Monday Schmonday – The Draft is in the Books 4/28/08

The NFL Draft was this weekend, and as most of you know, that is what I spent the entire weekend doing. I love it. I call it: “Matt’s Second Christmas”. I will be writing an article on my thoughts about the Draft, but for now…MONDAY SCHMONDAY!

I want to preface this by saying that I don’t like grading drafts until after year 3 (take that Kiper!), which is when you get to see if the players have lived up to their pick. Any opinion I give here is solely based on this weekend; not potential, future or history.

Upset of the Weekend

23. Pittsburgh Steelers

The pick: Rashard Mendenhall , RB, Illinois

53. Pittsburgh Steelers

The pick: Limas Sweed, WR, Texas

I list this as an upset because who saw this coming? Who expected that the tough, hard-nosed defense based Pittsburgh Steelers would go Offense in the first two rounds?   These are great picks, though. I like that they took best available, not necessarily need. They got a great RB to run in tandem with Willie Parker and an amazing WR who was projected as a first round pick, who will add a solid receiver for “Big” Ben.   I believe that (with the exception of KC who had 12 picks) they may have had the best draft.

The ‘not-so-much-an-upset-as-it-is-surprising’ Category

13. Carolina Panthers

The pick: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

This team had a lot of holes and I didn’t think that they would be taking Stewart at 13. This is one of those picks that may have been a reach but will work out for the team.   John Fox has loved the run since the womb, and Stewart will help him keep his job this year. The jury is still out on whether DeAngelo Williams can be the elite back, so the team picked up a guy that has the potential to fill that role. Some project Stewart as the starter and Williams as the “change-of-pace” back.   As a Seahawks fan…well…I yelled really loud when they chose him. I wanted him on my team.

Biggest Disappointment of the Weekend

10. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)

The pick: Jerod Mayo, OLB, Tennessee   The Pats traded down from #7 because they didn’t have anyone they wanted at that pick. Add to it the fact that they are veritable chimera when it comes to building up their team and paying a #7 pick doesn’t seem like their M.O.   The problem I have is that they cold have gotten this guy later. He could have been picked up later in the round (trade again) and possibly even in the early second round. I don’t know a lot about the guy, but after doing some research I haven’t found him above #20 on ANYONE’S Draft-board.  

Supposedly Mayo is projected as a Pro-Bowler, but he wasn’t seen as the elite top-10 style of draftee.

The Play of the Weekend

Dumbest.Thing.Ever.

Bengals Draft a Guy Who Drove His Car Into an Apartment Building ... Drunk

Jason Shirley:

Suspended two games for conduct detrimental to the team in late August, suspended from school in October following an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, reinstated in mid November but dismissed from team after getting cited for suspicion of driving with a suspended license and expired registration and appeared in only three games during senior season so character is clearly a concern. [ 1 ]   “Fresno police say Fresno State football star Jason Shirley drove a car into the Sunridge Town home complex on the 4,800-block of Bonadelle Avenue in Northeast Fresno Monday night. Shirley is facing two misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and hit-and-run. Police say his BAC levels were 0.11 and 0.12; officers performed two separate tests for accuracy.” [ 2 ]   Well done, Bengals…I didn’t know that Jerramy Stevens was eligible to be drafted again…

From [Afraidofedhochuli]