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2004 NFL Draft Mailbag

April 21, 2004
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: Andrew Rogers
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 9:14 PM
To: loupickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Charger Trades

The other day on ESPNEWS, Sean Salisbury told what he would do with the Chargers # 1 pick. He said the following:

Trade the first pick to the Giants, getting their # 4 pick, a 2nd rounder, and Ike Hilliard. Trade the # 4 pick to the Browns, getting their # 7 pick, a 2nd rounder, and a guy like Dennis Northcutt. Now you end up with 2 additional 2nd rounders and 2 productive receivers. Now that they have the # 7 pick, they can snatch a guy like Roethlisberger or Rivers.

Tell me what you think of Salisbury's suggestion.

Lou: That would be something if San Diego could pull it off. The first part is certainly feasable -- trading the #1 for the #4, the #34 and Hilliard would seem like a possibility. If the Giants do that and take OT Robert Gallery, they'd be gambling that a young QB will be there for them at #65 (or perhaps the Giants have other plans -- after all, The Bachelor is their backup QB!) If Eli Manning is the target (which is what I've been hearing as of late), then the Giants will be chancing that there will be an offensive tackle prospect at #65 that will be able to contribute right away.

Anyway, it is a plausable trade. The second part is where things get tricky. It's inherently difficult for teams to trade into or out of the Top 5 due to signing bonus constraints. San Diego dealing the #4 pick to Cleveland for the #7, the #37 and Dennis Northcutt is a sensible deal. Certainly it would bolster San Diego's lackluster receiving situation and give the team all kinds of picks to play with. Cleveland wants Kellen Winslow, so it's believable that the team would trade up to get him (or perhaps Roy Williams).

Here's what San Diego could end up with after three rounds by trading down twice: QB Phil Rivers (#7), OT Jacob Rogers (#34), DE Jason Babin (#35), WR Rashaun Woods (#37), OG Sean Locklear (#66), and the two receivers acquired by trade (Ike Hilliard and Dennis Northcutt). Not too shabby, eh?


From: LeBronJames44@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 10:25 AM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: (no subject)

Hey now that the Patriots got Corey Dillon, do you think they should trade up in first round for a DeAngelo Hall or a Sean Taylor

Lou: I think trading up for Taylor would cost more that it would be worth. Don't get me wrong, I think Taylor is a world class talent. But moving up from 21/32 to the Top 10 might cost the Patriots both first rounders and their second rounder (if not more).

DeAngelo Hall would be a very nice addition, especially if Ty Law is going to be a June 1 cap casualty. However, I think the Patriots would be better off making sure that they leave the first round with either Jonathan Vilma or D.J. Williams (further bolstering their LB position), which would mean not moving from the #21 spot. There will be quality CBs still available in round 2 (I think #32 would be a poor place to go CB, since there will likely be a run on them well before then, but there is depth at CB in this draft and the Pats can still come back at the end of Round 2 and snag a solid corner).

Then again, the thought of DeAngelo Hall in that secondary is mighty tempting... I suppose it depends on what kind of deal the Patriots can get, and more importantly how healthy the Patriots believe that Roosevelt Colvin is at this point.


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