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CBS SportsLine.com

Coyle talks with Washington running back Stephen Davis during training camp last summer. (draftinsiders.com)

 

NFL Scout and Publisher of the Draft Insider's Digest, Frank Coyle, took your questions about who will be the first pick, which team will do the best in the upcoming draft and much more.

Visit his website at Draftinsiders.com.

Frank Coyle: Good evening everyone! Lets talk NFL Draft!

Question: Which Top College Football Players "Stock" has gone up lately leading up to The NFL Draft?

Frank Coyle: The fastest rising in the country is Todd Heap the TE from Arizona State. And DeLawrence Grant the DE from Oregon State. Heap may have pushed himself into the late 1st round and Grant into the top 50 where he is a sure 2nd round pick.

Question: I know that running backs can easier make a bigger impact on a team in their rookie year, any RB's this year that you think can be a Jamal Lewis or an Edgerrin James?

Frank Coyle: I don't think there is a player at the top with that type of ability. I do feel LaDainian Tomlinson and Lamont Jordan can help a club and provide impact. They are both tough runners and have a chance to start as rookies. It is a good crop of running backs despite the lack of a real blue-chip at the top.

Question: Frank, where do you think Chris Weinke will be going?

Frank Coyle: I am not real high on him. I think he is a middle round pick. Maybe as early as the 3rd round. He isn't on the top 100 in my book. A decent throwing arm and some mobility but as a 29 year old rookie I don't think he has NFL starting ability. I don't think he will be anything but a backup -- and an old one at that.

Question: What do you think of Drew Brees?

Frank Coyle: I think Brees has good skills and is a well developed QB after starting for 3 years. Mid to late first round -- Chiefs, Steelers, Lions. I don't think he can take a club up to the next level on his own but if you surround him with talent he can win. He is the most developed QB in this class and will be a good pick. The second best in the class is Jesse Palmer. He will surprise people and start. I have him going in the middle rounds.

Question: Frank - Can you tell us who you think the top 5 QB's in the draft are?

Frank Coyle: On my board.. Vick (VTech), Brees (Purdue), Jesse Palmer (Florida), Quincy Carter (Georgia) and Mike McMahon (Rutgers).

Question: I have heard that Jesse Palmer's stock has really risen, what is the reason for that? Can you give us a little info on this kid?

Frank Coyle: He played in 2 all star games and did well. He has a nice arm and is coming from a pro style offense. I think he can step up fast. Good showings at the Senior Bowl and the Gridiron Classic.. he did well.

Question: Will the Chargers take Vick with the #1 or trade the pick? What teams would be interested in giving up what they want for that pick?

Frank Coyle: I don't think anyone -- Seattle is the only one with 2 #1s (7 and 17) -- I don't think anyone has enough picks to leverage themselves up and entice Butler, the new GM, to let go of Vick. I don't see anyone moving them off the pick. San Diego is probably at the stage where they are ready to negotiate numbers and length of contract with Vick. Oh.. and Vick had a nice workout for the Chargers this weekend. And he is a very mature kid.

Question: Frank is there going to be a definite trend to more mobile QBs now with guys like Vick and Donovan McNabb, or is this just a passing fad (no pun intended)?

Frank Coyle: With all the zone blitzing the defenses do, mobility is critical. You can't be a pocket passer or a statue back there. The only way to do that is with 5 All Pro O-lineman. I think the days of the slow, lumbering statues are over. That is one of the things that hurts Weinke so much!

Question: What do you think of Chad Johnson?

Frank Coyle: I like him an awful lot. He played one year -- his senior year-- at Oregon State. And he exploded. By October everyone in the country knew about him and he followed it up with a great Senior Bowl week. He had a disappointing combine. That hurt him some but he has good breakaway speed and I think he will be the 4th or 5th WR taken. He can hit the home run and every NFL team is looking for that.

Question: I heard that NC State receiver Koren Robinson had a poor workout that could hurt him on draft day, can you fill us in?

Frank Coyle: He ran a 4.58 time. Really disappointing because he has been consistently in the 4.45 area. He looked like a sure fire top 5 pick, a natural for the Falcons at 5. He is only a 3rd year Soph and only played 2 years. His route running isn't the best and that is a red flag. Plaxico Burress was this last year. And Plaxico had a bad rookie year. But it only takes one team to like him. But you don't want to make a mistake with a top 10 pick and there are certainly

Question: What can you tell us about Mike McMahon? How high do you think he'll go and have you any idea what teams are interested?

Frank Coyle: Mike had a terrific Senior Bowl and Blue-Grey game. I saw a lot of him at Rutgers since I am in New Jersey. He lacked a supporting cast there and had some shoulder problems which he overcame. He has been cleared and is fine. People feel he can make the adjustment to the pros fast. Tough and gritty. He could go as early as the 3rd round. Kansas City and the Raiders were all over him at the Senior Bowl and Carolina too. After the top guys you get into the middle rounds and he will be one of the real hot players there.

Question: What are the weaknesses of the Colts - the areas they need to address in the draft?

Frank Coyle: I still feel they need defensive tackle and end. Then CB and then maybe a guard/center. I expect this to be mainly defense. They have the 22nd pick and I have to believe they are looking at a corner or tackle at the spot. Fred Smoot or Nate Clements (both CBs). Marcus Stroud (DT) if he falls there but I expect him to be gone. Also Damione Lewis (DT).

Question: Who's the best fit for the Vikings?

Frank Coyle: Boy.. the team that needs everything on defense. Also a RB and left T on offense! They have to go defense. The secondary is a mess. A good group of corners this year and you have to think if Jamal Fletcher or Lewis get by, they take him. Maybe try to swing a trade -- and there is talk -- a middle round pick for Ricky Watters.

Question: Frank, I heard that the Broncos are shopping around Mike Anderson for a 1st and a 3rd round pick? Will they get it and if so, what do they want to do with those picks?

Frank Coyle: I am sure they are shopping him around. With a healthy Davis and Gary, someone has to go. I don't think anyone would put a #1 on the table for Anderson. He had a great year and I give him credit. But it was behind the greatest line in football last year. The Vikings might be interested in a middle rounder for him. The Patriots are interested in a runner so are the Eagles. 10 days before the draft people are talking to Priest Holmes too. Anderson could command a #2 but I would be shocked if someone gave up a first rounder for him

Question: Frank, who will the Rams be looking at in the draft?

Frank Coyle: Interesting! They have 2 #1s and if they trade Green to KC they will have three! They just signed LB Mark Fields and that was a good pickup. I expect them to address the front four on defense.. maybe with both 1st round picks. I don't think Marcus Stroud (DT) will be there. But certainly he or Damione Lewis will draw interest. They could surprise with a DeLawrence Grant late in the first round. I think they would be more comfortable with the #12 form KC to get Stroud there. They are kind of out of reach for a real blue chip guy at the back of the 1st round.

Question: What will the Cowboys focus be now that Aikman has retired?

Frank Coyle: They let go of a number of vets. And they have many needs with no number 1 pick. They signed Banks and are committed to him but he is inconsistent and mistake prone. They have questions at DT and no #4 pick. They have a second and third round.. 2 in the top 130! They aren't in the best spot. The cap is strapped and not many draft picks. They will probably take a DT in the 2nd round and I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same with the next pick. They have totally inexperienced people at DT with not a lot of talent.

Question: Which Top Players in this years NFL Draft have a great chance to be "Impact" Players next season?

Frank Coyle: There will be a story from me within the week on the best impact players. The two I would say would be WR David Terrell and TE Todd Heap. Terrell has everything you want and could push any offense over the top. Heap is a special receiver for the position. He gives the offense a dimension that only KC has with Tony Gonzalez.

Question: Frank, is there any late round steals that we need to watch??

Frank Coyle: There always are! The second day, after the top 100, is just as much fun! Jesse Palmer, Mike McMahon. Some RBs who may fall are Correll Buckhalter from Nebraska and a small college kid Dominic Rhodes from Midwestern State. Rhodes has some big time ability. Colston Weatherington is a defensive end from Central Missouri State and is the real sleeper. He has a lot of big time ability

Question: Hi Frank! Who do you consider to be the biggest first round busts ever?

Frank Coyle: Lets look at the last few years. So far it has to be Ryan Leaf. He went 2nd in the draft but SD gave up a top 5 for two years, plus a #2 and a #3 and players. And he was HORRIBLE. He could turn his career around but he stands right now as a colossal bust. KiJana Carter, although he hurt his knee as a rookie and was never right after that, was one people expected a lot from. Curtis Enis is another. He is starting anew in Cleveland. He hurt his knee, bulked up to over 250, was in a west coast offense. That was one of the worst fits of all time!

Question: Looking back, which team do you think had the best draft last year and why. Also do you think they're in a position to do it again?

Frank Coyle: The Jets had 4 #1 picks and did exceptionally well but aren't near that this year. Seattle with 2 #1s are in a good spot this year A team that got really good impact last year was Baltimore. Jamal Lewis was the difference in that offense. Their second #1, Travis Taylor got hurt and will provide impact this year. The Jets are in an interesting spot. The 2 strongest areas in the draft are WR and DT and those are their biggest needs. So they could do well this year.

Question: What team's draft crew do you really respect the most and why? Is there a team or two you feel blows it every year?

Frank Coyle: San Diego has blown it every year haven't they? But there is a new crew there. Again, Baltimore's scouting staff is one of the best in the country. The Giants do well year in and out. I look for Buffalo with Tom Donahoe to be good. When he was in Pittsburgh he was a great talent evaluator.

Question: Frank, have the Bengals given up on Akili Smith?

Frank Coyle: I don't think so. I think if they get Leonard Davis (OT) they will have someone to protect his left side. The expectations were too high and he wasn't quite ready. Young receivers don't help either. You can see where Culpepper benefitted from Moss and Carter. Smith will have to pick it up and learn the offense. I think Kitna is just an insurance policy!

Question: Do you think Michael Vick is in a good situation playing under Doug Flutie of the Chargers until he's named The Starting Quarterback in the future?

Frank Coyle: I do think that is good. #1) Flutie is the same type of player. Good runner and improvisor. Overcame adversity and is still starting. #2) Working with Norv Turner will be good. If Vick gets in a situation where he doesn't have to start right away and can learn presence from Flutie, he will be a star in the NFL. I don't expect him to do much for the first 2 years. But this is a very good situation with both Flutie and Turner.

Question: Are there any underclassmen who declared for the draft that you think would have been better served to stay in school?

Frank Coyle: Yeah! You can say a number of them. Michael Bennett from Wisconsin. Only one year. Even Koren Robinson, despite the talent, may have benefited from maturing both on and off the field. Bennett only started one year at Wisconsin. He isn't developed as a receiver, blocker, he is one dimensional. And he isn't that big. .

Frank Coyle: Thanks for your questions. I am looking forward to being back next week at the same time. Hopefully we will see some deals then. We'll bring you up to date on all the rumors and rumblings going into the draft. Don't forget the Draft Insider's yearbook is available. 204 pages big! Call 1-800-776-1949 or www.draftinsiders.com. Over 400 in-depth profiles. Thanks and goodnight!