Picking the NFL's winners and losers
NFL DRAFT
Sam Farmer's thoughts on some of the weekend's maneuverings, bold, brash and downright bizarre.
NEW YORK -- Let's be honest: It's almost impossible to say which teams are winners and losers in the immediate aftermath of the NFL draft. It takes at least two years to figure out the true diamonds, dogs, reaches, bargains and busts of any draft class.
Only time will tell if Jacksonville gave up too much to leapfrog 17 spots in the first round to take Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey with the eighth pick, or if New England truly got the best special-teams prospect in the draft Sunday by using No. 153 to take UCLA's Matthew Slater.
That said, it's pretty clear some teams should feel good about what they did, whereas others should have their fingers firmly crossed. One man's thoughts on some of the weekend's maneuverings, bold, brash and downright bizarre:
The Jaguars gave up a boatload for Harvey, sending Baltimore their 26th pick, two third-rounders (71 and 89) and a fourth-rounder (125). Plus, they also have to pay him top-10 money. That's too much for a guy who, while admittedly is very good, tended to disappear for stretches in college. . . .
The Ravens made some shrewd moves, jumping back up to 18 to take Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco. There wasn't a lot separating the top four passers in this draft, and a lot of scouts really liked Flacco. The Ravens are praying this isn't another Kyle Boller situation, a good prospect with a huge arm who just doesn't produce at the next level. . . .
Rashard Mendenhall was an absolute steal for Pittsburgh at 23. He's better than every running back in this class but Darren McFadden, and why the Cowboys passed on him at 22 is beyond me. . . .
Felix Jones is a good change-of-speed option for Dallas, but the Cowboys had a chance to get an every-down back. . . .
If Mario Manningham had off-the-field problems in Ann Arbor, it's not going to get any easier for him living in New York City. At least the Giants won't pressure him to produce right away; they've already got some pretty good receivers. . . .
Jacksonville's two new USC players, Thomas Williams and Chauncey Washington, can only hope they'll do as well as UCLA brethren Maurice Jones-Drew and Marcedes Lewis have done there. . . .
The Giants needed a safety to replace Gibril Wilson, so it was logical they would take Miami's Kenny Phillips with the last pick in the first round. But Arkansas State's Tyrell Johnson will be a better pro than Phillips, and Johnson lasted until Minnesota took him in the middle of the second. . . .
