It is rare that, before the Senior Bowl, Combine and individual workouts, there is a near consensus regarding the first pick in the draft. Even more rare is a scenario in which the overwhelming choice is a non-skill position player. Ironically, one could argue that the last time this occured was in 1996 when Orlando Pace was viewed as the clear-cut choice.
At this point, though, the vast majority of fans, sportswriters and analysts view Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh as the best player available in the 2010 draft.
Will this change between now and Draft Day?
Personally, I hope not. I think Suh is the clear choice for the Rams. He is the kind of player that is so disruptive that he can elevate an entire defense. He also appears to be a good teammate and leader.
But, make no mistake. The issue will be debated for the next three-plus months. Certainly, no prospect is a sure thing, so those who argue against Suh are entitled to their opinion. That stated, we there are several anti-Suh arguments that can be easily anticipated and countered.
The Limited Offseason Participation Critique
Don't be shocked if Suh decides (or is advised) not to participate in the Senior Bowl or the Combine drills. After all, he essentially has nowhere to go but down at this point. Some may assert that he should be downgraded for sitting out these tests. I think that's a bit harsh. The NFL is a business, and Suh's best business decision may be to wow the scouts at an individual workout and let the other prospects jockey for position.
The "Surprising" Measurement Critique
Suh is listed at 300 lbs. What if he weighs in at 290? Suh reportedly can bench press 470 lbs. What if he is outdone on the bench by other DTs? Suh is considered very quick. What if the stopwatch says he's not as quick as we think? The answer... who cares? Suh's on field performance is what matters. Don't forget... this is a guy who lead his team in tackles in the pass happy Big 12 two years in a row - FROM THE DT SPOT!!!
Smokescreens
When it comes to pre-draft statements from the coaching staff and front office, make sure you have a big grain of salt handy. Its already begun.
Kevin Demoff recently was quoted as saying that the gap between Suh and Gerald McCoy is not that great, and could close in the coming months. What should we take from a comment like that? Well, let's see... Demoff's job will be to negotiate a contract with the first choice. Do you think it would help or hurt him to sing Suh's praises for the next three months. I can see it now... SUH'S AGENT: "Well, you said on February 20th that Suh is a 'once in a decade' player, so I guess you should pay him like one." We'll probably know who the choice is before draft day, but that will be because a contract has been signed, not because of a response in an interview.
Its going to be an interesting offseason. There will be days when it might seem that Sam Bradford is the guy. Or maybe Jimmy Clausen. Or Gerald McCoy. Or Dez Bryant. Or maybe it will seem like a trade is in the works.
My hope and expectation is that, when all is said and done, Ndamukong Suh will be wearing spiralhorns.
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