NFL.com: Nine prospects invited to attend draft

[SteveFromYellowstone]

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/04/13/nine-prospects-will-attend-draft/

Nine prospects invited to attend draft (http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/04/13/nine-prospects-will-attend-draft/)

Posted: News (http://blogs.nfl.com/category/news/) | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Aaron Curry (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/aaron-curry/), Brian Cushing (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/brian-cushing/), Brian Orakpo (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/brian-orakpo/), Eugene Monroe (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/eugene-monroe/), Jason Smith (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/jason-smith/), Josh Freeman (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/josh-freeman/), Matthew Stafford (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/matthew-stafford/), Michael Crabtree (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/michael-crabtree/), Michael Oher (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/michael-oher/)
Nine top prospects have been invited to attend Day 1 of the 2009 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25, the league announced Monday. WR Michael Crabtree, LB Aaron Curry, LB Brian Cushing, QB Josh Freeman, T Eugene Monroe, T Michael Oher, DE Brian Orakpo, T Jason Smith and QB Matthew Stafford will be the biggest group of prospects to attend the draft since 11 players attended the 1996 NFL Draft.
Players were first invited to the NFL Draft in 1993 with Drew Bledsoe (1st overall pick), Marvin Jones (4th), Willie Roaf (8th), Jerome Bettis (10th), Dan Williams (11th) and Irv Smith (20th). Of course, Smith’s tumble late into the first round bore the drama of players fidgeting in the “green room” waiting for their name to be called. Maybe that’s why QB Mark Sanchez will not be attending the draft.
Everybody remembers the famous slides of Aaron Rodgers who fell to the Packers at No. 24 in 2005, and Brady Quinn being picked at No. 22 by the Browns in 2007. They have nothing on former running back Leeland McElroy who lasted into the second round (32nd overall) in 1996 before he was mercifully drafted by the Cardinals.
For all of the latest draft information, including mock drafts, be sure to visit NFL.com’s draft page (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009). There you can join the debate about the league’s all-time No. 1 pick (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80fb1609&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true).


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I think some of the picks to attend the draft are a bit strange. Freeman but not Sanchez? I'm guessing Sanchez chose not to attend. Oher? I think it's a bit of a reach and he could fall into the 20s. Cushing? I think Maualuga will go before him.

[That Redskins Fan]

I might be reading to much into this but Oher is going to be there

hmm i wonder will he be selected in the top 10

[littleskins]

Does anyone know if we ever had a pick that was invited to the draft. I was thinking Sean Taylor but off the top of my head I don't remember him being there.

[HOF44]

Does anyone know if we ever had a pick that was invited to the draft. I was thinking Sean Taylor but off the top of my head I don't remember him being there.

Samuels and Arrington?

[littleskins]

Samuels and Arrington?


Thanks. I do remember Samuels now still a little grougy on Arrington. It must be that fun juice I drink on draft day.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Sanchez chose to not attend (http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-spw-nfl-draft-sanchez14-2009apr14,0,2805548.story)


USC's Sanchez passes on N.Y. invite for draft

The player's brother says Trojan QB has turned down an offer to join other prospects at Radio City Music Hall in favor of remaining in Southland with family and friends.

Nine pro prospects will be heading to New York for the NFL draft, but USC quarterback Mark Sanchez will not be among them.

Sanchez was invited to attend, his brother said today, but decided against it because he wants to be with family and friends for the April 25-26 draft. He is expected to be among the first 10 players selected; The Times' latest mock draft has him going eighth to Jacksonville.

"Mark's been traveling so much to meet with different teams lately, he didn't feel it was necessary to make the trip to New York," said Nick Sanchez, the quarterback's brother, adding that making the trip would be especially difficult for their 92-year-old grandmother.

He said ESPN cameras might be on hand on draft day to cover Sanchez, who grew up in Orange County and graduated from Mission Viejo High School.

Linebacker Brian Cushing is the only USC player scheduled to be in attendance for the draft at Radio City Music Hall. Also attending are Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman, Virginia tackle Eugene Monroe, Mississippi tackle Michael Oher, Baylor tackle Jason Smith, Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo. Nine marks the biggest contingent of draftees since 1996.

Not all of the invitees are newcomers to the draft experience, however. Monroe was in attendance last year, a guest of Virginia teammate Chris Long, who was selected second by St. Louis.

Jacksonville?

What is this guy smoking!?

I'm pretty sure they're still set on Gerrard, the Jags need line help and some WRs but not a QB.

[SteveFromYellowstone]

Sanchez chose to not attend (http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-spw-nfl-draft-sanchez14-2009apr14,0,2805548.story)



Jacksonville?

What is this guy smoking!?

I'm pretty sure they're still set on Gerrard, the Jags need line help and some WRs but not a QB.

Garrard is 31 years old and got destroyed last year behind that offensive line. I think they had two starters go down on opening day or something crazy like that. They're going to begin looking for his replacement, but I see them putting a tackle or WR as more of a priority

[ArmchairRedskin]

They invited Freeman? That seems odd. He's not gonna go top ten I'm betting. He's probably gonna sit till the 20's. I'd pass on the invite if I were him.

[[[ghost]]]

I think some of the picks to attend the draft are a bit strange. Freeman but not Sanchez? I'm guessing Sanchez chose not to attend. Oher? I think it's a bit of a reach and he could fall into the 20s. Cushing? I think Maualuga will go before him.

Sanchez said he wants to be in Cali with his family. I think all of those LBs out of USC except for Mauluga are vastly over rated. Cushing and Mathews seem like good guys, but otherwise unimpressive players. They'll be decent to good players, but not guys who will stand out in this league. Mauluga might simply because of his high intensity play. But his freelancing will kill him if he goes to a team like Cincinnati.

[Zhouse]

I'm a little surprised to see Freeman and Oher.

No love for BJ Raji??

[DWinzit]

Thanks. I do remember Samuels now still a little grougy on Arrington. It must be that fun juice I drink on draft day.Also Desmond Freaking Howard and Heath F'n Shuler:doh::doh::doh: Bad memories....:puke:

[DWinzit]

I'm a little surprised to see Freeman and Oher.

No love for BJ Raji??I agree, I'm not seeing Oher going top 10 and Freeman...lol...20 if he's lucky.

Raji will be gone by the 8th pick.

[ArmchairRedskin]

Oher is a good story. They'll probably be bringing that up during the telecast.

[CPortJGibbs89]

I think its a pretty smart move for Sanchez not to go to the draft. He could end up being picked in the top 10 or he could end up falling to the middle round. He is probably thinking about how Aaron Rogers, Brady and Matt Leinart all fell alot farther then they were expected and the camera will constintely show them just sitting there with blank looks on there face. If he was a sure fire top 5 he should go but nobody knows right now.

[SIXX99]

Oher is a good story. They'll probably be bringing that up during the telecast.

Oh yeah, ESPN will be all over that stuff.

[JeepRyder]

I would have definitely picked Raji over Freeman. That doesnt make much sense.

[IbleedBnG83]

I would have definitely picked Raji over Freeman. That doesnt make much sense.

I thought the same thing. But I think I have it figured out.

The NFL likes intrigue, drama, and story lines. There is always HUGE talk whenever someone is left waiting in the Green Room. I think they did it so they can follow players who will get drafted later in the first or early second as to have a sub-plot to the whole draft.

[Area51]

Its really interesting to me how much Ray Maulaga keeps getting undervalued/dropped from perceived expert's rankings list and how the other TWO USC LBs are getting ranked higher than him.

I mean, Maulaga was a projected top 10 pick LAST YEAR and all he did is go back to school, come up with big plays in big games(OSU INT-TD...great run back for a guy his size, btw), and was the leader of USC's all-time great defense. He was also a three time all-conference selection and 2009 all-american, and scouting reports have him as a better prospect/player than Keith Rivers(who went 10th overall last year).

Cushing, on the other hand, has been linked with steroids on mutliple occasions (as far back as 1-2 year ago). Clay Matthews wasn't even a starter until his senior season (yea I know about his father and uncle).

Maulaga can be a leader of a defense, can chane the entire course of a game with one play, is able to play all three downs, and can rush the passer (six sacks two year ago).

If he keeps dropping (and Sanchez is not available), it would be sweet ass if we can trade down and still pick him.

[PennSkinsFanhR]

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/04/munching-the-mock-datbase-stafford-smith-curry-and-orakpo-are-consensus-picks.html (http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/04/munching-the-mock-datbase-stafford-smith-curry-and-orakpo-are-consensus-picks.html)

The NFL Mock Draft Database (http://dcprosportsreport.com/mockdraftdatabase/nfl.html) has been updated, over 60 mocks updated in the last 2 days, 29 just today. We also updated the Mock Database's consensus picks and munched together ALL MOCKS UPDATED IN APRIL, that is, in case you are wondering, 148 Mocks!

Here's the stats:

Total Mocks in Database: 314
Updated Today: 29
Updated in April: 148

[artmonkforHOF]

I get the logic on not inviting Sanchez, but then what the heck is Freeman doing there? most likely he will go after Sanchez & Stafford, unless NFL.com knows something we don't.

[IbleedBnG83]

I get the logic on not inviting Sanchez, but then what the heck is Freeman doing there? most likely he will go after Sanchez & Stafford, unless NFL.com knows something we don't.

Noooo. Believe me, they want intrigure. This has become a whole show and dramatic event. Watch the commercials and see how it plays into everything.

[IbleedBnG83]

I mean, Maulaga was a projected top 10 pick LAST YEAR and all he did is go back to school,

Thats the thing. His play dropped from the prior year which have analysts/scouts worried



Cushing, on the other hand, has been linked with steroids on mutliple occasions (as far back as 1-2 year ago).

all hearsay, there is no factual evidence.


Clay Matthews wasn't even a starter until his senior season (yea I know about his father and uncle).

more naturally athletic than the other two. is very smart.


is able to play all three downs, and can rush the passer (six sacks two year ago).

many have said they don't think he can be a 3 down player, but a 2 down player