Post by captobvious on Dec 22, 2006 14:24:54 GMT -5
Falcons - A+
The Falcons managed to create enough confusion about their intentions with the first overall pick to trade down two spots for a cool 2M, then used the third pick to get the guy they wanted all along. Dallas Mould is a player with a tremendous future in this league, whom I had ranked as the top receiver in an outstanding draft class at that position. They followed it up with another outstanding pick, CB Paul Quach, who looked to be the best corner in the whole draft (and the most versatile... he could easily play either safety position). The Falcons netted two big-impact players and some cash, by far the best haul of the draft.
Wolves - C+
The Wolves came in with a plan, and got two quality players for their efforts. Demetrius Jackson is a known quantity as far as his personality, so the Wolves know exactly what they're getting. While he won't be a standout player who works hard at improving himself, he'll get the job done. Cornerback Jet Wahls was the best corner remaining in the draft, and has shown decent activity through a long and boring (for him) season 3, which bodes well for his future.
Panthers - B-
The Panthers were swayed by the Falcons' smokescreen and gave up a lot of cash to move up just two spots. They did get the man they wanted, and halfback Christian Clayton is a known quantity who might perhaps be motivated to improve his player more than Jackson. If so, this move could actually pay off well in the long run. They followed that up with Trevor Johnson, who looks like he could develop into a real quality player at a position which looked very thin in this draft. A nice pick for the second round.
Dawgs - B
The Dawgs got exactly the player they wanted in Kris Carter, a very active player with a good attitude. In a thin linebacking draft class they grabbed him for conversion, completing the LB corps overhaul and making them scary talented and deep there. They followed that up with WR Manny Lawson, a potential sleeper pick who has shown little activity here but comes with quite a pedigree from the RFSL. He represents the last pick of a WR draft class that was incredibly deep and talented.
Cougars - C
The Cougars invested their first-round pick in CB Alex Lewis, who likely would have fallen to them in the second round because of personality concerns for most of the other teams. Alex playing for the Cougars was almost a foregone conclusion. But one thing in their defense is that Alex does represent 1st-round quality talent. Their second-rounder was spent on linebacker KC Jones, who is notorious for inactivity in other leagues... though with the other three linebackers on their roster, they won't be counting on Jones to be a difference maker.
Thunder - B+
In three offseasons I have yet to see the Thunder have a bad draft. To some strange criticism they selected Peter Siddorn, another incredibly talented receiver and one whose activity cannot be questioned... he was online at this site for the entire draft before he was taken. Where he might fit in on the Thunder roster is something of a question, but there's no doubt they took a talented player with tons of upside. They followed it up with SS Roy Williams, a player whose sudden surge of activity on here cannot be considered a coincidence. There's a possibility of him being the steal of the draft... though again here, one wonders where he fits into the Thunder's plans.
Sharks - D
Perhaps the reigning East champions don't feel they need to add much, but they certainly didn't in this draft. They spent their first round pick on Kobe Egan when better players were still on the board. Paul Quach in particular would have helped them more, because he's a more natural conversion to SS to replace Xavier Young and far more active. They could have also made an effort to trade up and grab Kris Carter, who would have fit there like a glove. Kobe's activity remains a question mark and therefore relegates him to the late second round in terms of draft value. Their second round choice wasn't much better, with LB Byron Parker's activity a serious question mark. The Sharks will have to sweet-talk Byron's friend Alex Lewis into bringing him back.
Surge - B-
The separation from Moulds, Siddorn, and Johnson was not great, and that means the Surge got top-of-the-round talent at the end of the round. This pickup is bigger for the Surge than the others, though, because Johnson fills an immediate need in a starting capacity. If they find value with their second-round choice (assuming they ever make it), this grade could go up.
The Falcons managed to create enough confusion about their intentions with the first overall pick to trade down two spots for a cool 2M, then used the third pick to get the guy they wanted all along. Dallas Mould is a player with a tremendous future in this league, whom I had ranked as the top receiver in an outstanding draft class at that position. They followed it up with another outstanding pick, CB Paul Quach, who looked to be the best corner in the whole draft (and the most versatile... he could easily play either safety position). The Falcons netted two big-impact players and some cash, by far the best haul of the draft.
Wolves - C+
The Wolves came in with a plan, and got two quality players for their efforts. Demetrius Jackson is a known quantity as far as his personality, so the Wolves know exactly what they're getting. While he won't be a standout player who works hard at improving himself, he'll get the job done. Cornerback Jet Wahls was the best corner remaining in the draft, and has shown decent activity through a long and boring (for him) season 3, which bodes well for his future.
Panthers - B-
The Panthers were swayed by the Falcons' smokescreen and gave up a lot of cash to move up just two spots. They did get the man they wanted, and halfback Christian Clayton is a known quantity who might perhaps be motivated to improve his player more than Jackson. If so, this move could actually pay off well in the long run. They followed that up with Trevor Johnson, who looks like he could develop into a real quality player at a position which looked very thin in this draft. A nice pick for the second round.
Dawgs - B
The Dawgs got exactly the player they wanted in Kris Carter, a very active player with a good attitude. In a thin linebacking draft class they grabbed him for conversion, completing the LB corps overhaul and making them scary talented and deep there. They followed that up with WR Manny Lawson, a potential sleeper pick who has shown little activity here but comes with quite a pedigree from the RFSL. He represents the last pick of a WR draft class that was incredibly deep and talented.
Cougars - C
The Cougars invested their first-round pick in CB Alex Lewis, who likely would have fallen to them in the second round because of personality concerns for most of the other teams. Alex playing for the Cougars was almost a foregone conclusion. But one thing in their defense is that Alex does represent 1st-round quality talent. Their second-rounder was spent on linebacker KC Jones, who is notorious for inactivity in other leagues... though with the other three linebackers on their roster, they won't be counting on Jones to be a difference maker.
Thunder - B+
In three offseasons I have yet to see the Thunder have a bad draft. To some strange criticism they selected Peter Siddorn, another incredibly talented receiver and one whose activity cannot be questioned... he was online at this site for the entire draft before he was taken. Where he might fit in on the Thunder roster is something of a question, but there's no doubt they took a talented player with tons of upside. They followed it up with SS Roy Williams, a player whose sudden surge of activity on here cannot be considered a coincidence. There's a possibility of him being the steal of the draft... though again here, one wonders where he fits into the Thunder's plans.
Sharks - D
Perhaps the reigning East champions don't feel they need to add much, but they certainly didn't in this draft. They spent their first round pick on Kobe Egan when better players were still on the board. Paul Quach in particular would have helped them more, because he's a more natural conversion to SS to replace Xavier Young and far more active. They could have also made an effort to trade up and grab Kris Carter, who would have fit there like a glove. Kobe's activity remains a question mark and therefore relegates him to the late second round in terms of draft value. Their second round choice wasn't much better, with LB Byron Parker's activity a serious question mark. The Sharks will have to sweet-talk Byron's friend Alex Lewis into bringing him back.
Surge - B-
The separation from Moulds, Siddorn, and Johnson was not great, and that means the Surge got top-of-the-round talent at the end of the round. This pickup is bigger for the Surge than the others, though, because Johnson fills an immediate need in a starting capacity. If they find value with their second-round choice (assuming they ever make it), this grade could go up.
