TIDBIT: The July 13 supplemental draft
John Clayton
The NFL never seems to rest.
Just when coaches were heading out for vacations and NFL rookie draft choices were in the midst of a league symposium, the Ravens locked up playmaker Ed Reed to a $40 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. That is one of Baltimore's most important re-signings in the past two years.
It's an interesting time around the league. Most teams have rosters between 92 and 100 players as they prepare for the upcoming season. Because these rosters haven't changed much since the NFL draft, teams have time to do a lot of thinking. That's why you're seeing some backups who are heading into the final year of their contracts getting released or traded if teams find a more intriguing prospect available. Often, these moves lead to player-for-player trades.
Despite the advanced stage for team planning, plenty of things are left undone. Here are the top 10 things left on teams' agendas.
Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks is the one generating the most excitement. Or the most caution. He's made an incredible comeback in 10 weeks. Depressed about his departure from Virginia and slow recovery from a knee injury, he ballooned to 292 pounds. He went to Atlanta, worked out, got on a diet and lost 32 pounds. His 4.6 times in the 40-yard dash at last week's workout may not have been great by most teams' standards, but it opened some eyes. The 49ers would appear to be the best fit. They've lost Julian Peterson and most of their experienced outside linebackers in the past couple of years. Brooks and Manny Lawson, the second of San Francisco's first-round picks, would form a good tandem in Mike Nolan's 3-4 defense. The question is, in what round would the 49ers take him? Had he stayed in school and not had drug issues, Brooks might have been a top-10 pick in 2007. He could go as high as the second round, but if teams are cautious, he would go in the fourth or fifth round. Athletically, Brooks is a steal, which is why the Dolphins' Nick Saban is interested.
The NFL never seems to rest.
Just when coaches were heading out for vacations and NFL rookie draft choices were in the midst of a league symposium, the Ravens locked up playmaker Ed Reed to a $40 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. That is one of Baltimore's most important re-signings in the past two years.
It's an interesting time around the league. Most teams have rosters between 92 and 100 players as they prepare for the upcoming season. Because these rosters haven't changed much since the NFL draft, teams have time to do a lot of thinking. That's why you're seeing some backups who are heading into the final year of their contracts getting released or traded if teams find a more intriguing prospect available. Often, these moves lead to player-for-player trades.
Despite the advanced stage for team planning, plenty of things are left undone. Here are the top 10 things left on teams' agendas.
Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks is the one generating the most excitement. Or the most caution. He's made an incredible comeback in 10 weeks. Depressed about his departure from Virginia and slow recovery from a knee injury, he ballooned to 292 pounds. He went to Atlanta, worked out, got on a diet and lost 32 pounds. His 4.6 times in the 40-yard dash at last week's workout may not have been great by most teams' standards, but it opened some eyes. The 49ers would appear to be the best fit. They've lost Julian Peterson and most of their experienced outside linebackers in the past couple of years. Brooks and Manny Lawson, the second of San Francisco's first-round picks, would form a good tandem in Mike Nolan's 3-4 defense. The question is, in what round would the 49ers take him? Had he stayed in school and not had drug issues, Brooks might have been a top-10 pick in 2007. He could go as high as the second round, but if teams are cautious, he would go in the fourth or fifth round. Athletically, Brooks is a steal, which is why the Dolphins' Nick Saban is interested.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:00 AM
<< Home