The Biggest Losers: The 2006 NFL Draft

by Frank M. Henkel

The only article funnier than a mock draft article is the one that grades a
draft the day it takes place. A quick glance of Pete Prisco’s draft grades show
that the Texans failed miserably with the first overall pick, but somehow
managed, along with six other teams, to get an “A” for the weekend. Mel Kiper,
traditionally stingier with the high marks, failed to divvy out a single high
mark to any of the 32 teams, but like Prisco, did not admonish any of them with
“D’s” or “F’s”, either.

So who is right? Which team had the best draft this weekend? Honestly, nobody
will know that for at least five years. The reason so many “experts” grade the
draft before the ink dries is because we love to read the grades.

Several things, though, are immediately evident. Certain players lost a lot of
money on Saturday. A couple of general managers sent clear messages to their
respective coaching staffs. A couple of teams were outfoxed. Although we will
not know the true busts of this year’s draft for the better part of a decade,
the real losers are already well defined. Let us look at five of the biggest
losers from the 2006 NFL Draft.5. Jeremy Bloom, WR, Colorado – Picked 147th overall by the Philadelphia
Eagles, Bloom was once a top receiving prospect for the Buffaloes. Unfortunately
for Colorado fans, Bloom’s second passion is skiing, which requires paid
sponsorships to reach top levels. These sponsorships ultimately interfered with
his amateur status, and therefore his football eligibility.

Had he continued the torrid pass catching pace he set as an underclassman (19.1
YPC), his agent would be about to negotiate a multi-million dollar deal. As it
stands, he will probably make close to the minimum after signing a five-year
deal.

4. The Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens traded their sixth round pick to
Cleveland so they could move up one spot in the first round. Baltimore ended up
selecting Haloti Ngata, a nose tackle from Oregon, with the pick. Why would they
move up one spot? Ngata has a reputation of taking plays off, which undoubtedly
does not sit well with work-minded head coach Romeo Crennel. The Browns’
pre-draft signing of Pro Bowl nose tackle Ted Washington should have told the
Ravens that the Browns were not going NT this early in the draft.

So why did the Ravens surrender the late-round pick to the Browns? The student
outfoxed the master on this one. The Ravens fell in love with Ngata, and it cost
them a sixth rounder. Only time will tell if Ngata makes it to the Hall of Fame,
or if the traded pick, Babatunde Oshinowo, even makes it to opening day on
Cleveland’s roster. In any case, Ozzie Newsome is smarter than this, and looked
foolish when the smoke cleared.

3. Marcus Vick – This guy fell from “better than his brother” to
completely out of the draft in three short years. Make that three short months.
After a couple of minor scrapes with the law following his freshman year that
saw him kicked out of school, Marcus came back strong last year and led Virginia
Tech to a Gator Bowl win. However, after maliciously trying to injure Louisville
defensive end Elvis Dumervil in the Gator Bowl and more traffic violations, VT
head coach Frank Beamer told Vick to pack his bags. Vick decided to go pro
instead of playing in Division I-AA.

Nobody drafted him. In today’s NFL world of win at all costs, and do it right
away, that is a big statement. Had the Hokies not expelled Marcus, he would have
been a first-day draft selection. Instead, he does not even have a team. Will he
play at all? Quarterbacks, especially athletic ones with powerful arms of good
size, go for a premium in pro ball, but problematic personalities are finding it
harder and harder to catch on these days.

2. USC Football – It wasn’t exactly a banner weekend for the national
runners-up. Let us review: Reggie Bush somehow falls out of the top spot on
draft day eve. Matt Leinert fell to number ten. Winston Justice, who yours truly
picked to go in the top ten, slid to the second round. So did LenDale White!
News of Reggie Bush’s parents living rent-free in a million-dollar mansion
preceded news that Leinert and teammate Dwayne Jarrett had a $4,000/month,
(virtually) rent-free pad last season as well! With all of the scandals, talent
loss, and team problems currently facing the Trojans, Pete Carroll might just
decide to go back to the NFL, and USC will once again play UCLA in the annual
“PAC-10 Fifth Place Bowl”.

1. Matt Leinert – Speaking of Leinert, does anyone remember how everyone
praised him for staying in school last year? If you were one of them, you owe
him about $40 Million. That’s what it cost him to play another year at USC. Had
Leinert entered the 2005 draft, he presumably would have been the first overall
selection, and would have received Alex Smith’s contract.

Instead, he gets Mike Williams’ deal, with a small bump. Comparing the
contracts, Leinert lost about $20 Million in guaranteed money alone, making him
King Loser this year. To top it off, he gets to play for the Chicago Cubs of the
NFL, the Arizona Cardinals, who have not won an NFL title since George Halas and
Curley Lambeau were coaches.