matt (detroit)

i see and hear that a lot of draft experts are picking the lions to take matthew stafford. is this based on the fact that you guys think detroit will or think detroit should?

Steve Muench

  (2:06 PM)

I can only talk about how we handle McShay's/Scouts Inc's mock. At this point, we have Stafford going to Detroit based on value/fit so it is what we think they will do.

Steve Muench

  (2:07 PM)

Now that will change as the process progresses and we gain information b/c it doesn't make sense to lead you on when we know it's not what they are looking to do just because we think they should go in another direction.

Mike (Durham, NC)

Steve, Considering the Packer's inability to get sacks last year, and the fact that they are changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense this year, if Raji, Jenkins and Maybin are all on the board at 9 who do you think the Packers should select?

Steve Muench

  (2:10 PM)

I'm torn between Maybin and Raji but I will say Maybin because he's the better pass rusher and outside linebackers is the greater need with 330-pound Ryan Pickett lining up at nose tackle.

Steven, Austin

Always love your chats, even more now that they are about the Draft. Would the texans be better off drafting Cushing at 15 or trading back similar to last year and grabbing tyson jackson or clay matthews? Thanks!

Steve Muench

  (2:13 PM)

If you tell me I can get Matthews if I trade out of the 15 slot then I'd make that deal. I like Cushing slightly more but Matthews is a great fit for their scheme in my opinion.

Pete C Newark DE

Is Crabtree not running th 40 yrd going to hurt his chances of going early or not? Are we going to see this as a trend where they omit a drill or two?

Steve Muench

  (2:14 PM)

It could but I don't think it will and part of the reason is plenty of top-tier prospects have skipped parts of their combine workouts in recent years so this is an ongoing trend.

Anthony (NYC)

Steve whats the knock on Vontae Davis? We all know he's Vernon brother, but is there some other issuse which could effect his position in the draft?

Steve Muench

  (2:17 PM)

I think that Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins, who can line up at corner, is the best safety prospect in this class. And I think Davis is the best true corner. The knock on him is he's a bit of an underachiever and Ron Zook didn't let him start a game this year because he felt Davis was under performing this year. Talent-wise though he's got what scouts covet at corner.

Josh (NYC)

How does Favre's retirement effect the Jets draft? What do the Jets do in the 1st?

joe(NYC)

what do you see at the Jets biggest need in the draft and who do you think they will target? please don't say a QB.

Steve Muench

  (2:20 PM)

Well, quarterback is now their most pressing need. I don't see anyway of getting around it. The question is do they draft one or sign a free agent? Free agency makes more sense to me but if they do take a quarterback in the draft Sanchez is certainly a possibility.

Mike (az)

Steve, is the running back class deep this year? My question is broad but it also specifically concerns the cardinals. Many mocks (including mcshays) have the cardinals taking McCoy from Pitt instead of offensive linemen like alex mack or duke robinson. To me it makes a lot more sense for the cardinals to draft a lineman and then looking for a running back in the middle rounds going along with the commonly held theory that you can get good runningbacks late in the draft. Is this draft deep enough for that theory to hold true?

Steve Muench

  (2:24 PM)

Great post Mike. First off, Robinson is too much of a reach there. On the other hand I like the idea of taking Mack and then getting a back like James Davis later on. Secondly, McCoy makes sense because I think he and HIghtower would complement one another well.

Robert (Latrobe, PA)

What are your thoughts on Josh Freeman? I know the combine will have a great effect on where he's taken, but where do you think he might go?

Steve Muench

  (2:27 PM)

I actually disagree. I expect Freeman to put on a show at the combine and anything less will hurt his draft stock. Scouts already know he has the physical tools to not only make it at the NFL level. While his mobility is little overrated, he's got a great arm and ideal size. The problem is he's inconsistent and it shows on film. All of that said, I think he could go in the second but the third round makes a little more sense and he could admittedly turn out to be a steal there.

Steve Muench

  (2:28 PM)

i meant to say to not only make it in the NFL but to excel. Sorry about that.

Darryl in the ATL

As a UGA fan who has seen them both play every game in their careers, I predict Matthew wows more than Knowshon at the combine/workouts, but Moreno will be a better pro. There is just something a little "detached" about Matthew when it comes to that leadership/team thing.

Steve Muench

  (2:30 PM)

I think Stafford is and will be a strong leader. That said, I think that Moreno and Crabtree make this draft interesting. Neither has great speed but man do they know how to play the game.

Brandon (Chicago)

If you had to say Everette Brown is 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, which would you choose? Don't you think he would be a perfect fit in Lovie's cover 2 system? His spin move is Freeney-esque?

Steve Muench

  (2:32 PM)

I think his best fit is at outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme because of his size but I think he could play in a one-gap 4-3scheme and I've heard the Freeney comparison. I like it though Brown clearly still has a lot to prove.

Chris (FL)

Where do you see Percy Harvin going in the draft, and how do you see him being used in the NFL?

Steve Muench

  (2:35 PM)

I think he goes in the first though I'm not sure I'd take him there and again it's not a question of talent. Harvin is an amazing talent but he can't seem to stay healthy and now he's going to face bigger, stronger defenders while playing a much longer schedule. As far as how a team uses him, it should come as little surprise that he will likely play a role similar to Reggie Bush's in New Orleans,

John, Maryland Heights MO

Would Detroit be better off trading the Dallas #1 to New England for Cassel, then using their own #1 on Crabtree?

Steve Muench

  (2:36 PM)

yes but I as I have said before I think it's going to take a lot more then a No. 20 pick to get Cassell.

Rich (Bayonne, NJ)

The Niners have almost 30 million in cap space. Let's say they sign Olshanky to play opposite Justin Smith. Then if they draft Maybin at #10 to play OLB. That could be a seriously good front seven!

Steve Muench

  (2:37 PM)

no argument here.

Sarah (Denver)

Do you see any Vernon Gholston style workout warriors this year?

Steve Muench

  (2:40 PM)

I know I am going to get throttled by Ohio States for this one but the most obvious possibility is Ohio State's Chris Wells for two reasons. The first is he has great speed and agility for his size so I think he's going to turn some heads at the combine. The second is Wells has been banged up a bit and I think he dances in the hole too much for a big back so there are some reasons to believe he doesn't reach his potential.

Draft Expert

Sarah, he is going to say Orakpo...its a lock.

Steve Muench

  (2:41 PM)

Sorry Draft Expert but I will say that he's another possibility.

Brandon (Chicago)

Do you have any explanation for why Scouts Inc. flip flopped on the Sanchez vs Stafford debate? Mccshay went on espn and said he would take Sanchez over Stafford and now I see Scouts Inc has Stafford ranked higher. What gives?

Steve Muench

  (2:45 PM)

Like I've said before this is a year long process and this is the time of the year we get to breakdown positions by looking at several game films and comparing the players within the position. During this part of the process, we got a chance to see Stafford's body of work compared to Sanchez' body of work and we now believe that Stafford is the better prospect.

Steve Muench

  (2:46 PM)

It would be irresponsible of us to stick to our guns when we no longer feel that way.

Brian (Michigan)

Aren't Sanchez's lack of experience and durability concerns huge red flags?

Steve Muench

  (2:47 PM)

Yes though inexperience is a much bigger issue than durability.

Childrooz (Miami)

Steve my man, what player are the Phins going for?

Steve Muench

  (2:49 PM)

They need help at corner so Vanderbilt's D.J. Moore, Wake Forest's Alphonso Smith and Utah's Sean Smith are three possibilities.

Adam (Rochester, NY)

Brandon, clearly Mel Kiper won that argument...ahahah

Steve Muench

  (2:51 PM)

I get it Adam and if you want to look at it that way that's fine. We got thick skin but so you and everyone else knows we're more concerned with providing the best info we can all the way up until draft day than we are about looking good.

Russ (MD)

Steve, just a general question...when assigning draft grades, if a team can't fill its needs, do you take into account who was available at the time? say a team desperately needs rb, s, and ol, but the value simply wasn't there in the top rounds and they went elsewhere, but got better value.

Mike (Tulsa,OK)

Hello Steve. Where do you see Oklahoma's Nic Harris going in the Draft and what position will he play in the NFL?

Steve Muench

  (2:53 PM)

He plays outside linebacker and he's an early fourth round pick.

Andrew (Toronto)

What do you see as the Patriots biggest need?

Steve Muench

  (2:54 PM)

Safety is a need but corner is by far their biggest need in my opinion.

lavon sarasota fl [via mobile]

what are wvu's pat whites chances of playing qb in the nfl?

Steve Muench

  (2:55 PM)

Slim because he's short and he loses the strike zone too much, which is to say his accuracy is inconsistent.

Steve Muench

  (3:00 PM)

Someone just brought up Sanchez' durability and I think the point is durability shouldn't be a concern in this game. To be clear, Sanchez showed a great deal of toughness playing through the knee injury. However, he is a one-year starter and teams don't like to take chances in the first round so it's a legit issue albeit a minor one in my opinion.

Kim Deal (CA)

Muenchy...aren't the Raiders in a good spot to trade down? It just seems that teams would pony up for the 7th pick especially if one of the OT's, Crabtree, and/or Sanchez are still there. Your thoughts...

Steve Muench

  (3:02 PM)

The truth is the seventh slot is far easier to trade out of then the top five slots so that helps right away. That said, how much they can get and whether or not it't worth it to them depends largely on which and how many "top-tier" prospects fall to them.

Tedy Blessed (arkansas)

Do you think the bears need to draft a receiver or go after boldin?

Steve Muench

  (3:05 PM)

It's too broad a question because you don't what it takes to get Boldin. If the value is right though, you obviously take Boldin.

Steve Muench

  (3:05 PM)

That's all for now and thanks for another great chat. Take care and let's do it again next week.