Raji?
 

OK I started calling for us to draft Raji in October, back then he was considered a 3rd rounder and I was thinking he had 1st round stuff. Now the "guru's" have caught on the Raji train and he has moved right on past us on the board.

Being the only true 3-4 NT in this draft with penetration skills, he is projected to be a top 10 pick. Now as a 4-3 NT he has more value to a team then he does as a stop up the middle guy in the 3-4, so I have been thinking what if he falls?

Would you trade up for Raji? I am seriously thinking he would be the guy that changes our DL. We need to stop the run and that starts at NT and DT. Having a true NT that can get past a double team on regular basis would be like adding a Joe Green type to this defense.

What would you be willing to give up for him, if anything?

I won't be mad if we draft him, but I can't get behind trading up for him...but I don't want to trade up in general. Finding a rookie DT who can come in right away and change a defense is almost impossible. I don't claim to have watched him that much, but this team still has enough holes that it's not worth the risk to move up.

I like Raji alot too but I guess that it would depend on how high you are talking about trading up. Also I'm keeping in mind that next years draft could be loaded at the DT position so I'm probably not willing to give up too much.

I saw one mock where Raji fell to us at 15, but I wouldn't give anything to rise up to take him. BTW, Ziggy Hood had a very fine Pro-day and raised his bench to 36 reps. If we could pick him up in the 2nd or 3rd, I would be happy.

At 1st round #15 I would take Moreno. He is quicker than fast big back that would compliment Slaton and is very suited to the ZBS that we insist on running.

Actually, I would rather trade down to low 1st or high 2nd and pick up extra picks as IMO this draft is low on stars but high on depth and future starters.

Is that an old mock?

Now Ziggy is a guy I like, but he is a DT not a NT. So do you go with a DL with 2 guys that can really shot the gap as opposed to hold their spots. I would not be opposed to Okoye and Hood playing next to Mario and Smith. That would be an interesting front 4. But then you also will need special LBs to back up this group.

I keep thinking that the Detroit Lions would be smart if they let it be known that Raji was the guy they wanted at #1. Let's face it, the #1 pick is something nobody wants any more because of the money and the 2nd tier players. Think about this, if you want Stafford, you'd settle for Sanchez. If you want Crabtee, you can settle for Maclin. Want Jason Smith?? Maybe you should just settle for Monroe. If you can't have Curry, you can take Matthews. Brown vs. Orakpo. Do you get it?

If you want Raji, there is not another player in the draft that can fill that hole like he does. He would give the Lions the most leverage in trading out of the spot because every team could use him 3/4 or 4/3 defenses.

I imagine somebody will be trading up for Raji, but it will be in the top 5 picks and that's more than we can afford at this juncture.

Or maybe we should draft center Eric Wood who kicked Raji's azz in the Senior Bowl game ?

I would like to draft Wood in the 2nd round. He looks to be a good player who is strong at the POA and has some agility. While he did well against Raji, I think saying that he kicked Raji's ass is a bit of an oversimplification.

If you watched the Senior Bowl practice all week on NFL.COM the guy who stood out in the one-on-ones drills between the DLinemen & OLinemen was Raji. Then when they played the game Raji all but disappeared and yet during the game when they showed interior line play again & again there was clips of Wood by himself shoving Raji aside (aka an ass-kicking).

PK: I honestly don't know. I was browsing one of the myriad mocks the other day and it stood out to me. It very well may have been old. It wasn't meant to be Gospel, but I thought it was on point since we were threading the same subject. Personally, I doubt he will fall to us, but I would gladly trade Johnson for him.

Another oversimplification.

If you want to believe that Wood controlled Raji because of one play, then that's your deal.

It's amazing more people aren't discussing Eric Wood as a 1st rounder. Only Mayock and myself have him rated over Unger and Mack. I'd suppose you would too or do you think Raji is more of a 2nd round talent.

OTs in the first round ? Of course. Centers and Guards ? Never.

I've seen Mack AND Unger being listed in various Mock drafts. Now, if they are actually selected in the 1st round remains to be seen.