The following quotes are from NFL scouts, coaches and front-office personnel, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"(Giants defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo created four-man pressure and blitzed from all over the place. The last one to do that and win the Super Bowl was Buddy Ryan. When Baltimore won it, they were not a great blitz team. What Spags did was unbelievable."
"The Browns need to get better on defense. Their front seven is getting old. Their inside linebackers are average."
"When you look at what the Falcons and Chiefs have at offensive tackle, I don’t know how they have any other choice but to draft one early. You’re talking about two very depleted offensive lines."
"This year’s receiver class reminds me of the group that came out a few years ago when Santonio Holmes was the first receiver drafted. There’s really not a first-rounder in the class."
"(Rams executive vice president of player personnel) Billy Devaney will be on his own for the first time. He has always had someone’s coattails to ride. He was always behind Bobby Beathard or Terry Donahue or Rich McKay. He’s never been on the front line and had to take the heat when things don’t go right."
"Jerry Jones loves Darren McFadden. He is the type of guy who will go after what he wants. ... But he is not going to trade with the Dolphins. Why would he after they raided (the Cowboys’) staff. (The Dolphins) took his player personnel director, his offensive line coach, his DB coach, his linebackers coach. And to top it off, they might yank a few players in free agency. (Jones) is not going to do any deals with them."
"This is a one-quarterback draft. There’s not much there after Matt Ryan."
"The Saints have a big hole to fill at cornerback. I think they feel better about finding one in the draft."
"The Carolina Panthers have to get back to playing smashmouth football. They lost their identity last year. It starts up front. They need to be more physical on the offensive line. And they have got to have a power back. They didn’t have power last year. DeShaun Foster is a slasher. DeAngelo Williams is not that kind of guy, either. He could pick up some tough yards, but he is more of a complementary back. They need a workhorse like Stephen Davis so they can ram it again."
"The best time to enter the free-agent market is after the first wave. You get in early and you’re going to pay through the roof. The market always pushes up the price tag. I’m not interested in overpaying anyone. To me, you can find good value after the first wave every year. You just have to go back to the tape and look hard for it. A lot of money every year goes to the guys with big names — the Jevon Kearses. He was done when the Eagles signed him. What has he done since? But his name was a big draw."
"There are few guards or centers in this draft. As a result, you’re going to see the best in free agency get overpaid. Guys like Alan Faneca, Jeff Faine … they will have a lot of value on the open market.”
