Jets and Seahawks draft talk
National Football League
Draft King Analysis
January 16, 2010
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here. Send your thoughts to Draft King at LouPickney@gmail.com.
The deadline has passed for eligible underclassmen football players (those who are at least three years removed from their high school graduation class) to apply for early entry into the 2010 NFL Draft. This page on CollegeFootballTalk.com did a good job of keeping track of the early entry applicants, and barring any players on that list deciding to return to school (there is a short window after the deadline for them to decide to go back), we now know who will be eligible in the draft process.
Feedback is pouring into the Draft King mailbag -- let's get to that now.
From: Terry Davis
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Wed, Jan 13, 2010 at 2:48 PM
Subject: 2010 Draft KIng NFL Mock
Just read your 2010 projected NFL 1st round draft breakdown. Being a Jets fan, I have to say there is no way I can see them drafting Rolando McClain an ILB as you indicated. We spent big bucks on Bart Scott last offseason and David Harris is entrenched as the other starter. Both made pro bowl alternate this year. With us already missing our 3rd and 4th rounders due to trades, I can't see us spending a 1st rounder on an area that is already a strength. We definitely need 3-4 players but the more likely scenario would be a big 3-4 DE, a rush OLB or a NT to spell K. Jenkins. Just my two cents...
Lou: You make a good point about the Jets having both Scott and Harris locked in at ILB. Harris' contract expires at the end of 2010, though it's unclear at this point what will happen with the NFL in 2011. At the very least, the Jets should be able to restrict Harris from jumping to another team without too much hassle. The idea with McClain is that it would free up Scott to be used as an OLB, though the Jets will probably stay with Scott and Harris as an ILB tandem.
From: Sean Miller
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 4:31 AM
Subject: Don't quit your day job, because your mock draft is ridiculous
Seahawk fan here. Couldn't help but comment on your latest mock draft. It is just asinine, especially considering the Seahawks needs. Offensive line, defensive line, QB, playmaker wr/rb, and safety are the biggest needs. Offensive line is the biggest single need the Hawks have, and there is zero chance in hell they draft Taylor Mays #6 overall. WalterFootball for example has Mays going #50 overall, in the second round. I love Mays, he is a local hero here in Seattle, but he not a first half of the first round talent. He is a great athlete, but he is not a playmaker at all. He is usually late to the play, never intercepts or knocks the ball down, and rarely even wraps up his tackles. He is a heat seeking missile that throws a shoulder into people a second AFTER they catch the ball. He is a bigger, faster Roy Williams. He is worth a late first or early second, but nobody in their right mind would draft him in the top 10.
And Tim Tebow? For the Seahawks who run West Coast offensive styles? Seriously? If the Jaguars don't draft Tebow, he will not go in the first round. Lots of underclassmen declaring for this years draft, which means it's deep in talent. Teams would be fools to reach this year, as there is value at every pick if you don't reach.
Anyways, it's just my opinion that there is a 90% chance the Hawks do not take Taylor Mays at #6 overall and a 99% chance they do not take Tim Tebow #14 overall. The hawks will probably draft Okung/Campbell/Davis/Lupati, or Clausen/Bradford, Eric Berry, Gerald McCoy or Dan Morgan, possibly Dez Bryant or CJ Spiller if Pete Carroll decides he wants a playmaker. Taylor Mays or Earl Thomas could be picked at 14, but this draft is so deep they just aren't worth the value at 14.
Who the hell knows really. I do however know Tim Tebow will never be a Seahawk.
Lou: Things have changed in Seattle since I last updated my mock draft, with the major change being Pete Carroll heading to town to coach and run the Seahawks organization, likely in conjunction with someone to be the "official" team GM. It will be interesting to see what changes Carroll makes with the team.
|  |
Opinions vary about Taylor Mays' NFL potential. (Icon SMI)
|
With two high first round draft picks, the Seahawks have a variety of options. I concur with your assessment of the Seahawks' team needs, which is in part why I projected them taking a safety and a quarterback with their round one selections in my last mock. The addition of Carroll, however, probably makes the Seahawks less likely to draft Mays. While Carroll recruited and coached Mays at USC, he also saw the plays where he was either late or, more usually than that, where he made a misread. Carroll is less likely to be wowed by Mays in workouts and at the combine, where he is likely to impress scouts and coaches who didn't see him play on a regular basis.
WalterFootball.com, which is a great site, may end up being correct with the second round assessment of Mays. My projection of him going in the top half of the first round is based on the expectation that a team will see his athleticism and potential and draft him accordingly. We'll see if Mays lives up to that hype. I know this: with Al Davis in the mix, Mays going in the top ten will remain a distinct possibility.
As for Tebow, I've already heard Pete Carroll express his support for Matt Hasselbeck, though how long that lasts remains to be seen. I suspect that Seattle will take a quarterback somewhere early on in the mix (I'd guess within the top three rounds), though much like Mays, I don't see Tebow being nearly as likely to go to Seattle with Carroll running the show.
C.J. Spiller being taken with one of Seattle's first round selection isn't outside the realm of possibility, particularly with the success of Chris Johnson with the Nashville and the need for a young, speedy running back with the Seahawks. Spiller at #14 to Seattle? It wouldn't surprise me.
