NFL Draft Day 1 Winners and Losers

Even though it is only the end of day one of the draft we felt that there were definitely a few winners and losers so we threw together a top five list of each.

Winners - In no particular order

1. Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals desperately need help on their offensive line because they were one of the worst teams running the ball last year and with the departure of star lineman Leonard Davis they are left with some pretty big holes to fill. Taking OT Levi Brown from Penn State with the 5th pick definitely filled a need, but Brown is also the type of player that new offensive line coach Russ Grimm loves so we think that pick was huge for the Cards. Arizona then traded up to the 1st pick in the second round and drafted DT Alan Branch from Michigan who was thought by many to be a top 15 prospect so to get him with the 33rd pick and fill a need as a run stopper on that young defense was also huge. With their 3rd pick of the draft the Cardinals drafted a London Fletcher-type player in LB Buster Davis from Florida State. Davis led the Florida State defense in takles last year and provides great depth along with a bright future to the Arizona line backing corps. We think that Arizona filled their biggest need when they drafted a tackle to protect franchise quarterback Matt Lienart and added important pieces to an already improving young defense.

2. Carolina Panthers - The Carolina Panthers originally had the 14th overall pick but traded down with the New York Jet to pick 25 and still drafted the player they were targeting all along, LB Jon Beason from the U. Beason fills a need as Carolina lost key linebackers during free agency this offseason. So while still getting the player they targeted 11 picks earlier they also recieved a few extra draft picks to help fill other holes they see. Then with their 2nd pick, pick 13 in round 2, the Panthers drafted WR Dwayne Jarrett from USC. Jarrett could not have asked for a better team to fall to; now he can be the 3rd reciever and learn from WR Keyshawn Johnson, a fellow USC alum, who many people have compared Jarrett to. This pick was definitely a great value pick and down the road could be one of the steals of this draft. Carolina then took another former USC player in C Ryan Kalil with the 27th pick in the 2nd round. Kalil was the highest rated center in the draft and will make an immediate impact on the offensive line and anchor that unit for years to come. With their final pick on day one the Panthers selected DE Charles Johnson from Georgia. Johnson was widely considered an early 2nd round pick so to get him mid-way through round number 3 is of great value and provides depth to an aging d-line (Besides Julius Peppers of course!). Carolina definitely helped themselves today and we hope they keep it up tomorrow.

3. Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings came into the draft needing to get more explosive on offense and more physical in the defensive secondary and they did just that with their three picks on day one. With the 7th pick overall the Vikings selected one of the most explosive players in RB Adrian Peterson from OU. Peterson is the only other offensive skill player besides Calvin Johnson that is a threat to dominate everytime he touches the ball. Then with their 2nd pick they drafted Sidney Rice the WR from South Carolina. Rice is a player that legendary head coach Steve Spurrier loved and was disappointed to see him leave. He was thought by many to be a late 1st round pick so to fill a need with an explosive player and get great value from that pick was a definite win. Then with their 3rd and final pick of the day they drafted CB Marcus McCauley from Fresno State. McCauley is a perfect fit for the Vikings as he was rated one of the most physically imposing corners in the draft and he should fit in nicely with last years 2nd round pick Marcus Griffin from Texas. Minnesota definitely filled their needs on day one with great players while still getting great value from those picks.

4. Indianapolis Colts - The rich get richer as the defending Super Bowl Champions made some of the better moves on day one. With WR Brandon Stokely moving on in free agency the Colts drafted a more talented version of Stokely in reciever Anthony Gonzalez from Ohio State. Gonzalez fits their ideal mold of a number three reciever and should keep that offense running on all cylinders as they did last season. We feel that Gonzalez was a bit of a reach because of the other available recievers but he does fit their offensive scheme so we didn't knock them too hard for that. Indy then traded up with the 49ers and drafted OT Tony Ugoh from Arkansas who originally was a top 20 pick but due to a poor Senior Bowl slipped to the early to mid 2nd round. Ugoh provides great depth for the Colts returning o-line, but he is also a great value pick with the potential to be a great tackle in this league. With their 3rd pick the Colts filled a huge need at CB where their two starters from last year had signed with new teams. Indy selected California CB Daymeion Hughes who is a ball hawking corner who can make a big play anytime the ball is thrown is way. Hughes was a 2006 First Team All-American and slipped this far due to a poor 40-yard dash; Hughes should have no problem with his speed as the Colts play their home games in the RCA Dome on astroturf. Hughes could end up being a huge steal in this draft. Then with the 2nd to last pick of the day the Colts filled another need with a big run-stopping DT in Quinn Pitcock from Ohio State. Pitcock was considered an early 3rd rounder and was the highest rated DT available so he was definitely considered a quality pick by all the staff. The Colts addressed needs and got great value from their picks so we feel day one was a great success for the Super Bowl Champs.

5. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons also filled needs with their picks on day one and drafted guys that fit their schemes perfectly. Atlanta drafted Jamaal Anderson the DE from Arkansas with the 8th pick overall and he is the perfect fit for what that defense is trying to do, PRESSURE THE QB. During the 2nd round the Falcons selected an offensive lineman that once again fits perfect with their plans for the up coming season. Justin Blalock from Texas is a mean, hard-nosed, run blocking guard that is a dream pick for first year head coach Bobby Petrino. Blalock was considered a late 1st round prospect so selecting him in the early 2nd is decent value but the way he fits their scheme makes this pick even more attractive. The Falcons then traded up to take CB Chris Houston from Arkansas and he will fit in perfect with their tough physical defense. Putting Houston across from former 1st round pick DeAngelo Hall makes a scary corner tandem for the Falcons. Atlanta closed out their draft by selecting another player to fill a need in WR Laurent Robinson from Illinois State. While the school he is from isn't too impressive here is a little bit of info that is, he finished in the top 10 of every category for WR at the scouting combine. This kid has huge upside and could be the playmaker Atlanta needs. The Falcons definitely impressed the staff here with their quality choices and the way they fit their schemes and needs.

Losers - In no particular order

1. Miami Dolphins - The main reason why the Dolphins are on this list is because they passed up on their biggest need when a top 5 caliber player was available when they picked at number 9. Brady Quinn was a candidate for the top pick overall and would not have been a reach at any pick in the top 5. So when Miami passed on him at 9 everyone was stunned. Then they go and make a bone-headed pick like WR Ted Ginn Jr. from Ohio State. Don't get us wrong Ginn has huge upside but not number 9 overall come on Cam Cameron. By the way how did you like those boo's from the fans Mr. Cameron? Then with their 2nd pick they take John Beck QB from BYU who by many is considered a system-QB. We understand the picks as they fill needs we just think they should have switched the order of them. Take your franchise QB in Quinn then select a quality WR with your 2nd pick as this is a reciever-heavy draft. The Dolphins just blew it and have not started off the Cam Cameron era very well.

2. Philadelphia Eagles - First off the Eagles are getting old on defense so naturally you would think they would draft some defensive players with their 1st pick or help give depth to their depleted secondary; but instead they trade down for not much and select a QB with that pick. Are you serious Andy Reid? A QB? Umm hi, Donovan McNabb. Ok enough said their. Then Philly reaches on their next two picks as they weren't even top 5 best available at their positions. DE Victor Abiamiri and RB Tony Hunt just don't seem to be of good value where they took them and for what they took them for. Hunt is supposed to be their goalline back, but he has a fumbling problem so that's not good and Abiamiri can't fight off blockers to stop the run and Philly has 3 DE's who only rush the passer.

3. San Diego Chargers - They fail miserably during this whole offseason. They fire Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season because he lost a close game to a very good New England Patriots team. Then they didn't bring in a quality new head coach they had to settle for Norv Turner the offensive coordinator extrodinaire. They made no moves during free agency and reached on a reciever with their first pick and way overpaid for Eric Weddle from Utah. With their final pick drafted they picked a LB from Clemson who wasn't projected to go until round 5. So once again a new head coach stinks it up on day one and the Norv Turner era is starting out much like the Cam Cameron era.

4. Washington Redskins - They are on this list for one reason only and that is the fact that they only had one pick today. They don't pick again until the 5th round. We do understand that LaRon Landry is filthy and along side Sean Taylor could create the hardest-hitting and most talented safety combo ever, but that doesn't change the fact that they still only had one pick today and they have so many needs to fill. We just don't understand how the Redskins let this happen.

5. Green Bay Packers - The Packers made no effort to select guys that could have any immediate impact and help improve this team so Brett Favre can go out on a winning note. Green Bay reached big time for DT Justin Harrell from Tennessee when they took him mid 1st round when he was viewed as a late 1st but more than likely and early 2nd. Then they traded in the 2nd round for nothing and reached again by about another half a round or so on RB Brandon Jackson from Nebraska. They needed to fill the hole Ahman Green left when he signed with Houston, but there are better RB's available now at the end of day one than Jackson who they took in the 2nd round. Then the Packers drafted a WR who lacked production except for his last year in college and was widely considered a 5th round project in James Jones from San Jose State. The only pick that somewhat saves Green Bay in our eyes in their last pick of Aaron Rouse the S from Virginia Tech. Rouse is a quick hard-hitting safety that plays the run exceptionally well. Rouse was an early 3rd round prospect so to get him late in round 3 is a good value pick. Green Bay lost out because they reached on almost every pick they had today and could have got much better value with other picks.

Close Calls

Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers almost made our winners list as they drafted for need and value with their picks of LB Lawrence Timmons and DE LaMarr Woodley, but didn't wow us with their pick of TE Matt Spaeth.

New Orleans Saints - The Saints could've almost made our losers list because they didn't really improve in their areas of need. They needed to add someone who could step in at CB or LB with their first hew picks, but instead took another offensive weapon to help that 1st ranked offense and traded out of the 2nd round. We like WR Robert Meachem's addition to that offense but a player like LB Paul Posluszny or CB Chris Houston would have been better suited in terms of filling holes. Then they reached on a CB in the 3rd round in Usama Young of Kent State. Atleast Meachem will be a threat immediately and Young does provide some depth.

The Staff