My top four winning (duh) and losing teams from the first round of last night's NFL Draft. Some players certainly lost out like Da'Quan Bowers who went from a possible top pick three months ago to still being available as the second round begins.
Winners
New Orleans: Hard not to like their draft. Cameron Jordan gives them another pass-rushing weapon and then they trade back in and add Mark Ingram for a 2012 1st-rounder that is likely to be no better than 28. Ingram can solidify the Saints backfield and serve as a solid complement for Pierre Thomas. The Reggie Bush era is likely over but Ingram should be a much better back as time goes on. Kudos to the Saints for their round one.
Arizona: They got the top cornerback and one of the best players at five in Patrick Peterson, when there were rumors flying around all day yesterday that they were looking to trade out. Instead, they stayed at five and took one of the top three players in the draft.
Detroit: Nick Fairley has some issues attached to him and he did look like he raided Carlton Banks' wardrobe last night, but the potential of a Suh-Fairley middle of the d-line is scary and should could cause some issues for Aaron Rodgers and a couple concussions for Jay Cutler. Plus, Fairley was talked about as a top ten pick for most of the pre-draft so this is great value (to steal a line from Mel Kiper Jr.). The Lions are a franchise on the way up.
Indianapolis: The Colts desperately needed more protection for their franchise, Peyton Manning, and they got that in BC lineman Anthony Castonzo, who most mocks had going higher. Great pick for the Colts.
Losers
Atlanta: I have no issues trading up but if you give up as much as the Falcons did, you better land a stud and sorry, Julio Jones is not that. If they traded up to 4 for A.J. Green, who would have been worth the price they ultimately paid Cleveland at 6, that would have been understandable and I would have even paid it to get to 5 for Peterson. But Julio Jones is not worth 2 first-rounders, a second-rounder and 2 fourth-rounders. Surprisingly bad move by Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff.
Minnesota: I understand the pressure to draft a quarterback but Christian Ponder at 12 was a big-time reach, especially after seeing that Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, and even the head case known as Ryan Mallett are still available. The Vikes would have been better served to address their O or D-line and then looked to move up in the second for a QB.
Kansas City: Jonathan Baldwin felt like a major reach at 26 for the Chiefs. I get they needed a wide receiver but Kentucky's Randall Cobb, Maryland's Torrey Smith and even Troy's Jerrel Jernigan would have been better picks. Baldwin's stock took a big tumble after a so-so 2010 college campaign.
I don't understand the Falcons' logic with that trade. Their defense has a lot of holes and there would have been other receivers later. Julio Jones will be good for them, but I don't think he is the equivalent of four draft picks.
ReplyDeleteJulio Jones is not the one piece that can put the Falcons over the top. Agree that their defense has a lot of holes. Like I said, you give up that much to move up, you better get a stud and Jones is not a stud. Green and Peterson are.
ReplyDeleteBoss, I like that you called out the Chiefs. Baldwin didn't have much of a quarterback to get him the ball his last year at Pitt. He pouted, became disgruntaled and quit on his team. Think Larry Fitz's hands, but Randy Moss' attitude. I don't see him having a long career. Hopefully he proves me wrong and is the next Pro Bowl wideout from Pitt University of.
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