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After all the scouting, measuring, interviewing and analyzing of player prospects over the past few months, the 2008 NFL Draft in the books. And while it’s impossible to currently say which teams had success and which teams did not (that could take several years), here are my winners and losers based on decision-making and potential.

WINNERS

1.) Kansas City Chiefs – With 13 picks, the Chiefs had no choice but to succeed in this Draft and they did just that. Glenn Dorsey (LSU) was arguably the best DT in this Draft. Branden Albert (Virginia) was possibly the best interior O-lineman in this Draft. Brandon Flowers (Virginia Tech) is a top-notch, physical, shutdown corner who would’ve been rated even higher if he had run a faster 40-time. Jamal Charles (Texas) has that breakaway speed at RB. And WR Kevin Robinson was the best return man in the country last year with Utah State. Those were just some of the highlights.

2.) Dallas Cowboys – After the Cowboys started their Draft day with two first-rounders (Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins) I turned to fellow Draft blogger Lloyd Vance and said, “The Cowboys are loaded.” He nodded his approval. Dallas would later add TE Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M) and RB Tashard Choice (Georgia Tech). And remember, they officially signed Pacman Jones the day before the Draft. As far as I’m concerned, that counts, too.

3.) Pittsburgh Steelers – Like the Cowboys, the Steelers made some real noise with their first two picks — RB Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) and WR Limas Sweed (Texas). Rashard couldn’t be a better fit. He runs in the Steeler style (tough, physical, between-the-tackles) and will complement speedster Willie Parker nicely. Limas will take Steeler fans back to the days of Plaxico Burress. Like Plax, Limas is a big target (6′4″ 212) with long arms and will round out a talented receiving corps that includes Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. I also really like DE Bruce Davis (UCLA) and QB Dennis Dixon (Oregon). What will the Steelers do with D2? The possibilities are endless but this could turn out to be another Steeler throwback situation. Remember Kordell Stewart as “Slash?”

4.) Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens wanted QB Matt Ryan, but when they couldn’t swing a deal there, they went to their second option — Joe Flacco (Delaware). Joe will be the quarterback of their future unless Troy Smith has something to say about it. RB Ray Rice (Rutgers) will be an excellent complement to Willis McGahee. LB Tavares Gooden (Miami) could play-out to be a real steal deal in the third-round. And S Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame) is a hard-nosed player who will contribute immediately on special teams.

5.) Carolina Panthers – I think it was a stretch to take RB Jonathan Stewart (Oregon) when both Felix Jones and Rashard Mendenhall were still available, but he was widely considered one of the top running backs in this class. Jonathan is a big back with good speed and should team with DeAngelo Williams for an effective one-two punch. Then, look at their next four quality picks: OT Jeff Otah (Pitt), CB Charles Godfrey (Iowa), LB Dan Conner (Penn State) and TE Gary Barnidge (Louisville). An excellent Draft for the Panthers.

LOSERS

1.) Cleveland Browns – Maybe it’s not fair to beat up on a team who didn’t have any day one picks and who only had five selections overall (beginning in the fourth-round), but the Browns didn’t do anything with those five picks as far as I’m concerned. As good as last year’s Draft was for Cleveland, this one was just as poor. TE Martin Rucker (Missouri) might be their only saving grace.

2.) Jacksonville Jaguars – It all starts with the first pick for me. The Jags gave up three choices to Baltimore for the right to take DE Derrick Harvey (Florida) — swapping first-round picks and sending the Ravens two third-rounders and a fourth-rounder. That’s insane. Jax only ended up with five picks. They’ve got some developmental possibilities (who doesn’t?) and another DE Quentin Groves (Auburn) is ok, but …

3.) New England Patriots – It’s really hard to argue with their track record, but I didn’t really like what the Patriots did. Trading out of the number seven spot, they reached for Jerod Mayo with the 10th overall. I would’ve said, “Hold the Mayo!” that early. To their credit, CB Terrence Wheatley (Colorado) is small but could be a good find in the second round.

4.) Cincinnati Bengals – It doesn’t surprise me that the Bengals are on this list. Sometimes I really wonder what this team is thinking. They should’ve traded disgruntled WR Chad Johnson for an obscene number of Draft picks and cleaned up like the Chiefs did. At any rate, I like LB Keith Rivers (USC) but they didn’t get the DT they needed and selecting WR Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina) ahead of DeSean Jackson really had me baffled.

5.) Green Bay Packers – I don’t understand why the Packers spent two Draft picks on quarterbacks — Brian Brohm (Louisville) and Matt Flynn (LSU). I can see taking a QB to provide some competition for the starting spot left vacant by Brett Favre and/or as a viable backup to Aaron Rodgers, but drafting a second QB seemed like a complete waste to me. Also, wide receiver wasn’t a need and the Pack took WR Jordy Nelson (Kansas State) with their first overall pick. Interesting.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Draft 2008: Winners and Losers

It was the final day of the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine and I just realized that some of the coaches and administrators (like those involved with the league’s competition committee) have been in Indianapolis for more than a week now. You would think with this much time in Indy to evaluate players, it would be enough. But team or individual Pro Days are next, (many of them during March) where NFL prospects get a “home field advantage”. At any rate, today featured workouts from the defensive backs — corners and safeties.

When I look at the three top CBs in this Draft class (by most people’s standards) — USF’s Mike Jenkins, Troy’s Leodis McKelvin and Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie — they all solidified their positions as likely first-round picks. All three ran well and performed in the drills as expected. But who else can we count on? I say Arizona’s Antoine Cason and Kansas’ Aqib Talib. Both had sub 4.4-40s that did them no harm. Both also have good size and ball skills to go along with that obvious speed. I also really liked Eastern Kentucky’s Antwaun Molden who ran probably better than expected and did very well in the drills (especially the Vert Jump, Bench Press and 3-Cone). Virginia Tech’s Brandon Flowers needed a good workout to make up for his lack of size, but after running a 4.5-40, his chances of moving into the elite group of corners are slim to none.

Among the safeties, I was most impressed with Notre Dame’s Tom Zbikowski, which didn’t surprise me. I love the way this guy plays football and his workout here impressed me as well. He’s no speed-demon, but a 4.52 for a safety is solid. I believe he definitely has the athleticism to play at “the next level” and will wind up proving more on the field than he will here at the Combine. If not, he can always go back to boxing. I also liked the workouts from UTEP’s Quintin Demps (4.4-40) and Arizona State’s Josh Barrett (4.35-40). It’s not considered a strong safety class this year, but these guys will give NFL teams something to consider in the early to mid rounds.

Here are the winning numbers for the cornerbacks and safeties in their drills:

Cornerbacks – Bench Press (Antwaun Molden, Kentucky, 23); Broad Jump (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State, 10′11″ and Aqib Talib, Kansas, 10′11″); Vert Jump (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State, 38′5″); 3-Cone Drill (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State, 6.74 and Terrence Wheatley, Colorado, 6.74); 20-yard Shuttle (Marcus Walker, Oklahoma, 4.07 and Tracy Walker, Indiana, 4.07); 60-yard Shuttle (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State, 11.06); 40-yard Dash (Tyvon Branch, Connecticut, 4.31).

Safeties – Bench Press (Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State, 27); Broad Jump (Tyrell Johnson, Arkansas State, 10′7″); Vert Jump (David Roach, TCU, 38′); 3-Cone Drill (Brandon Sumrall, Southern Miss, 6.76); 20-yard Shuttle (Nehemiah Warrick, Michigan State, 4.09); 60-yard Shuttle (David Roach, TCU, 11.11); 40-yard Dash (Josh Barrett, Arizona State, 4.35).

Some final thoughts on the Combine? It is what it is. You can’t base your opinion of a player on the NFL Scouting Combine alone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great event. But ultimately you need to formulate your opinion from three areas — 50% from game tape (aka a player’s “body of work”), 25% from this Combine and 25% from a Pro Day.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Scouting Combine 2008: Day Six