2010 NFL Draft Mailbag

NFL Draft Mailbag Notes: Note that the e-mails I received have been italicized and left mostly unedited. My responses follow them.

3/6/10

2010 NFL Draft E-mails – 2010 NFL Free Agency Edition



  • From Nathan T.:

    The Corey Williams trade could be huge for the draft. There is no way they draft Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy at No. 2. They will trade out if Rams take a quarterback like so many think, or they draft Russell Okung if the Rams take Suh.


    –> I wouldn’t say there’s “no way” the Lions pass on Ndamukong Suh. Detroit’s strategy in this regime is to take the best player available. Suh would fit that description. Eric Berry might as well.

    Having said that, I would agree that Russell Okung is the favorite. Corey Williams carries a massive contract and Sammie Lee Hill was impressive last year, so drafting Suh would bump one of those guys to the bench. Adding Suh to the roster would dedicate too many financial and personnel resources to defensive tackle – a position that isn’t nearly as important as offensive tackle.

    The Lions made an investment last year in Matthew Stafford. Their top priority should be protecting their investment, and with Julius Peppers joining the NFC North, Detroit will need a blue-chip left tackle to block Peppers, Clay Matthews and Jared Allen in six games from now on.





  • From Mike J.:

    You can’t bash the Bears for signing Peppers. Without a many premium draft picks last year and this year, they definitely needed to keep adding talent. Signing Peppers and Chester Taylor are like drafting solid first- and second-rounders, and yeah, they overpaid a little bit, but it’s an uncapped year and they could have front-loaded the deals to diminish the cap hit in the future. Now that he’s in a new situation, one where he’s happy, nobody expects him to keep taking plays off.


    –> I understand why the Bears did the trade. But remember this – Albert Haynesworth wasn’t happy with being franchised in Tennessee. He went to Washington with a massive contract and what happened? He didn’t have a good year. I don’t think Peppers will be at 100 percent next year.



  • From Nate T.:

    I noticed you had the Julius Peppers signing as a bad thing. I hate being a homer, but this is a huge thing for Chicago. No, it doesnt change the dynamics of the NFL North, but thats the point, isnt it? The Bears had to keep up with the rest if the division, and without a 1st or 2nd round pick, this was the only way.


    –> Just because the Bears don’t have 1st- and 2nd-round picks doesn’t mean they have to turn into Daniel Snyder and overspend for a guy who doesn’t try hard all the time. It’s tough to work hard when you’re sleeping in silk pajamas. In other words, giving Peppers $42 million guaranteed will mean that he won’t give 100 percent – just like Albert Haynesworth.





  • From Ryan O.:

    I know Brandon Marshall is one of the most talented WRs in the NFL, but he is also the most troubled. I believe things have gotten to beyond repair in Denver, and that even if they pay him he will never be comfortable. He just admitted to escalating the fight that that killed Darrent Williams, thats not a guy I would want on my team.

    Do you think taking a 1st-rounder from Seattle is about as good as they can if they had to make a move? I would just jump on it, take Dez Bryant and Rolando McClain/Dan Williams if available. I hear it is going to be the 14th pick, so Clausen and Bradford will not be available.


    –> From the Broncos’ perspective, you’re not going to get a better deal than No. 14 for Brandon Marshall. Personally, the best move would be to fire Josh McDaniels and bring in a coach who can actually co-exist with his top players. But since that’s not realistic, and Marshall is disgruntled, the Broncos should definitely accept the No. 14 pick for Marshall.



  • From Shaun D:

    I’m surprised that the Panthers just outright cut Jake Delhomme. Obviously, I didn’t read too much into their comments about Delhomme being their guy but I still thought they would keep him around in case Matt Moore doesn’t work out. Are they’re really that sold on him? Or do you think this is in response to Michael Vick wanting to come to Carolina?

    Also, I saw on ESPN, a side by side comparison of Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen, and the numbers weren’t very favorable to your argument. Can you just provide your counter to that point? You had me sold after the junior QB comparisons, I’m just interested in how you would attack their argument.


    –> The Panthers are definitely sold on Matt Moore; giving a guy a first- and third-round tender is no small gesture. Moore was great at the end of last season, and he’s going to get every opportunity to be Carolina’s franchise quarterback going forward. I’d be shocked if the Panthers brought in someone like QB Dog Killer.

    Jimmy Clausen and Brady Quinn don’t really have anything in common besides the fact that they are white guys who played quarterback at Notre Dame. Comparing two guys who went to the same school is lazy thinking that ESPN is usually guilty of. Think about it this way: Are Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart similar because they both went to USC? Are Aaron Rodgers and Kyle Boller similar because they played under Jeff Tedford at Cal? Are Curtis Enis and Larry Johnson similar because they both ran for Joe Paterno? Clausen and Quinn are two completely different quarterbacks.



    2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Archive:

    2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Home
    Post-Round 1 E-mail - April 29
    Hate Mail Volume 7 - April 10
    Crackhead Mail Volume 2 - April 10
    Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
    Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
    Hate Mail Volume 6 - April 3
    Crackhead Mail - April 3
    Trade and Prospect Speculation - April 3
    Hate Mail Volume 5 - March 28
    Cam Newton Mailbag - March 28
    Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
    Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
    Hate Mail Volume 4 - March 13
    Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
    Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
    Random Questions and Comments - March 7
    Hate Mail Volume 3 - March 7
    Combine Questions and Comments - March 7
    Combine Hate Mail - March 7
    Hate Mail Volume 2 - Feb. 22
    Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
    Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
    Quarterbacks - Feb. 15
    Hate Mail - Feb. 15
    Random AFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15
    Random NFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15






    NFL Picks - Nov. 24


    2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20


    NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19


    Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4