ROUND 3
-
Detroit Lions: Jason Phillips, ILB, TCU 
The Lions just can’t get rid of Paris Lenon. They drafted Jordon Dizon last year, but he was just yet another of Matt Millen’s epic failures. Getting a linebacker who’s not 190 pounds could be a good move.Pick change; previously Darry Beckwith, ILB
-
St. Louis Rams: Eric Wood, C, Louisville 
Unless the Rams overpay for the aging Matt Birk, they’ll have to address their woeful center situation relatively early in the 2009 NFL Draft.Pick change; previously Antoine Caldwell, C
-
Kansas City Chiefs: Lawrence Sidbury, DE/OLB, Richmond 
If Kansas City’s mayor scheduled a parade every time the Chiefs registered a sack, there would have been only 10 parades in 2008. Poor KC fans.With the move to the 3-4, the Chiefs need to find some rush linebackers capable of generating consistent pressure. Lawrence Sidbury knocked Al Davis’ goat blood-stained socks off at the 2009 NFL Combine with a 4.64 40.
Pick change; previously Connor Barwin, DE/OLB
-
Seattle Seahawks: Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane 
It’s pretty much a lock that this is Jones’ final season in Seattle; 12 months from now, he’ll be in Year 6 of his 7-year deal, so his cap number will be extremely high. The Seahawks don’t have the best cap situation in the NFL, so they won’t be able to afford to keep a 36-year-old hobbled left tackle. Thus, the Seahawks will draft their left tackle of the future with this selection. -
Dallas Cowboys: Pat White, QB/WR, West Virginia 
Jerry Jones always has an eye for flashy players, so Pat White is a possibility here. In Jones’ eyes, White kills two birds with one stone – he’ll be a talented wideout Tony Romo will need if Terrell Owens is cut, and he can come in for Romo in the event of an injury.Pick change; previously Jason Phillips, ILB
-
Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas 
More help up front for the Bengals, who must upgrade the center position this offseason.Pick change; previously Shonn Greene, RB
-
Oakland Raiders: Chris Clemons, SS, Clemson 
Michael Huff looks like a very probable cap casualty this offseason, while Gibril Wilson was just released. The Raiders will have to find themselves some safety help.Chris Clemons to the rescue! Clemons, already a “great player” in one man’s opinion, ran a 4.41 at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine. Oakland may as well begin printing Clemons jerseys.
Pick change; previously Rashad Johnson, FS
-
Jacksonville Jaguars: Louis Murphy, WR, Florida 
More help for David Garrard – this time in the wideout variety. Jacksonville’s receiving corps is a running joke. I can’t remember the last time the team had a deep threat. Matt “Coke Zero” Jones has emerged as a nice possession receiver, but Jacksonville needs someone to stretch the defense. -
Green Bay Packers: Xavier Fulton, OT, Illinois 
With the injured Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher turning 33 and 32 in June, respectively, it’s time for the Packers to start looking for some young blood at offensive tackle. -
San Francisco 49ers: Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma 
Josh Morgan looks like a promising talent, but the 49ers will need to acquire another receiver for Shaun Hill to work with. With Mike Martz gone, there’s a good chance the 36-year-old Isaac Bruce’s play will fall off. -
Buffalo Bills: Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina 
Steal. Jared Cook had a great combine, and while I tried to put him into Round 2, there just weren’t many teams that needed tight ends.The Bills have needed a quality pass-catching tight end for a very long time. Perhaps this is the year they finally address that need.
-
New York Jets: Darry Beckwith, ILB, LSU 
With the 31-year-old Eric Barton heading for free agency, the Jets will need a new inside linebacker next to David Harris.Pick change; previously Scott McKillop, ILB
-
Houston Texans: Trevor Canfield, G, Cincinnati 
Mike Brisiel really shouldn’t be starting at this level. The Texans need an upgrade at right guard. -
San Diego Chargers: Chip Vaughn, SS, Wake Forest 
Clinton Hart struggled in 2008 and was even benched late in the year. The Chargers will be looking for an upgrade.Pick change; previously Michael Hamlin, SS
-
Denver Broncos: Chris Baker, NT, Hampton 
The Broncos don’t really have a monstrous nose tackle-caliber presence on the team, so they’ll be looking for one if they can’t sign a quality guy in free agency.Pick change; previously Terrance Taylor, NT
-
Washington Redskins: Cody Brown, OLB, Connecticut 
It looks like Marcus Washington will be a cap casualty this offseason. That’s fine; the Redskins needed an upgrade here anyway.Pick change; previously Jason Watkins, OT
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri 
Sorry, Jerramy Stevens fans! I could see Chase Coffman drafted in the second round, so this is a steal. Tampa Bay is in desperate need of a No. 1 tight end.Pick change; previously Dorell Scott, DT
-
Detroit Lions: Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin 
Scott Linehan, Detroit’s new offensive coordinator, had Randy McMichael in Miami and St. Louis. Linehan will ask for a pass-catching tight end for his new offense. And it’s not like Matt Stafford couldn’t use a reliable guy to go over the middle.Pick change; previously Cody Brown, OLB
-
Philadelphia Eagles: Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty 
The Eagles probably have a better shot at converting fourth-and-11 than they do fourth-and-one. That’s because Andy Reid is a moronic play-caller, and always decides to go with a run toward the right guard or right tackle with his small running backs. Or sometimes he mixes it up and calls for a Hail Mary. Big Red needs a big back. At 6-1, 232, Rashad Jennings qualifies. -
Green Bay Packers: Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State 
Charles Woodson’s days at corner are numbered. He turns 33 in October, so he’ll have to make the full-time move to safety eventually. The Packers, who need depth at corner right now, will have to find a starter across from Tramon Williams sometime soon.Pick change; previously Domonique Johnson, CB
-
Chicago Bears: Jairus Byrd, S/CB, Oregon 
Injury-prone Mike Brown is gone, so Chicago needs help at his position. Danieal Manning is a great return specialist, but he has struggled in his stints at free safety. -
Minnesota Vikings: Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon 
I was pretty confused last offseason when the Vikings neglected to find an upgrade at right tackle. Almost a year later, Minnesota still needs help at that position. Well, Fenuki Tupou can’t be worse than Ryan Cook and Marcus Johnson.Pick change; previously Alex Magee, DT
-
Miami Dolphins: Sammie Lee Hill, NT, Stillman 
Jason Ferguson just turned 34, and his contract expires after the 2009 season. The Dolphins will need to acquire a new nose tackle in the near future. -
Baltimore Ravens: Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose State 
Some defensive line help/depth for the Ravens. I had an offensive tackle here in one of my previous updates, but there aren’t any available here who wouldn’t be reaches. -
New England Patriots: Nic Harris, SS, Oklahoma 
Nic Harris seems like the strong safety-linebacker tweener the Patriots love to have on their roster. With retirement knocking down Rodney Harrison’s door, the Patriots would love to add someone like Harris to their roster. -
Atlanta Falcons: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson 
If the Falcons can’t land Albert Haynesworth in free agency, they’ll probably have to take a nose tackle early in the draft to help their woeful run defense.Pick change; previously Michael Hamlin, SS
-
New York Giants: Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State 
Giants fans loved this Earth, Wind and Fire thing, but the reality is that Derrick Ward will likely sign with another team this offseason. Javon Ringer should be able to replace Ward as the team’s pass-catching running back.Pick change; previously Donald Brown, RB
-
Indianapolis Colts: Nate Davis, QB, Ball State 
If Peyton Manning goes down like Tom Brady did this season, will Jim Sorgi be able to play as well as Matt Cassel? Call me crazy, but I have my doubts. The Patriots drafted Kevin O’Connell a year ago in Round 3, so Nate Davis would be realistic at the bottom of the same round.Pick change; previously Javon Ringer, RB
-
Carolina Panthers: Mark Parson, CB, Ohio 
At this selection, Carolina needs to address the defensive tackle or corner position. Ken Lucas is as good as gone, and Richard Marshall apparently doesn’t have what it takes to start at corner in this league. -
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State 
Keith Bulluck, who turns 32 next April, will hit free agency after the 2009 season. I don’t see the Titans giving Bulluck a huge contract with his age being a factor.Pick change; previously Captain Munnerlyn, CB
-
Arizona Cardinals: James Casey, TE, Rice 
You know you need an upgrade at the tight end position when your starter is a character from Star Trek.Pick change; previously Travis Beckum, TE
-
Pittsburgh Steelers: Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama 
The Steelers need upgrades all over their offensive line, including the center position. Justin Hartwig surrendered more sacks (6.5) than any other center in the NFL in 2008.Pick change; previously Mitch King, DE



