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National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

December 26, 2006
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: John Sindyla
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Dec 22, 2006 10:59 AM
Subject: 2007 Mock draft

Lou,

Not trying to be rude but your projected pick for the Browns on your 2007 Draft King mock draft is ridiculous.

The Browns would not pass on the best O-line prospect of the draft, let alone a left tackle, in Joe Thomas from Wisconsin to take Calvin Johnson at WR when they already have Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, Josh Cribbs and last year’s 3rd rd pick Travis Wilson on the roster. Johnson is a great prospect but would be of no use to the Browns when their QB is lying flat on his back every other play.

In addition Joe Thomas would not get past the Cardinals at No. 4 or the Texans at No. 5. Their O-line’s are worse than the Browns.

Lou: Check out the newly updated Mock Draft. I've read the comments about Joe Thomas (saying that he should be ranked higher), looked over team needs, given consideration... and I now have Thomas going #3 overall to Cleveland. The guy is a great player, and while I think the world of Calvin Johnson, I have put Thomas in that spot.

This goes against the post I made earlier this month where I pointed out that Cleveland spent $36 million over six years to bring in former Falcons OT Kevin Shaffer, but the reality is that the Browns desperately need help on their offensive line, and if it takes spending even more money to bring in Thomas, they just might have to do that. Though, if Adrian Peterson falls to Cleveland, I doubt that the Browns could pass on him.


From: lthomp5490@aol.com
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Dec 26, 2006 4:06 PM
Subject: Your most recent mock draft...

predicts the Jaguars will take a CB in the first round (Cason, out of Arizona, I believe).

I think such a prediction is off base for several reasons.

1. The Jaguars have Pro Bowler Rashean Mathis at one CB, and just signed CB Brian Williams to a huge deal this past offseason. While I am not overly crazy about Williams, he has played decently, and simple economics can't support all of that money at the CB position.

2. Since Jack Del Rio and James Harris arrived in Jacksonville, the team has never spent a first round pick on offense.

3. Despite this, the Jaguars needs are on the offensive side of the ball. At minimum, they need a speed WR. Neither Matt Jones nor Reggie Williams can consistently stretch the field or get separation. At worst, if they somehow foolishly jettison Byron Leftwich, the team will also need a QB.

4. If the Jaguars DO manage to go defense in the first round, DE, LB and S are bigger needs. Reggie Hayward is recovering from a torn achilles' tendon. WHo knows how effective he will be? Spicer is okay, but is 31. At LB, Mike Peterson is returning from a torn pectoral muscle and is in the last year of his deal. DD is again recovering from a season ending injury and is in his 30s, while Deon Grant looks like the only starter left without a contract after this season.

Lou: As you'll see with the new mock (updated right after you wrote) I no longer have Jacksonville taking a corner. Your reasoning is sound, and as I discussed in the 12/21/06 mailbag, despite Brian Williams' off-the-field problem, it is unlikely that Jacksonville will use a first rounder at corner. I don't think that taking a WR is the answer, and my present slotting of Brian Brohm going there is based on the possibility that Byron Leftwich won't return next year.


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