January 10, 2010
It has been five busy and news-packed months since our last USFL report. The NFL season has occupied most of the press over these months, and as the fall league enters the playoffs before Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, the USFL is gearing up for training camps, the preseason and its 28th spring campaign. The interplay between the two leagues has been a huge story of the offseason as the USFL snagged one of the NFL’s biggest stars in the September transfer window, while the NFL snapped up several big-name USFL players at the same time.
The USFL also had a trade that shook the rafters a bit, an exciting free agency period that saw some star players find new homes, and now, as the league prepares for its Collegiate Draft, the rosters are starting to take shape. The Draft will be huge, as it always is, particularly with the USFL seemingly putting even greater emphasis on signing young talent out of the college ranks. And, with the next NFL-USFL transfer window not opening until 2 weeks before the regular season, and extending into the regular season, we can expect to see some early season signings for the first time, signings that could alter a team’s destiny by midseason.
There is a lot to explore as we look at the offseason to date, what lies ahead, and as we prepare for the College Draft, so let’s get right to it with the top stories of each of the past five months
AUGUST: USFL Free Agency Sees Several Big Moves
It did not take long for the USFL Free Agency period to make news as three well-known and impactful players changed teams on the very first day of the open signing period. Wideout Terrell Owens, linebacker James Farrior, and Defensive End Jared Allen all signed multiple-year, multi-million dollar deals with new teams to kick off USFL Free Agency with a bang. By the end of the month there would be many more quality players moving between teams in the USFL, but let’s start with the three who signed on day one.
DE Jared Allen: The disruptive Allen leaves the Blitz for a 4-year deal to take over for Kyle Vanden Bosch in Pittsburgh. Allen is known as a motor player, much like Vanden Bosch, so this will be a line that will continue to be a group without quit, a dangerous premise for any QB coming into Heinz Field. With the signing of Allen, it was clear that free agent Vanden Bosch was not returning, though that had been generally believed long before the Allen deal.
WR Terrell Owens: One of the most outspoken players in the league, and no stranger to controversy, Owens jumped at the chance, after only 1 year in Philadelphia, to parlay a 1,000 yard, 11 TD season with the Stars into a #1 role as the new focal point of the attack in Birmingham. Owens will take over the role abandoned by Joe Horn (who was a free agent but has since declared his intent to retire from the game.) Owens will be the clear #1 in a receiving room short on veterans, with Dedrick Ward the only player with more than 5 years of experience. Expect Owens to not only be the face of the receiving group, but its voice as well.
LB James Farrior: A lifelong member of the Blitz, Farrior was expected to resign with the club, but a 2-year deal worth nearly $4 million was just too good to turn down. Farrior will be leaving the Blitz for the Houston Gamblers, where he will take over Sam Cowart’s spot in the Gambler’s 4-3 alignment. Farrior will be the strong side LB next to MLB Zak DeOssie and across from Nick Barnett.
Following the triple signings on day one, the dam was broken and the signings came quickly before petering out after 10 days. With signings all across the league, there was plenty of enthusiasm across the country as teams added players and potential. From just the first 10 days of free agency, here are 10 more players who we expect to have a major impact on their new clubs:
DE Vonnie Holliday will now join Erasmus James and Haloti Ngata in Las Vegas’s 3-4, likely on the right side, creating havoc that Joey Porter can take advantage of to pressure QBs. The 31-year old Holliday signed on for 3 years.
WR Santana Moss became the second big name wideout to sign, accepting an offer to join the Breakers, where he will almost certainly be the veteran mentor for youngsters Dwayne Bowe, Early Doucet, and Donnie Avery. Expect a lot of 3-wide sets from the Breakers this year as they use Moss’s speed to stretch the defense even further.
LB Paul Posluszny: Philadelphia’s energetic middle linebacker now moves to Orlando, where he will be joining one of the best young defenses in the league, a defense already making waves with Calais Campbell and Albert Haynesworth up front. Poz is expected to take over the MLB spot, allowing Barrett Rud to slide to the outside with Will Overstreet.
TE Dan Campbell: The best tight end in the pool lasted only 3 days in fhe market before the Texas Outlaws, led by new head coach Greg Landry, snatched him up. Landry, the former Chicago and Arizona QB, gets his first head coaching job and has stated that his goal is to make life as easy and as productive as possible for QB Joe Flacco, and a quality tight end is imperative to that plan.
LB Kendrell Bell: Denver’s play-disruptor now gets to line up with the best MLB in the game, signing a 3-year deal to join the Chicago Machine. The Machine will now boast a 4-man group of Urlacher and Boiman inside, Bell and Tommy Polley outside. That is a group that will spike Maalox use by OCs across the league.
LB Roosevelt Colvin: The Stags also bolstered their linebacker group by adding one of Oakland’s most productive defenders. Colvin joins a Stags defense that had some issues with run coverage, something the rangy backer knows a lot about.
WR Dez White: Denver continues to provide weapons for Matt Leinart, signing the 31-year old White to a 2-year deal. White will likely take over the slot position, with Price and Colbert outside. White, who had 43 catches for 756 yards and 5 TDs with LA in 2009, will use his quicks on a range of slants, crosses, and out routes for Coach Jauron’s offense.
CB Tyrone Bell: The best corner available goes to Memphis, where he will slot in as the #1 corner, ahead of Keiwan Ratliff and Antwaun Molden. Bell, an 11-year vet, becomes the third Blitz defender to leave town, causing major concern for the Blitz and their fans.
LB Shawne Merriman: With Bell off to Chicago, the Gold had a huge hole in their LB group, but they feel very much that they have found their man in former Panther Shawne Merriman. It is unsure right now if Merriman will take over Bell’s spot on the strong side, or if he will occupy the MLB slot.
HB Fred Jackson: The dual-threat HB from the Breakers joins his 4th club as he signs a 3-year deal with the Charlotte Monarchs. Jackson had 689 yards and 8 TDs in 2009 with New Orleans, where he split time with Matt Forte. In Charlotte it is Robert Edwards who will likely be his duo-mate. Edwards is more of a traditional 2-down back, so expect to see Jackson, whose receiving skills are solid, on a lot of 3rd downs.
Other signings of note include Boston adding FB Sean Smith and QB Kevin Kolb, Jacksonville adding veteran DE Carl Powell. Kicker Shayne Graham was signed by Las Vegas, TE Aaron Shea by New Orleans, and HB Ahmaad Galloway is now a Skyhawk. Slot receiver Troy Williamson joins the Stars while Baltimore signs former Showboat QB Mike McMahon to back up Ben Roethlisberger. Orlando snags kick returner and receiver Karl Williams away from the Bandits, while Michigan landed HB Antwone Womack and OT Langston Walker.
So, who were the biggest names still unsigned when September rolled around? How about this list: DT Richard Seymour, HB Antowain Smith, OT Ross Verba, LB James Harrison, HB Justin Fargas, DT Anthony McFarland, LB London Fletcher, CB Mike Rumph, FB Alan Ricard, and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch.
SEPTEMBER: Tomlinson Drops the Jets to Join Arizona
It was not exactly the Great Train Robbery, but All-Pro halfback LaDainian Tomlinson’s last second juke away from the New York Jets and into the USFL this past September was a huge blow for the fall league, and a huge win for the USFL. Much like Jim Kelly’s famous decision in 1983, where a phone call to the Bills organization, while he was interviewing with the club, led him to leave town and sign with the Gamblers, Tomlinson was on the verge of signing with New York when his agent and the front office of the Arizona Wranglers pulled him out and put him on a plane to Phoenix. Jets fans and the NY media was incensed, but at the end of the day, Tomlinson was all smiles, holding up a #21 Wrangler jersey and planning to set up an apartment in the Valley of the Sun.
Tomlinson, a 3-time All-Pro with the San Diego Chargers, and an 8-time 1,000 yard rusher, was unhappy with changes in San Diego and looking for a new home to finish out his future Hall of Fame career. The Wranglers, following discontinued negotiations with Sedrick Irvin, and with new OC Norv Turner in tow, were looking to make a splash, and man, oh, man, did they. Tomlinson will enjoy a nice lengthy recuperative offseason, essentially not taking the field for over a year between the 2008 NFL season and the start of the 2010 UFL season in March, but that may well make him even more dangerous as his 30-year old legs could certainly use 12 months away from the game.
Arizona has signed Tomlinson to a 3-year contract rumored to be worth over $7.3 million dollars. While this is always a risk with a halfback who has as many miles and as many years on his body as LT does, there is no denying the star power that the halfback will bring to a Wrangler squad that is still rebuilding after trading away Jake Plummer in the winter of 2008. LT will bring instant appeal to the Wranglers, and hopefully will bring a top flight run game to the Wranglers for perhaps the first time in club history. The Wranglers, in their entire 27-year history, have only had one 1,000 yard rusher, and it was way back in 1988, when another NFL transfer, James Wilder, rushed for 1,083 yards, still the club record for yards in a season. Tomlinson’s arrival in the desert provides hope that the Wranglers may actually be able to balance their offense and get a run game for the first time in team history.
While Tomlinson was the big story in September’s NFL-USFL transfer window, he was hardly the only story. Several NFL teams enhanced their rosters after the start of the regular season by taking advantage of the transfer window. The Steelers kept Kyle Vanden Bosch in the Steel City by signing him to a 2-year deal. Another Mauler, CB Dre Bly was signed by Arizona. Chicago’s Alan Ricard, one of the best fullbacks in the game, joined the NFL Ravens. The biggest HB signing was Michigan’s Justin Fargas. The 7-year vet, who rushed for 1,100 yards in Michigan’s 2008 championship season, landed in Miami with the Dolphins. Denver’s Mewelde Moore also left for the fall league, landing with Minnesota. Sedrick Irvin signed a 1-year deal with the Cowboys and Orlando HB Najeh Davenport is off to Green Bay. The Generals took a hit when their All-USFL linebacker, James Harrison, signed with the LA Raiders, leaving a big hole in the Generals’ LB group.
So, did the USFL, other than Tomlinson, land any late holdouts from the NFL? A few, but far less than we have seen in past years (actually numbers in both directions were down, which is exactly what was predicted). Among the NFL name players headed to the Spring in 2010 we have Bears’ DE Adewale Ogunleye, who will be a Michigan Panther in the spring. Former Saint safety Darren Sharper will now be in Chicago with the Machine, while another highly-regarded safety, former Bengal Roy Williams, will bein Denver with the Gold. Expect a much more dynamic transfer window, at least from the USFL arrival perspective, in February and March, when the NFL pool is much larger. Many of those players will likely not be able to see the field until Weeks 3, 4, or 5, but that won’t stop USFL clubs from signing talent if they can find it.
OCTOBER: Los Angeles Finally Finds a Coach
Hard to believe, but it took until mid-October for the LA Express to settle on a head coach. Many had begun to wonder if the Express were going to wait out the 2009 NFL season and sign a coach in January, but on October 17th they held a press conference at Farmers insurance Field to announce that former Bills head coach, and current Nashville DC would be their new head coach. Williams joins the Express with the goal of turning a talented defense into an effective one. He will also be charged with rebuilding an Express offense that scored only 227 points in 2009 (16 PPG).
Williams quickly got to the offense, signing fired St. Louis head coach Doug Williams to be the new OC for the Express. Williams is expected to work with Mark Sanchez and receiver Keyshawn Johnson to produce a more explosive offense. More news in that direction would come later in the Winter (see below). Meanwhile, Williams promised that the defense, led by LBs Lofa Tatupu, Keith Rivers, and Clay Matthews, would be nastier, more aggressive, and focused on leading the lead in takeaways. Likely those words were music to the ears of the backers as well as CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, whose sophomore year was a dip from an outstanding 2008.
Williams’s next task was to find more weapons for Sanchez, and we would say he pulled that off, as you will see.
NOVEMBER: Seymour and Smith find homes in the USFL
The NFL-USFL transfer window and the first two full months of free agency had passed and two of the bigger names in the free agency pool were still out there, DT Richard Seymour from Houston and HB Antowain Smith from Jacksonville. It was well known that the Gamblers were still hoping to resign Seymour, as Washington had done with Anthony McFarland, while most expected Smith not to get an offer from new Bulls’ head coach Leslie Frazier, who had his eyes on the draft and Clemson back C. J. Spiller. By November, the rumors were starting to rise that both players were frustrated with their representation, but by mid-month both seemed more than happy with their new situations and their new deals.
What both Smith and Seymour discovered is that sometimes a desperate team will simply overpay. Both top targets ended up signing with the same team, the 1-13 St. Louis Skyhawks. Under the direction of new head coach Bruce Arians, the Skyhawks spent big to bring in talent at both key positions. Seymour’s deal, a 4-year agreement, makes him the highest paid DT in the league, while Smith, who had his first non-1000 yard season in 5 years in 2008, got a deal we usually see for younger, more explosive backs. Both players appeared in a press conference in St. Louis, showing off their new jerseys and talking excitedly about being in the Gateway City and working with Coach Arians to build a winner in the city.
The dual signings by the Skyhawks meant that the free agent pool now lacked a lot of star power. There were a few names left worth wondering about, players like London Fletcher, Andre Wadsworth, Pearson Prioleau, and the big mystery, WR Plaxico Burress, who is now known to be serving a 6-month house arrest after his gunshot incident led to a plea in a California court. Burress could be available to play as soon as mid-May, but it seems that USFL clubs are very leery about the talented, but clearly problematic wideout.
DECEMBER: Randy Moss Gets His Wish, Traded to Express
We said that Coach Williams was tasked with creating a more explosive offense in LA, and on December 10th, the longsuffering Express fans got an early Christmas gift as the Express and Ohio Glory announced a deal that very few saw coming. Wideout Randy Moss would be headed out to LA to line up with Keyshawn Johnson in what may be the most extroverted WR group the league has ever seen, and that is saying something. Moss, who had been very vocal about his complaints in Al Luginbill’s offense, complaints about preferential treatment for long-time Glory wideout Joey Galloway, about QB Kerry Collins, about Luginbill’s playcalling, and about the market itself in Columbus. He now comes to LA, where the market certainly will suit his style, even if we have no idea how OC Doug Williams will use him.
The hope, for Express fans particularly, is that Williams will bring back the deep ball offense that LA succeeded with when they had Tory Holt opposite Keyshawn. Moss is certainly one of the best deep ball receivers in the league, so it would make sense, and we know that Williams, himself a gunslinger of the highest order as a player, has no fear of the vertical game. For Moss this could be an ideal placement. For Coach Williams (actually for both Doug and Gregg), it could be a lot of headaches if it does not go right and quickly.
LA invested heavily in bringing Moss to the Left Coast, sending both their first and second round pick in this year’s Open Draft to the Glory, along with a 2nd rounder next year. With LA holding the 6th pick in both rounds this year, that provides Ohio with a lot of draft capital to start to rebuild, which is clearly the impression we get with Collins retiring and Moss now shipped off to LA. What Ohio chooses to do with those picks is not known, but clearly a plan to bring in a 2nd receiver, one who could step in when Joey Galloway retires (which we think is not far off), has to be a top priority.
The Moss-to-LA deal was not the only big trade this offseason, but it certainly was the biggest surprise of the bunch. As we have drawn closer to the draft there have been several deals cut between teams, and we expect more to come as we hit Draft Week. Here are five trades we think could have a significant impact for the 2010 USFL season.
5) Philadelphia gets a solid safety in Chicago’s Jairus Byrd, sending G Taylor Whitley to the Machine in a 1-for-1 swap.
4) Ohio and Seattle found a mutually beneficial 1-for-1 as well, with LB Craig Kriewaldt headed to Seattle and DT Wendell Bryant now a member of the Glory.
3) Charlotte and Baltimore both addressed major needs, but not without some pain as two starters were dealt, Monarch CB Nnambi Asomugha is now with the Blitz, who send RT Matt Hill to Charlotte.
2) Denver started to think about replacing Mewelde Moore by trading to get Maurice Hicks from the Tampa Bay Bandits. They sent Tampa Bay WR Devery Henderson and a 3rd rounder to get Hicks and a 4th round pick.
1) Orlando and Michigan both benefitted from a trade from positions of strength. Michigan’s deep WR corps is a bit shallower after the Panthers send Antwan Randle-El to the ‘Gades, but in return they bring in SS Tyrone Carter, who is certainly expected to compete for the starting job. For Orlando it is the slot weapon they have needed to provide to Drew Brees, opening up the Renegade offense.
One big trade that has yet to happen is Jacksonville’s push to trade QB Jake Delhomme. They began the offseason seeking two #1 picks and that just does not seem to be happening. There are several teams still looking at Delhomme, but as of today’s publication of this story, no one had yet found the right formula to pull the veteran QB away from the Bulls.
We have recapped the big news from August to December and now we are ready for the biggest story of January, the USFL Draft. The teams have released the three players from their territorial schools who they are "protecting" from the Open Draft and all across the league team war rooms are prepping for seven rounds of drafting to help fill their rosters. As always it will be a balancing act between assessing player talent and trying to gauge interest. With the NFL Draft less than 2 weeks away, teams have limited time to make their case to turn players selected into players signed. Each club will try to select players who will help their clubs, but the only way they get that help is if these top college prospects choose to join the spring league in the first place.
For our preview, we will go team by team (in the order of the first round as it currently stands), looking at the three protected players, the team needs, and our thoughts on the best option available in the first round. With LA and Las Vegas having already traded their way out of the opening round (LA will not pick until Round 3 thanks to the Randy Moss trade), these two teams will be assessed at the end of our rundown. We start with the #1 pick in the draft, the 1-13 St. Louis Skyhawks.
Territorial Picks: The ‘Hawks continue to focus on those Iowa players, picking both OT Bryan Bulaga and TE Tony Moeaki, with their third protected player K-State CB Joshua Moore.
Needs Going into Open Draft: After signing Antowain Smith and Richard Seymour in free agency, the biggest gap lesft is at linebacker, so expect an early pick there.
Possible 1st Round Target: How about Alabama’s Rolando McClain or Florida’s Brandon Spikes? Or would the Skyhawks trade out of the top position and still be able to get one of these two?
Territorial Picks: The Bulls are all in on this season’s T-Draft, using it to attempt to rebuild their offense, selecting both Florida QB Tim Tebow and Clemson HB C. J. Spiller. They also selected another stud in center Maurkice Pouncey, giving them perhaps the best 1-2-3 lineup of any club. Now the hard part, signing them.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Tight End is still a big need for the Bulls, or they could double up on one of the three positions taken in the T-Draft if they don’t think one of the three will sign.
Possible 1st Round Target: Orlando did not protect TE Jimmy Graham, so that would be a very good place to start in round 1 for the Bulls.
Territorial Picks: New Jersey did as we all expected and selected Sam Bradford with their first pick. They followed that up by picking OT Trent Williams, also from OU, and rounded out their 3 protected players with Rutgers CB Devin McCourty.
Needs Going into Open Draft: If I were the Generals, I would not put all my eggs in the OU basket and would try to land another tackle, maybe not in the first round, but early.
Possible 1st Round Target: With James Harrison still testing free agency, I would be looking long and hard at Rolando McClain if the Skyhawks don’t.
Territorial Picks: It was a poor class for Memphis and we think the only one of the three selected players who is likely to stick with the club is LB Jamar Cheney, who should find work in special teams at a minimum.
Needs Going into Open Draft: The Showboats still have significant concerns at DT, DE, and LB, so how is that for a trifecta of defensive issues. Oh, and they don’t have a QB either, though there are not great options in this year’s draft, so that may not happen.
Possible 1st Round Target: It could be QB Jimmy Clausen if the Showboats are higher on him than we are, but if not, then D-line is the best option, and our pick would be Volunteer DT Dan Williams, who the Knights did not protect.
Territorial Picks: The usual Bama/Auburn pipeline just did not have a lot to offer this year. The Stallions do think they have found a possible rotational HB in Ben Tate from Bama, and they also selected big LG Mike Johnson. Their third pick was a bit more of a longshot, Troy State’s Cameron Sheffield, a DE with some upside, but who is very raw.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Center, Tackle, and Guard are all still issues, even if Johnson signs with the Stallions, so expect a draft dominated by O-linemen.
Possible 1st Round Target: Saffold, the tackle from Indiana, could be a good pick, or Idaho guard Mike Iupati, who is not at a protected school, so is a prime target in the Open Draft.
Territorial Picks: Another pipeline that is a little dry this year, the Buckeye Highway did not offer much. The Glory did take a shot at DE Thaddeus Gibson and LB Austin Spitler, but neither is considered a first day draft pick. Their third pick is a developmental one, Cincinnati QB Tony Pike.
Needs Going into Open Draft: QB remains a question, though the Glory keep saying that they feel Chris Redman can be effective as the starter. If not QB, then why make the deal with LA to send Johnson to the Express and snag the #6 pick? Regardless, Ohio will have 4 picks in the first 2 rounds, so there are lots of options.
Possible 1st Round Target: We think it could be Jimmy Clausen, but we could absolutely be reading the room wrong on this one.
Territorial Picks: The Outlaws added yet another receiver in Longhorn speedster Jordan Shipley. They also signed on with Texas LB Roddrick Muckelroy and Texas Tech CB Jamar Wall.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Right tackle and defensive tackle are the two obvious needs for the Outlaws.
Possible 1st Round Target: Either Dan Williams or Rodger Saffold would be strong options for Texas, as would OK State’s Russel Okung to fill that RT gap.
Territorial Picks: the Bandits are very high on USF DE Jason Pierre-Paul and will do what is needed to sign him. They also went heavy into CB Patrick Robinson of FSU and then spent their final pick onLB eric Norwood of South Carolina. A pretty good haul if they can land all 3.
Needs Going into Open Draft: If JPP signs, that takes care of the big hole at DE, so what is next? How about an offensive tackle or perhaps a guard?
Possible 1st Round Target: I feel like we keep mentioning Indiana’s Rodger Saffold. That is because there are not a lot of good OT candidates who were not already part of the T-Draft. But at pick #8 he may not be there, so how about Best Player Available, which we think would be WR Aurrelious Benn. Not an ideal fit for the Bandits, but when has Steve Spurrier ever shied away from loading up on receivers?
Territorial Picks: The Wranglers did it, they went after TE Rob Gronkowski. He would be a solid get for the club, to be sure. Arizona then protected ASU OT Shawn Lauvao and LB Travis Goethel, both considered solid but mid-round prospects.
Needs Going into Open Draft: A lot depends on if the Wranglers feel good about signing Gronkowski. If not, then they need to add another TE to the mix. Beyond that position, safety, halfback, and an outside LB for depth would be a good find.
Possible 1st Round Target: Let’s assume Gronkowski signs, so now the Wranglers can look at someone like USF safety Nate Allen, not protected by the Bandits and considered one of the best options at the position in this year’s class.
Territorial Picks: Ga Tech WR Demaryius Thomas is a wild card, but a very talented one. Atlanta also looked to add some defensive clout with DE Derrick Morgan (also Ga Tech) and UGA LB Rennie Curran.
Needs Going into Open Draft: The Fire need to consolidate the line, so either a center or tackle in the first round makes sense.
Possible 1st Round Target: We know who the tackle is, but is there a center worth selecting this early? The best option may be Baylor’s J. D. Walton. He would be a good get for Coach Tomsula.
Territorial Picks: Not many options for Pittsburgh, so they went with the top 3 options we all, choosing both PITT tight ends, Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson, along with West Virginia tackle Selvish Capers.
Needs Going into Open Draft: DT, WR, and DE are the key positions outside of their huge TE gap.
Possible 1st Round Target: If Jimmy Graham is here, the Maulers will likely jump, even after selecting the two Pitt tight ends.
Territorial Picks: Seattle went defense with all three picks, selecting UW’s Donald Butler (LB) and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim (DE) along with Montana safety Shann Schillinger.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Halfback is the obvious pick for the Dragons, and the obvious choice in that position is Jahvid Best, the unprotected member of Cal’s 2-back HB class.
Possible 1st Round Target: We would go for Best here, but they could also look to the defense once again.
Territorial Picks: The Monarchs really like UNC DE. J. Wilson, their first pick. They also went for defense with his linemate, DT Cam Thomas, and with the pick of DT Willie Young of NCState as well.
Needs Going into Open Draft: The Monarchs would love to get a complement to Robert Edwards, as well as a replacement for Dan Campbell.
Possible 1st Round Target: We could see Charlotte trading up if Jimmy Graham drops into range for them.
Territorial Picks: Oregon safety T. J. Ward, TE Ed Dickson and CB Walter Thurmond make it a trifecta for the Ducks.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Guard is the biggest need, as the Stags could really use two of them.
Possible 1st Round Target: You know the Stags have been scouting Mike Iupati from Idaho, but they could also take a look at Illinois’s Jon Asamoah or wait until round 2 if there is a clearly better option in the 1st round.
Territorial Picks: Can they sign him? That is the question everyone in Colorado is asking about Cornhusker DT Ndamukong Suh. If they can, it will be one of the biggest rookie signings in team history. Yes, they are also interested in LB Phillip Dillard (also a Husker) and guard Shelley Smith of CSU, but you know this is all about Suh.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Linebacker remains a need area, even after signing Shawne Merriman. The Gold are also hoping to find a mid-round QB to groom behind Leinart.
Possible 1st Round Target: We think that if Florida LB Brandon Spikes is still here, he will be the pick. If not, then perhaps Pat Angerer of the Hawkeyes.
Territorial Picks: The Federals are clearly hoping to get help for the secondary, selecting CB Chris Cook of Uva and CB Brandon Ghee of Wake Forest, but it is their third pick, OT Ed Wang of Virginia Tech who could be the best of the bunch.
Needs Going into Open Draft: is a rookie QB in the future for the Feds? They don’t have an answer yet at the position and we don’t see them holding out for a possible NFL castoff.
Possible 1st Round Target: Could Jimmy Clausen fall this far? We think there is a chance, but if he is not here, the Feds could trade down and try to land someone like Colt McCoy in the 2nd round.
Territorial Picks: The Renegades stuck to their usual Miami Hurricane route, selecting LB Darryl Sharpton, TE Dedrick Epps, and OT Howard Hanes from the Canes, while skipping on TE Jimmy Graham, a star but one in a position of strength for Orlando.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Safety, Center, and Corner are still key need areas.
Possible 1st Round Target: Lots of options here, but a great fit would be either Matt Tennant of BC or Eric Olsen of Notre Dame, both pro-ready centers.
Territorial Picks: The Knights are another team that was apparently not scared off by potential early draft picks in their T-Draft. While they passed on Ole Miss HB Dexter McCluster, which surprised us, they did select Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty. They also wentfor safety Eric Berry from the Vols and CB Myron Lewis from nearby Vanderbilt.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Corner, Guard, and Safety remain areas of interest,
especially safety if Berry is resisting early negotiations.
Possible 1st Round Target: A cornerback to consider with this pick would be Iowa’s Amari Spievey, who is likely to still be an option this late in the first round.
Territorial Picks: The Gamblers may not have an immediate need at DE, but they went for TCU’s Jerry Hughes anyway. If they can land him, they could well be prepared for Kavika Pittman to retire after all. Houston also picked U. of Houston TE Fendi Onobun and TCU linebacker Daryl Washington.
Needs Going into Open Draft: We would still like to see Houston improve the interior line, so guard is a priority. And, after what happened when Shaun Alexander went down last year, would a “handcuff” halfback be a bad idea?
Possible 1st Round Target: We have not mentioned Ole Miss HB Dexter McCluster yet. Could he be a surprise move by the Gamblers? Kevin Faulk is not getting any younger.
Territorial Picks: We wondered which Penn State LB the Stars would go after and we got our answer. Phily protected Sean Lee, the MLB, and not NaVorro Bowman, the OLB, which makes sense after the departure of Posluszny from the middle. They also protected TE Mickey Shuler and LB Josh Hull, both also Nittany Lions.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Wideout, Halfback, and tackle are all offensive slots that could use some attention.
Possible 1st Round Target: At WR, Minnesota’s Eric Decker would be a good fit for the Stars’ style of play, as would David Nelson of Florida.
Territorial Picks: The Machine hope they have a new weapon for Brady Quinn, passing on Illini WR Aurrelious Benn, but not Notre Dame wideout Golden Tate. Tate, OT Sam Young, and punter Jake Gilliam are all positions that Chicago would like to see improve.
Needs Going into Open Draft: The Machine would like to add more to their interior D-line, so DT is a priority, and while Chicago did not protect Jimmy Clausen in the T-Draft, they do need a 3rd QB.
Possible 1st Round Target: With OT still a priority, Chicago should consider someone like OK State’s Okung or Miami’s Jason Curtis-Fox.
Territorial Picks: Not a great year for Maryland, Kentucky or Louisville products. Baltimore went for depth in the T-Draft, selecting DT Corewy Peters (UK), CB Trevard Lindley (UK) and tackle Bruce Campbell (Maryland).
Needs Going into Open Draft: After losing Jared Allen and James Farrior, a youth movement for the defense is the first priority for Baltimore.
Possible 1st Round Target: There are a few options, particularly at LB. We are not sure either NaVorro Bowman or Brandon Spikes make it this deep into the first round. If they are both gone, then Iowa’s Pat Angerer or another Hawkeye, A. J. Edds could be next up.
Territorial Picks: The Breakers hope they have landed a possible starter in WR Brandon Lafell from LSU. They also selected DT D’Anthony Smith and DT Al Woods, with hopes of landing one or both of the big men.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Wideout and defensive tackle were two big positions for the Breakers, but so too is center and corner.
Possible 1st Round Target: We haven’t talked a lot about cornerbacks yet, so how about Florida’s Joe Haden, Iowa’s Amari Spievey, or OK State’s Perrish Cox as possible options for the Breakers?
Territorial Picks: A very weak year behind Wolverine DE Brandon Graham. The Panthers also selected CB Jeremy Ware and punter Jim Keviszas, but the focal point will certainly be Graham.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Linebacker is a big need as Michigan starts to lose key members from their squad. They could also go for a corner or tackle early on.
Possible 1st Round Target: Pat Angerer makes sense here, but Michigan is also looking at Hurricane LT Jason Curtis-Fox as a possible early target.
Territorial Picks: Oakland went for big DT Tyson Alualu, which makes sense, but they also had a tough choice with both Cal HB Jahvid Best, Stanford’s Toby Gehrhart, and Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews available to them. They opted to select and protect Best and Gerhart, leaving Mathews available for the other 27 teams.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Linebacker is a pretty clear need, but if the early studs are picked clean by pick 27, Oakland could also look for a safety to bolster the back end of the defense.
Possible 1st Round Target: Safety Nate Allen of USF or Texas’s Earl Thomas could both be strong candidates to have an impact for Oakland this year.
Territorial Picks: The newly-crowned champs opte to build depth in the WR group, selecting UConn’s Marcus Easley. They also went for size, with Wisconsin’s O’Brien Schofield, and big TE Garrett Graham.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Word out of Cannons camp is that they are comfortable with QB Adrian McPherson as the heir to Drew Bledsoe. Expect them to go for a late round QB to round out the room, but their bigger needs are at safety, guard, and on the D-line.
Possible 1st Round Target: When you pick last in the round, you often have a lot of similar options, lots of players with upside but some glaring hole in their game. If Boston does go QB, which would surprise us, it could be for a late riser, UAB’s Joe Webb or CMU’s Dan LeFevour.
Territorial Picks: The Express nabbed two big men from Utah in DE Koa Misi and OT Zane Beadles. They then added another Ute in safety Robert Johnson as they try to keep that defense fully loaded.
Needs Going into Open Draft: We expect Las Vegas to continue to focus on the defense, but they could use one more WR if they are really going to shift to more of a Run & Shoot model. By the second round, the best options at WR could be Minnesota’s Eric Decker or USF’s Carlton Mitchell.
Possible 1st Round Target: No first round pick, so the question becomes what to do in the 2nd round, which could be where the receiver comes or the Thunder could look at one of the big DT’s out there.
Territorial Picks: With no first round pick, the T-Draft is key for the Express, and they once again went heavy into their two big pipelines, selecting USC tackle Charles Brown, fellow Trojan, DE Everson Griffen, and UCLA DT Brian Price, three big men they hope will take up space on Sundays.
Needs Going into Open Draft: Offensive and Defensive lines are both key for the Express this offseason. Which they go for first is the mystery.
Possible 1st Round Target: DT is a pretty good position this year, so we could see LA get in as soon as they can, hoping that ECU’s Linval Joseph or Georgia’s Geno Atkins slides into the 3rd round, when the Express first pick.
Well, not exactly next week, but coming up next month, just as the USFL preseason wraps up, we will have our full season preview, including the stories of the offseason, the full review of the USFL's successes and failures in signing their draftees, any news coming out of the first two weeks of the NFL-USFL transfer window, and a team-by-team preview of the season to come. Can Boston repeat as they start a new era with a new QB? What will the QB situation be in Ohio? Memphis? New Jersey? Washington? or Jacksonville? Can Denver land Nebraska DE Ndamukong Suh? Will any NFL stars leap right into the USFL season? A lot of questions to answer when we are back with our USFL preview.