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I was going to do a mock draft and post my picks round by round, but it always turns into a one of two things.. Everyone just goes "Good work! I like it!" and then there is little conversation about it or there is always the guy that wants to destroy every pick and tell you how there is no way in hell that the guy makes it to that pick, ect. ect..
So this year I am putting together a list of guys that I think would be great fits for this team. A combination of the following would be nice.
It is obviously tough to tell where these guys are going to go. Sometimes your sure that a guy is a 1st round guy, and you see him drop to the 3rd or 4th round (see Rein Long of the Titans) and sometimes your sure that the guy is not going to be a first round guy and somehow a few workouts sneak him up and up. Probably like Matt Jones will do this year. But guys like Mcgahee come to mind, as well. I did not include any guys on this list that we have no chance of drafting.While I love Pacman Jones, we obviously don’t have a shot at him. This is as realistic a list of prospects as I can put together.
The list is not really dependant on anything, like whether or not the Shelton deal goes through. Obviously if things like that happen, it will affect the way we draft.
So on to my list of guys...
Corey Webster - Cornerback, LSU (6'0", 200lbs, 4.50 40yd)
Ball hawk style cornerback. Great speed/size combo. Good leaping ability. he can match up with big WRs and rarely gets beat. Played for Saban, so has the advantage of learning complex coverages already. Was a center piece on the defense that won LSU a national championship. The thing about him is that he should have come out after his junior year. His parents wanted him to get his degree (mother is a teacher) so he did. He had a hamstring injury that he played through all year and it effected his numbers, but between his sophomore and junior seasons he got his hands on FIFTY EIGHT balls that came his way. Now think about that for a second. That is passes defended, Ints and FFs.. 58.. that is what I mean by a ball hawk. He played QB (high school) and WR (freshman year) so he obviously carried some of that understanding over to the way he plays a WR. He is going to be a steal for someone. Due to his senior year numbers being lower than his sick sophomore and junior number, he will fall some. In my opinion, he is right behind Pacman and Rolle. He is likely a 2nd round guy who absolutely has 1st round talent.
Matt Jones - Wide Receiver, Arkansas (6'6", 242lbs, 4.37 40yd)
I am not going to go real in depth about this guy, because most people already are tired of hearing about him. I will say that in NFL history, there has never been a player that was 6'5" or taller that has ever run a 4.4 or under. There has also never been anyone at 242 or heavier that has ever run a 4.4 or under. Matt Jones is both of those, and ran a 4.37...
... Is he raw? Sure.. A project? No question.. Our WRs coach, Tolbert, has a record of getting production out of rookies though.. See Anquan Boldin in Arizona and Lee Evans last year.. Jones caught everything at the senior bowl, in practice and in the game. He also had a very impressive workout at his school, catching everything. They say his soft hands come from being a good basketball player his whole life. He has more rushing yards from the QB position AND a better average per carry than Mike Vick did while at Virginia Tech. So YAC should not be a problem. The only real question about him is route running. If the Bills feel that he looks good running his routes and that it wont be an issue. He would be a great addition and would create mismatches that would make coaches and fans alike drool.. 
.. Ok… So I went into depth more than I thought. Probably a 2nd round pick guy. I know there is lots of hype about him, but in the end, teams may not have the balls to take a project over some of the more established WRs on the board, so he may end up making it out of the 1st round. We will see.
Robert McCune – Middle Linebacker, Louisville (6’0”, 245lbs, 4.50 40yd)
This guy is one of my favorite players in the draft. From the first time I saw him play, I remember thinking two things. One was “Damn that guy is fast!”. The other was “Damn that guy looks huge!”. McCune is both. He ran a 4.50, which is just ridiculous speed for a linebacker, middle or outside. But McCune is also 245 lbs. packed into a 6’0” frame. I don’t know if any of you caught the guys weight in on the NFL network, but this guy makes David Boston look like he needs to hit the gym. Take a look at these Gunz. He has the potential to be a great MLB or SSLB. He has the speed to cover RBs and TEs. He is a big hitter and a good blitzer. And this is the thing that makes him an even bigger asset is the fact that he is a special teams demon. He got special teamer of the year in 2001 while he was a red shirt freshman. The next year he became the starter and posted great numbers in his junior and senior years. There are a few knocks on him. He doesn’t have ideal height for a linebacker, but we currently have Fletcher, who is about 3 inches shorter, so the height issue is really a non-issue to me. He was in the National Guard for 3 years, so he will be a 26 year old rookie in the NFL. He could also use work on his coverage techniques. Not very big issues for me, but these are things that have pushed him down He could be the heir apparent for Fletcher or Posey. I would love to have a guy like him and Stamer being prepped for the future.
Chris Kemoeatu - Guard, Utah (6'4", 344lbs)
This guy is one of my favorite guards in the draft, besides David Bass. And the only reason that I take Bass over Kemoeatu is that Bass can and probably will be a great center. Kemoeatu is a nasty guy. That is what you will see about him in every description you read. He was suspended twice in his career at Utah for kicking opposing players in the head. Like I said, he is a mean SOB. Some people call that "questionable character". I call it the kind of attitude that I want. He is considered one of the strongest offensive linemen in this draft and he is one of the biggest. He has been a starter since the end of his freshman year. He does NOT get moved at the point of attack.. It just doesn’t happen. He is a wall. Some technique issues, but nothing that McNally can’t work out. I really really would like to see us draft this kid. He is likely a 3rd round guy, but due to the suspensions, I could see him falling to the 3rd or 4th
Michael Munoz - Left Tackle, Tennessee (6'5", 306)
Many of you are aware that he is the son of possibly the best left tackle to ever play, Anthony Munoz. Many of you also know that Jim McNally coached Anthony Munoz. Michael never quite materialized into the top tackle prospect that most thought he would be, due to the bloodlines. I personally think that people graded him on a different level.. People have expected to see his father, but there was only one Anthony Munoz. Michael is still one of the best tackles in college football, as far as his blocking technique. Wonder if good old pop worked with him in the off-season? He is not as strong as he needs to be and he blew his knee out as a freshman. He also just had rotator cuff surgery recently, but is expected to make a full recovery. We know that Donahoe does not shy away from guys with an injury past, if they check out OK with the Bills doctors. And it has worked out for us so far. If Munoz puts on a little weight and adds some strength, which is the case for almost every rookie at every position, he could be a very good tackle. I have no doubt that the Bills will be looking hard at him in the 3rd or 4th round.
Scott Mruczkowski - Center, Bowling Green (6'4", 321lbs)
This guy is a big boy. 4 year starter. 2 years at guard, then his junior and senior season at center. He has the size you love in the middle. I also read that he missed 5 calls on protection assignments in 2 years. So The is obviously a smart kid. Think about how many pass plays there are in 2 full seasons. He is a very good pass protector, average in run blocking, mainly because of technique. He only has 2 years of experience at center and is said to play too high, but with a guy like McNally and his size, I believe that he could be turned into a dominant center. This is the main thing that I love about this kid. He broke his foot as a junior and played on it all year. How tough is that? He also is big enough and versatile enough to go back to guard if the Bills had that need. Side note… His brother is a back up in New England. He is a second day pick. I would shoot for the 5th round, and would be a great player to groom for the starting spot in 2006. I predict with his last name, he will have one of the best selling jerseys in the league.
T.A. McLendon - Running Back, North Carolina State (5'11", 235lbs, 4.63 40yd)
McLendon is the perfect back up running back for us, if Henry gets moved. T.A. is a guy who was nicked up a fair amount over his sophomore and junior seasons, but when he played, he showed the ability to dominate. He is a big back. He reminds me a lot of Jerome Bettis. He has good hands and a little shake in his step. He uses his size very well and will not be brought down by arm tackles. The knocks on him are that he has average speed, injury questions, and ball protection. I have seen him play numerous times and this is my take on those issues. I have never seen him play and thought that he looked slow, or even average. He has football speed and makes plays running the ball and in the passing game.. He is also an above average blocker. Those are the things I care about. As far as him being dinged up a lot.. Well, he is a bruising running back, much like Henry.. Those types of running backs get dinged up.. That is why I said he would be a great back up to McGahee.. He would be a similar type back, who won’t have to take the abuse of a full time starter. The game plan wouldn’t have to change though, like it would if we had to put Shaud Williams in. The issue of ball protection is also a lot like Henry’s situation. Several of his fumbles came while he was making extra efforts to get a few more yards or break one more tackle. I believe that with some coaching on the NFL level, this will be an issue that is taken care of.
Jim Davis – Defensive End, Virginia Tech (6’3.5”, 277lbs, 5.00)
Jim Davis is a guy who has experience at DE and DT. He has good pass rushing moves and is a guy who plays very hard. He took over games at Virginia Tech and was disruptive from both spots on the line. If you have watched a Tech game, you undoubtedly heard his name called all night on defense. Being that I went to Tech, I haven’t missed a game since he has been there. He is one of the guys that doesn’t show that well on the track but can play. He is considered a tweener because he is too small to play tackle and “too slow” to play end. Last time I check, it is not 40 yards to the quarterback. They say that he would be a better fit for a 3-4, but I think he could be a player no matter what system he is in. He is strong with good moves and makes plays. That is all the requirements I have. The good news is because of his limitations, he can be had late. Hopefully he is around in the 6th.
Rhys Lloyd – Kicker, Minnesota (does height, lbs, and 40 times matter?)
I know everyone and their brother is on the Nugent bandwagon, but least be realistic… who drafts a kicker on day one? Teams like the Raiders do. I don’t want to be the raiders. The league is filled with great kickers, and all of them are late draft choices or undrafted guys. Lloyd has a strong leg and can hit from well over 50 yards out. Better than that, he is known for being clutch. What else to you want? Oh.. and he can be had in the 7th.
That’s it and that’s all. I hope you enjoyed the read. Lets see if we get lucky and land some of these guys on the roster.
So this year I am putting together a list of guys that I think would be great fits for this team. A combination of the following would be nice.
It is obviously tough to tell where these guys are going to go. Sometimes your sure that a guy is a 1st round guy, and you see him drop to the 3rd or 4th round (see Rein Long of the Titans) and sometimes your sure that the guy is not going to be a first round guy and somehow a few workouts sneak him up and up. Probably like Matt Jones will do this year. But guys like Mcgahee come to mind, as well. I did not include any guys on this list that we have no chance of drafting.While I love Pacman Jones, we obviously don’t have a shot at him. This is as realistic a list of prospects as I can put together.
The list is not really dependant on anything, like whether or not the Shelton deal goes through. Obviously if things like that happen, it will affect the way we draft.
So on to my list of guys...
Corey Webster - Cornerback, LSU (6'0", 200lbs, 4.50 40yd)
Ball hawk style cornerback. Great speed/size combo. Good leaping ability. he can match up with big WRs and rarely gets beat. Played for Saban, so has the advantage of learning complex coverages already. Was a center piece on the defense that won LSU a national championship. The thing about him is that he should have come out after his junior year. His parents wanted him to get his degree (mother is a teacher) so he did. He had a hamstring injury that he played through all year and it effected his numbers, but between his sophomore and junior seasons he got his hands on FIFTY EIGHT balls that came his way. Now think about that for a second. That is passes defended, Ints and FFs.. 58.. that is what I mean by a ball hawk. He played QB (high school) and WR (freshman year) so he obviously carried some of that understanding over to the way he plays a WR. He is going to be a steal for someone. Due to his senior year numbers being lower than his sick sophomore and junior number, he will fall some. In my opinion, he is right behind Pacman and Rolle. He is likely a 2nd round guy who absolutely has 1st round talent.
Matt Jones - Wide Receiver, Arkansas (6'6", 242lbs, 4.37 40yd)
I am not going to go real in depth about this guy, because most people already are tired of hearing about him. I will say that in NFL history, there has never been a player that was 6'5" or taller that has ever run a 4.4 or under. There has also never been anyone at 242 or heavier that has ever run a 4.4 or under. Matt Jones is both of those, and ran a 4.37...
... Is he raw? Sure.. A project? No question.. Our WRs coach, Tolbert, has a record of getting production out of rookies though.. See Anquan Boldin in Arizona and Lee Evans last year.. Jones caught everything at the senior bowl, in practice and in the game. He also had a very impressive workout at his school, catching everything. They say his soft hands come from being a good basketball player his whole life. He has more rushing yards from the QB position AND a better average per carry than Mike Vick did while at Virginia Tech. So YAC should not be a problem. The only real question about him is route running. If the Bills feel that he looks good running his routes and that it wont be an issue. He would be a great addition and would create mismatches that would make coaches and fans alike drool.. .. Ok… So I went into depth more than I thought. Probably a 2nd round pick guy. I know there is lots of hype about him, but in the end, teams may not have the balls to take a project over some of the more established WRs on the board, so he may end up making it out of the 1st round. We will see.
Robert McCune – Middle Linebacker, Louisville (6’0”, 245lbs, 4.50 40yd)
This guy is one of my favorite players in the draft. From the first time I saw him play, I remember thinking two things. One was “Damn that guy is fast!”. The other was “Damn that guy looks huge!”. McCune is both. He ran a 4.50, which is just ridiculous speed for a linebacker, middle or outside. But McCune is also 245 lbs. packed into a 6’0” frame. I don’t know if any of you caught the guys weight in on the NFL network, but this guy makes David Boston look like he needs to hit the gym. Take a look at these Gunz. He has the potential to be a great MLB or SSLB. He has the speed to cover RBs and TEs. He is a big hitter and a good blitzer. And this is the thing that makes him an even bigger asset is the fact that he is a special teams demon. He got special teamer of the year in 2001 while he was a red shirt freshman. The next year he became the starter and posted great numbers in his junior and senior years. There are a few knocks on him. He doesn’t have ideal height for a linebacker, but we currently have Fletcher, who is about 3 inches shorter, so the height issue is really a non-issue to me. He was in the National Guard for 3 years, so he will be a 26 year old rookie in the NFL. He could also use work on his coverage techniques. Not very big issues for me, but these are things that have pushed him down He could be the heir apparent for Fletcher or Posey. I would love to have a guy like him and Stamer being prepped for the future.
Chris Kemoeatu - Guard, Utah (6'4", 344lbs)
This guy is one of my favorite guards in the draft, besides David Bass. And the only reason that I take Bass over Kemoeatu is that Bass can and probably will be a great center. Kemoeatu is a nasty guy. That is what you will see about him in every description you read. He was suspended twice in his career at Utah for kicking opposing players in the head. Like I said, he is a mean SOB. Some people call that "questionable character". I call it the kind of attitude that I want. He is considered one of the strongest offensive linemen in this draft and he is one of the biggest. He has been a starter since the end of his freshman year. He does NOT get moved at the point of attack.. It just doesn’t happen. He is a wall. Some technique issues, but nothing that McNally can’t work out. I really really would like to see us draft this kid. He is likely a 3rd round guy, but due to the suspensions, I could see him falling to the 3rd or 4th
Michael Munoz - Left Tackle, Tennessee (6'5", 306)
Many of you are aware that he is the son of possibly the best left tackle to ever play, Anthony Munoz. Many of you also know that Jim McNally coached Anthony Munoz. Michael never quite materialized into the top tackle prospect that most thought he would be, due to the bloodlines. I personally think that people graded him on a different level.. People have expected to see his father, but there was only one Anthony Munoz. Michael is still one of the best tackles in college football, as far as his blocking technique. Wonder if good old pop worked with him in the off-season? He is not as strong as he needs to be and he blew his knee out as a freshman. He also just had rotator cuff surgery recently, but is expected to make a full recovery. We know that Donahoe does not shy away from guys with an injury past, if they check out OK with the Bills doctors. And it has worked out for us so far. If Munoz puts on a little weight and adds some strength, which is the case for almost every rookie at every position, he could be a very good tackle. I have no doubt that the Bills will be looking hard at him in the 3rd or 4th round.
Scott Mruczkowski - Center, Bowling Green (6'4", 321lbs)
This guy is a big boy. 4 year starter. 2 years at guard, then his junior and senior season at center. He has the size you love in the middle. I also read that he missed 5 calls on protection assignments in 2 years. So The is obviously a smart kid. Think about how many pass plays there are in 2 full seasons. He is a very good pass protector, average in run blocking, mainly because of technique. He only has 2 years of experience at center and is said to play too high, but with a guy like McNally and his size, I believe that he could be turned into a dominant center. This is the main thing that I love about this kid. He broke his foot as a junior and played on it all year. How tough is that? He also is big enough and versatile enough to go back to guard if the Bills had that need. Side note… His brother is a back up in New England. He is a second day pick. I would shoot for the 5th round, and would be a great player to groom for the starting spot in 2006. I predict with his last name, he will have one of the best selling jerseys in the league.
T.A. McLendon - Running Back, North Carolina State (5'11", 235lbs, 4.63 40yd)
McLendon is the perfect back up running back for us, if Henry gets moved. T.A. is a guy who was nicked up a fair amount over his sophomore and junior seasons, but when he played, he showed the ability to dominate. He is a big back. He reminds me a lot of Jerome Bettis. He has good hands and a little shake in his step. He uses his size very well and will not be brought down by arm tackles. The knocks on him are that he has average speed, injury questions, and ball protection. I have seen him play numerous times and this is my take on those issues. I have never seen him play and thought that he looked slow, or even average. He has football speed and makes plays running the ball and in the passing game.. He is also an above average blocker. Those are the things I care about. As far as him being dinged up a lot.. Well, he is a bruising running back, much like Henry.. Those types of running backs get dinged up.. That is why I said he would be a great back up to McGahee.. He would be a similar type back, who won’t have to take the abuse of a full time starter. The game plan wouldn’t have to change though, like it would if we had to put Shaud Williams in. The issue of ball protection is also a lot like Henry’s situation. Several of his fumbles came while he was making extra efforts to get a few more yards or break one more tackle. I believe that with some coaching on the NFL level, this will be an issue that is taken care of.
Jim Davis – Defensive End, Virginia Tech (6’3.5”, 277lbs, 5.00)
Jim Davis is a guy who has experience at DE and DT. He has good pass rushing moves and is a guy who plays very hard. He took over games at Virginia Tech and was disruptive from both spots on the line. If you have watched a Tech game, you undoubtedly heard his name called all night on defense. Being that I went to Tech, I haven’t missed a game since he has been there. He is one of the guys that doesn’t show that well on the track but can play. He is considered a tweener because he is too small to play tackle and “too slow” to play end. Last time I check, it is not 40 yards to the quarterback. They say that he would be a better fit for a 3-4, but I think he could be a player no matter what system he is in. He is strong with good moves and makes plays. That is all the requirements I have. The good news is because of his limitations, he can be had late. Hopefully he is around in the 6th.
Rhys Lloyd – Kicker, Minnesota (does height, lbs, and 40 times matter?)
I know everyone and their brother is on the Nugent bandwagon, but least be realistic… who drafts a kicker on day one? Teams like the Raiders do. I don’t want to be the raiders. The league is filled with great kickers, and all of them are late draft choices or undrafted guys. Lloyd has a strong leg and can hit from well over 50 yards out. Better than that, he is known for being clutch. What else to you want? Oh.. and he can be had in the 7th.
That’s it and that’s all. I hope you enjoyed the read. Lets see if we get lucky and land some of these guys on the roster.
so that is ok in that situation.
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