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Adam Schefter
ESPN.com
Q: It seems like every year we see one or two "consensus" high picks fall out of the first round (i.e. Jimmy Clausen) or drop drastically (i.e. Aaron Rodgers or Colt McCoy) for one reason or another. Which "consensus" top pick do you see taking a tumble in April and why?
-- Brendan (Ohio)
A: Brendan: I think there are two possibilities. The first is Cam Newton, whose name has been in play as the No. 1 pick. (Then again, so was Rodgers' once.) When Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly questions Newton the way he did this week, that's one red flag. Other red flags come from the people I've talked to. As talented as Newton is, some believe he could slide. So there's one possibility.
The other is Da'Quan Bowers. For starters, teams have medical questions about him and his knees. It's a real concern. Another front-office exec told me that his biggest questions about Bowers were not his medicals but his video. He watched the tape and didn't see what some others have. He said that of Bowers' 15 sacks last season, six came when he wasn't blocked and three others came from a certain kind of scheme -- so his 15 sacks last season are effectively down to six. The film also showed his effort was not consistent and his production was spotty.
After listening to some people talk about Bowers, it will not surprise me if he falls out of the top 10 or even out of the top 20. As another front-office person said to me, "He's going to need a parachute on draft day because of medical concerns." But Bowers' pro day is Friday, so he will have the chance to show everyone that he is healthy and put a stop to the medical concerns surrounding him.
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Q: Adam, most people speculate that the Cleveland Browns will go D-line with their sixth overall pick. I agree, but do you think the Browns will try and pursue an elite free-agent WR this offseason (if the lockout ends of course)?
-- Shane (Ohio)
A: The big thing there is, Shane, is if the lockout ends. No one knows when it will end; that's the problem. Any question about potential trades or teams making moves at certain positions comes with a bunch of asterisks. No one knows how or when this will play out. So yes, Cleveland would like to add a free-agent wide receiver, of course. But it's impossible to say when or whether it will get done. And I'm with you: I think Cleveland goes defensive line. And my guess today -- and remember, these are guesses, not news stories -- is defensive end Robert Quinn. He fits what Cleveland will do, he plays a position of need and he's very good.
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Q: I read an ESPN blog that suggested that the Washington Redskins might take a look at Mark Ingram in the first round. Don't you think they could get better value waiting until the second or third round and selecting a running back like Ryan Williams from VT?
-- Chris (Maryland)
A: Chris: I can say I honestly don't know what Washington will do in the first round, but if the Redskins are staying at No. 10, I don't see them taking Ingram. They just have too many other holes to fill. And with Washington currently not scheduled to have a third- or fourth-round pick right now, it's fair to assume that one of their two picks will go to a quarterback. Hard to see the other going to a running back when this team has so many holes. But then again, you never know how the draft board falls. My guess would be that on its first two picks -- if it doesn't trade back and accumulate more picks -- Washington would come away with a quarterback and a defensive player.
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Q: It's general consensus that Mark Ingram is the top running back in this class. Are there any other running backs in this class who could be every-down backs as rookies in the NFL?
-- Fred (Connecticut)
A: A couple come to mind, Fred. Illinois' Mikel Leshoure is a big back who will appeal to certain teams. I could see Williams from Virginia Tech also coming in and contributing as a rookie with his confidence. And Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter and Kansas State's Daniel Thomas also have a chance. Rookie running backs usually can contribute fairly soon, but of course this is going to be a different type of offseason with the lockout affecting everyone.
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Q: I saw you answered a question a little while ago on the Detroit Lions' playoff chances. I would love to believe that they could make the playoffs next season (whenever that is), but don't you think their defense still has some serious holes, especially in the secondary?
-- Jeff (Florida)
A: It does, Jeff, no question. But the Lions still have this draft to plug some of those holes in the secondary and then free agency, if and when it comes. Keep in mind that teams have been unable to make dramatic moves to improve themselves this offseason. By now, we're usually through free agency and on to the draft -- the two places in which it's easy to quantify when teams get better. But there's no way for anyone to make any progress this offseason. Thus, the Lions' defense still has serious holes. But some of them will get patched before the season, so it's a little early to dismiss them just yet.
ESPN.com
Q: It seems like every year we see one or two "consensus" high picks fall out of the first round (i.e. Jimmy Clausen) or drop drastically (i.e. Aaron Rodgers or Colt McCoy) for one reason or another. Which "consensus" top pick do you see taking a tumble in April and why?
-- Brendan (Ohio)
A: Brendan: I think there are two possibilities. The first is Cam Newton, whose name has been in play as the No. 1 pick. (Then again, so was Rodgers' once.) When Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly questions Newton the way he did this week, that's one red flag. Other red flags come from the people I've talked to. As talented as Newton is, some believe he could slide. So there's one possibility.
The other is Da'Quan Bowers. For starters, teams have medical questions about him and his knees. It's a real concern. Another front-office exec told me that his biggest questions about Bowers were not his medicals but his video. He watched the tape and didn't see what some others have. He said that of Bowers' 15 sacks last season, six came when he wasn't blocked and three others came from a certain kind of scheme -- so his 15 sacks last season are effectively down to six. The film also showed his effort was not consistent and his production was spotty.
After listening to some people talk about Bowers, it will not surprise me if he falls out of the top 10 or even out of the top 20. As another front-office person said to me, "He's going to need a parachute on draft day because of medical concerns." But Bowers' pro day is Friday, so he will have the chance to show everyone that he is healthy and put a stop to the medical concerns surrounding him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Adam, most people speculate that the Cleveland Browns will go D-line with their sixth overall pick. I agree, but do you think the Browns will try and pursue an elite free-agent WR this offseason (if the lockout ends of course)?
-- Shane (Ohio)
A: The big thing there is, Shane, is if the lockout ends. No one knows when it will end; that's the problem. Any question about potential trades or teams making moves at certain positions comes with a bunch of asterisks. No one knows how or when this will play out. So yes, Cleveland would like to add a free-agent wide receiver, of course. But it's impossible to say when or whether it will get done. And I'm with you: I think Cleveland goes defensive line. And my guess today -- and remember, these are guesses, not news stories -- is defensive end Robert Quinn. He fits what Cleveland will do, he plays a position of need and he's very good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: I read an ESPN blog that suggested that the Washington Redskins might take a look at Mark Ingram in the first round. Don't you think they could get better value waiting until the second or third round and selecting a running back like Ryan Williams from VT?
-- Chris (Maryland)
A: Chris: I can say I honestly don't know what Washington will do in the first round, but if the Redskins are staying at No. 10, I don't see them taking Ingram. They just have too many other holes to fill. And with Washington currently not scheduled to have a third- or fourth-round pick right now, it's fair to assume that one of their two picks will go to a quarterback. Hard to see the other going to a running back when this team has so many holes. But then again, you never know how the draft board falls. My guess would be that on its first two picks -- if it doesn't trade back and accumulate more picks -- Washington would come away with a quarterback and a defensive player.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: It's general consensus that Mark Ingram is the top running back in this class. Are there any other running backs in this class who could be every-down backs as rookies in the NFL?
-- Fred (Connecticut)
A: A couple come to mind, Fred. Illinois' Mikel Leshoure is a big back who will appeal to certain teams. I could see Williams from Virginia Tech also coming in and contributing as a rookie with his confidence. And Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter and Kansas State's Daniel Thomas also have a chance. Rookie running backs usually can contribute fairly soon, but of course this is going to be a different type of offseason with the lockout affecting everyone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: I saw you answered a question a little while ago on the Detroit Lions' playoff chances. I would love to believe that they could make the playoffs next season (whenever that is), but don't you think their defense still has some serious holes, especially in the secondary?
-- Jeff (Florida)
A: It does, Jeff, no question. But the Lions still have this draft to plug some of those holes in the secondary and then free agency, if and when it comes. Keep in mind that teams have been unable to make dramatic moves to improve themselves this offseason. By now, we're usually through free agency and on to the draft -- the two places in which it's easy to quantify when teams get better. But there's no way for anyone to make any progress this offseason. Thus, the Lions' defense still has serious holes. But some of them will get patched before the season, so it's a little early to dismiss them just yet.