Lou Pickney's 2025 NFL Mock Draft


National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

February 27, 2006
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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

Because I fell behind on e-mail, I've started fresh. Sorry to those of you who I was unable to answer on here.


From: Timothy J Davis
To: loupickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 24, 2006 1:18 PM
Subject: Carolina Panthers

So, we transition tagged D. Foster... smart move? I think it's a very respectable decision. He is a huge value to the team, and despite having season ending injuries in three of four seasons, none of them have been related to each other. The $5.13 million he has been tendered is not guaranteed to him until the beginning of the regular season I think gives Carolina some decent flexibility. I am concerned, however, with who will be the 'partner in crime' if you will. Do you feel confident that E. Shelton can step in and be that power guy beside Foster? Do you think that the Panthers will be safe looking for that pass catching tight end in the first round or might they be better off going for a Laurence Maroney or LenDale White? This is all assuming S. Davis gets released, which would free up some $2 million. Thanks for your time, keep up the great work!

Lou: With the transition tag being put on DeShaun Foster, I don't necessarily forsee the Panthers going with a RB in the first round, particularly with Nick Goings being on the roster. However, it's not unreasonable to think that the Panthers might take a RB on day one. Someone like Wisconsin RB Brian Calhoun being thrown into the mix could make things interesting.


From: Gary Graham
To: loupickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 26, 2006 7:01 PM
Subject: No Jimmy Williams

I would have to disagree with your mock draft and the Raiders pick of Jimmy Williams. Last season, the Raiders picked CB's with their first two draft picks (Fabian Washington, Stanford Routt) in anticipation of 2005 being Charles Woodson's final one in the silver and black. Due to Woodson's injury, Fabian got alot more playing time than expected, and he is now entrenched in the starting position along with Nmadi Asomugha. I feel that AJ Hawk and Mario Williams will be gone by the time the # 7 pick rolls around and if they are, then I cannot see the Raiders passing up on Haloti Ngata from Oregon. Ted Washington is either going to retire or get cut, and Warren Sapp is certainly not getting any younger and a mammoth, run stopping nose tackle like Ngata, more than makes sense with this pick. Don't forget the Raiders play in a division that features RB's Larry Johnson, Ladainan Tomlinson and whomever Mike Shananan decides to plug in at Denver, so shoring up the line to stop the run, becomes even more important for the Raiders. Just my two cents.

Lou: More on Ngata later. This is where I talk about a person knowing his favorite team and how that extra knowledge can go a long way. I didn't put Williams in there arbitrarily; I read about the Raiders deciding to allow Charles Woodson to become a free agent and figured that the secondary might be where the Raiders would look if Mario Williams was off the board. But you're exactly right about the CB situation in Oakland.


From: Rick Burdette
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 23, 2006 2:44 AM
Subject: Franchise tag question...

Just curious, because I cannot find it anywhere.... Why can't the Seahawks use their franchise tag on Shaun Alexander. I heard on one of the top sports sites (it rhymes with ESPN.rom) that they weren't allowed to use it on him. Is that true? I know they will probably use it on Steve Hutchinson, but, can that really NOT use it on Alexander?

Lou: You can mention ESPN.com; it's not as if I'm afraid of other sites. More information means more opportunity to learn.

When the Seahawks pulled off arguably the most underrated free agent moves last year in retaining Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones AND Shaun Alexander, they got Alexander to sign a one-year deal with the caveat being that the Seahawks promised not to use the franchise or transition tag on Alexander this off-season. Unless Alexander signs soon, he could end up being stolen away by a team with plenty of cap room and need at RB (like the Vikings.)


From: Geoff Lewis
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 26, 2006 11:25 PM
Subject: Detroit Lions draft

Love the mock draft!! Im just wondering if Tamba Hali is really the player the Lions need to take in the first round. I would like to think either Jimmy Williams, Michael Huff or Haloti Ngata from Oregon would be the choices. I think with Ngata out DL will dominate and allow the LineBackers to roam free and make tackles. With either Williams or Huff the secondary gets a much needed upgrade. Either way you look at it though I know the Lions need to draft Defense first this year. The Defense is close to being a top notch unit in the NFL and with some first round talent added, I think we will get there.

Lou: With Matt Millen is as the mad scientist at GM, nothing is guaranteed. I can only imagine the incredulous e-mails that would have bombarded me had I accurately predicted them drafting Mike Williams one year ago.

Ngata could be a good choice if he falls to the Lions, but like you said, so would either Huff or Williams. The Lions do have good fortune in there likely being strong players at need positions when they draft.


From: Ian Hunt
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 27, 2006 3:05 AM
Subject: Draft Question

What happened? You use to due updates all the time with mailbag responses and draft updates. Also your most recent Mock doesn't even have Ngati?? NT from Oregon who I know Cleveland will take if he lasts to the 12th pick. I loyal fan worried.

Lou: I've been extremely busy lately. Between work, falling behind on e-mails (which then makes catching up all the more daunting) and an overall busy schedule, I've had a tough time giving this site the time it deserves.

The omission of Ngata was an oversight; obviously he's a top ten talent and the top rated DT at this point.


From: Walt Osborne
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 27, 2006 1:47 PM
Subject: KC's draft pick

As much as I would like to see a top notch WR in KC, I don’t think that is their pressing need for 2006. They’ve had 3 straight years of 4,000+ yards passing. I think with Herm Edwards they will probably go defense, they need a better pass rush, it was pitiful last year. I would like to see the Chiefs address their aging offensive line on the first day of the draft but Carl Peterson and Clark Hunt never listen to me. Anyway, you said you like to hear from the fan base so that’s my 2 cents. Enjoy your website and mock drafts. I’ve got you bookmarked.

Lou: Thanks for bookmarking the site. Defense is a possibility, though with Kansas City adding CB Patrick Surtain via free agency and LB Derrick Johnson in the first round of the draft, I'd agree that it would be via a pass rusher. But with Chad Jackson's great performance at the combine, and the separation between Mario Williams/Tamba Hali and the rest of the DE crop, I still think they'd go with Jackson if he's there.


From: Mike Georgeff
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 27, 2006 3:06 PM
Subject: feb 26 update, 2006 mock draft

Let me get this straight: Haloti Ngata doesn't get drafted in the 1st round of your mock? I think that is highly unlikely. Was this somehow an oversight? I would love to hear the justification behind your decision on that one.

Regardless of the Mike Williams release, even if Ferguson is still on the board when Buffalo picks, it's unlikely they will pass on Ngata considering their weak run defense ranking this past year. Thoughts?

Lou: Yes yes, I made a mistake on Ngata. I had him penciled in previously for Buffalo (since Ngata would be a great fit at DT for the Bills, who got nothing out of DT Sam Adams last year), but when I put D'Brickashaw Ferguson in for Ngata, I forgot to put Ngata into the "available player" section. Bottom line, either player would be a great addition to the team.


From: Rich Sanderson
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 27, 2006 3:21 PM
Subject: Cards..

Are you honestly suggesting that the Cards would pass on any of the three QB's in favor of a TE?? Thats ridiculous. The only players that could get them off of a QB pick would be Ferguson or Hawk, and neither will fall that far.

Lou: No way that Matt Leinart would slide past the Cardinals. I don't think they'd pass on Vince Young either, and with the post-combine buzz about Jay Cutler... maybe that would change. For some reason the Cardinals have avoided going for a first round QB when opportunities have been there in the past. Would this be the year for them to take a leap on someone like Cutler? We'll see...


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