The Jets and the Giants were big movers and shakers in the first day of the 2006 NFL Draft. The Jets resisted temptation and passed up on Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler to take OL Brickashaw Ferguson from Virginia with the fourth overall pick. The Jets then continued the offensive line motif by drafting Ohio State Center Nick Mangold with the 29th pick. The Jets then traded down the 35th pick with the Redskins (loved the fact they got a 2007 second round pick out of the deal), then traded back up with the Cowboys to get the 49th pick and took QB Kellen Clemens from Oregon with the 49th overall pick. Clemens was rated by ESPN's Ron Jaworski, a pretty good QB in his time, as the best QB available in the draft. Yes, rated higher than Leinart, Young, or Cutler. The Jets finished their first day by taking LB Anthony Schlegel in the third round from Ohio State and Michigan State safety Eric Smith with the last pick in the third round (the ESPN crew was begging the Jets not to take Marcus Vick, thus having the similar situation of Denver taking Maurice Clarett last year with the last pick of the third round, which forced them to talk about the pick for an hour). Schlegel was considered a major reach by many, but Jets Linebacker Coach Brian Cox loved Schlegel's workout at the NFL combine, so I think the Patriots South (as I call the Jets now) are onto something. Perhaps they see the second coming of Tedy Bruschke.
The Giants made some interesting moves themselves. The Giants moved down by trading their 25th pick to the Steelers for their 32nd pick and two others. Pittsburgh used the 25th pick to get WR Santonio Holmes, which I thought was a great pick by them, a position the Giants needed, but they made up for it, trust me. With the 32nd pick they took Boston College DE and pass rush specialist Mathias Kiwanuka. Draft experts were puzzled why the Giants needed another pass rushing defensive end with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, but as GM Ernie Accorsi put it "you can never have enough pass rushers" and perhaps he's right. Plus, Kiwanuka's connection to BC, Tom Coughlin's old stomping grounds, was an additional feature the Giants couldn't pass up. The Giants then wisely traded their 56th and 87th overall picks to the Ravens for the 44th pick and got the WR they needed by drafting Sinorice Moss from Miami, considered by many the third best receiver in the draft. The Giants filled out their picks with LB Gerris Wilkinson of Georgia Tech in the third round.
So how did the Jets and Giants do? I thought very very well. Look, the biggest problem with the Jets last year was the complete disintegration of what once was a great offensive line. Mangini and Tannenbaum know that a great offensive line is the key to the team's success. When the Jets made the playoffs the previous years, it was based on a powerful offensive line that allowed them to control the clock. Last year, with the loss of Kareem McKenzie and the injuries to Kevin Mawae among others, the line crumbled. Leinart would have been nice, but without a line, he won't do much. Besides, the Jets terrific pick of Kellen Clemens, a quarterback rated higher than Leinart by many made up for that. Schlegel may be a stretch, but I would rather trust the judgement of an all pro linebacker like Brian Cox then a draft expert. The Giants may not have needed another defensive end, but it gives them options and more fresh legs to rush the passer. Moss was a great pick and will be the third receiver at least at the start of the season.
What other teams did the best on the first day of the NFL draft? Well, value wise, I loved the Arizona Cardinals getting Matt Leinart with the 10th pick. He's the perfect pick with all the weapons that the Cardinals have on offense in James, Fitzgerald and Boldin. I thought the Cowboys did a terrific job with LB Bobby Carpenter from Ohio State and TE Anthony Fasano from Notre Dame, a personal favorite of mine. The Titans did a very nice job with Vince Young and LenDale White. White dropped down all the way to 45 due to some character issues, but he's the real deal and the Titans may have got the second coming of Eddie George. And as I said, the Steelers did an awesome job moving up to take Santonio Holmes. WR hole filled nicely.
What teams didn't do well? The Houston Texans are the obvious choice for biggest loser. I'm sorry, but I don't care how good Mario Williams is. The best, most dynamic player with the potential for the biggest impact on a team is Reggie Bush. It was a no brainer than the Texans brain froze on. The Saints just got the best early Christmas present anyone could give them. This gives the franchise a huge lift after Katrina and the fan base is already energized. Nice job by them not trading the pick away. They needed PR help as much as player help. Bush gives both.
The Buffalo Bills could have traded down to get Ohio State Safety Donte Whitner, but panicked. Then their pick of John McCargo, DT from NC State really had experts scratching their head. McCargo was seen as perhaps a late second round or third round pick, not a first round pick. Its one thing to take a reach in the third round like the Jets did with Schlegel. Its a whole different story taking a reach in the first round as the Bills did. San Diego's pick of Anthony Cromartie is a huge risk considering Cromartie missed all of last year due to an injury.
What player had to be the happiest and has the best chance to start immediately? Well,there are some obvious early picks like Ferguson who should start immediately, but my pick here is Joseph Addai, RB from LSU who was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round. With Eddgarin James gone to Arizona and only Dominic Rhodes standing in the way, Addai has an excellent chance of starting on a elite offensive team with a great offensive line. Can't go to a better situation than that. Santonio Holmes going to the Steelers is a close second.
What to look for on the second day? Well, there are some good defensive tackles still left. The Jets with the sixth pick in the fourth round could use another defensive tackle (the Jets also have another pick in the fourth as well). Miami's Orien Harris, Michigan's Gabriel Watson and Texas' Roderique Wright are still available. The Jets could use a RB as well and Jerome Harrison of Washington State is still available. The Giants could use some defensive back help. It will be interesting to see how the second day works out.
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