The Draft Was
... Efficient. Moving up to get Sedrick Ellis with the
seventh pick was good, and getting underachieving, while
talented NC State DT DeMario Pressley in the fifth helped
solidify the interior. Tracy Porter flew under the radar, but
he'll be a productive corner for a long time. PK Taylor Mehlhaff
should be terrific in the dome. Best Value Pick: Adrian Arrington, WR Michigan. 7th
round. Had he stayed for his senior year he would've been a
first day pick. He didn't stay, and New Orleans got a ridiculous
steal in the seventh round. Biggest Reach: Taylor Mehlhaff, PK Wisconsin. 6th round.
He actually isn't a reach, but there were other needs that went
without. Taking a flier on a linebacker would've been helpful. They Should've ... Gotten more help for the secondary.
Beefing up the line will help the overall defense if Ellis is
the interior pass rusher he was at USC, but getting more corner
talent was needed for the woeful pass D.
#
Pick
7
7
1st Round
(from New England)
Sedrick Ellis, DT USC
Lost in the Glenn Dorsey spotlight was the tremendous 2007
season had by Ellis. A phenomenal interior pass rusher who took
his game up another level in his senior season, Ellis anchored
the USC line and showed the strength and toughness to handle
double team after double team and still produce. He's a more
creative pass rusher than most ends and it a brick wall against
the run. He's not the warrior Dorsey is and he was too good at
getting into the backfield for his own good sometimes, missing
out on a few run stops here and there trying to get to the
quarterback, but he's strong, quick, and a rock to build around.
In any other year he'd be the tackle everyone would be raving
about. CFN Projection: Top Ten Overall
CFN Position Rank: 2
9
40
2nd Round
Tracy Porter, CB Indiana
Arguably the best corner in the Big Ten that no one paid any
attention to, Porter was a great three-and-a-half year starter
with nice 4.49 speed and good shut-down ability. He made a lot
of tackles, including 83 last season, but he's not the best run
stopper and he'll get shoved around by the bigger, stronger
receivers. He should be a nice second corner and a tremendous
third man in the mix. CFN Projection: Third Round CFN
Position Rank: 13
9
144
5th Round
(from trade)
DeMario Pressley, DT NC State
A total underachiever, he has all the tools to be phenomenal.
Big, fast, athletic, and a good tackler, he was a good player
for NC State, but he never became an interior pass rusher and he
didn't dominate like he should've. He got dinged up with a
variety of problems and didn't always play through the injuries.
The upside is there, but he needs to be shoved by the coaches. CFN Projection: Third Round
CFN
Position Rank: 11
29
164
5th Round
(from trade)
Carl Nicks, OT Nebraska
A massive former defensive tackle who at 343 pounds is
surprisingly athletic. A killer run blocker, he's been fantastic
whenever he's able to get his arms on someone and has enough
quickness to get down field and spring big plays. He needs
refinement and he need a fire lit under him. He wasn't nearly as
good as he should've been for the Husker offense, but when he
had a good game, he was really, really good. CFN Projection: Third Round
CFN
Position Rank: 9
12
178
6th Round
Taylor Mehlhaff, PK Wisconsin A left-footed bomber with nice range and a great leg on
kickoffs, he should be a solid pro if he can speed up his
approach and if he can get the ball off quicker. While he
doesn't have All-Pro potential and he'll need to work on his
consistency, he should be a good kickoff specialist, if nothing
else. CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN
Position Rank: 4
30
237
7th Round
(from trade)
Adrian Arrington, WR Michigan
At 6-2 and 202 pounds with 4.58 speed, he has a good size/speed
ratio and he looks the part of an NFL receiver. Very physical,
he'll block, make catches in traffic, and will beat up smaller
defensive backs. However, he's not a natural receiver and he
doesn't use his speed to his advantage. He also has
off-the-field character issues to get past. CFN Projection: Fifth Round to Sixth Round CFN
Position Rank: 28
