NFL Draft Thoughts and Musings

I have to admit; I'm not a huge NFL Draft geek. I don't really like paying attention to the months upon months of pre-draft hype and I'm not one to sit at my computer trying to figure out who's going where in the field of 255. I have neither the time nor the energy to sift through an army of college football players to determine who goes where -- partly because of my distaste for college football (have I perhaps mentioned that before?).

Now, if you're asking me to project the 65 teams to make the NCAA tournament, sit me down in front of a television with a buttload of tape and stacks of RPI numbers and conference standings and season schedules. Then leave me alone for 48-72 hours as I sift through it all and give you my projected field.

I do, however, watch the first round of the NFL Draft and follow enough of the other six rounds to get a general feel for what the new blood of the league will look like in the coming season ... and to see how badly Daniel Snyder's going to screw up the Redskins this year.

So, in lieu of today's happenings, I present some thoughts and musings on day one of the NFL Draft.

-Oakland had no choice but to take JaMarcus Russell. I realize Calvin Johnson from Georgia Tech was the best overall player in the draft according to most experts, but imagine this scenario: Randy Moss lined up on one side, Johnson lined up on the other and ... Andrew Walter bent over center?

Look up wasted talent in the dictionary and you'd probably see that very scenario.

Things would've been different had Kansas City and Miami agreed to trade Trent Green. If Green had gone to the Dolphins, that would've likely meant the cutting of Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper could then go to Oakland, reunite with Moss and leave the Raiders free to get Johnson. But with no Culpepper, and no other free agent option (unless you count Tim Rattay, which ... I don't), the Raiders had no choice but to take Russell No. 1.

The Raiders then did a smart thing in picking up Arizona State tight end Zach Miller in the second round (No. 38 overall). He wasn't the best TE on the board, but picking up an offensive weapon to help out Russell is a good move. Now all the Raiders need is an offensive line (the Raiders picked up offensive tackle Mario Henderson from Florida State in the third round).

-Cleveland's move to get Quinn wasn't genius ... it was dumb luck. Seriously, who could've seen Miami taking Ted Ginn, Jr. over Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn at No. 9 overall? I'm no Mel Kiper, Jr. (not enough hair), but even I was shocked by that pick. Ginn wasn't projected as anything better than a mid- to late first-round pick, and that was without the ankle injury he suffered in the national championship game. And with the Dolphins' QB situation up in the air, all I can say to this is ... what?!

I have no problem with Cleveland taking big Joe Thomas out of Wisconsin No. 3 overall -- if they feel they need to boost the offensive line, I won't argue the point. In fact, based on how infrequently I saw the Browns last year, I happen to agree; Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson need protecting.

But let's not pat Cleveland on the back for geniusly trading with Dallas to get the No. 22 overall pick to snag Quinn. There was no way of knowing he'd fall that far.

-Washington doesn't implode the 2007 NFL Draft. I've heard some Internet rumblings about the Redskins' pick of LSU's LaRon Landry at No. 6 overall. What are the Redskins thinking? some ask. Why didn't they take Brady Quinn? others argue.

Well, while I can certainly appreciate the "take the best player available" mentality, I'm not keen on taking a quarterback in the first round for the second time in three years. Jason Campbell did show signs of progress toward the end of last season, and who knows what he'll be able to do with a backfield of Ladell Betts and a healthy Clinton Portis. So I have no problem with Washington not taking Quinn.

I'm also fine with who the Redskins did pick. Landry is quick and has good hands; he'll fit in perfectly beside Sean Taylor in the secondary. He was the best defensive player available for many teams in this year's draft, and Washington got him.

Even more importantly, they didn't trade him. I nearly vomited when I heard they were shopping the No. 6 pick several weeks ago to Chicago for the No. 31 and Lance Briggs. Washington needs to stop pursuing every high-priced, big-name free agent out there and start focusing on the draft again. Every consistently successful playoff team focuses on the draft and uses free agency to supplement. Washington's been doing it the other way around with Snyder calling the shots.

But I like this pick. I don't like Washington not having another pick until the fifth round, but hey; baby steps. ...

-Buffalo might come out of letting Willis McGahee go without much damage. At least, if all the projections on running back -- and Buffalo's pick at No. 12 overall -- Marshawn Lynch out of Cal pan out. I'd heard him going later in the first round, likely to Green Bay (who lost Ahmad Green not that long ago to the Houston Texans), but I like that Buffalo went for him first.

I don't think the Bills should've let McGahee go to begin with -- not if he was as productive as he was -- but if Lynch is everything scouts and experts say he can be, he'll be a productive back as well, and he'll go a long way to helping that offense, specifically up-and-coming quarterback J.P. Losman.

-Speaking of Green Bay ... what were they thinking going defense with the No. 16 overall pick? I realize the Packers weren't that great defensively last season, but shouldn't they have tried a little harder to get Brett Favre some help? I'm hard-pressed to name a wide receiver for the Packers right now, they just lost their feature back in Ahmad Green, and tight end Bubba Franks is a shadow of his former self.

The Packers needed offense. Take one of the wide receivers who were still available at the time -- like LSU's Dwayne Bowe or Tennessee's Robert Meachem -- or a tight end (Greg Olsen out of Miami, the best available TE, was still on the board).

No offense to Justin Harrell -- he might be a fine player in the NFL -- but I think defensive tackle could've been addressed in later rounds. If the Packers hope to contend in a weak NFC this coming year, they needed to go offense in the first round.

-Something seems backwards here ... So let me get this straight: Cincinnati takes Michigan cornerback Leon Hall -- by all accounts I've seen, a really good class guy -- at No. 18, while New England takes Miami safety Brandon Mariweather -- whom I last saw doing the Boot Scootin' Boogie on a Florida International player's head -- at No. 24?

I get Cincy taking a character pick -- after the past two years of arrests and commissioner Roger Goodell's tougher conduct policy -- they were bound to get a good guy. But since when do the Patriots start taking guys with questionable character?

I mean, first this and then they trade for Randy Moss? Has Hell frozen over or something?