Editor’s note: The following article is not written by RotoScoop’s administrator, Dalton Del Don. It is written by Jeff Chudnofsky, who will be handling the NFL Draft coverage.
I never thought that Houston’s first pick would come down to a pure money issue. I don’t buy Charlie “Why am I still employed†Casserly’s excuse that the pick was to improve their defense. Over the course of Casserly’s regime with the Texans, offense has been the biggest problem. Every April, Texans fans clamor for offensive line help and a second receiver. Finally, those two areas were addressed, but David Carr and Andre Johnson would reap more benefits if Reggie Bush were to line up in the slot. Not that I don’t like Mario Williams, but Reggie Bush is a once in a decade player. Mario Williams better turn out to be Lawrence Taylor.
OK Mr. Levy, you can play GM as soon as you finish your pudding and take your sponge bath. No seriously, Marv made those picks from the convalescent home. With Matt Leinart still on the board, I find it hard to believe that the Bills could not trade down to draft Whitner. Ninth overall is at least five picks early for a guy that was likely to be available in the 20s. Plus, Buffalo has much more pressing needs than strong safety, like DT, OL, General Manager, Head Coach.
Denver could be scary in two years. Assuming Shanny is still running the club, the combination of Cutler to Walker will be lethal. The Broncos were extremely active during the draft, manipulating their picks to get the players they had clearly targeted for a long time.
Arizona is again a clear winner at the draft. While Leinart is a steal at ten, I think he’d struggle to be successful anywhere else. Pardon the cliché, but Arizona is the ideal place for him. Arizona continued to collect value players with Georgia TE Leonard Pope, USC G Deuce Latui and Michigan DT Gabe Watson. Seattle better sleep with one eye open.
I love Detroit’s selection of Ernie Sims. Coach Marinelli’s defensive scheme will have Sims free to sweep from the weakside ala Derrick Brooks.
So the Raiders didn’t get Vince Young. While this move won’t sell as many tickets or jerseys, it will probably result in more wins. In a division with the deadly combos of Tomlinson/Gates and LJ/Gonzalez, the selections of Huff, Howard and Bing will strengthen the Oakland run defense as well as intermediate pass coverage. Rob Ryan is building a young, fast, hard-hitting defensive core in Oakland.
I was close with the selections of Sinorice Moss and Santonio Holmes. I knew they would get drafted in those spots, but didn’t think the Steelers and G-Men would swap picks for them…
Initially, I didn’t like New York’s selection of Mathias Kiwanuka, but I’m going to drink the Kool Aid on this one. Strahan is 35, and putting him at DT on 3rd down might decrease his numbers, but it will improve the overall pass rush.
Lastly, the fantasy implications of this draft remain to be seen. Newly acquired RB Joseph Addai could be a top 10 RB in Indianapolis, but I smell an early committee for now. Same goes for DeAngelo Williams in Carolina. Maurice Drew in Jacksonville and Laurence Maroney in New England are backfields being groomed for 2007. With exception to Vernon Davis, the offensive rookies enter training camp fighting for starting jobs.
Leave a Reply