MaddHatter

Alright boys, with the Brady Quinn/Anthony Spencer trade, we have 2 1st round picks. The BROWNS however have decided not to hold up their end of the bargain and give us a Top 5 pick, instead they decided to make a run of it and are probably going to end up anywhere between 6-10 and 8-8 (just my opinion.)

The Cowboys on the other hand are being hyped as Super Bowl contenders and some already have us as a lock to make the playoffs. I personally think we could do as bad as 10-6 and out in the first round again and as good as runner up in the Superbowl (I'm not drinking the kool-aid yet)

Now if that happens, I'd say that'd give us a pick between 9th and 15th overall from the Browns and between 25th and 31st with our own. Looking at the 2008 prospects and our current roster, who would you like to see us go after and who do you think is likely to be there when we pick?

varybarry

I can see them picking up a solid CB prospect. I'm not sure of a definite name I haven't really looked around, but that seems pretty logical. Possibly one of the CB's from LSU.

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MaddHatter

It's very early to start guessing and without knowing where everyone will end up, it's hard to predict who will fall to us, but just because it's fun, here I go.

Our Needs:
WR TO may be 33, but he is likely to have a Jerry Rice-ish career with the shape he's in. I'm not worried about his age as much as him being around after his contract is up at the end of 2008/2009 season. I am worried about Terry Glenn and his health though, especially after his current problems, and while Crayton has been a decent #2 and a great #3, he's 27. Hurd, Austin and Stanback are all young up and comers, but none of them is striking me as a great #1. Maybe I'm wrong, I just don't see it.

CB Newman is a ProBowler, even if nobody want's to admit it. He's a Top 5 CB in the NFL and probably #1 in the NFC (homerism aside, #2 at worst) - his injury aside, I'm confident he's a lock to be back next year and that Jones will have him signed to a new contract. That leaves the other side of the field as the big question mark. Henry is 30 and has been plagued with injuries; Jones isn't a starter, and while Reeves has done an adequate job filling in, I can't see him being able to take the heat he'd have on him playing opposite of Newman - not to mention in Wade's 3-4, the Corners have to almost play 1-on-1 every down and be capable of shutting down anyone. I'd like to see us lock in a future all-star to play opposite of Newman for a few years and eventually replace him down the line.

NT It's going to be hard to find one worthy of a first round pick, but we need one and bad. AyodelleII and Ratliff have filled in okay, and Tank may be able to convert, but we need a young Ferguson who can anchor our 3-4 and clog the middle everytime. I'm looking for a 6' 330+lb who can spend a year on the bench or in rotation and be ready to take over in 2009.

FS Hamlin, Davis, Watkins... none of those names make me feel confident we can shutdown the deep ball. The only good offense we played this year so far torched us for 35pts and several came on deep balls where our Safetys were out of position and couldn't cover. Getting rid of Roy isn't an option, which means bringing in a top-notch cover safety is the key.

OL Dallas has never been a believer in using high draft picks on o-linemen, but maybe Jerry's tune has changed after bringing in former 1st round pick Leonard Davis, and using a ton of money to lock up Gurode and Columbo. Even though we spent a couple mid round picks last year on OL, I could see us grabbing a Top Tier LT in the first round if he fell in our lap and Adams wasn't going to return. I'm not on the "baby eater's" bandwagon, especially when it comes to protecting Romo's backside.

Top Prospects:
WR - Adarius Bowman, Limas Sweed
I want to see a "Plaxico-ish" candidate - 6'4+ and 215-220lbs - a big target who can go up and get the ball and with the speed to burn you deep. Finding a replacement for TO is a tall order, but snagging a 5-10, 185lb WR isn't going to come close. This elminates guys like Manningham and Jackson in my opinion. They're no different then the guys we already have on our roster, and while they could be huge BPA, I think Jones would look elsewhere or trade down before taking either.

CB - Terrel Thomas, Antoine Cason, Zack Bowman, Mike Jenkins
3-4 shutdown corner's can't be 5-10 and 180lbs, they'll get decimated... they also can't be 4.6 or 4.7 guys either. Thomas, Cason, Jenkins and Bowman are all 6'0-6'2 and 190-200lbs with 4.45-4.55 40's - these are all guys who will get looks - I personally love Jenkins right now, but would like to see him play some more top talent this season before I put him at the top of my list. Cason on the other hand was a projected 1st rounder last year before he went back for his Sr season so he'll probably be gone near or right after our 1st pick in the 1st round.

NT - Red Bryant, B.J. Raji, Marcus Harrison
3-4 Nose Tackles have a certain look and when you look at the great ones, you will normally see 6' to 6'3" and 310-350lbs (Casey Hampton - 6'1, 325lbs; Jamal Williams - 6'3, 350lbs; Jason Freguson - 6'3, 320lbs) - There are several reason behind this - 1) you have to get under the offensive linemen and be able to drive him backwards... being 6'5+ makes this very hard. At the same time, you need long arms and a wide frame to clog multiple lanes on running plays, take up 2-3 blockers and open holes for your linebackers on passing plays and ultimately just dominate several guys every down.

I personally hate Okam and think he's extremely overrated - he might be a decent 4-3 DT but his poor work ethic, struggle stopping the run and overall laziness have him as someone we should avoid at all costs. My favorite candidate is BJ Raji, a dominating 6'1 340lb DT out of Boston College but he's probably not coming out and if he did, he's not a 1st day pick. Ultimately, unless the Browns fall on their face and we have a shot at Dorsey, I don't see us grabbing a NT in the 1st or 2nd rounds.

FS - Kenny Phillips and Reggie Smith
Kenny is a top 10 pick (top 5 to some) and we'll be tripping over ourselves if he falls to our first pick. Reggie Smith is a versatile cb/s who could be very valuable with our problems at both positions. He may be a late 1st early 2nd - overall though, not a lot of top talent at the S position like last year (Landry, Nelson, etc)

OL - Jake Long, Sam Baker, Gosder Cherilus, Chris Williams
Again, Long and Baker probably won't fall to us, but if they do, I thnk we have to look their way. The guy I'm really excited about is probably the best Tackle to come out of the SEC in a long time - Vanderbilt's Chris Williams - just take a look at who he's shutout and that will tell you something.


Draft Predictions

1.a - Kenny Phillips (S) Miami
1.b - Adarius Bowman (WR) Ok St

Thoughts?

Roy_Williams318

I see it going RB and then a WR or CB with the next pick.

No way they don't take a RB in the first with Julius leaving. Barber would not be able to shoulder having most the carries and still be as effective in the later parts of the game.

Next I can see them going after a cornerback...simply because who outside of the starters do the Cowboys have? Both were injured this year so far and depth is key.

Sweed being out for the season will drop and if they wanted they could probably pick him up with a third or fourth.

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MaddHatter

1 - Spending a 1st round pick on any RB not named Darren McFadden would be assinine for the Cowboys... First off, this year's RB class is just down right ugly - Second, Barber will be the primary and Tyson Thompson would be the speedback - if they didn't like that combo, they might spend a 3rd or 4th round pick on a speedster like Chris Johnson or Anthony Aldridge but they probably aren't much better then Thompson...

2 - Sweed is a Top 5 WR even with the injury and the fact that he's having the surgery now so he'll be ready for the combine and NFL draft helps his stock more then if he waited and had it after the season was over. He's already proven he's a top WR in the NCAA against top tier competition, he just needs to get healthy, have a strong combine and he'll be a Top 50 pick easily... no way he falls into the 3rd or 4th

Roy_Williams318

Drafting a WR in the first when you have Hurd, Crayton and someone your high on in Stanback...not to mention T.O. will probably be back next year...would mean someone is off their rocker. I wouldn't wanna spend a first rounder on a third string WR...A second or third round pick...whatever.

haven't been impressed with Sweed this year.....then the injury...he could drop that far.

There are some RBs I would take with a first round pick...and if they can't get Jones or trade for Turner I'm 99% sure they'll take a RB in the first with a CB.

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MaddHatter

Who's off their rocker??

The only RB's I can honestly see going in the first are McFadden and Stewart (if they declare) after that there are about 5 2nd round RB's, 4 3rd round Rb's and 4 4th roudn Rb's - tons of depth for us to find a #2 to compliment Barber... I really like Felix Jones and Allen Patrick though - both will be there in the 3rd or 4th...

Roy_Williams318

RB then WR or CB.....I would pick a cornerback over WR 10 times out of ten in this situation but I don't know what they would do. All three are positions of need.....one WAY more than the others (CB) and the second (RB) more than the third (WR).

Hell I would take Hart in the first lol.

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MS72

WR, RB, CB, S or a DT. Marcus Harrison or Bryant's a good pick, but they aren't Phillips' 3-4 DT's. Maybe a

WR, Bowman, Sweed or DeSean Jackson.

CB- Chevis Jackson (LSU CB), Antoine Cason etc.

S- Kenny Phillips, Reggie Smith etc.

RB- Mike Hart, Steve Slaton etc.

OT- Jake Long and Sam Baker

My predictions....

1 a) Mike Hart

1 b) Reggie Smith

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MaddHatter

If we take Mike Hart 1a I will personally bit-ch slap Jerrah... Hart isn't even a 1st round pick, let alone an early 1st round pick... I just dont buy it

Goose

2 words for you... cover saftey...

Anything before the combine is pure guess work but it's fun to guess at it. I'll have to do a little research and get back to this thread. I don't know where that NT from LSU is projected or even if he fits in a 3-4 scheme but I'd like a dominant force in the middle of that D-line instead of these average plug in guys.

MS72

He's going in the top 3. There's no way we get Glenn Dorsey.

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Roy_Williams318

They are way more needy at CB than safety in my opinion. Watkins and Hamlin if they chose to pick him up again will be damn good at the position with Newman, henry and whoever else they draft at CB. There's so much depth at safety....if a CB goes down it throws off the whole system.

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Troy McClure

I don't like the idea of using 1st rounders on RBs in general. They have such short lifespans that your pick can be out of the league within 5 years very easy. You can find very good running backs later on. I'd rather spend those two picks to address other areas.

Gzus

I like the idea to draft Sweed or Bowman. Both are huge receivers and that usually equals great catches and mismatches against CBs. I really like Bowman over Sweed, b/c Sweed is injured recently, but it would be great to have either or. Sweed is from Texas so that would be cool, but what would be funnier is that Bowman is from Chattanooga, TN (where T.O. played in college).

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