If Nothing Changes Come Draft Day, Who Would You Draft

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

I think Andre Smith would definitely open up space for Portis at right tackle. Orakpo (the big winner of the combine hype) is good, but he's not a game-breaker. And more of a DE rather than a LB. The redskins can make better use of the 13th pick with a player that can make a bigger impact.

I watched some tape on Monroe and he is definitely worth a top 5 pick with his pass protection skills. I haven't seen much of Jason Smith to make a good judgment yet. C Mack is solid, but not 1st round talent with the videos that I've seen.

DT Raji is a beast and is definitely the top player in the draft.


Watched Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing - and it looks like Maualuga has better instincts and football IQ. I don't know if Cushing belongs in the 1st or 2nd round yet. LB James Laurinaitis definitely is overrated by some experts and is not 1st round talent, let alone high 1st round IMO- I think he stays stationary too long when anticipating the rb instead of moving forward towards the rb to tackle. LB Aaron Curry is good but shouldn't be as high as some have him in the 1st round.

What about Clay Matthews?

[SC Skins Fan]

I am not sure if others have seen this YouTube site, but it has extended TV highlights of most of the top prospects in this year's draft. So you can actually watch the guys play rather than relying on talking heads to tell you what to think.

YouTube - DraftParty's Channel

I don't know if that was the only good 10 minutes of film on Michael Johnson, but I really like the way that guy looks. He has athleticism, quickness, and size. I know Kiper is saying he might fall to the second but he looks better than that to me. I'd like to watch the whole Virginia tape and see him go against Eugene Monroe for a whole game. I also really like Everette Brown, but I think Johnson has the better body type to do the things that Blache asks his ends to do in the run game. If they decide to go DE I wouldn't mind taking Johnson from the little that I have now seen of him, even at #13 and even though it would make Kiper's head explode (or maybe especially because it would make his head explode).



At tackle, if it comes down to Andre Smith or Michael Oher, I like Oher (as I said in another thread).

At LB, if it comes down to Cushing or Maualuga, I'll take Maualuga (and I was hoping to like Cushing better since he would fill an immediate need at SLB). Maualuga seems to play at a high intensity and attacks the football. He kind of looks like London Fletcher. I guess you would worry about how he would match up with more athletic NFL tight ends if he had to play the SAM for a few years until Fletcher retires/leaves but we have had the liability for some time now. He would certainly provide a strong run defender and just looks like a better football player than Cushing. I'd actually be pretty upset if the Skins went with Cushing because there are a number of guys who look better even if SLB is a hole that needs filling.

[SC Skins Fan]

And if the Skins could drop down to the early to mid-20's, pick up a 2nd round pick, and nab Michael Johnson and, say, Jamon Meredith I would be loving it.

Potential trade partners by the draft value chart numbers (the likelihood of some of these seems remote).

• Philadelphia (picks 21 and 53 - 1170; pick 13 - 1150)
• Minnesota (picks 22 and 54 - 1140; pick 13 - 1150)
• New England (picks 23 and 47 - 1190; pick 13 and 5th - approx. 1185.5) or (picks 23, 58, and 4th - approx. 1134; pick 13 - 1150)
• Atlanta (picks 24, 55, and 4th - approx. 1142; pick 13 - 1150)
• Miami (picks 26 and 44 - 1160; pick 13 - 1150 ... plus kick to Cerrato's groin for having to drop 13 spots to get back pick 44)

Obviously other scenarios could exist, but those are the most obvious. To my eye Minnesota looks like the ideal partner if there is someone at 13 that they covet. I wonder about the ability to deal with Philadelphia, New England, or Miami since they all likely value their 2nd's too highly to do any of those trades. At least we have a history with Atlanta from last year so maybe doing another draft day deal would be easier.

Full round-by-round order for 2009 NFL Draft

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

And if the Skins could drop down to the early to mid-20's, pick up a 2nd round pick, and nab Michael Johnson and, say, Jamon Meredith I would be loving it.

Potential trade partners by the draft value chart numbers (the likelihood of some of these seems remote).

• Philadelphia (picks 21 and 53 - 1170; pick 13 - 1150)
• Minnesota (picks 22 and 54 - 1140; pick 13 - 1150)
• New England (picks 23 and 47 - 1190; pick 13 and 5th - approx. 1185.5) or (picks 23, 58, and 4th - approx. 1134; pick 13 - 1150)
• Atlanta (picks 24, 55, and 4th - approx. 1142; pick 13 - 1150)
• Miami (picks 26 and 44 - 1160; pick 13 - 1150 ... plus kick to Cerrato's groin for having to drop 13 spots to get back pick 44)

Obviously other scenarios could exist, but those are the most obvious. To my eye Minnesota looks like the ideal partner if there is someone at 13 that they covet. I wonder about the ability to deal with Philadelphia, New England, or Miami since they all likely value their 2nd's too highly to do any of those trades. At least we have a history with Atlanta from last year so maybe doing another draft day deal would be easier.

Full round-by-round order for 2009 NFL Draft

great post & I agree, the vikes seem like the most likely. If they think they're 1 player away, they would trade up. They might be interested in a wr or qb, though those positions are not rookie high impacts.

I doubt though that they would really give us 22 & 54. I think 22 & a 3rd is more likely and to me that's still worth it.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I am not sure if others have seen this YouTube site, but it has extended TV highlights of most of the top prospects in this year's draft. So you can actually watch the guys play rather than relying on talking heads to tell you what to think.

YouTube - DraftParty's Channel

I don't know if that was the only good 10 minutes of film on Michael Johnson, but I really like the way that guy looks. He has athleticism, quickness, and size. I know Kiper is saying he might fall to the second but he looks better than that to me. I'd like to watch the whole Virginia tape and see him go against Eugene Monroe for a whole game. I also really like Everette Brown, but I think Johnson has the better body type to do the things that Blache asks his ends to do in the run game. If they decide to go DE I wouldn't mind taking Johnson from the little that I have now seen of him, even at #13 and even though it would make Kiper's head explode (or maybe especially because it would make his head explode).



At tackle, if it comes down to Andre Smith or Michael Oher, I like Oher (as I said in another thread).

At LB, if it comes down to Cushing or Maualuga, I'll take Maualuga (and I was hoping to like Cushing better since he would fill an immediate need at SLB). Maualuga seems to play at a high intensity and attacks the football. He kind of looks like London Fletcher. I guess you would worry about how he would match up with more athletic NFL tight ends if he had to play the SAM for a few years until Fletcher retires/leaves but we have had the liability for some time now. He would certainly provide a strong run defender and just looks like a better football player than Cushing. I'd actually be pretty upset if the Skins went with Cushing because there are a number of guys who look better even if SLB is a hole that needs filling.

I think E.Brown is the real deal, smart guy & great athlete. I can't say the same about Johnson's smarts (don't know), but he's got the athletic upside. There's no way at this point that Johnson is off the board before Brown. There is a lot of negative scouting on MJ. If he's there in the 2nd & we have a pick it might be worth the risk. If he falls all the way to the 3rd, which I believe could happen, I think we'd have to take him.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

I think E.Brown is the real deal, smart guy & great athlete. I can't say the same about Johnson's smarts (don't know), but he's got the athletic upside. There's no way at this point that Johnson is off the board before Brown. There is a lot of negative scouting on MJ. If he's there in the 2nd & we have a pick it might be worth the risk. If he falls all the way to the 3rd, which I believe could happen, I think we'd have to take him.

I know there are negative reports out there on MJ, I just don't see it from that tape (but I haven't watch full games). It kind of seems to me that the lack of production from him comes from a lack of talent around him (say, to collapse the pocket). I don't care what Kiper or Mayock say, I just don't see him dropping out of the 1st. He isn't Calais Campbell, he has way more physical tools. Someone will want to work with him and I wouldn't mind it being the Skins. He apparently ran a 4.61 at his Pro Day - as opposed to the 5.whatever that Campbell turned in last year) and when I look at the tape I see I guy with the size/explosiveness/power combination that NFL teams covet. I know you weren't comparing him to Campbell, I'm just comparing him to a guy at his position from last year that dropped and the classic components of a draft plummet are not there with Johnson. I'll be shocked if he falls out of the first and would bet big money that he doesn't make it to pick 40. Unless he is nailed for a DUI before draft day there is zero chance he makes it to the 3rd IMHO.

I do agree with you on Brown. He looks like the real deal. A Dwight Freeny type speed rusher (though I guess most are projecting him as a 3-4 OLB). I'd love to have him, I just would question his ability to fit with Blache's defense and the emphasis on run stopping. Johnson, on the other hand, has the perfect body type to do that.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I know there are negative reports out there on MJ, I just don't see it from that tape (but I haven't watch full games). It kind of seems to me that the lack of production from him comes from a lack of talent around him (say, to collapse the pocket). I don't care what Kiper or Mayock say, I just don't see him dropping out of the 1st. He isn't Calais Campbell, he has way more physical tools. Someone will want to work with him and I wouldn't mind it being the Skins. He apparently ran a 4.61 at his Pro Day - as opposed to the 5.whatever that Campbell turned in last year) and when I look at the tape I see I guy with the size/explosiveness/power combination that NFL teams covet. I know you weren't comparing him to Campbell, I'm just comparing him to a guy at his position from last year that dropped and the classic components of a draft plummet are not there with Johnson. I'll be shocked if he falls out of the first and would bet big money that he doesn't make it to pick 40. Unless he is nailed for a DUI before draft day there is zero chance he makes it to the 3rd IMHO.

I do agree with you on Brown. He looks like the real deal. A Dwight Freeny type speed rusher (though I guess most are projecting him as a 3-4 OLB). I'd love to have him, I just would question his ability to fit with Blache's defense and the emphasis on run stopping. Johnson, on the other hand, has the perfect body type to do that.

If I were to take a DE at 13 (but I wouldn't right now with what I've seen in this draft class), I would take Orakpo instead of Johnson. Orakpo may seem a little undersized at the position, but to me on video, it looks like Orakpo is stronger than Johnson rushing against o-linemen.

BTW, Orakpo is Nigerian for Warrior (got it from a featured TV segment) - and if orakpo becomes all-pro for the redskins, I will officially change my user name to orakpozpath.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

If I were to take a DE at 13 (but I wouldn't right now with what I've seen in this draft class), I would take Orakpo instead of Johnson. Orakpo may seem a little undersized at the position, but to me on video, it looks like Orakpo is stronger than Johnson rushing against o-linemen.

BTW, Orakpo is Nigerian for Warrior (got it from a featured TV segment) - and if orakpo becomes all-pro for the redskins, I will officially change my user name to orakpozpath.

Sure, you'd take Orakpo over Johnson, but the chances are Orakpo goes in the top 10 and the Skins won't have a shot at him. And actually, if Orakpo were to slip to 13, I'd use it as leverage to move back on favorable terms.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Sure, you'd take Orakpo over Johnson, but the chances are Orakpo goes in the top 10 and the Skins won't have a shot at him. And actually, if Orakpo were to slip to 13, I'd use it as leverage to move back on favorable terms.

But I wouldn't take Orakpo even if he were available. I wouldn't take any DE in this draft class at 13, from what i've seen.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

What about Clay Matthews?

The only film I could find on YouTube was a video that some guy had taken from his TV of about three plays that Matthews made this year. From those three plays he looked better than Cushing but, you know, rather limited sample size. I think I'd probably take Rey ahead of him.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

The only film I could find on YouTube was a video that some guy had taken from his TV of about three plays that Matthews made this year. From those three plays he looked better than Cushing but, you know, rather limited sample size. I think I'd probably take Rey ahead of him.

Yeah, I haven't seen a lot of videos of Clay Matthews - but I do know that he's not 1st round talent. I would possibly consider him in the 3rd round maybe - if there wasn't anyone there better in any other spots of need/impact. Seeing a little bit of the video with Matthews - he seems more of a situational type player in a given role. He works best at pass/run blitzing - which to me, is good but something that you would want as a bonus from a linebacker instead of being his standalone strength. But yeah, definitely not a 1st rounder IMO.

You know who definitely is going to be the steal of the draft is Percy Harvin. This guy is very underrated because he doesn't fit the defined positions of wr or rb very well - but he has football skills that are extraordinary. He would be a very good addition to an already solid offense. If you are a Reggie Bush fan, I think you might like Harvin - but Harvin is good and athletic in a different way (I may need to think about it and have to explain the difference later). But they are both very fluid offensive players with the ball in their hands and deceptively explosive. These two guys are just football players.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by warriorzpath

Yeah, I haven't seen a lot of videos of Clay Matthews - but I do know that he's not 1st round talent. I would possibly consider him in the 3rd round maybe - if there wasn't anyone there better in any other spots of need/impact. Seeing a little bit of the video with Matthews - he seems more of a situational type player in a given role. He works best at pass/run blitzing - which to me, is good but something that you would want as a bonus from a linebacker instead of being his standalone strength. But yeah, definitely not a 1st rounder IMO.

You know who definitely is going to be the steal of the draft is Percy Harvin. This guy is very underrated because he doesn't fit the defined positions of wr or rb very well - but he has football skills that are extraordinary. He would be a very good addition to an already solid offense. If you are a Reggie Bush fan, I think you might like Harvin - but Harvin is good and athletic in a different way (I may need to think about it and have to explain the difference later). But they are both very fluid offensive players with the ball in their hands and deceptively explosive. These two guys are just football players.

How do you figure he's not a 1st rounder if you haven't really seen him play?

[SC Skins Fan]

In his latest mock Pat Kirwan has the Skins taking Aaron Maybin to play the SAM. That is kind of an interesting name. I can't find any good game highlights on him, but watching his combine performance he looks like a fluid athlete. He played DE in college and has pass rush skills so he could help get after the QB either from the SAM or even by putting his hand on the ground as a situational pass rusher. If they did decide to go defense that could be someone to watch. I really am down on Cushing and think Brown and Orakpo will probably be gone. It is also possible that the top four tackles all go in the top 10.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

In his latest mock Pat Kirwan has the Skins taking Aaron Maybin to play the SAM. That is kind of an interesting name. I can't find any good game highlights on him, but watching his combine performance he looks like a fluid athlete. He played DE in college and has pass rush skills so he could help get after the QB either from the SAM or even by putting his hand on the ground as a situational pass rusher. If they did decide to go defense that could be someone to watch. I really am down on Cushing and think Brown and Orakpo will probably be gone. It is also possible that the top four tackles all go in the top 10.

Maybin scares the living shit out of me because his statistical profile is basically equal to Devin Thomas: a poor first season, then a record-setting second season followed by darting to the NFL before regression to the mean can occur.

One thing that baseball and football scouts and statisticians all agree on is that a truly elite talent is a truly elite talent regardless of circumstantial evidence that suggests he'll fail. And there's no doubt Maybin is a perfect fit in our system as a 4-3 linebacker.

I had this to say about him last weekend:

9. Aaron Maybin, Penn State
Maybin is an explosive player on film, but he's a player with a single pass rushing move, doesn't have the size to hold up as a down end in the NFL, and wasn't particularly impressive at all in Indy. On top of all of that, Maybin carries the dreaded one-year wonder tag as well, having posted more than 80% of his college production as a college sophomore, and then bolting for the NFL draft before he could develop that second move that pass rushers in the NFL require. Maybin is not a good prospect as either a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 end, but I actually like his skill set as an outside linebacker in the 4-3. Either way, you are taking a massive project, so Maybin is second day material.

Understandably, I wouldn't touch Maybin in the first round. There's not strong evidence that he's an NFL prospect. But if film truly doesn't lie, he could be just the player we are looking for.

The posterchild for high risk/high reward.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Maybin scares the living shit out of me because his statistical profile is basically equal to Devin Thomas: a poor first season, then a record-setting second season followed by darting to the NFL before regression to the mean can occur.

One thing that baseball and football scouts and statisticians all agree on is that a truly elite talent is a truly elite talent regardless of circumstantial evidence that suggests he'll fail. And there's no doubt Maybin is a perfect fit in our system as a 4-3 linebacker.

I had this to say about him last weekend:

Understandably, I wouldn't touch Maybin in the first round. There's not strong evidence that he's an NFL prospect. But if film truly doesn't lie, he could be just the player we are looking for.

The posterchild for high risk/high reward.

Thanks for info, I really know nothing about Maybin.