Comments on: NFL Draft Open Thread

By: ntliek

ntliek — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:47:11 +0000

So another NFL draft in the books. All in all, I think the Vikings’ picks make a lot of sense. Day one’s players fill immediate needs and I would expect to see them in the starting lineup this season. On day two, the team picked up a CB from UGA in the 3rd round and the ILB Mike Mayock had ranked third in the draft in the 5th, along with a S in the 7th. These are all smart picks from a depth perspective.

This was a really entertaining draft and I can’t wait to see how all of this year’s picks pan out for their respective teams!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:44:41 +0000

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’ve been reading about Chung this morning, that he’s Rodney’s heir apparent and his specialty is knocking the shit out of people. Which is good, you need that intimidation factor to make people think twice about coming over the middle. A safety who scares the hell out of everyone can instantly make a mediocre defense much more formidable; Bob Sanders is the perfect example of that.

Still, the lack of LBs is puzzling. No replacements in the pipeline yet for either Vrabel or Bruschi, and the clock is ticking. Maybe with a few of those twenty five 3rd round picks they now have…

I know you got your wish when the Hawks picked Curry, but what about an eventual replacement for Hasselbeck? Or was 4th overall simply too high for Sanchez?

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:48:26 +0000

Natalie, I’m glad you’re happy with Loadholt. It sounds like the Vikings got the two guys you targeted. Kudos for (sort of) calling both of those picks. Personally, I’m wondering if Minnesota won’t target a developmental QB sometime on the second day.

Aaron, I was a bit surprised by New England trading down, considering how many picks they had. Butler was a good pickup, as you mentioned, as was, imho, Patrick Chung. I saw a lot of Oregon games over the years. Chung is a smart, physical, playmaking safety. I think eventually he’ll give you guys a successor to Rodney Harrison. I think he’s in the mold of Bob Sanders and Troy Polamolu, though perhaps not as good. Also, he’s 20 years old, I think, so he could be around a bit longer than some other picks.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:24:23 +0000

I’m still scratching my head over New England’s day. They traded down continually, got a shitload of picks that will be competing for very few open roster spots, and never drafted any of those USC linebackers, two of whom were still available at their original 23rd slot. On the other hand, they got Darius Butler, who several mock drafts had them picking 23rd, all the way down at 41st.

By: ntliek

ntliek — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:13:33 +0000

Well, I had a sneaking suspicion that the Vikings were going with Harvin and I wasn’t necessarily excited about that pick for a few reasons. First, the team’s greatest need is on the O line, specifically the right side, and I thought this was a good spot to pick someone up. Second, I’m just concerned about Harvin’s injury issues and of course the positive drug test at the combine. Having said that, the fact that the team was able to get Phil Loadholt in the second round, a true RT, makes me very happy with the two picks on the day.

Congrats to the Seahawks on Aaron Curry, whose reaction to getting picked was really touching I thought. On to day 2!!

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:39:27 +0000

Second round…Seattle gets Denver’s first in 2010 for their second, then the Hawks trade their third and fourth round picks for Chicago’s second, nabbing C/OG Max Unger out of Oregon (go Ducks!), a player that they probably were considering originally at 37. Basically, they traded a third and a fourth round pick in this year’s draft for a (probably high) first round pick in next year’s draft. Sweet!

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:26:10 +0000

Beanie Wells falls to the Cardinals. Wonderful. (Note: sarcasm…)

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:02:05 +0000

Sigh…I’d hoped Donald Brown would fall to the Hawks in the second round, but there was never much chance of that happening anyway. I’m surprised Wells is still on the board.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:29:48 +0000

Hmm…Natalie was correct. Harvin is the pick. I wonder what was on Oher’s bio that’s pushing him down so far…

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:22:08 +0000

Brandon Pettigrew is a great player, but I’m puzzled as to why Detroit didn’t take Michael Oher to protect Matt Stafford’s blind side. Detroit’s loss may be Natalie’s gain…