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RealGM Search
By Abu Mara
The NFL draft is the time of year when football fans everywhere covet the next Adrian Peterson or Larry Fitzgerald, while crossing their fingers they don’t crap out and get the next Ryan Leaf or Lawrence Phillips.
Stars
- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Simply put, Aaron Curry is a fundamentally sound tackling machine. With the speed and awareness to patrol sideline to sideline, Curry will be a pungent stench for opposing offensive coordinators for years to come. At 6'2" and 254 pounds, Curry has the versatility to play all three linebacker positions. His 2008 Butkus award as the nations top collegiate linebacker and the 204 tackles he has racked up in the two past seasons in the ACC demonstrate that Curry is NFL ready. Curry’s speed and penchant for always being around the ball has some scouts comparing him to Derrick Brooks. Curry’s innate awareness gives him the discipline to be sound in zone coverage, but his speed and agility give him the tools to become good in man to man coverage. Curry is the most complete linebacker in this year’s draft and should be a top five pick.
- Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
At 6'4" and 263 pounds, Brian Orakpo presents an interesting quandary for opposing offenses that are attempting to account for him. Orakpo is a rare combination of speed and power that will give NFL left tackles nightmares for years to come. Orakpo, a University of Texas weight room legend, can bench-press 515 pounds and power cling 380 pounds, while squatting 600 plus pounds. Orakpo’s lightning quick first step is what sets him apart from other hybrid DE/OLB in this year’s draft. But unlike most speed rushers, Orakpo’s ability to play the run and be strong at the point of attack makes him the most complete hybrid in this year’s draft. Orakpo’s combination of speed and power has some scouts comparing him to a mixture of DeMarcus Ware and Terrell Suggs. Orakpo, better known as “Sackpo” to his Texas teammates, is an elite prospect in this years draft and should provide immediate help for any team in the top ten in need of pass rush help.
- Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
For what it’s worth Donald Brown is the most complete running back in this year’s draft, despite all the chit-chat about other possible first-round picks, Chris “Beanie” Wells and Knowshon Moreno. Brown is a rare combination of speed and power that methodically steamrolls and eventually wears down opponents. Brown is an extremely patient runner that possesses enough power to pound out the short yardage, yet enough quickness and speed to rip off a big run. Brown’s compact frame, which is capable of squatting 600 pounds, has some scouts comparing him to Maurice Jones-Drew. The versatile Brown is a down hill runner that possesses vision, lateral quickness and the ability to be a natural pass catcher out of the backfield. Some scouts have knocked the fact that Brown has played in the lack luster football conference (Big East), but the same knocks were placed on Matt Forte and Chris Johnson last season and things worked out well for them. Brown’s sneaky, shifty ability and quickness, make him play faster than his 4.51 he ran at the NFL combine. At 5 foot-10, and 210 pounds, Brown is the prototypical running back that is capable of 20 or more carries in a game, which is why he should be a steal for any team late in the first-round that is looking for a running back.
- Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
Butler is an extremely athletic corner that plays the position with a mean streak. Butler may be small in stature, but on impact he can deliver a devastating blow. Butler is an athletic corner that excels in man to man coverage. The 4.38 40-yard dash Butler posted at his pro day showed NFL scouts that he has the speed and quickness to become a top-flight NFL corner. Butler didn’t pick up the game of football until his junior year of high school, so Butler is your typical late bloomer. Butler still managed to be a four-year starter at the University of Connecticut, despite not having much football experience. Even though most teams stayed away from Butler he still managed to snag 10 interceptions in his collegiate career. At 5 foot-10, and 183 pounds, Butler is the prototypical size for a NFL cover corner, which has some NFL scouts comparing him to Eric Allen and/or Antoine Winfield. Butler’s playmaking ability is what sets him apart from other CB prospects in this year’s draft, any team looking for help at the CB position would be foolish to pass on Butler.
Other Notables: Jason Smith OT Baylor, Eugene Monroe OT Virginia, Michael Oher OT Mississippi
Sleepers
- Patrick Turner, WR, USC
Patrick Turner is big physical receiver that could present problems for NFL cornerbacks. Some scouts will question if Turner underachieved at USC. But Turner’s senior season totals of 741 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns show that Turner might be beginning to scratch his untapped potential. At 6 foot-5, and 223 pounds, Turner is a physical beast. Turner’s physical stature and sure hands give him the ability to catch balls over the middle. Turner’s time at ultra competitive USC should have prepared him well for the NFL. If Turner continues to grow as a player, he may eventually mature into a Brandon Marshall/Plaxico Burress type receiver. Look for Turner to come off the board between round two and four.
- Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
How far the mighty have fallen. In September, Johnson was a projected top 10 pick. Seven months later, Johnson has fallen in some mock drafts as far as the third round. At 6'7" and 266 pounds, Johnson’s physical prowess is similar to another high ranked defensive end, Brian Orakpo. Johnson’s 4.75 40-yard dash and 28 reps on the bench press exhibited his rare athletic ability. Johnson’s long arm and great athletic ability makes him the prototypical NFL pass rusher. Any team drafting Johnson would be doing so under the assumption that they would be getting a player with untapped potential. Any team in need of pass rush help would be foolish to pass on Johnson if he is still on the board in the third round.
Other Notables: Larry English DE/OLB Northern Illinois, James Casey TE Rice
Overrated
- Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Any team that selects a running back in the first round should make sure that they are getting an every down back, and Knowshon Moreno is a glorified change of pace running back and/or third down back. I’m afraid all the surfeit hoopla about Knowshon Moreno may be unwarranted. Moreno’s slender body type will not hold up against the every down pounding of the NFL. Moreno is the definition of a scat-back, and in recent memory scat-backs have not fared too well (See Reggie Bush and Darren McFadden). Unless Moreno is the Second Coming of Barry Sanders, which he is not, you shouldn’t draft a scat-back in the first-round when their value dictates something else. Moreno landing on this overrated list doesn’t mean that he can’t be a serviceable NFL player, but if a team selects Moreno in the first-round they might be reaching. After all, change of pace running backs such as Darren Sproles and Leon Washington can be found in rounds three through five, not round one.
- Abu gave his picks for Stars, Sleepers and Busts for the 2007 Draft, which can be read by clicking here and for the 2008 draft please click here.
