April 29, 2006

Feel the Draft: Live chat on the first day of today's NFL Draft, that special day every spring when Mel Kiper climbs out of his hole and his five o'clock shadow signifies one more year of football.

posted by rcade to gametime at 11:52 AM - 29 comments

I love the tradition of the Jets getting an early pick and greeting the team's choice to a loud chorus of jeers.

posted by rcade at 11:58 AM on April 29, 2006

Matt Leinart -- falling and falling.

posted by bperk at 12:05 PM on April 29, 2006

I thought the Jets fans were pretty happy about Ferguson over Leinart. Poor Williams got all the boos that Casserly deserved.

posted by bperk at 12:06 PM on April 29, 2006

Perhaps the Raiders are going to take Leinart. I doubt they think Aaron Brooks is the QB of the future. And, then Leinart could get to work on his Hollywood career, too. Moss wouldn't be happy about such a choice. He wants a long ball thrower.

posted by bperk at 12:11 PM on April 29, 2006

I'm talking to myself. Yes, you are, bperk.

posted by bperk at 12:12 PM on April 29, 2006

Looks like Leinart is gonna drop into Detroit's lap... if they want him.

posted by lilnemo at 12:22 PM on April 29, 2006

Beat me to the p[unch lilnemo, damn could Detroit really score Leinart?

posted by elovrich at 12:25 PM on April 29, 2006

Why do I get the feeling the Lions are going to pick either Cutler, or anyone else but Leinart?

posted by lilnemo at 12:29 PM on April 29, 2006

Leinart gets Boldin and Fitzgerald -- not too bad.

posted by bperk at 12:36 PM on April 29, 2006

I can't believe he nearly fell out of the top 10.

posted by rcade at 12:38 PM on April 29, 2006

Not bad at all.

posted by lilnemo at 12:38 PM on April 29, 2006

There were a lot of teams in the top 10 that had no need for a QB. Plus, everyone kept saying he had a weak arm. And, then that whole Hollywood thing . . .

posted by bperk at 12:40 PM on April 29, 2006

I didn't really see that coming -- Broncos trade up for Cutler.

posted by bperk at 12:47 PM on April 29, 2006

He can't be mad at that. Going #11 and getting to go to the Broncos.

posted by bperk at 12:48 PM on April 29, 2006

I didn't see this, but I'll post it here even though I put it out there -- a little draft commentary: Reggie Bush to the Saints at #2 -- Duh. I don't think Bush is that great, but new Orleans would have been stupid to not pick him up. They don't need him to be the No. 1 guy (hello, Deuce!), and he'll have time to adjust if need be. I still see Bush being moved. Vince Young to the Titans at #3 -- Solid pick, but don't expect anything ni the next couple years from him. Young is too raw to start, so expect him to sit behind Billy Volek or, less likely, Steve McNair. Tennessee will get a chance to draft nice and high again next season. D'Brickashaw Ferguson to the New York Jets at No. 4 -- Great pick. The Jets needed line help and this guy is a freaking stud. He should be wearing a Texans uniform. A. J. Hawk to the Packers at No. 5 -- Interesting pick, as the pack definitely needed a linebacker, but had plenty of other needs also. Unfortunately, no one else really rated highly enough at WR or RB to make a strong case. Hawk will be good, but I'm surprised they didn't trade down and pick up Hawk a couple picks later. TE Vernon Davis to the 49ers at No. 6 -- Oh boy. I think San Fran had to make this pick, but it could really bite them in the ass. Yes, Davis is an absolute freak in terms of talent, and their were no reasonable wide receivers to take this high, but he's also pretty raw and the history of first-round tight ends is pretty awful. Cross your fingers, Bill. DB Michael Huff to the Raiders at No. 7 -- Safe pick from Al Davis. Huff can flat fly (4.38 40 at the combine) and Oakland needed some help back there. If Leinart's right-handed, however, they take him. DB Donte Whitner to the Bills at No. 8 -- Uhhh ... yeah. One-year starter, only 5-10, projected as a later first-rounder. Is Marv Levy senile? LB Ernie Sims to the Lions at No. 9 -- Could be the best defensive player in the draft. Also could be too small to fit into the outside linebacker position. A little strange, but really nothing else out there, either. QB Matt Leinart to the Cardinals at No. 10 -- A complete freaking steal for Arizona. Leinart cost himself a ton of money by not coming out last season, but I think he can be the savior for the Cardinals. He can move, he has a great arm and he's almost 6-5. With Boldin, Johnson and Fitzgerald at WR and James and Arrington at RB ... wow.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:10 PM on April 29, 2006

Denny Green looks very happy.

posted by bperk at 01:25 PM on April 29, 2006

Fraze, are you doing 11-20 as well.

posted by bperk at 01:25 PM on April 29, 2006

I dunno ... should I?

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:27 PM on April 29, 2006

Of course.

posted by bperk at 01:30 PM on April 29, 2006

Continuing the blather ... QB Jay Cutler to the Broncos at No. 11 -- Denver traded up to get Cutler, who went from a nobody to the No. 3 quarterback prospect this season. He's a bit above 6-3 and has a strong arm, and Mike Shanahan apparently sees something in him. An adequate to good starting prospect, but not worth No. 11. DL Haloti Ngata to the Ravens at No. 12 -- Think Ted Washington, but not 90 years old, and you have Ngata. Actually, he's a little better athletically, but he's there mainly to keep OL off Ray Lewis, and he'll do that just fine. DE Kamerion Wimbley to the Browns at No. 13 -- Plus side: 7.5 sacks in 11 games his senior year. Minus side: One-year starter with a little knee history. He's also small (6-3, 250), but runs a 4.65 40. The Browns will try to make him an outside linebacker, and they should succeed. DT Brodrick Bunkley to the Eagles at No. 14 -- Well, he's not a wide receiver, so he won't help that much, but Bunkley's star has risen considerably after showing some amazing strength at the combine (44 reps on the bench at 225 pounds, one off the record). Solid pick, although there were character questions, as he has a petty theft on his arrest record. DB Tye Hill to the Rams at No. 15 -- The Rams did what the Bill sshould have done, trading down to get an extra pick and still landing their man. Hill is very small at 5-8, but his 4.38 speed could make up for that. He won't start for at least a year or two, but could also become a returner.

posted by wfrazerjr at 01:49 PM on April 29, 2006

How 'bout those Seminoles? It's shocking that FSU could have had such a terrible year with all this talent!

posted by bperk at 02:20 PM on April 29, 2006

... ... ... I'd say something else but all that would come out is a string of expletives. ... ... Damn you Matt Millen!

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:20 PM on April 29, 2006

What's wrong with Sims? At least, he didn't draft a WR. You should be pleased.

posted by bperk at 05:31 PM on April 29, 2006

As a Steeler fan I was pleased with the trade they made with the Giants to get Holmes. The Steelers are flush with compensatory picks, so why not use them. I am not sure why they drafted another WR in the 3rd round, but I assume the kid from FSU was ranked higher on their list than any remaining weak spots they felt they had. They got an FS (although one who is a bit inconsistent from what I have read), and 2 strong WRs for Big Ben. So far, so good, IMO.

posted by scully at 07:48 AM on April 30, 2006

The Steelers are flush with compensatory picks, so why not use them Don't they have to, by rule? I saw something in yesterday's Pats press conference where The Bill said those picks cannot be traded.

posted by yerfatma at 11:58 AM on April 30, 2006

F'r instance: the Patriots seem to be using theirs to corner the market on tight ends. Now they have two white ones to go along with two African-American ones. Maybe Belichick is taking this whole Chessmaster persona too far.

posted by yerfatma at 12:00 PM on April 30, 2006

yerfatma, they pick last in all the rounds anyway so the Steelers can trade their non compensatory picks and still pick in about the same place.

posted by jbou at 12:27 PM on April 30, 2006

I'm surprised, but happy, that DeAngelo Williams fell down far enough for the Panthers to pick him up. Yay!

posted by NoMich at 02:47 PM on April 30, 2006

Amen, NoMich, I'm glad that the Panthers picked a good RB this year. We definitely need better people at that position if Davis and DeShaun get injured this year again. Hopefully, DeAngelo will be what those two aren't very good at being: durable.

posted by shadyboy15 at 09:10 PM on May 02, 2006

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