Blondie
April-5th-2005, 07:01 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/don_banks/04/05/five.draft.movers/index.html?cnn=yes
These prospects are on the move as draft approaches
Posted: Tuesday April 5, 2005 12:09PM; Updated: Tuesday April 5, 2005 4:57PM
We're five weeks past the Scouting Combine, and the majority of collegiate pro days have come and gone. But with 18 days remaining until the San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to make the first pick of the NFL Draft, reputations and fortunes still can be made or lost. Whose stock is rising and whose is on the decline? Based on what we're hearing from around the league, here are five of each:
FIVE ON THE RISE
Jason Campbell,Auburn, Quarterback -- After skipping most of the physical work at the Combine, Campbell needed a solid pro-day showing to back up the perception that he was a first-day prospect. And he delivered, throwing a bevy of on-target passes and launching the deep ball with ease. Most projections now put Campbell somewhere in the second round, depending which teams need for a quarterback to groom.
"He's fairly hot,'' said one league talent scout. "He's a raw, athletic guy who's moving up the ladder. He's probably going to go somewhere between 25 and 45. He's coming off a good year, he's a four-year player and he had great numbers at Auburn. You have to look at him.''
NFL personnel men believe Campbell's stock was greatly enhanced by his year spent with Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges. While not regarded as an NFL starter the day he walks in the door, Campbell is seen as player who could quickly develop into No. 1 material after a year or two.
"If you took him in the second round, you might look pretty good in a couple years,'' said an AFC personnel man.
Adrian McPherson, Quarterback -- There might not be a more intriguing prospect in this year's draft than the scandal-ridden former Florida State quarterback, who has spent the past two seasons chucking passes in the Arena Football League. McPherson wowed the NFL talent scouts at the Combine in February and turned in a strong pro-day workout last week in South Florida.
McPherson ran a pair of low-4.5 40s and showed off the arm that has most draft observers believing he has moved himself up into the middle of the second round, where he could be the fourth quarterback taken overall. McPherson threw a 70-yard deep out on the money last week, and also flat-footed a 72-yard bomb.
McPherson's character issues have been well documented, but his recent steps have all been positive ones and point to a maturity level he didn't have in Tallahassee. Rest assured someone in the league is going to give him the opportunity to continue his improbable comeback saga.
Matt Jones, Arkansas, Receiver -- Jones has quickly emerged as the ultimate climber of this draft and it's not hard to understand why. The former Razorbacks quarterback has posted freakish numbers this spring. Despite his intriguing size (6-foot-6, 242 pounds), he has run a sub-4.4 40 and has almost a 40-inch vertical leap.
Says one AFC personnel man: "In this draft, [Jones] could definitely sneak into the first round. It might take you a year or two to develop him, because he's a project at receiver, but if you hit with him, you could hit big.''
But cap realities being what they are, Jones is a tricky call. While everybody loves the idea of taking a project player, it takes some moxie to step up and make that kind of wager on the future on the draft's first day.
"If you can't really count on him playing much in the first two years or so, how can you take him in the first two rounds?'' another veteran personnel man said. "He's a great athlete and has great speed, but where do you play him? Right now he's not playing as fast as a receiver because the position is so new to him that he's stopping to think before he moves. He loses some speed at receiver.''
Fabian Washington, Nebraska, Cornerback -- The first round is expected to be heavy with quality cornerbacks, but Washington has climbed the charts a bit because of his eye-popping 40 times on Nebraska's pro day. Washington ran a 4.29 and a 4.31, and had a vertical leap of 41.5 inches. Once considered a borderline first-round prospect at best, Washington could now go in the 18-to-24 range. If there's an early run on the top-rated corners, that number could inch even higher.
With such outstanding jumping ability, Washington is considered the best pure athlete among the first-round cornerbacks, and he's certainly the quickest. His three years of starting experience in a major program are also seen as a huge plus for a team in need of an immediate impact player. Washington is a little on the small side at 5-10 1/2, 188 pounds, but he plays tough and his ball skills compare favorably with any of the other higher-ranked prospects.
Khalif Barnes, Washington, Offensive Tackle -- There's little mystery to Barnes' rising fortunes. It's the law of supply and demand. He's the only legitimate big-time left tackle in the draft, and therefore he's virtually bullet-proof. Barnes has great footwork and is seen as being ready to play the offensive line's toughest position almost immediately. Despite missing the final six games of his senior season with a wrist injury, he's not a question mark because he turned in strong performances at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.
Unlike many collegiate offensive-line prospects, Barnes seems to excel both in pass protection and run blocking, and he has enough athleticism at 6-5, 311 pounds to be able to hold his own against even the quickest defensive ends in the NFL. Teams such as Baltimore at No. 22 and San Diego at No. 28 are thought to be eyeing him, but it would be an upset if he's still on the board when the Chargers' second first-round pick rolls around.
These prospects are on the move as draft approaches
Posted: Tuesday April 5, 2005 12:09PM; Updated: Tuesday April 5, 2005 4:57PM
We're five weeks past the Scouting Combine, and the majority of collegiate pro days have come and gone. But with 18 days remaining until the San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to make the first pick of the NFL Draft, reputations and fortunes still can be made or lost. Whose stock is rising and whose is on the decline? Based on what we're hearing from around the league, here are five of each:
FIVE ON THE RISE
Jason Campbell,Auburn, Quarterback -- After skipping most of the physical work at the Combine, Campbell needed a solid pro-day showing to back up the perception that he was a first-day prospect. And he delivered, throwing a bevy of on-target passes and launching the deep ball with ease. Most projections now put Campbell somewhere in the second round, depending which teams need for a quarterback to groom.
"He's fairly hot,'' said one league talent scout. "He's a raw, athletic guy who's moving up the ladder. He's probably going to go somewhere between 25 and 45. He's coming off a good year, he's a four-year player and he had great numbers at Auburn. You have to look at him.''
NFL personnel men believe Campbell's stock was greatly enhanced by his year spent with Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges. While not regarded as an NFL starter the day he walks in the door, Campbell is seen as player who could quickly develop into No. 1 material after a year or two.
"If you took him in the second round, you might look pretty good in a couple years,'' said an AFC personnel man.
Adrian McPherson, Quarterback -- There might not be a more intriguing prospect in this year's draft than the scandal-ridden former Florida State quarterback, who has spent the past two seasons chucking passes in the Arena Football League. McPherson wowed the NFL talent scouts at the Combine in February and turned in a strong pro-day workout last week in South Florida.
McPherson ran a pair of low-4.5 40s and showed off the arm that has most draft observers believing he has moved himself up into the middle of the second round, where he could be the fourth quarterback taken overall. McPherson threw a 70-yard deep out on the money last week, and also flat-footed a 72-yard bomb.
McPherson's character issues have been well documented, but his recent steps have all been positive ones and point to a maturity level he didn't have in Tallahassee. Rest assured someone in the league is going to give him the opportunity to continue his improbable comeback saga.
Matt Jones, Arkansas, Receiver -- Jones has quickly emerged as the ultimate climber of this draft and it's not hard to understand why. The former Razorbacks quarterback has posted freakish numbers this spring. Despite his intriguing size (6-foot-6, 242 pounds), he has run a sub-4.4 40 and has almost a 40-inch vertical leap.
Says one AFC personnel man: "In this draft, [Jones] could definitely sneak into the first round. It might take you a year or two to develop him, because he's a project at receiver, but if you hit with him, you could hit big.''
But cap realities being what they are, Jones is a tricky call. While everybody loves the idea of taking a project player, it takes some moxie to step up and make that kind of wager on the future on the draft's first day.
"If you can't really count on him playing much in the first two years or so, how can you take him in the first two rounds?'' another veteran personnel man said. "He's a great athlete and has great speed, but where do you play him? Right now he's not playing as fast as a receiver because the position is so new to him that he's stopping to think before he moves. He loses some speed at receiver.''
Fabian Washington, Nebraska, Cornerback -- The first round is expected to be heavy with quality cornerbacks, but Washington has climbed the charts a bit because of his eye-popping 40 times on Nebraska's pro day. Washington ran a 4.29 and a 4.31, and had a vertical leap of 41.5 inches. Once considered a borderline first-round prospect at best, Washington could now go in the 18-to-24 range. If there's an early run on the top-rated corners, that number could inch even higher.
With such outstanding jumping ability, Washington is considered the best pure athlete among the first-round cornerbacks, and he's certainly the quickest. His three years of starting experience in a major program are also seen as a huge plus for a team in need of an immediate impact player. Washington is a little on the small side at 5-10 1/2, 188 pounds, but he plays tough and his ball skills compare favorably with any of the other higher-ranked prospects.
Khalif Barnes, Washington, Offensive Tackle -- There's little mystery to Barnes' rising fortunes. It's the law of supply and demand. He's the only legitimate big-time left tackle in the draft, and therefore he's virtually bullet-proof. Barnes has great footwork and is seen as being ready to play the offensive line's toughest position almost immediately. Despite missing the final six games of his senior season with a wrist injury, he's not a question mark because he turned in strong performances at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.
Unlike many collegiate offensive-line prospects, Barnes seems to excel both in pass protection and run blocking, and he has enough athleticism at 6-5, 311 pounds to be able to hold his own against even the quickest defensive ends in the NFL. Teams such as Baltimore at No. 22 and San Diego at No. 28 are thought to be eyeing him, but it would be an upset if he's still on the board when the Chargers' second first-round pick rolls around.