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National Football League
Draft King Mailbag
April 13, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Jeff West
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 10, 2007 10:29 AM
Subject: 49ers
Hey Lou,
This is my first year following your site, and I love it. I am sure I will be returning every year.
I like the idea of the 49ers going with Willis and I think he will be a great player in the NFL, however I wanted to get your thoughts on them taking Branch since they are now in a 3-4 defense and do not have a true NT. I know coach Nolan stresses character, and character is something that has been questioned about Branch, but how can they pass on such a huge NT to anchor the D-Line? Just a thought, keep up the good work.
Lou: I think it could be a very close decision for the 49ers if it comes down to both Alan Branch and Patrick Willis being on the board at #11. Willis has had a very impressive off-season (after being a star on an undermanned Ole Miss defense in 2006), matching his on-field success with great workouts, whereas Branch's stock has fallen a bit. Willis would be such a great fit at LB for San Francisco, which already boosted its LB ranks with the free agency signing of OLB Tully Banta-Cain from New England.
There are some 49ers fans who really hope the team takes Branch, and I can understand why, since his size would be ideal for NT in a 3-4 defense. It's actually hard to see San Francisco going wrong with Willis or Branch, but they can't take them both, and for now I'd project the 49ers taking Willis over Branch.
From: Mikegrossoaks@aol.com
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 11, 2007 4:50 PM
Subject: Raiders and Lions trade
Well I'm back with some more information for you and I'm wondering what your thinking is. I found out that the Raiders are interested in Lions backup QB Josh McCown. Since the Falcons got 2 second round picks from the Texans for inexperienced Matt Schaub what would the Lions command for Josh. If this rumor is true, that Josh wants to start and missed the open workout, do the Raiders take Calvin Johnson with the first pick and the Lions take Russell. This could all be a smoke screen but it is interesting to talk about. I doubt the Raiders would give the 1st player overall to the Lions for Josh.
Lou: It would seem that Oakland would be well-served to bring in a veteran quarterback, regardless of its intentions at the #1 spot, as depth at QB is obviously quite important. As for Josh McCown, he has a career 25 TDs to 29 INTs, so I would suspect that Oakland wouldn't have to give up too terribly much to get him. I'd think maybe a 5th rounder or below would do it.
McCown is going into the final year of a two year contract with Detroit, and has been a no-show at the voluntary mini-camp that the Lions are holding. Last year he was used a little bit as a wide receiver, which I'd imagine is not something that he envisioned when he signed with the Lions.
Detroit is sold on Jon Kitna in 2007, and if McCown is being a malcontent, it makes sense for the Lions to move him while they can get value for him.
There is an argument to be made on Oakland potentially taking Calvin Johnson #1, but the presence (or lack of presence) of Josh McCown should be a non-factor in that. As it is, even with Andrew Walter and Josh McCown, the Raiders would need more at QB.
From: Santana McCloud
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 12, 2007 4:40 PM
Subject: Raider Ransom Possibilities
Lou,
Love your site and the knowledge you drop. I have a question regarding the raiders and the #1 pick. How likely is it that Al and Kiffin pick Calvin Johnson at #1, not for need but as a bargening chip to possibly bolster their collection of picks/players? I see a scenario where they draft him and then offer him to the highest bidder, maybe Tampa at #4 or Washington at #6. I have friend who plays for the Skins (Mike Sellers) who tells me that their is a rumor floating around among the players that Dan Snyder has offered the #6, the #143, next years 1st and 3rd round pick and Antwan Randle-El to the Raiders for the #1 pick!! I don't put to much stock in pre-draft rumors and whispers but I can see Al using the draft and ransom tactic to at least try and better the team and if it fails he at least has the best player available.
Lou: Don't count out the possibility of the Raiders taking Calvin Johnson at #1. At the very least, it would be wise for the Raiders to not zero in on just one candidate for a few reasons, from negotiation to gamesmanship to the positive impact of fully evaluating the top talent to give themselves the best opportunity to pick the player that would best fit their team.
Remember that we are in prime bluffing season, so my advice to everyone is to apply logic and rationality to every "rumor" you hear, since leaked information can be used as a weapon to throw off the competition. That's not to say to discount rumors entirely, but the two weeks leading into the draft are prime time for floating misinformation.
My best guess is that Oakland is deliberating between JaMarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson right now. Russell is a closer fit for what the team needs, but CJ is such an amazing prospect that to ignore him would be shortsightedness at its finest. It's doubtful that either player would be there for Oakland at #4, and even if that was the case, it's not as if Tampa Bay's WR situation is dire (the Bucs are actually quite deep there, albeit without much "high end" talent.)
Washington trading up is a Daniel Snyder pipe dream, a team without any picks in 2007 in rounds 2, 3, 4, or 5 that should only be thinking about moving down if it is thinking about trading the #6 overall pick. Oakland does not need the #6 pick; if Russell, Brady Quinn, CJ, and Joe Thomas go in the top five, then what do they do? Forget that.
There are so many fun sub-plots in this draft: Oakland's big decision at #1, Detroit and 15 minutes to make a potentially franchise-changing decision (if Oakland sits on their pick until Roger Goodell receives the card at the podium to start the draft), Arizona needing Joe Thomas in the worst way but facing the great sub-plot of possibly having to outbid teams looking to trade with Detroit at #2 to get CJ if he's there, the various stories coming out of Cleveland about who is being targeted at #3, etc. Some drafts are more intriguing to me than others, but the interplay among the top seven spots this year should be riveting and potentially epically historic. We'll all be able to enjoy it two weekends from now.
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