The Drew Henson situation
NFL Draft Mailbag
February 5, 2004
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Tpiuma@***.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 3, 2004 12:12 PM
To: Lou Pickney
Subject: new york jets
i've been studying the problems of this team, and its not that bleak. but, and a big but. they must be very careful in this draft.they need a wr, lb ,cb ,og , and s. by the fifth round they must have one player drafted at each of these spots. not all superstars,but funcional pros.if not 2004 will be another long season, as 2003 was. 2003 was along season , because of mistakes made in the off season. this can not be repeated.
Lou: In my opinion, the Jets would've been a playoff contender had it not been for Chad Pennington's pre-season injury. But the positions detailed above could all use upgrading, though not necessarily all via the draft. I could see the Jets snapping up University of Miami safety Sean Taylor if he falls to them at #12, though I don't foresee him lasting that long at this point. If Taylor is not there at #12, it's possible that the Jets might try trading down, especially if there's a team in the mix desperate to trade up to snag Kellen Winslow, Jr.
Of course, a guy like Reggie Williams (currently projected to go to Jacksonville at #9) slipping to #12 would be a great value pickup for a Jets team needing some WR help. But it would be a major surprise for the two Williams receivers (Reggie and Roy) and Larry Fitzgerald to last all the way to the Jets' pick at #12.
From: JAllen6700@***.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 3, 2004 3:47 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Draft analysis/Rashaun Woods
Like your site. Wanted to let you know that Rashaun Woods ran a electronically timed 4.43 last week. This could help him move up.
Lou: DraftKing.com is in the minority in projecting Woods being taken in the first round, but I anticipate Woods making good impressions with the scouts at the combine. Him running a 4.43 forty yard dash is helpful, as he's looked at as being a guy who runs great routes and who has good hands but who doesn't have speed to allow him to get the separation that other prospects with faster times can achieve.
Woods seems like a perfect fit for the Patriots, a team that likes to run 5 WR sets and that could use another WR to add to the mix. But if Woods does slip out of the first round, he will be a Boss Bailey level bargain for someone in Round 2.
From: Matt Johnson
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2004 9:23 AM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Drew Hensen
The news here in Houston mentioned that Drew Hensen was out of his contract with the Yanks and the Texans were setting up private practices with several teams. At one point I heard Dan Marino say that Miami would be willing to trade their 2005 first round pick for Hensen. Now Marino is gone, so who knows...
What have you heard? Is there any chance that the Texans could work a deal for a first round pick in this year’s draft?
Lou: It's true that Drew Henson has parted ways with the New York Yankees
(leaving behind a contract that had three years and 12 million dollars remaining). However, with David Carr embedded as the starter of the Houston Texans (who selected Henson with a sixth round pick in the 2003 Draft), the Texans have the luxury of dealing Henson if they can reach a contract agreement with him. But that's a BIG if.
Dallas, Miami, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Kansas City are expected to be the main suitors for Henson, who will hold a special workout in Houston on February 12 for the purpose of demonstrating his skills. The Seattle Times reports that Will Lewis (Seattle's director of pro personnel) will attend the workout, which should indicate the level of attention that Henson's move is generating in the NFL.
The Texans have a limited window to sign and trade Henson (at least to obtain a pick in the 2004 Draft): March 4-April 23. If Henson is not signed by April 23, Houston will lose his rights outright and Henson will be eligible to re-enter the draft (which takes place the very next day, April 24).
The issue of signing Henson is where the major complication comes into play. The Texans could only sign Henson with whatever is left out of the 2003 rookie pool money, which in all likelihood is a very minimal amount (the pool amount is an amount known only by the Texans and the NFL). After a trade, the team acquiring Henson couldn't restructure his deal until after the 2004 season (due to NFL rules), potentially costing Henson millions of dollars.
Texans GM Charlie Casserly will likely do everything in his power to get Henson to sign, but Henson has the leverage, and the only motivation that the Texans can offer is in allowing Henson to choose what team he'd end up with (compared with the NFL Draft, where Henson's destination would be a matter of chance, not choice). But at this point, I expect Henson to hold out, enter the 2004 NFL Draft, and take his chances with whatever team selects him there (and I could see Miami snagging him at #20 if he is on the board).
From: Mario Lanni
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2004 12:27 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: San Diego Chargers
Who do you really think San Diego will pick as their no. 1 draft pick? Or will they trade their first pick?
Lou: I'd be shocked if it was anyone but Eli Manning. The writing was on the wall in late 2003 when the Chargers, already out of the playoff hunt, kept Doug Flutie in at QB instead of Drew Brees. The Chargers missed out on Eli's older brother, Peyton, six years ago when the Colts took him at #1 (and the Chargers got Ryan Leaf at #2), and then three years ago San Diego traded down to get LaDainian Tomlinson (passing up a shot at Michael Vick). This time, I think San Diego stands pat and takes Eli Manning. Any other move would surprise me.
