Terez Paylor mocks us a CB

[RunKC]

1. Houston Texans: DE Jadeveon Clowney, 6-5, 266, South Carolina

If the Texans don’t force a quarterback here, they’ll take the best player on the board. That’s Clowney, one of the most talented defensive ends to enter the draft in a long time.

2. St. Louis Rams: LT Greg Robinson, 6-5, 332, Auburn

With Clowney off the board, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack and Greg Robinson are widely considered to be the elite prospects remaining. Watkins will be tempting — despite taking four receivers in the top four rounds since coach Jeff Fisher took over, they still don’t have a clear No. 1 — but the Rams just signed Kenny Britt, so they do have some flexibility here.

Left tackle Jake Long is rehabbing after tearing his ACL and MCL late last season, so Robinson — a mauler in the running game who flashes great potential in pass protection — offers insurance in the short-term. If Long is ready to go this season, Robinson could also step in and be a dominant left guard as he refines his technique in preparation for a future move to left tackle.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Sammy Watkins, 6-1, 211, Clemson

If the Jaguars aren’t in love with any of the top quarterbacks, they might just pick one in the second round and go with Watkins, an established playmaker with blazing speed who has all the tools needed to be a top-shelf receiver in the National Football League. He blows by cornerbacks, tracks the ball well and also has the ability to contribute as a returner.

4. Cleveland Browns: QB Blake Bortles, 6-5, 232, Central Florida

The Texans’ and Jaguars’ decisions to pass on a quarterback benefits the Browns, who now have their choice of the top three prospects at the position. Of the three, I have them going with Bortles, a late-riser who possesses prototypical size and plus intangibles. He also excels at running bootlegs and playaction, which will fit well in Kyle Shanahan’s version of the West Coast offense. Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater could also be options here.

5. Oakland Raiders: OLB Khalil Mack, 6-2, 251, Buffalo

The Raiders are trying to contend this year, and Mack is a plug-and-play type who will immediately help the defense with his versatility and ability to rush the passer. Mack can help out at defensive end, where LaMarr Woodley, Justin Tuck and Kevin Burnett are all 29 or older. He can also help out as a conventional outside linebacker in the Raiders’ 4-3 scheme, though 2013 third-round pick Sio Moore flashed potential there, too. There are a lot of bodies up front for the Raiders but it’s hard to pass on a blue-chip talent like Mack.

6. Atlanta Falcons: OT Jake Matthews, 6-5, 308, Texas A&M

The Falcons have to do a better job protecting quarterback Matt Ryan — the guy was sacked a career-high 44 times last season. Rectifying this starts with fortifying the edges, where tackles Sam Baker and Lamar Holmes struggled mightily last season. There’s no doubt what Matthews can do; the guy is a plug-and-play tackle at either left tackle or right tackle, a rock-solid option with fantastic bloodlines (he’s the son of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews).

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans, 6-5, 231, Texas A&M

With the recent trade of Mike Williams, the Bucs could easily scoop up a wide receiver here. New quarterback Josh McCown thrived in Chicago with two big receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and the Bucs have a chance to recreate some of that magic by teaming up Evans — a massive receiver with strong ball skills —with another big, established playmaker in Vincent Jackson.

8. Minnesota Vikings: QB Johnny Manziel, 6-1, 207, Texas A&M

New offensive coordinator Norv Turner could use a long-term option at quarterback who is better than Matt Cassel, and there are no shortage of options still on the board. The Vikings could go with Bridgewater, Manziel or even David Carr, but Manziel has the arm strength and competiveness to make Turner’s vertical offense sing.

9. Buffalo Bills: TE Eric Ebron, 6-4, 250, North Carolina

The Bills could use a right tackle, so if Matthews falls here, he could be the pick. But after investing a first-round pick in quarterback E.J. Manuel last year, the Bills may give their young quarterback a weapon in the athletic Ebron, who is the draft’s best prospect at tight end.

10. Detroit Lions: OLB Anthony Barr, 6-4, 255, UCLA

The Lions wouldn’t mind taking Evans if he was still on the board, but Barr is a nice consolation prize. As a former fullback, he lacks polish and is still developing his football instincts, but his combination of size, speed, burst and collegiate production makes him an intriguing fit in Detroit’s attacking 4-3 defense. He’s a high-upside prospect worth taking a chance on.

11. Tennessee Titans: QB Teddy Bridgewater, 6-2, 214, Louisville

The Titans aren’t expected to pick up the option on Jake Locker’s contract, which means he’s essentially on a one-year audition in Tennessee. Enter Bridgewater, whose stock has fallen since a disappointing pro day but still has the pocket presence and smarts to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. There are some questions about his thin frame, but in this scenario, Bridgewater could sit for a year and develop behind Locker before taking over in 2015.

12. New York Giants: OT Taylor Lewan, 6-7, 309, Michigan

The Giants could use an upgrade at left tackle, so while the Giants rarely spend high picks on linemen, the chance to add a top-10 talent in Lewan — at a position of need, no less — could prove to be too tempting to pass up.

13. St. Louis Rams: CB Justin Gilbert, 6-0, 202, Oklahoma State

The Rams need help at safety, but their starters at the position last season — Rodney McLeod and T.J. McDonald — are only 23 years old. They should get better. So instead of safety, the Rams go with Gilbert, a player whose speed and ball skills potentially give coach Jeff Fisher and new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams another chess piece for their attacking defense.

14. Chicago Bears: DT Aaron Donald, 6-1, 285, Pittsburgh

Donald is small for a defensive lineman, but there’s no doubting his production, quickness or motor. This guy has checked all the boxes during the pre-draft period and is an ideal fit as a three-technique defensive tackle to replace Henry Melton, who bolted for Dallas this offseason.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Darqueze Dennard, 5-11, 199, Michigan State

Dennard is an aggressive, physical press-man corner who fits the profile of the type of player defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau likes at the position.

16. Dallas Cowboys: S Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, 6-1, 218, Alabama

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones loves big names, and Clinton-Dix fits the bill, thanks to in large part to his amusing nickname (which is Ha Ha). But the Cowboys also need plenty of help at safety, and while Clinton-Dix isn’t elite in any area, he’s competent in several, which makes him a plug-and-player for Jones.

17. Baltimore Ravens: OT Zack Martin, 6-4, 308, Notre Dame

General manager Ozzie Newsome has an eye for talent and often leans toward taking the best player on the board. Fortunately for him, Martin is still out there. He’s smart and versatile and should be able to step right in at right tackle and contribute. As an added bonus, he also plays center and guard.

18. New York Jets: WR Odell Beckham Jr., 5-11, 198, Louisiana State

Brandin Cooks and Marqise Lee are also options here, but Beckham is bigger than Cooks and doesn’t have Lee’s injury woes. Beckham’s ability to stretch the field, play inside or outside and contribute on special teams makes him a potential contributor from day one.

19. Miami Dolphins: LB C.J. Mosley, 6-2, 234, Alabama

New Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey is reportedly a fan of taking the best player available, and Mosley — a smart three-down linebacker with excellent intangibles — fits the bill. He also fills a need at inside linebacker.

20. Arizona Cardinals: OLB Ryan Shazier, 6-1, 237, Ohio State

Shazier is a nice fit for the Cardinals, a run-and-hit outside linebacker who is coming off a strong junior season in which he finished as the Big Ten’s leading tackler. His size is a concern, but he covers a ton of ground (he ran a 4.4 40 during his pro day) and the Cardinals have the size up front to protect him.

21. Green Bay Packers: S Calvin Pryor, 5-11, 207, Louisville

The Packers get a break and select perhaps the most imposing hitter in the 2014 draft class. Pryor is a physical player who will fit right in next to Morgan Burnett in the Packers’ secondary.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Marqise Lee, 6-0, 192, Southern California

If anybody knows what Lee can do, it’s Philly coach Chip Kelly. He coached against him in 2011 and 2012, back when Kelly was at Oregon and Lee was ripping up Pac-12 defenses. Lee’s durability is a concern, but he is a natural playmaker with the speed and talent to stretch the field the way Kelly likes.

23. Chiefs: CB Bradley Roby, 5-11, 194, Ohio State`

At this range, the Chiefs might be tempted to look at Zack Martin, who can play guard, and big-play receivers like Marqise Lee and Brandin Cooks. But in Roby, they can also take a feisty, physical and fluid athlete who was inconsistent as a junior but was once regarded as a top-15 pick. He’s a tad shorter than the Chiefs general manager John Dorsey typically likes — just a tick under 6-feet tall — but he does have long arms and tends to play bigger than his size.

The Chiefs have already given big-time money to Sean Smith and Brandon Flowers, but for a team in the AFC West, the road to the Super Bowl leads through Denver and star quarterback Peyton Manning, and the Chiefs’ two losses to the Broncos — not to mention their playoff loss to Indianapolis — showed you can never have enough cornerbacks.

Adding Roby to the mix, along with Marcus Cooper and Chris Owens, gives the Chiefs at least five playable cornerbacks. It also provides valuable insurance at the position in case the team decides to save money next year by cutting Smith or Flowers.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: DE Kony Ealy, 6-4, 273, Missouri

The Bengals could use a little more juice on their defensive line, especially after the free-agent departure of defensive end Michael Johnson. Ealy has the tools to be a good professional defensive end.

25. San Diego Chargers: NT Louis Nix III, 6-2, 331, Notre Dame

San Diego is reportedly comfortable with Sean Lissemore at nose tackle, but Nix is a massive space eater who fits the bill as a run-stuffer in the Chargers’ 3-4 defense.

26. Cleveland Browns: CB Kyle Fuller, 6-0, 190, Virginia Tech

Fuller’s stock has been rising. He has a good football pedigree — two of his brothers have played in the NFL while his youngest brother now plays at Virginia Tech — and he has the talent to step right in next to star cornerback Joe Haden and solidify the position for years to come.

27. New Orleans Saints: OLB Dee Ford, 6-2, 252, Auburn

Ford is a pass rusher, though and through, and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan knows exactly how to use guys like that in his 3-4 defense.

28. Carolina Panthers: WR Brandin Cooks, 5-9, 189, Oregon State

After the team parted ways with Ted Ginn and Steve Smith, finding a target for star quarterback Cam Newton should be a priority. Cooks is a player whose strong pre-draft workouts are backed up by his junior year film, so he could very easily go before this point. If he lasts to No. 28, consider it a steal for the Panthers.

29. New England Patriots: DT Ra’Shede Hageman, 6-5, 318, Minnesota

The Patriots’ starting defensive tackles are well over 30, and while a handful of young backups played well last year, none of them have the athleticm and talent of Hageman. He’s raw, but if anybody can help him reach his potential, it’s Bill Belichick.

30. San Francisco 49ers: CB Jason Verrett, 5-9, 189, Texas Christian

Verrett is small, so long-term durability is a concern. But the 49ers need quality depth at cornerback, and Verrett has the speed, aggressiveness and ball skills to contribute immediately as a nickel corner.

31. Denver Broncos: OLB Jeremiah Attoachu, 6-3, 252, Georgia Tech

Attoachu is a pass-rusher with a chance to develop into a long-term starter. Given Von Miller’s off-field troubles and DeMarcus Ware’s age (31), it certainly wouldn’t hurt to add a little edge-rushing insurance.

32. Seattle Seahawks: DT Stephon Tuitt, 6-5, 304, Notre Dame

The Seahawks lost some key members of their defensive line this offseason, but Tuitt can step right in and contribute immediately. He can anchor against the run and he also displayed pass-rushing production in college. If he’s over the injuries that slowed him down last year, he could be a steal.

To reach Terez A. Paylor, call 816-234-4489 or send email to tpaylor@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/TerezPaylor.


Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/12...#storylink=cpy

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by milkman

This defwnse needs a FS far more than a CB.

You stupid ****ers all bitch and moan that Bob Sutton didn't make any adjustments, when, in fact, he did.

He tried to cover foir the gaping hole at free safety by lining the corners off the line after teams began to exploit deep routes that Lewis failed to help with.

The problem is that it allowed teams to rape this defense on the quick dink and dunks that the Mannings and Rivers of the world thrive on.

Find a FS that can play the single high technique, and allow these corners to play the press physical coverage that they thrive on, and this secondary is plenty good enough to play against the QBs that scare your dumb asses.

All well said... only issue is you're likely going to have to reach early (round 1) for one or move up into round 2 somehow to get one of the others that will be around. That is, unless you can trade down which will be easier said than done this year. Ideally, I like Deone Buchanon out of Washington State, but he's looking like he'll go in round 2.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by RunKC

All of our losses were to the Broncos, Chargers and Colts.

Our offense was able to score against them. We lost because we couldn't stop their pass offense. And on top of that you have to worry about Tom Brady.

CB being picked at 23 doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I'm not sure that CB is necessarily the issue.

Poor LB and FS help were more instrumental in those losses than deficiencies on outside coverage, IMO. Neither Lewis nor Jordan were very effective in providing help on passing downs. I'm trying to think back over the past season and I can't remember Jordan doing much of anything. I'm not sure how much Mays is going to help either in that regard.

That being said, we do need some additional help at the CB position, much in the same manner as we need it at the OLB or OT spots. Starters are fine, but there isn't anything behind them.

However, I'm not sold on spending a first round pick on what is going to amount to a backup for the foreseeable future (3 years or so). The holes at OG, MLB and WR are certainly more demanding of attention.

Are you more comfortable with Joe Mays than Kyle Van Noy?

Are you more comfortable with with Donnie Avery than Marquis Lee/Brandin Cooks/Odell Beckham?

Are you more comfortable with Roke Watkins/Jeff Allen than Gabe Jackson/Xavier S'ua-Filo?

Are you more comfortable with Sean Smith/Brandon Flowers than Bradley Roby?

As Milk has said a couple of times, it wasn't necessarily that our corners or Sutton failed us, it was FS that ultimately led to our demise. (And I'd contend that the other ILB spot manned by Jordan didn't help matters either.)

Now, we will have a healthy Sanders Commings along with the recent signing of Jerron McMillian to go with Husain Abdullah and Eric Berry. In Commings, McMillian and Berry, you've got three guys who run in the mid 4.4's with very good verticals. I think our safety corps will be much improved this next season.

[BossChief]

Positions that shouldn't even be on te draft board for the 23 slot:

CB
C
G
OT
ILB
RB
FB
K/P

All of those positions are either extremely deep, where a player of similar ability can be had later in the draft (CB, OT) or are a position not worth of that high of a pick.

Taking Roby in what could be the best corner class in the last 20 years would be a massive waste of a valuable resource.

[BossChief]

Also, this is one of the poorest written pieces to make it past editors in quite some time.

"Though and through" ? Really?

The Chiefs could go Marquise Lee here (even though Lee goes to the Eagles before our pick)

I don't want to list the rest of the crap

['Hamas' Jenkins]

The thing about taking a guy like Ealy is that he improves your run and pass defense simultaneously. Corners can't really do that.

[BossChief]

I'd love it if we draft Ealy at 23.

[The Franchise]

Offensive line is pretty much the only position I'd be upset if we drafted at 23.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by SNR

Goodell took your request under consideration and decided to delay the draft a full 2 weeks later.

I will murder him in his own home...

[chiefzilla1501]

I'm not a fan of Roby and I've seen a lot of him. Not bad talent, but a pea brain. And for as much as I hear about how fast he is, he never seemed to play very fast. I'd be really worried about a guy like that who constantly got beat against the kind of garbage schedule OSU had last year.

Drafting a corner isn't a bad idea. But not high at all on Roby.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Positions that shouldn't even be on te draft board for the 23 slot:

CB
C
G
OT
ILB
RB
FB
K/P

All of those positions are either extremely deep, where a player of similar ability can be had later in the draft (CB, OT) or are a position not worth of that high of a pick.

Taking Roby in what could be the best corner class in the last 20 years would be a massive waste of a valuable resource.

So WR shouldn't be on the board either since it's the deepest and best WR class in 10 years, right?

[Coochie liquor]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

And I think that Moncrief goes above Beckham with those non-limiters as Beckham does Cooks.

Those limiters being size, arm length, verticality, speed, blocking ability, etc.

All three are exceptionally solid WR prospects, run solid routes, do the little things, but when you consider that:

Cooks: 5'10", 189 lbs., 30 3/4" arms, 9 5/8" hands, 4.33 40, 36.0" vert, 120" broad
Beckham: 5'11", 195 lbs., 32 3/4" arms, 10" hands, 4.43 40, 38.5" vert, 122" broad
Moncrief: 6'2 1/2", 221 lbs., 32 3/8" arms, 9 1/8" hands, 4.40 40, 39.5" vert, 132" broad

Beckham is bigger than Cooks with better explosiveness, Moncrief is bigger than Beckham with more explosiveness.

All three run great routes. All three block well. All three jet off the line.

What's the difference? What's the "limitations" on one versus the other?

All things being relatively equal, I take the guy who's 6'2 1/2", 221 lbs., versus the 5'10", 189 lb. guy because he's going to be able to be more physical, take more punishment, be more effective in blocking, etc.

I agree I'd also take the bigger guy IF I were taking a wr in round 1. But I hope we go D in the first and 3rd. Our D lost us way more games than out O did.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by RunKC

So WR shouldn't be on the board either since it's the deepest and best WR class in 10 years, right?

I think there are 5 or 6 WRs in this class that have a chance to be special players.

Watkins
Lee
Evans
Beckam
Cooks

Maybe Benjamin

While this is a deep receiver class, I don't see any of the other guys even close to this group.

[The Franchise]

It all depends on what you think would be better for this team.

1st - OLB/DE
3rd - WR
4th - CB

or

1st - WR
3rd - CB
4th - OLB/DE

or

1st - CB
3rd - OLB/DE
4th - WR

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

It all depends on what you think would be better for this team.

1st - OLB/DE
3rd - WR
4th - CB

or

1st - WR
3rd - CB
4th - OLB/DE

or

1st - CB
3rd - OLB/DE
4th - WR

All of our losses were because of the defense. We're FAR older on defense than offense. Our HC is an offensive genius.

It would make more sense to go defense IMO. I'm not putting my entire faith in a ****ing 5th rd safety to be the messiah. Especially when our CB's can't keep up with speedy WR's, or even WR's that aren't speedsters.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

It all depends on what you think would be better for this team.

1st - OLB/DE
3rd - WR
4th - CB

or

1st - WR
3rd - CB
4th - OLB/DE

or

1st - CB
3rd - OLB/DE
4th - WR

1st - OLB/DE
3rd - CB/S
4th - WR