Lou Pickney's 2025 NFL Mock Draft

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

From: mdrancilio@comcast.net
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Jan 4, 2007 9:58 AM
Subject: Detroit Lions Pick

Lou, Thought you might find this link on the Lion's interesting. This is from one of their beat writers that actually has a decent relationship with Millen and talks to him. Here's the link and more specifically, one of the answers about who they want to take. I actually agree that they will NOT take a QB, RB or WR whether they trade down or not. It will be Adams or Thomas, their Interior Lines are the problem, plus as the article states, they love Kevin Jones. Thanks for your great draft site and quick updates.

Q: John Clayton said the Lions want to move down to grab LSU QB JaMarcus Russell. Is it too early to say that?

A: I heard that report and almost fell out of my chair. I think the one position they won't draft is a quarterback, according to everything I've heard.

The Lions have to keep an open mind just in case someone emerges as a special player at a position you don't need. But at this point they're not looking at a quarterback. Absolutely not. They want to move down a couple slots to get a (Clemson defensive end) Gaines Adams or (Wisconsin offensive tackle) Joe Thomas. They want to build in the trenches or at middle linebacker. They don't want (Georgia Tech wide receiver) Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, or a quarterback.

Lou: Interesting tidbit -- thanks for that. Remember that their draft is, in many ways, like a game of high stakes poker. Teams go to great lengths to protect their draft plans and information, going so far as to not attend workouts of players who interest them, keeping draft boards covered in locked rooms in the facility, etc.

Gaines Adams would be a really nice addition to the Lions, and it is entirely possible that Detroit would try to get him. If Adams is who Detroit ultimately wants, I don't know if trading down would be the smartest move, since either Houston or Tampa Bay could potentially take him.

Kevin Jones is a good ballplayer, but then again so is Deuce McAllister, and Deuce's presence in New Orleans didn't prevent the Saints from drafting Reggie Bush.

As for Joe Thomas, he is a highly touted prospect, but as I mentioned in November, the Lions have an above-average left tackle in Jeff Backus. If anything, the Lions need to upgrade at offensive guard, though a right tackle would be nice. I'm not sure if Detroit would move Backus to right tackle or if the team would take Thomas and stick him on the right side. Maybe it would happen, but I think between Thomas and Adams, going with Adams makes much more sense.

I'm still not convinced that Detroit is not going to consider taking a QB, though. Jon Kitna threw more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (21) in 2006, and while Kitna has had good seasons in the past, I wouldn't want to bank my future on him. Plus he turns 35 later this year.

One more thing to consider is Matt Millen's precarious position as the team's GM. With a likely deadline of win in 2007 or lose your job, Millen might be more inclined to go with someone who would make an immediate impact, such as Adams, versus a QB who might take a couple of years to develop.

From: Will Kohane
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Jan 4, 2007 10:17 AM
Subject: mock draft

hello. first, let me say that i love your mock drafts. For some reason your mocks have a little more credibility to me than the others - the frequent updates and commentaries are probably the reason. Plus, I typically agree with your assessments.

Two things:

I am sure you have to move JaMarcus Russell to the top of your draft. I dont see any way he goes lower than the two spot. Even if, say, the Lions or Raiders feel they dont want to risk the pick on Russell, they will get blown away with trade offers from some of the many teams who need a franchise QB. Russell lacks polish (a vast understatement - he throws off the wrong foot and just seems to fling the ball) but I have never seen a QB throw the ball like him - hard and accurate. Amazing prospect. And he is certainly coming out - he will benefit much more on the bench in the pros than playing another year at LSU.

I am a Jet fan. I dont see them taking an offensive player in the first round unless a fantastic O-line prospect slips to them. I dont think they like Eric Coleman and would jump on a heavy hitter like Griffin if he is there for them at 26 (he is there in your draft - so is Q Moses, who I think they'd easily take ahead of Irons). They like Leon Washington enough and have some bigger holes to fill on defense. I'd say NT (moving Robertson to DE) but I dont see a good one slipping to them at 26.

Lou: Thanks for the kind words. I mentioned Russell yesterday, but his performance in New Orleans likely opened many more eyes toward him. The mobility issue is one that he still must overcome, but Russell has played through pain before (wrist injury in 2005) and, much like Vince Young did at Texas, has shown that he can lead his team from behind to win.

While Russell's mechanics will be scrutinized and critized, he is quite efficient, though how well that efficiency can translate to the pro level remains to be seen. If you have a pocket passer, you want him to be on the money, particularly with how tight NFL corners play. There's not much margin for error on the pro level.

With the momentum he has gained, and based on his post-Sugar Bowl comments, I believe that Russell will come out for the NFL Draft. He's earned the right to prove himself on the pro level.

From: Mark Kruise
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Jan 4, 2007 10:29 AM
Subject: (no subject)

Your recent draft has the steelers picking Marcus McCauley with the 15th pick. I will admit that i haven't seen much of McCauley, so my comments aren't based on whether he's worth the 15th pick. Instead, i'd like to point out that the steelers have Bryant McFadden, Ike Taylor, and Deshea Townsend under contract for the next couple years. McFadden has proven to be a reliable starter, and Taylor (while benched for a period of time last year) is still young and should bounce back in 07. Add to that Townsend (obviously on the down side of his career, but still reliable) and the steelers seem fairly solid at CB. The biggest "need", as i see it, is at OLB (the bread and butter of the 3-4). Porter and Haggans are both over 30, and both saw a dip in production this past season. Also, Porter's contract is set to expire after this upcoming season, and most people around here don't think he'll be back (i've even heard talk of trading him, however remote that possibility may be). In my opinion, the steelers will look to add an impact player at OLB in the first round. LaMarr Woodley, Quentin Moses, and Paul Posluszny are the names i'm hearing the steelers will consider in the first round. I'll admit, the steelers usually go after OLB in the later rounds, mostly becuase 3-4 OLB's are usually undersized college DE's who usually don't get selected till later rounds, but with more teams employing the 3-4, i think they'll have to jump on one of these guys earlier than past drafts.

Lou: Bryant McFadden (not to be confused with Darren McFadden) has been a good performer for Pittsburgh, and you're on the mark about him being under contract for two more years and Deshea Townsend being signed for three more years.

You make a good argument for OLB; Pittsburgh tends to draft for need, and it would make sense for them to go with a pass-rushing OLB to add to the mix. Joey Porter is aging, but I suspect that the Steelers will do their best to keep him around beyond his current contract. Clark Haggans turns 30 later this year, and while he is under contract through 2008, adding some youth to the position now would be logical. Pittsburgh is a team that, on paper, doesn't appear to have many needs, and outside linebacker makes sense, perhaps moreso than corner. I'll take that under advisement.

(Click here for Part 2 of the mailbag)

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