NFL Draft Picks
2006 NFL draft picks: Picks 16 thru 20
With the 16th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins grabbed the
University of Tennessee’s best player, defensive back Jason Allen, to add to
their emerging defense. The first thing that jumps out at you about Allen is
that he suffered a serious hip injury halfway through his final collegiate
season. The injury didn’t slow him down at the combine, however, as he recorded
a sub 4.40 40-yard dash time. Because of the injury, I was expecting his stock
to drop some, but this guy was projected as a top 20 athlete in this year’s
draft and with the Dolphins taking him at 16 they must feel he can live up to
it. His speed coupled with his 6’1’’ size, could allow him to develop into one
of the games strongest cover corners, but he has experience at every back field
position and the ability to play them all in the NFL. It’s always a risk taking
a player coming off a serious injury, but we’ve definitely seen players such as
Willis McGahee pan out. Hopefully Allen will work out for the Dolphins.
At number 17, the Minnesota Vikings are getting a steal with Chad Greenway from
the University of Iowa who was rated as a top 13 prospect. He was the 3rd
linebacker taken within the NFC North, but I think he has the potential to be
the best. He’ll be able to start right away for the Vikes who are hurting for an
eventual all pro quality linebacker. His 6’4’’ size allows him to read the play
more quickly than smaller backers and it makes him a bigger asset dropping back
into pass coverage where he made some big plays for the Hawks over the course of
his career. This guy has a nose for the football and will contribute right away
at the next level.
With the 18th pick, the Cowboys get Ohio State’s other highly touted linebacker
Bobby Carpenter. Parcells is excited about Carpenter on the outside of his 3-4
scheme. At 6’3’’, 255lbs., he is a load with surprising 4.66 speed in the 40.
The biggest thing the Cowboys are getting in Carpenter is a guy who plays with
heart and gives maximum effort. If it wouldn’t have been for a broken ankle in
the last game of the season, perhaps we would have seen Carpenter go sooner in
one of the deepest linebacker class’s we’ve seen in years.
The San Diego Chargers are one of the worst teams in recent history at bringing
in quality players to contribute via the draft. Hopefully Antonio Cromartie from
Florida State, who sat out the entire 2005 season following knee surgery, won’t
be another bust. One major theme in this year’s draft was teams going after big
defensive backs who will be able to cover the game’s elite wide outs. Many
experts feel that Cromartie is the best defensive back in this class and that
his injury dropped him down so low. He is a rare combination of 6’3’’ size and
better than 4.40 speed, but he isn’t a physical football player. A lack of
physicality, however, didn’t prevent former FSU great Deion Sanders from
becoming one of the games best corners. The Chargers are taking Cromartie all on
athletic ability and potential as his football savvy is still a big question
mark. He hasn’t shown that he can recognize routes or play effectively in zone
coverage.
The Chiefs grab Tamba Hali, the 3rd defensive end taken in 2006, with the 20th
overall selection. He is a well coached player coming from the Joe Pa school of
football at Penn State, but was probably taken too early. I think the Chiefs
needed to think about getting a better overall player here as there are major
concerns about Hali’s lack of size at the defensive end position. The Chiefs do
need help improving their pass rush, but Hali won’t be the type of defensive end
who will demand a double team which opens holes for blitzers up the middle. He
will probably end up on the weak side and he will likely be playing before he is
ready because of K.C.’s weak defense. Hali will go all out until the whistle is
blown and makes many of his plays on sheer effort. I think the Chief’s were
reaching with this pick and may have been better served to go with Manny Lawson
from NC State who the 49ers took with the 22nd pick.
NFL Picks by Jimmy
Boyd
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