Hurney's round 2 and 3 Draft record vs. the League.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

The End of the Road

After looking at it, I don't believe I can chart the entire 2005 draft using the criteria that I had for the other years. Too many guys from this draft just recently developed into starters: David Baas, Stanford Routt, Shaun Cody, Matt Roth, etc. The late blooming James Anderson types.

However, this draft is seen as disappointing with Evan Mathis not becoming a more permanent starter and Shelton and Ellison not contributing at all.

So, being that I can't move forward anymore, what has this small sample size shown us:

Total Picks (186)

Outstanding Picks (22-11.8%):

2nd: Andre Gurode Dal, LeCharles Bentley NO, Cinton Portis Den, Michael Lewis Phi, Eric Steinbach Cin, Charles Tillman Chi, Rashean Mathis Jac, EJ Henderson Min, Ken Hamlin Sea, Anquan Boldin Ari, Osi Umenyiora Nyg, Karlos Dansby Ari, Chris Snee NYG, Bob Sanders Ind(exception)

3rd: Brian Westbrook Phi, Chris Hope Pit, Lance Briggs Chi, Jason Witten Dal, Darnell Dockett Ari, Nick Hardwick SD, Chris Cooley Was, Matt Schaub Atl

Successes (57-30.6%):

2nd: Jabar Gaffney Hou, Lamont Thompson Cin, Larry Triplett Ind, Tank Williams Ten, Chester Pitts Hou, Anthony Weaver Bal, Langston Walker, Oak, Sheldon Brown Phi, Antwaan Randle-El Pit, Antonio Bryant Dal, Travis Fisher Stl, Deon Branch NE, Boss Bailey Det, Eugene Wilson NE, John Stinchcomb NO, Al Johnson Dal, Pisa Tinoisamoa Stl, Drayton Florence SD, Kawika Mitchell KC, Chris Kelsay Buf, Victor Hobson Nyj, Anthony Adams SF, Bryan Scott Atl, Mike Doss Ind, LJ Smith Phi, Terrence Kiel SD, Dewayne White TB, Igor Olshansky SD, Daryl Smith Jac, Julius Jones Dal, Jake Grove Oak, Justin Smiley SF, Devery Henderson NO, Maduei Williams Cin, Shawntee Spencer SF, Sean Jones Cle, Stephen Peterman Dal, Sean Locklear Sea, Stuart Schwiegert Oak, Randy Starks Ten, Max Starks Pit, Bernard Berrian Chi, Landon Johnson Cin

3rd: Fred Weary Hou, Andre Goodman Det, Ben Leber SD, Melvin Fowler Cle, Chris Baker Nyj, Akin Ayodele Jac, Cory Redding Det, Gerald Hayes Ari, Nate Burleson Min, Vince Manuwai Jac, Derrick Dockery Was, Chris Crocker Cle, Visanthe Shiancoe Nyg, Angelo Crowell Buf

Failures (107-57.5%):

2nd: Kalimba Edwards Det, Josh Reed Buf, Raonall Smith Min, Tony Fonoti SD, Mike Pearson Jac, Eddie Freeman KC, Tim Carter NYG, Andre Davis Cle, Reche Caldwell SD, Levar Fisher Ari, Maurice Morris Sea, Doug Jolley Oak, Ladell Betts Was, Jon McGraw Nyj, Anton Palepoi Sea, Ryan Denney Buf, Bennie Joppru Hou, Taylor Jacobs Was, Bethel Johnson NE, Eddie Moore Mia, Terry Pierce Den, Chaun Thompson Cle, Alonzo Jackson Pit, Tyrone Calico Ten, Teyo Johnson Oak, Junior Siavii KC, Teddy Lehman Det, Ricardo Colclough Pit, Ben Troupe Ten, Tatum Bell Den, Travis Laboy Ten, Tank Johnson Chi, Dontarrious Thomas Min, Keiwan Ratliff Cin, Dwan Edwards Bal, Jacob Rogers Dal, Michael Boulware Sea, Darius Watts Den, Greg Jones Jac, Antwan Odom Ten, Courtney Watson NO, Kris Wilson KC, Marquise Hill NE

3rd: Matt Schobel Cin, Saleem Rasheed Sf, Willie Offord Min, Roe Williams Chi, Joseph Jefferson Ind, Derek Ross Dal, Rocky Calmus Ten, Jeff Hatch Nyg, Rashad Bauman Was, Will Overstreet Atl, Josh McCown Ari, James Allen, Charles Hill Hou, Lamar Gordon Stl, Kris Richard Sea, Marquise Walker TB, Cliff Russell Was, Seth McKinney Mia, Marques Anderson GB, Terrence Metcalf Chi, Eric Crouch Stl, Dorsett Davis Den, Coy Wire Buf, Dennis Johnson Ari, Kelly Washington Cin, Antwan Peak Hou, Wayne Hunter Sea, Kevin Curtis Stl, Seth Wand Hou, Musa Smith Bal, Wade Smith Mia, Kenny Peterson GB, Ben Hartsock Ind, Gilbert Gardner Ind, Joey Thomas GB, Donnell Washington GB, Keith Smith Det, Tim Anderson Buf, Derrick Strait NYJ, Derrick Hamilton SF, Marquis Cooper TB, Caleb Miller Cin, Devard Darling Bal, Jeremy Lesueur Den, Jorge Cordova Jac, Darrion Scott Min, Matt Ware Phi, Anthony Hargrove Stl, Rich Gardner Ten, Keyaron Fox KC, Guss Scott NE, Courtney Van Buren SD, Sam Williams Oak, BJ Askew Nyj, Cie Grant NO, Taylor Whitley Mia, Dave Ragone Hou, Andrew Williams SF, Donald Strickland Ind, Julian Battle KC, Chris Brown Ten, Billy McMullen Phi, Justin Fargas Oak, Chris Simms TB

My Takeaway

Alright, I believe after looking at this that it is foolish to expect plug-in front line guys from 2nd and 3rd round picks. It is simply asking too much of any GM to expect them to find starters here every time or even a majority of the time. So I think this criticism of Hurney is unjustified if not flatly false.

A GM finding starters here is a fairly big achievement so the selections of Will Witherspoon, Travelle Wharton, Richard Marshall, James Anderson, Ryan Kalil, Charles Johnson, Charles Goddfrey, Sherrod Martin, and Brandon Lafell have to be looked at as fantastic moves.

The majority of players selected here fit the profile of spot starters for about a season or due to injuries and regular contributors for a while(third down back, nickel corner, etc). Therefore the selections of Deshaun Foster, Ricky Manning Jr., Keary Colbert, Evan Mathis, Dan Connor, and arguably Jimmy Clausen have to be considered league average or passable.

Hurney does have failures in Bruce Nelson, Mike Seidman, Eric Shelton, Attiyah Ellison, Rashad Butler, Dwayne Jarrett, Cory Irvin, and arguably Armanti Edwards. They are disappointing, but they are not the spectacular failures we sometimes make them out to be. Selections like these happen all the time, far more often than the selection of pro-bowl level players here.

After all this, I believe that Hurney's failures in the 2nd and 3rd round have been overstated. I think his record in these rounds may be above average and, when coupled with his first round and late round record, he should be considered an upper level GM. And as some have said with the exit of Softli and addition of Don Gregory, the selections seem to have gotten better.

[Fiz]

Oh 2005. That draft got people fired.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Oh 2005. That draft got people fired.

It was not impressive. Eric Shelton's funny head should have resulted in some pink slips all on it's own.

[bleys]

I think this thread has done it's job.. regardless of how you want to slice it, since 2006, Hurney has done a far more efficient drafting job than most.

[Paintballr]

Kinda makes me feel like I'm getting old, when I remember players like Brian Westbrook, and Cliton Portis getting drafted and now they are on "bubbles" of making teams. Hell I remember when both were very highly picked as some of the best in the league at times....its only been tops 6 years.