Anyong Bluth
04-22-2008, 12:49 PM
Nothing big, just figured people would like to see what info they have as the draft approaches...
Falcons leaning toward Ryan
The more sources we talk to, the more we hear that the Atlanta Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) are leaning toward taking QB Matt Ryan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11586) with the No. 3 overall pick. The Falcons had two visits with DT Glenn Dorsey (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11996) in the past 10 days -- one on the LSU campus, the other in Atlanta -- and they think he is a perfect fit for what they would like to do defensively, but general manager Tom Dimitroff is apparently considering how his former employers, the New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe), built their team in a somewhat unorthodox manner. Most teams like to build from the inside out, first improving on both sides of the line of scrimmage then moving to the skill positions, but the Patriots got lucky with Tom Brady in the sixth round in 1999 and put their own spin on that system. So why not take Ryan at No. 3 if Atlanta is convinced he has the intangibles to become a Brady-like leader and passer? The chatter in recent weeks has had the Falcons taking Ryan only if Dorsey is off the board, but it is looking more and more like Ryan could be their guy. And make no mistake about it, this is a Dimitroff decision. Owner Arthur Blank is sticking to his word that he will offer only opinions and allow Dimitroff to make all the football decisions. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/nyj.gif
Jets high on Ryan, too
Call it a smoke screen or simply a leak from the draft room, but word is the New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj) would seriously consider taking Ryan if he should fall to their spot at No. 6 overall. We've talked to three league sources who are convinced New York would snatch Ryan up at that spot even though they drafted Kellen Clemens just two years ago. That's good news for the Kansas City Chiefs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=kan) at No. 5, who have seen the Jets and Patriots (No. 7) get plenty of interest in their picks from teams looking to trade up but might now hear from teams wanting to get ahead of New York in order to select Ryan. We're also hearing that Carolina is in love with Ryan as well and is maybe the team most likely to trade into the top seven to get him. http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0225/nfl_u_henne_65.jpg
Henne creating first-round buzz
Chad Henne (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12045) continues to be the hot name as the likely second quarterback off the board. Many scouts are in love with either Brian Brohm (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12009) (consistent, accurate and steady) or Joe Flacco (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11486) (great size and arm strength, deceptive mobility) as that second guy, but there is widespread buzz that a mystery team picking somewhere in the teens is in love with Henne and is in a dilemma over how to get him. No one seems to know which team it is -- perhaps Carolina (No. 13), Chicago (No. 14) or even Minnesota (No. 17). But the general feeling is that the team knows it would be reaching to take him that high in the first round and would like to trade back a bit in order to get better value with Henne and also pick up an extra pick in a later round. That would obviously be the first priority, as the options of trading up into the top of the second round or simply staying put and hoping Henne is available in the middle of the second round are not nearly as attractive. Should Henne come off the board that early, there would then be added urgency late in the first round and early in the second for those teams looking to fill a need at quarterback. That would mean some combination of Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago and maybe Minnesota all fighting for the right to draft Brohm or Flacco. Stay tuned because we're digging to bring you the name of that mystery team. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/nor.gif
Saints looking to move up
After talking to a person familiar with the New Orleans Saints (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nor)' draft-planning, it is clear they are actively seeking a reasonable deal to move into the top five. The St. Louis Rams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=stl) at No. 2 are the primary target as the Saints would like to get Dorsey, and the secondary options include trading up to No. 4 (Oakland), No. 5 (Kansas City) or No. 7 (New England) to get second-rated DT Sedrick Ellis (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11738). If they can't get a deal done, the Saints could stay home at No. 10 and hope OLB Keith Rivers (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11737) falls to them, trade back and get one of the top cornerbacks later in the first round, or stay at 10 and select the top corner on their board -- we're hearing Mike Jenkins (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11730) -- if Rivers is not available at that point. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/den.gif
RB Stewart headed to Denver?
Following up on a note from last week, RB Jonathan Stewart (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12151) continues to be a hot topic in scouting circles as he moves back up the board following turf toe surgery in March. Stewart's surgery combined with several nagging injuries during his college career sent his stock sliding, but now that he has healed and tested for teams again it is clear most are comfortable that his toe is not an issue. Denver (No. 12) and Carolina seem to have the most interest among teams in the top 20, and we're told the chances are good that the Broncos will take Stewart if their favorite offensive tackle prospect -- Chris Williams (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11840) -- is off the board. Denver has always felt it could find running backs in the later rounds and turn them into 1,000-yard rushers in its zone-blocking system, but that philosophy has not worked out in recent years and the Broncos obviously think Stewart would be a nice fit in their offense.
Falcons leaning toward Ryan
The more sources we talk to, the more we hear that the Atlanta Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) are leaning toward taking QB Matt Ryan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11586) with the No. 3 overall pick. The Falcons had two visits with DT Glenn Dorsey (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11996) in the past 10 days -- one on the LSU campus, the other in Atlanta -- and they think he is a perfect fit for what they would like to do defensively, but general manager Tom Dimitroff is apparently considering how his former employers, the New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe), built their team in a somewhat unorthodox manner. Most teams like to build from the inside out, first improving on both sides of the line of scrimmage then moving to the skill positions, but the Patriots got lucky with Tom Brady in the sixth round in 1999 and put their own spin on that system. So why not take Ryan at No. 3 if Atlanta is convinced he has the intangibles to become a Brady-like leader and passer? The chatter in recent weeks has had the Falcons taking Ryan only if Dorsey is off the board, but it is looking more and more like Ryan could be their guy. And make no mistake about it, this is a Dimitroff decision. Owner Arthur Blank is sticking to his word that he will offer only opinions and allow Dimitroff to make all the football decisions. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/nyj.gif
Jets high on Ryan, too
Call it a smoke screen or simply a leak from the draft room, but word is the New York Jets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nyj) would seriously consider taking Ryan if he should fall to their spot at No. 6 overall. We've talked to three league sources who are convinced New York would snatch Ryan up at that spot even though they drafted Kellen Clemens just two years ago. That's good news for the Kansas City Chiefs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=kan) at No. 5, who have seen the Jets and Patriots (No. 7) get plenty of interest in their picks from teams looking to trade up but might now hear from teams wanting to get ahead of New York in order to select Ryan. We're also hearing that Carolina is in love with Ryan as well and is maybe the team most likely to trade into the top seven to get him. http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0225/nfl_u_henne_65.jpg
Henne creating first-round buzz
Chad Henne (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12045) continues to be the hot name as the likely second quarterback off the board. Many scouts are in love with either Brian Brohm (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12009) (consistent, accurate and steady) or Joe Flacco (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11486) (great size and arm strength, deceptive mobility) as that second guy, but there is widespread buzz that a mystery team picking somewhere in the teens is in love with Henne and is in a dilemma over how to get him. No one seems to know which team it is -- perhaps Carolina (No. 13), Chicago (No. 14) or even Minnesota (No. 17). But the general feeling is that the team knows it would be reaching to take him that high in the first round and would like to trade back a bit in order to get better value with Henne and also pick up an extra pick in a later round. That would obviously be the first priority, as the options of trading up into the top of the second round or simply staying put and hoping Henne is available in the middle of the second round are not nearly as attractive. Should Henne come off the board that early, there would then be added urgency late in the first round and early in the second for those teams looking to fill a need at quarterback. That would mean some combination of Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Chicago and maybe Minnesota all fighting for the right to draft Brohm or Flacco. Stay tuned because we're digging to bring you the name of that mystery team. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/nor.gif
Saints looking to move up
After talking to a person familiar with the New Orleans Saints (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nor)' draft-planning, it is clear they are actively seeking a reasonable deal to move into the top five. The St. Louis Rams (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=stl) at No. 2 are the primary target as the Saints would like to get Dorsey, and the secondary options include trading up to No. 4 (Oakland), No. 5 (Kansas City) or No. 7 (New England) to get second-rated DT Sedrick Ellis (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11738). If they can't get a deal done, the Saints could stay home at No. 10 and hope OLB Keith Rivers (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11737) falls to them, trade back and get one of the top cornerbacks later in the first round, or stay at 10 and select the top corner on their board -- we're hearing Mike Jenkins (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11730) -- if Rivers is not available at that point. http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/den.gif
RB Stewart headed to Denver?
Following up on a note from last week, RB Jonathan Stewart (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12151) continues to be a hot topic in scouting circles as he moves back up the board following turf toe surgery in March. Stewart's surgery combined with several nagging injuries during his college career sent his stock sliding, but now that he has healed and tested for teams again it is clear most are comfortable that his toe is not an issue. Denver (No. 12) and Carolina seem to have the most interest among teams in the top 20, and we're told the chances are good that the Broncos will take Stewart if their favorite offensive tackle prospect -- Chris Williams (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11840) -- is off the board. Denver has always felt it could find running backs in the later rounds and turn them into 1,000-yard rushers in its zone-blocking system, but that philosophy has not worked out in recent years and the Broncos obviously think Stewart would be a nice fit in their offense.