WHEELER-DEALER 99 CENT STORE MOCK:

Apr 22, 2005, by Nick

In a down year for difference-maker talent, it’s a given that no NFL team wants to pay a $20,000,000 bonus to any of our 2005 blue chip QB prospects. The solution is simple:

A) Every war room shreds their copy of Jimmy Johnson’s trading down value point system… or maybe you just file it away for next year, but simple economics says you can’t save money and trade down if you don’t have the right bait in your trap.

B) You make sure Braylon Edwards is the first pick, thereby setting a cap-top based on the market value for a WR, not the exorbitant and risk-filled QB market price.

It’s time to deviate from the consensus and have a little fun. So, with dollar values capped to a fair thee well, and trading down values slashed to outlet mall prices, in a utopian world here is how we envision our trade-crazy, “attention K-mart Shoppers” top of round one:
(*denotes trade)

1) *REDSKINS – Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan
(Only the Daniel pays close to QB $ for a WR, meanwhile Niners save $, load up with two round one picks and a later round pick)

2) *EAGLES - Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn
(Perfect answer for Westbrook insurance. The ‘Fins move back #31, plus the Eagles have a billion extra picks in rounds 2-7. Saban gets ‘em all, and uses his college acumen to make the most of them, Patriots-style)

3) *VIKINGS – Troy Williamson, WR, S. Carolina
(They want to get ahead of the Titans for a speedy WR, Savage delighted to get both their #1’s)

4) *CHARGERS - Mike Williams, WR, USC (They make their move for the marquee So-Cal player and fill a need)

5) BUCCS – Alex Smith, QB, Utah (Gruden’s moist for his next Gannon, and he falls right into his lap)

6) TITANS – Antrelle Rolle, CB, Miami

7) *BROWNS – Cadillac Williams, RB, Auburn

8) CARDINALS – Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn (and yes, the Shelton/Henry deal happens)

9) *NINERS – Aaron Rogers, QB, CAL
(local boy on the cheap, plus a bonus round one pick)

10) LIONS – Pacman Jones, CB, W. VA

11) COWBOYS – Derrick Johnson, OLB, TEXAS

12) *BEARS – Shawne Merriman, DE, MARYLAND

13) TEXANS – Cedrick Benson, RB, TEXAS (Home state Texas draw, with power to balance Dom Davis)

14) PANTHERS – Alex Barron, T, FSU (Everything in Carolina begins with the OL, now Gross gets to settle in)

15) CHIEFS – David Pollack, DE, Georgia
(He’s zooming up the charts, Chief D gives up more ground than the French army)

16) SAINTS – Mark Clayton, WR, OKLAHOMA
(The Saints never do the expected. They hold on to DE Howard for depth & solve Stallworth’s case of the dropsies)

17) BENGALS – Marcus Spears, DE, LSU

18) *BROWNS – Erasmus James, DE, WISCONSIN
(Not the next Courtney Brown)

19) RAMS – Jammal Brown, T, Oklahoma (Need Turley replacement)

20) COWBOYS – Fabian Washington, CB, NEBRASKA

21) JAGS – Justin Miller, CB, Clemson

22) RAVENS – Travis Johnson, DT, FSU
(You can never have enough in the middle, and they got jumped in the WR game)

23) SEAHAWKS – Matt Jones, WR/QB/TE, ARKANSAS

24) PACKERS – Demarcus Ware, DE, TROY STATE

25) *NINERS – Matt Roth, DE, IOWA

26) RAIDERS – Brodney Pool, S, Oklahoma

27) FALCONS –- Corey Webster, CB, LSU

28) *BEARS – Darryl Blackstock, OLB, VA