Fbkid's AFC North draft grades

The draft is now over so it is time to grade the teams to see how they did in the draft. I will be grading the teams and doing them by division. The first installment is the AFC North which is one of the toughest divisions in football. All of these teams have had great success building through the draft so it should be interesting to see who gets the best grade.


Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens should be happy with their draft as they traded down and got the guy they wanted in Joe Flacco. The only problem was they didn't have to trade up to 18 to get him. The Ravens probably could have got him at 26. Ravens fans agree with that as well. Just check Blogimore Ravens for more on the matter. Flacco though has a cannon arm which is something that the Ravens haven't had in a quarterback in a while. Ray Rice was a good pick in round 2 as he is very durable and is a good insurance policy for Willis McGahee. Tavares Gooden was a good pick in round 3 as he should develop and gives the Ravens depth to help a linebacker corps that is aging. Tom Zbikowski was a good pick in the 3rd round as well as he will help out immediately on special teams. Marcus Smith was a decent pick in the 4th round as the Ravens are still looking for a big play receiver. Smith is more of a project at this moment. Overall the Ravens had a good draft but they needed to address the cornerback position as both Samari Rolle and Chris McAllister are aging.

Grade:C+


Cincinnati Bengals: Lots of Bengals fans don't like the draft they had but it wasn't as bad as people think. Keith Rivers was a great value at number nine as he will be starting at linebacker for years to come. Jerome Simpson is a good pick in the second round but the problem is that more established receivers such as Malcolm Kelly and Limas Sweed were still on the board. Pat Sims was a good value in the 3rd round as he filled a need and many people had him as a first day pick. Andre Caldwell was a good pick in the 3rd round as he should immediately make an impact. Anthony Collins was a good pick in the 4th round as he brings depth to the offensive line. The Bengals got some good players in the draft and chances are that some of the picks will play from the start. If Mario Urrita pans out as a 7th round pick and turns into a good redzone target this draft looks a lot better.

Grade: C



Pittsburgh Steelers: Many people say the Steelers had the best draft out of any team. But lots of that is based on the name recognition of the class. Rashard Mendenhall was a good value for where the Steelers were picking and should compliment Willie Parker to improve the Steelers ground game. Ben Roethlisberger wanted a tall receiver and he got one in Limas Sweed in the second round. Sweed was a great value in the 2nd round and could start in a few years. The best pick the Steelers had was Bruce Davis as he fits perfectly with the Steelers 3-4 scheme. He and Lamarr Woodley should be book ends for the Steelers at linebacker for years to come. Dennis Dixon was a bit of a reach in round 5 as he will mainly be used on gadget plays. The Steelers got good value for where they picked but they didn't address the biggest need with the offensive line. If they addressed that more it could have been a great draft.

Grade:B


Cleveland Browns: The Browns didn't have a pick in the first three rounds but if you look closer they got great value out of those picks. With those three picks the Browns got Brady Quinn, Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. I'm sure the Browns aren't complaining about that haul. Both Williams and Rogers are pro bowl caliber defensive tackles and where the Browns were taking it's not like Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis would have fallen to them. Unlike a quarterback they could have drafted, Quinn already knows the playbook and should start in a few years. In the 4th round Beau Bell was a good pick as he should get some playing time right away. Martin Rucker was a decent pick in round 4 as the Browns now have two great pass catching tight ends in Rucker and Kellen Winslow. The Browns didn't do much in the draft with the picks they had but what makes the draft is what came with the picks they traded away.

Grade:B

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Mock Draft Two Rounds

With the draft only two days away we've already seen lots of first round mocks. (I've posted 4 myself) Most include the same 31 players, shuffled in different order. However there are a lot of other great players on war-room boards and any GM and fan will tell you that some of the best picks are made after the first round. So if the first round alone isn't enough for you, here's how the rest of the first day might develop.



Round One:


1. Miami Dolphins: Jake Long T Michigan

2.St.Louis Rams: Chris Long DE Virginia

3. Atlanta Falcons: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU

4. Oakland Raiders: Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Ryan QB Boston College

6. New York Jets:Darren McFadden RB Arkansas

7. New England Patriots: Keith Rivers LB USC

8. Baltimore Ravens: Leodis McKelvin CB Troy

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Sedrick Ellis DT USC

10. New Orleans Saints:Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State

11. Buffalo Bills: Devin Thomas WR Michigan State

12. Denver Broncos:Chris Williams T Vanderbilt

13. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Harvey DE Florida

14. Chicago Bears: Ryan Clady T Boise State

15. Detroit Lions: Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee

16. Arizona Cardinals:Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois

17. Kansas City Chiefs: Phillip Merling DE Clemson

18. Houston Texans: Branden Albert G/T Virginia

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Mike Jenkins CB USF

21. Washington Redskins: Limas Sweed WR Texas

22. Dallas Cowboys:Aqib Talib CB Kansas

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Gosder Cherilus T Boston College

24. Tennessee Titans: DeSean Jackson WR California

25. Seattle Seahawks:Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina

27. San Diego Chargers: Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech

28. Dallas Cowboys:Felix Jones RB Arkansas

29.San Francisco 49ers:James Hardy WR Indiana

30. Green Bay Packers: Antoine Cason CB Arizona

. New England Patriots:Forfited due to "Spygate"

31. New York Giants: Kenny Phillips S Miami(FL)



Round Two:

32.Miami Dolphins:Chad Henne QB Michigan
33. St.Louis Rams:Sam Baker T USC
34.Atlanta Falcons: Patrick Lee CB Auburn
35.Kansas City Chiefs:Anthony Collins T Kansas
36.New York Jets:Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
37.Atlanta Falcons:Dan Connor LB Penn State
38.Baltimore Ravens:Brian Brohm QB Louisville
39.San Francisco 49ers:Quentin Groves DE Auburn
40.New Orleans Saints:Justin King CB Penn State
41.Buffalo Bills:Dustin Keller TE Purdue
42.Denver Broncos:Pat Sims DT Auburn
43.Carolina Panthers:DeJuan Morgan S NC State
44.Chicago Bears:Joe Flacco QB Delaware
45.Detroit Lions:Chris Johnson RB East Carolina
46.Cincinnati Bengals:Jordy Nelson WR Kansas State
47.Minnesota Vikings:Tyrell Johnson S Arkansas State
48.Atlanta Falcons:Duane Brown T Virginia Tech
49.Philadelphia Eagles:Eddie Royal WR Virginia Tech
50.Arizona Cardinals:Charles Godfrey CB Iowa
51.Washington Redskins:Lawrence Jackson DE USC
52.Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Donnie Avery WR Houston
53.Pittsburgh Steelers:Marcus Monk WR Arkansas
54.Tennessee Titans:Dre Moore DT Maryland
55.Seattle Seahawks:Martellus Bennett TE Texas A&M
56.Green Bay Packers:Oniel Cousins T UTEP
57.Miami Dolphins:Tyvon Branch CB Connecticut
58.Jacksonville Jaguars:Cliff Averil DE Purdue
59.Indianapolis Colts:Carl Nicks T Nebraska
60.Green Bay Packers:Reggie Smith S Oklahoma
61.Dallas Cowboys:Mario Manningham WR Michigan
62.New England Patriots:Tracy Porter CB Indiana
63.New York Giants:Xavier Adibi LB Virginia Tech

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Mock Draft #4

With the draft only a few days away contract negotiations have already started and one pick is signed.I have made lots of moves this time around as Keith Rivers goes back into the top 10 and Mike Jenkins falls all the way to the late teens early 20's.



1.Miami Dolphins:Jake Long T Michigan
2.St.Louis Rams: Chris Long DE Virginia
3.Atlanta Falcons:Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
4.Oakland Raiders:Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
5.Kansas City Chiefs:Matt Ryan QB Boston College
6.New York Jets:Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
7.New England Patriots:Keith Rivers LB USC
8.Baltimore Ravens:Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
9.Cincinnati Bengals:Sedrick Ellis DT USC
10.New Orleans Saints:Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
11.Buffalo Bills:Devin Thomas WR Michigan State
12.Denver Broncos:Chris Williams T Vanderbilt
13.Carolina Panthers:Derrick Harvey DE Florida
14.Chicago Bears:Ryan Clady T Boise State
15.Detroit Lions:Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee
16.Arizona Cardinals:Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
17.Kansas City Chiefs:Phillip Merling DE Clemson
18.Houston Texans:Branden Albert G/T Virginia
19.Philadelphia Eagles:Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh
20.Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Mike Jenkins CB USF
21.Washington Redskins:Limas Sweed WR Texas
22.Dallas Cowboys:Aqib Talib CB Kansas
23.Pittsburgh Steelers:Gosder Cherilus T Boston College
24.Tennessee Titans:DeSean Jackson WR California
25.Seattle Seahawks:Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
26.Jacksonville Jaguars:Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
27.San Diego Chargers:Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech
28.Dallas Cowboys:Felix Jones RB Arkansas
29.San Francisco 49ers:James Hardy WR Indiana
30.Green Bay Packers:Antoine Cason CB Arizona
31.New England Patriots:Forfited due to "Spygate"
32.New York Giants:Kenny Phillips S Miami(FL)

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Draft Big Board #2

The draft is only a week away so I feel it is a good time to release another big board. Considering the last big board was done in December many changes have happened. For instance, Andre Woodson was among the top 15 in the last installment. Now he probably won't even be a day one pick. So here is my second big board.


1.Jake Long T Michigan: Could be one of the safest picks in this draft after a great career at Michigan.

2.Glenn Dorsey DT LSU: Had a great pro day showing and could be a top 3 pick but durability is a concern.

3.Darren McFadden RB Arkansas: One of the most explosive players in the draft, McFadden should come in and make an immediate impact in the NFL.

4.Sedrick Ellis DT USC: Ellis is a force in the middle and will be a great additon to a team like the Bengals at number nine who have trouble stopping the run.

5.Chris Long DE Virginia: Long is another safe pick as he has a great motor and should be a force for years to come.

6.Matt Ryan QB Boston College:Has great mechanics and poise and is the closest it gets to a franchise quarterback in this draft class.

7.Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State: Had great workout numbers but is he the next Mike Mamula?

8.Branden Albert G/T Virginia: Albert was rising up the draft boards but his versatility now makes him a top ten pick.

9.Ryan Clady T Boise State: Has great potential but didn't play against much competition in college.

10.Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois: Mendenhall has the potential to be a very good back. The only problem is if he is a one year wonder.

11.Chris Williams T Vanderbilt: Has great size and has lots of experience against top competiton. The only question is if he is physical enough.

12.Keith Rivers LB USC: A great leader and has the potential to be the next great linebacker from USC.

13.Leodis McKelvin CB Troy: One of the best cover corners in the draft and has added value with his skills as a returner. The only question is the lack of competition he played in college.

14.Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh: Is versatile as he has played both left and right tackle. Has the potential to be a pro bowl caliber player.

15.Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee: Has good speed and is versatile as he has played inside and out. Has also been very productive against top competion in college.

16.Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State: Great athlete who has excellent leaping ability and will make a huge impact in the return game. The main question is how will he play against top competition.

17.Devin Thomas WR Michigan State: Has great size and isn't afraid to catch the ball in traffic and will also help in the return game. The only question is if he is a one year wonder.

18.Derrick Harvey DE Florida: Is a good athlete who has the potential to move to linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

19.Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon: If not for concerns for his toe injury, would be a top 15 pick.

20.Phillip Merling DE Clemson: Has great size and a motor that is always running. Most teams will be scared off by the sports hernia surgery he needed.

21.Mike Jenkins CB USF: Has good coverage skills along with great closing speed. The only problem is that he sometimes plays down to the level of the competition.

22.Felix Jones RB Arkansas: Has great speed and finds the hole fast but would be best used complemented with a hard nosed runner like Marion Barber.

23.Kenny Phillips S Miami(FL):Has great size and moves pretty well. The only problem is that his production dropped when Brandon Meriweather went to the NFL.

24.Chris Johnson RB East Carolina: Has fantastic speed as he ran a 4.24 at the combine. Is a good receiver and is a excellent return man. Could also be used as a 3rd down back.

25.Limas Sweed WR Texas: Has great size and makes lots of acrobatic catches. The only problem is that he has a history of injuries.

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Mock Draft #3

The draft is only a week away and lots of changes have happened with my newest mock draft. Many players such as Malcolm Kelly I have moving out of the first round. While players like Jerod Mayo who wasn't in the first round in any of my previous mocks, is now a 1st round pick. So here is my 3rd mock draft.


1.Miami Dolphins:Jake Long T Michigan
2.St.Louis Rams: Chris Long DE Virginia
3.Atlanta Falcons:Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
4.Oakland Raiders:Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
5.Kansas City Chiefs:Matt Ryan QB Boston College
6.New York Jets:Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
7.New England Patriots:Branden Albert G Virginia
8.Baltimore Ravens:Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
9.Cincinnati Bengals:Sedrick Ellis DT USC
10.New Orleans Saints:Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
11.Buffalo Bills:Devin Thomas WR Michigan State
12.Denver Broncos:Chris Williams T Vanderbilt
13.Carolina Panthers:Derrick Harvey DE Florida
14.Chicago Bears:Ryan Clady T Boise State
15.Detroit Lions:Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee
16.Arizona Cardinals:Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
17.Minnesota Vikings:Phillip Merling DE Clemson
18.Houston Texans:Keith Rivers LB USC
19.Philadelphia Eagles:Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh
20.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
21.Washington Redskins:Calais Campbell DE Miami(FL)
22.Dallas Cowboys:Aqib Talib CB Kansas
23.Pittsburgh Steelers:Gosder Cherilus T Boston College
24.Tennessee Titans:Limas Sweed WR Texas
25.Seattle Seahawks:Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
26.Jacksonville Jaguars:Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
27.San Diego Chargers:Reggie Smith CB Oklahoma
28.Dallas Cowboys:Felix Jones RB Arkansas
29.San Francisco 49ers:DeSean Jackson WR California
30.Green Bay Packers:Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech
31.New England Patriots:Forfited due to "Spygate"
32.New York Giants:Kenny Phillips S Miami(FL)

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Mock Draft #2

The draft is now less than a month away which means pro days and team interviews are now going on. This is the second mock draft I have done so far and the last few will have all of the in depth analysis that you will look for come draft time. So without further explanation here is my second mock draft.



1.Miami Dolphins:Jake Long T Michigan
2.St.Louis Rams: Chris Long DE Virginia
3*.Atlanta Falcons:Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
4*.Oakland Raiders:Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
5*.Kansas City Chiefs:Matt Ryan QB Boston College
6.New York Jets:Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
7.New England Patriots:Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
8.Baltimore Ravens:Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
9.Cincinnati Bengals:Sedrick Ellis DT USC
10.New Orleans Saints:Keith Rivers LB USC
11.Buffalo Bills:Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
12.Denver Broncos:Chris Williams Vanderbilt
13.Carolina Panthers:Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh
14.Chicago Bears:Ryan Clady T Boise State
15.Detroit Lions:Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
16.Arizona Cardinals:Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
17.Minnesota Vikings:Derrick Harvey DE Florida
18.Houston Texans:Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
19.Philadelphia Eagles:Kenny Phillips S Miami(FL)
20.Tampa Bay Buccaneers:DeSean Jackson WR California
21.Washington Redskins:Limas Sweed WR Texas
22.Dallas Cowboys:Felix Jones RB Arkansas
23.Pittsburgh Steelers:Branden Albert G Virginia
24.Tennessee Titans:Devin Thomas WR Michigan State
25.Seattle Seahawks:Dustin Keller TE Purdue
26.Jacksonville Jaguars:Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
27.San Diego Chargers:Reggie Smith CB Oklahoma
28.Dallas Cowboys:Aquib Talib CB Kansas
29.San Francisco 49ers:Quentin Groves LB Auburn
30.Green Bay Packers:Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech
31.New England Patriots:Forfited due to "Spygate"
32.New York Giants:Dan Conner LB Penn State

Fbkid's 2008 Draft Rankings: Cornerback

Cornerback is one of the most important positions in the NFL as if you don't have quality corners, teams will pass all over you. That is why it is important to draft well at this position as it could be a key player on your team for years to come.
Here are my top 10 corners in the draft.


1.Mike Jenkins South Florida
2.Leodis McKelvin Troy
3.Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Tennessee State
4.Aquib Talib Kansas
5.Reggie Smith Oklahoma
6.Brandon Flowers Virginia Tech
7.Patrick Lee Auburn
8.Antoine Cason Arizona
9.Justin King Penn State
10.Charles Godfrey Iowa

2008 class grade:A-

Mike Jenkins has good size along with 4.4 speed. He is also very physical and could help in the return game. The only problem is that he isn't great in run support.

Leodis McKelvin has great speed and will make a huge impact in the return game. He has good coverage skills and can score anytime he touches the ball. The only problem is that he didn't play much competiton in college but that didn't matter much for another Troy alum, Demarcus Ware.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was viewed to be a great sleeper pick but after great showings at the Senior Bowl and the combine, he's now a middle first round pick.He is also a great kick returner and could develop into a pro bowl corner just like his cousin Antonio Cromartie on the Chargers.

Aquib Talib has great size and has good intangibles. The only problem is that he doesn't play as fast as timed and isn't that physical.

Reggie Smith is very versatile and can also play safety. He has great size and has good technique but doesn't have the speed to keep up with receivers.

Brandon Flowers is a strong tackler who has good insincts. He also has played big in big games. The only problem is that he doesn't have elite speed.


Patrick Lee has great speed and has good size. He can really help in the return game but is still learning the game.

Antoine Cason was one of the top corners entering the year but has slipped towards the second round. Cason has good instincts but doesn't have the quickness or speed teams look for.


Justin King looked like a sure first rounder early in his career but can still be a very good corner. King has great timed speed and is physical. The only problem is that he doesn't match up well against taller receivers and could be considered a workout warrior.

Charles Godfrey has great speed and is very versatile as he has started at safety and cornerback. Godfrey has the size to match up with tall receivers as well. He could be steal for somebody in the late second early third round.


So overall this class of corners is very strong as as many as six could be drafted by the first round. Many of them should make immediate impacts next year or in the future.

Fbkid's 2008 Draft Rankings: Running Back

One of the deepest positions in this years draft is running back. Around four players at the position could be drafted in the first round.Here are my top 10 running backs in the draft.


1.Darren McFadden Arkansas
2.Rashard Mendenhall Illinois
3.Jonathan Stewart Oregon
4.Felix Jones Arkansas
5.Chris Johnson East Carolina
6.Ray Rice Rutgers
7.Tashard Choice Georgia Tech
8.Kevin Smith Central Florida
9.Matt Forte Tulane
10.Jamaal Charles Texas

2008 class grade:A

Darren McFadden is regarded by many to be the best prospect in the draft. He has great speed and is a physical runner. Character is a concern though.

Rashard Mendenhall could be the most complete back in the draft as he is a good receiver and a physical runner. The only problem is some scouts think that he is a product of the spread offense run at Illinois.

Jonathan Stewart is a power runner who is a physical specimen. The only thing wrong is that he needed toe surgery and could be out for 4 months which could make him fall in the draft. Whoever gets him could be getting a steal.

Felix Jones was very productive at Arkansas but he won't be able to carry the load as he has never had more than 154 carries in a season. He would need a back like McFadden to compliment him.

Chris Johnson is the fastest back in the draft as he ran a 4.24 forty yard dash at the combine. He is a good receiver and should help immediately in the return game.

Ray Rice was a very durable back in college as he never missed a game due to injury. The only problem is that he doesn't have the top end speed teams look for in a featured back.

Tashard Choice is a very hard runner with good size and shows good burst in traffic. He could become a good number two option in the future.

Kevin Smith was very productive at Central Florida and has great vision. The only problem is that he had 450 carries last season and if used early in his career could become overworked like Larry Johnson a few years ago.

Matt Forte had a great senior season and is a good receiver out of the backfield. The only problem is that he runs upright and doesn't have breakaway speed.

Jamaal Charles has top end speed and could help out in the return game right away. He won't be able to carry the load though but could become a solid number two back.


So overall this class of running backs is very deep as many of these players could make an immediate impact in the NFL and could be productive for years to come.

Fbkid's 2008 Draft Rankings: Wide Receiver

This is similar to my last list except for wide receivers. This is one of the most talked about positions in the draft so to see what happens should be interesting. So here are my top 10 receivers in the draft.


1.Malcolm Kelly Oklahoma
2.Limas Sweed Texas
3.DeSean Jackson California
4.Devin Thomas Michigan State
5.James Hardy Indiana
6.Mario Manningham Michigan
7.Early Doucet LSU
8.Earl Bennett Vanderbilt
9.Jerome Simpson Coastal Carolina
10.Dexter Jackson Appalachian State

2008 class grade:B


Malcolm Kelly has everything you want in a receiver as he has great hands along with running good routes. He is also a spectacular red-zone target.

Limas Sweed is a similar player to Kelly and could make an impact right away. The only problem is that he has a history with injuries.

DeSean Jackson isn't the prototypical size teams look for in a receiver but his impact on returns will make him an early pick.

Devin Thomas has great size and is excellent after the catch. He will need to develop though as he was only a one-year starter.

James Hardy is a great red-zone target at 6'6. His only problem is that he needs to put on weight to be even more effective.

Mario Manningham has the potential to be a productive receiver in the NFL. But after a poor showing at the combine his stock has fallen. He is quick though and plays faster than his timed speed would suggest.

Early Doucet is a productive player who could end up being a solid bargin for a team who takes him in the late second early 3rd round.

Earl Bennett ended his college career as one of the top receivers in SEC history. If his stats look poor the last few years it is because the lack of quarterback play after Jay Cutler left.

Jerome Simpson had a great performance at the combine and has great size. He also has great hands he has potential to be a great starter.

Dexter Jackson is one of the fastest receivers in the draft and could also really help in the return game. He could develop into a solid number three receiver.


Many of these players have lots of potential and could be impact players for years to come. The only thing is that receiver is always a deep position and a player with potential like Marques Colston can fall through the cracks all the way to the 7th round.

Why isn't anyone talking about D.J. Hackett?

Most of the big free agents have come and gone but one of the best players is still on the market and nobody is talking about him. In fact he wasn't even one of the top 3 talked about players at his position. That player is Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett.


Hackett is a 6'2 208 pound receiver who has played 4 seasons in the NFL. He was originally drafted by the Seahawks in the 5th round in the 2004 draft. Hackett became one of Matt Hasselbeck's favorite targets in his time in Seattle. Even though Hackett only played 6 games last year, he still managed to have 32 catches for 384 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. For his career, Hackett has 105 career catches for 1394 yards and 9 touchdowns.


Hackett would fit well with many teams that need receiver. The Bucs and Redskins are both very interested in his services and the Bills and Eagles would be good fits. Hackett with his size could also bring a redzone target that teams crave and he should be cheaper than spending a first rounder on a receiver who hasn't proven anything. Plus Hackett is only 26 years old which is younger then receivers such as Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss who commanded big money in the offseason. Hackett should make an immediate impact in any offense the only question is what team wants him the most.

Fbkid's 2008 Draft Rankings: Quarterback

The combine has come and gone and now pro days are almost gone. It's now time to look at the positional rankings for who will be drafted in April. The firs topic is possibly the most important quarterback. Here are my top 10 signal callers in this upcoming draft.


1.Matt Ryan Boston College
2.Brian Brohm Louisville
3.Chad Henne Michigan
4.Joe Flacco Delaware
5.John David Booty USC
6.Josh Johnson San Diego
7.Andre Woodson Kentucky
8.Erik Ainge Tennessee
9.Colt Brennan Hawaii
10.Kevin O'Connell San Diego St

2008 class grade: B-

Summary: Matt Ryan is the only 1st round quarterback in the class as he has everything teams look for in a quarterback.

Brian Brohm coming into the season was projected to be the first quartrback taken but a rough senior season hurt his case.

Chad Henne shined in the Gator Bowl and had a consistent career at Michigan. He also ran a pro-style offense and could become a decent starter.

Joe Flacco is a developmental pick who has a great arm but needs to work on his footwork.

John David Booty has proven himself as a winner and could become a solid backup.

Josh Johnson is very similar to Tarvaris Jackson coming out of college a few years ago. Johnson though ran a pro style offense and no matter who you play a season with 43 touchdowns and only 1 interception is very impressive.

Andre Woodson is the biggest faller of the group as he was projected to be a 1st round pick. A bad senior bowl,pro day and combine now have Woodson wondering if he will be drafted on the first day.

Erik Ainge has the physical skills and could become a solid backup.

Colt Brennan has some positives but really struggled in the Sugar Bowl against the speed Georgia had.

Kevin O'Connell could be a good sleeper pick late and could become a solid backup.


Overall this drafts quarterback class isn't as deep as years past. Although most have these guys could become solid backups and even quality starters.

Marcus Stroud traded to Bills

Marcus Stroud has now gotten his wish. Earlier this week his agent Drew Rosenhaus was told that he was allowed to shop Stroud for a possible trade. That search now has him as a Buffalo Bill. Stroud,an all pro defensive tackle was traded for a 3rd and a 5th round pick. Stroud has had trouble staying healthy but when he is ,he remains a force in the middle. The Jaguars should now replace him with Rob Meir or possibly either Derek Landri who was impressive in the playoffs. This is a good move for both teams as the Bills now don't have to pay first round money to a defensive tackle and the Jaguars do very well at drafting in the later rounds. The only problem for the Jags if they try and address defensive tackle in the draft. Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis, the two best at the position will both be gone in the top ten. Even Kentwan Balmer of North Carolina who I consider the 3rd best defensive tackle could be gone.

Jaguars sign DB Drayton Florence

It is day two in free agency and the Jaguars have made another move signing cornerback Drayton Florence. Florence had played the previous 5 seasons of his career with the Chargers and did well. For his career he has 237 tackles and 10 interceptions. Last year was one of his best as he had 61 tackles to go along with 2 interceptions. Florence will bring versatility to the Jaguars secondary as he can also help out at safety which is a position that the team was looking to address this offseason or through the draft.

Jaguars make an early splash in free agency

After the Jaguars traded for wide receiver Troy Williamson earlier this week, most experts thought that the receiver position won't be addressed until the draft. Well the Jaguars already proved them wrong. The Jaguars signed Jerry Porter to a 6 year $30 million deal that includes $10 million in guaranteed money. Porter had played on the Raiders the previous eight years of his career. Porter had a solid season last year as he had 44 catches for 705 yards and 6 touchdowns. The only problem with the signing of Porter is that he is built very similar to the Jags other receivers. Questions have also been brought up about his character as Porter is known to have had gotten in fights with Art Shell during the 2006 season in which the Raiders went 2-14.


The Jaguars made another big signing today with quarterback Cleo Lemon. Lemon signed a 3 year deal worth around $9 million. Lemon will likely be the backup to David Garrard as Quinn Gray is a free agent. Lemon last season threw for 1,7773 yards with 6 touchdowns along with 6 interceptions. He could end up being a solid backup for the Jags but could be in trouble if he needs to start.


So overall the Jags didn't do to badly today in the free agency market. But considering this is only the first day, plenty more news will come.

Fbkid's all combine team

The combine has come to a close and many things have changed in regards to draft stock. Players will have stock that will change daily but this ranking will stay forever. They will have made the all combine team. None of these guys have played a down in the NFL yet but if the game was played in Under Armour shirts,they would be pretty good. Here is my 2008 All Combine team.


QB: Josh Johnson San Diego: Impressed scouts with 4.4 speed and surprising arm strength.


RB: Chris Johnson East Carolina: After a combine best 4.24 forty,people aren't taking him as lightly anymore.

RB: Darren McFadden Arkansas: It's hard to believe but McFadden's stock went up at the combine.

WR: Dexter Jackson Appalachian State: Put up a 4.37 in the forty and keeps impressing scouts with his good hands.

WR: William Franklin Missouri: Showed everything that an NFL team looks for in a receiver measuring in at 6'4 214 pounds along with running a 4.37 forty.

TE: Dustin Keller Purdue:Impressed scouts with a 4.5 forty which was best for tight ends. He also showed good hands in the passing drills.


T: Jake Long Michigan: Scouts were very impressed when Long weighed in at 6'7 313 pounds. He also moved well in drills.

G: Branden Albert Virginia: Impressed with scouts with mobility and great size.

C: Mike Pollak Arizona State: Did well in drills along with running a 5.02 forty. The fastest of all centers.

G: Chilo Rachal USC: Impressed scouts with size and the way he moved in drills.

T: Oniel Cousins UTEP: Is a developmental pick as of now but showed scouts that he could become a solid pro.


Defense:

DE: Chris Long DE Virginia: Long did very well in the drills and ran a impressive 4.7 forty.

DT: Kentwan Balmer North Carolina: Showed great size and moved well.

DT: Sedrick Ellis USC: Performed well in drills and Glenn Dorsey not participating made it seem that much better.

DE: Vernon Gholston Ohio State: Gholston showed that he is a freakish athlete after running a 4.6 forty and being among the leaders at the bench press.

LB: Shawn Crable Michigan: Showed good size and ran a impressive 4.6 forty.

LB: Jerod Mayo Tennessee: Had one of the best forty times of any linebacker and did well in the drills.

LB: Jonathan Goff Vanderbilt: Goff showed great speed running a 4.6 forty along with being one of the leaders at his position in the bench press.

CB: Dominique Rodgers Cromartie Tennessee State: His stock is going up by the minute after doing well in drills and running a 4.33 forty.

CB: Mike Jenkins USF: One of the only things scouts were wondering is how he would run. A 4.38 forty should keep his draft stock high.

S: Josh Barrett Arizona State: Impressed with a 4.35 forty and did well in the drills.

S: DaJuan Morgan S NC State: Morgan did well in the bench press along with the drills.

Reports: Jaguars to acquire Troy Williamson

Acording to the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minneapolis Star-Tribune the Vikings have agreed in principle to trade wide receiver Troy Williamson to the Jaguars in exchange for a second-day pick. Since day two spans rounds 3-7, I would expect around a 5th or 6th rounder.

Williamson will bring speed that the Jaguars lack at receiver but he needs to eliminate drops for a chance to be the kind of player he could be. So for the Jags I don't see what the trade really does for them. Unless you consider that with Matt Jones already on board, they're doing a great job of cornering the market of overdrafted receivers from the '05 draft. In fact only Mike Williams is in the way of a complete set.

Fbkid's Combine winners and losers day 2

The combine is here and pretty much all of the offensive players have reported. Along with that are the players who are winners and losers. That has happened to many players so far and will change there daily moving draft stock. Here are my winners and losers at Indy so far.


Winners:

Michigan tackle Jake Long really impressed the scouts weighing in at 6'7 313 pounds. Scouts were also impressed that the distance from his pinky to thumb was as long as a ruler. Long was a projected top 5 pick but now could move into the top 3.

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan's draft stock needed a boost and got it when he stepped on the scale and weighed 208 pounds. At the Senior Bowl Brennan weighed in at 185 which means that he gained 23 pounds in the last month.

Quarterbacks Brian Brohm of Louisville and Joe Flacco of Delaware have a easier task of impressing the scouts this weekend as Matt Ryan won't be participating in activities. The winner of this battle, will likely be the 2nd quarterback off the board come April.

Losers:

Cal receiver DeSean Jackson could have been the big loser of the day. Jackson who coming in was listed at 5'11,measured in at 5'9 167 pounds. He needs to do very well in receiving drills and the 40 to keep being considered one of the top receivers in the class.

Receivers Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma and Early Doucet of LSU are both going to be missing activities this weekend due to injuries. This will hurt Doucet more than Kelly as he was a boarderline late 1st early 2nd pick. Kelly though could still remain a top 2 receiver if Limas Sweed of Texas performs poorly.

Quarterback Andre Woodson of Kentucky will not be working out which seems like a bad decision. Woodson would not have had to worry about the pressure of competing with the top quarterback in Matt Ryan along with the fact his stock could go up if he does better than Chad Henne of Michigan and John David Booty of USC. Woodson might possibly head into his pro day as the 6th ranked quarterback.

Fbkid's 2008 NFL Mock Draft #1

It's finally time again. The combine is coming up and the draft is fastly approaching. This is the first of many mock drafts for this year that I will have. This time around though I will not have analysis after every pick due to the fact that teams haven't started signing free agents as that will have a big factor in what teams will draft. So without further explanation here is my first mock draft.

*= pick will be determined by coin flip

1.Miami Dolphins: Chris Long DE Virginia
2.St.Louis Rams:Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
3*.Atlanta Falcons:Matt Ryan QB Boston College
4*.Oakland Raiders:Sedrick Ellis DT USC
5*.Kansas City Chiefs:Jake Long T Michigan
6.New York Jets:Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
7.New England Patriots:Aquib Talib CB Kansas
8.Baltimore Ravens:Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
9.Cincinnati Bengals:Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
10.New Orleans Saints:Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
11.Buffalo Bills:Keith Rivers LB USC
12.Denver Broncos:Kenny Phillips S Miami(Fl)
13.Carolina Panthers:Jeff Otah T Pittsburgh
14.Chicago Bears:Ryan Clady T Boise State
15.Detroit Lions:Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
16.Arizona Cardinals:Derrick Harvey DE Florida
17.Minnesota Vikings:Phillip Merling DE Clemson
18.Houston Texans:Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
19.Philadelphia Eagles:DeSean Jackson WR California
20.Tampa Bay Buccaneers:Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
21.Washington Redskins:Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
22.Dallas Cowboys:Felix Jones RB Arkansas
23.Pittsburgh Steelers:Branden Albert G Virginia
24.Tennessee Titans:Mario Manningham WR Michigan
25.Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
26.Jacksonville Jaguars:Reggie Smith CB Oklahoma
27.San Diego Chargers:Calais Campbell DE Miami(Fl)
28.Dallas Cowboys:Early Doucet WR LSU
29.San Francisco 49ers:Brian Brohm QB Louisville
30.Green Bay Packers:Tracy Porter CB Indiana
31.New England Patriots:Forfited due to "Spygate"
32.New York Giants:Dan Conner LB Penn State

Fbkid's Super Bowl Predictions

It is finally here. The game we have all been waiting for,the Super Bowl. Lots of things have happened in the NFL since the season has started. For instance with the two teams in the big game. I'm sure every player on the Patriots would say the first 18 wins were worthless without a Super Bowl ring. The Giants stunned everyone this season. Not only did most experts think the would finish in the cellar of the NFC East, they won an incredible 10 road games. Here is my Super Bowl prediction along with the key to victory and X-Factor for each team.


Giants

Key to Victory: Eli Manning QB: For the Giants to win, Manning has to keep playing the way he has all postseason. If he avoids costly mistakes, the Giants have a great chance of winning the game.

X-Factor: Ahmad Bradshaw RB: Most people don't realize that when the game is on the line and the Giants are running out clock, Brandon Jacobs isn't getting the ball. Instead it is Bradshaw as a surprise rookie out of Marshall doing the damage. Bradshaw has 163 yards rushing this postseason and is a home run threat to score. If he gets 12 to 17 carries the Giants are in good shape.


Patriots

Key to Victory: Laurence Maroney RB: Maroney has played very well this postseason and has had 2 100 yard games. If he can run the ball, that will be keep the Giants dominant front four from getting to Tom Brady.

X-Factor: Kevin Faulk RB: Faulk has been a key component of all of the Patriots Super Bowl wins and is one of the most underrated players on the team. Faulk has the versatility to run and catch passes out of the back field. If Faulk gets around 70 total yards the Patriots are in good shape.


Prediction: The Giants had a great run to get this far but all in all I think the Patriots just have too much fire power. My prediction is Giants 21 Patriots 27.

Has Chad Henne moved into the 1st round of the draft?

Going into the start of his senior season Chad Henne was said by many draft experts to be the 6th best quarterback in the draft behind the likes of Matt Ryan, Brian Brohm, Andre Woodson,Colt Brennan and John David Booty. Well after the last month Henne has had scouts aren't saying that anymore.


Henne's 2008 started off with a great performance against Florida in the Capital One Bowl. In that game Henne went 25 of 39 for 373 yards along with 3 touchdowns. Not to mention while Henne did that, Woodson didn't look sharp against a short handed FSU defense and Colt Brennan did terrible in his game as well against Georgia as he took more hits than Bob Marley.


Now it's a few weeks later at the Senior Bowl and Henne shines again. Henne went 5 of 9 for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns and was the North MVP. Woodson on the other hand took a safety and fumbled but he did throw a touchdown. Brennan's bad luck continues though as he went 2 of 6 for 29 yards and a pick. He was also sick leading up to the game and only weighed in at 185.

So if you are stunned when Roger Goddell walks up to the podium on a Saturday in late April and announces Henne's name, don't be. Henne can make many NFL calibar throws and should be making an impact on Sundays for years to come.