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//  Tuesday, September 7, 2010

NFL Draft Preview

Sunday, April 11, 2010
Posted by Cedric Harmon

     With the NFL Draft fast approaching on April 22nd, many teams are looking to rebuild and improve their teams to become Super Bowl contenders. The AFC and the NFC are looking anxious for the Draft to begin in a few weeks. The NFC has the first four out five draft picks. The first choice in the Draft will be up to the St. Louis Rams. Within the top ten draft choices, the AFC holds five spots.

      In the AFC, the draft needs for teams vary from quarterbacks to safeties. Starting with the AFC East, it seems as if the biggest need among all four divisional teams is an outside linebacker. All four teams are looking for depth in the middle of the field on the defensive side of the ball. Among a linebacker, the Buffalo Bills may also be looking for a quarterback, wide receiver, nose tackle, and left tackle. The Bills have the number 9 draft choice and many believe they will pursue a quarterback with that choice. The Miami Dolphins draft needs are at the wide receiver, nose tackle, outside linebacker, and free safety positions. The Dolphins have the number 12 overall pick in the draft. The New England Patriots suffered from an abrupt stop in the playoffs last season to the Baltimore Ravens. They are in need of some defensive players. In the draft, you can look forward to them picking up players at the outside linebacker, defensive end, offensive tackle, and tight end positions. You may also see them pick up a quarterback for developmental purposes. The fourth team in the AFC East, the New York Jets, had rumors circling that they were interested in trading for wide receiver Brandon Marshall. That deal has not happened yet, and with the draft fast approaching, they may be looking to add a wide receiver through the draft. They also will be seeking defensive end, right tackle, safety, and outside linebacker.

     The AFC North has some similar needs as well. All four teams seem to need defensive backs to help boost their teams. Starting with the Baltimore Ravens, the needs vary. The Ravens made it deep into the playoffs last year, before being eliminated by the Indianapolis Colts. They had a strong team but struggled defensively and had a lot of dropped passes on the offensive side of the ball. In the draft, the Ravens will be seeking a corner back, defensive end, tight end, and free safety. The Ravens signed wide receiver Anquan Boldin which eliminated their need for a wide receiver. The Pittsburg Steelers needs in the draft are at the corner back, defensive end, quarterback, left tackle, and running back. The Steelers lost running back Willie Parker and are now in needs of a back up for Rashard Mendenhall. The Cleveland Browns have the 7th and 38th overall picks in the NFL Draft. Their needs are quarterback, cornerback, wide receiver, outside linebacker, safety, and running back. They have a lot of needs, but have a total of 12 picks, so they should come out well in the Draft. The Bengals draft needs are safety, tight end, kicker, defensive tackle, and defensive end.

       In the AFC South, the Houston Texans needs are at corner back, free safety, running back, defensive tackle, and defensive end. The Jacksonville Jaguars are struggling to sell tickets and may be looking for a quarterback to bring in and be the face of the franchise. I predict that the Jaguars will be drafting Tim Tebow from Florida. He is already liked among the fans in the state and will bring people to the stadium. They also need an outside linebacker, safety, and a tackle or center to help protect their offensive line. The divisional leaders in Indianapolis have other needs. Peyton Manning and the Colts look to need a left tackle, center, defensive tackle, and a corner back. After a remarkable comeback last season, the Tennessee Titans also look to revamp their team and enhance their playoff hopes. The Titans are in need of a defensive end, outside linebacker, safety, corner back, and wide receiver. They are trying to build an offense around quarterback Vince Young, and at the same time enhance and strengthen their defense.

       In the AFC West, the four teams have been very quiet about their wants and needs this offseason. The Chargers have expressed who they did not want with the release of players LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie. In the draft, you may see the San Diego Chargers select a running back with their 28th pick. You may then see them follow up with right tackle, cornerback, safety, and tight end. The Denver Broncos, who fared well last season, will be in the draft looking for an inside linebacker, center, outside linebacker, cornerback, tight end, and a wide receiver, if Brandon Marshall is traded. The Oakland Raiders have signaled that they will go with quarterback JaMarcus Russel as their starter next season. Their draft needs are quarterback, left tackle, cornerback, inside linebacker, and nose tackle. They will probably select a quarterback with their eighth overall draft choice. The Kansas City Chiefs will also be looking for a nose tackle in the draft. They will also need a offensive tackle, safety, inside linebacker, and a center or guard. With their fifth overall draft choice, I believe that the Chiefs will be looking at grabbing a inside linebacker.

       In the NFC, things aren’t very different. In the NFC East, the Cowboys will be looking at drafting a left tackle, free safety, inside linebacker, defensive end, and kicker. The Cowboys made the playoffs last season and have been quiet so far this offseason. I am very anxious to see who they draft on April 22. The New York Giants have also been very quiet this off season. They signed cornerback Antrel Rolle early in the offseason but will probably draft a cornerback as well. They also need a middle linebacker, defensive tackle, right tackle, outside linebacker, and a third down running back. The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to go “young,” stated former quarterback Donovan McNabb after he was traded to the Redskins. The Eagles will be looking for a guard, outside linebacker, safety, defensive end, and cornerback. They are content with starting quarterback Kevin Kolb. The Washington Redskins lost their third and fourth round picks in the trade for quarterback Donovan McNabb. They will be looking for a left tackle, center, guard, safety, nose tackle, and quarterback in the draft.

       In the NFC North, the teams that seem to be placed in the states hit the worst by the recession have needs as well. The Chicago Bears will be looking at drafting a right tackle, wide receiver, left guard, free safety, and corner back. The Lions on the other hand will be looking at defensive tackle, running back, safety, left tackle, and linebacker. With the second overall draft pick, the Lions will probably draft a running back first. The Green Bay Packers will be looking at drafting running back, outside linebacker, safety, offensive tackle, and cornerback. The Vikings are a little tricky. They aren’t sure about the return of quarterback Brett Favre as of yet. They will look to add a cornerback, defensive tackle, middle linebacker, offensive tackle, center, guard, and a running back to play back up to Adrian Peterson.

      In the NFC South, Matt Ryan and the Falcons are looking to draft outside linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, and center. A center will probably be their first choice in order to find protection for quarterback Matt Ryan. The Carolina Panthers will be looking at drafting wide receiver, defensive end, defensive tackle, special team’s players, and a quarterback. The Super Bowl winning Saints will be looking at a running back, defensive end, outside linebacker, safety, and nose tackle. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to return to their former Super Bowl caliber team. They are looking to draft a defensive tackle in the mold of Warren Sapp, and a defensive end in the mold of Simeon Rice. They also are looking for a cornerback, safety, and guard.

       In the NFC West, the Cardinals have replaced retired starting quarterback Kurt Warner with Matt Leinart. With the trade of wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cardinals are in need of a wide receiver, nose tackle, left tackle, tight end, and inside linebacker. The San Francisco 49ers have two first round picks and are projected to pick up a quarterback and maybe a safety. With the remaining picks, the 49ers will need to draft a right tackle, an outside linebacker, and a third down running back. The Seattle Seahawks need to draft a left tackle, running back, defensive end, cornerback, and safety in the draft. They have the sixth overall draft choice. The St. Louis Rams have a lot of draft needs. With the number one pick in the draft, it is projected that they will draft quarterback Sam Bradford. They also will need a defensive end, wide receiver, offensive tackle, guard, and third down running back. The Rams are looking to turn over their success in 2010 and become a playoff contender.

       The NFL Draft will be very interesting to watch and I can’t wait to see who goes where. Stay tuned to NFL.com for the most recent updates, and watch the Draft live on April 22nd to see who your favorite team drafts. 

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