The continued enthusiasm for the NFL is reaching new heights with this NFL draft. Never before has sports talk radio, magazines, newspapers and of course my favorite the internet, created such a frenzy for big, fast young men. Every possible angle has been considered, thought and re-thought, as to where any and all of these talented players will end up making an especially good living playing a game they love.

The three most talked about quarterbacks are (don’t be too surprised now) Vince Young, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler. Young has athletic skills unseen by most observers and is thought to have the great upside, despite a reported poor Wonderlic test score and an unusual throwing motion for a 6’6 QB. Tennessee is thought to be the place for Young, with Bud Adams the owner, a true Texan wanting one of his own. The coaching staff, which includes HC Jeff Fisher and former OC at USC Norm Chow, supposedly prefer Leinert. If the owner wants a player, guess which one the Titans will take?
 
It is always amazing every year listening to college football announcers say about 240 different players are All-Americans and “this guy will be playing on Sunday’s next year”. By the time the air clears from the bowl games in early January and the trees start to blossom in late April, the fortunes of many of these young men change dramatically for any number of different reasons. This appears to be the case for Matt Leinart. Thought to be a certain number one choice a year ago, Leinart could very well not be the first quarterback taken in this year’s draft. Now Leinart’s mobility and arm strength are being questioned. Is he a product of having a virtual team loaded with NFL draftees, thus making him look better then he is? If the Titans and the Jets pass on him Green Bay would be utterly foolish not to draft him and move Aaron Rodgers, thus taking the salary hit. The Packers are 67-1 to win the Super Bowl at SportInterAction.com, with Bret Favre making a farewell tour. The last QB that fell this far out of favor, was Dan Marino, how did he work out as the 22nd pick?

Jay Culter often led a mediocre team at Vanderbilt; however with exceptional workouts in the off-season he is all but assured of being a top 20 selection, possibly with Arizona or Minnesota.

It would seem natural the New Orleans Saints would now draft Reggie Bush, because he is still the most dynamic player in the entire draft. If the Jets pass on a signal caller, the rebuilding process could start in the offensive line with D’Brickashaw Ferguson. The large quick-footed tackle could be the guy that fills a hole for the Jets for the next decade as they are considered a distant third in the AFC East at most sportbooks. Most draft boards have Ohio State’s A.J. Hawk headed to the frozen tundra of Green Bay. His uncanny combination of speed, strength, athleticism and intensity make him a natural pick for a team sorely lacking defensive playmakers.

San Francisco needs to start collecting offensive weapons for last year’s number one pick overall Alex Smith. A good starting point would be the QB’s best friend, the tight end. Maryland’s Vernon Davis would be a fitting choice, especially with many teams love for the two-deep zone. Davis ran a 4.38 40 at the combine, making Denver yearn for his services. Unless a trade is made, the Bay Area would make a fine destination for a team that is better then a 100-1 to win a Super Bowl. Al Davis may not look so hot in a Raider warm-up jacket anymore, be certain he is smiling like a Cheshire cat hoping either Young or Leinart falls down to the 7th position. If not, expect either DB Michael Huff or DT Haloti Ngata to be chosen by the Silver and Black.

Beyond this contingent, the only other sure pick seem to be Florida State’s Ernie Sims for team’s looking at linebackers. Oh yea almost forgot, “With the number selection in this year’s 2006 draft, the team with no lineman to speak of, the Houston Texans select DE Mario Williams of North Carolina State.”

Let the speculation begin.