A year ago, the Scooters put together a pretty stellar draft, yet still had to overcome a litany of injuries to limp into the playoffs. This year, the team looks strong coming out of draft day yet again, but it isn’t built to withstand losing a key component.
In terms of straight value, Michael Vick was pretty much a no-brainer midway through the first round. I followed that up landing four of the top 32 running backs, according to CBS, as well as a deep—if not star-strewn—wide receiver corps.
Going a bit outside of my philosophy, I took a few high-risk, high-reward types early in the draft this year, as well as choosing dudes that I flat-out don’t like as “people.” And I did so knowing full well that my season, my draft and my team all ride on Vick, and his ability to stay healthy, stay out of trouble and stay consistent.
Shit … why am I shaking?
1st Round, Eighth Overall: Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
After seeing the top seven quarterbacks go in the first 27 picks in last year’s draft, and no changes forthcoming for our league’s passer-heavy point system, I wasn’t going to be left without a signal-caller this year. So when Michael Vick fell in my lap with the eighth overall pick, I couldn’t pass him up—even though my hatred for all things Vick is well-documented. My attempts to hedge against this hold-your-nose selection with an established quarterback were thwarted in the middle rounds, meaning that I may have to explore trade or free-agency options should Vick be
2nd Round, 21st Overall: Stephen Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams
With the proven, non-committee tailbacks going quickly, I was happy to scoop up Jackson with this pick. I see the Rams surprising on offense this season, and I also anticipate Jackson becoming more of a factor in the passing game in 2011. He’s always been a beastly workhorse, and with Sam Bradford developing at quarterback and Josh McDaniel on hand to pilot the offensive attack, the hope is that Jackson will find a little more room to roam this year—and divert S-Jax off the Earl Campbell-ish path St. Louis had been pushing him down.
3rd Round, 36th Overall: DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Again, I’m not much of a Jackson fan, but he was the surest receiver still on the board and the opportunity to pair him up with Vick was an added bonus that made this selection a bit easier. Outside of Jamaal Charles, most of my recent teams have been missing the distance scorers that are rewarded big-time in my league, and the prospect of some 60-yarders for the Vick-Jackson combo is certainly enticing. Of course, the 140-pound (75 pounds of that being mouth) Jackson always runs the risk of being broken in half, which adds an element of nervousness to this pick. Throw in the fact that his value is a direct result of Vick’s presence, and well, this one is going to make for some nervous moments.
4th Round, 49th Overall: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos
Probably my least-favorite choice of the draft. I was torn between jumping early for tight end Antonio Gates or selecting running back Cedric Benson here as well, but I had my eye on a few late-round tight ends and I didn’t trust Benson in this spot. Something about Moreno has me intrigued, even though it is questionable how the Broncos front office views him and the presence of Willis McGahee is highly troublesome. But the good news is that this is likely a make-or-break season for Moreno—if he’s ever going to emerge and produce to his talents, this has to be the year. Although one has to think just having a locker near Tim Tebow will make him a better and more righteous player.
5th Round, 64th Overall: Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
With Cedric Benson taken one spot ahead of me here, I evaluated Johnson as the best remaining No. 1 receiver left on the draft board, and I was pretty happy to snare him in this spot, with Percy Harvin also under some consideration. I envision Beefalo trailing quite a bit this year, meaning that Ryan Fitzpatrick will be airing it out once again—and he and Johnson developed quite a bit of chemistry a season ago. I considered this a bit of a bounce-back pick after the Moreno selection threw me off my rhythm, so I was hopeful that this would help kick-start my drafting groove again. Quick shoutout to Stevie: how about fewer “Why So Serious” T-shirts, less drops that lose games and more touchdowns … cool?
6th Round, 77th Overall: Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Still a bit unsettled about the running back situation following the Moreno choice, I scooped Addai here with little hesitation. I have him pegged as a guy due for a rebound year, and with Peyton Manning’s status a bit up in the air, my hope is that Indy looks to the ground game early in the season. Addai has always been productive in stretches, and his skill set as a receiving threat out of the backfield is highly appealing once Manning returns to form. Just hoping he doesn’t become a pain in my neck as he has for Peyton (ouch). As a No. 3—and potential No. 2 (yes, like the poop)—running back, I dig Addai in this spot.
7th Round, 92nd Overall: Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego Chargers
I was all set to grab Josh Freeman as my backup quarterback, but he was scooped up just ahead of my pick, so I had to shift gears. I was excited to see Tolbert still available in this area, so I rounded out my running back corps with the bruiser who emerged big-time a season ago. I’m not sold on Ryan Matthews as a legitimate full-time back, and rumblings had been that Tolbert is the San Diego back to have at this juncture (editor’s note: when Norv Turner is involved, all bets are off). If Tolbert is your No. 4 tailback, I think you’re in pretty good shape at this key position group, and that’s how I feel. The upside is I’m done with running backs after seven rounds; of course, that means I could—and did—see some really intriguing guys available later in the draft that I (obviously) couldn’t grab.
8th Round, 105th Overall: Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans Saints
After doing my predraft research, I concluded that Moore was a guy I wanted on my team. Yes, Drew Brees spreads it around quite a bit, but with some of Marques Colston’s injury concerns, there is potential for Moore to emerge as Brees’s favorite target. The other factor is that I tend to like to collect as many good players as I can that are a part of stellar offenses, and Moore fits into that equation. He’s been battling injuries this preseason, so hopefully he can find some voodoo healing magic on Canal Street. By pegging him as my No. 3 wideout here, I’m feeling pretty good about my drafting work thus far.
9th Round, 120th Overall: Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
With the inevitable run on tight ends occurring earlier, I thought this was a nice spot to land another guy that seized my attention early in the draft prep process. But it was a tough choice: I was also considering Sam Bradford, Davone Bess and the Bears defense in this spot (too many Bs!). Our league doesn’t allow for rebound points, but this ex-hoopster at Miami played well enough down the stretch a season ago that New Orleans felt fine jettisoning Jeremy Shockey, who has had about as many drops as tattoos lately. My pick of Graham felt even better when Brees targeted the hell out of him one day later in a preseason game. So halfway through the draft, I was getting a strong conviction about the way the draft was unfolding and the way my team was building.
Stay tuned for Part II soon …
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