Sound_n_Fury Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 Interesting article from PFW on the top picks from the 2002 draft, three years into their careers. I won't include all the picks, due to space, but the Mike Williams vs. Bryant McKinnie comparison is interesting in light of all the hits MW takes on TSW : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It takes at least three years to accurately assess a draft class. The 2002 class produced at least six blue-chip players in the first round, including Julius Peppers, Roy Williams, Dwight Freeney, Javon Walker, Ed Reed and Charles Grant – with just as many coming in the latter half of the first round as the first half. Some teams regard John Henderson, Albert Haynesworth and Jeremy Shockey as blue-chip talents. Wendell Bryant, Mike Rumph and Marc Colombo were regarded as the biggest busts. Phillip Buchanon and Napoleon Harris, thanks to the Raiders, will get a chance to prove themselves again with new teams. What follows is a breakdown of the 2002 first-round class now that it can be evaluated after three years. Editor's note: Blue chip indicates an elite talent – a difference maker who consistently makes big plays. Red chip indicates an impact player with starter-type production who can improve in at least one area. Purple indicates a solid starter you can win with and who usually gets the job done. Orange indicates backup production. Green indicates a player with upside but who can be a liability to put on the field. A plus or minus indicates that a player is on the verge of fitting into another category. 4. Buffalo Bills OT Mike Williams | Texas Not a great athlete, but has made big strides under tutelage of Jim McNally. Can continue to improve in pass protection, but flashes ability to knock defenders off the ball as a run blocker. Evaluation: Red chip. 7. Minnesota Vikings OT Bryant McKinnie | Miami (Fla.) Too lazy and gets beat much more than a player with his athletic ability should, but he did finish last season strong. Has the size, natural athleticism and foot quickness to be dominant, but strength, conditioning and football demeanor are average. A very capable starter with upside. Evaluation: Purple-plus. As to other guys the Bills could have drafted in Round 1 had they opted to go in another direction, only 5 are rated as Blue chippers and 1 as Red-plus, ahead of MW: Roy Williams, Dwight Freeney, Javon Walker, Ed Reed, Charles Grant and Jeremy Shockey. It looks like the 2002 crop was pretty average, in retrospect. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2048948 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 That can't be right! You mean at least through the first three years MW has performed better than BM. That just can't be right. What about all the "objective" observers here that claim Mckinnie is sooo much better. Guess they don't watch all the Vikings' games now do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 Editor's note: Blue chip indicates an elite talent – a difference maker who consistently makes big plays. Red chip indicates an impact player with starter-type production who can improve in at least one area. Purple indicates a solid starter you can win with and who usually gets the job done. Orange indicates backup production. Green indicates a player with upside but who can be a liability to put on the field. A plus or minus indicates that a player is on the verge of fitting into another category. 324336[/snapback] This draft analysis brought to you by the Rainbow Warriors at the Department of Homeland Security... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRW Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 Editor's note: Blue chip indicates an elite talent – a difference maker who consistently makes big plays. Red chip indicates an impact player with starter-type production who can improve in at least one area. Purple indicates a solid starter you can win with and who usually gets the job done. Orange indicates backup production. Green indicates a player with upside but who can be a liability to put on the field. A plus or minus indicates that a player is on the verge of fitting into another category. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2048948 324336[/snapback] So there are no players they're willing to call busts? What does it mean to have upside but be a liability on the field? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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