2004 NFL Draft
April 28, 2004
In memory of Arizona safety Pat Tillman who was killed Thursday
night in a firefight while on combat patrol with the Army Rangers in
Afghanistan. He was 27 years old and the first NFL
player killed in combat since Buffalo offensive tackle Bob Kalsu died in the
Vietnam War in July 1970. Nineteen NFL players were killed in World War II. In 2000, Tillman broke the franchise record for
tackles with 223. He enlisted six months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
while leaving a three-year, $3.6 million offer from Arizona on the table.
"He is a hero," Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill said.
"He was a brave man. There are very few people who have the courage to do
what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and
make the ultimate sacrifice."
U = underclassman
FIRST ROUND
1. Eli Manning, New York Giants,
QB – Acquired from San Diego for Philip Rivers and three future draft
picks. Good arm, size and decent mobility with outstanding bloodlines. Other
quarterbacks have a better arm and touch but he almost took Ole Miss to a
championship with so-so players around him. A leader who can move a team, he
also excels at reading defenses and recognizing coverages. Kerry Collins, who
is in the last year of his contract, was released so Manning will be the
starter. Will have a tough time behind a below average offensive line though.
3.
u-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals, WR – Big and athletic, Fitzgerald
will join Anquan Bolden as the starter with Bryant Johnson the third receiver
who’ll also be on the field a lot. This should also boost young quarterback
Josh McCown’s fantasy value. Coach Dennis green is building the Vikings West
here. Fitzgerald played just two years
at Pittsburgh after spending a year at a prep school. As a sophomore, he caught
92 passes for 1,672 yards and scored 22 touchdowns.
4. Philip Rivers, San Diego
Chargers, QB – Big and smart but with a sidearm motion without the great
arm strength most scouts love. Knows how to win and should start over Drew
Brees, who is being shopped around the league. LaDainian Tomlinson will take some of the pressure
off Rivers, which is a huge factor in his favor. Needs a good line in front of
him. A four-year starter, he set school and
conference records, completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 13,484 yards and
95 touchdowns with only 34 interceptions. His touchdown passes rank fifth in
NCAA history, his yards passing second. As a senior, he completed 72 percent of
his passes for 4,491 yards and 34 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
Should be a good one for a long time.
6. Kellen Winslow Jr., Cleveland
Browns, TE – The Browns finally get the dominant tight end they’ve lacked
since Ozzie Newsome retired. The complete package, similar to his Hall of Fame
father. Should flourish with Jeff Garcia at the helm that loves to throw to the
tight end. Rob Chudzinski, the Browns'
new tight ends coach, is the former offensive coordinator of the Hurricanes
where Winslow played. "If you like Jeremy Shockey, you'll love Kellen
Winslow," said one coach. "He'll come in and make the same kind of
impact right away. He's a fierce competitor and a great kid. He didn't mean any
disrespect to real soldiers when he said what he said. He's just a warrior on
the football field." Chudzinski also developed Shockey. "He's the complete package,"
Houston GM Charley Casserly said. "He's big, strong and runs and catches
the ball extremely well. He's improving as a blocker. I like his maturity.
There aren't any weaknesses I can see."
7. Roy Williams, Detroit Lions,
WR – Big, fast and athletic, Williams should start immediately opposite
Charles Rogers with Tai Streets the #3 man.
This should also boost young quarterback Joey Harrington’s fantasy
value. Williams’ speed
placed him ahead of Fitzgerald on some draft boards. He runs a 4.48 40 and has
been compared to Randy Moss in play-making ability. With the addition of
Williams and Streets, the Lions hope to take the double coverage pressure off
Rogers, who played only five games before suffering a season-ending broken
collarbone last year.
9. u-Reggie Williams,
Jacksonville Jaguars, WR – Big with
average speed but runs very well after the catch and is not afraid to go for
the ball in traffic. He should start opposite Jimmy Smith, eventually taking
over for him as the go-to guy and provides a big target that the team needed as
well. This should also boost young quarterback Byron Leftwich’s fantasy value
who some feel is a star on the rise and should be a big sleeper going into
2004.
11. u-Ben Roethlisberger,
Pittsburgh Steelers, QB – Scouts say he has the most upside of any signal
caller in the draft. Big and mobile with outstanding arm strength, he came out
early but has a lot of experience. "When you look at his physical
attributes, there's no question he's up there with Eli and Philip," Bill
Cowher said. "The one thing that separates them is experience. When you
look at the upside of this guy, that's something we had to take into
consideration." Great choice for new offensive staff. Will be worked in
slowly this year but makes for an outstanding keeper league pick for the
future. Roethlisberger, 6-5, 240, was the MAC offensive player of the year after
completing 69.1 percent of his passes for 4,486 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10
interceptions. The Steelers had hoped to draft Philip Rivers.
13. Lee
Evans, Buffalo Bills, WR – Great speed with big play ability. Top deep
threat should open up offense enough for Drew Bledsoe and Eric Moulds to bounce
back after disappointing seasons, especially if the team improves the offensive
line. Evans, who caught 64
passes for 1,213 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, ran a 4.35- 40 at the NFL
combine in February. ”There’s a lot of guys who are fast but struggle to catch
the ball,” GM Tom Donahoe said. “Lee is a fast guy who can catch, and that’s a
nice combination to have.” Healthy again after serious knee injury two
years ago.
15. u-Michael Clayton, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, WR – Good size,
excellent route runner and the ability to run after the catch, a necessity in
Jon Gruden’s offense. Not great speed but is a pure receiver who could bump
Joey Galloway to #3. “He gives us a
real physical presence on the offensive side of the ball,” Gruden said. Clayton,
21, led the SEC with 78 receptions and 1,079 receiving yards and scored 10
touchdowns. "We need a guy who can do all that dirty work," receivers
coach Richard Mann said. "That Z receiver is the guy that does a lot of that,
the athletic moves, the stop-and-gos. He'll catch it to get the tough yardage
and first downs." Also, Joe Jurevicius has
yet to practice as he continues to rehab a torn MCL suffered late last season.
He expects to begin practicing in June though.
22. J.P.
Losman, Buffalo Bills, QB – Losman has the big-time arm, mobility and
confidence to start when Bledsoe leaves after this year if he improves his
footwork. He’s also tough and intelligent. Should be productive in the NFL down
the road. He was intercepted
just 27 times in 987 attempts and threw 60 touchdown passes in two years for
Tulane. He completed 251 of 422 attempts for 3,077 yards, 33 TDs and 14
interceptions in 2003. ”I like the fact that people don’t like his
personality,” Donahoe said. “He’s a competitor and he’s going to try to stick
it in your face.” Traded three future picks to get him.
24. u-Steven Jackson, St. Louis
Rams, RB – Complete back combined with his receiving and blocking
abilities. Tough slashing runner who could also garner 300-500 yards through
the air, he is currently penciled in as the backup to injury-prone Marshall
Faulk. Jackson, 20, ran for 1,690 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore and
1,545 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior before declaring his eligibility for
the draft. He became a big receiving threat last season with 44 catches and
three touchdowns. “When you watch him on tape he's really a complete back for
this league,” Mike Martz said. "All of the things that we ask a running
back to do, you would have to grade this individual with high marks. We've got
a good situation at the running back position." Jackson is worth
grabbing in keeper leagues but his short-term value is limited as long as
Faulk, 31, stays healthy which
has been a question mark the last two years. He is signed through 2008. Good pick by the Rams this late.
26. Chris Perry, Cincinnati
Bengals, RB – Consistent run, catch and block guy who is elusive in the
open field but is more comfortable running between the tackles. Will spell
starter Rudi Johnson and also play a lot in third down situations. Could become a workhorse down the
road. Perry wasn't the fastest
runner available, but they rated him as one of the most complete and like his
ability to make defenders miss and also his receiving abilities. "Chris
Perry can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he blocks and does a
tremendous job being a complete running back.” Marvin Lewis said. “This is a
guy we felt good about." Perry and Johnson could help take some pressure
off first-year starting quarterback Carson Palmer. "We felt like we wanted to have two running backs,"
Lewis said. Johnson remains unsigned as
a restricted free agent but has been offered a $1.824 million one-year tender
that he is expected to sign.
29. Michael Jenkins, Atlanta Falcons,
WR – Good speed, size, athleticism and ability to run after the catch,
which is necessary in the new West Coast scheme. Also knows how to use his body
to get position on undersized defenders. Should compliment the faster Peerless
Price very well. "He is a real big
guy with a lot of speed," GM Rich McKay said. "He's got a chance to
come in and line up to give us four receivers that we really like." New
offensive coordinator Greg Knapp loves him. "One thing I like, with the
experience that I've had, is his size," Knapp said. "[He's] a big
target for Michael [Vick] to find over the middle. Speed is important in the
[split end] spot."
30. u-Kevin Jones, Detroit Lions, RB – Good speed, athleticism and change of
direction skills. Needs more work on catching passes and more decisive running
but has a chance to get a lot of carries with the featured back position up for
grabs in training camp. Steve Mariucci likes to rotate his backs, so he should
be a contributor right off the bat. Jones, 21, started all 13 games for
Virginia Tech in 2003. He rushed for 1,647 yards, a 5.9 average and 21
touchdowns. He was used sparingly as a receiver. Many rated him the No. 1 back
out of college but scouts soured on him after poor individual workouts. But he
has big play ability and could be a sleeper.
31. Rashaun Woods, San Francisco 49ers, WR –
Good size, great hands. Doesn’t have great speed but makes the tough catch
in traffic and will start right off the bat. “The main thing is that he never gets frustrated or
irritated when things go wrong,” receivers coach Eric Yarber said. “He keeps
that same even keel.” Woods set Big 12 career records with 293 catches, 4,414
yards (15.1 average) and 42 touchdowns. The 49ers like his knack for catching
the ball in a crowd and his ability to run precise routes and thought he was
the most polished receiver in the draft. He slipped this low because of
the glut of wideouts in this year’s draft.
32. Ben Watson, New England Patriots – Good size, speed
and hands but has been inconsistent in the past. Very strong. Needs work on
blocking and route-running but is starting material down the road. Got better
as his sprained ankle healed throughout the year. Last year, he was listed as a preseason all-conference player but
finished with only 23 catches but was bothered by a high-ankle sprain for most
of the season. But at the combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive
4.46 seconds. He probably won’t contribute much this year as long as Christian
Fauria and Daniel Graham stay healthy though.
SECOND ROUND
40. Ben Troupe, Tennessee
Titans, TE – Offensive-minded athlete with good speed who can stretch the
field but needs work on blocking. He will share the field with Erron Kinney
this year and be the starter when Kinney leaves next season. Most scouts
classified him as one of the best natural receivers available at the position.
41. Tatum Bell, Denver Broncos,
RB – One of the fastest players in
the country, Bell has outstanding speed and explosion but needs to
improve his fumbling problems and elusiveness. Could be the best pure running
back in the draft and has a chance to share carries in the backfield with Quentin Griffin or win the job
outright. A big camp could garner starting status. Garrison Hearst, Mike Anderson, Ahmaad Galloway and Cecil Sapp also are
in the mix. He ran for 3,409 yards and 34 touchdowns during his college career,
ranking in the top six in both categories in Big 12 history. "He’s got
great speed, the ability to go the distance,” Mike Shanahan said. “But the
thing we liked about Tatum more than anything was how tough he was as a
blocker. Our running backs we’ve had here in the past all have been pretty
consistent in the blocking area." A sleeper.
43. Julius
Jones, Dallas Cowboys, RB – Dallas passed on Jackson and traded down to get
this guy and an extra pick. What
the decision says is that the Cowboys were not convinced any of the running
backs available were franchise material. Jones has enough power, speed
and moves to be the new featured back in Dallas. Knocks against him are motivation
and toughness but Bill Parcells should be able to whip him into shape. He is elusive and does a fine job of cutting.
Needs work catching the ball as well. Has been inconsistent in the past. Jones (5 -10, 217 pounds) is
coming off a breakout season at Notre Dame, rushing for 1,268 yards and 10
touchdowns, after being academically ineligible as a junior. "He's pretty
quick and elusive and he sees it well," Parcells said. "He's a high
character player and that's important to me.” He has been compared with Emmitt
Smith because of build and running style but has a bit more speed.
50. Devery Henderson, New
Orleans Saints, WR – Good size, excellent speed and runs extremely well
after the catch sometimes making big gainers out of routine throws. Not a lot
of experience after being a running back until 2002 so he needs work on his
routes. In 42 games, he caught 89
passes for 1,311 yards (14.7) and 19 touchdowns with 742 yards on 30 kickoff
returns (24.7). Excellent pick for the future.
54. Darius Watts, Denver
Broncos, WR – Decent speed and quickness and is a good
route-runner and blocker but needs to add bulk. Lacks toughness and
strength to compete for the ball in traffic even though he tries. He set MAC records for receiving yards
(4,031), TD catches (47) and receptions (272). "We really believe with
this Watts he’s got a chance to be something special," Shanahan said.
"He is one of those receivers that can make something happen after he
catches the ball." Coming out of a passing offense at Marshall, Watts
figures on making a faster transition to the pros than some receivers.
55. Greg Jones, Jacksonville
Jaguars, RB – Almost healthy again after knee surgery two years ago, he has
size, power and can catch the short pass. Lots of talent here but they can
afford to wait for him because Fred Taylor is still the starter. Should be an
upgrade over LaBrandon Toefield as the backup. Jack Del Rio said a team can never have too many
running backs. Jones could develop into a short yardage and goal line
back this year.
His receiving skills need work, though.
61. Kris Wilson, Kansas City
Chiefs, TE – Has soft hands and the
ability to gain yards after the catch. Good speed to stretch defenses
but does not have ideal size. "Kris
is very versatile," tight ends coach Bob Ligashesky said. "His
quickness allows him to be an effective blocker in the run game. His ability to
run really provides favorable matchups in the passing game. Kris enables us to
get into a lot of different personnel changes and that is what keeps him on the
field."
62. Keary Colbert, Carolina
Panthers, WR – Very good route
runner with good quickness. Good hands; will fight for ball. Decent
speed but not a burner nor explosive. He holds the USC career mark with 207 catches to go with 2,964
yards and 19 touchdowns. Should be starting in a year or two.
THIRD ROUND
65. Nate Kaeding, San Diego
Chargers, PK – Strong leg for field goals but needs to work on kickoffs. Mentally tough under pressure and has a
great work ethic. Very good
kicking prospect who should be able to win the open starting job as a rookie.
68. Ben Hartsock, Indianapolis
Colts, TE – A tough blocker who is improving as a receiver and
route-runner. Adds depth to the position, which is very important to the Colts
who rely on a two-tight end package often. Started 31 games at Ohio State who doesn’t throw a lot to the tight
end, catching 58 passes for 519 yards and five touchdowns
77. u-Derrick Hamilton, San Francisco 49ers, WR – Has
above-average speed and quickness off the snap, with a second gear but is not a
burner. Decent blocker. Tall, but needs to add bulk and continue to improve his
overall game. Woods will
start at flanker with Brandon Lloyd, a fourth-round draft pick last season, expected
to replace Tai Streets as the other starting wide receiver. That leaves
Hamilton, or more likely Cedrick Wilson, as the slot receiver in three-receiver
sets. Hamilton could
be the punt and kickoff return this year. His height and speed make him eventual
starter material.
78. Bernard Berrian, Chicago
Bears, WR – Good speed, decent size and is two years removed from knee
injury. Good route runner and is
willing to go up in a crowd. Has the height and speed to be an effective deep
threat, but needs to improve his blocking. The Bears are impressed with his speed and versatility.
“He's a real good returner,” college scouting director Greg Gabriel said.
"The knee was nothing. It was really a sprain. He ended up missing half
the season but decided to redshirt. But they didn't have a good quarterback
this year so his stats weren't as good.” Offensive coordinator Terry Shea likes
his speed, hands, vertical jump and wants him to be a deep threat if he can get
off the line quickly. “It will come down to how he can handle the press at the
line of scrimmage as compared to college,” Shea said. “He is not a big, strong
receiver but he does have height. He pushes himself up the field. He plays fast
on film. And he played against good competition at a high level.”
81. Chris Cooley, Washington
Redskins, TE – Not great speed but has good hands and makes all the
catches. Led the nation's tight ends in
receptions and receiving yards last year. Also a good blocker and should play a
lot this year and will compete with Mike Sellers and Brian Kozlowski for
playing time. He finished his
senior season with a team-high 62 receptions for 732 yards and six touchdowns.
82. Devard Darling, Baltimore
Ravens, WR – Decent size with good speed to get deep. Needs to develop
confidence when going over the middle and tends to avoid this part of his game.
Also needs to improve his blocking. "We think there is a big upside,"
said Phil Savage, director of player personnel. "He fits our profile: He's
got size, got suddenness and he can make plays." A developmental prospect.
90. Matt Schaub, Atlanta
Falcons, QB – Big kid; pocket passer and is effective throwing the short-
and medium-route passes that are important in the West Coast offense. Not the
best deep passer though. Has adequate poise and intelligence in the pocket and
does not panic under pressure but needs to improve his field vision and not
lock on one receiver. A leader that will provide adequate insurance for Michael
Vick.
FOURTH ROUND
99. Carlos
Francis, Oakland Raiders, WR –
Great speed, quickness and burst and also goes after the ball in traffic. Can
also block but needs work on his routes and is not very elusive. “We were able to get very athletic
players,” Norv Turner said. “Carlos was the fastest player at the combine, ran
in the low 4.3s, and has had big-play production.”
105. Samie
Parker, Kansas City Chiefs, WR –
Big-play receiver with blazing speed and is a dangerous deep threat. Gets
off the line, but struggles to get into his routes vs. press coverage and needs
bulk. Not elusive either. “Samie
is one of those guys that lives up to the cliché ‘stretches the field ” Dick
Vermeil said. “He can do that. He has a tremendous 40 time. He's still
accelerating as he passes through 40 yards. This guy can run. He can catch the
football in a crowd, and he's tough. He's an exciting player.” But he’s a tad
undersized that could limit him to a #3 man. Vermeil compared him to Az-Zahir
Hakim. Speed and quickness are valued more than size in Al Saunders' system so
he will be given a chance beat out Dante Hall and Marc Boerigter for the third
receiver position.
106. Luke
McCown, Cleveland Browns, QB –
String-armed thrower who broke most of the LSU’s career passing and total
offense records. Has good size and adequate foot speed with patience and poise
in the pocket. Inconsistent throwing deep and reading zone coverage.
Also throws into throw into traffic too much, which dropped him in the draft.
Has a chance in 2-3 years as a starter. "By
then, he definitely should be ready to start and play effectively,"
quarterbacks coach Steve Hagen said.
108. Jerricho
Cotchery, New York Jets, WR – Has
quickness but lacks ideal speed. Good leaping skills and hands and tough
runner. Very good route runner and blocker. Not very elusive and struggles to
get separation. Will compete with Jonathon Carter for the #4 job.
109. Tim
Euhus, Buffalo Bills, TE –
Considered to be one of the best pass-catching tight ends out of college. Needs to add more bulk and lacks
speed and quickness but is athletic. Has potential as a blocker. Could become a weapon as a
receiving tight end as son as this year.
119. Mewelde Moore, Minnesota
Vikings, RB – Strong inside runner and has adequate speed to get to the
corner. Has some moves and is a good receiver. Not a lot of speed but has quick
feet and change-of-direction skills. Inconsistent blocker. "I think it's
really good that we brought in a third-down back," Mike Tice said.
"That will push Larry Ned and Onterrio Smith." The Vikings envision
Moore as a return man and their future third-down back.
122. Ernest Wilford,
Jacksonville Jaguars, WR – Decent possession receiver and big target over the middle. Makes all
the catches and can outmuscle opposing DBs but has been inconsistent in his
career. The Jags traded veteran wide receiver Kevin Johnson to Baltimore for
the rights to him. He will compete
with veterans Troy Edwards and Cortez Hankton for the No. 3 role, as well as
contribute on special teams. Fell to the fourth round mainly because of
concerns about his speed.
128. Cedric Cobbs, New England
Patriots, RB – Big and strong with good speed but had some injury problems
in college. Also was busted for DWI and marijuana but says that’s all in the
past. Runs hard between the tackles and
can also turn the corner. Can catch the ball and block. More quick than
fast, lacking extra gear in the open field. Provides insurance for Corey Dillon
and will try to beat out Kevin Faulk as the third down back. Also can return
kicks.
FIFTH ROUND
134. Johnnie Morant, Oakland
Raiders, WR – Big and fast and will go over the middle for the ball. Needs
to build up speed, but has extra gear to separate on deep routes. Good blocker;
hard worker. Must learn to use his
hands better in order to escape press coverage and improve his routes. Did not
make a lot of plays in college. “Johnnie Morant is a big, physical wideout who has been a big-play
receiver at Syracuse,” Turner said.
137. Josh Scobee, Jacksonville
Jaguars, PK – Scobee, a former soccer player who didn't start kicking until his senior
year in high school, made 66-of-92 field-goal attempts in his career at
Louisiana Tech. Strong
leg good for field goals and kickoffs. Needs to become more consistent though. He made 21-of-31 field goals last year,
though his kickoffs were routinely touchbacks. Unless the Jaguars find a
veteran, Scobee battle Jeff Chandler, selected in the fourth round by San
Francisco last year, and Seth Marler, who missed 13-of-33 kicks last year, for
the starting job. New special teams coach Pete Rodriguez said Marler appeared to lose his
confidence when he went into a slump last year but he likes Chandler's work
ethic. "I like his attitude. I
like his mental toughness. I like everything about him," Rodriguez said
adding that he is concerned with the depth of his kickoffs, although he's
improved in that area.
144. Sean Ryan, Dallas Cowboys,
TE – Good blocker with the quickness to separate from linebackers on pass
routes. Has good moves, runs good routes and will fight for additional yardage
after the catch. Has good hands but lacks good speed. Basically, he gives the Cowboys another physical blocker in
the running game.
148. Craig Krenzel, Chicago
Bears, QB – Smart and tough with size and speed, but looks to run more
often than staying in the pocket. Very inconsistent on short passes and lacks
timing on his deep throws. They like
him as a third quarterback because of his intelligence and hopes he develops
into a solid backup.
149. Maurice Mann, Cincinnati
Bengals, WR – Outstanding speed and quickness on slender frame. Goes across
the middle but is not much of a blocker. Receivers
coach Hue Jackson considers Mann's strength to be running after the catch.
"That's his biggest upside," Jackson said. "He can get in and
out of his cuts. He has very good quickness and top-end speed."
154. Michael Turner, San Diego
Chargers, RB – Runs hard and has
surprising speed in the open field but does now get off the line quickly. Has
great vision, instincts, and balance and has receiving potential. Raw as a
receiver and pass blocker though. Gained over 3,500 rushing yards and 36 TDs in
the last two seasons. Although
built like a fullback, he will play halfback behind LaDainian Tomlinson.
156. Mike Karney, New Orleans
Saints, FB – Big time blocker and was drafted to block for Deuce McAllister. Can catch the
short pass but does not have the speed to get down the field.
157. D.J.
Hackett, Seattle Seahawks, WR – Possession receiver with good burst getting off the line. Runs good routes
and gains yardage after the catch. Very tough in a crowd. Can get deep
but suffers from the occasional drop. Many
teams noticed his fine performance at the combine but he dropped to the fifth
round anyway. He will probably begin the season on could make his first
impression on special teams, where he played on the punt coverage and return
teams at Colorado.
162. Thomas
Tapeh, Philadelphia Eagles, FB – North/South power runner with receiving
potential but lacks experience in that area. Not very elusive and needs to improve blocking but has some lead
blocking experience in college. Played both halfback and fullback in college but will be a
fullback in the pros.
163. Drew
Carter, Carolina Panthers, WR – Big target, good hands, athletic, excellent
speed but needs to be more consistent. Might’ve gone earlier than this if it
weren’t for two ACL injuries the last three years. Strong runner after the catch and is a decent blocker but needs to
concentrate more to avoid drops. Could be a starter down the road if he
regains his top end speed. Still rehabbing the knee and is not ready for
mini-camp.
164. u-P.K.
Sam, New England Patriots, WR – Good size but not a burner. Has a sudden
burst out of his cuts and the ability to separate and runs good routes. Also
makes the effort to gain additional yardage after the catch. Suffers from
dropsies at times and is a bit raw but the Patriots were excited that he was
available this late. A project.
SIXTH ROUND
168. Jamaar Taylor, New York
Giants, WR – Taylor is tall and shows quickness off the line and in his
routes but he needs to add bulk and refine his route running. Tough runner and
good blocker. A torn ACL forced him to miss the second half of his senior
season but he recovered enough to impress at the combine. Started 25 games,
catching 108 passes for 1,705 yards (15.8 avg.) and 10 touchdowns.
169. Ryan Krause, San Diego
Chargers, WR – Good hands, toughness and straight-line speed. Size and
blocking ability could move him to H-back.
171. Triandos Luke, Denver
Broncos, WR – Has good initial
quickness off the line, with speed, separation skills and is a decent route
runner but struggles to get off the line against larger defenders. Lacks
the size and power. Luke impressed the
Broncos with his speed during the Senior Bowl and could factor in on kickoff
returns.
181. Nate Lawrie, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, TE – Excellent receiver. Set Yale's single-season receiving
record with 72 catches in 2003. Good blocker and effective route runner but is not quick or fast.
185. Andy Hall, Philadelphia
Eagles, QB – Decent arm strength but inconsistent throwing
deep. A scrambler, he has quick feet and the ability to throw on the run "I like the way he plays the
game," Reid said. "He's a mobile quarterback. He throws as well on
the run as he does dropping straight back. He's a winner."
187. Josh Harris, Baltimore
Ravens, QB – Classic gunslinger who operated mostly from the shotgun
formation in college. Has good arm strength and can throw long but has trouble
with his reads. He moves well rolling out but needs more experience in the
pocket and sometimes forces his throws.
191. Troy Fleming, Tennessee
Titans, FB/RB – Good size and speed but the team likes his versatility
best. Has some elusiveness and is a
good receiver but needs to bulk up to play fullback at the pro level.
Also needs to improve his blocking.
193. Jim Sorgi, Indianapolis
Colts, QB – Has adequate arm
strength and size with poise in the pocket and accuracy on short throws. Lacks
the arm strength to be a consistent effective deep passer and needs to work on
his field presence. He will be groomed as a backup.
194. Matt Kranchick, Pittsburgh
Steelers, TE – Raw prospect but is quick and has potential as a blocker and
receiver. Saw limited action in college but put
on 45 pounds after initially arriving at Penn State as a wideout so he can
catch the ball.
195. Jeris
McIntyre, Kansas City Chiefs, WR – Good speed and has the burst to separate after the catch but is not very elusive or
explosive. Good strength and has potential
as a blocker. Route-running needs improvement as well. Big and athletic.
A late bloomer who impressed
at the combine and in pre-draft workouts.
199. Clarence
Moore, Baltimore Ravens, WR – Good size but raw coming out of small school. Has good quickness but does not have big
speed. Decent route runner with a quick
burst and can be elusive after the catch. Needs improvement as a blocker.
Struggles against zone coverage. Will compete for a roster spot as the fifth
receiver.
201. Jeff
Smoker, St. Louis Rams, QB – Smart, tough, leader, accurate passer. Adequate in and out of the pocket and can
throw on the run. Inconsistent on long throws and tends to throw into coverage
but has all the tools to be a starter. Smoker was suspended for the last five
games of 2002 after admitting to a substance abuse problem, which is why he
lasted until late in the sixth round, but came back strong in 2003. He
completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 3,395 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14
interceptions, leading Michigan State to the Alamo Bowl. He plays well under
pressure and makes things happen. Has
a chance down the road.
SEVENTH ROUND
202. John
Navarre, Arizona Cardinals, QB – Big and tall with a strong arm but not a
lot of speed. Good accuracy (except on
some longer throws) and finds his seciondary receivers. Decent pocket passer
but not a good scrambler.
206. Mark Jones, Washington
Redskins, WR – Small but fast. Doubles as return man and can play free
safety.
208. Adimchinobe Echemandu,
Cleveland Browns, RB – Good size, great speed. Missed two years with a knee
injury but is reportedly healthy again. Strong inside runner, Has good vision
and strength and also returns kicks. Need work on blocking. Has limited
football experience growing up in Nigeria.
211. Sloan Thomas, Houston
Texans, WR – Big and athletic with strength and quickness
but is not a burner. Runs pretty good
routes, can stretch the field but is not an over-the-middle type. Will
battle for the #4 job.
214. Jonathan Smith, Buffalo
Bills, WR – Good hands but is small and not very fast. Is quick and cuts
well but lacks power to break tackles and is not a good blocker. Doubles as
return man.
216. Patrick Crayton, Dallas
Cowboys, WR – Crayton, who started at quarterback last year, played wide
receiver his first three seasons. He rushed for a team-high 1,426 yards and 13
touchdowns as a senior while throwing for 1,837 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is
a dangerous return man as well.
217. Cody
Pickett, San Francisco 49ers, QB – Has good size and a very strong arm. A
leader who stays poised under pressure. Holds ball too long and sometimes
throws into coverage. Needs to improve his long toss accuracy. Some thought he
would go a lot higher but did not have a good combine workout. But Dennis Erickson said those
concerns are unfounded, noting the torn pectoral muscle he suffered in his
senior season. “Two years ago, he was the best quarterback in the Pac-10,” the
coach said.
218. Casey Bramlet, Cincinnati
Bengals, QB – Good size and decent arm but lacks accuracy on deep throws. Shows good accuracy and touch in the short
and intermediate zones though. Throws into coverage too much.
219. Quincy Wilson, Atlanta
Falcons, RB – Small but powerful. Runs low with good vision and breaks
tackles but does not have good speed. Needs
work on receiving but is improving.
Should help out on special teams, with a chance to compete for the No. 3
tailback spot.
220. Jeff Dugan, Minnesota
Vikings, TE – Regarded as one of the best blocking tight
ends in college football. Will go for
the ball in traffic but needs to refine his route running. Does not have
good speed. The Vikings use many multiple tight-end formations but they have
only two experienced veterans, Jim Kleinsasser and Jermaine Wiggins. Dugan will
compete with Richard Angulo, Sean Berton and Steve Farmer for playing time.
225. u-Matt Mauck, Denver
Broncos, QB – Has a nice touch and is poised and smart in the pocket.
Accurate short passer and can throw deep but is inconsistent in that area. Does
not have good foot speed.
228. Casey
Cramer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, FB/TE – Three-year
starter at tight end for Dartmouth but could be moved to fullback in the pros.
Excellent receiver (72 catches as a Junior) but lacks size for the tight end position.
229. David Kimball, Indianapolis
Colts, PK – Kickoff specialist and long-range place kicker. Lacks range,
accuracy and trajectory as a regular field goal kicker. "The fact is we
kicked off more than any team in the league last year,” Tony Dungy said. “It's
a situation we're going to look at. If he can come in and be a weapon there,
that will be a big, big plus."
232. Michael Gaines, Carolina
Panthers, TE – Has soft hands and runs good short routes. Can catch the
ball in traffic and has blocking ability. Needs to improve overall blocking and
toughness.
235. Derrick Ward, New York
Jets, RB – Big and powerful runner with acceleration through the whole and
the quickness to bounce outside. Tends to gain weight and needs work as a
receiver and a blocker. Average speed. Fumbles too much.
237. Eric
Jensen, St. Louis Rams, TE – Jensen
originally played fullback and had 16 catches for 182 yards last year. He’s a good blocker and improving receiver
and should see considerable action. He fits well into the Rams' H-back scheme
and will be #2 on the depth chart.
241. Sean McHugh, Tennessee
Titans, FB/TE – A powerful runner and blocker with soft hands
but lacks quickness and speed. Needs work on lead blocking. Probably
better suited to the tight end position.
242. Bruce Perry, Philadelphia
Eagles, RB – Small but very fast. Explosive. Decent receiver, poor blocker.
Missed nine games with an
assortment of injuries in his final two seasons. He is projected as a
third-down back in the pros.
244. Derek Abney, Baltimore
Ravens, WR – Small but extremely fast. Dangerous return specialist. Runs well after the catch. Tries hard but
is not strong enough to be an effective blocker or over-the-middle guy.
Strictly a return man.
245. Courtney Anderson, Oakland
Raiders, TE – Big with good hands and is learning how to improve his route
running and blocking skills. Raw. “He's a little bit of a project, but he had a very productive
senior year and we're excited about that because he's a guy that has a big
upside,” Turner said.
247. Brandon Miree, Denver
Broncos, RB – A strong runner with good speed. Tough to bring down and can
catch the ball and block. Not very quick and does not have the acceleration to
get deep. Needs to work on his blitz pickup.
248. B.J. Symons, Houston
Texans, QB – Strong arm and can throw on the run. A tad undersized and
sometimes throws into coverage. Set the NCAA record with 5,833 passing yards
last season. Won the Sammy Baugh Award
as the nation's top passer even though he played the final seven games
with a torn ACL in his left knee. He is still recovering from off-season
surgery.
250. Bradlee Van Pelt, Denver
Broncos, QB – Good arm and runs with power. A leader and poised under
pressure. Operated mostly from the shotgun in college and had trouble with the deep
pass and finding his secondary receivers. Could
shift to fullback at the pro level because of his ability to run with the ball.
Lacks the foot speed to be an effective tailback though. Son of former New York Giants linebacker,
Brad Van Pelt.
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