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National Football League
Draft King Analysis
January 13, 2009
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
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A pair of major draft-eligible sophomores declared for the NFL Draft today: Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree (in a move that had been strongly hinted for days) and Penn State DE/OLB Aaron Maybin. Both are likely to be first-round picks, and Crabtree is expected to be a top five selection (with him being linked to the Seahawks at pick #4 by many draft prognosticators, including me).
 | Aaron Maybin is heading to the NFL. (Icon SMI)
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Meanwhile, in a surprising announcement that had to thrill Southern Cal fans, USC junior free safety Taylor Mays said today that he plans to return to school for the 2009 season. There's no word yet from USC redshirt junior QB Mark Sanchez on what he will do.
Today is "Sam Bradford Day" in Oklahoma City according to a proclamation issued by OKC mayor Mick Cornett. You can read all about it here. Kansas City should be proud of Bradford -- he has brought his hometown, and the entire state of Oklahoma, a great deal of positive attention.
There's still no word on the big question: will Bradford go pro or return to Oklahoma for his redshirt junior season? His father has been hounded by the media, who are trying to procure an answer on which way he might be leaning. But, to this point, Kent Bradford hasn't provided many clues about what his son might do.
The elder Bradford did clear up the errant information that Sam had received a grade of "between picks 10 and 20 in the first round", citing that there are only four evaluations given by the NFL advisory committee: round one (which was where Bradford placed according to multiple published reports), rounds two-three, rounds four-seven (formerly referred to as "day two"), and not draftable.
Looking at other still-undecided underclassmen on the Draft King first round draft board, LSU OT Ciron Black plans to announce his plans for 2009 in a press conference tomorrow. Florida WR Percy Harvin and Oklahoma DE Jermaine Gresham remain undecided and could go down to the wire on Thursday. Literally as I'm typing this, I looked over at the TV and saw a graphic on ESPN SportsCenter listing Harvin and USC QB Mark Sanchez as "likely going pro". Take that as you will.
As most of you know by now, New England Patriots vice president for player personnel Scott Pioli has left the Patriots to become the new general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. There has been widespread speculation that this will lead to the end of Herm Edwards as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, with Pioli likely to bring in a new head coach of his choosing.
Pioli will have the responsibility of deciding what the Chiefs should do with the #3 overall pick in the draft, and according to this article he inherits a Chiefs roster that will be $30 million under the salary cap. It will be intriguing to see what he does with that franchise's roster in the coming months.
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