McFadden headlines list of Hogs in NFL Draft

By: Brandon Harris

Posted: 4/25/08

For the second consecutive year, a former Arkansas Razorback is a hot item in the NFL Draft.

A year after Jamaal Anderson declared early, exploded onto the draft scene and was selected as the No. 8 pick overall by the Atlanta Falcons, former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is dominating the headlines. Some draft experts have referred to McFadden as the "best overall talent in the draft," and mock drafts have the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up being selected in the top five.

The 2008 NFL Draft begins at 2 p.m. Saturday in New York City. The first two rounds will be held Saturday, with the remaining five beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Nine other former Razorbacks have entered their names in the draft: linebacker Weston Dacus, offensive lineman Robert Felton, cornerbacks Michael Grant and Matterral Richardson, defensive lineman Marcus Harrison, fullback Peyton Hillis, running back Felix Jones and wide receivers Marcus Monk and Sean Penix.

McFadden is the only first-round lock, and draft analysts project him as high as fourth to the Oakland Raiders to No. 7 to the New England Patriots. Possibilities in between include the New York Jets at No. 6.

The Raiders recently resigned running back Justin Fargas, who decided not to test the market as a free agent, but few would put drafting another running back past unpredictable team owner Al Davis. No question, McFadden's 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the combine wowed Davis, and before Fargas was resigned, it appeared almost likely that McFadden would be headed to Oakland.

Fargas started just seven games last season, but still managed a 1,000-yard season. Still, it's very much a possibility McFadden could don the silver and black early Saturday.

The Jets are also a possible future home for McFadden. Running back Thomas Jones, acquired from the Chicago Bears before last season, was anything but impressive in his first year with the Jets. But they're also in desperate need of help at linebacker, where their 3-4 defense has struggled most.

Jones is Arkansas' other hope for a first-round selection, but his destination is much more difficult to discern. He's projected as high as the early 20s all the way into the middle of the second round. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has expressed his love for his alma mater, Arkansas, and Dallas is in need of a running back to pair with Marion Barber III in the wake of Julius Jones' exit. If the Cowboys do select Jones, it could be as high as their No. 22 pick.

Dallas' biggest need in the offseason was at cornerback, where Terrance Newman and Anthony Henry are aging and certainly haven't done anything recently to show they're going to be viable deep into the future.

The Cowboys acquired cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones from the Titans this week in exchange for a fourth-round pick this year and a sixth-round pick in 2009 if he doesn't have any off-the-field troubles this season. If he's reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and can play this season, that could make it a little easier for Jones to wind up in a Cowboys uniform.

Marcus Harrison is Arkansas' only other first-day possibility. He's placed between the second and fourth rounds by Scott Wright's Draft Countdown, ESPN and other mock drafts. Wright projects Harrison as the No. 67 overall pick in the third round to the Carolina Panthers.

Harrison's strength has garnered attention, but his off-the-field troubles have done just the opposite. He was arrested in August of 2007 for possession of Ecstacy, and followed it with a lackluster senior season in which he finished with just 1.5 sacks.