Two situations where I wouldn't mind a receiver being picked

[Lurker64]

Assuming Percy Harvin did actually test positive at the combine, I think that does reflect really negatively on his decision-making process. As comparatively harmless of a drug as it is, it still gets you suspended the same way that steroids or cocaine would. A suspended superstar is less valuable to his team than a run-of-the-mill starter who is as average as he is dependable.

Remember, the combine is the biggest job interview any of these guys will ever have, and everybody knows there's a drug test coming. To fail a drug test in this situation you have to be either really stupid or care a lot more about drugs than you do about football. In either way, it's not something that makes a guy stand out positively as a prospect.

If a guy got busted for pot at least once in college? You can overlook that, a lot of people smoke weed in college. If a guy gets busted for pot at a drug test that he knows is coming on which millions of dollars hinge, it's a lot harder to overlook.

But we don't actually know whether or not he tested positive, it's all so much rumor until the actual list goes out (which is soon, I think.)

[digitaldean]

Doubtful Crabtree will be available for us anyway.

Either he will be gone to Seattle or to Cleveland.

If, in the unlikely event, he is available, I'd have to weigh it vs. what line help is available. If Raji/Orakpo or Oher are available, we need to pick them. If all 3 of them are gone, Tyson Jackson of LSU would be mmy fallback pick. (we could trade back 1-2 spots if that happened).

[Partial]

I would be happy to grab Crabtree at 9 but drafting Harvin AT ALL would be disappointing. Another BUST WR from Florida. Remember when everyone wanted Chad Jackson and TT drafted Greg Jennings? Jackson was a BUST! Jennings a STUD! Florida WRs suck in the NFL. When will fans get this through their head? NO FLORIDA WRs!

I don't think he is the typical Florida receiver. He's more of a scat back than anything. Sending him out on long patterns is not playing to his strength.

[Deputy Nutz]

I'm surprised by that. I've spent about 3 hours breaking down a game and making small talk with his parents, and I can tell you his parents are quite well-to-do (very huge engagement/wedding ring, all members were decked from head to toe in gator gear, great seats, etc), and seemed like very nice, supportive people.

I think he is more of a college student living the life taking advantage of his good fortune than he is a trouble maker. His parents and family seemed very nice and very supportive.

How many times do we get to hear this story? I am not saying that smaller receivers can't make in the NFL and he was a game changer in college, but I just don't see the polish, very comparable to Ted Ginn although I think Percy is a little bit more fluid of an offensive weapon where Ginn reminds me more of a trackstar, but Harvins size does concern me. Sure Steve Smith is small but he is stacked, really put together 5-8 200 pounds. Harvin is just shy of 6 feet and is 192 pounds, decent but jus tooks a little lanky, maybe frail if you want an extreme view.

Percy Harvin is either going to be a total bust with injury issues throughout his 4 year career or he is going to be pretty damn dynamic. I personally just don't know probably because I wasn't sitting next the Harvins, and eyeing up mommy. What I have seen is the guy is a dynamic football player with the ball in his hands but I just don't see him as a number one receiver, someone where you through the ball to 10 to 12 times a game. I think of Reggie Bush when I see Harvin's highlight films. Might not have a position in the NFL. I don't draft a guy in the first round to return kicks and run reverses.

[The Shadow]

Pass on a receiver, thank you very much.

[Lurker64]

I don't think either scenario is likely to happen, honestly. Receivers in the NFL bust so frequently, and even the top guys with all the physical ability, potential, and production in the world oftentimes amount to nothing.

Ted seems to have zoned in on two things that indicate that a receiver will have value to an NFL team, even if he doesn't become a superstar:
1) Has great hands.
2) Runs great, pro style, routes.
(You might also add 3) Down to earth.)

If you get a guy who can always runs crisp and precise routes and almost always catches the ball when it's thrown to him, you can do a lot with that guy. Sometimes that guy is going to become a superstar, and sometimes he's just going to be a role player. Plus, when you get guys who come in more humble than cocky, the odds of that guy turning into any sort of locker room cancer are very low.

Neither Harvin nor Crabtree really strike me as Thompson sort of picks at WR. Neither guy played in anything close to an NFL passing offense and both would be really, really raw when it came to NFL passing routes and would contribute next to nothing in this offense for a year or two. And while Crabtree's hands are excellent, Harvin's are simply "good, but not great". Both guys are reported to be a little high on themselves as well.

So I just don't see either guy being likely Thompson picks. Thompson has a rubric for WRs, and it seems to work for him since there's no position that he's drafted as well as WR (he's found at least one NFL calibre guy in every single draft, largely from small schools no less,, including probably the only superstar he's drafted so far, without ever spending a first round pick on one).

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Pass on a receiver, thank you very much.

[Partial]

How many times do we get to hear this story? I am not saying that smaller receivers can't make in the NFL and he was a game changer in college, but I just don't see the polish, very comparable to Ted Ginn although I think Percy is a little bit more fluid of an offensive weapon where Ginn reminds me more of a trackstar, but Harvins size does concern me. Sure Steve Smith is small but he is stacked, really put together 5-8 200 pounds. Harvin is just shy of 6 feet and is 192 pounds, decent but jus tooks a little lanky, maybe frail if you want an extreme view.

Percy Harvin is either going to be a total bust with injury issues throughout his 4 year career or he is going to be pretty damn dynamic. I personally just don't know probably because I wasn't sitting next the Harvins, and eyeing up mommy. What I have seen is the guy is a dynamic football player with the ball in his hands but I just don't see him as a number one receiver, someone where you through the ball to 10 to 12 times a game. I think of Reggie Bush when I see Harvin's highlight films. Might not have a position in the NFL. I don't draft a guy in the first round to return kicks and run reverses.

I agree almost 100%. He's really lanky and needs to put on size. One has to assume he can do that still, as 6" 190 is pretty damn thin when you're at low body fat.

You're probably right that he is either dynamic or a bust. Ultimately it will come down to A) if he stays healthy and B) how he's used. The Reggie Bush comparison is one I made and I think its a very good one.

You guys (other than Nutz) are looking at the picture the wrong way. This guy isn't going to be first round worthy if you use him as you do a Nelson or Jones.

Two of the most dynamic play makers in the league don't have true positions. They are Westbrook and Bush. Both line up wide, but rarely are they running anything other than a 5-7 yard route. They both are at their best in space, via receiving a pitch or catching a pass in the flat.

Harvin is that sort of player. He's a shifty, fast little bugger who is basically a splitting image of Reggie Bush coming out of college.

The NFL is all about matchups, and this catch paired with Jermichael Finley and two receivers makes a hell of a match-up problem for a defense. Especially if your offensive line is good enough that their is a legit threat to run the ball.

I don't think it's going to happen, nor is that what the discussion is really about. It's about whether you'd be fired up to add one of these two dynamic playmakers to the arsenal.

[Joemailman]

I'd rather concentrate on defense and offensive tackle early and look for a guy like Johnny Knox in Round 4-5. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1661887

[BZnDallas]

am i wrong or does Harvin have injury issues??... how much as TT been jumped on by people in the forum for using his first round pick on Harrell (injury issues)... so heres the million dollar question (pun intended), everybody that wants TT to trade down and draft Harvin, are you willing to give TT a pass if the guy doesn't play much due to injury?... if so, why all the hate for Harrell??... just curious...

[Joemailman]

Harvin had a few injuries, but nothing serious. I don't think that's what has the potential to hurt his draft standing.

[Partial]

I'd rather concentrate on defense and offensive tackle early and look for a guy like Johnny Knox in Round 4-5. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1661887

I feel like someone else from the Pack played at Abilene Christian. Do you know who? Was it Corey Rodgers?

[BZnDallas]

I'd rather concentrate on defense and offensive tackle early and look for a guy like Johnny Knox in Round 4-5. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1661887

I feel like someone else from the Pack played at Abilene Christian. Do you know who? Was it Corey Rodgers?

if memory serves me correctly i believe you are correct Partial... it was the 'gun toting' corey rodgers

edit: oops upon further review, Corey Rodgers played at TCU... my bad..

[Fritz]

I'd rather concentrate on defense and offensive tackle early and look for a guy like Johnny Knox in Round 4-5. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1661887

Johnny Knox? Isn't he filming The Dukes of Hazzard, Part II?

[RashanGary]

You might be right, Partial. Harvin could be on of the great playmakers picked up outside of the top 10 and many teams might look back in hindsight wishing they had him.

He's not quite as dynamic as DeSean Jackson, but he's a lot stronger. I like what I see of Harvin better than Crabtree (who catches everything wide open from a spread offense) and doesn't play very tough.