SI.com

 

Unsolved mysteries

Several teams still have issues to address after the draft

Posted: Monday April 22, 2002 11:44 AM
  Pat Kirwan - Inside the NFL

As NFL draft weekend comes to an end, there are still a couple of open questions that need to be answered:

1. Washington still has work to do up front. Yes, the Redskins did a lot of good things in free agency to turn their linebacker group into one of the finest in the NFL (adding Jeremiah Trotter and Jessie Armstead to a mix that already had LaVar Arrington).

They did a good job during the draft of trading down in the first round, picking up Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey and some extra choices. But the defensive line needs help. Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman are getting a bit long in the tooth, and Kenard Lang has moved on to Cleveland.

 

2. Cincinnati's quarterback situation is still unsettled. The Bengals would have loved a shot at selecting Joey Harrington but it never materialized.

They didn't trade for Drew Bledsoe and they didn't draft a quarterback. Their only hope now is to pick up a veteran like Gus Frerotte or Shane Matthews, but neither will really change the offense.

I say give Akili Smith one more legitimate chance.

3. Speaking of quarterbacks, what is Baltimore thinking? The Ravens still need to find someone to compete with Chris Redman. Meanwhile, the Chiefs need a solid young understudy for Trent Green.

I bet a year from now the Lions will be getting a lot of calls about Mike McMahon.

4. Some players may find themselves on the move:

  • I wonder what the future holds for Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis now that the team selected Bryan Thomas in the first round. The move of Ellis inside to tackle proved to be a failed experiment.

  • One of the Broncos' running backs might be looking for a new home now that second-rounder Clinton Portis joins the stable.

  • Jamal Anderson may well be ready to play this fall after yet another knee injury, but he may need to change his uniform now that Atlanta has drafted T.J. Duckett and added free agent Warrick Dunn this offseason.

  • Buffalo's John Fina might draw some interest now that the Bills are set at tackle with Trey Teague and Mike Williams.

    5. And finally, some players fell way past their perceived value but may well become excellent bargains.

  • Illinois QB Kurt Kittner didn't exactly light it up at the Senior Bowl but he sure looked great as a fifth-round pick for Atlanta.

  • Nebraska corner Keyuo Craver fell from the top of the class in December all the way to the fourth round before the Saints plucked him.

    When players fall out of favor I always wonder if they were overrated early in the process or if teams simply overreact when the players aren't perfect during the long evaluation process.

    Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNNSI.com.


     
    Related information
    Stories
    SI's Peter King: MMQB -- The draft aftermath
    Multimedia
    Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
    Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
    Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

  •  


     
    CNNSI