Mel Kiper doesn’t advise trading up for running back

Although NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. loves Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, he doesn’t advise the Dallas Cowboys or any other team to trade up to get a running back in April’s draft. “I like his skill level, his talent, how he did against the elite teams,” Kiper said of McFadden during an ESPN teleconference this week.

“I would not move up to get a running back unless it was a case where you saw a guy drop significantly. Adrian Peterson was either the first, second or third guy on everybody’s board and he dropped down to seven. He dropped down to five and nobody did anything. He dropped down to six and nobody traded up to get him. He fell right to Minnesota, who had a debate. When you see a Peterson drop to seven to trade up for a running back … you can find a running back in the fourth round as good as in the first.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, an Arkansas alumnus, has indicated he is interested in trying to obtain McFadden, and might try to put together a package, possibly including running back Marion Barber, to trade for Miami’s No. 1 overall selection.

MEL KIPER’S TOP 25

1. Darren McFadden Jr. RB Arkansas; 2. Glenn Dorsey Sr. DT LSU; 3. Matt Ryan Sr. QB Boston College; 4. Jake Long Sr. OT Michigan; 5. Chris Long Sr.
DE Virginia; 6. Sedrick Ellis Sr. DT USC; 7. Aqib Talib Jr. CB Kansas; 8. Vernon Gholston Jr. DE Ohio St.; 9. Ryan Clady Jr. OT Boise St; 10. Jonathan Stewart Jr. RB Oregon.

11. Phillip Merling Jr., DE, Clemson; 12. Kentwan Balmer Sr., DT, North Carolina; 13. Leodis McKelvin Sr., CB, Troy; 14. Chris Williams Sr., OT, Vanderbilt; 15. Felix Jones Jr., RB,
Arkansas; 16. Calais Campbell Jr., DE, Miami; 17. Jeff Otah Sr., OT, Pittsburgh; 18. Mike Jenkins Sr., CB, South Florida; 19. Chilo Rachal Jr., OG, USC; 20. Rashard Mendenhall Jr., RB, Illinois

21. Fred Davis Sr., TE, USC; 22. Malcolm Kelly Jr., WR, Oklahoma; 23. DeSean Jackson Jr., WR, Cal; 24. Sam Baker Sr., OT, USC; 25. Kenny Phillips Jr., S, Miami

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/melkiper/index

MIKE MAYOCK’S TOP 20

1. Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College; 2. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC; 3. Chris Long, DE, Virginia; 4. Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU; 5. Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State; 6. Jake Long, OL, Michigan; 7. Ryan Clady, OL, Boise State; 8. Keith Rivers, LB, USC; 9. Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson; 10. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy.

11. Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech; 12. Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois; 13. Jeff Otah, OL, Pittsburgh; 14. Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida; 15. Kentwan Balmer, DT,
North Carolina; 16. Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas; 17. Chris Williams, OL, Vanderbilt; 18. Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan; 19. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas; 20. Branden Albert, OL, Virginia

Thank you for joining our conversation on Sports Media. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.