NFL 2012 NFL Draft - Discussion

[exe ex machina]

Darrius Heyward-Bey in recent times was pretty memorable. How Crabtree was all smug then realized he didn't get drafted, got all angry and pffting off the Raiders with his hands in the green room. All the NFLN analysts going nuts. The whole thing especially lasted on and on, with ESPN analysts interviewing DHB soon afterwards and laughing at him during the interview, which was pretty slack.

It was also memorable because on Raider Nation forums and blogs all over it was melting down. We'd been told days before DHB would be the pick by 'insiders' so there was a whole bunch of apprehension etc in the lead up.

[youtube]vQ3Q-FoSJwA[/youtube]

 

[exe ex machina]

In the meantime, the Saints-Loomis eavesdropping scandal is going on overdrive at PFT.

Basically, as someone posted in a comment from one of the many articles there right now...

If you read the story on the ESPN site, it clearly states that “Sources FAMILIAR WITH THE SAINTS’ GAME-DAY OPERATIONS….” So, clearly, it was someone who worked for the Saints who’s decided to blow the whistle. It could have been the same person who blew the whistle on bountygate. As much as I hate ESPN sometimes, this came from the Attorney General for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Basically, there's no middle ground here. ESPN's story and the Saints denials are very black and white and there's no middle ground. Ie, someone is lying. Whether it be ESPN or the Saints.

 

[exe ex machina]

Found this eerily ominous...

In three days, Andrew Luck likely will become the first overall pick in the draft. His big week began with an off-field “welcome to the NFL” moment.

Luck has been sued.

Actually, Luck was sued on Friday, by Leaf Tradings Cards. The company seeks a judicial declaration that it has the ability to produce and sell trading cards taking during the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

The lawsuit came after Luck’s lawyers demanded that Leaf quit selling the cards, arguing that they infringe on Luck’s publicity rights. In other words, Luck likely would have eventually sued Leaf, but Leaf sued first.

“Leaf Trading Cards is disappointed that it was forced to submit this matter to the judicial system,” lawyer O. Luke Davis, III said in a press release. “We are confident, however, that the court will find that Leaf has the right to produce and sell the Andrew Luck trading cards.”

It’s unclear how the litigation will be resolved. But at least we now know that Leaf Trading Cards still exists.

This Leaf being mentioned isn't Ryan Leaf, but a company called Leaf Trading Cards. But that there's an association there of Leaf to Luck has a superstitious person like me thinking now it's ominous. Ie, Luck has a post-draft meltdown etc and ends up a bust.

Obviously, it's far more probable this is all nothing

 

[_shifty_]

Sadly i couldn't find a better quality video, but this is close to my all time favourite pick.

[youtube]RaYgGSHJ5hM[/youtube]

 

[exe ex machina]

Great mention there shifty.

There's a couple out there...

[youtube]JzQh9lK5Xuk[/youtube]

[youtube]wkB1fRDdfGI[/youtube]

 

[exe ex machina]

Also, forgot to mention, from that 1981 NFL draft post, from the comments section...

Skins got May, Manley Grimm, Didier and many more in this draft.

One of the single greatest draft classes by any team ever. This draft was responsible for 3 SBs

*****************************************

That was probably the second best draft by a team ever.

1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, responsible for 4 Super Bowls and 4 Hall of Fame players selected in first 5 rounds.

1st (21st) – Lynn Swann
2nd (46th) – Jack Lambert
4th (82nd) – John Stallworth
5th (125th) – Mike Webster

 

[Starburns_]

Sadly i couldn't find a better quality video, but this is close to my all time favourite pick.

[youtube]RaYgGSHJ5hM[/youtube]

Gold.

 

[exe ex machina]

Mike Lombardi forecasts what he thinks will happen in the first round...

Yogi Berra once said, "It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future." Well, that's exactly what I'm being asked to do with the 2012 NFL Draft. I'm not talking about my mock draft -- that comes Wednesday -- but rather a general overview of the three-day event.

Yogi is right: It is hard to make predictions, especially about the draft. So many teams try to hide their real intentions through deception. As much as teams love to lie, they cannot fully conceal reality. Many NFL teams' words to the media might be misleading, but their actions in free agency always tell the real story. That's the best indicator to consider come draft day. My advice is to ignore all the rhetoric and just trust your own instincts.

Here are 10 things that I believe to be true in this week's draft:

1. I believe the safest pick in the draft -- beyond Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III -- is Alabama running back Trent Richardson. He's a blue-chip player and has all the skills to quickly establish himself as a top-five player at his position. Forget the nonsense about not taking backs early -- everyone would love the chance to get this guy.

2. I believe the draft will get really interesting starting at pick No. 7. Especially if receiver Justin Blackmon is off the board, the Jacksonville Jaguars can go in so many different directions, but cornerback could be their top priority. Red-hot prospect Stephon Gilmore continues to fly up draft boards, so watch out for the South Carolina corner coming off the board in this slot. If Blackmon makes it to the Jags, that means someone (maybe the St. Louis Rams?) picked Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox in the top six.

3. I believe the Minnesota Vikings will end up making the third overall selection. Even though they have basically taken out a full-page ad in the newspaper seeking a trade partner, I can't see them pulling off a deal. Teams picking in the teens might want to swap picks with them, but that would eliminate the Vikings' chances of getting either corner Morris Claiborne or tackle Matt Kalil.

4. I believe Syracuse DE Chandler Jones is a hot commodity right now. This is nothing new for NFL teams, who have rated him highly for quite some time, but it's a noticeable development in mock drafts, many of which initially had him pegged as a second-rounder. Most of the good defensive ends/pass rushers, including Jones, should come off the board sometime between pick No. 10 (Buffalo Bills) and pick No. 20 (Tennessee Titans). Jones is not a sudden riser -- he's been a very good player for years. Watch him play two seasons ago against Anthony Castonzo -- the Indianapolis Colts' first-round pick (No. 22 overall) in 2011 -- and it's easy to rate him as a top prospect.

5. I believe there will be many trades made in the first round. With all the pass rushers going from 10-20, there will be a lot of action in this range.

6. I believe Alabama DE/OLB Coutney Upshaw might slip out of the first round. The key team on this front is the Cincinnati Bengals. If they don't take Upshaw with either of their first-round picks (Nos. 17 and 21), he could last until Round 2 because many teams still lack a clear understanding of what position he will play in the league.

7. I believe there are more teams infatuated with Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe than any other player. He is rare -- not only in terms of size and speed, but also in his willingness to work hard on improving his skill set. His solid character is making a big difference, and many teams are willing to take a chance on developing his raw ability.

8. I believe there are more teams in the league that don't think Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon is a true No. 1 receiver than do. This is not to say he's a poor player, but he is not a rare talent, not overwhelmingly special.

9. I believe the Miami Dolphins will in fact take Ryan Tannehill with the eighth pick. This is not a smoke screen. The quarterback that the Dolphins want their fan base to believe in will be the quarterback for their future.

10. I believe that everyone should expect the unexpected Thursday night. Teams must be prepared for anything, and then react accordingly. I believe the best drafting teams are the ones that never go into a draft needing one particular player. A team's love must be spread among multiple players, because there are 31 other teams out there with potentially similar feelings on a prospect.

As always, the draft will be an exciting time. It's my favorite time of the offseason for good reason.

 

[Woodson]

I think any talk of a team being "in love with with a player" should been taken with large grains of salt at this point. Most of time it's a smoke screen to try and get other teams to jump early.

Miami & Tannehill is the most obvious. Marino has endorsed Tannehill so much so that the owner declared that Tannehill is on the shortlist as a first round pick. Barron and the Cowboys have been aligned with interest in Konz as their plan B selection. I'm not convinced Hightower is a first round Lock pick for the Steelers. Poe started as the 'Casey Hampton' replacement plan choice with the combine pumping him up then there was a talk down on Poe whether he was worthy a R1 pick citing being too raw a pick.

O-lineman is the clear cut chase pick in Round 1.
Nick Perry is the big talk mover from early second to Top 10 candidate pick
but I remain unconvinced. Early last week, Michael Floyd from Notre Dame was getting heaps of love (from yours truly as well) but one has wonder how late will the decision making process be as O-linemen start flying off the boards one after another before Pick 23 comes around?
Three DB's before Round 20, Three QB's, One RB, One WR and Two D-lineman makes it Ten meaning up to Ten O-linemen ready to rip for Round 1....by Pick
23 I'd say.

 

[exe ex machina]

Draft prospect, Justin Bethel, with a 60 inch vertical jump, flat-footed

[youtube]08RJgDJS8Dg[/youtube]

 

[exe ex machina]

Some PFT stories this morning...

Patriots place Matt Light on IR
Jets VP of Scouting Joey Clinksales rumored to be heading to Oakland in a lateral move after the draft (he and Reggie played and worked together)
Jerome Simpson signed to the Vikings for 1 year.
Vikings say trade talks for #3 are heating up, but they want a lot for that pick.
Brent Grimes signs franchise tender with Falcons
Colts GM announces Luck is the pick....NFL follows reminding teams not to leak picks
NFL Film responds to the Tebow list shenanigans...."Tebow has box-office appeal."
Revived Vikings stadium bill continues to get accepted up the legislative process.

and...

The NFL will let the legal process run its course before deciding on any punishment in relation to allegations that Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis eavesdropped on the communications of coaches on opposing teams.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that the league “generally refrains from acting on an issue” when law enforcement is involved until after that portion of the process is complete. Maske spoke to a source who told him that the league will be following those guidelines in this case. According to the original ESPN report, both the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the FBI’s New Orleans office are aware of the charges and the Associated Press reports that a joint task force of Louisiana state police and the FBI are investigating to see if any wiretapping laws were violated.

The Saints and Loomis have come out with strong denials of the allegations, but the ball is rolling on the investigation. That means it will be a while before we know whether there are any legal implications to come.

And that it will be even longer until we know if the league will weigh in.

 

[exe ex machina]

Also, Giants are shopping Umenyiora for a 3rd round pick, apparently.

 

[exe ex machina]

Btw, i do applaud Goodell for wanting to keep the draft suspense, unfortunately tho....with the Colts declaring Luck is the #1 pick, that means pick 2 is a snooze now, there would've been some suspense otherwise....and now pick 8 is a snooze with the Jaguars declaring the Dolphins WILL take Tannehill, why the Dolphins have been denying the leaks so hard of late, and that they're looking to trade down the #7 to a team who wants to leapfrog the Dolphins to take Tannehill (geez there's gonna be some anger between these two Florida teams now).

 

[Dagless]

Also, Giants are shopping Umenyiora for a 3rd round pick, apparently.

How... Expected...

Athletic, can dominate games without any moves. Giants almost always go BPA, but are a bit difficult to gauge, but I think Branch will be right up there for them on the list.

Osi is likely to be traded this offseason, if we don't hold onto him for one more year. Either way, he's gone as soon as he can because we won't be paying him what he wants. With Tollefson also probably going to a place that'll give him more time, we're a bit thin at DE. JPP and Tuck will obviously still be around, but Tuck isn't the most reliable when it comes to health. Similarly, Kiwanuka has been okay at SLB, and although he would get first go at DE if one of the others were injured for an extended period, his contract expires in a year as well. As much as we would like to re-sign him, that isn't close to being guaranteed.

Plus, you know the Giants and their pass rush. With Canty and Joseph manning the middle full time last year, we get Austin back from injury, who was a high pick last year with solid pass rush abilities.

 

[exe ex machina]

I reckon Giants make a move up into that 10-20 range where a lot of choice DEs and OLB/DE tweeners are expected to fly off the boards. Coples and Upshaw are expected to be the sliders, so I think the Giants will be looking at one of those if they can trade up to the mid-late teens. Bengals (with a 17 and 20-whatever) and Eagles will also be eyeing pass-rushers, so it'll be a bit of a fight.

 

[Dagless]

I reckon Giants make a move up into that 10-20 range where a lot of choice DEs and OLB/DE tweeners are expected to fly off the boards. Coples and Upshaw are expected to be the sliders, so I think the Giants will be looking at one of those if they can trade up to the mid-late teens. Bengals (with a 17 and 20-whatever) and Eagles will also be eyeing pass-rushers, so it'll be a bit of a fight.

Can't see Reese moving up. Not the type. Barely make a noise in FA, Reese is confident in his own scouting abilities.

 

[exe ex machina]

In your assessment, what are the Giants major priorities? And which players/rounds do you see them addressing them? Give us a rough Giants mock draft -- what positions the Giants take in each round (you can name players too)

 

[DaSawx]

Looking forward to it, more engrosed this year, lately we've either had a late 20s pick or traded them all away.

Have it on IQ Friday and staying off twitter.

 

[Dagless]

In your assessment, what are the Giants major priorities? And which players/rounds do you see them addressing them? Give us a rough Giants mock draft -- what positions the Giants take in each round (you can name players too)

Offensive line is the biggest need (Worst in the league in pressures allowed with a league worst yards per carry of 3.5) but there is little of great value at the end of the first IMO. We lost McKenzie in the offseason as well, and there are ???s around the repacements, namely Beatty. People will normally mention the LBers next, but the team always seems to be content using a rotational policy for the most part, and with the signing of Rivers who DOES have first round talent, I doubt we make a move on that before our third round pick.

Wide receiver has probably become a bigger need than most would consider with Manningham leaving. Cruz is a slot man, there should be no reason that we should move him to the outside. Our third round pick last year in Jernigan has become a bit of a waste considering his strength is similarly in the slot, and Barden has never quite come one. Add in the fact that Cruz and Nicks will need contracts at roughly the same time, there is always a risk we become one deep at that position before too long.

Running back is an issue worth addressing with Jacobs gone and Bradshaw proving inconsistent health wise and performance wise. But again, that has something to do with the mediocre Oline, and you have to wonder whether it's worth reaching on a non-blue chip RB in the first round. If Boothe and Petrus are healthy that will boost the running game as well.

TE... Well the receiving ability would be nice but I hardly think it's a position worth a first rounder, and Pope isn't going to reach on a player who can't block (Fleener).

DT we won't touch until deep in the draft. Austin is coming back into play even though he hasn't played football in two years, but despite that the most we will do pick up depth.

Then of course, DE, which won't surprise me given Osi's current situation. Tuck hasn't been a beacon of health, and Kiwi has been stuck jumping between SLB and DE for the last three years and his contract runs out next year. It wouldn't surprise me to see them jump on a DE who drops as you suggested, but I doubt they'll jump up for one. I like Branch as an early second prospect, but no longer think he's worth nabbing at 32. Was hoping we would be looking at a second round pick for Osi, but that doesn't look like it will happen any more.

I would personally take the risk on Stephen Hill in the first, but that's half to do with being a Georgia Tech fan. Still, Reese has never shied away from taking high upside projects in the first. Just look at JPP, which angered more than a few Giants fans and wasn't well regarded my the wider football 'expert' community, especially with the 'safe' Derrick Morgan still available.

Personally, they'll like go

1) BPA/Upside
2) OL
3) DE/WR
4) RB/TE
5) LB

With alterations based on who happens to be the BPA.

WF suggests Martin will drop to the bottom of the first, which would be good.

 

[exe ex machina]

Thanks for the post. I think you're right. I see the Giants grabbing a WR expected to go in the 2nd round as their #32 pick, if they stay put, and addressing DE and OL in the other rounds. I think Robert Turbin will be a likely Giants late 3rd round pick too.

Basically...

1st round: if they can move up to grab a Coples/Upshaw
otherwise...a WR

2nd round: DE/OL

3rd round: RB Turbin

4-7th rounds: OL/DE/LB.

 

[exe ex machina]

My raiders left-field prediction...

Reggie will trade a high-profile or high-profilish offensive player to get into the 1st or 2nd round.

Why?

With Greg Knapp as OC, that means the offense will be generally not-flashy, performing well with bits and pieces type players. Basically, it's very system-orientated under Knapp, zone-blocking, WCO, roll-outs and quick hits. Like Shanahan getting 1,000 yard rushers with mid-late round talent.

The clear direction of this team, with a defensive minded HC now, is going to be defense. The team will try to play SOUNDLY on offense with a very system-orientated mindset, and focus more on being a powerhouse defense, which will require more talent and draft focus on defense.

Who?

Impossible to predict. Palmer would be a good choice to get a 1st out of a team in need of a QB, but it would seem very unlikely. McFadden could be possible. Maybe a combination like 2 players for 1 pick.

I do believe the Raiders are going to be more 3-4 than 4-3 even if they go hybrid. They are expressly thin at ILB, need a few more 3-4 OLBs, and need a NT. They have plenty of 3-tech 4-3 UTs that will convert to 5-tech type 3-4 DE's.

Either McKenzie or Allen did mention in a previous article weeks ago that their main focus on defense is going to be "all about the linebacker position" from a system sense.

The only offensive moves I can see Reggie making are... a power HB (if he trades McFadden), but definitely a WR (late round sleeper) and a very capable ready-to-start Center with zone blocking experience (brewster imo). Maybe a monster-blocking FB in the late rounds if he trades Reece.

Reece would be an asset in a WCO offense. But I can also see the Raiders potentially trading Reece (in a package?) to acquire a more brutal blocking FB in the late rounds a la Texans offense.

An alternative line of thinking could be trading McFadden, going with Goodson as #1, Reece as the power back, Taiwan as the #3. Or if Lonyae Miller steps up he could be the power back and Reece traded.

Some possible combinations? Reece+Murphy for a high 2nd? McFadden for a 1st. Palmer for a 1st.

Reggie has said he loves drafting and the draft, so he'll want his fix, want to trade to get more picks, and then trade down to get more. Reggie also wants very much to import "his" type of players into the roster asap.

 

[aussiedude]

the Bill Parcels Draft special is on ESPN now, about halfway though

 

[exe ex machina]

Another memorable draft for me was 2005, when Aaron Rodgers, a top 5 prospect, slid so far down the 1st round. And looking back on every team who passed on him that kicked themselves afterwards.

[youtube]m2xMsauweDQ[/youtube]

 

[Woodson]

Having watched America's Game vol XLV , the story of Aaron Rogers getting drafted was far more actual, with AR admitting how stunned he was with each team overlooking him. In his mind before the draft, he said the Niners were as much as a lock (paraphrasing) to pick him as #1.

Gonna be interesting as the experts predictions are gonna hit the wall I feel. You just get the feeling one team will pull the trigger and take a player who many of the experts didn't rate as a first rounder.

 

[exe ex machina]

Here's a pretty good article looking at the behind-the-scenes of draft day trades.

Source

For every blockbuster draft day trade like the 2011 deal between the Falcons and Browns that resulted in Atlanta’s acquisition of wide receiver Julio Jones in exchange for five draft picks, there are countless other transactions that fly below the radar.

Take for example the 2010 trade in which the Patriots sent the 44th and 190th selections to the Raiders for Oakland’s pick at No. 42. This move drew very little interest because at its core, it really only involved a sixth-round pick in exchange for the right to move up two spots. Small potatoes, right? Wrong.

If not for some quick thinking on the part of New England, Gronkowski could be a member of the Ravens right now.

That trade allowed the Patriots to leapfrog the Baltimore Ravens -- who were sitting at No. 43 and in the market for a tight end -- and draft a guy from the University of Arizona named Rob Gronkowski.

With an allotment of only ten minutes to make their selections during the first round, seven minutes for the second round and five minutes for rounds three through seven, NFL front offices need to be overly prepared and ready to act fast. That’s because those with the ability to operate well under pressure can end up turning a relatively insignificant transaction into an investment that pays off big dividends.

To gain a better understanding of the draft day trade process, I spoke with NFL front office veteran Tim Ruskell -- who has been involved in 25 NFL drafts -- on Tuesday for a crash course in the art of the draft day trade. Ruskell spent five years as the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks (2005-2009) before serving as the director of player personnel for the Chicago Bears from 2010-2012.

THE DRAFT ROOM

Each team has its own specific game plan for how to approach the three-day draft, but for the most part, the key players seated at the head table who are involved in the decision making process remain the same.

“In most instances it’s your general manager, head coach, salary cap guy and whoever is running your personnel department,” said Ruskell. “But it’s different on every team. Sometimes the owner is in the room if he’s the one driving the train. But there’s one decision maker on every team who is in charge of running the draft and making the final decision. That guy is going to have the final say. But he may want to hear what the others think and typically, he would.”

THE PREPARATION

Ten minutes may seem like a while for a guy like Joey Chestnut -- who is capable of firing down 59 hot dogs in that time span -- but for NFL teams looking to swing a deal during the first round of the draft, 600 seconds doesn’t leave a whole lot of room to operate. That’s why general managers interested in making a move on draft day will look for suitable partners prior to the ten-minute countdown.

“A lot of those trades that you hear about, especially the ones that take place in the higher rounds, there’s probably been some discussion prior to the draft,” said Ruskell. “And in the case of the Atlanta-Cleveland trade last year, I have no doubt that’s what happened. There may have been two or three teams involved in those discussions, but as the draft approached, the teams in the mix were probably narrowed down until it was determined who could make a worthwhile deal. And then at some point the decision was made to make the deal on the clock.”

So how many people are involved in the actual negotiations?

“Unless they’re on speakerphone, there’s one guy on the call and he’s relaying information to the rest of the people in the room. If he’s looking for a consensus or to put a trade to a vote, the other guys are sitting right there and will weigh in.

“Once the two teams come to an agreement, you’ve got to call the league in order to get the deal verified. And if it’s the first round, the man to talk to is [NFL Vice President of Player Personnel/Football Operations] Joel Bussert. If everything looks good to Joel, he’ll quickly push it through. Typically in each draft room, you have somebody whose only job is to call the league to get approval for the trade.”

THE UNEXPECTED

Front office personnel can run as many draft simulations as they like in preparation for the big day, but the bottom line is that you can never be 100% prepared for what’s going to transpire once the first team goes on the clock.

2005 serves as a perfect example. Utah quarterback Alex Smith and California quarterback Aaron Rodgers were considered by many to be sure-fire top-ten selections. But after Smith went first overall to the San Francisco 49ers, the quarterback market suddenly dried up and Rodgers began freefalling.

“This is a classic example where everybody anticipated Aaron being gone in the first ten picks,” said Ruskell. “It was a foregone conclusion. So those teams sitting at 11-23 weren’t even thinking about Aaron Rodgers. They didn’t do all the stuff necessary to prepare themselves to get Aaron Rodgers. And you have to do more with a quarterback than any other position. You want to bring him in, you want to have your personal workout, you want to put him on a chalkboard, because that’s the face of your franchise.

“So a lot of teams, probably under the anticipation of Rodgers going in the top ten picks, didn’t do that. And when he was there at spots like 15, 18 and 21, for example, they might have said, “Hey, you know what, we’ve got a great grade on Rodgers, we like him. But we didn’t do everything on this guy. We better go with what we know.” And that just fed the drop for Aaron because he was highly touted in that draft.”

The lack of preparation cost several teams the opportunity to land a quarterback who, after seven seasons, has already won both a Super Bowl and MVP award.

WHEN A TRADE GOES BAD

It’s easy now to praise the Packers for pulling the trigger on Rodgers back in 2005 while condemning the organizations who passed. But front offices often fall victim on draft day to tight time constraints and preconceived notions of players who may temporarily blind them from adjusting on the fly.

While working in Chicago last year, Ruskell was part of a botched first-round trade with the Ravens in which the clock expired before the deal could be completed. Chicago was looking to trade up from No. 29 to Baltimore’s spot at No. 26. Since the transaction was not communicated to the league office in time, the Ravens’ pick was skipped, which allowed Kansas City to move up and take Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin at No. 26. The Ravens then selected Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith at No. 27.

“This was a situation where we saw that a guy we liked was dropping and nobody had anticipated that happening,” said Ruskell. “Trade situations like this one can be more stressful because everything has to be done on the spot, under the clock.

“That was like nothing I had ever seen before. It just came out of the blue and it was like lightning struck. It was so late in the process and we had a miscommunication within our office -- within our draft room -- that ran the clock out. The deal fell apart and Baltimore lost their position because of it.

“This was an example of a trade that wasn’t really advanced in terms of where we were in the discussions. It got going too late and we ran out of time, mostly due to a miscommunication in our building. It had nothing to do with Baltimore.

“But you talk about high levels of stress and anxiety. That was the ultimate right there.”

THE PERFECT EXECUTION

Aaron Rodgers’ 2005 freefall to the Packers at No. 24 is the perfect example of what can happen when opportunity, preparation (or lack thereof in the case of the teams drafting before Green Bay) and a little bit of luck come together for a team on draft day. The failed trade between Baltimore and Chicago in 2011 highlights the pitfalls that can occur when a lack of anticipation meets tight time constraints.

But what happens when it all comes together? What happens when preparation, anticipation and a little bit of luck merge to form a perfect hurricane of opportunity that can alter the face of a franchise forever?

“I was with Tampa in 1995 when Warren Sapp came out,” said Ruskell. “There had been some rumors out there that he had tested positive for marijuana and we were sitting on the seventh pick. As that information came out and we were doing our due diligence, we made the decision that Sapp was probably going to drop. So we decided to trade down from No. 7 to No. 12 and pick up another second round pick, not knowing if Sapp would still be in the picture or not.

“It was hectic, but we pulled the deal off. Sapp ended up falling and we got him with the 12th pick.”

But the wheeling and dealing didn’t stop there. Ruskell and the Buccaneers noticed that something intriguing was taking place in the first round. Armed with the additional second round pick that had been acquired in the move to draft Sapp, the Buccaneers picked up the phone and got back to work.

“In addition to Sapp, the other guy that we really coveted that year was Derrick Brooks. But we didn’t feel like we could get him with either of our second-round picks. However, as the first round played out and Brooks wasn’t taken immediately, we picked up the phone and found a seller in the Dallas Cowboys at No. 28. Because we had made the deal to move down and take Sapp, we now had two second-round picks and that was going to give us the ability to trade back into the first round.

“So we started talking with Dallas. The guy that they wanted, they didn’t feel they needed to take him at the bottom of the first round. This was a perfect example of two teams talking that felt they would both be satisfying their own needs by getting a deal done. Dallas wanted to move back, we wanted to move up. So we ended up getting Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks with our first two picks.”

Two trades, two future Hall of Famers. Draft day wheeling and dealing at its finest.