By Nolan Nawrocki
April 16, 2008

E-mail your draft questions to Nolan Nawrocki at ASKquestions@pfwmedia.com. He'll be answering selected questions on this Web site next Wednesday for the final time prior to the draft.

USC DT Sedrick Ellis

Typically, there are few teams looking to move up in the top 10, but the way we hear it, the Saints, who have been aggressive targeting players in the Sean Payton era, are expressing interest in moving up.

While they still have a pressing need to fill at cornerback, it is the DT position that they are looking to address early. New DL coach Ed Orgeron has been in attendance at many DT workouts this spring and has personally worked out Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis, whom he helped recruit to the Trojans.

The way we hear it, the Saints feel like they have to climb at least ahead of the Bengals, who are also in great need of a defensive tackle, to have a chance at landing Ellis.

The Chiefs, who have dangled franchise DE Jared Allen on the trading block, remain a strong candidate to make a move down. Carl Peterson's right-hand man Billy Kuharich, who formerly called the shots with Mike Ditka in New Orleans and helped make one of the biggest blockbuster moves in NFL history when he traded the Saints' draft for the right to select RB Ricky Williams, still has strong ties to the Saints' organization and is well-positioned to help arrange another deal. With many pressing needs to fill, the Chiefs are looking to acquire multiple picks and are very interested in moving down in the draft order, so much so that they are considering a move to deal their marquee defensive star, who remains a couple of beers away from a lengthy NFL suspension.

The way we hear it, the first round will likely feature at least one trade from the AFC West, with Denver and San Diego also considering moves to trade down. The Chargers, who do not possess a selection in Rounds 2-4 after having made multiple trades last year, including the one they made to secure S Eric Weddle in the second round, would like to regain more picks and expect to entertain offers on Draft Day from teams that are looking to move into the back end of the first round to draft the second quarterback to come off the board. The Ravens, who have also plotted trade strategies, could be a prime candidate both to move down with their first pick or trade up with their second, all with their eyes on the promise of a future franchise quarterback.

Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, New England and the Jets have also already discussed trade scenarios, the way we hear it, and could be very open to moving down. The Bills, in need of a receiver to complement Lee Evans, have never shied from filling their biggest needs early and could wind up drafting one considerably sooner than the first receiver in this year’s draft figures to be drafted. However, with Andy Reid having shown a propensity to trade up, the Bills could have a potential suitor at the precise spot (19th overall) where some decision makers believe the first receiver will be drafted.

The way we hear it, the Eagles still have some confidence in Winston Justice after he finished the season on a strong note, showing some promise in the final two games. Furthermore, team president Joe Banner does not like to give up on players until they have played at least three years. However, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan are both among the league's oldest starters at their positions and are expected to have to be replaced in the near future. Should Pittsburgh OT Jeff Otah, who strongly fits the mauling style of linemen sought by Reid, slide into the early teens, sources say that the Eagles could be ready to pounce.

Also potentially figuring into the tackle sweepstakes, the way we hear it, are the Seahawks, who need to begin thinking about replacing Walter Jones and have expressed some interest in moving up to land a tackle.

Audibles

The following quotes are from NFL evaluators, coaches and front-office personnel, spoken on the condition of anonymity.

 "(Arkansas RB) Darren McFadden does not run with a great base. He is no Adrian Peterson. His success will depend on the situation and team that drafts him."

 "(Tennessee State CB) Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie is too tall, does not tackle and only has one kidney, and I’m supposed to be excited? He’s got 'bust' written all over him. Take away his last name and do you think everyone would be as excited?"

 "(Michigan State WR) Devin Thomas does not like to get hit. He drops a lot of balls inside. You can see his obvious potential, but he does not get off press (coverage) easily and you can see too many obvious shy-aways. This year’s draft of receivers sucks."

 "(Ohio State DE-OLB) Vernon Gholston can rush the passer, get to the quarterback and make big plays, and in the NFL, those are the guys that get paid. You wish he were better all-around, but it will be interesting to see where he lands. He needs to be in a '30' front."

 "Marijuana today was like beer for a lot of us in high school. The question you have to answer is whether it is being used a couple times a year or whether it is habitual. I don’t have a problem with one, two or three beers a year. And let’s be realistic, it’s easier for some kids to get (marijuana) than beer."

 "If I were trying to read Bill Parcells, I would think he likes (Vernon) Gholston better than Chris Long because he can coach the kid to pursue and play hard. He cannot make Chris Long come off the edge much faster."

 "Atlanta should have taken the defensive tackle last year. Bobby Petrino should have known more about (Texans DT Amobi) Okoye than anyone. Now they have to make up for the mistake."

 "I think the Jets will take the quarterback (Boston College's Matt Ryan) if he is there (at the No. 6 spot)."

 "The 49ers need a quarterback, and they don't know it yet. I think J.T. O'Sullivan will wind up being their starter by October."

 "Pittsburgh just lost an offensive lineman, and they don't have Russ Grimm to clean up the mess anymore. So, I could imagine they are thinking of taking a running back. That's the way most offensive line coaches think."

2008 Draft Preview

If you would like to read more about the players who are about to enter the April 26-27 NFL draft, Pro Football Weekly has two publications that will fit the bill — the 2008 Draft Preview book and the 2008 Draft Guide.

The 200-page 2008 Draft Preview book, which sells for $19.95, contains detailed scouting reports on nearly 500 prospects with each player's height, weight, 40-time, positives and negatives. You'll also get our rankings of more than 900 draft prospects and a breakdown of each NFL team's needs, by position. Written by PFW personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki and the editors of PFW, the Draft Preview book is widely recognized as the "bible of the draft." Books are now ready to be shipped. 

2008 Draft Guide

Meanwhile, hot off the presses, the 2008 Draft Guide is a 152-page magazine that sells for $6.99, showcasing feature stories on Arkansas RB Darren McFadden and the secret to drafting success, a sleeper watch, a fantasy forecast and more. In addition, you'll find scouting reports on more than 350 players, draft previews for all 32 teams (including each club's top five areas of need and a "hot list" of prospects who fit the team's schemes) and rankings of the prospects by position. 

The 2008 Draft Guide is available now at newsstands and bookstores throughout the country. Both of the above publications can be ordered now from the PFW store. You will receive a discount if you purchase both the 2008 Draft Preview book and the 2008 Draft Guide magazine from the PFW store with our Combo-Pack offer.

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