Sunday, April 24, 2011

Augie Tieri's 7 Round 2011 NFL Mock Draft

2011 NFL Draft 
All 7 rounds

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Narrowing it down

Around this time last year most Giants fans were thinking that general manager Jerry Reese was going to select Rolando McClain or C.J. Spiller with the 15th overall pick of the first round of the 2010 draft. Some thought it would be Sean Weatherspoon or Derrick Morgan. Very few thought, and even fewer hoped, that Reese was going to take South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul, an extremely raw defensive end who played just one season of big-time college football. Those who didn’t view Pierre Paul as a realistic pick for the Giants at #15 were in complete denial, though, as Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin showed a ton of interest in the defensive end who mesmerized scouts with his back flips and freakish athletic ability and size.

It’s always difficult to determine what’s real and what’s complete nonsense when reading through the information and misinformation provided for draft geeks at this time of year. A few weeks prior to last year’s draft Reese told the media he wasn’t interested in having gymnasts on his football team, which was perceived as a shot at Pierre-Paul’s back-flipping theatrics. How’d that pan out?

So, in spite of recognizing that it’s quite simple to look like a clueless idiot when predicting what’s going to happen in the NFL draft, the following is a list of prospects we believe the Giants are currently considering with the 19th overall pick of April 28’s first round.

Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo

Why would he interest the Giants?

He’s one of the top offensive tackles in this draft, and many believe he’s better-suited to protect the quarterback’s blind side. With David Diehl coming off a miserable season, he’s expected to be moved back to guard, and William Beatty is a huge question mark. Castonzo is considered to be the fighting type that never gives up, which Coughlin loves. The Boston College connection to Coughlin doesn’t hurt Castonzo’s chances to be a Giant either.

Georgia defensive end/outside linebacker Justin Houston

With Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora on the roster, and the failure of tweener Clint Sintim at strong side linebacker, taking Houston at #19 seems to make no sense for the Giants. We’re talking about a franchise that loves pass-rushers, however, and Houston will likely be the best one on the board by the time Big Blue is up. In addition, defensive end/linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka will be a free agent once a new CBA is reached, so Reese may feel Houston could fill the limited playing-time role the Giants seem to value so tremendously every season. Or perhaps Houston could battle Sintim for the strong side linebacker spot—even though neither is a good fit for the position.

Houston went through a private workout with the Giants, making it clear that Reese and company have been intrigued by the Georgia Bulldog product. Only The Man Upstairs knows why.

Alabama running back Mark Ingram

According to the NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora and others, the Giants are enamored with Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner. Reese was also reportedly infatuated with C.J. Spiller last year, so there is probably truth to the Ingram rumors.

With Ahmad Bradshaw’s failure to secure the football, in addition to the reality that Brandon Jacobs is probably second-in-command at this point in his career, Ingram could be very high on the Giants’ board. Ingram has drawn comparisons to Emmitt Smith, so it’s not as if selecting the Alabama superstar at #19 is a reach. Chances are Ingram won’t make it beyond the Miami Dolphins’ 15th overall pick, though.

Florida center/guard Mike Pouncey

Everyone who follows the draft knows that Pouncey was a disaster snapping the ball far too often last season. Still, the Giants have shown ample interest in Pouncey, whose twin brother had an excellent rookie season as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting center in 2010. If Pouncey can correct his snapping problem, he could be the Giants’ starting center for a decade. That's an enticing option, what with Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert on the back end of their careers.

Villanova guard/tackle Ben Ijalana

Ijalana is considered a late-first/early-second round prospect, but the Giants sent director of college scouting Marc Ross, offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, assistant offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr., and scout Chris Pettit to the Villanova offensive lineman’s pro day. It’s doubtful those four went just for the hell of it.

Although Ijalana played tackle in college, some project him to guard. Then there are those who think he could be the best offensive tackle to come out of this draft if he falls into the right situation. Are the Giants among those who believe Ijalana can be coached up to be a dominant protector of the quarterback’s blind side? If they take him in the first round, the answer will be yes.

Prospects the fans want but probably won’t get

Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi

Carimi is a dominant run-blocker who will probably have a long career in the NFL. He suffers from an unfortunate disorder, though: The Right Tackle Syndrome. Right tackles aren’t considered to be as valuable as left tackles. In that case, don’t expect the Giants to invest a top-20 pick on Carimi.

Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith

Considered to be the third-best cornerback in this draft, behind Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara, Smith would be an ideal fit at the #19 pick for a team looking to improve its secondary. Unfortunately for him, there are reports out there that some teams have taken him off their draft boards due to character concerns and a poor attitude. With that in mind, when is the last time the Giants selected a shady character such as Smith in the first round? Don’t waste your time trying to find out.

Illinois linebacker Martez Wilson

The Giants’ biggest need heading into this draft is linebacker. Yeah, what’s new? The team has needed a linebacker for years yet hasn’t invested a first-round pick on one since Carl Banks in 1983. So, forget about Wilson, who many believe is the best 4-3 linebacker prospect in this draft but has no experience at defensive end.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Maz Burrito's two-round mock draft


One can definitely say writing up a mock draft is an exercise in futility—and a gigantic pain in the ass. Predicting where each player will be selected by which team turns out a rate of success comparable to a pitcher’s batting average. Even so, many jackasses, including myself, will churn out at least one mock draft each year, in order to pass the time during the most boring sports months on the calendar.
The real draft is 27 days away, so expect several changes to occur before the ever-so-slick Roger Goodell steps up to the podium and announces that the Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the first overall pick.

First Round

1. Carolina Panthers: LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson
Other than Ryan Mallett, whose stock has plummeted as a result of ugly rumors, there doesn’t appear to be a quarterback worth selecting #1 overall. In that case, new head coach Ron Rivera needs to take the best player available here, regardless of position, and Peterson has proven to be just that.
The Panthers already have a solid cornerback in Chris Gamble, but Peterson looks like a future star with the ability to make several game-changing plays on defense and as a returner. Despite the fact that a cornerback has never been picked #1 overall in NFL draft history, Peterson’s talent is just way too difficult to pass up. Carolina needs to restock its defense, and Peterson is the right player to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

2. Denver Broncos: Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus
Following Josh McDaniels’ disastrous tenure as head coach and personnel decision maker, the Broncos have to get it right in this draft. A great start to new head coach John Fox’s reign would be to select the best defensive lineman.
Dareus played defensive end in a 3-4 scheme at Alabama, but he has the body type and strength to make a smooth transition to defensive tackle in Denver’s 4-3. The Broncos need an interior lineman to take some attention away from defensive ends Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers. Dareus would fit in nicely.

3. Buffalo Bills: Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller
Quick, name Buffalo’s best pass-rusher.
Uh, never mind. Even if we gave you 24 hours you probably wouldn’t be able to come up with an answer.
Two years ago the Bills used the 11th overall pick on Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin, who has proven to be perhaps the biggest bust from the 2009 draft, as he has yet to record his first sack in the NFL. To make matters even worse, Buffalo passed on Brian Orakpo, who was taken 13th overall in that draft by the Redskins and has dominated in his first two years.
So, yeah, the Bills need a pass-rusher for their 3-4 defense in the worst way, and Miller is rated as by far the best in this draft. Many will say Buffalo is in desperate need of a quarterback, and it is, but as hilarious as this may sound, head coach Chan Gailey really likes Ryan Fitzpatrick, so don’t expect him to bring in Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green
Carson Palmer can make all the threats he wants; the Bengals won’t trade him. On the other hand, they could formulate moves to make it more enticing for him to return to the team, and there’s no better way to do that than grabbing the best receiver in the draft.
Green has drawn comparisons to Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson. Some even have him rated as the best player overall in this draft.
Cincinnati needs to move on from the oftentimes ridiculous Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco/Johnson era. In that regard, Green is more than capable of helping the Bengals do just that.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt had a rocky relationship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh when he was offensive coordinator of the Steelers, but he knows what a talent such as Roethlisberger is capable of doing, as the two won a Super Bowl together in 2005, and then three years later Big Ben led the Steelers to another Super Bowl triumph—while Whisenhunt was on the opposing sideline with the Cardinals. Whisenhunt is in desperate need of a quarterback, and Newton possesses many similar skills to Roethlisberger’s.
Although Newton was just a one-year wonder at Auburn, and there are some considerable concerns about his throwing ability, his immense physical attributes could lead to him being the dynamic leader the Cardinals want at the most important position in football. In addition, Whisenhunt is the right man to hone the young quarterback’s development.

6. Tennessee Titans (trade-up with Cleveland Browns): Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert
The Titans need a quarterback of the future, so they jump up from pick #8—ahead of the San Francisco 49ers, who also have a terrible quarterback situation—to take Gabbert.
With veteran Kerry Collins, Tennessee is in a great position to have a player such as Gabbert stand on the sidelines and observe for a year or two. Gabbert has all the tools necessary to succeed in the NFL, but he’s coming from a spread system and needs a substantial amount of time to learn how to be effective in reading defenses.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara
New head coach Jim Harbaugh is disappointed he wasn’t able to get Gabbert, but Amukamara is a nice consolation. The 49ers are very thin at cornerback, and Amukamara is rated as the second-best player at the position in this draft.
In order to bring the 49ers back to greatness, Harbaugh will be looking for high-character players with great work ethics. In that regard, Amukamara is an ideal fit.

8. Cleveland Browns (trade-down with Tennessee Titans): Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley
With new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron switching the Browns to the 4-3 scheme, Cleveland needs an impact player on the line, and Fairley dropping this far works out beautifully.
Fairley’s stock has dropped a little over the last month, as many were projecting him as the #1 overall pick not too long ago. Some have been discouraged by the fact he’s less than 300 pounds, but he showed he could take over and dominate a game much more often than Dareus did in college, and the Browns would be thrilled to build a defense around the Auburn product.

9. St. Louis Rams (trade-up with Dallas Cowboys): Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers
Head coach Steve Spagnuolo was the man who started using four defensive ends on the field at the same time when he was defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. With Bowers dropping this far, Spags can’t help but move up to get the Clemson pass-rusher.
Veteran defensive end Chris Long finally showed some elite skills last season for the Rams, as he finished with nine sacks. In order to become a dominant defense, however, St. Louis needs another intimidating presence coming from the other side. After posting 15.5 sacks last fall, Bowers appears to be the best fit for the job.


10. Washington Redskins: Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan
Daniel Snyder finally has real football people making personnel decisions for him. General manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan have to know that their defensive line is one of the weakest in the NFL, so they’re thrilled to see Jordan fall to them.
Jordan’s stock has skyrocketed in the last few months, and with good reason. He was a dominant player for the Bears last year, manhandling some top prospects he faced, including Colorado’s Nate Solder. He’s also tested well in workouts, giving every indication that he’s the complete package. Washington needs that type of player at defensive end.

11. New England Patriots (trade-up with Houston Texans): Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones
After trading future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss at the beginning of last season, the Patriots limited quarterback Tom Brady’s options on the outside. Jones is rated by most as the second-best receiver in this draft, and some believe he’s even better than A.J. Green, so Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gets excited and makes a move up six spots to grab the Crimson Tide dynamic talent.
Jones has the playmaking ability to fill Moss’s void and open things up on the inside for slot receivers Wes Welker and Justin Edelman and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.

12. Minnesota Vikings: North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn
Stud defensive end Jared Allen has collected 40 sacks in his three years with the Vikings, so the trade Minnesota made with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the 2008 draft has paid off. Ray Edwards has been a solid complement to Allen at the other defensive end spot over the last three seasons, posting 21.5 sacks during that time, but Minnesota could use another pass-rushing threat.
Quinn probably would go much higher in this draft if he hadn’t been suspended by the NCAA last season. In 2009 he had 11 sacks and 19 tackles in the backfield, and he possesses a wide array of skills that make him quite a scary presence for opposing offensive linemen. By grabbing the 6-4, 270-pound Quinn here, new head coach Leslie Frazier could get creative in using the rookie in certain packages with Allen, Edwards, and dominant defensive tackle Kevin Williams.



Monday, March 28, 2011

Inside The War Room: Cincinnati Bengals


And with the #4 Overall Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...


You are the GM...Make the pick



CONSENSUS PICK:  NONE (And I'm not shocked in the least bit)


Best Arguments:


mprofetta said...
In a surprise move, the Bengals take OLB Von Miller. I think that the Bengals will pick up Donovan McNabb. Jay Gruden will try to milk an efficient season from him in his WCO, much like his brother did with supposedly "washed-up" vets like Rich Gannon & Jeff Garcia. With Leon Hall, Jonathan Joseph, Pacman Jones, Brandon Ghee and Morgan Trent at CB, Peterson would be a luxury pick. A.J. Green & Julio Jones are options, but Simpson, Caldwell & Shipley played well late in the season and CIN would like to return to the physical, ball-control offense/ aggressive defense formula that brought them the AFC North title in 2009. A pass-rusher is the top priority. Bowers & Fairley are too risky here, and CIN seems to like the young group of Dunlap/Sims/Atkins/M. Johnson along the D-line. Who better than Miller, the nation's sack leader over the last two seasons, to improve the Bengals' paltry sack total? He has the versatility to play SLB in Mike Zimmer's flexing scheme & would allow Maualuga to slide over to his natural MLB spot, thus improving the pass rush AND the run D in one fell swoop. CIN loves drafting LBs and Miller is arguably the "safest" pick on the board. Marvin Lewis has used up his nine lives in Cincy and can't afford to miss on this pick. An immediate, high-level contributor is needed. Look for the Bengals to target Christian Ponder or Andy Dalton in the 2nd round to groom behind the stopgap QB while the Palmer Saga unfolds.
Many think that BUF could opt for Miller at #3 because Chan Gailey coached him at the Senior Bowl. Well, guess who the coach on the opposing sideline was at the Senior Bowl. Marvin Lewis.


AugieT said...
If Gabbert gets by Buffalo, I think the Bengals grab him. He is the right fit for Jay Gruden's West Coast offense and I think regardless of whether Palmer was coming back or not, I think they would have drafted a QB. Palmer has been in decline for several years now

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Falcons Willing to Trade Up to Aquire A.J. Green


According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Falcons would be willing to trade up if A.J. Green falls to the sixth spot when the Cleveland Browns make their selection. There has been rumors swirling that the Browns were already seeking a trade partner in order to move back from the 6th pick, but this situation brings some irony with it as it is also widely believed that if A.J. Green fell to the Browns or if Julio Jones was available that Browns GM Mike Holmgren would be compelled to take them.

The Falcons most glaring need this off-season is a top flight compliment to Roddy White in their receiving core. The addition of A.J. Green, considered by a number of scouts to be one of the best wide receiver prospects to come out in quite some time, would add another weapon to an already potent offense. A wide receiving core including Roddy White, A.J. Green, and Tony Gonzalez, paired with a punishing rushing attack headed by Michael Turner and commanded by one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the game with Matt Ryan, the sky would be the limit as the Falcons make a push to emerge as the elite team in the NFC. Falcons fans will closely monitor the situation over the next month in hope that a homegrown talent such as Green could just be the missing link to a possible run at the Super Bowl this upcoming season.

Cardinals in Hot Pursuit of Gabbert


The Cardinals have stepped up their efforts in their pursuit of Blaine Gabbert to be their next franchise quarterback. It has been reported by multiple sources that Cardinals ownership took Gabbert to dinner Tuesday night, and were on hand as the Cardinals coaching staff held a private workout for him Wednesday afternoon. There has been a good amount of speculation this off-season that the Cardinals would pursue a veteran quarterback such as Ravens backup and former Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, but with the lockout and subsequent postponement of free agency, the Cardinals appear to be pursuing different angles. The Cardinals could still sign Bulger once free agency begins, as he could re-establish his career as a starting quarterback for a season while Gabbert develops with Gabbert ultimately taking the reigns. Of course, this could all be moot, as Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey has spoken very highly of Gabbert and could be eying him with the 3rd overall pick as they already have the veteran stop gap quarterback already in place. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next month as things appear to be heating up.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Inside The War Room: Buffalo Bills

And with the #3 Overall Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select...


You are the GM...Make the pick


CONSENSUS PICK:  NONE (And I'm not shocked in the least bit)


Best Arguments: 

mprofetta said...
I guess I'll kick off the festivities...With the 3rd pick, the Buffalo Bills select Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. I don't think that Newton's skill set translates well to the pro game and there are the well-chronicled red flags, but his raw talent will prove too tantalizing for the QB-hungry teams in the top 10 to ignore. BUF might be a good situation for him, as his mobility and arm strength make him a good fit in Gailey's scheme. Newton would have the ideal mentor in Harvard-grad Ryan Fitzpatrick, who could hold down the fort for a season or two while Newton learns the ropes. In a division with NE and NYJ clearly ahead of the pack and with a frustrated fanbase in need of some hope , the Bills should take a chance on greatness. Newton's presence in Western NY would also be a financial boon for their depressed BUF economy. 


jon said...
Here i think the buffalo bills do the usual and takes somebody that shocks everyone. I think they will take A.j Green, and even though there not a specific need at WR, He could be one of the most dangerous players in the draft and allow the bills to look at ryan mallet in the 2nd. this would give the bills a chance of have a prolific passing game in the very near future and have a explosive offense which fits the bills head coaches schemes.


ARub said...
If he's still available its gunna be patrick peterson. He's the best player in the draft by far and the bills would be lucky to have him roaming the secondary.


Anonymous said...
Von Miller. The 3-4 defense needs a great pass rusher and the Bills don't have one. Maybin sucks



POST YOUR PICK IN THE COMMENTS (when you go to post click "preview" then post)



Sunday, March 20, 2011

Denver Broncos: Inside The War Room


And with the #2 Overall Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select...


You are the GM...Make the pick


CONSENSUS PICK:  Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

Best Arguments: 

Anon said... 
They WILL take Marcell Dareus because he is the only logical option, unless someone appears in the next few days. John Fox would rather take a DE, but Da'Quan Bowers has knee problems, and presents too big of a risk. Nick Fairley would demolish the team unity that they set up through last years draft (Tim Tebow). They will eye Green, but Brandon Llyod did a great job at No. 1 receiver this year (I had him on my fantasy team) so reciever isnt a immediate need. Peterson wont be a logical option as they just signed Champ Bailey, and are paying premium money for him. They way i see things, the two biggest concerns for the Broncos are DL and S. No one is going to put Peterson at saftey, so DL will be addressed, and Dareus is the only option that works for them.
 
 
Joker said... 
The Broncos would be foolish to pass up on Peterson. He is the next Champ Bailey. Imagine those 2 guys on the same field
 
 
Anonymous said... 
Has to be Marcell Dareus. THey have to take the best defensive lineman available and he is tthe one
 
 

Anonymous said... 
I have Dareus going to Carolina so I have to put somebody else in for Denver. Its tough but I'll give them Peterson because he looks like the next great cornerback. Yeah the Broncos have Bailey but he's not going to last forever and who else do they have at cornerback. Bailey could be Peterson's mentor and after spending a first on a wide receiver last year I don't see them doing it again with Green.
 
 

Anonymous said... 
Marcell Dareus. A lot of people have Nick Fairley or Da’Quan Bowers here and I can understand that but I just don’t agree with it. John Fox has said that there are many parallels between his current Broncos team and the Panthers team he took to the Super Bowl. That’s true is some ways but one player that really helped them get there was Julius Peppers and Coach Fox has a history of coaching up defensive ends to be superstars. The Broncos current defensive ends are Kevin Vickerson and Justin Bannan who combined for three sacks this season. Their starting tackle was the 36 year old Jamal Williams who collected a grand total of two sacks. Yeah, the Broncos need a serious overhaul on the d-line. Dareus has seen his stock sky rocket in the past month mostly due to his great combine where he, in most people’s eyes, overtook Nick Fairley and Da’Quan Bowers for the best defensive line prospect in this year’s. The one thing about Dareus that makes him valuable and makes me such a huge fan of him is the fact that he can play both defensive tackle and defensive end at a high level. Whoever drafts him will get Albert Haynesworth (before he started acting like he was in the third grade) and Julius Peppers in one player. Dareus,, in my opinion, is a better defensive tackle than end mostly due to his size and strength but he also has decent speed that he uses with a great use of hands when playing end. This guy is John Fox’s dream and I just cannot see him falling out of the top three after a fantastic combine and pro day 
 
 
***REMINDER:  Post your names so you can get recognition once we move on to the next team. underneath it says "comment as". Scroll down and click on Name/URL and just type in the name you want to use and submit your post
 
POST YOUR PICK IN THE COMMENTS (when you go to post click "preview

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Carolina Panthers: Inside The War Room



And with the #1 Overall Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select...

You are the GM...Make the pick


CONSENSUS PICK:  Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

Best Arguments:

mprofetta said...
Ditto. Gabbert cemented it with his Pro day performance. The leaked "Carolina likes Newton" rumors are an obvious attempt to drum up trade interest for this pick.

Big Joe said...
Marcell Dareus. The Panthers should really give Clausen one more year rather than reach for a qb

Anonymous said...
Cam Newton. He will do more than sit on the bench for a year. He wont start a single game (but I said that about Clausen too...) but they are looking for the Tebow effect, a team catalyst who will unite the team from the troubles that they had together (Clausen vs. Steve Smith) and will sell tickets and jerseys because of his presence. Also, like Tebow, could be used in special packages and help the goal line troubles that the panthers had last season. And he is a pick for the future. He has potential, and if matched with the correct offence, could be a Vick style player, although we found out that Vick wasnt invincible at the end of the season. He would be the perfect pick for the bills, as Chan Gailey loves mobile QBs, he wont make it to the 3rd overall pick.

Anonymous said...
Marcell Dareus. Ron Rivera wants to build his defense into champions. Put Dareus at defensive tackle in front of Beason and let the linebacker run wild. The only quarterback worth taking #1 overall was Andrew Luck.


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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

New Additions to RealTalk Fantasy Sports Blog

On the top right there is a box labeled "follow by email". Stay informed of the latest breaking news. Submit your email address to have all the latest posts sent directly to your email.


In addition, at the bottom right of the blog will be the NFL Draft Top 5 Rankings by position.


Also, I will be posting an NFL Team War Room each day starting with the Carolina Panthers, and ending with the Green Bay Packers. Post your comments at the bottom suggesting who you think that particular team should draft.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The New Mock Draft Is In!


THE MOCK DRAFT HAS BEEN UPDATED

There is a multitude of changes following the results of the combine.

CHECK OUT THE NFL DRAFT CENTRAL TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR ALL-IN-ONE NFL DRAFT HEADQUARTERS. COMPLETE WITH MOCK DRAFT OF THE FIRST 3 ROUNDS FOR EVERY NFL TEAM, AUGIE TIERI'S BIG BOARD, AND THE TOP 8 PLAYERS RANKED AT EVERY POSITION 

http://realtalkfantasysports.blogspot.com/p/projected-draft-picks-by-team-top-3.html

IN ADDITION: If you scroll to the bottom of the blog you will see highlight footage entitled "The Film Lab". Feel free to navigate through and view some of the top prospects in action


Stay Tuned for Up to the Minute Draft Coverage


Friday, March 11, 2011

Trades and Free Agency Could Continue Despite Impending Lockout

With yet another snag in the current CBA negotiations and an NFL lockout on the horizon, much attention has been focused on the NFL Draft as the only refuge and source of action this off-season. The impending lockout has put more emphasis and pressure on GM’s to recruit talent and to draft more based on need because of free agency being put on hold for the significant future. This has been most taxing on the multiple teams that need to address the quarterback position, and as a result, has drawn significant attention to an otherwise weak quarterback class.
Well, have no fear, because it appears that there is still a glimmer of hope that free agency and the trade market may just be permitted after all. According to Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, citing sources close to the labor negotiations, it appears that trades and free agency could be allowed as early as late April, despite having no new collective bargaining agreement. If the NFL Players Association “Decertifies”, which is almost certain at this point, and the owners institute a lockout, the Players Association will seek an injunction that would allow the 2011 off-season to continue on as scheduled, with both free agency and trading being permitted. This injunction would be brought to Judge David S. Doty, who has weighed heavily toward pro-labor during his tenure. The NFL owners would almost certainly appeal the decision, but the appeal process could take some time, and free agency and trading might still be permitted while the process takes its course.
This could completely shake up the NFL Draft, as it would now allow teams to address their needs on the peripheral, and not solely through the draft. Much discussed players such as Kevin Kolb, Donovan McNabb, and possible free agents such as D’Angelo Williams and Mark Bulger could fill several voids throughout the league, completely altering the landscape of teams’ draftboards, and subsequently, a multitude of mock drafts. More importantly, this would open up opportunities for prospects to fall to other teams that may have otherwise been drafted already. The next month or so should be very exciting to follow, so be sure to stay tuned to realtalkfantasysports.blogspot.com for the latest news, and updates as your source for the 2011 NFL Draft.

-Augie Tieri

Source: Sports Illustrated/Peter King