Only 18 players recieve 1st round grade

[Atlas]

Mock draft II: Upon further review

Socals Link:http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9392296
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst


(April 23, 2006) -- Soon after I released my first mock draft last week, I heard from a few NFL executives and coaches around the NFL.

One front-office executive told me his scouting department only gave 18 players a first-round grade. Another scout told me his team has 21 players with a first-round grade.

The shortage of perceived first-round talent due to various reasons is causing a number of teams to think about moving up into the top 12-15 picks. And it is also causing some teams down in the bottom third of the draft to move down, if possible.

Did the Broncos know something about this draft early enough to sell off its No. 22 pick? One personnel man told me that if all the guys with medical alerts and off-the-field baggage were clean, then this draft would have a solid first round. But the risk/reward means taking very talented players in the second round where the money is significantly less.

A couple of things that rang clear to me this week that influenced my mock draft were:

Vince Young has done a nice job on his visits around the league. One coach said, "I was expecting to meet a Michael Vick kind of guy and felt more like I sat down with Donovan McNabb."
Two defensive coaches weighed in on Manny Lawson and described him as a cross between Jason Taylor and Jevon Kearse. Both of those veteran players entered the NFL under 240 pounds. Lawson has weighed anywhere from 241 at the Combine to 233 on his visits.
Two players, who I will not mention, have apparently failed a drug test and will not be top choices next week. Unfortunately, one of those players is a clear-cut first-round talent.
I was curious about the sudden rise in interest in quarterback Kellen Clemens the past two weeks and, although he will not be a first-round selection, he might have moved into the second round on some boards. One QB coach I respect told me Clemens simply has the best combination of arm strength and mechanics in the draft.
The most important thing I heard this week and typical of the feelings around the league with just days to go before the draft was, "We have all studied these players so much that we found something wrong with everyone of them. Now we have to go back and remember the good."

I will post my final mock draft on April 28, but here's version No. 2 and there are some changes. This mock draft does not take into account any future trades, but it does consider late free-agent signings.

As for rumors floating around right now: Oakland is moving up to take Vince Young at the No. 2 spot; Tennessee is internally split about Matt Leinart and Young; there are going to be upward of eight corners drafted in the first round. These are all part of the art of deception. Believe what you want to believe at this point.

[Atlas]

Yep, Shanny is a truely the Mastermind.

[SoCalBronco]

And that's why Pat Kirwan is no longer the GM of the New York Jets and is instead reduced to simply writing articles for NFL.com.

[ludo21]

Definitely is the mastermind. Cant wait til Sat, going to be fun!!!

[Garcia Bronco]

two first round guys failed drug tests?

White and ?

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

And that's why Pat Kirwan is no longer the GM of the New York Jets and is instead reduced to simply writing articles for NFL.com.

That wasn't his opinion. He said it was from the opinions of GMs and coaches around the league. What does that have to do with his time with the Jets?

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

two first round guys failed drug tests?

White and ?

I was going to make a crack about a V Tech player, but then i remembered they have no first rounders.....

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by ludo21

I was going to make a crack about a V Tech player, but then i remembered they have no first rounders.....

Jimmy Williams unless his medical condition keeps it from happening...I mean Pacman jones got drafted.

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Jimmy Williams unless his medical condition keeps it from happening...I mean Pacman jones got drafted.

im sure it will scare off some teams, and since Cromartie is rising who knows where he will go..........

But he is definitely very talented (maybe he was being bi-polar when he said he wouldnt play Safety) Maybe a good pick up..

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Atlas

The most important thing I heard this week and typical of the feelings around the league with just days to go before the draft was, "We have all studied these players so much that we found something wrong with everyone of them. Now we have to go back and remember the good."

Comedy. The term he's searching for is overscouting and its been around for at least a couple decades now. That's how guys like Dan Marino get over dissected and nearly fall out of the first round and people start fretting because Heisman Trophy winning Rose Bowl hero Marcus Allen's 40 time is only average.

[Mediator12]

I really like Pat Kirwan. That being said, SMOKESCREEN AND OVERSCOUTING!

[SimonFletcher73]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

two first round guys failed drug tests?

White and ?

Wroten

[Orange_Beard]

Funny how this draft has gone from "deep", to only 18 first rounders.
Hmmm, the closer the draft gets, the worse the players get.

[NaptownChief]

Hey Garcia,

You want to explain this for us:

One coach said, "I was expecting to meet a Michael Vick kind of guy and felt more like I sat down with Donovan McNabb."

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Orange_Beard

Funny how this draft has gone from "deep", to only 18 first rounders.
Hmmm, the closer the draft gets, the worse the players get.

I think it is a deep draft. Deep meaning there are lots of good players that are going to be available in rounds 3 and 4. From picks 20-60 there isn't alot of difference.

[bendog]

passing on Lawson to take Holmes and getting Bing in the second sucks.

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by Atlas

I think it is a deep draft. Deep meaning there are lots of good players that are going to be available in rounds 3 and 4. From picks 20-60 there isn't alot of difference.

That's my impression, too. There are not a lot of Grade A, blue chippers available, but there are a ton of 2nd round caliber guys who will be available in rounds 3 and 4.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

Hey Garcia,

You want to explain this for us:

One coach said, "I was expecting to meet a Michael Vick kind of guy and felt more like I sat down with Donovan McNabb."

Yeah, I compared VY to other black QBs and got unfairly and wrongly called a racist by the local schmuck.

[GonzoLays]

ahahahahahahaha!!!!

Who has been telling you guys from the get that this draft was weak? Herc, Requiem, and SoCalBronco would have you believe that there 40-45 guys with FIRST ROUND TALENT!

I was ridiculed and mocked for my assertion that this draft class was weak and finally the people in the know are backing me up. Now Pat Kirwan, the former GM of the Jets, knows NOTHING about football because he doesn't agree with SoCalBronco. Beautiful.

When I post....listen.

[GonzoLays]

Looks like NFL.com's Pat Kirwan's has been reading my old posts. I've been saying this since March. Good lookin out Pat!!

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

Looks like the Broncos have been listening to ol' Gonzo again. They know this draft after the top 12 prospects are WEAK FIRST ROUND GRADE TALENT. Posters like SoCalBronco would have you believe that there are 35 players in this draft with first round grade talent. HA! And a DOUBLE HA!

This is one of the weakest first rounds in over five years. 12 solid players at top and bunch of second rounders going in the first round after that.

All HAIL GONZO!!!!

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1072098

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

See, at least I'm not the only one who doesn't think this draft is "deep" like all the prognosticators are saying. This is one of the worst years to have picks at 15 and 22. This draft is probably better in the middle rounds than it is at the top.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1068903

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

Once again this draft only has 16 strong first rounders and a bunch of questionable players after that. Not the best year to be drafting after 15. This draft is solid but definitely not star studded.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1041797

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

I agree with the draft is deep from the bottom of the second round to the fifth round. You can get good solid player there. My only point was that the first round outside of the top 16 or so players gets real iffy as far as talent is concerned. I don't think Kamerion Wimbley or Nick Manigold would have went in the first round of 2004 draft.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?p=1037638

ALL HAIL GONZO!!!

[BroncoInferno]

Originally Posted by GonzoLays

ahahahahahahaha!!!!

Who has been telling you guys from the get that this draft was weak? Herc, Requiem, and SoCalBronco would have you believe that there 40-45 guys with FIRST ROUND TALENT!

I was ridiculed and mocked for my assertion that this draft class was weak and finally the people in the know are backing me up. Now Pat Kirwan, the former GM of the Jets, knows NOTHING about football because he doesn't agree with SoCalBronco. Beautiful.

When I post....listen.

You are right in the sense that there aren't a lot of blue chip prospects, but your conclusion that that makes this a weak draft is dead wrong.This draft is unusually deep in 2nd and 3rd round caliber players who are going to spill over into the second day.

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by BroncoInferno

You are right in the sense that there aren't a lot of blue chip prospects, but your conclusion that that makes this a weak draft is dead wrong.This draft is unusually deep in 2nd and 3rd round caliber players who are going to spill over into the second day.

Actually, if you read my posts I am dead right. But hey, whats new?

ALL HAIL GONZO!

[watermock]

I have waited a long time to find a post from Gonzo I have agreed with, starting with the "no TE is worth a top 10" thread.

The draft is DEEP, not full of immediate impact players. Answer me this, if he was such a genius of evaluating talent, why was he fired to stand by the water cooler with Gill Brant?

Former executives relieved of their jobs for incompetence makes their resume just fine with you?

I'm surprised you haven't brought up Jerry Glanville or Dan Reeves.

People have said this draft is Deep, not filled with impact players thru the middle of the second round, altho I think it is. It drops off from the top 15, then the top 60.

You don't know anything quite honestly. You reguritate who again...lets hear it...a fired GM right?

[Man-Goblin]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Mock draft II: Upon further review

Socals Link:http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9392296
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst


(April 23, 2006) -- Soon after I released my first mock draft last week, I heard from a few NFL executives and coaches around the NFL.

One front-office executive told me his scouting department only gave 18 players a first-round grade. Another scout told me his team has 21 players with a first-round grade.

The shortage of perceived first-round talent due to various reasons is causing a number of teams to think about moving up into the top 12-15 picks. And it is also causing some teams down in the bottom third of the draft to move down, if possible.

Did the Broncos know something about this draft early enough to sell off its No. 22 pick? One personnel man told me that if all the guys with medical alerts and off-the-field baggage were clean, then this draft would have a solid first round. But the risk/reward means taking very talented players in the second round where the money is significantly less.

A couple of things that rang clear to me this week that influenced my mock draft were:

Vince Young has done a nice job on his visits around the league. One coach said, "I was expecting to meet a Michael Vick kind of guy and felt more like I sat down with Donovan McNabb."
Two defensive coaches weighed in on Manny Lawson and described him as a cross between Jason Taylor and Jevon Kearse. Both of those veteran players entered the NFL under 240 pounds. Lawson has weighed anywhere from 241 at the Combine to 233 on his visits.
Two players, who I will not mention, have apparently failed a drug test and will not be top choices next week. Unfortunately, one of those players is a clear-cut first-round talent.
I was curious about the sudden rise in interest in quarterback Kellen Clemens the past two weeks and, although he will not be a first-round selection, he might have moved into the second round on some boards. One QB coach I respect told me Clemens simply has the best combination of arm strength and mechanics in the draft.
The most important thing I heard this week and typical of the feelings around the league with just days to go before the draft was, "We have all studied these players so much that we found something wrong with everyone of them. Now we have to go back and remember the good."

I will post my final mock draft on April 28, but here's version No. 2 and there are some changes. This mock draft does not take into account any future trades, but it does consider late free-agent signings.

As for rumors floating around right now: Oakland is moving up to take Vince Young at the No. 2 spot; Tennessee is internally split about Matt Leinart and Young; there are going to be upward of eight corners drafted in the first round. These are all part of the art of deception. Believe what you want to believe at this point.

Word. Week draft. Now lets trade those picks!!!

[GonzoLays]

Originally Posted by watermock

I have waited a long time to find a post from Gonzo I have agreed with, starting with the "no TE is worth a top 10" thread.

The draft is DEEP, not full of immediate impact players. Answer me this, if he was such a genius of evaluating talent, why was he fired to stand by the water cooler with Gill Brant?

Former executives relieved of their jobs for incompetence makes their resume just fine with you?

I'm surprised you haven't brought up Jerry Glanville or Dan Reeves.

People have said this draft is Deep, not filled with impact players thru the middle of the second round, altho I think it is. It drops off from the top 15, then the top 60.

You don't know anything quite honestly. You reguritate who again...lets hear it...a fired GM right?

Can I get a translator please!