Editor’s note: The following article is not written by RotoScoop’s administrator, Dalton Del Don. It is written by Jeff Chudnofsky, who will be handling the NFL Draft coverage.
21. New England Patriots– It was bound to happen. Not every player you plug in will win you championships. In the modern NFL, it is too difficult to keep veteran free agents when you abide by the GM Scott Pioli business model. Losing key players like OLB Willie McGinest and K Adam Vinatieri will result in a youth movement for the Pats. Safety Rodney Harrison is facing his last years in the NFL while rehabbing a torn ACL, while stopgap veteran corners Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks take their services to Oakland. New England is still solid on the D-line, but their linebackers are aging and the back end is vulnerable to the deep ball. At 21, New England will grab the best available player that fits their system. That player is OLB Bobby Carpenter from THE Ohio State University. Major needs-OLB, MLB, S, RB
22. San Francisco (via Denver, via Washington)– Former NYJ GM/Sirius NFL Radio personality Pat Kirwin describes Iowa OLB Chad Greenway as “A safety playing linebacker.” Greenway will be a good fit for Coach Mike Nolan’s rebuilding of the 3-4, replacing Julian Peterson on the outside. I’d be tempted to couple Ohio State WR Santonio Holmes with Vernon Davis, but then again, John York isn’t paying me the big bucks (and of recently he hasn’t paid anyone but Alex Smith the fat cheddar either). Nolan is a defensive-minded coach, and linebacker coach Mike Singletary would love to groom a talent like Greenway. The run on outside linebackers continues with the 49ers selecting Greenway. Major needs- RB, WR, OLB, CB, DT, DE
23. Tampa Bay Bucs– The Tampa Bay offense was surprisingly effective last year, much in part to QB Chris Simms rapport with WR Joey Galloway. Second year wideout Michael Clayton took a step backward from his rookie campaign, but Coach Jon Gruden still has confidence in him. With Ohio State WR Santonio Holmes still on the board, do the Bucs elect to take the best player available, or do they address an aging linebacker unit? Derrick Brooks still has some pop left in him, and the Bucs signed former SF/JAX LB Jamie Winborn. Tight end is also an option, with talented players such as Marcedes Lewis and Leonard Pope available, but rookie Alex Smith (Stanford) flashed enough potential in ’05 to let Tampa Bay look elsewhere. The Bucs will address a bigger need at safety, as FA Dexter Jackson opted to sign with Cincinnati. The Bucs will acquire the services of Donte Whitner of THE Ohio State University. With Michael Huff off the board, Whitner is the best safety available. Major needs- S, TE, G
24. Cincinnati Bengals– To say head coach Marvin Lewis has done a phenomenal job building this franchise is an understatement. This off-season has been no different, as Cincy signed mammoth DT Sam Adams to fix the run defense. The aforementioned acquisition of Dexter Jackson solidifies one of the best secondary corps in the AFC, joining CBs Deltha O’Neal and Tory James, along with SS Madieu Williams. The arrival of Adams has Coach Lewis contemplating a switch to the 3-4, which would allow second year OLB David Pollack to play more of a natural position coming off the edge. Pollack struggled to adapt to playing SLB in the 4-3 system. The Bengals stole MLB Odell Thurman in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft, so a MLB is not likely in the event that they stay in the 4-3. Lewis will not rush the defense into a new system, so Cincy will address the last weak link on offense by selecting Marcedes Lewis, TE from UCLA. If Carson Palmer can recover from off-season surgery, the potent Bengal offense will be sicker than Dylan Baker in the film “Happiness.” Major needs- TE, LB, DE
25. New York Giants– The G-Men recently acquired OLB LaVar Arrington via free agency; so addressing a struggling group of outside backers is not as mandatory as previously perceived. The constantly injured Tackle Luke Petitgout could find his eventual replacement in Eric Winston, a road-grading Tackle from the U. At this point, Santonio Holmes is too good to pass up and would be a good replacement under aging WR Amani it’s not a Toomer. The Giants could opt for help at corner by taking a look at South Carolina’s Johnathan Joseph, but QB Eli Manning can use all the help he can get to reach his potential. NYG would be wise to accommodate their large investment in Manning by giving him yet another talented weapon in his arsenal. Major needs-CB, T, WR, OLB
26. Chicago Bears– Who would win…Da Bears or God? It depends if WR Steve Smith is on God’s team. The Chicago secondary was torched by Smith in the playoffs, so the Bears might add another playmaker for their secondary. The front seven is stellar, and I chalk up Steve Smith’s success in the playoffs to Chicago Head Coach Lovie Smith’s decision to play single coverage on the Carolina WR. Current CB’s Peanut Tillman and Jerry Azumah had been pretty good up to that point in the year, so Lovie will probably use them in a different fashion when they meet Carolina again. However, Coach Smith won’t take any chances, so look for Da Bears to draft Clemson CB Tye Hill. Chicago is better off grabbing a playmaker on offense, but with Holmes and Chad Jackson likely gone, the Bears are unlikely to reach for Sinorice Moss. Georgia TE Leonard Pope is a possibility, but there is plenty of depth in this year’s tight end class. Hill is a likely pick in this spot for Chicago. Major needs-WR, TE, DB
27. Carolina Panthers– Deshaun Foster is too brittle to be penciled in for 16 starts. Rookie Eric Shelton was drafted in the second round of ’05 to be the short yardage replacement for Stephen Davis. The Carolina backfield has been decimated by injuries during the course of two seasons. If Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams is available, the Panthers will draft him to form a versatile three-headed monster in Charlotte. I don’t see the Cats going with a defensive player here; the run on outside linebackers has left the pool shallow and Williams is too good to pass up. Major needs-RB, TE
28. Jacksonville Jaguars– This team is quietly becoming a legitimate contender in the AFC, much in part to their stout run defense. The pass rush needs improvement to take pressure off their stellar D-Tackles, John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. Another playmaker on offense wouldn’t hurt, as Fred Taylor is injury-prone and getting up there in years (by NFL RB standards). Wide Receiver Jimmy Smith is no spring chicken either, but the Jags spent a 2005 first round pick on former Arkansas QB/WR Matt Jones. With the high-powered passing attack of the Colts to deal with in the AFC South, the Jaguars are likely to add a pass rusher here to harass Peyton Manning. Although some scouts have him sliding into the second round, Boston College DE Mathias Kiwanuka would be a solid pick, giving Jacksonville some much needed speed flying off the edge. Major needs-DE, RB, TE
29. New York Jets (via Denver)– The Jets could very well use this pick as bait to trade up in the draft. If they stand pat, New York will address the running back position by selecting Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney, the heir apparent for Curtis Martin. Although Maroney did not carry a full load in college, he’s built for durability and versatile in the passing game. Major needs-RB, DE, OLB, QB
30. Indianapolis Colts– With the loss of LB David Thornton to free agency, look for the Colts to replenish their defense. Workhorse RB Edgerrin James also bolted out of Indy, so the Colts wouldn’t think twice if DeAngelo Williams or Maroney is available. With USC Tailback LenDale White nursing a torn hamstring/feeding his face/getting out benched by punters, the Colts are more likely to draft a replacement for Thornton than reach for a running back. Web rumors suggest that the Colts might shop this pick to Chicago for disgruntled RB Thomas Jones, who would be a superb fit in the Indy offense. I think they’ll get a deal done for Jones, so Alabama OLB DeMeco Ryans would make a good selection and start immediately at outside-backer. Major needs- RB, OLB, and postseason success.
31. Seattle Seahawks– The Rain Birds seem to have all of their bases covered. If some calls went their way and Jerramy Stevens could catch, they might have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. They will most likely take the best available safety on the board and upgrade the position over current starter Etric Pruitt. USC safety Darnell Bing would form an electric tandem with former college teammate/MLB Lofa Tatupu. Tennessee safety Jason Allen is a possibility, but recent hip problems have caused his stock to slip. The ‘Hawks take Bing and add a hard-hitting safety with great range. Major needs-Safety, DT (to pair with Rocky Bernard)
32. Pittsburgh Steelers– The Champs can go in any direction here. LenDale White is a strong possibility, regardless of his hammy tear; the Steelers can afford to let him heal. Despite the retirement of Jerome Bettis and the FA departure of DT Kimo Von Oelhoffen, the biggest area of need is wide receiver, as playmaker Antwaan Randle El left for Washington. The Steelers address this need by adding one of the most exciting players in the draft, WR Sinorice Moss from the U. Although he lacks Randle El’s QB pedigree, Moss will be a versatile weapon for creative offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Much like his older brother, Santana Moss, Sinorice can line up in the slot, on the outside and immediately serve as a punt/kick returner. His upside is bigger than Sean Salisbury’s midsection. Major needs-WR, DT, RB
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