If I were doing that, I'd go

1. Ayers
2. Allen Bailey
3. Powe
4. Marcus Gilbert
5. Greg Romeus
5. Mark Herzlich
6. Brandon Fusco

I know it doesn't fill all the needs on the team, but it would go a long way towards solidifying the front seven into both an elite and deep force, and it would help the offensive line tremendously.

I don't see a lot of value at WR where we are picking. That said, if Hankerson slipped past 45, I think it would be worth it to move up for him.

Gives you a team of:

QB: Cassel, Croyle, Palko
RB: Charles, Jones, Battle
FB: Castille, Cox
WR: Bowe, McCluster****, Chambers, Tucker, Copper
TE: Moeaki, Pope, Cottam?

LT: Albert, Gilbert, Richardson
LG: Waters, Harris
C: Fusco, Niswanger
RG: Asamoah, Lilja
RT: Gilbert, Richardson

DE: Dorsey, Romeus, Gilberry
NT: Powe, Smith, Edwards
DE: Bailey, Jackson

ROLB: Hali, Romeus, Sheffield
ILB: Johnson, Belcher
ILB: Herzlich, Belcher
LOLB: Ayers, Herzlich

CB: Carr, Arenas
CB: Flowers, Daniels
NB: Arenas
FS: Lewis, McGraw
SS: Berry, McGraw

That's a really, really good and versatile defense. You could go with a nickel pass rushing look where you could put Hali and Romeus at the ends with a combination of Bailey, Gilberry/Dorsey inside with Ayers and Herzlich as your backers who could either cover or rush.

You'd have six guys who could get after the QB in that situation, and four of them could also drop back in coverage if necessary. You could **** some minds up.

Unlikely trade scenario:

Trade back with a team like the Bengals in the 2nd round, who passed on Newton or Gabbert and want Ponder. Pick Ayers anyway with the high 2nd round/low first round and then use the extra pick (a 4th rounder possibly?) and pick a WR like Austin Pettis

The end result is the same lineup you have plus Pettis.

Or we could end up with another Siavii instead of Olshanski situation.

Nah, if our guy is on the board (mine would be Ayers), take him and don't trade down.

Bengals 2nd round and 3rd round pick equals up to 820 points. Our number 21 is worth 800. If they want to move up... get their 3rd, not 4th.

Coogs, that leads to an interesting question.

I wonder how a rookie cap will effect "draft value" as far as their point system goes.

I have no idea. But I kind of hope that scenario plays out where the Bengals have to move up to get a QB of their choice. Puts us in the drivers seat with several other teams needing QB's at the top of round 2, and Seattle sitting close behind us at 25 with potential QB rumblings taking place as well.

If we trade back I want a #1 next year. When Cassel bombs again we'll have the ammo to get a QB if we need it.

I think it'll drive UP the price while simultaneously making it easier to trade out of. More teams will want to trade up because the risk is so low, but less teams will want to trade back because the risk is so low.

i bet it results in more teams draft QB's in the 1st round.

as for the points, i imagine the top picks of the draft will be worth more points because you don't have the big mandatory money to go with it.

All QBs get big money regardless. QB is the one position money doesn't matter. A rookie cap will allow more RBs and LBs and other positions in the first round more than more QBs.

We've seen teams over the last 2 or 3 drafts ignoring the chart because the cost of signing high draft picks has become so ridiculous.

A rookie scale that makes the money reasonable might make that chart more relevant again.

Unless the labor dispute is worked out before the draft, there can be no trades involving future picks.

If one is not worked out, at least New England will finally not have multiple picks in every round after this season.

disagree completely

teams will be more likely to take a flier on a giant upside type quarterback in the 1st round because the initial contract will be controlled.

for example - a rookie cap pretty much means a guy like Cam Newton is the #1 pick. A guy like Ryan Mallet goes higher ... etc.

i think it also effect RB's ... because of their short shelf life a RB loses value. A rookie cap controls the initial investment for a RB and means a team can spend a pick on them without screwing things up.

jmo