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Monday, April 09, 2007
With the NFL draft a little less than three weeks away, teams have begun to narrow their choices as they give prospects a final once over during scheduled team visits and/or private workouts in preparation for draft day April 28-29. Each team is permitted to have 30 player visits until April 20 and teams are now herding them in like cattle before the deadline.
This year's draft is expected to be full of surprises especially at the top of the heap with potential trade talks looming.
Extras
• First up, the RAAAIDERS!
For those of you who are ready to write in on your mock draft JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn as the Oakland Raiders top pick you may want do it in pencil. The Raiders have given every indication that they are leaning toward taking Georgia Tech stud WR Calvin Johnson with the first overall pick.
The Raiders have been in pursuit of a veteran quarterback since knifing QB Aaron Brooks in February. They went hard after QB Jeff Garcia when free agency hit in March, but he opt to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers instead.
Most recent reports have the organization hot after Detroit Lions backup QB Josh McCown. John Clayton of ESPN.com reports that the Lions are in trade negotiations with the Raiders regarding McCown. Rumors are that Raiders WR Jerry Porter could be apart of the deal should a trade take place clearing the way for the team to select Johnson.
Adding Johnson to a team's offense is equivalent to the 1.21 jigawatts of electricity Dr. Emmett Brown needed for his time machine in Back to the Future.
Bottom line is the Raiders are looking for more than a quarterback who can throw the ball deep. They have that in Andrew Walter, who has a big league arm.
Is McCown the answer? Probably not. Quite frankly, I see more in Walter than I do McCown.
Browns sitting pretty at No. 3
If the Cleveland Browns stay put at No. 3 they could have their choice of selecting either Russell, Quinn, RB Adrian Peterson, OT Joe Thomas and Clemson DE Gaines Adams as a darkhorse.
However, when it comes down to it, I believe the organization will go with either of the quarterbacks or Peterson. I know a lot of Browns' fans are lobbing for a young premiere back. Peterson is an extraordinary back, and is without a doubt the top running back prospect in this year's draft. He would be a perfect fit for the Browns once the offensive line is fully intact.
Another player the Browns will be keeping close tabs on in the draft is Notre Dame OT Ryan Harris. I was also told that members of the Browns scouting department have been nosing around the campus of Hampton University checking out a couple of their defensive backs Travarous Bain and Calvin Bannister.
• All you Mel Kiper wannabe's try your luck at Big C's Mock Draft contest... http://www.bigcprofootball.com/contest/
More to come...
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