In the months between the Super Bowl and the draft, many of us football enthusiasts fill the Sunday void with a mixture of studying draft guides and viewing players' highlight-tape videos on the internet. With nothing but time on our hands and an endless resource (i.e. the internet) at our disposal, many of us set out to become the next Mel Kiper, Jr. Yet, regardless of the level of one's knowledge, the NFL draft always ends up being, to some extent, a crapshoot.
For example, highly paid sports-analysts always speculate about a smorgasbord of trades…but, in reality, teams rarely swap draft picks. Experts create extensive mock drafts…and then the Texans draft Mario Williams with the first overall selection. Highly touted players drop because they are not fast enough (see Jerry Rice)...while mediocre players sky-rocket up draft boards due to spectacular combine work-outs (see Mike Mamula). In short, there is a ton of hoopla, yet not many sure things, when it comes to the draft. (Note: The closest thing to a sure thing is Lions drafting yet another six-foot receiver in the first round.)
So, with my mind racing a mile a minute, rife with a plethora of draft related questions and quandaries, I took a much needed break...and watched a few episodes of "Lost." After one of the more enigmatic episodes, it dawned on me just how similar the NFL draft is to "Lost"…eerily so.
For example, mysteries abound and no one really knows what the outcome of either "show" will be...but, everyone definitely has an opinion about what they think will occur. People use facts and deductive reasoning to support their claims...but, again, no one will actually know for sure if they are correct, until it is all over. Furthermore, part of the reason that people enjoy these two "programs" is the build up, the debates, and the uncertainty about the conclusion; the end result is, in a way, anticlimactic when compared to the process leading up to it.
Thankfully, in a few short days, many of our questions will be answered. Where will Calvin Johnson be drafted: first or fourth? Will Detroit trade down? Do the Browns draft Adrian Peterson or the hometown quarterback (Brady Quinn)? Will Patrick Willis drop down to the Steelers? Where is that island located? What is the deal with the black smoke? And, why has Hurley not lost any weight!?!
Pardon my tangent...but, since I brought it up, Hurley's "numbers" (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) have been mulled over, analyzed, and run through computer systems, in the hopes of deciphering some sort of pattern and/or significance. Alas, no one has yet to figure out their meaning…that is, until now. Little did anyone know, that Hurley's numerical obsession was in fact a coded message about the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft. If you do not believe me, take a closer look at the "numbers."
4
Tampa Bay currently holds this pick…but that, in and of itself, is
unimportant. What is indeed of significance is the fact that Arizona,
who owns the fifth pick, wants and needs Joe Thomas (OT, Wisconsin).
But, if he goes in the top four picks, then the Cardinals are stuck in
a situation where the best available player might not necessarily be
at a position of need for them. In other words, they might be easily
convinced to trade out of that spot.
The rumors are already swirling about a possible trade between the Steelers and Cardinals. It makes sense, because Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm are both familiar and friendly with Pittsburgh's G.M., Kevin Colbert. And, equally important is the fact that Whiz and Grimm are both familiar and friendly with Alan Faneca and Max Starks.
The original rumor (from a month ago) alluded to the Steelers trading Max Starks to Arizona, because the Cardinals need an offensive tackle and the Steelers have Willie Colon waiting in the wings. Then, this week, the idea of the Steelers trading Alan Faneca (who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free-agent after this season) popped up. Many Cardinals fans have questioned why Arizona would trade for Faneca, when they could get him in free agency next off-season. Simply, if Arizona traded for Faneca, the Cardinals front office would have a year to resign him…which is quite plausible, considering how much Faneca likes Whiz and Grimm.
If I were engineering the trade, I would send both Starks and Faneca, plus a second round pick to Arizona, straight up for the fifth overall selection. Then, with the fifth pick, my hopes would be that the Steelers would draft Gaines Adams (LB, Clemson)…who I consider the second best player in the draft. Chances are that Adams would be gone by the fifth pick…but, since all of this is merely delusional speculation anyway, I might as well dream big.
Really though, as crazy as this trade might sound, come draft day, Steelers fans should keep a close eye on the first four picks.
8
This was originally Houston's pick, but now it is Atlanta's. This
pick has relevance to the Steelers, because Buffalo (at twelve) will
either draft a running back or Patrick Willis (LB, Mississippi)…and
the Steelers really want Willis.
