Bust and Boom!

Picking the draft is not as an exact science. Thus the reasons we have busts (Ryan Leaf), and steals (Tom Brady). So the disclaimer for this blog is that this is purely conjecture. These are the guys who I think will be late round steals and also the guys who will be drafted higher than they should be. This is the first in my week long coverage of the draft.

Let's start with the busts:

Bust #1: Jimmy Claussen- This kid is an unmistakable talent. He has a ton of measurable. But it is the intangibles that Claussen is lacking. In his three years at Notre Dame I rarely saw any signs of leadership. There weren't any moments that made me think he had what it took to be an NFL quarterback. We have seen on many occasions that it takes more than a strong arm and accuracy to excel at the next level. I hope I am wrong about Claussen because I love the Irish.

Bust #2: Jason Pierre-Paul- This one hurts almost as much as Claussen. I really enjoyed watching this kid play. But while watching he seemed to rely on his raw talent a tad bit too much. In the games I watched he only seemed to be giving it his all two-thirds of the time. That will make for a mediocre pro.

Bust #3: Sean Witherspoon- This is more about a team reaching than it is about Witherspoon's talent. Witherspoon is a solid mid-second round pick. Unfortunately a team with a linebacker need will reach out of panic after Rondo McClain comes off the board. Witherspoon will probably go in the first round and be labeled a bust by his 2nd year.

Those are just a quick few. Like in the case of Witherspoon, a lot of draft busts are due to teams reaching or playing a player before they are ready. But like I said you just never know

Next up are our draft steals, enjoy!

Steal #1: Colt McCoy- As much as I hate the University of Texas, I constantly found it hard to root against this kid. (And not because he was born in Hobbs, New Mexico or that I watched him play in high school.) He is a leader and he has guts. He played every down of his college career with an unmatched intensity. He has a stronger arm than people might think and his accuracy is off the charts. But as I mentioned before it takes more than that to be an NFL talent. His leadership and poise are undeniable. McCoy is going to go late to middle second round. And whoever drafts him will have an elite quarterback, just don't rush him on the field.

Steal #2: Eric Decker- Decker is a big strong wide receiver. He has decent speed and great hands. He runs almost perfect routes. His size makes him a tough match-ups for most corners and his deceiving speed makes him impossible to cover when matched up with safeties and linebackers. There are some questions regarding Decker after he injured his ankle late in his senior season. He will slip late in the draft and someone will get a steal.

Steal #3: Dan Lefevour- This is an extremely talented quarterback lurking outside the big names. He ran a faster 40 time than Tim Tebow at the combine. He already has a refined NFL style release. He is an accomplished passer and runner. He will be perfect for a west coast style offense. Like Tebow, Lefevour ran the spread in college so there are some questions as to rather he can play under center. But I think that given some time on the bench to learn and grow he will be an elite quarterback in this league. It will be a blessing if he is drafted by the Patriots or the Colts.

If there are some sure things in this draft it is the offensive and defensive linemen. This class is stocked full of potential game changers at those positions. I am super excited about this year's draft class. I want to see what these kids can do for the NFL. Live like no one is watching and put little weight into the things I say.

Side note: I also think that Myron Rolle is going to go late in the draft. Depending on where his focus is at he can be a major contributor to an NFL defense. But I cannot condemn him if he chooses to focus on his academics.