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Several players are quickly labeled reaches...but what if they turn out to be good players?
The opposite of a “value” pick is one termed a “reach” – it means a team drafted a player ahead of where their (perceived) talents warrant. Really it means a player goes before the consensus have slotted said player to get drafted.
In 2002 the Cincinnati Bengals made offensive tackle Levi Jones out of Arizona St. the tenth pick in the draft—a pick deemed by many as a reach at time. Another tackle, Mike Williams out of Texas, went fourth overall to the Buffalo Bills…he was, after all, a franchise left tackle in the making.
Something funny happened on the way to playing on Sundays. Jones has been one of the better backside defenders of quarterbacks, entrenched as the Bengals left tackle and one of their few reliable players. Williams, on the other hand, hasn’t played a snap since 2005 following four mediocre to sub-par years for the Bills. BTW…David Carr was the number one overall pick in the ’02 Draft, Joey Harrington was the fourth pick and Ryan Sims went sixth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The New York Jets took heat for drafting Jeff Lageman with the 14th pick in 1989. More heat than when they used the eighth pick the year before on Dave Cadigan and more heat than when they took Blair Thomas with the second overall pick the following year. Lageman was not a superstar by any means, but the Virginia product was a hard-nosed run stopper who recorded 10 sacks in 1991, 47 sacks overall, and started all but one of his 82 games in his six years as a J-E-T, Jet. Cadigan, drafted as a tackle, quickly had to shift to guard and did not start in all 16 games until his sixth and final season a Jet, while Thomas is on everyone’s all-time bust list.
 Photo Credit: College Press Box (David Knachel/Virginia Tech
The Tennessee Titans surprised many by taking the former East Carolina running back with their first round pick, due in part to the fact the Titans lack a true number one receiver. They also used second round picks in the last two drafts to select USC’s LenDale White and Chris Henry out of Arizona—both running backs.
Johnson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.24 seconds. Let me say that again…he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds, which was nine-tenths of second fast than Mr. Darren McFadden. How much faster is that? The same difference exists between McFadden and Ray Rice. Johnson also displayed quickness and the ability to cut and change directions—it’s not just straight-line speed we’re talking about here.
To stop there would be unfair to the Orlando native. Unlike Henry, Johnson is not simply a workout warrior, as he ran for 1,423 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns. He is also a weapon as a receiver (37 receptions for 528 yards, 14.3 yards per reception & six TDs) and a return man—Johnson led all players in all-purpose yards in 2007 and has the most career all-purpose yards of any player in this draft. When it came time for the Titans to make their pick, Johnson was the best playmaker available and they made an excellent selection. He will help Vince Young immensely by giving opposing defenses someone else to worry about.
Seven picks earlier, with the run on tackles already on, the Lions made Cherilus their 2008 first round pick. (Hey at least it wasn’t another receiver). The BC product lacks the pizzazz some of the tackles ranked ahead of him—Ryan Clady, Chris Williams, guard Branden Albert and Jeff Otah (who was still available)—possess, but it would be no surprise if Cherilus went on to enjoy greater success at the next level.
Cherilus was a co-captain and a four-year starter for the Eagles, while Otah played only two years of Division I ball and is not as polished. Clady is also far from a finished product, leaving school a year early and doing his damage in the WAC…compared to the ACC where Cherilus went up against the likes of Mario Williams, Kamerion Wimbley, Manny Lawson, Gaines Adams, Chris Long, Phillip Merling and Calais Campbell among others. Albert played an ACC schedule, but was a guard throughout his career and has yet to prove that he can make the shift outside at the next level. Meanwhile Williams, who is considered far more athletic, had a slower time than Cherilus in the 20-yard shuttle at the NFL Scouting Combine, which measures lateral quickness.
It will be interesting to see how the five perform over the next four seasons and just where Cherilus falls among the list of tackles. This group is a close bunch in terms of talent, upside and NFL readiness, which is why they were drafted within eight picks of one another. Another player who will compete for “the best tackle in the 2008 not named Jake Long” is Virginia Tech product Duane Brown.
Brown has more upside than the more recognizable names and--hold on to something tight for this one--he may have as much potential as Jake Long himself. He’s an athletic left tackle who has shown signs of improvement with both his technique and consistency. Brown is very mobile, and shifts his weight extremely well, but needs to bulk up in the weight room. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Brown moved better than any of the other tackles, with the best 20-yard shuttle time and 40-yard dash. He has a lot of natural ability and natural skill. It could be a couple of years down the road, but do not be surprised if Brown makes a Pro Bowl or two.
It is interesting that the Jets, a franchise with a history of terrible picks (Johnny Lam Jones (1980) and Blair Thomas ((1990) #2 overall, , top ten picks Russell Carter (#10 in 1984), Johnny Mitchell in 1992 (#15), Marvin Jones (#4 in 1993), Kyle Brady (#9 in 1995) and most recently Dwayne Robinson (#4 in 2003)) wasn’t more criticized than on the day they made a pretty solid pick, taking a productive lineman out of Fairfax, Virginia named Jeff Lageman.
Remember that before you jump to the conclusion that someone is a reach…they may turn out to be better than who the team was supposed to take.
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