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Bengals and Bucs impress; Dallas and New England raise some questions
By Mel Kiper
ESPN Insider
NEW YORK -- A lot of good picks were made Friday night here at Radio City. Certainly enough that I could highlight more than three teams. This is the point where you really start to get a feel for which teams seem to have a clear plan in mind, while others are giving the impression that they are fighting with their draft boards, seeing players they want taken by other teams and then being forced to settle, unable to move off a pick.
Like we did Thursday, let's take a look at teams that have impressed me with their picks, several that have raised questions and a few storylines to watch as we head into the final day here in New York. I will say this -- there are still enough good players out there that you could see teams make up some ground and land key pieces.
Three I liked
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The picks: Da'Quan Bowers (51), Mason Foster (84)
Summary: Let's be clear on the Bowers selection: Is there reason to believe there are serious medical concerns with his knee? Absolutely. That said, guys can fall down the board for multiple reasons, and we've certainly seen cases in which the fact that one team didn't pick a guy scared off others that were considering him. You can hear the personnel people asking, "What did they see that we didn't?" But whether Bowers loses time in 2011 or not, getting a guy who has the skill set and athleticism of a top-5 pick this far down the board is a potential gift to the franchise. When you consider that the Bucs built the interior last year with Gerald McCoy and Brian Price with their first two picks, and now are working the edges with Adrian Clayborn and Bowers, there's a plan in place to make the core of any good defense a really good one. It's interesting that both Tampa and Detroit showed big improvement last season after targeting the defensive line and both have gone back to the well again in this draft.
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Cincinnati Bengals
The picks: Andy Dalton (35), Dontay Moch (66)
Summary: We know Cincinnati is facing a pretty serious potential rebuild on offense. The Bengals will lose their top wide receivers, and the writing seems to be on the wall for Carson Palmer. So give them credit for addressing major needs before the damage is being seen on the field. The Bengals already got the top wideout in the draft and now have gotten a quarterback who could have gone far earlier without trading off the pick at No. 35. Add to that mix a really exciting, high-ceiling guy such as Moch, and you have a pretty impressive start.
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San Diego Chargers
The picks: Marcus Gilchrist (50), Jonas Mouton (61), Vincent Brown (82), Shareece Wright (89)
Summary: This one might surprise some people, but I like what the Chargers have done, even if you're not so familiar with the names. Gilchrist and Wright are both pretty good players with upside at a position where the Chargers wanted to add depth, and Mouton provides help in the linebacking corps, while Brown gives Philip Rivers another needed target. As well, this is a team coming off a disastrous season of special teams, and it should add some help in that department with these picks. Sure, the Chargers have the advantage of a little more economy given the number of picks, but you can't let that take away from the fact that they've made multiple picks that can make them better in 2011.
Notables: The Jets got another good value on the defensive line in Kendrick Ellis. Rex Ryan has to be happy with the pieces he's added to what had become a depleted defensive line. Browns fans have to like the way Mike Holmgren keeps checking off big needs; same goes for the Bears. Houston has to feel a lot better about its defense with another day on which it added key pieces in Brooks Reed and Brandon Harris. Both of those guys could have gone earlier. The Saints got a steal with Martez Wilson all the way down the board at No. 72. Washington is adding good players -- Leonard Hankerson that late is a great get -- and keeps adding picks. Colts fans might have wanted a more exciting name, but they are clearly focused on that offensive line and Ben Ijalana can play early at guard. The Lions targeted offense on Day 2, surprising some people, but they got a lot of value with Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure. I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit assumed the Patriots might take Leshoure in Round 2. When New England grabbed a running back they clearly liked a little more, Detroit swooped in.
Three question marks
Dallas Cowboys
The picks: Bruce Carter (40), DeMarco Murray (71)
Summary: I praised the Cowboys for what they did in Round 1, adding Tyron Smith, a player who certainly should help on that leaky offensive line. But Dallas has real needs at defensive end, safety and cornerback, and they added a linebacker and a running back on Friday, when at each spot they had options to get help at positions where I see more pressing needs. I assess needs down for teams, and for the Cowboys, those might not be the same ones Jerry Jones has. But if the Carter pick didn't seem too peculiar, the Murray one really surprised me based on how this roster looks right now.
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New England Patriots
The picks: Ras-I Dowling (33), Shane Vereen (56), Stevan Ridley (73), Ryan Mallett (74)
Summary: It seems almost blasphemous to question what the Patriots are doing when it comes to the draft. I certainly didn't question them last year when I gave them very high marks. But it's clear that when it comes to value, their board was a lot different than mine this year and I think they had rated a pair of players higher than other teams did. The Dowling pick isn't in question. He could be the real deal if healthy. Once high on my Big Board, if his health is there, he's a solid corner. But Vereen would have been available later, and Ridley was simply a reach. The Mallett pick obviously is an intriguing one. The kid has a lot of talent, and the Patriots could develop him or even save him for a deal down the road. They deserve the usual high marks for positioning themselves for a score in 2012. But this is a team that has real needs with their pass rush, and they haven't done a thing in that area. They could also have used another offensive lineman but passed. Again, they deserve the benefit of the doubt, but this is about asking questions.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
The picks: Will Rackley (76)
Summary: The only reason I have Jacksonville here is the Jags have done nothing in my mind to truly improve the team for 2011. Blaine Gabbert isn't a bad value at all, particularly when you consider where other quarterbacks were picked around him, but on Friday, their one pick netted them only a guard. The current roster has some young talent, but you don't see momentum for next year. It's more of a concession that there will be a period of rebuilding.
Notables: Buffalo has added some good players, but the Bills clearly feel a lot better about the state of their offensive line than I do. Arizona is adding some good pieces, but the Cardinals must have a good plan in place for how to address the quarterback position. Minnesota fans didn't seem all that thrilled with Kyle Rudolph in Round 2. He's actually a great value there; the question is whether the Vikings will add help at more serious voids.
Three to watch
• There are a pair of good cornerbacks hanging out there early in Round 4 in Brandon Burton and Kendric Burney. Those are guys teams who need help at corner could try to move up for.
• Christian Ballard of Iowa is a player who fell during the draft process but could offer some versatility. I'd be surprised if a 3-4 team doesn't snatch him up early on Day 3.
• A pair of good wideouts are still out there in Gregory Salas and Tandon Doss. It's a pretty deep draft at that position, with a lot of names already taken.
By Mel Kiper
ESPN Insider
NEW YORK -- A lot of good picks were made Friday night here at Radio City. Certainly enough that I could highlight more than three teams. This is the point where you really start to get a feel for which teams seem to have a clear plan in mind, while others are giving the impression that they are fighting with their draft boards, seeing players they want taken by other teams and then being forced to settle, unable to move off a pick.
Like we did Thursday, let's take a look at teams that have impressed me with their picks, several that have raised questions and a few storylines to watch as we head into the final day here in New York. I will say this -- there are still enough good players out there that you could see teams make up some ground and land key pieces.
Three I liked
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The picks: Da'Quan Bowers (51), Mason Foster (84)
Summary: Let's be clear on the Bowers selection: Is there reason to believe there are serious medical concerns with his knee? Absolutely. That said, guys can fall down the board for multiple reasons, and we've certainly seen cases in which the fact that one team didn't pick a guy scared off others that were considering him. You can hear the personnel people asking, "What did they see that we didn't?" But whether Bowers loses time in 2011 or not, getting a guy who has the skill set and athleticism of a top-5 pick this far down the board is a potential gift to the franchise. When you consider that the Bucs built the interior last year with Gerald McCoy and Brian Price with their first two picks, and now are working the edges with Adrian Clayborn and Bowers, there's a plan in place to make the core of any good defense a really good one. It's interesting that both Tampa and Detroit showed big improvement last season after targeting the defensive line and both have gone back to the well again in this draft.
-
Cincinnati Bengals
The picks: Andy Dalton (35), Dontay Moch (66)
Summary: We know Cincinnati is facing a pretty serious potential rebuild on offense. The Bengals will lose their top wide receivers, and the writing seems to be on the wall for Carson Palmer. So give them credit for addressing major needs before the damage is being seen on the field. The Bengals already got the top wideout in the draft and now have gotten a quarterback who could have gone far earlier without trading off the pick at No. 35. Add to that mix a really exciting, high-ceiling guy such as Moch, and you have a pretty impressive start.
-
San Diego Chargers
The picks: Marcus Gilchrist (50), Jonas Mouton (61), Vincent Brown (82), Shareece Wright (89)
Summary: This one might surprise some people, but I like what the Chargers have done, even if you're not so familiar with the names. Gilchrist and Wright are both pretty good players with upside at a position where the Chargers wanted to add depth, and Mouton provides help in the linebacking corps, while Brown gives Philip Rivers another needed target. As well, this is a team coming off a disastrous season of special teams, and it should add some help in that department with these picks. Sure, the Chargers have the advantage of a little more economy given the number of picks, but you can't let that take away from the fact that they've made multiple picks that can make them better in 2011.
Notables: The Jets got another good value on the defensive line in Kendrick Ellis. Rex Ryan has to be happy with the pieces he's added to what had become a depleted defensive line. Browns fans have to like the way Mike Holmgren keeps checking off big needs; same goes for the Bears. Houston has to feel a lot better about its defense with another day on which it added key pieces in Brooks Reed and Brandon Harris. Both of those guys could have gone earlier. The Saints got a steal with Martez Wilson all the way down the board at No. 72. Washington is adding good players -- Leonard Hankerson that late is a great get -- and keeps adding picks. Colts fans might have wanted a more exciting name, but they are clearly focused on that offensive line and Ben Ijalana can play early at guard. The Lions targeted offense on Day 2, surprising some people, but they got a lot of value with Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure. I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit assumed the Patriots might take Leshoure in Round 2. When New England grabbed a running back they clearly liked a little more, Detroit swooped in.
Three question marks
Dallas Cowboys
The picks: Bruce Carter (40), DeMarco Murray (71)
Summary: I praised the Cowboys for what they did in Round 1, adding Tyron Smith, a player who certainly should help on that leaky offensive line. But Dallas has real needs at defensive end, safety and cornerback, and they added a linebacker and a running back on Friday, when at each spot they had options to get help at positions where I see more pressing needs. I assess needs down for teams, and for the Cowboys, those might not be the same ones Jerry Jones has. But if the Carter pick didn't seem too peculiar, the Murray one really surprised me based on how this roster looks right now.
-
New England Patriots
The picks: Ras-I Dowling (33), Shane Vereen (56), Stevan Ridley (73), Ryan Mallett (74)
Summary: It seems almost blasphemous to question what the Patriots are doing when it comes to the draft. I certainly didn't question them last year when I gave them very high marks. But it's clear that when it comes to value, their board was a lot different than mine this year and I think they had rated a pair of players higher than other teams did. The Dowling pick isn't in question. He could be the real deal if healthy. Once high on my Big Board, if his health is there, he's a solid corner. But Vereen would have been available later, and Ridley was simply a reach. The Mallett pick obviously is an intriguing one. The kid has a lot of talent, and the Patriots could develop him or even save him for a deal down the road. They deserve the usual high marks for positioning themselves for a score in 2012. But this is a team that has real needs with their pass rush, and they haven't done a thing in that area. They could also have used another offensive lineman but passed. Again, they deserve the benefit of the doubt, but this is about asking questions.
-
Jacksonville Jaguars
The picks: Will Rackley (76)
Summary: The only reason I have Jacksonville here is the Jags have done nothing in my mind to truly improve the team for 2011. Blaine Gabbert isn't a bad value at all, particularly when you consider where other quarterbacks were picked around him, but on Friday, their one pick netted them only a guard. The current roster has some young talent, but you don't see momentum for next year. It's more of a concession that there will be a period of rebuilding.
Notables: Buffalo has added some good players, but the Bills clearly feel a lot better about the state of their offensive line than I do. Arizona is adding some good pieces, but the Cardinals must have a good plan in place for how to address the quarterback position. Minnesota fans didn't seem all that thrilled with Kyle Rudolph in Round 2. He's actually a great value there; the question is whether the Vikings will add help at more serious voids.
Three to watch
• There are a pair of good cornerbacks hanging out there early in Round 4 in Brandon Burton and Kendric Burney. Those are guys teams who need help at corner could try to move up for.
• Christian Ballard of Iowa is a player who fell during the draft process but could offer some versatility. I'd be surprised if a 3-4 team doesn't snatch him up early on Day 3.
• A pair of good wideouts are still out there in Gregory Salas and Tandon Doss. It's a pretty deep draft at that position, with a lot of names already taken.