It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it the Summer Scramble, and today we look at the NFC South's looming position battles.
Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.
The Buffalo Bills seemed destined to acquire a pass-rusher on the first day of the NFL Draft, and their 11th overall pick was a perfect place for that: with Tyson Jackson, Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin all available, the Bills weren't going to have a problem there.
Scouting Report: Just a freak of an athlete. Has a good build for a hybrid rush linebacker/defensive end, and will bulk up in an NFL camp. Incredible burst into the backfield, which is compared to DeMarcus Ware. Will make plays behind the line frequently. Not particularly strong, so he can be contained if his initial burst is handled. Pass coverage abilities are a question mark.
2009 Outlook: Brown seems like the type of guy that a team could use as an every down player, or simply save and unleash on pass downs for a while. Either way, he's almost a lock to finish with a hefty number of TFL in his rookie season.
There were several names at the NFL Draft that appeared destined for, at worst, top-15 status: Jeremy Maclin, Everette Brown and Michael Oher all appeared locks to be drafted early during the first round. But then Al Davis and Josh McDaniels crazy happened.
Darrius Heyward-Bey and Knowshon Moreno both came off the board earlier than anyone thought and the Jets traded up for Mark Sanchez. The Lions also selected tight endBrandon Pettigrew with their 20th overall pick. And the Browns traded down to get Alex Mack. As a result, the aforementioned players found themselves suddenly undrafted nearly 20 picks in, until the Eagles traded up to snatch Maclin off the board.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid described Peters as "the best left tackle in football," which might be overstating it a bit, particularly after a rocky 2008 campaign. Still, Peters is in the top five, and he improves a team that, despite a tumultuous regular season, was a lousy quarter of football away from the Super Bowl.
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
The San Diego Chargers were one of the earliest contenders to be drafting a running back in the 2009 NFL draft (and they probably would have had their pick, too, if not for those darned kids). But then Darren Sproles got tagged with the old franchiser and LaDainian Tomlinson worked out his feud with A.J. Smith, and, suddenly, the Chargers were back to the secretly-stacked squad that just needs a little defensive help.
Okay, "little" might be off -- it was the absence of Shawne Merriman last year that killed the defense as a whole; without Merriman in the middle of the D to create havoc, the secondary suffered and teams moved the ball almost at will against San Diego. In other words, you should see some defensive picks in this year's draft.
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
The Buffalo Bills looked like the perfect "sleeper" team last year. They came out of the gates hot, Tom Brady went down for the season and, suddenly, they had a very good/great shot at winning the AFC East. But things went horribly wrong, they didn't make the playoffs and now they start the season with Terrell Owens and without Marshawn Lynch, who's busy acting out a Warren Zevon song, but with less money. Or something like that.
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
Like their neighbors across the bay, the San Francisco 49ers are mired in a string of futility, failing to make the playoffs since the 2002 season. Thanks to a strong finish in 2008 and what is, perhaps, the weakest division in the NFL, there should be some optimism in San Francisco heading into 2009. What do the 49ers need to return to glory?
Three weeks ago, the Redskins' interest in quarterback Mark Sanchez was strictly pre-draft scouting and due diligence. Now, with the NFL draft 10 days off, it sounds a lot more like owner Dan Snyder has fallen in love. Again.
Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.
Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.
There were several names at the NFL Draft that appeared destined for, at worst, top-15 status: Jeremy Maclin, Everette Brown and Michael Oher all appeared locks to be drafted early during the first round. But then 
The Eagles are a better team this morning. They've replaced aging Tra Thomas with one of the best, young left tackles in the game, Jason Peters. It cost them a handful of draft picks (including the 28th overall selection next week), but the club still has the 21st pick, and can use it to assuage Donovan McNabb's concerns by taking an impact offensive player. Possible candidates: running back Knowshon Moreno, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, or any of the remaining wideouts on the board. 
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.
Three weeks ago, the Redskins' interest in quarterback Mark Sanchez was strictly pre-draft scouting and due diligence. Now, with the NFL draft 10 days off, it sounds a lot more like owner Dan Snyder has fallen in love. Again. 
