Number One

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Pros: Curry is an exciting player who plays with fierce mentality, and great drive. He is physical, fast, athletic, has great instincts, and most importantly, he knows the game.

Cons: Curry has virtually no cons to him at all, but one that has shown up on film is that he goes for the big hit, or tries to strip the ball, rather than making the sure tackle.



Number Two

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Pros: Crabtree is a very electrifying player. He can dominate even the most elite college CBs. He has wonderful hands and plays physical. He has great leaping ability as well as tackle breaking ability. Reminds me a lot of Andre Johnson.

Cons: Crabtree was thought to be 6,3 but when measured in at the Combine, he was shy of 6,2. Crabtree doesn't have elite speed which may be a problem in the NFL as he won't be able to beat opposing CBs. His recent surgery is also a concern.


Number Three

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Pros: Monroe is a very quick-footed OT who possesses great balance and use of his hands. He never gets beat and rarely ends up on his back. Monroe has the ability to keep up with even the best speed rushers, and balance to take on the best bull rushers. One of the most pure LTs to come into the draft in years.

Cons: Monroe is not the best run blocker. He is often too passive when it comes to run-blocking. Sometimes slow at getting off the line when run-blocking. Long-story short; needs help with run-blocking.


Number Four

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Pros: Smith is very athletic yet he plays with a mean-streak as well. He has great leverage and balance. He is very aggressive and gets to the next level quickly. Has quick feet and if he does get beat, he recovers well and catches back up to the defender.

Cons: Played in a spread offense so he rarely played out of a 3-point position. Has shorter arms than a LT should have. Sometimes TOO aggressive in run-blocking, causing him to get off balance and be thrown to the ground.


Numbers 5-9 coming soon...

One of the things I love about Curry is his work ethic and the way he carries himself on and off the field. With SO much money going to players this early, you cannot get burned by a player with character issues. I think he's the safest pick in the draft... very high floor, although he might not have the ceiling of some other guys.

Crabtree is getting overanalyzed right now. I'd check out his injury, but it's not anything that really worries me. His speed isn't really an issue for me either. He's an Anquan Boldin type, not a Devin Hester. I've heard some questions about his work ethic -- I'd investigate those if I was interested in him.

Smith and Monroe are really similar types of guys to me. Right now both are better pass blockers than run blockers. Monroe is very polished and is a finesse guy. I think Monroe is the better player right now, but Smith has more upside as he's a bit more raw and is still growing into his body. Put him in an NFL weight room and get some sand in his pants and the sky is the limit for him.

--If this is an evaluation of the top 5 guys in the draft, why are you planning to do up through #9???

The reason why is because I ran out of time to do 5, lol! I could only do 4...