Everyone understands that the top senior prospect in the 2007 NFL draft, at this very early juncture of the evaluation process, is a guy whose name begins with "Q," right?
What some people might not know, though, is that the player with the highest Q-rating isn't Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, but rather University of Georgia defensive end Quentin Moses.
At least, that's according to the springtime rankings of one scouting service utilized by several league franchises.
Such preliminary rankings, even by well-respected combine services, don't always accurately reflect how senior prospects actually fare in the draft. Players rise and fall in their senior years, the scrutiny becomes a little more focused and, of course, every draft class now includes a few dozen underclass standouts. The smart money is that Quinn, who isn't even rated as the top quarterback by one service, an honor that went to Drew Stanton of Michigan State, will be top pick next April.
Provided, that is, the first choice is held by a franchise that needs a quarterback.
Brett Hansbauer/US Presswire
Quentin Moses is among the many highly touted defensive prospects in the '07 draft class.
What some of the early player assessments do reflect is that the strength of the senior class for 2007 lies on the defensive side of the ball. Eleven of the 17 highest-rated prospects play on defense, and there are four ends and five secondary defenders in the elite grouping.
The cornerback position -- with players such as Leon Hall (Michigan), Marcus McCauley (Fresno State) and Zach Bowman (Nebraska) -- looks especially deep. And Moses is joined by fellow ends Adam Carriker (Nebraska), Gaines Adams (Clemson) and Victor Abimiri (Notre Dame) as standout "edge" defenders. Moses had 11½ sacks in 2005 and 21 tackles for loss and is coming off a monstrous spring. But the UGA standout needs to add some bulk to his 6-feet-4½, 250-pound frame in his senior season.
He's already -- an apropos "Q"-word here -- quick enough for the next level.
Around the league
• In advance of the Aug. 7-9 sessions in Chicago, where they hope to elect the successor to commissioner Paul Tagliabue, owners will convene for a one-day meeting in Detroit on Monday, ostensibly to narrow the list of candidates for the job to a more workable group. To this point, the committee charged with identifying candidates has moved forward with more stealth and efficiency than some CIA operations, and there are more than a few prominent owners who will go to Detroit not knowing the names that might be presented to them. Rumor is that at least one "outsider," a CEO-type from the business sector, figures to be among the group of 3-5 finalists, but that the next commissioner is still most likely to be someone already in the league office. But, hey, that's just scuttlebutt, because there's been a lot of cloak-and-dagger stuff that has surrounded the process. It's expected that the finalists will meet with every owner -- in workable groups, with the composition probably established by division -- in Chicago. That has led some owners to speculate that three days might not be sufficient for choosing Tagliabue's successor.
• After last week's suggestion in this space that one of the sides will exercise the 2008 opt-out trigger in the recent extension to the collective bargaining agreement, which will make for a very short honeymoon for whomever succeeds Tagliabue, there was considerable response from NFL owners and high-ranking team executives. Several agreed with the assessment and questioned the wisdom of having endorsed the extension which, four months later, apparently doesn't look nearly as good to some owners in hindsight as it did in March. Too bad, guys, you voted for it. Well, at least 30 of you did. The lone dissenters, Ralph Wilson of Buffalo and Cincinnati's Mike Brown, were all but pilloried for suggesting that the extension was ram-rodded through and that they didn't understand much of it. Four months later, with many of the elements of the CBA still under debate (anyone got a copy yet of the "qualifiers" which are supposed to determine the expanded revenue sharing mechanism?), Wilson and Brown don't seem quite as detached as they were made out to be. There were a lot of low-revenue owners who talked tough going into the CBA negotiations. When it came time to vote, though, most of them folded. Four months later, a few clearly are second-guessing themselves.
• It's going to be interesting to see how Carolina Panthers officials handle the case of Adam Meadows, the veteran offensive tackle who abruptly retired less than two weeks into training camp in 2004, and who this week petitioned the NFL for reinstatement. Even though Meadows fully repaid the $2.5 million signing bonus that was part of the five-year, $15 million contract he signed with Carolina as an unrestricted free agent in '04, the Panthers retain his rights. Having an extra offensive tackle around, especially one whose résumé includes 96 starts, is never a bad thing. That is, assuming Meadows' past shoulder problems have been resolved, and he is medically cleared to resume his career. But the Panthers have journeyman Todd Fordham as the top backup to starters Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton. And the team invested a third-round pick this year in former University of Miami tackle Rashad Butler, who was often overshadowed by Hurricanes teammate Eric Winston, but who a lot of scouts feel has terrific potential. And there is this to consider as well: While management seems to have no quarrel with the manner in which Meadows left the team two summers ago -- coach John Fox used the term "integrity" in describing the tackle's decision to retire rather than simply collect paychecks -- there are rumblings that a few veterans are still bothered by the departure. This much is certain: If the Panthers decide they won't want Meadows, and eventually release his rights, a lot of teams are going to jump to the phone to arrange physical exams with him.
• In the wake of the gunshot wounds suffered by starting free safety Keith Davis in a drive-by shooting last weekend, it doesn't appear the Dallas Cowboys have been scouring the league for a possible replacement. That could mean team officials feel Davis will be ready for the start of training camp, or perhaps shortly thereafter, and that there won't be any long-term repercussions. It might also signal that the Cowboys don't feel any of the free agent safeties still looking for work -- Lance Schulters, Jerome Woods, Antuan Edwards -- are any better than the players already on their roster. The team's options, if Davis isn't able to get onto the field, include 10-year veteran Marcus Coleman, a cornerback for much of his career, and rookie Pat Watkins, a fifth-round choice from Florida State. But keep this name in mind, too: Justin Beriault, a sixth-round pick from Ball State in the 2005 draft. Before he suffered a knee injury that completely wiped out his rookie season, Beriault had impressed the Dallas coaches. The only caveat is that, like Davis, Beriault is more a strong than free safety. What the Cowboys really need is a ballhawking free safety to complement Roy Williams. And it just so happens that a defender fitting that description, Dwight Smith, is suddenly available. Released by the Saints on Thursday, it won't take Smith very long to find a new home, and it's not known if the Cowboys were among the teams to express interest in him.
Dwight Smith
Safety
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Solo Ast Sack FF Int
73 63 10 1 2 2
• Word is that Smith was frequently vociferous in his criticism of Saints management, often within purposeful earshot of prominent front office people, following Hurricane Katrina last year. That might have helped grease the skids for his Thursday exit. That said, general manager Mickey Loomis insisted that the decision to release the five-year veteran after just one season in New Orleans, and after the Saints had tried unsuccessfully to trade him for much of the offseason, was strictly football-related. Loomis also noted that the Saints wanted to get younger at the safety position, which they certainly have, with the exception of the free-agent addition of the much-traveled Omar Stoutmire, 32, in the offseason. Stoutmire, a nine-year pro who is familiar to first-year head coach Sean Payton, is scheduled to go to camp as one of the starters. The Saints have used second-round selections in each of the last two drafts on safeties, Josh Bullocks (2005) and Roman Harper (2006), and they represent the future. New Orleans also acquired former Atlanta second-round pick Bryan Scott in the trade that sent left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy to the Falcons. None of that can bode very well for 12-year veteran safety Jay Bellamy, who is 34 and coming off a year in which injuries limited him to three appearances. He could be the next victim of the Saints' movement to green up the safety position.
• It didn't make the list of less-publicized training camp competitions in the main Tip Sheet item this week, but the return of left offensive tackle Matt Light to the New England lineup could set up a pretty interesting battle for the right tackle spot. Especially with the offseason departure of the underrated Tom Ashworth, who signed with Seattle as a free agent. The incumbent right tackle entering camp is four-year veteran Brandon Gorin, who has started 18 games the past two seasons but isn't a lock to win the No. 1 job. Getting Light back on the field means the Pats can look at Nick Kaczur at right tackle now. Kaczur started 11 games as a rookie in 2005, when Light missed all but three contests with a broken leg, and he played pretty well. Kaczur is a tough kid who actually might be better suited for the right side. If the object of the exercise is always to get your five best blockers onto the field, it might be difficult to keep Kaczur out of the lineup.
• According to the excellent NFL salary database compiled by USA Today, the Washington Redskins had the league's sixth-highest payroll in 2003, at $84.826 million. And they finished 5-11. In 2004, Washington led the league, with a then-record payroll of $117.96 million, about $13 million more than the No. 2 team, the Philadelphia Eagles. And the Redskins finished 6-10. Last season, the Redskins had a payroll of just $66.1 million, the third-lowest in the league. And they crafted a 10-6 record, grabbed a wild-card berth, and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs before being eliminated by NFC champion Seattle. So one would think that owner Dan Snyder might surmise, given the results of last season, that you don't have to sport the biggest payroll to field a pretty viable team, right? Uh, no. This spring, Snyder opened the coffers again, overpaying for overrated free agents such as safety Adam Archuleta and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El. He traded for wideout Brandon Lloyd and then rewarded a guy who's never had 50 catches in a season with a fat new contract. Odds are that the Redskins will be at or near the top of the payroll list again in 2006. And if history is any indicator, out of the playoffs.
Punts: Oakland coach Art Shell has further stirred an already dramatically shaken up offensive line, by inserting rookie Paul McQuistan into the starting group at right guard for the beginning of camp. A third-round pick from Weber State, where he played more tackle than guard, McQuistan had an impressive spring and, for his efforts, was moved ahead of veteran Brad Badger on the depth chart. … Shell has also shuffled his linebacker corps, with Danny Clark, who started all 16 games at middle linebacker in 2005 and was the Raiders' leading tackler the last two seasons, the odd-man out. Second-year pro Kirk Morrison, a terrific performer as a rookie last year, moves into the middle. He will be replaced on the weak side by Thomas Howard. The strongside starter is Sam Williams. … The Dolphins continue to stay in contact with free agent defensive tackle Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson, released by the Detroit Lions earlier in the spring. Wilkinson has considered retirement, but probably would play in '06 if the money was right, and if he can avoid most of the early rigors of training camp. … Cornerback Al Harris, who skipped all the voluntary workouts with the Green Bay Packers this spring, confirmed he will report to camp on time next week. The projected starting cornerback tandem of Harris and Charles Woodson worked zero snaps together in the spring. Woodson, signed as a free agent, rewarded the Packers' largesse by also missing all of the spring organized team activities sessions. … St. Louis guarded against the potential retirement of Marshall Faulk by signing former Packers backup tailback Tony Fisher this spring. But even with that move, the Rams almost certainly will try to upgrade the No. 2 spot behind starter Steven Jackson with Faulk scheduled for knee surgery next week. He's been placed on injured reserve for the season. … It appears that Minnesota has no plans to adjust the contract of starting quarterback Brad Johnson, who is scheduled to earn a base salary of just $1.2 million for 2006. Johnson signed a backup-level deal as a free agent last spring, then became the starter when Daunte Culpepper was lost to a knee injury. With Culpepper being traded to Miami, Johnson goes to camp as the unchallenged starter. … Reading the tea leaves: It could be a lengthy holdout for New Orleans first-round tailback Reggie Bush, the second overall choice in the draft. If the Saints are planning on working off the contract numbers for last year's second overall pick, Miami tailback Ronnie Brown, that won't get a deal done.
The last word: "I forgot I have to live this life under the microscope and that people are always watching and criticizing everything I do … coming off two pretty good seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl and 24 years old, and maybe I felt a little invincible, and this was God's way of saying, 'Hey, I can take it away from you at any time, so you'd better back off a little bit.' " -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger discussing his motorcycle accident.
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn could have been a first-round pick if he'd declared for the 2006 NFL draft.
Instead, Quinn is the top player on my initial 2007 Top 25 Big Board. Notre Dame has the most players on my initial board with four, followed by three from the national champion Texas Longhorns.
Overall, there were 10-12 additional seniors who received strong consideration for the top 25, an indication that the 2007 draft will provide the NFL with a lot of quality talent. Furthermore, there are a host of high-profile juniors who will have the option in mid-January of declaring for the draft.
The Big Board will be updated every two weeks until the college football season kicks off on Aug. 31. From that point on, updates will occur every Wednesday. The top five seniors and juniors at each position will start to appear in early August.
Remember, this is the time of year when I spend countless hours evaluating prospects from games that were played over the last two years. So even though no games are taking place, the board will change during the offseason.
1. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame (6-4, 231)
2005: 64.9 completion pct., 3,919 passing yards, 32 TD-7 INT
2. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson (6-5, 260)
2005: 9½ sacks, 15 tackles for loss
3. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin (6-8, 306)
2005: First Team All-Big Ten
4. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn St. (6-2, 229)
2005: Team-high 116 tackles, 3 sacks
5. Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia (6-5, 250)
2005: 11½ sacks, 20½ tackles for loss
6. Michael Bush, RB, Louisville (6-3, 250)
2005: 1,143 rushing yards, 23 TD
7. Jeff Samardzija, WR, Notre Dame (6-4, 231)
2005: 78 receptions, 1,274 yards, 15 TD
8. LaRon Landry, DB, LSU (6-2, 204)
2005: All-SEC for third straight year
9. Tim Crowder, DE, Texas (6-4, 270)
2005: First Team All-Big 12
10. Brandon Meriweather, DB, Miami (6-0, 188)
2005: Led team with career-high 115 tackles
11. Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan St. (6-3, 230)
2005: 66.5 completion pct., 3,077 yards, 22 TD-12 INT
12. Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn (5-11, 200)
2005: 1,293 rushing yards, 13 TD
13. LaMarr Woodley, DE, Michigan (6-2, 268)
2005: 7 sacks, 14 tackles for loss
14. Levi Brown, OT, Penn St. (6-5, 324)
2005: First Team All-Big Ten
15. Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno St. (6-1, 200)
2005: 1 INT, 7 pass breakups
16. Michael Griffin, DB, Texas (6-0, 205)
2005: 3 INT, team-high 124 tackles
17. Ryan Harris, OT, Notre Dame (6-5, 288)
2005: Started all 12 games (32 straight starts)
18. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska (6-6, 280)
2005: 9 ½ sacks, 17 tackles for loss
19. Rufus Alexander, LB, Oklahoma (6-1, 231)
2005: 17 tackles for loss; team-high 102 tackles
20. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan (5-11, 193)
2005: Team-high 4 INT
21. Quinn Pitcock, DT, Ohio St. (6-3, 295)
2005: 28 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
22. Victor Abiamiri, DE, Notre Dame (6-4, 260)
2005: Team-high 8 sacks, 15 tackles for loss
23. Justin Blalock, OT, Texas (6-4, 329)
2005: First Team All-Big 12
24. Jason Hill, WR, Washington St. (6-1, 210)
2005: 62 receptions, 1,097 yards, 13 TD
25. Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi (6-2, 230)
2005: Led SEC in tackles per game (12.8)
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