NFL Draft

   The NFL draft is coming up soon (April 25 - 26). The Detroit Lions have the first pick. Remember when that meant something? There was a time you could trade that for a top player, or a bunch of later round picks if you were rebuilding and needed bodies. Now most teams are afraid of that pick. The first pick demands high dollars. Teams are held hostage for big dollars by someone who has never played a down of NFL football. Some are worth it, most are not. 

   The Denver Broncos decided they had to cut ties with Jay Cutler this week. A 26 year old Pro Bowl quarterback doesn't go on the trading block everyday so a lot of teams were lined up to make offers. Denver made it clear they were looking for a couple of first round picks just as a starting point. Detroit, the worst team overall in the last ten years is looking to rebuild (duh) and is in need of a quarterback. They couldn't even get a sit down with Denver. Why? Mainly because even though Denver wanted first round picks, they did not want the first pick.

   Drafting is guessing. There are thousands of stories in the NFL of first round busts (Tony Mandarich) and late round gems (Tom Brady). But no other pick demands so much money. In a league with a salary cap that is scary. In today's economic climate its even scarier. A bad draft can set a team back a couple of years in its plans, and it all starts with that first pick.