Biggest Winner at the NFL Draft

The NFL draft took place this weekend and several teams had a great weekend by many experts’ opinions. I’m not an expert by any means, but ESPN has guys that have broken down each and every draft pick – they know how much they weigh, how much they bench press, how fast they run, who they hang out with and how many times a week they urinate. It’s absolutely incredible, and the craziest thing is they’re usually correct about a good or bad pick. ESPN.com says that the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys did the best during the draft. From what I know about the guys that each of these teams picked, I would agree and I would also add that the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers both had good drafts as well. These teams not only filled immediate voids on their rosters, they improved their teams for the future by drafting players that will develop and become impact players over the next several years.

The biggest winner during the draft wasn’t a team…it was a player. Or a former player. This kid didn’t play last year and had less desirable workouts for several teams and the at the NFL Combines. I am talking about former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett.

Clarett somehow was the last pick of the 3rd round - Wow. The 101st overall pick and 9th running back selected. He didn’t even play football last year and as I said earlier he had a few less than pleasing workouts. Clarett must have thought he was floating on a cloud, because a few months ago all the talk was that he would be a sixth or seventh round pick…nowhere near the 101st pick overall. And the best part of it all is that he was drafted by the run-happy Denver Broncos and Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Maurice has the style and potential now to be a very good player. In many ways he has the capability to be a 1,000 yard rusher in the Broncos system…Did anybody think that Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary or Reuben Droughns would be so good? No. Maurice is a better pure running back than all of those guys and behind the Denver run blocking schemes should flourish and be productive. Shanahan knows running backs and has said he thinks this was not a gamble, but a smart move.

I’m not a Maurice Clarett fan or hater – I’m just happy that the kid will now have the opportunity to make and play on an NFL team. He was incredible at Ohio State and went through more junk than any kid should have to at such a young age. The people who know him say he’s a good kid and wants to be a good football player. I wish him nothing but the best because hopefully it will let him put all of the lawsuits and allegations and other bad stuff behind him. Now, he’s just another rookie trying to make an impact in the NFL.