NFL Draft Day – Various Thoughts I Have Going Into Day 1

Here we are.  The most anticipated time of the NFL Off-season. While every team’s front office is finalizing their game plan, every ‘expert’ is going over their mock draft so they can brag to everybody how accurate their list was.

It’s an exciting time because it symbolizes the beginning of the upcoming season.  By this time next week each team will have an 80 man roster and prepare for their post draft mini-camps.

Heading into Day 1, I have a few thoughts and predictions about the draft and the upcoming season.  Not just about my Philadelphia Eagles, but around the entire league.

• Regardless of the reports of trade inquires, Ben Roethlisberger will be the QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. ¬†The Rooney family just isn‚Äôt going to get equal value in return.¬† The Steelers‚Äô schedule works in their favor.¬† They could be 3-1 when Big Ben returns from his suspension (he‚Äôs not doing more than four games).
• The Washington Redskins will end up signing Terrell Owens.¬† Despite his denial of pursuing T.O., coach Mike Shanahan has already set this team up to try to win big immediately.¬† They might as well get the guy who helped Donovan McNabb have his best season ever (2004).¬† That said, the Redskins won‚Äôt make the playoffs whether they get him or not.
• The Oakland Raiders will surprise everyone by making a wise first round selection this year.¬† They‚Äôll only have fifteen holes to fill after that. J
• This draft will be reminiscent of 2008 as no wide receivers get selected in the first round.
• Don‚Äôt be surprised if early round USC prospects Taylor Mays and Everson Griffin both end up in Seattle.¬† Although some experts give both prospects ‚Äòbust‚Äô potential, one person who should think highly of them is new Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. ¬†Mays and Griffin both play positions (safety and defensive end, respectively) that are huge needs for Seattle.
• In Philadelphia, the debate is whether the Eagles trade up or down in the first round.¬† I think they‚Äôre going to obtain and extra first round pick by trading with either Tennessee or Pittsburgh (It would be just greedy to think of them trying to get 3 first round picks overall).
• Brett Farve will return for the final season of his contract (and career please??), but the Minnesota Vikings won‚Äôt make it past the divisional round of the playoffs.¬† The Green Bay Packers are going to be a much tougher challenge for the NFC North this year.
• If you go by the NFC South‚Äôs tradition of last year‚Äôs worst team winning the division the following year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be on top in 2010.¬† I think it‚Äôs safe to say that trend will come to a halt.
• If the Eagles are a sub .500 team in 2010 and Andy Reid isn‚Äôt fired as head coach, there will be a boom in the behavioral health industry in Southeast Pennsylvania.
• The New York Jets are currently my pick to win the AFC.
• The St. Louis Rams are going to trade down from the No. 1 overall pick.¬† They‚Äôll go with Colt McCoy as their future QB with the first pick of the second round.
• San Diego is going to replace LaDainian Tomlinson with Fresno State‚Äôs Ryan Matthews, even if they have to trade up for him.
• If Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan makes it to pick No. 15, he‚Äôll be an Eagle.¬† Andy Reid will grab him before safeties Eric Berry (Tennessee) and Earl Thomas (Texas).¬† Morgan‚Äôs jersey will be for sale in 2 weeks along with safety Nate Allen (USF).

I think I‚Äôve said enough.¬† If you agree with me, great!!¬† If not, I‚Äôll be here to say ‚ÄòI told you so‚Äô.¬† What are your thoughts heading into draft weekend??……