BravinSeattle

Actually no, his time was barely over 5 seconds as was Okoye. Branch ran 5.07 and Okoye ran a 5.06. Branch can do everything that you want a DT to do in the cover-2 and much more because of his size and strength.

I'd have to see it to believe it considering they had nearly identical times. The statement just makes no sense.

They would if there other players with eye-popping measurables and fill a critical need on their team.

I just don't much difference between him and a guy like Irons so I'd probably pass on drafting Lynch.

I see your logic but Miami is much more desperate for OL help than DL help so my guess is that they reach with Brown. I really hope that we can swap picks with a team like Minnesota with it only costing us a 4th or possibly 3rd rounder.

I don't doubt that you heard this but my guess it was before both he an Okoye worked out at the combine. Why? Because they posted nearly identical 10, 20 and 40 yd times and Branch would be the ideal DT in the cover 2 because of his combination of size, agility and strength.

As free-agency has played out and both the combines and pro days come to a close I think there is a very good possibility that DT Alan Branch falls to us at 12. 01. Oakland -- QB JaMarcus Russell (LSU) | A larger, slower, less mobile but more powerful version of Aaron Brooks. He's a mistake and interceptiion machine when you need a completion. 02. Detroit -- LT Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) | I can't believe Detroit will be picking a LT over a franchise QB, RB or WR but they've been burned on those before so I guess they're a bit spooked. 03. Cleveland -- RB Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma) | Does he have some injury concerns? Sure. Luckily the two teams above Cleveland think he will have trouble staying healthy in the NFL. 04. Tampa Bay -- WR Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) | I still think he could and should go no.1 overall but if he drops to 4 he doesn't go any further. 05. Arizona -- DE Gaines Adams (Clemson) | Is he Jevon Kearse or Kalimba Edwards? Seems like he's Jevon Kearse and Arizona needs someone that can get to the QB. 06. Washington -- DE Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas) | He reminds me of Julius Peppers more than Mario Williams and his fall to no.6 is an indication of the talent of the five picks before him. 07. Minnesota -- CB Leon Hall (Michigan) | Smoot has left and they need another CB so they can move Griffin and his liabilities to S. 08. Houston -- QB Brady Quinn (ND) | I think its a good possibility if he drops to 6 or 7 that someone trades up but he wont get past Houston. 09. Miami -- LT Levi Brown (Penn. St.) | He's a reach here but they are desperate for OL help. 10. Atlanta -- WR Ted Ginn, Jr. (Ohio State) | With Petrino emphasizing the passing attack they are going to need someone who can go get the ball and no one goes and gets it better than Ginn. 11. San Fran -- DT Amobi Okoye (Louisville) | If Atlanta grabs him then I think SF takes Branch so my hope is that we use a third to swap picks with Minnestoa if that seems likely. With the 12th pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills select: Defensive Tackle from Michigan, Alan Branch. I know nobody is going to agree but Hall and Ginn are moving up everyone's board and Miami needs OL help more than DL help so I think there is a good possibility we get branch. I also know we need a RB but this class is deep enough to wait until the 2nd or even 3rd round to get him.

I'd be happy with that especially since he's only 22 but I'd still like to bring in Marcus Bell in for a look. He won't cost us a pick either.

Apparently he has been a work at progress at MLB and is just now starting to make strides and really started to come on last year. I think that's why someone would overpay for him -- specifically the Chief - but I seem to remember that he was really, really fast out of college. I think he's just starting to become a good NFL LB and we could possibly catch lightning in the bottle with him. I think our ony obstacle would be the fact that the Chiefs know that as well. I'd still bring him for a look.

If we could sign both of these guys I think this would be both the most successful FA in years for us and the best positon we have been in for a draft in long time. I really like both of these guys alot and it would nice to be able to go into the draft with only the CB position being a real need and have the option to grab a solid WR, LB, TE or even G if someone drops out of the first round and into the second to our pick. I'm really happy with the O-line signings obviously but these two signings would really tie a nice bow around it. Even if Langston Walker has to move inside to RG I think the coaches believe Pennington can hold his own at RT.

See my signature.

This could turn out to be Peerless Price all over again where we get a career year out of a guy we really dont want and shoot his value through the roof -- and then tag him and get a 1st rounder. Not saying its going to happen but the odds of Willis having a monster year with this new O-line seem pretty real. It certainly gives us a lot of options at the end of the season. Hopefully its a playoff season.

I think this would be a really solid pickup for us. Would really allow us some flexibility in the draft. With Anderson likely gone and this being McCargo's first season (for all intents and purposes) I think we've got a need for two more DT's and not just one. I'd like to see Bell teamed with Tripplet with McCargo and Williams behind them on the depth chart and possibly a draft pick like Kareem Brown in the rotation.

i think we re-signed kelsay and tendered hargrove. not certain but i seem to remember reading that.

My pick would depend on if we were able to sign a CB in FA and if we did then i'd have to grab Jamaal Anderson even with Kelsay, Hargrove and Schoebel on the roster.

That's exactly why actually. I don't think a team with as many holes that we have can draft projects considering how bad our run D is and is going to be unless we draft someone who can come in and play.

I think only one DT will be taken in the first eleven picks. I would think the first 11 picks are going to change a bit after the combine with possibly a CB, TE or a FS jumping into those picks. I mean Olsen ran a 4.45 TE so he could possibly jump up. Who know what happens if Reggie Nelson Landry run a blistering 40.

I share the same belief. I think a MCargo/Branch tandem would be very productive.

Thats what im thinking as well about the Falcons. I really dont think a team like the Bills has the luxury of drafting players with upside because we need players who can play and a play now at a high level. I think Branch is that guy and he's more of the guy we need now.

I think that depends on if he jumps ahead of Branch which could happen. If branch is there we take him. I'd actually trade up into the last part of the round if DE Jarvis Moss is there too. You want to talk about a defensive line, how about Moss/McCargo/Branch/Schoebel with Tripplet and Williams rotating in at DT?

I've been watching a lot of draft coverage and people are really talking about this kid and the dreaded "upside" alot. Anyone seeing him begin move past Branch and be the 1st DT off the board? Of course that could all change after the DL day of the combine but how great would it be have him fall into our laps? I have to say I think its probably going to happen.

With DT Frank Okam looking like he's staying in school my dream draft scenario now has us taking OT Levi Brown and then trading back into the 1st round to grab G Justin Blalock using our 2nd, 4th and 7th rounders (assuming we get some compensation picks).

I would argue that draft position does matter. It matters even more, not less, if you know what you're doing. They don't make or break your draft but they do give you a lot more options.

That would be a valid point but we weren't talking about the difference in the 13th and 15th picks in the draft. This was about the difference between the 11th and the 20th pick in the draft. Blalock will likely be off the board by that pick. Levi Brown? Gone. The no.1 CB? Gone. The no.1 DE? Gone. The no.1 DT? Gone. There is a significant drop off in talent between the 11th and 20th pick. Yes you can find good players at that pick but I'd rather take a pass on the moral victory if it means picking higher for 7 rounds.

No one (Not even the Saints) new what they had in Colston. That was dumb luck. I'd rather not have to count on dumb luck in the 7th round to build a team. The fact of the matter is that the talent drop off is significant with each pick and this team needs talent more than it needs symbolic wins.