ADN

If I'm not mistaken, it goes Texans - Saints - 49'ers in the draft...

I got El Presidente going 1st...

But who N.O. is going to pick second is a mystery to me...I suspect they may trade down and get somebody else, to a team that needs a QB, with both Leinhart and Young coming out...The Saints aren't very happy with Aaron Brooks I don't imagine, his ass got benched the last 3 games...But whether or not he'll be tutoring Vince Young next year remains to be seen...

I got Marcus Vick going in the late second/third round...

Other than the huge names coming out early, I don't think this is a super deep draft class, but I could be wrong and not thinking about a couple of guys I know are going to be studs on the next level...

::shrugs::....Bush...Lienart....Young.....then the talent pool as far as I know it isnt really that deep...

No, Niners draft 6 or 7 depending upon a coin flip with the Raiders.

I would kill to see the Niners draft AJ Hawk but more than likely they will pick up some tool on offense that won't contribute a single bit and get paid a ton of money...just like Alex Smith.

Why would San Fran draft a linebacker?

Arguably the only good player on that entire team is a linebacker...

Chances are, they need more than 1 linebacker Homie...They are tied for bottom to the last in points on defense...The team that was dead last had .3 points more...At this point, you take the best defensive player available, which will more than likely be Hawk on many draft cards...After watching what he did to Texas, no way in the hell I pass him up, I don't care what position he plays...Having 2 great linebackers means they can get away with running nickle D, which will let them get away with having nary a superstud corner...

Aside from that, they don't have a starter in the defensive backfield older than 25 years old...If nothing else, they should be able to run...So, its not that they aren't good, as much as it is they are inexperienced...

can you name 3 of their offensive starters?...you if have a young defense...work on getting those guys better....Hawk would be a good choice only if no offensive playmakers were left....they gotta score points too....

Actually I can name 3 of their offensive starters, but I could probably do that for every team in the league and the top 3 teams from every NCAA D1 confrence...That shouldn't surprise you though...Why do you ask..?

They just drafted a young QB last year...As far as I know, there are no offensive WR studs...No tight end or offensive lineman that I would want to draft that high...Unless you want to take Lendale first round, but running back isn't one of the 49'ers woes as far as I can tell, its one of their deepest positions...Shit, any team with Frank Gore @ 3rd string (608 yards, 4.8 ypc) isn't really hurting for a running game, are they..?

What kinda of talk is it that you don't take the best rated player on the board first round..? Regardless of position..?

They need a WR more than anything I think. The wide reciever pool isn't that strong this year but there are some good picks to get them started on the right path

Such as..?

Youngsters add depth to 2006 draft

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.


The number of underclassmen making the leap to the NFL had been increasing on an annual basis, but this year's list -- made official by the league office on Thursday -- contains 48 names, one shy of last year's record-setting total. Regardless, as has been the case the last several years, early-entry decisions will have a major affect on the 2006 NFL draft.

Best Decisions To Leave

1. Vince Young, QB, Texas
Young's stock will never be higher than it is now. Also, his weaknesses in the eyes of pro scouts (release point, reading coverages and taking snaps under center) were not going to be cured with another year in Austin, Texas.

2. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
With more and more teams moving to variations of the 3-4 defense, a massive gap-plugger like Ngata is in high demand. This year's defensive tackle class is deep but lacks star power, giving Ngata a tremendous window of opportunity to sneak into the top half of the first round.

3. Winston Justice, OT, USC
Concerns regarding his past off-the-field troubles could cause some teams to balk, but those issues would still await him in the 2007 draft. Outside of Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the 2006 class is void of blue-chip offensive tackles. If Justice works out well and can convince some front-office people that his immaturity is a thing of the past, he could emerge as the No. 2 offensive tackle selected in this year's draft -- as early as the middle of the first round.

Worst Decisions To Leave

1. Ray Edwards, DE, Purdue
There is no denying Edwards' outstanding combination of size and athletic ability. However, he took a step backwards as a junior in '05 and needed the extra year to polish his skills and regain some momentum.

2. Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green
With his mobility, arm strength, size and accuracy, Jacobs flashed first-round potential as a first-year starter in 2004. He failed to build on that momentum during an injury-riddled and inconsistent junior campaign in 2005. Instead of returning for his senior season, Jacobs made the sizeable mistake of getting greedy. He'll wind up with decent money as a second- or third-round pick in 2006, but he could have made millions more in the 2007 draft if he had returned to form at Bowling Green next fall.

3. Devin Hester, RS/WR/DC, Miami
Coach Larry Coker was willing to get Hester far more involved as a wide receiver if he elected to finish his eligibility in 2006, but Hester just couldn't wait. Hester will be the most explosive return specialist in the 2006 class and should be one of the fastest prospects at any position, but his lack of a defined position on offense or defense could keep him out of the first two rounds.

Surprise Decisions To Stay

1. Ahmad Brooks, ILB, Virginia
Brooks' decision to return was the right move but surprising nonetheless. Once considered a top-five prospect in this year's draft class, Brooks struggled through an injury-riddled junior campaign. He allowed himself to get out of shape, frustrating his coaches and trainers. Instead of testing the waters in a linebacker-filled 2006 draft, Brooks can recapture his form next fall and regain his status as a high draft pick in 2007.

2. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
Adams was seriously considering the leap. But he was getting mixed signals from NFL scouts, his college coaches and other advisors around him. Instead of potentially setting himself up for the disappointment of a lifetime, Adams made the wise decision to return to Clemson for his final season in 2006. If he picks up where he left off as a junior, Adams will rank among the top defensive prospects in the 2007 class.

3. LaRon Landry, DS, LSU
Landry would have ranked among the elite safety prospects in this year's class and could have come off the board late in the first round. While it was surprising that Landry elected to return to Baton Rouge for his fourth consecutive season as LSU's starting free safety, his decision makes sense because of the steep competition in this year's safety class. With standouts like Darnell Bing (USC), Ko Simpson (South Carolina), Donte Whitner (Ohio State) and Bernard Pollard (Purdue) out of the way, Landry will unquestionably go into next season as the top-rated senior safety.

NFL Teams Benefiting Most

Houston Texans -- First Overall Selection
Reggie Bush's decision to turn pro takes the pressure off Houston's front office and gives fans hope for the future -- assuming, of course, the Texans take Bush with this pick.

New Orleans Saints -- Second Overall Selection
Matt Leinart seems like the perfect fit as the future franchise quarterback for the Saints. If that's the case, Leinart's decision to stay last year, coupled with Bush's decision to leave this year, created this good fortune for an organization notorious for its misfortune.

New York Jets -- Fourth Overall Selection
If Bush and/or Vince Young elected to stay in school for one more year, the Jets likely would be looking to trade this pick. Instead, the Jets can simply sit tight at No. 4 and wait for their future franchise quarterback (Leinart or Young) or a cornerstone left tackle (Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson).

Miami Dolphins -- Pick No. 16
With USC junior OT Winston Justice entering the 2006 draft, Miami now has a chance to land its franchise left tackle without being forced to package picks to trade up.

Denver Broncos -- Picks Nos. 22 (from Washington) and TBD (No. 29, 30, 31 or 32)
The Broncos are currently the only team with two first-round picks in this year's draft. The addition of 48 underclassmen to the talent pool significantly increases their odds of upgrading their roster.

Biggest Position Boosts

1. Running Back
Memphis' DeAngelo Williams is a star in his own right, but even he will get upstaged by USC junior Reggie Bush, who is expected to be the top selection in this year's draft. Williams should come off the board within the top 10 picks, with two more junior RBs (Minnesota's Laurence Maroney and USC's LenDale White) likely to go in the first round. Wisconsin's Brian Calhoun and UCLA's Maurice Drew add rare depth to the 2006 running back class.

2. Safety
Only one safety has been selected in the first round of the last three drafts. Texas' Michael Huff figures to be the lone selection this year, but he could be joined by junior entries Darnell Bing (USC) and/or Ko Simpson (South Carolina). Ohio State's Donte Whitner and Purdue's Bernard Pollard are also Day One safety prospects who greatly improve the overall quality of this class.

3. Cornerback
This year's cornerback class still pales in comparison to some of the recent groups, but the addition of eight juniors at least raises the class to a level of respectability. Ashton Youboty (Ohio State), Antonio Cromartie (FSU), Dee Webb (Florida), Richard Marshall (Fresno State), Jonathan Joseph (South Carolina) and Charles Gordon (Kansas) are all Day One prospects with NFL starting potential.

Schools Most Affected

1. USC
Gone from this season's Rose Bowl team are QB Matt Leinart, RBs Reggie Bush and LenDale White, TE Dominique Byrd, OT Winston Justice, OGs Taitusi Lutui and Fred Matua, DE Lawrence Rucker, DCs Justin Wyatt and John Walker, DS Darnell Bing and PT Tom Malone. Looks like a repeat of Oklahoma in 2005 for coach Pete Carroll's crew.

2. Purdue
One down year, and coach Joe Tiller's youngsters elect to jump ship. There were clearly some discipline and work-ethic issues on 2005's disappointing Purdue team, so maybe Tiller and his staff will be better off in 2006 without QB Brandon Kirsch, DE Ray Edwards and SS Bernard Pollard.

3. Ohio State
With juniors Ashton Youboty and Donte Whitner joining senior Nate Salley in the 2006 NFL draft, three members of the Buckeyes' secondary will not return next season. That would be a lot easier to stomach if the entire linebacking corps, including two potential first-round draft picks in A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, was not also departing. Finally, losing WR Santonio Holmes to the draft came as no surprise, but his loss will still be felt. Without Holmes, opponents can give Ted Ginn Jr. far more attention next season.

Projected Top 10 in 2007

1. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
2. Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
3. Ahmad Brooks, ILB, Virginia
4. Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State
5. Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State
6. Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
7. Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia
8. Michael Bush, RB, Louisville
9. Justin Blaylock, OT, Texas
10. Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi

Scouts Inc.'s Top 32
RANK NAME POS CLASS SCHOOL PREV
1. Reggie Bush RB JR USC 1
2. D'Brickashaw Ferguson OT SR Virginia 2
3. Matt Leinart QB SR USC 3
4. Vince Young QB JR Texas 4
5. A.J. Hawk OLB SR Ohio State 6
6. Mario Williams DE JR N.C. State 5
7. Vernon Davis TE JR Maryland 11
8. Haloti Ngata DT JR Oregon 19
9. Jimmy Williams DC SR Virginia Tech 7
10. DeAngelo Williams RB SR Memphis 12
11. Chad Greenway OLB SR Iowa 13
12. Demeco Ryans OLB SR Alabama 10
13. Michael Huff DB SR Texas 16
14. Santonio Holmes WR JR Ohio State 18
15. Winston Justice OT JR USC NR
16. Mathias Kiwanuka DE SR Boston College 8
17. Jay Cutler QB SR Vanderbilt 14
18. Tamba Hali DE SR Penn State 9
19. LenDale White RB JR USC 21
20. Marcus McNeill OT SR Auburn 15
21. Laurence Maroney RB JR Minnesota 23
22. Leonard Pope TE JR Georgia 20
23. Chad Jackson WR JR Florida 29
24. Ashton Youboty DC JR Ohio State 30
25. Ernie Sims OLB JR Florida State NR
26. Darnell Bing DS JR USC NR
27. Claude Wroten DT SR LSU NR
28. Derek Hagan WR SR Arizona State 24
29. Bobby Carpenter OLB SR Ohio State NR
30. Brodrick Bunkley DT SR Florida State 17
31. Marcedes Lewis TE SR UCLA 28
32. Orien Harris DT SR Miami 31