Read the entire thread...and I really believe a lot more is going to happen in the top 10 this year than people are saying...that said...two things make me want to post.
#1...IF I were the 9ers...I wouldn't START negotiating with someone first if they were not my first choice. If not for the simple fact that...you want "your guy" to feel he's your first choice. Regardless. If he's the future of the franchise...why not start with him and then work to #2 and #3??? They haven't even opened negotiations with Smith...why start off with Rodgers for leverage? Smith hasn't shown any resistence.
#2...Why's everyone hate Benson all of a sudden? Or why does everyone hate Benson period. I dare say that prior to Brown running a great 40 at the combine...no one was talking him up like they are NOW. The REALITY is...Benson was more productive than either Brown or Caddy period. Prior to the Combine almost everyone had Benson rated the #1 RB prospect. It amazes me how high Brown has jumped and low Benson has fallen since the 40 times. Hilarious. So tell me...how fast was E. Smith? How fast was "Sweetness"? Both were considered "average" or a tad "slow" by 40 time standards, but they produced.
I, personally, would love to see us draft Benson.