The "I Don't Do This Enough To Be Good" Edition
The first round of the SFL 2012 draft is in the books and this reporter thought he would review the picks made.
No direct grading has been done because this reporter believes the teams in the top 10 all made solid, respectable and ultimately high quality picks to help their teams. None of the teams ultimately slipped in their selections, filling positions of need or upcoming need with excellent talent worthy of their selection.
1.1 - 
Detroit Lions -
MLB Luke Kuechly
Denying most pundits, with the exception of Brad Barber, the Lions pick Kuechly from Boston College with the first overall pick of the 2012 draft. We can only consider it being a very tough choice for the Lions with the first pick. They have a young roster and with recent first and second round picks filling a lot of starting roles anyway, the question would be where does a team pick. With the entire class in front of them, a GM would weigh up a lot of options.
In this case, Kuechly is an excellent long term option for the Lions and one they don't have to immediately pin the hopes of the franchice on. Abdul Hodge, who has just had the two best seasons of his career, still has a season remaining before regression and at least one season as a top performing veteran. This is more than enough time to give Kuechly a number of starts this season and help get his high starting AWR closer to Hodger's. The Lions middle linebacker position is set for the next 7 to 9 seasons.
1.2 - 
Tennessee Titans -
CB Casey Hayward
If there was a high impact, high value position for the Titans to pick, it was corner. That and receiver. But while the Titans had 3 picks in the top 10, two teams separated them from this pick on their other 2. And a corner was something the rebooting franchise definitely needed. And if people were high for Hayward before the draft, the published private workout numbers only proved the selection was exactly what the Titans needed. The team needed a corner and they got the #1 in the class in our opinion. This reporter's rival AFC South franchise is not looking forward to their passing game trying to beat Hayward twice a season.
1.3 - 
Baltimore Ravens -
WR Alshon Jeffery
With the potential #1 receiver of the class still on the board, the Ravens surprised many by picking Jeffery over the more fancied Josh Gordon. This reporter may have also wondered if there were more important needs for the Ravens. But while the team may have some players
close to regression, they are all viable starting options currently. The reality is that Jeffery brings a receiving option to the Ravens they currently do not have: height, speed and agility all in a single receiver. While their other receivers are good bordering on excellent, they all lack a certain element.
This reporter would have also chosen Jeffery over Gordon primarily due to the higher AWR and CTH but will still be a bit nervous about the sub-30 strength and sub-70 jump. Fans may be less nervous when they realise a wide receiver running at full pace a good 5-yards in away from the defender requires neither of those skills. There may not have been a clear cut #1 receiver in this class making it hard to justify one player against another, but Jeffery gives the Ravens an all-in-one athletic package the roster was close to having until now.
1.4 - 
San Diego Chargers -
CB Stephon Gilmore
Breaking with all tradition, GM Anthony Cepparulo had to look at the draft a
lot earlier than he usually expects coming in with the 4th overall pick. With superstar veterans Quentin Jammer and Asante Samuel wearing out and slowing down, the Chargers secondary needed its other injection of youth to pair with third-year player Kevin Thomas. Gilmore delivers that in spades, not only filling a much needed position for the Chargers but also pulling in one of the top talents. The Chargers did not have to compromise on Gilmore's abilities. A 22 year old, 6'1" frame is backed by an impressive motor, good rookie awareness and an athleticism that will see him, along with Hayward, quickly become two of the premium corners in the league.
We cannot fault the selection the Chargers made here.
1.5 - Tennessee Titans -
WR Josh Gordon
The Titans were extremely happy to see Gordon still on the board at this point, something most people did not expect. The Titans were in a similar position as the Ravens in that their receivers were good but no single player on the roster was "the" guy. Gordon fixes that. While he will need some time in the film room to improve his game awarneess, his raw athletic abilities are something the Titans' fans will be excited to see. Another sub-30 strength receiver who holds the same disclaimer as Jeffery: who needs strength if you can run away from your opponent.
This player fills another need for the Titans and is a player that the Titans would have been ecstatic to see fall to this position.
1.6 - Tennessee Titans -
MLB Dont'a Hightower
The last pick of the Titans in the top 10 delivered something of a mild reaction from the watching crowd. On initial scouting reports, Hightower was exactly a player with a skill set to draw one's attention when compared to other middle linebackers still on the board. But the Titans showed why private workouts can be so valuable. Hightower promises to be a superstart linebacker in the league for a long time. Not only is he one of the few 21 year olds in the league, his workout numbers proved he was well worth taking. Big, heavy with blistering athleticism, Hightower also starts with an exception rookie's awareness and an excellent tackle rating. With Courtney Watson regressing for the Titans, they can afford to run both players across the season before handing the reigns full time to their new heir apparent.
Like the Lions, the Titans are now set at the MLB position for the next decade.
1.7 - 
Carolina Panthers -
OT Matt Kalil
When Hightower left the board, the Panthers representatives had to remove their headsets in the draft room as a tirade of expletives came pouring out from Panthers' draft central. Apparently GM Phil Mellon was not entirely happy with the Titans pick just before them and the team started a high-speed scramble to determine their backup selections.
But despite this, the Panthers selected a player that is immediately a starter for them at tackle. While the OT class in the draft was solid with plenty of viable starters and future pro bowlers, it had a thin crust of elite talent on top and Kalil is one of the best in the draft. Good awareness, NFL-ready blocking ability and an agility combined with size and strength every GM would sell multiple future picks for, Kalil is the prototypical superstar offensive tackle. The biggest challenge for the Panthers with this pick is to choose who from his tackles to make into his guards for the upcoming season.
1.8 - 
New Orleans Saints -
QB Andrew Luck
The Saints, one of the few teams in the SFL to recruit, grow and retain a quarterback from the day they were drafted, how found their heir apparent to Super Bowl champion David Greene. Greene still has a number of seasons of quality (and his contract) to go so we will expect to see the Saints share the gametime between Greene and newcomer Andrew Luck.
The QB draft class unexpectedly got plundered early in this season's draft but the Saints got the first go at the class and they picked Luck over the likes of the more favoured Chandler Harnish. Speculation immediately began as Harnish was seen by many as the better prospect given his age, awareness and throwing power. But Harnish also had his knocks, with low mobility that could prove troublesome if he is a balanced passer along with a 6'0" height and with the exception of Drew Brees for the St. Louis Rams, most other successful quarterbacks have more height.
Overall, still a quality pick for the Saints and their track record suggests one that could potentially deliver them another Super Bowl during his career.
1.9 - 
Denver Broncos -
QB Chandler Harnish
Well, this was somewhat unexpected. After acquiring both Peyton Manning and the greatest SFL quarterback who ever lived, Jim Sorgi, the Broncos took Harnish with the 9th overall pick. While some would argue with Manning and Sorgi, now was the time for the Broncos to recruit a superstar WR, the reality is that Manning has struggled to find a consistent home since he left the Colts and his consistent audibling has left his other GMs frustrated with game play. And while Sorgi did cost the Broncos a respectable DT talent in Brodrick Bunkley, neither trade was ultimately expensive for the Broncos.
So when Harnish, who many saw as the #1 QB pick in the draft, dropped at their feet, the Broncos decided it was ultimately time to take the dive into a QB. Shortly after, Manning was traded to Atlanta and it will be expected that Sorgi and Harnish will share gametime this season before eventually Harnish will become the fulltime starter. While Harnish carries some risk with his mobility, he age, awareness and throwing power are very excellent for a rookie and taking him is an excellent move for a GM who has the contract space to take a rough season here or there turning Harnish into a quality starter.
1.10 - 
Buffalo Bills -
OT Lamar Holmes
And rounding out the Top 10, the Bills ticked all the boxes: a high impact position, a position of need, and recruiting a viable superstar to fill it. Along with Kalil, Lamar Holmes was considered by this reporter as one of the top OT talents in the draft and the Bills were fortunate beneficiaries of a QB run starting in the top 10, rather than the more common OT, linebacker or DE runs of the past. While Holmes is not as NFL-ready as Kalil (though he is NFL-ready as a LT), Holmes has exception athleticism to go with his large and strong frame.
Ultimately, the Bills pick here was excellent for what was available and for what they needed.
