Gunslinger add bullets for the 2006 season and beyond

[Philadelphia Freedom]

All about value
AP

Glenside, PA- Like the Barenaked Ladies said, “It’s all about value.” The Gunslingers entered the draft with 7 picks and while moves were discussed, at various junctures, before and during the draft, they ended up using them all in their original slots.

The team held the #2 overall pick and while discussions were plentiful the Gunslingers selected Laurence Maroney who gives them another potential stud RB to team with Cedric Benson over the next couple of years.

The team had made a number of signings (Dominick Davis, Mushin Muhummad, in the restricted free agency period while retaining their own talent (Reggie Wayne, Ed Reed and Ahman Green) but still felt a bit weak at TE. With a deep class at TE the team was able to select Leonard Pope, a huge target out of the University of Georgia, who has the potential to a starter from day 1.

While the team had made a commitment to refrain from drafting defensive players LB D’Qwell Jackson posed too much of a value to ignore with the 32nd overall pick. Jackson can spend a year on the Taxi Squad and with last years’ fourth round pick Channing Crowder forms the core of a very solid young LB group.

Bruising RB Cedric Humes may have been taken a bit early for some but with his size and potential role with the Steelers, the team wanted to add him to their backfield. Cedric may never be a RB#1 but we feel that he can definitely contribute to our future success in the years to come.

Brandon Marshall is a young WR who seems to be something of a polarizing player. The valuations range far and wide. Some feel he has the potential to be one of the top WR’s from the 2006 class while others feel his situation and lack of WR experience make him too much of a project. The Gunslinger’s like his potential and see him as part of a strong young WR corp.

The final two picks in the draft were "swing for the fences" selections as the team added a pair of RB’s. Michael Robinson, whose exploits at Penn State made him something of a hometown selection for the Gunslingers and De’Arrius Howard who has the chance of landing the back-up gig to Larry Johnson in Kansas City.

All in the team stuck to it’s guns and went with a heavy focus on offense (pick 86% IOP’s). This markedly different from the rest of the league where only 60% percent of the players selected are expected to line-up on the offensive side of the ball.

Time will tell but for the now the ‘Slingers feel very happy with the value and depth of their 2006 draft.