Grading the 07 Draft

Shanghai, China –

As the roster deadline loomed near, the CTDB teams finally completed their 2007 Supplemental Draft. Complete with new email infrastructure and an upgraded Sportsline site (we hope yet again), the league is ready to start its seventh season. Despite what has been six incredible and fun years, many around the league believe this season will be the best ever with a number of story lines to set the backdrop. Will the Monkeys overcome the sophomore slump and capture a second straight title? Will the Shrapnel be able to overcome such a disappointing loss from last year? Will Fobster finally be able to turn around this maligned expansion franchise? Will the teams of yester-year including the great Buffy and Jammer franchises be ready to finally surmount their comebacks. All of these questions will undoubtedly be answered in just a few short weeks.

A look back at the 2007 CTDB Supplemental Draft.

Team: Fobsters.
Coming into the season with some legitimate running talent after the Reggie Bush selection last season, the Fobsters were focused on improving their pass game and to surround newly-acquired Tom Brady with some quality receivers. GM Jimmy decided to go young. With the first two picks, the Fobsters picked up some of the most talented receiving talent in the last 3 years including super-stud rookie, Calvin Johnson and ultra-hyped sleeper, Vincent Jackson. Both receivers are near 6’5 and can flat out run. The Fobsters then proceeded to fill out their bench with Isaac Bruce and Adrian Peterson (not the super rookie but the Chicago backup). Neither Bruce nor Peterson are expected to see time but with some luck, the Fobsters will likely pick up a few more wins than last year (even one will do!).
Best Pick: Calvin Johnson.
Worst Pick: Adrian Peterson
Grade: C+ (upgradeable to a B if Calvin Johnson pans out this year)

Team: Dirty Birds
Following a disappointing season last year, the Birds came in with once again, the best keeper lineup of backs and receivers in the league. Its hard to argue with S-Jax, Rudi, Fitzgerald, Braylon Edwards and Plaxico. So like last year, the Birds were interested in a new quarterback to lead them. However, they didn’t want to waste the 2nd overall pick on a quarterback so they first stopped off with the selection of quite possibly the best runningback of this year’s draft with Viking’s super stud back, Adrian Peterson. The Birds then proceeded to pick up Vince Young, Brandon Jackson (RB), Patriots D, Greg Jennings, Matt Hasselbeck, Ronald Curry, and Adam Vinatieri. Wow. That is all depth and that is pretty solid depth. Peterson and Jackson are likely startable backs this year while Jennings and Curry have enough upside to complement the stable receiving core that the Birds already have. Undoubtedly Young or Hasselbeck are quality starters, the question will be which one management will choose to start the games. There will be many quality keepers here by season end.
Best Pick: Brandon Jackson
Worst Pick: Ronald Curry (good pick but the Birds got too many picks and Curry was immediately released)
Grade: A-

Team: Gang Green
Gang Green (the artist formerly known as the Green Team) started out their ’07 supplemental draft with the selection of Cedric Benson. Benson will be the clear starter in the Midway but with many question marks about his ability. Then the Gang Green GM, Greg Ng, decided to get tricky. In a last minute deal, Ng decided to trade away long time Green Keeper, Antonio Gates, for Jerricho Cotchery (1st round pick of the Monkeys) and also picked up an extra second round pick in the process. Armed with additional picks, Gang Green tabbed Philip Rivers and the Ravens D as their new starting QB and Defense. Without picks in the fourth and fifth, Ng selected sleeper WR, Bernard Berrian in the 3rd before signing Jeff Wilkins, Eli Manning, and Mike Furrey in the bottom two rounds.
Best Pick: Jerricho Cotchery (not technically a Gang Green pick but Cotchery could be huge)
Worst Pick: Eli Manning. (Having Eli and Rivers on the same team must be some sort of mistake)
Grade: B-

Team: Battle Nugget
From Angels to just a Nugget. GM Vu Dinh decided to poach this year – as in poach from the Monkeys and the Phreaks. A team known for its penchance for veteran leadership, the Battle Nuggets went wild for veterans. With the first pick, the Nuggets plucked long time Monkey receiver, Andre Johnson. The Nuggets then selected former Phreaks, Julius Jones, Donte Stallworth and Deshaun Foster. The Nuggets book ended their draft with the selections of Nate Kaeding and Chargers D (both former Monkey players) much to the furor of Monkey GM, Evan Shiue. Devery Henderson also made it onto the active roster though its unlikely he will see any time. After the draft, despite what was widely considered a successful draft, Monkey’s GM, Evan Shiue, gave a brief quote to media regarding Nuggets management. “He’s good at math but I hate that guy this year. Retard.”
Best Pick: Andre Johnson
Worst Pick: Chargers D
Grade: B+

Team: Philadelphia Phreaks
Despite entering his first year of Business School, Philadelphia Phreaks’ GM, Ping Shen adeptly handled his 7th annual draft between blackouts and romantic interludes in the beautiful Ithaca backdrops with Japanese tourists. The Phreaks picked up former Cal Bear, Marshawn Lynch, Santana Moss, Kevin Curtis, Fred Taylor, David Akers and Hank Baskett. The focus was landing Lynch and then as always, as many Philadelphia players as possible.
Best Pick: Fred Taylor
Worst Pick: Fred Taylor
Grade: B- (upgradeable to a B depending on which Fred Taylor shows up)

Team: Ante Up
The key to the 2007 Ante Up draft was to get some youth. With Westbrook, Edge, Reggie Wayne, Driver and Chambers as their keepers, the common denominator was that Ante Up was long on experience but short on youth and healthy bodies. To that end, GM Jae Lee started their draft with the selection of DeAngelo Williams and the proceeded to “young-up” with Santonio Holmes, Matt Leinart, and James Jones. The four picks combine for less experience than Edge. The lone veteran pick-up was Chester Taylor.
Best Pick: Santonio Holmes
Worst Pick: Oakland D
Grade: B-

Team: Tiiiite End Jammers
The Jammers had a relatively good set of keepers entering the draft so best available player seemed to be the strategy here. After nabbing former Phreak, CP in the first and Tony Romo in the second round, the Jammers selected Ladell Betts, Ahman Green, Tatum Bell, Dolphins D and Olindo Mare. Wow. No WRs and a whole lot of RBs.
Best Pick: Tony Romo
Worst Pick: Tatum Bell
Grade: C

Team: Buffy
Buffy GM, Roger, prides himself on being able to draft from memory, without a draft board and an uncanny ability to recite 2006 stats, physical traits while benching 225 in a severe decline position. That said, Cheng selected Laveraneus Coles, Joey Galloway, Marion Barber, Sherry Glenn, Michael “the Burner” Turner, and Jamal Lewis along with Neil Rackers. Buffy, similar to the Battle Angels, emphasize production as opposed to age. As a result, Buffy was able to end up with a 2007 draft class that has experience and also good field production.
Best Pick: Marion Barber
Worst Pick: Michael Turner
Grade: B

Team: Fat Jubas
After a crushing loss to the Monkeys in the Super Bowl, the Jubas started slow with only one pick in the first 3 rounds of this years draft. They started their draft with the selection of sleeper receiver, Mark Clayton, in the second round. The Jubas then went for sheer athleticism while they tabbed Ted Ginn Jr. and Troy Williamson with their second and third picks. Jerry Porter will hopefully be bench fodder while Shayne Graham and Steelers defense round out the lineup.
Best Pick: Mark Clayton
Worst Pick: Ted Ginn
Grade: C

Team: Chunky Monkeys
Coming off their championship high, the Monkeys parlayed one of their two first round picks in Antonio Gates and a future 2008 draft pick. After trading away Jerricho Cotchery to the Green Team, the Monkeys signed Jerious Norwood and LenDale White to serve as backups to the great LT and LJ tandem. Monkeys GM, Evan Shiue, picked up DJ Hackett to the be primary receiver back up while Brandon Marshall will likely be inactive all season. The Broncos D and Josh Scobee were undoubtedly selected grudgingly after the Chargers D and Nate Kaeding were unceremoniously stolen by closet Charger fan, Vu Dinh.
Best Pick: DJ Hackett
Worst Pick: Jerious Norwood
Grade: B-