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Jimmy Clausen to the Vikings?! That would be awesome. I think the Vikings really need to pick up a corner or safety at some point and add to their secondary.

For me, where Tim Tebow ends up is going to be one of the main stories coming out of the draft. Where do you think he'll end up?

Also, who are your team? And who do you want them to draft?

I agree, as a big Vikes fan Clausen would be a great pick-up but I doubt he'll fall as far as 30. I agree with you in that the secondary is the most pressing need. I'd love it if Taylor Mays fell to us but it's more likely we'll get a corner like Patrick Robinson, Kareem Jackson or Devin McCourty, I'd be pretty happy with that. Getting a long-term replacement for Pat Williams would help too.

Also, great blog as alway Neil, personally I see Dez Bryant as a huge bust risk but one team is bound to take a punt on his potential in the first round, maybe Oakland with Al Davis' history of gambling with the Raiders' top picks. Before the Brandon Marshall move I'd have said your Dolphins might take him.

Neil, I dont disagree there are serious concerns regarding Dez Bryant's maturity but im not sure there is really that much there for teams to be worried about (no drink, drug or law issues). A certain Viking WR tested positive for a recreational substance at last years combine which would be more of a red flag.
Bryant is a ridiculous talent and can come in and be number 1 WR straight away and could force his way into the top 5 WR in the game in a couple of years. If Bryant slides down the draft one of the teams in the 20's will be getting the steal of the draft.

If Baltimore were to draft him at 25 it would be good luck AFC North defenses, Bryant, Boldin, Mason, Stallworth, Heap and Ray Rice as offensive weapons.

Some teams definately will red flag him, Jaguars have apparently crossed him off their draft board completely.
I believe teams should adopt more of a "what can we do to help this kid off the field" approach because the production is there on it. I read Bryant had 19 receiving TD's in 2008 and the rest only contributed 6 receiving TD's. You can't argue with that production (even if it is just college) and players like this should be held in far higher regard than the physical specimens (take note Al and the Raiders).
Miami's draft is an interesting one and they are in a great spot. I think there could be a signifcant couple of trades with these guys tonight. Possibly move down a couple of spots and get Kindle before the Giants are up and then try and get back in to the first above the Chargers to grab Mount Cody. That would fill 2 immediate needs on defense on the first day and then try and get a safety like Nate Allen tomorrow.

"And Bruce Campbell boasts TE-like speed and immense strength at offensive tackle... but there must be a reason he only enjoyed one full season as a starter in college."

Loads of mocks have him going top 10 (well 8th selection) and others have him slipping out of the first round, this is what the Raiders bring to the table though. If not the Raiders, Packers or Cowboys may see value at their selections late in the first round.

As for JPP, i see Vernon Gholston all over again and even Rex Ryan couldn't get him playing well. Players like these may eventually come good as the potential is certainly there but do teams really want to pay top 10 pick money for 3 years before seeing any kind of return on the field.

Neil, do you see a Rothelsberger trade being completed today?

It would definately be the headline and i still can't believe the Steelers are looking to get rid of him.
Classy from the organisation but with the lack of real quality QB's in this years draft (bar possibly Bradford) its a questionable move for their on the field play. Do they really want a rookie behind that O-line?

All that being said this may just be the Steelers way of showing Ben no one player is bigger than the organisation.

Suh is going to be one hell of a player at the next level. As a Vikes fan I'm already not looking forward to facing him twice a year for possibly the next decade: part of me is still holding out a glimmer of hope the Rams will look at how bad they were on 3rd down defense last year and think Suh is too good to pass up on. :D

Good read Neil and I agree with the majority of your mock as well.

I really hope Clausen doesn't get past us at 9. Dan Williams is a sensible pick though, I can live with that or if any of the top-tier tackles fall. Just as long as it doesn't leave us open to any Tebow-shaped shenanigans. When has Buffalo last done the sensible thing in the draft though...

Please god.

"pick of the bunch being the opening of the new Meadowlands Stadium in New York, where the Giants will play host to the Carolina Panthers."

Surely Donovan McNabb opening against Dallas in a Redskins jersey is a bigger draw? All right I'm biased.

What odds can I get on the Skins taking Tebow at 4? Just seems like a Redskins kind of thing to do.

What do you think about the Bears' prospects this season.

They have invested in defence in signing Julius Peppers and have bolstered their running back corps with Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from the Chargers.

Their first game is against the Lions at home but their next three games are against the Cowboys away, before hosting the Giants and then a road trip to the Packers on Monday night. Also I do worry about our O-Line especially last year when Cutler kept making mistakes and got the most picks last season.

Great blog about a sport i m not interested AT ALL in but the daft system scored :)

Any way NFL could be so much better as a sport if they got rid of the defensive and attacking teams. Dont think too many NFL stars could keep up with your average Rugby U or L player They run for 80min...Same 15 who attack and defend.

Hope your team does well!

Rebel, Rugby League, Union and American Football are three different sports with many similarities and differences, the fact that AF is broken down into offense and defense means the players on those sides of the ball have to have more specialised skills which don't translate to the other.

As an avid follower of the NFL and a Leeds Carnegie season ticket holder in the GP I'm of the opinion there is little between the groups of players in terms of athleticism, the suggestion that the average NFL player couldnt run for 80 minutes is laughable, many of the young players coming out of college were multi-sport athletes at some stage, playing basketball, baseball or hockey as well as AF, meaning not only that they had to put in the hours of practise required for each, but also have a dirth of natural athletic ability.

Anyway, drafts over, Tebow to the Broncos..... discuss....

Tebow gone before Clausen aye that's a puzzler. I don't understand that pick at all. Plenty of time for him to develop though (into a bust).

Seriously ambivalent about Bills pick, great player but there were still two solid tackles on the board and the best (and only one of three true) NTs in this years class. I know Nix teams have tended to build the trenches in the later rounds but yebus. How is Spiller going to hit homeruns against 8 & 9 man fronts cause we don't have the protection, or QB, to throw the ball? Bye-bye to Marshawn Lynch I guess. Hope they pass on Clausen now and can do some wheeler-dealing to get Saffold and Cam Thomas.

I know Tebow going and Clausen falling are going to be the stories, but what is Tyson Alualu doing at 10??? I watched every college game he played and that looks a colossal reach to me.

Hey, Neil, glad you surfaced this week! Been waiting to see what you'd say about the draft.

There's always a few shocks, and this year seeing Tebow come in so soon is the big one. (I saw one Bronco fan comment that it made sense because now Orton and Quinn look like they suck somewhat less) That said, Josh McDaniels knows a thing or two about developing QBs, so I'll not be as quick as some in trashing the selection. But to see him go ahead of Clausen and Colt McCoy, who look like proper NFL material, very surprising. And Detroit for my money have definitely made out with the best pick available.

You however must be thrilled with the Brandon Marshall trade... and can I say, when you wrote the piece on Chad Henne, I stuck my neck out to say the Dolphins should try acquire Marshall... (okay so he wasn't a free agent, but still, great trade)

/blogs/neilreynolds/2009/12/shades_of_marino_in_miami.html

And lastly, let me post this link for NFL junkies. Probably the funniest thing I have read so far this year, but loaded with some great advice too on the draft:

"Any coach who tries to tell you that he knew this or that late-round college quarterback was going to be an NFL star is a ****ing liar. If you saw Tom Brady at the 2000 combine workout, you’d have thought he was auditioning for a role in a musical about gay milkmen."

Hehe. Cheers Mr George, that article is brilliant.

Just want to point out that the Raiders picking a player they don't especially need... okay. No-one knows much about who the Jags have picked, but Spiller was thought to be a cert for the Seahawks, and completely agree that not seeing the Bills beef up the OL was a surprise.

ILB wasnt a great need for the Raiders, but McClain is a massive upgrade on what they had, not only that but hes a great locker room influence (Who'd have thought the Raiders take a positive character?) hes a defensive leader and a beast of a player, great pick IMO.

They can address the OLine later in the draft, but lets be honest if they pursist with Russell they could play behind the Colts OLine and still not win.