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1.
Houston Texans:
Mario
Williams, DE, NC State (Jr.)
Our Take:
Ten of Wiliams 14½ sacks in 2005 in just
three games and against lesser opponents
and in 2004 half of his 6 sacks came in
one game. Take out those 4 games and he
has 7.5 sacks in 20 games. That’s a lot
of faith in a number one pick.
So instead
of a guaranteed game breaker the Texans
get a possibility of
dominance. When he feels like it.
That’s why
the Texans will continue to be bad, they
not only can’t evaluate talent, they
can’t make the simplest of decisions
easily. They could have traded down and
got some picks if this was their plan.
Just plain stupid.
 About:
Mario
Williams, 6-6, 289, NC State (Jr.):
Williams has
Outstanding speed off the edge. The best pass
rushing end coming out, he has been a starter since
he stepped on campus as a freshman. At 6'7 and 280
pounds Williams can play on the end or on the inside
as a tackle. Although with his quickness he most
likely will be an end in the NFL. Williams is considered
by some to be the second coming of Carolina's Julius
Peppers. His rare combination of height, strength
and overall athleticism is unheard of in someone 20
years old. Mario has been a starter in Raleigh since
his freshman year starting every game of his career
although he is still raw. The idea of him developing
technique to go along with his physical gifts is
scary.
Official Site:
http://www.mariowilliams.com/
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Possesses a rare combination of size, athletic
ability and speed. A powerful defender and fantastic
athlete whose speed belies his size. Has continued
upside potential.
FoxSports:
North Carolina State pass-rushing defensive end
Mario Williams is being viewed as an
immediate impact prospect whose value may be better
than that of Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw
Ferguson.
2.
New Orleans Saints:
Reggie Bush, 5-11, 201, Southern Cal
(Jr.):
Our Take:
Could make for a monster offense with
Drew Brees and Reggie Bush and Joe Horn
this could be the next great offense in
the NFL.
 About:
Reggie
Bush, 5-11, 201, Southern Cal
(Jr.):
Bush, with graceful elusiveness and
blurring speed, should be a runner,
receiver and returner who makes an
instant impact. He is an explosive
player that will draw immense attention
from defenses and still find ways to
gain yards. Comparisons that are unfair
to Bush are being made, we wont go so
far as some have and call him the second
coming of Jim Brown, or Gale Sayers, but
he is absolutely the best all around
football player to come out of college
since Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders.
Official College Site:
Player Bio- Reggie
Bush -- Football
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Bush is the highest
rated running back and overall prospect (regardless
of position) in the 2006 draft. Bush will need to
add some bulk to his frame and there are some
concerns regarding his potential to carry a full
load at the NFL level. However, Bush is the most
dynamic athlete in this class and his versatility is
what sets him apart from other top prospects. Even
if Bush needs to be eased into a fulltime ball
carrier's role as a rookie, he can still remain on
the field as a receiver out of the backfield, in the
slot, or split out wide on passing downs and he also
can provide a huge boost in the return game for the
team that drafts him. Athletes like Bush do not come
along very often, which is why we would have no
hesitation selecting him with the first overall pick
in 2006
FoxSports:
Go ahead and compare
him to some of the elusive greats of the past, such
as Gale Sayers, but a little bigger and faster. That
gives you the idea of how he can impact a game. Ran
away with the Heisman Trophy just as he ran away
from almost everybody who tried to catch him.
Elusive, electrifying runner/returner with good
hands and good-bye speed. Finished tenth in NCAA
Division 1-A history with 6,551 all-purpose yards.
Startling stats — 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns on
433 carries (7.3 avg); 1,301 yards, 13 touchdowns on
95 catches; 67 kickoff returns for 1,522 yards with
one touchdown, and added 559 yards and three scores
on 44 punt returns. Did not work out at the Combine
but ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at his Pro
Day
3.
Tennessee Titans:
Vince
Young, QB, Texas (Jr)
Our Take:
Not as ready as Leinart, but more
upside.
 About:
Vince Young,
6-5, 229, Texas (Jr.): With a legend bigger than
his abilities thanks to an inspired performance in
the Rose Bowl, Vince Young has become this years
biggest question. He has soem amazing tools, as his
speed and agility will make him the second most
feared running quarterback in the league, and his
arm strength will allow him to make the throws he
needs to. He has some downside though and that
is a throwing motion that is to say the least, not
what you look for in an NFL quarterback. Vince
throws almost sidearm and it will take some serious
work on those mechanics to keep his balls from being
swatted right back at him. He has all the
intangibles and you won't find a better on field
leader as the players all love him. Don't believe
the wonderlic stories, there is nothing about Young
that is not football smart. He should not be a first
year starter for his own development, but his upside
is unbelievable.
Official College Site:
Vince Young on
mackbrown-texasfootball.com
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Young still has much room to improve in terms of his
mechanics, release point, accuracy and ability to
take snaps under center and read coverage while
dropping. But while another year wouldn't have hurt
him, Young would not have improved in those areas
had he returned to school to spend another season
working out of the shotgun in a "read-option"
offensive system. The bottom line is that because he
is such an elite athlete with rare upside at the
quarterback position, Young grades out as a high
first-round pick.
4.
NY Jets:
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT,
Virginia
Our Take:
They get to let a QB live finally.
A great pick. If only D'Qwell can drop to them also
they will have the perfect names.
 About:
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, 6-6, 312,
Virginia :
There is no question as to who the best
tackle is this year, the only question
may be is he the best player in the
draft period. He dominated against the
best at the Senior Bowl. While he isn't
overpowering, his footwork and balance
are so good that he keeps his man in
front of him and keeps his opponent off
balance with his long arms and large
hands. Should be an almost unmatched
pass-blocker after a few years in the
NFL with his technique. Ferguson was
talked about for months as being a
potential first-round draft pick in the
2005 NFL draft, but Ferguson elected to
stay with Virginia for his senior season
and did nothing but improve his
standing. Plus he has the best name for
an offensive lineman.
Official College Site:
Player Bio-
D'Brickashaw Ferguson -- Virginia
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
He is the most
athletic offensive tackle in this year's draft
class, as well as the most efficient in pass
protection. Thanks to his good height and long
limbs, Ferguson has the frame to continue to get
bigger and he has recently eclipsed the 300-pound
plateau. What separates him from most is his
exceptional quickness, agility and body control for
the position. As it stands right now, Ferguson
grades out as the top offensive lineman and one of
the top-five prospects overall in the 2006 class. He
has all the physical and mental components necessary
to develop into an upper-echelon starting left
tackle in the NFL
FoxSports:
Long-armed,
picture-perfect left tackle blessed with agility,
balance and quickness to go along with great size.
Cemented his status as the top offensive lineman and
a likely top-five selection at the Senior Bowl.
Easily handled the competition in Mobile, including
likely first-round pass rushers Tamba Hali, Mathias
Kiwanuka, Kamerion Wimbley, Manny Lawson, etc.
Beaten for only one sack during the entire week.
5.
Green Bay Packers
A.J. Hawk,
LB, Ohio State
Our Take:
This is the best player other than a qb
on the board and fills a big need
position. A no brainer.
 About:
A.J. Hawk, 6-1, 243, Ohio State:
A three-year letter winner with the
Buckeyes, Hawk is the best LB in the
draft, and will more than likely be a
top-5 pick. His speed, ability to read
what's going on, and coverage skills
will be great assets to him in the NFL.
His toughness will also help him, as
most of the people he will go up against
will be bigger than him. He will be able
to step in and make an impact almost
instantly on most teams.
Official College Site:
Player Bio- AJ Hawk -- Ohio State
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Hawk lacks elite fluidity in his hips, which will
limit him a bit in coverage in the NFL. He also
lacks ideal lower body bulk and strength to take on
bigger blockers versus the inside run. However, what
he lacks in elite athleticism and base he more than
makes up for with instincts, toughness, speed,
quickness and power. Hawk is at his best when he has
room to roam uncovered, which allows him to best use
his diagnostic skills and high motor to chase plays
down without having to fight through much traffic.
Hawk is an absolute ball-hawk versus the run and he
is a playmaker in the passing game both as a pass
rusher and in coverage. He could probably play
inside or weak-side linebacker in the NFL but we
think he'll fit best at WLB, where he'll be in space
more often. Hawk should be the first linebacker
prospect to come off the board in the 2006 draft.
FoxSports:
Some scouts rate him as best defensive player in
college football. The two-time All-American is
dynamic, disruptive and intense. Won the Lombardi
Trophy and All-Big Ten Defensive Player of the year.
Veteran of 38 starts, Hawk was the first OSU
defender since Steve Tovar (1990-92) to lead the
team in tackles three consecutive seasons. Superb
sideline-to-sideline player who must be accounted
for if an offense hopes to work.
6.
San Francisco
Vernon
Davis, TE, Maryland (Jr.)
Our Take:
Some help for Alex Smith in the best TE
in years. Great hands, speed and RAC.
 About:
Vernon
Davis,
6-3,
254, Maryland
(Jr.):
An unbelievable athlete, Vernon Davis
has amazing strength for a player with
his speed and agility. He has good size
and soft hands but could face some
troubles trying to block linebackers at
the next level. He is best fit into a
passing offense and can be an
unbelievable upgrade to the right
offense. Probably one of the best tight
end prospects to come along in some time
and his impact will likely be close to
that of Tony Gonzalez.
Official College Site:
Player Bio- Vernon
Davis -- Football
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Davis is the best pure athlete at the tight
end position in this year's draft class. He lacks
ideal size and has some room to improve as a
blocker, but his overall combination of physical
tools and playmaking savvy are what make him the
premier prospect at his position in 2006. After
verifying his exceptional speed, power and agility
at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine, Davis should be
considered a top-10 draft prospect in this year's
class.
FoxSports:
Genetic marvel whose workouts make him appear
to be as much of a decathlete prospect as an NFL
tight end hopeful. A truly elite player with the
potential to be the productive tight end that
injury-plagued Kellen Winslow Jr. was expected to be
when he came out in 2004. Best catch-and-run tight
end in college football last year with ability to
outrun defensive backs, then out-jump or outmuscle
anybody in the deep seven. Not as tall as great
tight ends of today, but combines athleticism and
strength to get the job done with emphasis as a
blocker. Fluid runner lined up at fullback, H-back
and flanker during his career. Shocking Indy Combine
workout included 40-yard time of 4.38 seconds, 33
reps with 225 pounds and a 42-inch vertical leap.
7.
Oakland Raiders:
Michael
Huff, FS, Texas
Our Take:
Some defensive help that is needed, but
he is a few slots too high.
 About:
Michael Huff, 6-1, 204, Florida State (Jr.):
It's looking more and more like Huff is
going to have to stay at safety rather
than corner. When it comes to making a
big play in the secondary you won't find
many who have done it as well as this
guy at the college level the past few
years
in a big-time program at Texas. Huff
definitely has more positives then
negatives, which means terrific upside
that coaches love. He will more than
likely end up playing safety in the NFL,
and should make an immediate impact. He
should be a first round pick, and the
first safety off the board.
Official College Site:
Michael Huff - Texas Football
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Huff benefited from his experience playing both
cornerback and safety at the collegiate level. He
may wind up fitting more naturally at free safety in
the NFL, but he certainly has the speed to be given
a chance as a shutdown perimeter cover corner. At
the very least he projects as an extremely versatile
free safety, as he can play deep in zone coverage,
cheat up into the box as an extra linebacker-type in
run support and also match up in man-to-man coverage
in the slot or on the perimeter. Huff built on the
momentum of his strong senior season by showcasing
his elite overall physical tools at this year's
combine. As such, Huff grades out as the best
overall defensive back prospects in the 2006 class
and warrants consideration in the top-15 picks
overall.
FoxSports:
Potential to be dominant player at any defensive
back position, but has been nominally listed at
strong safety by most scouts. Indy workouts only
further validated his physical skills, with a 4.34
clocking in 40 yards. Reminds many of former
Longhorn Quentin Jammer. Enjoyed his best season as
a senior, finishing second on the team with 97
tackles, and also contributing nine tackles for
loss, two sacks, an interception and a team-leading
four forced fumbles. Potential returner, as
evidenced by four of his six career interceptions
being returned for touchdowns.
8. Buffalo
Bills:
Donte Whitner,
S, Ohio State (Jr.)
Our Take:
What?? This is way too high for him. No one had him
this high.
 About:
Donte Whitner, 5-11, 204, Ohio State (Jr.):
Whitner is an excellent safety, and could have an
immediate impact at that position. But, he may also
have the talent to project as a cornerback for some
teams, but he will need a lot of work to make that
move. He can make an impact much more quickly at the
FS slot. He has the tools to project to CB, FS or SS
eventually.
Official College Site:
Player Bio- Donte
Whitner -- Ohio State
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Whitner lacks ideal experience as an early entry
prospect that only started one full season (2005) of
his collegiate career. He still has room to improve
in terms of his recognition skills and overall
awareness, but Whitner has a lot of upside as a
versatile safety. He shows good range and playmaking
skills in coverage, and he also supports the run
hard and has developed into a decent open-field
tackler. Whitner is one of the best overall safety
prospects in the 2006 class and he deserves
consideration as early as the second round.
FoxSports:
Started six games at strong safety for the Buckeyes
in 2004 and the entire 2005 season. Despite all of
the attention devoted to the Buckeye linebacking
corps, Whitner was major factor, finishing among
team leaders in tackles (65), tackles for loss (9),
sacks (4) and interceptions (2). Lacks great size
for the position, but is a nice athlete at safety
and is an instinctive, physical player who some
compare to former All-American Mike Doss.
9.
Detroit Lions:
Ernie
Sims, LB, Florida State (Jr.)
Our Take:
Decent pick they want to play defense
and he will hit people for them for a
change.
 About:
Ernie Sims, 6-0,
228, Florida State (Jr.): Ernie is a playmaker
with tremendous instincts who is always around the
action. He has sideline to sideline abilities. Sims
was a standout his entire career at Florida State
and should translate that to success in the NFL. He
may need to be in the right system such as a cover 2
system to make a true impact however at the next
level.
Official College Site:
Player Bio- Ernie Sims -- Florida State
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Sims is an undersized prospect that played the "Sam"
linebacker position in college but projects as a
"Will" linebacker in the NFL. He has added
significant bulk over the course of the last year
but he still must continue to get bigger and improve
his lower body strength in order to adequately match
up in the NFL. However, Sims' speed, athletic
ability, instincts and explosive tackling skills are
difficult to ignore. He would fit best on an NFL
team that emphasizes speed over size on defense
(Colts, Buccaneers, Bears, etc.). Regardless, Sims
projects as a late-first round pick in the 2006
draft.
FoxSports:
Regarded as the school's finest linebacker prospect
since the Derrick Brooks era (1991-94). Sims was
given jersey No. 34 upon arriving at Florida State
in 2003, a number that was retired in honor of
former Seminole great Ron Sellers, who signed off on
the move. Finished his career with 200 tackles (95
solos), seven sacks for minus-61 yards and 21 stops
for losses of 74 yards. A history of concussions and
a domestic battery charge may drop his stock.
10.
Arizona Cardinals
Matt Leinart, QB,
Southern California
Our Take:
What a steal. He will get to learn from
one for a year and not be expected to be
the savior tomorrow.
 About:
Matt
Leinart, 6-5,
223,
USC:
Everyone is always looking for the next
Tom Brady. Well, here he is.
Great size, leadership, and all the
other intangibles. He has consistently
led a very good team, in fact, He will
go down as one of the greatest college
quarterbacks of all time. In three
seasons as a starter at USC, he had a
combined record of 37-2, including 34
straight victories, so there are some
questions as to what he does with a
horrible team that he will obviously be
heading to. While he has the arm to
throw the ball deep, he doesn't, as of
right now, have the arm to efficiently
throw the deep out in the NFL. If he
goes to Tennessee as many expect look
for a fast learning curve and a pretty
good start to his career. We all
know he can play, the only question is
what will he be surrounded with.
Official College Site:
Player Bio- Matt
Leinart -- USC
What the big boys are
saying:
ESPN/Scout:
Leinart is a southpaw
quarterback with great size, leadership skills and
intangibles. As a potential top-five draft pick,
Leinart's lack of speed is a bit concerning, as are
his minor durability issues and lack of elite arm
strength. He also has been surrounded by the best
supporting cast in college football during his three
seasons as a starter. However, Leinart still has
enough physical tools and the exceptional
intangibles that it takes to develop into a good
starting quarterback in the NFL. He is quick enough
in the pocket to buy some second-chance passing
opportunities, he has played through pain and he has
better arm strength than several above average
starters in the NFL right now. He also possesses
outstanding accuracy as a passer. Very much like the
Patriots' Tom Brady, Leinart simply knows how to
win. That is why, despite his lack of elite
all-around physical tools, Leinart is the premier
quarterback prospect in the 2006 class.
Picks
11-20 |
