NFL draft: Position breakdowns
Published 9:40 am Monday, April 26, 2010
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1) Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2) Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
3) Dan Williams, Tennessee
Skinny: Some people have McCoy ranked ahead of Suh, but however you rank them, they are two of the top players in this draft regardless of position. Both will likely go in the top three.
Seahawks prospectus: This isn’t the top position of need for Seattle, but it would be tough for the Seahawks to pass on Suh or McCoy if they fell to them at No. 6. Even if Seattle thinks it needs to upgrade from Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane, there will be options later in the draft, as this is being called one of the best tackle classes to come along in a long time.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
1) Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
2) Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
3) Brandon Graham, Michigan
Skinny: In an overall deep draft, this is one of the weak positions. The good news for teams like Seattle seeking an end is that the growing number of 3-4 defenses in the league could cause a player like Morgan to drop into the middle of the first round.
Seahawks prospectus: Any of the top ends would likely be a reach at No. 6, but Morgan would certainly be attractive to Seattle if he’s still on the board at 14. Seattle struggled to pressure quarterbacks last year, and that was before Patrick Kerney retired and Darryl Tapp was traded to Philadelphia, so a pass rusher is one of the Seahawks’ biggest needs. Even if they don’t draft Morgan at No. 14, expect the Seahawks to find an end somewhere in the early rounds.
LINEBACKERS
Inside linebacker
1) Rolando McClain, Alabama
2) Bradon Spikes, Florida
3) Donald Butler, Washington
Outside linebacker
1) Sergio Kindle, Texas
2) Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
3) Jerry Hughes, TCU
Skinny: The inside linebacker class isn’t very strong at the top, and McClain is likely the only first-rounder at the position. Thanks to the growing number of 3-4 defenses, there could be a bunch of outside linebackers picked early, some of whom are not traditional backers, but rather pass-rush specialists. A number of DE/OLB tweeners in this draft will reap the benefit of more teams switching to three-lineman defenses. UW’s Butler, who could go as high as the second round, but will likely go in round three or four, should become the first Husky drafted since 2007 when Isaiah Stanback and Dashon Goldson were fourth-round picks.
Seahawks prospectus: Linebacker is one of the few areas where the Seahawks don’t appear to need help with Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill and Aaron Curry, plus solid backups David Hawthorne and Will Herring. The wildcard is Hill, who could be facing a suspension following a recent arrest for domestic violence. Even if the team decided to cut ties with Hill it is unlikely that Seattle would draft a linebacker in the first few rounds with so many other needs. The Seahawks, who will use often a roving pass rusher—Carroll calls the position “Elephant”—instead of a second defensive end, could pick an outside backer in the later rounds if they see a potential to help in that role.
CORNERBACKS
1) Joe Haden, Florida
2) Kyle Wilson, Boise State
3) Devin McCourty, Rutgers
Skinny: Thanks to a surprisingly slow 40-yard dash by Haden at the combine (4.57) this draft lacks a player projected as a dominant, lock-down corner. It is, however, yet another deep position, and there will be solid corners available into the middle rounds.
Seahawks prospectus: The Seahawks aren’t desperate for a cornerback, but certainly have room to improve at the position. Marcus Trufant wasn’t himself after coming back from a back injury last season, but if he can return to his old form, that’s at least one solid corner in the secondary. Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings both showed signs of improvement last season, but both have size limitations. Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider may want to find a bigger body to handle the growing number of big receivers in the league.
SAFETIES
1) Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee
2) Earl Thomas, FS, Texas
3) Taylor Mays, FS, USC
Skinny: Berry is one of the best players’ in this draft regardless of position, and all three of the above have the physical tools to be very good pros. Mays, a Seattle native, is one of the most interesting players in the draft given his combination of size and speed, but there are concerns about his coverage ability and instincts. A very deep position in this draft.
Seahawks prospectus: This is a huge position of need for the Seahawks, who only had two safeties at last week’s minicamp: Jordan Babineaux, last year’s starting FS, and Jamar Adams, who has spent most of the last two years on the practice squad. If Berry is still available at No. 6, Seattle will no doubt be tempted, but Pete Carroll could also look to trade down from 14 and get Taylor Mays, who he raved about while at USC, late in the first round.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1) Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
2) Trent Williams, Oklahoma
3) Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
Skinny: Almost everyone agrees the players listed above are the top three, but not necessarily in that order. Williams has the most upside with his athletic ability, but Okung is probably the safest pick. This is an unusually deep class of tackles, so for teams that miss on the top three (who may all be gone by pick No. 6) there is still talent to be had later in the first round and beyond.
Seahawks prospectus: With left tackle Walter Jones likely done, the Seahawks have to address this position, and the common thinking is they’ll do it at No. 6. Depending on what happens above them, the Seahawks may just be taking whichever of the above three is still on the board. The depth of this draft allows Seattle to not be held hostage to picking a tackle at No. 6, however. Anthony Davis of Rutgers, Bruce Campbell of Maryland and Charles Brown of USC could all be options later in the first round if the Seahawks want to go a different direction with their first pick.
GUARDS/CENTERS
1) Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
2) Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
3) Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois
Skinny: Unlike tackle, there isn’t much interior line depth in this draft, so don’t be surprised if a number of college tackles from this draft end up playing guard in the NFL. Iupati and Pouncey will likely go in the first round, but that’s probably it in terms of elite talent at these positions.
Seahawks prospectus: Seattle’s line lacks depth, and trading former starter Rob Sims didn’t help matters. The new coaching staff seems to like center Chris Spencer a lot more than the last one, and guard Max Unger is likely a starter for years, but the Seahawks will still likely draft multiple linemen this week. It would be a surprise, however, if they took an interior lineman in the first couple of rounds. New line coach Alex Gibbs employs a zone-blocking scheme that doesn’t necessarily require top-round talent, especially at guard and center.
TIGHT ENDS
1) Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
2) Rob Gronkowski, Arizona
3) Jimmy Graham, Miami
Skinny: Gresham may very well be the only tight end taken in the first round. Gronkowski is the most complete tight end in this draft, but he missed last season with a back injury, and some teams are concerned those issues aren’t behind him. If Gronkowski is healthy, however, he could be a steal in the second round.
Seahawks prospectus: John Carlson is one of Seattle’s best offensive weapons, and the Seahawks added veteran Chris Baker as a backup, so for a team with a ton of needs, this isn’t really one of them. Seattle won’t draft a tight end early.
QUARTERBACKS
1) Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
2) Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
3) Colt McCoy, Texas
Skinny: Not a spectacular class in terms of franchise players, but this draft does have good quarterback depth. Florida’s Tim Tebow could go ahead of McCoy, and it would be a surprise if either was around past the second round.
Seahawks prospectus: The trade for Charlie Whitehurst lowers the chances that Seattle will take a quarterback, but it is still a possibility. Bradford won’t be an option at six, but if Clausen was there at 14, Seattle might be tempted. GM John Schneider comes from a Green Bay front office that often drafted QBs in the late rounds to see if they might develop, so don’t be surprised if that happens this weekend.
RUNNING BACKS
1) C.J. Spiller, Clemson
2) Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
3) Jahvid Best, California
Skinny: Spiller reminds a lot of people of Titans 2,000-rusher Chris Johnson, and is a dynamic playmaker on offense and returns. For teams not wanting to use a first-round pick on a running back, there is a lot of value in the middle rounds. Best has the speed and big-play ability to be a first rounder, but concussion concerns could cause him to drop to the second round.
Seahawks prospectus: The Seahawks still have Julius Jones and Justin Forsett, but for a team that lacks a home-run threat, Spiller could be tempting. Pete Carroll’s offenses at USC always relied on multiple backs, and he has said he wants to do the same in Seattle. With one small back already on the roster (Forsett) the Seahawks may look for a bigger option such as Mathews or Toby Gerhart.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1) Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
2) Golden Tate, Notre Dame
3) Demaryius Thomas, Ga. Tech
Skinny: Bryant is by far the most talented receiver, but he also has some question marks having been declared ineligible by the NCAA last season. Tate is a bit undersized, but teams will like his big-play ability. This is another position with good value in the middle rounds.
Seahawks prospectus: The departure of Nate Burleson to Detroit leaves Seattle lacking a big-play threat at this position, so Bryant would be a consideration in the first round, though the Seahawks probably have too many other needs. If the Seahawks don’t pick a receiver in this draft, Mike Williams or Reggie Williams, former top-10 picks who were tryout players at last week’s minicamp, could find a role in the offense.
