Draft Summary

Here's my overall impression of this year's draft: Meh.

Bruce Allen went for athletic ability with the Aqib Talib pick. That's fine, and it's something you can't coach, but with a first round pick, you want the whole package. If anyone can turn him around, though, it's Raheem Morris. Still, Mike Jenkins (CB, South Florida) and Brandon Flowers (CB, Virginia Tech) were both still available.

Dexter Jackson was a good pick, he just needs to work onhis hands. I've read various opinions that the Bucs reached for him in the second round, but did you see how many wide receivers went in the second? It was a feeding frenzy on wide receivers. I don't think he would have lasted until the Bucs' third round pick. I only wish they would have taken more than one wide receiver.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Jeremy Zuttah. The Bucs may want to use him as the ultimate swing man; the player who can backup any position on the line. Well, ok. But a career backup in the third round? The only real unsettled position on the line for a starter is left tackle, and there are two perfectly capable guys in competition for it. I would rather they took Mario Manningham (WR, Michigan), who I'm not a fan of, but at least it's a position that needs some work.

Dre Moore in the fourth round is a steal. Hell, they could have taken Moore in the third and then Tashard Choice (RB, Georgia Tech) instead of waiting until the seventh round for a running back. That would have been so much better.

Josh Johnson is the most intriguing pick. Another project quarterback, but he probably pushes Chris Simms and Bruce Gradkowski out of Tampa. Everyone pretty much knew Johnson was coming to the Bucs, it was just a matter of when. I think the fifth round is just about right.

Geno Hayes should probably have gone undrafted. He'll be camp meat and maybe wind up on the practice squad if he doesn't get arrested before August. Someone start a pool. If the Bucs just had to take a linebacker for some unknown reason, wouldn't Bo Ruud have been a more logical pick? Maybe there's someone on the team he could emulate?

Cory Boyd is more camp meat, but has some potential. Remember, Earnest Graham went undrafted, so it's certainly possible for a low-round running back like Boyd to make an impact sometime in the future. But I still would rather have seen the Choice pick earlier and then use this one on someone like Lionel Dotson (DT, Arizona).

So basically what I'm saying is that I could have done better. I know everybody says that, but they're all full of shit. Me, though... I'm serious. I totally would have nailed this draft hard. And it would have liked it.

I haven't had the chance to go through all the contest entries yet. I'll probably finish that tomorrow night and have the winner up on Wednesday. There were a lot of entries -- thanks to everyone who took a shot at it.