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Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft


National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

March 28, 2005
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: Rob Warner
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 5:05 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Vikes

do u seriously think the Vikes would reach for Williamson with the # 7 - Tice might be crucified - is he anywhere near as good as williams / braylon ?

Lou: Troy Williamson is seen by most observers as the #3 WR prospect and on the second tier, behind Braylon Edwards and Mike Williams. Williamson combines blazing speed (as a former track star) with good hands. He didn't put up insane numbers while at South Carolina, but remember that he played until Lou Holtz's relatively conservative offense.

I strongly suspect that Minnesota will do whatever it can to move up to #3 in the draft, where it can acquire either Williams or Edwards. Cleveland wants big-time to trade down, and the deal makes sense on many levels for both teams.


From: Cory Singer
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 5:54 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Matt Roth and the Texans

First I want to say that i think your sight is great. I'm a big Texans fan and I heard they said they want players with a mean streak. Roth is the baddest player in the draft. I heard he ripped Robert Gallerys facemask right off in practice! Do you see the texans drafting him in the second round or possibly trading up for another first rounder? (they did it last year with babin)

Lou: Could you imagine those Roth vs. Gallery matchups in Iowa football practices circa 2003? Gallery himself was known as being a hard-nosed player at Iowa, and while he might not be in the mold of Raiders teammate Jake Grove (Center from Virginia Tech known for having a mean streak), he's not the type to just let someone rip off his face mask, practice or not.

Roth is a legit first round DE prospect, so if the Texans want to get him, they're going to have to either trade up to get him, trade down from #13, or perhaps even take him outright at #13. As of this writing I have Roth slipping out of the first round (due to shuffling at the top of the draft), but in reality I don't anticipate Roth making it into round two. If somehow he does, there are plenty of teams that would snatch him up well before Houston has its pick. I think a team like San Diego would be more inclined to take Shawne Merriman at #12, make him a full-fledged OLB, and then take Roth at #28 if he's there to use as a DE. Houston moving up from #47 (round two) is possible, though if they go DE at #13 they might be able instead to choose from one of a number of good safeties who should be on the board at #47.


From: Scott Pooley
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 6:36 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Broncos pick

Lou,
First off I'm a big fan of the site. I was just wondering why you have the Broncos still selecting Heath Miller with their pick when they matched the offer sheet for Jeb Putzier and recently signed Stephen Alexander. Don't you think that the Broncos would be more likely to pick either a defensive tackle or a defensive end? Possibly Shaun Cody who could play either position. Also I wouldn't be shocked to see the Broncos pick an offensive lineman since both the left tackle and left guard spots will be open next year with the likely departures of Matt Lepsis and Tom Nalen (Ben Hamilton would then move from LG to C) your thoughts?

Lou: Scott, you nailed it with Denver. I posted my updated mock and then looked it over and thought, "Oops, I still have Miller going to Denver." However, my readers are pretty fast at picking up things, as you were on the Miller-to-Denver observation. Clearly the Broncos are preparing for the draft as if they won't be the team to take Miller. Looks like Miller is more likely to go to the Jets at this point (of any team in the first round), but Miller is a bit of a wild card out there now, much moreso than he appeared to be two months ago with both Detroit and Denver seeming like viable options at that time.

I could see Shaun Cody going to Denver. It'd make sense with Cody having abilities at both DT and DE. The Broncos will have to be somewhat judicious with their draft picks; they had to forfeit their third round pick due to salary cap violations, though they did receive a compensatory selection at the end of the third round (#101). However, Denver's fourth rounder went to Cleveland in exchange for DT Gerard Warren, who is in a make-or-break situation.

Denver is still in the running for Warren's former Browns teammate DE Courtney Brown to decide where he'll sign (Washington and Denver are the front-runners, with Jacksonville as a wild-card). If Brown lands in Denver, that could change the Broncos' strategy a bit. Denver might be tempted at that point to trade out of the first round (possibly for a third or fourth rounder this year and a first in 2006). Keep that in mind, particularly as the Brown decision-making process drags on and on.


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