MTK
04-09-2005, 01:52 PM
From ESPN Insider
Why do you have USC wide receiver Mike Williams (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8922) atop your Big Board, yet have the Bears taking Michigan wideout Braylon Edwards (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8923) ahead of him in your mock draft?
Dave Turrubiartes, Chicago
It's important to remember that the Big Board and my mock drafts are independent of one another and have no effect on each other. The Big Board is my personal rankings of the players I believe to be the top 25 prospects on the draft board, but that does not mean they will be the first 25 players taken. I base my first-round projection on identified team needs and what I hear from people around the league, and the opinions are not always the same as mine.
I feel Mike Williams ranks ahead of Edwards as an overall prospect because of his size but not everyone sees it that way, hence my projection that the Chicago Bears (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi) will take Edwards ahead of Williams. That could change in the coming days and weeks, though, as teams become more sure of their strategy. I have two or three possible names penciled in next to each team and changing one affects others, but shuffling the first-round projection will not necessarily affect the Big Board.
Why has Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8129) moved ahead of fellow corner Adam "Pac-Man" Jones (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=9049) of West Virginia in your latest first-round projection?
Scott, Ferndale, Mich.
Rolle answered questions about his recovery speed (4.49 in the 40) during his individual workout while Jones did not run the 4.2-area time most thought was possible, and with Rolle's having a three-inch height advantage (6-foot-0¼, 200 pounds versus 5-9½, 186) the scales are tipped in his favor. He is just a better matchup in terms of size at the NFL level. Both are very aggressive corners, and while Jones may have more versatility as a kick returner, Rolle is a physical player who is great in run support.
What direction do you see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=tam) going early in the draft?
Hector, Tampa, Fla.
My latest first-round projection has the Buccaneers taking Auburn running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8798) with the No. 5 overall pick, but there is also speculation they would like to add another young wide receiver to complement last year's first-round pick, Michael Clayton. Tampa Bay will likely be in position to get Mike Williams with its first pick, so right now it looks like the Bucs will have their choice of running back or wideout and they can go whichever direction they want. The Bucs also need help along the offensive line, at strong side linebacker and safety and are in the market for a place-kicker.
Do you think there is any chance the Atlanta Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) might get Georgia safety Thomas Davis (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8265) with their first-round pick? William, Savannah, Ga.
The Falcons are in the market for a true free safety, but Davis will move to linebacker in the NFL and he likely won't be on the board when Atlanta picks, anyway, projecting right now to the New Orleans Saints (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nor) at No. 16. But the Falcons need help on the defensive line, too, and USC's Shaun Cody (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=9053) would be a nice fit for them in the first round with his ability to play either end or tackle. That would leave Atlanta with the option of picking up someone such as Nebraska safety Josh Bullocks (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=9058) in the second round then filling its need for a corner to complement young DeAngelo Hall in the third round with a guy such as Stanford Routt (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8199) of Houston.
Since they picked up two defensive ends in the offseason do you think the Jacksonville Jaguars (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=jac) should use their first-round pick on their struggling offense?
Jeremy Benischeck, Jacksonville, Fla.
Well, the Jags are very thin in the secondary and adding Michigan cornerback Marlin Jackson (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8130) at No. 21 would make a lot of sense for a team that needs athletes in the secondary so that the defense can get off the field and give the ball back to Byron Leftwich (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=7033) and his counterparts on offense. That being said, Jacksonville needs help at left tackle, running back, tight end and wide receiver. Based on who will be available, the best choice for the Jags might be to add more depth at defensive end in the second round with Trent Cole (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8225) of Cincinnati. They could then look to Kansas State running back Darren Sproles (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8804) as a nice change-of-pace back/kick returner in the third round and fill out their other needs down the road as the board dictates.
Why do you have USC wide receiver Mike Williams (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8922) atop your Big Board, yet have the Bears taking Michigan wideout Braylon Edwards (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8923) ahead of him in your mock draft?
Dave Turrubiartes, Chicago
It's important to remember that the Big Board and my mock drafts are independent of one another and have no effect on each other. The Big Board is my personal rankings of the players I believe to be the top 25 prospects on the draft board, but that does not mean they will be the first 25 players taken. I base my first-round projection on identified team needs and what I hear from people around the league, and the opinions are not always the same as mine.
I feel Mike Williams ranks ahead of Edwards as an overall prospect because of his size but not everyone sees it that way, hence my projection that the Chicago Bears (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi) will take Edwards ahead of Williams. That could change in the coming days and weeks, though, as teams become more sure of their strategy. I have two or three possible names penciled in next to each team and changing one affects others, but shuffling the first-round projection will not necessarily affect the Big Board.
Why has Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8129) moved ahead of fellow corner Adam "Pac-Man" Jones (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=9049) of West Virginia in your latest first-round projection?
Scott, Ferndale, Mich.
Rolle answered questions about his recovery speed (4.49 in the 40) during his individual workout while Jones did not run the 4.2-area time most thought was possible, and with Rolle's having a three-inch height advantage (6-foot-0¼, 200 pounds versus 5-9½, 186) the scales are tipped in his favor. He is just a better matchup in terms of size at the NFL level. Both are very aggressive corners, and while Jones may have more versatility as a kick returner, Rolle is a physical player who is great in run support.
What direction do you see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=tam) going early in the draft?
Hector, Tampa, Fla.
My latest first-round projection has the Buccaneers taking Auburn running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8798) with the No. 5 overall pick, but there is also speculation they would like to add another young wide receiver to complement last year's first-round pick, Michael Clayton. Tampa Bay will likely be in position to get Mike Williams with its first pick, so right now it looks like the Bucs will have their choice of running back or wideout and they can go whichever direction they want. The Bucs also need help along the offensive line, at strong side linebacker and safety and are in the market for a place-kicker.
Do you think there is any chance the Atlanta Falcons (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=atl) might get Georgia safety Thomas Davis (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8265) with their first-round pick? William, Savannah, Ga.
The Falcons are in the market for a true free safety, but Davis will move to linebacker in the NFL and he likely won't be on the board when Atlanta picks, anyway, projecting right now to the New Orleans Saints (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nor) at No. 16. But the Falcons need help on the defensive line, too, and USC's Shaun Cody (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=9053) would be a nice fit for them in the first round with his ability to play either end or tackle. That would leave Atlanta with the option of picking up someone such as Nebraska safety Josh Bullocks (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=9058) in the second round then filling its need for a corner to complement young DeAngelo Hall in the third round with a guy such as Stanford Routt (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8199) of Houston.
Since they picked up two defensive ends in the offseason do you think the Jacksonville Jaguars (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=jac) should use their first-round pick on their struggling offense?
Jeremy Benischeck, Jacksonville, Fla.
Well, the Jags are very thin in the secondary and adding Michigan cornerback Marlin Jackson (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8130) at No. 21 would make a lot of sense for a team that needs athletes in the secondary so that the defense can get off the field and give the ball back to Byron Leftwich (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=7033) and his counterparts on offense. That being said, Jacksonville needs help at left tackle, running back, tight end and wide receiver. Based on who will be available, the best choice for the Jags might be to add more depth at defensive end in the second round with Trent Cole (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8225) of Cincinnati. They could then look to Kansas State running back Darren Sproles (http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/player?id=8804) as a nice change-of-pace back/kick returner in the third round and fill out their other needs down the road as the board dictates.