PICK #10: San Francisco
It is still so strange to me to see the 49ers suffering through such hard times. They were the dynasty of my youth and I still can’t help but expect each year for them to figure it out and start rolling again.
They aren’t going to do that with the offense that they have in place. They need a Quarterback of the future and they need difference makers on the outside.
The
PICK #9: Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers are a good enough team that it is a bit of a shock to see them with a pick this early. They have a collection of young talent on both sides of the ball. There were reports that they were very interested in B.J. Raji from BC. This would naturally lead a person to wonder if they would jump down to the next DT available on the board, but it is entirely likely that they will be able to get one of the next 2 available in a later round.
Ryan Grant was a disappointment last year. The Packers haven’t given up on him, but until the recent releases of top-tier veteran backs, they would have likely considered taking a back here like Knowshon Moreno. However, they have a pair of aging corners and a perfect fit for their kind of defense on the board. Malcolm Jenkins is a natural successor for Charles Woodson and Al Harris. He will add depth immediately and has the size to play the press coverage that they are known for.
PICK #8: Jacksonville
Well, the Jaguars were one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL, and then they waived Fred Taylor. The interesting little fact that everyone has overlooked so far is the young man sitting down their depth chart a bit at Running Back. Chauncey
They could use a little help at cornerback, but their biggest need is the same need they have had for several years.
They need a wide receiver, and I can’t see them overlooking Percy Harvin. Especially with running ability that Harvin evidenced while he was at
PICK #7: Oakland
Ah yes, the Raiders.
They have the young running backs, the solid defense, and Improving Offensive line. If they want to take advantage of those assets going forward, they need a weapon to stretch the field vertically and back the safeties off the line.
Higgins can run, but his hands are inconsistent. Curry has good ball skills, but is not a natural receiver, and lacks top flight speed.
They need a third receiver who can do both. In my mind, the question is Maclin or Harvin. Harvin would largely reproduce the talent they have at RB, so the pick is Maclin.
PICK #6: Cincinnati
This is a pick that will depend largely on how the Bengals are able to handle their free agent receivers. If they are able to keep either Chad Johnson or TJ, then they will look at their defense. I will be honest; they need to look at their defense regardless.
They have holes at all 3 levels, and should take the best defensive player available. For cliché’s sake, let’s build from the inside out and say that the Bengals should draft B.J. Raji out of BC to be a disruptive force in the middle of their defense.
PICK #5: Cleveland
Before this week, I would have suggested that the Browns take a hometown hero. With
PICK #4: Seattle
Oh yes, the Seahawks.
This is a team with a strong, young, and improving defense. They have potential difference makers at all 3 levels of the defense. Don’t take me wrong, I am not making them out to be a top 5 defense, but a relative strength, so in short. Let’s look at the offense.
This offense is made up of a collection of professional, but unspectacular football players. They are need of a difference maker on offense, and for that, they should draft the top WR in the draft. This is especially true, when you consider the recent injury history of their otherwise talented stable of receivers. Michael Crabtree will be an excellent running mate for Deion Branch when they are healthy, with
PICK #3: Kansas City
I was really surprised when I looked at the depth chart for the chiefs.
There is a lot of quality in their 2-deep. They do have some question marks, as evidenced by their poor record, but several of those losses can be attributed to youth. Surprisingly, they got very strong QB play from their unknown QB Tyler Thigpen. Many prognosticators think that the Chiefs should be looking at a QB with this first pick, but I don’t know if either of the QB’s earmarked for the first half of the first round will be a good fit in the chiefs spread-option attack. Beyond that, they have problems, and the end of last year, QB was not a problem.
So, what do they need? They need an offensive tackle, a pash rusher to replace Jared Allen, and another stud Linebacker would not hurt. Now, I might have thought that the defensive side of the ball would get first look when Herm Edwards was still the coach, but her's not the coach anymore. So, it is important to remember that the Chiefs new head coach is an offensive guy, so I see him looking build on the progress that side of the ball made last year. They should draft an Offensive Lineman, and Brandon Albert’s flexibility gives them to chance to take the best available. That in mind, here is a thought.
LT: Eugene Monroe
LG: Brian Waters
C: Rudy Niswanger
RG: Brandon Albert
RT: Damian McIntosh
I don’t care if Larry Johnson is still there, or if he gets his wish to be traded for more picks. Whoever is the running back in on this team will have success running behind that line.
PICK #2: St. Louis
One more time, Let’s play “What do they have?”
The Rams have some top tier talent in a few locations. Much like the lions, they would likely be best serviced by trading town to get a couple of players. However, assuming noone wants to play nice with them, they are going to need to keep their running game healthy. They have a nice pair of backs with a stud in Steven Jackson, and a very promising young back in Pittman, who may grow to be a premier type of back. However, Orlando Pace is nearing the end of his run and there has even been talk of him being traded for a 3rd rounder if one can be had for him. Either way, they will be well served by taking a top level Offensive Tackle. He can move to the right side for now, pairing with Alex Barron to make for a strong and flexible O-Line. Hopefully, that will help keep Bulger in the lineup and throwing the ball down the field to Torry Holt and his new Protégé Avery.
The top rated tackle left on the board is Michael Oher out of Ole Miss.
PICK #1: Detroit
I wondered, if I were the pour b@st@rd tasked with making this pick, how on earth would I decide what the lions need. BTW, I thank the good lord that I am not that guy. I bet he is going too curse Matt Millen’s name for years to come.
I digress, I believe the question should not be “what do they need”, but “what do they have”. After all, a team with all the draft misses that the lions have had the past few years has a lot of needs. What they have is a couple of solid, if not home run hitting backs. Kevin Smith is a workhorse with young legs, and I can think of much worse backs for a platoon than Rudi Johnson. They have a veteran quarterback with a big arm. Daunte is not the best in the league, but maybe, just maybe, if they make him "the guy", he can work well the Lions pair of young receivers. Everyone knows about Calvin Johnson, but Standeford was one of Big 10’s best during his time at Purdue and should be able to become a productive possession receiver and at 6’4” 206 he brings good size. Hope is not entirely lost for Keary Colbert either. The talent is there, it just remains to be seen if he can make it work at this level. The offensive line has a couple of decent tackles, but Jeff Backus has been at it awhile, and Cherilus is not a great pass blocker.
The defense is largely unspectacular outside of a couple of linebackers in Ernie Sims and the intriguing possibilities that come with Dizon’s speed from the inside linebacker spot.
My thoughts are that there are far too many holes for the lions to not try to trade down. But, for the sake of this exercise, we will assume that is not an option.
My thoughts are that the lions should improve their offensive line, drafting Andre Smith will allow them to have a built-in replacement for Backus when his time is done, and if they can combine him with either Backus or Cherilus on either side they will have the potential for a real road grader offensive line. After all, you have a QB who is at his best throwing the ball deep with big receivers, one of which has world-class speed, so there are worse approaches than play action.
I don’t see any way for quick fixes unless the lions can pull a Herschel Walker trade, so since he’s retired, building for the future and following the precedent they set with last year’s draft seems like the way to go.
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