#23 SaintsDeuce McAlister: A poor man’s Eric Dickerson, with many similarities in his game. He could be the immediate 3rd down back, with his superior receiving skills. This could keep Ricky Williams below the poverty line with his incentive stuffed contract. Expect major controversy or an eventual trade, though neither player have massive egos (Sports Illustrated articles aside).
3 Sedrick Hodge: (year 3). Has the speed to run with the receivers stride for stride – even from the Rams.
3 Kenny Smith: (spot starter). Plays better than he works out. Like last year’s superior teammate, Cornelious Griffin, he has the ability to play inside and outside, though both are better on the inside. Last season’s play-off loss of Norman Hand devastated Jim Haslett’s poker hand. The Saints bluffed by attempting an undersized end at tackle with disasterous results, as the Broncos can gladly attest to. This was more of a blow than having every single offensive skill position player consisting of “scrubs”. This explains the trade-up for Smith, despite the fact that the Saints have the best combimnation of a run stuffer and a pass rusher from their defensive tackle department.
4 Moran Norris: Insurance against the back problems of Terelle Smith. He could have enough speed to hypothetically see time at tailback, should Ricky Williams be injured or swinging at baseballs for some strange reason (may be a ploy to get his charitable contract reworked. The Saints may have called the baseball “bluff” with the pick of Deuce, who likely will see any extra carries offered, provided he stays healthy.
5 Onomo Ojo: After the shocking progress of Joe Horne, the Saints may have gone overboard with receivers still under construction.
6 Mitch White: Depth is inept at tackle.
7 Ennis Davis: In the offseason last year, Cincinatti actually predicted Davis would be the first pick of the entire draft. The last two years, he’s hit a tidal wave, ’cuz he’s been a wash-out. If anyone can get him going again, it’s Haslett.
What the $&·@?!? Deuce is the obvious pick. Ignoring the corner position was certainly a surprise, considering thaty was quite likely their top need. It seems Haslett was actually truthful when he said he likes his healing, scrappy corners (or are they just crappy)?
#24 Broncos:
1 Willie Middlebrooks: (year 2). A potential shut down corner which Denver has not been privy to in a long time. He is still healing and learning. He needs to give up his habit of pass interference.
2 Paul Toviessi: (spot starter).With Denver’s decision to trade up , it looked like it only could have been for DeLawrence Grant.
3 Reggie Hayward: Displayed tremendous explosion at Indy, but this is yet another reach. Denver has serious need of a starting end, but both of these picks will be limited to competing for third down rusher status most likely (or at least should be).
4 Kenyatta Jones: Another project with a lot of upside.
3 Ben Hamilton (4th year). He is anything but a project, he was born to play the positon. Well, at least his father was a lineman as well. He fits in fine with Mike Shanahahan’s system of mental and physical quickness.
4 4 Nick Harris: (Day one starter). A top notch punter can be especially critical in the thin air of Denver. He is also a masterful directional kicker.
6 Kevin Kasper: The Broncos might finally have found a third wide-out., within a few years of Eddie Kennison being deemed a bust at the money he’ll make.
What the $&%?!?! No pass receiving tight end? After losing receiving specialist Byron Chamberlin, they picked up the restricted to blocking Patrick Hape. Todd Heap looked like a very tempting pick for Denver in the first. He would have immediately given up their SWAT team searched need for a third receiver.
#25 Eagles
1 Freddie Mitchell: (Day one starter). Though he doesn’t have the ability to shift into a fifth gear, he runs with sewing machine quickness. He is the dependable receiver Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb, and Chad Lewis have sorely needed on the outside.
2 Quinton Caver: A pick on potential that could turn out belly-up. He might be best off not having to provide anything but 3rd down coverage.
3 Derek Burgess: This pick showed the desperation of the Eagle to get rid of Mike Mamula. He could compete in due time, as a third down rusher , but he was definitely a Ray Rhodes like reach. But at least he was productive in college. The team erred in not taking DeLawrence Grant, who has many similar qualities to Hugh Douglass.
4 Corey Buckhalter: He will soon fill the much needed backup running back role, which he did so well at Nebraska.
5 Tony Stewart: (5th year). He is similar to Chad Lewis as a big framed receiving threat. His blocking skills are also a work in progress.
5 AJ Feeley: Andy Reid is surprisingly high on him. He is unlikely to be anything more than another Doug Pederson – which could make for a rude situation in Philadelphia.
What the &%$?!?!: Drafting two backups could be a first in the NFL draft. They should have been more concerned with their own back-ups, like those at center, safety, defensive tackle, and fourth cornerback.
#26 Dolphins
1 Jamal Fletcher: (spot starter). Unlike Chambers, he can routes, since he blankets receivers’ patterns, and he can catch, as witnessed by his high interception totals. If only he had Chambers’ size, speed, and vertical ability, he would be a guaranteed top 5 choice. A nickel role for the Dolphins will be the perfect fit for him to utilize his skills.
2 Chris Chambers: (year 5). This guy can jump like a dolphin out of the water. Consistent catching and detail to running his routes will keep him form contributing any time soon.
3 Morlon Greenwood: (year 3). A linebacker was definitely a need, which is why they traded away a second rounder next year, to select this raw player.
5 Travis Minor: Another part-timer for the ‘Fins. He’ll be a fine third down back.
5 Shawn Draper: If he’s a bust on the offensive line, he could always go back to his earler tight end position with the Dolphins.
6 Brandon Winey: And the free fall stops for this offesive line prospect (who was also a tight end earlier in his college career).
6 Rick Crowell: A tough cookie that could be groomed into a decent back-up in the middle.
6 Otis Leverette: An unknown with potential.
6 Josh Heupel: He’s certainly not unknown in Oklahoma. He’s Danny Wuerrfel all over again as a courageous and well-prepared winner with a lot of patience in the pocket, but has no arm and little mobility.
In this offense, he could be a solid back-up, and could become an offensive coordinator by the time he’s 35.
What the %&$#@?!?! A career nickelback with the first pick? He’ll only start if a either starter and their long term salaries are traded, which is not likely. At least they could have traded down for him. They might even have netted the third round pick, which they dumped next year’s 2nd rounder for.
#27 Vikings:
1 Michael Bennett: (Year one spot starter – 1 P.B.*) With his similar one cut run for the end zone or bust style, he can be compared to Robert Smith. This makes him a fine fit for the offense. Chapman might serve well as the third down back, considering Bennett’s bad hands.
2 Willie Howard: (year 2). A Stanford Cardinal would be a Cardinal sin to pass on for Denny Green. He certainly will be of more help than will be last year’s 2nd round pick, Fred Robbins.
3 Eric Kelly: The much awaited cornerback position is where Green decides to go for one of his reaches, after getting a couple of talented players fall in his lap as has been a draft tradition since he was steering the Viking ship.
4 Shawn Worthem: Like the departed John Randle, he is a stocky Texan and has nice instincts.
5 Patrick Chukwurah: Could be a Viking surprise with lack of linebacker depth.
6 Carey Scott: He could be another Viking corner to be burned and sacrificed on any given pass play.
7 Scott Crawford: Project producer offensive line coach Mike Tice is high on this new pet project of his.
What the hell&%$?!?! The possible sole reason for the Vikings not being a Super Bowl team – completely apathetic and pathetic pass coverage, is expected to be helped by yet another couple of projects for the corner position in Kelly and Scott. Couldn’t Green at least have looked outside the state of Kentucky for this deprived position?
#28 Raiders
1 Derrick Gibson (year one starter – *1 P.B.*). He was expected to be the pick here, just like last year’s 28th pick – due to great need. He sometimes shows up like a bullet from a gun, and other times, you wonder if he is resting on the bench. He isn’t yet polished in pass coverage, but he will bring a Jack Tatum–like style of intimidation to the Raiders.
2 Marques Tuiasosopo: (Spot starter) A resourceful, well prepared, scrambling winner and leader – Just like Rich Gannon. Both were thought at one point to be players at another position other than quarterback. This is early to be picking a project however. The Raiders have not had much luck in drafting quarterbacks, and this pick adds to the flops.
3 DeLawrence Grant: (2nd year). He could soon continue the Raider’s tradition of knocking out quarterbacks.
6 Whoever’s Cooper: One of the Raiders’ yearly unknown picks.
7 Ken-yon Rambo: With his speed and egotistical attitude, he will fit right in with the Raiders. He could at least be the teams’ top returner. Like Jery Porter, he needs to work on his hands, routes, and concentration. He does however block with concerted effort.
7 Derek Combs: Could be a change of pace like last years’ Buckeye back – Marcus Wiley will be. There has been talk of moving him to corner, and the Raiders have been known to make such a switch.
What the %&$#@?!?!...is the Raiders’ deal with their discrimination of rookie linebackers? A retread veteran will be picked up any day.
