Ask Gil Brandt
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ETGil Brandt
26 comments
NFL.com personnel guru Gil Brandt chats live on Tuesday, March 16 at Noon ET to discuss the latest offseason topics.
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Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi everyone. Hope you're keeping up with our Pro Day updates. Big one tomorrow in Gainesville, of course, with Mr. Tebow. The rental car counter will be busy, with more than 100 coaches and scouts descending. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
In the meantime, let's take some questions... -
Irwin Fletcher, Oregon
3:02 PM ET
Gil, Is Sam Bradford the best QB prospect to come out since Peyton Manning?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Irwin, I don't know if I'd go that far. He is a very good player and he proved it with 50 TD passes in a season, and with his career output in a very successful Oklahoma program. -
Tony Gonzalez, Hollister, CA
3:03 PM ET
What free agent running backs could be a good fit in Minnesota as a replacement for Chester Taylor?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Well, Tony, I'd think if he's healthy -- and he's been working out very hard down in Dallas -- then Willie Parker owuld be a very good addition. The former Steeler is the highest-rated RB still out there. -
donovan, kansas city mo
3:04 PM ET
hey gill what do you think the chiefs will do with the 5th overall pick?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Hi Donovan. I would think they'll take an offensive tackle -- Russell Okung if he's there. Otherwise, they might be looking at Bryan Baluga or Trent Williams. -
Joe, Connecticut
3:07 PM ET
Gil, I keep thinking the Chicago Bears are going to make one more big splash. Maybe a T.O. at wide receiver or something. What do you think?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Joe, the fact that Lovie Smith was at Georgia Tech's pro day yesterday was intriguing -- because almost all the guys who worked out are first- and second-round talent, and the Bears don't have a first or second choice. So you would think maybe they are going to trade a player that gets them that choice. TE Greg Olsen has said he wants to be traded, and I wouldn't be surprised to see something happen. -
leslie, nevada
3:10 PM ET
what do you think al davis is going to do with jamarcus??
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Leslie, I understand JaMarcus didn't report for workouts yesterday. Reports today are that the team excused him and he's working out on his own. But they must be disapponted that he's not around to work with new coach Hue Jackson, who was brought in especially to work with Russell. -
Carter, Sarnia, Ontario
3:12 PM ET
who will win the starting QB job in Cleveland?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Carter, that is a hard question to answer right now. If Jake Delhomme regains his form, he certainly could be the starting QB. He's a guy who has taken his team to a Super Bowl and won 13 games in a season. There's a decent chance -- maybe 50 percent -- that the Browns starting QB for this season is not on the roster yet. -
Sergio, Toronto
3:16 PM ET
Hi Gil...I'm thinking the Redskins now hold a very attractive spot to trade down in the draft. I'm thinking the Browns may want to try and trade up to grab Clausen at #4 so Delhomme can groom him. What do you think?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Sergio, I think Detriot's #2 choice and Washington's #4 choice both look good. If Clausen's demand go up, someone might have to go up to the Lions' spot to get him. Of course, I think Mike Shanahan would like a QB, so he may stay at that spot and take Clausen himself.
But if Bradford and Clausen both are gone by the fourth pick, they may try to trade down with someone who wants Suh or McCoy, but that would be hard to do. -
Paul, New Jersey
3:19 PM ET
Hi Mr. Brandt....Plaese expalin this to me like a 4 year old? Up till the Combine SUH was the Best Player in the Draft....Bradford was not even close!....Bradford Shows up athe Combine 13 lbs heavier and doesn't workout ...Now the RAMS have to take him...HOW?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Paul, you try to evaluate the importance of a position, and the importance of a QB is higher than any other position. So the feeling is that if his shoulder is okay, then he is the best player at the most important position. Not necessarily the best player. But the position trumps everything. -
Geoff, Denver
3:21 PM ET
Hey Gil, names of players who will get drafted on day 3 that can make an immediate impact in the NFL?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I wish I knew the answer to that! History tells us there are always players latr in the draft that turn out better than anyone expected.
LSU safety Harry Coleman and WR Blair White of Michigan State are guys I can see making an impact this season.
Of course late-round picks aren't the only ones who can surprise. Later today, I will have a story on NFL.com detailing the best players who were never drafted at all. -
Irwin Fletcher, Oregon
3:24 PM ET
Gil, Demaryus Thomas looks to be moving up some draft boards. Any chance Miami takes him with the 12 pick?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I don't think Thomas will go that high. As of yesterday, the Georiga Tech WR still hadn't been cleared to work out due to a broken foot. But I do think he's a very good receiver who is on the rise. He doesn't have great speed, but he's got good size and is very talented. He might remind some people of Michael Irvin. -
Keith Goodwine, Washington,DC
3:26 PM ET
What is the Cowboys first priorty in the draft this year, with their first round pick ?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Keith, I thnik they'd like to get a safety ni the first round, providing there is value there. It could be Earl Thomas from Texas. Assuming they remain where they are now, at #27, I think they take a defensive player n matter what. -
David, North Carolina
3:27 PM ET
How much of an edge does CJ Spiller have over Ryan Mathews or other elite RBs? I am a Redskins fan and would love for the Skins to take an elite RB, even if it takes drafting Spiller with the 4th pick.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
There's no question Spil;ler is going to be good. But he and Mathews are two different types of players. I don't think Spiller can handle 20 carries a game. He's going to be more in the mold of a Reggie Bush, I believe. Mathews is an every-down back. So I can't see Spiller going as high as the fourth pick. -
Eddie, Denver
3:30 PM ET
Hey Gil, whats the latest you've heard on the Brandon Marshall front? Thanks!
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Eddie, the latest I've heard is jst what everyone else has heard. To my knowledge, Seattle has not made any offer for his rights since meeting with him. Seattle has two first-round picks, but I still can't see anybody relinquishing a first-round pick for this gu. And since bringing in Marshall is a risk, I can only see a serious playoff contender making the move. -
Dan, york
3:32 PM ET
Earlier you said you don't believe Bradford is the best QB prospect to come out since Peyton. I'm just curious, who would you say is the best QB prospect to come out since Peyton?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Well, I though Matthew Stafford last year was the best in a while. There have been plenty of real good ones -- Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, to name a few. And maybe Philip Rivers has been the best prospect since Peyton. I guess Bradford has a chance to have that success. We'll see. -
James, Scott AFB, IL
3:35 PM ET
Hey Gil, I hear so many different stories about the Eagles QB situation. What is the real scoop?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
James, that is the $64,000 question. Word is that management would like to trade Donovan McNabb if they can get a high first-round pick for him. But word also is that Andy Reid does not want to trade him. You really have to justify trading an established QB like McNabb by getting a top 5 pick for him. That's tough.
But it was very curious that Eagles offensive cordinator Marty Mornhinweg and other offensive coaches made the trip to see Fordham University QB John Skelton work out. I can't imagine they would draft that guy if they plan to have McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick still on the roster. -
Brian, DC
3:39 PM ET
Gil, big fan. Why are teams not jumping at Jared Gaither for a first rounder (particularly those who pick towards the end of the 1st)? He is a proven talent at LT and is still only 24! Yes there is talent in this year's draft but nothing is certain in the NFL.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Brian, I agree. I'm surprised nobody has put in an offer for Gaither, who has been a started at a young age. He did miss some games last season because of injury and maybe there's a concern about his long-term health. But I think he'd be a good pickup. I like Gaither a lot. -
jeff brister, bozeman, MT
3:41 PM ET
Gil, the lions just brought in Anthony Hargrove for a look over. Is this an indication that they're moving away from a DT with the number 2 pick?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
No, I think right now Jim Schwartz and the Lions are looking at anything possible to add depth and better players. Hargrove is a good player with inside pass rush ability. Teams ae working on the Bill Parcells factor of turning over your roster on a regular basis to improve from the bottom up. -
Steve, Pittsburgh
3:44 PM ET
John Skelton? Does he have the most upside of any of the quarterbacks projected to go late?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
He has upside. The person that right now might have as much aupseide as any QB is Mike Kafka of Northwestern. Sean Canfield of Oregon, Skelton and Kafka are three QBs with good upside for the third day of the draft -- although Kafka, who had a great pro day, could go higher than that. -
Austin Soldano, Doylestown, PA
3:47 PM ET
Derrick Morgan or Brandon Graham? Who's the better outside rusher?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I think I'd take Morgan. He had great numbers yesterday at Georiga Tech's pro day. Graham has yet to work out due to injury. I do think Morgan will be drafted higher, with Graham going later in the first round, depending on his workout. -
Nick Lindaman, Iowa City, IA
3:49 PM ET
A lot of buzz has the Bengals taking D at 21. As I see it, we still need a reliable backup RB and WR #3 and TE #1 What do you think they are going to do?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Nick, I thin kthey'll go defense with the first pick. Mike zimmer, their defensive coordinator has been very active. I think they'd go defensive line as the top priority, followed by DB. But I do think the pick will be defense. Of course, Oklahoma TE Jeremy Gresham could be there and he'd be a consideration. -
eric jensen, montana
3:52 PM ET
Gil, please tell me Jacksonville won't go DE with their first pick. It seems like Jacksonville is where first round pass rushers go to die before their careers even start. Wonder why nobody sees Jacksonville like they did with Detroit and wideouts.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Eric, their luck with DEs has not been that good, that's for sure. There is a chance though that they could try again. Anywhere during this pro day season where top-rated DEs are working out, Jacksonville has been there.
Of course, they also had OL coach Andy Heck in Moscow, Idaho last Friday to work out Idaho's Mike Iupati. (He was not alone.) -
matt, texas
3:55 PM ET
where do you see jahvid best going in the draft and do you think he will make a big impact as a rookie.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Matt, Cal's Jahvid Best is kind of a situational back because of his size. I can't see him as a 20-carry-a-game guy. But he is very quick and can catch the ball and be vry productive. I think he's a second-round pick. -
Michael, Orlando, Fl
3:57 PM ET
Hey Gil, most mock drafts have the Raiders taking an Offensive Tackle with the 8th pick. What other position do you think they might draft with that pick or might they trade up or down?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Michael, I think that's the positon that can help them the most. The defense is pretty good and they just made a deal with Cleveland for pass rusher Kamerion Wembley. I think all signs point to offensive line with that pick. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Okay, folks, that's it for today. Thanks for the questions and look forwad to doing it again next week.
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