Stephen Paea

Position: DT School: Oregon State Height: 6’1 1/8" Weight: 303 lbs Class: Senior 40 time: – All-Star Game: Senior Bowl (DNP – injury) Team Captain: 2009 & 2010 Draft Projection: Late 1st – Early 2nd Round

Summary

Many people have started to slide Stephen Paea down draft boards due to an injury during Senior Bowl practice on the back of what people believe was a so-so senior season at Oregon State. I think this is a mistake. Paea faced constant double-teams in his senior season and still managed to win the Pac-10 defensive player of the year award and, perhaps even more impressively, the Morris trophy, an award given to the best defensive lineman in the Pac-10 as voted on by the conferences offensive lineman. Furthermore, Paea is relatively new to football having not played until his senior year in high school. His game Keep Reading…

When a collective bargaining agreement is finally agreed upon by the players and owner one thing will be for sure: There will be a new rookie wage scale in place. The odds are it will be structured similarly to the NBA model, where players are paid a set amount based on where they are drafted. The question remains though if a wage scale will affect the way that teams draft.

Up until now the general consensus has been that there are really only four positions worthy of the number one overall pick: quarterback, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and defensive end. Since 1960 the breakdown of number one overall picks is as follows: 20 QB’s, 12 RB’s (none since 1995, Ki-Jana Carter), 7 DE’s, 6 DT’s, 4 WR’s (none since 1996, Keyshawn Johnson), 4 OT’s, and 3 LB’s (none since 1988, Aundray Bruce). The 12 running backs are particularly surprising Keep Reading…

Mason Foster

Position: OLB School: Washington Height: 6’1 1/4" Weight: 245 lbs Class: Senior 40 time: 4.75 All-Star Game: Senior Bowl Team Captain: 2010 Draft Projection: Late 1st – Early 2nd Round

Summary

Foster is a player that might not have been on the radar of many before the 2010 season, but after a great senior campaign and solid Senior Bowl performance, he is rapidly climbing up many draft boards. The versatile linebacker played and excelled at all three 4-3 linebacker positions in his career at Washington, but is best suited to be the weakside backer in a 4-3 scheme in the NFL. His natural instincts and tackling ability set him aside from others, and cover up for his relatively average physical attributes. I project him as a solid second round draft pick.

Run Stopping

Foster is the type of player that you will Keep Reading…

Ryan Mathews—RB—San Diego Chargers Mathews had his best day on Sunday, in what has been an otherwise disappointing year. But he showed in the win versus Denver what everybody saw when he was drafted in the 1st round from Fresno State. With 26 carries for 120 yards and 3 touchdowns, Mathews showed he has the ability to be a star in the NFL. I just worry that his best performance comes in the final game of the season versus a very bad Broncos team. Fluke or opportunity? I guess the Chargers coaching staff is going to have to decide that.

Carlos Dunlap—DE—Cincinnati Bengals Dunlap continued his sack explosion on Sunday with another 1.5, capping off an amazing streak in which he compiled a sack in 6 straight games, and 7 of 8. The 2nd round pick from Florida finished the season with a total of 9.5 sacks (second to Keep Reading…

Joe Haden—CB—Cleveland Browns Frankly I’m a little surprised that Haden was not selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. Not that the players selected as starters weren’t deserving, including fellow rookie Devin McCourty, but that Haden was all the way down as a 4th alternate is a little shocking. Haden put together a stat-sheet-filling day this past week versus Baltimore with 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. The 1st round pick from Florida is now tied for 2nd in the NFL with 6 interceptions, and tied for 1st amongst rookies with McCourty. His 17 passes defended are good for 5th in the league. It was probably disappointing for Haden and Browns fans that he was not selected to the Pro Bowl, but he shouldn’t worry too much as I see many trips to the game in his future.

Andre Roberts—WR—Arizona Cardinals The best day of Keep Reading…