NFL Draft Recap (Team Specific)

NFL Draft Recap (Team Specific)

Pittsburgh Steelers (Bone’s Team)

Although from a fan prospective the Steelers first couple of rounds were rather boring picking a D-Tackle and an Offensive Lineman, they were both very good quality picks. The best athletes that we picked up are cornerbacks Cortez Allen & Curtis Brown, who can both also play safety. Brown is the better athlete of the two. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash which makes him the fastest corner on the roster and is great in the return game as well. He also lead all corners in the draft with a 39 inch vertical jump at the combine. We picked up Chris Carter, a D-Lineman from Fresno St. who is an exceptional athlete! Carter runs a 4.6 40-yard dash and has very quick feet and good hands off the line as well as good zone coverage ability. I feel that he was a steal to pick him up late in the draft. Carter along with Cam Heyward are GREAT additions to the defense and will put immense pressure on the opposing quarterbacks!

Draft Grade: B+

Predicted Record: 11-5

Selection Recap:

1st round:    Cam Heyward      DT       6’5″      294      Ohio St.

2nd round:   Marcus Gilbert    OL       6’6″      330      Florida

3rd round:   Curtis Brown       DB       6’0″      185      Texas

4th round:  Cortez Allen          DB        6’1″      197      Citadel

5th round:  Chris Carter          DL        6’1″     248      Fresno St.

6th round:  Keith Williams    OL        6’4″     318      Nebraska

7th round:  Baron Batch         RB        5’9″      200     Texas Tech

 

Carolina Panthers (Chei’s Team)

The Panthers pleasantly surprised me by not passing on Cam Newton with the 1st overall pick.  Our front office is notorious for avoiding any risqué acquisitions (still SMH at the decision to pass on Vick). Newton’s explosiveness and natural play-making ability is just the type of player I think Carolina can build around and hopefully turn the organization around. I would have liked to see them get some solid O-Line help with one of the 3rd round picks. Instead we took back-to-back D-tackles.  We got an athletic DT in Terrell McClain (USF) and a good run stopper in Sione Fua (Stanford).  I didn’t know how to feel about Kaeloha Pilares  (Hawaii) but after looking at his film and numbers I feel pretty good about him being a consistent target for Cam now that Steve Smith looks to be headed out the door.  I hated our 4th round selection of Brandon Hogan (WVU). Not only does he have multiple off the field issues but he’s also coming back from a serious knee injury.  We had an opportunity here to get some quality offensive help. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go before we compete in the NFC South again.

Draft Grade: C

Predicted Record: 6-10

Selection Recap:

1st round:  Cam Newton                 QB          6’5″         248        Auburn

3rd round:  Terrell McClain           DT          6’1″         297        S Florida

3rd round:  Sione Fua                      DT          6’1″         308        Stanford

4th round:  Brandon Hogan          DB          5’10″       192        W Virginia

5th round:  Kealoha Pilares          WR           5’9″         199         Hawaii

6th round:  Lawrence Wilson       OLB        6’0″         229        UConn

6th round:  Zachary Williams      C              6’3″          307        Washington St.

7th round:   Lee Ziemba                  OT           6’5”          317         Auburn

 

Philadelphia Eagles (Rivers’ Team)

The Eagles addressed one their biggest needs in offensive lineman Danny Watkins from Baylor. He played left tackle in college but at the Senior Bowl he lined up at guard which is where he is projected to play in the NFL. He is 26 yrs old and is ready to step in and start right away for the birds. With Vick being the most elusive quarterback in the history of the sport there is no reason he should have been sacked 50 plus times last year. The Eagles also addressed  2 other needs by drafting a high rated but often overlooked Temple safety and All-American Linebacker Casey Matthews who is Clay Matthews’(Green Bay Packers) younger brother. Casey put up far better collegiate numbers than his brother and looks to be the next in line in the Matthews football legacy. I question taking a kicker in the 4th round which is a reach considering we still have David Akers.  With the lockout and teams unable to trade players, I feel that the Arizona Cardinals not drafting a QB but instead selecting the “best cornerback” in the draft in LSU’s Patrick Peterson, screams that Arizona will be trading for our highly sought after backup Kevin Kolb (who Larry Fitzgerald publicly asked for) when the lockout is lifted. I fully expect the Eagles to return to the playoffs and win the NFC East once again.  I pick them to return to the Super bowl if we can sure up our secondary, with the Paterson trade or the N. Asomugha free agent signing.

 

Draft Grade: B

Predicted Record: 11-5

Selection Recap:

1st round:    Danny Watkins            OG       6’3″     310      Baylor

2nd round:   Jaiquawn Jarrett         S     5’11″      198      Temple

3rd round:   Curtis Marsh                 CB      6’0″      197      Utah St.

4th round:  Casey Matthews            OLB        6’0″     231      Oregon

4th round:  Alex Henery                   K            6’1″        178     Nebraska

5th round:  Dion Lewis                     RB        5’6″     193      Pittsburgh

5th round:   Julian Vandervelde     OG        6’1″     301     Iowa

6th round:  Jason Kelce                    C      6’2″         280    Cincinnati

6th round:  Brian Rolle                     OLB        5’9″     229      Ohio St.

7th round:  Greg Lloyd                      ILB       6’1″      246     UConn

7th round:  Stanley Havili                FB      6’0″     227     USC

 

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