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2004 NFL Draft Mailbag

March 24, 2004
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.


From: Mike Allen
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 9:21 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Gallery going to Arizona

I am sorry, but there is no way that Gallery will go to Arizona in this draft, no matter what. They actually have one of the best lines in the NFL, and a lot of young talent. Not only is it not a priority, it isn't even a need. They have to fill other holes, like quarterback, wide reciever, running back, and the entire defense. Not only won't they take Gallery in the first round, they won't take a o-lineman in the entire draft.

Lou: I covered the Cardinals WRs in yesterday's mailbag, and I don't see how drafting a rookie WR at #3 will help the team. In fact, I don't see how they have a need at WR at all. If anything, taking a WR at #3 would just tie up a large amount of their salary at one position.

The Cards gave up 44 sacks in 2003, which tied the club for 30th in the NFL. Not good, especially when you consider that neither of the two leading rushers on the club (Marcel Shipp and Emmitt Smith) each rushed for an average of 3.6 yards per carry or less. This has to change -- or maybe I'm wrong in thinking that sub 4-yards-a-carry and 44 sacks in a season is unacceptable.

L.J. Shelton and Anthony Clement are the current individuals listed as the starting tackles for Arizona. Shelton is a force; he's a former first-round pick, and he's started 39 straight games for the Cardinals. And Anthony Clement is a mammoth OT at 6'8" 328 (and he came back to start all 16 games for Arizona after recovering from a triceps injury that kept him out of all but one game in 2002).

However, 3.6 or less yards per carry and 44 sacks is a tough combo. I know that it's not all on the tackles, but with the likes of OG Leonard Davis in there, it seems that Gallery could only help the team.

I do agree that QB is a need (as noted above), but the signing of Shawn King and the public backing of Josh McNown by management seems to tip the Cardinals hand toward not taking a QB at #3.

Someone like Sean Taylor actually would seem to help more than anything, since he could help out a secondary that has not been helped in free agency like Cards fans might like to have seen. Arizona would greatly benefit from trading down if it could... but finding a willing partner willing to pay the price. might be easier said than done.


From: Robert Bruce
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 1:24 AM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Draft question

Lou, I really enjoy your site. Keep up the good work. I have a question about the Redskins. Do you see them staying at number 5, or do you think they will be trading down? What are the possibilities with trading down?

Lou: I've heard from multiple sources that the Redskins have no interest in trading down. Perhaps if Jacksonville offers them the #9 pick and their first rounder next year, the Skins will change their tune. But I don't see it happening.

What will be really interesting is if Sean Taylor is somehow off the board by #5. The Redskins could use help on the defensive line, and while the Top 5 seems high to take someone, it actually wouldn't shock me if Washington decided to snag USC DE Kenechi Udeze at that spot. He's a top notch player who would certainly fill a void (unless you consider DT Cornelius Griffin and DE Phillip Daniels sufficient off-season pick-ups, which I don't).

If in fact Washington is considering something like that, then I'd think the team would and should consider every chance to move down, especially just a few spots. Trading out of the Top 5, as I mentioned, is tough for salary cap reasons (for the team moving into the first five frames), but with the high end talent level at WR in this draft, a squad like Cleveland or Jacksonville might be willing to pull the trigger and take the salary cap burn to make it happen. We shall see.

Keep in mind that Washington has only the #5 pick and the #134 pick (retained since St. Louis decided to match Washington's offer sheet signed by restricted free agent CB Jerametrius Butler). So if the Redskins take Sean Taylor at #5, then they will be rolling the dice with what they have on board now with their starting defensive front four...


From: Steve Rahko
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 4:19 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com

Thank you for providing your service free of charge. I find assholes who charge for this sort of discussion to be tyrannical against NFL fans. The NFL draft is my favorite sports event of the year (or at least the one I anticipate the most), so thanks for what you're doing.

Lou: Thanks for visiting the site, Steve. I have a full-time job, and while the banner advertising money is a nice supplement, I run DraftKing.com because of my own personal interest in the NFL Draft. The fact that I can share that interest with others and interact with people in discussing various potential picks is a bonus for me.

In my view, sites that charge aren't being tyrannical as much as they're operating under a business model that works for them. I wish none of them ill will. But I am glad that there are sites like mine that are available to the general public for free.


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