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National Football League
Draft King Mailbag

April 4, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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


From: Michael Littleton
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 3, 2007 7:30 AM
Subject: Dallas

While I agree with you that Branch is no longer considered a top 10 pick, I just cant see someone of his size and speed free falling too far. Some coach will convince some GM that he can get the most out of this guy. Also if he does fall as far as pick 22, don't think for a second that Phillips nor Jerry will pass on this guy. Phillips loves huge fast NTs and if he falls and Phillips convinces Jerry that he can make this kid a shade of what Jamal Williams is; he'll be a Cowboy in a heart beat. Everyone knows Dallas needs a young stud NT and if Brach comes close to were Dallas is picking, he'll be burying his roots in Dallas.

Lou: It may be more realistic for Alan Branch to go in the 15-22 range, with a team potentially moving up to snag him. Branch is big, but his speed has been called into question as of late, which might impact how Wade Phillips approaches things. Plus, not to be overlooked is the influence that Jerry Jones will have on the draft; it's not like Bill Parcells is there calling the shots anymore.

The Cowboys do have an investment in incumbent NT Jason Ferguson, who signed a five-year, $21.5 million deal (which included a $9 million signing bonus) in March 2005, but it is possible that Dallas would jump on Branch if the opportunity arises.


From: Josh Obergfell
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 4, 2007 1:53 PM
Subject: (no subject)

I've said it once i'll say it again great site man i check it daily for the new mail bags.
the question this time is about the cowboys lookin at micheal tuner please say they are not goin to give up a first round and a thrid round pick for him granted he is a wonderful back averaging over 6yds a carry. but i think the boys have more pressing needs than a new back when we allready have two great backs. let me now what you think

Lou: The scuttle I've heard is that the Chargers won't be able to get a first and a third for Michael Turner, but they might go for a second rounder and maybe one or two other high picks (perhaps in the 2008 Draft.) I don't know if Dallas is going to get into a bidding war for Turner, but clearly there is interest from a number of teams (Tennessee, Buffalo, etc.) for Turner. I'd be surprised to see Dallas pull the trigger to get Turner, especially with Julius Jones and Marion Barber, III being on the roster, but it would perhaps be a long shot.

I still don't understand why Dallas passed up on a chance to draft Steven Jackson when they had the chance in 2004, but what's done is done.


From: Danny Stone
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 4, 2007 5:37 PM
Subject: What do the Colts do?

Hey Lou, great job as usual. You've fielded a few of my questions before and whether I agreed with your response or not you make good points. Last year at this time I was concerned about 'my Colts' backfield. I was torn between Maroney and Addai. I liked both but favored Maroney. My only concern was his pass protection. Although Maroney turned out to be a stud with the Pats, Addai didn't do too badly either did he?

My question to you is this, what do the Colts do with the 32nd pick. In my opinion, I feel they should trade down into the top third of the second round and maybe pick up another late first day or early second day pick because they don't hold a second round pick (traded away for Booger MacFarland). This years' draft is pretty deep in outside linebacker and defensive tackle and if they don't go too far down in the second they could pick up some great talent and add another pick for depth. Your thoughts

Lou: I think the Colts will survey the prospects at DT and LB and go with the player that they think will best fit. An undersized but fast LB (like Oklahoma's Rufus Alexander) would be a great pickup as a replacement for free agent departure Cato June. If the Colts aren't happy with the prospects at #32, they might go with what you suggested and trade down to try to get another pick or two (since, as you mentioned, their second rounder is property of Tampa Bay from the Anthony McFarland trade.) As it is, because of the Colts' style of defense, speed trumps size at OLB, which should allow some "undersized" prospects to potentially fall to them if the Colts move down to the middle of round two.

Yes, Joseph Addai worked out well for the Colts, but I like Lawrence Maroney's long-term possibilities at RB in New England (if he can stay healthy.) I'm curious as to how much of the rushing game load the Colts expect Addai to handle this upcoming season.


From: Craig Rotz
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 4, 2007 8:58 PM
Subject: Vikings strategy

There are a few points why I like your site - you don't go for the sarcasm that pervades many other sites, you are respectful of your writers.

The Vikings I think are one of the puzzles of the top 10 teams to pick. Landry was the most popular pick of mock drafts but now the Vikings have signed Doss. It seems they have done a good job of keeping their plans secret. With Wilf saying "be patient with the team", I think they go with top value on the draft board and they may go with an offensive tackle or a defensive tackle which aren't considered great needs. Unless Gaines, or Peterson falls to them, they may go offensive or defensive tackle. They haven't extended Pat Williams contract past next year yet. Maybe they go with Okoye. What are your thoughts?

Lou: I appreciate people taking the time to visit and read the postings here on Draft King, and me being sarcastic to those who write in would be doing them a disservice in my opinion. Even when people write with disagreeable or rude tones, fighting back with sarcasm or anger on my end would only extend the vitriol -- and there's no sense in that.

It never seemed to me that LaRon Landry would've been a good fit for the Vikings (compared with the huge value he could have elsewhere), but you're right that Minnesota filled their safety need with Mike Doss. The Vikings are a real wild card in mapping out the first ten picks. They need WR help, but short of getting Calvin Johnson (good luck) they aren't going to land value at wideout at #7. Brady Quinn is an intriguing possibility if he falls, and Minnesota has fewer needs compared with other teams drafting toward the top of the draft. This could end up being a "best player available" situation, which is very tough to project since the Vikings don't want the competition or the public knowing who they like best.

Minnesota moving up to #2 seems unlikely, since Detroit (which holds the #2 pick) is in their division, and intra-divisional trades are rare. Perhaps Cleveland at #3 is a possibility? I've gone over the difficulties of trading into and out of the top five in the mailbag in the past, but moving from #7 to #3 is not impossible (Minnesota would likely have to give up at least its first and second rounders of 2007, plus maybe a 2008 third round pick and another '08 pick, to make it happen.) If that's what it takes to get Calvin Johnson, and Minnesota has that chance, the Vikings should do everything in their power to make it happen.


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