FRO's FAVE 5

FRO's Fave 5 from the NFL Draft-By William Queen for Football Reporters Online

Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest –
Being passed up by the Kansas City Chiefs at 3rd overall, where most mock drafts had him going, didn’t seem to phase Curry when he was selected 4th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
 
“It’s hard to put it into words, for how hard we work as players,” stated Curry when asked about being drafted so high, “But it’s one moment. To be able to provide for my mama and my brothers is just a great feeling.”
 
Aaron Curry, joined by Bryson Merriweather, a 12-year old leukemia survivor invited by the All-American linebacker, was set in tears as the crowd in Radio City Music Hall roared in excitement.
 
Only receiving two scholarships, Aaron Curry wasn’t an attraction to many college scouts. Lacking size for an outside linebacker, Curry had a ways to go to get in reach of his true goal of succeeding in the NFL. Yet, he made the best of it. Despite family issues, Curry rose from a 195lb wannabe starter, to a Wake Forest linebacker sensation. Racking up 101 tackles, 2 sacks, and one forced fumble in his senior season, Curry earned 2nd team All-American honors, and high reconization from ACC football fans around the nation. 
           
Yet, what really impresses NFL scouts about Curry is his rare mix of speed, strength, size, and aggressiveness. Possessing practically every tool needed to be successful in the NFL, Curry astonished scouts with his work ethic and complete linebacker package during combine workouts. 
 
By the time the NFL draft came around, Curry was under many teams microscope, being checked over and over for strengths and weaknesses. As I said before, when Kansas City was on the clock, Curry looked to be the sure pick for the Chiefs. Yet, defensive end Tyson Jackson had somehow catapulted himself up the draft boards to the #3 pick, leaving Aaron Curry to wait another 10 minutes in the “green room”.
 
Honestly, if the Lions had any sense in them, Curry wouldn’t have to wait 10 seconds in the green room. I would have taken him in a blink of an eye. Yet, Seattle practically had a spastic attack of compulsive glee when Curry was still on the board at their 4th overall pick.
 
Seattle was expecting to snag USC QB Mark Sanchez, now a member of the Jets, with the4th overall pick. But the Seahawks knew that they would regret it if they didn’t choose Curry. He’s just too versatile, and too good for the Seahawks to pass up.
 
Being ranked in 30th overall defense, Seattle has plenty of room for much needed improvement in the front seven.
 
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland –
All of America sat in shock when the Oakland Raiders selected Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey at 7th overall. Michael Crabtree, wide receiver out of Texas Tech, was the clear favorite as the #1 receiver in this year’s draft. Yet, Oakland’s famous need-for-speed drafting mindset directed them towards the swift receiver out of Maryland.
 
Enjoying what is possibly one of the largest surprises in recent draft history, Heyward-Bey, surrounded by his family, slouched in awe when commissioner Roger Goodell announced his name in front of thousands at Radio City Music Hall.
 
“Going ahead of those guys, it's an honor just to be the first guy taken,” Heyward-Bey claimed sympathetically, when asked about being picked before top receivers Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, “But being able to play in the pro-style offense at Maryland and taking that to the NFL, I'll take that. And I don't know why I moved ahead of those guys, but definitely the Raiders saw something in me."
 
Heyward-Bey never won any exclusive awards, or won any BCS bowls, but when it comes to potential, this speedy receiver takes it to the next level with his pro-style of play. His considerate and grateful attitude propelled his draft stock even higher, never taking all the credit for himself, or becoming too self-centered, but rather being concerned about the future of his team and his teammates.
 
Coming into the draft, Heyward-Bey was a very unknown and unacknowledged receiver, only projected to be a late first round/second round pick. Either the New York Giants or Tennessee Titans, holding the 29th and 30th spots, looked to surely be the future bearers of the professional-ready ACC receiver. Yet, Oakland was thinking otherwise.
 
When asked if he had any idea if he would be picked so early, Heyward-Bey exclaimed, “I had an idea," the NFL bound receiver said. "I felt I was one of the top guys up there and I had a chance to become a Raider."
 
Losing wide receiver Randy Moss to the Patriots in 2007, the Raiders have had a gap in their young offense, and Heyward-Bey will kick it high speed, helping Oakland’s young quarterback Jamarcus Russell succeed in the passing game.
 
Heyward-Bey never lost confidence in his ability to play with the big boys, and neither did the Raiders, seeming certain about their shocking selection.


Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia 
Despite the availability of wide receiver Michael Crabtree, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Eugene Monroe with the 8th overall pick, aiming to protect quarterback David Garrard.
 
Monroe, the 2nd offensive tackle taken, certainly has the size to be a successful starter in the NFL. 6’6” and 315 pounds doesn’t lie, and neither does his play.
 
Coming out of high school, Monroe made a huge splash in the recruiting pool, being ranked as the 2nd offensive tackle of his class. When enrolled in Virginia, Monroe quietly produced impressive play, allowing no sacks in the last 25 games of his college career. Always being in the right position, Monroe never gave defensive ends a sliver of daylight, always keeping them in arms reach. Though never receiving any All-American honors, 1st or 2nd team, Monroe secretly anchored Virginia’s offensive line, and dominated ACC defensive ends.
 
Playing very unnoticed during his time at Virginia, Monroe was never under the spot light with fellow top draft choices such as Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, and Michael Crabtree. Though, popularity doesn’t play a factor in NFL scout’s minds, as Monroe’s quick and accurate footing excels his draft stock higher than most would think.
 
When the NFL draft arrived, Monroe was expected to be the second offensive tackle, in a flock of elite lineman, to be taken in the NFL draft. With Jason Smith, offensive tackle out of Baylor was drafted to St. Louis with the 2nd overall pick; Monroe took the stage as the next lineman to be drafted. As I stated earlier, With Oakland passing on what was believed to be the top wide receiver taken, Michael Crabtree, and taking Darrius Heyward-Bey instead, Jacksonville was put on the spot.
 
Going with their gut, the Jaguars couldn’t pass up on the detail-oriented tackle, and selected him at 8th overall.
 
“It’s incredible,” Monroe said regarding his future in Jacksonville, “My family all knows the work I put in every day, and how much I wanted this. And I was here, and now again it’s time to work.”
 
Ranking 20th in overall offense, Jacksonville selected Monroe for help slowing down the pass rush, and to enforce their run n’ gun style of offense, pounding the rock with multiple running backs and maintaining possession in order to win.
 
Ready to work, Eugene Monroe will take a 715-mile adventure to Jacksonville, ready to play for Jack Del Rio and his physically tough Jaguars.


BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
Striving a powerful nose tackle, The Green Bay Packers used the 9th overall pick to select defensive tackle BJ Raji. His main assignment: work the middle of the Packers 3-4 defensive scheme.
 
Immediately following Green Bay’s selection, the 325 pound defensive tackle was swarmed by relatives young and old, getting prepared for the undertaking of playing at historic Lambeau Field.
 
Even with his lineman size and all, Raji played two sports in high school, football and basketball, and is very athletic. After his sophomore year, he focused mainly on football, earning All-State honors in New Jersey, and being recruited heavily as a division one college lineman.
 
Signing with Boston College, Raji started his college career by being part of a d-line rotation, trading playing time for experience. All the experience soon paid off, with his senior year consisting of 101 tackles, 10 of which are sacks. Perhaps a larger accomplishment, Raji led the Boston College to being the 5th best defense in the nation, and putting his name at the top of teams draft boards all over.
 
Raji’s blend of strength and bulk attracted attention from NFL scouts everywhere, and eventually declared Raji as the top defensive tackle in this year’s draft. Exploding off the ball and rocketing himself past the offensive line gave scouts yet another reason to scout him, considering that with his size, when he gets past you, the ball carrier is officially having a bad day.
 
Most mock drafts had Raji going 9th overall to the Packers, and it was a fearless prediction in most draft expert’s minds. Yet, the NFL draft always leaves most mock drafts in the dust, and puts everyone in concern, debating whether they thought their predictions through well enough.
 
Yet, BJ Raji was in most cases the easiest pick to predict, with Green Bay being the only team heavily considering him coming into the draft.
 
Packer’s manager Ted Tomphson seemed awfully excited about drafting Raji, “It's unbelievably hard to find the combination of skill set that he brings. The good Lord just didn't make many people like this.” He went on later to say, “He (Raji) is genuinely a powerful, powerful man, especially in his lower body. He has the ability to take people backward where they don't want to go. He also has the quickness to go around them. He is a very powerful player against the run.”
 
With Packers head coach Mike McCarthy expecting Raji to start immediately, their looks to be an increasing amount of opportunity awaiting in Green Bay.
 
Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC
With the second half of the first round being full of receiver craving teams, Hakeem Nicks being drafted by the New York Giants didn’t surprise many. Though, most expected Darrius Heyward-Bey to still be around, Nicks has potential to be a starter for the Giants in the near future.
 
Having never lost a game in high school, Nicks came into college with huge expectations. Though only North Carolina was the only school that took real interest in him, Nicks made the best of it, accumulating a total of 181 receptions, 2,840 yards, and 21 touchdowns over his 3-year career.
 
Nicks has steadily gotten better, with every receiving category increasing nearly every game. Perhaps the highlight of the Tarheels career was in the Meinike Car Care Bowl, where despite losing, he caught 8 passes for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns.
 
Being just a red-shirt junior, staying for another year at UNC may have shot Nicks into the national spotlight. But after the Meinike Car Care Bowl, Nicks couldn’t avoid the scouts any longer.
 
Described as a talented, physical receiver with tremendous potential, Nicks was rated as one of the top 5 receivers in this year’s draft. With all the hype being around on draft day, Nicks just wanted to skip it, and be in the NFL.
 
When the 29th pick arrived, Nicks was the best of the remaining receivers, and was severely eager of heard his name called. Not surprisingly, when Roger Goodell announced his name, Giant fans let out a roar of relief, finally ending their receiver needs.
 
“It’s a dream come true,” Nicks said by telephone from Charlotte, N.C. “I just wanted to hear my name called.”
 
Ever since former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress literally shot himself in the leg, their passing game has been out of sink, determining head coach Tom Coughlin to find a legitimate replacement.
 
“He is his own man,” Coughlin said optimistically of Nicks. “We’re not into comparisons. Let’s let him be who he is. We did draft a very good collegiate receiver, a young man who’s got an exceptional body.”
 
If Hakeem Nicks turns out the way expected, then the New York Giants will have it made at receiver. With 24 year-old Steve Smith, 24 year-old Domenik Hixon, and veteran Amani Toomer, Nicks looks to add to Eli Manning’s passing fortune.