Three and Out: Draft Preview with With the First Pick

Each week we’ll chat with our sister site’s WWW.withthefirstpick.com ‘s editor Ty MaCdonnel about things of interest for the 2012 N.F.L. draft. This week we discussed Brock Osweiler, Andrew Luck, and what the weakest position in the draft is for 2012.

1) Thoughts on Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler, who is really gaining some momentum as a QB Prospect?

The first thing that obviously stands out about Osweiler is his size. He is 6-8 and 240 pounds and has a canon for an arm. I was very impressed when I watched him play USC last month. I am sure many will compare him to last years draft wild card Ryan Mallett. Like Mallett, he has the size and arm strength that teams look for at the NFL level. However, he does not have the same character concerns that pushed Mallett out of the first round last year. Osweiler is a very intriguing prospect but he might be better off going back to ASU for another year and improve his draft stock. This years draft is already loaded with first round prospects with Luck, Jones, and Barkley and I cant see him moving past any of those three. However, he could be a top ten pick in 2013 if he continues to play well for another season. But to answer your question I definitely like him as a prospect and he is someone to watch out for whether he declares this year or next.

2) What are your thoughts on the Andrew Luck drama that might be developing here…the report that Luck might try to force the hand of a team a la Eli Manning/John Elway?

I am a die hard Miami Dolphins fan and the only hope I have to help me get through this dismal year is the thought that Andrew Luck might be donning Aqua next September. However, the thought of my team finishing last and having the best football prospect of the past decade decide he doesn’t want to play for us is terrifying. But I still don’t trust alot of rumors and reports leading up to the draft. This time last year it was 99.9% assumed that Luck would declare for last years draft, but things changed. So much happens at draft time and people change their minds and have their own agenda’s they are looking out for, so nothing is ever set in stone. Still, I am sure Luck’s camp can see that both St. Louis and Indianapolis have legitimate shots at drafting first overall and both have established quarterbacks. And although I am sure St. Louis would try to trade the pick, Indy would most likely draft Luck and have him play behind Manning (assuming he gets healthy) for a few years, ala Rodgers in Green Bay. Luck has the talent to play immediately and I am sure he would prefer not to have to wait his turn in Indy or have to face constant Manning comparisons throughout his career. It probably isn’t a bad idea for his camp to send out a few threats to help better his pro-situation but I am skeptical to trust these reports right now.

3)What’s the weakest position in this draft and why?

I think it is at the Defensive End/Outside Linebacker position. The past two drafts have been very deep for prospects along the defensive line, but this year I think the talent takes a step back. You have Coples, Jenkins and maybe Upshaw who will go in the first round and then after that it is really a crap shoot. There will be players who come off the board earlier then maybe they should just because of how important pass rushers are in the NFL, but I really don’t see the same level of talent that we did these past two years.