I normally get one or two letters a day that qualify as homework assignments, and I usually ignore them because I despise work and resent the fact that they don't contain free money. But Mark has been a reader for a long time and this was a topic I was going to cover next week anyway. So, from Mark...
Here are some receivers that may be available to the Bucs in the first round. Malcolm Kelly (Okla), Limas Sweed (Tx), Devin Thomas (Mich St), DeSean Jackson (Cal). Do you think any of them are worth our first round pick? Will you share what you know about them?
Limas Sweed: A lot of mocks have Sweed as the top WR in the draft. I like him, but the Bucs don't have a shot at him. He's also not ideal for what the Bucs need right now. He makes tough catches, runs good routes and is said to be a team leader with a good work ethic. All that is great, but he doesn't have the breakaway speed or elusiveness in the open field that the Bucs are missing. He was also banged up during his senior year. I wouldn't turn him away, but I'm not particular upset that he won't be available at #20.
Malcolm Kelly: He's got great hands and is probably the best overall receiver in the draft. Last year his quarterback made life hard on him but he still made some great catches. Kelly didn't participate in the combine and then he didn't run the 40 at his pro day on Tuesday. It makes me think he knows he's going to run slow. He won't get past Buffalo, though.
Devin Thomas: Buzz is building on Thomas and I think he'll be one of the better receivers from this draft with some added experience. He's smart, but sometimes makes bad decisions. I'm also a little concerned about his hands. He dropped several catchable balls last year. But he can run all the routes and isn't afraid to be physical.
DeSean Jackson: Jackson is my pick for the Bucs if he falls that far. He is the most elusive receiver in the draft and a stellar return man. He has great hands and can catch balls that aren't thrown perfectly. He is also the only legitimate deep threat on this list. I'm not concerned about his height. Steve Smith in Carolina is about the same size. The 170 pound weight is a little concerning because he may not be able to recover from a significant jam at the line. He'll have to be a motion man. I've also heard he's kind of an asshole and may not be the best practice player. I'm counting on Jon Gruden to beat that attitude out of him, though.
I am not counting on Antonio Bryant for anything. As far as I'm concerned, the Bucs have the same need at WR they did at the end of the season. If they miss out on Jackson in the first, they should wait until a later round and take Donnie Avery or Dexter Jackson.
Comments (10)
After struggling with this issue, here is what I would proposes.
First, I am not thrilled with the level of talent in the draft this year -- it feels like left overs to me.
Secondly, beyond WR we don't have any super needs. We could use a good DT, a good CB, and maybe a new QB, but overall I don't see any other position we are likely to improve with this year's draft class.
Third, drafting WR's is tricky, and this year's crop is full of Claytons, brittle guys, and thugs.
So here is my plan. Gruce should call Cleveland and Pittsburg and offer our number one and (up to a) number three for Santonio Holmes or Braylon Edwards. Both are excellent young receivers who are proving their worth and will only continue to get better. Also, the honeymoon appears to be over in Cleveland -- who also don't happen to have a round one pick. Pittsburg is rebuilding its defense and OL and could use the picks as well.
If that fails, I would call Detroit and see what they want for Roy Williams, and Arizona for Anquan Boldin. Again, I would offer a number one and (up to) a number three.
Then, in any event, I would call Dallas and see if we could get Patrick Crayton for something less than a number 1 -- maybe a three.
I would love to see a receiving corp that consisted of Edwards, Galloway, Crayton, Hilliard and ___.
This may sound expensive, but it really isn't if we get a proven play maker. Plus, this has a lot less risk than drafting someone. And, it doesn't hurt us to lose the picks because we can pick up a CB and DT in the later rounds.
Any thoughts?
Posted by Matt Price | March 14, 2008 3:23 PM
Nah, I dont like Deshaun Jackson.Too small.The 20th pick is to high.And returning kicks or punts in the NFL is dangerous buisness.The Bucs haven't got much better at WR.But they got worse at CB. P.Buchanon and S.Davis are good.I'd rather have Mike Jenkins (South Florida) with my first round pick.WR is a big need too.It will be hard to get a tall and fast WR at pick 52.Maybe we can get Andre Woodson at pick 52.But the WR options would decrease even more by our next selection.Its tough,but we got a long time to talk about it.
Posted by Fizzy Womack | March 14, 2008 3:29 PM
Matt, I say this as a friend: Crack is a terrible drug. Please get help.
Glenn, the Bucs are already short draft picks and defensive end is pretty deep this year. They don't have to trade up for a good one. Jackson was a corner in college, but there's a reason he projected to the pros as a safety. He didn't have the athleticism to play corner in the NFL and he was known to give up a big play or two. Wilson is a good one year fix for corner, but the team still needs to draft a natural cornerback early.
Posted by Scott
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March 14, 2008 7:10 PM
Can't man, my doctor told me to finish the whole prescription.
Posted by Matt Price | March 14, 2008 11:05 PM
Hey seriously Scott, what part of my plan don't you like? Is it that you don't think the other teams will part with the players, or do you not like the players I've chosen, or do you think that the receivers available in the draft are really better than these guys?
Also, are you going to do another draft contest this year?
Posted by Matt Price | March 14, 2008 11:30 PM
The only player any of those teams would part with might be Roy Williams. After years of losing seasons, the Browns finally started winning. You think they're going to part with any of their guys? Santonio is the future of the Steelers receiving corps; there's no way they give him up. Boldin may go somewhere else after his contract is up, but he's staying put this year. Crayton is good, but he's the #2 behind T.O. and this is T.O.'s last contract year, and Glenn is pretty much done. And let's not forget that any of those players will almost definitely insist on a new contract; a demand the team would surely cave to or else have to suffer a holdout from a player they just gave up a mint for. And Fitzgerald's new contract would be the benchmark.
This is a draft that is deep at receiver; it is not the year to make a trade like that. There are plenty of good receivers to be had in the first two rounds. The Bucs have already given up draft picks for Bennett, Sims and Plummer. They're short now as it is. And despite the salaries rookies are collecting these days, a rookie contract will still be cheaper than a new contract for one of the guys you mentioned.
Posted by Scott
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March 15, 2008 11:00 AM
I can't prove it, but I really do think we could get one of these guys right now. Still, it won't happen so the question is moot.
So my next question is, what happens if we don't get the guy we want in the first round. I've perused the late(r) round WRs and found some that I think might be good for us. Does anyone have any thoughts on: Will Franklin (Missouri), Eddie Royal (Va Tech), and Brandon Breazell (UCLA).
Posted by Matt Price | March 16, 2008 9:43 PM
Franklin and Royal are decent and would be good pickups if Donnie Avery is off the board, but Avery is in command of the lower rounds. If he is on the board and the Bucs pass him over for a different receiver, I'll be shocked. I have no idea who Breazell is.
Posted by Scott
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March 17, 2008 12:52 PM
I forgot to mention, I'm working on the sponsorship of this year's draft contest. It looks good. Stay tuned.
Posted by Scott
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March 18, 2008 1:23 PM
Excellent. I'll play even if there is no prize. I'm crazy like that. In fact, here's who I would look at right now if I were the GM:
1. Joe Flacco, Delaware QB
2. Pat Sims, Auburn DT
3. Andre Caldwell, Florida WR
4. Red Bryant, Texas A&M DT
5. Terrance Wheatley, Colorado CB
6. Will Franklin, Missouri WR
7. Eddie Royal, Va Tech WR
Free Agent: Brandon Breazell, UCLA WR
Free Agent: Kendall Langford, Hampton DT
Of course, we don't have that many picks. . . and I'm pretty sure that I'm insane. Still, I really do like Wheatley (excellent playmaker), Franklin (fast, with good hands), and my fatboy ticket. Yeah baby!
Posted by Matt Price | March 19, 2008 6:36 PM