Best and Worst of the 2008 Draft

I was going to wait on this post but why not go right into the best and the worst picks.

Best

Jake Long. Miami could have gone in a variety of directions but made the right choice here. Without blocking you have nothing. The Dolphins had nothing even resembling an offensive line and as a result (well, other things may have played a role) nearly had a completely defeated season. As it is their 1 win isn't really worth bragging about.

Vernon Gholston. The Jets not only snagged an excellent player who fills a need but kept him out of the hands of the division rival Pats resulting in their poor move with Mayo. Perfect all around.

Owen Schmitt. This guy is a tank. He blocks, he runs, he's awesome. To get him in the 6th round is a huge steal. Also, Slaton in the 3rd is great value as well. WVU alums were treated poorly in this draft but their selectors (Seattle and Houston respectively) will be rewarded for seeing a deal when it slapped them in the face.

Mario Manningham. The Giants got the most talented WR of the draft basically in the 4th round (last pick of the 3rd round). They don't need or probably expect him to start for a few years (behind Burress, Toomer and Steve Smith). That gives him time to learn discipline and control while being a serious threat when he is on the field. Even if he never becomes more than a 3rd or 4th WR that still justifies a mid round pick on him given his break away speed. However, he has the potential to be a super star and that upside makes this an incredible pick.

Redskins trade down. Traded down to get the player they would have chosen anyway. Always good. Add on that they then were able to pick another type flight WR from the trade proceeds and thats what you call 2 for the price of 1.

Otah. Carolina traded away next years number 1 and a 3rd rounder for this pick. Pricey, but smart. First off swapping 1s is a wash out (possibly better since there is a good chance the Panthers will have worse than the 19th pick next year). The 3 just makes up for the fact you get your guy now. What they don't do is overpay for a top flight linemen. Otah should have been taken earlier and was the only top O-linemen left. Snooze and you lose, the Panther's didn't and won't.


Worst

Jerrod Mayo. The guy was a late 1st\early 2nd rounder and he went 10th. Not only did they waste a top pick on him but now they will have to overpay him as well. The Pats blew this one royally.

Cherilus. Otah is still on the board and you take someone clearly inferior. Thanks for helping me sleep soundly at night Mr. Millen. All is right with the world, you are still the worst GM in the league.

Darren McFadden. Apparently the Raiders think they went 4-12 b\c they only had 2 quality RBs. It wasn't their lack of a D-Line, or really a defense at all. So they burn the 4th pick in the draft to upgrade one of their best positions foregoing Glen Dorsey. Al Davis proves the NFL has long since passed him by.

Brian Brohm. Injury prone QB that had an awful year to be your backup? Why GB? If Rodgers goes down you've your backup is likely to as well. Plus you waste a 2nd round pick on a backup and keep Rodgers up at night. The guy sat behind Favre for years waiting for his chance, which GB has claimed has now arrived and is precisely why they used a 1st round pick on him to begin with. Either he's learned and is ready or he hasn't and never will be. I highly doubt competition is the answer here though and you've cut the legs out from under your proclaimed franchise QB before he starts. Plus, I can't imagine Brohm who expected to go in the first 2 rounds likes the situation either. Drafted into an odd quasi-QB controversy where he could wither and fade away isn't exactly ideal for either the pronounced future or a guy who thought he would be being pronounced some club's future.

Matt Ryan. I predict right now this guy isn't nearly as good as hyped. Solid backup\bottom 10 starter. Never really the guy a team wants as QB but fills in in a pinch. Further, even if he is excellent, I will look like a genius when the Falcons throw him under the bus right away behind a line that couldn't block an undersized JV D-Line. Ryan will suffer from David Carr syndrome, a.k.a post traumatic stress disorder as a result of multiple concussions sustained from being sacked more times than you can count. Which, incidentally, is no longer very high after all those concussions.


Late Round shenanigans

Andre Woodson. Umm one question....why? The Giants have Eli Manning, not that I think they expect their new franchise QB in round 6. However, they also just signed David Carr to a 2 year 2 million dollar deal and already have Jared Lorenzen. Did they decide they need 4 QBs or that it was worth even a 6th round pick to upgrade the 3rd QB slot over butterball (Lorenzen is nick named that b\c hes so fat)? If you drop to your 3rd QB you're just plain screwed so I don't get the wasted pick.

In the beginning of the 4th round the Titans picked a guy (William Hayes) who the NFL didn't even bother to list as a possible draftee. Would someone please call Jeff Fisher and let him know that you are permitted to sign people who go undrafted. No need to waste a pick on a guy that the NFL essentially deemed undraftable. Scouts inc. graded him a 30 out of 100. By comparison I've never even heard of a guy getting below a high 50's. They basically grade out like a curved test with few failing and few A's, this guy barely spelled his name right.