Draft History Game

[mayoclinic]

Thinking about our needs for 2009 and players I like, I started thinking about prior drafts and what could have been. I created the following game:

1. For each round (1-7) and UDFA, pick 1 player each on offense and on defense from the Belichick era (2000-2008) whom we didn't draft that I would love to have had.
2. Must be realistic that we could have gotten the player - i.e., wanting the #1 pick in a year when we had #32 is unrealistic. We must have either picked ahead of the player (in that round or an earlier round) or been within striking distance for a small trade up.
3. Need to be willing to give up one of our actual picks to get the player. For example, I liked Stephen Jackson RB in 2004, but was not willing to give up Vince Wilfork at DT in order to list him.
4. Can't give up a pick multiple times. For example, I would have been willing to give up Ben Watson in 2004 to get Karlos Dansby, so I couldn't give him up in a trade up to get Stephen Jackson.
5. Where possible, I tried to list the player in the upcoming draft who most reminds me of the player I wish we had taken, preferably within the same general area of the draft. This opened up some thoughts about players of interest for 2009.

With that in mind, here's my list. I'd be interested if anyone else wants to play.

OFFENSE

1. Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio St. 5'11", 192#. Went #25 to Pittsburgh. Could have had him at #21 instead of Maroney. Would be spectacular with Moss and Welker.
2009 player most reminscent of Holmes: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. 5'11", 195#, 4.35.

2. Michael Roos, OT, East Carolina. Went #41 to Tennessee in 2005. Could have had him at #32 instead of Mankins, or possibly (unlikely) traded up from #64. As good as Mankins is, a franchis LT is more valuable.
2009 player most reminiscent of Roos: Troy Kropog, Tulane. 6'6", 315#, 4.95.

Alternate: Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State. 6'1", 217#. Went #54 to Arizona in 2003. Could have had him instead of Bethel Johnson at 45.
2009 player most reminiscent of Boldin: Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina. 6'2" 210#, 4.60.

3. Chris Cooley, TE, Utah State. 6'3", 258#. Went #81 to Washington. Could have taken him at #64 instead of Marquis Hill.
2009 player most reminiscent of Cooley: Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina. 6'5", 242#, 4.55.

4. Darren Sproles, RB, Kansas State. 5'6", 181#. Went #130 to San Diego in 2005. Could have moved up from 133 (James Sanders) to get him.
2009 player most reminiscent of Sproles: Devin Moore, RB, Wyoming. 5'10", 191#, 4.40.

5. Michael Turner, RB, Northern Illinois. Went #154 to San Diego in 2004. 5'10", 244#. Could have taken him at #128 instead of Cedric Cobbs.
2009 player most reminiscent of Turner: Rashad Jennings, Liberty. 6'1", 230#, 4.50.

6. The best offensive pick in the 6th round (or any round) since BB became coach was a guy named Brady at QB in 2000. The rest is history. No other pick in this round looks remotely interesting.

7. Marques Colston, WR, Hofstra. 6'4", 225#. Went #252 to New Orleans. Could have taken him at #229 instead of Willie Andrews.
2009 player most reminiscent of Colston: Greg Carr, WR, Florida St. 6'6", 217#, 4.68.

FA: Jason Peters, OT, Arkansas. 6'4", 340#. Taken as a FA by Buffalo in 2004.



DEFENSE:

1. Ed Reed, S, Miami. 5'1", 200#. Went to Baltimore #24 in 2002. Could have taken him instead of Dan Graham at #21.
2009 player most reminiscent of Reed: none.

Alternate: Nnamdi Asomugha, CB/S, Cal. 6'2", 210#. Went to Oakland at #31 in 2003. Could have traded up from #36 (Eugene Wilson) to get him, or taken him instead of Ty Warren at #13.
2009 player most reminiscent of Asomugha: Sean Smith, CB/S, Utah. 6'3", 210#, 4.45.

2. Karlos Dansby, LB, Auburn. 6'3", 253#. Went #33 to Arizona in 2004. Could have taken him at #32 instead of Ben Watson.
2009 player most reminiscent of Dansby: Cliff Sintim, OLB, Virginia. 6'3", 254#, 4.70.

Alternate: Rashean Mathis, CB/S, Bethune-Cookman. 6'1", 190#. Went #39 to Jacksonville in 2003. Could have taken him at #36 instead of Eugene Wilson.
2009 player most reminiscent of Mathis: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama. 6'0", 187#, 4.50.

3. Adrian Wilson, SS, North Carolina St. 6'3", 230#. Went #64 to Arizona in 2001. Would have required a trade up from 3(86) (Brock Williams), but probably feasible.
2009 player most reminiscent of Wilson: William Moore, Missouri, 6'1", 226#, 4.49, or Patrick Chung, Oregon, 6'1", 210#, 4.50.

4. Jared Allen, DE, Idaho State. 6'6", 270#. Went #126 to Kansas City in 2004. Could have taken him instead of Dexter Reid at 113.
2009 player most reminiscent of Allen: Paul Kruger, DE Utah. 6'5", 265#, 4.68.

5. Mike Scifres, P, Western Illinois. 6'2", 236#. Went #149 to San Diego in 2003. Could have had him instead of Dan Klecko at 117. Not really a defensive player, but a major asset to the defense nonetheless.
2009 player most reminiscent of Scifres: Kevin Huber, P, Cincinnati. 6'1", 220#, 4.85.

6. Adalius Thomas, DE/LB, Southern Mississippi. 6'2", 270#. Went #186 to Baltimore in 2000. Could have traded up from 187 (Antwan Harris) to get him 6 years earlier. Would have gone nicely with #199 (Tom Brady).
2009 player most reminiscent of Thomas: Maurice Evans, Penn St. 6'2", 264#, 4.70. Once potential 1st rounder, now late round pick.

7.Cortland Finnegan, CB, Samford. 5'10", 188#. Went #215 to Tennessee in 2006.
2009 player most reminiscent of Finnegan: not sure.

FA: James Harrison, OLB, Kent State. 6'0", 242#. Taken as a FA by Pittsburgh in 2002.