Lou Pickney's 2025 NFL Mock Draft

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I was wondering your thoughts on Andrew Walter. I am a Sun Devil alumni and have watched his career. The games he has struggeled in have been those where the coach opted to not go down the field, relying on short passes and a non-existent running game. When given the opportunity to put the ball in the air down the field, he has been pretty much lights out for defenses. Do you think his coaching staff's sometimes conservative play calling hurts him or is it know that his size and arm will make him a solid starter in about 2 - 3 years? Also, will he drop to the 3rd or 4th round? I know part of this depends on how he performs at his workout, but lets assume he shows no ill effects of the shoulder surgery. I see him being a great fit in Green Bay, as they continue to stretch the field with Javon Walker, Robert Ferguson and Donald Driver. Possibly even Tampa Bay, should they invest in an OL during the draft. Thanks a lot.

Lou: I like the idea of Green Bay taking Andrew Walter with a 3rd round pick. I don't see him falling to day two, but you never know with the draft. The main concern with Walter is not the scheme that Arizona State ran; ASU's pass-coverage reads are actually quite advanced for the college system and should help Walter learn the NFL system quicker than the average QB. No, for Walter his injured right (throwing) shoulder is the key concern.

He separated his shoulder versus Arizona on 11/23/2004. It wasn't mild; the diagnosis was that Walter suffered a third-degree shoulder separation. Walter went to well-respected sports doctor James Andrews, who performed surgery on Walter's shoulder on 12/7/2004. Since then Walter has been rehabbing at Athletes' Performance in Tempe, where he has bulked up from 217 pounds to 235 (while losing body fat). Clearly he's doing all of the right things with his rehab.

The shoulder injury is going to concern some teams, and understandably so. No one wants to end up with a quarterback with chronic problems in his throwing shoulder. But if Walter can sell to teams that he will recover and not be at risk for relapses with his shoulder, he will go a long way in boosting his stock.

I expect to see QB prospects like Akron's Charlie Frye and Auburn's Jason Campbell go before him, but if there's ever a dream matchup in this draft, it's Walter going to Green Bay. Assuming Favre returns for the 2005 season, Walter can rest his shoulder, learn the NFL game from Favre and the Green Bay coaching staff, and prepare to potentially compete for the job in 2006 if Favre retires after this season. Walter is an intelligent person, and while replacing a legend is perhaps the single most difficult thing a debuting QB can do, the 6'6" Walter can handle it if anyone can out of this year's class.

If a team really is impressed by Walter, don't be terribly surprised if he goes in the second round. With a team like Arizona potentially poised to take a QB in round three (if they don't take Frye or Campbell in round two), perhaps another team will make a pre-emptive strike toward the bottom of the second round. That is where some of the guessing and gamesmanship of the draft kicks into high gear.

From: Matt Smith
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 7:33 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Detroit Lions

what are the chances of the Lions signing maybe Kevin Carter, Samari Rolle or maybe Marcellus Wiley. If they could sign one or more good free agents i would think that maybe they would trade there pick and get some good late picks..

Lou: I've read that Kevin Carter is talking with Miami, while Samari Rolle is being courted by Washington. But it's possible that Detroit could get in on the bidding on one of those three guys. They could use a free agent defensive boost.

I still think the Lions will do what they can to draft TE Heath Miller. A likely turn of events would involve trading down to get extra picks but still being able to get Miller, then snag a safety in round two (since the team cut S Brian Walker and wants to get younger at that position).

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