[mmarra82]

April 26, 2003
NFL Draft

NFL Draft
Round 1

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Carson Palmer, QB (6-4¼, 237, 4.60) | USC.
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Bengals selected their quarterback of the future. Veteran QB Jon Kitna will get the starting nod this year, giving Palmer time to digest the playbook. The question is how quickly can Palmer learn Cincinnati’s system?

2. Detroit Lions: Charles Rogers, WR (6-4, 202, 4.44) | Michigan State.
The Lions desperately needed a franchise wide receiver and got one in Rogers, who will reinvigorate a passing offense whose leading receivers were RB James Stewart (45 receptions) and WR Bill Schroeder (595 yards) in 2002.

3. Houston Texans: Andre Johnson, WR (6-1 7/8, 224, 4.42) | Miami.
The Texans opted to roll the dice that veteran OLT Tony Boselli will be fully recovered from his shoulder problems to give Houston a full season of play in 2003. Instead trading down and selecting Utah OT Jordan Gross to protect QB David Carr (sacked 76 times in 2003), Houston decided to use a mid round selection on a pass protector (OT Seth Wand), saving their No. 3 overall pick for explosive Miami WR Andre Johnson, who has the size and speed to exploit a defense.

4. New England (from Chicago): Dewayne Robertson, DT (6-1 3/8, 317, 4.87) | Kentucky.
The Patriots traded their No. 14 overall and No. 19 overall draft picks to Chicago to move up high enough to select the best defensive tackle in this year’s draft.

5. Dallas Cowboys: Terence Newman, CB (5-10 3/8, 189, 4.39) | Kansas State.
While Dallas HC Bill Parcells would have preferred to trade down, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones held firm and selected Newman, adding much needed coverage ability to a secondary that was shaky in that area last season.

6. New Orleans Saints (from Arizona): Johnathan Sullivan, DT (6-3 1/8, 312, 4.97) | Georgia.
The Saints continued to upgrade their defense with their trade up for Sullivan, who was practically handed a starting job when the Saints traded starting DT Norman Hand to the Seahawks on Day 2 of the draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (moved up after Minnesota passed): Byron Leftwich, QB (6-5 3/8, 242, 4.88) | Marshall.
Jaguars HC Jack Del Rio opted to select the team’s quarterback of the future given Jaguars veteran starting QB Mark Brunell is getting old after taking a couple of years of pounding. Leftwich will watch from the sidelines this year, giving him more time for his leg to heal.

8. Carolina Panthers (moved up after Minnesota passed): Jordan Gross, OT (6-4½, 303, 5.02) | Utah.
The Panthers lucked out as Gross fell into their lap. Gross will fill the void at right tackle created when Carolina released ORT Chris Terry late in the 2002 season.

9. Minnesota Vikings (passed on draft slots 7 and 8): Kevin Williams, DT (6-4½, 307, 4.83) | Oklahoma State.
After trying to create a bidding war between the Ravens and the Jaguars for their No. 7 overall draft pick, the Vikings burned themselves, allowing the clock on their pick to run out and dropping two draft slots as a result. DT Kevin Williams’ agent is expected to ask for No. 7 pick money even though the NFL will only award Minnesota No. 9 pick money under the team’s rookie salary pool. The signing bonus difference between the No. 7 and No. 9 overall picks is expected to be around $3 million. The Vikings could be looking at a "Bryant McKinnie" type holdout. Sure, things could still work out, but the Vikings have dug themselves a hole, both in resources and public perception.

10. Baltimore Ravens: Terrell Suggs, DE (6-3¼, 257, 4.77) | Arizona State.
While defensive end/outside linebacker was not one of their biggest needs, the Ravens could not pass up the opportunity to add a super productive pass rusher to their defense. Suggs could wind up starting at strongside linebacker in the Ravens’ 3-4 defense.

11. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Trufant, CB (5-11, 199, 4.40) | Washington State.
The Seahawks had needs across the board on defense, but they passed over their biggest need (defensive tackle) to take Trufant, sending a message to disgruntled CB Shawn Springs. If Springs shapes up, he’ll start opposite CB Ken Lucas or Trufant. If not, Seattle is now in a position to trade Springs. Meanwhile, Seattle bolstered their defensive tackle position by trading for Saints sluggish DT Norman Hand on Day 2 of the draft.

12. St. Louis Rams: Jimmy Kennedy, DT (6-4, 324, 5.20) | Penn State.
After division rival Seattle nabbed Trufant, the player the Rams really wanted/needed, St. Louis opted to bolster their defensive line by taking Kennedy, who is a great hedge against DT Damione Lewis and his recurring foot injuries.

13. New York Jets (from Washington): Ty Warren, DT (6-4½, 307, 5.05) | Texas A&M.
New York’s draft was impacted by them not willing to trade up into the top 4. The Jets picked what they considered to be the last top defensive tackle in this draft. While Warren is a reach here considering he was slowed by injuries last year, his selection allows New York to place a DT alongside Jason Ferguson who can provide run support as well as rush the passer.

14. Chicago Bears (from Buffalo via New England): Michael Haynes, DE (6-3½, 285, 4.75) | Penn State.
The Bears’ loss of OLB Rosevelt Colvin via free agency compelled Chicago to bolster its pass rush. They made the safe pick in Haynes, who can rush the passer but holds up even better against the run.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (from San Diego): Jerome McDougle, DE (6-1½, 264, 4.66) | Miami.
The Eagles needed to replace DE Hugh Douglas, who signed a free agent deal with Jacksonville. McDougle’s pass rushing ability should get him into the Eagles’ defensive end rotation immediately.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Kansas City): Troy Polamalu, SS (5-10, 205, 4.35) | USC.
The Steelers traded up to get their man – Polamalu – who will add speed and hitting ability to their weak secondary.

17. Arizona Cardinals (from New Orleans): Bryant Johnson, WR (6-2¼, 215, 4.50) | Penn State.
The Cardinals traded down to no man’s land and reached for WR Bryant Johnson to fill a major need. Johnson has talent and should develop into a reliable target, but he lacks top end speed. Although Johnson will start, the Cardinals will wind up paying first round money to a second round player.

18. Arizona Cardinals (from Miami via New Orleans): Calvin Pace, DE (6-4, 267, 4.68) | Wake Forest.
While Pace is another reach for the Cardinals, he was a fast rising prospect who was unlikely to be available when Arizona was expected to pick again. So, by not selecting DE Terrell Suggs and trading down, the Cardinals believe they still secured a quality defensive end prospect in Pace and a quality wide receiver in Bryant Johnson. Both are expected to start.

19. Chicago Bears (from New England): Kyle Boller, QB (6-3, 234, 4.60) | California.
It was figured the Boller would go to the Ravens with the #10 pick, but when Suggs became available at #10 the Ravens took Suggs leaving Boller still on the board. The Bears figured to take Grossman with this pick, but get a better quarterback at #19 in Boller.

20. Denver Broncos: George Foster, OT (6-5, 333, 5.23) | Georgia.
With no defensive end worthy of their pick, the Broncos opted to strengthen their weak offensive line by selecting massive OT George Foster, whose wrist injury doesn’t seem to concern Denver.

21. Cleveland Browns: Jeff Faine, C (6-2¼, 303, 4.98) | Notre Dame.
After proclaiming that the Browns had a replacement (C/OG Melvin Fowler) for salary cap casualty C Dave Wohlabaugh, Cleveland HC Butch Davis decided to select C Jeff Faine anyway. Iowa OG Eric Steinbach, whom some believe could move to tackle within a year, would have filled the Browns’ offensive line needs better.

22. New York Jets: Boss Bailey, LB (6-3, 233, 4.38) | Georgia.
The Jets add athleticism to their aging linebacking corp with Bailey. Some thought the Jets would look at cornerback, Andre Woolfolk of Oklahoma here, or Florida wide-out, Taylor Jacobs. It is expected that Bailey will compete for the starting Strong-Side Linebacker position with newly acquired free agent, Hannibal Navies.

23. Buffalo Bills (from Atlanta): Willis McGahee, RB (6-0¼, 225, 4.46 [pre knee injury]) | Miami.
Bills HC Greg Williams claimed that McGahee was the top prospect on their draft board. Still, the selection of McGahee is a surprise considering the number of defensive needs Buffalo has. With the presence of incumbent starting RB Travis Henry, Buffalo will allow McGahee’s knee to continue to heal during the 2003 season. McGahee should be ready to challenge for the starting job in 2004, setting up a trade scenario for Henry next year.

24. Indianapolis Colts: Dallas Clark, TE (6-3½, 253, 4.58) | Iowa.
The Colts shunned defensive help in the first round and chose to add a fast, pass-catching tight end to their receiving corps. Indianapolis selects Clark over Tennessee TE Jason Witten, whose receiving ability and quickness was questioned by the Colts.

25. New York Giants: William Joseph, DT (6-5, 308, 5.05) | Miami.
The Giants really needed to add a top-notch defensive end, but they deemed that none of the remaining prospects were worthy of their pick. So, they selected Miami DT William Joseph instead. Joseph will be a valuable rotation lineman this season and provide a valuable hedge against DT Keith Hamilton’s recurring Achilles’ tendon problems.

26. San Francisco 49ers: Kwame Harris, OT (6-7, 308, 5.12) | Stanford.
The 49ers stopped Harris’ drop down the first round and in the process found a massive replacement for aging starter OLT Derrick Deese.

27. Kansas City Chiefs (from Pittsburgh): Larry Johnson, RB (6-1, 228, 4.50) | Penn State.
Considering their needs on defense, the Chiefs’ selection of RB Larry Johnson signaled their concern over the timetable for RB Priest Holmes’ (hip) recovery. Also factoring into the Chiefs decision was Holmes’ demand for a new contract. While Johnson lacks Holmes’ speed, he has power and good receiving skills and will be a worthy replacement for Holmes, if it comes to that.

28. Tennessee Titans: Andre Woolfolk, CB (6-1 3/8, 197, 4.46) | Oklahoma.
Despite his lack of experience as a cornerback, Woolfolk will challenge for a starting job in Tennessee this year. Given the Titans’ lack of depth at corner, Woolfolk will at least be a No. 3 corner this year.

29. Green Bay Packers: Rex Grossman, QB (6-1, 217, 5.00) | Florida.
Green Bay takes their first shot at grooming a replacement for Hall of Famer, Brett Favre. Although Grossman does not have the arm of Favre, he posses the leadership qualities the Packers are looking for.

30. San Diego Chargers (from Philadelphia): Sammy Davis, CB (5-11½, 186, 4.41) | Texas A&M.
The Chargers addressed their secondary needs over and over in this year’s draft. Davis’ aggressive one-on-one coverage style should make San Diego’s move of CB Ryan McNeil to safety easier to swallow.

31. Oakland Raiders: Nnamdi Asomugha, CB/FS (6-2 3/8, 215, 4.43) | California.
The Raiders went with the athletic and versatile Asomugha to improve their injury riddled secondary.

32. Oakland Raiders (from Tampa Bay): Tyler Brayton, DE/DT (6-6, 277, 4.75) | Colorado.
The Raiders selected Brayton to beef up their pass rush given the age and injury history of DE Trace Armstrong.

Note-Italics represent the changes I feel could have happened had the Jets not made the trade with Chicago.