Notes From Lombardi: Draft Breakdown

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

27 April 2009

QUOTE:   “Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb. -- Sir Winston Churchill

What a great weekend for the NFL and so many teams.  In all my years in the league, it was always fun to listen to other teams’ reactions to the draft, and now most teams feel they are Super Bowl-ready. One thing is for certain, there are no losers and no winners, just some teams in better position than others. I love the draft, and each one has been a new learning experience for me. 

First, something I want to clear up before offering my draft thoughts...

The Matt Cassel extension we reported on was told to us from someone very, very close to Matt. This person is a trusted friend and would have no reason to lie about what he knew. We aren’t looking for sensational headlines, and when the story was told, we felt so confident with our source that we ran with it. 

The Chiefs deny that there’s an extension, but they also denied that Tony Gonzalez was going to the Falcons. They insisted nothing was happening. So we’re still confident with the source who told us that Cassel has agreed to it. He’s never been wrong and knows a few things about journalism. 

THOUGHTS…

ARIZONA: I love Chris “Beanie” Wells, and for a team that really needs more juice in the backfield, this was a great pick. I suspect Edgerrin James and his $5-million salary might be moving on now.  The Cards addressed some pressing needs in the secondary and along both lines.  When picking where the Cards picked in each round, you have to have positional flexibility and stick with the board. 

ATLANTA: Tony Gonzalez makes this draft look better, plus the Falcons get a good defensive tackle (Peria Jerry) in the first round. I’m not in love with safety William Moore as a coverage player, but in Mike Smith’s defense, he might have a role.  If the Falcons can get Lawrence Sidbury’s talent to match his play, they’ll view this draft as exceptional. 

BALTIMORE: One of my favorite drafts. The Ravens solved their need at right tackle, get a future left tackle in Michael Oher and add a very good corner in Lardarius Webb in the third.  They added good players in each round. Watch out for Cedric Peerman from Virginia, their pick in the sixth. 

BUFFALO: I know they needed a left tackle, but who could they have picked when they passed Oher in the first? The Bills have to configure their line the right way, but they need to add some inside pieces to help them work through the problem. They have work to do in the coming months. 

CAROLINA: The future is always now in Carolina. Trading away next year’s one for a second was an interesting move, and if Everette Brown is the rusher they hope, then he was a steal.  But I’m not sure on that one. Mike Goodson is a good back, and I think he might be a sleeper, but how does he get any carries in Carolina? 

CHICAGO: As Tom Waddle, my NFL Network partner and radio host in Chi-town, tells me all the time, this draft is about Jay Cutler. And he is so right. But adding a talent like defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert to a very good defensive line coach in Rod Marinelli could be a great marriage. 

CINCINNATI: The Bengals had a good day. As they always do, they stayed in each spot, and this year their picks seem very solid. DE Michael Johnson was killed by scouts for his perceived lack of toughness, but how many sons of a Marine do you know who aren’t tough? He might be a great pick for them. 

CLEVELAND: When both Aaron Curry and Tyson Jackson went, the Browns had to move -- and adding the Jets players does help their defense. Remember, they signed Abram Elam to an offer sheet this off season, and he and Kenyon Coleman are both starters.  Don’t count out Brett Ratliff as a real threat to be the starting quarterback. 

DALLAS: Looks like a special teams and depth draft to me. If I were a pro guy in the NFL, I might want to watch the ‘Boys this summer and make sure I know all these picks before they play in the preseason. They can’t keep all of them. 

DENVER: Never confuse hope for a plan, and the Broncos might be hoping their defense is going to be better. Hell, I hope they are, but I’m not in love with trading a one for a short corner unless his name is Darrell Green. I’m confused, to say the least, and will spend the next few weeks watching more tape to see if I can understand what they were doing.  I love Robert Ayers and Knowshon Moreno, but after that, it was a hard one. 

DETROIT: The goal was to get good before they get great, and this draft is a start. The Lions got bigger on the lines and were able to get some pieces as they rebuild their defense. This is going to take some time in Detroit. 

GREEN BAY: Five of the Packers’ seven picks are offensive and defensive linemen (outside backers in the 3-4 are like linemen), so how can I not like this one?  They addressed their needs in the most crucial areas, and it will be fun to watch these players develop. 

HOUSTON: If I had to pick one draft that I was not excited about, this would be the one. But I might be too hard on my evaluation of Brian Cushing and Connor Barwin.  I just don’t see how these two players can help a slow, non-pass-rushing defense get better.  Time will tell, but this is the kind of draft that the Texans’ front office better have right or it might not improve their team in ‘09 -- and it might cost some people their jobs. 

INDY: It made sense to me that the Colts picked a back, but I was thinking Beanie Wells, not Donald Brown.  I like Brown, and he will help this team greatly. DT Terrance Taylor, their pick in the fourth, might surprise a few people with his power and balance. He gives them some much needed girth.

JACKSONVILLE: The Jags needed to fix their offensive line, and that’s what they did. Eugene Monroe gives them a left tackle who will be a star soon. This will be the first time the Jags have more athletes than brawlers in their line. 

K.C.: The Chiefs have so many needs, but you have to factor in getting a starting quarterback. They’re like the Lions -- they have to get good before they get great. 

MIAMI: I think this draft is sneaky good. I love Pat White and love the fact he will compete for a job. He’ll surprise people with his accuracy and talent. This draft was a classic size/speed draft, which is right up my alley. 

MINNESOTA: It’s all about Percy Harvin. He’s the quick slot man the Vikings’ offense needs, and he can make plays with the ball in his hands. This is a great fit for them.  Phil Loadholt is limited to right tackle only, but he’s better than Ryan Cook, and this might allow Cook to move to center, where he played some in college. 

NEW ENGLAND: What can I say? The man is the best -- and did you see his draft room?  Six people; clearly he hates committees as much as I do.  I emailed the president of another team during the draft and wrote, “Belichick is the best,” and he wrote back, “Without a doubt.”  Ron Brace should be in Denver, not a small corner.  If you want to run a 3-4, you need a nose tackle, not a little corner.  This draft for the Pats was all about the back end of the roster. Add in the fact they got two No. 2s in 2010, and it makes it even better. 

NEW ORLEANS: I think Malcolm Jenkins is really good, and if Jon “Love You Bro” Gruden (he was great on the NFL Network all weekend; he knows the league inside and out and he can blend the players into the scheme) is right about Pierre Thomas as the main back, then they have all their needs fixed. But I’m not buying that one. If Jenkins can cover inside as well as I think he can, he’s going to really help them. 

NEW YORK GIANTS: I’m not in love with Hakeem Nicks, but I always love the Giants’ draft.  If there was one team that always had a direct hit on players I liked, it was the Giants.  They’re a size-speed team and they just keep fixing the lines.  The Giants and Pats had the best offseasons, and this draft will be a redshirt draft for them with the exception of Nicks. 

NEW YORK JETS: Yahoo Dave, I loved it. They went quality over quantity and now have a quarterback who gives them a chance to win. RB Shonn Greene is a big-time player who will help right away. I have never met a more impressive person than Mark Sanchez; he’s going to be great.  GM Mike Tannenbaum did a great job. 

OAKLAND: What can I say?  I’d love to say I told you so, but I’m not that kind of guy -- and to everyone who thinks I bash the Raiders because I’m bitter, go get a clue. I am not bitter, I am like many former players and employees (I received over 150 texts and emails from players and former employees after the pick) who wanted to help the owner win – but he only wants to win his way.  Someone once said, “It’s not just win baby, it’s win my way baby,” and this draft is his way.  Enjoy it, Raiders fans. 

PHILADELPHIA: I love Jason Peters, and my man Waddle has a man crush on Jeremy Maclin, but how many nickel backs can Andy Reid collect? Who’s going to convert third and one?  Lorenzo Booker is available now, I bet.  Getting Peters is the Eagles’ biggest move yet, and if he plays at a high level, he can make all the difference. 

PITTSBURGH: Mike Tomlin is my favorite coach, for sure.  We had him on the Network, and he had me pumped up to play. What was more impressive than his motivational talks were his understanding of player development and what his coaching staff must do to make these players help the Steelers.  No matter who the Steelers picked, they had a great draft because Tomlin will demand it from the players. 

SAN DIEGO: The Chargers wanted Larry English all the way and needed a rusher.  So for all my thinking they might take a back, it was never the case. They wanted English, and he’s a good fit for them. The first four picks were offensive and defensive linemen, and that is a great start to any draft. 

SAN FRANCISCO: It’s all about toughness here, and this draft reflects it. How lucky are they that they got the best receiver in the draft? If I were the 49ers, I’d bring in Jerry Rice and make sure Michael Crabtree spends some time with him and understands the meaning of being a 49er wideout. 

SEATTLE: The Seahawks went with a very good player in Aaron Curry, and the hope here is that he can bring some heat as a blitzer. GM Tim Ruskell must have seen Derrick Brooks with this pick. 

ST. LOUIS: Another team that needs to get good before it can get great. I like Jason Smith, and they needed a left tackle.  Alex Barron has to be the happiest guy in the NFL now. 

TAMPA BAY: The Bucs wanted a new face for the franchise, and this is the third new coach getting a new quarterback, which is a nice way to begin your head coaching career.  Besides QB Josh Freeman, they added some nice pieces, as they’re a team in a slight transition of schemes.  Add Kellen Winslow to their draft and it looks great. 

TENNESSEE: Another sneaky good one, and for me, Sen’Derrick Marks in the second is a huge pick for the Titans. He’ll be a star, and Jared Cook in the third allows them to keep using Bo Scaife as the move man. They know how to pick good players in Tennessee. This might not be a sexy draft, but for a good team, it’s a good draft. 

WASHINGTON: I’m not a Brian Orakpo fan, and I’ll be watching all season to see if my evaluation is right. He better get five sacks playing next to Albert Haynesworth. 

Now the fun begins. Who’s going and who’s staying is the next issue to discuss. 

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