Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft

National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

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

If the Vikings take Troy Williamson at #7 with Antrel Rolle, Derrick Johnson, and Shawn Merriman on the board, I safely project that I will vomit.

Lou: You wouldn't be alone among Viking fans. Projectile vomiting all around, eminating from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Though, to be sure, Williamson is a very good receiver.

With the big bucks paid to former Redskins CB Fred Smoot, it seems unlikely that the Vikings would take Antrel Rolle at #7. WR remains the one major spot to fill for the team, which is why I think a Minnesota/Cleveland trade will happen to move to Vikings to the #3 spot. But if they stick at #7, a OLB or DE/OLB would make sense. I'd put Derrick Johnson over Shawne Merriman, if nothing because Merriman is much better suited for a 3-4 defense...

From: Paul Berman
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 11:02 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Williamson at #7?

Do you really think the Vikes will take Williamson at #7 if the first 6 picks go as you predict? In your opinion, does Williamson really merit a 7th pick? Couldn't they pass here and hope to get him with the #18 pick? Or if he won't last until #18, how about trading down a few spots?

Lou: Obviously from the e-mails that have come in recently, many readers disagree with the concept of the Vikings taking Troy Williamson at #7. I don't believe that trading down a few spots will necessarily give them a shot at Williamson, as it is possible that Washington might go for Williamson at the #9 spot. Granted, the Redskins have a major DE need, but if they win the Courtney Brown sweepstakes that need will be alleviated, at least in the short-term (depending on how Brown pans out in his post-Cleveland career).

From: Staff Sergeant Jake Richmond
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 11:14 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: A few questions on your latest mock

Let me say first that I just started visiting your website a few days ago and I’m very impressed with your insight. As one previous fan wrote, you seem to have a better handle on team needs and tendencies than most “experts” out there. I believe that the “scouting community” often focuses too much on the players themselves and, when they produce their mock drafts, they fail to think like real NFL GMs and coaches.

With that said, there are a few questions I’d like to ask about your latest mock draft. I don’t mean to simply disagree with your picks – I honestly would like to know your thought process when you plugged in each pick.

1. What made you peg New Orleans for the “safety net” of Aaron Rodgers? I happen to agree with the (rare) prediction that the 2nd QB will freefall down the board, but I find it hard to believe that the Saints have lost enough faith in Brooks (and Bouman, for that matter) to pass up on a defensive starter. What convinces you otherwise?

2. With the signings of Chris Claiborne and Dexter Coakley, I would be surprised to see Mike Martz draft a backup linebacker with his first pick – especially after his vocal disappointment with the offensive line and public dispute with Kyle Turley. Did you consider Khalif Barnes there? If so, do you simply have a lower opinion of Barnes than most scouts?

3. I’m a Wisconsin-born, life-long Packers fan and I was a little puzzled by the David Pollack pick at #24. After solid seasons from both KGB and Aaron Kampman, I don’t see DE as a 1st-round need for Green Bay. Why do you believe the Pack will pass on Brodney Pool?

Lou: The QB situation in the first round is rather interesting. Besides San Francisco at #1, it's hard to pinpoint exactly where QBs might go, if anywhere.

As for New Orleans, I still think they'll be able to acquire a first round pick for DE Darren Howard. This should allow the Saints to take either Aaron Rodgers or Alex Smith if one of them should fall to their spot and still get a DT with the other first rounder.

The reality is that some team is going to "do the unexpected" and take one of the QBs at some point, probably in the top 10. It could be Washington at #9. Or if someone slides, you might see a team like Green Bay trade next year's first rounder to acquire the sliding QB.

With Khalif Barnes, I forsaw him going early in the second round, falling no further than Cleveland. Because St. Louis jumped so fast on Coakley and Claiborne, I overlooked those in the blitz of the first week of free agent signings. I concur with you that Crowder to the Rams no longer makes sense, and that OL would be a position to consider for them.

Perhaps you have a higher opinion of Aaron Kampman than I do, but I think that adding a DE would give the Packers a nice pass rush boost. Brodney Pool might be a consideration for Green Bay, though the Packers could potentially consider going with a QB at the spot. Though, realistically, defensive help is what that team needs for 2005.

From: rob@robandres.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 1:12 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject: Miami musings...

Do you see a scenario where Miami can get involved in trading down to the #7 or #8 spot? Nick Saban has been vocal about his displeasure of not having many draft picks, especially a 2nd rounder. Also, with Miami having many needs (RB, QB, OL, LB) it sure would benefit them to trade down and still get one of the 'big 3' RBs. My concern is that Miami's price will be too high for a team to move up to the #2 spot given the perceived weakness of the draft. I'm also surprised that a team wouldn't jump at Patrick Surtain for a 2nd or 3rd rounder, considering he's a proven commodity. (Must be a salary cap issue).

Lou: There are two teams looking to move up: Minnesota (#7) and Arizona (#8), and two with legit motivation to move down: Miami (#2) and Cleveland (#3). Unfortunately for the Dolphins, the Browns' spot is actually more appealing. Why? The #3 pick will cost less in salary than the #2 pick, and in all likelihood Cleveland will demand less than Miami in trading down.

What Miami needs is for Buffalo to continue its stalemate with Arizona in the Travis Henry for L.J. Shelton trade talks. Buffalo reportedly wants to swap second-rounders with Arizona (since Buffalo does not have a first round pick in this draft), and that demand is what is holding up the deal. If Arizona gets T. Henry, it won't need to get a RB in the draft, and it won't be looking to trade up. That'd make only one team (Minnesota) wanting to trade up, and Cleveland would be the most likely partner for reasons mentioned above.

As for Patrick Surtain, he is still a commodity, but the dual hit of having to trade a draft pick AND having to pay his high salary have kept him from being dealt to this point. Surtain going to the Colts makes the most sense to me, but it might not happen that way. With Ty Law out there on the free agent market, there is some competition in the elite category, though Law has injury issues holding him back.

Ultimately, Miami needs a workhorse RB, and the chance to get Ronnie Brown at #2 to be that guy makes perfect sense. If the team can move Surtain before the draft, it'll mean some extra cap room, but more importantly a chance to land someone for another need position.

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