A Few Of My Favorite Picks

Annually, the NFL draft’s wake is littered with report cards and declarations of winners and losers. This year, of course, is no different.

While the draft’s popularity speaks to a collective anxiety about the unknown, once the event is finished and representatives of the 32 teams head home, unknowns still run rampant.

I don’t mean to disparage instant analysis. There’s something to be said for taking the few knowns and trying to complete the picture yourself. But a simple thumbs up or down doesn’t really help much.

Looking back at the previous weekend, there’s some things that I liked and somethings that I didn’t. Sometimes it’s about the logic of the selection. Sometimes the fit of player and team.

Beginnings are very important, so here are my favorite picks from this year’s draft. Some will be covered in greater depth over the coming week.

4. Aaron Curry, Seahawks

My man DJ Noid groaned when his Seahawks selected Curry. Understandable. Seattle just traded away Julian Peterson and slapped the franchise tag on Leroy Hill. Now they would be floating another bloated contract to a linebacker. But money aside the more puzzling aspect of the selection might be value of the position, considering Hill and Lofa Tatupu are young talents already in the starting lineup.

Seattle tried once already to field an elite corps three across with Peterson, Tatupu, and Hill. More often than working in concert, the three took turns stepping up, but all in all as a group they never quite dominated the way they were supposed to. The tepid result doesn’t necessarily indicate the logic is flawed. Rather the balance was off between the elder Peterson and the younger Tatupu and Hill.

So the Seahawks try again, this time with the player universally considered the top talent irrespective of position in this draft. This is the player that so impressed Dick Butkus, that Butkus delivered his namesake collegiate award to Curry in person.

9. BJ Raji, Packers

22. Percy Harvin, Vikings

In case you missed it... already covered.

23. Michael Oher, Ravens

24. Peria Jerry, Falcons

With several teams abandoning the 4-3 defense in favor of the 3-4 this year, the three-technique defensive tackle is a less coveted commodity. The disrupter, the gap shooter, the creater of chaos: that’s the prototype of a three-technique. Jerry did that better than just about everyone in the nation last year, helping to lead an Ole Miss program out of a several dark seasons.

Atlanta’s most dire need was inside presence on defense. Though, Jerry isn’t a massive space eater, he should free up John Abraham on the edge with his relentless play. While the defense still has a long way to go, Jerry is a perfect building block for the new Falcons.

45. Clint Stintim, Giants

Everyone was so focused on the Giants’ need at receiver, the quiet but important selections of linebacker Clint Stintim and offensive tackle William Beatty in the second round didn’t receive much notice. But it’s those kind of value over need selections that keep top teams competitive.

Both Stintim and Beatty were considered borderline first round talents. Though the defensive front seven and offensive line have been strengths for New York, the Giants wisely chose to select top prospects that they can bring up through their system. Linebacker Antonio Pierce can’t pursue forever and roadgrading tackles David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are solid but unspectacular. Stintim and Beatty should continue to affirm the Giants commitment to physical play upfront.

46. Connor Barwin, Texans

53. LeSean McCoy, Eagles

I do like the Jeremy Maclin selection in the first round even if Maclin and Desean Jackson are essentially the sam receiver. But I like the running back McCoy selection even more. He’s not a burner though he’s quick. And he’s not huge though he’s tough. If there’s ever anyone who understands carrying the burden of an offense, it’s McCoy from his time in Pittsburgh. And anyone who is slated to take over for Brian Westbrook will have to carry the burden of an offense.

60. William Beatty, Giants

95. Rashad Johnson, Cardinals

Alabama’s regular season last year was a surprise, well, before the poor postseason showing. But what wasn’t a surprise was the hard hitting and rangy play from safety Rashad Johnson. Most of the defense’s regular season domination was focused on massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody, but Rashad was the centerfield enforcer, directing the backcourt and making plays. Arizona continues to do a fantastic job identifying big time performers for their physical defense. Pairing Rashad with hard hitting Adrian Wilson should instill no small amount of fear in the coming years.

119. DJ Moore, Bears

With almost no offense to speak of the Vanderbilt Commodores returned to the postseason for their first bowl win in 53 years. A lot of that had to do with DJ Moore, hands down the team’s top playmaker, a consistent force at corner in the brutal SEC. Moore’s short, he’s not exceptionally fast, though he possesses that impressive field speed that 40 yard times rarely capture. But he’s a born Cover Two corner, able to play off the ball and contain in run support. Desperately needing talent in the secondary, Chicago jumped at the chance to take Moore so late.

152. James Casey, Texans

171. Nate Davis, 49ers

Davis was an enigma throughout the draft process. A great leader at Ball State with an NFL arm yet an admitted learning disability threw the ability to make good on that talent into question. A three year starter who posted grat numbers, Davis was inconsistent against top competition. In a weak quarterback class, what value did the fourth or fifth quarterback really have?

But in San Francisco, Davis might have found a good situation. Yes, Coach Mike Singletary appears to be batshit. But Singletary is also a teacher and a motivator. And if a player demonstrates a willingness to put the hard work, he’ll find a way to teach that player. Davis has been nothing but humble and composed throughout his wildly fluctuating draft season. Something tells me that he has temerity to put in the necessary work to give himself a real shot. And don’t underestimate how fluid San Francisco’s quarterback situation is. Shaun Hill. Alex Smith. Davis needn’t rush to the starting line, but he also shouldn’t be held back if he refines his raw skills.

199. Stryker Sulak, Raiders

Lost in all the bluster about Oakland fetishizing speed in the players they select is that speed is actually incredibly important for NFL success. No, it’s not everything, but it’s important variable. Sulak, an impressively named undersized defensive end from Missouri, will convert to linebacker along with speedy fourth round selection Slade Norris from Oregon State. Sulak was a sack machine in college in large part due to that speed. Along with Norris, he should make a fine special teamer with the opportunity to challenge for a starting spot in a year or two. It’s the kind of sixth round pick that can pay huge dividends for a team.

233. Sammie Stroughter, Buccaneers

Stroughter isn’t the guy who makes the big play. Of course, he’s not. Otherwise he would’ve been selected before the seventh round. But at Oregon State, when he was on the field, he simply produced. The chain mover, the third down guy, the slot machine. He always seemed to be in the right place.

Sammie lost a season to depression after both his male father figures passed. But he battled back with the support of his coach and teammates to regain much of his on-field form. I’m inclined to believe that a player who has faced his demons, battled them, and come back probably has the best chance to deal with the topsy turvy alternate reality that is the NFL. I like Sammie’s chances.