NFL Draft Review: NFC West

Lincoln back again to start our Draft Review series, we will break down each team's draft division by division.

Arizona Cardinals

With the 5th pick in the first round Arizona grabed Levi Brown LT Penn State and on the Live Blog I wrote : The first "wow" of the draft. I like Brown, but he's not the 5th best player in this, or any, draft. If they really wanted a left tackle they should have traded up to get Thomas or down for Levi. REACH.

I still feel that way.

I wrote this about Levi in my OT rankings:

Brown is #2 on most boards, but I've flip flopped the normal 2-3, not because I don't like Brown (as you will soon see I do) but only because I have a bit of a hetero man crush on Staley. This large Nitny Lion was a four year starter who continuously played at a high level for some very good Joe Pa teams. Brown plays with a large base and uses his very long arms to engulf opposing rushers. Despite what his fourty time, 5.4, might lead you to believe, Brown is quick off the ball virtually never let a collegiate speed rusher beat him off the edge. Prototypical size, 6'5'', 320, and strong. In college he dominated by being much bigger and stronger than everybody else. He does need technical work, his hand placement is a problem and will cause him to get beat by vetern pass rushers at the next level. Brown's footwork can get whaupi-jawed from time to time, causing him to lose balance and one on one battles. Has the size, quickness and strength the play on the left side of the line in the pros. Brown could go as high as #10 to Houston (think they need a tackle?) and would be very nice value for any team in the mid to late first round.
He's a good player, with a chance to be really good, but it was not good value.

I really like most of the Cardinals' other picks though, Alan Branch has a chance to be an absolute monster! Here is what Krevor thought of Mr. Branch in his D-line rankings:

Alan Branch is a massive presence on the defensive line and he helped Michigan shut down opposing teams running games. After the college football season ended Branch was considered a top 5 pick. His stock has plummeted after concerns about him being out of shape and some people who weren’t impressed with his workouts. I have to disagree. I was very impressed by his workouts and his very fast 5.1 40-yard dash. Amazing for a 330 pound man. Although I have him at #4 he very well could be the best lineman in the draft. He clogs up running lanes and has the athleticism to pressure the QB. He may not rack up the best stats but he could have the greatest impact of any defensive player chosen in the draft by taking on double teams and ruining the running games of many teams.

Branch was a steal in the second round, Arizona was smart to trade up for him. They need to take some risks on guys with really high ceilings like Branch.

Buster Davis, the Florida State middle linebacker one, wasn't a bad pick with the 69th overall selection. He's a little small and slow but was very productive at a high level in college, plays with great instincts, and is very tough. Guys like that have a very nice track record. There is better than a 50/50 chance that he's their starting Mike linebacker next year.

In the 5th round Zona nabbed their 2nd Michigan Wolverine of the Draft when they selected wide receiver Steve Breaston. Breaston is a big play threat who can be another Bryant Johnson for them.

At the top of the 7th round the Cardinals made maybe the best pick of the entire draft, Ben Patrick TE Delaware who I thought was the #4 TE in the Draft and a Day 1 pick:

Big time receiving threat with really good hands and natural ball skills. Plays hard. Is very smart, started his college career at Duke, graduated early then transfered to Delaware and dominated on the lower level. A little short, 6'3'', and might not be able to add much to his frame. Still has room to improve as a blocker. Plays much smaller than he is. There was a lot of talk about him being a breakout star at the Combine, that didn't really happen. His 40 time was average, 4.75, and raised doubts over whether he is quite as athletic as some made him out to be. Has tons of skill. Third round pick with a chance to be a real good pro.

Teaming him with Leonard Pope a bigger, better blocking tight end will allow Patrick to play to his strengths as a fast pass catching tight end. He's the one 7th rounder that I feel safe in saying will start for his team this year.

San Francisco 49ers

San Fran had a thousand picks in this draft with their first one, 11th overall, they got P-Willie. Willis is a strong, fast, aggressive, smart linebacker who should move right into a starting spot. He's gonna be really good.

Frisco also traded back up into the back end of the 1st round to nab Joe Staley, they have up a lot for him, a #1 next year, but they got a heck of a player. Here's what I wrote about Staley in the OT rankings:

Could be the fastest tackle ever to enter in the draft, 4.8. Staley's physical abilities, and relative newness to the position, give him a ridiculously high ceiling. According to Bill Parcell's "Planet Theory" huge, athletic, dominate tackles (on both sides of the ball) are so rare that they are immensely valuable. Staley isn't all potential though, he plays with a great motor and good technique. Tremdously naturally strong, Staley still can add 15-20 pounds of muscle to his frame in his first year or two in the pros which will ameliorate scouts major consern, size. He will sometimes be beaten by bull rushers (but adding muscle and staying lower will correct the problem.) The 6'6'' 305lb Staley is by no means a small man, but adding the extra size and strength without compromising his greatest assest (speed/lateral quickness) will make Staley a standout for years to come. The left tackle position requires guys who can move well in space while occuping defensive ends and linebackers. Guys like Staley and Thomas who can be left one on one allow for tight ends and backs to take on other responsibilities (routes/blocking other defenders) which hugely helps an offensive. Staley would be perfect for the Denver Broncos who value smaller, mobile linemen. However they seem to have their sights aimed else where. Joe seems to be one of the prospects moving up teams boards the quickest in the days before the draft so pinpointing where he will go is hard. He is definately be the highest selected Central Michigan alumnus since the unfrozen caveman center. Staley will be a great pick for any team in the mid to late first round.

Half way thru the 3rd round the 9ers grabbed Jason Hill WR Washinton State, a guy a really liked in this draft. I had Hill rated as the 9th best WR in this very deep class and wrote:

Good route runner who gets open alot. Good hands. Very athletic. Decent size, 6'.5'', 204 but top notch speed, 4.32. Very productive as a sophomore and junior, but his numbers fell in his senior season. 18.3 ypc and 32 TD's for his career at WSU. Seemed to loose focus last year, playing for a contending pro team could change that. Not a special athlete. Could be a very nice third round pick.

I do think he was a very nice third round pick for Frisco. They also grabbed Darrell Jackson in a trade from Seattle, for one of their 92 fourth round picks. Last year only 2 wide receivers caught more than 10 passes, only 2!!!, Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle. The 9ers cut ties with Bryant, whose headaches have always out weighed his usefullness, and signed Ashley Lelie who, depsite having a girl's name, will give Alex Smith a receiver who's actually faster than his tight end to throw to. Now factor in acquiring Darrell Jackson and Jason Hill on Draft Day and suddenly there are offensive playmakers at the skill positions to go with Frank Gore and Vernon Davis.

The 1849ers ended their fantastic Day 1 by getting Bryant Young's eventual replacement at defensive end. Ray McDonald was a first round talent to slipped into the third because of injury conserns, he missed most of the 2005 season with two different knee injuries. I thought McyD wouldn't fall past the 2nd round, and he represents a very nice value pick as he will fit perfectly at defensive end in the 3-4.

San Fran spent Day 2 getting a couple guys who will add valuable depth and special teams ability, Jay Moore DE Nebraska and Dashon Goldson S Washington. Then the used their last couple picks on talented guys with some character conserns, Tarell Brown CB Texas and Thomas Clayton RB Kansas State. If those guys don't play or live up to their potential then oh well, they only wasted a couple late Day 2 picks.

St Louis Rams

With pick 13 StL chose Adam Carriker DE Nebraska, while JJ and I had slightly differening opinions on this pick in the Live Blog:

JJ: Not to be outdone by the Dolphins, the Rams take the giant white kid from Nebraska. I think this is a terrible pick, especially with some of the other available players here. Time will tell I suppose.
LH: I really like Carriker, I can't believe they didn't get Bulger's replacement though.

Krevor talked about the giant Nebraskan, 6'6'' 300, in his defensive line rankings:

Carriker is country strong and has excellent size. I do not think he is the greatest pass rusher in the world but his versatility will make him a good player in this league. He can either play end in a 4-3 or a 3-4. Some believe he could move inside in a 4-3 but I think that would not maximize his production. He will probably be someone who will get around 5 sacks a year and be very strong against the run. I think Anthony Spencer could turn out to be better then Carriker but he could be a very valuable piece of a defense. He is defiantly not the sexiest pick one could make in the draft but he has the potential to be an impact player in the NFL. Look for him to get strong interest from a 3-4 team in the middle of the first round.

Carriker is a nice player but I still think corner (Darrelle Revis was the very next pick) was more of a need than a defensive end who can't rush the passer and that Brady Quinn was the best value on the board... especially when you consider the Rams current backup QB.

In round 2 they did make a nice value pick, but maybe one that doesn't fill a huge need, in Brain Leonard RB/FB/TE from Rutgers. I wrote about Leonard in my running back rankings:

One of the most interesting players in this draft. Will be interesting to see what position(s)? he plays in the NFL, maybe just a hair to slow to be any every down RB, doesn't have prototypical size for a FB or TE, 6'1.5'', 225, 4.5. But he's just a football player. 45 TD's in 47 career games for the Scarlet Knights and really helped get the program off the ground. Took a back seat his senior year to potential first round pick Ray Rice but didn't complain. Team Captain. Great balance and natural instincts. Best hands of any back in the draft, 207 career receptions for 1,800 yards and 13 TDs. Best fullback in the draft since Mike Alstott, and could have a very similar career, maybe cross between Alstott and Chris Cooley in the right sytem. Great all around player with maybe the best intangibles in the draft. Doesn't do anything great, but everything well. Won't stretch the field verticallly in the NFL, not a big play threat but will get you first downs. Wants to be a RB. Would be an absolutely perfect fit for the Patriots late in round 1.

Still they spent a #2 pick on a back up running back, although I'm sure Steven Jackson will be happy that he won't have to get 436 touches next year.

The Rams finally addressed their glarring need at corner in the 3rd round by selecting Jonathan Wade from Tennessee, a very raw, risky player.

Day 2 was spent by the former Greatest Show on Turf drafting a whole bunch of guys who won't ever become good players. A marginal Day 1 was really messed up by Day 2, there were 10 guys who went undrafted better than any player the Rams selected.

St Louis would have been much better off if they got Darrelle Revis or Lawrence Timmons OLB Florida State (I really just wanted to show that pic) in round 1, Josh Wilson CB Maryland in round 2, Tony Hunt RB Penn State in round 3 and staying home on Day 2.

Seattle Seahawks

After trading their #1 for Deon Branch earlier this season, Seattle was forced to wait until pick number 55 overall for their first selection, Josh Wilson CB Maryland. I wrote about Wilson as a possible round 2 target for Dallas in my Cowboys Draft Preview:

Josh Wilson is a workout warrior (Maryland has a lot of those, don't they?) who had a very good year last year, but is under sized, 5'9''. He is however very strong for his size and blazingly fast, 4.35. Wilson doesn't shy away from contact but doesn't have very good hands, only one pick last year, still his ceiling could be as kind of the next Antoine Winfield.

Late in round 3 Seattle got Brandon Mebane DT Cal who ESPN Insider accurately sums up as:

A versatile, explosive, high-energy defensive tackle that made lots of big plays throughout his collegiate career. Unfortunately, he does not possess the size, strength or athleticism to translate that production to the NFL game. In fact, Mebane will likely max out as a situational one-gap defensive tackle that contributes in a rotation. He is likely to come off the board late on Day 1.

Seattle coaches will be very busy in rookie mini camps this summer as Mebane, Baraka Atkins DE The U, and Masfield Wrotto OG Georgia Tech (and member of the 2007 Draft All-Name Team) all come with the baggage of not processing or maintianing information well and being very raw in their respective techniques. Note: all those guys were first day picks for the 'Hawks.

In round 5 and 6 Seattle nabbed two former Auburn Tigers, OLB Will Herring (161 overall) and WR Courtney Taylor (197 overall.) Taylor was a steal he's a big time player who's always banged up but Herring didn't deserve to be drafted at all.

I did like their 7th rounder, Steve Vallos OT Wake Forest, though! He'll prolly never amount to anything, but he plays hard and could make a decent transition to the interior of the line... Seattle can't go wrong getting someone to play guard for them. They really needed to trade up into the top of the 2nd round to get Justin Blalock OG Texas, Steve Hutchinson leaving hurt them so much and Blalock is the one guy in this draft capable of replacing most of what Hutch game them.