Buzzmaster

  (11:56 AM)

Mel Kiper will be here shortly to chat!

Mel Kiper

  (11:59 AM)

We're ready to start the review!

Jon (Charlotte, NC)

Mel, the 49ers now have a glut of WR's, with Crabtree on board, what happens to Josh Morgan and Jason Hill?

Mel Kiper

  (12:01 PM)

They really like Josh Morgan. You need a group of 4-5 WRs that are really really good. You need a deep group of WRs. I think that's what they're trying to do. Like Steve Young said during the draft, Jerry Rice lives right down the road. Michael Crabtree would do good to call him up. He has a lot of talent. To get him there helps out Shaun Hill or Alex Smith. Right now they don't have have a big time WR on the roster. Crabtree has a chance to be a bigtime WR.

John (Denver)

Do you think teams like the Vikings & the Broncos held off on going for a top tier QB knowing next year's class will have more/better options? How do you rate Bradford, McCoy, and Tebow vs Stafford and Sanchez?

Mel Kiper

  (12:02 PM)

It's not just Bradford and McCoy, add in LeFevbre. He has the chance to be one of the best in next year's draft. He's a big time prospect. Tebow's more of an H-back, Wildcat QB.

Os (Jersey)

Mel, looks like both the SF and NE people agreed this was a thin/weak class. How much better does 2010 look?

Mel Kiper

  (12:04 PM)

It's going to have a lot more star power and a lot more depth through the rounds. You're not going to have QBs coming out of nowhere. You're going to have Sam Bradford, who could have been the No. 1 pick this year. Gerald McCoy could have gone No. 2. Jermaine Gresham. Dez Bryant. Detron Lewis. Some underclassmen that could come out early. Erik Berry as a safety. He could be better than Taylor Mays. You'll have legit star power next year in the draft.

Richard (Greensboro, NC)

I used to be a Broncos fan but now I need a new team, one that makes intelligent choices with valuable draft picks. Who should I root for?

Mel Kiper

  (12:05 PM)

I think the Green Bay Packers do a good job. They get it. They don't force need. They take the best players when they pick. They improved on the defense. That was their big weak link last year. BJ Raji and Clay Matthews in the first round. They also got an excellent blocking back.

Ryan New York City, New York

do u think the jets gave up too much for Mark Sanchez

Mel Kiper

  (12:08 PM)

No. I thought they gave up what was necessary. It's interesting the connection here. Eric Mangini at Cleveland coached the Jets. The players they gave up are serviceable, but that's what you have to give up. Their offense could be decent. Sanchez won't be the QB this year, it will be Kellen Clemens. We don't know what kind of player he will be. Sanchez will be the starter by Year 2 at the latest. Once he's established as the starter, they'll be well on their way, especially because of their defense with Ryan as the head coach. New coach, new QB, that's what you're going to war with. And Sanchez is ideally suited for New York City.

Shane (Los Angeles, CA)

MK: Until there is a rookie salary cap, is the draft value board really relevant anymore? Most teams are always looking to trade down from the #1, while few are looking to trade up. Some folks say the Browns didnt get enough from the Jets, but I think it was a fair trade. If I were a GM in this draft, I would have asked for a team's 2011 first rounder before I asked for their 2010...and gambled the new CBA would have a rookie salary cap. Thoughts?

Mel Kiper

  (12:11 PM)

It's different than it was. I think Roger Goodell knows that. It's not a case where teams make moves because of ability or talent. Free agency did this two. But the idea of trading up, we saw the Jets trading up, that doesn't happen. That dynamic in the draft has changed. You can't be critical of teams for not trading up or down because they might not have had the partner. We have to adjust with it. That's one of the reasons why I didn't really hammer the Chiefs for taking Tyson Jackson. I can understand why they did it. They had a need and they went out and filled it. I had him ranked 16, and I like him as a player. They just had to take them. You can't rip the Chiefs for taking the 16th player at No. 3.

Gary (Sacramento)

Does it get any worse than what the Raiders did with their first two picks?

Mel Kiper

  (12:14 PM)

It's all a subjective analysis that we give. You have to constantly throw Heyward-Bey passes. He's raw. And he fills the skill set that they want. They picked him 7th and I had him 30. Now, look at Michael Mitchell. He has some ability. Some teams had him as a free agent and some as a late pick. I had him as a 7th rounder. I found one other team that said he was a third rounder and could be a pro bowler. We'll see. The Raiders shouldn't take offense. I talked to 6 teams. 3 said he was a free agent, two thought late rounder and one said he was a pro bowler. It's all a subjective opinion. They took Louis Murphy in the fourth round, but Florida WRs have had a hard time adjusting to the league.

James (Fort Lee) [via mobile]

Who were three players you are surprised went undrafted?

Mel Kiper

  (12:16 PM)

I was surprised at a few. Drew Willy, the QB from Buffalo. Brian Hoyer, QB, Michigan State; Emanuel Cook; Mitch King; Barry Beckwith; Dan Gay; Jonathan Casillas; Bannell Ellerbe; John Parker Wilson.

James ( Avalon NJ )

If the season were to start tomarrow what team drafted the largest group of instant impact players?

Mel Kiper

  (12:17 PM)

I think the Green Bay Packers have five guys who could be starters. I think the Buffalo Bills did a good job. They didn't get the OT, but they got a lot of guys that could make an impact and play. I think the Bears, for not having a first day pick did a good job. I really like Jarron Gilbert, DJ Moore, Johnny Knox. I think the Bears for getting out of the first day did a pretty good job overall.

Mel Kiper

  (12:18 PM)

Gilbert led the nation with 22 tackles for a loss. Had he played at USC, he would have been a first day pick.

Drew (Green Bay, WI)

Wouldn't it have been smarter for the Lions to go with OT Oher with the 20th overall pick instead of Pettigrew. I know Pettigrew is the #1 TE, but the OT's are one of the hardest positions to get and Oher would have been a steal at that point IMO.

Mel Kiper

  (12:20 PM)

You can't argue with that point. But I do think Pettigrew was the 7th best player in this draft. They needed a TE. You have Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith and now Pettigrew. Louis Delmas is a good safety, but they had a chance at two MLBs. They could have had William Beatty, an OT out of UConn.

Josh IL

What do you think of the Larry English pick for the Chargers? Did he get taken too early, or is his dominant performance in the MAC enough to justify him going before some defensive players from the big-time programs?

Mel Kiper

  (12:22 PM)

I didn't think he was taken too early. It was a team that had a chance to make a luxury pick. This is Shawn Merriman insurance. He's coming off of a knee injury. He's a perfect 3-4 OLB. Now they have that third entity that they had the luxury of taking. They had no key need area going in. They also picked a RB. This was a pick for a good player in the MAC. It's not like the MAC is I-AA. It's a good football conference. He played for Northern Illinois and played well. He was in my top 25 for a lot of the year.

Stefan (Boonton Twp., NJ)

Now that Boldin and Edwards didn't get traded during the draft, do you think they stay with their respective teams, or do you think they get traded before the season?

Mel Kiper

  (12:23 PM)

This is a good question for Mort. But it was expensive for Boldin, the money and the picks. What they would have had to give up and the money they would have to pay him.

Mel Kiper

  (12:24 PM)

For Edwards, he was very inconsistent last year, dropped a lot of balls. He has ability. He can be a pro bowl WR. There were a lot of WRs that were the big wideout that teams coveted. Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Ramses Barden. There were big WR options in the draft. I don't think teams felt they had to have Edwards or Boldin for that price.

Bobby V - Ohio

Did the Bengals actually do good in the draft or is it a mirage? I am used to their draft grades being in the D or F range? I am shocked!!

Mel Kiper

  (12:26 PM)

I gave them a B. Andre Smith is a talented kid. Michael Johnson is the key to their draft. He has to be motivated to give the pass rushing ability that he flashes. Going into the year, he could have been a top 10 pick. If they can hit on one of those late round picks, they're fine.

Drew (Green Bay)

How good is Clay Matthews at pass rushing?

Mel Kiper

  (12:27 PM)

Very good. That's the thing that he can do. He can get after the QB. He has the chance to be in that 3-4 defense a great compliment.

Matthew (Cincinnati, Ohio)

If Sam Bradford is next year's (current) consensus number 1, who is number 2?

Mel Kiper

  (12:28 PM)

Gerald McCoy the DT out of Oklahoma would fall into that category. Terrance Cody from Alabama. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. Damian Williams, WR, USC; Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa; Erik Berry, S, Tennessee.

Paul (Denver)

What do you think of the Bears pick Iglesias? What's his ceiling?

Mel Kiper

  (12:29 PM)

I don't think he's going to be a great player, but I think he'll be a good player. He was a clutch WR at Oklahoma. I think he'll be a nice 2nd or 3rd option.

Calos Miami,FL

Mel I justed wanted to know what you thought of the dolphins draft and shouldnt they have taken the reciever out of Georgia instead of Pat White?

Mel Kiper

  (12:30 PM)

White has to be a WR. He's got to be a WR. He can't just be a QB. Massaquoi was the WR I thought at that point. They could have had him. Pat White's the slash developmental WR. They could have also had Iglesisas. He has to be a contributor at WR to be worhty of that high of a pick.

James (Missouri)

when you add in the pick up of cassel and vrabel with the Chiefs number 2. what grade do you give Pioli in his first draft?

Mel Kiper

  (12:31 PM)

He did all right. If you look at the draft, I wasn't that impressed. There were some reaches. Donald Washington has talent, but he has to be more consistent. When factoring in Cassel, it brings them up a little bit.

Mike (Akron)

Hey Mel, are you surprised that with the strength of next years drafts that more future first rounders weren't traded? I was expecting that the Browns would have gotten a future draft pick from the Jets.

Mel Kiper

  (12:32 PM)

New England is in good shape for round 2 next year. I like what Denver did in getting Alphonso Smith, I don't like giving up their No. 1. I don't like giving up future first rounders.

Williamson,WV

What player Drafted on the second day do you think has the most potential or brightest future?

Mel Kiper

  (12:34 PM)

Jarron Gilbert. Roy Millard. Mike Wallace. Rashad Johnson. Iglesias. Mike Thomas. Kyle Moore. DJ Moore.

Rob (Indianapolis,IN)

The Colts haven't drafted a QB in the draft since they took Sorgi back in '04. What are they thinking drafting Painter, I don't think they need 2 backups?

Mel Kiper

  (12:35 PM)

He's the kind of guy that has a chance down the road to develop into something. As a junior when he has Dustin Keller, he looked good. He looked like a first round pick as a junior. Maybe he develops into a real good backup. Peyton Manning can't play forever. And he's a local product that they probably saw a lot and scouted thoroughly.

Hogan (Chicago, IL)

Will James Laurinitis start from day one in STL?

Mel Kiper

  (12:36 PM)

He should. They want to move Will Wetherspoon from MLB to OLB. You get Laurinaitis and he starts from Day 1 and your defense gets a whole lot better.

Geoff (Atlanta, GA)

My personal belief is that Knowshon Moreno fell into a near perfect situation in Denver and could make an almost immediate impact. Who are your picks for rookies with the most to offer next season?

Mel Kiper

  (12:37 PM)

Moreno is a good back. If you're going to pick a rookie of the year, then you pick a RB or pass rushing DE. Clay Matthews. Larry English. But the RBs. Beanie Wells has to help out Hightower. Moreno is going to be in the mix. Donald Brown has to help out Addai. LeSean McCoy has to help out Brian Westbrook. Robert Ayres, who Denver took in the first round, he's going to play a 3-4 OLB. So that gives him a chance.

Kyle (minneapolis)

Mel, great job this weekend! Now go take a vacation (after you answer my question of course). How will the Vikings use Harvin, as a straight up WR or more of a Reggie Bush jack of all trades?

Mel Kiper

  (12:38 PM)

You have Adrian Peterson. He has to be a WR. Wideout, slot guy, return man. Harvin has got to be a key entity in that pass offense. They needed a WR in that offense. We thought he would go to the Jets, but with them moving up, he slipped down.

Mel Kiper

  (12:39 PM)

We had a great year. It was a lot of fun. I appreciate all the questions and commentary. We'll be back in early to mid August looking ahead to the college football season and the NFL season and the 2010 draft.