Guest SkinsHokie Fan Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 Here is an interesting one. Has us taking the fresh prince of Bel Air http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/ 137 days, 6 hours, 25 minutes, and 18 seconds left until 2004 NFL Draft!MOCK 2004 NFL DRAFT December 10th, 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. San Diego Chargers: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss Do the Chargers have other needs they could address here? Sure. But the golden rule of the NFL Draft is that unless you already have one you don't pass on a potential franchise quarterback. While they may not say it publicly I think continuing to start 41-year-old Doug Flutie over Drew Brees despite being eliminated from the playoffs long ago speaks volumes in terms of how they feel about the youngster. Eli Manning has the potential to be one of the best signal callers in the NFL and has better physical tools than his brother Peyton, a legitimate NFL M.V.P. candidate. Keep in mind though that there figures to be a ton of interest in trading for this pick so the Chargers could deal down to the highest bidder like in 2001 when they passed on some guy named Vick. (Note: I know they still got a great player in LaDainian Tomlinson, but still, he's Michael Vick!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Oakland Raiders: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh In a very close race the Raiders go with Fitzgerald over Miami of Ohio signal caller Ben Roethlisberger. While Gannon is very near the end of his career and there is no denying the need to bring in a successor I think Oakland grabs Fitzgerald, who is exactly the type of high profile, flashy pick Al Davis loves. I really can't argue with this pick because the futures of Tim Brown and Jerry Rice with the team and in the NFL are very much in doubt. Larry Fitzgerald is a truly special prospect and while he may lack that extra gear speed-wise he more than makes up for it with his athleticism, size, technique, hands, body control and intangibles. I am including Fitzgerald in this mock draft even though he is only a true sophomore because he attended a prep school after his senior year of high school, thus making it three years since his high school class graduated. Word is Fitzgerald will submit his name for the 2004 Draft and would likely be allowed in. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Arizona Cardinals: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami (OH) With only journeyman Jeff Blake and a developmental prospect in Josh McCown atop their depth chart you have to think Arizona would be counting their blessings if a quarterback prospect of Roethlisberger's caliber were to fall into their laps. This guy is right up there with Manning and some even think he is better so Arizona will have to end up with a very high pick to even have a shot at him. If both signal callers are off the board when the Cardinals pick they could opt for a guy like Tommie Harris who would give them the dynamic presence along the defensive line they have solely lacked since Simeon Rice bolted town. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Atlanta Falcons: Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa The Falcons have the potential to be a very good team in 2004 with Michael Vick under center. It is amazing to see what an impact Vick has on this team. Still, there are holes to fill and the most glaring may be at tackle where Bob Whitfield has really fallen off the deep end this season. Gallery is extremely athletic for his size which will allow him to handle the left tackle position in the pros. Atlanta may also look to upgrade their defense, which was very good in 2002 but took some major steps backwards in 2003. In the end though I don't see the Falcons passing on the chance to bring a legitimate left tackle prospect into the fold because it is one of the hardest positions in the NFL to fill. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Detroit Lions: Sean Taylor, S, Miami (FL) The Lions really need to upgrade their defense and while they do have some good young players to build around one place they are lacking is at safety. Terence Holt may have a future but there are certainly better options than Brian Walker. Sean Taylor is a special athlete and I feel will be one of the better players at his position very early on in his NFL career. You just don't see guys with his kind of size, speed and athleticism very often. Roy Williams of the Cowboys, who is one of the premier defensive players in the league in only his second season, is the best safety prospect I have seen but I think Taylor may actually be better. Like Williams, Taylor can be a force in the running game but he is much better in coverage and has a nose for the ball. Sean Taylor is the type of rare player you build a defense and team around. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Roy Williams, WR, Texas Jimmy Smith is well into his thirties and while Kevin Johnson was picked up from Cleveland off waivers he is viewed as more of a second option than a featured receiver. Roy Williams is right on par with Larry Fitzgerald and could very well be the first wideout taken and come off the board in the top few picks. He has the size, speed and athleticism you dream about in a stud receiver and had he come out last year after his junior season his grade would have been on par with those of Charles Rogers and Andre Johnson. In fact, rumor has it that the Houston Texans were prepared to choose him #3 overall last year over Johnson. Williams is one of the premier players in this draft and would be a tremendous choice for the Jaguars in round one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Cleveland Browns: Kellen Winslow Jr, TE, Miami (FL) This guy might be the best tight end prospect to come along...ever. Winslow is a freak of nature who is essentially a premier wideout in the body of a tight end. There have been a couple of events that have lead scouts to question his character but I think in the end most will chalk it up to that old Miami attitude that is making a comeback in Coral Gables. Browns coach Butch Davis still has a lot of connections at Miami and I am sure he has been told all about what a special player Winslow is. Keith Heinrich and Steve Heiden are both backups at best so the addition of a player of Winslow's caliber would be a major boost to an offense that has struggled at times this season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. New York Giants: Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas The Giants offensive line has taken some major hits in free agency the past couple seasons but they would all be forgotten if the G-Men were able to land Andrews. While he won't be able to play left tackle in the pros he could be a dominating right tackle or maybe even move inside to guard, a la Leonard Davis. A beast as a run blocker, Andrews would fit in perfectly on the right side with Luke Petitgout manning the left. If he declares Andrews figures to be one of the elite players available and almost a lock for the top ten overall. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Chicago Bears: Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma The Bears have some decent defensive lineman but they lack a dominating presence and top pass rusher. Tommie Harris is a little undersized but he has been an impact performer since his true freshman season with the Sooners. A playmaker with top speed and quickness, Harris could potentially be the top defensive player off the board if he forgoes his senior season and enters the 2004 Draft. The Bears would have to seriously consider either Robert Gallery or Shawn Andrews if one of the offensive tackles were to fall to them but Harris is a great value at this point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Pittsburgh Steelers: Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon St. The Steelers have a potent offense but it appears Jerome Bettis has seen his best days and Amos Zereoue failed to step up despite being handed the starting job on a silver platter. I think when all is said and done Jackson will be the top running back selected because he has the size and speed combination teams look for. The addition of a top running back will take a lot of pressure off of Tommy Maddox and will force defenses to respect the Steeler running game, which wasn't always the case this year and contributed to their disappointing season. Pittsburgh would have to seriously consider a quarterback if Manning or Roethlisberger fell to them and possibly even consider trading up to land one of them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Washington Redskins: Will Smith, DE, Ohio St. Now that Bruce Smith has finally broken the league's sack record he will probably retire, further weakening a mediocre defensive line. Renaldo Wynn and Regan Upshaw are solid ends but neither is the kind of impact player that Will Smith has the potential to be. Fast, strong and athletic, Smith is a natural pass rusher who knows how to get upfield and would be a welcomed addition to the Washington front four. Smith is considered by scouts to be one of the top defensive players in this draft and some believe he could be one of the first 3-5 players off the board depending on how the final draft order shakes down. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. New York Jets: D.J. Williams, OLB, Miami (FL) Word is Marvin Jones may be the only member of the Jets starting linebacker corp to return in 2004 and even that is up in the air. If that is the case New York will be in the market for a linebacker and Williams is the top guy available in this Draft. The top prospect in the country coming out of high school, Williams has finally found a home at linebacker after bouncing back and forth between there and fullback early on in his career with the Hurricanes. A great athlete with ideal size and speed, Williams is still learning the finer points of the position but he has the potential to be an All-Pro caliber performer and would be an outstanding pick in the middle of round one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. Houston Texans: Randy Starks, DT, Maryland Some may say this is a bit of a reach but this pick almost makes too much sense for it not to happen. A developing prospect, Starks plays end in the Terps 3-4 defense and could remain at that spot in Houston because they run the same scheme. Seth Payne and Gary Walker, while still fine performers, aren't getting any younger and have high cap numbers so to bring in a young guy with so much potential who is also a perfect fit for your defensive scheme would seem almost too good to be true. Starks is the type of athlete who should impress in workouts so by Draft Day 2004 I think he will be a solid mid-first round pick should he declare. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. New Orleans Saints: Derrick Johnson, OLB, Texas The Saints have used a lot of mid-round picks on linebackers recently but none have stepped up and shown that they are legitimate NFL starters. I am hearing conflicting reports as to whether or not Johnson will leave Texas after his junior year and enter the draft but if he does he would be a solid first round pick. However, if Johnson goes back to college and has the type of senior season most expect he could very easily be a top 5-10 overall pick in 2005. While he lacks ideal size Johnson is always around the ball, is very instinctive and has the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech Tampa Bay has not had a running back they could hang their hat on and give the ball to 25 times a game since the days of Errict Rhett in the mid-1990's. That would all change with the addition of a player like Kevin Jones, who has all the physical attributes you look for in a stud running back with the production to go along with it. A top prospect coming out of high school, Jones has not disappointed coming through with a top-notch junior season after splitting carries with Lee Suggs earlier in his career. Jones has already announced he is leaving school early and entering the 2004 Draft where he will battle Steven Jackson to be the first running back off the board in April. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16. San Francisco 49'ers: Reggie Williams, WR, Washington It is looking more and more as if the Niners are prepared to let Terrell Owens leave in free agency. While it is always tough to lose a star player it would be made a lot easier if San Francisco was able to land a potential impact player like Reggie Williams in the Draft. In most years Williams would be a lock for the top ten overall picks but a Draft that also includes Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams is not most years. This guy has the size and athleticism teams crave and if he can run well in workouts Williams could very well be long gone by the middle of round one. Word is the Niners are planning on franchising linebacker Julian Peterson and that a couple teams, namely New England and Detroit, may be willing to part with the two first round picks it would take to sign him so that is something to watch out for. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL OFFER SportingNews.com has put together an awesome draft package. It's exactly the kind of information NFL fans crave in the off season. Who will teams pick and why? Over 1,000 pages of content covering 500 players. Awesome stuff. Click Here to Check It Out -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17. Buffalo Bills: Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami (FL) Sam Adams isn't getting any younger and can't seem to stay with the same team for very long and Pat Williams is solid but unspectacular. Wilfork needs to lose a little weight but he is a massive tackle who also has the athleticism and quickness to be a force as a pass rusher. Early on Wilfork can be part of a rotation before eventually taking over for Adams. The Bills may also consider a wideout such as Michael Clayton, a tight end like Ben Troupe, who is moving up Draft boards on the heels of a strong senior season, or a cornerback as a potential replacement for unrestricted free agent Antoine Winfield. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18. Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio St. The Bengals acknowledged their desire to add a top young cornerback when they flirted with the notion of taking Terence Newman #1 overall last year. Tory James was a solid addition as a free agent but beyond him the cupboard is full of average players and question marks. Gamble is still raw as a corner because he has spent so much time at wideout but he has the potential to be a shutdown coverman in the NFL and one of the best players to come out of this draft. Combining great size with top notch speed and athleticism, Gamble would be a tremendous addition to the Cincinnati secondary and could flourish under the tutelage of defensive guru Marvin Lewis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19. Green Bay Packers: Kenechi Udeze, DE, U.S.C. Joe Johnson has been a massive failure since the Packers paid big bucks to bring him over from the Saints in free agency and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is at his best as a third down pass rusher, not an every down end. Udeze is raw but he is very athletic and a natural pass rusher with a ton of upside. Green Bay has a good young defense but end is a glaring weakness right now and a position that must be upgraded. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Vilma, OLB, Miami (FL) The Vikings top offseason priority will be to add speedy playmakers to their defense and Vilma certainly fits that bill. While undersized Vilma has outstanding instincts, good speed and is always around the ball. In short, he is a playmaker pure and simple. Minnesota may also opt for a cornerback with this pick or possibly even an impact pass rusher at defensive end if there is one still on the board. A linebacking corps of Vilma, E.J. Henderson and Chris Claiborne would be one of the best young groups in the NFL. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21. Carolina Panthers: Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan The Panthers have one of the better defenses in the league but their starting cornerback combo of Reggie Howard and Terry Cousin leave a lot to be desired. Jackson's stock has been dropping due to some injury problems and his struggles after being moved to safety. In fact, there is even talk that Jackson could head back to school for his senior season in hopes of restoring his Draft stock to its previous level. Still, if Jackson can workout well and show he has the speed to play corner in the NFL he could still easily end up in the top 10-15 overall picks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22. New England Patriots (f/BAL): Cadillac Williams, RB, Auburn Antowain Smith had one good season for the Patriots but has been in Bill Belichick's doghouse ever since and will be shown the door after this season. Kevin Faulk has performed admirably but he is best suited to be a third-down back so it is essential the Patriots bring in a top runner. While he doesn't have the top pure speed you look for Williams is a natural runner with great vision and is a threat to go all the way at any time. "Cadillac" has said he doesn't intend to enter the Draft early but I personally feel he will opt to leave rather than return to Auburn and split carries with a couple of other great backs in Ronnie Brown and Brandon Jacobs, not to mention risk a serious injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23. Seattle Seahawks: David Pollack, DE, Georgia The Seahawks have been looking for a premier pass rusher for years and have struck out on both the Draft and free agency fronts. David Pollack was sensational as a sophomore last year and while he hasn't come through with the junior season many hoped for I still think he is a solid late-first rounder. Pollack is a playmaker from the defensive end position and knows how to get after the quarterback. He will probably drop further than his production and college reputation would lead you to believe because he lacks top speed but Pollack is a player, make no mistake about that. If this guy slides much further than this it will be a classic case of scouts paying too much attention to workout numbers and not enough attention to his play on the football field. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24. Dallas Cowboys: Cedric Benson, RB, Texas Troy Hambrick has not taken advantage of his chance to be the primary ball carrier in the Dallas offense so I think Bill Parcell's will waste no time in bringing in his replacement, even though the Tuna usually prefers to use his high Draft picks on defense. Labeled "Little Ricky" after Heisman Trophy winner and current Miami Dolphin Ricky Williams before he even carried the ball for the Longhorns, Benson rushed for over 1,000 yards as a true freshman and hasn't looked back since. Now after a huge junior campaign Benson has put himself in the first round mix and he would be a nice pick for the Cowboys towards the end of round one, but don't rule out Dallas going defense here either. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25. Denver Broncos: Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas Daryl Gardner has been a major bust since being brought in as a free agent this past offseason and now, thanks to his very public feud with Mike Shanahan, his future with the team is very much in doubt. Tubbs, an impact player since very early on in his career with the Longhorns, has come through with a great senior campaign and now appears positioned squarely in the first round mix. Combining great size with top athletic ability and a strong base, Tubbs has all the physical tools you look for and would be a great addition to the interior of the Broncos defensive line. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26. Miami Dolphins: J.P. Losman, QB, Tulane Brian Griese will be gone after this season and even if Miami is satisfied with Jay Fiedler as their starter it is time to begin developing a quarterback of the future. Losman has all the physical tools you look for including good athleticism, a strong arm, solid mechanics and he is very confident, even bordering on ****y. This can be a good thing or a bad thing and there is a fine line between being Brett Favre or Cade McNown. With his physical tools it wouldn't be hard to see a team like the Dolphins taking a chance on him in late round one in the hopes that he could develop into a top NFL starting quarterback. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27. Tennessee Titans: Dwan Edwards, DT, Oregon St. Albert Haynesworth is a very good young tackle and Robaire Smith is better than he gets credit for but the Titans still miss the rotation they had before they lost John Thornton to Cincinnati in free agency. Edwards is still raw but he has good closing speed, is very tough and is a guy who can collapse the pocket. He may not be a household name just yet but Edwards' stock has been on the rise for a while now and he could easily slip into late round one before all is said and done. The Titans also seriously considered choosing a center early in the Draft last year so a guy like Jake Grove of Virginia Tech could interest them at this point as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28. St. Louis Rams: Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina Travis Fisher is a solid young corner but Jerametrius Butler is a backup at best which means the Rams need to find another starter to replace Aeneas Williams, who made the successful transition to safety. Robinson is a guy who probably doesn't get the attention he deserves but everybody will know who he is come Draft Day. With good size and speed, this is exactly the type athletic playmaker Mike Martz and Lovie Smith like and he would be a nice addition to their defense. Remember, the Rams just missed out on Marcus Trufant last year when Seattle chose him one pick earlier and while Robinson isn't in Trufant's class he is a very good young coverman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Clayton, WR, L.S.U. James Thrash and Todd Pinkston are both solid receivers and would be fine as second or third options but neither is a true #1 receiver. There is some question concerning Clayton's speed but if he were to run a solid forty in workouts he would easily be a mid-first rounder. However until those questions are answered I am going to conservatively place him near the end of round one. Very athletic with good size and hands, Clayton could be that stud receiver the Eagles are looking for and finally give Donovan McNabb a big play threat to throw the ball to. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30. Indianapolis Colts: DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech David Macklin and Nick Harper have been solid but both would be better suited for backup roles. DeAngelo Hall may be the most athletic player in the entire draft should he choose to leave Virginia Tech early. While he doesn't have ideal size he is super fast and a great coverman, not to mention an outstanding return man. Word is Colts President Bill Polian has taken a liking to Hall and, while it is still very early, it would seem to be a good fit. Keep in mind that if Hall works out as well as he is expected to he could very well be gone by this point of round one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Strait, CB, Oklahoma The Chiefs defense was much improved in 2003 but there are still upgrades that can be made. Dexter McCleon was a pleasant surprise this season but William Bartee will be an unrestricted free agent and at the very least they will need a nickel corner, which is essentially a starter these days with three wide receiver sets as prominent as they are. Strait was one of the premier defensive players in college football this season and while he doesn't have ideal size or speed I think he will be an absolute steal in late round one. A better prospect than his former teammate Andre Woolfolk, who also went in late round one last year, Strait is a top coverman who also isn't afraid to come up and play the run. In a lot of ways Strait reminds me of Buffalo Bills corner Antoine Winfield, who has developed into one of the steadiest corners in the league. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32. New England Patriots: Karlos Dansby, OLB, Auburn A converted safety, Dansby is equally adept at dropping into coverage as he is rushing the passer. Tall and lanky, Dansby may have been a first rounder last year had he come out early and with a strong senior year behind him he looks to be right in that mix again. With his size and athletic ability Dansby would seem to be a perfect fit at linebacker in the Patriots 3-4 defense, not to mention a major steal with the last pick of round one. With two first round picks New England can go a number of ways here, including simply taking the best player available, but an offensive lineman such as Jacob Rogers or Vernon Carey would also make a lot of sense as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 If NE gets Williams, then give them the trophy next year, then again they could win it this year too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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