Draft Coming Into Focus

LKelley67 · 04-07-2005, 09:50 AM

This has been one of the most interesting drafts to speculate about since the upper tier has been less defined than usual. The next level has several players at different positions that are moreless "pick'em" with little difference. There could be more trades than ever this year because of teams desire to move down or maybe less because they cannot get anyone to give them the high end value needed. With trades not being considered since they are even more speculative, I have finally come to what I think is a solid top 9 picks. These you can move around in different order but with teams maintaining their current picks I believe these nine will go first-
A Rodgers QB, A Smith QB, B Edwards WR, M Williams WR, R Brown RB, C Benson RB, C Williams RB, D Johnson LB, and A Rolle CB. The highest chance of falling is Cadillac Williams, particularly if AZ nabs Travis Henry from the Bills. The most likely to move into the top 9 are CB's Pacman Jones or Carlos Rogers and possbibly Troy Williamson.

That leaves 6 picks before NO at #16. Assuming the 9 named are gone and analysing the needs of the next teams before the Saints I expect this:
--Pacman Jones and Carlos Rogers gone. The #4 rated CB is highly likely to be available. Take your pick- Marlin Jackson, Justin Miller, Fabian Washington, or Bryan McFadden. If they wanted a corner though one of these or Corey Webster could be around at #40
--Alex Barron gone. Probably one more OT picked too. High possibility of either Jammal Brown or Khalif Barnes available. I would be happy to see them take either.
--Three spots from 10-15 should be filled from WR's Clayton, Williamson, White or pass rushers Merriman, Spears, Cody, Pollack which have little impact on NO
--I think they could have the pick of the litter of DT's- Johnson, Castillo, or Cody. I like Castillo most but would prefer a trade down before him at #16. Cody is too much like Young and there are too many questions about Johnson for my liking.
--Tweener Thomas Davis is likely to be available unless Detroit or KC rates him at the best defensive player available at their turns. He could be a nice score or he might be a bit of a project getting him settled into his best position.
--Whoever you rank as the #2 LB should be on the board. i'd rather see a trade down than stretch one of them up though. Kevin Burnett is the best exception to that imo.

Sum total, not a lot new in expectations for #16- OT Brown or Barnes, a CB, DT Castillo or Johnson, Thomas Davis or Kevin Burnett. None of those would disappoint me. Are you praying like me though that they don't try to outsmart the rest of the league with the first pick? I believe in BPA but cannot see a OG, c, QB, TE, WR, or another DE at #16 regardless.

04-07-2005, 09:50 AM	#1
LKelley67 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: baton rouge Posts: 2,540	Draft Coming Into Focus This has been one of the most interesting drafts to speculate about since the upper tier has been less defined than usual. The next level has several players at different positions that are moreless "pick'em" with little difference. There could be more trades than ever this year because of teams desire to move down or maybe less because they cannot get anyone to give them the high end value needed. With trades not being considered since they are even more speculative, I have finally come to what I think is a solid top 9 picks. These you can move around in different order but with teams maintaining their current picks I believe these nine will go first- A Rodgers QB, A Smith QB, B Edwards WR, M Williams WR, R Brown RB, C Benson RB, C Williams RB, D Johnson LB, and A Rolle CB. The highest chance of falling is Cadillac Williams, particularly if AZ nabs Travis Henry from the Bills. The most likely to move into the top 9 are CB's Pacman Jones or Carlos Rogers and possbibly Troy Williamson. That leaves 6 picks before NO at #16. Assuming the 9 named are gone and analysing the needs of the next teams before the Saints I expect this: --Pacman Jones and Carlos Rogers gone. The #4 rated CB is highly likely to be available. Take your pick- Marlin Jackson, Justin Miller, Fabian Washington, or Bryan McFadden. If they wanted a corner though one of these or Corey Webster could be around at #40 --Alex Barron gone. Probably one more OT picked too. High possibility of either Jammal Brown or Khalif Barnes available. I would be happy to see them take either. --Three spots from 10-15 should be filled from WR's Clayton, Williamson, White or pass rushers Merriman, Spears, Cody, Pollack which have little impact on NO --I think they could have the pick of the litter of DT's- Johnson, Castillo, or Cody. I like Castillo most but would prefer a trade down before him at #16. Cody is too much like Young and there are too many questions about Johnson for my liking. --Tweener Thomas Davis is likely to be available unless Detroit or KC rates him at the best defensive player available at their turns. He could be a nice score or he might be a bit of a project getting him settled into his best position. --Whoever you rank as the #2 LB should be on the board. i'd rather see a trade down than stretch one of them up though. Kevin Burnett is the best exception to that imo. Sum total, not a lot new in expectations for #16- OT Brown or Barnes, a CB, DT Castillo or Johnson, Thomas Davis or Kevin Burnett. None of those would disappoint me. Are you praying like me though that they don't try to outsmart the rest of the league with the first pick? I believe in BPA but cannot see a OG, c, QB, TE, WR, or another DE at #16 regardless.