--January 12, 2009
All the draft news, late free agency, a look at the upcoming NFL-USFL Transfer Window, and the QB situation for a full third of USFL teams in flux at the positoin. All that and the latest news on the USFL owner lockout of players as the CBA negotations remain at an impasse. It is a uncertain approach to what could be a very different 2009 season than the one we hoped for, but we will break it all down here.
Lockout Could Bleed into Regular Season
The USFL Owners’ lockout of players due to the ongoing CBA stallmate is now reaching a point where the regular season could be compromised. Just as the league prepares for its collegiate draft, minicamps are already being cancelled, training camp is certainly next, and that could easily lead to a delay to the start of the regular season.
The two parties have been holding regular negotiations since the conclusion of the holiday break, and while there seems to be a desire by both the USFL and the USFLPA to find some compromises, a plan that is acceptable to both parties has yet to emerge. The USFL owners announced in early December that the players were to be locked out of USFL facilities as of December 15, a move largely seen at the time as symbolic, since most facilities close down during the December holiday season anyway, but with no plan to reopen facilities, and with all player-coach-facility contact shuttered, there is a real risk that this labor dispute will impact the 2009 season.
The players’ union continues to insist on a 55% share of revenue, the league on only 50%, and while the two parties have come to an agreement on other aspects of the deal, including an expansion of playoff teams to 14, up from 12, as well as greater compensation for practice squad players and a return to holding 3 quarterbacks on the roster (instead of stashing an emergency QB on the practice squad), but the issue of the salary cap and overall revenue distribution to the players, that remains a very difficult nut to crack.
So, what is next? The two parties are scheduled for meetings this week, and the league has brought in former Labor Secretary of the U.S. government, Robert Reich to act as a mediator for the ongoing conversations. It is hoped that Reich’s reputation as a pro-labor voice will help smooth out some of the rough edges of the talks as the union has often bristled at some of the league’s efforts as well as some off-the-cuff comments from individual owners that seem to be dismissive of player positions.
If an agreement can be reached in the next 2-3 weeks, then the opening of training camps in February may be on schedule, which would save the current preseason and regular season schedules, but if the standoff extends into February, the league could be forced to alter the schedule or cancel both preseason and regular season games. That is the scenario no one wants to see, and there is certainly pressure from the TV Networks, as well as major sponsors and cities themselves not to let this reach that stage. Will those pressures prove enough for one or both sides to come to the table and get a deal done? We can only hope.
Birmingham Lands Mike Shanahan in Bold Move
Stallion fans finally got the move they were waiting for as this week the Stallions and GM Les Snead finally announced a new head coach for the franchise. As expected, they waited out the NFL season and when the Denver Broncos announced the departure of two time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan, the Stallions pounced. Within 8 days Shannahan was appearing in the Magic City with a Stallions’ polo on.
Shanahan comes to the Stallions with a championship resume, a zone-blocking run scheme, and a reputation as a results-driven coach. The Broncos failed to make the playoffs the past three years, but they were hardly a league punching bag during that time, certainly more than the Stallions can say. So it is from a Bronco to a Stallion for Shanahan, and now the Birmingham Stallion faithful can turn their attention to the biggest player concern, their continued lack of a plan to replace Jason Campbell at quarterback. The Stallions failed to lock up a potential starter in the draft, and now are looking over the pool of USFL and NFL free agents ahead of the NFL-USFL Transfer Window. There are no All-Pros in either pool, but GM Les Snead is trying to keep fans calm, stating that he has several candidates in mind, and that he is confident that Coach Shanahan will have the players to build a winner for the Stallion Nation.
Despite the ongoing labor concerns throughout the late fall and early winter, teams have been able to continue their roster-building strategies and free agency continued up until and through the draft. While the pace of signings has certainly slowed, there have been some important developments which could impact your favorite team as we now prepare for the signing of 2009 draftees and the NFL-USFL transfer window in early February, a window that tends to favor the USFL as more NFL players have become available. Before we look at the top potential NFL players who could come to the USFL, let’s look at the most impactful signings of the past few months from within the USFL pool of free agents.
HB Rod Smart is moving from Atlanta to the Federals, where he will act as Deuce McCallister’s primary backup. We could also see Smart in some 3rd down and even special team roles.
St. Louis has added depth to its secondary by sigingn CB Kenny Wright away from the Las Vegas Thunder. Wright is expected to compete for one of the two starting corner positions.
Philadelphia added another solid run stuffer to their LB group, signing Ben Leber away from the Portland Stags. Leber’s role may be on the strong side, or potentially as a swing LB between the strong side and MLB.
Ohio got itself another weapon, signing former Bulls WR Javon Walker. Walker could see a dramatic increase in his numbers in Ohio’s more high-flying offense, so consider him a possible target in your fantasy drafts.
The first of the fullbacks to sign was perhaps the top-rated one, as Obafemi Ayanbadejo, who has blocked for Ron Dayne in recent years, will now be blocking for Willis McGahee in Tampa Bay.
Seattle added a goal line and short yardage specialist to its HB group, signing veteran Ladell Betts away from LA.
The Maulers added a solid all-around back in Kenny Watson from Seattle, providing some ability for DeShaun Foster to get a breather.
Orlando found their kicker in former Mauler Bill Grammatica.
Nashville was very busy, signing 4 potential contributors. Guard Bill Ferrario will almost certainly start for the Knights, while WR Troy Walters, TE Bob Slowikowski, and QB Quincy Carter could all have roles in the Knights’ offense. Carter likely serving as Jay Cutler’s backup.
Chicago seems prepared to trade Kyle Orton after signing former Thunder and CFL QB Henry Burris to a 2-year deal. With Burris backing up Brady Quinn, Chicago could very well trade away Orton, and we know there are teams interested.
The Machine also added to their defense, signing DT Ellis Wyms away from Tampa Bay and safety Corey Hall from Boston.
Boston lost Hall but added SS Rich Coady from St. Louis, along with LB Ike Reese from Washington as they try to shore up a defense that was disappointing in 2008.
Finally, Atlanta, after signing Ted Ginn earlier this year, added a running back in former Bandit Julius Jones, while also trying to improve the defense by signing another Bandit, SS Brandon Merriweather.
Draft Day produced several trades, though most were of the variety of mid-range picks getting shuffled. There were a few exceptions, with both Birmingham and Memphis trading their way out of the first round. The Stallions’ trade with Boston, a move that gave the Cannons the #3 overall pick, was perhaps the shocker of the draft, but it seems that once Birmingham saw that no first round QB’s were left on the board after the T-Draft, they opted to move down and acquire more players by obtaining quality from the Cannons. Memphis’s drop out of the first round, from the 28th pick to the 32nd and 36th picks (both from St. Louis) was hardly as dramatic, but still impactful. Here is the rundown of the most important trades from draft day.
Boston fought hard to move up from 14th, but could not find a taker who would swap picks, so they did the next best thing, obtaining a 2nd first round pick, #3 overall, by sending some pretty proven talent to the Birmingham Stallions. Defensive Tackle John McCargo, Cornerback Adolph Petrie, and 2nd round picks both this year and next year comprised the haul that the Stallions received in order for Boston to take their #3 overall pick. Boston, with that trade, selected WR Percy Harvin of Florida, a playmaker who the Cannons hope can flourish in the slot and draw even more coverage away from the #1 receiver in the USFL, Chad Ochocinco. With their pick from Boston, Birmingham selected HB Andre Brown of NC State.
Memphis also backed out of the first round, trading their #28 pick to St. Louis for the Skyhawks’ two picks in the 2nd round, #32 and #36. With the move up, St. Louis was able to snag CB Vontae Davis, a player they knew New Jersey was looking at before them in the 2nd round. By moving down, Memphis ended up with 3 second rounders, using the two St. Louis picks to select a pair of Iowa Hawkeyes, starting with HB Shonn Greene and then adding CB Bradley Fletcher.
The only other trade of any major significance (other than pick swapping in the later rounds) saw Seattle send SS Terrance Holt to the Texas Outlaws. For Holt, Seattle received a 5th rounder this year (used to select CB Erik Lancaster of Georgia Tech) and another next year.
So, let’s talk about the draft. We all know that right now all these picks are just potential for each team, with the actual value coming after they are able to get signatures on contracts, something very much in doubt as the NFL also bids on the same players. We have a few signings already, mostly from the Territorial Draft held 4 days before the Open Draft, but for the most part, all of these players are now sitting on USFL and NFL offers, and we will hopefully soon see where they end up. We will run down the league in draft order (disregarding trades) and discuss the T-Draft and Open Draft for each. No grades, because until players sign, they are all “incompletes”.
Arizona
Top T-Draft Pick: Tackle Eben Britton could be a good addition for the Wranglers, who are also excited about safety Glover Quin.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Wranglers went defense with their #1 pick, selecting Northern Illinois DE Larry English. With no quality QB’s on the board, they had no real choice. They also had Las Vegas’s 1st rounder and used it to select USC DT Fili Moala. If they could sign both, they would have a very different D-Line in 2009.
Potential Sleeper: WR Manuel Johnson form Oklahoma was a solid pick in the 5th round. Not a position of need, but he could play a role, particularly on special teams.
New Jersey
Top T-Draft Pick: New Jersey selected Rutgers QB Mike Teel, as expected, but the more important pick up in the T-Draft might be the OU linemen they used their other two picks on, guard Duke Robinson and C Jon Cooper. If they can sign those two, any QB will be in better shape.
Top O-Draft Pick: As expected, New Jersey, seeing no viable QB option, went with Boston College DT B. J. Raji, a big space-eater in the middle of the D-line.
Potential Sleeper: Not a lot of late round talent for new Jersey, so we are going to go with another lineman, guard Tyronne Green of Auburn as the Generals try to build a line that can protect whomever ends up quarterbacking this team.
Birmingham
Top T-Draft Pick: Halfback Glen Coffee had some moments at Alabama and will certainly come into the Stallions as a local favorite. Will he get a starting role or be a role player? That is a question that he will likely ask as he debates the option to go to the NFL 49ers or stay closer to home.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Stallions traded away their 1st rounder, so their first pick was #31 overall, and we think they did ok with guard Herman Johnson of LSU, but we like their 3rd round pick, DE Jarius Wynn of Georgia even better.
Potential Sleeper: We could have put Wynn here, but if there is a darkhorse in the Stallion draft, it has to be former Kent State QB Julian Edelman, who entered the draft as a wide receiver. He is athletic, we will give him that, and he could make the squad on special teams, but can he also be a viable receiver?
St. Louis
Top T-Draft Pick: Having missed on the Jake Plummer frenzy, St. Louis did what we all expected and selected Josh Freeman out of Kansas State to be their potential QB of the future. They will need to compete with Tampa Bay for his services, but that feels like a fight the Skyhawks could win.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Skyhawks traded away 2 second rounders to move up and select CB Vontae Davis out of Illinois. If they can sign him, they may have a very good long term prospect in Davis.
Potential Sleeper: We are a bit surprised that New Jersey did not protect WR Tiquan Underwood out of Rutgers, a nice find for the Skyhawks in the 6th round.
Atlanta
Top T-Draft Pick: Do we even need to say it. This whole draft is all about Matt Stafford, the big-armed QB out of Georgia. Atlanta may be in for a fight to sign him as the NFL’s Detroit Lions also took him #1 overall, and that means big time NFL money will be competing to land the QB.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Fire surprised us a bit, taking OT Eugene Monroe out of Virginia at #5, but maybe drafting a big pass protector is just what they need to get Stafford on board.
Potential Sleeper: Atlanta loved the Cavaliers in this draft, also selecting LB Clint Sintim in the 2nd round, a solid player who could join a pretty talented group in Atlanta.
Texas
Top T-Draft Pick: Wideout Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) would be a coup for the Outlaws, who lost Ike Hilliard to retirement and who have yet to resign Muhsin Muhammad. Crabtree would be a great deep ball target for QB Joe Flacco.
Top O-Draft Pick: We love the pick of Robert Ayers, the big, fast edge rusher out of Tennessee. He could be tough to sign, but the Outlaws absolutely need his skills in their defense.
Potential Sleeper: The Outlaws only had 5 picks in this draft, so not a lot of depth, but we think T-draft safety Darcel McBath could be a solid signing out of Texas Tech.
Los Angeles
Top T-Draft Pick: They did it. The Express went for the brass ring and selected USC QB Mark Sanchez, despite having 3 QBs on the roster already, including their starter for the past 2 years, Seneca Wallace. Will Sanchez stay home or jet off to NY to play for the NFL Jets? That is the question.
Top O-Draft Pick: Pick a QB, get him some protection. That is what Atlanta did, and that is what LA did as well, going with Cal center Alex Mack with their #1 pick.
Potential Sleeper: He is not a sleeper, but if LA can land both Sanchez and USC linebacker Clay Matthews out of their T-Draft (the 1 LB they took of the Big 3 coming out this year), they could have the best draft of anyone this year. So nice to have the Trojans as a protected school.
Nashville
Top T-Draft Pick: We were a bit surprised that Nashville did not claim Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher or WR Mike Wallace. They did claim another Rebel in DT Peria Jerry, along with Tennessee HB Arian Foster, both interesting prospects.
Top O-Draft Pick: DE Tyson Jackson would be a big addition to the Knights’ defense. We all know that Coach Jim Johnson loves to pressure with his front 4 and leave 7 in coverage, so landing the edge rusher could be vital to his plans.
Potential Sleeper: Not that Jay Cutler should be nervous, but the mid-round selection of Chase Daniel out of Mizzou is an interesting selection for the Knights.
Orlando
Top T-Draft Pick: This was a really odd year in that the U. of Miami produced almost no talent for Orlando to draft. They did select LB Spencer Adkins, who could be a solid special teamer and backup, but honestly, no major talent from any of Orlando’s 3 schools.
Top O-Draft Pick: With a weak T-Draft pool, Orlando has to hit on their Open Draft picks, and if they can sign their 1st round pick, they may have themselves a good draft after all. Georgia HB Knowshon Moreno was not a priority for Atlanta, since they got their back last year, so they let him go in the T-Draft and Orlando was the beneficiary.
Potential Sleeper: Orlando had New Jersey’s 3rd rounder and used the pick on Mizzou OT Colin Brown, a solid option in a position of need for the Renegades.
Charlotte
Top T-Draft Pick: WR Hakeem Nicks was too tempting to pass on. He will have some demands after also being selected out of NC State by the NY Giants, but the G-Men have a reputation of lowballing rookies, so Charlotte could convince Hakeem to stay in the state.
Top O-Draft Pick: Charlotte hopes they benefit from LA only protecting 1 of the 3 big USC linebackers this year. They used their top pick on Rey Maualuga, a thumper of a LB who could be a week 1 starter for the Monarchs if he does not sign with the notoriously cheap Bengals.
Potential Sleeper: Purdue QB Curtis Painter was worth a flyer with Charlotte’s last pick of the draft. We don’t project him as a challenger to Chris Weinke, but QB depth is always something you want.
Pittsburgh
Top T-Draft Pick: Not a great week for Mauler QB Cody Pickett. Not only do the Maulers use their 1st T-Draft slot to pick West Virginia QB Pat White, but by that Friday they had signed the Mountaineer QB to a 4-year deal. Looks like a QB competition in the Steel City this February.
Top O-Draft Pick: White was clearly the star of Pittsburgh’s draft, but selecting LB Brian Cushing, the last of the USC backers off the board, could also be a very impactful pick, especially if the Maulers still have money in the bank after signing White. They will need it to compete with the NFL Oilers for Cushing’s services.
Potential Sleeper: Kicker Ryan Succop from South Carolina will likely be the favorite to win the job in camp.
Portland
Top T-Draft Pick: It seems clear that Portland used their T-Draft with signability as their #1 priority. They went with somewhat unheralded picks like OSU corner Keenan Lewis and OU tackle Fenuki Tupou, instead of higher risk picks like safety Jairus Byrd or Patrick Chung, two outstanding Ducks this past season.
Top O-Draft Pick: Portland sought protection for A. J. Feeley and they think they have gotten it with the pick of Michael Oher out of Ole Miss. Oher was also a top pick of the Baltimore Ravens, so we will see if he heads west or east.
Potential Sleeper: LB Cody Glenn of Nebraska should be an immediate contributor on special teams, and could see some rotations in Portland’s defense as the season progresses.
Ohio
Top T-Draft Pick: We are just used to the Glory signing some Buckeyes each year, and this year that should continue. They will have to fight to keep James Laurinaitis, the big LB in the middle, but he would be a valuable addition to be sure.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Glory just keep adding weapons. They bring in Javon Walker in Free Agency to go with Galloway and Moss, and now they add TE Brandon Pettigrew from OSU. If Pettigrew signs, he could be the perfect option to force teams into zone coverage.
Potential Sleeper: DT Darryl Richard of Georgia Tech is not the biggest tackle in the draft, nor the fastest, but he has a great motor.
Boston
Top T-Draft Pick: Boston passed on protecting B. J. Raji, but jumped on two badgers, TE Travis Beckham and G Kraig Urbick. We think Beckham could be to the Cannons what Pettigrew would be for Ohio, a 3rd option who forces defenses to rethink man coverage.
Top O-Draft Pick: Boston is clearly trying to keep pace with Ohio, snagging a slot receiver as well. They made the big move to get to #3 and select Percy Harvin out of Florida. If they can sign him, they will have a WR corps that looks very much like the Glory’s.
Potential Sleeper: Not a lot of sleepers in the later rounds for the Cannons, but safety Troy Nolan out of Arizona State could be a solid swing player at both free and strong safety.
Jacksonville
Top T-Draft Pick: The Bulls passed on Percy Harvin, but still loaded up on Gators, picking WR Louis Murphy and TE Cornelius Ingram. But, honestly, their best choice may have been Clemson safety Chris Clemons, a good player and a position of need.
Top O-Draft Pick: Jacksonville went big on their first pick, selecting Alabama LT Andre Smith. They will have to battle the Bengals to sign the big man, but, as we have said, Cincinnati is notoriously cheap, so the Bulls could get their guy with some incentives in the contract offer.
Potential Sleeper: DE Chris Baker out of Hampton University is a player to watch. Maybe not for this year, as he has a lot to learn, but he has the tools to be good.
Las Vegas
Top T-Draft Pick: Utah DE Paul Kruger is really the only player we see coming out of the Thunder’s T-Draft that could make an impact. They largely went for depth.
Top O-Draft Pick: Las Vegas traded away their top pick for Jake Plummer, so we give them a pass here. Their earliest pick in the draft was a 2nd rounder spent on Temple DT Terrance Knighton, which feels like a stretch to us.
Potential Sleeper: A 6th round flyer on HB Rahsad Jennings feels like a good investment. Jennings can operate as a return man, and could grow into a useful 3rd down back.
New Orleans
Top T-Draft Pick: We have no idea why New Orleans passed on LSU DE Tyson Jackson, but they did. They snagged two other Bayou Bengals in WR Demetrius Boyd and DT Ricky Jean-Francois, and either would be a welcome addition to the roster, but we are still puzzled by the Jackson move.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Breakers went looking for a defensive playmaker in the first round and they think they have one in Texas LB Brian Orakpo. They will need to outbid the Washington Redskins to get him, but they should absolutely do their best to get Orakpo.
Potential Sleeper: Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson is more of a blocker than a receiver, but maybe that is what New Orleans needs if they want to revive their ground game.
Denver
Top T-Draft Pick: Guard Matt Slauson is a beast of a man and should fit in very well with Denver’s run-first mentality.
Top O-Draft Pick: The went for more beef in the 1st round of the Open Draft, selecting Louisville center Eric Wood with their first pick. Wood could be an immediate starter for the Gold, and may find himself lined up with Slauson next to him if the Gold can sign both.
Potential Sleeper: After trading away Cedric Benson, we expected Denver to look for a big back, which is why the choice of Michigan State’s Javon Ringer is a bit of a surprise. Is Denver going to go with a lightning and lightning combo at HB instead of their usual thunder & lightning plan?
Baltimore
Top T-Draft Pick: Baltimore had first shot at Eric Wood, but passed, instead protecting G George Bussey from the Cardinals, along with TE Dan Gronkowski and DT Myron Pryor. Bussey looks like the best of the three.
Top O-Draft Pick: With no first round pick (from an earlier trade), the Blitz waited until the 2nd round for their first chance to land a quality player, and they opted for LB Gerald McGrath from Southern Miss. A bit undersized, and perhaps a step slow, we are not sure the wait was worth it.
Potential Sleeper: FB Quinn Johnson (LSU) will have big shoes to fill after the departure of Ayanbadejo in free agency.
Houston
Top T-Draft Pick: OT Sebastian Vollmer will likely line up on the right side of the line for the Gamblers, if, that is, he does not sign with New England.
Top O-Draft Pick: We love the pick of Oregon safety Patrick Chung for this Gambler squad. He could be a very valuable addition to a pretty solid defense.
Potential Sleeper: DT Ra’Shon Harris, also a Duck, is a bit of a reach in the 3rd round, but will be productive if he signs.
Seattle
Top T-Draft Pick: Even with Montana added as a 4th T-Draft school, the Dragons got all but nothing out of their picks. There just was not a lot of talent, and even WR Brandon Gibson out of Washington State is iffy to make the roster.
Top O-Draft Pick: The quest for a #2 receiver continues with the selection of Jeremy Maclin in the first round. Maclin was also drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, so the battle is on for the Dragons to sign the highly touted receiver.
Potential Sleeper: Center A. Q. Shipley from Penn State is a solid run blocker, but will need to work on his footwork if he is going to be a starting center in the pros.
Washington
Top T-Draft Pick: It came down to picking either Uva OT Eugene Morris or Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry and the Feds went with defense. Is anyone surprised?
Top O-Draft Pick: The Feds double dip on defense, picking Ohio State CB Malcolm Jenkins with their first rounder. He would be in good company in that Federals secondary, playing alongside safety Ed Reed.
Potential Sleeper: Washington wanted a mid-round QB they could groom behind Kordell Stewart, and they got one in Michigan State’s Brian Hoyer. Definitely not ready to start yet, but with some good qualities you want down the line.
Philadelphia
Top T-Draft Pick: Hmmm… Do you think they went for a Penn State linebacker? When do they not? Aaron Maybin is a pass rush specialist, which is not typically Coach Harbaugh’s thing, but how do you pass up on him?
Top O-Draft Pick: DE Connor Barwin out of Cincinnati could be another piece of the puzzle as Philadelphia just goes all in on defense. Now they have to keep him from signing with the NFL.
Potential Sleeper: The Stars got a mid-round pick from Nashville and used it on OT Jaimie Thomas out of Maryland. A good depth pick for them.
Chicago
Top T-Draft Pick: Chicago is strong enough at corner to pass on Vontae Davis, but they wanted help on the O-Line, so Illinois tackle Xavier Fulton is a solid addition for them. He is already signed, which makes it an even better pick.
Top O-Draft Pick: Safety Jairus Byrd out of Oregon could be a nice addition to the secondary in the safety slot. A solid pick in the latter stages of the 1st round.
Potential Sleeper: WR Johnny Knox out of Abilene Christian is fast, like bullet train fast, but has only played in small school football. Can he make the transition to the USFL or will he be mostly a special teamer?
Oakland
Top T-Draft Pick: The Invaders love TE Bear Pascoe, and with a name like that what is not to love. The former Fresno State receiver/blocker could be a nice addition for Oakland.
Top O-Draft Pick: WR Kenny Britt out of Rutgers is a player in the mold of Plaxico Burress, tall, able to make contested catches. So now the Invaders try to sell NorCal as a better spot than Nashville. That seems like it should be a win for the Invaders, right?
Potential Sleeper: LB Kaluka Maiava, is yet another USC linebacker coming out this year. He was not a full time starter, so he is a bit raw and a bit of an unknown factor, but that is what 5th round picks are, right?
Tampa Bay
Top T-Draft Pick: TE Jared Cook will be the heir apparent to Jeremy Shockey. A very good player form South Carolina who could see time in 2 TE formations right away.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Bandits went for a pass defender in CB Vontae Davis out of Illinois. IF they can sign him away from another Florida team, the Dolphins, they could have a starter right away.
Potential Sleeper: We are not sure if QB Rhett Bomar will ever develop into a USFL starter, but he provides youth and depth behind Daunte Culpepper, and that is always a good thing.
Memphis
Top T-Draft Pick: Poor Memphis got absolutely no help out of their 3 regional schools. It may be time for them to do like New Jersey and request a T-Draft school from another part of the country. It is just not working for them to have Arkansas, Memphis, and Mississippi State.
Top O-Draft Pick: The Showboats traded out of the 1st round and landed two early 2nd round picks, using both on Iowa players. If they land Shonn Greene, he could be a nice power option along with Cadillac Williams.
Potential Sleeper: QB Keith Null out of tiny West Texas A&M is likely camp fodder, but could catch on as a developmental player for the ‘Boats.
Michigan
Top T-Draft Pick: A pretty light crop this year out of the Michigan schools for the Panthers. They selected CB Morgan Trent and DE Tim Jamison, both out of Ann Arbor, but the best pick of the three may be DT Terrance Taylor, another Wolverine.
Top O-Draft Pick: Guard Andy Levitre out of Oregon State was a fine pick for the last choice of the first round. He has good footwork and fast hands, which could be a help to the Panther run game and to protect Brian Griese, not exactly the fleetest of foot for USFL QB’s.
Potential Sleeper: Keep your eyes on 6th round pick Demar Dotson, another big road grater for the O-line. He was impressive at Southern Miss, and could transition well into Michigan’s offensive scheme as a swing tackle, or maybe at center as well.
NFL Free Agents Ahead of Transfer Window
For those fan bases who look at their team’s draft and are concerned that some pretty significant holes still exist in their rosters, there is still hope. Yes, the USFL free agency pool by this point is somewhat bare, but when we look at the list of NFL players who have recently become free agents, the talent is there for USFL clubs that are willing to spend some cash to acquire it. So, for those of you despondent that your club is missing a very important piece, a QB for example, there is still hope. Here is our rundown of the best talent available from across the NFL, for the right price.
QB: You are not going to find the next Brett Favre or Daunte Culpepper in this year’s FA quarterback market, but there are some players here who could serve USFL teams well. We have two formers starters who have not necessarily lived up to expectations and a few quality backups. At the top of the group may be former NY Giants and Houston Oilers QB David Carr. Carr had some good moments, particularly early in his career, but has been on some bad teams. You also have former 1st round draft pick Kyle Boller, who many feel never got a fair chance in Baltimore to show what he could do. There is also the intriguing case of former Harvard QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who showed us some skill in a few games in Cincinnati, where he came in after an injury to the starter and proved to be more than just a little effective. Will a USFL club latch on to one of these three as an answer to their QB issues?
For those looking for a solid backup, there are also several potential signings in this group, including former Wisconsin Badger Brooks Bollinger, another Raven castoff Cleo Lemon, BYU star John Beck, and former Indiana QB and Redskin backup Gibran Hamdan.
RB: The halfback pool is small compared to most years, but there is still some good talent here, led by former Cardinal J. J. Arrington and Seahawk Maurice Morris. Both could be good platoon or role players, though we don’t see either as a true lead back. Others in the small pool include Aveion Cason, Noah Herron, and Ryan Torain, all younger players who could still develop into useful contributors for a HB by committee strategy.
TE: Only two tight ends that show potential in this year’s free agent market, Buffalo’s Robert Royal, who is a reliable short yardage and red zone target, and Arizona’s Leonard Pope, who has the skills to be a good dual use TE but has never truly flourished in the desert.
WR: We already saw one WR jump from the NFL to the USFL in September, when Hank Basket left the Eagles for the Invaders. He could be joined by several others as this group looks like it has some worthwhile options. A former USFL star could return with Terrell Owens no longer under contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Could he return to his pro starting point? Malcolm Floyd of the chargers is a very solid intermediate route option, white Pittsburgh’s Nate Washington or Jacksonville’s Matt Jones could be good fits for teams looking for some straight-line speed. Finally, a couple of younger layers in Reggie Williams and Sam Hurd round out the grouping.
OT: Orlando Pace is clearly the biggest name in this group, but he may be at a point in his career where a full time starting role is not the best option. Beyond him, we have some possible rotation or swing tackles in Khalif Barnes, Jordan Gross, Donald Penn, and, of course, Zach Strief, who signed with Atlanta back in September.
OG: With Chris Kemoeatu signing with the Dragons last September, the best guard on the board now is likely Mike Goff of the Chargers. There will be interest as well in the Jets’ Brandon Moore, Atlanta’s Harvey Dahl, the Saints’ Jahri evans, and Nick Cole of the Eagles.
C: Matt Birk of the Vikings stands out in this small cluster of players, a clear starting option, while Jason Brown (Ravens), Geoff Hangartner (CAR), and Rudy Niswanger (KC), are likely sloted to backup roles.
DE: Chris Canty of Dallas is likely the top target in this group, but we also like Antonio Smith of Arizona to possibly make the jump. We saw C. J. Mosely join the Cannons in September, leaving only Demetric Evans, something of an unproven commodity in the grouping.
DT: Here is where we have one of the bigger names in the entire free agent market, but one who comes with some caveats. No one questions Albert Haynesworth’s talent, but his attitude and locker room impact are potentially a concern. The fact that the Tennessee Copperheads were unable to sign him due to his high cost demands mean that any USFL team is going to have to clear some cap room if they want him, but he will certainly have an impact. Others to consider include Dallas’s Tank Johnson, Washington’s Kedric Golston, and Tampa’s Jovan Haye.
LB: If your club is lacking a run-stuffing MLB, you could do worse than to sign Bart Scott from the Ravens or Eric Barton from the Jets. Perhaps a little less expensive would be Larry Foote of Pittsburgh, Ryan Fowler of Tennessee, or Corey Mays from the Bengals. For outside LB help, we think the top candidate is clear, Terrell Suggs is a multiple All-Pro winner for the Ravens and a dangerous edge rusher. He will come at quite a cost, but he is certainly worth the investment. Other outside backers include Buffalo’s Angelo Crowell, Cincy’s Darryl Blackstock, Marques Harris of San Francisco, Shantee Orr of Clevelend, Tyjuan Hagler of the Colts, and LeRoy Hill of Seattle.
CB: A deep pool, perhaps the deepest in the NFL market. Nnamdi Asomugha may be a tough name to pronounce, but he is also tough to throw against. Reynaldo Hill (TEN) and Tramon Williams (GBY) are coming into the prime of their careers and could be a good value signing. We also like DeAngelo Hall (WSH), Dominique Foxworth (ATL), and Keiwan Ratliff (PIT) as potential USFL signings.
S: Several USFL clubs still have noticeable holes in the safety slot, and the NFL market has some possible solutions. How about Eugene Wilson from the Oilers? Jarrad Page from KC? Atari Bigby from Green Bay, or, our top selection, Corey Chavous, the Raiders dominant safety. For a little less, you could sign a Jon McGraw, Yeremiah Bell, or Aaron Francisco to round out a secondary.
ST: Finally, we get to the kicking game. Hunter Smith is the best of the unsigned punters, while among placekickers, teams could certainly do worse than to sign Jay Feely, Shayne Graham or Connor Barth. All three have proven competent options in their NFL careers.
Our Best Guess at Who Will Be Under Center
Looking across the league, we are in January and we still have multiple teams with QB questions. As we approach the final phase of the offseason before camps open, we thought we should look at the 8 teams with the biggest question marks and throw out our best guesses as to who may be under center when the season starts.
ARIZONA: We think the Wranglers are a prime team for either an NFL signing or to make a deal with Chicago to bring Kyle Orton to town. The Wranglers did not draft a QB and are not going to go into the season with Colt Brennan and Jim Sorgi as their options.
ATLANTA: Our best guess is that they throw the kitchen sink at Matthew Stafford to get him signed. If not, then they could go into the year with Garrard and Thigpen again, which would certainly not make fans happy.
BIRMINGHAM: Right now Anthony Wright is the starter, with CFL vet Dave Dickenson behind him, but that just does not feel like a QB group that Mike Shannahan is going to be happy with. Orton could be a good option for the Stallions, unless they fall in love with one of the NFL signal callers, perhaps Boller or Carr.
BOSTON: Right now the starter is Adrian McPherson, who helped spark the Cannons to a late run in 2008, but there are still efforts being made to bring back Drew Bledsoe for one more year. He has not committed yet, which tells us he is still worried about his health, but he has also not filed or announced officially his retirement, which likely speaks to his dissatisfaction with how 2008 ended for him. This could very well come down to whether or not he wants to go through the rigors of camp, get the starting position back, and then possibly get surplanted by McPherson if he struggles. He is absolutely a statue now, after yet another issue with his joints, so coming back is a risk, but going out on an injury is never how a QB wants to go.
LOS ANGELES: The issue in LA is not so much who they sign, but who they keep. They have three quarterbacks under contract, all of whom started games for them last year, Seneca Wallace, Jeff Lewis, and Jeff Garcia. But they drafted Mark Sanchez in the territorial draft, so if they are able to sign the USC product, who is out? One or two could be potential trade material if LA gets their golden boy.
NEW JERSEY: It may very well be that despite all the noise and uproar about the QB room for the Generals, new head coach Herm Edwards very much has the same 2 options as his predecessor, Kevin Kolb and Kris Kershaw. The Generals could take a stab at an NFL free agent, but we certainly don’t see rookie pick Mike Teel of Rutgers as an option.
PITTSBURGH: If he signs, as looks promising, Pat White could create a true “having 2 QBs equals not having one” situation in the Steel City. It would be a very close battle between the rookie and veteran Cody Pickett. White is clearly more athletic and more mobile, but there are questions about his accuracy and decision making after playing in a spread offense with very clear read trees in college.
ST. LOUIS: The Skyhawks could be setting up a classic midseason switch strategy. If they are able to sign draftee Josh Freeman out of K-State, they could go back into the season with the dual threat option of Jeff Blake, hope his issues with interceptions is resolved, but know that they can turn to Freeman midseason if Blake struggles. Now, this could be a very fluid transition, or it could be a total mess, depending on how Coach Williams plays it.
There you have it, 8 teams, a full quarter (and then some) of clubs in the USFL without a clear path at quarterback. The next month will tell us which clubs got what they wanted and which are settling for an imperfect and potentially untenable quarterback situation, and that, in turn, could help inform which clubs are looking at early draft picks again in 2010.
We will be back during the preseason with our 2-part USFL preview, looking at all the biggest offseason moves, the strengths and weaknesses of each team, all the new faces, and all the predictions and previews for the 2009 season, just 8 weeks away, assuming, of course, that the league and the player’s union don’t completely screw things up. Here’s hoping we are kicking off on schedule in March.