NFL Draft Buzz - Rising and Falling

While doing research for my latest and greatest mock draft (look for it on Monday before my predicted Butler-Duke championship game tips off), I put together a list of the players and positions that are moving up, down or holding steady on various draft boards and mock drafts throughout the NFL Draft world. The projected NFL team and corresponding draft slot*** I have pegged for each player is parenthetically listed for each prospect.

Also, please note that I will be hosting two NFL-draft related podcasts for FFToolbox. On Tuesday, April 20, I will be joined by analysts and writers from around the country to preview the first round and breakdown the latest news and rumors. The following week I will be joined by my fellow FFToolbox.com writers to recap the draft and start analyzing some of the landing spots for specific skilled players with an eye toward the upcoming fantasy football season. For those with draft-related questions, send them to ben.standig@fftoolbox.com.

*** Following the Donovan McNabb trade, along with some other moves/rumors, I have adjusted my mock draft and the corresponding draft slots

Trending Up

Tim Tebow/Colt McCoy - Recent workouts appear to have worked wonders for the draft fortunes of Tebow (New England, 53) and McCoy (Cleveland, 38), to the point where both are likely to be drafted within the top-44 picks after the February buzz had them both perhaps sliding into the third round. Tebow, already touted for his legendary leadership skills, reportedly wowed scouts with his spanking new throwing motion, while McCoy put to rest any concerns about a recent arm injury. Besides the St. Louis, Washington and Cleveland, teams like the Buffalo, Seattle, Minnesota, San Francisco and perhaps New England (specifically Tebow for the Pats) could all make a move on the passer, especially once they get a chance to re-examine the draft board overnight after round one. Sam Bradford and his much-discussed throwing shoulder thrived in his Pro Day workout, insuring he will be selected somewhere in the top-four picks with the St. Louis Rams remaining the front runner with the top overall pick.

Devin McCourty/Kareem Jackson - Despite quality depth at the position, early mocks had Florida's Joe Haden (San Francisco, No. 13) as the only cornerback locked into the top-25 picks, let alone the entire first round. Now the feeling is that as many as four cover men could find their way to hearing their names called out on day one of the draft with 6-10 possibly going before the end of round two. Boise State's Kyle Wilson (Pittsburgh, 18) was the first riser among the others, but now McCourty (Minnesota, 30) and Jackson (Tampa Bay, 35) are threatening to become the second corner off the board. McCoutry will make an impact as both a playmaking defender and return man right off the bat after a successful career at Rutgers while Jackson, a Todd McShay favorite, is said to have few peers when it comes to his coverage technique and the former Alabama stud likely ends getting drafted closer to the first round when all is said and done. Some teams are said to consider Florida State's Patrick Robinson (Green Bay, 56) and Virginia's Chris Cook (Baltimore, 57) worthy of a late first selection. Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox, Wake Forest's Brandon Ghee and Oklahoma's Dominique Franks are among the group of 10 or so corners that could be tabbed by the end of round two as NFL teams are increasingly focused on finding ways to slow down the ever growing number of volume passing attacks.

Maurkice Pouncey - There may not be anything less sexy than a team drafting an interior offensive linemen in the first round, but the floor is often much higher on those early centers and guards than on some of their more intriguing, but riskier fellow prospects at other positions. After starting 39 games in three years at Florida, the 6-5, 318-pound Pouncey (Indianapolis, 31) secured his place as the top center in the draft with one impressive post-college workout after another. He joins Idaho's Mike Iupati (Philadelphia, 24) as the only non-tackles expected to go in round one and Pouncey's ability to also play guard could have him off the board as early as No. 23 to Green Bay.

Demaryius Thomas - Collectively this is a wide receiver crop that has talent, but overall, prospects are hearing increasingly about their issues instead of about teams falling in love with them, especially in round one. Ironically, the one pass catcher that is getting his fair share of positive vibes from the pundit class played his college ball in a run-dominated attack and is coming off surgery on his left foot. The former Georgia Tech star managed an ACC-leading 1,154 yards last season along with eight touchdowns and a ridiculous 25.1 yards per catch despite the Yellow Jackets overwhelming tendency to the ground game. With his impressive size (6-3, 229) and ability after the catch, Thomas (Dallas, 27) already has front office types drooling over his potential once he learns to run more precise routes. Thomas could become the first receiver off the board if he rocks his April 18 Pro Day with Cincinnati, Baltimore and NY Jets being the most likely late first-round destinations.

Falling Down

Dez Bryant - I'm sure we have all had moments during the job interview process that we wish we could take back or better prepare for after the fact. One assumes that is how Bryant (Cincinnati, 21) felt after forgetting his favorite pair cleats for his recent Pro Day workout and was forced to use a brand new pair (e.g.. not broken in). According to witnesses, Bryant was slipping with the new shoes, which in turn slowed his 40-time and is partially responsible for his sliding draft board rank. That one gaffe might not be enough to get a receiver with his scintillating skill set to fall very far but Bryant,who missed most of his final season after being suspended for lying to NCAA officials about a dinner he had with Deion Sanders, has already been labeled as high maintenance and a diva in some circles. Some felt the at one point the former Oklahoma State star with the Calvin Johnson-type comparisons could go as high as No. 5 to Kansas City, but now his high water mark is Miami at 12 while a true crash and burn drop probably lands him with Baltimore (25) or the New York Jets (29).

Anthony Davis - Following the end of the college football season, Davis (San Francisco, 17) was often projected as the second offensive tackle to be selected in the draft, somewhere in the Top 10. Then came a disastrous combine workout, both in terms of his 40-time and insufficient amount of bench press reps, followed by the 6-5, 323 pounder skipping Rutgers Pro Day. To say his stock went into freefall might be a bit much, but Davis is now likely to be no better than the fourth or fifth tackle off the board, though he could get a bounce after scouts had a chance to kick the tires during a recent private workout. He will need it to avoid falling out of the first round altogether.

Brian Price - After a strong, even dominating at times junior season, the UCLA product entered the NFL draft and had the look and feel of a top-20 or so pick. The latest buzz has Price (St. Louis, 33) not looking as enticing upon further review as he showed up out of shape for his Pro Day and reportedly did himself no favors with a "sloppy" performance. Since he is viewed primarily as a fit for 4-3 defenses, the squatty defensive tackle was already facing a limited number of interested parties and now could find himself facing a second round tag if his slide continues.

LSU's streak of first round picks - For six straight seasons, the Tigers have had one of their own selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, the longest active streak in the nation. At various points early in the mock draft season, that run looked likely to continue as receiver Brandon LaFell and safety Chad Jones were part of the first round chatter. Since then, LaFell (3rd round) has been passed by on draft boards by other receiver prospects in part due to his modest 40-times (4.55-4.59) and now may be no better than the eighth or so receiver drafted overall. Jones (Philadelphia, 55), who also was a star baseball player at LSU, has posted less than inspiring measurables of the strength and speed variety during his workouts, and no longer projects to be one of the 3-4 safeties with a shot to be a first day selection.

Standing Pat

Jimmy Clausen - Yes, the Golden Domer's projected draft slot still ranges wildly, from the top-5 to out of the first round, but it is the volatility that remains constant. With the other top QB's deflecting questions about either injury or basic fundamentals, Clausen (Buffalo, nine) has had to fight back against those who label him as cocky, which has become more of a talking point than what he did in Notre Dame's pro style offense. More and more seem to be warming up the idea of him not making it out of the Top 10, but if neither Washington, Cleveland nor Buffalo take him, then there is a scenario that has him dropping into the 20's at which point some team likely trades into the first round to select their QB of the future.

Taylor Mays - If the draft was based purely on physical tools, the former USC safety would be a lock for the Top 10, maybe top five. However, despite measuring in at imposing 6-3, 232 pounds, scouts began to shy away from the four-year starter after seeing only scant big plays being made on his game tape, including only one interception over the past two seasons. That turned Mays (NY Jets, 29) from a potential Top 15 selection into a potential second round candidate, but he turned on the speed during the combine and his 40-time was clocked by some observers to be in the 4.24 range, fastest among all defensive backs. That slowed the negative roll and there is another love out from various scouts to expect one of them - Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Dallas are the other teams reportedly interested - to grabs Mays before the first round is over.