| NEW YORK — Seven rounds, 253 picks, 15-plus hours.
I have so many names swimming through my head that I can't remember my own. Still, I've
compiled a few (very) scattered thoughts on this weekend's happenings.  In Denver, the rich keep
getting richer. First-round pick Al Wilson is probably an upgrade at middle linebacker
over Glenn Cadrez. Montae Reagor, Lennie Friedman and Travis McGriff are all outstanding
college players who can be very good pros if used correctly. I wonder if Mike Shanahan is
smart enough to find a way to do that...
It seems to me that
Cleveland went conservative with its early picks in the draft, but that's a good strategy
for a team building a foundation. Tim Couch, Kevin Johnson, Daylon McCutcheon and Wali
Rainer are all solid football players who perform even though they may be a little slower
or a little smaller than you would prefer. They should be effective starters who could
develop into fine players if things fall right. If not, Cleveland can still put play
makers around those guys and have a lethal combination.
The Bears made a very
shrewd move in trading down to the 12th spot. They wanted Cade McNown anyway, but taking
him with the seventh pick would have been too much of a risk. So they trade down, get a
handful of extra picks and get the guy they really wanted in a slot. Plus, in that slot,
they won't have to pay him as much.
Seattle's pick of QB
Brock Huard was a great one. Huard has a ton of talent, but he lost his confidence last
season, and it killed his performance. Mike Holmgren, if he truly is the QB guru we all
think he is, should be able to rebuild Huard's psyche and help him make the most of his
talent. This was a very reasonable third-round gamble that could pay off big time.
Around the Pro
Football Weekly offices, we have a term for stumbling onto something good out of
nothing but dumb luck. We call it a "gump," as in Forrest. The Gump of the Draft
award goes to Atlanta, which wanted DE Patrick Kerney but didn't choose to move up from
the 30th spot to try to grab him. Kerney, projected by many as a top-20 pick, fell to the
Falcons, who happily scooped him up.
Injury concerns
caused these players to drop into the later rounds, but I believe they could end up as
steals:
Seattle picked OT Floyd Wedderburn in Round Five. He did not work out well, but he
played well at Penn State. He could be a potential replacement for ORT Howard Ballard.
Michigan WR Tai Streets suffered a late Achilles injury that dropped him from a
potential second-rounder into the sixth round. San Francisco, which took him there, can
afford to be patient and let Streets heal. If he returns to full strength, he should be
another big, productive receiver for 'Frisco.
Arkansas RB Madre Hill was Cleveland's seventh-round choice. He has No. 1 back ability
but hasn't yet shown he is over a knee injury he suffered in college. Still, if he returns
to full strength, he could play a major role in the Brown backfield.
Virginia S Anthony Poindexter was hurt late in the season yet still earned All-America
honors. He had limited speed before the injury, so whether or not he will be fast enough
to play in the secondary is a concern. But he is a vicious hitter who would have been the
top-rated safety in the draft if not for the injury. Getting him could end up as a huge
coup for the Ravens. |
