Browns, Packers talk
National Football League
Draft King Mailbag
December 5, 2005
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Tom Cooper
To: Lou Pickney
Date: Dec 5, 2005 1:15 AM
Subject: 2006 Mock Draft
Hi Lou;
I like your Draft King web site...lots of really good insight info. ..I am a Cleveland Browns fan, and I have picked several of the Bowns first and 2nd choices in the draft, and your site is one of my main sources...but I was seriusly stunned to see your site has he Browns taking deAngelo Williams. With Droughns gaining over 1,000 yds in just 12 games this year,plus having Suggs and Green, plus Jason Wright on th e bench, I am very curious as to how any one would come up with the Browns picking a RB. with the Bowns STILL needing a legit receiver to go with Edwards , and the D in desperate need of a legit pass rusher
What do you base that projected pick of deAngelo Williams on?
Lou: Don't read too much with DeAngelo Williams being matched up with the Browns at this point... that could easily change. I think Williams will do very well in the post-season and establish himself as the #2 RB prospect behind Reggie Bush. I concur that a DE like Penn State's Tamba Hali or Boston College' Mathias Kiwanuka could be a much better fit for Cleveland. But, you never know what a team might do. Remember last year when the Chicago Bears had Thomas Jones coming off a good season and still took Cedric Benson with the #4 overall pick? Or when the Saints had Ricky Williams going into his third season but took Deuce McAllister in the first round when he slid in 2001? These things happen sometimes.
I think offensive tackle is a spot that the Browns would be wise to look at, particularly if end up having a chance to land D'Brickashaw Ferguson. As for WR, the Browns should be able to get a quality WR in the second round, if they are so inclined. My opinion is that the Browns would be better off adding a quality mid-level-to-budget veteran WR to the mix (depending on how Braylon Edwards is able to come back from his knee injury) along with a second round rookie WR. Then you have Edwards, Antontio Bryant, the new veteran, and the rookie in there, along with whomever else they retain from this year's squad. Plus, add a healthy Kellen Winslow to the mix, and things open up even more.
Your comments will be taken under advisement. As I mentioned in yesterday's mailbag, fans of individual teams tend to have a better grasp of what their particular team needs than what I do. But also remember that many times, what a team needs and what a team does in the draft can vary wildly...
From: Roger Miller
To: Lou Pickney
Date: Dec 5, 2005 10:11 PM
Subject: Mock draft
Following the Pack up here in Wis., I really believe they would take a top LB. If Bates returns as Def. cord. with his scheme I think they need a LB. They talk about N. Diggs isn't a good fit in the system. But what about the 2nd best rb on the board for the Pack. Green won't be back and N. Davenport isn't a premier starter and Gado isn't the answer...?
Lou: An OLB to play the strongside (where Na'il Diggs is now) would be a good start for the Packers. A run-stuffing DT would be nice, too, as would a ball-hawking safety. The Packers have many needs, and a draft similar to the one that the Cowboys had last year (landing a quality DT, DE and OLB) would be in order, if possible, subbing out a safety for the DE in the Dallas equation.
As for the RB situation, Samkon Gado has come out of nowhere to do a servicable job, but perhaps the Packers can get a steal in the draft with a RB who slides, a la the Vikings snatching up Ciatrick Fason in the fourth round of last year's draft.
