It is a STRONG statement the Seahawks are making by dumping Darrell Jackson for a second-day pick to a division rival. They don't think highly of him and are tired of his contract complaints. It's a move that makes sense for both sides. Jackson is injury prone and drops a lot of passes, and D.J. Hackett deserves more playing time. The Seahawks still have a good receiver position with Hackett, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson.
I own Jackson in my dynasty league. I'm not thrilled with this move because the 49ers are a downgrade offensively and at quarterback. That said, they have no one else to throw to. Jackson will get a ton of targets and should still be a solid WR2.
The Rotoworld news page will act like a blog today. For the fifth straight year, we'll have pick-by-pick analysis of every first day pick. Evan Silva and I will break down how each rookie fits in his new system and affects his new teammates. Refresh often.
I will check in here on the blog throughout the day with big picture thoughts. I'm up at NBC today, so we'll be shooting a video after the first round that will be posted tonight. Then I can start rewriting and re-projecting all the magazine outlooks that are about to look outdated. Should be a blast today, one that I realize how lucky I am to have this job. Stick around.
It looks like Jamarcus Russell to the Raiders, Calvin Johnson to the Browns, and now ESPN and NFL Network say that the Browns will draft Joe Thomas.
That means Brady Quinn is going to fall, probably all the way to Miami at number nine. My first thought. What does it say about Quinn when Charlie Weis' buddy Romeo Crennel passes on him with a major hole at quarterback?
I think it means the Browns are committed to improving their offensive line first. And that Joe Thomas is going to help the team more than a rookie quarterback in 2007.
Have to run to catch a train, but here's my last minute mini-Mock of the top ten.
1. Raiders - JaMarcus Russell
2. Lions - Calvin Johnson
3. Browns - Brady Quinn
4. Bucs - Gaines Adams
5. Cardinals - Joe Thomas
6. Redskins (or Bears) - Patrick Willis
7. Vikings - LaRon Landry
8. Falcons - Adrian Peterson
9. Dolphins - I have no clue. But I'll say Levi Brown
10. Texans - Darrelle Revis
April 27, 2007
Nancy Gay writes the definitive morning of the draft article about the Raiders. Still waiting for someone to say it's anyone but Russell.
Rich Gosselin's Mock Draft is always a lot more interesting than the rest of the tries out there. And more accurate. Some surprise picks, like Levi Brown to the Falcons, make a lot of sense. It's hard to imagine Okoye slipping into the twenties.
Darrell Jackson could be headed for San Francisco. I have a lot to say on this one, but I'll wait to see if it goes through. It's making quite a statement to deal him within the division. And it makes D.J. Hackett a whole lot more interesting this season.
1. It's hard to take Jesse Palmer of NFL Network seriously because of his faux-hawk. But he's a good analyst, just like he is while doing color for games on Fox. This remains mildly disturbing.
2. Through Adam Shefter, the Lions say they will draft Calvin Johnson with the second pick of the draft. I believe them. I think they will listen hard to any monster offers after drafting Johnson, and that it's the only move to make. I wondered earlier this week if Millen would let his past draft mistakes effect him for fear of a P.R. hit. The answer appears to be no.
Now Shefter says the Lions would move the pick if a blockbuster offer comes along, but I'm not sure anyone has the ammo. Tampa has a thin, aging defensive roster. To use three first-day draft picks on another wide receiver when this roster is so thin would be selling Monte Kiffin down the river. Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen know they need to win this year, but even Jerry Rice couldn't have saved the 2006 Bucs.
The Falcons are the most logical team to make the move because of Arthur Blank. But they are another roster that has very little depth at any position. I could see them rolling the dice, but the price is going to be high. Of course this is all assuming the Raiders don’t take Johnson first. Fun draft.
3. Maybe this is all wishful thinking because I'm a Jon Kitna owner in my keeper leage.
4. It's ridiculous I'm watching NFL Network when Matsuzaka is pitching in Yankee Stadium.
5. It's wrong that I live a few miles from Radio City and I'm going to Connecticut before the draft (NBCSports.com world headquarters).
Last minute mock draft coming in the morning before I head up.
Last year on the Friday before the draft at 7:51 P.M, I wrote the final edit of one of the most surprising posts since I started writing for Rotoworld in 2003.
Mario Williams, not Reggie Bush, was going to be the first pick in the draft. As late as, oh Friday morning, absolutely none of the talking heads were predicting this.
So are we headed for another stunner tonight? Rumors are flying that the Raiders could make Brady Quinn the top pick of the draft. Of course it could be a negotiating ploy or flat-out wrong, but it sure is interesting. It would be satisfying for everyone's Mock Draft to be destroyed already. Again.
1. Trent Green, Chiefs
2. Randy Moss, Raiders
3. Lance Briggs, Bears
4. Michael Turner, Chargers
5. Marty Booker, Dolphins
6. Shawn Springs, Redskins
7. Justin McCareins, Jets
8. Kris Jenkins, Panthers
9. Darrell Jackson, Seahawks
10. Larry Johnson, Chiefs
The Ravens have been on my mind lately because I just wrapped up Next Man Up, John Feinstein's book on their 2004 season. It's way too long, but is worth a read for the insane access and honesty Feinstein gets out of Brian Billick and company. You won't ever think about Matt Cavanaugh and Chris McAlister the same again, if you ever thought of them at all. It's also fun to read war stories about how terrible an owner Dan Snyder is. (The Ravens had a lot of Redskins connections)
While doing the news this morning, I read this article about the team's quest for a quarterback of the future. The search makes sense, but I wonder if there's any chance at all that their quarterback of the future is Kyle Boller. When Feinstein finished the book, the organization was convinced Boller was the guy. Then he got hurt for the first half of 2005, and wasn't very good when he came back. Enter Steve McNair.
I doubt Boller will ever be a star, but he was saddled with some dreadful offenses when he last started for the team. I'm curious how he'd do after one year off with a healthy Todd Heap, Mark Clayton, and Willis McGahee. With Steve McNair's injury history, we'll probably find out for a few games this season. If Boller lights it up, like he did in his two 2006 appearances, the Ravens might consider offering him another contract.
Maybe the best team draft preview on the web Friday morning came from The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi. There is no way to be sure he's right on, but we learned that the Browns covet Anthony Gonzalez, have dangled Braylon Edwards in a trade, and that the Browns would draft Calvin Johnson if he was available with the third pick. Which I've been saying for a while. Of course, Johnson should be gone with the second pick.
If I had to guess the Browns board, I'd say it reads...
1. JaMarcus Russell
2. Calvin Johnson
3. Brady Quinn
4. Joe Thomas
The Steelers appear likely to eventually convert from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. Ed Bouchette breaks down the differences in the systems.
Romeo Crennel makes a great point in the piece that it's easier to convert from a 3-4 to a 4-3 then the other way around. 3-4 OLBs just aren't sitting around on most rosters. Or true 3-4 nose tackles. I know the Steelers say they have the greatest 3-4 personnel in the world, but common sense says they will draft flexible players. Adam Carriker and Patrick Willis come to mind.
I didn't realize that Aaron Ross was 25 years old. I don't see this as a huge negative. Teams get to keep him under contract during his athletic prime.
In the same article, GM Mike Tannenbaum spoke about Eric Mangini's desire to find out all they can about their draft hopefuls.
"Eric has this great expression of saying, 'The truth . . . let's find out the truth.' "
Bumper sticker, here we come!
This is an aging Eagles squad, but I don't think their window is closing. They have at least 3-4 more years of quality McNabb and the front office will find him teammates.
This St. Petersburg times article says it's about time the Bucs got something for Monty. I couldn't agree more and that's why they won't take offense with the fourth pick in the draft like many expect.
Every year, Bengals fans want the team to take a pass-catching tight end. It's not going to happen.
Continue reading "Busy Draft Eve ..." »
I'd like to see the Mock Draft that had this predicted. The Bears have disregarded all logic and rules, and have already drafted a player! The Bears have selected Jon Beason, linebacker from Miami, at least according to their team website.
Update: In the time it took to write this post, the Bears took the article down. Rats. But it's in the RSS feed from the site.
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