Lou Pickney's 2025 NFL Mock Draft

National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

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

In case you missed yesterday's mailbag, here are a few notes heading into Saturday's draft. There will be no real-time commentary attempt like last year. That didn't work out so well. My computer and TV are in different rooms, and besides I want to be able to watch the draft, not dodge back and forth like a rat in a cage. I do plan on taking notes and writing my take of things, Bill Simmons style, after the draft, so be sure to check in here either late Saturday night or Sunday to see that.

Hey Lou congratulations I was just reading up about the Cowboys at their official website and they have an article about mock drafts and your mock draft is posted there along with 4 others. Looks like someone is starting to actually give some much needed recognition.

Lou: Thanks Jason. It's a major compliment to be listed among some great company, and I give my deep appreciation to the Dallas Cowboys and to Nick Eatman (the author of the column) for including me in there. I think very highly of Mel Kiper, as the work he puts in on the draft is amazing. While I don't agree with Mel on everything (i.e. him projecting Cleveland to take a QB at #3), I don't think anyone would question his work ethic or his knowledge of the draft prospects. Plus, Mel has great hair, whereas I shave my head (as this picture shows -- I'm the guy, not the hot chick). But to be listed with well-respected organizations like Scouts Inc. and The Sporting News is an honor.

One thing about the evaluation on there: I concur with Eatman's analysis, so long as you don't take into account the Cowboys trading a second round pick to the Saints for DE Darren Howard, which is what I had projected. But if that doesn't happen, then definitely Dallas goes DE at #20 with the guys who look to still be on the board there.

From: Justin Lambert
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 8:28 AM
To: "'LouPickney@hotmail.com'"
Subject : Arizona dealing with buffalo

We are now only 2 days away from the draft and still no sign of an agreement being reached for Travis Henry. It looks like the GM in Buffalo wants to teach Henry a lesson. Of course he isnt helping by going off and crying like Eli Manning on draft day 04. If this deal doesnt get done in time how likely is it that Arz will pass up Alex Smith or Arron Rogers (if still availible) and go with a RB? From how it looks to me, Arz has been bending over backwards trying to get a deal done, but every time that door gets slammed in their face. True Henry is right, i would want to be the feature back on the team and get the spotlight too. But I also think that the mindset of the GM is right. Buffalo is going to start J.P. Losman, good skilled QB given, but little to no experience. Buffalo is trying to say that this year instead of running the ball 30 to 40 times a game they can run 40 to 50 times, heck maybe even 60. They can run more fancy screens with two extremely talented backs, to assist in the development of Losman. I really dont think it is wise to punish your team by either party, but especialy by the GM to do that when you can get more bang for your buck and trade Henry away. Lou in your eyes what are the odds of this deal getting done by draft day if at all?

Oh yeah did you see the new Cardinals jerseys. I think ive seen that uniform before......say.......Atlanta Falcons. They look a little too similar. The sleeves are different but the number font is to the "T" exactly like ATL.

The Dallas Cowboys mentioned Draftking.com on their website, did ya check that out?

Lou: A deal to land Travis Henry could come down to draft day. It's possible that Arizona could wait to see who's there at #8, and then either acquiesce to Buffalo's demand to swap second rounders, take a RB there, or decide to roll the dice with the RBs in round two and take a non-RB there, even without a trade. As for the odds on it, Buffalo could use the o-line help in L.J. Shelton, and it's a win-win if it happens. So I'd put it at 55%, just better than even. Take that for what you will.

As for Travis Henry, he played the good employee role when Buffalo inexplicably took Willis McGahee with its first round pick in 2003 and kept his mouth shut, even when he found himself benched in 2004. But now is the time for Buffalo to trade him; if the Bills don't, the risk is there for Henry to become very disgruntled and a potential huge locker room distraction. Had he whined in April 2003, that would've been out of place. But I think Henry is in the right on this one.

I don't like the change made to the Cardinals uniforms. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to uniforms; I like the regular, easy-to-read numbers that teams used to all have. If you're wearing a white jersey, make it that way; don't give us a swirl that looks like raspberry-and-vanilla soft serve ice cream. But economics rules the roost, and new uniforms=more sales. The meaner-looking Cardinal I liked, but I think the Cardinal is actually mad about the new uniforms. Or something like that. The red uniforms (red jersey, red pants) look alright, as long as you don't confuse them with the University of Utah.

One thing I've always liked is how the Cowboys always wear white at home (barring special gimmick jersey games, like on Thanksgiving Day). Then again, I give that stuff more thought than 99%+ of the fans out there, I guarantee you. I'm the guy who bitches when the Redskins default to wearing red jerseys at home or the Dolphins wear aqua at home day games in Madden football. But this is unrelated to the draft, so let's move on...

From: Mike Allison
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:11 AM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Chicago Bears best plan of attack?

Hey Lou,
I have to agree with everyone else that you are doing a bang-up job in providing your daily draft analysis.
As a Chicago Bears fan I have a question about their best plan of attack in this years draft. There are rumours floating about out there that if the right player (Braylon Edwards perhaps) slips to number four, Washington (and probably others) with their two first-round picks would be interested in trading up with the Bears.
To simplify the scenario we'll assume that it is indeed Washington that wants to trade up, and the Bears will get picks #9 and #25 in compensation. We'll also assume that both Mike Williams and Braylon Edwards are still on the board.
In your opinion would the Bears be better off accepting the two picks and missing out on one of the two premier WR's in the draft, or should they stay put and take either Williams or Edwards? The Bears are without a third round choice this year (please live up to expectations next year Wale Ogunleye), so the extra first day pick would be handy. At the same time pick #9 may see Da Bears miss out on all three of the top RB's, and the third rated receiver Troy Williamson would be a reach here.

Lou: Unless Chicago can rook the Redskins like Denver did the other day in trading the #25 pick, I see no reason to move from #4. Washington has already said it's not trading the #9 pick, though that was before the Redskins acquired the #25. But Washington could use first rounders at both CB and DE. Some think Washington should go WR in the first round, but not me, unless someone falls to them. The defensive needs are too strong at the moment.

Chicago has said in public that it has no interest in trading down, and I tend to believe that. According to this NFL pick value chart, the Bears would come ahead on top of a #4 for #9 & #25 trade, but when you look at need the Bears can land an elite receiver and be fine. With Alex Smith and Adewale Ogunleye at DE, there's no need to get into the DE frenzy. You can argue that Chicago might want to go for another RB, but there's no guarantee that the "big 3" will be there by the time #9 hits; I think Cedric Benson will, but again there's no way to know for sure. And even so, then Chicago still needs to fill a receiver hole at #25. I'd personally rather take Mike Williams at #4, get a backup RB at some point on down the line in the draft and go from there.

From: Chris Pennington
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 3:35 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: lions

Lou with the lions signing of Kosier I have my doubts that they would actually draft Barron. I think they are looking more at the defense since they also signed Kevin Johnson as a 3rd wideout. They lack playmakers on defense after Bly and Rogers. I can see them going with Derrik Johnson or Merriman before going O-line what do you think.

Lou: One really nice thing about this mailbag process is that I get to hear from fans of certain teams, or at the very least from people who follow them closely. Since I am but one man trying to follow all 32 teams, it's tough to keep them all covered in free agent season. So I appreciate hearing info like Detroit signing Kyle Kosier, which I had missed. Note that the mock draft as of this writing now has Derrick Johnson going to the Lions, which should please Detroit fans. If Boss Bailey can have a healthy 2005 season, things could be very interesting for Detroit fans in 2005. Let's see: Jeff Garcia at QB (in a comfortable system with Mariucci), Kevin Jones at RB, Charles Rogers and Roy Williams as twin terror WRs, an offensive line that can handle the job, and now a defense coming together? Makes me think that the NFC North could be a really fun division to follow this season. Minnesota and Green Bay are coming off of playoff seasons, and Chicago is a team on the rise. But don't overlook Detroit.

Draft King NFL Mock Draft

NFL Draft Prospect Profiles

Draft King is owned and operated by Lou Pickney. Copyright © 2003-2025, all rights reserved. Information on this website should not be used for any gambling purposes, nor does it constitute any sort of advice, financial or otherwise.