Spring Break
The Pro Side: NFL Draft promises suspense, intrigue
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Sports
The NFL draft kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m., and as rumors swirl, it's time to sort through some of the smokescreens and look at what should transpire at the top of the draft.
With the first pick of the draft, the Detroit Lions select … the answer to this will almost undoubtedly be Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, as the Lions and Stafford are reportedly progressing in contract talks to make him the No. 1 overall pick this year. Should someone else sneak in at the last minute, it will be the major shock.
The Rams, at pick two, are in an interesting position if they covet Mark Sanchez to replace quarterback Marc Bulger. However, the most likely pick here is Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, who is athletic and plays with a nasty mean-streak. After getting rid of future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace, the Rams need to fill the void at left tackle and Smith is the best in this draft. Another option is Virginia's tackle Eugene Monroe if they feel he is a better prospect than Smith.
Kansas City, sitting with the third pick, should take Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who is the safest and best player in the draft. The Chiefs' defense needs a playmaker and Curry is just that. He is versatile and plays the game hard the way it should be. Another potential option here is Monroe or Smith, but Curry makes the most sense. Kansas City could also trade down if teams that want USC quarterback Mark Sanchez want to get ahead of Seattle who is rumored to be interested in him.
No matter what happens, Draft Day is sure to be filled with intrigue and suspense in both the selection of players and the potential trades that can go down. With players like Braylon Edwards, Anquan Boldin, Chad Johnson and Julius Peppers all wanting to be traded, there may be a lot of activity on the trade-front come draft day.
With the first pick of the draft, the Detroit Lions select … the answer to this will almost undoubtedly be Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, as the Lions and Stafford are reportedly progressing in contract talks to make him the No. 1 overall pick this year. Should someone else sneak in at the last minute, it will be the major shock.
The Rams, at pick two, are in an interesting position if they covet Mark Sanchez to replace quarterback Marc Bulger. However, the most likely pick here is Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, who is athletic and plays with a nasty mean-streak. After getting rid of future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace, the Rams need to fill the void at left tackle and Smith is the best in this draft. Another option is Virginia's tackle Eugene Monroe if they feel he is a better prospect than Smith.
Kansas City, sitting with the third pick, should take Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who is the safest and best player in the draft. The Chiefs' defense needs a playmaker and Curry is just that. He is versatile and plays the game hard the way it should be. Another potential option here is Monroe or Smith, but Curry makes the most sense. Kansas City could also trade down if teams that want USC quarterback Mark Sanchez want to get ahead of Seattle who is rumored to be interested in him.
No matter what happens, Draft Day is sure to be filled with intrigue and suspense in both the selection of players and the potential trades that can go down. With players like Braylon Edwards, Anquan Boldin, Chad Johnson and Julius Peppers all wanting to be traded, there may be a lot of activity on the trade-front come draft day.
Be the first to comment on this story