Maybe that chart in the Cowboys’ defensive coaches’ room was on the mark.
Tyrell Johnson was on Sirius NFL Radio and said he has met with the Giants (31st) Rams (33rd) Falcons (34th) Chiefs (35th) Jets (36th) and Ravens (38th). The Atlanta Journal Constitution ran a story yesterday which said the Falcons were very high on him.
Forget about trading down. If the Cowboys really like this guy, they might have to stay at 28 to land him. If they can’t trade down, keep Johnson on your short list.
Boldin Wants Out, Cards Want Him to Stay
Anquan Boldin has requested a trade. Cards GM Rod Graves says no. Stay tuned.
A Few Things I Think I Think
Hey, if it works for Peter King… ( I promise, no movie reviews. Hey, I used to teach film; believe me you don’t want to see my reviews…)
I think the Rams will pick Glenn Dorsey as soon as the NFL allows them to.
I think Matt Ryan goes at three, either to Atlanta or to the Ravens.
I think picks 4, 5 and 6 will clean out the d-lineman cabinet. Chris Long, Vernon Gholston and Sedrick Ellis will fly off the board. Remember, D-linemen, OTs and QBs always rise. And there are no OTs and QBs besides Ryan rated that high, though some mocks slot Branden Albert and Ryan Clady to the Chiefs at five.
I think Ellis will be the subject of a lot of trade up talk. To my eyes he should be a top five pick. Every mock I see gifts him to Cincinnati at nine and every write up then says, “we can’t believe he lasted this long.” I don’t believe he will. The Raiders (4) Chiefs (5) Jets (6) and Patriots (7) could all use him. The Boston papers were saying the Pats would strongly consider him if he lasted to seven. The Saints (10) are rumored to be weighing a trade up to get him. I think the Chiefs like him but are afraid to tip their hand to Al Davis one pick ahead of them. You think he wouldn’t love to stick it to an old divisional rival one more time?
And what happens if the blue chip D-linemen are gone by seven. Do the Pats take a CB? Force Derrick Harvey? Or look to trade with somebody who likes Darren McFadden? And if he gets to New England, will he get to Cincy at pick nine? Yeah, the Jets could take him at six, but I’ve read a lot of talk that they’re not iron clad on him. The Jets and Pats have a nasty rivalry that resembles what the Chiefs and Raiders had in the ’60s; the Cowboys and Redskins had in the ’70s and what the Cowboys and ‘Niners had in the ’90s. They draft players to match up against each other. Shoot, they spy on each other and then turn each other in. Will the Jets let a guy like Gholston or Ellis — whom they could use — slide into the Pats hands one pick below them?
The Vikings and Chiefs completed the Jared Allen swap. It’s only Tuesday. This is shaping up to be the most explosive draft week ever.
Multiple sources now claim the Dolphins have reached an agreement with OT Jake Long. They’ve scheduled a 12:45 CT press conference so we should know for certain.
I’ve been told the Rams really wanted Long but would be happy with Glenn Dorsey if he’s gone. Let’s see if my sources got this right.
This means the fun should begin with Atlanta at three. I’ve been told they loved Long and Dorsey. What now? Will they take Matt Ryan, as many expect? Or will they take another highly touted player like Chris Long or trade down with a team like the Ravens, who loves Ryan?
All this top of the draft churning only affects Dallas if Darren McFadden somehow shakes free of the top six. I have been a long and loud opponent of trading up for him because the cost was prohibitive, in both dollars and draft picks. However, I wrote a story last week that in dollar terms, he’s in the ballpark with Marion Barber’s initial contract demands if Dallas could get him with the 4th or 6th picks. Both the Raiders at four and the Jets at six are the common landing spots for McFadden in most mocks.
As a public service, I’m putting forward a handy-dandy McFadden-o-Meter. It goes like this:
Picks 2-3: way too expensive. Don’t even think about it;
Pick 4 — high and unlikely. Order another round and focus on flirting with your waitress;
Pick 6 — about the same money wise as Barber and highly unlikely;
Pick 7 — Prick up your ears and pay attention, but don’t leave the grill;
Pick 9 or lower — Turn the burner off, grab a beer and sit down. The contract Ted Ginn got at 9 last year would give McFadden a yearly salary about 55 to 60% of Barber’s demands and guarantee about $3 million less. If by some miracle he gets here, Dallas will probably burn up the phone lines trying to make a deal with Bengals’ GM Mike Brown.