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2008 NFC Draft Recap and Comments
A quick look at and comment on each team's draft
By Sal Capaccio
www.SalSports.com
Even though I am a teacher in real-life and don't just play one on the Internet, and I actually do hand out grades for a living, I find it not only too difficult, but completely unnecessary and pointless to "grade" an NFL team's draft immediately after it's completion. In fact, I don't believe any draft should have a grade attached to it until that draft class has played at least three years of pro football.
However, it is completely fair and justifiable to look at a team's draft and make quick observations of how they did or did not help their current roster and how the players they drafted may or may not help them in future years. Not every pick has to be analyzed to do this, either. But some picks stick out as not being the best pick that team could have made for a variety of reasons, and some picks jump off the page as a terrific choice.
All that being stated, here are some quick takes and impressions on each of the NFC team's drafts (Go here to read my AFC comments):
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys:
Was Felix Jones a pick made more with Jerry Jones' head or his heart?
Either way, he's a good runner and will contribute. I'm just not sure he'll
do so enough to warrant the #22 pick. I was able to watch Mike Jenkins
up-close and personal this year and think he will be a very solid NFL
cornerback. The 'Boys must have a plan at WR since they didn't draft one,
which was curious.
New York Giants:
Interesting that the Giants, coached by a disciplinarian in Tom Coughlin, took a
chance on WR Mario Manningham considering his off-field issues and
question-marks. But Coughlin could be just the kind of coach he needs to
keep him straight and hungry. Kenny Phillips was the only logical choice
for the team at the #31 pick. They needed safety help after losing Gibril
Wilson in free agency. Normally, I'd say QB Andre Woodson was a steal in
the 6th round, but he'll get caught in a QB numbers game in New York and never
get a chance to show it.
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles drafted as if they are only a couple players away from contending for
the Super Bowl. And they just might be. DT Trevor Laws never got the
recognition he deserved because Notre Dame's failures as a team were so much
more of
the focus surrounding that program last season, but he's an excellent
football player. DeSean Jackson finally gives Donovan McNabb a WR with the
ability to stretch the field. I like Quintin Demps at FS. He may be
able to contribute this season. Other than that, anyone else drafted on
Philly's second day will either not make the team or not be heard from for at
least two years.
Washington Redskins:
Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis?! Wow, did the 'Skins grab
their young QB Jason Campbell some weapons! They needed taller targets and
got plenty in all three players. Chad Rinehart won't start but should
help their O-Line depth. Washington got the top-rated punter in the draft
in Durant Brooks. The Colt Brennan pick screams "ego pick" to me by head
coach Jim Zorn. NFL coaches who were once quarterbacks always feel they
can turn any signal-caller into a Pro Bowler through their infinite wisdom and
teaching skills. It won't happen with Brennan just like it didn't happen with
ultra-stats QBs like David Klingler, Andre Ware, and Timmy Chang (also from
Hawaii).
NFC North
Chicago Bears:
I really like what the Bears did overall. Nothing flashy. Just solid
picks that will help now or down the road. OT Chris Williams can improve
the running game and passing game just by suiting up. If they can ever put
a competent quarterback under center, Earl Bennett could be the wide receiver
steal of the draft. TE Kellen Davis was one of the most athletically
gifted players in the entire draft -- at any position! He will either be a
boom or bust player.
Detroit Lions:
Joseph Addai, Laurence Maroney, Marshawn Lynch, and Adrian Peterson. Those
are just four of the many names of rookie running backs over the past two years
who made major contributions to their teams in their initial seasons. When
2008 is complete, you can add Kevin Smith to that list. This kid is
talented, tough, and durable. He'll help the Lions offense immediately.
And with OL Gosder Cherilus helping to lead the way, the right side of the
Detroit line should be improved and help control the clock. Several of the
players they took in day two were good college players, but I don't see them
transitioning to the NFL very well.
Green Bay Packers:
I'm in a minority when I say I don't like the Pack's draft.
It's not the players and their talents I don't like, it's what they did to the
psyche of their roster and their young QB Aaron Rodgers that disturbs me. It's bad enough
Rodgers has to continually hear rumors of Brett Favre's return. Now, he
sees the organization that has been grooming him take not one, but two
quarterbacks in this year's draft (the only team to do that). Considering they went to
the NFC title game a year ago, neither Brian Brohm nor Matt Flynn are going to
come in right away and take them to the next step. So, if the team feels
Rodgers is not the answer, that's fine, but then why not bring in a veteran
while the window of opportunity is still there? I did like the Jordy
Nelson selection at WR and think he'll be a solid NFL player, but I'm not a fan
of TE Jermichael Finley and OT Josh Sitton was taken as high as the fourth round
purely on measurables and not production.
Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikes had a very good draft. even though they didn't have a first-round
selection (traded for Jared Allen). Safety Tyrell Johnson was grabbed as
great value with pick #43, and then they took maybe the most accurate QB in the
draft in John David Booty and a center in John Sullivan who should contribute
within a couple years.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons:
Want to know why I don't like the Matt Ryan pick at #3? Read
this. Ryan is the
kind of QB that will be good when you surround him with pass catchers and
blockers. The former, the Falcons don't have. The latter, they tried
to help out by reaching back into the first round for Sam Baker. I like CB
Chevis Jackson and WR Harry Douglas and think they both have a chance to make an
impression in Atlanta sooner rather than later. Overall, the Falcons had a
bunch of picks and did the smart thing by choosing a variety of positions,
because this team needs a lot of help in a lot of places. But taking Ryan
over Glenn Dorsey is a decision they will regret in the long-run.
Carolina Panthers:
Talk about an organization that got aggressive and drafted like their jobs were
dependent upon winning (because they probably are), the Panthers took two
players that fit what they want to do perfectly - and can do it immediately.
RB Jonathan Stewart and OL Jeff Otah are both workhorses who they will rely on
right away to help pound the football with and behind. Then, they grabbed
LB Dan Conner who inexplicably was still available in round three right after
drafting a solid cornerback in Charles Godfrey.
New Orleans Saints:
I'm a big DT Sedrick Ellis fan. He dominated at the collegiate level and
will be tough in the NFL, too. Trading up to get him was the right move if
they really wanted him. Almost any cornerback would help this secondary,
which is why they drafted Tracy Porter in the round two. Adrian Arrington
was a nice seventh round pick. He will be a possession receiver and nice
outlet for a team that often relies too heavily on the big play on offense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
CB Aqib Talib is a very good football player, and he fits the Bucs defense
nicely. But he has character questions and the team chose him over another
solid CB in Mike Jenkins who played his college ball right in their own stadium.
Dexter Jackson gives this organization something they haven't had
since....well....never - a legitimate threat in the return game. The
problem is, he's not an accomplished wide receiver and this team needed to find
another one. Josh Johnson adds to the Bucs roster a seventh - that's right
- SEVENTH quarterback! But all that aside, Talib's development and play
over the next 2-3 years will determine if this draft was great or horrible for
Jon Gruden's team.
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals:
The Cards first two picks will help their defense a lot, but maybe not as soon
as they hope. Both CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and DE Calais Campbell
have question-marks surrounding their transitions to the NFL. But once
either or both of them figure it out at the next level, they will be impact
players. I wasn't as big on WR Early Doucet as many others were as far as
his NFL prospects. However, going to a team that already has Larry
Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin (assuming they keep him), Doucet will not have to
be the play-maker and can settle into a nice roll for himself. On the
negative side, this team needed to grab a running back to help give Edgerrin
James a break. He's not getting any younger and has carried the ball a
ton. Tim Hightower was not that answer.
St. Louis Rams:
Choosing DE Chris Long over DT Glenn Dorsey will always be debated, but the Rams
obviously felt they had more pressing needs on the outside of their front-7 than
the inside. I'm fine with that. What I'm not fine with was drafting
Donnie Avery in round two when every other WR was still on the board. It
reminded me of 1996 when this same organization surprisingly selected WR Eddie
Kennison over Marvin Harrison and Eric Moulds. OT John Greco and CB Justin
King are lesser-known players from deeper positions in the draft, but both
should help this team early on. Some potential drafted with their last
three picks, but none of the players selected will make an immediate
contribution, if they even make the team.
San Francisco 49ers:
Here's a team that hired Mike Martz as its offensive coordinator and came into
the draft needing a wide receiver. That should have added up to a WR being
chosen within the first three rounds at the very latest. It's bad enough
they waited until the sixth round to answer that call before drafting Josh
Morgan, but on top of that Morgan played in a very run-oriented offense at
Virginia Tech. And considering QB Alex Smith's issues last season and the
inexperience behind him, it was also surprising the Niners did not draft another
young quarterback as insurance. At least Martz will try and protect Smith
with OG Chilo Rachal and OL Cody Wallace.
Seattle Seahawks:
DE Lawrence Jackson could prove a lot of people wrong by showing he was worthy
of his first-round selection. But here's another team that needed a pass
catcher and did not go grab one when it was available. TE John Carlson's
strength is more is more as a blocker than a receiver. FB Owen Schmitt was
a favorite of fans of almost any NFL team because of his toughness and
willingness to do whatever it takes to clear a path for his running teammates.
But he may not have a long NFL career for that same reason. Brandon Coutu
will get a solid opportunity to compete with Olindo Mare for the team's kicking
duties.