However that is not what I'm here to do, I'm here to talk about this years draft. To talk about the ridiculous 34 trades that happened this weekend, or the even more ridiculous fact that 8, count 'em 8, offensive lineman were taken in the first round. Over 25% of the first round were offensive lineman, and you don't think people watched the Giants defensive line dominate the Patriots offensive line?
But for now I am going to look at the next four teams 2008 NFL Drafts.
- Houston Texans: 7 Reggie Bush's (out of 10): The biggest knock on the Texans draft is that they didn't take Reggie Bush, oh wait that was two years ago. It's news again though because the Texans offensive coordinator recently made a swipe at Reggie Bush, calling him nothing more than a third down back (and to date that's being generous), while talking about why the team picked a similar style player Steve Slaton in the third round (http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/04/28/houston-texans-coach-loves-steve-slaton-calls-reggie-bush-thir/) I love it. But back to their draft. The actual biggest problem with the Texans draft, according to most experts, is that they used their #1 pick on Duane Brown an offensive tackle form Virginia Tech (another one?). Brown is said to be an elite athlete, but he is raw and extremely unpolished. I know the Redskins were looking at him as their second round pick, either at #48 or #51. Brown went at #26. The Texans were able to trade back with the Ravens and acquire another third round pick, which was then used to take Steve Slaton. They did pick up a potential starting corner back in the third round, as they didn't have a second round pick, by taking Antwaun Molden from Eastern Kentucky. Molden was from a small school which hurt him, but he showed great ability at the combine running the 40 in 4.389 and has decent height at 6'0. With Dunta Robinson expected to miss some time next season with a knee injury, this pick was a necessity and it seems that the Texans made a decent choice. They also drafted the younger brother of Marion Barber III, in safety Dominique Barber from Minnesota in the 6th round. If he plays like his brother he will be a force on special teams.
- Indianapolis Colts: 8 future Super Bowl Trophies (out of 10): The Colts did not have a first round draft pick after trading it to the 49ers last year when they traded up to get OT Tony Ugoh. They did however have nine other draft picks. With these nine picks the Colts took three offensive lineman, two linebackers, two tight ends, a running back and a wide receiver. Mel Kiper says that the Colts took three of his top five rated centers in this draft, and that their second round choice, Mike Pollack out of Arizona State has the potential to move and become a decent starting NFL guard. The Colts also took a stud inside linebacker, in my opinion, in Philip Wheeler from Georgia Tech. He doesn't have the physical tools that some of the great players have but he does have heart and he is always all over the field. Their fifth round pick was also another player who didn't measure that well, but that was a solid football player. Mike Hart from Michigan ran a slow 40 time, somewhere in the 4.7 range. He dropped dramatically because of this, but he's a second round talent. All Hart did was start for one of the most prestigious college football teams in the nation since he was a freshman. He was their leader and their best player and that has to mean something. Remember the Colts seem to have a thing for identifying running back talent, see Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 6 stupid trades (out of 10): Guys like Mel Kiper don't understand why the Jaguars didn't trade their first round pick for Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins, when instead they traded three other picks to move up to #8 and take Derrick Harvey. I disagree with him and think that trading away a first round pick for a player who is 33 and on the decline is retarded and a waste of a pick. Now, I'm not saying that trading up for Harvey wasn't a mistake either. Harvey is a decent defensive lineman from Florida, but did not deserve to go in the top 10. He was a reach there and that could come back to haunt the Jags. He does have the potential to be a decent player and could end up being a starter, but at #8 it was a little high. Then the Jags traded up once again, giving up more draft picks to get defensive end Quentin Groves from Auburn. Again he is another player with a lot of potential but a player whose production dropped his senior year and whose heart has been questioned. These two players however, are expected to become the cornerstone of the Jags line, and if it works out they will have pretty solid set of ends. Moving on from here the rest of the Jags draft is pretty weak as they traded away most of their picks. They were able, however, to take corner back Trae Williams from South Florida who could start along side stud Rashean Mathis. The kid is a little small but he seems to play bigger than his size and with the right coaching and mentor (Mathis is a pro bowler) he could become a decent player in the NFL. There grade is low due to their lack of draft picks.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Wine 'em Dine 'em 69 'em (out of 10): That is the name of former Chiefs defensive lineman Jared Allen's restaurant, and thats fucking hilarious. Jared Allen did a lot of great things for the Chiefs during his tenure there but the best thing he did was get traded to the Vikings. The Vikings got straight ROBBED and it really helped out the rebuilding Chiefs. For Allen the Chiefs received the Vikings first round draft pick, both of the Vikings third round picks and the teams swapped six round picks as well. Once again, that is highway robbery. Allen is good, but thats a ton to give up. However, the Chiefs receive such a high grade for doing such a great job drafting. They took arguably the best player on the entire board in defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey from LSU. Dorsey fills a MAJOR hole for the Chiefs in the interior and should become a force for them. He could make up for the loss of Allen in the long run if he develops properly. Then the Chiefs were able to use the Vikings first round pick, #17 and some other picks to trade up with the Lions to take guard Brandon Albert from Virginia. Albert has had his cock sucked by scouts since the season ended and saw his stock rise dramatically, he has potential but I'm just not as high on him as they are. Albert, who projects to play tackle in the NFL, is stated to be one of the better lineman in the draft and he has great athletic ability, but he is going to be asked to move outside and that could be tougher than people think. Him and Dorsey should help solidify the trenches for the Chiefs and together, make this a pretty solid draft. The Chiefs weren't done there. In the second round the Chiefs were able to get corner back Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech, a player who had first round talent but slipped a little near the end of the pre-draft process. With Ty Law no longer with the team, corner back was a big area of concern and Flowers should be able to start come the middle of the season. Another pretty nasty pick was third round running back Jamaal Charles out of Texas. This kid has a ton of talent and should team nicely with star (yet regressing) Larry Johnson. They were also able to take tight end Tony Gonzalez's future replacement in third round pick Brad Cottam. The kid came out of Tennessee and is really raw. But he is 6'7 and is a monster in the trenches. If he can learn the system and get some good coaching he could become a force.
The rest will come later on during the weekend.
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