Is Having an Early Pick in the NFL Draft a Penalty?

One of my favorite non sports blogs Freakonomics, had an interesting take on this weekends NFL Draft.

"At least two factors are conspiring to turn a top N.F.L. draft pick into a liability rather than a prize.

1) Rotten economy - This means that a team with a top pick will be compelled to spend a huge chunk of its budget just to sign an unproven quantity.

2) The fact that top draft picks don’t seem to be helping teams all that much — or, put another way, teams that were already good keep winning Super Bowls without the benefit of top picks.

Doesn’t sound insane to me at all. A No. 1 N.F.L. draft pick may be one of the most overvalued assets in our society, since he comes saddled with a mandatory signing bonus that is millions of dollars more than a late-first-round pick or an early-second-round pick. If someone wants him, go ahead and pay him. "

What I don't understand is why these clubs have to pay the Jake Longs and the Jamarcus Russells of the world so much scratch up front. Just because the are a top pick doesn't mean that they will perform like someone who has earned that money. In fact, they probably won't based on historical data that I don't care enough about to research. The players agents really have these GM's by the balls. Is it the position they have in the draft that gives the agents to opportunity to squeeze them in the first place? Some people would think so. Do You?

As Jets fan, I don't really want to draft this guy below. drafting a rookie quarterback is basically like admitting that you won't be good for 3 years. (Don't even come at me talking about Matty Ryan, Sanchez is not at that level). Plus when you trade up for a guy, That lets his agent know that you really wanted him - therefore making his value appear higher - therefore giving the agent a green light to start giving the teams the old scrotum Indian burn