Football Talk

In the year and two months that I have written this blog, it seems that the one sport that I haven't ever talked about is American football.  It's something of an anomaly, since I talk about pro wrestling once in a while on here, and even bring up the subject of world football from time to time.  Well, I am going to fix that, and being that tonight is the first round of the circus that is the NFL Draft, I figure to try something a little different: some actual live blogging of the events tonight.  So, watch this space, if you care...

The following will be updated as they happen.  The team, the pick, and a one sentence thought about the pick will be the norm here.

The NFL Draft

*Kansas City and Baltimore switched picks

1. Carolina-Cam Newton, QB Auburn
The sexy pick with a lot of risk, but a lot of reward.

2. Denver-Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M
Will help a horrible Denver defense.

3. Buffalo-Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
Will plug the middle of the defensive line for a porous Buffalo defense.

4. Cincinnati-A.J. Green, WR Georgia
Will help whoever is QB as a deep threat and great hands.

5. Arizona-Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
Best player in the draft, he will provide Arizona with two good corners along with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

6. Cleveland (traded to Atlanta)-Julio Jones, WR Alabama
Should be good opposite Roddy White, and will be another weapon on a Falcons offense that already has Tony Gonzalez, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and White.

7. San Francisco-Aldon Smith, DE Missouri
A major reach, the Niners could have traded down and still got him.

8. Tennessee-Jake Locker, QB Washington
Not as high of a ceiling as Blaine Gabbert, but ran a pro style offense and played well despite subpar team.

9. Dallas-Tyron Smith, OT USC
Dallas needed offensive line help, and Smith should help.

10. Washington (traded to Jacksonville)-Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
Jacksonville has their QB of the future and doesn't have to rush him into the starter's role.

11. Houston-J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin
Houston needed a cornerback, but good depth has Houston picking the best player available and a potential bookend with Mario Williams.

12. Minnesota-Christian Ponder, QB Florida St.
Major reach, but given the uncertainty of the free agency season beginning, the Vikings had to make this choice, and they don't have many other glaring needs.

13. Detroit-Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
Needed offensive line help, but Fairley could be a steal here, and playing next to N'Damukong Suh is an added bonus.

14. St. Louis-Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina
Pass rusher, will add to the edge and was the best player at this spot, despite not playing last year due to NCAA discipline.

15. Miami-Mike Pouncey, C/G Florida
Miami needed help running the ball, and Pouncey will open holes for whoever is in the backfield.

16. Jacksonville (traded to Washington)-Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB Purdue
Needed offensive help, but Kerrigan is a high effort player who will take pressure away from Brian Orakpo in the 3-4 as a linebacker.

17. New England-Nate Solder, OT Colorado
Needed a running back, but Solder will be opening holes for whoever runs the ball and will be allowed to develop behind veteran group.

18. San Diego-Corey Liuget, DT Illinois
Will fill a major need in the middle of the defensive line for the Chargers.

19. NY Giants-Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
Surprised he fell this far, the Giants went with the best player at this point, but could have picked an offensive lineman.

20. Tampa Bay-Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
Fills a need on the defensive line and figures to be a major player alongside Gerald McCoy.

21. Kansas City (traded to Cleveland)-Phil Taylor, DT Baylor
On a team that needed help in a lot of places, Taylor could be a central figure on the defensive line.

22. Indianapolis-Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
Offensive line was a mess, and Castonzo figures to be a solution to that problem.

23. Philadelphia-Danny Watkins, G Baylor
Philadelphia needed offensive line help, and Watkins provides just that.

24. New Orleans-Cameron Jordan, DE California
Needed a running back, but the Saints go for a defensive end who was the best available here and won't be rushed into a starting role.

25. Seattle-James Carpenter-G/T Alabama
A reach pick, since there were better options here, but given Seattle's O-line troubles, he could pan out as a guard.

*26. Baltimore-Jimmy Smith, DB Colorado
Baltimore needed secondary help on an otherwise great defense, and Smith will help here.

*27. Atlanta (Traded to Kansas City via Cleveland)-Jon Baldwin, WR Pittsburgh
With O-line depth in the draft, the Chiefs decided to address this need later in favor of a receiver who provides a big target.

28. New England (traded to New Orleans)-Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
Saints get their running back by trading up.

29. Chicago-Gabe Carimi-OT Wisconsin
An ever-revolving door on the offensive line should be eased with Carimi on board.

30. NY Jets-Muhammad Wilkerson, DT Temple
The Jets need a guy to plug the middle of the D-line, and they get just that with Wilkerson.

31. Pittsburgh-Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio St.
Needed secondary help big time, but the D-line isn't getting any younger, and not enough young talent to fill those voids.

32. Green Bay-Derrick Sherrod, OT Mississippi St.
Despite high-powered offense, the O-line is still a glaring hole, and Sherrod will provide youth on a team needing it at that position.