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I was sifting through the draft report on several of the key prospects on www.nfl.com. It seemed to me that the top 5 guys they had listed at each position weren't all that appealing. So it occurred to me that I'd dig a bit deeper and see if there weren't any second round or even second day picks who'd make an impact. Just so we're clear, I'm just nutshelling what I found on NFL's own site. I tried to pick most guys who showed some promise based upon the bio listed. Anyway...enjoy. Here are the offensive skill positions: 

 Brohm

QB’s

Colt Brennan (QB) Like Alex Smith, good WC guy.

Brian Brohm (QB) Likened to Brees. Slow starter? Good 1ate 1st or 2nd round pick

Dennis Dixon (QB) Scrambler likened to Moon. Good one to take a flier on in 2nd round.

Alex Brink (QB) Smart but streaky? Good 2nd day pick

Chad Henne (QB) < happy feet, INT’s, too much like Harrington. Streaky.

Josh Johnson (QB) He’ll be a second day sleeper. He is a great scrambler like Cunningham. If given time to develop could wind up a great starting QB.

Sam Keller (QB) A Pocket passer with a big arm. Immobile QB who will need a good line to protect him. Needs to improve mechanics and seek secondary targets.

Xavier Lee (QB)  Has a great arm, but will need to develop as a backup before he can start. He is compared to Tony Banks, and we know how that worked out.

Bernard Morris (QB) He’s compared to Losman. A great athlete, but inconsistent.

Kevin O'Connell (QB) Can make every throw in the NFL, including the long bomb. Might need time to develop behind a starter for a few years.

. T.C. Ostrander (QB) He’s compared to his predecessor Trent Edwards. However there are questions as to his instincts on the field.

Andre' Woodson (QB) He could either be an Akili Smith or a Jason Campbell. This depends upon whether or not he can become a good leader and work on his short range accuracy. He has the tools to be a good QB, but has to develop into the role.

 Rashard

RB’s

Jamaal Charles (RB) is promising tandem back like Julius Jones.

Matt Forte (RB) is a good receiver, has balance and moves like Edge James.

Justin Forsett (RB) Another speedy perimeter runner like MJD.

Jerome Felton (FB) is a punishing back like Bettis.

Chris Johnson (RB) might wind up to be a faster and as dangerous version of Westbrook.

Lex Hilliard (RB) is a Wal-Mart version of MB3 who has similar traits in his punishing running style.

Owen Schmitt (FB) is being compared to Larry Czonka. That’s high praise, but then he’s supposed to be a great blocker and a punishing runner.

Ray Rice (RB) is likened to Emmitt Smith in size and running style. He could be a huge steal if he were to improve his receiving skills.

Kalvin McRae (RB) has strength and speed, but could be a practice squad dummy or a UDFA surprise like Grant was.

Marcus Thomas (RB) is a patient runner who can get the short yardage. He has no breakaway speed, but could be a good change of pace guy.

 Adarius Bowman

WR’s

Donnie Avery (WR) Speedy route runner like Kevin Curtis.

Jabari Arthur (WR) is like Brandon Marshall, but not speedy. He can run routes well and might be a good over the middle WR.

Dorien Bryant (WR) is like Sean McDonald. A speedy, second gear type WR.

Adarius Bowman (WR) is similar to Braylon Edwards. He is a good open field runner who is physical.

Will Franklin (WR) is speedy like Roddy White. But he’s not the best route runner.

Harry Douglas (WR) is a speedster like Yamon Figurs.

D.J. Hall (WR) is a good vertical threat.

So these are the skill positions. I'll post OL's and the Defensive side of the ball later. 

April 26, 2008  03:14 PM ET

Guess everyone will get back to reading this later...or not.

April 26, 2008  03:45 PM ET

Good blog a ton of insight and i learned a lot

April 26, 2008  04:35 PM ET

It will be interesting to see if any of these guys are chosen today or if at all.

April 26, 2008  04:44 PM ET

Where are the CB? Ravens fan here!

April 26, 2008  06:12 PM ET

Guess you missed the part at the end where I wrote the D players will be in the next one Gu3! Nice pick for your team with Flacco...hope he pans out for ya.

April 26, 2008  08:41 PM ET

Yea,, i have the tendency not to read with 100% attention..

Ok, we took Ray Rice.. what the hell is that?

April 26, 2008  11:33 PM ET

Wow. 667 views and 6 comments. I guess this is a half success?

April 27, 2008  12:08 AM ET

Dennis Dixon is predicted to be the last QB taken. Someone is going to take him late, and he will be make a roster. A guy like him has the rare ability to pass and run. I know a lot of people expect a QB to strictly pass. But the second a guy like him comes onto the field it limits you defensively. If you come at him too aggressively they can avoid the rush and get the ball down field or run for a huge gain. You play to conservatively and don't spy the QB he can run for a quick first down and slide. Josh Johnson is like that too, and he had better passing stats,; albeit against the minor league teams of college football.
As WR go, I can't believe Avery was the first WR taken. Not saying he won't be good, but the first taken and it was in the 2nd round! Who saw that coming? That just shows how much WRs have been devalued. I like James Hardy, which little outside of Big Ten Country ever heard of. 6'7" 4.45 40 18 reps on the bench and a 42 inch vert. This guy averaged over a TD a game at Indiana over 3 years. He's dropped some balls, but the guy is huge, fast, and there isn't a corner in the league who can physically cover him. It's like having a 6'0 PG guarding a 6'7" SF. He's bigger and stronger and he can play above you. He's a match up nightmare and should have been the first WR taken. Limas Sweed should have been second. I couldn't believe how early Jordy Nelson went. I like that guy too. I know a bunch of people are mad as **** that their team wasn't able to grab him in day two where he was expected to fall. I know a lot of people believe he is that good, but no one thought he'd go as early as he did. Everyone though he'd be a steal, but he wasn't drafted that far off of the #1 WR on most people's draft boards. Plus he was drafted before DeSean Jackson, who was projected to go mid 1st round.

 
April 27, 2008  12:18 AM ET

Man you are lucky to ever get 1 comment for every 100 views. You want to get a bunch of people commenting (often ignorant and beligerently) put down a golden boy from the New England or Tri-State area. They are the biggest band wagon jumpers there are. Ask Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin how he feels about being public enemy #1 to being the messiah of Giants football. Ask Red Sox fans what they feel about Manny when he says something the media immediately blasts him for. Then the BoSox lift out of a 3-1 hole and go on to win their 2nd WS in a few years. Now it's just Manny being Manny, you got to love him. Instead of the just "Shut Up" comments he gets whenever he asks for a trade randomly; or says , "it's no big deal if we lose." The other thing is to bash someone in Big Ten Country, their fans are just like New England area and New York fans.

In fact, you know you have good article when people don't have much disagree with or can find an argument to better yours or disprove any points you make.

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