Where do we stand in the draft?

So the draft is coming up and we have the 12th overall pick....what do we do?  Then after the 1st round, where do we go from there?  We have the 43 (2nd), 75 (3rd), 106 (4th), 181 (6th), 225 (7th) picks.

Lets start where I think we might go first....DE.  I think Quinton Couples, 6'6" 284 lbs might be the guy they go after.  They may look at Nick Perry of whom Pete Carroll recruited to USC.  He comes in at 6'3" 271 lbs.  If they don't go DE first, they may look to go ILB. Luke Kuechly's name has been thrown around. At 6'3" 242 lbs, Luke is a pretty good sized kid with some good speed with a 40 yard time of 4.5.

Could we go for a OG for the third straight year?  I don't know that this is such an driving need for someone early on as we have some good guys in the trenches, we just need to stay healthy.  I could see them going for a 2nd round OG though.

Michael Lombardi for the NFL network has suggested taking a CB such as Stephon Gilmore from South Carolina.  Had a good combine and a strong 40 time.  But do we really need a CB?  Browyner is solid.  Thurmond and Sherman are both tall and fiscal and still both young.  It is a position that takes some time getting used to the NFL speed, especially going up against a receiver all game long like Larry Fitzgerald twice a year.  Remember that Thurmond only played 1.5 games.

I will try and get some solid predictions of my draft picks by next week.

Free Agency

Ok, so after getting denied by Peyton Manning...Seattle goes out and signs the next best QB in the draft - Matt Flynn.  Matt comes with a couple years under his belt as a backup to arguably the best quarterback in the league right now in Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers.  Flynn has had two opportunities to come into a game as a starter and done a fantastic job.  But does this amount to him beating out TJackson? Vote on the sidebar....

Other pick ups thus far in the free agency include: Matt Jones, DT.  Matt is a big fella...tall and broad.  He looks like he can pack a good hit and can be quick on his feet to slip through the inside.  At 6'5" and 276 lbs.  And it looks as though Carroll has plans to use him down inside with an occasional situational end usage.  He is going to go well with Big Red and Clemons.

Peyton 2.0

How could I not talk again about Peyton Manning on this day that he is released from the Colts?  Yes, that’s right, he is a free agent.  He, arguably, could be the biggest name on the open market in NFL history.

So where does he end up?  Well I mentioned several weeks ago the pros and cons of Peyton coming into the Seattle.  But what are the other possible locations?  Some teams being thrown around in the discussions include: Miami, Washington, NY Jets and the Cardinals.  I do not agree with the idea that Peyton could go to Washington.  I cannot see how he would want to face his brother Eli twice a year, especially with Eli coming to his prime and Peyton getting older and with a new team.  I also don’t see him going and sharing NY with Eli.  I can see him however going to Miami.  The warm weather year around is probably appealing to him.  The problem for them is that they do not have room under the salary cap to sign him, thus I see it a smaller possibility than others may state. 

When negotiations arise with talks of Peyton going to the Cardinals I cringe.  I do not like the idea of him going to a team inside our division, especially with Larry on the outside.  The problem is that they have no money for Peyton.  They also gave up a bunch last year to get Kevin Kolb including a first round pick, a starting cornerback, and more.

This leaves really only Seattle in the negotiations.  I am completely ok with that.