Here are my knee-jerk reactions to the NFL Draft in regards to some teams:
Bears: I didn’t think a team could make a dumber move than the Bears signing Mike Glennon to a $45 million deal less than two months ago. But it happened on the first day of the draft. And once again it was the Bears and their panic-stricken general manager Ryan Pace proving to be utter morons when it comes to quarterbacks. Holding the No. 3 overall pick, the Bears traded it to the 49ers to get the No. 2 overall pick while giving up a third-round pick, fourth-round pick and 2018 third-round pick to make the one-place swap. Pace did that in order to draft Mitch Trubisky – who no team was planning on taking him that high. Somewhere George Halas is rolling around in his grave and John Fox has started packing his bags.
Bengals: Tradition continues with the Bengals. No, not just losing playoff games. It’s drafting bad characters where Joe Mixon now joins Pac-Man Jones and Vontaze Burfict. I haven’t seen this many bad actors since the time I watched Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space.
Raiders: The Raiders are another team that historically isn’t afraid to draft controversial players. That was proven true again this season when the Raiders took Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley in light of his name coming up in a rape investigation. Conley may have strengthened his draft status by passing a polygraph test. This leaves me to wonder if polygraph testing will become a standard NFL draft evaluation tool like the Wonderlic Test and 40-yard dash?
Saints: My days of taking Mark Ingram in my fantasy football drafts have ended. Not with the pass-happy Saints adding Adrian Peterson and drafting Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara. At least I don’t have to get mad now when John Kuhn vultures another touchdown. If there were a Hall of Fame for touchdown-vultures, Kuhn would be a charter member.
Buccaneers: Speaking of fantasy football, I just moved Jameis Winston into my top-10 quarterback list now that the Buccaneers added DeSean Jackson and drafted O.J. Howard to go with Mike Evans.
Browns: The Browns finally seem to have some sharp people running their draft. The Browns showed good discipline not reaching for a quarterback. They received good value drafting Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer at 52. Unfortunately for the Browns, Kizer needs time to develop leaving Hue Jackson a likely starting quarterback choice of Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler or Kevin Hogan. That’s one of the all-time worst quarterback trios I’ve ever seen.
Colts: Compliments to new Colts general manager Chris Ballard in shoring up his team’s porous secondary by drafting Ohio State safety Malik Hooker and Florida cornerback Quincy Wilson. Former Colts GM Ryan Grigson probably would have gone for a skill position player when Indy desperately needs linemen on both sides of the ball and defensive backs.
Vikings: I like what the Vikings did, too, getting Dalvin Cook at No. 41. That was a great value pick. Sure Cook has red flags just like Mixon. But these guys are highly-talented running backs. OK, you need a couple of porters to carry their baggage, but just tell them to run the ball, stay quiet and clean for the next six-to-eight years and they’re set for the rest of their lives.
Giants: Some thought California quarterback Davis Webb had a chance to sneak into the first round. That wasn’t going to happen courtesy of Jared Goff. Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Steve Bartkowski, Cal quarterbacks have not fared well in the NFL during the past 50 years. The Giants took Webb in the third round signifying maybe the beginning of the end for Eli Manning, who I consider the most overrated quarterback in the NFL.
