Chase Stuart
Footballguy
From USA Today
* Touchdown: One of the draft's big winners.* Field goal: Filled needs with efficient use of resources.* First-and-10: May take a long haul to see dividends.* Sacked: Thrown for a loss.Touchdown* Arizona: Cardinals drafted receivers in first two rounds in 2003, but new honcho Dennis Green gets to run three-wide receiver formations including his ex-Vikings ball boy, Larry Fitzgerald, possibly the best receiver in a deep crop. For this, Green bypassed on highly rated quarterbacks and sticks with plan to go with Josh McNown. Defense toughened with LB Karlos Dansby and T Darnell Dockett. They drafted two centers.* Atlanta: Another Hokie heads to Hotlanta, with draft's top cornerback, DeAngelo Hall, joining rebuilt defense that allowed third-most points in 2003 and positioned for more mentoring from Michael Vick. Draft-day deal netted big, fast receiver in first round, Michael Jenkins, while third-round pick of Matt Schaub offers chance to groom quarterback for insurance. Seventh-round RB Quincy Wilson could be a keeper.* Detroit: Deft maneuvering left them with two No. 1s and three of top 37 picks. WR Roy Williams was top-rated player in entire draft, according to some teams, and with Charles Rogers offers chance for Lions to form one of NFL's most gifted wide receiver tandems. RB Kevin Jones addresses an even bigger need, while LB Teddy Lehman can play outside or inside. Sixth-round OT Kelly Butler might be a bargain.* New England: With two first-round picks, the Patriots got DT Vince Wilfork to develop on a line that includes young studs in Richard Seymour and Ty Warren. TE Ben Watson can work to replace Daniel Graham, whose inconsistent hands may doom him. Keep an eye on fifth-round WR P.K. Sam.* San Francisco: Despite moving down in the first round, the 49ers landed one of the draft's prime wideouts in Rashaun Woods to fill void left with Terrell Owens' departure. With two second-round choices, they grabbed risers in G Justin Smiley and CB Shawntae Spencer. Fourth-round DT Isaac Sopoaga adds much-needed bulk and power to D-front.* Oakland: Al Davis ended one of the early mysteries by taking OT Robert Gallery as No. 2 overall -- considered perhaps the safest pick in the draft. Grabbing the top-ranked center, Jake Grove, was another move to beef up trenches. Middle-rounders Carlos Francis and Johnnie Morant fit Raiders profile for fast, big-play receivers.Field goal* Denver: Mike Shanahan moved quickly to fill key needs by snagging the projected best linebacker in D.J. Williams, then fast RB Tatum Bell as the replacement for departed Clinton Portis. Middle-round CBs Jeremy LeSuer and Jeff Shoate shore up another area.* Tennessee: Looks like a typical solid Titans draft -- even without a No. 1 pick. The Titans went with need picks in big-play TE Ben Troupe and three first-day D-line picks. Watch out for speedy sixth-round FB Troy Fleming, who in the Titans scheme might wind up yet as a featured runner.* Washington: TE Kellen Winslow II or hard-hitting S Sean Taylor? Joe Gibbs and Co. went for the top-rated defender. The Redskins had four picks but tried to help the TE/H-back slot that Winslow would have filled by snagging Chris Cooley in the third round.* San Diego: Making the best of an ugly situation, A.J. Smith and Marty Schottenheimer bargained hard to land the Giants' No. 1 pick for 2005 and more for Eli Manning. Then they got a quarterback they coveted in Philip Rivers. Chargers showed extra attention to D-front with four picks.* Seattle: First-rounder Marcus Tubbs fills a huge void. Second-rounder Michael Boulware, an outside linebacker in college with phenomenal athleticism, will be converted to strong safety in Ray Rhodes' defense.First-and-10* Baltimore: With no first-round pick, the Ravens had to address key WR need with third-round pick of Devard Darling and a deal for Kevin Johnson. Also, sixth-rounder Clarence Moore has chance to blossom. Top choice, DT Dwan Edwards (51st overall), flew under radar but fills a need. Keep an eye on QB Josh Harris, a playmaker taken in the sixth round.* Buffalo: Did the Bills reach too high for their first-round picks? With three quarterbacks off the board at the 13th pick, Buffalo got speedy WR Lee Evans, convinced that he will remain healthy after surgeries on both knees. Then the Bills traded away next year's No. 1 for chance to snag J.P. Losman, the franchise's first first-round quarterback since Jim Kelly, as Drew Bledsoe's successor.* Carolina: First-round CB Chris Gamble has tools that include ability as a returner. Some scouts suggest he must learn to play with more discipline as a defender. Gamble probably will break in as a nickel back. Panthers got the fresh legs for WR corps in second-rounder Keary Colbert and fifth-rounder Drew Carter.* Chicago: Grabbed DTs Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson -- the potential foundation in the trenches missing since the Bears' last playoff team. Harris, 14th overall, perhaps slid amid questions about his shoulder. Speed is the ticket for third-round WR Bernard Berrian and fourth-round LB Leon Joe. Fourth-round CB Nathan Vasher might be a decent value pick.* Cincinnati: Marvin Lewis opted for solid RB Chris Perry rather than big-play artist Kevin Jones with 26th pick, then loaded up on defense. Lewis' "D" failed down the stretch in 2003, leading to six consecutive defensive picks in Rounds 2-4. The No. 2 pick, big-play CB Keiwan Ratliff, had nine interceptions in 2003. Cincy had 14. In the fourth round, Cincy selected OT Stacy Andrews, a gifted track star who just started playing football in 2003.* Cleveland: Finally, Butch Davis gets his hands on a Miami Hurricanes star with a high pick in TE Winslow. But in shipping second-round pick to Detroit (37th overall), he may have given up too much to move up one slot in Round 1 to get Winslow. Davis packaged picks to land athletic S Sean Jones in the second round.* Dallas: Dallas traded out of the first round and got its running back in the second with Julius Jones, who brings explosion and a penchant for big-play runs. This scenario unfolded after Buffalo dangled a 2005 first-round pick and Bill Parcells bit. O-line needs addressed with T Jacob Green and G Stephen Peterman.* Green Bay: For overhauled secondary, top two picks in CBs Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas offer relief. Thomas, a third-round pick, was projected higher. They needed fresh blood for middle of D-line and got it with Ts Donnell Washington and Corey Williams. They didn't draft a quarterback to groom as Brett Favre's successor.* Houston: First-round CB Dunta Robinson allows Marcus Coleman to switch to safety. OLB Jason Babin fills need in 3-4, projected as the pass-rusher desperately needed. Charley Casserly and Dom Capers must think a lot of Babin, chosen 27th in Round 1. To get him, they gave up second-, third and fourth-round picks. Too much?* Indianapolis: The Colts traded down three times, then used several picks to beef up defense. Top pick, S Bob Sanders (second round, 44th overall), is small but regarded as a punishing hitter. The choice reflects Tony Dungy's tendency not to overemphasize size. Second-rounder Ben Hartsock offers another option for two-TE schemes; third-round LB Gilbert Gardner has played Cover 2.* Jacksonville: After heavy investment in Byron Leftwich last year, Jags got the quarterback a target to grow with in complete WR Reggie Williams. Big RB Greg Jones is a battering ram to back up Fred Taylor and pound at the goal line. Intriguing middle-round picks in DT Anthony Maddox and WR Ernest Wilford. Yep, they needed a kicker (Josh Scobee, fifth round).* Miami: Massive rebuilding of the O-line continued with first-round choice of Vernon Carey, whom the Dolphins project at right tackle, and a couple of late-round picks. After Carey, they didn't pick again until the fourth round. DBs Will Poole and Tony Bua will help special teams.* Minnesota: Kenechi Udeze was hailed as the draft's best pass-rusher but slid to the Vikings at No. 20 in Round 1. There are rumblings about a shoulder injury. Still, Udeze represents what the Vikes went searching for -- help for the front seven, which also came with OLB Dontarrious Thomas and DE Darrion Scott.* New York Giants: Was it worth next year's first-round pick to get Eli Manning? Second-round G Chris Snee and third-round edge rusher Reggie Torbor could be great pickups, but this draft will always be judged by Manning.* New York Jets: With linebackers getting old, Jonathan Vilma was a natural. Third-round CB Derrick Strait, a good value, should develop under Herm Edwards.* Philadelphia: Moved up in the first round to grab huge OT Shawn Andrews -- not a running back as some expected. Although Andrews might break in at guard, he'll probably eventually replace RT Jon Runyan. Focus on free safety evident with middle-rounders Matt Ware and J.R. Reed.* Pittsburgh: It's been a long time since the Steelers drafted a first-round quarterback, like 24 years. In choosing Ben Roethlisberger, big and athletic, they will try to avoid the mistake of not selecting Chad Pennington a few years ago. Second-round CB Ricardo Colclough has skills wrapped in competition questions. T Max Starks gets chance to help O-line needing more bodies.* St. Louis: Landed the likely heir to Marshall Faulk's role with Steven Jackson, projected as the draft's top running back. Third-round DE Tony Hargrove shot up the charts after missing the 2003 season and will be even faster on turf. Sixth-round QB Jeff Smoker is a project.* Tampa Bay: Heavy free agency emphasis continued as Jon Gruden dipped into the pool of deep wide receivers for Michael Clayton. Still, paying price for Gruden meant that the Bucs didn't pick again until third round. Fourth-round FS Will Allen might be a great value pickup.Sacked* Kansas City: Despite problems at wide receiver, the Chiefs dealt out of the first round and didn't address it until the fourth round. Top second-round pick, T Junior Siavii, should help the middle of a run defense that allowed highest yards per rush in 2003. Second-round TE Kris Wilson figures to be a situational option.* New Orleans: The Saints made Will Smith rather than Kenechi Udeze the first defensive end off the board but really didn't need another end with young starters Darren Howard and Charles Grant in tow. Speedy second-round WR Devery Henderson will complement Joe Horn and Donte Stallworth. LB Courtney Watson helps aging group.
?
