The NFL Draft Thread (Formerly Early Entries for NFL Draft)

[TruffleShuffle]

23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dan Connor OLB, Penn State

Connor plays a lot like last years’ Penn State LB draftee Paul Posluszny, who fell to the second round due to injury concerns. Connor could probably stand to add a little weight, but that should come in time. Can possibly slot in the inside should be add size.

Having spent their 1 and 2 last season on LBs, I don't see Pittsburgh going with a LB here. Woodley will likely start in place of Haggans next season, and the team is already grooming Timmons to move inside. The Steelers most glaring weakness right now is on the OL. With Faneca likely leaving and the tackle play spotty, I see the Steelers going OL in round one.

 

yeah this is definitely the direction the steelers should go. their O-line play was downright bad the last few games; their lack of depth really showed when marvel smith got hurt. and their center (sean mahan) is just brutal. i know they just signed him to a 5-year deal, but he's a complete turnstile. willie colon isn't very good either.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think there may be a flurry of trades of first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Parcells trade out of the number one pick. If McFadden starts slipping, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cowboys (Jones covets him) try to package their two picks and move up to get him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I also think that if the Cowboys keep both first rounders, they will look for a CB.

[AI]

23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dan Connor OLB, Penn State

Connor plays a lot like last years’ Penn State LB draftee Paul Posluszny, who fell to the second round due to injury concerns. Connor could probably stand to add a little weight, but that should come in time. Can possibly slot in the inside should be add size.

Having spent their 1 and 2 last season on LBs, I don't see Pittsburgh going with a LB here. Woodley will likely start in place of Haggans next season, and the team is already grooming Timmons to move inside. The Steelers most glaring weakness right now is on the OL. With Faneca likely leaving and the tackle play spotty, I see the Steelers going OL in round one.

 

yeah this is definitely the direction the steelers should go. their O-line play was downright bad the last few games; their lack of depth really showed when marvel smith got hurt. and their center (sean mahan) is just brutal. i know they just signed him to a 5-year deal, but he's a complete turnstile. willie colon isn't very good either.

If I was big and could fight and saw Sean Mahan on the street, I would fight him. Since none of these things is likely to happen any time soon, said fight won't take place. Bottom line is that Sean Mahan absolutely sucks at football and probably at life. I don't care what the cap ramifications are, Mahan has to go. Considering the quality of the last 3 starting centers for the Steelers, it's even worse. Also, I agree that Colon isn't that hot, but they need to focus on interior linemen.

[dew1679666265]

I think there may be a flurry of trades of first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Parcells trade out of the number one pick. If McFadden starts slipping, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cowboys (Jones covets him) try to package their two picks and move up to get him.

 

I could also see the Titans trading up if they see somebody earlier they want. Jeff Fisher has talked about needing to improve the offense this year, so I could see Reinfeldt moving up a few spots to grab a receiver they may desperately want.

 

I'll be happy with this draft so long as the Titans don't take another first day tailback - we've used our last two second rounders on them and also still have Chris Brown. I also wouldn't have a problem with using a pick or two to acquire a big-time receiver (Steve Smith or Roy Williams, etc.).

[Guest]

Who watched the Senior Bowl? It looks like Dominique Rogers-Cromartie got most of the attention after having a great game. Flacco got a lot of hype during the practice but he looked only ok during the game (I know most of the evaluating goes on during the practices building up to the game, but still, we don't get to watch much of that).

[dew1679666265]

Who watched the Senior Bowl? It looks like Dominique Rogers-Cromartie got most of the attention after having a great game. Flacco got a lot of hype during the practice but he looked only ok during the game (I know most of the evaluating goes on during the practices building up to the game, but still, we don't get to watch much of that).

 

I watched a large portion of the game and was very impressed with Cromartie. I didn't like much of what I saw of any of the QBs except I like Flacco's arm and I think Ainge looked pretty solid. Erik didn't do much of anything but what he did at Tennessee though.

[Warpticon]

Stuff

 

I don't see any way the Dolphins use their first two picks on D-Linemen. Dorsey is a beast and he's at their weakest DL spot, so sure. But the OLine has been weak for years, and they've been trying to patch it up with journeymen and mid-round picks. I just don't see any way they'd spend their first two picks on defensive line with so GLARING a weakness still out there.

[imb]

Stuff

 

I don't see any way the Dolphins use their first two picks on D-Linemen. Dorsey is a beast and he's at their weakest DL spot, so sure. But the OLine has been weak for years, and they've been trying to patch it up with journeymen and mid-round picks. I just don't see any way they'd spend their first two picks on defensive line with so GLARING a weakness still out there.

 

At their second pick, I don't know who left on the board Oline-wise was worth the pick.

[Tedward]

Flacco got a lot of hype during the practice but he looked only ok during the game

 

Granted, he did throw a poor ball on the pick to Cromartie, but he only had two offensive sets in the game (never getting in during the 2nd half) with six total pass attempts. He was also robbed of a TD pass by the refs late in the first half. I would have liked to see him play in the second half instead of Booty.

[shnsajax]

I think there may be a flurry of trades of first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Parcells trade out of the number one pick. If McFadden starts slipping, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cowboys (Jones covets him) try to package their two picks and move up to get him.

 

I don't think McFadden slips past the Raiders, though Justin Fargas did a nice job. I know Jerry Jones is in love with him though and being from Arkansas that makes him love him even more. I would be perfectly happy with Felix Jones as a late 1st round pick, and think he could be a real steal in the draft as well. If they some how pulled it off and got McFadden I would more than happy.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think there may be a flurry of trades of first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Parcells trade out of the number one pick. If McFadden starts slipping, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cowboys (Jones covets him) try to package their two picks and move up to get him.

 

I don't think McFadden slips past the Raiders, though Justin Fargas did a nice job. I know Jerry Jones is in love with him though and being from Arkansas that makes him love him even more. I would be perfectly happy with Felix Jones as a late 1st round pick, and think he could be a real steal in the draft as well. If they some how pulled it off and got McFadden I would more than happy.

 

I certainly wouldn't be upset with McFadden, but I think I'd almost like to see the Cowboys go CB with one pick (If McKelvin or Cromartie are there) and then WR with the next. I think Jamal Charles will be there at the end of the second, and I'd grab him then.

[shnsajax]

I think there may be a flurry of trades of first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Parcells trade out of the number one pick. If McFadden starts slipping, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cowboys (Jones covets him) try to package their two picks and move up to get him.

 

I don't think McFadden slips past the Raiders, though Justin Fargas did a nice job. I know Jerry Jones is in love with him though and being from Arkansas that makes him love him even more. I would be perfectly happy with Felix Jones as a late 1st round pick, and think he could be a real steal in the draft as well. If they some how pulled it off and got McFadden I would more than happy.

 

I certainly wouldn't be upset with McFadden, but I think I'd almost like to see the Cowboys go CB with one pick (If McKelvin or Cromartie are there) and then WR with the next. I think Jamal Charles will be there at the end of the second, and I'd grab him then.

 

Charles should be there at the end of the 2nd I would think unless he just blows everyone away with his speed at the combine. I do worry about Charles becoming another Julius Jones though. He should stay in college for one more year, and could be very solid two years from now.

[Guest]

They just had a story on Around the Horn where the Cowboys would trade Barber, a first rounder and maybe a third rounder for the Dolphins No. 1 overall pick so they could take McFadden. Not sure how legitimate this is but it warrants mentioning.

[rawaction]

They just had a story on Around the Horn where the Cowboys would trade Barber, a first rounder and maybe a third rounder for the Dolphins No. 1 overall pick so they could take McFadden. Not sure how legitimate this is but it warrants mentioning.

 

That would be stupid for both teams.

[Warpticon]

They just had a story on Around the Horn where the Cowboys would trade Barber, a first rounder and maybe a third rounder for the Dolphins No. 1 overall pick so they could take McFadden. Not sure how legitimate this is but it warrants mentioning.

 

That would be stupid for both teams.

 

Agreed.

[dew1679666265]

They just had a story on Around the Horn where the Cowboys would trade Barber, a first rounder and maybe a third rounder for the Dolphins No. 1 overall pick so they could take McFadden. Not sure how legitimate this is but it warrants mentioning.

 

That would be stupid for both teams.

 

Why in the world would Marion Barber have that much value to the Dolphins? Even if you want to label Ronnie Brown as injury prone (which I think would be unfair), why would a rebuilding team like the Dolphins give up a valuable pick for a good but not great vet at a position of strength? If I were Parcells and felt Miami needed someone to take carries from Ronnie, I'd use a later pick (but still 2nd to 3rd) to get a much younger player and less worn player.

 

Take out Barber and toss in the other first rounder and I think it's a decent deal for Miami, though. I probably wouldn't do it (they need a higher pick than the 20s), but it'd be better.

[shnsajax]

They just had a story on Around the Horn where the Cowboys would trade Barber, a first rounder and maybe a third rounder for the Dolphins No. 1 overall pick so they could take McFadden. Not sure how legitimate this is but it warrants mentioning.

 

That would be stupid for both teams.

 

Agreed.

 

Barber + Felix Jones > McFadden. I love McFadden, but I am more than happy with those two running backs. Barber is on the verge of being a top 5 back and one of the best inside the redzone.

[rawaction]

A move that would make sense for both teams would be Demarcus Ware in that deal instead of Barber 3. Dallas won't trade Ware, but they have a crapload of LBs, including guys they've drafted in the last 2 years who are backups in Burnett, Carpenter, and Spencer. Greg Ellis came back strong enough to make Ware a minor loss. Of course, I don't think McFadden should have that much value to them, but if he does, I think that deal makes sense.

[shnsajax]

A move that would make sense for both teams would be Demarcus Ware in that deal instead of Barber 3. Dallas won't trade Ware, but they have a crapload of LBs, including guys they've drafted in the last 2 years who are backups in Burnett, Carpenter, and Spencer. Greg Ellis came back strong enough to make Ware a minor loss. Of course, I don't think McFadden should have that much value to them, but if he does, I think that deal makes sense.

 

I wouldn't do that deal, but I won't trade Ware for just about anyone. Carpenter needs to do something other than be Romo's best friend.