Kiper Chat

Chat with Mel Kiper

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Let's get started!

Kevin (Vermont): After Lendale White didn't do that well on pro day do you still think he is first round material?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Yes, I think he is. I felt like in the last projection I did, he was a late first rounder. I didn't have him in the mid-first, he was late first round. You would like him to go through this process a little more efficiently. You only have one opportunity to go through the process in the NFL. You should never give the NFL any negativity in this process. The only change I made is he's the fourth rated running back, not the third.

Chris, Boston, Ma: The Patriots have always been good at picking up solid contributors in the later rounds. Are there any players you see as possible Patriot additions in the later rounds?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think if you look at running backs, a good one late is PJ Daniels, Gerald Riggs Jr. Wide receiver possibilities are Cory Rodgers, Adam Jennings, Domenik Hixon.

Yoder (Columbus, Ohio): With the Browns filling some holes already this spring, what will they be looking for in the draft?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think in terms of the draft, the big concern is still trying to find players in the front seven. LBs and DL. Kamerion Wimbley is a player they have to look at. He can play on his feet, in the down position.

Nate: Indianapolis, IN: What moves do you see the Colts making in order to fill the vacancy at tailback?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: They're going to draft a running back. They're sitting with the 30th pick. Maybe they take a Laurence Maroney. Maybe they say they need to move up a little bit to grab a player late in the round. I do have them taking Maroney.

J.P (toronto): Without a pick in round 1 where do you see the Falcons going in round 2?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think they could go in a direction probably of a CB or a LT. Cedric Griffin as a CB. OT Winston Justice is a possibility.

Donny (Mesa, Az) : Will the Cardinals get a shot at a quarterback for the future. (i.e. Jay Cutler or Vince Young)

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I have them taking Cutler. They have two options. If Cutler's there, go for the QB of the future. Or they could go for immediate improvement, they've already added Edge, they could add a Winston Justics on the OL. Or if Vernon Davis slides to them, he would be a great addition. Do you draft for the future in Cutler or for immediate gratification?

Wes (Montrose, CO): Mel- what are the chances that the Broncos actually use both their 1st round picks??

SportsNation Mel Kiper: That's 50-50. Nobody knows. Who would they target by moving up? They can't get far enough up to get Mario Williams. There's no other DE to get where they're picking. If you go up to help the offense, you move to get Vernon Davis. He's probably going to go 6, 7, 10. If you want him, you have to move into that area.

Mike Sartoga, NY: The Giants have addressed the defensive secondary will there be any quality line backers available to them?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think where they're picking at 25, do you look at Demeco Ryans, Bobby Carpenter, Rocky MacIntosh? D'Qwell Jackson. They are all LBs that would all be there at 25.

Mike (peoria,IL): What do the Packers do if Hawk, Williams and ferguson are gone at 5?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: It's not going to happen, first. But if it does, the decision will be, do you take Vince Young? How confident are they in Aaron Rodgers as the future of the franchise? To me that's mindboggling. Obviously, the guy they want and need the most is A.J. Hawk, the only way he's gone is if the Jets take him at No. 4.

Jim (Mexico): Now that the Cowboys have T.O., what do you think theyÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â´ll do with their pick?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Now they could look at a DB. I have them taking Jason Allen, a S/CB from Tennessee. He had a hip injuy this year. But I think he's back in the mid to late first round.

SIU Dan, Grayslake, IL: What position do you see the Bears targeting in the 1st round? TE, CB, or now DT with the injury to Tank Johnson?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think they look at TE, CB, return man. Corner back is the most pressing. Richard Marshall, Marcedes Lewis, Kelly Jennings in the early rounds. A couple of guys Will Blackman, Adam Jennings, Jeremy Bloom in the later rounds for the return man.

Zach: Columbus: Mel, how many Buckeyes do you see in the first round? Thanks, Zach

SportsNation Mel Kiper: You've got Hawk, Whitner, Youboty, Mangold, and a chance for Carpenter. You've got definites in Hawk and Whitner. Youboty, Mangold and Carpenter late first, early second.

justin ILL: what are the lions going after with there 2nd & 3rd round picks? another DB?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: It depends on who they get in the first round, but if they get a Huff, they might go after a OG in the second or maybe a LB.

Tom Canandaigua NY: what need do you see Kansas City addressing in the 1st round of this years draft?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think Kansas City, CB is the most pressing. WR, DL are also needs. They might look at a Tye Hill.

Todd (Boston): Mel, I saw in your latest projections that only 1 DE (2 of Wimbley plays DE) is projected to go first round? Has Kiwanuka's stock really fallen that far? What about Tamba Hali?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Yes, they have dropped to the second round. Hali's workout moved him into the second round. He was a great player, but his numbers at the workouts made him fall. If he's there in there early to mid second round, he's a steal. Kiwanuka was hurt by the senior practices. I'd say he was a second round pick.

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Wimbley's definitely a first rounder, Manny Lawson possibly first round, same as Hali, Kiwanuka second round.

Phil (Pittsburgh): Which reciever do you see matt millen drafting in the first round this year?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Where they're picking, which is ninth overall, they're going to have a shot at whoever they feel is the best WR is the best. I would say Chad Jackson, Santonio Holmes. I would lean to Chad Jackson, he's probably the No. 1 WR. For the fourth straight year, unprecedented, they could go for a WR. Hahaha. That's not going to happen. I have them going with Michael Huff. They could also go QB, like Jay Cutler.

Dave (Gilbert, AZ): Have you heard any rumblings about any teams trading up to get a top 5 pick in the draft?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: The teams that you keep hearing is Denver. They are the main talk, because they have the two first rounders. Teams might also try to move up to get Young or Vernon Davis. Also, the Jets at 4 might move up and get Leinart. But if they stay, they might get lucky and have Tennessee pick Young and the Jets might have Leinart fall to them.

Mac (ATL): Mel, Do you think the Saints will look at any LBs or DTs in the second round?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think they'll look at a DT. Depending on Mario Williams. They have to come up with a LB. Those LBs I mentioned earlier might still be there for the Saints in second round. Or they could continue to revamp the DL and pick another one. LB is their No. 1 need area.

John J'Ville, Or: Where do project Mike Hass Wr out of Ore.State?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I'd say 5-6 round area. The lack of speed is a problem. He was productive in college.

Kyle from Minneapolis: With 5 picks in the first three rounds, what do you see the Vikings doing?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: The Vikings pick at 17, 48, 51, 83 and 95. They have 2 thirds, 2 seconds and a first. They are in a great position. They have clear need areas. LB is a major need. I think Ernie Sims is a good first pick. Then they could look at a CB or a QB. Brodie Croyle or a Kellen Clemens in the second round. The other pick in the second is a CB or OG. They're in a good spot.

Josh (Sacramento): With so many needs, do you think it would be wise for the 49ers to spend such a high pick on a TE? Is Davis going to be Tony Gonzalez special?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: He has a chance to be a great pass catching TE. Remember TE is a need. It's not one of their top 4 needs, but it is a need. When you're picking 6th, you have to pick the best player. Hawk would have been the best player for them, but I see him going to Green Bay. I could see them taking Huff, but it's either him or Davis.

Cisco (Amherst NH): What do the eagles do at #14? Will they take lendale white?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: No. I think White's stock has dropped. I didn't have him going that high before his workout. I think they look at an OT like a Winston Justice, or they could go DT, like Haloti Ngata. If Justice is there, that would be a good pick.

Nick (San Francisco, CA): What are the odds that any of the "big three" QB's slip in the draft? Will the Vikings try and move up to grab one?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: The Vikings would be the team to move. One of their first three picks has to be a QB. Is there a chance that Cutler is going to be there at 17? He might. St. Louis, Arizona and Detroit are the teams that could be looking at Cutler. If you want him, you have to move up ahead of those teams to get him. If Cutler doesn't fall to us, we'll take an Ernie Sims and see what happens later.

Scott Linehan, St. Louis: What should I do Mel, trade up for VD, I like him alot, or if nothing falls to me trade down, grab an extra pick and get a high quality TE later in the first? My first draft Mel, I don't want to screw it up.

SportsNation Mel Kiper: (Laughs). If you elicit my advice, you hope that Davis is there. I could easily see the 49ers, Oakland looking at him. You have to be lucky to have him draft. Then Scott, you have to look at Jay Cutler. Is he an option for you? They could still look at a guy like Chad Greenway. That's who I projected him to.

Mike (Chicago): Mel, Who would you compare Antonio Cromartie to? He's an absolute freak, if Vernon Davis wasn't in this draft, Cromartie would be getting the Matt Jones hype of last year. Would you agree with me If I said that Cromartie is going to be a franchise CB for whoever drafts him?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Yeah, Cromartie is an amazing, amazing talent. 6-2, 208, 4.38 40 and a 43 inch vertical. He was catching the ball with one hand. There were people at the workout who though he could be a WR. I don't know why you wouldn't experiment with him at WR. There are no lockdown CBs anymore with all the rules changes. I would experiment with him at WR, early in his career. I have him going to Tampa at 23.

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I do think right now based on the workout, he's a lock first rounder.

Chris (LA): Mel, just how deep is this draft? Are we looking at impact players through the 4th?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Yes. I'll tell you why. At the end of the third round, there will be 97 players taken. I have right now 45 players with first round ability, 41 as second rounders and 34 as third rounder. That's 120 players in the first three rounds. That takes you almost through the first four rounds. These are all quality players. I'm talking about in the early second day bringing in quality players. There are 120 players that are legitimate first three round players. That means I have 23 guys that will go in the fourth round that should have gone in the third round.

Doug (Cincinnati): With the signing of Adams, I would think the Bengals wouldn't be looking at DT in the first? Do you see them going TE or DB?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I have them taking Jimmy Williams. When you look at the Bengals, they could use a safety type. He played free safety and VT. With his size, speed, athleticism will come in handy in the Cincy secondary.

matt NJ: Mel, with the Raiders signing of Brooks, do you still think they take a chance on any of the three qb's? If not what direction do you see them going?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: The Brooks signing is a surprising to me. I've always felt that he was overrated and not a consistent effective QB. He's not a solution for the QB spot with the Raiders. If a Vince Young was there, you have to take him. If he's gone, you have to audible and look at a player like Michael Huff. They have a need at OLB, but there's no one to take that high.

Omar (Cleveland, Oh): With 45 players with first round talent, Will the Browns pick up a first round caliber player in the second round and who do you think it could be?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Definitely, they can. If they take a Wimbley, they can get a DL in the second round. For the sake of argument, say a Hali is there. Then you're looking at a good player in round two. I think there will be WR and CB that drop there. Joseph Addai and Brian Calhoun will be there at RB in the second. Greg Jennings is underrated at WR. Demetrius Williams. David Pittman also.

brian, texas: The Texans draft Reggie no doubt right? But what about the 2nd and 3rd rounds

SportsNation Mel Kiper: The Texans draft Reggie no doubt. Write that down in pen. After that, they look at OL, but keep in mind they've made some moves there. They have to address it still. They made the deal with Buffalo for Eric Moulds. You've helped your skill positions with Bush and Moulds. LB is another need area. OL or LB in the second round.

trent (atlanta): Where do you see Leon Washington going. He had a good year in 2004 but his production fell off last year.

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Yeah, it did. Obviously, the OL at FSU was not very good. There were just a lot of problems with that offense. I project him in round four.

john from philly: Mel, Should the eagles trade their second round pick to pry javon walker from the packers?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Walker seems like his Green Bay scenario is turbulent to say the least. He's coming off the injury. But if you're the Eagles, you have to look at Reggie Brown, he was great as a rookie. The key for the Eagles next year is Brown. If he improves, he could be paying huge dividends. He 43 catches, 13.3 ypc, 4 TD. That was with problems at QB and TO only playing in 7 games. They really got a huge season out of him.

Daniel T. Cornish: Albuquerque, NM: Mel - what do you think of WR Hank Baskett of New Mexico? I think he has tremendous upside, he just needs to go to speed school and he could be an excellent NFL WR. Please tell.

SportsNation Mel Kiper: He's one of those guys that's in the 3-4 round mix. He doesn't seperate well from the CB. He does have good hands and a good frame. He could be a good third/fourth option for someone.

Gary (DC): Mel, what will the Redskins do with their one and only day 1 pick?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: I think a CB. Where they're picking at 53, who's going to be there? There's one of the guys I've discussed fall throw? I don't know. I'll tell you another guy is Danieal Manning a CB/S from Abilene Christian.

Brian - Kannapolis, NC: Mel - do you see anyone taking a chance on Wake Forest RB Chris Barclay?

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Yes. He's hurt by his size, but I tell you what in the ACC, he was an outstanding performer. He has natural running skills. He can catch the football. I watched Bobby Bowden coach's show and raved about Barclay. He's a highly respected player in the ACC by opponents.

SportsNation Mel Kiper: Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be doing this every week. We're getting toward the stretch run. Check the listings, but we'll be doing NFL Live next Tuesday 7:30 to 9 and Thursday 7:30 to 9:30 on ESPN. Then on April 17th from 3:30-4:30 and the 18th from 3:30-4:30. Then, of course we'll be back here with the chat next Wednesday from 1-2.