Complete NFL Draft: Who's your #1?

[mordhiem]

Simple question. If the NFL started over with a complete draft today, a la FOF, who would you choose with the number one pick?

[MikeVic]

Michael Vick. He has tremendous upside. Or maybe it's tremendous potential upside, since he had that injury?

[korme]

morten anderson

[Franklinnoble]

Michael Vick

[Radii]

I debated between Ray Lewis or LaDanian Tomlinson, went with Lewis.

[TazFTW]

Ray Lewis

[sabotai]

I picked Ray Lewis.

[Blackadar]

Vick. He puts asses in the seasts.

[Suicane75]

Manning.

[Noop]

Micheal Vick

[RainRaven]

Tough question but I think right off the bat you eliminate all the RB's for the simple reason that they won't last long at all. Moss is great but you need a qb to effectivly get it to him so scratch that one. Mcnabb is too inaccurate, Vick too fragile so far. Manning is great, Lewis, Ogden and Law all play premium postions as well. I would have to take Manning in the end however. Lewis is great but his style of play someday will catch up with him, Ogden great but can't carry a team and Law is a crybaby.

[korme]

I picked Manning, love him as a leader.

[judicial clerk]

I agree wiht everything RainRaven wrote except that i would take Vick.

[vtbub]

Vick over Manning, simply because he's younger.

[RainRaven]

What is the attraction to Vick besides the pure athelticism he brings to the field? If he ever lost that running ability could he evolve into a pocket passer? Don't get me wrong I think he is a good qb but their are so many questions about him yet.

[rexallllsc]

Vick over Manning? You guys have been playing too much Madden.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm with Rexallllsc.

You people are out of your freaking minds. Manning can outplay Vick 365 days a year.

[MikeVic]

What is the attraction to Vick besides the pure athelticism he brings to the field? If he ever lost that running ability could he evolve into a pocket passer? Don't get me wrong I think he is a good qb but their are so many questions about him yet.

If I drafted a team right now, I'd want to build a fan base. I think Vick has the ability to generate more talk about him than any other player. Any given play (when he is healthy), is a play that can be talked about the next day at the watercooler, or get more people to go to the games to watch him play.

[Franklinnoble]

Hmm... I'm now thinking maybe LaVar Arrington instead... I dunno...

[Leonidas]

I take Manning. I am yet to be convinced Vick will be an all time great. Sure, he's all time great talent, but he has displayed zero durability. I think he's the Bo Jackson of QBs.

[gstelmack]

I took Manning, although I was very tempted by Urlacher to start us off on defense. I definitely want youth.

[tucker342]

Urlacher? I guess that's a good pick, if you want your defense to be subpar...
How many sacks did he have last year? Wasn't it like 1.5 or something similar to that? If you wanna build a good defense you select Ray Lewis, no doubt about it.

Anyways, my pick would be Payton Manning.

[Dawgfan1980]

Simply put, Ball control wins games, give me a good running back, and an average passer, and I will win more than a great QB with no RB (go ask Dan Marino about that one). Give me Portis. But, ironically, and to contridict myself now, I'm a Bronco fan, and glad they made that trade this off-season. Now if only they would have traded for Cory Dillon {Sigh}.

[Tigercat]

Manning, but the best player in football is Ray Lewis.

Oh and I don't think the best RB is even on there, Deuce Mccalister. He has speed, strength, size, vision, good hands, and is tough as nails. (And a great team guy to boot) The most complete RB in the NFL. Plus hes still young and hasn't had any health issues in the NFL.

[Franklinnoble]

No love for Maurice Clarett?

[The_herd]

Manning. He just turned 28 freakin' years old. Its not like he's old or anything. If starting a team today, the choice is really simple. Manning or Vick, and IMO its just a matter of preference. I really don't see any glaring faults in Mannings game, and thats why I'd go with him. Vick still has a ways to go as a passer, but he's still a hell of a player, just not my cup of tea.

Give me a good QB with solid recievers and an effective (not spectacular) running game and you'll win more often in todays NFL than having a great running back and so-so QB. There would be no reason to take a running back if you had any player in the NFL to choose from.

Frankly, there's not a Defensive player that can make same impact as Manning over the course of a season, even Lewis. Lewis is 29 and the injuries he's had are going to start taking their toll on him. I'm a Bears fan and love Urlacher, but Lewis would be the only Defensive player that even deserves consideration for this pick.

[Franklinnoble]

I'm sort of surprised no one has mentioned Tom Brady...

[pennywisesb]

I'd have to go with Peyton Manning. His ability to lead as well as his youth were the major factors in choosing him. Also, that fact that he can throw any pass, into any space, no matter how small, makes him my #1 QB in the NFL today.

[TLK]

I wanted to choose Barry Sanders, but he wasn't an option..... Vick otherwise :)

[MrBug708]

Ogden - You need a tackle in football, might as well take the best one whose every played. All of these other guys, not the best ever at their position....

[stevew]

Payton Manning is my choice here. Simply too freaking good to pass up.

[MIJB#19]

I'm sort of surprised no one has mentioned Tom Brady...Brady has nothing to prove anymore. He's already got two Super Bowl victories in the bags.
What was that line again: All he does is win games? (Or was that on Trent Dilfer? :))

[mordhiem]

I'm sort of surprised no one has mentioned Tom Brady...

Doh! I should have put him on ahead of Urlacher.

[Noble_Platypus]

I take Manning. I would take him over Vick for the same reason I would take Marvin Harrison over Moss, I want production over potential. I say this because its not like Manning is an average starter who is slighly better than Vick now but Vick could shoot way up. Manning is a superstar and an All pro, Vick might be someday, might not. Even if he stays healthy and realizes his potential who is to say he will be better than Manning? One last reason is I dont want my QB running around like Vick does. It might look pretty and put people in the seats, but how many people will be in the seats when Vick is carried off the field on a stretcher the week before because some LB or S crushed him as he is scampering around? Manning is durable and dependable, and in the end no matter how good Vick gets I still think Manning will be better.

[Fritz]

if I were to take a CB (I would not), it would not be Law. Suratin perhaps, but not Law.

[sachmo71]

Ray Lewis.

Reason: I think defense wins games, and Ray Lewis can change a game. He has another gear that most people don't have, and can take over a game even when getting double and triple teamed. Plus, I love watching him play.

[cthomer5000]

What is the attraction to Vick besides the pure athelticism he brings to the field? If he ever lost that running ability could he evolve into a pocket passer? Don't get me wrong I think he is a good qb but their are so many questions about him yet.Agreed. I think Vick over Manning is borderline insanity. I don't know if any NFL GM would take Vick over Manning.

Established Stud QB vs. Pure Potential

Yes, Vick might end up being a super-QB. But how much better than Manning could he possibly be? Would it be worth that type of gamble?

[judicial clerk]

I like Vick's mobility. I think you need a QB who can run for the first down. I actually would not want him to run any more than necessary. When your QB can get first downs with his feet, it just makes your offense that much tougher to stop. Vick could do fine as a pocket passer if he wants. Does anybody in the league have a stronger arm than Vick?

I wouls say that my Vick choice would be contingent on him passing a physical.

Of course Manning is a great choice as well and a safer choice.

[Desnudo]

Where's Tom Brady is what needs to be asked. Leading to Wins > Talent in my opinion.

[QuikSand]

Ogden - You need a tackle in football, might as well take the best one whose every played. All of these other guys, not the best ever at their position....

Funny, I might agree with this sentiment, but I think you are making the argument for the wrong guy. Jonathan Ogden is not the best LT ever. Ray Lewis might well be the best MLB ever.

[Honolulu Blue]

At the present time, it's gotta be Peyton. He's in his prime, plays THE most important position very well, and he has no injury history to speak of. I don't see anyone else at any other position that figures to be dominant enough for long enough to be a better pick.

[BishopMVP]

I think LT or Ray Lewis is the best player, but I would pick Manning out of this list. Why is McNabb even up there? He's barely in the top 10 for QB's alone.

[Blackadar]

Agreed. I think Vick over Manning is borderline insanity. I don't know if any NFL GM would take Vick over Manning.

Established Stud QB vs. Pure Potential

Yes, Vick might end up being a super-QB. But how much better than Manning could he possibly be? Would it be worth that type of gamble?

You're right. Most GMs (if not all) would take Manning.

But most owners would take Vick. :)

[Darkiller]

It all starts with the Quarterback.
That's what I do to start building my (FOF) franchise.

I'd go with Manning over Vick because Manning is a proven superstar now, while Vick is all about upside and has yet to show he can really be the one everybody thinks he is.