When you look at the emphasis placed on the NFL Draft, and you have coaches, management and fans alike starving for immediate gratification, there is more pressure than ever on rookies.
Don't let the bizarre reach for a potential undrafted free agent fool you. Heyward-Bey, you could argue, was the goofier pick.
Seriously.
Oakland's receiver core is paper thin. It begged for Michael Crabtree. You say the Raiders like speed guys? Then pick Jeremy Maclin. How do you rate Heyward-Bey ahead of offensive tackle Eugene Monroe? Or Raji on the defensive side?
JaMarcus Russell can chuck it. Heyward-Bey can fly. The Raiders expect him to be Steve Smith. I think he's more Troy Williamson. That's failing under pressure.
7. Fili Moala, Colts DT
Everyone, including me, loved Bill Polian's first-round pick of Donald Brown. But the running back can't play defense.
Moala, in my opinion, was a perfect pickup. But in an offseason that screamed for change in the front seven, starting with defensive tackle, Moala will be counted on to be a semi-savior, fair or unfair.
8. Aaron Maybin, Bills DE
I thought Buffalo made an excellent pick, tabbing the Penn State pass rusher as the 11th overall pick. But there were skeptics who screamed that Brian Orakpo was the better player at the position and left tackle (Michael Oher was still on the board) was the bigger need.
It's a pressure-packed season in Buffalo. Dick Jauron, Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch and others all have pressure on them for a variety of reasons. And then there's Terrell Owens. The Buffalo pass rush was at times nonexistent last season. Based upon where he was drafted, whom he was taken in front of and what he was drafted to do, Maybin must deliver early. He can and he will.
9. Alfonso Smith, Broncos CB
This just isn't fair. Smith is a very good talent. And he should be a good fit in Denver playing for Mike Nolan. And Smith gushed about his meeting with Nolan and how he can't wait to play for him when we talked after Denver nabbed him in Round 2.
But Smith isn't your ordinary second-round cornerback.
He must play like a first-rounder, since Denver dealt a first-round pick to Seattle to acquire him.
I like Smith. He will likely start soon for Denver. He was a very good player at Wake Forest.
But is a top-10 talent in next year's draft? That's where I believe Denver will pick. I don't see how Smith lives up to that.
