Archive for the 'NFL Draft' Category

Report cards grading each teams NFL draft are easy enough to write. After all, few teams are unlikely to earn anything below a C. The bulk of the players they select from are tops at their position, and all of them are young and over-flowing with untapped potential. No one really know what comes next- just ask players like Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, and Ryan Leaf. Even players taken on the second day are the cream of the college crop- and could develop into the league’s premier players. This may be the reason that GM’s around the league question if these expert grades are even worth the paper they’re written on.

Maybe they are, and maybe they’re not. Just like the team’s themselves, experts can only offer up their best guess on a player’s future. If history has taught us anything- it’s that of the chosen few- the very elite of the NFL draft class- not one of them is a sure thing to produce at the next level. Not one. And in that same vein- no one should be under estimated.

So without further adieu, the MonsterDraft report card for the NFL Draft- 2008:

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: Grade B+. CB Leodis McKelvin is a blue chipper. He can close on anyone- and can recover from a misstep before you blink. As a bonus- he’ll lay a little lumber now and again. If he had hands he would be a top rate receiver. Leodis might find a spot on the return teams. 6’6” WR James Hardy was a player the Bills coveted, and was sitting there for their second round pick. Hardy isn’t just big, he’s strong, and he has the agility and hands to make all sorts of catches. He loves the endzone too. Doesn’t have top end speed, but like a TO, it won’t matter much. DE Chris Ellis was a reach- and lost the Bills an A grade. A little undersized for an NFL line, he doesn’t play instinctive enough to project to linebacker. Was lazy in college, which has never translated well into the NFL. Good athlete though- one of the fastest lineman in the draft. Continue Reading »

The Miami Dolphins are in the unique position of being able to draft virtually the best available player who fits their scheme. However, unlike a team such as the San Diego Chargers who have this luxury due to a lack of any one glaring need, the Dolphins simply have so many needs that any good player will be able to contribute. That being said, here’s a look at what the biggest needs are for the Dolphins and how they might address them.

Before I get into that however, I feel I must address the Dolphins quarterback situation. Miami drafted a quarterback in the second round last year, former BYU standout John Beck. Beck may have had a rough rookie season, but he joins a long list of rookie quarterbacks who have struggled that includes John Elway, Steve Young, Drew Bledsoe, and Peyton Manning. While I’m not so bold as to compare Beck to those players, the point is that it is simply too early to judge Beck at this point in his career, and with so many needs at so many positions, coupled with the lack of a true can’t miss type of prospect at quarterback in this year’s draft, the Dolphins cannot afford to ignore the depth at other positions by taking a chance on another quarterback in the early rounds. This draft has depth at WR and CB, which are two high priority needs for the Dolphins, and they must address those needs with their two second round picks. While Bill Parcells may or may not agree with me, I believe that it would be unwise to draft a quarterback early, therefore that will not be how I see the Dolphins addressing one of their needs. Continue Reading »

Here’s my unique twist on the millions of NFL draft analyses out there: The first two rounds of the draft, with each pick what I would do if I was running each team and an explanation of my thought process.

Some of the ground rules:

- I’m allowed to make trades that I feel would benefit both teams, making this a little bit more realistic.

- While I don’t have time to watch film on every prospect (although if Todd McShay is reading this, I’m available if you need an intern) I base my judgments on my own analysis of team needs and reading various scouting reports around the Internet.

- The salary considerations of signing all my picks are of minor importance.

- When computing values for trades, I used the terrific guide published in ESPN the Magazine’s April 21 issue for the values of each pick.

- I’m biased in favor of adding value to certain positions (both lines, cornerback) and devaluing others (running back, quarterback, linebacker). I also tend to believe that bad teams are better off adding multiple good players, not one splashy great one.

- I’ll do an analysis of quarterback situations leaguewide with fantasy implications once the dust has settled after the draft.

OK, I’m on the clock… Continue Reading »

With the first pick in the 2008 NFL draft…

Those are the only words I can guarantee you will hear on April 26th - because not only is the first player to be selected still a mystery, I’m not so sure the team that currently holds the coveted pick will be making the selection when the time comes.

At the moment, that pick belongs to the Miami Dolphins. In 2008, that means King of Football operations Bill Parcells and his hand picked head coach Tony Sparano will be working the war room. Assuming they don’t trade the pick, a team with as many glaring holes to fill as the Dolphins have could realistically take any one of a handful of talented athletes with the top slot.

Some coaches say the best rule to follow is to simply take the best player on the board. If the Dolphins did that, then Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas, would be donning the aqua and orange. And he’s not a terrible fit there. Ronnie Brown has been less then impressive - compiling only average numbers and failing to play sixteen games in any of his three seasons. No doubt - Brown had the chips stacked against him in south Florida - but combined with the fact that he is coming off a serious knee injury, the Dolphins at the very least must have McFadden on their radar. And what a blip he makes. McFadden is - as they say - the total package. Speed, quickness, vision, balance, and a hint of power that comes from a solid core. Game breaker should be tattooed on his back. McFadden is as close to a can’t miss prospect as the draft offers. Continue Reading »

With the combine over and the top names in Free Agency already signed, it’s a great time to look toward the NFL Draft coming up April 26-27. The following is my first round mock draft, reflecting partially who I think teams should pick, and partially who I think teams will pick. Obviously things change every day in the NFL, and trades, signings, and injuries will have a big influence on the way things play out. Be that as it may, here is a look at what might happen during that last week of April.

A fantasy outlook on the offensive players is included as well. Continue Reading »