1st Mel Kiper Mock: Graham 32nd Pick
Mel Kiper's first mock draft has Brandon Graham going as the last pick of the first round to the Colts:
"Graham was a one-man show for the Wolverines, leading the nation in tackles for loss as a senior. Always in the backfield, he's a guy who can learn under master pass-rushers in Indy and build on the tradition. He's been on my Big Board all year, so a good value this late."
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/insider/news/story?id=4841432
I believe he can improve his stock at the combines to be a top 25 pick, but I guess it wouldn't be a bad thing for Brandon to go to a solid team like the Colts.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^
That would be cool (not for him but for Lions fans) if he slid a couple picks and we took him in the 2nd round. Hopefully his stock rises, like you said into the top 25.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
Doesn't have the exact height and weight and exact speed that scouts love, yada yada yada. Bottom line is the dude produces. Led the ENTIRE nation in tackles for loss and was a factor in every game. Remember when he threw "early first round" OT Brian Bulaga to the ground like he was nothing? If BG falls it will be the same scenario as Lamarr. Three years down the round everyone will be saying the same things. That being said, if the Rams end up taking a franchise QB with the 1st(and I think they will), imagine Suh in the first and BG in the 2nd! No more talk about an unproductive line.
Then again it would be just like the lions to pass on him even if he was there in the 2nd, but man I would be all about that....
January 21st, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^
You're an ass for wishing that to the poor guy..
douche
(I mean the lions thing.. not his stock rising.. obviously)
January 21st, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
as this is a Michigan board, it makes sense that many Mich fans would also be Lions fans.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^
Mel better watch out, Brandon may decide he doesn't like his rankings and rip his arms off.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
I'd love to see Graham as a Lion, especially after yelling at the TV for so many years trying to get the Lions to draft Woodley, Dave Harris, Dhani Jones or Henne.
BUT, I think Brandon really needs to get out of Detroit. He has too many family members and hangers-on in the area that may hold him back from being great. Plus, well, playing for the Lions will almost assuredly ruin his career. Sad but true.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
... but I didn't think it held him back in A2. Sometimes a good support network helps. Again, I know nothing about the types of people he hangs with.
ADD: And while Detroit has been the city where talent goes to die, I really think that if he stop drafting offensive skill position players with every first round pick, we'll built a better team. DT with pick number 2 and DE with second pick in round 2. That's a great start.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
He said that IF BG has a strong showing on Saturday, his stock could rise to the beginning of the 2nd round. I'm well aware of my maize-colored spectacles, but BG certainly seems like a mid to late 1st rounder
January 21st, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
But I certainly trust McShay more than Kiper.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
Williams, Mike
January 21st, 2010 at 11:18 AM ^
The only reason BG is not projected as a top 20 pick right now is because he doesn't have "prototypical NFL height and speed". Once teams begin watching film on him though, they will not be able to ignore his production and potential.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
Exhibit A of how overrated measurements and combine times are when it comes to on-field production.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mamula
In Mamula's case though, some of his downfall was due to a knee injury, but seriously I remember how his stock when rocketing to the top after his combine numbers.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:57 PM ^
I am actually surprised Gholston hasn't done anything in the NFL. Wasn't he the only player to record a sack against Jake Long in his senior year?
Either way, nothing makes me happier than seeing an OSU player fail.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:46 PM ^
if I remember right, the field conditions had to be tough for OLmen to get leverage that day. He did most of his damage on Schilling that day, obviously playing out of position at RT.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
Jake Long took the ONLY holding penalty of his last two years as starter in that game.
January 21st, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
You look at him and you think this guy has to be better than he has performed so far. And not to belittle the DE position, but it may be one of the "easiest" positions to transition into from college. Sure, the guys against you are better, but 'see guy with ball, tackle guy with ball' isn't that much of change in terms of technique or system integration, and Gholston is a physical marvel. He should stumble into 30+ tackles and a couple of sacks just by pinning his ears back and chasing the guy with the ball. Truly a mystery why he is this bad.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:26 AM ^
Woodley, Going to go probably later than he should and some Good team will get him and he will play well then the 30-40 teams that passed him up for the guy with better physical measurements will hate themselves.
He may not be a perennial all pro, but he will be a very good player for a lot of years.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
Which teams are numbers 32-40?
January 21st, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
I want the lions to pick McCoy and BG with their first couple picks.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
I seriously hope you mean Gerald and not Colt.
That being said I'm torn between McCoy and Eric Berry. If Suh is available, however, he HAS to be the pick.
That being said I'm torn between McCoy and Eric Berry. If Suh is available, however, he HAS to be the pick.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^
could get him with their second round pick...oh wait we used that for Gaines Adams. Serious question though what does a physical actually entail in the NFL? It seems in the last couple weeks an enlarged heart has caused two unexpected and sad deaths.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:22 PM ^
But, an enlarged heart is often a by-product of steroid use.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
Having an enlarged heart is not often the result of steroid use. Plenty of well conditioned athletes have enlarged hearts and have never used steroids. Lets just end that line of discussion right now.
January 21st, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
would'nt you know if you have an enlarged heart. Don't you pose the risk of having it give out? Just curious if these medical conditions are made known to teams when you draft/trade for players?
January 21st, 2010 at 3:03 PM ^
Actually there are no symptoms whatsoever until the heart starts to get catastrophically weak. The heart rate doesn't change, and an ECG won't show anything either, again, unless the heart is already starting to give out.
The only reliable way to detect it is to do an echocardiogram and take measurements. I'm sure that's not part of a standard physical.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
BG is going to have a beast showing at the combine. He has always been a player who steps it up in the showcase events and I can't see this being any different.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
mockery draft....BG is a top 10 guy IMO. No homer.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
of UM players being productive players but not showing up at combines may be altered by the Barwis'g of the program. I think last year may have too short of time, but I gotta think that guys with multiple years in Barwis program are going to become "workout warriors" that will then combine those OMG SHIRTLESS metrics with performance on teh field. It may take a couple years for this to bear out though..
January 21st, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
If Graham is that low, where is Warren going to go?
January 21st, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
Woodley but they messed up a took a mistake.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
buffoon-tard
January 21st, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
I can see my New Orleans Saints taking him with the 32nd pick in the draft.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^
Don't you mean the Colts with the 32nd pick?
January 21st, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
In which case he doesn't make much sense going to the Colts. Ravens at #25, perhaps?
January 21st, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
I think that is one reason BG is a valuable. He can be drafted as either a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB. A matter of fact, I could see the Packers select BG to compliment Clay Matthews. Of course, they need OL help also. I'm not even a Packer fan. But GB, NE, the Ravens (like you said) and even the Jets could use BG as a OLB.
Personally, I'd love the Steelers grab him to play opposite of Woodley. But with Harrison there and much more needs (CB, OL, DL, S), it doesn't make much sense for Pitt. to draft him early.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
why would the colts need another DE? many more pressing needs
January 21st, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
will be a great Pro. He'd be lucky to go to the Colts and have the chance to learn from Freeney. Who himself is considered undersized for the position. I can't wait to see Brandon play on Sundays.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
It will be interesting to see how Graham and other guys? do at the combine and if they kill the bench and other drills. Remember, Will Johnson set the 225 rep bench press record last year after only one year under Barwis. I wonder how a stud can do with 2 years under Barwis?