Sunday, April 26, 2009

10 Best Players Available Entering Day 2

The first day of the NFL draft is in the books and there are still quite a few quality players available that, in all likelihood, will be taken in round three which begins at 10 AM EDT. Here are my top talents still available at pick 65...

  1. DT/DE Jarron Gilbert (San Jose State) - One of my draft sleepers remains on the board. He'd make a great 3-4 DE so I expect someone like Denver, Green Bay, Kansas City, New England, and Pittsburgh to be very interested early on today.
  2. DE/OLB Michael Johnson (Georgia Tech) - This time last year he was considered a possible #1 overall pick. However examining his film and hearing whispers of his attitude problem has dropped his stock inbto the third round, at least.
  3. CB D.J. Moore (Vanderbilt) - Moore was once seen as the #3 CB behind Malcolm Jenkins (#15, Saints) and Vontae Davis (#25, Dolphins). Here is, sitting on the board on April 26th. He'll be taken early today.
  4. OG Duke Robinson (Oklahoma) - The big man was a fringe first rounder and how he has stayed around into today is a shock to many. The Lions would be wise to add someone to protect their $70+ million investment.
  5. TE Jared Cook (South Carolina) - I had seen him listed ahead of Brandon Pettigrew (#20, Lions). Unfortunately for him the run on TEs never happened, at least during the first day. Could it happen on Day 2? Looking at the remaining prospects it is a distinct possibility.
  6. TE Cornelius Ingram (Florida) - Ingram, like Cook, was expected to go in round 2. And yet here he is.
  7. FS Rashad Johnson (Alabama) - Darcel McBath (#48, Broncos) and (#47, Raiders) Michael Mitchell were certainly ranked behind Johnson on many teams boards. Howevere it is Johnson who remain up for grabs.
  8. DE/OLB Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond) - The small school project was expected to be taken late in round 2, possibly by Carolina. However the Panthers traded up for the sliding Everette Brown and their need for Sidbury evaporated with that pick.
  9. WRs Derrick Williams and Deon Butler (Penn State) - The two undersized but speedy Nittany Lions weren't expected to go on Day 1. They could each be taken in round three. Don't be surprised if it is Butler, not Williams, selected first.
  10. OLB/ILB Marcus Freeman (Ohio State) - Freeman was overshadowed by teammate James Laurinaitis (#33, Rams) but he has the versatility to be an OLB for a 4-3 team or an ILB for a 3-4 squad. The same teams interested in Gilbert, plus Miami, will be eyeing Freeman.
I'll be doing team-by-team draft grade starting next week.

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