McNabb no more in Philly; gets traded to Redskins

McNabb getting traded to the Redskins for the 37th overall pick and a 2011 3rd or 4th round pick really affects the NFL Draft. I believed the Redskins would and should draft Jimmy Clausen with the 4th overall pick, but now that will obviously change.

I believe this was a great trade for the Redskins and not so great for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Redskins desperately needed a quarterback, so Mike Shanahan could run his offense appropriately and thats what they got. McNabb has the ability to make every throw and he has a rocket arm perfect for slant routes, which Shanahan loves to run. The fact that they did not give up the 4th overall pick really makes this a great trade, because now they can look at an offensive lineman to block for McNabb or maybe even upgrade on their defense with a player like Eric Berry or possibly Gerald McCoy, which would allow them to trade Albert Haynesworth (who they are really upset with).

I understand that the Eagles feel they can win with Kevin Kolb, but I just dont see Kolb and a 2nd round draft pick winning more games than McNabb would next season. If it does not work out well for them, which I am not sure it will, Andy Reid will definitely be on the hot seat. Draft purposes this does allow the Eagles to address some obvious needs. They need help at the defensive line, outside linebacker, running back, and safety. I feel that the Eagles defense was not the same last season with the loss of Brian Dawkins. There are three very good “NFL ready” safeties (Eric Berry, Taylor Mays, and Earl Thomas), which i believe they should look at drafting one of them. Running back is a position that is usually very deep in NFL Drafts, so they can address that towards the 3rd round. In the second round I would look to draft an outside linebacker and a defensive lineman. All I know is that it will be very  interesting to see how this all turns out for the Philadelphia Eagles.

I will be updating the NFL Mock Draft later this afternoon.

(DAY 3) With the 7, 8, 9 Picks…

By: Brandon Wangrin

I am going to tell you who I believe each team should draft with their picks for the first three rounds (over the next 34 days, three picks a day). Different than a Mock Draft because in a Mock Draft I tell you who I believe they will pick in the NFL Draft. In these articles I am telling you who I would pick if I were each team.

7. Cleveland Browns- Dez Bryant– Wide Receiver- Oklahoma State

I first believed that the Browns would go with inside linebacker Rolando McClain, but the more and more I read about how they are thinking about drafting Colt McCoy with their second round pick makes me believe they will go with the very talented receiver Dez Bryant. Bryant is 6’2 220 lbs and is extremely explosive. Bryant would make this receiving core look pretty good on paper with Bryant, Massaquoi, and Robiskie for the future. The Browns want this offense to change this off-season and adding a weapon like Bryant would change it.

8. Oakland Raiders- Earl Thomas- Safety- Texas

The Raiders have a pretty good defense already and if they added a play making safety like Earl Thomas, they could take their defense to the next level. People think they will go with an offensive lineman here, but I would wait until the 2nd round to address that issue. Thomas ran a 4.44 forty time in the Combine, so you know that Al Davis will like that.

9. Buffalo Bills- Brian Bulaga- Offensive Tackle- Iowa

The word to describe Brian Bulaga is polished. He has great fundamentals and is strong. The Bills need an offensive tackle to block for Trent Edwards, a player that Chan Gailey believes he can turn around. Bulaga will protect the blind side for Edwards right away. Plus, Iowa knows how to produce offensive lineman so there is not much room for bust here.

(DAY 1) Picks 1, 2, 3

(DAY 2) Picks 4, 5, 6

(DAY 2) With the 4, 5, 6 Picks…

By: Brandon Wangrin

I am going to tell you who I believe each team should draft with their picks for the first three rounds (over the next 34 days, three picks a day). Different than a Mock Draft because in a Mock Draft I tell you who I believe they will pick in the NFL Draft. In these articles I am telling you who I would pick if I were each team.

4. Washington Redskins- Jimmy Clausen- Quarterback- Notre Dame

The thing that I love most about Jimmy Clausen is that he is very athletic and because of it he has play making ability. When I watch him I notice his ability to get away from pressure and make some very difficult throws. Many people believe that he lacks arm strength, but I believe that he has a much stronger arm than he gets credit for. He only threw four interceptions all of last season and one them hit his receiver directly in the back. His accuracy is second best in the draft to Sam Bradford. If the Redskins want to take it to the next level they need a quarterback who can get them there and thats Jimmy Clausen.

5. Kansas City Chiefs-Russell Okung- Offensive Tackle- Oklahoma State

Scouts keep making a big deal about the forty times that Trent Williams and Bruce Campbell ran, but does that really affect offensive lineman? I mean I believe that it shows that you have good quickness, but offensive lineman never have to run 40 yards. Im just saying that I would not draft a lineman over another solely because he ran a better forty. With that being said Okung is the 6’5 and bench pressed 225 lbs 38 times (1st among lineman in the NFL Draft). He is NFL ready and the Chiefs need an offensive lineman to protect Matt Cassell’s blind side.

6. Seattle Seahawks- Gerald McCoy- Defensive Tackle- Oklahoma

This is a case of a team drafting the best available player and getting a STEAL. The Seahawks need some help getting pressure on the quarterback and could use a defensive tackle to pair with Brandon Mebane. McCoy would instantly change the attitude of this defensive line core.

The Seahawks do need a offensive lineman and a running back, but I believe they will go with a offensive lineman with their second 1st round pick (14th) and a running back in a later round. Their tend to be quality running backs in rounds past the first round.

Go here for DAY 1 (1st, 2nd, 3rd picks) to check out the first three picks.

Judging Tim Tebow’s Pro Day

By: Brandon Wangrin

Some say Tim Tebow had a good Pro Day, just like some say that he had a great NFL Combine, but I still stand behind what I have said. Tim Tebow will not be a “quality” pro quarterback.

I had a chance to watch Tim Tebow as he threw, in front of scouts, at his Pro Day, I noticed how is mechanics have not changed and his arm strength is still not impressive. He still is throwing a 3/4 throwing arm motion and often tries to overthrow the ball, which forces him to get under throws and float them. I will admit his footwork looks better, but the main problem with his footwork is that when he got pressured in the pocket, in the Senior Bowl, he got flustered and became jittery. Without a defensive line and linebakcers rushing him, we can not know legitimately know if his footwork has improved.

Some people say that I look at Tebow with “blinders” on, but I judge everyone as I see them play. NO GRUDGES. In college, he was a product of a system that is like no system in the NFL. He rushed for yards in college, but did not rush for yards like Vince Young or Michael Vick did, he rushed for yardage with power not with speed, which will not work in the NFL. Even if it did, he would eventually get hurt with concussions or leg injuries, which is the last thing you want with a franchise quarterback (1st or 2nd round draft pick).

Tim Tebow, plain and simply, does not have the tools to be a “franchise” quarterback and he should not be drafted in the first two rounds or ahead of a quarterback like Dan LeFevour.

NFL Mock Draft: Updated (3/15)

By: Brandon Wangrin

1. St. Louis Rams– Sam Bradford- Oklahoma- Quarterback: Bradford will be the #1 pick for the St. Louis Rams. He will give them a “face of the franchise” and something to build around.

2. Detroit Lions– Ndamukong Suh– Nebraska- Defensive Tackle: This defense needs size and Suh gives them that. He will apply pressure on the quarterback as well as stop the run.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers– Gerald McCoy- Oklahoma- Defensive Tackle: I believe they should pick Eric Berry here, but I think they will go with McCoy. They were near the bottom in sacks last year and need to get more pressure on the quarterback. McCoy will start right away.

4. Washington Redskins– Jimmy Clausen- Notre Dame- Quarterback: I believe Shanahan will want a quarterback to begin his franchise. Clausen is athletic, has a good arm, and is a play maker.

Carlos Dunlap

By: Brandon Wangrin

A player that scouts say needs to perform well at the NFL Combine is Carlos Dunlap, DE out of Florida. At the end of the season, Dunlap was suspended for the SEC Championship due to getting a DUI just nights before the game against Alabama. Due to this, many teams and executives believe that his character is an issue, which is understandable. They will question why he was out getting drunk just days before the the SEC Championship and will wonder if that sort of thing will repeat before another big game. Because those sort of things do not fly in the NFL.

But if his draft status does take a hit because of the DUI, I will be dumbfounded.

Lets take a look back at that Alabama game. Florida’s defense got torched for 490 yards (239 pass, 251 run) and they had lots of trouble getting penetration at the line (1 sack as a team). Their next game against Cincinnati (#13 offense in the country) they allow only 246 yards of total offense. Dunlap had two sacks and constantly got pressure on Tony Pike. The guy absolutely reaks havoc in the backfield and is two-dimensional. He helps control the ground game as well as the pass. I feel that if teams do not draft him because of one off-the-field stint, that would be foolish. He is NFL ready and he has all the tools to be a All-Pro caliber player within the next couple of years. He is a real special talent.

NFL Combine

By: Brandon Wangrin

The NFL Combine has started and it is a time that players will need to perform. The Combine has so much emphasis on where players get drafted. Players in the past have dramatically improved or dropped from the big board because of poor performances in the combine.

Coaches, scouts, and executives will break down players based on specific positional workouts and six specific drills. Those drills are:

1. 40 Yard Dash
2. Bench Press
3. Vertical Jump
4. Broad Jump
5. 3 Cone Drill
6. Shuttle Run

These drills will really show each players athletic ability and I will be here to update you on how the players are doing.

Top 10 Cornerbacks

By: Brandon Wangrin

1. Joe Haden- Florida

Without a doubt the best cornerback in the draft. Haden obviously was one of the key reasons Florida had a top 5 defense, because he can shut down opposing receivers. Haden has perfect size and top end speed. The two things I love most about him is his shut down ability and his closing speed. He can close quickly on the wide receiver screen and also stay with you on the bump-and-run deep ball.

2. Kareem Jackson- Alabama

Want to start by saying 2-6 are not much far apart from each other and the combine will effect where they go in the draft. Jackson was a three year starter at the Alabama and shut down many #1 receivers in his time there. Nick Saban knows how to coach defensive backs, so you know mentally Jackson is ready to go in the NFL. Physically, he has the speed to bump you at the line or understand how to sit back in a zone. He rarely gets beat deep and is often left on an island.

Top 10 Tight Ends

By: Brandon Wangrin

1. Jermaine Gresham– Oklahoma

Extremely talented athlete with very good hands. Should have the best vertical leap of any tight end in the draft. Gresham is a good blocking tight end, but his receiving capabilities is very attractive to NFL teams. Should be NFL ready right away or halfway in to the season. Injury to Gresham in 2009 hurt his draft status a little bit, but he still should be a first round draft pick.

2. Anthony McCoy- USC

I believe that McCoy has tons of upside. He is big, strong, fast, and has excellent footwork. The size and strength will allow McCoy to be a good blocking presence. His speed will allow him to be a great receiver. He is not far behind Gresham in athleticism.

Congratulations to the Saints

By: Brandon Wangrin

Just wanted to say congratulaions to the New Orleans Saints on winning the Super Bowl. I admit, I believed the Colts would roll in this Super Bowl, but I was proved wrong. The Saints were the best team this season and they deserved to win it all. They have improved so much with Sean Payton and are going to have a chance to win more than just one Super Bowl. Looking ahead to the draft, they do not need to improve in many areas and they very well may be in the Super Bowl next season.