How Much Stock Do You Put in NFL Draft Picks?

[Slim Pickns]

Something that has always bugged me about most teams and GM's in the NFL is how they treat there draft picks. Teams are so reluctant to trade their first round pick for a bonified stud at times despite the ample number of first round busts.

The Minnesota Vikings traded Randy Moss for a first round pick, and ended up with a guy they were eventually willing to give up for a sixth round pick. Now, had Randy gone on to put up his usualy numbers this would have been a steal (though NE got the best part of this deal in the long run). My point is, I think teams put too much stock in the first round of the draft. They hold on to their draft picks like they are golden when there is a high chance they will draft a dud.

Do teams put too much stock in the draft or do I underrate the first round picks?

 

[NFLJunkie]

Something that has always bugged me about most teams and GM's in the NFL is how they treat there draft picks. Teams are so reluctant to trade their first round pick for a bonified stud at times despite the ample number of first round busts.

The Minnesota Vikings traded Randy Moss for a first round pick, and ended up with a guy they were eventually willing to give up for a sixth round pick. Now, had Randy gone on to put up his usualy numbers this would have been a steal (though NE got the best part of this deal in the long run). My point is, I think teams put too much stock in the first round of the draft. They hold on to their draft picks like they are golden when there is a high chance they will draft a dud.

Do teams put too much stock in the draft or do I underrate the first round picks?

Its really about what the team needs. If it needs youth at a certain position, it will gobble up all the draft picks it can get. Take the chiefs for example. They had 15 selections I believe in this years draft. Now, while they all might not make the team the chances of 1-3 stars coming out of that are high. Glenn Dorsey, Brandon Albert, and Brandon Flowers. Key players at DT, OL, and CB. All excelled at college. If those 3 out of 15 become big, the Chiefs immediately have a much improved team.

Now if teams need Studs for example, they will trade their picks away to get good players now. Maybe its a coach under some heat, or the city is at unrest over no playoff appearances, super bowl wins, etc. Take San Diego for instance. They got Chris Chambers last year mid season for a draft pick to Miami. Norv Turner was being watched and besides for Gates, the receivers were only doing decent. Miami needed youth seeing as their dismal season was only getting worse. They stocked piled a draft pick and Chambers went to a better situation for him and contributed immediately. Win-Win.

 

[klunderbunker]

I don't usually put much stock into them, just as I put little if any stock at all into college recruiting. I live in Lexington, Kentucky and attend the University of Kentucky, the alma matter of one Tim Couch. While I disagree with this, he is considered one of the biggest busts of all time. Guys like him and Ryan Leaf were destined to be the best quarterbacks in the league, and look at them now. Couch is currently a qb coach at my old high school, and Leaf's only job is to cause the Charger's GM nightmares. To me, there is no such thing as a guaranteed pick. Look at Tom Brady. He was the 199th pick, and now he's going to walk into the Hall of Fame. When he was drafted, he was more than likely seen as a backup at his absolute best. I don't put stock into the picks as there's such a huge jump between the college and pro game. Some times the predictions are right, others they're wrong.