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Monday Countdown: McNabb Trade Helps Set Draft Boards—Lions Still Set, Clausen Loser

NFL Countdown | by Mike O'Hara | 04.5.2010/8:52AM

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(Another in a series leading up to the NFL Draft, April 22-24.)
The ripple effect that offseason moves have made on draft projections is nothing compared to the impact of Sunday night’s trade that sent Donovan McNabb from the Eagles to the Redskins.
The McNabb trade is this year’s tsunami. The fallout swamps the top of the draft board, including the Lions with the second pick overall, and some prospects involved.
Jimmy Clausen, the quarterback from Notre Dame, could be the prospect most affected, with his draft position sinking.
This week’s Monday Draft Countdown focuses on the broad impact of the McNabb trade, what it does to the potential of the Lions trading down on the first round, and the effect on other teams.
There is also an observation on the yearly speculation (never happen, folks, even before the acquisition of Rob Sims on Monday) that the Lions will move Jeff Backus from left tackle to guard and further review of former Lion Shaun Rogers’ legal difficulties in Cleveland.
We start with the draft fallout from the McNabb deal:

1. Lions caged in at No. 2: The Lions never have been in bad position with the second overall pick. Keep it, and they get a great prospect. Trade down, and add picks that can be used to build the roster.
Start with the premise that the St. Louis Rams will draft Sam Bradford first overall.
After that, McNabb going to the Redskins takes away one possible trade partner for the Lions – the Redskins – and impacts other teams. The Redskins have the fourth pick, behind Tampa Bay.
The next five teams behind the Redskins in the draft order – No. 5 through No. 9—are Kansas City, Seattle, Cleveland, Oakland and Buffalo.
Seattle, with the two first-round picks – No. 6 and No. 14 – has an outside chance to be a trade partner, if there’s any interest in Clausen. And that’s doubtful.
Kansas City and Cleveland won’t trade up. Oakland and Buffalo are too far down.
That leaves it set up for the Lions to be locked in with the second pick.
With that pick, make it 99.8-percent certain they take defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska.
To repeat what should be their draft mantra – if the Suh fits, draft him. And he fits their primary need.

2. Jimmy Clausen – wild card turned discard? Most draft analysts rate Clausen as the No. 2 quarterback in the draft, well behind Bradford.
Clausen could suffer the same fate as Brady Quinn, another Notre Dame quarterback, in 2007. He went to Cleveland with the 22nd pick.
After St. Louis, I see Buffalo as the one team with a first-round pick has a clear-cut need to use a high pick to draft a quarterback.
Oakland might ride out another year with Jamarcus Russell, draft first overall in 2007 and in consideration for the biggest draft flop in history.
3. Colt McCoy—winner: The Texas quarterback’s workout last week was flawless. He lacks Clausen’s size, but his quarterback temperament is impressive.
One man’s opinion: McCoy has an outside chance to move ahead of Clausen.

4. Russell Okung – winner. By acquiring McNabb, the Redskins can address their need at offensive left tackle. Okung, a giant from Oklahoma State, fits a need created by the retirement of Chris Samuels.
If new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is going to run the same style of offense he had in Denver – passing off a strong run game – he needs a tackle to protect his quarterback. Okung fits at No. 4.

5. Lions’ real trade possibility: Focus on their second-round pick as the first legitimate trading spot. The second round starts Friday evening, and phone lines will be sizzling from the end of the first round Thursday night until the second round starts.
The Patriots could be a possibility, with three second-round picks – No. 12, No. 15 and No. 21 on the round.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes quantity in draft picks, but he also likes quality. In 2007, the Patriots traded up to the 10th spot to draft Jerod Mayo, an impact linebacker from Tennessee.
If Belichick sees a player he likes on the board Friday, he’ll act – fast.

6. Ravens’ Jared Gaither: The Ravens’ supposed asking price of a second-round pick for Gaither, a starting offensive left tackle, is way too high.
McNabb went to Washington for a second-round pick this year, plus a third- or fourth-round pick in 2011.
Gaither was an original fifth-round pick in the 2007 supplemental draft. Anything more than a fourth-round pick would be too high.

7. Backus to guard: Folly. He played tackle at Michigan and has started 144 straight games at left tackle for the Lions. Moving him to guard would be a mistake.
Tackle and guard are entirely different positions in the pro game. Backus is used to playing in a more upright position to protect the passer. At guard, he’d be lower, to get leverage as a run-blocker.
Backus had a solid season in 2009 and ought to remain at left tackle. Any notion that he could move inside to guard without a major adjustment or loss of efficiency is pure mythology.

8. Shaun Rogers: In recent years, Rogers has been reluctant to talk to the media, but he opened up in Cleveland Saturday morning after being released from jail. Rogers apologized profusely for having a loaded weapon in his bag as he went through security at the Cleveland airport.
I believe it was an oversight, and not an intentional act, by Rogers.
I also believe he’ll be suspended by the NFL – probably two to four games. And I won’t be surprised if his punishment includes some jail time.
The fact that Rogers spoke to the media at some length is a sign that he and his representatives know the situation is serious, and they’re trying to put him in the most favorable light possible.

9. Running back draft:  The Lions have to upgrade this position in the draft. If they can’t get Ryan Matthews of Fresno State on the second round, they might hold their breath – or move up later on the round – for Ben Tate of Auburn.
I’d pass on Jahvid Best of California.

10. Thomas Hearns: I covered close to 50 of his pro fights, starting with the night he and the late Mickey Goodwin turned pro on the night after Thanksgiving in 1977.
Away from the ring, Tommy was as polite and respectful as any athlete I’ve met.
Seeing Hearns resort to a public auction of his personal items to pay off debts is a shame.
Calling it sad is an understatement.

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