1 3(3) Matt Ryan QB BOSTON COLLEGE(Number 1 QB)
Matt Ryan doesn't have the arm strength of a JaMarcus Russell, and he isn't a dynamic open-field runner, but he is clearly the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft class. He has better-than-average arm strength, he's accurate and he understands the game. A lot has been made of the amount of interceptions he threw during his senior season at Boston College, but it's important to remember that he didn't have a strong receiving corps and that BC put the ball in the air far more often in 2007 than in years past.
Height: 6-43/4 | Weight: 228 | 40-Time: 4.92
Official Bio
Strengths:
Good size and a big frame...Smart and understands how to read a defense...Is a natural born leader...Solid technique and mechanics...Displays great poise...Good touch and timing...Able to buy time in the pocket...Throws well on the run...A hard worker...Has experience running a pro style offense...Top-notch competitor and a winner...Is tough, strong and fearless...Productive and had an outstanding senior campaign...Very dedicated and extremely passionate about the game of football.
Weaknesses:
Arm strength is only average...Still throws too many interceptions...Accuracy can be streaky...Struggles with the deep ball...A bit of a gunslinger who will play too recklessly at times...Not very mobile and won't beat you with his feet...May have some minor durability issues...Isn't a great athlete...May not have a huge upside.
Notes:
Nickname is "Matty Ice"...Overthrew Quinton Porter to take over the starting job in 2005...Was plagued by a broken foot as a junior...Really emerged as a top pro prospect as a senior, propelling his team to a great season even though he was surrounded by ordinary talent...Physical tools aren't special but they're adequate across the board and his intangibles are second to none...A safe pick who should become a solid starter at the next level but probably isn't a franchise signal caller.
1 21(21) Sam Baker OT USC From Washington
Injuries hindered Baker during his senior season at USC and his stocked dropped considerably leading up to the draft. In addition, he isn't a physical run-blocker who is going to consistently drive defenders off the ball. Six tackles have been drafted thus far, and Baker had been a top-three tackle prospects before his senior season. In addition, the Falcons' greatest offensive need is at tackle. Although Baker doesn't dominate the point of attack as much as you would like for a first-round offensive tackle, he moves well, gets into position quickly and can sustain his blocks once he's locked onto the defender.
Height: 6-45/8 | Weight: 309 | 40-Time: 5.50
Official Bio
Strengths:
Has a large frame with long arms and some growth potential...Athletic with terrific feet...Quick, agile and moves well...Very smart with good awareness...Technically sound...Uses his hands well...Plays with pretty good leverage...Great balance...A natural left tackle..Fine character..Has a lot of experience against top competition.
Weaknesses:
Needs to bulk up and add weight...Has to get stronger...Lacks a nasty demeanor and killer instinct...Toughness has been questioned..An average run blocker..Gets pushed back at the point...Not overly powerful...Has some minor durability issues.
Notes:
Father, David, is the commissioner of the Arena Football League and also played basketball at UC Irvine...Brother, Ben, was an offensive lineman at Duke...Was a four-year starter in the Pac 10...Began his college career as an offensive guard in '03...May be overrated and a product of hype to a certain degree...Finesse blocker who won't be a good fit for every team but has an intriguing set of physical tools that could make him a hot commodity on Draft Day...A bit of a polarizing prospect.
2 6(37) Curtis Lofton ILB OKLAHOMA(Number 3 rated ILB) Much like Nelson, Lofton isn't going to wow you with his natural ability; he doesn't have great speed and lacks the athletic ability to match up with running backs in man coverage. But he's a throwback inside linebacker. He's tough, locates the ball and is a strong tackler who can deliver the big hit. Although he has limitations in coverage, Lofton gets adequate depth when in zone coverage and his ball skills are underrated.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 246 | 40-Time: 4.78
Official Bio
Strengths:
Great bulk and a solid frame...Excellent instincts and awareness...Has a non-stop motor...Quick and plays faster than he times..Does a terrific job in pursuit and has a burst to close...Big hitter and reliable tackler..Able to step up and fill against the run...Does a decent job in zone coverage...Smart with a high football I.Q....Tough and strong...Hard worker and team leader with top-notch intangibles...Productive.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't have the ideal height that you would prefer...Stiff and does not have fluid hips...Is not a great athlete...Marginal timed speed...Struggles to match up in man coverage...Just an average blitzer with a limited pass rush repertoire..Has to do a better job of protecting his legs...Limited college starting experience ( 19 games ).
Notes:
Could play in either a 43 or a 34 defensive scheme...Contributed mainly on special teams as a true freshman..Began to emerge as a sophomore but really burst onto the scene as a junior in 2007 when he was named an All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year...Might not have all the physical tools you look for but is just a football player..The type who won't be a 1st rounder but will play like one.
3 5(68) Chevis Jackson CB LSU Jackson doesn't have great speed or hip fluidity, so you're taking a risk if you put him on an island. On the plus side, he has excellent college experience at the highest level and he simply doesn't make many mistakes. He's physical in both coverage and run support.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 192 | 40-Time: 4.62
Official Bio
Strengths:
Nice size with long arms...A smooth athlete....Strong...Instinctive...Tough, physical and aggressive...Good hands and ball skills...Has fluid hips to transition...Reliable tackler...Solid against the run...Has lots of experience...Mature and a hard worker.
Weaknesses:
Timed speed is merely average...Doesn't change direction well...Needs to improve his footwork...Can be too aggressive at times...He'll have a difficult time manning up speed receivers...Might be more of a system guy...Upside is most likely limited.
Notes:
Was a three-year starter in the SEC..Is cut from the same mold as guys like Travis Daniels, Corey Webster and Mark Roman...Will play in the league and should be a solid pro but probably not much more..Looks to be best suited for a zone scheme.
Jackson
CB
LSU
Jackson had a nice week of practice at the Senior Bowl, although he got beat deep a little. That was to be expected, however, since he is a cover-two corner prospect, not a a man-to-man corner. In fact, he may be one of the best cover-two corners in this draft because he has tremendous quickness, change-of-direction skills and is a great athlete. He will go below some of the speed-demon corners in the draft, but in the right system could be one of the best corners to come out of this draft. He had 5 interceptions and an incredible 16 passes broken up his senior year.
HEIGHT WEIGHT BENCH 40 10 20 SHORT LONG 3 CONE VERT BROAD
6'0" 192 13 4.52 1.50 2.58 4.15 - 6.96 36" 10'5"
YEAR TACKLES SACKS QBH TLF INT PD
2007 44 0 0 3 5 16
3 21(84) Harry Douglas WR LOUISVILLE From Washington
Douglas shows good quickness and has the agility to develop into a crisp route runner. However, he doesn't have elite speed and isn't going to be as effective stretching the field at the NFL level. More importantly, he's very lean, so teams are going to be able to push him around.
Height: 5-111/4 | Weight: 176 | 40-Time: 4.54
Official Bio
Strengths:
Excellent timed speed...Quick and elusive...Runs well after the catch...Deep threat who can separate and stretch the field vertically...A good route runner and knows how to get open...Nice ball skills...Extremely tough and plays much bigger than he is...Real productive...Hard worker with top intangibles...Has some return potential.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't have the bulk you look for and he probably won't get much bigger..Lacks great strength...Does not offer much as a blocker..Will have some trouble beating the jam..Hands are merely average and he allows the ball to get into his pads too often...Played in a system that inflated his numbers..May not have a lot of upside.
Notes:
One of the most explosive playmaking weapons available...Is undersized and that will scare teams away early in the draft...Returned kicks early in his career...Might never be a #1 target at the next level but should be an excellent #3 / slot option.
3 35(98) Thomas DeCoud S CALIFORNIA(number 4 safety)
DeCoud doesn't have the burst or top-end speed to match up with slot receivers in man coverage. He's also an inconsistent open-field tackler. But he's fast enough to cover the deep half of the field and fills hard in run support. He has shown a knack for blocking kicks and is solid in kick coverage.
DeCoud
FS/SS
California
DeCoud is a heady player who is a sure tackler who was thought to be limited athletically. However, his workout showed he is a very good athlete with good speed for a safety. DeCoud will grow into a solid starting NFL safety.
HEIGHT WEIGHT BENCH 40 10 20 SHORT LONG 3 CONE VERT BROAD
6'1.3" 207 9 4.50 1.51 2.59 4.27 - 6.85 35.5" 10'3"
YEAR TACKLES SACKS QBH TLF INT PD
2007 115 1 0 3 1 4
5 3(138) Robert James OLB ARIZONA STATE He is an undersized guy who struggles when teams run at him because he isn't big or strong enough to anchor. But he is quick enough to make plays in the backfield and has the ability to develop and play in man-to-man coverage.
Height: 5-101/2 | Weight: 219 | 40-Time: 4.70
Official Bio
Strengths:
Great athleticism...Solid instincts and awareness...Plays a lot faster than he times and has a burst to close...Has fantastic range..Reliable tackler who will deliver the big hit...Strong and plays bigger than he is...Good hands and ball skills...Fluid and does an excellent job in coverage....Still improving and he may have some upside.
Weaknesses:
Extremely undersized and doesn't have the height or bulk that you look for..Timed speed is merely average...Has a difficult time taking on and shedding blockers...Is not stout at the point...Can be overly aggressive at times...Does not have a lot of experience...Isn't a fit for every scheme..Has some health and durability concerns.
Notes:
Could also project to safety at the pro level...Entered college as a defensive back but moved to linebacker prior to the '05 season...A one-year starter who blew up as a senior after not even being on the prospect radar prior to 2007...Will need to land with a team that emphasizes speed and athleticism over size but there is no question that he's a ascending talent..Looks like a prototypical weakside 'backer.
5 19(154) Kroy Biermann OLB MONTANA From Washington
He played defensive end in college but i?s not big enough to play there in the NFL. As a result, he will move to outside linebacker. He doesn't have great speed but shows good instincts in coverage and doesn't get caught out position.
Height: 6-27/8 | Weight: 246 | 40-Time: 4.82
Official Bio
Strengths:
Very strong...Good quickness...Smart with good instincts and awareness...Tough and aggressive...Active with a great motor...Does a terrific job in pursuit and has a burst to close...Hard worker..Offers some versatility...Was extremely productive.
Weaknesses:
Is undersized and doesn't have either the height or bulk that you look for...Timed speed is merely average...Is not very fluid or agile...'Tweener who may not have a true pro position...Did not play against top competition..His upside may be limited.
Notes:
Won the Buck Buchanan Award which is given to the nation's outstanding Division I-AA defensive player...Prolific small school prospect who dominated his level...Can project as a strongside linebacker or a situational pass rushing defensive end in a 43 defense or an outside linebacker in a 34 scheme..Intriguing late round sleeper.
6 6(172) Thomas Brown RB GEORGIAHeight: 5-83/8 | Weight: 204 | 40-Time: 4.55
Official Bio
Strengths:
Very athletic...Natural runner with great instincts and vision...Real tough and runs hard...Can be an inside / outside threat..Is more quick than fast...Has good hands and can be a weapon out of the backfield...Also a return man...Terrific intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Undersized...Has some durability concerns...Timed speed is merely average...Isn't very strong...Opens himself up to a lot of punishment...Marginal blocker...Doesn't offer much in short yardage situations...Is not a big play threat...Upside is limited.
Notes:
Started as a true freshman but that was his best season..Tore his right ACL in '06 and missed time with a broken collarbone in '07...He doesn't have all the physical tools you look for but is just a good football player..Could outperform his draft slot if he can manage to stay healthy...Profiles as a third down back and kick returner.
7 5(212) Wilrey Fontenot CBFontenot Wilrey ARIZONA 5'8.6" 171 21 4.40 1.50 2.54 4.26 7.07 37" 10'8"
Overall: Fontenot arrived at Arizona in 2003 and redshirted his first year. In his first three seasons (2004-'06), he amassed 134 tackles, one forced fumble, 18 pass breakups and four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) in 34 games. As a senior in 2007, he had 40 tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups. Fontenot started every game during his Wildcats career (46). He underwent shoulder surgery before the '07 season, but he missed no game reps as a result. Fontenot has played the shadow teammate CB Antoine Cason and his size puts a lower cap on his upside but he has the speed and instincts to develop into an adequate reserve at the next level. He projects as a seventh round pick as a result.
7 25(232)
Keith Zinger (TE)Height: 6'4"
Weight: 250
College: LSU
Conference: SEC
Hometown: ,
High School:
Featured Prospects
Selected by: Atlanta Falcons
Round: 7
Pick (Overall): 25 (232)
Pick Analysis: Zinger had a solid workout at LSU's Pro Day. He's a prototypical blocking tight end who is not much of a weapon in the passing game. Zinger's not fleet of foot. In fact, RobSalvador once beat him in a foot race.
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