Draft King

Patriot picks and Cadillac

National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

January 17, 2005
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.


From: BlueDevilsCBWR@***.com
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 8:51 AM
To: Lou Pickney
Subject: Patriots, WR?

I love your Patriots pick, a WR in round 1. I guess you like the Pats taking a WR also. The only problem is the Pats need a CB like Marlin Jackson or Carlos Rogers to fit there Defense. So here is my question: Do the Patriots really need a WR in round 1?

Lou: The temptation will be there to take a corner, but with Ty Law returning from injury next season, it would seem to make more sense for New England to take a WR with their first rounder. I think it will come down to who is on the board at the time the Pats' pick comes up. With how the Patriots defense smothered the Colts offense yesterday, despite being very banged up in the secondary, I don't think that New England is going to feel obligated to take a corner in the first round. Remember, this is a team that took TE Ben Watson in the first round last year despite being deep at the position already. But WR makes the most sense to me for the Pats, so that's what I'm sticking with, for now, on the projection.


From: Nick Z.
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 11:12 AM
To: Lou Pickney
Subject: Aaron Rodgers to the Browns?

Just had some curiosity about the latest mock with the Browns choosing Rodgers at the #3. Don't you think the Browns have more pressing needs than a QB at this point. While it's a need, wouldn't a pick like OLB Derrick Johnson, CB Antrel Rolle, or OT Alex Barron be a better fit?

As far Rodgers goes, I've heard great things, but I've also heard he's lacking in size for the NFL, and while could be a great QB, many analysts seem skeptical to label him as a franchise QB. I've heard since Savage has taken over as the Browns GM that Rodgers would be the top QB on the Browns draft board, but they aren't in the position yet to draft another QB in the top 5. With Leinart not declaring, isn't it more plausible that Rodgers goes #1? Since QB Alex Smith has jumped up the draft boards for many scouts, do you think he'd be a better fit for the Browns with his size? There's also the big possibility that the Browns move down a few slots to get either Johnson or Rolle.

Also, where do you see the Browns going in Round 2...G Elton Brown?

Lou: Since you wrote this, I've upgraded my mock and now have Cleveland taking Alex Smith. But Cleveland could also take D. Johnson, Rolle or Barron and be doing just fine. What Cleveland does at #3 will be most intriguing, and furthermore will have a huge ripple effect through the entire draft. #3 seems awfully high to take Barron, but with Tampa Bay all but certain to take him at #5 if he falls to that spot, Cleveland doesn't have much wiggle room for trading down if they decide that Barron is their man.

As for Elton Brown lasting to round two, I doubt it. Then again, I was surprised when Jake Grove (center out of Virginia Tech) fell to round two last year, but Brown is a great prospect and if he is there for Cleveland in round two, he would be a great value selection.


From: Brook Gardiner
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 5:09 PM
To: Lou Pickney
Subject: draft king

Is Carnell Williams the next Clinton Portis? Or the next Thomas Jones?

Lou: One thing looks likely: Cadillac will be drafted more along the lines of Jones (high-mid first round) versus Portis (second round). As always with rookie RBs, what team Cadillac ends up with will play a major factor in his early success. If my present projection of Williams going #2 overall to Miami is accurate, then he should be in a position to become "the man" at RB for the Dolphins in 2005. But if Cedric Benson or Ronnie Brown go there, it could be a crapshoot for Cadillac. The Raiders or Cardinals could either end up with him, which would be a decent situation but not "Tomlinson in San Diego in 2001" ideal.

What you don't want is for Cadillac to end up going to, say, Carolina at #14, where he'd be splitting carries and potentially end up as a third stringer behind Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster. Long-term things could be bright for him, but as far as instant payoff goes it would be a negative. Contrast Chris Perry in Cincinnati (behind Rudi Johnson) with Kevin Jones in Detroit. Jones went later in the 2004 Draft, but he had by far the better 2004 season of the two, and rightfully so since K. Jones was expected to fill the starting RB role (and finally did once he overcame injury problems).


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