Draft King NFL Mock Draft exclusive insight decades of experience insider pro football college prospects

Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft


National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

February 8, 2005
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: Justin Lambert
Sent: Tuesday, February 8, 2005 12:32 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Draft

Lou-> I've seen my share of football in my time, but I question some of your picks in your mock draft. #1 would have to be Arizona. I respect Denny Green's coaching abilities. This year McCown showed some true talent "at times". With another year under Coach Green I think he could turn some heads. I wouldnt have Arizona picking QB Alex Smith. It would be a waste of a pick. Unless any team this year is completely desperate *cough*the 49ers....There isnt any first round talent in this years draft as far as QB's go. I think Arizona should concentrate on the run game with the Sub-par Emmitt Smith departing(no disrespect). They could also concentrate on the front four of the Defense. Next year would be a better time to chose a Franchise QB with the likes of USC's Leinart, Texas V. Young, and suprising Texas A&M R. McNeal. #2 Dallas has 2 first round picks and your Mock Draft has them taking 2 D-Linemen. Did you watch any of the games this year? Dallas number 1 hurt on defense was the Secondary. Even more so now with the retirement of Woodson. I could see the cowboys picking up a pass rusher with #20 like David Pollock from Georgia, if Rolle or pac man Jones slipped down to #11. Dont get me wrong I respect your opinions but I know some avid readers would like some explainations of some of these picks..........P.S please tell me you have the same opinions of these QB's. I am not impressed.

Lou: Justin, you raise some interesting points about the QBs in this draft (and the likely top guys for next year). I think that both Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith will be capable pros, and one of them should be the future leader of the 49ers. Neither one has the promise of Matt Leinart, but there's no reason that both of them can't do well in the pros.

As for Arizona, the Cards could go in a few directions. Remember that last season the Cardinals passed up the QB hoopla to instead go with WR Larry Fitzgerald, a clear situation where they drafted whom they thought was the best player available versus drafting for need.

But in the past year, Dennis Green has had a change of heart concerning Josh McCown. The benching of McCown before the Nov. 21, 2004 game against Carolina, when he had won two straight and three of his last four, was a very strange move. I just don't see Green as having long-term confidence in McCown. Maybe I'm wrong, but if Alex Smith is on the board there at #8, I think Arizona will take him. Yes, Arizona needs a RB, but this is what I expect the team to do, not what *I* would do. If it were me, I'd take Cadillac Williams and be set at RB for the next decade, at least hopefully.

With Dallas, I have a defensive lineman in their #21 slot, but I strongly expect that pick to be traded. Dallas has very strongly hinted that it will trade one of its two first rounders, and the latter of the two is the one I think we'll see go. It would be easy to slide Mark Clayton or Roddy White into the #21 position, and maybe I should, but I don't forsee Dallas keeping that pick. Odds are that they'll trade down, maybe to the early second round, and select a WR there. Or maybe not... But I see Dallas doing some wheeling and dealing before or during the draft.


Draft King NFL Mock Draft

NFL Draft Prospect Profiles

Draft King is owned and operated by Lou Pickney. © 2003-2024, all rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, the views expressed here are those of Lou Pickney alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any media company.