Chiefs And with the #3 pick the KC Chiefs take... B.J. Raji

T-post Tom · 03-20-2009, 04:35 AM

Raji would make a lot of sense considering true 3-4 NTs are difficult to find.

Riser: Boston College's Raji a big man in draft class

Posted: March 19, 2009
War Room scouts
Sporting News

More than 20 teams spent quality time with Boston College defensive lineman B.J. Raji at the NFL Scouting Combine, and apparently that wasn't enough to satisfy their craving for the best nose tackle in the 2009 draft.

No wonder Raji is seen as a riser in April's draft. Offseason auditions including the Senior Bowl, Combine and on-campus workouts have yet to expose any skeletons in Raji's closet -- except those he collected while ransacking B.C. opponents.

War Room scouts join in the praise for Raji, a 6-1, 330-pound monster who would fit in the middle of many NFL defenses. That's why in their latest mock draft, scouts project Raji as the third overall pick, going to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here's what they say about Raji: "The Chiefs debate between LB Aaron Curry and Raji. But to make the switch to a 3-4 defense, finding a nose tackle is much more important than a linebacker."

The Denver Broncos are scheduled to meet with Raji on Friday at Boston College. The Detroit Lions played host to Raji this week. And with the Broncos and quarterback Jay Cutler at odds, these meetings could add smoke to rumors of a Cutler-to-Lions deal.

War Room scouts still project Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford as the first player taken -- by the Lions, if they keep the pick, or the Broncos if they trade Cutler to get it.

Denver's first pick for now is No. 12, so Raji will be long gone by the time the Broncos make that selection.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz told Detroit reporters his team was doing its due diligence in meeting this week with Raji and Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew, the top tight end in this draft class.

Raji is viewed as a rock on the defensive line, able to hold his ground against running plays. He also has the quickness to be an effective pass rusher.

He was academically ineligible for the 2007 season but made up for that in 2008. He bolstered his stock with an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl.

It appears he put the year off to good use. Raji told Scout.com that he made some of his biggest strides in performance during his senior year because of the progress he made in understanding the mental aspects of playing his position.

"I understood the game a lot more than I did in previous years," Raji said. "I better understood how I was going to be attacked, at pre-snap I was able to get some good reads, whether it was going to be a double-team or how a player was going to block me. So that helped me choose what moves to use."

War Room Scouts' latest mock draft is available online, with two full rounds of picks and analysis. Visit SN's Pro Football War Room for information and analysis on more than 400 draft prospects. Also, pick up a copy of Sporting News' 2009 Draft Guide, available online or at retailers.

This week's Top 10 picks

1. Detroit Lions
Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams
Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia
3. Kansas City Chiefs
B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
4. Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
5. Cleveland Browns
Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Smith, T, Baylor
7. Oakland Raiders
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
9. Green Bay Packers
Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State
10. San Francisco 49ers
Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal

Pioli Zombie · 03-20-2009, 04:44 AM

This is what I think will happen and what I think should happen
Posted via Mobile Device

2bikemike · 03-20-2009, 04:53 AM

I am extremely anxious for the draft. All this waiting and speculating is driving me nuts. Things are probably compounded by the fact that I have a lot of personal things going on in my life that I am waiting to unfold. Everything seems like its just around the corner.

T-post Tom · 03-20-2009, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

This is what I think will happen and what I think should happen
Posted via Mobile Device

I think that I have converted to this line of thinking. Raji is like a 7 ft center in basketball: you just don't have that many humans walking around with that body type. Add in the facts that he's considered a stud player by most and that the Chiefs are moving to a 3-4 scheme... I'm sold.

T-post Tom · 03-20-2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

I am extremely anxious for the draft. All this waiting and speculating is driving me nuts. Things are probably compounded by the fact that I have a lot of personal things going on in my life that I am waiting to unfold. Everything seems like its just around the corner.

God bless you brother. Take a deep breath and have a beer.

skky man · 03-20-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

I think that I have converted to this line of thinking. Raji is like a 7 ft center in basketball: you just don't have that many humans walking around with that body type. Add in the facts that he's considered a stud player by most and that the Chiefs are moving to a 3-4 scheme... I'm sold.

It sounds good but I've seen to many draft picks on DL over the last several years that seem like wasted picks to want to go down that road with such a high pick this year!

wazimo · 03-20-2009, 07:10 AM

How about we draft Raji and trade Dorsey to Gunther for their 20th overall and possibly their 3rd rounder? Detroit are in need of a DT after losing Rogers and that guy to GB. We could then possibly move up to take Oher as our RT, or stay at 20 for one of the many hybrid LB/DE's? I like Dorsey but not in the 3-4 (if we go to that scheme). Just a thought.

MOhillbilly · 03-20-2009, 07:15 AM

im ready for some football. cant wait to see the new look Chiefs hit the gridiron come fall.

Mecca · 03-20-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazimo

How about we draft Raji and trade Dorsey to Gunther for their 20th overall and possibly their 3rd rounder? Detroit are in need of a DT after losing Rogers and that guy to GB. We could then possibly move up to take Oher as our RT, or stay at 20 for one of the many hybrid LB/DE's? I like Dorsey but not in the 3-4 (if we go to that scheme). Just a thought.

If you wanna trade Dorsey start calling a team like Buffalo...they have a higher pick and it's kind of a no mans land pick for what they're going to be looking for.

Throw in Waters and you very well could get a 1 and a 3.

wazimo · 03-20-2009, 08:32 AM

Mecca,

I would love to make the trade with Buffalo but would not like to lose Shields. If we traded with buffalo we wouldn't need another pick to trade up for Oher, as he should be there at 11. I also think that's a fair trade for Dorsey, as he is not worth the # 5 a year later. Both teams should love this trade.

reiko57 · 03-20-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

I am extremely anxious for the draft. All this waiting and speculating is driving me nuts. Things are probably compounded by the fact that I have a lot of personal things going on in my life that I am waiting to unfold. Everything seems like its just around the corner.

lifes a waiting game

**Buehler445** · 03-20-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazimo

Mecca,

I would love to make the trade with Buffalo but would not like to lose Shields. If we traded with buffalo we wouldn't need another pick to trade up for Oher, as he should be there at 11. I also think that's a fair trade for Dorsey, as he is not worth the # 5 a year later. Both teams should love this trade.

I think you mean Waters.
Posted via Mobile Device

**Buehler445** · 03-20-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

If you wanna trade Dorsey start calling a team like Buffalo...they have a higher pick and it's kind of a no mans land pick for what they're going to be looking for.

Throw in Waters and you very well could get a 1 and a 3.

I thought Buffalo was pretty decent of the Dline after getting rid of Krummy? Is that not the case?
Posted via Mobile Device

shammus · 03-20-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazimo

Mecca,

I would love to make the trade with Buffalo but would not like to lose Shields. If we traded with buffalo we wouldn't need another pick to trade up for Oher, as he should be there at 11. I also think that's a fair trade for Dorsey, as he is not worth the # 5 a year later. Both teams should love this trade.

Shields??

wazimo · 03-20-2009, 09:43 AM

Sorry, I am too busy looking at Financials at this time of year. Although losing Shields was a huge blow for this team. Yes, I meant Waters. It could have been worse I could of brought up the names Bam Morris, Vanover, Ryan Sims, Lake Dawson or some other bad memory.

03-20-2009, 04:35 AM
T-post Tom Threepeat! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $4377293	And with the #3 pick the KC Chiefs take... B.J. Raji Raji would make a lot of sense considering true 3-4 NTs are difficult to find. Riser: Boston College's Raji a big man in draft class Posted: March 19, 2009 War Room scouts Sporting News More than 20 teams spent quality time with Boston College defensive lineman B.J. Raji at the NFL Scouting Combine, and apparently that wasn't enough to satisfy their craving for the best nose tackle in the 2009 draft. No wonder Raji is seen as a riser in April's draft. Offseason auditions including the Senior Bowl, Combine and on-campus workouts have yet to expose any skeletons in Raji's closet -- except those he collected while ransacking B.C. opponents. War Room scouts join in the praise for Raji, a 6-1, 330-pound monster who would fit in the middle of many NFL defenses. That's why in their latest mock draft, scouts project Raji as the third overall pick, going to the Kansas City Chiefs. Here's what they say about Raji: "The Chiefs debate between LB Aaron Curry and Raji. But to make the switch to a 3-4 defense, finding a nose tackle is much more important than a linebacker." The Denver Broncos are scheduled to meet with Raji on Friday at Boston College. The Detroit Lions played host to Raji this week. And with the Broncos and quarterback Jay Cutler at odds, these meetings could add smoke to rumors of a Cutler-to-Lions deal. War Room scouts still project Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford as the first player taken -- by the Lions, if they keep the pick, or the Broncos if they trade Cutler to get it. Denver's first pick for now is No. 12, so Raji will be long gone by the time the Broncos make that selection. Lions coach Jim Schwartz told Detroit reporters his team was doing its due diligence in meeting this week with Raji and Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew, the top tight end in this draft class. Raji is viewed as a rock on the defensive line, able to hold his ground against running plays. He also has the quickness to be an effective pass rusher. He was academically ineligible for the 2007 season but made up for that in 2008. He bolstered his stock with an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl. It appears he put the year off to good use. Raji told Scout.com that he made some of his biggest strides in performance during his senior year because of the progress he made in understanding the mental aspects of playing his position. "I understood the game a lot more than I did in previous years," Raji said. "I better understood how I was going to be attacked, at pre-snap I was able to get some good reads, whether it was going to be a double-team or how a player was going to block me. So that helped me choose what moves to use." War Room Scouts' latest mock draft is available online, with two full rounds of picks and analysis. Visit SN's Pro Football War Room for information and analysis on more than 400 draft prospects. Also, pick up a copy of Sporting News' 2009 Draft Guide, available online or at retailers. This week's Top 10 picks 1. Detroit Lions Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia 2. St. Louis Rams Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia 3. Kansas City Chiefs B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College 4. Seattle Seahawks Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest 5. Cleveland Browns Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas 6. Cincinnati Bengals Jason Smith, T, Baylor 7. Oakland Raiders Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech 8. Jacksonville Jaguars Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland 9. Green Bay Packers Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State 10. San Francisco 49ers Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal
Posts: 20,325

03-20-2009, 04:44 AM	#2
Pioli Zombie Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: olathe,kansas Casino cash: $10004900	This is what I think will happen and what I think should happen Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 11,077

03-20-2009, 07:10 AM	#7
wazimo Starter Join Date: Dec 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	How about we draft Raji and trade Dorsey to Gunther for their 20th overall and possibly their 3rd rounder? Detroit are in need of a DT after losing Rogers and that guy to GB. We could then possibly move up to take Oher as our RT, or stay at 20 for one of the many hybrid LB/DE's? I like Dorsey but not in the 3-4 (if we go to that scheme). Just a thought.
Posts: 64

03-20-2009, 07:15 AM	#8
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	im ready for some football. cant wait to see the new look Chiefs hit the gridiron come fall. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

03-20-2009, 08:32 AM	#10
wazimo Starter Join Date: Dec 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Mecca, I would love to make the trade with Buffalo but would not like to lose Shields. If we traded with buffalo we wouldn't need another pick to trade up for Oher, as he should be there at 11. I also think that's a fair trade for Dorsey, as he is not worth the # 5 a year later. Both teams should love this trade.
Posts: 64

03-20-2009, 04:53 AM	#3
2bikemike Born to Ride Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NWA Casino cash: $2225377	I am extremely anxious for the draft. All this waiting and speculating is driving me nuts. Things are probably compounded by the fact that I have a lot of personal things going on in my life that I am waiting to unfold. Everything seems like its just around the corner.
Posts: 16,305

03-20-2009, 09:43 AM	#15
wazimo Starter Join Date: Dec 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Sorry, I am too busy looking at Financials at this time of year. Although losing Shields was a huge blow for this team. Yes, I meant Waters. It could have been worse I could of brought up the names Bam Morris, Vanover, Ryan Sims, Lake Dawson or some other bad memory.
Posts: 64