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Coffee and Cigarettes: NFL Draft Links for Thursday

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Finally.

Ranking the linebackers " Seahawks Draft Blog
Here are some factors that led me to this rankings: #1: My own rankings are based on the assumption that any of the three linebacker spots can be upgraded, and that KJ Wright has enough flexibility to play middle or even weak side. #2: I liked our linebacker group last year, so if Pete Carroll is so determined to overhaul it, it must be because something was clearly lacking, whether it was speed, coverage, or the ability to cover ground in run support. I kept the team’s "speed" preference in mind when making these personal rankings.

No-Huddle Series: New Mexico State RB Kenny Turner | The Rookie Scouting Portfolio
I came home from work today and watched an E:60 segment about Titans running back Chris Johnson and his best friend Kenny Turner. If you haven’t seen the segment, you can read the full story about their friendship and the events that transpired that led to a felony conviction and five years in jail. If you ask Johnson or neighborhood friend Mike-Sims Walker, Turner was the best football player in the neighborhood.

Washington State’s Spring Game: The Return of the Pirate | Smart Football
Spring games typically don’t make for very compelling watching, but anytime you have a new coaching staff, the interest is heightened somewhat because it’s the first and often only glimpse at how the new staff’s schemes will mesh with the existing talent. And of course I’ve been looking forward to the return of Mike Leach to the sideline, and to see how his offense may have evolved in his couple of years away from the game.

Sports Radio Interviews " Blog Archive " Michael Floyd Moves On From Past Issues, Readies for NFL Life
Michael Floyd joined WKNR in Cleveland with The Really Big Show to discuss the draft process, his idols, the rumors about where he might go, his plans for the draft, some teams he might end up playing for, moving on from his past incidents and the opportunity that lies ahead.

Draft's biggest drama? Who will roll dice on Ryan Tannehill - NFL - Sporting News
Ryan Tannehill’s draft night will be intriguing. So will his NFL career. Nobody near the top of the draft board is sparking debate like Tannehill, who made just 19 starts at quarterback for Texas A&M. That’s not a large body of work for interested teams to evaluate. Yet, Tannehill could be a top 10 pick, even as high as No. 4 to the Browns. Or Tannehill could fall out of the top 10 altogether if the Dolphins pass on him at No. 8.

The Overvalued Five - NFL Draft Preview - Rotoworld.com
Syracuse DE Chandler Jones In February, Jones made my first "overrated" list since many had him as a potential first-round pick at the time. Fast forward a couple of months and apparently Jones is now the hottest pass rushing commodity in the draft and a likely top-25 selection.

The Shutdown 50 — #8: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with LSU defensive lineman Michael Brockers, who has an outstanding beard. The beard is a cross between Angry Pharaoh and cough drop mogul, and it changes shape depending on Brockers' mood: sometimes it is neatly trimmed, sometimes it sprouts strange little fronds, and it looked a little lopsided at the Combine, though teams probably did not hold that against him.

The Shutdown 50 — #7: Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Everyone loves Cox, except perhaps for the NFL Draft Advisory Board. When Cox was determining whether to forgo his senior season, he asked the Draft Advisory Board to determine where he might be selected. The result? Early second round. "I was a little mad about it," Cox said. "But I figured once I went out and could prove that I can go in the first round, I'd be OK."

The Shutdown 50 — #6: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
We continue this year's series with South Carolina outside linebacker/defensive end Melvin Ingram, who may have you wishing he was attached to a GPS when you're watching his game tape. The 6-foot-2, 264-pound Ingram plays all over the place, and at such a high level, you may wonder if there isn't more than one guy on the field wearing number 6 for the Gamecocks. In addition to his consistent excellence as a pure pass-rusher (18 solo sacks and 24 solo tackles for loss In his collegiate career), Ingram is a great run defender, grades highly as a space defender, and even played on the "hands" team. He dropped 15 pounds in time for the scouting combine to better show his ability to play various linebacker roles, which could have him coming even faster to the quarterback at the next level.

NFL Draft: Quarterbacks - CBSSports.com Video
Between Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, which of these potential superstars will go first in the 2012 NFL Draft? CBSSports.com's Pat Kirwan and Jason Horowitz break down the quarterback position heading into the 2012 NFL Draft.

Many options for Vikings, but pick at No. 3 seems most likely - CBSSports
Rumors have been out there about the Vikings' trading down for the past few weeks. From what I have been told, the Vikings do want out, but unless they lower their compensation request, they will stay at No. 3 and select a player. That leads us to the idea that left tackle Matt Kalil is no longer the choice and Morris Claiborne is. Both are fine players and no one will criticize their choice, but ask yourself which one helps you win their division more.

After big three, Weeden, Cousins in demand -- even with caveats - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
The first three quarterbacks in this year's draft are slam dunks, with two of them -- Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin III -- the top two players on the board. The third -- Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill -- isn't close, but he is a wild card who could go as high as eighth to Miami. But you knew that. My question is: Who's number four?

Report: "Many teams" rank Barron as No. 6 player in draft | ProFootballTalk
Since late Tuesday night, seemingly no player eligible for the 2012 draft has had hotter draft stock than Alabama safety Mark Barron. A report surfaced out of Buffalo that the Bills are "extremely interested" in Barron, and it’s now believed he could end up going earlier than the tenth pick.

Eve of the Draft: NFC Needs | ProFootballFocus.com
Draft week continues at PFF and so does our look at the top needs for each team as we march ever closer to the start of the draft. This time we’re looking at the NFC, having already cast our eye over the AFC. Once again PFF Analyst Sam Monson runs the rule over each team in turn to tell you what their biggest need is heading into the draft, and PFF member and Draft Hub founder, Steve Palazzolo, suggests both an early and late round way for the team to fill that need. So take a look through the NFC at who needs what, and see if you agree on the best way to fill that need.

2012 NFL mock draft has Andrew Luck at top, Brandon Weeden in first round - Don Banks - SI.com
All of us mockers know we'll never once in our entire career crank a perfect first round, top to bottom, nothing but bulls-eyes from No. 1 through No. 32. But I do dream of some day having at least the right 32 guys in my first round, even if they're not in the right order. That would be something of an accomplishment in and of itself.

One-Minute Drill: NFL Draft Team Needs - Peter King - SI.com
Peter King takes a closer look at all 32 teams in his latest video installment of the One-Minute Drill, analyzing what they need heading into the first round of 2012 draft. Click on each team name to watch.

Prospect focus: South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery | National Football Post
Breaking down the game of the Gamecocks receiver.

A final word on Mark Barron | National Football Post
Taking a last look at the Alabama safety.

Behind the Scenes of the NFL Draft | National Football Post
Embarrassing leaks, some heads will roll!

Behind the Scenes of the NFL Draft | National Football Post
Embarrassing leaks, some heads will roll!

NFL.com news: Dolphins downplay Sherman's role in vetting Tannehill
No coach in the NFL knows Ryan Tannehill better than Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who coached the quarterback during his time at Texas A&M.

Man in the middle
After leading tackler David Hawthorne signed with the Saints in free agency, the Seahawks acquired veteran Barrett Ruud to fill the void at middle linebacker.

TNT 2012 draft preview: DBs to consider | Seahawks Insider
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s isn’t expecting his team to break up the Pro Bowl safety tandem of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor by drafting a safety in the first round and moving Chancellor to outside linebacker.

Seahawks search for a speed pass rusher in NFL draft | Seahawks | The Seattle Times
Players who can get to a quarterback may be front and center when Seattle picks at No. 12, but other teams will be hunting for the same qualities.

Idle speculation: Can you see Osi in Seattle? | Seahawks Blog | The Seattle Times
Improving the pass rush was a priority for Seattle this offseason. And while most of the focus on who Seattle might add has focused on draft prospects like Quinton Coples, Melvin Ingram and most recently Chandler Jones, there is a wild card in the mix. Giants' defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

A few notes on defensive end Chandler Jones - Daily Links Blog - MyNorthwest.com
Those paying close attention to mock drafts and draft analysts lately have probably heard the name Chandler Jones being mentioned as a possibility for the Seahawks. Here are a few notes on the former Syracuse defensive end:

So, you want to trade first-round picks? - NFC West Blog - ESPN
NFC West teams hold the sixth, 12th, 13th and 30th overall choices in the 2012 NFL draft. The potential for trading those picks adds intrigue to the draft.

Seahawks.com Blog | A few moments with: Mark Barron "
The opinions and analysis contained in this feature are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the thoughts and opinions of the Seahawks’ coaching staff and personnel department. At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Mark Barron was considered the best prospect in a weak group of safeties and projected to be a mid-first round pick in the NFL Draft.

Best-case scenarios for Seahawks in first round - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
There's no telling how many different ways the first round could go for the Seahawks. Brock Huard and Mike Salk at least know what they want to happen. In Wednesday's Wrap Up video, they offer their ideal first-round scenarios for the Seahawks.

2012 NFL Mock Drafts : Blackmon to Browns; Richardson to Bucs
Here it is: my one and only mock draft for 2012. See my full explanation for each of these selections in tonight's one-hour special, "Mayock's 2012 Mock Draft," at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.

NFL Draft Insider News & Notes
- We continue to hear that teams have safety Mark Barron rated as a top ten player. Several teams around the league have Barron ranked 6th on their draft board.

2012 NFL Mock Drafts : Ingram slides to Titans at No. 20
12 DONTARI POE DTMEMPHIS Pete Carroll will love his size and speed.

Seattle Seahawks To Add Depth At Linebacker - 2012 NFL Draft, seahawks blog
With David Hawthorne now with the Saints, the Seahawks are in a desperate need at the linebacker position.

2012 NFL mock draft has Andrew Luck at top, Brandon Weeden in first round - Don Banks - SI.com
All of us mockers know we'll never once in our entire career crank a perfect first round, top to bottom, nothing but bulls-eyes from No. 1 through No. 32. But I do dream of some day having at least the right 32 guys in my first round, even if they're not in the right order. That would be something of an accomplishment in and of itself.

NFL.com news: Seven-round mock: Projecting every pick in 2012 NFL Draft
At this point in the pre-draft process, NFL teams must have a general idea how the entire draft will play out in order to determine how high they're willing to select players they think fit their system.

NFL.com news: 2012 NFL Draft Hot 100 + 25: Final ranking of top prospects
With the draft upon us, there are some prospects climbing and some falling on draft boards. A few noteworthy items: Three of the top four names on this list are quarterbacks, with Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill steadily advancing. Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who I said might shoot up, has -- 10 spots. Also flying up the list is little Midwestern State's Amini Silatolu -- from 49 to 25. And because I've included an additional 25 prospects on this final list, there are a plenty of new names, which you'll hear on draft day. So here are my final rankings of the top 125 prospects (previous rank in parentheses):