Oldskool Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/story?id=1786003&CMP=ILC-INHEAD Ranking top NFL draft prospects From Fitzgerald (1) to Youngblood (329), Scouts, Inc., breaks it down. Breaking down draft-day game plans By Scouts, Inc. For ESPN Insider Tuesday, April 20 Updated: April 20 5:34 PM ET Every NFL team goes into the draft with a to-do list based on their team's needs, their draft position and their willingness to trade up or down. Our scouts have been doing their homework and, with the draft less than two weeks away, present an early look at the most likely scenarios each team will face on draft day (listed in order of first-round selection): San Diego Chargers Day 1 Picks: 1st overall (first round); 35th (second round); 66th (third round). First-Round Priorities: # Trade down to a spot where they still can get one of the top three QBs # Ole Miss QB Eli Manning # Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald # Iowa OT Robert Gallery First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: As it stands right now, the Chargers still would like to trade this pick to another team drafting in the top-10 in order to acquire extra picks and still draft one of the top quarterbacks -- Manning, Miami of Ohio's Ben Roethlisberger and N.C. State's Philip Rivers. However, teams that were considering making the move to the No. 1 spot -- including the Giants, Redskins and Browns -- have been turned off by the Chargers' demands, as well as their seemingly "sleazy" use of the media to create the impression there is more interest in the pick than actually exists. If they were to pull off a last-minute deal with the Giants, don't be surprised if they make a second trade down, too. From what we've been told, the Chargers have had talks with the Browns at No. 7 on the outside chance they actually get a deal done to move down to No. 4. If the Giants take Manning at No. 1 following a trade, there's a good chance Gallery still will be on the board at No. 4. If that's the case, the Chargers could acquire another pick -- or WR Dennis Northcutt -- while still getting a top quarterback such as Roethlisberger or Rivers at No. 7. With all of that said, there seems to be very little chance of the Chargers dealing this pick. If they keep it, they will take Manning. They supposedly are trying to use the agents of Fitzgerald and Gallery as leverage in order to get the best possible deal from IMG's Tom Condon (Manning's agent), but because Condon knows the Chargers would be in for an absolute PR nightmare if they didn't take Manning with the top overall pick, the type of leverage the Chargers are looking for will be hard to come by. After Round 1: There's a reason the Chargers have the No. 1 overall pick. They have several high-priority needs that must be addressed on Day 1, which is why the option of trading down and acquiring extra picks is so attractive. Regardless of whether or not they keep the top pick, we strongly believe the Chargers will draft a quarterback in the first round. If so, they must then shift their focus to their other positions of critical need, such as offensive tackle, wide receiver, defensive tackle and linebacker. The best-case scenario for the Chargers would be to acquire at least one extra pick in this year's draft in order to move down a few spots where they could still get a quarterback such as Roethlisberger or Rivers. In doing so, it would give them another pick to draft a quality player at the aforementioned positions of high need. By trading down, they could wind up with four picks that look like the following: QB Roethlisberger, Oklahoma State WR Rashaun Woods, Hawaii NT Isaac Sapoaga, Purdue OT Kelly Butler. If they aren't able to acquire an extra Day 1 pick via trade, their Day 1 will look more like this: QB Manning, WR Woods, OT Butler. Oakland Raiders Day 1 Picks: 2nd overall (first round); 45th, from Tampa Bay (second round); 67th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade down, but to a spot where they can still get Texas WR Roy Williams # Stay at No. 2 and draft Williams # Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald. # Iowa OT Robert Gallery First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Judging by the moves the Raiders have made, owner Al Davis still refuses to rebuild. If that's the case, a receiver makes the most sense. While most teams in the NFL have Fitzgerald rated ahead of Williams, Davis has it the other way around because of his love for speed and the fact Williams ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day. The Raiders are getting a lot of phone calls, but we're not sure that at the end of the day they'll move down. The Raiders would love to move down a few spots, pick up an extra pick and still get Roy Williams, but now that Roy's value is even higher with USC's Mike Williams out of the draft, the Raiders seem extremely hesitant to take the chance of losing him by moving down. The most recent rumor had the Raiders trading from pick No. 2 to No. 5 with the Redskins for OT Chris Samuels. The Raiders would obviously consider making this move because there's an excellent chance Roy Williams would still be available at No. 5. What people have to realize, however, is Samuels is due to count more than $6.5 million against the cap. If the Raiders were to make this move, they would have to restructure Samuels' deal in the next couple of days, which seems highly unlikely. The Browns remain in love with Gallery and have had some conversations about what it would take to move up to the No. 2 spot. However, as much as the Raiders would like to acquire the extra pick(s), they know that by moving to No. 7 they put a target on their back for teams such as the Falcons and Jaguars, who could then easily jump ahead of the Raiders to take Roy Williams. Finally, keep in mind when the Raiders wind up passing on top quarterbacks such as Roethlisberger and Rivers that they plan to sign Rams QB Kurt Warner if he does indeed become a June 1 cap casualty. After Round 1: The Raiders are without their original second-round selection but do own the Buccaneers' 45th pick overall as a result of the John Gruden trade. Assuming Manning is drafted first overall and the Raiders can't move out of their No. 2 pick, the team most likely will select Roy Williams. The Raiders have been much bigger players in the free agency market than expected, which has helped to fill needs along their defensive line, at linebacker and at safety. If the Raiders draft Williams, they could go in several directions with their two remaining Day 1 selections, including outside linebacker, safety, offensive tackle and center. Oddly enough, however, none is immediately pressing in terms of the team needing to draft a starter at the position for 2004. If they drafted their receiver with the second pick, the Raiders could easily end up walking away from Day 1 with Fitzgerald, Florida State OLB Michael Boulware in the second round and Ohio State DS Will Allen in the third. If that's the case, the Raiders on Day 2 would be looking for developmental players along their offensive line, as well as another running back to push Tyrone Wheatley and Justin Fargas after the team was unable to make a deal for Bengals for RB Corey Dillon. Arizona Cardinals Day 1 Picks: 3rd overall (first round); 33rd (second round); 64th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald # Trade down # Miami DS Sean Taylor # Miami TE Kellen Winslow Jr. # USC DE Kenechi Udeze (if they traded down) # Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris (if they traded down) First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: There's no question about it; the Cardinals want Fitzgerald. However, with so many other needs to address, they are not willing to give up a later pick in order to guarantee they get him by flip-flopping picks with the Raiders at No. 2. If Fitzgerald goes at No. 2, that's when the Cardinals will have a difficult decision. They certainly will entertain trade-down options. If Fitzgerald is gone and Gallery is still on the board, the first team we are hearing that the Cardinals could trade down with is the Browns, who obviously will be doing so for Gallery. Dennis Green's son, Jeremy Green, is the director of pro personnel for the Browns, which makes that deal even more likely to occur. The deal will include a pick, but the Browns could soften the blow by throwing in disgruntled WR Dennis Northcutt. If the Cardinals were to move down to the seventh pick, their wish list would be as follows: Taylor, Winslow, Udeze, Harris. The other team that was rumored to be interested in moving up to this pick is the Texans, who evidently are hot on the trail of Miami DS Sean Taylor. The problem, however, is that the Cardinals do not want to move all the way down to Houston's No. 10 slot. In fact, if the Cardinals can't get Fitzgerald and don't get a trade-down offer that blows them away, they simply will keep their third pick overall and draft Taylor themselves. Their feeling is Taylor warrants the pick, would upgrade a position of need on defense, and they can still get a first-round caliber wide receiver -- such as Ohio State's Michael Jenkins or Oklahoma State's Rashaun Woods -- with the first pick of the second round. After Round 1: If the Cardinals do get Fitzgerald in the first round, they likely will shift their focus to defensive line, inside linebacker, cornerback and possibly even running back with their remaining two picks on the first day of the draft. If the Cardinals could walk away from the first day of the draft with Fitzgerald, FSU DT Darnell Dockett in the second round and a running back the likes of Oklahoma State's Tatum Bell in the third, they would have to consider it a success. Lastly, the Cardinals could very well draft a quarterback, but we don't think they will until Day 2. Green feels strongly that Josh McCown can be his starter of the future, and the team brought in Shaun King as a veteran backup. The team is much more likely to draft a developmental No. 3 quarterback on the second day. New York Giants Day 1 Picks: 4th overall (first round); 34th (second round); 65th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Ole Miss QB Eli Manning # Iowa OT Robert Gallery # Miami (OH) QB Ben Roethlisberger First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when it comes to a potential deal between the Giants and Chargers. Tom Condon, Eli Manning's agent, more than ever is trying to orchestrate a trade, because the IMG marketing machine wants Manning to play in New York. Giants' GM Ernie Accorsi, who is getting closer to retiring, could really be looking to leave his legacy with Manning as the quarterback of the Giants' future. Furthermore, Kerry Collins is only under contract for one more year and will be 32 years old next season. The problem, however, is the Giants can't seem to get the Chargers to meet them halfway in their negotiations. In our opinion -- unless they got a terrific deal -- it simply doesn't make a lot of sense for the Giants to trade up for Manning when they have so many other needs to address and could still get a guy like Roethlisberger at the quarterback position or an elite tackle such as Gallery with the fourth pick. If they took Gallery at No. 4, they could solidify their offensive line and still draft a quarterback for the future -- such as Tulane's J.P. Losman or Virginia's Matt Schaub -- later on in Day 1. Worst-case scenario is that the Giants aren't able to get a deal done to trade up for Manning, and Fitzgerald and Gallery go at picks No. 2 and No. 3. At that point, New York still could get either Roethlisberger or Philip Rivers at No. 4 and have a year to groom the rookie while Collins plays out his contract. While trading up for Manning is enticing, if the Giants give away a second-round pick in order to do so, it really handicaps them the rest of Day 1. After Round 1: If the Giants do draft Gallery in the first round, they still will have needs to address at inside linebacker, quarterback, defensive tackle, free safety, cornerback, defensive end and wide receiver. While a lot obviously will have to do with what players fall to them at picks No. 34 and No. 65, the Giants would have to feel good about walking away with Gallery as a future Pro Bowl offensive tackle, Georgia Tech ILB Daryl Smith as a future replacement for the departed Mike Barrow in the second round and Schaub as Collins' potential replacement in the third round. If that's the case, the Giants would still be looking for depth at cornerbacks, free safety and wide receiver on the second day. On the flip side, if they were able to get a deal done to move up to the top overall pick, it likely would include at least their second-round pick this year. That means they would wind up with Manning and probably an offensive tackle such as Georgia Tech's Nat Dorsey at the beginning of the third round. While Manning clearly has appeal, wouldn't you rather have Gallery, Smith and Schaub than Manning and Dorsey? Washington Redskins Day 1 Picks: 5th overall (first round). First Round Priorities: # Miami TE Kellen Winslow # Miami DS Sean Taylor # Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris (if they trade down) # USC DE Kenechi Udeze (if they trade down) # Ohio State DE Will Smith (if they trade down) First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: We don't debate the reports that the Redskins have talked to the Chargers and Raiders about making a deal that would include OT Chris Samuels; we just feel strongly that it won't happen. Samuels is set to count nearly $6.5 million against the salary cap, and the Redskins have had a terrible time trying to get him to sign a contract extension. Furthermore, while we understand the Redskins' frustration regarding the matter, this is a team that is built to win now. Besides, Washington doesn't have to deal with the problem until a year from now, when they can place a franchise tag on Samuels if they have to. By making the proposed deal to move up, the Redskins would solve Samuels' contract problem, but basically would get a wash at the OT position by drafting Gallery. On the other hand, if they simply leave the Samuels situation alone for now and keep the fifth overall pick, they can draft an impact player that could help the team get over the top. The other option is to trade down. They obviously would like to get more picks to work with, but if they move down too far in the first round they put themselves in danger of losing out on the elite prospects in this year's class. One realistic option would be to trade down with the Browns, who could still want to move up for Taylor or Winslow, even if Gallery goes in the top four selections. By doing that, the Redskins could definitely get one of the top defensive ends in this year's class -- USC's Udeze Kenechi and Ohio State's Will Smith -- and they still could be in position for Harris, but they would probably take themselves out of contention for Taylor and Winslow. While it will be very tempting to trade down in order to get some of their picks back, it makes no sense to trade out of the No. 5 spot when they could be looking at the top prospects -- Winslow, Taylor, Tommie Harris and Udeze -- at their top four positions of need. Taylor is rated a little bit ahead of Winslow, but Winslow would be a perfect fit as the H-back in Joe Gibbs' offense. The team has reservations about drafting Winslow, because his agent, Carl Poston, is currently giving the organization a lot of trouble with LB LaVar Arrington's contract. If they go with Taylor, it likely means the team was unable to agree in principle to a deal with Winslow and his agent during their 15 minutes on the clock. After Round 1: The Redskins have traded away their second-, third-, fourth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks. They did get a sixth-round pick back in a trade with the Bears, leaving Washington with just three picks in the entire 2004 draft -- Nos. 5, 139 and 180. Detroit Lions Day 1 Picks: 6th overall (first round); 36th (second round); 73rd (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade down # Miami DS Sean Taylor # Miami TE Kellen Winslow # Oregon State RB Steven Jackson First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Sitting at No. 6, the Lions will have players available at positions of need that warrant the pick, such as Taylor and Winslow. The problem the Lions will face, however, is that their biggest need is clearly at running back and, while Jackson is the No. 1 player at that position, he fits a lot better as a 10-20 selection than he does as the sixth overall pick. From what we understand, these are the four options the Lions are considering the first round, in order of preference: # Trade down between picks 7-15 to acquire an extra pick or picks and draft Jackson. Now that the Patriots have traded for Corey Dillon and the Cowboys seem uninterested in trading up for Jackson, the only considerable threat to leap-frog the Lions is Denver. If the Lions move down and don't get Jackson, they still would acquire one or more extra picks and could then draft a linebacker that they need. # Trade down somewhere in the middle-to-bottom of the first round, acquire even more picks, and draft either of Miami's first-round linebacker prospects, D.J. Williams or Jonathan Vilma. # Stay at No. 6 and draft Taylor, who would be probably their highest-rated prospect, if he's available. Safety is less of a need now that the Lions added free agent Brock Marion to play free safety and still have Terrence Holt as a developmental backup, but Taylor would be an immediate upgrade over Brian Walker and Bracy Walker at the strong safety position. # If Taylor is gone and if they decide against drafting Jackson at No. 6, they could significantly upgrade the tight end position by selecting Winslow. After Round 1: If the Lions go with either Taylor or Winslow with their first pick, drafting a running back with the 36th overall pick will become a priority, and Michigan's Chris Perry would be a great value if he fell to them at that spot. If they do wind up with Jackson in the first round, the Lions should draft the best available players at the following positions with their two remaining picks on Day 1: Linebacker, defensive end, safety, tight end, and wide receiver. Cleveland Browns Day 1 Picks: 7th overall (first round); 37th (second round); 68th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Iowa OT Robert Gallery # Miami DS Sean Taylor # Miami TE Kellen Winslow # Trade down just a few spots and still get a top DC or DE # Virginia Tech DC DeAngelo Hall First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The big question is, how high are they willing to go and how much are they willing to give away for Iowa OT Robert Gallery? Gallery is clearly the top offensive tackle in this year's class, and offensive tackle is clearly the Browns top need. By trading up for Gallery, the Browns would be able to move Ross Verba inside to guard and could really patch up an offensive line that has been a weak spot for several years. The Browns are not likely to get a deal done to move up to the top overall spot, but they are still in conversations with the Raiders about moving up to No. 2. If the Browns are unable to land Gallery it becomes a waiting game. They would gladly draft either Taylor or Winslow at No. 7 if either were available. From what we hear, they would take Taylor over Winslow if both wound up falling to them. If Gallery goes within the top four picks and the Browns are unable to move up for him, their next step would be to get a reasonable deal to move up into the Redskins' No. 5 spot to secure either Taylor or Winslow. They will not, however, give up much in order to do so, which makes the chances very unlikely of this deal occurring. If Gallery, Taylor and Winslow are all off the board by the time the Browns pick at No. 7, they desperately will look to retreat in order to gain extra draft picks. In that case, they would like to move down, pick up an extra pick or two in compensation, then possibly draft CB DeAngelo Hall or DE Kenechi Udeze a little bit later, where they would be better values. The deal we're told they could consider would be to move down two spots with the Jaguars, who would either be looking to jump ahead of the Falcons for Roy Williams or Udeze. The Browns would only do that deal if they felt confident they could get Hall at No. 9. Finally, if they are stuck at No. 7 and Gallery, Taylor and Winslow are all off the board, Hall is their pick. After Round 1: The pressure will be off the Browns if they can get Gallery in the first round, but it most likely will mean giving up their second round pick to do so. If that's the case, they're likely to walk away with Gallery and a tight end such as Ben Hartsock, a safety such as Purdue's Stuart Schweigert or a defensive end such as Hawaii's Travis Laboy in the third round. If the Browns wind up with Taylor, Winslow or Hall with the seventh pick, they'll be forced to use their second-round pick on an offensive tackle such as USC's Jacob Rogers, then draft the best value from their other positions of need -- tight end, safety, wide receiver, cornerback, quarterback, defensive end and defensive tackle -- with their third round pick. QB Tim Couch should be gone to the Packers by or on draft day, so don't be surprised if the Browns draft a quarterback late on Day 1 or early on Day 2 as their developmental No. 3 behind Jeff Garcia and Kelly Holcomb. Also, keep in mind that the Browns will be looking to deal WR Dennis Northcutt. Atlanta Falcons Day 1 Picks: 8th overall (first round); 38th (second round); 69th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Texas WR Roy Williams # USC DE Kenechi Udeze # Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris # Ohio State DE Will Smith # Miami DT Vince Wilfork First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The Falcons might have been most affected by the announcement that Mike Williams was no longer available in the upcoming draft. For starters, in the unlikely event Roy Williams were to fall to the Falcons here, he would be their selection. The Falcons will get some offers to trade down from teams looking to jump into the top 10 for a QB, DL or DC, but the Falcons would be wise to simply stay put and draft the best available player at either wide receiver or along the defensive line, and from everything we hear that is what they plan on doing. The Falcons' biggest need is probably at left tackle, where Bob Whitfield is nearing the end of his career and has become a liability in pass protection. The problem, however, is Gallery will be gone and the next-best OT prospect, Arkansas' Shawn Andrews, does not warrant the No. 8 pick. The Falcons do have two quality starting defensive ends in Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith, and they helped to ease the transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense by adding Rod Coleman to a DT position that already includes veterans Ellis Johnson and Ed Jasper. However, if Fitzgerald and Roy Williams both come off the board in the top seven picks, the Falcons will draft whomever they view as the best defensive lineman. We have heard rumors they are high on Harris, but it seems to us they have a bigger need at end than at tackle, and Harris' stock has begun to slip more as we near the draft. At any rate, the Falcons likely will be making their decision from among these four: Udeze, Wilfork, Smith and Harris. After Round 1: Assuming the Falcons get either a wide receiver or defensive lineman with the eighth pick, their focus likely will shift to offensive tackle in the second round. USC's Jacob Rogers is a strong possibility with the 38th pick. In the third round, the Falcons could draft a player at one of the following positions to help improve depth: defensive tackle, defensive end safety, center and cornerback. On Day 2, the Falcons will also be targeting the fullback and quarterback positions. Cornerback was once a higher need, and it could still be addressed if a player falls to them that they feel is a great value in the second or third round. But in adding Aaron Beasley, Jason Webster and Derek Ross to go along with existing starter Tod McBride and backup Tyrone Williams, the Falcons no longer need to reach for a player at that position to fill a hole. Jacksonville Jaguars Day 1 Picks: 9th overall (first round); 39th (second round); 70th (third round); 72nd (third round, from Wash.). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald # Trade up for Texas WR Roy Williams # USC DE Kenechi Udeze # Ohio State DE Will Smith First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: An interesting rumor we've heard recently is the Jaguars are entertaining the idea of moving up a couple spots -- possibly with the Browns, if Cleveland can't get Gallery -- in order to jump ahead of the Falcons. If Roy Williams were to slip to No. 7, it clearly would be for him. However, with Mike Williams out of the draft, the Falcons are now leaning more heavily towards drafting a defensive lineman such as Udeze or Smith, unless Roy Williams falls to them at No. 8. The Jaguars clearly have their sights on Udeze if they can't get one of the top two wide receivers, so they could eventually flip-flop with the Browns for Udeze, as well. If they don't trade up, we think they'll simply keep their ninth pick overall and draft the best available player at either wide receiver or defensive end. Worst-case scenario seems to be they will end up with Smith, which isn't all that bad when you consider there isn't much that separates the top two DE prospects. After Round 1: While trading up will be tempting in the first round, keeping all four of their picks in the draft's top 72 spots might be the wise thing to do. The Jaguars have their original second- and third-round picks, as well as an additional pick in the third round as a result of a trade with the Redskins. Wide receiver and defensive end are their two top positions of need, so whichever one they don't address with the ninth overall pick will be the one they are most likely to target in the second round. The Jaguars could easily come out of the first day with a defensive end such as Udeze as their first-round selection, a wide receiver such as LSU's Devery Henderson as their second-round selection, and players like Nebraska OLB Demorrio Williams and South Carolina OT Travelle Wharton as their two selections in the third round. The Jaguars also could look to address needs at offensive guard and tight end on Day 1, if a player slips at one of those two positions. Houston Texans Day 1 Picks: 10th overall (first round); 40th (second round); 71st (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade down, acquire extra picks, and still get a nose tackle in Texas' Marcus Tubbs. # Miami DT Vince Wilfork # South Carolina DC Dunta Robinson First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: There were a lot of rumors surrounding the Texans moving up for Taylor early on, but those rumors have ceased for good reason. They likely would have had to give up their second-round pick in order to do so, which just wouldn't have made sense for a team that still has several needs to fill. Moving down, however, is a different story. There are only two elite cornerback prospects in this year's class -- DeAngelo Hall and Robinson. With Hall likely to go either at No. 7 to Cleveland or No. 8 to Atlanta, Robinson should be available when the Texans choose at No. 10. The other thing to keep in mind is that Pittsburgh and Buffalo could be looking to secure the final of the top three elite quarterback prospects if only one of them falls past the top 10. If that's the case, the Texans could make a deal to move down just one or three spots. One option would be to simply draft Robinson at No. 10. In doing so, the team could move Marcus Coleman to safety, which essentially addresses two needs. Another option, however, would be to trade down to the highest bidder. If they got the right deal, the Texans would consider moving down to an area later in the round where they could still draft Texas DT Marcus Tubbs, who would fill their need at nose tackle. Finally, the team's best option might be to ignore the cornerback position altogether and draft this year's best nose tackle prospect in Wilfork. After Round 1: If the Texans keep the No. 10 pick and draft Robinson, they could move Coleman to safety and really solidify their secondary. They then could draft a nose tackle prospect such as Hawaii's Isaac Sopoaga in the second round and address another need in the third round by drafting a rush end, such as Hampton's Isaac Hilton, to fit their 3-4 scheme. If they elect to go with Wilfork with the 10th pick, the team could draft a cornerback such as Tusculum's Ricardo Colclough in the second round, which eventually could allow Coleman to move to safety. They then still could draft a nose tackle prospect such as Oregon's Junior Siavii in the third. Pittsburgh Steelers Day 1 Picks: 11th overall (first round); 44th (second round); 75th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Miami (OH) QB Ben Roethlisberger # North Carolina State Philip Rivers # Virginia Tech DC DeAngelo Hall # South Carolina DC Dunta Robinson First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: While Roethlisberger is a higher-rated quarterback, there are rumors coach Bill Cowher and the Steelers really covet Rivers. There really is no way of telling which QB they would take if both were on the board, but we do know they want at least one of these two still to be available when they pick at No. 11. It's not like the Steelers to trade up or down, so don't expect them to give up picks in later rounds in order to get a quarterback. With that in mind, the Bills could be looking to jump into the Texans' spot at No. 10 if only one of the aforementioned QBs is still available. If all three top quarterbacks are gone, the Steelers would gladly take one of the two top-rated CBs -- Hall and Robinson -- with this pick. After Round 1: If the Steelers draft a QB in the first round, a cornerback becomes the top priority in the second round, and vice versa. After addressing those two positions of need, the Steelers are likely to draft either a running back or a rush linebacker with their final pick (75) on Day 1. With Jason Gildon expected to become a June 1 cut, the Steelers have a replacement in Clark Haggans but need depth at the position and could be targeting good fits in the third or fourth rounds -- Hawaii's Travis Laboy, Hampton's Isaac Hilton and Kansas State's Andrew Shull are possibilities. The Steelers brought in Duce Staley to carry the load at RB, and they still have veteran Jerome Bettis as their short-yardage and change of pace back, but the Steelers need to target a back in the middle rounds -- such as Oklahoma's Tatum Bell, Notre Dame's Julius Jones or even Arkansas' Cedric Cobbs -- as a possible future starter. New York Jets Day 1 Picks: 12th overall (first round); 76th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Virginia Tech DC DeAngelo Hall (not likely to be available) # South Carolina DC Dunta Robinson # Trade down # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Washington WR Reggie Williams First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: With only two legitimate top-15 cornerbacks, if Hall or Robinson goes earlier than expected, the Jets could panic. They already traded away their second-round pick for No. 2 WR Justin McCariens, but it's feasible they could trade either their third-round pick or one of their fourth-round picks, bundled with a second or third-round pick next season, in order to trade up a few spots (possibly with the Jaguars or Texans) to make sure they get one of the top two CBs. If, however, the Jets are stuck at No. 12 and both cornerbacks are gone, they could start fielding phone calls to move down. If there is no interest in their pick, the Jets likely would draft D.J. Williams to solidify their linebacking corps before they'd draft a receiver such as Reggie Williams, simply because they already used their second-round pick on the wide receiver position. After Round 1: After trading away their second-round pick for McCareins, the Jets only have two picks on Day 1. Assuming they get a top cornerback with the 12th overall pick, they'll look to draft the best available linebacker, offensive lineman or safety in the third round. Some possibilities at those positions include Georgia Tech OLB Keyaron Fox, Florida OT Max Starks and Iowa DS Robert Sanders. Buffalo Bills Day 1 Picks: 13th overall (first round); 43rd overall (second round); 74th overall (third round). First Round Priorities: # Miami (OH) QB Ben Roethlisberger # N.C. State QB Philip Rivers # Ohio State DE Will Smith # Washington WR Reggie Williams First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: There hasn't been much talk about the Bills moving up or down in the upcoming draft, mostly because GM Tom Donahoe likes it that way. The Bills could draft a quarterback, wide receiver or defensive lineman with this pick, and their decision will be made for them. If Roethlisberger or Rivers is available, we'd be shocked if the Bills passed on a quarterback. If both quarterbacks are gone, the focus will shift to wide receiver, unless Smith falls to them here. If there's one position the Bills continue to miss on when it comes to the draft it is defensive end. Aaron Schobel is a relentless pass rusher who explodes off the snap, but he isn't a dominant playmaker capable of consistently beating double teams. Opponents can roll their protection to his side, because the Bills, despite using a second-round pick on Ryan Denney in '02 and on Chris Kelsay in '03, have failed to add a productive edge rusher to take advantage of the attention Schobel draws. The team clearly needs a receiver more, but drafting Smith could put an end to what has become a reccurring problem at DE for the past few seasons. Assuming Roethlisberger, Rivers and Smith were all gone, the team would shift its focus to wide receiver, where it will be looking for a perimeter starter who can take some attention away from Eric Moulds and allow Josh Reed to move back to the No. 3 slot receiver role that he was so comfortable and productive in as a rookie. Mike Williams' exit from the draft really hurt the team's chances of getting an elite player here. Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams are likely to be off the board, so Reggie Williams would be the leading candidate. After Round 1: The Bills have their original second- and third-round picks still, and much of what they do with those picks will be a trickle-down effect following their first-round selection. If they draft a QB in the first round, they'll need to take advantage of the depth of this year's wide receiver class in the second round by drafting a potential impact player such as USC's Keary Colbert. After that, the Bills still will be looking for DE and a pass-catching TE. If the Bills draft a top receiver with their first pick, they'll likely use their second-round selection on either a tight end -- if a guy like Georgia's Ben Watson falls -- or a quarterback. We have heard, however, that Donohoe is not enamored with Tulane's J.P. Losman and would rather take his chances with Virginia's Matt Schaub or another quarterback later on Day 1 than draft a potential attitude problem at QB with the team's second-round pick. If there is no value at either QB or TE when they pick in the second round, which very well could be the case, the Bills probably will draft the best available offensive lineman or cornerback. Finally, if the Bills do wind up drafting a defensive end in the first round, they will most likely be looking for a wide receiver, quarterback and tight end in the next few rounds. Chicago Bears Day 1 Picks: 14th overall (first round); 47th (second round); 78th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up to secure one of the top two DTs # Miami DT Vince Wilfork # Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris # Trade down, acquire extra pick(s), draft a second-tier DT # Washington WR Reggie Williams First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: From what we hear, the Bears will seriously consider moving up between 7 and 13 in order to assure they get one of only a couple legitimate first round defensive tackles. If the price is too steep, they'll simply wait until their 14th pick to see what is still available. Ideally, either Wilfork or Harris will still be on the board. If not, Udeze and Smith would be the team's next two options. If all four top defensive linemen are off the board, the Bears will look to acquire an extra pick or two by moving down several spots. If they do trade down, they likely will target one of the late-round defensive tackles with that pick, including Maryland's Randy Starks and Texas' Marcus Tubbs. If Wilfork, Harris, Udeze and Smith are gone and the Bears can't move down, the Bears could look to take advantage of the strong crop of first round wide receivers, then hope to get a good value at DT in the second round. In that scenario, Reggie Williams seems to be the best fit in terms of value and need for the Bears. Finally, just because the restricted free agent period has come to a close, do not count out a deal between the Bears and Dolphins for DE Adewale Ogunleye. The Bears evidently are prepared to trade their second-round pick and OT Aaron Gibson for Ogunleye, who continues to refuse to sign his $1.8 million tender with the Dolphins. After Round 1: Assuming the Bears wind up with either Wilfork or Harris with the 14th overall pick, their attention will quickly turn to WR in the second round, where they will likely be looking at prospects such as LSU's Devery Henderson or USC's Keary Colbert. After they address DT and WR needs (in any order) with their first two picks, the Bears should be looking to draft a pass-catching tight end, outside linebacker and cornerback with their next few selections. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Day 1 Picks: 15th overall (first round); 79th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for N.C. State QB Philip Rivers # Trade down and still get a LB or WR # Ohio State DE Will Smith # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Washington WR Reggie Williams # Oregon State RB Steven Jackson # Wisconsin WR Lee Evans # LSU WR Michael Clayton First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Coach Jon Gruden is absolutely in love with Rivers after the N.C. State senior impressed him with his confidence and ability at the Senior Bowl, but the team can't afford to give away any more picks to move up for Rivers, especially with an already crowded quarterback position. Trading down makes the most sense for the Buccaneers. New GM Bruce Allen is a master of wheeling and dealing on draft day. The Bucs are already without a second-round pick. From what we hear, Gruden is really pushing for a WR in the first round, but with so many mid-to-late round wide receiver prospects available, Allen can get back that No. 2 pick and still get Gruden a receiver he wants by trading down. What could have really hurt the team's potential to trade down, however, was the Patriots' decision to trade for Dillon. In doing so, it really diminished the market for RB Jackson, who could very well be available when the Bucs pick at 15. If the Bucs can't get the right offer to trade down, they will have a tough decision between WR Williams, RB Jackson, and OLB Williams. The decision would be even tougher if DE Smith were to fall to them here. As much as Gruden may urge Allen to draft an offensive player with this pick, the team spent almost all of its offseason money on the offensive side of the ball and, as a result, now has several holes on defense. Drafting a top defensive end or linebacker might make a lot more sense than adding another WR or RB. After Round 1: If the Buccaneers aren't able to recover their second-round pick by trading down, they only have one more pick on Day 1 (79). Assuming they stay at pick No. 15 and draft the best available wide receiver, defensive end or outside linebacker, the Bucs should be considering a wide receiver such as Washington State's Devard Darling, a tight end such as Utah State's Chris Cooley, an outside linebacker such as Nebraska's Demorrio Williams, a defensive tackle such as LSU's Chad Lavalais, a cornerback such as Montana State's Joey Thomas or a defensive end such as UCLA's Dave Ball in the third round. San Francisco 49ers Day 1 Picks: 16th overall (first round); 46th (second round); 77th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade down with Eagles and still draft a WR # Washington WR Reggie Williams # Oklahoma DT Tommie Harris (if he falls?) # Ohio State DE Will Smith (if he falls?) # Wisconsin WR Lee Evans # LSU WR Michael Clayton First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: After Fitzgerald, Roy Williams and Reggie Williams, there is a little bit of a drop-off at the position. However, there is another wave at the end of the first round, including Lee Evans, Michael Clayton, Michael Jenkins and Rashuan Woods. For that reason, the 49ers are actively pursuing a trade down. The strongest rumor is with the Eagles in a deal that would allow Philadelphia to move up to the 16th pick and in return would give the 49ers the 28th overall pick, a pick later on Day 1 and OG John Welbourn. Such a trade would make tremendous sense for a 49ers' team that needs extra picks, has a need at offensive guard, and can still get a receiver such as Evans or Clayton later in the round. However, the Eagles reportedly are reluctant to throw in the extra Day 1 pick as the teams haggle over how much value Welbourn has in such a deal. If the 49ers can't get a deal done, they will be hoping Reggie Williams falls to them here. If not, they'll likely take Evans over Clayton because of the speed factor in coach Dennis Erickson's offense. The only wild card here would be if a top defensive lineman such as Oklahoma's Tommie Harris, Miami's Vince Wilfork or Ohio State's Will Smith were to fall to them. Since the wide receiver class is so deep, the 49ers could draft a highly rated defensive player in the first round, then draft a solid value at WR in the second round. After Round 1: Assuming the 49ers stay at No. 16 and draft the best available wide receiver, they likely will shift their focus to defense with their second- and third-round picks. The team still has question marks at left defensive end, because of Brandon Whiting's health, and it desperately needs youth and depth at defensive tackle. The 49ers also are in bad shape at the cornerback position, where they don't have a legitimate nickel corner behind starters Ahmed Plummer and Mike Rumph. It seems very feasible for the 49ers to finish Day 1 with a receiver such as Clayton or Evans from the first round, a defensive lineman such as Clemson's Donnell Washington or LSU's Marquise Hill from the second round, and a cornerback such as McNeese State's Keith Smith from the third round. On Day 2, the 49ers also need to improve their depth along their offensive line, at running back and at safety. Denver Broncos Day 1 Picks: 17th overall, from Cincinnati (first round); 41st, from Washington, and 54th (second round); 85th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Oregon State RB Steven Jackson # Hope Jackson falls to them at No. 17 # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The Broncos traded with the Bengals for this pick, and we wouldn't be surprised if they kept on moving up. With two second-round picks, they are in position to make a second move up to get the guy they want. The most obvious choice is Jackson, who could quickly help the team forget about the loss of RB Clinton Portis (Redskins). However, with the Patriots trading for Dillon, the Broncos may be less inclined to give away picks for Jackson and could simply wait things out. If Jackson falls to them here, he would be extremely difficult to pass on. The team obviously has enough bodies at the position with Garrison Hearst, Mike Anderson and Quentin Griffin, but Hearst could serve as a one-year insurance policy, Anderson could move back to fullback fulltime, as he was last season, and Griffin could fill the role as a young, third-down type that could become Jackson's backup in '05 when Hearst is gone. The Broncos, however, might not want to trade up for Jackson after all. Their biggest need is at outside linebacker, with Ian Gold likely not to return and John Mobley coming off a serious injury. By trading up to the 17th spot, the Broncos have positioned themselves beautifully to draft the best outside linebacker in this year's class, which in our opinion is D.J. Williams. After Round 1: If our hunch is right, the Broncos will stay at 17 and draft the best available outside linebacker. If that's the case, they still have two picks in the second round -- 41 and 54 -- and one in the third to address needs at running back, tight end, defensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback. If they keep all four picks on Day 1, the Broncos could finish with Williams at outside linebacker, a tight end such as Georgia's Ben Watson and a defensive tackle such as Oregon State's Dwan Edwards in the second round, and then maybe take a chance on Florida State RB Greg Jones in the third round. New Orleans Saints Day 1 Picks: 18th overall (first round); 48th and 60th, from St. Louis, (second round); 81st (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for DCs DeAngelo Hall (Virginia Tech) or Dunta Robinson (South Carolina) # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Ohio State DC Chris Gamble # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The Saints, with two second-round picks, are one of the teams better equipped to move up. Despite adding Jason Craft via a trade for their fifth-round pick, the Saints are still desperate for a youth influx at the cornerback position. There's an outside chance the team, which has two picks in the second round, could package picks to move up for one of the top two CBs in this year's class. However, now that they've stabilized the position, they are less likely to do so. If, as expected, Hall and Robinson are gone by the time the Saints pick, they will have a difficult decision between Gamble and what's available at the linebacker position. Gamble has really started to slip on a lot of team's draft boards, but with concerns about Vilma's knee, he also could slip. The team could very easily take Williams over Gamble, but it also could take Gamble over Vilma. After Round 1: The Saints have the 18th overall pick and two picks in the second round (48 and 60) to draft the best available players at cornerback, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, defensive tackle, safety and offensive guard. If things work out as expected, the team could select a cornerback such as Gamble in the first round, an outside linebacker such as Florida State's Michael Boulware and an inside linebacker such as Auburn's Dontarious Thomas in the second, then a potential starting interior offensive lineman such as N.C. State's Sean Locklear in the third. Minnesota Vikings Day 1 Picks: 19th overall (first round); 50th (second round); 82nd (third round). First Round Priorities: # Ohio State DE Will Smith # Trade down # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby # Miami OG Vernon Carey First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Unless a stud defensive lineman such as Smith shockingly falls to the Vikings at pick No. 19, their first priority is to trade down. The Vikings are at a spot in the draft where the talent begins to noticeably drop off, and they feel they can get a similar value in the mid-20s as at 19. The problem, however, is that there probably won't be much interest in the 19th pick from other teams. If Smith is gone and the Vikings are stuck at 19, there's a good chance they'll draft the best available outside linebacker. Williams, Vilma and/or Dansby could be available, which means the Vikings could get a good value for the pick and possibly a player that could push for a starting job on the weakside as a rookie with Chris Claiborne moving to the strongside spot. After Round 1: The Vikings have needs at linebacker, defensive end, offensive guard and wide receiver. If they get their linebacker in the first round, they could be looking at DEs such as Western Michigan's Jason Babin and Hawaii's Travis Laboy, guards such as Alabama's Justin Smiley or Boston College's Chris Snee, and wide receivers such as USC's Keary Colbert, Washington State's Devard Darling or Florida State's P.K. Sam with their other two picks on Day 1. Miami Dolphins Day 1 Picks: 20th overall (first round); 87th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade down # Arkansas OT Shawn Andrews # Miami OG Vernon Carey First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: While the Dolphins are not likely to get the first- and third-round tender they put on DE Ogunleye during the restricted free-agent period, there is still a chance the team will deal him before or on draft day. The Bears evidently are prepared to trade their second-round pick and OT Aaron Gibson for Ogunleye, who continues to refuse to sign his $1.8 million tender with the Dolphins. The Dolphins are without a second-round pick after trading it to the Patriots in last year's draft in order to select LOT Wade Smith. As a result, their top priority is to move down and recover that pick. The team has put some feelers out and has received a few calls with potential deals, but the Dolphins obviously won't be able to get a trade done until draft day, when the teams looking to move up to their spot can see what's still available. After adding QB A.J. Feeley and WR David Boston in the offseason, the Dolphins have really limited their draft-day needs. They did bring in OTs Damion McIntosh and John St. Clair via free agency, but neither player is a solid NFL starter, which is why this pick is most likely to be used on the top available offensive lineman. Following a sinus condition that forced him to miss his team's bowl game and rumors of him ballooning to nearly 400 pounds, Andrews' draft value has slipped considerably, which could work in the Dolphins' favor. While there are weight and character concerns surrounding Andrews, he would be a very good value with this pick and, in our opinion, would be a significant upgrade over St. Clair at the right tackle position. If Andrews is gone or if the Dolphins are not sold on him, Carey is a possibility with this pick. After Round 1: Assuming the Dolphins can't move down to acquire extra picks and wind up drafting the best available offensive lineman at pick No. 20, they won't pick again until the third round (87). At that point, the team will be looking simply to draft the best available player at positions that need help in terms of depth, such as safety, defensive tackle, defensive end and linebacker. One thing to note: If the Dolphins do receive a second-round selection and possibly Gibson for Ogunleye, they are likely to use the acquired second-round pick to replace Ogunleye with an end such as Western Michigan's Jason Babin or Alabama's Antwan Odom. New England Patriots Day 1 Picks: 21st overall (first round, from Bal.); 32nd (first round); 63rd (second round); 95th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Miami DS Sean Taylor # Trade up for Virginia Tech DC DeAngelo Hall With Pick No. 21: # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma # LSU WR Michael Clayton # Wisconsin WR Lee Evans With pick No. 32: # Miami OG Vernon Carey # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby # Alabama OG Justin Smiley # Georgia FS Sean Jones First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Rather than packaging their two first-round picks for Jackson, the Patriots made another brilliant move by giving the Bengals one of their two picks in the second round for a proven running back in Corey Dillon. With that need taken care of, the Patriots now have a lot of options with their two first-round picks. If a linebacker such as Vilma fell to them at pick No. 21, they would probably pull the trigger on him. If not, Clayton is a strong possibility. Wisconsin's Lee Evans is rated higher on a lot of team's draft boards, but the Patriots are looking to improve their size, and Evans' character/durability concerns could also turn them off. While the picks didn't add up in the rumor surrounding the Patriots trading up with the Lions for their sixth overall pick in order to draft DS Sean Taylor, the idea itself does make sense. By drafting Taylor, it would allow the team to move Eugene Wilson back to cornerback, which would prepare the team for the eventual loss of Ty Law. The other possibility would be to trade up in that range for Hall, with whom the team has spent extra time and is said to be enamored. In either case, the Patriots likely would have to give up their second- and either a third- or fourth-round pick, but it would solve their secondary problems and make Law much more expendable. However, while the Patriots are still better equipped than any other team in the draft to move up in the first round, it wouldn't surprise us one bit if they kept their two existing picks -- 21 and 32. One possibility would be to draft the big receiver they're looking for -- possibly Clayton -- with the 21st pick, then draft a guard such as Carey with the 32nd pick. Another possibility would be to use their 21st pick to address their need at linebacker, then draft a wide receiver with the 32nd pick. After Round 1: The Patriots draft day needs are as follows: Inside linebacker; safety/Cornerback; wide receiver (with good size); offensive guard; right offensive tackle; nose tackle; fullback. Even after trading for Dillon, the Patriots still have six picks in the first four rounds. One example of how Day 1 could play out: The Patriots could draft Clayton and Carey, in that order, with their two first round picks. They then could target a safety or hybrid cornerback/safety such as Georgia DS Sean Jones or UCLA's Matt Ware in the second round, then draft the best available offensive tackle (such as Purdue's Kelly Butler) or inside linebacker (such as Auburn's Dontarrious Thomas) in the third round. Dallas Cowboys Day 1 Picks: 22nd overall (first round); 52nd (second round); 83rd (third round). First Round Priorities: # Virginia Tech RB Kevin Jones # Arkansas OT Shawn Andrews # Miami OG Vernon Carey # Michigan RB Chris Perry First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Don't expect the Cowboys to trade up for Jackson. With other pressing needs at cornerback and along their offensive line, coach Bill Parcells is not likely to mortgage away the rest of this draft or future drafts to get Jackson. The Cowboys are most likely to keep their 22nd overall pick and evaluate the top players at their three top positions of need -- RB, DC, and OG when their turn comes up. From what we hear, Parcells might actually like Kevin Jones more than Jackson, so if Jones is available, he would be the perfect fit for the Cowboys at No. 22. After Round 1: The Cowboys are likely to draft a running back, cornerback and offensive guard, in any order, with their three Day 1 selections. In a perfect world, the Cowboys would get the RB they covet (Kevin Jones) in the first round, draft a potential starting CB such as Arkansas' Ahmad Carroll in the second round, and then draft a potential starting OG such as N.C. State's Sean Locklear in the third round. Seattle Seahawks Day 1 Picks: 23rd overall (first round); 53rd (second round); 84th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Miami DT Vince Wilfork # Maryland DT Randy Starks # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma # Texas DT Marcus Tubbs # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The team filled holes at DE with Grant Wistrom and CB with Bobby Taylor, but don't be surprised if it uses two or all three of its first day picks on that side of the ball. It still has holes at DT and LB, which is why we expect them to draft the best available player at either of those positions with the 23rd selection. GM Bob Ferguson and coach Mike Holmgren don't like to trade picks to move up, but we've been told they would do so if Wilfork began to slip on draft day and they could get a reasonable deal to move up. After Round 1: If they wind up with Starks in the first round -- or Tubbs, for that matter -- they likely will target LB in the second round, where Georgia Tech's Daryl Smith, Florida State's Michael Boulware and Oklahoma's Teddy Lehman all would be good values. Drafting a potential starting safety or a potential replacement for veteran No. 3 WR Bobby Engram late on Day 1 and early on Day 2 are priorities. Cincinnati Bengals Day 1 Picks: 24th overall (first round, from Den.); 49th and 56th, from Miami through New England (second round); 80th (third round); 96th (third round, from NFL). First Round Priorities: # Ohio State DC Chris Gamble # Maryland DT Randy Starks # Texas DT Marcus Tubbs # USC DC Will Poole # Virginia Tech OC Jake Grove # Virginia Tech RB Kevin Jones First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The Bengals moved back from 17 to 24 in exchange for DC Deltha O'Neal and a fourth-round pick (117) from the Broncos. The Bengals thinking was they could get a similar value with the 24th pick as with the 17th, so why not get the compensation before the draft? The Bengals would like for Starks to fall to them here, which is a strong possibility. If not, they'll have a difficult decision with no true first-round talents left at DT or CB. While the team added O'Neal in trade, there is absolutely no assurance O'Neal will bounce back as a starter with a change of scenery. Furthermore, the Bengals were counting on Dennis Weathersby to contribute in their nickel package, but Weathersby suffered yet another setback with a recent car accident. As a result, look for the Bengals to target a CB, DT, C or RB with their first-round selection. After Round 1: The Bengals would be best served to get a DT they like in the first round, such as Starks or Tubbs. That would enable them to focus on their other Day 1 needs -- DC OC, RB, and DE -- with their two second-round picks and two third-round picks. The Bengals could conceivably finish Day 1 with Starks from the first round, Florida State RB Greg Jones and Alabama DE Antwan Odom in the second round, and then a cornerback such as Pittsburgh's Shawntee Spencer and a center such as Ohio State's Alex Stepanovich with their two picks in the third round. Green Bay Packers Day 1 Picks: 25th overall (first round); 55th (second round); 86th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Ohio State DE Will Smith # Texas DT Marcus Tubbs # Florida TE Ben Troupe # Wisconsin WR Lee Evans # LSU WR Michael Clayton # Tulane QB J.P. Losman # Western Michigan DE Jason Babin # LSU DE Marquise Hill First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: For starters, N.C. State QB Philip Rivers isn't going to fall to the Packers at pick No. 25, and Tulane QB J.P. Losman isn't worth drafting that high. The Packers are in a difficult situation with this pick. One option would be to trade up for an impact defensive end, but since the team has depth issues in a lot of different areas, we'd be surprised if they sold off the rest of their draft to do so. The Packers addressed their safety situation to a degree by adding Mark Roman (Bengals). While it is still a need in terms of depth, the Bengals can afford to wait until later on Day 1 or early on Day 2 to address it. The team's biggest need is clearly at DE, but once USC's Kenechi Udeze and Ohio State's Will Smith come off the board, there is not another legitimate first-round end left. One option would be to reach for an end such as Western Michigan's Jason Babin, Ohio State's Darrion Scott, Alabama's Antwan Odom or LSU's Marquise Hill, but we just can't see the Packers doing that. If the Packers are true to their value board, however, they could wind up drafting a tight end such as Troupe or a wide receiver such as Clayton or Evans with this pick. WR Robert Ferguson and TE Bubba Franks are both free agents following the 2004 season, so it wouldn't be a shock if the Packers went for a more valuable player at one of those two positions rather than reaching for a defensive end. After Round 1: There's almost no telling which direction the Packers will go with their first pick. We do know they would like to select a defensive end, cornerback, quarterback, defensive tackle, safety, wide receiver and tight end on draft weekend. If they get the defensive lineman they want in the first round, they could go in any of those other directions with their other two picks on Day 1. However, if the Packers fail to get a defensive end with the 25th pick, it will become a priority with the 55th, and they should be able to get a much better value on a player such as Hill, Hawaii's Travis Laboy or Ohio State's Darrion Scott. St. Louis Rams Day 1 Picks: 26th overall (first round); 91st (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade down, recoup their second-round pick, then draft a DE later in the first or early in the second, where they would be a better value. # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma # Western Michigan DE Jason Babin # Florida TE Ben Troupe # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby # Tulane QB J.P. Losman # Georgia FS Sean Jones First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: There's no telling what the Rams will do with this pick. Using it on Losman is not a good idea in our opinion, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for coach Mike Martz. If they get stuck at this pick, the Rams will have an extremely difficult decision between reaching for need and drafting for luxury. After letting Grant Wistrom go via free agency, addressing the DE position has become the top priority. Babin is not a first round prospect, but he reminds us a lot of Wistrom, and his athleticism and upfield playmaking ability really fit the model in terms of what the Rams are looking for at the position. If they go with the lesser need in Troupe, he could add quite a dynamic dimension to their offense. Existing starter Brandon Manumaleuna is an excellent blocker and solid short-to-intermediate pass catcher, but Troupe would provide a deep element at the position that Martz could really use to exploit defenses. After Round 1: The Rams are planning on drafting a QB at some point on draft weekend, and it's realistic they would pull the trigger on Losman in the first round. However, if they draft a quarterback -- or any other offensive position for that matter -- it means they failed to draft a replacement for Wistrom, and they don't pick again until 91st overall. If they do reach for a DE in the first round, they could target a quarterback (Bowling Green's Josh Harris, Michigan's John Navarre, Washington's Cody Pickett or Louisiana Tech's Luke McCown) or a tight end (Utah State's Chris Cooley) in the third round. The other positions that need addressing in terms of depth are running back, safety and linebacker. Tennessee Titans Day 1 Picks: 27th overall (first round); 42nd, from the N.Y. Jets, and 57th (second round); 92nd (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for DTs Tommie Harris or Vince Wilfork # Trade up for Ohio State DE Will Smith # Texas DT Marcus Tubbs # Miami OG Vernon Carey # Florida State DT Darnell Dockett # Virginia Tech OC Jake Grove First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: After letting DE Jevon Kearse (Eagles) and DT Robaire Smith (Texans) go via free agency, the Titans have glaring needs along their defensive line. The problem they face, however, is that all the legitimate first round talent at those two positions is likely to be gone by the time they select with the 27th pick. One option could be to reach for a DT such as Tubbs or Dockett or a DE such as Babin or Odom. GM Floyd Reese is known for moving down, not up. With such glaring needs along the defensive line and with two second-round picks, the Titans could package their original second-round pick with their first-round pick in order to move up to the middle of the first round for a DL such as Harris or Smith. They would then still have their other second-round pick available to draft another defensive lineman at 42. However, because this team is so salary-cap strapped and needs most of its draft picks to not only make the team but contribute, Reese and the Titans might be much more inclined to take what's available with their four picks on Day 1, rather than put several eggs in one basket. The other option could be to address their lack of depth and age concerns along their offensive line by drafting a versatile player such as Carey, then switch their focus to the defense line in the second round. After Round 1: While the Titans do have a couple of pressing needs they may not be able to dent in the first round, the good news is they own two second-round picks after trading WR Justin McCariens to the Jets for the 42nd overall pick, and they also still own their original third-round pick, which means they have four Day 1 selections. Even if they can't get the defensive lineman they want in the first round, they can fill a need along the offensive line, then draft two defensive lineman -- such as Hawaii DE Travis LaBoy and Clemson DT Donnell Washington -- in the second round, where they are much better values, rather than reaching for one in the first. In the third round, the Titans could be looking for depth at running back (Oklahoma State's Tatum Bell or Notre Dame's Julius Jones) and wide receiver (Clemson's Derrick Hamilton or Syracuse's Johnnie Morant) after losing McCariens to the Jets. Philadelphia Eagles Day 1 Picks: 28th overall (first round); 58th (second round); 89th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Trade up for Oregon State RB Steven Jackson # Ohio State DC Chris Gamble (if he were to fall) # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby # USC DC Will Poole # Arkansas DC Ahmand Carroll # Miami OG Vernon Carey # Virginia Tech OC Jake Grove First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: For starters, the Eagles are rumored to have a trade in the works with the 49ers, contingent on Jackson being available at the 16th pick. If that's the case, the team would give up this pick, a later pick, and OG John Welbourn in order to move up for Jackson. If they don't get a deal done to move up, they likely will look to draft the best available player at the following positions: cornerback, interior offensive line, outside linebacker and defensive tackle. The Eagles plugged their biggest two positions of needs this offseason with free agent acquisitions WR Terrell Owens and DE Jevon Kearse. They did, however, lose both their starting cornerbacks -- Bobby Taylor (Seahawks) and Troy Vincent (Bills) -- which makes drafting a cornerback one of the top priorities. After Round 1: Andy Reid and VP of player personnel Tom Heckert Jr. proved last year when they traded up for DE Jerome McDougle that they're willing to sacrifice picks in later rounds to address a pressing need. They are rumored to be up to the same thing again this year. If they do wind up trading up for Jackson, it likely will cost them one of their other Day 1 picks and a starting offensive guard, which means they'll likely be targeting Alabama OG Justin Smiley, Boston College OG Chris Snee and N.C. State OG Sean Locklear later on Day 1. If the deal doesn't go through and the Eagles wind up with a cornerback in the first round, they likely will be targeting a guard such as Snee in the second and possibly a running back such as Oklahoma State's Tatum Bell or Notre Dame's Julius Jones in the third. Indianapolis Colts Day 1 Picks: 29th overall (first round); 59th (second round); 90th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Miami OLB D.J. Williams # Miami ILB Jonathan Vilma # Auburn OLB Karlos Dansby # Arkansas DC Ahmad Carroll # Oklahoma DC Derrick Strait First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Defense is the priority for the Colts, not only in the first round, but probably throughout most of draft weekend. The team lost three starters from last year's unit, including SLB Marcus Washington and CBs Walt Harris and David Macklin. It also lost "wave" DL Chad Bratzke. Considering the loss of Washington and Mike Peterson (Jaguars) the last two years, outside linebacker is clearly the most pressing need. With three solid first-round linebacker prospects in this year's class, there is a decent chance one of them will fall to the Colts at pick No. 29. Also, don't count the Colts out when it comes to moving up for a player they want, as President Bill Polian and director of football operations Dom Anile have proven in the past they'll do so should the right player become available. If they can't find the OLB they want in the first round, cornerback is the next highest need, and there are several fringe late-first and early-second round prospects at that position to choose from. After Round 1: If the Colts take care of their linebacker need in the first round, they are likely to draft a cornerback in the second. UCLA's Matt Ware, Michigan's Jeremy LeSeuer and McNeese State's Keith Smith are all possibilities. After addressing their linebacker and cornerback needs, the Colts will focus on their defensive line, middle linebacker and offensive line depth late in the first day and early into the second. Kansas City Chiefs Day 1 Picks: 30th overall (first round); 61st (second round); 93rd (third round). First Round Priorities: # Wisconsin WR Lee Evans # LSU WR Michael Clayton # Trade down # Texas DT Marcus Tubbs # Oklahoma WR Rashaun Woods # Ohio State WR Michael Jenkins # Florida State DT Darnell Dockett # Oregon State DT Dwan Edwards First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Wide receiver and defensive tackle should be the positions the Chiefs draft with their first two picks -- No.'s 30 and 61. For starters, the Chiefs would love for Evans to fall to them. If he doesn't, they know that they can get similar value early in the second round at wide receiver as late in the first, so they will be looking to trade out of the first round with a team looking to jump into the first round. Some teams to keep an eye out for are the Giants for QB J.P. Losman, if they don't get a quarterback in the first round; the Lions for RB Chris Perry, if they don't get Jackson in the first round; the Browns for an offensive lineman, if they don't get Gallery in the first round; or the Jaguars for a receiver, if they go with Udeze in the first round. After Round 1: Assuming the Chiefs keep pick No. 30 and draft either a receiver -- such as Evans or Woods -- or a defensive tackle -- such as Tubbs or Dockett -- they are most likely to draft the position they didn't get in the first round with their second-round pick. It seems more favorable the Chiefs will wind up with a receiver like Woods in the first round, then draft a defensive tackle such as Oregon's Junior Savaii or Hawaii's Isaac Sopoaga in the second. After addressing those top needs in the first two rounds, the Chiefs will shift their focus to cornerback, defensive end and depth at offensive guard with their last pick on Day 1 and their first couple of picks on Day 2. On thing to note, however: If the Chiefs find a QB slip to them in the third round, they could put off other needs to draft a solid developmental reserve to eventually replace Todd Collins. Carolina Panthers Day 1 Picks: 31st overall (first round); 62nd (second round); 94th (third round). First Round Priorities: # Wisconsin WR Lee Evans # LSU WR Michael Clayton # Miami OG Vernon Carey # Florida TE Ben Troupe # Oklahoma State WR Rashaun Woods # Ohio State WR Michael Jenkins # Arkansas DC Ahmad Carroll # Tusculum DC Ricardo Colclough # Oklahoma DC Derrick Strait First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios: The trouble with drafting 31st overall is the Panthers likely will need to overlook need and simply draft the best available player. They have done a nice job of plugging holes in their secondary and can live with their offensive guard and wide receiver situation if they had to, but the Panthers' top four needs are apparent: Cornerback, offensive guard, safety and wide receiver -- not necessarily in any specific order. For starters, the Panthers would love for a wide receiver like Clayton to fall to them, but there's a good chance he won't. The Panthers will likely draft the best available player at one of the aforementioned positions, unless there is a player at a different position that is a great value as a result of him slipping. Florida TE Ben Troupe is a prime example. After Round 1: The Panthers have their original three selections -- 31, 62 and 94 -- on Day 1. If they wind up drafting a receiver like Clayton, Jenkins or Woods with their first pick, they can still plug needs with a cornerback such as Michigan's Jeremy LeSeuer in the second round and either a solid offensive guard prospect like North Carolina State's Sean Locklear or a wide receiver such as Clemson's Derrick Hamilton in the third round. Baltimore Ravens Day 1 Picks: 51st overall (second round); 88th (third round). Day One Targets: # LSU WR Devery Henderson # USC WR Keary Colbert # Alabama OG Justin Smiley # Purdue OT Kelly Butler # Iowa DS Bob Sanders # Ohio State DS Will Allen Draft Day Outlook/Trade Scenarios: Without a first-round pick as a result of last year's trade with the Patriots for the 19th overall selection, which resulted in their drafting QB Kyle Boller, the Ravens won't be on the clock until the 51st pick overall. After losing out on WR Terrell Owens, the team is still in desperate need of a wide receiver. GM Ozzie Newsome and director of player personnel Phil Savage have built this team with strong drafts by choosing the best available player, rather than focusing on need. However, if there is a receiver available whom they rate highly when it comes their turn to pick in the second round, there's a good chance they would take the receiver over a more highly rated player at a different position. Other needs include free safety, offensive guard, right offensive tackle and nose tackle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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