Official 2007 Live Draft Thread

[Rastak]

Pats on the clock.....hmmmm.....Olsen?

[Brainerd]

I see Lynch went to the Bills.. no surprise there I guess..

Any surprises so far? I see Quinn dropped a LONG way! Was he in the draft room with lots of cameras on him?

Lol. Yep.

[GrnBay007]

I see Lynch went to the Bills.. no surprise there I guess..

Any surprises so far? I see Quinn dropped a LONG way! Was he in the draft room with lots of cameras on him?

No, after it got a bit "uncomfortable" they let him go to a private room with no media.

[Charles Woodson]

Hey guys and girls. I don't have a lot of time, but wanted to stop in and say hi. I was not happy about our first pick, but as I read more about him I'm becoming more ok with it. I desperately want to see some offense added with our 2nd pick however. What do you guys think of Anthony Gonzalez? Not too tall, but sounds like a good kid with a strong work ethic.

2007 NFL Draft Prospect - Scouting Report
Gonzalez is another guy who was overshadowed by college teammates(in his case QB Troy Smith and fellow WR Ted Ginn Jr.) at Ohio State and needed to showcase his talents in the off-season. Gonzalez did not astound at the NFL Combine, but he bounced back with a solid pro day at OSU to put his stock back on the rise. He was thought to be one of the fastest receivers outside of Ginn, but a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash still isn't too shabby. In addition to Gonzalez's solid on-field performances at pro day, Bengals receiver's coach Mike Sheppard said, "He was the best interview at the combine." Gonzalez is also as fundamentally sound as they come. He runs great routes, especially at intermediate distances, has sure hands, and is surprisingly effective at picking up extra yards after contact. Gonzalez progressed each year at Ohio State and should continue to do so at the next level. Such optimism looks like it could warrant a second round pick for Gonzalez.

I think hes a lil overrated and that he actually benifited from have Ginn, prove is the national championship game, Ted was out, and Gonzalez should have stolen the show but instead didnt step up

[Rastak]

I see Lynch went to the Bills.. no surprise there I guess..

Any surprises so far? I see Quinn dropped a LONG way! Was he in the draft room with lots of cameras on him?

No, after it got a bit "uncomfortable" they let him go to a private room with no media.

Smart move by the NFL, as I mentioned earlier.....

[hurleyfan]

I see Lynch went to the Bills.. no surprise there I guess..

Any surprises so far? I see Quinn dropped a LONG way! Was he in the draft room with lots of cameras on him?

No, after it got a bit "uncomfortable" they let him go to a private room with no media.

"Shades" of Aaron Rogers right!!

[imscott72]

Another guy I like is FB Brian Leonard.

Playing in a Rutgers' backfield with Ray Rice forced Leonard into relative obscurity last season, but the fullback will be remembered on draft day. Leonard should be a Day 1 pick and he could (although it's a longshot) sneak into the first round if he performs at the combine like he did during Senior Bowl week. Leonard can do it all out of the backfield; run, catch, and block. Rutgers used him primarily in blocking schemes for Rice last year, so Leonard saw his receptions and carriers decrease dramatically. That's why Leonard could fly under the radar and turn out to be a super sleeper for some NFL team who has done their homework. Leonard has soft hands and is blessed with outstanding speed for a 235-pounder. Don't be surprised to see him run a 4.5 at the combine. Not only will the team that selects Leonard get an all-around great football player, but they will also be getting an all-around great guy. Leonard won the 2006 Draddy Award, given for outstanding play on the field, academic success, and community leadership. This hidden gem might not be so hidden come April 29.

[BooHoo]

Yes, I am thinking Olsen to Pats.

[Charles Woodson]

wait 49ers traded with the pats

[imscott72]

Hmm 49ers take Pats pick. Who are they after?

[BallHawk]

Another guy I like is FB Brian Leonard.

I'd rather have LeRon McClain.

[Lurker64]

Anybody know what the Niners got for the Pat's pick here? The 49ers are really the wildcard of this draft.

[Joemailman]

Joemailman checking in. Was listening to ESPN Radio when Harrell was chosen. One of the analysts said Harrell might have been a top 10 pick if not for the injury. TT is rolling the dice here believing he is getting a top 10 player with the 16th pick. Hope he's right. I know some are wondering why TT didn't trade down. He used up most of his 15 minutes, so he apparently was trying to do that. But hey, what would draft day be without a little ranting?

[Charles Woodson]

49ers take joe staley

[Rastak]

Trade! Pats deal a pick to San Fran and Joe Staley is the guy....





Joe Staley
OT | (6'5", 306, 4.81) | CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Scouts Grade: 92


Strengths: Displays outstanding agility for an offensive tackle prospect. Has good initial quickness, takes good angles to blocks and generally gets into good position. Plays with a good motor, does an adequate job of locking onto defender's frame and is relentless once in position. Possesses great range and pulls well. Possesses good lateral mobility and flashes the ability to reach defensive tackles lined up inside of him. Plays under control in space and can adjust to the moving target at the second level. Gets set quickly and uses long arms to ride edge rushers past the pocket. Possesses good lateral mobility, can redirect inside after starting outside and is capable of countering double moves when plays with sound technique.

Weaknesses: While he has added weight to frame, he is still somewhat lean for his tall frame and isn't going to overwhelm defenders at the point of attack. Doesn't deliver a violent initial punch, doesn't roll hips into blocks and isn't going to knock defenders back. Lacks ideal lower body strength and is going to have problems driving defenders off the ball. Doesn't always get great knee bend in pass set and is vulnerable to bull rushers. Still needs to improve his hand-placement in pass pro.

Overall: Staley played in 11 games as a tight end during his true freshman year in 2003, catching 11 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. In 2004 he was converted to right tackle where he started all 11 games for the Chippewas. Staley again started all 11 games in 2005, this time at left tackle, and did not allow a sack. He again started all 14 games at left tackle in 2006.
Staley is a converted tight end who has gained more than 70 pounds since stepping on campus at Central Michigan as a true freshman in 2003. He isn't a powerful drive blocker and he must continue to improve his overall strength. What impresses us most; however, are Staley's outstanding feet and mobility. It's rare to find an offensive lineman with such quick feet and 4.8-second speed in the 40-yard dash. Staley held his own early in the 2006 season against top-competition (Boston College and Michigan), which helps considering most of his playing time came against mid-major defenders. While he's far from a finished product, we think Staley has enough upside and proven skills to warrant a late-first round selection in the 2007 draft.



* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.