Quotes & Notes From NFL on Drafted Sooners

NORMAN, Okla. -- The NFL took a long, hard look at Oklahoma players in the months leading up to the 2005 Draft. They apparently liked what they saw.

10 Sooners were selected over the weekend by eight different teams including first-rounders Jammal Brown to New Orleans and Mark Clayton to Baltimore.

OU had more players drafted in 2005 than any other school in the nation. In fact, nearly a third of all the Big 12 Conference players drafted were supplied by Oklahoma.

Read quotes and notes on all of OU's drafted players:

Saints Make Jammal Brown First OL Taken in Draft
First Round, No. 13 Overall
Gil Brandt's Analysis: Jammal Brown is a player that came to Oklahoma as a defensive lineman and was moved to the O-line since. He played guard and tackle, and they see him as a right tackle -- maybe a left tackle -- in the NFL. He's a tough player who has been durable for a number of years.

2005 Oklahoma NFL Draft Central | Closer Look at OU in the Draft

Kirwan on Brown: To move up to the 11th pick in the draft to get a right tackle is a bit of a surprise, but Brown plugs in and plays, which is the positive...

SI's John Donovan: The first trade of the day is consummated, and it's done so the Saints can move up to get the first offensive lineman of the day, a mountainous guy who probably will play right tackle to protect QB Aaron Brooks. The Saints have a lot of talent on offense -- including newly acquired RB Antowain Smith -- but this was a glaring need. Good pick, very solid.

CBS' Pete Prisco: Best pick for the Saints was Jammal Brown. Moving up in the first round to get Brown to play right tackle is a good move. Now they can move Jermane Mayberry back to right guard. This line is going to be a powerful unit.

The Saints grabbed Oklahoma T Jammal Brown, the 2004 Outland Trophy winner as the top lineman in the country, as the first offensive lineman taken in the draft. Brown, a 6-6, 313-pounder, was one of several players the Saints considered for their first selection.

"We kind of targeted three or four guys that we thought could come in and make a difference," said Saints Coach Jim Haslett. "As a coach, I look at it differently than Rick Mueller or Rick Reiprish. I look at it as who can come in and do something, help us right now. But, you also look at the future. As a coach, you'd like to have someone right now. I think Jammal helps us right now. He starts right now. I can't say the same for Thomas Davis. I think he will come in and play, use him in certain packages. But after playing safety the last couple of years, will he be the starting linebacker? I can't answer that. I know Jammal can play right tackle right away for you."

Haslett knew that there were other teams looking to take Brown as they mulled over their trade possibilities.

"A few teams were looking to move up for him," he said. "We knew there were a lot of teams interested in him. He's a heck of a player. If you were looking for a prototype right tackle, a mauler, he's the best one on the board. In my mind, I don't think there were a lot of great players. There weren't as many on the defensive side. So after the last 30 picks, you are hopefully going to find someone who will make the team and help us this year."

The happiest person about the choice may have been the one who phoned Haslett on his cell phone moments after the selection.

"After we drafted Jammal, two minutes later my cell phone rang and it was (running back) Deuce (McAllister)," Haslett said. "First thing he said was, 'Thank you.'".

New Orleans Saints Release on Brown | NFL Draft Profile

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Mark Clayton First-Round Pick of Baltimore Ravens
First Round, No. 22 Overall
Gil Brandt's Analysis: A Gil Brandt favorite! If he were a little taller, he'd be in the top 10. He has tremendous quickness, great speed, can return kicks and has great hands.

SI's John Donovan: Not big, but a solid kid who is tough and showed well at the Senior Bowl. He'll be a nice complement to Derrick Mason and a running game led by Jamal Lewis. That balance will keep the Ravens, 9-7 last year, in the thick of the AFC North battle.

Sporting News' Dan Pompei: Baltimore chose the most polished, complete wide receiver in Mark Clayton, and the pass rusher with the best quickness in defensive end Dan Cody.

CBS' Clark Judge: The Ravens locked on Clayton early but didn't believe he would be there with the 22nd pick. Well, he was, somehow surviving 11 places after Detroit made Mike Williams the third wide receiver selected. Clayton lasted because some clubs considered him too small at 5-feet-10, and maybe they're right. But the Ravens have another 5-10 receiver in their lineup, Derrick Mason, who caught 191 passes the past two years for the Titans. The Ravens chose productivity over size when they signed Mason as a free agent, and they did the same thing with Clayton. "I like productive receivers," said coach Brian Billick.

Mark Clayton met with Baltimore media Sunday, less than 24 hours after he became the Ravens' first-round draft pick. What is it like getting drafted in the first round? “It's an amazing accomplishment for me and my family, as well as the University of Oklahoma. I'm excited and happy about Baltimore.”

“When I arrived at Oklahoma, I was maybe 5-9, 150 pounds soaking wet. It was tough at first. A lot of the guys were a lot bigger than I was. I wasn't as fast, but I knew mentally I was a high school quarterback so mentally, I understood defenses and read coverages and that's what got me through my freshman year, just knowing how to get open. Through that, going into our strength and conditioning with Coach [Jerry Schmidt], I developed physically, tremendously, in that first year. I put on about 20 pounds, getting down from a 4.74 40 to a high 4.4. It was a blessing for me. Combining that with my mental understanding of the game was very good.”

What was it like to help turn Oklahoma into a pass-oriented team? “Shoot, it did a full 360. For me, the first game I saw was them versus Notre Dame back in 2000. It was weird seeing them in four and five-receiver sets, running around and having a good time, putting 35 points on the scoreboard a game. For me, it was a great opportunity, and I just took it and ran with it.”

Are you excited about the connections to Oklahoma on the Ravens? “We have Dan [Cody], Rex [Ryan], Trent Smith. Kelly Gregg is here. I talked to those guys shortly after and I was even more excited to hear some familiar voices and see some familiar faces.”

Did it take you a while to get accustomed to lifting weights at Oklahoma? “I had never lifted weights. It was tough. I tried to get out of it in high school. When I was in the offseason of football, I went to basketball, then I went to track. I tried to do whatever I could do to get away from lifting weights. I went to college and saw those guys up there, and saw how big they were.

"The first guy I saw was actually Jammal Brown. And he came in, had his shirt wide open, had a huge tattoo on his chest and deep voice. I thought, Oh my god.' From there, in my first practice, [a cornerback] was in press mode, and I got him, but he was strong enough that when he put that hand on my chest, it hurt, and I knew from then on, I had to get in the weight room. I was constantly in the weight room. I stayed after, did extra, and I knew it would help my game, and it did.” | Quotes

Baltimore Ravens Release on Clayton | NFL Draft Profile

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Brodney Pool Selected by Cleveland Browns
Second Round, No. 34 Overall
Pat Kirwan's Analysis: A first-round talent and the best free safety in this draft. I had questions about him after the USC National Championship Game, but when I looked back at other game tapes, he is an excellent draft prospect. When Cleveland cleaned house at safety, this pick made sense. I had a first-round grade on him, but Cleveland better start getting some defensive linemen.

Carucci on Pool: This is a tremendous value pick for the Browns. Pool is a first-round talent, has great coverage ability and is ready to step in and contribute significantly as a rookie. His presence will make a difference at a position where the Browns were in dire need of improvement.

SI's John Donovan: New coach Romeo Crennel gets his defensive player, the first true safety off the board. A need pick who will get a lot of playing time early.

Sporting News' Dan Pompei: After taking Braylon Edwards, the player most considered the draft's best receiver, with the third overall pick, the Browns followed with Brodney Pool, the consensus best safety. Not bad for GM Phil Savage's first two selections.

Browns General Manager Phil Savage thinks Pool, the team's 20-year-old second round pick, will contribute on special teams but probably won't start at safety.

“He'll be playmaker in time,” Savage said.

Bo Pelini, Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator, told Savage last fall that Pool was a special athlete who was considering becoming an early entry to the draft. Savage said he felt confident that the Browns were able to get pool at 34 because teams with earlier picks didn't know as much about Pool as the Browns did.

Cleveland Browns Release on Pool | NFL Draft Profile

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Mark Bradley Joins Tommie Harris in Chicago
Second Round, No. 39 Overall
Gil Brandt's Analysis: Bradley is one of the fastest players in the draft. His dad, Danny, was a starter at Oklahoma. Bradley started school at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and played there for two years before transferring. In high school, he high jumped over 7-foot-6 and is a tremendous athlete. He doesn't have the best hands in the world, but that can be improved. Speed can't.

SI's John Donovan: Muhsin Muhammad in free agency, running back Cedric Benson in the first round, now a wideout of some name in OU's Bradley. Rex Grossman, your ship has definitely come in.

CBS' Pete Prisco: Best pick for Chicago. Second-round pick Mark Bradley adds much-needed speed to a receiving group that craves it.

Bradley, who was timed at 4.34 in the 40-yard dash during his pro day workout, scored seven touchdowns on 23 receptions for the Sooners in 2004 while sharing time with four other NFL prospects at the receiver position.

"His measurables are very, very strong," Angelo said. "He's an unbelievable competitor and when you see him on special teams, you'll see what I'm saying. So we feel good about that."

Drafting Bradley and Currie allowed Angelo to add speed at the receiver position, something he was determined to do after watching the offense struggle to produce big plays last season.

"We wanted to create more speed on our offense," Angelo said. "I just felt that watching us last year there was nobody that (opposing defenses) had to really concern (themselves) with. When you talk to defensive coordinators, what scares them? Speed at the receiver position. I felt we needed to get better in that area, so that was our goal. When you see explosive offenses you usually see explosive receivers and that comes with speed. We just put more of an emphasis on that."

Chicago Bears Release on Bradley | NFL Draft Profile

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Dan Cody Goes With Clayton to Baltimore
Third Round, No. 53 Overall
Pat Kirwan's Analysis: Baltimore is returning to a 4-3 defense and need help at tackle but they couldn't resist Cody's high motor as an end. They'll find their tackle later. I know Ray Lewis has some influence with who gets drafted, and he won't have any problems with Cody. A little stiff, but he will compete at left defensive end. Could easily get six to eight sacks as a rookie and could play on special teams.

SI's John Donovan: Cody tested poorly in his strength tests at the Combine, according to Kiper, and that has made him the biggest dropper of the day -- bigger, even, than Cal QB Rodgers. What he did at Oklahoma is hard to dispute, though, and the Ravens may have a steal on their hands here.

Sporting News' Dan Pompei: Who was the best player not taken in Round 1? Oklahoma defensive end Dan Cody went to the Ravens with the 53rd pick. Cody would have been selected higher if teams did not have concerns about his stability, both from physical and emotional standpoints.

CBS' Pete Prisco: Love the choice of Dan Cody in the second round. Cody has first-round ability and will team with Terrell Suggs to provide a pass rush for a defense that should be one of the best in football.

Cody, called a “Ravens-type player” in the days leading up to the draft, adds to an already-potent Baltimore pass rush. Cody recorded 42 tackles with 10 sacks his senior year, which earned him All-American honors. Cody was also a finalist for the Hendricks Award as one of the nation's best defensive ends.

“You can never have enough pass-rushers,” Newsome said. “He's another guy that will be transitioning to outside linebacker. We think, right away, he'll be able to help us in pass-rushing situations. He gives us a great amount of depth at that position.”

In his 42 games at Oklahoma, Cody recorded 117 tackles and 25 sacks. The Ravens had considered taking Terry at 53, but when Cody was available, they could not turn him down.

Baltimore Ravens Release on Cody | NFL Draft Profile

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Brandon Jones Taken in Third Round by Titans
Third Round, No. 96 Overall
Gil Brandt's Analysis: The third wide receiver picked in Day 1 from Oklahoma. He was the starting center fielder in OU's baseball program. He has size and speed on his side.

Titans GM Floyd Reese: (on the wide receivers drafted by the Titans this weekend) "We feel good about all of them. They're all similar. They're all 6 foot or above. They're all a couple hundred pounds. They all can run. They all can catch. They'll come in and be part of a rotation and kind of work on the run.

"We've said before in this draft, those guys are going to be thrown right in there. We'll let them work it out. The good thing is just like Mike was talking about with the tackles, I think it is a little bit easier from the standpoint that there is some camaraderie. There's somebody that you can go back to the room and gripe to or cry to or whatever that might be. That helps, and I think the same thing is going to be true with the receivers and even the DB's. They'll become lifelong friends."

Head Coach Jeff Fisher: "Looking at the receiver position in particular, Ray (Sherman) has proven he can develop our receivers. He's going to get an opportunity starting a couple of days from now. From that standpoint, it becomes a big challenge for the coaches, but we're going to have guys ready to play."

Brandon Jones: "Man, I stuck it out and watched the whole day. I was starting to get worried. I was like, dang I hope I get my name called. Overall it turned out really well, I sat around all day but I am happy right now."

Tennessee Titans Release on Jones | NFL Draft Profile

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Antonio Perkins Drafted by Cleveland Browns
Fourth Round, No. 103 Overall
Gil Brandt's Analysis: He can be a third or fourth cornerback, but he can really return kicks. Set an all-time record against UCLA for kick returns in one game.

CBS' Pete Prisco: Fourth-round pick Antonio Perkins can play corner, but he's also a great return man. He was a steal for the Browns.

GM Phil Savage said he was extremely pleased the Browns were able to draft cornerback Antonio Perkins, in the fourth round.

Savage has spent a good portion of time the last few years at Oklahoma, a scouts' hotspot. He said he first watched Perkins closely after running into former Sooners and Cowboys coach Barry Switzer at a restaurant near campus in 2003; Switzer told Savage to “keep an eye on number 28.”

“I think Barry Switzer knows an athlete when he sees one,” Savage said.

Perkins is the NCAA's all-time leader in punt return touchdowns. Both Savage and Crennel said Dennis Northcutt is still the team's primary punt returner, though Perkins will certainly get a look. Both also said Perkins will also be given a shot to return kickoffs and battle for playing time in the Browns' nickel and dime packages.

Cleveland Browns Release | NFL Draft Profile

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Donte Nicholson Selected by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fifth Round, No. 141 Overall
Pat Kirwan's Analysis: He and his teammate, Brodney Pool, were starters on a team competing for a National Championship. He is not a bad football player. I thought he'd be a third rounder.

Nicholson did it all in the Sooners' defense. As a junior, he primarily played up “in the box” as a run-support safety and was good for 90 tackles and six sacks. Last season, he was used deeper in coverage and came up with 72 tackles, one interception, six passes defensed and two sacks.

As his sacks suggest, Nicholson is a strong blitzer, a trait that could be very valuable in the Buccaneers' aggressive defense. He also tackles well and breaks quickly on the ball.

Tampa Bay Release | NFL Draft Profile

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Lance Mitchell Drafted by Arizona Cardinals
Fifth Round, No. 168 Overall
Pat Kirwan's Analysis: Starting inside linebacker for Oklahoma. Saw him in the National Championship and I found him to be a little high cut. He has good instincts and knows where to go. Until he understands how to disengage from blockers, he will struggle. But still an interesting pick.

Lance Mitchell dropped because of a medical problem -- a torn knee ligament that sidelined him the last 11 games of the 2003 season and hampered his performance last year. He was fine with going in the fifth round, though.

"That's where I was meant to go," Mitchell said. "People just passed up on a good ballplayer."

He will enter training camp as Huff's backup, but doesn't plan to stay there.

"I wouldn't be sitting here today if I couldn't make a run at starting for anyone," said Mitchell, who plans to grow into an NFL career as the anchor in the middle between Karlos Dansby and Blackstock.

"He (Green) told me we could have a good, young 'backer corps come in and build together," Mitchell said.

Arizona Cardinals Release | NFL Draft Profile

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Wes Sims Selected by San Diego Chargers
Sixth Rounds, No. 177 Overall
Gil Brandt's Analysis: Sims started for two years and probably will move to guard in the NFL.

“Wes Sims will work at the guard position, although he has some experience at tackle as well as center. He's a guy who we think is accomplished as both a run blocker as well as a pass protector.”
- Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer

San Diego Release | NFL Draft Profile

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