Featured Blogger: Scott Tunstall from Inside the Iggles

I’m opening myself up to severe criticism, but I don’t mind. Why any writer, reporter or blogger even bothers to forecast what the Eagles will do draft weekend is a mystery. It really is a futile task. Only a select few members of the front office hold the key to the Birds’ draft treasure chest. Andy Reid and his cohorts excel at keeping their cards close to their vests.

This simple fact won’t prevent countless pundits, experts and fans from donning their homemade GM caps and predicting how the chips may fall for our beloved Birds. Well, I’m wearing my homemade hat (it’s green, of course) and am fully prepared to tell everyone exactly what will occur this weekend. Along with a fellow Eagles pal, we have concocted a crazy draft day script that goes something like this:

Pick #21 – Knowshon Moreno is already gone. The Titans call Reid. They are in love with Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler. Not only is he a terrific playmaker in the secondary, but he’s also a great return man. The Titans need both. Jeff Fisher is afraid the Patriots might grab Butler at 23. Tennessee and Philly agree to a trade. The Birds get the #30 overall pick and the Titans’ second-round choice (#62), while Tennessee receives pick #21 and one of the Eagles fifth-round selections (#153).

Pick #30 – Eagles take Connecticut running back Donald Brown. The versatile, hard-working back fits the West Coast system perfectly. The Birds get their much-needed runner and an additional second rounder from the deal with the Titans.

Pick # 53 - Eagles take South Carolina tight end Jared Cook. The need for a big receiver will be offset by Cook’s arrival. Tall and fast, Cook is a legit downfield threat who will complement the steady Brent Celek extremely well.

Pick # 62 (from Tennessee) – Eagles take Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore. Another corner was needed even prior to Sheldon Brown’s recent bellyaching. Moore has a knack for the big play and possesses the burst to run with speed receivers. He’s not big (5′9″, 185), but he supports the run well and has excellent ball skills.

Pick #85 – Eagles take Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams. Williams brings versatility and toughness to the position. He can operate over the middle and stretch the field. His skills as a return man add value to this selection. With DeSean Jackson expected to adopt the #1 receiver role, Williams can step in immediately and take over punt return duties.

I’d go into the fifth and sixth rounds, but I have no idea who would be available. Although, an offensive tackle, safety and linebacker could very well come off the board.

As for me and my buddy’s wild prognostications, we both anticipate nothing remotely close will take place. Offense with three of the first four picks? No way Reid follows that path. At any rate, we had fun tossing around different projections. One did involve Darrius Heyward-Bey going at 21, which I’m sure would please the receiver-hungry portion of Eagles Nation. I just can’t see them taking a receiver high two straight years.

Kellen Barton and Nick Bishop from Titan Sized and FanSided weigh in on what positions the Titans should be looking at in the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft.

Positions: WR, CB, DE, LB

In recent years, Tennessee Titans fans have clamored for a top-flight wide receiver. In 2007, the team selected safety Michael Griffin from the University of Texas. In 2008, they “reached” for the speedy running back Chris Johnson out of ECU. Fortunately, those picks have paid huge dividends thus far, as both have become Pro Bowlers in their first and second seasons, respectively. With all of that said, is this finally the year that the Titans draft an impact wideout? History says no, but if a WR is the highest player they have left on their draft board, then Titans fans will likely be welcoming a new one to the team.

WR: Tennessee has drafted eight wide receivers since 2005. Since you asked, those eight have been: Courtney Roby, Brandon Jones, Roydell Williams, Jonathan Orr, Paul Williams, Chris Davis, Joel Filani and Lavelle Hawkins. A few of those guys still have time to pan out, but none of them are currently in danger of being recognized on the street. And that doesn’t include the 1st round selection of Kevin Dyson in 1998, the 2nd round pick of Tyrone Calico in 2000, or the 2nd round choice of Ben Troupe in 2004 (yes, he was a TE, but he was also the team’s first pick in the draft that year). None of them are now Titans. Needless to say, that some of those choices may have affected future draft picks at this position. But if the Titans learned anything with the selection of “Twitch” in last year’s draft, it’s that having playmakers at skill positions is indispensable. If a WR like Percy Harvin or Hakeem Nicks are still hanging around, then Titans must strongly consider taking the leap they weren’t willing to last year when all of the top WR’s were still on the board.

CB: The Titans secondary was by far the most pleasant surprise of the 2008 season. Going back just two years to 2006, the Titans finished with the 27th ranked passing defense in the league. But since drafting CB Cortland Finnegan in 2006 (6th round), S Michael Griffin in 2007 and bringing in free agents S Chris Hope in 2006 and CB Nick Harper in 2007, the Titans have turned in top ten defensive units. Finnegan and Griffin will be cornerstones in the secondary for years to come, but Hope and Harper aren’t getting any younger, and Harper will become a free agent after next season. Look for the Titans to find his replacement in this year’s draft.

DE: Last year’s loss of 2004 second round picks Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy coupled with the age and injury histories of Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse leaves defensive end as a position where Tennessee needs to get deeper and younger. Rookie Jason Jones played incredibly well this season, and while he’s listed as a DE, the majority of his playing time was at the tackle position. Jones adds to the depth of the interior line (which becomes especially important if Albert Haynesworth leaves via free agency), so expect Tennessee to look to bolster the DE position (and/or tackle depending on Haynesworth), possibly even finding a starter in the first few rounds.

LB: Keith Bulluck has unquestionably been the leader of the Tennessee Titans defense since being their 1st round selection in the 2000 draft. He has quite possibly been one of the most underrated players at his position since he came into the league (only one Pro Bowl in 2003). Unfortunately, Bulluck is on the north side of 30. Same goes for his linebacking bookend, David Thornton. The youngster, Stephen Tulloch looks to have a place in this corps for the future, as he has shown tons of promise, but he still lacks the consistency that is needed to lead this unit. Throw in the fact that there is very little depth here (unless you’re crazy about Stanford Keglar’s “upside”) and you almost have to think that the Titans will try and find another future starting linebacker in this draft.

If last year proved anything, it’s that Tennessee (like most disciplined teams) isn’t going to draft solely for need in the first round. The Titans might seem pretty stacked at offensive tackle, for instance, but if the top guy on their board when they pick at #30 is an OT, we’re probably looking at a new offensive lineman. This is not a bad thing. The Titans roster is littered with second day gems, and Tennessee has the luxury of having a season or two to groom this year’s draft picks before their impact is essential.

“Hey, We’re Only 20 Some Guys Away From a Superbowl!” – Kevin Ferguson, Lead Blogger for Side Lion Report.

I was asked e to write a few paragraphs to address the Lions  needs in regards to the NFL Draft. I then laughed because its much, much easier to address what my team doesn’t need. A wide receiver. We have Calvin Johnson and he is a stud, a clear cut superstar, but that’s about it.

At runningback we have Kevin Smith. At moments, he looked brilliant. But when you’re 0-16, teams don’t respect you so should I pull out all the stats on “who was on defense” when he broke free an bought us some chunk yardage? Thats the deal with bad teams; Your vision is distorted because you can’t see the bigger picture. You can’t tell what’s going on when other teams do not view you as legitimate competition. Coaching wise or Defense and Offense were handled terribly, worst in the league and as the books will tell you, worst in history.

So the needs of the Detroit Lions boils down to the entire defensive core and the entire offensive core aside from Johnson and Smith. I will say keep Dan Orlovsky as I feel we can use a passer that doesn’t turn the ball over. He won’t win you the game, but he won’t lose it for you either and at this point it’s as good as we can do. We have to address the offensive line as it is terrible and our Center Raiola is undersized, we don’t have a tight end worth mentioning and there are going to be no returns at wide receiver aside from Calvin. Defensively, we can’t shore up our nose tackles easily as Marinelli had like 10 guys on roster and its proven to be a cap disaster. Our DE’s are terrible, we have no line backers and our cornerbacks suck while our safeties are non existent. They can all be replaced and the stats support this. Had they given up like 10 more points they would have managed to be the worst defense in the history of the sport of football. So they are the second worst defense in the history of the sport; We can live without all of them.

EVERY SINGLE POSITION ON THIS 0-16 LIONS TEAM IS UP FOR GRABS.