Cost just too high to trade around
Posted: Sat April 18, 1998 at 2:46 PM ET
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King, covering his 15th NFL Draft, checks in with his observations of the 1998 NFL Draft. He'll be reporting every hour throughout the day...
PHOENIX (CNN/SI) -- Here are five things I think I think at this hour.
1.) I think an NFL general manager who I spoke to minutes ago about the lack of trades in the first round explained it best: "Nobody wants to pay the going rate that has been established by the huge prices paid for high picks."
2.) I think everyone is forgetting one thing about Randy Moss. It isn't only that Moss could leave a team in the lurch if he implodes in a year or two. It's the salary cap consequences. If, say, some team gives Moss $4 million to sign over five years, and this team has to cut him after one year, then all the prorated signing bonus (about $3.2 million) immediately comes due on that team's cap. So it's pretty dangerous to take a guy who, if he's not trustworthy, could really hurt your cap.
3.) I think Takeo Spikes has the chance to be, along with Corey Dillon, the best two picks the Bengals have made in years.
4.) I think the question of the day comes from ESPN's Solomon Wilcots who, after the Bengals picked Spikes with the 13th choice, asked Cincinnati defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau "Was he the guy you wanted?"
5.) I think the happiest Oiler today must be Steve McNair. He could have, in the trio of Yancey Thigpen, newly drafted Kevin Dyson and the speedy Chris Sanders, one of the best receiver groups in the game -- if they all play as they should.
Through the day with Peter King:
Early first round: Ellis at No. 8? Cowboys reached for that one
Top picks: Bears made a great choice in snagging Enis
Pre Draft: Manning a lock for No. 1
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