My favorite days of the year are The NFL Draft, the release of next Madden game, my birthday, and Christmas. In that order. Needless to say, I was watching on Saturday, and I'll break down my thoughts on the first round, pick by pick.
1. Miami Dolphins - OT Jake Long, Michigan
You really can't go wrong with this selection. Some scouts doubt his ability to play left tackle in the league, and if that's the case, you can play him on the right side. If that doesn't work, you move him inside. Case and point: Robert Gallery. Tuna and the Fish couldn't afford to take a risky player, and Parcells has done an excellent job of rebuilding the O-line in Miami.
2. St. Louis Rams - DE Chris Long, Virginia
St. Louis has been trying to sure up their defense, specifically their defensive line, for years. They nabbed a complete player who is better than anyone else they had, but I doubt his ability to rush the passer at the next level.
I would have loved for them to pick Dorsey and move Carriker back outside, but with Carriker reportedly bulked up to over 300lbs that move seemed unlikely.
3. Atlanta Falcons - QB Matt Ryan, BC
New GM Thomas Dimitroff understood from his time in New England how important a top quarterback is to a franchise. The team officially washes its hands of the past few years and did the right thing in giving the fan base someone to talk about other than their complaints of Michael Vick or Matt Schaub.
I'm sure defensive minded head coach Mike Smith was pulling for Glenn Dorsey, but this was a good call.
4. Oakland Raiders - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
The recent signing spree of Al Davis reminds me of his rampage in the 60's before the announcement of the NFL-AFL merger. He's tired of losing and he wants talent, no matter how much it costs him.
McFadden is arguably the most talented player in this draft, but the team has a gluttony of running backs. With Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan, and Michael Bush on the roster, I would have liked for them to take Dorsey and replace the retired Warren Sapp, leaving Tommy Kelley to stay outside at DE.
Rhodes has recently been released, but he may not be the only one out.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
Trading away Jared Allen doesn't make this a better team, but it was clear that he wasn't going to sign a long-term deal and they decided to get what they could (I'm looking at you, Cincinnati).
They start the rebuilding with a dominant defensive tackle that they have sorely been lacking. Dorsey will take on blockers to free up more plays for the linebacking core and produce as a pass rusher up the middle.
6. New York Jets - DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
Eric Mangini and the Jets know that in order to get back to the playoffs, they need to get to Tom Brady. They threw a bunch of money into that department this off-season, bringing in Kris Jenkins and Calvin Pace.
Gholston takes plays (and games) off sometimes, but a player with his skill set should flourish in the Jets scheme.
7. New Orleans Saints (from NE, from SF) - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
Some NFL teams liked Ellis just as much if not more than Dorsey, and had them ranked 1-A and 1-B. After addressing their need at linebacker, the Saints upgraded their defensive front, and now boast and impressive front four of Will Smith, Charles Grant, Hollis Thomas, and Ellis. This will take pressure off of the back seven and help their anemic pass defense.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (from BAL) - DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
I really feel that if Harvey were not taken here, he might have gone in the mid-teens, possibly at 11 to Buffalo or 13 to Carolina, so its not as big of a reach as at first glance.
However, they mortgaged their entire draft to pick him, and selected Quentin Groves in Round 2. If the rumor about their potential deal with Miami for Jason Taylor is true, they would have been better off dealing for him and keeping a few of their picks, but Harvey and Groves can learn from NFL vets Paul Spicer and Reggie Hayward while making some contributions this season.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers, USC
The Bengals would have been ecstatic to see Ellis fall to them, but their issues at linebacker since the loss of Takeo Spikes are also well documented.
Rivers comes without any character flaws, which is also a bonus. I'm curious to see if the team accepts Odell Thurman back, but either way the Bengals got a player who will help in more ways than one.
10. New England Patriots (from NO) - LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
The Pats notoriously avoid drafting linebackers in the first two rounds (don't talk to me about Andy Katzenmoyer), so using a top 10 pick on Mayo shows how the team feels about his ability.
He can play any of the four LB spots in Belicheck's scheme, and he will be surrounded with plenty of intelligent veterans to teach him the complex system. Initial mock drafts had him going at the tail end of the first round, but being the No. 2 rated LB made his stock increase, and this is not as much of a reach as initially thought.
He is another player that would have gone in the teens, and the Patriots always ignore needs or draft position and take the players that they want.
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
Buffalo did the right thing in taking McKelvin. Corner has been a need since the loss of Nate Clements to San Francisco. I like the duo of Terrence McGee and Ashton Youboty, but the latter has been injured often. This pick will also pay dividends in the return game.
I would have looked for them to take a DE, but there was no player left on the board worth taking at this position.
12. Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
Clady has the athleticism to excel in the Broncos famed zone blocking scheme. With the completion of a trade for former top ten pick Dwayne Robertson on the eve of the draft, Denver was free to give QB Jay Cutler some protection and fill their other need.
13. Carolina Panthers - RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
This was the first head scratcher of the draft. For the second time in three years the Panthers selected a running back in the first round, instead of addressing their major need of offensive line.
With many of the top tackles left on the board I expected to see Chris Williams here. I'm not sure what this pick says about DeAngelo Williams' future, but clearly the Panthers were not happy with their offensive production last season.
14. Chicago Bears - OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
The team made the smart move in bolstering their offensive line. Hopefully this means increased production out of Cedric Benson, but I wouldn't hold my breath. The Bears have several holes and it's hard to believe that they were in the Super Bowl just two years ago.
15. Kansas City Chiefs (from DET) - OG/OT Branden Albert, Virginia
Several rumors had the Chiefs taking him at five, so getting Glenn Dorsey and using Minnesota's pick to move up and grab Albert was good use of the draft board.
It seems so long ago the Kansas City boasted one of the top offensive lines in the league, and whether Albert plays tackle or guard, this pick will help open up holes for Larry Johnson and protect Brodie Croyle. I really like what the Chiefs did, not only in the first round, but the entire weekend.
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennesse St.
With former top ten pick Antrel Rolle moving back to Safety, the Cardinals needed an upgrade. Rodgers-Cromartie is far more talented then incumbent starters Eric Green and Roderick Hood, and will provide big plays with Rolle and Pro Bowler Adrian Wilson behind him.
17. Detroit Lions (from KC, from MIN) - OT Gosder Cherilus, BC
Rated by most as the No. 5 tackle in this year's draft class, Cherilus is a bit of a surprise with this pick. He does fill a position of need, but might not be able to play at a high level right away. I'm just glad that they didn't panic and take a WR for the fifth time.
I would have taken Rashard Mendenhall here, but maybe that's why I'm here and not in the NFL. No, actually that's not true. I don't know why Matt Millen has a job.
18. Baltimore Ravens (from HOU) - QB Joe Flacco, Delaware
As much as I like Joe Flacco and as much as the Ravens needed a new quarterback with the retirement of Steve McNair, I'm not a big proponent of taking the perennial QB that goes relatively unnoticed during the season but flies up draft boards at the combine.
These players are projected to go in the second or third round, and then teams try to out guess each other and jump ahead to grab them. Baltimore did this a few years ago with Kyle Boller, and Buffalo did it with JP Losman.
That being said, I do like Flacco, and armed with many of Jacksonville's picks, I can't blame Baltimore for moving up and getting their guy.
19. Carolina Panthers (from PHI) - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
I was surprised to see Otah still on the board (and that Philadelphia didn't take him themselves) but he fills an immediate need and can contribute right away. In my opinion they gave up a little much, but John Fox and co. are feeling the pressure of several unproductive seasons since their loss in the Super Bowl, and are clearly trying to right the ship this year.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
The Bucs could not have been happier with this selection. Corner was a major need with the loss of Brian Kelly and Ronde Barber's age, but of the top two corners in this draft, Talib is the only one who is a perfect fit in the Tampa 2 defense.
21. Atlanta Falcons (from WAS) - OT Sam Baker, USC
I would have liked to see the Falcons hold on to those three second round picks and turn them into starters, and I think that they still may have been able to get a solid tackle at No. 34.
I do, however, respect the fact that they are already trying to give Matt Ryan all the support he needs, starting by giving him some protection up front. I was surprised to see that Washington finally understood the value of draft picks and traded back instead of blowing the pick on an overrated, pricey veteran.
22. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE)- RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
It's no secret the Jerry Jones was enamored with McFadden and Felix Jones, but paying the price of the 22nd overall pick to get a complementary player that may never grow into a number one starter seems steep to me. I think that they could have taken a higher rated player here and waited until their original pick at 28 to take Jones, but Jerry Jones gets what he wants.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
With no offensive or defensive linemen on the board to fill Pittsburgh's needs, the Steelers were in a position to take the best player available and that was Mendenhall. He is clearly a luxury pick considering the team's depth at RB, but with Fast Willie Parker coming off a knee injury, Mendenhall will provide insurance and another weapon for Ben Roethlisberger.
24. Tennessee Titans - RB Chris Johnson, East Carolina
This pick baffles me. The Titans used a second round pick in '07 on Chris Henry, and in '06 to take Lendale White. White is coming off a 1,000 yard rushing season, and Henry showed good burst in making some big plays. These two complement each other well and while some seem to be down on Henry, I believe in his talent. With their pick of every wide receiver in the entire draft, I can't believe that the Titans didn't give Vince Young a legitimate weapon on the outside, such as his old college teammate Limas Sweed.
25. Dallas Cowboys (from Seattle) - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
Even with the trade for Pacman Jones, a cornerback of the future was still a major need for Dallas. Jenkins was the last of the top prospects available, and won't be put into a high pressure situation because the team has Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry to go with Jones and Jenkins.
26. Houson Texans (from BAL, from JAX) - OT Duane Brown, Va. Tech
The Texans are the reason why the Cowboys had to trade up to take Jenkins, because I firmly believe he would have been the pick here. The Texans got caught up in the run on tackles, and a wide receiver opposite Andre Johnson might have been a better investment here despite their constant offensive line woes.
27. San Diego Chargers - CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
The right side of the offensive line needed addressing, but San Diego didn't get caught up in the run on tackles by over-drafting. Cason will take the place of Drayton Florence, who departed via free agency, behind Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer. The Chargers' defensive formula against the Patriots in the playoffs requried three cover corners, and the league in general is moving toward more nickel packages.
28. Seattle Seahawks (from DAL) - DE Lawrence Jackson, USC
The tail end of the draft always has a few surprises. It feels like the Seahawks constantly use high picks on defensive linemen, and I actually thought WR was a bigger need. This team used to be stacked at the position, but after the losses of Darrell Jackson and DJ Hackett, they are left with an aging Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson and Deion Branch, neither of which are No. 1 receivers.
29. San Francisco 49ers (from IND) - DT Kentwan Balmer, UNC
This is a great pick, both in terms of need and value. Balmer fits the Niners scheme and is one of the last pieces to their transition to Mike Nolan's 3-4. He will stuff the middle, freeing up more plays and protecting last year's first round investment, LB Patrick Willis.
30. New York Jets (from GB) - TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
While I'm not surprised that Green Bay traded out of this pick, I thought that they could have drafted Keller, or selected Safety Kenny Phillips. They used a second round pick on WR Jordy Nelson, and with their so called "Fab Five" at the position, I thought they had bigger needs that could have been addressed here. The Jets signed Bubba Franks in the offseason, but I don't think he can be counted on, and Dustin Keller provides and upgrade over current starter Chris Baker.
31. New York Giants - S Kenny Phillips, Miami
Phillips' stock seemed to cool down toward the onset of the draft, but he fills a significant need after the departure of Gibril Wilson in free agency, and will continue that tradition of talented safeties to come out of Miami.
That's all I have for Round 1 analysis, but keep an eye out for my next article, where I'll put each team's draft into fantasy perspective and how it affects your fantasy football draft.
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5 months ago
I like your analysis of the picks. I agree with your thought on alot of those picks, especially Baltimore's selection of Joe Flacco. I'm look forward to your next article.
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