Call It Tradition: Josh's 2008 NFL Draft Review, Part 1 of 2

Talking to a friend of mine who's a diehard New York Giants fan today, and Eli Manning's name came up, as it usual does. The matter in question was Manning's Super Bowl title run this past January, and whether or not it now defined him as a player. Amazing to think that only days before Eli's Magical Postseason Run began, on my annual voyage home for the holidays, the New York City sport talk radio airwaves were alive with the conversation of a perceived big name quarterback bust. What was his name again? Oh yeah: Eli Manning.

The point of it all is that becoming a superstar athlete, particularly in the NFL, is contingent on any number of different variables. Among these are some primary concerns---staying healthy, the quality of the team they inherit, the abilities of the coaching staff to maximize its assets---but there are secondary concerns as well, such as the individual's bottom line mental confidence and, maybe first and foremost, luck.

Not everyone has expectations as high as those of Eli Manning. But this past weekend's NFL Draft certainly gave a few new names their fair share of pressure weight-wise. Miami took Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long #1 overall, then handed him a $30 million check before he's even played a game. St. Louis didn't mess up, snaring Virginia DE Chris Long in the second slot. Hard to go wrong with a pedigree like that. Atlanta felt the temptation of a new franchise quarterback irresistibile with the three pick, grabbing BC QB Matt Ryan. Jury still way out there.

Then there's D-Mac. The man who delighted University of Arkansas fans to no end over the last three years finally got his professional assignment, and darned if it ain't the Silver & Black. Al Davis' Oakland Raiders haven't won a Super Bowl in 25 years, but maintain a fan base as devoted as any. But is Davis still in command of all of his senses? One has to ask the question after watching Mr. Just-Win-Baby take Darren McFadden fourth overall. Hmmm, let's see: Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and Michael Bush . . . Throw in D-Mac and that's five tailbacks making an awful lot of cash money. D-Mac will obviously be allowed to emerge as one of the two main guys come fall camp, but let's be honest about it. There were better fits for him at other destinations.

Kansas City had one of the best drafts of anybody (surprising, right?), lucking into LSU DT Glen Dorsey at five, choosing Virginia G Branden Albert at fifteen, then picking up Virginia Tech cover man Brandon Flowers in round two and Texas speedster RB Jamaal Charles in the third. That's four brand new starters right there. In my opinion, Herm Edwards' crew had the best draft of anybody.

My beloved Gang Green were banking on D-Mac falling to them at six, a dicey proposition at best. (Again, why did we try to beat Kansas City in overtime in that meaningless season finale on New Year's Eve? All it did was cost us McFadden.) Once that didn't work out, the brain trust of Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini went with the only guy they could justify: Ohio State pass-rushing hybrid Vernon Gholston. Even if he isn't a superstar, Gholston will only help bolster a Jets pass rush that has been almost completely overhauled from a year ago. And thank goodness for that. (One other note: The Jets would trade back into the first round at thirty to take Purdue TE Dustin Keller, an interesting move that New York hopes will better open up the middle of the field for the offense.)

The Saints came across as a little desperate when they traded up to seven to get USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Jacksonville a little bit of the same going up to eight to get Florida DE Derrick Harvey. The Bengals go need pick with Trojan LB Keith Rivers at nine and New England reaches for Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo at ten (they could've had him at twenty-five).

I liked Buffalo's weekend with Troy DB Leodis McKelvin at eleven and Indiana WR James Hardy (all 6'7 of him) in the second round. Denver beefed up with Boise State lineman Ryan Clady in the twelve slot, and Carolina jumped the gun a bit for Oregon tailback Jonathan Stewart at thirteen. Linemen go back-to-back for Chicago and Kansas City at fourteen and fifteen with Vanderbilt OT Chris Williams and the aforementioned Virgina G Branden Albert. Arizona took Antonio's cousin, small school CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the sixteenth slot.

-JAB