NFL Draft -- 1st day

[Tadpole]

How did your team pan out? My team did alright.

First Round -- RB Ronnie Brown, Auburn

Probably the best all around back in the draft. Has speed (4.4 40), hands, and can block. Limited carries during career and shared time scares me. I really was looking for Cedric Benson to be taken. He is a proven back who will carry the load during the season.

Second Round -- DE Matt Roth, Iowa

Was a steal! Projected to be picked in the mid to last first round. Has great atheliticism. Probably will be a tweener at OLB. Fits in nice with our new 3-4 D.

Third Round -- ILB Channing Crowder, Florida

Another steal. A lot of mock drafts had him going in the early second round, but his injury and off field issues carried him to the third round. Got into several bar fights during college. Was an SEC all-conference player. Another 3-4 D player.

Can't wait for tomorrow. There are still a ton of good players to be drafted.

[LostCause]

So Denver Picked up Clarrett watch him be a great back just like emmitt not as good obviously but along those lines

[Tadpole]

Anyone can be a 1500+ yard running in Denver's running system...

[Kaemon]

Cowboys stacked themselves on defense. 6 of 8 draftees are on Defense. 2 DE's in the first round alone.

Should be a fun cple of years watching this defense grow.

[Mop]

I personaly am very happy with the ravens draft picks, picked up a d lineman that will be able to rush the passer, an o lineman that can actually pass block, thank god maybe the door will hit orlando brown in the eye on the way out and a wide out that should be able to take some pressure off heap, over all with the ravens I'm happy.

Not to thrilled with the packers I think they are looking to the future with a QB that wont be ablt ot get them past the 2nd round of the playoffs

[Tadpole]

Dallas had the best draft. Picking up Kevin Burnett where they did in the second round was a steal. Second best LB behind Johnson in draft.

Mark Clayton will be pimpin it in Baltimore.

[vonkaar]

Baltimore and Dallas did the best...

however, Dallas has notoriously had the worst luck in the draft since the mid 90s... we have like, 2 players that ended up playing well since 98 or so.

[Malluas]

still confused on some of the 9er picks. I do like Baas and the 2 late CBs cause honestly they could start our defensive backs suck the asshair

[mofish]

Really like Marcus Spears Kaemon and Vonkaar. I used to make his brother's coffee every day, he also did some work for my parents (owns an antique delivery company). Anyway, D'Shawn was probably my nicest, coolest customer. If Marcus is anything like him you guys got a great guy.

Saints. I liked our draft.
1st - Jammal Brown OT - OT probably our biggest need. Rare a RT goes this high, so he must be awesome. Deuce called Haslett to thank him after the pick, good enough for me
2nd - J Bullocks, Safety - Set Nebraska single season picks record a year ago with 10. Looks good.
3rd - Alfred Fincher, LB - Love this pick also. Dominated at a small school. One of my favorite Saints ever, Sam Mills (RIP Sam ), was a small LB from a small school. If Fincher is half the LB that Mills was this will be good.
4th - Chase Lyman, WR - Boom or bust. Plagued by injuries, but all the tools to be great. We'll see.
5th - Adrian McPherson, QB - LOVE THIS PICK! Steal of the draft if his troubles are behind him. Arm compared to Elway's by scouts. Has been straight as an arrow, says all the right things since being kicked out of FSU. Crossing my fingers on this one.
6th - Jason Jefferson, DT - Shrug, run stuffer. Our interior D-Line could use some work. Project.
7th - Verdon, DE/DT - Tweener D-Lineman, shrug. More bodies on the lines is always good in my book.

I liked our draft! Cant wait to see the right side of our O-Line this year, after signing Mayberry from the Eagles. Should be some big holes on that side for Deuce.

[Arlos]

I was shocked the 9ers didn't pick up one of the better WRs. Hell, I was half-expecting them to trade up into bottom of the 1st or into the middle-2nd and grab one of the higher end WRs.

Sure, they got Alex Smith, but WTF is he going to throw to? They must have some other deal for a WR in the works that hasn't been announced yet.

-Arlos

[Mop]

I think the niners dolphins and browns were all trying to trade down, I really don't think this draft had any huge stars.

[Kitao]

Hard to trade down with there are no stars, as well.

[Lyion]

I liked the Browns picks, and I think there team is looking good this year. Edwards is a stud and Frye will develop into an excellent QB. They also got some good D help.

Likewise, I think the Bengals drafted much wiser this year than last. They should have gotten a guy like Pollack over Chris Perry last year.

Still befuddled by the Lions taking Mike Williams at 10, even if he was at the top of their board. Confuzzling.

I think Jax made the best move, and Matt Jones is gonna be an impact stud this year.

[Phlegm]

The Steelers drafted a tight end in the first round. I hope he can block because the Steelers throw to tight ends about 20-25 times a year.

[Lyion]

The Steelers want a go to tight end like Gates or Gonzales. It's a wise move in a division with a lot of speed and attacking Ds and will pay dividends.

I believe the AFC North might be the toughest division in football this year. Quite a change from before.

[xaoshaen]

Still befuddled by the Lions taking Mike Williams at 10, even if he was at the top of their board. Confuzzling.

I was befuddled as well. I figured Millen would fall into the trap of drafting for "need". Instead he surprised me, made the smart pick, and grabbed Williams.

[Lyion]

Why is it the smart pick when Detroit has 2 first round reciever projects over the last two drafts? Especially since they have so many holes on D.

The smart pick would have been drafting Rodgers, or one of the D Studs. The Lions have not improved their team with their first round selection.

Another bizarre move in Matt Millens bizarre tenure.

[Tadpole]

Charles Rogers has been hurt for two seasons and Roy Williams was hurt last year.

[xaoshaen]

Why is it the smart pick when Detroit has 2 first round reciever projects over the last two drafts? Especially since they have so many holes on D.

The smart pick would have been drafting Rodgers, or one of the D Studs. The Lions have not improved their team with their first round selection.

Another bizarre move in Matt Millens bizarre tenure.

Because drafting for "need" is one of the worst possible draft strategies, particularly in the early rounds. A team's deficiencies can vary radically between week 1 and week 8, particularly in a position that demands depth (like, say, receiver).

Picking Rodgers might have been a good move, save that absolutely nobody was sold on him being a franchise quarterback. Could he be? Sure, but there's no guarantee that he'll be anything save another Tedford bust. Check out Merril Hodge's analysis of Rodger's abilities, for example.

[Lyion]

I disagree completely. You draft primarly for need unless there is a huge disparity in player abilities. In this case there was not and they could've gotten a VERY good D player. Instead they got a tall slow possession WR with good hands. A good player, but he doesn't upgrade their O much, and with their huge holes at D it was a poor choice.

Rodgers has as much a chance of being a good QB as Williams does being a good WR.
There's a reason two other WRs were taken ahead of Williams and he would've fallen another dozen spots if the Lions hadn't taken him.

The Lions needed a D Stud. They got another good WR that does little to upgrade their team overall. I predict another mediocre season.

[Tadpole]

Lions should have picked Demarcus Ware.

[mofish]

The Saints usually draft BPA and I like it. Drafted Deuce when we had Ricky, worked out nicely.

Last year drafted Will Smith when we already had two monster DEs. Also worked out nicely. Best DE rotation in the league. We'll trade one for a mint. Or keep them, and destroy O-lines this year. Sounds good to me

[Phlegm]

Detroit probably going to go with the colts type of offense.... semi run and shoot.

[mofish]

6'3, 6'4, and 6'5 receivers. That is just ridiculous. Stacked if Rogers stays healthy.

[xaoshaen]

I disagree completely. You draft primarly for need unless there is a huge disparity in player abilities. In this case there was not and they could've gotten a VERY good D player. Instead they got a tall slow possession WR with good hands. A good player, but he doesn't upgrade their O much, and with their huge holes at D it was a poor choice.

You're entitled to your opinion, but history doesn't bear it out. Drafting for need has been the easiest way to shoot yourself in the foot. The salary cap only exacerbates the situation: by drafting for need you wind up frequently drafting a player when more talented players are on the board. With the pick-value contract structure in place, this ensures that you wind up overpaying players that aren't as talented as those you pass on.

Rodgers has as much a chance of being a good QB as Williams does being a good WR.

Except that we have absolutely no way of knowing this, particularly given the volatility of translating college success into NFL success for quarterbacks. Opinion is split amongst those who work in the NFL as to whether or not Rodgers will make it in the NFL. Everyone agrees that Williams will be a contributor, the only disagreement is whether he'll be a solid possession receiver or something more.

There's a reason two other WRs were taken ahead of Williams and he would've fallen another dozen spots if the Lions hadn't taken him.

Which would still be two spots ahead of Rodgers. By your logic, that still makes him a better pick.

The Lions needed a D Stud. They got another good WR that does little to upgrade their team overall. I predict another mediocre season.

The Lions need several good defensive players, drafting Johnson wouldn't have miraculously turned them into Super Bowl contenders any more than drafting Williams will.

I'll also point out again that perceived needs in Week 1 often differ radically from what the team winds up needing in Week 8.

And you know, having three excellent receivers has been such a huge problem for Indianapolis. If only they could find a way to put all three receivers on the field at once, and spread the defense. Why, that might prove difficult for the defense to cover! I think I'll call Tony Dungy and suggest that. It could lead to a big year for their quarterback!