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Newton on Carolina's mind, 4 QBs go in draft's top 12
Earlier in the week I mentioned that 8 QBs could go in the top 3 rounds of the draft.
Now maybe I need to extend the number to 16! I mean, 4 QBs in the top 12 picks!
As expected Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton went #1 overall to Carolina, even
though they picked QB Jimmy Clausen last year with their top pick. Mizzou QB Blaine
Gabbert, who many thought would go to Arizona at 5, slid all the way down to the
Jaguars at 10, who traded up with the Redskins. But not before the Titans at 8 shocked
a lot of folks by reaching for Huskies QB Jake Locker. Draft guru Mel Kiper had Locker
going 25th to Seattle.
That's nothing.
The Vikings, so starved for a QB, thanks to the Brett Favre experiment, that they went
all Stretch Armstrong and reached half-way down into the 2nd round to grab FSU's
Christian Ponder with the 12th pick. Seriously, Minnesota could have traded down
4-5 times, grabbing extra 2nd, 3rd and 4th round picks, landed midway through the
second round and still could have selected Ponder. Pro Football Weekly rated Ponder
as the 8th best QB in the draft. Kiper had him as the 7th best QB going to the Redskins
with the 41st pick.
Hmmm, maybe I can invite Vikes coach Leslie Frazier to my fantasy football draft?
Other reaches included the 49ers grabbing Mizzou DE Aldon Smith with the 7th pick.
Most draftniks had Smith going in the mid-to-late 1st round. The team with the biggest
cajones was Atlanta who apparently wants to make the Falcons the Greatest Show on
Turf II by trading with the Browns from the 27th spot to the 6th for Alabama wideout
Julio Jones. What did the Browns get for the trade? Only Atlanta's 1st rounder, 2nd
rounder & 4th this year... Oh, and ATL's 1st rounder and 4th rounder next year. If
possible, the Falcons probably would have given Cleveland a lifetime supply of Coca-
cola to boot.
Nice picks? How about the Lions being so giddy to get DT Nick Fairley at 13? Now the
usually toothless Lions have a SUH-weet D-line (thanks, Roberto)! How about the Giants
getting the best pure corner in the draft in Nebraska's Prince Amukamara, the Big 12
Defensive Player of the Year. Saints grabbing DE Cameron Jordan at 24, slated to go in
Top 15 in numerous mocks. And the other Cameron, Heyward (son of Ironhead) going to
the Iron City Steelers!
That's about right . . .. Ravens picking baggage-carrier CB Jimmy Smith. Ravens are like
the Raiders of the east, no problem picking up the Donte Stallworth's of the league. Patriots
who must have some deal with Goodell to secure two #1 picks every draft, trading one of
their #1s to the Saints at 28. But it was definitely a great deal for New Orleans who got
Bama's Mark Ingram, clearly the top RB in the draft. Mark jr, don't be upset for the slide,
you're going to a great team and you'll be indoors! The Jets somehow getting Temple's
Muhammed Wilkerson, the 3rd best DT in the draft, falling to pick 30.
Finally, the Super Bowl Champion Packers getting OT Derek Sherrod with the final pick
of the night
But the biggest surprise? Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers, two months ago the consensus top
pick in the draft, falling out of the 1st round -- despite a record 12 d-linemen selected -- due
to a degenerative knee problem discovered during a physical.
Hey, the Broncos with 2 picks in the 2nd round might consider moving up!
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