Over the course of the college football season, some players caught my eye who are not considered first round material...in fact, a few may be taken from the 5th round on...keep an eye on these names...
Today Stiles Points previews the second round of the draft...included are the picks from ESPN's Mel Kiper and NFL Draft Scout's Rob Rang and Chad Reuter...
33. Lions Kiper - James Laurinaitis, lb, Ohio State Rang - James Laurinaitis, lb, Ohio State Reuter - James Laurinaitis, lb, Ohio State Stiles Points - Vontae Davis, cb, Illinois - many have Davis as a first rounder...the Lions get a steal here... 34. Patriots Kiper - Connor Barwin, de/lb, Cincinnati Rang - Larry English, olb, Northern Illinois Reuter - Alphonso Smith, cb, Wake Forest Stiles Points - Darius Butler, cb, Connecticut (photo) - it seems like the Pats are always thin at cb during the course of the season...
35. Rams Kiper - Darius Butler, cb, Connecticut Rang - Michael Johnson, de, Georgia Tech Reuter - Kenny Britt, wr, Rutgers Stiles Points - Josh Freeman, qb, Kansas State - Bulger is not going to be there forever...plus the new coach will tutor Freeman for a year...
36. Browns Kiper - Clay Matthews, lb, Southern Cal Rang - Vontae Davis, cb, Illinois Reuter - Connor Barwin, olb, Cincinnati Stiles Points - Connor Barwin, olb, Cincinnati - the Browns need help at linebacker...
37. Seahawks Kiper - William Moore, s, Missouri Rang - Kenny Britt, wr, Rutgers Reuter - William Beatty, ot, Connecticut Stiles Points - Brian Robiske, wr, Ohio State - Robiske has been coming on late...he is big, strong, and NFL ready...the Seahawks are weak at wr...
38. Bengals Kiper - Alex Mack, c, Cal Rang - Alex Mack, c, Cal Reuter - Alex Mack, c, Cal Stiles Points - Ziggy Hood, dt, Missouri - Hood plugs a hole on the d-line...
39. Jaguars Kiper - Brian Robiske, wr, Ohio State Rang - Percy Harvin, wr, Florida Reuter - Ziggy Hood, dt, Missouri Stiles Points - William Beatty, ot, Connecticut - the Jags o-line was hit by injuries the last two years...they need fresh blood...
40. Raiders Kiper - Phil Loadholt, ot, Oklahoma Rang - Ron Brace, dt, Boston College Reuter - Phil Loadholt, ot, Oklahoma Stiles Points - James Laurinaitis, lb, Ohio State - the Raiders get a true leader on defense...
41. Packers Kiper - William Beatty, ot, Connecticut Rang - Connor Barwin, olb, Cincinnati Reuter - Ron Brace, dt, Boston College Stiles Points - Alphonso Smith, cb, Wake Forest - Woodson & Harris are getting old...
42. Bills Kiper - Jared Cook, te, South Carolina Rang - Phil Loadholt, ot, Oklahoma Reuter - Jared Cook, te, South Carolina Stiles Points - Jamon Meredith, ot, South Carolina - the Bills plug the hole left by Peters...
43. 49ers Kiper - Alphonso Smith, cb, Wake Forest Rang - Jarron Gilbert, de, San Jose State Reuter - Hakeem Nicks, wr, North Carolina Stiles Points - Eric Wood, c, Louisville - Wood can play either center or guard...
44. Dolphins Kiper - Jarron Gilbert, dl, San Jose State Rang - Lou Delmas, s, Western Michigan Reuter - Percy Harvin, wr, Florida Stiles Points - Lou Delmas, s, Western Michigan - the Dolphins need young blood in the secondary...some rate Delmas as the top safety...
45. Giants Kiper - Shawn Nelson, te, Southern Miss Rang - William Beatty, ot, Connecticut Reuter - Larry English, olb, Northern Illinois Stiles Points - Michael Johnson, de, Georgia Tech (photo) - this is a gamble pick...this guy is a freak...Johnson has all the tools and built to be a first-rounder...but he is not highly motivated...this could be a huge draft pick if this guy lives up to his potential...
46. Texans Kiper - Ziggy Hood, dt, Missouri Rang - Clint Sintim, olb, Virginia Reuter - Andre Brown, rb, N.C. State Stiles Points - Duke Robinson, g, Oklahoma - the Texas lock up one of the top guards in the draft...
47. Patriots Kiper - Sean Smith, cb, Utah Rang - William Moore, s, Missouri Reuter - Patrick White, qb/wr, West Virginia Stiles Points - Shonn Greene, rb, Iowa - Belichick is thin at rb...Greene is a bulldozer who will help later in the year...
48. Broncos Kiper - Ron Brace, dt, Boston College Rang - Alphonso Smith, cb, Wake Forest Reuter - Sean Smith, cb, Utah Stiles Points - Patrick Chung, s, Oregon - the middle of the defense is set with young players from this year's draft...
49. Bears Kiper - Mohamed Massaquoi, wr, Georgia Rang - Jamon Meredith, ot, South Carolina Reuter - Mohamed Massaquoi, wr, Georgia Stiles Points - Mohamed Massaquoi, wr, Georgia - M2 needs to hold on to the ball better...but he always made big plays at Georgia...
50. Browns Kiper - LeSean McCoy, rb, Pitt Rang - Jared Cook, te, South Carolina Reuter - Max Unger, c, Oregon Stiles Points - Andre Brown, rb, N.C. State - the Browns need to address the rb position somewhere in the draft...they take care of it right here...
51. Cowboys Kiper - Louis Delmas, s, Western Michigan Rang - Patrick Chung, s, Oregon Reuter - William Moore, s, Missouri Stiles Points - Pat White, qb/wr, West Virginia - Dallas needs help at safety, but Jerry Jones cannot pass-up the dynamic Pat White...
52. Jets Kiper - Andre Brown, rb, N.C. State Rang - Derrick Williams, wr, Penn State Reuter - Jarron Gilbert, de, San Jose State Stiles Points - Sean Smith, cb, Utah - the Jets strengthen the secondary...
53. Eagles Kiper - Michael Johnson, de, Georgia Tech Rang - LeSean McCoy, rb, Pitt Reuter - Shawn Nelson, te, Southern Miss Stiles Points - Phil Loadholt, ot, Oklahoma - Loadholt adds young depth to the o-line...
54. Vikings Kiper - Max Unger, c, Oregon Rang - Kevin Barnes, cb, Maryland Reuter - Jamon Meredith, ot, South Carolina Stiles Points - Max Unger, c, Oregon - like Wood, Unger can also play guard...
55. Falcons Kiper - Sherrod Martin, db, Troy Rang - Shawn Nelson, te, Southern Miss Reuter - Lou Delmas, s, Western Michigan Stiles Points - Derrick Williams, wr, Penn State - the Falcons add another weapon for Matt Ryan...
56. Dolphins Kiper - Clint Sintim, lb, Virginia Rang - Jarius Byrd, cb, Oregon Reuter - Victor "Macho" Harris, cb, Virginia Tech Stiles Points - Clint Sintim, olb, Virginia (photo) - Sintim fits the mold of Parcells...
57. Ravens Kiper - Juaquin Iglesias, wr, Oklahoma Rang - D.J. Moore, cb, Vanderbilt Reuter - Sherrod Martin, cb, Troy Stiles Points - D.J. Moore, cb, Vanderbilt - the cb position was not that strong last year...the Ravens must address that position...
58. Patriots Kiper - Pat White, qb/wr, West Virginia Rang - Max Unger, c, Oregon Reuter - Rashad Johnson, s, Alabama Stiles Points - Jarron Gilbert, de, San Jose State - Gilbert is a big de who will help the Patriots get younger on defense...
59. Panthers Kiper - Roy Miller, dt, Texas Rang - Paul Kruger, de, Utah Reuter - Lawrence Sidbury, de, Richmond Stiles Points - Ron Brace, dt, Boston College - the days of that dominant d-line are gone...they must re-tool this area...
60. Giants Kiper - Kaluka Maiava, lb, Southern Cal Rang - Cornelius Ingram, te, Florida Reuter - LeSean McCoy, rb, Pitt Stiles Points - Sherrod Martin, cb, Troy - at times last year, Ross was the only cb who made plays for the G-men...
61. Colts Kiper - Derrick Williams, wr, Penn State Rang - Fili Moala, dt, Southern Cal Reuter - D.J. Moore, cb, Vanderbilt Stiles Points - T.J. Lang, og, Eastern Michigan - the o-line needs help...they could go rb here because Addai looked old at the end of the season...
62. Titans Kiper - D.J. Moore, cb, Vanderbilt Rang - Mohammed Massaquoi, wr, Georgia Reuter - Clint Sintim, olb, Virginia Stiles Points - Cody Brown, olb, Connecticut - Titans reach a bit here, but fill a position...
63. Cardinals Kiper - Shonn Greene, rb, Iowa Rang - Cody Brown, olb, Connecticut Reuter - Shonn Greene, rb, Iowa Stiles Points - Donald Washington, cb, Ohio State - Washington has been impressing scouts of late...
64. Steelers Kiper - Jarius Byrd, cb, Oregon Rang - Donald Washington, cb, Ohio State Reuter - Jarius Byrd, cb, Oregon Stiles Points - Jarius Byrd, cb, Oregon - Steelers must address the cb position...they can also go with de Lawrence Sidbury here too...
21. Eagles Kiper - Knowshon Moreno, rb, Georgia McShay - Knowshon Moreno, rb, Georgia Rang - Knowshon Moreno, rb, Georgia Lombardi - Everette Brown, de, Florida State Stiles Points - Knowshon Moreno, rb, Georgia - the Eagles fans will go nuts if they bypass Moreno...
22. Vikings Kiper - Kenny Britt, wr, Rutgers McShay - Percy Harvin, wr, Florida Rang - Eben Britton, ot, Arizona Lombardi - Brian Cushing, lb, Southern Cal Stiles Points - Brandon Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State - the Vikings steam the Falcons with this pick...
23. Patriots Kiper - Donald Brown, rb, Connecticut McShay - Clay Matthews, lb, Southern Cal Rang - Larry English, de, Northern Illinois Lombardi - Vontae Davis, cb, Illinois Stiles Points - Larry English, de, Northern Illinois - (photo) the Patriots still have some work to do on the old, but getting younger, defense...
24. Falcons Kiper - Brandon Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State McShay - Bradon Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State Rang - Darius Butler, cb, Connecticut Lombardi - Evander Hood, dt, Missouri Stiles Points - Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland - they want Pettigrew, but settle on Heyward-Bey - just another weapon for Matt Ryan...
25. Dolphins Kiper - Malcolm Jenkins, cb, Ohio State McShay - Kenny Britt, wr, Rutgers Rang - Robert Ayers, de, Tennessee Lombardi - Larry English, de, Northern Illinois Stiles Points - Hakeem Nicks, wr, North Carolina - Nicks is a solid receiver who makes plays...
26. Ravens Kiper - Vontae Davis, cb, Illinois McShay - Rey Maualuga, mlb, Southern Cal Rang - Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland Lombardi - Kennty Britt, wr, Rutgers Stiles Points - Brian Cushing, lb, Southern Cal - Ravens need to replace linebackers...Cushing is a good start...
27. Colts Kiper - Peria Jerry, dt, Ole Miss McShay - Evander Hood, dt, Missouri Rang - Percy Harvin, wr, Florida Lombardi - Knowshon Moreno, rb, Georgia Stiles Points - Aaron Maybin, de Penn State - the Colts could go Donald Brown, rb, U.Conn, but they jump Maybin who dropped to ...
28. Bills Kiper - Kiper still did not update his selection since Buffalo acquired this pick on 4/17 McShay - Eben Britton, ot, Arizona Rang - William Beatty, ot, Connecticut Lombardi - Eben Britton, ot, Arizona Stiles Points - Everette Brown, de, Florida State - the Bills jump a guy who has slid this far down...they needed de help and they address it in with 2 first rounders...
29. Giants Kiper - Hakeem Nicks, wr, North Carolina McShay - Hakeem Nicks, wr, North Carolina Rang - Clay Matthews, lb, Southern Cal Lombardi - Shawn Nelson, te, Southern Miss Stiles Points - Donald Brown, rb, Connecticut - they need someone to replace Ward at rb...and Brown is a versatile player...
30. Titans Kiper - Percy Harvin, wr, Florida McShay - Vontae Davis, cb, Illinois Rang - Evander Hood, dt, Missouri Lombardi - Darius Butler, cb, Connecticut Stiles Points - Kenny Britt, wr, Rutgers - they may go with Evander "Ziggy" Hood at dt to replace Haynesworth...but they also need offense because Chris Johnson was their only star in the playoff game...
31. Cardinals Kiper - Larry English, de, Northern Illinois McShay - Donald Brown, rb, Connecticut Rang - Brandon Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State Lombardi - Clay Matthews, lb, Southern Cal Stiles Points - LeSean McCoy, rb, Pitt - the running game did well in the playoffs but the wheels are starting to show wear...
32. Steelers Kiper - Eric Wood, c, Louisville McShay - Max Unger, c, Oregon Rang - Hakeem Nicks, wr, North Carolina Lombardi - Jarron Gilbert, de, San Jose St. Stiles Points - Alex Mack, c, Cal (photo) - the Steelers got by in the playoffs with a shaky o-line...they address that need ASAP!...
11. Bills Kiper - Robert Ayers, de, Tennessee McShay - Aaron Maybin, de, Penn State Rang - Aaron Maybin, de, Penn State Lombardi - Brian Orakpo, de/lb, Texas Stiles Points - Tyson Jackson, de, LSU - looks like we all agree the Bills need a de...we just disagree on whom
12. Broncos Kiper - Tyson Jackson, de, LSU McShay - Tyson Jackson, de, LSU Rang - Brian Cushing, lb, Southern Cal Lombardi - B.J. Raji, dt, Boston College Stiles Points - Rey Maualuga, mlb, Southern Cal - (photo) Denver needs a leader on defense and I could see Maualuga being that leader...he is a guy who goes 100% and makes plays...
13. Redskins Kiper - Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal McShay - Robert Ayers, de, Tennessee Rang - Everette Brown, de, Florida State Lombardi - Jeremy Maclin, wr, Missouri Stiles Points - Malcolm Jenkins, cb, Ohio State - Jenkins dropped a bit from early projections...it seems like Washington is always struggling at the cb position...plus there is a possibility Jenkins can be moved to safety...
14. Saints Kiper - Chris Wells, rb, Ohio State McShay - Chris Wells, rb, Ohio State Rang - Chris Wells, rb, Ohio State Lombardi - Chris Wells, rb, Ohio State Stiles Points - Chris Wells rb, Ohio State - with Deuce gone this pick makes sense...
15. Texans Kiper - Brian Cushing, lb, Southern Cal McShay - Brian Cushing, lb, Southern Cal Rang - Malcolm Jenkins, cb, Ohio State Lombardi - Robert Ayers, de, Tennessee Stiles Points - Jeremy Maclin, wr, Missouri - Maclin is too hard to pass up...if Maclin is available here, look for the Jets to trade up and get him...
16. Chargers Kiper - Rey Maualuga, mlb, Southern Cal McShay - Malcolm Jenkins, cb, Ohio State Rang - Michael Oher, ot, Ole Miss Lombardi - Malcolm Jenkins, cb, Ohio State Stiles Points - Michael Oher, ot, Ole Miss - Oher is either going to be a Pro Bowler or out of the league in 3 years...the Chargers can gamble here and hope to hit it big...
17. Jets Kiper - Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland McShay - Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland Rang - Josh Freeman, qb, Kansas State Lombardi - Brandon Pettigrew, te, Oklahoma State Stiles Points - Percy Harvin, wr, Florida - the Jets need a qb, but Freeman would have to sit a year...Harvin is a bit of a reach, but he is dynamic...
18. Broncos Kiper - Everette Brown, de, Florida State McShay - Everette Brown, de, Florida State Rang - Rey Maualuga, mlb, Southern Cal Lombardi - Tyson Jackson, de, LSU Stiles Points - Peria Jerry, dt, Ole Miss (photo) - they get Maualuga to plug the "Mike" position...now Jerry to settle in at dt...the Broncos will be strong up the middle...
19. Buccaneers Kiper - Josh Freeman, qb, Kansas State McShay - Peria Jerry, dt, Ole Miss Rang - Peria Jerry, dt, Ole Miss Lombardi - Aaron Maybin, de, Penn State Stiles Points - Clay Matthews, Jr., lb, Southern Cal - Matthews has played his way up the board...talk is that Belichick wants him...will not happen...
20. Lions Kiper - Michael Oher, ot, Ole Miss McShay - Michael Oher, ot, Ole Miss Rang - Brian Orakpo, de/lb, Texas Lombardi - Peria Jerry, dt, Ole Miss Stiles Points - Eben Britton, ot, Arizona - the Lions will follow the blueprint set by the Falcons last year...get your qb then get an ot to protect him...
This week is going to be dedicated to the NFL Draft...today Stiles Points looks over the first 10 picks of the draft which include predictions from ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay and NFL Draft Scout's Rob Rang and Michael Lombardi...
1. Lions Kiper - Matthew Stafford, qb, Georgia McShay - Matthew Stafford, qb, Georgia Rang - Matthew Stafford, qb, Georgia Lombardi - Matthew Stafford, qb, Georgia Stiles Points - Matthew Stafford, qb, Georgia - the Lions have many holes but they cannot afford to pass on a possible elite QB...one thing for sure, if Stafford misses, the Lions cannot get any worse... 2. Rams Kiper - Jason Smith, ot, Baylor McShay - Jason Smith, ot, Baylor Rang - Jason Smith, ot, Baylor Lombardi - Eugene Monroe, ot, Virginia (photo) Stiles Points - Jason Smith, ot, Baylor - Smith is a no-brainer after letting Orlando Pace leave...
3. Chiefs Kiper - Aaron Curry, lb, Wake Forest McShay - Aaron Curry, lb, Wake Forest Rang - Eugene Monroe, ot, Virginia Lombardi - Aaron Curry, lb, Wake Forest Stiles Points - Aaron Curry, lb, Wake Forest - I had a hard time deciding here...Curry is the safe pick, but I could see KC going with ot Monroe to help sure up that investment they made in Matt Cassel...also, I wouldn't be shocked if they took wr Crabtree to give Cassel another weapon to go with Dwayne Bowe...
4. Seahawks Kiper - Eugene Monroe, ot, Virginia McShay - Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal Rang - Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal Lombardi - Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal Stiles Points - Mark Sanchez, qb, Southern Cal - Hasselbeck has probably one good season left, which will give Sanchez time to develop to the NFL game...2 months ago I would have said Crabtree with this pick...I firmly believe it is going to be Sanchez...
5. Browns Kiper - Michael Crabtree, wr, Texas Tech McShay - Michael Crabtree, wr, Texas Tech Rang - Michael Crabtree, wr, Texas Tech Lombardi - Michael Crabtree, wr, Texas Tech Stiles Points - Michael Crabtree, wr, Texas Tech - the Browns want Curry but don't expect him to slide...the key is Braylon Edwards...if Edwards is going to get traded, they must take Crabtree because some guy named Steptoe will be the Browns top returning receiver...
6. Bengals Kiper - Andre Smith, ot, Alabama McShay - Eugene Monroe, ot, Virginia Rang - Andre Smith, ot, Alabama Lombardi - Jason Smith, ot, Baylor Stiles Points - Eugene Monroe, ot, Virginia - I almost wrote down rb Knowshon Moreno in this spot...Moreno would be a reach at #6, but Cincy needs running back help...
7. Raiders Kiper - Jeremy Maclin, wr, Missouri McShay - Andre Smith, ot, Alabama Rang - Jeremy Maclin, wr, Missouri Lombardi - Darrius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland Stiles Points - Andre Smith, ot, Alabama - Oakland needs both a wr & ot...Smith is one of the best ot in the draft who has a lot more upside...Al Davis will battle with himself for passing on Maclin, a guy with speed...
8. Jaguars Kiper - Brian Orakpo, de/lb, Texas McShay - Jeremy Maclin, wr, Missouri Rang - Aaron Curry, lb, Wake Forest Lombardi - Andre Smith, ot, Alabama Stiles Points - Robert Ayers, de, Tennessee - Ayers has been slowly moving up the charts each week...two months ago I would have said cb Malcolm Jenkins, but he has been sliding...Jags pass on Maclin because they are going to get Holt at wr...
9. Packers Kiper - B.J. Raji, dt, Boston College (photo) McShay - B.J. Raji, dt, Boston College Rang - Tyson Jackson, de, LSU Lombardi - Michael Oher, ot, Ole Miss Stiles Points - B.J. Raji, dt, Boston College - Raji will anchor the middle in the Packers new 3-4 defense...
10. 49ers Kiper - Aaron Maybin, de, Penn State McShay - Brian Orakpo, de/lb, Texas Rang - B.J. Raji, dt, Boston College Lombardi - Josh Freeman, qb, Kansas State Stiles Points - Brian Orakpo, de/lb, Texas - this would be a good spot for the Niners to trade...there is not that one player who can fill their need...but if they stay, they take Orakpo who dropped from being a top 5 player...
Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star writes about the art of breaking down mock drafts... "Every year, no matter what the economy may look like, the mock draft industry grows. It began in the early 1980s when it seemed as if the only person on earth who would actually take the time to predict what every NFL team would do was was the illustrious draft guru Mel Kiper Jr." ...
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes how the Rams cannot afford to have a bad pick at number 2... "Said Devaney: "This is everybody's worst nightmare: You turn the card in — no matter what round, really, but especially high in the first round — and you get calls, 'Didn't you guys realize the guy did this?' Or, 'Didn't you have this information?' ...
Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News writes how Rutgers wide receiver may be the next Plaxico Burress - antics and all... "Britt is 6-3, 210 pounds. He has great speed for his size, having run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at Rutgers' Pro Day. And it's that tantalizing marriage of size and speed — one that's earned comparisons to top NFL wideouts like Owens and Broncos star Brandon Marshall — that is forcing scouts to look past his inflated personality." ...
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times writes how drafting a quarterback with the first pick can be risky... "The problem is Detroit has so many areas of need -- including a defense that has been ranked last for the past two seasons -- that putting the weight of expectation on the shoulders of a rookie quarterback could push his confidence through a wood chipper." ...
