By Paul M. Banks
Our first ever round 3 projection! Huzzah! Check back often as we’ll be filling in the descriptions and updating it a few more times between now and Draft day
65. St. Louis Aaron Hernandez TE Florida
This team needs playmakers BADLY, so they’ll rebuild the offensive side of the ball here
66. Detroit Chris Cook CB Virginia
Comparing the Lions pass defense against a real NFL secondary is like looking at lyrics to a Hannah Montana song juxtaposed against the works of George Orwell.
67. Tampa Bay Jordan Shipley WR Texas
One of the most memorable moments of the national title game buildup was reading the transcript of this question, when some reporter acted BLATANTLY racist in what he asked:
“Are you aware that you don’t look like the prototypical return guy, you don’t look like the prototypical speedster, you don’t look like the prototypical receiver, and do you kind of enjoy proving people and that stereotype wrong?”
Yes, you numbnuts bigot! I’m pretty sure Shipley is aware of the fact that he’s white!
For an interview/feature profile of Shipley go here
68. Kansas City Eric Decker WR Minnesota
Decker was one of my favorite players in all of college football last season, and I hate the Gophers with a passion. One of my biggest dreams in life is to punch Goldy Gopher in the head, and knock his one buck tooth out of his face. Anyways, Decker has size, speed, and toughness that can recruit non-football fans into people that make their weekend plans around the gridiron. See the Cal game, and that hit he took to hang on for the touchdown as an example.
For a feature/exclusive interview of Decker go here. For more Gophers coverage go here
69. Oakland Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB/KR, IUP
I’ve honestly never heard of this guy, I know nothing about him other than he’s like “Mr. Measurables,” and sort of a low budget Taylor Mays, and I know that’s what all Raiders picks have to be.
70. Philadelphia John Jerry G Ole Miss
Philly could use a little more depth on the OL and this pick would be a steal in this round.
71. Cleveland Darryl Clark QB Penn State
They haven’t picked up a quarterback in this draft yet, and there’s no reason to really be sold on Jake Del Homme. Truly, there is not. Clark’s best quality is leadership and play-making. And that’s obviously a more flattering way to say that his measurables are anything but impressive.
For a profile/interview of Clark go here
72. Buffalo Dan LeFevour QB Central Michigan
What a crappy class of QBs this is! LeFevour saw his stock rise high during Senior Bowl week, but then it fell off the map during the combine. You know what else is crappy? Buffalo’s current roster of QBs.
73. Miami Brandon Spikes LB Florida
Even though Spikes was a projected 1st round talent as recently as mid-season, I feel hesitant placing him anywhere above the 6th round due to his 5.0 40 yard dash.
74. Jacksonville St.Tim Tebow Messiah a cloud in Heaven
I’m so tired of talking about Tebow. He’s a legitimate 5th-6th round pick, but the NFL is a business, so he’ll fall into the third round. The very fact that he’s attempting to undo so many habits that he’s had his whole life in football tells you he’s not ready for the next level, and he certainly knows it. The fact that we (and everyone else in the football world) is talking about this also exemplifies why he’ll be drafted; somewhere.
I’m predicting he’ll go in the third round to Jacksonville because
1.) They’re desperate to sell tickets, and Tebow’s astronomical star power can really pack ‘em in
2.) His sainthood is even more holy in Florida than versus the rest of the country, so a local team should grab him. Hey, football is a business after all.
I must commend Tebow for his work ethic and dedication- he’s saying and doing all the right things, and if he can convince some NFL team that he’s a “project pick”, he’ll land somewhere. I think his decision not to throw at the combine is a smart one. All the scouts know about “the loop” in his motion, and how his release is slower than a terrapin. He’s not going to change a lifetime of reflex in a couple weeks, so why give the scouts more evidence in the case against him?
The quarterback wildcat will NEVER work in the NFL, not even at Miami, because opposing front sevens, speed rushing ends especially, are too quick and smart to be beaten by it. Tebow needs a LOT of reps under center, not in the shotgun- plain and simple. So his only road to NFL stardom hinges upon a team willing to draft him for the PR benefits in the short term while understanding he won’t see the field for any of 2010 and possibly much of 2011 (If there even is a NFL season in 2011. And that’s only if he can successfully revamp his throwing motion and become accustomed to working under center full time. And I think he can.
For a more detailed explanation of why and how, go here and here
75. Chicago Kurt Coleman S Ohio State
Safety is a big need in the Chi and Coleman is a hard-hitter, and excellent play-maker. And as you can see from the picture below, Jesus clearly wants the former Buckeye, and member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to greatly succeed. Coleman is more of a 5th-7th round talent, but Jerry Angelo and company are complete buffoons; especially on draft day.
To read an in-depth profile/interview of Coleman click here
For more Ohio State coverage click here
For more Bears coverage go here
76. New York Giants J.D. Walton C Baylor
“The center cannot hold” in Gotham. Ok, so their center situation isn’t that bad, but adding depth wouldn’t hurt and the Giants grab a value in round 3.
77. Tennessee A.J. Jefferson CB Fresno St.
Titans remember to shore up the secondary again, grabbing a safety in round one and a corner in round 2.
78. Carolina Sergio Render OG Virginia Tech
By the time you’ve analyzed and studied 3 rounds worth of offensive linemen, their fundamentals, and various blocking schemes trying to figure out where they fit…the only thing you can say or think anymore (yes, this even applies to extreme college football geeks such as myself) is “we need to start drinking heavily.”
79. San Francisco Riley Cooper WR Florida
Could fill their need at the slot. Cooper’s one of those guys who helped build Tebow into a Messiah.
80. Denver Colt McCoy QB Texas
Everyone seems to think McCoy’s biggest upside is Kyle Orton so why not have the lower rent version in place if/when Captain Neckbeard gets hurt? That way you can still run your 5-yd hitch and 7-yd slant heavy offense without missing a beat. Like Robert Loggia’s character said in “Necessary Roughness,” “if you’re going to build your offense around a guy that throws like Edward Scissorhands, you’re going to need to play a hell of a lot of defense.”
For a profile/interview of McCoy click here
81. Houston Ed Dickson TE Oregon
a value pick
82. Pittsburgh A.J. Edds LB Iowa
Going value here with the 2nd most NFL ready prospect from the most boring and uninspiring 9-0 college football team in BCS history.
83. Atlanta Jerome Murphy CB USF
The Atlanta pass defense this days is reminiscent of the mid 90s when D.J. Richardson was the team’s best DB. Which is sort of like being the manliest Jonas brother.
84. Cincinnati Joe McKnight RB USC
Depth behind, and perhaps even a complement to, Cedric the Entertainer could be a mid-round priority in “Cincinaughty.”
85. Cleveland Toby Gerhart RB Stanford
I wonder if the racist reporter idiot covering the national title game (the guy who asked Jordan Shipley “you don’t look like a star receiver/return specialist”- see near the top of the page for more on that) had a chance to cover any Stanford games this past fall. And if he asked Gerhart “You don’t look like a Heisman candidate tailback. You don’t look like you should be fast. How do you like proving people wrong?”
86. Green Bay Kyle Calloway OT Iowa
And yet another member of the most uninspiring and uninteresting 9-0 college football team in BCS history gets drafted.
87. Philadelphia Taylor Price WR Ohio
Don’t sleep on obscure wide receivers from the MAC. Ever! Also never get treated by a dentist who wears a Hawaiian shirt to the office, and NEVER stay with your girlfriend if she takes genuine pride in the fact that you (jokingly) call her Tara Reid as a pet name. Follow those 3 rules in life, and you should be okay.
88. Arizona Perrish Cox CB Oklahoma St.
At 6 feet tall, Cox has great size for a corner, and he’ll be a great asset in the return game too. He led all active FBS players and holds the Big 12 and OSU record with four career kickoff returns for touchdowns. Cox was the 2008 All-America kick returner as selected by Sportsline.com
89. Arizona Jimmy Graham TE Miami
I’m sort of tired about talking about tight ends right now…unless you’re talking about the Gators cheerleaders- hey-yo!!
90. Dallas Pat Angerer LB Iowa
The third most professional ready player from the unsexiest 9-0 team in BCS history goes to a team needing LB depth.
91. San Diego Arthur Jones DL Syracuse
SD could use some pass rushers including this one, whose stock is dropping like it’s hot
92. Cleveland Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech
Dwyer got way too much positive press, once again proving the mainstream media’s east coast bias.
93. Minnesota Major Wright S Florida
Wright has been kind of a late bloomer in terms of his draft stock
94. Indianapolis Garrett Graham TE Wisconsin
For an in-depth profile, exclusive interview of Graham click here
95. New Orleans Larry Asante S Nebraska
Look for the Saints to beef up on defense this draft
96. Cincinnati Brandon LaFell WR LSU
Remember back when this guy was a projected first-rounder?
97. Tennessee Tony Pike QB Cincinnati
Remember back when this guy was the 3rd or 4th QB on most boards?
98. Atlanta Mike Neal DT Purdue
“Welcome to Atlanta where the players play,” if the ATL fills their pass rushing and secondary needs correctly, they could be a darkhorse SB contender