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 ...
You'll be waiting quite a while unless they make a trade. Just route for your divisional rivals to make bad picks.
I'm not sure why all the mock drafts have the Aints picking Leinart after they just got Drew Brees. Since they knew their draft position before they did sign him, it seems to me that they did that for the sole purpose of not having to draft a QB in the first round.
I do wonder about Carpenter suddenly being out of the first round. He's been high on a lot of boards up until this one.
The only way Ferguson doesn't go at #2 is if the Jets trade up and take Leinart with that pick.
As for Young if the Titans don't take him who will?
I think if the Jets stand pat at #4 they'll take Ferguson if he's still there and if he's not they'll grab A. J. Hawk.
Because Brees might not be ready at the start of the season, in fact given his injury he might never come back to form and he's no spring chicken either way.
Oakland....
Arizona
STL
Baltimore :)
yeah that thing about Carpenter mystifies me. UNless someone just came up with a need that suddenly appeared (and we haven't heard about)....
yeah that hasn't made any sense.
What better to surround your new prized QB with than a new HUMONGOUS LT who will be there for the next 15 years...
They've already lost Bentley. The Aints need help on their line as much as Houston does.
I'd be really surprised if they did it.
I hadn't heard about the Rams being interested in him.
Stud left tackles don't grow on trees either.
Think about it.....he's good on short throws, he has mobility and he isn't fragile....
In short he's everything Marc Bulger isn't :)
But I don't think he will last that long either.
"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"
You think he'll be a Raider?
I think their first pick will entirely revolve around what Brees' doctors say that morning.
I don't know.
I guess it depends on how tight Al Davis's headband is during his workout the morning of the draft.
I'd be really surprised if they drafted him, but the Raiders are known for those off the wall picks.
I kind of liked the Boller deal because to get him they gave the Pats their #1 pick in 2004 which they used to take Vince Wilfork.
I just can't see them going QB after signing Brees.
That they are. Then again some folks thought that Marcus Allen was a reach when the Raiders took him.
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