Why Hasn't a Team Signed Daunte Culpepper?

I am having difficulty believing that some team has not grabbed Daunte Culpepper off the free agent market. NFL.com says that “he is being selective, waiting for the right opportunity with the right team.” If that is the case…why hasn’t a team given him an offer he can’t refuse? Culpepper has many question marks, but a solid QB is very tough to come by in this league. In this article I’ll explore the question marks concerning Culpepper and discuss possible locations for him.

Could Daunte Culpepper’s success in the NFL be attributed exclusively to Randy Moss? I say no. Randy Moss is a once in a generation talent and he definitely helped Culpepper in similar fashion to how he helped Tom Brady. Culpepper was and is a good QB and Randy Moss just enabled him to explode. Culpepper still has a ridiculously strong arm, which is a blessing and a curse. Culpepper fits the ball into very tight spots the second those spots open. Five times in 2007 Culpepper tried to thread the needle and got picked, but most of the time he got a completion out of the exchange. He also has some mobility. Although hampered by his knee injury, he is mobile in the pocket and even beat a linebacker to the edge for a touchdown against Miami in 2007. Culpepper is talented and Randy Moss only enhanced that talent.

Should Daunte Culpepper’s injury history be a concern? I say not necessarily. Culpepper damaged three ligaments in his knee and had surgery to repair those ligaments. However, I agree with Culpepper that an injury of that nature and the surgery required to repair the knee takes two years to recover from. Culpepper and Miami both rushed his return to the field. He should not have been on the field that soon. In four games he was sacked 21 times and Saban benched him. Saban reportedly stated that Culpepper’s problem was “further north of the anatomy chart” implying that he felt Culpepper’s knee was fine, but rather his head was the reasoning behind his benching. Culpepper has had some decision making problems, but I attribute this to faith in his arm. Gunslingers always throw interceptions and considering he has a career completion percentage of 63.8% I think he knows the ins and outs of the game. Culpepper played in seven games in Oakland and put up a decent showing. He injured his hamstring at the end of the season, but this should be of little concern to his knee. Culpepper, from what I read and hear, is fully healed and ready for a football season.

Should Culpepper’s mediocre stint in Oakland be an indication of his abilities? I say no. In 2006 Culpepper got sacked 21 times in 4 games and in seven 2007 games he was sacked 21 times again. That’s an improvement…it’s not great, but Oakland doesn’t have that great of an offensive line and Culpepper wasn’t incredibly mobile. Five touchdowns to five interceptions is not great, but it is better than many QB’s. Culpepper did lose three of nine fumbles, but his small hands have always made fumbling a problem. Any team that hires him should be prepared for fumbles, but Culpepper is experienced in getting on top of those fumbles. Culpepper, if given the right atmosphere and talent, could one again become a dominant QB in the NFL.

What team should sign Daunte Culpepper? With the draft having passed there are few options left for Culpepper. Green Bay, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami all took QB’s in the draft. Culpepper could be signed if there is an injury. The team I would most like to see Daunte Culpepper going to would be the Carolina Panthers. Deangelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart will provide Carolina with a great running game. Carolina has one o the better offensive lines in the NFL. Plus, Steve Smith, D.J. Hackett, Muhsin Muhammad, and Dwayne Jarrett will make a fierce receiver corps. Daunte Culpepper would be a terrific insurance policy in the event that Jake Delhomme gets injured. In so many ways, Carolina would be a great fit for Daunte Culpepper. However, many teams could benefit greatly from having Culpepper on their roster and I sincerely hope that somebody snatches him up. Culpepper has a rocket arm and ability that I definitely want to see more of and I look forward to seeing him on the field once again.

The Steelers' Offensive Line

Left Tackle:

Starter: Marvel Smith

Marvel Smith says that he is feeling great after having surgery on his injured back. Smith has been a great offensive lineman and I have no doubt that his back injury contributed to his poor play. It is ridiculously difficult to pass block when you can’t stretch to stand up a defender with ease. I look for Marvel Smith to rebound and have a great year.

Backup: Trai Essex

Essex is a good offensive lineman. He is currently on a one year deal, so look for good play from him in an effort to stay with Pittsburgh or make it onto another roster.

Left Guard:

Starter: Chris Kemoeatu

This is the mystery of the off-season for the Steelers…who is going to fill the void left by Alan Faneca? Many believe it will be four year veteran Chris Kemoeatu. Chris has great strength and is a punishing run blocker, but I question his pass blocking ability along with his ability to pull and lead block. Both are important roles for the Steelers’ Left Guard, whoever he may be.

Backup: Sean Mahan

Mahan was naturally a guard who the Steelers moved to center. Mahan had difficulty with the transition and at this point should only play guard. Whether he is good enough to land a starting job has yet to be seen, but for the moment I have him backing up Chris at Left Guard.

Center:

Starter: Justin Hartwig

Hartwig does have injury concerns, but he was a great center. Carolina cut him because they did not have the cap room to support two good centers and they felt they had more upside with Ryan Kahlil. Hartwig will be a welcome addition to the Steeler’s offensive line craving an anchor at center to not only make room for the power run, but also block for Big Ben.

Backup: Darnell Stapleton

The young center from Rutgers put on a clinic on how to play center during his two year career at Rutgers. He started every game in those two years. In 2006 Rutgers' line only allowed eight sacks and allowed Ray Rice to run 1,794 yards. Stapleton could be a great center for the Steelers, but for now he provides valuable depth at the center position.

Right Guard:

Starter: Kendall Simmons

Simmons has some concerns given his diabetes which may hamper his play. However, he has considerable speed and strength which is always welcome on any offensive line. If he can take care of himself and not let his diabetes hurt him, Kendall could rebound to Super Bowl form.

Backup: Willie Colon

Colon is a good offensive lineman that maybe was not meant to be an OT. Many have considered putting his at the guard spot and he is in contention for the LG starter spot. Colon is good, and has starter caliber potential. If any of the starters minus Hartwig begin to waver, look for Colon to immediately take over.

Right Tackle:

Starter: Max Starks

Starks has games where he just looks lost in pass protection and other times he is able to shut down some of the premier pass-rushers in the NFL. He is either the very best tackle or the very worst. If Starks can bring consistency to his play he will be very valuable to the Steelers. I could also see him taking over at Left Tackle in the event Marvel Smith is unable to play there.

Backup: Tony Hills

Hills was the only offensive line draft pick…something I am not necessarily happy about, but I don’t make the big decisions. Hills will be a great offensive lineman for the Steelers however. He has injury concerns, but his speed and strength will some day prove to be of great use to the Steelers.

I believe that the Steelers will have a stable offensive line next year. The line absolutely has to protect Big Ben. Our $108 million quarterback’s safety has to be priority one. In the past two seasons Ben has been sacked 93 times! That is a ridiculous number made even worse by the fact that Ben has evaded countless other sacks. I will say that sometimes Ben does hold onto the ball too long, but for the most part I saw him with very little time to stand in the pocket. This line needs to pass block and until it does it will always be a problem area. If another year goes by with 40-something sacks an overhaul may be required, which may not be too hard considering that three players on this line have one year contracts.

Mock Draft Review

Miami Dolphins

1. Projected Pick: Jake Long OT Michigan
2. Actual Pick: Jake Long OT Michigan
3. This was a freebee, but it still counts. Jake Long will immediately help the running game and protect whoever Miami’s QB is.

St. Louis Rams

1. Projected Pick: Chris Long DE/OLB Virginia
2. Actual Pick: Chris Long DE/OLB Virginia
3. Long is a very versatile defender that will definitely improve the Rams’ number of sacks and his constant motor will help them against the run. Many inside St. Louis wanted Dorsey, but Long perfectly fits their hybrid 4-3/3-4 system.

Atlanta Falcons

1. Projected Pick: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
2. Actual Pick: Matt Ryan QB Boston College
3. I like Matt Ryan and the Falcons did need a QB, but I still think they could have waited and gotten a good QB later on in the draft. Dorsey would have had great value and filled a pressing need. I like Matt Ryan; he has all of the tangibles of a franchise QB, but I seriously question his decision making ability. 19 interceptions in his senior year worries me.

Oakland Raiders

1. Projected Pick: Vernon Gholston DE/OLB Ohio State
2. Actual Pick: Darren McFadden HB Arkansas
3. One ESPN analyst said that the Pittsburgh Pirates are as bad as it gets in Baseball and the Oakland Raiders are as bad as it gets in football. When the Raiders have so many problems one would think that any one of those areas would be a good area to draft in. However, Oakland decided that it was necessary to land the dynamic McFadden to improve their top ten running game! One can’t complain really because McFadden will help Oakland, but at what cost?

Kansas City Chiefs

1. Projected Pick: Branden Albert G/OT Virginia
2. Actual Pick: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
3. Kansas City’s D-line would have been it trouble with just Tamba Hali weighing down the end spot. The Chiefs later picked up Albert so I had their first round figured out. They needed a DL and an OL. I had Albert and Harvey, but one can’t argue with the combo of Dorsey and Albert. These two plus Flowers and all of the other rookies Kansas City drafted will go a long way towards rebuilding this team.

New York Jets

1. Projected Pick: Darren McFadden HB Arkansas
2. Actual Pick: Vernon Gholston DE/OLB Ohio State
3. The Raiders took Run DMC so Gholston makes a lot of sense. He will help the Jets pass-rush considerably.

New Orleans Saints

1. Projected Pick: 10^th Overall Mike Jenkins CB USF
2. Actual Pick: 7^th Overall Sedrick Ellis DT USC
3. If I was able to mock trades this would have been one of them. The Saints most pressing need was DT and they got a great one in Ellis.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Projected Pick: 26^th Overall Calais Campbell DE Miami
2. Actual Pick: 8^th Overall Derrick Harvey DE Florida
3. I had the position right, but I did not see Jacksonville trading all the way up here, but it works out or them. Derrick Harvey is the 3^rd best DE in this draft and will greatly improve Jacksonville’s already fierce D-line.

Cincinnati Bengals

1. Projected Pick: Keith Rivers OLB USC
2. Actual Pick: Keith Rivers OLB USC
3. The Bengals needed a defensive player and Rivers was the best available.

New England Patriots

1. Projected Pick: 7^th Overall Sedrick Ellis DT USC
2. Actual Pick: 10^th Overall Jared Mayo ILB Tennessee
3. I did not think that Belichick’s linebacker corps had room for the young, but I was wrong. Mayo will probably play the interior enabling Adailus Thomas to play the OLB spot he naturally dominates at.

Buffalo Bills

1. Projected Pick: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St.
2. Actual Pick: Leodis Mckelvin CB Troy
3. The Bills needed a large receiver and a corner. I had the position right, but Mckelvin is a better corner right now than DRC and so is the logical choice.

Denver Broncos

1. Projected Pick: Ryan Clady OT Boise State
2. Actual Pick: Ryan Clady OT Boise State
3. Ryan Clady is the perfect zone blocker for Denver’s running game. He will help them return to the running back factory they used to be.

Carolina Panthers

1. Projected Pick: Matt Ryan QB Boston College
2. Actual Pick: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
3. I honestly believe they would have gone after Matt Ryan had he been available anywhere close to them, but looking at where Flacco ended up, Ryan probably would not have gotten past Baltimore. Harvey was also off the board so they chose Stewart. Stewart will provide the Panthers with a power running game. I thought they would go OT here if Ryan was off the board, but Stewart combined with Williams will go a long way towards helping Carolina’s offense.

Chicago Bears

1. Projected Pick: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh
2. Actual Pick: Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
3. I had the position right, but player wrong. Williams will help Chicago’s O-line which was my main argument for Otah. Chicago must have liked Williams more.

Kansas City Chiefs

1. Projected Pick: 17^th Overall Derrick Harvey DE Florida
2. Actual Pick: 15^th Overall Branden Albert G/OT Virginia
3. I already addressed Kansas City’s draft earlier.

Arizona Cardinals

1. Projected Pick: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
2. Actual Pick: Dominique Rodgers Cromartie CB Tennessee State
3. I thought that the Cardinals would seek out a spell back for Edge, but they decided to go corner so that they could move Rolle back to safety where he belongs. DRC is an awesome player and will help Arizona’s defense immensely.

Detroit Lions

1. Projected Pick: 15^th Overall Jared Mayo ILB Tennessee
2. Actual Pick: 17^th Gosder Cherilius OT Boston College
3. I don’t know what to think of this pick. The Lions needed OT’s, but they could have used Mendenhall more. The Oline is the most important position on the field and so this is a smart pick. For once Detroit pursued substance over flash…it’s just strange to see that.

Baltimore Ravens

1. Projected Pick: 8^th Overall Leodis Mckelvin CB Troy
2. Actual Pick: 18^th Overall Joe Flacco QB Delaware
3. I have already stated in a previous article why I disagree with Baltimore taking a rookie QB. That being said, Flacco is one of my favorite prospects in this draft and I look for him to do great things in the future.

Carolina Panthers

1. Projected Pick: Philadelphia Eagles Devin Thomas WR Michigan State
2. Actual Pick: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh
3. Carolina needed offensive lineman and Otah will help them considerably. He will help the power running game (via their other pick Stewart) and help protect Delhomme. He also will make it possible to move Wharton to the inside. This is a good pick, but considering all they gave to get into the first round again, I wonder if it was all worth it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Projected Pick: Desean Jackson WR Cal
2. Actual Pick: Aqib Talib CB Kansas
3. I thought that Jackson was Gruden’s boy and the hands down first round pick…I was mistaken. Still, Talib is a good pickup and could someday replace Ronde Barber as a starting corner in Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Falcons

1. Projected Pick: Washington Redskins Philip Merling DE Clemson
2. Actual Pick: Sam Baker OT USC
3. I do not like this pick. The Falcons traded a lot to get a second round offensive lineman. Baker is good, but drafting him this early, I feel, was a mistake.

Dallas Cowboys

1. Projected Pick: Felix Jones RB Arkansas
2. Actual Pick: Felix Jones RB Arkansas
3. Dallas needed a speed back to compliment Marion the Barbarian and they got it in Felix Jones.

Pittsburgh Steelers

1. Projected Pick: Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
2. Actual Pick: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
3. I liked Stewart’s power and speed, but there is nothing wrong with Mendenhall. He has great power, footwork, and speed. His cutting ability is fierce. He will combine with Willie Parker to make a great running back tandem.

Tennessee Titans

1. Projected Pick: Limas Sweed WR Texas
2. Actual Pick: Chris Johnson RB East Carolina
3. I like Chris Johnson, but he should not have been a first round pick. His speed may be a nice compliment to Lendale White, but I still disagree with him being a first round pick. A WR should have been priority #1 and the Titans had their pick of any of the receivers in the draft.

Dallas Cowboys

1. Projected Pick: James Hardy WR Indiana
2. Actual Pick: Mike Jenkins CB USF
3. Pacman Jones may join the Cowboys but he may not. Jenkins however can return and be a shutdown corner. Jenkins, Pacman, and Newman will make an awesome cornerback crew for the future.

Houston Texans

1. Projected Pick: 18^th Overall Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
2. Actual Pick: 26^th Overall Duane Brown OT Virginia Tech
3. I had the position right, just not the player. This was a big reach for the Texans, but an offensive lineman will help them out considerably.

San Diego Chargers

1. Projected Pick: Gosder Cherilius OT Boston College
2. Actual Pick: Antoine Cason CB Arizona
3. The Chargers had needs at corner with the departure of Florence. Cason and Paul Oliver will combine with Cromartie and Jammer to form a dominant cornerback crew. The Chargers could have gone anywhere with this pick and although I question Cason’s value here, he addresses a need.

Seattle Seahawks

1. Projected Pick: 25^th Overall Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
2. Actual Pick: 28^th Overall Lawrence Jackson DE USC
3. I thought the Seahawks would go interior defensive line, but Jackson can provide some much needed depth at the DE spot.

San Francisco 49ers

1. Projected Pick: Dan Connor ILB Penn State
2. Actual Pick: Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
3. The 49ers needed someone on defense and Balmer is who they selected. Balmer had good value here and Connor dropped into the third round. Balmer will probably play end in the 49ers 3-4 Defense.

New York Jets

1. Projected Pick: Green Bay Aqib Talib CB Kansas
2. Actual Pick: Dustin Keller TE Purdue
3. Chris Baker was not that happy about this pick and I question Keller’s first round value. That being said, Keller will be great for the Jets not only as a blocker but as a great receiver. He is comparable to Dallas Clark and if he can make an impact anywhere close to the impact Clark made, he will be valuable to the Jets.

New York Giants

1. Projected Pick: Kenny Philips S Miami
2. Actual Pick: Kenny Philips S Miami
3. The Giants have an aging secondary and Philips will help this often burnt defense improve

This draft was filled with trades and trades always destroy mock drafts. I also had a lot of positions right, just not the player. I had 12 positions right, but only 7 players matched up. It is an improvement from last year, but I suffer because I did not bow down to conventionality. I still stand by my opinions that the Raider's did not need Darren McFadden, the Falcons did not need Matt Ryan with the third overall, and the Ravens did not need a rookie QB. It is fine though. Same thing happened in last year's mock when I had the Raiders picking Calvin Johnson 1st overall because I knew they would sign Culpepper. Oh well. I had fun doing these mock drafts and I thank you for viewing them. Thank you and so concludes my 2008 mock drafting.