Football USA Today: Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft? - Page 7

**Tribal Warfare** · 04-30-2010, 04:31 PM

Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft?

Yahoo! Buzz
By Nate Davis, USA TODAY
So which franchise really stands the best chance to reap the most from its rookies now that the 2010 NFL draft has concluded? USA TODAY ranked the 20 league personnel executives who have been on the job for at least three years with their current team (the exception being Scott Pioli) to try and get a better idea as to who scores touchdowns in April, who settles for field goals and who coughs it up.

REPORT CARD: Grading the 2010 NFL draft class

1A. Bill Belichick, head coach/el jefe supremo, New England Patriots— Little point in arguing after he transformed a franchise that seemed to be in decline into a three-time Super Bowl champion virtually overnight. Clearly Belichick learned a lot after the five putrid drafts the Cleveland Browns produced during his tenure there in the 1990s. New England has become known for its deft ability to amass quality picks and find excellent players later in the process who won't come with the price tag of a top-10 pick. Belichick has made seven second-round picks over the last two drafts and picked up an extra Round 2 pick next year after extracting it from the Carolina Panthers for a low third-round pick last Saturday. Key contributors such as receiver Deion Branch, defensive end Jarvis Green, tackle Matt Light and cornerback Asante Samuel all came at pick 48 or later. But Belichick knows how to find first-round stars, too, including 2008 defensive rookie of the year Jerod Mayo and Pro Bowlers Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork.

• Best pick: Tom Brady— The Patriots admit they got lucky finding him in the sixth round in 2000, but at least they were smarter than the 30 other teams that also passed on him multiple times. Probably the best value pick in the history of the NFL.

• Worst pick: Chad Jackson— The 36th pick of the 2006 draft only caught 13 passes for New England.

1B. Scott Pioli, GM, Kansas City Chiefs— He and Belichick are essentially inextricable when it comes to New England's ascendancy. It's too early to assess Pioli's tenure in K.C., though last weekend's haul looks to be among the best of the spring. But the Patriots' success on the personnel side is just as much a credit to Pioli's eye for talent as Belichick's. And the litany of players they plucked from college aside, Pioli and Belichick were masters of using picks as currency for established stars with depressed value (Corey Dillon, Randy Moss) and gems other teams didn't appreciate (Wes Welker). After a recent spotty draft record, the Chiefs were in desperate need of a draft craftsman like Pioli.

• Best pick: Matt Cassel— He barely played at USC, but Pioli took a flier on him in the seventh round of the 2005 draft anyway. Cassel proved in 2008 he can play at a Pro Bowl level, something Pioli is banking he will do for the Chiefs.

• Worst pick: Laurence Maroney— The 2006 first-rounder has never rushed for as many as 900 yards and probably never will for the Patriots, who have opted not to make him a featured back.

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:25 PM

Basically...Green Bay has made a few good picks over the last 5 years...

Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Nick Collins and Jermichael Finley are the most notable...

So had the Chiefs taken Aaron Rodgers instead of Derrick Johnson in 2005 the Chiefs would be an amazing drafting team...

In mecca's eyes...

Oh wait a second...no they wouldn't...because they are the Chiefs...and if Aaron Rodgers were a Chief...he would be super overrated...because Mecca is a ****ing moron.

Titty Meat · 05-03-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Look, trading for Moss in a vacuum with nothing else factored in is a great move, I never said it wasn't, I like Moss as a player.

It's that while he's aging they've got nothing behind him at the position. The same can be said for numerous others, when you have 15 picks every year at the very least your team should have solid depth, you shouldn't have Sam Aiken getting WR playing time or starting a scrub RB in a league where a 5th rounder will pull a starting RB.

Trading for Moss and Welker is not the problem, the problem is those are the best things they've done with their picks because they've missed a ton as of late.

Except the other teams yu praise such as the Ravens have struggled to draft a good WR too.

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:28 PM

Green Bay 1st round picks since 2000:

Bubba Franks
Jamal Reynolds
Javon Walker
Nick Barnett
Ahmad Carroll
Aaron Rodgers
A.J. Hawk
Justin Harrell
B.J. Raji
Clay Matthews
Brian Bulaga

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

Except the other teams yu praise such as the Ravens have struggled to draft a good WR too.

But Derrick Mason wasn't brought in to cover up drafting failures!! Only the Patriots do that!!!

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:32 PM

my point being:

(and my point when I coined the term drafturbators...)

These draft "gurus" expect WAY too much out of the draft...they expect every pick to be some sort of hit...whether it's the 1st round or the 7th round...

when in reality...

That's just not how it happens...

Most teams have 1-3 star players...5-10 quality players that would start on most teams...10-15 system players...and the rest are filled out by need, specialties, etc...

and the 4th-7th round is important because you can fill out your roster with young guys, pay them peanuts compared to the veteran minimum, and perhaps with coaching ONE OR TWO of them will pan out to become tier 1 or tier 2 players...

But they expect that out of every 3rd and 4th round pick and if you go look at the last 5 years of the draft...

go see how many 2nd day picks make pro bowls...or are all-pro caliber players...

Mecca · 05-03-2010, 12:32 PM

I forgot questioning the Patriots is not ok, I hope you enjoy your 82 TE's.

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:33 PM

basically...

if the salary cap were never to return...

the draft would become less and less important...especially on day 3

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

Green Bay 1st round picks since 2000:

Bubba Franks
Jamal Reynolds
Javon Walker
Nick Barnett
Ahmad Carroll
Aaron Rodgers
A.J. Hawk
Justin Harrell
B.J. Raji
Clay Matthews
Brian Bulaga

I'll take ours:

2000: None (traded for Bill Belichick, big win!)
2001: Richard Seymour
2002: Daniel Graham
2003: Ty Warren
2004: Vince Wilfork and Ben Watson
2005: Logan Mankins
2006: Laurence Maroney (worst one)
2007: Brandon Meriweather
2008: Jerod Mayo
2009: None (traded out)
2010: Devin McCourty

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I forgot questioning the Patriots is not ok, I hope you enjoy your 82 TE's.

the classic Mecca deflection....

we lay out 20 posts FULL of evidence...he realizes he's a dipshit...and he tries to deflect the attention

way to go, guy!

You are such a pro/college football guru!

Amnorix · 05-03-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

I forgot questioning the Patriots is not ok, I hope you enjoy your 82 TE's.

Do you even know that we entered the draft with precisely TWO TEs on the entire 80 man roster, of whom one was over 30 years old, and the other had never played a down in the NFL?

Watson and Graham left. The other TEs didn't pan out. What don't you get?

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I'll take ours:

2000: None (traded for Bill Belichick, big win!)
2001: Richard Seymour
2002: Daniel Graham
2003: Ty Warren
2004: Vince Wilfork and Ben Watson
2005: Logan Mankins
2006: Laurence Maroney (worst one)
2007: Brandon Meriweather
2008: Jerod Mayo
2009: None (traded out)
2010: Devin McCourty

well on surface Green Bay's does look better because of Aaron Rodgers but that doesn't take into account Tom Brady being a Patriot...so yeah, the Patriots do a good job building around Tom Brady and Bill Belichick...and they've done it for years.

I hate the ****ing Patriots...I really do.

But I couldn't pick a better team for the Chiefs to try and model than the team that has OWNED the salary cap era of the NFL for the past decade...

and the anti-Pioli agenda is just laughable now...

Dane, one of the biggest Pioli haters because of the 2009 offseason...even sees it now...these guys are just out to bitch...everyone loved the draft...every single expert these guys have quoted for the last 4 months...

but that doesn't work for them...they want to hate...

It's ridiculous and sad...these members are sad, sad, sad "fans"...and really make this board NOTHING but negative.

Mecca · 05-03-2010, 12:39 PM

First and foremost Aaron Rodgers is the current GB GM's first pick so he starts there.

Secondly, how many TE's have the Patriots drafted overall? Since some of them aren't on the team anymore doesn't mean they haven't used a bunch of picks on TE's. It's a ton...they used a 3rd rounder on a guy like David Thomas. They've cut and traded several but that team has traded a ton of TE's, so much so it's a running joke in some ways.

Also the idea that anyone is anti Pioli is ****ing hilarious, this is not Nazi Germany, we can debate and question shit.

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:40 PM

yeah, BB is a running joke in the NFL...

Mecca...

the moron!

Hootie · 05-03-2010, 12:41 PM

three years ago on this board it was...

YOU TAKE THE BPA!

now it's...

YOU TAKE THE BPA AT YOUR POSITION OF MOST NEED!

Titty Meat · 05-03-2010, 12:43 PM

Mecca makes a good point about drafting all those tight ends though I disagree with the larger point about BB.

As for Pioli being a good drafter? Thats a ****ing joke.

04-30-2010, 04:31 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3037187	USA Today: Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft? Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft? Yahoo! Buzz By Nate Davis, USA TODAY So which franchise really stands the best chance to reap the most from its rookies now that the 2010 NFL draft has concluded? USA TODAY ranked the 20 league personnel executives who have been on the job for at least three years with their current team (the exception being Scott Pioli) to try and get a better idea as to who scores touchdowns in April, who settles for field goals and who coughs it up. REPORT CARD: Grading the 2010 NFL draft class 1A. Bill Belichick, head coach/el jefe supremo, New England Patriots— Little point in arguing after he transformed a franchise that seemed to be in decline into a three-time Super Bowl champion virtually overnight. Clearly Belichick learned a lot after the five putrid drafts the Cleveland Browns produced during his tenure there in the 1990s. New England has become known for its deft ability to amass quality picks and find excellent players later in the process who won't come with the price tag of a top-10 pick. Belichick has made seven second-round picks over the last two drafts and picked up an extra Round 2 pick next year after extracting it from the Carolina Panthers for a low third-round pick last Saturday. Key contributors such as receiver Deion Branch, defensive end Jarvis Green, tackle Matt Light and cornerback Asante Samuel all came at pick 48 or later. But Belichick knows how to find first-round stars, too, including 2008 defensive rookie of the year Jerod Mayo and Pro Bowlers Logan Mankins, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork. • Best pick: Tom Brady— The Patriots admit they got lucky finding him in the sixth round in 2000, but at least they were smarter than the 30 other teams that also passed on him multiple times. Probably the best value pick in the history of the NFL. • Worst pick: Chad Jackson— The 36th pick of the 2006 draft only caught 13 passes for New England. 1B. Scott Pioli, GM, Kansas City Chiefs— He and Belichick are essentially inextricable when it comes to New England's ascendancy. It's too early to assess Pioli's tenure in K.C., though last weekend's haul looks to be among the best of the spring. But the Patriots' success on the personnel side is just as much a credit to Pioli's eye for talent as Belichick's. And the litany of players they plucked from college aside, Pioli and Belichick were masters of using picks as currency for established stars with depressed value (Corey Dillon, Randy Moss) and gems other teams didn't appreciate (Wes Welker). After a recent spotty draft record, the Chiefs were in desperate need of a draft craftsman like Pioli. • Best pick: Matt Cassel— He barely played at USC, but Pioli took a flier on him in the seventh round of the 2005 draft anyway. Cassel proved in 2008 he can play at a Pro Bowl level, something Pioli is banking he will do for the Chiefs. • Worst pick: Laurence Maroney— The 2006 first-rounder has never rushed for as many as 900 yards and probably never will for the Patriots, who have opted not to make him a featured back.
Posts: 43,455

05-03-2010, 12:25 PM	#91
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	Basically...Green Bay has made a few good picks over the last 5 years... Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Nick Collins and Jermichael Finley are the most notable... So had the Chiefs taken Aaron Rodgers instead of Derrick Johnson in 2005 the Chiefs would be an amazing drafting team... In mecca's eyes... Oh wait a second...no they wouldn't...because they are the Chiefs...and if Aaron Rodgers were a Chief...he would be super overrated...because Mecca is a ****ing moron.
Posts: 56,356

05-03-2010, 12:28 PM	#93
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	Green Bay 1st round picks since 2000: Bubba Franks Jamal Reynolds Javon Walker Nick Barnett Ahmad Carroll Aaron Rodgers A.J. Hawk Justin Harrell B.J. Raji Clay Matthews Brian Bulaga
Posts: 56,356

05-03-2010, 12:32 PM	#95
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	my point being: (and my point when I coined the term drafturbators...) These draft "gurus" expect WAY too much out of the draft...they expect every pick to be some sort of hit...whether it's the 1st round or the 7th round... when in reality... That's just not how it happens... Most teams have 1-3 star players...5-10 quality players that would start on most teams...10-15 system players...and the rest are filled out by need, specialties, etc... and the 4th-7th round is important because you can fill out your roster with young guys, pay them peanuts compared to the veteran minimum, and perhaps with coaching ONE OR TWO of them will pan out to become tier 1 or tier 2 players... But they expect that out of every 3rd and 4th round pick and if you go look at the last 5 years of the draft... go see how many 2nd day picks make pro bowls...or are all-pro caliber players...
Posts: 56,356

05-03-2010, 12:32 PM	#96
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-742950	I forgot questioning the Patriots is not ok, I hope you enjoy your 82 TE's.
Posts: 115,382

05-03-2010, 12:33 PM	#97
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	basically... if the salary cap were never to return... the draft would become less and less important...especially on day 3
Posts: 56,356

05-03-2010, 12:39 PM	#102
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-742950	First and foremost Aaron Rodgers is the current GB GM's first pick so he starts there. Secondly, how many TE's have the Patriots drafted overall? Since some of them aren't on the team anymore doesn't mean they haven't used a bunch of picks on TE's. It's a ton...they used a 3rd rounder on a guy like David Thomas. They've cut and traded several but that team has traded a ton of TE's, so much so it's a running joke in some ways. Also the idea that anyone is anti Pioli is ****ing hilarious, this is not Nazi Germany, we can debate and question shit.
Posts: 115,382

05-03-2010, 12:40 PM	#103
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	yeah, BB is a running joke in the NFL... Mecca... the moron!
Posts: 56,356

05-03-2010, 12:41 PM	#104
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	three years ago on this board it was... YOU TAKE THE BPA! now it's... YOU TAKE THE BPA AT YOUR POSITION OF MOST NEED!
Posts: 56,356

05-03-2010, 12:43 PM	#105
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $-1222442	Mecca makes a good point about drafting all those tight ends though I disagree with the larger point about BB. As for Pioli being a good drafter? Thats a ****ing joke.
Posts: 78,161