NEW YORK -- Our scouts break down the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft.
Round-by-round analysis:
First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth | Seventh
Inside the seventh round
• USC OLB Oscar Lua lost his starting job during his senior season because of durability issues, and his upside is limited by his lack of natural ability. In fact, most teams probably didn't have him on their boards, but he is a good fit for New England. He is a physical run stuffer who takes great angles to the ball, and he anticipates the snap count well, making him an effective blitzer.
• Cleveland used the later rounds to bolster its depth on defense. After taking Hawaii's Melila Purcell in the sixth, the Browns took LSU DE Chase Pittman in the seventh. Pittman isn't going to make a lot of big plays, but he works from the snap to the whistle, so he gets to the quarterback at times. In addition, he is a fundamentally sound run defender who plays physically and tackles well.
• With little depth behind Leonard Pope, Arizona took Delaware TE Ben Patrick. Patrick actually played at Duke before transferring to Delaware, so his ability to make the jump to the NFL isn't as much of a concern as it would be for most small-school prospects. In addition, he works hard as a blocker, and he has the natural ability to develop into an effective short-to-intermediate receiver. The biggest concern about him is he doesn't have elite speed.
• Minnesota's decision to draft Coastal Carolina QB Tyler Thigpen doesn't make a whole lot of sense. First off, the Vikings already have three quarterbacks on their roster. Secondly, Florida's Chris Leak, Pittsburgh's Tyler Palko and Boise State's Jared Zabransky were still available.
• Don't be surprised to see Houston move Kansas State LB Zach Diles from the inside, his position in college, to the outside. Diles isn't big enough to hold his own in the middle, but he has the athletic ability and speed to be effective in space. Moreover, the Texans needed to pick up an outside linebacker in this draft.
• Miami ILB Zach Thomas turns 34 this year and there isn't an heir apparent on the roster, so the Dolphins were wise to take Syracuse LB Kelvin Smith. Smith doesn't have great athletic ability and he isn't fundamentally sound, but he is a big hitter who works to the whistle and tackles well. If he can improve his ability to read keys and shed blocks, he could develop into an excellent run stuffer.
• Boise State TE Derek Schouman's lack of size and inability to drive defenders off the ball had to be a concern for most teams. That's not the case with Buffalo because the Bills are expected to use H-Backs rather than fullbacks, and Schouman is a great fit for that kind of scheme. He is a relentless blocker who takes good angles to his blocks, and he is athletic enough to develop into a productive possession receiver.
• The departures of Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey depleted San Diego's linebacker well, so it did well to add Florida's Brandon Siler despite taking Clemson's Anthony Waters in the third round. Though he doesn't make a lot of big plays in coverage and he gets driven back at times, Siler is aggressive, quick and tackles well.
• Kansas City doesn't have a substantial need, but Whitworth TE Michael Allan is a good value this late in the draft, and he should give the Chiefs another weapon to stretch the field. Allan is fast enough to slip behind linebackers, and he has the body control to track the ball down. And because the Chiefs don't need him to do a lot of blocking, his weakness in that area isn't as much of a concern.
• Tampa Bay didn't have enough depth at running back, but it does now that Alabama RB Kenneth Darby is in the fold. Though Darby doesn't have great speed and he showed signs of wearing down at times, he can be an effective between-the-tackles runner. He should be able to spell Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman.
• Detroit made Alabama CB Ramzee Robinson this year's Mr. Irrelevant. Robinson isn't a playmaker, and his lack of ideal size makes puts a cap on his upside, but he is more than capable of making the roster. He is quick, rarely gets caught out of position and tackles well, so he has the tools to emerge as an effective sub-package corner. In addition, his ability to return punts likely raised his value in the eyes of the Lions.