NFL Draft Winners – Fringe to Legit Super Bowl Contenders

NFL DRAFT: COULD ANYONE TAKE A LEAP?

When teams make selections in the NFL Draft, it is not always a matter of getting immediate help, but laying the groundwork for something that could bear fruit in the future. The Detroit Lions don’t expect Matthew Stafford to be the savior right away, but they want to plant the seed for a winner two or three years down the road. We want to take a look at those clubs who are not far from getting to a Super Bowl, and whether they may have made some additions that fit important pieces to a puzzle that may get them there THIS season.

Here are some of the teams I felt may have made strides in that direction, and improved their "futures" chances of getting through their respective conferences:

NEW YORK GIANTS (+450 to win NFC at BetOnline) – The Giants needed to go get receivers to replace Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, and they were looking for some size at that position. They grabbed Hakeem Nicks, who some thought was as good as anyone, and added 6’6" Ramses Barden out of Cal-Poly who was a hero in a near-upset of Wisconsin last season. Barden doesn’t have a lot of speed, but he could be an interesting proposition on third downs. Travis Beckum gives them a backup tight end who will have to overcome injuries, but would have been drafted a round higher (he went in the third) if he hadn’t gotten hurt in his senior year. Andre Brown of N.C. State will be a third down back for them, and he supplies a pass catcher out of the backfield. Clint Sintim is an outside linebacker (from Virginia) who some thought had first-round talent. Rhett Bomar was a fifth-round steal, and the former Oklahoma signal-caller (who transferred to Sam Houston State after being kicked out of the program) will eventually become Eli Manning’s backup. A lot of these are role players who will fit in right away, and the Giants are at the point where they just need some key roles filled in order to get back to the Super Bowl.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (+650 to win NFC at BetOnline) – Clearly, Eagles management was catering to Donovan McNabb when looking for draft selections this year. Jeremy Maclin might be the best receiver in this draft, and someone who can not only go coast-to-coast at any time, but will also be able to do some return work if that’s what Philadelphia wants. He makes for an interesting combo with DeSean Jackson, because both of them can really run with the ball. LeSean McCoy is someone who fills a need for them – a running back who can take some of the pressure off Brian Westbrook. Cornelius Ingram of Florida could be something at tight end, but he’ll have to get by his torn ACL. You also have to figure Jason Peters, the Pro Bowl left tackle, as someone who is a product of this draft, since the Eagles gave up first and fourth-rounder’s this year for him.

ATLANTA FALCONS (+1200 to win NFC at BetOnline) – The Falcons made a strong statement that they intend to win now when they traded next year’s second-rounder to the Chiefs for Tony Gonzalez. Peria Jerry, the defensive tackle for Ole Miss, helps them address one of their glaring needs which is to stop the run, something they didn’t do very well last year. It’s tough to say whether safety William Moore of Missouri, the #2 pick, will be a standout or a role player with this team, but he and third-rounder Christopher Owens will play at least some role. The guy with some upside is defensive end Lawrence Sidbury Jr. of Richmond, who came on the fourth round and is going to help with situational pass-rushing.

HOUSTON TEXANS (+2000 to win AFC at BetOnline) – It depends on whether you think Houston can elevate itself quickly to be a contender. After two straight 8-8 finishes, they may be ready to make the leap. They keep gathering building blocks for the defense; this time it is Brian Cushing, the USC linebacker, and pass rusher Connor Barwin of Cincinnati who got the nod. Brice McCain, a corner who ran a 4.31 forty-yard dash at the combine, is an interesting proposition but lacks size. This is a very competitive division, but the Texans, who can score, are not that far from positioning themselves for a wild card run.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (+1600 to win AFC at BetOnline) – The Jags had massive offensive line casualties last year, so they simply went out and got two of the better tackles in the draft. Eugene Monroe of Virginia was considered by some people I know to be the best overall player available, and Eben Britton of Arizona had a first-round rating by many people. Cornerback Derek Cox of William & Mary, the third-round selection, is a big-time sleeper. Jarrett Dillard of Rice was a highly productive receiver who won’t necessarily solve Jacksonville’s problems there, but will fit in somewhere. I’m betting seventh-round compensatory picks Rashad Jennings of Liberty and Tiquan Underwood will make the roster and find some role to play with the Jags. Zach Miller played option quarterback at Nebraska, then transferred to Nebraska-Omaha after Bill Callahan took over the Huskers. He is projected as a tight end and has speed. He’s another sleeper. The only curiosity was wide receiver Mike Thomas of Arizona. For a team that went through some headaches with Matt Jones, it’s surprising that they would take Thomas since he had a big problem dealing with his coaches.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (+2200 to win AFC at BetOnline) – The Dolphins will have to play a tougher schedule this coming season, and Vontae Davis of Illinois, the first-round pick, comes to Miami with a lot of baggage (and Miami is one place you don’t want to bring a lot of baggage). Sean Smith of Utah becomes a corner who might be able to start soon for this team, and Chris Clemons, the fifth-round pick out of Clemson, is a speed burner. A lot of people criticized the Dolphins for spending a second-round selection on Pat White of West Virginia, I see it differently. When you made a big move last season, partially because you installed the "Wildcat" or "spread" or whatever you want to call it, you not only owe it to yourself to add personnel that is suited to it, but you also need to take it to the next level. Many of the other teams who are now using the package themselves will be better prepared for it so they needed to add new dimensions. Miami got the one player in the draft who is ideal for this scheme, and he’ll add the element of someone who can pass or run equally well out of the formation. They’ll be able to use it on more snaps, and more efficiently than with Ronnie Brown at the controls, and will make defensive coordinators spend more time game-planning for it.

This is by no means the end of this conversation. We’ll talk more about it next week.