[QUOTE=e16bball]Well, thats not really the case, as teams draft for talent and potential...thats what has happened in the NBA...the level of play is much lower now because "talented" players who arent ready get reps in the games instead of knowledgeable, more polished players...look at any number of players, darko milicic, even our very own kwame brown...these guys take roster spots and playing time from guys who are ready to play now...I'm very glad we wont be seeing that happen in the NFL anytime soon...

Also, i dont know if this means anything to everyone here because i'm new and i havent seen whether you all respect or don't respect mel kiper, jr...cuz i know some people really don't...but he is of the opinion that clarett will fall to the late rounds, possibly even the 6th or 7th...he doesnt think clarett is a top 10 back in the draft at this point because hes out of shape and what-not[/QUOTE]


Note, see where Mel had Julius Jones rated last year, [i believe it was 6th] it was much lower than I had him rated I had him as the 3rd best back in the draft so when it comes to back's it isn't Mel's strong position although I really like what he does.

I agree with Dasael on this whole thing I feel Clarett will be an outstanding back and is a victom of college and NFL higharchey cashing in on these kid's.

maybe the3rd or 4th round,i would not take him with a 1 or 2.

most experts had him going in the third round (earliest) had he been able to come out after his sophomore year. not sure if people remember, but he was way undersized for the professional level and he missed a bunch of time each year at OSU due to injuries- if he couldn't keep healthy in college, there's no way someone would have risked a first rounder on him... at least mcgahee proved he could play an entire year before getting hurt.

Each year? I believed he missed three games in the ONE YEAR he attended OSU. That can happen to anyone. You're insane if you don't think Clarette would have gone in the first round after that year. He would have been the first back taken without question.

bigredskinfan: We don't have a #2, and even if we did I wouldn't take him. I like Clarett, but we have other needs. If he falls to the 5th, 6th, etc rounds then I feel he is more than worth the pick. If he doesn't, it's not a big deal because we have Portis. Betts is far from a capable backup, in my mind. As much time as he spends injured I don't think we can rely on him.

Don't let your personal feelings diminish Clarett's play. He's a beast of a back and tore up a very talented Miami defense. The same defense that had 10? first round picks only two years later.

you're right about the years- he did only play one season... but again, he wouldn't have been the first back taken. he wouldn't have even gone in the first round of the draft. that's not personal feelings, that's fact. the pro scouts said he would have gone in the third round, second round would have been a miraculous flyer. if you do some research, you'll see the same thing. nearly every scout said he was not physically ready for the nfl after his frosh year- you can say all you want about me being insane, but that's what the word was after his first year.

i'm almost certain mcgahee gets taken by the bills regardless of clarett's presence in the draft and larry johnson definitely gets selected before him.

just to add: i'm not even sure what kind of shape clarett is in nowadays- he may even turn out to be a pretty good back in the league... but he was not ready in '03 and he wasn't going to be drafted in the first round back then (according to the scouts/experts anyway).