It’s the that special time of year for pro football fans. The National Football League will hold its annual rite of spring and conduct the draft of the eligible college players over two sessions this weekend in New York City. This process has been going on since 1936 but it’s just been in the last 20 years that it has become a major media event. ESPN has turned it into a major television spectacular with guys like Mel Kiper Jr, Adam Schefter, and John Clayton becoming major media personalities with their take on who the top players available are in each position and who teams will be looking for with their picks. After the Super Bowl, the examination of who is the best available athlete is speculated upon from the Senior Bowl, through the Combine at Lucus Oil, and then the individual pro days at the various schools. Of course, scouts have been following most of the players since their high school days but now it’s down to the nitty-gritty and on to the show.
For the true professional football fan names such as West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith, Texas A&M Offensive Tackle Luke Joeckel, Utah Defensive Tackle Star Lotulelei, Alabama Cornerback Dee Millner, Oregon Linebacker/Defensive End Dion Jordan, Central Michigan Offensive Tackle Eric Fisher, Florida Defensive Tackle Sharrif Floyd, and Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o have been at the top or in Te’o’s case at the bottom of their consideration as the possible number one picks of their favorite teams. The online arguments have been tossed around since December with play reputations rising and falling from week to week. Mock drafts have become a popular game with fans as everyone tries to predict the player that each team will pick. It’s really just a crapshoot, after all.
It’s agreed that this is one of the weaker quarterback classes in recent memory. Not one of the draft eligible quarterbacks have excited either the media or the fans and only Geno Smith is considered likely to be taken in the first round. The Kansas City Chiefs hold the first pick of the draft and since they traded for quarterback Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers they will not be drafting a passer. They have attempted to trade the pick but nobody seems to be biting. They will most likely select either Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher with the pick. The 49er’s have the number 31 pick in the first round but they also have 12 other picks including two in the second and two in the third. It’s assumed that they will trade one or two of these picks to move up and pick a top ten prospect. There have been rumors that the 49er’s have been talking to another team about a trade of picks. Cleveland has the number 6 pick. Half the fun of the draft is watching these little dramas play out.
The Indianapolis Colts have the number 24 pick in this year’s draft. There is a little secret about the 24th pick. More successful players have been taken at pick 24 than any other pick in the first round, and that includes the number one overall pick. Aaron Rogers was taken with the 24th pick. The Colts selected Dallas Clark at 24. Rams and now Atlanta Falcon running back Steven Jackson was picked at 24. The Ravens took Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed at 24. Cincinnati All Pro cornerback Jonathan Joseph was taken at 24 in 2006. Going further back, Buffalo took Pro Bowl receiver Eric Moulds at 24 back in 1995 and the Vikings picked tackle Korey Stringer at 24 back in 1995. The 24th pick is a real meat and potatoes pick.
There doesn’t seem to be any consensuses as to whom the Colts might select at 24. Most of those who concern themselves with such things feel the Colts will take a defensive player, but there are some who are speculating that they may select a wide receiver to play across from Reggie Wayne. Kipper thinks they will take Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes. SI writer Don Banks believe it will be Alabama offensive tackle D. J. Fluker. CBS Sports Pat Kirwin likes UCLA defensive end Datone Jones for the Colts pick. Sports writer Pete Prisco thinks the Colts will select Tennessee wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson. Michael Schottey of the Internet Bleacher Report predicts Florida State defensive end/outside linebacker Cornellius “Tank” Carradine will be the Colts selection. Any of these players would be a worthy selection for the Colts — that is if they are available when the Colts’ turn to select comes up.
Last year, the Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson made some very smart choices and added some rookies that really helped the team. I think he will do the same thing in this draft. The player may not be a real highly touted “sexy” pick but he will be a player that will help the team. Grigson has done a great job selecting talent. He’ll do the same thing this year. He’ll have to. We only have four picks in this year’s draft.
snicewanger@yahoo.com