Indianapolis Colts- In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts tried to fill the hole left by free agent running back Edgerrin James (who left for the Arizona Cardinals). But running back Joseph Addai of LSU was probably not the best pick in the 30 spot in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Maybe there are reasons why they passed on USC running back LenDale White (perhaps the same reason USC dropped the crew. 2006 NFL draft board in general) but Addai can provide a less prima donna approach to the game than Edgerrin James.
2006 NFL Grade: C-
Jacksonville Jaguars- The Jacksonville Jaguars have been following through the last few NFL season despite being chronically injured (but tough as nails). Quarterback Byron Leftwich was the source of his inability to break through to the next level. Tight end Marced Lewis, while a great addition for the Jaguars, may have been a stretch with the 28th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, especially since offensive line help would have been more in line with Jacksonville’s needs in the 2006 NFL Draft. However, picking UCLA teammate and running back Maurice Drew in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft was a great idea considering the health concerns of Fred Taylor.
2006 NFL grade: C+
Houston Texans- The Houston Texans pulled off the first pick of the 2006 NFL Draft by signing defensive end Mario Williams the night before the 2006 NFL Draft. Their departure of Reggie Bush shows Charlie Casserley and Gary Kubiak’s commitment to building the core of the Texans and doing it with a big player like Williams early in the 2006 NFL Draft. Second round 2006 NFL Draft pick DeMeco Ryans, a linebacker from Alabama, provides great depth at their position for years to come. The Texans used the first two picks of the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft to rebuild their offensive line by taking Charles Spencer and Eric Winston, with the hope of investing in David Carr for the next decade or so. The Texans approached the 2006 NFL Draft wisely, building on weak areas and giving first-year coach Gary Kubiak a chance to compete this coming season, instead of expecting the first strength in the 2007 NFL Draft.
2006 NFL grade: A-
Tennessee Titans – Forget the rest of the 2006 NFL draft for the Tennessee Titans, the first two picks of the 2006 NFL Draft showed success for the hapless Titans in the overly scientific NFL draft process in 2006. QB Vince Young is perhaps the best. A prospect in the 2006 NFL draft (I think Reggie Bush’s rival) and the Titans push for Reggie Bush helped and benefited from a steep upward movement after acquiring Mario Williams as a franchise quarterback in the 2006 NFL Draft. In the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Jeff Fisher and the Titans were ecstatic about the state of LenDale White. White, who had been rated as a possibility in the late first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, fell to the middle of the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft when questions about his condition and weight came to light. Never mind those worries, the Titans will get back on track in the next couple of years after they pass the wake of finance coach Steve McNair and receive the 2006 NFL Draft’s Young and White in the Tennessee Titans offense.
2006 NFL grade: B+
2006 NFL Division Winner- The Houston Texans made huge strides in the 2006 NFL Draft by fixing their offensive and defensive lines, but the Tennessee Titans made big strides toward a potentially big future.
