Sporting News new mock...

[JasonKGME]

Sporting News new mock now has us picking Jimmy Williams CB, here's thier top ten:


PICK TEAM PLAYER POS SCHOOL
1 (1) Texans Reggie Bush* RB USC
GM Charley CGM Charley Casserly says he is open to a trade, but it is unlikely any team will offer the booty required to get this pick. That will leave the Texans to select the draft’s most versatile offensive threat and team him with Domanick Davis.him with Dominick Davis.

2 (2) Saints Matt Leinart QB USC
There are rumblings that the Saints are concerned about Drew Brees' ability to play during training camp. By bringing in Leinart, they can give him plenty of preseason work and part of the training camp load, then have him watch. Thus, he'll be ready for 2007.

3 (3) Titans D'Brickashaw Ferguson T Va.
Titans coaches worked with Ferguson at the Senior Bowl and believe he can anchor their offensive line for at least the next decade.

4 (4) Jets Mario Williams* DE NC State
Williams has the size to play end in coach Eric Mangini's 3-4 scheme. Expect Mangini to stockpile DEs like Williams, who has the versatility to dominate as a pass rusher and against the run.

5 (5) Packers A.J. Hawk OLB Ohio St.
Having addressed defensive line needs through free agency, the Packers will pluck a player they covet and make their front seven a lot better. Hawk has freakish speed and big-play ability. He will be a versatile defender next to middle linebacker Nick Barnett.

6 (6) 49ers Michael Huff S Texas
Huff automatically would become the team’s best defensive back. The Niners desperately need him in their secondary.

7 (7) Raiders Haloti Ngata* DT Oregon
Ngata is a massive run stuffer. He will replace Ted Washington, now with the Eagles, and team with Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess in a formidable front.

8 (8) Bills Vernon Davis* TE Maryland
Tight end is not the top team need, but Ngata likely will not be available and the team has signed tackle Larry Tripplett to shore up the defensive line. Plus, it would be tough to pass on Davis, an elite talent. Free-agent addition Robert Royal is solid but lacks Davis' tools.

9 (9) Lions Tye Hill CB Clemson
Cornerback depth behind starters Dre' Bly and Fernando Bryant is awful. Hill is tough and might be the draft’s best at bump-and-run coverage. Hill wants teams to know he is not just another speedster.

10 (10) Cardinals Jimmy Williams CB Va. Tech
Antrel Rolle is coming off injury and David Macklin isn't the long-term answer at the other corner. Williams is big, physical and has a swagger the defense is trying to develop.

 

[Capital Card]

There are three players that if available, I would take ahead of Vince Young....Jimmy Williams isn't one of them.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I can say with complete certainty that this draft will not go down like this....

Lienert to the Saints for 2007? Have they lost their mind?

Tye Hill has moved up but to nine?

Jimmy Williams stock is freefalling yet they have him as 10?

Two blue chip prospects like VY and Cutler BOTH fall out of the top 10?

I cant believe they get paid for this......

 

[Dback Jon]

Gosh-awful Mock

 

[JeffGollin]

No way Vince Young or Cutler gets past us.

 

[Pariah]

I don't think it's far-fetched that the Saints take Leinart at #2 if they can't trade out. But, I think they'll be able to...maybe they'll swap with the Titans. There's no doubt in my mind that the Saints are at the very least making noise about taking Leinart.

 

[Scott MS]

Dumb. No way Saints take Leinart. I think they'll take Ferguson.

 

[phillycard]

They're talking about Antrelle as if he's 31 and on the downside of his career. I would not be thrilled with this pick.

 

[Scott MS]

They're talking about Antrelle as if he's 31 and on the downside of his career. I would not be thrilled with this pick.

Don't you know that college kids are always better than the existing NFL players? It always seems like that's the attitude with draft forecasters -- every top 20 pick is going to come in a save the day!!

 

[john h]

No way Vince Young or Cutler gets past us.

I hope it is Cutler but will not die if it is Young. It is time to finally take a QB and hope he is for the future.

 

[golfcardfan]

What has Cutler done? Please tell me! If we take Cutler I would puke he is far from VY talent level. Cutler has done nothing against top competetion!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

What has Cutler done? Please tell me! If we take Cutler I would puke he is far from VY talent level. Cutler has done nothing against top competetion!

There are alot of flaws in the above statement:

Number one: In terms of QB skills ( and thats the position both play ) Cutler is FAR more skilled. Cutler is big, mobile (his 40 was only 1.5 tenths of a second then the running VY) and his arm is just ludicrious.....his realease and pop off his arm is the best to come out since Carson Palmer...

Number two: The SEC is probably the most athletic conference in all the land. Cutler played against MUCH better competition than the watered down Big-12. You are only thinking of a few select games that Young played out of conference (OSU, UM, USC)

Number three: Cutler has actually done quite a bit in his career. His W-L is obviously not the best but his numbers against good comp is astounding. And this isn't liek some flash in the pan after a good season. He was the preseason SEC player of the year...Put YOung on Vanderbilt and i can assure you there is no big bowl games or that he would even be a top prospect (think Brad Smith who alot numbers wise but on a smaller stage) in this draft. Conversely if you put Cutler at Texas, they might not be champs (Vinces running ability had alot to do with them winning of course) but they are still a 10+ win team and potentially more...

I'm not saying Cutler is def. going to be better but i think i would rather have him than Young. I worry about his accuracy and feet but other than that he is an elite prospect at that position. Vince has alot more questions and bust potential although i wouldnt be disappointed if the Cards drafted im either as i think in the right system he can be good. I think they both have high ceilings because while there is all the talk of VY "revolutionizing the game", Cutler is the closest thing in terms of moxie and leadership, arm strength and release and mobility since.....Brett Favre. And i think he is more mobile than Favre. IMO Cutler is the safer pick. Young MAY be great but dont act like there is no chance Cutler will succeed compared to Vince.

Watching to much Sportscenter man.....watch the games and the game tapes.....

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Two blue chip prospects like VY and Cutler BOTH fall out of the top 10?

What a great draft, good chance one will be there at #15.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

Brees is due an option bonus of 12 mil after 2006. You can be damn sure that the Saints wont even think about exercising it unless he puts up MVP #s. The Saints taking a QB actually makes a lot of sense

The contract includes a $12 million option bonus due next spring and a base salary of $3 million for 2007.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2368304

 

[Redrage]

Dude must have written this draft three weeks ago. Even then it would have sucked.

After dealing with Rivers you have to believe that Brees got guarantees the Saints would not go QB at the #2 spot. My guess is that if they don't trade the pick they'll pick up Ferguson at that spot.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

Dude must have written this draft three weeks ago. Even then it would have sucked.

After dealing with Rivers you have to believe that Brees got guarantees the Saints would not go QB at the #2 spot. My guess is that if they don't trade the pick they'll pick up Ferguson at that spot.

Why's that? NO was offering more guaranteed money this year than the Phins were. Thats why he signed with NO. Its obvious that NO doesnt see him as a cornerstone when they wrote that option bonus into the contract. If he performs poorly because of the injury, or just doesnt play well for whatever reason, they cut bait without batting an eyelash.

 

[Stout]

No way Vince Young or Cutler gets past us.

 

[kerouac9]

No way Vince Young or Cutler gets past us.

Young won't, but Denny would pass on Cutler. A rook with not a ton of upside has no value to Denny--he'd rather take a position player. If Denny's going to make a guy sit for a year or two, he's going to be sure the guy has the potential to be the best QB in the NFL once he's ready (like Daunte). Not some middle of the road guy who doesn't have anything that sets him apart (and you can't argue that there's anything particularly special about Jay Cutler, because there isn't).

The only blue-chip quarterback in this draft is Matt Leinart. It would be way funny if Brees had to compete with another rookie after leaving San Diego.

As for AZFinest's defense of Cutler, I'd beg to differ with all three points. Cutler's two inches shorter than Young, hasn't been exposed to a pro-style offense, either, and while he has a strong arm (the most overrated aspect of QB workouts), his throwing sequence is a mess. He'll easily take as much development as Vince Young in this area. So Cutler lost a lot of games in the SEC, and Young won a lot of games in a watered-down Big 12. Eli Manning managed to win some games with horrible talent at Ole Miss, but Cutler wasn't even able to get his offense rolling against that competition in the SEC. 6 points against LSU? 15 against Middle Tennessee State (26 of 44, 5.6 YPA, 1 TD, 1 INT)!? Yeah, he put up a good game against Tennessee, but it's not like the Vols were playing for anything but pride in that game, either. The Vols ended up 7th in the SEC. That game seems real meaningful.

Everything but his accuracy and his dropback make him an elite prospect. How is this different than Vince Young again?

 

[Stout]

Young won't, but Denny would pass on Cutler. A rook with not a ton of upside has no value to Denny--he'd rather take a position player. If Denny's going to make a guy sit for a year or two, he's going to be sure the guy has the potential to be the best QB in the NFL once he's ready (like Daunte). Not some middle of the road guy who doesn't have anything that sets him apart (and you can't argue that there's anything particularly special about Jay Cutler, because there isn't).

Your arrogance is only overshadowed by your narrowmindedness. You say Cutler has low upside and value...yet almost everyone else of importance in the league thinks otherwise. Hmm, whose opinion holds more weight? Are there concerns? Sure. Can experts be wrong? Of course. Are you being crazy in trying to say without a doubt they're all wrong. Um, yes indeed.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

2 (2) Saints Matt Leinart QB USC
There are rumblings that the Saints are concerned about Drew Brees' ability to play during training camp. By bringing in Leinart, they can give him plenty of preseason work and part of the training camp load, then have him watch. Thus, he'll be ready for 2007.

You think a magazine as reputable as "The Sporting News" would do their homework and use a little common sense before putting up such a selection..

The Saints just signed Drew Brees to a $60 million dollar contract. I don't give a crap if Brees is ready for training camp or not, there's no way in hell Saint management is going to pick a Quarterback this early in the draft and pay the guy top dollar just so they can have him start in Training Camp. I doubt teams are going to pay $60 million for a guy to be a backup. What they'll do is sign a guy like Gus Ferrotte and let him man the QB position until Brees is healthy.

Please TSN.. Use some common sense for Gods Sake.

7 (7) Raiders Haloti Ngata* DT Oregon
Ngata is a massive run stuffer. He will replace Ted Washington, now with the Eagles, and team with Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess in a formidable front.

If Old Man Al passes on Young AND Davis, should this scenario shake down, I'll eat my hat.

10 (10) Cardinals Jimmy Williams CB Va. Tech
Antrel Rolle is coming off injury and David Macklin isn't the long-term answer at the other corner. Williams is big, physical and has a swagger the defense is trying to develop.

Call me crazy, but I cannot see Arizona passing on Young AND Cutler to pick Jimmy Williams..

 

[Redsz]

Cutler has a big arm and is a competitor - but what else?

Arm strength is the most overated quality when evaulating a QB. I don't care if Cutler can release it as fast a scolded cat and throw it 80 yds down field. You want a ball that is accurate, placed well and catchable. Not some fire ball that is going bounce off a recievers hands because the QB didn't set up properly.

From what I have seen, the guy has more similarities to David Carr than to Brett Favre (andI don't mean that in a bad way). But I see Carr as a potentially good QB who has some wheels. And that's what I see in Cutler.

Cutler he has no were near the upside that Young does. And if you are going to select a guy that high and work on his footwork and mechanics for 1 or 2 seasons then you might as well select the guy with freakish athletic ability and the guy who has dominated college ball and won the NC.

 

[kerouac9]

Your arrogance is only overshadowed by your narrowmindedness. You say Cutler has low upside and value...yet almost everyone else of importance in the league thinks otherwise. Hmm, whose opinion holds more weight? Are there concerns? Sure. Can experts be wrong? Of course. Are you being crazy in trying to say without a doubt they're all wrong. Um, yes indeed.

Where did I say that Cutler has "low upside and value"? I said that he had "not a ton of upside", and this was obviously in comparison to Vince Young. If Denny Green is going to gamble, he's going to gamble big, not hedge is bets with someone like Jay Cutler.

"Everyone else of importance in the league"? Are you kidding? Chris Mortenson and Mel Kiper? You've gone off the deep end again. We'll see what "everyone else of importance in the league" thinks come draft day. I bet you'll be surprised. I'm still waiting to hear what Cutler's outstanding attributes are beyond the overrated arm strength.

 

[Evil Ash]

You think a magazine as reputable as "The Sporting News" would do their homework and use a little common sense before putting up such a selection..

The Saints just signed Drew Brees to a $60 million dollar contract. I don't give a crap if Brees is ready for training camp or not, there's no way in hell Saint management is going to pick a Quarterback this early in the draft and pay the guy top dollar just so they can have him start in Training Camp. I doubt teams are going to pay $60 million for a guy to be a backup. What they'll do is sign a guy like Gus Ferrotte and let him man the QB position until Brees is healthy.

Please TSN.. Use some common sense for Gods Sake.

They have done their homework. If you look at how Brees's deal is structured, its nothing more than a one year $10 million deal. He is owed a $12 million roster bonus during the next offseason and there is no chance they pay that (restructure maybe but not pay that bonus).

The pick of Leinart still makes sense in that case. However my guess is that their sudden "interest" is a ploy to get the Jets to trade up.

Call me crazy, but I cannot see Arizona passing on Young AND Cutler to pick Jimmy Williams..

Cutler, maybe. Young, no chance

 

[Lars the Red]

Cutler has a big arm and is a competitor - but what else?

Completes about 60% of his passes, runs better than many, takes a beating and keeps coming, and for all his supposed weaknesses, is much closer to being an NFL QB than VY.

Arm strength is the most overated quality when evaulating a QB. I don't care if Cutler can release it as fast a scolded cat and throw it 80 yds down field. You want a ball that is accurate, placed well and catchable. Not some fire ball that is going bounce off a recievers hands because the QB didn't set up properly.

I'd leave it to Quan and Fitz to be able to go get passes that weren't perfect. Lack of arm strength isn't overated. Toss up marshmellows and you see plenty of pine time.

From what I have seen, the guy has more similarities to David Carr than to Brett Favre (andI don't mean that in a bad way). But I see Carr as a potentially good QB who has some wheels. And that's what I see in Cutler.

Watch a lot of Favre in college? He does have some of that Favre 'I can thread that needle' arrogance, but look at his TD/INT ratio, he did a good job threading that needle.

Cutler he has no were near the upside that Young does. And if you are going to select a guy that high and work on his footwork and mechanics for 1 or 2 seasons then you might as well select the guy with freakish athletic ability and the guy who has dominated college ball and won the NC.

Cutler has upside. He could easily develop into a ProBowl QB and that isn't anything to sneeze at. Young could also do some of the things that many said Vick would do. But look at how that's turned out. Young could very well make some amazing plays over the course of a career, but can he do it without taking off and running all the time? Look at how many of his spectacular college plays were made with his legs. Look at the number of times he was just too much player for some of the competition. Do you really believe that Adrian Wilson wouldn't just hammer Vince if given the opportunity. His speed is decent, but no where close to Vick and Vick gets caught the majority of the time.

Saying Cutler is just another guy without looking at his games, and seeing what he's done for a career is absurd. Cutler could be a Carr, but Young could be Akili Smith, a one season wonder. Seeing what both did on the field, and knowing the talent levels of players on their teams should tell you that Cutler is much, much closer to being an NFL QB.

 

[nurnay]

Cutler he has no were near the upside that Young does...

Cutler has plenty of "upside", maybe not as much as Young, but let's sit back and look at that word, "upside". Plenty of players come into the league with "upside potential", or as Bill Simmons likes to rag on commentators, "TREMENDOUS upside potential".

To me, that means they could be really good, maybe even great, or they could simply be average and never hit that "upside" potential. We're just not sure (for any number of reasons). It's a huge risk. "Upside" is a term thrown around a lot nowadays, and more often than not, players never really reach that upside portion of their potential.

I'd rather bank on a guy that already has a lot of the skills in place to succeed in the NFL (Leinter, Cutler) than spend a high draft pick and a lot of money on a guy that may never reach that potential.

On another note: If we take Young, does anyone really think we'd utilize his talents to the best of his abilities (plenty of QB run plays along with pass plays), or do you think we might end up trying to turn him into the typical NFL QB, the way Atlanta has tried to do with Vick? I'm all for using him the way he's played in college, but I'm willing to bet that whatever team takes him will try to turn him into a pocket passer, which IMHO would be a waste of his talents.