Draft Philosophy 101

01 May

Posted by markj as Are You Kidding Me?, Draft

Draft After sitting through the NFL draft last weekend, my initial reaction was…, well two things. First, does the first round have to be 6+ hours long? I wanted to stab myself in the neck with a screwdriver listening to the talking heads killing time between picks, but I guess that’s a topic for another day. Secondly, is it me or have the people responsible for player personnel decisions in the NFL completely forgotten about what their teams did on the field last season? More and more General Managers are ignoring the weaknesses on their rosters in favor of drafting the guy who can bench press the most or can jump the farthest from a standing position. They are taking this notion of drafting “the best athlete available” to a ridiculous level.

Packers Case in point, the Green Bay Packers need a starting wide receiver and running back in a big way, but they take a defensive tackle that was hurt most of his senior season instead. Granted, there wasn’t a 1st round RB available at this pick, but there were WRs all over the place.

Texans The Houston Texans draft a defensive tackle at number 10 when they desperately need cornerbacks and offensive lineman. They actually passed on top rated CBs Darrelle Revis and Leon Hall and drafted a position that they drafted for in 2005. New starting QB Matt Schaub will be wondering what he got himself into as he picks himself up from the turf 70 times next season.

Titans The Tennessee Titans drafted a free safety instead of anything on the offensive side of the ball. Last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Vince Young has no-one to throw to and no-one to hand the ball to, basically making game planning for the Titans pretty easy.

This all brings me to the mother of all cases this year, the New Orleans Saints. For a team on the verge of being, arguably, the biggest story in the history of sports last year, the Saints were poised to add a couple of minor pieces to the puzzle that would make them the team to beat in the NFC. Pittman Depth at cornerback and linebacker and they’re all set. Instead, they take a wide receiver that 26 other teams passed on and they traded up, yes they traded up to take a RUNNING BACK!!! Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush are still on the team, right?

Over the next several days I’m going to go through some teams needs versus players drafted and I may actually have to ram that screwdriver through my neck.

2 Responses

Zach

May 3rd, 2007 at 3:46 pm
1

I think the Texans move of drafting Okoye was a good move. Levi Brown and Joe Thomas were off the board, Joe Staley wasn’t worth a No. 10 pick. If Mario Williams steps up and Okoye lives up to his potential that is one defensive line that will wreak havoc. They should have traded some picks for Staley however.

I’m pissed the Titans took Michael Griffin since I’m an Eagles fans, they desperately needed a safety or quaterback and since the first 25 teams snatched up the top 3 CB and safety prospects the Eagles traded away their pick.

- All Philadelphia Sports
markj

May 4th, 2007 at 8:34 am
2

Zach, I don’t think the selection of Okoye was bad. He is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft, but my point was they drafted a DT just two years ago. They aren’t going to build anything when they are replacing people every other year. I agree entirely with you about the value of O-lineman at the time they picked, but I couldn’t pass on a DB there.

I’m still digesting the Eagles draft. There weren’t any DBs or Safeties left at 26 that’s for sure, so I think it was good to trade that pick. JUST NOT TO THE COWBOYS!!!