Stroud adds to their veteran core on their defensive line and allows them to ease any rookie they draft into action. Stroud still has a little bit left in the tank at a cheap rate, but I don’t understand this being a 2 year deal.

Grade: B

 

 

Former first round pick Marcus Spears has disappointed in his 5 year career with only 8 sacks and was benched last year for Stephen Bowen, who recently signed with the Redskins. Needing a replacement, the Cowboys are giving Spears another chance, likely to start as that’s what this deal pays him like. Spears gets a deal worth 19.2 million over 5 years. It’s a mistake and a risk, but I don’t think it’s a huge one. It’s not completely farfetched that he becomes an average starting defensive end in this league.

Grade: C

 

 

Guard/Offensive Tackle

TCU

6-6 349

Draft board overall prospect rank: #104

Draft board overall guard rank: #10

Overall rating: 67 (early 4th)

40 time: 5.20

4/26/11: Cannon has been diagnosed with lymphoma and will undergo 12 weeks of chemotherapy. Best of luck to him in his recovery, but I’m moving him down for obvious reasons. 12 weeks puts us in late July, at best, and chemotherapy isn’t exactly something you can just come off of and be in game shape immediately.  I had a late first round grade on him. I’m dropping him to the 3^rd round because this really is a talented player and pro athletes have bounced back from lymphoma before (Jon Lester) and had great careers.

3/15/11: Marcus Cannon has been TCU’s left tackle for a few years, protecting Andy Dalton’s blindside for one of the most explosive offenses in the league. However, with his weigh in the 360s and 370s, it looked as if he would have to move inside at the next level. Cannon has done a good job of losing about 20 pounds this offseason to get to 349. He ran very well at The Combine for his size and looked to be in very good shape for his weight both in his weigh in and during drills.

He looks sluggish on tape, but not incredibly sluggish and I think this guy could be a right tackle in the right scheme. If not, he’s a guard and most teams will still look at him as a guard. He’ll be a dominant run blocker and an immovable object no matter where he plays. I think he has a very solid future in the NFL.

NFL Comparison: Leonard Davis

 

 

 

3-4 Defensive End/Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle

Alabama

6-3 319

Draft Board Overall 3-4 Defensive End Rank: #1

Draft Board Overall Prospect Rank: #6

Rating: 96 (elite) 

40 time: 4.92

Marcell Dareus is regarded as the safe pick of the three top defensive linemen in this class (Dareus, Fairley, and Bowers). This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Dareus hasn’t even played a full season as starter. He put up amazing stats as a backup rotational player in 2009, with 6.5 sacks at 300 pounds at age 19 and then in 2010, when he finally got a starting job, he missed 2 games with a suspension. Dareus is as boom or bust as any of the three elite defensive linemen in this class. He also has as high of an upside. This kid has barely scratched the surface of his talent.

He’s an athletic freak with a 4.92 40 at 6-3 319. He’s about 30 pounds heavier than Fairley and runs almost as fast and the 10 second splits between the two are nearly identical. He’s better coached than Fairley, coming from Nick Saban’s program at Alabama. He plays more contained and doesn’t have the same “dirty” label as Fairley. He has experience in a 3-4 scheme and it’s easier to convert from a 3-4 end to a 4-3 tackle than it is for a 4-3 tackle to do the opposite. Just look at Tyson Alualu, the 10^th pick in 2010 as a former 3-4 end out of California moving into Jacksonville’s 4-3. He’s almost more well rounded than Fairley. Fairley is the better pass rusher, but Fairley is the better run stopper by far.

At his best, this is an absolutely dominant lineman in all facets of the game. However, he only has 15 career starts. He didn’t produce on Fairley’s elite level, against the same competition in the SEC. This isn’t a Suh/McCoy debate where Suh was the more athletic, more productive, and more well rounded player. Fairley was more productive, but Dareus is more athletic and more well rounded. Dareus had 6.5 sacks in 2009, in 13 games, 4 starts. He had 5.5 sacks in 2010, in 11 games, 11 starts.

Dareus can really play any position on a 3-4 line. He lined up inside at the 3-4 nose at times last year and weighing in at 319 pounds, he can definitely play that position in the NFL if a team chose to play him there. I wouldn’t play him there full time as it doesn’t best utilize his skills, but he could move inside on passing downs. He can also play the 4-3 tackle position, either of them.

He can take on multiple blockers and plug up multiple gaps and free up other players to roam around and make tackles and he can also play the one gap, as a pure interior rusher. He’s very versatile. He’s just not as good of a pass rusher as Fairley, as proven against the same competition. When it comes to the Fairley/Dareus debate, it’s so close. I take Fairley for a 4-3 team and Dareus for a 3-4.

NFL Comparison: Haloti Ngata

 

 

Let’s play a game, which one of these is not like the other? 13, 37, 41, 32, 58. How about these? 126, 391, 489. 518, 700. How about these? 1, 2, 2, 2, 10. Those numbers are Lewis’ reception totals, yards totals, and touchdown totals by year. Lewis is a former first round pick who never played well until his contract year. You can’t know for a fact that he was only trying hard because it was a contract year, but it is at least ominous. That’s why I liked that they franchised him. They were making him prove it again.

Now they have decided to resign him long term, 5 years, 35 million, with 18 million guaranteed. He’s getting paid more than Zach Miller. You have to admit it’s at least risky. I’m not even sure he’s worth that money even if he does play like he did last year for 5 years. He’s still a non-elite (Dwight Clark, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Vernon Davis) tight end.

Grade: D

 

 

Lawson’s never been much of a pass rusher which is why he was never great as a former first round pick in San Francisco’s 3-4 as a rush linebacker. In a 4-3 as a strong side linebacker in Cincinnati, there’s a good chance he fares much better. If not, he should at least be a solid starter and keep the seat warm for rookie Dontay Moch and this was only a 3 million dollar deal for 1 year.

Grade: A

 

 

Floyd isn’t a great receiver, but he’s starting caliber, he knows the system and he’s familiar with the system. He’s better than anyone else the Chargers could have gotten to replace him and he’s well worth the 5 million over 2 years they gave him.

Grade: A

 

 

Q: After Baldwin (PITT) got a short list of top WR’s n Big East??

A: Yeah, it’s a really short list. The list almost ends with Baldwin. Armon Binns from Cincinnati is a name to look out for, but other than that, it’s a pretty thin conference WR wise. There could always be someone who does the Marshawn Gilyard thing and steps up in a big way out of nowhere.

Q: Why isn’t Robert Quinn a good fit as a 3-4 OLB?

A: 270 pounds is widely regarded as too big to play 3-4 outside linebacker, plus the position as a whole is pretty much a crapshoot because it doesn’t exist in college for the most part. If anything, Quinn is too talented to draft and try to move to a position he’s never played before. Vernon Gholston was regarded as a player who couldn’t bust, but he did because he had to move to 3-4 outside linebacker.

Q: Ryan Williams is my pre season Heisman pick. What say you?

A: Williams certainly could, but you can’t underestimate the effect of Darren Evans (who looked like a future Heisman in his own right as a Freshman in 2008) coming back from injury and what that could do to his carrries. I still say Mark Ingram has to be the favorite, but you can’t count out any of the quarterbacks, Terrelle Pryor, Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Andrew Luck, and Jacory Harris. Jacquizz Rodgers is a sleeper too. He’s going to put up a ton of all purpose yards, but will he get the recognition playing for Oregon State that he deserves is the question.

Q: The bears never seem to get any talent..they straight suck at drafting..how long since theyve had a number 1 reciever

A: Never. They’ve never had a #1 receiver, at least not that I can remember.

Q: Why do you think it was a bad thing for the Cardinals to pass on Clausen…me, I’m glad we did.

A: Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson have a combined one good season between them and taking a guy widely projected to be a top 10 pick at either 26 or 47 could have made them the favorites to win that weak division again next year. I have a lot more faith in Clausen than Leinart or Anderson, though we’ll see what those guys have this year.

Q: Packers-Jets in the Jerrydome??

A: Certainly possible. The Packers are my sleeper team and if Sanchy continues to develop at quarterback (meaning doesn’t throw 20 picks again) then you’d have a hard time finding a more stacked team than the Jets. Obviously the Saints and Colts are going to be right there again. They didn’t have great drafts, but then again they didn’t need to. The Cowboys may have more offensive weapons than any team in the league. You can’t count out the Patriots or the Chargers either, and same with the Vikings if Brett Favre returns and don’t sleep on Baltimore either. I can’t remember a year where there have been so many teams that I could see hoisting the trophy at the end of the year.

 

 

 

People who read this website often know I know a ton about football, so it’s not often I say this. But who the hell is this? Why did the Cowboys give him 11 million over 4 years. Did someone else offer him 10 million over 4 years? Who were they bidding against?

He hasn’t made a start since 2010 and ProFootballFocus said he played a mere 125 snaps for Carolina last season. With Livings and Bernadeau in the fold, the Cowboys have given starting caliber money to 2 non-starting caliber guards. They will reportedly make a decision on Kyle Kosier after the draft, either moving him to center or releasing him. That suggests they could still be holding out for David DeCastro at 14 with Bernadeau and Livings as backup plans, but still.

Grade: F

 

 

Middle Linebacker

Boston College

6-3 242

Draft board overall prospect rank: #7

Draft board middle linebacker rank: #1

Overall rating: 91 (Top 10 pick)

40 time: 4.50

Games watched: Clemson/Boston College, Boston College/Maryland

Positives

·         Incredibly productive (534 tackles, 35.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 10 pass deflections, 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles in just 3 years)

·         3 year starter

·         Incredibly consistent (double digit tackles in every game but 4, 9+ tackles in every game but 2, both of which were the first 2 games of his collegiate career)

·         Leader on and off the field

·         Excellent motor

·         Excellent work ethic

·         Intelligence

·         Passion

·         All the intangibles

·         Takes excellent routes to the ball

·         Excellent tackle technique

·         Rarely misses a tackle

·         A nose for the football

·         Very good in coverage – particularly in zone

·         Makes plays on the ball in the air

·         Reads the quarterbacks’ eyes

·         Instinctive

·         Excellent, fluid hips

·         Gets deep in his drops in coverage

·         A willing and capable special teamer

·         Literally did everything for Boston College (4 down linebacker, who played every type of special teams imaginable)

·         Great athleticism (4.50 40, 38 inch vertical, 10-2 broad jump)

·         Good bench press numbers (27 reps of 225)

Negatives

·         Not as good at shedding blocks as you’d expect

·         Not a pass rusher

·         Not a big hitter (only 2 forced fumbles)

·         Only average on field strength

·         Plays a position of low value

·         Might be too small for some 3-4 defenses

NFL Comparison: Jerod Mayo

Luke Kuechly might be the cleanest player in this draft class. He has everything you love in a linebacker. He’s a phenomenal tackler who has 534 tackles in just 3 years, with 10+ tackles in 34 of 38 games and 9+ tackles in each of his last 9. He’s got all the intangibles. He never comes off the field. He has a great motor, great intelligent, great leadership, great work ethic, great passion and love of the game, and he’s squeaky clean off the field. He’s a phenomenal athlete with 4.5 speed and above average leaping ability, as well as above average bench press strength. He’s also excellent in coverage so he can play all 3 downs (4 if you count special teams).

His weaknesses are minor. He’s a tad bit undersized for some 3-4 defenses and he’s not great at shedding blockers, though in today’s NFL neither of those things are big deals. He isn’t a big hitter, with only 2 forced fumbles, but he more than makes up for that with all of his other production. He’s not a pass rusher, but he covers so well that it doesn’t matter. He’s the first non-rush linebacker I’ve ever given a top 10 grade and I think he has a solid chance to go there on draft day.

He’ll probably come off the board sometime between 9 and 12 as Carolina at 9, Buffalo at 10, Kansas City at 11, and Seattle at 12 will all have interest. I have him to Seattle, but I acknowledge that all of the other 3 are options. He reminds me a lot of another linebacker who went very high in the draft, Jerod Mayo, who the Patriots surprisingly took 10^th overall in 2008.

Mayo has more than lived up to that draft pick with 501 tackles in 4 years (59 career games). He’s also been very good in coverage and when he’s rarely missed a game, his absence is noticeable. He’d played in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 for New England. Kuechly is best fit in a 4-3, but can play in some 3-4s, which is why Kansas City (a 3-4 team run by Scott Pioli, who was on New England’s staff when they took Mayo) is a frequently mocked destination for him.

Kuechly is one of 6 elite talents in this draft class in my eyes (Luck, Griffin, Kalil, Richardson, DeCastro, and Kuechly), but will be devalued because of his position. Position aside, he’s the 5^th best player in this draft class. Position factored in, I have him 7^th in that 2^nd tier with guys like Richardson (also hurt by his position) Coples, Mercilus, Claiborne, Floyd, and Blackmon, all 2^nd tier talents.