Questions Abound on NFL Draft Day 2007

On Saturday answers to all our questions begin to be answered when the 2007 NFL Draft kicks off at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Until then all we can do is speculate. I love to speculate on the NFL. I also like guessing about the future, like draft picks. What a coincidence!

How does Adrian's Peterson's Fiesta Bowl injury news affect his draft status?

He's a top pick, so that collarbone has been poked and prodded a million times by now. Still, the thought will cross the minds of the NFL managers and coaches. I wouldn't think anything into this though. Peterson should end up going to one of the top five teams.

Will the Detroit Lions ever make a good first-round pick?

What do Adam Archuleta, Sean Merriman, and DeAngelo Hall all have in common? They all could have been Lions draft picks. Matt Millen is arguably the luckiest executive ever. Hopefully, they will get it right but it looks like Millen's fetish with wideouts will go on in 2007. Barry Sanders isn't walking through that door and neither is the DE they want.

How important is that first pick for the Oakland Raiders?

I'm not so sure on this one. While the #1 overall pick can be important, the Raiders are such a disorganized franchise. They fell so fast too, one minute they are in a championship game, the next they are picking first overall in the draft. Is Al Davis calling the shots or is someone else? I'm not so sure they even know who, so no matter what, the pick will either end up fading away or going somewhere else. Todd Marinovich anyone?

Can the Patriots complete their re-tooling?

New England put every other team on notice in the off-season: playtime is over. They filled all their holes, got a little younger on defense, and have a plethora of wideouts to pick from in the free agency period. Now it's draft time and the first dynasty of the twenty-first century has two picks in the first round. Is there a better time to be a Pats fan? No way! Now they will look to get the age down in the linebacker corps and some help for the secondary.

What team needs a good draft the most?

My money is on Cleveland. Like the Lions, the Browns have not done well drafting this decade. But changes in management have begun to right the ship. Mel Kyper has the hots for Brady Quinn apparently, but Cleveland will not draft him. They should be taking Joe Thomas, which would solidify the OL nicely. The Browns are right on the cusp of being a solid, contending team within the next season or two but not if they don't have a good draft in 2007 and 2008.

Tampa Bay is a close second; they don't exactly have the greatest track record in recent years, the defense is fading, there has been coaching turnover, and a ton of injuries. They could really use a good first pick for their defensive line.

So if Cleveland is out of the Quinn sweepstakes, where will Brady end up?

Call me crazy but I see Oakland taking him with the #1 overall pick. I think JaMarcus Russell is a bit overrated to go that high. If that happens, then Detroit might take Russell. If the Raiders stay with what's expected of them, then Quinn goes to Tampa Bay. I think the Bucs grab him only if DE Gaines Adams is gone.

Does this mean the top five or so picks are up in the air?

Yes because it all depends on what each team does. I know that sounds simple and it seems like common sense but it is what it is. Some of what I outlined above could go down but only if someone does something unplanned. With a choice between a top quarterback, wide receiver, defensive end, and a running back and teams that have multiple needs, you can expect the unexpected.

Which team has the least pressure on them in the draft?

Arizona Cardinals. They have Matt Leinert, they have Emmitt Smith. Oh wait, he retired. See what I mean? It doesn't matter who they pick, the team will still stink. If I ever see dogs and cats sleeping together it means the Cardinals just won the Superbowl. Both events would signal the beginning of the apocalypse. Then again, I'm a Boston fan and I felt the exact same way about my beloved Sawks winning the World Series until 2004.

What will be the biggest surprise of the draft?

Besides Detroit making a GOOD first round choice? Oakland taking Quinn, even if it is my prediction, will surprise a lot of people. Tampa Bay not picking a defensive end would be one more. Adrian Peterson dropping because of his injury news is another big one that would shock a lot of people.

What is with the ratings for the NFL Draft?

I love football but it amazes me how many people actually watch the NFL Draft. In 2007 it should be no different as television coverage expands to ESPN2 as well as the NFL Network. There is no ceiling when it comes to the media and how much coverage is too much that's for sure.

Does Mel Kyper know it is 2007?

The slicked-back hair look and those awful glasses, he looks like a 1970's caricature. I think I could get past it if his predictions were better. And again, what's with the Brady Quinn lovefest?