Following an exciting first round, we break down the favorite picks, most pleasant and biggest surprises, most under-appreciated pick, worst move and more.
Peyton Manning, Mario Williams, Mike Wallace and Carl Nicks headline an intriguing free agent class that can shift the balance of power this offseason.
The Eagles seemingly came out of nowhere to sign Nnamdi Asomugha as they eye a trip to the Super Bowl.
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Now that the Steve McNair-to-Baltimore saga is finally complete, the offseason QB shuffle is basically complete. There have been some inspired moves, some bizarre moves, and some head scratching moves. Here?s how they break down:
Thumbs Up
Bears signing Brian Griese: I?m not normally a fan of QB controversies, but clearly the Bears could no longer rely on Rex Grossman as their only quality QB. Griese is a capable vet with playoff experience, though he too is coming off a major injury.
Saints signing Drew Brees: New Orleans has weapons, and few QBs better utilize more weapons better than Brees. If his shoulder is sound, the Saints picked up a Pro Bowl QB. If not, his contract allows them to painlessly end the experiment after the season.
Titans dumping McNair/drafting Vince Young: McNair?s best days are gone, and the Titans have a very strong, very young nucleus of talent. Young fits in with the new core as the leader, but with Billy Volek still around, he won?t face the pressure from Day 1.
49ers trading Ken Dorsey for Trent Dilfer: He might never play a down, but Trent Dilfer could be the best thing to ever happen to incumbent Alex Smith. From overwhelmed rookie on lousy team to embattled starter on rising team to respected leader and mentor, Dilfer has lived the road that Smith appears headed down.
Thumbs Down
Bills signing Craig Nall: They already had a QB controversy between JP Losman and Kelly Holcomb, and neither of those guys should be more than a backup. They added a guy who didn?t take a snap last season as Brett Favre?s backup, and threw close to starter money at him to boot. Now they have a 3 headed controversy between guys who are no better than average backups.
Seattle doing nothing: They are fresh from the Super Bowl and have a very good starter in Matt Hasselbeck. But the backups are Seneca Wallace and David Greene, neither with any experience or real potential for ever doing much. The aggressive way Hasselbeck plays dictates the Seahawks need a capable veteran backup who could take over without significant dropoff. They?re taking a huge gamble he stays healthy.
Raiders signing Aaron Brooks: At first glance this seems like an excellent fit. Brooks is a dangerous downfield thrower on a team with great downfield targets. But Brooks has declined 3 straight seasons and struggles mightily under pressure both on the field and the sidelines, something he?s bound to see with the Raiders? deep routes and anxious fans. It also sends a signal that prized prospect Andrew Walter isn?t near ready for prime time, meaning another long season in Oakland.
Thumbs twiddling
Lions signing Jon Kitna and Josh McCown. They actually signed Shaun King too, but mercifully he?s been cut. New OC Mike Martz has achieved great results with lesser pedigreed QBs than these two, and the Lions do have some intriguing weapons. As I stated earlier, though, I am no fan of QB controversies. The similar talent level of these two, both marginally adequate starters, ensures the boobirds will crow long and hard at Ford Field. Kitna has looked excellent in early camps, as has #3 QB Dan Orlovsky, so if any of the three emerge, these twiddling thumbs will turn upward.
Ravens trading for Steve McNair: This is completely dependant on McNair?s health. He?s already been installed as the starter over Kyle Boller, and he?s just 3 season removed from MVP. But his body is years beyond it?s actual age, and Coach Billick has a highly intricate playbook and scheme and a short time for McNair to soak it all in. They probably smashed any chance of Boller ever developing there, so it?s deep playoff run or bust this season for McNair and the Ravens.
The Dolphins acquiring Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington: They get a thumbs up for the Harrington deal, a solid acquisition of an experienced guy with something to prove. Culpepper will return from a major injury, one that is highly likely to either severely hamper his style or cause similar issues in his other knee as he overcompensates. This team needs to win now, as their strong defense is aging and paper thin. That puts enormous pressure on Culpepper to return quickly, a check his body might not be able to cash. Harrington makes a fair insurance policy, but when the pressure is on he tends to wilt. That makes for a very high-risk, high-reward QB scenario in Miami.
Thumbs sucking
Jets signing Patrick Ramsey: They did new coach Eric Mangini no favors by saddling him with the worst QB situation in the league. Ramsey is the definition of ?deer in headlights? at QB. The other options are chronically sore-armed Chad Pennington and should-be-in-the-Arena League Brooks Bollinger. With their relentless media scrutiny and insufferable fans, they needed a major upgrade. They instead picked up Ramsey, a guy with career clipboard holder written all over him.
Eagles signing Jeff Garcia: Sure, Philly has an All Pro starter in Donovan McNabb. But he?s coming back from serious injury, not to mention a colossal choke job in the Super Bowl. The Eagles are primed for another Super Bowl run, but if McNabb misses even one game to injury or struggles, they are in serious danger of missing the playoffs given their tough division. Garcia was as bad in Detroit last season as any QB I?ve ever watched in my 33 years, unable to throw a ball 20 yards and constantly missing reads. A 7th round draft pick offers more than Garcia, but the Eagles failed to draft any help.
