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National Football League
Draft King Analysis
February 21, 2009
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here. Send your thoughts to Draft King at LouPickney@gmail.com.
Today proved to be a poor choice of a day to update the Draft King 2009 mock draft, with breaking news surrounding Alabama OT Andre Smith (him opting not to work out and then bizarrely being listed as "missing" in an odd communication breakdown) and Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree (who has a stress fracture in his left foot). It played out like this: change, change again, and then re-evaluate. And maybe make another change.
If you haven't seen it yet, you really need to check out what CBSSports.com has done with its NFL Draft section. It has merged in the previously subscription-only NFLDraftScout.com into its own draft coverage here. I was a subscriber to NFL Draft Scout, and while it was well worth the price, now the information from there is available free for all via CBSSports.com. That seems to me to be a win/win for all involved.
From: Brian Wallin
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Subject: Packers.
Hi Lou,
Love your website, but it's been a while since I've been on. As a devout Packer fan, I completely understand your thoughts about the defense what with Woodson and Harris being up in age. But with the new defensive change, and going to more zone (hopefully) under Capers they may be able to stretch a couple more years out of those two, plus Tramon Williams, and Will Blackmon both looked pretty good at times last year. My question is when are the Packers going to look at bringing in some youth at Offensive Tackle, both Clifton and Tauscher are getting on in years. I have also heard alot about Raji (the DT) because of the switch to the 3-4. I guess I'm wondering because there always seems to be some really good corners taken in rounds 2-4 and if the Tackles are really that good this year, than maybe it's time to bring in a young Tackle and cut ties with one of the aging veterans.
Lou: Green Bay at #9 is in an intriguing position. Drafting a sure-fire talent like Ohio State CB Malcolm Jenkins makes sense to me, but as you mentioned the offensive line could use an injection of youth. Keep in mind also that Green Bay appears likely to lose right OT Mark Tauscher to free agency. Tauscher tore his ACL late in the 2008 season, and while he could end up signing back with Green Bay, I wouldn't count on it.
|  | OT Mark Tauscher suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. (Icon SMI)
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The Packers used two picks last year on offensive linemen, taking UCF OL Josh Sitton in round four and Louisville OT Breno Giacomini in round five of the 2008 NFL Draft. Sitton is a hybrid OG/OT player who was "discovered" by many scouts at UCF's 2008 pro day (which was heavily attended due to high profile RB Kevin Smith). Sitton ended up playing in 11 games and starting in two of them for Green Bay in 2008.
For Giacomini, playing time was harder to come by as a rookie, as he saw action in just one regular season game in 2008. But Giacomini is huge (6'7" 300 pounds) and could compete for the right OT starting job, depending on how Packers GM Ted Thompson evaluates the players on the roster relative to the right OT position.
Ideally for Green Bay, they could land Jenkins at #9. From there they have their second round pick and then a pair of third round selections, one of which came from the Jets from the Brett Favre trade. With any of those three selections Green Bay could land a viable long-term right offensive tackle candidate. But, if Jenkins is gone at #9, it is possible that the Packers might look at taking a cornerback somewhere in rounds two or three and jump on one of those top-notch offensive tackle prospects at #9.
As for B.J. Raji, he isn't necessarily a 3-4 NT type of player even though he is 6'2" 335. Someone like Alabama senior Terrence Cody, at 6'5" 365, is more of a traditional sized NFL 3-4 nose tackle. This is not to say that Raji couldn't play NT if asked, but with a top ten pick I'd think Green Bay would want more of a good fit (like Jenkins) than someone like Raji who, while impressive, might not be the best player for that slot.
My guess is that Green Bay will try using Ryan Pickett at NT. At 6'2" 330 he is about the same size as Raji, and while he also is not a true 3-4 NT, he should be able to fill that position well enough during the oft-difficult transition a team goes through when shifting from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense (or vice versa).
From: Steve Connacher
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Subject: Chargers
Hi Lou,
You do a great job with your analysis and insight into the draft.
I absolutely do not see AJ Smith using a first round pick on a RB. In the past, he got both Michael Turner and Darren Sproles in later rounds. No RB can do well in SD until they fix their offensive line. First pick has to be a OT if one is available, as they will probably move Clary from RT to RG to replace Goff, then they would need a new RT. Any of the top 4 OTs would fit well on the Chargers if they are available. Since Sproles is now their Franchise player, the Bolts can select a complementary RB in one of the middle rounds to split carries, assuming that LT leaves. Other needs are all on the defensive side - SS, DL, and ILB.
Thanks again for the great work!
Lou: You may be right about the Chargers not going RB in round one. With San Diego using the franchise tag on Darren Sproles, he will be back in 2009. If the Chargers decide to keep LaDainian Tomlinson for 2009, then I think the odds of them taking a running back fall to near zero percent. But, at this point, I'm not convinced that LT will be back in San Diego. We shall see.
San Diego, barring having a major surprise slide down the board, I would think would be a team inclined to trade out of round one. Without a second round pick (dealt to New England last year to obtain the pick used to draft Jacob Hester), I could see the Chargers moving down to land a couple of picks to fill need at some of the positions you mentioned.
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