2009 NFL Draft Mailbag

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

12/30/08

2009 NFL Draft E-mails – Chiefs taking a QB? Lions no QB? Bears and Packers Draft

From Rod:

Chief�s fan here and while I can see your rationale for the top pick of KC, it�s off base. The Chiefs and their new GM will take the best QB standing. Now that Carl Peterson has been given his walking papers, a new era of openness (Peristrokia?) is coming to the Arrowhead confines, dictated by owner Clark Hunt. Soon enough, free agent players will again want to play for the Chiefs which hasn�t been the case in many years under Peterson�s nazi regime.

So, look for the Chiefs to get that DE in free agency and take the best QB on the board. Thigpen is a spread offense QB and that formation doesn�t work in the NFL so the new coach, chosen by the new GM, will want to start with a clean sheet of paper. Good mock otherwise.

My Response:

You could be right. Two things though:

1. Thigpen IS working. Scoring hasn’t been a problem for the Chiefs. They scored enough recently. It’s not his fault they allowed Chad Pennington and Anthony Fasano to drive down the field, and it’s not his fault that Dwayne Bowe dropped an onside kick.

2. I only have Matt Stafford coming out. He’ll be off the board by the time the Chiefs pick, so they won’t have the option of drafting a quarterback. That could change, but I think it would be foolish to upgrade one of the team’s few strengths.

From Tom:

Hi Walter, i’m a Patriots fan and i disagree that the Lions HAVE to take a QB with the #1 pick. I have a couple reasons.

#1. These QB’s are boom or bust lately. For every Matt Ryan(Who i love, being a BC fan too) there is an Alex Smith.

This organization needs help in multiple areas and wasting money(and cap space) on a high profile, unproven college qb is not the way to go. they’d be better off trading down(i know its hard to do) or picking a cornerstone Interior Lineman on offense or defense.

#2. Matt Cassel will be available. I believe the Patriots will franchise him, then look to get what they can from the highest bidder. I think he would be a great fit in Detroit with Calvin Johnson and he’s done great for the Pats in our division and in all kinds of weather. Plus, this will assure our organization that he doesn’t go to the jets when Favre(who’s been playing like his age) retires or leaves. I think trading Cassel for at Detroits second first round pick would serve each franchise better. Now they’ve got a young good QB, PLUS a franchise interior lineman to work with to get that elusive first win.

My Response:

To clarify, I don’t think the Lions HAVE to take a QB. I just think they will do it, and I think it makes the most sense from a financial perspective (see my last draft mailbag for why).

You’re right that quarterbacks are boom or busts, but you can say the same thing about anyone at any position, including offensive tackles. Robert Gallery and Mike Williams – two recent top-five OTs who suck. Defensive end Vernon Gholston looks terrible thus far. Wide receiver Charles Rogers was an epic failure. I can go on and on about every position.

Also, you can’t trade out of the No. 1 pick. It sounds great it theory, but it hasn’t happened in years, and it’ll be a long time before it happens again. Teams just don’t want to pay tons of money to one unproven player, especially in this economy, and it takes way too much to trade up.

As for Matt Cassel, it looks like he probably won’t be available because Tom Brady is way behind in his recovery. It appears as though Cassel will be franchised.

From Spencer N.:

I know George Selvie is a good player and all, and i know Jerry Angelo is a moron who likes to draft DE’s every year. But i don’t see why anyone would pass up on talents like Jeremy Maclin and Percy Harvin for George Selvie. Especially when your starting Rashied Davis, who is quite possibly the worst WR in all of football. And then you still have them passing up guys like Kenny Britt and Louis Murphy in the 2nd for Phil Loadholt, now I’ll admit i wouldn’t mind having Loadholt but it doesn’t matter how much time your OL gives u if your throwing to guys like Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd and Rashied Davis.

Now i will admit, i wouldn’t be shocked if Jerry Angelo picks another DE, because he’s a creature of habit or as i like to say, a moron. But i really think the Bears will look at upgrading the worst WR core in the draft this year especially if a talent like Maclin is still on the board.

My Response:

Here’s the thing – I agree that the Bears desperately need a receiver. I probably would take one if I were Jerry Angelo. But I’m not. He tends to build on the team’s strengths, and that’s what I think he’ll focus on – defense and offensive line, first and foremost.

Maybe he changes his strategy this year… but I’m also going to note that Chicago has major problems getting to the quarterback, so it’s not like defensive end isn’t a need. The Bears couldn’t even touch Matt Schaub in a must-win game.

From Austin M.:

I agree with what you say about Ted Thompson taking the best player available, and me being from Atlanta, I love the way Michael Johnson plays defense, but Cullen Jenkins is a pretty good DE despite what his stats say. With Mark Tauscher unlikely to be resigned due to his age/injury, I feel that the Packers would be better off trading down into the late teens and drafting an OT such as Eben Britton or Ciron Black. This move would save some money for the Packers to not only give Aaron Kampman and Greg Jennings much deserved raises, but also to sign Albert Haynesworth.

If we take a trip back in time, you will remember that in 1994 the Packers had a solid offense and a solid secondary, but they were missing that one dynamic player on the defensive line. They signed Reggie White and went on to two super bowl appearances over the next 4 seasons. I’m not saying Haynesworth is on the same level as White, but I do think he could have the same impact on the current Packers team. Kampman’s sack totals were down this season because the injuries to Jenkins, Barnett, and Bigby (not to mention the cut of Gbaja-Biamila) allowed offensive lines to put extra blocking on Kampman. With Haynesworth, lines would be forced to put extra blockers on Haynesworth, allowing Kampman to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

I know you can’t anticipate free agent signings or draft day trades in your mock drafts, but I would like to hear your opinion about my offseason strategy for Green Bay. While Michael Johnson would be an upgrade over Jenkins, I think Jenkins is solid enough for Green Bay to make offensive tackle their number 1 priority in this draft, especially if they are able to sign Haynesworth.

My Response:

Offensive tackle could be something the Packers look for in the first round. If Eugene Monroe falls to them, that could be an option.

However, Michael Johnson is a much better prospect than the two tackles you mentioned, so not going with him would violate Ted Thompson’s strategy. Also, defensive end is a huge need. The Packers can’t get any pressure on the quarterback. Take away Aaron Kampman’s sacks and the Packers have just 16 of them. Cullen Jenkins is a good player, but he’s more of a run-stopper. Green Bay needs someone to take Kabeer-Gbaja Biamila’s place.

The Giants have shown us that pressuring the quarterback is paramount in the NFL. The Packers can’t do that. Of course, if they sign Albert Haynesworth, things will change. But every team will be gunning for him, so I’m not going to assume anything.

Sound off on your opinion about these 2009 NFL Draft questions. If you try registering and you don’t receive a confirmation e-mail, send me an e-mail and I’ll manually register you.

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