nfldraft2010

Potential first round WRs Brandon Lafell and Arrelious Benn joined Jeremy Conn and I last week on Playmakers on 105.7. Both guys talked about their preparation for the combine, how they stack up to the other receivers in the draft as well as how they would fit in in Baltimore. Here is the audio from those two interviews: http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=2036 Ole Miss WR Shay Hodge and James Madison OLB Arthur Moats will be joining us tonight between 8-10 p.m on 105.7. Hodge (6-foot-2, 210) led the SEC last year with 70 catches and 1,135 yards. He also had eight touchdowns. He averaged 15.3 yards per catch for his career and had 22 touchdowns over his final three seasons at Ole Miss. Moats (6-foot-2, 255) is a talented pass rusher that had 22.5 sacks over the last two seasons. He also had 135 tackles and 38 tackles for a loss over that span.

Yup, I will. Sorry about that.

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=2035

Both would be solid acquisitions, but I don't think Floyd is the instant solution a lot of people are making him out to be. He would definitely bring a different dynamic to the receiver position, but he's still more of a complement type guy though, and is not a number one receiver. Bryant is, but you have no idea what you're going to get from him. He could be a free agent steal if you can get him to play up to his talent. Either way, I'm starting to doubt whether the Ravens' first pick will be a receiver, unless they trade back into the second round. Here are some guys they could be targeting in the second to fourth round range though. http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=2022

Interesting stats regarding first round receivers: Over the last 10 years, only 15 of the 42 receivers selected in the first round have gone on to become 1,000 yard receivers in the NFL. Only seven of those 15 have recorded multiple 1,000 yard seasons. Of the top 30 receivers in the NFL last season - based on receiving yards - only eight were drafted in the first round. Seven were second round picks, six went in the third round, four in the fourth, three in the seventh, and two were undrafted.

Thomas may be the most physically gifted receiver in the draft, and has a chance to eventually be an Andre Johnson or Calvin Johnson type player in the NFL. His value will only go up after the combine. I think he's the number two receiver in the draft behind Dez Bryant, and more than worthy of a first-round pick. See for yourself: http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=2015

I'm not convinced at all that the Ravens are going receiver in the first round. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I start to question whether they'll take a shot on any of the perceived first round receivers. The fact is the Ravens still have other needs besides receiver, so there's no point to reach, although I don't expect them to wait longer than round two to address the receiver position. With that said, here's what I think are the Ravens' primary needs, and my early prediction for who I think they'll take in the first round. http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=2012

Haha, I will be sure to let him know. We will be on the air Sunday from 10-11 on 1300. As for defensive linemen and cornerbacks, I'll have my rankings up next week. I just put up my top five tight ends last night, and I'll have something up on Jimmy Graham from Miami, one of the more intriguing players in the draft, a little later tonight. Here are my top five tight ends: http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=1992. Check it out and see what you think. I like Hernandez a lot, and wouldn't be surprised if ended up going before Gresham. As far as Cooper, he was one of the more underrated receivers in the country this year. He has good size and legitimate downfield speed. He's also flashed pretty good hands, although he catches with his body more than I like to see. He's a good athlete, but isn't very elusive, and doesn't offer much after the catch. Also, despite having good size, I really didn't see him work the middle of the field much at Florida, and the majority of his catches came outside the hashes. He still has some upside though, and he'll probably go somewhere in the 3rd-4th round. I'm also sure there's some question whether he's completely committed to football since he signed with the Texas Rangers last year and even played in the minors some last summer.

It's always fun to look back and say what if. So, check this out, and see some of the Pro Bowl receivers the Ravens have barely missed out on in the draft, including none other than Brandon Marshall. http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=1986

I know it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Ravens will take a receiver sometime in the draft, but I'm not convinced it will be in the first round. Believe it or not, the Ravens have several other needs other than receiver, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them take a tight end like Jermaine Gresham or Aaron Hernandez, or even a defensive linemen like Brian Price or Jared Odrick with the 25th pick. Even still, I expect them to address the receiver position sometime very early, and there are plenty of talented wide receivers to choose from. I'm not huge on Brandon Lafell, but I'm very high on Demaryius Thomas from Georgia Tech, and think after a couple years of development that he has a chance to be a star in the NFL. I also like Dezmon Briscoe from Kansas in the 2nd-3rd round range. Arrelious Benn is also a strong possibility for the Ravens at 25, while I don't really see Golden Tate being a good fit. Here's a look at my top 10 receivers in the draft, with analysis, and a few others to keep an eye on. http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=1981 And here's a closer look at Briscoe: http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?ID=1985