is a very good tackler. He has all the tools to be a good starting strong safety at the least he will a pro bowl caliber special teams player. Wide Receiver Mario Uruttia has tremendous size and good speed and could be a dangerous red zone threat. New Orleans out maneavered them for DT Sedrick Ellis or this rating would have been an A+.

Draft Grade A

St Louis Rams:
The Rams may be one of the most improved teams of this years draft. The obvious need for upgrades at several positions had to come through the draft. With their first pick St Louis took defensive end Chris Long. The son of NFL hall of famer Howie Long, Chris is probably one of the best defensive players to come out of a draft since Mario Williams. He was the clear team leader of the Virginia defense in college. As the second round began Scott Linehan looked at the board and his eyes must have lit up. WR Donnie Avery sat there for the taking. Avery is a very undervalued wide out who had a tremendous career at Houston, but it's questionable that he was the top wideout in this draft. He is a good solid pick although Hardy might have been a better choice. In the third round offensive tackle John Greco was the pick. Greco has good quick feet to handle the outside rush and is also very strong. Orlando Pace is aging rapidly and can't seem to stay healthy. Greco might very easily be the Rams starter at left tackle this year or next. Cornerback Justin King brings incredible ball skills and blazing speed to a secondary that needs both badly. Offensive guard Roy Scheuning was a steal in the fifth round and a very capable starter. Keenan Burton is a absolute steal this late and could very easily end up being the successor to Issac Bruce. Cornerback Chris Chamberlain has good speed and could make a very good nickel corner. Linehan and the Rams did a tremendous job of getting value and filling needs.

Draft Grade A

Carolina Panthers:
The Panthers entered this years draft looking to upgrade the running back position and add depth. In the first round alone they filled team needs at running back and offensive tackle. RB Jonathan Stewart is arguably one of the top three backs in his draft class, but coming off of turf toe surgery, RB Reshard Mendenhall might have been the safer pick. Jeff Otah is a powerful mauling right tackle who can open massive holes for any running back, but the Panthers gave up 2009's first round pick for him, they might regret that lost pick next year, especialy if they have a bad season, which means, obviously, that that pick would be higher than justified. Cornerback Charles Godfrey has good ball skills and could be a huge steal in the third. Third round pick linebacker Dan Connor is a complete steal who has first round talent. Defensive tackle Nick Hayden is a very solid player who adds much needed depth and starter potential.Geoff Schwartz is a solid late offensive line pick that could start. Late round pick Tyler Hilee will most likely be a special teams contributor.

Draft Grade B+

Honorable Mention: Pittsburgh, NY Giants, Chicago

The Losers:

Not every team gets great value for their picks. Some reach for a player they really want or give up too much in a draft day trade. The following teams spent both draft days reaching or giving up too much or not filling needs.

Miami Dolphins:
OT Jake Long was a great pick. He is a cornerstone to build the offensive line around. Unfortunately after that the picks went downhill. Chad Henne was a decent pick my guess is this might be Beck's last year as starter. In The Second Philip Merling was a good pick. He was a bit of a steal most expected him to go in the late first round. Kendal Langford was a good pick the dolphins can use plenty of help on the defensive line. Shawn Murphy wasn’t even on some draft boards and the dolphins took him in the fourth round. He was projected to be a likely seventh rounder. Hopefully they know something everyone else missed out on. Jalen Parmele was definitely a solid pick adds depth at running back in case Ronnie Brown gets hurt again or Ricky Williams finally gets kicked out of the NFL for good. The later picks were good players but other than Donald Thomas they didn’t fill needs drafting only three offensive linemen in one of the deepest classes ever was probably not a great Idea especially when you took two running backs. A wide receiver could have been taken another offensive lineman or maybe a cornerback. Another late defensive end pick made me wonder but at least John Beck got some help at running back now if only he had a line or receivers. In the end the dolphins made some solid picks but drafted too many of the same position and didn’t even address certain needs or holes in the team at all.

Draft Grade C-

Tennessee Titans:
The Titans have real depth issues at wide receiver but didn't even draft one until the fifth round. If Justin Gage is starting you have serious needs for a upgrade. First round pick RB Chris Johnson has great speed (4.24) and could be a good starting or situational back. The problem with this pick is Chris wasn’t projected to be drafted till the middle of the second round and the Titans don’t really need a running back as they already have a good starting back in Lendale White. Unless they are going to try to teach Johnson to play wide out this pick is a waste on a complimentary player that they will overpay first round money to. If Johnson was that big of a want they should have traded out of the first round with a team that wanted an extra first round pick into the early second round and taken him there. When the Titans took Johnson there were at least two backs still graded above him. Second round pick Jason Jones from Eastern Michigan is an extremely talented edge rusher and is the best pick out of their draft. Craig Stevens and William Hayes are decent picks. Lavelle Hawkins is a good receiver and good value at the spot where he was taken. He is somewhat of steal that late. He could be a good slot receiver and special teams player. The Titans draft was bad at best. They reached horribly on their first pick and never addressed needs at wide receiver and offensive line depth.

Draft Grade C-

Detroit Lions:
Lions fans must be the most patient people ever. Every year it seems that Matt Millen gets worse at drafting. Offensive tackle Gosher Cherilous is a good young right tackle. He is second round value taken in the first round but because a run on tackles had started I will give the pick the benefit of the doubt. Linebacker Jordan Dizon is a good young player but he was listed as a fourth rounder on almost every draft board yet the Lions took him in the second. Running back Kevin Smith is a exciting young back and the best pick of Detroit’s draft. Cliff Avril could be a solid situation pass rusher but was a reach also. Jerome Felton and Caleb Campbell highlight the later rounds unfortunately by then almost every pick was a reach or better players were passed over. Not only did the team fail to get value for several of its picks but with a need at linebacker they passed over one of the best in the draft Dan Conner in two straight rounds.

Draft Grade D+

Honorable Mention: Atlanta

By Jason Baudendistel