Without further ado…. David’s ESPN Radio Interview

Not counting the top 2 quarterbacks, a handful of player-team matches make great sense to me. Some thoughts on Thursday night’s activity (the pairings I liked the most).

5. Harrison Smith S Notre Dame: The Vikings should be exuberant once they get a chance to work with Smith. He is tough, smart, and instinctive. He is an underrated athlete, and will help the back end of Minnesota’s defense in multiple ways. A few years from now, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear that Smith was one of the steals of the entire draft.

4. Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State: The Eagles managed to select the top defensive lineman in this draft. Cox is uber athletic, and will be a terrorizing presence on Jim Washburn’s attacking defensive line.

3. Dont’a Hightower ILB/OLB Alabama: The Alabama LB is a thumper who can come downhill like a charging Rhinoceros, and can attack the edge with his hand in the dirt. Belichick might have found his next Willie McGinest (Hightower even looks a bit like him).

2. Morris Claiborne CB LSU: Yes, Dallas had to give up a 2nd round pick (and the chance to select another starter). But the Cowboys are known to take an aggressive approach to the draft, showing no qualms about packaging picks to move up.  Claiborne is the playmaking defender the Cowboys have needed for years.

1. David DeCastro OG Stanford: In no scenario could I believe that the best offensive lineman in this draft would slide to Pittsburgh at 24 overall. He is going to pair with Maurkice Pouncey to form one of the nastiest interior duos in the league. Steelers fans have waited patiently for the resurgence of the power run game in Pittsburgh, and it should be making its way back now.

1. IND-Andrew Luck
2. WAS-Robert Griffin III
3. MIN-Matt Kalil
4. CLE-Trent Richardson
5. TB-Morris Claiborne
6. STL-Justin Blackmon
7. JAC-Fletcher Cox
8. MIA-Ryan Tannehill
9. CAR-Luke Kuechly
10. BUF-Michael Floyd
11. KC-Dont’a Hightower
12. SEA-Stephon Gilmore
13. ARI-Melvin Ingram
14. DAL-Mark Barron
15. PHI-Dontari Poe
16. NYJ-David DeCastro
17. CIN-Michael Brockers
18. SD-Dre Kirkpatrick
19. CHI-Riley Reiff
20. TEN-Chandler Jones
21. CIN-Cordy Glenn
22. CLE-Courtney Upshaw
23. DET-Amini Silatolu
24. PIT-Kevin Zeitler
25. DEN-Jerel Worthy
26. HOU-Whitney Mercilus
27. NE-Quiton Coples
28. GB-Coby Fleener
29. BAL-Peter Konz
30. SF-Reuben Randle
31. NE-Harrison Smith
32. NYG-Devon Still

P.S. Make sure to select “listen live” in the top right corner of your browser.

Hope you can join the audience!

10. Junior Hemingway- (Late 6th Rd) Michigan Wolverines WR with a knack for the big play. A terrific jump ball threat, and is a powerful runner after the catch. Definitely a clutch performer.

9. Zebrie Sanders-(Mid 5th Rd) Florida State OT who played both left and right tackle. Has long arms and above average feet for a tackle, and has potential to develop into a starting caliber player. Has added value due to his versatility.

8. Philip Blake-(Late 3rd Rd) Baylor C who plays with good power. Can play either guard or center at the next level and can be a swing interior lineman if he doesn’t win the starting center spot.

7. Kirk Cousins-(Late 2nd Rd) Michigan State quarterback with charisma and a high football I.Q. Arm strength is okay, but could thrive in a quick striking west coast scheme. Worst case scenario, he holds a clipboard, but has some starting potential in the right system.

6. Edwin Baker-(Mid 4th Rd) Michigan State RB with thick, compact body and plenty of power. Comes from a pro-style system, and is reasonably skilled in pass protection. Extremely productive sophomore season, but was part of a platoon. No nonsense type of runner-efficient. Can easily take a starting spot for a team in need of a running back.

5. Jonathan Martin-(Late 2nd Rd) Stanford OT with nimble feet. If Martin slips into the second round, the team that drafts him must be ecstatic. To get a starting LT at that point is highway robbery.

4. Ryan Broyles-(Late 3rd Rd) Oklahoma WR who holds the NCAA record for receptions. He is a dangerous punt returner and receiver, who could destroy defenses on underneath routes. Coming off a season-ending injury.

3. Brandon Brooks-(Early 3rd Rd) Miami (OH) OG, mammoth body with strength to pack a monster punch in the run game. Strong as an ox, and can plow through defensive lines. Has a chip on his shoulder and is hungry to prove his value in the pros.

2. Joe Adams-(Mid 4th Rd) Arkansas WR A electrifying special teamer who returned five kicks for TDs in his career. Lightning quick and can make open field tacklers look silly. His punt return against Tennessee sums up his skills very well. Reminds me of Kansas City Chief Dexter McCluster.

1.Brian Quick-(Late 2nd Rd) Appalachian State WR, big-bodied target who competes hard when the ball is in the air. Can make some magic with the ball in his hands, and shows outstanding body control. Has #1 receiver written all over him. Compares favorably to Marques Colston.

Did I miss anyone? Voice your opinion in the comments section below!

[Cue mood-setting music]

(Video thanks to FrozenNature)

For whatever reason, we quickly forget that the NFL draft is not the only road taken for prospects aspiring to make an NFL roster. In fact, there are many examples of undrafted prospects not only making the team, but occupying starting roles for those franchises. Take the well documented history of Kurt Warner. On his journey to the top, he went to a small college (Northern Iowa), then moved on to the Arena Football League after not getting drafted. While he did that, Warner stocked groceries to make ends meet.

Rather than succumb to despair, Kurt continued to pursue his dream, displaying an uncommon resolve and focus. Finally, such focus paid off, as he was rewarded for his efforts by becoming the 3rd string quarterback for the St. Louis Rams. He eventually went on to have an illustrious career as the starting quarterback for the Rams, winning a Super Bowl and stamping his name in the record books as one of the most efficient and prolific passers the game has ever seen. This man , by his courage and iron will proved that dreams can come true to those with faith.

Undoubtedly, the success of men like Kurt Warner have inspired countless others to continue putting forth blood, sweat, and tears into trying to achieve what few others believe they can do. As a matter of fact, there are two such gentlemen who are undertaking this task even as I write this article. Their names  are Donterrious Porter and Matt Mosley

Mr. Porter is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Porter displays the effort and block-shedding to effectively play the run, and and through the air he shows a knack for breaking up passes. Take a moment to view some of his clips from youtube.

Out West, our other spotlight player, CB Matt Mosley hails from Central Washington. Before suiting up for the Wildcats, Mosley appeared in 20 games in three seasons playing for the Washington Huskies. At Central, he spent two years there, but missed nearly the entirety of 2010 due to a season ending injury. Provided here are clips from Mosley’s career.

The tales of these two young men and others like them are stories of dreams too strong to die, of unforeseen paths. The common path to the NFL is the draft. But there is also another road…an underground road to the NFL…the road less traveled.  Summed up more eloquently than I possibly could…Robert Frost’s famous poem:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

 This article is dedicated to those who dream with the grandeur of a child. God-willing, may those hopes become a reality through dedication.

(Updated 4/14) -

	1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck- I must say, the Colts picked the right time to be bad. Selecting their star of the future is a sound move and will give Indy stability at the most vital position in football.
	2. Washington Redskins
Robert Griffin III- After a long wait, Mike Shanahan gets his quarterback. Washington fans should expect the offense to ramp up quickly now that there will be such an electric player at the helm.
	3. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil- Providing Christian Ponder with an elite body guard or two on the outside is priority one. Kalil will immediately upgrade the blindside.
	4. Cleveland Browns
Trent Richardson- If you can’t ground and pound in the AFC North, there is little chance of success once the weather starts to grow cold. Richardson is grizzly bear of a running back and will carry the Browns offense just like he did at Alabama.
	5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Morris Claiborne- A ball-hawking corner with length and fluid movement skills will be helpful against Drew Brees. Claiborne is an immediate starter in any scheme.

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	6. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon- Since Brandon Lloyd made a b-line for New England, Sam Bradford once again has no clear number one receiver. Blackmon is the complete package, and will strike some fear into opposing secondaries.
	7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Fletcher Cox- Cox can attack an offense from the inside or on the edge. His versatility and athleticism kindle DC Mel Tucker’s imagination, while raising the defense’s status to elite.
	8. Miami Dolphins
Ryan Tannehill- Matt Moore and David Garrard can hold down the fort while Tannehill learns the nuances of the pro game from his former college coach, OC Mike Sherman.
	9. Carolina Panthers
Luke Kuechly- High floor players are very appealing to GM Marty Hurney. Kuechly can play all three LB spots, and will fit seamlessly because of his instincts and zone awareness.
	10. Buffalo Bills
Michael Floyd- Since they arrived in Buffalo, the Bills front office has made a concerted effort to bring in play-makers on both sides of the ball. The offense has some weapons, but clearly not enough to keep pace if they hope to battle the Patriots. Michael Floyd is a dangerous target who can win battles inside and over the top of defenses.

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	11. Kansas City Chiefs
Dont’a Hightower- Dontari Poe could go here, but a versatile pass rushing/run plugging LB with skills to play inside or outside is too enticing for Romeo Crennel. Hightower is pro ready from both a mental and physical standpoint and helps this defense in multiple ways. He can be especially valuable in sub-packages as a down lineman.
	12. Seattle Seahawks
Stephon Gilmore- The Seahawks have struck gold multiple times with Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and even Brandon Browner. Now they find themselves in position to select a physical corner with the skills to become a good corner in Seattle’s press zone defense.
	13. Arizona Cardinals
Melvin Ingram- I like an offensive lineman here, but Ingram presents more value. His ability to get after the quarterback from multiple positions, plus his rare athleticism and ability to drop into coverage tip the scales in his favor. This class is rich in interior offensive linemen, and Arizona should have several chance to fill that area.
	14. Dallas Cowboys
Cordy Glenn- Dallas’ man ball blocking scheme fits Cordy Glenn perfectly. His long arms and ability to latch onto defenders with brute strength are among his best traits. [DeMarco Murray rejoices].
	15. Philadelphia Eagles
Dontari Poe- For a team with few obvious needs, Philly can take a risk/reward player like Poe. He has rare athleticism for a 346 pound man, and is quick enough that he could have major upside in the Eagles attacking scheme if he can give consistent effort and dedicate himself to learning technique.

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	16. New York Jets
David DeCastro- DeCastro has slid far enough that Rex Ryan pounds the table and says ” I gotta have this guy.” The Jets pride themselves on their physicality and blue-collar mentality, values that DeCastro embodies. Now it’s time to run the football.
	17. Cincinnati Bengals (f/Oak)
Mark Barron- The Bengals have been filling the safety position with free agents for long enough. A tough, tone-setting safety like Barron fits like a glove for that AFC North style of football.
	18. San Diego Chargers
Courtney Upshaw- Upgrading the pass rush has been and should continue to be a priority this off-season. The Chargers defense needs more takeaways and impact plays. The best way to do that is to apply consistent pressure on the quarterback. Upshaw is that high motor type.
	19. Chicago Bears
Riley Reiff- Chicago’s zone blocking scheme is a good fit for Reiff, who can play tackle or guard for a team needing depth and talent along their offensive front. Another possibility to watch for is Syracuse DE Chandler Jones. Pack on 15+ pounds and this guy could be a monster…of the midway (sorry, couldn’t help myself!).
	20. Tennessee Titans
Chandler Jones- Put plainly, Tennessee had one of the worst pass rushes in the league last year. If you can’t pressure the quarterback you don’t have a chance at the elite level. Chandler Jones is a high upside player with super long arms and an NFL pedigree. Think of him in the same strain as Jason Pierre-Paul.

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	21. Cincinnati Bengals
Michael Brockers- A luxury pick would be to add depth on the defensive interior. Brockers is a mammoth who can plug the run against those powerful offensive lines in the division.
	22. Cleveland Browns
Kendall Wright- This draft is all about upgrading the offensive ammunition for this team. First, it was a stud running back, now an explosive receiver who can to great things with the ball in his hands.
	23. Detroit Lions
Amini Silatolu- This pick comes down to three likely candidates: Whitney Mercilus, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Amini Silatolu. Of the three, Silatolu should grade out highest because of his nasty, warrior mentality common for Polynesian prospects. Detroit would love to have such an intimidating force to upgrade the run game.
	24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kevin Zeitler- The time has come for Pittsburgh to add more help on the offensive line. At this stage of the draft, the top prospects are nearly all offensive linemen. Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler is perfect fit for the Steelers, helping them re-establish the power run game.
	25. Denver Broncos
Jerel Worthy- John Fox has some dynamite pass rushers, but lacks enough meat to plug the run. Jerel Worthy is both quick and powerful.

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	26. Houston Texans
Andre Branch- The Texans have options because of the depth of their roster. They might add a receiver for Matt Schaub, or they could add to the pass rush rotation. Branch is a project, but possesses the rang, athletic build of a 34 OLB.
	27. New England Patriots
Dre Kirkpatrick- Bill Belichick has indeed spent the resources necessary at DB, but still he might not trust that he can weather another storm of injuries. Kirkpatrick is an excellent press zone corner for the New England defense.
	28. Green Bay Packers
Coby Fleener- The Packers are a passing team through and through. Ted Thompson has made it clear that the Packers will stockpile talent for Aaron Rodgers. Having filled the WR position with loads of talent, Green Bay follows the Patriots and acquires a second giant TE prospect to pair with Jermichael Finley.
	29. Baltimore Ravens
Peter Konz- Baltimore likes solid, battle-tested offensive linemen. Konz is the top center prospect in this class.
	30. San Francisco 49ers
Reuben Randle- Opening up the offense is important to Jim Harbaugh. Reuben Randle has brought in for a visit, presumably because of his ability to take the top off of a defense.

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	31. New England Patriots
Quinton Coples- Perhaps the most polarizing figure of this draft, Coples is a boom or buster who carries too much risk for teams banking on his success. New England has the resources to handle his success or failure.
	32. New York Giants
Bobby Massie- New York didn’t run the ball particularly well last season. I expect them to make a concerted effort in bolstering their offensive line.

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Head over there, leave a comment here and on Justin’s blog, and join the conversation.

Morris Claiborne (NFL.com)

players showing that fluidity necessary to line up against the elite receivers in the NFL. I saw many corners with safety movement skills and speed. And the safeties were running playing linebackers. It wasn’t good.

However, hope remains. Guys like Harrison Smith, Jayron Hosley, Stephon Gilmore, Justin Bethel, Janoris Jenkins, and Morris Claiborne give some intrigue to this class. In fact, I thought that Harrison Smith had a phenomenal day out there. He showed the other participants the meaning of professional. He looked confident and comfortable in all the drills.

On a slightly different note, I want to mention how impressive Josh Robinson was. Posting the fastest forty and broad jump out of the whole combine puts teams on notice. Scouts will undoubtedly be re-examining his tape after this.