NFL Draft Thoughts

The NFL draft is done! Here is my analysis for the best and worst of this weekend's picks.

I'm sure the fans of Chicago are worried right now, watching their first round draft pick Cedric Benson (above) crying on national TV. His complaints about how "difficult" the draft process is makes me wonder if he's a Chicago-style football player. Will being in a big-market, football-loving city be too much for the young man? We shall see. To me, it seemed that he is a lot like Ricky Williams...a little unstable and mentally weak. But Ricky Williams, who came from the same college and was an idol of Benson, was a great football player. The NFL draft really is a crap shoot.

Ultimately what's great about draft day is that it's the last time opinions matter. These guys will have to perform on the field now. Here are some of the good and bad moves of the past few days:

ROUND ONE
Good picks:
Ronnie Brown (RB, Miami) will be a very good all around back that will give defenses in the AFC East a lot to handle...
Antrell Rolle (CB, Arizona) is a great big corner who shut down Larry Fitzgerald in college...
Mike Williams (WR, Detroit) makes the Lions offense really, really good...
Marcus Spears (DE, Dallas) is a great use of the draft pick Buffalo gave them last year...
Aaron Rogers (QB, Green Bay) will have time behind Bret Favre to learn the game and is a quality pick at #24. It was a dissapointing day for Rogers, who could have been the first pick, but in the long run going to be Green Bay could be good.

Bad Picks:
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (RB, Tampa Bay) just does not fit the West Coast offense, and will have to be taught how to catch the ball...
Adam "Pac Man" Jones (CB, Tennesee) is too small to be the sixth player picked in the draft, and would have been a better acquisition laster in the first round...
Matt Jones (WR, Jacksonville) was too high of a pick for a guy who did not play as a reciever in college...

SECOND ROUND:
Good Picks:
David Baas (C, San Francisco) will help a weak 49ers offensive line and will learn with QB Alex Smith...
Shaun Cody (DT, Detroit) is a solid second round pick...
Dan Cody (DE, Baltimore) can be scary. There's no doubt that the Ravens love defense, and Cody will more than help them in that regard...
Justin Miller (CB, New "York" Jets) will help the Jets weak secondary and will provide a good kick return threat...

Bad Picks:
Nike Nugent (K-New "York" Jets) is the third highest drafted kicker in NFL history. I doubt he'll be the third best kicker in NFL history, making this a wasted pick...
Roscoe Parrish (WR, Buffalo) was a confusing pick. The Bills need offensive linemen, cornerbacks, and defensive linemen. So they draft an undersized reciever? I'm not sure what the Bills are trying to do...


THIRD ROUND:
Good Picks:
Frank Gore (RB, San Francisco) is a good risk-reward for the third round. Gore showed the potential to dominate at the University of Miami, but had two devistating knee injuries. If Gore stays healthy and returns to form, the 49ers will have a great player. If he gets hurt again, it's only a third round pick...
Charlie Frye (QB, Cleveland) could be the next emerging star from the Mid American Conference. The Browns got lucky with this one, with Aaron Rogers falling to the Packers, a team that would have drafted Frye instead. If he develops well, Frye could lead Cleveland's resurgance...
Darryl Blackstock (OLB, Arizona) will provide pass rushing help and will give the Cardinals defense a more aggressive nature...
Maurice Clarett (RB, Denver) was a suprise, but Denver could make my mother a 1,000 yard back. If Clarett stays healthy, the Broncos will make him a star.

Bad Picks:
Kevin Everett (TE, Buffalo) is a "prospect" that does not fit immediate needs for the Bills...

FOURTH ROUND:
Good Picks:
Kyle Orton (QB, Chicago) will be a good backup for a Bears team really weak at that position. It is Rex Grossman's do-or-die year under new coach Lovie Smith, and Orton will be a good motivating factor...
Dan Buenning (OG, Tampa Bay) is a solid blocker and a good value pick for the fourth ground...
Marion Barber III (RB, Dallas Cowboys) makes it official, the Cowboys have had a great draft. The team is truly in Bill Parcells image now, let's see if he sticks around to see things through...
Raymond "Duke" Newton Preston, III (C, Buffalo) is not the monster offensive powerhouse the Bills could have gotten earlier, but he fits a need. He and new QB J.P. Losman can grow together. He is a good size, and is described as a smart player. If coached well, he could solve one of the problems the Bills have on offense...
Matt Giordano (FS, Indianapolis Colts) is a good value pick at the fourth round, and the fourth pick out of five dedicated to the defense. He is described as a hard hitting player that may eventually help the Colts go to the next level...

Bad Picks:
Ciatrick Fason (RB, Minnesota) seems like a wasted pick to me. The Vikings are strong at this position,and I'm not sure what they are going to do with this guy...

FIFTH ROUND:
Good Picks (at this point, there really aren't any bad picks):
Daniel Orlovsky (QB, Detroit) may be able to replace Mike McMahon at the third string spot...
Adrian McPherson (QB, New Orleans) is a really good fit for the Saints. There is growing concern about Aaron Brooks, and McPherson is a similar athletic-type quarterback that may in a year or two take the starting spot...
Robert McCune (ILB, Washington) is going to the right team to learn the linebacker position. Redskins Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams may be able to ease McCune into his blitzing system. It's a good pick for a fifth rounder...
Gerald Sensabaugh (SS, Jacksonville) is a player Mel Kiper, Jr. called one of the top safeties in the draft, whatever that means. He's got good size and good speed for a fifth rounder. I'm not sure what Jacksonville's secondary situation is as far as personnel, but statistically they were middle of the road last year. He's considered someone with potential on special teams...
Anthony Alabi (OT, Miami) down the line could help the new Miami running game. Like anyone in the fifth round though, good coaching will have to come to play...
Scott Young (OG, Philadelphia) has good size and strength, and will likely be coached well in Philadelphia...

SIXTH ROUND:
Good Picks:
Anttaj Hawthorne (DT, Oakland) seems like a great pick, based on his NFL.com bio...
Michael Montgomery II (DE, Green Bay) is a player that could spell for the defensive line. His bio reads as someone who is a fairly good athlete that needs some guidance on mechanics. Coaching might help him make the team...
William Swancutt (DE, Detroit) is described as an overachiever, and he's going to need to be to make the team...
Tab Perry (WR, Cincinnati) seems to have the right size and speed to make the team, and had some exposure to big time football at UCLA...

SEVENTH ROUND:
Good Picks:
Daven Holly (CB, San Francisco) ran a 4.37 40, so his speed makes him a good last-round pick...
Paris Warren (WR, Tampa Bay) is a good selection at the seventh round, and considering some of the hype he was given in the week before the draft I am suprised it took him this long to get there. He'll have to fight to make the team, but the Bucs are in transition, which makes it possible...
Anthony Davis (RB, Indianapolis) was a great college player who had some injury issues this year, including an odd one after he was poked in the eye. If injury free, he could rise through the ranks of special teams play and get reps on the offesnse...


FREE AGENTS THAT SHOULD BE PICKED UP:
Timmy Chang (QB) of Hawaii is the all time passing leader of the NCAA, which makes him at least worth a pickup...
Gino Guidugli (QB) of Cicinnati has the right size for a QB and is worth at least a training camp spot...
Jason White (QB) won the Heisman and a national championship at Oklahoma. That's got to be worth something...
Tristian "T.A." McLendon (RB) of North Carolina State had more than a few big games in college...
Walter Reyes (RB) of Syracuse at one time led the NCAA in rushing yards. His problem has been that he played on a weak Oragemen team during his career...
Zach Tuiasosopo (FB) of Washington has a lot of natural ability...
Jamaal Brimmer (SS) of UNLV was considered one of the best safeties in college football...

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