Day three of the NFL Draft
Day three of the NFL Draft opens up at 11:00 A.M. central time (Noon E.T.) later today. While the Minnesota Vikings have focused mainly on offense so far in the draft with their first round pick of Christian Ponder (QB) and second round pick of Kyle Rudolph (TE) they may look to go defense as early as round four.
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The two compensatory picks are a nice change for the Vikings who because of their philosophy of re-signing their own starters early and aggressively pursuing and bringing in free agents as of late have been left out of the compensatory picks for seven years before they got a fifth-rounder in 2010. Only the Cleveland Browns had received fewer compensatory selections since the 2002 realignment. Compensatory picks are awarded to teams by using an unrevealed formula that is based around those who lose more or better unrestricted free agents than they acquire during the designated signing period. The compensatory picks cannot be traded.
Some think there’s no talent to be found, or at least not starting talent, with these compensatory picks but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Packers won Super Bowl XLV with an offensive line 40% filled with compensatory picks: center Scott Wells (seventh round in 2004) and right guard Josh Sitton (fourth in 2008). I expect the Vikings could be looking at a similar situation tomorrow as they need help along both lines.
There are eight teams who pick before the Vikings when the draft starts up again tomorrow but there will be a handful of options when they finally do go on the clock. They have seven total picks left in the draft so that means they could select a lot of players or they could package some to move up at some point tomorrow since quality ultimately outweighs quantity. I’m going to list and talk about some players I think they should target from rounds four through seven.
Some think there’s no talent to be found, or at least not starting talent, with these compensatory picks but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Packers won Super Bowl XLV with an offensive line 40% filled with compensatory picks: center Scott Wells (seventh round in 2004) and right guard Josh Sitton (fourth in 2008). I expect the Vikings could be looking at a similar situation tomorrow as they need help along both lines.
There are eight teams who pick before the Vikings when the draft starts up again tomorrow but there will be a handful of options when they finally do go on the clock. They have seven total picks left in the draft so that means they could select a lot of players or they could package some to move up at some point tomorrow since quality ultimately outweighs quantity. I’m going to list and talk about some players I think they should target from rounds four through seven.
Starting with Greg Romeus a defensive end from Pittsburgh.
I could see Romeus coming off the board at the top of round four or falling into round five but at some point the Vikings should look to acquire him as they need some depth at defensive end if Ray Edwards leaves.
| Could Romeus return to this form in 2011?
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Romeus was once considered among the top pure 4-3 defensive ends in the country. After being redshirted he stepped onto the field for Pitt and immediately made his presence known. He accounted for 41 total tackles with 11.5 for a loss and four sacks in 12 games (no starts). As a sophomore, Romeus continued to impress starting 13 games and accumulating 51 total tackles with 15.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks. Improving each year he went into 2009-10 highly touted and didn't disappoint. Accounting for 42 total tackles with 11.5 for a loss and eight sacks (also three forced fumbles). He was named the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year for his performance.
Heading into 2010-11 Romeus had established himself as one of the most disruptive players in the country at defensive end and had his draft stock projecting upwards towards the 1st or 2nd round. Romeus disappointingly chose to return for his Senior year after failing to receive a first-round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee prior to the 2010 draft but unfortunately things wouldn't get much better as he made just two appearances last season with no sacks and suffered two injuries that have dropped his stock even further. In preseason practices he struggled with back spasms and finally succumbed to the pain after the opener at Utah. After deciding to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back he was still able to return mid-season but suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in his first game back against Connecticut. He's been rehabbing ever since and apparently seems to be flying under the radar as a NFL prospect now because of these injuries.
At 6'5 1/8" and 265 lbs. with an 84" wingspan, 34 1/2 arm length and 10 7/8" hands he has the measureables to play the position and prior to the injury he also had the game tape. His college career has been characterized by annual improvement both physically and in terms of understanding the game. He was highly productive and a solid all around defensive end. A decent pass rusher with an effective swim move but will need to add more moves to his repertoire in the NFL. With Brian Robison being a almost pure pass rushing specialist I think the Vikings could use someone who's good against the run to rotate in. Someone who can hold the edge against the run and keep contain or crash down and make tackles for a loss like Ray Edwards did so well. Romeus fits that bill.
If he can get back to being healthy and can still play at a high level and the Vikings can coach him up and get him back on track with that improve each year pace he has a very high ceiling and could be an absolute steal in round 4 (pick 106) or round 5 (pick 139) being the ideal spot to draft him.
Heading into 2010-11 Romeus had established himself as one of the most disruptive players in the country at defensive end and had his draft stock projecting upwards towards the 1st or 2nd round. Romeus disappointingly chose to return for his Senior year after failing to receive a first-round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee prior to the 2010 draft but unfortunately things wouldn't get much better as he made just two appearances last season with no sacks and suffered two injuries that have dropped his stock even further. In preseason practices he struggled with back spasms and finally succumbed to the pain after the opener at Utah. After deciding to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back he was still able to return mid-season but suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in his first game back against Connecticut. He's been rehabbing ever since and apparently seems to be flying under the radar as a NFL prospect now because of these injuries.
At 6'5 1/8" and 265 lbs. with an 84" wingspan, 34 1/2 arm length and 10 7/8" hands he has the measureables to play the position and prior to the injury he also had the game tape. His college career has been characterized by annual improvement both physically and in terms of understanding the game. He was highly productive and a solid all around defensive end. A decent pass rusher with an effective swim move but will need to add more moves to his repertoire in the NFL. With Brian Robison being a almost pure pass rushing specialist I think the Vikings could use someone who's good against the run to rotate in. Someone who can hold the edge against the run and keep contain or crash down and make tackles for a loss like Ray Edwards did so well. Romeus fits that bill.
If he can get back to being healthy and can still play at a high level and the Vikings can coach him up and get him back on track with that improve each year pace he has a very high ceiling and could be an absolute steal in round 4 (pick 106) or round 5 (pick 139) being the ideal spot to draft him.
Just days ago, TCU's Marcus Cannon was solidly entrenched as a 2nd round prospect but then the sad news came that he reportedly has a treatable form of cancer and will begin chemotherapy immediately. The cancer was discovered while he underwent physicals for the draft. Cannon had been diagnosed with a benign growth in his groin area four years ago. The good news is because of his age and other factors he faces a success rate for beating the cancer of better than 90 percent.
Cannon was a three-year starter at tackle for the Horned Frogs and a three-time All-Mountain West conference selection and a third-team All-American in 2010. He anchored an offensive line that set school single-season records in touchdowns (70) and points scored (520) and helped TCU rank seventh nationally in allowing just 0.75 sacks per game. The TCU Horned Frogs also ranked fourth in scoring (43.3 points per game), seventh in the country in total offense (491.5 yards per game), and ninth in rushing (261.2 yards per game).
Cannon is a physical mauler that played tackle for TCU but is projected as an interior offensive lineman, most likely guard, at the next level. He does has enough athleticism to play at right tackle though if the need arrises. With Anthony Herrera's injury Minnesota has some concerns at right guard though. Chris DeGeare got some valuable playing time last year but it's unsure whether or not he's the long term solution there. Cannon's versatility to be able to play guard or tackle would bring some much needed depth to the teams offensive line unit.
Cannon was a three-year starter at tackle for the Horned Frogs and a three-time All-Mountain West conference selection and a third-team All-American in 2010. He anchored an offensive line that set school single-season records in touchdowns (70) and points scored (520) and helped TCU rank seventh nationally in allowing just 0.75 sacks per game. The TCU Horned Frogs also ranked fourth in scoring (43.3 points per game), seventh in the country in total offense (491.5 yards per game), and ninth in rushing (261.2 yards per game).
Cannon is a physical mauler that played tackle for TCU but is projected as an interior offensive lineman, most likely guard, at the next level. He does has enough athleticism to play at right tackle though if the need arrises. With Anthony Herrera's injury Minnesota has some concerns at right guard though. Chris DeGeare got some valuable playing time last year but it's unsure whether or not he's the long term solution there. Cannon's versatility to be able to play guard or tackle would bring some much needed depth to the teams offensive line unit.
Other names to keep in mind:
- Brandon Fusco, OC, Slippery Rock
- Jake Kirtkpatrick, OC, TCU
- Kristofer O'Dowd, OC, USC
- Clint Boling, OL, Georgia
- Demarcus Love, OL, Arkansas
- Ahmad Black, SS, Florida
- Deunta Williams, S/CB, North Carolina
- Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State
- Ricky Elmore, DE, Arizona
- Christian Ballard, DL, Iowa
- Jerrell Powe, DT, Mississippi
- Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina
- Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
- Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College
- Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford
- Richard Sherman, CB/S Stanford
- Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio St.
- Chykie Brown, CB, Texas
- Robert Sands, FS, West Virginia
- Mark Legree, FS, Appalachian St.
- Edmond Gates, WR, Abilene Christian
- Terrence Toliver, WR, LSU
- Dane Sanzenbacher, WR, Ohio St.
- Jeffrey Maehl, WR, Oregon
- Brandon Bair, DL, Oregon
- Blaine Sumner, DT, Colorado School of Mines
- Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
Whoever they take it's important to keep in mind that there are always very talented players that fall for whatever reasons and are still available this late in the draft. Everybody has heard about Tom Brady falling and we all know how that has turned out. Just last year Mike Williams fell to the Buccaneers who got a first-round talent in the fourth round. So teams must keep their eyes open and not be afraid to take a chance on risky players at this point in the draft. Their flaws and concerns made them fall this far but there's no reason to pass on them at this point. Now you snatch up the talent! This late in the draft is where value supersedes need but when you can get both you get a steal.