NFL 2009 Draft Report – Percy Harvin Smokes Weed?

Ever since Ross Rebagliati, the Canadian snowboarder who won the Winter Games first Olympic gold medal in snowboarding, was caught red handed smoking weed and got to keep his medal, I’ve taken a very soft stance in terms of drugs that can be considered “performance reducing”. Sure it’s irresponsible, and some may say it’s reprehensible, but it certainly doesn’t help in any way. So when Percy Harvin, the explosive Florida Gators’ receiver, gets caught with a spliff and the pundits lick their chops to take his head off, I have one word of advise: “relax”.

All it really shows is that Harvin made a really dumb decision a few weeks away from one of the biggest days of his life. How does this affect his draft stock? It shouldn’t. That’s the point. The NFL betting is chalk full of dead beat morons who got their fair chances. Matt Jones, anyone?

So let’s breakdown the receivers in this draft while we’re here. Has Harvin’s dumbfounded move killed his chances of being taken in the top two rounds?

1. Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)

Best Case Scenario: Seattle Seahawks (4th Overall)

The only shame here is that Matt Millen is gone from the Detroit Lions. Millen was notorious for blowing his load on receivers with the top overall pick. It’s really a shame. The intense hysteria caused by Millen pulling the trigger on a receiver with the top overall pick in 2009 would have been the best part of the draft. Would everyone be cringing for those five minutes before Millen got up on stage? Would the U.S. military deploy armed services to protect Detroit’s football fans from themselves on draft day? How awkward would it be if he didn’t take a receiver in the first round? Goddamnit, why did you leave us Matt Millen!!!

Crabtree is a solid pick for Seattle, who are already set on the defensive side and really need to find some offensive help for a receiver corps that was decimated by the injury bug. Crabtree is an instant fix for Matt and the Seahawks aerial attack.

2. Jeremy Maclin (Missouri)

Best Case Scenario: Jacksonville Jaguars (8th Overall)

Maclin isn’t exactly what you’d call a game breaker, but he showed flashes of brilliance based on his out of this world athleticism. At 4.46 speed, Maclin can be considered a burner. Overall, he’s got a lot to learn about the game at the NFL level, but as a receiver he has unlimited potential. It really all depends on how well his aptitude adapts to the complexity of an NFL offense.

The problem for Maclin is that he’s likely going to fall to two teams that look abysmal right now. The Jags are coming off the most disappointing season of any NFL team (at least the Green Bay Packers put up points) and if Maclin ends in a place renowned for wide-receiver obscurity.

3. Percy Harvin (Florida)

Best Case Scenario: Indianapolis Colts (27th Overall)

Listen, despite being a little undersized, Harvin is a sick target for any team. He has shown versatility, dependability and (most importantly) reliability in the clutch. Harvin would be the ideal replacement for Marvin Harrison in Indianapolis.

The Colts need help on defense in a big way, but they need to find a compliment to Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez in a hurry and Harvin is the kind of game breaker that could be the ideal fit in Indy while giving Peyton Manning the weapon he needs in light of Harrison’s departure.

4. Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland)

Best Case Scenario: Not In The First Round

Whoever takes Heyward-Bey is looking for a developmental project. He is the atypical receiver who will take at least three years to develop in to a reasonable prospect. Notes on Heyward-Bey include, “bad hands ,questionable instincts, no wiggle, no proven productivity”. I mean I can’t go against the grain all that much, but any team that takes a flier on this guy in the first-round is more than welcome to it. I’d rather take one of the many offensive linemen in this draft, or a strong corner as opposed to this bust-to-be.

5. Hakeem Nicks (UNC)

Best Case Scenario: New York Giants (29th Overall)

Yep, they have football at the University of North Carolina! Nicks is a strong athlete, and that’s to say the most. He’s average in terms of speed and physical presence but shows incredible intangibles. He’s cocky, but in a good way because it leads to productivity. He notched 12 touchdowns and 68 catchs amassing 1,222 receiving yards in the 2008 season. Nicks is a solid route runner, and the Giants need somebody to catch the football in 2009. Coughlin’s coaching style may rub the wrong way with Nicks, but if anyone can get the most of a guy like Nicks, whose work ethic and attitude have been questioned, it’s an iron-fisted coach like Coughlin.

6. Kenny Britt (Rutgers)

Best Case Scenario: Cleveland (2nd round)

Britt is the ideal replacement for Braylon Edwards. Not because they’re both about 6-foot-3, about 215 pound range, and are fantastic at nabbing the jump ball…more so because the one thing I love about Britt’s rap sheet is, “unreliable hands…will drop some balls”. Fantastic. Cleveland sucks.

7. Brian Robiskie (Ohio State)

Best Case Scenario: Tampa Bay (2nd round)

Here’s the issue with Robiskie – he’s limited. Everything he does is outstanding. Reliable hands, great height (apparently you can’t teach that), good body control and an insane work ethic. The downside is what may consider to be his limited athleticism. So you know who he reminds me of? Joe Jurevicius.