Steals And Reaches: Potential gems and busts from NFL draft weekend
The final chapter of the 2008 draft was written when the seventh round closed out this afternoon at Radio City Music Hall. There were a number of surprises, both good and bad, as is the case every April. Here's a look at the biggest steals and reaches from this weekend.
Mike Jenkins/CB/Dallas /1st round: Jenkins was top 15 talent but turned off a number of people with his attitude leading up to the draft. He's always been productive on the field and offers the Cowboys starting potential.
Quentin Groves/DE/Jacksonville/2nd round: Groves had issues off the field. That concerned some teams who were not quite sure where the 255-pound defensive end would play in the NFL. He possesses 4.5 speed and was one of the better pass rushers in the draft, which makes him a bargain for Jacksonville.
Chad Henne/QB/Miami/2nd round: Henne fell much further into the second round then most thought. Miami swiped him late in the frame and he could soon be starting behind center for the quarterback-needy team.
Cliff Avril/DE/Detroit/3rd round: Avril was criticized for underproducing as a senior and not meeting expectations. He'll find a niche as a pass rusher for the Lions.
Justin King/CB/St. Louis /4th round: King's play was uninspired last season yet his pre-draft workouts and high character had many thinking he'd be drafted early in the second round.
Jonathan Goff/MLB/New York Giants/5th round: Goff is a future replacement at middle linebacker for Antonio Pierce. Scouts though he had third-round value coming out of the combine.
Marcus Howard/DE/Indianapolis/5th round: Indianapolis loves their defensive linemen undersized and explosive. Howard is 6-0, runs a 4.4 and recorded 10 sacks last season.
John Sullivan/C/Minnesota/6th round: Sullivan was the highest-rated center coming into the season before poor play drove down his draft grade. He's legitimately a third-round talent who could be starting for the Vikings in a year.
Paul Hubbard/WR/Cleveland/7th round: The speedy Hubbard is considered a prospect with great upside. He was slowed by a knee injury last season yet has all the skills to be a third wideout in the NFL.
Marcus Monk/WR/Chicago/7th round: Monk is a physical receiver with reliable hands who many considered a first-day pick before a knee injury slowed him last season. He can play at the next level once he gets back to health.
Derrick Harvey/DE/Jacksonville/1st round: Harvey was considered a mid-first round choice yet the Jaguars leapt into the early part of round one, giving away a pair of third-round choices to acquire him. Harvey is a solid pass rusher but a liability against the run.
Sam Baker/OL/Atlanta/1st round: Baker watched his stock plummet after a mediocre senior season then topped it off with miserable pre-draft workouts. He graded as a late second-round pick when the Falcons traded back into round one to select him.
Chris Johnson/RB/Tennessee/1st round: Johnson was the fastest running back at the combine. Scouts still think the East Carolina product is much more athlete than polished ball-carrier at this point.
Terrence Wheatley/CB/New England/2nd round: The 5-9 Wheatley was beaten constantly last season and most projected him into the middle rounds.
Bryan Smith/DE-OLB/Philadelphia/3rd round: Smith, who played defensive end in college, weighed 231 pounds at the combine then ran a 40 time of 4.75 seconds. He is a developmental project with no true position in the NFL.
Bruce Davis/DE-OLB/Pittsburgh/3rd round: The Bruin defensive end is another 'tweener who comes off a disappointing season. He struggled at linebacker during the Senior Bowl then ran poorly (4.83 seconds) at the combine.
Kevin O'Connell/QB/New England/3rd round: O'Connell has the physical dimensions of an NFL passer yet his accuracy is woeful. Scouts feel using a third-round pick on a developmental prospect was a waste.
Josh Sitton/OL/Green Bay/4th round: Sitton was rated by almost everyone as a free agent and was never seriously considered in the middle rounds by any team.
Matt Slater/WR/New England/5th Round: New England traded up with Tampa Bay in order to acquire Slater and people are still wondering why. Jackie Slater's son was a reserve receiver used mostly on special teams his four years at UCLA.