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National Football League
Draft King Analysis

February 25, 2009
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

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This is a very busy week in the NFL, with the end of the NFL combine in Indianapolis leading into the drama of teams making some hard decisions about the futures of some aging but likely future Hall of Fame players. And then there is unrestricted free agency, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. The wheels are in motion, and there have been several major developments that will likely have a significant impact on the 2009 NFL Draft.

Derrick Brooks
Tampa Bay drafted Derrick Brooks in 1995. (Icon SMI)
A pair of longtime NFL veterans who have been with one team for the duration of their careers are now free agents, as the Colts have released WR Marvin Harrison while the Buccaneers have cut LB Derrick Brooks. Harrison, at 6'0" 185, was never the biggest or the fastest wide receiver out there, but the guy knew how to get open, avoid the big hit, and hold onto the ball. He still knows, actually, and he could be a nice pickup for a team seeking a veteran WR presence, even with the fact that Harrison is turning 37 in August. Brooks turns 36 in April, and he may opt to retire or could continue his career on a team looking for a veteran 4-3 OLB.

The connection with Harrison and Brooks is interesting in that both players arguably had their best respective seasons in 2002. That year Brooks was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year and lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, while Harrison posted an NFL record 143 receptions in 2002. Harrison made eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 1999-2006.

NFL.com has a list of top performers from the combine. The 40 yard dash section is perhaps the most intriguing. Maryland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (who I've been bullish on for some time now) lived up to his speedster hype by running a 4.30. South Carolina TE Jared Cook posted an impressive 4.50 speed, amazing when you consider his 6'5" 245 pound size. That's faster than any linebacker ran at the combine, including standout OLB Aaron Curry (who was not shabby with a 4.56).

Lance Zierlein (a radio host on KGOW in Houston) reports that the Redskins are preparing to make a massive contract offer to soon-to-be free agent DT Albert Haynesworth. Zierlein says he has a source who said that Washington is preparing to make a contract offer that may be for more than $100 million, at a pace of $15-16 million per year. There's no word on how much money of that would be guaranteed, but I've speculated for some time that Haynesworth would garner more than $30 million guaranteed on the open market, perhaps approaching $35 million guaranteed.

That is huge money, I know. But Haynesworth, at age 27, is arguably the best defensive tackle in the NFL. A player of his caliber hitting unrestricted free agency in the prime of his career is almost unheard of, and especially so at the defensive tackle position. He would be an appealing pickup for literally any team running a 4-3 defense, but he will also come with a hefty price tag.

In Miami, I hope Dolphins fans are appreciating the good work that the team's front office has pulled off this month. Miami opted not to use its franchise tag (and I still don't know of any time a Bill Parcells team has used the tag), yet the Dolphins managed to keep two of its highly-regarded free agents, OL Vernon Carey and ILB Channing Crowder. Miami may lose three defensive backs to unrestricted free agency, but with the Dolphins being #25 in the league against the pass in 2008, perhaps the Dolphins will opt to bring in some fresh blood in the secondary.


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