3/1/09
2009 NFL Draft E-mails – Linebackers, Dawkins
The first LB off the board list that you made – History of Linebackers in the NFL Draft – several of those guys were DROY. Most have played in Pro Bowls. Several could/will be HOF candidates/enshrinees. The teams that passed on those guys without fail would’ve loved to have those guys on their rosters, with a very few exceptions, b/c they filled a bigger need at a different position.
My Response:
I understand what you’re saying about some of the linebackers I mentioned becoming future Hall of Famers or perennial Pro Bowlers, but that still doesn’t mean the linebacker position is anywhere nearly as valuable as quarterbacks or left tackles. Think about it this way. If you put all of the NFL players into a draft, who would go in the top five? Top 10? No linebacker would! It would be all quarterbacks, left tackles and right ends. As good as Patrick Willis is, he’s not anywhere close to being a top-10 valuable player in the NFL.
About Dawkins: My favorite player of all time left today and I’m really unhappy about it. Most analysts were saying how he was being used more like a linebacker this year and I guess that’s true and serves as some reasoning for why he was let go (but I still love the guy). SENTIMENTS ASIDE though, do you see a safety in the draft that might be worth a look for this defense or think Demps might be able to step up?
My Response:
I don’t know if Brian Dawkins was “let go.” I mean, the Broncos offered him a $17.5 million contract with $7.2 million guaranteed. No way the Eagles in their right minds should have matched that. That was like a Daniel Snyder move. And I don’t blame Dawkins for taking the money. This is his final big payday.
At any rate, I have the Eagles drafting Sean Smith. Mike Mayock compared him to Mel Blount. He’s 6-4, 212 and runs a 4.5. He’ll be the perfect replacement.
First off, I’m not sold on Sanchez. He was a 2nd rounder until McCoy, Bradford, and Tebow all stayed in school, and now he’s suddenly a franchise QB? I know you have denounced Aaron Curry at 3, but what about Eugene Monroe? Pair him with former teammate Branden Albert at guard and drafting Max Unger in the second round, and you would have what is expected to be one of the best o-lines in the league for the next decade.
I know they have a ton of other needs (hence the #3 pick), but their playoff-caliber seasons were back when they had a tremendous offensive line. If you recall, their defense was so-so, the running game was solid (featuring my favorite player of all-time, Priest Holmes), and they had so-so QB Trent Green. But, no one could get in the backfield on this team, and they had success as a full-on out-scoring machine.
My Response:
Sanchez wasn’t a second-round quarterback. It seemed as though he was more late teens until his great game against Penn State. And McCoy and Tebow were never factors; Bradford going back to school gave Sanchez the green light. If Bradford would have declared, Sanchez would have stayed.
If the Chiefs don’t go Sanchez, they’ll probably choose Aaron Curry for their new 3-4. But an offensive tackle? They just drafted one in the first round last year. So, by taking another one, they would essentially just be getting an upgrade at guard (Albert would slide over). You don’t do that with the No. 3 pick. They can get a capable offensive lineman in Rounds 2-4 or free agency. I don’t think you can address the guard position with a top-three pick.
I feel it is inevitable that the lions will draft Matt Stafford at this pick,even though it is just another typical mistake for my sorry sorry franchise. The unfortunate part is that Matt Stafford is not the correct choice. As many have said, it is taking a left tackle. You bring up a good point by saying that tackles in the past, such as Robert Gallery and Mike Williams have been busts, but honestly that just doesn’t add up to the amount of failures at the quarterback position; Tim Couch, David Carr, and Alex Smith to name a few first pick flops. I won’t count Jamarcus Russell because were still unsure. Plus, I won’t count Mike Vick either because he took the Falcons to the NFC championship.
My Response:
Glad you think Stafford will be the pick, though I don’t think it’s a mistake. The Lions need a franchise quarterback. I know quarterbacks seem to have a high bust rate, but most of the quarterbacks who busted were flawed. Tim Couch and Alex Smith didn’t come out of pro-style offenses. David Carr wasn’t given any protection.
Detroit’s offensive line isn’t great, but they can use the No. 20 pick on a very good left tackle, which would kick Backus inside. Then, they can draft a center in the third round. I think that would work. It’s the same thing Atlanta did.
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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
2009 NFL Mock Draft
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