[retired_jasminens]

Originally posted by bflaff:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Francis Cole:
The draft starts just after 12 ET, so 5 here

So they *are* going to **** for an hour before the picks start? Lame.

Almost as fun as the Super Bowl pre-game show. At least no aging rock stars will be performing live. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Pretty much a staple for things like these that there is an hour "pre-game" show.

These are the days when I love NFL Network. 12 hours of coverage on Saturday. And then another 7 hours on Sunday. Wouldn't want to miss the last pick overall.

Cade McNown is the big bust for the 'experienced' QBs, while Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, and Tim Couch all all examples of the more 'inexperienced' guys who never made it in the NFL.

And where do the NFL busts go? Akili Smith just signed to Calgary in the CFL.

[retired_austinh24]

Looks like we will have to listen to the draft on espn.com. I was gonna sign up to anasn then cancel the direct debit. Can't believe it is not available to european fans

[retired_geodee]

My final mock

1.Oakland – JaMarcus Russell
2.Detroit – Calvin Johnson
3.Cleveland – Adrian Peterson
4.Tampa – Gaines Adams
5.Arizona – Joe Thomas
6.Washington – LaRon Landry
7.Minnesota – Leon Hall
8.Atlanta – Jamaal Anderson
9.Miami – Brady Quinn
10.Houston – Darrelle Revis
11.SF – Patrick Willis
12.Buffalo – Marshawn Lynch
13.St Louis – Amobi Okoye
14.Carolina – Reggie Nelson
15.Pittsburgh – Lawrence Timmons
16.GB – Robert Meachem
17.Jacksonville – Adam Carriker
18.Cincinnati – Chris Houston
19.Tennessee – Dwayne Bowe
20.NY Giants – Joe Staley
21.Denver – Jarvis Moss
22.Dallas – Aaron Ross
23.KC – Justin Harrell
24.New England – Brandon Meriweather
25.NY Jets – Greg Olsen
26.Philadelphia – Michael Griffin
27.New Orleans – Tedd Ginn
28.New England – David Harris
29.Baltimore – Ben Grubbs
30.San Diego – Jon Beason
31.Chicago - Dwayne Jarrett
32.Indianapolis – Anthony Gonzalez

[retired_geodee]

Originally posted by yababo:
Looks like we will have to listen to the draft on espn.com. I was gonna sign up to anasn then cancel the direct debit. Can't believe it is not available to european fans

Listen on ESPN Pittsburgh rather than the main ESPN. My friend DJ is working for them. He's worked with well over half the NFL teams as a pro scout and will give you more insight than the muppets on their main feed.

[retired_rinkjustice]

tbh, it's not really worth listening to. The only reason they televise it is because they can run highlights of the people in the mean time. Otherwise it's a boring countdown every 5-10 minutes or w/e for an announcement that was pretty much expected and then another countdown.

Better to just use the ESPN web stuff that automatically updates.

[retired_rondaw25]

A mock top 15 because I don't have time.

1.Oakland – JaMarcus Russell
2.Detroit – Brady Quinn
3.Cleveland – Adrian Peterson
4.Tampa – Calvin Johnson
5.Arizona – Joe Thomas
6.Washington – Gaines Adams or LaRon Landry, most likely sort a trade with Atlanta.
7.Minnesota – Two players the Vikes would trade up for - Johnson and Quinn. If not, trade down for Robert Meachem.
8.Atlanta – Amobi Akoye or trade up for Landry.
9.Miami – Levi Brown
10.Houston – Leon Hall
11.SF – Patrick Willis
12.Buffalo – Marshawn Lynch
13.St Louis – Alan Branch
14.Carolina – Grg Olsen
15.Pittsburgh – Paul Poluszny

[Skoooby]

Goose Gosselin's final mock. He's as good as they come with draft projections.

Rick Gosselin's final mock draft

07:14 AM CDT on Saturday, April 28, 2007
By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@dallasnews.com


1. OAKLAND RAIDERS

Selection: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
Needs: Quarterback, blockers, tacklers

Al Davis has never been a fan of dink-and-dunk football. He wants passers and receivers who can stretch the field. No one stretches it like Russell, who can throw the football 85 yards. The Raiders have started six different QBs in the last four seasons. This position needs to be stabilized.


2. DETROIT LIONS

Selection: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
Needs: Cornerback, safety, pass rushers

Embattled general manager Matt Millen has drafted three wide receivers in the Top 10 in the last four years. But the Lions have leverage here. Atlanta and Tampa Bay are eager to trade up for Johnson, so a Herschel Walker-type deal could be a possibility when the Lions go on the clock.


3. CLEVELAND BROWNS

Selection: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
Needs: Left OT, CB, DL

Charlie Frye has his doubters in Cleveland, and a belief exists the Browns are in desperate need of a quarterback. But if the Browns can't block for him, it doesn't matter who the quarterback is. Cleveland ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing and allowed 54 sacks, fifth most in the league. Fix the blocking, then evaluate the playmakers.


4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Selection: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
Needs: Offensive playmakers, blockers, QB

The Buccaneers are still trying to win with defensive players inherited from Tony Dungy six years ago. Offensive whiz Jon Gruden has yet to use a first-round draft pick on defense – yet his offense stinks (29th in the NFL). Still, this defense needs to get younger and faster. The draft's best pass rusher also would make it better.


5. ARIZONA CARDINALS

Selection: Adrian Peterson, HB, Oklahoma
Needs: OT, DE, CB

The Cardinals signed aging Pro Bowler Edgerrin James last off-season and finished 30th in the NFL in rushing. The defense is slightly better, finishing 29th in the NFL last season. Arizona can draft at any position and improve this team. A running game takes the heat off your quarterback and defense.


6. WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Selection: LaRon Landry, S, LSU
Needs: DL, LB, secondary

The Redskins ranked 31st in the NFL in defense a year ago, in part because they whiffed in free agency on safety Adam Archuleta. He was a $35 million bust. He was benched and finally banished to Chicago this off-season. Landry has size (6-0, 213), speed (4.36 40-yard dash) and hitting ability (315 career tackles).


7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Selection: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
Needs: CB, WR, safety

The Vikings finished 31st in the NFL in pass defense and whacked cornerback Fred Smoot after the season. Brady Quinn is the discussion in the room, but the Vikings took a quarterback (Travaris Jackson) hand-picked by head coach Brad Childress in the second round last April. Hall walks in as a starter.


8. ATLANTA FALCONS

Selection: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
Needs: DE, CB, left OT

Incumbent left tackle Wayne Gandy is 36 years old. Brown started 45 games at left tackle for Penn State but has been projected by some as a right tackle in the NFL because of the power game he plays. That's fine with the Falcons – they have a left-handed quarterback, so Brown may have even more value to them on the right side.


9. MIAMI DOLPHINS

Selection: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
Needs: QB, WR, TE

Quarterback gurus need a quarterback. Sean Payton signed Drew Brees when he arrived at New Orleans, and Brad Childress drafted Travaris Jackson when he arrived at Minnesota. Miami coach Cam Cameron is a quarterback guru – and Quinn would be the first quarterback drafted by the Dolphins in the first round since Dan Marino in 1983.


10. HOUSTON TEXANS

Selection: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pitt
Needs: Left OT, pass rusher, safety

When you rank 24th in defense, 28th in offense and 29th on special teams, anyone you draft brings an automatic upgrade. Revis is a double upgrade on defense and special teams. A two-time All-Big East cornerback, Revis also averaged 10.2 yards on punt returns in his career with two touchdowns. But Denver may move up here on the clock.


11. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Selection: Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi
Needs: DE, LB, WR

The 49ers have a franchise quarterback (Alex Smith) and running back (Frank Gore) in place. Now defensive-minded coach Mike Nolan needs to improve the NFL's 26th ranked defense for the 49ers to realize playoff aspirations. A linebacker with defensive back speed (4.37) such as Willis would be a great start.


12. BUFFALO BILLS

Selection: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal
Needs: RB, WR, CB

The Bills traded away disgruntled running back Willis McGahee to Baltimore this off-season. That leaves Anthony Thomas at the top of the depth chart – and the Bills are his fourth NFL team. Lynch was the Pacific 10's Offensive Player of the Year. So was O.J. Simpson when the Bills drafted him in 1969.


13. ST. LOUIS RAMS

Selection: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
Needs: DT, WR, CB

The Rams are a punching bag up front on defense, finishing 31st in the NFL against the run. St. Louis needs to inject some size into an undersized line. A 296-pound defensive end such as Carriker would provide resistance in the NFC West against Pro Bowl backs Shaun Alexander and Frank Gore. He can slide inside to tackle on passing downs.


14. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Selection: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
Needs: WR, DE, TE

The Panthers are in the process of overhauling what was once the best defensive line in the NFL. They cut DE Al Wallace and are trying to trade DT Kris Jenkins, and DE Mike Rucker is getting up in the years (32). Coach John Fox likes size up front. Anderson is a 288-pound DE coming off a 13 ½-sack season.


15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Selection: Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
Needs: Pass rushers, LB, G

The Steelers built their defense around the linebackers during the Bill Cowher era. Now Cowher is gone and so is Pro Bowler Joey Porter, who became a salary-cap casualty this off-season. James Farrior is getting older (32). Florida State linebackers are usually sure things (Derrick Brooks, Marvin Jones and Ernie Sims).


16. GREEN BAY PACKERS

Selection: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
Needs: WR, RB, CB

Green Bay's only reliable weapon down the field is Donald Driver, who is coming off a 1,295-yard season in 2006. He's also coming off his 32nd birthday in February. The Packers need to give Brett Favre a few more weapons in the waning years of his career to give him one last shot at glory. Meachem, an All-American, has 4.39 speed.


17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Selection: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State
Needs: Safety, DE, slot WR

Ginn projects as the Devin Hester of this draft. He may not catch 40 balls as a rookie wide receiver, but he may get 120 touches during the course of the season on kickoff and punt returns, reverses and receptions. With his speed, that's 120 chances to break games open. Ginn is a big-play maker.


18. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Selection: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
Needs: DE, CB, safety

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. So he knows what a ballhawk like Ed Reed means at the back end of a defense. Nelson has been compared to Reed. The NFL's 31st ranked pass defense could use someone with Nelson's ball skills(six interceptions in 2006).


19. TENNESSEE TITANS

Selection: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
Needs: DE, WR, CB

The Titans found their big-time quarterback in the 2006 draft when they stole Vince Young with the third overall pick. Now they need a big-time receiver to accelerate Young's development into a franchise quarterback. The Titans also need to replace leading receiver Drew Bennett, who left in free agency.


20. NEW YORK GIANTS

Selection: Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
Needs: Left OT, CB, LB

Luke Petitgout became a salary-cap casualty this off-season and Bob Whitfield retired. So the Giants don't have a left tackle – the most important position on the offensive line. There are three elite left tackles in this draft, and the Giants get the third and final one in Staley. He's also the most athletic of the tackles.


21. DENVER BRONCOS

Selection: Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida
Needs: Pass rusher, LB, CB

The Broncos have a mediocre pass rush, with 35 sacks last season. The team Denver is chasing in the AFC West – San Diego – had 61 sacks. Moss, a Denton Ryan product, would dial up the pressure dramatically. After Gaines Adams, he's the most natural pass rusher in this draft.


22. DALLAS COWBOYS


Selection: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
Needs: WR, kick returner, safety

The Cowboys need depth at cornerback, and Ross gives it to them. He won the Thorpe Award as college football's top defensive back in 2006. The Cowboys also need help on special teams, finishing 21st in the NFL in punt returns. Ross has an 11.8-yard career punt return average with three touchdowns.


23. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Selection: Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
Needs: DT, WR, blockers

If you can't stop the run, you can't win out West. Denver and San Diego perennially field top 10 rushing attacks. The Chiefs have been soft against the run – witness the 188 yards the Colts slapped on them in the playoffs. One good player seems to slide in every draft, and the 300-pound Okoye would be a steal here.


24. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Selection: David Harris, LB, Michigan
Needs: Defensive depth, punter, DB

Bill Belichick won three Super Bowls as defensive coordinator of the Giants and three more as head coach of the Patriots. He has always built his success on a big, physical, intimidating defensive front seven. Harris grew up stuffing the run in the Big Ten. He goes 6-2, 243 with 4.59 speed.


25. NEW YORK JETS

Selection: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami, Fla.
Needs: CB, pass rusher, offensive playmakers

Chad Pennington doesn't have a big arm, so the Jets have to fill receiving lanes with reliable hands in the short and intermediate routes. Trading for running back Thomas Jones helps – as does drafting Olsen, the best pass-catching tight end in this draft. He could give the Jets what Dallas Clark gives the Colts.


26. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Selection: Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State
Needs: LB, CB, safety

Finishing 26th against the run was uncharacteristic of a Jim Johnson defense. The problem was linebacker, and the Eagles need to replace two of them. Posluszny would be a terrific starting point. He won a Butkus Award and two Bednarik Awards for his sterling play at Penn State.


27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Selection: Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee
Needs: DT, WR, LB

The Saints are another playoff team that struggled against the run, finishing 23rd in the NFL. The Bears lit them up for 196 yards rushing in the NFC title game. Harrell missed the bulk of the 2006 season with a ruptured biceps, so the Saints would be adding a big (6-4, 300), fresh run stuffer inside in Harrell.


28. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Selection: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami, Fla.
Needs: DL, LB, secondary

Meriweather may not be the best of the four safeties in the first round, but he's easily the most versatile. He can cover a slot receiver and also get you through a game at corner. He's the best cover safety in this draft. He also had 289 career tackles.


29. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Selection: Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn
Needs: OT, LB, slot WR

If you could pick five guys in this first round with the best chance of becoming Pro Bowlers, Grubbs would be one of them. He slides because of the position he plays, not because of ability. Pro Bowlers Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Todd Heap all fell to the Ravens late in the first round of drafts. Now it's Grubbs.


30. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Selection: Jon Beason, LB, Miami, Fla.
Needs: Slot WR, safety, LB

Beason played strong, weak and middle linebacker in college. He can move inside for the Chargers, replacing salary-cap casualty Donnie Edwards. In Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, the Chargers have pass rushers. They need a run stopper – and that's Beason's forte.


31. CHICAGO BEARS

Selection: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, Southern Cal
Needs: CB, TE, RB

Jarrett isn't as fast as the NFL would like. But when it's 10-below and the wind is howling off Lake Michigan in January in Chicago, who needs speed? Jarrett is a big (6-4) target with long arms (35 inches). He's a playmaker, evidenced by his staggering 41 touchdowns in college. And he's skipping his senior season.


32. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Selection: Michael Griffin, S, Texas
Needs: LB, slot WR, CB

The Colts lost starting cornerbacks Jason David and Nick Harper in free agency. Griffin would allow the Colts to move starting safety Marlon Jackson back to his true cornerback position. Colts coach Tony Dungy likes DBs who hit – and Griffin leaves Texas with 364 career tackles.


55. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Selection: Justin Blalock, G, Texas
Needs: G, DE, TE

The Seahawks made a mistake when they allowed Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson to leave in free agency in 2006. A year later, they are still trying to fix it. Blalock started 51 games at tackle for Texas, but the Seahawks project him at guard because of his height (6-3).

[Skoooby]

I actually prefer listening to the draft over the radio rather than by TV. Part of living in a football mad region is that our coverage is excellent. So I schedule a ton of errands this weekend and take on a big honey do list and keep myself tuned in for ridiculous amount of time.

[retired_barbie34]

Is there any chance M.Bush is a late 1st day pick and not a 2nd day pick?
cheers

[Skoooby]

94. Michael Bush HB Louisville
Gosselin on Bush: Bush has some special skills as a runner. In 2005 he led the Big East in rushing and the NCAA in scoring. At 6-1, 243 pounds, he was a first-round pick waiting to happen. But it didn't happen. Bush suffered a broken leg in the 2006 opener and missed the season. Two surgeries later, he figures to miss 2007, as well. If healthy, Bush would be the third-rated running back in this draft and a potential first-round pick. But anyone who drafts Bush will probably be doing so for 2008. This is not a patient league – but Bush is worth waiting for. Look for a team with an extra pick in the first day to draft him. The candidates: Atlanta, Denver, Oakland, San Diego San Francisco, Tampa Bay and the Jets.