Think Ricky trade was nuts? It could've been worse

Sporting News, The, April 26, 1999 by Dan Pompei

History will decide whether it was divine intervention, as Mike Ditka suggested, or momentary insanity, as others have suggested, that led Ricky Williams to New Orleans.

But the view in April 1999 is the

Saints were not daft to pay what they paid for Williams. They were, however, daft for offering what they offered for Williams.

If Williams was the best or second-best player in the draft, which many believe he was, then overpaying can be justified. And the Saints probably overpaid slightly. Williams may be worth two first-round picks and the rest of the Saints' draft this year (a third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh). Throwing in a third-round pick next year was a tad generous.

But the Saints were so fixated on Williams, they were willing to pay even more, according to league sources. The Saints offered the Eagles an additional first-round pick (three total), plus a second-round pick in 2002 instead of the third-round pick in 2000. They made the same offer to the Bengals, minus the second-round pick. They offered the Colts what they gave the Redskins, plus two players. One was believed to be CB Alex Molden.

No player is worth what the Saints offered. The Saints are fortunate none of those teams took them up. In fact, it was shortsighted of some of those teams not to accept the offer. Two years from now, at least one of those teams will regret its refusal.

As for the Saints, they don't become an automatic Super Bowl contender with the addition of Williams. But they are a much better team today than they were last week. The Saints are set up perfectly for a workhorse running back. They spent two recent first-round picks on blockers in Chris Naeole and Kyle Turley, and they bought the best interior lineman in free agency this offseason in Wally Williams.

Ricky Williams is a perfect fit for the Saints. He allows Ditka to run the kind of offense he wants to run, and he'll make QB Billy Joe Hobert more effective. He'll improve their defense, too, by keeping it off the field. Saints grade: B

The A teams

Cleveland. This team continues to build a fine foundation. The Browns could eventually get seven starters from last weekend, including five draft picks (QB Tim Couch, WR Kevin Johnson, LB Rahim Abdullah, CB Daylon McCutcheon and S Marquis Smith) and two veteran acquisitions (DE Derrick Alexander and FB Marc Edwards). Grade: A

Detroit. The Lions thought LB Chris Claiborne was the best player in the draft, and they thought Aaron Gibson was the best offensive lineman. Both players have Pro Bowl potential. Personnel man Ron Hughes does an outstanding job of drafting in the middle and late rounds, as DL Jared DeVries, RB Sedrick Irvin and CB Ty Talton could prove. Grade: A

Arizona. The Cardinals might have gotten the best receiver and the best offensive lineman in the draft, depending on the draft board. WR David Boston and OT L.J. Shelton probably won't be rushed, but they could be building blocks in what could be a great offense for years. Grade: A

Baltimore. Chris McAlister represented an outstanding value with the 10th pick. Don't forget, the Ravens also received a No. I pick next year in return for their second-rounder, and Scott Mitcheil for their third-rounder. Phil Savage, who lines up the board for the Ravens with the best of them, was wise to take a seventh-round flyer on S Anthony Poindexter. Grade: A-

Indianapolis. I would have preferred to have seen Peyton Manning throwing after play action to Ricky Williams. But Manning throwing screen passes to Edgerrin James will look pretty good, too. The Colts did well after Round 1, bringing in productive LB Mike Peterson, highly ranked G Brandon Burlsworth and sleeper CB Paul Miranda. Grade: A-

Minnesota. Denny Green, Frank Gilliam and Jerry Reichow did it again. No player who was drafted is a better fit for his team than Daunte Culpepper is for the Vikings. He should thrive in Minneapolis. Talented but unpredictable DE Dimitrius Underwood was a risky first-round pick, but the Vikings can afford to gamble. TE Jim Kleinsasser will add yet another dimension to the most dangerous offense in football. Grade: A-

Washington. What outstanding maneuvering by Charley Casserly to trade down, trade up and end up with Champ Bailey, the highest-ranked player in the draft on some boards. And OT Jon Jansen was a good value in the second round. One minor gripe with the Redskins' draft: They could have obtained much more from the Saints had they pushed them. Grade: A-

To B or not to B

Chicago. Mark Hatley and Bill Rees gave the Bears what they needed most: a quarterback for the future and quality numbers. They went into the draft with six picks and came out of it with 13, including five in the first 78 picks. Many teams were interested in QB Cade McNown, which says something. Passing up Champ Bailey could be regrettable. Grade: B

St. Louis. The Rams really improved themselves with 1999 draft picks, from the trade for Marshall Faulk to their late-round drafting (QB Joe Germaine, G Cameron Spikes). But you have to question passing up Champ Bailey and Chris Claiborne to take WR Torry Holt, even though Holt was a highly rated prospect. Grade: B