Don Banks has a new mock draft, and he still has us taking Nick Fairley despite a growing tide of reports that Fairley has been killing his stock over the past few months. I've been on board with the Fairley pick for months, but the more reports that come out like we ran yesterday, the more I like the plan in the next link... In a report that he posted a few days ago, Rob Rang at CBSSports.com is hearing that the Titans are actively trying to trade down by looking for a team who wants to leap-frog the Cowboys to take USC tackle Tyron Smith, whom most people are predicting the Cowboys will take. John Clayton dissects the 'safe pick' myth in the draft, using the 2008 results as the case study. Back then Bill Parcells, as VP of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins, took Jake Long over Matt Ryan because Long was the 'safe pick'. Despite Long becoming an instant success at LT, Parcells now admits he'd take Ryan if he had the pick over again. Clayton also nails what's easily the most dangerous position to take in the first round:
The scariest part of this draft is it's loaded at defensive end. Believe it or not, defensive end has been the least-safe position to draft since 2007. The only Pro Bowl defensive end taken in the first round of the past four drafts is Brian Orakpo of the Redskins -- and he's now a linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Of the 16 other defensive ends taken since 2007, Vernon Gholston, Lawrence Jackson, Kentwan Balmer, the late Gaines Adams, Adam Carriker and Jarvis Moss are no longer with the teams that drafted them. Derrick Harvey, Jamaal Anderson and Aaron Maybin have been labeled disappointments. Tyson Jackson is off to a slow start in Kansas City, and injuries ruined the first years of Brandon Graham, Derrick Morgan and Jared Odrick.
Joe Fortenbaugh points out some interesting draft trends for the Titans, and where they've taken commonly players in the draft. Matt Bowen goes in-depth on Ryan Mallett vs. the Cover 2. Jim Wyatt pings several NFL analysts on how Kenny Britt's arrest might effect the Titans' draft day plans, and the opinions vary: some think the Titans' brass are now planning to eat at a nearby Morton's The Steakhouse, while others contend that was always the plan. Former-Titans linebacker Mike Rivera is teaching crocheting to inner-city youths. I kid you not, apparently it's a huge hobby of the NFL journeyman. PFT updates everyone on the minutia of the new NFL labor mediation sessions that begin today.Email me at mcmaugustwest@mail.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter @AugustWest_MCM