Draft / FA / Offseason Roster Moves (Merged)

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 01-09-2013, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by runrayrun27

What are peoples thoughts on Eric Reid? I'm really intriguied by him at the bottom of the 1st. Him, John Jenkins, and Barrett Jones I all like at the bottom of the 1st. I won't mind trading down and getting someone like Minter in the early 2nd. I don't think he has 1st round talent, but definitely top of the second and picking up an extra 4th would be nice as well for a project at ILB/DL/CB

I liked him a lot before the season started...I thought he'd be a top 15ish pick.

But for whatever reason, he struggled some this year. I remember seeing the Florida-LSU game and was stunned at the horrible angles he was taking for tackling and in the pass game.

I'd be ok taking him in the late 2nd or 3rd...not the first anymore.

**LukeDaniel** · 01-09-2013, 05:26 PM

Kuechly is a better prospect than Teo, but he's not a dramatically better player. I'd rank Teo as a better prospect this year than Hightower was last year though. Let me remind some of you that last year we heard a lot of the same "won't excel at the combine" talk and he proved his doubters wrong.

**bmorecareful** · 01-09-2013, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

And...Taylor Lewan is apparently going back to school.

What in the world is this kid thinking? With Jake Matthews going back to school he's the consensus #2 OT and a near-lock to be a top 10 pick. What's the point of going back to school? Even if he has the best year ever what's the difference between #9 and #1? With the new CBA the money factor is insignificant compared to the risk of injury or otherwise hurting your draft stock.

These kids are making some crazy decisions. Now, watch... Lewan will go back to school and have a down year and cost himself millions, just like Matt Barkley and Jake Locker. I don't get it.

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

I liked him a lot before the season started...I thought he'd be a top 15ish pick.

But for whatever reason, he struggled some this year. I remember seeing the Florida-LSU game and was stunned at the horrible angles he was taking for tackling and in the pass game.

I'd be ok taking him in the late 2nd or 3rd...not the first anymore.

Yeah, Eric Reid's stock has really dropped. He just doesn't look as good without Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu, and Brandon Taylor. I agree with late 2nd or 3rd, but I'd rank him solidly after Kenny Vaccaro, Matt Elam, Phillip Thomas, TJ McDonald, and maybe even DJ Swearinger.

**bmorecareful** · 01-09-2013, 09:00 PM

Another nice prospect has declared for the draft today... Kwame Geathers out of UGA. He was basically the backup to John Jenkins and also played a good bit of 5-tech DE despite being 6'6 350.

From what I've seen of him he's pretty good but a bit high in his stance at times. A nice prospect to get in the middle rounds to push Cody or possibly even take over at NT next year if we stay in the traditional 3-4.

**Sirdowski** · 01-09-2013, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

And...Taylor Lewan is apparently going back to school.

Interesting... Wonder if that Clowney beat down changed his mind.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 01-09-2013, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Sirdowski

Interesting... Wonder if that Clowney beat down changed his mind.

I think it definitely had a significant impact on his decision. Before that game, I think he felt he had a shot of competing with Joker for the top LT spot and be a top 5 pick.

I think he feels that he would be the top guy going int next year (I don't think he will...I think Matthews from TAMU will be).

**arnie_uk** · 01-10-2013, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Te'o may have a bad BCS game, but Kuechly played against lesser competition, while Te' was dominating against some of the top teams in America. Its also funny how you bring up "elite" sideline to sideline speed, because while Kuechly had a very average rookie year, Hightower has been lights out whenever he's been on the field, and a lot of people said that Hightower should drop weight, and said there's no way he could excel in a 4-3 scheme as a ILB, guess he proved everyone wrong this year.

think you've got Hightower and Luke mixed up there. He's been lights out will Hightower and been the average one.

Dunno what exactly you see when you watch nfl games....

**leachisabeast** · 01-10-2013, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by arnie_uk

think you've got Hightower and Luke mixed up there. He's been lights out will Hightower and been the average one.

Dunno what exactly you see when you watch nfl games....

Yeah it was my bad, I just don't watch many Carolina games.

**bmorecareful** · 01-10-2013, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

I think it definitely had a significant impact on his decision. Before that game, I think he felt he had a shot of competing with Joker for the top LT spot and be a top 5 pick.

I think he feels that he would be the top guy going int next year (I don't think he will...I think Matthews from TAMU will be).

I don't see how he thought he had any change of competing with Joeckel. There was no way he was going to be the #1 LT, but he was going to be the #2 LT and that meant a top 10 pick in all likelihood.

He didn't get "beat down" by Clowney. Clowney had 0 sacks. He had 2 TFLs and on one of the two (the one where he decapitated the RB) he went unblocked by design. If you re-watch the game, Lewan held his own... nobody can stop Clowney but Lewan held him to a couple pressures and just 2 TFLs. That performance didn't hurt his draft stock at all.

IMO Lewan staying in school is a terrible mistake. He could easily get hurt this year or just plain have a down year, and then he could absolutely collapse. I think guys stay in school because they get used to being the big man on campus and living basically a lavish life without needing to work hard. If you were Matt Barkley would you have wanted to leave USC last year and go to Cleveland? Sure, the money is nice, but you're already living like a king, what difference does it really make especially when you're too naive to think it could all go away in a heartbeat?

I question the competitive edge of any young man who doesn't want to move to the highest level and play against the best as soon as he's eligible.

**BigPlayReceiver** · 01-10-2013, 08:17 AM

From Lewan:

''People don't really understand why I wouldn't leave for the NFL,'' Lewan said Wednesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press before making his announcement. ''But when I came to the University of Michigan, I didn't understand the tradition of this place, either. Now, I do. In the NFL, you just come and go. But here at Michigan, it's not like that. I love these guys - my teammates are my best friends - and I want to stay to win Big Ten championships.''

**Sirdowski** · 01-10-2013, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by bmorecareful

That performance didn't hurt his draft stock at all.

Eh. I wouldn't go that far, but I agree I exaggerated.

I do agree also that it doesn't make much sense not coming out.

I question the competitive edge of any young man who doesn't want to move to the highest level and play against the best as soon as he's eligible.

Your right in some scenarios, but there are just too many scenarios for that to always be the case.

Exhibit A - Andrew Luck

**Sirdowski** · 01-10-2013, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by BigPlayReceiver

From Lewan:

Generic and lame.

(Insert praise about University and tradition) (Insert dramatic statement about team/mates) (Insert desire to win conference/national championship)

**wickedsolo** · 01-10-2013, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Sirdowski

Generic and lame.

(Insert praise about University and tradition) (Insert dramatic statement about team/mates) (Insert desire to win conference/national championship)

I don't think it's lame. Maybe the kid just wanted to finish his degree? Even with Matthews likely being the top rated OT going into next year, Lewan is still pretty much a lock to be a top 20 pick. Probably top 10 or top 5 if he has an even better senior year.

**wickedsolo** · 01-10-2013, 12:41 PM

www.nfldraftcentral.com has a pretty good database of top rated seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshman.

**redmike34** · 01-10-2013, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

I don't think it's lame. Maybe the kid just wanted to finish his degree? Even with Matthews likely being the top rated OT going into next year, Lewan is still pretty much a lock to be a top 20 pick. Probably top 10 or top 5 if he has an even better senior year.

If your objective is to maximize the amount of money you can make over your NFL career, then it makes no sense to stay in school. If you have another objective, then that's fine, but it's pretty likely that he'll make somewhat less money over the course of his NFL career by devoting a potential year of it to staying in school. Adding in the risk of injury, and he may very well regret the decision, but... hey, it's his life.

As far as winning a title goes... not with my alma mater in the conference, with Urban Meyer at the helm

**alien bird** · 01-10-2013, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Sirdowski

Generic and lame.

(Insert praise about University and tradition) (Insert dramatic statement about team/mates) (Insert desire to win conference/national championship)

Do you feel the same way about the BYU players who take off two years to go on a Mormon mission? After all, they too are essentially delaying their entry into the NFL and risking millions of dollars.

**wickedsolo** · 01-10-2013, 01:18 PM

QB/RB/WR Denard Robinson looks like he is going to be taking reps as a receiver at the Senior Bowl.

The guy is stupid fast and athletic. Decent size, 6'/6'1" 195-200lbs.

If he performs well at the Senior Bowl as a receiver (good routes, good hands, etc) then I could see a team picking him up as a 3rd or 4th rounder.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 01-10-2013, 02:57 PM

I selfishly want as many top juniors to come out as that just pushes more good players down to us who are always drafting at the bottom of the round. So yes, the selfish part of me is annoyed that Matthews, Lewan and Mosely (who I REALLY wanted here, but it's obvious at this point that whenever he declares he is going to be a top 15 pick) decide to stay in school.

But really, I can never be mad at a kid for staying in school...I'm assuming they will graduate.