EZ...So which teams in next months draft have the most potential to shake things up with their pick in round 1?
Pete R.
Orlando, FL
Pete...
So the obvious answer here starts at the top with the Rams. Although I think they will pull the trigger on Bradford first overall, should they opt to go in a different direction, the whole first round changes. I know that is not the ground breaking answer you were looking for though, so lets take a deeper look.
I think the next team with a real choice on their hands in Washington at 4. I don't think Mike Shannahan looks at Jason Campbell as his QB of the future. This means I expect the team to invest in a long term answer at QB early in the draft. With Bradford gone, the Skins will have to choose between grabbing Clausen at #4, or waiting until round 2 to grab their signal caller. As I have said in my Mocks, I see the team passing on Clausen, and trying to grab Colt McCoy in the second round. This decision effects Buffalo, as Clausen would fall to them, but it also could effect the draft plans of a team like Cleveland. The Browns are also reportedly looking at QBs early in this draft, and knowing Washington would likely try and take McCoy early in the second round, could prompt Holmgren and Company to try and swing a deal to push them into the bottom of the first round to swipe the Texas product.
Another team whose first round decision could have an impact on the rest of the league would be Kansas City. KC has a lot of needs, and therefore could go in many directions when they get on the clock at #5 overall. The experts are seemingly split on what direction Scott Pioli will go with this choice. Some have them drafting a o-lineman. Others have them looking at Eric Berry. I have even heard speculation that despite a bad performance at the combine that Joe Haden is still a possibility. I still think the Chiefs will take the Tennessee standout with their pick, but if they don't that could drastically effect the decision of Cleveland who picks two picks later. With Berry still available (I don't see Seattle making him their choice), I think the Browns would absolutely pull the trigger. This would result in JPP falling. That could alter the plans of Jacksonville at 10, or give Denver something else to consider at 11. Depending on what happens with these two teams, alterations by one of them could impact Miami, the Giants, Tennessee, Atlanta, New England, and even Arizona.
The truth is that with the draft, every team's decision effects the decisions of every team that comes after. Just one change at the top can have a ripple effect that can be felt across multiple rounds. Just because it seems like an obvious choice right now doesn't mean that how it will play next month, so really any team could the one who sends the draft in a whole new direction.
Yo EZ...Why are people not talking more about the Jets acquisition of LT as the move of the offseason so far. I mean, clearly he is the best pickup for any team in free agency, right?
Marty L
Queens, NY
Yo Marty...
So I am going to start this answer by saying that I do think the Jets picking up Tomlinson was a good move for them. They have decided that their future at running back was going to be in the hands of Shonn Green, and they also have Leon Washington should he return from injury as the player he was before. With veteran Thomas Jones gone, they did need a veteran presence to provide some leadership and take some carries off the shoulders of Green, and Tomlinson will be exactly that.
Now for the other half of the answer. It sounds to me like you are thinking this LT is the same guy who was lighting it up in San Diego for much of this last decade, and unfortunately, he is simply not the same guy. Sure, he is a future hall-of-famer, who in his prime, was the most dangerous weapon in the game, but we are now 3 years removed from those days. Tomlinson has lost a step or two over the last few season, which is why the Chargers were willing to part with him in the first place. He is a 30 year old back with a lot of mileage on his legs. It is not an old wives tale that you can't win in this league featuring a 30 year old back. Guys like Shawn Alexander, Jamal Lewis, Eddie George, Jerome Bettis, and even Emmit Smith all saw their production fall off after turning 30.
As long as you aren't expecting the LT from 4-6 years ago, you should not be disappointed. That being said, I don't see this as the move of the offseason. Other great additions this offseason included Baltimore's acquisition of Q Boldin, Miami's signing of Karlos Dansby, Jacksonville adding Aaron Kampman, and the resigning of Ryan Clark by Pittsburgh. I like the Julius Peppers pickup by the Bears, and Niners adding of David Carr too.
Thanks for the question Marty.
EZ...Will the change in the format of the draft this year have any other effects on the draft itself?
Sam F
Akron, OH
Sam...
I think the primary effect will be on the number of trades we see. Under the previous format, it was not uncommon for teams to trade up to the first pick of the third round (first pick of the second day). This is because after the first day, team had all night to review the players that has fallen, and typically some teams would convince themselves that there was a particular player still on the board who shouldn't have fallen. As a result, they pull out all the stops and work a deal to grab the first pick of day two.
Under the new format, the draft will span an additional day, leaving teams with an additional night to talk themselves into making a deal to go up and grab the first pick of the upcoming day.
Thanks for the great question Sam.
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