Draft News and Notes from Next Level
Pro Day scheduling and data, Team Needs Breakdown and Draft info

posted April 07, 2005 - print me!
neworleansprofootball.com

*Think that it is too early to get a jump start on the 2006 NFL Draft... well then you are looking to get left behind... our staff can help organize or contribute to your organization, franchise, player rep recruiting list or media coverage now so that you will be ahead of the curve when the new cycle of scouting starts later this spring... please contact our office over the next 4-6 weeks for more information.

*Anyone that is interested in obtaining a copy of our "TRADE VALUE CHART" for this year's NFL Draft, please contact our office, as it was been positively reviewed by several NFL teams over the past few weeks... it has been updated/re-calculated each year based on the strength/weakness of the draft as a whole by John Murphy, who has created his own version of this chart the past three years... as it also includes a unique value chart for evaluating future draft picks (2006) if offered in a possible deal.

*If any/all of your clients have setup private visits/workouts leading up to the draft we are creating a chart for that, as well, since it has been requested.

*If you would like to include any/all Pro Day results, updates or information, please send it to john@nlscouting.com or 504.415.9979 before 7pm eastern each day for inclusion in the next day's report.

DRAFT-ELIGIBLE IN 2006:

GEORGIA FORCE (AFL) wide receiver/return man TROY BERGERON (#22), who was originally recruited to several SEC schools, including Auburn, will not be draft-eligible until 2006... he is only 21 years old; will turn 22 on 12/3/05... the favorite to be named the AFL's Rookie of the Year... our staff evaluated him at the team's recent contest against the New Orleans VooDoo, as he caught a pair of touchdowns and showed impressive on-field presence... has 987 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns, as of this week... while he has also added 758 yards on 41 kickoff returns, including three additional touchdowns... currently weighs 6020, 190 pounds... while at a workout two years ago for an AF2 team he ran between 4.33 and 4.38 in the 40 and 3.90 short shuttle... as a 20-year old rookie, he caught 77 passes for 1,220 yards and 26 touchdowns (did not play in the first four games)... had 14 catches for 216 yards and six touchdowns against Louisville...

PROSPECT UPDATES:

Our staff has recently received additional game film on the following prospects... WINONA STATE quarterback BRIAN WROBEL... NORTHERN COLORADO linebacker RYAN PALMER... COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES safety DANIEL LEGER... NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS defensive back/return man DONTA BRIGHT... GEORGETOWN (KY) offensive lineman CLAY MARTIN... COLUMBIA tight end WADE FLETCHER... SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE quarterback MIKE ABATE... SOUTH FLORIDA running back/fullback CLENTON CROSSLEY... GRACELAND (IA) wide receiver/return man DANTE JOHNSON and wide receiver ANTHONY ROZIER... additional tape on MIDWESTERN STATE (TX) offensive lineman AMARIAH FARROW... EAST CENTRAL (OK) defensive end JUSTIN BROWN... MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE cornerback DANNY TOLBERT... as well as a full copy of the EAST COAST BOWL (DII & DIII All-Star game) are currently in-the-mail to our offices... *If anyone needs access to a copy of any of these tapes, please feel free to contact our office, so that we can make sure your team office receives them immediately upon request.

NFL NEWS:

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS have contacted the player representatives for California junior quarterback AARON RODGERS, Utah junior quarterback ALEX SMITH and MICHIGAN senior wide receiver BRAYLON EDWARDS to inform them that they would like to receive/review initial contract numbers, as we approach just over two full weeks before the draft... many observers feel that this is the first step towards the team convincing someone else to make a move up to the #1 spot, while also laying the ground work for finalizing a deal somewhere between April 19th and 21st if they do not find a viable trade option before then.

CINCINNATI BENGALS has not made a firm commitment either way about the future of wide receiver/return man PETER WARRICK... if he were to get released... there would likely be strong interest from Carolina, Houston, Miami, Minnesota, Tampa Bay and possibly San Diego, who are also interested in adding a player that can give them a spark on special teams, as a return man.

CLEVELAND BROWNS are hoping to deal running back WILLIAM GREEN before the start of the draft if not during the two-day event... currently they are only being offered a future draft choice in return for the former first-round draft choice... but most teams showing any interest also want the pick to be conditional based upon his playing time/production... one team showing some interest are the NY Giants, who recently let another former first round running back, Ron Dayne, leave via free agency to Denver... if a deal goes down expect the draft choice to be no great than a fifth or sixth rounder.

GREEN BAY PACKERS would like to add a veteran linebacker and safety, for depth purposes, before the draft, plus it would also help cloudy the draft needs of the team, so that the rest of the league would be less likely to pinpoint positions or players the Packers are eyeing in the draft... the names being mentioned are linebacker MONTY BEISEL (Kansas City) and safety ARTURO FREEMAN (Miami).

NY GIANTS may also be in the marketplace to find a way back into the first round of this year's NFL Draft by using former second round draft choice, cornerback WILL ALLEN, who has distanced himself from the team over the past year-and-a-half... as he has not fully bought into the strictly run regiment of Tom Coughlin... for the most part people feel that the Giants would not receive a first round pick in exchange for Allen's services, but might be able to create a package of Allen and a draft choice to find themselves back in contention to make a selection before the second round... if there is an early run on cornerbacks than a team like Kansas City (if they don't get Patrick Surtain), Houston, St. Louis or Jacksonville might opt to turn their attention towards a young, veteran like Allen, who will become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

NY JETS are not actively looking to trade All-Pro defensive end/outside linebacker JOHN ABRAHAM, but are also willing to listen to offers, as they feel his holdout could become a distraction, and if they could receive a high first round pick this year, as well as either a young player or additional future draft choice (2006)... there is a chance that they could opt to deal him now rather than lose him in the near future with no compensation.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES will continue to visit trade options with former first round pick, defensive tackle COREY SIMON, who would love to be traded down the road to the Baltimore Ravens... the teams had potentially agreed to a deal that would have sent the Ravens' 2005 second round pick (#53) and a 2006 third round choice to the Eagles for the rights to Simon, who has yet to sign his franchise tender, which would pay him $5.134 million dollars next season... if the Eagles were to receive the Ravens' second rounder it would give them a total of SIX selections in the first 101 picks (Day One), so they could then package picks and make a big move up from pick #31 in the first round possibly up as high as #18 (Minnesota), #20 (Dallas), as well as move up and down the draft board as Jimmy Johnson did while running the old Dallas Cowboys' war room.

Free agent linebacker JAMIE SHARPER seems to be looking at possibly negotiating with Cincinnati, but some wonder if that is not a ploy to draw a contract offer from his former employee, the Baltimore Ravens... Seattle has also shown a fair amount of interest... with Dallas, New Orleans and San Francisco being darkhorse teams.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS would like to deal wide receiver ROD GARDNER before the draft, but the market for him has dried up, as the Cleveland Browns have turned their attention to a number of other areas, while teams like Seattle, Tampa Bay and Minnesota went in another direction when addressing their wide receiver needs... there is still a chance he could get dealt, but it is now likely to happen during the draft.

TALKING FOOTBALL OVER DINNER... was probably one of the reasons why the current and former head coaches of the University of Miami got together the other evening for dinner at a local downtown Miami establishment... as head coach Larry Coker and former Hurricanes and NFL head coach Dennis Erickson dined together earlier this week... it has been speculated that Erickson might want to return to the college sidelines in 2006... but it is doubtful that their will be a similar reunion in Miami like the one done out in Hawaii recently, as former NFL coaches June Jones and Jerry Glanville were reunited when Glanville accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Rainbows.

DRAFT DAY VALUE BOARD:

Our staff will pick 1-2 guys per day who have the chance to come off the board earlier than expected through the seven rounds of the draft based on their position and the strength/weakness of that spot in this year's draft.

NORTHWESTERN senior defensive tackle LUIS CASTILLO posted the best combination of athletic numbers at the NFL Combine at his position... seen as one of only a small handful of players along with Utah's Sione Pouha and Mississippi State's Ron Fields that can play either DT or NT in the league... his quickness (ran 1.70 range 10-yard times)... strength (32-35 reps of 225 pounds) and ability to create pressure in opposing backfields have him moving into the Top 3-to-5 DT's on most teams' boards... lacks ideal bulk for some teams (6027, 305 pounds)... but could be a surprise first round selection to Baltimore (#22), Atlanta (#27) or Philadelphia (#31)... especially if there is a trade of DT Corey Simon from the Eagles to the Ravens... then he could easily jump up 8-10 picks and become a late first round choice... carries an early-to-mid 2nd round, as of today.

PRO DAY RESULTS (As of April 6th):

ARIZONA STATE (April 6th) senior quarterback ANDREW WALTER ran between 4.85 and 4.88 in the 40... some had him a little faster; 4.82... weighs 6054, 235 pounds... showed good footwork and moved fairly well through his intial positional drills... able to do a full assortment of passing drills (30 minutes)... threw from both the drop back and roll out, which may have helped him more than anything... as some came away more impressed with his footwork/mobility than previously... did not show too much wear on his arm strength, considering he is only four months removed from surgery to correct a third-degree separation of his throwing shoulder... a few of his (deep) passes wobbled and were less accurate than normal... but he did a good enough job to convince teams that he will be back or near full strength by the start of training camp... plus the team that drafts him will be able to decide how to best complete his rehab and how much throwing he will actually do in early rookie camps... also received an updated and positive evaluation last weekend at the Combine's medical re-check... senior defensive lineman JIMMY VERDON ran between 4.92 and 4.95 in the 40... 32.5" vertical and also did 21 reps of 225 pounds.

Former NEBRASKA (April 6th) offensive lineman RICHIE INCOGNITO suffered a second injury to his right knee during yesterday's private workout during the Pro Day held at Arizona State... he did not run or workout, as he was about 90% recovered from his earlier injury (sprained knee), which was suffered at the Combine... during his positional workout he was doing leverage/balance drill (push-pull) and the knee buckled some again... the overnight evaluation was that he suffered a second minor injury that did not include any structural damage, but rather a patella subluxation... he may not be ready for full-go action until the start of training camp... teams have been impressed with his quickness/athleticism... and had he not been away from the field the entire season it is very likely that he would not have tried to rush back to perform yesterday, although some have also said that there was a change in the position coach running the drills, who picked up the tempo of his workout right before the injury occurred.

SHAW U., NC (April 6th) senior linebacker CHRIS PEAVY (#44) ran 4.71 (twice) in the 40... 1.58 10-yard... 4.42 short shuttle... 7.30 three-cone... 12.36 60-yard... 35" vertical... 9'11.5" broad jump... weighed in at 6010, 230 pounds (229.5 pounds to be exact)... 9 3/4" hands... (arm length was 38.5", but not measured exactly like at the Combine)... senior defensive tackle WALIF CAMPBELL (#93) ran between 5.32 and 5.37 in the 40... 1.77 10-yard... 5.03 short shuttle... 8.52 three-cone... 29" vertical... 8'3" broad jump... weighed in at 6042, 329 pounds... 9 3/4" hands... (arm length was 41 1/4", but not measured exactly like at the Combine)... all times were recorded on an indoor rubber track, while agility drills were run on an outdoor artificial turf surface... since no official Pro Day was able to be scheduled, local area trainer Scott E. Pucek agreed to perform this workout per our staff's request at Velocity Sports Performance in Raleigh, North Carolina... both players are available for workouts on-campus between now and the draft.

BOWLING GREEN (April 5th) senior wide receiver COLE MAGNER ran between 4.55 and 4.59 in the 40... 3.90 short shuttle... 6.42 three-cone... 10.71 60-yard... 33" vertical... 9'5" broad jump... weighed in at 6010, 196 pounds... his results came as part of the school's second Pro Day with members of two teams, Green Bay and Indianapolis, in attendance... it is the second time he has run in the 6.4 range in the three-cone; did it twice (6.42/6.49) at the school's first Pro Day (March 15th) with 11 teams in attendance... has increased his weight to close to 200 pounds, while dropping his body fat down to 6%... agility results could be attributed to the fact that he was a two-sport (basketball/football) contributor in college... native of Alaska... productive college wide receiver... more of a possession/special teams guy for the next level... his results should help him garner late-round attention.

CINCINNATI (April 4th) senior linebacker JAMAR ENZOR was unable to workout for scouts on April 4th, as he came down with a severe case of bronchitis, which would not even allow him to speak... will have a private workout with Cincinnati tomorrow... has a private workout with Indianapolis scheduled for next Friday (April 15th)... also has drawn a lot of interest from Jacksonville.

CINCINNATI (April 4th) senior safety DOUG MONAGHAN, who many other outlets have reported ran in the 4.65/4.70 range at his first Pro Day, actually was timed in the 4.55 by several teams... it was confirmed again this past week by those originally in attendance... anyone that has a discrepancy with his 40-times can schedule a workout for him on-campus anytime between now and April 17th... please contact his agent for additional information.

MIDWESTERN STATE, TX (April 1st) senior offensive lineman AMARIAH FARROW, who we provided an update on earlier this week, will continue to be available for workouts in the Dallas, Texas area and on-campus, as well... here are the official workout numbers he posted at his Pro Day... ran between 5.25 and 5.37 in the 40... 4.86 short shuttle... 8.34 three-cone... 27.5" vertical... 8'9" broad jump... 18 reps of 225 pounds... weighed in at 6047, 317 pounds... 37 3/8" arms... 10 3/4" hands... his official arm length would currently give him the second best wing span (74 3/4") of any available offensive lineman next to Florida State's Alex Barron (76-77")... has a private workout with the B.C. Lions of the CFL this coming weekend, so any/all new results will be posted early next week.

MCNEESE STATE (April 2nd) senior offensive lineman CODY LEBLANC ran between 5.52 and 5.60 in the 40... but ran on grass with tennis shoes, as he did not have access to get his cleats before the workout... ran between 5.2/5.3 range last spring... 4.90 short shuttle... 8.30 three-cone... 28" vertical... 7'10" broad jump... 21 reps of 225 pounds... weighed in at 6047, 307 pounds... 34" arms... 10 3/8" hands... all times were recorded as part of the school's Pro Day, which was attended by New Orleans.

MARSHALL (April 1st) senior quarterback STAN HILL ran between 4.70 and 4.75 in the 40... had also done a full positional workout at the school's first Pro Day... where he showed good movement skills on his roll outs... seems to have gotten into better shape... says that he feels no pain in his knees... weighs 6022, 225 pounds... PFA with some upside if he can bounce back from being injury-prone over the past few years.

MINNESOTA-DULUTH (March 18th) senior linebacker RUSSELL RABE ran between 4.62 and 4.64 in the 40... 4.20 short shuttle... 6.91 three-cone... 11.50 60-yard... 37.5" vertical... 10'0" broad jump... 19 reps of 225 pounds... weighed in at 6025, 230 pounds... all results were recorded on a Tartan surface... they came during a private workout with Seattle... he did better in most areas except the broad jump (10'2") from his original Pro Day... has drawn a lot of interest, especially from 3-4 teams, as he was a college DE, but will move to OLB in the pros... shows impressive quickness off the ball and natural pass rushing skills... don't be surprised if you hear his name come off the board earlier than expected (fifth round) come draft day.

MCMASTER, CAN (March) senior running back JESSE LUMSDEN, who we reported ran in the 4.5 range at a private workout held last week, may actually have timed between 4.42 and 4.48 in the 40... while weighing 6022, 223 pounds.

DARTMOUTH (March) senior safety CLAYTON SMITH ran 4.57 in the 40... 4.26 short shuttle... 6.84 three-cone... 34.5" vertical... 9'5 1/4" broad jump... 15 reps of 225 pounds... weighs 6010, 221 pounds... senior defensive end/linebacker RYAN CONGER ran 4.67 in the 40... 4.33 short shuttle... 6.97 three-cone... 30.5" vertical... 8'7 1/4" broad jump... 17 reps of 225 pounds... weighs 6014, 245 pounds... we had previously reported the results of senior defensive tackle DERHAM CATO, as all three players did a Pro Day workout, which was recorded by the strength and conditioning staff, since their previously scheduled event was not able to be attended by any area scouts.

PRIVATE VISIT & WORKOUT UPDATES:

ALBANY, NY senior safety/linebacker KURT CAMPBELL has private workouts with Jacksonville and NY Giants scheduled, while also doing one with Dallas earlier this week... his private visit list includes Buffalo, Green Bay, St. Louis and Seattle... could now go as high as the fifth round, as his all-around athleticism and ability to contribute in a number of ways (special teams, safety, nickel 'backer) has teams moving him up their boards.

BOISE STATE senior cornerback GABRIEL FRANKLIN has private visits scheduled with San Francisco (April 9th) and Seattle.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN senior linebacker ANTHONY TYUS (#45) ran between 4.65 and 4.68 in the 40... 4.05 short shuttle... 6.95 three-cone... 36.5" vertical... 9'10" broad jump... his results came during a private workout with Green Bay... Detroit and Indianapolis have also shown additional interest... some have tested him out in some defensive back drills with the possible thought of looking at him at SS... but most see his upside coming on special teams initially... while working him in as a backup linebacker.

CINCINNATI senior defensive lineman MIKE WRIGHT has a private visit scheduled with Cincinnati.

CONNECTICUT senior cornerback JUSTIN PERKINS has drawn additional attention from both Jacksonville and Miami.

EAST CENTRAL, OK senior defensive end JUSTIN BROWN had a private workout on-campus with Indianapolis on Wednesday... his official weight from the workout done by his trainer last weekend was 6016 (initially reported as 6020)... his available game tape includes Texas A&M-Kingsville and SW Oklahoma.

FLORIDA junior running back CIATRICK FASON has received additional attention from Jacksonville and Miami.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC senior safety/linebacker CHRIS LASKOWSKI has drawn additional attention from Indianapolis... who recently had him in for a private visit.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC senior kicker MARK MYERS had a private workout with Miami the other day... and also has one setup with Kansas City... he has drawn more attention, since hitting all three of his 50-yard field goal attempts at the school's first Pro Day.

GEORGIA junior safety/linebacker THOMAS DAVIS has received additional attention from Atlanta, Carolina, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Miami, New Orleans, NY Giants and Seattle... while he has been evaluated at both positions by the majority of teams... one number that has jumped out to make many decide that he will initially be best if kept at safety is the fact that he lacks ideal weight room strength for his size, having done just 12 reps of 225 pounds, while weighing 6012, 230 pounds.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN senior running back/return man CHAZ WILLIAMS has a private workout on-campus with Green Bay later today... also has private workouts scheduled with NY Giants and New England.

IDAHO senior fullback/deep snapper BRIAN YARNO had a private visit with Seattle late last week... his dad, John, played with the Seahawks, as an offensive lineman.

MARSHALL senior quarterback GRAHAM GOCHNEAUR has drawn additional attention from Green Bay and Indianapolis.

MIAMI junior running back FRANK GORE has changed agents, and is now represented by Athletes First, so his draft day number and contact information may have changed, please contact his new agent for more information.

MIAMI, OH senior wide receiver KOREY KIRKPATRICK has drawn additional attention from Carolina, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

MICHIGAN STATE senior running back/return man DEANDRA COBB has private visits scheduled with Atlanta and Houston.

MOREHEAD STATE senior cornerback CHARLES BYRD has drawn additional attention from Chicago, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Washington... surprised several teams in attendance at Miami, Ohio's Pro Days, as he ran between 4.39 and 4.42... 3.93 short shuttle... 6.81 three-cone... 11.20 60-yard... 37.5" vertical... 10'2" broad jump... 11 reps of 225 pounds.

NEVADA senior defensive tackle CHRIS BARRY had a private visit with Seattle late last week.

NORTHERN IOWA senior linebacker DANNY TRIPLETT will not be holding a private workout between now and the draft, rather opting to continue his rehab from knee surgery, so that he will be as close to 100% as possible for the start of training camp.

NOTRE DAME senior wide receiver CARLYLE HOLIDAY has received additional attention from New England.

Former OHIO STATE running back MAURICE CLARETT has received additional attention from Jacksonville.

OKLAHOMA junior safety BRODNEY POOL had a private visit with Miami earlier this week.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS senior running back BRANDON JACOBS has been receiving additional attention from Minnesota and Philadelphia... some teams expect him to be utilized in a number of role, RB, FB, H-Back, TE, special teams and also kickoff returns... if you can imagine a 267-pound kickoff returner bearing down on opposing coverage units... had a private visit with Philadelphia on Monday, March 4th.

STANFORD senior tight end ALEX SMITH has a private visit scheduled with Detroit... who are thought to be one of several teams that might be looking at him as a possible second round selection.

STANFORD senior safety O.J. ATOGWE has been evaluated mostly as a defensive back, but a few teams are also thinking that he can come up and play linebacker in nickel situations... although he would need to bulk up to around the 225-pound range.

TENNESSEE TECH senior offensive tackle FRANK OMIYALE had private workouts with Tennessee and NY Giants on Wednesday... also had a private workout with Miami on Tuesday... he has been one of the most visited draft-eligibile offensive linemen to date.

VANDERBILT junior fullback MATTHEW TANT had a private workout with Tennessee on Wednesday.

VIRGINIA junior outside linebacker DARRYL BLACKSTOCK had a private workout with Miami earlier this week.

WEST VIRGINIA senior defensive lineman JASON HARDEE, who we earlier had a private workout with San Francisco, will actually be doing that workout as part of the team's local pre-draft workout on April 9th.

COMPANY NEWS:

*Be sure to listen to Sporting News Radio's Draft Day coverage, featuring former NFL lineman and Fox Sports analyst Brian Baldinger, hosts Bob Shelton, Bob Berger, analyst Jim Sabo and Next Level Scouting's own John Murphy.

*Be sure to listen to ESPN (Florida) radio's Thursday night program (7-9pm) leading up to the NFL Draft featuring Orlando Alzugaray.

*Be sure to listen to Sirius' NFL Radio program each day leading up to April's NFL Draft.

*Special thanks to Carlos Holmes, Josh Buchanan, who have been helping to cover and record results from several of their regionally accessible Pro Days over the past few weeks.

*Next Level Scouting Staff members Justin Van Fulpen, Dean Zarafonetis, Matt Jansen and Jared Van Fulpen also contributed to previous reports.

*All rights reserved by NextLevel Scouting, Inc. and John Murphy... any use of the material enclosed without the express written or verbal consent of NextLevel Scouting, Inc. or John Murphy is prohibited... John Murphy can be reached via phone or email at 504.415.9979 and john@nlscouting.com.

As always keep here at NOPF for the latest.

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