2007 NFL Draft Thoughts

Indie sports fans, here are my assembled thoughts on teams and their selections in this year's NFL Draft...

Cleveland Browns - You gotta think the Browns are thrilled with how the draft went. Expected to take Brady Quinn with the number three overall pick, they end up getting the best offensive lineman in the draft and still got Quinn by trading up out of round two to number 22 in round one. They also got CB Eric Wright who will have a big impact on the defense. Considering they won't be good again next year though, they gave up a lot (next year's first round pick) to trade back into the first round to grab Quinn.

Mystery Jets - Diamonds In The Dark

New England Patriots - Love him or hate him, you gotta think Randy Moss and Tom Brady is going to be a deadly hook up in 2007/2008. The free agent aquisitions of Stallworth and Wexler along with Kelly Washington make this receiving core pretty deadly. If Maronney comes back healthy, the New England offense may be unstoppable, but here's hoping Randy brings his cancerous ways with him.

The Walkmen - Lost In Boston

Indianapolis Colts - The Colts replace Brandon Stokely with maybe the best route runner in the draft, Ohio State's Anthony Gonzalez, but I might have been happier if they had chosen Paul Posluszny to replace Cato June with this pick. Suprisingly they addressed the offensive line with the second pick, but third round pick Quinn Pitcock, from Ohio State, could be a run-stopper the Colts desperately need. Anyway, I could second guess Bill Polian all I want, and 99.9% of the time, I'd probably be wrong.

Astrid Swan - When You Were Young (Killers Cover)

Detroit Lions - Another year and another first round pick spent on a wide receiver. This one is "can't miss" though and will make the Lions receiving core arguably the best in the NFL. Drafting quarterback Drew Stanton, from Michigan State, was a good keep-it-in-the-family pick and he could turn out to be a pretty solid Marc Bulger type. The Lions needed help at cornerback and didn't really find any in a draft rich with good ones. I think unloading Mike Williams was a good move, but they really got nothing in return for the former first round draft pick.

You Say Party! We Say Die! - Monster

Oakland Raiders - I was glad to see Louisville's Michael Bush picked at 100 and he may end up being a steal if he comes back at full strength. If he'd gone back to Louisville for his senior season, he'd have been a top 15 pick next year and maybe the Heisman Trophy winner. The trade Oakland made to pick up QB Josh McCown and throw-in receiver Mike Williams will end up being dead weight, although McCown will be the starter this year while JaMarcus Russell preps to take over the job at the end of McCown's contract, or even sooner. Having the number one pick is hard and even after picking a winner this year at number one, they continued to take that momentum with them the rest of the draft. You gotta figure their draft was one of the three best. Only time will tell!

Shiny Toy Guns - You Are The One

Miami Dolphins - Ted Ginn Jr. is a mystery. He's a burner, no doubt, but he's not a great route runner. Did you know that 13 of the last 20 wide receivers taken in the first round of the NFL draft are no longer in the league? I don't know if that's actually true, but I heard something like that and it does seem that many "can't miss" first round wide receivers don't pan out.

Young Knives - Weekends And Bleak Days

New York Giants - There were lots of talented cornerbacks in this draft, and the Giants needed a cornerback. Aaron Ross from Texas is probably as good as any of them, and only time will tell who really knew what they were getting from all these early cornerback choices. Dodge Dorkout: USC's Steve Smith has always been huge for me in EA Sports NCAA Football and just as good when I imported him into the Madden pro game. So, if Madden knows what he was talking about, then this was a good pickup and good help for Eli Manning, who is entering a crucial year.

Everthus The Deadbeats - Human Paraquat

New York Jets - The Jets had very few picks this draft, but did get the help in the secondary they needed with cover CB Darrelle Revis from Pitt. Because of their very limited capabilities pickswise, the Jets will have to be more active in the free agent market to fill needs and add depth.

Barzin - Queen Jane

Jacksonville Jaguars - Traded down in round one, picked up more picks and still got their man. That's gotta be a win. Jacksonville drafted dudes from powerhouse football schools like Hampton, San Jose St. and Elon College though. Drafting a punter in the fourth round? Huh. The Colts are still going to throw all over these guys this year, but then again, the Jags may continue to run all over the Colts as well.

Great Northern - The Middle

Carolina Panthers - Carolina took from pedigree schools this draft. They drafted players from Miami, USC, Georgia and Penn State. Their first few picks were solid and addressed needs, but waited until their last pick to get help in the secondary. They have a terrible secondary, so that's a headscratcher.

Faux Fox - Weekend Warrior

Baltimore Ravens - Troy Smith, Ohio State's QB, goes to the Ravens way down in the fifth round. Smith, before the national championship game, was getting talk of going in the late first, early second round, but he's way shorter than the standard NFL QB and I'm guessing with either have to learn a new position or will not likely see the field in the next few years. Ben Grubbs and Marshall Yanda really beef up the offensive line.

Nikki Sudden - See(ing) Double (June Panic Cover)

Arizona Cardinals - Man, you gotta think the Arizona Cardinals are going to put some points on the board this coming season. Beefing up the O-line was priority one and they addressed it this draft. Alan Branch was much talked about this draft and if he pans out, then he'll have been a steal for the Cardinals.

The Shakes - I Want A Better Life (Coley Remix)

San Francisco 49ers - They picked up wide receiver Darrell Jackson in trade from the Seattle Seahawks. Third-round pick, wide receiver Jason Hill, is a burner and gives Alex Smith another weapon. Smith should, if he's worth his pick status, show it off this year with all the weapons surrounding him now.

Coco B - Hot Pantz

Philadelphia Eagles - A backup QB with your first pick in the draft? Whoa. I don't know, my brother is a diehard Eagles fan and he wasn't real pleased with their draft. I don't really care. What I do care is...What the eff is up with these uniforms!!??! Apparently, these are throwback uniforms that the Eagles will be wearing to honor the teams' 75th anniversary.

The Teeth - Ball Of The Dead Rat

Minnesota Vikings - They have to be thrilled Adrian Peterson fell down to number seven. If Marcus McCulley from Fresno St. works out, these guys had a pretty great draft. The Vikings had a lot of needs and they pretty much addressed them all. They have to be pretty pleased. Three new wide receivers will help young QB Tarvaris Jackson down the line.

Mieka Pauley - All The Same Mistakes

Cincinnati Bengals - They needed secondary help and they got it. Leon Hall, despite all the speculation, will be solid. They got help at the safety position as well. They seemed to waste some picks on offensive skill positions when they should have been thinking defense though.

The Clutters - 9999 (Ways To Hate Us)

Denver Broncos - The Broncos found a star, last year, with their DE pick of Elvis Dumerville. I figure this gives them a huge double up in the pass rush department with Dumerville and now Jarvis Moss. They picked up another defensive lineman in third round as well, also from national champions, the Florida Gators. Quarterbacks beware.

The National - Fake Empire

Houston Texans - I was happy for Amobi Okoye from Louisville, but the Texans still need a load of help on offense. They won't be able to outscore the Colts, but they are finding and building some serious playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.

We All Have Hooks For Hands - Hold On, C'mon

Washington Redskins - No picks in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th rounds. That's terrible, but I guess these guys don't build through the draft. Which is why they remain pretty irrelevant. Their first round pick, LSU's LeRon Landry is pretty great and will give them an even tougher secondary. No Lance Briggs after all is said and done. That's gotta be a loss.

Share - The Hill

Buffalo Bills - Paul Posluszny was a huge value pick in Round Two. Many would have loved to have him and he had many first round projections. Marshawn Lynch should help replace Willis McGahee.

Everthus The Deadbeats - Some Terry

Kansas City Chiefs - Trent Green is still a Chief and still not a starting QB in the NFL. They needed a wide receiver and got one, but they also need O-Line help to replace Will Shields and didn't really get it. I was happy to see Louisville running back, Kolby Smith, get picked up.

Brother Reade - Like Duh

Atlanta Falcons - O-Line and Wide Receiver help, Mike Vick has to be happy about that. Six of their ten picks though were defense, so they'll continue to be tough in that area.

Marmoset - Black Cab (Jens Lekman Cover)

Green Bay Packers - Most Packer fans and critics felt like this organization dropped the ball with their draft. The Packers have a load of offensive needs and they just didn't get good quality to fill all those holes.

The High Strung - What A Meddler!

Tennessee Titans - Again, many fans feel like the Titans had a pretty bad draft. They had big needs at wide receiver and running back, but went with a safety in round one. After that, the Titans went with very risky picks to fill their needs and seldom does that type of craziness work out.

Len Wade - Everybody's Clown

Pittsburg Steelers - They addressed the departure of Joey Porter with the first and second round selections at linebacker. Either or both Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley will pan out for them. No help to spell Willie Parker in the backfield and not much help on the O-Line though.

Der Tante Renate - Black

Chicago Bears - Great pick in Greg Olsen in round one. The fact he fell that far was very fortuitious. Tight ends are making much more of an impact in the league these days and Sexy Rex will be pretty happy to have Olsen.

Golden Bear - Galaxy Queen

New Orleans Saints - They may have a suitable replacement for Joe Horn in Robert Meachem. Antonio Pittman was a serious value add in the fourth round, but the Saints don't really need another running back. Not yet at least. Maybe Duece only has one more good year left with the Saints, or it's a big depth boost no matter what.

Au Revoir Simone - A Violent Yet Flammable World

Dallas Cowboys - Dallas did some smart trading down and got the rights to Cleveland's first round pick next year. It's sure to be a top 10 pick, knowing Cleveland. Sorry Dad. Dallas took a 6'7, 310 lb. offensive tackle. That is a man-mountain. The Cowboys were a botched field goal snap/hold from the Playoffs, they filled needs and will likely find themselves in the Playoffs this coming season. Assuming Romo isn't too scarred from it all.

DJ Mehdi - I Am Somebody (ft. Chromeo)

San Diego Chargers - They didn't trade Michael Turner, which is too bad for him, but not them. The Chargers got some help in the secondary and if Craig Davis is worth what the Chargers think he's worth, then they got help at wide receiver. Davis was LSU's number two and the Chargers took him before higher rated recievers, Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, on the board. Davis is a burner though and San Diego apparently wanted a speed receiver.

All Smiles - Moth In A Cloud Of Smoke

Seattle Seahawks - Another team that needed help on the O-Line and in the secondary and got it. This draft had a lot of talent in the secondary. They pretty much got nothing in return for trading Darrell Jackson to the 49ers though.

Lost In The Trees - Walk Around The Lake

St. Louis Rams - Adam Carriker is a big-time talent and will help shore up the Rams D. Brian Leonard will give Stephen Jackson a rest now and then, making him even more of a beast in the backfield.

DJ Mehdi - Signature

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - They needed to get younger with defensive talent, and Gaines Adams was a good start. Seven of their ten picks were defensive. The free agent signing of big talent, big criminal, no heart, tight end Jerramy Stevens will help them on offense or leave them as dissappointed as Seattle. The Bucs didn't get any help at wide receiver and they still need it.

Trilobite - Pumpkin Farmer

Notable QBs who were not drafted: national champion Chris Leak of Florida, Jared Zabransky of Boise State, Wisconsin's John Stocco, Drew Tate of Iowa, Pitt's Tyler Palko and Tulane's Lester Ricard. The Chicago Bears signed Leak though pretty much immediately after the draft.


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