pakowitz

Buzzmaster: We're getting Mel right now!

Mel Kiper: We're winding down with the individual workouts. Guys moving up and guys moving down.




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Keith (Miami, Fl): I think the #32 pick for the Dolphins is crucial. Now that you have them taking Jake Long #1 overall, what direction do you see them going with that #32? Who might slip through the 1st round?

Mel Kiper: If they take long, they have a ton of options after that. If you take the OT early, they could go CB at that point. More than likely there will be a pretty good CB on the board at that point. Along with some pretty interesting DL on the board that would be to Bill Parcells' liking. Justin King, Brandon Flowers, Charles Godfrey those are some guys that are still on the board.


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Jeff (Iowa): I see you have G Brandon Albert at No.5 (KC). Why not Clady or Williams on the board they rank better at 8 or 9 and BA is at 18? I'm hoping for a miracle that Long falls to KC?

Mel Kiper: We don't know how anyone ranks within the framework of an NFL team. That's all internal information. We all speculate. Albert is red hot right now. It's not because he's a guard. He is testing out during workouts well as a LT prospect. That's why he has soared up the draft board. I've talked to some teams and you can make the argument that he's ahead of Clady and Williams right now. KC needs three OL in this draft. Albert will be a top 10 pick.


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Steve, Chicago, IL: With Lovie Smith calling out Cedric Benson, is it more or less likely the Bears draft a RB in the first round?

Mel Kiper: The only one I could see them considering are Mendenhall and Felix Jones. It would not be out of the question. This is a tandem RB league. You have Benson, who has had some injury issues. The tandem situation is what teams are working with right now.

Mel Kiper: You can rest assured it's going to be an offensive player. That's where all their needs are.


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JC (Coffeyvile, KS): If a DT doesn't fall to #9 for Cincy, is there a WR worthy to take that high due to the WR issues of late.

Mel Kiper: Not even close. The first WR drafted will be Devin Thomas and that won't be until 20 or 21. I think you'll only see two WRs in the first round. DeSean Jackson will be the other. Kelly has slid out of the first and Sweed is a borderline first rounder. So, no. If Sedrick Ellis is gone, then they could look, because they have such a need at this postion, Keith Rivers from USC.

Mel Kiper: The way Ellis could be gone is if a team jumps ahead of Cincy. A team that could do that would be New Orleans. But Ellis would be the perfect guy for Cincinnati.


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Spencer (miami): Mel, I'm seeing Chad Henne's stock apparently rising quite a bit. Why is that? Despite being a 4-year starter and being surrounded by NFL-caliber talent, he never seemed particularly great or good.

Mel Kiper: I would say he was good, he wasn't great. He's a tough guy. He has impressed people with his toughness. His character, his leadership ability. And his strong arm. He's played a lot of football. There's a lot to say about a veteran at the college level. Now, the concern is that he's erratic, he has a long delivery and he's not mobile. He ran hot and cold at Michigan. That's why he is a second round pick. He's a guy for Baltimore or Chicago. I think he's going to be the third QB drafted. I think Flacco is the second one and Henne will be the third and Brohm the fourth.


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Glenn (Cumberland, RI: Mel, can DeSean Jackson really become an elite WR who stretches the field? If you took away his return ability where would he rank amongst the other WRs? I feel that special teamers can always be found in later rounds.

Mel Kiper: He would be right up there. You're not drafting him for his return abilities. Forget this year, he was banged up this year. Two years ago, he averaged 18 yards per catch. He has great leaping ability. The concern is that he's only 169 pounds. He probably goes between 20 to 31. Teams that could look at him are Tampa Bay and Tennessee. And Dallas.


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Mark (Boston, MA): Any potential steals in the later rounds of the draft at LB? Who?

Mel Kiper: I'll go OLB first. Marcus Buggs from Vanderbilt; Curtis Gatewood, Vanderbilt; Robert James, Arizona State. ILB's: Shane Simmons, Western Washington; Vince Hall, Virginia Tech.


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Marques Utica, NY : Most over-valued player in your opinion?

Mel Kiper: Derrick Harvey, Florida. He wasn't as consistently productive as I would prefer. He had some games with some big sack totals. But he had some others where he wasn't as productive. You usually see that based on how they come off the board. That's a question you really can't answer until draft day.


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Jay (Middletown, CT): Mel, you have Rivers now going to Denver at 12, what happened to Wiliams or Clady there? The just picked up 2 LB's recently. Or possibly a WR because of Marshall's injury?

Mel Kiper: They didn't pick up big time players, though. For what Denver needs, Rivers will provide. The guy I was thinking about giving Denver was Clady, but if Rivers is there, it would be tough. I also thought about giving them a RB, Mendenhall, but that goes against what Denver does. But I'm not convinced they've upgraded their LB that much.

Mel Kiper: Their LB pick up Boss Bailey did not distinguish himself with the Lions. He didn't have much of an impact.


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mike cincy: How High was your grade on Chris Henry Coming out? Man this seems like such a waste, wish he could have been smarter.

Mel Kiper: He was considered in the same area where the Bengals picked him. He was a first round talent but slid down because of his focus. When he's played, he's played very well. You have to be consistent in this league. He went where he did for a reason. He went basically where he was projected to go.

Mel Kiper: Unfortunately, the Bengals brought in too many players who had off the field concerns coming in.


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Scoot (Syracuse): If Mario Manningham is available for the Jets w/ there 2nd round pick, do you think they will draft him?

Mel Kiper: Yeah, they need a playmaker. That's one thing they need. If you look at how the makeup of their team is, they need a playmaking WR. Manningham had a very good career at Michigan. Second round might be a little high, but they need a WR. He is a roll of the dice. He was inconsistent at Michigan. You saw some signs of greatness. I think he's a third round pick.


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Clint G. (Midland, TX): Is Lane Kiffin blowing smoke about not wanting McFadden or is he tipping his hand?

Mel Kiper: I think right now you can't listen to anything. You don't want to give anybody any idea of who you want. If Oakland doesn't take McFadden, I'd say it's because they trade down. They've spent a lot of money on the defensive side of the ball. McFadden makes the most sense. They need a big time back. They have a lot of average backs. You're trying to develop Russell. If they want to continue to spend money on the defensive side, they could take Gholston or Ellis. There's no guarantee they're taking McFadden.


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Jim, Williamsville, NY: Your latest mock draft has the Buffalo Bills taking a DE with the 11th overall pick - why not a CB which would seem to be more of a position of need?

Mel Kiper: It is. It's right in there. I thought seriously about putting a CB in there. I was within a whisker of putting in McKelvin or Jenkins in there. I had Talib and Rodgers-Cromartie off the board. But in the end, I went with the higher rated player. The Bills didn't get anything from their DEs last year. Having a rotation that includes Harvey wouldn't be a bad thing. I also considered Rivers.


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Will from Jax: Hey Mel, do you think the Jags could be actually going OL in the first RD? I could see that and them move up in the second to get a DE.

Mel Kiper: As far as their needs in Jacksonville, I think DE or DT is a priority. And safety as well. I think the defense is still what they need to look at. They have some issues on the DL.


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Paul (Knoxville,TN): Hey Mel, after yesterdays pro day do u expect the Saints to take Rivers at #10??..how does he compare to Patrick Willis??

Mel Kiper: The Saints could look at him. That's another guy that's been projected there for a while. They've added various players in free agency at LB. I think they need a CB and they need a DT. That's why you keep hearing about Ellis for New Orleans. I've also heard about Talib or Rodgers-Cromartie. But in my opinion, Rivers does not have the grade Willis did. I think he'll be a safe pick. There's not a lot of risk there. Willis was the more highly rated player, but Rivers will probably go in that same range. I think the most underrated player in this draft is Jerod Mayo.


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Brian(San Diego): Mel, No one has answered a Charger question in at least a week! I love the Gosder Cherilus pick in your latest mock draft. Is he the type of guy that will be the bookend tackle with Marcus McNeil for the next 10 years, or merely an above-average prospect?

Mel Kiper: If he's drafted in the late first round, and San Diego and San Francisco are going to be looking at him, he's going to be a solid RT. He showed as a junior at BC he could be a great RT. That would give them a heckuva tandem at tackle, with two good bookends. But they could also go CB. They do on paper have a little bit of a concern at CB. Who is the CB that could be there? Justin King.


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Ben (SF): Mel, I don't really understand why Sweed and Kelly are dropping so much. Would one of them be a good pick for the 49ers in the late first or early 2nd?

Mel Kiper: The 49ers have added a couple of WRs in free agency. They also desperately need help at LB, OL. They could look at Mayo and Cherilous. But in terms of WR, they could look at DeSean Jackson. Kelly's stock has slipped. He started off strong this season and dropped off. Sweed hasn't played in a game since Oct. 6 with his injury. Both of those guys are borderline first round picks. But there's as much of a chance that they are second rounders as they are first.


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Steve (Rochester, NY): Since he is effectively going to be a rookie in 2008 I was wondering where a fully recovered Michael Bush would rank among this year's group of RB's?

Mel Kiper: I would put him seventh. If he would have been healthy. He wouldn't have been behind the big four of McFadden, Mendenhall, Jones, Stewart. Then you'd have Johnson, Rice.


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bill (ga): Clady to Pats? Reach at 7?

Mel Kiper: No, he wouldn't be a reach. I just don't know if they want to go that route. Their OL played great all year until the Super Bowl. Other than that their OL played very well. New England, we know what they need. Their offense is in great shape. Their defense is not in good shape. They better address their back end on defense. Whether it's a CB like Talib or Gholston. Offense has to be pushed to the back corner.


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Merv (So Cal): Titans draft board?

Mel Kiper: They better target a WR. That's the best thing this team can do, to help out Vince Young. They could stand to get a DL. They could also use a CB and they could upgrade at MLB. But WR is the most pressing. That's why in the last projection, I had Jackson going to Tennessee.


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D (MI): You seem to have cooled on Chilo Rachal since he first declared for the draft. Is this a right assessment? If yes, than why?

Mel Kiper: I haven't cooled him at all. I think he'll be a second round pick. He's 27th on my Big Board. He's going to be a guard or RT in the NFL. I've always thought he was going to be a second round pick.


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Don Buffalo: How much value do teams put on age? Dustin Keller, Limas Sweed are older than your average draft pick. Do you think they consider that?

Mel Kiper: In some cases, it's a plus because of the maturity level coming in. I think it's case by case. I don't think it's automatically a negative or positive. It's not a big deal.


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Sonny D(Maple Grove, MN): I guess Brohm's stock has been rising since his pro day and now possibly going to mid 1st round from what I am seeing. Any possibility for my Vikes to take Brohm at 17 since it's T-Jack's make or break year?

Mel Kiper: I don't think his stock is rising. I think the QB whose stock is rising is Joe Flacco's. I think Brohm is battling Chad Henne as the third QB. The issue with Brohm is that he doesn't have that one great physicall attribute. He doesn't have the great arm, great mobility. Flacco has great size and great arm. Henne has a great arm. Ryan has great skills. But in the second round, someone is going to get themselves a great football player. Chicago or any of those teams that need a QB.


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Kaleb(Fargo): Is it a fairly sure thing the Skins go WR in round 1?

Mel Kiper: Not at all. The DL, either DT or DE, is a major need. Also, a CB. Or on offense, a versatile OL and WR. Their first pick comes from one of those four positions. I'm going with Devin Thomas from Michigan State. But they have three other areas they could go in.


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George (Mass): Any suprise first round picks...like Mankins a couple years ago?

Mel Kiper: I think a couple of the guys I had in there, Lawrence Jackson from USC, Tyrelle Johnson from Arkansas State. And Joe Flacco could go in the late first round. But there's not a team in the late first round that needs him. But I could see a team like Atlanta jumping back into the late first round to get him.


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Louis (Long Beach, NY): If the Jets can't get McFadden, Gholston, or Long, is there any chance they take Sedrick Ellis, even though he doesn't seem like a 3-4 end?

Mel Kiper: I think if the Jets can't get McFadden, Gholston, or Long, I think they would look to trade down at that point. There are guys that would be valuable to trade up for. Matt Ryan, Talib, Ellis. If those three are gone, I say you move off of that pick. But I don't see that happening. Long goes No. 1, McFadden or Gholston are still there.


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Paul (San Diego ): Mel, Tell me your thoughts on the G-men at the End of Rd. 1...Mayo or Connor or Philips? trade-down perhaps?

Mel Kiper: I think they're targeting a free safety. I can not believe Mayo is still on the board. But he could be. I have him going a couple of picks earlier. Connor I think he's a second rounder. I give them a free safety. The guy I like is Tyrelle Johnson from Arkansas State. He has great ball skills. They need a free safety. This kid right now is in the late first round mix. That's a major need area for them.


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Michael (CO): Mel, if the Packers take a CB in round 1, who will they target in round 2 with their two picks? Thanks.

Mel Kiper: I think you have to look at a TE, maybe a Fred Davis or Brad Cottam or Kellen Davis. They could also go OG. But I think CB first. I have them taking Brandon Flowers. How about Chilo Rachal in the second round? That's pretty good. You get the TE, the CB and the OG. They solved their OLB need in free agency.


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SpencerNJ): Mel, 5 years from now who's made the biggest impact out of this years draft class?

Mel Kiper: You hope the top guys. You hope it's the elite guys. Guys like Glenn Dorsey. I think he's the best player. Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Mendenhall. I think the RBs will do the best traditionally. You hope the LTs can develop into the Walter Jones. You hope Jake Long can be like Jumbo Elliot was. You hope Ryan can do what Manning, Roethlisberger, Rivers have done - win games. I think the guys who will present the best value for the production you get will be guys like Felix Jones, Dustin Keller, Jerod Mayo. Those are the guys that will present the best overall value.

Mel Kiper: Another guy who won't be great, but will be a solid DE is Merling out of Clemson.

Mel Kiper: Thanks for all the questions. We'll be back on the Wednesday slot next week.

I Live In Beastmode!