It’s the end of April, which means it’s time for the NFL draft. First, let’s talk the about the local teams in the order they drafted.
JETS
(6th pick) DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State, 6’3” 266 lbs., 4.66-. With the dearth of playmakers on the Jets roster, Darren McFadden had to be to top player on their board, but when he went to the Raiders at four, they had to rethink, and took the best available player on the board-DE/OLB hybrid Vernon Gholston. Gholston is one of those freakish athletes who started playing football at a late age, so he needs good coaching to reach his full potential.
Best Case Scenario: He reaches that potential and will be one of the better players from this draft, who will terrorize quarterbacks for years to come as a great pass rushing OLB in the John Abraham mold.
Worst Case Scenario: He doesn’t realize his potential, he’ll be another first round bust for the Jets.
(30th pick) TE Dustin Keller, Purdue, 6’2” 242 lbs., 4.59- In a surprise move, the Jets traded up to get TE Dustin Keller. They traded their 2nd round pick (37th overall) and a 4th round pick (113th overall), to move up to get another first round pick. Keller is an all-catch, no-block, tight end. A converted receiver, he has good hands and great speed for a tight end. This pick was made to give whoever the Jets quarterback is options in the middle of the field. The Jets have drafted a lot of tight ends over the years, and well, none of them have really turned out.
Best Case Scenario: Keller turns into a pass catching option for Pennington or Clemens and opens up the middle of the field.
Worst Case Scenario: Johnny Mitchell, Kyle Brady, Anthony Becht.
Giants
(31st pick) S Kenny Phillips, Miami, 6’2′ 212 lbs., 4.48- The Giants needed a safety with Gibril Wilson leaving the Super Bowl Champion Giants for the Oakland Raiders. Kenny Phillips was either the top rated or 2nd safety on many draft boards. The Giants signed Sammy Knight during the offseason, but Knight is getting up there in age, so Phillips was a smart pick. He comes from Miami, which is known for their safeties-Ed Reed, Sean Taylor-but he is not as athletic as they were.
Best Case Scenario: He becomes the ball-hawking, hard-hitting safety like Taylor or Reed
Worst Case Scenario: He is just an average safety, an interchangeable part.
(63rd Pick) CB Terrell Thomas, USC, 6’0” 202 lbs., 4.45- The Giants secondary is getting up there in age, with Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters. Thomas, is an injury prone corner who had an up-and-down career at USC.
Best Case Scenario: He becomes an integral part of the Giants defense.
Worst Case Scenario: The Giants are forced to look for defensive back help.
Bits and Pieces
Miami did the right thing by drafting Jake Long with the first overall pick. If you’re going to build your team around a running game, you are going to need a cornerstone left tackle to run around. Now the only question is, who is he going to be blocking for at quarterback?
Atlanta desperately needed a QB to move on from the Michael Vick fiasco. The question though, is Matt Ryan a franchise quarterback?
No wide receivers were drafted in the first round — what a weak crop in a league desperate for playmakers.
The Patriots made the smart move in backing up a couple of spots, and still getting the guy they wanted. They pick up an extra late pick and now pay Jared Mayo a lot less guaranteed money by moving out of the top 9.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got a lot better by getting Rashard Mendenhall late in the first round and Limas Sweed in the second round. Mendenhall was the second rated running back and Sweed the top rated receiver. Ben Roethlisberger must be doing backflips right now.
