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National Football League
Draft King Analysis
April 1, 2009
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
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The biggest wild card related to the 2009 NFL Draft at this point is the developing situation in Denver regarding Broncos QB Jay Cutler. The word at this point is that the Broncos are planning to trade Cutler, and they are in a strong position in that there are several teams that need a top flight quarterback. It's rare that you have a 25-year-old QB with Cutler's skills available for trade, and there are a vast number of teams which might be interested in acquiring him. The big question: what will it cost to get him?
 | Chris Simms completed just one pass with the Titans in 2008. (Icon SMI)
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With plenty of teams in the 16-20 range in need of a quarterback, one could presume that a first round pick (and perhaps one or two later round picks) could allow a team in QB need to land Cutler. Of course, if Denver deals Cutler, who would be the opening day starter at quarterback for the Broncos? Denver signed Chris Simms earlier this year, but would the Broncos be comfortable having him start the season as the team's signal caller? There is much intrigue to this situation, and something tells me that we haven't seen the last of the twists and turns there.
A late update tonight: multiple sources report that it will take more than a first and a third round pick to land Cutler. And now others sources are reporting, as of this writing, that the Broncos want at least *two* first round picks as part of a trade for Cutler. The fact that this information became public knowledge is, I strongly suspect, no accident. Let the negotiation games begin.
Via ProFootballTalk.com is a report from the Los Angeles Times that USC QB Mark Sanchez is ranked above Georgia QB Matt Stafford on "many" NFL teams' draft boards. Remember that this is coming out of Los Angeles (where Sanchez played college ball) and that this is the season for widespread misinformation being intentionally leaked, but it's something to keep in mind. At this point I feel rather confident that Stafford will go #1 overall to Detroit, and ultimately it doesn't matter if the other 31 NFL teams have Sanchez over Stafford if the Lions prefer Stafford. But it's worth noting.
It will be interesting to see how the New York Giants handle their wide receiver situation with the lingering legal questions surrounding WR Plaxico Burress. A key part of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XLII, Burress dramatically changed his fortunes (and those of the Giants) when he accidentally shot himself in the leg in November 2008 at a New York City nightclub. Burress had already been suspended for a game earlier in the 2008 season for a violation of team rules, and it's possible that Burress may never play another game for the Giants. Moreover, Burress turns 32 this August.
There is plenty of speculation that the Giants may use their first round pick on a wide receiver, and they should have some good players to choose from there, perhaps having a shot at Florida WR Percy Harvin, North Carolina WR Hakeem Nicks, or Rutgers WR Kenny Britt. At the same time, I'm not sold on the notion of the Giants being locked in on taking a wide receiver at that spot, particularly with the team having strong need at outside linebacker. Remember that the Giants have Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham, and Steve Smith on the roster, so the team might deem that it doesn't need to use a first round selection on a wide receiver. There will be chances to add depth at wideout later in the draft.
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