65. Detroit Lions – Jared Cook, TE South Carolina
With the sixty-fifth selection in the NFL Draft the Detroit Lions select the interesting tight end prospect from the South Carolina in Jared Cook. I think the Lions need playmakers and more specifically, the Lions need a tight end who can be a reliable target underneath when Calvin Johnson is triple covered and I believe Jared Cook fits the bill. He can block and he can catch and at the Scouting Combine Jared Cook blew it up with a mid 4.5 forty yard dash and 40'+ broad jump and 10'+ broad jump. The kid was absolutely on fire and moved himself from a mid second day pick to a mid second round pick. He catches the ball nicely and he is a vertical threat and I feel he would be an instant upgrade giving the Lions a solid option at TE and viable targets when receivers are covered down field and I think that Detroit would do well to grab him and give new QB Matthew Stafford a reliable target and helpful athlete that can make plays for the offense when Calvin Johnson is busy. Jared Cook could easily go in the second round and considering Detroit needs just about everything, going BPA can't hurt em.66. St. Louis Rams – Juaquin Iglesias, WR Oklahoma
With the sixty sixth selection the St. Louis Rams select the productive wide receiver from Oklahoma in Juaquin Iglesias. The Rams filled their linebacker need and offensive tackle need, now they just need a new target to throw to as Torry Holt is now a Jaguar and the Rams need a youthful and spry WR who can make all the tough catches and then some opposite the burner Donnie Avery. Enter Iglesias from Oklahoma who is rocketing up my draft board and will give Bulger another talented receiver to get the ball to and new offensive coordinator Shurmur another weapon on offense. Juaquin is another Oklahoma wide receiver in the mold of Mark Clayton, Malcolm Kelly and Mark Bradley, he is a bigger framed wide receiver who can get down field but is exceptional when it comes to blocking. Juaquin Iglesias in my opinion may be the better pro of all the Oklahoma wide receivers listed and though he may not be the fastest receiver I think he runs crisper routes, he catches with his hands and he knows how to get into the end zone on limited touches. This boy is an absolute player and would definitely be a great addition to the Rams and I think he will excel in their new west coast offense and I feel after looking really good at the combine, he could potentially go a tad earlier than this as well but the Rams grabbing him here fills a need and is nice value for his talent and potential.67. Kansas City Chiefs – Dorell Scott, DT Clemson
With the sixty-seventh selection the Kansas City Chiefs select the hard nosed tackle from Clemson to anchor their new 3-4 defensive system in Dorell Scott. The Chiefs lack the essential big, bruising plugger for the 3-4 defense and considering last years first round selection Glenn Dorsey was already playing out of position as a 4-3 NT, there is no way he fits in the system now unless he moves to DE, but he lacks the range and ability to play there consistently so it makes me wonder if he'll see his way elsewhere before or after the draft. Either way, Dorell Scott is a big body who can occupy two gaps and keep defenders off the Kansas City backers, my guess is that Derrick Johnson and Rocky Boiman will be moved inside and Vrabel and a yet to be drafted/signed backer will play the weakside rush role. Dorell may need to put some more weight on considering he's only tipping the scales at about 315, but he has the size and strength to be the force inside that Kansas City requires, I also would like to note that he is deceptively athletic for a guy his size and he can easily collapse the pocket from his NT position to keep the QB from stepping up so that Vrabel and company can get into the backfield and cause disruptions sooner and with more effect. I think with this selection and a rush linebacker in the next round, the Kansas City Chiefs will have done a lot to help their defense and offense this offseason and could be a potential surprise come the 09' season.68. Seattle Seahawks – Rashad Jennings, RB Liberty
With the sixty eighth selection the Seattle Seahawks select Liberty running back Rashad Jennings. Jennings was a productive beast at Liberty College and though he was one of only a select few to start as a true freshman at Pittsburgh he transferred to Liberty to be closer to his family. He is a great back as he rushed for over four thousand yards at Liberty and had forty three touchdowns to boot. He is a tough and strong runner who runs with authority and speed and he is more then capable of being the kind of back the Seahawks need. Julius Jones is a change of pace back and can't stand up to the rigors of a full NFL season, and as for the remaining Seahawk backs, they're fairly forgettable as well. Jennings will be a welcome addition and help take some pressure off the passing game when opposing defensive coordinators start stacking eight in the box.69. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) – Jasper Brinkley, LB South Carolina
With the sixty-ninth selection the Dallas Cowboys select the downhill thumping linebacker from South Carolina in Jasper Brinkley. The Cowboys have gotten very little out of their middle linebackers aside from Bradie James, Bobby Carpenter has been a bust, Zach Thomas is over the hill and on his way out and Kevin Burnett is was only a special teams and role player who is now playing for the Chargers. The Cowboys brought in Keith Brooking but he is hardly a long term solution for the Cowboys so I feel that bringing in Brinkley to play alongside James along with Spencer, Ellis and Ware will give the Cowboys an incredibly nasty linebacking core capable of stopping the run and playing the underneath passing routes so that the corners and safeties can focus on coverage. Brinkley has some durability issues and that’s why he falls so far but he is a 1st round talent but he comes roaring back up into the third round and potential first day talks after looking incredibly svelte and impressive at the Scouting Combine where he weighed in at just over 250, down from about 270 and ran really well considering. I feel he did the necessary things to show he has rehabbed well from his injury and is looking forward to joining a team and continuing his reign of terror by commanding the middle of a defense and punishing opposing backs for years to come in the Lone Star state.70. Cincinnati Bengals – Dannell Ellerbe, LB Georgia
With the seventieth selection in the draft the Cincinnati Bengals bolster their defense again with the high motor middle linebacker from Georgia, Dannell Ellerbe. I believe that Ellerbe has seen his stock rise tremendously because of a great performance at the Scouting Combine where he showed fluid hips, great strength and that he's the kind of linebacker who can cover, play the run and do pretty much anything else asked of a talented linebacker. Ellerbe is a solid player all around and would be a nice replacement at MLB for Dhani "World Traveller" Jones since the Bengals have not had a consistent player who has been a force there since Odell Thurman's rookie season. Now, I realize that a lot of people are going to question this decision to go with Ellerbe but I really do feel that he is an incredible player and he has the versatility to do a lot for the Bengals as he can essentially play any of the three linebacker spots, though he has the most familiarity playing weakside and middle. Ellerbe is an incredibly smart and rangy backer who plays with more athleticism than he looks to have. He punishes the ball carrier and is a sure tackler who has a knack for finding the back while weaving through traffic. I believe Ellerbe is a more finished product then some of the other linebackers on the board but that he still has some potential to amp his game up to the next level when he gets to the Pros and I think the Bengals have a real need at ILB and Ellerbe may just be the answer they're looking for.71. Buffalo Bills (from Oakland) – Andy Levitre, OG Oregon State
With the seventy-first selection the Buffalo Bills select the massive and athletic Oregon State guard in this draft class in Andy Levitre. The Bills had some seriously poor play from their offensive line this year, specifically from their "All Pro" Left Tackle Jason Peters who had the pass protection skills of a turnstile allowing Trent Edwards to take too many unnecessary hits. Now with Derrick Dockery back in the Nation's capital the Bills need to find another force in the middle who can open up lanes in the running game so that Marshawn Lynch can gain more than a handful of yards every carry as he was lucky to get over a thousand rush yards this season considering his rush average for nine games this season just barely topped 3 yards per carry. I think Andy Levitre is an incredibly talented and underrated guard and I feel the Bills grabbing him here to replace the inconsistent Dockery is a huge upgrade because they get rid of his cap number and get a younger guy who has a more balanced game. He can run block and he can pass block, he is athletic and strong and he will only get better and I think putting him next to Peters will be good for the Bills, so long as Peters can go back to All Pro form from two years ago and not last year because that was the biggest crock of an All Pro season in the history of the universe… okay maybe not the universe but it was still ridiculous.72. Jacksonville Jaguars – Chris Baker, DT Hampton
With the seventy-second selection, the Jaguars select the disruptive force from Hampton (formally Penn State) in Chris Baker. John Henderson has looked lonely without his buddy Marcus Stroud next to him, not to mention the defense has managed to become a liability as opposed to strength, so they could definitely use a penetrating defensive tackle to put next to the gargantuan Henderson. Hood himself is a big fella at 6'2" and pushing 330 pounds and he knows how to get into the backfield as he had 16.5 tackles for a loss to go along with 8.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position. Baker is the type of big bodied defensive lineman I believe Jack Del Rio will love as he knows how to get into the backfield, though he has some off the field issues and that will trouble some scouts but I believe that Chris Baker can rise above that past mistake and he'll be the dominant force inside that Jacksonville needs not to mention he can learn from one of the best and most consistent defensive tackles in the game in John Henderson and considering after Henderson the Jaguars have little else at the defensive tackle and Baker is hands down the best defensive tackle left and could possibly be gone before the Jaguars select again, so I think he needs to be the pick. I think pairing him with Henderson will bring the Jags defensive line back to respectability especially if Groves and Harvey come on strong after not producing too much their rookie seasons.73. Green Bay Packers – Mark Parson, CB Ohio
With the seventy-third selection, the Green Bay Packers select the productive corner from Ohio in Mark Parson. Parson is a great man to man cover corner who will fit nicely into the Green Bay defensive scheme that likes to play their corners man on man with opposing receivers and considering the age of Woodson and Harris and the inability of Blackmon, Williams and Lee to get onto the field, I think the Packers select Parson. He's an elite talent who doesn't have the career production numbers because he suffers from Nnamdi-itis as teams tried to throw to the corner opposite him as he has shown a knack for shutting down the receiver he's covering. It was an absolute travesty that he wasn't invited to the combine so that he couldn't increase his stock and he remains an early 2nd day pick as opposed to enhancing his potential and putting himself into contention for 1st day status, regardless, he is a talented player and many offensive coordinators will be having fits when he reaches his potential and becomes the shut down corner I believe he can be.Trade Alert:
74. Atlanta Falcons (from San Francisco) – Fili Moala, DT/DE USC
San Francisco sends: #74 overall
Atlanta sends: #90, #125 and #138 overall
With the seventy-fourth selection the resurgent Falcons select the big Samoan Bulldozer nose tackle from Southern California in Fili Moala. The Falcons have been an incredible surprise this season and I give credit to Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff for turning the franchise around so quickly. The team has very few needs at this point but they could definitely stand to upgrade their defensive line, especially the nose tackle. Babineaux has been a standout this season but he needs a big body next to him to occupy blockers and I think Moala is the best fit for what they need. He is the type of big body defensive tackle to anchor in the run game and still provide a solid pass rush. Fili Moala will be Mike Smith's version of Marcus Stroud as he has the frame to hold some extra weight (at 6'4") so that he can better clog the gap and like I said, he also has some pass rush ability so he won't just be a Grady Jackson type nose tackle and just hold down the fort, he's a solid player and it helps that he comes from USC which is a program known for churning out solid defensive linemen. I feel that after the Senior Bowl and Combine that Fili Moala is definitely on the Falcons radar and they pay to go up and get him by sending the 49ers their 3rd, 4th and 5th picks this year to move up and grab him but in the end it'll ultimately be worth it when he helps Jamaal Anderson and John Abraham get more sacks.75. Buffalo Bills – Gerald Cadogan, OT Penn State
With the seventy fifth selection the Buffalo Bills select their second offensive tackle of this draft in the athletic Penn State tackle Gerald Cadogan. The Bills drafted Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher earlier but I think they still need another tackle as Langston Walker is more of a depth guy then a versatile starter. Gerald Cadogan has really seen his stock in the draft rise with a great combine workout where he clocked one of the fastest forty times, looked athletic and had extremely long arms. I think he is a bit of a project but a year in the system and allowing himself to learn and mature I think he could be a solid bookend tackle opposite Michael Oher who is a more polished and finished product. The Bills need depth at tackle and Cadogan immediately provides that, not to mention he could also move inside if need be so this selection makes a lot of sense for the Buffalo Bills who need a lot of help with their offensive line now that Peters and Dockery are gone.76. New York Jets (from New Orleans) – Kyle Moore, DE USC
With the seventy-sixth selection the New York Jets select the big defensive end from Southern Cal in Kyle Moore. The Jets need some depth at 3-4 defensive end so new head coach Rex Ryan can keep a rotation and fresh legs in the game and I think Kyle Moore is without a doubt the best available. He is strong enough to stack against the run and he still has a fairly good pass rush set, teaming him up with Kenyon Coleman and Shaun Ellis will give the Jets some options when it comes to first and third downs with how they want to stack against the run and get to the passer. The Jets already addressed their offense with the first two selections and considering what they did in the offseason with adding Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Lito Sheppard, this pick is a luxury and depth selection that will help them out and makes the Jets defense that much more impressive. This selection could also be a RT to replace Damien Woody like Xavier Fulton or Joel Bell or potentially a QB like Nate Davis if the Jets aren't set on Clemens or Ratliff starting the season.77. Houston Texans – Trevor Canfield, OG Cincinnati
With the seventy-seventh selection the Houston Texans select the stout and athletic guard from Cincinnati in Trevor "Yes-I" Canfield. The Houston Texans found great success from their offensive line this season, especially from rookie tackle Duane Brown and incumbent Eric Winston, but the Texans could still stand to upgrade their interior line, specifically Mr. Oboe and Mr. Brisiel, Trevor Canfield has great athleticism, skill and strength, he moves well laterally and is very strong at the point of attack and would be a great addition to Alex Gibbs zone blocking scheme where is talents will more then surely be used to the Texans offensive advantage. I feel that he definitely has the talent to provide great depth and may even move into a starting role in before the season runs out as he is too talented to stay on the bench. He has great size and ability for a guy at 6'4" 307 lbs and should help pave more highways for Steve Slaton to take advantage of as well as give Matt Schaub more time to shred opposing defenses and I think he is the absolute perfect pick for the Texans and their offensive game plan and considering they addressed the defense with their last two selections, I think the focus on offense here and Canfield will be another nice stepping stone on their way to a hopeful playoff berth this season.78. San Diego Chargers – Sammie Lee Hill, DT Stillman
With the seventy-eighth selection the San Diego Chargers select the massive Stillman defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill. The Chargers have very few needs on either side of the ball but towards the end of the season it was evident that Jamal Williams was wearing down and if the Chargers are going to have a big time playoff run this year they're going to need him fresh so they bring in the fresh legs of Sammie Lee to help out big Jamal who may be on his last legs (especially with his recent legal troubles). Sammie Lee is an absolute beast at 6'4" 330 lbs. and though he didn't have the opportunity to play against the upper echelon of competition he still put up incredibly amazing numbers from his defensive tackle position including 59 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. Bringing in these massive fresh legs to spell Jenkins will only help the Chargers defense dominate.79. Denver Broncos – Paul Kruger, DE/LB Utah
With the seventy-ninth selection, the Denver Broncos select the wonderfully nicked named defensive end from Utah in Paul "Freddy" Kruger. The Broncos found their weakside pass rusher earlier in Aaron Maybin, not they get the more stout strongside 3-4 outside backer who can stack against the run and still will generate pressure with his rush which leads me to believe they'll make the Utah Ute standout Paul Kruger their pick as he has all the potential in the world to become a star and would give the Broncos a very dangerous linebacking group that used to be their weakness as they'll have Maybin, Kruger, Dumervil and maybe even Moss rushing the passer in a solid rotation. Paul Kruger has really seen his stock rise, from a potential mid second day prospect to a now mid first day prospect, though he doesn't have the sack numbers scouts are looking for I believe his best days are ahead of him and if he gets into the right system I feel he can be an incredible asset to a team as he can stack, shed and stuff in the run game and he does have ability to rush the passer. He has the potential to go earlier than this as he is the kind of the player front offices want in their locker room, he works hard and he gets it done, he's a mature fella like all Utah graduates and I feel that he will be a tremendous asset to the Broncos in both defending the pass and the run.80. Washington Redskins – Tyrone McKenzie, LB South Florida
With the eightieth selection the Washington Redskins select the productive South Florida strongside linebacker in Tyrone McKenzie. The Redskins could use some help at inside linebacker where London Fletcher-Baker is aging, undersized and potentially on his way out soon. But his back up is basically the same person in the undersized H.B. Blades who again, seems far too small to be a stout inside presence that Washington requires when they face the bruising run attacks of the Cowboys and Giants 4 times a year. So, with Marcus Washington being a cap casualty, the Redskins select the hard nosed Bull in Tyrone McKenzie to replace him opposite Rocky McIntosh. Now, since Redskins have landed the big and nasty defensive tackle from Tennessee in Albert Haynesworth, I'm less worried about their inside linebacker depth and size as both Blades and LFB can line up in behind him and use their athleticism and natural abilities to continue getting production from the inside linebacker spot but now they need to upgrade at SLB and with McKenzie's speed, strength, intensity and upside, I can't imagine them passing on him here as he is without a doubt a talented individual and could definitely bring some youth and tenacity to the linebacker position.81. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kevin Barnes, CB Maryland
With the eighty-first selection, the new and improved Tampa Bay Buccaneers select the speedster CB and internet sensation from Maryland in Kevin Barnes. When I say internet sensation, I mean it, just go on Youtube and look for Kevin Barnes hit and you'll see the majesty that is one of the Pac-10's best running backs in Jahvid Best puking all over himself and the field because Barnes jacked him up. Moving on to the analysis, Barnes is a solid cornerback and has immense talent and potential and he slides to here because of some injury concerns, as seems to be the common trend with cornerbacks this round. But he has speed, size and strength to be a solid cornerback for the Buccaneers who lost Phillip Buchanon to the Lions and will need some fresh legs to replace Ronde Barber soon enough. Barnes ran really well at the combine, looked fit and over his injury and if he's available here the Bucs will probably jump on him, that is unless Tyrone McKenzie slips and he becomes the selection for that Raymond James Stadium connection and the fact that the Bucs need backers bad.82. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) – Lawrence Sidbury, DE Richmond
With the eighty second selection the Detroit Lions grab the speedy and productive defensive end from the Richmond Spiders in Lawrence Sidbury. Sidbury has seen his stock rise from mere unknown to an early second day selection with great performances at the Senior Bowl where he made some of the top offensive tackles scratch their head with a great first step and a quick dip and rip to the QB. He then turned scouts heads when he blew up the combine testing incredibly well and running the fastest time of any of the defensive linemen. I believe the Titans grab Sidbury here because new coach Jim Schwartz will probably try and replicate the defense he had with the Titans and that was a high pressure defensive system that focused on getting to the quarterback with the front four to take pressure off the defensive backs and considering the Lions don't have any real elite pass rushers and considering the age of DeVries and White, they would be well served to grab Lawrence Sidbury who has all the potential to be a situational pass rusher, but considering his size at about 6'3" 266 lbs, he has good enough size to be an every down player and considering his senior season production (56 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks) he has all the tape and what have you to back this selection as the Lions really need to infuse some more youth and talent into their pass rush and though they have other needs, a solid pass rush will help take some pressure off a suspect secondary.83. Green Bay Packers (from New York) – Troy Kropog OT, Tulane
With the eighty-third selection, the Green Bay Packers use this selection on the athletic offensive tackle from Tulane in Troy Kropog. The Packers are probably going to let Mark Tauscher test the waters in free agency when his contract expires as he's an older tackle with some serious years on him and it seems as though the Packers and Ted Thompson seem to be all about getting younger as all established vets seem to be given their pink slips sooner rather than later. Troy Kropog is another talent that has been rocketing up draft boards as of late, especially after a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. A hard working and coachable offensive lineman who also has great pass blocking ability and showed he can also be a dominant run blocker despite his slender build as he fits very well into Green Bay's technique laden zone blocking scheme and I believe he is the pick Green Bay needs to make to protect Aaron Rodgers expensive blindside for the next decade as he'll probably start at LT since he's far more athletic and the Packers can move Chad Clifton to RT as he has started to see his production dwindle as he's getting up in the years, however, there is still likelihood that Clifton will man the left side still and Kropog may back him up or get the nod at right tackle, regardless of this, Kropog is a solid pick for the Packers and their youth movement.84. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) – Sherrod Martin, CB/S Troy State
With the eighty fourth selection, the Denver Broncos go out and grab the top corner back available since they're having such a hard time covering the pass this year in Troy State's hybrid cornerback/safety prospect Sherrod Martin. The Broncos sure up their defense even more with the selecton of Martin as he is the kind of player who can provide depth at safety and also be a starting corner. He's a bit of an undersized safety but he's got great versatility as he can also play cornerback. Now, considering Marlon McCree has been replaced by Brian Dawkins and with the Broncos having little else at safety, including bringing back Josh Barrett who was cut during training camp so they could definitely use the upgrade and I think Martin will be a solid addition to McDaniels new 3-4 defense as he'll likely be their starting nickel corner once drafted as he has really shown that he is past his injury riddled past and is looking to improve a team's defensive secondary.85. Philadelphia Eagles – Cornelius Ingram, TE Florida
With the eighty fifth selection the Eagles select arguably the most athletic and versatile tight end in the Draft in Florida's Cornelius Ingram. Ingram had a huge injury that sidelined him for his senior year and that is a travesty because he has the talent and skills to be a first day selection and I think the Eagles need more playmakers and more specifically, the Eagles need a playmaking tight end who can be a reliable target underneath when guys like Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson are double covered and I believe Ingram fits the bill. I feel he can be an H-back/Tight End hybrid for the Eagles, kind of similar to the way Washington uses Mike Sellers. He can block, he can catch out of the backfield and he can even carry if need be and after seeing him perform very well at the combine I think that Philadelphia would do well to grab him and give QB Donovan McNabb a reliable target and helpful athlete that can make plays for the offense.86. Minnesota Vikings – Joel Bell, OT Furman
With the eighty-sixth selection the Minnesota Vikings select the big and nasty offensive tackle from the Furman Paladins in Joel Bell. The Minnesota Vikings could use some competition at the right offensive tackle spot and considering the potential upside of the gargantuan Bell, I think the Vikings would be hard pressed to pass him up. At just about 6'8" and 315 lbs. Joel Bell is an absolute monster with a frame to add some more weight and still keep his athletic ability and mobility in pass protection but also add to his run blocking ability. I believe is a sleeper pick from a small school, much like Michael Roos from several years back and I think Bell could easily solidify the Viking offensive line where the right tackle position has been like a turnstile letting defenders into the backfield more often than it should and hopefully selecting Bell would rectify this as Bell really opened some eyes at the Scouting Combine by running an impressive time for a guy his size and he looked solid in the positional drills, I think this pick may surprise a lot of Viking fans but I fully expect Joel Bell to be an interesting prospect towards Draft time and considering the value of offensive tackles and his upside, makes sense to me.87. Miami Dolphins – Louis Murphy, WR Florida
With the eighty-seventh selection the Miami Dolphins select the other talented member of the Florida Gator wide receiver core in Louis Murphy. I believe Murphy is an immense talent and it seems like the Dolphins have become a team that likes to take receivers with potential but raw abilities and turn them into big game players as Ginn, Bess and Camarillio come to mind. Louis Murphy is another player in that mold as he didn't have huge amounts of field time at Florida but he has all the numbers and measurements to warrant a second round selection as he is 6'3", 200 pounds, is strong, explosive and fast and considering the Dolphins need a big target opposite all the little guys they have running around, Murphy fits the bill perfectly. I feel Murphy is another player who has seen his stock rise with a great performance at the Scouting Combine, he has natural hands, runs fairly good routes (but with coaching I believe he will be able to run incredibly crisp and precise routes) and he actually ran a lot better than I expected him too, and considering the Tuna likes big receivers I am more then inclined to bet that if Louis Murphy is available he is picked up to be what Ernest Wilford was supposed to be when he signed. This pick could also be interior offensive line depth or cornerback, but considering the value and potential of Murphy and the fact they have a pick later on in this round they grab the former Florida wide receiver now and fill a need.88. Baltimore Ravens – Matt Shaughnessy, DE Wisconsin
With the eighty-eighth selection the Baltimore Ravens select Matt Shaughnessy from Wisconsin. Shaughnessy could be the kind of player in the mold of Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson as a defensive end who plays both with his hand in the dirt and standing up. Shaughnessy possesses great athletic ability and could easily stand up and learn from guys like Suggs and Johnson on how to stop the run, rush the passer and cover in space. Shaughnessy has seen his stock drop as of recent with some real nagging injuries that have slowed his momentum and kept him from being as productive as he could be, but considering there is a real drop off in talent in terms of athletic big men who can play down or up, the Ravens will draft Shaughnessy and have him groomed so that if they do end up losing Suggs or Johnson down the road, they have a guy who can step in as the Ravens are always prepared, especially at linebacker.89. New England Patriots – Darry Beckwith, LB LSU
With the eighty-ninth selection the New England Patriots grab the ridiculously productive Louisiana State inside linebacker in Darry Beckwith. The Patriots need some youth inside where Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi should not be starters, pairing Beckwith with stellar rookie standout Jerod Mayo and improving Gary Guyton will give the Patriots a versatile, speedy and productive interior linebacking corps. They grabbed Barwin earlier which will spice up their pass rush, and once Adalius Thomas comes back from injury the Patriots will be able to bring the pressure on defense so their suspect secondary won't be taken advantage of when the front seven can't get to the QB. Beckwith himself is an incredibly tough player because he played for the legendary LSU Tigers team and during his tenure he had 3 consecutive 50+ tackle seasons to go along with 14 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions, regardless of the program you play for, that's production and I think the Pats would love to have him and considering his upside and potential, the Pats getting him here is of great value as Beckwith is a talented player who made a great case at the Scouting Combine for being a top inside backer by showing athleticism but I think his forty time hurt him a bit and that's why he's here for the Patriots to select.90. San Francisco 49ers (from Atlanta) – Mike Mickens, CB Cincinnati
With the ninetieth selection the San Francisco 49ers select the Bearcat cornerback Mike Mickens. The 49ers have a solid cornerback in Nate Clements and a solid safety in Michael Lewis but opposite Clements is a fairly weak spot as Walt Harris is not the player he once was, he is still talented and probably would be a very good and versatile nickel corner but the 49ers need to upgrade and seemingly since they've gone defense with their first selection and their head coach is a former All Pro middle linebacker so they might as well go that route again and select Mickens who is a first round cornerback with the production to warrant it but slips due to some injury concerns. I think Singletary will build a great defense and run game to take pressure off of his quarterback Shaun Hill or Alex Smith and I think with the previous selections, Mickens and the moves they have made in free agency, I think the 49ers offense and defense will be that much better in 2009 and they'll likely use the remainder of their draft picks to sure up the offense, specifically at offensive tackle and at wide receiver and potentially in the back field as well to take some of the pressure off of Frank Gore's shoulders.91. New York Giants – Andre Brown, RB N.C. State
With the ninety-first selection the Giants select the all-purpose running back from North Carolina State in Andre Brown. Now that we know the Giants won't be bringing Derrick Ward back because he'll be wearing the Pewter and Red next season the Giants will need another back to potentially compliment Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, though not really a dire need, the talent on the board coordinates with this selection and the Giants can grab a solid running back who will definitely provide a spark for their offense and probably won't be available later. The spark in question is the Wolfpack running back Andre Brown, the Giants need a smaller speedy back that can catch out of the backfield and be a compliment to Jacobs bruising running style but still is bigger and more physical then third back Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Brown fits that description to the letter, he's 6' even and 224 pounds of pure intensity. He has really helped himself with great workouts at the Senior Bowl where he showed burst and acceleration he was thought not to possess and then killed it at the combine by running a 4.49 for a fella pushing 230, I think he'll be a great compliment and will be the new Wind in the Giants aptly named backfield Earth, Wind and Fire.92. Indianapolis Colts – Jason Williams, LB Western Illinois
With the ninety second selection, the Indianapolis Colts select Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams. The Colts need a lot of defensive help, they don't have much at linebacker, they finally got a defensive tackle to solidify the line and the secondary is banged up, lacks depth and for the most part is inconsistent. The Colts bring in Jason Williams who is a prospect who has been on the rise, he runs well, he hits hard, he covers and he is a hard working guy who will lead this no name Colts' defense. I think he really shocked some people when he turned in an official 4.49 forty yard dash, shows he has great straight line speed and could the kind of sideline to sideline backer the Colts are in desperate need of as Tyjuan Hagler, Clint Session and Gary Brackett don't necessarily inspire fear in opposing offenses so I think Jason Williams will come in, play the strongside or weakside role and be a productive member of the new Colts defense.93. Carolina Panthers – Alex Magee, DT Purdue
With the ninety third selection the Panthers select the strong and mobile defensive tackle from Purdue in Alex Magee. With Kris Jenkins now stuffing gaps for the Jets and the Panthers basically having only Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu on the roster at DT they sure could use a penetrating defensive tackle that can collapse the pocket, rush the QB and stuff the run. Magee had a fairly productive season this past year with 28 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks not to mention he has all the intangibles and numbers that the Panthers should be looking for in a DT at 6'3" 300. Magee is the type of big bodied disruptive pocket collapsing defensive lineman I believe John Fox will love as he knows how to get into the backfield, though he has some consistency issues and that will trouble some scouts but I believe that Alex Magee can rise above mediocrity and with the right coaching I think he'll be the dominant force inside that Carolina needs. With Magee alongside the aforementioned defensive tackles, the Panthers will be able to collapse the pocket from the interior and will likely address defensive end later on in the draft, though they won't likely find another Peppers, they should find a solid contributor who will start for them in his place.94. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Freeman, LB Ohio State
With the ninety-fourth selection in the third round, the Tennessee Titans select the outside linebacker from the Buckeye State in Marcus Freeman. Freeman is likely to play WLB in the NFL and will probably need to put some weight on but I think he has a tremendous upside and though the Titans don't really need a linebacker, I think with his availability and talent, they snatch him up. Now, the Tennessee Titans like to groom their own players so I imagine they draft Freeman get him used to the system while using him on the special teams and when Bulluck and/or Thornton is ready to move on, he'll be waiting in the wings to step in and contribute. Freeman is an aggressive defender who knows how to play in opposing teams backfields as he amassed 6 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss during his tenure at Ohio State. I think he'll be a playmaker much in the way Bulluck is currently for the Titans, he has speed, toughness and intensity and can make big plays when it counts and he really stood out at the combine running incredibly fast and has definitely seen his stock rise after playing incredibly well in the Senior Bowl and showing he can lay the wood and drop back in coverage as well, he'll be a solid addition to the Titans.95. Arizona Cardinals – Zack Follett, LB California
With the ninety-fifth selection, the Arizona Cardinals select a linebacker who knows how to get to QB in California's Zack Follett. Arizona has been a real story this year and I expect big things in the future, however, there needs to be some upgrades made at the linebacker spot. Karlos Dansby has been franchised but he is a much better inside backer and that leaves LaBoy, Okeafor, Berry and Haggens to rush the passer. They definitely need to bring in some young talent to compete and bring the heat and Zack Follett can do that better than maybe any other collegiate linebacker. This past season he tallied 10.5 sacks to go along with a ridiculous 23 tackles for a loss and more importantly 5 forced fumbles. He is a defensive playmaker that will help the Cardinals immensely. This pick could also be a corner as well considering Roderick Hood might as well change his name to toast but considering the age of the rushers currently on the Cardinals and the way Roethlisberger was able to elude their rush, they need someone who will bring the QB down and that is Follett.96. Pittsburgh Steelers –Xavier Fulton, OT Illinois
With the ninety-sixth selection the Steelers grab the athletic Illinois offensive tackle Xavier Fulton. Xavier Fulton is another talent that has been rocketing up draft boards as of late, especially after a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. He came to the Illini program as a defensive linemen so you know he has an aggressive and take no prisoner attitude but he also has great pass blocking ability and showed he can also be a dominant run blocker despite his slender build as he fits very well into Pittsburgh's new technique laden zone blocking scheme and I think he will fit well in the Steelers locker room as he has the potential and measurables to be a solid offensive tackle in the future and considering the Steelers have a lot of questions about the starters on their offensive line bringing in Fulton would be a welcome addition for the Super Bowl Champion Steelers despite the fact it is hard to criticize a team that brings back their entire offensive line that got them to a Super Bowl. Like I said, I definitely think Xavier Fulton will fit what Mike Tomlin wants to do with the offense as he is more athletic then some of the other tackles and if they want to employ a more finesse and explosive offense they'll need guys who won't tire out in pass protection while Ben Roethlisberger runs around trying to make something happen and I feel Fulton can be that guy, not to mention challenge Willie Colon in training camp making him better and by osmosis, the entire team better.97. New England Patriots – Chase Coffman, TE Missouri
With the ninety seventh selection, the New England Patriots select Missouri tight end Chase Coffman. The Patriots will likely be losing Ben Watson to free agency as he is probably not worth the money to re-sign and they may lose David Thomas as well which would leave them pretty empty at tight end, luckily there is a first day talent guy still on the board who has slipped because he hasn't been able to workout this draft season in Chase Coffman. Coffman is a big target who catches naturally with his hands and is talented enough to be split out wide, come out of the backfield or line up on the line. He isn't the greatest blocker but he has all the ability to be a pass receiving threat and I think he fits the mold of a Patriots type player as a multifaceted guy with multiple uses and it'll be good to get him into the system early so he can be ready to start in a year or two from now.98. Cincinnati Bengals – Javon Ringer, RB Michigan State
With the ninety-eighth selection the Cincinnati Bengals select the productive back from Michigan State in Javon Ringer. The Bengals actually found a capable starter in Cedric Benson and I think I am just as surprised as anyone to see him actually doing well after seeing him flounder in Chicago. Now, the Bengals are known for drafting running backs and I think Javon Ringer would provide a nice compliment to Benson now that the Bengals have re-signed him. Ringer is a speedier back who can do multiple things for an offense like catch out of the backfield and run outside or between the tackle and his senior season was very productive. He'll go a long way in helping take some of the pressure off Palmer who will look to shake off the rust from not playing for so long.99. Chicago Bears – David Veikune, DE Hawaii
With the ninety ninth selection the Chicago Bears select the tad undersized but super aggressive pass rusher from Hawaii in David Veikune. The Bears have really suffered from injuries and poor play in the secondary this season and that is one of the main reasons as to why they didn't win the division as they couldn't contain Andre Johnson in the final game of the season in order to make the playoffs, but it is not because they don't have the talent but because they couldn't pressure the QB and opposing teams could shred them. David Veikune was able to get to and bring down the QB nine times this season and has amassed a career total of eighteen sacks, which is more than the Bears defensive ends can say about getting to the QB. He's might be considered a bit of a reach at this point but I think he'll probably be a situational rusher to start his career until he can pack on some pounds as I think he has a solid frame at 6'2" 260 pounds to carry an extra 10 pounds without losing a step so that he can play the run better and contribute more as an every down player. I just think after the Senior Bowl and Combine and seeing how relentless, fluid and dominating Veikune was the Bears would definitely do well to go out and make him a new Monster of the Midway, especially if he brings the Haka dance.100. New York Giants – Travis Beckum, TE Wisconsin
With the hundredth selection the New York Giants select the game breaking tight end from Wisconsin in Travis Beckum. The Giants don't have any real needs so they can afford to draft one of the best available players who adds some versatility to their offense. Kevin Boss is an inline blocker and the other tight end Matthews isn't a consistent threat, but Beckum is explosive. Much like Dustin Keller, he is a rocked up wide receiver who can be split out and play inline, he is physical as he came to Wisconsin as a linebacker and he'll be able to play on all the special teams units for the Giants as well when he isn't catching passes from Eli. He also could potentially move to wide receiver as he has the capability and he could be the big time threat they are looking for.
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