This year I don't think anyone really cares.
Still, this team has some holes and I think we'll find a few more impact players, especially in the 2nd and 3rd where Thompson has seemed to make his money.
But the first round should have it's share of good ones available late, and at positions of need.
Scouts Inc.'s big board:
1. Darren McFadden* RB Arkansas 99
2. Chris Long DE Virginia 98
3. Glenn Dorsey DT LSU 98
4. Sedrick Ellis DT USC 97
5. Matt Ryan QB Boston Coll. 97
6. Jake Long OT Michigan 97
7. James Laurinaitis* ILB Ohio State 96
8. Brian Brohm QB Louisville 96
9. Vernon Gholston* DE Ohio State 95
10. Andre Woodson Jr. QB Kentucky 95
11. Malcolm Jenkins* CB Ohio State 95
12. Derrick Harvey* DE Florida 95
13. Ryan Clady* OT Boise St. 95
14. Kenny Phillips* S Miami 94
15. DeSean Jackson* WR California 94
16. Rey Maualuga* ILB USC 94
17. Calais Campbell* DE Miami 94
18. Keith Rivers OLB USC 94
19. Mike Jenkins CB S. Florida 93
20. Dan Connor OLB Penn State 93
21. Limas Sweed WR Texas 93
22. Early Doucet III WR LSU 92
23. Felix Jones* RB Arkansas 92
24. Jeffrey Otah OT Pittsburgh 92
25. Samuel Baker OT USC 91
26. Malcolm Kelly* WR Oklahoma 91
27. Aqib Talib* CB Kansas 91
28. Ali Highsmith OLB LSU 91
29. Jonathan Stewart* RB Oregon 90
30. Michael Oher OT Mississippi 90
31. Mario Manningham* WR Michigan 90
32. John Carlson TE Notre Dame 90
In terms of pressing needs I think you could say CB, OT, and possibly SLB.
Woodson and Harris will probably never again be as good as they were this season, but that doesn't mean we'll need to replace them as starters any time soon. You could make a case that Woodson was the NFL's best CB this season and I think he'll likely be very good again next year. Harris doesn't rely on speed so much as he does his hands and simply not making false steps. Barring injury, I think Woodson is here another three seasons and Harris another two.
However, despite how good Blackmon and Bush have looked at times, a legit, starting caliber CB prospect would be great to have.
I like Aqib Talib. He seems like a real good kid. Very heady and a natural leader. He's also got the size and athleticism to mimic our two starters. He's very much the opposite of Ahmad Carroll.
I think Tauscher is here one more season, then he gets replaced. Yes, he's a nice player, but I don't see Thompson giving a new deal to a 32 year old tackle. It's possible he gets extended another two seasons this offseason, but if he enters 2008 without an extension he won't be brought back in 2009.
Regardless, getting a true OT prospect to groom may be a good idea. More than that, it's probably vital. I'm not comfortable putting Colledge out there if one of either Mark or Chad go down. I think it might be a fine position for him down the line, but if we're going to be developing an OT prospect, might as well get one with the measurables.
I think there are two guys better suited to play on the right side than the left. It's a position you maybe don't want to look at in round one, but Cherlius and Baker both project to play RT early on in the NFL. If you want to go with a developmental guy, Michael Oher may be your guy. Once called the best HS LT since Ogden, he's still pretty raw and some think he's got attitude issues, but the payoff might be big.
Poppinga in my opinion is just a guy. I loved the pick when it was made to bring him in because I thought he could make a nice situational rush end, and that's actually what I think he's been most effective at (coming from the edge as a blitzer). I wish they'd bring him more often.
But I'd still like to upgrade if a good one falls into our lap. SLB isn't really a glamor position and it might be a waste to pick one up in round one, but you never know who'll drop. If one of the better MLB prospects drops and represents the best value on our board, maybe that's the way you go.
I'm a bit disappointed to see Maualuga moving up draft boards. The guy is built like a house and hits like truck. He's been #1 on my wishlist for a while. Dan Connor would be a nice consolation prize. You have to love those PSU linebackers.
