The NFL Season is only half over, but ASM's Brad Seal insists that it is never too early to focus on the next NFL Draft. So if your team isn't going to the playoffs this year, maybe you can root for who they might get next April.
The following is a list of the thirteen NFL teams that currently have fewer than four wins, making a playoff run for them very unlikely.This will probably not be the order of the 2007 NFL Draft, but I’m listing the teams in terms of their current record (which could obviously change as the season wears on.)Next to the team, I’m naming a current NFL draft prospect that I think the team desires.If you are a fan of one of these teams, start watching them with the mindset of finding what they need the most in the 2007 draft.After all, the season will be more interesting if you know that losing now might net you a prize later.
1.) Arizona Cardinals—Joe Thomas OT Wisconsin
I remember that the Cardinals were picked by many to win their division this year.Now they find themselves with the worst record in the league at the halfway point of the season.The team has plenty of talent, unfortunately none if it is on the offensive line.If the Cardinals actually do end up getting the first pick of the draft, they should trade down with a team looking to get a big named star. As for the Cardinals, they don’t need stars; they need beef in the trenches.Matt Leinart and Edge James will jump for joy if Thomas comes to Phoenix.
2.) Oakland Raiders—Ted Ginn Jr.WROhio State
No one ever knows what the Raiders will do, but we all know they still need help almost everywhere.Logic says the Raiders should shore up the offensive and defensive lines.No one ever said that the Raiders follow logic.Ginn Jr. is a WR whose biggest asset is stopwatch-melting speed and big play ability.That sounds like a scouting report that is right up Al Davis’s alley
3.) Houston Texans—Adrian Peterson RB Oklahoma
They are still getting blasted for passing on Reggie Bush.This time David Carr will camp out in the draft offices to make sure the Texans get him some help on offense.Peterson is a bit injury prone, but he is a monster who is big enough to run between the tackles yet has the speed to bounce it outside and take it the distance.Now if the Texans only had people to block for him….I like Bucs QB Bruce Gradkowski, but neither he nor the spleenless Chris Simms have the star power of Brady Quinn.Plus, top QB prospects just don’t fall much further down in NFL drafts.
5.) Tennessee Titans—Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech
The Titans are collecting offensive monsters.Last year they got super-human QB Vince Young, now they grab the 6’4” 225 pound Johnson to catch his passes.This is how Super Bowl foundations are built.
6.) Miami Dolphins—Quentin Moses DE Georgia
Some might say the Dolphins could use a quarterback, but I think they’ll stick with Daunte Culpepper for at least another year.Coach Nick Saban is a defensive coach and I doubt he’ll reach for an offensive skill player when he can snag a defensive end like Moses.Plus, Moses gets to learn from one of the best pass rushers around in Jason Taylor.QB Joey Harrington could be their tackling dummy.
7.) Cleveland Browns—Leon Hall CB Michigan
The Browns have a mess of an offensive line so any sort of blocker is a possibility, but good cornerbacks are hard to find.Coach Romeo Crennel probably wants to build a defensive powerhouse that can take over a game when the Cleveland weather gets nasty late in the year.Romeo coached another Michigan cornerback named Ty Law when he was with the New England Patriots.If you don’t remember Law as a Patriot, just ask Peyton Manning.Law intercepted three of his passes in one playoff game.
8.) Pittsburgh Steelers—Gaines Adams DE Clemson
What a difference a year makes, huh?That winning streak that the defending champs were bound to get on just isn’t going to happen.One reason is that the defense just isn’t the intimidating presence that it usually is.Coach Cowher loves his pass-rushing linebackers, so Adams should fit right into a black and gold uniform.
9.)Detroit Lions—Brian Brohm QB Louisville
Lets see, the Lions spend three consecutive first round draft picks on game-breaking wide receivers and now they have a need for a game breaking receiver to pair with Roy Williams.How does GM Matt Millen still have a job?The Lions don’t bite on a wide receiver here because the strong-armed Brohm is available and offensive guru Mike Martz is slobbering all over himself to work with that kind of talent.Still, I’m sure a receiver is pretty tempting here….
10.)San Francisco 49ers—Sam Baker OT USC
The 49ers are still in full-on rebuilding mode and one good way to rebuild is to protect your young quarterback with a talented offensive lineman.And by some duct tape to use on RB Frank Gore’s hands and WR Antonio Bryant’s mouth.
The Bills are quite possibly the most boring team in the NFL to watch. At least Jarrett can team with Lee Evans to give the Bills two stud receivers that QB J.P. Losman can badly underthrow.
12.) Green Bay Packers—Justin Blalock OT Texas
The Packers are sort of hovering in the nether world of the NFL.The team isn’t good enough to make a run at the playoffs, but they are still playing their old legendary quarterback.I love Brett Favre as much as anyone else, but the Packers aren’t going to make any headway with QB Aaron Rodgers until they let him take over the team.Meanwhile, they can build up the terrible offensive line.Blalock is versatile enough to play tackle or guard, so the Pack should have many uses for him.
13.) Washington Redskins—Darrelle Revis CB Pittsburgh
The Redskins have bought their receivers, and traded for Clinton Portis at running back, so many top prospects are useless to them.The Redskins do have an urgent need to help the passing defense and that is exactly what Revis can do.Now all the Skins have to do is figure out who is going to be their quarterback.
There is very little chance that this will be the 2007 NFL draft order, but there is a great possibility that the majority of these teams will make up the first part of the draft.Since you can’t root for these teams to make a championship run, why not root for them to grab a player in next year’s draft that can help make a championship run possible?Let us look into the future and realize that it is never too early for a mock NFL draft.