NFL Draft Capsules - AFC: Texans need cornerback, running back in draft
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans lost Dunta Robinson to free agency and Steve Slaton is recovering from neck surgery.
That leaves major concerns at cornerback and running back and a big decision for the Texans with the 20th overall pick in the draft.
If history indicates what they'll do, it points to drafting a cornerback. Houston has never taken a running back in the first round and a number of Texans officials employ the Denver mindset that a lower-round running back can be just as effective as a high pick in their system.
The departure of Robinson, the 10th overall pick in 2004, leaves Houston without its most consistent player in the secondary over the past several years. The Texans have always had trouble dealing with Peyton Manning and AFC South foe Indianapolis, and the loss of Robinson could make things worse.
They have veteran Jacques Reeves and up-and-coming second year player Glover Quin, along with fourth-year pro Fred Bennett. But it's unclear if any of those players can step up to fill in for Robinson.
Houston tried to beef up the unit before the draft, courting free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden before he opted to stay with New England.
Texans general manager Rick Smith knows cornerback is a need, but didn't indicate if it's his biggest priority.
"I think it's important," he said. "Any time you lose a player like Dunta, who plays at the level that he plays, you've got to think about how you replace that. I do think we've got some young players on our football team that perform well ... so we're not depleted at the position, but you still are looking for impact players whenever you lose a player of his caliber."
If they decide to use the pick on a cornerback, Boise State's Kyle Wilson could be a good choice.
However, this might be the year the Texans nab a running back in the first round after lacking a solid running game for years — with the exception of Slaton's excellent rookie season of 2008. The smallish Slaton, taken in the third round by the Texans, had a breakout rookie season, rushing for a franchise record 1,282 yards and giving the team hope the running problems were over.
Instead he fell into a sophomore slump, fumbling seven times and rushing for just 437 yards before a nerve problem ended his year in early December. The surgery to correct that condition was successful and he should be healthy in time for the season. Even if he is, last year showed that the Texans need a bigger player to complement the 5-foot-9 Slaton.
An attractive option with this pick could be Fresno State's Ryan Mathews. The 6-foot Mathews ran for 1,808 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2009 and amassed 3,280 yards and 39 touchdowns in three college seasons.
NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt has been impressed with Houston's recent success in the draft. He pointed to middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, the first pick in the second round in 2006, and to Quin, taken in last year's fourth round.
He can see the Texans choosing a running back first this year.
"I think if I were there (at 20) and I wanted a running back, I think I might just try to move down a few spots and know that I had a chance to get a pretty good running back at 25 or 26," he said. "That's probably who I would take, because I'm not sure — I just don't know on the West Virginia running back (Slaton) how he can hold up because he is not really a big guy, whereas if you get somebody like Ryan Mathews, I know they're going to hold up pretty well."
Smith believes talented running backs can be found beyond the top two rounds.
"I know we had some success in Denver with later rounds, picking backs that were productive," he said. "So I think what you have to do as an organization, in my opinion, is you've got to have some real clarity with ... what you look for in all positions across the board, and to the degree that you can identify those traits and characteristics and then go find those characteristics, I think you can find value all the way through the draft and in free agency."
Colts' Polian gets another shot at draft magic
INDIANAPOLIS — Colts president Bill Polian will take the late picks and mediocre grades every draft weekend.
He's more concerned about the final marks.
Whether his teams are picking early or late, filling a need or taking the best player left on the board, trading up or down, Polian has an uncanny knack for getting it right in the NFL draft.
"It's a real art, but Bill knows what he's looking for, and he knows what the most important characteristic for success is in an offensive lineman or a running back," NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt said. "He drafts them and they're safe players. Those safe players might not end up going to the Pro Bowl but if you get enough of them, you'll be a playoff team."
Polian's masterful selections have turned the Colts from a bottom dweller in the 1980s and 1990s into one of the league's model franchises.
Despite having only one pick in the top 15 from 2000-09, Indy missed the playoffs only once during a decade in which it won a league record 115 games, set another league mark with 23 straight wins, captured two AFC titles and one Super Bowl crown.
Such consistency is not supposed to happen in a league that prefers parity to dominance and relies on a salary-cap and a weighted draft to help the worst teams improve while breaking up dynasties. Or for a guy who traditionally gets B's or C's from the instant analysis ....
But Polian has never been much of a conformist.
By relying on his old-school study habits, Polian has produced signature masterpieces with his late first-round picks, a trait that will come in handy again Thursday night when the Colts pick at No. 31.
His signature pieces:
— Taking Dallas Clark at No. 24 in 2003. The record-setting tight end finally made it to his first Pro Bowl last season.
— Taking receiver Reggie Wayne at No. 30 in 2001. Wayne is the Colts' No. 2 all-time leading receiver and has been to four straight Pro Bowls.
— Trading down twice in 2004 before choosing safety Bob Sanders at No. 44. Sanders was the 2007 NFL defensive player of the year and a key part in Indy's 2006 Super Bowl run.
So what's Polian's next magic trick? It's anybody's guess.
"I think Bill takes the best player that's there, and I think he showed that when he took (Anthony) Gonzalez a couple of years ago," Brandt said. "The guy works hard, he knows how to grade players, he has good contacts at the college level. That's why he's so good."
Polian isn't dropping any hints about who he'll be targeting at No. 31 though it is clear he wants to improve a Colts' offensive line.
The overhaul has already begun.
Longtime offensive line coach Howard Mudd retired after the Super Bowl loss to New Orleans, and Pete Metzelaars has moved into Mudd's old spot. Indy released starting left guard Ryan Lilja in March and added two free agents, guard Andy Alleman and tackle Adam Terry. Both are bigger than the linemen Indy has traditionally relied on in the Peyton Manning era, and it looks like Polian wants for another big body in the draft.
Finding one will be tough. At least three offensive tackles — Russell Okung, Bryan Bulaga and Trent Williams — could go in the top 10. Guard Mike Iupati, center Maurkice Pouncey and tackle Anthony Davis could all be gone by No. 20. And some are projecting tackles Charles Brown and Rodger Saffold could be off the board before Indy picks, too, leaving the Colts with little to choose from.
But Polian always seems to find an answer that works.
"We're all always on the same page, in terms of our organization," coach Jim Caldwell said in March. "There's no bickering, no fragmented sort of response."
-- Michael Marot
Jaguars want to bolster D, willing to trade down
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has endured some barbs this offseason, with most of them coming from close friends and colleagues.
The digs had little to do with attendance, television blackouts or that four-game losing streak that knocked Jacksonville out of the postseason picture.
They revolved around defense — or a lack thereof.
The Jaguars had an NFL-low 14 sacks in 2009, struggled to tackle and ranked near the bottom of the league in just about every defensive category. It was a glaring weakness for a franchise designed to play solid defense and a huge concern for Del Rio, who made his mark on that side of the ball as a player and an assistant coach.
The NFL draft, which begins Thursday night, should give the Jaguars a chance to reshape the unit.
"We clearly would like to add players on the defensive side of the ball," Del Rio said. "I think every position on the defensive side of the ball could use an influx of talent. We feel pretty good about a few of the parts, but we also feel that's an area we need to improve."
Fortunately for the Jaguars, this year's draft is filled with potential defensive stars. That's one reason general manager Gene Smith would prefer to trade down from the No. 10 spot in the first round and acquire extra selections.
Smith and Terry McDonough, the team's director of player personnel, have been talking with teams since the scouting combine about potential moves.
"We've been networking with the league and having constant dialogue," Smith said.
The Jaguars only have six total selections and don't have a second-round pick. They traded that one to select cornerback Derek Cox in the third round last year, a move that clearly paid off. Cox started every game as a rookie and finished with 72 tackles and four interceptions.
Cox was one of several rookies who played significantly last season. Left tackle Eugene Monroe, right tackle Eben Britton and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton turned out to be some of the team's best draft picks in recent years. Receivers Mike Thomas and Jarett Dillard, tight end Zach Miller and running back Rashad Jennings also played key roles.
But can the Jaguars do it again? Can they piece together another standout draft class?
"What we did last year was something that's uncommon in the NFL," Smith said. "We had a lot of young players, but we were getting them on the field and so there's a growing pain with that."
Even with all the youngsters in the mix, the Jaguars have plenty of holes to fill — mostly on defense.
Although they signed defensive end Aaron Kampman in free agency, they know he's coming off major knee surgery and might not be full speed when the season begins. And since 2008 draft picks Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves have been disappointments, no one would be surprised to see Jacksonville go after a pass-rusher like South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul or Georgia Tech's Derrick Morgan at No. 10.
The Jaguars also could opt for a linebacker. Justin Durant and Clint Ingram haven't progressed like the team hoped, leaving both position alongside Daryl Smith open for competition. Alabama's Rolando McClain would seem to be a perfect fit.
"We're going to be a swarming, attacking defense that can tackle," Del Rio said. "We just didn't do that. If nothing else, that mentality, that mindset has got to be re-established. We are going to be an attacking front. We are going to be a team that knows how to tackle and gets people down."
Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams and Florida cornerback Joe Haden also could be options with the 10th pick.
-- Mark Long
Bend but not break? Titans focused on fixing D
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have been very defensive this offseason — and with good reason.
They finished 8-8, just missing a third straight playoff berth despite their 0-6 start in 2009. With Vince Young and Chris Johnson paired in the same backfield, the Titans put up enough yards to finish 12th in the NFL in total offense.
The defense, well, that was another story.
Only Detroit gave up more yards passing than Tennessee, and just five other defenses spent more time on the field each game than a unit shredded twice yearly by AFC South rivals Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub.
Tennessee's youth movement hit the defense hardest, four starters departed.
End Kyle Vanden Bosch signed with Detroit. End Jevon Kearse's career faded quietly to a close. Cornerback Nick Harper remains available along with linebacker Keith Bulluck, who spent 10 seasons as a leader. The Titans hit free agency and signed linebacker Will Witherspoon, end Jason Babin and cornerbacks Tye Hill and Rod Hood.
Now the Titans take nine picks into the NFL draft starting Thursday night starting with the 16th pick overall, and the only question is whether they select an end, linebacker or defensive back.
"We're fortunate in this draft there's going to be good players at those positions that are worthy where we're going to take at 16," general manager Mike Reinfeldt said.
The Titans also could take a big step toward fixing their entire defense by bringing back tackle Albert Haynesworth. Reinfeldt refused to comment when asked about a player under contract with Washington, but the Titans lost out in the bidding war a year ago for Haynesworth. With a new coach in Mike Shanahan, the Redskins reportedly have been listening to trade offers.
With Haynesworth, the Titans ranked among the NFL's top defenses and went to the playoffs his last two seasons. Without him in 2009 and in coordinator Chuck Cecil's first season on the job, the Titans couldn't get to the quarterback, managing only 32 sacks while allowing 258.7 yards passing and 31 touchdown receptions.
Tennessee has ample ammunition to make a move, though the team doesn't have a second-round pick after trading what is now No. 47 overall to New England last year to select tight end Jared Cook in the third round.
Bringing Haynesworth back to the team where he spent his first seven seasons would allow the Titans not to worry if ends Jason Pierre-Paul of South Florida or Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech are available to boost the pass rush. They could look at cornerback Joe Haden of Florida or safety Earl Thomas of Texas.
It would be ironic if Pierre-Paul is available at No. 16 overall. That's where the Titans drafted Kearse in 1999, taking a chance on someone called a tweener and seen more as a physical freak than polished product. Assistant Jim Washburn, who taught Kearse quickly enough to rack up 26 sacks in his first two seasons, remains in that job coaching the defensive line.
Reinfeldt said it's dangerous to compare players.
"Jevon Kearse, he was a phenomenal player coming out. The good thing is we're fortunate at defensive end. There are a number of players that interest us that grade out pretty high. That's a good thing for us," Reinfeldt said.
-- Theresa M. Walker
Busy Jets ready to add even more players in draft
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Bart Scott feigned surprise when asked if he was at all interested in the NFL draft.
"I thought we already had the draft with all these acquisitions we got," said the smiling New York Jets linebacker. "We've still got picks? Man, I'm excited."
So are the Jets. In what has already been a busy offseason, New York has five draft picks to play with, including the 29th overall selection.
"We'd like to go into this year's draft with as much flexibility as possible," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said. "We think we've done that."
That's because Tannenbaum has been aggressive this offseason, despite being somewhat handcuffed by the league's "Final Eight" rule that has restricted the players New York could sign.
The Jets, who made it to the AFC championship game last season, filled one of their biggest needs by trading for Antonio Cromartie, pairing him with All-Pro Darrelle Revis and giving them potentially the best cornerback duo in the league.
Needing a field-stretching wide receiver to complement Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery, Tannenbaum again came up big by getting former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes from Pittsburgh for a fifth-round pick.
The Jets allowed Thomas Jones, who led the league's top-rushing offense last season, to leave through free agency. But then they wined, dined and signed LaDainian Tomlinson, convinced the former league MVP still has something left.
"We try to put ourselves in the best position possible where we can go into Thursday, Friday and Saturday and just see how the board unfolds," Tannenbaum said last week.
The Jets general manager has also shown a tendency to not stand pat on draft day, wheeling and dealing picks and players like a stock broker. He traded up last year to take quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick, and did so again to get running back Shonn Greene at the top of the third round.
New York also moved up in recent drafts to get Revis, tight end Dustin Keller and linebacker David Harris — all key players for the franchise.
"I told these guys we are not trading up this year," Tannenbaum said with a grin. "No matter what happens, grab the phones. I don't want to trade up, but we'll see what happens. I think we're happy with where we are, but we'll let the board dictate what we do. I like where we are. I want to keep our first two picks where we are. We should get two good football players that can help us. We know what their salaries reasonably should be."
The Jets went exclusively with offensive players with their three picks last year, taking Sanchez, Greene and offensive lineman Matt Slauson. Defense will be the focus this time around, with coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine looking to shore up a unit that ranked No. 1 in the league last season.
"We can't get Mike Pettine out of the draft room," Tannenbaum said with a laugh. "I would expect the first Rex Ryan defensive player to be drafted this year."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Steelers know they can't get this draft wrong
PITTSBURGH — In 10 seasons overseeing the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft, director of football operations Kevin Colbert hasn't struck out yet on a first-round draft pick. His best choices include Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger and Casey Hampton.
In one of their most important drafts in decades, the Steelers badly need Colbert to go 11-for-11. And that's not all they need. They also must take advantage of what appears to be one of the deepest drafts in years to get some quick-to-develop players from their other 10 draft picks.
This is the year the Steelers can't get the draft wrong.
With a getting-older defense, an offensive line that needs upgrading, a secondary that could use a cornerback right now and an opening at backup running back, the Steelers have far more urgent needs than usual for a team that prefers to draft players who aren't needed to start immediately.
This draft is different, too, because the Steelers are dealing with major off-field issues. Roethlisberger faces a possible suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy and former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes was traded for a fifth-round draft pick because the team couldn't tolerate his off-the-field behavior any longer.
"We're a 9-7 team and we have to be better than that," Colbert said Monday. "The off-field stuff made it a challenging offseason and it's going to remain a challenging offseason for us, but really what happened in '09 is more of our concern with this draft. We have to remedy 9-7."
They're drafting much higher — No. 18 in the first round — than last season, when they owned the final pick after winning the Super Bowl. The question, of course, is which problem area gets addressed first.
Despite having four seasons of 10-plus victories in the last six seasons, the Steelers have more positions in need of soon-to-arrive help than they have in a long time. Among them:
—Right guard. Trai Essex was an upgrade over Super Bowl starter Darnell Stapleton but could be replaced by an early round draft pick.
—Right tackle. Willie Colon might be their best starting offensive linemen but is unsigned past this season.
—Cornerback. William Gay struggled at the end of last season and there is a dearth of backups. Deshea Townsend, a 12-season veteran and one of the most tenured players in club history, was not brought back.
—The aging defense. Aaron Smith will be 35 next season, Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton will be 33. And there's no long-term replacement at inside linebacker for 35-year-old James Farrior, long one of the NFL's most valuable defensive players. The Steelers brought back former starter Larry Foote, but he'll be 30 when the season starts.
—Running back. Willie Parker, no longer a starter, left for the Redskins, leaving no proven backup behind Rashard Mendenhall.
-- Alan Robinson
Patriots look to draft after rivals add to rosters
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The NFL draft hasn't even started and already the New England Patriots are trailing two division rivals in restocking their roster.
The New York Jets added wide receiver Santonio Holmes, cornerback Antonio Cromartie and running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The Miami Dolphins traded for wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
Now the Patriots get their chance to catch up in the NFL draft, starting with Thursday night's first round.
Their biggest need is for a pass rushing outside linebacker or defensive end. A wide receiver also would help with Wes Welker, last season's NFL receptions leader, expected to miss most of the early part of the season recovering from torn knee ligaments suffered in the final regular season game. And with Alge Crumpler as their only veteran tight end, they could focus on that position.
Outside linebackers Brandon Graham of Michigan, Sergio Kindle of Texas and Ricky Sapp of Clemson could be available if the Patriots keep the 22nd pick of the draft to boost their pass rush. Another possibility is Penn State defensive end Jared Odrick.
But coach Bill Belichick wouldn't tip his hand when asked if Kindle would be a better fit for the Patriots than Graham.
"You want to get into a lot of specifics?" he said. "I think they are both outstanding players. I think they're both going to play in the league."
The Patriots could make their biggest gains in the second round where they have three picks, the 44th, 47th and 53rd overall. But they have no choices in the third and fifth. They have 12 overall picks and could be active traders.
"Would it be nice to have a third-round pick? It would. Could we get one if we wanted one? I'm sure we could," Belichick said.
While the Jets and Dolphins were adding playmakers, the Patriots were much less active. They signed Crumpler, who caught just 22 passes last year but was needed because Benjamin Watson and Chris Baker left as free agents, and wide receiver David Patten, who didn't play at all last season.
"Every team is going to improve by next weekend," Belichick said. "Whatever teams draft and whatever moves they make they will be a better team than they were right now. That's obvious. I think the big thing for us is to focus on our team."
Predicting how newcomers will do is a precarious activity. A star in one place may not fit the system of another. A journeyman of the past may become a key contributor with the right players around him. Some players thrive under different coaching styles.
"We all know teams make moves in the offseason to bring players onto their team, and how those will work out, a lot of times, we ourselves don't know until all the pieces come together," Belichick said. "So I think right now, for anybody to try to project how all that is going to turn out other than the way it looks on paper is stretching it quite a bit."
-- Howard Ulman
Dolphins seek front-seven help in draft
DAVIE, Fla. — Jimmy Johnson was a few months into his new job with the Miami Dolphins the last time they used a first-round pick to upgrade their defensive front seven.
That was five coaches and 14 years ago. Tony Sparano is now the coach, while Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland run the draft, and they're well aware the team needs upgrades at linebacker and nose tackle.
The Dolphins addressed their need for a playmaking receiver by trading for two-time Pro Bowl pass catcher Brandon Marshall. They're in the market for help at free safety, and with so many holes on defense, trading down to acquire more picks is a tempting option.
So it's far from certain what the Dolphins will do with the No. 12 pick in the first round Thursday. When it comes to the draft, the Parcells regime is candid about only one thing: the need to get it right.
"It can really make or break you," Ireland says. "We're in our third year of this regime. Our third draft is extremely important. We feel like we need make a big jump. We need to get more good players. There's a little bit of urgency to do that."
Parcells and company are eager to get things again moving in the right direction. In the regime's first year in 2008, Miami made a great leap forward to 11-6 and a playoff berth. Last season the Dolphins regressed to 7-9, extending to nine years their drought without a postseason victory.
Areas needing an upgrade remain numerous, and acquiring Marshall was costly — a second-round pick this year and another in 2011. Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant, the best receiver in the draft, visited with the Dolphins' hierarchy and might be available when their turn comes to pick, but Parcells is expected to pass on him now.
A more likely choice is nose tackle Dan Williams of Tennessee or outside linebacker Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech.
Parcells has a history of devoting high picks to the front seven. Since 1993, his first year with the New England Patriots, Parcells has had 12 selections in the first round and took a linebacker or defensive lineman six times. But in Miami he has passed on shoring up the front seven with an opening pick, which makes him 0 for 2 and overdue.
The Dolphins' lone significant upgrade in free agency was an inside linebacker, Karlos Dansby of the Arizona Cardinals, but they still need to reinforce their 3-4 scheme with youth. Disgruntled sack leader Joey Porter was released, and the return of his counterpart on the outside, 35-year-old Jason Taylor, is uncertain.
At nose tackle, incumbent Jason Ferguson is 36 and facing an eight-game suspension to start the season.
Too much age may be one reason the defense was so bad at the end of games and the end of the year. The Dolphins gave up a franchise-record 140 points in the fourth quarter, most in the NFL. And in their final three games, desperate to stay in the playoff race, Miami fell behind 24-6, 27-0 and 27-10.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Dolphins devoted their first two picks to the front seven. Last year they took cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith with the first two choices, and both wound up starting.
"We've got a good nucleus of young players," Ireland says. "And we continue to need good young players."
If the Dolphins opt for a safety first, the choice will likely be Earl Thomas of Texas. But there's good draft depth at that position and elsewhere, giving the Dolphins an opportunity to land starters with multiple picks.
-- Steven Wine
Bengals look to upgrade passing game
CINCINNATI — Out in Los Angeles, Chad Ochocinco tried to get the timing down on a quickstep routine that he hoped would keep him on "Dancing with the Stars" for another week.
Back in Cincinnati, his Bengals teammates worked out without him, trying to get the timing down on their pass routes so they can get back into the playoffs for a second straight year.
What do they think about the receiver who's more into the rumba these days?
"Um, he's got to work on his hip action," offensive lineman Bobbie Williams said. "He looks a little stiff. Hopefully, he's working on that — along with getting ready for this upcoming season.
"But I don't know. I don't know about Ocho. I don't know."
Here's one thing the Bengals know: It won't be too long before Ochocinco can waltz away. And this might be the time to start preparing for that day. They've got Ochocinco and several other starters on both offense and defense heading into final year of their contracts, which will be in the back of everyone's minds when Cincinnati starts making draft picks on Thursday.
"I think (owner Mike Brown) always has that in mind as we go into the draft," coach Marvin Lewis said. "He and I talk about that quite a bit. That's the little thing that sits above our head as we move forward."
It's a sign of improvement that the Bengals can think long-term as they approach the draft. In years past, they've been looking to fill a number of holes. This offseason, they've spent a lot of time and money keeping their roster intact after a playoff season — certainly not the norm around these parts.
The Bengals went 10-6 last year, ran the table in the AFC North for the first time in their history and reached the playoffs for only the second time since 1991. Even though they lost to the Jets in their first playoff game, they decided that the team was good enough to keep around.
There's been only one significant change in the starting lineup — Antonio Bryant replaces Laveranues Coles as Ochocinco's complementary receiver. With most starting spots filled, the Bengals are looking long-term in this draft.
"It's great," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "It's nice to not have four or five spots where we're like, 'Oh, we need to find somebody to play and we need to find them now.'"
Receiver and tight end have been two of the biggest problems lately. The Bengals signed Coles after T.J. Houshmandzadeh left, but he was so unproductive that they let him go after one season. Bryant was their top free agent acquisition, but there's still an unproven cast behind him and Ochocinco.
-- Joe Kay
Ravens seek to make the most of 5 picks in draft
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens have already used the 2010 NFL draft to address their biggest need, so general manager Ozzie Newsome isn't worried about having only five picks to improve a team coming off two straight playoff appearances.
The Ravens' primary focus during the offseason was to bolster a wide receiving corps that produced only 12 touchdowns during a 9-7 season and none in two playoff games. After signing free agent Donte' Stallworth, Newsome dealt his third- and fourth-round picks to the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin and a fifth-round selection.
That means Baltimore is poised to enter the draft Thursday night with only two picks — Nos. 25 and 57 overall — in the first four rounds. The Ravens don't have a seventh-rounder, either, having dealt that away in the 2008 trade with Tampa Bay that landed defensive end Marques Douglas.
"What we did to get Anquan Boldin and what I did two years ago to get Marques Douglas on this football team was worth it," Newsome said. "I'm better off with Anquan Boldin than to be sitting here with six picks, you know? Because you'd probably see some sweat on my brow."
That Ravens have never had fewer than six picks in any draft, and it's quite possible this year won't be any different. Two years ago, Newsome dealt the eighth overall selection to Jacksonville for four picks, then worked another trade to land quarterback Joe Flacco at No. 18.
A year ago, Baltimore was slotted at 26, but Newsome moved up three notches to take offensive tackle Michael Oher, who immediately became a starter. Later in the draft, Newsome traded down to collect more picks.
The Ravens could target Terrence Cody of Alabama with the 25th pick. Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards signed with Buffalo as a free agent and end Trevor Pryce will be 35 in August.
"I think Cody's just a guy you can't move," said Eric DeCosta, the Ravens director of player personnel. "He's a 350-pound guy, very strong at the point of attack, a deceptive athlete (with) very good feet in a short area."
Or, since cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are both coming off season-ending knee injuries, Newsome could select pass-cover specialist Devin McCourty of Rutgers. Then again, tight end Jermaine Gresham of Oklahoma would give coach John Harbaugh an ideal bookend opposite 30-year-old Todd Heap.
Or Newsome may go entirely in another direction, staying true to his "best player available" credo that in the past garnered Oher, linebacker Ray Lewis at No. 26, safety Ed Reed at 24 and Heap with the final pick in the first round of the 2001 draft.
-- David Ginsburg
Bills have many holes to fill in NFL Draft
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — As the latest in what's become a long line of Buffalo Bills general managers, Buddy Nix can appreciate he's not going to win anyone over with pie-in-the-sky promises of how he intends to turn around a flat-lining franchise.
"Talk's cheap. We all know that," Nix told a large gathering of season-ticket holders at a recent team-sponsored breakfast. "It's like I've always said: 'Don't tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby.'"
Delivered in Nix's familiar drawl, it was a homespun comment that drew the intended laughs from loyal supporters who couldn't be faulted for second-guessing whether to continue investing in a once-proud team.
The Bills have missed the playoffs 10 straight years, a stretch during which they've had one winning season (9-7 in 2004), are now on their fifth coach in Chan Gailey and fifth GM after Nix was promoted in December.
So if Nix represents the latest new face — and hope — of the franchise, the longtime scout's first big chance to start reshaping the Bills begins with the NFL draft, which Buffalo opens with the No. 9 selection Thursday. Nix is preaching patience.
"It's a slow process," Nix said. "We've got nine picks. We need to hit on all nine, and that's hard to do sometimes. We've got holes to fill."
The only question is which of the primary holes — left tackle, quarterback, defensive tackle — gets filled first as the Bills try to start competing in a tough-getting tougher AFC East.
"I got all I can do without worrying about the Jets or Miami and the trades they make," Nix said. "The things these other guys do does not make us impatient, and it's not going to make us change. We are looking to upgrade, but we are not looking to keep up with the Joneses."
Theoretically, the Bills immediate priority is finding a franchise quarterback, a position that has been unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired following the 1996 season. What's unclear is whether the Bills will risk using a first-round pick on a crop of quarterback prospects that, beyond Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, is filled with question marks.
The Bills have done their homework in scouting Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Florida's Tim Tebow, who even dined with Kelly during his visit to Buffalo last month. Tebow, most notably, has been tied to Buffalo as a potential second-round candidate.
Both Nix and Gailey have emphasized that while drafting a quarterback is a possibility, they're prepared to hold an open competition with the three QBs currently on their roster. It's a group that's made up of Trent Edwards, who lost his starting job midway through last season, Ryan Fitzpatrick, who finished the year as the starter, and untested third-stringer Brian Brohm.
Another option for Buffalo is addressing its offensive line, which has also been the team's weak spot for much of this decade. Left tackle is the team's most pressing need after trading Jason Peters to Philadelphia a year ago. The jury's still out on Peters' replacement, Demetrius Bell, who started eight games last season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
-- John Wawrow
Browns want to avoid first-round miscue
BEREA, Ohio — Slipping on his reading glasses, Cleveland president Mike Holmgren scanned the names of the Browns' first-round draft picks since 1999.
Tim Couch. Courtney Brown. Gerard Warren. William Green. Jeff Faine. Kellen Winslow. Braylon Edwards. Kamerion Wimbley. Brady Quinn. Joe Thomas. Alex Mack.
After his review, Holmgren offered a candid assessment.
"That's a bad list," he said.
Of the 11 selections, only Thomas, Cleveland's Pro Bowl left offensive tackle and Mack, who had a strong rookie season at center in 2009, remain on the Browns' roster. The other nine have moved on. Some were forced to retire early because of injuries while others were traded for a variety of reasons.
"I remember the first time I saw that (list), it was about a month ago," said Holmgren, hired by the Browns in December. "A list like that is telling. You would hope that your No. 1 picks are the foundation of your football team and the only decisions that you have to make on those guys is contractually as they approach their unrestricted free agency year.
"That is the perfect scenario. You know things are going to happen and you might lose a player because of free agency in this day and age. But, no that's not a good list."
The Browns' inability to select intelligently — they've had some bad luck, too — in the draft's opening round since '99 has doomed the franchise, leading to a succession of double-digit loss seasons, coaching changes and front-office overhauls. If not for Cleveland's ineptitude, Holmgren would probably still be enjoying semiretirement in Seattle.
But the Super Bowl-winning coach was brought to Cleveland to fix the damage, and it's extensive. Last season, the Browns ranked dead last in the NFL in total offense and were 31st out of 32 in total defense. There are holes everywhere.
"It's like, I have two thumbs and there are five holes in the dike," Holmgren said. "How are we going to do this?"
Cleveland's first draft under Holmgren and new general manager Tom Heckert is an important one. The Browns are coming off a miserable 5-11 season that was only semi-salvaged by a four-game winning streak to end Eric Mangini's first year as coach.
It's time to begin another turnaround.
The Browns will enter this year's three-day draft armed with 10 picks — No. 7 overall, three in the third round and five of the first 92 — and Heckert acknowledged the team has had trade talks with the St. Louis Rams about moving into the No. 1 spot and selecting quarterback Sam Bradford, a player Holmgren has called "the whole package."
While that swap could be a tough one to pull off, Heckert, who came to Cleveland after four seasons as Philadelphia's GM, is confident that if the Browns stay put they'll get a quality player with their top pick. They will expect him to start in his first season.
"If you are drafting a guy at number seven he better be able to play and he better be a good guy and he better be a leader, he better be all that stuff," Heckert said. "That's what we are looking for. When you are picking a guy in the top 10, you are expecting a guy to be a player and be a guy that's going to be on your team for hopefully 15 years.
"That's what we expect."
If the Bradford deal doesn't go down, and it's a long shot, the Browns are believed to have their sights set on gifted Tennessee safety Eric Berry, a player branded "The Sure Thing" in a recent Sports Illustrated piece. Berry, who had 14 interceptions and three touchdowns during his career with the Volunteers, could be the kind of defensive playmaker Cleveland has lacked for years.
The Browns may have to move up to get him since the Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly smitten with Berry, who can also play cornerback. With its second pick, Cleveland may focus on a future quarterback. The Browns will enter next season with veteran Jake Delhomme at QB, but he's only a temporary fix. Colt McCoy is expected to be around in the second round and Holmgren likes the Texas QB's intangibles.
The knock on McCoy has been a lack of arm strength, but Holmgren is more concerned about the ball arriving on target as opposed to how fast or how far it travels.
"I've had the privilege of coaching a guy who threw it as hard as anybody in Brett (Favre) and the guy that everybody said didn't have the rocket arm but may have been the best quarterback who ever lived in Joe Montana," Holmgren said. "I've had a real positive experience with arm strength. Having a rocket isn't the No. 1 thing. Colt falls somewhere in the middle, but he's really an impressive young guy."
-- Tom Withers
Bolts looking for LT's replacement in draft
SAN DIEGO — Nine years after taking LaDainian Tomlinson with the fifth pick overall in the NFL draft, the San Diego Chargers are once again in the market for a marquee running back.
Tomlinson was released on Feb. 22 after nine mostly brilliant seasons in which he became one of the best running backs in NFL history. Third-stringer Michael Bennett was released a few weeks later.
For a time, it seemed like Darren Sproles, the speedy little running back-returner, was going to hit the free agent market. But the Chargers placed the maximum first- and third-round tender on Sproles, who signed the one-year deal for more than $7 million.
"I would say it's absolutely a key need, no question," said general manager A.J. Smith, who prefers to build through the draft but didn't rule out the possibility of trading for a running back. "We don't have a one, we don't have a third back, and we have a one-year tender with Sproles.
"It's screaming at us, absolutely," Smith said.
The Chargers will pick 28th overall. Whether it will be a running back, though, remains to be seen.
"We just feel there are some good running backs that we like probably, comfortably, through the fifth round," Smith said. "Seeing as though we are in the market for a running back, we feel comfortable there are people we like, different styles, different types, different talent levels, spread out throughout those rounds. The question is, if you want to grab one, how do you do that?"
Smith wouldn't reveal the backs the Chargers like, but Jahvid Best of California could be an option, or maybe Ryan Mathews of Fresno State, if he's still available.
Another possibility with the first-round pick is a defensive tackle. Smith not only released the late John Butler's best draft pick — Tomlinson — he also let go of Bobby Beathard's last remaining draft pick, defensive tackle Jamal Williams. While Tomlinson signed with the New York Jets, Williams landed with division rival Denver.
-- Bernie Wilson
Broncos have 3 glaring needs entering draft
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have three glaring needs, three big vacancies and three of the first 45 picks in the NFL draft.
After waiving starting linebacker Andra Davis, trading Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall and letting savvy center Casey Wiegmann bolt back to Kansas City, the Broncos have some huge holes and shoes to fill.
They own the 11th pick in the first round Thursday night and coach Josh McDaniels hinted he'll either stand pat if the player he wants is there or try to trade down if he's not.
After beefing up the defensive line with Jamal Williams, Jarvis Green and Justin Bannan in free agency, McDaniels finally has a stout three-man front for his 3-4 defense.
Now, he can start augmenting the linebacking corps by drafting Alabama inside linebacker Rolando McClain.
If McClain isn't on the board, the Broncos could move down and take Florida center Maurkice Pouncey or focus on finding a wide receiver to replace Marshall, whom McDaniels sent to Miami for two second-round picks, including one this year that gives Denver the 11th and 13th picks in the second round Friday night.
Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant was in for a workout at Dove Valley and impressed the coaching staff.
McDaniels said that while some teams may have questions about Bryant's character after his final college season was cut short by an NCAA suspension, the Broncos don't.
"I think you need to be careful confusing character issues with some people who have made some mistakes. This guy has never been arrested, never had a drinking issue and never done anything to put himself in that position," McDaniels said.
"We enjoyed our visit with him and he did everything we asked him to do. He had a smile on his face and he did everything well. I'll tell you this, he's on our board, there's no question. I know there are other teams that may have taken him off their board but he is not one of the players who is off our board."
McClain was in for a visit the same day as Bryant, and McDaniels lauded his football IQ.
"He's obviously been well-coached but even if you're coached well, it takes another side to get to where he's at," McDaniels said. "He's obviously done a lot of listening, studying and understands the game at a level where most kids that come in as rookies will never be at."
Tennessee defensive lineman Dan Williams also presents an intriguing possibility to the Broncos if he's available at No. 11.
"We do have an interest in Dan Williams. He is a good player, he is a good kid and we think that that would be a possibility," McDaniels said.
The Broncos also need another tight end after sending Tony Scheffler to Detroit in a three-way trade Monday that netted them Philadelphia's fifth-round draft pick.
McDaniels said he wouldn't mind selecting a guard at some point in the latter rounds.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Chiefs have 4 of the first 68 pick
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The second year of Kansas City's franchise overhaul looks very much like the first. Deficiencies abound. Practically every position group screams out for help.
"Our needs are many," conceded Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.
But with three of the first 50 and four of the first 68 draft picks in a year they believe is filled with potential, the Chiefs are hoping for a breakthrough to begin putting an end to a run that has seen them win just 10 games in three seasons.
Barring a trade, KC picks fifth in the first round. Their second-round choice will be the 36th overall. If they do it right, they could come away with two players who bring top-level talent.
"I don't think there's a position (in the draft) that's weak," Pioli said. "There are a lot of players we feel can help this football team. There's a lot of good players. I'm happy we have four picks in the top 68."
If he left it up to a fan vote, Pioli would probably use the overall No. 5 choice on Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Tough, quick and possessing outstanding leadership skills, Berry would seem a great fit in many ways. The Chiefs did not tender an offer to last year's strong safety Mike Brown or sign a safety in free agency. So they'll have to find a safety somewhere in the draft. Safety was the most glaring weakness on a defense that was 30th in the league overall.
But would Pioli be willing to spend a pick as high as No. 5 on a safety? Are there any positions he would rule out at No. 5?
"Kicker," he said. "I think I'd probably leave that position alone at No. 5."
The Chiefs are also thought to be taking a close look at offensive tackle, possibly Trent Williams of Oklahoma or Bryan Bulaga of Iowa. Brandon Albert, in his second season, seemed to regress a bit at left tackle and many think he could be moved back to his college position at guard. But Pioli seemed to dismiss that idea.
"Brandon is our left tackle," he said.
The Chiefs re-signed veteran wide receiver Chris Chambers, whose midseason pickup last year has proven so far to be Pioli's biggest acquisition. But another wide receiver is also needed. In addition, there are needs at linebacker, center and tight end.
In the middle rounds, the Chiefs could have an excellent opportunity to address kick returning — one of their biggest deficiencies. They ranked 27th in punt returns with an average of less than 7 yards per attempt and 25th in kickoff returns with an average of 21.6 yards. And that includes Jamaal Charles' 97-yard return against Pittsburgh.
Many fans would love to see them take Kansas State's Brandon Banks. Another possibility would be Javier Arenas, who scored seven touchdowns on punt returns at Alabama.
With so many positions to address and so many good players on their board, do not surprised to see Pioli swing a draft day trade.
"In terms of trades, were open for business," he said. "We could trade up, we could trade down."
-- Doug Tucker
Raiders look to reverse first-round struggles
ALAMEDA, Calif. — For three straight years, the Oakland Raiders used a top 10 pick to try to upgrade their offense with a skill position player.
Despite the additions of quarterback JaMarcus Russell, running back Darren McFadden and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey — or perhaps because of them — the Raiders were still the second lowest-scoring team in the NFL last season.
Because of those first-round mistakes and offensive struggles, the Raiders once again find themselves in the top 10 of the draft. If Oakland is going to reverse a record slide of seven straight seasons with at least 11 losses, hitting on this year's top pick will be a vital part of that.
"It's definitely important," coach Tom Cable said. "That's why they call them No. 1s."
Since 1999, the only first-rounder the Raiders have taken who went on to make a Pro Bowl is cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Out of the 13 first-rounders taken in that span, six are no longer with the team and three were out of the league last year.
That's the biggest reason the Raiders have struggled so mightily since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season. And much of the blame falls on the last three first-round picks.
The trio combined for five touchdowns last season. Russell lost his starting job midway through the year and posted the worst passer rating in the NFL in 11 years, throwing three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. He is competing with Bruce Gradkowski for the starting job this season.
McFadden has struggled with injuries his first two years and hasn't been the game-breaker Oakland expected even when he has been healthy. He averaged just 3.4 yards per carry last season and scored one touchdown.
Heyward-Bey had just nine catches and one touchdown in 11 games after being one of the most criticized picks a year ago. While Cable has said he has seen huge strides from Heyward-Bey this offseason, the proof won't come until he performs in games.
Cable said the priority this year is finding players who were productive in college. That statement appears at odds with last year's selection of Heyward-Bey, who didn't come close to putting up numbers like those of Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin but was significantly faster in the 40-yard dash.
While Crabtree and Maclin easily outplayed Heyward-Bey as rookies, don't expect the Raiders to completely abandon their infatuation with measurables like height, weight and speed.
"We want to be the fastest team in football," Cable said. "I think that's kind of always been the mantra, to be that elite speed team in football."
It was the Raiders' desire for speed that had many pointing to Maryland offensive tackle Bruce Campbell as their pick as soon as he ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.85 seconds, bench-pressed 225 pounds 34 times and measured 6-foot-7, 310 pounds at the NFL combine.
But Campbell's production doesn't match those numbers and he didn't get a single vote for the all-ACC first team last season. That's one reason he could possibly slip all the way to the second round if the Raiders don't take him with the eighth pick.
"Bruce Campbell is a big risk and a great reward," NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt said. "When you see him in person, it just makes you drool. ... I think this is one of those players that can be either all-everything, or you wonder why we ever drafted him."
-- Josh Dubow
