Posted on 04/12/2006 1:30:09 PM PDT by mainepatsfan
Lawson rises, Kiwanuka falls in latest projections
By Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN Insider
With the NFL draft two weeks away, the one hot spot in the first round remains with the New Orleans Saints and second overall pick. While I still have North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams going to New Orleans, the outlook of the first round could change significantly if the Saints trade the pick.
My first-round projections remain nearly the same, with the one newcomer being NC State defensive end Manny Lawson. Overshadowed by Williams at NC State, Lawson had a very good senior season then performed exceptionally well at the NFL scouting combine. Right now I am projecting the Jets will use their second first-round pick on Lawson, where he will be used as a pass-rushing defensive end/outside linebacker.
New this week are my projections for the second, third and fourth rounds. You will be surprised to see some players initially projected as first-round picks have slipped to the second round in recent weeks.
(Excerpt) Read more at insider.espn.go.com ...
1. Houston Reggie Bush, RB USC
2. New Orleans Mario Williams, DE NC State
3. Tennessee Matt Leinart, QB USC
4. N.Y. Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T Virginia
5. Green Bay A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio St.
6. San Francisco Vernon Davis, TE Maryland
7. Oakland Vince Young, QB Texas
8. Buffalo Brodrick Bunkley, DT Florida St.
9. Detroit Michael Huff, DB Texas
10. Arizona Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
11. St. Louis Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
12. Cleveland Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida St.
13. Baltimore Haloti Ngata, DT Oregon
14. Philadelphia Winston Justice, T USC
15. Denver (from ATL) Chad Jackson, WR Florida
16. Miami Donte Whitner, S Ohio St.
17. Minnesota Ernie Sims, LB Florida St.
18. Dallas Jason Allen, S/CB Tennessee
19. San Diego Johnathan Joseph, CB South Carolina
20. Kansas City Tye Hill, CB Clemson
21. New England Santonio Holmes, WR Ohio St.
22. Denver (from WSH) DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
23. Tampa Bay Antonio Cromartie, CB Florida St.
24. Cincinnati Jimmy Williams, CB Virginia Tech
25. N.Y. Giants Kelly Jennings, CB Miami
26. Chicago Richard Marshall CB Fresno St.
27. Carolina LenDale White, RB USC
28. Jacksonville Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA
29. N.Y. Jets (from DEN) Manny Lawson, DE/OLB NC State
30. Indianapolis Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota
31. Seattle Ashton Youboty, CB Ohio St.
32. Pittsburgh Sinorice Moss, WR Miami
I don't think Vince Young will last until the 7th pick.
Who'll take him before that?
Ping!
Good question.
I would if I was picking.
The guy is a winner with a lot of heart.
He would make excellent trade bait even if you didn't need him.
I just do not buy a quarterback to Arizona. Maybe they have to do it if Young falls, but Green needs to win now, not a year or two down the road. Since he seems to be calling all the shots I am guessing OL or DT.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
Cutler will go BEFORE Young.
Brownies NEED A.J.Hawk at LB.
The thing is if the Jets don't take him (assuming they can't work a deal with NO and the Titans take Leinart) then the Packers and 49ers won't because they already have 1st round QB's.
I would be happy if the Ravens picked Haloti Ngata at #13. Or Winston Justice who Mel has going at #14. We need line help on both sides of the ball.
I agree. Green isn't going to waste a pick on a guy who might not make an impact until 2008.
More than one first-round QB picks might be impossible for a team to afford.
Good point you make.
Would you be happy with that pick?
If they want Hawk they'll need to trade up.
At least one of them should be there at #13.
Young should hope that the Jets do make that deal with NO and draft Leinart. Then he'll get a nice signing bonus with the Titans as the #3 overall pick. Otherwise he could be sitting for a while.
I have seen alot of drafts with Haloti Ngata going to Buffalo and Bunkley going to the Ravens. Mel has them switched. I guess Bunkley is a rising star?
If I were in the draft, NO is the last place I would want to go.
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