Oakland

Impact Player: RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas

Who else? Now if you haven’t bought the 2008 Rookie Scouting Portfolio or don’t frequent the FFToday Forums then you don’t realize that I believe McFadden is a vastly overrated prospect. I recognize McFadden has great acceleration and long speed. I agree that he’ll play hurt and he runs a play as designed effectively. If you believe that’s all he needs to be a great NFL runner then stop reading right here.

Will the Raiders regret spending the 4th overall pick on McFadden?

But if you don’t think speed can compensate for a host of weaknesses then don’t just follow my oft-stated opinion, think about the things other people say about him:

• NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock said he wouldn’t pick McFadden with the first 20 spots in the draft. He highlighted McFadden’s questionable vision and inability to gain yardage after contact once a defender wraps him up.
  
  
• ESPN player/critic Merrill Hoge said after the combine that McFadden wasn’t a 20-carry per game back.
  
  
• It was stated by Trey Wingo that McFadden had more fumbles than any back in the NCAA last year.
  
  
• As of this writing, John Clayton reported that Lane Kiffin and the Raiders organization intend to use McFadden as a complement to Justin Fargas much like Reggie Bush was to Deuce McAllister.

So let me get this straight: New Orleans used the 2nd pick in the draft to acquire Reggie Bush with the intent to use him as a situational back? You won’t ever convince me that was the long term plan. A top-five pick is expected to get at least 20 touches a game if he is a runner. They didn’t expect Bush to regress as a runner by trying to break the big play on every run. In fact, I still believe Bush has the talent to be a feature back. The height-weight component is conveniently used for or against him, depending on the source.

McFadden is not like Bush or Adrian Peterson. I believe the impact McFadden will have in Oakland is the occasional exciting play, but mostly regret that they didn’t use that fourth pick to shore up their defensive front with Glenn Dorsey or Vernon Gholston. Most believe Al Davis finally got it right. What I don’t understand is why no one wants to discuss the clear issues McFadden has as a runner. I believe they’ll be more than eager to point them out on film as if they always do during the weekly NFL shows when McFadden experiences some struggles. I believe McFadden can develop into a fine, complimentary player. I just am not counting on it and that will have a huge impact on the Raiders organization.

Sleeper: WR Arman Shields, Richmond

Did I watch Shields play? Never, he was already done for the year when I caught a game to study Arizona draft pick Tim Hightower. That said, I’ve heard good things about Shields that will qualify him as a sleeper in my book:

• He’ll go over the middle to make the catch. Sounds like a base expectation to be an NFL receiver, right? Yes, but do we ever really talk about how rare a quality this is when we count all the prospects coming out of school each year that who not do this? We don’t, but we should.

• He’s fast. Speed is only good if you use it properly. I’m always one to rail against analysis where the analyst is drooling all over the player because he runs fast. You have to combine that speed with other skills and talents to get my attention. If a player is willing to go across the middle and take a hit, then I like the fact he has speed. It means he’ll be a versatile factor. He can run the whole gamut of routes: slants, crosses, square-ins, out routes, hitches, screens, curls, etc. It means he has a chance to be pegged as more than a slot receiver or the last guy on the field in a 4-WR set. It should also tell you he’ll be able to gain yardage after the catch on a well-thrown ball.

If JaMarcus Russell becomes a player anywhere in the city limits of his promise, Shields has a nice opportunity to grow into a starter.

Project: WR/TE(?) Chaz Schilens, San Diego State

One of those ‘tweeners with athleticism, but will require an overhaul of his game to become a viable player.

Notable Free Agents: None at this time.

Philadelphia

Impact Player: WR DeSean Jackson, California

This could be an I-told-you-so pick and not in a good way. Jackson could turn out to be the greatest hits compilation of Carolina’s Steve Smith and the Rams Dante Hall—he’s that talented. I just think Philly has a real problem with receiver acquisition:

• 2000: Todd Pinkston and Gari Scott—both were small, thin, guys with good hands. Pinkston has great hands, but was so rail thin he had trouble with press coverage and shied away from contact across the middle. The Philly scouts are aware that Andy Reid was installing a West Coast System, right? Breaking the jam and going over the middle is kind of important for this style of offense, don’t you think?

• 2001: Freddie Mitchell—A first round pick was spent on Fab Five Freddie. He managed to make some spectacular grabs (between interminable droughts of production). He too was slight, but sticky-fingered. Hmm…one time is a fluke; twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend.

• 2002: Freddie Milons—I heard of him at Alabama. Never heard from him again after he went to Philly. At least Milons was an uprade over the others in terms of his size. This the same personnel department in place?

• 2003: Billy McMullen—Ah yes, I remember McMullen. He was actually a bigger receiver, too. At least someone acquire T.O. That’s about all it took to put this offense over the top.

• 2005: Reggie Brown—He’s a tough guy, but has yet to develop into the dynamic playmaker the Eagles need. Compared to Freddie Mitchell he’s a veritable monsoon of productivity. Too bad his rainy season isn’t 16-games long. At least they finally picked a guy who can take a hit and shows good effort.

• 2006: Jason Avant—At least they got it right by opting for a more physical receiver, but now they seem to be getting slower with each passing year. I believe Jeremy Bloom was also acquired here—a great athlete, but he was out of football for a year and we’ve seen nothing from him yet. He’s also Steve Smith-DeSean Jackson-sized.

Jackson can take a hit, but he never struck me as a physical player at Cal. If they can get him open in space, they’ll strike fear in opposing defensive backfields. I’m just leery. They already have Kevin Curtis—a speedster in his own right who also produced in fits and starts. Mostly fits…

Hopefully, the impact of Jackson will be great production in the passing game. If not, I hope for Eagles fans it means someone takes a broom to the cobwebs to the office of the people in charge of scouting receivers in their personnel department. Philly, I hear scouts actually go on the road most of the time and watch game film. Don’t feel bad, I haven’t even gotten started with my favorite team who refuse to draft a receiver before round four…

Sleeper: OG/C Mike McGlynn, Pittsburgh

One thing is for certain, the Eagles personnel department responsible for scouting linemen understand what they are doing. McGlynn should develop into a future starter and will do a workmanlike job if he’s needed earlier.

Project: CB Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin

When healthy, he’s a Bobby Taylor type of corner: physical and a good tackler. But he busted up his knee prior to the combine. He’s also facing charges of theft. He allegedly broke into dorm with intent to steal an Xbox. Hopefully this is a case of mistaken identity or something else. Otherwise this guy is an absolute fool to do something like this when he’s going to make more money than 80 to 90 percent of the population in a matter of months.

Notable Free Agents: WR Terrell Golden, Penn State. He’s a big guy, but he plays in a college offense with the same creativity found in the position of toll booth operator.

Pittsburgh

Impact Players: RB Rashard Mendenhall/WR Limas Sweed

Tennessee Titans, this could have been your first two rounds. You were one pick away from Mendenhall, who could have combined what you had in Chris Henry and Lendale White and took it up a notch further. Then you pass up a fine prospect at WR who your starting QB built a rapport with for a couple of years at Texas? Can you tell I’m not happy with the Titans draft? The Steelers just got stronger. Willie Parker has won me over as a quality NFL runner. I understand Pittsburgh wants to kept Fast Willie fresh and Mendenhall will allow them to shift the balance of carries in a way that will allow them to maximize the big play capability of Parker.

But I like the Sweed pick more than Mendhenall. Santonio Holmes is a nice player and stretches defenses effectively. Hines Ward should be a Hall of Famer although the stats will likely make it a difficult call. Sweed will come in and allow the Steelers to use Ward in ways that will make the offense a match up nightmare. In case you missed it, Roethlisberger has become an elite quarterback in this league and the Steelers can toss the ball around the yard against any team. Sweed’s size and separation skills will force defenses to adjust with deeper coverage across the board and this means more easy first downs in the passing game. It also means fewer men in the box to stuff the run.

Sleeper: OT Tony Hills.

Versatile depth who will sooner than later be capable of starting on either side of the line. Pittsburgh knows how to get it done in the trenches.

Project: QB Dennis Dixon

He can run. He can throw. He just can’t throw accurately or slid in the pocket. He also needs more muscle and more practice at the position. Dixon has a chance to be a dynamic player in the NFL if he works his butt off. Very few players work their butt off. The ones that do are named Ladainian Tomlinson, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning. If Dixon simply works hard, he has a chance to be a viable backup in a few years. That’s probably a more realistic expectation.

Notable Free Agents: WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue. He’s a quick, reasonably sure-handed receiver who can return kicks. I thought Willie Reid had more promise at the same stage of their careers, but he hasn’t done much since leaving FSU. Bryant has a chance to take the job of depth chart receiver and special teamer.

San Diego

Impact Player: CB Antoine Cason, Arizona

I really liked this pick because Cason just made the Chargers pass rush even more dangerous. Jammer, Cromartie, and Cason are a really nice trio for 2008. Even if Rivers and Tomlinson have difficulty making it back to pre-injury form in the first half of the season, this defense should keep them in games. Cason isn’t a gifted athlete but he’s smart, tough, and will make steady improvement until the only talk is that he’s a darn good corner.

Sleeper: FB/RB Jacob Hester, LSU

He’s got a little John Riggins in him. I’m not sure its enough to say he can back up LT effectively, but I understand why the Charges were interested in acquiring him. He does run tough in short yardage situations and can catch the football. He could be a match up problem for a strong side linebacker in the passing game. He offers Norv Turner another dimension in his offense.

Project: T Corey Clark, Texas A&M

He’s a promising athlete at the position who just needs extensive coaching on technique.

Notable Free Agents: WR Billy Pittman Texas.

Seattle

Impact Player: TE John Carlson, Notre Dame

This is a safe pick after their Jerramy Stevens experiment and their short-term Marcus Pollard clean-up. Carlson does everything well enough to feel confident he can start right away and not screw the pooch when they run to his side or throw his way. He won’t steal the show, but he’s workmanlike. I would have liked for them to get Kellen Davis and take the chance on him they did with Stevens, but once-bitten, twice shy…

Sleeper: K Brandon Coutu, University of Georgia

He’s got a good leg, he’s consistent, and he can do it under pressure. He’ll have a long career.

Project: DE Lawrence Jackson, USC

I hate to call him a project, but he has gaps in his game as a run-stopper and pass rusher that will require the organization to be more patient with him than his selection indicates. His weaknesses were hidden around a strong USC defense.

Notable Free Agents: None at this time.

San Francisco

Impact Player: DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina

The hope here is the 49ers found another anchor for their front four and make Patrick Willis even more terrifying than he already is for opposing offenses. If they are successful, San Francisco has a fighting chance to be competitive even with their floundering offense.

Sleeper: G Chilo Rachal, USC

He’s a good run blocker about to go into a pass-first system. Not sure I call this a sleeper, but it seems upon first blush the 49ers scouts aren’t on the same page as their offensive coordinator. Not a good sign. Maybe Mike Martz is going to reinvent his offense. Maybe we’ll have an oil free economy in five years, too, but I’m not holding my breath.

Project: OLB Larry Grant, Ohio State

He’s a raw athlete who demonstrates room to grow into his position. I think Mike Nolan got his job by molding players like this as a defensive coach. I’ll trust this is one of those projects right here.

Notable Free Agents: None at this time.

St. Louis

Impact Player: DE Chris Long, Virginia

Long is the second-best player in this draft and that’s a huge compliment. There’s not a player more technically ready to play his position and Long and he’ll look impressive against the average NFL tackle or guard. It may take him more time against the upper echelon of the league, so he might get victimized by media hype that will only point out the marquee matchups where he disappeared.

I think a Patrick Kearney comparison is a pretty good one. He might even become a better player. He might even extend Leonard Little’s career for a couple of seasons if he comes out of the gate fast. This will help an ailing secondary tremendously.

Sleeper: WR Keenan Burton, Kentucky

Burton is one of my sleepers of this draft. I haven’t seen enough of the Rams second round pick, Donnie Avery to say without hesitation that Burton is a better pick, but that’s what I think in my limited view. Burton’s injury history has really hampered his draft status. He missed an entire season as a sophomore and I believe he played through some injuries just to make sure he didn’t become an undrafted free agent if he sat on the bench.

If you look at Burton’s junior year on film, you’ll love what you see: tremendous quickness, open field vision, the ability to adjust to the football, and flypaper for hands. If I had a few bucks to spare and, I’d bet this fourth round pick outplays their 2nd rounder by the end of the year. I’m waiting to pounce on this guy in every dynasty league I can manage to land him. I don’t know if he’ll ever be the next Isaac Bruce, but I think he can be a consistent #2 WR for a fantasy roster—the kind of guy you can pick in the mid-rounds every year and be happy you did.

Project: CB Justin King, Penn State

He’s a project because he’s got just about everything you want from a corner but until the light comes on, he’s a shell of a good player. Let’s call him Project Greenlight, because once it happens he’ll have a chance to be a hit.

Notable Free Agents: RB Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State; FB/RB Brandon McAnderson, Kansas. Both of these players have great footwork and vision, but lack the speed to be considered quality prospects. If they can demonstrate good quickness, they will have a fighting chance to make a roster and prove themselves from the ground floor.

Tampa Bay

Impact Player: OT/G Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers

Someone was giving Ray Rice a chance to shine and Zuttah was qualifies as a player who can stand up to claim it. He’s likely a better fit at guard and he’ll make a terrific one. The Bucs haven’t been able to gel as an offensive line, but I think this is a pick in the right direction. Rutgers has turned into a hard-nosed football team and Zuttah will work with the Gruden regime.

Sleeper: QB Josh Johnson, San Diego

This is another finalist for my steal of the draft label. When your former head coach goes from a small-time school to a division one program and breaks out tapes of you to scouts coming to see his new team, and that coach is a former pro quarterback, this should perk up your antenna.

Johnson has a fine arm and great mobility, but what I like about him the most is how he stands in the pocket. His eyes are always downfield, his mechanics holding the ball are very sound, and he maintains excellent footwork to slide away from pressure. He’s very calm with bodies flying around him. I’d say he’s a Bruce Gradkowski with a much better arm. That may seem like an insult to the average reader, but if you watched the third-year vet from Toledo as a rookie, you’d see that what killed his chances was his lack of arm strength. He made decent decisions, moved well in the pocket and found the open man. He just couldn’t hit on the major league throws to the open man and defenses soon capitalized on this weakness. Don’t be shocked if Johnson is the #3 QB to start camp and the #2 QB and heir apparent by 2009.

Project: WR Dexter Jackson, Appalachian State

Once he learns how to play in a pro system as a route runner and perimeter blocker, he’s got Joey Galloway-like skills. Maybe Father Time will stick around long enough to help develop him, too.

Notable Free Agent: DB Jonathan Heffney, Tennessee. Not a bad player. He could fit well in the Tampa Two.

Tennessee

Impact Player: RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina University

I too, thought this was a crazy pick considering they could have acquired Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice, Kevin Smith, Matt Forte, or Jamaal Charles instead of a one-year RB/WR. I’m still angry, but not as much as I was Saturday afternoon. I went back and read my analysis of Johnson and noted he has enough room to grow into a quality, every down player. I’d still rather they went with Mendenhall, Rice, Smith, or a receiver like Devin Thomas, but Johnson’s a fearless runner who is as light on his feet as any back I have seen in years. I’ve been saying to anyone who will listen this off season that Lendale White had enough vision to exploit running lanes, but not the speed, which explains his sub-4.0 ypc. Well, Johnson may not be able to turn a hit behind the line of scrimmage into a minimal gain, but he’ll turn some of White’s 4- to 6-yard runs into 10- to 15-yard scampers and 40-yard scores. He’ll also be a nice slot receiver, if the Titans don’t get too predictable with him as Chicago did with Devin Hester. If their strategy works, Vince Young is going to have a lot more room to operate.

Sleeper: WR Lavelle Hawkins, California

The Titans had their pick of receivers and they still opt for a 4th round guy. Please Tennessee, burn your draft playbook…NOW! Hawkins has nice body control, flashes the ability to catch the ball in traffic and with his hands, and has some decent open field elusiveness. But he’s not a jaw-dropping talent who can take over a game in a one-on-one situation.

I am excited that Mike Heimerdinger has returned to the Titans. This will give the team a chance to see if the offensive system hampered the development of the receiving corps. It’s not likely, but it is a possibility. Hawkins isn’t a bad pick here, it’s just they had opportunities for more dynamic prospects.

Project: DT/DE Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan

If you’re a Titans fan you have to wonder if they could have gotten Jones in round four and picked a receiver with this spot. Jones looks like the type of prospect who will afford Tennessee the luxury of rotating linemen to keep Kearse, Vanden Bosch, and Haynesworth fresh. Jones is probably better as Rod Coleman or Darnell Dockett type of DE who can get pressure up the middle than as an edge rusher.

Notable Free Agents: RB Rafael Little, Kentucky; WR Jason Rivers, Hawaii; and RB Omar Cuff, Delaware. A healthy Little could be a steal. He could be an excellent third down back with Johnson in the slot. He’s an excellent football player, just a huge injury risk. I really like Jason Rivers. I expected him to be one of those 4th round picks the Titans usually grab—at least they could get him off the street. He’s a tough receiver who plays hard. He’s a bit like Roydell Williams, but tougher across the middle. Omar Cuff is one of the most frustrating players I ever watched. I call him Mini-Csonka because he runs with his head down and covers the ball with both arms just like the Dolphins great. The difference is Cuff is a former CB who has good quickness and he runs this way all the time! If he can somehow correct this trait, he might turn into a real find.

Washington

Impact Players: WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State/WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma/TE Fred Davis, USC

It’s a long running joke that Daniel Snyder conducted free agency like he was running a fantasy football team. Well, he at least found a better way to use his approach: the draft! Thomas was my top receiver on the board. He’s a perfect fit for the west coast offense and I think he’s a lock to be an 1100-yard receiver by year three if he demonstrates any semblance of a work ethic. Kelly isn’t as dynamic, but he’ll be very good in the red zone and the perimeter. Fred Davis will allow Jim Zorn’s staff to flex Chris Cooley around the field as a true H-Back to gain match up advantages or have an insurance policy of Cooley becomes a free agent anytime soon. If you own Chris Cooley, hope that at least one of these two receivers looks good out of the game and Fred Davis lives up to his hype. Let’s not forget that Santana Moss is a quality starter and Antwaan Randle El will be a very nice slot receiver once one of these two draft picks can overtake him.

Sleeper: QB Colt Brennan, Hawaii

Don’t go nuts trying to acquire him because he’s my sleeper pick for this team. I just think he’s the victim of the fickle opinions of the media. If Chris Mortenson wasn’t going nuts last year with the possibility he might come out for the draft and compared well to Jake Plummer—who mind you, was often better than 2/3 of the fantasy QBs in the league—the expectations wouldn’t have been so wildly high for a brief time. Breenan is very accurate and can sling the ball around the field. There’s nothing wrong with slinging the football if you can do it as a disciplined reader of defenses and learn to throw the ball away. I like his chances to develop into a decent back up with borderline starter potential because he’s working in a west coast system under a coach who was once a QB who came out of nowhere to be a pretty good player.

Project: S Kareem Moore, Nichols State

The small school experience will steepen his learning curve but he has the range, attitude, and skill to be a decent player.