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Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft


National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

February 6, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: Matt Segerman
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 6, 2007 12:05 PM
Subject: moss trade rumors

lots of talk about randy mos going to green bay for 1st round...if it happens what does oakland use the 1st round pick on....marshawn lynch maybe?....or what about tedd ginn jr or maybe dwayne jarret might be around still.... what would you do

Lou: The Moss to Green Bay trade idea is interesting, and is a rumor going back to last week (if not further.) The Packers could very well bring in a veteran RB (for financial reasons, Jamal Lewis and Corey Dillon may be available), trade their first rounder to Oakland for Moss, and give Brett Favre a fighting chance in what will likely be his final go-around. Moss is doing everything he can to get traded, and he'll likely get his wish.

Imagine this draft scenario for Oakland:
#1: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
#17: Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State
#33: Michael Bush, RB, Louisville

Jarrett may be there at #17; alternately, Oakland could go with Calvin Johnson #1 and hope that Drew Stanton falls to round three:

#1: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
#17: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal
#33: Arron Spears, OT, Tennessee
#65: Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State

Going with four straight offensive picks might be excessive, but the Raiders need major help on the offensive side of the ball. Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard both had great years at LB, while Nnamdi Asomugha quietly had 8 interceptions from the corner position. Another DE to compliment Derrick Burgess would be helpful (perhaps they go with DE Jarvis Moss at #17 and a RB at #33), but realistically the more help Oakland gets on offense, the better off they will be in 2007.


From: Kevin Olson
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 6, 2007 12:24 PM
Subject: Vikings draft.

Lou, I understand that people think d-end is the weak link on Vikings defense. But I can’t see them drafting another d-end with a first round pick. Their two often injured ends need to step up and play, and play better this year.

Wideout seem to be the logical choice. There are not any game breaking WR’s in free agency and the Vikings only have Mr. I Can’t Catch the Ball Williamson under contract. If I were a betting man, Johnson will be long gone. Therefore, the Vikings should try and trade down into the 10-15 range and still pick up a solid wideout Jarrett or Ginn. Would like you’re input on the Vikings. Thanks

Lou: I agree that Minnesota's biggest need is at WR, much moreso than at any other position (with the possible exception of veteran QB, but you can't draft those guys.) Unfortunately for the Vikings, the #7 slot is not an ideal place to be for taking a WR. The odds of Calvin Johnson lasting that long are slim, and that may be just a bit high for Dwayne Jarrett or Ted Ginn, Jr. Minnesota could go WR in round two and land a strong prospect, whereas at the #7 slot there will likely be some elite DE talent available.

You're right in noting that Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James were both first rounders, and that argument is the counter-thought to the idea of Minnesota going DE at #7. James was hurt last year, and I understand that, but Udeze played in all 16 games and didn't make a single sack.

The problem with taking a receiver at #7 is that the pressure will be on for the guy to perform right away based on Minnesota's need, and it would seem to make more sense to look to free agency (Donte' Stallworth perhaps) for wideout help and then work a round two or three WR into the mix as a backup. Stallworth has elite speed, as does Troy Williamson, so Minnesota could in turn take a player like Florida WR Dallas Baker, who is perceived by many as being a great "possession receiver" and work him in via three WR sets.

Minnesota has cap room to work with (in the $31.5 million range) and the team has relatively few holes, so the Vikings will have some options in the open market bidding war.


From: Jason Simmons
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 6, 2007 12:24 PM
Subject: Dallas Cowboys and the #22 pick

Hey Lou,

Great job with the site, your knowledge rivals that of such greats as Mel Kiper Jr. and Mike Mayock. I was looking at the #22 pick for the Cowboys and I can almost guarantee you that Dallas will sign either Pork Chop Womack, or Derrick Dockery to fill the void of RG. I think that the most pressing need would be either a backup QB, back up NT, CB, or WR. With that being said, a back up QB will most likely be a veteran, there are no NT worthy of a first round selection and it looks like that Dallas might go back to the 4-3 so this may not be a major need. With rumors of Anthony Henry moving to safety, a CB is definitely a position of need. Keep in mind that the Cowboys nickleback is the grizzled vet Aaron Glenn so even if Henry stays at his current position CB must be addressed. WR is a deep position in this year’s draft that could easily be addressed in the second round. The only other player I could possibly see Dallas draft is Levi Brown or Aaron Sears if they feel that Flozell Adams cannot regain his old form and McQuistan is not progressing.

Lou: Thanks for the kind words, though I imagine that Kiper and Mayock know a great deal more than I do about the draft off the top of their head. There's a reason that they have earned their high-profile positions.

Pork Chop Womack would be a good addition for the Cowboys. His versatility would add needed depth to the offensive line and free up the #22 pick for other needs. He wasn't able to completely fill the void left in Seattle by Pro Bowl OG Steve Hutchinson's departure last off-season, but Womack is a serviceable OL who would be a nice addition to the mix.

If Dallas reverts to a 4-3 defense, then clearly the defensive line configuration will have to be altered. The Cowboys have drafted for size and run-stopping at DE, and in a 4-3 they would need to find a defensive end who can bring the heat. If they retain a 3-4, then yes depth at NT would be helpful, potentially using a mid-round pick on a large DT like Utah's Paul Soliai.

I've written at length about the Cowboys secondary; adding depth at corner would be helpful, but I don't know that Dallas would want to handle the financial implications of bringing in a first round pick in a secondary that already has big salaries in Anthony Henry, Roy Williams, and Terence Newman. A mid-rounder who is raw but has strong potential might be the way to go on that.

It makes sense for Dallas to look WR in round two or beyond. A pure speed guy like UTEP's Johnnie Lee Higgins or Clemson's Chansi Stuckey could be a great mid-round addition for three WR sets, forcing defenses to respect the deep threat rather than concentrate solely on Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn.


From: John Mincey
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 6, 2007 1:41 PM
Subject: Draft coin flip

I read your draft. Looks pretty good. I cant imagine the bucs passing on Joe Thomas if hes there, but Calvin Johnson would be a great pick nonetheless.

As far as the coin flip goes between Tampa & Cleveland... That will be done at the NFL Combine

Lou: Thanks for the info on the coin flip taking place at the combine. That takes place from February 21-27, so we'll know the pick order before the end of the month. It amuses me that Bucs head coach Jon Gruden told the St. Petersburg Times: "For anything to come down to a coin flip, that's pretty prehistoric if you ask me."

It's possible that the Bucs will decide to take Joe Thomas. He's an outstanding prospect, and he could move into the Bucs starting lineup right away at left tackle. Anthony Davis did a good job at OT in 2006, but a player like Thomas would give that line a major upgrade.

At the same time, Calvin Johnson is an incredible talent, and it would be very difficult for Tampa Bay to pass on him. There aren't many 6'5", 235 pound WRs who can run a 4.45 40 and show great hands and precise route-running. Speed + size = success in the NFL. If the Bucs do have to choose between Johnson and Thomas... well, that's a dilemma that most NFL teams would like to have.


From: commonillusion@aol.com
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Feb 6, 2007 2:33 PM
Subject: Mock Draft

You should know here in Philadelphia, the eagles as per a statement made my GM Tom Heckert the eagles will not be addresssing LB with their first round selection. They will most likely be focusing on SS and or CB

Look for them to wait to see if Michael Griffen SS from Texas or Daymeion Hughes CB from California fall to them at #26.

Lou: General managers often play a game of smoke-and-mirrors, sometimes intentionally giving misleading statements to potentially give themselves an advantage on draft day. The level of deception and the lengths that are taken on protecting information is remarkable at times.

If you are to believe what Tom Heckert said to the Philadelphia Daily News, he claimed that the team's philosophy is to not take linebackers or safeties until "a bit further down the line" in the draft. While you're correct that strong safety is a need for the Eagles, if Heckert is being on the level, then that statement would preclude the Eagles from drafting Michael Griffin in round one.

The Eagles could very well look to draft a DE if the right guy is on the board at #26, though WR is also a need spot. Perhaps Philadelphia will fill the OLB need via free agency and look to take a lineman or a wideout in the draft.


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