Kids In The Haul: Rankings

There’s a lot of debate about which cities are the best sports towns in the nation. That, of course all begins with who the teams in that city drafted. Especially in the first round.

High profile, new blood can help to change the way an organization appears — on paper — and in the papers — if your city happens to still have a newspaper (read ‘em while they last). Whether you’re talking about the Buffalo Bills and Stephen Gilmore at #10 or or Thomas Robinson going to the Sacramento Kings at #5, fresh marquee players like these can help a franchise revive itself and it’s image.

With a focus on the NFL and the NBA — which teams brought in the biggest merchandizing “haul” with their first round picks in the most recent drafts in April and June?

Obviously, some cities will have to be excluded from this list simply because they don’t have either an NFL team or an NBA team. Cities that are up for consideration go 19 strong.

So, here are the “Kids In The Haul” rankings for the best combined selections in the first round of the NFL and NBA drafts?

Washington reaps a 2 and a 3 in the drafts and no one should argue that the city has two marquee players to dangle in front of the public. Besides, I think Griffin is better than Luck.

Indy edges out Cleveland here until Trent Richardson starts looking like a Pro Bowler. Cleveland got some consideration for number one here. Dion Waiters is good but, billboard ballers doesn’t always translate to better ball.

The Panthers have done a good job two years in a row. Luke Kuechly has a lot of marketability and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist  at number two may have more bling to bring to the table than Anthony Davis — at least off the court.

Jerry the Jumper Jones, jumped up high on draft day, and came down with a jewel of his own, to share on autumn Sundays.  The Cows may have needed more that they could have gotten with the extra picks but, Jones is all about the flash — and it worked. The Mavs are re-tooling but, Jones gets all credit for writing Dallas in the sky on this one.

It doesn’t really matter who is taking their talents to South Beach now since the Heat won the NBA Championship. For years to come, it will be about James and Wade and not draft picks. However, the story of Ryan Tannehill flying up the draft board and landing in Miami at #8 will be a fish story worth following this year, especially if he makes a big splash.

Andre Drummond only averaged 10.0 points per game last year for a Connecticut team that finished 8-10 in the Big East so, I don’t understand how that makes him the #9 pick in the draft. However, I thought Riley Reiff was worthy of a higher draft slot and he should be able to help right away.

Michael Floyd paired with Larry Fitzgerald will get some twitter pop but, no one is going to replace Steve Nashty Nash in Phoenix. Two #13s has to have some fans pleased.

Philadelphia is stockpiling talent and Fletcher Cox could end up being a steal at #12. Moe Harkless looks to contribute right away and could add some needed personality to the mix.

New England and Boston have landed at #10 because of numbers. 21, 25, 21 and 22…. the odds are one of those numbers is going to win in Vegas.

Barnes is a Tar Heel who averaged over 17 ppg but, the 6-11 Festus Ezeli may get more attention at first. Why? His name is Festus. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has already spent time defending the selection of WR A.J. Jenkins. That alone places this a city in the last half of the Kids In The Haul rankings.

There are mixed reviews on Whitney Mercilus. He looks to me to be an excellent pass rusher, but that’s a wait and see proposition. College, is one thing — pros, is 100 things. The Rockets look like they are using to New England’s approach — throw a bunch of picks at the wall and see what sticks.

New Orleans ranks this low because there is no draft pick for the team who needs one more than any other team — to offset the damage that’s been done to the Saints public image this off season. The Hornets have been the tippy-top story of the NBA draft but the Saints taint the picture, and it ain’t a pretty picture.

Bleacher Report thinks Marquis Teague could end up being the Rookie of the year in the NBA. Shea McClellan is a bit of an unknown and may not make a big splash in the windy city but, I think he should prove to be a good one.

The Timberwolves bring the Vikings down this year. Matt Kalil will be an excellent at addition at LT for the purple people and Harrison Smith will contribute but, not enough to move ahead of Chicago in the rankings.

Quinton Coples had mixed reviews on draft day. In a town that has super stars at every corner so, I’m pretty sure that the Kids In The Haul rankings won’t mean much in the big apple. So, they finish #16.

See the above paragraph plus, David Wilson may not have as much of an impact on the G-men as Coples does for the Jets.

The Broncos and the Nuggets have Evan Fournier to look forward to making a big splash in Denver: Manning walking from his car to the complex will get more press than Fournier does all year.

Possibly John Jenkins can help to offset the loss of Joe Johnson — never mind — not going to happen. However, he did score nearly 20 points per game for Vanderbilt and should get in the rotation in year one. However, an advertising coup he is not.