Daymeion Hughes went earlier today in the draft to the Indianapolis Colts with the 95th overall pick in the NFL Draft, joining other Cal alums Tarik Glenn and Matt Giordano.  Obviously they have something of a need at cornerback after losing both of the starters from their Super Bowl team last year, with Nick Harper bailing for the Titans and Jason David leaving for the Saints, but there’s still a ways to go for Daymeion to climb up the depth chart.  The Colts have a host of young cornerback talent drafted in the first few rounds over the past two years, with Marlin Jackson (1st round, 2005), Kelvin Hayden (2nd round, 2005), and Tim Jennings (2nd round, 2006) all ahead of him.

The good news is that he was drafted by a team playing the right scheme.  It’s been written by multiple analysts that Daymeion’s exceptional ball skills and big play flair - but pedestrian speed - would be ideally suited for a Cover 2 scheme like the one the Colts run, which places a premium on run support skills and doesn’t often ask its corners to go deep and cover receivers stride for stride.  The Colts may yet move Marlin Jackson to free safety because of a lack of numbers at that position, a move which would also bump Daymeion up the depth chart.

Like Mebane before him, it’s unlikely that Hughes will get his own jersey offering in the Colts Pro Store.  If/when it does become available, this would be the place to get it.  More likely you’ll have to personalize a Colts jersey here too.  And like Marshawn, Hughes will be unable to wear #13 in the NFL because of its numbering conventions.

Brandon Mebane was just selected with the 85th overall pick in the NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.  With the presence of established veterans Rocky Bernard, Marcus Tubbs, Chartric Darby, and a host of other roster hopefuls, Mebane will be unlikely to contribute in anything more than a situational role as part of a tackle rotation - you know, since these timeshare position rotations are all the rage these days.

Defensive tackle is a harder position to master than it might seem; Brodrick Bunkley of the Eagles missed two weeks of his initial training camp in a holdout and was invisible his rookie year.  Because of what’s been described as marginal size, it’s hard to see Mebane being as disruptive on the pro level as he was in school, but as always, we wish him luck.

I imagine that if Mebane jerseys ever do go on sale, they’ll appear here in the Seahawks Pro Shop.  It seems a bit unlikely to me that they would offer a large number of Mebane jerseys for sale if at all, since he is a third round pick - you may have to just personalize a Seahawks jersey if you’re into that sort of thing.  Mebane should be allowed to wear #52 as a member of the Seahawks, as well.  Though usually only linebackers have jersey numbers in the 50’s, defensive linemen can also choose to wear a number in that range.

It’s official - Marshawn will begin his NFL career as a Buffalo Bill.

What does this mean?  It means Marshawn is probably in line to be a leading candidate for NFL Rookie of the Year.  With only the former A-Train, Anthony Thomas as serious competition for carries, and an improved offensive line in Buffalo over Willis McGahee’s time there with the addition of Derrick Dockery from the Redskins and Cal alum Langston Walker (as well as the presence of former Cal guard Aaron Merz), Marshawn should have more space to work with than did his predecessor.  J.P. Losman showed some flashes as well, meaning Marshawn won’t be relied upon to do everything.  Like McGahee was.  It also means I nailed the pick.

Order your Marshawn jersey here - note that the site says to wait 4-6 weeks from number confirmation.  Also of note, Marshawn can’t wear #10 in the pros because of its standardized naming conventions that limit numbers 1-19 to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and kickers/punters; he may have to strike a deal with CB Terrence McGee who currently wears #24 if he wants to go back to his original college number as well.

Wha?!?!?!?!?!?

Did Mort just suggest that Trent Edwards is better than Brady Quinn?  I mean that’s stupid.  Miami Dolphin stupid.  

Here’s my hope for Marshawn:

1.  Don’t go to a team with red in the color scheme.

2.  Don’t go to the Packers (Niners fan, here).  

A couple of my restrictions conflict.   Oh well.  Niners up now.  I guess they’ll go for Willis and then the first of potental Marshawn teams has its spot.  The Bills jerseys look like this:

Is that too much red?  Otherwise, he could go to the Pack, Giants, or Eagles.  My hope is for the Eagles, because a)they aren’t the Pack, b)my family is from Philly, and c)Yellow Fever is a huge Iggles fan. 

Nonetheless, I don’t think he’ll fall that far.  But if Colin Cowherd has his way, who knows?

MARSHAWN!   

Edit:  Marshawn to Bills at 12.  Exciting, because it screws over the Pack.  But this red situation is nerve-wracking.  Need to learn how to sow!