Winters
League Member
MOCK DRAFT
Justin Grover
04/02/04
1. San Diego Chargers - QB Eli Manning (Ole Miss): What better way to rectify the past by taking the brother of the guy you really wanted? Ryan Leaf being drafted totally destroyed this franchise and they've yet to have a winning season since that debacle. As much as Marty is intrigued with Ben Roethlisberger, passing on Manning would be the biggest mistake the franchise could possibly make. Eli Manning and LaDainian Tomlinson would make a fantastic backfield for years and years to come.
2. Oakland Raiders - WR Mike Williams (USC): Jerry Rice and Tim Brown are old. After this season their playing days are going to be pretty much numbered. Mike Williams would be the first step in the right direction in keeping a fantastic receiving corps going after the two first ballot Hall of Famers retire. Though Roy Williams could be at this choice, citing Al Davis' love for speed, Mike is the best of the receivers Williams and would be a nice fit in Norv Turner's new scheme.
3. Arizona Cardinals - WR Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt): Dennis Green is in love with Larry Fitzgerald. He has been since Fitzgerald was a ball boy for him in Minnesota. The only way Fitzgerald doesn't become a Cardinal is if Arizona trades down. With Boldin moving to the weak side, Bryant Johnson as the speed threat, Larry's big frame and soft as silk hands would be perfect in the slot. What better way to make a mediocre QB look great than to give him three young, talented options across the field?
4. New York Giants - OT Roberty Gallery (Iowa): With a hot rumor flying through the NFL that the Giants will try and trade up to secure Eli Manning, Kerry Collins does have one year left on his contract. The Giants could just as easily be happy with Roethlisberger and not have to trade any picks, or could wait for JP Losman in the second round. Gallery would be an absolutely stellar pick, though, as he's a monster on the line. He dominated Big Ten defensive ends all year, including Will Smith. Gallery is also considered a model citizen and the draft's "cleanest" player. He has the ability to come out as a rookie and become one of the most dominant tackles in the league.
5. Washington Redskins - S Sean Taylor (Miami of Florida): With the deal that sent Champ Bailey to Denver, Washington is in need of a play maker in the secondary. No one in the draft fits this bill more than Taylor. Perhaps the second or third best overall prospect in the draft, no defensive player brings as much to the table as Taylor can, and will. He's better than Roy Williams was when he came out of Oklahoma and is comparable to Ronnie Lott. Taylor is a vicious hitter, has the body of a weak-side linebacker, the speed of a cover corner and can do it all from the safety position. He should be defensive rookie of the year next season, no matter where he ends up.
6. Detroit Lions - HB Steven Jackson (Oregon State): While Jackson isn't really a top ten pick, Lions coach Steve Mariucci is in need of a feature back. Sean Bryson and Artrose Pinner are not 20-25 carries a game backs. The Lions could ideally trade down anywhere between the 10th and 20th picks and still get Jackson, but rumors have been heating up with New England being interested in this pick to try and get Sean Taylor for themselves. While Kevin Jones has been disappointing in his combine and workouts, Jackson has been steady, making him even more of a high pick. The Lions need a back badly, and wouldn't rule out reaching a little bit for the draft's best back.
7. Cleveland Browns - TE Kellen Winslow (Miami of Florida): While Butch Davis would love to get Robert Gallery, the odds of that happening are slim to none. Offensive line, safety and tight end are their major needs in that order, so in the unlikely event Taylor also fell to Cleveland, they'll settle for Winslow. While Winslow has some character and definite maturity problems (he's a soldier) to overcome, his potential and ceiling as a tight end are nearly limitless. He's big enough to line up and take on blockers, while fast enough to move to split-end and line up against small corners. The Browns desperately need another play maker on offense who can help open the passing offense up for Jeff Garcia. The addition of Winslow would also allow Quincy Morgan and Andre Davis to get a little more room to work with.
8. Atlanta Falcons - DT Tommie Harris (Oklahoma): Now that Jim Mora Jr. has taken over in Atlanta, the Falcons are going to be switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Nobody should be happier than Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith, two undersized defensive ends who struggled shaking off blockers last season. Atlanta has already added Rod Coleman through free agency and drafting Harris would be the perfect fit to finish off the 4-3. While Harris wasn't as dominating in his Junior year as he was as a sophomore, he's still an explosive athlete that reminds some scouts of a young Warren Sapp. Though that could be considered a bad thing.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Reggie Williams (Washington): Though defensive end could be more of a concern for the Jaguars, look for them to add a receiver now and look for an end later on. With Jimmy Smith aging and Kevin Johnson not a true top receiver, the Jaguars have a number of options at this stage. They could go with Roy Williams, who has been impressing everybody up and down with his workouts recently, or they could opt to take the most underrated of the Williams receiving trio, Reggie. Williams has the size, hands and toughness that coach Jack Del Rio would love in a receiver. Williams would also be able to start and grow with young QB Byron Leftwich. While Williams lacks the elite speed that Roy Williams has, he does have great hands and can take some hits, making him the workhorse and play maker the Jaguars will soon need at wide receiver. Other options with this pick are Roy Williams and DE Kenechi Udeze.
10. Houston Texans - CB Dunta Robinson (South Carolina): With the Texans using free agency to shore up their needs at defensive end (Gary Walker, Robaire Smith), the Texans will probably look at a defensive tackle, before making their ultimate decision. Seth Payne's multiple surgeries and ACL injury that cost him most of 2003, will make Houston look hard at Vince Wilfork. However with the constant speculation that Marcus Coleman will be moving from corner to safety this off season, it would make a lot of sense for Houston to go the route of corner. Robinson has all the skills to become a top cover corner in the league. He's got good speed and excellent confidence in his abilities. If Houston passes on taking Wilfork, their ultimate decision will be between taking Robinson and DeAngelo Hall.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Ben Roethlisberger (Miami of Ohio): While cornerback and offensive tackle and quarterback are all needs for Pittsburgh, quarterback must take precedence. Tommy Maddox had a fluke season in his comeback of the year campaign of 2002 and last year was marred by injuries. While there are rumors that have run rampant saying Pittsburgh officials prefer Rivers to Roethlisberger, that's hard to buy. Roethlisberger is the superior player. He's got an absolute cannon for an arm. At a recent workout he was throwing sixty yard bombs while keeping his arc to a minimum. Reports say he wowed scouts from the teams that visited the workout, helping rise his draft stock even further. Though DeAngelo Hall is still on the board at this point, Pittsburgh would be crazy to draft something other than a quarterback. They need a future leader on offense with Maddox only having a year or two left and Jerome Bettis slowly being phased out of the running game. Ben Roethlisberger should be the future of the Steelers offense.
12. New York Jets - CB DeAngelo Hall (Virginia Tech): The Jets are in a great position to pick with what they need the most. They could go in three different directions, corner, receiver or linebacker. Though after getting burned by Antoine Winfield in free agency, cornerback has to be their top priority. DeAngelo Hall would be a nice pick here, though Robinson and Hall could be flip-flopped with their draft spots. Hall could step in immediately and vastly improve the Jets' coverage ability and speed at the corner. Hall is also the premier return specialist in the draft and could take some of the load of returning off of Santana Moss.
13. Buffalo Bills - WR Roy Williams (Texas): While many think the Bills would use this pick on Philip Rivers, or Ben Roethlisberger (if available), the Bills still have Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe is still a very able quarterback and Sam Wyche has been helping him with his mechanics. The Bills need a receiver to be able to free up Eric Moulds, much like Moulds did for Price two seasons ago. Josh Reed was not the answer, as he's more comfortable as the third option, so it makes sense for the Bills to take the best available WR here, that being Roy Williams. Williams is an absolute burner, and has great hands to boot. Williams would be able to step in quickly and help open things up for Moulds and Reed, enabling the Bills passing game to get back to where it was in 2002.
14. Chicago Bears - DT Vince Wilfork (Miami): The Bears spent free agency filling holes. They acquired Thomas Jones to become their feature back and got John Tait to lead the offensive line at tackle. Now they turn their attention to defense and defensive tackle. The loss of Ted Washington last season hurt Brian Urlacher and the linebacking group immensely. Now the Bears have also lost run stuffer Keith Traylor. Without a big plug in the middle of that defense, Urlacher can't get free to pressure the quarterback and pursue the runningbacks. Wilfork is a player with great dedication, he's been keeping off all unnecessary weight in the past year. Wilfork is a workhorse who would be perfect for Lovie Smith's new defense and Urlacher would more than welcome to the addition.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Jonathan Vilma (Miami): While coach Jon Gruden would love to add a play maker, the big name receivers in this draft are already long gone. That leaves several options for the Bucs to look in. Randy Starks could be an option to replace Warren Sapp along side Anthony McFarland, a corner could also be possible. However, Tampa coaches have liked Vilma in the workouts they've attended making him a strong choice for this pick. While Vilma played in the middle at Miami, he's a bit undersized for the position and has the speed to easily make the transition to the outside, playing opposite All-Pro Derrick Brooks. He's got the athleticism and cover abilities to play the weak-side, making him a perfect fit for Monte Kiffin's defense.
16. San Francisco 49ers - DT Randy Starks (Maryland): Like the Bucs, the 49ers would like to draft a wide receiver, now that Terrell Owens and Tai Streets are gone. With the big four gone, the Niners need to turn their attention to defensive tackle. Bryant Young is aging quickly and while Anthony Adams should develop into a quality starter, there is very porous depth behind the two of them. Starks' play had slipped a bit from his previous year, but for a 300lbs tackle, he's got great athleticism and explosiveness. His value is sure to increase as the draft nears and the 49ers would surely be happy if Starks was available with this pick.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - DE Kenechi Udeze (USC): The Bengals will undoubtedly focus on defense in this draft, needing help at corner, end and tackle. While Chris Gamble or Will Poole could be sure bets for this pick, there's no way Marvin Lewis would pass up on a player of Udeze's potential. Udeze would be the perfect compliment to Justin Smith, who is a big, athletic and strong end. Udeze's excellent combination of size, quickness and burst will make him an every down starter in the NFL sooner than later. If he somehow fell down to this pick, the Bengals would be absolutely thriller to grab him. Their pass rush would quickly gain momentum and the linebackers would be freed up to pursue runningbacks or hang back in a zone coverage. A player like Udeze on the edge of Cincy's defense is exactly what they need to move from the bottom 10th of the league's overall defenses.
18. New Orleans Saints - CB Chris Gamble (Ohio State): Dale Carter was cut loose and Fred Thomas and Ashley Ambrose are on the downside of their careers. Neither are shutdown corners who can control an opposing team's top receiver. This is the Saints top need and they need it badly. Speed, play making ability and youth is what they want out of a cornerback. Gamble has all of these and more. Despite having an inconsistent season, Gamble is the most talented of the possible first round corners. He's still very raw, but can and will develop into the top corner of this draft. The only reason why the Jets and Texans would pass on him is because he's so raw. Gamble would be an excellent value with this pick and the Saints would probably be overjoyed to have him.
19. Minnesota Vikings - DE Will Smith (Ohio State): The Vikings addressed their gaping hole at corner by stealing Antoine Winfield from the Jets and their second biggest need is a full time DE. With Udeze off the board, Will Smith is their best option. Smith has the lower body strength to anchor the run, yet be effective enough to rush the passer from the edge or work his body to the interior. Paired alongside Chris Hovan, the Vikings could have the making of a strong defensive line.
20. Miami Dolphins - OT Shawn Andrews (Arkansas): There really isn't much to say for this pick. The Dolphins got David Boston and A.J. Feeley, giving their passing game a nice make over. This allows them to turn to their most glaring need, the offensive line. The line has been decimated through free agency and Andrews is the top tackle remaining on the board. Though there have been some weight and character concerns, if Andrews slips to 20, they'd almost have to take the chance on him.
21. New England Patriots (from Baltimore) - WR Michael Clayton (LSU): While the Patriots may be entertaining trading a number of their seven picks in the first four rounds, for the sake of sanity we'll stick with the order at hand. The Pats are really looking to add depth through the draft, besides at runningback, which they can probably grab one at the end of the first round, or somewhere in the second. They'd also be looking at linebackers Dontarrious Thomas and Miami's D.J. Williams. However, the Patriots have a clout of small, quick receivers and a tall possession receiver would make things even easier for Tom Brady. Clayton could fall to this point, unless someone reaches for him. He's got adequate speed, but a big body with good hands. He's got the work ethic Bill Belihik loves, along with fantastic intangibles. Everyone has nothing but good things to say about Clayton's attitude and he would be a perfect for the Patriot's offense.
22. Dallas Cowboys - HB Kevin Jones (Virginia Tech): There's no doubt that Bill Parcells and Co will be looking for the best available runningback available with this pick. He did have some average 40 times at the Pro Day workouts, but those times are usually meaningless. Among the top three runningbacks in the draft (Jackson, Jones and Chris Perry), Jones is easily the most explosive and can break the big run. The only flaws with Jones are his hands, he could stand to work on his pass catching ability. Other than that, he'd be a huge improvement over anything the Cowboys currently have in their backfield.
23. Seattle Seahawks - LB D.J. Williams (Miami): While the Seahawks would have loved to get Randy Starks or any other DT, they'd definitely settle for Williams. His speed and athleticism would be more than welcomed on the Seahawks defense. While he does need some work with his recognition skills, he can be coached through that and as the most athletic linebacker in this year's draft, he could make an immediate impact.
24. Denver Broncos - TE Ben Troupe (Florida): While most think Denver will look for a linebacker, pending the re-signing or letting go of Ian Gold, they should look closely at tight end. It's still a mystery if Shannon Sharpe will retire or not and this pick depends largely on that fact. Troupe could fill Sharpe's shoes nicely. He's an excellent deep threat from the position and could really work with exploiting the defenses in helping receivers get open down the field.
25. Green Bay Packers - QB Philip Rivers (NC State): The Packers have spent the off-season looking for an heir apparent to the Brett Favre throne. If Philip Rivers falls to them, they've found the successor. The only concern scouts had were with his odd throwing style, which he's seem to have overcome. Scouts and coaches are falling in love with him more and more every day and the gap between Rivers, Manning and Roethlisberger is shrinking fast.
26. St. Louis Rams - DE Antwan Odom (Alabama): With the loss of Grant Wistrom to Seattle, end has become the Rams' biggest need. While Odom is still a work in progress, his excellent speed and pass rushing skills would make him a good compliment to Leonard Little. The Rams may have to reach with this pick to get what they need. However, Odom could be one of those reaches teams look back at in three years and wonder why they didn't take the guy for themselves.
27. Tennessee Titans - DT Darnell Dockett (Florida State): After losing Robaire Smith and Jevon Kearse to free agency, the Titans' defense line is hurting. While Dockett had an absolutely dominating Senior Bowl, he's still a bit of a reach late in the first round. Many thinks he's a middle- second pick. However, he seems to have gotten over some of his major character concerns and some good workouts have possibly led to the Titans taking a chance on him.
28. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Will Poole (USC): With Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent leaving through free agency, the Eagles have some concern with the depth of their corners. Poole, who became a star in the Trojan defense last season after transferring from Boston College would be a nice fit into the Eagles secondary. Poole's got good size, average corner speed and is probably the most physical corner in this draft class. He's not afraid to come down and mix it up with the run. Poole's stock has slipped because of a bad workout from an illness, but he'll have another workout on April 16th, where he can prove he deserves to be drafted higher than this. If he has another poor workout, he could drop even further.
29. Indianapolis Colts - OLB Karlos Dansby (Auburn): The Colts have a few needs on defense, outside linebacker and corner after losing Marcus Washington, David Macklin and Walt Harris during the off season. Dansby is the best outside prospect after D.J. Williams and would be a very nice fit in Dungy's Cover 2 defense. He's got great athleticism and only seems to be improving with every workout he attends.
30. Kansas City Chiefs - DE Jason Babin (Western Michigan): While it's entirely possible the Chiefs will draft WR Lee Evans, they need to focus on defense. They would be best off drafting the best available pass rusher at this point, which gives them Western Michigan's Jason Babin. Babin had a great career for the mid-major D-I team and though he's not ready to be an every down player in the NFL, his pass rushing skills will make him a very good situational pass rusher. Something the Chiefs sorely need.
31. Carolina Panthers - CB Ricardo Colclough (Tusculum): Colclough (pronounced Co-klee) has come out of nowhere and skyrocketed into the top of many draft boards for teams who need corners. He was a stand out in D-II and dominated nearly all of his competition. Colclough could go higher in the first round depending on his upcoming work out on April 13th. The only reason why he's being drafted so low is because of a pulled hamstring while he ran the 40 at his last workout.
32. New England Patriots - HB Chris Perry (Michigan): If the Pats decide to take a receiver or any other position with their first pick, Chris Perry would be perfect to end the first round. While he lacks the explosive breakaway speed, Perry is a tough inside runner who will fight for the extra yard. He also has catches the football extremely well, making him a nice fit for coordinator Charlie Weis' offense.
Justin Grover
04/02/04
1. San Diego Chargers - QB Eli Manning (Ole Miss): What better way to rectify the past by taking the brother of the guy you really wanted? Ryan Leaf being drafted totally destroyed this franchise and they've yet to have a winning season since that debacle. As much as Marty is intrigued with Ben Roethlisberger, passing on Manning would be the biggest mistake the franchise could possibly make. Eli Manning and LaDainian Tomlinson would make a fantastic backfield for years and years to come.
2. Oakland Raiders - WR Mike Williams (USC): Jerry Rice and Tim Brown are old. After this season their playing days are going to be pretty much numbered. Mike Williams would be the first step in the right direction in keeping a fantastic receiving corps going after the two first ballot Hall of Famers retire. Though Roy Williams could be at this choice, citing Al Davis' love for speed, Mike is the best of the receivers Williams and would be a nice fit in Norv Turner's new scheme.
3. Arizona Cardinals - WR Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt): Dennis Green is in love with Larry Fitzgerald. He has been since Fitzgerald was a ball boy for him in Minnesota. The only way Fitzgerald doesn't become a Cardinal is if Arizona trades down. With Boldin moving to the weak side, Bryant Johnson as the speed threat, Larry's big frame and soft as silk hands would be perfect in the slot. What better way to make a mediocre QB look great than to give him three young, talented options across the field?
4. New York Giants - OT Roberty Gallery (Iowa): With a hot rumor flying through the NFL that the Giants will try and trade up to secure Eli Manning, Kerry Collins does have one year left on his contract. The Giants could just as easily be happy with Roethlisberger and not have to trade any picks, or could wait for JP Losman in the second round. Gallery would be an absolutely stellar pick, though, as he's a monster on the line. He dominated Big Ten defensive ends all year, including Will Smith. Gallery is also considered a model citizen and the draft's "cleanest" player. He has the ability to come out as a rookie and become one of the most dominant tackles in the league.
5. Washington Redskins - S Sean Taylor (Miami of Florida): With the deal that sent Champ Bailey to Denver, Washington is in need of a play maker in the secondary. No one in the draft fits this bill more than Taylor. Perhaps the second or third best overall prospect in the draft, no defensive player brings as much to the table as Taylor can, and will. He's better than Roy Williams was when he came out of Oklahoma and is comparable to Ronnie Lott. Taylor is a vicious hitter, has the body of a weak-side linebacker, the speed of a cover corner and can do it all from the safety position. He should be defensive rookie of the year next season, no matter where he ends up.
6. Detroit Lions - HB Steven Jackson (Oregon State): While Jackson isn't really a top ten pick, Lions coach Steve Mariucci is in need of a feature back. Sean Bryson and Artrose Pinner are not 20-25 carries a game backs. The Lions could ideally trade down anywhere between the 10th and 20th picks and still get Jackson, but rumors have been heating up with New England being interested in this pick to try and get Sean Taylor for themselves. While Kevin Jones has been disappointing in his combine and workouts, Jackson has been steady, making him even more of a high pick. The Lions need a back badly, and wouldn't rule out reaching a little bit for the draft's best back.
7. Cleveland Browns - TE Kellen Winslow (Miami of Florida): While Butch Davis would love to get Robert Gallery, the odds of that happening are slim to none. Offensive line, safety and tight end are their major needs in that order, so in the unlikely event Taylor also fell to Cleveland, they'll settle for Winslow. While Winslow has some character and definite maturity problems (he's a soldier) to overcome, his potential and ceiling as a tight end are nearly limitless. He's big enough to line up and take on blockers, while fast enough to move to split-end and line up against small corners. The Browns desperately need another play maker on offense who can help open the passing offense up for Jeff Garcia. The addition of Winslow would also allow Quincy Morgan and Andre Davis to get a little more room to work with.
8. Atlanta Falcons - DT Tommie Harris (Oklahoma): Now that Jim Mora Jr. has taken over in Atlanta, the Falcons are going to be switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Nobody should be happier than Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith, two undersized defensive ends who struggled shaking off blockers last season. Atlanta has already added Rod Coleman through free agency and drafting Harris would be the perfect fit to finish off the 4-3. While Harris wasn't as dominating in his Junior year as he was as a sophomore, he's still an explosive athlete that reminds some scouts of a young Warren Sapp. Though that could be considered a bad thing.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Reggie Williams (Washington): Though defensive end could be more of a concern for the Jaguars, look for them to add a receiver now and look for an end later on. With Jimmy Smith aging and Kevin Johnson not a true top receiver, the Jaguars have a number of options at this stage. They could go with Roy Williams, who has been impressing everybody up and down with his workouts recently, or they could opt to take the most underrated of the Williams receiving trio, Reggie. Williams has the size, hands and toughness that coach Jack Del Rio would love in a receiver. Williams would also be able to start and grow with young QB Byron Leftwich. While Williams lacks the elite speed that Roy Williams has, he does have great hands and can take some hits, making him the workhorse and play maker the Jaguars will soon need at wide receiver. Other options with this pick are Roy Williams and DE Kenechi Udeze.
10. Houston Texans - CB Dunta Robinson (South Carolina): With the Texans using free agency to shore up their needs at defensive end (Gary Walker, Robaire Smith), the Texans will probably look at a defensive tackle, before making their ultimate decision. Seth Payne's multiple surgeries and ACL injury that cost him most of 2003, will make Houston look hard at Vince Wilfork. However with the constant speculation that Marcus Coleman will be moving from corner to safety this off season, it would make a lot of sense for Houston to go the route of corner. Robinson has all the skills to become a top cover corner in the league. He's got good speed and excellent confidence in his abilities. If Houston passes on taking Wilfork, their ultimate decision will be between taking Robinson and DeAngelo Hall.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Ben Roethlisberger (Miami of Ohio): While cornerback and offensive tackle and quarterback are all needs for Pittsburgh, quarterback must take precedence. Tommy Maddox had a fluke season in his comeback of the year campaign of 2002 and last year was marred by injuries. While there are rumors that have run rampant saying Pittsburgh officials prefer Rivers to Roethlisberger, that's hard to buy. Roethlisberger is the superior player. He's got an absolute cannon for an arm. At a recent workout he was throwing sixty yard bombs while keeping his arc to a minimum. Reports say he wowed scouts from the teams that visited the workout, helping rise his draft stock even further. Though DeAngelo Hall is still on the board at this point, Pittsburgh would be crazy to draft something other than a quarterback. They need a future leader on offense with Maddox only having a year or two left and Jerome Bettis slowly being phased out of the running game. Ben Roethlisberger should be the future of the Steelers offense.
12. New York Jets - CB DeAngelo Hall (Virginia Tech): The Jets are in a great position to pick with what they need the most. They could go in three different directions, corner, receiver or linebacker. Though after getting burned by Antoine Winfield in free agency, cornerback has to be their top priority. DeAngelo Hall would be a nice pick here, though Robinson and Hall could be flip-flopped with their draft spots. Hall could step in immediately and vastly improve the Jets' coverage ability and speed at the corner. Hall is also the premier return specialist in the draft and could take some of the load of returning off of Santana Moss.
13. Buffalo Bills - WR Roy Williams (Texas): While many think the Bills would use this pick on Philip Rivers, or Ben Roethlisberger (if available), the Bills still have Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe is still a very able quarterback and Sam Wyche has been helping him with his mechanics. The Bills need a receiver to be able to free up Eric Moulds, much like Moulds did for Price two seasons ago. Josh Reed was not the answer, as he's more comfortable as the third option, so it makes sense for the Bills to take the best available WR here, that being Roy Williams. Williams is an absolute burner, and has great hands to boot. Williams would be able to step in quickly and help open things up for Moulds and Reed, enabling the Bills passing game to get back to where it was in 2002.
14. Chicago Bears - DT Vince Wilfork (Miami): The Bears spent free agency filling holes. They acquired Thomas Jones to become their feature back and got John Tait to lead the offensive line at tackle. Now they turn their attention to defense and defensive tackle. The loss of Ted Washington last season hurt Brian Urlacher and the linebacking group immensely. Now the Bears have also lost run stuffer Keith Traylor. Without a big plug in the middle of that defense, Urlacher can't get free to pressure the quarterback and pursue the runningbacks. Wilfork is a player with great dedication, he's been keeping off all unnecessary weight in the past year. Wilfork is a workhorse who would be perfect for Lovie Smith's new defense and Urlacher would more than welcome to the addition.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Jonathan Vilma (Miami): While coach Jon Gruden would love to add a play maker, the big name receivers in this draft are already long gone. That leaves several options for the Bucs to look in. Randy Starks could be an option to replace Warren Sapp along side Anthony McFarland, a corner could also be possible. However, Tampa coaches have liked Vilma in the workouts they've attended making him a strong choice for this pick. While Vilma played in the middle at Miami, he's a bit undersized for the position and has the speed to easily make the transition to the outside, playing opposite All-Pro Derrick Brooks. He's got the athleticism and cover abilities to play the weak-side, making him a perfect fit for Monte Kiffin's defense.
16. San Francisco 49ers - DT Randy Starks (Maryland): Like the Bucs, the 49ers would like to draft a wide receiver, now that Terrell Owens and Tai Streets are gone. With the big four gone, the Niners need to turn their attention to defensive tackle. Bryant Young is aging quickly and while Anthony Adams should develop into a quality starter, there is very porous depth behind the two of them. Starks' play had slipped a bit from his previous year, but for a 300lbs tackle, he's got great athleticism and explosiveness. His value is sure to increase as the draft nears and the 49ers would surely be happy if Starks was available with this pick.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - DE Kenechi Udeze (USC): The Bengals will undoubtedly focus on defense in this draft, needing help at corner, end and tackle. While Chris Gamble or Will Poole could be sure bets for this pick, there's no way Marvin Lewis would pass up on a player of Udeze's potential. Udeze would be the perfect compliment to Justin Smith, who is a big, athletic and strong end. Udeze's excellent combination of size, quickness and burst will make him an every down starter in the NFL sooner than later. If he somehow fell down to this pick, the Bengals would be absolutely thriller to grab him. Their pass rush would quickly gain momentum and the linebackers would be freed up to pursue runningbacks or hang back in a zone coverage. A player like Udeze on the edge of Cincy's defense is exactly what they need to move from the bottom 10th of the league's overall defenses.
18. New Orleans Saints - CB Chris Gamble (Ohio State): Dale Carter was cut loose and Fred Thomas and Ashley Ambrose are on the downside of their careers. Neither are shutdown corners who can control an opposing team's top receiver. This is the Saints top need and they need it badly. Speed, play making ability and youth is what they want out of a cornerback. Gamble has all of these and more. Despite having an inconsistent season, Gamble is the most talented of the possible first round corners. He's still very raw, but can and will develop into the top corner of this draft. The only reason why the Jets and Texans would pass on him is because he's so raw. Gamble would be an excellent value with this pick and the Saints would probably be overjoyed to have him.
19. Minnesota Vikings - DE Will Smith (Ohio State): The Vikings addressed their gaping hole at corner by stealing Antoine Winfield from the Jets and their second biggest need is a full time DE. With Udeze off the board, Will Smith is their best option. Smith has the lower body strength to anchor the run, yet be effective enough to rush the passer from the edge or work his body to the interior. Paired alongside Chris Hovan, the Vikings could have the making of a strong defensive line.
20. Miami Dolphins - OT Shawn Andrews (Arkansas): There really isn't much to say for this pick. The Dolphins got David Boston and A.J. Feeley, giving their passing game a nice make over. This allows them to turn to their most glaring need, the offensive line. The line has been decimated through free agency and Andrews is the top tackle remaining on the board. Though there have been some weight and character concerns, if Andrews slips to 20, they'd almost have to take the chance on him.
21. New England Patriots (from Baltimore) - WR Michael Clayton (LSU): While the Patriots may be entertaining trading a number of their seven picks in the first four rounds, for the sake of sanity we'll stick with the order at hand. The Pats are really looking to add depth through the draft, besides at runningback, which they can probably grab one at the end of the first round, or somewhere in the second. They'd also be looking at linebackers Dontarrious Thomas and Miami's D.J. Williams. However, the Patriots have a clout of small, quick receivers and a tall possession receiver would make things even easier for Tom Brady. Clayton could fall to this point, unless someone reaches for him. He's got adequate speed, but a big body with good hands. He's got the work ethic Bill Belihik loves, along with fantastic intangibles. Everyone has nothing but good things to say about Clayton's attitude and he would be a perfect for the Patriot's offense.
22. Dallas Cowboys - HB Kevin Jones (Virginia Tech): There's no doubt that Bill Parcells and Co will be looking for the best available runningback available with this pick. He did have some average 40 times at the Pro Day workouts, but those times are usually meaningless. Among the top three runningbacks in the draft (Jackson, Jones and Chris Perry), Jones is easily the most explosive and can break the big run. The only flaws with Jones are his hands, he could stand to work on his pass catching ability. Other than that, he'd be a huge improvement over anything the Cowboys currently have in their backfield.
23. Seattle Seahawks - LB D.J. Williams (Miami): While the Seahawks would have loved to get Randy Starks or any other DT, they'd definitely settle for Williams. His speed and athleticism would be more than welcomed on the Seahawks defense. While he does need some work with his recognition skills, he can be coached through that and as the most athletic linebacker in this year's draft, he could make an immediate impact.
24. Denver Broncos - TE Ben Troupe (Florida): While most think Denver will look for a linebacker, pending the re-signing or letting go of Ian Gold, they should look closely at tight end. It's still a mystery if Shannon Sharpe will retire or not and this pick depends largely on that fact. Troupe could fill Sharpe's shoes nicely. He's an excellent deep threat from the position and could really work with exploiting the defenses in helping receivers get open down the field.
25. Green Bay Packers - QB Philip Rivers (NC State): The Packers have spent the off-season looking for an heir apparent to the Brett Favre throne. If Philip Rivers falls to them, they've found the successor. The only concern scouts had were with his odd throwing style, which he's seem to have overcome. Scouts and coaches are falling in love with him more and more every day and the gap between Rivers, Manning and Roethlisberger is shrinking fast.
26. St. Louis Rams - DE Antwan Odom (Alabama): With the loss of Grant Wistrom to Seattle, end has become the Rams' biggest need. While Odom is still a work in progress, his excellent speed and pass rushing skills would make him a good compliment to Leonard Little. The Rams may have to reach with this pick to get what they need. However, Odom could be one of those reaches teams look back at in three years and wonder why they didn't take the guy for themselves.
27. Tennessee Titans - DT Darnell Dockett (Florida State): After losing Robaire Smith and Jevon Kearse to free agency, the Titans' defense line is hurting. While Dockett had an absolutely dominating Senior Bowl, he's still a bit of a reach late in the first round. Many thinks he's a middle- second pick. However, he seems to have gotten over some of his major character concerns and some good workouts have possibly led to the Titans taking a chance on him.
28. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Will Poole (USC): With Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent leaving through free agency, the Eagles have some concern with the depth of their corners. Poole, who became a star in the Trojan defense last season after transferring from Boston College would be a nice fit into the Eagles secondary. Poole's got good size, average corner speed and is probably the most physical corner in this draft class. He's not afraid to come down and mix it up with the run. Poole's stock has slipped because of a bad workout from an illness, but he'll have another workout on April 16th, where he can prove he deserves to be drafted higher than this. If he has another poor workout, he could drop even further.
29. Indianapolis Colts - OLB Karlos Dansby (Auburn): The Colts have a few needs on defense, outside linebacker and corner after losing Marcus Washington, David Macklin and Walt Harris during the off season. Dansby is the best outside prospect after D.J. Williams and would be a very nice fit in Dungy's Cover 2 defense. He's got great athleticism and only seems to be improving with every workout he attends.
30. Kansas City Chiefs - DE Jason Babin (Western Michigan): While it's entirely possible the Chiefs will draft WR Lee Evans, they need to focus on defense. They would be best off drafting the best available pass rusher at this point, which gives them Western Michigan's Jason Babin. Babin had a great career for the mid-major D-I team and though he's not ready to be an every down player in the NFL, his pass rushing skills will make him a very good situational pass rusher. Something the Chiefs sorely need.
31. Carolina Panthers - CB Ricardo Colclough (Tusculum): Colclough (pronounced Co-klee) has come out of nowhere and skyrocketed into the top of many draft boards for teams who need corners. He was a stand out in D-II and dominated nearly all of his competition. Colclough could go higher in the first round depending on his upcoming work out on April 13th. The only reason why he's being drafted so low is because of a pulled hamstring while he ran the 40 at his last workout.
32. New England Patriots - HB Chris Perry (Michigan): If the Pats decide to take a receiver or any other position with their first pick, Chris Perry would be perfect to end the first round. While he lacks the explosive breakaway speed, Perry is a tough inside runner who will fight for the extra yard. He also has catches the football extremely well, making him a nice fit for coordinator Charlie Weis' offense.
