On Finding Talent in the NFL Draft: Let the Gambling Begin!

Being an Oakland Raider fan, hope springs eternal, that this new class of picks, will usher in someone truly great.

Some of our greats, like Stabler, Allen, and Tim Brown, all came from our draft boards.

Some, of the not so great, came via the boards too....like Todd Marinovich, Robert Gallery, and Philip Buchanon.

Some, do well for a couple seasons, then either become stupid, or, simply can't handle the pressures, of the big time. Barrett Robbins, a great player while on meds, got to watch his career spiral up, but then, before the Super Bowl in 2002, went AWOL....in a short time, he was gone from football, and now is more famous for knocking out cops than opposing players.

And as well, every club has had the curse.

Examples, might be like Ryan Leaf for the Chargers, Hugh Millen for the Pats, Dan McGwire for the Seahawks, and even Jeff Lewis for the Broncos.

Part of the gift, in dealing with the draft, is both learning from one's mistakes, but as well, not making them in the first place, can tend to help.

And don't think about hindsight. Anyone remember how far down the draft Dan Marino slid, and how long he stuck around the league?

With this in mind, we startout looking at what the first 5 picks have to work with.

The Dolphins, who already played their first card, picked up Jake Long. Not a bad choice, given his pedigree, but some, would also question, if they can get another QB in the early going. After seeing Beck play fumblnator, you can have the best line in front of you, but without someone holding onto the ball, the point goes moot.

Of course, the other curse, is what sort of OT are they getting? another Robert Gallery? Or someone to anchor the line, for the next 10 years.

Time, will be the judge on this call.

Second pick, goes to the Rams. Now, depending on which camp you look at, two different patterns come out. You have Chris Long, a good, dedicated player, with the skills to start right away. Then you have Glenn Dorsey, the best defensive player on the board to choose from. Some have said, by having Chris Long, then swinging Carriker. With Dorsey, you'd simply plug and play....then they just need a reliable backup for Bulger, since his habit of getting hurt.....well, makes it hard to count on him.

Third pick, for the Falcons, hinges on what the Rams do with the previous pick. If Dorsey is gone, you can imagine that the Falcons would go for Ryan, a QB to put the Vick disaster behind them. In a way, it would help...if anything, last year wasn't a joke....it was a nightmare.

Fourth pick, for Oakland, becomes a creative option, of either Long, Dorsey, Gholston, or McFadden. Now, right away, we know two are going to be gone from this list. Some say, that if Dorsey is somehow still there, he'd go here. If both Long and Dorsey are gone, Al would instantly revert, and pick up McFadden. To me, Gholston is still too raw, and would take some time, before he's up to full power. But then, a lot in the Raider Nation, think that wouldn't be the problem. One way or another, someone on the Defensive line, is needed....or get Ellis, but that might prove to be a reach.

Fifth pick, KC, becomes a question, obviously. They need a QB, they need someone on the defensive line, and they want picks. They could trade down, find someone, like Brian Brohm, or, if Gholston makes it past Oakland, go here.

Now, with the picks, it becomes a free for all, if two things happen. A trade, as Kiffin has said in Oakland, is possible. And the Falcons know several clubs would love to have the third pick, to get mcfadden, to keep him from falling to Oakland.

And of course, with the first 10 picks, you not only get stuck trying to draft yourself help, but you also don't want to end up facing the guy you DIDN'T pick, in the season ahead.

Well, here's to the fun tomorrow....it all starts off at 1pm local time.