Lunch pailers

The draft puts the incoming class of football players in an organized job fair. The teams all approach the draft with different needs, different assets, and different characteristics that they value. For instance, there was a debate two years ago when the Houston Texans selected defensive end Mario Williams over running back Reggie Bush. Bush was undoubtedly the most dynamic player in the draft. He was seen as the ultimate difference-maker because he always had his hands on the ball. He would score touchdowns and sell tickets. But Williams could be signed to less money with less chance of a hold-out. And he was less injury-prone, as he didn't touch the ball at all. The move to take Williams over Bush marked a switch in philosophy, I think. The Texans exemplified the changing philosophy, that teams were no longer wiling to invest in flash. They realized that they were better off taking the lunch-pail toting workman over the bling of a playmaker. The diva wide out, the media-hungry running back, the stud quarterback? No. Now it's the high-motor defensive end or the solid-as-a-rock left tackle.

Draft everything

Hello, and welcome to th 2008 CPA draft, and after losing first round picks in the past five drafts, Arthur Anderson is on the board with the first pick. CPAs, engineers, the military; everyone should draft. Every year the worst school in the nation should have the first pick and choice of any teacher in the country. She's got a wicked classroom presence, great standardized testing potential, and she coaches field hockey! Score, nice pick! Next on the clock, PS 132. It would make every profession much more interesting to the average person. The steel workers draft, the pilot draft, the chef draft. This could work, no?

Smart teams trade down

The Patriots lost their first round pick for stealing signals (see X-gate, in this case Spygate) and still had the #7 pick in the draft. How? They traded into the future last year, giving up an extra pick that they had to the 49ers, getting a pick this year in return. In doesn't seem smart at first glance, but it is. The 49ers actually got back into the first round this year by giving up a pick at the top of the second round last year to the Colts. Getting a pick in the future is an investment and an asset that can be used in trade negotiations. It's smart business.

Draft weekend winners

The big winner was the Kansas City Chiefs, who pocketed maybe the best player in the draft (DT Glenn Dorsey) at #5, traded down, traded back up and took a highly-touted offensive lineman (OG/OT Branden Albert) at #15. They got great value in the second round, too, snagging a first-round quality cornerback (Brandon Flowers) with pick #35. Other than the Chiefs, the Ravens and the Eagles made good moves (I can't vouch for their picks, though) and the Dolphins made the most out of what has become an unenviable position, the #1 pick.