The NFL Draft and skill positions.

The following is the list of the Running Backs and QB's selected in the first 5 picks of the NFL Draft for the last 15 years.

2005:
1 - Alex Smith - QB
2- Ronnie Brown - RB
4- Cedric Benson - RB
5- Carnell Williams - RB

2004:
1- Eli Manning - QB
4- Phillip Rivers - QB

2003:
1- Carson Palmer - QB

2002:
1- David Carr - QB
3- Joey Harrington - QB

2001:
1- Michael Vick - QB
5- LaDanian Tomlinson - RB

2000:
5- Jamal Lewis - RB

1999:
1- Tim Couch - QB
2- Donovan McNabb - QB
3- Akili Smith - QB
4- Edgerrin James - RB
5- Ricky Williams - RB

1998:
1- Peyton Manning - QB
2- Ryan Leaf - QB
5- Curtis Enis - RB

1997:
None

1996:
None (Though Lawrence Phillips - RB went #6)

1995:
1- Kijana Carter - RB
3- Steve McNair - QB
5- Kerry Collins - QB

1994:
2- Marshall Faulk - RB
3- Heath Shuler - QB

1993:
1- Drew Bledsoe - QB
2- Rick Mirer - QB
3- Garrison Hearst - RB

1992:
None (Though David Klingler - QB went #6)

1991:
None

1990:
1- Jeff George - QB
2- Blair Thomas - RB
(Andre Ware - QB went #7)

Now, what do all these players have in common, other than being drafted high? Well... absolutely nothing. The thing with the NFL Draft is that these teams can do all this work in scouting and interviewing and working in the combine, but honestly, you have no idea how these 20 year old kids are going to do in the NFL. A lot of talent does not mean success, in any part of life, but in football especially.

With the more recent draft picks, it is hard to tell how some players are going to do because they just haven't gotten the time yet, so the older drafts are particularly telling. People come out of college with all the promise in the world, but sometimes they fail miserably in the NFL, even though they were the #1 draft pick. Sometimes they become Peyton Manning. You just have no idea what is going to happen.

For anyone who does not know, my hometown team is the Baltimore Ravens. There is a lot of mumbling about trying to trade up in the next draft and get Matt Leinart (or Reggie Bush). I will be the first one to admit that the QB situation is not optimal, to say the least, but I think giving away the kitchen sink isn't worth it to take a gamble on another West Coast QB. If you are a 1-15 team and already have the draft pick, and don't have to give anything up for it, by all means, I would certainly go for it. But giving up like all your picks in this draft and next years number one to take someone out of college is a big mistake.

Football games are won in the trenches, and that is where the Ravens need the most help. If I were the Ravens in the next draft I would just load up on O-Line and D-Line, and maybe pick up a QB if one comes along. However, I wouldn't give up many many picks just for a specific guy. If the Ravens are desperate for a QB, I would sign a veteran, much like the Cowboys did this year with Bledsoe. You know what you are getting, and won't have to give anything up for them. The past has shown that by giving up tons for an early draft pick, you are taking a gamble, one that you net you a bad player more often than a superstar.