The NFL draft has now come and gone. Most drafts are filled with anticipation and predictions. No matter what the experts predict most don’t have a clue what’s going on in the war rooms of each NFL team. This year was a great year of trades and unexpected selections. Who will be the next Peyton, LT, Ray Lewis, Reggie White, or Ryan Leaf?
I will go through the 1st 5 picks and then comment about what teams I think did really well in the draft and some that didn’t.
With the 1st pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins select from the University of Michigan, Jake Long.
There was no surprise here because Miami signed him to a 5 yr deal worth $57.5 million (that's a ton of $). This was the safest pick in the draft as OL Jake Long should be around for 10+ years. The 'Big Tuna' Bill Parcels is dreaming that Long will turn into a new Jumbo Elliot but who really knows. This will help John Beck’s development and Ronnie Brown’s health. I wonder if John Beck really is the answer here and if they should have selected Matt Ryan. What if Matt turns into the next Peyton? But they did select QB Chad Henne in the 2nd round out of the same school as J.Long. Maybe McFadden would be the best pick for this team because of Ronnie’s terrible injury record and Ricky Williams as the back up. The problem with the Dolphins is they have so many wholes that could have drafted anyone in the 1st 5 picks and improved.
With the 2nd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the St.Louis Rams select from the University of Virginnia, Chris Long.
No relation to Jake Long but this kid seems to have a lot of upside. Most people where thinking they would select Glenn Dorsey but they thought Howie Long’s son will be better. He looks fast and ferocious.
With the 3rd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons select from Boston College, Matt Ryan.
I really like this pick. I believe it was a statement saying the Michael Vick era is now over in A-town. Ryan looks to be the new face of the franchise. It doesn’t hurt that they signed coveted Free Agent RB Michael Turner either. Some where thinking Atlanta would take Dorsey here and select different QB in the second round but Ryan was the best QB option and they weren’t going to pass on him. They also drafted OT Sam Baker (6’5 312) to help Ryan and Turner. Barker allowed just 4.5 sacks on his last 889 pass plays at USC so he should help.
With the 4th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons select from the University of Arkansas, Darren McFadden.
The rumours before the draft were GM Al Davis LOVED McFadden and with the chance would select him. They were right. I think Davis and all Oakland fans hope McFadden will be the second coming of BO JACKSON. He might. This kid is big and very fast. Many said he will is the best player coming out of this year’s draft. The biggest comparison is that he will be like Adrian Peterson but they both have a lot of football to play to prove their hype. In three years at Arkansas, McFadden carried 785 times for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns. Question, why would they be selecting McFadden when they had 3 other RB’s? Because they were ready to release Rhodes and they did just that. Now Indy picks Rhodes back up and both Oakland and Indy win with that pick. The Raiders are trying to turn a corner with this selection and with last year’s 1st overall pick QB Russell. Trading for Deanglo Hall helps big time as well. I don’t think they will beat SD to win the division this year but at least they are on the road to recovery.
With the 5th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs select from Louisiana State University, Glenn Dorsey.
Some were predicting the Dolphins picking this kid. Supposedly he is the most NFL ready. This might be the best steal in the draft. But they must have been thrilled when Dorsey was available especially after trading NFL sack leader J.Allen to Minnesota. The Chiefs need MUCH help and they selected 12 players on draft weekend. Why didn’t they select a QB like Flacco or Brohm or Henne…is Croyle the real deal? We will see.
Surprises at the draft:
1. There were some big surprises at the draft this year. All the trades were surprising and exciting. Many teams were really active moving up and down all weekend.
2. No WR’s taken in the 1st round? I think that is the 1st time that has happened since 1990. Are the WR’s in this draft that weak? I guess teams felt that way or the other players were just too hard to pass up on. Actually if the Jets didn’t trade up to get TE Dustin Keller out of Purdue it would have been they 1st time ever no WR or TE was selected in the 1st round of any draft.
Who drafted really well:
Most people feel that the Kansas City Chiefs drafted the best but I wonder if that is accurate. Yes Dorsey was a steal at 5 and yes they made some good picks but their team is so bad that there is no where but up for this team. Last year they were 3-13 and I wonder if they will finish the same or worse. Maybe in 3 years this draft will really prove itself for KC. Here’s some teams I thought did well drafting.
Dallas Cowboys – I think Felix Jones will replace Julius in BIG D nicely. That kid is quick and the load isn’t on his shoulders as Barber is a work horse and amazing. Taking CB Jenkins is a good pick as well.
Washington Redskins – say what you will but this team needed help at WR…they got it in selecting Devin Thomas AND Malcolm Kelly.
Pittsburgh Steelers – I don’t know why they needed a RB with Fast Willie Parker on the roster but selecting Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois has to be good. Also they picked up Limas Sweed from Texas which will add to H.Ward, S.Holmes and N.Washington. Thinking Pittsburgh might be a force this year.
Baltimore Ravens – Flacco was the next guy on their draft board once Ryan went to Atlanta. Plus they traded down to 18 and still got Flacco. With McNair finally retired Flacco should be the starter in Baltimore with Boller having too many opportunities with not much success. They also drafted highly touted RB Ray Rice from Rutger University.
Green Bay Packers – I got to comment on my Packers. Love that they picked up a WR and a QB. Actually they selected quite a few draft picks. This team is solid and these guys hopefully help. WR Jordy Nelson out of Kansas State supposedly has track speed and great hands. Selecting QB Brian Brohm out of Louisville is a great move after the Brett Favre era has ended (sob! Sob!) Some think this kid is the best option after Matt Ryan. Aaron Rodgers is definitely the starter but we needed some help if Rodgers is injured. What surprises me though is why they drafted 2 QB’s this draft? Is Matt Flynn really a good selection? That might not help Rodgers confidence.
Who can’t draft:
Tennessee Titans – What is this team doing? They have Lendale White and drafted Chris Henry high last year and now they select a RB in Chris Johnson from a ‘great’ school in East Carolina. Wow. Don’t you think you could have helped your team with a WR or OL?
Detroit Lions – in the past they have drafted WR Charles Rodgers, QB Joey Harrington, WR Mike Williams…history might repeat itself. Ouch!
Chicago Bears – Maybe just maybe you should be picking a QB, Rex Grossman doesn’t seem to be ‘the’ guy. And Matt Forte, who is that? Benson is still their best RB in the windy city. Is Earl Bennett from Vanderbilt the answer to Bernard Berrian and Mushin Muhammad’s FA departure from Soldier Field?
If you are still reading at this point I applaud you. When it comes to the draft there is so much hype. Many are overrated and underrated. Hindsight is 20/20 but there is a reason these teams and scouts get paid the big bucks. Many will be wrong but the people who were right will make a ton of $ and a lot of fans happy. Some teams don’t need the draft to be amazing this year as they already have a great team. I am sure that New England didn’t mind getting LB Jerod Mayo from Tennessee though 10th overall thanks to the 49ers. Even though Indy didn’t need much this year they sure did a few years ago when they selected Peyton Manning. So what happens remains to be seen but the draft sure helps the off season go by a bit quicker, gives terrible teams some hope, and me something to right about other than hockey.
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