In Between Rounds

Round 2 of the NFL Draft begins in an hour and a half, so here are a few thoughts looking back, then forward.

What I liked:


1.  Cowboys moving up to get the player I like best (aside from Luck and RG3).

2.  Dolphins pick Ryan Tannehill - As a Patriots fan, I am as excited as when they took Ted Ginn Jr. with a high pick.  I see Tannehill as an extremely risky developmental QB, the type that can get GM's and coaches fired (again in the case of Tannehill's college coach, Mike Sherman).

3.  The J-E-T-S taking Quinton Coples when Melvin Ingram was available.  Coples could turn out to be an excellent player, especially with Rex Ryan and the Jets defense, but I think Ingram will be better and comes with less "bust" risk.

4.  Panthers select Luke Kuechly.  They have a MLB for years to come.

5. Steelers draft David Decastro.  Like the Panthers, the Steelers get a day one starter, who should be good for a long time.  Lucky Decastro fell to them, which leads to...

6.  Patriots draft Dont'a Hightower.  If Decastro gets drafted earlier, perhaps the Steelers take Hightower.  Love the pick, and if Chandler Jones can develop to play the Willie McGinest "Elephant" position, the Patriots will have hit the jackpot.  I am happy with my teams picks.

7.  Rams and Browns load up on draft picks.

What I'm not as thrilled by:


Avoiding the phrase "what I didn't like".

1.  Bills made a good pick in Stephon Gilmore.  When did the Bills suddenly start doing all the right things?

2.  Buccaneers find a way not to draft Morris Claiborne - Claiborne is the player I liked third.  The Bucs could have had him at #5 and found a way to screw it up.  I will grant you they got two good picks (Barron and Martin), but they passed on the best player at an area of huge need.

3.  Chiefs take Dontari Poe - Risky pick with a high chance of being a bust.  I would have taken Fletcher Cox.  Haven't the Chiefs missed on a few DL in recent years?

4.  Seahawks draft Bruce Irvin - Like Poe, very risky, with the added caviot that Seattle could have probably traded down and got Irvin much later.

5.  49ers draft AJ Jenkins - All I know is that he was rated the #20 WR by The National Football Post.  Rumor is that the Rams wanted him in the 2nd round, but the Niners will look really good or really bad for taking Jenkins higher than anyone expected.

What I am looking forward to: 


1.  There are a lot of good players available in this draft.  It may not be loaded at the top, but it is very deep.

2.  My best guess is that the Patriots (barring the very good possibility of trades) come away with a DB and OL.  Many people believe they will draft a WR or RB.  Maybe so.

3.  Rams have three picks in the first half of Round 2.

4.  Who takes a chance on character guys who fall?  The Patriots have no problem doing it.

5.  Trades - there will be plenty more of them.