NFL Draft Review - Part 1

Here are five observations from the NFL draft that took place last weekend.

1. Pedigreed QBs drop

Both Brian Brohm and Chad Henne were seniors from top tier programs. Each also had sustained success while they played. However, that did not matter as much to NFL teams as some people would have believed, as each player waited until the end of the second round to hear their name called. I think that both Green Bay and Miami got solid value here, and would not be surprised if both quarterbacks became solid NFL starters.

2. Highsmith drops – out of the draft

During the season, many draft prognosticators were hyping LSU’s LB Ali Highsmith as an early round selection. However, a poor combine showing helped knock Highsmith into undrafted free agent territory, where the Cardinals picked him up. I think this has the makings of a steal for Arizona. Highsmith made many big plays for a national championship winning team, and that has to count for something in the league.

3. No WRs in the first round

While this was not considered a banner draft for wideouts, most people expected there to be a couple drafted in the first round. However, Houston’s Donnie Avery was the first off the board, and was not drafted until the second round. In particular, it was surprising that Devin Thomas was not selected in the first round. While he had a short career at Michigan State, this past season he was spectacular, and his combine workouts were also very solid. Generally that combination warrants a first round grade, though I am sure that Washington is not complaining that he fell into their laps early in the second round.

4. Jerry Jones loves his Hogs

Rashard Mendenhall was thought of my most analysts as the second rated back in the draft. However, he ended up being the fourth drafted behind Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, and Felix Jones. At first glance, the choice of Jones over Mendenhall was most surprising, but when you look deeper it does not appear to be a real shock. Dallas’ owner Jerry Jones went to Arkansas, and the buzz leading up to the draft was that he coveted Felix Jones with one of his first round picks. In addition, Jones is a solid speed back complement to Marion Barber. Regardless, Pittsburgh made possibly the best value pick of the first round when they drafted Mendenhall with the 23rd pick.

5. NFL teams really love the LT

Both Brandon Albert and Gosder Cherilus were drafted in the middle of the first round. Albert was thought of as a steal there, while Cherilus was considered a major reach. However, they have one thing in common – while neither player spent much time at left tackle in college, the teams that drafted them hope that they can play it in the pros. This helps illustrate the need that NFL teams have for left tackles, and it also shows why they are paid such exorbitant amounts of money. There are very few positions where teams will reach to draft a player who did not even play that position successfully in college, but left tackle is one of them.