ATLANTA FALCONS:
24th Pick (1st Rd) – DT Peria Jerry Ole Miss 6’2 299lbs – This is the guy a lot of folks thought the Bucs would draft but his lack of bulk and short arms made some of us leery of his potential in Jim Bates system. Jerry is the model of a three-technique tackle. He's lightning quick off the line and can shoot the gaps really well. It will be interesting playing him twice a season and potentially being reminded often of why we shouldn’t have passed him up. Then again his lack of size and strength could catch up to him.
55th Pick (2nd Rd) – S William Moore Missouri 6’0 221lbs – per Mocking the Draft Moore is the case of a player who may have been best served coming out following his junior year when he looked like a top-15 pick. His stock plummeted after playing injured during a senior season in which his deficiencies were showcased. However, he still has great potential due to his ability to play the run and pass equally well. With good coaching, Moore could be a solid starter in the pros.
By all accounts he sounds like a nice sleeper pick for the Dirty Birds. Red Dave probably isn’t enamored with these picks, but they are keying on the defense like he had hoped. I’m not scared of either selection though.
90th Pick (3rd Rd) – CB Christopher Owens San Jose St.
125th Pick (4th Rd) – DE Lawrence Sidbury Richmond
138th Pick (5th Rd) – CB William Middleton Furman
143rd Pick (5th Rd) – OT Garrett Reynolds UNC
176th Pick (6th Rd) – LB Spencer Adkins Miami
210th Pick (7th Rd) - DT Vance Walker Georgia Tech
CAROLINA PANTHERS:
44th Pick (2nd Rd) – DE Everette Brown Florida State 6’2 256lbs – This to me was the surprise of the day. Everette just fell, fell, and fell some more today. He will prove to be a steal for the Panthers. I’m pissed he went there as I am a FSU Alum and was looking forward to purchasing his jersey. Freak that. At least I’ll get to see him twice a year now. Back to his abilities, he won’t make the Panthers forget about Julius Peppers, but he will prove to be a productive player and a guy who can stay on the field.
59th Pick (2nd Rd) – S Sherrod Martin Troy 6’1 198lbs – Scouts have this guy becoming a Safety and Corner in the NFL so he obviously provides the Panthers versatility. He is very physical, has good hands, and is an excellent tackler. He didn’t play the best competition in college so he will be tested to the max in the NFL.
93rd Pick (3rd Rd) – DL Corvey Irvin Georgia
111th Pick (4th Rd) – RB Mike Goodson Texas A&M
128th Pick (4th Rd) – FB Tony Fiammetta Syracuse
163rd Pick (5th Rd) – OT Duke Robinson Oklahoma
202nd Pick (6th Rd) – CB Captain Munnerlyn South Carolina
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:
14th Pick (1st Rd) – CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State 6’0 204lbs – per Mocking the Draft A top-5 talent, Jenkins could be the first cornerback drafted. After improving every year at Ohio State, Jenkins has the look of a perennial Pro Bowl player. The negatives on Jenkins are merely nitpicking as he is one of the top prospects to come out this decade.
That doesn’t bode well for us two times a year does it? This was clearly a solid pick at 14 for the Saints…
116th Pick (4th Rd) – S Chip Vaughn Wake Forest
118th Pick (4th Rd) – LB Stanley Arnoux Wake Forest
222nd Pick (7th Rd) - P Thomas Morstead SMU
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:
17th Pick (1st Rd) – QB Josh Freeman Kansas State 6’6 248lbs – I know the majority of Bucs Fans absolutely hate this pick, but at the very least support the guy. It’s not his fault the Bucs traded up to get him, that McCown has never stepped up to the fore front, or that Josh Johnson has yet to either.
50th Pick (2nd Rd) – Traded to Cleveland for TE Kellen Winslow – The Cleveland Browns took Georgia WR Mohamed Massaqoui with this pick. At this point I would say Winslow was a lot better than any of the alternatives. The Bucs lost out on three players they had been linked to this off-season in UConn’s DE Cody Brown, Oklahoma’s OT Phil Loadholt, and Auburn DT Sen’Derrick Marks. From a need standpoint DE Paul Kruger from Utah and DT Fili Moala from USC would have been nice additions, but I think we will all agree that Winslow is better than any of the additions we could have made.
81st Pick (3rd Rd) – DT Roy Miller Texas
120th Pick (4th Rd) – DE Kyle Moore USC
155th Pick (5th Rd) – OT Xavier Fulton Illinois
217th Pick (7th Rd) – CB E.J. Biggers Western Michigan
229th Pick (7th Rd) – WR Sammie Stroughter Oregon State
233rd Pick (7th Rd) – (From Ravens)
Other note worthy draft selections from teams we will be playing this season:
Buffalo Bills - DE Aaron Maybin Penn State – This guy is a beast and we’ll find out first hand when we head up to Buffalo in Week 2.
New York Giants - WR Hakeem Nicks UNC – He won’t immediately replace the loss of WR Plaxico Burress, but he will immediately test 2nd year CB Aqib Talib. Should be an interesting match-up in Week 3
Washington Redskins - DE Brian Orapko Texas – Like Maybin Orapko is a beast, Trueblood and Penn will have their work cut out for them on this day, couple him with Albert Haynesworth and we are looking at a nightmare.
Philadelphia Eagles – WR Jeremy Maclin Missouri, RB LeSean McCoy Pittsburgh – Couple Maclin with the REAL DJax (DeSean Jackson) and Ronde/Aqib have their hands tied. LeSean McCoy should provide our weak defensive lines fits. The schedule isn’t looking to bright is it?
New England Patriots – SS Patrick Chung Oregon, DT Ron Brace Boston College, and CB Darius Butler UConn – Great selections as usual from the Pats. Chung is a heavy hitter, Brace we all wanted (some even in the first round) and Butler will give our Receivers a run for their money. The Patriots draft smart as usual. Luckily we probably won’t see this game as it will be played in London, I’m thinking they will televise it on the NFL Network.
Green Bay Packers – DT B.J. Raji Boston College, LB Clay Matthews USC – Damn I AM JEALOUS. Their LB’ing corps is unreal. The addition of Raji will help them immensely. That match-up got a lot tougher.. ugh
Miami Dolphins – CB Vontae Davis Illinois, QB Pat White West Virginia – Our Receivers will have fits with the physical specimen that is Vontae Davis. I can guarantee we will see a Pat White by week 10 when we face the fins… I don’t like it, White was born to play for the Dolphins
New York Jets – QB Mark Sanchez USC – He may actually be the starter in Week 14. Actually he could be the starter in Week 1 for the Jets, regardless this match-up got a bit tougher.
Seattle Seahawks – LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest – This man is a beast, line him up along side Lofa Tatufu and our running backs will have a tough day ahead of them. Good luck Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham, I hope you are resting up for the season…
