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Detroit Lions
Grade: A
Picks: 6
Every player the Lions added is a special player in his own right, and their two first-rounders are the most spectacular of them all. WR Roy Williams is arguably the best receiver in one of the best wideout classes ever. The Lions even got a second-rounder that gave them LB Teddy Lehman by swapping spots with the Browns. Lehman is the only Lions pick that was even slightly high, and even he should become a starter this season.
RB Kevin Jones seemed poised to fall to the second round before the Lions picked him up by sending the Chiefs a second round pick and change. Jones should immediately become the running threat Detroit has lacked since Barry Sanders retired. CB Keith Smith (Rd. 3) is a small school find who probably needs a year to develop but can become an excellent NFL cover corner. LB Alex Lewis (Rd. 5) might have the best motor in the draft and will probably have a long career as a special teams standout. Kelly Butler (Rd. 6) is a big, athletic tackle who should have gone much earlier. Butler has the ability to play left tackle, but could at least become a starting right tackle in short order.
Atlanta Falcons
Grade: A
Picks: 7
CB DeAngelo Hall was probably the Falcons' most questionable pick, and he's a potential shutdown corner who is also an elite return man. The Falcons definitely benefited from their trade with Falcons, getting WR Michael Jenkins (Rd. 1) and QB Matt Schaub (Rd. 3) out of the deal. Jenkins is incredibly quick for a player who is 6-4, not to mention his fine concentration and ability to pluck the ball out of the air. Schaub was well coached by Al Groh at Virginia and it would surprise no one if he became Michael Vick's top backup this season.
LB Demorrio Williams is a nice pass-rusher but a bit undersized who can at least be a top backup at WLB and a presence on special teams. DT Chad Lavalais was a productive college player who was just as disruptive against top competition during the Senior Bowl, but somehow slipped to the Falcons in the fifth round. FS Etric Pruitt is another effective college player who was expected to go two rounds higher in the fourth. RB Quincy Wilson is another player who did well in postseason All Star games, but went in the seventh due to his small stature. Wilson will make a nice third running back and has some return ability.
Oakland Raiders
Grade: A
Picks: 9
Any draft in which you add the player who will anchor the left side of your offensive line for the next ten years must be a good one. It was more than a good draft for owner Al Davis, who selected Iowa LT Robert Gallery with the second pick in the draft. Gallery carries a higher grade than Tony Boselli did coming out of college and is expected to quickly join the elite ranks of tackles like Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace.
The Raiders continued their strong draft by taking C Jake Grove in the second round and FS Stuart Schweigert in the third. Both were productive college players who carried first round grades on some boards. Oakland addressed their WR needs on Day Two with the selection of two explosive receivers in Carlos Francis (Rd. 4) and Johnnie Morant (Rd. 5). Francis was more productive in college while Morant is a physical freak, but both are perfectly suited for the vertical passing game. DE Shawn Johnson (Rd. 6) often finds his way in to the backfield, while ILB Cody Spencer (Rd. 6) is effective at the point of attack. TE Courtney Anderson (Rd. 7) is a big target who may need some seasoning, while Mr. Irrelevant, OLB Andre Sommersell, has 4.5 speed and a good motor.
Baltimore Ravens
Grade: A
Picks: 7
The Ravens came in to the draft needing receiving help and came away with four nice wideouts. Trading fourth round pick WR Ernest Wilford to the Jags for WR Kevin Johnson got the Ravens one potential starter. Getting Devard Darling in the third and Derek Abney in the seventh gave the Ravens depth on offense and special teams. Finding WR Clarence Moore in the sixth round made for one of the best picks in the draft, as the 6'5" wideout has fantastic athleticism to go with good ball skills.
DL Dwan Edwards (Rd. 2) looks like a natural 3-4 DE and was a nice value, as was DE/OLB Roderick Green. Green, a fifth-rounder, has good pass rushing skills and will play OLB in the Ravens' 3-4. QB Josh Harris was a nice pickup in the sixth round, and could be ready for top backup duties within a year. T Brian Rimpf will end up on the practice squad but could provide nice depth eventually.
Factor in the 2003 trade which sent this year's first rounder to New England for QB Kyle Boller, and the Ravens once again had an exceptionally productive draft.
Chicago Bears
Grade: A
Picks: 8
Coach Lovie Smith added a pair of defensive tackles who fit his scheme with the Bears' first and second round picks, then continued to add players that fit needs and can make the active roster. DT Tommie Harris could have gone higher than No. 14 and has the rare blend of explosion and bulk needed to play inside in Smith's ideal front. DT Tank Johnson is a similar player who lasted until the second round due to character and motivation concerns, but can start this year.
WR Bernard Berrian has excellent body control and hands, runs excellent routes, but a hamstring injury limited his speed this season and caused him to drop to the third round, which still may have been too high. CB Nathan Vasher (Rd. 4) was one of the best corners in college the past two seasons, but his inability to turn an run turned-off some teams. That won't be as much of a problem in Smith's Cover 2. OLB Leon Joe is a nice run-stuffer, while fellow fifth-rounder DE Claude Harriott is another player who slipped thanks to questions about his motivation. No one has ever doubted QB Craig Krenzel's (Rd. 5) will -- he should develop in to a solid career-backup. Seventh round CB Alfonso Marshall will make the team with his special teams ability and may contribute as a dimeback.
Tennessee Titans
Grade: A
Picks: 13
No team got a better combination of volume and value in this draft than the Titans. The trade which sent the 27th pick in the draft to the Texans proved incredibly lucrative. The four picks from that trade netted them two potential starters in TE Ben Troupe and DT Randy Starks and two players who will at least contribute this year -- OG Jacob Bell and DE Bo Schobel.
CB Michael Waddell was a reach in the fourth, as was DE Travis Laboy in the early second round, but both are solid players who fill needs. Tennessee added a pair of sleepers from Penn State with CB Rich Gardner (Rd. 3) and H-back Sean McHugh (Rd. 7). Gardner has a good shot at the nickelback job and McHugh may be used as the No. 3 TE.
The Titans also added a first round talent in DE Antwan Odom late in the second round. Odom slipped due to consistency issues but will benefit from the tutelage of coach Jeff Fisher and his staff. HB Troy Fleming (Rd. 6) was a star of the post-season all-star games, as was ILB Robert Reynolds (Rd. 5). Both will contribute on special teams, though Fleming has the potential to be a weapon in singleback and short-yardage sets. Seventh-rounders DT Jared Clauss and C Eugene Amano are projects who are likely slotted for the Titans' practice squad.
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: A-
Picks: 7
New head coach's Dennis Green imprint is all over his first draft with Arizona. The person largely responsible for drafting wide receiver Randy Moss in Minnesota came away from his first draft in Arizona with a slew of potential starters. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald learned to play football from Green, Moss and wide receiver Cris Carter while Fitzgerald was a bellboy with the Vikings. Time spent with the Juggs machine at Winter Park while still only 15 may also be why Fitzgerald has such incredible hand-eye coordination. Fitzgerald will pair with Anquan Boldin to give the Cardinals a nice receiving tandem.
LB Karlos Dansby (Rd. 2) is a big pass-rusher with speed who is a natural SLB. DT Darnell Dockett slipped due to character concerns and was a steal in round three. Some draft experts consider sixth-rounder Nick Leckey a better prospect than fourth-rounder Alex Stepanovich, but both players were productive college players who will find a place on the interior of the Cardinals' line. DE Antonio Smith is a raw pass rusher and presented good value in the fifth round. QB John Navarre slipped to the seventh due to concerns that he is too mechanical, but Green should be able to mold him in to a Brad Johnson-type signal-caller.
Minnesota Vikings
Grade: A-
Picks: 8
The Vikings continued their policy of putting value before need, but still landed the defensive end they so desperately wanted by picking Kenechi Udeze in the first round. The Vikings even managed to add a fourth-rounder by hoodwinking Miami in to a trade to move Minnesota down a spot. Udeze slid due to concerns over his shoulder, but the Vikings' medical staff says the shoulder is not a problem.
LB Dontarrious Thomas is slated to start immediately at WLB and was a decent value in the second round. The Vikings added a DL who can play DE or DT in Darrion Scott (Rd. 3). The Vikings believe Scott can overcome a mediocre season and start this season if needed. T Nat Dorsey and RB Mewelde Moore, both fourth-rounders, may have been the two best second day values. Dorsey could be the starter at RT in 2005. LB Rod Davis (Rd. 5) gives Minnesota a backup to E.J. Henderson with stellar instincts and decent size. FS DeAndre Eiland (Rd. 6) is the most questionable pick, but he has 4.55 speed and is a special teams standout. TE Jeff Dugan (Rd. 7) will have to fight for a roster spot but is a nice blocking tight end.
New England Patriots
Grade: A-
Picks: 8
Trading one of their second round picks for RB Corey Dillon might make the Patriots' draft a success in and of itself. Without it, the Patriots still had a successful weekend by getting players who fit their scheme, fill needs and add depth. Taking TE Ben Watson with the last pick in the first round, DE Marquise Hill in the second, S Guss Scott in the third and S Dexter Reid in the fourth may not have been good value picks, but all four players can make the team and contribute in 2004.
RB Cedric Cobbs (Rd. 4) and WR P.K Sam (Rd. 5) are playmakers who slipped due to speed and weight concerns, respectively. Both have tremendous potential and give the Patriots fantastic depth on offense. CB Christian Morton wouldn't have lasted until the seventh round if he'd continued to polish the NFL-caliber coverage skills he exhibited early in his college career.
San Diego Chargers
Grade: A-
Picks: 11
The Chargers thoroughly wiped the egg off their face that they earned with the Eli Manning fiasco, turning an ugly situation in to QB Philip Rivers and a boatload of high draft picks. The Chargers came away with Rivers, a fantastic kicker in Nate Kaeding (Rd. 3) and first and fifth round selections in next year's draft. Coach Marty Schottenheimer was enamored with Rivers ever since he coached the young QB at the Senior Bowl. In Rivers he has one of the most polished quarterbacks to come of the college ranks in years.
San Diego added a trio of fantastic defensive linemen in DT Igor Olshansky (Rd. 2), DE Shaun Phillips (Rd. 4), and DE Dave Ball (Rd. 5). Ball has a good motor, Phillips moves faster in pads, and Olshansky has the incredible strength needed to play nose tackle in the Chargers' new 3-4 front. DT Ryon Bingham (Rd. 4) could play DE in that front himself. C Nick Hardwick was a reach in the third round, though San Diego got great value when they took tackles Shane Olivea and Carlos Joseph in the seventh. The only drawback to the Chargers' draft is that they did little to find any targets for their new quarterback. Ryan Krause, a sixth-rounder, was the only wideout the Chargers took. Though he's quite talented, he will not step in and challenge for a starting role.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: B+
Picks: 10
The Jaguars' brain trust of general manger James Harris and coach Jack Del Rio had a very nice draft in their second year despite reaching for need to take WR Reggie Williams. If Williams can overcome concerns about his work ethic and speed, he can quickly become the Jags' No. 1 wide receiver. LBs Daryl Smith (Rd. 2) and Jorge Cordova (Rd. 3) were fantastic acquisitions who could start immediately. RB Greg Jones (Rd. 2) is a punishing runner who provides insurance should starter Fred Taylor's balky groin act up.
Wide receiver Ernest Wilford (Rd. 4, trade for WR Kevin Johnson) understands positioning and adjust well to the jump ball, but must show he plays faster than his 4.7 speed. DT Anthony Maddox (Rd. 4) and CB Chris Thompson (Rd. 5) are a pair of small school guys who can make the jump to the pros. Thompson is a smart player with good size, fluid hips and nice initial quickness. T Sean Bubin was a find in the fifth round, but snagging DE Bobby McCray with six picks to go in the seventh round was a robbery. McCray was productive his senior year, but inconsistency earlier in his career should not have pushed him down to the seventh stanza. K Josh Scobee (Rd. 5) was considered the top kicking prospect by some scouts, and will probably handle kickoff duties if he doesn't win the job outright from incumbent K Seth Marler.
Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: B+
Picks: 11
The Bengals moved down twice from No. 17 and turned that pick in to RB Chris Perry, CB Deltha O'Neil and T Stacy Andrews (Rd. 4). Perry gives the Bengals a solid backup to Rudi Johnson and potentially one of the best third-down backs in the NFL. Stacy, the brother of first round T Shawn Andrews, is a former track star who will need a few years to develop but has better measurables than his talented brother.
CB Keiwan Ratliff and FS Madieu Williams may have been slight reaches in the second round, but Ratliff can hide his weaknesses in the Bengals' Cover 2 scheme and Williams is a fine athlete with good recognition skills. LBs Caleb Miller and Landon Johnson were solid college players who project as backups on the outside. Both of the defensive linemen taken in the fourth round, DT Matthias Askew and DE Robert Geathers, would have gone a lot higher if not for problems with consistency in college. WR Maurice Mann (Rd. 5) emerged as a senior and could be the Bengals' No. 3 receiver. CB Greg Brooks has great coverage skills for a sixth rounder, though QB Casey Bramlett (Rd. 7) doesn't have the arm to be more than a career backup.
Carolina Panthers
Grade: B
Picks: 6
When CB Chris Gamble continued to plummet through the first round, the Panthers saw an opportunity to grab a special player and moved up three spots to grab him with the 28th selection. Gamble may not be ready to contribute this season and had terrible pre-draft workouts, though the Panthers see a special cornerback with good size and a knack for playing well in big games, against top competition.
Some people liken WR Keary Colbert to future Hall of Famer Cris Carter, and Colbert certainly is a possession receiver in that mold. He was a very nice value pick that filled a need near the end of the second round. OT Travelle Wharton (Rd. 3) is another nice prospect who could be the Panthers' future right tackle. WR Drew Carter (Rd. 5) has incredible speed but will be shelved for the year. LB Sean Tufts (Rd. 6) has good speed himself and will help on special teams. TE Michael Gaines (Rd. 7) is a blocking tight end but has soft hands.
Denver Broncos
Grade: B
Picks: 10
Though it is foolhardy to question coach Mike Shanahan's taste in running backs, it is similarly tempting to wonder why he passed on RB Steven Jackson with the 17th pick in the draft. Those still perplexed should keep in mind that Jackson, for all his talents, does not have terribly quick feet, a prerequisite for a Denver running back. Second round pick Tatum Bell has quicker feet and better top-end speed than any back in the draft. He has fumbling issues just as Clinton Portis did before him.
The player the Broncos did take in the first round, LB D.J. Williams, is a fantastic athlete with bust potential. WR Darius Watts is another player with great potential but is an even shakier pick thanks to his injury history. Both Watts and Williams have the tools to make it a Pro Bowl or two, Watts in particular could just as easily wind up out of the league. Jeremy LeSueur (Rd. 3) was a nice value pick, as was WR Triandos Luke (Rd. 6). C Josh Sewell (Rd. 6) has the elite quickness Denver looks for in their linemen. CB Jeff Shoate (Rd. 5) was a bit of a reach.
Denver picked up an intriguing running back in the Ruben Droughns mold with the selection of Brandon Miree in the seventh. But potentially their two best late round picks were quarterbacks, Matt Mauck and Bradlee Van Pelt, both seventh-rounders. Both are mobile quarterbacks with decent arms and both should make the 53-man roster.
Houston Texans
Grade: B
Picks: 9
CB Dunta Robinson was the second corner taken in the draft but is more likely than any other member of this class to become a shutdown corner. Adding Robinson also allows the Texans to move Marco Coleman over to safety, eliminating another need. Trading almost all of their mid-round picks for DE Jason Babin (27th selection) looks good considering his potential as a 3-4 rush linebacker.
S Glenn Earl (Rd. 4) probably won't play this year due to injury, but could develop in to a starter in the future. His teammate at Notre Dame, CB Vontez Duff, wasn't a bad pick in the sixth round. SS/RB Jammal Lord (Rd. 6) needs to contribute on special teams and then find a position if he wants to stay in the NFL. OLB Charlie Anderson has great measurables but needs development to make the transition from DE. DE Raheem Orr is another lineman who could be a standout 3-4 OLB, while WR Sloan Thomas and B.J. Symons are fellow seventh-rounders who are better than the round they were taken in.
New York Giants
Grade: B
Picks: 7
The Giants may have added their QB of the future by trading for Eli Manning, but they gave up a lot to get him. The Giants can't retain Kerry Collins to play one more season as the Giants starter, so Manning will start this season, not the ideal situation for a rookie quarterback who already is faced with plenty of pressure. Manning is a great talent with incredible pedigree, but his ability to succeed may not be entirely within his hands.
The second-round selection of G Chris Snee may have been a bit high, but the Giants will start him this season and the organization is quite fond of him. DE Reggie Torbor was a decent pick in the fourth round, as his work ethic is his biggest strength. S Gibril Wilson (Rd. 5) provides depth in the secondary while Jamaar Taylor (Rd. 6) could become a nice wideout, once he's healthy again. T Drew Strojny (Rd. 7) might be a camp fodder, but DE Isaac Hilton (Rd. 7) is a small school player who can give the Giants some speed off the edge.
New York Jets
Grade: B
Picks: 10
LB Jonathan Vilma was a bit of a reach at No. 12, but he gives the Jets a polished athlete at a need position. CB Derrick Strait looked awkward at the Senior Bowl, but the rules against press coverage at that event eliminated his best coverage tool. He was a nice third round find who is an ideal Cover 2 nickel corner. Fourth-round WR Jerricho Cotchery was productive in college but his lack of quickness will limit him in the NFL. T Adrian Jones was a nice pick in the fourth round and could develop in to a starter with a few years of grooming.
Seventh round LB Darrell McClover is inexperienced but incredibly talented and could be a starter someday. SS Rashad Washington (Rd. 7) may be more talented than FS Erik Coleman, who went to rounds earlier than Washington. Both fit the scheme well. T Marko Cavka (Rd. 6) and RB Derrick Ward (Rd. 7) are both small school guys who can make the team as backups. Cavka is mobile for a tackle and Ward is a big back with decent hands and speed. DE Trevor Johnson (Rd. 7) is strong but needs to bulk up to hold up in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: B
Picks: 10
Coach Andy Reid did a nice job of lying when he insisted the trade to move up and pick T Shawn Andrew was not motivated by the problems with OG John Welbourn, who was traded to the Chiefs later in the draft. The Eagles may ask Andrew to play right guard this season before moving over to tackle.
CB/FS Matt Ware (Rd. 3) and FS J.R. Reed (Rd. 4) are a pair of safeties with the ability to play in space. Both have good size and are solid in coverage. G Trey Darilek (Rd. 4) played for a bad team but looks like he can start this season if Andrews is not up to the task. FB Thomas Tapeh (Rd. 5) is less a blocker and more of a running threat. CB Dexter Wynn is an underrated cornerback who was taken for value. C Dominic Furio and RB Bruce Perry were both expected to be available in the seventh round, but both have a shot at doing more than just help on special teams. G Adrien Clarke should not have been available in the seventh round and gives the Eagles another nice backup on the interior o-line.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: B
Picks: 8
The Steelers had a successful draft from the moment QB Ben Roethlisberger fell to them at pick 11. They didn't have to snag the snag the incredibly talented CB from Tusculum, Ricardo Colclough, in the second round, or mammoth T Max Starks in the third, but they did, and now their future is suddenly brighter. All three picks probably won't start this season, or shouldn't, but both Roethlisberger and Colclough could become Pro Bowlers at vital positions, and Starks could be a fine starting right tackle someday.
After taking DE Nathaniel Adibi in the fifth round, the Steelers' luck or evaluations became more questionable. Adibi is a great fit as a 3-4 OLB, but T Bo Lacy (Rd. 6) is the only other pick who does not look like camp fodder.
Seattle Seahawks
Grade: B
Picks: 7
Defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs went to the Seahawks, as expected, with the 23rd pick in the first round. The Seahawks get a player with above-average quickness for a player his size and good moves off the line. They'll need players like Tubbs to cover up OLB Michael Boulware if the Seahawks don't move him to SS, as expected. Boulware could form a nice young duo with FS Ken Hamlin and was a nice value in the second round.
Seattle's best pick may have been G Sean Locklear (Rd. 3). Locklear graded consistently high for N.C. State and may have been the best offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. ILB Niko Koutovides (Rd. 3) may have been a college player but probably lacks the speed to ever be more than a backup. WR D.J. Hackett (Rd. 5) gives the Seahawks another big, athletic wideout with questionable hands. P Donnie Jones (Rd. 7) needs to get his punts off quicker but could take P Tom Rouen's job.
Cleveland Browns
Grade: B-
Picks: 6
Cleveland had too many holes to give up a second round pick in order to move up one spot and grab TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. with the sixth pick. Coach Butch Davis better be certain Winslow is the equal of his Hall of Fame father, and that the player they could have taken, WR Roy Williams, does not have the exceptional career many project him to have.
Besides Winslow, Cleveland had an uneven but overall decent draft. The Browns took two players out of Stanford on the second day, DT Amon Gordon (Rd. 5) and T Kirk Chambers (Rd. 6), even though some experts believed Gordon was the only draftable Stanford player this year, and even he was considered borderline. Gordon does have some pass-rushing skills, but is a bit undersized. S Sean Jones, a great athlete who played well in 2003, was a second round steal. QB Luke McCown (Rd. 4) is a fine athlete and has a better arm than his brother Josh. He could be a stellar West Coast quarterback in a few years, but needs to learn to read coverages first. RB Joe Echemandu (Rd. 7) is a late round find.
Green Bay Packers
Grade: B-
Picks: 6
The Packers have reached for athletic player who fit their needs in the first round of the past two drafts, and the 2004 draft was no different. The last two reaches, WR Javon Walker and LB Nick Barnett, have already proved that other teams should have had them higher on their draft boards and this year's first-rounder, CB Ahmad Carroll, figures to do the same. Carroll could have used an extra year in school, but has great speed and agility for such a stocky athlete.
CB Joey Thomas is another project but a great find in the third round. He has size, ball skills and can cover NFL receivers man-to-man but still is a bit raw. DT Donnell Washington (Rd. 3) could earn a starting job if the doubts about his passion for the game prove unfounded. P B.J. Sander was a horrible pick in the third round, but the Packers must see a lot in him. DT Corey Williams (Rd. 6) was very productive at Arkansas State and has the athleticism to be a nice backup for the Packers. C Scott Wells (Rd. 7) gives consistent effort and may make the team.
New Orleans Saints
Grade: B-
Picks: 6
Although they did not come out of the draft with the defensive back many believed the Saints needed, New Orleans got some exceptional value from their picks and filled a few needs along the way. DE Will Smith should not have been around at No. 18 and gives the defensive line more speed and the consistency it has lacked. WR Devery Henderson is incredibly fast and was one of the stars of the 2004 Senior Bowl.
LB Courtney Watson is track fast but does not show that speed in games. He makes too many plays away from the line of scrimmage and may not have been a good second round selection. DT Rodney Leslie (Rd. 5) is a player with a nice motor who will fit nicely next to the developing Jonathan Sullivan. FB Mike Karney has nice hands and is a good blocking back who should provide an upgrade over the departed Terrelle Smith. LB Colby Bockwoldt is a project but may be a special teams contributor.
St. Louis Rams
Grade: B-
Picks: 7
Coach Mike Martz was thrilled to see Steven Jackson available at pick 24, and the Rams could not resist trading up to grab running back out of Oregon State. Jackson gives the Rams potentially one of the best backup running backs in football and good insurance should Marshall Faulk continue to have injury problems.
The rest of the Rams' draft wasn't nearly as productive, but St. Louis managed to add at least two steals (QB Jeff Smoker, Rd. 6; FS Jason Shiver, Rd. 5) and two solid backups (Tony Hargrove, Rd. 3; Brandon Chillar, Rd. 4). Shiver may step in at the free safety spot, while the addition of Smoker makes it easier to think about releasing QB Kurt Warner.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: B-
Picks: 8
The Bucs were not afraid to reach for need when they took WR Michael Clayoton in the middle of the first round. Clayton ran his 40 in the 4.7 at the combine but plays faster than that and seemed to separate well against college DBs. Clayton is unlikely to be a bust, but there are questions about what his ceiling is.
LB Marquis Cooper (Rd. 3) is fast and undersized by other teams' standards, but he's ideal for the Bucs' Cover 2. FS Will Allen (Rd. 4) can play in the nickel or dime slots but should be a top backup at FS this season. G Jeb Terry (Rd. 5) is one of the better OL prospects the Bucs have drafted in a few years, and should be at least a nice backup this season. TEs Nate Lawrie (Rd. 6) and Casey Cramer (Rd. 7) are a pair of Ivy Leaguers who might not be more than practice squad players. Cramer is the better pass-catcher, Lawrie more of a blocking TE.
Buffalo Bills
Grade: B-/C+
Picks: 6
The Bills came in wanting to add a No. 2 receiver, depth along the defensive line and a developmental quarterback and got just that with their first three picks. WR Lee Evans has the strongest hands in the draft and sub-4.4 speed but injury concerns made him a risky pick at No. 13. More controversial was the trade which sent a 2005 first round pick and a second and fifth-rounder this year to Dallas in exchange for the 22nd pick, used on QB J.P. Losman. Buffalo believes Losman, with a year of coaching, is a better option than any of the quarterbacks expected to enter the 2005 draft.
DT Tim Anderson will provide a nice backup to aging DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams. The third rounder was a productive college player whose tools translate well to the NFL. TE Tim Euhus (Rd. 4) has limited potential and may have a short career, and WR Jonathan Smith (Rd. 7) is too slow-footed to be much more than a fourth receiver. T Dylan McFarland (Rd. 7) is a late-round sleeper whose combination of size and versatility could give the Bills a top backup in a year or two.
Dallas Cowboys
Grade: C+
Picks: 8
The Cowboys seemed poised to take RB Stephen Jackson with the 22nd pick in the first round and accelerate the Cowboys' rebuilding plan. Instead coach Bill Parcells and owner Jerry Jones decided to trade out of the pick, and instead stockpile high-round picks, one a first-rounder in the 2005 Draft. They did use the second round pick they acquired on RB Julius Jones, the highest running back the Cowboys had on their draft board. Jones can be a workhorse back and has the ability to top 1,000 yards rushing in his rookie campaign.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Cowboys' draft was mediocre, if not perplexing. Injury-prone T Jacob Rogers was a sensible pick in the second round, as was G Stephen Peterman in the third. However, ever pick after that was either too high, or player not expected to be drafted. The success of this draft may not be known until 2005, at least, but right now it looks like it could have gone better.
Miami Dolphins
Grade: C+
Picks: 6
If OL Vernon Carey is healthy and his 2003 was an aberration, the Dolphins' trade to nab the former Hurricane may look quite savvy years from now. Currently, it seems the Dolphins should have known the Vikings were not about to trade out of the chance to grab DE Kenechi Udeze, and with Carey rated as the No. 4 or 5 OL on most boards, the Dolphins did not need to give up a fifth rounder to get him. On the other hand, it's not a lot give up for a player they coveted, and a guy they expect to start for them immediately and for years to come.
Fifth-rounder Tony Bua and seventh-rounder Derrick Pope are a pair of under-sized, productive college OLBs who were nice value picks. Bua can make the transition to SS, while Pope is a poor-man's Zach Thomas. Miami was smart to nab CB Will Poole, once considered a first-rounder, in the fourth round. He has character and foot speed issues, but has decent size and man cover skills. C Rex Hadnot looks like a career backup at best, but T Tony Pape has intriguing potential and was a nice find with pick 221.
Indianapolis Colts
Grade: C
Picks: 9
Team president Bill Polian is a smart man and a great talent evaluator, but it appears he may have out-thought himself this time. The Colts traded early and often but the players they got (SS Bob Sanders, Rd. 2; LB Gilbert Gardner, Rd. 3; LB Kendyll Pope, Rd. 3; CB Jason David, Rd. 4, TE Ben Hartsock, Rd. 3; OT Jake Scott, Rd. 6) appear inferior to the players their original picks netted (WR Michael Jenkins, Rd. 1; QB Matt Schaub, Rd. 3; CB Ricardo Colclough, Rd. 2; S Sean Jones, Rd 2). Though Sanders, Hartsock and Scott all look like nice picks for good value, and the other players they took appear serviceable, the volume the Colts got does not match the quality they gave up.
Kicker David Kimball is an underrated talent and might give Indy an alternative should they wish to part ways with Mike Vanderjagt. There were better options at QB available when the Colts took Jim Sorgi in the sixth round, but some scouts are high on him despite an uneven college career and marginal arm strength.
San Francisco 49ers
Grade: C
Picks: 10
In his last draft working the phones for the San Francisco 49ers, Bill Walsh orchestrated another trade-down draft reminiscent of his 1986 effort. However, in 1986 the 49ers had some Hall of Fame players already on the roster (Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott), which afforded them some luxuries they didn't have in 2004.
This is an organization that obviously doesn't want to spend money (good-bye T. O., Jeff Garcia, Tai Street, etc.). So they MUST rebuild annually with inexpensive labor through the draft.
With Walsh this year, they tried to move up and down to find value and stockpile picks. Without him the future looks bleak. The waiting list for season tickets should shrink fast for this once-proud organization. Quick, name a drawing card on the 49ers' roster. Hell, quick….name their starting quarterback. The legacy of former owner Eddie DeBartolo and Walsh will be strengthened over the next few bleak years-by-the-Bay . . . . unless Carmen Policy returns from retirement and buys the team or something.
WR Rashaun Woods (pick 31) might be a Top 15 pick in any other draft and will enter the season as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver. Derrick Hamilton (Rd. 3) could be the No. 2 receiver. G Justin Smiley (Rd. 2) is an athletic, intelligent pulling guard who will start and could become a Pro Bowler. CB Shawntae Spencer is another second round selection who could easily start this season. DT Isaac Sopoaga (Rd. 4) bench presses tree trunks as a workout and nearly broke the Combine bench press record. The scary part is that his strength is functional.
ILB Richard Seigler (Rd. 4) will get on the field when the 49ers switch to a 3-4, and P Andy Lee (Rd. 6) may have been the best punting prospect in the draft. FS Keith Lewis (Rd. 3) looks like a backup but might have the athleticism to someday start. QB Cody Pickett (Rd. 7) needs to regain the magic of his junior campaign to earn a roster spot, but has the mobility and arm to possibly make it in coach Dennis Erickson's offense. DT Christian Ferrara (Rd. 7) is an aggressive player who can make at least the practice squad.
Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: C
Picks: 7
After trading out of the first round, Kansas City reached hard to take DT Junior Siavii with their extra second round pick, then used their original second round spot to reach for TE Kris Wilson. Both players are talented, but both have enough questions that the Chiefs could have snagged each player later than they did. DE/OLB Keyaron Fox (Rd. 3) is a nice pass rusher and the Chiefs' best selection.
WR Samie Parker (Rd. 4) has so much explosiveness that sixth round pick WR Jeris McIntyre should ask to borrow some. McIntyre is not a big player, but his 29-inch vertical is lower than many defensive linemen's. T Kevin Sampson could develop eventually, and perhaps should have gone higher than the seventh round. DE Jared Allen (Rd. 4) beat up on D-1 AA blockers for four years and can also long snap.
Washington Redskins
Grade: C
Picks: 4
The Redskins don't put much import on the draft, so it's almost amazing how well they came out of this year's draft. FS Sean Taylor will be an occasional Pro Bowler at worst and one of the five greatest players to play the safety in the NFL, at best. Not bad for the fifth pick in the draft. TE Chris Cooley (Rd. 3) is a great pass-catcher who will be used often at H-back beginning this season.
T Jim Molinaro (Rd. 6) could make the team, but T Mark Wilson (Rd. 5) was a really nice second day pick. Wilson could make a very nice right tackle some day.
Source: Sports Xchange
Grade: A
Picks: 6
Every player the Lions added is a special player in his own right, and their two first-rounders are the most spectacular of them all. WR Roy Williams is arguably the best receiver in one of the best wideout classes ever. The Lions even got a second-rounder that gave them LB Teddy Lehman by swapping spots with the Browns. Lehman is the only Lions pick that was even slightly high, and even he should become a starter this season.
RB Kevin Jones seemed poised to fall to the second round before the Lions picked him up by sending the Chiefs a second round pick and change. Jones should immediately become the running threat Detroit has lacked since Barry Sanders retired. CB Keith Smith (Rd. 3) is a small school find who probably needs a year to develop but can become an excellent NFL cover corner. LB Alex Lewis (Rd. 5) might have the best motor in the draft and will probably have a long career as a special teams standout. Kelly Butler (Rd. 6) is a big, athletic tackle who should have gone much earlier. Butler has the ability to play left tackle, but could at least become a starting right tackle in short order.
Atlanta Falcons
Grade: A
Picks: 7
CB DeAngelo Hall was probably the Falcons' most questionable pick, and he's a potential shutdown corner who is also an elite return man. The Falcons definitely benefited from their trade with Falcons, getting WR Michael Jenkins (Rd. 1) and QB Matt Schaub (Rd. 3) out of the deal. Jenkins is incredibly quick for a player who is 6-4, not to mention his fine concentration and ability to pluck the ball out of the air. Schaub was well coached by Al Groh at Virginia and it would surprise no one if he became Michael Vick's top backup this season.
LB Demorrio Williams is a nice pass-rusher but a bit undersized who can at least be a top backup at WLB and a presence on special teams. DT Chad Lavalais was a productive college player who was just as disruptive against top competition during the Senior Bowl, but somehow slipped to the Falcons in the fifth round. FS Etric Pruitt is another effective college player who was expected to go two rounds higher in the fourth. RB Quincy Wilson is another player who did well in postseason All Star games, but went in the seventh due to his small stature. Wilson will make a nice third running back and has some return ability.
Oakland Raiders
Grade: A
Picks: 9
Any draft in which you add the player who will anchor the left side of your offensive line for the next ten years must be a good one. It was more than a good draft for owner Al Davis, who selected Iowa LT Robert Gallery with the second pick in the draft. Gallery carries a higher grade than Tony Boselli did coming out of college and is expected to quickly join the elite ranks of tackles like Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace.
The Raiders continued their strong draft by taking C Jake Grove in the second round and FS Stuart Schweigert in the third. Both were productive college players who carried first round grades on some boards. Oakland addressed their WR needs on Day Two with the selection of two explosive receivers in Carlos Francis (Rd. 4) and Johnnie Morant (Rd. 5). Francis was more productive in college while Morant is a physical freak, but both are perfectly suited for the vertical passing game. DE Shawn Johnson (Rd. 6) often finds his way in to the backfield, while ILB Cody Spencer (Rd. 6) is effective at the point of attack. TE Courtney Anderson (Rd. 7) is a big target who may need some seasoning, while Mr. Irrelevant, OLB Andre Sommersell, has 4.5 speed and a good motor.
Baltimore Ravens
Grade: A
Picks: 7
The Ravens came in to the draft needing receiving help and came away with four nice wideouts. Trading fourth round pick WR Ernest Wilford to the Jags for WR Kevin Johnson got the Ravens one potential starter. Getting Devard Darling in the third and Derek Abney in the seventh gave the Ravens depth on offense and special teams. Finding WR Clarence Moore in the sixth round made for one of the best picks in the draft, as the 6'5" wideout has fantastic athleticism to go with good ball skills.
DL Dwan Edwards (Rd. 2) looks like a natural 3-4 DE and was a nice value, as was DE/OLB Roderick Green. Green, a fifth-rounder, has good pass rushing skills and will play OLB in the Ravens' 3-4. QB Josh Harris was a nice pickup in the sixth round, and could be ready for top backup duties within a year. T Brian Rimpf will end up on the practice squad but could provide nice depth eventually.
Factor in the 2003 trade which sent this year's first rounder to New England for QB Kyle Boller, and the Ravens once again had an exceptionally productive draft.
Chicago Bears
Grade: A
Picks: 8
Coach Lovie Smith added a pair of defensive tackles who fit his scheme with the Bears' first and second round picks, then continued to add players that fit needs and can make the active roster. DT Tommie Harris could have gone higher than No. 14 and has the rare blend of explosion and bulk needed to play inside in Smith's ideal front. DT Tank Johnson is a similar player who lasted until the second round due to character and motivation concerns, but can start this year.
WR Bernard Berrian has excellent body control and hands, runs excellent routes, but a hamstring injury limited his speed this season and caused him to drop to the third round, which still may have been too high. CB Nathan Vasher (Rd. 4) was one of the best corners in college the past two seasons, but his inability to turn an run turned-off some teams. That won't be as much of a problem in Smith's Cover 2. OLB Leon Joe is a nice run-stuffer, while fellow fifth-rounder DE Claude Harriott is another player who slipped thanks to questions about his motivation. No one has ever doubted QB Craig Krenzel's (Rd. 5) will -- he should develop in to a solid career-backup. Seventh round CB Alfonso Marshall will make the team with his special teams ability and may contribute as a dimeback.
Tennessee Titans
Grade: A
Picks: 13
No team got a better combination of volume and value in this draft than the Titans. The trade which sent the 27th pick in the draft to the Texans proved incredibly lucrative. The four picks from that trade netted them two potential starters in TE Ben Troupe and DT Randy Starks and two players who will at least contribute this year -- OG Jacob Bell and DE Bo Schobel.
CB Michael Waddell was a reach in the fourth, as was DE Travis Laboy in the early second round, but both are solid players who fill needs. Tennessee added a pair of sleepers from Penn State with CB Rich Gardner (Rd. 3) and H-back Sean McHugh (Rd. 7). Gardner has a good shot at the nickelback job and McHugh may be used as the No. 3 TE.
The Titans also added a first round talent in DE Antwan Odom late in the second round. Odom slipped due to consistency issues but will benefit from the tutelage of coach Jeff Fisher and his staff. HB Troy Fleming (Rd. 6) was a star of the post-season all-star games, as was ILB Robert Reynolds (Rd. 5). Both will contribute on special teams, though Fleming has the potential to be a weapon in singleback and short-yardage sets. Seventh-rounders DT Jared Clauss and C Eugene Amano are projects who are likely slotted for the Titans' practice squad.
Arizona Cardinals
Grade: A-
Picks: 7
New head coach's Dennis Green imprint is all over his first draft with Arizona. The person largely responsible for drafting wide receiver Randy Moss in Minnesota came away from his first draft in Arizona with a slew of potential starters. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald learned to play football from Green, Moss and wide receiver Cris Carter while Fitzgerald was a bellboy with the Vikings. Time spent with the Juggs machine at Winter Park while still only 15 may also be why Fitzgerald has such incredible hand-eye coordination. Fitzgerald will pair with Anquan Boldin to give the Cardinals a nice receiving tandem.
LB Karlos Dansby (Rd. 2) is a big pass-rusher with speed who is a natural SLB. DT Darnell Dockett slipped due to character concerns and was a steal in round three. Some draft experts consider sixth-rounder Nick Leckey a better prospect than fourth-rounder Alex Stepanovich, but both players were productive college players who will find a place on the interior of the Cardinals' line. DE Antonio Smith is a raw pass rusher and presented good value in the fifth round. QB John Navarre slipped to the seventh due to concerns that he is too mechanical, but Green should be able to mold him in to a Brad Johnson-type signal-caller.
Minnesota Vikings
Grade: A-
Picks: 8
The Vikings continued their policy of putting value before need, but still landed the defensive end they so desperately wanted by picking Kenechi Udeze in the first round. The Vikings even managed to add a fourth-rounder by hoodwinking Miami in to a trade to move Minnesota down a spot. Udeze slid due to concerns over his shoulder, but the Vikings' medical staff says the shoulder is not a problem.
LB Dontarrious Thomas is slated to start immediately at WLB and was a decent value in the second round. The Vikings added a DL who can play DE or DT in Darrion Scott (Rd. 3). The Vikings believe Scott can overcome a mediocre season and start this season if needed. T Nat Dorsey and RB Mewelde Moore, both fourth-rounders, may have been the two best second day values. Dorsey could be the starter at RT in 2005. LB Rod Davis (Rd. 5) gives Minnesota a backup to E.J. Henderson with stellar instincts and decent size. FS DeAndre Eiland (Rd. 6) is the most questionable pick, but he has 4.55 speed and is a special teams standout. TE Jeff Dugan (Rd. 7) will have to fight for a roster spot but is a nice blocking tight end.
New England Patriots
Grade: A-
Picks: 8
Trading one of their second round picks for RB Corey Dillon might make the Patriots' draft a success in and of itself. Without it, the Patriots still had a successful weekend by getting players who fit their scheme, fill needs and add depth. Taking TE Ben Watson with the last pick in the first round, DE Marquise Hill in the second, S Guss Scott in the third and S Dexter Reid in the fourth may not have been good value picks, but all four players can make the team and contribute in 2004.
RB Cedric Cobbs (Rd. 4) and WR P.K Sam (Rd. 5) are playmakers who slipped due to speed and weight concerns, respectively. Both have tremendous potential and give the Patriots fantastic depth on offense. CB Christian Morton wouldn't have lasted until the seventh round if he'd continued to polish the NFL-caliber coverage skills he exhibited early in his college career.
San Diego Chargers
Grade: A-
Picks: 11
The Chargers thoroughly wiped the egg off their face that they earned with the Eli Manning fiasco, turning an ugly situation in to QB Philip Rivers and a boatload of high draft picks. The Chargers came away with Rivers, a fantastic kicker in Nate Kaeding (Rd. 3) and first and fifth round selections in next year's draft. Coach Marty Schottenheimer was enamored with Rivers ever since he coached the young QB at the Senior Bowl. In Rivers he has one of the most polished quarterbacks to come of the college ranks in years.
San Diego added a trio of fantastic defensive linemen in DT Igor Olshansky (Rd. 2), DE Shaun Phillips (Rd. 4), and DE Dave Ball (Rd. 5). Ball has a good motor, Phillips moves faster in pads, and Olshansky has the incredible strength needed to play nose tackle in the Chargers' new 3-4 front. DT Ryon Bingham (Rd. 4) could play DE in that front himself. C Nick Hardwick was a reach in the third round, though San Diego got great value when they took tackles Shane Olivea and Carlos Joseph in the seventh. The only drawback to the Chargers' draft is that they did little to find any targets for their new quarterback. Ryan Krause, a sixth-rounder, was the only wideout the Chargers took. Though he's quite talented, he will not step in and challenge for a starting role.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: B+
Picks: 10
The Jaguars' brain trust of general manger James Harris and coach Jack Del Rio had a very nice draft in their second year despite reaching for need to take WR Reggie Williams. If Williams can overcome concerns about his work ethic and speed, he can quickly become the Jags' No. 1 wide receiver. LBs Daryl Smith (Rd. 2) and Jorge Cordova (Rd. 3) were fantastic acquisitions who could start immediately. RB Greg Jones (Rd. 2) is a punishing runner who provides insurance should starter Fred Taylor's balky groin act up.
Wide receiver Ernest Wilford (Rd. 4, trade for WR Kevin Johnson) understands positioning and adjust well to the jump ball, but must show he plays faster than his 4.7 speed. DT Anthony Maddox (Rd. 4) and CB Chris Thompson (Rd. 5) are a pair of small school guys who can make the jump to the pros. Thompson is a smart player with good size, fluid hips and nice initial quickness. T Sean Bubin was a find in the fifth round, but snagging DE Bobby McCray with six picks to go in the seventh round was a robbery. McCray was productive his senior year, but inconsistency earlier in his career should not have pushed him down to the seventh stanza. K Josh Scobee (Rd. 5) was considered the top kicking prospect by some scouts, and will probably handle kickoff duties if he doesn't win the job outright from incumbent K Seth Marler.
Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: B+
Picks: 11
The Bengals moved down twice from No. 17 and turned that pick in to RB Chris Perry, CB Deltha O'Neil and T Stacy Andrews (Rd. 4). Perry gives the Bengals a solid backup to Rudi Johnson and potentially one of the best third-down backs in the NFL. Stacy, the brother of first round T Shawn Andrews, is a former track star who will need a few years to develop but has better measurables than his talented brother.
CB Keiwan Ratliff and FS Madieu Williams may have been slight reaches in the second round, but Ratliff can hide his weaknesses in the Bengals' Cover 2 scheme and Williams is a fine athlete with good recognition skills. LBs Caleb Miller and Landon Johnson were solid college players who project as backups on the outside. Both of the defensive linemen taken in the fourth round, DT Matthias Askew and DE Robert Geathers, would have gone a lot higher if not for problems with consistency in college. WR Maurice Mann (Rd. 5) emerged as a senior and could be the Bengals' No. 3 receiver. CB Greg Brooks has great coverage skills for a sixth rounder, though QB Casey Bramlett (Rd. 7) doesn't have the arm to be more than a career backup.
Carolina Panthers
Grade: B
Picks: 6
When CB Chris Gamble continued to plummet through the first round, the Panthers saw an opportunity to grab a special player and moved up three spots to grab him with the 28th selection. Gamble may not be ready to contribute this season and had terrible pre-draft workouts, though the Panthers see a special cornerback with good size and a knack for playing well in big games, against top competition.
Some people liken WR Keary Colbert to future Hall of Famer Cris Carter, and Colbert certainly is a possession receiver in that mold. He was a very nice value pick that filled a need near the end of the second round. OT Travelle Wharton (Rd. 3) is another nice prospect who could be the Panthers' future right tackle. WR Drew Carter (Rd. 5) has incredible speed but will be shelved for the year. LB Sean Tufts (Rd. 6) has good speed himself and will help on special teams. TE Michael Gaines (Rd. 7) is a blocking tight end but has soft hands.
Denver Broncos
Grade: B
Picks: 10
Though it is foolhardy to question coach Mike Shanahan's taste in running backs, it is similarly tempting to wonder why he passed on RB Steven Jackson with the 17th pick in the draft. Those still perplexed should keep in mind that Jackson, for all his talents, does not have terribly quick feet, a prerequisite for a Denver running back. Second round pick Tatum Bell has quicker feet and better top-end speed than any back in the draft. He has fumbling issues just as Clinton Portis did before him.
The player the Broncos did take in the first round, LB D.J. Williams, is a fantastic athlete with bust potential. WR Darius Watts is another player with great potential but is an even shakier pick thanks to his injury history. Both Watts and Williams have the tools to make it a Pro Bowl or two, Watts in particular could just as easily wind up out of the league. Jeremy LeSueur (Rd. 3) was a nice value pick, as was WR Triandos Luke (Rd. 6). C Josh Sewell (Rd. 6) has the elite quickness Denver looks for in their linemen. CB Jeff Shoate (Rd. 5) was a bit of a reach.
Denver picked up an intriguing running back in the Ruben Droughns mold with the selection of Brandon Miree in the seventh. But potentially their two best late round picks were quarterbacks, Matt Mauck and Bradlee Van Pelt, both seventh-rounders. Both are mobile quarterbacks with decent arms and both should make the 53-man roster.
Houston Texans
Grade: B
Picks: 9
CB Dunta Robinson was the second corner taken in the draft but is more likely than any other member of this class to become a shutdown corner. Adding Robinson also allows the Texans to move Marco Coleman over to safety, eliminating another need. Trading almost all of their mid-round picks for DE Jason Babin (27th selection) looks good considering his potential as a 3-4 rush linebacker.
S Glenn Earl (Rd. 4) probably won't play this year due to injury, but could develop in to a starter in the future. His teammate at Notre Dame, CB Vontez Duff, wasn't a bad pick in the sixth round. SS/RB Jammal Lord (Rd. 6) needs to contribute on special teams and then find a position if he wants to stay in the NFL. OLB Charlie Anderson has great measurables but needs development to make the transition from DE. DE Raheem Orr is another lineman who could be a standout 3-4 OLB, while WR Sloan Thomas and B.J. Symons are fellow seventh-rounders who are better than the round they were taken in.
New York Giants
Grade: B
Picks: 7
The Giants may have added their QB of the future by trading for Eli Manning, but they gave up a lot to get him. The Giants can't retain Kerry Collins to play one more season as the Giants starter, so Manning will start this season, not the ideal situation for a rookie quarterback who already is faced with plenty of pressure. Manning is a great talent with incredible pedigree, but his ability to succeed may not be entirely within his hands.
The second-round selection of G Chris Snee may have been a bit high, but the Giants will start him this season and the organization is quite fond of him. DE Reggie Torbor was a decent pick in the fourth round, as his work ethic is his biggest strength. S Gibril Wilson (Rd. 5) provides depth in the secondary while Jamaar Taylor (Rd. 6) could become a nice wideout, once he's healthy again. T Drew Strojny (Rd. 7) might be a camp fodder, but DE Isaac Hilton (Rd. 7) is a small school player who can give the Giants some speed off the edge.
New York Jets
Grade: B
Picks: 10
LB Jonathan Vilma was a bit of a reach at No. 12, but he gives the Jets a polished athlete at a need position. CB Derrick Strait looked awkward at the Senior Bowl, but the rules against press coverage at that event eliminated his best coverage tool. He was a nice third round find who is an ideal Cover 2 nickel corner. Fourth-round WR Jerricho Cotchery was productive in college but his lack of quickness will limit him in the NFL. T Adrian Jones was a nice pick in the fourth round and could develop in to a starter with a few years of grooming.
Seventh round LB Darrell McClover is inexperienced but incredibly talented and could be a starter someday. SS Rashad Washington (Rd. 7) may be more talented than FS Erik Coleman, who went to rounds earlier than Washington. Both fit the scheme well. T Marko Cavka (Rd. 6) and RB Derrick Ward (Rd. 7) are both small school guys who can make the team as backups. Cavka is mobile for a tackle and Ward is a big back with decent hands and speed. DE Trevor Johnson (Rd. 7) is strong but needs to bulk up to hold up in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: B
Picks: 10
Coach Andy Reid did a nice job of lying when he insisted the trade to move up and pick T Shawn Andrew was not motivated by the problems with OG John Welbourn, who was traded to the Chiefs later in the draft. The Eagles may ask Andrew to play right guard this season before moving over to tackle.
CB/FS Matt Ware (Rd. 3) and FS J.R. Reed (Rd. 4) are a pair of safeties with the ability to play in space. Both have good size and are solid in coverage. G Trey Darilek (Rd. 4) played for a bad team but looks like he can start this season if Andrews is not up to the task. FB Thomas Tapeh (Rd. 5) is less a blocker and more of a running threat. CB Dexter Wynn is an underrated cornerback who was taken for value. C Dominic Furio and RB Bruce Perry were both expected to be available in the seventh round, but both have a shot at doing more than just help on special teams. G Adrien Clarke should not have been available in the seventh round and gives the Eagles another nice backup on the interior o-line.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: B
Picks: 8
The Steelers had a successful draft from the moment QB Ben Roethlisberger fell to them at pick 11. They didn't have to snag the snag the incredibly talented CB from Tusculum, Ricardo Colclough, in the second round, or mammoth T Max Starks in the third, but they did, and now their future is suddenly brighter. All three picks probably won't start this season, or shouldn't, but both Roethlisberger and Colclough could become Pro Bowlers at vital positions, and Starks could be a fine starting right tackle someday.
After taking DE Nathaniel Adibi in the fifth round, the Steelers' luck or evaluations became more questionable. Adibi is a great fit as a 3-4 OLB, but T Bo Lacy (Rd. 6) is the only other pick who does not look like camp fodder.
Seattle Seahawks
Grade: B
Picks: 7
Defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs went to the Seahawks, as expected, with the 23rd pick in the first round. The Seahawks get a player with above-average quickness for a player his size and good moves off the line. They'll need players like Tubbs to cover up OLB Michael Boulware if the Seahawks don't move him to SS, as expected. Boulware could form a nice young duo with FS Ken Hamlin and was a nice value in the second round.
Seattle's best pick may have been G Sean Locklear (Rd. 3). Locklear graded consistently high for N.C. State and may have been the best offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. ILB Niko Koutovides (Rd. 3) may have been a college player but probably lacks the speed to ever be more than a backup. WR D.J. Hackett (Rd. 5) gives the Seahawks another big, athletic wideout with questionable hands. P Donnie Jones (Rd. 7) needs to get his punts off quicker but could take P Tom Rouen's job.
Cleveland Browns
Grade: B-
Picks: 6
Cleveland had too many holes to give up a second round pick in order to move up one spot and grab TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. with the sixth pick. Coach Butch Davis better be certain Winslow is the equal of his Hall of Fame father, and that the player they could have taken, WR Roy Williams, does not have the exceptional career many project him to have.
Besides Winslow, Cleveland had an uneven but overall decent draft. The Browns took two players out of Stanford on the second day, DT Amon Gordon (Rd. 5) and T Kirk Chambers (Rd. 6), even though some experts believed Gordon was the only draftable Stanford player this year, and even he was considered borderline. Gordon does have some pass-rushing skills, but is a bit undersized. S Sean Jones, a great athlete who played well in 2003, was a second round steal. QB Luke McCown (Rd. 4) is a fine athlete and has a better arm than his brother Josh. He could be a stellar West Coast quarterback in a few years, but needs to learn to read coverages first. RB Joe Echemandu (Rd. 7) is a late round find.
Green Bay Packers
Grade: B-
Picks: 6
The Packers have reached for athletic player who fit their needs in the first round of the past two drafts, and the 2004 draft was no different. The last two reaches, WR Javon Walker and LB Nick Barnett, have already proved that other teams should have had them higher on their draft boards and this year's first-rounder, CB Ahmad Carroll, figures to do the same. Carroll could have used an extra year in school, but has great speed and agility for such a stocky athlete.
CB Joey Thomas is another project but a great find in the third round. He has size, ball skills and can cover NFL receivers man-to-man but still is a bit raw. DT Donnell Washington (Rd. 3) could earn a starting job if the doubts about his passion for the game prove unfounded. P B.J. Sander was a horrible pick in the third round, but the Packers must see a lot in him. DT Corey Williams (Rd. 6) was very productive at Arkansas State and has the athleticism to be a nice backup for the Packers. C Scott Wells (Rd. 7) gives consistent effort and may make the team.
New Orleans Saints
Grade: B-
Picks: 6
Although they did not come out of the draft with the defensive back many believed the Saints needed, New Orleans got some exceptional value from their picks and filled a few needs along the way. DE Will Smith should not have been around at No. 18 and gives the defensive line more speed and the consistency it has lacked. WR Devery Henderson is incredibly fast and was one of the stars of the 2004 Senior Bowl.
LB Courtney Watson is track fast but does not show that speed in games. He makes too many plays away from the line of scrimmage and may not have been a good second round selection. DT Rodney Leslie (Rd. 5) is a player with a nice motor who will fit nicely next to the developing Jonathan Sullivan. FB Mike Karney has nice hands and is a good blocking back who should provide an upgrade over the departed Terrelle Smith. LB Colby Bockwoldt is a project but may be a special teams contributor.
St. Louis Rams
Grade: B-
Picks: 7
Coach Mike Martz was thrilled to see Steven Jackson available at pick 24, and the Rams could not resist trading up to grab running back out of Oregon State. Jackson gives the Rams potentially one of the best backup running backs in football and good insurance should Marshall Faulk continue to have injury problems.
The rest of the Rams' draft wasn't nearly as productive, but St. Louis managed to add at least two steals (QB Jeff Smoker, Rd. 6; FS Jason Shiver, Rd. 5) and two solid backups (Tony Hargrove, Rd. 3; Brandon Chillar, Rd. 4). Shiver may step in at the free safety spot, while the addition of Smoker makes it easier to think about releasing QB Kurt Warner.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: B-
Picks: 8
The Bucs were not afraid to reach for need when they took WR Michael Clayoton in the middle of the first round. Clayton ran his 40 in the 4.7 at the combine but plays faster than that and seemed to separate well against college DBs. Clayton is unlikely to be a bust, but there are questions about what his ceiling is.
LB Marquis Cooper (Rd. 3) is fast and undersized by other teams' standards, but he's ideal for the Bucs' Cover 2. FS Will Allen (Rd. 4) can play in the nickel or dime slots but should be a top backup at FS this season. G Jeb Terry (Rd. 5) is one of the better OL prospects the Bucs have drafted in a few years, and should be at least a nice backup this season. TEs Nate Lawrie (Rd. 6) and Casey Cramer (Rd. 7) are a pair of Ivy Leaguers who might not be more than practice squad players. Cramer is the better pass-catcher, Lawrie more of a blocking TE.
Buffalo Bills
Grade: B-/C+
Picks: 6
The Bills came in wanting to add a No. 2 receiver, depth along the defensive line and a developmental quarterback and got just that with their first three picks. WR Lee Evans has the strongest hands in the draft and sub-4.4 speed but injury concerns made him a risky pick at No. 13. More controversial was the trade which sent a 2005 first round pick and a second and fifth-rounder this year to Dallas in exchange for the 22nd pick, used on QB J.P. Losman. Buffalo believes Losman, with a year of coaching, is a better option than any of the quarterbacks expected to enter the 2005 draft.
DT Tim Anderson will provide a nice backup to aging DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams. The third rounder was a productive college player whose tools translate well to the NFL. TE Tim Euhus (Rd. 4) has limited potential and may have a short career, and WR Jonathan Smith (Rd. 7) is too slow-footed to be much more than a fourth receiver. T Dylan McFarland (Rd. 7) is a late-round sleeper whose combination of size and versatility could give the Bills a top backup in a year or two.
Dallas Cowboys
Grade: C+
Picks: 8
The Cowboys seemed poised to take RB Stephen Jackson with the 22nd pick in the first round and accelerate the Cowboys' rebuilding plan. Instead coach Bill Parcells and owner Jerry Jones decided to trade out of the pick, and instead stockpile high-round picks, one a first-rounder in the 2005 Draft. They did use the second round pick they acquired on RB Julius Jones, the highest running back the Cowboys had on their draft board. Jones can be a workhorse back and has the ability to top 1,000 yards rushing in his rookie campaign.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Cowboys' draft was mediocre, if not perplexing. Injury-prone T Jacob Rogers was a sensible pick in the second round, as was G Stephen Peterman in the third. However, ever pick after that was either too high, or player not expected to be drafted. The success of this draft may not be known until 2005, at least, but right now it looks like it could have gone better.
Miami Dolphins
Grade: C+
Picks: 6
If OL Vernon Carey is healthy and his 2003 was an aberration, the Dolphins' trade to nab the former Hurricane may look quite savvy years from now. Currently, it seems the Dolphins should have known the Vikings were not about to trade out of the chance to grab DE Kenechi Udeze, and with Carey rated as the No. 4 or 5 OL on most boards, the Dolphins did not need to give up a fifth rounder to get him. On the other hand, it's not a lot give up for a player they coveted, and a guy they expect to start for them immediately and for years to come.
Fifth-rounder Tony Bua and seventh-rounder Derrick Pope are a pair of under-sized, productive college OLBs who were nice value picks. Bua can make the transition to SS, while Pope is a poor-man's Zach Thomas. Miami was smart to nab CB Will Poole, once considered a first-rounder, in the fourth round. He has character and foot speed issues, but has decent size and man cover skills. C Rex Hadnot looks like a career backup at best, but T Tony Pape has intriguing potential and was a nice find with pick 221.
Indianapolis Colts
Grade: C
Picks: 9
Team president Bill Polian is a smart man and a great talent evaluator, but it appears he may have out-thought himself this time. The Colts traded early and often but the players they got (SS Bob Sanders, Rd. 2; LB Gilbert Gardner, Rd. 3; LB Kendyll Pope, Rd. 3; CB Jason David, Rd. 4, TE Ben Hartsock, Rd. 3; OT Jake Scott, Rd. 6) appear inferior to the players their original picks netted (WR Michael Jenkins, Rd. 1; QB Matt Schaub, Rd. 3; CB Ricardo Colclough, Rd. 2; S Sean Jones, Rd 2). Though Sanders, Hartsock and Scott all look like nice picks for good value, and the other players they took appear serviceable, the volume the Colts got does not match the quality they gave up.
Kicker David Kimball is an underrated talent and might give Indy an alternative should they wish to part ways with Mike Vanderjagt. There were better options at QB available when the Colts took Jim Sorgi in the sixth round, but some scouts are high on him despite an uneven college career and marginal arm strength.
San Francisco 49ers
Grade: C
Picks: 10
In his last draft working the phones for the San Francisco 49ers, Bill Walsh orchestrated another trade-down draft reminiscent of his 1986 effort. However, in 1986 the 49ers had some Hall of Fame players already on the roster (Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott), which afforded them some luxuries they didn't have in 2004.
This is an organization that obviously doesn't want to spend money (good-bye T. O., Jeff Garcia, Tai Street, etc.). So they MUST rebuild annually with inexpensive labor through the draft.
With Walsh this year, they tried to move up and down to find value and stockpile picks. Without him the future looks bleak. The waiting list for season tickets should shrink fast for this once-proud organization. Quick, name a drawing card on the 49ers' roster. Hell, quick….name their starting quarterback. The legacy of former owner Eddie DeBartolo and Walsh will be strengthened over the next few bleak years-by-the-Bay . . . . unless Carmen Policy returns from retirement and buys the team or something.
WR Rashaun Woods (pick 31) might be a Top 15 pick in any other draft and will enter the season as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver. Derrick Hamilton (Rd. 3) could be the No. 2 receiver. G Justin Smiley (Rd. 2) is an athletic, intelligent pulling guard who will start and could become a Pro Bowler. CB Shawntae Spencer is another second round selection who could easily start this season. DT Isaac Sopoaga (Rd. 4) bench presses tree trunks as a workout and nearly broke the Combine bench press record. The scary part is that his strength is functional.
ILB Richard Seigler (Rd. 4) will get on the field when the 49ers switch to a 3-4, and P Andy Lee (Rd. 6) may have been the best punting prospect in the draft. FS Keith Lewis (Rd. 3) looks like a backup but might have the athleticism to someday start. QB Cody Pickett (Rd. 7) needs to regain the magic of his junior campaign to earn a roster spot, but has the mobility and arm to possibly make it in coach Dennis Erickson's offense. DT Christian Ferrara (Rd. 7) is an aggressive player who can make at least the practice squad.
Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: C
Picks: 7
After trading out of the first round, Kansas City reached hard to take DT Junior Siavii with their extra second round pick, then used their original second round spot to reach for TE Kris Wilson. Both players are talented, but both have enough questions that the Chiefs could have snagged each player later than they did. DE/OLB Keyaron Fox (Rd. 3) is a nice pass rusher and the Chiefs' best selection.
WR Samie Parker (Rd. 4) has so much explosiveness that sixth round pick WR Jeris McIntyre should ask to borrow some. McIntyre is not a big player, but his 29-inch vertical is lower than many defensive linemen's. T Kevin Sampson could develop eventually, and perhaps should have gone higher than the seventh round. DE Jared Allen (Rd. 4) beat up on D-1 AA blockers for four years and can also long snap.
Washington Redskins
Grade: C
Picks: 4
The Redskins don't put much import on the draft, so it's almost amazing how well they came out of this year's draft. FS Sean Taylor will be an occasional Pro Bowler at worst and one of the five greatest players to play the safety in the NFL, at best. Not bad for the fifth pick in the draft. TE Chris Cooley (Rd. 3) is a great pass-catcher who will be used often at H-back beginning this season.
T Jim Molinaro (Rd. 6) could make the team, but T Mark Wilson (Rd. 5) was a really nice second day pick. Wilson could make a very nice right tackle some day.
Source: Sports Xchange