Just checking in- I’m thrilled with the Buccaneers draft. We have two areas of concern: defensive end and corner. We’ve addressed one with a solid first rounder (Adrian Clayborn) and an unbelievable second rounder (Da’quan Bowers).
Clayborn is as close to a sure thing as you ever see at end. Bowers is the opposite- Jevon Kearse potential, but equally high risk thanks to offseason knee surgery. If just one of them is a stud, I’ll be happy; the Kiffin/Marinelli/Morris pressure scheme really only requires one true rush end, because the DTs provide the rest of the rush.
Clayborn at the very least will be a solid run/pass player, just like Greg Spires used to be opposite Simeon Rice. Bowers could be as good as Rice, but even if he isn’t we’ll be okay.
Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to have to address in free agency. I can’t help but think about what we could do with $40 million in cap space with Nnamdi Asomugha, Eric Wright, Antonio Cromartie and Brandon Carr out there. Cromartie in particular is an ideal fit.
Hot and cold for the Raiders throughout the draft. It’s like somebody smart is alternating choices with Al Davis. What’s with all the WRs?
Bengals snag Robert Sands in the 5th. Damn…dude is a good safety!
Was there a trade there or did Tampa just pass?
I think it’s safe to say I’ll be drafting Roy Helu in my fantasy league this year.
The Pats just drafted another TE? WTF?
Oooo, Bears take Enderle. I like it. He’s one of the later round QBs that have gotten a lot of buzz with prototypical size and NFL smarts. The Bears probably needed to address a need here but I’ve made no bones about the importance of constantly developing QBs.
Tell me about it. Weirdest Pats draft in a long while… 
I went WTF on a TE, too.
San Francisco traded back into the late 5th for a guard on my shopping list. Daniel Kilgore was on my “also” list for round 7. I was worried about bad juju with a name like “Kill Gore” for an O-lineman.
Oh, and I take back what I said about the Cards stealing my shopping list. Obviously the Bengals stole my shopping list with the Whelan pick.
And now the Pats have traded pick 193 to the Eagles for…pick 194.
???
What the hell are they smoking over there?!
Supposedly this kid is the best in-line blocking TE in the draft. Assuming the Pats are putting Crumpler out to pasture I suppose this makes some sense if the kid can grow into a 3rd OT. If the NFLN guys are to be believed a handful of scouts thought he might be able to pack on 40 pounds and become an OL.
The Pats are just trying to show off now.
I just remembered one of the interviews Belichick gave yesterday, to the NFLN I think, in which he was asked if he was going to make a trade with the Eagles because he and Andy Reid have consummated a trade in 9 consecutive drafts or something like that. Maybe he made this one with Reid for one trivial spot late in the draft just to keep the streak alive.
Strange the Texans passed on Davon House for Rashad Carmichael. Hopefully they know what they are doing. I do not like the pick of T.J. House for back up QB when they already have Leinart and Orlovsky on the roster. Especially since they STILL haven’t addressed the nose tackle position, and I’m pretty sure that Jerrell Powe isn’t going to make it to the 7th round. I also don’t think there’s anybody in free agency that will fit.
Shiloh Keo will be fine as a PR/KR if they feel like they’re going to cut the cord with Trindon Holliday. Quin will probably be moved to FS so not drafting one is O.K., I guess. Even with all the CB selections, I think they still need a veteran CB, probably Ike Taylor, as I can’t see them spending for either Asomugha or Joseph.
Still, I have a good feeling about this draft so far, and probably would give it an A-/B+. I don’t remember quite this many screwups from a GM standpoint in prior drafts—not getting the paperwork in, just forgetting to make a pick, etc… Wonder why so many this year?
Ravens too Tyrod Taylor. Planning to convert him to a WR?
Todman is a really interesting value for the Chargers at this point.
Bears coming up for their final pick. I’m hoping for an interior OL, Zane Taylor or Tim Barnes. Mark Herzlich might be a very interesting opting to step in at the Sam, not sure how much of that’s warm and fuzzies, but they have a need and if he gets back to 100% he’d be a steal.
Haven’t been keeping track of all of your very thorough comments, Omni, but what are your feelings about the Bears’ draft? I mean, I remember reading about your being ecstatic that Carimi made it to you guys, but then I see CBS’s Tracker list the Bears’ needs as: C, OG, DT, WR, and only the DT has a line through it? I realize that Carimi can be moved inside, or probably cause who you currently have at OT to be moved inside, but that still leaves WR & C.
And drafting J.T. Thomas doesn’t help either of those areas…
Well, they did go with a OLB who’ll provide much needed depth. The guy wasn’t on my radar but in reading up on J.T. Thomas he seems like a fast but slight LB who plays with reckless abandon and has the injuries issues that go along with that combo of attributes. Frankly, it seems like the Bears drafted him solely to be a special teamer, which really is a strategy that’s starting to piss me off. Yeah, we have great special teams and they win us some games, but we NEVER fucking have a developing backup on the bench with any Pro Bowl upside.
I’ll continue to hope we can bring in Herzlich as an UDFA because frankly we’ll need youth with starting potential at that position.
With the changed kicking rules, I’m not sure how much special teams will be deemphasized this next season. Still, if San Diego had special teams worth a crap, they’d have gone awfully far in the postseason last year, IMHO.
I realize at this point—6th-7th rounds, UDFA—you’re pretty much just trying to find role players and bench support, and so it’s not that vital to find the right guy. Sounds like you aren’t displeased with how the Bears have drafted, GM trade screwups aside. (Seriously, how does a GM botch the paperwork on confirming a trade and still keep his job?! Of course, I am a fan of the team that had Charlie Casserly as a GM for several years, so I’ll shut up now.)
C’mon Powe. Daddy needs a big fat run stopper in the middle… 17 picks to go. And then a punter for Mr. Irrelevant.