2010 Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Browns: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- By far the best player in college football right now. Would they spend another high draft pick on a QB? It’s a possibility but not a certainty.

2. Oakland Raiders: *Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- With 11 tackles, 2 TFL and an INT against Florida and 14 tackles and 1 TFL against Auburn, Berry is on his way to another banner year and a high pick. Oakland is just a dysfunctional, bad, bad team once again and you know Ol’ Al just loves his DBs.

3. St. Louis Rams: *Jimmy Clauson, QB, Notre Dame- Clauson has it all and has significantly cut his mistakes down this year. He narrowly edges out Jake Locker as the top QB and could go #1.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama- The Bucs want size in the middle and are struggling on defence. Cody can be the elite run-stopper they are seeking. Just a beast and makes that Tide D go.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida- Having a great year once again and is a big part of Florida allowing only one 100+-yard rushing game and under 4 yards/carry. The Chiefs lack a dominating LB right now and Spikes could be the guy.

6. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina Panthers): Ciron Black, OT, LSU- The 49ers want to be a running team and got burned with the Marvel Smith signing so drafting someone to solidify that RT spot will go a long way towards achieving Singletary’s vision.

7. Detroit Lions: Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State- Likely the top lineman in the draft, Okung comes along at the right time for the Lions. Stafford has shown flashes of being a great NFL QB but his development will go only as far as the Lions allow it to.

8. Seattle Seahawks: *Jake Locker, QB, Washington- A local boy, Locker has played his way into first round consideration thanks to his big win over USC, his fantastic athletic ability and great arm. Is still a bit inconsistent and forces things at times with a poor surrounding cast.

9. Buffalo Bills: Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati- Has been simply explosive this year, teaming with QB Tony Pike to easily lead the Bearcats to the top of the Big East in passing yardage (329.8/game).

10. Washington Redskins: *Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- Unless Vince Young proves the adversity he’s faced has made him a far better QB, the Titans will be looking to reinvest in this position. Getting Bradford here coming off the injury shortened season could prove to be a massive heist.

11. Houston Texans: *Everson Griffin, DE, USC- Averaging a sack a game and putting up career numbers. A freakish athlete with great speed, Griffin has locked himself into the first round.

12. Miami Dolphins: Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse- Can play in a 3-4 as a DE or could stay inside in a 4-3. Stats don’t reflect his impact as he’s still getting fully recovered from a torn pectoral but Syracuse has chopped their rush defence in half this year: 189 to 91 yards per game.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU- This former RB is once again terrorizing the MWC with 6 sacks. Looks like an instant jolt on defense.

14. San Diego Chargers: *Jonathon Dyer, RB, Georgia Tech- LT is no longer an elite back, something that became obvious last year but no one wanted to admit it. Dwyer is a big, franchise back that deserves better than 15 carries per game.

15. Tennessee Titans: *Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma- This draft is loaded with talent at DT and any other year McCoy would likely be the top guy at the position and a top-5/10 pick.

16. Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears): Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas- The surprise darling of the young season, Denver will just be looking to continue stocking young talent at key positions. A tandem of Dumervil and Kindle could solidify the pass rush for many years.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas- A solid senior leader that is the backbone of the Jayhawk defense. Not racking up the stats this year but plays hard, attacks the run and doesn't give up many big plays. Leads the Jayhawks in tackles.

18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- I’m not a huge fan of Graham but his athletic ability and his play this year have him jumping boards. Still needs to prove he can be an every down end and take stopping the run just as seriously as rushing the passer.

19. New York Jets: Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson- A luxury pick. Rex Ryan will continually be looking to add talent on the defensive side of the ball. Possessing a great burst and change of direction, Sapp has LB written all over him.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Syd’Quan Thompson, CB, Cal- There’s so much talent on this team it’s not even funny. Don’t lay Cal’s problems at Thompson’s feet. He is still the best CB in college right now.

21. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest- Not a pick-off artist but gets his hands on balls, is very solid all around and is battle tested. Teams are going away from him this year.

22. Cincinnati Bengals: *Jahvid Best, RB, Cal- Would make a great compliment to Cedric Benson. Best is lightning in human form and would give Carson Palmer a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: *Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa- Despite missing time with a thyroid condition, Bulaga is still a top pick as one of the nation’s most talented linemen. Pittsburgh is still looking to find a suitable group for the future and Bulaga is a centerpiece.

24. Atlanta Falcons: *Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida- The Falcons will need to replace 1st round bust Jamaal Anderson and have someone in place to take over for John Abraham in the future. Hasn’t put up eye opening numbers but he might just be the Gator defender opponents fear the most.

25. Green Bay Packers: Jason Fox, OT, Miami- A o-line in shambles right now needs some infusion of good prospects. Fox has really come on this year and looks simply fantastic in pass protection. A sleeper but should be well known come draft day. For the record, I turned Rob onto this guy.

26. New England Patriots: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina- A tweener but his pass rush ability is undeniable. No body gets more from guys like Norwood than the Pats.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee- Really liked him before the season started and even had him on my very, very early mock. Has been overshadowed by a multitude of guys at the position but is still a fantastic, consistent player.

28. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos): CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson- The Hawks ground game hasn't been the same since Shaun Alexander left. Spiller may not be a bellcow but he can add an explosive dimension that they don't have right now.

29. New York Giants: Micah Johnson, LB, Kentucky- Playing pretty well on a bad team, Johnson is one of the best run stuffers available. Leads the Wildcats in tackles again as one of the few NFL caliber players on the team.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas- Sorry Gator fans but your God is not my God and Tim Tebow is not a 1st round pick. McCoy is simply a winner and for what the Vikings want to do, he’s the better fit.

31. New Orleans Saints: Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU- 36 straight games with a catch signals Pitta’s ability to produce. The Saints are not afraid to draft and develop skill position talent. Offense will always be the biggest part of what they do.

32. Indianapolis Colts: Charles Brown, OT, USC- Could step right in and protect Manning’s blindside.

Draft Dog's 2009 Mid Season All American Team

We just released our 2009 Mid-Season College Football All American Team. It's interesting to see how the list has changed since we released our pre-season team. The Quarterback position probably had the biggest change. With Sam Bradford's injury and Tim Tebows' mediocre play, it was hard to ignore Houston's Case Keenum, who is NFL Draft Dog's first team All American quarterback.

Keenum leads the NCAA is every statistical passing category. He has his Houston Cougars at 6-1 and has thrown for 2,734 yards with 20 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. His 70.06 completion percentage is nothing to scoff at either.

There are plenty of other surprises also, so read the entire All American team and tell me what you think.

Week Four Fantasy Football Special: Available Free Agent

Even though it’s only the fourth week in the season, you may find out that one or more of your fantasy players are either injured or not playing up to your expectations. You may be scanning the waiver wire to see who might be out there for you to pick up and use as either stop gap until your top player is back from injury or you may want to drop someone and pick up someone else. Four weeks into the new NFL season, there have been a few players who have stepped up and made a name for themselves and some of these guys may be players that you want to consider grabbing off of the waiver wire before someone else does.

Here are ten players that you might want to consider picking up if you have a player out with injury or need some extra help on your fantasy team.

1. Mario Manningham-WR-New York Giants-Manningham had a break out game against the Cowboys and looks like he could become a very reliable target for Eli Manning. He has probably been picked up in most leagues by now but if you can grab him it would be a good idea.

2. Johnny Knox-WR-Chicago Bears-The signing of Jay Cutler was to be a renaissance of sorts for the Bears passing game and although Knox is a rookie, he has come on strong and is becoming one of Cutler’s favorite receivers. He could make a good second receiver on your fantasy team.

3. Pierre Thomas-RB-New Orleans-While he may have been taken in some leagues during the preseason, Thomas may have been an afterthought to some as many figured that the Saints would spend most of their time passing the ball. Thomas has been ultra productive though so if he is there, get him while you can.

4. Devery Henderson-WR-New Orleans Saints-Henderson may have been picked up in your fantasy draft but there are several leagues out there that still have him available. Knowing how the Saints offense works, it would be wise to pick him up if he is still available.

5. LeRon McClain-FB-Baltimore Ravens-If you are looking for someone to fill in the gaps at the running back position during a bye week McClain may be your guy. While he hasn’t had any big games, he is somewhat consistent and can give you a few points each week.

6. Vernon Davis-TE-San Francisco-A lot of people may have shied away from taking Davis thanks to the 49ers issues at quarterback as well as Davis’ previous problems with head coach Mike Singletary. Davis has been proving himself however and would be a smart free agent pickup.

7. Anthony Fasano-TE-Miami-If your starting tight end is on a bye week, you might want to pick up Fasano who could end up being a good option for Dolphins quarterbacks.

8. Pierre Garcon-WR-Indianapolis-If you are lucky enough to get a chance to get Garcon, you should jump on it as quick as you can. He is on fire right now.

9. New Orleans Saints Defense-I have to admit, the thought of taking the Saints defense this summer was a bit appalling especially after what they did in 2008 but so far this year they have been one of the top defenses in the NFL.

10. Rashard Mendenhall-RB-Pittsburgh-With Willie Parker having some injury problems, the Steelers have turned to Mendenhall who has come up big for them. Look for him to get a lot more work as the season moves on.

By Bryan Dietzler

Draft Dog's 2010 NFL Mock Draft

We have just updated out 2010 Mock NFL Draft. What do you guys think? Comment are welcome. Some recent additions due to their excellent play this season is North Carolina junior defensive tackle Marvin Austin. If Austin (6' 3" 305 lbs) enters the 2010 NFL Draft he will be a prize, his size, strength and athletic ability are on par with Oklahoma's highly regarded Gerald McCoy.

The other junior addition is Penn State junior center Stefan Wisniewski. I have my doubts that he will enter the draft as a junior, but if he does could be a pro bowl center or guard in the NFL within a couple years. You might not know about Wisniewsi now, but you will. A lot of NFL teams will pass on Wisniewski in the first round, centers rarely get selected that high, but the teams that pass on him will regret it later.

South Carolina senior outside linebacker Eric Norwood has also been added. I could see an NFL team selecting Norwood with a late, first round pick. He is the perfect fit in a 34 defense and can rush the passer or fall back into pass coverage. He is a blue collar player that gives 110% on every play.

I have also added Oklahoma senior tight end Jermain Gresham. Yes I know he will miss the 2009 season with a knee injury, but he should be back at close to 100% for the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. You see every week in the NFL how important the tight end position is and Gresham is a rate talent. He would be a good fit for the New York Giants.

College Football Matchups Week Four

Image: LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina

Thursday night’s matchup (September 24^th) should be fun. Ole Miss plays South Carolina and all eyes will be on QB Jevan Snead, but the NFL scouts will also be closely watching a few other players. Most notable is Ole Miss defensive end Greg Hardy. The supremely talented Hardy (6’ 4” 265 lbs) has had difficulty staying healthy and it’s time for him to put up or shut up. If he doesn’t start performing soon his stock will drop for this 2010 NFL Draft. Tonight he should dominate as he will going up against mediocre offensive tackle Quintin Richardson (6’ 3” 283 lbs).

DE Greg Hardy has potential, but the defensive player that is playing the best hails from South Carolina in the form of linebacker Eric Norwood (6’ 1” 252 lbs). Norwood stands out on film with big play after big play. So far this year he has recorded 17 tackles, 4 tackles for loss (TFL), 4 sacks, and last week against Georgia he returned an interception for a touchdown. When he rushes, Norwood might be going up against massive Ole Miss offensive tackle John Jerry (6’ 5” 350 lbs). Jerry is a mauler and will likely be playing guard in the NFL next year.

This weekend (26 September 2009) there will be some excellent individual matchups when Georgia Tech plays North Carolina (NC). Keep an eye on the super talented North Carolina linebackers MLB Quan Sturdivant (6’ 3 230 lbs) and OLB Bruce Carter (6’ 3” 228 lbs). They will have their hands full stopping Georgia Tech RB Jonathan Dwyer, but Dwyer isn’t having a great year because he came into the season a little heavy and doesn’t look as quick as he did last year. NC junior defensive tackle Marvin Austin is a beast, with 6’ 3” 305 pounds of size he will be playing on Sunday very soon. Austin should dominate red shirt sophomore offensive guard Joseph Gilbert (6’ 4” 288 lbs).

Georgia Tech also has a supreme defensive player in junior safety Morgan Burnett (6’ 1” 210 lbs), If he (Burnett) covers North Carolina’s junior WR Greg Little it could get interesting. Little has outstanding size at 6’ 3” 220 lbs and has recorded 15 catches for 135 yards and 1 TD so far this year.

Florida should destroy Kentucky, but we will get to see some interesting individual matchups. Florida’s rushing QB Tim Tebow against powerful run stuffing Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson (6’ 4” 252 lbs). If Florida’s massive, talented OG Mike Pouncey (6’ 5” 320 lbs) gets out on MLB Micah Johnson, Florida could have a big night rushing the ball.

Also two of the best cornerbacks in the nation will be on the field, Kentucky’s CB Trevard Lindley and Florida’s CB Joe Hayden. Lindley will likely be matched up with Florida’s leading receiver Riley Cooper (6’ 3” 215 lbs). He (Cooper) has 13 catches for 212 yards and 1 TD, but he has an impressive 16 yards per catch average. Florida’s impressive CB Joe Hayden will likely be matched up with Kentucky’s leading receiver, young Randall Cobb (5' 11" 191 lbs), who already has 13 catches for 167 yards and 2 TDs.

The other matchup I want to see is how well one of the top fullbacks in the nation, Kentucky’s Fullback Joe Conner (5’ 11” 238 lbs) does against one of the best linebackers in Florida’s Brandon Spikes. Conner is an excellent blocker, but gives up some size to the powerful Spikes (6’ 3” 246 lbs).

Illinois vs. Ohio State could be a good game and we might see Illinois talented WR Arrelious Benn finally have a break out game. Benn is tall, fast and silky Smooth, but he will likely be covered by one of the better corners in the nation in Ohio State’s Chimdi Chekwa (6’ 0” 189 lbs), but Benn is 6’ 2” 220 lbs and will be a tough match up for the smaller Chekwa. If you like offensive line play take a look at one of the best guards in the nation in Jon Asamoah (6’ 5” 315 lbs). Asamoah is currently Mel Kiper’s top rated senior offensive guard. He will likely be going against Ohio State defensive tackle Dexter Larimore (6’ 2” 300 lbs).

The Iowa Hawkeys are pretty beat up right now and will have trouble upsetting the Nittany Lions two years in a row. The Hawkeys will likely not have the best offensive tackle in the Big 10 in Bryan Bulaga and will miss him in both the running and passing game. Often injured, starting TE Tony Moeaki will also likely not play. One of the key matchups when Iowa has the ball will be Iowa guard Dace Richardson (6’ 6” 305 lbs) against all world defensive tackle Jared Odrick (6’ 5” 306 lbs). Odrick is a beast and If the Hawkeys can’t get Odrick blocked they will be in for a long day. Dace Richardson is an interesting NFL Draft Prospect; he came to Iowa as a highly prized recruit and started out as a tackle. He suffered from numerous injuries and missed his entire junior season. He is trying to resurrect his career at guard and so far this year he has looked very good.

College Football Match-Ups

Image: WR Andre Roberts

This week (19 September 2009) of college football will provide us with some interesting match ups. Not just the teams, but if you look closer you will see some prime time NFL prospects squaring off against each other. How these prospects perform against other top talent will give NFL scouts a closer look at their future NFL potential.

BYU vs. Florida State:

One of the elite cornerbacks in the nation (Patrick Robinson) will be trying to shut down the awesome passing attack of BYU quarterback Max Hall. Florida State's Robinson (5' 10" 194 lbs) is a ball hawk, but he will have his hands full with Hall, who has a quick release and an impressive 71.4 completion percentage. Hall will take some risks though, he has already thrown 3 interceptions. It's going to interesting to see who matches up with BYU TE Dennis Pitta, because at 6' 5" 248 pounds he is used like a receiver, but is too big and strong for most defensive backs.

Florida vs. Tennessee:

This game should be a blow out in favor of Florida, but an interesting match up to watch is a couple NFL prospects in Florida DE Carlos Dunlap against Tennessee left tackle Chris Scott. Both of these guys will be playing on Sunday very soon and both have elite size. Dunlap weighs in at 6' 6" 290 pounds and Scott at an impressive 6' 5" 345 pounds. I will give the nod to Dunlap who might be too quick for Scott, but if Scott gets his hands on Dunlap he should be able to drive him downfield.

California vs. Minnesota:

Small (5' 9" 191 lbs), but super quick and talented cornerback Syd' Quan Thompson will try to shut down the Gophers primary target in WR Eric Decker. He (Decker) measures in at 6' 2" 215 pounds and will have a serious size and strength advantage, but Thompson is quicker and faster. Decker is 90% of the Gophers passing attack and If Thompson can cover Decker one on one, it will give The Golden Bears a real advantage in this game. This should be a fun match up because Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber has no problem throwing it to Decker even if he looks covered.

Virginia Tech vs. Nebraska:

One of the best guards in the nation against one of the best defensive tackles. In the trenches is where football is won or lost and if Virginia Tech OG Sergio Render (6' 3" 319 lbs) can't stop Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh (6' 4" 300 lbs) it could be a long day for the Virginia Tech offense. Render is playing very well and Suh is off to a great start in 2009 already recording 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

The Citadel vs. Princeton:

Formerly Division 1A and now called the FCS (Football Championship Series). The FCS always pumps out quite a bit of little known, but blue chip NFL talent. One of the best receivers in the FCS is The Citadel wide receiver Andre Roberts and this week he will be matched up against one of the better corners in the FCS in Princeton CB Cart Kelly (6' 0" 180 lbs). Kelly is very experienced, starting 21 straight games, but he is no match for Roberts blazing speed. If Princeton gives Kelly some safety help over the top though, Roberts could be managed. Cart Kelly looks like a free agent type to me in the NFL, but Roberts could be drafted as high as the 3rd or 4th round with a strong 2009 season. Princeton is wary of Roberts after last seasons game. Last week in a losing effort against 21st ranked North Carolina, Roberts finished with 10 catches for 30 yards.

Thoughts on College Football’s Opening Week

1. After the first week I didn’t see a college football team on the field that can compete with Florida. USC has a freshman quarterback and hasn’t been tested yet, Oklahoma lost, Ohio State struggled and Texas gave up 101 rushing yards to a mediocre Louisiana-Monroe team. Alabama, maybe, but they don’t have Tim Tebow at quarterback. Did I mention Florida’s 6’ 6” 290 pound defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

2. Oregon’s RB LeGarrette Blount is a bonehead. He went from a sure fire 2010 NFL Draftee to out of football all together. That has to go down in history as the most expensive sucker punch in history.

3. Let’s stop making it a big deal when an FCS (formerly division 1AA) team upsets or almost upsets a BCS (formerly division 1) team. Yes it was shocking last year when Appalachian State upset Michigan, but we had better get used to it. In this first college football weekend, three FCS teams won against BCS schools: The Richmond Spiders defeated Duke, Villanova defeated Temple and Williams and Mary defeated Virginia. UNI almost upset Iowa (17-16), and Massachusetts almost upset Kansas State (21-17). This isn’t a fluke; the FCS has some very good teams. Appalachian State, Richmond, Montana and Northern Iowa could compete against any BCS team in the country.

4. There is a new entry in the Heisman Trophy Race, enter BYU quarterback Max Hall. His (Hall) rise emerged at the same time as Sam Bradfords’ Hiesman Hopes fell. Not only did BYU upset Oklahoma, but Hall outplayed Bradford throwing for 329 yards and 2 TDs. Bradford left the game with a shoulder injury and might miss a few weeks.

5. Was Oklahoma over rated? Their two best offensive players are injured, (QB Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham). The only returning starter on their offensive line is RT Trent Williams and the only returning receiver is sophomore Ryan Broyles. The defense was supposed to be the strength of this team but BYU QB Max Hall shredded the secondary.

6. Nick Saban is a good coach. His team has heart and they play well in the fourth quarter. Alabama’s 34-24 win over 7^th ranked Virginia Tech on the road was impressive. Most college football teams like playing patsies early as a tune up game and most coaches would never risk a game of that difficulty so early in the season, Saban is not like most coaches and he likes to challenge his players early.

7. Let’s wait a few games before we put USC quarterback Matt Barkley in the college football hall of fame. The 56-3 victory over San Jose State was impressive and his stats were stellar: the 18 year old freshman completed 15 of 19 passes and threw for 233 yards and one touchdown and his QB rating was 199.32. But it’s only one game folks; let’s see how he does next week, in prime time at Ohio State.

8. For more coverage on college football’s opening weekend be sure to check out NFL Draft Dog’s recently launched Risers and Fallers Column, which will highlight, throughout the season, the college football players that are either helping or hurting their future NFL Draft stock.

2009 NFL Predictions

A look into the future by Daryl Breault:

AFC East: New England 10-6, Miami 10-6, New York Jets 5-11, Buffalo 3-13North: Baltimore 13-3, Pittsburgh 9-7, Cincinnati 4-12, Cleveland 2-14South: Jacksonville 11-5, Tennessee 10-6, Indianapolis 8-8, Houston 8-8West: San Diego 12-4, Kansas City 6-10, Denver 4-12, Oakland 3-13

NFC East: Philadelphia 10-6, New York Giants 10-6, Dallas 7-9, Washington 6-10North: Green Bay 13-3, Minnesota 10-6, Chicago 8-8, Detroit 4-12South: New Orleans 10-6, Atlanta 10-6, Tampa Bay 6-10, Carolina 5-11West: Seattle 9-7, San Francisco 7-9, Arizona 6-10, St. Louis 4-12

Wild Cards: Miami and Tennessee; Minnesota and Atlanta;

Play-offs

Wild Card Round: AFC: Jacksonville over Miami; New England over Tennessee; NFC: Minnesota over Seattle; New Orleans over Atlanta;

Division Round: AFC: San Diego over New England; Baltimore over Jacksonville; NFC: Green Bay over Minnesota; New Orleans over Philadelphia;

Championship Round: AFC: Baltimore over San Diego NFC: Green Bay over New Orleans

Super Bowl: Green Bay 24, Baltimore 20

Fantasy Football Draft Preview: The Kickers

You can’t underestimate the value of having a good kicker because they can be the difference between winning and losing in any fantasy league. There are several good kickers available in your fantasy draft this summer and you should not overlook them when you are drafting. They can really help you out during the season.

The following is a look at the top five kickers available in your fantasy football league. There is also a quick look at five other kickers that you might be interested in as you draft your fantasy team.

1. Rob Bironas-Tennessee Titans-Bironas has been dead on for the past couple seasons and is one of fantasy football’s most productive kickers. He should be the first kicker selected in most fantasy drafts.

2. Josh Brown-St. Louis Rams-If the Rams can get their offense back on track, there could be a lot of scoring opportunities for Brown who is one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL.

3. Stephen Gotskowski-New England Patriots-With the NFL’s scoring machine sure to get back on track this season, Gotskowski should have a big season and should easily be the third placekicker selected in your fantasy draft.

4. Robbie Gould-Chicago Bears-Gould is one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL and with an offense that could either be hot (with Jay Cutler now at quarterback) and he’s usually money when it comes to making field goals.

5. Adam Vinatieri-Indianapolis Colts-The Colts should have the same opportunistic offense allowing Vinatieri plenty of opportunities to kick field goals and extra points. A great pickup if you can get him.

Here are five other kickers that you might be interested in during your fantasy football draft:

1. Kris Brown-Pittsburgh Steelers-The Steelers are sure to be kicking a lot of field goals once again this season making Brown, one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL, a high choice on many fantasy football draft boards.

2. Shayne Graham-Cincinnati Bengals-Continuing on with some of the more accurate kickers in the NFL, Graham is one of the better kickers in the NFL and has had several opportunities to kick and make a significant amount of field goals this season.

3. Jason Hansen-Detroit Lions-The Lions may not be the best team in the NFL but they have one of the better kickers in the NFL in Hansen. Hansen is reliable and could earn you some serious fantasy points this season.

4. Ryan Longwell-Minnesota Vikings-The NFC North has some good kickers and the Viking’s Longwell is another good kicker who can make those clutch field goals and nail extra points. He’s definitely worth looking at in your fantasy draft.

5. Neil Rackers-Arizona Cardinals-Rackers was once one of the top kickers in the NFL but has slid a little bit in terms of accuracy. Still, with the scoring machine that is the Arizona Cardinals, Rackers should get plenty of opportunities and should be someone that gets selected as a primary option at kicker in many fantasy drafts.

2010 NFL Mock Draft

Updated 16 October 2009

By Daryl Breault

1. Cleveland Browns: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- By far the best player in college football right now. Would they spend another high draft pick on a QB? It’s a possibility but not a certainty.

2. Oakland Raiders: *Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- With 11 tackles, 2 TFL and an INT against Florida and 14 tackles and 1 TFL against Auburn, Berry is on his way to another banner year and a high pick. Oakland is just a dysfunctional, bad, bad team once again.

3. St. Louis Rams: *Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- Despite an injury that kept him on the bench for 5 weeks, Bradford has returned to form. The injury is worrisome because going into the season the question was how would he handle the rush this year and he gets walloped in the first game. Could he return for another year?

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama- The Bucs want size in the middle and are struggling on defence. Cody can be the elite run-stopper they are seeking. Just a beast.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida- Having a great year once again and is a big part of Florida allowing only one 100+-yard rushing game and under 4 yards/carry. The Chiefs lack a dominating LB right now and Spikes could be the guy.

6. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina Panthers): Ciron Black, OT, LSU- The 49ers want to be a running team and got burned with the Marvel Smith signing so drafting someone to solidify that RT spot will go a long way towards achieving Singletary’s vision.

7. Detroit Lions: Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State- Likely the top lineman in the draft, Okung comes along at the right time for the Lions. Stafford has shown flashes of being a great NFL QB but his development will go only as far as the Lions allow it to.

8. Seattle Seahawks: *Jonathon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech- Could be looking for a QB here (as could San Fran) but there may not be another worthy of going this high. If they deem Dwyer a franchise back they will make things easier for the passing game as they pretty average right now.

9. Buffalo Bills: Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati- Has been simply explosive this year, teaming with QB Tony Pike to easily lead the Bearcats to the top of the Big East in passing yardage (329.8/game).

10. Washington Redskins: *Jake Locker, QB, Washington- Has played his way into first round consideration thanks to his big win over USC, his fantastic athletic ability and great arm. Not a complete package but possesses all the elements.

11. Houston Texans: *Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida- The Texans are still looking to bump a pass rush that has 5 sacks in 4 games this year. Dunlap is still mostly potential but he gets extra attention on the field and has physical gifts like current Texan Mario Williams.

12. Miami Dolphins: Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse- Can play in a 3-4 as a DE or could stay inside in a 4-3. Stats don’t reflect his impact as he’s still getting fully recovered from a torn pectoral but Syracuse has chopped their rush defence in half this year: 189 to 91 yards per game.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU- This former RB is once again terrorizing the MWC with 6 sacks. Looks like an instant jolt on defense.

14. San Diego Chargers: Darrell Stuckey, SS, Kansas- One of the most reliable safeties in the game, Stuckey may not be a gamechanger but he still has star potential in the NFL. Hasn’t produced the stats he had last year but if he comes on during conference play he will be an early pick.

15. Tennessee Titans: *Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma- Tennessee has really fallen hard this year. While some will be calling for a change at QB, the Titans are too talented to start a major rebuilding project around another young arm. Look for them identify a vet that can manage the game and address other weak spots on the roster.

16. Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears): Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas- The surprise darling of the young season, Denver will just be looking to continue stocking young talent at key positions. A tandem of Dumervil and Kindle could solidify the pass rush for many years.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, FS, USC- A freak athlete, Mays may remind some in the organization a little too much of Roy Williams (the safety, not the receiver) but at this point they can afford to draft on potential.

18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Syd’Quan Thompson, CB, Cal- Don’t lay Cal’s problems at Thompson’s feet. He is still the best CB in college right now.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers: *Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa- Despite missing time with a thyroid condition, Bulaga is still a top pick as one of the nation’s most talented linemen. Pittsburgh is still looking to find a suitable group for the future and Bulaga is a centerpiece.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- I’m not a huge fan of Graham but his athletic ability and his play this year have him jumping boards. Still needs to prove he can be an every down end.

21. New England Patriots: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina- A tweener but his pass rush ability is undeniable. No body gets more from guys like Norwood than the Pats.

22. Cincinnati Bengals: *Jahvid Best, RB, Cal- Would make a great compliment to Cedric Benson. Best is lightning in human form and would give Carson Palmer a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield.

23. Atlanta Falcons: Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota- WR is not a huge need, but how could you pass up a tough, physical receiver like Decker at this point? He has the size and speed to go with great hands. They can upgrade next to Roddy White and Decker could be perfect.

24. Green Bay Packers: Jason Fox, OT, Miami- A o-line in shambles right now needs some infusion of good prospects. Fox has really come on this year and looks simply fantastic in pass protection. A sleeper but should be well known come draft day. For the record, I turned Rob onto this guy.

25. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos): Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest- Despite money invested in the position the Seahawks CB situation is far from perfect. Adding Ghee, who could play safety as well, will help this unit transition to the future.

26. San Francisco 49ers: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati- It’s unlikely Alex Smith gets another shot as the Niners QB and Shaun Hill has done nothing to prove he can lead the team for the long haul. Pike has been one of the most productive passers in college and has prototype size at 6’6” 226 lbs.

27. New York Jets: Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson- A luxury pick. Rex Ryan will continually be looking to add talent on the defensive side of the ball. Possessing a great burst and change of direction, Sapp has LB written all over him.

28. New York Giants: Micah Johnson, LB, Kentucky- Playing pretty well on a bad team, Johnson is one of the best run stuffers available. Leads the Wildcats in tackles again as one of the few NFL caliber players on the team.

29. Minnesota Vikings: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas- Sorry Gator fans but your God is not my God and Tim Tebow is not a 1st round pick. McCoy is simply a winner and for what the Vikings want to do, he’s the better fit.

30. Indianapolis Colts: Charles Brown, OT, USC- Tony Ugoh hasn’t come along as hoped and the Colts must address the o-line (though you’d never know it looking at Manning’s stats). Was quietly earning first round attention from pundits before the year and has confirmed the attention was warranted.

31. New Orleans Saints: Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU- 36 straight games with a catch signals Pitta’s ability to produce. The Saints are not afraid to draft and develop skill position talent. Offense will always be the biggest part of what they do.

32. Baltimore Ravens: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson- At some point they will need to establish a clear pecking order at RB with Ray Rice at the top. Rice can take over from Willis McGahee in short yardage situations while Spiller would give them a dimension they don’t have at the moment from this position.

See more mock drafts in our Mock Draft Database.

NFLPA Chief Smith is Feeling the Heat

Smith on Sports
Analysis: NFLPA Chief Smith is feeling heat from the membership

There is no question that NFLPA Director DeMaurice Smith is feeling the heat from his membership about taking a strong stand in negotiations. Today, Smith said that the discipline powers that NFL Commissioner Goodell and his office have been exercising will be up for negotiations in the next collective bargaining agreement. The issue was raised by several recent suspensions issued by Goodell.

This is not a positive sign at all for the odds of avoiding a lockout/strike. It indicates that Smith is being forced by the players to a more radical stance against the owners. It also indicates that there are some serious hurdles to getting an agreement any time soon.

The power of prescribing discipline is critical to maintaining control of a league. The power of the MLBPA has turned Commissioner Bud Selig into a silent straight man when it comes to dispensing suspensions and other forms of discipline. Selig and the MLB owners can't blow their noses without asking the MLBPA for permission.

The two things that have allowed the NFL to become the primary professional sport in the US is the salary cap and strong discipline. Smith has already said that the players will not accept a salary cap if the league plays 2010 without one. Now the power to discipline players is on the table and will have to be fought for if the owners and commissioner are going to keep it.

There is an approach to negotiations that basically says “What's mine is mine. What's yours is negotiable.” Let's hope the union and owners can find enough common ground to get a deal that does not gut the game we love.

That's what I think. Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://www.nfldraftdog.com and edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library/Contemporary/Author.cfm?AuthorID=1003 and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com.

Strengths of the 2010 NFL Draft

Every year about this time I try to pick a position that I think will be very strong for the NFL Draft. Not knowing which juniors will declare makes it a very difficult task, but I will throw in a few of the top juniors anyway.

The strength of the 2010 NFL Draft will be…drum roll please… Defensive Tackles.

Heading up the class is massive Alabama’s senior nose tackle Terrance Cody. The 6’ 5” Cody weighed approximately 365 pounds last season, but has trimmed down to a svelte 354 pounds this season (2009). Cody reportedly weighed over 400 pounds when he initially arrived on campus as a freshman. He has responded well to Coach Nick Sabans' tough coaching. Last season (2008) he dominated games and helped the Crimson Tide finish second best against the run. They only gave up 74.1 (average) yards against the run. Cody won’t ever lead the team in tackles or sacks, but he clogs the middle of the field, draws a double team and allows the linebackers to flow to the ball. He finished 2008 with 24 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss (TFL). If Cody has another excellent season in 2009 and continues to lose weight and improve his stamina, he could end up as a top ten pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Cody was selected as a Pre-Season first Team All American by NFL Draft Dog, Athlon Sports and Lindy’s .

SR Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh (6’ 4” 300 lbs) is more of a pure defensive tackle as opposed to a nose tackle. Suh kind of came out of nowhere last year and by the end of the season emerged as one of the top defensive players in the nation. Suh is very strong and quick and causes havoc in the backfield for opposing offenses. Last year Suh was an All Big 12 selection and finished as his teams' leader in tackles with 76 and an additional 19 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and 2 interceptions. 300-pound defensive tackles rarely lead their team in tackles, which is an indication of Suh’s power and ability. At this point Suh looks like a 1srt round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Suh was selected as a Pre-Season First Team All American by NFL Draft Dog, and a second teamer by Lindy’s and Athlon Sports.

JR Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma (6’ 4” 295 lbs.) is another potential first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, if he comes out early. McCoy will team up with fellow junior Adrian Taylor (6’ 4” 296 lbs.) and senior DeMarcus Granger to give Oklahoma the best defensive tackle depth in the nation. McCoy was dominant at times last year. He (McCoy) finished last season (2008) with an impressive 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. McCoy was selected as a Pre-Season first Team All American by NFL Draft Dog, Athlon Sports and Lindy’s. McCoy is a high character guy, last year he was elected president of Oklahoma’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Chapter. In 2007 he was selected as the Big 12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, recording 19 tackles and 2 sacks.

SR Arthur Jones, Syracuse (6’ 5” 297 lbs.) Jones is a prospect that isn’t being talked about much right now, but after the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, he will likely emerge as a top defensive tackle prospect on most NFL Teams' Draft Boards. Entering the 2009 season, NFL Draft Dog and Lindy’s ranked him as the 4th best defensive tackle in the nation, Phil Steele ranked him 5th, and Mel Kiper ranked him as the 3rd best senior in the nation. Jones is a beast, last year he recorded 13 tackles for loss (TFLs) giving him 31.5 for his career.

JR Brian Price, UCLA (6’ 2” 296 lbs.) Price was a first team All PAC 10 selection in 2008 and he has been selected to Phil Steele’s 2009 Preseason 4th team All American team. Price is a very under rated NFL Draft Prospect. The PAC 10 and UCLA aren’t really known for defense, but this year UCLA has some excellent defensive prospects, Alterraun Verner (5’ 11” 185 lbs) is a top cornerback, and Reggie Carter (6’ 1” 240 lbs) and Korey Bosworth (6’ 1: 236 lbs) are top linebackers. Verner led the nation last season with 18 pass breakups. Bosworth led the team last year with 7.5 sacks and Carter led the team with 83 tackles. But back to Price, he is only a junior, so we might not see him until the 2011 NFL Draft, but he is a supreme talent and someone we can keep an eye on. He finished 2008 with 35 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs.

SR Jared Odrick, Penn State (6’ 5” 308 lbs.) I really liked him last year and actually thought he might enter the 2009 NFL Draft where he likely would have been a 3rd or 4th round selection. Odrick decided to return to Penn State for his senior season and is now going to have to compete with quite a few other talented defensive tackles. Don’t count Odrick out though; he is a big, strong, quick defensive lineman that with another year of development under legendary coach Joe Paterno might emerge as a very early NFL Draft selection. Last year he was a First Team All Big 10 selection finishing with 41 tackles and 9.5 TFLs.

JR Lawrence Marsh, Florida (6’ 4” 305 lbs.) Marsh will man the middle of the defensive line for the National Champion Gators once again this year. He (Marsh) is a big, talented tackle that can penetrate into the teeth of an offensive line and create chaos. He will demand constant double-teams this year. Last year Marsh started all 13 games and recorded 5.5 tackles for loss (TFLs).

JR Marvin Austin, North Carolina (6’ 3” 300 lbs.) Austin was a very highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. He was USA TODAY's Defensive Player of the Year from Ballou High and he also considered Florida State, Tennessee and Maryland before choosing North Carolina. Austin has all the physical talent in the world, but hasn’t really been dominate thus far. If he has a break out year in 2009, he could be one of the tackles that declare early for the 2010 NFL Draft. Austin finished 2008 with 38 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and 1 sack.

DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma (6’ 2” 302 Lbs.) had trouble staying healthy last year and is fighting for starting spot with talented junior Adrian Taylor, but if Granger enters the 2009 season healthy and in shape there is every reason to believe he will emerge as an early round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. Granger has immense physical talent, however he has been inconsistent thus far.

By Robert Bryant

A Look Back at the 2009 NFL Draft

I wrote an article about this time last year, before they even played a down in the 2008 college football season. I wrote it based off of their play the year before and how they looked in the spring.

During last years' pre-season I predicted that Centers would be the strength of the 2009 NFL Draft. The Centers did end up being very solid, with two being selected in the first round. California's Alex Mack was taken 21st overall by the Cleveland Browns and Louisville's Eric Wood was selected 28th by the Buffalo Bills.

Oregon's Max Unger was taken in the second round (49th) by the Seahawks, even though Unger will play guard or tackle for the Hawks in the NFL.

Alabama's Antoine Caldwell was selected in the 3rd round (77th) by the Houston Texans. Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs was selected in the 4th round (106) by the Bengals. And we also saw a pair of centers drafted back to to back in the 7th round in TCU's Blake Schlueter (225) to the Broncos and Penn State's A.Q. Shipley (226) to the Steelers.

So were centers the strongest position in the 2009 NFL Draft? Maybe not, with so many talented junior running backs playing well and declaring early, I would have to give the crown to them. But two centers being drafted in the first round is unheard of and Antoine Caldwell being selected in the 3rd round was a steal.

Of course we really won't know for a few years. The two, 7th round centers might end up as better players than the two first rounders, however I would bank on that. Alex Mack and Eric Wood look like future pro bowlers to me.

So what position will be the top draftdog for the 2010 NFL Draft. At this point it looks like defensive tackles to me. Stay tuned for my next article and I will go in detail on my prediction of the strengths of the 2010 NFL Draft.

If you like college football be sure to check out our 2009 pre-season college football All American Team.

By Robert Bryant

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: 1st Round Review

Even though the 2009 NFL Draft is over and just a memory, this writer would like to take one last look at the draft’s first round and see if the pick that was made in that round, by that team was the right one and who, if anyone, might have been a better pick.

1. Detroit Lions-Matthew Stafford-QB-Georgia-The Lions desperately needed help at the quarterback position and made just about the only choice that they could make there at number one overall. Better Fit: None

2. St. Louis Rams-Jason Smith-OT-Baylor-Once again, another good fit for a team that needed help on the offensive line. They could have traded out of this spot and earned more picks but there weren’t too many suitors for that spot. Better Fit: None

3. Kansas City Chiefs-Tyson Jackson-DE-LSU-This might have been kind of a surprise to some but not to the Chiefs who had actually coveted Jackson right before the draft. The hope is that Jackson will be able to help get more out of last year’s number one selection Glen Dorsey (Jackson’s former teammate) and that the two will help make the defensive line one of the best in the NFL. Better Fit: None

4. Seattle Seahawks-Aaron Curry-OLB-Wake Forrest-The Seahawks could have done a few different things here including getting Mark Sanchez or Michael Crabtree but after trading away Julian Peterson to the Lions before the draft, the Seahawks needed some help at linebacker. This was a good choice by Seattle. Better Fit: None

5. New York Jets (from Cleveland)-Mark Sanchez-QB-USC-The Jets traded up a bit and landed their quarterback of the future in Sanchez and they didn’t even have to give up too much to get him which works out great for the Jets. An excellent selection. Better Fit: None

6. Cincinnati Bengals-Andre Smith-OT-Alabama-This might be somewhat of a questionable pick especially after the things that Smith did at the scouting combine but the Bengals will get some of the pass protection that they have needed for so long. A great fit for now. Better Fit: None

7. Oakland Raiders-Darius Heyward Bey-WR-Maryland-This is a pick that has perplexed many and has left people wondering just what owner Al Davis was thinking. Davis did make a “Davis” pick though but there were better options left thereon the table. He should have taken Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree instead. Better Fit: Michael Crabtree

8. Jacksonville Jaguars-Eugene Monroe-OT-Virginia-With Michael Crabtree sitting there the Jaguars had a tough decision to make. They were weak on the offensive line in 2008 and really didn’t have anyone good at the wide receiver until Torry Holt came along. Crabtree might have been a better fit here but he should have gone to the Raiders. So the best fit here is Monroe. Better Fit: None

9. Green Bay Packers-B.J. Raji-DT-Boston College-This was the best possible pick for a team that is undergoing a transition on defense (from the 4-3 to the 3-4). Raji should pay dividends for them for several years. Better Fit: None.

10. San Francisco 49ers-Michael Crabtree-WR-Texas Tech-The 49ers must have been elated when they saw that Crabtree was available. Now they have a premier wide receiver but no quarterback. Had Crabtree gone to the Raiders the 49ers should have taken Brian Orakpo here. Better Fit: Brian Orakpo

11. Buffalo Bills-Aaron Maybin-DE-Penn State-Maybin went too high in the first round and the Bills should have looked at replacing the newly departed Jason Peters. Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher would have been a better fit here: Better Fit: Michael Oher

12. Denver Broncos-Knowshon Moreno-RB-Georgia-The Broncos made quite a questionable selection when they chose Moreno with their first pick in the first round. A guy like USC linebacker Brian Cushing would have been a better fit because of the transition that they are making on defense this season. Better Fit: Brian Cushing

13. Washington Redskins-Brian Orakpo-DE-Texas-In this scenario, Orakpo wouldn’t be here so the next best choice for the Redskins would have been quarterback Josh Freeman if they were sticking to their guns about getting a quarterback. Best Fit: Josh Freeman

14. New Orleans Saints-Malcolm Jenkins-CB-Ohio State-The Saints did what they should have done and helped out their secondary by taking Jenkins. If Moreno had been around here they might have considered taking him but Jenkins was smart. Better Fit: None

15. Houston Texans-Aaron Maybin-DE-Penn State-With Brian Cushing gone, the Texans may have selected Maybin as their outside linebacker/defensive end. They could use someone on the opposite side of star defensive end Mario Williams. It might still be a little high for Maybin to be picked but he is the best choice for the Texans here. Better Fit: Aaron Maybin

16. San Diego Chargers-Larry English-DE-Northern Illinois-In this scenario, Knowshon Moreno is still on the board and knowing that they need to get someone to eventually replace LaDanlian Tomlinson, the Chargers should select him here. He would have been a good fit in San Diego. Better Fit: Knowshon Moreno

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Josh Freeman-QB-Kansas State-In this draft piece, Freeman is already gone leaving a definitive void at the quarterback position for the Buccaneers. They still have Byron Leftwich though and could use someone to come along at the position and be their franchise quarterback in a few years. At this point, with Freeman gone, they could have selected wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and thus gotten a high impact wide receiver which they still need. Better Fit: Jeremy Maclin

18. Denver Broncos-Robert Ayers-DE-Tennessee-This was a wise move by the Broncos as they retool their defense in moving to the 3-4. While some question Ayers ability, he should fit in well with the Broncos and be a pretty solid player for several years to come. Better Fit: None

19. Philadelphia Eagles-Jeremy Maclin-WR-Missouri-The Eagles got very lucky to get Maclin at number 19 and now have a wide receiver that can stretch the defense and give quarterback Donavan McNabb a real solid target to throw to now. This was one of the best picks in the first round by any team. Better Fit: None

20. Detroit Lions-Brandon Pettigrew-TE-Oklahoma State-This is somewhat of a confusing pick since the Lions could have used some additional protection for their new quarterback Matthew Stafford. It’s possible that Stafford and Pettigrew could develop chemistry but getting offensive line help was much more critical and doable with Michael Oher still on the board but he’s gone in this scenario. Better Fit: None

21. Cleveland Browns-Alex Mack-C-California-While this pick may have been a little confusing when first made, it makes a lot of sense now. With problems along their offensive line, minus the position that Joe Thomas mans, the Browns needed the help and Mack was a solid pick here. Better Fit: None

22. Minnesota Vikings-Percy Harvin-WR-Florida-The Vikings have taken a bit of a gable by taking Harvin but if it pays off it will be one of the best moves in team history. They still could have used a center to replace the departed Matt Birk and with Mack gone, they might have wanted to take a look at Eric Wood who would have still been on the board in both scenarios. He would have helped them out a lot at a very important position. Better Fit: Eric Wood

23. Baltimore Ravens-Michael Oher-OT-Mississippi-Oher was a good choice for the Ravens but in this scenario he would already be gone. The Ravens need help at the wide receiver position and available in this scenario is Darius Heyward Bey would still be available and would be well worth the pick. Better Fit: Darius Heyward Bey

24. Atlanta Falcons-Peria Jerry-DT-Tennessee-The Falcons needed the help on the defensive line and they got it with Jerry. Although Jerry might have been taken a little high at this point, he is a good fit for the Falcons. On another note, had they not picked up Tony Gonzalez right before the draft, they might have taken a longer look at Pettigrew who was available still in this scenario. Better Fit: None

25. Miami Dolphins-Vontae Davis-CB-Illinois-The choice of Davis here was as good as the Dolphins could get at this point in the draft as they needed a good cornerback and they got the best available at that position. Better Fit: None

26. Green Bay Packers (from Baltimore through New England)-Clay Matthews-OLB-USC-The Packers are rebuilding their defense and converting from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and they needed playmakers so they got one with Matthews. Matthews should be able to help them out at one of the two outside linebacker positions and was a good fit for the Packers here. Better Fit: None

27. Indianapolis Colts-Donald Brown-RB-Connecticut-The Colts could have gone a couple different ways with this pick, either adding some help on the defensive line or getting some help at the running back position. The Colts chose to do the latter and grabbed Brown, a player who should help their offense out a lot right from the start. At this point in the draft, there was no better pick. Better Fit: None

28. Buffalo Bills-Eric Wood-C-Louisville-In this scenario, Wood isn’t available and the Bills filled their need for a pass rusher earlier in the draft with Aaron Maybin and there are no offensive tackles that would be worthy of this high of a pick so taking so needing a cornerback, the Bills could have grabbed Wake Forest’s Alphonso Smith with this pick. Better Fit: Alphonso Smith

29. New York Giants-Hakeem Nicks-WR-North Carolina State-Now that Plaxico Burress is out of New York, the Giants have what they hope will have a guy who can stretch the field and give quarterback Eli Manning the target that he needs to make the passing game a success. This was a good fit and one that should give them the potent passing attack they had when Burris was there. Better Fit: None

30. Tennessee Titans-Kenny Britt-WR-Rutgers-The Titans are another team that was in desperate need of a good pass catching wide receiver and they got a guy that could do them some good in the very near future with Britt. This was the right pick at the right time for the Titans. Better Fit: None

31. Arizona Cardinals-Chris Wells-RB-Ohio State-They must have known that they were going to get rid of Edgerrin James when they made this pick and this was a good one for a team that needed to get their running game going. Wells is a bit of an injury risk but if he can stay healthy, he will help to make the Cardinals offense much more well rounded and much more potent. Better Fit: None

32. Pittsburgh Steelers-Evander Hood-DT-Missouri-This pick was a little bit confusing especially since the Steelers needed some help on the offensive line. However, there were no other offensive lineman worthy of this pick at the time so they went with defense and took Hood. Hood should be able to contribute right away and make an impact on their defense. Better Pick: None

By Bryan Dietzler

Seven College Football Questions Heading into 2009

By Alfred Fernandez

1. Who is Greg Paulus?
Oh, you mean ’05 Gatorade high school basketball player of the year? The ’06 ACC All-Freshman? The guy who started for 4 years as the Duke point guard? Yes, that’s Greg Paulus. What I didn’t mention is that he was also the ’05 Gatorade football player of the year… and current Syracuse Orange quarterback. New Syracuse coach, Doug Marrone, is giving a scholarship to a QB who hasn’t thrown a meaningful pass in 4 years. Unless you count his game winning flea-flicker during the Paulus Family Thanksgiving Backyard Extravagaanza. I mean, this is insane! Did you know the Duke head coach even said Paulus wouldn’t be able to compete for the job? At Duke. So he headed to Syracuse, the Big East doormat, a team which has gone 9-27 the past three years. And that’s perhaps the only BCS conference weaker than the Big Ten. So what? This story may never make it past Orange message boards. Paulus hasn’t even won the starting job, and he may never even play. But what if he does start? What if they win 6 games? What if they make a bowl? That would be the craziest thing since the forward pass.

2. Will Lane Kiffin have to install a reverse peephole?
For the 7 people who don’t watch Seinfeld reruns on daily basis, Kramer and Newman once installed reverse peepholes so they could see if anyone was inside their apartment waiting to ambush them. It may behoove the new Tennessee coach to do the same. Before he has even sniffed the grass of Neyland stadium, he had managed to piss off just about everyone in the SEC and even one Florida high school. From falsely calling Urban Meyer a cheater to implying that Nick Saban can’t recruit to questioning whether Pahokee High School, star recruit Nu’Keese Richardson’s alma mater, could even fax the letter of intent to Knoxville. The hit list is already long for Kiffin and also includes: SEC legend Steve Spurrier, UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley, SEC commissioner Mike Slive, and Georgia recruit Marlon Brown. Whew… and its not even Fall yet. Regardless of the Volunteers’ record this year, I think his first season will be a success if Kiffin doesn’t find someone waiting for him around the corner with a sock full of pennies.

3. How long will we have to endure “we’re coming to your city” as the Gameday theme song?
Its been what, 5 years of having this awful wannabe country-rap-rock oil spill as the anthem of the greatest Saturday show of all time? My apologies to Transformers and GI Joe, but College Football Gameday has always been the only thing that can get me out of bed before 11 on a Saturday morning. But this song has got to go. At the very least pick ONE genre and stick to it! And since when was country the official football music? I guess Hank Williams Jr started it with his Monday Night ditty. But at least that was good, “Are you ready for some football” became iconic. But will anyone be reciting Cowboy Troy 10 years from now? No. Because its ridiculous and gimmicky. To make matters worse, I kinda liked it last year… which in turn made me resent it all the more. If I have to hear it one more time… well Ill probably just complain again and still watch the show.

4. Who will make the BCS look completely idiotic this year?
Ok, the BCS did have about 4 good years. Then we realized how much of a joke it was. Since 2003, just about every championship has had as much controversy as NBA refereeing. First, it was the split title in 2003 (USC in the AP and LSU in the Coaches). Then undefeated Auburn got left out in 2004. Finally, smaller schools have been the thorn in the BCS side the past two years. Utah proved they deserved a shot in 2005 by defeating Pittsburgh and going undefeated. Then Boise St beat Oklahoma in perhaps the best college football game ever played, demanding that small schools deserve to be noticed. Last year, Utah obliterated previously unstoppable Alabama en route to a 13-0 season. Not to mention the unsolvable problem created by the Texas Tech / Texas / Oklahoma triangle. The ‘08 season really opened the floodgates, even leading some to question the legality of the BCS. A recent hearing in Washington DC addressed the system and a potential playoff. Things got so nasty that Rep. Joe Barton (a Big 12 fan who just so happens to be from Texas) said it should be called the “BS system” then later compared it to communism during the meeting. And its not only football people that are taking jabs at the BCS. Just yesterday when asked about his Orlando Magic being overlooked in their playoff series, coach Stan van Gundy said: ''The bottom line is this is not the BCS, where people get to vote for who the best teams are. We actually get to play on the court to decide that.” Yikes.

**Kiffin Update: I** Literally as I was finishing up this article, I find out that Tennessee will self-report a minor recruiting violation after Lane Kiffin posted on Twitter: “I was so excited to hear that JC Copeland committed to play for the Vols today!” Good Lord. He might just have to watch his back even in Knoxville. I actually feel bad for the Tennessee faithful as they have to put up with this childishness.

5. Can the state of Washington learn to play football?
In one of the most embarrassing storylines of 2008, Washington St and the University of Washington sank to the depths of college football, a place reserved for Prairie View and whoever invented the BCS (see #4). The schools had one Division I-A win between them, and that was when Wash St beat… wait for it… Washington. At least Wazzu’s season was partially understandable as their QB situation got so decimated by injuries they were literally holding on-campus tryouts for a backup. The winless Huskies scrapped everything and got themselves a fancy new coach from USC, Steve Sarkisian. I’m about as jealous of Sarkisian as I am of my friend who contracted “a touch of malaria” (true story). Hopefully in the dreary pacific northwest some light will shine on these teams in 2009. But no matter how bad it gets, at least they know someone has to win when they meet on November 28th.

6. Will Verne Lundquist finally man-up and ask Tim Tebow for his phone number?
All last year on CBS sports good ole’ Verne beat-around-the-bush about his man-crush on Tebow. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Lundquist and I think he is one of the better color guys still announcing. But he is madly in love with Tebow. It became really obvious when I noticed he never mispronounced Timmy’s name! Typically, if player names were early 80s B-movie actresses, Lundquist would be Leatherface. But in this case, Verne is obviously going the extra mile to make Tim notice his affection. Go for it Verne, ask him… we’re all rooting for you.

**Kiffin Update II: Just when I think I can finish an article, there is a new update from Knoxville. Looks like little Lane can’t even get along with his own staff! The new Vol has reportedly fired his strength and conditioning coach, Mark Smith. Kiffin might be taking the old adage “any publicity is good publicity” too seriously.

7. What does time travel have in common with going undefeated in the Big 12 South?
Both are mathematically feasible but practically impossible. Stephen Hawking wrote a book about it. Well, I don’t think he mentioned the Big 12 at all. I digress… anyway, Texas and Oklahoma would make anyone’s top 5 list. Oklahoma State should make most top 10s. Baylor, don’t laugh, will be very tough. Texas Tech can put up 72 points on any given day, even without Crabtree. Texas A&M isn’t what it used to be but they bring in blue-chip prospects and are really good for the worst team in a division. Much is written about UT, OK, and OKST, but let’s touch on Baylor a second. Before you spit milk through your nose, mark my words: the Bears will have a win against one of those 3 teams this year. They return Freshman All-American QB, Robert Griffin, who by the way won the 400 meter sprint at the NCAA championships in his spare time. Ten bucks says Baylor will be the #1 non-top-25 used team in online NCAA Football 2010 games. I know I would run the option like nobody’s business with Griffin, and any play with a QB rollout would just be unfair. Not to mention that Baylor returns RB Jay Finley, and top 2 WRs Kendall Wright and David Gettis. Add in their best recruiting class in years and you’ve got yourself a monster. That Big 12 South division is probably more dense than a black hole, and I don’t think anyone can come out alive.

Top Five fantasy Football Rookies

Some exciting rookies were taken in the 209 NFL Draft and it seems every year a few of these rookies make an immediate splash in Fantasy Football. When you are putting together your fantasy Football Draft board in a few months, don't sleep on these rookies.

1. RB Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts

This kid has it all and will likely be remembered as one of the steals of the 2009 NFL Draft. He led the nation in rushing in 2008 with 2,083 yards. He has it all, speed (4.46), size (5' 11" 210 lbs), power, elusiveness and toughness. He will likely beat out Joseph Adai by mid season and just might end up as the offensive rookie of the year. Mel Kiper called him an "athletically gifted workhorse".

2. WR Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings

If he stays out of trouble, stays healthy and dedicates himself to football the skies the limit for Harvin. He brings a lot to the table in fantasy football because he can get you points in so many different ways: rushing, catching the football and also in the return game. With the ball in is hands he was the most explosive, dangerous offensive player in the 2009 NFL Draft. Harvin and RB Adrian Peterson should make a devastating one-two punch for the Vikings.

3. RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles got lucky to get McCoy (5' 11" 205 lbs) where they got him in the 2009 NFL Draft. Not only was he a great value, but he fills a huge need and should get a bunch of carries from day one as long as he stays healthy though training camp. The Eagles, unlike the Cowboys, have not neglected their offensive line and I expect them to run the ball a little more in the future. The Eagles might be the most improved team in the NFC East, offensively at least.

4. WR Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants

Hicks (6' 1" 217 lbs) is another talented player that got lucky to be drafted by a very good football team. With Plaxico Burris off the team, the door is wide open for the young Nicks to emerge as the go to receiver. Fast, strong and hands of glue, Nicks can be that possession receiver that Eli Manning has never really had. Not a game breaker or a deep threat, but he has Michael irvin explosiveness, strength and competitiveness.

5. WR Patrick Turner, Miami Dolphins

It looks like the Miami Dolphins and NFL Draft Dog were the only organizations that had Turner rated as a third round talent. I had him rated that high in my 2009 NFL Draft value Board. Time will tell if he ends up as a good player, but I think he will. I fell in love with Turner at the 2009 Senior Bowl, he looked like the best receiver on the field. He ends up in an ideal spot, the Dolphins need a receiver and Turner has the size and ability to see the field as a rookie. Not blazing fast, but he runs great routes and has great hands. At 6' 5" 221 pounds, Turner can be Bill Parcells' next Keshawn Johnson.

Honorable mention:

TE Travis Beckum, Wisconsin

A boom or bust prospect and not much of a blocker, but if he can regain the form that he displayed as a junior, he could be a dangerous H-Back type target for the Giants. He broke his leg early in his senior year, so his stock dropped in the 2009 NFL Draft, but before he broke his leg he was the best pass catching tight end in college football. As a junior he led the nations' tight ends with 982 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. The Giants kind of have an opening there and Beckum could find a place in the NFL simialr to how the Cowboys used TE Jay Novacek in their 1980's Super Bowl years.

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The NFC West

This was a division with one great team and three poor ones in 2008 but each team has done some work in the offseason through both free agency and the draft and now it looks like this division will be much better than it was last season. The Cardinals will still be the team to beat and thanks to a pretty decent draft, they may be even better than they were last year. The San Francisco 49ers made some big advances in the draft and the Seattle Seahawks look like they are on their way back up after a dismal 2008 season. The St. Louis Rams have a long way to go but are definitely on their way up.

The following is a team by team look at the drafts of all of the teams in the NFC West with draft grades for each team.

Arizona Cardinals-The Cardinals needed to do get some help with their running game (since everyone knew that they were going to release Edgerrin James) and they got it with Chris Wells. Defensive end Cody Brown will help them rush the passer better and Rashad Johnson, who saw his stock rise in the draft, could be a starter in a year or two. This was a solid draft for the Cardinals and one that they should be able to use to help improve their team greatly. Grade A-

San Francisco 49ers-The 49ers watched as Texas Tech superstar wide receiver fell to them in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft and they just couldn’t resist the temptation. The problem is, they don’t really have a quarterback to throw the ball to him. Running back Glen Coffee was a wise pickup as was Scott McKillop. They also added quarterback Nate Davis to help push some of the other players at the position and LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois a player that head coach Mike Singletary just might fall in love with. Grade B+

Seattle Seahawks-Seattle could have done several things with their first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft but the wisest thing for them to do was take linebacker Aaron Curry with their first pick. Max Unger is another decent pick for the Seahawks but they needed more help at the wide receiver position, a position that was wrought with injuries. They selected Deon Butler as their only wide receiver and didn’t do much to fill a position of great need. Grade C+


St. Louis Rams-The Rams are clearly a team in a state of rebuilding and with a new head coach and what should be a new team philosophy, this team went into the 2009 NFL Draft with a lot of needs. They came out with one of best offensive tackles in the draft in Jason Smith. They also got a guy who should be a steady force at the inside linebacker position in James Laurinaitis. Bradley Fletcher could be big for them at some point as well. Grade: B

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The NFC North

Being known for having the worst team in football helps to put a big spotlight on the NFC North, a division that seems to have a lot of needs and not enough draft picks to fill them. The Detroit Lions did get their quarterback of the future with Matthew Stafford while the Packers started their conversion to a 3-4 defense by nabbing Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji and USC linebacker Clay Matthews. The Minnesota Vikings helped improve their offense by taking Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin and the Bears, with no first day picks, bolstered their offense and defense and are looking pretty good after the draft.

The following is a team by team look at the drafts of each team in the NFC North. Each team is graded as well.

Chicago Bears-The Bears failed to have a first day selection but made the most of it during the draft’s second day and picked up some good talent at the wide receiver position as well as some decent defensive talent. Jarron Gilbert could pay dividends for them in the future as may D.J. Moore. Joaquin Iglesias may be a starter at the wide receiver position at some point and if Johnny Knox can develop into a starter down the road, they could have some big time steals. Grade A-

Green Bay Packers-With the Packers converting to a 3-4 defense, they needed to go out and get some players that would help make the transition much easier. Raji will really help them out as will outside Matthews. They will also get some help from offensive tackle T.J. Lang and fullback Quinn Johnson. While the Packers may have been stagnant in free agency they did pretty well in the draft. Grade B+

Detroit Lions-The Lions made big headlines by signing quarterback Matthew Stafford making him the first pick in the draft as well as making him their future franchise quarterback. Things got a little confusing after that as with their second pick in the first round, they chose tight end Brandon Pettigrew when they could have used the pick for a defender. The later rounds were pretty productive however and this team has a good start for the future. Grade B+

Minnesota Vikings-The Vikings are a team known for taking risks and they rolled the dice, somewhat, by taking Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, a player who is known to have some character issues. If Harvin can bury his past the wide receiving corps in Minnesota could turn out to be one of the best in the NFL. They didn’t do too bad with some of their other picks but they didn’t get enough help on the offensive line. Grade C+

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Preview: The NFC South

The teams in the NFC South were part of one of the toughest divisions in football in 2008 and all of them needed some help at various positions throughout their team. The Saints got some much needed help on defense as did the Panthers. The Buccaneers got their quarterback of the future while the Falcons worked some magic before the draft (by getting tight end Tony Gonzalez) then went and shored up some problems on defense.

The following is a look how each team in the NFC South drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft with draft grades for each team.

Atlanta Falcons-The Falcons made a trade for Gonzalez right before the draft making sure that they took care of their tight end position without having to worry about it in the draft. Taking defensive tackle Peria Jerry was big as was the acquisition of safety William Moore. Lawrence Sidbury Jr. might end up being the steal of their draft if he develops into the kind of player that they hope that he will. Grade B+

Carolina Panthers-The Panthers needed some holes filled in this draft, particularly on defense, and they managed to fill a few even though they didn’t have a single first round pick. Their first pick in the draft. Florida State defensive end Everette Brown should help them out immediately. Duke Robinson was their steal of the draft while they should get some good production out of the defensive backs that they selected. Grade B

New Orleans Saints-The Saints ended up with just four picks but they got the most out of those picks helping their defense, in particular their secondary, out immensely. With their first pick in the draft they got Ohio State cornerback Michael Jenkins a player that they needed desperately. They also grabbed safety Chip Vaughn in the fourth round to help themselves out at the safety position. While they didn’t have a ton of picks, they did manage to take care of some pressing issues. Grade: C

Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Tampa Bay managed to nab their quarterback of the future with Josh Freeman and this alone helped make their draft a decent one. Getting some youth on the defensive line is also a big plus so defensive tackle Roy Miller and defensive end Kyle Moore should help out a lot. Wide receiver Sammie Stroughter may be a real find for them as well. Grade: B

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The NFC East

The NFC East is one of the best divisions in the entire NFL sporting two playoff teams, one near miss and another up and coming team. There were some interesting storylines to the draft in the NFC East and all teams made themselves better during this year’s draft. The Giants shored up some holes, the Eagles had a monster draft that should help them get to the Super Bowl someday soon while the Redskins got some additional help on defense and could have one of the better defenses in the NFL for several years to come. The Cowboys ended up drafting for depth and not necessarily starting potential.

The following is a team by team look at the drafts of each team in the NFC East with grades on their drafts.

New York Giants-The Giants were one good wide receiver short of getting to their second Super Bowl in a row and so they decided to roll the dice a bit with North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Providing he can keep his weight down, he could be the next big time receiver in New York. The Giants also addressed some needs at the linebacker position, the offensive line and the tight end position with some fine prospects to include linebacker Clint Sintim, William Betty and DeAndre Right. The Giants should not only get plenty of depth from this draft but some starters out of it as well. Grade: B+

Dallas Cowboys-The Cowboys ended up with no first day picks after they traded away their only selection on the first day and instead, seemingly drafted for depth in this draft. The best player out of their draft was Jason Williams and others will step in at some point and help out but they didn’t take care of a lot of their needs such as the need for a good wide receiver or a starting safety. They did add a lot of depth though and that does account for something. Grade: C-

Philadelphia Eagles-The Eagles drafted very smart in the 2009 NFL Draft and got some good players that will help them out immediately. Having Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin fall to them was huge and now they have the kind of player they have needed at the wide receiver position for several years. LeSean McCoy will help spell Brian Westbrook at the running back position and tight end Cornelius Ingram may help revive the tight end position. Their other picks should help out with depth at several positions. Overall this was one of the more solid drafts in the league. Grade: A-

Washington Redskins-Brian Orakpo alone helps to improve the Redskins defense and with the acquisition of Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins should have a pretty decent defense in 2009. The problem with their draft is that they didn’t have too many top picks leaving the remaining four players selected as not so sure bets in making the roster. Once again, the Redskins choose to not make their future through the draft. This will come back to haunt them at some point. Grade: C

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The AFC West

Some teams in the AFC West are going through a bit of a transition at this point. There are three new head coaches among the group and so we may see three of these teams take a step back in 2009. The Denver Broncos are also undergoing a change in their quarterback position as well as a change in defensive schemes so 2009 might be a down year for them. However, these teams could start their road to recovery by using the 2009 NFL Draft as a tool to get their teams on the right track. Let’s take a look at how each team did in the draft and how each team’s draft was graded.

Denver Broncos-The Broncos made some strange picks in some people’s eyes. Thanks to the fact that they are switching to a 3-4 defense the Broncos should have looked at some additional talent to help them get their new defense under control but they chose to take only one player who could have a direct affect on that (Robert Ayers). They did get some good depth at the cornerback position and taking Knowshon Moreno isn’t the worst thing in the world but they will be hurting on defense when the season starts and will regret not doing more to shore that unit up. Grade: D

Kansas City Chiefs-Some feel that the Chiefs might have reached in taking Tyson Jackson so early but putting him next to his old college teammate Glenn Dorsey could help their defense out immensely. Some of the other picks that will help them out on defense include defensive tackle Alex Magee and cornerback Donald Washington. They also build up some of their depth on offense and grabbed a kicker (who incidentally was the last pick in the draft) as well. This was a good draft for this rebuilding team. Grade A

Oakland Raiders-The Raiders made a strange choice in the first round by taking wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey and then turned around and did it again when they took safety Michael Mitchell with their second pick. Both could either be big or be big busts. These were very risky picks. Shaughnessy was another interesting pick and could be a boom or bust player as well. Louis Murphy and perhaps Stryker Sulak could be the two real keepers out of this draft. The rest could be gone in short order. Grade: D-

San Diego Chargers-The Chargers needed to do a few specific things in this draft and they accomplished some of them. Getting a player to compliment Shawne Merriman on the opposite side of the defense was a must and they managed to get someone in the first round when they picked defensive end/outside linebacker Larry English. English might have been kind of a reach as a first round pick but could pay out big time in the future. What they also needed was a big time running back to come in and be the heir apparent to LaDanlian Tomlinson and they didn’t get that. The only running back that they got, Gartrell Johnson, isn’t going to cause opposing defenses any fits. They added some depth at a few key positions including offensive guard, cornerback and safety. If they can get good production out of English and get another one or two starters and some backups out of this draft, which they could, they may have had one of their better drafts in the last five years. Grade B-

Overall, the drafts in this division were meant to bring in some additional talent to help not only fit in with the new coaching staffs within the division but also help them make some changes (such as Denver going to a 3-4). Kansas City was the clear draft winner this year and between this year’s draft and last year’s, has really built up a team for the future.

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The AFC North

The 2009 NFL Draft was an interesting one for teams in the AFC North as those teams (aside from the Steelers) make every attempt to try to overtake the Pittsburgh Steelers and make every attempt to win the division. Some teams did pretty well while others left a lot on the table and holes to fill at some point prior to the start of the 2009 NFL season. There is still some work to do but these teams have started to gear up and take a shot at the Steelers.

The following is a team by team look at how each team in the AFC North drafted during the 2009 NFL Draft with draft grades provided.

Baltimore Ravens-The Ravens went into this draft with some specific needs on offense and a few on defense and came out of it with some solid players that will help them out in the future. Offensive tackle Michael Oher is going to be an All-Pro at some point and is a huge boost to their offense. Defensive end Paul Kruger and linebacker Jason Phillips have a lot of promise. Cedric Peerman could contribute at some point. The other picks are merely picks for depth. Grade: A-

Cincinnati Bengals-I think that one of the biggest steals of the draft came when the Bengals nabbed defensive end and all around good athlete Michael Johnson in the third round. Johnson could be one of the real surprises of this draft. While they might have rolled the dice a bit on Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith, if he manages to keep himself out of trouble, he could be big. Rey Maualuga was another player that the Bengals took that had character concerns leaving many to wonder why the Bengals continue to draft players with problems. If everything works out though, this could be one of their better drafts in recent memory. Grade: B-

Cleveland Browns-The Browns traded up and down the draft to try to get some players to help fill their needs and they ended up with some good players but not great ones. Alex Mack will be helpful as will both Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi but guys like David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava were a bit of a reach. The depth at the wide receiver position was helped out a lot though and this was important because of the situation with Braylon Edwards. It’s just confusing why they did some of the things that they did in the late rounds. Grade: C

Pittsburgh Steelers-The Steelers really needed some help on their offensive line and they failed to address it in terms of getting some players that can step in and start right away. They did grab Kraig Urbik and he will provide them depth but getting center A.Q. Shipley was kind of confusing being that he may not even have the physical build to play in the league. Wide receiver Mike Wallace was a pretty good pickup and will push Limas Sweed. Cornerback Joe Burnett is also a good pickup that may pay off for them in the future. Grade: C

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft Review: The AFC South

The AFC South could end up being one of the better divisions in football next season and the draft helped push a couple teams a little bit further towards the playoffs and quite possibly past Indianapolis. Here is a quick look at the draft grades that I gave to the teams in the AFC South following the 2009 NFL Draft.

Houston Texans-The Texans had a mission. Their mission was to improve their defense and add depth in some other key areas. This was almost exactly what they did. Adding USC linebacker Brian Cushing will really help them out on defense as will the addition of Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin. With these new additions as well having Amobi Okoye and Mario Williams, the Texans may end up having one of the better defenses in the NFL. They did get a little offensive line depth and some much needed depth in the secondary. Choosing two tight ends was a little confusing but at least they have some good depth at the position. Grade B+

Indianapolis Colts-The Colts went into this draft in need of some depth and some starting power on the defensive line and while they got some of that depth that they needed, they didn’t quite get the power that they wanted on the defensive line. Fili Moala is a nice addition as is Terrance Taylor and they should help them out but they needed much more on the line. Getting running back Donald Brown will end up being huge for this team especially since they have had issues in the running game in the past. A decent draft but they didn’t quite fill their needs here. Grade C

Jacksonville Jaguars-The Jaguars needed some big time help on the offensive line and at wide receiver and they got some help in both areas. To start out, they took offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton making their line instantly better. A little farther on down the line, they added wide receivers Mike Thomas ,Jarrett Dillard (who got into a car wreck right before the draft) and Tiquan Underwood but could have added a top of the line wide receiver which is still now a serious need. Filling needs on the offensive line gives them a higher grade than perhaps they should have gotten. Grade B+

Tennessee Titans-The Titans went into the draft in need of a wide receiver and got one by taking Kenny Britt with their first pick in the draft. He should be a starter right away. The acquisition of Sen’Derrick Marks should help Tennessee at least recover a little bit from the loss of Albert Haynesworth. Tight end Jared Cook was a solid pickup but they neglected getting a top end cornerback and drafted just two cornerbacks in this draft. The offensive line got some depth added and they also picked up running back Javon Ringer in an interesting move for the team. Grade B-

By Bryan Dietzler

The 2009 NFL Draft: Draft Grades: AFC East

The much anticipated 2009 NFL Draft has come and gone and it was a draft with some surprise, some unpredictability, some good moves and some bad moves. While some said that the talent in this draft was sub par others felt that there was some good depth at many positions and teams loaded up on some players that are sure to become household names at some point in the very near future.

The following is a quick look at each team in the AFC East and the grades that I gave them for the prospects that they drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft.

New England Patriots-The Patriots did a lot of trading around the draft to get additional picks both this year and next and came up with some players that are really going to help them out in the near and long term. Drafting players like Patrick Chung and Darius Butler will pay dividends. Trading Ellis Hobbs was a little bit questionable but this team now has the talent to fill that void and get back into the playoffs. Grade: A+

Miami Dolphins-The Dolphins drafted smart and got some good players to help them improve overall. Drafting such players as Vontae Davis and Pat White will surely make this team better in terms of team speed. White will give them some flexibility and fire power on offense. Cornerback Sean Smith is a real find as is Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline. Overall it’s a good draft for them.
Grade: A-

New York Jets-Trading to get Mark Sanchez was a big and bold move for the Jets but a necessary one as they were a team in desperate need of a quarterback. Now we will have to see if Sanchez can be the starter that the Jets hope that he can be but if he does pan out, then this will have been a good draft for them. However, with just three picks overall, this draft won’t help them much in the future. Not to be forgotten, drafting Shonn Greene does help their running game out a lot so this draft is not a loss for them by any means. Grade: C+

Buffalo Bills-Aaron Maybin might have went a little bit higher than he should have but if he can help improve the Bill’s pass rush, I think that he will really help their defense out. Taking center Eric Wood was a little bit of odd but some of their later selections (to include Jarius Byrd, Andy Levitre and Nic Harris) should be productive at some point in their careers. Grade: B-

NEXT UP: The AFC South

By Bryan Dietzler

NFL Draft Dog's 2010 NFL Draft Coverage

Constantly trying to raise the bar, NFL Draft Dog has been redesigned and along with that allot of 2010 NFL Draft Information has been released including one of the first 2010 NFL Mock Draft and a Ranking of the 2010 NFL Draft Prospects and a Value Board. We also have started our college football coverage with a listing of the Top 100 Prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft and completed an early Heisman Trophy Hopefuls article.

We haven't forgot about the 2009 NFL Draft and the post draft reviews are coming in  by the minute, you can access each teams analysis in our NFL Team Columns page. 

If you have any suggestions or tips feel free to send them our way.