Rob Rang (NFL Draft Scout) has published an updated mock draft for CBS Sportsline. It's interesting that in Rob's last three mock drafts he's settled on Aaron Curry (LB, Wake Forest) for the Seahawks. The biggest change to the mock this week sees the Kansas City Chiefs taking Brian Orakpo. His stock seems to be rising as the weeks go on and would offer Scott Pioli the outside rush he would like moving to a 3-4 defense. With Orakpo and Curry off the board, it forces the Cleveland Browns to consider Michael Crabtree.
"Through free agency and trades the Seahawks have put themselves in position to take the best player available. The team is clearly intrigued by Curry as it sent linebacker coach Zerick Rollins to Wake Forest for a private workout with the ACC star last week, and the Seahawks are flying him to their team headquarters in early April." - Rob Rang on the Curry pick
Meet Aaron Curry...
8 comments:
If we didn't want that much money invested in the LBs, why would we have gotten rid of JP? Maybe a LB in round 3, but not at 4. If this plays out I think that we will have a great trade opportunity.
Hey Mike,
You might have a point about the linebackers. It's something the Seahawks have to consider. For a team like KC or Cleveland Curry would play ILB in a 3-4 and would be expected to 'set the tone' so to speak - making tackles and being the focal point of the defense.
For Seattle, there's only so many plays to go around when you're standing next to Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, with the team openly admitting they want more pressure from the front (perhaps emphasises by the move to swap Peterson for Cory Redding).
Having said that, Rob Rang makes a very good point about free agency and putting the team in position to take the best player available. In the scenario he suggests, the Seahawks would chose from the two prospects top of nearly everyones 'big board' - Curry and Crabtree.
If the team feel that Curry could be a difference maker on defense, then they will obviously seriously consider taking him.
I think Curry could be excellent. And according to some he might be the "Best Player Available." However, I can't help but think that Crabtree would be more effective. I think "BPA" is not a very accurate saying because it's comparing players in all different positions. Would you rather have a skilled LB or WR? It might be just me, but it seems like a WR would have much more impact. Especially someone like Crabtree.
Curry makes the most sense because he would start immediatly and lock up the position for years to come. Crabtree would likely start, but there are only so many balls to go around. Stafford, Smith, Monroe would likely not start and would be considered future players.
Let me be the first to say that Aaron Curry is a fine player and will have a long career in the NFL. That said, I don't agree with this pick. We have already proven that 3 great LBs means nothing in the grand scheme of the defense. We have never been elite, and I would argue never great. Great defenses don't show the inconsistencies we have shown over the past few years.
I do, however, completely agree with Rob about Mark Sanchez. I'm not saying he is the pick, but I am not going to be surprised at all if he is taken at #4. He is much like Crabtree in regards to fans being completely split. I am on the side of Hass is 34, coming off a back injury, and his contract has 2 years left. The only knock against Sanchez is inexperience, which would be heavily offset by getting a year or 2 to adjust. His inexperience is relative though, because USC is famous for the most competitive practices and being one of the few schools who operates a true NFL playbook. He has 4 years exposure to the West Coast offense and is raved about by Sark and Carroll has the hardest worker they have had at any position. I would be quite happy about this pick, because I am a firm believer that you do not draft for immediate results. If that was the case, then draft nothing but RBs and OGs for every pick. FA is about the now, and the draft is about maximizing the long term value, in which case, Sanchez would be a wise investment for the Hawks to make a seamless transition to "life after Hass." Sorry for the long post.
This would be great news for seattle, Hill will have to prove he can stay healthy and be a disruptive linebacker. If not seattle will let him go! Curry is a perfect west coast d linebacker who can do it all, the jury still out on Hill, and curry has to live up to the hype of being the best player in the draft.
hey rob, I read today on profootballtalk that the 49ers have a visit scheduled with Crabtree, among some other players. It made me realize that I have no idea on what Crabtree is up to and what his timetable for things are. Is he ready to do a little working out or will he be drafted without doing anything between his last game and the draft? Also, have the Hawks done anything with him since the combine? I cant recall hearing anything about visits or things of that nature. Do you have any answers for these questions? Thanks
It's an interesting point you raise Wes. It's been strangely quiet for a few weeks now on the Crabtree bandwagon. Like you say - what can he actually do as he recovers from injury?
Some teams will want to meet with him, perhaps have a dinner or go through some plays. Others may feel there is no need with the inability to work him out. Seattle were reported to have had dinner with Crabtree Saturday night of the combine. They may feel that evening was enough. As a worst case scenario, his injury and reported (yet undefined) character flags may have put the team off.
It's difficult to understand what Crabtree's situation is in Seattle right now. I'm just about to publish an article on this. I got in touch with John McClain (Houston Chronicle). He's one of my favourite journalists (you can see him on NFL.com right now calling the Houston pick) and being based in Texas, I hoped he might be able to shed some light on things. Check out the article for more.
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