Surprises of the Draft: Clausen Being Passed Up By Quarterback Row

The surprises started flying as always starting with Al Davis and his Raiders. With the eighth selection they took Rolando McClain linebacker from Alabama. This is a player projected to go mid first round but is not considered a reach. Most people thought they would look to the oline for help or draft Jimmy Clausen to show Jamarcus Russell the door.

The next surprise was the Bills at pick nine taking running back CJ Spiller. Spiller is arguably the most electrifying player in this years draft, again not a reach to go get him but still a strange pick. With the Bills already seemingly solid at the runningback position with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch I don't think anyone expected the Bills to look for another runner. Also again this pick could have been Jimmy Clausen because the Bills too needed a quarterback.

Again the very next pick was a complete surprise, an Al Davis if I may. With the tenth pick some still speculated that the Jaguars would take Tim Tebow to try and boost popularity, but they went defensive with California's Tyson AluAlu. This drafts deepest position could be defensive tackle, but this was a guy that was projected to go either late in the first round or in the second round. A bit of a reach, but who knows in three years this pick could look brilliant... I wouldn't bet on it though

After Clausen made it through spots 6-14 it was clear he would drop but no one knew how far. Finally in the second round with pick 48 the Carolina Panthers drafted the player that in most mocks was predicted to be a top ten pick. I feel as though the Panthers got great value in this pick and it made them a better team.

Seattle Seahawks Come Away As Draft Champs

The Seattle Seahawks came away from the new three day draft weekend as the overall winners. They made moves not only with great value at their selections, but also traded well not only for draft picks but for more players.

Taking Russell Okung at the number six pick was huge for this franchise. With All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones set to retire any day now, the Seahawks knew they needed to find a viable option to take his place. Okung had slipped to number six and the Seahawks were elated. The Seahawks picked again at pick 14. Again they must have been elated to see another value player drop into their laps, Earl Thomas safety from Texas was their choice. Two high graded first round talents.

They were able to fill even more holes later in the draft, but maybe the most impressive part of the Seahawks draft was their ability to trade. Lendale White will rejoin his old college coach Pete Carrol after he was basically able to steal White away for nothing. Later Carrol was not done adding to his backfield, he then traded the New York Jets for Leon Washington who had become expendable when the Jets took Joe McKnight in the fifth round. Justin Forcett played strong at the end of the season last year but now he will be in a stable of backs that now include a bruiser in White and a homerun treat in Washington.