Drafting Gators

Given how many players Miami has had drafted some years and how many players left our national championship roster (17 starters if you count the part time fullback Latsko) that we had nine drafted was hardly surprising. Three of those were in the seventh and only three were first day picks. Befitting how the defense carried us last year seven of them were defenders (Dallas Baker and DeShawn Wynn went in the 7th). There were no major surprises, maybe Joe Cohen was a little high in the 4th and Brandon Siler a little late in the 7th, but neither far from where they should have been. I was a little surprised where Marcus Thomas went (4th round) given his drug habits, but he has the talent to have gone much higher (which I half expected). Jarvis Moss and Reggie Nelson both slipped a bit in the 1st, especially Nelson. Nelson is now supposedly dumb (because he went the Juco route?) but he landed in a great spot as he is on a good defense and can just focus on being a playmaker. Moss supposedly had character issues (again, based on what?) and went to Denver, which is not as good of a fit as Nelson got because the pressure will be on him to be an elite passrusher from day one as they don’t have anyone else (unless Elvis Dumervil takes a step). The other guys who left early did not do well. I mentioned Siler, hero CB Ryan Smith fell to the 6th, although given that his stock might never have been higher it might not have been bad for him to have come out. Wynn was probably the most borderline guy to draft – G/C Steve Rissler the best guy not taken (not Chris Leak – who is a Bear if you are curious) and I would have liked to see Billy Latsko get taken just because he is a good guy. Ray McDonald, Joe Cohen (both of the 49ers via the 3rd the 4th round respectively) and Thomas should see some playing time if not start. Siler (Chargers) will be buried on the bench and special teams, Wynn (Packers) may see some time as Green Bay has nobody established at RB (although they took someone from Nebraska in the 2nd). Even with Pacman Jones suspended for the year Tennessee still has enough CB depth that Smith won’t be playing. Given how limited the Steelers talent at WR is after Hines Ward Baker may see a little action (and no, I have not forgotten about Santonio Holmes).