In Our Lap

[JeffGollin]

I'm Alrfeady Biting My Tongue When I Say This

Granted, Rod Graves has hardly proved he's a genius at engineering trade-down strategies, but I'm feeling more and more inclined toward going in that direction.

I like Thomas and suspect he could help our football team more than any other prospect, so if he were to fall to us at #5, I'd nab him.

As much as I like Branch, I'm not 100% sold that his addition would make a critical difference in the performance of our defense.

But there are two guys I'm growing more and more fascinated with: 1. Joe Staley and 2. the LB Willis.

The evaluation process is still early but Staley seems to have the size and athleticism to become a better LT than either Thomas or Levi Jones. And WIllis could make a big impact at either SLB or Mike backer.

So depending on how the draft goes (and whether we somehow keep Leonard Davis, pick up Adalius Thomas or something like that) I wouldn't mind trading down to where we could wind up with both Staley and Willis - if the offer made sense.

If. If. If RG has the skill to successfully bring it off.

(Note - Ask me next week and my opinion could wind up completely different - that's how the pre-draft goes).

 

[Duckjake]

I like Thomas and suspect he could help our football team more than any other prospect, so if he were to fall to us at #5, I'd nab him.

Not me, I just feel like Thomas is being hyped here because we NEED a left tackle. Thomas may be a great tackle in the NFL but you always have to be suspicious when a local poster pans a player because most of the homies tend to over estimate their local boys talents.

Hopefully the brass will be looking to draft the best playmaker on the board at one of several positions.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Calvin Johnson not going top 10 would be like Reggie Bush not going top 5 in last year's draft...

 

[cardsfanmd]

im with that guy

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Very possible. Cleveland is kind of the key to the first four picks. Millen might surprise everyone and pick AP even though he has Kevin Jones. Unless the Browns pick him, AP could slide to us.

1. Oakland QBOTF Jamarcus Russell
2. Det. OLT Joe Thomas
3. TB WR Calvin Johnson
4. Cleve AP *or* QB Brady Quinn
5. AP *or* best def player on the board (one of the DE's or DT Alan Branch)

Question: If Quinn is on the board at #5 is there a trade down available that still keeps us in 10 to 12 top picks?

 

[GreenCard]

Peterson is going to the combine to run a 4.2 something.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Question: If Quinn is on the board at #5 is there a trade down available that still keeps us in 10 to 12 top picks?

I hope so, although the 8-10 interests me more. As long as we stay in the top 12 or so though, I would be happy.

 

[BACH]

Question: If Quinn is on the board at #5 is there a trade down available that still keeps us in 10 to 12 top picks?

7. MIN
8. HOU
9. MIA

 

[Crazy Canuck]

7. MIN
8. HOU
9. MIA

Well, (I guess) that given that in the end the Cards wouldn't select Quinn, it would come down to which team at 7,8,9 can negotiate the best deal with the Cards or Washington for the likely slot where Quinn would be selected.

 

[JC_AZ]

Players like AP do not show up in every draft, and hopefully next year our 1st rd pick will be 20 or greater...If anyone thinks that JJ is the answer behind Edge I would like to know what that is based upon...maybe Roger Robinson can show up and be a surprise, and I suspect that Shipp will try to find a real opportunity, although I would like to see him stay...Edge is slow, but decent and with some line improvement can be good again... but I DO NOT have the same faith in JJ ever being a replacement... not by a long shot!

 

[CardinalChris]

I really don't see any teams rushing to take Peterson before us. Cleveland is the only possibility.

Add Detroit as an outside chance. Jone's foot injury is being reevaluated and there is a chance he will miss most if not all of next season.

 

[SightsSoundsBach13]

Maybe this draft is not a RB's R Us. I respect The Wiz and I won't be shaking if he waits awhile to take a back, or simply skips out and signs one in free agency. I'm confused because Michael Bush is an almost unanimously the #3 running back among the football savants. However, in their final seasons of 9 games or more, he had a worse yards per rush than Illinois' Pierre Thomas, Jr had is ranked anywhere from #12 to #49 among his rivals in this draft, 5.6 yards vs. 5.8 yards. Now, Bush carried the ball considerably more than Thomas but how much more durable can he be when he missed time in both his last seasons, including almost all of his senior campaign?

Does the Big East just have phenomenal defenses?

I understand there is so much more to it than that, but I'm just saying that I think a good running back could be found much later on if we can't get Adrian Peterson. Holla.