 Matt Ryan and Herm Edwards could be spending a lot more time together barring the outcome of this Saturday's NFL draft, where Ryan is expected to go early in the first round.
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Tom Brady will soon be joined by some young, fresh faces. At Boston College, another No. 12 prepares to continue his football career at the professional level. Yes, draft day is quickly approaching, the Patriots and Giants look to shore up their defenses, and the Dolphins will attempt to fill at least some of the ump-teen different holes in the lineup that was only an overtime victory away from an 0-16 season.
The main question on most BC minds, however, is what team Matt Ryan will play for this coming season. Experts have predicted his future team to be anywhere from the Falcons with the No. 3 overall pick or as low as the No. 8, to the Ravens. The general consensus seems to be Atlanta, which has been rattled by distractions and will be looking for a franchise player to reestablish viability in the league. Ryan has been rated as the 10th-best prospect in the draft in
ESPN.com's "Hot 100," and far and away the most promising quarterback available. Many teams will be competing for his services, but the second-tier quarterbacks, such as Delaware's Joe Flacco and Louisville's Brian Brohm, are sufficient consolation prizes.
But Ryan is not going to be the only BC Eagle going pro come draft day. It appears that left tackle Gosder Cherilus may be taken in the late first or early second round, as a premium will be placed on big men up front on both sides of the ball.
The Tennessee Titans at the No. 24 selection could be in the running, although it is conceivable he could join Ryan in Atlanta with the team's early second-round selection. His big arms and large hands could make the transfer from blocking college players to blocking pros a bit easier.
Other players who could hear their names called on the second day of the draft are DeJuan Tribble and Jolonn Dunbar, both of whom could end up as sixth- or seventh-round picks. Size is the biggest adversary for each, but some teams could give them a chance to make the squad. But dozens of other schools will be participating in this year's draft, and this is how the top five are expected to turn out:
2008 Woodie Awards
