bostoncoug wrote:
Like Lee Corso says, not so fast my friend. Parcells also has a history of drafting #1 overall qb's (Drew Bledsoe) and that turned out all right for the pats (he did prove to be quite the tutor for Tom Brady and all;) ). Personally, I do see parcells trading down for picks. I know the cowboys have two first rounders and all indications are that Jones has a serious man crush on McPherson out of Arkansas. I've even heard reports of the dolphins getting Barber III and their two 1st rounders for the phins #1. I think that's the smart thing to do for the phins.
The Bledsoe example is an aberration in Parcells' long history in the NFL. Drew Bledsoe is the only quarterback that a Bill Parcells team has ever taken in the first round. Since then, the Parcells MO has been to build around a veteran quarterback and to draft unskilled players--Linemen and defensive players. And giving Parcells any credit for Tom Brady is a bit presumptuous as well. The only reason that the Patriots took Brady in round #6 was because Thomas Dimitroff, now GM with the Falcons, was adamant that he be taken in the second round. They got to round 6, saw he was there, and took him. Parcells had nothing to do with that draft pick, if anything, it occurred in spite of him.
Here's what I see happening with the Phins draft. They will trade the top pick. There are enough teams who need a quarterback immediately (Atlanta, Minnesota, Chicago) that they will be able to get value for that pick. At worst, they trade for Minnesota's #18 pick in the first round and their 2nd round pick. At #18, they can still pick up immediate impact at the tackle position--Chris Williams from Vandy and Anthony Collins of Kansas should both still be available, and rate even with Long in skill set, though both are a touch slower, or they could get a first year starter on the defensive end by picking up Sedrick Ellis from USC, who is actually stronger and faster than Dorsey, but less mature.
After their first round pick, that leaves the Dolphins with 2 picks in the second round to address receivers and their secondary. They will not draft a running-back. They have 3 young backs who all rushed for more than 4 YPC last year (Brown, Chatman, Booker), and Ricky Williams is always intriguing....why spend a first day pick on a back when you have 4 guys who rank well above league average in YPC?? They will get greatest value with the #1 pick by getting a lineman who can play immediately--there won't be many of those in round 2 and beyond. They can, however, address the secondary and wide receiver issues as well as add depth to the LB corps and add some project offensive linemen in later rounds.
The greatest benefit in trading that #1 pick is that the Dolphins will suddenly find themselves with a lot of cap space to use in free agency, which happens to be where Parcells likes to find his quarterbacks.
). Personally, I do see parcells trading down for picks. I know the cowboys have two first rounders and all indications are that Jones has a serious man crush on McPherson out of Arkansas. I've even heard reports of the dolphins getting Barber III and their two 1st rounders for the phins #1. I think that's the smart thing to do for the phins.
