Sascha
04-11-2006, 06:31 AM
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/silverball4mw.pnghttp://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/2006_Draft_cl.gif
The first round of the NFL Draft - by Ruuuuudiii
Well, I don’t know why I’m doing this, what; with the dozens of mocks already flowing about around here, but here goes anyway. This is basically what I see these teams possibly doing; I will also try to put myself in these war rooms a bit.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/hou5.png The biggest needs for the Texans has to be offensive line, so, what would I do here? Well, first, I would entertain trade offers to trade down from the #1 pick. Then, I would consider drafting D’Brickashaw Ferguson. And lastly, I will draft Reggie Bush.
Why draft Bush, when you have a guy like Domanick Davis and really really need help at the O-line? He is simply too big a prospect to pass up. Yeah, yeah, I know, for every Barry Sanders there’s a KiJana Carter, but Bush is possibly the most revered college runner since Sanders (more than Ricky Williams, Tomlinson, Carter,) and you have to take your chance with this guy. Other than serious injury, Bush is as close to a can’t miss NFL superstar as you’re ever going to get.
New Orleans Saints - What a difference a month makes. A month ago, Matt Leinart could have gotten fitted for his Saints jersey and started to look for his new home. But Drew Brees filled the need at QB, so now this pick becomes a high commodity for any team looking for a QB. What else can the Saints look for at #2? Well, there’s still Ferguson, but it’s hard for a team to pay two first round tackles their money, and Jammal Brown was picked at #10 last year. Certainly, guys like Mario Williams and A.J. Hawk could quickly fill holes in this team as well.
But, I listened to all the trade offers, and finally Oakland came up with the best offer, giving up the # 7 pick as well as the most value from the other picks they give up, and the Raiders move up 5 slots in the draft.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/oak5.pngAfter trading with the Saints for the #2 pick, and entertaining the thought of drafting Mario Williams, the Oakland Raiders select Matt Leinart. At least Al Davis is smart enough to not buy into all the Young and Cutler hype, and selects the most secure pick at quarterback. Leinart is a good pick for the Raiders, as Aaron Brooks will play next season, but won’t be an adequate long term fix for the team, and who knows just how good Andrew Walter will turn out to be.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/ten5.pngAfter losing their chance to land Leinart, the Titans are now relegated to pick from Vince Young and Jay Cutler. Not a bad consolation price either way you look at it. The first thought here may be picking Young, since he has been mentored by Steve McNair over the last couple summers. However, the current tense relationship between McNair and the team may put a monkey wrench in those plans.
Also, people seem to compare Young’s game to McNair’s, but I don’t see the similarities. Steve McNair is a throwing quarterback who has enough mobility to escape trouble. Young, when in trouble, will look to take off 80% of the time. Vince Young will likely eclipse McNair’s career high 101 carries in his first season. The player I like here is Cutler, one because he has a more polished game, and two, because if the Titans are looking for a similar replacement to McNair, Cutler is the choice. Also, I’ve heard plenty of Leinart’s relationship with Norm Chow, and Young’s relationship with McNair, but what about Cutler getting the opportunity to continue his career in Nashville, where he played his college ball. So, at #3, the Titans select Jay Cutler.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/jet5.jpgThis draft, more than recent ones, seem to concentrate on team needs above best player on the board. So even though Ferguson and Williams are very comparable to the likes of Orland Pace and Julius Peppers, they are both still available here at #4. And the Jets are really in a tough boat here, both picks are very enticing, especially Mario Williams, after the loss of Abraham.
But Curtis Martin’s best years, are officially behind him, and who knows where the Jets pick next year, guys like Adrien Peterson may not be within reach, so DeAngelo Williams becomes another position of great interest. And while it seems that when you get to choose from three A+ prospects puts you in a great situation, I’m sure that the Jets will hear more grief about the 2 players they didn’t pick than the one they do. That being said, the pick here becomes Memphis back DeAngelo Williams.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/gb5.pngThey’re in a similar situation than the Jets were in, as they now get a choice of Williams, Ferguson, Hawk, or trading the pick. Mark Tausher and Chad Clifton make a solid pair of tackles, so Brick will fall yet again. And KGB makes for a good end as well, and paying two ends superstar money is probably not feasible. Also, DeAngelo Williams just got taken off the board, so it’s now too high to address running back.
With Nick Barnett the only true commodity at linebacker for Green Bay, barring a healthy Na’il Diggs, the Packers choice comes down to A.J. Hawk or trying to trade the pick down. But the good offers don’t make it in, and the Packers decide on the linebacker from Ohio State.
San Francisco 49ers – San Francisco probably still has more needs than most of the other teams picking up here, and is seriously shopping the pick. Arizona, St Louis and Cleveland all show interest in moving up from 10, 11 and 12. Cleveland, with the 12th pick, finally adds a third pick and top the other two teams offers. Cleveland trades the 12th pick, as well as some more draft picks, and move up to #6.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/brown5.pngCleveland looks like a quickly improving team, and Romeo Crennel is already knocking on the door of the upper echelon of NFL coaches. With Roye and McGinest already playing the edges on defense, the Browns seem intent to stop the slide of Ferguson here.
The Cleveland offensive line is vastly improved, with the addition of Bentley at center, and D'Brickawhaw Ferguson should complete what will become one of the best lines in the league, and the Browns do select the huge Virginia tackle.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/saint5.pngAfter trading the 2nd pick in the draft, the Saints still have Mario Williams sitting on the board. But Will Smith is already a good looking end, and Charles Grant on the other end does have two 10 sack seasons, so end isn’t necessarily the biggest need here.
Drew Brees’ success in San Diego can be almost directly correlated with the emergence of superstar tight end Antonio Gates. Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again, the Saints select Vernon Davis. Davis is possibly the most touted TE of the past decade with the exception of Kellen Winslow. Let’s just hope Davis’ career won’t start the way Winslow’s has.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/buf5.pngBuffalo has spent the last 2 months intent, and content, to make Haloti Ngata their pick. Easily the best DT in the league, Ngata would make an immediate impact for the Bills defensive line. But now, Mario Williams has slid all the way down to #8, and Buffalo gets to consider taking the next Julius Peppers.
The Bills don’t have a good defensive line right now, so both players make sense here. But many scouts have Williams as the 2nd or 3rd best overall player in the draft, and the Bills find him too enticing to pass him up for Ngata.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/det5.pngThe Lions also still have quite a few openings for improvement. Josh McCown and Jon Kitna have closed the need for a QB, but the Lions definitely can still use the likes of offensive line, healthy linebackers, and secondary play. Ngata also crosses their minds here, as Big Daddy Wilkinson is 33, but the Lions decide that spending that kind of money on 2 tackles (Rogers and Ngata) just isn’t sensible, when you still need talent elsewhere.
The Lions do offer the pick to anyone still looking to trade up for Young, but teams are staying put for now, as Vince is starting to slide similarly to Aaron Rogers last year. So, as luck would have it, after missing out on the top three corners last year, this year they land the top corner, and possibly a better prospect than any of the three from last year, and select national champ Michael Huff.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/ari5.pngI’m sure the name Vince Young crossed Dennis Green’s mind more than once here, as Kurt Warner is getting older and Josh McCown gets booted out of Phoenix. Rohan Davey and John Navarre are the current backups in ‘Zona, probably not a great situation, but right now they’re probably better served with picking up a discarded veteran in June or July than Young.
While there are some needs in the interior of the offensive line, that looks better addressed in the second round when a guy like Davin Joseph is likely still available. The other weakness of this team is the interior of the defensive line, and when the best tackle in the draft falls into your lap, you have to take him, and the Cards do, making Haloti Ngata the last pick in the top 10 of the 2006 NFL Draft.
St. Louis Rams - St. Louis’ biggest need is definitely on the defensive side of the ball, as linebacker and cornerback could both use some replenishment. The Rams also offer the pick for trade, but most of the top value picks are now off the board. Finally, fearing that the Ravens may be interested, or of another team jumping ahead, the Vikings make their move and trade the 17th pick and one of their 2nd rounders (#51) to move up to #11.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/min5.pngBrad Johnson is their quarterback, but he’s the oldest current starter in the NFL. Behind him, there is Mike McMahon, who has looked good at times, but also extremely bad at times. Defensively, the Vikings are looking good, so the biggest position of need for the team may be at running back.
However, the Vikes trade up for one reason only, and that is to select Vince Young. And Vince’s journey since the national championship is finally complete. After briefly surpassing Leinart as the top QB prospect and being talked about everywhere from Houston, through Nashville and New Orleans, to Oakland. But, he is now a Minnesota Viking.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/SF5.pngAfter passing on Ferguson to trade down to #12, the only secondary player selected so far is Michael Huff. Meanwhile, a tackle could still be in the cards, maybe in the form of Eric Winston or Marcus McNeil. There are also linebackers like Greenway and Sims still on the board. But the 49ers address their biggest weakness, and make Jimmy the 3rd Williams selected today, and the corner/safety should be seeing minutes almost immediately.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/balt5.pngThe Ravens, with the quarterbacks now gone, have to figure out where their biggest need is. The team doesn’t have any glaring voids, but age and injury history have limited some of their bigger names, like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and others.
But with this pick, the team is probably going to address last year’s biggest weakness, the pass rush. Mario Williams is probably the only end that didn’t have any question marks, but there are definitely a few more that can make an impact, especially when they’re paired with Terrell Suggs. With no trading partner available, the Ravens end up deciding on Boston College end Mathias Kiwanuke.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/phil5.pngDefensive tackle, Wide receiver, a solid backup QB, all needs for this Eagles team. The Eagles are a team that’s no longer great, but still thinks it is. And it isn’t really that far from being great, but right now they could be considered as the 3rd or 4th best team in that division.
Some of the Eagles favorite targets are still on the board, including receivers Holmes and Jackson. But the Eagles address their defense first, and the athletic defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley becomes an Eagle.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/den5.pngAfter flirting with disaster for a while, the Broncos lucked out and didn’t land Terrell Owens. However, wide receiver is still a need for the team. But, Denver native LenDale White could be an enticing player as well. Other needs are at safety, and possibly offensive line.
After thinking about White, Darnell Bing and the plethora of offensive tackles still available, the Broncos settle on receiver and select Ohio States Santonio Holmes over Chad Jackson.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/mia5.pngThe Dolphins had arrived a year ahead of schedule, and Nick Saban is one of the few coaches that have been able to make the successful transition from college to the pros. As far as team needs are concerned, Miami is going to look hard at outside linebackers and secondary help, but Chad Jackson is still around, so the receiver becomes another possibility.
Chad Greenway and Ernie Sims are probably better suited for a standard 4-3 defense, and the main choices in the secondary are already gone, with guys like Tye Hill, Darnell Bing and Antonio Cromartie still available. The Dolphins don’t really have a lot to offer via trade, so a move up is unlikely. Finally they decide to draft N.C. State end Manny Lawson, who’ll be able to play both OLB in the 3-4, or become the heir apparent to Jason Taylor at end.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/stl5.pngAfter dropping back a few spots and stocking up on a few extra picks, many of the players on the Rams board are still there, both at linebacker and corner. Bruce and Holt are also getting up in age, so Chad Jackson may be an enticing pick here as well. And with Martz gone, maybe tight end will become a necessary position in St. Louis again.
But the Rams have zeroed in on about 3 or 4 players. Linebackers Sims and Greenway, corner Tye Hill and safety Darnell Bing. Feeling he can contribute immediately and improve a lackluster defense, the Rams select OLB out of Iowa, Chad Greenway.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/dal5.pngThe defense got a major facelift last year, with the likes of Ware, Spears, and Canty drafted in 2005. So, is this year the offense’s turn? Maybe! Terrell Owens obviously improves them immediately, but he and Terry Glenn are both members of the heralded WR class of ’96, meaning they are both in their mid 30’s. A guy like Chad Jackson, coupled with Patrick Crayton, could keep this receiver corps potent even after T.O. and Glenn are gone.
Other positions of needs are at offensive tackle, and maybe one more linebacker to complete this already potentially dominant defense. The Cowboys are also looking to accept offers to trade down a bit, but the value just doesn’t seem to be comparable, and they decide on Southern Cal tackle Winston Justice. He’ll probably play on the right side, opposite of Flozell Adams.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/sd5.pngThe Chargers are flying high, having hit the recent home runs that include Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo last year, as well as guys like Gates and LT, and possibly Rivers. The one area where San Diego has failed to produce real quality is at cornerback, so that is still a position San Diego is looking to improve at. The team is also looking to improve a mediocre line, as Roman Oben has played well since his trade from Tampa, but he is aging.
Another need for the Chargers has to be at WR, Keenan McCardell is 36 years old, and Eric Parker and Reche Caldwell don’t appear to strike too much fear in opponents. Eventually, Tomlinson and Gates are going to need help on offense, so the Chargers pass up guys like Eric Winston and Tye Hill in hopes of finding quality later, and Gator receiver Chad Jackson joins Caldwell in a Charger uniform.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/kc5.pngAnother team that is looking to improve their defense, both on the defensive line and in the secondary. They may also want a receiver, but the 2 main ones are now selected. Also, a trade down is possible, but most teams are pretty intent, on picking where they are, as many of their prospects are still there for the taking, and nobody is wanting to risk extra picks for a player that may only be marginally better anyway.
The Chiefs first look at Tamba Hali and Kamerion Wimbley as possible additions to the defensive line, but decide that there is more defensive line talent available in this years draft, and select Clemson corner Tye Hill.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/pats5.pngNew England may not be accustomed to picking this high, but no one can argue that they have made the best out of the picks they’ve had in recent years. So, what is New England looking at this year? Running back has to be a concern, as is linebacker, after the loss of Willie Mcginest and the ages of Vrabel and Bruschi. But the front 7 of the Patriots, if healthy, still look to be one of the most dominant in the league.
Wide receiver and secondary are other possible areas of interest, but the need there doesn’t look strong enough to address with this pick. Finally, the Patriots decide to go the power back, LenDale White, who certainly has the potential to become a player of Larry Johnson’s caliber.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/den5.pngOne of two teams with two first rounders this year, decided they didn’t have to lose a pick and possibly more to get the players they targeted the most, and they were right. After picking up Holmes to address the void at wide receiver, now it’s time for the defensive backfield to get addressed.
The two biggest safety prospects, Michael Huff and Jimmy Williams were selected long ago, but there are still a couple of good prospects available at safety, as well as CB Antonio Cromartie, probably the only corner left to possibly go in the first round. With a trio of safeties to choose from, the Broncos go with Darnell Bing from USC, making him the 5th Trojan taken on the day.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/tampa5.pngAnother team that, like the Dolphins and Bears, played above expectations last year. This team doesn’t have many glaring holes, but they do need to improve on the offensive line, and they should be concerned with the ages of their linebackers and cornerbacks.
Antonio Cromartie is a prospect the Bucs had pinned here, but there are still quite a few quality offensive tackles available here, and Monte Kiffin and the Bucs have found a lot of success picking their corners later in the first day. Finally, the Bucs decide on the monster tackle from Auburn Marcus McNeill, who will be plugged in at right tackle to protect Chris Simms’ blindside, meanwhile Kenyatta Walker and Anthony Davis will platoon at left tackle.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/cincy5.pngThe talk among Bengal fans has been that the biggest need on the team is at Defensive Tackle. But taking any tackle with this pick is a certain reach, and the signing of Sam Adams should buy Cincy some time there. Meanwhile Safety and Tight End are the other positions of concern, but the signing of Dexter Jackson is probably enough to let the Bengals wait until round 2 or 3 to fill that position.
While the huge tight end Marcedes Lewis has risen up the charts and into the late first/early second round picture, he isn’t the most polished tight end still available at this point, so the Bengals select yet another Georgia boy, in Leonard Pope.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/nyg6.pngThe secondary has been addressed, but the Giants are definitely still in need of receiver and linebacker help. While the biggest receivers are off the board the Giants still get to pick from several top tier linebackers. Also, if the Giants are still looking to address the need at corner, Cromartie is still there, but he may be too raw and unpolished for the G-men to make that move right now.
Donte Whitner and Jason Allen are two safeties that the Giants are considering, but they’re going to get better return value with one of the linebackers. The Giants go with FSU linebacker Ernie Sims, who has shot up in value on many draft boards, but makes it all the way to #25.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/bear5.pngThe Bears are looking for a receiving threat to help out Rex Grossman and Muhsin Muhammad, and either a receiver or a tight end could fit the bill. With the top 2 gone, this is the time teams start to look at Sinorice Moss or even Derek Hagan. The Bears may also be looking at help at either corner or safety, and maybe at the offensive line, but it seems they really need a target more than anything.
The Bears were unable to move up in the draft to land Holmes or Jackson, but they seem to like Moss as well. But the 6’6” tight end with 4.7 speed, Marcedes Lewis, becomes the pick here for Chicago.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/car5.pngIn the first round, the Panthers are looking for help in one of three areas, running back, linebacker, or linebacker. Dominique Byrd is probably too much of a reach at this point, and isn’t much higher in caliber than a TE they can pick up in the second or third round. Laurence Maroney is another option here, but Calhoun or Drew could still be available in round 2 for them as well.
Finally, the Panthers decide on an outside linebacker to help replace the departed Will Witherspoon, and the team targets their top 2 prospects, DeMeco Ryans or Bobby Carpenter. Pretty evenly matched, the main differences mentioned between these two is that Carpenter is a bit bigger but just as fast, but that Ryans may be the smarter player of the two. After long deliberations, the Panthers decide on Carpenter.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/jag5.pngThe Jaguars are certainly looking for a tight end, but the big three prospects are off the board, so they will likely wait a round to select one. Other areas of need? Well, there is running back, where Fred Taylor can’t stay healthy, and LaBrandon Toefield may or may not be the answer. Also, offensive guard could be a priority, but not in the first round.
So, what’s left? Well, they could trade down, or they could address the defense, which is already quite good. The 2 things they may be missing on defense is a corner to play opposite of Rashean Mathis or a linebacker to fight for a starting spot or at the least provide a little extra depth. So, with no tight end left that’s worthy of a pick this high, the Jaguars select Antonio Cromartie, the corner from just down the road in Tallahassee.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/jet5.jpgThe Jets were able to select their back of the future in DeAngelo Williams. So, now what else do they need to address? A lot, actually. Quarterback is still a possibility, with the uncertainties that are Chad Pennington and Patrick Ramsey currently manning that position. Also, they are in need of a replacement for Abraham, as well as tackle, both offensive and defensive.
With this pick and another just 7 spots away, the Jets really have a lot of freedom and should easily be able to get 2 more players to help them immediately. So here, they pick Eric Winston, and expect that either Hali or Wimbley will still be there to pick in round 2, pick 4.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/colt5.pngThe perfect for 13 weeks Colts only have one blatant opening. Finding a replacement for the departing Edgerrin James. They could also look for some depth at linebacker, in the secondary, or even at wide receiver.
Three of the top 4 runners have already been selected, so the Colts are left with the one that they were pretty much targeting all along anyway, and they select Minnesota speedster Laurence Maroney, who, while no Edge, could spark the team similarly to the way Cadillac Williams did to the Bucs last season.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/sea5.pngThe Super Bowl runner-ups lost quality players in a couple of key areas, offensive guard and wide receiver. The loss of Steve Hutchinson is huge, and Seattle may go with the rare offensive guard selection here in the first round. Also, with the receivers that line up on the other side of the line in St. Louis and Arizona, Seattle could always use a little extra help in the secondary.
One more position I’ll throw in here is quarterback. Is Seneca Wallace a reliable fill-in were Hasselbeck ever to go down for a significant amount of time? But that’s a concern likely addressed later in the draft, and the Seahawks do take the first guard off the board, Oklahoma’s Davin Joseph.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/pit5.pngWhat do the Super Bowl champions need? Well, a receiver for one, with the departures of Burress and Randle El over the last 2 off-seasons, it’s become time for the Steelers to replenish the position. Other positions of interest include safety, where they may be looking for a starter to take the spot from Chris Hope, and center, where they lost the All-Pro Jeff Harting, but that can be addressed later.
Looking over their options, the Steelers decide that they will concentrate on receiver and safety, planning to take the best position available at one of those positions. And, with the next receivers likely not as highly coveted as the next set of safeties, Pittsburgh makes Donte Whitner the last selection of the first round.
The first round of the NFL Draft - by Ruuuuudiii
Well, I don’t know why I’m doing this, what; with the dozens of mocks already flowing about around here, but here goes anyway. This is basically what I see these teams possibly doing; I will also try to put myself in these war rooms a bit.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/hou5.png The biggest needs for the Texans has to be offensive line, so, what would I do here? Well, first, I would entertain trade offers to trade down from the #1 pick. Then, I would consider drafting D’Brickashaw Ferguson. And lastly, I will draft Reggie Bush.
Why draft Bush, when you have a guy like Domanick Davis and really really need help at the O-line? He is simply too big a prospect to pass up. Yeah, yeah, I know, for every Barry Sanders there’s a KiJana Carter, but Bush is possibly the most revered college runner since Sanders (more than Ricky Williams, Tomlinson, Carter,) and you have to take your chance with this guy. Other than serious injury, Bush is as close to a can’t miss NFL superstar as you’re ever going to get.
New Orleans Saints - What a difference a month makes. A month ago, Matt Leinart could have gotten fitted for his Saints jersey and started to look for his new home. But Drew Brees filled the need at QB, so now this pick becomes a high commodity for any team looking for a QB. What else can the Saints look for at #2? Well, there’s still Ferguson, but it’s hard for a team to pay two first round tackles their money, and Jammal Brown was picked at #10 last year. Certainly, guys like Mario Williams and A.J. Hawk could quickly fill holes in this team as well.
But, I listened to all the trade offers, and finally Oakland came up with the best offer, giving up the # 7 pick as well as the most value from the other picks they give up, and the Raiders move up 5 slots in the draft.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/oak5.pngAfter trading with the Saints for the #2 pick, and entertaining the thought of drafting Mario Williams, the Oakland Raiders select Matt Leinart. At least Al Davis is smart enough to not buy into all the Young and Cutler hype, and selects the most secure pick at quarterback. Leinart is a good pick for the Raiders, as Aaron Brooks will play next season, but won’t be an adequate long term fix for the team, and who knows just how good Andrew Walter will turn out to be.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/ten5.pngAfter losing their chance to land Leinart, the Titans are now relegated to pick from Vince Young and Jay Cutler. Not a bad consolation price either way you look at it. The first thought here may be picking Young, since he has been mentored by Steve McNair over the last couple summers. However, the current tense relationship between McNair and the team may put a monkey wrench in those plans.
Also, people seem to compare Young’s game to McNair’s, but I don’t see the similarities. Steve McNair is a throwing quarterback who has enough mobility to escape trouble. Young, when in trouble, will look to take off 80% of the time. Vince Young will likely eclipse McNair’s career high 101 carries in his first season. The player I like here is Cutler, one because he has a more polished game, and two, because if the Titans are looking for a similar replacement to McNair, Cutler is the choice. Also, I’ve heard plenty of Leinart’s relationship with Norm Chow, and Young’s relationship with McNair, but what about Cutler getting the opportunity to continue his career in Nashville, where he played his college ball. So, at #3, the Titans select Jay Cutler.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/jet5.jpgThis draft, more than recent ones, seem to concentrate on team needs above best player on the board. So even though Ferguson and Williams are very comparable to the likes of Orland Pace and Julius Peppers, they are both still available here at #4. And the Jets are really in a tough boat here, both picks are very enticing, especially Mario Williams, after the loss of Abraham.
But Curtis Martin’s best years, are officially behind him, and who knows where the Jets pick next year, guys like Adrien Peterson may not be within reach, so DeAngelo Williams becomes another position of great interest. And while it seems that when you get to choose from three A+ prospects puts you in a great situation, I’m sure that the Jets will hear more grief about the 2 players they didn’t pick than the one they do. That being said, the pick here becomes Memphis back DeAngelo Williams.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/gb5.pngThey’re in a similar situation than the Jets were in, as they now get a choice of Williams, Ferguson, Hawk, or trading the pick. Mark Tausher and Chad Clifton make a solid pair of tackles, so Brick will fall yet again. And KGB makes for a good end as well, and paying two ends superstar money is probably not feasible. Also, DeAngelo Williams just got taken off the board, so it’s now too high to address running back.
With Nick Barnett the only true commodity at linebacker for Green Bay, barring a healthy Na’il Diggs, the Packers choice comes down to A.J. Hawk or trying to trade the pick down. But the good offers don’t make it in, and the Packers decide on the linebacker from Ohio State.
San Francisco 49ers – San Francisco probably still has more needs than most of the other teams picking up here, and is seriously shopping the pick. Arizona, St Louis and Cleveland all show interest in moving up from 10, 11 and 12. Cleveland, with the 12th pick, finally adds a third pick and top the other two teams offers. Cleveland trades the 12th pick, as well as some more draft picks, and move up to #6.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/brown5.pngCleveland looks like a quickly improving team, and Romeo Crennel is already knocking on the door of the upper echelon of NFL coaches. With Roye and McGinest already playing the edges on defense, the Browns seem intent to stop the slide of Ferguson here.
The Cleveland offensive line is vastly improved, with the addition of Bentley at center, and D'Brickawhaw Ferguson should complete what will become one of the best lines in the league, and the Browns do select the huge Virginia tackle.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/saint5.pngAfter trading the 2nd pick in the draft, the Saints still have Mario Williams sitting on the board. But Will Smith is already a good looking end, and Charles Grant on the other end does have two 10 sack seasons, so end isn’t necessarily the biggest need here.
Drew Brees’ success in San Diego can be almost directly correlated with the emergence of superstar tight end Antonio Gates. Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again, the Saints select Vernon Davis. Davis is possibly the most touted TE of the past decade with the exception of Kellen Winslow. Let’s just hope Davis’ career won’t start the way Winslow’s has.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/buf5.pngBuffalo has spent the last 2 months intent, and content, to make Haloti Ngata their pick. Easily the best DT in the league, Ngata would make an immediate impact for the Bills defensive line. But now, Mario Williams has slid all the way down to #8, and Buffalo gets to consider taking the next Julius Peppers.
The Bills don’t have a good defensive line right now, so both players make sense here. But many scouts have Williams as the 2nd or 3rd best overall player in the draft, and the Bills find him too enticing to pass him up for Ngata.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/det5.pngThe Lions also still have quite a few openings for improvement. Josh McCown and Jon Kitna have closed the need for a QB, but the Lions definitely can still use the likes of offensive line, healthy linebackers, and secondary play. Ngata also crosses their minds here, as Big Daddy Wilkinson is 33, but the Lions decide that spending that kind of money on 2 tackles (Rogers and Ngata) just isn’t sensible, when you still need talent elsewhere.
The Lions do offer the pick to anyone still looking to trade up for Young, but teams are staying put for now, as Vince is starting to slide similarly to Aaron Rogers last year. So, as luck would have it, after missing out on the top three corners last year, this year they land the top corner, and possibly a better prospect than any of the three from last year, and select national champ Michael Huff.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/ari5.pngI’m sure the name Vince Young crossed Dennis Green’s mind more than once here, as Kurt Warner is getting older and Josh McCown gets booted out of Phoenix. Rohan Davey and John Navarre are the current backups in ‘Zona, probably not a great situation, but right now they’re probably better served with picking up a discarded veteran in June or July than Young.
While there are some needs in the interior of the offensive line, that looks better addressed in the second round when a guy like Davin Joseph is likely still available. The other weakness of this team is the interior of the defensive line, and when the best tackle in the draft falls into your lap, you have to take him, and the Cards do, making Haloti Ngata the last pick in the top 10 of the 2006 NFL Draft.
St. Louis Rams - St. Louis’ biggest need is definitely on the defensive side of the ball, as linebacker and cornerback could both use some replenishment. The Rams also offer the pick for trade, but most of the top value picks are now off the board. Finally, fearing that the Ravens may be interested, or of another team jumping ahead, the Vikings make their move and trade the 17th pick and one of their 2nd rounders (#51) to move up to #11.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/min5.pngBrad Johnson is their quarterback, but he’s the oldest current starter in the NFL. Behind him, there is Mike McMahon, who has looked good at times, but also extremely bad at times. Defensively, the Vikings are looking good, so the biggest position of need for the team may be at running back.
However, the Vikes trade up for one reason only, and that is to select Vince Young. And Vince’s journey since the national championship is finally complete. After briefly surpassing Leinart as the top QB prospect and being talked about everywhere from Houston, through Nashville and New Orleans, to Oakland. But, he is now a Minnesota Viking.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/SF5.pngAfter passing on Ferguson to trade down to #12, the only secondary player selected so far is Michael Huff. Meanwhile, a tackle could still be in the cards, maybe in the form of Eric Winston or Marcus McNeil. There are also linebackers like Greenway and Sims still on the board. But the 49ers address their biggest weakness, and make Jimmy the 3rd Williams selected today, and the corner/safety should be seeing minutes almost immediately.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/balt5.pngThe Ravens, with the quarterbacks now gone, have to figure out where their biggest need is. The team doesn’t have any glaring voids, but age and injury history have limited some of their bigger names, like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and others.
But with this pick, the team is probably going to address last year’s biggest weakness, the pass rush. Mario Williams is probably the only end that didn’t have any question marks, but there are definitely a few more that can make an impact, especially when they’re paired with Terrell Suggs. With no trading partner available, the Ravens end up deciding on Boston College end Mathias Kiwanuke.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/phil5.pngDefensive tackle, Wide receiver, a solid backup QB, all needs for this Eagles team. The Eagles are a team that’s no longer great, but still thinks it is. And it isn’t really that far from being great, but right now they could be considered as the 3rd or 4th best team in that division.
Some of the Eagles favorite targets are still on the board, including receivers Holmes and Jackson. But the Eagles address their defense first, and the athletic defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley becomes an Eagle.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/den5.pngAfter flirting with disaster for a while, the Broncos lucked out and didn’t land Terrell Owens. However, wide receiver is still a need for the team. But, Denver native LenDale White could be an enticing player as well. Other needs are at safety, and possibly offensive line.
After thinking about White, Darnell Bing and the plethora of offensive tackles still available, the Broncos settle on receiver and select Ohio States Santonio Holmes over Chad Jackson.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/mia5.pngThe Dolphins had arrived a year ahead of schedule, and Nick Saban is one of the few coaches that have been able to make the successful transition from college to the pros. As far as team needs are concerned, Miami is going to look hard at outside linebackers and secondary help, but Chad Jackson is still around, so the receiver becomes another possibility.
Chad Greenway and Ernie Sims are probably better suited for a standard 4-3 defense, and the main choices in the secondary are already gone, with guys like Tye Hill, Darnell Bing and Antonio Cromartie still available. The Dolphins don’t really have a lot to offer via trade, so a move up is unlikely. Finally they decide to draft N.C. State end Manny Lawson, who’ll be able to play both OLB in the 3-4, or become the heir apparent to Jason Taylor at end.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/stl5.pngAfter dropping back a few spots and stocking up on a few extra picks, many of the players on the Rams board are still there, both at linebacker and corner. Bruce and Holt are also getting up in age, so Chad Jackson may be an enticing pick here as well. And with Martz gone, maybe tight end will become a necessary position in St. Louis again.
But the Rams have zeroed in on about 3 or 4 players. Linebackers Sims and Greenway, corner Tye Hill and safety Darnell Bing. Feeling he can contribute immediately and improve a lackluster defense, the Rams select OLB out of Iowa, Chad Greenway.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/dal5.pngThe defense got a major facelift last year, with the likes of Ware, Spears, and Canty drafted in 2005. So, is this year the offense’s turn? Maybe! Terrell Owens obviously improves them immediately, but he and Terry Glenn are both members of the heralded WR class of ’96, meaning they are both in their mid 30’s. A guy like Chad Jackson, coupled with Patrick Crayton, could keep this receiver corps potent even after T.O. and Glenn are gone.
Other positions of needs are at offensive tackle, and maybe one more linebacker to complete this already potentially dominant defense. The Cowboys are also looking to accept offers to trade down a bit, but the value just doesn’t seem to be comparable, and they decide on Southern Cal tackle Winston Justice. He’ll probably play on the right side, opposite of Flozell Adams.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/sd5.pngThe Chargers are flying high, having hit the recent home runs that include Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo last year, as well as guys like Gates and LT, and possibly Rivers. The one area where San Diego has failed to produce real quality is at cornerback, so that is still a position San Diego is looking to improve at. The team is also looking to improve a mediocre line, as Roman Oben has played well since his trade from Tampa, but he is aging.
Another need for the Chargers has to be at WR, Keenan McCardell is 36 years old, and Eric Parker and Reche Caldwell don’t appear to strike too much fear in opponents. Eventually, Tomlinson and Gates are going to need help on offense, so the Chargers pass up guys like Eric Winston and Tye Hill in hopes of finding quality later, and Gator receiver Chad Jackson joins Caldwell in a Charger uniform.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/kc5.pngAnother team that is looking to improve their defense, both on the defensive line and in the secondary. They may also want a receiver, but the 2 main ones are now selected. Also, a trade down is possible, but most teams are pretty intent, on picking where they are, as many of their prospects are still there for the taking, and nobody is wanting to risk extra picks for a player that may only be marginally better anyway.
The Chiefs first look at Tamba Hali and Kamerion Wimbley as possible additions to the defensive line, but decide that there is more defensive line talent available in this years draft, and select Clemson corner Tye Hill.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/pats5.pngNew England may not be accustomed to picking this high, but no one can argue that they have made the best out of the picks they’ve had in recent years. So, what is New England looking at this year? Running back has to be a concern, as is linebacker, after the loss of Willie Mcginest and the ages of Vrabel and Bruschi. But the front 7 of the Patriots, if healthy, still look to be one of the most dominant in the league.
Wide receiver and secondary are other possible areas of interest, but the need there doesn’t look strong enough to address with this pick. Finally, the Patriots decide to go the power back, LenDale White, who certainly has the potential to become a player of Larry Johnson’s caliber.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/den5.pngOne of two teams with two first rounders this year, decided they didn’t have to lose a pick and possibly more to get the players they targeted the most, and they were right. After picking up Holmes to address the void at wide receiver, now it’s time for the defensive backfield to get addressed.
The two biggest safety prospects, Michael Huff and Jimmy Williams were selected long ago, but there are still a couple of good prospects available at safety, as well as CB Antonio Cromartie, probably the only corner left to possibly go in the first round. With a trio of safeties to choose from, the Broncos go with Darnell Bing from USC, making him the 5th Trojan taken on the day.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/tampa5.pngAnother team that, like the Dolphins and Bears, played above expectations last year. This team doesn’t have many glaring holes, but they do need to improve on the offensive line, and they should be concerned with the ages of their linebackers and cornerbacks.
Antonio Cromartie is a prospect the Bucs had pinned here, but there are still quite a few quality offensive tackles available here, and Monte Kiffin and the Bucs have found a lot of success picking their corners later in the first day. Finally, the Bucs decide on the monster tackle from Auburn Marcus McNeill, who will be plugged in at right tackle to protect Chris Simms’ blindside, meanwhile Kenyatta Walker and Anthony Davis will platoon at left tackle.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/cincy5.pngThe talk among Bengal fans has been that the biggest need on the team is at Defensive Tackle. But taking any tackle with this pick is a certain reach, and the signing of Sam Adams should buy Cincy some time there. Meanwhile Safety and Tight End are the other positions of concern, but the signing of Dexter Jackson is probably enough to let the Bengals wait until round 2 or 3 to fill that position.
While the huge tight end Marcedes Lewis has risen up the charts and into the late first/early second round picture, he isn’t the most polished tight end still available at this point, so the Bengals select yet another Georgia boy, in Leonard Pope.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/nyg6.pngThe secondary has been addressed, but the Giants are definitely still in need of receiver and linebacker help. While the biggest receivers are off the board the Giants still get to pick from several top tier linebackers. Also, if the Giants are still looking to address the need at corner, Cromartie is still there, but he may be too raw and unpolished for the G-men to make that move right now.
Donte Whitner and Jason Allen are two safeties that the Giants are considering, but they’re going to get better return value with one of the linebackers. The Giants go with FSU linebacker Ernie Sims, who has shot up in value on many draft boards, but makes it all the way to #25.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/bear5.pngThe Bears are looking for a receiving threat to help out Rex Grossman and Muhsin Muhammad, and either a receiver or a tight end could fit the bill. With the top 2 gone, this is the time teams start to look at Sinorice Moss or even Derek Hagan. The Bears may also be looking at help at either corner or safety, and maybe at the offensive line, but it seems they really need a target more than anything.
The Bears were unable to move up in the draft to land Holmes or Jackson, but they seem to like Moss as well. But the 6’6” tight end with 4.7 speed, Marcedes Lewis, becomes the pick here for Chicago.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/car5.pngIn the first round, the Panthers are looking for help in one of three areas, running back, linebacker, or linebacker. Dominique Byrd is probably too much of a reach at this point, and isn’t much higher in caliber than a TE they can pick up in the second or third round. Laurence Maroney is another option here, but Calhoun or Drew could still be available in round 2 for them as well.
Finally, the Panthers decide on an outside linebacker to help replace the departed Will Witherspoon, and the team targets their top 2 prospects, DeMeco Ryans or Bobby Carpenter. Pretty evenly matched, the main differences mentioned between these two is that Carpenter is a bit bigger but just as fast, but that Ryans may be the smarter player of the two. After long deliberations, the Panthers decide on Carpenter.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/jag5.pngThe Jaguars are certainly looking for a tight end, but the big three prospects are off the board, so they will likely wait a round to select one. Other areas of need? Well, there is running back, where Fred Taylor can’t stay healthy, and LaBrandon Toefield may or may not be the answer. Also, offensive guard could be a priority, but not in the first round.
So, what’s left? Well, they could trade down, or they could address the defense, which is already quite good. The 2 things they may be missing on defense is a corner to play opposite of Rashean Mathis or a linebacker to fight for a starting spot or at the least provide a little extra depth. So, with no tight end left that’s worthy of a pick this high, the Jaguars select Antonio Cromartie, the corner from just down the road in Tallahassee.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/jet5.jpgThe Jets were able to select their back of the future in DeAngelo Williams. So, now what else do they need to address? A lot, actually. Quarterback is still a possibility, with the uncertainties that are Chad Pennington and Patrick Ramsey currently manning that position. Also, they are in need of a replacement for Abraham, as well as tackle, both offensive and defensive.
With this pick and another just 7 spots away, the Jets really have a lot of freedom and should easily be able to get 2 more players to help them immediately. So here, they pick Eric Winston, and expect that either Hali or Wimbley will still be there to pick in round 2, pick 4.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/colt5.pngThe perfect for 13 weeks Colts only have one blatant opening. Finding a replacement for the departing Edgerrin James. They could also look for some depth at linebacker, in the secondary, or even at wide receiver.
Three of the top 4 runners have already been selected, so the Colts are left with the one that they were pretty much targeting all along anyway, and they select Minnesota speedster Laurence Maroney, who, while no Edge, could spark the team similarly to the way Cadillac Williams did to the Bucs last season.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/sea5.pngThe Super Bowl runner-ups lost quality players in a couple of key areas, offensive guard and wide receiver. The loss of Steve Hutchinson is huge, and Seattle may go with the rare offensive guard selection here in the first round. Also, with the receivers that line up on the other side of the line in St. Louis and Arizona, Seattle could always use a little extra help in the secondary.
One more position I’ll throw in here is quarterback. Is Seneca Wallace a reliable fill-in were Hasselbeck ever to go down for a significant amount of time? But that’s a concern likely addressed later in the draft, and the Seahawks do take the first guard off the board, Oklahoma’s Davin Joseph.
http://www.pigskinheaven.com/gallery/files/7/pit5.pngWhat do the Super Bowl champions need? Well, a receiver for one, with the departures of Burress and Randle El over the last 2 off-seasons, it’s become time for the Steelers to replenish the position. Other positions of interest include safety, where they may be looking for a starter to take the spot from Chris Hope, and center, where they lost the All-Pro Jeff Harting, but that can be addressed later.
Looking over their options, the Steelers decide that they will concentrate on receiver and safety, planning to take the best position available at one of those positions. And, with the next receivers likely not as highly coveted as the next set of safeties, Pittsburgh makes Donte Whitner the last selection of the first round.