Baltimore Ravens 04/21/2008 8:28 AMThe Baltimore Sun reports unless Boston College QB Matt Ryan is available when the Ravens go on the clock for the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft, general manager Ozzie Newsome and director of college scouting Eric DeCosta will be faced with an age-old dilemma. Do they choose for need or do they select the most talented player left on their draft board? In other words, is Southern California DT Sedrick Ellis too good to pass up?Read more
Kansas City Chiefs 04/21/2008 8:23 AMThe Kansas City Star reports DE Jared Allen left Minnesota on Sunday without agreeing on a contract with the Vikings. The Chiefs and Vikings also had not agreed to terms of a trade that would send the discontented Allen to Minnesota in return for draft picks. The trade terms appear to be the bigger impediment. An NFL source indicated that Allen and the Vikings were close enough to an agreement that one could likely be hammered out if the two teams agree on the draft-pick compensation. Allen could make a visit this week to see the Buccaneers in Tampa.Read more
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 04/21/2008 8:19 AMThe Tampa Tribune reports Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden let everyone know after last season his offense needed some playmakers. Considering the Bucs did not add any free-agent receivers who played last season, the anticipation surrounding this weekend's NFL draft is building. Tampa Bay's current receiving group is questionable. WR Joey Galloway will turn 37 in November. WR Michael Clayton has not been productive since his rookie season - four years ago. WR Ike Hilliard is not a deep threat and just turned 32. Paris Warren is returning from a broken foot. Chad Lucas is still unproven. Maurice Stovall primarily has been a special teams standout. Newly acquired Antonio Bryant did not play last season and carries plenty of off-the-field baggage. If Tampa Bay drafts a receiver who succeeds in producing more than one good season, it would buck a long history of poor wideout selections by this franchise.Read more
Atlanta Falcons 04/21/2008 8:15 AMThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports it's not a matter of whether the Falcons will select a quarterback at next week's NFL draft. It's when. The only suspense centers on when first-year general manager Thomas Dimitroff pulls the trigger with the 11 picks the Falcons have amassed. "For the most part, especially this group of quarterbacks that we're speaking about, they all can adapt to whatever situation," Dimitroff said recently at the NFL owners meetings. "They're not system-specific so much so that they would not survive with a particular team. The intelligence all of them have; certain traits — some may be more long-ball throwers, others more adept underneath."Read more
