Leinart going 10th a surprise
Who would have thought former Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Leinart would drop to the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft after early speculation he would go first overall?
I guess the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted the USC signal caller, must have thought it was Christmas morning seeing the highly touted Trojan wrapped beneath their tree. He?s quite an heir apparent behind former league MVP Kurt Warner, although I?m sure Warner isn?t happy to see his apparent replacement come to the Cardinals.
However, to the franchise, Leinart?s heading to the desert also means they won?t have to hurry him into the starting spot since Warner, barring more concussion problems, should be more than adequate on a team with great receivers and with the edition of Edgerrin James. But for Warner, it also means the writing is on the wall. You don?t bring a high-dollar guy like Leinart in to be backup for five years.
Leinart dropping so far was especially surprising seeing the Jets picked fourth and passed on him to take the best offensive lineman in the draft in D?Brickashaw Ferguson out of Virginia. Many speculated if the Jets didn?t trade up to get Reggie Bush at two to spell an aging Curtis Martin then they would wait and get Leinart at four when it became obvious the Titans were taking Texas quarterback Vince Young with the third overall pick. (Way to go Titans. About time they did something right in a draft.)
Sure, anyone can use a good offensive lineman like Ferguson, but the Jets seem to be hamstrung every year when starting QB Chad Pennington goes down with an injury like clockwork. In case you haven?t noticed, the Jets stink up the league when the incredible breaking man gets hurt. Seems to me it may be time to bring in someone who doesn?t break everytime he gets hit.
The Raiders, who picked seventh and took Longhorn safety Michael Huff, are also in great need of a signal caller to throw to Randy Moss. Sure, they acquired Aaron Brooks in the off-season, but this was a QB who never did a whole lot in New Orleans so I don?t know if I?d be putting a whole lot of faith of him turning around the silver and black.
While Warner is not greeting the drafting of Leinart in Arizona, he isn?t the only starting QB who just got a wake-up call. With the very next pick the Broncos selected Vanderbilt signal caller Jay Cutler, thus drafting the last of the big three quarterbacks in the draft this year. Jake (The Snake) Plummer cannot be happy with this choice given the fact some had said he finally turned the corner this year in his career. Heck, Plummer was a MVP candidate until his meltdown in the playoffs last year and now the Broncos are using their pick for a quarterback. And, like Leinart to Arizona, you don?t waste first round money on a guy who will sit for five years, meaning Jake?s days are numbered in the Mile High City. Plus, this is a team which lost on the Terrell Owens lottery. They are hurting at receiver since their best wideout, Rod Smith, is almost old enough for S.S.I. Yet, they took a QB over the pick of the litter of receivers who could have complemented Jevon Walker who they just acquired.
With all this said, let me just say the selection of Vince Young by the Titans was the right choice. Leinart may be a very good quarterback, but I think Young will fit better with what Nashville is trying to do.