Musings on the NFL Draft's Day 1

Lots of surprises today - some terrible, some great. Getting right to it...

• 2 of the 3 players (Ted Ginn, Alan Branch, Dwayne Jarrett) I have been touting for months now as being overrated substantially dropped in today's draft. Branch was taken 33rd overall (1st pick of 2nd round) by Arizona. And, Jarrett was selected by Carolina with the 45th overall pick. Listen...with these 2 guys, the NFL got it right. Both have been tagged as having terrible work ethics...RED FLAG! The exception...Ted Ginn, Jr. - the 9th overall pick by Miami. Whaaaaat? Ginn is a burner - that's it! He is vastly undersized, injury prone, and tremendously raw...only knows how to run a fly-pattern and refuses to come across the middle of the field. In all honestly, Ginn will not match Wes Welker's career. The Dolphins passed on a potential stud QB (in Quinn) - something they have been desperately searching for since Marino's retirement. I don't get it??? Culpepper...Trent Green...Cleo Lemon...I don't care - Culpepper and Lemon suck...and Trent Green is a dinosaur. Ted Ginn, Jr. is an NFL kick returner. He will NEVER exceed more than 55 receptions in ANY given year...for his entire career. He's a far worse route runner than Chad Jackson. Awful pick - no way around it.


• If Darrell Jackson is traded to San Francisco, as expected, for a second day draft pick...then, San Francisco will have had a great draft (it goes without saying that I love Patrick Willis at #11)! It's well known that I don't necessarily love Jackson, but you can't deny the fact that he would be a welcomed favorite target of Alex Smith. What I don't understand is why Seattle, a division rival, is willing to part with Jackson for so little?? Although Jackson, 28, has struggled with dropped passes in the past and is an injury concern, the fact that he is a consistent deep and red zone threat can't be overlooked. After all, Jackson hauled in 10 TD's last year -- and, compiled 87 receptions...1199 yards in 2004. The latest word has Jackson as being in San Francisco to take a physical and potentially discuss a contract extension. Stay tuned...


• Romeo Crennel just saved his job - for probably at least another 2 years (or at least until Brady Quinn has started for a full year). Cleveland landed mainstays at the two most important positions on the field -- left tackle (Joe Thomas, #3) and quarterback (Brady Quinn, #22). Yes, the Browns gave up a ton (this year's 2nd round pick and their 2008 1st round pick) to move up and grab Quinn...but, it was a no-brainer (Charlie Frye is not the future for any franchise...it's that simple), as the Browns landed both players which they considered with the 3rd overall pick. Quinn will be the best QB from this draft (Russell doesn't impress me at all - he's got a cannon for an arm, but then again...so, does Culpepper and Leftwich). Now, Quinn is going back home and has an IMMENSE chip on his shoulder. Already deemed as an extremely dedicated worker, student of the game, and NFL ready...Quinn has something to prove to the league. Don't bet against him! And, let's not forget what Cleveland did in the 2nd round...by way of another trade with Dallas -- they acquired UNLV CB Eric Wright. Wright comes with baggage, but he is just as talented as any other corner in this draft. This kid flies (4.36 40-time speed)!! On defense, he's a risk-taker...but, also a "ball hawk". Cleveland's front office turned in the best Day 1 of any organization - and, it's really not even close.
  
• I love what the Bengals did (under the radar)...at #18 overall, they took Michigan CB Leon Hall. In recent years, the Bengals have recognized they desperately needed help in pass coverage. And, they have certainly addressed this area in the past two drafts, as they selected Jonathan Joseph (South Carolina) in last year's draft with the #24 overall pick. Hall and Joseph should make a deadly tandem for many years to come.


• Continuing on the theme which is the Bengals...they clearly aren't high on RB Chris Perry anymore. It was very surprising to see them draft Auburn RB Kenny Irons at #49 overall. I was shocked to see them not draft more defensive help with this pick. Irons won't help improve Cincinnati, at all, this upcoming season - as he'll enter the season third on the depth chart (Rudi Johnson doesn't get injured).


• I like what "my" Giants did in the first two rounds -- Texas CB Aaron Ross (at #20) and USC WR Steve Smith (at #51). At #20, it was either Ross or OT Joe Staley. Both CB and O-Line are obvious needs for the Giants...but, the Giants went the way of best value (and, I can't blame them). Let's get it out of the way...Aaron Ross is an f'n STUD...an animal!! Size, physicality, (straight-line) speed. In '06, the Giants secondary was horrendous. Ross is a home-run player...I liken him A LOT to Asante Samuel (but, with more size). Like Samuel, Ross is very instinctive...but, isn't a great tackler in the run-game and plays best in zone schemes. My take on Steve Smith is well documented (see Friday's blog). He is going to be PERFECT alongside Plaxico Buress. Smith is your ideal #2 wideout (look no further than what he did at USC in this role). Somewhere, Eli Manning is partying tonight! Although I admittedly don't know all that much about Penn State DT Jay Alford (taken with the #81 overall pick), I can't say I'm enamored with the pick. By all accounts, Alford is clearly undersized and only a one-gap prospect.


• Granted the Jets (because they twice traded up today) only have/had two picks in the first six rounds...they made the most of these two picks. They are both phenoms! At #14, they moved up to grab stud CB Darrelle Revis. I sweat this kid - his talent is out of this world. Big, athletic, and absolutely sticks...will excel in zone coverage! At #47 overall, the Jets landed themselves another big-time talent in Michigan LB David Harris (solid in nearly every aspect). Jonathan Vilam alongside Harris...oh my God - that is a devastating combination for years to come! Harris could play either ILB or MLB.

More analysis to follow on Sunday...