Milians

Some draft info:

Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, NFL draft and college football guru Mel Kiper will drop by to address all of your draft-related concerns.
Send your questions now and join Mel this Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET!

Kiper Archive: Chats | Columns




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RyanJ(NYC): could lendale white end up with the jets and splitting time with an aging curtis martin? seems like a nice mentor to me.


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Rob (PIttsburgh): Mel, two part question: is there any way that LenDale White will still be on the board when the Steelers pick and do you think they'll take him?


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Chris- Indianapolis: Can't you already see it happening? Jerome Bettis is going to retire and LenDale White will go to the Steelers and carry the tradition? Does that have a chance?


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Al (DC): Lots of Questions about LenDale white...does he fall to the eagles at 14? What do you see the eagles doing?

Buzzmaster: Lots of questions about LenDale White entering the draft. Stay tuned, Mel Kiper will be here shortly and he'll hit that question!!

Mel Kiper: Hey, lot of draft talk now with the juniors coming in fast and furious. They have until Jan. 15 to make their final decision. We're expecting Bush's announcement tomorrow. We're expecting a couple of other USC draft prospects.


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RyanJ(NYC): we all want to know mel, where is lendale white going?

Mel Kiper: He'll go in the mid round. I don't know if he'll fall to Pittsburgh. I could see him going to ARizona at 10. I don't think he'll go down any further than that. Certainly the Jets, he'll be there, but I think they have some needs at other places. Obviously you'll have a Mario Williams, Fergusson. There will be other players. White will be in the thought process for the Jets.


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Zack FL: Hey what do you think the Texans are gonna do with there first pick??

Mel Kiper: They're taking Reggie Bush. That's because of the fact they're committing to David Carr, to maintain him as a TExan. They're giong to build around him.

Mel Kiper: The obvious projection is Bush, Leinart, Young. The fourth pick is the pivotal pick, because the Jets have a couple of players that could fill a void. A little bit of a hard pick to nail down.


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Nick (Cincy): Mel, Unfortunately the injury to Carson has me thinking draft a little earlier than I wanted to be. Why kind of fit do you see Mercedes Lewis being for the Bengals? If he's around when they make their first pick, should they take him over a defensive player?

Mel Kiper: Where they're going to be picking, it's late in the first round. The TE is a need area. They could use a run-stuffing DT. They could use a S/CB. It's not just TE. We saw that defense get exploited in a bunch of games this year. TE is a need, but still, TE is going to be a deep position. Lewis is more of a second round pick.


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Eric- Columbus,Oh: Who do you think the Cleveland Browns will take with the 12th pick? Is there any chance for a trade-up to get A.J. Hawk?

Mel Kiper: I think Hawk would be an ideal pick for GB at No. 5. AJ Hawk would be a perfect pick at No. 5. If you look at Cleveland at 12, you could look at a pass rushing LB. I would think OL or DL.


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Matthew (Holliston, MA): Where do you see the Pats going in the draft? Are there any Patriots types who can step in right away?

Mel Kiper: You know one thing is smart football players, that's an obvious prerequisite. They want smart, dedicated football players. You look at CB, LB. I think it'll be a defensive pick.


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Ben (Oakland): What direction are the 49ers going to go in the draft?

Mel Kiper: I think you look at them and they're a team taht has a lot of need areas. They're No. 1 area is at CB. They need a sack guy at OLB, a WR, a TE. They want a veteran on the OL. They have enough young guys there.

Mel Kiper: I wouldn't be surprised if they looked at a Michael Huff early.


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Matt (NJ): Who do you think the Giants would look for in the first round? I see Darnell Bing a big possibility.

Mel Kiper: I think for the Giants, I look at them and see a CB situation. LT on the OL. DT also. Those are all problematic areas. They could use some help at LB, where they had a lot of injuries.


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Brad (Irvine, CA): Mel- With Marcus Vick, will he be drafted and would the Falcons take a chance on him? He would have Michael to help him mature and Atlanta would then have Michael's clone if/when Michael goes down with and injury.

Mel Kiper: They have their backup. They have an outstanding No. 2 QB in Matt Schaub. You need a quality backup like Schaub. Marcus Vick, I think he just needs to realize he's a professional now. If I were him, I would have gone to I-AA and become a star and gone to the all-star games. Right now, he's barely a late round possbility.


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Nick Milwaukee: Mel - What are Calhoun's strength and weakness going into the NFL? I watched the badgers and didn't see him break long runs for touchdowns the same way as A. Davis, M. Bennett and R. Dayne did in there day. Does Calhoun have the break away speed everyone says he does? Thanks!

Mel Kiper: I think he's a second round pick. His strengths are that he's a runner. He's also a vital participant int he passing game. He finished second on the team in receptions. The question mark with him is he's not a huge home run threat. He's only 5-10. He lacks ideal size. The pounding toward the end of the last season took a toll. In the final four Big 10 games, he rushed for only 118 yards on 55 carries. That's the concern. He's going to be more of a complementary back.


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Will (Charlotte): Who do you see the Panthers going after in the 1st and 2nd rounds ?

Mel Kiper: Their need areas are WR. Kery Colbert did not make a lot of plays. Kris Jenkins has been injured the last two years, so a DT could be in the mix. A pass-catching TE might be there too. I think upgrading getting a little help for Steve Smith would help.


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Dave (Denver): Could you please address what you believe will be Buffalo's strategy during the draft?

Mel Kiper: The new decision maker in Marv Levy. I think first of all, LT on the OL. Can you maneuver to get Fergusson. DT is another area. WR too. I would say definitely LT. I don't know if he'll still be there at 8.


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Jason (Chicago): How good is Ngata? Is he worth the 4th overall pick? The Jets sure could use a big DT like him.

Mel Kiper: Ngata has the quickness and has the possiblity to get behind the line. He's two years removed from the knee injury. He's a huge presence in the interior. He had 9 tackles for loss this year. He has the ability to create a disturbance.


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Ron (Shrewsbury): Mel Which QB do you see making a push late and sliding into the first round?

Mel Kiper: I think Jay Cutler has made that push already. The final three games he was outstanding. I think he's a possiblity for Detroit or Arizona. It will be big for Cutler at the Senior Bowl practices. He would definitely be the third quarterback.


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Dave (Wolcott, CT): I was slightly surprised by the early exit of FSU CB Antonio Cromartie. Where do you see him being drafted? and do you think he made the right decision in coming out early after such a major knee injury? Thanks.

Mel Kiper: That's a gamble. He's taking a gamble. He didn't play at all this year. He tore his ACL in August. He's 6-3 and a good athlete. He performed well when he was healthy. How will the knee test out? There are some questions still to be answered. He could be a late first rounder.


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Jim Lansing MI: Where do you see Santonio Holmes in the draft?

Mel Kiper: I think he'll be a mid first rounder. He could be interesting to the Eagles. If you look down a little bit, maybe Miami, San Diego. You look at what he did at Ohio State. He averaged 17.8 yards per catch. He had 24 TD catches in Columbus. He gets in the end zone. He'll sacrifice his body in traffic. He should be the first WR drafted, provided he has good workouts.


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Josh (Miami): What do you see the Fins Doing in the First round?

Mel Kiper: I think they could go QB, OL, WR, younger on defense, maybe OLB, S. I would say QB first, S, OLB, OL (OG), WR fifth.


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Richard (Music City): Have you heard that New Orleans likes Leinert better or is that just an asumption?

Mel Kiper: You won't hear anything, they don't have a coach yet. It's all idle speculation. It's just how I have them ranked. In my opinion Leinart has slightly higher grade.

Mel Kiper: Mortenson has been saying Leinart 2 and Young 3 for the last week. He has the most NFL insider information that I know.


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Jeff(NJ): Where do you see Anthony Fasano going and do you think he should have stayed another year at ND with Chatlie Weis? Thanks

Mel Kiper: Wouldn't have hurt him. Another year would have benefitted him. Just look at this year how the TE position improved. He had 45 catches this year, and that was the total for his previous two seasons. He's not going to stretch the middle. He's very good in the short and intermediate areas. He's a tough, gritty, hard-nosed football player. Solid blocker. A late first rounder.


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Ben (Atkins, AR): Miami's RB experiment seemed to be successful this past year. However, I think they'll need to move either Brown or Williams for the sake of both careers. Do you think they'll trade Ricky for a draft pick and what could they get for him?

Mel Kiper: I think it's great to have a 1-2 punch like that. You need to have two backs. You've got to be able to have a guy to help out. It's a long season. You need two backs. There's nothing wrong with having a Williams and a Brown. This team doesn't have a big-time QB, they need a good running game.


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adam (akron): Mel, Where do you see Bobby Carpenter going? Is he a second rounder or does he sneak into the late first round? I think he'll be a steal for someone.

Mel Kiper: I think he could be a late first. If Hawk goes fifth, and Carpenter goes second round, that's a great pick. There's not that much seperation between the two. He runs fast. I think he's late first, early second.


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Steve (Los Angeles): Where do you see Ernie Sims going?How about Sam keller?

Mel Kiper: Excellent football player. I thought during the year, he would be second rounder. He can chase down ball carriers. He's a rugged hitter. He needs a little more discipline. I think he goes between 25-37.


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ArJay (Montreal): Where do you see Maurice Stovall going? How much has he improved his draft status with his breakout year?

Mel Kiper: A lot. He went up a lot. Going into the season, I would have said late round. Now I say 3-4. He came on strong. He was using the 6-4 frame to shield the defense from the football. I really thought the kid was dramatically improved.


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Josh (NYC): Where do you see Mason Crosby going if he decides to come out?

Mel Kiper: I think that's the thing. This is not a good year for placekickers. You don't have the elite senior kicker. This is the year for a kicker like Crosby to maybe think about it. Kickers are hard to grade. Who could use a kicker the most? There's maybe one team. But you don't do that in the first round. Crosby would probably be a second rounder. It's hard to say. He would be the top kicker.


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mick (North Miami Beach): In your opinion, despite the obvious natural athletic ability, is Devin Hester making a huge mistake, and where do you project him to go in the draft?

Mel Kiper: You look at Hester and he didn't carve a nitch. You have to show you're an outstanding player at one position. He wasn't a huge factore this season. He did average 14.2 yards per punt return, which is respectable. He had just 5 catches. He's got a ton of talent, but he has yet to show he's a big time player. He has to have a great workout. I'd say fourth round, maybe.


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Jim Lansing, MI: Ashton Youboty has declared for the draft and most of us buckeye fans thought that he was way too inconsistent and never really shut anyone down. So what is his value to the NFL?

Mel Kiper: He played very well in the last two games. He had a so-so year for the most part, but played really well in the last two games. He's got outstanding talent. He needs a little technique work. I think he's a late first rounder. Some of those teams might be Cincy, the Giants, Jacksonville.


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Brody (The U): Mel... after Leinart, Young, Cutler, who is the next QB taken?

Mel Kiper: It should be Brodie Coyle. Senior Bowl Week will be important to him. He made strides in terms of decision making this year. He lost his top WR and center late in the year. Coyle is the fourth QB taken.


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smart guy (st louis): What do you think the Rams needs are, and is Jimmy Williams the best cb?

Mel Kiper: Jimmy is more of a CB/S. He played corner late in his career, but could go back to safety. I think Michael Huff will be the highest defensive back. In terms of St. Louis, No. 1 need area, defensive line - DT, OL, DE and OLB or S at the No. 4 need are.


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Dan (Pittsburgh): Mel - I think Greg Lee made a mistake leaving Pitt a year early, but he is intriguing. He has good size and he has shown he can get deep. What's the highest you can see him being drafted, and what is the best time he can expect in the 40? Is he a 4.5 guy?

Mel Kiper: He's got talent. In his sophomore year, he averaged 108 receiving yards per game to lead the Big East. He made a lot of big plays. I think he dropped some very catchable balls this year. I would like to see him fight throw the middle some more. He's got some skills. I think he's a third rounder.


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Ryan (NY): Anyone from Syracuse have a chance to be draft if so how high?

Mel Kiper: I think their Anthony Smith could be a second rounder. He had a big, big year. He was one of a few bright spots on the team. Their DE Ryan LaCasse, he'll get some consideration. At OT, Quinn Ojinnaka could be second day consideration. RB Damian Rhodes. OL Steve Franklin. Late round possibilities too.


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J.R. (NYC): How 'bout Daryn Colledge, Mel? He held his own against Kiwanuka in the bowl game. Where do you think he stands right now?

Mel Kiper: Pass blocking is his specialty. You look at him and he's got to get a little bit more power. He checks in at 6-5, 294. He's got to prove he can handle the powerful defensive ends and help out the running game. The kid's got skills as a pass blocker. He's probably a late first day guy.


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Paul ((Southington, CT)): Is it just me or does this draft class lack good WRs? Mel, do you see any WR being taken in the first round, if so who?

Mel Kiper: It does, because the senior group doesn't have a big-time group. Derek Hagan from AZ St. and Sinorice Moss from Miami are the two best seniors. They're more of 2-3 rounders. Santonio Holmes, a junior, is the best WR in the draft, a first rounder. You don't see a lot of big-time WR. The best WR in the country are in the sophomore class, and they're not eligible.


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Greg (Ohio): When will Maroney go off the board? And is he a better pro prospect than his former backfield mate, Marion Barber?

Mel Kiper: Yes he is. Barber was a good fourth round pick for the Cowboys. Maroney is a good first rounder. He could go to the Vikings. White might be there for the Vikings too. There are some good RBs in the draft. Maurice Drew of UCLA would be a second rounder. He might even go in the first. He was dynamic. He averaged 29.1 yards per punt return. He's 5-7, 200.


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Chris (Portland): With Kansas City getting Herm, what do you think KC will do with the draft to try and turn this team into the power house it should be?

Mel Kiper: Carl Peterson, their GM, runs the draft. DL is still a need area. CB, WR other areas too.


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Matt (Santa rosa, CA): Any truth to the rumors that the 49ers have a great deal of interest in Marcedes Lewis? Thanks

Mel Kiper: It's too early. They're picking seventh. They do need a TE. That's probably their 4th need area. Lewis at 7? No. If they're going to take a TE that high, they'll go with Davis.


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Jason (TX): Is Dwayne Jarrett coming out?

Mel Kiper: No, he can't he's a sophomore.


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Cassidy (Boston): Where does Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst fall in the QB pecking order now? Where does he go?

Mel Kiper: The order would be Leinart, Young, Cutler, Croyle, then after that there's the question. He could be anywhere from your 5th to 8th highest rated. He's more of a 5-6 rounder.


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Carp (Columbus): Hey Mel, How about some love for the FB's??? Do you see Brandon Schnittker as a sleeper pick in the 2nd day?

Mel Kiper: First of all, FB have been almost fazed out of most systems. Schnittker has ability, but Lawrence Vickers of Colorado is the best FB. LAte round or undrafted FA from Brandon.


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Mel, boston: Don't you think the Patriots should trade down for Hawk, he would drastically help an old LB crew

Mel Kiper: That would be trade up to get Hawk. They draft late first. They'd have to move up to 5. I don't think they'd get up that far. But for them later in the first, Ernie Sims, Chad Greenway, Thomas Howard, Bobby Carpenter. The guy that has the versatility that NE likes is Carpenter. He has ideal size, he runs in the 4.5 range.


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Ermias (CA): Mel Who are your top five running backs in the draft?

Mel Kiper: Just from the guys that are draft eligible. Bush, Williams, Maroney, White, Drew, Addai, Calhoun.


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Jake (VA Beach): Is Quinn looking like the first pick in '07?

Mel Kiper: He could be. That's a big time look ahead. Everything sets up for that. Some players are going to move up from teh underclassmen. Some guys that we haven't even thought about might move up there. Adrian Peterson will be a junior. Dwayne Jarrett. Ted Ginn Jr. Greg Olsen. There are going to be some good players going into the draft.


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Sean (Omaha, NE): Is Zac Taylor going to be looked at in next years draft? Been a long time since NU produced a passing QB for the NFL.

Mel Kiper: yes he will be. He made a lot of improvement through the season. I like the way he delivers the football. I think he's got a chance at the NFL.

Mel Kiper: Appreciate all the questions. One guy I didn't get to mention Danieal Manning a DB/S from Abilene Christian. There's a small college kid making himself eligible. Next week, we'll be back to cover all the prospects, because by then they'll all have to declare. Then I'll leave for the Senior Bowl shortly after that. See you next week!

saintswhodi

Interesting:

Hmm, we pick early in the second.................

Stud QB, stud LB. Seems easy enough.

gandhi1007

Wow! Hey Whodi, isn't that what we've been saying all week?

Nice post, guys.

spkb25

that would be nice. as long as we get a stud qb and not a pretender

CheramieIII

I would still rather Hawk and maybe Carpenter with the 34th pick.

jegirouard

that was fun to read.
who's the stud QB, vince or matt?
but yeah that would be nice.

TheDeuce

Exaclty Whodi. Wow, that article really got me pumped. Leinart and then one of those stud LBs. MMMmmmmmmmmm

jergensl

chermy,
i agree we can probably get carpenter with the 34th pick. he is not quite as good as hawk, but a lot of scouts say he is very close. so why not take leinhart and carpenter. if the saints are smart enough to pull that off i wo uld be estatic!!!