I’m a fan of the new streamlined NFL draft. Thanks to the new time limit, I was able to watch the entire first round while still sober.
Which, I have discovered, makes it much easier to report on the draft after that fact.
There’s no good way to judge a draft the day after it happens.
None of us know how these players are going to turn out. Sometimes the worst picks on draft day end up being the best picks on game day.
But like our contemporaries over at ESPN (and in every sports section of every newspaper at every newsstand tomorrow morning), that's not going to stop me from jumping the gun and declaring the winners and losers of draft weekend.
The Biggest Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were able to pull off a coup in the first round of the draft.
First, because the St. Louis Rams went against their draft board and took Chris Long, they were able to land the best overall player in the draft in Glenn Dorsey.
If that wasn’t good enough, they were also able to draft the third best offensive line prospect (and the most versatile) in Branden Albert.
Those two picks immediately filled glaring needs for Herm Edwards' crew, and alone would have made for a fantastic draft. But they found a way to make it even better.
Brandon Flowers in the second round is a great pick. Some people felt that Flowers was the best cornerback prospect in the draft—if not that, than certainly at least a first round talent.
DaJuan Morgan is a steal in the third round. Some had him going to the Giants in the first round, and very few had him dropping past the second round.
The Chiefs were able to draft what I feel will be four immediate impact players. No other team was able to accomplish that feat over the weekend.
Kudos to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fantastic draft.
Other Draft Winners: Oakland Raiders (McFadden made their draft), Miami Dolphins (great first draft for Parcells), New York Giants (I agree with John Fennelly), Dallas Cowboys (landed both of the guys they wanted in the first round), and Pittsburgh Steelers (I love when teams stay true to their draft boards).
The Biggest Loser: St. Louis Rams
I’ll start with the good.
Justin King is a steal in the fourth round. He has potential to contribute right away in nickel and dime packages. He was a solid second round talent, and they were able to get him in the fourth round.
Nice job there. Now for the bad.
Chris Long is a fantastic player, but they passed over the best player in the draft to take him. You can’t bypass the next Warren Sapp to take a hard working, big motor type.
Long will be a fantastic NFL player, but Dorsey will be a game changer. You don't bypass game changers to fill positional needs. That's how bad teams stay bad.
But at least Chris Long was arguably chosen in the right spot. Donnie Avery? Donnie Avery couldn’t have imagined being selected 33rd overall. Nobody could have imagined it.
They bypassed all of the good wide receiver talent to select a guy who’s undersized, doesn’t run good routes, and most people had going in or after the fourth round.
Give me a break.
Other Draft Losers: Jacksonville Jaguars (trading the moon for Derrick Harvey?), Tennessee Titans (somewhere, Vince Young is crying), and Baltimore Ravens (Joe Flacco at 18?).
Check out my recap of the New England Patriots' draft: Day One and Day Two.
I’m SeanMC.
SeanMC is a Senior Writer at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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2 months ago
Totally agree. You da man, SeanMC.
2 months ago
I agree 100% about St. Louis.
I was expecting Glenn Dorsey to be picked, and I think they were originally planning on that until the hype around Chris Long completely escalated. There's been a lot of buzz about Long, and Dorsey sort of seemed to fade away in the drift of it all.
Like you said, Dorsey is a game changer. Even though there's no doubt that Long will be great, Dorsey might be the icon of a new DT era.
2 months ago
Carl Peterson made a lot of people happy in Kansas City...which is something he hasn't been able to do in quite some time.
This might have even been a job saving Draft for King Carl.
2 months ago
KC surprised me, they a had great weekend. I agree the Rams are clueless....Trent Green will playing QB for them again!!!!
Not so sure about Jax...they needed pass rushers and they got them. A gamble, but that was a big need for them.
2 months ago
In full agreement with your STL assessment, hell... I agree with the whole article
2 months ago
Sean,
I just picked my a** off the floor with this comment:
"Other Draft Winners: Oakland Raiders (McFadden made their draft)"
I enjoyed this article (not bcuz of your Raider comment... I would rate them a B- or C+ ), but because your assessment was short and sweet.
Any team that drafts needs to stick with their (perceived) need., because 3-5yrs from now, it's mostly a crapshoot anyways.
Just a thought on DMC....it's a great move on two fronts. #1 he is a very versatile back, and we can also use him as a 3rd string QB. #2 by taking DMC, we make a defence move...KC was going to take him...even though Barber/Turner are there.....personally, i'm totally feed up of LT, LJ and anything the Donkeys use...we needed to to say " AFC West...the Raiders can/will try anything on offence"
What r your thoughts about the "self-back slapping Mayock was doing over at the NFL Network?
T.
from 2 months ago
They made the right pick. The Raiders were going to come out winners if they came away with McFadden, either Long, or Dorsey. I'm glad they picked correctly. When it comes right down to it, I hate the Chargers way more than I hate the Raiders...
Thankfully, Comcast charges too much for the NFL network, so I didn't have to be subjected to the joy that was their draft coverage. I trust Mayock was an arrogant ass?
Thanks for the compliments.
2 months ago
i agree totally with this article. I think every team 1-4 that passed on Glenn Dorsey are losers. If I were a GM i wouldn't care if I had Warren Sapp still in his prime, there was no way I would pass on Glenn Dorsey.
2 months ago
I agree mostly with all you said however I wouldnt discount what Chris Long could do for St Louis.I really think playing on turf will help Long excell his high motor and the added benifit speed wise from playing on turf could lead to Chris Long garnering alot of sacks,I agree they should have taken Dorsey so they could move Carriker back to end where he should be but i still dont think you can go wrong with Chris Long either.Both Glenn Dorsey and Chris Long should have long and prosperous careers for there respective teams I think.
from 2 months ago
I like Chris Long, but a great defensive tackle is more important than a great defensive end. Dorsey will be great. Chris Long will be good, might be great. You can't pass over Dorsey to take Long.
2 months ago
Boy its going to be fun as hell watching McFadden and Dorsey go at it the Raiders/Chiefs rivalry just got a hell of alot more interesting.
2 months ago
Mayock is the shit lol
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