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National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

January 13, 2005
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: ajm1613@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 8:04 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Draft

I understand that certain teams usually don’t draft for need, but I really don’t think the Eagles are one of those teams, they seem to always go into the draft with a plan, as I mentioned in my first email. This is good most of the time because it represents stability and is a reason why they are competitive year in and year out. It does have it drawbacks, occasionally drafting for need causes them to reach, like for McDougle in 2003.

Dorsey Levens was a very good backup this season, and Correll Buckhalter could always be re-signed so if we were to draft a running back in the later rounds, that person would most likely be the third option for at least one season. Also, the concern of the local and national media isn’t always congruent with the concern of the front office. Westbrook has only missed four games because of injury in his three-year career, two in the playoffs, so it seems to be a myth that he is injury prone.

I also noticed that you updated your draft today and have the Eagles selecting a defensive tackle, which is a fine pick because two of the three backup defensive tackles are old and severely injury prone.

Thank you for responding to my first email.

Lou: You make a valid point concerning the durability of Westbrook. But even if I had an Eddie George in his prime type of back, I'd still want to have a capable backup on the roster. Knee ligament tears don't tend to discriminate between rugged and injury-prone people.

You've convinced me to a point about the RB in the first round situation. *But* if Ronnie Brown is still on the board at #31, I think all bets are off and Philly takes him. Though I doubt it will come to that, but then again last year look through the old mailbags at how many people thought I was crazy at projecting Steven Jackson in the 19-20 range (some had him Top 10; he went all the way down at #24).


From: Trevor Parkes
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 8:50 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: 49ers #1 Overall in 2005???

Your killing me man!!!

Lou: Not to rub it in, 49ers fans, but I saw this one coming a mile away. I ran across this classic e-mail while looking for specifics on the Steven Jackson part in the above response and felt like including it. You know, promote it big when you call it right, keep quiet when you miss the boat (like I did with San Diego).


From: Jason.Simmons1@hurlburt.af.mil
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 1:54 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Trade Talks surrounding Dallas Cowboys

Alright lets get one thing straight, the cowboys will not trade 2 first rounders just to move up to the #4 pick overall there is just to many holes to fill plus Parcells is going to make a run at the playoffs in 2005. I see the Cowboys taking Antrell Rolle if he is available if not they will spend a pick on Derrick Johnson, Mike Williams, Braylon Edwards, or defensive lineman (in that order) with the #11 pick. Look for the Cowboys to trade the #20 pick for a later first round and second round or late first round and third round pick. I really see a couple of key players slipping in this years draft and teams scrambling to trade up for them which will work in Cowboy's favor. Its to early to guess who the Cowboys would trade with but I see a draft going like this
(With trade of second first round pick)
1st round Mike Williams
2nd round Travis Johnson
2nd or 3rd round Ernest Shazor/Jason Allen/best rated cornerback on the board
What are your thoughts Lou?

Lou: The Cowboys have expressed a major desire to trade into the top 10 of the draft. However, as you alluded to, it doesn't mean that they have to trade BOTH first rounders to get there. Dallas is already sitting at #11, and personally I'd be inclined to sit there and take Dan Cody. The likely scenario with the #20 pick (which would become the #19 pick if either Minnesota or St. Louis makes the Super Bowl) is to trade it for a later pick in 2005 (maybe a third round selection) and a first rounder in 2006. Odds are that will happen during the draft, say if Alex Smith is on the board, Dallas has a trade worked out with Team X to trade that pick for Team X's 2005 3rd rounder and 2006 1st.

As for your predictions, it's possible that Mike Williams could be available for them; some have Braylon Edwards ranked above him, though I personally don't at this point. Your draft prediction I think is very optimistic from a Dallas perspective on Travis Johnson making it to Round 2, even though DTs are known to sometimes look like a first rounder up until draft day and then slip to the second round. But Johnson, at 6'5" 290 and running the 40 in the 4.7 range likely won't fall unless he gets arrested, injured or has a horrible combine. Shazor I think will be gone by the 3rd round; Allen (the University of Tennessee prospect) may be there, but at that point there are so many variables involved that predicting it gets tough. But I'd say Williams is a possibility, depending on what Chicago does; Travis Johnson won't be there in round two; there will be quality safety talent on the board through at least the late second round, and probably into the third round with some bargain talent that falls.


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