Round 1, Pick 6 - Seattle Seahawks - Russell Okung

Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Ht: 6’ 5 ¼” Wt: 307

EMQB’s analysis on the pick:  Seattle desperately needed a left tackle after Walter Jones was injured the last two seasons.  With a veteran quarterback, improved pass blocking could help this team contend for a division title.  

Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: Can stand to polish his technique but passes the eye test and has a desirable playing temperament. Dominated collegiate competition for stretches and has terrific length and good enough feet to ably man the blind side or become a top-notch right tackle. Emerged from the Combine as a surefire lottery pick and figures to be the first tackle drafted because of his intangibles and solid, all-around traits.

NFL projection: Top-10 pick.  

GM Jr’s scouting report:  Okung is an elite athlete with the height, long arms and pass blocking skill that few LT prospects have.  While he is far from polished and definitely needs work on his technique (Especially as a run blocker), his rare ability to pass blocker any and all pass rushers makes him a prospect that must be highly coveted.  If he is going to become a top level all around OT in the NFL he is going to have to improve his run blocking greatly and become more consistent with his punch in pass pro.  Overall, Okung is going to “WOW” NFL teams at the Senor Bowl and Combine, which will lead him vaulting up draft boards because few OT’s come out of college with his physical tools and pass blocking potential.  His athleticism, long arms and pass blocking potential remind me of Ryan Clady when he was at Boise state, but he must improve to become the All Pro that Clady has become. 

Lindy’s Sports scouting report:  Okung could play on the right side for a season or two for a team with a pressing need there.  He might not be as strong as the typical 325-330-pound right tackle, but no lineman gives more effort on every play and opposing defensive ends find themselves on the ground more often then they’d like when up against Okung.

Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695

GM Jr. 2010 Draft Guide available @ http://gmjrnfldraft.com/

Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332

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Redskins, Please!

Courtesy of UPI.com

Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Redskins are interested in a quarterback with the fourth overall pick.

You can't trust anything that comes out in the media the week before the draft, and I love every bit of it.

Does anybody really believe that the message they want to send to Donovan McNabb is, "Here's the guy who is going to take your job"?  Donovan has been there for two weeks and hasn't even taken a snap with the team.  If the source that let this little gem slip out doesn't have brown eyes.......

The Redskins have so many needs that a report like this becomes laughable.  I understand that teams must "play the game", and perception is - at times - more important than reality.  The Redskins are keeping their options open in hopes of attracting a trade partner who wants to move up and select a quarterback.  They can get in line behind St. Louis, Detroit, and a slew of other teams in the first round.

In my recent mock draft, I have Russell Okung going to the Redskins with the fourth overall pick.  Sam Bradford won't be available, and Jimmy Clausen doesn't hold value at that pick.  There is a chance that Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy could fall to them, or they could prefer Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams.  However, selecting a quarterback would be an unmitigated media disaster.  I don't think Washington has really forgotten all of the craziness that surrounded McNabb when the Eagles selected Kevin Kolb in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

In the words of Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, I can sum up this report in one simple phrase:  "Child, please!"






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On The Marc

A series of roster moves have, in my mind's eye, solidified the top four picks in the NFL Draft later this month.


It started with the trade for Donovan McNabb yesterday that ended all talk of the Redskins selecting a quarterback at the fourth pick.


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been widely reported as coveting one of the top two defensive tackles in the draft - Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy.


The Detroit Lions acquired a left guard in Rob Sims, earlier today, solidifing the left side of their offensive line. In separate news, the rumored trade that would send DT Anthony Hargrove from the Saints to the Lions has apparently fallen through.


Then the most telling sign of the day:  the Rams have released starting QB Marc Bulger. 

I'm merely speculating, but if Washington got wind that they had no shot at drafting Bradford, and did not want to pay the price to move up to the top selection, that might have set in motion the McNabb trade. With the Rams losing what seemed to be their only reasonable trade partner in the Redskins and coveting Sam Bradford, it makes sense to release Bulger today.


So here it is: the first four picks in the draft have been set in stone. The Rams, having no starting quarterback, will select Sam Bradford with the first pick. The Lions have solidified the offensive line and still need a defensive lineman. They will select Ndamukong Suh. The Buccaneers will be thrilled that Gerald McCoy is still available and select him at the number three position. Lastly, the Redskins, no longer needing a quarterback will select offensive tackle Russell Okung.


Trust me. My predictions never fail. When I give my word on the NFL, it's as solid as oak.



 


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The Sims: Detroit Lions Style

Adam Shefter reported that guard Rob Sims has been traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Detroit Lions.

The move has a direct impact on the second overall pick in this month's NFL Draft. There has been much discussion in the media of the Lions using that pick to select Russell Okung, of Oklahoma State. That would allow them to insert Okung into the left tackle slot and move the current left tackle, Jeff Backus, to the left guard slot.

Sims natural position is left guard, so we can now assume that Backus will be left at his current position. This would all but eliminate the possibility of Okung being selected at that number two pick. The arrows seem to be pointing stronger in the direction of Ndamukong Suh being the Lions pick in that slot.





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McNabbed Part III

Adam Schefter has reported a Donovan McNabb trade to the Washington Redskins. The deal is for the 37th overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 22nd and a third or fourth round pick in 2011.


I stated in an earlier post that I thought McNabb would not be traded. I was wrong. Only Daniel Snyder could ruin my stone cold lock.


If the Redskins don't select Russell Okung with the fourth overall selection in this draft, I will be puzzled. Trading a second round pick in a deep draft for an injury prone veteran quarterback is something that a team with a great line would do. The 'Skins don't have one.


We'll see how this one works out. Trading inside the division was definitely a shocker. Stay tuned for more details.






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