Jump to content
Washington Football Team Logo
Extremeskins

ESPN: Mel has us taking LB Thomas Howard at 53


Dirk Diggler

Recommended Posts

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=2422320

Leinart could stay in Pac-10 country with Arizona

By Mel Kiper Jr.

The Houston Texans might still be considering NC State defensive end Mario Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but I just don't see them passing on USC running back Reggie Bush. Even if Bush is hard to sign, running back is the one position where a player can come in late and still make an impact in his rookie season. Last year, Ronnie Brown missed the beginning of training camp and still finished with 907 rushing yards while splitting time with Ricky Williams in Miami.

I expect the Saints to go with Mario Williams if they do not trade down from the second pick.

The draft could get interesting if the Tennessee Titans take QB Vince Young over Matt Leinart. Either Young or Leinart is going to Tennessee, and all indications are the Titans like Young. If that's the case, I have Leinart going 10th to Arizona, although the Lions would have to think long and hard about taking the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner. You can argue that Leinart is one of the top three players in this draft, and if he slips past Oakland, he would be great for either Detroit or Arizona.

Bush and Leinart's teammate at USC, RB LenDale White, projects to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the final pick in the first round. If anyone can motivate White to realize that football is a year-round job, it's Steelers coach Bill Cowher.

First-Round Projections

1. Houston Reggie Bush, RB* USC

2. New Orleans Mario Williams, DE* NC State

3. Tennessee Vince Young, QB* Texas

4. N.Y. Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T Virginia

5. Green Bay A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio St.

6. San Francisco Vernon Davis, TE* Maryland

7. Oakland Ernie Sims, LB* Florida St.

8. Buffalo Brodrick Bunkley, DT Florida St.

9. Detroit Michael Huff, DB Texas

10. Arizona Matt Leinart, QB USC

11. St. Louis Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt

12. Cleveland Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida St.

13. Baltimore Haloti Ngata, DT* Oregon

14. Philadelphia Chad Greenway, LB Iowa

15. Denver (from ATL) Santonio Holmes, WR* Ohio St.

16. Miami Antonio Cromartie, CB* Florida St.

17. Minnesota Jason Allen, CB/S Tennessee

18. Dallas Manny Lawson, OLB NC State

19. San Diego Winston Justice, T* USC

20. Kansas City Johnathan Joseph, CB* South Carolina

21. New England DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis

22. San Francisco (from DEN) Tye Hill, CB Clemson

23. Tampa Bay Marcus McNeill, T Auburn

24. Cincinnati Donte Whitner, DB* Ohio St.

25. N.Y. Giants Sinorice Moss, WR Miami

26. Chicago Chad Jackson, WR* Florida

27. Carolina Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA

28. Jacksonville Nick Mangold, C Ohio St.

29. N.Y. Jets (from DEN) Bobby Carpenter, OLB Ohio St.

30. Indianapolis Laurence Maroney, RB* Minnesota

31. Seattle Jimmy Williams, CB Virginia Tech

32. Pittsburgh LenDale White, RB* USC

* denotes underclassman

Second-Round Projections

33. Houston Eric Winston, T Miami

34. New Orleans Ashton Youboty, CB* Ohio St.

35. N.Y. Jets Joseph Addai, RB LSU

36. Green Bay Kelly Jennings, CB Miami

37. Denver (from SF) Anthony Fasano, TE* Notre Dame

38. Oakland Tamba Hali, DE Penn St.

39. Tennessee D'Qwell Jackson, LB Maryland

40. Detroit DeMeco Ryans, LB Alabama

41. Arizona Leonard Pope, TE* Georgia

42. Buffalo Davin Joseph, G Oklahoma

43. Cleveland Demetrius Williams, WR Oregon

44. Baltimore Chris Chester, C/G Oklahoma

45. Philadelphia Maurice Stovall, WR Notre Dame

46. St. Louis Richard Marshall, CB* Fresno St.

47. Atlanta Darryl Tapp, DE Virginia Tech

48. Minnesota Kellen Clemens, QB Oregon

49. Dallas Brodie Croyle, QB Alabama

50. San Diego David Pittman, CB Northwestern St. (La.)

51. Minnesota (from MIA) Rocky McIntosh, LB Miami

52. New England Greg Jennings, WR Western Michigan

53. Washington Thomas Howard, LB UTEP

54. Kansas City Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College

55. Cincinnati Joe Klopfenstein, TE Colorado

56. N.Y. Giants Claude Wroten, DT LSU

57. Chicago Dominique Byrd, TE USC

58. Carolina Daniel Bullocks, S Nebraska

59. Tampa Bay Cedric Griffin, CB Texas

60. Jacksonville Brian Calhoun, RB* Wisconisn

61. Denver Orien Harris, DT Miami

62. Indianapolis John McCargo, DT* NC State

63. Seattle Mark Anderson, DE Alabama

64. Pittsburgh Danieal Manning, DB* Abilene Christian

* denotes underclassman

Link to comment
Share on other sites

53. Washington Thomas Howard, LB UTEP

54. Kansas City Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College

55. Cincinnati Joe Klopfenstein, TE Colorado

56. N.Y. Giants Claude Wroten, DT LSU

57. Chicago Dominique Byrd, TE USC

58. Carolina Daniel Bullocks, S Nebraska

59. Tampa Bay Cedric Griffin, CB Texas

60. Jacksonville Brian Calhoun, RB* Wisconisn

61. Denver Orien Harris, DT Miami

62. Indianapolis John McCargo, DT* NC State

63. Seattle Mark Anderson, DE Alabama

64. Pittsburgh Danieal Manning, DB* Abilene Christian

Very interesting, we will be able to pick from a good crop of players...I predict our pick will come down to the last second.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess this is Mel's final draft; does he go into the 5th, 6th and 7th round. I agree with fdarugar; though with that crop of players a trade down to the early 3rd would be good because we certainly could get a one of these quality player there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Man I really hate the fact that we gave up our 3rd rounder for Lloyd. They had to deal him and we could've given up less IMO. If we had a 3rd rounder things would be a whole lot different.

Huh? Why did they have to deal him? If someone signed him without dealing with SF they could have received a 1st rounder.

Lloyd will put up better numbers than anyone in this draft for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Todd McShay has us taking Mathias Kiwanuka

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/insider/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=2423677

ROUND 2

33. Houston Texans

Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn

34. New Orleans Saints

Demeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama

35. N.Y. Jets

Brodie Croyle | QB | Alabama

36. Green Bay Packers

Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State

37. San Francisco 49ers

Joseph Addai, RB, LSU

38. Oakland Raiders

Claude Wroten, DT, LSU

39. Tennessee Titans

D'Qwell Jackson | ILB | Maryland

40. Detroit Lions

Roger McIntosh, OLB, Miami-Fla.

41. Arizona Cardinals

Andrew Whitworth, OT, LSU

42. Buffalo Bills

Eric Winston, OT, Miami-Fla.

43. Cleveland Browns

Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan

44. Baltimore Ravens

Daniel Bullocks, DS, Nebraska

45. Philadelphia Eagles

Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP

46. St. Louis Rams

+Richard Marshall, DC, Fresno State

47. Atlanta Falcons

Davin Joseph, OG, Oklahoma

48. Minnesota Vikings

Kellen Clemens, QB, Oregon

49. Dallas Cowboys

+Ko Simpson, DS, South Carolina

50. San Diego Chargers

Demetrius Williams, WR, Oregon

51. Minnesota Vikings (from Miami)

Kelly Jennings, DC, Miami-Fla.

52. New England Patriots

Abdul Hodge, ILB, Iowa

53. Washington Redskins

Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Man I really hate the fact that we gave up our 3rd rounder for Lloyd. They had to deal him and we could've given up less IMO. If we had a 3rd rounder things would be a whole lot different.

Brandon Lloyd will produce alot more than a 3rd rounder would. We basically got a 24 year old starting WR with our 3rd rounder, Ill take that anyday. Remember the draft is a crapshoot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My first pick at #53 is Rocky from The U, but if hes taken i think we should take a LONG look at Mathias Kiwanuka. Hes such a great physical specimen that I think it would be hard to pass on him. Even Gibbs said he just might take the best athlete available. If Mercedes Lewis is avaiable too, I think we should take a look at him. He has great size and seems to make the necessary catches, but does not have great speed.

:dallasuck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a couple of overall rankings I used for our mock draft:

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=211&p=9&c=12&nid=83&lnid=124&yr=2006

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/rankings/top.html

They list Howard at #31 and #43 overall respectively. Kind of a big gap between the rankings to be sure, but both represent good value for our #53 pick.

Like others said above, Howard posesses all the measurables, and with some coaching he could develope into something special.

We can only hope he makes it to us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...