Five Things I Think I Think -- Part IV

IRVING, Texas -- Five things I think I think as we approach the last eight picks of the first round:

1. I think I want to go on record as saying the Colts made a good pickup in Dwight Freeney. This choice will get ripped for being made too high, but how can the best pass-rusher in college football, a guy who runs 4.38 on the same surface he'll play on in Indianapolis, be picked too high at No. 11? I can't wait to see Tony Dungy line Freeney up in different slots to maximize his rush ability.

2. I think the Raiders made a beautiful set of deals, trading a third-round pick and a fifth-rounder to move up first from No. 21 to the 18th spot, then from 18 to 17, to pick a legitimate top 10 player, cornerback Phillip Buchanon. I can't believe Buchanon was there. I've watched an hour of tape on this guy, as a cover guy and returner, and I will make this prediction: He will be as valuable to Oakland in the next three years as the great corner Charles Woodson has been in the last three.

3. I think, in the end, that Butch Davis decided T.J. Duckett ran into the backs of his blockers too much. The Browns coach just thought William Green was more productive and trustworthy.

4. I think Jamal Anderson ought to be getting the hint by now. First the Falcons went hard after Garrison Hearst in free agency. Then they signed Warrick Dunn to be the team's starting tailback. And now they've picked a 253-pound load in Duckett, who's a ready-made NFL back. Big and fast.

5. I think the Patriots are in heaven. They plucked the draft's second-best tight end -- a huge need position for this team -- by jumping up to get Colorado's Daniel Graham. Six or eight teams in the league actually feel Graham is a better all-around TE than Jeremy Shockey -- he's certainly a better blocker. New England has had a great draft if it ended right now.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and will check in throughout the day with his thoughts and observations on the 2002 NFL Draft.

 

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