Answer: Selecting Vincent Jackson, Bernard Berrian, Hines Ward, a running back or a tight end, and stuffing my face with a cheesesteak.
Question: What am I doing in Round 5 instead of selecting popular fifth-round picks Brandon Marshall, Braylon Edwards, Chad Ochocinco and Roy E. Williams?
OK, so maybe it's not always that simple. At some point there's a correct time to select just about anyone in a draft. I've been referring to this phenomenon the past two months as the Cedric Benson Principle. It doesn't feel good when you click on his name, but hey, he is a starting running back for an NFL team. He has to do something, right? And so I have renamed the fifth round the "wide receiver craziness round." Yes, I name random things at odd times.
I'm trying to reduce risk in any draft. Sure, we all take chances later on, but it's dangerous to do so with a top-50 pick. The four wide receivers listed above are very talented, yet flawed. In fact, they're a stable of instability, if you will. Maybe it's their quarterback situation, or injury concerns … or they are literally nuts. Whatever the case, and each case is a bit different, I've been avoiding this risk. Certainly, Jackson, Berrian and Ward don't appear to possess quite the same upside, but the downside is lessened. Ward is a steady pro. Do you see his demanding a trade, holding out or wanting a new name on the back of his jersey?
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Eric Karabell
