2008 Woodie Awards
NFL Draft Booms, Busts, and Bargains
Brad Carr
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports
With the 2008 NFL Draft quickly approaching, it's time to take a look at potential booms, busts and sleepers. I'm making a few spicy picks, but just stick with me on this.
BOOMS:
Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas: Clearly an obvious pick in my opinion. He's the best offensive player in the draft and brings simply mind-blowing speed every play. His character his been raised as an issue, but I think whoever passes on him will be saying "I wish we had taken McFadden" years down the road.
DeSean Jackson, WR California: My first spicy pick. An electrifying college player, but definitely had a bit of a down year in his final year at Cal. He's pretty tiny, but his speed and agility ensures corners will have a long day covering him. He could end up being a great third receiver; at worst he'll be an incredible return man (honestly, go on Youtube and watch his punt returns).
Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU: People have two major knocks against him. He's not big enough and he's too slow. However, I think it's pretty obvious he'll get bigger in the NFL. As for speed? I can't say he plays a position where I care at all about 40 times. His ability to disrupt the backfield reminds me of a young Warren Sapp. After McFadden, he's the best player in the draft.
BUSTS:
Matt Ryan, QB Boston College: This is a big flip flop for me. I was a huge Matt Ryan fan during the season, and with all due respect he was a great college player. With that said, I think he's going to suck in the NFL. I see him being taken by the Falcons at pick number three. So right away, an absolutely terrible team that is starting over from top to bottom drafts him. This means he'll be on a bad team for at least three seasons (no fault of his own, but I think it still counts). He throws a few too many picks in my opinion and that usually doesn't bode well in the transition to the NFL. Not talented enough to be the gunslinger he was in college in the NFL. He's obviously the best QB in the draft, but I think that's because it's sort of a weak draft for the position.
BOOMS:
Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas: Clearly an obvious pick in my opinion. He's the best offensive player in the draft and brings simply mind-blowing speed every play. His character his been raised as an issue, but I think whoever passes on him will be saying "I wish we had taken McFadden" years down the road.
DeSean Jackson, WR California: My first spicy pick. An electrifying college player, but definitely had a bit of a down year in his final year at Cal. He's pretty tiny, but his speed and agility ensures corners will have a long day covering him. He could end up being a great third receiver; at worst he'll be an incredible return man (honestly, go on Youtube and watch his punt returns).
Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU: People have two major knocks against him. He's not big enough and he's too slow. However, I think it's pretty obvious he'll get bigger in the NFL. As for speed? I can't say he plays a position where I care at all about 40 times. His ability to disrupt the backfield reminds me of a young Warren Sapp. After McFadden, he's the best player in the draft.
BUSTS:
Matt Ryan, QB Boston College: This is a big flip flop for me. I was a huge Matt Ryan fan during the season, and with all due respect he was a great college player. With that said, I think he's going to suck in the NFL. I see him being taken by the Falcons at pick number three. So right away, an absolutely terrible team that is starting over from top to bottom drafts him. This means he'll be on a bad team for at least three seasons (no fault of his own, but I think it still counts). He throws a few too many picks in my opinion and that usually doesn't bode well in the transition to the NFL. Not talented enough to be the gunslinger he was in college in the NFL. He's obviously the best QB in the draft, but I think that's because it's sort of a weak draft for the position.
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