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Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft


National Football League
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December 3, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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At this point in the year, in that lull time between the end of the regular season and the start of the bowls, many turn their eyes toward the potential jump of college juniors into the NFL. This article looks in detail at some of the guys who may leave early, and in particular it mentions a date that is of high importance: January 15, 2008. That is the deadline day for eligible players to declare early (or "opt-in" as the NCAA refers to it) for the 2008 NFL Draft.

Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft


My take this year has been to assume that *every* junior is going to apply for early entry into the NFL Draft, and then to sort things out once we know for sure. In many cases, the players themselves don't know until up until the deadline if they will come out, and on occasion injury in a bowl game can make a player decide to return for one more year of college ball.

Tonight the Patriots go for a 12-0 start against the 4-7 Baltimore Ravens. Today Baltimore QB Steve McNair went on injured reserve, and at 34 it remains to be seen what the future holds for him. It would seem that the Ravens will be on the outside looking in for the playoffs this year (after being a #2 seed, ahead of the Colts *and* the Patriots, last year), and it will be interesting to see if Baltimore decides to pursue a QB with a high draft pick in the upcoming draft.

As for the Pats, they are at the #2 spot in the first round of the draft thanks to possessing the first round selection of the 49ers. The response I've heard on the concept of New England drafting Arkansas RB Darren McFadden has varied wildly, from some thinking it's a brilliant idea and a lock, to others thinking that it would be wasteful and a poor use relative to the team's needs.


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