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 ...
The Cowboys will draft Whitner from Ohio State if he is still available.
They need a safety too bad to pass up on him if he's there.
He's probably hitting his knees and praying every night for it....
LOL
That and I'm sure Suzy Kolber will interview her and ask her what it's like to be AJ Hawk's girlfriend LOL
I'm not saying to count him out, but the talk still is that he probably won't start the season and almost definitely won't start the pre-season. They need insurance in the QB spot. The saddest part is he shouldn't even have been in the game he got injured in, Chargers should have started Rivers to see what they had.
He probably has nightmares about something like this occuring 20 years from now...
"ESPN presents the top 5 reasons why you can't blame the Chargers for trading away HOF QB Drew Brees."
They do need a starting free safety who can really cover in order to free up Roy Williams to attack at the line of scrimmage. Can Whitner play FS?
Danke!
Now if she asks to kiss her that'll be a draft moment to remember!
Here's a nightmare scenario. The Jets take Hawk and still have a rotten season. Then the next year they take Quinn to be their new QB. We'd never be able to get her off the television!!
Oh, you're welcome.
Who do you see as the Steeler's first pick?
;-)
I think the Steeler's needs are first for a wide receiver, second for a defensive back or a defensive lineman, third for an offensive lineman.
They have good linebackers, a good QB, good running backs and a decent kicking game. O line could use some depth. D line could use some reinforcing. At D back is always a need for reinforcements.
insurance doesn't equal drafting a QB in the 1st round.
Even the Saints aren't that stupid.
LOL
yeah.....he played a bit of both in college but he played more SS.
But his coverage skills are Great and he has CB speed.
I REALLY wish he'd stayed at Ohio State. We needed him :)
My biggest hope would be to trade up and take Reggie Bush. That's not going to happen because we've already wasted way too much money on a bunch of overpaid marginal Offensive players. Who needs the next Barry Sanders? Not us when we've already broken the bank paying guys who will not or cannot stay on the field.
I'd like to see them take Cutler. It would have been nice for them to put Wright out there last season and see if he could play instead of trotting out a guy they all darn well couldn't in Tui..sopo. What a joke that was. Although I was impressed that he actually survived the entire game given his history.
I suspect they will end up taking AJ Hawk. If he's gone, which will shock me, they'll do what they always do and grab a DB and we'll end up with Huff.
I hope they take the best Defensive player available, so they are not likely to disappoint me regardless of what they do. Unless they pull their patented, lets reach for a guy who doesn't even belong in the next round kind of first round pick they are so famous for.
LOL
you know that could be their plan....
Yeah but here's the problem, if you draft a QB because the health of your QB is questionable and you pass on the big dogs in the 1st round and it turns out your QB can't play then it's stupid. If you draft a first rounder and your QB is OK then that's stupid. The first round can screw you over either way. IMHO they're in a similar boat to the Texans and both should trade their first round picks to get extra picks to build their OL, then the Saints should get a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round after all the high profile (ie high criticism no matter what you do) players are gone.
Buchsbaum was the PFW scout. From all accounts a great guy.
When I was still in school I would watch at least two college games a week and tape a couple more. Now, with two kids and a mortgage, it seems hard to find time even for the Steelers. By the way, they do always seem to find a way to add a Temple guy. I will interested to see if Wallace sticks, they need to find someone to step in down the road for Farrior.
My preference would be for a larger receiver than Moss, but I just do not see anyone that fits the bill in the late first round. Maybe they end up with someone like Avant at the bottom of round 2, or Nance from Miami at the bottom of 3.
The Trojans have an outstanding football program. Many of their players wind up in the Pro's.
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