QB - Obviously, Tom Brady. While it is definitely within reach to set the new TD passing record, it’s not a guarantee. If he gets pulled with one or two games to go in the season, that may hinder his chances significantly, but since they get to play Philly, Miami, and the Jets down the stretch, keep an eye out.

RB - As much as I’d like to buck the trend and NOT say Adrian Peterson, he has 1242 total yards and 9 total TDs, which puts him in first and tied for first amongst RBs in the NFL. He also has almost 300 more yards rushing than his next closest competitor, Willie Parker. Being a rookie, he may not have the stamina to keep playing like this all year, but if they keep him fresh with 10-12 carries per game to Chester Taylor, I see no reason why he can’t hit 1800+ yards. I think 2000 might be a stretch, though.

WR - Randy Moss appears to be the easy choice here. Averaging over 100 ypg and with 12 TDs in 9 games, he’s on pace for some very impressive numbers. A case can be made for TJ Houshmandzadeh, Braylon Edwards, and even Wes Welker, whose value exceeds the admirable numbers he has put up so far (651/7).

TE - Through the first few games, Antonio Gates was the easy choice. With the recent resurgence of Ladainian Tomlinson, Gates’ value has diminished. Enter Jason Witten. Of the top 3 scoring TEs, Witten is on the team that has the most overall weapons and the best record. Having watched a few of Dallas’s games this year, Witten is a huge reason for Tony Romo’s success. Rather than checking down to his backs for 1-3 yards, he can check down to Witten for 8-12 yards. If Braylon Edwards wasn’t having such a great season, Kellen Winslow would probably be the number one choice here, but alas, that’s not happened so far.

DEF - The defense I’d want from week to week would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ve had a few hiccups this season, but they have allowed a league low 92 points. The talking heads can go on about yardage allowed and all that mess, but you don’t lose a game because you gave up 250 yards on the ground, you lose a game when that 250 ends up allowing more points than your offense scored that day. Tennessee, somehow gets honorable mention mostly due to their surprise factor.

HC - Wade Phillips. The one Head Coach who is avoiding controversy this year is Phillips. He has taken a good Dallas team and made them into a great one just by tweaking a few things and a much more light-hearted coaching philosophy. Even without Terry Glenn for pretty much the entire season, the offense hasn’t skipped a beat and the defense plays respectably enough every week.

Surprise Team - It’s tough to decide between two teams vying for this award. The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. Their forumlas are similar in that there is potency in the offense, but GB has also stepped up on the Defensive side of the ball. This is why I’m going to go with GB. Detroit looks like a playoff team, but their schedule so far has been much easier, with their real tests coming in the second half of the season.

Surprise Player - There was speculation as to how well Randy Moss would play based on his past two seasons in Oakland. Many thought he had lost a step in terms of speed and desire. While he has proven them wrong, that’s not who I’m going with. Braylon Edwards has come from virtually nowhere to be one of the top producing WRs in the NFL. Some of the writers on this board knew he had the potential, but the rest of us who follow the NFL want results right now, or you will be written off. Edwards is the perfect example of a WR coming out and playing up to his ability in his third year. I’m not sure if the maturation of Edwards has helped Derek Anderson or vice versa, but they’re both playing incredibly well.

Letdown Team - San Francisco 49ers. They were the team everyone had picked to make a wild card run this year, and begin their dynasty as a playoff contender for the next few. Something terrible has happened to that offense and they are at the bottom of the league. Injuries can be accounted for most of it, but the WRs they have given Alex Smith to throw to are just poor. Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, and Alex Smith have all missed time due to injury, and unless they all get healthy, get a good (not old) WR, and add more depth to the offensive line, they might have taken more of a step back than forward this year.

Letdown Player - We can’t include players that have succumbed to season ending injury, because it’s a long season and you never know what MIGHT have been. So, of the active players, the biggest letdown this year goes to Marc Bulger. He did play with broken ribs, yes. But his passer rating currently stands at 64.3, which is 31st in the NFL, behind the likes of Cleo Lemon and Kyle Boller. In six games he has thrown only three TDs while being intercepted eight times. While he regularly is close to the top of the league in yardage and three straight years of a rating over 92, Bulger has only completed one full season, and that was 2006. So, it appears that the term “injury prone” is finally going to get stuck to him, and unless he can do something about it, STL might have to look at taking a QB with the number 1,2, or 3 pick this coming year, depending on how badly the other teams at the bottom do from here on out.

The first round of mini-camps are over and there is a lot of news relevant to fantasy football and the 07 draft.

• Zach Miller impressed the Raiders staff in the first mini camp under Lane Kiffin and has a real good chance to start. Miller will be a sneaky pick in fantasy leagues if you can grab him at the end of the draft. He should be a threat in the red zone for the Raiders.
• The Panthers appear ready to go forward with Nate Salley as a starter at safety. We thought the Panthers would address the position on Day One of the draft, but they did not. Salley will have to step up his game if the Panthers want to be a playoff team.
• We also thought the Bengals would add a strong side linebacker in the draft. However Cincinnati is going forward with Rashad Jenty as the strong side starter. New addition Ed Hartwell and new starter Ahmad Brooks will give the Bengals an entirely new LB corps that will be responsible for improving a defense that ranked 30th in yards allowed last season.
• 2nd round draft pick Brandon Jackson got the bulk of the carries at RB for the Packers at their recent rookie camp. Jackson will be competing with Vernand Morency for the starting job. The winner could be a fantasy sleeper available in Round 3 or 4 because of an improving Packers offensive line that uses the zone blocking scheme made popular in Denver.
• The Titans will be trying first round pick Michael Griffin at cornerback. The move is surprising - the Titans could have selected Griffin’s All American teammate, Aaron Ross, a natural corner at pick #19.
• We were not big fans of Tyler Palko’s chances for NFL success, but the former Pitt Panther is rightfully ecstatic about going to New Orleans. Sean Payton is one of the top offensive minds in the league and helped turn Tony Romo from an undrafted free agent to an NFL Starter.
• One of the most surprising things to come out of the mini-camps was the news that the Lions are completely altering Drew Stanton’s mechanics. Mike Martz and the Lions staff were impressed with Stanton’s athleticism but felt he needed to change his throwing motion. Stanton will likely not see the field in 2007, but could be the Lions starter in 2008.

The War Room Report staff debates the most intrguing questions in our Hot Reads feature. This week we put our writers on the spot in our post draft edition.

1. Who is your early pick for 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year?

Matt MacCoy, War Room Report Scout - I would normally vote for a Quarterback who is going to get significant playing time or a running back who would start from Day One due to the fact that the players at these positions touch the more most frequently. However, in the case of the 2007 NFL Draft class there is one offensive player who stands above the rest and will shine in the National Football League at that is Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson. If Mike Furrey can catch 100 passes in the Detroit Lion offense, what do you think this “super freak” is gonna do? Expect countless highlights and spectacular plays and expect him to be the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Justin Davis, War Room Report College Writer - The 2007 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year will be Robert Meachem, WR New Orleans Saints. Adding Meachem to an embarassment of riches of skill position players will make the Saints offense nearly impossible to defend. After watching Marques Colston’s transition from small college competition to the NFL last season, it doesn’t seem like too much of a reach to think that Meachem will step in with at least comparable production after dominating in the SEC last year. After dumping Joe Horn this offseason the second WR spot will be Meachem’s to lose going into training camp. A player with his physical tools will be a great complement to Drew Brees’ arsenal.

Rob Tribbett, War Room Report Editor - The offensive rookie of the year award is almost always won by a running back. Adrian Peterson is the top running back in the class, but he is likely to split time with Chester Taylor and plays on a team with a poor QB. Marshawn Lynch, despite being second in talent to Peterson, will be the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Lynch is a shifty back who can also catch passes out of the backfield. He will get the bulk of carries for the Bills who have a better offense than Minnesota. In the long run, Peterson will reign supreme, but if he can stay healthy, Lynch will be the big winner in 2007.

Chris Otwell, War Room Report Writer - Calvin Johnson…..I think that Calvin will get the ball an awful lot this year in Detroit as teams will continue to double team Roy Williams. Johnson has some pretty freakish physical abilities, and will be asked to step in and contribute right away.

Justin Moore, War Room Report Fantasy Writer - This early in the year, I am going to take Marshawn Lynch. There is no one impeding his progress to be the #1 back in Buffalo, and since he was drafted in the first round (12th overall), that pretty much solidifies the intentions of the Bills organization to let him gain all the yards on the ground for the next 5-7 years. Anthony Thomas is an excellent and reliable complement to Lynch’s running style, which will help to keep the rookie fresh all year. A slowly improving offense that was really only missing a play maker in the backfield will make this Lynch’s year.

2. Who is your early pick for 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Matt MacCoy - The NFL loves players who pressure the Quarterback and produce a high number of sacks. I believe the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year will come down to two players in similar situations– Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie OLB Lawrence Timmons and Dallas Cowboys Rookie OLB Anthony Spencer. The voting could be close, however, I am going to give the slight edge to Anthony Spencer. Spencer will be the primary beneficiary of playing opposite DeMarcus Ware in the Cowboys 3-4 scheme. Having Ware out there will not allow teams to focus their blocking scheme to Spencer’s side. Anthony Spencer is also playing for a media darling in the Dallas Cowboys, so he will get exposure for sure. He could produce double digits in sacks and snatch the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Justin Davis - The 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year will be Patrick Willis, ILB San Francisco 49ers. Willis was a tackling machine in the SEC with little help in front of or around him. On the newly revamped 49ers defense he is capable of even more. With all the additions this offseason at OLB, S, and CB they needed a playmaker in the middle and they’ve found their ideal fit in Willis. His football instincts and sideline to sideline speed give him the ability to be involved with nearly every play and impact the game each snap. The combination of his talent and the chance to play MLB for a Mike Nolan defense will make him the best defensive rookie this season.

Rob Tribbett - The 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year will be Anthony Spencer of the Dallas Cowboys. Spencer is an explosive pass rusher that will produce the stat that voters love most - sacks. Spencer gets the opportunity to play across from DeMarcus Ware, a top speed rusher in his own right, and that should leave the rookie free to terrorize QBs. Spencer also will benefit from playing in the aggressive, blitz heavy system of Wade Phillips. Expect double digit sacks and a trophy for the former Purdue star.

Chris Otwell - Patrick Willis…..Same scenario with Patrick, with him stepping into a situation that he could start off the bat, and contribute heavily, makes quite a difference in SF.

Justin Moore - Defensive rookie of the year is a little harder to predict, where all your talent is not necessarily drafted in the first 50 picks. There was a lot of depth this year, with teams filling need slots in the 5th and 6th rounds. The consensus seems to be that LaRon Landry is the best defensive player out of the draft, but pairing him up with Sean Taylor only takes that much more focus off of him. The AP tends to pick linebackers for ROY, having chosen them 6 of the last 7 seasons. That being said, Patrick Willis, San Francisco’s pick at #11 overall will have the biggest impact on his new team. There are very few weaknesses in his game, and the few that exist can be corrected. SF is on the upswing again this year, this time from on the defensive side of the ball.

3. What team had the best draft in the 2007 NFL Draft?

Matt MacCoy - It is a close call this between several teams–the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings all receive an ‘A’ from me upon review of their respective draft classes, but if I had to choose one above all the rest, I would have to choose the Minnesota Vikings. They got a stud RB with their first selection in Adrian Peterson, then followed up by getting an excellent WR prospect in Sidney Rice in Round 2. The Vikings continued to select excellent prospects when they addressed their defense in Rounds 3 and 4 when they selected CB Marcus McCauley and DE Brian Robinson. There were several times during the NFL Draft process where Peterson, Rice, and McCauley were all considered potential 1st round selections, and the Vikings drafted all three. They took another weapon for their young QB Tavaris Jackson, when they selected Aundrae Allison in Round 5 and got sensational value when they were able to pick Rufus Alexander in Round 6. All in all, it would be difficult for me to argue that any other team in the National Football League had a better draft then did the Minnesota Vikings.

Justin Davis - The best draft class of 2007 in my opinion was selected by the Carolina Panthers. After trading with the Jets, the Panthers were able to grab 4 of the top 36 players on our big board, all at positions of need. Beason and Jarrett should crack the starting lineup immediately while Kalil and Johnson should be in competition for a spot at the least. Just a great draft for a team that lost several close games after injuries to key starters early in the season. This draft class should reinforce the depth with quality young players needed to make a run into the playoffs.

Rob Tribbett - The best draft class was the Carolina Panthers. Carolina did a masterful job of trading back and still acquiring the player they targeted. While I am not as high on Beason as some others, he still should be an instant contributor. Dwayne Jarrett and Ryan Kalil both should start in 2007, with Jarrett an ideal fit next to deep threat Steve Smith. Charles Johnson does not play a position of immediate need, but concerns about Mike Rucker’s health could have him in the lineup sooner than expected. Johnson was a steal by the Panthers and has all of the tools to be a difference maker in the NFL. Ryne Robinson will make an impact as a return man and allow Smith to concentrate on being a receiver and second day picks Tim Shaw and Donte Rosario can also become starters. C.J. Wilson was a terrific value in the 7th round.

Chris Otwell - The Cleveland Browns……. Getting two top 10 picks in the first round was huge for the browns. Not only did they get a top rated QB, but they got the top rated LT to protect him. Those two together madeCleveland the highest rated team in the draft this year.

Justin Moore - Sticking with the San Francisco theme, from the standpoint of immediate impact, I feel the 49ers had the best draft. Potential DROY in Patrick Willis, Joe Staley immediately starting at OT, and by grabbing another starter at DE/DT with Ray McDonald with their 4th pick makes this draft class very good. While they could have passed on Jason Hill in the third round, everything else fell into place for them. Tarell Brown at 147th overall could end up being a great value pick if he is consistent and avoids injury. The other 4 picks will be suitable backups if they make the roster, and while not ranked very high, the Niners do need a solid RB option behind Frank Gore, so they took a flyer on Thomas Clayton.

Editor’s Note: War Room Report scout Matt Maccoy contributes his draft grades. Unlike other sites which give virtually every team the same grade, the War Room Report is not afraid to take a stand. Teams are ranked from 1-32.

Grade: A

1) Minnesota Vikings

• Positives: They drafted better per selection than any other team in the 2007 Draft and addressed their primary needs while doing so. Drafting RB Adrian Peterson in Round 1 was a great “value” pick and following that up with Sidney Rice in Round 2 will add an additional dynamic to the Minnesota offense. They then addressed their defense with a CB, Marcus McCauley and a DE, Brian Robinson at the most critical positions on their defense. Acquiring OLB Rufus Alexander in Round 6 was also a “steal”.
• Negatives: Negatives are few and far between with the Vikings. There is an element of volatility with their picks since Peterson has suffered several injuries in the past and their next three selections are classified as “raw” prospects, but the upside is undeniable.

2) Carolina Panthers

• Positives: Value picks everywhere down the Panthers draft class. They were savvy enough to trade down with the New York Jets 11 selections and still get the player they targeted all along LB Jon Beason. They then selected a WRR favorite in WR Dwayne Jarrett and also drafted one of the better C prospects in some time when they selected Ryan Kalil. They also selected DE Charles Johnson in Round 3 where it was excellent value, even though it wasn’t an area of need per say.
• Negatives: There were two areas of need in particular for the Carolina Panthers and that was at TE and S, and they addressed neither position. They did draft Dante Rosario in Round 5, but many view him as more of an H-back prospect, so it will be interesting if the Panthers utilize him. There are also rumors circulating that they have been shopping DT Kris Jenkins, and if they deal him at this point they will be thin at DT since they didn’t address that position with a draft pick.

3) Atlanta Falcons

• Positives: A team who all along the WRR thought would have an excellent draft did so indeed. They lost Patrick Kearney in the off-season so they addressed that position and selected DE Jamaal Anderson with the 8^th overall selection. They also had two second round picks since they traded backup QB Matt Schaub to the Houston Texans. They selected possibly the strongest player in the 2007 Draft in OT/OG Justin Blalock and then came back with an excellent pick in ultra-talented CB prospect Chris Houston. Selecting Laurent Robinson in Round 3 to bolster their wide receiving core as well as selecting OLB prospect Stephen Nicholas early on Day 2 were also excellent moves.
• Negatives: It was thought that new Head Coach Bobby Petrino was going to implement a new power running approach, but he did very little to show evidence to support this notion in the 2007 Draft. They did not select a power back ala Tony Hunt or Michael Bush, and only drafted one offensive line prospect. The move from a zone blocking scheme to a power game could be a slow process in Atlanta.

4) Detroit Lions

• Positives: The Lions resisted the urge to trade out of the 2^nd overall pick and stood pat and selected clearly the best prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft in WR Calvin Johnson. Johnson will become an immediate threat in the NFL. They selected QB Drew Stanton in Round 2, who is a solid QB prospect and did select their pass-rushing need with DE Ikaika Alama-Francis. Selecting CB AJ Davis and OG Manny Ramirez in Round 4 will also bolster this roster.
• Negatives: They traded up for S Gerald Alexander, and that may have given up a bit too much to make that move. Alexander is a solid prospect, but not one I would recommend trading up for. TE is still a position that is weak on this team, and was not addressed in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Grade: B+

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Positives: A really solid draft class, just may not be spectacular. They addressed several needs beginning with DE Gaines Adams, who will add another pass rusher to a defense that has needed one desperately. They got a solid value pick with OG Arron Sears and selected SS Sabby Piscattelli who will fill an immediate need on this team. The Buccaneers succeed in selecting players who fit their scheme better than any other franchise. OLB Quincy Black, who was selected in Round 3, and CB Tanard Jackson, who was selected in Round 4, are great fits in this defense.
• Negatives: After the Tanard Jackson selection in Round 4, there is little else to get thrilled about if you’re a Buccaneers fan. This is a team who had many needs, and it would have been nice to see them draft some higher tier prospects as the draft proceeded in the late rounds. They really could have used another playmaker on offense, and did not get one in the 2007 NFL Draft.

6) Dallas Cowboys

• Positives: The Cowboys were very crafty in their maneuvering during the early portions of the 2007 NFL Draft. They traded out initially and acquire a possibly top 10 selection in the 2008 Draft from the Cleveland Browns, and then moved back in to the draft to select a player they had targeted from the beginning DE/OLB prospect Anthony Spencer. Teaming Spencer with DeMarcus Ware could be a great move by the Cowboys. They also addressed their depth along the offensive line by selecting OT prospects James Marten and Doug Free. Cowboy fans will have to wait until the 2008 NFL Draft to reap the rewards of their investment in the trade with the Browns, but it could be a significant reward.
• Negatives: Drafting Isaiah Stanback in round 4 may have raised some eyebrows. It is unsure at this point whether they are going to utilize him as QB in the future or transition him from QB to WR like they did with Patrick Crayton. The Cowboys didn’t necessarily have too many areas of need, but selecting a kicker followed by a fullback leaves something to be desired with their Day 2 selections.

7) San Fransisco 49ers

• Positives: The 49ers had a lot of momentum following a good off-season of free agent pick-ups and continued that into the 2007 NFL Draft. Selecting the best linebacker in this class Patrick Willis with the 11^th overall selection was an excellent move. They also helped solidify that offensive line when they selected OT Joe Staley late in Round 1. They addressed a position of desperate need WR when they selected Jason Hill in Round 3 and traded a 4^th round selection for Darrell Jackson, formerly of Seattle. Ray McDonald also represented great value at that selection for a 3-4 Defensive End.
• Negatives: The 49ers were another team that was jockeying for position during the 1^st Round of the 2007 NFL Draft. They traded away their 2008 1^st Round pick, but then later on was involved in a transaction with the Indianapolis Colts to garner their 1^st round selection next year. The difference in the two selections could be substantial however, since the Colts are one of the better teams in the league and the 49ers, who are making strides for sure, still have room to develop and could still have a pick in the early teens next season. They didn’t address their NT position, which was expected, and took a risk with the selection of CB Tarell Brown in Round 6 which could result in a solid player or nothing.

Grade: B

8 ) Cleveland Browns

• Positives: What the Cleveland Browns did in the 2007 NFL Draft was excellent, but the moves they made need to be treated with cautious optimism. They selected clearly the best OT in the draft Joe Thomas with the 3^rd overall selection and then in one of the more dramatic moves in 2007 NFL Draft traded up into the latter portion of Round 1, 22^nd pick overall to select hometown favorite QB Brady Quinn. Having Quinn and Thomas would have been a dream situation for Browns fans, so having completed these moves along with the move for CB Eric Wright, who is an ideal fit for the Browns, gives the Browns a solid ‘B’ grade.
• Negatives: The move for Brady will be one that we will be talking about for some time due to the impact it has on the Cleveland franchise, as well as the fact that they traded their 1^st round selection in 2008 to make this big splash, a pick that is very reasonably thought to be considered a potential top 10 selection, if not top 5. After their top 3 selections, the Browns did very little to improve this team in 2007.

9) New England Patriots

• Positives: When considering the New England Patriots draft, you have to also include possibly the biggest transaction of the weekend, when the Patriots sent a 4^th round selection to the Oakland Raiders for WR Randy Moss. The Patriots were viewed by many as the front-runner to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next season prior to this move, now they are a dominant favorite. They selected S Brandon Meriweather in Round 1 of the draft, who should give them the depth in the secondary that they needed, and an eventual replacement for Rodney Harrison. The Patriots also received the 49ers 1^st round selection so next season, so for the second off-season in a row, it is presumed that they will enter the NFL Draft with two 1^st round picks.
• Negatives: Having only one selection on Day One of the 2007 NFL Draft will give the class of the Patriots draft picks a lackluster look. There are several intriguing prospects, Kareem Brown, Corey Hilliard, and Oscar Lua, but it is conceivable that the Patriots don’t get anything out of the 2^nd day picks they made in the 2007 NFL Draft.

10) Arizona Cardinals

• Positives: The Cardinals came away with top prospects at the biggest area of needs for them. They selected OT Levi Brown with the 5^th overall selection to finally fill a need they have had for some time. According to several reports the Cardinals brass’ preferred Levi Brown over fellow OT prospect Joe Thomas. The Cardinals are also in a transition from a base 4-3 defense to 3-4 scheme and they moved up to the first selection in round 2 in order to nap the perfect prospect to fill their NT position Alan Branch. They also came back with a good “value” selection at ILB with Buster Davis in Round 3 and they got one of the steals in the 2007 NFL Draft when they selected TE prospect from the University of Delaware, Ben Patrick in Round 7.
• Negatives: The Cardinals only had 5 selections in the 2007 NFL Draft, so they still have several holes to fill, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. Steve Breaston will primarily be a kick returner for them, and that selection could have been better well spent on a prospect who could have a chance at playing on an every down basis.

Read the rest of this entry »

The draft is over and preliminary grades can be assigned. While it will take several seasons to accurately judge the draft, but it is interesting to determine the value each team received and the likely impact for the 2007 season.

Arizona Cardinals - As we projected may happen, with Joe Thomas off the board, the Cardinals reached slightly for Penn State OT Levi Brown. Because the Cardinals have a left handed QB in Matt Leinart, Brown will be able to play his more natural position at right tackle. However, Brown still did not deserve a top 5 selection - this was more of a need pick versus value. The Cardinals made an excellent selection at 33rd overall, trading up to acquire Alan Branch, who rated as a top ten talent on the War Room Report Draft Board. It was a reasonable trade and Branch should man the NT spot in the new 3-4 defense of the Cardinals with fellow Michigan player Gabe Watson. Buster Davis was a solid pick in Round 3 - the 3-4 should mask his lack of speed, but it will be interesting to see if he has the bulk to shed blockers in that scheme. Steve Breaston was a good value in Round 5 and has the ability to return kicks immediately. Ben Patrick was one of the steals of the draft after sliding all the way down to Round 7. Grade: B+

Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons made the most out of the picks acquired in the Matt Schaub trade. Though they would have liked to grab S LaRon Landry or OT Levi Brown, they made a solid selection with DE Jamaal Anderson in Round 1, as he has a high upside and the ability to contribute immediately. They grab two other potential starters in Round 2 with OG Justin Blalock, who fits Bobby Petrino’s power blocking scheme, and CB Chris Houston, another player with a tremendous upside who could contribute immediately. The selection of Houston allows the Falcons to move Jimmy Williams back to safety. The Falcons also added a WR with good upside in Laurent Robinson and two more intriguing players in Round 4 - LB Stephen Nicholas who has starter ability and TE Martrez Milner, who has the physical ability to contribute but needs to remain more consistent. The Falcons also got good value with C Doug Datish, CB David Irons, and SS Daren Stone. Grade: A

Carolina Panthers - The Panthers did a terrific job drafting value over need. They drafted four of the top 36 players on the War Room Report Big Board. The Panthers made a great move in trading down and still getting the player they coveted in Jon Beason. While we are not as high on Beason as others, he projects as a starter for the Panthers. They added one of the best center prospects we have seen in years in Ryan Kalil, a terrific redzone target in Dwayne Jarrett, and a potential difference maker at defensive end in Charles Johnson. They added three potential difference makers in the future with LB Tim Shaw, a great return man in Ryne Robinson, and an interesting sleeper at CB in C.J. Wilson from Baylor. Grade: A

Chicago Bears - The Bears got a potential steal in Greg Olsen. His blocking is sub par, but his down the field speed should be an asset for Rex Grossman. Grossman was able to hit the seam pattern regularly doing the season and Olsen should stretch the field. The Bears reached in the 2nd and 3rd rounds with Dan Bazuin, who does not really fit a need, and undersized RB Garrett Wolfe, who many projected as a late second day pick. Michael Okwo is an interesting player for the Tampa 2 system at LB and the Bears got a good value at a position of need with Joshua Beekman at OG. The Bears also drafted some interesting value in the secondary with Kevin Payne, Trumaine McBride, and Corey Graham. The Bears get extra points for fleecing the Chargers in a trade for pick #37. Grade: C+

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys made a terrific move in acquiring the 1st rd pick of Cleveland in the 2008 draft which should net them a very good player with a high draft pick. They made another move with Cleveland that was beneficial and also traded up with Philly for the explosive pass rusher Anthony Spencer. Spencer and DeMarcus Ware are going to cause nightmares for NFC East QBs. The Cowboys added two very solid OT prospects in James Marten and Doug Free, but the rest of their picks were ordinary. They did not address the secondary until very late in the draft. The trade with the Browns helps their grade immensely. Grade: B-

Detroit Lions - The Lions were able to select the #1 player on the board, Calvin Johnson, who will immediately see the field and provide Mike Martz with another playmaker. Drew Stanton, as we have detailed, was our favorite of the QBs after Round 1, and he has the physical skills to develop into an NFL starter. Ikakia Alama-Francis is talented but raw - the Lions could use a player who would help them more immediately. Gerald Alexander was a huge reach in Round 2, but the Lions did steal two players in Round 4 - AJ Davis and Manuel Ramirez, who both can contribute in 2007. Grade: B+

Green Bay Packers - The Packers may have reached in Round 1 with Justin Harrell, who is a talented player but does not fit a major need and may have been available a few picks later. Brandon Jackson is an ideal fit in the zone blocking scheme of the Packers, but again may have been a reach. The Packers reached again in Round 3 with James Jones, but did well with their second 3rd round pick in S Aaron Rouse, who could start for Green Bay. Day 2 was productive for the Packers, who added a LT prospect in Allan Barbe and good value in LB Desmond Bishop, PK Mason Crosby, and TE Clark Harris. Interesting that a team with a pair of corners in their 30s did not select a CB. Grade: C

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings did a terrific job of getting value at positions of need. Adrian Peterson was not a huge need pick, but he is one of the best RBs to enter the league in a long time, and to steal him at pick 7 was a great move for the Vikings. Sidney Rice is a potential #1 WR in the league and Aundrae Allison was a steal in Round 5 - many WRs that went ahead of him do not have his potential. Marcus McCauley has the physical ability to be a #1 corner and the Vikings added other potential difference makers on defense in Brian Robison, an undersized pass rushing DE, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Rufus Alexander . Grade: A

New Orleans Saints - The Saints added another offensive weapon in Robert Meacham, who was a good value at pick 27, but there were other selections that may have made more sense, including DT Alan Branch. The Saints targeted a pair of MAC players who rose up the board in the offseason in CB Usama Young and OG Andy Alleman. Jermon Bushrod is an interesting LT prospect from a small school, but he has a long way to go before he can contribute. Antonio Pittman was a good value at 107, but it may be difficult for him to get onto the field in New Orleans. Marvin Mitchell was a good value in the 7th round. Grade: C

New York Giants - Aaron Ross is a solid pick in Round 1, but it is surprising that the Giants passed on potential LT Joe Staley. Steve Smith was a good value at pick #51, but the Giants had other needs outside of WR. Jay Alford seemed to be a reach in Round 3. The Giants had one of the best Day 2s of any team, adding LB Zak DeOssie, TE Kevin Boss, a real solid tackle prospect in Adam Koets, SS Michael Johnson, and a good change of pace back in Ahmad Bradshaw. The Day 2 helps move the Giants grade up slightly. Grade: B-

Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles surprisingly traded down with divisional rival Dallas after missing out on a safety in Round 1. The Cowboys selected DE/OLB Anthony Spencer who will be putting pressure on the Eagles QB twice a season. After trading down, the Eagles made one of the most surprising picks of the draft in QB Kevin Kolb of Houston. The Eagles are set with Donovan McNabb and have two decent backups in A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb. Kolb is an ideal fit for Andy Reid’s offense, but he was of little value at pick #36. The Eagles added some depth to the defensive end position in Victor Abiamiri and did very well in Round 3 with a potential starter in Stewart Bradley at LB and a good complement to Brian Westbrook with RB Tony Hunt. CB C.J. Gaddis was a decent pick with upside in Round 5. Grade: D

Seattle Seahawks - The Seahawks did not have a Round 1 Pick, but you must consider the addition of Deion Branch. The Seahawks could have added a receiver like Robert Meacham with the pick they traded to the Pats. The Seahawks took several players that the War Room Report was high on, including CB Josh Wilson and DT Brandon Mebane, both of which can make an impact in 2007. The Seahawks made solid picks on Day 2 also, including high upside WR Jordan Kent. Solid draft for the Hawks, despite not being flashy. Grade: C

San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers added a great player and difference maker in MLB Patrick Willis, who instantly becomes the face of their defense. They traded up for Joe Staley, but may regret giving up a 2008 1st round pick for the 28th overall selection. They made a terrific move in trading pick 42 to the Colts for an 08 1st rounder, to get back into the round. The 49ers grabbed a pair of players who can contribute immediately in the 3rd round in Ray McDonald, who projects as 3-4 DE and WR Jason Hill, who was a great value pick and could challenge for a starting spot across from Darrell Jackson, who was acquired for a 4th round pick. The 49ers took a flier on CB Tarrell Brown, who is a first day talent but slipped to the 5th round because of character concerns. Grade: A

St. Louis Rams - The Rams had a solid, albeit not a spectacular draft, gaining a solid defensive end in Adam Carriker in Round 1 and the versatile Brian Leonard in Round 2. Jonathan Wade was a good value in the 3rd round and the Rams had a decent Day 2. Carriker should start immediately and Wade has the physical tools to develop into a starting CB. Grade: C

Tampa Bay Bucs - The Bucs decided it was too expensive to move up to acquire Calvin Johnson, but were content to add Gaines Adams to improve their aging pass rush. Adams went higher than the War Room Report’s rankings but about where most projected him. He can get to the passer and that quality is vital in the Tampa 2 system. Arron Sears is a versatile linemen who fits best at guard and can help form a young nucleus for the Bucs line with 2006 picks Jeremy Trueblood and Davin Joseph. They added a variety of Tampa 2 defenders later in the draft, including safety Sabby Piscitelli, CB Tanard Jackson, and LB Quincy Black. They added a decent OT prospect in Chris Denman on Day 2. Grade: B

Washington Redskins - Washington only had one Day One pick and they selected the best player on the board in Round 1 in S LaRon Landry. The Redskins did not trade down to accumulate more picks, and because of that, were unable to add any players to a defensive front that sorely needed assistance. They took a pair of interesting linebackers in Dallas Sartz and H.B. Blades, but the Redskins do not need players at linebacker. Taking into account the little value the Redskins got when trading their picks, they grade out poorly. Grade: F

The Lions went ahead and selected Calvin Johnson, but the question remains if they will hold on to him. The Bucs still want him - Tampa is offering the 4th pick (Gaines Adams) and their 2nd and 3rd round picks for Johnson. I think there is a very realistic chance that this goes down. Brian Kelly may also be involved in the deal.

The Browns took Joe Thomas, over Brady Quinn and Adrian Peterson - this pick really impacts the Arizona Cardinals, who now may reach for Levi Brown at #5.

Quinn probably falls down to Miami now.

Barring any major developments, our final mock draft is posted. There are not too many large scale changes - the biggest occurs at #7 with Minnesota. We still believe that Miami will trade up to acquire Quinn and that the Bucs will find a way to get Calvin Johnson at #2.

One of the toughest projections in this version was actually for the Colts - if Justin Harrell, Lawrence Timmons, and Jon Beason are gone, where do they go? The popular commentary is cornerback, but in a Tampa 2 system, losing Nick Harper and Jason David is not a huge deal. It is important to remember that the Colts have former first round pick Marlin Jackson and a pair of 2nd round picks - Tim Jennings and Kelvin Hayden at the position as well. We went with Ben Grubbs for the selection as they could upgrade the OG position, which struggled at times in 2006, allowing defensive tackles to get to Peyton Manning.

Grubbs is not the only player to move up to Round One - Michigan ILB David Harris makes the move, thanks to New England’s love affair with him. He is a very good player and fits the New England scheme very well.

We have six players with Round One grades falling out of the round:

Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State
Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida
Justin Blalock, OG/OT, Texas
Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
Ryan Kalil, C, USC

The 2007 NFL Draft is fast approaching and this year could see an unprecedented number of trades. The needs of the teams at the top of the draft do not line up with the value of the players available. In addition, several of the top teams have multiple needs and few picks, so it would make sense for them to trade down.

Teams likely to trade down:

Detroit Lions - The Lions are likely to see Calvin Johnson on the board, but after recently spending 3 first rounders on WRs, with only Roy Williams to show for it, the Lions will be hesitant to pull the trigger. They need a player to pressure the QB to make the Tampa 2 scheme work and are reportedly in love with Gaines Adams. They should find no shortage of suitors for the pick, particularly if Johnson is available.

Washington Redskins - The Redskins have already tried to move out of this spot. The best move for the team, particularly if Adams is gone, would be to trade down to replace some of the picks they have lost in other trades. The Skins do not have a pick in rounds 2-4 and trading down slightly would help a team with several needs replace those needs and build for the future.

Minnesota Vikings - One of the best examples of a team whose needs do not fit the draft slot. The Vikings desperately need to add a cornerback or a wide receiver, but pick 7 is probably too high for Leon Hall or Ted Ginn. The Vikings would easily be able to make a trade out of the 7 spot if LaRon Landry was available.

Houston Texans - The Texans, like the Redskins, have a number of needs but not the necessary amount of picks to fill the spots. They traded their 2nd rounder in the Matt Schaub deal. Like the Vikings, they need to add a CB or a WR most of all, but may be better served by moving down slightly and targetting those two positions in the first 2 rounds.

Teams most likely to trade up:

Tampa Bay Bucs - The Bucs want Calvin Johnson and have the ammunition to make a move. Though it seems unlikely they will pay the price that Yahoo Sports has suggested (basically all of their picks) to move up to the #1 slot, if Oakland takes Russell, look for Tampa to move up to the #2 slot to add Johnson.

Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons may want Calvin Johnson too and the Lions may be able to start a bidding war. The Falcons, thanks to the Matt Schaub trade, have the ammo to move up to #2. If the Falcons decide they want Joe Thomas or LaRon Landry, they may choose to move up slightly to acquire one of those two players.

Denver Broncos - The Broncos have been very active in free agency and Mike Shanahan seems to think this team is ready to compete for the Super Bowl this year under second year QB Jay Cutler. The Broncos do not have a lot of needs, but the release of Al Wilson may make them players for Patrick Willis. The public statements that D.J. Williams will move to the MIKE linebacker spot could be a smokescreen from the calculating Shanahan.

The agent for Al Wilson has indicated that the Denver Broncos are shopping the Pro Bowl middle linebacker, with the Lions, Giants, and Eagles having interest. All three teams need linebackers. If the Giants completed the deal, expect Antonio Pierce to move to the weakside.

The Broncos would likely move D.J. Williams to the middle and would probably draft a replacement for Williams on the outside.

The Broncos need help on the defensive front, particularly at tackle. The Lions could send franchise player Cory Redding to the Broncos, especially if he can rework his deal. The Eagles have an assortment of talented young linemen, and recently signed another DT, Monte Reagor, which would allow them to trade a player like Mike Patterson or Trent Cole.

The strength of the Giants is probably at defensive end. Mathis Kiwanuka could be a target for Denver.

Of course, Mike Shanahan could be looking to acquire addition draft picks in order to move up and select Joe Thomas or Calvin Johnson.

With the news of the Matt Schaub trade to Houston, Atlanta now could very well trade up to target local product Calvin Johnson.

Johnson would be the perfect fit for owner Arthur Blank has he tries to sell tickets. Johnson would give Michael Vick the reliable target Atlanta has been searching for, as they have spent recent high picks on Roddy White and Michael Jenkins.

The likely trading partners would be Detroit and Cleveland. Both teams have many needs and a dealing allowing them to receive the #8, #39, and #44 picks would give them the opportunity to address many needs.

Former Oklahoma State RB Tatum Bell, along with former first round pick George Foster, were traded to the Detroit Lions by the Denver Broncos today. The Broncos received Pro Bowl corner Dre Bly in return.

This is trade has several effects:

Detroit now has Foster and Jeff Backus at tackle, and likely will pass on Joe Thomas for either Calvin Johnson or Brady Quinn.

Denver must add a RB in FA or the draft to share time with Mike Bell. Could former Ohio State RB Antonio Pittman be the Round 2 or 3 target? Denver may also try to move up to take Marshawn Lynch.

It will be interesting to see how Bly does in Denver. He should prosper across from Champ Bailey. The Broncos are gearing up for a big run in 2007.

The Lions must not be confident in Kevin Jones, after he suffered a Lisfranc Fracture in the 2006 season. Tatum Bell leaves one of the best blocking teams in the league, for one of the worst.