NFL Draft R1

Watching free Game 7 hockey.  Go Panthers.

Random thoughts....

I like Andrew Luck.  Obvious 1st pick.  I don’t like the draft hats this year.  A few years ago, when Crabtree slipped to the 49ers, I bought the 49er draft hat.  I always buy the NCAA bball champ hat, so I started a new (albeit ridiculously unnecessary) tradition of getting a draft hat.  Year 2 was the Cowboys with Dez (maybe it’ll be best WR), then the Lions last year (nope, just best 1st pick - loved pairing Fairley with Suh).  I’ll let you know when I know about this year, but just know now that I’m disappointed with the 5950.

I like RG3 and Trent Richardson.  Nothing controversial yet.  Maybe giving up 3 picks to move up, but whatever.  A 4th, 5th, and 7th isn’t nothing, but I am always a sucker for getting your guy.

Great job by Vikes to pick up 3 picks and still get their guy.  Matt Kalil.  I would love to see coach’s tape.  There is definitely a market for coach’s tape, and yet the NFL has no interest in making it available.  It’s a shame.  

I really like Blackmon.  Given the right situation, I could see him being a Pro Bowler next year.  I’m not sure, unfortunately, if Jax is that situation.  Giving up a 4th hurts, but see above about my being a sucker.

Morris Claiborne to the Cowboys.  1st real surprise of the draft for me.  Not surprised they moved, but moved that much.  btw, I think this is great.  Honey Badger got the hype, but I have heard repeatedly that this guy was the best CB on that team.

Looking at the other side of the trade, how about the Rams?  Blackmon goes off the board, so they find someone to pay and move back.  They pick up the 45th pick and could still get the 2nd best WR in the draft (Michael Floyd).  They gotta sweat for a bit, but could work out nicely.  Of course, they could be targeting someone else entirely.  To recap, the Rams have turned the 2nd pick into the 14th, 2 additional twos this year and an additional 1 next year.  Have to love the ability to build there.

I don’t like taking a safety at 7, unless it’s Ed Reed.  Barron is not Ed Reed.  I will probably never know, but I think it’s a reasonable guess to think that TB traded back thinking they could get Claiborne.  Seems stupid in a 6 person draft that someone wouldn’t trade up to 6.  So, maybe it’s not reasonable or maybe TB is stupid.  Either way, I hope Barron works out because I like Schiano.  

Tannehill to Miami.  Seems like a nice kid, but I think Billick got it right a couple weeks ago when he talked about Tannehill being this year’s JaMarcus Russell.  NOT from a personality standpoint.  I’m sure Tannehill will work.  But, when teams draft because they need a position or hype instead of taking a player whose talents match up with a slot’s value, problems arise.  Huge upside.  But, he’s an Aggie, so I don’t think he’s going to make it in this league.  Boom.

I think you build with OL.  But, I also think a team needs at least one stud LB to be a great team.  From everything I’ve heard Kuechly is a STUD.  So, good for CAR getting him at 9.  The picks are flying.  We’re already through 9 picks (about 20 minutes ahead of my timetable).  Nice.  We might be done by 11.

Yep, Bills took about 3 minutes to get their card in for Gilmore.  Nice pace.  I really expected Riley Reiff there.  I heard today that he’s a better prospect than Bulaga, which surprised me.  He could slip now, because I think many planned for him to be gone.

Dontari Poe may end up being a dominant DL in the NFL, but I think if you as an NFL GM simply went by the rule that if college production were mentioned on weaknesses on a report, you wouldn’t select that guy then you’d be off to a good start.  That can’t all be one sentence.

By the way, I don’t get the trend to go to a 3-4 in the NFL.  

The trade for 7 from 5 for TB looks bad.  Yes, it’s an earlier 4th, but both the trade from 3 to 4 and 12 to 15 netted more.  And, if they lost their dude, it hurts worse.

PHI traded up from 15 to 12 to get Fletcher Cox.  Since they were rumored to possible to be trading up from 15 to 7 to get Fletcher Cox, this has to be a win.  btw, I think if I’m an owner, I think about hiring Andy Reid in some capacity when he’s done coaching.

Heather Graham is amazing.

I saw some mocks where ARI took Michael Floyd.  I saw that LFitz supposedly was lobbying for him.  I love him.  I love the situation.  I’m surprised (like Gruden, apparently) that ARI didn’t go D or OL (though I’d heard they loved Glenn, not Reiff).  It’ll now be even more interesting to see what STL does at 14.  

Ok, despite missing out on Floyd, I like STL’s deals.  They need a bunch.  Brockers is the pick. Ok.  Plug up the middle.

Mike Mayock knows football.  Almost every time he speaks, he makes sense to me.  And, he loves Chandler Jones, so I like Chandler Jones.

I said earlier that I’m a sucker for getting your guy.  But, really?  Take a guy you could get tomorrow at 15?  Bruce Irvin.  Dumb.  Ridiculously dumb.  

Here we go again.  Effort questions.  Motor.  Not good for a DE.  Quinton Coples.  And, bullshit on Gruden saying that Rex Ryan can push the right buttons.  He pushes a button, and if it works, great.  But, it doesn’t work for everyone and I don’t see it working for Coples.  

CIN should pick OL/DB or DB/OL.  Will they?  Ok, halfway there.  Dre Kirkpatrick.  I like it.  I like it a lot.  Will Zimmer stay in CIN?  Because I think it’s a good fit if so.  OL at 21?

I know Gruden likes everyone.  I have complained about how Gruden likes everyone.  But, I’m still sold on Melvin Ingram.  Maybe because I want Rivers and Turner to have a good D so they can contend.  

I like players from Boise State.  If I’m a GM, yes, I’m looking for college production.  Part of that is motor/work.  But, good coaching obviously helps.  Playing for Art Briles is going to mean you are in a better position to produce than if you play for Tuberville.  ps Guns up!

Kendall Wright to TEN.  Meh.  Could be good.  Could be not good.  Definitive meh.

The Chandler Jones watch didn’t take long.  NEP trade up and get him.  Good for them.  They gave up a 3rd, but if Jones is what Mayock says he is, no problem there, obv.  Will have to wait 6 more to see if CIN goes OL with 2nd pick.

As evidenced by my post the other day, I’m cool on Weeden.  I’m fcold on him to CLE.  Worst possible pick by CLE.  Colt McCoy deserves another chance, unless you can get a clear cut top tier dude.  Weeden is NOT a clear cut top tier dude.  Tell me right now who starts next year.  You can’t.  That’s dumb.  Sidenote:  Colt is three years younger.

Now, Riley Reiff comes off the board.  Great value, obviously.  He is NOT a LT, but can be a good RT or really good G.

Pace still flying.  PIT gets DeCastro.  Another great value.  Prolly my favorite OL in the draft.  And, I love that he’s going to a team that isn’t going to make him a C.  Will be a Pro Bowl G.  Exaggerate much?

Wow. NE trades up again.  Get Dont’a Hightower.  I love it.  Jones and Hightower.  Man, I’m turning into Gruden, loving everyone.  Or hating.  Or meh.  Fun.  I love the draft.  And, ps, I love my wife.  Pats give up a 3rd and 4th to move from 27 to 21 and 31 to 25.  No problem.  btw, they picked up Brandon Lloyd, Anthony Gonzalez, and Donte’ Stallworth in Free Agency (and Robert Gallery).

Speaking of FA, there are still some good players out there.  Seems like more than usual.  That would make a good post.  I probably won’t get around to doing it justice, but I’ll add it to the list.

Awesome 1st round for CIN.  OL and DB.  Value AND needs.  That’s how you do.

Ridiculously fast.  At 6:30, I thought closer to 11 than 12.  But, now, we may sneak in before 10.  Wow.  

Vikes overpaid to get back up into 1st.  To get Harrison Smith, who isn’t all that.  I like him, but wouldn’t defend this without loving him.  From the conversation, it sounds like “need” popping up again.

A.J. Jenkins.  I woulda preferred Randle.  I probably woulda preferred Hill.  And Jeffery.  In my tweet, I mentioned that you gotta trust Harbaugh.  But, I change my mind.  I am not a big fan of Baalke, and don’t see any reason to trust Harbaugh.  One (1) catch by a WR in the NFC Championship.  

DEN trading back.  I like it.  Let other teams fall in love.  TB takes Martin from Boise.  I just said I like Boise players, and Martin is an example of that.  He “does it all.”  He’s not as explosive as some others, but is “complete.”  I don’t like TB’s draft, which means Barron and Martin are gonna run the world.  Price is only switching 4ths, so not a huge deal.

The Giants make their pick at 10:04 on my clock.  Pretty amazing.  They take David Wilson, who I like more than Martin.  I don’t understand why LaMichael James is not rated higher.  We’ll see tomorrow.  Only 3 hours.  Cya.