Manny Lawson should be our 1st pick

[BigChiefFan]

Manny Lawson, N.C. State (6-5 3/8, 241, 4.45)
Lawson had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran his two 40s in 4.43 and 4.46 and recorded a 39½-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-4 long jump, a 4.18 short shuttle, a 6.90 three-cone drill and 23 bench presses. He played defensive end and running back in high school, and qualified for the State track meet in four different events. He played as a true freshman in 2002 and led the nation with three blocked punts. He also competed on the track team in the spring. He started three games in 2003 and won the ACC long jump in track competition with a 24-foot-3½ jump. Last season, he started 11 games at defensive end and had 10½ sacks. Lawson has great athletic ability with above-average toughness. He has very good pass-rush ability and very good quickness. He lacks bulk, but he should be able to put some on. He will be 22 years old in July. I think his best position is defensive end, but he most likely can play outside linebacker and can also be a very good special teams player.

Positives:
A quick pass rusher, Manny Lawson has great size and speed. A sack machine, he is physically gifted and does a great job of using that athleticism to blow through the line. Lawson has great experience and has faced very talented offensive lines, especially in the ACC. He has a very long reach and elusive, quick frame. Lawson also is very effective blocking kicks and punts.


Negatives:
Lawson has definitely benefited from the outstanding play of opposite defensive end Mario Williams. Could add some bulk if he wishes to play DE in the NFL. Lawson needs to become smarter and learn not to primarily use his speed to beat defenders because offensive linemen at the next level are more athletic.


Overview:
Should consider the switch to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense where he can rush the passer and use his athleticism to drop back in coverage. If he bulks up and adds muscle he could be very similar to a Demarcus Ware type player. Lawson has all the tools that can’t be taught, but needs to mature and become more polished to become a better pure player.


Positives


- Despite playing defensive end at NC State, Manny’s shown he has more than enough athleticism to drop back to play linebacker. He may actually be on of the faster LB prospects in the country, which makes the fact that he played DE fairly astounding. He’s an excellent pass rusher, racking up 7 sacks and 12 tackles for loss last year, but is also very good in run support. Also, he has great size for an Outside Linebacker.

Weaknesses


- Hasn’t played linebacker since his sophomore year, so there’s going to be a natural readjustment period. The first thing that the team that drafts him will have to work on is his coverage skills, because the speed of the game will have changed a great deal from his last LB duty. Plus, he had the benefit of playing across from possibly the best DE in the nation at NC State in Mario Williams, so his numbers may be a little inflated.

Overall Analysis


- The risk/reward value on Manny is one of the highest in the 2006 class. He could never meet his expectations due to the inability to return to the LB position at a high level, or he could turn out to be one of the most dangerous linebackers in the league. Manny’s ideal situation would probably be in a 3-4, which would having him standing up, but also allow the freedom to rush the passer very, very often.


Pros: ATHLETIC, has seen time at both DE and OLB, amazing speed and athleticism for the position, very quick off the bal; great pass rusher with long reach.
Cons: Tweener at both DE or OLB, could add some weight, not very strong, needs to get better against the run, overshadowed by Mario Williams.
Draft Exchange Analysis:
While he may be overshadowed by fellow standout DE Mario Williams, Manny Lawson is something special in his own right. He is incredibly fast (runs a 4.4) and has great size at 6’5” 245 lbs. While Many think that Mario is a better sack artist, Lawson actually lead the team in 2004 with 7 sacks. He has had an equally productive senior season amassing 70 tackles (20 for a loss), with 10 sacks, 21 QB pressures, 1 FF, and a Punt Block. While this may seem too good to be true, Lawson does have his flaws like everyone else. He falls into the Tweener category and would be well suited as a 3-4 OLB. He also could stand to add some weight to his lanky frame and needs to get better against the run. If he can accomplish those things, look for Lawson to be a best in the pros like his Mario.

One Word To Describe Lawson: Athletic / Overshadowed

Most Like: Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins

Best Fits: Houston, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Miami (3-4 Teams)
Worst Fits: Washington, St Louis, Baltimore


From gopack.com:

In 2004: A second-team All-ACC performer after ranking sixth in the conference with seven sacks for the season ... Former linebacker who ranked third on the team with a dozen tackles for loss and second with 17 quarterback pressures ... Named the Walter Camp Foundation's National Defensive Player of the Week after tallying three sacks in the win over Virginia Tech ... Also earned the ACC's Defensive Lineman of the Week honor for that performance ... Tallied a career-high 10 tackles against Florida State, including three tackles for loss and a sack ... Tied for second in school history with six blocked punts, that mark ranked sixth among current players nationally at the end of the season ... Co-recipient of the 2004 Cary Brewbaker Award, given to the most valuable defensive lineman ... Named the strength index champion for the Wolfpack linemen, he bench pressed 385 pounds, power cleaned 340 pounds, posted a 11'7 broad jump and a 37-1/2" vertical jump.

In 2003: Blocked a punt against Texas Tech and another against Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl ... A demon on special teams, he also scored a touchdown on a blocked punt against UNC ... Saw action at outside linebacker in every regular season contest, starting the Texas Tech and Georgia Tech contests ... Moved to right end in practice prior to the bowl game, he started at that position in the win over Kansas and tallied a seaon-high eight tackles, including a stop behind the line of scrimmage ... In for a season-high 50 snaps versus Texas Tech, he had a season-high seven tackles in that contest as well ... Competed on the track & field squad during the winter and spring, winning the ACC title in the indoor long jump with a mark of 24' 3-1/2 ... Finished second in that event outdoors with a 24'1/2 mark, he finished fifth in the outdoor triple jump (41'1/4) and fourth with the 4x100 meter relay with a time of 41.25 ... Named the Wolfpack's Special Teams Player of the Year .. Named Most Improved Defensive Lineman following 2004 spring drills, he also earned the Defensive Leadership Award ... One of the fastest players on the Wolfpack squad, his vertical jump is higher than the device used to measure that stat.

In 2002: Led the nation with three blocked punts in 2002, that total tied as the third-best single-season mark in school history ... Finished the season strong, with a season-high nine tackles in the win over Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl, he was in for just 21 snaps in that contest ... Had a key stop on a goalline stand, keeping the Irish from scoring any touchdowns ... His best game of the regular season was at Virginia, when he tallied seven tackles, including two third-down stops ... Blocked his first career kick versus UMass, he blocked a punt versus Clemson that Terrence Holt returned for a TD ... Also blocked a punt versus Florida State that was returned for a safety ... Co-winner of the Pack's Most Valuable Specialist award ... Competed with the Wolfpack track squad in the spring of 2003, in his first meet, he won the long jump and the triple jump in the Patroit Games ... Also captured first in the Carolina Heels Challenge in long jump and second in the long jump ... Posted the fastest time in the 60 meter hurdles (indoors) for NC State that season (8.55) ... Earned the Most Dominant Award for defense after spring workouts in 2003.

Prep: Recorded 54 tackles and 11 sacks as a senior for Coach Joe Mitchell... Also rushed for 456 yards ... Named his conference's defensive player of the year following his senior campaign ... Qualified for the state indoor track and field meet in four events: long jump, triple jump, 55-meter dash, and the 55-meter hurdles ... Majoring in industrial engineering ... Born 7/3/84.


http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=28...e4846c77f5c&f=

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Cleveland may go DT if Ngata is available.

Miami's priority is corner help after losing Surtain AND Madison.

Cowboys would be a good fit, but I believe they look to the future and pull the trigger on Cutler and surprise alot of people.

All 3 teams would be a good fit, but I can see them passing, too and going in another direction.

If Cutler lasts to MN, he's a Viking. I see Dallas being hard-pressed to pass on Lawson. He and Ware would give DCs fits....

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Cleveland may go DT if Ngata is available.

Miami's priority is corner help after losing Surtain AND Madison.

Cowboys would be a good fit, but I believe they look to the future and pull the trigger on Cutler and surprise alot of people.

All 3 teams would be a good fit, but I can see them passing, too and going in another direction.

Of course Cleveland could take Ngata if he is available, but if not then they would probably look for an OLB like Lawson or Wimbley to play opposite McGinest.

Miami certainly has needs in the secondary, but I don't you can definitely say that is their priority. Saban is a defensive guy and may see that they need help up front before addressing the secondary. Lawson would be Jason Taylor Jr in their defense.

Dallas could certainly use an OLB opposite Ware, and like Kotter said the combo of Ware and Lawson would drive opposing teams crazy for years.

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

If Cutler lasts to MN, he's a Viking. I see Dallas being hard-pressed to pass on Lawson. He and Ware would give DCs fits....

Again, all of the teams are a good fit for him, but I believe those teams have more pressing needs. Also, he doesn't have to go to a 3-4 defense like some are assuming-he's played in a 4-3 at the collegiate level.

The Cowboys would be a good fit, but with them taking Ware AND Burnett last year, I would be very surprised to see them not go after secondary help(if they go defense) as their priority in the draft.

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

The Cowboys would be a good fit, but with them taking Ware AND Burnett last year, I would be very surprised to see them not go after secondary help(if they go defense) as their priority in the draft.

Remember, the Cowboys picked up Marcus Coleman this offseason, and he is expected to play in the secondary w/ Roy Williams. With Newman, Bryant, and Glenn as their top 3 DBs, i'm not sure secondary is a priority at this point.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Maybe Lawson will be an everydown guy this year, maybe he won't.....however, I don't think that's the point. If he creates havoc and gets in the backfield consistently when he is on the field, then he is definitely worth a 1st round pick in my eyes.

We have NO ONE on this team that has the natural pass rush ability that he has, and adding a player like that to this defense will help immensely.

[jiveturkey]

Lawson would also add a little boost to ST's.

[CosmicPal]

I doubt he will be there for us for the 20th pick.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

I doubt he will be there for us for the 20th pick.

I actually think he will be there if things stay the way they are. I am more worried about someone behind us wanting him, and knowing the Chiefs have an interest in him, trading up to right in front of us to grab him.

[CosmicPal]

Originally Posted by Coogs

I actually think he will be there if things stay the way they are. I am more worried about someone behind us wanting him, and knowing the Chiefs have an interest in him, trading up to right in front of us to grab him.

If he is available, I'd definately take him. He can replace that worthless Kendra Bell and provide a rushing stand-up DE/LB opposite Jared Allen.

Or line him up over Jared Allen and have the two of them rushing together on that side- sheesh- nobody would be able to get a pass off then...

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

I doubt he will be there for us for the 20th pick.

That's what they said about Derrick Johnson last year, too.

Most mocks have (HB)Bush, (QB)Leinart, (DE)Williams, (OT)Ferguson,(QB)Young, (DB)Huff, (LB)Hawk, (DT) Ngata, (TE)Davis, (QB)Cutler, (DT) Bunkley, (OT)Justice, and (LB) Greenway going before we pick.

It's hard to say if Lawson will be available or not, but there is a good possibilty he could still be available.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

If he is available, I'd definately take him. He can replace that worthless Kendra Bell and provide a rushing stand-up DE/LB opposite Jared Allen.

Or line him up over Jared Allen and have the two of them rushing together on that side- sheesh- nobody would be able to get a pass off then...

Or we could play him full time at RDE, and move Allen over to LDE and push Hicks to the bench. I have seen Lawson play 3 or 4 times, and he isn't all that bad against the rush. Watch the Senior Bowl on one of the ESPN channels later this week. ESPNU I think. Lawson does a real nice job against Ferguson, who expected to be all that and a bit more at LT.

[BigChiefFan]

Combine's times and measurements: Feb. 27


INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 27, 2006) -- Missed the workouts on NFL Network? Get all the times and measurements from Monday's field drills.

Event Player College Result

Group 8 -- defensive linemen
40-yard dash
Mark Anderson Alabama 4.61
Charles Bennett Clemson 4.70
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 4.70
Elvis Dumervil Louisville 4.75
Charlton Keith Kansas 4.78
Parys Haralson Tennessee 4.80
Vertical jump
Mark Anderson Alabama 42
Ray Edwards Purdue 39
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 38½
Jason Hatcher Grambling 35½
Manaia Brown BYU 34½
Julian Jenkins Stanford 34½
Broad jump
Mark Anderson Alabama 10-foot-7
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 10-foot-3
Copeland Bryan Arizona 9-foot-9
Charles Bennett Clemson 9-foot-7
Parys Haralson Tennessee 9-foot-7
Ray Edwards Purdue 9-foot-6
Three-cone
Mark Anderson Alabama 6.95
Charlton Keith Kansas 7.03
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 7.05
Copeland Bryan Arizona 7.11
Julian Jenkins Stanford 7.11
Short shuttle
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 4.08
Mark Anderson Alabama 4.22
Julian Jenkins Stanford 4.23
Parys Haralson Tennessee 4.26
Copeland Bryan Arizona 4.30
Long shuttle
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 11.35
Mark Anderson Alabama 11.75
Copeland Bryan Arizona 11.83
Charlton Keith Kansas 11.98
Charles Bennett Clemson 12.04
Group 9 -- defensive linemen
40-yard dash
Manny Lawson NC State 4.43
Ryan LaCasse Syracuse 4.54
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 4.61
James Wyche Syracuse 4.63
Mario Williams NC State 4.66
Vertical jump
Mario Williams NC State 40½
Manny Lawson NC State 39½
Stanley McClover Auburn 39
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 38½
Mike Kudla Ohio State 37
Broad jump
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 10-foot-9
Manny Lawson NC State 10-foot-4
Mathias Kiwanuka Boston College 10-foot
Mario Williams NC State 9-foot-10
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 9-foot-8
Jeremy Mincey Florida 9-foot-8
20-yard shuttle
Mathias Kiwanuka Boston College 4.13
Manny Lawson NC State 4.18
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 4.18
Jeremy Mincey Florida 4.25
Ryan Lacasse Syracuse 4.30
Mario Williams NC State 4.36
60-yard shuttle
Manny Lawson NC State 11.08
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 11.33
Three-cone
Manny Lawson NC State 6.90
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 6.96
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St 6.97
Jeremy Mincey Florida 6.99
Mario Williams NC State 7.19

[Dave Lane]

Negatives:
Lawson has definitely benefited from the outstanding play of opposite defensive end Mario Williams.

This is all I need to read. No. Does Ryan Sims / Siavii come to mind? The second best DL on the team. No thanks.

Dave

[BigChiefFan]

Looks like Manny Lawson could be available, according to this latest draft...


MOCK DRAFT 9.0: Round 1
Pick Team Player Pos. School Previous Rising/Falling High/Low
1. Texans Reggie Bush RB Southern California 1st SAME 1st / 1st

The smoke was pretty thick for awhile, but in the end, Reggie Bush is just too rare of a talent for the Texans to pass up. Mario Williams' upside is certainly enough to warrant him being the first pick in most drafts, but not 2006. The Texans sent their first contract proposal to Bush's representation Friday. Expect a deal before the pick is made.
2. Saints Mario Williams DE N.C. State 5th (+3) 2nd / 5th
The Saints will ultimately fall back to Mario Williams because he is just too good to pass up. That said, the Saints are still looking to trade down. Their most likely partner remains the New York Jets, who would then take Williams. If the Saints are able to trade down, OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and OLB A.J. Hawk are the considerations.
3. Titans Matt Leinart QB USC 2nd (-1) 2nd / 3rd
The Titans are legitimately considering Vince Young with this pick, but with Steve McNair likely to be playing for the Baltimore Ravens next season, Tennessee cannot afford a project. The team has generally erred on the side of athleticism and upside, as past picks Steve McNair, Albert Haynesworth and Adfam "Pac-man" Jones have shown. However, Leinart's ability to make an immediate impact remains the overriding reason for the selection here.
4. Jets Jay Cutler QB Vanderbilt 13th (+9) 4th / 13th
Offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson remains a possibility, but the Jets are quite enamored with Cutler and will strongly consider the SEC's Player of the Year this season. Again, however, watch for a potential move from the Jets to acquire the second overall pick to land Williams.
5. Packers D'Brickashaw Ferguson OT Virginia 4th (-1) 2nd / 6th
Most likely the Packers will draft outside linebacker A.J. Hawk here. However, if an offensive tackle the caliber of Ferguson is available, don't be surprised to see them change their strategy. Elite offensive tackles are simply a rarer commodity than outside linebackers and whether Ferguson would be protecting Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, an improvement on the Packers' offensive line is needed.
6. 49ers A.J. Hawk OLB Ohio State 6th SAME 5th / 7th
The 49ers would seemingly be ecstatic with both Hawk and Vernon Davis on the board, and could go either way. With better depth at tight end and wide receiver in the later rounds, however, the team might go with the surer thing in Hawk. The former All-American linebacker is considered by some to be the safest pick of the draft.
7. Raiders Vernon Davis TE Maryland 8th (+1) 6th / 10th
The Raiders might consider quarterback Vince Young, but with a potential superstar in Davis available, the decision could easy. Davis is a steal at this point, and Oakland is high on 2005 draft pick QB Andrew Walter.
8. Bills Brodrick Bunkley DT Florida State 11th (+3) 8th / 12th
Assistant general manager Tom Modrak was fairly candid with the media about the team's preference for a defensive tackle with this selection. Bunkley fits new scheme best and is moving up the board after breaking the school record for tackles for loss in one season (25). One note, however. Should any of the top three quarterbacks make it this far down the board, watch out for a surprise turnaround selection. With a new coaching staff, often come new thoughts on the quarterback position, and J.P. Losman certainly hasn't done much in his first two seasons to warrant long-term confidence.
9. Lions Michael Huff DB Texas 7th (-2) 9th / 13th
The Lions would really like to see Huff still on the board. A heady, reliable defender like Huff, if available, would make the type of commitment-to-physicality statement the Lions are looking to make in the first round.
10. Cardinals Vince Young QB Texas 3rd (-7) 3rd / 13th
If Young begins to drop, watch for the Cardinals to explore trading up. Young sliding this far would be a bit of a surprise, and if not able to secure him, the Cardinals would likely focus on a defensive tackle Haloti Ngata or perhaps offensive tackle Winston Justice if he remained available. If Young makes it here, he is the pick. That might not be the case if either Leinart or Cutler fall this far.
11. Rams Chad Greenway OLB Iowa 17th (+6) 11th / 31st
The Rams have many options with this pick. Outside linebacker, defensive tackle, tight end and perhaps even quarterback — should one make it here — all make sense for various reasons. In the end, the Rams go with the surest thing in Greenway, a durable tackling machine who is rising late on draft boards.
12. Browns
Haloti Ngata DT Oregon 10th (-2) 10th / 18th
The two primary needs for the 3-4 alignment are a nose guard capable of occupying two blockers and outside linebackers. Though the Browns addressed each of these positions via free agency, they are still looking for depth. The Browns are thought to be extremely high on both Ngata and defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, and would seemingly be happy if either were available.
13. Ravens Kamerion Wimbley DE/OLB Florida State 12th (+1) 12th / 18th
The Ravens' three biggest needs are at safety, offensive line and quarterback. However, reports have the Ravens higher on Wimbley, or trading down to acquire more picks rather than go for offensive tackle Winston Justice, who is expected to be picked in the low teens. Wimbley has often been compared to former Seminole Peter Boulware and, with this selection, he'd be drafted to replace him.
14. Eagles Winston Justice OT USC 9th (-5) 9th / 18th
Andy Reid, a former offensive line coach himself, knows the value of a strong line. Jon Runyan recently re-signed and the team likes Shawn Andrews as his eventual replacement, but left tackle Tra Thomas is a bit of a question mark after back surgery this offseason. Justice, a career right tackle with left tackle athleticism, would give the Eagles plenty of options.
15. Broncos
(from Falcons) Chad Jackson WR Florida 15th SAME 14th / 29th
Former first-round pick Ashley Lelie continues to struggle with consistency and could be traded on draft day. Rod Smith can't last forever. Jackson likely made himself the draft's top wideout with a superb showing at the Combine, along with big-play ability (Florida-record 22.3 yards per catch) in 2004 and more consistency (tied Florida record with 88 receptions) in 2005. The Broncos surprised many when they selected cornerbacks with their first three picks last year. The team could pay similar attention this year to pass catchers, whether at receiver or tight end, throughout Day One.
16. Dolphins Jimmy Williams DB Virginia Tech 16th SAME 11th / 22nd
Nick Saban has shown a willingness to take a chance on inconsistent athletes with Ricky Williams and Manuel Wright. Williams wasn't as dominant at his Pro Day as expected and struggles with consistency at times, but is the draft's most gifted cornerback. Some might feel the Dolphins have addressed the need for corners with the recent free agent additions of Will Allen and Andre Goodman, but neither is a true playmaker to start along with Travis Daniels.
17. Vikings Ernie Sims LB Florida State 14th (-3) 14th / 23rd
Sims' great speed has earned him comparisons to Derrick Brooks, considered by many to the prototypical Cover-2 outside linebacker, and would be a good fit for the Vikings. Watch out for a surprise selection here of a running back. Though the Vikings added free agent Chester Taylor to be their bell-cow and have some depth, there are reports the club is intrigued by several runners, including LSU's Joseph Addai.

18. Cowboys Jason Allen FS Tennessee 18th SAME 15th / NR
The Cowboys would like to add a playmaking free safety opposite Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams. Allen, who missed most of the 2005 season with a dislocated hip, has drawn red flags from some teams' medical staffs, but is still considered a strong first round value. He could easily be the Cowboys' pick here even with the free agent addition of Marcus Coleman from Houston. Picks 18-32 could feature a historic run on defensive backs.
19. Chargers Santonio Holmes WR Ohio State 23rd (+4) 14th / NR
General manager A.J. Smith has essentially announced his intention to trade ultra-reliable linebacker Donnie Edwards. This comes on the heels of other moves that seemingly contradict the wishes of head coach Marty Schottenheimer (trading Drew Brees was the prime example). Schottenheimer has historically steered clear of wide receivers in the first round and this selection might signify the growing rift between the front office and coaching staff. That said, Holmes' playmaking ability would clearly fill a need for the speed-starved Chargers.
20. Chiefs
(from Bills) Johnathan Joseph CB South Carolina 20th SAME 16th / 30th
After releasing Eric Warfield and Dexter McCleon, the Chiefs will strongly consider top cornerback prospects with their first-round pick. Only Jimmy Williams is considered a lock for the top 20, however, and the Chiefs might have to reach a little. Joseph is a spectacular talent, but is a gamble as the junior essentially played only one season at the D-I level. Joseph transferred to South Carolina following one season at Coffey Community College and lost most of the 2004 season to a broken foot.
21. Patriots Donte Whitner S Ohio State 26th (+5) 21st / NR
Bigger holes can be found at linebacker, receiver and arguably even running back, but the Patriots have been strongly investigating the high ranking safeties of this draft. Whitner is skyrocketing up boards amid the belief that he might be versatile enough to handle any position in the defensive backfield, including cornerback.
22. 49ers
(from Broncos via Redskins) Manny Lawson DE/OLB N.C. State 22nd SAME 11th / NR
With the free-agent departures of outside linebackers Julian Peterson and Andre Carter, the prospect of landing Lawson might have been a driving force behind the 49ers sending second- and third-round picks to Denver for this selection. Lawson posted 10.5 sacks his senior season and has the potential to become a big playmaker in a 3-4 scheme. The 49ers will consider Lawson here regardless of what direction they go with the sixth pick.
23. Buccaneers Tye Hill CB Clemson 19th (-4) 15th / 31st
Tampa's Cover-2 defensive scheme doesn't necessarily require cornerbacks with Hill's speed, but his agility and burst are highly valued. Tampa has plenty of options with this pick and the general consensus is they'll simply take the best available player. Hill is ranked quite high by some team, but could conceivably tumble down the board due to a wealth of corners ranked so closely and his lack of size (5-10, 185).
24. Bengals Antonio Cromartie CB Florida State 28th (+4) 18th / NR
Under Marvin Lewis the Bengals have shown a willingness to gamble on playmakers. Cromartie, with only one start to his credit, certainly is a playmaker, as he scored touchdowns on three of his six career turnovers (5 INTs, 1 fumble recovery) and is also a talented return man. Cromartie is raw, but coaches at Florida State claim he is the best athlete they've had since Deion Sanders.
25. Giants Bobby Carpenter LB Ohio State 21st (-4) 21st / NR
Even with the free agent addition of LaVar Arrington, insiders tell us the Giants are quite high on Carpenter and will strongly consider him here. The team selected OG Chris Snee, the son-in-law of head coach Tom Coughlin, two years ago and could make another sentimental selection here, as Bobby is the son of former Giant standout, Rob Carpenter.
26. Bears Ashton Youboty CB Ohio State 24th (-2) 24th / NR
Though the Chicago defense certainly established itself as one of the NFL's best last season, the Bears' struggles stopping wide receiver Steve Smith in the playoffs served as a red flag. Expect the team to address its defensive backfield in the first round. Youboty has the size and pure speed that other Bears cornerbacks lack.
27. Panthers LenDale White RB Southern California 27th SAME 14th / 32nd
LenDale White's torn hamstring could drop him out of the first round. However, teams willing to look past the injury and instead focus on his 57 career touchdowns, tied for the Pac-10 record, could be rewarded. The Panthers' power running game would be a great fit for White and the team is certainly looking for depth at the position with the brittle DeShaun Foster as the starter. White could be the first of an intriguing late run on backs to finish the first round.
28. Jaguars Joseph Addai RB LSU NR (NR) 28th / NR
Thirty-year-old Fred Taylor has missed starts each of the past two seasons and while the depth behind him is solid in Greg Jones and Alvin Pearman, neither is considered a potential feature back. Addai is moving up the board as the draft approaches and could be a surprise selection here. The Jaguars are expected to look for a tight end and outside linebacker on the first day and will consider any prospects of value. They also are thought to be quite high on Cromartie.
29. Jets
(from Broncos) DeAngelo Williams RB Memphis 25th (-4) 21st / NR
The Jets will look for a future replacement for aging star Curtis Martin throughout the draft. If a back of Williams' caliber is available with this selection, he certainly would be a consideration.
30. Colts Laurence Maroney RB Minnesota 30th SAME 24th / 30th
Maroney's vision and smooth running style make him a natural fit for the Colts, who are looking toward the draft to replace Edgerrin James.
31. Seahawks Kelly Jennings CB Miami 31st SAME 20th / NR
The Seahawks feel their top remaining priority is the defensive backfield. Hill and Jennings are two corners whose slight frames could drop them down the board a bit. Scouts appreciate Jennings' consistency and 40 career starts for the Hurricanes.
32. Steelers Nick Mangold C Ohio State 29th (-3) 28th / NR
If Mangold were to fall into Pittsburgh's lap, the Steelers would be facing a dilemma. While they have capable starters and depth throughout the interior of their offensive line, the team feels Mangold is a legitimate first-round pick. Safety Darnell Bing or wide receiver Demetrius Williams are other options should the team elect to fill a greater need.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Negatives:
Lawson has definitely benefited from the outstanding play of opposite defensive end Mario Williams.

This is all I need to read. No. Does Ryan Sims / Siavii come to mind? The second best DL on the team. No thanks.

Dave

I don't know that you could definitively say that about Lawson. In many ways, Williams benefitted from Lawson's presence too.

The guy that makes this more like the Sims scenario is John McCargo. Lawson is a playmaker in his own right, if you watch the film.