Alright, time to have some fun with this. More than likely I will never do another one like these again but today, I have too much time on my hands so I figured, "screw it, let's do it."
1. New Orleans Saints: David Joyner (SS)
Easily the safest and most valuable position player in today's league. Teams like the Dolphins, Panthers, Titans, and Colts proved that there is no such thing as having too many elite defensive backs. This will be a trend you will see early in the 1st round. This is more than likely the start of a dynasty for the New Orleans Saints and Joyner will be around for multiple seasons to witness it.
2. Houston Texans: Lance Aparicio (MLB)
Classic AI failure. Aparicio does not meet the necessary standards of today's game. Although he is not totally destroyed yet, that may come after training camp but for now, let's be optimism about a successful career.
3. Oakland Raiders: Michael Keeley (SS)
A high risk player for the Raiders but shows plenty more upside than Joyner if he booms. The second top ranked DB off the board will hopefully bring new life to the Raiders defense. That or he'll be traded to a Super Bowl contending team like the Dolphins, Browns, or Titans by the time his rookie contract runs out.
4. Cleveland Browns: Geno Edington (CB)
Who in their right mind gifted the Cleveland Browns a top 5 pick?!?!?!?!?! And with that pick, the Cleveland Browns drafted another cornerback to add to their list of failed DBs drafted in the first round. I'm serious when I say that, go back in the last 5-10 years and name me a DB that the Cleveland Browns drafted in the first round that went on to boom at training camp. Now watch as Geno Edington actually has a good training camp and I get roasted pretty hard for roasting the Browns inability to draft a DB.
5. Green Bay Packers: Wayne Miller (RG)
Wow, an AI drafting a good player. Wayne Miller is an excellent pick and will be a dominant blockers in the league for the first 10 years. Excellent pick!
6. LA Rams: George Daniels (WLB)
Easily the best LB prospect in this draft class. Amazing that he fell all the way to the Rams at number 6. The Rams will have a fun toy to play with in Daniels. Line him up at LB, Edge, or DB and he will dominate wherever you put him.
7. Atlanta Falcons: Charles Ford (RG)
I have to give credit to the Falcons for not picking a QB with their top 10 pick despite have 2 old QBs that are well pass their primes. They did need a rebuild in the OL and Ford is the right guy to pick to help improve that woeful OL. Don't believe me, look at the sacks allowed and their RBs average rushing attempts last season. That should be enough to prove about how poor that OL was.
8. Chicago Bears: David Ezell (WLB)
Another fun gadget player on defense that improve the Chicago Bears LB core and overall, their defense. Smart move.
9. New England Patriots: Rick Randolph (RB)
Surprise move for the Patriots to go with a RB with this pick. Upon further inspection on the roster, it does make sense... to an extent. A RB group with an average of less than 3 yards per carry is awful. Their are only two ways to fix it, draft more OL to hopefully solve this problem or draft a new RB. The Patriots chose to draft a new RB, only time will tell if this was the right move or not.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Pablo Johnson (MLB)
This was a necessary move for the Eagles as they had no MLB and an extremely thin LB depth in general. Whether this was right move or not is up for debate. The Eagles have now spent a 1st round pick in the last 3 drafts rebuilding their LB core with their last 2 turning into massive hits. I highly expect the same outcome with this pick.
11. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Whalen (CB)
One of the last elite DBs available in this draft. He may not have the speed but he does have the potential of being a shutdown corner if he develops correctly in training camp.
12. Baltimore Ravens: Mark Fidler (QB)
This is an interesting pick to say the least. Fidler is not considered the best QB in this draft class yet he ended up being the first one picked up. Accuracy is going to be his biggest red flag but if he develops well, he should hopefully improve on his accuracy as the season progresses.
13. New York Giants: Ricky Fletcher (RB)
Number Nicholson prime days are past him now. The Giants are preparing for the future and Ricky Fletcher appears to be the future RB for the Giants. He will have a great RB to learn from as well.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Matthew Bowen (SS)
Bowen will hopefully be able to provide an elite bright future for the Steelers' secondary. This was a position of need for the Steelers and they hopefully have selected correctly. Otherwise, the Steelers will continue to struggle with a mediocre secondary.
15. Denver Broncos: Anthony Heeter (MLB)
A speedy LB is exactly who the Broncos needed for their defense. If they want any chance at being able to beat the Chargers for the division title they will need as many elite defensive pieces as possible.
16. Kansas City Chiefs: John Smither (CB)
What he lacks in speed can hopefully translate into his skill sets. That is assuming he has a good training camp. Every AFC West team took whom they considered the best defensive prospects so far. It is vital if any of them are to have any chance at the division crown.
17. Washington REDSKINS: Michael Moulton (WR)
Speed is an absolute necessity in today's game. However the Michael Moulton comes with some risks. He as the speed but can he catch. Moulton has a lot of similarities to John Ross (NFL) which is not a good sign.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyler Ortega (CB)
With the wave of skilled DBs gone, the Jaguars decide to go with a speedy corner to make up for the mediocre skill set. Is Ortega the piece that can take the Jaguars to the postseason in this new millennium remains to be seen but there is some promise with this pickup.
19. New York Jets: Michael Smith (WR)
Definitely the safest receiver in this draft. Good pick for the Jets who continue to make me worried about how good their roster really is.
20. Atlanta Falcons: Larry Coleman (MLB)
Despite rumors that the Falcons were trying to trade for a RB that ultimately fell through the Falcons decided to draft a need at defense. The defense is in shambles after trading away their star safety yet overpaying for an elite corner. The Falcons don't know if they are tanking or contending. Which only means one thing... they are mediocre at best.
21. San Francisco 49ers: Jason Cortez (LDE)
The 49ers won by doing absolutely nothing. Cortez fell on their laps, and he will make all 20 teams regret passing on him. Watch and wait. Excellent steal for the 49ers.
22. Miami Dolphins: Erik Piazza (LT)
The Dolphins continue to do what has worked for them in the past. In this example, The Dolphins managed to jump to the 22nd pick by trading away a RB who was smothered in their depth chart. What do they do with that pick? They draft... an OL? A surprising move considering a few other positional needs but this most likely means Miami is preparing to throw out more key pieces from their championship roster to retool for a younger roster. Will it work? We'll find out at training camp.
23. Detroit Lions: Larry Torres (TE)
Torres has more of an OL build and he lacks speed at the TE position. Perhaps his catching ability can make up for the lack of speed.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Seely (WR)
The Cardinals are running out of time to continue their dynasty. The roster is aging and they need to put some youth in that offense. Starting with a new weapon for their QB.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Matthew Griffin (TE)
I don't know if this is an AI fail or win. On one hand he actually has some good TE skills but on the other hand, he is slower than the previous TE. Depending on his usage, he may end up being a borderline starter.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Louie Edwards (WLB)
Edwards will be more of a skill WLB than the typical speed WLB. He also may have some use as an edge and a dominant run stopper.
27. Buffalo Bills: Chris Crawford (MLB)
No matter what way you look at this pick, their is a serious problem with the Buffalo Bills. They are in cap ****. They more than likely will not be able to afford any of their draft picks. So this pick should be taken with a grain of salt.
28. New York Jets: Fernando Carson (CB)
Another good speedy corner off the board. The Jets continue to put fear in the hearts of the Dolphins with elite weaponry on both sides of the ball.
29. Cincinnati Bengals: Carl Pickens (WR)
With a small window of opportunity, the Bengals add yet another elite weapon to hopefully add to their push for a Super Bowl. They were just short on making a Super Bowl run but now adding more weapons to their already elite offense should make them a legit Super Bowl contender. Pickens only red flag is the lack of speed, but if he can overcome that hurdle, he should be elite.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Roland Beck (WLB)
Questionable pick but if the need for speed, it makes sense. The only issue with Beck is that his skills are mediocre and will need to have a great training camp to boost those stats. How hard is he willing to put that effort in though?
31. Chicago Bears: Harold Brown (DT)
Good positional need for the Bears. He may not rack up the sacks but he should be an excellent run stopper for the Bears.
32. Tennessee Titans: Jose Carter (WR)
High risk but high rewards for the Titans if Carter has a good training camp. He has the eliteness but was passed up on due to his high risk. But still an excellent pick by the Tians.
