April 1, 2009, ESPN First Take - (L to R) Mike Hill, Rob Parker, Bow Wow, Jay Crawford, Skip Bayless

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ESPN’s 2009 NFL Draft analysts discussed the Lions selection of University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick and the Jets trading up from No. 17 to Cleveland’s No. 5 position to pick USC quarterback Mark Sanchez.  Highlights:

Trent Dilfer on Stafford:

“It’s only the right pick if the lions handle it properly.  It’s all on the lions now to make sure they show wisdom on how they train this kid.”

Kirk Herbstreit on Stafford:

“If you watch Matthew Stafford stand on the sidelines and throw the football, you are blown away.  You think this guy is going to be one of the greatest quarterbacks you’ve ever seen.  For whatever reason, that has not transitioned into the college game consistently.  When you watch him throw, and you watch him on seven-on-seven drills, and then you watch him in a game, it’s not there.  You’re not seeing the consistency.  So, to me, he needs to mature.”

Dilfer on the Jets and Sanchez:

“… Not only are they getting a great football player, they are getting the personality they want to lead their football team.  He’s enough of an alpha male to survive in New York City.  He’s going to be a poster boy.  He’s going to sell tickets for the J-E-T-S …”

Cris Carter on Sanchez

“This guy has IT.  I’m more excited about him.  I think he’ll be a better pro with the Jets than (Matthew) Stafford will with the Lions.”

In an interview with Chris Berman on ESPN’s pre-NFL Draft program – SportsCenter Special: On the Clock, commissioner Roger Goodell addressed a wide range of NFL topics and issues.  Some highlights:

On possibly re-instating Michael Vick:

“What I said, when he was still in the legal process, I said I would sit down and I would try to understand what he’s learned from this experience.  How he’s going to conduct himself going forward and whether he’ll be a positive influence.  And if he’ll do that, we’ll consider it at that point in time.  But I think at this stage, he needs to focus on himself and what he’s going to do differently going forward.”

On rookie salary cap:

“First, you have to do it through the collective bargaining process.  We have to work it out with the association.  We made it clear that’s going to be a big issue for us.  The problem I have is, it is not only financial, it is becoming competitive.  So it is affecting the system in the way teams are put together.  And that’s where we have to address it collectively, so that it ends up going back to the purpose of the draft, which is to give the team that had the worst season an opportunity to improve themselves.  Now, the financial risk is so great that if you make a mistake, it sets the franchise back.”

To watch the entire interview

When the NFL Draft begins tomorrow, Saturday, April 25, at 4 p.m. ET, ESPN analyst Merril Hoge will be tweeting live for SportsCenter.  The former NFL running back will be tweeting his thoughts on every first round pick.  He’ll also interact with fans, answering questions from those who reply to his tweets.

Follow Hoge at http://twitter.com/SportsCenter.

Jason Smith Baylor Hometown: Dallas, Texas Height / Weight: 6-5 / 305 Position: OT Baylor’s Jason Smith in action

Jason Smith ESPN Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y. Height / Weight: 5-9 / 200 Position: Talk Show Host ESPN’s Jason Smith in action

Physically, they will be a continent apart Saturday afternoon, but, emotionally they will share lifetime highs shortly after the NFL Draft begins. Baylor OT Jason Smith, in New York for the Draft, devoted blood, sweat and tears to earn the right to be among the top few players selected, while ESPN Radio talk-show host Jason Smith, in Los Angeles, simply won a silly wager with ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper, Jr.

“It’s really going to be weird to hear my name said on stage by (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell,” ESPN’s Smith says. “Maybe instead of showing Jason Smith from Baylor highlights they can show me from 10 years ago playing beer-league softball. But I can’t lie, I can’t wait to hear it.”

The story surpasses surname similarity. The twist comes from the bet: Smith, a Syracuse grad and faithful alum, and Kiper, a Maryland native and a long-time Terripans and Lefty Driesell fan, wanted to show support for their schools in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The wager was whether the Orange or Maryland would advance further in the tourney. Syracuse did, so Kiper must reference ESPN Radio’s AllNight with Jason Smith show during ESPN’s Draft coverage Saturday.

“I’d like to thank the school I’ve paid nearly $75 thousand to over my life for coming through one time for an alum,” Smith says. “Mel’s been a great sport about this, and considering I lost all our previous NCAA bets to him, and sent countless cheesecakes from Los Angeles to pay them off, maybe he thought there was some way the Terps would keep the streak going.

“It’s going to be weird to hear Mel reference the show, but it’s all I can think about this week. I’ll be watching the Draft at our friend’s house, and I’ll have a mimosa ready for AllNight going global. I just hope Mel doesn’t get fired for shouting out to us.”

The show been taking e-mail suggestions on what Kiper should say Saturday, and the current leader is: “With this selection, team X can block all day and AllNight with Jason Smith.”

To hear Jason and Mel discuss their bet, and Jason Smith interview Jason Smith (or visa versa) click HERE

With just two weeks until the 2009 NFL Draft, ESPN Insider members have exclusive access to the latest Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft on ESPN.com, which has Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford maintaining the No. 1 spot held by the Detroit Lions. Mel’s mock projects the first four rounds now that most draft-eligible players have had the chance to showcase their skills during pro days. ESPN Insider access is required to view all the picks but here’s a look at how Mel sees the first five and other notable picks in the first four rounds:

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Mel: Stafford is worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick, thanks to his overall skill set.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
The OT spot is strong at the top with Smith, a former tight end who is supremely athletic and exactly what you want in a left tackle: someone you can count on to protect the blind side of your quarterback.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
He’s a complete OLB with great character and work ethic, which is why it was no surprise when he nailed his combine workout.

4. Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Monroe is just a shade below Jason Smith, in my opinion, but is a legit top-five pick.

5. Cleveland Browns: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
The stress fracture in his left foot shouldn’t affect his draft status. He’s a big-time player who should have a Larry Fitzgerald-type career in the NFL.

Other first round picks of note…
13. Washington Redskins: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
30. Tennessee Titans: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eric Wood, C, Louisville

Second round:
58. New England Patriots: Pat White, WR, West Virginia

Third round:
69. Dallas (from Cleveland): Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly

Fourth round:
127. Indianapolis: Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan St.

Note: Media interested in ESPN.com Insider access may contact ESPN Communications

NFL analyst Trent Dilfer appeared on ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd Friday. Having broken down the film from Mark Sanchez’s season twice, Dilfer believes the USC quarterback is “the best quarterback in this draft.”

Dilfer went on to say, “He will translate immediately to a great pro, and there are a million reasons why. … He’s got a presence, and that goes a long, long way.”

Here’s Dilfer’s analysis of Sanchez.

Analyst Keyshawn Johnson will again be part of ESPN’s main set during the 2009 NFL Draft telecast (Apr. 25). The former No. 1 overall pick just did this Q&A with Pro Football Weekly senior editor Eric Edholm where Keyshawn discussed the upcoming draft, including this year’s WR class and what a few of his former NFL teams should be addressing.