2006 NFL Draft
5:05 PM EST Monday, February 27 2006
After reading Michael Smith's article on the top 3 QB prospects, I think the picks at the top of the draft is getting pretty clear:
- Texans - Reggie Bush
- Saints - Matt Leinart
- Titans - Jay Culter
Now here's where it gets interesting. The Jets are at 4 with Vince Young available. My advice to the Jets? Trade down. My reason is this: I have no faith in Vince Young's ability to pass. In the NFL, you must pass to be successful. Running helps QB's, but only if you use to keep plays alive and run if you have to. Guys who do/did this well are John Elway, Steve Young, Donovan McNabb, and Ben Rothlisberger. Guys like Randell Cunningham and Michael Vick are impressive, but they don't lead teams to Super Bowls. Some team will likely give you a lot for Vince Young (the Ravens, for example), but in the long run I think you are better off trading down.
And I'm saying this honestly to Jets fans. I don't want Vince Young on the Ravens, but I think if we make any move on draft day, he's the guy we will do it for. I don't see what we could offer any of those top 3 teams to get Leinart or Culter. My bet though is that some other team (Oakland?) ends up with Young, either through trade or slipping down. I think the Ravens are headed for an inevitable clash with the Kerry Collins era, which should lead to a few more semi-hopeful, almost/barely-playoff making seasons, in which we never convince anybody even for a minute that we are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
