2001
San Diego had the #1 pick, and basically traded Michael Vick for Tomlinson and Brees. Worked out pretty good for both teams, Tomlinson is the best player of the 3, but you can't call Vick a bust.
The Pats got Seymour with the 6th pick.
The Jets got Santana Moss with 16, but he only blossomed with the Reskins.
The Seahawks got Hutchinson at 17, Saints McAllister at 23, Colts Wayne at 30, and Ravens Heap at 31.
So that's 3 great players taken in the top half of the first round, 5 in the bottom half.
2002
David Carr goes #1 to the Texans, Peppers #2 to the Panthers. Harrington #3 to the Lions.
Cowboys Roy Williams at 8, Colts Freeney at 11, Giants traded up to get Shockey at 14.
Walker to Packers at 20, Ed Reed to Ravens at 24.
Some mediocre players throughout the round, Buchanon, Ducket, Lelie, plenty of guys not making a difference from top to bottom. Colts and Ravens get 2 great first round picks back to back.
2003
Palmer goes #1 to Bengals, Rogers WR goes #2 to Lions.
Vikings with the #7 pick, let the clock run out and the Jags pick Leftwich at 7. The Vikings decide to wait until 9 to pick a guy you've never heard of.
Pittsburgh and Kansas City make a trade. Steelers go up to get Polamalu, Chiefs go down to get Larry Johnson. Both team get Pro Bowlers. Indianapolis get Dallas Clark at 24. 3 years in a row the Coltss make a solid pick.
2004
San Diego had the #1 pick, and traded Eli Manning and got Philip Rivers. They liked how it worked out so well in 2001, they thought they could do it again.
Larry Fitzgerald, Sean Taylor, DeAngelo Hall all go in the top 10. Roethlisburger at 11. Vilma to the Jets at 12. No really great picks later than that. The Lions took another WR at 7.
2005
It's a little too soon to judge 2005's picks but Tampa Bay did pretty well at #5 with Cadillac and you wonder if the Packers knew that Favre would play in 05 and 06, if they would still take Aaron Rodgers. Oh yeah, and the Lions did take another WR with the 10th pick.
So what's the lesson here. It seems that more important than the draft slot, is the team making the pick. The Colts, who didn't have an 04 first rounder, made 3 great picks in a row, while the Lions had 4 busts in a row (streak still active). Being in the top half doesn't imply any great success than the bottom half, and a lot of the top picks will never be heard from again.
I was all fired up to defend the Lions because you were obviously antagonizing me, but I don't really have much. I liked the Harrington and Mike Williams picks at the time. I wasn't sure about Charles Rogers or Roy Williams, but Roy has turned out to be great when he's healthy.
ReplyDeleteI just can't believe that Millen still has a job. What other job in the world lets you fail like he has without getting fired. I mean, come on!
I really wasn't antagonizing you (on purpose). I mean, I really liked the Ravens and Colts picks, and that doesn't help my Chiefs at all. And the Vikings waiting and the Lions all-WR picks are clearly 2 of the biggest flubs in recent draft history.
ReplyDeleteBut I can see how it would look like I'm picking on you guys.
We (the Lions) are clearly set up for criticism. I think it all boils down to philosophy: draft for need or draft the best player. It seems like the Lions haven't been doing either.
ReplyDelete