NFL Draft

mlitney wrote:Of course, I've also heard that there is a strong chance that McNabb will sign with the Bears in the offseason (being a free agent and Chicago-native). If that is the case, I would like to see...

1st Round: Best OL, WR, or RB on board.
2nd Round: Safety
3rd Round: OL
3rd Round: RB

I forgot we have 2 3rd round picks.

mlitney wrote:Of course, I've also heard that there is a strong chance that McNabb will sign with the Bears in the offseason (being a free agent and Chicago-native). If that is the case, I would like to see...

1st Round: Best OL, WR, or RB on board.
2nd Round: Safety
3rd Round: OL
3rd Round: RB

I forgot we have 2 3rd round picks.

# Andre Woodson, Kentucky
Height: 6-5. Weight: 230.
40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round: Top 15 Pick.
Andre' Woodson was 20-of-29 for 250 yards and three touchdowns, still very accurate, showing last season wasn't a fluke. However, he did a few things that bothered me. He still held on to the football too long a few times instead of throwing it away. I thought he would improve on this, one of his biggest weaknesses. He missed one throw high to Keenan Burton on an out route. When he misses throws, he missses them high. I think an NFL coach might be able to fix this. -- Matt McGuire.

Looks like a lot of people are hopping aboard the Woodson bandwagon. I moved him up to No. 2 on my quarterback rankings.

Very underrated. No one knows who he is, yet he led the SEC in passing yards. Threw 31 TDs and just 7 INTs, completing 63 percent of his passes in the process. Was 26-of-37 for 210 yards and a touchdown at Florida.

# Darren McFadden*, Arkansas (8/12)
Height: 6-2. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round: Top 3 Pick.
Looks like the 2008 season will be Darren McFadden's last as a Razorback. His mom gave away a little too much to ESPN reporters. "He told me, 'Mom, I'll be through in December,'" she said. "I said, 'What you mean?' He said, 'I'll be through.' That's what he told me."

Shared carries with Felix Jones and still ran for 1,647 yards and 14 TDs, gaining 5.8 yards per carry. As of summer 2007, Darren McFadden's the top prospect in the draft. He caught only 11 passes (149 yards, 1 TD) last year, so I'd like to see that aspect of his game improve.

# Jonathan Stewart*, Oregon (10/28)
Height: 5-11. Weight: 230.
40 Time: 4.49.
Projected Round: Top 15 Pick.
Jonathan Stewart carried the ball just 15 times at Michigan, but he gained 113 yards and a touchdown in the process. His Jerome Bettis style of running could entice the Steelers or Falcons to draft him early.

Currently the best big back projected to go in the 2008 Draft. Rushed for 981 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2006. Stewart became a bigger threat in the passing game last year, increasing his receptions from seven to 20.

# Rashard Mendenhall*, Illinois (12/1)
Height: 5-11. Weight: 224.
40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round: Top 15 Pick.
Lots of potential here. Rashard Mendenhall, who has both size and power (see his attributes), is averaging seven yards per carry through four games in 2007. Mendenhall trampled Indiana for 214 yards on 27 rushes. He has 10 receptions this year.

# Felix Jones*, Arkansas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
40 Time: 4.36.
Projected Round: Top 20 Pick.
The team that drafts Felix Jones will be getting an excellent running back and kick returner. Gained an amazing 7.6 yards per carry in 2006. Jones should wait until Darren McFadden's gone and he's the sole ball-carrier to enter the NFL Draft, even though he had a higher yards-per-carry average than his teammate.

# Kevin Smith*, Central Florida (12/1)
Height: 6-1. Weight: 211.
40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round: Top 20 Pick.
Talk about literally carrying a team - through the beginning of November, Kevin Smith has 1,448 rushing yards, 17 receptions and 19 total touchdowns. His 40 time is solid considering his size. Don't look at his weak conference either; Smith gashed Texas for 149 yards and two scores on 27 carries.

# Steve Slaton*, West Virginia
Height: 5-10. Weight: 195.
40 Time: 4.42.
Projected Round: 1-2.
Steve Slaton scored 33 touchdowns his first two seasons and averaged seven yards per carry in 2006. Great at catching the ball out of the backfield, Slaton registered 27 receptions and 360 receiving yards. Always a threat to score; had a 40-yard run in eight of his 13 games in 2006.

# Ray Rice*, Rutgers (10/19)
Height: 5-9. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round: 1-2.
Ray Rice has shown the durability I questioned, as he carried the ball more than 60 times in the span of five days. His performance against South Florida moves him up.

After catching only four passes in 2006, Rice already has five receptions through three games this season. If NFL coaches and general managers determine that Rice can be a decent pass-catcher out of the backfield, he may go in the top 25.

Rice had 1,794 yards, 20 touchdowns in 2006, gaining a yards-per-carry average of 5.4. Not bad. Besides his small frame, the thing that hurts Rice's draft stock a bit is the fact that he's currently one-dimensional; he caught only four passes last year.

Check out NFL Draft Dog's Scouting Report on Ray Rice.

# Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
Height: 6-1. Weight: 205.
40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round: 2.
Tashard Choice looked great against Notre Dame, compiling 196 yards and two touchdowns on just 26 carries. Choice's size-40 combination is better than Mike Hart's and Ray Rice's.

Averaged 100 yards per game during conference play, rushing for 1,473 yards and 12 TDs. How will he perform without Calvin Johnson?

# Chris Johnson, East Carolina (7/30)
Height: 5-11. Weight: 200.
40 Time: 4.20.
Projected Round: 2.
No, that's not a misprint. Chris Johnson has run a 4.20 in the 40. But can he play football? The 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns he accumulated against Memphis say he can. The 35 receptions he garnered in 2005 agree. At 200 pounds, if Johnson can either match or improve upon his 4.20, he'll be a second-round pick.

# Mike Hart, Michigan (9/
Height: 5-9. Weight: 202.
40 Time: 4.46.
Projected Round: 2-3.
Michigan is playing like garbage right now, but don't blame Mike Hart; the shifty and powerful runner gained 128 yards on 25 carries against Oregon.

Injury prone, but if he's healthy, Mike Hart's as good as anyone. Rushed for 1,562 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2006.