Another crack at No. 7

[NewsZombieBot]

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com (http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6735) has posted his fourth installment of a mock draft that includes the first nine picks of the round. He's been calling writers from each city in recent weeks to get their picks.
This scenario stumped me a bit:
1) Dolphins -- OT Jake Long (Michigan)
2) Rams -- DL Glenn Dorsey (LSU)
3) Falcons -- QB Matt Ryan (Boston College)
4) Raiders -- RB Darren McFadden (Arkansas)
5) Chiefs -- OL Ryan Clady (Boise State)
6) Jets -- DE Chris Long (Virginia)
The names I was considering at No. 7 were DE/OLB Vernon Gholston (Ohio State), DE Sedrick Ellis (USC), OG Branden Albert (Virginia) and LB Keith Rivers (USC).
I was torn between a more pressing need (linebacker), what appears to be great value (defensive line), and what might be the safest choice of all (offensive guard).
In the end, I went with Gholston.


More... (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/04/another_crack_a_1.html)

[EasyBigFella*]

I have to think that if Gholston is there, BB would grab him in a heartbeat unless Ryan was also available and there were teams offering the moon for the pick.

[Box_O_Rocks]

I've been pondering the "value" component of drafting Gholston at #7. The Lombardi article ESPN published discussed how BB would be factoring in the "locker room" attitude when computing the salary cap decisions, which in this case would be significant at #7. I believe Gholston is two years away from being a significant contributor at OLB. I believe he would be part of the passing down defense and be able to help on Special Teams right away, but I don't think he'd be ready for regular reps at OLB for at least two years. Based on that I'm not sure anymore that the Pats want to pick him at #7 and I would not be surprised if they dangled him as trade bait and slid out of #7. Now if Chris Long was there, I have no doubt he gets drafted by NE.

[bmooney54]

I heard an interesting debate about Gholston today on the radio about drafting (and paying) him at #7. The argument was that he would replace Seymour next year. Seymour commands a huge salary and has been known to not tow the company line. Just food for thought.

[Box_O_Rocks]

I heard an interesting debate about Gholston today on the radio about drafting (and paying) him at #7. The argument was that he would replace Seymour next year. Seymour commands a huge salary and has been known to not tow the company line. Just food for thought.Debate? "Debacle" seems to be the right word for that idea! How in the world could anyone with two brain cells think Gholston was a 'replacement' for Sey? Never mind they play two different positions and one is a perennial Pro-Bowl player, Sey is a team captain, he's one of the people who sets the tone in that locker room. What an incredibly foolish perspective, I suggest you tune in to some children's network in the future for your sports talk, seriously, those folks are deluded. :shake: