Arizona Cardinals:
10. Matt Leinart, QB, USC
41. Taitusi “Deuce” Lutui, G, USC
72. Leonard Pope, TE, Geogia
Did somebody say fantasy football? The Arizona Cardinals have gone all-out in an apparent effort to boost their offense into being one of the league’s most feared. Just looking at their offensive lineup sends chills down the spines of NFL Fantasy Football owners. The Cardinals lead the league in passing last season as the tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin tore defenses apart for 277 yards per game. Kurt Warner and Josh McCown traded off starts, but with McCown leaving for Detroit in the off-season and Kurt Warner nearing his last leg as a pro, Dennis Green and the Arizona Cardinals were projected to take a quarterback in round one of the draft.
Enter USC Trojans Quarterback, Matt Leinart. Projected by many to be the #3 overall pick in the draft to the Tennessee Titans, Leinart was an easy pick for the Cardinals to make when the Titans decided to opt for Vince Young of Texas. Without question, this is the biggest value pick in the top-10 of this year’s draft. There’s no way that a player like Leinart should be available that late in the draft. Fortunately for the Cardinals, though, not only was Leinart available, but he seemed anxious to finally get out of the ‘green room’ in New York. Leinart will likely sit for most or all of the 2006 season and learn behind former NFL MVP and Superbowl winning quarterback Kurt Warner. Unless something drastic happens, expect Leinart to be the Cardinals’ starter for the 2007 season and beyond. This guy is ready for the pro’s and he’ll have some great weapons when he finally steps onto the field.
In addition to the Cardinals drafting Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart, they also selected Leinart’s teammate and trusted pocket-protector, Taitusi “Deuce” Lutui. Not only do they improve their offensive line to block for Warner and new RB, Edgerrin James this season; they also give Matt Leinart a player he can trust standing behind once he gets involved. This was a great pick for the Cardinals.
In what, to me, was one of the biggest points of confusion in Saturday’s draft; Georgia TE, Leonard Pope found himself without a team as we entered the third round. Though five Tight Ends were drafted in the first two rounds of the draft, no team called Pope’s name. Aside from Vernon Davis, I feel that Leonard Pope is the best TE in this year’s draft. He is not as explosive of a route-runner as a few of the TE’s taken before him, Pope’s blocking abilities far exceed anything from any TE taken in the first two rounds – Vernon Davis included. The Cardinals improved not only their passing game here, but also their running game. Edgerrin James will find it much easier to run the ball outside when Pope is on the field.
Overall grade: A
Houston Texans:
1. Mario Williams, DE, N.C. State
33. DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama
65. Charles Spencer, OT, Pittsburgh
66. Eric Winston, OT, Miami
I have to admit, I started off the day in a pretty upset mood when I learned that Reggie Bush would not be the #1 overall pick in Saturday’s draft. Though I had Mario Williams as my #2 overall talent, I was not convinced that ANYONE in their right minds should be passing on the Heisman Trophy winner.
My opinion began to change as I thought about the Houston Texans’ situation. They’re looking at a guy, in Bush, who will not be able to play every down (realistically, folks, and that’s coming from a huge Bush supporter). On the other hand, they can draft someone who is touted as being the “next Julius Peppers,” and will probably be in for 90% of the snaps in a season. Then they have to consider the fact that they have a running back, Dominick Davis, who would look at the signing of Bush as somewhat of a ‘slap to the face’ of him. Davis has worked hard to get where he is today as one of the NFL’s most versatile backs. Let’s not forget that Davis is one of the Texans’ first “homegrown” talents. Drafting another running back would be a tough thing to stomach if you’re Davis.
Putting the Bush/Williams debate aside for a minute, as I’m sure it will be brought up hundreds of times again throughout their careers, the Texans had one heck of a draft. Obviously Mario Williams is one of the, if not the top defensive players to come out of college in a long time. His speed, acceleration, strength, and play diagnosis are nearly perfect. The guy is an absolute beast and will provide a much-needed force on defense for the Texans. I should warn, however, that those who expect Williams to step in and contend for the league’s lead in sacks need to reconsider their expectations – it is very, very rare that a rookie defensive end joins a team with poor defense and puts up be numbers. Williams will likely need two or three years of consideration before he can be truly judged.
DeMeco Ryans was a very, very solid pick at #33 overall. The will bring some composure to that linebacker group and hopefully give Mario Williams some support on defense.
The #65 & 66 picks are my reason why the Texans should NOT have selected D’Brickashaw Ferguson #1 overall, as many so-called “experts” suggested. Though the Texans’ problems on offensive line were well documented last season, selecting an offensive tackle with the first overall pick; when you’ve got once-in-a-lifetime talents like Reggie Bush, Mario Williams, and Vince Young on the board is like coaching suicide. An offensive tackle is not going to sell tickets and he is not likely going to change the team around as much as these people think that he will. However, the Texans used their picks wisely and were able to get some incredible value at Offensive Tackle in the THIRD round of the draft! Using both of their consecutive third round picks, the Texans were able to select Pittsburgh’s Chris Spencer and Miami’s Eric Winston; both of whom were projected to be early-mid 2nd round picks before the draft began. While Winston and Spencer are not quite the ‘name’ that D’Brickashaw Ferguson or Winston Justice are, they will bring some much needed help to that offensive line in Houston. I would be surprised if both players don’t see a lot of playing time in 2006.
The Texans had what I believe to be one of the best first-day drafts I’ve seen in a long time. They addressed just about every position of need and were able to get top-tier talent at each one of them.
Overall Grade: A
Green Bay Packers:
5. AJ Hawk, ILB, Ohio State
47. Daryn Colledge, OT, Boise State
52. Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan
67. Abdul Hodge, ILB, Iowa
75. Jason Spitz, C, Louisville
Obviously the pick of Hawk was one that needed to be made. The guy is probably the closest thing to "sure thing" as you're going to find today in the NFL draft. Hawk plays with intensity, brains, and instinct - a combination you rarely find today in young players.
They got a nice value pick in Daryn Colledge. I think he was one of the more overlooked offensive linemen coming into the draft, so to be able to draft him midway through the 2nd round is a definite plus for the Packers. I also liked the pick of Louisville's Jason Spitz in the 3rd round. I like that he has the ability to play anywhere on the line. That should be key when the Packers need help on the line, which they inevitably will. The Packers needed help on the offensive line and they got two really nice value picks to fill those needs.
The pick of Greg Jennings still has me scratching my head. Yeah, Jennings is a solid receiver, but I felt like the pick was kind of a stretch and a poor way of saying "we want to replace Javon Walker." After the top three or four receivers, I feel that this year's WR class is pretty dull. There are some players who could turn into quality NFL talent, but it seems unlikely to me that so many of them are truly WORTH a 2nd round pick.
As you've seen my ranting about, I really am bitter about the Vikings not taking Abdul Hodge. The Packers got such a ridiculous value pick with him in the 3rd round. It's outragous. Hawk/Barnett/Hodge look like one hell of a LB group.
All around, I feel that GB had one of the most productive days of any team today. They addressed key issues on their defense and offensive lines and added some depth at WR.
Overall grade: A-
San Diego Chargers
19. Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State
50. Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn
81. Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson
San Diego really had one of the best draft classes I’ve seen from them. Antonio Cromartie, in my opinion, is the #1 cornerback in this year’s draft. Despite injury and despite little playing time, Cromartie has absolutely DOMINATED in the games he has played in. He is already drawing comparisons to Deion Sanders “with tackling skills.”
Marcus McNeill was a player the Chargers were able to select later than expected. They were excited to see that one of the top Tackles was on the board as he will provide a cushion for Phillip Rivers as well as open holes for RB LaDainian Tomlinson.
Charlie Whitehurst is another one of the players who just seemed to fall into place. The Chargers need some sort of backup quarterback incase things with Rivers don’t work out. While I do think Rivers is going to be a good enough quarterback, there is always the chance of injury. San Diego covered their asses here by taking one of the better QB’s in this draft class.
Overall Grade: A-
Detroit Lions
9. Ernie Sims, OLB, Florida State
40. Daniel Bullocks, S, Nebraska
74. Brian Calhoun, RB, Wisconsin
In somewhat of a shocker, the Detroit Lions did NOT draft a WR in the first round for the first time in three seasons. Because of this, I can no longer believe that the Lions care about their offense whatsoever.
… All kidding aside, the Lions had one of the better first-day drafts. Ernie Sims going #9 to the Lions was really a great pick for the team. Though some fans wanted the Lions to take QB Matt Leinart with the pick, I believe they made the right decision in looking to improve their defense. Ernie Sims will bring a playmaker to that group of linebackers – something that the team hasn’t had in quite some time.
In addition to Sims, the Lions also added to their defense by selecting Nebraska Safety, Daniel Bullocks in the 2nd round. Bullocks was touted by many as one of the better safeties, or defensive backs in general, in this year’s draft. The Lions add a nice playmaker to their defense with this pick and a guy who should be there for years to come.
Even though the Lions have Kevin Jones, I believe that the pick of Brian Calhoun was a beneficial one. The team has obvious depth problems at RB and Calhoun was unquestionably the best talent remaining at the position. Plus, what would Detroit be without a first-day pick on offense?
Overall grade: B+
New York Jets
4. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia
29. Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State
49. Kellen Clemons, QB, Oregon
76. Anthony Schlegal, ILB, Ohio State
97. Eric Smith, SS, Michigan State
Lots of depth addressed here for the Jets. It’s good to see them making use of the five first-day picks they had acquired. D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, the consensus #1 talents of this draft at their position, both fell to the Jets in the first round. The Jets lost Kevin Mawae to the Tennessee Titans in the off-season, so don’t be shocked to see both D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold in the starting lineup for week one of the 2006 season.
Kellen Clemons is the pick that caught me off-guard somewhat. Yes, I realize that Chad Pennington, Patrick Ramsey, and Brooks Bollinger are not the greatest group of quarterbacks ever, but to draft a quarterback in the 2nd round seems a bit odd to me. What the Jets were basically saying is that they didn’t want to invest the money to get one of the top-3, but they wanted a player who could sit on their bench at the #3 spot behind two quarterbacks who have been shunned by the media, and suck up roster money. It doesn’t make any sense to me. Kellen Clemons has little to nothing to learn from Ramsey, Bollinger, or Pennington; and his stock is about as high right now as it will ever be. If the Jets truly wanted to get a quarterback to have start, they would’ve grabbed Leinart, Young, or Cutler in round one. This was just to satisfy the Jets fans in attendance.
The rest of the first-day draft for the Jets addressed the defense. Though the Jets selected Jonathan Vilma two seasons ago, they opted to pickup Ohio State’s Anthonly Schlegal to fill up the depth chart. It is, however, possible, that Michigan State SS, Eric Smith, who was selected in the late-3rd round by the Jets, will bid for the starting job at the beginning of the 2006 season.
Overall Grade: B+
New England Patriots
21. Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota
36. Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
86. Dave Thomas, TE, Texas
New England may have found their future replacement for Corey Dillon in Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney. Touted as most experts’ 2nd-4th back in the draft, Maroney’s doubters often cite his lack of size as a major reason for him not being ranked higher before the draft. Bill Belicek obviously sees something in Maroney that intrigued him enough to take him as the 2nd RB taken in the draft. Maroney can be a big-time playmaker for the Patriots if the coaching staff can get him into the weight room, add some bulk onto him, and get him to run with more of a chip on his shoulder.
The Patriots got a huge steal in Chad Jackson at the #36 slot. Jackson was pretty much a consensus 1st-round pick before the draft, but there were many off-the-wall moves in the first round of the draft that contributed to Jackson being selected as an early 2nd round pick, rather than a mid-late 1st round pick as most had expected. Jackson’s pro day was off the charts and really raised his stock. Hopefully he can live up to the hype and provide Tom Brady with yet another solid target in the WR spot.
In yet another head-scratcher, the Patriots decided to select Texas TE, Dave Thomas despite already having both Daniel Graham and Ben Watson on the roster. Though Graham and Watson are not much of open-field receivers, they are big targets in the end-zone who combined for 7 TD’s last season. With no signs of either being released from the team, one has to question the motive for bringing in another TE to New England. Thomas could be a better open-field receiver, but is it really worth a 3rd round pick that could’ve been used to fill the hole that Willie McGinest left?
Overall Grade: B+
Buffalo Bills
8. Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State
26. John McCargo, DT, N.C. State
70. Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State
In what appears to be a return to their norm, the Buffalo Bills used all three of their first day picks on defense.
The Bills shocked the NFL-draft world when they selected Ohio State Safety, Donte Whitner, with the 8th overall pick in the draft. Though Whitner is a proven leader and playmaker on defense, many experts questioned his ability to be effective without a great supporting cast. This was not an issue for the Bills as they took little time to enthusiastically pick Whitner with their first of two first round draft picks.
The second pick for the Bills, John McCargo, joined his N.C. State defensive line-mates Mario Williams and Manny Lawson as a first round pick in the draft. McCargo is a known monster in the middle of the field and often helped free up Williams and Lawson to make big plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Bills made a great pick here and really addressed a big question area at Defensive Tackle.
CB Ashton Youboty, will join his college teammate Donte Whitner as two Ohio State defensive backs taken by the Bills in day one. The Bills selected the corner in the 3rd round of Sunday’s draft and helped to address what was a problem of depth at the position last season.
Overall: B
Tennessee Titans
3. Vince Young, QB, Texas
45. LenDale White, RB, USC
My oh my, how things change… Vince Young was projected by most of the top NFL analysts to be the quarterback that falls to out of the top-8 and to a team like Oakland or Arizona. Instead, the Titans take Young and it’s Matt Leinart who takes a fall.
Speaking of falling down, LenDale White’s stock took a huge hit when it was revealed that his injured hamstring would prevent him from running a 40-yard dash before the NFL draft. While most teams knew what kind of shape he was in heading into the Rose Bowl last season, many wanted to know if White had done more to get himself into football shape. That question obviously would not be able to be answered before draft-day, so White fell all the way out of the first round and to the Tennessee Titans with the 45th overall pick in the draft.
While on paper, these two picks look absolutely amazing; one thing must be considered – these players could be huge successes or they could be huge busts. There’s no way to tell, but it’s likely going to be one or the other with both of them. If Tennessee gets the good half of things, they’ll look like geniuses. If they get the bad half of things, they’ll continue to a league-wide joke.
Overall grade: B
Atlanta Falcons:
37. Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech
79. Jerious Norwood, RB, Mississippi State
It is very rare that a team is able to trade out of the first round, yet still be able to select a player with their 2nd round pick who is a consensus “1st round quality” player. Atlanta was able to do this on Saturday. The Falcons traded away their #1 draft choice this season when they acquired DE John Abraham in a 3-way deal involving the Denver Broncos. Yet, on Saturday afternoon, they found themselves in position to select one of the top cornerbacks in the entire draft…
Up until the draft itself, Jimmy Williams was considered a shoo-in for a first round pick by SOME team. However, when the Virginia Tech star was on the board as the Falcons were picking in the second round, it appeared to be great match for both parties. The Falcons drafted Williams’ former teammate, DeAngelo Hall, just two seasons ago. Williams and Hall will once again team up, this time in the NFL, to form one of the best young corner tandems in the league.
In addition to Williams, the Falcons found themselves in position to add depth to their running back position as they selected Mississippi State RB, Jerious Norwood with their 3rd round pick. Norwood will be a nice change-of-pace back behind Warrick Dunn and could find himself taking more carries if he proves that his success in college was not just because of the weak competition that Mississippi State played against.
Overall grade: B
New Orleans Saints
2. Reggie Bush, RB, USC
43. Roman Harper, FS, Alabama
Despite numerous trade rumors over the #2 pick in the draft, the New Orleans Saints decided to add to their already stacked group at running back by selecting Reggie Bush.
The Heisman Trophy winner, Bush, will join former all-pro’s Deuce McAllister and Michael Bennett in the Saints’ backfield. He is expected to play somewhat of a ‘slash’ position with the potential to play RB, Slot-WR, or KR. Regardless of where he is put in the Saints’ offense, the ball needs to be put in his hands. Bush is an absolute game breaker, arguably the most exciting college player in the last decade. Bush’s athleticism is completely unmatched and one cannot fault the Saints for taking a chance on him early.
Roman Harper will likely step right in and start on opening day for the Saints at FS or SS. He is one of the most consistent players entering into this draft and the Saints are lucky to have him fall to them with the 43rd overall pick. Great value for the Saints here.
Despite my hype for Bush and the obvious value of the Roman Harper pick, the Saints did only have two picks in the first day and Bush’s job on the team’s offense is still unclear.
Overall Grade: B
Kansas City Chiefs
20. Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State
54. Bernard Pollard, SS, Purdue
85. Brodie Croyle, QB, Alabama
The Chiefs had a fairly solid draft. I really like their choice of Tamba Hali out of Penn State. I feel that Hali was overlooked by a lot of people in many mock drafts and he will probably end up being one of the better defensive players out of this class. The Chiefs need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, so getting Hali was a good choice.
Bernard Pollard, Safety from Purdue will help Hali on that defense as he will likely work his way into a starting role before the season begins. Pollard brings heavy hits along with great athleticism to the KC defense. However, he may struggle in one-on-one coverage vs. a receiver, which is where KC is having problems currently.
Brodie Croyle, the apparent heir to current QB Trent Green was selected in the 3rd round. Croyle’s main concern is a long list of injuries that have kept him from reaching his potential. Howver, he has a huge arm and can read defenses better than most of the quarterbacks in this draft. Not a bad pick at all for Kansas City in the 3rd round.
Overall Grade: B
St. Louis Rams
15. Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
46. Joe Klopfenstein, TE, Colorado
68. Claude Wroten, DT, Louisiana State
77. Jon Alston, OLB, Stanford
93. Dominique Byrd, TE, USC
A solid draft for the Rams saw them select five players in the first say if the draft. Despite many people expecting the Rams to trade up to select a quarterback, the Rams stuck to their first round pick and selected who I believe to be one of the best corner’s in this draft, Clemson’s Tye Hill. Tye Hill will step in immediately as a starter for the Rams who have little talent or depth at the CB position.
Joe Klopfenstein of Colorado (#46 overall) was one of two TE’s the Rams selected in the first day. The other, Dominique Byrd of USC, was taken deep in the 3rd round. Nevertheless, the reasoning behind taking two TE’s in the first day just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. This year’s TE class is deep, but not THAT deep. I know Brandon Manumaleuna isn’t the dream receiving TE, but his job is and always has been to block in that offense. Klopfenstein are coming from teams where their #1 job was to get open down the field and make plays. Unless St. Louis is suddenly unhappy with their passing game, I don’t see the sense in drafting two TE’s in day one of the draft.
Claude Wroten might be one of the better ‘steals’ in this draft. His talents will be greatly appreciated on the Rams’ interior defensive line where he will likely lineup next to former Pro Bowler, La’Roi Glover.
Jon Alston will be a great addition to the Rams’ special team unit, if nothing else. He plays well in pass coverage, but his ability to stop the run leaves something to be desired on the next level.
Overall Grade: B
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
23. Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma
59. Jeremy Trueblood, T, Boston College
90. Maurice Stovall, WR, Notre Dame
Solid day one picks here from the Bucs. They addressed some much needed offensive line problems by selecting both Davin Joseph of Oklahoma and Jeremy Trueblood of Boston College in the first two rounds. This should free up some room for 2nd-year RB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams to sprint his way to another great year on the ground.
I also like the pick of Maurice Stovall, WR from Notre Dame. Chris Simms would love to have a WR that resembles, at least in size, the frame of his college teammate Roy Williams. Williams uses his large frame, much like Stovall, to put himself into position to make catches in traffic. This can be a valuable asset for a young quarterback like Simms.
Overall Grade: B
Cleveland Browns:
13. Kamerion Wimbley, DE, Florida State
34. D’Qwell Jackson, ILB, Maryland
78. Travis Wilson, WR, Oklahoma
Though most draft analysts had the Browns selecting a player to fit into their 3-4 outside linebacker spot, likely N.C. State’s Manny Lawson or Florida State’s Ernie Sims (who was already off the board when the Browns selected); the Browns elected to select Sims’ college teammate, DE Kamerion Wimbley.
While I feel that Wimbley will be a nice fit for the Browns’ new “hybrid” style defense, I feel that Lawson would’ve been a more beneficial choice for the team. Though Wimbley is quick for a DE, he is likely not quick enough to be substituted in at outside linebacker; as Lawson would be. I also feel that Wimbley would’ve been available deeper in the draft, should there be a team interested in moving up to take the Browns’ pick.
D’Qwell Jackson is a great choice for the Browns’ middle linebacker. The guy is a monster in the middle and is likely the best pure MLB in the draft. The Browns got a great value and a great pick here with the 2nd pick in the second round.
Travis Wilson is yet another head-scratcher for me. Even though the pick was in the middle of round-3, there was so much more that could have been addressed for the Browns, who are still trying to develop the WR they chose last season, Braylon Edwards, into a big playmaker.
Overall Grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles
14. Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State
39. Winston Justice, OT, USC
71. Chris Gocong, DE, Cal Poly
The Eagles made out very well in the first day of this year’s NFL draft. Brodrick Bunkley was as many as half of the NFL scout’s #1 DT talent in the draft. Bunkley is a physical specimen at the DT position. Very rarely are you going to find a guy with a body chiseled like Bunkley’s who weighs in at over 300 lbs. Bunkley will add a big anchor in the middle of the Eagles’ defensive line.
Winston Justice basically fell right into Philadelphia’s lap. The fact that he was still available was music to Andy Reid’s ears as he wasted no time drafting the USC star who opened holes for Reggie Bush, LenDale White, and kept defenders from crushing Matt Leinart’s head in.
The pick that threw me off here was the selection of DE Chris Gocong. Not so much that the Eagles wouldn’t like depth at DE, but that there were still some fairly decent WR’s on the board at this point in the draft. I was expecting Philadelphia to select a receiver with the 3rd round pick, but they decided to completely stay away from offensive skill position in day one of the draft.
Overall Grade: B-
San Francisco 49ers
6. Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
22. Manny Lawson, DE/OLB, N.C. State
84. Brandon Williams, WR, Wisconsin
It appears that the 49ers are attempting to get some weapons for quarterback Alex Smith. They selected both prototype TE Vernon Davis and the short, speedy WR from Wisconsin, Brandon Williams in day one of the draft.
Though Vernon Davis will likely make for a nice target for Alex Smith, I question if he can truly help change the team around as much as another player could have. Ernie Sims, Michael Huff, and Haloti Ngata were all on the board still when the 49ers picked Vernon Davis. OLB, S, and DT are all positions that could be upgraded for the 49ers.
Manny Lawson was the 49ers’ pick in the mid-1st round, #22 overall. Lawson would be perfect for the 49ers if they ran the kind of defense that resembles Dallas or Cleveland. Unfortunately, the 49ers are still trying to “find themselves” on defense which may mean that Lawson is stuck at DE in the NFL – at least for awhile. I feel this would severely handicap Lawson’s skills. The bigger, stronger linemen in the NFL are going to be able to push Lawson around too easily.
Brandon Williams is a decent pick, but I believe that Smith would be better suited if lined up with a strong, tall receiver such as Miami-Ohio’s Martin Nance.
Overall Grade: B-
Carolina Panthers:
27. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
58. Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State
88. James Anderson, OLB, Virginia Tech
89. Rashad Butler, OT, Miami
Unfortunately, the Panthers did not find a player that will be an immediate game-changer for their team. While depth is nice, the Panthers had four picks to select a player who will be a true every-down contributor, they failed to do so. DeAngelo Williams is one of my top players in this draft, but he will be going to a team that likes to run the ball between the tackles – something that Williams has not done much of in Memphis.
Overall grade: C+
Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
83. Anthony Smith, S, Syracuse
95. Willie Reid, WR, Florida State
Pittsburgh moved up in round one to select the first WR taken in the draft, Ohio State’s Santonio Holmes. I felt that both Chad Jackson and Santonio Holmes fell way too low for a team like Pittsburgh to NOT make a move to select one of them. It could be argued that the Steelers should have selected Chad Jackson, but Holmes will be a fine fit for their offense and a great compliment to their top receiver, Hines Ward.
Anthony Smith should be a nice addition to the team and hopefully he’s able to fill in for S, Chris Hope, whom they lost in free agency. Though Smith will likely be the starter in week one, Chris Hope’s loss will be felt.
I felt that Willie Reid was a bit of a stretch in the 3rd round. Not only had Pittsburgh already selected a WR in round one of the draft, Reid doesn’t necessarily feel like the kind of player that would contribute a whole lot to this team’s offense. His addition on special teams, as a KR, will be a nice way to bring in some form of a replacement for Randel El, whom they lost in the offseason.
Dallas Cowboys:
18. Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State
53. Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame
92. Jason Hatcher, DE, Grambling State
The Cowboys did a pretty decent job in day one to pick up what they believe to be players who will improve their innovative “hybrid” 3-4 style defense. Bobby Carpenter is a quick player, though not exceptionally fast, who should be able to step in and start immediately. Though I questioned the pick with Manny Lawson still being on the board, when I considered it further, Carpenter might be more of what Parcells is looking for. Though Lawson would be an explosive player on defense, his size leaves something to be desired and his inexperience at the linebacker position may prove to be the reason that Parcells passed on him in favor of Carpenter.
As for Hatcher, he was a very solid selection for a 3rd round pick. He fits right in as a natural 3-4 DE and should be able to contribute this year and for years in the future. I don’t expect him to be a big-time player, but more likely someone who will substitute in and out depending on the game situation.
Anthony Fasano left me kind of questioning what the Cowboys were thinking. Though I know that when it comes to positions like TE, “two is better than one,” I don’t understand why the Cowboys would want to invest such an early pick on a player who will likely see limited playing time behind Jason Witten. Fasano isn’t a bad player, but I also felt that Dallas should’ve looked at Leonard Pope if they were truly concerned about getting a TE in day one.
Overall grade: C+
Baltimore Ravens
12. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
56. Chris Chester, C, Oklahoma
87. David Pittman, CB, Northwestern State
In what ended up being the second of many draft-pick trades in the first day of the 2006 draft, the Baltimore Ravens traded picks with their division rival Cleveland Browns to move up to the #12 pick overall.
Oregon DT Haloti Ngata was a part of the race with Brodrick Bunkley for the consensus #1 DT in the draft. When it came time for Baltimore to pick a “space eater” up front to clear up space for linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens decided to go with the guy who best fits that description. The choice, with the 12th pick, was Haloti Ngata. I agreed strongly with this pick for the Ravens. Ngata is exactly what they need and he should be a cornerstone to that defense for years to come.
Oklahoma’s C, Chris Chester, was the Ravens’ 2nd pick; while Northwestern State’s CB, David Pittman, was the team’s 3rd round pick. While I agreed that the Ravens should’ve been addressing their interior offensive line and defensive backfield with these picks, I don’t feel that these players were the best available at their positions. A player who is still on the board as we head into day two, Minnesota C, Greg Eslinger; is who I believe to be the #2 Center in the draft, ahead of Chris Chester. I would’ve much preferred to see the Ravens select Fresno State CB, Richard Marshall, with the 2nd round pick and then Eslinger with the 3rd round pick.
Overall grade: C+
Minnesota Vikings:
17. Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa
48. Cedric Griffin, CB, Texas
51. Ryan Cook, C, New Mexico
64. Tarvaris Jackson, QB, Alabama State
Many of you know that I spent most of the day Saturday at the official Minnesota Vikings draft party. While we were there, we were addressed numerous times by both owner Zygi Wilf and new Head Coach Brad Childress. We were informed that teams were trying to convince the Vikings to trade up in order to be in line to select their eventual first round pick, Chad Greenway. The Vikings stood their ground, though, and allowed the teams ahead of them to draft as planned.
It turned out great as the Vikings got their man, Chad Greenway, with the 17th overall pick in the draft. The place erupted into cheers, myself included, as the name was announced. Chad Greenway is the absolute best fit at OLB in the 2006 draft for this new “Tampa Cover 2” defense that the Vikings are planning on running this year. Don’t let these false reports about his “questionable” coverage skills fool you. Greenway is a playmaker on defense and is unquestionably the best cover-linebacker in this year’s draft.
In round two, I was happy to see the Vikings select Cedric Griffin with their first of two 2nd round picks. Griffin, to me, is a guy who had his stock hurt very badly by this year’s strong DB-class. Guys like Cromartie, Tye Hill, and Griffin’s Texas teammate Michael Huff made him look like a lot less of a talent than he truly is. Griffin should fit right in with Winfield and Smoot to form one of the league’s best corner trios. At this point, everything was falling into place for the Vikings. I was loving it.
Throughout the day, Vikings fans had been talking about how they would love to select both of Iowa’s linebackers, Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge, today in the draft. When asked for a vocal response, both Hodge and Greenway received large cheers from the fans in attendance and a “thumbs up” from the KFAN AM Sports-Radio analysts on stage. Though all signs pointed to the Vikings selecting Abdul Hodge, they decided to go completely off-course in favor of New Mexico Center, Ryan Cook. Though I had left the draft party by this time, I can only imagine the amount of boo’s coming from the crowd when they heard that not only were the Vikings not taking Hodge, but they were taking a player whose value at this point in the draft is questionable at best, and at a position where the Vikings already have a perennial all-pro starter in Matt Birk. I assumed my dreams of having Hodge and Greenway on the Vikings’ defense were crushed at this point.
That is, until I heard the news that the Vikings had traded with Pittsburgh to acquire the final pick in the 2nd round of the draft. I couldn’t wait to see the Vikings pick Hodge… It didn’t take long for the Vikings to make their selection, either – I watched on anxiously as the announcer proclaimed, “With the 64th pick in the NFL draft, acquired from Pittsburgh, the Minnesota Vikings select Tarvaris Jackson, quarterback, Alabama State.”
My jaw hit the floor. WHO? Yes, I’ve heard of Tarvaris Jackson, but what the hell were the Vikings doing TRADING UP to pick him in the 2nd round!? With Charlie Whitehurst, Brodie Croyle, and Omar Jacobs still on the board; I couldn’t put together the pieces as to why the Vikings would make a move like this. I still can’t. This one baffles me. Sure, the Vikings are in need of a future quarterback, but to draft a guy from ALABAMA STATE who most analysts didn’t have going until the middle of day two is just crazy to me.
Things absolutely fell apart in the Vikings’ war-room after the picks of Chad Greenway and Cedric Griffin. I don’t know what they were thinking.
Overall grade: C+
Cincinnati Bengals
24. Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina
55. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Louisiana State
91. Frostee Rucker, DE, USC
A solid draft for the Bengals. Nothing overly spectacular, but they do address some needs with all three picks.
Don’t let the interceptions fool you – The Bengals’ secondary ranked 26th in the league in passing yardage allowed. Even with the interceptions, the secondary was in need of some obvious retooling this off-season. Jonathan Joseph gives the Bengals an athletic, lightning quick corner who can likely play man-to-man on most teams’ speed WRs. Solid choice from the Bengals here.
Andrew Whitworth will help address a need at offensive tackle, though he will likely be used as a depth player behind current starters Levi Jones and Willie Anderson. Good choice for the Bengals in the 2nd round.
Frostee Rucker is a player that could potentially start for the Bengals next season for the simple fact that what the Bengals have right now is one of the least intimidating DE depth charts in the league. Rucker brings strength, smarts, and big-game experience to the Bengals.
Overall grade: C+
Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA
60. Maurice Drew, RB, UCLA
80. Clint Ingram, OLB, Oklahoma
When the Jaguars passed on LenDale White in the first round, it became evident to me that they were hoping to see Maurice Drew or Brian Calhoun’s names on the board when they selected in the 2nd round.
The Jaguars needed a playmaker and TE and Marcedes Lewis can give them that if he remains healthy. The problem with Lewis, that I see, is his inability to block down the field. He’s not too bad when it comes to line-of-scrimmage blocking, but when he needs to hit a moving target, he seems to be out of place a lot of times which caused his RB, UCLA’s Maurice Drew, to have to make a lot of moves in the secondary that he shouldn’t be needing to make.
Drew was indeed the Jaguars’ second-round pick and I believe he will fit incredibly well in Jacksonville. Drew will be the feature running back once Fraud Taylor finally moves out.
Oklahoma’s Clint Ingram will help fill out the Jaguars’ LB depth as their 3rd round selection at #80 overall. Solid pick for that late in the draft.
Overall Grade: C+
Chicago Bears
42. Danieal Manning, SS, Abilene Christian
57. Devin Hester, WR, Miami
73. Dusty Dvoracek, DT, Oklahoma
The Bears trading down out of their first round pick was a bit of a shock. It was assumed by most at that point that the Bears would select WR Chad Jackson, as he had quietly slipped down the draft into their hands. By trading out of this pick, Jackson was eventually drafted by the New England Patriots.
As part of their return for the first-round pick they gave up, the Bears selected Abilene Christian SS, Danieal Manning. Manning will likely start in Chicago’s secondary next season as the Bears’ depth at safety has grown thinner and thinner over the past few seasons. Though Manning is a decent player, I do believe that the player picked by the Saints immediately after Manning was selected, Roman Harper, would fit the Bears’ smashmouth style of football a bit better than Danieal Manning would. In the end, though, the Bears decided to go with Manning. Not a bad choice, but the loss of Chad Jackson is really the glaring hole that I’m seeing.
