Fantasy Football: 2006 NFL Draft Preview

NFL Draft 2006
What: 2006 NFL Draft
When: April 29-30
Where: New York City
Rounds: Seven rounds

Here's my selections and rankings for the 2006 NFL draft coming up on April 29th in New York. This of course is after carefully pouring over all the statistics that have come in over the last week from the NFL Scouting Combine. This is not necessarily a prediction of the order they will be selected, rather a prediction of which players in my opinion will be the best at the next level.

1. Houston Texans - Reggie Bush, RB
School: USC
Status: Junior
Height: 6-0 Weight: 200
Strengths: Quite possibly the best overall prospect in the draft, Reggie Bush has unbelievable agility and the God-given ability to simply make defenders miss with his athletic cuts and elusive running style. He is a playmaker and a triple threat: running back, wide receiver, and return man. Although only a junior, Bush has the experience, ability, and knowledge to be a starter at the next level and make a firm impact in no time.

2. New Orleans - Matt Leinart, QB
School: USC
Status: Senior
Height: 6-5 Weight: 225
Strengths: During his career at USC, Matt Leinart has shown good accuracy on all routes, to go along with good down-field vision. He throws one of the best deep balls in college football, putting the ball where only his guy can get it. Leinart has good pocket presence and is mobile enough to avoid the pressure, but he usually won't break a big run. He has shown he can play against top tier defenses in pressure situations. He shows great composure and leadership on the field. My question is this: Can he consistently play well against good defenses, and can he be just as effective without all the talent that he had surrounding him at USC?

3. Tennessee - Vince Young, QB
School: Texas
Status: Senior
Height: 6-5 Weight: 235
Strengths: In his three years at Texas, Vince Young has exhibited great speed and agility. His ability to escape the pocket, allows for more flexibility in the offense, and his arm strength will allow him to make the throws that any NFL offense requires. Young will more then likely be a top-5 pick in 2006.

4. N.Y. Jets - D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T
School: Virginia
Status: Senior
Height: 6-5 Weight: 235
Strengths: D'Brickashaw Ferguson is an absolutely incredible athlete for his position. His technique is strongly reminiscent of Walter Jones in that while he isn't a mauling tackle, his footwork and balance are so good that he keeps his man in front of him and keeps his opponent off balance with his long arms and large hands. Should be an almost unmatched pass-blocker after a few years in the NFL with his technique. Ferguson is one of the strongest, most solid tackles in the nation. He has started every game for the Cavaliers over the past three years

5. Green Bay - Mario Williams, DE NC
School: North Carolina
Status: Senior
Height: 6-7 Weight: 285
Strengths: A tall, quick pass rusher, Mario Williams has been a starter in Raleigh since his freshman year. He has outstanding speed and long arms to get around the offensive tackle. Williams has amazing athleticism and compares favorably to Julius Peppers, lengthy and fast. He has a quick first step and always seems to find the quarterback. Williams is durable and an NFL ready prospect. He has great potential and is still learning some of the true nuances of the game, but would be able to make some waves immediately at the next level.

6. San Francisco - Michael Huff, DB
School: Texas
Status: Senior
Height: 6-1 Weight: 205
Strengths: Michael Huff is a very athletic defensive back, who can play both corner and safety. He has excellent speed to go along with good hip movement which allows him to run with receivers and make plays on the ball. He's very smart player who recognizes routes. His athleticism and smarts make him a ballhawk, and he has a tendency to return interceptions for touchdowns. If he works hard, in 3-4 years he could be considered one of the best safeties in the NFL.

7. Oakland - A.J. Hawk, LB
School: Ohio St.
Status: Senior
Height: 6-1 Weight: 240
Strengths: A.J. Hawk is fast enough that he can run down most running backs and tight ends, and athletic enough to change direction and make a play. He doesn't have a problem reading run or pass, and doesn't struggle too much with the play-action pass. He won't shy away from being hit, and is one of the toughest players in the draft. A three-year letter winner with the Buckeyes, Hawk is the best LB in the draft, and will more than likely be a top-5 pick.

8. Buffalo - Haloti Ngata, DT
School: Oregon
Status: Junior
Height: 6-5 Weight: 335
Strengths: Haloti Ngata is a veritable mountain of a man in the middle of the defensive line, and has the strength to throw around guards when he's getting into the backfield. He also has great burst and agility to get through the line when brute force isn't enough. Barring future complications from his previous knee surgery, he should be an NFL star for years to come.

9. Detroit - Jay Cutler, QB
School: Vanderbilt
Status: Senior
Height: 6-4 Weight: 230
Strengths: A four year starter on a dreadful SEC team, Jay Cutler was the one shining star. He was the 2005 SEC Offensive Player of the Year as well as 2005 SEC Player of the Year. In addition he was a finalist for the Unitas Golden Arm Award. He did not have great players around to make his stats better so his numbers are all the result of his great play.

10. Arizona - DeAngelo Williams, RB
School: Memphis
Status: Senior
Height: 5-10 Weight: 217
Strengths: DeAngelo Williams possesses simply incredible athleticism, shows great balance and burst, with good shiftiness when moving through the second level. He also has great straight-line speed and acceleration when getting through the holes in the line. Has the ability to run around or over tacklers so long as they don't wrap up in time. Williams also has a good nose for the endzone, running harder as he gets closer to it, a la Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks.

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