BuffBills#1 Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Updated: Jan. 31, 2006 Six Trojans projected to go in first roundBy Mel Kiper Jr. Special to ESPN Insider Following the week of Senior Bowl practices, there have been some changes to my first-round projection for the 2006 NFL draft. There are 14 underclassmen in this week's projected first round, three fewer than last week. The top-six picks remain the same, but the one newcomer to the top 10 is Texas defensive back Michael Huff. Right now I have him projected to land in San Francisco, which has the seventh overall pick. What I like about Huff is his versatility because he can player either cornerback or safety. This projected pick reminds me of what the 49ers did in 1981 in a similar situation. In the '81 draft, the 49ers had the eighth overall pick and selected another versatile defensive back, USC's Ronnie Lott. I will submit another first-round projection following the NFL Combine, which is Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis. First-Round Projections 1. Houston Reggie Bush, RB* USC 2. New Orleans Matt Leinart, QB USC 3. Tennessee Vince Young, QB* Texas 4. NY Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T Virginia 5. Green Bay Mario Williams, DE* NC State 6. Oakland A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio St. 7. San Francisco Michael Huff, DB Texas 8. Buffalo Haloti Ngata, DT* Oregon 9. Detroit Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt 10. Arizona DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis 11. St. Louis Vernon Davis, TE* Maryland 12. Cleveland Chad Greenway, LB Iowa 13. Baltimore Tamba Hali, DE Penn St. 14. Philadelphia Winston Justice, T* USC 15. Atlanta Jimmy Williams, DB Virginia Tech 16. Miami Ashton Youboty, CB* Ohio St. 17. Minnesota LenDale White, RB* USC 18. Dallas Marcus McNeill, T Auburn 19. San Diego Santonio Holmes, WR* Ohio St. 20. Kansas City Tye Hill, CB Clemson 21. New England Laurence Maroney, RB* Minnesota 22. Denver (from WSH) Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College 23. Tampa Bay DeMeco Ryans, LB Alabama 24. Cincinnati Ko Simpson, DB* South Carolina 25. NY Giants Johnathan Joseph, CB* South Carolina 26. Chicago Leonard Pope, TE* Georgia 27. Carolina Dominique Byrd, TE USC 28. Jacksonville Ernie Sims, OLB* Florida St. 29. Denver Sinorice Moss, WR Miami 30. Indianapolis Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G USC 31. Pittsburgh Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio St. 32. Seattle Maurice Stovall, WR Notre Dame This is Kiper's Mock Draft from today and I thought I'de list some players that would be available with our 2nd and 3rd round picks. (In no specific order) TE Marcedes Lewis TE from UCLA Anthony Fasano TE from ND Tackles Eric Winston OT from Miami Jonathon Scott OT from Texas Ryan O'callaghan OT from Cal. (Kiper was very down on this kid saying that he sees him as a backup RT and nothing more) Daryn Colledge OT from Boise State Andrew Whitworth OT from LSU Jeremy Trueblood OT from BC Guards Max Jean-Giles OG from Georgia Davin Joseph OG from Oklahoma Charles Spencer OG from Pitt. Jason Spitz OG from Louisville C Nick Mangold C from Ohio State DE Manny Lawson DE from N.C. state Darryl Tapp DE from VT Ray Edwards DE from Purdue DT Gabe Watson DT from Mich. (In another article by Kiper he said that he doesn't expect Watson to get out of the 1st round. I found it interesting that he didn't put him in his mock draft though) Orien Harris DT from Miami Brodrick Bunkley DT from FSU Claude Wrotten DT from LSU LB D'Qwell Jackson MLB from Maryland CB Antonio Cromartie CB from FSU Kelly Jennings CB from Miami Safeties Darnell Bing S from USC Donte Whinter S from OSU Danioel Bullocks S from Neb. Bernard Pollard S from Purdue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zac Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Jean-Gilles is a MONSTER. Brodrick Bunckley/Gabe Watson/Nick Mangold would be great too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lothar Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Jonathon Scott came into the year as perhaps the top rated tackle - must not have played as well this year as last - really only saw him in the championship game. Of all the linemen though I don't think Mangold makes it out of the 1st. He's the only true blue-chipper at the pivot point and really helped his stock over the last few weeks. I'd love to see us get him. If Jean-Giles can keep from eating himself out of the league, he may be a Bennie Anderson-type who can actually move. I really think we have to start upgrading linebackers and getting at least a true backup strong safety this year. Tackles Eric Winston OT from Miami Jonathon Scott OT from Texas Daryn Colledge OT from Boise State Guards Max Jean-Giles OG from Georgia Charles Spencer OG from Pitt. C Nick Mangold C from Ohio State LB D'Qwell Jackson MLB from Maryland Safeties Darnell Bing S from USC 590096[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I am surpised that nobody wants Mercedes Lewis in their picks so far...... We BADLY need a Tight End and Mercedes is a quality one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffBills#1 Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 I was kind of thinking he would be a good pickup too, but with all the good lineman that should be available with our 2nd pick I think we might have to go with a lineman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BravinSeattle Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Weird. I've been projecting Huff to go this early for a while and got some flack for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I am surpised that nobody wants Mercedes Lewis in their picks so far...... We BADLY need a Tight End and Mercedes is a quality one 590156[/snapback] Being a UCLA fan I've watched Lewis plenty. While he is a fantastic receiving TE the guy is a liability in the run game. He'll get pro-bowl apparences based on his catch totals but I'm not sure he'll ever be the complete package. I'm willing to see what Everett can do for us this year instead of drafting a TE with a high pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Chipper Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 depending on what we do in free agency I would not be upset if two of our first three picks went to the o-line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Drane Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 We are in the catbird seat with our pick with Cutler and the RB from Memphis projected to go the next two slots. We are a very logical slot for someone to trade up. Unfortunately, Miami makes the most sense to go after Cutler, but teams like Cleveland, Minnesota or Jacksonville may want to take a stab at Williams. If we aren't in love with someone at #8, get out if those two guys are still there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobot Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I also wouldn't mind if the next 3 went to the D-Line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Jean-Gilles is a MONSTER. 590108[/snapback] Yep, he sure is. I live about 45 mins from UGA and I saw just about all their games this year. The guy is a stud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Yep, he sure is. I live about 45 mins from UGA and I saw just about all their games this year. The guy is a stud. 590326[/snapback] Is he a stud because of his overall size allows him to dominate in college or is it his skill? To me the best OG prospect in the draft is Davin Joseph of Oklahoma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Is he a stud because of his overall size allows him to dominate in college or is it his skill? To me the best OG prospect in the draft is Davin Joseph of Oklahoma. 590334[/snapback] That's a good question. I just know that UGA has a couple of really talented YOUNG RBs (their names escape me, but one of them reminds me of a faster Thurman Thomas w/out the hands) and Jean-Gilles was a big reason why they had success up the middle. These backs are NOT bruisers; they're speed guys, but they do have some good drive in their legs. But no way do they have as much success as they did w/out this guy on the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrobot Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Watch the Senior Bowl. Jean-Gilles was #1, Joseph #2 of all the guards. Their only negative about JEan-Gilles had to do with his lack of a --ahem--sculpted body. But now that we've gotten rid of our trainer, his rookie replacement will sculpt him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Weird. I've been projecting Huff to go this early for a while and got some flack for it. 590250[/snapback] I probably gave you that slack. While I like Huff, I've never seen him projected to go this high (even by Mel). He basically flipped Huff and Jimmy Williams here. I've only seen each a couple off times, but, I thought (and still think, until I hear reasons that convince me otherwise) tht J Williams is a better bet as we KNOW he can flat out play corner ...and he has good size. We know Huff can kick ass at Safety and think he can play corner. To me, that's a big difference. Now, if Williams really is a bad seed...well, there you have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffBills#1 Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 I'm getting kind of tired of everyone always comparing every huge guard to Bernie Anderson. Bernie Anderson wasn't drafted for a reason, he is way too slow and has bad technique. The only similarity between Jean-Gilles and Bernie Anderson is that they're both 350 pounds. The similarities stop after that. If we do trade down a couple slots and pick up an extra 2nd rounder, I would love to get Michael Huff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zac Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Jean-Gilles does not just use his size, he is very technically sound and does a very good job of keeping the defender inside of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zac Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I probably gave you that slack. While I like Huff, I've never seen him projected to go this high (even by Mel). He basically flipped Huff and Jimmy Williams here. I've only seen each a couple off times, but, I thought (and still think, until I hear reasons that convince me otherwise) tht J Williams is a better bet as we KNOW he can flat out play corner ...and he has good size. We know Huff can kick ass at Safety and think he can play corner. To me, that's a big difference. Now, if Williams really is a bad seed...well, there you have it. 590370[/snapback] He is truly a headcase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffBills#1 Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 A dream draft for me would be Ngata in the first, Bunkley in the 2nd, Jonathon Scott in the 3rd, and Jason Spitz in the 3rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyC81 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 You know, I didn't watch a lot of college football this past season but I did watch the Texas/USC championship game. Of what I had read and heard about before, there was a Texas DT (don't remember his name) that was supposed to be a stud. When I watched the game, several times I saw USC's Taitusi Lutui pushing that DT 5 or more yards behind the line of scrimmage. He looked pretty good. The 8th pick is definitely too high for him but if he somehow slipped to the 2nd round for the Bills, I'd think they'd want to seriously consider him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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