NFL's Future

Any chance Welker leaves New England? We don't think so.

It’s never too early to start talking about NFL free agency.  If your team is like mine and you have already packed in the season seven games in, here is your hope.  Our seven part series highlighting the top free agents by position should give you some hope.  Here’s a look at the wide receivers and tight ends:

The Wide Receivers

Wes Welker, New England Patriots

There’s a better chance the Pats trade Tom Brady than letting Wes Welker go in free agency.  The dynamic slot receiver is Tom Brady’s favorite target and the goal of the Pats is to keep Tom Brady happy.  They do so by re-signing Welker.

Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs

KC would be nuts to let Bowe leave via free agency.  At the beginning of the 2011 season, I would have thought the Chiefs would have looked at a fire sale but given where they are at now, they probably look to retain the talented receiver.  Bowe is going to want top dollar but he’s a legitimate number one receiver.

DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson is looking for a big payday which may not come in Philadelphia.  Jackson is a homerun threat but doesn’t possess the size necessary to be a true number one receiver.  The organization refused to cave on his offseason demands and may play hardball with Jackson.  Jackson is perfect for Philly’s system but he won’t be at the top of every team’s priority list because of all the things he’s not going to do.

Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers

We will see what San Diego really thinks of Jackson this offseason.  They have hesitated to pay Jackson at the level he is looking in the past because his off-the-field activities and injuries.  This offseason they will be forced to either re-up Jackson or let him leave via free agency.

Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills

Ryan Fitzpatrick just received a big payday and it could be Stevie’s turn next.  Johnson and Fitzpatrick are key to the Bills passing attack and I don’t think they will let him walk.  

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts will have some tough decisions to make in the offseason.  The largest one looming is what to do with Reggie Wayne.  Wayne will turn 34 next season and he’s definitely lost a step.  With Robert Mathis also looking for a new contract the Colts could be forced to let Wayne walk.  They have very little quality depth at the position which could force them to re-sign Wayne.  This one’s 50/50 at this point.

Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

When healthy, Colston is a major threat for defenses to game plan for.  Colston will be 29 next season and he hasn’t proven he’s able to stay healthy over the course of a 16 game season.  The Saints would love to retain Colston but at what cost will remain the question.  They also have Robert Meachem potentially hitting free agency.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Garcon is the youngest of the three Colts receivers due to hit free agency.  He may also be the most talented.  Garcon will be 26 next season and will intrigue a bunch of teams if the Colts decide to go in a different direction.  Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Free Agent Wide Receivers and Tight Ends»

Blackmon's dominant 2011 season has his coach thinking he will enter the 2012 NFL Draft

Count Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy among those that would be shocked if Justin Blackmon stayed at Oklahoma St. for his senior season. Speaking to the media on Sunday following a 59-24 win against Baylor, Gundy had this to say about his star wide receiver:

“If he wants to come back, he’s certainly welcome. We will have a party,” Gundy told the media on Sunday. “But I can’t imagine that he would be back again. He has somewhat solidified himself as a top-five pick (overall). If it were my son and he were a top-five pick, I would encourage him to move on.”

Blackmon is having a fantastic 2011 season that has some believing he will be the top wide receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft.  He has 74 receptions for 834 yards and 10 TD’s in eight games this season.  His team appears to control their own destiny as they sit behind Alabama and LSU who are matched up this weekend.

Blackmon’s competition for the top WR spot in the 2012 NFL Draft figures to be Alshon Jeffery and Michael Floyd.  Jeffery has yet to break the 100-yard plateau and Floyd has some off-the-field issues he will have to explain to NFL teams.  Given the amount of teams that need playmakers at the wide receiver position it is conceivable that Blackmon could crack the top-5 in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Is Chris Polk taking his place as the number two RB in the 2012 NFL Draft class?

Week 9 of the college football season gave us some spectacular finishes and the quarterback matchup we have all been waiting for.   With 9 weeks in the books here’s a look at the 2012 NFL Draft prospects that saw an increase or decrease in their NFL Draft stock.

RISING

Chris Polk, RB, Washington

Chris Polk was one of the lone bright spots for UW against Stanford and he continued his impressive season this week against Arizona.  The junior ran the ball 34 times for 144 yards and 4 TD’s.  More impressive than his rushing attempts were his catches.  He caught 4 passes for 100 yards and a TD.   He doesn’t have elite speed but makes up for it with a good burst and vision.  Polk is putting together an impressive junior season and may be working his way into the first-round.

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford – Matt Barkley, QB, USC

I chose to combine these two because they equally impressed in a tight game that may have National Championship implications.  For Luck, he needed some tape where he was challenged and put in work in crunch time.  For Barkley, the head to head comparison with the number one pick was a positive experience.  Landry Jones looked solid this week as well but Barkley may be solidifying himself as the number two QB in this class.  Both QB’s were efficient, threw the ball into tight spots, and were the clear cut leaders on their respective teams.  Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft Stock Up, Stock Down»

Week 8 picks against the spread

The NFL’s Future writers take their stab at picking the NFL week 8 games against the spread.

Profetta’s Picks

Indianapolis at Tennessee (-8.5)

The Colts hit rock bottom against the Saints. Things can only get better. The Titans are reeling and the Colts have owned them in recent years, so this could be where Indy gets their first win.

Just kidding. Peyton Manning isn’t playing. Titans big.

Prediction: Titans 30, Colts 13

Jacksonville at Houston (-9.5)

The Jags may have found an identity on Monday night. Their stifling defense/grinding run game formula should keep this game close.

Prediction: Texans 20, Jaguars 16

Minnesota at Carolina (-3.5)

Jordan Gross keeps Jared Allen in check and Cam Newton feasts on a Vikings’ secondary that could be without Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook. Christian Ponder has looked okay, but Newton has looked really, really, really okay.

Prediction: Panthers 34, Vikings 27

New Orleans (-13) at St. Louis

Drew Brees vs. A.J. Feeley. I repeat, Drew Brees vs. A.J. Feeley. Make that two teams hitting rock bottom against the Saints in consecutive weeks.

Prediction:  Saints 41, Rams 3 Read the rest of this entry » «Week 8 Picks Against the Spread»

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford (Junior)

The Colts are looking at the reality of turning the page on the Peyton Manning era in Indy in the next couple of seasons.  With a healthy Manning in place, the Colts won’t be picking this high again until Manning is out of town.  In that vein, they select the heir apparent (in more ways than one) to Manning in Andrew Luck.  The question now becomes, how long does Luck sit and learn from Peyton?

2.  Miami Dolphins – Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma (Junior)

The hottest debate leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft will be who is the number two QB behind Luck?  The answer in this version of the 2012 NFL Mock Draft is Landry Jones.  I have flip-flopped between Jones, Barkley and RGIII and probably will until after the Pro Day workouts.  They all have flaws and it will come down to system fit.  With Tony Sparano half-out in Miami, we don’t know the system yet so I opted for the best physical tools of the three.

St. Louis needs to find a protector for Sam Bradford

3.  St. Louis Rams – Matt Kalil, T, USC (Junior)

The Rams have major issues on their offensive line including the LT spot that Jason Smith will vacate.  Keeping Sam Bradford healthy is the number one priority in STL.  I toyed with the idea of Morris Claiborne here but came (quickly) to the realization that Bradford needs to stay upright more than they need a DB.  Matt Kalil is a franchise LT that is a low-risk pick and could be a Joe Thomas-type tackle, so he’s the logical selection for our 2012 NFL Mock Draft.

4.  Minnesota Vikings – Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford (Junior)

Vikings fans have to be excited with what they saw out of Christian Ponder in his first NFL start.  Protecting Ponder should be the goal of this offseason.  Charlie Johnson is a serviceable tackle but is a better guard.  Steve Hutchinson may be a cap casualty as his play has steadily decreased over the last several years.  Moving Johnson inside to LG and Martin manning the LT spot is a natural fit and a sure way to keep Ponder healthy.  Martin will quickly become AP’s friend as he’s a terrific run blocker as well.

5.  Arizona Cardinals – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St. (Junior)

Probably not worst case scenario for the Cardinals but they would have loved for one of the tackles to slide to them at five in our 2012 NFL Mock Draft.  The Cardinals got themselves in trouble by selecting Levi Brown based on need over BPA.  In this case, the pick comes down to Blackmon, Coples, or Claiborne.  The Cardinals are going to equip Kevin Kolb with the pieces to succeed.  If a top tackle is not available, Blackmon becomes the next objective.  Kolb has underperformed due to three reasons; lack of protection, lack of weapons (outside of Fitzgerald), and lack of skills.  Two of those three can be fixed.

6.  Seattle Seahawks – Matt Barkley, QB, USC (Junior)

The marriage of Pete Carroll and Matt Barkley has come full circle.  Carroll ducked out of SC before the major sanctions hit leaving his star QB without hopes of postseason glory.  Carroll is hoping his former star recruit can bring a little postseason glory to Seattle.  The Seahawks QB situation is in dire need of a long-term fix.  Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst are not starters and Josh Portis is a long way from developing to that level.  With Barkley available at 6, it makes to much sense to leave out of our 2012 NFL Mock Draft. Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Mock Draft October 30 Update»

Montee Ball will have to be huge against a tough OSU defense

With Wisconsin coming off a heartbreaking loss to MSU and their National Championship hopes dashed they look to seek revenge against the Buckeyes.

Both teams feature offensive line talent that will litter the first couple rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.  This contest will spotlight the two top center prospects that are draft eligible in Michael Brewster and Peter Konz.  The matchup to watch will be how the interior of the Wisconsin line handle to tough Ohio State front which features John Simon and Jon Hankins.  Ohio State is back to relative full strength with Boom Herron and Mike Adams back in the fold.

Players to keep an eye on:

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin #66 (Junior)

The junior center is quickly overtaking the top center spot in the 2012 NFL Draft class.  He is tall for a center but plays with solid leverage.  He is equally effective in run and pass protection and has stood as the leader of a very good Wisconsin offensive line.  Wisconsin players historically stay all four years but Konz is a first-round prospect.  He will have an opportunity to increase his impressive 2011 resume this week against John Simon and Jon Hankins.

Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin, #1

Nick Toon’s talent has never been in question.  He’s often been injured in his four-year stint with the Badgers.  Toon has all the physical tools to be every bit as good as his father, Al Toon in the NFL.  His injury history will be the only question mark in Toon’s overall game.  Despite missing the Indiana game, Toon has collected 27 catches for 505 yards and 6 TD’s in 2011.  Toon is being talked about as a potential first-rounder in many draft circles and will have an opportunity to stand out against a couple of future NFL corners in Travis Howard and Bradley Roby.  Roby could be the next in line of great OSU corners, so look out for this matchup

Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin, #28 (Junior)

Ohio State’s stout run defense is an excellent test for Montee Ball.  The TD scoring machine has amassed 768 yards and 17 TD’s in six games.  Ball is a physical back that came into 2011 leaner and quicker.  By the time the 2012 NFL Draft rolls around, Ball could solidify his status as a first-round pick. When he left the MSU game the momentum clearly changed.  Ball takes a lot of heat of Russell Wilson and allows him to be at his best in play action. Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft Prospects Preview: Wisconsin vs. Ohio St.»

Can Matt Barkley solidfy the number two QB spot in this contest?

Stanford takes the Andrew Luck show to SC to battle Matt Barkley and the Trojans.  This will be the headliner but this game will be won or lost in the trenches.  The much maligned USC offensive line played well against Notre Dame and will need to be even better against the Cardinal.  Stanford’s balanced offense will put points on the board.  Knowing that, the USC offense will have to keep Matt Barkley clean in this contest.  The Stanford secondary will be without Delano Howell again which could be huge for SC.

This game is loaded with 2012 NFL Draft talent.  There are five first-round locks in this contest and it could feature four of the first five picks in the 2012 NFL Draft.  There are plenty of intriguing matchups in this contest and the outcome is likely to come down which defense can force the costly turnover.

Guys to keep an eye on:

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford #12 (Junior)

Andrew Luck didn’t get to showcase his talents last week in primetime so Stanford may look to shine the spotlight on the biggest thing since Peyton Manning.  Luck threw only 21 passes against Washington for 169 yards and 2 TD’s.  In Luck’s world that is a very quiet night.  With Stanford’s dominant run blockers they haven’t been forced to showcase Luck but USC might be able to score with them so we could get a real good look at the junior signal caller.

Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford #55 (Junior)

Martin is a top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and has been absolutely dominant in 2011.  He’s a powerful run blocker and has great feet and hand in pass protection.  Martin will face speed off the edge with Nick Perry which could be the matchup to watch on the night.  Jon Martin and Matt Kalil are considered the best tackles that are draft eligible and we will see which one shines in this contest.

David DeCastro, G, Stanford #52 (Junior)

DeCastro is the number one guard in the 2012 class if he decides to forgo his senior season.  He is flat out nasty in the run game and is very solid in pass protection.  One guard has been taken in the top 10 since 1990 (Chris Naeole in 1997) but DeCastro is good enough to buck that trend.  Outside of his teammate Andrew Luck, DeCastro may be the most dominant player at his position in this entire draft. Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft Prospects Preview: Stanford vs. USC»

Big game for RGIII

The 2012 NFL Draft will be well represented in this Big XII matchup. 

Robert Griffin III has been one of the most talked about prospects and has NFL Draft Nation abuzz about the potential that he may declare for the 2012 NFL Draft.  This game also features first-round lock, Justin Blackmon who will be looking to further his case as the number one receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft. This game could be a shootout between RGIII and Brandon Weeden and may be the most exciting (offensive) game of the weekend.

Guys to keep an eye on:

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor #10 (Junior)

Oklahoma St. isn’t exactly known for their defense (Louisiana-Lafayette put 34 on them).   RGIII has been at the heart of early Heisman talk and for good reason.  He has thrown for 1950 yards, 22 TD’s and 2 INT’s through six games.  Baylor had the week off last week and should come out ready to score with the Cowboys.  RGIII will have to play his best game of the season if Baylor wants to keep it close with the number 3 ranked team in the country.  There has been speculation that RGIII will stay in school for his senior season, but if he decides to enter the 2012 NFL Draft he will push Matt Barkley and Landry Jones for the number two QB in this class. Read the rest of this entry » «2012 NFL Draft Prospects Preview: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St.»

Denver Broncos

Will John Fox and John Elway go into 2012 with Touchdown Timmy?

1. Defensive tackle   It’s the land of misfit toys on the interior of Denver’s D-line, with veteran castoffs like Brodrick Bunkley and Ryan McBean offering little to no push up the middle.  I wouldn’t expect much from journeyman Kevin Vickerson or ten-year vet Ty Warren when they return from seasons spent on the I.R.

The Broncos will likely be picking in the top 10 of a 2012 NFL Draft that looks very weak at DT, so they’ll probably wait until the second round to address this need with a guy like Purdue’s Kawann Short or UConn’s Kendall Reyes. At least one of the top four DTs (Brandon Thompson, Jerel Worthy,  Dontari Poe, Alameda Ta’amu) could be available to the Broncos near the top of the second round.      

2. Cornerback   Age is an obvious factor with starters Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman, and opposing QBs salivate at the sight of backups Cassius Vaughn and Jonathan Wilhite. The Broncos could be very interested in LSU’s Morris Claiborne in the 5 to 10 range.

3. Defensive end   This position doesn’t look bad on paper, considering that RDE Elvis Dumervil led the league in sacks a few seasons ago and LDE Robert Ayers is a recent first round pick. The numbers tell another story. Dumervil has zero sacks through six games and hasn’t been able to stay healthy following a 2010 season lost to a pectoral injury. At 5-11/260, he’s miscast as a 4-3 DE. Ayers has only one sack and hasn’t showed the ability to get a push from the inside or the edge. He just hasn’t developed as the Broncos had hoped. UNC’s Quinton Coples could be a darkhorse first round option. He could start at either end spot and bring some heat from anywhere along the line.

If I’m John Elway, I’m giving the Houston Texans (and old buddies Rick Smith and Gary Kubiak) a call. Mario Williams, who’s out for the season with a torn pectoral, is an impending free agent, and rookie Brooks Reed has showed some promise as Williams’ replacement. I’m offering Dumervil to the Broncos for Williams. Two expensive, six-year veterans who have lost a year to torn pecs, in a trade that would return both players to their natural positions.   

4. Quarterback   I’m beyond sick of hearing Tim Tebow’s name at every turn, and I’m not very impressed by a come-from-behind win over a woeful Miami squad that all but handed Denver a victory on a silver platter. However, while Tebow’s mechanics would make Randall Cunningham cringe, I’ll admit that there seems to be something special about him. His team undoubtedly responds to him, and he gives the Broncos’ fanbase hope, which is good enough…for now. I’ll reserve judgement until the end of the season. If Tebow can be more efficient and continue to make plays at the right moments, that may be good enough for John Fox, who molded winning teams in Carolina with QB Jake Delhomme, who was never pretty (even in his prime). If we see more of what we saw from Tebow in the first 55 minutes of the Miami game as this season unfolds, then USC’s Matt Barkley and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III have to be considered in the top 10 (if they declare).     Read the rest of this entry » «AFC West 2012 NFL Draft Needs»

Matt Forte will get paid. Will it be in Chicago?

It’s never too early to start talking about NFL free agency.  If your team is like mine and you have already packed in the season seven games in, here is your hope.  Our seven part series highlighting the top free agents by position should give you some hope.  Here’s a look at the running backs:

The Running Backs

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

Ray Rice may be emerging into the most complete backs in the NFL.  His versatility to do all things needed out of the position add value to the do-it-all back from Rutgers.  It would be shocking if the Ravens allowed Rice to walk following the season.

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

Matt Forte is making a case for an early MVP candidate.  His versatility as a talented runner and equally talented receiver make him a danger each time he lines up in the backfield.  Thus far, Forte and Chicago have yet to reach an agreement but Jerry Angelo isn’t stupid enough to allow Forte to exit Chi-town.

Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns

Hillis is a throwback but his 2011 performance isn’t helping his case to get paid.  The bruising RB has been down for games with strep throat and a hamstring.  Even when healthy, he hasn’t been effective.  My guess is that Hillis tests the market before realizing that Cleveland has the best offer on the table.    

Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

Grant is the most likely of the top RB’s to hit the open market.  With James Starks and Alex Green looking like the future, it’s unlikely that Grant is retained.  When healthy, Grant is capable of producing with the best of them.  Unfortunately, he hasn’t stayed healthy for long enough to warrant big money on the open market.  He’s a one-cut runner that has excellent vision and could produce as a starting RB if needed. 

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots

If Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen prove to be the future, BGE could be available.  Thus far, Green-Ellis has been the feature back and proving to be just that.  Green-Ellis doesn’t have blazing speed but he’s tough to bring down one-on-one and wears on a defense.  Odds are that BGE is back in Foxborough next season.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

To put it lightly, Benson is a headache.  He is talented but may not be worth the risk.  At this point in his career he’s not an every down back but can contribute between-the-tackles.  Benson won’t be back in Cincinnati and probably goes somewhere on a one-year deal.

Mike Tolbert, San Diego Chargers

Tolbert is a goal-line back that is forced into a bigger role due to the continued health issues of Ryan Matthews.  Matthews inability to stay healthy has been good for Tolbert but he’s more of a short yardage, utility back.  San Diego probably looks to ink Tolbert to complement the oft-injured Matthews.

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

Beast Mode is a solid back but not a feature back on a good team.  He doesn’t have enough quickness at this point to break big runs and has become a between-the-tackles runner that is capable of pushing the pile.  He’s the best of what Seattle has to offer at the position and barring a high draft pick spent on the position he’s likely to be back in Seattle.

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders

Bush is complimentary back to Run-DMC and probably should stay where he’s at.  He has carved a niche spelling McFadden on the goal line and short yardage.  He’s not an every down back but may intrigue teams because of his production in the absence of McFadden.

The Best of the Rest:

Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons

Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks

Jacob Hester, San Diego Chargers

Chester Taylor, Arizona Cardinals

Tashard Choice, Dallas Cowboys

Spencer Larson, Denver Broncos

Cadillac Williams, St. Louis Rams

Ronnie Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Jerome Felton, Carolina Panthers

Thomas Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

Owen Schmitt, Philadelphia Eagles